I rarely drink soda these days, but it will forever be one of my passions. Everything about soda fascinates me. How it looks! How it tastes! How it’s packaged! How it’s marketed!

Every soda has a story to tell, whether it’s a top dog with a million dollar ad campaign, or a no-name brand hidden on the bottom shelf in your neighborhood’s worst supermarket.

Jay from The Sexy Armpit feels the same way, so we decided to make the latest episode of The Purple Stuff Podcast all about SODA. We’re considering this our official Summer 2020 show, because nothing beats the heat quite like an icy glass of, uh, Pepsi Holiday Spice?

We’re discussing eight great pops. Everything from Jolt Cola to Tab Clear to Pepsi Blue to Hubba Bubba Soda. There’s even a live taste-test of Faygo Arctic Sun, thanks to Stew from Michigan, who so generously sent us a few bottles.

Click here to listen to this week’s show!

The Purple Stuff Podcast is also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show each and every month. (July’s will be dropping soon!) Thanks a ton for all of your support over there!

Below are pics of some of the sodas we’ll be discussing: Read More…

Dino Drac’s July Funpack is here! If you’re currently a subscriber, here’s some great news: In addition to this month’s box, you’re also locked in for three full months of Halloween-themed Funpacks, starting in August!

(And if you’re not a subscriber? Better act quick! There aren’t many slots available, and they might not open back up for several months!)

U.S. ONLY! LIMITED AVAILABILITY!

The July Funpack is another blast of summertime awesomeness, covering everything from sharks to sweets. You’re gonna have a grand ol’ time with this one, that I can promise ya!

You know the score. Funpacks are offered on a subscription basis. They’re $25 a month — INCLUDING shipping — and for as long as you remain subscribed, you’ll keep getting boxes of old-and-new nonsense each and every month!

Scroll to the bottom for ordering info, or keep reading to learn about everything in the July Funpack! Read More…

After I selected the ads for this edition of Five Retro TV Commercials, I worried that they were a little blah. Then I started writing about ‘em and realized, OH, shit, I’m actually super invested in every last one.

Sometimes you don’t know how you feel about something until you’re forced to write 200 words about it. Try that out the next time you’re deciding between paint colors or pairs of sneakers.

Jaws 2 on ABC! (1987)

In April of 1987, ABC ran Jaws 2 in primetime. I bet that was intended to rebuild awareness before Jaws: The Revenge hit theaters later that year. (Say what you will about Jaws: The Revenge, but I watched a lot of television at the time, and that movie got a huge push. The kids around here even adopted its tagline — “This time it’s personal!” — as a schoolyard taunt.)

Of the four films, I’ve seen Jaws 2 the fewest times. I remember practically every frame from the other movies, but all I can tell you about Jaws 2 is that it includes a shot of a dead orca. Over the years, this comparative unfamiliarity has morphed into me believing that I just like it less than the other films, but maybe that’s unfair. Jaws 2, you’re next on my Sunday afternoon half-stoned to-do list.

PS: I spent many years working on TV promos. There’s a real art to creating five-second spots. For my money, this one is very effective. You get a fin shot, a Jaws “hero” shot, a reactive scream and Martin Brody. That’s a lot to pack in five freakin’ seconds. My compliments to the producer, who I assume wore a Lacoste alligator shirt while creating this.

Wild Wings at Roy Rogers! (1989)

“Wild Wings” remains my all-time favorite Roy Rogers promotion. Take a mix of wingettes and drumettes, and serve ‘em with *three* outrageous sauces: Firehouse Red, Honolulu Honey and Meltdown Mustard. It felt more like a chemistry set than dinner.

I was a ketchup-only kind of guy, rarely alternating even for stuff as common as barbecue sauce. With Wild Wings, though, all bets were off. That was partly thanks to the sauces’ fetching exclusivity, but mostly because Roy’s gave them irresistibly funky names. Meltdown Mustard?! You’d be nuts to turn that down.

The promotion began in 1988, returned in 1989 and had one last run in 1994. Given how much easier split wings are to eat in restaurants and food courts, I’m surprised that Wild Wings never became a permanent part of Roy’s menu. They weren’t gonna steal every teenager away from McD’s and Burger King, but I think Wild Wings could’ve siphoned a few. Read More…