Joel Freimark hosts The Daily Guru, which is a simply produced talk show that gives recommendations and commentaries about musicians and songs, or anything along the music genre for that matter. In fact, it’s so simply produced that it’s boring. And I’m a massive music lover, always eager to learn more about this incredible art form. I, so badly, wanted to like this series.
Freimark clearly knows a ton of cool stuff about music and musicians. There is no problem with a lack of content in each episode. It’s that Freimark speaks a mile a second. Each episode is loaded with a ton of unnecessary hard cuts. And… there’s no music in the show. NO MUSIC!
Episode after episode, Freimark recommends song after song and he doesn’t give us even a tiny sample of the music for that song. I don’t understand why he doesn’t. It’s not like the musicians who own any of his recommended songs will come after him with breech of copyright. After all, he’s promoting them and recommending that his viewers listen and own these songs.
Once in a while, Freimark turns an episode into a history lesson about one musician or another. But no pictures of any of the musicians are inserted in the episodes. No music samples for any of the musicians are included either. Quelle surprise! All we get are hard, fast cuts of Freimark’s head and shoulders – cut after cut after cut, Freimark, Freimark, Freimark.
(click this image to watch the show)
I have to give this show a totally squashed pumpkin. In its current state, it’s unwatchable. But, it has potential to be a great show with a few tweaks in the production. Hopefully, the producers of this series will give it the minor changes The Daily Guru needs in order to be a decently watchable program.
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Tags: amazing music, danielle turner, documentary, great song, great songs, humor, humour, indie web programs, indie web shows, Joel Freimark, music, music history, music lesson, musical comentary, musicians, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, programs, review, reviews, The Daily Guru, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, video, video reviews, video series, watch tv, web shows, web tv
The story of Malice begins, through the voice of the youngest of two daughters, with a typical family day until the phone rings and they learn that their grandmother is dead and their mom inherits the dead matriarch’s home. No time is wasted. The family moves into their new home only to quickly learn that their new home is no ordinary home. In fact, it’s damn creepy!
(click this image to watch the show)
I got hooked on the plot right from episode one. The creators of this series don’t waste our time with useless scenes. They get right down to the meat and potatoes of the storyline. This is a thriller and so it does require a feel of suspense and fearfulness continually boiling through the plot-line. This show does not disappoint. There were many times that I jumped out of my seat. The CGI is surprisingly good for a low budget show. Bravo!
So, why am I giving this show a half squashed pumpkin? While, I do encourage you to give this show a good try, it it does have its flaws. There are plenty of cheesy moments that cannot be ignored, like how Dad can suddenly shoot a gun with perfect precision right after drinking several beers. Somehow, Alice was able to get hot water for her bath, even in a house that doesn’t have electricity. And, there were some decisions that Dad made, or didn’t make, that were a bit hard to swallow. Plus, the episodes are too short. They could be at least 10 minutes long. 5 minutes is much too short for a show of this sort. We loose that emotional tension that a thriller builds with time.
Still, click the image above and watch this web series. It’s fun. It’s entertaining. I love the teen girls. They are cool characters! And both actresses play them very well.
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Tags: action, creepy, danielle turner, drama, ghosts, graveyard, haunted house, horror, indie web programs, indie web shows, Malice, Malice the web series, malice web series, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, programs, review, reviews, scary, spooky, suspense, teen actors, teen shows, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, video reviews, video series, watch tv, watch video, web series, web shows, web tv, webisodes
In this original Crackle online series, a typical day for a typical single father of a young daughter suddenly takes a shocking turn when he finds a box at his doorstep. Encased in the box is a loaded gun and instructions to kill someone he’s never met. And if he doesn’t kill this person? His own family (especially his daughter) is at risk of losing their lives. And so the story begins.
This season holds six episodes. Each one is full of suspense and tension. The production is high quality. The acting is polished. The story is well written. I got hooked on this series right away. I love it! It’s intense. It’s daring. It’s shocking!
There are others, who watched this first season, who were quite vocal about their dislike for the way in which episode 6 ended. If you keep in mind that episode 6 is NOT the end of the story, you can get past that it is quite a shocking cliffhanger. I highly recommend that you give this show a try. Click the image above to start watching it. You won’t be disappointed.
A fully unsquashed pumpkin. Of course!
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Tags: action, chosen, crackle, creepy, danielle turner, drama, indie web programs, indie web shows, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, programs, reviews, suspense, the pumpkin press, thriller, velvet pumpkin, video reviews, video series, watch tv, watch video, web series, web shows, web tv, webisodes
Epic Meal Time is a food blog and video series. Actually, EpicMealTime.com hosts 3 different web series; all on the topic of food. But not just any food. Gross Food!
The show ‘Epic Meal Time’ focuses on the host demonstrating (often with a buddy) truly epic uses for a specific ingredient; like bacon or beef. The show ‘Epic Chef’ is a competition show where two teams are competing against each other with a themed ingredient. The winner is determined by a panel of judges. The show ‘Throwback Thursdays’ is about…? I’m not actually sure. I mean it’s not much different from ‘Epic Meal Time’
I’m not really sure what to say about this series of food videos. It’s definitely focused on a distinct ‘flavor’ of show. I mean no pun by that. It’s gross. Every episode is gross. And they mean to be gross.
It might be that I have a delicate stomach, but I’m going to have to give this a half squashed pumpkin. I know that some people will love this series. It’s not without its humor. It’s playful and there isn’t a boring moment in any of the episode I watched. But… it’s gross and I highly recommend that you don’t watch these shows while eating.
With all that said, do give it a try, especially if you are the type who likes to play with your food. Click the image above to give it a go and have fun!
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Tags: bacon, comedy, creepy, danielle turner, epic meal time, food, gross, humor, humour, indie web programs, indie web shows, man food, manwich, meals, meat, new videos, original content, original programs, parody, programs, reviews, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, video reviews, watch tv, watch video, web series, web tv, webisodes
From Peru to Peru is a Webby nominated documentary short that tells the story of a bus load of Peruvians, from the country of Peru (this needed to be stated), show up in the city center of Peru, Nevada. Their mission is to expose these Peruvians of Nevada to the culture and lifestyle of Peruvians from the country of Peru. It’s a playful attempt to share their South American culture with all of us, this documentary’s audience.
The documentary starts by sharing food, then dance and, after, play. These “foreign” Peruvians even manage to convince the local Peru, Nevada sheriff from giving up his doughnuts for a taste traditional Peruvian pastry.
This is a heart warming film that celebrates culture, humanity and friendships. It’s about people being people, loving people. It’s gently funny with a full length smile throughout the entire film. Watch it. It will make you feel good. Click the image above and prepare for a warm tingly side effect. This gets a big fat full sized pumpkin.
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Tags: awards, danielle turner, documentary, drama, From Peru to Peru, indie films, indie web programs, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, programs, reviews, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, video reviews, watch tv, watch video, web shows, webby nomination
This year boasts the 34th annual TELLY awards. These awards celebrate and honor groundbreaking online video content, among other video talent on cable and regional television. If you think you have an online film or series that deserves a TELLY award judge’s eye, make your entry fast. Final entry deadline is March 1, 2013. Best of luck. I’ll keep you all posted on the next winners of this fine award. Click the image below to go to the TELLY Awards official website.
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“Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” is a web series staring Jerry Seinfeld. The series is generally a talk show where Jerry Seinfeld has a chat with a guest comedian or comic actor, over coffee or even a full meal. Each episode cleverly opens with Seinfeld introducing a car, which could be a Rolls Royce or an old junker that looks like it’s got one more run on the road before kicking the bucket. With the car of the episode, he picks up his comedic guest and cruises on over to a location where they eat, drink and chat.
This show is true to the Jerry Seinfeld style; simple, consistent, clever. It’s tightly paced and funnier than hell. Seinfeld seems to have found another talent. He’s quite skilled in the fine art of interviewing. He manages to ask simple, discrete questions of his guests that manage to get them to reveal some of the most personal and engaging stories about themselves and their lives.
This series is an absolute MUST SEE! If I could give this show TWO unsquashed pumpkins, I would. It’s that good. Click the image above to start watching and have a blast!
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Tags: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, comedy, danielle turner, humor, humour, indie web programs, indie web shows, Jerry Seinfeld, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, reviews, Ricky Gerfvais, Seinfeld, Sony Pictures Television, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, Velvet Pumpkin Productions, video, video reviews, video series, watch tv, watch video, web series, web shows, web tv, webisodes
Online viewership is growing in leaps and bounds. And it’s not just streaming TV shows that are being watched. The web has become the perfect broadcaster for originally produced indie series – from info-shows to good old fashioned entertainment.
In fact, online original programming has risen so high on the internet that an award ceremony has been fashioned to celebrate the successes of this new venue for programming. It’s called the Streamy Awards. Better titles could have been chosen for this award, in my opinion, but it is getting tons of attention. It’s even being taken very seriously by Hollywood and it’s celebrities.
(click this image to see who won the 2010 Streamy awards)
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Bandwagon is a docu-comedy that follows a character called Emma Caulfield; a blond haired, blue eyed actress on a mission to make a difference in the world by producing a “Glee” like show for the black community. Actually, the character Emma Caulfield is a tangible person – one of the creators of this show, in fact. Is this as real a documentary as is the star of the show? I ask with tongue in cheek.
While this show has wicked characters and a cool plot line, it can be a bit cliche at times. Characters are predictable and sometimes a bit over the top in their personalities. However, with that said, it’s a blast to watch and down right funny! Bandwagon has some truly funny scenes and the actors are well cast, each performing their characters wonderfully – which could be because they are all possibly playing themselves like Caulfied. Who cares. It’s entertaining!
(click this image to watch this show)
I can’t give this series a full on pumpkin. But I have to say, I’d give it a pretty darn close one. It gets a half squashed pumpkin with a strong recommendation from me to go check it out!
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Tags: actress, bandwagon, comedy, danielle turner, Emma Caulfield, glee, hollywood, humour, indie web programs, indie web shows, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, parody, programs, the pumpkin press, velvet pumpkin, video, video series, watch tv, watch video, web series, web shows, web tv, webisodes
The Specials is a British reality, soap-opera style show starring some of the most extraordinary young people just starting their adulthood as fellow roommates. What makes these young adults so special is that each of them has Down syndrome. The series follows these 5 roommates as they work together trying to figure out what it means to be on their own in the world.
I’ve cried and laughed while watching this heart warming story, filled with integrity and every emotion. I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with each of these stars of their series. I am addicted to this show. There isn’t an episode I haven’t enjoyed. It is very well produced. I’m surprised it hasn’t received an audience in the millions. I hope this blog helps spread the word about this show. It should go absolutely viral.
(click this image to watch this show)
This pumpkin does NOT get squashed at all. Fully in tact. WATCH THIS SHOW!
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Tags: british drama, british show, danielle turner, down syndrome, drama, humour, indie web programs, indie web shows, new programs, new videos, original content, original programs, original web series, programs, reality show, reviews, romance, soap opera, the pumpkin press, The Specials, velvet pumpkin, video reviews, video series, watch tv, watch video, web series, web shows, web tv, webisodes
