Hobo Stu

Hello everyone,

I hope you all have something fun planned for this Friday the 13th.

I’m hanging out with my friend Jason. Apparently he wants to play hockey with me, since he just arrived here in a goalie mask. Not sure why he brought the machete though. I guess he couldn’t find a hockey stick.

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

Murphy’s Law – Oh boy, a Bakula-less Quantum Leap
For a Quantum Leap fan like Joel Murphy, the news that they are adapting the franchise into a movie was incredibly exciting … until he found out that, according to the powers that be, Scott Bakula is now too old to reprise his role as Dr. Sam Beckett. This week, Murphy argues that they should reconsider, since Bakula was the heart and soul of the show.

Outside of the In-Crowd – Regretful Adoration Theater: Grease 2
Courtney Enlow is on a mission to go back and revisit movies from her childhood that she at one time loved unconditionally. Some of these movies she continues to enjoy as guilty pleasures, others she now regrets ever having been smitten by. The final movie up for review in “Regretful Adoration Theater” is Grease 2.

Positive Cynicism – An entire movie studio dedicated to flaccidity
When last we heard from Aaron R. Davis’ friend Harlan, he was arguing that all of Steven Spielberg’s movies are really about “conquering or mastering the penis.” This week, Harlan returns with his theory that all of Pixar’s films are truly about sexual inadequacy. Harlan explains his theory while Davis provides a voice of reason in this week’s column.

Hobo Radio 144 – This cookie tastes funny
A research team in Tokyo has created a way to change the taste of a cookie using virtual reality technology. While trying to discover a practical use for such an invention, Joel Murphy and Lars inadvertently stumble upon the greatest prank of all time. It’s an incredibly juvenile and unpleasant prank, but one they just can’t stop laughing about.

- 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 Lauren Stamile
It’s not easy being a home wrecker. Luckily, Lauren Stamile, who has been the wedge between McDreamy and Meredith on Grey’s Anatomy and Jeff and Britta on Community, is so charming and lovable that it’s impossible to stay mad at her for keeping these great television couples apart. We recently talked to Stamile about the medical accuracy of Grey’s Anatomy, the philosophical underpinnings of Community’s finale and the fact that, deep down, she is really an 88-year-old grandmother.

Murphy’s Law – Thinking inside the box
At this week’s press tour, the creator of the new Fox show Lone Star said that comparing your show to Mad Men or Breaking Bad during a network pitch meeting is typically the kiss of death since networks view these shows as low-rated, inferior cable programming. Joel Murphy believes this is what’s wrong with network television these days.

Outside of the In-Crowd – Live every week like it’s Shark Week
Most of the time, when people think of sharks, they think of a Jaws-like scenario where swimmers are being devoured left and right. But once a year, there is a magical time known as “Shark Week,” where we pay tribute to these majestic beasts in a series of TV specials. This week, Courtney Enlow honors Shark Week.

Positive Cynicism – Triceratops (not triceratops)
This past weekend, news broke that John Scanella and Jack Horner, two of the world’s preeminent paleontologists, now claim that the triceratops isn’t a unique species of dinosaur, but is instead a juvenile form of the lesser-known torosaurus. Internet communities are very upset about this latest development, but Aaron R. Davis urges them to chill out in this week’s column.

Hobo Radio 143 – A little less conversation, a little more action
Lawrence Fishburne may be upset right now that his attractive 18-year-old daughter has decided to release a sex tape, but Montana Fishburne is confident that eventually her father “will view it as a positive.” Joel Murphy and Lars, two fans of the actor, do their best to put a positive spin on this for Fishburne this week.

From the Vault – One on One with Jonah Hill
All it took was one small scene in The 40 Year Old Virgin to become a fan of Jonah Hill for life. What’s not to love about a guy who wants nothing more than to be able to buy a pair of hooker boots with goldfish in them? If it really is about the simpler things in life than Jonah’s got it made.

Of course, since that moment when he stole our hearts, Hill has gone on to star in comedy hits like Superbad, Funny People and, most recently, Get Him to the Greek. In 2006, Hill kicked off his boots and sat down with us to talk about life as a writer-turned-actor. 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,

I know it’s only July, but I figured out what I’m asking for for Christmas – an army of gun-toting monkey soldiers.

Hopefully I can be a good boy the rest of the year.

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

Murphy’s Law – When animals attack
A Chinese newspaper recently reported that the Taliban trained an army of monkeys to fire automatic weapons at U.S. troops. Luckily, scientists have since debunked this myth, but Joel Murphy still thinks that animals may be useful on the battlefield, which is why he recommends we train Colorado black bears to drive our humvees.

Outside of the In-Crowd – A house full of lies
Most Full House fans grew up thinking that the Tanners were a perfect television family governed by wholesome values and a healthy appreciation for the importance of cleanliness. However, beneath the surface, the Tanners were much more troubled than we ever realized. This week, Courtney Enlow shows us who these characters really were.

Positive Cynicism – Another journey through the hate mail
Some writers like to take time out of their busy schedules to answer the pleasant messages that pour in from their adoring fans. Aaron R. Davis, on the other hand, prefers to respond to the hate mail he receives. This week, he opens up the big ol’ bag of hate and responds to each insult and personal attack.

Hobo Radio 142 – Oliver Stone sucks at life
Oliver Stone, who is working on a film that will supposedly allow viewers to “walk in Stalin’s shoes and Hitler’s shoes to understand their point of view,” recently claimed that Hitler is an “easy scapegoat,” Stalin was essentially a hero and the reason these facts are distorted is because of the “Jewish domination of the media.” It’s tough to find a silver lining in these hateful comments, but Joel Murphy and Lars have found one – it’s now okay to openly hate Oliver Stone. After years of hating his movies only to have people try to convince them Stone is a misunderstood genius, Joel and Lars will sleep better at night knowing that the pompous director is a terrible person who should be disliked.

- 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:

Murphy’s Law – Don’t quit your day job, Hef
In a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a world where magazines are dying and hardcore porn is readily available at the click of a button, Playboy has launched a safe for work website called The Smoking Jacket. The site finally gives fans a chance to prove that they really do read Playboy for the articles. However, there is just one problem – the articles on TSJ suck.

Outside of the In-Crowd – The madman with a box: In celebration of the Eleventh Doctor
Doctor Who fan Courtney Enlow had a hard time letting go of her beloved tenth Doctor, David Tennant. However, once she gave eleventh Doctor Matt Smith a chance, she couldn’t help but be impressed. Thanks to great writing and great acting by Smith, Enlow fully endorses the first Tennant-less season of the show.

Positive Cynicism – Tumblr, I’m very disappointed in you
Last week, Aaron R. Davis was praising Tumblr for being a cutting-edge social networking site. However, after seeing how the site treated an 11-year-old girl called Jessi Slaughter, Davis couldn’t help but see the dark side of Tumblr. This week, he shares Slaughter’s story and speaks out against the site.

Hobo Radio 141 – It’s French for “The Bruce”
It’s not every day that you see a “video art zombie film” about a man convinced he is an alien zombie roaming the streets of L.A. on the prowl for brains and gay sex. Unfortunately, moviegoers in Australia won’t be seeing the film anytime soon, since L.A. Zombie has been banned from being screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival. This week, Joel Murphy and Lars praise L.A. Zombie for its originality and urge Australia to reconsider.

From the Vault – One on One with Kenneth Johnson
It’s not every day that a celebrity is willing to go on the record and say he could crush Sylvester Stallone. Anyone willing to step up and make that kind of bold statement is our kind of guy. So when Kenneth Johnson, of The Shield and Saving Grace fame, promises he could beat Sly in less than a second, that’s not something we’ll soon forget.

In 2008, we caught up with Johnson to chat about working with one of the biggest names in porn, getting killed off of a major television show and being the second-best arm wrestler in the world. 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,

I don’t usually consider HoboTrashcan to be a scary place, but reading all of the content on the site this week, I can’t help but feel worried. Joel Murphy has me worried that I’m a bad person because I root for villainous scum on TV. Evan Redmon has me worried that giant talking rats are going to accost me the next time I take public transportation. This week’s Hobo Radio podcast has me worried that my marriage proposal to Betty White is a actually bad idea. And, worst of all, Aaron R. Davis has me worried that Prince is right about the Internet being over and soon I will be out of a job.

I’m sure these feelings of fear will pass soon, but for now I’m writing this update on a laptop from under my bed, where I am currently cowering in fear.

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

Murphy’s Law – TV is making me a bad person
Thanks to shows like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos and Dexter, Joel Murphy has begun to wonder if television is slowly turning him into a bad person by manipulating him into rooting for drug dealers, mafiosos, adulterers and even serial killers. This week, he wonders why he roots for these awful people and what exactly it says about him as a person.

Positive Cynicism – But if the Internet is over, how am I writing this?
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, pop music legend Prince declared the Internet dead. Prince, who has been frustrated with the Internet for years, is convinced that it is nothing more than a fad that will soon fade away. Internet columnist Aaron R. Davis begs to differ with the artist formerly known as a symbol.

Guest Blog Post – No complaining
Former HoboTrashcan columnist Evan Redmon returns to the site this week with a special guest blog post. Redmon uses the space to vent his frustrations about a few things that have been irking him lately. First and foremost is the DC Metro, a horrible means of conveyance that is both overpriced and underwhelming.

Hobo Radio 140 – Jodie Foster’s Beaver
It’s been a big week for free speech. First, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals declared that the FCC’s indecency rule, which was put into place after the infamous Janet Jackson nipple fiasco, is unconstitutionally vague. Then, E!’s Marc Malkin, clearly feeling emboldened by the court’s decision, exercised his first amendment rights by posing the question: “How Will Mel Gibson’s Latest Rants Affect Jodie Foster’s Beaver?”

From the Vault – One on One with Bruce Campbell
In 1979, Detroit friends Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell raised $350,000 for their low-budget film, Evil Dead and the rest is history. Raimi, the director of the film, went on to direct three blockbuster Spider-man films and Campbell, the star of Evil Dead, has become nothing short of a B-movie legend.

From scene stealing cameos in all three of Raimi’s Spider-man films to a hilarious series of Old Spice commercials that include him singing a lounge version of “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Campbell’s career continues to soar. In 2007, as Campbell began his run on the USA spy show Burn Notice, he took a few moments out of his busy schedule to talk to us. 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.