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Ep. #163: Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington

Tim Heidecker is the host of the highly esteemed film criticism web series, On Cinema at the Cinema, and also the star of the action show Decker, both of which air on Adult Swim. After a dramatic exit at the end of season five and missing the first episode of season six recently, Heidecker has left Jackson Hole, Wyoming and is back in Hollywood at the helm of On Cinema at the Cinema, providing excellent insight about what we all should see at the movies right now. Accompanied by his frequent On Cinema guest expert, Gregg Turkington, Tim and I discuss why he returned to On Cinema last week, whether or not he’s sick of movies and actors, why he left Gregg in charge of the show, the latest news about Gregg’s On Cinema segments, why Ayaka and her baby were staying at Gregg’s place, how Tim is now staying at Gregg’s place, the current status of Decker 2, the tension between Tim and Gregg, 2015 Oscar Award predictions, what’s next for On Cinema, and that’s a wrap!

Related links: adultswim.com/videos/on-cinema vishkhanna.com

timandgregg

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Ep. #162: Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney

Janet Weiss is a tremendously powerful drummer based in Portland, Oregon. Weiss is originally from California and, over the past 20 years, has played in notable bands like Quasi, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Wild Flag, and Drumgasm among others and she has an administrative, behind-the-scenes position on the IFC show, Portlandia. She is most celebrated, however, for her essential role as the drummer in one of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands, Sleater-Kinney. After going on an indefinite hiatus in 2006, Sleater-Kinney shocked fans by slyly and sneakily announcing a new album via a new box set towards the end of 2014. That album is the critically-acclaimed No Cities to Love, it’s out now on Sub Pop, and the band is touring behind it now, including a Toronto stop on March 2. Here, Janet and I discuss my 15 minute intro, Tony Kiewel and the secret message in the box, how No Cities to Love is all new songs, Quasi playing Touch and Go’s 25th anniversary show in Chicago and possibly covering AC/DC, how touring so much impacted the band, Sleater-Kinney’s chemistry, making magic in a tiny, airless basement, hanging out with Carrie a lot even after the band ended, playing together again for the very first time, touring again, surprises involving clowns, the song “Surface Envy,” and then it’s enough.

Related links: sleater-kinney.com subpop.com vishkhanna.com

Sleater-Kinney Band Photo

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Reviewed: On Cinema at the Cinema, Season 6, Episode 1

oncinema

On Cinema at the Cinema: Season 6, Episode 1 (D-)

It’s worth noting that, at its peak, there’s no way a season of On Cinema at the Cinema would receive anything less than a perfect 10/10 or A+ rating. The show’s unique blend of film expertise and insightful conversation between host Tim Heidecker and recurring guest Gregg Turkington made it the logical heir to the classic Siskel & Ebert  series about film criticism. With the sudden and recent departure of Heidecker at the end of last season however, On Cinema has been placed in a precarious position, as evident in its bizarre season six premiere.

When Heidecker announced he was leaving the show and Hollywood for Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the end of season five, he rather begrudgingly suggested that Turkington could take over as host and that, unfortunately, is what has come to pass. There’s no disputing Turkington’s effusiveness for contemporary cinema and, at the best of times, his unassailable enthusiasm for movies and joy for life is infectious. Having said that, his first turn as On Cinema host this past week was a veritable trainwreck.

For some reason, Turkington’s own guest expert was a videotaped version of himself, appearing on a crappy VCR/TV combo mounted on top of a cardboard box. Every time the real Turkington pressed play on a remote so that he could correspond with himself or prattle on about completing his disturbing #501moviesIn501days project, it made Heidecker’s absence that much more painful to bear. That coupled with both Turkingtons delivering five-bags-of-popcorn™ reviews of Jupiter Ascending and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water and an odd new segment called “Golden Age Comedies with W.C. Fields” rendered this episode useless and a disappointment.

It might be a little early in the new host’s tenure for such criticism but, as fans of On Cinema can attest, the show is nothing without Tim Heidecker’s charisma and knowledge and, for the sake of this important show, it’d be best to have him return and rein Turkington in before it’s way too late. (Adult Swim)