The Light from the TV Shows: The Many Influencees of Dobie Gillis

Next week, the ever-awesome Shout Factory is going to be releasing The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: The Complete Series. While this is an announcement which will be greeted by shrugs and blank stares from just about anyone under the age of 30—oh, hell, we could practically make it 40 or 50 and still not be too far off base—I’ve been revisiting the adventures of Dobie (Dwayne Hickman) and his beatnik buddy Maynard G. Krebs (a pre-“Gilligan’s Island” Bob Denver), and the more I delve into the series, the more I realize just how well it holds up. Heck, many of its elements continue to be staples of teen-themed comedies to this day!

Dobie2

First of all, look at these two gentlemen here. Have you ever seen a picture that so desperately screamed to be captioned “Freak and Geek”?

Read the rest of this entry »

  

You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for content updates. Also, sign up for our email list for weekly updates and check us out on Google+ as well.

Car Review: 2013 Honda Civic 4DR EX-L NAVI

honda_civic_1

In the battle for the compact sedan crown, Honda has come in with a refreshed Civic that is clearly the best Civic ever. The top-selling and award-winning Honda Civic returns for 2013 with a host of design upgrades and a bevy of new standard features, while still maintaining the efficiency and value that has made the Civic an automotive icon for the past 40 years.

EXTERIOR

The crimson pearl 2013 Honda Civic 4DR EX-L NAVI has a distinctive look and a confidence that comes with years of excellence. For 2013, the Honda Civic has received a host of changes that far exceed the typical mid-model refresh. The front and rear styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan has been completely altered for a more youthful and premium feel, including sheet metal changes with an all-new hood and trunk lid. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille is anchored by new integrated fog lights on EX-L and above trims. The grille is flanked by new clear-lens corner lights to provide a more premium look. The 2013 Civic’s more sculpted front end flows into a taller, more deeply faceted hood.

In back, a new rear bumper design and rear trunk lid are capped by a clean, horizontal chrome trim piece. The all-new design of the jewel-like taillights now carries into the trunk face, providing a more finished and upscale look. The rear bumper features integrated reflector treatments and a new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent. While the expressive exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe remains unchanged, restyled wheels on all models help sharpen the look of the 2013 Civic.

INTERIOR

With a brand new design for 2013, there are many changes in the cabin of the 2013 Civic, but there is also a familiarity that the Honda brand carries over from decades of advancements. Inside, extensive refinements in design and construction gives the entire 2013 Honda Civic lineup a more premium feel, with an all-new tricot headliner, new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and upper door treatment, and revised textures and panel junctions throughout the instrument panel and center console. Subtle silver accents in the interior lend a higher-quality look, along with door panel and seat fabric upgrades. Providing a more upscale environment, black carpeting and a trunk lid finisher are now standard on all Civic models. For the first time, Civic is available in both cloth and leather with an all-black interior. Our test model boasted beige leather that was upscale and sporty.

Read the rest of this entry »

  

Picture of the Day: Stephanie unbuttons her blouse

Here’s the lovely Stephanie flashing her black bra under her red blouse.

Stephanie unbuttons her blouse

  

Blu Tuesday: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, The Call and More

Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”

WHAT: Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrel) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) used to be the hottest act on the Vegas Strip, but in recent years, they’ve been overshadowed by a self-mutilating street magician named Steve Gray (Jim Carrey). When the duo parts ways following a failed attempt to update their show, they must put aside their differences and compete against Gray for the chance to earn the headlining spot at their former employer’s brand new hotel.

WHY: The trailer for “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” had disaster written all over it, but much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed the film quite a bit. The movie is laugh-out-loud funny at times, and there’s not a single weak link in the cast. Steve Carell channels his inner Will Ferrell as the conceited magician, while Jim Carrey proves that he’s still got it as the Criss Angel-like villain. Even Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin and James Gandolfini (in one of his final film roles) get in on the laughs, and that’s mostly to the credit of Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daly’s amusing screenplay. Though it may seem like the movie is just making fun of magicians at their expense, it has a healthy respect for its subject matter (David Copperfield even served as a special consultant) and does a better job of showcasing the art of magic than last month’s “Now You See Me.”

EXTRAS: In addition to nearly 30 minutes of deleted scenes and alternate takes, there’s also a short magic featurette with Copperfield, footage from Steve Gray’s faux video series “The Best of the Brain Rapist” and a gag reel.

FINAL VERDICT: RENT

“The Call”

WHAT: Feeling partially responsible for the kidnapping and subsequent death of a teenage girl, 911 dispatcher Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) takes a leave of absence, eventually returning six months later in a new position as a training supervisor. But when a fellow operator receives a distress call from teenager Casey Wilson (Abigail Breslin) after she’s kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car, Jordan jumps back into the hot seat, only to discover that the abductor is the same man from the previous incident.

WHY: The WWE logo is a strange thing to see before any movie, but especially one that stars a former Oscar winner like Halle Berry. Sadly, just when it looks like “The Call” is going to deliver a fresh take on the kidnapping genre, it switches gears and becomes another run-of-the-mill thriller better suited for VOD than the big screen. Though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the film starts to go downhill, you won’t find a more unintentionally funny scene this year than the introduction of the villain – an over-the-top Norman Bates clone who’s first seen listening to Taco’s synth-pop cover of Puttin’ on the Ritz.” It’s disappointing to see Brad Anderson’s once-promising career relegated to low-rent fodder like this, because while the director and his two stars try their best to elevate the material, their effort only goes so far before the movie crumbles into a clichéd mess.

EXTRAS: The bonus material features a little bit of everything, including deleted scenes, an alternate ending, the audition tape for actor Michael Eklund, a tour of the film’s two main sets, and a stunt featurette on the gas station sequence.

FINAL VERDICT: SKIP

Read the rest of this entry »

  

6 of the Best Cars to Score a Chick

Guys, let’s face it; what car you drive impacts your dating life in one way or another. It helps to know what kind of cars entice women. Some women can’t resist an old-fashioned sports car, while others love a modern, practical car with nice interior features. To make sure you get a car women will love, we’ve provided a list below of the 6 best cars to score a chick.

1. Acura ZDX

Acura ZDX

Exhibiting a more futuristic look, the Acura ZDX sports coupe comes with four doors, and one of the most fantastic sound systems you’ve ever heard. And with Bluetooth and USB, you or your female friend can control the high-powered sound system with ease.

2. Mustang GT

Mustang GT

The Mustang GT’s engine alone should all but guarantee a woman’s interest in you. Drivers call the feeling of the engine indescribable. This constantly rumbling engine roars when shifting gears. This car, which sometimes looks like it came straight off a race track, has the classic Mustang design — a coupe with a long hood and a short rear deck. Between the sexy sports car look and the orgasmic engine, how could any woman resist?

3. Mercedes-Benz S550

2012-S-Class-Sedan-Gallery-007_GOE

Country star Keith Urban owns this one himself, and you know he doesn’t have many problems with the ladies. In fact, if you’re in Tennessee as well, you might just find one his formerly driven vehicles among the many Nashville used cars for sale. This roomy, comfortable ride has a sleek, modern and sexy look for a coupe. A fast car with a V8 engine and 7-speed automatic transmission, this car will certainly keep your lady friend happy.

4. Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Want to impress the ladies, but don’t have loads of cash? You’ll have to check out Genesis Coupe from Hyundai. Considering this is a high-speed ride with a nice, modern look, you’ll be shocked at the price for this car new. For $22,000, it’s quite the steal. Be aware though, women are pretty savvy when it comes to quality and pricing, so don’t act like you dropped six figures on it.

5. Audi A8

Audi A8

As esquire.com puts it, “its pretty impossible not to be George Clooney or Steve McQueen… when driving the Audi A8.” This beautiful, high-class luxury machine comes with an interior described as “ultra-posh” and it features some incredible handling. The A8 also comes with a range of engines, so you can choose just how much you want to impress, based on your own price range. Just make sure you have the personal charisma to match this car’s attitude.

6. Volvo C70

Volvo-C70-Exterior-Gallery-Image-6-v1

As much as women can become excited by fast, expensive cars and roaring engines, they also love cars that come with many practical features. Think about it; when women purchase cars themselves, statistically they go for more practical cars, especially in comparison to men (perhaps because men are trying to impress?).

Either way, it’s clear that women do find these practical cars enticing, and the Volvo C70 fits perfectly into that class. With this car’s stability control and anti-skid system, remote-controlled alarm and locking system, and dual xenon headlamps, you’ll be glad you spent less than $40,000.

Remember that the car you choose says a lot about your personality to a woman, so while women find these cars attractive, you may want to consider what kind of woman you’re looking for when you decide which one to pick. But whichever of these you choose, you’ll certainly be making huge strides to increase your sex appeal.

Author Bio:
Benjamin Ferguson is a writer in Portland, OR