Tiki Bar TV
Encyclopedia
Tiki Bar TV is a web series
distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting
or "vodcast." Produced in an apartment Tiki bar
on a low budget, the humorous and heavily ad-libbed show is a creative outlet for its creators Jeff Macpherson
and Kevin Gamble
. The show garnered additional attention after being mentioned at Apple's iPod Video launch.
Each episode features a problem that is rectified by the episode's namesake cocktail, which is scribbled on a prescription pad by Dr. Tiki (Macpherson) and "filled" by the bartender Johnny Johnny (Gamble) who explains the construction of the cocktail
. Lala is the Tiki Bar's primary denizen who opens each episode with a dance. Most episodes also include a segment called "Tiki Mail," where mail from viewers or disgruntled neighbours is answered. Episodes usually end with outtakes, the cast dancing, and a slate giving the official website and email address. The show originates from Vancouver
, British Columbia
in Canada
. It is considered by many to be one of the pioneering video podcasts credited with launching the genre.
Tiki Bar TV was shown in Apple stores worldwide as part of a 6 month promotion in 2006.
The first episode was released on iTunes
on March 13, 2005. Each episode is approximately 5 minutes long.
The performers go un-credited and unabashed stage names are given. Jeff Macpherson, who plays "Dr. Tiki," introduces himself as actor "Reginald Hornstein," and when "Lala" breaks character, she speaks as actress "Beatrice Fastwater."
, an independent video game developer based in Hobart, Australia announced the development of a Tiki Bar TV-themed computer game, entitled Day of the Tiki, to be released in Summer 2009. Now delayed to sometime in 2010.
Web series
A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode .While the popularity of web series is continuing to rise, the concept...
distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
or "vodcast." Produced in an apartment Tiki bar
Tiki bar
A tiki bar is an exotic–themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the "mai tai" or "Zombie cocktail". Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their Tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of primitive tropical...
on a low budget, the humorous and heavily ad-libbed show is a creative outlet for its creators Jeff Macpherson
Jeff Macpherson
Jeff Macpherson is a filmmaker and co-creator/co-star of the internet podcast Tiki Bar TV, in which he plays the role of Doctor Tiki who prescribes cocktails in each episode....
and Kevin Gamble
Kevin Gamble (netcaster)
Kevin Gamble is a filmmaker, animation producer, and co-creator/co-star of the internet podcast Tiki Bar TV, in which he plays the role of Johnny Johnny the bartender....
. The show garnered additional attention after being mentioned at Apple's iPod Video launch.
Each episode features a problem that is rectified by the episode's namesake cocktail, which is scribbled on a prescription pad by Dr. Tiki (Macpherson) and "filled" by the bartender Johnny Johnny (Gamble) who explains the construction of the cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
. Lala is the Tiki Bar's primary denizen who opens each episode with a dance. Most episodes also include a segment called "Tiki Mail," where mail from viewers or disgruntled neighbours is answered. Episodes usually end with outtakes, the cast dancing, and a slate giving the official website and email address. The show originates from Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is considered by many to be one of the pioneering video podcasts credited with launching the genre.
Tiki Bar TV was shown in Apple stores worldwide as part of a 6 month promotion in 2006.
The first episode was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on March 13, 2005. Each episode is approximately 5 minutes long.
Characters
- Doctor Tiki, PhD, MD, USB a.k.a. Reginald Hornstein (Jeff MacphersonJeff MacphersonJeff Macpherson is a filmmaker and co-creator/co-star of the internet podcast Tiki Bar TV, in which he plays the role of Doctor Tiki who prescribes cocktails in each episode....
) writes the cocktail prescriptions in each episode. His doctorate is in "Tiki," and he is usually wearing a lab coat and stethoscope. - Johnny Johnny, Mixologist a.k.a. Jonathan J. Jonathan (Kevin GambleKevin Gamble (netcaster)Kevin Gamble is a filmmaker, animation producer, and co-creator/co-star of the internet podcast Tiki Bar TV, in which he plays the role of Johnny Johnny the bartender....
) is the leopard-print fezFez (clothing)The fez , or tarboosh is a felt hat either in the shape of a red truncated cone or in the shape of a short cylinder made of kilim fabric. Both usually have tassels...
wearing bartender who makes the cocktails that the Doctor prescribes. - Lala a.k.a. Beatrice Fastwater (Lara Doucette). She usually wears a provocative dress and broad grin. In episode 10, we learn that she is not as ditsy as she appears; she has an engineering degree and in short time built a self-aware robot capable of nearly fulfilling all of Johnny Johnny’s roles.
The performers go un-credited and unabashed stage names are given. Jeff Macpherson, who plays "Dr. Tiki," introduces himself as actor "Reginald Hornstein," and when "Lala" breaks character, she speaks as actress "Beatrice Fastwater."
Minor characters
- Limey - (Lee Tockar) A lounge lizard in a reptile leather jacket. Introduced in Episode 2 and commonly known as "The Limey Bastard," he is the most frequently appearing minor character.
- Mr. Ambassador - (Gio Corsi) A Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era ambassador from the USSR in a red fezFez (clothing)The fez , or tarboosh is a felt hat either in the shape of a red truncated cone or in the shape of a short cylinder made of kilim fabric. Both usually have tassels...
who plants a spy camera in the Tiki Bar, unfreezes LaLa, and steals LaLa's original plans for Drinkbot to build "Robot Box." - Kip - (Matthew McInnis) A "Guy with Woes" who frequents the bar.
- The Duke of Url - (Francis Rock) A British man on a tour of the CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. - Drinkbot - (Colin Beadle) Robot that Lala creates to replace Johnny Johnny, which goes on a rampage after failing to understand the concept of "love."
- Rocket Billy - (Tygh Runyan) A 50's era greaser who delivers the Tiki Mail.
- Space Cadet - (Nicki ClyneNicki ClyneNicki Clyne is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Cally Henderson Tyrol on the Sci-Fi Channel television program Battlestar Galactica.-Early life:...
) Girl from "The OuterSpace" who comes to the Tiki Bar to learn Earth dance moves. - The Bastard Illegitimate Son of the Father of the Internet (BISOTFOTI) (Alex AlbrechtAlex AlbrechtAlexander Jennings Albrecht is an American television personality, actor and podcaster who resides in Brentwood a suburb of Los Angeles, California...
) The illegitimate son of the father of the internet from episode 20. - Poindexter (Kevin RoseKevin RoseKevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
) Tech Support guy for Tiki Bar TV.
Video Game
In May 2009, Secret LabSecret Lab
Secret Lab is an independent computer game developer based in Hobart, Australia, currently developing the Tiki Bar TV video game, Day of the Tiki...
, an independent video game developer based in Hobart, Australia announced the development of a Tiki Bar TV-themed computer game, entitled Day of the Tiki, to be released in Summer 2009. Now delayed to sometime in 2010.