X-Entertainment.com X-Entertainment UGO
X-Entertainment is still feeling pretty bad about those lobsters.

02/09/2007: Soda triumphs and jaguar masks.

Uh, wow. The soda article clocked over 75,000 unique readers today, and that’s…uh, wow. Pretty sure it’s never happened before, and we’re close to 200,000 unique readers landing at that one article in under four days. I can’t explain it. Sometimes, stuff just hits. It’s luck and chance and stars aligned, but it feels damned good, and even being stuck in Camden, NJ right now can’t steal the deliciousness that is this week. Thanks to all the sites that’ve linked in, and if you’re a new reader, picture me saying “hello” like Mrs. Doubtfire five times in a row.

Actually, I’m not in Camden — I’m just working there by day, at the Tweeter Center. We’re shooting stuff for some “Go, Diego, Go!” live show. Diego = Dora’s cousin, for the uninformed. I was warned that Camden was something like Beirut, but the area we’re working in isn’t so bad. You’re not going to invite too many drive-by shootings at a place that hosts live shows where audiences are asked to hold up little paper jaguar masks and make meowing sounds.

I’m at a hotel in Philly now, happily drinking overpriced liquor from the room’s mini-bar and waiting to see if the soda article manages to clock an additional forty-million unique visitors in the next hour. I haven’t been writing articles too often lately. Maybe this was God’s way of saying, “Hey asshole, stop not doing that.” Or maybe people just like pictures of Surge.

PS, I don’t know if anyone caught Joanie Laurer’s appearance on Larry King tonight, “mourning” Anna Nicole and being called out on being a big phony idiot, but seeing that was almost as satisfying as the soda triumph.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Bookmark and Share


Discussion Thread: 103 comments

I forgot to mention, amid all the soda pop palaver, that over the weekend, I bought Cybertron Primus on clearance at Wal-Mart. Now I have two planets in my collection. And He came with the Unicron head bonus. His hands aren’t as big as the Monster Planet’s but they are articulated, so Rock-Scissors-Paper is possible. Now I can focus on getting the Classics before the Movie toys hit the shelves around May.

The Classics set is indeed awesome, and I have several of the figs now, including the new kickass Jetfire! (click my name to see my endeavor to finding, and then getting & reviewing it)

And I too have both Unicron & Primus, and I also have Supreme Cybertron Starscream and Omega Supreme from the Energon line. Clash of The Titans is coming soon!

More useless info:

I like the “Where Is Springfield?” question much better, because of the reasons you said already, not to mention that there are 18 Springfields in the US, with various “clues” to throw us off, like the town being in driving distance of both Miami and NYC, cliffs, 2000 miles away from also-fictional Arlen, Texas, there is an ocean, there is snow, the “5 Corners” location on the way to Itchy & Scratchy Land, West Springfield being 3 times the size of Texas, it’s capital city is Capitol City, and the abbrevistion of the “state” is NT.

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 02/09/2007 5:24 PM EST


Matt, Q101 radio in Chicago mentioned the soda article on the air. So that’s probably why you got all the hits.

Ghosted by T-Hohs @ 02/09/2007 6:18 PM EST


A link to your old soda article was posted on GorillaMask.net last week, so you can thank them for helping with the increase in views.

Ghosted by iROB @ 02/09/2007 7:27 PM EST


stumbled on the site via Firefox’s “Stumble” feature, might explain the heavy amount of traffic. I’m glad you’re getting lots of hits, you’re very, very funny, and I’m having a dandy time reading you. Thanks for being the cause of my laundry piling up (it’ll handle itself, I’m sure), and I’m sure now the cats are trying to kill me.

Ghosted by Pam @ 02/09/2007 7:54 PM EST


I was going to audition for the Go Diego Go show. But I’m not much of a singer or dancer. Too bad. It would be worth it to have one of those little masks.

Ghosted by the burro @ 02/09/2007 8:06 PM EST


Great soda article Matt. Articles like that are why I love visiting this site. commentary on the little things in life, like old soda or toys or old tv commericials. Things, that while may be irrelevant in the scheme of things, are what form the bulk of our lives and the things that we think abut most often.

Dont consider the recent influx of visitors a bit of luck. Luck has nothing to do with it. You are good writer Matt, and you write in a very relatebale way. Its very often while reading an article that I think “Hey, I remember that!” or “Hey, I remember feeling that way as a kid”.

Its also amazing considering the schedule a normal adult must have, for you to commit yourself to things that must take hours like daily updates around Halloween and christmas.

Keep up the great work man.

Ghosted by Chris @ 02/09/2007 8:08 PM EST


I mentioned the soda article to a raving wino on the West Side a couple days ago. That’s why you’ve gotten so many hits.

(P.S. You forgot OK cola and Josta)

Ghosted by Rhino @ 02/09/2007 8:08 PM EST


Your soda article was also linked from college humor.

Ghosted by Neo Anderson @ 02/09/2007 8:47 PM EST


Matt, I’m a car and Speedline (train) ride away, about ten minutes from the Tweeter Center! I’d read about the “Go, Diego, Go!” show at work (the grocery store I work for is a sponsor). I love Dora the Explorer and her cousin. Don’t ask me why, since I don’t have kids. Maybe I just like playing along.

And congradulations on all those hits, Matt. Everyone is right – you DO deserve it, because you ARE a damn good writer.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 02/09/2007 8:55 PM EST


Good god. It’s like a perfect storm of user-driven internet media coverage. At this point, I think I could fly to Tibet, hire a Sherpa, climb to the top of a mountain, and have the little skinny bald guy there say to me, “Screw the infinite wisdom, kid. Did you read that soda article last week? Classic stuff.”

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 02/09/2007 9:04 PM EST


Congrats, Matt, seriously. New blood is a good thing, even if I complain.

Hello new inductees who plan to stick around. We really are a nice lot. As was said in the last post, we try really hard not to Shit on each other. Consequently, we are one of the nicer sites on the internets. I’m the only one who’ll come remotely close to snapping on ya, and that’s only if you demand things of Matt or come off as ungrateful.

He works really hard for all of us, show him the love and respect he deserves.

Post On!

Ghosted by K- @ 02/09/2007 9:40 PM EST


britneyspears.com linked to the soda article too. That is probably why you’ve gotten so many hits.

Just for the record, I thought Matt was cool before it was cool to think Matt was cool.

Jedoc! You are my new hero. That video is unbelievably hilarious. This is probably my favorite portrayal of Baxter Stockman.

Ghosted by Casual Jeff @ 02/09/2007 10:24 PM EST


Congrats on the soda success but you shouldn’t be too surprised. The old “soda vs. pop” discussion (WHICH DOES NOT NEED TO BE REOPENED) went through the roof.
Now, the big question is, do you sell out and make the sequel? Lots of pressure from the studio but the artist in you is worried if you can deliver a second time…
(I’m kidding, of course. You are already a sell-out :shock: ) :)

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 02/09/2007 11:34 PM EST


Not to take away anything from the majesty of Matt’s writing, but I’m the dude who submitted the link on Digg.com. After first submitting, I checked back a couple hours later and only like 3 people “digged” it (for the uninitiated, if enough people “digg” or approve an article, it gets put on the front page where tons of people will read it). I just thought, “Ahh well, sucks to be them. They’re the ones missing out on a great read.” Then, a few more hours later, I check it and it’s the second most popular link of the day after Anna Nicole Smith up and shed this mortal coil. Needless to say, I was a little surprised by how quickly it blew up, but definitely not by the fact that it eventually did. Everyone in the world loves Matt and X-E, most just don’t know it yet.

Ghosted by Shaun M @ 02/10/2007 12:35 AM EST


Joker: My work computer blocked X-E, stating “Pornography is not allowed!” muhuwahahahahaha Yeah, defunct sodas really get me all hot and bothered! hehe

…actually, they do…

I think Tropical Pepsi was my favorite. I can still taste it…

Yeah, so I have been keeping up with articles, promise, but haven’t posted much due to having met this amazing guy… and being bogged down totally with school. Just so everyone knows, I bombed my Zoology test. Matt should have been my professor. T’would have made the class a LOT more fun. I can see it now… X-E University… eh, I think someone beat me to that dream long ago.

Anyway, won’t be around for the SNT again this weekend – throwing the boy a birthday party – but consider me here in spirit! Is it sad that whilst drinking and carousing with my friends, I often wonder what’s going on with the SNT regulars? I love you guys!

Ghosted by Special K @ 02/10/2007 1:01 AM EST


Jedoc, oh my goodness! TMNT! Singing! With Annie-style freckles! I don’t think I really lived until I saw that video. Thank you for enlightening me :)

Ghosted by Liz @ 02/10/2007 1:06 AM EST


7-11 has the best crazy sodas / juices like ORBITZ. Now I get a funky soda called INKA KOLA. I was introduced to this on a buisness trip to Peru. If you search you can find it all over. Its a super bright yellow and tastes like bubblegum!

Ghosted by Nosebone Propellor @ 02/10/2007 1:28 AM EST


Whoaaaa, a picture of Matt! Whoaaa, a picture of Matt with a reasonably normal hair color! I am speechless.

Also, every time someone types “Tropical Pepsi” I get the Tropical Plumber song from Rocko’s Modern Life stuck in my head. Tropical Plumber, ‘EY! Unclog your pipes today! Tropical Plumber, ‘EY! There ain’t no better way!

I need help. Serious, serious help.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 02/10/2007 1:48 AM EST


I just picked up a 6-pack of this new drink from Coke called Enviga. It’s supposed to be some form of Nestea that claims you will burn calories by drinking it. I got this green tea kind and it’s not so great. It’s kinda tastes like green tea, only mixed with Coke and Ginger Ale.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 02/10/2007 1:52 AM EST


I mentioned the soda article to a raving wino on the West Side a couple days ago. That’s why you’ve gotten so many hits.

(P.S. You forgot OK cola and Josta)

Oh great…Now X-E has cliches! I told my new kitten about this article, that’s why you got so many hits. Yes, I got a new kitten on Super Bowl sunday. 8 month old black kitten named Cleopatra, whom I affectionately refer to as “Clea.” She’s cute as hell and loves chasing after my laser pointer.

Hmm, X-E Cliches…let’s see how many I can think of…

Giant Squid
Chia Plot
Bitner
“That’s why you got so many hits”
Mare
SNT
Spider-man

Anything else?

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 02/10/2007 1:55 AM EST


Norbert You forgot Did you hear Madballs are coming back?

Ghosted by Mystie @ 02/10/2007 2:00 AM EST


Oh, Matt. Lordy, we missed you.

Ghosted by Maxwell, For Sale @ 02/10/2007 2:23 AM EST


I’m gonna put Hey Matt, did you get my email?…mainly ’cause I’m one of the guilty.

I wonder if many of these new folks will hang around like us regulars do….it could be a good thing as much as a bad…imagine if the SNT became like other message boards and the such with all the ‘trolls’ and hang-abouts….{shudder}

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 02/10/2007 2:37 AM EST


Nice haircut and cute mask! :D Yes, more articles. MORE.

Ghosted by Julie @ 02/10/2007 2:40 AM EST


Oh, now I remember why I was going to post. I have a soda story! Back in middle school, 1995 or so, our school competed in a Mello Yello commercial contest, the theme being “Let it Out”. We had to tape and enter a commercial for . . . some sort of prize, money, probably. Anyway, our idea was to have this big pep rally where everyone was very blah, not into it all. Suddenly! This person dressed up as a HUGE Mello Yello comes in and we all go wild and cheer for the can. God. In hindsight, I wish we had gone the “OMG got to pee and let it out” route.

Also in middle school, we had no Coke machines. Only Surge machines, that ONLY dispensed Surge. Smart? No.

Ghosted by Julie @ 02/10/2007 2:45 AM EST


A school I used to work at did sort of the same thing: they got rid of all the Coke machines and put in Dusane (horrible spelling..but you know: the water that Coke makes) water machines…and filled them all with Coke products. Their reasoning was that the water machines didn’t advertise Coke in a big way. The dumbest part: the machines never had water actually in them…..

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 02/10/2007 3:04 AM EST


Oh fucking weak. I literally went to the bathroom and came back to find my computer just died. Died died. Meaning I blew a power supply at least. UGH I haven’t even had it a year. It’s like it sensed I got my tax refund today and decided to just shit all over my plans of paying off bills. I’m staying up until the mall opens and dragging it to the repair shop. Fuck sleep.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 02/10/2007 4:39 AM EST


Also, every time someone types “Tropical Pepsi” I get the Tropical Plumber song from Rocko’s Modern Life stuck in my head. Tropical Plumber, ‘EY! Unclog your pipes today! Tropical Plumber, ‘EY! There ain’t no better way!

I need help. Serious, serious help.

No, you’re wrong. It’s everyone ELSE who needs help.

Ghosted by Mars @ 02/10/2007 5:06 AM EST


Hmm, X-E Cliches… let’s see how many I can think of…

Here’s a few more:

“Do a Mac and Me review!”
“Have you seen this website? (link to Homestar Runner)”
“Did you know there’s a new Transformers movie coming out!?”

Ghosted by GTron @ 02/10/2007 5:28 AM EST


Ahhhh….to have internet once again! Nothing could have made me happier than finding a new article. The fact that it was about old soda that I used to love just made it even better!

Ghosted by MissJess @ 02/10/2007 5:40 AM EST


Whoa- Awesome stuff, Matt! Congrats on all the hits and ‘hello’ to new people!

XE cliches?
‘Whoot!’
‘MST3K this, MST3K that…’
also, we created the verb “SNT-ing”!

Ghosted by Muppet Baby @ 02/10/2007 10:10 AM EST


Matt! You’re in Philly, Welcome! I’m a long-time reader and moved to Philly in January. This may be the closest we’ve ever been. I’m going to clean my cats litter in your honor.

Ghosted by Barry @ 02/10/2007 11:14 AM EST


Uh… um… X-e cliches: “Darn it foriegn Mama, I said use a cup of rice and fill a bucket of water! Now look what you have done!”

Ghosted by dohopoki @ 02/10/2007 1:10 PM EST


“That’s a big Twinkie.”

Ghosted by kingklash @ 02/10/2007 1:54 PM EST


Well, I don’t know anything about any cliches, but I don’t want to think about chicken while I’m eating Doritos.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 02/10/2007 2:38 PM EST


Aw, Jedoc, I was probably thinking that as you typed it. Good call.

Ghosted by Rainbowfeet @ 02/10/2007 3:03 PM EST


Great article. I really enjoyed it.

Keep it up!

Ghosted by Adam @ 02/10/2007 4:59 PM EST


I feel like a newbie and/or lurker because i cant keep up with this blog every day but i have been reading since Rob Berry was posting articles on the site. MATT!! Awesome work! Your f**kn famous!!! LOVE the blonde hair!!! Thumbs up on the site! I know what you guys are talking about!! whenever i am sitting and laughing my ass off at Matts genius people ask what site im on and it sounds dirty but i can usually recruit some new x-e lovers just by showing them articles of such things as * the Jesus Store, *Taste testing NADS, or *Playing Monopoly with his family!! :o ) I also agree with Casual Jeff about liking Matt before it was cool to like Matt. So hmph to all you regulars who think you are the only ones!!!! i leave you with this….see if you remember…… ” Why. Why!? WHY god is there a plastic cock in the spice aisle!?”

Ghosted by citygirl @ 02/10/2007 5:14 PM EST


OK guys, I did some checking around and it appears that our gas stations do indeed sell Surge around where we live. I know this second hand unfortunatly because I am currently in Dauphin Island in the gulf , but I will confirm this as soon as we get home. Also they still sell Black Pepper Doritos, which I had heard were also not being made anymore.

Oh yeah and MATT. My kid brother is taking his son to see that very show your working on. Don’t f*ck it up!

Ghosted by Jester @ 02/10/2007 5:31 PM EST


I don’t know if the X has cliches or just iconic shorthand for those familiar with the blogs. Although, by that standard, some of us reg’lar poster-kids may very well be cliches our own darn selves. From our own individual flights of fancy, styles of posting, to our collective imagining of X-Entertainment as a kind of Mickey Mouse Club/Chuck E. Cheese’s/neighborhood bar and grill where everybody knows your pseudonym, we really have no need for a Fark-like list of in-jokes for newbs who “don’t get it.” At least, not yet. Every new reader/poster is invited to come on in, take off their skins, and rattle around in their bones.

Ghosted by kingklash and the chamber of secretions @ 02/10/2007 5:44 PM EST


Jester mguahhhhhh! What I wouldn’t give for a SURGE! This was probably talked about on the *actual* thread, but I remember the company throwing my middle school a huge Surge party when I was… what… 14?? As much FREE SURGE as you could drink and lots of goofy carnival-type things to do… right in our parking lot! Wooo! I think I drank 8 cans of the stuff. Gah, I loved it.

Ghosted by Special K @ 02/10/2007 7:00 PM EST


Dude, I was at the store a few minutes ago and they have a whole little section of Surge…maybe it’s an Alabama thing?…we do like our sugar…..

I don’t want to think of chicken while I’m eating Doritos…one of my favorite quotes…remember all the stupid looks we got-at least those that did the ‘assignment’? What a great time that was….ah memories {cue the CATS soundtrack}

And it looks like our new cliche is going to be “oh, yeah! Well I read X-E/liked Matt before anyone else, so there!”

I’ve always felt that the great this about this site -especially in the blog-boards- is the great familiarity and sense of ‘groupyness’ that many of us into the topics on this site can appreciate…if that makes any sense what so-ever :P

Ghosted by Shuanfu @ 02/10/2007 7:26 PM EST


Lots of people liked X-E before me! I read Matt after Matt was cool!

I’m just happy to have spent the last couple of years here.

Ghosted by Rhino @ 02/10/2007 7:36 PM EST


Dude. Matt. If you’re ever in the philly zone again, you should totally have a party at a bar or something. I’d love to drink drinks with you and talk about robots and soda and stupid crap! I bet lots of other philly readers would too!

Ghosted by Princess @ 02/10/2007 8:47 PM EST


Well with the popularity of this soda article, one can only assume Matt’s world tour is soon to follow.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 02/10/2007 8:49 PM EST


Gorillamask.net also linked to the soda article. Speaking of sodas, yesterday the wife and I were browsing flea markets, and I stumbled upon an unopened can of Pepsi Strawberry. There was also an empty can of Pepsi’s Tropical blend as well. 4 dollars for both cans…not a bad deal at all.

Ghosted by Jeremiah @ 02/11/2007 3:26 PM EST


Love those soda articles, keep them coming Aaron Carter!

Ghosted by Anonymous @ 02/12/2007 9:39 AM EST


PLANET TATTOOS! AHHHHHH TOMBSTONE!

Ghosted by The Undertaker @ 02/12/2007 5:12 PM EST


Damn I love Diego…

Ghosted by Veronica @ 02/12/2007 6:41 PM EST


Woo-hoo, 100th post! Yeah, baby! Where’s the fanfare? Where’s the confetti? I WANT SOME RECOGNITION, DAMN IT!

Ghosted by Ruthless Ninja Assassin @ 02/14/2007 8:32 PM EST


Add A New Comment!