NEW FEATURE!!!! - YOUR QUEUE AND YOU... The Movies... A-D

What films we see on HCC are largely determined by the votes in the queue. In a bid to familiarize people more with what the queue has to offer, we're starting a new feature here at Shablorp - the condescendingly titled, Your Queue and You.

What this will do is give completely original and new descriptions (and by that, I mean cribbed either from the liner notes or IMDB) to all the stuff in the queue. Now, there's hundreds of items in there so we're only going to be doing a little bit at a time. Hopefully, by the time its done, you'll have something as useless (or do I mean "indispensable?") as you could want in order to give you a detailed rundown of everything in the queue.

We're going to start with the movies. Specifically, going A to D first. So, let's get started.


ALIENATOR (1990)
The Director Fred Olen Ray (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Star Slammer, Attack of the 60 Ft. Centerfold)
The Stars Jan-Michael Vincent (Airwolf, The World's Greatest Athlete), John Phillip Law (Barbarella, Danger: Diabolik), Ross Hagen (The Hellcats, The Sidehackers, Angels' Wild Women), Teagan (Vice Academy Part 2), Dyama Ortelli (Three Amigos, American Me, Lizzie Maguire), Dawn Wildsmith (Surf Nazis Must Die, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers), Jesse Dabson (Death Wish 4: the Crackdown, Deep Space), P.J. Soles (Carrie, Halloween, Rock n Roll High School), Robert Clarke (The Hideous Sun Demon), Robert Quarry (Count Yorga Vampire)
The Plot Interstellar super-criminal Kol (Ross Hagen) escapes his spaceship prison and flees to Earth. The Commander (Jan-Michael Vincent) sends the Alienator (Teagan) to bring him to justice. Kol holes up with some unsuspecting teens as the Alienator destroys everything in its path in order to get Kol once and for all.
Fun Fact 1: The space prison exterior is stock footage of Moonbase from Space: 1999
Fun Fact 2: Teagan also played a robotic weapon of mass destruction in Rick Sloane's Vice Academy Part 2 the same year.
Fun Fact 3: This according to director Fred Olen Ray speaking to Bad Movies.Org - "
On Alienator, we accidentally set no less than five people on fire in a single day, including Dan Golden, who really burst into flames!"

AN ALAN SMITHEE FILM: BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN! (1998)
The Director Alan Smithee
The Stars Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, Sylvester Stallone, Jackie Chan, Chuck D., Coolio, Ryan O'Neil (Love Story), Richard Jeni, Sandra Bernhard (Hudson Hawk, The King of Comedy), Jackie Stephenson (The General's Daughter, Unbreakable), MC Lyte, Harvey Weinstein, Robert Shapiro, Joe Eszterhas, Larry King, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Barty
The Plot A director makes an action film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan. The director is unfortunately given no input to the final product as the studio heads and other parties insist on making their own changes.. When the final film turns out to be horrible, the director would like to take his name off of it. Unfortunately, his name already happens to be Alan Smithee, the DGA-approved name for directors who don't want to take credit for their work. Not seeing a way out, Smithee steals the prints of the film and becomes notorious. Filled with lots of celebrity cameos.
Fun Fact 1: The director credit on this film isn't an in-joke but wonderful irony. After the film was re-cut by Joe Eszterhas, original director Arthur Hiller (Love Story, Silver Streak) removed his name from the project. Hence, the film actually being credited to Alan Smithee. Seeing this statement as just being too damn perfect, the DGA dissolved the Smithee practice following this film. Hence, no more Alan Smithee films.

THE APPLE (1980)
The Director Menahem Golan (Enter the Ninja, The Delta Force, Over the Top)
The Stars Catherine Mary Stewart (The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet, Weekend At Bernie's), George Gilmour, Grace Kennedy, Alan Love (Gregory's Girl), Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2, The Hunt for Red October, The Mighty Ducks), Vladek Sheybal (From Russia With Love, Shogun, Red Dawn), George S. Clinton, Francesca Poston
The Plot A sci-fi disco rock musical - hey, where are you going?!? Uses the skeleton of the Adam and Eve story with shades of A Star Is Born thrown in for good measure. In the year 1994, two pop-singing youths from Moose Jaw, Canada decide to enter an international talent contest. They are beaten by the rock stars backed by Mr. Boogalow (Vladek Sheybal). No worries, Mr. Boogalow sees a great talent in them. Unfortunately, the world of rock n roll begins to corrupt them and they see how nefarious Mr. Boogalow is - namely that he's, you know... Satan.
Fun Fact 1: Manahem Golan was one half of the Golan-Globus team that ran the Cannon Group for many years. Golan has directed nearly fifty films, an produced well over 200.
Fun Fact 2: George S. Clinton is known more for his jazzy musical scores.
Fun Fact 3: This according to the IMDB: "Reportedly, during its premiere at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, audiences threw their free souvenir soundtracks at the screen, causing extensive damage." Oh dear.

BASKET CASE 2 (1990)
The Director Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case, Brain Damage, Frankenhooker)
The Stars Kevin Van Hentenryck (Basket Case), Annie Ross (Superman III, Pump Up the Volume), Heather Rattray (Across the Great Divide), Katherine Meisele, Jason Evers (The Brain That Wouldn't Die, Escape from the Planet of the Apes), Ted Sorel (From Beyond), David Emge (1978's Dawn of the Dead)
The Plot The original Basket Case introduced us to reclusive Duane and and his brother Belial, a lumpy mass that is still very much alive after being forcibly removed by a bunch of doctors who later wound up dead that Duane and Belial's hands. In the sequel, Duane and Belial somehow survive and find shelter with a Granny Ruth (Annie Ross) and her collection of similarly-afflicted freaks. When sleazy tabloid journalists try to expose and exploit the group, Duane, Belial and his new friends take bloody vengeance.
Fun Fact: After a number of memorable and unique exploitation films, Frank Henenlotter seemed to retire from feature filmmaking. Instead, he was responsible for issuing much of the output from Something Weird Video. He has only recently re-entered the filmmaking world. His Bad Biology got rave reviews and a few soiled outfits at the latest Fantasia Film Festival.

CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC (1980)
The Director Nancy Walker
The Stars The Village People, Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy 1-4, Short Circuit, Cocoon), Valerie Perrine (Superman I-II, Slaughterhouse Five, The Electric Horseman), Bruce Jenner, Paul Sand (St. Elsewhere), Tammy Grimes (The Last Unicorn, High Art), June Havoc (Gentleman's Agreement, 1945's Brewster's Millions), Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide, It Came from Outer Space, The Young Philadelphians)
The Plot Yes, the Village People made a movie. Not just any movie, however. Nope, this was a $20 million, two-hour plus epic that helped signal one of the final death throws of disco. It's a sort-of true story of Village People's rise to fame - meaning that Eminem totally stole the idea for 8 Mile from the guy who dressed up as a construction worker. A struggling songwriter teams up with his roommate and lawyer to create a supergroup of six "macho men" and thus, history is made. The obvious is lost on all of them.
Fun Fact 1: On the red carpet of the premiere, where everyone is set to enthuse about their film, writer/producer Alan Carr instead simply told reporters, "Be kind."
Fun Fact 2: Bruce Jenner turned down the role of Superman so he could appear in this film. Since Valerie Perrine was in both Superman and this film, she became the first of many people who would mock Jenner for the rest of his natural born life.
Fun Fact 3: Earned only $2 million at the box office. Do the math, it earned one-tenth of what producers spent on it, making it one of the costliest bombs in history.
Fun Fact 4: In 1980, this film appeared on a double-bill with Xanadu, causing one audience member to invent the Golden Raspberry Award (RAZZIE). Can't Stop the Music won its first award for Worst Picture. The rest of the audience present at that screening merely killed themselves.
Fun Fact 5: Olivia Newton-John was originally set to play the part that would eventually go to Valerie Perrine in this film. She chose to do Xanadu instead, meaning that in 1980 she could run, but she couldn't hide from shit disco musicals.
Fun Fact 6: Nancy Walker is not known for her directing efforts. Instead, she is primarily known for her acting roles, including famous roles on Rhoda and MacMillon and Wife. She is perhaps most famous for being the spokesperson for Bounty paper towels. Yes, this film is directed by the "quicker picker upper" lady.

CRAWLSPACE (1986)
The Director David Schmoeller (Puppet Master, Tourist Trap)
The Stars Klaus Kinski (Aguirre the Wrath of God, Nosferatu, Once Upon a Time in the West), Talia Balsam (The Kindred, Mad Men), Barbara Whinnery (St. Elsewhere), Carole Francis (Fingers), Tane McClure (Midnight Tease II, Legally Blonde 1-2), Sally Brown, Jack Heller, David Abbott
The Plot In this take-off on Peeping Tom produced by Charles Band's Empire Pictures, Kinski plays Dr. Carl Gunther. The not-so-good doctor is the son of a Nazi surgeon who abused him and naturally gave him a rotten idea of human beings in general. Today, Dr. Gunther runs an apartment for women. He has two pastimes - playing Russian Roulette and spying on his female tenants from his crawlspace. He tracks each one of his tenants down, captures them and eventually kills them until only one woman remains to bring the fight back to her landlord.
Fun Fact: The notoriously eccentric and behaviorally challenged Kinski was such a nightmare on set for David Schmoeller, that it inspired Schmoeller to release the documentary short, Please Kill Mr. Kinski. Kinski is dead now, no word on whether Schmoeller's voodoo doll was to blame.

CRITTERS (1986)
The Director Stephen Herek (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, The Mighty Ducks, Mr. Holland's Opus)
The Stars Dee Wallace Stone (The Howling, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Cujo), M. Emmet Walsh (The Jerk, Blood Simple, Fletch), Billy Green Bush (Five Easy Pieces, Electra Glide In Blue, The Hitcher), Scott Grimes (Party of Five, Band of Brothers, ER), Nadine Van Der Velde (Moving Violations, Munchies, After Midnight), Don Opper (Android, City Limits, Black Moon Rising), Billy Zane (Demon Knight, Titanic, BloodRayne), Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager), Terrence Mann (Solarbabies, The Dresden Files), Lin Shaye
The Plot A group of kill-crazy, porcupine-like creatures escapes from a prison asteroid and crash lands in a rural town on planet Earth. They are followed by two trigger happy and mentally challenged alien bounty hunters, one of whom assumes the identity of a Neandethal-looking glam rocker. The bounty hunters, the town drunk and a farming family help save the day from the bloodthirty porcupines. This proves once and for all that nothing can stifle the salt of the earth - not the economy, not terrorists and not bloodthirsty plush dolls. U.S.A.!
Fun Fact 1: Don Opper is the only cast member to appear as a main character in all four Critters films. Terrence Mann appears in all the films, but in the last two, his part is seen as a cameo.
Fun Fact 2: Attention, Trekkers. You may not recognize Ethan Phillips without the makeup, but he played Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager.
Fun Fact 3: Nadine Van Der Velde now writes for childrens programming like Rolie Polie Olie and Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends.
Fun Fact 4: Scott Grimes now does the voice of awkward son Steve on American Dad.


D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
The Director Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove, Free Willy, The Phantom)
The Stars Barret Oliver (Cocoon, Frankenweenie), Mary Beth Hurt (Interiors, The World According to Garp, The Dead Girl), Michael McKean (This Is Spinal Tap, Clue), Kathryn Walker (Slap Shot, Neighbors), Colleen Camp (Ebony Ivory and Jade, Game of Death, Lethal Weapon 2), Josef Sommer (Witness, Absence of Malice), Danny Corkill
The Plot A suburban family adopts a little boy who seems downright perfect. He's smart, polite and never makes mistakes. But when people come looking for the kid, the truth becomes known. Daryl isn't an ordinary little boy but a robot made to look and act like the perfect child - sort of like Haley Joel Osment in that Speilberg film, but without all the moping. The film somehow ends up with Daryl going Mach 7 in a fighter jet he stole from his handlers and wraps up nicely in about an hour less than that previously mentioned Speilberg film. Then again, the Speilberg film had Ministry.
Fun Fact 1: D.A.R.Y.L. stands for Data Analysing Robot Youth Lifeform
Fun Fact 2: Colleen Camp is known for showing up in many mainstream films and has played more cops than any other actress. It's often overlooked that most of her filmography, particularly in the early days was made up of exploitation films like The Swinging Cheerleaders, Ebony Ivory and Jade and Valley Girl.

THE DARK BACKWARD (1991)
The Director Adam Rifkin (The Chase, Detroit Rock City, Night At the Golden Eagle)
The Stars Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Wayne Newton, Lara Flynn Boyle, James Caan, Rob Lowe, King Moody, Claudia Christian (Babylon 5, Hexed, Maniac Cop 2), Danny Dayton (Guys and Dolls)
The Plot Marty Malt (Judd Nelson) is one of the most awkward and horrible stand-up comics there is, supported only by his friend, Gus (Bill Paxton). Malt's fortunes begin to change however as he begins to grow a third arm out of his back. Suddenly, Malt is a huge hit. His stand-up still stinks but everyone loves a freak show.
Fun Fact 1: Director Adam Rifkin designed the movie poster for Encino Man. Years later, he would do his own caveman comedy, Homo Erectus. Ringo Starr put a fatwa out for Rifkin, claiming he stole his thunder.
Fun Fact 2: Adam Rifkin wrote the script for the recent Planet of the Apes redo. Due to studio shakeups, Rifkin's script was tossed just before pre-production was to begin. The film came out years later under the direction of Tim Burton, but it bears almost no similarity to Rifkin's draft. Still...

THE DAYDREAMER (1966)
The Director Jules Bass
The Stars Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat), Victor Borge, Patty Duke (Valley of the Dolls, The Patty Duke Show), Jack Gifford (Save the Tiger, Enter Laughing), Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap), Boris Karloff, Burl Ives, Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz), Sessue Hayakawa (The Bridge On the River Kwai), Paul O'Keefe, Cyril Ritchard (Peter Pan), Ray Bolger
The Plot A young Hans Christian Anderson, or "Chris" in this film, tries to survive in his day to day life. When he sleeps, he is transported by the Sandman (Cyril Ritchard) to a magical world where he sees the stories he would later bring to life. Characters showing up in the film include Thumbelina (Patty Duke), the Little Mermaid (Hayley Mills), the Ugly Duckling and so on. This is a feature-length film from the Rankin-Bass studio that created such holiday classics as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the fantasy sequences are done in much the same style. Burl Ives does not appear, since they wouldn't pay him in Scotch.
Fun Fact 1: Victor Borge, while not known for many of his cinematic output, is known for being one of the world's most famous pianists. He further set himself apart from the pack by creating a brilliant slapstick performance around his musical skills. Reading the screenplay was difficult for Borge due to a nervous page turner.
Fun Fact 2: Tallulah Bankhead had one of the most interesting careers in film history, due mainly to her refusal to play by the rules (she refused a session on John Barrymore's casting couch, she clashed with filmmakers, she refused to change her behavior to suit studio models, etc.). Hence, there are often large gaps in between her cinematic endeavors. There were no films betwen 1919 and 1928, nor 1932 and 1944, nor 1945 and 1965. In these gaps, she did a little television but focused mainly on the stage, where she became a treasured performer. The Daydreamer was her last film.

THE DELIINQUENTS (1957)
The Director Robert Altman
The Stars Tom Laughlin (Born Losers, Billy Jack, The Master Gunfighter), Peter Miller, Richard Bakalyan, Rosemary Howard, Helen Hawley
The Plot What we have here is one of the many films that was inspired by the runaway hit from the 1950s, The Blackboard Jungle. This juvenile delinquent, or JV film, involves two young lovers, Scotty and Janice. The two are torn apart by Janice's parents. The boy joins up with a gang of street hoods. Although things start out harmless, they quickly spin out of control and threaten to corrupt not only Scotty but Janice as well.
Fun Fact: This was the first film from legendary director Robert Altman. Alfred Hitchcock was reportedly so impressed with the film that he tapped Altman to direct a few episodes of his Alfred Hitchcock Presents television series. This started Altman on a steady path of creating some of the most critically acclaimed television of the day, and eventually becoming one of the most fiercely independent directors of all time.
Fun Fact 2: McLaughlin is most famous for the Billy Jack movies. The films featured a pacifist hero who tried to make his way through the world in peace, but was often put upon by nasty land barons and corrupt law enforcement who liked to beat up hippie members of a Freedom School. The films had more and more pacifistic messages as the films went on. Hence, in the first film, he shoots someone in the head but in the last only gets into a couple minor brawls. This is a philosophy McLaughlin takes in his business endeavors. He has made a number of unsuccessful runs for the presidency of the United States.


DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE (2007)
The Director Corey Yuen (Yes Madam, My Father Is a Hero, The Transporter)
The Stars Jamie Pressley (My Name Is Earl, Not Another Teen Movie, Torque), Devon Aoki (Sin City, 2 Fast 2 Furious, D.E.B.S.), Holly Valance, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe (Elektra, Skinwalkers, BloodRayne II: Deliverance), Kane Kosugi, Eric Roberts (Star 80, Runaway Train, The Dark Knight), Matthew Marsden, Steve Howey, Kevin Nash, Brian J. White, Collin Chou (The Matrix 2-3, The Forbidden Kingdom)
The Plot A group of talented martial artists, each with something different to prove, competes in an exclusive tournament at an isolated island fortress. Soon, the main contenders realize that the tournament is a ruse by their tournament master (Eric Roberts who is so hilariously Eric Roberts that he's the most hilarious Eric Roberts around). The master seeks to sap their powers and become an unstoppable force. This is based on a video game that 15% of people play for fighting skills and 80% play to watch CGI anime chicks with big tits bounce around (the other 5% are just stoned).
Fun Fact: Cost $21 million to make, but only took in $480,000 domestically. Opened in 17th place at the box office and reportedly earned less than a niche Hindi film, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom which opened the same weekend.


DUNE (1984)
The Director David Lynch (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive)
The Stars Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Sting, Max Von Sydow, Jose Ferrer, Linda Hunt (The Year of Living Dangerously, Silverado), Freddie Jones (Krull, Firestarter, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed), Everett McGill (Silver Bullet, Twin Peaks), Kenneth McMillan, Jack Nance (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet), Jurgen Prochnow (Das Boot, Beverly Hills Cop II, The English Patient), Sean Young (Blade Runner, No Way Out), Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap, Married to the Mob, Sons and Lovers), Paul L. Smith (Red Sonja, Pieces), Patrick Stewart, Alicia Witt (Cecil B. Demented, Four Rooms, Fun)
The Plot David Lynch's adaptation of Frank Herbert's sprawling sci-fi epic. Paul Atreides travels to the arid planet Arakis as his father's House takes control of the most precious substance in the universe, the Spice Melange. The mechanical and evil Harkonnen invade and take control of spice production on Arakis. Believing all the Atreides dead, Paul and his mother have instead found refuge in the desert with the religious warrior natives of Arakis. Paul quickly ascends in their ranks and becomes a prophesied warrior messiah. This was Lynch's first and only big budget film. He recently got back in the game with Mulholland Drive, a film that is claimed to be completely understood and embraced by a batch of complete fucking liars.
Fun Fact 1: At $45 million in 1984 dollars, this was one of the most expensive productions in Hollywood history up to that point. The film took ten months to shoot.
Fun Fact 2: Numerous filmmakers were previously optioned to direct a feature version of Dune, including Ridley Scott, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Salvador Dali and Jack Nicholson.


DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (2000)
The Director Courtney Solomon (An American Haunting)
The Stars Justin Whalin (Child's Play 3, Serial Mom, Lois & Clark: the New Adventures of Superman), Jeremy Irons, Thora Birch (American Beauty, Ghost World, Patriot Games), Marlon Wayans, Bruce Payne, Robert Milano, Zoe McClellan (JAG, Dirty Sexy Money, Inventing the Abbots)
The Plot From the IMDB: "Emperess Savina Rules over the magical empire Izmer. The young thieves Ridley and Snails get involved with her quest to find the legendary Scepter of Savrille. With this most desirable magical wand she could have the power to rule over the Red Dragons and she would then be able to provide freedom and equality amongst all people. Ridley and Snails are closely followed by Damodar, the cruel assistant of Profion who is longing for the power of the Scepter. Profion wants to get into battle with the Emperess. Whenever Profion would get his hands on the Scepter, the whole empire would then forever live in darkness. The future depends on the braveness of Ridley and Snails..." Basically, you can't figure out the plot with a saving throw, folks.
Fun Fact 1: Courtney Solomon bought the film rights to the TSR role-playing game when he was just 19 years old. He spent ten years trying to get this film made.
Fun Fact 2: Courtney Solomon now runs After Dark Films, an independent film distributor that specializes in horror films. They are best known for the annual Horrorfest, or 8 Films to Die For festival that makes its way in several theatres across the country.

THIS WEEKEND ON HCC! - 10/24-10/25/2008

Let's see what Jazz has planned for us this weekend on HCC.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH 2008


10:00 CHERRY 2000 (1987)
The Director Steve De Jarnatt (Miracle Mile)
The Stars Melanie Griffith, David Andrews (Fight Club, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Mann & Machine), Ben Johnson (1949's Mighty Joe Young, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Wild Bunch, The Last Picture Show), Tim Thomerson (Near Dark, Trancers 1-5, Dollman), Pamela Gidley (Thrashin', Liebestraum, Highway to Hell), Cameron Milzer, Brion James, Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop 1-3, A Gnome Named Gnorm, Soultaker), Harry Carey Jr., Jennifer Mayo, Laurence Fisburne
The Plot When successful businessman Sam Treadwell (David Andrews) finds that his android wife, Cherry model 2000 (Pamela Gidley), has blown a fuse, he hires sexy renegade tracker E. Johnson (Griffith) to find her exact duplicate. But as their journey to replace his perfect mate leads them into the treacherous and lawless region of The Zone, Treadwell learns the hard way that the perfect woman is made not of computer chips and diodes, but of real flesh and blood!

11:30 MISC. TRAILERS BLOCK 3









12:30 BEACH BLANKET BINGO (1965)
The Director William Asher (Fireball 500, Night Warning, Movers & Shakers)
The Stars Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley (Gidget Goes Hawaiian, The Bubble, The Severed Arm), Harvey Lembeck (Love with the Proper Stranger, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Fireball 500), John Ashley (Dragstrip Girl, The Eye Creatures, Brides of Blood), Jody McCrea, Donna Loren, Marta Kristen (Lost In Space), Linda Evans (Mitchell, The Big Valley, Dynasty), Bobbi Shaw, Don Rickles, Paul Lynde, Buster Keaton, Earl Wilson
The Plot Frankie (Avalon) and Dee Dee (Funicello) are riding high on romance...until singing sensation Sugar Kane (Linda Evans) falls out of the sky -- and into Frankie's arms! Not to be outdone by the flying femme fatal, Dee Dee signs up for skydiving lessons with the guys. But when their sexy instructor (Deborah Walley) makes Frankie her after-school sweetheart, he must prove his devotion to Dee Dee with a death-defying free fall...and a summer of love she'll never forget!
Fun Fact 1: Nancy Sinatra' was the original choice to play Sugar Kane. However, she backed out just before production was supposed to begin because a few months earlier her brother Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped and when she found out that part of the plot involved a kidnapping she decided to back out. Instead, she made her film debut in For Those Who Think Young. She would appear in the final Beach Party film, The Ghost In the Invisible Bikini, in a much less controversial role.
Fun Fact 2: Donna Loren gained fame as "the Dr. Pepper girl." Originally, she was cast in Muscle Beach Party in a non-speaking role. But when they gave her a song to perform (written by Brian Wilson and backed by Dick Dale!), she became a mainstay in the series.

2:00 THE TWILIGHT ZONE
#307 "The Grave" - Original Airdate -- 10/27/1961
The Director Montgomery Pittman
The Stars Lee Marvin, James Best, Strother Martin, Lee Van Cleef, Richard Geary
The Plot Before he died, notorious gunslinger Pinto Sykes put a curse on hired-gun Conny Miller. Miller returns to town and is challenged to visit the grave of Sykes, despite the curse.
Fun Fact: This episode was originally intended to air during the second season, but was delayed until the third.



2:30 FIREFLY
#111 "War Stories" - Original Airdate -- 12/6/2002
The Director James A. Contner
The Stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Ron Glass
The Plot Jealous of Zoe's relationship with Mal, Wash insists (thanks to a bit of scheming) that he go with Mal to try to sell some of the medical supplies the crew stole from the Alliance. In the middle of the deal Mal and Wash are kidnapped by men working for Niska the crime lord, who wants revenge against Mal for the botched train heist. He tortures Mal and Wash until Zoe shows up offering money in exchange for the prisoners. Niska says that the money is only enough for one person and Zoe chooses Wash. Wash realizes that Mal's antagonizing him while they were being tortured was to help keep him alive and kicking. This inspires him to do everything he can to help Zoe rescue Mal from Niska. The rest of the crew jump on board to save the Captain. Meanwhile Inara extends her services to a council member. To the crew of Serenity's surprise, it's a woman. And Simon continues to treat River with some of the medicine he stole but she suffers the occasional relapse as well as displays a penchant for blind-shooting.

3:30 THUNDERCATS
#103 "Berbils" - Original Airdate -- 9/11/1985
The Plot The Ro-Bear Berbils are a friendly group of robot bears that live on Third Earth. Lion-O and Snarf don't know this, and end up getting caught in a Ro-Bear trap. The Berbils free them however, and they form an alliance. Mumm-ra then attacks the Berbil village, but the Thundercats save it. In return, the Ro-Bears help the Thundercats to build Cats Lair, a new base for the Thundercats.
Fun Fact: The first appearance of the Ro-Bears and the Thundertank.


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2008


10:00 STAR TREK
#119 "Arena" - Original Airdate -- 1/19/1967
The Director Joseph Pevney (Man of a Thousand Faces, Tammy and the Bachelor, Foxfire)
The Stars William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelly, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols
The Plot When a mysterious alien race destroys an Earth colony, the Enterprise pursues. However, powerful aliens soon immobilize both ships and force Kirk and the alien captain to fight each other to the death.
Fun Fact: The famous fight with the Gorn was filmed in Bronson Canyon, site of many westerns and B-movie science fiction classics.

11:00 BLIND CAPPING










11:30 SMALL WONDER
#102 "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" - Original Airdate -- 9/14/1985
The Director Peter Baldwin (Meet Wally Sparks)
The Stars Dick Christie, Marla Pennington, Jerry Supiran, Emily Schulman, Tiffany Brissette, Edie McClurg
The Plot The Brindles, the Lawson's nosy neighbors, come across Vicki and tries to find out their secret.


12:00 V: THE FINAL BATTLE
Part II
The Director Richard T. Heffron (Futureworld, Foolin' Around, I the Jury)
The Stars Marc Singer, Jane Badler, Michael Durrell, Robert Englund, Richard Herd, Faye Grant, Thomas Hill, Michael Ironside, Peter Nelson, David Packer, Neva Patterson, Andrew Prine, Sandy Simpson, Blair Tefkin, Michael Wright
The Plot That saga that began with V now culminates in a struggle to save the world in V: The Final Battle. Sci-fi film stalwarts Marc Singer, Robert Englund and Michael Ironside head a large cast in this tense adventure that leaps from the stunning revelation of reptilian beings concealed by human masks to the birth of the first human/spaceling child to the harrowing countdown to nuclear doomsday. The future begins or ends here.
Fun Fact: Kenneth Johnson, the creator of the original V mini-series, supervised the writing of the sequel but left Warner Brothers Television over creative differences before it was produced.

1:00 Infomercial - ARTFUL WINEMAKER

1:30 Infomercial - INSTANT FISHERMAN






2:00 Commercial - PAC-MAN CEREAL
2:10 Commercial - MCDONALD'S CHICKEN MCNUGGETS

2:20 Commercial - NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK ACTION FIGURES


2:30 GREMLINS (1984)
The Director Joe Dante (The Howling, Explorers, Matinee)
The Stars Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates (Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Private School, Bodies Rest & Motion), Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, Frances Lee McCain, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller, Keye Luke, Harey Carey Jr., Scott Brady (Johnny Guitar, Nightmare In Wax, Satan's Sadists), Belinda Balaski (Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, Cannonball, Food of the Gods), Judge Reinhold
The Plot Struggling inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) finds the perfect Christmas present for his teenage son Randy (Zach Galligan) when he discovers a strange creature called a Mogwai in a Chinatown antinques store. Billy is told three rules: don't get the wet, dont' expose them to sunlight and don't ever, ever feed them after midnight. Whoops. Soon, the mogwai has somehow given birth to hundreds of demonic imps that go on a mischievous killing spree across town.
Fun Fact 1: Joe Dante wears his love of classic sci-fi and horror exploitation on his sleeve. Hence, he tends to employ many character actors from those days. Clever homages can also be seen in the film for films such as Forbidden Planet, The Smallest Show On Earth, The Blob, The Time Machine and Invasion of the Body Snatchers among others.
Fun Fact 2: Mogwai is Cantonese for "gremlin."
Fun Fact 3: Howie Mandel supplied the voice for Gizmo, which is why is sounds sort of like Mandel's "Bobby" character.
Fun Fact 4: The theatre marquee is showing a double bill: "A Boy's Life" (the working title for Steveb Speilberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and "Watch the Skies" (the working title for Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Fun Fact 5: Generally credited (along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with the introduction of the "PG-13" rating, as many felt the scenes of violence in both movies were too much for a "PG" rating, but not enough for an "R" rating. It is also widely believed that if Steven Speilberg's name had not been on both movies, they may have received an "R" rating.

4:00 THE ROBONIC STOOGES
#205 "Burgle Gurgle" - Original Airdate -- 1979







4:30 THE RICHIE RICH/SCOOBY-DOO HOUR
#105 "Scooby's Bull Fight/Irona Vs. Demona/Stow-Aways"
Fun Fact: Richie Rich was voted the "Best Cartoon Character Ever" by the Keating 5.





5:00 ROBOT CHICKEN
#319 "President Evil" - 9/28/2008
The Plot Diggers have Dug their own grave, Dig Dug-style, ya dig? You've never seen a Vegas crime caper like "Ocean's Thirty-Eight." The government tries to contain an outbreak of cooties. Teenagers are exposed to movie trailers, but they're not exactly watching the screen.

THIS WEEKEND ON HCC! - 10/17-10/18... Muppets, Rollerskates, Mr. T!

Another packed weekend on HCC. Here's what Jazz has brewed up for us this weekend.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17TH 2008


10:00 THE MUPPETS' WIZARD OF OZ (2005)
The Director Kirk R. Thatcher
The Stars Ashanti, Queen Latifah, Jeffrey Tambor, David Alan Greir, Quentin Tarantino
The Plot Ashanti sparkles as Dorothy, an aspiring singer whose dreams of fame and fortune seem worlds away from coming true in the Kansas trailer park where she lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. But when a tornado transports her and Toto (Pepe the King Prawn) to the magical land of Oz, Dorothy meets the Wizard, who promises to make her a superstar -- if she and her wacky new friends, the Scarecrow (Kermit), the Tin Thing (Gonzo), and the Cowardly Lion (Fozzie), can defeat Oz's #1 diabolical diva, the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy)!
Fun Fact: When Kermit the Frog meets the Wizard of Oz he says "Hello Mr Oz. Are you any relation to Frank Oz?" This is an in-joke as Frank Oz was one of the real-life Muppeteers, best known for voicing the part of Miss Piggy.

11:30 WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?
#517 Richard Simmons - Original Airdate -- 12/20/2006







12:00 TWIN PEAKS
#102 "Zen or the Skill to Catch a Killer" - Original Airdate -- 4/12/1990
The Director Duwayne Dunham (Homeward Bound: the Incredible Journey, Little Giants)
The Stars Kyle McLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Richard Beymer, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Warren Frost, Peggy Lipton, James Marshall, Harry Goaz, Michael Horse, Everett McGill, Russ Tamblyn, Jack Nance, Ray Wise, Joan Chen, Piper Laurie, Eric Da Re, Sheryl Lee
The Plot Agent Cooper enjoys the comforts of the Great Northern Hotel; Bobby Briggs and Mike Nelson are released from jail; Doctor Hayward hands over the autopsy report on Laura Palmer; Cooper and Truman interview Josie Packard; Audrey Horne and Donna Hayward vow to solve Laura's murder; Sarah Palmer has a vision of a gray-haired man; Doctor Jacoby conceals important information.
Fun Fact 1: After the pilot movie, this was the first episode of the Twin Peaks TV series.
Fun Fact 2: In the scene where James Hurley is released from jail, watch carefully for the secret sign exchanged between Big Ed Hurley and Deputy Hawk. Its significance will be explained in later episodes.
Fun Fact 3: Some of the characters look somewhat different in this episode then they did in the pilot. Audrey and Leo have very different hair styles, even though only a few hours have passed since the end of the last episode. {This is due to the fact that many months seperated the filming of the pilot and the filming of Episode One.}
Fun Fact 4: ill Rogosheske, who plays Trudy, the waitress at the Great Northern Hotel, is married to writer/prdocuer Robert Engels. Trudy appears in many epiosdes, and also acted as the on set pianist for when the Icelanders or Leland break into song at the Great Northern.

12:43 SOLARBABIES (1986)
The Director Alan Johnson (1983's To Be Or Not To Be)
The Stars Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Speed 2: Cruise Control, Rush, Sleepers), Jami Gertz (The Lost Boys, Less Than Zero, Twister), Lukas Haas (Witness, The Lady In White, Rambling Rose), Richard Jordan (Logan's Run, The Secret of My Success, Gettysburg), Charles Durning, Peter DeLuise (21 Jump Street) , James LeGros (Drugstore Cowboy, Living In Oblivion, Guncrazy), Claude Brooks, Peter Kowanko (Amityville 3-D, Patty Hearst), Adrian Pasdar (Near Dark, Profit, Heroes), Sarah Douglas (Superman II, Conan the Destroyer, The Return of Swamp Thing)
The Plot In this excitement-on-wheels futuristic thriller, the desert wasteland of post-apocalyptic Earth is ruled by a sinister corporation known as the E-Protectorate. Beyond ruthless, the E-Protectorate hoards water and takes children from their families to train them to work for the corporation. But when a group of young rebels discovers an extraterrestrial sphere with healing powers, they set out to release the planet from the clutches of the oppressors. With its dazzling visual effects and mesmerizing score, Solarbabies is pure entertainment from start to finish.
Fun Fact: Produced by Brooksfilms, Mel Brooks' production company. Other non-comedic films produced by the company included David Lynch's The Elephant Man, Graeme Clifford's Frances and David Cronenberg's The Fly.

2:13 RANDOM COMMERCIAL BLOCK 3









2:21 THE TWILIGHT ZONE
#306 "The Mirror" - Original Airdate -- 10/20/1961
The Director Don Medford (The Hunting Party, The Organization)
The Stars Peter Falk, Will Kuluva
The Plot After a poor but ambitious Central American farm worker overthrows his country's tyrannical leader, he believes he sees assassins everywhere. A look in the mirror reveals his most dangerous enemy






2:51 THE ROCKFORD FILES
#102 "The Dark and Bloody Ground" - Original Airdate -- 9/20/1974
The Director Michael Schultz (Cooley High, Krush Groove, The Last Dragon)
The Stars James Garner, Noah Beery Jr.
The Plot Jim reluctantly agrees to work for Beth Davenport. His job is to help her prove that her client, Ann Calhoun, is innocent of the crime she is accused of...murdering her husband Kevin Calhoun. Jim's investigation takes him to the town of Parker, Arizona where the Calhouns are from. He digs up info someone doesn't want found out and he is almost killed trying to return to L.A. Socialites Clyde Russell and Elizabeth Gorman, who were throwing a party the Calhouns attended, are also investigated. Jim's investigation is making someone nervous as another attempt is made on his life
Fun Fact: This episode marks the first appearance of Gretchen Corbett as Beth Davenport.


3:51 Music Video - LINKIN PARK
"Faint" - Original Airdate 07/2003
The Director Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo)










SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, 2008


10:00 DRIVE-IN INTERMISSION 4









10:30 LOST IN SPACE
#101 "The Reluctant Stowaway" - Original Airdate -- 9/15/1965
The Director Anton M. Leader (Children of the Damned)
The Stars June Lockheart, Angela Cartwright, Guy Williams, Marta Kristen, Mark Goddard, Bill Mumy, Jonathan Harris
The Plot In the year 1997, the Robinson family leave Earth to colonize Alpha Centauri. A spy from a foreign country, Dr. Smith, becomes trapped aboard while trying to sabotage the project. The ship is whisked off course and into a meteor storm due to Dr. Smith's extra weight upsetting the navigational computers. Smith desperately tries to save himself by reviving the crew resulting in the Robinson family becoming lost in space.
Fun Fact: In this first episode of the Lost In Space series, the voice of the president is provided by series producer Irwin Allen.

11:00 THE BUGALOOS
#108 "Benita's Double Trouble" - Original Airdate -- 10/31/1970
The Director Tony Charmoli
The Plot Peter Platter asks the Bugaloos to take over his show while he's at a DJ convention. Benita kidnaps Peter and makes him call the Bugaloos and say he wants her to do his show. In their rescue of Peter, the Bugaloos disguise themselves as Funky Rat, Woofer, Tweeter--and Benita!
Fun Fact: This was the second series to be produced by Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft after H.R. Pufnstuf. It also was the first one to be shot on videotape rather than film.



11:30 THE THREE STOOGES
"A Plumbing We Will Go" - Original Release Date -- 9/19/1940
The Director Del Lord
The Stars Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard
The Plot To escape the police, the stooges pose as plumbers and are hired to fix a leak in a fancy mansion. They wind up crossing the electrical system with the plumbing and generally ruin the place. One memorable scene has the lady of the house tuning into a television broadcast from Niagara Falls as a torrent of water pours from the set. To escape the wrath of the homeowners the stooges escape through a magicians trap door.

12:00 MR. T'S BE SOMEBODY... OR BE SOMEBODY'S FOOL (1984)
The Director Jeff Margolis (Richard Pryor Live In Concert)
The Plot This is an educational video, where Mr. T attempts to instill good values (honor thy mother, don't give in to peer pressure, etc..) to kids through Rapping and Breakdancing, among other things







1:00 Infomercial - KEEPERZ

1:15 Infomercial - FREEBIE FORCE
1:30 Infomercial - HEALTH VEST






2:00 Commercial - CHEERIOS ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN

2:10 Commercial - TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ACTION FIGURES
2:20 Commercial - BEN GAY



2:30 POLTERGEIST (1982)
The Director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1-2, Salem's Lot, Lifeforce)
The Stars JoBeth Williams (Stir Crazy, The Big Chill, Kramer vs. Kramer), Craig T. Nelson (Coach, The Killing Fields, The Incredibles), Heather O'Rourke, Beatrice Straight (Network), Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, James Karen, Dirk Blocker, Zelda Rubinstein
The Plot While living an an average family house in a pleasant neighborhood, the youngest daughter of the Freeling family, Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke), seems to be connecting with the supernatural through a dead channel on the televison. It is not for long when the mysterious beings enter the house's walls. At first seeming like harmless ghosts, they play tricks and amuse the family, but they take a nasty turn- they horrify the family to death with angry trees and murderous dolls, and finally abduct Carol Anne into her bedroom closet, which seems like the entrance to the other side.
Fun Fact 1: This film is still surrounded by controversy. Although listed primarily as executive producer, Steven Speilberg is thought by some to have directed the majority of the film with Tobe Hooper having little input into the final product. There are still conflicting stories on both sides of the issue to this day.
Fun Fact 2: The hands which pull the flesh off the investigator's face in the bathroom mirror are Steven Speilberg's.
Fun Fact 3: There is legend of a curse following this trilogy of films because of the tragedies that befell its supporting cast. Dominique Dunne was killed by her boyfriend the year this was released. Julian Beck and Will Sampson of Poltergeist II died in 1985 and 1987. Heather O'Rourke died on the set of Poltergeist III in 1988. Dunne and O'Rourke are buried in the same cemetery. Dunne's killer was convicted of manslaughter and served less than four years in prison, just in case you wanted to add some anger to the sadness.

4:00 CHUCK NORRIS KARATE KOMMANDOS
#104 "Menace from Space" - Original Airdate -- 9/18/1986
The Plot Chuck Norris and his comrades head off to a space shuttle launch site in order to warn a general about The Claw’s plans, though he is too late and The Claw manages to get away with the shuttle. To make matters worse, the space shuttle was carrying a fusion cannon that has the power to do unspeakable damage to any city in the world, so Chuck Norris decides to use an old space shuttle in order to go into space and stop Super Ninja before any damage is dealt.
Fun Fact: Chuck Norris would give moral lessons witch each episode of this series. In this episode, he stresses having the strength to do something even if its something you don't want to do. He tells kids to do their homework instead of watching TV all day.

5:00 THE A-TEAM
#104 "Pros and Cons" - Original Airdate -- 2/18/1983
The Director Ron Satloff
The Stars George Preppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, Mr. T, Melinda Culea, William Lucking, Paul Koslo, Clifton James, William Smith
The Plot B.A.'s friend is held in a prison where the director arranges fight-to-the-death-boxing matches whose winner gets released, only to be hunted down and killed. So the A-Team lets themself be arrested. Inside B.A. soon has to prepare to fight.
Fun Fact: Face pretends to be the author of a novel Dr. Dwight Pepper. The photo on the back of the book - supposedly the proper Dr. Dwight Pepper - is actually a photo of Stephen J. Cannell, the producer of the series.