That’s Entertainment
It used to be that a vital part of a successful TV series was a catchy and memorable theme song. But there are a handful of TV shows that had such great theme songs that they became hits…and far surpassed the popularity of the shows they came from. Here are some TV theme songs that […]
It was just announced that six new all-time singers, bands, and rappers will join the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are a few bizarre facts about each of the inductees. Yes The band is most famous for its progressive rock years with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, but the band bad its […]
Fisher, the star of Star Wars and prolific writer, recently passed away at the age of 60. As a playwright, screenwriter, and memoirist, she was outspoken about her years in Hollywood…and often in a brutally funny way. The Star Wars Holiday Special is legendarily bad, but Fisher embraced that fact. The special, cheaply produced and […]
The former Wham! frontman made a complete career 180 when he left the pop group for a solo career that was more soul and R&B than it was teenybopper. Michael died over Christmas at the age of 53. Here’s a look back at some notable songs and moments from his 35-year career. Michael’s first solo […]
Sure, the title tells you to have a “merry little Christmas.” But it’s a complicated message. The actual, original lyrics of the song make the vaguely depressing song undoubtedly one of the darkest tunes ever, not to mention Christmas carol. The song first gained widespread popularity in 1944 with an appearance in the big-screen musical […]
You hear them on the radio, and you sing along, year after year. Now, you can finally know who “Parson Brown” is supposed to be. Who is Parson Brown? (“Winter Wonderland”) If you grew up in a cold area where it snowed a lot in the winter, you probably made a snowman at some point. […]
From the birth of cinema in the 1890s until the late 1940s, the standard film stock was made of a nitrate base, which is highly combustible. Plus, it disintegrates quickly if it’s not stored in a special low-oxygen, low-humidity, climate-controlled vault. Result: Hundreds of films are gone forever, including these: THE FAIRYLOGUE AND RADIO-PLAYS (1908). […]
You’ve probably never seen these movies. That’s why they’re on this list. The 13th Warrior In the ‘90s, several adaptations of works by Michael Crichton were among the most successful projects in Hollywood. The 1993 big-screen version of his novel Jurassic Park was the top movie of the year, and successful movies of Rising Sun, […]
Here’s the story of a lovely lady…beloved by millions for her career-making role on The Brady Bunch. RIP Florence Henderson. She Was a Stage Star While Still a Teenager In 1952, 18-year-old Florence Henderson landed one line in a Broadway play called Wish You Were Here. The theatrical giants of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein […]
November 18, 1928, is the birth date of the most famous cartoon ever: Mickey Mouse. Read on for the story of how he got his name, as well as the surprising origins of other famous characters. This article was first published in Uncle John’s Great Big Bathroom Reader. Mickey Mouse The most famous cartoon character […]
After a movie is filmed, a Foley artist is tasked with making the sounds of the movie come across as realistically as possible. And they have a lot of weird and amazing tools at their disposal. Here are some real techniques used by real movie Foley artists. When somebody in a horror movie gets stabbed: […]
He’s one of the greatest action stars of all time. And what’s most amazing is that he does his own stunts. So how does he do all that fighting and perform all those daredevil feats without getting injured? He doesn’t—he’s been injured dozens of times. Here’s a sample of what you (almost) never see. Body […]
The EGOT is the “grand slam” of American entertainment awards. It’s an acronym and unofficial designation to describe someone who has won a competitive (meaning non-honorary) Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Only 12 people have completed the EGOT: composers Richard Rodgers, Marvin Hamlisch, Jonathan Tunick, and Robert Lopez; actresses Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, […]
Starting in the ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll fans (and rock ‘n’ roll haters) became obsessed with playing vinyl records backward, looking for secret messages. One thing is for sure: playing a record backward destroyed the record. Here are some of the most amusing entries in the history of “backmasking.” Pink Floyd Former Pink Floyd bassist […]
Nothing says “May the force be with you” quite like a waffle maker. Here are some real tie-ins to a galaxy far, far away. This article was first published in Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Crocs The plastic sandals are available in a The Force Awakens edition: the bad guys (Kylo Ren, stormtroopers) printed on […]
Sure, you could vote for one of the major party candidates…or you could vote for Alice Cooper! The 1970s shock rocker has thrown his hat into the ring in the race to be Commander-in-Chief. Running for president this year (but only as a goof) is “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “I’m Eighteen” horror-rocker/radio host/golfer […]
They’re creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky, and October is the perfect time to talk about The Addams Family. The Addams Family began in the 1930s as a series of cartoons in The New Yorker by Charles Addams. None of the macabre, gothic characters who lived in an old spooky mansion had names, which left the […]
There are a handful of phone numbers made famous by songs, movies, and TV shows. Ever wonder what happens if you actually call them? This article was originally published in our 29th annual edition, Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. 867–5309 According to rock legend, Tommy Tutone lead guitarist Jim Keller wrote “867-5309/Jenny” about a real […]
