Coolio In A Cook-Off

Did you watch Coolio on The Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off? You wouldn't be alone. The Food Network posted the highest ratings in its history last month.

We'd like to think that The Food Network's dramatic increase in viewership is directly related to the Ghetto Gourmet. After, all, who can resist chicken so good it falls off the bone or a caprese salad so tasty it makes your drawers drop?

Coolio came in second to Lou Diamond Phillips despite breaking out the big guns like Soul Rolls and a newer, Guy Fieri-approved version of his Cool-A-Cado, winning a more-than-respectable $10,000 for Music Saves Lives. To which we say, Shaka, Coolio. Shaka forever.

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YouTube and My Damn Channel: Breaking News

Today, Google made a major announcement setting the stage for new programming on YouTube. We're honored that My Damn Channel is working to create a new YouTube original channel as part of this initiative.

We launched www.MyDamnChannel.com back in 2007 - dedicated to giving the most talented people in entertainment a studio and distribution platform where they can co-create, produce and showcase the best original video programming. We've made thousands of videos and many of the most watched and awarded comedy series like “Wainy Days,” “You Suck at Photoshop,” “Horrible People,” “Daily Grace” and political satire from the great Harry Shearer. We've been supported by major advertisers who partner with us to reach engaged, loyal fans online with media campaigns and branded entertainment that break through the noise.

In addition to running our own site, we've always syndicated to other outlets and YouTube has been a powerful partner since we launched our first channel there in 2007.

In February, 2012, we’re expanding our YouTube relationship to give you MY DAMN CHANNEL LIVE: a hosted, 30-minute, weekly comedy show featuring world premieres of our original videos and series. We'll bring you stars you love and new talent too.

MY DAMN CHANNEL LIVE will also invade your screens daily with 10-minute, interactive blasts from our host. You'll see our new live show on a dedicated channel on My Damn Channel, on a new channel on YouTube, and in syndication.

We'll keep you plugged in on the birth of our new baby with fresh updates about all the artists we’re signing and the new series we’re producing from now 'til launch. I want to give HUGE thanks to everyone who's supported My Damn Channel. A few short years ago, Warren Chao and I were two crazy fools with a power point presentation and a dream. The fact that one of the most revolutionary companies in the world just tapped us for their new adventure blows us away and we're counting on all of you to be watching.

Rob Barnett
Founder/CEO, www.MyDamnChannel.com

Sizzle Reel: 2007-2011 HERE

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Mark Malkoff's "Free Cab Rides"

Taxi Driver. Taxi. Cash Cab. That movie With Jimmy Fallon, Queen Latifah and Gisele Bundchen that no one will ever admit to seeing.

There's something glamorous and romantic about taxis, right? Who doesn't wish they could jump into one and say "Follow that car!" Or "Step on it!" Or "Don't you dare try to take me down the FDR during rush hour!"

A few weeks ago Mark Malkoff tried to make some taxi riders' dreams come true, so long as their taxi-riding dream wasn't more complicated than getting from one place to another:

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Highlights include when Mark and his driver "Tony Danza" the cab:

And Mark's costume changes:

Make sure you follow Mark on Twitter and Facebook so that the next time he's looking for someone to be in a video, it might be you. You might even get a free meal out of it, so long as you don't mind sitting in your food:

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Gigi: SPACE COWBOY

NSYNC said it best: "If you want to fly/Come on take a space ride with the space cowboy - BABY!"

And that's exactly what you will be doing during this week's episode of Gigi.  Gigi is in space.  Saving the world.  Winning the heart of the woman he loves.  What more could you possibly want?  Oh, Hank "The Rock" Goldberg?  You get that, too!  No big deal, just Gigi delivering the GOODZ - again!

So check out SPACE COWBOY and you will be lifted to a higher plane of comedy.  I guarantee it!  Just look at the still above!  LOOK AT IT!

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Thoughts of the Week

As an avid fan of Super Bowl Champions the Green Bay Packers, I've spent much of the last week celebrating by shoveling as many different kinds of cheese down my throat as possible. True, this is how I mostly go about life to begin with, but the cholesterol choking off my arteries and slowly murdering me has been especially festive as of late.
 
But not everyone was pleased with what went down on their TVs last Sunday. Steelers fans, sure. But music fans also suffered a devastating one-two punch in the forms of Christina Aguilera's freedom-hating National Anthem flub, and the Black Eyed Peas' over-aggressive imperative to "DRANK!" And then there are those weirdoes who only watch the Super Bowl "for the ads." And for these folks there was nothing more controversial and upsetting than Groupon's "save your money"-themed ads skewering celeb activism.
 
Okay, fair enough. A drunken, sports-obsessed viewing audience and a perhaps too-subtle bit of Swiftian satire do not the perfect marriage make. But if you're looking to be shocked, angered, and perplexed by advertising, these videos remain the gold standard...
 
First, we have this cute lil' nightmare factory from famed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
  
What is Inochi-Kun? My best guess is ceaseless, unending horror. Don't even think about mushrooms while you watch this, or your eyeballs will start to bleed and white foam will start to come out of your nose.
 
And then there's this gem, from a pre-Muppets Jim Henson, shilling for the now-defunct Wilkins Coffee. 
 
Why is this lumpy little proto-Kermit being such a dick about coffee? What is his agenda? Frankly, I don't like being strong-armed into drinking dirty water. No wonder the Wilkins Company's mafia tactics drove them out of business.
 
But if you're looking for puppets, why not check out the frightening-yet-friendly beasties of Spook House Dave!? 
 
In this episode, the monsters try to cope with Dave's absence while he's away at summer camp. Suffice to say, they don't exactly hold it together. Maybe they just need to get out of the castle. I hear Groupon has some great deals on hot air balloon rides.

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Nice Try, Academy

As we already pointed out a couple days ago, this year’s Oscar nominations were announced this week, sending pop culture dorks the world over into a frenzy as everyone scrambled to figure out who was superior to who -- the douchebag computer programmer, the stammering king, James Franco’s gross-ass arm, etc. But c’mon. We all know the Oscars are a sham created by Free Masons to launder money from their cockfighting ring (thanks, Wikipedia!). Who cares who did the best job ugly-ing themselves up for a role, or which hairpiece was the least ridiculous? The really impressive filmmaking achievements are all right here, on My Damn Channel…

Best Tapestry of Lies and Deceit, Horrible People Murder, alcoholism, infidelity. General rudeness. It’s all par for the course for A.D. Miles’ soap opera. Who needs subtle and naturalistic performances when arched eyebrows, leering, and melodramatic pauses will get the job done just as well? Just watch your back. Somebody’s probably waiting to stab you back there.
Best Tilapia, Cookin’ with Coolio Coolio is a man of many talents. Rapping, acting, gravity-defying braids. But did you know he’s also an accomplished chef? Well, you do now. And while he may not headed on Top Chef any time soon, but hey, he’s the “Fantastic Voyage” guy! Teaching you how to cook! ‘Weird’ Al never did a parody of anything Emeril Lagasse ever did. Just sayin’.

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Thank Google It's Friday

 

You've heard of that web startup company Google, right? Well yesterday they played musical chairs and some guy replaced this other guy but the original guy didn't go anywhere, he just slipped into this other role, and all of them still have enough money to literally buy my life.

Checkout what this Unofficial Facebook Resource page has to say about it. Apparently, a great battle is looming. Who would you side with? If you say MySpace then you're already dead.

Twitter user Fronsac summed this whole Google switch up nicely:

"Today would have been perfect if Google picked me as their new CEO."

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HARRY SHEARER: The King of New Orleans

January 30th kicked off the first night of Mardi Gras 2010 and our own Harry Shearer became King of New Orleans - appointed by Captain Oscar Diggs of krewedelusion (a New Orleans satirical parade Krewe with a mission to save the Universe).

Not only did Captain Diggs appoint Shearer the King of The Big Easy, but says "krewedelusion intends to truly empower its leader to govern. Govern everything. Period. Case closed."

Harry Shearer is directing a documentary called "The Big Un-Easy" - a film about why New Orleans flooded, how it was not a "natural disaster," and why it very well may happen again.

Lead on Le King-at-Large & Captain of New Orleans! 

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Help for Haiti

Our hearts are with all of the victims in Haiti.

Many lives have been lost, and many more are in desperate need of help - babies and small children have lost their parents, and many orphans are without shelter.  By visiting Haiti-Relief.com, you can donate as little as $5 to help rebuild those orphanages.

In the mean time, the Save the Children foundation has been setting up Child Friendly Spaces (shelters and camps) to give the children a place to play and sleep until other remedies surface.

By texting the word "SAVE" to 20222, a $10 donation to Save the Children will be added to your phone bill.

Also by texting the word "HAITI" to 90999, a $10 donation to the Red Cross will be added to your phone bill.

Other Links for Helping with Haiti Relief:

1. Real Hope for Haiti

2. Heartline Ministries

3. Love-A-Child

4. Partners in Health

5. Children of the Promise Orphanage

Also, George Clooney (among other film stars who have yet to be named) is teaming up with MTV for a telethon event to raise money for the victims.

The event is set to air this Friday, January 22 on all MTV networks (this includes VH1, Comedy Central, and CMT) along with ABC, HBO, NBC, and CNN.

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LABOR DAY

Brad O'Farrell gave our almost official mascot the Labor Day treatment. Njoy. He's linked to one of our happiest videos of all-time.

New unemployment stats are the worst in 26 years. If you're like any of the dreamchasers at My Damn Channel, it's a fair bet you're no stranger to losing a gig in TV, radio, music, or the arts & little sciences.

"Go Your Own Way" may be a lame, overplayed, 70's sing-along...but it's also fine solution for what to do after getting tossed out of a gig.

We're raising a glass to everyone with the brains and the backbone to embrace a new way to get your work seen by an audience large enough to actually make you money.

One last-ever reference to Fleetwood Mac...

We got some sad news over the weekend, that one of our best co-cons at My Damn Channel is moving on. Vivian Kyinn provides much of the mystical glue that holds this house together. She wrote and co-produced a film called White Wall which got her to Cannes and now she's decided to get after her movie-making passions full-time. BIG THANKS & BIG LOVE to one of the better humans we know.

Warren Chao posted the replacement gig based in our LA office this weekend. Economic insanity created hundreds of candidates in hours. If you're read "The Night Feed" and know the best human for this gig - email: Jobs@MyDamnChannel.com

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