We bring Stanwyck Summer (but not the LTS season) to a close with a draft-ish episode. Each panelist has brought us a Barbara Stanwyck film - one we haven’t talked about before on the show. Somehow, there are a number of cats. Stanwyck Summer Draft Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy Dotinga Show Notes & Links The Stanw…

We remain submerged for a very long time to watch a very long film, 1981’s “Das Boot.” This certifiable classic is certainly long and German, encompassing almost everything you might expect in the genre. There’s action, suspense, a lot of character moments, and long periods of tedium spent listening for bad sounds, punctuated by moments of terror a…

In our second of two Uncanny Magazine Kickstarter Backer editions, we visit the world of places, learn about baseball, and do not learn about the U.S. Constitution. Random Pursuit XLIV Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Fred Paffhausen, Jason Snell, Laura Majerus, Peter Jones and Seb Pollard Show Notes & Links Fred Paffhausen - Planned Parenth…

How much of a fortress can you really hide? Your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony return to discuss Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 epic, The Hidden Fortress, a film which had a significant influence on George Lucas’s work. We discuss rich people buying the horse out from under you, the unquestionably most successful Fire Festival, and who exactly the three…

The Summer of Submarines joins forces with Old Movie Club to take on 1958’s “Run Silent, Run Deep,” starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. It’s a tense thriller that has inspired sub and sci-fi movies for many decades. Erika’s gleeful reaction to the film’s abrupt ending may surprise you! Host Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Philip Michaels, Shell…

If you’re suffering from Quiet Desparation, why not listen to the not-so-quiet voices of Dan Daughhetee and me discussing Henrey David Thoreau’s Walden, or Life in the Woods (1854)? John McCoy with Daniel Daughetee Show Notes & Links Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads My blog post with further Thoreau musings.…

We remain submerged for a very long time to watch a very long film, 1981’s “Das Boot.” This certifiable classic is certainly long and German, encompassing almost everything you might expect in the genre. There’s action, suspense, a lot of character moments, and long periods of tedium spent listening for bad sounds, punctuated by moments of terror a…

And now, the conclusion! “Strange New Worlds” returns with the resolution of the season 2-ending storyline involving the Gorn, including Chris Pike’s very bad day. We dive into the action after a discussion of the precarious position Paramount and Star Trek are in right now. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell…

This earliest non-pilot episode of Magnum features weird music, dogs, shots from the opening credits, an unfortunate Chinese food joke, fast dialogue, and a kung-fu assassin with one fatal flaw: blinking. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. LoehrDi Magnum, podcast

In our second of two Uncanny Magazine Kickstarter Backer editions, we visit the world of places, learn about baseball, and do not learn about the U.S. Constitution. Random Pursuit XLIV Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Fred Paffhausen, Jason Snell, Laura Majerus, Peter Jones and Seb Pollard Show Notes & Links Fred Paffhausen - Planned Parenth…

Revelle spends a lot of time thinking about toilets. J’osh has a (very) bright idea. K’ronng is both a small and a large creature. Jasper doesn’t want to go in there. Tony decides Gnomish beer tastes like Mountain Dew. Keys from the Golden Vault - Tockworth’s Clockwork, Part 3 Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ash…

How much of a fortress can you really hide? Your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony return to discuss Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 epic, The Hidden Fortress, a film which had a significant influence on George Lucas’s work. We discuss rich people buying the horse out from under you, the unquestionably most successful Fire Festival, and who exactly the three…

Meet us down at the crossroads but put yourself in a circle of salt first because we’re coving the last three episodes of Ironheart. An intriguing show that you’d thnik whould puts magic up against technology but, instead, goes full Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with it. It even adds a bit of spice in the charming form of Sacha Baron Cohen. Dan Moren,…

The Summer of Submarines joins forces with Old Movie Club to take on 1958’s “Run Silent, Run Deep,” starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. It’s a tense thriller that has inspired sub and sci-fi movies for many decades. Erika’s gleeful reaction to the film’s abrupt ending may surprise you! "Run Silent, Run Deep" (1958) Jason Snell with Erika Ensig…

The Summer of Submarines joins forces with Old Movie Club to take on 1958’s “Run Silent, Run Deep,” starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. It’s a tense thriller that has inspired sub and sci-fi movies for many decades. Erika’s gleeful reaction to the film’s abrupt ending may surprise you! "Run Silent, Run Deep" (1958) Jason Snell with Erika Ensig…

This time, Stanwyck is an invalid, who’s having trouble with her phone. I would call it a straight-up female victim tale, but Babs is not what you’d call sympathetic as a character. Even so, should her husband (Burt Lancaster) be plotting her death? Sorry, Wrong Number Shelly Brisbin with David J. Loehr, Micheline Maynard, Nathan Alderman and Randy…

Back to the early days of “Magnum” with this episode featuring dual Ferrers and dual Lockharts along with a single Scatman. This episode really sets the stage for what this show will be able to do, even with the unnecessarily complicated plot. But don’t hold it against the screenwriter—after all, he is a novelist. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and D…

How far would you go for a friend? Or, maybe an acquaintance who helped you that one time? Casey asks himself this same question as he considers re-editing an interview to make the guest look not terrible. Meanwhile Dan can’t seem to say the name “Kafelnikov”, and we roll our eyes at a very throwaway subplot about Natalie disagreeing with the pope.…

Jasper is sorry and has a sorry short sword. J’osh wonders how melty this metal is. K’ronng would never murder a dog. Revelle is always second bucket. Tony is confused when the players are mission-oriented. Keys from the Golden Vault - Tockworth’s Clockwork, Part 2 Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley Show Not…

Listener Eric really needs his kids to differentiate between charger blocks and charging cables. John Siracusa and Jason SnellDi Robot or Not?

A little late due to travel and holiday plans but we’re here with our coverage of the first three episode of Marvel’s Ironheart. We pick up with Riri Williams at MIT and things go off the rails from there as she finds herself embroiled in a life of “fun crime with whacky characters” which, it turns out, isn’t all fun and games. There’s some interes…

Stanwyck Summer continues with a “noir tragedy.” She finds herself involved with Kirk Douglas (his film debut), Van Heflin and Lizbeth Scott. Did Missy kill her very mean aunt, many years ago? Let’s find out, shall we? The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard and Randy Dotinga Referenced Works The Stra…

The summer of submarines kicks off with 1995’s “Crimson Tide,” a taut character drama that pits a captain (Gene Hackman) against his XO (Denzel Washington) in a conflict that escalates as global tensions rise outside their nuclear submarine. "Crimson Tide" Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Lisa Schmeiser, Dan Moren, Casey Liss and Erika Ensign Spon…

The summer of submarines kicks off with 1995’s “Crimson Tide,” a taut character drama that pits a captain (Gene Hackman) against his XO (Denzel Washington) in a conflict that escalates as global tensions rise outside their nuclear submarine. "Crimson Tide" Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Lisa Schmeiser, Dan Moren, Casey Liss and Erika Ensign Spon…

Good news, friends, this podcast is Y2K compliant, and so are Brian and Lex, as they break down the quite possibly mis-titled episode of Sports Night, “Kafelnikov”. Jeremy’s pretty sure he’s got everything prepped for the new millennium, but does he? Meanwhile, Dan meets a woman in bar who says he really should call her, but maybe for reasons he do…

Now lissen up, Pilgrim, there’s a fake Christopher Cross version of the Magnum Theme and a dead body in a trunk in this episode. We play a game of Bad Cop/No Cop with guest star Clyde Kusatsu! But… does it have the island vibes? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. LoehrDi Magnum, podcast

It’s time once again to salute Uncanny Magazine Kickstarter Backers, and salute them we do, with questions! Difficult, specific, mostly-American questions! Random Pursuit XLIII Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Daniel Ryan, Joe Veneracion, Mikah Sargent, Pinky and Thomas Wouters Show Notes & Links Dan Ryan - Support mutual aid - help the folk…

It’s time once again to salute Uncanny Magazine Kickstarter Backers, and salute them we do, with questions! Difficult, specific, mostly-American questions! Random Pursuit XLIII Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Daniel Ryan, Joe Veneracion, Mikah Sargent, Pinky and Thomas Wouters Show Notes & Links Dan Ryan - Support mutual aid - help the folk…

Erika and Steven wrap up the Canada Day extravaganza by dipping their toes into “Genesis of the Daleks” — will Erika love it? like it? hate it? Nobody knows yet, not even Erika! 4E (1) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

Steven and Erika finish off a rare (for this era) two-part story as the Canada Day fun continues! 4B (2) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

Erika and Steven wax poetic about OB video and Sarah Jane Smith, as the Canada Day marathon continues. And Erika shares a partial list of favourite Doctor Who stories over the years. The stories on that list might surprise you! 4B (1) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

Steven and Erika conclude “The Ark in Space” and complain about fireworks timing — another Canada Day tradition! 4C (4) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

Erika and Steven natter on about problem-solving and TV-pacing, with a long tangent about food in Edmonton — so it’s basically what you’d expect on Canada Day! 4C (3) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

Steven and Erika celebrate Canada Day in their traditional fashion — with a classic Doctor Who marathon and some delicious food! 4C (2) Erika Ensign and Steven SchapanskyDi Lazy Doctor Who

In this new Keys from the Golden Vault adventure, K’ronng hates the Underdark, J’osh spares the dying, Revelle throws a rock, and Jasper thinks this is all terrible. Tony claims this is technically team building. Keys from the Golden Vault - Tockworth’s Clockwork, Part 1 Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley Sh…

Barbara Stanwyck (Lorna) in a boxing movie? OK, sure. But you’ll also see the film that began her lifelong friendship with William Holden. Bill (Joe) is a violinist who wants to try his hand at boxing. Because there’s money in that. Stanwyck’s Lorna is the girl who loves him. What price must Joe pay to become a success? Golden Boy Shelly Brisbin wi…

With the guiding hand of Prof. Siracusa choosing the curriculum, we watch select animated shorts from the Netflix series “Love, Death + Robots.” John’s quest to find the perfect photorealistic CGI animation continues. Tony does his companions a solid if he’s ever killed on a moon. The others debate if they represent love, death, or robots. We try t…

With the guiding hand of Prof. Siracusa choosing the curriculum, we watch select animated shorts from the Netflix series “Love, Death + Robots.” John’s quest to find the perfect photorealistic CGI animation continues. Tony does his companions a solid if he’s ever killed on a moon. The others debate if they represent love, death, or robots. We try t…

It’s our 100th episode spectacular! Major General Eyepatch threatens our friends with death! Rick faces death by remembering some guys on the 1969 Cubs, but can Phil remember those guys? Is Robert Forster chewing the scenery… for the CIA? Which episode template of “Magnum, p.i.” is this, anyway? And Clyde Kusatsu is the George freakin’ Washington o…

In this finale episode, the party takes a lot of damage and finds a chew toy. Uni and the Hunt for the Last Horn, Part 5 Mikah Sargent with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, James Thomson, Jason Snell and Kathy Campbell Show Notes & Links Edited by Erika Ensign. Uni and the Hunt for the Lost HornDi Total Party Kill

Listener Christian, your time has come. Is an AI Lock the same as a Smart Lock? Or a Fuzzy Logic Lock? When bicycle gear shifters are called “AI”, how do we define what any of this means? I know—let’s ask John. John Siracusa and Jason SnellDi Robot or Not?

With a title like “Louise Revisited”, Sorkin fans may think this is another “Jeremy narrates the episode” trope, but Lex and Brian are relieved to find out that’s not the case. Instead we have a silly subplot about a “Who’s cooler, Dan or Casey” online poll and way too much time spent dwelling on undergarments. This may sound like a bit of a mess, …