Full House — 20 Years Later

On September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 By R. PettyIn TV ShowsLeave a comment

When I told a couple of friends I was going to review Full House, their jaws dropped. For those who don’t know me, I don’t look (or act) like I would enjoy the sitcom. I have a reputation for being no BS, sarcastic, and tough. Full House is none of those things, so why in the world would someone like me review this show?

Twenty years ago, little Raven laid on her bed and watched back-to-back episodes every afternoon. This week, 30-year-old Raven laid on her couch with her son to watch back-to-back episodes. Not much has changed…

I was thrilled to see Full House come back, and I knew while watching an episode this week, the show was post worthy. So, here’s what’s changed and what hasn’t in 20 years.

Changes

I appreciate the show. I never thought I would want a clean, feel good, very cheesy show to chill to after a day at the office. It’s now cool and funny to be sarcastic and mean, so it’s nice to step into an alternate universe of feel-good family goodness – where people are not glued to their portable devices.

It’s outdated in many ways. It was 20 years ago before technology ruled the world, Harleys and car knowledge was a guy thing, and women wore shoulder pads in everything.

The cast. Other than John Stamos, has anyone seen the rest of the cast? For the most part, the cast is long gone with families (and problems) of their own.

I get it. As an adult, I understand all the jokes and appreciate the non-traditional household that was healthy and supportive. A dad, brother-in-law, and best friend raise three girls. Not only did they raise them, but you knew everything would be okay. And for the most part, it always is. Hope is a powerful thing.

What Remains the Same

John Stamos is still hot. He was the heart-throb of Full House and has aged well. You may remember him from ER and Glee.

Stephanie is still annoying. Her character was nosy and whiny – everything a little sibling is – but she still irritates me, and my son agrees.

There’s always a lesson. D.J. got a job to pay for her own phone line. Stephanie owned up to driving a car through the kitchen. Michelle replaced the classroom bird she accidentally let fly out a window. The show taught kids to own their mistakes and fix them, and honesty is always the best policy.

It’s still cheesy. It was the early 90s, so being raised during the grunge music era and loving movies like Reservoir Dogs and Clueless, it was not cool to like Full House. The jokes are predictable, there are catch phrases, the mushy moments are overly dramatic, and it’s a little unrealistic. But who needs realism? Life has more than enough of it.

It’s still fun. I watched fours hours of Full House this week and enjoyed every minute. It’s not complicated, well written, and great for all ages. I heard Bobby Brown’s My Prerogative on an episode and was nostalgic for 90s dance music and R&B. I knew every word, too.

Full House, like The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince, will live on for a long, long time. I feel like a “real” adult when I say they just don’t make shows like they used to. I look forward to watching more and hearing from you. What old show you would like to see again? Share in the comments below!

Off the Charts: Karl’s Travel Diary for Idiot Abroad Series 1

On September 19, 2012September 19, 2012 By James CastroIn Opinions, Projects, Random Fun, ReviewsLeave a comment

In the last post I discussed Idiot Abroad Series 1 where Karl visits the seven wonders of the world. In addition to the documentary that was made, Karl also kept a travel diary, logging his thoughts and experiences. I found a UK edition on Amazon and picked it up after watching the show. It’s a great addition to what’s seen during the series..

Karl started keeping a diary when he visited Gran Canaria years ago. Passages of it were read on The Ricky Gervais XFM radio show and were absolutely some of my favorite moments from the podcasts. This diary is different as it is more observations of a trip rather than observations of everyday life.

Much of what is said in the diary is said in voice over or interview on the show, but there were some real surprises.

The first surprise was the episodes weren’t shown in the order they were filmed. The diary starts with Karl getting his shots before travel and heading…to Egypt. Those of us who watched the show on TV or on DVD were probably expecting China to be first as it’s the first episode shown. He then goes to Brazil, India, Mexico, China, Jordan, and finally ending with Peru, just about the only episode shown in the order it was produced. I’m not sure why they were shown out of order, but seeing the journey from beginning to in from Karl’s personal perspective provides a better view of his travels.

There were also sections Karl mentions in his diary that do not appear in the show or in the deleted scenes. One was Karl learning to drive a rickshaw in India. Anyone who knows how much Karl likes bikes would have known how well he’d do that but he was told he drove too fast by the instructor. Another memorable incident is the dog farm he visited in China. Dogs are raised for food and sold for that purpose. Karl raises the concept that cows and chickens are raised for food and it doesn’t seem so different. He found it more strange that the owner of the farm had a dog as a pet that he would never cook and eat.

Other items were expansions on things we did see in the show, but provided a better glimpse at Karl and his personality. One moment, that was actually rather touching, was Karl’s interactions with Ashek, the rickshaw driver and restauranteur in India. In the show it appeared as Karl didn’t want to stay with Ashek in the back of his shop and jumped at the chance to stay at a nicer place owned by Ashek’s friend when it was offered. In the book (which contains a number of transcriptions of recorded conversations Karl had, including interactions with locals and phone calls from Steve and Ricky) you see Karl’s compassion for Ashek. Ashek was ill, barely showed up to meet the Idiot Abroad team, and yet still worked both his jobs. Instead of Karl immediately leaving Ashek’s crowded one-room home as shown in the program, Karl initially offers Ashek the nicer house. He tells him, “How about this: I leave you to have a nice night’s sleep? You’ve been working hard all day. Why don’t you stay at your friend’s house, and we’ll stay here…I want you to have a bit of goodness in your life.” Ashek, true to his customary hospitality and courtesy, refuses repeatedly and they eventually go to the nicer residence.

The diary, to me, only works as a companion to the show. It might make sense and be a fun read for those who haven’t seen the show, but in my perspective some of the fun is left out if you can’t picture where Karl is and what he’s doing. It does provide a much better view of the entire show, and is a terrific addition for fans, not only for what it adds to what’s on screen, but to what it adds to what fans may know of Karl’s personality. It’s also a VERY quick read and well laid out. The beginning of each “wonder’s” chapter has a famous quote from a philosopher, historian, or explorer about the wonder juxtaposed with one of Karl’s making for a great intro to each locale.

I’ve seen and enjoyed the second season of Idiot Abroad and Karl kept a diary for that trip too. I know, having enjoyed this one, I’ll definitely get that one too.

If you were unfamiliar with the weird world of Karl Pilkington I hope this was a decent introduction. It’s a consistently funny, sometimes enlightening, frequently confusing, and always entertaining place to visit!

Karl, Steve, and Ricky

Off the Charts: An Idiot Abroad Series 1

On September 13, 2012September 12, 2012 By James CastroIn Opinions, Projects, Reviews1 Comment

As I mentioned in my last post, a friend at work suggested this show to me after finding out I enjoyed the show River Monsters. I resisted it at first base solely on the title. I couldn’t imagine a worse program, but I was picturing “idiots” on the level of the reality TV celebrities that appear on the covers of magazines at the grocery store. I also don’t watch too much TV so to start a new show was one of those, “how will I work this into the schedule” prospects. I saw part of a marathon on a Sunday several weeks ago and found it to be one of the funniest TV shows I’ve seen in ages.

The premise is simple, Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant send Karl Pilkington around the world to see the seven wonders of the world. Karl, as I mentioned in my last post is an individual with a simple and unique perspective on things. He’s never cruel or judgmental, he just often expresses his naive or simplistic opinions in as blunt a manner possible. Ricky wanted to torture Karl for fun, as he claims it’s the most expensive practical joke he’s ever played; Steven wanted to broaden Karl’s perspective. Karl was just kind of along for the ride.

There are only eight episodes, and each one is full of terrific moments of Karl exploring foreign countries and cultures. The best aspect of each show are Karl’s opinions and his narration where he breaks down complex social customs in the most simplistic way possible. Often lost, hungry, obsessed with finding familiarity (especially in toilets), and out-of-his-depth, Karl is sent on various expeditions and takes part in numerous surprise activities assigned to him by Ricky and Steven via phone or text. Here are my favorite moments in Series 1:

Episode 1: The Great Wall of China (China)

Karl experiences the street food vendors in China and witnesses scorpions, geckos, and toads for food. Possibly my favorite moment is when he realizes his driver is eating an egg with a fetus in it!
Karl does some Kung Fu training with the Shaolin Monks, including watching his instructor throw a needle through a pane of glass (Karl hits the cameraman on his go…)
Karl’s description of the Great Wall as “the Alright Wall of China.”

Episode 2: The Taj Mahal (India)

Karl goes to the Kumbh Mela festival to see the various babas present. He describes one as looking like Jim Morrison. And is shocked at the somewhat horrifying abilities of Elephant Baba’s friend…and his walking stick…
In one of the most endearing moments of the series, Karl spends time with a swamiji. He actually enjoys the experience and just describes him as a “good bloke” rather than any kind of mystical power. And he seemed to be.
Karl thinks the Taj Mahal was built by a guilty husband. He claims if he built his girlfriend, Suzanne, something like that she’d say, “What’s been going on?!”

Episode 3: Petra (Jordan)

Karl goes through military training to learn what to do if he’s kidnapped.
Karl visits Christ’s birthplace but finds the nearby border wall between Palestine and Israel more impactful as it effects the people living on either side every day.
Karl proves his belief that “it is better to live in a hole and look at a palace than to live in a palace and look at the hole” by spending the night in a cave across from the treasury at Petra; an experience he truly enjoyed!

Episode 4: Chichen Itza (Mexico)

Karl does some Mexican wrestling with “The Shocker!”
Eating wasp larvae with Mayans and trading some Monster Munch “crisps” with some of the villagers (which they seemed to enjoy)
Dancing to British New Wave music and feeding a large lizard hobnobs at Chichen Itza.

Episode 5: The Great Pyramids (Egypt)

Belly dancing on his Nile Cruise!
Karl’s comment on a nice apartment near a call to prayer speaker was that the real estate agent only takes people to see the property when the call to prayer isn’t blaring. Another moment where his simple opinion is likely 100% correct!
Karl description of the great pyramid as a “game of Jenga that’s got out of hand.”

Episode 6: Christ the Redeemer (Brazil)

Karl dances in a samba line during Rio Carnival!
Karl’s tour of Rio with local man, Celso.
Karl sees the Christ the Redeemer statue by helicopter. He is more excited about having ridden in a helicopter than seeing the “wonder.” In his words he “enjoyed riding in the helicopter…and the Jesus thing was alright as well.”

Episode 7: Machu Picchu (Peru)

Karl camps in the woods with his own home-made toilet (a camping chair with a hole cut into it).
Karl stays with a tribe that used to be cannibals and attempts to teach them Connect 4 (he thinks they don’t understand it because they never count higher than three in primitive tribes)
Karl describes Machu Picchu as “magnificent”…in an effort to not have to walk any further around it and just end the show with a long shot from the point they had reached. When he saw the first buildings of the complex he remarks in a desire to stop before reaching the top, “It’s not like I’m looking for a house here. I’m not saying ‘just like this but with more outside space…'”

Episode 8: Karl Comes Home

Karl reveals his secret word in case he got kidnapped in Israel was “Congress tart.”
Karl’s scenario where he gets a free night of chicken from NOT having plans and just “going with it.”
In one of the funniest moments of the series the clip is played (from when Karl was in Peru) where Ricky reveals they changed the name of the program from Karl Pilkington’s Seven Wonders to An Idiot Abroad. Karl’s reaction is priceless.

Next time I’ll take a look at Karl’s travel diary. I read it in only a couple days and it shed extra light on some of the events shown in the show, and and extra insight into the inner-workings of Karl’s mind.

This whole video is good as he talks about tribal customs and invisible fish but the discussion of the name change starts at 4:18 and as always beware the language.

Off the Top of My Head #4: The Unconventional Wit and Wisdom of Karl Pilkington

On September 5, 2012September 5, 2012 By James CastroIn Art, Opinions, Projects, Random Fun, ReviewsLeave a comment

Genius is an objective concept. What might seem like genius to one person may seem absolutely ridiculous to another. What might seem simplistic may be brilliant. What is absurd and what is genius can be blurred by perspective and not all of us agree on what is profound and what is nonsense.

Enter Karl Pilkington.

A friend at work told me about the show Idiot Abroad and frankly due to the title and my lack of interest in the concept I resisted watching it. I since have seen the show, The Ricky Gervais Show HBO episodes, and read two of Karl’s books. Despite what Ricky Gervais believes, I think Karl is a kind of genius (which according to Ricky makes me an idiot too…), but like Ricky…I can’t get enough of his peculiar form of brilliant insanity. I’ve included several of videos featuring Karl in this post. All are hilarious, but be aware there is some typical Ricky Gervais-language in them.

For those who don’t know him, Karl Pilkington was a radio producer on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s radio show. They found his unique outlook and simplistic views on things to be so entertaining they have since put him in their podcasts and twice sent him around the world.

Ricky refers to Karl as a “moron, he is a round, empty-headed chimp-like, mank moron. Buffoon. Idiot…but absolutely lovable.” Stephen Merchant states Karl is, “Some kind of real-life Homer Simpson…small minded, petty, but at his core a good person.”

I find Karl to be rather more intellectual and philosophical than idiotic; albeit in quite an unconventional way. Karl can ponder the functions of the human mind, the future, and discuss the nature of virtual life vs. real life. At the same time he believes dolphins with rifles escaped during Hurricane Katrina; that longer days on Mars are the cause for Martian technological advancement; and that monkeys can steal cars, serve as doctors, and fly spaceships via training with a banana chute.

Hearing Karl’s unconventional and sometimes seemingly mad ideas (like population control could be accomplished by having old women give birth to the next generation right before they die) it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that he is an idiot as Ricky describes. To me, despite his sometimes pessimistic tendencies, he seems to think with a positive attitude, meaning when he finds a story that interests him he doesn’t come at it from a perspective of, “this can’t be true.” Instead he comes at it from the angle, “why can’t this be true?” He approaches the stories he reads with a certain level of naivety, accepting what is presented simply because he “read it.” This can lead him to very unusual conclusions, and it doesn’t help that even legitimate stories he reads get, as Karl would say, “bungled in” with other stories and facts (like Mt. Everest growing and a piano being found on top of it.) I find his willingness to accept unrealistic concepts as refreshing and creative (even if he doesn’t always see it as creativity). Also, as he says when he selects a dictionary as the book he’d most want to bring to a desert island, he isn’t always able to express his thoughts in the clearest way. I know I’ve been there, so I identify with him when he struggles to put his thoughts into words.

His views are also completely void of vitriol or malice. When he talks about unusual people (he calls them all “freaks”), other cultures, poetry, and vacationing in other countries he doesn’t express a hateful opinion just his honest one. I actually prefer his honest, yet sometimes ignorant, perspective far more than the crowd-pleasing, phony, politically correct beliefs we see from most pundits.

It’s like Karl lives in his own world, and that would be a fascinating place to be…

If you are unfamiliar with Karl, look him up on the internet and/or get a copy of The Ricky Gervais Show on podcast or video. Even if you don’t think he’s a modern day philosopher (as I do!) you’re bound to laugh at his antics.

My next post will be a review of the first season of Karl’s travel program, An Idiot Abroad. A terrific show that puts an unconventional man in unfamiliar surroundings and hilarity ensues. For now, enjoy this, one of my favorite videos!

And check out Karl’s official site here!

Off the Top of My Head #3: How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Painting and the Balrog of Moria

On August 22, 2012August 21, 2012 By James CastroIn Art, Games, Projects, Random Fun1 Comment

I posted in my second “Off the Top of my Head” some of the 40k figures I painted. While I started painting with the five “came with the paint set” marines, the second model I painted wasn’t a Black Reach Ork but a Games Workshop, Citadel Balrog of Moria. I love the Lord of the Rings movies, but I don’t have much interest in the game (I like the grim darkness of the 41st millennium). This model was given to me by a friend I work with. His son loves the Lord of the Rings figures. He found this particular to be a little too advanced for him and offered it to me as a thank you for locating some hard-to-find movies and toys online (he calls me “the finder of lost items”). The weekend before my vacation I decided on a weapon for the Balrog, primered him, glued him and started painting him.

After painting it I decided, since I don’t collect the LOTR figures, I would return it to the young man who gave it to me. He was very happy to get the completed Balrog back and I received the ultimate kid compliment for my work: I was invited over to view his collection of Lord of the Rings miniatures and play video games. I take it as high praise!

Barlrog Full — My Balrog. Chaos Black primer, washed all over in old Baal Red, then the fire parts were painted white and washed in Casandora Yellow. I used some Troll Slayer Orange for the darker fire parts and washed it in Bloodletter Glaze

Balrog Right — Full Balrog from the right. The whip used the same technique as the fire, painted white then washed in yellow with orange details glazed in red.

Balrog Left — Balrog from the left. My *Horus Heresy* and 40k books made a good backdrop.

Balrog Base 1 — The base was the most fun to paint. I liked the detail of the skeleton in armor with an axe. I painted it Runelord Brass, Moonfang Brown, Bugman’s Glow, and Screaming Skull then washed the whole thing in Earthshade.

Balrog Base 2 — Base of the Balrog showing the bony hand with axe. I didn’t put the orange detail on the Balrog’s arms. I probably should have but I was eager to get to that 40k army!

Balrog's Face — The face of the Balrog. His horns are drybrushed with Praxeti White.

Life Lessons Learned from Video Games #4: A Love Letter to Old School Sega

On August 15, 2012August 15, 2012 By James CastroIn Games, Random Fun5 Comments

Though I have very little time to just kick back and play games like when I was a kid, I still follow the culture and play when I can. I do have a current-gen PS3 but I find the most joy playing the games from my youth. As I said in previous posts, I started with an Atari PC (and was roundly mocked by all the Nintendo kids), but eventually got an NES for Christmas. I loved the system and played its games religiously. Nintendo was so dominant, I didn’t even know what the “Sega Master System” was until I got a Sega Game Gear and it came with an attachment that let me play Master System games.

Shortly after acquiring my Game Gear in the early-mid 90s I discovered the Sega Genesis. Unlike many, I don’t recall ever seeing the “Nintendon’t” or “Blast Processing” commercials. I do remember seeing Sonic the Hedgehog and Streets of Rage 2 on the demo unit at Target. The Genesis looked cool and the games were a lot of fun in the store. I was sold. I pawned my NES, all my games, and used some birthday money to buy a Sega Genesis (with Streets of Rage 2 included!!) I loved the system, and began a rabid support of Sega.

Genesis Games — NES fans…I have nearly every great, classic NES game…and I think this collection is every bit as classic and no where near as complete…

In the early-to-mid-90s gamers were divided into Sega people and Nintendo people…I was a Sega person. I played the fighting games, the Mutant League games, I LOVED the Genesis Shadowrun, and fought viciously with those who compared SNES franchises and graphics. I so supported Sega I got a Sega CD one Christmas, and a 32X the next. And I even enjoyed those systems. I played and beat Sewer Shark; I was obsessed with Sonic CD and it remains the best Sonic game EVER in my opinion. I had Doom on the 32X and a great little unknown game called Kolibri, a horizontal 2-d shooter where you and a friend can play as hummingbirds. Don’t laugh…it was terrific… I eventually bought the Saturn, which for its time was by FAR the best system out there. It was well-supported and had great tech-specs, but lost out eventually to the N64, and eventually was crushed utterly by the new Playstation. I even bought a Dreamcast…and only ever played Resident Evil: Code Veronica on it…before the PS2 did it in.

Sega Nomad — My handheld Nomad Genesis system.

Sega CDX — How I currently play my Genesis and Sega CD games on my TV. And a Slime PS2 controller. Because that’s where he lives and he’s photogenic.

Despite all their mistakes in business (Sega was obsessed with hardware and put games and software support secondary, blinded by competing with other companies they forever sought the “best tech” and rushed it out before the market was ready…barely supported it…then rushed out the next one and barely supported it) I have a lot of love for Sega. After I set up my PS3, I played some Oblivion then, while filing the game away I found my Sega Nomad and spent the rest of the evening playing…you guessed it…Streets of Rage 2. Still beat it too. Sega lives in my gaming consciousness. I still remember the Mortal Kombat blood code (Down-Up-Left-Left-A-Right-Down…memorizing codes from magazines in the grocery store…those were the days…), and playing as a raptor in Jurassic Park. The GREAT X-Men Genesis games are still loads of fun to play and I still plan to invest time into eventually beating Shadowrun…if it’s possible.

Sega CD Games — To all those who criticize the Sega CD I thought I’d produce a STACK of some great Sega CD games. This pile doesn’t even include the great Terminator game…

Saturn Games — Some of my Saturn games. I don’t have the Panzer Dragoons (though I beat the first one in high school) nor do I have the fantastic “Children of the Atom” X-Men fighting game. I put plenty of time in on that in the 90s too.

Sega is now in software only and is a shadow of its former self. With the Sony vs Microsoft competition dominating the market now it seems like history is repeating itself. Sides are being chosen, graphics comparisons are appearing in articles, libraries are being compared, and tech specs have appeared in countless posts and forums. What seems to be lost is competition is actually good for the market. I see posts on game sites where rabid fanboys declare their hope that their side puts the other out of business. Does anyone think that would be good? A monopoly on game technology would only reduce quality and innovation. The Wii’s motion control and rapid sales incited Sony and Microsoft into motion controls as well. The handheld war continues with new innovations like 3d, HD graphics, and wi-fi capability. Social gaming has gone from a second controller and split screens to worldwide gaming. I for one am hoping the “big three” continue to produce successful systems and franchises for several “next-gens” to come. And here’s hoping that none of them, like Sega, become lost relics, sacrifices to the gods of greed and commerce.

But for now I say, long live the memory of Sega. Plug in some 16-bit fun some time. The Genesis is every single bit the great, classic console the NES is. And I’ll GRAND UPPER anyone who says otherwise!

Grand Upper! — GRAND UPPER! Forward-Forward+B. You can beat the whole game with this one…

Mutant League Hockey — And I don’t care who you are…this is AWESOME…

Revenant Publications

Category: Reviews