Perfect Strangers Video Game

Prepare to spend way too much time playing the "Perfect Strangers" video game based on the 80s/90s TV show.  Video game designer Jason Oda,  the same guy who made the Emo game, created it.

Playable at NothingsGonnaStopMeNow.com,  it's basically a dramatic interpretation of the show's catchy theme song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" as Balki departs from Mypos and must catch as many stars as he can to achieve his/your dream.

It's kind of crazy, but you'd be surprised how addicting and inspirational the game actually is.

For that brief moment, you believe that if Balki can achieve his dream then you can.

Until you realize that Balki would never make it to America today because he'd be detained at customs due to his quirky behavior.

That would definitely stop him now and for several months during which he would become bitter and anti-American.

The website for the game was down yesterday, but now it's back up.  That day was a dark time because I lacked the ability to be "standing tall on my the wings of my dreams."

Kid N Play Dance

The dance made famous by rappers Kid 'N Play and nicknamed the "the Funky Charleston"  never loses its appeal.  In fact it puts the original Charleston to shame.

People are forever trying to recreate this scene from "House Party."  For instance,  Lebron James in this State Farm commercial.

I'm sure one of the big reasons James signed with the Miami Heat was so he and Wade could be the new age Kid 'N Play.

Look at this picture and try and tell me that they aren't dressed to rock a 90s house party like Kid 'N Play.

Since there are only two members of Kid 'N Play that also explains why Chris Bosh is the odd man out in Miami.   He only gets to fill the role of the DJ that nobody cares about.

The Better Blues Traveler Song: Run-Around or Hook

I think it's safe to assume that most people only know two Blues Traveler songs "Run Around" and "Hook."  They were pretty much two-hit wonders.

If you know more than those two songs, congratulations.  You were either a real fan or someone who bought the Blues Traveler album Four in a fit of passion during the 90s

I'm sure it's sitting right next to your Chumbawamba and Tonic CDs.

On the surface, "Run Around" seems to be the better song since it appeared higher on the Billboard Top 40 chart and it's Blues Traveler's' signature song.

Not to mention, the rapid fire pace of the song is pretty catchy.  But more often than not, people have told me that they prefer "Hook."



In a way, it is superior.  The song's lyrics taunts listeners that even though it's spouting nonsense that its catchiness will draw them in, and "Hook" delivers on this promise.

Originally I believed that "Run Around" was the better song, but over the years I've concluded that "Hook" is.

At least there's one thing we can all agree on though:  fat John Popper was so much better than skinny John Popper.

Which song do you think is better?

Better Blues Travelers Song

Betty Francis and Bugles

I hate to say I told you so, but Betty Francis eating Bugles on this week's "Mad Men" just proves my point about the lameness of Bugles.

If Betty is the face for liking your product, then you're in trouble.  Many people consider her the worst character on "Mad Men" and despise her.

Bugles took away the one thing she always had going for her: looks.  There's no doubt that excessive Bugle consumption played a part in making Betty fat.

Eating Bugles on a couch is a person's white flag that he or she has given up on life or certain standards of life.

I'd also argue it's a red flag because there's really not a good reason to be doing that.

Although, it makes sense that Betty would enjoy Bugles.  It's a fundamentally flawed snack for a fundamentally flawed person.

Both seem like they should be a lot better than they actually are, and creepy kid Glen Bishop probably became as obsessed with Bugles as he was with her.

Plus, Betty can put them on her fingers when she's being a mean witch to her children to get the full effect.

The Hunger Games is a Ripoff of The Condemned

I bet you haven't heard that one yet.  Probably thought I was going to say "Battle Royale" like everybody else.

But obviously, "The Hunger Games" is inspired by the 2007 classic "The Condemned."

The movie features Stone Cold Steve Austin as a prisoner awaiting the death penalty in a corrupt Central American country until he's purchased by a wealthy reality TV producer  and forced to participate in a televised fight to the death against nine other convicted killers for a chance at freedom.

Spoiler alert,  Austin wins.  I know it seems so improbable now, but he does.

Clearly the author of "The Hunger Games," Suzanne Collins ignored the film's 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewed this film.

Then she realized it was such a masterpiece that she had to write a young adult version of "The Condemned."  It's the most logical explanation.

Let's face it, Katniss Everdeen is really just the female version of Austin's character.

I'm not sure Jennifer Lawrence can compete with the performance of Austin though.  Anybody who thought he couldn't carry a movie was dead wrong.  Sure Austin can, just not a good movie.

He really shines in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the movie where inexplicably there's not a a single word of dialogue.  I guess there's only so many witty quips you can fit in a 113 minute movie.

Hey wait a minute,  I think "The Artist" must have ripped off "The Condemned" too.

This Charming Man 8-bit Version

It should be a fact by now that making things 8-bit is awesome.

That's why it's not surprising an 8-bit cover of the Smith's "This Charming Man" combined with sound effects from "Super Mario Bros." called "Super Morrissey Bros." is so enjoyable.

Although if anybody's indie, I think it's Luigi not Mario.  Luigi just always had to do his fancy leg-kicking jumps in "Super Mario Bros. 2" and make me fall off the platform.

March Madness 2012: Pop Culture Thoughts

It's been a day and a half of the March Madness 2012 and here's what I've learned so far:

1. The longest anybody has ever driven for Doritos flavored diarrhea is 965 miles

Taco Bell wants to make sure we don't forget this by playing their new Doritos Locos Tacos commercial on a loop.  

It's convenient that they don't mention the trip back home where everybody immediately regrets eating that taco, curses this Nat Christiana guy, and realizes it's 965 miles until they get home.  

2.  TruTV

In March, everybody realizes that this station actually exists and scrambles to find it on their channel guide.  Despite being irrelevant the other 11 months of the year, it masquerades as the new sports leader.  You know, in between commercials for their usual high-brow programming such as "Lick Lizard Towing" and "Pawn Stars." 

3. Woman from At&t speed dating commercial looks like an android

That woman really creeps me out because she definitely looks artificial and acts like a robot.  Notice the crazy terminator like way she smiles and how she talks with limited emotion.  That's a Cylon if I've ever seen one.

4.  Now's the time to shill your gimmick food or beverage

Be it Taco Bell's Doritos taco or Mcdonald's Shamrock Shake.   There's definitely someone out there who's eating a Doritos Locos Taco with a Shamrock Shake right now.  What a combination!

5. All this talk of Shaka Smart and the Wichita St. Shockers reminded me of the rapper Silkk The Shocker 

No, that's not a mistake.  He actually spelled his named with the extra "k."  You might remember him from the song "It Ain't My Fault" with Mystikal.  Actually let's just go back to pretending he doesn't exist, I think it's better that way.