Ringing in the New Year with The Snydecast

This article was originally posted on 12/31/2010


As we look forward to 2012, take a look back to 1949. This wonderful movie theater promo features the death of Old Man 1949 and a bunch of guys singing to us as they sit on a champagne glass.


Here are some of the New Year podcasts that the boys have produced in the past - with original descriptions from asitecalledfred.com:

12/31/2009 KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #128: Trust Us That It’s Happy New Year

Ken & Dana return with their year-end wrap-up, wherein much bitterness and recrimination is wiped away, to be replaced by all new bitterness and recrimination. Huzzah!

1/10/2009 Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #77: My Name Is Fish

Ken & Dana return to greet a brand new year with an ostensible year-in-review, but instead get to chatting and a bickering with each other in an over-long episode packed with something. Lots of something…

12/31/2007 KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #30: Year In Revue

Dana & Ken return after another of their epic absences with a special look back at the year, plus a pledge for the year ahead.

1/26/2007 Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #23: Are You Having Any Fun?

[adult swim]’s Dana Snyder and Ken Plume’s weekly chat podcast returns with discussions of obscure menu items at landmark Hollywood restaurants, some movie that Dana has coming up, Ken’s attempts to conquer the ukulele, and more…

Of Muppets and Men

Have you been listening to all of Ken's "Bit of a Chat" podcasts? He has, as usual, been cranking them out at an astonishing pace.

On one of the recent ones, A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Wyatt Cenac there is a bunch of talk about The Muppets. Check it out and you can hear Ken's thoughts the new Muppet flick.

It's a well thought out critique that sums up what many of us Muppet films thought.

In addition, the wonderful documentary "Of Muppets and Men" is talked about. I think everyone should check out this wonderful film. If you like the Muppets or are interested in what goes on behind the scenes in television make sure and check this out:

PHOTOS: Jack Benny

If you are a long time listener to the Ken P. D. Snydecast, you have certainly heard Ken and Dana talk about their fondness of Mr. Jack Benny.

KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #53: Fleet Feet And All You Can Eat starts off with Ken's impersonation of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (Jack Benny's valet on the radio and TV series The Jack Benny Show.)
Then the boys discuss Jack's comedy techniques and what made him so successful.

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #142: iFail Dana discusses his purchase of an iPad. At around the 12 minute mark Ken breaks into an impression of Jack Benny and Rochester at the Apple store.

More recently Dana discussed his birthday in KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #160: Scratch Fever and his desire to follow in Benny's footsteps when it comes to mentioning his age.
Jack Benny famously always said he was 39 years old no matter how old he was.

Below are a handful of beautiful images of Jack from Life.com.

First, from 1959, it's Jack and President Truman. Check out the cue cards on the right:

Direct link to this image here.


Next from 1952 is a photo described as "Comedian Jack Benny sitting on floor w. pile of fake money, looking stunned; in this skit from "The Jack Benny Show," he is counting money he supposedly lent to William Paley and CBS and which they have returned to him via armored truck.":

Direct link to this image here.


From 1961, this next picture shows Jack Benny acting as pallbearer for Gary Cooper's funeral:

Direct link to this image here.

Finally, this 1959 photo is described as "Comedian Jack Benny (L) relaxing under painting of Abraham Lincoln after taping his TV show.":

Direct link to this image here.

I hope you enjoyed these photos. Make sure to go to Life.com and check out the many wonderful photos they have online.

Cannonball Run & Smokey and The Bandit

On Ken PD Snydecast #118: It’s A Gas Ken and Dana chat about two of the most awesome action/comedy films ever made.





THAT is a great double feature!

Songs for Helping V: Mobile

Episode V of Dana's "Songs for Helping" is up!

Check it out on the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

Hey, Hey, It's Knishmas!

Here is a neat Dana Snyder TV appearance that hasn't been bootlegged to YouTube.

It HAS been bootlegged to Vimeo.

From 2008, this is the  Chowder  special Christmas episode "Hey Hey It's Knishmas".

Dana Snyder plays Gazpacho who in turn is playing Knish Kringle:


It's a silly parody of Christmas about a Santa like character who vomits presents for you if you are good (and make a good smingerbread house.)

If you are bad he goes into a terrible rage and destroys your smingerbread house.


Chowder - Hey, Hey It's Knishmas! from CHOWDER on Vimeo.

A Snydley Christmas

Digging through the archives of the site I found this pair of videos that John J. posted many years ago.

They are certainly worth another look:

Dana Snyder Christmas

Jack Benny Goes Christmas Shopping

This article was originally posted 12/20/2010.

If you are a long time listener to the Ken P. D. Snydecast, you have certainly heard Ken and Dana talk about their fondness of Mr. Jack Benny.

KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #53: Fleet Feet And All You Can Eat starts off with Ken's impersonation of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (Jack Benny's valet on the radio and TV series The Jack Benny Show.)
Then the boys discuss Jack's comedy techniques and what made him so successful.

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #142: iFail Dana discusses his purchase of an iPad. At around the 12 minute mark Ken breaks into an impression of Jack Benny and Rochester at the Apple store.

More recently Dana discussed his birthday in KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #160: Scratch Fever and his desire to follow in Benny's footsteps when it comes to mentioning his age.
Jack Benny famously always said he was 39 years old no matter how old he was.

So, how familiar are you with Jack Benny? Had you heard of him before you started to listen to the Ken P. D. Snydecast? Did you just know his name from the scene in Back to the Future when Doc assumes that if Ronald Reagan became President, Jack Benny must be secretary of the treasury? BTW, Doc's line was a rather witty joke since Jack's character was notoriously cheap.

Whether you have seen Jack Benny on his TV show or in movies, or if you only have a vauge knowlege of him; or if you are so young that Back to the Future seems like it was in the stone age and you aren't totally sure who that Ronald Reagan cat was, I have a treat for you.

Jack Benny Goes Christmas Shopping is one of the very best episodes of The Jack Benny Show and possibly the funniest Christmas special of all time.

It features Jack and Rochester along with a great cast of comedic actors:

Frank Nelson who's comic "yeeesssss" was often featured on both Jack Benny's show and Sanford & Son.




Charlie Cantor who plays a lingerie salesman who is uncomfortable touching the garments with his bare hands- especially the black ones.




And Mel Blanc who steals the show playing a wallet salesman descending into madness. Watch closely towards the end of the episode. When Mel starts rolling, even Jack can't help but laugh.


Go ahead, give it a look and next time Ken and Dana start to talk about the greatness of Jack Benny you will know why.

Brian Blessed as Santa

If you're like me, all you know about Brian Blessed is that Ken likes to imitate him and... uh... well, that's all I know about him.

This next clip wont teach you anything, but it does prove that Ken's impression is dead on.

Blessed appears just before the 2 minute mark.

Sydecast Christmases of the Past

Portions of this article were originally posted 12/22/2011.
There is still time for a new Christmas Snydecast for 2011, but in the meantime, this oldie is definitely a Christmas classic.
KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #22: Part 1 - Holiday-a-Go-Go and KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #22: Part 2 - Holiday-a-Gone-Gone are the two parts of a wonderful musical Christmas journey.

Recorded back to back in 2006, these episodes feature Dana and Ken sharing songs from their holiday CD mixes. You get a sample of a most of the songs they mailed out that year.

First you get to hear Ken as David Seville and Alvin, Simon and Theodore. The words "Go to Hell, Dave" have never sounded so adorable.


Barry Gordon's "Zoomah, The Santa Claus From Mars" and Troy Hess' "Christmas on the Moon" compliment each other perfectly with wacky space themed holiday tunes warbled by kids.


Also on the boys' CDs are a pair of monster themed songs 'A Monster's Holiday' and 'Monster Christmas Mash'.

Dana and Ken go through most of the tracks on each of their CDs. Ken's features music he found listenable.
Dana found his CD, of mostly novelty tunes, to be more listenable.
For example Ken included a track by the Flaming Lips. Dana's reaction to it is priceless.

These episodes are great to spin as you wrap presents or a background to your office holiday party.

You get a little bit of Christmas music and a lot of bickering. Enjoy KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #22: Part 1 - Holiday-a-Go-Go and KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #22: Part 2 - Holiday-a-Gone-Gone.

As a bonus, here is one of Dana's selections Crackerjack Christmas (by Captain Kangaroo) in it's entirety:

VIDEO: KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #75: The Christmas Horn

I posted this video at the end of the summer, but with Christmas fast approaching (and Hanukkah starting today) now seems like the right time to revisit this video.

The video features audio from KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #75: The Christmas Horn where Ken and Dana discussed favorite Christmas presents and favorite toys in general.

Songs for Helping IV: Chubby

Episode IV of Dana's "Songs for Helping" is out!

Check out the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

Bill Tapia: The Duke of Uke

Here is a recent tweet from Dana:



Here is a video of Bill performing at his 100th birthday party:

See Dana LIVE!

This happened last night so if you DIDN'T know about it, you missed it.

If you DID see it, send me PHOTOS!

If you are wondering WHY I am RANDOMLY capitalizing WORDS, I have no idea.

Anyway, you still have a chance to see Dana this week as part of "Up Late with Adam Fisher".

See it LIVE this Friday 12/16 at ComedySportz in Los Angeles.

Click here for tickets.

Dana is there, in part, to promote a new web series Your Dungeon My Dragon.

FRED Holiday Singles 2011

I often find myself telling you guys stuff that I am sure you already probably read on Twitter or on asitecalledfred.com. Because you should visit that site as often as you do this one.

Right now Ken has a bunch of holiday singles up that will put you in the holiday spirit. Everything from winter standards to tracks like "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" which ended the great Christmas flick Scrooged.

Check 'em out here: http://www.asitecalledfred.com/holiday2011/

You can see the end of Scrooged in this YouTube video... unfortunately it's been dubbed into Argentinian.






Let me restate that: FORTUNATELY it's been dubbed into Argentinian... or maybe that's some secret sexy code messages to Dana.

Also, if THAT isn't enough Christmas tunes for ya, check this out:

Hear Snydley on WMLB 1690's Pop Culture Kings

Dana & Andy Sipes appear on the WMLB radio show "Pop Culture Kings" program to promote "Songs For Helping".
Check out the interview at: 1690wmlb.com
The interview runs about 10 minutes and starts at 34:20 into the audio file that plays on the site.

Check it out on the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

There is also a text interview with Dana and Andy on mediamikes.com

Snydecast mail

I received the following in the mail:

Hey hey Wienerbreath!

I've been listening to a few Snydecast holiday classics over the past couple days, and as I was partway through episode 131 "It Pours" (the highlight of which being the tale of Plumey's gravity-challenged santa suit debacle) the guys briefly discuss the fine douchey products available from a company called Scottevest. And this time, I decided to visit the website along with them and view the mysterious "apple head doll" celebrity they talk about.

And oh, I'm glad I did.

Seeing the photo now, which is still up, I thought it would be just the kind of thing worth mentioning on the Experience. I think you'll agree. The image below speaks for itself…

-AC

Remember this? You can hear the exchange at about 6 minutes into episode 131: It Pours.


"Here’s what’s interesting. I don’t know if they know he’s a celebrity." Dana Snyder

“He looks like an apple head doll.” Ken Plume

Ready to see it? CLICK HERE!

You can visit the website and see all the jackets here.

Songs for Helping III: Dubious

Episode III of Dana's "Songs for Helping" is out today!

Check it out on the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

To answer the burning question...

Yep! Dana got the part in Forum. Funny things will happen, indeed.

See Dana Snyder LIVE in Los Angeles THIS FRIDAY

Dana will be on stage as part of "Up Late with Adam Fisher" this Friday 12/16!

"Up Late with Adam Fisher" is a live show that parodies the style of shows like The Tonight Show.

You can see it at ComedySportz in Los Angeles.

Click here for tickets.

Dana is there, in part, to promote a new web series Your Dungeon My Dragon.

Ken reads Brian Blessed's tweets

Go ahead, take a listen:

"It's All a Series of Tubes"

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #173: Breakfast Nachos Ken refers to London as being "a series of tubes."

The only three things I know about London are:

1. They have a bridge that's falling down, my fair lady.
2. Dangermouse lives there.
3. When people with an accent say "London" I always think they said "Orlando".

So I was a bit baffled.

Perhaps you were too. Or maybe you are baffled by the Orlando thing. Who cares.

Anyway, there is no need to be. The Tube is a nickname for the subway system in London.

Yep. You just watched that.

It's the second largest metro system in the world behind the one in Shanghai.

One of the most distinctive things about the system is the "mind the gap" announcement. It's kind of a big pop culture thing.

Here is a short video of a metro car pulling up in the Tube:

There were a handful of videos on YouTube talking about Tube etiquette. It seems you should never look people in the eye or chat with anyone and if you have a broken oyster you should get out of line.
Oh right, they call the subway cards "oyster cards".

I didn't really learn much from watching this video, but the girl who hosted it was good looking so I figure about 1/2 of you would like to see it:

 

Video: The Laurel & Hardy Museum

Harlem, GA was the birthplace of Oliver Hardy (the heavyset member of the duo) and the Laurel & Hardy museum opened there in 2002. The museum houses a collection of Laurel and Hardy memrobillia.

There is also a Laurel and Hardy museum in the UK and in Germany. But they don't have a picture of Tommy Glasscock.

Tommy, you may remember, was mentioned on the show because of an oddly captioned photo that Dana saw at the museum.

The photo was a young boy dressed as Oliver Hardy from a festival in Harlem. The caption included the phrase "we grow our own".

The phrase seemed to give off a "Hardys of the Corn" vibe to Ken as he mentioned in Ken P. D. Snydecast 16: Tommy Can You Hear Me.



The museum (and the Tommy Glasscock photo) are right in the heart of Harlem, GA and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am until 4pm.

Here are a couple of videos I found on YouTube.

It looks like a fun place.

Songs for Helping II: Irritable

Featuring Dave Willis, it's Songs for Helping II.



Check out the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

Songs for Helping I: Strapped

Finally! Dana's new web series is out!



Check out the "Songs for Helping page on the Adult Swim website at: www.adultswim.com

3 New "A Bit of a Chat" episodes

In the past 7 days Ken has released 3 new episodes of his interview program "A Bit of a Chat"!

Here are the official descriptions and links:



A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Joseph Scrimshaw:

In this episode, I have a chat with writer/performer Joseph Scrimshaw about Mickey Rooney, film, comedy, snow, squirrel romance, and celebrities in diapers.

A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Dave Gorman:

In this episode, I have a chat with comedian Dave Gorman about touring, PowerPoint, seeing America, racing Walliams, Sport Relief Darts, and outrage.

A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Alex Day:

In this episode, I have a chat with musician and vlogger Alex Day about too-small-pants pleas, ForeverNote, novelty teabags, Pokemon, turtles, Disney Princesses, and pizza-gifting.

S. P. Dinsmoor and his Garden of Eden

Did you catch Dana's mention of The Garden of Eden in Kansas during the last Snydecast?

It's a weird place.


Samuel Perry Dinsmoor (1843-1932) was a Kansas school teacher and is best known for his sculptures at his cabin known as The Garden of Eden.

I don't really have a handle on this place. It sounds like it is either the greatest place ever or something in dire need of a bulldozing.

I don't know what to think.

I did look at reviews of the place online. This dude said it gave him the "willies".



A little penicillin should clear that up.

Wait... whaaaa? Dinsmoor's corpse is on display?!?!?

Astounding.

Dinsmoor not only has his body on display, but he used a photographer's trick of double exposing the negative so that he could have a picture of him looking at himself in the crypt.


I know this seems like nothing now, but in the days before photo shop, this was pretty dang impressive.

Today, I can make a picture of Ron Jeremy looking at him in the crypt and it takes just 20 seconds:


And it looks like I spent just 20 seconds on it.

But that's not the point. The point is that this dude was a visionary. A weird visionary.

Here is a photo tour of his place:

Liberace and Jack Benny

On Ken P.D. Snydecast #114: Baby Driver the boys talk about Liberace:

Dana: What’s funny about Liberace is that there is no reason he ever should have been famous. He was so stiff-

Ken: (chuckles)

Dana: Alright, what are we in? Seventh grade? We will laugh about that later, when we get in seventh grade.

Ken: I say we take the podcast down to seventh grade. That way we get more listeners.

Dana: He basically has the world’s worst stage presence.

Ken: Yeah, but look at the rise. The rise of Liberace really happened- and again, I don’t mean the puns, In the 50s with TV. Anyone could be a star in the 50s.

Dana: Oh absolutely it did! There it worked perfect.

Ken: Because he was flamboyant, he had massive gestures that filled a TV screen.

Here is an awesome video featuring Liberace with Snydecast favorite Jack Benny: