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Reader Mail, Volume 2023020

Click 'more' to see the latest batch of reader mail, with the topics ranging on everything from the Incredible Hulk to potatoes. On deck is an episode review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - it's actually one I already reviewed, but it was originally done in July of 2000, and it really sucks. I don't usually like redoing anything I've written about, but this is too good of an episode to pass up on just because I once scribbled three-hundred cursewords about it. It'll be up later today. Now, the questions!

Some more questions from X-E readers, answered as quickly as possible. If you have any inquiries you'd like to see up here, just shoot me an e-mail.

Chaos writes: I have seen the Worst Witch movie four times, while I was not sick or drugged...seriously, my school felt the need to play the thing to me four freaking times. With that said you can understand why I found your worst witch article so hilarious/disturbingly graphic, it drudged up some old trauma that I would have preferred remained buried. However, and I have no idea if anyone has let you in on this yet, but here in Canada, there is an actual worst witch television series, based solely on the material presented in the worst witch motion picture. There is no Tim Curry, and I think the majority of the cast is different, but the production costs are, well, you know the evil dead prequel? Think that, only with maybe an extra twenty bucks. Thought it was my duty to alarm you of this, do what you wish with this information, but use caution, for this shit is horrifically bad.

REPLY: I've gotten boatloads of e-mail over the years about The Worst Witch television series - it really, really sucks, but not in the same fun and cheesy way as the movie. Without Tim Curry wearing the pride hang glider and without Mrs. Garrett wearing a pink wig, there's just no reason to watch it. (read the Worst Witch article here.

Lindsey writes: I was looking at your forum and I read the old 'Flibber's article after someone thought you wrote the book yourself. I can't believe it! I used to have that book and the projects NEVER worked. My damn flibbers were always just shredded up newspaper. They had a project in there that said you could grow a jungle in your room out of a potato and I was naive enough to believe them. It just sprouted and made my room smell.

REPLY: Ha, I tried that 'craft' too. My potato didn't spawn a jungle, but it did turn black and blue. So at least the directions were good if you're ever making an art film about a married pair of potatoes with an abusive husband potato. Potatoes. Potatoes. (read the original review here.

Jason writes: I only recently (couple of months ago) came across your site and have thoroughly enjoyed it! What I enjoy most is that I've actually come across a lot of the stuff you review even before finding your site! I have had a friend that's addicted to Kinder eggs and gets them in Canada on a regular basis. Her ONLY reason for going. That and growing up in the era that most your reviewed items hail from sometimes brings back memories that I just don't need. . . The things I grew up playing with or eating. The things I still have laying around haunting my junk drawer (damn M.U.S.C.L.E guys are still with me and at times I think they're plotting revenge for allowing my Stormtroopers and AT AT drivers to play "kick the baby" with them...)

Anyhoo, I came across this today actually and it is just disturbing the unholy crap out of me. The freakish thing's mesmerizing for some reason. You see, my big thing growing up, and to some degree now still, were comic book based action figures. Mostly, they never were very good, but still got lots of play. I'm picky about my comics, but not the toys. I love 'em. The picture is a prototype for the new Hulk figures they're making for the new movie. Now, its just my opinion, but I do believe this is the scariest toy I have ever seen! And my sister collected Strawberry Shortcake mercilessly. What's scarier. . . I don't want the finished toy. I want this prototype. I can't explain it either; call it morbid fascination, sleep depravation, or that all my action figures ended up with mixed parts anyways and this one COMES THAT WAY! Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand word (or however long this email is). Keep up the awesome job on X Entertainment, here's the picture:

REPLY: Looks pretty nice, actually. I'm not looking forward to the Hulk movie at the same level I was with Spider-Man or X-Men, but I'm sure I'll still be there on opening night. I think Hulk would have to be a tougher project to make 'hip' - my hunch is that they're gonna make it even more tongue-in-cheek than Spider-Man. Otherwise, it could come off pretty poorly. In any event, as for your new favorite figure - I've always wondered if toy sculptors become embarrassed when they get to the figure's groin section. Maybe we should ask the Four Horsemen?

Mike writes: (On National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...) Hi Matt, We have been fans of this movie forever...we watch it each Christmas day and every time I get together with my sister and nephew Matt, even in the summer...when my children were small and my in-laws did not know of the movie I asked my daughter, then just nine, to say grace at the big Thanksgiving dinner, and we went from there...it was hilarious...we decorate the house like Clark, we kick our Santa, we even have a Santa kicking contest, we say, "Real nice" all year long...and on and on....anyway, I found and ordered eight of the moose mugs this year, they should arrive today, and my sister and nephew are coming for Christmas this year for the first time, from Mass. to Okla.,and I want to surprise everyone with the moose mugs and give myself, my son, age 23 and my nephew, age 19, Eddie clothes to wear on Christmas day...I found a place to order the black dickies...I figure I can get the white shoes at a Tux shop...but I don't know where or how I'm going to get the light blue polyester pants and I'm having no luck yet getting the white v-neck sweaters, even Land's End doesn't have that kind of a sweater, so you can see, I need your help...if you know where I can get the pants and the sweaters, please let me know...

REPLY: How would I know where to buy sweaters like the ones Randy Quaid wore in a Christmas movie from 1990? Actually, I do know. But I won't tell you unless you send me a moose mug. I love those things.

Kevin writes: I was reading your review for Basket Case, and I noticed two things were, well, wrong. For one, in the tenth paragraph, you refer to Duane as 'Kevin,'
and for another, in the 'dead body rape' scene pics, you clearly TRIED to cover up the nipples, but missed by about a mile. My question is, HOW THE HELL TO MISS WHERE THE NIPPLES ARE???? Not that I mind, I've seen worse... but, still, it woke me up a little. Now, you're probably not going to fix it, so why did I write to you? Because I want to spam your mail box. Good day.

REPLY: Whoops. I'm pretty sure that's the only nipple shot on X-E, if you discount Hulk Hogan. I'm not sure how I missed them. Maybe it was subconsciously intentional. Porn sells. Even if half the mating party is a puppet of a disfigured Siamese twin. Somebody's gotta have that fetish.

Dan writes: I liked you're summing up on the Daphne Zuniga science fiction monster follow up to THE FLY. My question is: If you've done you're own review of the sequel, then are you making a review of the Goldblum film?

REPLY: I really love both Fly movies - I chose the second for a review because I assumed more people haven't seen it and would thus be a little curious. The difference between the two is that the sequel was an entertaining bad movie, while the first was an entertaining good movie. I own both, so I could review The Fly at any time. I'm sure I will one day, but that's the kind of movie I really want to be on my game for if I'm writing about it. I'd hate to do a shitty review on such a modern horror classic. Everything I'm saying here is bullshit, of course. I just don't want to watch Jeff Goldblum vomit on a Twinkie ever again. (read the Fly II review here.

Naomi writes: I have been an avid fan of X-E for 3 months now; it has rekindled long forgotten memories about aspects of my childhood, plus it is the most interesting site I have ever seen. Keep up the great work and thank you for bringing a humorous, interesting, and all around wonderful site to the net. I have a question for you regarding a television show that originated in the mid 80s amongst the Nintendo hullabaloo. I can vaguely remember the credits. It is a young boy playing his Nintendo when something happens that causes him to go into the "Nintendo" world. I remember the episodes revolved around certain set Nintendo characters with others from the other games having guest appearances. The part I remember most was the huge talking
gameboy that accompanied the main character through his exploits. I know you must get a barrage of emails of day, but if there is any chance you can clear this up I'd appreciate it.

REPLY: Finally, an easy one. That'd be Captain N: The Game Master. Characters from a lot of games appeared - Kid Icarus, Punch-Out, Metroid, you name it. Here, check this article out - it's got Captain N teaming up with Link and Zelda - click here.

Steph writes: I didn't think your comic was too bad. I'd say you could do worse. But then I'm pretty biased towards anything involving the Silver Surfer.

REPLY: I told you guys not to challenge me - I can surely do worse.


See?

Tricia writes: I just had to mail, I saw an advert for NADS on a shopping channel - yes u got it I have no life - I missed the telephone number so went on the net to see if I could find it. Your page made me pee myself laughing - BUT does it work?

REPLY: Making people urinate is definitely the opus. As for your question - I didn't like wax myself or anything, but I'd have to say that this is a pretty poor product. PPP, for short. You'd essentially be doing the same thing if you rid yourself of hair by applying strips of electrical tape to your legs and ripping the strips off as hard as you can. Nads does have an advantage though - you can't eat electrical tape.

More later!

Posted by Matt on 11/15/2002. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 96 comments

i always thought thwe contestants on kids gameshows mustve been dropped on their heads shortly after birth.

they were so dumb.

Chestnuts roasted by tin man, man. @ 11/20/2002 5:24 AM


What about M.A.S.K.? Anyone remember that show? I loved that show. Sort of like transformers but not really because they wore masks and they each had their own vehicle that could transform into another vehicle. Like the helicoptor/jet combo or the motorcycle/helicoptor combo. That show and the original Voltron with the lions owned.

How about a quick unscientific poll. Let me know which Voltron you preferred – the original 5 lion Voltron – form feet and legs…. form arms and body… and I’ll form… the head! (or something like that) or the "go-bot" Voltron where all the little cars and planes and ships formed Voltron. Let me know what you think

Chestnuts roasted by Sloth @ 11/20/2002 1:02 PM


OK does any one here remember…….DANGER MOUSE!!!! he was the one who spawned off Duckula and Banana Man! Comeon penfold the hamster is my god!

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 11/20/2002 2:12 PM


Going back to the Degrassi Junior High topic. I thought all the fans of that show would get a kick out of this site I found. Talk "aboot" nostalgia overload. I think any fan of the series will enjoy, or be repulsed, by the memories this site conjurs up. Be afraid… be very afraid!

Enjoy kids!

http://www.degrassi.ca/index3.html

Chestnuts roasted by Sloth @ 11/20/2002 2:36 PM


There’s a song by the Dead Milkmen called "I’m in Love With a Girl Named Spike" that I downloaded a while ago. Funny shit, that.

Chestnuts roasted by Nemesis @ 11/20/2002 4:56 PM


I think they continue to play Degrassi episodes on one of the stations here. Serious. All 3 or 4 of the series, from Kids of Degrassi St, to Degrassi Jr High, to Degrassi High. They also play the new series, which is based around Spikes daughter. Just as a note it wasn’t snakes kid, it was this other guy who’s name I forget who did a bunch of acid one show and jumped off a bridge and fucked his brain all up. Snake was friends with Joey, he was the tall blonde one who is now principal on the new show. Wheels was the one who got all drunk, went driving and killed some people, or crippled someone, something like that. Canadian’s don’t really say aboot, thats all lies. Trust me, I say ABOWT not Aboot. Oh well, y’all. Freakazoid was awesome. Gargoyles was awesome for the first few seasons, but then they went to that Island and it sucked the series right into the shitter.I also remember Pirates of Darkwater, but rememeber thinking it was lame. How about the old D&D cartoon…haha…whoops.

Chestnuts roasted by Slait @ 11/20/2002 10:35 PM


Yes the kids on those old Nick game shows were really dumb. I think they just went on to be popular and didn’t even care about what the show would be like.

There’s a channel called Nick GAS that shows a lot of those old game shows. The contestants on Nick Arcade were particularly inept. You’d think the fact that the word "Arcade" was in the title would indicate that some video gaming skills would be required,but the contestants were usually incredibily pathetic. My particular favorites are the contestants who avoid the enemies altogether in the video challenges, or can’t seem to do anything except jump up and down. Last night’s example "Your mission for Sonic the Hedgehog is to get 25 rings in 30 seconds" The idiot then proceeds to completely avoid the rings.

Overall, the channel is good for nostalgia and a good laugh at the idiocy of the contestants, but I still think the greatest channel was the Sega Channel. I hope there’s a PS2 channel in the near future…….

Chestnuts roasted by Paco S. Loco @ 11/21/2002 2:49 AM


dude, just read your review or rainbow brite’s visit to the zoo… scary. just thought you might like to know, rainbow brite didn’t just have a red headed boyfriend. she also had a boyfriend with blue hair. (they looked just alike except for the hair and outfits.) i’m pretty sure she also had a lesbian lover with orange hair and a southern accent. not quite as scary as mrs. garrett with pink hair and a texas accent, but, still not bad. i think they can be found in "rainbow brite and the star stealer," which is easier to find than most old he-man cartoons.

btw, you are a genius, and i want to have your baby.

Chestnuts roasted by brien @ 11/22/2002 9:33 AM


I presume that you are American because you talk of things like Movie Licence Cereal, but you speak of things like Tim curry in The Worst Witch that logic dictates should never have been transmitted out side of the UK. How do you know such stuff!!!?

Tell me, have you seen any episodes of an english D&D style gameshow called Knightmare? I hope you have. Knightmare.com has details about it that I could never do justice. If you have never seen this I recommend getting hold of a few off of the Knightmare Trading Post website. You could do some wickedly harsh reviews as many of the people who were on the show died in many stupid ways and were crap. The early shows were better. But any show where you get to put a giant hornéd helmet on a small child while Goblins and psycho monks tried to cut their skin off unless they had the right password or a S-H-I-E-L-D spell is top notch in my lexicon.

also some Red Dwarf Episodes would be cool.

Chestnuts roasted by Andrew J @ 11/22/2002 11:06 AM


Um…strawberry shortcake is a little freaky b/c that dirty old man is after little girls that smell like food. That My little pony review reminded me of that. Just thought i’d share and maybe get a review of strawberry shortcake or popples soon.

Chestnuts roasted by Kennef @ 11/22/2002 1:26 PM


I can’t tell if the "Classic Nickelodeon" conversation is done or not, but I loved these old shows: salute your shorts, out of control, ycdtot, hey dude, and pinwheel.

Luckily, I have 6hrs of Pinwheel on tape. It rocks! If anyone is interested in it, let me know.

Chestnuts roasted by John @ 11/22/2002 1:57 PM


Well, I’m not really sure what everyone has against Pinsky from Salute Your Shorts. The dude was obviously superior that ol’ Mikey. It was blatantly clear that he could have had any girl in the camp, ESPECIALLY Dina. All Michael could get was Z.Z. or MAYBE Telly. ANYWAYS, I too remember casting the roles of Salute Your Short’s characters to fellow classmates. It was probably around 7th grade or so. Fond, disfigured memories. I heard mention that Nickelodeon has ‘no good shows on anymore.’ Have you seen Invader Zim? In my opinion, it surpasses some of the greats in comedy, such as Rocko or Ren & Stimpy. Check it out if you haven’t seen it! I read the review of ‘The Worst Witch’ and horrible memories arose. Tim Curry scares me. I hate that part in Home Alone 2 when he smiles like the Grinch. It sends tingles. Anyways…have any of you heard of ‘The Wickedest Witch?’ It starred the actress who played Blanch on the Golden Girls with Muppet-esque gargoyle-type creatures called ‘Grievals’ who loved game shows or something. It aired on (I think) NBC years ago and I have it taped, but I haven’t watched it in ages. I remember it being fairly entertaining…I think…or I may just be insane. Who knows.

This site is one of my very favorites! Keep up the EXCELLENT work, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by EtHM @ 11/23/2002 1:19 AM


ok, while we’re on the subject of old tv shows, i’ve just thought of one of my favorite cartoons as a kid. i can’t actually think of the name, or anything (yes, i know i said it was a "favorite" but when i tell you the subject matter, names just aren’t important). it had dinosaurs that shot guns, and people rode them. there were evil dinosaur-riding gun people, and the nice ones. the only other thing i can remember about this show is that i’m pretty sure the bad dinosaurs (one of ‘em was a trex) had bright red eyes when they were shooting guns and such. could anyone help me out and hook me up with a show title?

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff @ 11/25/2002 1:41 PM


Jeff,

A shot in the dark here…Dino Riders?

Chestnuts roasted by Nemesis @ 11/25/2002 8:21 PM


Yes, the show where they rode dinosaurs was indeed Dino Riders. Matt reviewed it a while back from the video tape that is peppered with Tyco toy commercials. The show had great potential, with Charlie Adler (master voice talent) along for the ride, but I only remeber the pilot ep. from that same tape. Incidentally, IMDb lists the show, and they also recommend ("if you like this title") Leprechaun 4: In Space. But WHY?

The dino show I was talking about earlier I just found out was called Dinosaucers. I loved that show. No forthcoming explanation.

Chris: Danger Mouse spawned Duckula, not vice versa (Duckula was a villain on DM – ‘oh, crumbs!’).

EtHM, yes you are insane. But you are so far the only other poor soul who has brought up Invader Zim, so I’ll forgive that. Zim fuckin’ rocks and is the funniest show currently airing on TV (with the possible exception of the Adult Swim lineup).

Chestnuts roasted by Al @ 11/26/2002 2:14 AM


TURTLES.
Why – in Europe, where they the Teenage Mutant HERO Turtles and not NINJA Turtles? This has baffled me from an early age. Please…someone…explain…

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 11/28/2002 12:40 PM


help me out here. it was an NBC show, early nineties i guess, i cant rmember what it was called, part fo the saved by the bell saturday morning lineup. the show was about a co-ed boarding shchool and the antics that went on. i remember the school mascot being "the middle feild onions" any info on this?

Chestnuts roasted by Lexi @ 12/26/2002 11:39 PM


God, I’m so glad there are people who remember the same kid shows I do! My sisters think I’m crazy half the time when I mention this stuff….

"Danger Mouse" was my introduction to British humor. How could you not love a show where the narrator stops to comment on the surreal plots or crack bad jokes?

My parents hated "You Can’t Do That On Television," but my sisters and I loved it to death. I can still recite the most famous quotes… "Water!" "I don’t know." (Look at the sky and check for falling slime.) "Aaaahh…I heard that!" And, my personal favorite, "What do you think’s IN THE BURGER?"

"Square One" was one of my favorite shows in the early 90s. I loved "Mathnet." Tough Kate Monday, sensible Pat Tuesday, and silly George Frankly were good for a laugh and a lesson in the one school subject I still suck at to this day.

"Out of Control" was a long-time favorite. I liked Herb the slimy car-salesman-type guy (don’t ask – I still have this thing for 80s sleazeballs).

I never got into "Pete and Pete" and "Ren and Stimpy" – both were too weird for me as a kid. I’d probably at least appreciate the latter more now that I’m older.

The early 90s Nick shows ("Hey Dude," "Salute Your Shorts," "Welcome Freshman") just did not appeal to me at all. "Freshman" was a bit too soap-opera-y. I forget why I never got into the other two.

Didn’t get to see a lot of "Clarissa Explains It All," but what little I did see was very cute. I loved her talking to the camera, and her guy friend coming in through the window.

"Today’s Special" was another favorite. I looked it up at Amazon.com last spring, and there are some episodes availble for sale (or were, anyway). I loved Muffy the Mouse and her frilly little apartment, and Jeff and his wonderful dance numbers.

Oh, god, I LOVED "The Pirates of Dark Water!" I’m a fan of swashbuckler and pirate movies, so this was right up my alley…and my sister’s a fan of fantasy, so this was one of the few shows we’d watch together without starting a war over who got the remote control first.

"Voltron" kicked ass. I preferred the red one. I always loved anything red, or anyone who had red hair or fur. It was (and is) my favorite color.

Don’t remember "My Secret Identity," though I must have seen it at one time…

I remember the MC Hammer cartoon. Wish I didn’t. It was pretty bad….but the New Kids on the Block cartoon was worse.

I’ve always enjoyed every incarnation of "Where In the…is Carmen Sandiego?", and the game show (which conviently ran after "Square One" in the early 90s) was no exception. I rock at geography. Trivia: The woman who played The Chief, Lynne Thigpen, recently passed away of cancer.

The quasi-future-with-fairy cartoon was "Kidd Video," one of the stranger 80s attempts to cash in on fads (music videos, in this case). All I remember was that it was weird as hell, and I had a crush on the curly-haired guy for a time.

I adored "Muppet Babies." I’d probably still watch it if CBS was running it. It was one of the best of the 80s toons. Baby Fozzie was my favorite. My parents still call bad jokes "Fozzie jokes" or "tomato jokes."

Alas, I missed classics like "Earthworm Jim" and "The Tick" – my family didn’t have cable in the mid-90s, so I only know what I’ve heard.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 08/19/2003 2:23 AM


I’ve been trying to find the name of the gun shooting dino riding toy cartoon show forever. Just yesterday I was looking at a collection of an illustrators work, and there was a box for the toys. It said "Dinosaurriors" though. I don’t know if this was a previous name for Dino Riders or what. Anyone know if they’re the same thing?

Chestnuts roasted by rob @ 12/09/2003 4:14 PM


Maybe you all can help me there was a show on nickelodean where people got slimed and there were skits and stuff kindof like All That what was that show called???? I too love "donkeylips" he is actually a friend of mine, I met him on vacation in mexico he will be excited to hear all the cool stuff people said about him!!!

Chestnuts roasted by MPH'sgirl2004 @ 09/07/2004 12:52 PM


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