Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

For years, The Others searched for Jacob, the mysterious god-like inhabitant of the magical island on Lost. Ben Linus was heartbroken that he never received an audience with Jacob. This devastation turned into homicidal rage when Ben finally did get face-to-face with him.

Luckily, we had better luck than Ben did. I’m not sure if we are all candidates or if the island’s savior is just a big fan of pop culture and ridiculous humor, but whatever the case, Jacob himself – Mark Pellegrino – sat down for an interview with HoboTrashcan this week.

I actually brushed up against him in the hallway here at Hobo Headquarters as he was heading in for his interview, which according to the show means I can no longer be killed. So I have that going for me, which is nice.

Here’s what’s new on HoboTrashcan.com this week:

One on One Mark Pellegrino
Mark Pellegrino is such a big deal in Hollywood these days that people who see him on the street just want to walk up and touch him … then again, that could be because his god-like character Jacob on Lost can grant immortality to anyone he lays his hand on. We recently sat down with Pellegrino to talk about playing a Christ-like figure on Lost, being a part of the pivotal rug peeing scene in the cult-classic film The Big Lebowski and his fondness for wiener dogs.

Lost: Down the Hatch – The Safe Word is LaFleur
With Sawyer and Miles staring in their own buddy cop movie, this week’s episode of Lost is simply too big for one man to recap, so Chris Kirkman enlisted the help of Joel Murphy. Together, they tag team “Recon,” offering the expert analysis, in-depth blow-by-blow recap and tasty drink recipe you’ve come to expect from Down the Hatch.

Murphy’s Law – James Cameron wants me to hate him
After Avatar was overlooked at the Oscars, Joel Murphy was ready to stop talking about that film and its director, James Cameron. But the announcements that Cameron will be releasing three different versions of the film and that he will be releasing a 3D version of Titanic is enough to get Murphy back in front of his keyboard.

Outside of the In-Crowd – Duckface is on the loose!
Miley Cyrus has two things working against her right now – bad parents and a duck face. The end of her Hannah Montana show, combined with her bad parents, could be a recipe for disaster. Courtney Enlow is hoping Cyrus’ career fizzles out quickly so that we don’t have another Lindsay Lohan situation on our hands.

Positive Cynicism – Where is all my time going?
Thanks to budget mismanagement in Illinois. Aaron R. Davis has found himself with an abundance of free time lately. What is he doing with all of this spare time? He’s been incredibly productive …. if you considering surfing the Internet, watching Modern Family and playing Mario Kart productive.

Hobo Radio 123 – Lars’ mom has got it going on
We’ve all wondered why Lars has a drinking problem and severe emotional issues. This week, Lars finally opens up. It turns out that many of his issues can be traced back to his mother, who traumatized him by lusting after any ruggedly handsome man with a sweet mustache or a tight behind.

- Hobo Stu

Hobo Stu’s Weekly Recap is also available as an email newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter to ensure you never miss an update, send an email to newsletter-subscribe@hobotrashcan.com.

Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

Here’s what’s new on HoboTrashcan.com this week:

One on One with François Chau
It’s safe to say that anyone subjected to boring orientation videos on the first day of a new job has undoubtedly wished they were watching something half as interesting as the Dharma initiative videos featuring Dr. Pierre Chang. That’s because pockets of energy and time-traveling bunnies beat out retirement planning and breakroom etiquette any day of the week.

Playing Dr. Chang on Lost is François Chau, an actor with nearly 30 years in the business. We recently talked to Chau about working on such a hit show, his bowling prowess and the realization that Dr. Chang is really kind of an asshole.

Lost: Down the Hatch – Do The Right Thing
The one and only Michael Emerson put on an acting clinic this week in the episode “Dr. Linus.” After taking a few moments to praise the man who once described Down the Hatch as “one of the smartest articles I’ve ever read about what goes on on our show,” Kirkman recaps Dr. Linus and shares his theories on what it all means.

Murphy’s Law – Finally, a location for the inevitable Andy Griffith Show remake
A Florida state representative has proposed offering incentives to filmmakers who go to his state to shoot films that promote “traditional family values.” The state rep wants things to go back to the way they were in the good ol’ days. Joel Murphy argues that the good ol’ days really weren’t that good.

Note to Self – A sporting chance
The dramatic showdown between Canada and America in the Olympics had many analysts wondering how hockey could capitalize on the sport’s momentum to bring casual viewers over to the NHL. This week, Brian Murphy argues the NHL is actually better off without these casual fans.

Outside of the In-Crowd – Everyone’s wearing vagina dresses: Liveblogging the Oscars
If you missed the Oscars this year, or if you simply enjoyed them so much that you want to relive them, Courtney Enlow gives you a complete blow-by-blow of the telecast with her patented liveblog. So relive the sights, the sounds and the vagina dresses.

Hobo Radio 122 – Keep your hookers fresher longer
If you love hookers and blow as much as Joel Murphy and Lars, this week’s podcast is one you must listen to. Our dynamic duo offers up helpful tips to get the most out of your hookers and to keep them from going bad for as long as possible.

From the Vault – One on One with Lance Reddick
We may not see Cedric Daniels ever again, but thanks to a memorable run on Lost and a starring role on Fringe, we’ve been seeing plenty of Lance Reddick since The Wire ended. In 2008, as the best show on televison was coming to an end, we talked to Reddick about Lost, Daniels’ overabundance of shirtless scenes and The Wire’s “Dickensian aspect.” If you missed it then, enjoy it now.

- Hobo Stu

Hobo Stu’s Weekly Recap is also available as an email newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter to ensure you never miss an update, send an email to newsletter-subscribe@hobotrashcan.com.

Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

The Academy Awards are this weekend and once again I’ve been passed over for the hosting gig. I can’t believe those Hollywood blowhards think a bunch of nobodies like Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are a better choice than me. What do those guys have that I don’t? They don’t have my sweet dance moves, that’s for sure.

Anyway, if you are still planning on watching the Oscars even though I’m not the MC, make sure to listen to this week’s Hobo Radio podcast to hear Joel and Lars’ extended preview. They break down the major players and share their predictions. It’s a good listen.

Also, make sure to check back on Monday to read Courtney Enlow’s liveblog of the Academy Awards telecast. In fact, starting next week, Outside of the In-Crowd will return to Monday mornings permanently and Murphy’s Law will return to Wednesdays. We know we’ve been shuffling our lineup more than an NBC rep on Adderall lately, so thanks for bearing with us. We are just making sure things are in place to provide you with maximum awesomeness.

Here’s what’s new on HoboTrashcan.com this week:

Lost: Down the Hatch – When The Man Comes Around
This week on Lost, teams were formed, evil head nods were exchanged and baseballs were knocked off tables. Chris Kirkman recaps the phenomenal episode “Sundown,” then shares a tasty drink recipe, a few theories and some relevant song lyrics.

Murphy’s Law – It’s time to shake up Hollywood’s bro-mances
This weekend at the box office is shaping up to be a battle between Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio and Tim Burton/Johnny Depp. Joel Murphy argues that these actor/director pairings are getting stale and he offers a few suggestions on how to liven things up.

Outside of the In-Crowd – 2010: The year of skeevy-ass husbands
2009 was sadly defined by celebrity deaths. While it’s too early to know exactly what 2010’s legacy will be, Courtney Enlow believes it is shaping up to be a year of sketchy husbands. From Charlie Sheen’s inexplicable behavior to Tiger Wood’s sex scandal, Enlow breaks down the skeeviest offenders.

Positive Cynicism – Betty White will host Saturday Night Live, if by “host” you mean “appear in a brief cameo”
Initially, it seemed like Saturday Night Live was giving fans what they wanted to see – Betty White as host. However, it quickly became clear that SNL didn’t trust White to do the heavy lifting, opting instead to do a “women of comedy” episode featuring several guest stars. Aaron R. Davis sees this decision as both foolish and ageist.

Hobo Radio 121 – Expert Academy Award analysis
With the 82nd Annual Academy Awards only days away, movie nerds Joel Murphy and Lars share their thoughts on the major categories and attempt to predict the winners. They have no idea what they are talking about, of course, but their incoherent babbling is at least entertaining. For maximum entertainment value, you can listen to this podcast a second time on Monday and hear just how wrong they were.

From the Vault – One on One with Angela Kinsey
Angela Martin can be a bit uptight. She is the sort of judgmental buzzkill that we’ve all had to deal with in our workplace. But Angela Kinsey, who plays Martin on The Office, couldn’t be more different from her character. Upbeat and bubbly, this Texan was more than happy to sit down and chat with us back in 2006. If you missed it then, enjoy it now.

- Hobo Stu

Hobo Stu’s Weekly Recap is also available as an email newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter to ensure you never miss an update, send an email to newsletter-subscribe@hobotrashcan.com.

Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

It’s really fascinating to see what sets off our writers. Personally, I like to keep a mental note of these triggers – Lady Gaga worship, reshaping hot dogs, George Lopez, etc. That way, if things get boring at one of our office parties, I can just casually mention one of these hot button issues and then sit back and enjoy a nice long rant.

I’ll never forget the Fourth of July party we had a few years ago where Ned Bitters actually had to be hosed down after I mentioned that I was enjoying the Bob Dylan songs being played at an outdoor cafe I went to.

Here’s what’s new on HoboTrashcan.com this week:

Lost: Down the Hatch – Smoke and Mirrors
This week, Chris Kirkman breaks down “Lighthouse.” He examines the names on the island’s lighthouse, share his theories on who may be coming to the island and tracks Jack’s Alice in Wonderland references. Joel Murphy also makes a surprise appearance in the recap to share his thoughts on how Crisis On Two Earths might relate to Lost.

Murphy’s Law – Keep your hands off my wiener
There comes a point in everyone’s life where you have to take a stand to protect that which you treasure most. Joel Murphy has reached that moment in his life. Parent’s groups want to change the shape of hot dogs to reduce their choking risk. Murphy will not stand for this abomination.

Outside of the In-Crowd – The five most unsettling shipper vids on YouTube
The Internet has brought us may glorious things, including shipper vids – videos which cobble together clips from TV shows and movies in a way that creates an unintended relationship between two characters. This week, Courtney Enlow shares five of the most unsettling videos created.

Positive Cynicism – Lady Gaga is not a role model
It’s one thing to be a fan of Lady Gaga’s music and over-the-top persona, but Aaron R. Davis finds certain fans’ take their love of the pop singer to an unsettling level. Davis doesn’t believe that Gaga makes a good role model and encourages fans to look elsewhere for guidance on how to live their lives.

Hobo Radio 120 – ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! ¡Ándale! ¡Ándale!
Hollywood is no stranger to bad ideas. But sometimes, the powers that be in the movie business come up with an idea so bad, you can’t help but wonder what they’re thinking. This week, Hollywood raises the bar for stupid ideas with the announcement that George Lopez will star in a Speedy Gonzalez movie.

From the Vault – One on One with Courtney B. Vance
While most Hollywood marriages crumble and fall, Courtney B. Vance and Angela Basset are still going strong. In 2007, the happy couple published a book called Friends: A Love Story, which gives insight into surviving a marriage under the spotlight. At the time, we talked to Vance to try to find out their secret. If you missed it then, enjoy it now.

- Hobo Stu

Hobo Stu’s Weekly Recap is also available as an email newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter to ensure you never miss an update, send an email to newsletter-subscribe@hobotrashcan.com.

Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

Here’s what’s new on HoboTrashcan.com this week:

Lost: Down the Hatch – Jacob’s Ladder
Chris Kirkman continues his fantastic Lost analysis with a complete look at “The Substitute.” He shares his theories on the names in Jacob’s cave, the Biblical implication of Jacob’s Ladder and the possible identity of the little boy who spoke to MIB. He also recommends tasty bourbons.

Murphy’s Law – Know your POTUS
President’s Day has become nothing more than a day to get off work and buy furniture at discounted rates. Joel Murphy argues that we should use the time to learn more about our forgotten Presidents – guys like Zachary Taylor and Benjamin Harrison. It’s time to know your POTUS.

Outside of the In-Crowd – In favor of Tila Tequila
Tila Tequila may be a train wreck, but thanks to her outlandish Twitter updates, Courtney Enlow believes she is an entertaining one. Enlow shares a few of her tweets and makes the case for enjoying the unstable starlet in this week’s column.

Positive Cynicism – We are the fail
Time and time again on this site, we’ve torn apart pointless remakes churned out by the uncreative powers that be in the entertainment industry. The remake of “We Are The World” may have been recorded to benefit Haiti, but that’s not stopping Aaron R. Davis from blasting it too.

Hobo Radio 119 – It all sucks
In the eyes of Joel Murphy and Lars, Shutter Island, Kevin Smith’s battle with Southwest Airlines and Superman all share one thing in common – they all suck. Luckily, mocking things that they dislike has become the bread and butter of Hobo Radio, so this week our dynamic duo is in rare form.

From the Vault – One on One with Michael Kostroff
It’s ironic that on The Wire, a show focusing on the drug trade in Baltimore, one of the most evil characters is the lawyer who represents the street thugs. But Maury Levy is a smarmy, unapologetic villain who fans love to hate. In 2008, we talked to Michael Kostroff about his character, the show and why he can’t pick out a tomato in peace. If you missed it then, enjoy it now.

- Hobo Stu

Hobo Stu’s Weekly Recap is also available as an email newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter to ensure you never miss an update, send an email to newsletter-subscribe@hobotrashcan.com.