A summer of field work can turn grad students and student workers into zombies and here to prove this are the good folks at the Toolik Lake Research Station on the North Slope of Alaska doing their tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Those are mosquito head nets that they are wearing, by the way. Note the size and ferocity of the bloodsuckers swarming the camera lens.

And even more “Tin Man” music videos you didn’t know were out there.

Music: “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Disney’s Mulan.

The character of Wyatt Cain (played by Neal McDonough) is the classic, hard bitten private eye dude. Initially, he has some issues with his “civilian” companions as this video illustrates.

Music: “Don’t Fix It” by the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

During the course of the story, Cain, the strong, silent, stoic type, clashes repeatedly with Glitch (Alan Cumming) who is the emotive, chatty, easily flustered type.  In time, however, they learn to like and respect each other.

Music: “Star Wars Cantina” by Richard Cheese (sung to the tune of Barry Manilow’s “Copa Cabana”)

It’s Star Wars, it’s Tin Man, it’s ….Barry Manilow? Richard Cheese parodies Star Wars and the Barry at the same time and the twisted mind of Surreal696 put them together with “Tin Man” clips.  A word to the wise: you are guaranteed to have that “Copa Cabana” melody stuck in your head for at least a day. You have been warned.

Music: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies

Me First puts the “punk” in “steampunk” with this fun, punk rock version of  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Somewhere Judy Garland is rolling in her grave, but, hey, it works.

Music: “Home” by Breaking Benjamin

It’s been rumored that the Sci-Fi Channel might make a sequel to “Tin Man”. If so, I hope they use this song by Breaking Benjamin which I think captures the essence and spirit of the mini-series.

Regarding this next offering, I must warn gentle readers that it is a bit spicy. If you are offended by saucy subject matter featuring that tasty bit of alright, Wyatt Cain (Neal McDonough), you may want to avert your eyes from the following video.  The subtitles are somewhat racy, but very funny.

Music: Ain’t No Other Man (musical group is uncredited)

If you’re not going to avert your eyes, you may want to have some tissues handy to mop the drool off your keyboard.

An “Tin Man” obsession is a terrible thing, but judging by the flood of “Tin Man”-related music videos on YouTube, I’m not alone in my love for this Sci-Fi Channel mini-series. And now a sampling of my favorites:

Music: “Jerry Springer” by Weird Al Yankovic

What can you say about a song with such classic lines as “yeah, well, I slept with your dog, Woofy?” Nothing except that you’ve been watching a bit too much Jerry Springer.

Music: “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls

What a difference a few decades makes. Once upon a time, I would have regarded a cast that was mostly male as another example of the chauvinistic film mindset that limited film roles for women. Now, however, I realize that Hollywood is merely making eye candy for me.

Music:  “If I Only Had a Brain” by the Mount Hood Community College Jazz Chorus [Oregon] (1996 recording, now out of print)

This utterly charming cover of  the classic “Wizard of Oz” song is an example of YouTube’s underrate potential for sharing limited edition, out of print music with the masses.

No matter how bad the last eight years have been, folks, it’s always important to remember that it might have been worse. YouTube user TheNegativeDude remixed “Dark Knight” footage in order to make this trailer for Oliver W. Stone’s “W” movie. Watch for who he casts as Karl Rove. I was hysterical.

And what look back at G.W.’s presidency would be complete without this footage of his handling of the Wall Street bailout? Gotham’s gangsters, Wall Street bankers, same thing really.