Not that I have a lot of other good examples of Horror comedy TV (Elvira sort of, but she wasn’t the main content. Dead Set was funny, but in a much different way, and was a mini-series anyways). But it is really really good.

A few years ago I got the first two seasons on DVD, and never watched them. Then a few months back, all of them were on the cheap at Best Buy, so I picked up season 5 through 7. However, due to things like Dexter, Walking Dead, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, Louis, Bored to Death, Eastbound and Down, Gossip Girl, I never got around to watching them. Recently though, I’ve started up with season 5 and blew right through it. And I can’t stress enough how awesome this show is.

Good Fun

For me, most importantly, Tales from the Crypt brings back fond memories. The series was on from 1989 to 1996, just when I was really starting to get into scary movies and horror. More importantly, just when my parents were starting to become a bit brave and allow me to watch some more adult stuff.

It also reminds when horror wasn’t just about creating the goriest scene with the most ridiculous kill scenes. It was always campy and funny, and you’d never get a ton of objections when deciding what to watch with guests. Unlike today, where most of my movies inspire a “eww” or “no way” when trying to decide to what regale my friends with.

The Cryptkeeper

What a horribly cheap and annoying character. Yet, we all loved it. We all hated John Kassir’s shrill voice, yet we loved it.

Everyone went to a Spencer’s gifts in a mall at some point in their teenage years at saw the “lifesize” cryptkeeper doll and wanted it in their room, next to whatever other shit they got from Hot Topic.

Boobs

The show also contained lots and LOTS of boobs, so if you were a young boy just receiving the power of cable television, you were in Heaven.

Any male reading this knows the power of TFTC boobs.

Interesting Facts

• The show was actually nominated for several Emmy’s
• There was a Monsters of Metal compilation album themed around Tales

The Airheads soundtrack and the Beavis and Butthead Experience (funny, because B&B have a cameo in Airheads as well). White Zombie must’ve really liked Beavis and Butthead.

Ghoul (left) and Zombie (right)

This is what I’m talking about. Some real hard hitting analysis and dissection of the difference between ghouls and zombies. I stumbled upon this excellent article while searching for the specific difference in the D&D world, and I’m glad I did. We need more thought-provoking pieces about REAL issues.

Mythic Monday: The Ghoul [via Dreams in the Lich House]

HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT.

If any of you know me, you know how badly I shit my pants when I rediscovered these commercials.

Do you remember them? Late 80′s/early 90′s? Leslie Nielson? Coors Light spokesman? HALLOWEEN FAN?????

Allow me to refresh your memory:

YEAH. I THOUGHT YOU’D REMEMBER!

Seriously. If I had to die today and with my last breath give two final “I love you”s, they’d be to Coors Light and Halloween. Maybe beef jerky too, but that’s another story. How good were these commercials? How could Leslie Nielson and Coors Light get away with this kind of stuff? Nice cans????

I have done my mourning for Nielson. I was such a huge fan, nerdily buying every one of his movies as they came out (perk of working in a record store in high school), always impressed with his comedy (Dracula: Dead and Loving It!). His impact and popularity were obvious, evidenced by the abundance of commercial deals and sponsorships he was able to procure during that time period. None more important than the Coors Light ones, obviously.

RIP Leslie.

How the fuck did I not find out about this show when it came out way back when in 2008? Maybe because it’s British? Maybe because it’s from the makers of Big Brother and I thought to myself “Why the hell would I watch a horror show from the makers of Big Brother?” That, I will never know, but regardless, I have made up for lost time by having been lucky to catch it showing on IFC last Halloween in just enough time to hit record on the series.

I finally got around to watching it last, and The Dead Set was awesome.

First of all, I always get jealous watching BBC shows, and how vulgar and realistic they can be with blood/gore/killing. Why can’t US TV be like this (not HBO/Showtime)? It’s a shame to limit such fantastic horror TV to paying customers.

Secondly, what balls by the Big Brother brass to make such an offbeat show, and at the same time call out the silliness of reality shows, especially the ones where they’re all shoved in a house. Not that they care, considering the millions they continue to pull in.

Third, I don’t want to spoil the ending, but you’ll love it. Ballsy again, but I love it.

So I have to admit, all the hype is absolutely worth it. The Walking Dead is the shit, and is the greatest show on television at the moment. There, I said it.

SPOILER ALERT: I discuss some specifics in the show, so don’t read any further if you haven’t seen it.

(more…)

Don’t know if you do or not, but we absolutely love the HBO show Eastbound and Down, featuring the irreverent yet hilarious Kenny Powers.

Vincent recently brought to my attention the fact that everyone’s 2nd favorite guy who enjoys the tuck, Marilyn Manson, is a HUGE Kenny Powers fan. And by huge, I mean that he’s kinda obsessed.

Allegedly, he dresses up like so while hanging out in his house, around town, etc.:

That my friends, is all kinds of awesome and strange at the same time.

57. For Channel 57, a fictional news station used in one of my favorite shows, Metalocalypse.

63.  For Alan Thicke, Canada’s greatest export, who is 63 years old, and for his magical show Growing Pains. Way back before Kirck Cameron was insane, Growing Pains was a fun way to spend an evening (if you were 6 years old). I vividly remember a Halloween episode in which Mike had a dream that his entire family had turned to zombies. Seriously I didn’t sleep for days. I was horrified. I can’t find it online (help me out), but I did find this:

67 days until Halloween. On August 21st, 1967, Serj Tankian was born. Serj has a song called Lie Lie Lie, which is the theme song to one of my favorite (yet short-lived) horror TV shows, Fear Itself.

Fear Itself was a great show. It was a continuation of the Masters of Horrors which was on Showtime, so the violence and such had be toned down a bit, but the shows were still great. Each episode has a different director and feel, each like their own short movie. Perfect for people like me who don’t have the time or attention spam to watch horror movies on a more regular basis.

I wish this format would catch on more. All the great horror series (Tales from the Crypt, Fear Itself, Twilight Zone) eventually die out, and it seems like we’re waiting forever for a new show to come along. At least, one that’s easily accessible on mainstream TV. Luckily, we have a lot of great internet TV these days, but a lot of times people don’t know where to start looking.

You can watch some episodes free from NBC here.