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The Late Movies: The Secret Life of Machines

I love The Secret Life of Machines, a late-1980s series about how everyday machines work. Presented primarily by engineer/cartoonist/artist Tim Hunkin, it's understated, funny, and deeply smart -- a gently curious investigation of how things go. Hunkin wrote about the first series: The two sides of my life - researching stuff in books for the cartoon strip and making things, had made me realise just how much clever human activity in the world can not be explained in words or suit the format of a... READ ON

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Are You Batman? Because "I'm Batman"

In this supercut, we are treated to dozens of people (including Batman) claiming to be Batman. Are you Batman? Am I Batman? I am pretty sure I'm Batman. The more people say the word "Batman," the weirder it sounds. Best of the YouTube comments, from user "clownmonkey": I? used to work at a mental hospital, and there was one patient who used to slink around the halls, hiding in niches and doorways. Then she would leap out and glare into your face and growl, "I'm Batman." Best line reading ever.... READ ON

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Pigs in Space!

Remember Pigs in Space? It was a series of sketches on The Muppet Show parodying Star Trek (and other 60s/70s space-themed TV shows), featuring the adventures of a crew of pigs aboard the Swinetrek. Pigs in Space became so popular that it was used to wake up actual astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia during its second mission. Muppet Wiki tells the story: The height of pop-culture awareness for the crew of the Swinetrek occurred in 1981. As part of NASA's morning wake-up call tradition, by... READ ON

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Inside Aaron Sorkin's Brain

Aaron Sorkin is a fantastic writer of dialogue -- as long as you're okay with listening to Aaron Sorkin talking to Aaron Sorkin through the voices of miscellaneous actors. But really, I do love Sorkin, and I love listening to that endless echoing conversation; it's like Mamet except it actually sounds like people I hang out with. (Yes, I hang out with TV production staff at the Oval Office. All the time.) In this amazing video, superfan Kevin Porter goes deep on "Sorkinisms," the repeating tropes,... READ ON
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"Rainbow Connection," 33 Years Later

33 years ago yesterday, The Muppet Movie made its silver screen debut. Over the opening credits, Kermit played his banjo in the swamp, singing the now-iconic theme song, "Rainbow Connection." The song was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, though it didn't win either; instead it reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, appeared in every subsequent Muppets film, and has been covered dozens of times. And it all started with Jim Henson's voice in a swamp. Let's... READ ON

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"Man of Constant Sorrow," the Blind Fiddler's Tune Everybody Knows

Bob Dylan's first national TV appearance came in March of 1963 on a program called "Folk Songs, and More Folk Songs!" He performed three songs, including "Man of Constant Sorrow," a folk tune from circa 1913, originally recorded by the partially blind fiddler Dick Burnett. Burnett, interviewed late in life, couldn't remember whether he had written the tune, saying: "No, I think I got that ballad from somebody. I dunno. It may be my song." Wikipedia comments on the uncertainty around the song's... READ ON

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"I'm So Happy," the Muppets' Gloomy Ode to Happiness

In this two-minute clip from The Muppet Show, two Whatnots sing a semi-tuneless ode to happiness. In a dusty room filled with cobwebs. Covered, themselves, with cobwebs. It's a pretty grim situation. They're pretty happy guys. So does this song make you happy or sad? It makes me ridiculously happy. My favorite line? "Sometimes he lies in the rain," sung by the pianist. (Via... READ ON

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"Engage" - Star Trek TNG's Ending Scene Montage

Star Trek: The Next Generation had a habit of ending on a positive note, particularly in the first season before those pesky Borg showed up in Season 2. No matter what troubles the crew had seen during their adventure, the episodes generally ended with Picard specifying a new course and then saying "Engage" as music swelled. I recommend this practice the next time you take a road trip: strap everybody in, set a course for Isis III, then say "Engage!" In this video montage, we see the last ten seconds... READ ON

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Jim Henson's Commercials for Defunct Products

Before his success with the Muppets, Jim Henson made hundreds of commercials and short industrial films, often involving early Muppets. Here I've rounded up a few favorites. Wilkins Coffee, 1956-1961 A pair of proto-Muppets (Wilkins and Wontkins) in a series of comically deadly scenarios. Pretty adorable, really -- I'd buy Wilkins Coffee, if it still existed, just to avoid violent death. The Muppet Wiki explains how these came about, and why they're so short (emphasis added): In 1957, Jim... READ ON

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"Game of Thrones" Theme Song 10 Ways

HBO's Game of Thrones has an iconic credits sequence, featuring a theme song composed by Ramin Djawadi. It's weirdly catchy and hummable -- and it's an easy geek test to hum this and see if other people pick up on it. I've collected ten cover versions of the song for your geeky enjoyment. Bundle up: winter is coming. 1. Floppy Drives Eight floppy drives playing in sync. The geekery is extreme. If you like this, check out Phantom of the Floppera. 2. Violin A beautiful... READ ON

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