Coolest Alive

In this episode of Coolest Alive, Jesse Blaze Snider dives into the animated masterpiece South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, celebrating its bold, musical satire that turned the show’s crude humor into a full-blown feature film packed with hilarious songs, sharp jabs at censorship and celebrity, and unforgettable chaos as the boys sneak into an R-rated movie, leading to war with Canada in one of the most irreverent and quotable animated comedies ever made.

In episode #307 of Coolest Alive, Jesse Blaze Snider spotlights the high-energy 2004 self-titled debut album from The F-Ups, a mohawked punk-pop outfit of teenagers who burst onto the scene with raw, rebellious anthems like “Lazy Generation” that landed in video games and captured the spirit of early-2000s skate-punk attitude, blending catchy hooks, snotty lyrics, and unpolished fun that still feels fresh for fans craving that Warped Tour-era vibe.

On this episode of Coolest Alive, host Jesse Blaze Snider is digging into the mythic fault line that runs through modern fandom, starting with what Disney actually ignored when they bought Star Wars: George Lucas. He didn’t just hand over assets and a logo. He left behind story notes, a full plan for the sequel trilogy, a fully written live-action TV series, and a deeper vision of the Force. It was tossed aside in favor of safe nostalgia and brand management. What was Lucas’s Star Wars meant to become? Why was it “too risky,” and how did not going with his plan fracture the shared cultural myth that once held generations together? Plus, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy face-planted on YouTube, and a random channel posted a Spock action figure and beat it. One thing is for sure, Star Wars & Star Trek need an overall & the Coolest Geek Alive knows just what to do! 

On this episode of Coolest Alive, host Jesse Blaze Snider surprises us with Wild Card Friday! It's a celebration of Netflix's SKYSCRAPPER LIVE, a real-time spectacle that transforms performance, risk, and human limitation into must-see television. This episode isn’t just about the event itself, but what it represents: art as something that happens now, without a safety net, demanding your attention and your nerves. It’s the perfect Friday reminder that sometimes the most powerful stories aren’t polished, they’re survived. Thank you, Alex Honnold.

LIVE-ACTION: Episode #304 of the Coolest Alive brings the chaos with Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, a crime story that barrels forward on bad decisions, bad luck, and pure survival instinct. Set against a gritty, lived-in world, the film blends dark humor, tension, and character-driven madness in a way only Aronofsky can. This episode looks at how Caught Stealing turns disorder into momentum, and why it feels like a late-career swing that lands hard. And how, it may, of all the wonderful things, bring wisdom to those viewers who seek it.

On episode #303, we are going cosmic with Silver Surfer: Black, a visually explosive, soul-searching graphic novel that drops Marvel’s loneliest god into the void and forces him to confront who he really is. Donny Cates and Tradd Moore turn space into something psychedelic, brutal, and strangely intimate. This episode dives into why Silver Surfer: Black stands as both a superhero story and a myth about transformation through darkness.

On episode 302 of Coolest Alive, we rewind to one of Disney’s most underrated emotional gut-punches: Meet the Robinsons. Beneath the bright sci-fi chaos is a deeply human story about failure, belonging, and the radical power of optimism. This episode explores why “Keep Moving Forward” isn’t just a slogan, but a philosophy, and how this film quietly became one of the most life-affirming animated features of its era.

Episode #301 kicks off loud with Black Tape by The Explosion, a record that captures pure forward momentum at the exact moment punk flirted with the mainstream without losing its teeth. It’s all urgency, heart, and fists-in-the-air conviction, the sound of a band sprinting toward something bigger while still bleeding from the underground. Today’s episode celebrates why this album still hits like a rallying cry and why The Explosion remains a perfect example of passion outrunning circumstance.

The MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Teaser Trailer just dropped and the Coolest Man Alive, Jesse Blaze Snider is genuinely bubbling like a kid in a candy store over EVER ELECTRIFYING FRAME! As an old-school He-Man fan, Jesse gives it a so far, so good and chats up all the exciting possibilities! As well as celebrating some of the exciting possibilities for AVENGERS DOOMSDAY, while measuring expectations, based on the downright BORING Teaser Trailers released thus far, by Marvel Studios. Only time will tell which will be better received by the audience, but Jesse's gleeful joy watching the trailer is timeless and not to be missed!

On episode #299 of Coolest Alive, host Jesse Blaze Snider's assessment of  Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Executive-produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and directed by Alexandria Stapleton, this explosive four-part Netflix miniseries (released December 2, 2025) chronicles Sean “Diddy” Combs’ rise from Harlem kid to Bad Boy Records mogul, discovering stars like Mary J. Blige and Notorious B.I.G., scoring Grammys with No Way Out, and building a billion-dollar empire, while unpacking the dark allegations of violence, exploitation, and 2024 federal sexual misconduct charges leading to his conviction and imprisonment. Packed with never-before-seen footage, insider interviews, and a raw examination of power’s consequences, it has sparked massive debate for its unflinching look at hip-hop’s golden era and its shadows…a staggering cultural reckoning.

Episode #298 PROOF BIGFOOT “EXISTS” Directed by Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sánchez, Exists is the 2014 found-footage Bigfoot horror that delivers raw, woods-bound terror as five friends head to a remote Texas cabin, hit something on the road, and face a vengeful, primal Sasquatch (played by suit actor Brian Steele). With GoPro-style chaos, night-vision scares, and brutal encounters building genuine dread despite mixed reviews, it stands out for Sánchez’s technical flair, effective creature design, and return to isolation-driven horror, making it a cult favorite among monster movie fans craving straightforward, intense cryptid chills.

Criminal is the acclaimed, creator-owned noir crime series by Eisner-winning writer Ed Brubaker and masterful artist Sean Phillips, launching in 2006 with interconnected tales of betrayal, fate, and the criminal underworld in a shared gritty universe, starting with arcs like “Coward” (a heist thriller), “Lawless” (revenge in the shadows), and “The Dead and the Dying” (moody ’70s mob stories). Praised for its deep character studies, shadowy art, and subversion of crime tropes (think Jim Thompson meets Sin City), it has won multiple Eisners and Harvey Awards, influencing modern crime comics and even spawning a TV adaptation, essential for fans of unflinching, emotionally raw pulp fiction.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Lego Movie is the wildly inventive 2014 animated blockbuster that turned a toy franchise into a creative triumph, starring Chris Pratt as ordinary Emmet, Elizabeth Banks as fierce Wyldstyle, Will Ferrell as tyrannical Lord Business, and voices like Will Arnett’s brooding Batman in a meta adventure about imagination versus conformity. Grossing over $470 million worldwide on a modest budget, it earned universal acclaim, a BAFTA for Best Animated Film, and an Oscar nomination for “Everything Is Awesome”, delivering hilarious satire, stunning LEGO-style animation, and a heartfelt message on teamwork and breaking rules that spawned a beloved franchise.

Episode #295 celebrates Skid Row’s explosive 1989 self-titled debut album, the gritty hard rock masterpiece that launched the New Jersey band, featuring Sebastian Bach’s soaring vocals, Rachel Bolan and Dave “The Snake” Sabo’s songwriting, and produced by Michael Wagener, into multi-platinum stardom with massive hits like the rebellious anthem “Youth Gone Wild,” the tragic storytelling of “18 and Life” (peaking at No. 4 on the Hot 100), and the heartfelt power ballad “I Remember You” (No. 6). Peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and eventually certified 5× platinum in the US amid heavy MTV rotation and tours with Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, it blended raw attitude with catchy hooks as one of the last great hair metal successes before grunge took over, pure ’80s rebellion with timeless energy.

In this episode of Coolest Alive, Bugs Bunny & Daffy Duck, leads Slimer, Michael Angelo, Alf, and more, plus a bunch of Smurfs & Muppet babies in one big animated animated masterpiece, that everyone should see (especially for the modern day irony of so much of it, since it was made to help fight the "War On Drugs".)-- "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue" is the PERHAPS THE MOST EPIC ANIMATED CROSSOVER of ALL-TIME! There's a lot to say, and many more guests appearing, tune in and find out on Coolest Alive.

Wildcard Friday closes the week strong on episode #293 of COOLEST ALIVE with Being Eddie, the raw, intimate Netflix documentary on comedy icon Eddie Murphy. Premiered limited theatrical November 7, 2025, streaming November 12, 2025, it traces Eddie’s rise from 17-year-old stand-up phenom in NYC clubs to SNL breakout at 19, through blockbusters (Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America), family, fame’s highs/lows, and his trailblazing legacy. Features exclusive interviews, rare footage, and reflections from Eddie and peers like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan. Being Eddie is genius. Unfiltered, Eddie’s honesty, humor, and boundary-pushing energy shine through. From revolutionizing comedy to owning the box office, it’s inspiring for creators everywhere. Authenticity wins; this doc proves it. Dive in, get hyped on one of the all-time greats!

Thursday gets gritty and brutal on episode #292 of COOLEST ALIVE, featuring Bone Tomahawk, the 2015 Western-horror hybrid that redefined slow-burn savagery. Written and directed by S. Craig Zahler (his debut), with a stacked cast: Kurt Russell as grizzled Sheriff Franklin Hunt, Patrick Wilson as injured deputy Arthur O’Dwyer, Matthew Fox as suave gunslinger John Brooder, Richard Jenkins as quirky deputy Chicory, plus Lili Simmons, David Arquette, Sid Haig, and more. Low-budget ($1.8M) masterpiece blending sharp dialogue, character depth, and unflinching violence against cannibal troglodytes. Bone Tomahawk is a slow-building nightmare that explodes—it’s raw, real, and rewards patience with unforgettable horror. For fans of Westerns that go dark and don’t blink, this is cult classic gold. Saddle up—it’s a wild, bloody ride!

Midweek comic thunder on COOLEST ALIVE! We’re diving into Thor: The Devourer King, the epic opening arc of Donny Cates’ Thor run (issues #1-6 of Thor Vol. 6, 2020), w/ art by Nic Klein & colors by Matthew Wilson (making every cosmic panel explode). Collected in trade paperback November 3, 2020. Thor, now King of Asgard, faces Galactus as the Herald of Thunder in a battle against the Black Winter—legacy, power, doom, all cranked to god-level. This is Thor redefined: biblical stakes, brutal beauty in Klein’s pencils, Wilson’s psychedelic colors turning space into spectacle. If you love myths crashing into Marvel mayhem, this arc is your ultimate power-up. Grab it—feel the hammer drop!

Tuesday animation takeover on COOLEST ALIVE! We’re rewinding to Disney’s Tangled, the 2010 Rapunzel retelling that reinvented princess tales with heart, humor, and hair that defies physics. Released November 24, 2010, directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, screenplay by Dan Fogelman. Voice cast kills it: Mandy Moore as the dreamy, adventurous Rapunzel; Zachary Levi as the charming rogue Flynn Rider (Eugene Fitzherbert); Donna Murphy as the iconic villain Mother Gothel; plus Ron Perlman, Brad Garrett, and more. Disney’s 50th animated feature, with groundbreaking CGI for that 70-foot golden hair and Alan Menken’s Oscar-nominated score. Tangled is magic in motion—empowering, hilarious, and full of heart. If you need a feel-good escape that still packs depth, this is it. Watch and let your hair down!

Kick off the week with pure resistance fuel on COOLEST ALIVE Monday! We’re blasting INERTIA, grandson’s third studio album (Jordan Edward Benjamin, the Canadian-American alt-rock/hip-hop rebel). Dropped September 5, 2025, via his own XX Records in partnership with Create Music, produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The 1975). This 10-track beast (29 minutes of chaos) includes standouts like “BRAINROT,” “SELF IMMOLATION,” “BURY YOU,” and “PULL THE TRIGGER”—all resistance anthems tackling digital apathy, societal conformity, and personal rebellion. Grandson teased it as his “heaviest and hardest yet” back in early 2024, and it delivers crunchy riffs, galvanizing hooks, and that signature fury. Crank it up and feel the inertia shatter!

Saturday geek-out with host Jesse Blaze Snider ranting, raving, and rallying against the greedy streaming empires that jacked up prices, diluted beloved franchises like Marvel and Star Wars with endless mediocre spin-offs, and delivered a meh Stranger Things Season 5 finale that left fans feeling robbed after years of hype. In 2026, with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Paramount+, and the rest gouging wallets (ads tiers starting at $8–$12/month, ad-free pushing $18–$25+, bundles hitting $20–$45), Jesse makes the fiery case for flipping the script: ditch the subs, save hundreds a year, and dive into the massive free buffet of Tubi, Pluto TV, Freevee, The Roku Channel, Kanopy (library card magic!), Hoopla, Crackle, Xumo, Sling Freestream, and more. This is the revolution for real fans who want entertainment without the corporate BS – stay cool, stay free, stay alive!

On episode #287 of Coolest Alive, Jesse dives into the unhinged chaos of Bobcat Goldthwait’s 1988 stand-up album Meat Bob, a raw snapshot of the comedian’s manic ’80s peak where high-pitched rants, absurd stories, and pitch-black humor collide in pure punk-rock comedy energy. Recorded live during the era of HBO specials and chair-burning late-night appearances, it captures one of the wildest, most unpredictable voices in stand-up at the absolute top of his game.

On Episode #286 of Coolest Alive, Jesse dives into the quirky 2022 comedy-drama Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, a true underdog story set in 1970s New York where a passionate writer takes on a 35-year citywide ban on pinball, proving it’s a game of skill, not gambling, and ultimately helps lift the prohibition with one dramatic city council demonstration. Funny, heartfelt, and loaded with authentic vintage machines, it’s a love letter to a forgotten piece of American pop culture that’ll make you want to find the nearest silver ball.

On Episode #285 of Coolest Alive Jesse dives into the 1987 graphic novel Batman: Son of the Demon, the dark, romantic, and wildly influential story that sees the Dark Knight in an uneasy alliance, and secret marriage, with Ra’s al Ghul and his beautiful & intelligent daughter, Talia al Ghul as they battle a global terrorist threat, only for personal tragedy and impossible choices to reshape Batman’s legacy forever. Packed with espionage, emotional gut-punches, and gorgeous prestige-format art, it’s an underrated classic whose ideas about family and heirs would later redefine Batman canon.

On episode #284 of Coolest Alive, Jesse dives into the stunning 2022 animated sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a Shrek-universe adventure that follows the legendary feline hero as he faces down his own mortality (and a terrifying whistling wolf) after burning through eight of his nine lives. With jaw-dropping painterly animation, hilarious fairy-tale chaos, surprisingly deep themes about living fully, and one of the coolest villains in recent animation history, it’s a wild, heartfelt ride that became a massive sleeper hit for good reason.