Podcast Pioneers Help the Net Stay Classy, Drunk.

If the Internet is the new world, then Net Media, particularly video, is the Wild West. The rules of engagement are always pliable, and no one is sure if they can really be enforced. There are outlaws running loose, throwing copyright law by the wayside in favor of creativity and art. The regulations of profanity, vulgarity, and general decency do not apply on the Internet. The cowboys say what they want, when they want, how they want.

And if Net Video is the Wild West, then Tiki Bar TV is the saloon where everybody stops to have a drink.

Tiki Bar TV is such a staple of Internet video that someone has put together a Wikipedia page devoted to the site. As podcast pioneers, Tiki Bar’s videos have not only been featured in Apple Stores, but in Target as well.

The premise of Tiki Bar TV is so simple, it must be genius. The cast consists of three main characters - Johnny Johnny, the affable bartender, LaLa, the gorgeous bar patron, and Dr. Tiki, who believes all maladies can be cured with an alcoholic beverage. The three cohorts are often joined by memorable side characters in (somewhat) episodic video shorts designed teach you how to make another convoluted cocktail while making you laugh at the same time.

The first Tiki Bar episode was released March 15, 2005. Since then, new episodes appear at a clip of about one new short ever six to eight weeks. Tiki Bar TV’s loose production style lends itself very well to the Internet. The cast seems to be having a great time making the shorts, which in turn makes them more fun to watch. On top of that, the episodes are very educational and informative, like Sesame Street for alcoholics. So check it out. There are now more than 30 episodes for you to watch in lieu of pushing paper. What are you waiting for?

Are you still here? Fine. If you’re still not convinced, then allow me to direct you to some of my favorite episodes. Drink Bot is likely my very favorite, because it shows off La-La’s geekier side (don’t bash me for being a little fanboy, either. LaLa is hot, and it’s not like I bought the calendar). Beyond that, we have Bunnies – one of the best drinking games I’ve ever seen – and the Holiday Mailbag. The mailbag episode is just funny to me because the cast is so monumentally wasted.

So yeah, there you go. Get out there and check it out. You might even learn a thing or two.