TITANTALK 062: "Lazarus" Is Up!

 
"Let me see the eyes...Well done, my boy. Take that chemistry set, get yourself an RV, and you can have your very own television show."
-- Dr. Jonathan Crane to Jason Todd, Titans: "Lazarus"

Hello again, Titans fans!  My co-host DJ Nik and I are back with a brand-new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast! This time, we discuss "Lazarus", the fifth episode from Titans Season 3, featuring Curran Walters as the Red Hood, Vincent Kartheiser as Dr. Jonathan Crane, Iain Glen as Bruce Wayne, and the introduction of Krista Bridges as Dr. Leslie Thompkins!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like Nik becoming the Godfather to my new kittens, finally getting the backstory of how Jason Todd hooked up with the Scarecrow, still wondering what's going on with Raven, why "Lazarus" was Episode 5 of Season 3 instead of Episode 1, possible confusion with Lee Thompkins on Gotham, Dr. Walter Bishop of Fringe getting along with Titans' version of the Scarecrow, some comics background on Leslie Thompkins, Nik's crush on Morena Baccarin, wondering what Iain Glen would look like as Batman, Bruce actually calling Jason his son, Molly thinking that Batman only helps out rich people, this older version of Bruce Wayne having regrets over his mistakes with Dick Grayson and making all-new mistakes with Jason Todd, Bruce benching Jason as Robin until he talks with Leslie, wondering why Bruce brought Jason to the exact spot where Bruce's parents were murdered to tell him he'll never be Robin again, Robin being Jason's entire sense of identity and self-worth, the awkward implication that this version of Joker is a pedophile, Jason getting his ass handed to him by Pete Hawkins, Jason trying to find out about Bruce's past relationship with Leslie, Jason deciding he's not able to trust anyone, Leslie telling Jason that Bruce is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, hoping Leslie and Molly don't end up dead as cheap shock value and Women in Refrigerators, wondering how teenaged Jason was allowed to go back and talk alone with Scarecrow in Arkham Asylum, wondering how there happens to be a Lazarus Pit under Arkham Asylum and how no one notices when Scarecrow is missing while in his secret lab, finally getting Scarecrow's master plan, Scarecrow figuring out that Jason is Robin, Jason's deal to tell Scarecrow all of Batman's secrets for an anti-fear gas formula, Jason experimenting on himself over and over until he gets the anti-fear gas formula right, Scarecrow manipulating Jason into getting himself killed by the Joker, Jason's revenge as the Red Hood on Pete Hawkins, Molly being able to figure out that Red Hood was Jason faster than Dick Grayson did, the solid soundtrack choices for the episode, our favorite quotes of the episode, Nik finding some episode titles for the rest of Season 3 online, my brand-new official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt, finally getting to see Lady Vic in live-action, and more!

If you'd like to check out episodes of TitanTalk, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
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And hey, we now have an official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt and merch featuring our updated logo, which you can find on TeePublic RIGHT HERE! Support the show by grabbing some TitanTalk gear to enjoy while listening to our discussions of Titans and Doom Patrol!

Be sure to come back next week as Nik and I discuss "Lady Vic", the sixth episode from Titans Season 3, right here on TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast!

THE FLASH Casts Tony Curran as Despero for Five-Part Event "Armageddon"

 
Things are about to get desperate in Central City.

Deadline has word that the CW series The Flash has cast Tony Curran as classic DC Comics supervillain Despero for the show's upcoming Season 8.

According to the article, Despero is described as "a powerful and intelligent alien possessing incredible telepathic powers who left his homeworld—Kalanor—under mysterious circumstances. Now he’s facing a deadly mission on Earth, one whose outcome will decide the fate of humankind and put him on a collision course with Team Flash."

Yesterday, Deadline reported that Season 8 will begin with a special five-part event called "Armageddon", which will involve "a powerful alien threat arrives on Earth under mysterious circumstances and Barry (Grant Gustin), Iris (Candice Patton) and the rest of Team Flash are pushed to their limits in a desperate battle to save the world. But with time running out, and the fate of humanity at stake, Flash and his companions will also need to enlist the help of some old friends if the forces of good are to prevail."

"Armageddon" will feature numerous guest appearances from some of the CW Arrowverse's heroes and villains including Javicia Leslie as Batwoman, Brandon Routh as The Atom, Cress Williams as Black Lightning, Chyler Leigh as Sentinel, Kat McNamara as Mia Queen, and Osric Chau as Ryan Choi. Tom Cavanagh and Neal McDonough will return as enemies Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash and Damien Darhk, respectively.

Curran, 51, is a Scottish actor best known as Vincent van Gogh in the Doctor Who episodes "Vincent and the Doctor" and "The Pandorica Opens", Datak Tarr on the Syfy series Defiance, and Rodney Skinner (The Invisible Man) in the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. His other films include Gladiator, Blade II, Underworld: Evolution, X-Men: First Class, and Thor: The Dark World, while his other TV appearances include episodes of Boardwalk Empire, Daredevil, Elementary, Sons of Anarchy, and Ray Donovan.

Created in 1960 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, Despero first appeared in Justice League of America (vol.1) #1 as a tyrant from the planet Kalanor who possessed a genius intellect and a third eye on his forehead capable of mind control, illusions, telekinesis, and telepathy. He soon enslaved the Justice League with his mental abilities. The Flash was stopped by escaping citizens of Kalanor and offered to help them against Despero. Despero forced the Flash into playing a chess-like game with the stakes being the fate of his friends, but used his hypnotic powers to trick the Flash into losing. Snapper Carr, who was watching in the shadows, was able to foil Despero's plot by freeing the League by pretending to be hypnotized. Despero was then imprisoned for his crimes.

After several additional encounters with the Justice League, Despero recreated himself in the Flames of Py'tar, a mystical source of power that granted him massive superhuman strength, durability, speed, reflexes and the ability to alter his biomass from human-sized to massive. Returning to Earth to exact revenge on the League with his newfound powers, Despero quickly defeated the League, destroying the Justice League Satellite, and captured Batman and Vixen. Batman learned the source of Despero's powers, escaped from his restraints, and freed Vixen. Vixen brought the League back for another battle in which Gypsy distracted Despero with an illusion of being incinerated by a sun. Though Despero knew it was an illusion, the distraction gave Vibe time to destroy the Flames of Py'tar, removing Despero's energy source and causing Despero to consume himself.

Despero eventually reformed, and targeted the former Justice League member Gypsy. After murdering Gypsy's parents, Despero was about to kill her when the Martian Manhunter intervened. The villain quickly defeated the Manhunter, although fellow Justice League member Guy Gardner arrived and hurled Despero away. Despero attacked the League at their headquarters, and killed the comatose Steel (on life support for injuries sustained during a battle against the androids of Professor Ivo). When Despero was about to murder the Blue Beetle, the Martian Manhunter bestowed upon him the gift of "Mayavanna", a sacred Martian rite that provides the subject with a reality in which they obtain their desires. Despero saw himself killing the entire League and destroying the world, and was immediately at peace.

Curran will be the first actor to portray Despero in live-action, although the character has appeared in various animated projects, including Justice League (voiced by Keith David), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), Young Justice: Invasion, and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

The Flash returns to The CW for Season 8 with the "Armageddon" event on November 16, 2021.

TITANTALK 061: "Blackfire" Is Up!

 
"You think I changed him. Oh, buddy, no. I've got news for you -- that kid came to me broken. All I did was rebuild him, and it was easy, too, after what you did to him in San Francisco. That Titans business, what a twisted mindfuck. I kind of wish I'd actually thought of that myself."
-- Dr. Jonathan Crane to Dick Grayson, Titans: "Blackfire"

Hello again, Titans fans!  My co-host DJ Nik and I are back with a brand-new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast! This time, we discuss "Blackfire", the fourth episode from Titans Season 3, featuring Curran Walters as the Red Hood, Vincent Kartheiser as Dr. Jonathan Crane, Kris Siddiqi as Dr. Artie Kind, and the return of Damaris Lewis as Blackfire!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like Bob Hope being a fellow Ohioan, Titans not being Titans without having something wrong with it, finally hearing Blackfire's Tamaranean name, the various reactions of Titans members after Hawk's death, Superboy having a huge inferiority complex, Nik worrying that Dick was coming onto Dawn as she prepared to leave for Paris, Dawn trying to reassure Conner that Hawk's death wasn't his fault, wondering why Dick was the only one to see Dawn off at the airport, wondering if Dawn will return from Paris with her sister Holly Granger as the new Hawk, the Titans writers once again ignoring the consequences of Titans members breaking the law, Gar finally getting paired with Kory, Kory's "Blackfire Sense", Blackfire blaming Starfire for not standing up for her with their parents, Dr. Artie Kind being Galaga Guy, wondering what government agency Dr. Kind is working for, Kory's decision to go back and free her sister from decades of experimentation and imprisonment, still waiting for Raven to appeared in Season 3, wondering what happened to Rose and Jericho after Season 2, Blackfire throwing shade at Kory's dirty car, the staged attack to "assassinate" Scarecrow in Arkham Asylum, my being proven right that Scarecrow and Red Hood were working together, that awkward moment when Jason is about to spring Scarecrow during a prison transfer only to have Dick Grayson do it for him, Batman traumatizing Dick as a child by forcing him to behead a wolf, wondering why Titans is being so unnecessary Edgelord in their depiction of superheroes, Dick actually being a detective and figuring out that Scarecrow is working with Red Hood, that awkward moment when Barbara authorized a sniper to take out Red Hood only to have the sniper shoot Nightwing by mistake, our favorite quotes of the episode, the first five episode titles for Doom Patrol Season 3, sending our thoughts out to my Ghostwood and Drunk Cinema co-host Xan Sprouse, being grateful that our listeners are still here after having a year off, and more!

If you'd like to check out episodes of TitanTalk, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Google Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn --  RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE
TitanTalk's Facebook page
TitanTalk's Twitter account

And hey, we now have an official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt and merch featuring our updated logo, which you can find on TeePublic RIGHT HERE! Support the show by grabbing some TitanTalk gear to enjoy while listening to our discussions of Titans and Doom Patrol!

Be sure to come back next week as Nik and I discuss "Lady Vic", the fifth episode from Titans Season 3, right here on TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 240: "The Ark" Is Up!

 
"Now, I suggest we take a last look around and we'll get you off to bed."
"Oh, you're not going to send me home, are you?"
"Home? Ho, ho! What an idea. I couldn't send you home even if I wanted to."
"Oh, that's all right, then. I think I'm beginning to enjoy this space travel or whatever it is."
-- The First Doctor and Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet, Doctor Who: "The Ark"

Hello again, everyone!  My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we're joined by special guest companion John Takacs to discuss "The Ark", the fifth serial from Doctor Who Season 3 in 1966, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Peter Purves as Steven Taylor, Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet, and Michael Sheard as Rhos!

In this episode, Jesse, John and I discuss things like Jesse getting the urge to talk Doctor Who again, why John was interested in discussing "The Ark", an update on how Jesse has been doing after his surgery, John rocking his Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, John and Jesse struggling for employees, the COVID numbers going back up, Michael Sheard as Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, how the actors playing Monoids used ping-pong balls in their mouths as the aliens' eyes, Jackie Lane being told by the BBC suits that no Doctor Who regular character can speak anything other than "BBC English", the retcon of the National Trust preserving the Earth for later destruction by the expanding sun in "The End of the World", getting actual consequences to companions time traveling from different eras and places, wondering why the Doctor had Dodo's costume in his wardrobe, Jackie Lane's first full adventure as Dodo, the Guardians shrinking people for 700 years as punishment, writer Andrew Weir, Dodo's cold essentially turning into the Coronavirus, the Doctor coming up with a vaccine for Dodo's cold only to have it turn into the Delta Variant after he and his companions first leave the Ark, the Monoids taking advantage of the mutated virus to take over and make the humans their slaves, the Monoids picking up the humans' penchant for political backstabbing, the Refusians not wanting the humans and the Monoids being assholes on their planet, Jesse trying to make me do a Star Trek podcast, the great cliffhanger to lead into "The Celestial Toymaker", our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Holly Mac, Xan Sprouse getting her gallbladder removed, Christine Peruski returning to discuss "The Runaway Bride", Jesse's announcement that he's returning to Next Stop Everywhere full-time, J. Michael Straczynski offering to take over as Doctor Who's next showrunner, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Google Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
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Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt with our current logo, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy new shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space!  Or your could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

And hey, if you'd like to pick up our classic logo Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can also find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back in two weeks as Jesse and I are joined by special guest companion Christine Peruski to discuss "The Runaway Bride", the 2006 Doctor Who Christmas Special, featuring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, Sarah Parish as the Empress of the Racnoss, and the introductions of Catherine Tate as Donna Noble & Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble!

TITANTALK 060: "Barbara Gordon, Red Hood and Hank & Dove" Is Up!

 
"You're as crazy as the fucking Joker."
-- Barbara Gordon to Bruce Wayne, Titans: "Barbara Gordon"

Hello again, Titans fans!  My co-host DJ Nik and I are finally reopening Titans Tower for a brand-new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast! This time, we discuss "Barbara Gordon", "Red Hood" and "Hank & Dove", the first 3 episodes of Titans Season 3, featuring Curran Walters as the Red Hood, and the introduction of Savannah Welch as Barbara Gordon, Vincent Kartheiser as Dr. Jonathan Crane, and Jay Lycurgo as Tim Drake!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like what we've been doing since the end of Doom Patrol Season 2, writer Jamie Gorenberg enjoying killing off Titans, the decision to release the first 3 episodes of Season 3 on the same day, waiting for the resurrection of Donna Troy, Savannah Welch being a member of the alt-country band The Trishas, some comics background on Tim Drake, fanboys being outraged that Tim Drake isn't being played by a white dude, the Batman storyline "A Death in the Family" and DC's 1-900 number poll stunt to determine Jason Todd's fate, Jason Todd's return as the Red Hood, Dick returning to Gotham and finding out that Bruce has already buried Jason next to Alfred, wondering how Barbara became Commissioner of the GCPD after Jim Gordon was killed, this version of Barbara being darker with strong resentment towards Bruce, the awkward moment when Barbara tells Bruce he's just like the Joker, my theory that someone else killed the Joker instead of Bruce, the disappointingly rushed depiction of Jason's murder at the hands of the Joker, wondering if Gotham City has a permanent curfew, Tim getting harassed by the cops, trying to make short Curran Walters look physically intimidating as the Red Hood, wondering how Red Hood defeated Nightwing so easily in their fight, Jason's emoji Red Hood helmet, wondering if Scarecrow is using his drugs to get stoned to stage his escape from Arkham, Kory suddenly getting a phone call from her Vegas booty call, Kory having flashbacks of experimentation and teleporting for some reason, Kory's fashion upgrade, wishing Kory acted more like an eccentric alien unfamiliar with Earth, the Titans writers completely ignoring all the unresolved legal problems that Dick, Gar and Conner had in Season 2, Hank wanting to get back with Dawn while she's not interested in getting back with him, Hank's complete stupidity in letting Jason manipulate him into a vulnerable position, the awkward moment when Hank returns to the Batcave with a bomb in his chest, Dawn's complete stupidity is letting Jason manipulate her into stealing a truck full of gold bars as Dove, Red Hood tricking Dove into blowing up Hank, Doom Patrol Season 3 getting a trailer and premiere date, and more!

If you'd like to check out episodes of TitanTalk, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Google Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn --  RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE
TitanTalk's Facebook page
TitanTalk's Twitter account

And hey, we now have an official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt and merch featuring our updated logo, which you can find on TeePublic RIGHT HERE! Support the show by grabbing some TitanTalk gear to enjoy while listening to our discussions of Titans and Doom Patrol!

Be sure to come back later this week as we discuss "Blackfire", the fourth episode from Titans Season 3, right here on TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast!

GHOSTWOOD 100: "Through the Darkness of Future Past" Is Up!

 
"Welcome...to the killer's lair."
-- BOB to Special Agent Dale Cooper & Sheriff Harry S. Truman, Twin Peaks: "Pilot" (International Version)

It is happening again...My co-host with the most Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  Celebrating the 100th episode of Ghostwood, we're joined by special guest DJ Nik to watch the international version of the original Twin Peaks pilot directed by David Lynch, featuring an alternate ending with 20 minutes of extra footage!

LET'S ROCK!

In this episode, Xan, Nik and I discuss things like an update on Xan getting her gallbladder removed, Nik listening to Ghostwood while he's grocery shopping, Xan and I being podcast partners for 100 episodes, watching the alternate ending of the Twin Peaks pilot, Twin Peaks being released on VHS, the alternate ending being filmed in case the show wasn't picked up as a series and instead released as a TV movie, waiting for one of the Norwegians to break out and sing "Dancing Queen", Grace Zabriskie killing it, Bobby being the only one who calls Mike "Snake", Principal Wolchek's P.A. announcement, the Fear Street Netflix series, Don Davis as Agent Scully's dad, Xan giving out broken-heart necklaces, Leo Johnson possibly being an inspiration for Billy on Stranger Things, Xan once having Harriet Hayward's perm, Sparkwood & 21 being the only roads we know in Twin Peaks, the passing of Dusty Hill from ZZ Top, a brief pause for Nik, the difference of Sarah Palmer's dream, the missing scene of Andy and Lucy at Lucy's house, Sheetz opening up in Columbus, MIKE's opening to our podcast, why Theresa Banks was introduced, BOB's "Fire Walk With Me" tattoo, being glad the international version wasn't all we received of Twin Peaks, the creepiness of Maurice Chevalier's "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", beginning our Twin Peaks actors in film series of episodes with Kyle MacLachlan in The Hidden, Claudia Christian's boobs, having no pictures of Nik and Sonia, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE

Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE

YouTube -- RIGHT HERE

Ghostwood's Facebook page

Ghostwood's Twitter account

Be sure to come back this week for our next episode, as Xan and I begin our retrospective of Twin Peaks actors in film, starting with The Hidden, the 1987 science fiction horror film directed by Jack Sholder, featuring Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Lloyd Gallagher/Robert Stone/Alhague, Chris Mulkey as Jack DeVries, Michael Nouri as Detective Thomas Beck, and Claudia Christian as Brenda Lee Van Buren!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 239: "Asylum of the Daleks" Is Up!

 
"Is there a word for 'total screaming genius' that sounds modest and a tiny bit sexy?"
"Doctor. You call me The Doctor."
"I see what you did there."
-- Oswin Oswald and the Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who: "Asylum of the Daleks"

Hello again, everyone!  I'm back with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  Celebrating Next Stop Everywhere's 7th anniversary, special guest companion Holly Mac and I discuss Jodie Whittaker & Chris Chibnall leaving Doctor Who, along with “Asylum of the Daleks”, the first episode from Doctor Who Series 7 in 2012, featuring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams, and Jenna Coleman as Oswin Oswald!

In this episode, Holly and I discuss things like Holly being the one who finally picked "Asylum of the Daleks" to discuss, our mutual surprise that Chris Chibnall is leaving Doctor Who the same time as Jodie Whittaker, our skepticism that Chibnall made a "pact" with Jodie to leave after three seasons, Doctor Who fans who keep asking for previous Doctors to return to the show whenever the latest Doctor leaves, my rundown of how Jodie Whittaker's final nine episodes will be scheduled, previous season-long overarching stories "The Key to Time" and "The Trial of a Time Lord", Jenna Coleman playing Lady Johanna Constantine in the upcoming TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, my rundown of which classic Doctor Who stories were referenced with the Intensive Care Daleks, Steven Moffat lifting "Eggs-Stir-Min-Ate" from Paul Cornell's comic story for the 1993 Doctor Who Yearbook, the Prequel to "Asylum of the Daleks", the Daleks kidnapping the Doctor and his companions to deal with their problem with a planet full of insane Daleks, Holly's reaction to the first time she saw the episode, Amy and Rory being this close to divorcing, Amy revealing that she was left sterile because of something the Silence and Madame Kovarian did to her at Demon's Run, getting of preview of Jenna Coleman before she became the next companion, Steven Moffat's twist reveal that Oswin was turned into a Dalek, Oswin erasing the Daleks' memories of the Doctor, the Doctor as David Caruso from CSI: Miami, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Dave Proctor, John Takacs returning to discuss "The Ark", and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt with our current logo, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy new shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space!  Or your could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

And hey, if you'd like to pick up our classic logo Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can also find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back in two weeks as I'm joined by special guest companion John Takacs as we discuss "The Ark", the fifth serial from Doctor Who Season 3 in 1966, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Peter Purves as Steven Taylor, Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet, and Inigo Jackson as Zentos!