“Big Fan” filmmaker Robert Siegel has a clipped conversation with Rico… we meet a modern caveman… and Brendan investigates the Food Trend trend. Plus a joke, or lack thereof, from the Leslie Caron.
Icebreaker: Leslie Caron
Movie star and dancer Leslie Caron, best known for her roles in the classics An American in Paris and Gigi, doesn’t joke around. (Watch her dance with Gene Kelly here.)
Small Talk: Crime Pays, Human Bed Warmers, and the $3 Plane Tickets
The staff of Marketplace tells us about some stories your dinner guests won’t have heard about.
History Lesson with Booze: Shoichi Yokoi and Yokoi’s Green Scene On January 24th, 1972, on the island of Guam, Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi rose from the dead. In a manner of speaking. Hear Yokoi’s astonishing story, then toast his memory with the drink that bears his name.
RECIPE by Jeff Pleadman of Jeff’s Pirate Cove in Guam:
In a mixing glass, add:
- 1.5 oz. Spiced rum
- .5 oz. Midori melon liquer
- 3 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 oz. sweet and sour mix
- 8 oz. crushed ice
- splash of milk
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend. Pour into a 16 oz glass. Warning: Drink slowly or risk behaving like you haven’t interacted with your fellow humans for 28 years.
Guest of Honor: Robert Siegel
No, not the public radio host. A former editor of the Onion, this Robert Siegel wrote 2007’s Oscar-nominated The Wrestler, and his movie Big Fan just came out on DVD. Siegel tells Rico about the dark side of comedy, Hitler’s eating habits, Area Men, and the guy who took his foreskin.
Main Course: The Trendologist Trend
Last week, at a specialty food show in San Francisco, a group of experts predicted the top food trends of 2010. Their predictions — gluten-free food, exotic citrus — were interesting enough, but what caught our attention was the title of one of the judges: Kara Nielsen is a “food trendologist.” Brendan met up with her to talk trends…and job opportunities.
One For the Road: Night Control “Good Looks”
Pitchfork — the New York Book Review of indie rock — quite correctly lists Night Control’s influences as: My Bloody Valentine, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Pavement, Kurt Vile, the Microphones, Ariel Pink, Sebadoh, Neil Young, Cheap Trick, Wavves, Olivia Tremor Control, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Velvet Underground and Michael Jackson. And to think the band consists of one guy. Here at the DPD we slept on last year’s Night Control release Death Control, from which this week’s One for the Road is gleaned. We’re not gonna let that happen with the album they released this month called… wait, for it… Life Control.
Music in this episode:
The Sea And Cake – “The Argument”
The Wedding Present – “Signal”
Link Wray – “Jack The Ripper”
Tipsy – “Liquordelic”
Kodo – “Nanafushi”
Small Faces – “Tin Soldier (Instrumental)”
Little Joy – “The Next Time Around”
The Knife – “Heartbeats”
Coco Rosie – “Coconuts”
Night Control – “Good Looks”
