Mr. Lobo
- Artist
- satirist
- genre actor
- television personality
- filmmaker
- Master of Ceremonies
Erik Lobo (born November 27, 1970), better known by his stage name Mr. Lobo, is an American artist and comedic actor best known as the horror host of the nationally syndicated American television series Cinema Insomnia.[1] In 2022, he was inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.[2]
Career
After going to school for print technology, Mr. Lobo published many humor zine and underground comics. Mr. Lobo is a very prolific freelance artist and writer with numerous multimedia credits and clients. He wrote, directed, and performed Radio Theater for 9 years. Mr. Lobo is a short film and commercial director. He was the head writer for a long running local cabaret/parody talk show The Moe Bettermann Show.[3] Mr. Lobo has been covered in several horror magazines and in the national news. He has also participated in many B-movies, offbeat genre films and documentaries.
Cinema Insomnia
Documentaries
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Mr._Lobo_and_Tom_Savini.jpg/220px-Mr._Lobo_and_Tom_Savini.jpg)
Mr. Lobo was interviewed for American Scary, appeared in the supplementary content on Every Other Day is Halloween, interviewed for I Dream of Being an Artist... And It Makes Me Sick, was a consultant on Watch Horror Films... Keep America Strong, produced and hosted the featurette Bob Wilkins: The Sacramento Years, introduced the short documentary "I Was a TV Horror Host: The John Stanley Story" and is the host of Virginia Creepers.
Mr. Lobo is also interviewed in the short retrospective Citizen Wood: Making "The Bride", Unmaking the Legend about the making of Bride of the Monster featured on the volume 19 DVD set of Mystery Science Theater 3000.[4]
Directing
In 1993 Mr. Lobo co-produced and directed a short film titled Street Art which won an award with the Film Arts Foundation in San Francisco. He directed a commercial for the California Tree Fruit Growers Association that was a parody of old Slinky commercials titled "Pit Popper".[5] Mr. Lobo directed animation for a public service announcement called Deputysaurus Rex[6] for the Sacramento Sheriff's Department. He also directed animation for an educational film called Splash: The Mysteries of Vernal Pools which has been seen by over 10,000 school children.[7] In 2009 Toy Fusion asked Mr. Lobo to direct a humorous G.I. Joe fan film which involved rare and forgotten G.I. Joe collectibles and they won two awards at JoeCon that year.[8] Most notably in 2010 Mr. Lobo got to work with legendary exploitation film director Ted V. Mikels to work as a second unit director on the new film Astro-Zombies: M3 Cloned.
Radio and voice work
He wrote, directed, and performed Radio Theater for the University of California Davis Radio Station (KDVS) from 1987 to 1992 and picked up again from 1996 to 2000. His two most notable projects are Radio is Dead[9] which was performed as a stage play in Sacramento, San Francisco and Chicago; and The Last Thanksgiving[10] which was a live remote parody of The War of the Worlds. He did the voice over for numerous local TV spots for Pulte Homes and Super Cuts. Mr. Lobo voiced the "Pit Popper" in the California Tree Fruit Growers Association commercial.[5] He was also the voice of Deputysaurus Rex for the Sacramento Sheriff's Department and Professor X. Plorer in the school film Splash: The Mysteries of Vernal Pools.[7] Mr. Lobo is the voice of Larry Scholls Ghost Train both on the commercials and on the hot-line. He was the voice of the Oracle in Midnight of my Life. Mr. Lobo also narrates all of the trailers for Apprehensive Films including the 30th anniversary promo reel for Hardware Wars.
Live shows
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Mr._Lobo_at_Monster_Bash.jpg/220px-Mr._Lobo_at_Monster_Bash.jpg)
Mr. Lobo makes numerous live appearances at conventions such as ComicCon in San Diego, California,[3] WonderCon in San Francisco, California,[3][11] Screamfest in Vero Beach, Florida,[3] The B-Movie Celebration in Franklin, Indiana,[3][12] Blobfest in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania[13][14] and Monster Bash near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[15] He also takes part in live film shows at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California, the Parkway Theater in Oakland, California Cinefamily Theater in Hollywood, California, The Castro Theater in San Francisco, California, Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana, The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as well as many others. On August 14, 2010, Cinema Insomnia had their first broadcast taping at the Guild Theater in Sacramento in front of a live audience.[16][17] The film presented was The Undertaker and His Pals and due to the graphic nature of the film, everyone was given a 'Barf-O-Vision' Audience Sickness Bag.[16][17][18]
Art
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Barf-0-vision_bag.jpg/220px-Barf-0-vision_bag.jpg)
Mr. Lobo has designed, not only much of the cover art for the Cinema Insomnia DVDs, but the art for many other Apprehensive Films releases as Hardware Wars and The Undertaker and his Pals. In 1995 Mr. Lobo put out his own line of trading cards which he wrote and illustrated wrapped in a faux wax pack he also created. He also designed the packages for Horror Host Graveyard's Horror Host trading cards as well as help design the Hardware Wars trading cards.
Comics
In 1991 Mr. Lobo wrote, illustrated and self-published an underground comic in full color called Nuke Nova, a post-apocalyptic comedy about a futuristic hero. Nuke Nova was distributed by Diamond and Capital City to comic book stores across the United States.
Mr. Lobo has also published the comic series Funny Pages:[13]
- Funny Pages (1995), a 100+ page satirical humor trade paperback which was a collaboration with many artists and writers, most notably Joseph Sweeden, Tom Working, and Chris Grill. It was distributed via Tower Books.
- Funny Pages 2D (1997), which was also a collaboration and distributed by Tower.
- Funny Pages 2X: "Zombie the Little Undead Boy". As well as "Harley the Tuff Li'l Biker Slut". Both featured in a standard comic book sized flip book that parodied Harvey Comics like Casper.[19]
Mr. Lobo wrote both issues of the Queen of Trash comic book and inked the first issue.[20] Recently, Mr. Lobo lent his writing talent to the comic 13 Hosts illustrated by Brian Maze.[21]
OSI74
In 2015, Mr Lobo and his wife, graphic artist Dixie Lobo, founded OSI74, an online web television channel.[22] The channel was created as a permanent platform for Cinema Insomnia, and as a host channel for shows created by independent producers from around the world.[23] OSI74 specialises in broadcasting horror host movies, independently-produced television shows, orphaned programmes from public access and community television, and shows by Church of the SubGenius.
While functioning primarily as a video on-demand service from Roku and from its website,[24] OSI74 began broadcasting a 24-hour stream from Twitch in 2021. In 2022, Mr Lobo and OSI74 opened up their first original production space, OSI Studios.
Other appearances
On December 11, 2009, Mr. Lobo was the guest on the late-night syndicated radio talk show Coast to Coast AM.[25] On the second hour, the infamous caller and right-wing extremist "J.C." called in to denounce Mr. Lobo and horror hosts in general.[25][26] Mr. Lobo also has a cameo in the music video for the song "Hot Sahara" by the band Fans of Jimmy Century.[27] On October 21, 2010, Mr. Lobo posted a video response to Elvira's "Elvira's Not a Witch" viral video[28] on YouTube titled "Re: Elvira's Not a Witch".[29] It was a spoof on Elvira's video which was a parody of Christine O'Donnell's popular "I'm Not A Witch" ad. On October 30, 2010, Mr. Lobo did a spoken word parody complaining about how much the song "Monster Mash" is played.[30]
In 2019, Mr. Lobo can be seen in several of the Cinemassacre "Rental Reviews" videos on YouTube. He plays the landlord for the building.
On April 5, 2021, Mr. Lobo was a feature guest on "Time for the Show".[31]
Acting
Mr. Lobo is cast as Criswell in John Johnson's upcoming remake of Plan 9 From Outer Space. In addition, for the purpose of promoting the film on the internet, Mr. Lobo has produced 62 episodes of Criswell Predicts![32][33] which is a parody and homage to the original television program. He also hosts John Johnson's biweekly "Choose Your Own Adventure"-type web series called Spade.[34]
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Director |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Psychic Vampire | The Creator | Tate Hoffmaster |
2022 | Feeders 3 | Introductory Host | Mark Polonia |
2015 | Plan 9 | Criswell[35] | John Johnson |
2011 | A Hard Day's Nightmare | Cinema Insomnia Host, Mr. Lobo | Richard Something |
2011 | Planet of the Vampire Women | Future Mr. Lobo | Trash Film Orgy |
2010 | The Taint | Cockzantium Spokesperson | Drew Bolduc |
2010 | Astro-Zombies: M3 Cloned | Man in Black & Dead Toy Shop keeper | Ted V. Mikels & Mr. Lobo |
2010 | Taste the Blood of Frankenstein | Mr. Lobo the History Revisionist | Eric Miller & Mr. Lobo |
2010 | 30 Second Doom | Count Lobo[18] | Gary Hughes |
2010 | Baby Jane? | Afternoon Movie Host | Billy Clift |
2010 | Fall of an Actor | Narrator | Joel Wyncoop |
2008 | Skeleton Key 2 | Horror Host | John Johnson |
2007 | Mark of the Damned | The Unknowable Fantazmarak | Eric Miller |
2007 | Palace of Stains | Narrator | Bob Moricz |
2005 | El Tigre Diablo and the Curse of the Golden Skull | An Eye Witness | Trash Film Orgy |
2004 | Midnight of my Life | The Oracle | Bob Moricz |
Post-production | It Came from Trafalgar | Horror Host | Solomon Mortimur |
Post-production | Survivors | Zombie Mr. Lobo | James Clarkson |
Post-production | Midnight Show | Various Characters | Newt Wallen |
Preproduction | Dogtown Zombies | Horror Host | Paul Benton |
Preproduction | Planet Frankenstein | ???? | Newt Wallen |
Preproduction | Mars Vs. Cheerleaders | Scientist | Newt Wallen |
Religion
Mr. Lobo is a reverend to both Church of the SubGenius and Universal Life Church. On October 4[13]/5, 2003,[36] he was canonized as the "Patron Saint of late night movie hosts and insomniacs" in the Church of Ed Wood.[13]
Controversy
During a Q&A session at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, wrestler Chris Jericho referred to Mr. Lobo several times as “Hadji” — a racial slur against Middle Easterners. Mr. Lobo, however, is not Middle Eastern and took little offense. After the first affront — and a shot at Paris Hilton — Mr. Lobo jokingly took Jericho's drink to apparently sniff it for booze. Jericho's response to this was “it’s apple juice, fag.” which led to a huge public outcry by civil rights groups.[37][38] Video from the event appeared on TMZ[39][40] and triggered a series of mock videos[41] resulting in Mr. Lobo's challenging Chris Jericho and subsequently beating him at a thumb wrestling match in a video featuring Chris Perguidi.[42] Mr. Lobo later recounts the events and ultimately has another confrontation with a "pseudo Jericho" in a live reunion of Mr. Lobo's old comedy troupe The Moe Bettermann Show.[43]
In popular culture
- In the first episode of the animated series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, "Beware the Beast from Below", the unmasked villain Professor Emmanuel Raffalo is inspired by Mr. Lobo.[18][44]
References
- ^ CinemaInsomnia.com. "Cinema Insomnia, with your Horror Host, Mister Lobo!". CinemaInsomnia.com. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Here are the Winners of the (Gasp!) 20th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards". RondoAward.com. February 22, 2022. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d e CinemaInsomnia.com. "ABOUT MR. LOBO". CinemaInsomnia.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ Brad Cook (November 12, 2010). "Film Threat - Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX (dvd)". Film Threat. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ a b Scott Moon. "Other Projects". ScottMoon.net. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ Sacramento County Sheriff. "SacSheriff Kids!". Sacramento County Sheriff. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ a b Sacramento Splash. "Video: The Mysteries of Vernal Pools". Sacramento Splash. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ ToyFusion (September 28, 2009). "YouTube - Toy Fusion Fan Film for the 2009 Gi Joe Convention Joecon". ToyFusion. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Davis Radio Theater". GeoCities. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ Erik Lobo (December 30, 2000). "Script - The Last Thanksgiving - ERIK Lobo - FALnet". FALnet. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ WonderCon. "Secrets of Horror Hosting". WonderCon. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ B Movie Nation (July 1, 2009). "Five Easy Questions: "CINEMA INSOMNIA" LEGEND MR. LOBO". CinemaInsomnia.com. B Movie Nation. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c d CinemaInsomnia.com. "Cinema Insomnia, with your Horror Host, Mister Lobo!". CinemaInsomnia.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ Mark Mihalko (July 11, 2010). "BLOBFEST 2010 (random pictures)". Mark Mihalko. Blogger. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ Monster Bash News. "Monster Bash Guest List". Monster Bash News. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "Movies on a Big Screen Sacramento". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010.
- ^ a b Carla Meyer (August 14, 2010). "Horror and humor join hands at TV taping tonight in Sacramento". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Insight: Biology of Belief / Prop 8 / River of Skulls / Poetry / Mr. Lobo (August 13, 2010)". Archive.org. August 13, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
- ^ Time Tunnel Toy Show and News (December 30, 2009). "We were very lucky to have Joyce Dewitt & Prisci..." Time Tunnel Toy Show and News. Blogger. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Queen of Trash". Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ David Albaugh (September 10, 2010). "10 Questions With Mr. Lobo". David Albaugh. WordPress. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Mister Lobo: Cinéma Insomnia and OSI74". Stitcher. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ "OSI74 - Mission Profile". OSI74. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ "OSI74 is on Twitch!". OSI74. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ a b "Mr. Lobo & Open Lines". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ colesyx (November 1, 2010). "YouTube - JC and Insane Criminal Deviants: Coast to Coast AM". YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ CinemaInsomnia.com. "News". CinemaInsomnia.com. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- ^ ElviraVideos (October 18, 2010). "YouTube - Elvira's Not a Witch". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ CinemaInsomniaTV (October 21, 2010). "YouTube - Re: Elvira's Not a Witch". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ CinemaInsomniaTV (October 30, 2010). "YouTube - RE: Monster Mash". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Time for the Show: 157 4/5/22". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
- ^ Darkstone Entertainment (May 10, 2010). "vimeo - Criswell Predicts! #6 - Body Modification". Darkstone Entertainment. vimeo. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Darkstone Entertainment (May 10, 2010). "vimeo - Criswell Predicts! #7 - Community of the Universe". Darkstone Entertainment. vimeo. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ DarkstoneEnt (July 15, 2010). "YouTube - Spade Episode #1-10 RECAP (Part 1)". DarkstoneEnt. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "PLAN 9 - News".
- ^ Reverend Steve Galindo (December 23, 2003). "Lesson 19: The First Saints of Woodism". Church of Ed Wood. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ Movies on a Big Screen (November 9, 2009). "Smackdown in the City of Trees: Mr Lobo vs. Chris Jericho". Movies on a Big Screen…the blog!. Movies on a Big Screen. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "WWE Wrestler Takes Heat For Film Festival Slurs". Kenny Lopez. KTXL. November 8, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ CoolDMZ (November 6, 2009). "Chris Jericho/Mr Lobo controversy hits TMZ". The Sac Rag. SacRag.com. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ CarterDempseyFairy87 (November 27, 2009). "YouTube - Chris Jericho Racial Slurs TMZcom". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ ToyFusion (November 6, 2009). "YouTube - Mr Lobo challenge to Chris Jericho WWE TMZ". ToyFusion. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ thechrisanderikashow (December 16, 2009). "YouTube - Mr. Lobo finally fights Chris Jericho arrested". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ moebettermann (July 10, 2010). "YouTube - Moe Bettermann Reunion pt. 8". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Ken Hulsey (August 11, 2010). "Zoinks! Mr. Lobo Makes A Guest Appearance On SCOOBY DOO?". Monster Island News. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
Sources
- Baker, D (2005). "Who Is the Best Horror Host In the World?", Monster News, Issue 12.
- Duran, C (2005). "Cinema Insomnia Goes Coast To Coast", Monster News, Issue 12.
- Stanley, J (2007). "I WAS A TV HORROR HOST", Creatures At Large Press.
External links
- Mr. Lobo at IMDb
- YouTube
- Kickstarter
- Biography on Coast to Coast AM