Hi, everyone!
Valentine’s Day may be over, but we’re still celebrating on Jammin’ with Jamie in our own unique way!
Our last jam session was met with some great reactions, proving once more that no matter what your feelings are about Valentine’s Day, hilarious music unites us all!
After our previous jam session was such a hit, now I’m even more excited for us to continue jammin’ to…
Hi, everyone!
It’s that time of year.
All the pink… all the hearts… all that mushy… stuff…
It can only mean one thing…
Valentine’s Day.
(Cue dramatic music…)
Some people love it, some people hate it, and some people go back and forth depending on their relationship status at the time. But no matter what your feelings are about Valentine’s Day, there’s one thing we call all agree on: Jammin’ with Jamie is the place to be!
Why? Good question…
In the fifth installment (third since I’ve started this blog) of a grand Jammin’ with Jamie tradition, we’ll laugh our hearts out as we jam to…
Hi, everyone!
As I said last week, this time of year, a lot of people seem to start to lose steam and feel a little down. Last Saturday’s jam session was all about motivating you, so now, I want to make you smile… and, hopefully, laugh!
There’s a certain group of characters that always makes me smile and laugh, not to mention sing and dance! I once dedicated a Jammin’ with Jamie jam session to celebrating the release of their latest theatrical film, so it’s only fitting that I dedicate one to celebrating their return to TV!
Whose return, you ask?
Well… “It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights!”
It’s time to jam with us to…
Hi, everyone!
At this time of year, it seems like a lot of people start to lose their spirits. The novelty of the new year has worn off and they start giving up on their resolutions. The holiday season has ended, but the cold weather and limited daylight remain.
Well, one thing I love to do on Jammin’ with Jamie is motivate you!
In fact, one of the best ways to get motivated is to have a song in your head, so with that in mind, let’s jam to…
Hi, everyone!
I’m ba-ack!
That’s right: Jammin’ with Jamie is back on the air on 89.3 WNUR FM every Saturday morning from 6:00 to 7:00 am!
It seems that we’re finally getting some winter weather!
But, after such a warm holiday season, it can be difficult to adjust to weather we would usually be used to by now.
So, how do we get into the season?
Don’t worry: I have a plan! Join me as we jam to…
Remember how I said I’d love to write more about Pee-wee Herman?
Well, here I am, doing just that!
Check out Pee-wee Herman’s official website!
Christmas (and the holiday season in general) is, obviously, about giving to others, especially those less fortunate than us. It’s also a time to reunite with friends and family. Mix generosity with friends and family, and you have the perfect recipe for craziness and fun. And who has more crazy fun than Pee-wee Herman?
So “come on in, and pull yourself up a chair,” because it’s time for…
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s a treat: a promo for the special from 1988! Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9CHz-W9WAs
This is the perfect year to watch it, too: to get yourself ready for the premiere of Pee-wee’s Big Holiday in March on Netflix!
If you like Pee-wee Herman, you’ll love Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special! Not one bit of the show’s trademark anarchic insanity or subversive nature was sacrificed to create this double-length episode.
This special has everything you’d expect to see in a traditional Christmas special: guest stars galore, seasonal music, almost every Christmas/holiday/winter symbol you can think of, and even a reminder of why people celebrate Christmas in the first place.
If you need something to make you laugh, something to show to kids, or something to make you stand out when it’s your turn to pick in the Christmas movie marathon, look no further than Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special!
You’re invited to the coolest Christmas party EVER!
As with anything Pee-wee Herman-related, if you’ve never seen Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special before, it’s best to go into it without knowing too much about it. Think of it this way: would opening Christmas presents be as fun if you knew what every single gift was beforehand? The answer is no. The surprise is part of the fun!
Go watch Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (which is streaming on Netflix), and then come back here to read the rest of this post.
Go. Now. Don’t worry: I’ll wait.
Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
I had so much fun writing about Halloween movies, I decided to extend the series and write about films perfect for Christmas/the holiday season! Most will probably be about Christmas, but I’m leaving myself wiggle room for other holidays and general winter movies.
Remember, these are not reviews: I’m writing about films and TV specials that I love and recommend.
My favorite Christmas movies generally have a nice mix of humor, fun, wackiness, and heart––– and some good music doesn’t hurt, either.
This first film has all of that, and more. Warm up your voices, because it’s time for…
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)!
By the way, if you like the Muppets, make sure you check out The Muppets on ABC!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer:
I’m not sure why there’s music from Beetlejuice in the trailer, but it works.
I’m smiling already!
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Plot: Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, bitter businessman, despises Christmas and all forms of kindness and charity; but this Christmas, he just might get a chance to redeem himself…
Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
Happy Halloween!
A lot of people wonder how I even know about all the classic horror and monster movies that I do… and the obscure ones, too! Well, the answer is horror hosts, like Svengoolie and…
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)!
Fair warning, “ladies and Dobermans”: accidental (and deliberate) double entendres will be busting out of this entry! (Oh boy, here we go…)
Make sure you check out Elvira’s website!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer…
I wrote about how I discovered Elvira here on Terror from Beyond the Daves.
As I seem to say all the time, I saw this amazing movie by accident. My younger brother’s actually the one who found this one. I returned the favor later by finding her second film, Elvira’s Haunted Hills (2001), which is just as fun. They make a fantastic double feature! (Oh geez…)
I first saw Elvira, Mistress of the Dark before I’d seen any of the classic horror and monster movies that I love so much, and before the revival of Elvira’s Movie Macabre (which you should definitely check out) hit the boob tube. I was also just at the age where I could actually understand the double entendres and suggestive visual gags I was about to witness… along with my younger brother… and my parents.
None of us had seen this movie before. In fact, I’d never seen anything even remotely like this movie before. Basically, Elvira was my first exposure to double entendres. (Oh boy…)
This is another movie you’re going to want to watch more than once. You’ll be laughing so hard the first time around (or otherwise distracted…) that you’ll miss at least half of the rapid-fire humor.
Here’s the basic, spoiler-free rundown…
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Plot: A horror movie host who dreams of headlining in Las Vegas suddenly finds herself one of the heirs of a deceased relative; when she goes to a conservative town to collect her inheritance, she’s forced to stay when her car breaks down, but all is not as it seems…
Villain(s): That would be a spoiler!
Scare Factor: The scares are mostly played for laughs here. If something does manage to creep you out, Elvira will surely put a comedic twist on it within seconds.
Gore Factor: There’s some gore, but it’s relatively minimal.
Family-Friendly Factor: This is Elvira we’re talking about here. Double entendres, suggestive language, and her own ample assets––– you know: her sarcasm and comedic timing––– abound.
Wow! Elvira’s really HOT!
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
First of all, this is my sixtieth blog entry! Hooray!
Anyway…
When I wrote about The Monster Squad, I made it very clear just how much I love the Universal Monster franchise. It’s amazing to me that one studio was responsible for bringing so many iconic monsters to the big screen.
So, of course, no series of entries on Halloween movies that I write would be complete without one of the original Universal Monster movies rearing its head.
Grab your crosses and stakes and put on your turtlenecks, because we’re about to face…
Dracula (1931)!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer…
I first saw Dracula on Svengoolie, and boy, was I excited to see it! (I’m always excited for Svengoolie, but that’s beside the point.)
If you want to see the film, you have a couple of options: Sven recently showed it again (with a new score), and it will rerun Saturday, October 31, on WCIU. Also, Turner Classic Movies is showing it in theaters on Wednesday, October 28, in a double feature with the Spanish-language version of the movie (with English subtitles), which was filmed at night with a different cast and crew using the same sets. I went to the double feature on Sunday, and I loved seeing all the similarities and differences between the two films.
Here’s the basic, spoiler-free rundown…
Dracula (1931)
Plot: Mr. Renfield travels to Transylvania to close a real estate deal with Count Dracula, who plans to move to London, but all is not as it seems…
Villain(s): Really?
Scare Factor: The scares are very different from what you’re used to seeing in horror films, so it’s hard to predict how scary you or any kids you know may find this one.
Gore Factor: You see blood once in the entire film.
Family-Friendly Factor: There’s no swearing, and any minimal suggestive content that adults may infer will go way over kids’ heads.
Quick! Run while he’s stuck in the web!
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
It’s time to give yourself over to absolute pleasure, as we dive into the wonderfully weird and wacky world of…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer…
I found out about this movie by a strange coincidence. One of the mainstays of Six Flags’ Fright Fest every year is the family-friendly musical comedy monster mash, Love at First Fright. While the basic plot stays the same, jokes and references change every year, keeping the show fresh and just as fun and entertaining for veteran viewers as for newbies.
The musical numbers are all existing songs from various sources, so I knew most of them. But one of my favorite songs from the show remained a mystery. After the show, I asked one of the cast members where it was from. It turns out that it, as well as another song from the show, is from The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Which songs? I’ll reveal them later…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of those movies that I bought and watched pretty much “blindly,” meaning that I knew almost nothing about it, other than the fact that it would have those two particular songs. Late one night a few years ago, I popped in the DVD and watched it for the very first time. I watched it alone, which in hindsight, was probably a good idea. Given my age at the time, watching it with my parents would’ve been really awkward.
The movie immediately hooked me with its tone and humor. In an instant, I was laughing and dancing along. A few scenes later, my jaw dropped. I found out that I was watching one of the funniest, weirdest, and most downright insane films I’d ever seen.
… And I loved every frame of it.
Here’s the basic, spoiler-free rundown…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Plot: A clean-cut, newly engaged couple gets a flat tire on an abandoned road during a thunderstorm late at night and goes to a nearby castle in hopes of using a phone to call for help.
Villain(s): That would be a spoiler! It’s kind of up for interpretation, anyway.
Scare Factor: This movie is so ridiculously fun that the few minimal scares are more humorous than nightmare-inducing.
Gore Factor: The gore’s pretty minimal.
Family-Friendly Factor: If your family has members that are teenaged or older, then you can probably watch this one together. There’s a fair amount of swearing, though most of it’s pretty mild. In case you’re a complete Rocky Horror “virgin,” there’s a lot of sexual content.
VERY different…
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! Spoilers lurk beyond this point!