Gobbledygeek

Gobbledygeek is no stranger to generations-spanning epics; the whole show has been an experimental piece showing how different pop culture artifacts complement and dovetail with one another, and of how the love of two co-hosts will endure for the rest of history. Haha, just kidding, we're just a dumb podcast, but this week we are talking about something that is certainly not dumb and is most definitely ambitious: Tom Tykwer and Andy & Lana Wachowski's Cloud Atlas. Paul and AJ are both fans of the film and describe why it works for them and how emotional it made them, while also discussing the whole "yellowface" controversy. Plus, there was this whole big election thing that happened. They talk about that. Next: It's the third annual Gobbledygeek Thanksgiving! This time, instead of actually talking to other human beings, we will be most thankful for the Thankskilling duology.

This week, Paul and AJ are joined by Eric Sipple, author of the new YA novel Broken Magic. Eric talks about what led him to write this story, the challenges of finishing a novel, adventures in self-publishing, and how much he loves Steven Moffat. Plus, the guys attempt to get out the vote and discuss why or why not Disney buying Lucasfilm is actually a big deal. Next: Paul will be a young Asian woman, AJ will be an Aboriginal hunter, but don't worry, it all makes sense; they'll be talking Cloud Atlas.

This week, Paul and AJ put a stake through the heart of Gobbledyween 2012 with a look at Psych's "This Episode Sucks." AJ has never seen an episode of Psych, so according to him, this is what the show is about: the Santa Barbara Police Department is attempting to investigate a murder whose perpetrator may or may not be a vampire, and while doing so, Turk and J.D. pop up for some reason and start making jokes. Also, Dr. Cox falls in love with Buffy--I'm sorry, Kristy Swanson, it pains AJ too much to call her Buffy. Plus, the guys talk about Joss Whedon's new video on Mitt Romney's zombie apocalypse, AJ gushes over Matt Kindt's Mind MGMT, and Paul loves Cloud Atlas. Next: with vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness vanquished for another year, Eric Sipple joins us to talk about his new book Broken Magic.

For the penultimate episode of Gobbledyween 2012, Paul and AJ take a break from being all reflective and whatnot for the zombie antics of Community's "Epidemiology." There's a whole lotta zombies, a whole lotta ABBA, and a whole lotta hilarity. Highlights include Troy's Sexy Dracula costume, Chang being the "racist prover," and Chiquita M.D. It's a good time. Plus, Paul talks about loyal listener Valerie's trip to Alabama and AJ gives brief thoughts on Seven Psychopaths and Argo. Next: Gobbledyween 2012 comes to a close with Psych's "This Episode Sucks."

Gobbledyween 2012 continues with a discussion of Freaks and Geeks' one and only (cue sad music) Halloween episode, "Tricks and Treats." Lindsay is trying to transition from passing out candy with her mom to knocking down mailboxes with the freaks; Sam feels like he's too old to trick-or-treat, but it sure seems more fun than reading Crime and Punishment for school; and their mother has to come to terms with the fact that Halloween is a little different than when she was younger. This Halloween-themed reflection on adolescence prompts Paul and AJ to talk about their favorite/most embarrassing trick-or-treating memories. Plus, AJ hates on Cosmopolis and Paul is surprised by Hotel Transylvania. Next: things get all zombified (not to mention ABBA-fied) with Community's "Epidemiology."

Are you ready for Gobbledyween 2012?! Well, even if you're not, it's here now, so. This year, we're looking at a different Halloween-themed TV episode each week in October. First up is "Fear, Itself," from the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The gang's fears are all made real at a haunted house that's a little more haunted than your average house. Paul and AJ talk about how the group's fears drive them away from one another, how that resonates with the overarching themes of the series, and even defend season 4 as a whole. Plus, they also rave about Looper. Next: for week two of Gobbledyween, the boys look back on Freaks and Geeks' "Tricks and Treats."

Is it just us, or are the works of Jim Henson kind of making a comeback? Then again, they never really went away. Paul and AJ discuss Henson's life and career, including such legendary projects as The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and more. Plus, the boys geek out over the Avengers Blu-ray and Paul lets us know how his cassowary presentation went. Next: Halloween's creeping up on us once again, so the boys kick off a month about Halloween-themed TV episodes with a look back at Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Fear Itself."

We're taking a trip to outer space this week as we look at Brian K. Vaughan's latest comic book series, Saga, which just wrapped its first arc last month; and Joss Whedon's Firefly, which just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Paul and AJ discuss the weirdness and gorgeousness of Saga, then think about where they were when Firefly first aired and how they felt watching it become a cult phenomenon after its cancellation. Plus, Paul discusses the cassowary presentation he'll be delivering at the National AAZK Conference, AJ muses on The Master, and more! Next: do you know the Muppet man? We'll be discussing the works of Jim Henson.

It's been a recurring theme throughout the show, so it's inevitable that it was going to come to the forefront at some point: Paul and AJ have different attitudes about the art (or lack thereof) of film criticism. In broad/reductive strokes, AJ thinks that critics provide a valuable public service to their audience while Paul isn't sure why someone should tell anybody why they shouldn't like what they like. Again, that's putting it very simply, and there are moments where they agree, but also where they disagree. In other words...holy shit, it's an actual discussion of something! Plus, AJ talks about Bronson and Hunger, and Paul blows minds with his Angel & Faith theory.   Next: celebrating Jim Henson's birthday or the 10th anniversary of Firefly. Maybe both?

Bust out your robes and light your pipes; the boys take a look at Rankin/Bass' 1977 animated adaptation of The Hobbit. Which also happens to be trippy as balls. They delight in the film's weird charm and marvel at the fact that John freaking Huston voices Gandalf, among other hippie-esque things in a very hippie-esque film. Plus, Paul catches up on some comics, AJ is conflicted over the forthcoming Kindle Fire HD, and someone apparently remembered that we have a Formspring. Next: an enlightening discussion of film criticism, I'm sure.

It's been one year--and exactly half the show ago--since DC rebooted their entire line, dubbing this bold creative decision/shameless marketing ploy the "New 52." Paul and AJ check back in on the New 52, pointing out what's working (Animal Man, Swamp Thing) and what's not (Justice League, Detective Comics). Has this whole thing been worth it? Has it made a difference for the company? And what are we to make of the editorial troubles that have been messily dragged out into the public? We can't promise any good answers, but we sure try! Plus, AJ talks about the best birthday present he received and Paul has exciting adventures at the zoo.   Next: Celebrate Gobbledygeek’s eleventy-first episode as the boys discuss the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated musical television special The Hobbit. BYOPW (bring your own pipe-weed).

The leaves will soon start falling from the trees and awards bait will soon start arriving in theaters. That's right, it's almost time for the fall/winter movie season, so Paul and AJ give you a little preview of 15 films they're looking forward to. There's showy Oscar stuff like Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and Tom Hooper's Les Misérables alongside the animated video-game-a-palooza Wreck-It Ralph and Quentin Tarantino's Southern Django Unchained, among many others. Plus, Paul talks about a local movie theater that's going the way of the Alamo Drafthouse and AJ discusses the news that this season of The Office will be its last.   Next: it's been a year, folks. Time to look back on what went right and what went very wrong with DC's New 52.

We know that every episode of Gobbledygeek makes you cry, but this one might especially depress you. It's Geek Challenge time once more, so Paul has tasked AJ with watching the 1978 animated adaptation of Watership Down; in turn, AJ has challenged Paul to watch the 1988 anime Grave of the Fireflies. One is about the brutal escape of a group of rabbits from their soon-to-be-demolished warren. The other is about the brutal attempts at survival made by a very young brother and sister after their home is demolished in WWII-era Japan. Both are very sad. To lighten the mood, AJ talks about watching every episode of Childrens Hospital over the last week and both of them discuss the addition of Ciarán Hinds to the cast of Game of Thrones.   Next: as summer winds down, it's time to take a look ahead for the Fall/Winter Movie Preview.

Paul and AJ had an idea for what they wanted this show to be about: science! Unfortunately, it didn't really work out. Fortunately--we think--they managed to come up with a bunch of other things to talk about: Joss Whedon's return to The Avengers, Jason Shayer's blog about 1980s Marvel, the found-footage horror of V/H/S, how AJ pretty much bawled his eyes out at the new issue of Spider-Men, and, yes, science (Mars Curiosity for the win).   Next: Geek Challenge time once more! Paul will watch Grave of the Fireflies and AJ will watch Watership Down. That's not gonna be depressing at all.

The dog days of summer have arrived, and with them even less of a sense of purpose and direction than our hosts usually display. So they babble on about a variety of topics: Chick-fil-A's rampant homophobia (which accounts for the annual violation of their "No Politics" rule!), Olympics spoilerphobia, the forthcoming Marvel NOW! rewatch, and the return of the Furby, among other things.   Next: again, who knows, Paul and AJ's brains are fried.

Do you remember what reading was like when you were a kid? That magical, transportive experience that took you to faraway lands and different time periods? Proving that, yes, they were once literate, Paul and AJ discuss their childhood reading experiences. The books that were important to them include The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Watership Down, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, among others. They also discuss the differences they had growing up as readers and what it will be like for kids in the future. Plus, Paul rejoices in The Killing's cancellation, while AJ discusses watching The Walking Dead season 2 and the original Total Recall, both for the first time.   Next: it's a Gobbledy-free-for-all! Anything and everything is fair game.

The third (last?) major superhero movie of the year has arrived in the form of The Dark Knight Rises. Going into it, AJ was pumped and Paul was basically dreading it; amazingly, the two have united and agreed on something for the first time in what feels like months. They discuss the pay-offs to each character's arc, the Bane voice and the Batvoice, what political message can be derived from the film, and how often Michael Caine bawls. Plus, AJ talks about seeing Jaws on the big screen and attending a local comic book show, while Paul offers another monumental national update on the state of his health.

In the aftermath of the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, which occurred at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, we have decided to do a separate episode on the shooting so as not to trivialize it. Here, we discuss our reaction to the shooting and our thoughts about how it might affect the moviegoing experience.

The year's second big superhero movie, following The Avengers--which you may remember we discussed and AJ even wrote a review of--is The Amazing Spider-Man, rebooting the franchise that sputtered to an end but five years ago. Paul and AJ, both opinionated Spider-Man fans, are at odds over Marc Webb's new film; Paul considers it the best big screen Spidey yet, AJ not so much. Is Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker a faithful representation of the one in the comics? Do Spider-Man's jokes work? Is the Lizard a good starter villain for this new wall-crawler? Is Emma Stone completely adorable? (Spoiler: they agree on that last one, at least.) Plus, the boys geek out over the announcement of more Sandman and share their experiences of seeing Singin' in the Rain on the big screen.   Next: We’re back, back in the Gotham groove. Paul and AJ rise up to discuss Christopher Nolan’s Bat swan song, The Dark Knight Rises.  

The boys would like to sing a little song for you. Actually, no they wouldn't, because that would be awful for your ears, but they would like to tell you about songs they've enjoyed so far this year. Paul and AJ's musical interests don't always overlap; Paul listens to sensitive singer-songwriter types, while AJ's that guy who actually reads Pitchfork. Still, they're able to unite over a few weirdos like Jack White, Father John Misty, and Leonard Cohen. AJ also tells you why you should listen to new records from Spiritualized, Dr. John, and The Men; while Paul gives you the low down on Fort Atlantic, Band of Skulls, and even Lana Del Rey.   Next: we're taking the Fourth of July weekend off, but enjoy your fireworks and your independence! Unless you're not American, in which case...well, try not to make too much fun of us.