Back in our Oct. 2007 interview with with Charlie Day, I asked the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star/executive producer about marketing.  More specifically, I inquired about if there had been any show-related merchandising ideas that had been thrown around “Anything along the lines of ‘It’s Always Sunny’ in-soles or bondage gear?“  Now, it looks like the cleverly absurd merchandising possibilities for the show creators are finally beginning to hit their stride.

Last night’s episode of the FX program revolved around the concept of the gang trying to capitalize off of a merchandising convention that was coming to town.  Various product concepts were presented by the crew, including a shotgun that blasts liquor, but in the long run, the only successful idea that garnered any interest from investros was Charlie‘s “Kitten Mittens“.  In the real world, however, another one of these ideas has actually been put into production and can be purchased by you through a website specially created for that purpose.  That’s right, DICKTOWEL.com actually exists.

Watch the video:

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Television today is so exhausted.  It seems that every time I turn on the old boob tube, there’s either a new reality show or crime scene investigator series going down.  Not to mention the remakes.  Beverly Hills 90210, Knight Rider, Battlestar Galactica, Flash Gordon…  Come on people!  David Haselhoff is the only man allowed to drive KITT and Flash Gordon was corny as fuck to begin with.  Have we run out of ideas?  Have we been conditioned to just except this shit as entertainment?

I remember the good old days when I would get home from school, flip on the TV and rock the After School Specials.  There was nothing like sitting on the couch with my bowl of Cheerios watching Helen Hunt jumping out a second story window high on pcp just to show us kids that drugs are bad or, the A-TEAM.  Take a bunch of trained military lunatics, stick them in a pimped out molester van, add some action, a little adventure, and then just throw MR T in that bitch and we’ve got a show folks.  Even the sitcoms back then were good.  Taxi, Cheers, and the Cosby Show were simple concepts, but the content was funny.  I’m sure you’re reading this and thinking, “Fuck this guy, CSI Miami is the shit!” and I’m sure it is, but it’s played out.  In fact, it’s all played out.  That’s why you have to be more creative if you want to make a TV show that will get my attention.  Not even necessarily with the concept but, defintiely with the content.  That’s also why I was so excited when I read the  pilot script for a new project by the writers/creators of  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX), one of my favorite shows currently on television today. (more…)

Popularity: 12% [?]

You know that show that you love so much that you can’t believe that it actually made it on to the airwaves?  The one that isn’t even on a paychannel, Comedy Central, or Adult Swim.  It’s crass but extremely well written and it doesn’t pander to the mainstream television audience by dilluting itself.  When you watch it you can sense that it is the result of an original idea followed through to the end with little or no corporate intervention and restrictions.

OH!  You do?!  Now how about one that hasn’t been cancelled? (more…)

Popularity: 100% [?]