My Goal as I Get Older
is to make sure that
None of My Parts
Look Like They’ve
MeLtEd or INFLATED
— Joe’s Dump
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Don’t Melt or Inflate!
Reply
Category Archives: Musings
The IMDb 100 Club
The IMDb 100 Club
My IMDb listing stands at 99 credits.
Joe’s IMDb Listing (click here to see)
I may pass 100 this year.
Now, those of you who know me might recall that I’m not very hot on awards.
So let’s call this a Milestone instead.
Rituals and Milestones. Rites of Passage.
Although it doesn’t change how I pursue my career, it is nice to see some measure of real-world progress.
What are your personal Milestones?
What things in your career help you to appreciate the strides and progress you’ve made?
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Secret Plot Secrets!
Secret Plot Secrets!
Every movie.
Every TV show.
Every book, play, musical and miniseries.
They’re all exactly the same.
In every story, there’s a secret.
Someone
or something
or some group
knows it,
but for some reason
isn’t letting anyone else know.
Maybe it’s money, or love, or a super power, or weapon, or a miracle cure, or a dark past, or a buried body, or even knowledge of whatever.
Then there’s a bunch of story in the middle.
Eventually, the secret is revealed.
The end.
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Double-Nickle Birthday!
Today I’m 55.
This year on my birthday, I’d like to wish “Happy Birthday!” to anyone whose birthday I missed last year… or anyone whose birthday I’ll miss next year. That should about cover it.
I do try to wish all my online friends a happy birthday on their actual birthday. Sometimes I also have time to catch up on their lives.
Admittedly, there are a lot of acquaintances. But there are quite a few who I’ve never met in person that I can truly call friends. Pretty cool for a guy who grew up without the interwebs 😉
So, Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to you! And Happy Birthday to Everyone who’s not reading this (you know who you aren’t)
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Persistence
Persistence:
We Aspire to it in Ourselves,
Admire it in Our Friends,
and Abhor it in Our Foes.
But when is it appropriate?
As the saying goes, nothing feels better than when you stop banging your head against the wall.
Sometimes, knowing when to quit can be just as important as knowing when to push on in spite of the odds.
Only you can make the decision on if you should persevere or throw in the towel. Take the advice of trusted loved ones, friends and mentors into account. If they’re all saying the same thing, maybe it’s time to listen.
If you’re stubborn like me, that can be the hardest part.
Besides, that wall will always be there. Maybe just a bit of a break to clear your head…
Adapt, Adopt and Improve,
Joe
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
The Path of the (Yodeling) Pickle
The Path of the (Yodeling) Pickle
*** Updated June 4, 2018: The Pickle on The McPhee Podcast! ***
*** UPDATED 4/30/2018 STEPHEN FRY TWEET! (at the bottom) ***
Joe's Yodel (Joe J Thomas)
How did learning to yodel lead to Weird Al, George Takei, The Today Show and Gorillaz?
It all began in 2006, with a contest by the Seattle novelty company Archie McPhee.
They were searching for a yodel.
I was a singer, but had never yodeled. So I consulted the internet and found YodelCourse.org
After some free lessons, I submitted my contest entry and forgot about it.
… until 100 rubber chickens showed up on my doorstep!
I’d won the contest, and the prize was 100 rubber chickens, plus my yodel in a toy.
Now, the first toy (Feb, 2007) was not the Yodeling Pickle, but instead was the “Remote Control Hopping Yodeling Lederhosen” (with a knockwurst remote, of course):
Then in April of 2007 came the now famous “Yodeling Pickle”:
In December of 2008, the Today Show with Cathy Lee and Hoda reviewed the pickle:
Kathy Lee Gifford sang with it and said “Nothin’ beats the Singin’ Pickle!”
Sales of the Yodeling Pickle were great, and soon they came out with other yodeling products (more on those below).
On December 26, 2010, the Grammy winning band “Gorillaz” album “The Fall” featured the yodel on track 15: “Seattle Yodel”:
You can download the whole album for free at: Gorillaz – The Fall (at Archive.Org)
Gorillaz - Seattle Yodel
On August 5, 2011, Archie McPhee released their own video of the track:
On March 26, 2013: Archie McPhee announced “International Yodeling Pickle Day“!!!
On May 22, 2013: George Takei posted his comedic review of the Yodeling Pickle on Amazon:
My latest Wednsday Weview. This item was NOT what I thought it was. At all. http://amzn.to/14Rz5aU
Posted by George Takei on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
And on June 17, 2015: Weird Al Yankovic tweeted this (along with a review on Amazon)
“You can have my electronic yodeling pickle WHEN YOU PRY IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD FINGERS.”
On June 2, 2017: Gizmodo posted an article on Gorillaz and the Seattle Yodel Track:
On July 16, 2017, George Takei included the Yodeling Pickle in a video review from Knowable:
Because who couldn't use a yodeling pickle? via Knowable
Posted by George Takei on Sunday, July 16, 2017
And on April 30, 2018: Stephen Fry tweeted:
“I don’t know what a Yodelling Pickle is, all I know is that I want one. And in an instant absolute and foot-stamping Veruca Salt kind of way”
New! June 4, 2018: The Pickle on The McPhee Podcast!
Archie McPhee – PODCAST EP 6: THE YODELLING PICKLE AND THE GORILLA(Z)
Other Yodeling products from Archie McPhee:
- Emergency Yodel Button
- Yodeling Bacon
- Lucky Yodeling Pickle Christmas Ornament
- Original Yodeling Pickle
Gerkin for a living,
Joe “Yodelling Pickle” Thomas
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Things I’ve Never Seen
Things I’ve Never Seen
With all the hubbub about Game of Thrones, I thought I’d come clean: There’s a lot of things I’ve never seen.
Sure, I meant to see a lot of them, just never got around to it.
Here’s my list:
- Game of Thrones
- Any full episode of Seinfeld
- The last episode of Mash
- Any full movie from The Godfather series
- Breaking Bad
- The last season of True Blood
- All of Doctor Zhivago
- Most of the Harry Potter movies
- The Hobbit movies (except for the bad animation one)
- Raging Bull
- Fight Club
- All of Metropolis
Now it’s your turn! What haven’t you seen?
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Do Your F-ing Job!
Do Your F-ing Job!
*** Warning: This is an official rant. If you were looking for something non-ranty, please click elsewhere… You have been warned! ***
Maybe it’s too much time on hold with customer service.
Maybe it’s too much time in traffic with incompetent drivers.
Maybe it’s unqualified people in public office.
Whatever it is, I really just want people to Do Your F-ing Job!
Seriously, how hard is it?
If you’re sitting in the front of a line of cars at a red light, your job is to go when the light turns green. If you’re anywhere else in the line, your job is to go when the car in front of you moves. Do Your F-ing Job!
If you’re working in government, your job is to represent the needs and wants of your constituents, and to keep the country as your top priority. Do Your F-ing Job!
If you’re a customer service person, your job is have a deep understanding of the subject your’re supposed to be helping with, and to answer promptly and courteously. Do Your F-ing Job!
If you’re an actor, your job is to know your character, script and to show up on time and be professional. Do Your F-ing Job!
Writers… Write! Plumbers… Plumb! Painters… Paint! Creatives… Create!
I’m convinced the world would be a much better place and we’d all be happier if only You and I would…
Do Your F-ing Job!
(steps off soapbox. decompresses from rant.)
All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com
Hair Play
Gallery
This gallery contains 6 photos.
Hair Play You may recall three years ago, I decided to shave my head. (if you’ve forgotten, here’s a picture) Last year, I decided to grow my hair out into a tail. So, let’s have some Hair Play and see … Continue reading
Sillyam Fakespeare
Gallery
This gallery contains 12 photos.
Sillyam Fakespeare Yea, verily! Tis time for some newly minted sayings by the immortal bard’s third cousin, thrice removed… Odds bodkins! Milady most assuredly has a plethora of junk in thine trunk! Seldom is a man so forlorn than when … Continue reading