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Peak Season's Matt James

This Week on Peak Season: Episode Four

As this past Sunday night drew to a close, I couldn’t fathom what that anxious and excited feeling was in the pit of my stomach. I haven’t had this feeling since Heidi still had her original nose on Laguna Beach. Perhaps it was hunger, but perhaps it was the signs of another dilemma. Then I realized it. I have officially become addicted to a television show.

The affliction, commonly recognized by symptoms which include: placing a half-hour segment of television before things such as personal hygiene, university papers, and essentially shunning social interaction, is a serious one. Yes, admittedly, I have googled Whistler on more than one occasion, and I blame my recently terrible social graces on Grant Fraggalosch, the guy who created Peak Season. He can answer to those who wonder where I disappear to on Monday nights, and then reemerge, with an insatiable appetite for alcohol, snowboarding and drama.

This episode of Peak Season revealed a lot, and while it seemed sort-of like a base to set up all the adventures to come, it was definitely essential.

What Happens:

Who is Stephanie Just?

In what appears to be a car reminiscent of the Toyota Camry I remember from childhood, the boys (men?) of Peak Season head to Stephanie Just’s house for a backyard barbeque. For clarification: in Whistler, this means jumping off roofs, and grinding homemade rails, commonly referred to as ladders. Don’t worry, it’s safe, as justified by Just’s “200-pound” father who set the lovely contraption up. It almost seems like an “America’s funniest home videos” moment waiting to happen, but instead, the audience is treated to Just’s snowboarding skills, and can appreciate the loud-mouthed daredevil for her passion to her craft. Unfortunately, the brash snowboarder gets caught for “speeding” on the mountain (does that go on your record?), and her pass is suspended. Cue the heroine of the story: Just’s mom, who also happens to be her sponsor. Remember cunningly asking your parents for help with that long division, slyly slipping the pencil into their hand, and watching the homework magically do itself? Apply this notion to Steph’s apology letter, and you’ve got one happy, marijuana sweater-wearing boarder.

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Ko is a particularly unique artist, with a particularly interesting story. Not only was he able to defeat his drug habits and turn his life around, but he has fulfilled his wildest musical dreams, creating his eclectic debut album “Let’s Blaze” and sharing the stage with hip-hop giants like De La Soul and Snoop Dogg. Oh, and Ko likes smoking a lot of weed.
If you like what you hear, be sure to check outhttp://www.ko-nation.com/

So I and many others I know have been glued to Uncharted 2 for the last couple of days. The game is simply amazing and unlike anything you have ever seen. This made me think of the common misconception the title often receives, I mean don’t get me wrong, it certainly has some of the best inspirations behind it, however Nathan Drake and his tales are much closer to the movie Romancing the Stone than say, Indiana Jones.
Don’t even get me started on Tomb Raider comparisons, the game just can’t compete. I honestly never think of Tomb Raider whilst playing since it’s a whole different beast.

Anyhow this was fun since I got to sketch Harrison Ford from a reference pic and tried my best with Lara.
Drake was hard to nail down without it looking too cheesy. In the end I opted for a real pic just because I wanted to give that “head and shoulders” above feel. Plus it just made my work easier.
And in all honesty just try and imagine telling Drake himself of that- I think his response would be something similar.
Click on the image for the full sized version
Enjoy!

His party anthems were once radio mainstays, but where is he now? Andrew W.K. is alive and active, having recently released 55 Cadillac – an album of solo improvised piano – as well as Gundam Rock, which consists of covered music from the Gundam Series. Additionally, Andrew hosts a show called “Destroy Build Destroy,” where he helps kids destroy things, build things, and destroy things again Yeah, that sounds about right. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to speak with the explosive Andrew W.K. and find out what the hell he is up to.

Don’t forget to watch my interview with Gonzales to hear more about the piano duel.

This Week on Peak Season: Episode Three

Canada’s newest docu-drama series, Peak Season, aired it’s third episode Monday night, and the second showing of this action-packed show followed in the premiere’s steps, that is, the sporadic and unpredictable steps of the entertaining cast the show is based upon.

What happens:

Matt and Elle : the Australian who likes to get (self-proclaimed)“loose” and his visiting girlfriend.

After Matt mistakenly ditches Elle at the bar, he resolves to make it up to her. Whistler-fashion, of course. This groveling style consists of romantic dogsled rides, champagne and a hotel room at the Westine Resort and Spa for the night. After an excessively long make-up scene in the hot tub, it’s fairly simple to come to the conclusion that Matt has officially been forgiven for his sloven ways.

Lauren: the rowdy girl with a mind of her own.

Lauren is on the hunt after losing her job at a local Whistler pub, and eventually comes to the conclusion that she is better off working for herself. She decides that now is the perfect time to start the promotions company she has been envisioning, and it’s time to put her party-girl reputation to a good cause (as so eloquently stated by her best friend, Stephanie Weber). Over cheese, sausage and wine, it is decided that Fabia, an already-established promoter, will team up with Lauren for a promotion event a premiere party as a trial run. After reinforcing the importance of staying AWAY from shots, we are treated to a wonderful array of shot-taking skills, as represented by Lauren. Traditional shots, shots without hands, shots from her cleavage- essentially any form of shots you’ve ever imagined, they’ve been done in a Whistler bar.

After discovering that a girl, Jenelle, is bad mouthing her, Lauren takes matters into her own (very capable) hands. After actively seeking her out in the bar, confrontation ensues. Talking turns to shouting, shouting leads to pushing, and pushing leads to a mini-lecture from a slightly intoxicated Fabia. After breathing in some fresh Whistler air, it appears that Lauren takes the heartfelt advice seriously, and won’t let this little bump on the road slow her down.

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Remember how awesome the first Transformers movie was?  I’m not talking about the 80’s cartoon movie, I mean the Michael Bay blockbuster from 2007.
Yea well let’s just say I wasn’t too amazed by the sequel. Just felt a tad bit hollow even for a transformers movie and there is just something wrong with how cool source material is handled by Bay.
But if you own a BluRay player or a PS3 you gotta see this baby in hi def.

I live near a hill where the forest is still lush and green.
Yes, the best time to be a gamer, Fall – Winter 2009 brings forth so many amazing games.
Game on! I mean Video Game on.. not that gambling game on. Trust me gambling is not cool.

As always click on the image for full sized goodness.

Supervillain. World record holder. Piano Dueler. Piano Virtuoso. Rapper. Gonzales is obviously more than just a musician. His musical output went from alt-rock to electronica to rap to piano improvisations to 70’s throwback pop, and his next album is a collaboration with Boyz Noize. Obviously, this is a fellow you should be learning about. Check out his challenge to Andrew W.K. here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBfkh_Dstg And you can see the final round of the duel (you can decide if he cheated) here: http://vimeo.com/6944245

Geez, it gets better and better. Following the season six finale bonus scene of Entourage with Matt Damon leaving Vince a psychotic voice mail, I just stumbled upon some raw footage of a second bonus scene. It appears to be a segment where Vince is getting chewed up by Damon while filming a ‘Save the Children’ commercial. Or is it real, and is Damon actually tearing up Adrian Grenier. You decide.

I am a..ninja

Hi everyone, my name is April Apoong and I’m the new intern writer at andPOP.com. Yes, I am their first female game reviewer. I am currently pursuing creative writing at a Post Secondary level and reviewing and writing about games was a natural choice for me. Trust me, I’m no pushover, have you finished Tenchu Wrath of Heaven on the highest difficulty 100 percent? Ever gone on a 30 to 1 winning streak in Dead or Alive 2? Well I have! For these reasons and more I am bringing my zany writing talents to the shores of andPOP. So prepare to see some well written unapologetic video game centric works of literature.