Episode #234: A Free New York Odyssey
First Broadcast: 1/1/01 Episode started 30 seconds early,
cutting off our opening animation and our "Free New York" title.
The obvious reference being to
2001,
the
amazing film
made by
Stanley Kubrick
and released in 1968--not to mention
the novel
by
Arthur C. Clarke published in the same year.
While the
moon base and
orbiting colonies may not be here,
all the other technology seems to be about where those two
men predicted. So, I enthusiastically encourage you to see
the movie (again) and read the book (again), and keep this in
mind: if the astronauts aboard the Discovery--namely
David Bowman, the man who ultimately completes the journey--are in their early 30's around the year 2001, around what year
were they born? That's right, around 1968-1970, thereabouts.
In other words: it's us, the members of
that so-called
generation I dare not name, one of whom goes on to receive
the ultimate knowledge of the universe. Not bad for a bunch
of
slackers, huh? Oh, and yes:
Jump The Shark!
Episode #235: You Can't Fall In Space
First Broadcast: 1/8/01 Episode started at 1:59 AM, with countdown
at 2. Episode also ended early at 2:28 AM.
Well, you can't. Not unless you're pushed, anyway.
Something maybe the creators of
Space Mutts
should have thought
about, but you know; that was back in the days when cartoons
and many other shows
realllly sucked. Of course,
here in the future,
plenty of other shows still
suck, but that's neither here
nor there. Perhaps more
speed-of-light
weirdness will keep me occupied for the rest of the
year.
Episode #236: Space Fungus
First Broadcast: 1/15/01 Episode began at the right point (with our
opening animation at the top) but started at 1:59 AM. Despite this,
the episode was still cut off before our end animation, and ended
early at 2:28 AM.
Oh, you don't know about
the fungus on the Mir space station?
Maybe I shouldn't have brought it up. The way
certain networks
cut up and shorten TV programs is much more interesting. So are
old video games.
Anything but...
him!!!
Episode #237: Straight To Hell Again
First Broadcast: 1/22/01 Transmission started at shortly after 1:59 AM,
with the picture frozen on what looked like our first frame of animation.
Picture remained frozen this way for one minute, until shortly after 2:00 AM, when
it was replaced by a MNN still graphic. The graphic remained on screen
until 2:02 AM, when it was replaced by some unknown program for a few
seconds, then switched to our program in progress, with our episode title
on the screen. This means, of course, our program title and the majority of
our opening animation were cut off yet again. Episode ended late at
thirty seconds past 2:30 AM, and part of our end credits were still
cut off!
The title is where we're headed once more, thanks to
the new king--er, I mean
President--in Washington.
Can it get any worse?
Probably.
Episode #238: Run For Your Lives
First Broadcast: 1/29/01 Episode did not start until 2:03:30 AM, and
cut off our opening animation. Episode ended at 2:32:30 AM.
Now that
the Shrub is in office, all bets are off.
Batten down the
hatches,
secure your personal belongings, and
keep the guard dogs
posted at the door.
Anything can happen now that
the government has
been stolen from the people who allegedly elect it.
Episode #239: We Think This Is A Bad Idea
First Broadcast: 2/5/01 Episode started at 2:00 AM, but started
4 minutes in progress, cutting off all our opening animation and
all our opening credits.
Of course we mean Bush,
Ashcroft,
Norton,
Thompson, the whole deal.
Bad from start to finish. I can't believe I'm going to have to
put up with
this junk for four damn years...
Episode #240: Two Fishmatoes, Please
First Broadcast: 2/12/01 Episode began at about 20 seconds past 1:59 AM,
cutting off our opening animation.
The Fishmato is the term coined by Kim to describe a
genetically-altered
tomato that contains fish genes--two things which were just never meant to
be combined at that level. Also discussed:
Monsanto, their
Roundup herbicide,
and how it's being used to defoliate large portions of
Columbia, with
assistance
from the U.S. Army.
Pleasant topics, huh?
Episode #241: What's All The Fuss About
First Broadcast: 2/19/01 Episode started at 1:59 AM, cutting off our
opening animation.
Yes, Napster!
Lots of mp3's!
Get 'em while you can! Oh, and
Bush is an
asshole for bombing Iraq; and
Giuliani is an asshole for denouncing the
Brooklyn Museum of Art--AGAIN. One more question: Why do
some
congressmembers want to make it legal to
assassinate people?
Episode #242: Everything But A Heart Attack
First Broadcast: 3/12/01 Episode began at about 20 seconds past
1:59 AM, with volume reduced by about 3-5 VU. Episode ended
early during end animation, cutting off our last sentence at 2:28 AM.
Referring, of course, to the current occupant of the vice president's
chair,
Dick Cheney, who seemed to have
everything but a heart attack
when he was hospitalized last week.
The conversation didn't stay
there, moving on to
the stolen election, the CIA, and
the most
recent batch of school shootings in this country. Fun for all ages.