Nebula and World Fantasy Award-nominated author Helene Wecker joins Antony to talk Constantine’s unjustly maligned visual feast, the angelic Tilda Swinton, and the size of Keanu’s hands. "Constantine" Antony Johnston with Helene Wecker Referenced Works Constantine [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Constantine" "Constantine" on Amazon The "Hellblazer" comics Helene Wecker on Twitter Helene Wecker's website...
For one week only, the tables are turned as guest host Jason Snell welcomes Antony to rant about the genius of Genesis (!) Look, we tried to stop him, but it’s his birthday. "Genesis" Jason Snell with Antony Johnston Referenced Works Abacab (Genesis album) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Genesis" "Abacab" on Amazon "Watcher of the Skies" live, complete with that keyboard intro Phil Collins performs at a Miami high school Antony Johnston on Twitter Antony Johnston's website...
Film critic and controversial prequel fan Mike Klimo joins Antony to explain his unorthodox Ring Theory, and how he believes it proves “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” is unjustly maligned. It’s kind of intense. "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" Antony Johnston with Mike Klimo Referenced Works Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Star Wars (franchise) Show Notes & Links "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" Star Wars Ring Theory Michael Kaminski's "The Secret Hist...
Marketing guru and board game nerd Cory Casoni joins Antony to roll the dice and move his mice, while explaining that everyone who unjustly maligns “Monopoly” is simply playing it wrong. "Monopoly" Antony Johnston with Cory Casoni Referenced Works Monopoly [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Monopoly" Jonny Nexus' "Campaign for Real Monopoly" Settlers of Catan 2003 US Monopoly Champion Matt McNally "Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game — And How It Got That Way" by Philip Orbanes "The Monopol...
Bestselling romance author Maya Rodale joins Antony to convince him her chosen field is unjustly maligned, explain how romance is a feminist genre, and ask just what is up with all the dukes, anyway? "Romance Novels" Antony Johnston with Maya Rodale Referenced Works Dangerous Books for Girls [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Maya Rodale Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Dear Author Maya's suggested book list for new romance readers The "Dangerous Books for Girls" site, with survey infographics "Danger...
Programmer and game designer Neven Mrgan joins Antony to defend John Woo’s “Face/Off”, lament the march of realism in action movies, and wonder why anyone would own a double-sided mirror. "Face/Off" Antony Johnston with Neven Mrgan Referenced Works Face/Off [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Face/Off" John Woo "Face/Off" on Amazon Neven Mrgan on Twitter Neven Mrgan's website...
Game writer and novelist Rich Dansky joins Antony in a fun, but in no sense civilized, tribute to the late Sir Christopher Lee as they get wet, stare at bright lights, and feast after midnight on the unjustly maligned “Gremlins 2”. "Gremlins 2" Antony Johnston with Rich Dansky Referenced Works Gremlins 2: The New Batch [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Gremlins 2" The late Sir Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Lee's obituary in the Guardian Tony Randall, the voice of Brain Gremlin "Gremlins 2" on...
Journalist and podcaster Serenity Caldwell joins Antony to revel in one of the most unjustly maligned movies of 2015, “Jupiter Ascending”. We love dogs! "Jupiter Ascending" Antony Johnston with Serenity Caldwell Referenced Works Jupiter Ascending [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Jupiter Ascending" Antony can't remember the exact article he read about JA, but this one sums it up …As does this one, actually Shirtless half-wolf space warrior Channing Tatum. (Flying neon roller-skates not in fra...
Writer and podcaster Liz Myles joins Antony to complain that “Dragon Age II” is unjustly maligned, how saving the world yet again simply isn’t that exciting, and why you just can’t trust a wizard. "Dragon Age II" Antony Johnston with Lizbeth Myles Referenced Works Dragon Age II [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Dragon Age II" "Dragon Age II" on Amazon The "Verity!" podcast The "Down and Safe" podcast Liz Myles on Twitter Liz Myles's website...
Whoever the hell Casey Liss is, he joins Antony to persuade him the Dave Matthews Band is unjustly maligned, that you can’t beat a good drummer, and just what is a jam band, anyway? "Dave Matthews Band" Antony Johnston with Casey Liss Referenced Works Crash by Dave Matthews Band [ Amazon ] Before These Crowded Streets by Dave Matthews Band [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Dave Matthews Band "Crash" "Before These Crowded Streets" Who the Hell is Casey? Gene Hoglan's drum clinic - "Overactive Ima...
Playwright and theatre producer David Loehr joins Antony to convince him the novelisation of “Buckaroo Banzai” is unjustly maligned, mainly due to its association with a terrible movie, and how they threw away all the best bits. "Buckaroo Banzai" (the novelisation) Antony Johnston with David J. Loehr Referenced Works Buckaroo Banzai (Novelization) [ Amazon ] Buckaroo Banzai [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" Earl Mac Rauch Orson Welles'...
Game designer Brianna Wu joins Antony to convince him “Star Trek: Voyager” is unjustly maligned, explain why the world just wasn’t ready for feminist Trek, and why Seven of Nine is actually the best character in the whole franchise. "Star Trek: Voyager" Antony Johnston with Brianna Wu Referenced Works Star Trek: Voyager [ Amazon ] Star Trek (franchise) Show Notes & Links "Star Trek: Voyager" Kate Mulgrew "Star Trek: Voyager - the Complete Series" on Amazon Brianna Wu on Twitter Brianna Wu's ...
Writer and podcaster Merlin Mann joins Antony to stand up (mostly) for the “Watchmen” movie, discuss the difficulty of separating source material from its adaptation… and then there’s that ending. "Watchmen" Antony Johnston with Merlin Mann Referenced Works Watchmen (Movie) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Watchmen" (the movie) "Watchmen" (the comic) Zack Snyder Chris Claremont's run on "Uncanny X-Men" "Watchmen" blu-ray on Amazon Merlin Mann on Twitter Merlin Mann's website...
Writer and bookworm Lisa Schmeiser joins Antony to defend the “Dragonriders of Pern” novels from being unjustly maligned, discuss her changing views of them over the years, and muse their suitability for young girls today. "Dragonriders of Pern" Antony Johnston with Lisa Schmeiser Referenced Works Dragonriders of Pern [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Dragonriders of Pern" Anne McCaffrey Michael Whelan Fred Marcellino "Elfquest" Ursula K. Le Guin "Divergent" "The Hunger Games" David Brin's "Upl...
TV critic and podcaster Monty Ashley joins Antony to explain why the “Popeye” movie is unjustly maligned, that the story of its making is more unlikely than the movie itself, and just how many times you should watch a movie to recognise its genius. "Popeye" Antony Johnston with Monty Ashley Referenced Works Popeye [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Popeye" Robert Altman Famous Hollywood Nutcase Robert Evans Jules Feiffer Harry Nilsson Robin Williams "Popeye" at Amazon (curiously, there is no blu...
Writer and podcaster Scott McNulty joins Antony to explain why “Murder, She Wrote” is unjustly maligned, how it changed the TV landscape, and why it’s basically a proto-“Castle”. "Murder, She Wrote" Antony Johnston with Scott McNulty Referenced Works Murder, She Wrote [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Murder, She Wrote" Dame Angela Lansbury Miss Marple "Ellery Queen" "Rosemary & Thyme" Jerry Orbach "Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series" on Amazon Scott McNulty's podcast "Random Trek" Scot...
Tech journalist and podcaster Dan Moren joins Antony in a celebration of what may be the ultimate Unjustly Maligned movie, “Hudson Hawk”. It’s so much better than you realize, and they’re going to tell you why. "Hudson Hawk" Antony Johnston with Dan Moren Referenced Works Hudson Hawk [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Hudson Hawk" "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" Unjustly Maligned Episode 5: "Last Action Hero" with Alison Berry James Coburn's Bond parody "Our Man Flint" "Oscar", Sylvester Stallone's att...
Podcaster and handwavium aficionado Erika Ensign joins Antony to explain why “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” is unjustly maligned, that audiences should judge a movie in what it’s trying to be rather than what it’s trying to live up to, and how George Lucas never grew up. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" Antony Johnston with Erika Ensign Referenced Works Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Star Wars (franchise) Show Notes & Links "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Men...
Writer and metalhead Brian LeTendre joins Antony to persuade him that Megadeth’s 1999 album “Risk” is unjustly maligned, why nerdy is state of the art, and why Metallica owes it all to Mustaine. "Risk (Megadeth)" Antony Johnston with Brian LeTendre Referenced Works Risk by Megadeth [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Megadeth "Risk" Dave Mustaine Thrash Metal "Risk" on Amazon "Some Kind of Monster" on Amazon...
Writer and podcaster Glenn Fleishman joins Antony to convince him that kids’ cartoons like “Kim Possible” aren’t just for children, explain why good stories don’t need recaps, but everyone in the ’90s did need all those pockets. “Kim Possible†Antony Johnston with Glenn Fleishman Referenced Works Kim Possible [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Kim Possible" The rather art nouveau "Powerpuff Girls" And the equally angular "Dexter's Laboratory" "Rocky and Bullwinkle" "Freakazoid!" Ricardo Mont...
Geek critic and podcaster Al Kennedy joins Antony to bemoan the unjust maligning of the 1996 “Doctor Who” movie, explain how Paul McGann was a great Doctor, and why he always drezzzzzes for the occasion. "Doctor Who: The Movie" Antony Johnston with Al Kennedy Referenced Works Doctor Who (1996 movie) [ Amazon ] Doctor Who [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Doctor Who" (1996) The unjustly maligned Eighth Doctor The ham formerly known as Eric Roberts The Master "Doctor Who: The Movie" on Amazon Al ...
Comic writer and artist Emma Vieceli joins Antony to convince him her favourite cheesy Italian theme tunes to 1980s anime are unjustly maligned, how theme songs learnt as children can unite people across borders, and why Oscar isn’t a real Lady. "Italian cartoon theme tunes" Antony Johnston with Emma Vieceli Show Notes & Links Christina D’Avena "Lady Oscar" / "Rose of Versailles" Japanese titles "Lady Oscar" / "Rose of Versailles" Italian titles "Lady Oscar" / "Rose of Versailles" German t...
Comics podcaster and Charles Dance fangirl Alison Baker joins Antony to convince him the existential 1993 Schwarzenegger movie “Last Action Hero” is unjustly maligned, how the movie was sadly ahead of its time, and why Dance should thank Alan Rickman’s agent. "Last Action Hero" Antony Johnston with Alison Baker Referenced Works Last Action Hero [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Last Action Hero" The Governator John McTiernan "Last Action Hero" on Amazon Alison Baker on Twitter Alison Baker's "T...
Actor and supergeek Wil Wheaton joins Antony to protest that the original “Tron” movie from 1982 is unjustly maligned, to explain how its very existence created a rift among animators, and why he’d happily go on the game grid. "Tron" Antony Johnston with Wil Wheaton Referenced Works Tron [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Tron" "Tron: Legacy" "Tron: Uprising" Moebius, aka Jean Giraud Syd Mead "Tron guy", aka Jay Maynard "Tron" Blu-Ray on Amazon Wil Wheaton on Twitter Wil Wheaton's blog Wil Wheat...
Arthouse cowboy and podcasting wunderkind Moisés Chiullán joins Antony to convince him the 1989 videogame movie “The Wizard” is unjustly maligned, how the movie has a surprising personal connection to him, and why he loves the power glove — it’s so bad. "The Wizard" Antony Johnston with Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works The Wizard (1989) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "The Wizard" Fred Savage, now more often found behind the camera Christian Slater, everyone's favourite young rebel Jenny Lewis...
Games journalist and feminist critic Leigh Alexander joins Antony to stand up for the “Twilight” books, explain how it’s OK to indulge in fantasy, and why separating fiction from reality is not a gender-specific trait. "Twilight" Antony Johnston with Leigh Alexander Referenced Works Twilight [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Twilight" The infamous "Twilight Moms" meme, which is patently false "Twilight" on Amazon Leigh Alexander on Twitter Leigh Alexander's website...
Tech writer and geek podcaster Jason Snell joins Antony to explain why “Stargate SG-1” is unjustly maligned, how this long-running TV show seems to have been erased from the cultural conversation, and why fun is underrated. "Stargate SG-1" Antony Johnston with Jason Snell Referenced Works Stargate [ Amazon ] Stargate SG-1 Show Notes & Links "Stargate SG-1" The original "Stargate" movie "Stargate Atlantis" "Stargate Universe" Richard Dean MacGyver "Stargate SG-1" Season 1 on Amazon "Stargate ...
