Joe Bob’s Drive-In Jamboree 2023 Preview
By Jason Delgado
Joe Bob Briggs (aka John Bloom) has been on my Mount Rushmore of television film critics all the way back since the 1990s, along with Chris Gore, Roger Ebert, and Gene Siskel. What sets Briggs apart is his ability to play a character (sorry Mutants, Joe Bob is not his real-life persona), to interrupt mostly B-horror movies on his show and tell long-winded, tangent-filled, yet fascinating, in-depth stories for film nerds such as myself, and to make corny jokes with conviction. Joe Bob Briggs is such an inspiration for me that I wrote about him in my very first film review, which was of Hellboy.
Darcy the Mailgirl (aka Diana Prince) is the co-host of The Last Drive-In show with Briggs on Shudder, and quite amazing in her own right. Besides being insightful and making her own funny quips that play off of Joe Bob on the show, she writes captivating, horror-history filled articles for Fangoria, and is largely responsible for getting Joe Bob back on the air (his MonsterVision show on TNT went off of TV in the year 2000), which is a reason for all Mutants (which is what Joe Bob fans call themselves) to be grateful.
Joe Bob and Darcy will be hosting the third annual World Drive-In Jamboree in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Westwind Drive-In on October 6th through the 8th. This is an event where fans can experience drive-in movies, along with the drive-in atmosphere and food. Many of these B-movies will probably feature what Joe Bob has termed as “The Three B’s,” which are “blood, breasts and beasts.” Legendary B-movie filmmaker Roger Corman, and his wife/producer Julie, will be center stage on Saturday night and honored for their seventy years of filmmaking during a live-taping of The Last Drive-In. The show will include a Q&A for the ages, in between showing some of the Cormans’ classics up on the big screen. There will also be a surprise special drive-in icon guest!
Other highlights include the Friday night welcome BBQ (that attendees can purchase as an add-on), presented by John Mulls Meats & Road Kill Grill (with a vegan option available), Mutant karaoke and a rap battle, the Charles Band filming a movie on location, as well as three movie world premieres including Mutilator 2, Joe Bob’s walking tour of Las Vegas (which sold out in 15 minutes!), and the Sunday Sleepaway Camp movie marathon with star Felissa Rose and many others from that franchise in attendance for autographs and photos (for a fee). There will be many more stars on hand such as Jonah Ray, Ginger Lynn, Judie Aronson, the Deadmeat Podcast, and musical acts such as the heavy metal stylings of wrestling superstar Chris Jericho and Fozzy, and John Brennan and the Bigfeet (The Last Drive-In house band) on stage live.
I have never before attended the Jamboree (although I was lucky enough to meet Joe Bob and Darcy at San Diego Comic Con in 2022), so I cannot wait to soak in the Mutant atmosphere. The Mutants are a thriving community online, but it is a whole different experience to meet in-person, and soak in the B-movie loving good vibes together. Or for those who are introverts, to just attend and watch a ton of cool, weird movies and listen to Joe Bob ramble on (“if you know what I mean, and I think you do”)!
Learn more and get your tickets at the official website.
I hope to see you there! As Joe Bob always says, “The drive-in will never die!”
