Chris Stout
Chris likes not having any free time. +Chris Stout Email: cstout76@gmail.com
Homepage: http://www.manjr.com
Posts by Chris Stout
Nick Di Paolo Interview – MANjr Podcast
Nick Di Paolo is the best. You may not agree with his views and his politics, but Di Paolo calls it like he sees it. He talks about all the things that no one wants to talk about. He skewers political correctness and isn’t afraid to piss people off in the process. Good comedy needs truth and honesty. Mix in some passion, and a little bit of that pissed off vibe, and you got a solid approach to laughs. Di Paolo has all these qualities, and that’s what makes him so effective.
When we were asked to interview Nick Di Paolo to discuss his upcoming Raw Nerve special on Showtime (which airs on Friday at 9pm), we jumped at the chance. If you’ve ever seen Di Paolo perform stand up, go off on a roast or if you’ve listened to his radio appearances, you know the guy’s just hilarious. We figured it’d be a fun conversation that could go in a few different directions. We knew there’d be a lot of laughs in the mix as well.
Di Paolo didn’t disappoint. During our interview, we talked about a wide range of topics, everything from his Showtime special and Raw Nerve album to the Red Sox, Kobe and Greg Giraldo. We found out who he’d like to roast, who cracks him up and what it was like to write for Chris Rock. He gave us some tips for aspiring comics and some advice on marriage as well. And he made us crack up throughout it all.
The interview starts off a bit slow, but stick with it. It just gets better. Here’s the podcast:
Nick Di Paolo Interview – MANjr.com Podcast
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Don’t forget to check out the Raw Nerve special on Showtime this Friday at 9pm. We haven’t seen it yet, but we pretty sure it’s going to be sick.
Apr 28th
Watch the CBSSports.com Draft Show Live via Livestream
Apr 28th
Workaholics Episode 3 Preview
The third episode of Workaholics airs tonight on Comedy Central. If you haven’t seen this show yet, check it out. It’s pretty damn funny. Here’s a clip from tonight’s episode:
Apr 20th
AVS Gear Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard Review
Typing without a keyboard sucks. Whether you’re working on a smartphone with tactile keys like a Blackberry or a touch screen on an iPhone or iPad, typing anything at length can be a challenge when you’re working with small keys or sensitive touch pads. Add in a bad case of sausage fingers, and you can forget about typing anything over 50 to 100 words.
That’s why they make devices like the Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard from AVS Gear. This keyboard is deceptively efficient. It’s lightweight and tiny enough so you can lug it around easily. It weighs 320grams (with batteries) and it’s 225 mm long, 99 mm wide and 23.5 mm high. But despite its miniature form, it still feels sturdy. You feel like this thing can withstand a few drops on the ground and keep on ticking.
The keys occupy a small surface area, but they aren’t too close together and they actually have some decent resistance behind them. When you press the keys down, you can actually feel it, almost like an old school clicky keyboard. If you stroke the wrong key, you’ll now it right away. And you’re not going to accidently mistype O, P, K, comma, semicolon and period because you were targeting an “L.” Each key occupies its own clear space and the tactile give and take allows you to bang away at this thing with a pretty high degree of precision.
The Zippy BT-500 is a wireless device that utilizes Bluetooth 2.0 technology. It has a range of up to 10 meters, and you can connect the thing to up to six Bluetooth devices at once. The keyboard has a one-touch fast switch option that lets you cycle through different Bluetooth devices in seconds. It comes equipped with two AA batteries which should last the average user about two months.
If you’re an aggressive typist, you can pound the keys on this thing without thinking twice about it. There are little rubber stoppers on all four corners so you get some solid traction on whatever surface you type on. You can flip the switches in the back if you prefer some lean on your keyboard surface.
The Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard retails for $49.99. If you use your smartphone, iPad or other Bluetooth enabled device to type anything over 50-100 words, do yourself a favor and pick up the Zippy BT-500. It’s slightly bigger than your hand, but it’s a sturdy, compact package that’ll save you time and cure your smartphone sausage finger syndrome.
Apr 19th
Interview with “The Gunny” R. Lee Ermey
You know “The Gunny.” R. Lee Ermey has had over a 100 film and TV roles, everything from Apocalypse Now to Toy Story. You’ve seen him on Mail Call on the History Channel. He was the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket who pushed Vincent D’onofrio to the brink. The Gunny started out as an advisor on the film, but Stanley Kubrick liked him so much that he gave him the role of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Before he became the quintessential drill sergeant character actor, Ronald Lee Ermey spent 11 years in the US Marine Corps. He served 14 months in Vietnam and did two tours in Okinawa. When his military career was cut short by injuries, Ermey posted up in the Philippines. He studied Criminology and Drama at the University of Manila, and he began appearing in films in the Philippines.
His role as a helicopter pilot in Apocalypse Now led to other acting and advisor roles. He served as a technical advisor on the film An Officer and a Gentleman, and he went on to appear in films like Fletch Lives, Toy Soldiers, Se7en, Mississippi Burning, both Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and X-Men 3.
When The Gunny isn’t acting, doing voiceover work, teaching people about military history or showing up in Geico commercials, he finds ways to support the troops. The Gunny recently teamed up with WD-40 for the Drop and Give Me 40 promotion that supports three different troop charities. When you purchase Limited Edition WD-40® Collectible Series cans, the WD-40 company will donate 10 cents for every can purchased to the Armed Services YMCA, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
We spoke with The Gunny last week while he was on the deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. He gave us more details about the Drop and Give Me 40 promotion while he was drilling ROTC candidates. We also talked a little bit about Mail Call and working with Stanley Kubrick. Check out the video:
To learn more about the Drop and Give Me 40 campaign, visit supporttroops.wd40.com.
Apr 18th
Scream 4 Review
The first Scream flick was a good movie. You know it was. It infused horror films with a type of style and humor that was fresh and easy to consume. The film knew that it belonged to a greater catalog of horror films, and it made clever use of this knowledge. The first Scream paid homage to horror films of old, but it did so in a way that recognized and lampooned existing horror film formulas. The sequels got old, to be sure, but that original Scream movie seemed to hit all of the right notes.
The same is true with Scream 4. Seriously. It captured that old, self-aware, self-deprecating vibe of the first film, but it still brought an updated, fresh take to the whole franchise. Reboot jokes were commonplace. Scream 4 never took itself too seriously, but it still pushed all the right horror buttons without coming across as stale. It poked fun without turning tired. That’s not easy to do.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t some breakthrough film that’ll change the way movies are made. It’s just a fun trip down a familiar path. It had old stars and new faces, a smart intro and plenty of cameos. Add in some amusing death scenes, a good bit of intrigue and some serious plastic surgery, and you got 111 minutes of quality slash and laughs.
I didn’t have massive expectations for a fourth Scream film. How good could it be? We’ve seen it all before. So when AXE Shower hooked us up with tickets to the Scream 4 premiere at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, our expectations were minimal at best. Before the film started, Bob Weinstein said that if it were up to his brother, they would’ve made a bunch more of these films. We were skeptical. And the lively, supportive crowd likely played a factor, but after watching the thing, I wasn’t thinking about what didn’t work in this film. I was thinking about all the things that did work – the stuff that makes you happy you went to the movie theater.
The fourth Scream installment is not just watchable, it’s actually enjoyable. Were there things that could’ve been better? For damn sure. The acting with the younger crowd was lacking a bit. Did the movie force you to suspend some bit of critical judgment in favor of having a good time? Of course. You just gotta know what you’re getting into and have fun with it.
Bottom line, Scream 4 is unexpectedly entertaining, and well worth a visit to your local movie spot. I’m sure it’ll blow up this weekend.
Apr 12th
Champion Track Jacket Giveaway
The MANjr team is a big fan of track jackets. Nothing balances the fine line between sporty and comfy quite like a good tracky top. While we’re partial to Adidas and Puma, we’re an equally opportunity track jacket operation. So when Champion wanted to team up with us for a giveaway, we knew exactly what we wanted to select.
The Champion Double Dry Ultimate All-Weather Soft-Shell Men’s Jacket is a lightweight tracky that keeps you warm without weighing you down. The soft-shell is resistant to wind and water, so you can go for that track jacket look on a rainy day without worrying about getting all soaked. Stretchiness is built in to the whole package. You get the benefit of added freedom of motion and the inner stretch cuffs have thumb holes to keep your hands warm on chilly days.
Champion has been producing quality athletic apparel since 1919. They pioneered the hoodie and they have mesh shorts that’ll keep you cool and agile for any athletic activity. These guys also introduced the world’s first sports bra. Champion employs moisture-wicking technology in their Double Dry sportswear and in all their socks and underwear. If you need sporty gear that can double as comfy casual wear, Champion has the track record and innovative features you need to keep you relaxed and stylish.
So how to you win this Double Dry Ultimate All-Weather Soft-Shell Men’s Jacket? It’s simple. Just follow us on Twitter @MANjrcom or like fan of our Facebook page and leave us a comment telling us why you love track jackets. We’ll pick a winner at random next Thursday, April 14.
Good luck!
Apr 7th
Sony Movie Channel MANDAY Giveaway
Today marks the beginning of MANDAYS on the Sony Movie Channel. MANDAYS will feature action-packed movies, adventures and comedies that cater exclusively to dudes who want to enjoy some dude flicks at the top of the week. MANDAYS kicks off with the Keanu-classic Johnny Mnemonic and Sniper with Tom Berenger.
Viewers who tune in on MANDAS can expect bro-friendly films like Toy Soldiers (pots and pans!), El Mariarchi, 88 Minutes and The Executioner. Guys like to enjoy a good laugh no and then too, so films like Three Stooges: Have Rocket and the Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder classic See No Evil, Hear No Evil are also on tap.
To celebrate the official launch of MANDAYS, Sony Movie Chanel is teaming up with MANjr to give away a MANDAY prize pack that includes Blu-Ray copies of 88 Minutes, Black Dynamite and Black Hawk Down.
To win the giveaway, follow us on Twitter @MANjrcom and leave us a comment and tell us which film is your favorite, most manliest flick of all time. We’ll pick a winner at random next Monday, April 11.
Good luck!
Apr 4th
