From 1999 to 2004-ish, I was one of the contributing writers for Garrison Keillor's renowned radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." I learned a lot of things there, mostly how to spell 'prairie." It was a solid gig and I'm proud of my work there. But, like any other job, there were...things...
Here's a sketch about a problem that that didn't go away. Back in 2005, people were complaining about how the amount of time between a movie's theatrical run and its appearance on home video was shrinking. Theater owners were mad because this was cutting into their profits. Studios were concerned because the DVD goldmine was just about mined out as VOD was launching. And this was all beyond streaming was a glint in Blockbuster's eye. Hollywood still hasn't figured it out. The sketch is pretty good, but there's a lot of pop culture references to it (which GK wasn't fond of) and a lot of references to TV, which seems counter-productive for a radio show. What can I say? It was original. It was snappy. It was topical. But it didn't get selected.
Now Showing
GK: Now this word from our sponsor.
ANNOUCER: Now in a theater near you, an exciting tale of action and adventure,
MAN: Watch it, he's got a gun!
(machine gun fire)
ANNOUCER: A movie filled with laughs and tears.
(Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)
WOMAN: (sobbing) But, Jed, I love you!
(swelling music)
ANNOUCER: It's "Jake's Bad Day, now in theaters...what? No? Now on Pay-per-view, "Jake's Bad Day," the beloved story of a man and woman against the world.
(cars race, tires squeal)
OLD MAN: You think you can escape me, Jake?
ANNOUCER: "Jake's Bad Day" with songs by Dare Them and Hop City now available on pay-per...what? HBO? Really? Now on HBO.
MAN: Run!
(Explosion)
OLD MAN: Jake, I'm your father! And him, over there, he's your uncle!
ANNOUCER: All the excitement, all the drama premiering this month on...huh? DVD? Already? That was quick. So, anyway, you'll laugh you'll cry, now on home video and DVD. Buy it now, along with the direct-to-video sequel, "Jake's Bad Day 2: I Shudda Stayed in Bed."
end
ANNOUCER: Now in a theater near you, an exciting tale of action and adventure,
MAN: Watch it, he's got a gun!
(machine gun fire)
ANNOUCER: A movie filled with laughs and tears.
(Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)
WOMAN: (sobbing) But, Jed, I love you!
(swelling music)
ANNOUCER: It's "Jake's Bad Day, now in theaters...what? No? Now on Pay-per-view, "Jake's Bad Day," the beloved story of a man and woman against the world.
(cars race, tires squeal)
OLD MAN: You think you can escape me, Jake?
ANNOUCER: "Jake's Bad Day" with songs by Dare Them and Hop City now available on pay-per...what? HBO? Really? Now on HBO.
MAN: Run!
(Explosion)
OLD MAN: Jake, I'm your father! And him, over there, he's your uncle!
ANNOUCER: All the excitement, all the drama premiering this month on...huh? DVD? Already? That was quick. So, anyway, you'll laugh you'll cry, now on home video and DVD. Buy it now, along with the direct-to-video sequel, "Jake's Bad Day 2: I Shudda Stayed in Bed."
end
