On April 8th, 2022 BDP presented VCR Party Live hosted by Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher as they navigate the audience through ridiculous and random VHS tapes that range from exercise tapes, instructional tapes, and random tapes that they have found while doing the show. VCR Party Live began in 2004 and has been going on ever since.
“We have known each other since we were 10. We met in 6th grade and created a humor newspaper called the Daily Chimp that we wrote from middle school through high school. After high school, we both went to the University of Eau Claire together,” said Pickett.
At Eau Claire is where Prueher and Pickett came up with the idea of VCR Party. Prueher stated, “We were bored college students at Eau Claire. One day we went to the thrift stores in town and found some VHS tapes that caught our attention. So, we got people together in our dorm room and we watched the videos while doing commentary over them.”
Pickett described that after attending Eau Claire, “We started making a documentary about a country singer whose songs were dirty country songs. We thought it was hilarious. When making the documentary we collected VHS tapes at some of our stops so when we couldn’t get a grant for the documentary that was when VCR Party came about.” Pickett discussed, “To make money for the documentary, we decided to do VCR Party and essentially made a career out of laughter. It’s the coolest job ever.”
Pickett explained the screening process when selecting tapes, “We choose nothing off the internet and go for physical copies. Videos that work the best for VCR Party are videos that are unintendedly funny.” Prueher mentioned, “The screening process is mainly watching boring tapes to find the one gem. The stipulation is that we both have to find the video funny.”
When talking about what he enjoyed most about VCR Party Live, Pickett claimed, “The more we did the show, the more times people would come up to us after the show and talk about other VHS tapes or the people that were in the videos we showed in the show. I also like to travel and check out the local thrift stores.” Prueher replied, “I enjoy doing the show and telling pieces of the show. I can’t wait to show people when we find something great.”
Pickett professed that his favorite tapes on the show, “I enjoy the insurance safety videos that I had duplicated at my previous job at a video duplicated store and would make copies for myself.” Nick remarked, “The magical rainbow sponge is my favorite because the host of the video is so enthusiastic, and her reactions are hilarious.”
Learn more about VCR Party Live by following them on Twitter, Tiktok, Facebook, and YouTube at Found Footage Fest. They also have a live show on Tuesday at 8 pm on Facebook and YouTube at Found Footage Fest. Check out their website at http://www.foundfootagefest.com/.
