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Friday, April 30, 2021

GREEN LANTERN HBO Max Series Casts Finn Wittrock as Guy Gardner

 
Guy Gardner has officially been cast.  Wanna make somethin' of it?

Deadline is reporting that the upcoming HBO Max series Green Lantern has cast Finn Wittrock as Guy Gardner, a key member of DC Comics' interstellar law enforcement agency, the Green Lantern Corps.

According to the article, Guy is described as "a hulking mass of masculinity, and, as rendered in the comics, an embodiment of 1980s hyper-patriotism.  And yet, Guy is somehow likable."

Written by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Seth Grahame-Smith, Green Lantern reinvents the classic DC property through a story spanning decades and galaxies, beginning on Earth in 1941 with the very first Green Lantern, secretly gay FBI agent Alan Scott, and 1984, with cocky alpha male Guy Gardner and half-alien Bree Jarta.  They’ll be joined by a multitude of other Lanterns — from comic book favorites to never-before-seen heroes.

Wittrock, 36, is best known for his various roles on the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story, including Dandy Mott, Tristan Duffy, Rudolph Valentino, Jether Polk, and Bobby Richter.  His film appearances include La La Land, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Big Short, and Winter's Tale, while his other TV appearances include Torchwood: Miracle Day, Ratched, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Masters of Sex, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, and All My Children.

Created in 1968 by John Broome and Gil Kane, Guy Gardner first appeared in Green Lantern (vol.2) #59.  Guy's father, Roland Gardner, was an abusive alcoholic who beat Guy every day.  Some of Guy's injuries were visible such as bruises, cuts and bumps but others were invisible and were emotionally inflicted.  Guy worked hard in school to try to win his father's approval, but Roland instead lavished attention and compliments upon Guy's older brother, Mace.  During his mid-teens, Guy became a juvenile delinquent, constantly defying authority.  Later, he was straightened out by his older brother, Mace, who was now a police officer.  Guy eventually went to college, supporting himself, and earned bachelor's degrees in education and psychology from the University of Michigan, where he also played football until a career-ending injury that deeply affected him.  After college, Guy worked as a social welfare caseworker, dealing with prison inmates and their rehabilitation.  He abandoned this line of work, however, fearing it brought out his aggressive nature.  Moving on, he became a teacher for children with disabilities.

The appointed Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814, an alien named Abin Sur from the planet Ungara, crash-landed on Earth after being mortally wounded.  As Sur died, his power ring sought and found two potential successors, Guy Gardner and Hal Jordan.  Jordan was nearer to the crash, so he was chosen over Gardner.  Gardner was relegated to backup status should anything happen to Jordan.  When Jordan became aware of Gardner's status as his backup, he went out of his way to set up a chance meeting, and the two became friends. Though Gardner was originally oblivious to Jordan's secret identity, he eventually assisted Jordan during his adventures.  During an earthquake, Gardner was hit by a bus while attempting to rescue one of his students.  During his recovery, the Guardians recruited John Stewart to become Jordan's new "backup".

During the event known as Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Guardians of the Universe split into two factions over how to confront the Crisis.  A minority faction of six Guardians emulated their former brethren, the Controllers, by recruiting a Green Lantern to directly attack and destroy the forces of the antimatter universe.  For reasons unknown, Gardner was brought in by the renegade Guardians, given a power ring not tied to the Central Power Battery on Oa, sporting a uniform similar to that worn by the Fists of the Guardians, and given a mission.  He was to recruit and command the deadliest and most powerful criminals in the universe, including the Shark, Hector Hammond, Sonar, Throttle, Blindside, and Goldface, to launch a strike against the home base of the Anti-Monitor.  

By this time, Gardner had suffered brain damage from being hit by the bus and other various previous events, which manifested itself in the form of an arrogant, violent, unstable, and often childish new personality.  Gardner believed himself to be the last "true" Green Lantern, superior to all the others, particularly Jordan.  Five of the renegade Guardians were slain by a wave of antimatter, and the sixth eventually reconciled with the rest of the Guardians.  In the meantime, Gardner succeeded in his task of recruiting powerful villains. Both Hal Jordan and John Stewart prevented Gardner from completing his mission, which would have ultimately destroyed the universe.  Following the Crisis, the majority of the Green Lantern Corps had lost their rings.  The Guardians assigned Gardner to be the official Green Lantern of Sector 2814, becoming a member of the reformed Justice League, while Jordan was assigned to recruit new Corps members.

Recently, Gardner was sent by Hal Jordan to join the Red Lantern Corps undercover, defeating Atrocitus and taking command of the group.  It was revealed that part of his decision to join with the Red Lanterns was feeling as if he had never fit in as a Green Lantern.  As a Red Lantern, Gardner managed to keep his rage in check, successfully leading most of the Red Lanterns.  After joining with the Green Lanterns to defeat the cosmic terrorist Relic, Gardner has since returned to the Green Lantern Corps.

Wittrock will be the second actor to portray Guy Gardner in live-action, after Matthew Settle in the failed 1997 CBS TV pilot Justice League of AmericaThe character has also appeared in various animated projects, including Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), Young Justice (voiced by Troy Baker), Green Lantern: The Animated Series (voiced by Diedrich Bader), and Superman: Red Son (voiced by Jim Meskimen).

Green Lantern is expected to premiere on HBO Max sometime in 2022.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

TITANS Casts Vincent Kartheiser as The Scarecrow

 
Titans has found its Master of Fear.

Deadline is reporting that the HBO Max series Titans, based on the DC Comics superteam, has cast Vincent Kartheiser as Dr. Jonathan Crane, better known to Batman fans as the fear-inducing supervillain known as The Scarecrow.  Kartheiser joins fellow Season 3 cast additions Savannah Welch, who’ll play Gotham police commissioner Barbara Gordon, and Jay Lycurgo (I May Destroy You), who’ll play Tim Drake, the third Robin.

According to the article, Crane will be featured in the show's upcoming third season and is simply described as "an inmate at Arkham Asylum who used to terrorize Gotham City using toxins to exploit his enemies’ phobias."

Kartheiser, 41, is best known as Pete Campbell on the AMC series Mad Men and as Connor on the WB series Angel.  He's appeared in the films Rango, Alpha Dog, and The Indian in the Cupboard.  His other television appearances include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Axe Cop, and ER.

Created in 1941 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the Scarecrow first appeared in World's Finest Comics #3 as Dr. Jonathan Crane, who bullied at school for his resemblance to Ichabod Crane from Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, leading him to become bitter and antisocial and also sparking his lifelong obsession with fear and using it as a weapon against others. Crane's obsession with fear led him to become a psychologist, taking a position at Arkham Asylum and performing fear-inducing experiments on his patients.  He was also a professor of psychology at Gotham University, specializing in the study of phobias.

Crane lost his job after he fired a gun inside a packed classroom, accidentally wounding a student.  He took revenge by killing the people responsible for his termination, and became a career criminal.  The deaths of the Gotham University dean and four regents earned Crane the attention of Gotham City's newest guardian, the Batman.  Batman, working alongside the recently promoted police captain Jim Gordon, traced the evidence back to Crane.  Defending himself with his fear toxin and a makeshift costume, Crane officially embraced his nickname and became "the Scarecrow", but was apprehended by Batman and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.  The Scarecrow would later escape and have numerous encounters with Batman over the years, all leading to his eventual defeat.

As part of DC Comics' 2011 continuity reboot known as The New 52, the Scarecrow's origin was changed and in this version, Crane's father used him as a test subject in his fear-based experiments.  During one of these experiments, Crane's father locked him inside a little dark room, but suffered a fatal heart attack before he could let Jonathan out.  Jonathan was trapped in the test chamber for days until being freed by some employers of Gotham University.  As a result of this event, Crane was irreparably traumatized and developed an obsession with fear.  He became a psychologist, specializing in phobias, and eventually began using patients as test subjects for his fear toxin.  In another change, The New 52 Scarecrow was fired from his professorship for covering an arachnophobic student with spiders, and became a criminal after stabbing a patient to death.

Kartheiser will be the fourth actor to portray the Scarecrow in live-action, after Cillian Murphy in the films Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, and Charlie Tahan and David W. Thompson in the Fox TV series Gotham.  The character has also appeared in various animated projects, including The Batman/Superman Hour (voiced by Ted Knight), Challenge of the Super Friends (voiced by Don Messick), The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (voiced by Andre Stojka), Batman: The Animated Series (voiced by Henry Polic II), The New Batman Adventures (voiced by Jeffrey Combs), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker), Batman: Gotham Knight (voiced by Corey Burton), Batman: Hush (voiced by Chris Cox), and Harley Quinn (voiced by Rahul Kohli).

Titans will return to HBO Max for Season 3 on July 15, 2021.

Monday, April 26, 2021

THE FANDOM ZONE 215: "One World, One People" Is Up!

 
"You just don't understand."
"I'm a Black man carrying the stars and stripes -- What don't I understand?  Every time I pick this thing up, I know there are millions of people out there who are gonna hate me for it.  Even now, here, I feel it.  The stares, the judgment.  And there's nothing I can do to change it. Yet, I'm still here.  No super serum, no blond hair, or blue eyes.  The only power I have is that I believe we can do better."
-- GRC Official and Captain America, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: "One World, One People"

Hello again, everyone!  It's time for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, my co-host DJ Nik and I discuss "One World, One People", the final episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, featuring Anthony Mackie as Captain America/Sam Wilson, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier/James "Bucky" Barnes, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent/John Walker, and Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like not having any new Marvel Cinematic Universe shows to talk about for the next month, my recording with a 99.7-degree fever after my second COVID vaccine shot, wanting everyone to keep our close friend Jesse Jackson in your thoughts, hoping that director Kari Skogland becomes the director of the fourth Captain America movie, wondering why some people think a superhero called Captain America wouldn't have any politics associated with him, people having a problem with "wokeness" needing to look at why they're so upset about it, the finale leaving some things hanging for future MCU projects, how Sam Wilson became Captain America in the comics, how John Walker became U.S. Agent in the comics, Shuri designing Sam's Captain America uniform, the closing title card reading "Captain America and the Winter Soldier", Sam not taking the super-soldier serum to become Captain America, Sam being aware that the world is already scrutinizing him as the new Captain America, Nik spoiling Batman: Arkham City, Bucky finally telling Yori that he murdered Yori's son as the Winter Soldier, Sam taking Isaiah and Eli to see a statue of Isaiah in the Smithsonian, Karli surprising the other Flag-Smashers that she's cool with killing hostages, Karli's passion for her cause overriding her high intelligence, the P.O.D. song "Boom", waiting for Baron Zemo to start dancing in his Raft cell, Sharon being revealed as the Power Broker, Sharon phoning up her Power Broker cronies right outside of the building where she gets her pardon and job with the CIA, why Baron Zemo and the U.S. Agent won't be working together, wondering if the upcoming Secret Invasion TV series will help set up the Dark Avengers, John Walker's surprise redemption moment, the U.S. Agent being a very shades-of-gray character, our favorite quotes of the episode, Doom Patrol casting the Sisterhood of Dada and the Dead Boy Detectives, new Fandom Zone Fanmail from Holly Mac, Dave Proctor and Rey, our plans to discuss the upcoming Netflix superhero series Jupiter's Legacy, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

iTunes/Apple Podcasts -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
Spotify -- HERE
Stitcher -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast
The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture 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 Episode 216 as DJ Nik and I discuss "By Dawn's Early Light" and "Paper and Stone", the first two episodes of the new Netflix series Jupiter's Legacy!

Friday, April 23, 2021

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 228: "Something Borrowed" Is Up!

 
"That's what I love about Torchwood.  By day, chasing the scum of the universe.  Come midnight, you're the wedding fairy."
-- Ianto Jones, Torchwood: "Something Borrowed"

Hello again, everyone!  I'm back with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  This time, Torchwood Month continues as I'm joined by special guest companion Holly Mac from The Five-ish Fangirls Podcast and we discuss "Something Borrowed", the ninth episode from Torchwood Series Two in 2008, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Kai Owen as Rhys Williams, and Collette Brown as Carrie/The Nostrovite!

In this episode, Holly and I discuss things like Jesse Jackson needing to have a surgical procedure, the Doctor Who animated project Dreamland, Rhys being the unofficial mascot of Torchwood, the only actor to appear in both the classic and modern Doctor Who eras and on Torchwood, finally getting to see Rhys' friend Banana Boat in person, Eve Myles having the idea to have Gwen compulsively eat gherkins after waking up pregnant, Gwen's foreshadowing about Weevil's crawling out of the sewers and the sky being full of spaceships, Gwen going out for Hen Night and waking up very preggers the next morning, Gwen becoming obsessed with the idea of going ahead with her wedding despite all common sense, Jack telling Gwen's parents about Torchwood, Jack confusing Rhys' mum Brenda with the Nostrovite, the end of Jack and Gwen's flirtation, Rhys trying to defend Gwen against the Nostrovite with a chainsaw, "Something Borrowed" being a much-needed comedic episode, Tosh getting hit on by Banana Boat, Tosh crushing on Owen, Ianto going shopping for Gwen's maternity wedding dress, how Nostrovites reproduce, Gwen shooting the Nostrovite with a gun concealed inside her wedding bouquet, wondering if Jack's wife in the photo is the mother of his daughter featured in "Children of Earth", our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Dave Proctor, DJ Nik and I talking Jupiter's Legacy on The Fandom Zone Podcast, 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 HEREThis 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 next week, as Torchwood Month concludes as I'm joined by special guest companion Christine Peruski to discuss "The New World", the first episode from Torchwood Series Four in 2011, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, and introducing Mekhi Phifer as Rex Matheson and Bill Pullman as Oswald Danes!

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

THE FANDOM ZONE 214: "Truth" Is Up!

 
"Mr. Bradley, we gotta do something.  We gotta tell somebody."
"No.  Leave me dead.  My name is buried."
"But the world's different now.  I know people."
"Man, that's why you're here?  You think things are different?  You think times are different? You think I wouldn't be dead in a day if you brought me out?  You wanna believe jail was my fault because you got that white man's shield.  They were worried my story might get out, so they erased me -- my history.  But they've been doing that for five hundred years.  Pledge allegiance to that, my brother.  They will never let a Black man be Captain America.  And even if they did, no self-respecting Black man would ever wanna be."
-- Sam Wilson and Isaiah Bradley, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: "Truth"

Hello again, everyone!  It's time for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, my co-host DJ Nik and I discuss "Truth", the fifth episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, featuring Anthony Mackie as The Falcon/Sam Wilson, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier/James "Bucky" Barnes, the return of Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, and the introduction of Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like our mutual concern for our good friend Jesse Jackson, The Walking Dead's "time out" episodes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus originally being scheduled to debut as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Black Widow movie, the Marvel Comics limited series Truth: Red, White & Black, some comics background on Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, differences between Earth-616 and Earth-199999, why Marvel Studios isn't sticking to Marvel Comics continuity, some background on Marvel Comics prison The Raft, wondering if The Thunderbolts are being set up, Sam finally taking steps toward becoming the third Captain America, Sam & Bucky taking the shield away from John Walker, wondering where Sam Wilson got his shield bag, Isaiah Bradley being too jaded by his experiences that he can't see a Black man becoming Captain America in 2021, Sarah deciding that she doesn't want to sell the family boat, Bucky flirting with Sam's sister, Sam leaving his broken Falcon wings to Joaquin Torres, Sam's training montage with the shield, Isaiah Bradley telling the story of his tragic past, Bucky showing Baron Zemo that he has control over the Winter Soldier programming, our surprise that the Dora Milaje didn't take Baron Zemo back to Wakanda, Sam and Bucky saying that they're not friends even though they are, wondering if Bucky will play more Battleship, John Walker being stripped of his military pension and title as Captain America, John Walker forging his own Captain America shield and taking steps toward becoming the USAgent, our theory that Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is recruiting the Dark Avengers, Norman Osborn and the "Dark Reign" comics storyline, Sharon Carter releasing Batroc the Leaper from prison, Karli feeling completely betrayed by Sam, wondering if Marvel Studios will announce a new Captain America movie starring Anthony Mackie, our favorite quotes of the episode, Dominic Purcell quitting Legends of Tomorrow, new Fandom Zone Fanmail from Holly Mac and Dave Proctor, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

iTunes/Apple Podcasts -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
Spotify -- HERE
Stitcher -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast
The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week for Episode 215 as DJ Nik and I discuss the final episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

Monday, April 19, 2021

First Trailer for SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Teases The Mandarin

 
You can't outrun who you really are.

On actor Simu Liu's birthday, Marvel Studios has released the first trailer for his upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  In the film, Marvel Comics superhero Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past after he is drawn into the Ten Rings organization.

The two-minute teaser trailer opens with Shang-Chi remembering his past during a stormy night.  We see Shang doing push-ups in a small basement garage that has been turned into a single room apartment.

As a stylish red sportscar pulls up, we hear the voice of Wenwu, The Mandarin, played by Tony Leung.  "I gave you ten years to live your life..." Wenwu begins, presumably to his son, Shang-Chi.  We then see the owner of the sportscar tossing the keys to Shang, who working as a valet, followed by Shang singing karaoke with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and having fun with her and their friend Jon Jon (Ronny Chieng).  "...and where did that get you?"

We flash back to Shang-Chi being trained as a child by The Mandarin and his henchman, Razor Fist (Florian Munteanu), which seems to continue until Shang becomes a teenager.

"You walked in my shadow," Wenwu continues, as we continue flashing back to see a younger Wenwu smash a table with a forceful blow, followed by teenaged Shang-Chi fighting several masked fighters.  "I trained you...so the most dangerous people in the world couldn't kill you."

We then see Jon Jon bringing Shang-Chi and Katy to some sort of fight club, then glimpse Shang preparing to fight someone in the arena.

Next, we see Shang-Chi and Katy arriving at his father's compound by helicopter, as Wenwu continues, "Son...it's time for you to take your place by my side."  This is followed by Wenwu in much longer hair, now fully garbed and menacing as The Mandarin.  Following this, we see Shang, Katy, Jon Jon, and Xialing, Shang-Chi's sister (Meng'er Zhang) staring a large spray of water that somehow becomes motionless in mid-air.

"That's not going to happen," replies Shang-Chi.  We then see Razor Fist swan-diving out of a helicopter towards Shang and the two are shown fighting.  More fights follow, including Shang fighting a mysterious woman in a forest, several armored warriors charging into battle, and Shang battling Xialing.

Wenwu remarks in another voiceover, "You can't outrun...who you really are."  This is followed by Shang-Chi fighting some men inside a passenger bus in California, with Katy asking, "Who are you?"  Shang strikes a formidable pose inside the bus, which is followed by the movie's logo.

In the trailer's final scene, we see Shang and Katy are still aboard the bus, which is now careening through the city streets out of control.  The bus runs over a parked car as Shang-Chi goes "Oh, God" while Katy, who is now driving the bus, is screaming "Hold on, everybody!" as the bus is tilted sideways.  Shang grabs a woman to save her from falling out a busted window and Katy continues screaming until the bus finally stops.  Now safe, Katy smiles and says, "We made a good team!"

If you'd like to check out the trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Marvel Entertainment account on YouTube...


Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 3, 2021.

Friday, April 16, 2021

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 227: "Captain Jack Harkness" Is Up!

 
"Why does that man have your name?  I'm lost enough here without you holding back on me."
"It's not my name, it's his.  I took his.  But I didn't realize he was...so hot."
-- Toshiko Sato and Captain Jack Harkness, Torchwood: "Captain Jack Harkness"

Hello again, everyone!  I'm back with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  This time, Torchwood Month continues as I'm joined by special guest companion Holly Mac from The Five-ish Fangirls Podcast and we discuss "Captain Jack Harkness", the twelfth episode from Torchwood Series One in 2007, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Naoko Mori as Toshiko Sato, Murray Melvin as Bilis Manger, and Matt Rippy as The Captain!

In this episode, Holly and I discuss things like Jesse Jackson not being able to join us, Holly's Top 3 Torchwood episodes, Tosh getting the spotlight, the first appearance of the "Vote Saxon" posters, the four Jack Harknesses active in the 1941 time period, Jack's real name being revealed by Big Finish Productions, Jack constantly keeping secrets from the other members of Torchwood, Torchwood Jack vs. Captain Jack, Torchwood Jack encouraging Captain Jack to kiss the girl crushing on him goodbye even though he's gay, the unrealistic scene of Captain Jack taking Torchwood Jack out on the dance floor in 1941, Torchwood Jack's reluctance to go back through the rift, Matt Rippy looking like Captain America, the welcome story pairing of Jack and Tosh, the awkward moment when Tosh realizes she's a woman of Japanese descent in 1941, Bilis Manger looking like Mr. Burns, Bilis Manger needing a collar with a bell on it, Polaroid cameras not existing in 1941, not getting Bilis Manger's motivation for trapping Jack and Tosh in 1941, Tosh finishing the formula by writing it in her own blood and leaving it in an airtight cannister, Owen annoying the living hell out of us, Owen calling out Ianto for his Cyberwoman girlfriend, Owen being consumed with opening the rift regardless of the danger just to reunite with Diane, wondering why Ianto didn't shoot Owen with a tranquilizer dart, Owen only searching Bilis' office for the missing piece of the rift manipulator, Torchwood Three being an HR department nightmare, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, Holly's recommendations for Torchwood audios from Big Finish, new feedback from Dave Proctor, Xan and I talking The Five(ish) Fangirls Podcast on Ghostwood, Holly returning to discuss "Something Borrowed", 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 HEREThis 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 next week, as Torchwood Month continues as Jesse Jackson and I are joined by special guest companion Holly Mac from The Five-ish Fangirls Podcast and we discuss "Something Borrowed", the ninth episode from Torchwood Series Two in 2008, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Burn Gorman as Owen Harper, Nerys Hughes as Brenda Williams, and the wedding of Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams!

Thursday, April 15, 2021

THE FANDOM ZONE 213: "The Whole World Is Watching" Is Up!

 
"The Dora Milaje don't have jurisdiction here."
"The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be."
-- Captain America/John Walker and Ayo, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: "The Whole World Is Watching"

Hello again, everyone!  It's time for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, my co-host DJ Nik and I discuss "The Whole World Is Watching", the fourth episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, featuring Anthony Mackie as The Falcon/Sam Wilson, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier/James "Bucky" Barnes, Wyatt Russell as Captain America/John Walker, and Clé Bennett as Battlestar/Lemar Hoskins!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like Nik serving as my Jewish mother, my having a 101-degree fever, Sam being in a very transitional phase as a character, Sam and Karli seeing themselves as shades of grey rather than hero vs. villain, women getting higher profile writing and directing gigs, Ayo stepping up in the Okoye role, the episode's title being taken from Black Panther, my theory that Doctor Faustus is mind-controlling Sharon Carter, our live response to a question from Christine Peruski, the flashback scene where Ayo helps Bucky prevent being controlled by the Winter Soldier protocol codewords, the Dora Milaje initially refusing to return the shield to John Walker, Sam and Bucky reaching the mutual acceptance stage of their buddy cop movie, Sam's background as a support group counselor, John Walker barging in and spoiling Sam's attempt to connect with Karli, Sam's sister Sarah telling Karli that the new Captain America doesn't represent her, Sam relating to Karli's goals but not her methods, wondering if Karli will become a martyr for her cause, Baron Zemo knowing how to get information from the Latvian kids, Nik's love of Turkish delight, wondering who's the better manipulator between Baron Zemo and Loki, Mads Mikkelsen as Doctor Doom, Baron Zemo smashing vials of super-soldier serum, Karli killing Battlestar, John Walker murdering Nico in full public view and having a PR nightmare, John Walker not having Lemar around to rein him in anymore, wondering if Walker's superiors will quickly launch a search for a third Captain America, wondering if John Walker will become the USAgent by the end of this series, our favorite quotes of the episode, new Fandom Zone Fanmail from Holly Mac and Dave Proctor, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

iTunes/Apple Podcasts -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
Spotify -- HERE
Stitcher -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast
The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week for Episode 214 as DJ Nik and I discuss the fifth episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 226: "They Keep Killing Suzie" Is Up!

 
"Are you always this dressy for a murder investigation?"
"What, you'd rather me naked?"
"God help me, the stories are true."
-- DS Kathy Swanson and Captain Jack Harkness, Torchwood: "They Keep Killing Suzie"

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, Torchwood Month returns as we discuss "They Keep Killing Suzie", the eighth episode from Torchwood Series One in 2006, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Yasmin Bannerman as DS Kathy Swanson, and the return of Indira Varma as Suzie Costello!

In this episode, Jesse and I discuss things like not having a special guest companion, Jesse playing on the disabled list, getting more backstory about ex-Torchwood member Suzie Costello, Indira Varma reprising Suzie Costello in Big Finish audio adventures, my being a Mission: Impossible movies, Yasmin Bannerman as Seventh Doctor companion Roz Forrester, The Avengers episode "They Keep Killing Steed", original plans to have Suzie come back in Series Two, Emily Dickinson's poetry, DS Kathy Swanson having zero time for Torchwood, Jack having to ask DS Swanson and the police for help getting out of their own headquarters, Jack's easy decision to try and kill Suzie, the initial reaction to Torchwood being for older audiences instead of the whole family, Tosh calling out Suzie for dishonoring Torchwood, Team Torchwood feeling guilty because they like Suzie's replacement Gwen better than Suzie, Suzie's insane arranged plan to have someone kill innocent people to manipulate Torchwood into bringing Suzie back to life, Suzie manipulating Gwen into taking her to see her dying father so she could kill him, Gwen realizing that Suzie is stealing her life energy like a Silver Age comics supervillain, wondering why the Resurrection Gauntlet exploded when Tosh shot it, Suzie's ominous warning for Jack, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Holly Mac and Dave Proctor, psychotic fans issuing death threats against Wyatt Russell for replacing Captain America, our three attempts to finish recording this episode, 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 HEREThis 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 later this week, as Torchwood Month continues as I'm joined by special guest companion Holly Mac from The Five-ish Fangirls Podcast and we discuss "Captain Jack Harkness", the twelfth episode from Torchwood Series One in 2007, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Naoko Mori as Toshiko Sato, Murray Melvin as Bilis Manger, and Matt Rippy as The Captain!

Saturday, April 10, 2021

GHOSTWOOD 096: "On the Air: Episode 1.5" Is Up!

 
"Now, that's what I call...entertainment."
-- Bud E. Budwaller, On the Air: "Episode 1.5"

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!  In this episode, we celebrate Twin Peaks' 31st Anniversary, pay tribute to the late Walter Olkewicz, and discuss "Episode 1.5", the third and final transmitted episode of the short-lived ABC sitcom On the Air from 1992, written by Mark Frost and featuring Ian Buchanan as Lester Guy, Miguel Ferrer as Bud E. Budwaller, and David L. Lander as Valdja Gochktch!

LET'S ROCK!

In this episode, Xan and I discuss things like both of us talking longer before our podcast than the actual podcast itself, my voice turning into Barry White's, Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes", actually recording on Twin Peaks' anniversary day, ABC's weird decision to air the pilot of Twin Peaks right after America's Funniest Home Videos, everyone needing to give Xan music for her upcoming 45th birthday, paying tribute to Walter Olkewicz, Richard Beymer & Russ Tamblyn appearing in West Side Story, the obscure '80s Dungeons & Dragons TV series Wizards and Warriors, The Bermuda Depths. Chuck McCann on Far Out Space Nuts, Anne Bloom as Parker Lewis' mom on Parker Lewis Can't Lose, the Blue Beetle on The Electric Company, Buster Keaton, the Doctor Who parody The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, Lester flirting with Sylvia Hudson, Betty's stuffed dog tissue box holder, Budwaller chosing to focus the camera on Mr. Peanuts crying, the entire cast singing the Mr. Peanuts song, Xan's old mixtapes, Jesse Jackson vomiting during the recording of Next Stop Everywhere, Xan having a panic attack thinking about Captain Jack Harkness buried alive, where you can watch the 1993 David Lynch anthology series Hotel Room, Xan obsessing over the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 Kickstarter, 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 in two weeks for Episode 097, as Xan and I discuss "Tricks", the first episode of the HBO series Hotel Room from 1993, directed by David Lynch and featuring Harry Dean Stanton as Moe Boca, Freddie Jones as Lou Holchak, and Glenne Headly as Darlene!

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE FANDOM ZONE 212: "Power Broker" Is Up!

 
"They cleared the bionic staring machine, and he's killed almost everyone he's met."
"I heard that."
-- Sam Wilson and James "Bucky" Barnes, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: "Power Broker"

Hello again, everyone!  It's time for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, my co-host DJ Nik and I discuss "Power Broker", the third episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, featuring Anthony Mackie as The Falcon/Sam Wilson, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier/James "Bucky" Barnes, and the return of Daniel Brühl as Baron Zemo and Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like DJ Nik becoming Uncle Nik, writer Derek Kolstad being the creator of the John Wick franchise, Daniel Brühl stealing every scene he was in and being very reminiscent of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, some comics background on the Power Broker and Baron Zemo, the classic Avengers storyline "Under Siege", where Madripoor is supposed to be located in Southeast Asia, the Kimiyo Beads from Wakanda, Latvia being filmed in Prague, Sharon still being a fugitive from the United States, being glad that Zemo wasn't able to take control over the Winter Soldier again, Zemo trying to sow the seeds of division between Sam and Bucky, Baron Zemo quickly slipping back into his normal lifestyle, Baron Zemo busting a move on the dance floor, Sharon's nice Madripoor apartment, Sharon becoming more cynical and a better fighter, Bucky quickly adopting the Winter Soldier persona, Sam being very resentful toward Captain America's shield, whether Sam or Bucky will become Captain America after John Walker, John Walker playing the "Do you know who I am?" card, the impending schism between John Walker and Lemar Hoskins, wondering why Sam didn't mute his phone while undercover, wondering who killed Selby, the Power Broker becoming the Big Bad of this series, Zemo suddenly killing Dr. Wilfred Nagel, Bucky flipping the "move your seat up" gag from Captain America: Civil War on Sam, Karli Morgenthal finally getting some backstory and proving she's an extremist, our favorite quotes of the episode, The Flash casting Jordan Fisher as Impulsenew Fandom Zone Fanmail from Holly Mac, the unexpected Ayo cliffhanger, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

iTunes/Apple Podcasts -- HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE
Spotify -- HERE
Stitcher -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast
The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week for Episode 213 as DJ Nik and I discuss the fourth episode of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

Sunday, April 4, 2021

DRUNK CINEMA 008: "Forbidden Planet" Is Up!

 
"Another one of them new worlds.  No beer, no women, no pool parlors...nothin'.  Nothin' to do but throw rocks at tin cans, and we gotta bring our own tin cans."
-- Cookie, Forbidden Planet

Hey there, movie fans!  My wonderful co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Drunk Cinema!  This time, we reopen the Drunk Cinema Theater to watch Forbidden Planetthe 1956 science fiction film directed by Fred M. Wilcox and featuring Leslie Nielsen as Commander John J. Adams, Anne Francis as Altaira "Alta" Morbius, Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Edward Morbius, and the first appearance of Robby the Robot!

In this eighth episode, Xan and I discuss things like Xan's Robby the Robot toy robot, the origin of Xan's cat Jess-Belle's name, what would happen if cats had opposable thumbs, Frank on Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Sally Field being a better leading lady for Burt Reynolds than Loni Anderson, Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, Mystery Science Theater J. Elvis Weinstein, Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man, our plea for everyone to get drunk responsibly, Forbidden Planet having the first electronic musical score, the great Delia Derbyshire from Doctor Who, Star Trek ripping off transporters from Forbidden Planet, Earl Holliman appearing in the first Twilight Zone episode, Dr. Morbius being a space-age James Bond villain, Alta being a Disney princess, Commander Adams killing Alta's tiger, the C-57D crew being extremely horny for Alta, Robby the Robot having private time with a copy of Playbot magazine, sexy being the eye of the beholder, Morbius' secret space lab, Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, 1950s men being big dumb clods, Robby making Cookie a cave full of bourbon, Xan finding a big hole in her shirt, Duck Dodgers in the 24th & 1/2 Century, Alta's mourning mini-skirt, our enjoying talking about other movies rather than the movie we're watching, chicks digging scars, Night on Bald Mountain, Dr. Morbius' Unchecked Primal Aggression, the non-stop gauges, Robby making microbrews, Drunk Mail from Dave Proctor, Diana Rigg being the perfect wife for James Bond, Bob Oedekerk vs. Steve Oedekerk, and more!

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

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

YouTube -- RIGHT HERE
Drunk Cinema's Facebook Page
Drunk Cinema's Twitter Account

Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 009, as Xan and I watch Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, the 2002 martial arts comedy film written, directed by and starring Steve Oedekerk as The Chosen One, Hui Lou Chen as Master Tang, Fei Lung as Master Pain a.k.a. Betty, and 
Ling Ling Tse as Ling!

Friday, April 2, 2021

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 225: "The Three Doctors" Is Up!

 
"Yes, well, as far as I'm concerned, Doctor, one of you is enough.  More than enough."
-- Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, Doctor Who: "The Three Doctors"

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 companions Xan Sprouse & Holly Mac as we discuss "The Three Doctors", the first serial from Doctor Who Season 10 in 1973, featuring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo Grant, Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, William Hartnell as the First Doctor, and the first appearance of Omega!

In this episode, Jesse, Xan, Holly and I discuss things like Skype being the ancient god that imposes its will when it comes to podcasts, writers Bob Baker & Dave Martin, Jesse and Holly watching "The Three Doctors" for the first time, Xan thinking the Doctor is a megalomaniac, losing a Bessie, what it would probably be like if you were paired with yourself, Stephen Thorne as Azal and Eldrad, Clyde Pollitt's Chancellor being one of the Time Lords that forced the Second Doctor to regenerate in "The War Games", William Hartnell dying at 67, original plans for Frazer Hines to reprise Jamie McCrimmon in "The Three Doctors" and have a romance with Jo Grant, Jon Pertwee nixing the idea of bringing back Wendy Padbury as Zoe Heriot, "The Three Doctors" being the first multi-Doctor story, Omega originally being named OHM, the Second Doctor originating the "You've had this place redecorated" gag, the Brigadier and Sgt. Benton stepping into the TARDIS for the first time, multi-Doctor stories showing how different actors bring out different aspects of the Doctor, wondering why William Hartnell wasn't shown directly on screen to the audience, the introduction of the Doctors not getting along with each other, the First Doctor calling out his successors, Benton being cooler with the idea of regeneration than the Brigadier, Jo being a very underrated companion, the Time Lords taking Omega for granted, the Time Lords desperately asking the Doctor for help after taking one of his lives and exiling him to 20th century Earth, Stephen Thorne being a better voice for Omega than Steve Buscemi, Omega's weird bubble-ish henchmen, "The Three Doctors" adding a good chunk of Time Lord mythos, Patrick Troughton originating the jelly babies bit instead of Tom Baker, Patrick Troughton calling out Jon Pertwee for making Stephen Thorne move out of his camera shot, our favorite quotes of the episode, Ninja Bessie, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new feedback from Dave Proctor, the upcoming return of Torchwood Month, Xan's favorite quote from Torchwood, 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 HEREThis 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 next, as Torchwood Month begins again and Jesse and I discuss "They Keep Killing Suzie", the eighth episode from Torchwood Series One in 2006, featuring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Yasmin Bannerman as DS Kathy Swanson, and the return of Indira Varma as Suzie Costello!