Tag Archives: youtube

[Video] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Out of Their Shells on Oprah

Image November 17, 2022 Patti PaulterGeist Leave a comment

Need 43 minutes to waste? Call up your local Pizza Hut, grab your 20-year-old TMNT pillowcase and let’s get down on some horribly bad costumed Ninja Turtles on the Oprah Winfrey show.

You’d really have to be living in a sewer back in the late ’80s and early ’90s if you hadn’t seen a single episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Skateboarding teenage amphibians and talking rats along with Bebop and Rocksteady were LIFE. I’m proud to claim my insane devotion to TurtleMania that swept the era of Saturday Morning goodness. However, I don’t know if I can ever have the strength to defend that insanely wacky “Coming Out of Their Shells” album and tour from 1990.

Good God, it’s Magic ~~Mike~~, Donatello.

Yeah, I got nothing. No words.

Anyways, on the heels of a successful Saturday morning national treasure, and that first feature-length kick-ass movie, the Turtles moved into the music scene with a live tour and album- sponsored by who else? Pizza Hut, duh. The “Coming Out of Their Shells” tour was promoted on the original release of the TMNT VHS movie from 1990, (if anyone actually remembers), among countless commercials from the nationwide pizza chain. The show itself, which did air live on Pay Per View once, showcased the mean, green heroes dancing, singing timeless hits such as, “Pizza Power” and “Skipping Stones”, and playing instruments because hey, they were a band now. We had Donatello on keys, Leonardo on bass guitar, Michelangelo on guitar, and Raphael on drums while also making Kenny G envious of his sweet saxophone skills. Of course, the show wouldn’t be complete without the Turtles’ arch-nemesis Shredder. And oh yes, his costume is just as awfully stupendous. The Shred-Head, along with buggy brainiac Baxtor Stockman, invent a device that steals all the music in the world while also weakening the Turtles if they stand too close to it. So there we have an epically staged corn fest of singing turtles saving the day. But man, it sure didn’t seem that way when we were kids. Am I right?

Or maybe not…

Well in any regard, the power of the Turtle was so strong even the mighty Oprah had to acknowledge it with a full show dedicated to the four mutants and their traveling live album. The audience was PACKED with little TMNT enthusiasts as you can umm, see above. I would only assume that the horrified look above may have been from Oprah’s question to the Turtles on whether they wished April was a turtle-like themselves. Which good ole’ Ralphel replies, “Well, I’ve been trying to talk her into an interspecies relationship for months now.” That poor woman playing April O’Neil looks so mortified.

Something tells me there is NO WAY that would fly in this day and age. Ahh, well gotta love the ’90s! Check out the entire show below courtesy of the Digsy channel.

Retro Toy Corner

Walking Through Toys R Us in 1989!

Image December 6, 2020 Patti PaulterGeist 1 Comment

One of the greatest aspects of growing up in the 80s’ was the weekend trip to Toys R Us to bask in all the very latest of trendy, plastic treasures. Taking bikes off the shelves and riding them around the store like a goddamn heathen. Grabbing your complimentary Geoffrey balloon while scoping out this week’s new Barbie doll. And most importantly, the heaven on earth video game aisles where you could sit for hours playing video game demos until your hands cramped up or a store associate threw your ass out.

Good times man. Good times.

Now, we all know the tragic troubles our beloved childhood relic has succumbed to leaving us with only nostalgic memories, photos if your parents were the type to take pics of anything and everything, and then THIS. Oh yes. I stumbled on this NATIONAL TREASURE quite accidently of a glimpse inside a Toys R Us chain store uploaded by and features a then teenage Youtube user Kimock7; who by the way is rocking a very snazzy era fashion hat and radical on-point trendy clothing of the latter decade. Checking out the rest of his videos, no surprise here he is now in a Doors tribute band called Of Perception and that just validates that this guy knows the importance of tried and true nostalgic feelings. If you can’t tell, that something I damn appreciate.

I mean, it is 2020 after all. Fuzzy memories are always welcome!

The video is only over two-minutes long, and mind you this is wayyyyy before influencers were counting on supreme content for views. This was clearly done just for shits and giggles by the user and his buddy Brian as he refers to him enter the palace of plastic pleasures looking for “curious kids looking for curious toys”.

These days one might be arrested for something like that but hey, I’m gonna bypass that joke on the heels of what we see next.

The store in the video is shot and located in Vernin Hills, Illinois and isn’t hyperfocused on any toys in particular, except a few creepy dolls that I can’t seem to identify at the expense of a classic joke aimed at Brian ol’ boy. However, the fantastic Nintendo fiber-optics sign smack in the middle of Nintendo world with shots of Sega Genesis along the way is the way to my heart ladies and gentleman.

I’ll admit I would have loved to see some of the Ninja Turtle merchandise they mentioned in the video but I can’t even complain about anything going on here. These types of videos are so rare that the fact this even exists is quite enough for me! Check it out below and give this guy a subscribe who also is an Autism Awareness advocate. Great stuff all around and enjoy this internet gold nostalgic nuggets!

Editorials

Let’s Look At the Rare, Extended Helicopter Attack Scene In “Jaws 2”!

Image June 16, 2018 Patti PaulterGeist Leave a comment

The epic sequel to Spielberg’s 1975 film that had us all fearing for our lives stepping foot unto a beach, has turned the classic 40 years young. And to celebrate, I’m showcasing what the MMPA decided to censor to audiences theatrically back in 1978 for JAWS 2– the goddamn death of the helicopter pilot! And if you haven’t seen it, trust me, it’s so damn satisfying.

Yes, friends, another animatronic Bruce came back to terrorize Amity Island as revenge for Bruce numero uno being blown to smithereens by the local sheriff. While I certainly have a lot of love for this movie, I mean fucken aye it’s JAWS people, it certainly restricted itself on the lack of blood as opposed to the first film. In fairness, there wasn’t a TON of gore in the original JAWS. However, this one had barely any at all. And we’re talking shark attacks here! You’d assume there would be buckets of red corn syrup all over the damn screen. But alas, on the heels of the mondo success of the first film and cringing studio execs, JAWS 2 had to be watered down a tad to appease the pearl clutchers of the generation.

Before we get to the scene in question, that was shown during various TV runs during the 80’s (which is why I even knew it existed), can we just appreciate just how badass Bruce II really is? I mean, this shark seems ten times scarier and more malevolent than it’s brother, cousin, whatever from the first movie. Not only does it take down the water skier in the first half of the film, but the boat and driver with it resulting in blowing the damn thing up. Of course, that was the work of the obviously terrified boat driver in the midst of a Great White eating her boat, but eh, gotta give credit to Bruce II for making it possible. And then we have this wonderful helicopter scene, in which if you’ve seen the cut version only, kind of raises some questions on the whereabouts of the pilot.

Here we have this poor guy just trying to do his damn job and help these teenagers out. Bruce II isn’t having any of this shit. He’s like, “HOW DARE YOU TRY TO HELP THESE KIDS! I’LL SHOW YOU BY GOD.” And he sinks a friggin’ helicopter. But, what the hell happened to the pilot? We can just assume he drowned if anything. And he does of course, but we actually get to see it this time. And it looks as if he serves as a tasty snack after all for the hungry island visitor. Visual satisfaction at the very least. Also, if you listen very closely, the pilot’s screams sound an awful lot like Hooper’s when he’s attacked underwater in the shark cage.

So here it is! Originally uploaded on YouTube by RetroTV from an ABC original airing complete with a LEGGS pantyhose commercial at the end to break away. Because, you know, that’s super important here. Enjoy and happy anniversary JAWS 2!