Tiki Bar TV
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Tiki Bar TV is a short video series distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting or "vodcast." Produced in an apartment Tiki bar on a low budget, the humorous and heavily ad-libbed show is a creative outlet for its creators Jeff Macpherson and Kevin Gamble. The show rocketed to instant fame after being mentioned at Apple's iPod Video launch.[1] Each episode features a problem that is rectified by the episode's namesake cocktail, which is scribbled on a prescription pad by Dr. Tiki (Macpherson) and "filled" by the bartender Johnny Johnny (Gamble) who explains the construction of the cocktail. Lala is the Tiki Bar's primary denizen who opens the each episode with a dance. Most episodes also include a segment called "Tiki Mail," where mail from viewers or disgruntled neighbours is answered. Episodes usually end with outtakes, the cast dancing, and a slate giving the official website and email address. The show originates from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, but this is not overtly stated in the show itself.
Tiki Bar TV was shown in Apple stores worldwide as part of a 6 month promotion in 2006. Furthermore, show clips are being aired in Target stores in late 2006 as part of a nationwide advertising campaign. [2]
The first episode was released on iTunes on March 13, 2005. Each episode is approximately 5 minutes long.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
- Doctor Tiki, PhD, MD, USB (Jeff Macpherson a.k.a. Reginald Hornstein) always has a prescription for a new cocktail. His doctorate is in "Tiki", and he is never without his lab coat & stethoscope.
- Johnny Johnny, Mixologist (Kevin Gamble) is the cheerful bartender who makes the cocktails that the Doctor prescribes. In Episode 15 it is revealed that his "legal" name is Johnathan J. Johnathan. He inexplicably wears a leopard print fez.
- Lala ([Unknown] a.k.a. Beatrice Fastwater) exudes sensuality (and sexuality) as the mythical attractive lush. She usually wears a provocative dress and broad grin. In episode 10, we learn that she is not as ditzy as she appears; she has an engineering degree and, in short time built a self-aware robot capable of nearly fulfilling all of Johnny Johnny’s roles.
The performers go un-credited and unabashed stage names are given. Jeff Macpherson, who plays "Dr. Tiki," introduces himself as actor "Reginald Hornstein," and when "Lala" breaks character, she speaks as actress "Beatrice Fastwater."
[edit] Reoccurring characters
- Limey - (Lee Tockar) A lounge lizard in a reptile leather jacket.
- Kip - (Matthew McInnis) A "Guy with Woes" who frequents the bar.
- The Duke of Url - (Francis Rock) A British man on a tour of the Commonwealth.
- Mr. Ambassador - (Gio Corsi) A Cold War era ambassador from the USSR in a red fez who plants a spy camera.
- Drinkbot - (Colin Beadle) Robot that Lala creates who goes on a rampage after failing to understand the concept of love
- Rocket Billy - (Tygh Runyan) A 50's era greaser who delivers the Tiki Mail.
- Space Cadet - (Nicki Clyne/Nicki Clyne) Girl from "The OuterSpace" who comes to the Tiki Bar to learn Earth dance moves.
- Tokin' Monkey - A monkey figurine that smokes.
- Son of the Internet (Alex Albrecht) The illegitimate son of the internet from episode 20.
[edit] Episodes
| Episode Number | Title | Released | Run time | Posted Podcast Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Margaritaville" | 15 March 2005 | 3:43 | "Crappy old episode, don't waste your time with this one. -Dr. Tiki" |
| 2 | "Suffering Bastard" | 23 March 2005 | 2:38 | A lounge lizard learns a hangover's cure. |
| 3 | "The Trap Door" | 28 March 2005 | 3:55 | AWOL bartender and relationship woes. |
| 4 | "Hulla Balloo" | 5 April 2005 | 2:50 | The tiki bar is a mess and Lala is even worse. |
| 5 | "Trader Woody" | 13 April 2005 | 3:31 | A cursed Tiki must be appeased. |
| 6 | "Interlude" | 14 May 2005 | 3:18 | An intermezzo pleases the monkey. |
| 7 | "Checker Challenge " | 23 July 2005 | 3:49 | Who will survive the shooter showdown? |
| 8 | "London Fogcutter" | 19 August 2005 | 4:39 | A stiff upper lip savors a stiff drink. |
| 9 | "Red Oktober" | 25 October 2005 | 5:14 | Red alert for orange vodka. |
| 10 | "Drinkbot" | 20 November 2005 | 5:25 | Mixologist vs machine. |
| 10A | "Drinkbot Outtakes" | 28 November 2005 | 2:11 | You can dress him up but you can't take him out. |
| 11 | "Volcano" | 16 December 2005 | 5:56 | Fight fire with fire. |
| 12 | "Holiday Mailbag" | 1 January 2006 | 3:46 | Tiki Mail mayhem. |
| 13 | "Skull & Bones" | 13 February 2006 | 5:28 | No Comment. |
| 14 | "Boomerang" | 23 March 2006 | 4:53 | What comes back must go down. |
| 15 | "Legal Ease" | 21 April 2006 | 6:09 | Penalized at the bar. |
| 16 | "Tongue Twister" | 8 May 2006 | 5:32 | Lala speaks out of turn. |
| 17 | "Space Cadet" | 3 June 2006 | 5:32 | Galactic peril. |
| 18 | "Greeki Tiki" | 23 June 2006 | 3:45 | Some like it Greek. |
| 19 | "Space Cadet part 2" | 31 July 2006 | 4:27 | Lunacy. |
| 20 | "Son of the Internet" | 6 September 2006 | 6:21 | Dot calm before the storm. |
| 21 | "Snake" | 1 October 2006 | 7:51 | Lala sheds her skin. |
| 22 | "Dry Halloween" | 29 October 2006 | 5:23 | Boned on the graveyard shift. |
| 23 | "Red Handed" | 5 December 2006 | 6:28 | Penetrated by a double agent. |
See Tiki Bar TV recipes for the list of cocktails made on the show.
[edit] Trivia
- Amanda Congdon makes a cameo appearance around 3:27 in Episode 12 ("Holiday Mailbag"). She confirmed via her forum that "Yes, that was me. I've been grooving at the Tiki Bar! I just loooooooove Dr. T, Johnny Bones and Ooo La La." (Actual Video footage was taken from the Rocketboom podcast segment called "Dance Kit")
- Nicki Clyne, from the new Battlestar Galactica series makes a guest appearance in episode 17 ("Space Cadet"). This is hinted by her subtle use of the word "frak" in the dancing scene with La La. It is a term often used in Battlestar Galactica. She also appears in episode 19 ("Space Cadet part 2"). This is also hinted by Johnny Johnny's use of the phrase "Did you fix that Viper yet because there are Cylons everywhere," a reference to Battlestar Galactica in the blooper section of the episode.
- The cast had a crossover with Rocketboom on the newscast of July 14, 2006.
- Dr. Tiki appeared on Diggnation Episode #45, in which he invited hosts Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht to drinks later in the day, and put leis around their necks. They discussed the volcano cocktail, which had appeared on both of their shows.
- Johnny Johnny appeared on Episode 55 of the weekly tech podcast Diggnation, where he strong-arms hosts Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose into doing several shooters.
- Alex announced on episode 59 of Diggnation that he is in episode 20 of Tiki Bar TV.
- Episode 61 of Diggnation was shot on the Tiki Bar set where Dr. Tiki and Lala shared a drink with Kevin and Alex. Kevin acted extremely nervous throughout the episode, presumably due to his anxiety in meeting Lala for the first time. He held it together enough to ask her out for a drink afterwards, and she accepted. Appearing out of character, Dr. Tiki was called Jeff several times by both Kevin and Alex who then attempted to cover the flub up by saying he was actually Dr. Tiki's brother Jeff.
- Tygh Runyan who plays "Rocket Billy" was also in Snakes on a Plane, and the Tiki Episode of "Snake" is a nod to this.
[edit] References
- ^ Heather Green. "Is the Web the new Hollywood?", Business Week, 2006-01-23. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- ^ Macworld Expo Speaker Bio. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- "Doctor! I need a triple" by Laura Lind , National Post, January 30, 2006, retrieved February 2, 2006
- "Who Needs a Network? " by Scott Woolley , Forbes Magazine, July 03, 2006
- "Interview on Podcast 411" Item #176, November 22nd 2006
