Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! The Needless Commentary Team welcomes special guest ELZIG to the Phantom Zone for a viewing of the classic Elvis Presley film, Blue Hawaii ! Straight from the strip of HellVegas, just south of Memphis, and just across the Georgia state line – ELZIG, the Demon Elvis has been decimating the South with soulful, shredding rock n’ roll wherever he goes! ...
Jun 15, 2018•2 hr•Ep. 218
Our old pal Mike Gordon returns to the show to join Dave for a recap of MomoCon! 2018 was Needless Things’ first year at MomoCon! Not knowing exactly what to expect, our own Dave West spent two days and a night finding out what the anime/video game/comic book/pop culture convention is all about. From panels to the dealers’ room to guests, MomoCon had a very different set of offerings. Mike Gordon, on the other hand, has had a table at MomoCon for his Tiki Zombie comic for several years now. With...
Jun 08, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 217
Screenwriter Chad J. Shonk and Needless Things’ Head of Research Ryan Schweck join Dave to discuss the newest Star Wars film! Initial trailers for Solo: A Star Wars Story were met with mixed responses from fans. Already wary of prequels, many wondered if a Han Solo origin story was necessary. Others took issue with the casting of Alden Ehrenreich as the young smuggler. Beyond all of that, the production itself was fraught with drama. Lucasfilm – who seem to have a very clear vision for certain a...
Jun 01, 2018•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 216
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! 1980's Flash Gordon holds a place of esteem in the annals of sci-fi cinema. Not because of Max von Sydow's spectacular portrayal of Ming the Merciless. Not for the electric soundtrack by masters of rock Queen. Not even for the heart-quickening sights of Timothy Dalton in tights and Brian Blessed in leather panties. No, Flash Gordon is part of an eli...
May 25, 2018•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 215
On this week’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast Dave interviews those lovable horror punks The Casket Creatures, LIVE in the Phantom Zone! Today marks the release of he Casket Creatures' newest album – Return to Wolfton ! Featuring some of the best work in the Creatures' history, this album sets a new benchmark for what independent music can be. Between live shows, social media, and convention appearances throughout the year, this band has a work ethic and a standard of quality not often s...
May 18, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 214
On today’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast Dave talks to Renee Cooper, Director of Media Relations for MomoCon ! MomoCon 2018 will take place over 4 days, May 24th – 27th, 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center. MomoCon is a multi-genre fan convention encompassing American and Japanese animation, gaming (video gaming, board and card gaming, Live Action role play gaming), comics and costuming, held every year in Spring. In 2018 for the first time ever Needless Things will be covering th...
May 11, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 213
On today’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast the Irregulars assemble in the Phantom Zone to discuss the biggest superhero movie of all time – Avengers: Infinity War ! SPOILER ALERT! Live in the Phantom Zone, Dave, Arian, Mike Gordon, and Bobby Nash discuss absolutely everything about the newest chapter in the ongoing saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heroes, villains, story, and more will all be covered, so if you haven’t seen it yet… WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!? Listen in as Dav...
May 04, 2018•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 212
On today’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast Dave is flying solo to address various happenings in the Phantom Zone! Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque, Weird Al Yankovic’s Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, and portraying an intergalactic supervillain are just a few of the topics Dave covers on the show. Lots of stuff has been happening lately, and sometimes you just have to take some time to reflect and process. Plus, Dave addresses the status of The Dirty Dirty Con Con G...
Apr 27, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 211
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! Selecting April’s movie proved to be quite the trial for the Commentary Team. The desire to do something 4/20 appropriate was strong, but also presented a batch of movies that could prove… challenging . Finally, at the eleventh hour, a chance Instagram post from none other than Fede Alvarez, director of 2013’s Evil Dead , inspired the final selectio...
Apr 20, 2018•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 210
On today’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast Dave talks to Sam Koji Hale, director and creative force behind the new feature film Yamasong: March of the Hollows ! Yamasong: March of the Hollows brings the audience into a magical world unlike any other. On the planet Yamasong live races of fantastical creatures, like the mountain dwelling ram-like Ovis, or the peaceful turtle warrior clan of the Terrapin. Fish fly, monsters breath clouds and gods swim through the ocean depths. Yamasong follo...
Apr 13, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 209
We’re on the Road to WrestleMania and it’s time to call the Needless Things Irregulars out to the ring to cut promos on their favorite – and most despised – wrestling memories! Dave opens the show by running down the card for WrestleMania 34 and then dives into conversation with some of your favorite Irregulars to reminisce about the squared circle. From heel turns and bizarre gimmicks to day-long WrestleMania s and fallen heroes, the gang looks at the last few decades of pro wrestling in WWE an...
Apr 06, 2018•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 208
For sixteen years SuicideGirls.com has been breaking boundaries and setting standards for online communities, representation, and pop culture relevance. It’s also provided a safe space for beautiful women with tattoos and piercings to express themselves. The Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque touring show has become a phenomenon in its own right, creating a forum for performance that brings the concepts of the website – pop culture, freedom of expression, and appreciation of diversity – to live ...
Mar 30, 2018•58 min•Ep. 207
Recorded LIVE at Dragon Con 2018 for the Horror Track! Just in time for the premiere of the sophomore season, Needless Things is proud to present E.J. Stevens, James A. Moore, and our very own Dave West discussing the first season of Netflix’s outrageous Santa Clarita Diet ! Starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, this bizarre gore-fest defied expectations and set a new standard for horror comedy. Featuring an amazing supporting cast and a story that could best be described as unpredictabl...
Mar 23, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 206
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! We’re on the road to WrestleMania, Phantomaniacs! That means this month’s Commentary had to be related to the warriors that inhabit the squared circle. After a serious rumble in the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group No Holds Barred was crowned champion! 1989 brought us Batman , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , Gremlins 2 , UHF , and countle...
Mar 16, 2018•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 205
From MorriconeYouth.com : Morricone Youth formed in New York City in 1999 with the mission statement of composing, re-interpreting, performing and recording only "music written for the moving image." With a repertoire of over 100 reinterpretations of film and television soundtracks and music production library recordings (many of which recorded for CDs released by Country Club Records),the band performs with projections thematically dedicated to specific composers or film music genres in additio...
Mar 07, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 204
The Needless Things Irregulars assemble for their annual look at the New York International Toy Fair! The 2018 New York International Toy Fair was held from February 17th – 20th so that toy manufacturers from all over the world could get retailers and journalists excited about their offerings for the upcoming year. Hasbro, Mattel, Funko, NECA, and many more all bring out their prototypes, concepts, and newest licenses to display in the biggest toy-oriented gathering of the year! Join Phantom, Ne...
Mar 02, 2018•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 203
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! WARNING: Unbeknownst to the Needless Commentary Team, none of whom had seen this movie, Tanya’s Island includes scenes of rape and… (SPOILERS) basically bestiality. It’s really fucked up, you guys. Strictly adults only. Journey to a magical island that may or may not exist and is home to Tanya, Lobo, and another very special guest. Witness the most ...
Feb 23, 2018•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 202
Join Dave, the Needless Things Irregulars, and some very special guests for a night of entertainment recorded live at the Intown Coffehouse in Atlanta, Georgia! One of Dave’s earliest inspirations for becoming a performer was Late Night with David Letterman . For this special 200th episode of the Needless Things Podcast, tribute is paid to that legendary show by way of a live talk show featuring a house band, panel interviews, and a wild cast of characters! What follows is an excerpt from the fi...
Feb 16, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 201
The first episode of the Needless Things Podcast was posted on January 1st, 2013. It's a conversation between Phantom Troublemaker (Dave) and Beau Brown about the 30th anniversary of Masters of the Universe. It was originally posted on the Internet Archive because we had no idea what we were doing. Now, five years later, the episode has been given a new introduction and outro and is finally being included in the Podbean library of episodes to be distributed to itunes, Stitcher, Uranus, and every...
Feb 13, 2018•2 hr 51 min•Ep. 200
LIVE from the Days of the Dead Atlanta horror convention – Dave, Nicole Gould, and Ryan Cadaver host Needless Things Presents Toy Stories: Plastic Horrors ! From Marx to Mego to McFarlane to Mezco, the Needless Things Irregulars jump around the history of horror toys and discuss their favorites in front of a live Days of the Dead audience. Each of the last six decades has seemed to present innovations and revolutions in the world of horror-based toys, and the panel touches on some of their favor...
Feb 09, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 199
Mr. Beau Brown returns to the Needless Things Podcast for the second part of a wide-ranging conversation about Masters of the Universe! Starting with how they discovered the most powerful franchise in the universe and uncovering many dark corners of pop culture along the way, Dave and Beau go wherever the conversation takes them. From childhood jealousy to grownup toy collecting ennui, He-Man and his pals elicit a huge spectrum of responses in this conversation! Listen in as Dave and Beau go whe...
Feb 02, 2018•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 198
Son of Celluloid Nathan Hamilton returns to the Needless Things Podcast to talk about the upcoming Days of the Dead Atlanta horror convention and his own gruesome contribution, the Blue Track ! Days of the Dead is a touring horror convention that hits Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Chicago. It brings a wide selection of guests from every corner of the industry, plus a few extras and surprises every time. DotD fosters a true community atmosphere with an emphasis on 24/7 partyin...
Jan 25, 2018•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 197
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! Patrick Swayze. Bill Paxton. Adam Baldwin. Helen Hunt. Ben Stiller. Ted Levine. Michael J. Pollard. Liam Neeson . LOOK AT THAT CAST. Gather your whole family together and witness Appalachian justice take on the mob with the Needless Things Irregulars! Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this ...
Jan 19, 2018•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 196
Masters of the Universe toys have a significantly lower profile these days, so rather than attempting the usual annual recap, Dave and Mr. Beau Brown are having an Eternian free-for-all! No Masters-related topic is off limits as two superfans discuss their love of Mattel’s franchise. In this, the first of two episodes, Beau and Dave talk about the current state of the Masters of the Universe franchise. Listen in as Dave and Beau discuss the past, present, and future of the most powerful toy line...
Jan 12, 2018•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 195
Recorded LIVE in the Phantom Zone! Ryan Cadaver swings by the Phantom Zone for a conversation about movies and more! From looking back at 2017 to speculating on 2018, topics include the DC Extended Universe, Black Mirror , the virtues of fun movies, and more. Later in the show Phantom, Jr. joins the conversation for the first time ever to explain where the heck all of the Infinity Gems are! Plus, Ryan and Dave debut the Needless Things Beverage Experiment! Jack-O-Blast + the last of the 2017 egg...
Jan 05, 2018•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 194
Recorded LIVE in the Phantom Zone! The Needless Things Irregulars are joined by special guest Chad J. Shonk for a lively roundtable discussion about the newest entry into the ever-growing Star Wars saga! While massively successful, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi has divided fans. Some declared it a triumphant departure from a known formula, some hysterically decried it as heresy, and some fans fell in the middle; recognizing both faults and ingenious new ideas. Listen in as Dave, Rad Rang...
Dec 29, 2017•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 193
Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films! Determined by a fan poll in the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group , this month’s Commentary is on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope ! The Commentary team is joined by the illustrious Chad J. Shonk to share memories and thoughts about one of the greatest movies of all time and one that is a touchstone for Needless Things fandom. Be sure to join t...
Dec 22, 2017•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 192
Our pal Mike Gordon joins the show to discuss the most wonderful time of the year! From television specials to movies to music, Christmas cheer is available in every corner of pop culture. Over the decades artists have embraced this time of year as an opportunity to celebrate fellowship, joy, and hope (and also to make some money – we're not naive). As a result there are countless ways to enhance your own personal yuletide experience! Listen in as Dave and Mike talk Serious Christmas Business on...
Dec 14, 2017•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 191
Dave talks to musician, illustrator, puppeteer, and all-around renaissance woman Valerie Meiss! From Valerie's website : “A fascination with fairytales and detective stories at bedtime, a never-ending stockpile of cardboard, and a slew of old junk and toy instruments have left their mark on Valerie Meiss' work. She boldly claims to be a singing, songwriting musician (though hardly a singer-songwriter) and performance artist. She makes a life for herself playing shows, building and performing wit...
Dec 08, 2017•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 190
LIVE from the Dragon Con 2017 Puppetry Track! Dave – formerly and sometimes still known as Phantom Troublemaker – talks to the wonderful Tim Clarke about two of the legendary 80s toy lines he created – Boglins and Sectaurs! Listen in as Tim talks to Dave about the genesis of these two innovative puppetry-based concepts and their legacy in the world of toys! Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week’s episode! Let us know what you thin...
Dec 01, 2017•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 189
