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Ready for primetime - check out Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasence in the insect horror classic, Phenomena, a.k.a. Creepers.

We pulled a few titles from the video download library as well, to make some room for new content in the pipeline. Mesmerized, Richard Diamond Private Eye, and Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde were removed from the library for the time being. They'll be back soon enough. Hope everyone is having a great New Year.

Jennifer Connelly - teenage horror classic

Dario Argento's 1985 Horror classic is a gem. There's insects, flies and maggots galore and a beautiful young girl named Jennifer Corvino, played by 15 year old Jennifer Connelly. She's far away from her American home attending school in Switzerland. While there she befriends an entomologist Prof. John McGregor, played by Donald Pleasence. And of my, she has a special power over insects, as if she is some kind of very special queen in their bug realm. The film suggests they communicate with some type of telepathy. Better still, it gets crazier and crazier - really scary and funny too with some killer music tracks. Almost finished... it's coming soon. Till then, watch some other Argento classics. Or a Creepy Crawlers, or One Step Beyond.

Some Cash for Christmas?

Here's something we all could use right now - a little Cash for Christmas. And so - bring it on. Here he is - the man in black, Johnny Cash starring in The Pride of Jesse Hallam. Also features Brenda Vaccaro and Eli Wallach in major supporting roles. A terrific story - about an illiterate Kentucky coal minor who moves to Ohio so his daughter can get the proper medical care for her scoliosis. Check it out - it's a pretty good movie, especially if you are a fan of Johnny Cash. Count us in.

Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life

Ready for primetime - check out another episode of You Bet Your Life, starring Groucho Marx as your host. An old school game show - players compete for cold hard cash, in small doses. Lot of fun. And yes... also - more Fu.

Pandora - best playlist ever

Pandora is one of our favorite genomes of internet creation. If you like music, it is priceless, able to tweak one's musical tastes, ultimately making a perfect radio station with no commercials. The way it works is so great is wonderful. Musicians are the techs no doubt.

I sent Doug Hawthorn, a.k.a. Frank Random - a link to pandora a while back. He listened, rated and over time made the most amazing virtuso music mix. It only plays impressive, wild and out there over the top music. Played at the highest level of virtuosity. Here's Doug's playlist. Share it with a friend. If you enjoy all kinds of music, played really well - the Doug/Frank custom mix never fails.

Top 10 Christmas Videos

Here's your top 10 Christmas videos - selected by the LikeTelevision staff, after polishing off a few pints of eggnog and a bowl of figgy pudding (recipe).

1) Dragnet - Big Little Jesus. It's Christmas Eve, and Joe Friday is under major pressure, because he has to solve a case in less than 24 hours. It seems someone has stolen the baby Jesus statue from Father Rojas' Catholic church. Excellent TV viewing, back in the day (1953) when no one cared if you mentioned Jesus' name on a TV show.

2) Santa Claus Conquers the Martians - check out Frank Random's preview.

3) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Killer 1944 Fleischer cartoon of the oddball cervine with the halogen proboscis.

4) Beverly Hillbillies - Home for Christmas Granny takes her first plane ride. She thinks it is a bus, going real fast on takeoff. Pre homeland security airplane fun. Flying back then was actually really fun.

5) One Step Beyond Ordeal on Locust Street Sorry no details, don't want to spoil the fun.

6) Caste in Bronze a band with a carillon plays Christmas bells live onstage. This is really cool. Feel pity for the roadies.

7) Jack Frost - just a cool cartoon, perfect if it is freezing cold outside.

8) Short History of Christmas Learn why the date December 25th was selected for the date we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

9) The Shanty where Santa Claus Lives Another charming early Fleischer animation.

10) Christmas at the Clampetts Another hilarious Christmas special at the Clampett's Beverly Hills mansion.

Ok - how could leave out, Larry K, who played the hammer dulcimer live in our studio, Little King, in Christmas up north, or Peeking Penguins, where Tux makes his film debut. The debate was heated folks, but those were the top 10 for this year. Got more Christmas videos too if you like. Merry Christmas! Watch all these online videos free.

Tenacious D Pick of Destiny Trailer

LikeTelevision received an email from Sony allowing us, why - encouraging us, to make a trailer for the new Tenacious D movie, The Pick of Destiny coming soon, like tomorrow - November 22, 2006. Now, rest assured - this was a mass mailing, but still we were stoked having been fans of Tenacious D since way way way back in time, Frank Random played a few choice cuts from their first CD in the control room. i was Hooked. And laughing so hard, totally loving the music and of course the energy of TD.

I forwarded the email info from Sony with the media (Acid Planet) to Frank Random, with links to all kinds of media clips, video snippets, and sounds files. Lots of music pieces too. You were encouraged to sample it, mix it, bake it and have fun. And that is what Random did. For music afficiandos, check out funky beats that emerge from about 20 secs in... a whirling timeless time signature from no man's land. Got it big, or try the small one if you are getting squished. If you enjoyed Frank Random's cut for the trailer, by all means go peruse the new Frank Random Video Library.

If you'd like more laughs and joy - take in episode one of Zim Zum and watch this classic music video from the LTi All-Stars in episode five.

Peter Jackson's Bad Taste

Long before the Lord of the Rings was a blip on the movie landscape, Peter Jackson was working hard making movies near his home in New Zealand. At first, it was a bunch of shorts shot on 8mm film, and then finally, he got himself a handcranked 16mm Bolex and became... tada... a director. And in his film, Bad Taste, he was a director, producer, and actor. In fact, he even played several parts. Bad Taste - made in 1987 is about a bunch of aliens who come to Earth to harvest human meat for a far out fast food chain. Far out... like in another galaxy far out. It was a real treat - not cause the movie was so great, though it was quite good. The real joy came from recalling all those days over 35 years ago, when i made my own 8 mm movies, and how i would have my brother dash across the yard while i would take shots at him with the BB gun. All in the name of film and high art. Ahhh.. those were the days. Check it out - Peter Jackson's Bad Taste.

BLOG IT - URLS gone wild!

Over the weekend, the elves were working hard behind the scenes, writing some code, drinking a few sips of Newcastle brown ale, typing more code, sip sip, until.... the new feauture was completed. What new feature? We call it - BLOG IT, or by our in-house nickname, URLS gone Wild. Go to just about any title page (a movie, tv show, cartoon, etc etc)... and look right below the WATCH IT link, you'll see a new click for your blogging amusement, called BLOG THIS. Click that link, and presto change-o - you will find a bunch of very handy links to add some video to your blog or web page. Not only is it very simple to do, we even broke it down into little digital legos... allowing you to create your own look and feel building blocks to play one of our videos on your blog or web page. Taking it one step farther, we also added a nicely formatted WIKI link, if you want to add a video on our site to a Wikipedia entry.

From now on, the little guy is no longer just a little guy - in fact, in one fell swoop, it is quite easy to be a Mighty Mouse, just BLOG IT & send digital bits all over the planet from the your broadcast central studio. Copy & Paste... and Publish. BING! Hope everyone enjoys the new feature. Please send any comments or questions about this to info -- at -- liketelevision.com with the subject line, BLOG IT. We'll pass it on to the elves responsible for creating this tasty little broadcasting treat. Have fun, and remember our motto - Be Nice!

MPEG4 Classic TV iPod, 3GP files too

More iPod videos were added to the download library - lots more mobile device ready files to be added soon, downloads in MPEG4 and 3GP. The Best of Andy Griffith Show marches on with three more episodes. First up - A Wife For Andy, one of the best episodes with Helen Crump, played by Aneta Corsaut. Barney tries to play Mayberry matchmaker for Andy, but causes trouble as usual. Next - The Big House, with George Kennedy. This episode has the awesome scene where Barney lectures Gomer on how to be safe with guns and bullets. And - Aunt Bee's Medicine Man, you know - the one where Aunt Bee gets drunk with the church ladies. Oh - not drunk, just Tiddly. We just add the MPEG4 iPod files (3GP files too). Want more - these three episodes of Andy also come in a single DVD iso download. Just burn the image file and play it on the television set.

Off to encode a very funky movie from Peter Jackson. We should have more Dr. Fu 4 u soon... But right now I want to watch some ancient pre-Tolkein Jackson. Frank Random is still scratching his head on the trailer... but something is percolating. We'll see.

Mobile Media MPEG-4, 3GP and Doc Fu too

Got more Fu for the weekend, Dr. Fu Manchu that is. In this episode, Fu Manchu gives Hitler a new face by forcing a kidnapped plastic surgeon to operate on Adolf's mug. Need more - well how about an atom bomb plot to bring about global chaos? You'll find that too - in the Master Plan of Dr. Fu Manchu.

Also new - we added a bunch of MPEG-4 files for iPods and also a bunch of 3GP files for mobile users. Now available in the download section - mpeg-4 and 3GP files for these Andy Griffith episodes - Barney's First Car, High Noon in Mayberry, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, Mountain Wedding and Aunt Bee's Medicine Man. Have fun downloading this weekend.

Remebering Director Gillo Pontecorvo Battle of Algiers

On October 14, 2006 the remarkable director Gillo Pontecorvo died at the age of 46. Perhaps you have never heard of him - but his film The Battle of Algiers is as powerful today as it was in the mid sixties when it was released. We invite you to watch the free movie at LikeTelevision™. An amazing film. Very disturbing, insightful and the cinematography is exquisite. Here's the NY Times obit.

Free Video Feed for your blog

I decided to do a test, and see how easily a person could drop the video feed for This Day in History in a blog. The widget updates itself daily after you drop in a snippet of code into your blog. Copy, Paste. The whole process lasted less than a minute. Sweet.

If you wou like to embed This Day in History on your site:


Just copy and paste the code to your blog or web page and get an updated This Day in History video each day.

Posted by Willy at 11:59 AM

More Gracie & George

Here's Gracie Allen, an amazing comic genius and her husband George Burns, one of the greatest straight men in Hollywood history. In this fast paced episode, Gracie thinks she had a little accident that dented George's car, so she tries to get Bill Goodwin to secretly take it into the body shop to get it fixed before George finds. Also stars Bea Benaderet as Blanche Morton. She also was Pearl on the Beverly Hillbillies and the voice of Wilma Flintstone for many years.

Also of interest - the Johnny Carson DVDs and video tapes are 40% off this week in honor of Johnny' Birthday on October 23. Check it out at Johnnycarson.com. You can also check out a few funny bits here at LikeTelevision for kicks.

Quietly, we added some nifty html code you could snag to have a video history clip for each new day. It auto updates from woo woo land. Just drop the code in your blog once and forget it. You can learn more here (scroll down a bit).

New Fu For You

As promised - here's a new episode of The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu, titled - The Death Ships of Dr. Fu Manchu. The diabolical genius with an endless bankroll has stolen a super toxic strain of deadly germs from a California lab. He gets the germs on a slow boat for China, where he plans to unleash them on some unsuspecting Asian population, who will be able to trace the germs back to the USA, blame Uncle Sam and start World War III, which will be a biological war with maybe a few Nukes thrown in for good measure. (Kim Jong-il must have liked this episode and perhaps Osama Bin Laden took in this classic tv show as a youth, who knows?). In any event, as we often like to say - everything old is new again. Check out the new episode of Dr. Fu Manchu at your own risk and see terrorism at work, circa 1956. Listening to Glen Gordon do his chinese accent is definitely dangerous to the psyche. Also, check out Frank Random melon laced trailer!

Fu Manchu & the Psycho Guy

Coming soon to LikeTelevision - the most diabolical villain of all recorded history, Dr. Fu Manchu. Sometimes seen as the devil incarnate, Fu Manchu is the king pin of all evil in the world. Back in the 1950s, Dr. Fu was working with all kinds of WMDs, including messing with plague germs hidden in melons to atomic bombs. The first episode isn't ready just yet, but here's the Dr. Fu Manchu trailer to whet your whistle.

But the new download files for How Awful About Allan starring Anthony Perkins is ready for prime time. Perkins, best known for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho, shows that he's still got it, with his role as the blind Allan, who is tormented by his father's accidental death. Also stars Julie Harris as Allan's sister. Here's a trailer. Check out How Awful About Allan as streams or download it and watch it on your TV.

Last Man on Earth - MPEG-2

One of the best movies Vincent Price ever made was The Last Man on Earth. The world's population has been decimated by some terrible germs with a mutated strain of the bacillus found in the plague. Worse, before you are totally dead, the victims attack other people and infect them. The movie is very entertaining and watchable. It isn't bloody as much as bloody frightening.

As part of this year's ScreamFest, we provided a horror classic film, The Last Man on Earth in MPEG-2 (DVD quality), for download. How big is it? Over 3 gig! It won't be here for long... get 'em while their hot.

ScreamFest - Friday the 13th Halloween Videos

We're Back.... LikeTelevision™'s 7th Annual ScreamFest is ready for your Halloween Spooky fun times. This year we have over 100 hours of free Horror movies, Halloween cartoons and TV Shows and lots lots more. Don't be afraid... be VERY afraid!

New Dracula is up, ScreamFest on Friday the 13th

Just in from Transylvania - Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in The Satanic Rites of Dracula. Well actually - the film is set in London and updated for modern times, circa 1974. But wait, the diabolical Dracula wants to destroy the entire human race with germ warfare, a bona fide WMD. Not for the faint of heart, nor kids for that matter.

Also - coming Friday the 13th, LikeTelevision™'s Seventh Annual Halloween ScreamFest. This year we offer several hundred hours of vintage horror movies, Shock Theater, more witches, zoned out zombies, and monsters. And Casper cartoons and classic tv shows too. Ghosts, Black Cats, and Pumpkin's too. Here's a video preview.

The Copper with Wally Cox and Ernest Borgnine

Jump back in time to October 1951 and a TV series called Goodyear Television Playhouse. Back in the day, companies would often sponsor entire shows. Some even included some serious product placement, like Carnation and The Burns & Allen Show. This episode of Goodyear Television Playhouse is called The Copper starring Wally Cox, Ernest Borgnine, David White and Pat Carroll. A crazy story about an accident prone police cadet who finds himself on the way to a date with Old Sparky at the pen. For more details - check out the addition - The Copper to the Classic TV library at LikeTelevision™. If you enjoy police stories told with a touch of comedy and corny jokes, you will love it. Quite entertaining.

Frank And Skooter Series

Last week we broke ground on the Frank Random Library, not real dirt and shovels mind you, just digital dirt in virtual land. So far it has about 150 items linked to it, with a ton more to add to fully compile the list of the Frank Random content machine. But, one little cranny of this media mountain is the Frank And Skooter series, where Frank Random and Skooter discuss some new additions to the movie library. Think Siskel and Delbert and you'll have a basic script. What is very different, is that everything takes place in a near perfect replica of the room Frank Random works in here. The D-88s, the O2/r, mic preamps, the genelecs, the artwork, chairs, the wood floor, the rug - and on and on and on - looks just like that. The trailers for the "control room" series, (note, skoot and Frank get hair in one of them) are Born to Win and Truman Capote's Glass House. And then - Frank and Skoot headed off to Norma Jean's trailer park, to announce the news of 15 new trailers with the love goddess herself, Marilyn Monroe.

Jean Renoir & Michel Simon

In 1932, Jean Renoir, acclaimed French Film Director, and son a master of the Impressionist genius, Auguste Renoir caused quite a stir with his new film, Boudu Sauve Des Eaux. The English title is Boudu saved from Drowning. The hero was a homeless man, with poor manners and bad taste in hair styles - who was also charming and endearing and flawed. Michel Simon, the French king of slapstick comedy, stars as Boudu. He gives an amazing performance, as intense as the previous Jean Renoir Michel Simon collaboration from 1931, The Chienne, roughly translated, The Bitch. In French, Chien means dog, if you want a speak of a female dog, it is La Chienne. If you want an Andalusian Dog, or Un Chien Angalou (1929), you can watch that. A Boy and His Dog (preview), or Boy Meets Dog. And there's more - a pack of dogs! Oh... for the love of Dogs, Dogs, Dogs.

Would you like to watch your MPEG-1 downloads on your TV? on your new High Definition TV? Well, you can and it's easy to do. LikeTelevision, on your television. Learn more.

Circus of Fear & Pirates

Yes indeed - the elves are working hard stoking the campfire for another great Halloween ScreamFest. The latest lump of meat in the stew is a 1966 filmed called Circus of Fear (a.k.a. Psycho-Circus and Circus of Terror), starring Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski and Leo Genn (trailer). Somebody at the circus stole a lot of loot from a major robbery in London. Murder and mayhem at the big top are not far behind. Knife throwers, elephants, lions and tigers, trapeze artists and clowns.

Finally - in case you missed it, September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I kid Ye not, matey. Need some help with pirate talk, learn from the Ninja master, Robert Newton - who played Long John Silver in Treasure Island and Return to Treasure Island. Also some TV shows with Long John Silver. And don't miss the trailer - where you learn to say - he fought like a tiger. (it sounds like, he fart like a tiger).

2 New Video Libraries

Have you ever wanted to checkout the full listing of the best of the free short video clips at LikeTelevision? Well - you can now - in the new Quirky Shorts Library - featuring cool Indy Short films, politically incorrect cartoons, dubious comedy, and a mountain of tasty little tidbits. We call this new video library - Quirky Shorts.

Now ... one more thing, this is huge! Yes, the Frank Random Library. A mondo selection of LikeTelevision produced trailers, promos, music and laughs created by Frank Random (over 120+ and counting), a musical variety show called Zim Zum, vintage films shot on Hi-8, music with the LTi All Stars, and a ton of biting wit to sharp to be missed. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, here it is in all its glory, The Frank Random Library.

Amazing Movie - Forbidden Games

Jeux Interdits or Forbidden Games is a powerful World War II movie about a young orphan girl named Paulette, played by Brigitte Fossey. This young girl gave an amazing performance, in a very trying theme for a movie. And the other child, Michel Dolle played by Georges Poujouly also delivered on screen. The pain and suffering related to war as seen through the eyes of children. A terrific movie - check it out, Forbidden Games.

Speaking of Forgidden Games, on September 6, 1972 - Violence rocked the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany when Black September guerrillas, a Palestinian terrorist group, attacked a compound holding Israeli Olympic team members. Watch the newsreel from this day in history.

Shock - Vincent Price Classic!

Another gem is added to the treasure for Halloween - a 1946 horror classic called Shock, starring Vincent Price as Dr. Richard Cross, the evil shrink who kills his wife, and then gets psychiatric custody of Janet, a young lady who went into shock because she witnessed a murder. Dr. Richard was involved in that too. Lots of twists and turns in an excellent story. The torment in this movie is imagining how difficult it would be to try and tell your story, but everyone thought you were crazy. And let's not forget Dr. Richard's diabolical mistress, Elaine Jordan played by Lynn Bari. You'll like her - NOT! Really fun movie. Check out Shock with Uncle Vinny.

A+ Short Film - The Wager

Frank Random and I decided to add a new section for the LikeTelevision™ Video Library, comprised of the Best Short Films we could find from Independent Directors. We have a bunch of friends in the industry and look forward to adding more terrific shorts for your viewing pleasure. and sure, we will look at your submission if you like. (We accept DVD, DV Tape, BetaCam Sp or 3/4 in. tape, and MPEG2 as the preferred formats). We do not guarantee that we will post your film in the library, but we will give it a look, and if accepted, we will contact you to request a license to rebroadcast. Good Luck.

To kick off the new wing of the library, LikeTelevision™ is thrilled to present to you a wonderful short film called The Wager, directed by Aaron Woodley of Toronto, Canada. The Wager has won many awards including Best Short Film at the Austin Film Festival and the Santa Monica Film Festival. Best Cinematography in Toronto and New York. Make sure you find time to take in this trip down bizarro lane and watch The Wager. A staff pick - two thumbs up.

Remembering Hal Smith

Yes - you might recognize Hal Smith as the actor who played Otis Campbell, the town drunk in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show - but if you think about it for just a minute, you will remember Hal Smith for what he is really known for. Got it? Yep - His VOICE! Hal Smith was one of the most familiar cartoon voices in the history of animation, right up there with another great, Mel Blanc. Hal worked for many years as the "go to" voice for countless Hanna Barbara cartoons. Did you know Hal was also the voice of Goofy for many years, the dorky dog from Walt Disney? He was the voice of Owl in Winnie The Pooh, the voice of Santa in Casper's First Christmas and also on the Flintstones as Santa. For Warner Brothers, he sometimes was the voice of Elmer Fudd. He was Peter Potamus and Yapee. Did you know he was also the voice of Mr. Magoo after Jim Backus. Speaking of Jim Backus, who played Judge Stevens, the guy who was married to Joan on I married Joan... Hal Smith was on that show too, as Charlie. We could go on and on... Hal Smith was a legend. But here's a clip from LikeTelevision's video vault you might have missed - Hal Smith on a very bizarre 1960s game called Tight Squeeze. Really folks - this is MUST SEE LikeTelevision, you are not going to believe this game ever existed. We are certain it caused at least a few dozen marital spats with good folks who used to be good neighbors. hahhaha... watch the clip and you will understand. Who the heck thought up this game? You can also check out Hal Smith as Otis Campbell in one of the best Andy Griffith episodes ever made - Loaded Goat.

Today - we remember Hal Smith because it is his birthday. He was born August 24, 1916 in Petosky, Michigan. He died of a heart attack on January 28, 1994 in Woodland Hills, California.

Johnny Carson Video Vault

We've spent some time tweaking out the section on Johnny Carson. Lots more information, laughs and links to get the DVDs too. A hilarious collection of about three decades of Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. Jane Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Tiny Tim, Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, Drew Carey, Roseanne, Loni Anderson, Sam Kinison, Joan Embery, Jim Fowler and many more legends.

Behind the Scenes - Doobious Lampoonery

New media for all our older LikeTelevision Guests, (this stuff is not for children, and carries a disclaimer - so kids, be good) a funky seven pack of comedy we call Doobious Lampoonery. Culled from a really weird movie called American Raspberry, a.k.a. PrimeTime - this collection features some terrific comedy stars and a mountain of character actors. We try and put some names to these familiar faces. The series of funky shorts includes Kinky Friedman, Fred Dryer, Murphy Dunne, best known as Murph from The Blues Brothers, George Furth, David Speilberg, Pamela Guest, Larry Gelman, and Craig Richard Nelson to name just a few. Check it out - there is something there to offend just about everybody. I personally found some parts offensive - but all the same, very interesting (and disturbing) given the passage of time. The irony of something once being funny, and now just plain creepy is fascinating. Check it out - Doobious Lampoonery.

Also - behind the scenes - I just finished updating some new funny clips for the Johnny Carson page. More details on that next week.

August 9th - Jesse and Betty

August 9th marks the day that Jesse Owens kicked Hitler's butt by winning the 100 meter dash, besting the great white hope from Germany. Hitler was expecting his guy to win, and so, he stormed out of the Berlin Stadium in a huff. Would have been fun to be there huh? Well - you can watch the newsreel clip or better still, check out the Leni Riefenstahl film of the 1936 Olympics - titled Olympia. Part One features Jesse Owens, part two features a bunch of other events from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

Jump across the planet and travel a few years back in time to 1930 - where two talented Jewish animators named Fleischer, Max and Dave, debut a new cartoon character named Betty Boop. The cartoon was called - Dizzy Dishes, released on August 9, 1930. You watch dozens of Betty Boop cartoons for free at LikeTelevision - but my personal favorite has got to be Minnie the Moocher, with Cab Calloway. Check out the amazing ghost dance sequence, where pics of Cab Calloway dancing were used to make the animation sequence. Amazing!

Shark - Burt Reynolds Classic

Just in time for Discovery Channel's Shark Week (i think it premieres July 30th) - check out this Burt Reynolds classic - Shark, a.k.a Maneater. Directed by the great Sam Fuller, this film was chock full of chomping shark teeth and controversy. The movie is dedicated to the courageous stunt man who work in the film industry. Why? Because a stunt man was killed while making this film, working with a medicated shark, not obviously, given a big enough dose of shark valium. I regret the producers chose to use this tragedy to promote the film, which angered Fuller, for good reason. He asked to have his name removed from the movie, but they didn't comply. Worse - they edited it without Fuller's approval and he just hated it. All that aside - the film is interesting for many reasons. Some believe it was this movie that helped launch Burt Reynolds' career as the super fuzzy chested macho man legend. No doubt, his character, Caine, a down and out American mercenary in Sudan has got a major dose of testosterone. At the beginning of the movie, he is caught hauling explosives in the back of his truck for some revolutionaries looking to take over the Islamic regime in Sudan. (hahaha i bet that sentence gets flagged by the CIA web crawlers - HA!). He escapes but the truck blows up so he needs a new job. And somehow, he lands a job as a scuba diver, searching for treasure in shark infested waters. But I digress - why don't you just watch the movie, Shark online if you like. It is kinda fun. I remember watching it as a kid on UHF TV and for some bizarre reason found it quite entertaining. And - we hope you do too.

Whenever I think of Burt Reynolds, I always think of Deliverance and poor Ned Beatty - and while no one says, Squeal like a pig shark! - this movie is also very creepy. Yep - there really is a pig shark, also called a horned shark or a bullhead shark. Or for you Latin lovers - Heterodontus francisci. Sorry... sorry... i got way off on a tangent. My mind should have jumped to Sharky's Machine, right?

Here's another interesting factiod about Burt Reynolds, he was the first actor to guest host, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. And oh my, his first guest was none other than his ex-wife Judy Carne, best known as a bikini girl on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. They had a very bitter divorce and hadn't spoken in many years so I bet this was one heck of an interview. Quite the ladies man, Burt was also married to Loni Anderson, the busty blond in WKRP Cincinnati. And though he had a very public relationship with Sally Field, the flying nun - she supposedly never accepted any of his marriage proposals.

Israel Video Archive, Beirut, and terror

Sometimes watching old newsreel clips, movies and media from days gone by can offer an interesting perspective on current events. And the listings in today's blog entry should provide some food for thought to those who have inquiring minds... that have not slapped shut from a profound certainty of their way of thinking. Having grown up in the era of terrorist events as major news media fodder, the videos bring back confused memories I had when I was just wee lad, a teenager, a college student, a young father and now.. a doting old man who is going blind from trying to figure out all these fancy smancy relational database application programming languages that change from week to week. So... join me on my journey. I am just eight years - and all the grown-ups are really tense. Some kind of war is breaking out and ending just as quick in June 1967 (The Six Day War). I had no concept what all the fuss was about - I was much more interested in watching Leave it to Beaver, Perry Mason, or Lucy. Ahhh the golden age of situation comedy. A few years later, now 13 years old - I was enjoying the Olympic games in Munich, 1972, when all the enjoyment gets thumped by a bunch of rotten apples with an axe to grind. I remember how Mark Spitz was swimming like a maniac, and leaving a wake when he swam butterfly. As a young kid at the local swim club, I was totally stoked and inspired by his performance. And then, it felt like the life got sucked out of me as the games were tarnished by simple hatred. A few more years pass, and I am ready to head off for college as Jimmy Carter, with a smile as big as Teddy's on Mount Rushmore is confident that he has led the world into a lasting peace. Soon thereafter, some guy named Ayatollah returns to Iran. Soon, we get to learn more about this man, that Time Magazine will make their Man of the Year. (should have been the Man-iac of the Year) Things get even more tense, as Americans, guilty only of being born in the USA are taken as hostages. The country learns that Jimmy is not the best guy for the job that needs to get done - but many years hence, we still will name a nuclear submarine after the gentle peanut farmer. Ooops, I am jumping ahead in time. Anyway - the hostages get released when Ronald Reagan gets elected. Jump to the early eighties, I am a college graduate readt to hit the job market and the economy is in the tank, folks still drive big cars (no... not SUVs, but massive boats all the same) but the pendulum has shifted a bit due to the price of gas. But the USA consumer was quite a slow learner - as the initial OPEC whack arrived in 1972. I learned about a place called Beirut, because of another horrible terrorist attack on a marine barracks there. Fast forward a few years, again back in Beirut... and the go to guy of terrorist negotiations, Terry Waite gets kidnapped. Times passes, and I am now a father of two lovely girls. Lots has changed in the world though many things seem like the same old song. The Soviet threat is no more, the Berlin wall came down and the arms race has subsided because the USA is finally friendly with the Russians. Phew. Meanwhile - the news continues to be peppered with incidents in the Middle East. And finally, in September 11, 2001 - while filming an awesome Marrionette master from France at LikeTelevision's studios, and all hell breaks loose in NYC. It was all too ironic, that the next movie we would add to the video library was The Battle of Algiers. Do I have any answers, suggestions or thoughts of note for today's current events in the Middle East? Nope, other than I am still hopeful that people will learn to forgive and forget, move on and recognize we are all brothers and sisters. That God loves all of us, because we are all his children - you see, I think Mother Teresa had it right.

Rembrandt Clebrates his 400th Birthday

A few years back - I wrote a short blog entry on Rembrandt - that I thought might be worth re-reading, since this Saturday, July 15, 2006 - marks the 400th birthday (born July 15, 1606) of the Dutch Master. It features a bunch of fun links - including a portrait of his wife, Saskia and a funny commercial for a game where you bid on expensive paintings - called the Masterpiece Game. Anyway - check it out, and learn a thing or two about one of the greatest artists the world has ever known.

The Bikini's 60th Bday - video history

On July 5, 1946 - the bikini was born. Yep - the bikini is celebrating its 60th birthday. Oddly enough, unlike us old folks who often get plumper with age, the bikini seems to just get smaller and smaller - on top and certainly on the bottom, where in many cases the bum protector is just a string on crack. Or as the joke goes - it looks like anal floss. When the bikini was first introduced, the designer didn't know what to call the revealing swim suit - so he took the name from the biggest news item happening that week in 1946, a series of atomic bombs the US government was testing at a place called the Bikini Atoll. Oddly enough, by the end of week, people were more concerned about the bikini swim suit than the bomb, and the impact it might have on the moral decay of society. HA! Also - kind of ironic timing for the Korean missle tests on the Bikini birthday bash. Check out this funny video clip on the history of the bikini. oooh la la. Look at all those teeny weeny polka dot bikinis - on your grandma. HA!

Pele - World Cup Video Vault

Tucked away in the history channel on LikeTelevision is some cool video of Pele who dominated the World Cup in the 1950s and 1960s. Pele is back in the news again as Ronaldo from Team Brazil passed Pele's World Cup goal count and tied Germany's Gert Muller for the most goals scored in World Cup play. When I was a kid, Pele was the Michael Jordan of soccer, only much bigger. Well - bigger in a global sense as the USA continues to be asleep at the the wheel in their understanding and appreciation of the top sport on this planet. As a major fan of football (soccer to us yanks) - it is often frustrating as one tries to catch the World Cup fever the rest of the world so happily enjoys. Very few games have been on broadcast tv, though most are on ESPN, it does no good if you are not in a place with cable TV. And - if you go to a bar and try and watch - alas it is just a bar and not a pub. Folks are watching golf, or talking heads on baseball but the passion level is just not there. Many times - I wished I was enjoying the games somewhere other than the USA - because most folks do not even have a clue how wonderful the sport is, or how important it is to the hearts and minds of those watching. How bad you say? When the USA was playing Italy, I was driving in a car searching for the game on the radio. It is on just one AM station - and in Spanish. There was NO broadcast in English. Of course - I listened to the Spanish station as best I could but it was still frustrating.

Oh well, enough whining about it. Check out the video of Pele, one of the best to play the game and a major hero in the history of the World Cup.

Scary Stuff - Flying Axes and Joe Friday

Sorry for the slow blog posting - we've been busting out little data bits off. Here's a quick list of some of the titles we've added over the last week. Dragnet - The Big Seventeen, starrng Jack Webb as Joe Friday. In this episode, Joe is working Juve - that's Police talk for Juvenile Division, not to be confused with Vice or Bunko - can you tell I don't know bunko about Cop speak? Anyway - some high school kids are causing a lot of trouble in town, because they are all hopped up on assorted drugs. Someone has been supplying drugs for free, hoping to hook up with some new customers and build a repeat business in pharmaceuticals. Of course - this business endeavor is not to be confused with large global drug companies that offer doctors incentives to prescribe the higher margins products they carry. hmmmm. Anyway - the latest problem is that one of the young teens has killed his supplier and then ripped off a large cache of heroin. Not just any heroin, this is super pure, high grade heroin. Normally - the stuff the kids were getting was a weak grade, and if the boy starts selling this stuff, Joe rightfully fears that some kids are going to get killed. While not as classic as the "Blue Boy" episode (you know, the one where the kid paints his face blue and goes to a garden party with a hand grenade) this one is a classic. Check it out - The Big Seventeen. Want more Dragnet - got it. Or maybe a few classic police shows - got a ton of that too.

Do you need another funky scary movie? Well we got one... and we had to search way down under for this one, which was produced in Australia. The movie has been called The Forgotten, and also Don't Look in the Basement. It seems the rural Stephens Sanitarium is not a gentle pastoral place for crazy people anymore, now that Dr. Stephens has gone off for deep end. This one has a ton of blood, but I wouldn't really call it scary or anything. Many times - it is kinda funny. But my sense of humor is a wee bit twisted at times. Wanna sneak preview, check out the new Frank Random preview for Don't Look in the Basement.

Got a bunch more to add to this list - but I have to scoot off to a production meeting.

More Funky Tunes in Toons

Another batch of funky cartoons were just added to the video library. Betty Boop is going to give Pudgy a bath and nothing is going to stop her. Pudgy does his best to resist but it is futile when Betty gets singing. A Three Stooges cartoon, Behind the 8 Ball Express with Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe DeRita. Also features Hal Smith as the voice of the villain. Smith is best known as Otis Campbell the down drunk in Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. Finally - a bizarre one called It's a Greek Life. A centaur, who happens to be a cobbler - has to fixing Mercury's flying sandals. Holy FTD Florests Batman. You see, this horse man wants to fly too, so he tries on the sandals and... well go watch it!

In the background - we are doing all kinds of server updates this week and into next week. You should not experience any issues with our tinkering in the server cabinets. We hope so anyway! HA!

More scary movies will be served up next in the queue, plus a whacko on drugs tries to mess with the cops. Not just any cop - but SGT Joe Friday, LAPD. Bad idea. In case you missed it - check out these psycho bikers. Sheesh!

Drew Barrymore, Rachel Welch & Tiny Tim

The Carson clips have been updated - and this video playlist is like a greatest hits of 60's & 70's TV. It kicks off with Drew Barrymore taking them out and dropping them on Johnny Carson's desk. Her teeth silly, she's like 7 years old and has a retainer that is causing soreness, so she pulls it out and plops it on Johnny's desk. Then watch Tiny Tim's debut national performance on the Tonight Show, and a scene from the wedding to Miss Vikki. And don't miss the lovely and talented Rachel Welch at the peak of her career, looking terrific in a low-cut dress. Plus lots more. Here's Johnny!

And speaking of the talented Barrymore family, by all means, check out Drew's Grandpa John Barrymore in the duel role of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. One of the most amazing screen performances of all-time.

Toad Lovin' Bikers

Earlier this week - we added another gem to the treasure chest but neglected to alert the media. Sorry about that, but just in time for the World Cup - we have for you a bizarre movie from England, Psychomania (watch trailer) featuring frog loving, very mean and nasty bikers. It seems they think that get killed and return to be the baddest bikers of all, since they can only get killed once. And what kind of mayhem you ask - well, my favorite shot is in the grocery store.... where the girl runs over the baby carriage before slamming head first into the meat locker at the end of the aisle. We wondered if this scene was added as a tribute to Sergei Eisenstein's Potemkin, and the Odessa Steps sequence with the baby carriage. HA! And the folk tune at Tom's funeral mass is one of the most insipid works of 1960s era "peace, love and rebellion" genre ever conceived. You will want to smash his guitar. Promise, you will. Check out this exceptional trailer by our own Frank Random. Or check out the movie - Psychomania or as we like to call, The DaVinci Toad.

Coming up - Frogs and DVDs

We're hard at work - encoding more movies, making trailers, and a mountain of beautiful new DVD iso files of our best offerings. And we hear ya - more cars and biker media. Well check this.

The next movie is the hopper is a wild and crazy cult classic - we called The DaVinci Toad. The real name is Psychomania and it tells the story of a disturbed group of bikers, who kill themselves - then resurrect - only to cause more trouble and mayhem. And of course they can't be killed anymore, once you're already dead. Oh - they seem to have this idol worship of frogs too, hence the crack - The DaVinci Toad. Check out this Frank Random gem of a trailer for a taste of what's coming next.

Judy Garland, Lena Horne WOW

Till the Clouds Roll By was made in 1946, as a soaring tribute to one of the greatest songwriters known to man - Jerome Kern. Born in New York January 27, 1885, Jerome Kern died of a brain hemorrhage on November 11, 1945 at the peak of his career. And so - all the greats came out in droves to offer their props to a legend, who wrote so many beautiful songs - including Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Old Man River, The Way you Look Tonight - and on and on and on. The stars are also in the prime of their careers - amazing performances by Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, to name but a few. The movie is bit confused - as it seems it doesn't know whether it should be a movie about Kern's Broadway musicals - or a biography of Kern's life. But it is impossible to tell the man's story without the Broadway finales and what's not to like? You get to see many smoking powerful performances of some of the best songs in American music. Check out the movie - Till the Clouds Roll By.

New Toons, Tesla and Chance

You asked for more classic toons - so here we go: My favorite of this batch is Susie the Little Blue Coupe, narrated by Sterling Holloway, best known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh. Baby Huey's debut - heck, you can want the overgrown duck hatch from an egg the size of a watermelon in Quack-A-Doodle-Doo. Or if the Owl's are more your bird of prey - check out Teacher's Pest, where a baby owl (a.k.a. Junior) is being preyed upon by a big bad wolf on his way to school. Finally - check out Winter Draws On, with a classic cameo by Buzzy the Crow.

Totally unrelated - we've always been big fans of Nikola Tesla, probably the greatest inventor in the last 100 years that no one really knows much about. While many credit Edison with electricity, it was actually Tesla who brought alternating current into our homes. Anyway - we made a cool colorized pic of Tesla that you might enjoy. By all means - learn more about this awesome man.

Finally - Peter Seller's character, Chauncey Gardner, the star of Being There, is perhaps my favorite character in all of film - so when we heard this quote from the movie, we just had to pass it on.

This is just like television, only you can see much further

.
(He says this when he takes his first ride in a car).

Cartoons w/ Political Incorrectness

Oh my - Mr. Skooter is falling behind in the video queue... and even worse, not blogging all the new additions to the library. So... i will try and set the record straight.. or at least tell you about a few of the new additions that you will probably find very entertaining. Today... the topic is cartoons... and this toonfest theme will continue early next week as we just added a monster sized batch of killer toons. Ok, here goes - The Lion is Busy is a classic that every baby boomer will remember, featuring Beaky the Buzzard and Leo the Lion. Next up - the classic, Story of King Midas. This cartoon is actually a stop motion animation back in the day when folks did this kind of work. Oddly enough it almost looks like Nosferatu is one of the characters. Next - Molly Moo-Cow and Robinson Crusoe. This one has most the bizarre elements fashionable in the day...that make it seem kind of weird and disturbing today. And finally - Mutt and Jeff in Slick Sleuths. The boys take on the notorious Phantom. Terrific animation in this one, and funny too.

Random Video Jukebox - Have fun

Wouldn't it be cool if you could go to a page and get a random suggestion from the LikeTelevision™ library? Spin the wheel - and you'd never know what will pop up. Well wish no more - it's here. The Randomizer™ is ready for testing. Be a pioneer and have fun with this massive free video jukebox!

We had a lot of fun testing this. It turned out to be a great way to quickly glean through the library and find something cool to watch. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

DVD ISO Downloads

One of the easiest ways to create a DVD is to record an image file. An image file, or ISO file has all the information of a fully authored DVD. No transcoding, making menus or anything. Just record an image file, select the ISO (*.iso) image file you downloaded, and record. Too Easy!

We add DVD iso files in and out of the library. If you want a current listing - just type in DVD iso in the search box. My current favorites are Owl Creek Bridge, Laurel & Hardy, and Dr. Caligari. If you want more information on burning a DVD, go here.

Weird Movie, Andy Kaufman

Released in 1976, God Told Me To, also known as Demon - stars Tony Lo Bianco as a NYC police detective trying to solve a bizarre string of heinous crimes, where regular people go whacko and go on a shooting spree. Till they get shot (or stabbed. whatever) and in their dying breath. they whisper, God Told Me To. When the crazy knife toting lady tries to get the phrase out... Gah.. Gah.. Gah.. it made me laugh. Anyway - it is a really creepy and disturbing movie, especially when you learn what the Messiah wanna be named Bernard Phillips is all about. Gross! It has Andy Kaufman in it, Deborah Raffin, Sandy Dennis and a ton of other notables. Not for kids.

So - here's another conspiracy theory for you, the anti-christ is an alien??? Who needs the Da Vinci Code or the Judas papers.

Horror Hotel - Bizarre Classic

Horror Hotel is a pretty creepy film - as are many of the films from Christopher Lee. But this one has an extra layer of cool and that's because Venetia Stevenson stars as a young Nan Barlow. Who is Venetia Stevenson you ask? why she's the great Phil Everly's ex-wife. And whoa - she's also Axl Rose's ex-mother-in-law. That's right - Axl was once married to Venetia Stevenson's daughter. And so... when Nan is the virgin sacrificed in the witches' ceremoeny, one can't help but whistle, Bye Bye Love... or maybe welcome to the jungle! Depends on your taste for music i guess. In any event, Horror Hotel is a pretty cool movie, and is a warm up for what's coming next - which is a totally creepy movie. No more details on that... just coming soon. Till then, watch Horror Hotel and increase your stamina for weirdness, cause the next offering is just plain too weird for words. Andy Kaufman is in it. ' nuff said.

Prehistoric Space Satellites

Technology is cool, but cooler still is vintage technology like vacuum tubes and copper wire. You want that? Whoa, we got it. Next up, a 1965 film from NASA about their varied programs of space exploration, which includes the search for alien life forms. No kidding! The focus of the film is about satellites. Little honeys for the weather guys and the DOD guys too. If you like vintage space gear - check here and here for the X-15, or square one of the space program, which began in earnest with Chuck Yeager at the helm of Glamorous Glennis, the X-1.

So what's up with the dinosaur toy in space? We... this is prehistoric rocket gear for one thing.. plus - Son of Godzilla will be ready for download later today. One of my favorite movies in the huge prehistoric insects, animals and monsters genre. A HA! Yes careful observers know that the dinosaur in the image above is not Godzilla, but is none other than the crafty King Zor. You had to shoot the dinosaur before it shot you with missles. Old toys were fun!

Watch movies on your TV Set

As always - technology marches on - which is very often a wonderful thing - as we get a chance to check out new cool techno gadget hardware. In this case - we have heard from many users who are enjoying LikeTelevision's media library, on their TV sets. Here's how most folks are set up: 1)a computer or laptop is accessing the internet and downloading the mpg files to a folder that is shared with a device called a media player, a piece of hardware that is hooked to the tv and by ethernet cable (or wireless) to the computer. Then a remote control is used to access the mpg files from the tv, click play and watch the content. EZ as pie.

There are many brands of Wired/Wireless Media Player devices - including those from D-Link, Gateway, or Buffalo Technology. So don't be shy, these new media player devices are a great way watch movies downloaded from the net, on your tv screen.

Jane Fonda Classic, oh my!

Jane Fonda is out of control on Johhny Carson. One of TV's wildest interviews, where she recounts a story. Oh My! Did she say that? Bill Maher does a killer standup routine, a marmoset relieves himself, on Johnny's head! In another segment, Ed seems a little tipsy. Enjoy yourself - Here's Johnny!

They Made Me a Criminal

As you may know, John Garfield was one of the casulaties of the communist witch hunts led by Joe McCarthy in the 1950s. Garfield was accused of being communist sympathizer, and refused to name others. As such, he never really got the work in Hollywood that he deserved. When he died in 1952, his funeral was mobbed by fans, the largest turnout since Valentino's funeral in the 1920s. And so, the title, They Made Me A Criminal does carry some irony with it.

Directed by acclaimed choreographer Busby Berkely, the film tells a great story of a street-wise boxer named Johnnie Bradfield who gets framed for murder. But then a stroke of luck, the manger who framed Garfield for murder gets killed in a car wreck... but the cops think that Johnnie was killed in the wreck. So, as long as Bradfield clears out - he should be ok.

Yeah... that was fine, until a snoopy detective named Monty Phelan (Claude Rains) starts nosing around thinking he has really found Johnnie Barfield. Also stars The Dead End Kids, with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall, a.k.a. Slip Mahoney and Sach of The Bowery Boys. Lots of fun - a great story, decent acting, and a terrific ending. Check it out - They Made Me A Criminal.

Coney Island -Back in the Day

Another classic from the funky shorts video library - Coney Island Back in the Day. Watch the carnival barkers pump up their freak show, a rollercoaster ride, and of course, Coney Island hot dogs.

Have a great weekend, got more videos on the way.

Oscars Today and Yesterday

I just finished reading an article by Peggy Noonan - Boy in a Bubble, about Oscar Night, March 5, 2006. (not to be confused with John Travolta in the Boy in the Plastic Bubble). Noonan speaks of America's love of movies, and how good it feels to tell someone,

I saw a great movie, you've got to see it.

So we thought we'd suggest a few great movies here at LikeTelevision, you really should see. Get clicking!

Cyrano de Bergerac starring Jose Ferrer who wins the Oscar for Best Actor in a leading role. Amazing story and Ferrer is brilliant.

The Stranger(1946) starring Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young is terrific Nazi spy thriller. (Oscar nominated for Best Writing in 1947). Check out Frank Random's Trailer.

My Man Godfrey is a wonderful feel good movie starring Carole Lombard and William Powell. The film was nominated for SIX Oscars - Best Actor (Wm. Powell). Best Actress (Carole Lombard), Best Actor, Supporting Role (Mischa Auer), Best Actress Supprting Role (Alice Brady), Best Director (Gregory La Cava), and Best Writing, Screenplay (Eric Hatch, Morrie Ryskind). Another interesting thing to consider - Lombard and Powell were married from 1931-1933. So, Powell gets to fall in love with his ex-wife on the screen. Lombard married Clark Gable in 1939. Check out Frank Random's trailer for My Man Godfrey.

Fritz Lang made some of the best movies ever made. While he is best known for Metropolis, my personal favorite is M starring Peter Lorre. But for this list, I am going to suggest - 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse. Lang's last film is a beautiful masterpiece, chock full of amazing cinematography and all the suspense of Hitchcock. If your tastes cater to the more bizarre, check out Scarlet Street, a dark and twisted tale of a very frustrated artist.

Another movie worth watching - Harper Lee's film adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird starring Gragory Peck and Robert Duvall. If you have never seen it or haven't seen it in a long time, by all means - watch it. If time is short, check out this Frank Random trailer.

You might be too young to remember, but the Oscar night March 27, 1973 was a real turning point. Yes - Coppola got Best Director for The Godfather, but the big news that night was Marlon Brando, who sends Sacheen Littlefeather to accept the award. She goes on and on about a politically charged Government conspiracy against Native Indians. Anyway, it turns out she's a phony - just an actress from California named Maria Cruz, not an Native American at all. For me, this was the moment when Oscar Night had jumped the shark.

Gotta scoot - lots of work to do. We should have more new videos by the weekend.

Lou Costello's 100th Birthday Bash

On Monday March 6, 2006 - Lou Costello would be celebrating his 100th birthday, and as a tribute to a man who made millions laugh, we decided to highlight some terrific content featuring Abbott & Costello. First up - check out a whacky version of Jack and the Beanstalk. Just like the Wizard of Oz, this movie features parts that are in black & white and other parts that are in color. Oddly enough - the "real world" is in B&W and Costello's dream is in living color. Loads of good clean laughs - check out this free video preview created by LikeTelevision's own resident clown - Frank Random.

Another must see Costello movie is called Africa Screams - which is a parody of a whacko documentary of that era called Africa Speaks. Honestly - the movie is much funnier if you have seen the schlocky docu-drama, which has a guy getting attacked by a lion, a plague of locusts, and natives going wild for salt... to name but a few weird moments of way over the top politically incorrect film. The Abbott and Costello film Africa Screams features a killer cast of co-stars including Hiliary Brook, Max Baer (Jethro Bodine's dad... who was a terrific boxer. He was the bad guy in Ron Howard's recent film, Cinderella man - read more about that here). Also stars Buddy Baer, Max's bigger brother, Clyde Beatty - the Gunter Gable William's super lion tamer of his day, and a few well known stooges - Shemp Howard, Moe and Curly's brother plus Joe Besser, a vaudville great and a stooge when the the stooges were not as good as they used to be. Enjoy yourself - and raise your glass today for Lou Costello... one of the greatest funny guys to ever grace the silver screen.

Remebering Don Knotts - classic Barney Fife video

On Friday February 24, 2006 - the great Don Knotts died at the age of 81. He was one of the best comedians of his day, best known for his role as the inept deputy of Mayberry, Barney Fife. Knotts was brilliant in his ability to make his character come alive. Like Stan Laurel, he was able to very very funny and retain a childlike innocence that was always endearing. You couldn't help but just love the guy. For those who worked with the man - they only had nice things to say about him. The world will miss his joyous spirit.

As a tribute to this wonderful man, LikeTelevision has compiled some of our favorite moments which we feel best displayed the nature of what made Barney Fife so loveable. Clip one comes from the classic episode - Dogs, Dogs, Dogs. A slew of canines come to Mayberry, and Barney decides to take the dogs out of the police station - and let them run loose in a big field. But then a thunderstorm starts up in earnest... and little Opie is worried about one of the dogs - which he calls a trembler. The entire epside is must see - but here is the scene that is my favorite... about those selfish giraffes.

Another favorite moment of all time - is when Barney buys his first car - from a lady (Ellen Corby, a.k.a. Grandma Walton) who seems like a nice old lady who just drives her car to church each week. Too bad for Barney - he gets a lemon, and this little old lady is hardened crook who takes Barney to the cleaners. Check out our 2nd clip from the best of Barney.

The final offering in our best of Barney Fife collection comes from an episode called The Big House. Some big time criminals come to town.. and Barney is in top form as he explains the rules of the Mayberry jail, which Barney runs with an iron fist, just like Alcatraz, The Big House... the Rock. Check out clip #3.

Of course it is impossible to for us to not include such classic tv moments as the introduction to Aunt Bee's Medicine Man, where Barney combs his hair and compares himself to Rock Hudson, or Mountain Wedding, where he dresses in drag to fool Ernest T. Bass, or the scene from Loaded Goat when Barney comes face to face with a case of dynamite... but we thought it best to just encourage everyone to check out the entire episodes. Yep - just watch them all - 16 episodes of Don Knotts, 8 hours of uninterupted Barney at his best. Available free as video streams - or better yet, download the episodes for better quality and keep them for your own private collection. You can either subscribe and have access to all of them or purchase your personal favorite, a la carte.

May God bless Barney - and the great Don Knotts rest in peace.

Jean Cocteau's Blood of a Poet

From 1930 - check out Jean Cocteau's Blood of a Poet. This French Foreign film reminds me of Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali's Un Chien Andelou from 1929, only I do not think it's as good as that avant garde classic. Of this genre - Fernand Leger's Ballet Mechaniqu