Nerdfest

Join Jon, Ian, Dan and Peter this week as the nerds discuss the return of Russell T Davies to 'Doctor Who', and delve into some great new recommendations. Peter levels up with Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer when we talk about ‘Free Guy’, now streaming on Disney+. Dan goes to stay at the ‘White Lotus’, while Ian compares classic comic ‘Y: The Last Man’ to its new TV adaptation. And Jon? Well, Jon goes nuts and has a ball as he explores the latest Nic Cage opus, ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’, (a.k.a “the one where his testicle explodes”) There’s something for everyone on this episode of Nerdfest!

After discussing the contents of some exciting trailers for new movie releases, we get down to business with our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz. This week we discuss cinematic firsts, and the original titles of movies that have been renamed. Plus Jon causes a stir with his blend of ‘animal magic’ facts. Andy has some unusual methods of creating sound FX for us, and Ian has what can be best described as a “random facts explosion” including how a Mandarin dictionary inspired a “Choose your own adventure” series (or did it?), and we learn all about what an “Iron Chef” really is. (Not a robot, apparently) That’s not all - we also have Round 2 of “Answer Smash” where our nerds have to smash two movie answers together from Hazel’s cryptic clues.

After a small hiatus for a nerd wedding, we are back with aplomb! And we have an entire feast of TV and film recommendations for you. Ian Mac drums home the merits of “Count me In”, a new Netflix documentary featuring rock n roll’s greatest ever drummers. Kerris takes a sip of “Brand New Cherry Flavor”, a mind bending limited series set in early 90s Hollywood. Peter ponders the question, “What If?” And purely coincidentally, he reviews Marvel’s latest TV offering of the same name. Andy enthuses about the Ray Harryhausen exhibition he and Hazel visited on their honeymoon. Which leads the nerds down an animated memory lane of one of the industry’s most influential creators. And Hazel heads back to the Cold War to review “The Courier”, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch’s salesman turned MI6 spy. But that’s not all! Andy has a brilliant cryptic film quiz that gets all the nerds thinking outside of the box. Enjoy!

We welcome Ian and Kerris back on the pod for an episode overflowing with quizziness. The nerds test each other with Buff or Bluffs about "On-Set Pranks", "Movie World Records", "Horror Icons", "Sony Tech" and a quite astonishing alternative take on the X-Men, and Dan has a bonus quiz about some of the strangest ever ‘notes from the studio’. If that wasn’t enough, Ian’s been watching great documentaries on pioneering hip hop improvisers "Freestyle Love Supreme" and the darker side of child stardom. All of that in just one episode, we hope you enjoy it (just don’t Google for Vin Diesel movies!)

We got in a bit of trouble from Mary Whitehouse’s ghost after last week’s episode, so this week we have a completely clean show that’s not rude at all* In fact, Jon takes things so far as to review the film “Censor” which is all about how we can best oppose modernism, and build more vernacular architecture. It’s DEFINITELY not about 1980s video nasties. In other recommendations, Dan presents genre bending, time twisting, alternative history novel “The Kingdoms”. and sings the praises of documentary “1971: The Year that Music Changed Everything”. Peter treads a very fine line by explaining “Why Women Kill”, the second season of which is coming soon to Alibi. Andy generously gets “Another Round” in, a brilliant Oscar winning Danish drama made by Thomas Vinterburg and starring Mads Mikkelsen. And Hazel reviews the action-packed “Black Widow”, Marvel’s first cinematic release in two years. *not actually true, I mean not even close!

Dan returns to join Jon, Andy and Peter as our nerds test each other's knowledge in an all-quiz special. Inspired by Marvel's "Loki", Dan's got some stories about what our favourite Variant got up to as a Norse god. Can you tell the myths from the mythstakes? And Peter goes all TVA too, with a timey-wimey quiz about memory in movies. And, of course, Film Buff or Film Bluff returns with facts covering everything from Crispin Glover's song about a 'Clowny clown clown' to Mary Whitehouse's attempts to ban all filth from the airwaves. Good thing she never heard our Podcast - we wouldn't stand a chance!"

It’s a bumper round of reviews and recommendations this week. First up, we find out why Kerris cant stop hatewatching the horror detective series “Slasher”, which borrows more than its plot from Se7en. Then Andy intrigues us all with his review of Icelandic volcano drama “Katla”, and tries to invent a new catchphrase at the same time. Hazel whispers her affection for “A Quiet Place Part 2” whilst Jon delves into a bit of quarantine art with Bo Burnham’s Netflix special “Inside”. And finally Peter brings on the zombie apocalypse with his review of The Asylum’s “Black Summer.” There’s all that and more - you can also play along to Andy’s movie quotes quiz and let us know how much better you did than our nerds. And, settle a debate for us: "is that not what heroes do…?"

It’s twice the movie quizzes, twice the smut in this episode, and it’s no coincidence that it sees the very welcome return of our beloved Ian McLaughlin. Ian has been away for some time looking after his "daughter" Treacle, who is…well, you’ll find out… As penance for his lengthy absence, Ian has a movie factoid quiz for us at the beginning of the show. If you ever wanted to know how many balloons you’d need to lift your own house, you need wonder no more. Then it’s time for our regular round of Buff or Bluff. This week, Andy’s topic is oversized monster movies, Peter reveals some interesting film casting choices, and Hazel has facts about two of Hollywood’s most revered names: Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Plus Jon has some utterly outlandish stories of how certain films obtained their funding, involving the Catholic Church and the Mafia. And Ian rounds things off with a medley of movie tidbits.

Ever wanted to have a movie that you loved as a child totally ruined by Jon? Well, you’re in the right place, as he presents his alternate musical version of 'Willy Wonka' ! We also have some brand new recommendations for you as Andy takes us through 'Valley of Souls' in a canoe, then Jon tries to defend the earth from superhero series “Jupiter’s Legacy”. Peter recommends new historical steampunk series 'The Nevers', whilst Hazel effuses about Kate Winslet’s mighty performance in gritty drama 'Mare of Easttown' And finally Kerris brings things home with two recommendations that are as different from each other as gravy and the concept of financial management: Netflix’s 'Superstore', and adult animation 'Mr Pickles'. Please send us any suggestions for musicals that you would also like Jon to ruin (@nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook), and we’ll hear him do just that in a future show.

Is there ANYTHING that isn't improved by a bacon sandwich? This is the kind of deep thinking you’ll find in this week’s Buff or Bluff quiz. Our topics include facts about one of the greatest movie composers of all time, John Williams, film disclaimers that originated because of political assassinations, the most dangerous movie sets in history, naughty films made by stars before they became famous, and the very best from the Bulwer-Lytton competition, which challenges participants to write an atrocious first sentence for a hypothetical novel. Plus, find out who triumphed and who capitulated in the Nerdfest Oscar’s sweepstake, and will they even get to give their acceptance speech?

Dan discovers whether it was a good idea to name his kitten after a trickster god*, and we have reviews of some great, and not so great TV and Movies for you. We pound the spooky New Zealand beat with "Wellington Paranormal", learn some history with Oscar contender "Quo Vadis, Aida?", suffer our way through "Them", and become "Invincible", then discover new Black Mirror-esque show "Made For Love". *Check the embedded artwork if you would like to meet little Loki

It’s the 4th annual Nerdfest Oscars sweepstake! Hazel, with her customary two hats, reveals which Best Picture nominees we each received in the sweepstake - find out our reactions, plus mini-reviews of the contenders, and how we rate our chances on the night. Before that, it’s Buff or Bluff time. Can you guess the made-up fact from this week’s diverse categories: Donald Duck, ostentatious celebrity expenses, The Oscars, Peter Sellers, and the American Office?

In our latest review-packed episode we watch Oscar contender "Judas & The Black Messiah", wrap our big mouse ears around podcast "Disniversity", welcome Marvel's "Falcon & The Winter Soldier", investigate "Big Sky" and slog our way through Zack Snyder's cut of "Justice League" Oh, and Jon TRIES to give "Hellraiser" the review it deserves.

It's Kerris's turn to be afraid of the water this episode, as she reveals her Shameful Gap, of "Jaws", and tells us how it felt to watch it for the first time. We also try to pull the wool over each others eyes once more, with Bluffs based on rubbish Amazon movies, women movements started by female actors, filipino Batman knockoffs, the movie "Scream", and Brazilian Pixar clones. Come on in, the water's lovely!

Recommendations? We'll give you recommendations! We cover a massive range this episode, from unreliable historical bonkfest 'The Great', through the wonders of Arrow's streaming service (apparently designed specifically for Jon!), the very Marmite flavourings of 'Resident Alien', and definitely-not-a-disaster movie 'Greenland', to finally come into land with 'The Expanse 5', world-beating videogame 'Fortnite', and Billie Piper's tour de force 'I Hate Susie'. Oh. AND we throw in 'Conan The Barbarian' for good measure. Huzzah!

In this special extra episode, Dan interviews Samantha Shannon, the author of the Bone Season books he reviewed for us in episode 77. They talk about her new book "The Mask Falling", how fabulous words are, what makes dragons special and, of course, who would win: Godzilla or King Kong! Let us know if you would like to hear more of your favourite authors on the show.

You won't know WHAT to believe this episode, as we try to pull an entire sheep's worth of wool over each others' eyes with our legendary Buff or Bluff game. The delightful Kerris joins us from the safety of her blanket fort for some horrifying tales, Dan shows off his moves with some stories too ludicrous for WWE, Peter is giving notes on music, and Jon delves into the darker side of DIsney, and tries his best to traumatise Dan in the process. And we also Play Our Cameos right with a game about how much some second-string celebs charge for a personal video on website, Cameo! And, in what's becoming a regular occurrence, Jon has to apologise for something...

We have recommendations up the wazoo this time, as we battle Godzilla, encounter a new author, discover the best subtitled series on Netflix from around the world, and wallow in the usual smut and nonsense. Ian reviews “Godzilla: The Half century War", whilst attempting to answer the ultimate “Kong vs Godzilla” question. Dan adds Samantha Shannon's Bone Season" to the bookshelf, whilst Andy gets all cosmopolitan with "This is not a Burial, Its a Resurrection". Striking a similar worldly tone, Peter reviews French series "Lupin" and "Call My Agent" and Korean smash hit series "Sweet Home" and "the Uncanny Counter". And Jon recommends "Designated Survivor", "The Rental" and, er, "Jiu Jitsu" (a movie he hasn't even SEEN, yet!) Finally, we expose Dan's shameful gap, as he has never seen famous immortal combat movie, "Highlander". What are his thoughts upon watching it for the very first time?

In this episode we have our first reactions to WandaVision, a full spoiler review of Wonder Woman 1984, and our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz is back! After establishing the exact species of dinosaur that Yoshi is, we discuss what sorcery Marvel might have up their sleeves in the quirky opening episodes of WandaVision. Our Buff or Bluff round sees us tackling questions about old TV sitcoms, disastrous financial mistakes, unlikely actors portraying U.S presidents, unexpected movie sequels, and unusual Funko Pops. We head into deep spoiler territory for our review of Wonder Woman 1984 (although if you haven’t seen it and you’re considering spending £15.99 on the digital rental, you might want to stick around). How is Diana Prince’s second solo outing? Why is the third best famous Chris back? Does having glasses really make you less sexy? We discuss all that and more, for a movie that we reeeeeeallly wanted to like.

We find out what the nerds got up to over Christmas and what nerdy presents we were gifted. It’s great to have Ian Mayor back with us, who has a present for Dan and Hazel and some pretty bad news for Jon... in this episode we discuss the treasure trove of new shows and movies announced by Disney just before Christmas. From 'Rogue Squadron' to 'Lando', to 'Secret Invasion' and 'Ironheart' (and everything in between!)we are in full speculation mode about what those shows could bring. Also in this episode Hazel has devised a “Who am I?” quiz, with a series of cryptic clues for the nerds to try and guess which actor she’s talking about. Play along, and try to guess who’s name sounds like a fart in a bath!