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09/17/2006: New Pitch Black & Old Shocktober Ads!


Welcome to the second week of X-E’s Halloween Countdown. Oh, the times we’ll have. Let’s kick it. You’ve heard the rumors, and the rumors are true: Mountain Dew Pitch Black IS BACK. Sort of. It’s back in ICEE Freeze form. This isn’t as big of a cause for celebration as a legit Mountain Dew Pitch Black III in cans & bottles would’ve been, but it’s something, and it’s allll good. Read all about it!

It got really hot this weekend. If the sun doesn’t knock it off and let the leaves do their orange thing, I’m going to beat it up.

Oh, remember my tribute to former NY television station WPIX’s old Shocktober events? If not, and you don’t feel like reading a two-year-old article, I’ll summarize: What later became the WB Network in New York was formerly WPIX, a mostly identity-less station that managed to stay relevant with its weekday afternoon airing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and reruns Saved By The Bell. The station also ran popular-but-obsolete movies on a regular basis, but nothing was as cool as their “Shocktober” events, where horror/slasher/spooky films were broadcast with all the good parts and dirty lines cut out almost nightly.

If you want to know more about Shocktober, read the old article, but new for today’s post are two of the movie-specific promos that fell under Shocktober’s umbrella. In the original article, I talked about the Shocktober kickoff ad. Here are some of that ad’s children…


A lot of people like The Gate, and they should, because the movie holds up with equal levels of nostalgic and horror appeal, kind of like the less good-looking cousin of The Lost Boys. The Wraith was more of a science fiction film, and a pretty poorly received one at that. Both movies came off looking aces in their Shocktober promos, because Shocktober promos were AWESOME. They used WPIX’s standard voice-over guy, but that guy had range, and knew how to make something sound creepy even if it really wasn’t.

I have such fond memories of those long ago Shocktober months. Sometimes I’d watch ‘em alone, sometimes a few friends and I would feel all privileged by being able to both stay up late and watch scary movies. Some of the movies were better than others, obviously, but as every commercial break was littered with Hallmark Halloween commercials and promos for other Shocktober movies, who cared?

Click here to download the Shocktober promo for The Gate.
…or here for The Wraith.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 92 comments

Oh damn that rocks. Sad about no PB3, but I’ll take what I can get. The video was an awesome touch :D

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 09/17/2006 7:02 PM EDT

…I liked Career Opportunities!

Ghosted by Katherine @ 09/17/2006 7:02 PM EDT

Hey now, I actually saw it in theaters! Yes, I am one of the three!

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/17/2006 7:04 PM EDT

Pitch Black, we hardly knew ye – rest in piece, my grapey friend. Even if you only showed up in Canada for like a week, you bastard.

Ghosted by Roadblock @ 09/17/2006 7:23 PM EDT

Interesting observation about the Mountain Dew Pitch Black flavor of ICEE. I checked the ICEE corporate site, and there is abso-frickin-lutely no mention of either Mountain Dew or Mountain Dew Pitch Black anywhere on the site. I did, however, discover that there are 5 different locations within a 5-mile radius of my house where I can obtain an ice-cold ICEE treat.

Ghosted by Jeff @ 09/17/2006 7:26 PM EDT

Holy god those Pitch Black ICEEs are awesome. I had one on my last trip to Target and it was holy and good. Sad to see there won’t be a Pitch Black III, though. The ICEE is amazing but it’s just not the same as having a 12 pack of Pitch Black in the fridge.

On a slightly related note, am I the only person that always accidentally types “Mountain Dew Bitch Black”? It’s like my brain refuses to believe I could type a word ending in “itch” without swearing.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 09/17/2006 7:30 PM EDT

hey, im a target team member, and target makes sure that the icee flavors they sell are exclusive to target. That and the fact that every part of the store “decorates” for the season…so look for red and green icee’s soon! Christman begins November 1st in a Target near you.

Ghosted by kevo @ 09/17/2006 7:39 PM EDT

Wow, it’s funny hearing about the wraith on here. I picked that up in the $5 bin at wal mart and was shocked at just how bad it was. I was also shocked that it was rated PG-13 yet had frontal nudity and downright horribly bad acting on Charlie Sheen’s part. It should have been rated R just for the crappy acting and dialogue. Scary stuff

Oh well, I guess if I was gonna hear about that movie anywhere it would be on this site.

Ghosted by TC Falcon @ 09/17/2006 7:41 PM EDT

Kevo – Does that mean the Freezes are a Target-exclusive ICEE, or just a Target-exclusive?

Also, I’ve finally given the blog its complete hallo makeover, along with the main page.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/17/2006 7:46 PM EDT

Target-exclusive ICEE…you will only find it at Target

Ghosted by Kevo @ 09/17/2006 7:56 PM EDT

I’m diggin’ The Gate, and The Wraith! I have never heard of either, but now I just gotta see em’ I’ll add that to my list of, Things I Never Thought I Would Want To See Or Do, But Now I Need To Because Of X-Entertainment!

Ghosted by IHAQ @ 09/17/2006 8:02 PM EDT

Heh, it’s great to know I’m not the only one who avoids places where you’ll run into old classmates, or anything that’s been “tainted with thoughts of beer pong and “shocker” hand gestures”.
Nice seeing the Halloween mood spread to the blog. :)

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 09/17/2006 8:04 PM EDT

OK, this seems a little off to me. Review these 2 quotes from our beloved blogmaster:

“I hate grape soda. Like, you could hold a vial containing the cure to my rare disease against my face and offer it to me only on the condition that I drink a glass of grape soda, and I’d still sit there and die because, well, no fuckin way dude. ”

“Mountain Dew Pitch Black IS BACK. Sort of. It’s back in ICEE Freeze form. This isn’t as big of a cause for celebration as a legit Mountain Dew Pitch Black III in cans & bottles would’ve been, but it’s something, and it’s allll good.”

Contradict yourself much? Mountain Dew Pitch Black is GRAPE soda. Please explain.

Ghosted by Hazzard @ 09/17/2006 8:15 PM EDT

Ah yes, but I also added:

“Granted, the taste was secondary to just knowing what I was tasting, but a Halloween without Mountain Dew Pitch Black is like a Thanksgiving without turkey.”

But I’m not above contradicting myself for the sake of being excited. :)

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/17/2006 8:16 PM EDT

Bummer about the Pitch Black Icee; I have no idea where the Target around here is.

One of the advantages to living in southern New Jersey is most local cable companies pick up the independant (former WB and UPN) stations for both Philadelphia and New York. I have fond memories of the “Shocktober” commercials, though I would have avoided the movies myself, not being a horror fan by any stretch of the imagination. The commercials themselves were pretty nifty, though, with their wavy fall-colored graphics.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 09/17/2006 8:36 PM EDT

Matt,

Will there be a Halloween contest this year? (Last year’s “Draw a horror icon doing a normal task” contest for example).

Ghosted by Cotter @ 09/17/2006 8:53 PM EDT

Hey everyone….after a month of no computer, I’M BACK!

Now pretend you missed me.

Ghosted by Mars @ 09/17/2006 8:56 PM EDT

I LOVE the Gate! It is an amazing horror movie.
The Halloween Design is awesome Matt.

Ghosted by Joker @ 09/17/2006 9:02 PM EDT

Hey Starwenn, they just opened a target in Millville, NJ and theres also one in Depford and Mays Landing. I dont know how far south you are. im in ocean county

Ghosted by kevo @ 09/17/2006 9:03 PM EDT

I SAID, pretend you missed me!

Ghosted by Mars @ 09/17/2006 9:05 PM EDT

Hey, the date on the battery in the “Count Duracula” commercial said “JAN 92.” Considering the claim that the batteries could be stored for three years, that makes the ad from either 1989 (me birth year!) or 1990.

Ghosted by Der Super @ 09/17/2006 9:08 PM EDT

Good old Mars, always joking about… and the whole career thing he/she has… and the Marscurse, that too. Good to have you back Mors.

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 09/17/2006 9:22 PM EDT

YAY!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!1!1!!! Its Mars!!!!!!!! Mars is back, how have you been! Where have you been?

Ghosted by IHAQ @ 09/17/2006 9:33 PM EDT

ICEEs better than Slurpees? that’s blasphemy.

Ghosted by dylan @ 09/17/2006 9:34 PM EDT

I was just thinking about Pitch Black yesterday… I have a couple cans of PB2 leftover from last year, but on two of them, the soda ate through a little spot, half of the can leaked out, and then the soda coagulated and stopped any further spills. Very strange.. Strange and evil!

When I read the title for this entry, I was *so* sure you were going to say PB3 was announced. :( I’ll have to attempt to find the icee version when I go to a Target other than my most local one, which is remodeling and totally behind on having cool things.

Ghosted by Christine @ 09/17/2006 9:40 PM EDT

After reading about the Pitch Black Icee I absolutely had to hop in the car and get myself a Slurpee. I got pulled over on the way back and totally got a ticket. Oh well…I guess $131.59 Slurpee is worth it, though:)

Ghosted by Tommy @ 09/17/2006 9:52 PM EDT

I can’t watch the video… boo.

Ghosted by broomstickjockey @ 09/17/2006 9:56 PM EDT

Just yesterday I remembered a post that someone made about getting a Pitch Black Freeze, and I couldn’t for the life of me remember who it was, or which thread, so, seeing this article is the highlight of my week!

I’ve never even stepped foot into the Target food court, but it looks like I will be visiting the unfamiliar territory very soon. :D Thank you sooooo much, Matt! The Halloween-ness definitely just got jacked up a good 500 notches.

Ghosted by Ryane @ 09/17/2006 9:59 PM EDT

Hey That “wraith” movie has that girl from charles in charge in it! I should get a netflix subscription after I move on october 10th. I am moving into a great place. They actually have (I don’t know if a lot of places do this and I will probably be amused the first 2 weeks but then have watched all of the decent yet out of date movies) free rentals. You go down to the lobby and there is on an entertainment center a bunch of dvd’s (some VHS but mostly dvd’s thank god) and you pick one up and give it to the receptionist and she gives you the movie. 24 hours later you return it. Is this common? I don’t remember the movies there but I am assuming they are mostly family friendly, out of date ones that you would find in the libary.

On wednesday (my payday) I am TOTALLY getting a pitch black!! I saw them on thursday I believe and said I am getting one when I get paid but whateva Matt does we all havta do so I am totally getting one. Yeah. AND HEY MARS HOW ARE YA?!??

Ghosted by Goob @ 09/17/2006 10:06 PM EDT

I usually ignore the concession stand at Target, but now that I know there’s a Pitch Black Icee, I’m SO getting one.

I went to Taco Bell last week and they still have that MD Baja Blast. It’s not bad.

Never heard of The Wraith (although I do watch Stargate Atlantis :) ), but The Gate is one of those movies I’ve always wanted to see, but for some reason or other never did. That would make a good survey question. What movies have you wanted to see but never had. Since we’re in the Halloween spirit, I’ll limit my list to horror/sci-fi.

The Original Star Wars Trilogy in any form (only seen clips here and there).
Halloween
Exorcist
Evil Dead 2 (I’ve seen the other two)
The Gate
House movies
Blair Witch Project
The original Trilogy of Terror (watched 2 the other week)
The only Hitchcock movie I’ve seen is The Birds and it’s sequel.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (in fact, the only classic Universal monster movie I’ve seen is Dracula. It’s ok)
Sci-Fi films from the 50s (Day the Earth Stood Still and it’s ilk)
Arachnophobia

I’m sure there’s more I’m not even listing.

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 09/17/2006 10:06 PM EDT

Icee? Why no Pitch Black-flavoured Slurpee? Now that I’d be willing to get excited about…

Ghosted by Retro_Playback @ 09/17/2006 10:07 PM EDT

Matt, is the Target you visited for the Pitch Black across the street from Menlo? If so, I was there on Saturday. I don’t know if that’s the day you went, but if it was, you may have seen me. I was the one accidentally buying plain Halloween M&Ms instead of peanut Halloween M&Ms. LAME.

Ghosted by Hey I'm Jeff @ 09/17/2006 10:39 PM EDT

And in my excitement, I forgot some stuff.

I have to agree about ICEE’s being better than Slurpee’s. When I was growing up, I hardly ever got a Slurpee, because we hardly ever went to 7-11. Now, K-Mart, we were there every damn week. I still think they are better – it’s like they are more mouth-friendly and have much more flavorful goodness, or something.

I dunno if I ever saw the original Gate, but I just dug through all of my old movie stubs I’ve kept over the years, and here’s mine for Gate 2. I saw it on March 2, 1992 at 7:50pm with a handful of my hoodlum friends. I remember liking it.

Wow, I saw Freddy’s Dead at the theater?? I don’t remember that! :?

Ghosted by Ryane @ 09/17/2006 11:02 PM EDT

JLAJRC I’d say you have some work ahead of you. That’s a serious list-

Ghosted by Joker @ 09/17/2006 11:06 PM EDT

I prefer Slushee’s because they have Blue Raspberry.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 09/17/2006 11:10 PM EDT

Channel 11 back then was one of the main influences in my young life in NYC. I remember shocktober vividly. Even earlier, 84-85 or so, I remember they used to play kung fu flicks, old horror movies like the blob, and great random stuff. Channel nine was great as well, especially when Stern had his show on.
good times…

random question: does anyone remember an early Fox show, it was a comedy set in a post apocalyptic world, I seem to recall a big ant attacking them. also, an early 80’s horror movie dealing with creatures (maybe aliens?) that come out of a familys television, and attack. I remember a big eye monster. I have my little sketch books from when I was 5 or 6 where I drew the monsters, but cant for the life of me remember the title.

Ghosted by jesse @ 09/17/2006 11:13 PM EDT

OOPs it was called, Jesse. If anyone has OnDemand, watch this movie on Encore OnDemand called Lipstick and Dynamite Piss and Vinegar.

It’s a documnetary of Moohlah and Mae Young and these old lady wrestlers..its sooooo good!

Very fascinating movie and a great way to kill a boring Saturday afternoon

Ghosted by mandy_Reeves @ 09/17/2006 11:36 PM EDT

Mountain Dew Pitch We Need to Recycle Old Ideas and Make them Fun Again (Black)?

I know I’ll end up drinking 1(4534523425623) very soon.

Off topic, today at work (record store) I found MUPPETS ON VINYL. this is some hilarious stuff. Album art and tracklistings are in my blog. You’ll be surprised. Especially with song titles like “Good Things Happen in the Dark” and “Tit Willow”.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Ghosted by brianfax @ 09/17/2006 11:45 PM EDT

hahahahaha 2005 xmas side bar on the home page?!

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 09/18/2006 12:31 AM EDT

Hmmm…if you’re seeing Christmas, do a hard refresh. :)

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/18/2006 12:36 AM EDT

I was just at Target TODAY and didn’t pay attention to the Freezees…Oh well.

And they only had 2 Jones Soda Cans! Candy Corn & Berried alive, the 2 I had last year! But there was lots of boxes of candy out the wazoo (like 10 box of 10 packs of Orbit Gum and the 90 box of Airheads which are usually found at Costco) I’ll go to the other one near me tomorrow or so…

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/18/2006 12:57 AM EDT

Costco carries cases of Dunkaroos. i have proven this fact. seeing as last year i ate an entire case of dunkaroos.

mmmmmm….

Ghosted by brianfax @ 09/18/2006 1:00 AM EDT

I seen Dunkaroos at a place we have here called grocery outlet. That is one of the reasons why I love grocery outlet (and I am moving really close to one!) you get the opprotunity to buy obscure stuff. I didn’t get any though I think I was on a tight budget, so tight I couldn’t buy cookies with a kangeroo on the box. Oh well the future is bright!

Ghosted by Goob @ 09/18/2006 1:42 AM EDT

Target should pay you…after I saw your jones soda blog I ran down there and bought it all!!!

P.S. Candy corn is way gross

Ghosted by super_dex @ 09/18/2006 5:13 AM EDT

I just needed something to add to JLAJRC’s “survey.” Only one movie comes to mind with me: Anchorman. I was supposed to see it with a friend but I had work and he ended up going without me. Bastard. I still haven’t seen it, and the only part I’ve ever watched is the famous fight scene between the news teams, which is hilarious

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/18/2006 7:50 AM EDT

Anchorman’s hilarious! Apart from the Ben Stiller cameo, there is a Bear Pit Scene, and watch out for “Afternoon Delight”. I mean, really, really watch out! Bwahahahaaa!

We don’t get slurpees, icees, dunkees or anything here in the Southernmost African Country. Major downer. Of course MacDonalds tastes like cardboard to me, kfc makes me nauseous and I can’t afford Mars Bars, dammit, so killing time (last hour of work) by looking at this site just makes me even hungrier! I’ll have to try get some Cadbury Dream mousse, yummiest in the world and the company was founded by Quakers, little-known fact.

Er, what was the thread again? Oh yes: Mars! Welcome Back Mars! Happy to see ya, Mars! I wasn’t here for a year either so I dunno who you are, but welcome back anyway! :D

Ghosted by arete @ 09/18/2006 9:15 AM EDT

Target was the setting for 95% of the terrible 1991 film Career Opportunities I have a new movie to look for!
Not that I expected it to, but I am dissapointed that know I know your target looks exactly the same as mine. It would be great if they could add regional flair, or something. There is a target in seattle that’s 2 floors with an escalator for your cart.
(YAY Mars is here)

Ghosted by kb @ 09/18/2006 9:38 AM EDT

kb, replace “Target” with Wal-Mart, and you got the one in the mall close to me. Everyone’s so amazed of the Shopping Cart escalator.

Like everyone else posting now, I’m just killing time between classes (the class I usually have now got cancelled). So I’m coming up with a survey of my own:

What would an X-E-opoly consist of? The Spaces, the cards, the utilities, the tokens, etc. Will there be a Photog token? Will The Blog cost $400?

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/18/2006 9:49 AM EDT

“Collective Grape Tears” is a good name for a band.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 09/18/2006 9:54 AM EDT

I have been addicted to this stuff for weeks. I could cry knowing that the canned version of the soda is not gonna make a comeback. That was pretty much the reason I kept going back even after I lurked through the Halloween aisles way too many times to count on my fingers. That really sucks! What a let-down. Anyway, I KNEW you were gonna mention these, Matt! Excellent tribute. Have ya’ll tried the Livewire one yet?

Ghosted by EtHM @ 09/18/2006 10:40 AM EDT

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