Just sleeping off the visit from my dog cousin.
Pop Culture Ephemera
- undertone (2026) (Directed by Ian Tuason): “Welcome to the undertone podcast where we talk about all things creepy.” – Evy. My initial instinct after watching the trailer was correct. This film does borrow philosophically from Pontypool (2008). The film is set in a single location while the action is being portrayed through a telephone/internet connection. It gets everything wrong after that, whereas Pontypool got it right. When the plot revolves around a podcast, I want to understand the structure of the podcast. It seems like they record it a 3:00 AM, they stop at one point to pick up again later, but at the same time, it is “live” in a way that they can take callers?
Nina Kiri is the sole star of the film as podcast host, Evy. The film has an interesting thread of motherhood themes. Evy is the caretaker of her dying mother, Evy is pregnant, and the podcast episode of the film is about the disturbing themes of traditional children songs. The director, Tuason, avoids jump scares when they were clearly possible. The film advertises the sound design, but I found it a mess for the most important scenes. I’m glad I saw it in the theater so I could clearly hear some of the subtle sounds, but they didn’t give me the creeps that I had expected. I wanted more here, but the film is beautifully filmed and I’m now more interested in the same directors upcoming reboot of Paranormal Activity.
- Star Wars: Andor – “Kassa” (S.1 E.1) (Disney+) (2022): “This case appears to bear all the hallmarks of what I like to describe as regrettable misadventure.” – Chief Hyne. In typical Couch Hole fashion, I went to Disney+ to catch up on Star Wars: The Mandalorian (I still have most of the series to go), and I remembered that I had started the first episode of this series but got distracted. I’m happy to report that the “Blade Runner meets classic film noir” corner of the Star Wars universe is strong. Is Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) supposed to be our Decker? When he asks his droid to lie, that removed any question. He might as well have asked the men in the bar at the start of the episode some of the Voight-Kampff test. This is off to a slow but interesting start as a political-intrigue noir. The only weak points were the flashbacks to young Cassian that take us out of the dark mood they were building.
- Alice Cooper – “You and Me” (from Lace and Whiskey) (1977): “I wanna take you to Heaven / That would make my day complete.” This is the final entry in the Holy Trinity of Alice Cooper ballads – “Only Women” and “I Never Cry” being the other two. Lyrically, it’s the least odd of the three, telling the story of a pretty mundane relationship. These were all hits in their own right. It’s like Alice Cooper did them only to punch back at his critics and ended up being remembered as much in this era for these instead of the majority of what he was doing in the hard rock genre. I like the orchestration, but listening over the past couple of weeks, I think “I Never Cry” is a superior song.
- Y tu mama tambien (2001) (Directed by Alfonso Cuaron): “Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea.” – Luisa. The stars were aligned for me to rewatch this film. I thought about watching it again when I saw it was ranked #18 on the NY Times Best Films of the Century. It was clinched when I saw Diego Luna starring in Star Wars: Andor. This film was an arthouse darling back in the days when there was such a thing as arthouse. I enjoyed the fresh take on the coming-of-age story, mostly because the stars were so frank and comfortable with each other and the visuals were stunning. Diego got his Cassian Andor role and the voice in many popular animated films. Maribel Verdu as Luisa (the “mama”) snagged a role in The Flash. The director Alfonso Cuaron has gone on to become the best director of the century without the name recognition. He moved from this to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and among other triumphs has put his stamp on the last couple of decades with Children of Men (2006), Gravity (2013) and Roma (2018).
The film is still a pleasure to watch today. The subtle way that the story of the wealthy late teen and the middle-class late teen on a roadtrip with another educated woman in her late twenties, weaves in stories in the background is impressive. There is a world of police, political violence, and suffering on the edges of so many shots. These characters live a comfortable life among people who suffer to make ends meet daily. Verdu is the engine driving this film. It’s not because she is sexy (although she is), but it’s because she understands how to handle the two male egos without giving up her own power. It’s a sexual film in a way that teen films from America of the same era couldn’t figure out. In an American Pie world, nudity is sexual. In this film, it’s trust and expressing yourself. It’s about time this film finds a new audience.
- Killing Faith (2025) (Directed by Ned Crowley): “What’s it like to be a doctor who can’t save a life?” Everything you need to know about this film happens in the first scene and 30 seconds. This is the Old West of Cormac McCarthy and Coen Bros. It’s 1849 and things aren’t great out west. There is violence at every turn and there’s a sickness spreading through the land killing folks. The real surprise is that in the trailer and in the scene directly after we see the violence; the film reveals what I would have expected to be a slightly bigger secret. Sarah (DeWanda Wise) is a freed slave raising a young white girl (Emily Ford) who kills anyone she touches. They head out on a journey to find a preacher (Bill Pullman) to exorcise the demon in her, along with a doubtful Dr. Bender (Guy Pearce). This is one of those films that hints at more interesting ideas. Some of the scenes feel like leftover scenes from Preacher. The more proper storytelling leaves more to be desired. One more edit of the script and another few million dollars in the budget might have made this a breakthrough horror western last year.
Best of the Rest
- I had heard of Alice Cooper by 1978. I probably knew “School’s Out” and maybe “I’m Eighteen”. But I had never seen him until this appearance in the Third Season of The Muppet Show. This version of “You and Me” would forever be associated with “Beakie” who was really Miss Piggy.
- The headline certainly caught my attention – Mountain Biker Dies from Rattlesnake Bite. My first thought was that my friends in Irvine, CA might be in serious trouble if the snakes are able to keep up with people riding bikes. Turns out he “fell into a bush” which might question his biking techniques, but the more logical explanation is that the snake had probably set up a trap on the trail and waited for an unsuspecting biker to come by.
- The fourth entry in the MCU Spiderverse, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) will be released July 31st. I have enjoyed the series with Tom Holland, but thought that the end of the trilogy with Dr. Strange’s spell to make everyone forget Peter Parker was a good place to leave well enough alone. Marvel just can’t help themselves. I’ve avoided much info about the new film, but seeing the Hulk and the Punisher tells me that we might even get a peek at Daredevil in there somewhere. I’m somewhat cool on this trailer, I don’t see any new ground that they are trying to cover. The series has become much more interesting in the animated format.
Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback
- Sunday Morning Tuneage from 4/11/2010, work was picking up as it did in April through May graduation. These were the days that the boys had either baseball games or baseball practice six days a week. I don’t know how I ever found time to watch the shows on my Tivo. I was enjoying The Biggest Loser (NBC), and I predicted a short run for Alyssa Milano’s show Romantically Challenged (ABC) (I think I was right on that one). The list of the week was one that I replicated at the end of last year. I’m going to redo it today from scratch and see if I have changed my mind over the past three months. Let’s not even pretend that the #1 will change, just maybe the other numbers.
My #68 Top TV Show of All-Time was The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) (1960-1968): I mentioned in 2010 that this was about the only show that my almost-90-year-old grandmother watched on a daily basis. I have compared it to Seinfeld (NBC). It’s not the subject as much as the core four (Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee) and then built out the rest of the supporting cast. It’s still got some of the best writing of the decade. It ended its run with lesser color episodes, but it was still the #1 show in the ratings that final season. It’s a Top 100 show, I can’t argue with the fact that I still probably watch an episode a month when I flip the channels. - BEST MOVIES OF 1975 (2010)
- 10. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Directed by Jim Sharman)
- 9. Barry Lyndon (Directed by Stanley Kubrick)
- 8. Nashville (Directed by Robert Altman)
- 7. Deep Red (Directed by Dario Argento)
- 6. Farewell, My Lovely (Directed by Dick Richards)
- 5. Three Days of the Condor (Directed by Sydney Pollack)
- 4. Dog Day Afternoon (Directed by Sidney Lumet)
- 3. Monty Python & the Holy Grail (Directed by Terry Gilliam/Terry Jones)
- 2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Directed by Milos Forman)
- 1. Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg)
- BEST MOVIES OF 1975 (2026)
- 10. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Directed by Milos Forman): Putting it in this spot is not a slight to the film as much as nod to how strong a year of films this was in 1975. Maybe I hold a little bitterness that Jaws didn’t win some of their Oscars.
- 9. Nashville (Directed by Robert Altman): Over 20 main characters? Altman tells some incredible stories, but some casting director needed to know when to just say no.
- 8. Barry Lyndon (Directed by Stanley Kubrick): Hard to find too much to be critical about here. The subject matter either hits you or it doesn’t, but the filmmaking is above reproach.
- 7. Monty Python & the Holy Grail (Directed by Terry Gilliam/Terry Jones): To be fair, this was a film that had lost some luster with so many viewings until I saw it in theaters last year and learned to love it all over again.
- 6. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Directed by Jim Sharman): I’m not saying that this film has the same quality as any of the other films on this list. Initially a flop, this film is here because of the cultural impact it has had over the last 50 years. It revitalized the idea of the Midnight Movie, and it defined Cult Movie for a generation. I enjoy the soundtrack more than the film, but here we are at #6.
- 5. Picnic at Hanging Rock (Directed by Peter Weir): There was a lot going on around the fringes of cinema in 1975. In Australia, Peter Weir was making some of the most beautiful and quiet films. This is his most accessible film of that era. I have watched this film more often as almost seven others on this list.
- 4. Three Days of the Condor (Directed by Sydney Pollack): This is the best of a handful of high-quality government paranoia thrillers to take advantage of our public scars over Watergate. A great plot that at first starts off like an Alfred Hitchcock film and then decides to let the camera spend lots of time on Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. A good idea, by the way.
- 3. Dog Day Afternoon (Directed by Sidney Lumet): This could slot in any of the #2-#5 spots depending on my mood. I think Pacino’s performance ranks among the best of his career, but oddly I don’t think Lumet did enough to put his thumbprint on the direction, especially the last act.
- 2. Deep Red (Directed by Dario Argento): The giallo film that launched a hundred giallo films. A beautiful film that’s horror but art and classic but progressive. Like Rocky Horror, it’s a bit more about the influence over the quality of the picture itself.
- 1. Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg): Last year’s multiple theatrical viewings, documentaries and books did not do anything to convince me that this is anything less than my favorite film.
1976 in Review
- March – Action Comics #457 (DC Comics): “So it’s finally come– the moment I’ve dreaded… when I have to choose between my secret identity… and someone’s life! Not just anyone… the son of my best friend! Heaven help me… what do I do now?” – Superman. Cover by Bob Oksner. Written by Gerry Conway. Art by Curt Swan. The cover pretty much covers the plot. Somehow, Superman revealing his identity to Pete Ross’ son will cure him of a deadly childhood disease. I owned it but don’t remember reading it often. These Green Arrow and Black Canary secondary stories would probably have been better if they had the page count of the main stories. I mean, the villain in this short story was called “The Nutty Kid.”
- March 27 – The Kingdome opened in Seattle, WA. The next 12 months would bring two new franchises to the city that would play in the dome – the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks. Before then, it would debut with a Bicentennial Celebration, a Sounders vs. NY Cosmos soccer game featuring Pele (April), a Billy Graham Crusade featuring Johnny Cash (May), and a concert by Paul McCartney and Wings (June).
- March 8 – What a month that changed the course of history. Jimmy Carter entered March 1976 as an unknown Democratic Governor of Georgia. Carter’s biggest win was taking Florida with 34.5% of the vote vs 30.5% for segregationist George Wallace, finally ending his bid. Carter would win Illinois and North Carolina before the month was out, and just like that, the race was essentially over.
What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?
Oreo: Stuf of Doom 04
Art by Todd Nauck. These are just a repackaged version of the Sm’Oreos from 2023. The graham cracker biscuit and the very fudgy, chocolatey creme with a hint of marshmallow flavor is what I remember but just with Dr. Doom on the outside this time. I’m scared of the green on the package since there isn’t green on the cookie. Will something else be green? These are good, but the look and flavors aren’t a match.
Honey Bunches of Oats: Protein – Honey & Almond
When the name of the cereal starts with Honey Bunches, do you need to say that there is “honey” in it after the title? I guess they could just call it “Almond.” This is the second in the Protein line. I’m not sure I can taste any difference, but I am always a fan of this cereal. I liked the Protein Cinnamon a little better, but these are a solid entry that would benefit from just a little vanilla flavor.
Red Bull: Spring Edition – Cherry Sakura
I don’t usually get the Spring Edition. I don’t even usually look until I know the Summer Edition is out. I accidentally came across this at the grocery store, and I liked that the flavor sounded like a Japanese Anime from the ’90s. It’s a good, different cherry than I expected. It’s not sour, but floral and sweet cherry with a hint of apple (although I’ve read “almond,” which I can’t taste). I won’t buy it again, but this is the only energy drink that makes flavors that intrigue me.
“Sometimes when you’re asleep
And I’m just starin’ at the ceiling
I wanna reach out and touch you
But you just go on dreamin'” – Alice Cooper
