Present Professor » Movies/TV/DVD/Music

I-Dog. You Human. But We Can Be Friends, K?

carli — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:15:55 +0000

When I was a kid, I wanted a dog. . . like, really badly. My mother saw this and decided to pretend she was allergic to dogs until I was 18. She also bought me a plush dog every birthday, which I guess was supposed to make me feel better but was really just, like, “Here, little Present Professor. Let me pour a little hydrochloric acid into your paper cut.”

Maybe if she’d given me this i-dog Plush Puppy speaker, I wouldn’t have been so upset. It’s cute and cuddly and will play music from an ipod, CD player, or most any music source. The sound isn’t fantastic, but it’s decent enough for a kid’s room.

I bought this for my 7-year-old niece for Chanukah. I hope it’ll be a nice accessory for her new ipod. And if not, I’ll take it. It’ll go well with the dozens of other stuffed dogs I have, floating on a river of tears and resentment.

i-dog Soft Speaker, $14.99 at Target stores and Target.com.

Gift List: Gifts For My Gen-X Sister, Jenn

carli — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:22:42 +0000

1. Dirty Dancing Wall Calendar ($11.19, Amazon)
Nobody buts Baby in the corner. Maybe over your desk, or in the kitchen nook. But not in the corner.

2. Facts of Life: Complete First and Second Seasons ($19.99, Best Buy)
Did you know? Kim Fields, the actress who played Tootie, wore roller skates the entire first season to give her height–she was much shorter than all of the other girls. Did you care? No? Well, then, this box set–which comes in a collectible lunch box exclusive to Best Buy, a store too lazy to put an actual picture of said lunch box on their Web site–is not for you. But it may be for your sister, girlfriend, wife, neighbor (if your neighbor happens to be Mindy Cohn), etc.

3. Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick ($17.13, Amazon)
Poor kid. Thrown out of Romeo and Juliet. . . hit in the nose with a football. . . made false promises to book Davy Jones for the prom. . . and that was just in front of the screen.

4. The Cure: 4:13 Dream ($11.49, Amazon)
OK, in all honesty, my sister probably hasn’t even heard of The Cure. The point is, everything old is still old, but releasing new CDs. (Kids, back in the day, we called them “albums.”) Other resurrected acts: AC/DC, Manheim Steamroller, John Mellencamp, and Metallica.

5. Puzzle Cube Alarm Clock ($19.99, Think Geek)
They have to call it “puzzle cube” instead of “Rubik’s cube” because of copyright issues. Kind of like when you buy generic cough syrup, and it’s just called “Tussin.”

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

Ho Ho Ho, No Commercial Interruption

carli — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:20:18 +0000

Remember when Mrs. Brady lost her voice and Cindy asked Santa Claus to cure her in time to sing at Church on Christmas? Remember when Ralph Kramden sold his bowling ball to pay for a gift for Alice? When Alex P. Keaton endures his own Scrooge-esque nightmare, sitcom-style?

No, you don’t remember? Well, maybe you know someone who does. And that someone would probably enjoy the Holiday Treats DVD ($9.99), featuring classic Christmas episodes of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Brady Bunch, Family Ties, Taxi, and more.

Sadly, “A Very Alf Christmas” is not included. In fact, I’m not sure that Alf ever had a Christmas episode. Dang, I miss Alf.

Ask Present Professor: All in the Family

carli — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:06:59 +0000

Susan writes:

I’m trying to come up with a good gift for an entire famiy. Two parents and six kids (ages 2-11). I’ve given up on trying to get them individual gifts and now would like to come up with something they can use as a family. Got any ideas?

Hi, Susan! Try a DVD boxed set–one with plenty of content for the whole family to enjoy for many years to come. The Disney/Pixar Ultimate Collection, on sale right now at Amazon for $109.99, includes the first eight Pixar films (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Cars, and Ratatouille). You might also want to consider a collection of Looney Tunes cartoons, introducing the children (and quite possibly, the parents) to hilarious shorts from the early days of animation. Looney Tunes: Volume I ($24.99) is a great introduction to everyone’s favorite wascally wabbit. Additional volumes are similarly priced. The Muppet Show DVDs are also quite funny and appropriate for everyone ($22.99 per season, 3 seasons available at Amazon). And maybe, if you’re lucky, they’ll invite you over to watch. (Don’t forget the popcorn!)

Gift List: Great Gifts For Grown-Ups Who Never Grew Up

carli — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:45:41 +0000

1. 80’s Candy Box, $29.99. Includes such favorites as Wonka Bottlecaps, Atomic Fire Balls, Pop Rocks, ~~Good and Plenty~~ and more. (the box includes Good ‘N Plenty. I just have no evidence anyone actually enjoys them. Individual candy also available at Hometown Favorites (Make your own gift box! Choose your own adventure!)

2. Sesame Street Old School, Volume 2, $26.99. Picture it: 1974-79. Mr. Hooper is still alive. Elmo has yet to be formed out of a devilish blaze of red felt. Richard Pryor reinterprets the alphabet. And Fonzie and Richie Cunningham brush their teeth.

3. Nick & Nora footie pajamas, $24.99 at Target.

4. The Wild Planet Spy Gear Spyfire, $14.99, can shoot foam darts up to 25 feet via remote control–or, if you’d like, convert it to a handheld and go all Terminator with your bad self.

5. Lip Smackers lip gloss, under $5 (click here for stores) in fun flavors like cotton candy and Cherry Coke. Because you totally want to look your best for that hottie in your Spanish class.

Help Wanted Kwik: Squishee Machine Engineer

carli — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:16:09 +0000

They say not to dress for the job you have, but for the job you want. With that in mind, here’s the perfect item for anyone itching to give it all up and work at the world’s greatest animated convenience store.

Kwik E Mart hat, $14.99 at Fox Shop.