Welcome to the home of the post-post modern artist, writer, and video maker the Obscure.
Wipe your shoes, clear your mind, and play nice with the other children.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

ML: Of Dancers and Riders

Wait, what is this? A NEW EPISODE? It's been months! Yes, after a long break, I'm back with Season 3 of my critically acclaimed web show. We begin with Memory Lane #39: "Of Dancers and Riders."

Remember Sky Dancers? Remember about Dragon Flyz? Remember being a child and not understanding why you were supposed to play with one toy and not the other? Remember the TV shows based on the toys? Not really? Well, I don't blame you, but I will educate you on the history and cultural impact of such gender-specific franchises based on the same laws of aerodynamics.

WATCH: "Of Dancers and Riders"

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Memory Lane #38: Shrugga Bunch

I love dumb kid's films. They are a great resource of surreal confusion, unintentional comedy, and the hammiest of the ham acting. So of course, I found a lot of joy in the 1982 TV special "The Hugga Bunch."

After Savannah tries to hug me and I react appropriately by screaming, she then subjects me to the forgotten film "The Hugga Bunch." Created by Hallmark and Kenner and produced by Filmworks/Carousel and starring absolutely no one, this movie shows that people who aren't squishy sentimentalists are horrid fire-breathing monsters that need to be killed. So join in the fun and watch Bridget steal resources from a foreign country like a good American!

WATCH "Memory Lane #38: Shrugga Bunch"

Sunday, June 2, 2013

The Obscure Tries World Market Drinks

It's PART 2 of Jamsky and I taste-testing the worldly world market. This time, we try some sodas including the infamous Fenteman's Dandelion and Burdock and Curiosity Cola. Hold your gag-reflexes.

WATCH The Obscure Tries World Market Drinks

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Obscure Tries World Market Food

You ever been to the World Market? Aisles and aisles of stuff from around the world. The theme: the world. Although I tend to get a bit of a late 1800's World's Fair feel from the place: only the weird and freakish things are brought before your eyes in the comforts of a suburban retail big-box store. But it makes for a fun afternoon. The best aspect of the world is the food section.

In this new video, I recruit my comrade Jamsky to try a few of these frugal foodstuffs with me as we tape (or digital capture, whatever) ourselves having a taste-test. It's dangerous eating right here.

WATCH The Obscure Tries World Market Food.

In Part 2, we will try the ever-lovely World Market sodas including Vomit, Vomit Lite, and Sweet Vomit.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Memory Lane #37: "Return of the Station Identities"

About two years ago, I made an educational video about Station Identities and TV Production Vanity Cards. Since then, I've gotten questions/requests/threats/paranoid delusions about doing a follow-up video. But I thought it was far more productive to talk about Power Rangers and Kickstarter Videos.

After months of scouring the Internet for more logo goodness, I have found and completed the long-awaited sequel: Return of the Station Identities. Yeah, not as catchy as the first title "Station Identity Crisis," but I wanted something that was long and difficult to say quickly and a title card that is terrifying! So have a look. Music sampled from the X-Ray Spex again!

WATCH "Memory Lane #37: Return of the Station Identities"

Also, check out the trailer for a short documentary about irrational fears of the Screen Gems logo: "The S from Hell."

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Memory Lane #36: Dino-Dystopia

I'm a huge fan of James Gurney's illustrated book series "Dinotopia". Imagine my surprise in 2002 when I discovered that a major production company was giving Dinotopia the small screen treatment.

"This is going to awesome and not at all suck," I said to all those unfortunate to be within shouting distance.

After part one, my expectations diminished. After part two, my demands felt they might be met. After part three, the finale, I left with a sore taste in my mouth.

"This could have been so much better!" I shouted at my now-vacant shout-radius.

Eleven years later, I'd watch the four-hour behemoth again. As I rounded hour three, I realized I was so not invested. I was far more entertained by reading James Gurney's website. Oddly enough, I find very little mention of the mini-series on his site. Huh...

Well, what better way to express my opinion about this colossal caper than featuring it as my next Memory Lane: Dino-Dystopia. Dinosaurs and humans, magic and adventure! How can this suck?

WATCH "Memory Lane #36: Dino-Dystopia."

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Obscure on GEEKVISION


Announcement time: I am now part of the wonderful site Geekvision! In case you're one of the few people who've never heard of GV, let's just say that it's like regular TV except it doesn't suck. And it's full of nerds rather than just pandering to nerds.

So yay for being on Geekvision! Although considering I am also part of Nerd Vice, you would think that I'm some sort of uncool, niche-obsessed person... but no, why would anyone think that?

Coming soon to the show: more reviews about cartoons, dinosaurs, puppets, and corporate logos.

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Obscure Has a Kickstarter

Please take a moment to watch THIS AMAZING VIDEO about a new project I want to fund. Seeing as how most things in the modern world are done through crowd-sourcing, I figured I could make a few measly half million bucks from you, the crowd. Crowd source! Kickstart my heart! And also, happy April the First! ... but I'm not sure why I brought that up.

WATCH "The Obscure Has a Kickstarter."

Sunday, March 24, 2013

ML: "Clunky Robots & Foam Monsters"

I'm changing pace this week in two ways. First, the subject of Memory Lane #35 is not obscure or under-appreciated. I swear I have not turned into the Mainstream (that guy has his own thing going on). Second, rather than reviewing the material as a self-contained product, I instead focus on my own personal experience with the subject and what it was like to grow up watching a specific show.

So join me on the playground as I discuss with you one of the most popular children's shows of all time: "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." It's "Clunky Robots & Foam Monsters".

Find out why a crazy woman on the moon has such a grudge against a group of South-Cali teenagers.

WATCH"Clunky Robots & Foam Monsters."

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Friday Night Fright Flicks: The Last Exorcism 2

It's Friday night and you feel like checking out the latest slasher/suspense/creature feature, but you're a purist and you have specific tastes in what a horror film should be. Whose opinion can you trust to avoid the devilish duds? Why not check out Friday Night Fright Flicks hosted by Count Jackula and the Horror Guru? The Count and the Guru bring you their honest reviews of the latest scare-fests, sandwiches between their blood-curdling antics.

This time around, however, shit gets wild. Jackula refuses to see "The Last Exorcism 2" (the prequel was apparently called "The Second to Last Exorcism") but the Guru talks him into it. In the end, they are the ones that need an exorcist.

That's where I come in...

So take a look at the newest FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHT FLICKS to hear their in-depth review of this sequel to a found-footage film... and by that I mean watch two stoned cinema-philes argue about Pringles. (The Agony Booth is going to love me for causing this.)

Also watch Jackula's and Guru's individual series:

The Count Jackula Show
&
Blood Splattered Cinema