Buzz Magazine

You guys, I want to be very clear about one thing: I rented Hot Tub Time Machine ironically.

 It’s not that I’m above stupid movies—I’ve actually been known to enjoy them (http://www.buzznews.net/cd-and-film/film-reviews/item/2809-dvd-review-hammerhead-2005). But Hot Tub Time Machine (or “the HTTM,” as the kids are calling it) seemed a little too aware of its own stupidity. As a general rule, for a movie to be hilariously terrible, the actors and production staff need to be completely unaware of how awful their product is: they need to be on screen SELLING IT, allowing the viewing audience to join together in snickering quietly behind their backs. Take that, Hollywood—score one for the little guy! So when a movie tries to upset the status quo by getting in on our private this-movie-has-no-idea-how-bad-it-is joke, I’m always a little skeptical. However, in this case, my undying love for John Cusack (swoon) superceded my skepticism, leading me to make the 2-block walk to the Red Box, where I paid a whole dollar for Hot Tub Time Machine.

 Friends, that dollar was well worth it.

 Hot Tub Time Machine tells the story of three middle-aged men (John Cusack, Craig Robinson, and Rob Corddry) who are unhappy with where their lives have gone since high school. After one friend accidentally attempts suicide by revving his car engine in a locked garage while singing along to some 80’s hairband music (yup), the friends decide to return to the vacation hot-spot of their younger days, a ski-resort town where they once spent “the best weekend of their lives.” Unfortunately, 25 years later, the town has all but shut down, leaving the three friends (and John Cusack’s 20-something nephew, who is inexplicably along for the ride) with nothing to do but drink naked in a hot tub. One of the friends has brought along the Russian equivalent of Red Bull energy drink, and during a 3-minute party montage, we see the Red Bull spill onto the temperature control of the hot tub, immediately turning it into a time machine. Don’t worry, skeptics; the science of this phenomenon is soon explained, and the reasoning is pretty air-tight: there is an ingredient in Russian Red Bull that isn’t legal in the United States, and spilling it onto this particular hot tub causes time travel. Now, before you start asking for “details,” like how, exactly, the time machine picked 1986 as their travel destination, or what differentiates this hot tub from all the other hot tubs in the world, or how much Russian Red Bull needed to be spilled onto the controls, or how the time travelers’ clothes and luggage came back in time with them when those objects weren’t in the hot tub, I feel the need to remind you: You’re watching Hot Tub Time Machine. You signed up for this, buddy.

 Anyway, the four guys wake up in the hot tub feeling remarkably well for the amount of alcohol they’ve consumed and are unaware that they’re not still safe and happy in 2010. They go out skiing, and suddenly it’s VERY OBVIOUS that something is wrong. I mean, really, people, the other skiers are wearing brightly-colored clothing. And there is a woman wearing furry ski-boots. Someone is wearing those stupid sunglasses with the colored plastic slats across them. Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance” is playing at the ski-lodge. THESE THINGS NEVER HAPPEN IN 2010, PEOPLE! The most obvious and logical explanation is that we have gone back in time, specifically to 1986. These suspicions are confirmed when Darryl from The Office asks a woman in the ski-lodge what color Michael Jackson’s skin is… clearly, because that was the most direct way to find out what year it is. She replies, “black,” and (dun-dun-DUNNNN) we learn: it’s 1986.

Anyway, the movie goes on from there. There’s some hilarious discussion of “The Butterfly Effect,” (no, not the metaphor for chaos theory… the Ashton Kutcher movie), where the guys decide not to do anything that might change the future. In an obvious parallel to our generation’s greatest time-travel movie, the 20-something nephew learns that he was conceived on this particular weekend, and as his parents’ drunken hook-up almost doesn’t happen, his body starts to flicker in and out, eventually disappearing like Marty McFly during the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. And just as you’re waiting for Biff to start yelling “Hey McFly,” there he is: Crispin Glover makes an appearance as a one-armed bell-hop.

As the gang struggles to figure out what’s going on and try to get home, Chevy Chase makes a few cameos and says some cryptic things that don’t make any sense. Some ski instructors find the extra can of Russian Red Bull and, thinking it’s a bomb, suspect that the time travelers are spies. There are some fabulous one-liners (“I’ve only had two wine-kills, Captain Buzz-Cooler!”), some awesome 80’s music, and a surprisingly entertaining plot. All-in-all, I give the movie a solid B+. It was bad, but it was bad on PURPOSE. And if you’re going to be ridiculous, you might as well go all out.

So, if you have a nearby Red Box and a dollar bill lying around, you could do worse than to spend it on Hot Tub Time Machine. Check it out… come on, like you have anything better to do?

Chicago Writer John Kramer interviews Chicago Comedian Shelly Gossman about Second City and her

SNL audition.

Shelly has recently become a Saturday Night Live Writer. Congratulations!

A BuzznewsTV Comedy Review Special Feature Presentation!

Special thanks to John Kramer!

See more of John HERE!

Click here for a total list of SNL Writers over 36 Seasons so far!

Enjoy!

August Comedy

Feature!

This August in Comedy on BuzznewsTV!

Featuring the works of Film Maker/Writer

JOHN KRAMER

Chicagoland Producer

John Kramer has a long-standing comedy career in Chicagoland receiving notoriety on CNN, FOX CHICAGO SUNDAY, The New York Times, and has even worked alongside comedy stars Jim Belushi, Chris Farley, and Tina Fey to name a few. 

John Kramer produces a variety of comedic material.

You can also see some comedy animations by John in a Buzz Cartoon & Animation search at the top of the page.

Enjoy. Stay tuned for another great episode next week.

Also Featuring

THE SONG A WEEK PROJECT

with

Matt Griffo & Andy Gailor

Enjoy!

Stay Tuned. More to Come.

Click HERE for more BuzznewsTV!

Kimberly Katz’ Platinum Press

“This Brilliant Jew is No Dummy!”

I have been eager to see the brilliant comedian and actor Don Rickles live and in concert for so many years. I saw him perform finally at The Venue in Hammond, Indiana last week and I was blown away by his abundant energy and razor sharp rapier wit. Even at 84, Don is still knockin’ ‘em dead with his own, unique brand of insult comedy.

The audience in the sold out house roared as Rickles’ hysterically skewered those in the front rows. “Hey look it’s a black guy in the front row, isn’t that nice, that’s lovely, send them some champagne. Oh and you the Jap, why don’t you take a picture of the nice black couple in the front row with their champagne - you’re never gonna’ see that again!”

I am Jewish too, and there is kind of an unspoken thing that if you ARE Jewish, you can joke about Jews, and since your people survived the Holocaust, well… you can pretty much safely joke about everyone else.

Rickles’ is a long time Democrat, and the thing that actually makes his insult comedy politically correct is that instead of spewing hate, he is actually defusing all the stereotypes and generalizations that most people have bubbling under the surface, and he allows them to come out into the light of day and pop like so many soap bubbles in laughter.

I was surprised to find out that this long time friend of Frank Sinatra is actually in possession of a great set of pipes himself. Rickles’ performs a couple of great tunes in his act with a full orchestra behind him and with great force and emotion. I was very impressed and had no idea he could sing so well!

I also loved the general atmosphere of his show. Many of my relatives, my grandparents and great aunts and uncles have all passed and being there with Don and his audience, which happily had a lot of alta cockers - old Jews in it, was like being back at home at my grandparent’s house in Miami, Florida as we kibitzed around trying to make each laugh. What a wonderful evening it was and I have rarely seen an audience this size and with so many races and ages in attendance, leave a show laughing and with such huge smiles on their faces!

One of my favorite bits was about his wife of 45 years, Barbara. Don says

”I still have to give her what she wants once in a while. When I come home and hear her saying, ‘Pussycat? Pussycat?’ I know I have to jump under the bed and say ‘Meow? Meow’ -Yeah, I still do it for her…because everything is in her name!”

Rickles continues to be very active on the stand-up comedy scene, and is still a popular performer in Las Vegas with many dates booked through the end of 2010. He has no plans to retire and as he recently said in an interview: "I'm in good health. I'm working better than I ever have. The audiences are great. Why should I retire? I'm like a fighter. The bell rings and you come out and fight. My energy comes alive. And I still enjoy it!”

The new animation series from brothers Michael and Ray Lambert of Tech Nubian Studios in L.A. is being featured exclusively on BuzzTV this season.

This comedy animation special is produced on Poser Imaging Software and features exceptional detail and a distinct use of 3-D perspective that rivals and superceeds things you see on television already. This is, by all means, the real deal.

Since the launch of Buzz Cartoon Animation Network this past Fall, we have received submissions and discovered some new and evolving talents. It's not easy making a cartoon, let alone a series. Especially with your brother! But these brothers are different!  And a lot of their best friends are white! What, you say? That's the comical jist of this next episode. Scope it out. Stay tuned as we feature more episodes from this talented animation team., exclusively on Buzz.

Also included in this BuzzTV animation feature is a music video right out of Chicago with a very regional "Juke" style of dance. Watch and enjoy. While you're at it get up and try. If you can! Ha!

For other animations and special cartoons submitted to the Buzz Cartoon Animation Network, go Here.

Royal Payne Multimedia

Buzz Diner

Welcome to the Buzz Diner.

What's on the menu?

If you don't see it, we'll make it for ya' sugar shoes.

And what will you find in this diner?

Interesting cool people, things, and treats?

For sure boss.

Enjoy the Buzz!

Here's a special treat from Kim Katz in The GREENROOM!

Click HERE for more BuzzTV Interviews!

"Almost everytime I watch Family Guy, I think... do they actually sit around and PLAN this?"

"Get sponsors too?! Why those little..........!"

 (Greg Chruscielski. Buzznews)

How did they start that whole thing?

Take a look. See if you can recognize some voices from Family Guy in this video below. The tone. The character. The style. It's all in there. It all starts somewhere.

( WARNING! This video contains some adult content. )

We're on the hunt for Chicagoland's greatest animators. If you or someone you know produces cartoons and animations or puppet shows, send them here so we can see it, on the BUZZ!

This is a new series on Buzz that features some of the best cartoons and animations as well as puppetry in Chicagoland. Each Tuesday you can tune in for a new one.

From stills that tell it all, to fluid image ensembles, this new Buzz series will take you on a new and cool kind of cartoon trip.

And when we catch up with Puppet Bike, our camera will be there, so stay tuned! Oh...you haven't seen the Puppet Bike? Well we'll bring it to you in HD. It's awesome!

The Puppet Bike ensemble has 8 or more puppeteers working variable performances. It's a special piece of art and a Chicago treasure. Stay around.

  When was the last time you and some good friends, art associates, or your school class sat down and made a puppet film? A cartoon? Animation or game experiment? Did you ever draw something you just loved? Even if it was just on a scrap of something?

Then you can imagine how it felt to be a passionate cartoon enthusiast who spent all those years in the 70's drawing then landing a job animating for The Wall by PINK FLOYD.

Well...we know here at Buzz there are some very creative people and groups out there in Chicagoland. They are creative and, when you think about film, the concepts, and the mechanics of it all, just excellent artists and creators. For these people its a solid focus on...

...FPS. It stands for Frames Per Second.

( Camera settings range from 18,24,29,30,50 &60 FPS )

If you were to make a bunch of paper-doll cut-outs with movable limbs, or heads, and took 18 frame shots of it moving, you would have 1 second of movement at this rate.

Far cry from a 20 minute TV special with a few commercials to nicely fit it into a half hour.

So...here it is. A look at some of Chicagoland's best!

CHICAGOLAND

CARTOONS!

Below is a great example of an animated Mini-Movie concept made with  puppets, drawings, and a variety of "multi-dimensional" components coming right out of Chicago. This is cateogized as POLITICAL ART. Similar to PINK FLOYD'S The WALL, it carries a theme of political intimidation and government control! High taxes in Illinois?! No way!

A Lightbox Classic.

Attack of the Fedpires.

(Walt Disney's crew used sheets of glass sheets for the 3D-like production of Bambi. Imagine one layer the mountains, one layer bushes. and one clouds. Move them across each other incrementally or filmed as such and you have a multi-dimensional scene! Those were the days of pure movie magic! That's real business. Smart kids! )

Truth is, the effort and hundreds of people involved in animating Walt Disney's films is the pinnacle of cartoon art genius.

You can call them teams if you like. The people and puppeteers who create animations and cartoons put some very hard-earned energy into their work and ideas. These projects take time.

That's why they're so fascinating. You just sit there, eyes wide,  and think...wow. All that, and the time to make it into a cartoon. Who pays them to do this? What drives them!

Deep thoughts. And not even close to Jack Handey. Much deeper!

Deeper than Peter and Louis Griffin on a beaver hunt on the northern tip of Quagmire Pole! ...    .........     ! ...........!.. ...   .  .. .  !

Cartoons and Animations are COOL. And that's all there is to say. They have made their way into the mainstream, and we're here to start reviewing some of the best animation in Chicagoland and beyond.

From CHICAGOLAND You're Watching The TAXPAYERANTHEM

You're Watching

The Tale of BRAVEBOB

BraveBob is the story of an individual's struggle to preserve their liberty and freedom under an increasingly tax-aggressive democracy.

For more Taxpayer Anthem, click HERE!

If you have a cartoon, cartoon strip, animation, episode, mini-movie, or mini-series please contact HERE!

While you're at it, say goodbye to

Mr Quimby!

If the upcoming Adam Sandler/Judd Apatow movie Funny People is even half as good as its marketing, prepare to laugh your dicks off. Not so sure? Well, visit laughyourdickoff.com to see for yourself.

Fun from the cage!

(_!_) a regular ass

(__!__) a fat ass(!)

a tight ass (_*_)

an ass hole {_!_}

a swishy ass (_o_)

an ass that's been around (_x_)

(_X_) leave my ass alone

(_zzz_) a tired ass

(_E=mc2_) a smart ass

(_$_) Money coming out of his ass

(_?_) Dumb Ass

Here is the yin to Paul Blart’s yang. Both movies are stupid Spring comedies about “heroic” portly mall cops, but together they represent the opposite poles of Hollywood filmmaking. Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a standard mainstream crowd-pleaser: inoffensive, likable and instantly forgettable. Observe and Report is the extreme opposite on all counts