You made it! Another work week checked off and a two-day break just a few hours away. Whether you have big plans or just catching up your favorite shows on the IFC app — which aren’t mutually exclusive, necessarily — you’ve earned yourself a quintet of entertaining videos to help you ease into the weekend.
From a miniature suburban road trip to a canine-centric Pac-Man, here are the five best videos of the week.
1. What Year Is Stranger Things Set In?
Sure, at the very start of the retro Netflix series, we’re told Stranger Things takes place in 1983. But as this College Humor sketch dramatizes, it appears the set designer fudged the born-on dates with a few anachronistic props — which is an absolute no-no in the geek community.
2. Documentary Now! Season 51 Teaser
Despite over a half-century on the air, Documentary Now! feels like it’s just getting started. Host Helen Mirren introduces the 51st season of the series — beginning September 14th at 10P on IFC — and showcases clips from the upcoming episodes. Catch Bill Hader as a Robert Evans surrogate Hollywood super producer in “Mr. Runner-up: My Life as an Oscar Bridesmaid” and Fred Armisen at his most David Byrne-y in the Stop Making Sense homage, “Test Pattern.”
3. Pac-Dog
Toss a feisty Jack Russell terrier into a balloon-filled maze, wave a few cardboard ghosts about, shoot video from above, and bam!, instant video game recreation. The ad firm Denizen Company produced this canine-centric, real-life Pac-Man game using only some cheap supplies and Twinkie, a pup who holds the world record for popping balloons.
4. Animals Ruin News Reports
Hey, they can’t all be as cute and well-behaved as Twinkie. This glorious 12-minute compilation features button-down network professionals having to recompose themselves after Nature goes awry. Equal parts hilarious and cringeworthy, the video reminds us to be grateful we never had to gracefully segue into a sports report.
5. Hot Wheels Road Trip
Break out your favorite hallucinogen and go full-screen, because you’re about to cruise through a miniature world on a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-esque joyride. This first-person POV video of a matchbox car sailing down a plastic track hurls you through backyards, driveways, patios, and even a swimming pool — before reaching the candlelit finish line — as if you were only a few inches tall.
