Welcome to Live TV!

I did live news for several years, and every single day, there is an incredible energy behind-the-scenes, because there was a chance that something would go very, very wrong – and very, very LIVE…

Don’t make a sad face, just suck it up and keep going, because the camera is still on! Here is a look at some recent “live mistakes” that aired around the world:

Kudos to “GrafTV Best Fail” on YouTube for sharing this!

Why do I love News Bloopers so much? Well, it’s because what you see is live, so there is no possible way to know how a live newscast can go off the rails – but they do all the time!

In fact, here are the funniest bloopers from August 2016, from “News Be Funny” – the latest look at what can go wrong when the camera is always on!

Bravo to the great YouTube channel “News Be Funny Videos” for creating this…subscribe to their channel and get them all the time!

Of course, the Master of the blooper is Steve Harvey, because of his reactions for what comes out of the mouths of guests! Here is a look at some of the funniest “Family Feud” bloopers:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/02/best-live-news-bloopers-of-2016-steve-harvey-family-feud-bloopers/

Let me know your favorite news bloopers!

Steve Harvey’s Award-Winning Talk Show Is Back!

That’s right, season five of “Steve Harvey” is here! All new episodes started last week, and this week, the fifth season of “Steve Harvey” continues with more great guests and hilarious segments!

Mel B visits with Steve on Monday, and she judges some very special talent…here’s a funny backstage clip with Mel B, as she gives you some pointers on how to listen to her accent:

Later in the week, Reality family stars the Chrisley and Manzo families go head to head in a funny food duel, and on Friday, Steve gets cooking tips and more from Martha Stewart!

All new episodes air every single day, so make sure to check them out!

To find out when and where Steve Harvey airs in your city, click on this great link!

http://www.steveharveytv.com/watch/

My wife, Alex Duda, is the Executive Producer of the show along with Steve, and the entire team has worked amazingly hard to come up with a new season of funny!

In case you’ve missed anything, here’s a clip from the first episode, when Steve talks about a special event that occurred over the summer, which resulted in a name change AND a new procedure he undertook:

The season also got off to a great start when fellow Cleveland-er LeBron James welcomed Steve back – here is that special moment:

Then, Jay Leno came into the studio to kick off the new season in hilarious fashion, and showed Steve an unbelievable clip from his car show on CNBC:

Here are a few more highlights from season five:

The Week Of Great Guests Rolls On!

On the second new show of the season, Steve started with an “Ask Steve” question that resulted in a surprise guest:

Next up, Steve brought out some of his wildest “Family Feud” participants to explain why they gave such crazy answers on the show…

Bravo to the entire Steve Harvey team for a great new season of funny! More than a hundred people work on this show every day, and the entire team deserves kudos for the great show they deliver…

We were fortunate enough to have the stars of our TV series “Art Breakers”, Miller Gaffney and Carol Lee Brosseau on the talk show last season…

You can see some fun behind-the-scenes footage of that appearance by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/08/steve-harvey-meets-the-art-breakers-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-pics-and-clip-with-steve-harvey/

Of course, some of the funniest bloopers ever come from Steve’s other show, “Family Feud!”

Check out these classic moments, as well as some of TV’s most outrageous news bloopers, by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/02/best-live-news-bloopers-of-2016-steve-harvey-family-feud-bloopers/

Make sure to set your DVR or watch Steve Harvey every day! You know what they say:

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS!

Christina Applegate’s Mom Goes “Cruising” For Al Pacino!

OK, movie fans, here is a GREAT anecdote for you! First, the new bawdy comedy “Bad Moms” is a terrific way to spend 90 minutes – the cast is hilarious, the story takes a female point of view on all things “MOM” – including disgusting husbands and annoying kids – and how they decide to fight back!

Meet The Real Moms!

Better yet, the film ends on a terrific note: over closing credits, the cast is shown in individual interviews with their real-life Moms, candidly discussing the “bad” things their real-life Mothers did to their daughters when they were growing up.

Mila Kunis, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn and Christina Applegate all have funny and warm conversations with their Moms, but the best is when Applegate tells her “Cruising” story!

Christina explains that her Mom took her to the movies: but this time is was the controversial R-rated thriller “Cruising” – and Christina was 9 years old! Yes, Christina Applegate’s Mom took her 9-year old daughter to see THIS movie:

Literally “Cruising” For A Bruising!

If you don’t know what “Cruising” is all about, well, it was one of 1980’s most shocking movies!

“Cruising” was a very controversial directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino…so how did Christina end up in the theater with her Mom watching Al Pacino doing this?

The “Bad Moms” stars share the screen in the closing credits with their real-life mothers – and it is here where Christina Applegate mentions that her mother took her to see this Al Pacino film when she was 9 years old. How did that happen? Easy!

“Al Pacino!”

The Actor’s name is a hilarious punchline in the credits, as Christina’s Mom explains that she loved Al Pacino, so when his latest film came out in 1980, off she went with her daughter in tow to see it – and here’s what she saw!

So here is the story of “Crusing”: a cop, played by Al Pacino, goes undercover in New York’s lurid gay bondage and S&M scene to uncover a killer.

Check out the trailer for this controversial thriller:

The film is explicitly violent, and also features some of the hardest sexual content you will see in an R-rated film at that time…

The gay community protested the film at the time, with pickets outside some theaters. It’s a shocking film, and certainly way more than any young girl should see. So why did Christina’s Mom take her to see it?

Christina laughs as she explains that her Mom was a huge Al Pacino fan – so of course she would see any film he was in, and take her daughter along with her! Her Mom had NO idea how rough the film was, and as Christina is telling this story, you suddenly hear:

“Al Pacino!”

Her Mom blurts out the Actors’ name as an explainer for her parenting choice – it was “Al Pacino!”

Bravo to the entire cast of “Bad Moms” for a very funny movie hit! All of the closing credit discussions are hilarious, but the Al Pacino stuff is classic!

Pacino is certainly a terrific Actor, and “Cruising” is a fascinating film – it’s on home video so check it out! Also, check out this conversation that Al Pacino recently had with Director Michael Mann and Robert DeNiro about their iconic crime drama”Heat”.

The entire cast took part in an Oscar chat – read it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/10/amazing-heat-reunion-deniro-pacino-showdown-new-oscar-face-off/

“Cruising” Director William Friedkin made some of the greatest films of the modern era, such as “The French Connection”, “The Exorcist” and “Sorcerer.”

Friedkin is a fearless Director, and he wrote a book about his Hollywood adventures.

Here is his terrific Autobiography:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/22/sorcerer-legendary-lost-classic-is-uncovered-on-blu-ray-the-friedkin-connection-rules/

Of course, he made the scariest film of all time, didn’t he?

I love this film – shocking and horrific, and of course one of the most memorable horror moments of all time, when young Regan “turns her head” to look at who entered the room:

Here is some terrific “Exorcist” trivia:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/31/the-shining-room-237-the-exorcist-the-greatest-horror-movies-ever-made/

Thanks to Christina Applegate’s Mom for keeping “Cruising” alive for a new generation!

“readin’ writing’ and radiation.”

Bravo to one of the great movie taglines of all time! Exploitation fans are well aware of the cult classic “The Class Of Nuke ’em High”, and you should know that Troma released their latest sequel, “Return To Nuke ’em High” two years ago!

If you need to be reminded of how great it was, here is a trailer in all its wacky glory!

Prepare For ‘Vol. 2’!”

In pure Troma fashion, founder Lloyd Kaufman devised a way to turn his film into a two-part masterpiece, much like “Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1 & 2.”

That’s right: “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2” is almost here! First, let’s tease you a bit. Here is the trailer:

Bring Lloyd Home!

Well, if not your actual house, how about movie theater in your town?

Lloyd wants to come to your city to personally screen his latest opus for you! That’s right, if you can get your local movie theater to screen “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2”, Lloyd’s willing to come to town and watch it with you and all of your Tromatic fans!

UNDATED – Photo of Lloyd and the Cretins, photo from the making of RTNH Vol. 1 Return to Nuke Em High Volume 1-HANDOUT Photo Courtesy of Mayfair Theatre

Support Independent Art!

As always, Troma must kick and scratch their way into movie theaters, because the mega chains are more interested in showing “Suicide Squad” on all twenty screens…but when fans cry out and show their support, Troma gets their due – and don’t you want to see THIS on a big screen?

There are a number of ways you can support Lloyd and his Tromatic bunch…most importantly, go to their website and buy some great movies like this!

You can also subscribe to their youtube channel and get some great movies there as well…see all of your options here:

http://www.troma.com

Don’t forget some of the great films you’ve seen because of Lloyd:

Get Social!

Make sure to follow Lloyd and all of the Troma force on Twitter:

@lloydkaufman

@Troma_Team

@tromacathy

@TromaArmy

Troma is the longest-running independent film company in America – thanks in part to this guy:

“The Toxic Avenger” is Troma’s masterwork…there is no way anyone can make it better….well, unless you happen to have made THIS:

That’s right, “The Toxic Avenger” is being remade by the Co-Director Of “Sausage Party!” Read the entire story here:

http://deadline.com/2016/09/the-toxic-avenger-remake-sausage-party-co-director-conrad-vernon-storyscape-entertainment-1201814509/

Some of you read my story about how my wife, Alex, co-created the Troma character “Dolphinman” with James Gunn, the Director of “Guardians Of The Galaxy”…

We met James at the Cannes Film Festival when he was working with Lloyd, and Dolphinman began as a skit on “Sex On The Riviera” for E! You can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/04/james-gunn-the-origin-of-tromas-dolphinman-wrestlers-v-zombies-new-tromatic-classics/

If all of this makes you want more Troma movies, well, I’ve got a list of some of the greatest of all time, like this:

Here is my list of Tromatc masterpieces – see how many you already own:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/02/11/tromas-top-ten-the-tromatic-classics-unveiled/

You must click on the story to see if this made the list:

Make sure to reach out to Troma and get “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2” in your town!

Princess Leia Unloads!

Carrie Fisher has an explosive new book about her “Star Wars” adventures coming out, and it includes some revelations about her and Han Solo!

Here’s how Google describes the book:

“When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved-plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naivet , and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a (sort-of) regular teenager.”

Princess Leia’s Affair With Han Solo!

It seems that Fisher is going to share a LOT of behind-the-scenes revelations!

According to The Daily Beast:

“Carrie Fisher unveiled details of a secret relationship with her Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford in her forthcoming book, The Princess Diarist. Fisher, now 60, said the two began sleeping together one night in 1976 when Ford, then 32, offered to drive her, then 19, home while filming the beloved film franchise’s first installation. The affair lasted three months, she said, and she “relentlessly” wanted him to love her, often fantasizing, she recalled, that he would ask her to marry him with a “gold band with diamonds (inscribed) ‘Carrison.”’

According to the article:

“at the end of filming Star Wars, Ford returned to his wife Mary and two children (he and Mary divorced in 1979). Fisher has been rather open about off-screen life during the Star Wars filming, telling The Daily Beast last year that she and Ford partied with the Rolling Stones and members of the Monty Python troupe.”

Carrie Fisher is already a best-selling Author of books like “Postcards From The Edge”, and I cannot wait to read her latest memoir!

Of course, there was a more modern “Princess Leia” I shared with you:

Yes, I worked with Olivia Munn at G4, and her “Slave Leia” outfit turned a lot of head at our Star Wars convention coverage! See more pics here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/19/the-force-awakens-final-trailer-is-here-amazing-star-wars-cup-clingers-darth-vader-cmas-tree-olivia-munn-is-sexy-princess-leia-darth-vader-on-violin/

I also shared some great “Star Wars” news for fans of Disneyland – the first sketches of the new “Star Wars” land being built there:

See more pics here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/12/new-star-wars-disneyland-images-are-here-the-force-is-with-this-new-disney-theme-park-area/

Can’t wait for this book!

Looking for some over-the-top camp 80’s classics? Starring these three?

Have Some Fun With Quigley, Stevens & Bauer!

It would be the most popular law firm EVER: 80’s sex kittens Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michael Bauer teamed up on a few of the best 80’s cult horror movies of all – including this film, which was done on a dare!

Meet The “Nightmare Sisters!”

Here is a movie that was made in the most unique way ever – a creative team dared to make use of some extra leftover film!

Here is how the movie is described by the great website Mondo Digital:

“Shot over a long weekend, this self-proclaimed “4 Day Wonder” began as a dare to director David DeCoteau to throw together a single-location shoot using 35mm short ends after the completion of his successful Full Moon feature, ‘Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-a-Rama’.”

The website adds:

“Three of his leading ladies (who would remain with him for years in a variety of other scream queen projects) — Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Brinke Stevens — gladly jumped at the chance to star in a T&A comic horror fantasy while getting to stretch a bit by playing both sorority nerds and demonic temptresses.”

And cult movie fans are happy they wanted to have some fun!

So here are three of the 80’s most popular cult movie queens – Quigley, Bauer and Stevens as nerds – clearly having fun playing goofy…and then of course, here they are as demonic temptresses:

Where’s The Skin?

While the movie that was released on blu-ray is chock full of nudity, an alternative cut was created for television…as Mondo Digital reports:

“An alternate TV version clocks in at almost the exact same running time but replaces the nude scenes (especially the very, very long one in the middle of the film) with different takes involving the actresses in lingerie and some different scenes (shot much later) with them bouncing around on a bed instead of frolicking in the bathtub!”

There is PLENTY of skin on display, as any good 80’s camp horror film would have…Mondo Digital also goes into the extensive extra content included in the blu-ray release, including some great audio commentary by the cast and crew….see the whole story here:

http://www.mondo-digital.com/nightmaresisters.html

And of course, major kudos once again to “Vinegar Syndrome”, and mazing home video company working to keep movies like this alive!

Vinegar Syndrome is remastering and releasing these gems with tons of great extras, uncut editions, etc. I have posted about them before, for work on classic underground films like these!

“The Telephone Book” is a crazy, obscure film from the 70’s the Vinegar Syndrome brought back to life…see some crazy material from it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/25/the-telephone-book-a-legendary-mind-blowing-obscure-cult-classic/

Vinegar also gave us such classics as this:

Yes, Vinegar Syndrome is the place to go for great cult films…see more of them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/28/a-saint-a-woman-a-devil-classic-vinegar-from-a-syndrome-you-need-to-control/

This is the kind of “anything goes” attitude from cinema that is missing in film today…and the three Actresses in “Nightmare Sisters” have a ton of great camp films to enjoy…right Linnea?

Yes, Linnea Quigley became known as one of Hollywood’s legendary Scream Queens, and she continues to work today, as well as tour the country – making personal appearances at cult movie festivals:

She also wrote her autobiography…see so much more from Linnea here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/28/scream-queen-linnea-quigley-naked-graveyard-dancing-horror-demons-too/

Let me know your favorite 80’s horror gems!

Happy Birthday Bruce Lee!

Today would have been Bruce Lee’s 77th birthday – the greatest action movie star of all time….and here is the proof!

Yes, he battles Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – and he took on “tough guy” Check Norris as well – in fact, he was the greatest on-screen fighter we’ve ever seen…

However, his physical prowess wasn’t just proven on the movie screen – you see, Lee was just as amazing as you saw in the movies in real life as well!

First, Shout Factory has the great Bruce Lee film “Game Of Death” – check out this Nunchuck fight scene:

Nunchuck Ping Pong!

Here is another example of just how amazing an athlete Bruce Lee was. Early in his career, to promote a cell phone from Nokia, Bruce Lee was sponsored by Nokia in a Ping Pong tournament. But as a twist:

Bruce Lee Plays Ping Pong With Nunchucks!

Check out this amazing video!

DJ Bruce Lee!

Bruce Lee died tragically in the early 70’s, just as he was achieving super stardom. He has become an iconic figure – and apparently the hippest DJ of all time as well!

Here are some pictures of Robert Downey Jr, when he was promoting the last “Avenger” film…you can see who his inspiration is…

Yep, “Iron Man” is sporting a “DJ Bruce Lee” T-shirt – and I love it! Lee is an iconic action figure, and his work will last forever…oh yes, and you can buy one of these as well!

So kudos to Robert Downey Jr. for his good taste, and let me take a moment to remind you of just why Bruce Lee was so cool …

“Remember: the enemy has only images and illusions behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy.”

This philosophy may be from the classic action film “Enter The Dragon”, but it speaks to the life of Bruce Lee, one of the most iconic figures of all time.

Bruce Lee was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, and is widely considered to be the most influential martial artist of all time.

Lee was born in San Francisco to parents from Hong Kong – and was raised in Kowloon, just outside of Hong Kong, with his family until his late teens. Lee moved to the United States at the age of 18 to receive his higher education, and it was during this time that he began teaching martial arts. He trained many celebrities, including James Coburn, and it helped him break into films with this mesmerizing scene from “Marlowe.”

What a movie entrance! Bruce Lee also starred in the TV series “The Green Hornet” as Kato, and then went back to Hong Kong to star in an action movie that would propel him to stardom. “The Big Boss” elevated the traditional Hong Kong martial arts film to a new level of popularity and acclaim, leading to his masterpiece…

“Enter The Dragon” is the greatest martial arts movie ever made – and it made Lee a superstar. Lee starred in five movies: The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972) and Way of the Dragon (1972), directed and written by Lee – this is the film in which he fights Chuck Norris in the Rome Coliseum!

Enter The Dragon Trailer!

Here’s the trailer for the film that made Bruce Lee a super star:

In “Enter the Dragon”, Bruce played an undercover agent who enters a martial arts tournament in order to infiltrate a drug smuggler’s operation. Character Actor and martial arts afficianado John Saxon also starred and showed off his moves, along with the very under-rated action star Jim Kelly.

Jim Kelly went on to star in such grindhouse classics as “Black Belt Jones” – he was a kick-ass action star who never really broke out big…

And then came tragedy. Bruce Lee died in Hong Kong three weeks before the film’s premiere in 1973. He had already finished filming his next movie, called “Game Of Death” before he died of a brain aneurism. The movie, which was completed after his death, includes footage from Lee’s real-life funeral.

Bruce Lee Vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!

“Game of Death” included an amazing fight between Lee and basketball super star Kareen Abdul-Jabbar…here it is:

Bruce Lee was an amazing Athlete, talented Actor and Director, and an iconic figure…so much so that he lives on today like this!

And as I mentioned before, Jim Kelly co-starred with Bruce Lee in “Enter The Dragon” – he was a great star in the world of 70’s blaxploitation action film – here is a look at his great career:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/30/rip-jim-kelly-bruce-lees-kung-fu-partner-blaxploitation-master/

The other co-star in “Enter The Dragon” was the great character actor John Saxon…

You can read all about this terrific actor here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/04/06/john-saxon-kicks-bruce-lees-ass-classic-kung-fu-action-euro-crime-master/

So it’s time to get the special edition blu-ray of “Enter The Dragon” – and go out and get some DJ Bruce Lee too!

Frankfurters For The Holidays!

I love the internet. It gave me this classic ad, for a holiday Frankfurter dish courtesy of “Mrs. Damon Runyon!”

Note the “Creamed diced carrots in onion cups” that go along with it…and after a fine meal like that on Christmas day, you need a smoke!

Classic Celebrity Holiday Smoking Ads!

As you can see, everything we love is on the internet – like these holiday cigarette ads with celebrities shilling cartons of smokes as a holiday gift!

Can you imagine that today? Still, really funny to see these classic ads pop up – and there are tons of ads showing celebs shilling smokes all year long as well, like this one with John Wayne:

After all that food and smoking, you may need an Alka-Seltzer – don’t worry, Sammy Davis Jr. has you covered:

I love that all of this vintage Hollywood stuff is on the internet – for example, do you want to see pictures of Celebrities playing with their food?

Yes, now you can own a picture of Robert Plant eating an ice cream cone – rather sloppily I might add…check out tons of celebrities playing with their food here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/18/hilarious-internet-trend-celebrities-play-with-their-food-sex-bacon-bikinis-elvis-tasty-pics-of-the-stars/

Speaking of celebrities and food, did you know that legendary Actor Humphrey Bogart used to sell chocolates?

How could you NOT buy these treats knowing that Bogie approved of them? See a lot of funny celebrity ads here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/26/hilarious-celebrity-product-endorsements-stallone-humphrey-bogart-wacky-ads-galore/

There you go, more celebrity fun courtesy of the internet!

“One of the great Italian American pop crooners…”

It’s An Iconic Al Martino Christmas!

This holiday season I have been sharing some of my favorite holiday music, and I didn’t want to forget this classic holiday album from the iconic Al Martino, who has been described as one of the “great Italian American pop crooners!”

Al Martino’s Decades Of Smash Hits!

Martino was one of the most popular singers in America – decades full of hit albums, TV appearances, tours and movies as well.

Martino’s first #1 hit was “Here In My Heart” in 1952, and in the decades that followed, Martino sold millions of albums – and starred in the greatest film ever made…more on his most famous role in “The Godfather” in a moment…

In 1963, Martino had one of his biggest U.S. chart successes with “I Love You Because”. Martino had four other U.S. top 10 hits in 1963 and 1964 – “Painted, Tainted Rose”, “I Love You More and More Every Day”, “Tears and Roses”, and “Silver Bells”.

Martino’s Platinum “Spanish Eyes”

Martino is also known for the classic song “Spanish Eyes”, which went platinum in the mid-60’s.

Here is a great live performance from German television in 1967:

“You’re All I Want For Christmas”

But now it’s time to talk Santa Claus and more.

I wanted to share some of Martino’s great holiday music – classic songs that are timeless.

This album means so much to his family – as his daughter Alison told me:

“My parents actually met on a plane ride while dad was promoting that record. It was 1964 and my mother was an American Airlines stewardess at the time and he signed her a copy of that LP. It was a short flight, but was love at first “flight”.

Here is the audio-only of Martino’s classic holiday hit “You’re All I Want For Christmas”:

Martino left us with lots of great Christmas classics, like “What Child Is This”:

Martino has a lot of great holiday songs that you can buy, like this holiday classic “White Christmas”:

Alison has posted many great photos of her Mom and Dad. Here she is as a VERY young girl!

She and her Mom love listening to all of her Dad’s music, but the holiday music is also very special to her. As Alison told me:

“Dad’s Christmas album is truly our gift during the holidays. We lost him in 2009, but because of that record we hear him every year.”

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Al Martino Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Martino’s music can be downloaded or purchased from Amazon as well as other outlets – here is a link to his Christmas album…

https://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Al-Martino/dp/B00006LI14

I love this music – an era when Martino, Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett created a classic “Mad Men” sound, and on these holidays songs his voice is as smooth as silk…he was a huge star, and made his mark in movies as well…

Johnny Fontane Gets Smacked By The Godfather!

Martino famously portrayed washed-up Singer Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather”, and shares a great moment in the film with “Godfather” Marlon Brando.

Martino’s daughter Alison shared this anecdote with me:

“When dad was about to film that scene, he overheard Marlon Brando tell Frances Coppola:

“You better give Al a stiff drink before we shoot that scene”.

You know the moment, right when Johnny makes the mistake of saying “I don’t know what to do” to Don Corleone:

“You Can Act Like A Man!”

As you can see, The Godfather erupts with passion and screams at Fontaine: “you can act like a man!”

He also slaps him – something that wasn’t in the script and Martino had no idea was coming – his reaction is real!

As Alison adds about Brando’s warning to Coppola:

“After the scene was filmed, Dad knew why he said that. It was a hard slap!”

James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, agreed. According to Caan:

“Martino didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!”

THE GODFATHER, Al Martino, Marlon Brando, 1972

Alison also shared this:

“During ‘The Godfather’, Dad recorded and additional Christmas song for the movie. It was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and it plays in the scene where Michael sees the news about him pop in the paper being shot! Here’s the scene:”

Alison points out that her Dad’s version of the song has never been released commercially!

Alison’s Effort To Keep Vintage Los Angeles Alive!

Martino’s daughter Alison is an industry professional and entertainment insider who is passionate about saving “classic Hollywood” for future generations to enjoy:

Alison took part in a great “Godfather” screening here in Los Angeles, and she shared this “slap” story with Film Critic Kenneth Turan on stage – and she shows off her Dad’s personal copy of the film’s script!

She also tells a great story about how her Dad got new “Managers” unexpectedly when he was starting out – the Mob!

Check out this fascinating conversation here!

Alison’s terrific website “Vintage Los Angeles” is documenting the history of Hollywood so that it’s not forgotten…check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/15/destroying-hollywoods-soul-goodbye-dominicks-vintage-los-angeles-alison-martino-fights-to-save-tinseltowns-iconic-past/

There have been so many great Artists who have released holiday music…I’m a Paul McCartney fan, and he wrote one of the most popular songs:

You can see the music video from 1979 here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/17/paul-mccartneys-wonderful-christmastime-maccas-big-money-holiday-hit/

Paul wasn’t the only ex-Beatle to release a holiday tune, but this one was a bit more political in tone:

John and Yoko released the powerful “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” in 1971 – here is the music video and some great trivia about the recording of the song:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/06/happy-xmas-war-is-over-john-lennons-powerful-anti-war-christmas-song/

One of the most unique holiday songs is the gorgeous duet between David Bowie and Bing Crosby:

UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: (AUSTRALIA OUT) Photo of Bing CROSBY and David BOWIE; with Bing Crosby, performing Little Drummer Boy (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)

Here is my story about the recording of “Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” – and the fact that Bowie didn’t want to sing it! Click here for more:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/10/david-bowie-duets-with-bing-crosby-the-secrets-behind-the-greatest-holiday-song-of-all-time/

Many other performers and great bands also recorded a holiday classic:

Here are some great stories about the recording of this holiday classic:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/02/the-eagles-beautiful-christmas-single-please-come-home-for-christmas-funky-new-year-too/

Happy Holidays From Al!

Check Out This Amazing “Pole Dancing” Funeral!

Friends, the internet just keeps giving – like this story of a Taiwanese Councilor, a well-known politician, who passed away at the age of 76 in December 2016. Of course, the local Taiwanese News would cover such a story –

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE HAS A POLE DANCING FUNERAL PROCESSION!

Thanks as always to the great Reporters at “RocketNews24.com”, who explain how this wacky funeral happened:

“Telling his brother via a dream through the afterlife two days before the funeral, local councilor Tung Hsiang wanted a funeral procession of jeeps with poles sticking out the top and 50 beautiful dancers using those poles the best way they knew how!”

While I don’t speak or understand Taiwanese, the following news story makes it clear that this was a public procession, as you can see from all of the pictures shared on social media of the event:

Here is the entire news story from Taiwan – I love how their newscast look, and of course, you get lots of women pole dancing while the funeral parade goes by:

This picture taken on January 3, 2017 shows a pole dancer performing on top of a jeep during the funeral procession of former Chiayi City county council speaker Tung Hsiang in Chiayi City, southern Taiwan.
Fifty pole dancers clad in black bikinis gave one Taiwan politician a raucous final send-off in an eyebrow-raising funeral parade that jammed traffic and drew crowds of onlookers. / AFP / STR / Taiwan OUT (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Thanks to “STR/AFP?Getty Images” for this picture, which was taken on January 3, 2017 showing a pole dancer performing on top of a jeep during the funeral procession of former Chiayi City county council speaker Tung Hsiang in Chiayi City, southern Taiwan – and thanks as always to the folks at “RocketNews24.com” for sharing this story – there are a lot more photos and videos at their website, which you can see here:

Taiwanese politician’s funeral procession honors him with dancing… pole dancing 【Video】

The internet is doing a wonderful job of entertaining us…especially now that you can see live TV bloopers at any time:

Yes, there are terrific YouTubers who compile a monthly look at the funniest mistakes on live TV…check them out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/07/breaking-news-bloopers-that-is-tvs-best-live-mistakes/

Thanks again to the internet for making my day.

It’s a cliche to say, but:

“What A Way To Go Go!”

Time To Shock Yourself Through The 80’s!

If you love movie trailers, AND you love cult horror films of the 80’s, well it’s time to get this new blu-ray and have a ball!

Here is how the great home video website “10Kbullets.com” describes the set:

“Trailer Trauma 3: 80s Horror-Thon is Garagehouse Pictures third installment to their Trailer Trauma series. The other two installments in this series include, Trailer Trauma and Trailer Trauma 2: Drive-In Monsterama. And this latest installment like its predecessors does superb job when it comes to picking trailers that have not been in other trailer collections.”

“Where previous installments featured a variety of genres. This latest installment is all about 1980’s Horror cinema. With the first Disc covering 1980 and 1981 and the second disc covering 1982 through 1989. At just under seven and ½ hours. There are two hundred and fifty-four trailers. Needless to say, there is a wealth of content included for this mammoth release”.

Bravo To Garagehouse Pictures!

Talk about a trip down a horrific memory lane!

Cult gems as diverse as “Children Of The Corn” and “Igor And The Lunatics” are included, along with 80’s classics like “The Fly” and yes, “The Slumber Party Massacre!”

Also included are lots of mainstream movies like “Jaws 3D” and “Dressed To Kill”. This collection is amazingly extensive, and reminds us of the wide variety of horror films on the 80’s, including such prescient movies as John Carpenter’s “They Live.”

Carpenter’s subversive horror film is as relevant today as when it was made – check out the story of this terrific thriller here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/09/13/they-live-john-carpenters-80s-cult-classic-google-glass-warning/

Garagehouse Pictures has done a terrific job showcasing these 80’s horror films with beautiful new restorations of the original movie trailers.

Highlights include cult classic from the entire decade, like 1980’s “Don’t Answer The Phone”, “Night Of The Comet” from 1984, along with “The Toxic Avenger” from the same year…

I love the wacky world of Troma, and while their iconic superhero from New Jersey is certainly worth celebrating, they have so much more as well – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/12/03/exploitation-nazis-shakespeare-tromas-tromatic-holiday-gift-guide/

As we get later into the 80’s the trailers just get better and better:

From of the best movie titles comes from 1987: the classic “Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II” – and the collection ends in 1989 – including the amazingly obscure shocker “Society”…

Thanks to the website “10kbullets.com” for their review of the entire set – see it here:

http://10kbullets.com/reviews/t/trailer-trauma-3-80s-horror-thon/

Another great place for cult movie reviews, including this trailer compilation, is “Mondo-digital.com” – see their review here:

http://mondo-digital.com/trailertrauma80s.html

Let me know your favorite 80’s horror!

“I’ve seen enough fake blood to know the real thing when I see it.”

A troubled wannabe Filmmaker stalks the Actress he wants to star in his “horror masterpiece” in the cult classic “The Last Horror Film.”

Legendary Character Actor Joe Spinell Is A “Fanatic!”

“The Last Horror Film” is a great low-budget cult film that was also known as “Fanatic” – a 1982 horror film starring the great character Actor Joe Spinell and iconic sex kitten Caroline Munro.

Yes, Caroline is sporting a VERY early 80’s hairstyle, and yes, it is several different colors at the same time!

The director, David Winters, filmed on location at the Cannes Film Festival. Check out the trailer:

Joe Spinell plays a New York City taxi driver who is obsessed with the international cult actress Jana Bates – played by the great Actress Caroline Munro.

If you are unfamiliar with Munro’s work, she’s done a number of great movies, including her turn as a “Bond Girl.”

Here is a look at Caroline Munro’s career:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/19/caroline-munro-from-sex-kitten-to-vincent-price-to-bond-girl-a-maniac-too/

Joe Spinell was a great character Actor, with roles in classic movies like “The Godfather”, as one of Michael Corleone’s hit men.

Spinell acted in dozens of great films. He chewed out a young Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver”, and he was Rocky Balboa’s first boss in “Rocky”.

“The Last Horror Film” was Spinell and Munro’s third time working together, after “Starcrash” from 1978 and “Maniac” in 1980.

Spinell fantasizes about becoming a great Director, so he follows Munro to the Cannes Film Festival, where she is promoting her new film “Scream.”

What is fascinating to watch are all of the shots of official 1981 film festival activities, with recognizable stars walking through the festival – of course, this film was shot guerrilla style without permits!

I was lucky enough to attend the festival for years – here is a look at some of my unique celebrity encounters, including Arnold Schewarzennegger, Joan Rivers and adult film star Jenna Jameson!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/08/cannes-2016-remembering-joan-rivers-jenna-jameson-my-seven-greatest-cannes-film-festival-moments-arnold-schwarzenegger-jcvd-my-favorite-cannes/

“The Last Horror Film” isn’t an award-winning movie, but it’s a unique low-budget horror film and character study, and worth checking out – the entire creative team gave it their all and told a unique story…

If you love Spinell’s other movie work, take a look at some fascinating trivia around “The Godfather”:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/19/the-godfather-screen-tests-robert-deniro-is-sonny-corleone-godfather-trivia/

My friends at Troma were behind the first release of “The Last Horror Film”…a terrific blu-ray release includes a new and “as always wacky” introduction from Troma Maestro Lloyd Kaufman, plus a bunch of other goodies…

Troma is the leading independent movie studio in America, and have a long list of great cult classics…check them out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/12/03/exploitation-nazis-shakespeare-tromas-tromatic-holiday-gift-guide/

Let me know if you’ve seen “The Last Horror Film!”

It’s National Wine Day 2017!

Yes, it’s a day of celebration, so drink up!

According to our friends from the Internet:

“the purpose of National Drink Wine Day is to spread the love and health benefits of wine. Wine has played an important role in history, religion and relationships. We embrace the positive benefits of wine such as new friends, reduced risk of heart disease and the enhancement of food and life.”

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.”

How can you argue with that, since wine is a vital part of a healthy life!

Toast, It’s Good For You!

We all know that a glass of red wine every day tastes great, but science has shown that it’s a great way to maintain a healthy heart. Did you know the other benefits of a glass of wine? How about boosting your memory and immune system. Not only that, but wine in moderation might also help with weight loss. I mean, this stuff is gold!

There are so many great things to share about wine, including this story about a robot that can help pick grapes!

Introducing The Robot Winemaker Wall-Ye!

This is Wall-Ye, a vineyard-tending robot being developed in France. Wall-Ye costs $32,000, but it can “move from vine to vine, recognize plant features, capture and record data, memorize each vine, synchronize six cameras and guide its arms to wield tools.” The solar-powered Wall-Ye can prune 600 vines per day and even collect data on soil and fruit. It even has an anti-theft device that causes the hard drive to self-destruct if the GPS detects it’s been removed from the vineyard.

Check out the story!

Toast To Good Health And Eternal Life!

We all know how good wine taste, but thanks to Food and Wine magazine, here are the eight great reasons you need to be drinking an f’in Merlot right now:

The Benefit: Promotes Longevity

The Evidence: Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers. Source: a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007.

The Benefit: Reduces Heart-Attack Risk

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers. Source: a 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.

The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

The Evidence: Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines. Source: a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006.

The Benefit: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. Source: research on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each, at Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.

The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Stroke

The Evidence: The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Source: a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period, published in Stroke, 2006.

The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Cataracts

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer. Source: a study of 1,379 individuals in Iceland, published in Nature, 2003.

The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer

The Evidence: Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Source: a Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.

The Benefit: Slows Brain Decline

The Evidence: Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers. Source: a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.

All of these great health benefits remind me of this classic wine-related movie exchange:

Jack: “If they want to drink Merlot, we’re drinking Merlot.”
Miles: “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!”

One of the greatest movie lines of all time, and it’s related to wine!

Time to toast a couple of GREAT wine movies!

Sideways

This classic film celebrates wine, friendship, love, disappointment, betrayal…sounds like it celebrates life! Here is the trailer for this modern masterpiece:

Paul Giamatti is Miles, a failed writer living a meager existence in San Diego as an English teacher. Thomas Haden Church is Jack, a fading television actor. The two embark on a road trip through California’s wine country., where they meet Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen – two strong women who ultimately uncover Jack’s real story, and everyone’s life changes forever…

In one memorable scene in the film, Miles talks with great passion about Pinot Noir. After the release of this movie, sales of Pinot Noir wines rose by more than 20 percent. And of course, the classic scene where Miles screams about Merlot, caused Merlot sales to plummet. Once again, the classic line:

Jack: “If they want to drink Merlot, we’re drinking Merlot.”
Miles: “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!”

Here is another film about wine – this one telling the true story of one of the greatest upsets in wine history!

Bottle Shock

Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Eliza Dushku and Bill Pullman star in this look at the legendary Paris wine tasting of 1976, which changed Napa valley forever…here’s the trailer:

Here is a great quote from the film, which captures the passion of growing grapes and making wine:

“You have to have it in your blood, you have to grow up with the soil underneath your nails, the smell of the grapes in the air that you breathe. The cultivation of the vine was an art form. The refinement of the vine is a religion that requires pain and desire and sacrifice.”

Yes, indeed.

If you like this story, check out the great book at tells the story as well…and of course, check out the movie with a big glass of wine in your hand!

I leave you with Daryl Hall and John Oates and their tribute to wine:

Daryl Hall & John Oates – Intravino!

Wine is so good for you that Hall & Oates once wrote a song about it, and here it is!

Wine is also funny. If you don’t believe me, ask Monty Python, who offered up this wine review:

“It’s a fine regurgitator!”

See some of the Python’s best wine reviews here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/hilarious-wine-descriptions-monty-python-wine-reviews-wine-wine/

Don’t forget: celebrate this holiday with a nice glass of vino!

Feeling Down? Ted Baxter’s Got The Answer!

My friend Beetley Pete shared a great anecdote today, which you can see at his website – he was talking about how to see things in a more positive light, which is a goal of his – here is the story:

https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/continuing-positivity/#respond

After I read his blog, I shared a clip with him, and then decided to go ahead and share it with everyone – there are days (perhaps longer!) where life is frustrating and can wear you down – but as Don Henley said in his song “Long Way Home”:

“There’s three sides to every story babe
There’s yours and there’s mine and the cold, hard truth…”

So I realized that your point of view is everything…how you choose to see life is how you will live it…and Ted Baxter sums it up perfectly!

I shared this clip with Pete…a moment from the legendary “Mary Tyler Moore” show…Ted Baxter was the pompous yet lovable Anchorman, Lou Grant the tough as nails News Director, and Mary of course the empowered independent Producer in an era when women NEVER had empowered roles on TV.

On one episode, Mary was worn down, a bit depressed, but Ted was there to give her the advice she needed…here is the clip – watch to the end to get the full impact of Ted Baxter’s brilliance:

So, while Ted didn’t even understand his own advice, his character always knew “what was what” and his innocence, bluster and ego never masked what was a pure, genuine soul…and Ted Knight was brilliant in the role, especially when the legendary Walter Cronkite stopped by the show:

After Ted “talks shop” about which words are more difficult to say on-air, Cronkite looks at Lou Grant and mutters:

“I’ll get you for this!”

The role made Ted Knight a star. He received six Emmy Award nominations for the role, winning the Emmy for “Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy” in 1973 and 1976.

Knight went on to star in the TV series “Too Close for Comfort”, and also had a role in the iconic comedy “Caddyshack” as well.

And I never knew this, but Knight released an album of comedy songs as well – and always with a big smile on his face!

Knight died in 1986…but I still watch the “MTM” show just to see his greatest moments…and there is a book all about the show as well:

Here is a look at the stories behind the making of this great TV classic:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/08/19/mary-tyler-moore-show-you-got-spunk-a-tv-classic-revealed/

Of course, Mary Tyler Moore had a long and varied career, including an Oscar nomination for her work in the Best Picture of 1980, “Ordinary People”.

She was a great Actress and a great person as well – here is her story:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/25/rip-mary-tyler-moore-brilliant-entertainer-broke-tv-barriers/

Finally, since I mentioned both “Caddyshack” AND comedy albums, here is another guy who did both:

CADDYSHACK, from left: Executive Producer Jon Peters, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, 1980. © Orion Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

Yes, Rodney Dangerfield “got no respect” but his role in “Caddyshack” is brilliant, up against Ted Knight at every turn…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/19/rodney-dangerfield-brilliant-comic-gets-no-respect-rapping-rodney-his-hilarious-caddyshack-outtakes/

Thanks Ted for cheering us all up!

25 Years Of “Basic Instinct!”

Wow, time flies when you are getting naked on screen! Yes, it was 25 years ago that Sharon Stone cemented her place in movie history, thanks to an erotic thriller with one very memorable scene:

“Basic Instinct” Sneaks A Peek At Movie Infamy!

Without a doubt the most controversial movie of 1992, and one of the most notorious Hollywood films of the last 30 years – you know, because of THIS scene:

Sharon Stone made Hollywood history with this memorable “show and tell” during her police interrogation in “Basic Instinct”…immediately turning the cops into a bunch of drooling idiots…

AND THE LEGEND GROWS!

Every movie buff knows that Stone wasn’t wearing any underwear in the scene, but here’s some backstory:

“According to Sharon Stone, director Paul Verhoeven asked her to remove her underwear for the leg-crossing scene, as he said they were too bright and reflected at the camera. Stone agreed to do so under the assumption that her genitals weren’t visible. It was only at an early preview that Stone discovered Verhoeven chose to use this specific shot. ”

However, Director Paul Verhoeven’s version of the story is different.

He says that “he told Stone beforehand about the leg-crossing shot, as it was important for showing Catherine Tramell’s free-spirited nature and her constant drive to toy with people. Stone was reportedly excited about the idea and shot the scene. However, during the early preview, her agents supposedly disproved of the scene, fearing it would harm her future career. According to Verhoeven, Stone radically changed her mind about the shot and demanded that he remove it, which he ultimately refused.”

Either way, the controversy about the scene made the movie a huge hit – at a time when Michael Douglas was one of Hollywood’s biggest box office stars.

“Basic Instinct” was also one of Douglas’s “penis movies” – he was letting it fly onscreen at the time – here are the others from that era!

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/13/fatal-attractions-basic-instincts-full-disclosure-the-infamous-michael-douglas-penis-trilogy/

The “Vanity Fair” Story!

The success of “Basic Instinct” is the setup for a terrific new article in the latest Vanity Fair magazine.

This sex-filled murder mystery in 1992 led to the rise of a whole new genre of “direct to VHS” erotic thrillers, which is covered in a terrific new Vanity Fair article!

As you can see by the cover, Vanity Fair covers all sorts of “inside entertainment” stories, but this one is fascinating!

“The Sexpendables!”

The article talks about the era after “Basic Instinct”, when erotic thrillers were wildly popular, and smart companies flooded the marketed with movies like “Sins Of Desire”….here is an excerpt from the article:

“For prolific and proficient B-movie directors, the erotic thriller was another color to add to their palette. Before Basic Instinct, Jim Wynorski was best-known for such horror cult favorites as Chopping Mall, Sorority House Massacre 2, and 976-Evil 2. Following the release of Basic Instinct, he got the call to do Sins of Desire (“She was seduced into a world of sexual adventure . . . and dangerous deception”). “I was good and I was fast,” Wynorski tells Vanity Fair. “They knew the product would be solid.”

These B-movies ultimately helped brand a pay cable channel – they became “skinamax” features, sexy erotic thrillers that earned Cinemax a reputation for showing them all day and night – classic cult stuff like this!

Yep, even Madonna dove deep into the b-movie pool – here is the Vanity Fair article:

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/03/basic-instinct-anniversary-sharon-stone-video

Of course, in an earlier era, these films would have been shown on New York’s notorious “grindhouse” district of 42nd Street!

Here is a look at some of the wildest films that populated Times Square in the 70’s!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/23/a-42nd-street-grindhouse-tour-of-new-york-seven-sexploitation-classics-that-turned-times-square-down-and-dirty/

Here’s to 25 years of “Basic Instinct” wildness!

Alec Baldwin IS Al Pacino!

Alec Baldwin was on Conan O’Brien’s show the other night and was talking about the recent “Godfather” reunion…it results in his “spot on” impersonations of Robert DeNiro, James Caan, and a long riff on the many voices of Al Pacino…hilarious!

Of course, this was all due to the recent “Godfather” reunion event at the Tribeca Film Festival..

This amazing event brought Francis Ford Coppola and his cast to the stage to discuss the movie and the legacy – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/30/tribecas-the-godfather-reunion-great-film-trivia-deniro-pacino-keaton-coppola/

Of course, Baldwin had a memorable cameo in the Al Pacino film “Glengarry Glen Ross”…we all remember that!

Here’s great trivia: this scene wasn’t in the play, Mamet wrote it for Baldwin!

See it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/25/a-b-c-always-be-cheering-glengarrys-brightly-burning-movie-addition-alec-baldwin/

Bravo Alec!

Welcome To The Great Outdoors!

Imagine seeing this incredible sight one night – the moon shimmering over a tropical island…it’s one of the reasons everyone is flocking back to the great outdoors…but perhaps they misunderstood what a “moon” shot was all about:

Now THAT’s A Look At Nature!

It’s the latest social media craze: “mooning” beautiful locations around the world! A website told the story of kids around the world who are capturing nature in the most revealing way!

With shows like “Naked & Afraid” showing many a bare backside, the idea of “mooning” nature has become the new internet trend…

I guess it was the natural progression of nature – I mean, we’ve had “mooning” for decades now, and with social media, the options to share these whimsical moments are now infinite.

However, the above photo has created a controversy, as it was taken in New Zealand at a location considered sacred…here is that story:

http://globalnews.ca/news/3427185/playboy-jaylene-cook-naked-mountain-photo-new-zealand/

One website specializing in these “moonshots” is called CheekyExploits, and that’s exactly what it is: bare bottomed pictures taken all around the world – and it has over 215,000 followers on Instagram!

You can find many more – all highlighting funny pictures of bare butts against beautiful backdrops…

The Empire Strikes Back!

As with any social trend that thumbs its nose at society, there is always a response from the establishment.

There has already been pushback from social media as well as traditional law enforcement. The picture above is from a South Africa post that got a lot of attention…and an immediate response from South African police, who released this warning to anyone thinking of “mooning” in their country:

“The law forbids such displays of public indecency and individuals could also find themselves at odds with the code of conduct at hotels.

“What starts out as a little fun could end with a public or private prosecution. It is also inadvisable [to post] semi-nude images on social media as these can be used by others – out of context. “

There are shots that are taken way out in nature, and some that are done as an obvious dare – like this one: you NEVER wanted to see the Golden Gate bridge this way, did you?

Oh my, is all I can say. OH MY.

In fact, you can find a ton of “moon shots” of solo men, solo women, groups of men and women together and separate – it just never ends:

While these sites are being done by a wide variety of people – and a wide variety of quality, my friend Sara Underwood has been taking beautifully stylized photos in nature and posting them on her Instagram account for years now:

Sara currently has 7.9 MILLION followers, and these professional photo shoots enhance nature’s beauty…

Check her instagram site out here:

https://www.instagram.com/saraunderwood/

Of course, while Sara worked for me at G4, she willingly donned a bacon bikini for a comedy sketch:

This is a great picture, and I will always appreciate that Sara did that for us – and it helped me discover another funny social media trend:

Celebrities Eating Food!

Yes, there are websites that share pics of celebrities – not wearing food like Sara, but just eating it!

Check out my story, which includes a classic shot of Robert Plant eating a VERY MESSY ice cream cone!

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/18/hilarious-internet-trend-celebrities-play-with-their-food-sex-bacon-bikinis-elvis-tasty-pics-of-the-stars/

Let me know what you think of this latest “butt baring” trend on social media!

Superman Lives! Or, The Story Of How He Died!

“Highly creative people have a hard time getting their movies made. Full stop. That’s all it is. Because they bring stuff that blows everyone away, and as much as the claim is they want something original, they’re terrified of it. That’s what happens. So, you don’t see those movies because they scare everybody up the chain of command.”

That quote sums up the failure of acclaimed Director Tim Burton and star Nicolas Cage, fresh off an Oscar win, to make the ultimate Superman film, “Superman Lives!”

Now there’s a terrific documentary that tells the whole, fascinating story – with tons of behind-the-scenes footage – and almost everyone participates!

First, check out the trailer:

Documentary Filmmaker Jon Schnepp tells the story, and while the trailer shows too much of his on-camera antics, he’s not obtrusive in the film – the documentary itself is beautifully made, and Schnepp got a ton of great on-camera interviews with everyone involved!

Kevin Smith’s Hilarious Anecdotes!

Kevin Smith is laugh-out-loud funny as he recounts his role in this saga. He tells hilarious stories about developing the screenplay – and getting forced out when Tim Burton came on board.

What makes this documentary so compelling is a brand new, INDEPTH and CANDID interview with Director Tim Burton, who explains how the entire project fell apart just weeks before filming was to begin.

The documentary has a ton of behind-the-scenes footage, and a long and very funny interview with legendary Producer Jon Peters, plus Warner Brothers Executives, special effects artists, costume designers – and Kevin Smith has a funny story about being asked to come up with a Giant Spider for Superman to fight!

The Giant Spider Battle!

The documentary has some real fun as Smith tells the giant spider story, intercutting various people contradicting Kevin, who has a lot of fun remembering the spider! It really shows how the collaborative effort can be upstaged by ego.

Here is a fun fact: Kevin Smith directed some episodes of the second season of Supergirl (2015), the first titled “Supergirl Lives” as a reference to the film. Smith joked he expected Supergirl to fight a giant spider as in the infamous battle scene proposed for this film.

As I said, just weeks before filming was set to begin, the entire film fell apart. As one Graphic Artist Sylvian Despretz says in the film:

“Highly creative people have a hard time getting their movies made. Full stop. That’s all it is. Because they bring stuff that blows everyone away, and as much as the claim is they want something original, they’re terrified of it. That’s what happens. So, you don’t see those movies because they scare everybody up the chain of command.”

This is a great film, and there is a website that has much more detail – check it out here:

http://www.tdoslwh.com

Legendary Movie Producer Jon Peters is in the movie – and is very candid and honest about his background:

His tale is a “True Hollywood Story” – click on my story here to find out why he made millions NOT to produce a “Superman” film:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/13/legendary-producer-jon-peters-making-a-fortune-for-not-producing-superman-movies-the-amazing-hollywood-reporter-interview/

Movies that fall apart are everywhere in Hollywood, and I love documentaries that dissect what happened:

The disastrous film “The Island Of Dr. Moreau” with Marlon Brando is one example – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/04/madman-marlon-brando-lost-soul-of-dr-moreau-best-bad-movie-the-cinema-sewer/

And don’t forget that the making of a disastrous film can be as entertaining as what’s onscreen!

This amazing book about the making of the legendarily bad “The Room” has been made into a movie by James Franco…read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/14/james-francos-disaster-artist-tells-the-inside-story-of-tommy-wiseaus-the-room/

Let me know if you’ve seen Nicolas Cage as Superman!

The Hilarious Nature Of Live TV!

I worked in live TV for many years, and have seen some of the funniest, most unusual things happen when the cameras are live…everything from unexpected guests to live problems like this:

There is nothing better than a rogue graphics operator – and there is a great YouTube channel that compiles a monthly tape of the best bloopers…time now to look at May 2017!

Bravo once again to the terrific YouTube channel “News Be Funny Videos, Bloopers, and Fails” – subscribe and see these every month!

Game Show Bloopers!

There is a treasure trove of hilarious game show bloopers as well, and you can see them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/02/best-live-news-bloopers-of-2016-steve-harvey-family-feud-bloopers/

Enjoy!