Hall Pass -- 1 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from imdb.com): A married man is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife. Joined in the fun by his best pal, things get a little out of control when both wives start engaging in extramarital activities as well.

Free Pants' Take: Like its sister movie, The Dilemma, this does not seem like a premise that lends itself to belly laughs.  This sounds like a compromise that's struck between two damaged adults looking for an easy way out of their marriage.  Plus, Owen Wilson!  I've said it before: any movie made with Owen post-suicide attempt is really a gift from God.  The movie will basically teach the men that they love and need their wives. 

Unexpected Scene: Owen Wilson successfully commits suicide on camera. 

I am Number Four -- 0 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from imdb.com): John is an extraordinary teen, masking his true identity and passing as a typical high school student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to destroy him. Three like him have already been killed ... he is Number Four.

Joe's Take: People (I'm looking at you, Stephen Hawking) always talk of the intelligence of aliens and yet it seems that whenever they attempt to hide out on our planet, they choose the form of an athletic and attractive teenager.  That will draw unwanted attention.  Instead, they should come down to earth as Michael Sabie (see picture). 

I went to 7th grade with this kid and no one, not even the teachers (or God), acknowledged his existence.  Except for the time I put earth worms down his shirt and pushed him down a slide -- then everyone thought he was hysterical (even God).

The alien falls in love with an Earth girl and that probably creates some conflict for their parents -- think Montagues and Capulets only with alien DNA -- while intense battle scenes take place in between bake sales and band marches.  Think Drumline meets Men in Black. 

Unexpected Scene: The alien takes a break from intergalactic warfare to study for the SATs. 

Take Me Home Tonight -- -78 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from imdb.com): Follow an aimless college grad who pursues his dream girl at a wild Labor Day weekend party. He, his twin sister and their best friend struggle with their burgeoning adulthood over the course of the night.

Joe's Take: Movies and books always depict a romantic view of emotional disconnection and misspent youth -- people always end up "finding themselves" at a party in a great location like the Hamptons or atop the Statue of Liberty with a beautiful woman who somehow pieces together the fragmented parts of their iives.  Where are the movies that depict people in sweat pants huddled in the corner of their parents basement drinking rum out of a Slushee cup while The Break-Up plays in perpetuity in the background?  This is another Hollywood scribe's wish-fulfillment fantasy movie.  The reality is that most people don't "find themselves" and if they do, they're probably too old or trapped to do anything about it. 

Unexpected Scene: After turning down his dream girl, the main character leaves the party, buys a ticket to Hall Pass, and then commits suicide with Owen Wilson afterwards. 

Blog post by Pete Jackson

I remember a few months ago when Joe and I were imagining the timeline for this trip. It was exciting to map out the locations we would hit, the amount of time we would be in each city and the fun things we would do. We even went so far as to make sure we had a full day of rest once a week so that we could sleep a little and maybe even have some time to enjoy ourselves in any given city. But again, we were imagining.

It may seem unfortunate that we’re on the first (and probably last) cross-country road trip we’ll ever take in our lives and we haven’t had time to really experience the places we’ve been. But this was a conscious decision. This trip was never about sightseeing or lollygagging. It was always about working our asses off for something we believed in.

But on a drive through Texas the other day we accidentally stumbled over a gap in time. I had to take a restroom break but there were no rest stops for miles, so we pulled onto a side road and stopped at an abandoned gas station that looked like it was at one point in time the only place to stop for gas in this part of the country. After we got back into the car, we missed the entrance to the freeway and had to drive on the side road for a few miles. Suddenly, we stopped.

We were in the middle of nowhere - nothing but an empty highway and a barren side road. There was silence. It was magnificent. We may have only been there for a half-hour, but it seemed an eternity. Time stopped, and so did we.

It’s moments like these that make this whole crazy endeavor feel right. We were able to get into the car and continue working feverishly, but this time with the hint of a smile on our faces. You might say, “Well, the best moments come along when you least expect them.” That’s probably true, but sometimes it’s nice to believe that the best moments come along because you really need them.

-- Pete

                 Joe and I threw a baseball around during a break in Texas

Oh good. Finally, people are using robots for their intended purpose: to terrify humans. According to the article, a Japansese company has created a robotic piggy bank that will "explode" if the owner deposits money infrequently.

"The battery-powered toy -- designed as a cartoon-style, ball-shaped black bomb with a skull and crossbones logo -- lights up, makes a noise, shakes violently and scatters coins if it is not topped up for a long time."

The guy on line ahead of me at Dunkin Donuts had the same reaction when the lady told him they were out of munchkins - maybe he's just imitating the Savings Bomb. For an additional $50, the robot will repeatedly whisper the phrase, "Your children won't be able to go to college," while you sleep.

"'Users must pick up and collect the scattered coins and reflect on their laziness,' the Japanese company said."

It's sort of amazing that the company has employed shame as its primary marketing tool; it must have spent years cataloguing those immutably sad conversations at the roller rink between me and my parents in which they covered their eyes and handed me pairs of pants. In America, we don't use shame - we sell products with catchy jingles, talking diapered babies, and fat husbands who can't seem to grasp the basic principles of financial planning, doorbell repair or gravity.

This makes me root for "The Savings Bomb" and some of its sister products listed below:

#1. Fridge Raider:
This fridge will dispose of its contents if it notices that you haven't eaten fruits or vegetables in one week. It will also invite your mother-in-law for a weekend visit if it recognizes more than one chinese takeout container. For an extra $50, the fridge will "dispose" of food by sending it directly to Kirstie Alley's house.

#2. Open House:
When placed in your crawl space, this device will send signals out to drifters and out-of-work musicians that your house is available for squatting if you don't regularly repair and clean it.

#3. Wonder Wall:
This will erect an actual brick wall around you. It is designed to mirror to the cold, emotional wall you've placed between you and your gay son.

The Savings Bomb costs $50 which begs the question: Is this purchase really part of a sound financial plan?

Pete’s Note to Andy Richter:

Dear Andy,

There is no way you’re going to remember this, but I’ve actually met you before. It was about a year ago in an elevator at the Roxbury medical building and it was right after I had taken my son to see his pediatrician. It’s funny, right when you were getting on the elevator, I remember telling my son that we had to go to the drug store to pick up his prescription for blarithromycin. You chimed in and said, “Ear infection, huh?”

My son was silent during that elevator ride. I don’t think he recognized you since he spends most of his time watching animated movies. But, after you and I talked for a bit and made it down to the parking garage he finally mustered up the courage to say “bye.”

Sometimes I wonder why that elevator ride didn’t happen after Joe and I had decided to take this trip.  It would have at least made for better conversation.  In my mind, I would have slipped you a business card, you would be overjoyed, and then I would call Joe and tell him the trip was off.  We had done it.  My wife would be so proud.

So Andy, on the off chance you’re reading this, the time has come for me to ask for help from everyone I’ve ever met. It’s the part of our trip where we have to pull out all the trick cards and you’re the only ace in the hole.

All the best,

Pete

Hi everyone,

It's me.  I just wanted to say hi from the toilet.  The picture above was taken in the hotel room in Santa Fe.  In every hotel room across the globe, there is a mirror located across from or adjacent to the toilet.  It allows you complete and total access to a view of yourself going to the bathroom.  I happened upon this when I was using the facilities and looked up and noticed: hey!  It's me.  That image cannot be unseen.  And yet, hotel chains around the globe insist upon this feature.  In every city, I have seen mirrors on the backs of bathroom doors, mirrors on walls across from bathrooms, and mirrors on walls parallel to the toilets.  I guess the next step is a mirror on the ceiling, or better yet, a floor mirror.  In the time it takes engineers to build that mirror, this will have to suffice.

In non-bathroom related news, a lot of people say, "Joe, you're so talented, hilarious, and prolific, is there anything you don't show?"

Good question.  For every hysterical video we've produced that has amassed over 7 views on youtube, there are countless ideas that I've saved until the time when I burn out creatively.  Here are some examples of what you didn't see:

1. Interpreter: When President Hu visited Obama last month, I wrote a skit in which I was the interpreter for both the President and Hu.  Using real clips from youtube, I would misinterpret and misrepresent each presidents' remarks until war broke out.  Hilarious.

2. Reverend Joseph Episode # 14: In a strip club, I marry a man and the stripper who gives him a lapdance.

3. I read that the King of Jordan dismissed his entire parliament to stymie protests in the wake of the Egyptian revolution.  I find this to be hilarious.  The skit involved protesters clamoring for change and the King coming down from his palace and chanting slogans with protesters saying, YOU guys need to go!"

There are others but you'll have to be patient.

Uncle Joseph

Dear Mr. Mubarak,

How have you been?  We’ve read that you’re schedule has recently opened up.  May I suggest a trip to Little Rock, AR?  Although the people of Egypt failed to recognize your long and faithful service, we here in Arkansas promise to never revolt – something like that requires our energy to be diverted from eating at Chilis and mispronouncing words, favorite activities of ours.  There are plenty of great things to do here.  For example, why not check out our porta potty conveniently located next to our traffic light?  History buff?  Well, you’ll love our wide selection of Little Rock artifacts like Bill Clinton’s running shoes and saxophone.  

Not a fan of looking at sneakers?  That’s fine.  Instead, take a tour of downtown Little Rock on our trolley that runs about as fast as evolution (if we believed in that sort of thing) -- it's so slow you’re sure to be robbed by locals at every stop.  It’s all part of our Mugging Crawl.

We hope to see you soon, Mubarak.  We’re keeping the porta potty open for you.

Best,

Little Rock, AR

p.s. Your people insist that time are changing.  Luckily, in AR, time has stopped.

   pictured above: trolley              pictured above: porta potty and weird guy

Dear Readers,

I have sad news to report.  Recently, I have been diagnosed with what can only be called a case of unironic Bieber Fever.  No one is more upset about this than I am.  I left Pete and Torio to see the movie with every intention of hating it. What's not to hate?  Bieber is a 16 year-old kid who released a movie about never giving up. Since morale has been low on the road ever since Mubarek gave up power (watch Bieber, Mubarek), I thought I would watch the movie, pick up a few clues, and try them out on the Conan or Bust tour.  But then something happened... I actually began to root for the kid.

People will tell you that one of the most embarrassing items to purchase in life is tampons or condoms.  Allow me to set the record straight.  There is nothing more embarrassing than purchasing one ticket to Justin Bieber's Never Say Never (in 3-D) at 10:40 PM on a Tuesday night.  At least in a drug store, you could buy other products to fool the cashier.  Here, unless I also purchased 12 tickets to Sanctum, there was no real possibility of fooling the cashier.  Although I tried.  I told her I was a movie critic.  Then, I asked to borrow a pen.  When she asked if I needed paper, I held up a napkin as if to say, "Nah, I'm all set."

I entered the theater -- a huge Imax stadium -- and skewered the previews mercilessly.  Warning: there is an animated movie about the Easter bunny who defecates jelly beans (played for laughs) scheduled to arrive this April.  I suggest you leave your first born behind, hop onto a jet ski and ride it until you run out of gas, and wait for the Rapture.  When the lights went down, I was the only one present in the theater.  I took out my pen and napkin and waited for my hatred to arrive.

Instead, I respected the kid, and I felt bad for him.  They showed clips of the kid at 8 years-old teaching himself how to sing and play the guitar and drums, and he was great at it -- a true virtuoso.  They also showed old footage of his playing guitar on street corners while people listened and tossed him a few bucks.  He must have been 9 at the time.  THEN, they showed a clip of him in present day -- wearing tight leather pants and singing stupid bubblegum music and I realized that he is just a kid surrounded by vultures who want to make millions from his talent.  They introduced his spacey mom and his entourage comprising failed bouncers and wannabe record producers and you could tell they see the kid as a meal ticket.

Also, women should be outraged at this movie.  The only clips of his fans showcase teenage girls screaming, crying, and begging to marry the kid.  When asked why they like him, most respond with vagaries like, "his hair" or "his eyes" or "like totally just because!"  Ladies, please stop this. 

Point is, I like Bieber.  So deal with it.  I don't like his music but I respect the kid for his work ethic and his talent.  Also, he did inspire one idea for the tour.  On stage, his producers threw back-up dancers who perform karate on stage for no apparent reason.  That's what my next stand-up show will feature -- Karate back-up dancers. 

Joe

Part 1: Usual anger

Part 2: Watching Bieber (and karate performers) in Never Say Never

Part 3: Bieber Fever

Blog by Pete Jackson

Some people have been wondering how we’re continually updating material while we’re on the road driving hours a day, doing shows and shooting material for the film and viral videos. Well, even though we may be driving for 10 hours a day, the car is our moving office. As we’re driving Joe is writing new content, I’m cutting new material and we’re constantly uploading all sorts of goodies throughout the day. How is that possible, you ask? Well, Macintosh, of course.

It’s no secret that this whole endeavor is being done on a Mac. Joe’s powerpoint presentations were created and are projected from his Mac and all of the material you see on the website is processed, cut and finished on a Mac. Joe’s sister bought him one of those Verizon 4G cards so that we can access the Internet practically anywhere, but up until that point I was even tethering the internet through my iphone (just don’t tell AT&T).

So far the Macs have been good to us. They have been dropped a few times and get shoved into the back of the car every other day, but they still manage to keep working. It even worked wonders while we were writing the songs for the Soundtrack ad we posted the other day. Joe recorded the music in Garageband using a keyboard we brought and I sang right into the front of the laptop. Not bad for a crappy laptop microphone. Sure, this may sound like a pro-Mac ad, but it’s also no secret that we’re looking for corporate sponsorship. If we’re going to try, why not shoot for the stars, eh? It’s our thing.

I also have my eyes set on Radio Shack for corporate sponsorship. It took some time to convince our small group that Radio Shack was worthy. Apparently, no one goes to Radio Shack except for me. I just don’t get it - who doesn’t like DC converters and fuses? All of the equipment on the trip has components that can be easily acquired at the Shack, and their stores seem to be everywhere. But I won everyone over one day when Joe had a very important show and there were only two-prong outlets on the walls. With less than 30-minutes until show time, where does one go to get a 2-prong to 3-prong converter? That’s right…

So if you guys from Apple or Radio Shack are ready to work out a deal, you can contact us via email per our website.  Our mobile office is open today from 6AM until 5PM, and then closed for a show.

- Pete

I've mentioned this before but there must be something universal about our desire to die at the hands of self-aware robots.  Despite the prevalence of Terminator and Short Circuit movies, we humans strive to create a learning computer that will eventually destroy us.

While you were busy sending electronic whales to each other on Facebook for Valentine's Day, Watson was initiating his takeover of Earth.  What's Watson?  It's a supercomputer that challenged two human competitors in a game of Jeopardy! and despite a few technical glitches, proved smarter than his human counterparts.

And how did humanity respond to this disturbing omen?  According to cnn.com, the studio audience cheered and applauded our eventual robotic master.  Alex Trebek had to gently remind the audience that the computer could not see or hear their applause; it could, however, laugh as it pulled out your spine and played it like a xylophone.  

I love Watson. And I'd love to see how it would fare in other TV shows.

1. Deal or No Deal

Watson becomes frustrated with the premise -- it renders his critical thinking skills useless -- and shoots lasers at the Deal or No Deal models.  Howie Mandel lives and comes up with a great sketch for a new version of Howie Do it in which Watson and Mandel remake the movie Twins.  Special appearance by Stephen Hawking as the cool bully who tries to keep Watson down!

2. Grey's Anatomy

After failing to get the microchip he needs to survive, Watson breaks the bad news to his new girlfriend. 

(Spoiler alert: Watson lied -- he doesn't need a new microchip; he just thinks he can do better than Sandra Oh.)

3. The Talk

Watson guest stars on the day-time chatfest and plans to impress the ladies with his infinite knowledge of quantum physics.  After the gals ignore his dire warning about Earth's imminent demise so they can debate the most absorbent tampon, a dejected Watson explodes killing himself and the entire panel.  World rejoices.

Special Valentine's Day Note: People call Valentine's Day a scam but they always make plans for it -- even if it's "no plans."  Last year I was with my fiance, Pete was with his wife and child, and Torio was in space.  This year, we're in a hotel on Conway, AK.  After we arrived, we each took the rest of the night to sleep/settle in/call loved ones/watch hilarious episodes of Mike and Molly.  It's mid-February.  There's one month left.  I have to figure out the next step... In the meantime, enjoy your holiday.

Joe

Never Say Never -- -5,000 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from IMDB.com): Follows Justin Bieber with some footage of performances from his 2010 concert tour.

Joe's Take: Historians can't agree on the impetus for the uprising in Egypt, but most think it probably had something to do with this movie. Justin Bieber, the 16 year-old singer, has released a movie about achieving his dreams and overcoming obstacles.  My dream is to lure him into a barrel and toss him into the ocean.  I someday hope to achieve my dreams.  Did I mention that the movie is in 3-D. I watched the trailer and pulled some clips that showcase the great things we all can experience in 3-D.

1. Justin's on a segway.  Absent from photo: the senile janitor he is preparing to roll over. 

2. Justin is surfing the net.  Laugh along with him as he finds himself by searching "douchebag" in wikipedia.

3. SPOILER ALERT: You will be able to actually smell the crap he produces.

Unexpected Scene: Justin hangs himself.  His note reads: "I never gave up... on suicide attempts."

Just Go With It -- 1 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from imdb.com): On a weekend trip to Hawaii, a plastic surgeon convinces his loyal assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to cover up a careless lie he told to his much-younger girlfriend.

Joe's Take: I remember a time when Adam Sandler was funny.  Mubarek was still in power and things were right with the world.  Then, he (Sandler, not Mubarek) stopped starring in movies written by Tim Herlihy and things went downhill fast. Movies like this lack someone sitting in the corner during production meetings asking, "Why?"  For example, when the writers (and Sandler) invented a premise in which coworkers, friends, and families have to support a lie that could be rectified with a simple two-sentence explanation, someone -- it could be me or Mubarek (he has some free time) -- should ask why.  Or when someone suggests a beautiful actress to play Sandler's new girlfriend, someone should ask why. 

Apparently, they do have someone present at those meetings who chimes in every so often to remind the writers to add more crotch-hitting.  I imagine inspired meetings during which a writer is struggling with the ending of a scene.  In it, Sandler is placed in an uncomfortable position by someone who is about to expose his lie.  "How can we get out of this scene?" the scribe asks.  "Hit him in the crotch!" the man will yell.  He might even be holding a pennant emblazened with similar words.  The writer will say, "But there's nothing around that could hit him in the crotch -- he's with a bunch of kids!" "Then, have a kid use his head to nail him in the nuts," the man will say.  Relief. Below are two stills from the movie -- one illustrates the scene I just described and the other is a textbook case of a bridge-in-your-groin punchline.  

Instead of watching this movie, you should join the army in Egypt.  Things seem to be better over there.

Unexpected Scene: Just when it seems like someone is going to hit Sandler in groin with a pool cue, he moves out of the way leaving his crotch unharmed.

Gnomeo & Juliet -- 0 out of 7 Golden Slacks

Synopsis (from IMDB.com): Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Joe's Take: Imdb credits seven writers with the creation of Gnomeo and Juliet.  Among them are Andy Riley, writer for Katy Brand's Big-Ass Show, Kathy Greenberg, a scribe for the L-Word, Emily Cook, another writer for Katy Brand's Big-Ass Show, and that guy William Shakespeare who wrote some unproduced plays (and was not a writer for Katy Brand's Big-Ass Show).  I wonder if Shakespeare ever imagined his words coming from the mouths of animated gnomes.  I know I have, but I'm not an iconic writer.  I look forward to book reports from high school students who opted to see this movie in lieu of reading the play.  "My favorite part was when Juliet fell into the driveway and almost killed that hilarious talking iguana played by Robert Loggia."  

Unexpected Scene: Somebody throws Gnomeo at Adam Sandler's groin.  Audience rejoices.