#Plumber Gordon

[cyclipse95]

I’ve been watching The White House Plumbers and I’ve quite enjoyed it so far. It’s entertaining, has good acting and writing, is mostly accurate save for dramatized bits, and is (rather unfortunately) relevant to our times and it knows it.

Having said that I hope none of you watch it.

Not ready for the “do you think Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy ever explored each other’s bodies” posts.

[claudia1829things]

Ranking of “WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS” (2023) Episodes

Below is my ranking of the episodes from “WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS”, the HBO adaptation of “Integrity”, Egil Krogh and Matthew Krogh’s 2007 book about Watergate.  Directed by David Mandel, the limited series starred Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux:

RANKING OF “WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS” (2023) EPISODES

1.  (1.03) “Don’t Drink the Whiskey at the Watergate” - Nixon Administration “plumbers” led by E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy attempt to break into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate Hotel to plant listening devices for the White House.

2.  (1.04) “The Writer’s Wife” - Reeling from the arrests at the Watergate, Hunt enlists his son Saint John's help to dispose of evidence, while Liddy warns the acting Attorney General that the burglaries can be tied back to President Nixon. Later, after returning from Paris, a livid Dorothy Hunt must take control to protect her family and the Liddys.

3.  (1.02) “Please Destroy This, Huh?” - While Hunt and Dorothy entertain Liddy and his wife Fran at their exclusive country club, their kids Lisa and Saint John paint a less-than-perfect portrait of the family.  On the outs with Nixon's Attorney General John Mitchell, Hunt and Liddy get a chance to redeem themselves when a leaked memo from Dita Beard puts Mitchell and the administration in legal jeopardy.

4.  (1.05) “True Believers” - Amid rumors of the White House's involvement, Liddy shares his concerns about Hunt's stability with White House Counsel John Dean and tries to make a deal. Hunt's daughter Kevan leverages a secret notebook to convince her father to come clean in his testimony to the U.S. Senate.

5.  (1.01) “The Beverly Hills Burglary” - A year before the infamous Watergate break-in, Hunt and Liddy are tasked with investigating the Pentagon Papers leak, gathering a team of Cubans - all Bay of Pigs veterans - to infiltrate whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office. Meanwhile, the Hunts get to know the Liddys.

[moorheadthanyoucanhandle]

DUMB AND PLUMBER

Last night I finished watching the HBO limited series White House Plumbers...

...about the Watergate break-in, with Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt and Justin Theroux as G. Gordon Liddy, presenting them both as buffoonish boneheads. Lena Headey is quite sexy as Hunt's ill-fated wife Dorothy, clearly much the smarter half of the marriage.

The Wife mostly lost interest in the show after the first of the five episodes, finding the tone too farcical for the subject matter. But I have a feeling that most of the absurd incidents it shows us are based on fact, or at least on stuff those assholes claimed actually happened.

It is broadly played, but I feel like the best, albeit posthumous, revenge against those traitorous twits is to depict them as stooges, self-impressed, amateurish wannabes. Playing them as steely-eyed villains is probably exactly what they'd get off on.

Anyway, it's mentioned several times in the course of the series that Hunt was a hack novelist on the side; it reminded me that I'd had one of his books on my shelf for years and had never gotten around to it. It was a 1972 hard-boiled noir/horror hybrid called The Coven...

...written under the pseudonym "David St. John" (the names of both his sons) and set in D.C. neighborhoods where I used to live and work. It's full of borderline-parody prose like this:

"From there I drove through a city well-lighted for the most part, but largely deserted, for honest people tended to stay indoors after dark in recent years. Out Rhode Island Avenue to a part of the District tourists seldom saw. Hell's Bottom it had been called in the early days. Murder Bay. Old, rundown, and shabby. Condemned windowless buildings, vandalized by gangs of homeless boys. By day a rude, brawling area where liquor stores cashed more relief checks than the few remaining banks. By night a furtive, shadowy zone whose sounds were the crash of liquor bottles, the bang of overturing trash cans, and strangled cries in dark allies. Where love and heroin were traded over barroom tables and stolen cars screamed around the nearby corner...A sprawling raucous quarter slated for demolition when the City Fathers could get around to it. A dying, decaying area where hope was as rare as a starched white shirt."

So you're saying...not a great neighborhood?

There are also loathing caricatures of hippies, Beltway insiders, political staffers, etc. And the hard-drinking lawyer hero is the perfect projection of the cynical badass that Hunt so clearly wanted to be. As an expression of the mindset out of which the abuses of that administration grew, it's a simultaneously fun and depressing read.

[immaculatasknight]

Think like a Nazi

[jackets1213]

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[thunderbirds-showdown]

Which Thunderbirds Are Go episode is better?

Vote on which episode you think is better. Episode synopses below the cut.

Escape Proof: A tunneling vehicle belonging to the Mechanic leaves a plumber trapped in its wake and it is up to Virgil and Gordon to get him out. Lady Penelope and Parker track down the Mechanic's vehicle and discover that he's heading straight for Parkmoor Scrubs prison, where the Hood is being held. Although the breakout is successful the Hood double crosses the Mechanic and leaves him to be arrested by the GDF while he slips away. The Mechanic also escapes and programs his vehicle to self-destruct.

Avalanche: When a popular vlogger gets trapped during an avalanche, International Rescue must find a way to carefully dig him out.

[thelittleredheadedmusician]

Tagged by @whatstheproblembaby

Make a poll with five of your all time favourite characters and then tag five people to do the same. See which character is everyone's favourite.

Tagging: @radioactivepigeons @thenorthendofhell @captainxandis @sqoiler @byebyeskylark

[waterfaery]

Hiya, since y'all since are out there liking and sharing my Newsies Previews audio I would like to share a new one (:

This one is not tracked (yet, i want to track it but I haven't had the time so far).

Here you go!

This was taken on the evening show of sunday 12-03-2023. It was Jamie Duncan-Campbell's Last show and Bobbie was on for Katherine! I'll share the full cast list under the cut!

This was front row Bronx seats, so got some nice improv/ad-lib lines again, I could talk about hours about those alone haha

Disclaimer: you can download, share link, everything just please don’t re-upload since it’s my own master thank u!

Ps: I also have a 03-12-2022 (previews) audio, if anyone is interested! and a bunch of notes i wrote during the show, so let me know!

Jack Kelly - Michael Ahomka-Lindsay

Davey Jacobs- Ryan Kopel

Katherine Plumber - Bobbie Chambers

Les Jacobs - Oliver Gordon

Crutchie - Matthew Duckett

Joseph Pulitzer - Cameron Blakely

Medda Larkin - Moya Angela

Race Higgins - Josh Barnett

Specs - Samuel Bailey

Tommy Boy - Jack Bromage

Buttons- Alex Christian

Mike - Mark Samaras

Ike - Zack Guest

Mush - Jamie Duncan-Campbell

Splasher - Ross Dorrington

Albert - Jacob Fisher

Finch - Damon Gould

Romeo - George Michaelides

Jo Jo - Mukeni Nel

Elmer - Rory Shafford

Henry - Matt Trevorrow

Morris Delancey / Darcy - George Crawford

Oscar Delancey / Bill - Alex James-Hatton

Spot Conlon / Nun / Bowery Beauty - Lillie-Pearl Wildman

Hannah / Brooklyn Newsie / Nun / Bowery Beauty - Lindsay Atherton

Brooklyn Newsie / Nun / Bowery Beauty - Kamilla Fernandes

Brooklyn Newsie / On-stage Swing - Imogen Bailey

Bunsen - Siôn Lloyd

Snyder - Ross Dawes

Wiesel / Stage Manager / Jacobi / Mayor - Jamie Golding

Nunzio/ Guard / Policeman / Roosevelt - Barry Keenan

[javaelemental]

The White House Plumbers on HBO HBO MAX MAX

Have you seen this? You should give it a go, especially if you're any sort of history buff. It was pretty funny, and everyone did a great job (particularly Lena Headey, who was absolutely spectacular as Dorothy Hunt, Howard Hunt's wife).

It was a little bit surreal to watch. The show plays G. Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt as a couple of buffoons and Watergate as a black comedy, but at least once an episode you'll be like, "No, that actually totally happened. They actually did that." So it absolutely works as two idiots and a black comedy, but also there's this wild edge of reality, and the combination makes your head spin a little bit. It doesn't help any that the writers toss in a few conspiracy theories while they're at it.

(Howard Hunt didn't kill JFK. Dorothy Hunt wasn't killed by the Nixon Administration. Probably. 😉)

[seas-storyarchive]

Big Happy Mess au

Verdona was a human, dead by present day

She was close with both of her sons

She died by the time the boys were in college

[[MORE]]

Max was a Plumber

He was closest to Frank

Carl and him? Well, Carl was a "ruffian" who constantly needed to get bailed out by Max's Plumber friends who had connections in law enforcement. Yeah, not the best father-son relationship

Frank and Carl are twins

"Uncle Bill", Max's former partner, was the best uncle when Carl and Frank were growing up. Carl was closer to Bill than to Max because Bill was there for Carl - he didn't mean to "steal Carl" from Max - and he helped him straighten out his act and in the future he helps him get into medical school

Frank looks like Max, Carl looks like Verdona

The Tennyson boys maturity level order: Frank, Joel and Carl

Frank and Carl love Joel, Joel loves them

Carl and Sandra met and married in college, they aren't hippie codded nor are they vegetarians - we see Ben and Gwen EATTING MEAT in the OG series - Carl knows she's a disowned Forever Knight, who empathizes with aliens and treats them as human, but loves her anyway regardless of her past

Frank met Natalie and married her after college

Natalie and Frank divorce after a few years and then Frank marries Lily

Joel is a Plumber

Where he met Camille on her homeworld and thry become engaged

but they hold off tying the knot for a while because Camille had gotten pregnant with Joel's baby. They finally decide to get married because Gordon and Betty Jean were breathing down Joel's neck about it

Who do the kids belong to?

Ken is Frank and Natalie's

Ben, Albedo, Sunny and Eunice are Carl and Sandra's - all are quadruplets

Carl finds a baby Argit in a dumpster, thinking him to be a lost dog when he brought him home - dude was just coming off a 24hr+ shift okay, couldn't think straight to save his life. He and Sandra both have heart attacks when Argit starts to walk on two legs and talk after like a week of being home with them and interacting with the babies. So yeah, they adopted an alien, time to go to Uncle Bill for help - and help he does. He's the same age as the quadruplets, and gets a disguise maker put into his clothes - he later can use this at will

Gwen is Frank and Lily's, born on the same day as her four cousins

Joel and Camille's daughter is named Lucy, around the same age as Gwen, Ben and the other kids

Kevin, in blowing up his family home, kills his mother and adoptive father. He goes through the system, before being adopted by Carl and Sandra - he finds and adopts Zed because he can - son number 4 + dog

They also adopt Hope too, because she legit ran into Sandra's car - into the back as Sandra was loading groceries - and yeah.. they have daughter number 3

The kids all hang out, save for Ken because Natalie is a spiteful woman and Ken is a mommy's boy

The adults

Carl and Frank are mending their relationship - it's rough because they suffer from Golden Heir and Afterthought Spare

Frank was in contact with Max, and convinced Carl to let Max take the kids for summer break

- Ben, Gwen, Kevin and Hope went

- Argit had no interest - which Carl is grateful for and teaches him how to fix the bmw when it breaks down, Eunice was volunteering at Sandra's job, Sunny is at baseball camp, Albedo is at soccer camp (Ben would have gone too, but he decided to take the road trip instead)

Carl was hit the hardest when Verdona died, and was destroyed when Bill turned out to be a madman

Frank tried to tell Carl he told him so, but kept it to himself when he saw how gutted Carl was about it

Jobs

Frank is a lawyer, Lily is a stay at home mother

Natalie gets paid alimony from Frank

Max, Vera, Gordon and his wife are "retired" Plumbers who get pension

Joel and Camille are Plumbers, who pay Gordon and Betty for their time looking after Lucy

Carl works as a registered nurse and is fine with his job and it works for him and his family, Sandra works part time at a veterinarian clinic

[glitchgaymer]

CJ Tennyson

Carmenlita Jennifer Agbayani Tennyson

Age:

12[Start of OV]

14[End of OV]

22 [Present]

Birthday: July 22, 2000

Status: Alive

Species:

Human [Genectically]

Anodite [Spark]

Nationality: Filipino-American

Gender Identity: Girl [Cis-gender]

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers/Herself

Sexuality: Lesbian

Homeworld: Earth

Residence:

OV: Bellwood

Present: Friedkin University

Affiliations:

OV:

Ben's Team

Plumbers

Team Tennyson [Disbanded]

Alien Force [Disbanded]

Tennyson Family

Agbayani-Tennyson Siblings

Madison Elementary School [Formally]

Madison Middle School

Shim [Crush]

Present:

Ben's Team [Disbanded]

Plumbers

Tennyson Family

Salvador-Tennyson Siblings

Madison Elementary School [Formally]

Madison Middle School [Formally]

Madison High School [Formally]

Friedkin University [Currently]

Shim [Lover]

Occupations:

OV:

Grade 7 student of Madison Middle School[Currently]

Bicyclists

Swimmer

Soccer Player

Baseball Player

Basketball Player

Present:

College Senior of Friedkin University

Student of Madison High School [Formally]

Bicyclists

Swimmer

Soccer Player

Baseball Player

Basketball Player

Archer

Future:

Plumbers Academy Student

College Senior of Friedkin University [Formally]

Swimmer

Soccer Player

Baseball Player

Basketball Player

Archer

Skills & Abilities:

Human:

Freestyle Hand-to-Hand Combatant

Marksmanship

Sign language

Morse Code

Self Defense

Artistic ability

Creativity

Anodite:

Mana Manipulation

Mana Absorption

Mana Detection

Mana Telekinesis

Mana Flight

Mana Constructs

Mana Construct Tampering

Mana Projectiles

Mana Field Communication

Innate Magical Abilities

Limited Reality Warping

Space Survivability

Object Creation

Object Reparation

Object Dissipation

Object Duplication

Object Animation

Invisibility

Teleportation

Dimensional Travel

Astral Projection

Telepathy

Body Creation

Human Disguise

Size Alteration

Prehensile Hair

Flight

Enhanced Strength

Enhanced Durability

Enhanced Dexterity

Enhanced Agility

Enhanced Jumping

Enhanced Speed (with enough mana)

Anodite Form Only:

Flight

Size Alteration

Magic:

Magic Vision

Mnemokinesis

Clairvoyance

Dowsing

Portal Creation

Healing

Light Generation

Equipment: Bow & Arrows

Family:

Carl Tennyson [Dad]

Sandra Tennyson [Mom]

Ben Tennyson [Older Brother]

BJ Tennyson [Twin Brother]

AJ Tennyson [Younger Sister]

Max Tennyson [Paternal Grandpa]

Verdona [Paternal Grandma]

Vera Tennyson [Paternal Great Aunt]

Gordon Tennyson [Paternal Great Uncle]

Betty Jean Tennyson [Paternal Great Aunt-In-Law]

Mr. Agbayani [Maternal Grandpa]

Mrs. Agbayani [Maternal Grandma & Deceased]

Unknown Maternal Great Aunts

Unknown Maternal Great Unlces

Frank Tennyson [Paternal Uncle]

Natalie Tennyson [Paternal Aunt-In-Law]

unknown Aunts from Sandra's side

Uncles from Sandra's side

Ken Tennyson [Paternal Cousin]

Gwen Tennyson [Paternal Cousin]

Sunny Tennyson [Paternal Cousin]

Clyde Fife [Paternal Cousin]

Lucy Mann [Paternal Cousin-In-Law]

Unknown cousins from Sandra's side

14 Necrofriggians [Nieces or Nephews]

Aliases:

CJ Prime

Miss Carmenlita Tennyson

Ate CJ/Carmenlita

Tita/Aunt CJ/Carmenlita

Ben's 1st sister

Nicknames:

CJ

Jenny

Hobbies:

Playing and Training for Soccer, Basketball, and Swimming[OV & Present]

Reading her comics, graphic novels, and books[OV & Present]

Bicycling[OV & Present]

Hanging out with her siblings, or her friends[OV & Present]

Archery[OV & Present]

Playing house with AJ[before OV]

Dimensions & Time Travel

Likes:

Hot Sauce smoothies

Spicy Food

Hanging out with her siblings, or her friends[OV & Present]

Her comics & graphic novels

Shim

Halloween

Dislikes:

Sour food

That student that will remind the teacher about the quiz or homework

Homework

Studying too much

Paparazzis

Will Harangue

[ramrodd]

COMMENTARY:

Their is a vital connection between Dr. McDonald's description of Homer as a gnostic cult in Plato's Cave and Molly Worthen's Resurrection epiphany , I didn't know this about Homer in these specific terms, but I'm not surprised. I have studied Number as a figure of speech since my freshman year at Indian University just before the draft call ups for Vietnam began in July, To say I studied it is far more systematic than what I actually have done, which is more like doing cross word puzzles,

I'm dyslectic, I am a charter member of DAM: Mothers Against Dyslexia, I didn't know what it was but a graduate student taking a freshman finite math course noticed it in conversation and suggested I learn how to do numerology as a method to mitigate the effect of dyslexia. And it helps. It makes me mindful of my thinking and behavior. For reasons that have to do with DC before the Reagan people fucked things up, I could have earned a comfortable living as a psychic counselor reading cards and doing numerology, Among other things, I was a disciple of a serious psychic for Richmond, Virginian, who was connected in various ways to Edgar Cayce

this stuff Jesus is doing in the Gospel of Mark is Wicca and, when I got back from Vietnam in 1971, DC is the place where the Woodstock Nation had determined to put down roots. It was the most racially mellow city in the world. The only thing more racially mellow in my experience was on a relay landing zone with a combat Battalion coming out of the woods and toking up with Jimi Hendrix going cross town, waiting for the slicks to come take us to a 5 day stan down.

So, all this New Age DEI Human Potential vibe was in the air and the only people who didn't share in the whole Jimmy Buffet/Chuck Brown/Bob Marley groove of it was the Plumbers and other white supremacists of the John Birch Society, I could have had a job in the Nixon White House but I was on a different career path, number one, and, number two, I didn't want to have to work with white supremacist thugs like Pat Buchanan and G. Gordon Liddy and Chuck Colson, Before the Reagan people came to town, they were largely avoidable, Since January 20, 1981, not so much,

In spite of Family Ties, it was never Kool to be Conservative. My point is that I know a lot about the numerology of the Bible that has a direct connection to what Dr MacDonald is talking about and what happened to Molly worthen, The problem with the Critical Historic Analysis of the Post Modern Historic Deconstruction is that both the Jesus Seminar and the Pro-Live Solo Scriptura Evangelicals ignores all these mechanisms of literature because you cannot find the DNA of Jesus in the dried up shit they dig out at Kur Qumran latrines.

Here's the insight I have to pass on : In terms of the numerology of the New Testament, Luke is wholly Homeric in origin: among other things: it has 24 chapters, the number of the letters in the Greek Alpha bet, just like the Iliad and the Odyssey, And it is my conviction that Matthew and Acts anticipates Mohammad, with 28 chapters, the number of letters in the Arabic alphabet.

And if you need an example of the Holy Spirit guiding the pen of any author in the 66 books of the Palestine Bible, the Gospel of Luke is had to beat.

[frnwhcom]

Unraveling the Watergate Seven: A Deep Dive into Political Infamy

The Watergate scandal, a seismic event in the annals of American political history, not only precipitated the downfall of President Richard Nixon but also introduced the world to the "Watergate Seven." This moniker refers to seven of Nixon's advisors and associates embroiled in the scandal following the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Their actions, and the subsequent cover-up, would lead to a constitutional crisis, culminating in Nixon's resignation—the only time a U.S. president has resigned from office. The Core Seven The Watergate Seven comprised key figures within Nixon's administration and reelection campaign, each playing distinct roles in the scandal and its aftermath. Here's a closer look at these individuals: - H.R. Haldeman: Nixon's Chief of Staff, Haldeman was deeply involved in the cover-up efforts. His unwavering loyalty to Nixon ultimately contributed to his downfall. - John Ehrlichman: As Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, Ehrlichman oversaw the "plumbers," a covert unit established to stop leaks of classified information, among other duties. - John N. Mitchell: The former Attorney General and later the head of Nixon's reelection campaign, Mitchell was implicated in both the planning and cover-up of the Watergate break-in. - Charles Colson: Special Counsel to the President, Colson was known for his role in orchestrating the break-in and other "dirty tricks" against political opponents. - Gordon C. Strachan: An aide to Haldeman, Strachan was involved in the transfer of information and funds to the Watergate burglars. - Robert Mardian: Serving as a political aide, Mardian played a part in the early stages of the cover-up before his case was severed during the trial due to insufficient evidence. - Kenneth Wells Parkinson: A lawyer for Nixon's reelection committee, Parkinson was involved in the legal aspects of the cover-up. He was ultimately acquitted, highlighting the complexities of proving guilt within the tangled web of the scandal. These individuals faced charges including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury, reflecting the lengths to which Nixon's administration went to hide its activities. The trials and convictions (except for Parkinson) of these figures underscored the gravity of the administration's actions and led to significant political and legal reforms in the United States. The Indictments and Aftermath In March 1974, these seven individuals were indicted by a grand jury for their roles in the Watergate cover-up. The charges ranged from conspiracy, obstruction of justice, to perjury, laying bare the extent of the administration's illegal activities. The trials that followed would captivate the nation, revealing a sordid tale of political espionage, sabotage, and ethical compromise at the highest levels of government. The convictions and subsequent incarcerations of several members of the Watergate Seven underscored the scandal's gravity. Moreover, their legal battles and Nixon's eventual pardon of some underscored the profound challenges to the legal and political systems of the United States. Legacy and Reform The Watergate scandal and the actions of the Watergate Seven (both groups) had profound and lasting effects on American politics and governance. It led to the resignation of President Nixon in August 1974, a moment unparalleled in U.S. history. In response to the scandal, Congress enacted a series of reforms aimed at improving transparency in government and reducing the influence of money in politics, including the Federal Election Campaign Act amendments and the creation of the Federal Election Commission. Furthermore, Watergate left a lasting legacy on American political culture, introducing a level of skepticism toward political leaders and institutions. It also led to a significant shift in journalistic practices, with investigative journalism gaining prominence and credibility for its role in uncovering the truth behind the scandal. The Watergate Seven, emblematic of a broader culture of secrecy and illegality within the Nixon administration, forever altered the American political landscape. The scandal led to sweeping reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in government, including the passage of the Federal Election Campaign Act amendments and the creation of the Federal Election Commission. Moreover, Watergate instilled in the American public a deep-seated skepticism towards political leaders, a legacy that persists. It served as a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy and the importance of vigilance and integrity in public office. The Watergate Seven, symbolize a watershed moment in American political history. Their actions and the subsequent fallout highlighted the importance of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in safeguarding democracy. The legacy of Watergate continues to influence political discourse, governance, and public trust in elected officials, serving as a powerful reminder of the consequences of political malfeasance. Read the full article

[thebreakfastgenie]

White House Plumbers is literally like

Hunt's hot ex-CIA wife: Gordon is so weird and gross. he has a nazi kink. he's ruining our lives. why are we giving him money.

Hunt: he's my partner

[tomsecker]

Subscribercast #78 - White House Plumbers vs The Offer

Did Joe Colombo approve the script for The Godfather? Was Dorothy Hunt murdered by the CIA as part of the JFK/Watergate cover-ups? In this month’s subscribercast we review and fact-check two period comedies set in the early 1970s: The Offer, which tells the story of the making of The Godfather, and White House Plumbers, the story of Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy. This is a preview of this month’s…

[greensparty]

Blu-ray Reviews - Project: Alf / The Super Mario Bros. Movie

This week I got to review not one but two blu-rays that brought me back to my tween years!

Project: Alf

In Sept. 1986, one of my favorite sitcoms of the 80s premiered on NBC. In a similar way that Mork and Mindy combined sci-fi and comedy, Paul Fusco’s sitcom creation Alf did the same. Gordon Shumway from the planet Melmac crash lands on Earth in the garage of the suburban Tanner family. Given the nickname Alf (for Alien Life Form), the family realizes he’s harmless and decide to take him in. Most of the show was based around the fish-out-of-water situations Alf found himself in. What made Alf so funny was that he was kind of a combination of a vaudeville character and a “Masshole”. For the next 4 years, Alf was my favorite TV show. I was a member of the Alf Fan Club (I got a birthday card each year), had the poster on my wall, had the doll, and whatever else I could get my hands on. It also had several spin-offs: the Alf cartoon, Alf Tales cartoon, the Marvel comic book series, a 1996 TV movie, a 2004 talk show and numerous cameo appearances. Let me go back to that 1996 TV movie. In Feb. 1996, ABC broadcast the made-for-TV movie Project: Alf. It was released on DVD in 2005, but has since been hard to come by. This week it was released on blu-ray by Liberation Hall.

blu-ray poster

After the series finale, Alf was captured by the Alien Task Force. In this TV movie, Alf has been detained in an air force base, but he’s actually doing well: playing poker games with the guards and whatnot. But his nemesis is Colonel Gilbert Milfoil (Martin Sheen) who tries to have Alf killed, but then some air force scientists help him escape and...hilarity ensues.

Look, the fact of the matter is most of the time TV characters who return to TV with a made-for-TV movie, it is kind of bad (with some exceptions), but since I happen to be a fan of Alf, I kind of liked this even if it was ridiculous at times. The thing that was fun about this is that so much of the series was Alf around the Tanner house and here he is not just at the air force base but out in the world. It’s also a kick to see so many serious actors like Miguel Ferrer, Ed Begley Jr. and of course Martin Sheen acting with Alf. About a year after this movie, I worked on Ted Demme’s film Monument Ave, which Sheen was in. Most of the cast and crew were in awe of Sheen because he had been in Apocalypse Now, but I was excited to know I was working on a movie with someone who co-starred with the old Alfer! It’s cool to see this get the blu-ray treatment for fans like me .

For info on Project: Alf: http://www.liberationhall.com/index.php?id_product=292&controller=product

3.5 out of 5 stars

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

When I was a kid, I got into video games at exactly the moment and time when Atari and video arcades were sweeping the nation in the early 80s. One of my favorites was Donkey Kong, and then there was a spin-off game Mario Bros. featuring the plumbers from Donkey Kong, Mario and Luigi. Then a few years later on Nintendo, they had Super Mario Bros., which was so addictive for me as a tween. There were tons of other games featuring these the Mario brothers and loads of spin-offs including the a children’s TV show and a 1993 live-action movie. Then this past Spring saw the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a computer-animated feature film from Illumination (known for Minions) that broke all kinds of box office records (as of this writing it is the highest grossing film of 2023 so far and #14 of All Time domestically).

blu-ray poster

I went to the movie theater with my son to see it in April, with a mostly family-oriented audience. The movie’s plot is somewhat thin: NY plumbers Mario and Luigi get sucked into the Warp Pipe and sent to Mushroom Kingdom and Dark Lands respectively. They meet loads of characters, some good and some bad. The film was actually better than I thought it would be. It wasn’t amazing and it lacked a lot of the magic that Pixar movies have, but there was a certain charm to it and some funny parts I was able to laugh along with my son to. Much of the fun was the references (notably the music) to the original video games and the voice casting that is a blast for the parents watching, i.e. Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Seth Rogen and more. 

The film is very colorful and filled with impressive visuals, which is what makes this blu-ray worth checking out. In terms of features, there’s some standard featurettes about casting, making-of, a lyric video with Jack Black, and more. But in the end if you aren’t a fan of the movie, it’ll be hard to get excited about all of the extras. But the movie in blu-ray is all the bonus feature you need here!

For info on The Super Mario Bros. Movie: https://www.thesupermariobros.movie/

3 out of 5 stars