Flushed Away From Memory
This week we were lucky enough to get Academy Award nominated filmmaker Eddie Schmidt to chat with us. Eddieās body of work is vast and awesome. We discuss several of the documentaries he produced and directed as well as his time as a writer for the very dumpable show Blind Date. He also gives Ryan a brief history lesson on the middle finger and tells us what it is like to lose at the Oscars.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The rise and fall of HervĆ© Villechaize. HervĆ© goes to Hollywood. HervĆ© makes it big; appearing in a James Bond movie. HervĆ© keeps drinking like a man 3 times his size. HervĆ©’s enormous appetite for woman cannot be satisfied. HervĆ© strikes gold with the TV show Fantasy Island. HervĆ© gets fully loaded and blows all his money.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
HervƩ Villechaize was everywhere in the mid 70s. He is most famous for his role as Nick Nack in a James Bond film and as Tattoo in the hit TV show Fantasy Island. Villechaize was born with dwarfism and as an adult stood to be just under four feet. Relentlessly bullied as a child, HervƩ was driven to achieve success. Part 1 finds him as the darling of the Paris art scene, as well as the transition to New York as something of a hippie curiosity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It is our 80th episode (proper) so we decided to kick it off with a bang! A “SHE BANG” that is! Ryan sits down with the legendary William Hung to discuss his rise to fame, his adjustment to normal life, and his love of gambling. Truly inspirational.Ā
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This is from the brilliant mind of Ryan. This book is classic of modern American literature. Ryan hates it. Parks loved it as moody teenager, as did millions others. This falls into a category of influential works that really get away from its creator. Author JD Salinger became increasingly reclusive after Catcher’s success. Mark David Chapman had a copy of the book in his possession when he murdered John Lennon!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This week Ryan is joined by Mike Connelly of Noisextra to discuss the now defunct pro-wrestling giant, WCW. WCW was a powerhouse that dominated the Monday night wars of the mid 1990ās. That was until the inclusion of actor David Arquette. Both the company and Arquette suffered due to what is considered to be the most controversial win in this history of the business. Even if you are not a fan of wrestling, there is something here for you.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This week on Culture Dumps we explore one of the most popular documentaries of all time, āSuper Size Me.ā Was Morgan Spurlock just blowing off steam or did his experiment truly influence the fast food market? Ryan is joined by Eric D of MethSyndicate once again to dive deeply into the genre defining film. Also, the Filet of Fish is bomb and Spurlock is kind of a creep.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Olean is the brand name of the fat substitute Olestra. The product would add no fat or extra calories to food products, without losing any of the taste! The miracle oil took off in the mid 90s, during a wave of other “low fat” and “fat free” products. Most notable was the Wow! chips brand during this time. However, just as Olean fever started to take off, a very undesirable side effect, was noticed. Welcome to our most literal episode of Culture Dumps yet.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Planet Hollywood was part of a trend of themed restaurants that really had a peak in the 90s. Patrons could enjoy the feeling of eating on a movie set, while also admiring Hollywood memorabilia on display. With several A-list endorsements, the restaurant quickly became a huge success. The problem was, they took it too far too quick. That, and the food was terrible. On this episode we examine how the most profitable theme restaurant became the biggest joke in the food biz. Ryan is joined by Eric D of MethSyndicate.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Crikey Mate! We explore one of the most sincere and life loving dumps yet. Steve Irwin loved animals, the planet, his job and his family. Truly and influential entertainer that brought the wild outback into our living rooms. Gone too soon, we remember the legacy of the Crocodile Hunter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download