Thursday, March 31, 2011

Twitter: Plumey goes to Jack in the Box

When he was in California, Ken was on his Twitter feed voicing his displeasure with some fast food French fries.

Before he left, he hit another L.A. burger joint and hit Twitter with his thoughts:

Jack in the Box is a California based burger chain that opened in the 1950s, and yes, they sell tacos, egg rolls and burgers.

Here is a vintage ad from Jack in the Box:

Yep, back then whether or not your dog asphyxiated in your flaming condo was entirely left to the speediness of burger flippin' teens.

Here is another spot with the delightful comic talents of the old lady maid from Diff'rent Strokes:

Boom. Jack did return eventually to kill 'em all:


Anyway, after his Japanese-Mexican-American combo, Ken tweeted some more:

I found a Fanta commercial... it's a doozy:


Ken then went for the jugular demanding to see L.A.'s tater tots:



To follow Dana, Ken and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Waiting...


It has been a looong time since KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #171: You’ll Believe A Man Can Swing and questions abound...


...when will Ken and Dana return to rock our faces off?

Here are a few randomly selected episodes to listen to until they bring the thundaaah back:

KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #88: Mad Hatters which contained an amusing tale of Ken's Santa kit:

Ken: I used to have a Santa Claus kit.
Dana: What do you mean kit?
Ken: You ready for this? This may be the story that ends the podcast.
Dana: O.K. I'm frightened. Continue.


Or you could listen to Ken P. D. Snydecast #164: Every Day’s A Holly-Day where Dana talks about movies where old people die. It's a modern classic.

Finally, you could check out: KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #26: The Bunny Hop. On this episode the boys spoke at length about a series of LPs that Dana was collecting which featured celebrities of a bygone era in an acting game called Co-Stars.
The record contained acting scenes with the featured celebrity and then dead air that you would fill, giving you a chance to "act" opposite them.


The archives are full of stuff to pass our time... but let's all hope for a new episode sooner than later.

Howdy Scooch!

Remember KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #169: Birthday-in-a-Biskit?

Released at the end of January of this year, it was an instant classic that reminded us all of Chicken in a Biskit:


The cracker talk was so great it overshadowed another wonderful moment. Ken's nickname for Dana:


Dana: Ken Plume had a classic Ken Plume moment of being Ken Plume. Andy Sipes and I talked about it at great legnth.
Ken: That's kind of sad, but go on!
Dana: You're a spin doctor!
Ken: This is all you had to talk about?
Dana: You're a spin doctor! Let's redo the conversation. 'Hello?' You called me on the phone. I said 'hello?' Then you say…
Ken: I say 'Howdy Scooch.'
Dana: Not like that!
Ken: Yes.
Dana: No! Alright, I'll do it all. You're not playing along. What's new.
Ken: That's what I said! Howdy Scooch. That's what I said.
Dana: Yeah, but you didn't say it like that! (Imitates Ken) 'howdy Scooch.' You said 'howdy Scooch!' I said 'wow, getting awfully flirty…' Then the insecurity took over in Ken Plume. (Imitates Ken) 'Why, what do you mean? I wasn't flirting. That was a nickname, it's not like I called you peaches!'

KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #169: Birthday-in-a-Biskit is so good that it merits another listen just a few months after it's debut.

Go ahead. Try it again. It's like a Chicken in a Biskit... better the second time around.

Not sure what I mean by that.

By the way, there is a band called Scooch:

and a band called Peaches:

And Peaches & Herb:

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

PHOTO: Ken's Big Boy Lunch

Courtesy of Ken's Twitter, here is a photo of Ken and his celebrity-filled table at Bob's Big Boy in Los Angeles:


[UPDATE]Ken later Tweeted this photo that features a few more people you are sure to recognize:

Twitter: The New Show

Do you remember the Lorne Micheals Post SNL show "The New Show"?

I sure don't, but Ken Plume does:

According to Wiki:
The New Show was a NBC sketch comedy show produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, which ran for only one season from January 6 to March 23, 1984. Apart from being 60 minutes in length and entirely pre-recorded, the show is similar in format to SNL. It was the lowest rated of 94 programs that aired during the 1983-84 television season, averaging a dismal 7.81 household rating.

Luckily, YouTube has some clips. Let's take a look:




Monday, March 28, 2011

a closer look: Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs and Chinese Food

Back in early 2009, in KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #83: We Are Mighty, Dana talks about an unsuccesful trip to a Georgia restaurant owned by wrestler Abdullah the Butcher.


Dana says the restaurant had closed down and a new establishment had taken it's place.

An internet search reveals 3 different addresses for Abdullah's so it's possible that he had more than one location or that the internet has some bad info.

Either way, Abdullah's is still open at 2387 Fairburn Rd SW Atlanta, GA 30331. You can call 'em at 404-629-2332 and check!


Abdullah the Butcher is a legend in pro wrestling circuits, and in 1 week he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Abdullah was famous for his crazy, blood soaked matches. He was known to bring a fork into the ring and use it to carve up his opponent.

The restaurant is a cafe setting with photos of the Abdullah hung on the walls. In addition, two of his title belts also hang in the dining area. But, the best part about the restaurant is Abdullah.

On most days Abdullah sits in the dining area and answers questions and poses for photos. Think about that! That would be like going to Burger King and seeing the Burger King himself delivering royal proclamations to a tray of onion rings. Or, like going to a Sonic Drive-in and having Sonic The Hedgehog... deliver royal proclamations to a tray of onion rings.

You can view the menu here.

The barbeque selections are smoked on the grounds and include ribs and chicken.
The unique thing is that it is served side by side with Chinese food.

One of the selections is "Abdullah's Favorite" which Dana mentioned. For just $7.49 you get a mix of miniature shrimp, beef strips, green peppers, baby corn, carrots and mushrooms sautéed in a sweet sauce and served with a side of fried rice.

Abdullah's has been open for over 10 years. As he did in the ring, he has surpassed many of his younger competitors. His restaurant has outlived the COMBINDED life spans of Hulk Hogan's Pastamania!, WCW's Nitro Grill and WWF New York.

Here is some footage of Abdullah in action in a particularly bloody match that involved a broken bottle:

Doesn't that make you want some ribs or Chinese food?

Posted by Guy Hutchinson

Sunday, March 27, 2011

a closer look: The Frugal Gormet

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #38: Running On Empty the boys talked about cooking shows and discussed TV chef Jeff Smith AKA The Frugal Gourmet:

Ken: You what I used to like on PBS?
Dana: What?
Ken: Yan Can Cook.
Dana: Oh yeah.
Ken: Whatever happened to him?
Dana: You what I could never figure out, why he was not brought into the fold of the food network.
Ken: I thought I saw him make a couple of guest appearances. His was the most entertaining show.
Dana: Yeah, but I couldn't figure out why he was never…
Ken: But he was the most entertaining show on the network. Because Frugal Gourmet was just creepy.
Dana: Well yeah.
Ken: Legitimately so we came to find out.
Dana: Yeah, not only is he a pedophile. But even the title of his show… "I'm snooty, I'm a gourmet and I'm f***ing cheap. I'm a cheapskate and I'm snooty. I'm elitist and cheap"
Ken: "and I like kids"
Dana: "so don't even ever want to know me"

Jeff Smith died in 2004. He was remembered as a "food genius" in his Seattle Times obituary. He was a prominent TV chef in the 1980s and 1990s as well as an author of several books.

And as Ken mentioned, he got into a bit of trouble at the end of his career.

Here is how Wikipedia explains it:
His public career came to an end when two of his male assistant chefs brought charges of sexual harassment against him, when they were teenagers. Shortly thereafter, in 1998, seven men alleged that he had sexually assaulted them in the 1970s, when they worked for him as minors. Smith denied the accusations but his alleged actions were the subject of much talk around the city of Tacoma for years. He was taken off the air shortly afterward. Though he was never charged with a crime, he and his insurance company settled with the plaintiffs out of court, and Smith never returned to the airwaves.

Here is a great clip of Smith from the old Late Night with David Letterman program (when Dave was at his best) that gives a good idea of the vibe Smith gave off on TV:

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Twitter: Higher Stakes Children's Books



One of the fun things about Twitter is when a comedy premise is introduced as a # (hashtag).

Recently #HigherStakesChildrensBooks showed up as one and Plumey was all over it:

There's a Monster At The End Of This YAHRARGHGGHH #HigherStakesChildrensBooks



Green Eggs And Sam #HigherStakesChildrensBooks


Goodnight, Blood Moon #HigherStakesChildrensBooks


Where the Sidewalk Ends The Abyss Begins #HigherStakesChildrensBooks


Are You There, God? It's Me, Megashark. #HigherStakesChildrensBooks


For more Ken Plume, purchase There's a Zombie in my Treehouse.

To follow Ken, Dana and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.

Post script: Hashtags can also be used to make common terms easier to search, like in this tweet from Dave Willis (with a link to an article about cocaine found at NASA).
Take a look:


Friday, March 25, 2011

Twitter: In-N-Out Fries

Ken has been travelling up and down the California coast and he must have stopped for some fries recently.

Ken tweeted this:
The comment stirred up a bit of controversy. In-N-Out prides themselves on their fries:

I love the slogan "in and out, that's what a french fry is all about". It sums up the entire digestive process the fries take... but I wouldn't advertise it.

The burger chain was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder.

SNYDER???

I wonder if they are related to Dana... let's look at a picture of them:

No. I don't see any relation.

Anyway, the burger chain prides themselves on having the freshest ingredients... or at least the brag about it.

They also have a very small menu. Here is what is listed on Wikipedia:
Hamburger, cheeseburger, and "Double-Double" (double meat/double cheese). French fries and fountain drinks are available, as well as three flavors of milkshakes.


Ahhh, the secret menu! Here is some info from the In-N-Out website:
The Twitter conversation about the In-N-Out fries continued with plenty of opinions (pro and con.)
To follow Dana, Ken and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

a closer look: Pachinko

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #20: Pachinko Fever the boys spend most of the podcast talking about Japanese gambling machines.

Pachinko is often described as a cross between a slot machine and a pinball machine... but really it's a unique game that is different than slots or pinballs.


The vintage pachinko is a machine where you shoot a small metal ball into a field of pins. Most balls will fall to the bottom but some will fall into small pockets where they will 'pay out' and you get more balls. When you finish you trade your pachinko balls in for prizes (stuff like tobacco and perfume... not stuffed animals and spider rings.)

Japanese law forbids gambling, so you cannot trade the balls for cash. However there are stores nearby the pachinko parlor that will give you cash for your prizes.

The bottom line is that eventually some machines are taken out of the pachinko parlor and end up in America for sale.

Dana and Ken were talking about the more modern pachinko machines. The modern machines have a large display in the center of the playing field that plays video clips and usually has a matching number goal (similar to a slot machine.)

Dana mentioned that many of the popular pachinko machines were based on American franchises like the Rocky Balboa pachinko:


The Robocop pachinko:


And the Popeye pachinko:


Dana talked about some of "super Japanese" pachinko machines that have a Japanese theme and seem extra weird to American audiences.

Below is a two minute video of the gameplay of Super Sea Story. In it you see turtles racing against fish. Then they all start dancing to steel drum music. Then a big breasted anime character swims up and the fish starts kissing her. Then more with the turtle... but then the fish starts kissing the anime character again. This fish is insatiable. Then a large whale swims onto the screen and just hovers in front of you.

The video also gives you a good idea of how bright, noisy and fun pachinko is.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor: 1932 – 2011

I am sure you have heard of the passing of legendary actress Liz Taylor.

Here is a great clip from the classic game show "What's My Line" showcasing the Hollywood giant when she was promoting the film The Last Time I Saw Paris and, arguably, at her most gorgeous.


The clip also contains Bennett Cerf and we should all have more Bennett Cerf in our life.

a second listen: KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #39: Bizzaro-Cast

"This is the most offering of beaver you've ever had... from a man in Canada." Dana Snyder

KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #39: Bizzaro-Cast is a fun episode from 2008.

Dana and Ken start off chatting about websites. Of course eyeofthesnyder.com is mentioned:



They talk of other websites: blueskydisney.blogspot.com,

They also talk of Dana and Ken's radio channel, Dana's CD club, Ken's taste in music, Ken's ass (mentioned in detail many times), Nik-L-Nips and The Atlanta Cyclorama.

Then they talk about the "first Snydecast baby" and Ken mentions the name of his eventual offspring: Gilligan Tiberius Plume.

Go ahead and give KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #39: Bizzaro-Cast another shot at entertaining the hell out of you.

You'll be glad you did.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

No more Dana Snyder for Vero Beach, FL

The people of Vero Beach are sad.

I don't blame them.

The Producers has successfully finished it's run at the Riverside theatre. Folks arriving to the theater can no longer buy tickets to see Dana Snyder belt out "Little Old Lady Land".

But they can buy tickets to other shows.

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will be there on April 4th.

This guy:

I know, he looks like lots of fun, and I am sure his show will be great... but it's not Dana Snyder.

After Michael Chertoff, they will have a pretty awesome show about Buddy Holly... so Riverside Theatre remains a great place to go.

Ah, but what a time they had with ol' Snydley.

The Riverside theatre website still has great info about the show including Dana's bio:

Dana Snyder* / Max
Dana Snyder is very excited to be making his Riverside debut in The Producers, one of his favorite shows. Other favorites include ART, Guys and Dolls, Tuna Christmas, and Charley's Aunt. He has performed in regional theatres around the country, including, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and The Cleveland Playhouse. He has appeared in various television shows including Brothers and Sisters, ER, and Gary Unmarried. On the comedy stage he recently concluded a 30-city tour as one of the two members of of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live Tour. He is best known to college-age audiences as the voice of Master Shake in the Adult Swim show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Other cartoons he has voiced include Disney's Fishhooks, Nickelodeon's Penguins of Madagascar, Cartoon Network's Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, and Adult Swim's Squidbillies and The Venture Brothers. He has recently been writing and producing several webisodes for Adultswim.com/sipes. you can find out useless information about him on his website www.eyeofthesnyder.com. He sends his love to his beautiful wife, Christine, and to his wonderful friends and family, all of whom have helped make him who he is today, a big fat jerk, but in a good way. For clarification the copious amount of sweat pouring down his face happens to be a character choice! ACTING!

They also have some great pictures of the show:





They also have a gallery of great "behind the scenes" pics:

For those in Vero Beach, cheer up! The weather is nice and maybe Dana will return someday!

Also, according to Wikipedia, Aol founder Steve Case, Gloria Estefan, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone, Florida State Representative Debbie Mayfield, The Rock, Teddy Roosevelt and Tommy Lee Jones have all lived there at some time or other.

That's pretty cool!


Monday, March 21, 2011

TRIVIA QUIZ: Episode #171: You’ll Believe A Man Can Swing

How well do you remember KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #171: You’ll Believe A Man Can Swing?

Well, it's test time!

1. How does Ken describe Julie Taymor?
a. bat sh*t crazy
b. a genius who is ahead of her time
c. almost as sexy as Jeffry Tambor

2. Ken gives Dana 1 minute to tell the story of the Spider-man musical. Does he do it?
a. yes
b. no
c. do what? I don't get the question.

3. Dana describes the Spider-man musical as "a ________ ___________"
a. terrible mess
b. fantastic show
c. spider porn




4. Ken says the Harry Potter ride is "for kids just not _________"
a. Dutch children
b. fat kids
c. Charlie Callas

5. How much did Dana say he paid for his Spider-man ticket?
a. $100
b. $150
c. $1,000,000 - because that is how he rolls.

6. Dana and Ken did not talk about what Disney ride:
a. Tower of Terror
b. Expedition Everest
c. Monsanto's House of the Future

7. When mentioning looking up Mary Poppins' skirt Dana says he saw up her supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. What does Ken call it?
a. her Poppinhole
b. her chim-chiminey
c. her Tower of Terror


ANSWER KEY:
1. a. bat sh*t crazy
2. b. no
3. a. terrible mess
4. b. fat kids
5. a. $100
6. c. Monsanto's House of the Future
7. b. her chim-chiminey

Twitter: Dana's new ukulele

Here is a tweet (with photos) from Jay Wade Edwards' feed:


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Twitter: Dana gets ready to end The Producers; Ken goes to California

Over on Twtter Ken has hit the road again. This time he started in Burbank and then moved to San Francisco tweeting along the way.









Looks like Ken was at a live show of Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.

Meanwhile, in Florida, Dana is getting ready for The Producers final curtain call tonight.

A VIP guest attended last nights show and tweeted about it.

The multi-talented Jay Wade Edwards has an impressive resume. Among other things he is the senior editor and producer of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.







Jay's Twitter handle is @JayWadeEdwards.

To follow Dana, Ken and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

VIDEO: Phil Silvers... lots of Phil Silvers

Ken and Dana have often spoke of legendary comic talent Phil Silvers.

Below is a selection of some of the more interesting Phil Silvers videos on youtube.com.



This is a 5 minute video (followed by a 78 second commercial) of Phil Silvers and Jack Benny on the Dick Cavett Show.



Top Banana was a wonderful stage show turned motion picture. Phil Silvers was the star and this trailer shows the intention to release the film in 3D. The idea was that you would feel like you were actually watching a real stage show as you looked at the 3D actors.



Here is another trailer for the all star classic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Phil, and so many of his contemporaries, appear in the film. This trailer is a fun showcase of his comic timing.



One more trailer, this one is a goofy Disney film called The Boatniks. "It's a salami!"

If you haven't had enough Phil Silvers (and how could you!) you can see him on TCM TOMORROW at 10am in the 1954 Doris Day film Lucky Me.

Friday, March 18, 2011

a closer look: Yan Can Cook

On KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #38: Running On Empty the boys have a back and forth about TV chef Martin Yan:



Ken: You what I used to like on PBS?
Dana: What?
Ken: Yan Can Cook.
Dana: Oh yeah.
Ken: Whatever happened to him?
Dana: You what I could never figure out, why he was not brought into the fold of the food network.
Ken: I thought I saw him make a couple of guest appearances. His was the most entertaining show.
Dana: Yeah, but I couldn't figure out why he was never…
Ken: But he was the most entertaining show on the network. Because Frugal Gourmet was just creepy.

After a little sidebar about the Frugal Gourmet the conversation comes back around to Yan:

Ken: Yan Can Cook, though, was worth watching even if just for the knife work.
Dana: He has amazing knife skills.
Ken: That show I miss. Do they even repeat it anymore?
Dana: They do. Sometimes, I think.
Ken: I just love the fact that he was obviously just, without any self consciousness just showing off to the utmost degree.
Dana: Oh yeah.
Ken: Pure showman.
Dana: That's what I like about him.
Ken: And I liked how you always watched going surely he's going to cut off a finger.
Dana: never does.

Martin Yan has been entertaining TV audiences with his cooking shows since 1978 and is still going today.

According to his website he is also doing public demonstrations. He even has one scheduled TOMORROW in California:

Castro Valley Library
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 2pm
3600 Norbridge Avenue
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Phone: (510) 667-7900

His most recent show was Martin Yan's China. Yan also owns an few Yan Can restaurants in California.

As for his knife skills... they are amazing!

Here is a vintage clip:


Here is a clip from last month at a library in California:

Take that, chicken.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Very Muppet Saint Patrick's Day

First off, I don't know much about the image below. Still, it disturbs me greatly.
Why is Grover in his pajamas... and is he in a wheelchair?
Anyway, in honor of the day that Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, today we share some Muppety video clips.

First is Wayne (one of the more obscure Muppets) performing My Wild Irish Rose:


Of course the color of the day is GREEN, so as hack as it may be, here is Kermit singing his song:


Finally, here is the most classic of all Saint Patrick's Day clips (Muppet or otherwise) it's Beaker, Swedish Chef and Animal doing Danny Boy:


Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone! Keep boozing on Friday and you can get into Purim (the great Jewish drinking holiday) on Saturday at sundown.