It’s the Fourth of July! And what could be more American than Big Blue himself? Jonathan Penn joins Antony to defend “Superman III”, famously derided as a slapstick comedy, and argue that beneath the surface it’s full of heart, humanity, and hope. Up, up, and away! "Superman III" Antony Johnston with Jonathan Penn Referenced Works Superman III [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Superman III"...
Mrs Peel, we’re needed — to defend what some critics called “the worst movie ever” from… a spot of bad weather? Hey, it makes about as much sense as the film. Writer and musician Cecilee Linke joins Antony to judo chop her way through the 1998 flop “The Avengers”. "The Avengers (1998)" Antony Johnston with Cecilee Linke Referenced Works The Avengers (1998) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Become an Incomparable Member! Help support Unjustly Maligned by joining the Incomparable’s new Membership ...
Great white sharks are feared the world over, with shark attacks on humans still guaranteed to make the news. As “Finding Dory“‘s release approaches, writer and scuba diver Chris Mitchell joins Antony to dive into the churning waters around this widely misunderstood predator. "Great White Sharks" Antony Johnston with Chris Mitchell Show Notes & Links Become an Incomparable Member! Help support Unjustly Maligned by joining the Incomparable’s new Membership programme, and check the “Unjustly M...
Roger Ebert gave it one star, and called it one of his ‘most hated’ movies. But was he just expecting the wrong kind of story? Georgia Dow joins Antony to stay within the boundaries of M Night Shyamalan’s “The Village”. "The Village" Antony Johnston with Georgia Dow Referenced Works The Village [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links The Village Unjustly Maligned #46: "Lady in the Water" with Dan Moren...
Every year, millions of Americans are baffled by an outburst of snarky comments about cheesy European pop music on Twitter. Eurovision Song Contest uberfan Rachel Donner joins Antony to explain what on earth is going on, and why they should tune in. "The Eurovision Song Contest" Antony Johnston with Rachel Donner Show Notes & Links The Eurovision Song Contest Official Eurovision channel on Youtube "Eurovision final to be shown on US television" (BBC News) "Irelande Douze Pointe" by Dustin th...
He can stretch and change his body in “Fantastic” ways, but to many comic readers, he’s anything but a role model. Journalist Andy Ihnatko joins Antony to defend the honor of the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards. "Reed Richards" Antony Johnston with Andy Ihnatko Referenced Works The Fantastic Four [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Reed Richards...
As St George’s Day approaches, gentlemen in England’s green and pleasant land take to the field for a game that can last five days, yet still somehow end in a draw…! Author Paul Cornell goes to bat to spread the good word of cricket. "Cricket" Antony Johnston with Paul Cornell Show Notes & Links Cricket The Laws of Cricket The "bodyline" controversy The Wurzels, representing everything that is both wrong and right with English pop culture in one fell swoop Booker T & The MG's "Soul Limbo...
What happens when a show with a ridiculous premise, created by management, and aimed firmly at young girls… actually takes its female characters seriously? Katy Rex joins Antony to divulge all the secrets of “Pretty Little Liars”. "Pretty Little Liars" Antony Johnston with Katy Rex Referenced Works Pretty Little Liars [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Pretty Little Liars" (It’s actually on ABC Family, not the CW. Whoops) "Ravenswood" Daisy Ridley working out to prepare for Ep VII...
It should have been the biggest action movie of 1986… instead, it was the flop that drove John Carpenter out of Hollywood. Michael Palmer joins Antony to explain how it’s all in the reflexes. "Big Trouble in Little China" Antony Johnston with Michael Palmer Referenced Works Big Trouble in Little China [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Big Trouble in Little China" Director John Carpenter "Diyu", the realm of Chinese hells Wuxia...
On a day that shouldn’t exist comes a podcast equally paradoxical. Merlin Mann joins Antony to sit still, garden at night, and talk about the passion of rock band R.E.M.’s early work. "R.E.M., early" Antony Johnston with Merlin Mann Referenced Works R.E.M. [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links R.E.M. R.E.M. discography...
Everybody loved “True Detective” Season 1… but not so much Season 2. Musician and LA native Erik Aho joins Antony to stand up for the show, and elaborate on its appeal to noir lovers everywhere. "True Detective Season 2" Antony Johnston with Erik Aho Referenced Works True Detective Season 2 [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "True Detective Season 2" Nic Pizzolatto Noir writer and ex-Pinkerton Dashiell Hammett Accusations of plagiarism against Pizzolatto in TD Season 1...
Few directors divide opinion so much as M Night Shyamalan, but writer Dan Moren dives in headfirst to attempt a rescue of his fairy-tale movie “Lady in the Water”. "Lady in the Water" Antony Johnston with Dan Moren Referenced Works Lady in the Water [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Lady in the Water" M Night Shyamalan The Monomyth, or "Hero's Journey"...
To celebrate the late David Bowie’s extraordinary life and body of work, writer Chris Mitchell joins Antony to defend the artist’s short-lived and drastically misunderstood “Tin Machine” project. David Bowie's "Tin Machine" Antony Johnston with Chris Mitchell Referenced Works David Bowie's "Tin Machine" [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Tin Machine Reeves Gabrels "Bowie on Bowie" by Sean Egan Bowie speculating on the Internet's impact in a 2000 interview with Jeremy Paxman Chris O'Leary's "Bowie...
Happy new year! And to begin 2016, writer and SF lover Lisa Schmeiser joins Antony to discuss the all-but-forgotten “Andromeda”, and wonder just how much of it actually came from Gene Roddenberry’s pen… "Andromeda" Antony Johnston with Lisa Schmeiser Referenced Works Andromeda [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Andromeda" Gene Roddenberry Lisa's guest appearance on "Random Trek"...
Ho Ho Seven! For Brits, Christmas means a traditional dose of 007 on the TV. So in this festive episode, playwright David J Loehr joins Antony to talk about the most misunderstood Bond movie of all, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Antony Johnston with David J. Loehr Referenced Works On Her Majesty's Secret Service [ Amazon ] Holidays (topic) Show Notes & Links "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" George Lazenby List of Bond movies on wikipedia "Inception" Jo...
Just ahead of “The Force Awakens” release, game designer and podcaster Brianna Wu joins Antony to round off our very own “prequel trilogy” with a defense of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”! "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" Antony Johnston with Brianna Wu Referenced Works Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith [ Amazon ] Star Wars (franchise) Show Notes & Links "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" "The Clone Wars" TV series The "Beyond Good and Evil" vid...
Sci-fi podcaster Chip Sudderth joins Antony to defend (though not three times)”Robotech”, the 1980s anime series maligned by purists everywhere. "Robotech" Antony Johnston with Chip Sudderth Referenced Works Robotech [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Robotech" Carl Macek "Robotech II: The Sentinels" "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman", aka "Battle of the Planets" The "Robotech" RPG by Palladium ...And R Talsorian's "Mekton" RPG "X Bomber", aka "Star Fleet"...
Veteran and Napoleon buff Nick Friederich joins Antony to explain why the Emperor is unjustly maligned, why his military genius is overlooked, and how this complex figure birthed modern Europe. "Napoleon" Antony Johnston with Nick Friederich Show Notes & Links Napoleon Bonaparte The Napoleonic Code Napoleon's Coronation as Emperor of France The Battle of Austerlitz The famous "Plum-Pudding in Danger" cartoon of Napoleon and Pitt carving up the world Neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire The...
NYU game professor Clara Fernández-Vara joins Antony to confess her love of all things Indiana Jones, even including the infamous fridge contained within the Crystal Skulls. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" Antony Johnston with Clara Fernandez-Vara Referenced Works Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [ Amazon ] Steven Spielberg Indiana Jones Show Notes & Links "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" Frank Darabont's "Crystal Skull" screenplay ...
Podcaster and comic aficionado Moisés Chiullán joins Antony on the eve of “Dark Knight 3“‘s release to stand up for the iconoclastic Frank Miller’s Batman sequel, “The Dark Knight Strikes Again”. "Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again" Antony Johnston with Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again" Frank Miller "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" Klaus Janson Lynn Varley Moisés' "Giant Size" podc...
Musician and writer Meredith Yayanos joins Antony to walk (without rhythm) through her love of David Lynch’s “Dune”, from weirding modules to suggestive navigators to heart plugs, and so much more. "Dune" Antony Johnston with Meredith Yayanos Referenced Works Dune (1984) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Dune" David Lynch Frank Herbert Alejandro Jodorowsky... …And a movie dedicated to his version of DUNE that never was Meredith's Coilhouse piece on the 'Dune' activity books Atlantic piece re-...
Game designer and writer Matthew Weise joins Antony to explain how Danny Boyle’s “Sunshine” is unjustly maligned, and why in fact it belongs in the same conversation as “2001”. "Sunshine" Antony Johnston with Matthew Weise Referenced Works Sunshine [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Sunshine" Danny Boyle Alex Garland "Dark Star" "2001: A Space Odyssey" Professor Brian Cox...
Author and cultural critic Danielle Henderson joins Antony to expound on her love of England’s pop troubadour, and his evolution as a Serious Artiste with 1991’s “Mighty Like A Rose”. "Mighty Like A Rose (Elvis Costello)" Antony Johnston with Danielle Henderson Referenced Works Mighty Like A Rose [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Mighty Like A Rose" Elvis Costello Costello's 1977 SNL performance, more or less Oliver's Army...
Podcaster and film lover Brian Hamilton joins Antony on a journey into the ultra-gothic future world of organ repossession, weird musicals, and, um, Paris Hilton…?! "Repo! The Genetic Opera" Antony Johnston with Brian Hamilton Referenced Works Repo! The Genetic Opera [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Repo! The Genetic Opera" Anthony Head Terrance Zdunich "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" The Devil's Carnival...
Swashbuckling comic-slinger Juliette Capra joins Antony to convince him “Cutthroat Island” isn’t the disaster popular consensus would have you believe. Strap on your boots and hoist the mainsail! "Cutthroat Island" Antony Johnston with Juliette Capra Referenced Works Cutthroat Island [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Cutthroat Island" Geena Davis The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Carolco Pictures...
Videographer and podcaster Philip Mozolak joins Antony to explain his love of reality TV shows, and Big Brother in particular. What do they say about society, celebrity, and human nature? "Big Brother" Antony Johnston with Philip Mozolak Show Notes & Links "Big Brother" "Evel Dick" highlight compilation George Galloway's "cat incident" Jade Goody highlight compilation...
Tech writer and old school mutant lover Josh Centers joins Antony to explain why “X-Men: The Last Stand” is not only unjustly maligned, but probably the movie most faithful to the comics…! "X-Men: The Last Stand" Antony Johnston with Josh Centers Referenced Works X-Men: The Last Stand [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "X-Men: The Last Stand" on wikipedia Chris Claremont The Phoenix Force in the "X-Men" comics...
Podcaster and mega-nerd Steven Schapansky joins Antony to discuss an old, obscure British sci-fi TV show he loves. How unusual! Can he convince everyone it’s unjustly maligned? It won’t be easy. "Star Cops" Antony Johnston with Steven Schapansky Referenced Works Star Cops [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Star Cops" David Calder Chris Boucher Graeme Harper "The Cult of... Star Cops" on Youtube "Star Cops" on Amazon UK Steven Schapansky on Twitter The "Radio Free Skaro" podcast...
Podcaster Shannon Sudderth knows a thing or two about high school, and joins Antony to put a stake through the immortal fools who malign Buffy the Vampire Slayer - the movie . Oh, yes. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie)" Antony Johnston with Shannon Sudderth Referenced Works Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "…And not a certain OTHER thespian who shall remain hated." Joss Whedon comics at Dark Horse "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" o...
Bestselling cartoonist Scott Kurtz joins Antony to explain why the cat everyone loves to hate is unjustly maligned, how Jim Davis inspired his own career, and why topical gags are overrated. "Garfield" Antony Johnston with Scott Kurtz Referenced Works Garfield [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links "Garfield" Jim Davis The "Stripped" documentary Scott Kurtz on Twitter Scott Kurtz's website...
