Gobbledygeek

If you’re seeing double--do not adjust your set. Paul and Arlo, podcasting’s own dynamic duo, have done a Geek Challenge involving dos doppelganger dramas. Well, drama might be a strong word for such a picture as Peter Medak’s 1981 spoof Zorro, The Gay Blade, starring George Hamilton as Don Diego Vega and his brother Ramon Vega, who are charged with taking up their father’s mantle of El Zorro. That’s Paul’s challenge to Arlo, of course--and Paul’s challenge to himself (listen and find out!) is Krzysztof Kieslowski’s 1991 film The Double Life of Veronique, a mysterious and possibly supernatural film featuring Irène Jacob as Polish singer Weronika and French music teacher Veronique, who share an indefinable connection. Get ready to swash some buckles and contemplate some existences!   NEXT: after a week off, it’s that time again. Leaves are on the ground and blood is on the screen. It’s time for Gobbledyween. Greg Sahadachny joins us to discuss The Autopsy of Jane Doe. BREAKDOWN 00:00:32  -  Intro / Guest 00:

For all you kids at home with a copy of Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary Deluxe Second Edition taking pride of place on your bookshelf--boy, do we have a treat for you! Paul and Arlo are back on their bullshit, running at the mouth about anything they damn well please. This week’s subjects include: the extreme metal-ness of childbirth, Spider-Man: Miles Morales swinging onto the brand spankin’ new PS5, covert earbuds, Infinity Train heading to the station on HBO Max, a treatise on The Searchers and Apocalypse Now, and so much more.   NEXT: Zorro, the Gay Blade spends a day in The Double Life of Veronique for a doppelganger-centric Geek Challenge. LINKS The Infinity Train Comes and Goes, Leaves Audience Feeling Empty in the Best Way Possible, by Alexander Lewis, Loyola Phoenix Raised By Wolves Review: Ridley Scott Among the Androids, by Mike Hale, New York Times Gameplay Footage from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5)     MUSIC “Doin’ It” by LL Cool J, Mr. Smith (1995) “Piece of Me” by

For another freewheeling freestyle extravaganza, Paul and Arlo cast their minds to everything from billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne to the inevitable end of all things. They wonder how they might write The Deli Counter of Justice in the harsh light of 2020 before the conversation mutates into a treatise on the relative fascism of Batman, an update on Arlo’s progress through Andy Mulvihill’s Action Park book, the boys reacting to the Dune trailer because that shit always gets mad hits on YouTube, and eventually a rumination on whether or not human life should even exist. What a fun pop culture podcast.   Next: more fun. MUSIC “The End” by The Doors, The Doors (1967) “The End of the Line” by Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 (1988) GOBBLEDYCARES Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/  Donate to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund in support of the protesters in Kenosha: https://supportwomenshealth.salsalabs.org/mkefreedomfund/index.html  Register t

As Hamilton taught us, everything is legal in New Jersey. So we shouldn’t be surprised that it was once home to Action Park, the most dangerous amusement park in the world. Eugene Mulvihill’s vision of a lawless hellscape with pleasure as its only principle is the American Dream in miniature, with a guest appearance by Donald Trump himself! Paul and Arlo discuss the new HBO Max documentary Class Action Park, which brought the Mulvihill legend to their attention; some ancillary material available on YouTube, including one insane post-credits sequence; how Paul would love to bean somebody with a flaming tennis ball; and their respective childhoods, one as a latchkey kid in the ‘70s/’80s and one as a cowardly nerd in the ‘90s/’00s. Will they emerge unscathed? Tune in and find out!   Next: another episode of your favorite podcast. No, not that one. This one. Wait. Come back. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:24:00 00:00:30  -  Intro / Main Topic 01:21:07  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC Action Park commercial (19

Paul and Arlo are doin' good, they're on some new shit: actually talking at length about music! A/V director and founding Gobbler Joseph Lewis joins the boys to rave about Taylor Swift's newest (and best) album, Folklore. The gang discusses how Folklore offers a more mature and introspective look at Swift’s pop star persona, how the collaboration with The National’s Aaron Dessner enhances her sonic palette, the drama of the Teenage Love Trilogy, the beautiful video for "cardigan," and more.   Next: slippin' and slidin' with Class Action Park.   BONUS MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS: Joe Manic by Halsey Punisher by Phoebe Bridger Gaslighter by The Chicks Tourist Season by Miel The New Abnormal by The Strokes Run-On Death Sentence by Alex Jonestown Massacre     Arlo Every Bad by Porridge Radio Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan Song for Our Daughter by Laura Marling Once I Was an Eagle by Laura Marling Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple      Paul   Louie 99 by Pet Rocks and Fake Flowers Imploding the Mirage by The

He wasn't going to get away that easy. Just in time for his biennial torture session, Chance Mazzia has been roped into another episode of Gobbledygeek. Since his last go-round, Chance has become a high school teacher, thereby automatically becoming a more productive member of society than either Paul or Arlo. Chance tells us about the esports team he coaches at school, Paul and Arlo share a rare moment of commiseration by not knowing any of the games Chance mentions, the gang is bummed out by the latest developments concerning Netflix's live-action Avatar remake, and Paul and Arlo are surprised to fall in love with Harley Quinn.   Next: Taylor Swift delivers the best album of her career with Folklore. THE MUSIC “Multiplayer” by Barbie, Video Game Hero (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2017) “Spare Change” by Pet Rocks and Fake Flowers (2020) THE LINKS   “Avatar: The Last Airbender Creators Just Left the Live-Action Netflix Adaptation” by Beth Elderkin, Gizmodo “Spare Change” by Pet Rocks and Fake

They’ll tear you a new puppet hole, bitch! The worlds of Charles Band and Don Mancini collide in a pre-Gobbledyween Geek Challenge. Paul sends Arlo a psychic alert letting him know to watch 1989’s Puppet Master, the first of producer Band’s direct-to-VHS Full Moon Features and the source of approximately one trillion sequels. In turn, Arlo goes meta and has a doll voiced by him call Paul while the real Arlo is tied to a bed behind him, commanding Paul to watch 2004’s Seed of Chucky. Paul recounts the joy of watching Full Moon Features in his 20s, Arlo launches a full-throated defense of Mancini’s vision, and they are both just completely miserable. Plus, the boys have nothing but nice things to say about Taylor Swift’s Folklore.   Next: we’re off, then we’re not. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:49:34 00:00:25  -  Intro / Banter 00:16:56  -  Puppet Master 01:03:15  -  Seed of Chucky 01:45:00  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Master of Puppets” by Metallica, Master of Puppets (1986) “Doll Parts” by Hole, Live

2020 may be an absolute shitshow, but thanks to Disney+, we can all be in the living room where it happens: the filmed performance of Hamilton, recorded in 2016 with the original Broadway cast, is now available to stream. Paul and Arlo may have talked about Hamilton, oh, once or twice or 18 times since its debut five years ago, but luckily über-fan Sarah Kosheff is on hand to help them find new things to say. Arlo talks about getting to see an actual production of Hamilton for the first time, Paul relays the time he was sprayed with Groff sauce, the gang discusses the up-close nuance of the troupe’s acting, and they address some of the political and cultural criticisms of the show.   Next: we get all dolled up for a Geek Challenge featuring Puppet Master and Seed of Chucky. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 02:15:20 00:00:18  -  Intro / Guest 00:01:34  -  Main Topic 02:09:40  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Alexander Hamilton” by Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton, Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2

A deadly virus rages across the world. The U.S. is in shambles. Despite the imminent threat, humans have started to turn on one another. And in other news, this week Paul and Arlo are talking about Naughty Dog's highly anticipated zombie apocalypse sequel The Last of Us Part II. Joining them for a discussion of this brutal, beautiful game is none other than Alex Jonestown Massacre guitarist Kenn Edwards. The gang discusses how the game departs from its predecessor, the incredible acting of Ashley Johnson and Laura Bailey, how writer-director Nate Druckmann forces the player to confront the consequences of their actions, and more. Also, Arlo didn't actually play it! Plus, Kenn tells us about AJM's new album Run-On Death Sentence and his Lost rewatch podcast Pushing the Button.   Next: there's hope for our ass after all. Sarah Kosheff joins us to discuss the filmed performance of Hamilton.   THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 02:55:47 00:01:24  -  Intro / Banter 00:06:43  -  Kenn’s new podcast 00:16:25  -  Kenn’s n

The beauty of Gobbledygeek freestyle episodes is that Paul and Arlo will hop on the microphone and start yammering about something or other, then next thing you know, bam, it’s been a tight 45 on the Child’s Play franchise. Killer doll movies, killer German time travel shows (what up, Dark), killer longings for idealized video stores of yesteryear, killer viruses--this episode’s got it all. It will kill you.   Next: speaking of somebody who got killed, Hamilton: An American Musical comes to Disney+. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:49:40 00:00:20  -  Intro 01:45:06  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Chucky Rap” by Daddyphatsnaps, Chucky Rap (2019) “The Buddi Song” by Mark Hamill (2019)

The world is, yet again, a much different place than when we last recorded an episode of Gobbledygeek. In the month since the police killing of George Floyd, there have been a wave of protests worldwide and renewed conversations about what role police have in society, if any at all. We--Paul and Arlo--are not sure we should be part of this conversation. After postponing recording for many reasons, our initial urge to record some deep, thought-provoking discussion about racial injustice has subsided. We’re two white guys on an extremely niche podcast that is supposedly about pop culture. We are not going to cover any new ground. What we will say, unequivocally, is that Black Lives Matter. Yesterday, today, always. We do discuss the state of the world, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, police abolition, ACAB, etc.--hopefully in a respectful way that might interest some of our listeners. Oh, and there’s still a pandemic going on, so we talk about that too.   Fear not: we also talk about pop culture! Paul plays The

Ah, youth. A time of joy and comfort, of excitement and adventure. Also pain and fear and anxiety and awkwardness and all that fun stuff. Spinning out of their recent conversation with senior British correspondent Wesley Mead, Paul and Arlo talk about nostalgia (Greek for “pain from an old wound,” according to Don Draper). They regale the listener with tales of their misbegotten youths, from chronic illness and cutting class to oddball rebellion and a very memorable chauffeur experience. Is any of this interesting? Who knows? We’re past episode 400 here, what do you expect?   Next: as always in these strange times, you’ll know when we do. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:31:39 00:00:45  -  Intro 01:27:55  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Borrowed Time” by John Lennon, Milk and Honey (1984) “Moonshadow” by Cat Stevens, Teaser and the Firecat (1971)

Rule, Wezzo! Wezzo, rule the podcast! Gobbledygeek’s senior British correspondent, Wesley “Wezzo” Mead, returns after a truly mind-boggling 22-month gap to fill us in on how exactly the UK is falling apart. Boris Johnson is handling the COVID-19 pandemic very poorly, especially for someone who nearly died from the virus--but still not as poorly as Galactic Emperor Trump, with his Space Forces and super-duper missiles. You’ve heard all about how Paul and Arlo are coping with quarantine, but what’s Wezzo been watching? Well, do you remember the Olsen twins sitcom Two of a Kind and Amanda Bynes vehicle What I Like About You? No? That’s okay, Wezzo remembers them for you! Nostalgia plays a big role this episode, as we pine for our glory days from the discomfort of our hellish present; and specifically, those tactile yet intangible sense memories. Wow, deep! But it’s mostly What I Like About You.   Next: gonna cruise her round the town, show everybody what I’ve found, rock ‘n’ roll with all my friends, hopin’ the

Another week, another reckoning with the apocalypse. As the country gears up to reopen, Paul and Arlo discuss how their home states of Alabama and Ohio are handling things. They are not optimistic! Crowds packed close, restaurants teeming with teens, maskless mugs--these things, and more, contribute to our hosts’ reluctance to get this society back on the road. After they’re done ruminating on our impending doom, Paul raves about Hulu’s Normal People; Arlo recommends two more Hulu series, PEN15 and Ramy; they’re both excited about the forthcoming Sandman audio drama; and the announcement of a much sooner release date for the filmed performance of Hamilton leads Arlo to go negative on negativity. Plus, bones slathered in peanut butter.   Next: senior British correspondent Wesley Mead updates us on life in Boris Johnson’s UK. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:37:20 00:01:00  -  Intro? (Time has no meaning anymore…) 01:34:30  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Theme From Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)” b

When you’re a geek, you’re a geek til ya die, from the stupid reviews to the heaviest sighs. And so, tonight, tonight, the geeks are out tonight--we’re talkin’ finger-snappin’, toe-tappin’ street gangs, daddy-o! Out of seemingly nowhere, Arlo pressures Paul into watching Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins’ 1961 adaptation of the 1957 Broadway show West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, and Leonard Bernstein. You might have heard of it! Somehow, though both of them love musicals--as documented extensively on this podcast--neither Arlo nor Paul had ever seen one of the most famous, and the most Oscar-adorned, musicals ever made. And so the boys discuss how, in true Romeo and Juliet fashion, Tony and Maria are kind of boring; George Chakiris and Rita Moreno being the film’s true stars; Robbins’ dynamic dance choreography; how you’ve just got to stay loose, boy, and accept the movie’s campy, colorful world; and more. Plus, a quarantine update and an exciting new behind-the-scenes development.   Next: T

We’re all responding to quarantine (semi- or otherwise) in different ways. Paul seems to be practicing some sort of immersion therapy, living out the post-apocalypse in games like The Last of Us and shows like The Leftovers. Arlo, meanwhile, reaches for the comfort of old reliable favorites like the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie or the modern classic sketch comedy series Key and Peele. Have you ever realized they’re different people? The boys discuss texting syntax, Paul’s genuine repulsion at a certain aspect of The Leftovers, Arlo’s journey through old superhero comics, and so much (or at least a little) more.   Next: TBD, as per ush. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:58:01 00:00:27  -  Intro 01:55:00  -  Outro / Next THE MUSIC “Gunfight Epiphany” by Robert Duncan, Gunfight Epiphany (Theme from Terriers) (2010) “Let the Mystery Be” by Iris DeMent, Infamous Angel (1992)

Once upon a time, three idiots did a podcast. Their names were Paul Smith, Arlo “AJ” Wiley, and Joseph “Will Penley” Lewis. And no, we’re not talking about Gobbledygeek episode 400--we’re talking about the very first episode, recorded a full decade ago. This painful, awkward reminder of where it all began has been lost to time and/or the BlogTalkRadio servers for at least a few years now. Now, it has been restored--but never remastered--to its proper glory. Relive the earliest day of the podcast, with discussion of Alice in Wonderland, Lost, Joss Whedon, Kevin Smith, and a whole bunch of random nerd shit they did not have the faculties to properly critique. Enjoy?

A global pandemic. Britain leaving the European Union. Donald Trump being elected president. FX canceling Terriers after one goddamn season. It has been, without question, the dumbest decade. Add to that list the strange, mystifying endurance of Gobbledygeek. A podcast hosted by two straight cis white male idiots, ostensibly devoted to the discussion of “popular culture,” and listened to by only a small handful of reprobates, has somehow lasted ten years and 400 episodes. Many other, arguably better podcasts have come and gone. But Paul and Arlo are still here, joined by original Gobbler and fellow Heathen Joseph Lewis, to reminisce about their extraordinarily humble beginnings. The gang listened back to their very first episode (now available to cringe through for the first time in years!) before recording, and they revisit those long-forgotten topics in the year of our lord 2020. Do they remember anything about Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland? Does the Lost finale hold up? Do they give even a single shit a

FIRST THING’S FIRST: Paul obliquely confesses a past sin during this episode, it’s kind of a super tense moment, but Arlo has cleared off-mic that it was not a criminal act! So...do with that what you will! Elsewhere, the world is fucking ending, so you might as well watch The End of the Fucking World. Paul and Arlo muse on the collapse of civilization, discuss proper social distancing etiquette, and recommend things to watch and read as society dissolves. Some of those recommendations: The Hunt, now available on VOD since movie theaters have shuttered; comfy junk food movies like Yes Man and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past; Netflix’s I Am Not Okay with This; Hawkeye: Freefall by Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt; Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber’s uproarious Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen; and, of course, perennial classic Good Burger.   Next: Ten years. 400 episodes. It’s all led to this. It’s a shame we’re all dying. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 02:08:53 00:00:46  - Random thoughts on the end of the world 00:59

We start with frozen dairy dessert. We end with a world on the brink of madness. Between that gulf lies...nothing, everything. Paul chides Arlo for becoming obsessed with Black Hammer. The boys laugh about getting the @Gobbledygeek Twitter handle back. Good stuff. You like that, right? Well, guess what? Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have coronavirus, the NBA has suspended the season, all travel from the EU to the US has been stopped, our president appears to be slowly dying on national television. All that, in real time. Read the mouse print, baby: it’s the end of all things.   Next: assuming we make it, there’s another Four-Color Flashback. Yep, another one. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Alison Bechdel. See you then. THE BREAKDOWN Total Run Time: 01:46:30 00:00:33  - Madness!!!  01:44:25  - Outro / Next THE MUSIC “I’m Going Slightly Mad” by Queen, Innuendo (1991) “Creeping Death” by Metallica, Kill ‘em All (1983) THE LINKS   “Masturbation boosts your immune system, helping you fight off infection a