Sing the Praise of SMOOCHY!

[Cantus Rock]

Death to Smoochy came out on VHS and DVD yesterday (technically 2 days ago, my time). I got it the first day it came out (uh...2 days ago I mean), and I must say, what an amazing DVD. There are so many cool features...I LOVE the behind-the-scenes Doc., that is so cool! I've been wanting it ever since I saw it in the theaters before the public couldn't understand it and it bombed. Such an intelligent comedy, with an amazing cast. Thus, my wall has been adorned with a DTS poster since the week I first saw it in the theater.

Go buy the video! Buy the DVD! Go represent the Rhino! (and no I don't mean Ecko!!)

-Matt

 

[Jackie]

I bought it on AMAZON! I can't wait until it gets here!! Death To Smoochy RULES!!

 

[beaker]

The first of what Robin Williams' calls his "2002 dark trilogy".
In a recent interview about Smoochy, Robin Williams recalled the various times he's worked with the Muppets(Sesame Street, Muppet magazine) in a question about protrying a kid show host. He mentioned you know youve made it in the biz when youre asked to come onto Sesame Street.

Unfortunately, I had the mispleasure of having to sit through it. Dont get me wrong, Williams is my fave actor. I loved Toys, The Fisher King, Bicentennial Man, What Dreams May Come, One Hour Photo...all astonishing visual films. And I love Edward Norton(Red Dragon, Rounders, Fight Club) and Kathleen Keener(S1m0n3, Being John Malkovich)

Yet Smoochy, was a bit of a mean spirtied unfunny and ugly film to me. I thought the film would be very edgy from the great preview, but even Williams' performance bugged me. I did however like Insomnia a lot, and One Hour Photo is something else.

It's funny, in person you'd never suspect Robin portrayed a psycho photo store clerk or a maniac kid's show host.
(I'll have to post my picture with him) But as much as I wanted to like that film...oh man.

 

[Luke]

I was shown a preview of the film about 2 months before it came in the states and the rumor was that Robin himself was sitting in one of the back rows looking at the reactions. Having been a former 'Smoochy' type character myself i thought it was hilarious, but yeah i can dig it being hard for the public to understand.

 

[beaker]

>>>Having been a former 'Smoochy' type character myself i thought it was hilarious, but yeah i can dig it being hard for the public to understand<<<

I know you freelanced for children's programming(I think, hmmm, I forget) but you were actually a costumed character ona kid's show Luke? Oh man, youve gotta post photos of that!

I wonder if soon we'll see the floodgates open on the behind the curtain inside business of kid's show host films...err maybe not.

 

[Luke]

Hey Cory,

Seeing as it's you - take at look at :-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lrobbins/newsbunny.jpg

That is me - i was one of about five people who have been 'Newsbunny' at some time in their careers. All have gone onto much bigger and better things i might add. He wasn't anything to do with when i worked on a kids variety show - he came when i moved into news and was about 19. As i said i got transferred from the newspaper to this really tabloid style cable channel owned by the company. They were really gimmicky - they had midgets and girls in bikini's reading the weather ... they even turned into a porn channel late at night so i was never without a naked girl to ogle. Anyway - 'Newsbunny' became a very famous character in the UK - he used to stand behind the news presenter for their 2 minute live bulletins every hour and basically make actions as to what the news was (so for a train crash he'd be sad, for England winning the Football he would cheer).

I did not choose to be 'Newsbunny' - i basically had a big fight with the stations management and there was three months to go on my contract and they refused to release me. Instead they punished me by making me 'Newsbunny' - the only problem was they didn't quite have the brains to work out they were making ME the stations mascot AND putting me on LIVE television for 2 minutes every single hour with no control over what i was doing.

Many mishaps occurred including me accidentally drenching the female presenter, activating a fire extinguisher at her, cheering instesd of being sad when a bomb had gone off and lots of people killed ---- and then the ultimate error, the 'Newsbunny' was supposed to never speak, but one day while we were live my best friend (now a very famous TV presenter who has interviewed Britney and people like that) sat underneath me with a yellow rubber duckie in his hand held aloft. He puppeteered the 'rubber duckie' so it was just in the shot and made it look like it was floating across the TV screen - i could see what was going out on TV through a monitor close by and i just started laughing my butt off, he started doing the same and it all went out on air.

Anyway after the 'Rubber Duckie' incident and also another incident where i accidentally rugby tackled our prime ministers wife and caressed her bottom (in my defense, i had nothing else to hold onto) it was decided i was too much of a liability to have appearing on live television and i was moved back to my previous job of being a serious news researcher. It was a lot of fun for a while, though very embarrassing now to think about it but i made the papers quite a lot and i suppose it beat McDonalds for a 19 year old. I guess i learned not to argue with the CEO anymore though and i have to tell you .... chicks (who obviously had a kinky side to them) really digged getting to meet the guy who played 'Newsbunny', he was a babe magnet !!!!!!

 

[scott]

I find that very disturbing Luke. I'm gonna ask my friend who used to live in England if he knew the newsbunny.

 

[Cantus Rock]

Yes...that wins the most disturbing picture of the day award. I'd give you a bronze danish, but I'm too shaken to reach into the bag...dear lord Luke...that was you??? Wowzers...

-Matt

 

[matleo]

Yeah I think this has been one of the most interesting peeks we've had into the life of our dear penguin-lovin' bud. I think I'm going to go hide in my sock drawer now.

--Matt

 

[CaptCrouton]

That story can't really be true. Why would they have a guy in a bunny costume when they're reporting about a bomb. That would be so tasteless. Luke you're pulling my leg.. er rabbit's foot.

Markus