Episode Two.Eighteen

Ravi and Sonia ponder possible "game-changing" events on DriveTime for May Sweeps before welcoming photographer Abe Morell, who is the subject of the film Shadow of the House, directed by Allie Humenuk. Abe describes how the film came to be and gives Ravi a quick Camera Obscura 101.

And if that weren't enough -- a DriveTime Remote Segment to preview the World Premiere of the film.

(QuickTime, 09:43, 46 MB)

Episode Two.Seventeen

It's multi-studio madness as Ravi and Sonia kick-off the Boston Cyberarts Festival with founder and director George Fifield. George previews this year's festival, armed with a clip from the Visual Music Marathon. After successfully shuttling their guest from Studio-V to Studio-A, Ravi and Sonia discuss a potential adolescent page-turner caper, "The Case of the Missing Fitness Water."

(QuickTime, 08:56, 36.5 MB)

Episode Two.Sixteen

It's a Patriots Day Holiday Special as Ravi and Sonia unveil the DriveTime Running Cam, employed to accommodate the first-ever out-of-car guest: marathon runner, David Allman. As he tunes up for the Boston Marathon, David shares how people can follow his progress on the official Boston Athletic Association web site. Plus, the DriveTime GloveBox is cracked open to reveal a letter from... Ravi Jain?!

(QuickTime, 08:50, 36 MB)

DriveTime is a Webby Nominee

DriveTime has been nominated in the 11th annual Webby Awards, in the Online Film/Video: Music/Variety category (now that's a mouthful.) A tip o' the DriveTime Hat to Steve and Derek at the Webbys who helped facilitate a scholarship for the entry fee (thus accommodating the "empty set" DriveTime Budget!)

You can check out all the nominees and vote for your favorites in each category.

Update:
I've posted a higher quality version of the three-minute highlight reel that voters can watch on raviblog (the version on the Webbys site seemed a little choppy to me).

Episode Two.Fifteen

It's T.G.I.G.F. for Ravi and Sonia as they prepare for Greek Easter... and Lamb Lip Soup? Ravi also officially unveils his new weekly sartorial enterprise before welcoming DriveTime Cultural Critic Peter Bebergal back to Studio-V for some politically themed DriveTime Cultural Minutes:

• The Death of Captain America
• Rome
• Person Pitch by Panda Bear
• The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander

(QuickTime, 09:23, 39 MB)

Episode Two.Fourteen

Ravi and Sonia return after a Heroes-like hiatus for an Opening Day Edition of DriveTime. Boston Phoenix writer Mike Miliard climbs into Studio-V to talk about his Red Sox blog and the star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. As "Dice-K" always has a translator near at hand, Ravi provides Mike with his own Japanese translator: Momo Shinzawa. Together the foursome stumble upon THE catchphrase of the year, which Ravi quickly trademarks in the best interests of DriveTime.

And if that wasn't enough, Ravi dips into the trunk to fetch a bonus guest in an impromptu edition of "What's in the Trunk?"

(QuickTime, 09:28, 38 MB)

Production Update

The early onset of Daylight Savings Time throws everything in the DriveTime Production Lot into a tizzy and the end result is a DriveTime Production Update (and no new episode).

Episode Two.Thirteen

Ravi and Sonia slow things down for a special DriveTime Sunday Edition and muse about their own Sunday traditions before welcoming food journalist and author Nina Simonds to talk about her new multimedia food project, Spices of Life. And with her help, true implementation of The GridLock Griddle -- first alluded to in the pilot episode of DriveTime -- seems a distinct possibility....

(QuickTime, 08:03, 33 MB)

Episode Two.Twelve

It's a full house as Ravi and Sonia welcome the rock trio Apple Betty into the DriveTime Musical Backseat Studio for an acoustic performance.

And Sonia holds down the Studio-V fort as Ravi searches high and low for the new Presidential Dollar.

If that weren't enough, stick around for the promo to the first ever DriveTime Extra -- a bonus hidden Apple Betty track.

(QuickTime, 09:44, 40 MB)

Episode Two.Eleven

Ravi and Sonia "DriveTime" like it's 2005 with the return of an ailing Studio-A which deftly segues into a new segment: What's Wrong with Studio-A? The mishaps only escalate when FoD Chris Monks dials in for a remote appearance, thwarted by bad magnetic juju. Through the crackling and buzzing, he somehow promotes his third Utter Wonder reading series, reads an original list, Signs your unicorn is cheating on you, and does a play-by-play call of his five year old son playing Nintendo Wii Boxing.

(QuickTime, 07:33, 31 MB)

Episode Two.Ten

Ravi and Sonia burst into 2007 by welcoming Boston's Fox 25 News weekend anchor Bianca de la Garza into Studio-V. She brings along a camera-man/heckler who mutters his way under Ravi's skin.

Amid the engaging conversation, Ravi's "breaking news" quip falls tragically flat.

(QuickTime, 09:39, 40 MB)

Boston Area Alert

Boston area alert: tonight is the opening reception for the show iArt: A selection of new works created for PDAs at the newly relocated Axiom Gallery. While Studio-A won't be inside the gallery as planned (details on the kerfuffle here), I will be debuting a new single channel video piece, I've always wanted to put my Audi in a gallery.

New DriveTime episodes for 2007 are in the proverbial digital can and will be posted once edited (hopefully soon!)

Production Update

DriveTime has entered its annual New Year's hiatus. Thanks all for coming along for the ride in 2006. We've enjoyed all your suggestions and input!

The proverbial rubber will meet the road again in '07.

Episode Two.Nine

Ravi and Sonia bring some light into Studio-V for the shortest day of the year. Plus, a long-overdue dip into the DriveTime Glovebox and a visit from the Good Doctor B -- just in time for the holidays!

(QuickTime, 07:55, 32MB)

Episode Two.Eight

Ravi and Sonia greet the holidays in an overdue, overladened jam-packed episode featuring a DriveTime Remote Segment, a bonus holiday clip, and cameos by Santa and the Mayor. And that's all before guest James Hull -- the second guest ever on DriveTime -- returns to talk about the changes afoot at the Gallery at Green Street.

And if that weren't enough -- the DriveTime Digital Elves summon back the Digital Co-host (elevated to the driver's seat!) and Ravi jumps the curb in a shocking coda.

(QuickTime, 08:13, 33 MB)

Production Update

The DriveTime Production Elves are woozy from tryptophan and a little black & blue from early holiday shopping, so no DriveTime this week.

Ravi will be finishing up with this Wikake business this weekend and will get the DT going again next week (providing there are guests to be had!)

Update to the update: Said guest has been found! Next episode will be posted this weekend.

Episode Two.Seven

Ravi and Sonia welcome back DWCE alum Mitch Krpata to talk about a more "virtual" sport than footy: video games. Krpata, video game reviewer for The Phoenix, explains all the hubbub about two new video game platforms being released this weekend and offers his opinions on both.

Plus, in a spur of the moment DriveTime first, Ravi stops for a DriveTime Remote Segment to talk to some young lads waiting in line for the Playstation 3 and comes back with his own prize.

(QuickTime, 09:01, 33MB)

Production Update

Due to matters of law which I will elaborate upon next week, there will be no DriveTime this week (there was very little driving this past week, if that helps give a clue...)

BUT, the Wikake project moves along and voting for base cake/filling combo is still open!

Episode Two.Six

Ravi and Sonia return from their European jaunt and a hopped up, near unedited aesthetic takes form as DriveTime ramps up for November Sweeps. Ravi announces the first official spin-off of DriveTime: the Wikaklog component of his Wikake project, devised for the Art Cake exhibition at Cambridge's Axiom Gallery.

(QuickTime, 07:33, 31 MB)

Episode Two.Five

Ravi and Sonia mark the "true" one year anniversary of DriveTime and ponder, "What if you had an anniversary special, and nobody came?" They give an update on the mouse situation (or the cat situation) before welcoming their first ever one named guest: Chlorine, host of the western-themed, art-influenced game show, Art Show Down.

She spells it all out (sans four-letter words) and even brings a clip.

Before it's all done, Ravi and Sonia announce an international venture.

(QuickTime, 08:59, 40MB)