Tuesday, January 31, 2023

DC Studios Announces "Chapter One" Slate of DC Universe Film & TV Projects

 
A time of gods and monsters is about to begin.

Earlier today, DC Studios officially announced its first slate of ten interconnected projects, comprising five movies and five HBO Max TV series. Filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran, now serving as Co-Chairmen and CEOs of DC Studios, stated that all ten of them are set within the same shared universe and will frequently share characters. However, there will be films set outside the shared continuity—such as the previously announced Joker: Folie à Deux from director Todd Phillips and Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman Part II.

"The DCU’s a multiverse," explained Safran, "but we’re going to be focusing on one universe from that multiverse. And if something isn’t DCU, we’re going to make that very clear. So, strictly adult fare like Todd Phillips’ Joker, or kids animation like Teen Titans Go!, we’re going to make it very clear that those are DC Elseworlds, just the same way that they do it in the comic books."

While all ten projects are in active development, some are further along than others and both Gunn and Safran emphasize that plans may change. "What we’re starting with today is the first part of the first chapter of our universe," Safran remarked. "That first chapter’s called ‘Gods and Monsters.’ Many of the following projects are already being worked on, but we’re remaining flexible and we’re going to adjust because we’re never going to put a project into production before the script is right. This is a general timeline, but there will be flexibility within it."

And here are the first ten projects from DC Studios...

Creature Commandos -- Based on the team of military superhumans that first appeared in Weird War Tales #93 in 1980, this will be the first TV series from DC Studios, an animated project written by Gunn that will consist of seven episodes. In the image above (from left to right), the team will feature Rick Flag, Sr., Nina Mazursky. Doctor Phosphorus, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, G.I. Robot, and Weasel (from Gunn's DC film The Suicide Squad).

Waller -- Set between Seasons One and Two of HBO Max's Peacemaker series, Waller will feature the return of Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, who was last seen watching a broadcast of her daughter Leota Adebayo exposing Task Force X and Project Butterfly to the public, as well as Waller's involvement in both programs.

According to Gunn, Waller is "also going to have some of the Peacemaker team in it as regulars on the show." The series has tapped Jeremy Carver, creator of the acclaimed TV adaptation of DC's Doom Patrol, along with Watchmen limited series writer Christal Henry.

Superman: Legacy -- Safran stated this new Superman feature film will be the launch of the DCU and is being written by Gunn, with hopes that he will also direct it. "It’s not an origin story," he remarked. "It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."

Superman: Legacy is slated to arrive in theaters on July 11, 2025.


Lanterns -- This HBO Max series replaces the previous Green Lantern TV series developed by Greg Berlanti and will feature DC Comics characters Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Safran stated the series will be "more of a True Detective-type mystery with our two Lanterns. A terrestrial-based mystery—"

"-- that leads into the overall story that we’re telling throughout the different movies and television shows," finished Gunn. "We find this ancient horror on Earth, and these guys are basically supercops on 'Precinct Earth.'" The series will weave back and forth between DCU films and television shows, similar to Peacemaker.

The Authority -- Based on the superhero team from DC's WildStorm imprint that debuted in 1999's The Authority (vol.1) #1, the live-action film is a passion project for Gunn and will be a "very different kind of superhero story. They are basically good-intentioned, but they think that the world is completely broken and the only way to fix it is to take things into their own hands, whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments—basically, whatever they want to do to make the world better. We’ll see how that journey goes for them."



Paradise Lost -- According to Safran, this HBO Max series is set before the birth of Wonder Woman and will be "a Game of Thrones-type story about Themyscira/Paradise Island, home of the Amazons and the birthplace of Wonder Woman. This involves all of the darkness, drama and political intrigue behind this society of only women."

Gunn added, "It’s an origin story of how this society of women came about. What does it mean? What are their politics like? What are their rules? Who’s in charge? What are the games that they play with each other to get to the top? I think it’s really exciting."

The Brave and the Bold -- This live-action film will be the introduction of the DCU's Batman, who will be played by someone other than Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck.

Gunn remarked the film will be "a story of Damian Wayne, who’s Batman’s actual son that he didn’t know existed for the first eight to ten years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He’s my favorite Robin. It’s based on the Grant Morrison comic run, which is one of my favorite Batman runs."

Safran added, "This is going to feature other members of the extended Bat-Family. Just because we feel like they’ve been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long."

Booster Gold -- The glory-seeking superhero that debuted in 1986's Booster Gold (vol.1) #1 will get his own HBO Max Tv series and is described by Safran as "a loser from the future who uses his basic future technology to come back to today to pretend to be a superhero."

Gunn added, "I think of it as basically the story of a superhero’s imposter syndrome. How do you deal with that? (It’s about) how he tries to use this future technology to be loved by the people of today and what is really at the base of that. It’s a character story that’s going to be a very different type of show, and we’re talking to an actor about it now."


Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow -- Based on the 2021 limited series by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, this live-action film has had input from King along with four or five other writers.

Gunn remarked, "In our story, we have Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by incredibly loving parents. Kara was on Krypton. She was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet and she lived there for the first fourteen years of her life in a horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more fucked-up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far."

Swamp Thing -- The final project announced for "Chapter One" will be a live-action film that will investigate the dark origins of DC's plant elemental Swamp Thing in the character's first film since 1989's The Return of Swamp Thing.

Although low on details, Safran commented, "We bring it up because it’s important to point out that in these stories, although they’re interconnected, they’re not all tonally the same. Each set of filmmakers bring their own aesthetic to these films, and the fun is seeing how these tonally different works mash up in the future."


Sunday, January 29, 2023

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 282: "The Keys of Marinus" Is Up!

 
"Arbitan, where are you?"
"That is not important. If you help me find the Keys of Marinus, I will let you have access to your machine when you have delivered all the keys to me. If not, you will stay on the island without food or water. The choice is yours."
"Choice?! What choice?!"
-- Ian Chesterton and Arbitan, Doctor Who: "The Keys of Marinus"

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 DJ Nik to discuss "The Keys of Marinus", the fifth serial from Doctor Who Season One in 1964, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, and Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman!

In this episode, Jesse, Nik and I discuss things like Jesse not wanting to talk about the Dallas Cowboys, Nik and I competing over which of our NHL teams is more garbage than the other, our discussing three Hartnell Era stories in a row, even Carole Ann Ford being fed up with Susan being whiny and crying all the time, Nik watching all of Doctor Who from start to finish, Nik jumping ahead and watching "The Aztecs" again as well, the two Doctor Who serials that Terry Nation wrote which weren't Dalek stories, the episode structure of "The Keys of Marinus", the "Key to Time" season being similar to "The Keys of Marinus", "The Keys of Marinus" replacing "Dr. Who and the Hidden Temple" by Malcolm Hulke, Terry Nation using existing words for location and character names in the story, Nation's backstory for the Voord and Arbitan that was never explained on-screen, Nation's original script revealing the reason why the Doctor and Susan had been on 1963 Earth at the start of "An Unearthly Child", William Hartnell skipping Episodes 3 and 4 to go on holiday, Ian and Barbara probably being more romantically involved if this story was made in the Modern Era, Arbitan being too eager to control people with the Conscience of Marinus, the shocking moment of Vasor attempting to rape Barbara, wondering how Barbara was already wearing a custom-made dress and being fed a plate of grapes in Morphoton after only arriving shortly before the Doctor, Ian and Susan, Barbara stepping up as MVP to see through the hypnotic illusion of Morphoton and smash the Brains of Morphoton, Barbara Wright as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, the stock footage and classic movie sound effects for the wolves, Aydan abusing his wife Kala, the Voord being ninjas in scuba suits, our favorite quotes of the story, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Dave Proctor, Sandi from Oregon and Holly Mac, talking Nik into joining us for "The Aztecs" as well, and more!

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

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Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page
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We have a Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt with our previous logo, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy 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 for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by special guest companion DJ Nik to discuss "The Aztecs", the sixth serial from Doctor Who Season One in 1964, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, and Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman!

Friday, January 27, 2023

DRUNK CINEMA 037: "Johnny Dangerously" Is Up!

 
"The name's Dangerously. Johnny Dangerously."
"Did you know your last name is an adverb?"
-- Johnny Dangerously and Lil Sheridan, Johnny Dangerously

Hello again, movie fans!  My wonderful co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Drunk Cinema! This time, we watch Johnny Dangerouslythe 1984 crime comedy directed by Amy Heckerling, featuring Michael Keaton as Johnny Kelly, Joe Piscopo as Danny Vermin, Marilu Henner as Lil Sheridan, and Maureen Stapleton as Ma Kelly!

In this episode, Xan and I discuss things like wanting to hook me up with a bag of grape cotton candy, wondering why we're not watching Clerks for Episode 37, the moment that destroyed many a VHS copy of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Xan's crush on Sean Astin, the parody movie genre, Danny Vermin being Joe Piscopo's best performance ever, Roman Moronie's intended swearing getting the movie past network TV broadcast standards, Twin Peaks veteran Jack Nance as the Death Row priest, "Weird Al" Yankovic's opening song "This Is the Life" being replaced by a version of Cole Porter's "Let's Misbehave" on the VHS home video release, Moronie continuing to murder the English language, Marilu Henner being an underrated comedic actress, the animation for "Your Testicles and You", Jocko Dundee standing there with his dork in his hand, 9-year-old Xan knowing what cross-dressing was, the Golden Age of Danny DeVito, D.A. Burr trying to get Tommy Kelly to play ball, Mrs. Al Capone stopping by to borrow a cup of bullets, my summoning Beetlejuice, Ma Kelly giving Tommy crap for sending his brother to the Big House, Johnny knowing the prison grapevine, Xan not knowing that TikTok is a Chinese-controlled app, my trying to get Xan back on Next Stop Everywhere, and more!

If you'd like to check out our podcast and subscribe to us, you can find us on...

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Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 038, as Xan and I watch Mad Max: Fury Road, the 2015 post-apocalyptic action film co-written & directed by George Miller, featuring Tom Hardy as "Mad" Max Rockatansky, Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa, Nicholas Hoult as Nux, and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe!

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

SUPERMAN & LOIS Casts Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor

 
Superman's archenemy has a brand-new face.

Entertainment Weekly has revealed that the CW series Superman & Lois has cast Michael Cudlitz as DC Comics supervillain Lex Luthor for the show's upcoming third season.

According to the official description for the character, this version of Lex Luthor is "known to the world as the visionary billionaire behind LexCorp, but secretly, the criminal underworld knows who Lex truly is: a brutal psychopath who terrorizes anyone he crosses paths with. When Lex debuts this season, it's been years since he dropped out of the public eye and he's re-emerging hellbent on correcting a personal injustice by enacting revenge on the two people he feels have wronged him — Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch)."

Cudlitz, 58, is best known as Abraham Ford on the AMC series The Walking Dead and recently starred as Paul Krendler on the short-lived CBS series Clarice. He's appeared in the films Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, D3: The Mighty Ducks, and Grosse Pointe Blank, as well as the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. In addition, he starred in the TNT series Southland and has appeared in episodes of 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills 90210, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, 24, The Dead Zone, Bones, Lost, and Invincible.

Created in 1940 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lex Luthor first appeared in Action Comics (vol.1) #23 as Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor, a diabolical genius referred to only by his surname. He resided in a flying city suspended by a dirigible and plotted to provoke a war between two European nations. Lois Lane and Clark Kent investigated, which resulted in Lois being kidnapped. Luthor battled Superman with a green ray but he was ultimately defeated, and Lois was rescued. Superman destroyed Luthor's dirigible with him still on it, implying that Luthor may have died. Stories ending with Luthor's apparent death became common in his earliest appearances, with him turning up alive later on.

In 1960, Siegel and artist Al Plastino introduced a new Silver Age version of Luthor in Adventure Comics (vol.1) #271, now with the first name "Lex" (later said to be short for Alexis and eventually retconned as Alexander) and an origin story. Originally hero-worshiping Superboy, teenage Lex Luthor of Smallville was determined to prove he was Earth's greatest scientist by creating artificial life. His recklessness and inexperience caused a fire in his lab and he called for Superboy to save him. The Boy of Steel put out the fire, but in the process accidentally destroyed the artificial life form and the years of research notes that led to its creation, while fumes from the chemical fire caused Luthor's hair to fall out. Unwilling to hold himself responsible for the lab fire and the destruction of his own life's work, Luthor decided that Superboy was jealous of his intellect and caused the fire himself. Believing himself betrayed by his hero and friend, Lex swore revenge, creating a hatred that lasted until both of them reached adulthood.

Following the event series Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC rebooted its universe yet again, creating the "Post-Crisis" reality. In the 1986 limited series The Man of Steel, writer and artist John Byrne redesigned Lex Luthor from scratch, intending to make him a villain that the 1980s would recognize -- an evil corporate executive. Initially overweight, the character later evolved into a slimmer, more athletic version of his old self. In this version, Luthor eventually became bald after his hairline receded naturally over time. This version of Lex Luthor was a product of child abuse and early poverty. Born in the Suicide Slum district of Metropolis, he was instilled with a desire to become a self-made man of great power and influence. As a teenager, he took out a large life insurance policy on his parents without their knowledge, then sabotaged their car's brakes, causing their deaths. Upon graduating from MIT, Luthor founded his own business, LexCorp, which grew to dominate much of Metropolis.

In 2009, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank revised Luthor's history again in the limited series Superman: Secret Origin. This version of Lex's backstory restored his sister, Lena Luthor, and while Lex knew Clark as a teenager in Smallville, he rejected the other boy's attempts to form a friendship. Resentful toward his alcoholic and abusive father, Lex arranged his parents to die in a car accident and used the insurance money to leave Smallville and start a better life. After studying under the villains Ra's al Ghul and Darkseid, he founded LexCorp and used his PR, resources, and media control to set himself up as a near-savior in Metropolis. The Daily Planet opposed Luthor and he retaliated in ways that left the newspaper almost bankrupt. Superman's arrival challenged Luthor's image and brought renewed interest to the Planet when he gave exclusive interviews with their staff. Superman told the public they should strive to achieve great things themselves and not wait for others to be their saviors. Angry at Superman's interference and blaming him for losing the love of the public, Luthor swore vengeance.

Cudlitz will be the eleventh actor to portray the role in live-action, after Lyle Talbot in movie serial Atom Man vs. Superman, Gene Hackman in the films Superman (1978), Superman II and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Scott James Wells and Sherman Howard in the TV series Superboy, John Shea in the ABC series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Michael Rosenbaum on the WB/CW series Smallville, Kevin Spacey in the film Superman Returns, Jesse Eisenberg in the films Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, Jon Cryer on the CW series Supergirl, and Titus Welliver on the HBO Max series Titans.

Superman & Lois returns to The CW for Season 3 on Tuesday, March 14th.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

GHOSTWOOD 123: "The Wizard of Oz" Is Up!

 
"Weren't you frightened?"
"Frightened? Child, you're talking to a man who's laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe...I was petrified."
-- Dorothy Gale and The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz (1939)

It is happening again...My amazing co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  This time, we conclude our retrospective of The Films That Inspired David Lynch by discussing The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming, featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz, and Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West!

LET'S ROCK

In this episode, Xan and I discuss things like Xan's smoky voice, Victor Fleming leaving The Wizard of Oz for Gone With the Wind, Sherlock Holmes entering the public domain, The Wizard of Oz dominating David Lynch's work, people not thinking of The Wizard of Oz as a weird movie, Xan making The Wizard of Oz appointment television, people taping The Wizard of Oz on VHS instead of buying it, the visual pop from switching from a dull sepia tone to bright Technicolor, Ray Bolger appearing on The Love Boat and Battlestar Galactica, Margaret Hamilton reprising the Wicked Witch on the 1976 Paul Lynde Halloween Special, Margaret Hamilton appearing on a banned episode of Sesame Street, costume designers on fantasy films being more creative than costume designers on period films, my being a huge Thin Man movie buff, the original book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum being darker than the film, Xan's recommendation of Return to Oz, the film's multiple directors, Buddy Ebsen being the original Tin Man, Victor Fleming slapping Judy Garland for having the giggles, Margaret Hamilton getting second and third-degree burns on her hands and face, the urban legend of the Hanging Munchkin, how the "Surrender Dorothy" skywriting scene was made, the deleted sequence "The Jitterbug", the various Wizard of Oz references in David Lynch's Wild at Heart, various Wizard of Oz references on Twin Peaks, Alexandre O. Phillipe's documentary Lynch/Oz, our learning of the death of Lisa Marie Presley, the David Lynch films with happy endings, the almost-redemption of Leo Johnson, Xan and I preparing to discuss Johnny Dangerously on Drunk Cinema, and more!

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

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
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Ghostwood's Facebook page
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Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 123, as Xan and I continue our retrospective of films that inspired David Lynch by discussing The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming, featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz, and Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West!

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 281: "Out of Time 3: Wink" Is Up!

 
"You like what I've done with the place?"
"A bit...grubby, isn't it?"
"I was aiming for atmospheric."
"Well, I rather think you missed."
-- The Tenth Doctor and the Sixth Doctor, Doctor Who: "Out of Time 3: Wink"

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 Rachel Frend to discuss "Out of Time 3: Wink", the third audio drama from Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who: Out of Time series released in 2022, featuring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, and the return of the Weeping Angels!

In this episode, Jesse, Rachel and I discuss things like Jesse awaiting the next Dallas Cowboys playoff game, all of us being congested, Rachel returning to talk more Sixth Doctor, the difference of listening to the Weeping Angels on audio instead of seeing them on TV, our favorite multi-Doctor stories, Jemma Redgrave returning for Series 14 as Kate Stewart, wanting RTD to create a UNIT spinoff TV series, special guest companion Christine Peruski designing our spiffy new Next Stop Everywhere logo for 2023, hoping for more Out of Time multi-Doctor stories, Ayesha Antoine as Dee Dee Blasco in "Midnight", the Sixth Doctor webcast story "Real Time" that introduced a blue variation of his costume, Rachel's defense of the Sixth Doctor's costume, the Sixth Doctor taking himself so seriously, Six and Ten giving each other as well as they get, the Tenth Doctor not being able to tell the Sixth about what happened to Gallifrey, what would happen if the Sixth Doctor teamed up with Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, the Sixth Doctor's reaction to the Tenth Doctor's TARDIS interior, the Tenth Doctor Doctorsplaining the Weeping Angels to the Sixth Doctor, Jesse being unable to wink with one eye, some background on the British phrase "Suck eggs", Estra and Padilla not knowing what the sense of sight is, art galleries on the planet Lucidus Silvara having sound galleries instead of paintings, the Sixth Doctor's clothing being so loud you can hear it, Angel Dax taunting the hell out of the Doctors, finally getting a good explanation for why Amy and Rory aren't able to be rescued from the past by the Doctor, my wanting a Weeping Angel night light, Angel Dax being the voice the Weeping Angels need on audio, finally understanding how Weeping Angels reproduce, our favorite quotes of the story, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Holly Mac, planning for Rachel to return to Drunk Cinema, our recording three Hartnell Era stories in a row, 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
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 Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt with our previous logo, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy 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 for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by special guest companion DJ Nik to discuss "The Keys of Marinus", the fifth serial from Doctor Who Season One in 1964, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, and Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman!

Monday, January 16, 2023

TITANTALK 086: "Hope Patrol" Is Up!

 
"I feel like I shouldn't have to tell you this, but when a bone temple spontaneously sprouts from the ground, it's not usually a good sign."
-- Negative Man, Doom Patrol: "Hope Patrol"

Hello again, Titans & Doom Patrol fans! DJ Nik and I are back with a new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast! This time, we celebrate TitanTalk's 5th Anniversary and discuss "Hope Patrol", the sixth episode of Doom Patrol Season 4, featuring the return of Wynn Everett as The Fog/Shelley Byron & Daniel Annone as Wally Sage, along with the introduction of the Scissormen!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like Nik playing the online game Manor Matters, celebrating five years of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast, our podcast's survival being up to Warner Bros. Discovery, Nik going to the Dark Web to find out when the second half of Doom Patrol is being released, wanting to follow Doom Patrol writers on other TV shows, some comics background on the Scissormen and Orqwith, Cliff wearing a "Crawling from the Wreckage" t-shirt, a refresher on Wally Sage, Jane freaking out about losing her longevity, the big moment of Cliff removing his oven mitt to hold Jane's hand, the inevitable awkward moment when the Zombie Butt escaped from Cliff's freezer, Cliff and Jane leaving an injured Willoughby Kipling just lying on their hallway floor, the foundation of Cliff and Jane's friendship being their mutual hatred of the Chief, Madame Rouge and Rita breaking into the Ant Farm disguised as a janitor and a bucket of dirty water, my being right about my Wally Sage theory from last week, that awkward moment when Rita goes full blob and squishes Wally Sage, the distance between Detroit and Toledo, Vic and Deric repairing their friendship, Vic and Deric geeking out that they could make a real-life Mr. Invincible robot, Mr. 104 being ignored by the Scissormen, Keeg finally revealing what Future Keeg showed him, our favorite quotes from the episode, an audio message from original TitanTalker Jesse Jackson, TitanTalk returning sometime in 2023, Nik and I moving over to The Fandom Zone to discuss The Flash Season 9, 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 don't forget, we have an official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt and merch featuring our 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!

While we wait for the rest of Titans and Doom Patrol Season 4 to be released sometime in 2023, DJ Nik and I will return in three weeks on The Fandom Zone Podcast to discuss the final season of The Flash!

Sunday, January 15, 2023

DRUNK CINEMA 036: "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" Is Up!

 
"Do you still follow your dad's orders?"
"The way I see it, the only one in this room controlled by his parents is you."
-- Batman and Andrea Beaumont, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Hello again, movie fans!  My wonderful co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Drunk Cinema! This time, we pay tribute to the late Kevin Conroy by watching Batman: Mask of the Phantasmthe 1993 animated superhero film directed by Eric Radomski & Bruce Timm, featuring the voices of Kevin Conroy as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Mark Hamill as The Joker, and Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont!

In this episode, Xan and I discuss things like l not recording since last November, Xan and I seeing each other in the physical world at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Xan getting hammered by COVID, the death of Kevin Conroy from colorectal cancer, 30 years of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, my near-religious experience of hearing Shirley Walker's opening operatic theme to Mask of the Phantasm in the movie theater during its short theatrical release, the various home video releases, Batman liking the Bad Girls, Kevin Conroy finally getting to appear as a live-action Bruce Wayne on the Batwoman TV series, various non-Star Wars roles of Mark Hamill, Hart Bochner as Harry Ellis in Die Hard, Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather, Dick Miller as Fosnight on The Flash (1990), composer Shirley Walker, Xan snacking on cotton candy, Warner Bros. releasing Batman: Mask of the Phantasm into theaters at the last minute, wondering why the Phantasm wore a scythe gauntlet that made it hard to hold things, Bruce and Andrea bonding over their dead parents, Bruce and Andrea hanging out at the cemetery far too late at night, the Millennium Falcon bad engine sound effect, Batman looking like a sad action figure who lost his vinyl cape, wondering why Andrea didn't pawn her engagement ring for money she needed, Batman being such a stalker, how the Joker spends his day, the animated scene of "Your Testicles and You" from Johnny Dangerously, and more!

If you'd like to check out our podcast and subscribe to us, 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
Drunk Cinema's Facebook Page
Drunk Cinema's Twitter Account

Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 037, as Xan and I watch Johnny Dangerously, the 1984 crime comedy directed by Amy Heckerling, featuring Michael Keaton as Johnny Kelly, Joe Piscopo as Danny Vermin, Marilu Henner as Lil Sheridan, and Maureen Stapleton as Ma Kelly!

Saturday, January 7, 2023

TITANTALK 085: "Youth Patrol" Is Up!

 
"I’m starting to think that the world’s always going to need rescuing. But you gotta wonder…I mean, you’re out there saving the planet, who the fuck is rescuing you?"
"You are so high right now."
"I’m pretty lit, yeah."
-- Crazy Jane and Vic Stone, Doom Patrol: "Youth Patrol"

Hello again, Titans & Doom Patrol fans! DJ Nik and I are back with a new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast! This time, we discuss "Youth Patrol", the fifth episode of Doom Patrol Season 4, featuring Michelle Gomez as Madame Rouge/Laura DeMille, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mr. 104/Rama, and the return of Mark Sheppard as Willoughby Kipling!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like celebrating a new year of talking Titans and Doom Patrol, Nik being happy that Willoughby Kipling returned, Doom Patrol putting a fresh spin on the story concept of de-aging, how immortality factored into the original Doom Patrol comics, Rita's desperation to prevent herself from aging, Madame Rogue finally getting the opportunity to patch things up with Rita, Madame Rouge revealing her childhood appearance to Rita, Larry and Mr. 104 learning of each other's experiences in the Ant Farm, why Mr. 104 could be the right guy for Larry, Keeg playing Cupid for Larry and Mr. 104, explaining who grabbed Larry and pulled him back through a portal, why Mr. 104 is on Team Immortus, Willoughby's big mane of hair, that awkward moment when Jane returns to the Underground while masturbating, Kay telling Jane her physical body is also Jane's, Jane tingling Drug Sense, Corporal Klinger on M*A*S*H and his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, Willoughby hitting the Wizard Kush, writer Shoshana Sachi being very fond of writing scenes involving drugs, Cliff being appreciative that Madame Rouge brought back the classic car they found by the side of a road, Willoughby being summoned by Herman's Hermits' song "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter", finally learning the backstory of why the Doom Patrol members are immortal, Willoughby being tired of cleaning up the Doom Patrol's messes, the return of Bunbury and the Knights Templar, Jane finally getting the high school experience, Cliff finally calling out Jane for not asking if he's okay when he clearly isn't, our favorite quotes from the episode, some quick Tell It to TitanTalk feedback from Christine Peruski, why "The Final Fight" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is our show theme music, Nik and I being stunned that TitanTalk has over 11,000 followers on Facebook, Nik appearing on Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast to discuss the Italian film 8 1/2, our upcoming 5th anniversary of TitanTalk, my Rollercoaster Theory of Time, and more!

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

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And don't forget, we have an official TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast t-shirt and merch featuring our 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 DJ Nik and I discuss "Hope Patrol", the sixth episode of Doom Patrol Season 4 featuring the introduction of the Scissormen, on TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast!

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

GHOSTWOOD 122: "8 1/2" Is Up!

 
"I thought my ideas were so clear. I wanted to make an honest film. No lies whatsoever. I thought I had something so simple to say. Something useful to everybody. A film that could help bury forever all those dead things we carry within ourselves. Instead, I'm the one without the courage to bury anything at all. When did I go wrong? I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same."
-- Guido Anselmi, 

It is happening again...My amazing co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  This time, we're joined by special guest DJ Nik as we pay tribute to Angelo Badalamenti & Al Strobel and continue our retrospective of The Films That Inspired David Lynch by discussing , the 1963 surrealist dramedy directed by Federico Fellini, featuring Marcello Mastroianni as Guido Anselmi, Anouk Aimée as Luisa Anselmi, and Claudia Cardinale as Claudia!

LET'S ROCK

In this episode, Xan, DJ Nik and I discuss things like Xan returning from COVID Hell, Xan and I hanging out together at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Nik being our expert on Italian cinema, the double blow of losing Angelo Badalamenti and Al Strobel after our previous episode, Al Strobel living on in our Ghostwood opening theme, Angelo Badalamenti being David Lynch's favorite composer for his films, the announcement that Inland Empire is finally getting a Criterion Collection release, other films of Federico Fellini, Claudia Cardinale appearing in the original Pink Panther movie, the film's five Oscar nominations, score composer Nino Rota giving an early tease of The Godfather theme, Xan completely understanding why  is David Lynch's favorite movie, why is called , how Fellini got the idea for the film, the phrase "Asa nisi masa" being a reference to the word "Anima", Fellini being on the edge of the counterculture movement, David Lynch's explanation for why  is his favorite movie, Lois Lane being a terrible speller, Guido keeping a harem in his brain, the original ending to the film, Guido's dream about flying into the sky, Daumier constantly giving Guido crap about his film project, the assembly-line operation of the health spa, Guido's dream about his mother transforming into his wife, the scene that probably inspired Lynch's Mulholland Drive, wondering why Guido invited his wife to come out to the spa where his mistress is, Guido getting pressure from the Catholic cardinal, Guido's daydream about when he and other Catholic schoolboys were caught watching Saraghina dance the rumba on the beach, Guido's fantasy about all his favorite women are devoting themselves to his pleasure, Jacqueline Bonbon freaking out that she's over the hill at 30, wanting being different from having, Claudia listening to Guido's explanation of his film about a man not being able to commit to anything, Guido imagining shooting himself in the head, Guido's decision to cancel production of the film, the film's ending with Guido as a youth leading five circus musicians, how Xan would react to talking to Isabella Rossellini, some Instagram love for Ghostwood from Nick Alexander, The Wizard of Oz heavily influencing Lynch's Wild at Heart, and more!

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

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
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Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 123, as Xan and I continue our retrospective of films that inspired David Lynch by discussing The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming, featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz, and Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West!

Monday, January 2, 2023

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 280: "Silver Nemesis" Is Up!

 
"I don't suppose you've completely ignored my instructions and secretly prepared any Nitro-9, have you?"
"What if I had?"
"And naturally, you wouldn't do anything so insanely dangerous as to carry it around with you, would you?"
"Of course not. I'm a good girl. I do what I'm told."
"Excellent. Blow up that vehicle."
-- The Seventh Doctor and Ace, Doctor Who: "Silver Nemesis"

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 Holly Mac to discuss "Silver Nemesis", the third serial from Doctor Who Season 25 in 1988, featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred as Dorothy "Ace" McShane, and the return of the Cybermen!

In this episode, Jesse, Holly and I discuss things like Jesse and I both having congested voices, Holly and the Five-ish Fangirls celebrating their 400th podcast episode, Jesse and his family celebrating Christmas, the new 60th Anniversary teaser trailer, Beep the Meep and the Doctor Who comics storyline "Doctor Who and the Star Beast", Jesse taking issue with Neil Patrick Harris over Bruce Springsteen, the last appearance of David Banks as the Cyber Leader, Gerard Murphy as Judge Faden in Batman Begins, "Silver Nemesis" being the final appearance of the Cybermen in the classic era, writer Kevin Clarke inventing a story pitch on the spot that the Doctor is literally God, the production team dodging a bullet by failing to get Prince Edward to be in "Silver Nemesis", Nicholas Courtney's cameo appearance as a tourist, Anton Diffring agreeing to appear because the filming occurred at the same time as Wimbledon, the Cybermats being replaced by Cyber nerve gas, the similarities with "Battlefield", the Seventh Doctor building a new tape deck for Ace to replace the one destroyed in "Remembrance of the Daleks", the Seventh Doctor wearing a fez while holding a mop (!), Ace taking out three Cybermen with only one gold coin and a slingshot, Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred's stunt doubles for the scene where they're forced to dive into a river, the Doctor's habit of pissing off British royalty, Lady Peinforte going cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, wondering why the Doctor doesn't program the Nemesis to return longer than 25 years, the Doctor keeping the Nemesis from having its freedom, our favorite quotes of the story, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Dave Proctor and Sandi from Oregon, how the Doctor and Ace got away from the security guards at Windsor Castle, Rachel Frend coming back to discuss the Sixth Doctor meeting the Tenth Doctor, 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
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE
Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE
Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page
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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 for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by special guest companion Rachel Frend to discuss "Out of Time 3: Wink", the third audio drama from Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who: Out of Time series released in 2022, featuring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, and the return of the Weeping Angels!