Down in the Rec Room

1979-2007, 13:38 min, color, sound

In the first episode of the misadventures of his alter-ego "Mike," Smith introduces his deadpan anti-hero in a day-in-the-life story that is saturated with references to the junk-television culture of the '50s, '60s and '70s. A puzzled innocent who throws a party to which no one comes, Mike ambles through his mundane activities to the accompaniment of TV theme songs and children's tunes. In a surreal ode to the banality of pop culture, Mike dances to the disco classic Boogie-Oogie-Oogie with Donny and Marie Osmond on television.

Camera/Editor: Mark Fischer. Produced by Michael Smith and Mark Fischer, Mike and Mark Productions.