Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot

NBC Universal and News Corp. launched a new streaming video site, hulu.com, and it features free, advertiser-supported video streaming content of many classic TV shows and movies, etc. While the site is loaded with gems (This WKRP episode jumped out at me right away), I just wanted to showcase the availability of nine episodes of JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT.

Originally called Giant Robo in Japan, it was dubbed, retitled brilliantly and imported to the U.S. in 1969. It features a ten year old boy named Johnny Sokko that has watch that allows him to control a giant robot that battles various monsters and bad guys. He also wears a suit with short pants, but don't let that fool you – he often packs a gun and has a few shootouts with the evil Gargoyle Gang.

Check it out!

I GIVE UP! Part 1

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Here are just some of the reasons for giving up today:

It's a Crime! M.I.A. DVD of the Day: RUCKUS

Two years before FIRST BLOOD told the story of a Vietnam vet killing machine harassed by yokels to the point where all hell breaks loose, there was a movie called RUCKUS, which told the story of...a Vietnam vet killing machine harassed by yokels to the point where all hell breaks loose!

Writer director Max Kleven made the low budget flick with a bunch of friends, and the geniune "hey kids, let's put on a show" attitude makes this a great B movie.

Dirk Benedict, between gigs as Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica and Face on The A-Team, played the shell-shocked vet "Kyle Hanson" and Linda Blair played the female lead, with a great cast rounded out by Richard Farnsworth as the local sheriff and John Ford regular Ben Johnson treating the proceedings with respect. Willie Nelson contributed to the banjo-heavy soundtrack. Playing out like a tongue-in-cheek TV movie of the week version of Rambo, but with stunts that look so suicidal and reckless you can't imagine what maniacs outside of a Hong Kong movie would possibly agree to perform them, it's one heck of a fun movie.

A great company called Anchor Bay put out a DVD of RUCKUS in 2000, but it has since become unavailable.
DVDs on Amazon will now run you upwards of $65.90! Ouch.

It's a Crime! M.I.A. DVD of the Day: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

Bud Spencer is an Italian actor whose on-screen persona often resembled Popeye's nemesis Bluto, and his signature fight move was a hammer-like blow on the top of the opponent's head – which sometimes caused victims to spin around with cross-eyes, fall down unconcious, and even occasionally managed to drive an opponent into the ground like a tent stake (see trailer below).

Bud Spencer's Wikipedia entry

Although he was most often paired with his clear-eyed cohort Terence Hill in spaghetti western comedies, his solo zany medieval action comedy "Soldier of Fortune" is a great romp in which many heads are conked. It sadly isn't currently available on DVD in the U.S., although I did find a region 2 British copy on Amazon.co.uk if you've got a region-free DVD player.

Someone please step up and get around to releasing this absurd gem of a movie here!

Damon Jones' Hairstyle

Cleveland Cavalier guard Damon Jones, who has proclaimed that he is "The Best Shooter in the World" and also gave himself the nickname "Handsome," grew tired of the fauxhawk hairstyle he's been seen in for the past few months, so he announced that his next hairstyle would be one voted on by fans at cavs.com.

Seeing a unique opportunity to use his "handsome" head as a canvas, I submitted photoshop designs of zany hairstyle ideas – and now the voting is over, and one of my designs was the winner:

The design is based on the three-finger "Three on a Platter" salute Damon gives whenever he makes a 3-point shot.
Now we all must wait with bated breath to see if Damon is good for his word and actually shows up on the court with one of the funniest hairstyles in the NBA.

Damon's Website
Cavs Nation

Best Anchor/Report Rapport ever

Jim Ryan and Dick Oliver share their feelings for each other live on the air on Fox 5's Good Day NY.