Start Spreading the Ooze- Beware of "The Blob"- Tonight!

There are so many fans of tonight’s MeTV feature that we had to bring it back for another oozing! It’s the 1958 classic that starred a 28 year old Steve McQueen  who recruits his girlfriend and goofy teenage pals to try to convince the unbelieving  towns people that an alien threat has come to earth via a meteor and could engulf the entire population if it isn’t stopped! They must persuade the authorities and their neighbors to beware of “The Blob”!

It seems like a typical evening for teenage pastimes- even if it seems our “teenagers” are well past the time of adolescence! These two “teens” –Steve ( McQueen) and Jane ( played by future Mayberry resident Helen Crump- Aneta Corsaut ) are flirting with each other  down a deserted lane- when a meteor streaks across the sky and  appears to have actually touched down nearby! They set out to investigate- but an old man finds it before they get there, pokes the meteor with a stick- and frees a gelatinous ooze from its interior, which moves and attaches itself to his arm!

When Steve and Jane arrive, they find the old fellow in great pain, and rush him to the local town doctor’s office. The doctor has never seen anything like what has now totally coated the old man’s arm- and, with no idea what the gooey substance is, sends the young couple back to where the meteor landed, to see if they can find anything else that might shed light on what the stuff may be. After the couple heads off, the jelly spreads even further over the old man’s body- and moves beyond it! When the kids return- they are shocked to witness the Blob claiming another victim! They have no other choice than to head to the police station- where good cop Dave and bad cop Bert aren’t sure they believe them. The police go to the doctor’s office to investigate- but find nothing to support the teens’ story- except some damage the bad cop wants to blame on the kids!

Nasty Officer Bert thinks this is a typical stupid teenage prank, and brings the kids back to their respective homes in hopes for some parental punishment.  Steve and Jane know the dangers of the incredible blob monster being on the loose with an unsuspecting public as sitting ducks for the malevolent ooze-so they sneak out, and try to convince some of their friends that this is no joke- and they have to make the townspeople believe before it’s too late! All the while, the Blob continues to absorb its unwitting prey- growing larger every time it claims a victim- moving slowly through town, attacking places like the grocery store and even the local theatre’s midnight horror show, where the horror suddenly becomes far too real! Those who have witnessed the gelatinous menace are convinced that it is a real danger to the town-but what will it take to actually stop the horrid creature that can flow almost anywhere- and may kill almost everything!

This film was produced by the same people who brought us “Dinosaurus!”, and was shot around Pennsylvania, and falls into the category of a 50s horror/sci fi classic along with “Creature from the Black Lagoon”. It was part of the wave of cheaply produced “drive in movies” aimed at teenagers, and definitely a blueprint for a lot of movies that would fall into the same genre. We’ll tell you all about the cast and the production- the catchy theme song – and just what made up the actual Blob. We’ll also repeat the song we originally did when we showed this film years ago- comparing the town in danger to a slightly more friendly place.

“The Blob” creeps- and seeps – and slides- and glides onto MeTV tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central- plus, you can check for time and/or channel where you are in your local listings, or at www.metv.com . Once again, keep in mind the fact that, lately, some providers are listing our show by the movie title instead of as “Svengoolie”- so, if you will be recording it- check how your provider has the show listed.  Join the many Twitter fans who live Tweet during our show, putting us right near the top of Twitter’s trending topics each week- just make sure to add the hashtag #svengoolie. In the Chicago viewing area, we give you a second chance to travel to the “Valley of the Dragons” at 11 am on WCIU, the U.

The voting for the Rondo Awards has concluded- and the winners may be announced today or tomorrow, if the tabulation has been completed- a big task, since there were a record number of votes again this year! No matter who wins, thanks for taking part- the Rondos truly give the fans a voice in showing what’s most important to them in the horror/sci fi genre.

Some big plans are on the way to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of me becoming Svengoolie-including events YOU can attend! Watch for announcements soon, and as we move through the year!

Join us tonight for the jelling jeopardy of “The Blob” on MeTV! And learn what a true ear-worm is with that theme song!