Darrell Mogg.net

Remembering MonsterVision

I am a long time horror fan and this morning Max and I were chatting on AIM in regards to Mystery Science Theater 3000 and I inquired as to if he ever watched MonsterVision on TNT.

MonsterVision (MV) was a late night horror program which was shown on TNT from 1993 to 2000.  It was hosted by Joe Bob Briggs (JBB), a well known icon amongst horror fans.  The show would typically show 2 older horror films and before the films started JBB would go through what he called the “Drive in numbers” and would cite things such as 2 severed heads, 3 dead monsters, 4 pairs of boobs, and no plot.

I saw some of the best classic horror movies on MonsterVision.  I remember laying on my Grandmas bed watching these films all night while she was out at the bar (don’t ask).  Some of my favorite films I saw on here included Night of the Living Dead, Poltergeist, and Phantasm II.  As most children my age (around 8 yrs old at the time) were in bed or watching cartoons I was delving into macabre cinema and watching films which would later become old favorites.

I imagine you’re sitting here reading and trying to figure out why I am rambling about some stupid old Monster movie show.  I am doing so because shows like this cease to exist because of stupid “suits” at film studios who don’t care that these type of movies are enjoyed by a lot of different people and only care about the films which will line their pockets with more greenbacks.

We have stupid shows like American Idol and Survivor still on TV, but fun shows like MonsterVision get canned, it’s ridiculous.  I personally miss the late night Monster Movies, campy humor from JBB and the ability to watch films which are hard to find on any sort of portable media.

I feel like shows such as MV are important as they bring a new audience to some forgotten masterpieces of film, not everyone loves horror movies but their are a lot of people who do and the only icons they recognize are Jason and Freddy — MV brought to light a ton of horror icons such as Vincent Price, Angus Scrimm, George A. Romero, and many others.  Guys like the aforementioned were some of the best horror has to offer, that’s one of the things that made MV special.

Their is talk about MV being brought back and that JBB plans to host his own show on HorrorNet, which is a proposed cable/satellite network which I don’t think has taken flight just yet.  Any MV fans out there can cross your fingers that they either bring back the ORIGINAL MonsterVision or that JBB is able to host his own show again and once again introduce future cinephiles to the horror of yesterday.

If I had to choose my last meal

I was watching a show few weeks ago and it mentioned how inmates get to chose their last meal before being executed on Death Row.  I got to thinking, not about how awesome it would be to pick my last meal before I got the chair — but what I would have as my last meal regardless of the circumstances associated with the last meal.  I thought long and hard and this is what I came up with as my last meal.

-34 ounce Porterhouse steak from Michael Jordan Signature Meats, cooked med rare and topped with garlic butter.

-Fresh buttermilk biscuits served with thick sausage gravy.

-Danielle’s garlic mashed potatoes

-Green bean casserole

-Cheesecake

I would have a bottle of Mexican Coca-Cola, a Manhattan, and a Cuban Espresso to drink.  Why did I pick all of this stuff you might ask? Well if I am dying I might as well eat like a king before taking my last breath.  I am a meat lover so the Porterhouse was the obvious choice for a big steak, I love biscuits and gravy and I could eat Danielle’s garlic potatoes with every meal.

The green beans were a necessary evil to the meal as I’m a meat eater (vegetables are what meat eats), but figured I better have something green in there and cheesecake is a great desert, my favorite.  I would enjoy the Mexican coke over ice made from pure spring water so that the chlorine associated with tap water did not interfere with it’s flavor, a Manhattan between my coke and before desert, and a Cuban Espresso to go with my cheesecake.  If I were so able, I’d enjoy an H. Upmann Sir Winston following my cheesecake and a glass of spring water to cleanse my palate.

What would you have as your last meal? (please use the comments option to participate)

Remembering the Fallen

Today I remember Airman First Class Carl L. Anderson.  Vehicle operator, United States Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.  Carl was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/29/2004, my birthday.  Carl was a good Airman, a good person, and a friend.  He and I were stationed at Elmendorf with the 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron from 2003 until his death in 2004.  Carl was killed when his convoy hit an improvised explosive device (IED), the rest of his convoy members were members of our squadron as well and made it home, all wounded — all received the Purple Heart.  Carl did not make it home to recieve his Bronze Star or Purpe Heart — rather his Mother received it next to his coffin guarded by the Honor Guard.

Carl gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country and for that all of us are in debt to him.  It’s because of Men like Carl that we celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who never came home.  These are men and women who paid the ultimate price for freedom and deserve the be honored on this day.  So when you’re at home eating your BBQ, and drinking too much beer — take a few moments to remember the reason you’re actually observing this holiday, it’s for Men and Women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America who gave their lives so that you could celebrate this holiday how you see fit.

Today and everyday we remember the fallen,

Staff Sergeant (VET.) Darrell W. Mogg, United States Air Force