Doug hearts movies

A new reason for the season: Doug Benson and Master Pancake team up for onenight at the Drafthouse

Comedian Doug Benson really loves movies. At least it says so in the name of his hit podcast series. And Austin comedy troupe Master Pancake loves to mock movies, whether good or bad. Having these two forces of film-nerdom unite for one night only may be the closest the world will ever get to a real-life Avengers assembly.

On Friday, December 7, the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz will be the center for the team up that will pay a tongue-in-cheek tribute to not one, but two, movies. The first show of the evening, starting at 7:30 p.m., is still unknown as of now, but only because Doug Benson wants it to be a special surprise. The film itself will of course have a holiday theme, but don’t expect Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer; instead, gear up for the “best 80s action movie that takes place around Christmas to ever feature a pair of mismatched cops and a giant mullet.”

The following show at 10:30 p.m. will completely take its cue from the audience, as Master Pancake will hold another of the popular Choose Your Own Pancake shows. Attendees are invited to bring and nominate their own films for a night of mocking right there on the spot. Previous “winners” have included Left Behind, Face/Off and Will Shatner’s White Comanche.

The jam-packed evening of movie mockery will of course not just be a one man show, as Benson will be part of a team of Master Pancake stalwarts John Erler, Joe Parsons, Owen Egerton and David Jara.

And if Friday night doesn’t work for you, Benson was kind enough to provide even more shows at the Drafthouse. His popular podcast Doug Loves Movies will return to Texas once again for another live recording at 4:20 p.m. on Friday at the Drafthouse Ritz (remember, this guy did star in Super High Me) with special guests from the Austin comedy scene, including John Erler of Master Pancake.

On Thursday evening, the Drafthouse will host The Benson Movie Interruption, Benson’s own take on live movie commentary that has become a fixture in Los Angeles’ Cinefamily cinematheque. While also billed as a mystery movie, audience members can expect to watch Benson’s favorite Christmas movie of all time.

If you’re already run ragged with the holiday shopping, take a page out of the Doug Benson/Master Pancake book and sit back and relax with a few Drafthouse laughs this holiday season.

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Roundup Repertoire

San Antonio rodeo rounds up Nelly, LeAnn Rimes for 2025 lineup

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Nelly is ready for the rodeo.

Besides the allure of seeing a rodeo in a more traditionally western city, Austinites have a few higher profile reasons to travel an hour-and-a-half to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo each year. Big concerts are a draw to Texas tourists, and the 2025 lineup will bring some major country stars to the Frost Bank Center and Freeman Coliseum, according to three rounds of announcements on August 8, September 13, and October 11.

The event spans February 6-23, and the first four performers announced represent four different days of entertainment;

Saturday, February 8, at noon and 7:30 pm: Keith Urban
Sunday, February 16, at noon: Zach Top
Monday, February 17, at 7 pm: Diamond Rio
Saturday, February 22, at 7:30 pm: Dwight Yoakam

A second round of announcements expands the lineup to 10 performers over 5 more days:

Thursday, February 6, at 7 pm: Scotty McCreery
Friday, February 7, at 7 pm: Koe Wetzel
Thursday, February 13, at 7 pm: Muscadine Bloodline
Friday, February 14, at 7 pm: Tyler Hubbard
Thursday, February 20, at 7 pm: Sammy Hagar
Saturday, February 22, at noon: Nate Smith

Finally, a third round adds six more performers:

February 9, 2025, at noon: LeAnn Rimes
February 9, 2025, at 7:30 pm: Bellamy Brothers
February 10, 2025, at 7 pm: Mark Chesnutt
February 11, 2025, at 7 pm: Eli Young Band
February 19, 2025, at 7 pm: Whiskey Myers
February 21, 2025, at 7 pm: Nelly

Announcing the lineup in rounds is customary for the rodeo, which in 2024 featured country and rock acts such as Wynonna Judd, Brad Paisley, The Oak Ridge Boys, Cheap Trick, Styx, and Brooks & Dunn. In addition to the bigger names were local stars like Austin's Charley Crockett (born in San Benito and raised in Dallas-Fort Worth). It's almost guaranteed that Midland, from Dripping Springs, will be on the lineup again in 2025, as they have been every year since at least 2020.

The San Antonio rodeo is a very popular annual occasion, which in 2025 includes 22 events and will likely draw more than 1.5 million visitors. That's been bringing in tourist money since 1949, and a portion of funds raised also go back to young people across Texas in the form of education, vocational training, and agricultural projects.

"We are immensely thankful to the community, sponsors, partners, and our over 6,000 volunteers for their unwavering support in advancing our mission to educate the youth of Texas," said executive director and CEO Cody Davenport in a press release. "Our longstanding traditions will continue to serve the community, showcasing our world-class rodeo and Agriculture Fair. We eagerly anticipate welcoming everyone in 2025."

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster and sarodeo.com. Tickets can be purchased for the season or individually.

This article was originally published with the first announcement August 8, and was updated September 13, and October 11 to add information about the second round of performers.

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