(Originally released Nov. 2008) All I really want to do is sit and watch a movie without it seeming like I’m into racist porn.  I need to get out of the tiny circle I travel in, so Melissa and I decide to go see a movie a couple towns away.  I think.

If you want to see a good movie, see Slumdog Millionaire (in theaters) or The Visitor (on DVD).  Don’t read about them, don’t watch the trailers, just go.

I have sworn off trailers:  If you know the ending before you even see the begining, you are only watching to see how they get there.  If you don’t know the ending until the ending, you may actually enjoy the ride.

This episode was originally only available to Premium Pill subscribers.  

Well, we finally did it: we went hi-def. After years of research, stalling, criticizing the state of the art and worrying about replacing our kids’ DVD collection, we bit the bullet.  We are now the proud owners of a large (for us) flat-screen LCD TV.  Of course, since I was involved, its purchase and installation was, if nothing else, an odyssey.

Rule #1 of Married Life in the 21st Century: ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE ON YOUR PERSON.  ALWAYS.

Additional material by Scott Mercer of B-Movie Books.

(Originally released Nov. 2008) Best wishes to everyone who is dealing in one way or another with the devastating fires here in Southern California.  Shortly after recording this show, I heard that our friend Doug Price from  The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd lost his home in the fires.  Then, shortly after, I received a message he’d sent out telling everyone that he is fine and that he has a place to stay and clothes and insurance and everything he needs.  He requested that if anyone wanted to send money, that they should send it to the Red Cross.  I was overwhelmed by his calm reassurance.

Be safe, Geoghegan.

So, I FINALLY get recognized here in LA!  Has my podcast finally brought me some sort of recognition in the outside world?  Well, yes and no…

Seth and Nathan Anderson rock. I did a little work on their new short film, Black. It’s great. Check it out when you can.

And, I got a ticket.  A “fix it” ticket.  Which means, I guess, that you’re actually supposed to fix your car.  Who knew.  Don’t bother consulting the owners manual of a Volkswagen Passat when you need to change a break light bulb.  You don’t even want to know what it says.

At the end of this episode, I give shout outs to: Tim Coyne of Hollywood Podcast, Lance Anderson of Verge of the Fringe, Cush of Things I Say, Bill Palmer of iProng Magazine, Podrunner, Jason Tucker of Tucker Tales, Geoffrey Tozer the Sly Crooner, Charles Stepczyk of Insomnia Radio, Leah D’Emilio from Mahalo Daily…

This episode was originally only available to Premium Pill subscribers.  

(Originally podcast Oct. 2008) Please don’t make me go to any more school meetings.  They always last just long enough for another parent to prove they are an idiot.

You have to decide: is it more important for parenting to be easy for you, or for your child’s upbringing to help them become a self sufficient adult?  Should you avoid having to say “no,” or should you view each “no” as an opportunity to teach your child priorities/self control/money management?

If your child faces challenges while under your care, they will be more capable to face challenges when they’re not.

This episode was originally only available to Premium Pill subscribers.

Our story continues with the call from the kids’ school.  Yes, Princess T. got into a “tête-à-tête” with a wall, and her tête lost the fight.  It’s okay, I rushed her to Beverly Hills and actually found parking on the street.  Phew…

(Oct. 2008)

With Melissa out of town, it gets harder to juggle kids, my podcasting job and, oh wait, an audition?  Hmmm.  Everything has to happen at the same time.  Everything.

If you’ve never checked out Hollywood Podcast, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.  Seriously.  Check it out.

(Oct. 2008) The kids and I went to Target to shop for Halloween decor, ate burgers, played with dry ice and realized that half time has passed.

We had snacks at the Starbucks inside the Target.  Better than having lunch at the McDonalds inside the Home Depot.

(Sept. 2008) Well, I finally have to recognize that I am a “Karate Dad.”  I spend six hours a week at the dojo while the kids do their thing.  Does this make me a political target group?  Really?  Darn…

Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to be the “Mystery Guest” on The Busted Halo radio show on Sirius XM.  I knew I couldn’t be on the radio for more than three minutes with a priest without saying something incredibly inappropriate.

!0th Anniversary Show!  (Don’t worry, it’s the same old crap)

I went to the latest meeting of the LA Podcasters on Tuesday, scheduled to sort of begin celebrating the 10th year of podcasting in Los Angeles by getting together on the anniversary of the launch of this show (I was not the first person in LA to ever podcast, and have never claimed to be, but I may have been the first to get major media attention and a decent listenership, so every once in a while my friends are nice enough to pretend that means something). Luckily for everyone there, a bunch of grumpy old podcasters may have been saved by a new female warrior.

My daughter’s podiatrist, Dr. Shoe (I swear, that’s her hame), moved to the east coast, so I had to call the new doctor, Dr. Chow, for an appointment.  How is it that doctors, potentially the smartest and most educated people I come into contact with on a regular basis, hire the stupidest people to run their offices? The conversation I had with Dr. Chow’s office staff was so amazingly cyclical and mind-boggling, I almost couldn’t complain about it on the show.  Almost.

I had an audition for a show about a highly successful canine blogger.  Yeah, I can actually speak and type and I’m going nowhere fast, but not only does this dog have a blog but he also (apparently) has his own show on The Disney Channel.   I’m not sure if babies were being kidnapped before the audition, but it definetely seems like I was staring at Wayne Federman‘s ass afterwards.  The thing to take away from that story: whether the bathroom is locked at the libary or not, you should just go to Walgreens.

I went to the Screamfest Los Angeles screening of The Quota at The Chinese Theater.  It was a wonderful night, and we saw a bunch of great horror shorts.  Most importantly, I got to be part of Susan Ruttan’s entourage (“Yeah, Susan, I’ll be your Turtle!”) and I smeared the white outer frosting of a protein bar all over my suit jacket while Cush did his Q&A.  Now that’s how you shmooze in Hollywood, baby!

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PHOTO: Back Row: Joseph Berman (Pod to Pod newsletter), yours truly, Cush (Cush: Things I Say), Lance Anderson (Verge of the Fringe). Front Row: Grant Baciocco (The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, Uncle Interloper), Espree Devora (WeAreLATech Podcast), Alfonzo “Fonz” Martinez & Walt Cortez (Walter and Fonz Show)

On this edition of THE BITTEREST PILL, we catch up on a bit of internet news and discuss how horrible it is that Apple put U2’s new album on everyone’s phone without asking first (they didn’t, actually) and how Mark Zuckerberg wants all drag queens to change their profiles on Facebook so they use their “given” names and not their stage names (he did, actually).  Don’t worry, it’s for your protection.

I tell the story of working with a Muppet, by way of talking about when I first worked with the Muppets (from a great distance) back in the late ’80’s.  Video to follow, someday.

And I talk about going to Hudson’s school in hopes of seeing a couple of movie stars, but only ended up seeing a guy I didn’t recognize.  At first…