Remember when you were a kid and you looked forward to staying up late on Saturday nights to watch scary movies? Those days are back, and it's time to wake the dead. Grab a brew and some popcorn and dig in for The It's Alive Show!
Broadcasting on Saturdays at 10 PM from WBGN in Pittsburgh, the show has just recently expanded its viewing area by adding live streaming video to its web site (www.theitsaliveshow.com). Now anyone with a computer can enjoy the classic B-horror movies, comedy skits and musical interludes by local garage band extraordinaire, Deathmobile.
In the spirit of Chiller Theater, Mystery Science Theater and Commander USA's Groovie Movies, the show is hosted by Professor Emcee Square who deals out finely honed criticism ("this movie is crap") and some intense yet deserved chicken whacking. The cast also features: Pointy, a demon of few words who personifies ennui and drips sarcasm; Stiffy, a lovable beer-swilling dead clown who is usually the target of the Prof's anger; Fritz 3, the third incarnation of one of the Professor's cloning experiment gone wrong; Hellga, Pointy's silent vampire fiancée; and the latest addition, Heather, the Mummy. And of course, you must tune in to see Mother and Urnie.
Horror historian Bruce Lentz, owner of Incredibly Strange Video in the Dormont section of Pittsburgh (www.incrediblystrangevideo.com), recommends the films, ranging from classics such as The Last Man on Earth and Carnival of Souls to so-bad-it's-good schlock fests like The Horror of Party Beach and The Creeping Terror, and hidden gems like the wildly popular Spider Baby.
Adding to the fun is "audience participation" in the form of a weekly live chat on the show's message board. The "Lifeless", hard core fans of The It's Alive Show, turn it into a virtual Rocky Horror Show experience and have cultivated a loyal following extending to meet ups and street team activities publicizing the show.
So if you are in the mood for some cheesy horror movie fun, tune it to The It's Alive Show you will be strangely satisfied.