Christopher Nolan's 2023 film adaptation of Homer's Odyssey demonstrates how modern filmmakers can translate ancient epics to contemporary audiences through innovative practical effects, immersive IMAX cinematography, and thoughtful casting choices. The film's three-hour runtime, R rating due to violence, and use of real dolphins and practical effects (rather than CGI) showcase Nolan's commitment to craftsmanship. The discussion highlights how epic storytelling requires balancing historical authenticity with modern accessibility, and how directorial vision shapes audience experience in translating literary classics to film.
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The Odyssey X-Men 97 and Superman Reviews
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>> [music] [music] [music] >> All right, we're back. Time again for another not Trek watch. Although I do have some Star Trek stuff because Thursday, Strange New World starts. So, we'll talk a little bit about that. But so many movies, so much TV. Uh even a little comic book news. I I'm happy the boys are joining me as usual. Here they are. Uh Franco is on assignment, but we got Wayne, we got Mitch, and uh starting things off, we have all seen the Odyssey. Uh Greek Lord of the Rings, if you will.
>> Yeah, >> I uh I you know, I it lived up to the hype as far as I'm concerned and I being the Greek, you know, it's my own cooking and I I I've seen Troy and 300 and 302, 301, I don't know what the hell it was called back in the day. Um, but yeah, I thought this was great. It was it it it was an echo of your classic epics like Benhur and Ten Commandments, but with a modern spin. I thought the cast was great. I I really I really really loved it. I mean, I got my little quibbles, but I really really loved it. How about you, boys?
>> I had no problems with it. It I just thought it was a little too long to me. It's just long. But yeah, no, I think it hit all the major points in the in the Odyssey, like the major ideas, the major things Homer was trying to say, but I I had no problems with the cast. Um, I felt I I was not in an IMAX theater, but I felt like I was in IMAX. The way that that soundtrack kept on ver reverberating >> reverberating.
>> Yeah. Crushing my lungs. Yes.
>> So, but yeah. No, I thought it was Yeah, it's an okay film.
>> You know, if I didn't see it in if I didn't see it in the movie theater, it would not have shocked me. Like, I could see it on the I could see it in TV.
>> Here's a here's a case where you could have made two movies of the entire story. Yeah.
>> Like, you know, unlike, you know, when Peter Jackson made The Hobbit and made it two movies. I'm like, come on. It does not need to be two movies. And it was a three. There you go. And that's my point. Exactly. Lord of the Rings, I understood. Hobbit. No. And I still haven't I still haven't watched it kind of as pro a protest. But I'm glad it was all in one movie. And honestly, for me, all the different parts >> that it's it's funny because it was kind of like they had the Lori and Negro in that way where you had like little mini adventures going on.
>> I don't know. Mitch, what' you think all altogether?
>> Well, I mean, you can't be a naysayer and go, "Oh, this is crap." Because the spectacle I saw in the IMAX, you know, you got your It's almost like the I hearken back to the days of the Lucasfilm Glory cuz you got people on their game. You got the best technical people. Obviously, the IMAX camera, I read all about that. They had to come up with a special device that would, you know, lower the sound because these IMAX cameras are the size of a bus. And the reason why they didn't do a lot because it was such worrying. It was like a lawn mower engine and you could never hear the dialogue so they'd have to re-record it. But this time they came up with a like a box that they put it in so they could actually use it and the whole movie's filmed that way. So technically it's amazing. That's what I mean like the oldfashioned even like the James Bonds when we were kids we go those movies and everything was on the screen.
They were building sets. They got a 60ft puppet for the Cyclops cuz I'm watching this going I almost want to watch a three-hour making of rather than the movie cuz I'm more I'm such a nerd about this stuff. I'm like, I know he doesn't use CGI. Like, how did he do the whirlpool effect? You what? You know, you'd be surprised if it turns out to be it's like a like a bathtub type of thing in the background or something old Hollywood style. But you had your cast of a thousand or thousands. And I was thinking the same thing like Cecil B.
Deill like when I was a kid, you'd have your Ben Hers and you have your uh epic movies with Charlton H and Kirk Douglas and Edward G. Robinson. Oh, everybody in the Brother was there. So this is their version of that which we haven't seen in a long time. I remember in the 70s we'd have like a bridge too far and you'd have like like 60 actors in this movie that even if the movie was crap, you went to see it because you're like, "Oh my god, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, blah blah blah blah." But again, the Odyssey, I went to Catholic school and I I it took me a couple minutes, but suddenly I was back in Sister Mary Schaefer's lit class and I go, "Oh, they're gonna they're gonna turn into pigs now. They're going and it literally it's been 45 years but all of it started flooding back like oh yeah this is what's going to happen. Oh and that's Helen of Troy and then this guy's going to betray her and this one that that it's a soap opera but like I said a little long because I did check my watch two or three times and I was like oh my god we got another hour. Not that I was like bored and I didn't have to go to the bathroom and some of the performances I thought were a little off. Again I hate to be the guy to n it but my kid calls me last night. He saw it and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Yeah, I didn't like Tom Holland, man." I was like, "What?"
And he loves >> He had problems with Holland's performance. It seemed out of place, you know.
>> Well, I I didn't mind his performance, but what did bother me was that he called his mother and father mom and dad.
>> Mom, there was that and then the fbomb got dropped. And I said, "Okay, >> what are you doing?" And they go, "Well, we're trying to modernize it for today."
And I'm like, I don't want to see Shakespeare because I've done plays in in school where we all >> we had to speak Shakespearean and it was it was horrible.
>> But it it did take you out of it cuz you know what I mean? You're watching this movie and you're in the zone. You're 3,000 years in the past and suddenly somebody says the f- word and you're like, "Wait, what happened?" And he's calling mom and he said, "Yeah, when he said mom and dad, I was like, >> huh? What? Not father or mother?" I mean, you know, you expect that like >> Yeah.
>> royalty type of thing, you know?
>> Right. Right. The other thing I would have said and I thought they both were great but I would have swapped Charlies Theren and Zenaia's roles and I would have made Zenaia Calypso the seed and I would >> they probably didn't want to do that because of the age thing >> or whatever.
>> Well, no, they didn't want to have like a 50 what is he like 56 and then he got a 20 year old girl. Yeah, that's not fair.
>> That's fair. Yeah, you're right.
But I'll tell you what, every if you wanted to take a pee break, >> and we were joking about that because it's such a long movie and we're older guys and our bladders aren't what they used to be.
>> And I love the guy. I saw him on Broadway and I've talked to him. I've met him a couple times, but honestly, you could have got up during John Bernthal's scenes and gone got some come back. I know he's a great actor, but it was just like when they're walking through and shooting arrows and they're going back and forth doing exposition, you know, like, oh, and then this happened and then that happened and then this happened. I'm like, okay, we could cut this, you could you could trim a little bit of this off. You know, >> I won't deny as a Greek person that when I heard um Lupita and Yong was going to be Helen of Troy, I will admit a bit of cultural bias. Not again, lovely, lovely woman, but I I I wasn't sure how I would feel seeing African-Americans and Africans in the movie. The guy from yesterday who played uh Odysius's number two was excellent and he's an Indian gentleman and I would buy again. Forgive me everybody. This is the Greek guy saying this. I I wasn't sure I'd feel they were fine. Elliot Paige I was worried because I had heard that he was going to be Achilles and no if he's if he's sinnon who is a little trickster.
Okay, that works. Because I'm like I I had heard Achilles and it's like no man Achilles is like a Titan like like Hercules.
>> Yeah. Yeah. We're Yeah. Clash of the Titans.
>> This is a tiny person and everything.
It's like that's not going to work. But Elliot Page was fine. And Lupita Nong they they performed great and they and and once I s and again I'm like hey I'm not gonna I'm not going to argue with Christopher Nolan. I wouldn't have cast it that way. But having seen their performances I got no problem with it.
It was fantastic. Yeah. No, I wasn't distracted by any of that. I was just like just just a play just people playing characters. I didn't think twice about it. But >> yeah. No. Um >> the only thought I told Ordway it's so serious. It's so kind of full of itself.
It almost bordered on parody in a way because I almost thought it was going to turn into a Monty Python movie. I said that so often because when we're like run away, I come back for someone to scream that when they're at that sheep.
when the sheep we're going into the >> when the sheep when the sheep honestly it's like you don't want to do this but I thought it was like the rabbit the killer rabbit when they're like I'm going to and they go in the cave and all suen the rabbit starts attacking them their blood is gushing out when they started following the sheep I was like wait they're going to do a Monty python right now or when they were all running on the beach and there's like a thousand guy I kept thinking run away and I just needed a cow to be launching >> yeah and I swear there was a Kirk Douglas movie >> when they met a cyclops and I know I saw it and he was and they were going back to their boat and I could have swore he was like throwing rocks down the cyclops was it was like in the 50s maybe it was Victor mature I don't know but he was throwing things trying to sink the boat and it was Ulyses or whatever and I'm thinking if this Cyclops starts like hurling sheep I'm going to crack up because it's it's gonna be like [laughter] but yeah >> you can see it happening and like yeah I thought a couple Monty Python esque moments like the Was it supposed to be a hydra at the end? It was almost bordered on >> Yes. It It was a hydra.
>> It was like a Doctor Who special effect.
I was like, "What is that? A B Is that a Is that a garbage bag in a hose? What What are we doing here?" You know, because the guys were being plucked out and I'm like, "What is that?" But the opposite of that when the big final scene of who can string Otis's bow and shoot it through the axe handles and stuff.
>> I don't um there's a there's a um a movie company >> that does a version of that where it's a hole in the uh the me the axe face and that's what they shoot the arrow through. It's like it's like SLN or SLM or SLG, but but it looks like a Roman statue doing that. I kind of like the realism of No, have it shoot, you know, under the under the metal >> and that way cuz that's plausible. And I mean, that's the thing. I I mean, you got to hand it to Nolan, man. He he believes in practical effects.
>> I'll tell you that. And in that scene there and when you guys all saw it, what was the audience reaction? Did you hear a lot of applause? Because I only had one person in a soldout theater that clapped and then she stopped clapping because I guess she felt awkward because nobody else was clapping [laughter] because it was almost like that that one.
>> Yeah.
>> And I think they were going for a Rocky moment or you know Han Solo shows up at the end and they expected the audiences go but it was so t My son said this too.
You knew it was gonna kind of happen because you know he's the guy in the cloak and you know I am here father and he takes the thing off like >> yeah the string of the bow when he does the little the little thing that's his that's his Indiana Jones moment you know exactly that's awesome supposed to do it and that was cool >> but the p the the the fight that followed >> it almost seemed like a little too much because he's like he's not the biggest guy in the world and he's not supposed to be but when you're taking on like you know thousands of dudes dudes and he's like whipping that thing around. I don't know. That was a little my little suspension of disbelief. I'm like I don't think that he could take all those dudes.
>> Well, again, it's I mean, this is this the fantasy part of the story and that's Yeah, you got to remember, look at everything he's gone through. Of course, he could do all that stuff.
>> Of course, he could do it all. And then I did have to stop my stupid comic book brain because it happens when you run Terrific, Connecticut's number one comic happening August 7 to the 9th at Moian Sun. Buy your tickets now. What happens is I'm watching this movie going, "Oh, Batman is fighting Spider-Man and the Catwoman is there and there's the Punisher and wait a minute over there.
That's uh Matt Damon. He's just he's born there, you know." So, it's just insane that you got to divorce yourself from the comic book movies too much, you know? But, >> no, I understand. Everyone's >> Who else would you have cast though? We were doing that. Ordway and I were casting people as we were driving back like no for no he was fine. Matt Damon's fine. The Martian's on now. I was just watching it. I go Damon's a solid guy.
You're never going to take it away from him. He's like a a Paul Newman. He never gives a bad performance. Every time you see him you go he's a good guy.
>> But I think it's maybe because we saw him such as a young guy in uh what was it? Goodwill Hunting.
>> It's hard to see him getting older, you know? Maybe because he's like around my age. So I keep going, oh yeah, it's Matt Damon. I remember him when he was like 20 years old in Goodwill Hunting. So, you don't you're not you're not seeing the progression. It's always the same young kid. I'll never look him as like, "Oh, well, he's a he's an older guy now."
>> I bought him as older uh Odysius and everything. I was okay.
>> Yeah. Like just like in the last Jason Bourne movie, like he he looked like that aged aged out uh super sorger from whatever clan that was.
>> Well, here's here's a little secret.
I've never watched those movies. So, >> oh, Michael Michael Stratford, I didn't know about this. He said, "Check out the return, a smaller version of the same story starring Ray Fines and Juliet Bino. I really enjoyed it. Not epic like the Odyssey, but more satisfying to me."
Also, The Asylum apparently because of course The Asylum. I mean, it's public domain, The Odyssey. So, theirs looks like a Ray Haren movie. And of course, you got to make comparisons to Clash of the Titans and the >> No, no. Jerry was telling me there was an Armanis Sante miniseries which I never saw. I'm like I don't remember that. Goes, "Didn't you remember that in the 80s?" I go, "No."
>> Yep.
>> Was it like like, you know, Five Nights or >> Three Nights? I think >> NBC miniseries of the week or whatever.
>> Yeah, it was just a miniseries. A short one. Not long. Not long.
>> Yeah, it was either made for Canadian or another international, I think, company made it.
>> But it it was good. It was fine for what it was. I never saw the modern Clash of the Titans release the Kraken.
>> I did. Yeah. The kids went to see that.
Yeah.
>> But I mean stuff. I did and and I love that. You know, >> I tell you, it's really cool that he doesn't use CGI. I mean, I like the fact that Nolan's going practical on the stuff because it does make you go, "Wow, how did he pull that off?" Like the giants, like the people with this armor.
And it reminded me of Clash Excalibur, but I was thinking, did he hire shorter actors >> to play those? Were those kids? I mean, I'd love to find out how he's doing that perspective.
>> I was gonna say exactly the same thing like he did with the Hobbits. Exactly.
>> Right.
>> Okay. I was like, how did he pull that off? You know, >> and and also I wonder if kids I don't know if I mean because All right, we we all got assigned the Odyssey when we were in high school.
>> Yeah, we did. They don't do that anymore.
>> No. And also, I wonder I mean I don't know who read it and I'm more more like we all read the cliff notes back in the day. You know, the yellow the yellow and black cliff.
>> No, I had to read it. the the nuns beat us up if we did that. So, [laughter] >> my teacher had a speech impediment and she [snorts] would say >> and it was very funny to hear us say it.
And in fact, >> I was telling my best friend that I saw the movie and immediately he went to high school and I'm like, "Yes, exactly."
>> I had to translate Dante's Inferno from Italian into English because I went to this Catholic school with these uh nuns from Italy and I was telling Ordin that.
He goes, "That's insane." I go, "No, I mean, you don't realize when you have a good education as it's happening, but years later you look back and go, hell, that was pretty damn cool. I mean, kind of smart, you know, pat myself on the back."
>> I mean, honestly, again, I know it's fantasy, but it's Greek fantasy. And again, you don't need to cast Greeks, but I would say, you know, yeah, you want like like Baronthal was fine. And I mean any Mediterranean people or even as I said the guy from uh yesterday that made that you know you do you remember the movie yesterday though where >> No I thought that guy was uh Jerry told me he was some director that the guy with the beard that played his first mate guy. Jerry said oh no that guy's a movie director. I'm like he is.
>> Well he might be as well but I know his last name is Patel >> and he is the lead. If you remember, yesterday was the movie where he's the singer and he gets uh he gets hit by a car and when he wakes up he's in a world where the Beatles never existed. So he >> I saw that movie.
>> Oh, that's him. Yeah. No, I saw that.
Yeah.
>> No, he was great.
>> Oh, no. I didn't know who it was.
>> Um >> and uh but everybody seriously was Samantha Morton and she was incredible.
I mean that's the thing. I'm like >> that was creepy though. I'll tell you that. The pig scene stuff. I mean, >> it wasn't a horror movie, but just the way that she was pulling the like clay and molding them and stuff. That was really cool. That was well done.
>> And uh No, there's I mean, I I couldn't believe when there was dolphins jumping out of the water and I'm thinking to myself, I thought he doesn't use CGI.
Then you find out, no, those were real dolphins. As they were filming the movie, they jumped up on camera. I go, but no one broke character. You didn't see Matt Damon go, hey, check that [ __ ] out. But they just kept going with it.
But that was really cool. Those are one of those things you can't plan that I was like, "Wow, they left that in the >> James says the director you were thinking of is Benny uh Safy."
>> That's the one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Ardway was telling me that. I didn't know who he was. He's like, "Oh, he's a director." I'm like, "Yes, sure."
>> Um, exactly.
>> Oh, I forgot John Legazamo. I didn't recognize him at first. It took me a couple minutes to go, "Who is that? Who is that?" They go, "Wait a minute." So, now you have the clown from Spawn in this movie as well. another suit in it.
And then and MJ from the new Spider-Man was the was Athena. Yeah. Yeah. There you go.
>> And you had Clea from Doctor Strange.
>> And Clea from Doctor Strange was in this. Yes. So sad. We're so losers.
>> No, that's what Hey, man. Those are the big movies. What are you going to do?
It's all right.
>> And that's how I know him as. I'm like, hey, you know, it is.
>> My buddy Rob Bernett made the point, and he's right when you think about it. uh Dunkerk and Oppenheimer and this are the three Christopher Nolan movies about war and the consequences of war and that's Oppenheimer is one of the con well both I would say Odyssey and u and >> Oenheimr that starred the Scarecrow from the Batman movies and then >> and >> well and uh and Iron Man of course.
>> Yeah. And then Dunkirk you had uh Bane was in it. Wasn't he the pilot that crashing his plane or something? Yeah.
Tom Hardy. I can't Boy, it's been so many years. I don't remember if he was in it.
>> Yeah. No, it was Tom Hardy.
>> Wasn't Gary Oldman uh Churchill?
>> Yes, he was. That's right.
>> There you go. Commissioner Gordon.
>> Well, wait, was that cuz I think that's a that's a darkest hour. That's a >> darkest hour >> because Yeah, that's where church that's where Gary played Churchill.
>> So, anyway, enough of the comic book movies. Let's focus on >> I know. I know. I know. No, but it's like and you know what and I read the today because I was asking Orway. I'm like, do you think it's going to do well? Because it's three hours. You only have so many times you can show it in a theater because, you know, they got to get people in and out and popcorn and all that jazz. But I saw today it broke a bunch of records. It's for it's it was rated R, >> which I was surprised. I'm like, why?
Because of the >> word violence, >> dude. I've seen more violent stuff that's gone under the PG-13.
>> There's a lot of blood. There's a lot of blood in this movie. A lot of >> I think it's the beheadings.
>> Okay. Yeah. I was surprised.
>> The only thing beheaded I remember was the statue.
>> They wasn't like they cut the girl head off.
>> Guys were getting swords in the throat.
>> I saw Supergirl guy got a sword in his throat and his heart and >> Yeah, they did.
>> The guy She put the sword right through his throat, man. I saw it.
>> Whatever.
>> Supergirl's got enough problems. They had enough problems. But I I didn't I didn't think they showed her like doing the sword, but you I didn't see I I don't remember the head being cut off.
Seeing that being cut off that Supergirl, we already talked about that one.
>> Yeah. Yeah. No, we talked about it last week. Absolutely. Well, that's the thing is Wayne reminded me uh Spider-Man is this coming weekend.
>> Uh next week.
>> Next weekend.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, it's not it's not >> No, the 27 28th 29th. That's two weeks.
Well, not this Friday. The Friday after.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> Because I got tickets for it already. I already know.
>> But uh >> Oh, you're right.
>> I'm glad it made a lot of money because whenever you hear, "Oh, movies are dead and you know, no one's going anymore." I go, "Oh, bullshit." Then again, though, >> I don't know about you, I checked my ticket stuff up, bro. I paid $1850 to see a movie at 2:30 in the afternoon. I go, "Where's the bargain matinea?" And they go, "Well, it's IMAX." I go, >> "20 bucks, man. That's a My kid paid 29." I talked to him. He's in Boston. He goes, "Oh, no. It was 29 at the Alma Draft House. I go >> I I saw it in I saw it in 70 mm but not in IMAX.
>> Yeah.
>> At at at the Music Box, which is one of the few theaters in the city that has 70 millimeter. Yeah. But it was expensive.
And also, um I also have to say, and maybe because of the location, but uh it was mostly an adult audience. I didn't see a lot of young people at the audience.
>> Really?
>> No. We went at 2:40 in the afternoon last Thursday and it was sold out except for that like weird front row that nobody sits. We saw in the IMAX theater and uh like I said it was $18$20 a ticket. I was surprised how many people were there cuz as my wife says how many people are out of work and don't have jobs that are going to a movie at 2:30. A lot of people were there that day because the 7:00 was sold out and the 10:00 was sold out. But those were younger people cuz when we were walking out the 7:00 was all young kids. They were all going to see it. So, >> and my boys are 28 and 26 now and they saw it with all their buddies opening weekend. So, I'm like it got young people to go. I mean, they all went to see Oppenheimer. My kids love >> I was going to say exactly, you know, maybe maybe it's those people that already have the trust with Nolan. And not to mention his Dark Knight and other other movies.
>> Yeah, that's true, too. I mean, because I was like, why are you going to see Oppenheimer two or three times? They loved it. I go, really? Once was enough.
But >> it made, you know, watching the Odyssey made me rewatch Oppenheimer.
>> Did it really?
>> Yeah.
>> Huh.
>> Now, why is that? Because you you want to see like >> I really respect I respect Nolan. Yeah.
>> And I and I just wanted to experience it again. And I really was thinking I might see Dunkerk at some point this week. uh as well because they are he's a the prestige I mean he's a great >> the space pitcher interstellar >> when you Yes. Uh absolutely. Um um whatchamacall um the uh god I can't think of the name of it now.
>> Inception >> I said that. Yeah. Interstellar. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. And you know what's so you do say it's funny my boys when they were younger they were teenagers they all went with me to go see Interstellar because of the spectacle and we all saw on the IMAX and it was like a big deal. I mean sometimes the stories get there's a lot of layers in the Interstellar is not an easy story because it's like what the hell's going on? He's pushing books out of a library and he's going back in time and he's old and young and you go on a planet and for three days you're suddenly 40 years older. There's a lot going on, but that's not a bad thing. I mean, god forbid you go to a movie that makes you think, you know, it's like, wow, look at all the stuff the guy's put into it. He He's doing his research. And in this movie as well, I mean, they're going in there. Though, I do got to admit, I was like, and technically like, how did they make that Trojan horse? It almost looked like bronze. I thought they were using wood. They didn't have bronze techn or like don't start.
>> Well, it was the actually it was the Bronze Age. It was the end of the Bronze Age, but And how long did it take them?
10 10 years they were on that. I was like, "What's going on?"
>> On the beach. Yeah.
>> On the beach. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Because the walls were impenetrable.
>> Honestly, again, I was really I was impressed at how cool uh the Trojan horse looked. I was expecting the classic wood with the wheels.
>> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
>> You know, but no, this was great, you know.
>> So bizarre. They sold the popcorn holder of that out in the lobby and I'm like, "You got to be [ __ ] me. What do you do? Open the belly [laughter] up and the popcorn."
They had it there though. I couldn't believe it. I didn't buy it. Ordway was looking at go, "You don't need that crap. Get out of there." He's like, "I might buy that." I'm like, "No, don't.
Please don't. Put your ashes in it when you're dead." My wife would say, >> but I I I really honestly I wasn't sure how Zena was going to be. And she was great. And I think >> the music was cool. I mean, everything was cool. There's nothing bad about >> Nolan's a craftsman. Like he's >> Yes. Yeah.
>> He's a director's director. That's probably a better way to put it. He's a craftsman. He knows how to structure a movie. He knows how to pace it.
>> Um for me, again, I think it I know the story. So, >> yeah, I know. That's what I >> walking into it, it's like >> like I I think it's the difference between this and Lord of the Rings is >> I I've read the trilogy so many times, but it was to finally see it on screen.
>> Yeah.
>> Because you wanted to see how could they translate the movie.
>> But for me, I there's a more personal there's a more of a personal connection with the Lord of the Rings trilogy for myself than the Odyssey. So when I watch the Odyssey, I'm going, "This man is brilliant. He deserves an Oscar for whatever."
>> Yeah. Just for the Yeah. Just for the effort of putting this thing together.
You're like, "Dude, give that guy a a prize for doing all this."
>> See, and I'm the opposite, Wayne, because >> grew up on I mean, not only obviously reading it in school, but also No, we're all the We're proud of We're proud of Homer. We're proud of the Iliad. We're proud of the Odyssey and everything. And like I said, I took my my elder uh aunt and uncle to Troy and 300 and you know all these movies and stuff and I really was like, "No, I know this story. How's he going to do it?" And it was just delightful for me each scene. It's like, "Oh, he nailed that one. Yeah, he nailed that one." And it was just It really was. It was great.
>> I know.
>> Screw up a 30,000y old story. Then again, maybe you can.
>> Well, yeah, you can. I'm sure you can.
Like I said, if Mel Brooks was in his prime, he could easily >> do a parody of this thing next year and you'd be like, "Okay." You know, >> uh James says, "My my only two critiques were some of the editing felt kind of jarring and some of the sound mixing gave me trouble hearing the dialogue."
>> Uh okay. I I didn't have a problem.
>> Dude, that sound was in your chest. It was like those those raids when the drums would come by and you could feel it in your chest. Oh my god.
>> When they were the psychop Yeah, that's what he wanted, man. He wanted to immerse you in the world and everything. And that's why it's like, no, they mission accomplish was shaking, man. It was it was something else there, you know?
>> It was like I wasn't even in an IMAX theater where that's where it usually happens.
>> Uh, and I was in a regular just a regular big screen theater and it just like that sound was amazing and just went right through you.
>> You know what though? I told Ordway on the way out, "This poor guy, I feel bad for him because he's kind of painted himself in a corner because everything's on the epic level." You know what I'm saying? Every movie is this like huge scope, huge spectacle, whatever. He He can't go do a quiet movie about two guys in a park playing chess anymore because it's expected like, "Well, what's the next epic?" Yeah, but let's see what he does because I would say while it's not a quiet little movie and it had some fantastic things in it, I would go back to the prestige that was about two magicians in the 19th century.
>> Oh. Uh, Momento, >> go back to Momento first.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Do you want to go to like an indie site?
His his real >> up to him, up to the studio what he wants to do. And that's the thing. I mean, the guy's on a hell of a streak.
Like I said, Dunkirk Oppenheimer and now this, you know, >> in the Batman trilogy. Yeah. You know, >> well, yeah. Going back.
>> I wonder if he thinks about that now.
It's kind of like, oh yeah, he's the Batman guy. Because like I I joke about it because that's in my brain. I'm like, that's the guy that made those Batman movies. But >> sure, >> it's kind of like, well, I've made art now. You know, that that was the popcorn movie stuff I did. This is my artsy phase now. Stop bringing that up to me.
It would almost be like Cubrick. You don't go up to him and say, "Hey, remember Doctor Strange Love and all that weird old stuff you do?" I'm like, "Yeah, I used to do that." Or John Williams, like, "Remember when you used to write the theme to Gilligan's Island and Lost in Space?" Like, >> "Yeah, but I'm I'm an Oscar winner now."
Yeah, but don't you remember Johnny Williams and the Castaways? I think that was their name on the Lost in Space or something or maybe Gilligan's Island or whatever. But, you know, you get your start >> and then you move on, but you can't let go of where you came from, you know.
take take the victory lab for the Odyssey and we'll see what happens come Oscar time. But right now, I would say it'll win plenty awards. I'm saying dominated up the yin-yang.
>> Yeah.
>> If this had bombed though, I was just like, "Oh god, what if because how much did it cost to make? It must have been three or 400 million.
>> It had to be like that." Yeah.
>> Well, with all this practical effects like wow.
>> Plus the plus the cast.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, yeah. Those people weren't doing it for free. I'll tell you one thing was weirdly odd was Anne Hathaway was doing this dialogue. She was I think she was talking to uh Tom Holland and she starts screaming about he comes and tells her to go get remarried or whatever because it's been 10 years and the kingdom needs a leader and all this stuff. And when she's screaming at him and she's doing her acting and but she was the way she was moving she was coming in and out of frame and it was like she'd blur out and then kind of in focus and blur out and I was surprised that happened. Norway goes, "It might be just the the IMAX camera or something. The way that it's set up, it doesn't like adjust quickly like another camera." But it was like, "Wow, why is she out of focus? That's weird for this guy's, you know, craftsmanship." That little thing. It's a minor thing. But >> and in my theater, it wasn't like that because >> Oh, no. Mine was No, I noticed it. I was like, "Well, she's out of frame." But, uh, was anybody not in the right movie?
I mean, there's some people that you think, well, this guy >> No, like I said, I I I wasn't sure how I would react to Elliot Paige and Lupita Young, and I can honestly say they were fine. And and I wouldn't have I wouldn't have cast them. I will admit that. But that said, they they were fine. They did great.
>> I I really love >> Go ahead. I love the scene with the dead with Elliot Page.
>> Oh, yeah. That was great. want to go to >> you didn't tell >> Robert Patson he was doing the old fashion mustache twirl and it was like >> oh I thought he was great >> I know it reminded me of like the old movies when you'd see like Basel or whoever would always be the bad guy James Mason or something and you knew he was the bad guy just because of the way he looked like >> Yeah like Vincent Price and Edward G Robinson in the Ten Commandments. Yeah >> yeah he was just like Mr. bad guy. And Orway said >> he was doing that on purpose, though. He was trying to get >> But that's his I think that's his his face and his eyes. He's got devious looking eyes.
>> Oh, >> I think and and and I think it just fit.
I don't think he was I don't I didn't feel like he was over the top.
>> He was over the top. He wasn't over the top.
>> No, I didn't see he was over the top.
No, he was uh again, he was this a smarmy weasel and other people to do the work and then he can come in and take the credit.
>> Yeah. Uh Pete uh said he saw it in 70 millimeter IMAX outside of Philly. Happy people are excited about going to the theater. Yeah.
>> Well, it's nice that an adult movie is true, too.
>> Yeah. You know, Toy Story 5 is going to do fine. You know, the Minions and Monsters is going to do fine.
>> So, it's nice.
>> It wasn't It wasn't It wasn't doing that well. I found that out this weekend. It It made money. The Minions, it made money, but it's not as much as they thought it was going to be. tracking >> or minions as >> minions. I like the minions.
>> Cana the Canadian pronunciation.
>> Well, you know, the other problem is you got them on top of each other. These movies only have like a week to make money and then the next big barrage comes in and then the next one comes in.
Like you said, Spider-Man, >> that's their fault. That's their fault.
>> That's first we had the COVID and you didn't have any movies for about a year or two. Like what's going on? And then suddenly too many movies and then you're dealing with streaming and it's like there's only so much that people could watch and bang it's on TV. I mean this is not going to be on TV in in six weeks. That's for damn sure. This will be [laughter] >> Supergirl is already coming on next week.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean that's just a slap in the face, man. It's like Jesus Christ.
>> What are you going to do?
>> Well, they need to make their money back. I mean I get it. I get it. of the two sailing across the ocean movies out in theaters, this is easily better than Moana. Absolutely.
>> That did. Now, that I heard did not do well. That I heard.
>> And uh Better Brad says, "Recently learned there was a scrapped World War II Captain America animated series in development. Now, that was a show I would have loved to have seen." Yeah, me too.
>> I would have I would have liked to have seen more of Cap's adventures in uh in World War II. I knew there was video game that they were working on with the Black Panther that was supposed to take place, but that got scrubbed or postponed. It was supposed to be out this fall, >> but that's a whole Marvel thing. That's a that's a whole topic, too, Johnny, because I had a panel I had a panel planned uh with a certain editor-inchief called The Future of Marvel, and I'm like, I guess I'm changing that one, you know.
>> Is is he not coming?
>> He's coming, and he's being reassigned to a position out in Japan.
>> Oh, no. I know that. I'm saying it's >> No, no, but I I'm like I don't know if it's going to I'm sure he's got it was nine years.
>> Well, I almost wondered, Mitch, and again, I believe me, especially late in the game, if you were going to have Steve Whacker uh come to the show or if he if >> he's more than welcome to come. You know, it's funny you mentioned that because last Sunday Steve B wrote to me and said, "Oh, there's a Marvel exec that I want to bring to the show." And he didn't tell me who. And we were trying to get him a room and I I think I got a hotel room now because the price the roof. Maybe it's him. I don't know.
I gota >> I gotta ask CB who it was >> because I joked I said I said, "Doesn't Marvel and Disney have enough money that they could pay $1,500 for a room at the Moheaggan Sun?" So, >> well, I uh I replayed and for people that are watching this and haven't caught a a late a word balloon lately.
Um I had a very in-depth conversation with Steve uh the Spider-Man group editor at Marvel and we talked about uh when he was at DC and was the editor for 52 and you know he did a lot of spider events like Spider Island, things like that. And um I really think it showed a sense of him as an individual book editor and a group editor. And I'm like I know that this literally is a 14-year-old interview.
But that said, I think it really is a good showcase. So if he does come to Terrific coming your way August 7th through the 9th at Moheaggan Sunder your tickets now. Uh I wonder if he's gonna get angry at me for replay. I mean, I don't care because, you know, when somebody's suddenly news again, you know, you you do this is what news stations do is, hey, we have an old interview. Here's a >> Oh, please. How about when someone dies, they pull that out of the morg. Hey, remember when this guy was >> I do that.
>> I've done it. My god, I did it.
>> No. Yeah. Letterman does that all the time. He just This YouTube channel whenever somebody dies or in the news, they pull up the old uh clips or whatever.
>> So, yeah. Yeah. Um, >> but um, but I'm excited and honestly, especially given because let's let's stick on on Marvel and what's happening right now.
>> No, real quick though, before you stop the Odyssey, I got a quick question. Do you think this is going to spur Hollywood into making more of those epic movies like we used to watch when we were kids, like Ben?
>> Honestly, no. No, they're not. Okay, that's what I was going to ask.
>> There's been too many big budget movies that have failed. It's got to be the right guy. And I again based on really I would say Oppenheimer is the closest other Nolan big budget multiccast movie and but this Yeah, I don't I don't know what other like cuz cuz we've seen and they've beat to death Romeo and Juliet.
I'm thinking of some other classics.
>> I know. And there's only so many directors like look The Irishman was done by Scorsese. It was like four hours long. It wasn't a huge box office but then again it did come out right around the co time.
>> Yeah, it wasn't but it wasn't made for the box office. So, it was really made for >> TV. Yeah. And I'm thinking, who else could pull out? You got Peter Jackson, but I remember that three-hour King Kong, and that was a sloth, man. My kids saw that. We were like, can we go home now? It was too much. Too much self-indulgent. And then the other guy, Del Toro. He could do a really nice He did it with that Frankenstein that just came out. But again, he's more of that gothic horror. He likes that vein, you know, the Hellboys and all that. Yeah, >> I don't see him breaking out tomorrow and doing a a historical classic epic or something like why you know WHAT HE WOULD BE GONNA I mentioned Dante's Inferno right there.
>> No one's ever done a a a large scale production. I Well, they were going to because the guy Ryan mine nerding he was at Terrificon blah blah blah blah years ago and I hosted this panel and he had production drawings because he was supposed to be on a movie. I don't know who directed, but they were going to do Dante's Inferno with CGI and all that, and it got scrubbed. But he showed all the artwork of all the angels and demons and all that stuff that he had made. It was amazing. And you're like, geez, I wish it I wish they made this movie because it was like, it was almost like Brazil. Remember that movie?
>> Of course. It was years ago. Was it Terry Gilliam?
>> Yeah, Terry.
>> A lot of exotic looks to it. And I was like, this would really be cool because that's a strange story about this guy whose girlfriend or lover's dead Beatress and he goes through the layers of hell to trouble her soul and you meet the every level's a different disgusting sinner type. I don't know how it would play nowadays, but >> remember it'd be interesting.
>> Remember the uh Robin Williams movie, What Dreams May Come.
>> Yeah, I remember that. That was a cool one, too, when he went in there and he went through all the Wasn't that Gregory Hines with him, too? Or am I thinking somebody else who played >> I can't remember if Gregory Hines was in it.
>> It was a very amazing spectacle. I saw that in the theaters and I remember just >> But that wasn't a massive hit. That wasn't a massive hit.
>> No, it wasn't. No, but >> that's what I'm saying. It had to be the right the right the right formula, the right combination.
>> I think Dante's Inferno by Gil Giler. I can't say his name.
>> But but regarding Marvel and Wacker getting the new job. Uh, well, no, I just want to say because again the fact that and I forget the guy's name that is now the overlord under Feige, but the guy that's running film, animation, TV, and comics. Um, that is basically Steve's new boss.
>> And he comes from the non-comic side of Marvel. And it's good to have as a new editor-inchief to replace CB a a legit comic guy that has a proven track record. And I mean, all the creators are like, "This is great."
>> And and I think they're all rooting for him. I know Bendis Bennis was the guy who told me about it this week. Yeah.
>> He was tell and and and you don't want to be that guy because God knows I've been a Marvel kid for 55 years now. And the thing of it is they're struggling. I'm sorry, man. And it's a true. I go to that comic shop every Wednesday when the door opens and I watch people come in and I know anything with the word absolute above it will sell. Absolute Power Girl, absolute Mr. Mixel Pitilik. Anything that is gold. Okay. Then I look at the Marvel stuff and they're trying with their stuff and no one's picking it up or they're dropping the book or the X-Men was a clear example. I was like, "Oh, this will be a great new relaunch.
They're doing the X-Men again. It's almost like the It's almost like the new crisis. Every year there's a new X-Men epic story and it never seems to connect. It's like great buildup, great marketing. They promote it and then after two or three tie-ins, it just and I see the sit there. You know, >> we'll see this fall with the Midnight Books.
>> The Midnight Book looks good. I thought that was a good idea.
>> Well, there's a couple. Yeah, there's a couple.
>> But I hope so, man. I hope so.
>> Kenny Johnson's doing Spider-Man. I forget who's doing X-Men. And I know there's a third book, and I can't remember who's doing that. They've got great writers and Bendis is coming back.
You know, it's so I don't know why >> we It's so funny. My buddy Sal Crelli of Comic Pop uh that that YouTube channel, he and I were doing a show and it was literally two days before the announcement and S is much more of a Marvel guy than I am. And he's like, "Yeah, you know, they're they're they don't have direction right now." And both of us are like, >> "Stephanie Phillips is great. Ryan Norris is great. McKay is great. Chip Sidski is great. Hickman is great. So, they've got great writers, but yeah, they're just unlike DC where um there's the absolute line and then there's the regular universe and the allin current status. Well, >> everything is great. Everything is great.
>> It only is great.
>> I know it's bad when I go home and I realize I've never ever happened in years, decades. I buy more DC books than I do Marvel. when I come home and I put my stack together to what I'm going to read, I go, "Oh my god, I have more DC than Marvel. What happened here? That's never going to happen." But >> it's it's where we are right now. You know, >> Brad Winderbomb is the guy that's above uh Steve and below Feige as far as running Marvel right now. I think the I think I was gonna say I think the one thing Marvel's been doing with the books that's not helping is because they had the movies, they had the success, they tried to turn the books into the movies.
They try to make the Iron Man, the Captain America. It's almost like, hey, if you like the movie, go read the comic. And that's not really what it's like. DC kept it, this is the comics world.
That's the movie world. We didn't go change Batman overnight to look like Ben Affleck or have that costume or Man of Steel. We didn't do a Zack Snider universe. We did we just stepped with the comics where I think Marvel really did try. Maybe because Disney bought them and that was a director from a higher up. They were like >> I think it was >> Mel the other day. Why is there a Ratatouille Fantastic Four cover? Why is there a Daffy Duck cover? And somebody told me, oh that comes from the top. Disney goes, "Put Donald Duck on a Spider-Man cover.
Put Goofy on a Fantastic Four." Why?
Because we want to do a collab, the new word now, collab. They wanted >> But don't forget, >> don't forget that DC DC did it with the Warner Brothers characters and the Hannah Barbara characters.
>> But you know what was different with that? When they wrote those stories like Elmer Fud meets Batman and they had uh Shaken on uh what was the dogs and rough, >> right? Those were good stories. They were adult, not adult like hardcore, but they were written very smartly, if that's the thing. Yeah. Where the Marvel one, all they did was take the DC, the Marvel origin of Iron Man and put Donald Duck in it, >> and they took the origin of Spider-Man and put Goofy in it. It was the same story except with got these funny animals in it. You're like, what the hell are you doing here? You know, it's like >> they didn't tell like a crime noir with the Elmer Fud with Batman. That was great how they did that. Including Silver St. Cloud into it.
>> Yeah. Scooby-Doo years ago when Keith Gifin was alive, God rest his soul, he wrote like the Scooby-Doo apocalypse.
>> It's a freaking Scooby-Doo cartoon, but you made it like his own thing and it was good. So, I don't know what the hell's going on over there. I'm like, "Guys, stop. Too many cooks.
>> They've rattled the cage and now we got Steve in charge." And I think Steve is much like Marie Javins at DC is a guy because again he said it in my interview. He's like I get out of the way of the creators. Now I don't know what kind of marching orders he's going to get above him and that will likely be a factor. But I think if anyone can negotiate the comic side and the other media sides of Marvel, it's Steve because he worked in animation for a long time and the good animated shows uh that were on Disney XD and he worked on even the audio uh dramas like Marvel's and Old Man uh Star-Lord. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Oh, he Steve he was on he was involved with those because I listen to all those. Those are fantastic. He was the vice he was the vice president in charge of new media and it was all that stuff.
Yeah.
>> No, Steve he's and also for the last couple years he's been working with Hickman on those three worlds, three moons >> sci-fi stuff that he was putting out through Substack that is now coming out from Darkhorse >> and uh so he was the he was the editor of all that stuff and that the last time I saw him he was repping Hickman's sci-fi books. Well, I wish him best of luck and I hope he changes it around because like I said, there's nothing sadder than going into the comic store and seeing these people, these characters you've grown up with and just seeing the whole humome reaction from people like, "Yeah, I'm not reading that." And they just put it on the show.
Oh, absolute Batman. Oh, absolute. And they're grabbing it like it's candy. I'm like, "Come on, man. What are we doing here?"
>> No, Jeremy's right. Uh, yeah. When Mark Russell took over the Flintstones with Steve Q, >> they updated it and made it and made it for the time. Sam Humphre did um Bugs Bunny and the Legion of Superheroes.
Yes, Super Boy. And it was a funny romance comic. It was a parody of romance comics and stuff.
>> I got that that Flintstones book right there on the shelf, the hard coverver collection. That was a great story there.
>> Yeah.
>> So, it it can be done. I mean, even Dynamite Comics is having success with all those Hannah Barbara. You got your space ghost, you got your Hercuoids, you got freaking everything you can imagine.
I'm surprised Hong Kong fooy's not back, but every time Oh, Thunder. Thunder is huge right now. I'm like, >> Mad Cave is doing it with um Gordon and all that and Dick Tracy.
>> Who knew that these characters have been around forever could actually be interesting like you actually buy the books because I would never.
>> Well, well, you see, I would say that again the reason why that comic strip endured for a long time is they had great people making it. You know, Joe Max Allen Collins.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Max Collins.
>> Yeah.
>> Don't forget the Phantom.
>> Yes. Hey, uh I love the Phantom.
>> Yeah. The Dynamite's got the Phantom, I think, again, right?
>> Mad Cave.
>> Mad Cave. All right. I never got into them. I mean, I've watched the movie and I don't know.
>> Well, you know, and also they lean more because he is a jungle character.
>> It's like a Tarzan. Yeah, I get it. in Australia though, huge. Yeah, my friend from Australia and Scandinavia too, the Scandinavian countries, it does very well.
>> He he predated Superman and Batman.
>> Um, >> Matt says, "Regarding Marvel, there's no real main book in Marvel that's been the focal point of the universe like Bendis doing the new Avengers 20 years ago.
Everything is very separate and they uh they make an event on whatever book >> is popular at the moment." Yeah.
>> Well, they had they had the Imperial science fiction or Marvel cosmic story that Hickman set up and they cut it short.
>> Yeah.
>> And then also um there uh when they brought back the Ultimate Line with Hickman and and Dennis Camp and they cut that short and it's like >> I don't know what happened with that.
That was amazing. It launched just like absolute the Spider-Man one was great.
Then they had that thing. Then Peach Mamamoko did an X-Men one and then it just fell apart and now it's coming to an end. They were like, "Yeah, it's done." What?
>> Well, cuz cuz they they are the first ones that crunch numbers and I remember years ago Rick Remener was going to do Dr. Voodoo, Brother Voodoo as Dr. Voodoo, >> and it was going to be 12 issues. And the second issues sales were so bad they cut it off at five. And that's been classic Marvel for the last 15 or so years.
>> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah.
>> So, you know, but anyway.
>> Anyway, we'll see what happens. That's other media. Uh X-Men 97. I watched the new the latest episode.
>> I did too. Yeah, >> it was great. X Factor. Wolverine's team.
>> Yep. Yep.
>> Uh X team.
>> What do you mean?
>> Not Xactor.
>> Oh, excuse me.
>> Force.
>> X Force.
>> Not X Force.
>> X team.
>> X team.
>> Okay.
>> I I watched the I watched the Apocalypse one. I I think I watched the first three or four. So that's where it ended. Well, they were traveling through time, so I'm not up to date.
>> Well, the fifth one the fifth one dropped this week. This past week.
>> Yeah, it's good.
>> No, it's been great. You weren't here.
Are you Were you here last week or No, >> no, I was in uh Boston last week.
>> Okay. Okay. Um Yeah, we we talked about the first four last week, but No, wait.
You So, you're enjoying it so far, Mitch?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I really like it. I like it. It's because it's because I read all the Claremont stuff back then. So, it's just like, oh yeah, look, they're pulling this from there, you know, the the forge. A lot of stuff I forgot about. I'm like, oh yeah, >> like like Nolan having superhero stars in the Odyssey.
>> This is filled with Star Trek people as far as doing the voices. And you got Michael Dorne and you got John Delansancy and you got Beverly Crusher is um Gates McFaden is uh the old lady uh uh Oracle and everything.
[clears throat] I thought I heard voice.
I was like, is that Q?
>> Yeah, Delansy's um Kang.
>> Yes.
>> I like Mortis depending on which or Ramatut.
>> Or Ramatut.
>> Yeah. Yeah, he was Ramatut. Exactly. He was Ramatut. So, we'll see. You know, I know. I was telling someone who didn't know about Immortis as well.
>> And well, that's why I understood getting dropping Jonathan Major when he had his personal issues and stuff. But that said, I'm like, you could have stuck with the story.
>> Why couldn't you just recast it? I never understand that. Yeah.
>> And again, >> he had a different voice and everything.
It's like I don't know what the hell the dialogue was, but it was enough to be a different actor. I mean, >> if you and also if you remember in the Matrix when the original Oracle died the other woman to be the Matrix in the third movie.
>> Jeez. When Dumbledore died, >> Dumbledore died. Richard Harris.
>> Richard Harris died. Yeah.
>> Michael Gambl. Yeah.
>> Yep.
>> I don't get that. I I mean I mean they recast uh Terrence Howard >> to Don Beetle. They recast Bruce Banner from Edward Norton to Ruffalo.
>> But they even could have shifted it from Kang to Immortis and gone and and like I used to be Kang now I'm immortis. I mean, it's already >> The only thing I could think of it is maybe it's a contractual thing because he played the character and they're like, but again, they're making the rules. They can do whatever the hell they want. They can do what they want. I have no idea what happened there. But they fired the guy at the drop of a hat.
Once they get that guilty charge or whatever, boom, he was out the door. You know, >> I just I I hope it's funny because, you know, there's been rumors of what Doomsday is going to be. Yeah.
>> And also Secret Wars. And um I hope there's enough of an ending to Doomsday to satisfy us for a year because the length of time that has gone on for the next uh Spider-Man verse cartoon is ridiculous. And >> how about the how about the Batman announcement with Robert Patson and Matt Reeves?
>> Oh, please.
>> That um >> Yeah.
>> Jesus.
>> People forget. I don't understand that.
I go, dude, people forget. I know we like that stuff and we're all do it. But you got to remember years are going by.
Kids are growing up. You like Batman when you were 12. Now you're 19 or 20.
You're on to other things. You don't give a crap. You're not going back.
We'll go back cuz we're old farts. But yeah, that Spider-Verse movie. Loved it.
Loved the second one. And then as soon as to be continued. Okay. When? Next year? No. Well, the year after? No. The year after that? No. Maybe 2027? Maybe.
What are you doing, man? I know it'll make money, but Jesus, how much money have you lost >> because again, you know, >> to to end the movie on a cliffhanger and make you work wait several years, >> you know, Batman's bad enough. I mean, it ended obviously and we're going to get a new story, >> right?
>> I'm also excited for in August uh >> sure, but the animated Amazon Kusader and I was talking to Rucka and he's got another script that he did also. Um, let's let's talk about my adventures.
Uh, uh, yeah, my adventures with Superman. Uh, God, I love this season. I caught up >> and, uh, man, it is great. The Hank Henshaw stuff is great. Uh, Supergirl is great and uh, all all that time travel that's going on with John Kent showing up. Um, >> man, I I Mitchell, you you >> No, I know. I watched it because our good boy uh, from U Star Trek uh, what?
Lower Jackson, Jack Quaid.
>> Yeah, Jack Quaid. boys and the boys. So, you know, >> I know I like it a lot.
>> I just although it it really is I mean obviously the the animation being anime speaks for itself, but it has that anime pacing as well that it's kind of manic.
It's always very manic, >> you know, >> but I don't mind it. And the Oh, and I noticed that not this week's episode, but the death of Superman episode from last week uh was written by Margarite Bennett. I noticed and that was kind of cool and I had I had noticed if she had been doing other animation but that I'm like wait a minute I know Margarite Bennett she's a great comic book writer that's cool that she wrote this.
>> So but no I've really I've I've really enjoyed it. So so that's that's really been great as well. Um yeah I know I feel bad this guy said about last week's show. He's like well you guys really didn't talk much about X-Men 97. I'm like, we spent a half hour talking about X.
>> No, no, I didn't see it >> last week. And also, mostly we're just saying it's good. I'm sorry that we don't have >> just I can't I can't figure out where the stories are coming from. And that's okay.
>> I just go, "Oh, I remember that character. I remember that character when I was reading it."
>> It brings the brain cells back. I go, "I remember that. Oh, Forge. I remember Forge." And hey, there's Bishop. Yeah, it's all coming back to me now.
in Superman.
>> I like the new future that Jon finds himself in. And obviously, I would assume that, you know, especially the way this week's episode ended with them falling through a portal or whatever.
I'm assuming they're going to the future and having to deal with it. And also, I like that Clark doesn't have his powers right now.
>> And I think that's really cool. you know, it's uh >> the the writers are just having a it's it's exciting and it's it's refreshing to watch.
>> Uh it it's like going back to the early days of Bruce Tim.
>> Yeah.
>> Where you're dealing with the the Superman series.
>> Let's go back to that Superman series that Tim started or was part of. Um, again the the Batman animated series like it's bringing the characters and writing them. They're they're they've been updated to what is today?
What would be the characters be like today with um all the views and the clicks and uh Jimmy is uh what is it?
Rock and Robin or some silly >> Flamebird.
>> Flamebird. Yeah, Flameird. Yeah. Makes Yeah. Flameird from Night uh Nightwing and >> Nightwing and Flameird. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, and it's just >> it's really good how they can update these characters that we've known for decades >> and have fun with them and make a fun watchable TV show and >> well and one that will relate to kids and has that pacing of anime that they love, >> you know, >> but there's enough story of things that we remember so it's intriguing us. Go ahead, Mitch. Excuse No, I was going to say I got yelled at this Well, I didn't get yelled. A heated discussion came up in the comic shop this week because somebody walked in and said, "Oh, what did you think of Supergirl?" I said, "Well, I can give you two opinions. I can give you the comic book nerd who watched it and said, "Okay, I liked it.
I like Tom King's book. I saw what parts they pulled from that story. I don't agree with the ending. I think it should have been a little different." with that. And then the business side of me kicked in the the the Warner Exec cuz I walked into Walmart the other day and I saw the Supergirl toys were already that I bought some over here, but they're already discounted because they're we got to get this [ __ ] off the shelves, you know, and then I noticed that you know what little golden books are. Do you remember those books? The little Pokey the Puppy and all that stuff.
Well, there was a Supergirl little golden book and there she is smiling on the cover. And then I noticed they had like a whole like uh floor stand in the middle of the aisles there with all these like Barbie Supergirl dolls and these big like two-foot Supergirl dress them up dolls like for little girls or such. And the thing of it is I'm like I could just be a fly on the wall at Warner Brothers. It reminded me of the Batman Returns McDonald's fiasco back in the early 90s. They're like, "Hey, we got a Supergirl movie. This is our chance to capture that market. We want the young girls and stuff like the Disney princesses. We We're gonna make a million on this thing. Wait till the kids see the Supergirl movie." And there she is puking her brains out taking a leak with the door open and you know, she kills a guy at the end. I'm like, "Oh [ __ ] this is not the the Supergirl." So, when I said that, I go, "You should." And I've heard some other writers say this. I don't know if it was Grant Morrison or somebody somebody smarter than me.
You you should be always be able to go to a Superman movie. A five or six year old kid should go to a Superman movie.
And I think that goes with Supergirl too. You should make that just like the Adventures of Superman. This is a good Superman that you could watch if you're a little kid like 10 like the Adventures of Superman where the adults can enjoy it, the teenagers can enjoy it, early 20s, whatever they call them now. And even like, you know, nine and ten year old kids could watch this without being worried about it. And I'm like, I He goes, "What's the matter? You don't like a rated R Supergirl? You don't like the I go, you know what? I don't I do not."
Okay. I don't think maybe in a comic book that's fine or a graphic novel, that's fine. But when you're doing these broad entertainment things that's supposed to appeal to a mass audience and you're trying to make money, because I know people hate saying that, but at the end of the day, they're trying to make money. And when I saw this merchandise going down the toilet, somebody's going to be losing a job over there right about now. And it's not James Gunn because I know, oh well, James Gun's a movie maker. That's fine.
But there's somebody out there that let this thing go through knowing that it's going to be more of an adult story. But I'm like, I don't know if you want like the Batman with Robert Patson. That's a dark Batman. For God's sakes, he's taping people up. He's hitting them over the head with a claw hammer. I don't think it was rated R, but it could have been rated R easily because it's really dark. I mean, >> but that suits the character.
>> But that suits the character. But then you've got the whole world that grew up with the Batman animated show, the Adam West show, the Justice League, the Super Friends. I I I don't envy DC, man.
>> What are they going to do? You know, >> we were saying the same thing about Supergirl last last week. And in fact, what Beta Ray Brad said, No, it's all right.
>> I didn't see the show. So, what did what did you guys talk about?
>> I understand, but if I may, Brad is saying the same thing, and this is what I said as well. The CW Supergirl, my one of my favorite images was of Melissa Benoy surrounded by either Girl Scouts or campfire girls up in the air. And it's like, yeah, but I mean, and I didn't even mind party girl Supergirl drinking and all that. I understand.
What I had a bigger problem with though, if I may. What I had a bigger problem with was the uh white like not alien slave women thing. It's like try and explain that to a seven-year-old.
>> I told Yeah, I said that too. I said, "What's up with the white slave trade going on? What's going on here, kids?"
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> See, I think they forget >> I think they forget what Superman and the Superman family. If you want the the pro the prototype, the blueprint >> Yeah. Yeah, >> the original Superman 77.
>> Yeah.
>> Go back to the Donner film. That Donner film made you believe in the character that was such because everyone everyone loved Batman because he's grim and gritty and whether or not he's the goofy Batman from the 60s and the 50s, but he or in the 70s he was grim and gritty.
Everyone loved Batman no matter what.
try to make Superman lovable because he's such a boy scout. And that movie made you love Superman. Made you believe that, again, using their taglines, you will believe that a man could fly.
>> Not not that stalker Superman from that first [laughter] movie, my copies. So, let me get this straight. Superman is a deadbeat dad who took off on Lois after he date raped her so she couldn't remember that he impregnated her, gave her a kid, ran off, comes back five years, and now he's stalking her and watching her with her husband and there.
He goes, "What the heck? Who thought this was a good idea?" And I go, "Yeah."
He goes, "Oh, it's a creepy Superman when you look at it." I go, "I didn't look at it like that, but once you point that out, I can never unsee Brendan Ralph flying outside our house."
>> But you take the the helicopter scene in Superman.
>> Yeah. where he rescues Lois and he says, "Well, but but but Lois or no, but Miss Lane, you know, flying is still the sacredation."
And again, it's just this is who the character is. This is who the character has always been. Once you stray from that, >> you're going to lose a good chunk of the audience.
>> That was that was the failure of the Snider verse. They made Superman dark.
And it's like, no, Batman is dark.
Superman is light. It's a contrast, right? I mean it's it's so obvious and again well and that's why if you want some fall guys Mitch for Supergirl it's the director and the screenwriter. Sorry they they >> okay there goes because they were everyone kept saying James Gun James Gunn no James Gunn is like up here. He's not like on the dayto day you know >> but but he [snorts] is in charge and as I understand it and I've I haven't really read up to make sure this is the case or not. His contract might need to be renewed next year. manage what's happening next year and we've got the Ellison's coming in and they might want to make a change. We don't know. We don't know. And I despite the fact that there are several states that are trying to block the Paramount takeover of Warner Brothers.
>> It's it's going to pass everybody. Yeah.
I I it sucks that we're going to have another another smaller group of uh studios making this. By the way, great series on Netflix that is going away. Uh uh the first week in August, I think August 4th is the last time you could see it.
>> There's a series called Titans. Sorry, that's my my camera. I was warning everybody that >> I'm really liking this show, John. You just came right in.
>> Yes, we're here.
>> WHAT IS IT CALLED?
>> GUILTY TITANS. HUH?
>> ANYWAY, TITANS. It's the It's the beginning of Hollywood and it really literally goes from Edison to the 30s and it really covers the silent era.
It's five episodes. It's It's not the greatest acting. It's not a docu drama like some of these newer shows where there's a bit of um >> talking head narration. Well, there is one the the guy that plays Adolf Zukor who is the Paramount executive. He is the he's the narrator of the film, that character. But it literally is all the people that started. It's the Warner Brothers. It's um Louis Ber at MGM and it's um >> Oh, it's the real names.
>> Fox.
>> I said it's the real names. They're playing real people.
>> Oh, yeah. Oh, no, no, What's the real It's It's I mean I'm sure there's some dramatic license going on.
>> Yeah. No. No. I just >> Yeah. Because there was a movie years ago called the Did you ever see the movie called The Dream Merchants or the Dream Makers? I have kind of like Yes, I have.
>> It was kind of like This is Hollywood, but it wasn't like they didn't use everyone's name if I recall. It was just alluded to.
>> It was a It was a miniseries and uh Tom or Mark Harmon was in it and Vincent Gardinia was in it >> and uh Robert Ficardo was in it.
from >> I remember everybody I remember watching >> Fairchild.
>> Oh, I love it. And it's on you. People could find it on YouTube. And the Howard Duff was one of the jerks that was >> Wow. It's like Flamingo Roads entire cast was in this thing. Huh. [laughter] >> I love Flamingo.
Stevens.
>> Yep, >> dude. Oh my god. That's right. Yeah.
>> But um but uh No, it's uh No, that's fun. The Dream Merchants is fun, but this Titans thing, it's really well made. and I burned right through it in five episodes. It was it's it's really really good. And they have other kind of like um those icon series that is more documentarian in terms of like James Bond and Star Wars and Marvel and everything. Those series that are on um a lot of those are on um >> yeah Amazon Prime >> but and so they've got like like they've got Titans and it's the Wall Street founders and other circles of influence but the Hollywood one was amazing. So, >> I will put it on my list of a thousand shows because I tried wa man it's insane. It's like being skitsized. I tried watching Red Red State Red Star.
What's the Russian >> uh Star City?
>> Star City. So, I'm I'm watching Star City, listening to the William Goldman audio book about movie making from the 80s, reading a thousand different comic books, trying to organize a convention in three weeks that's going to cost me more than half a million dollars. Go and seen the Spartacus. doing a podcast with you tonight. Doing two more this week and it's like insane trying to keep track of everything. And what am I going to do now? I got to go watch Titans tonight. Oh, 3:00 in the morning. My wife.
>> It's great, man. It's great.
>> I don't Sorry.
>> I don't want to. Beta Ray Brad asked a question. Still waiting for a madman like comic company show. Now, >> it's not a show, but I would recommend Hey Kids comics.
>> Oh, the com Oh, yeah. Uh Howard Jenkins comic. How are it is fun? We won't we won't talk about this, but years ago I'm next to I think it was Shaken or I said on some podcast I go why can't they do a madmanlike TV show where they show, you know, Cavalere and Clay type of thing and show the behind the scenes of the DC, the Marvel in New York City. Now that they're moving out of New York City, it's more poignant. But back in the day when you got here's Stan over there doing everything and you know hiring Jack Kirby who hated his guts and trying to get there's Steve Dicko the guy who's into like new wave thinking and he and you got all then Roy comes in with the hippie crowd and Starland. This is a freaking epic waiting to happen. I know I'd watch it every week and then meanwhile you go down the street and you got your Mort Weisingers and all your World War II old crows over there like this is the way we did it and put more gorillas on the cover. The kids love the monkeys on the cover. And then meanwhile, you go down the street and who's tripping out on acid, right? And [ __ ] Captain Marvel or whatever the hell it is, Adam Warlock. I'd watch that heartbeat, man.
>> I thought Cavalere and Clay was in development. I don't know what happened while >> again, but I'm saying that that idea is not coming out of the blue. And especially given Sha's success, >> I'm surprised that it hasn't. and as if anything um being uh a akin to the superhero movie um you know grand period of 20 2008 to 2018 now and and by the way that's another thing I like people are like oh the superhero movie it's dead it's dead no it's not dead it will continue and I I mean I was making comparisons when the 2008 period 2013 the Wolverine movie uh the first Andrew Garfield Spider-Man movie, Scott Pilgrim versus the the universe. Those didn't do that well. And everyone's like, "Oh, it's dead. It's dead. Super, you know, comic book movies are dead." And it's like, "No, no, no. They're never going to go away. It's like the Western. This was the zenith. And 2018 was the zenith, I think, obviously. And I think most people agree with >> Oh, yeah. And well, when Endgame came out, that was like the high point. And then you look back, you go, Jesus Christ." I remember my friend who was in into comics. He went to see that and he watched all the Marvels. He goes, "Holy crap." And he's like, "What?" He goes, "Cuz the fact that they pulled in so many elements from the previous 20some movies and they all paid off like, "Hey, remember when we made uh Peggy Carter, like Captain America, and like every little detail, everything came full circle, and it was like a three-hour epic movie in this." And he goes, "How did they will they ever top this?" I go, "They ain't never going to top this."
And sure enough, here we are, what, almost eight, seven years later, they're still chasing it. and Doomsday that'll relaunch it and they're finally gonna do what they should have done at the end of Endgame. I I think >> just relaunch the whole thing with new actors because it's like what were you thinking?
>> I assume I assume Secret Wars >> Yeah.
>> is going to be uh whoever's left from Doomsday and and we might see a new Captain America meet Chris Evans or whatever. Maybe not. I don't know. But I assume Secret Wars is going to intro I know they're going to introduce a lot of the new X-Men. It's not guaranteed.
>> I mean, Lifeel's been, you know, he's the Merry Prankster when it comes to Marvel and is happy to tell you how they're going to fail and stuff.
>> Well, Dark Phoenix obviously didn't do as well as the original trilogy for X-Men when they were trying to recast various people and things. And so, no, it's not a guarantee when they when they decide to re recast things, but they're never going to go away is my point.
>> No, no, no. You know, >> westerns will always be, you know what, hell, you watch uh the Odyssey, that's just a big comic book. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but there's a guy epic. He goes out, fights monsters, and there's a big battle at the end with swords and and and arrows. And I'm like, it's the freaking Excalibur.
>> Well, that's all the same.
>> Comic books have always borrowed from mythology, of course. Yeah. No, I mean, and that's why I said it's Greek Lord of the Rings when you go right down to it, you know, that's basically what it is.
Um, well, there is some Star Trek news because of course, Strange New World's coming back on Thursday >> and I keep seeing new trailers and various things and also some news about casting. And first of all, I was complaining to Wayne before we started that James Frame, they're saying, is going to come back in some fashion as Cerak. Um, they haven't said in what capacity. He might be on this the next season of Starfleet Academy in a in a archival film or or you know hologram sort of presentation. We don't know. But I hope it's not Strange New Worlds. And also, I'm sure you guys saw the news too that hey, David Marcus is coming back and he's gonna be a baby and yeah, they're gonna they're gonna have David Marcus on Strange New Worlds and it's like >> f you. God, stop it. Stop it. Jesus.
They cannot help themselves. And I know Wayne Wayne is the smartest one as far as uh when it comes to Stra. He's like, "It's not the same. It's a different universe." And that's how I stay sane.
But of course, they lie and are like, "Oh, no, no, no. There's a way we can do this. There's a way we can do. F you. We don't care. You're not clever." Yeah.
There's the the cling.
>> No, they was Did I I I might have been sleeping. Did they mention Carol Marcus already on Stranger Worlds?
>> Um, they did mention her. Yes, >> they did mention her >> in the LAN >> Kirk time travel thing when they're in Toronto.
>> Oh, >> he he says >> I I'm actually I I've got a you know I'm I'm I'm involved.
>> Okay.
>> And and she had a baby on the way if I remember correctly.
>> I don't I don't remember that. No.
But regardless, [snorts] it's like, no, the point I mean, that's the great thing about the the Khan movie was David didn't know that Kirk was his was his father. He just knew that he was that boy scout that his mother used to date and hated Starfleet because of the way they were screwing with his experiments and stuff. And it's like, no, that's better. Stop it. And I realize he'll probably be a baby or a toddler and whatever. And I'm sure again, oh, we figured out a way. No, you didn't figure out a way. You're cheap jerks that can't write original stories.
>> Did he did Did he not know that Kirk was only at the end he goes, "I'm proud, very proud to be your son." Okay.
Because a couple times when he came in, oh, remember he was fighting with him?
He's like, "Oh, typical Starfleet.
They're coming in." She goes, "Oh, you would never do that." So I Okay, she didn't tell him then. I was just like, "Wait."
>> And also that conversation that he has with Carol and says, "I did what you asked. I stayed away."
>> Right. Right. Right. Right. And it's like because she didn't want him to know. She didn't want David to know that Jim was his his father because well no I didn't want my son following in his father's footsteps much like the Odyssey >> back to comic book movies. Yeah. And then but but no and again it's like stop messing with canon. You've got interesting characters potentially on Strange New Worlds but no it's like hey no let's mess with this more. And it's like you're not clever. You're you're jerks. You are you I mean I I remember Frank Miller before he brought Electra back and he he drew that parody panel of the corpse of Electra and the way Marvel kept bringing her back and everything and he's just like stop it. Don't do that. Don't do that. And it's like leave my character alone. She's dead for a reason until he did Electra Lives. But that's his character. I'll accept that.
I mean, if if we could resurrect um Harve Bennett, who produced the original series, original cast Star Trek movies, and he wants to do stuff, maybe. Maybe.
But again, with the original cast, >> these guys suck.
>> The Elsewhere book that by John Burn that has a Gan Gray in it. That's kind of like the one the story that they were going to do with the Dark Phoenix where they didn't kill her or she didn't kill herself and they labbotomized her and she's living with her family and she's, you know, that's the only way they could figure out how to suppress the Dark Phoenix energy was to like make her not know who she is or her powers. That's in the else book and it's a really good book. But I'm thinking that when we get Chris Claremont at Trificon, Connecticut's Trific Comic Con, you almost want to ask him at this point in his career, because it's been 40 years or so like that, was he mad that they brought back Jean Gray? Because he's used the character as well, but it's almost like no one dies in comics, you know, except for Uncle Ben. Even Bucky came back. But sometimes you sit there and you go, >> man, just walk away, you I know Electra came back, but just I know it's all again I hear >> I think Jean holds the record for resurrections.
>> I mean, Jesus God, they brought her daughter back. They brought her back.
They had Maline Prior. It's like, my god, walk away, man.
>> Walk away.
>> It's almost like the DC Universe redoing itself every couple years. It's like just leave it alone for about 10 years, will you?
>> You don't need a crisis every three years or every year, man.
>> So, >> well, anyway, more Star Trek news. There is a new character on Strange New Worlds. I don't know her name, but we got a new Vulcan >> female uh uh officer.
>> Is it?
>> I don't think it's Topal, but I I I believe in the trailers we see her kiss Scotty.
So, make of that what you will.
>> I saw one more one more character is coming back. It's everybody's favorite from Four and a Half Falcons, ladies and gentlemen. It's Doug. Yay. Yay. the dumbest GD character. I guys, again, I don't want to I don't want us to have the fight again, but honestly, it it just was not a funny episode. And oh, we learned our lesson from season 3. No, you really didn't because you wrote and produced season 4 before the audience reacted to season 3.
>> I was hoping he would come back. Like a combination of him and a Gorn because they evolve and stuff. I was really hoping that they would get back to that story. I think I think Bruce Horic who played Hemner.
>> Yeah.
>> Because it's a mask and he's blind. I think I think it was messing with him and I think that's I I that's an assumption on my part.
>> Well, recast him. I'm sorry. Recast the >> It was an interesting character. And again, it shows you that these guys do not know what they're doing. I'm sorry.
They got to I keep saying it. I know.
They got to go. They got to go. And And they are going, aren't they? Didn't you already say?
>> I believe I would. Well, as as others have pointed out, they're never going to say Alex Kurtzman and company were fired. Their contracts aren't going to be renewed. That's how >> No, no, no. There was a a gentleman I I can't say his name, but I just found out they had a huge retirement party for him. And I was talking to my buddy. I go, "Wow, I can't believe so and so retired after all those years." I go, "He got fired." I go, "No, no, they had a big going." He goes, "Yeah, yeah, that was the public PR they put out. They're like, "Oh, he's going to go on to other things and we wish him all the luck."
and we had a big retirement and we, you know, look what he's built. But in reality, they got the guy out the door.
I was like, "Oh, did not know that."
>> Well, and really back to Marvel, I'm happy for CB because he's doing what he does best and that is talent scouting around the world and I know he's going to be based in Japan. He loves Japan and and that's great. That's great. And he doesn't have the burden of being editor-inchief anymore. and he had a long run and sometimes it is time for a creative change so this is okay you know >> yeah I think congratulate him >> the third longest editor-inchief they had in Marvel history nine years yeah >> I'm hip >> not an easy job >> um any oh uh we were uh Wayne and I were talking I'm loving still Rick and Morty I think every episode has been great this year I like it >> you will meet them the cast will be there. I disapproved uh Spencer Grammar's flight tonight.
>> Oh, lovely. Summer, >> the daughter of Kelsey Grammar, who's the voice of what character? Wayne?
>> Summer.
>> Summer.
>> Summer will be at Terrific Con. Connect.
>> And Rick and Morty will be there as well.
>> And Rick and Morty will be there. And uh Maurice Lamar, who's Pinky the Brain, but he also plays Abraham Hitler. Is that a character on that show? Or it looks like a combo of Hitler and >> Yeah, it's a combo.
>> Oh, he's there.
>> No, it's uh No. And Rob Pollson even does an occasional Oh, okay.
>> character voice. He was on they uh they brought back from f the first season uh Mort's dog uh becomes super intelligent and goes to a different dimension where he is the ruler of a dog society and humans are treated as pets and Rob Paulson plays Mort's uh dog and everything. And that was a funny episode. That was the most recent one.
>> There you go. Um, >> there's a new one tonight of course, but as we're recording on Sunday evening before the new one airs, but um, let's see.
>> More reasons why you should come to Connecticut in three weeks. Not only because Sentress will be there and I'll be there and Franco hopefully will be there and we don't know what Wayne's doing anymore because he's on the run from the >> No, he's gonna go to Star Trek Vegas.
>> Oh, that's right. That's right.
>> We understand. He has to go get uh Jonathan Franks's autograph for the 80th time.
>> No. Uh the uh Starfleet Academy cast is going to be there.
>> Oh god. Well, that's not like they're doing anything.
>> Exactly. I want to go see.
>> You know what? Paul Giamati will be there. So, you gonna see Paul?
>> Yeah. I'm gonna You know what? I'll see Paul and say, "Hey."
>> Yeah. He knows.
>> You messed up. You You messed up with my friend Mitch.
>> You know what's going to happen to you?
You're going to be sleeping with the fitches because you're not with the >> Mitches. Yeah, you tell him. Just say, "Gmati, you screwed up. You could have stayed home in Connecticut, gone over to Terrific, met people, hung out, got Pepe's Pizza." That's his favorite pizza. They actually have a pizza named after him.
>> Get some pizza for him.
>> And then gone back. He knows me. Tell him call me. We hung out at the same bookstores in the 80s.
>> This This is the one, and we might still get it this season. We'll see. But this is the one call back that they teased that they never went back to in Strange New Worlds. JD says, "Remember the uh scene where we see Spock's brother is in prison. They never followed up on that story." No, they didn't.
>> It ain't coming.
>> At least not so far. I know the list of uh Yeah, I know the list of episodes.
Are you looking it up?
>> I had those. Just give me a minute.
>> Dude, I'm still waiting for those worm things to come back from Next Generations last episode for season one.
All right. I love that one.
>> Okay. July 23rd, Val Morenis, >> right?
>> That's the Mars episode.
>> Uh the 30th, the Griffin incident, >> Griffin, >> August 6, humans best human best friend.
Uh 13th, a case of the Cheerios uh Cheerioso.
Yeah, we got Canadian pronouncing things, so we're already That's probably the Muppet episode, right?
>> Yeah, probably.
>> Who knows?
>> Uh, no, no, I think it's this one on 20 uh the 20th. Uh, the level five transporter accident.
>> Yeah, I have a feeling it's going to be a transporter accident. It's going to turn him into a >> um then off hour like Chronicons through the hourglass.
>> That's going to be Yeah, that's going to be the soap opera parody. Oh Jesus. I thought they only have one gimmick show a year.
>> No.
>> No.
>> Oh no. I'm not done yet. Oh, wait for it, boys.
>> Orders of magnitude, which is probably a real episode, >> but the last one for the season.
Once lawn a time.
Yeah. Yeah. I bet uh if anyone's gonna die on that show, it's probably >> Oh, god. Yeah.
>> Yeah. But also um the uh you know I I don't know what they're going to do for the 60th and maybe that's when James Fran is going to come back as Serak. But man and and much like Doctor Who wasting their uh well in this in their case not giving us the Christmas episode. Although I did want to mention uh I have every intention of talking to Titan Comics and getting um and I'm forgetting right now who's writing the Circuit Breaker comic book story. And that's interesting because it's an event that's happening without an episode, a television episode, and it's about the fugitive doctor. And as much as I've not liked the Chibnel era and Russell Davy's second era, I do appreciate the idea of the fugitive doctor. I don't like that she's before William Hartnull. I think that was going too far. But uh I am I am I I I've liked her scenes and I'm okay with them uh continuing that story and we'll see what happens. I mean again I don't understand how the show is being obviously sent out uh as they say they they put out the show for tender meaning they're having other production houses bid on the show to produce new Doctor Who. But BBC Studios is also in the running. And it's like, isn't that like being a suit of clothes and the P wants to let the support code know that uh we still want to be together? And it's like, well, you know, I mean, I I understand potentially taking other production companies and seeing whatever, you know, seeing how much they're willing to spend on the show. But it's like, well, if you're willing to spend, you know, do it yourself in house, >> why why wouldn't you keep all the money?
But again, maybe licensing it is more profitable for them and they don't have the expense of making >> that's what the streamers have found out that licensing the properties is more profitable.
>> You're right. You are right. That's Sony. That's Sony not having a streamer but basically making shows for every other streamer. You're absolutely right.
>> Yeah.
>> Um the Doctor Who book is written by Dan Waters.
>> That's right.
>> Montana Mononttoya. Mona >> Monontto.
>> Um, but yeah, I've got the I got the first issue. Titans sent sent out the first issue for the press. Um, yeah, I'm I'm excited. I mean, I'll be honest, I am curious. And I mean, that's the thing, like during the previous wilderness years with Doctor Who, there there were good stories coming out of the comics and in the in the paperbacks and stuff. So, >> we'll see. We'll see. Uh, that's that's really I I'm trying to think of anything else.
>> I was going to say I watched the Larry David thing. It's cute, but it's not great, you know? It's kind of a struggle sometimes.
>> It grew on me because the first episode I'm like, again, I'm rooting for it and I love Larry.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> But I think each episode has gotten I didn't watch Fridays, so I'm one behind.
I thought it was going to be history of the world part one type of humor and there's a little bit of that but then it's more of a almost curb your enthusiasm bit because he's >> absolutely >> and then I'm like all right and some of them seem funny but some like a Saturday Night Live sketch that goes on too long you're like okay >> yeah it's hit and miss no it's hit and miss I uh >> Louis Clark with Seinfeld that was a good one >> and the Robiner Rob Reiner was >> talking great as George Washington that was great and then also the I liked the Boston Tea Party with Lin Manuel Miranda. Nobody invited Larry to the Boston Tea Party. I thought that was very funny. I thought the depression was funny. I thought JB Smooth the Underground Railroad. I thought that was funny.
>> That was a good one. Oh, you like the one about the You like the one about the bread and the soup line in that bit?
>> Yeah, I thought it was funny.
>> But I uh the one that I thought went too long was the Unamerican Activities Committee in the 50s.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's one that I'm like, "All right." Like, "Come on, guys." Like, >> should have been funnier.
>> I mean, it's only half an hour. That's what gets me. I'm like, "It's only 30 minutes." But when 30 minutes seems like an hour, you know you're in trouble.
You're like, "Wait, what's happening here?"
>> No, you're right. You're right. But I But at first, I was like, >> shockingly, maybe it miss it's missing the throughline of an episode of Curb where there was still a story happening.
Yeah. As scene was going on. But I have to say subsequent episodes now that I'm used to it, I've liked it better. But I haven't seen Friday's episode. So that's the only one.
>> No, I haven't seen that one yet either.
Yeah.
>> Uh House of Dragons is good this season >> if you've been watching that. Um >> Silo on Apple.
>> That's back.
>> Another Yes, it's back.
>> Oh, okay.
>> That takes place a couple of months after um Juliet gets back into the silo and she's now back. the Colin Ferrell uh Golden Age of LA in the 40s. Um >> Oh, that's on again. Oh, >> yep. Season two of that is on. And then I was telling Wayne, I watched the first couple episodes of Will Frell's golf comedy on Netflix.
>> Yeah, my kids watched it. They said it was fun. Yeah, >> it's okay. I'm I'm just tired of Will Frell playing the same This is This is Ricky Bobby. This is Tall This is Talladega Nights but golf instead of of that. And I mean, he's been doing this the the the one the ABA movie is the same and and the same with um the candidate, the Zack Elephantis movie that he made. And it's like, yeah, I get it. Big dumb Will Ferrell. It's like he is more talented than that. I go back to I was and Wayne Wayne Wayne will disagree but I'll go back to that movie he made with Emma Thompson and Dustin Huffman that Stranger Than Fiction where Emma Thompson is a an author and she's writing what she thinks is a fictional story and she's somehow psychically connected to Will Frell's real life and it's and it's good because it's a little weird but he's not playing big and stupid like he does in everything else and it's like dude you're better than I think >> but anyway >> he's not >> Well, that's fine. You can disagree.
Uh but anyway, but >> I think I think that's it.
>> There's a new Ghost in the Machine on Amazon. That's really good that if you love the old anime, the manga >> series, >> um it's fantastic.
Is there any detective on or anything?
>> Uh, soon we'll have >> Well, Sugar Sugar is that Colin Ferrell thing is is and of course we're getting the uh the Reacher spin-off soon.
>> I saw that Reacher's coming back. Yeah.
>> And Reacher's coming back as well. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, no. again. Guys, honestly, I thought we were going to have a break and I'm like, uh, geez, if you guys And I realized Wayne's going to go to San Diego. Frank, >> well, Franco's not going to go to San Diego.
>> Oh, no. I know. But I mean, geez, Wayne, you're all over the place. Are you staying in San Diego and then going straight to Vegas or >> No, coming back home, getting the f out of uh the US as quickly as possible.
>> What's the big uh what's the big reveals? When's D23 happening? Is that That's >> uh That's usually August.
>> Probably August. Yeah, >> there's got to be an Avengers Doomsday trailer with Spider-Man, I'm assuming.
Right. I mean, it's less than 6 months from now, this movie. They're just assuming everybody's going to go see I've already seen two Doom trailers.
>> I got I gotta be honest, I'm I am a little disappointed in Marvel putting uh um uh whatchamacall back out there um Endgame.
>> Oh, Endgame with new scenes.
>> Yeah. It's like, >> yeah, don't do that. Don't do that.
Because I was like, "Yeah, are you really going to do that?" And say, "Well, this we we you in the shadows.
You didn't see Dr. Doom off to the side." I go, "Oh, screw you. Don't ruin that story just to make it look like your new movie." [ __ ] That's a copout, isn't it?
>> It is a copout. I agree.
>> Okay. Um, >> what?
>> At San Diego on Saturday, July 25th between 5:30 and 6:30.
>> Yeah. There'll be a one-hour presentation will feature special guests from the MCU and expected to reveal major details and exclusive footage coming from Avengers Doomsday.
>> I saw again you don't trust anything anymore, but I saw some type of production promotional art.
>> Did you guys see that? And it showed the >> we talked about last week. Yeah, that big >> panoramic image. Yeah, >> that was legit then.
>> Yeah, because Cap had a beard and I'm like, "Oh, okay. So, he's not Captain America. He's just and he's Steve Rogers which they were quick to point out like Steve Rogers will return and in the poster he was there with the beard and then I saw Falcon off to well Captain America off to the >> side Captain America. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Stanley wants to know Mitch if you and I are ready for terrific. I'm gonna say >> I have no choice. I I mean I that's what I do. So even if I wasn't ready I wouldn't say it. Um, you know, honestly, you're Mitch, you are always very kind and let me do so many panels at terrific on, but I noticed uh I I was at Mark of Evanir's blog and he is he said between moderating and being on panels, 16 panels at San Diego. That's a lot of panels, man. That's >> That is a lot of panels.
>> No, I think the most you ever did was like 11.
I finally >> No, the first year the first year I made you work. Yeah. And then I said, "Oh god, I gotta tone it down a bit because you were like losing your voice." It was insane.
>> Well, again, I'm I'm happy to do them.
And I, you know, I'm like Kronhite. They used to call Kronite at CBS. They called him Iron Butt because he'd be like, "I'll be in the L. I'm not going anywhere."
>> Five hours of Apollo coverage. And it's like, yeah, he or the or the conventions and stuff. So, yeah, they called him Iron Butt. No, I give you a break so you can mingle with the celebs and hang out in the green room and stuff, you know?
>> I gotta All right. And and again, if you can manage it, Mitch, I really want a picture with Priscilla Presley.
>> Yeah. All right.
>> Even a group shot. I don't care. Like if if we >> I'm doing that. I Wait, didn't I gave you a celebrity panel, didn't I?
>> I thought I gave you one of the actors.
>> No, this year. Didn't I give you >> You said You said No, I gave you Dietri >> No, I gave you Dietri Bader, didn't I?
Oh, you did mention to me that you're gonna let me do Dietri Preater. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Because I want you to talk about the Batman Brave and the Bold and I didn't want somebody else to do it because I'm like >> stick to comic books. I mean, you could talk about his >> Well, we'll certainly mention Drew Carey and the other stuff >> Carrie and Napoleon Dynamite and God knows he's done a lot of stuff >> to me. He's Batman Office.
I'm not having I'm not having a tick panel, but apparently I have the voice of the tick from the TV show, the cartoon, and of course I got Patrick Warbertton who did the live action. So everyone's like, why don't you have the two of them guys talk about I go, okay, look, I don't want to disparage an actor, but it is a role that they do. And to have two guys, one's a cartoon tick and one's a liveaction tick. And they I think they were only one season each. I don't think it lasted more than only one season.
>> Yeah. So, I mean I what insight are they going to give you? I mean I don't know.
>> Well, but it but it I mean I think it is remembered fondly and of course it's comri but also sadly and I intend to if I have if I get a moment to speak to Patrick >> he made that great movie uh pass uh let's all bow our heads for a moment for Sam Neil >> from all of his great work in movies over television over the years. But he and Patrick made a movie about Apollo 11 called The Dish. It was an Australian movie because >> Oh, yes.
>> You guys remember it? It was on HBO.
>> It was about the guy, Weren't they tracking John Glenn?
>> No, it was it was Apollo 11. It was the moon landing.
>> Oh, okay. to explain to people who maybe haven't seen the movie. Um, there's Houston, of course, uh, tracking the thing, but as the as the Earth rotates, they needed they needed another radio telescope on the other side of the world, and they put it in Parks, Australia, which is nothing but sheep country.
>> And Sam Sam Neil played the guy in charge of the dish.
>> And Patrick Wbertton played the NASA rep that is there supervising for NASA. It's a great movie. It's a little movie, but it is very, very funny and it's very sweet.
>> Well, I I maybe I'll check that out before uh the show. I never heard of it.
When did it come out? Long ago.
>> Uh early 2000s. Early 2000s.
>> Yeah, The Dish. It's called The Dish.
>> Okay.
>> And then um also I I finally watched it's it's a couple years old, but Jason Isaac's formerly of Star Trek Discovery and Other Great Things. Um, I watched his Carrie Grant miniseries, Archie.
>> That is good. I've seen that. Really good.
>> Pretty good. I mean, I'll be honest, I still love I mean, anything with Carrie Grant, you had me at a low. I I love that guy.
>> I'm a big fan of that guys. And also the fact that it was made by his wife, Diane Cannon, and his daughter, Jennifer.
>> Um, yeah. So, I'm like, all right. And yeah, it's interesting. And my god, the makeup. I mean, it's not dead ringer, but it's certainly like they do a hell of a job making him look like Gary Grant, and he certainly sounds like >> I watched Tommy was on the other day, >> who >> the who the who's movie, you know.
>> Yeah, Ken Russell.
>> And well, and Margaret I was thinking of >> Well, I'm saying the director, but keep going. Well, I I know, but I'm just saying she does a scene in this movie where she gets bombarded by be baked beans >> and then she rolls around and it looks like it looks like crap actually, but I I was I'm hoping it's chocolate >> and she's just there.
>> Yeah. Okay, sure it is. But anyway, [laughter] did you ever see Ann Margaret in that Elvis I think it was the Elvis movie where she walks across the stage and she just does this bizarre stretch like she's having some type of seizure and she I don't know if it was dancing. I think maybe >> No, no, no. That's from the Tonight Show where she does a dance thing. If that if you're talking about a video >> this was in a movie. this in a movie and there's a bunch of people like in a scene and she's walking through like picking up a phone book and she's doing these weird gyrations and everything's bouncing around because there's no bra on whatsoever and I'm like she's got like black tights on and underwear and I'm like >> I guess it's sexy but it's very disturbing. And then when I saw this last night with the big beans which I didn't remember and then I saw I go okay they offered me her as a guest for the show and I'm like what does she have to do with comic books? But after I watch those scenes with the beans and stuff, I gotta somehow get a hold of Margaret and go, "What the hell was going on?"
>> And when she guest starred on the >> rock, >> but also that's the reason the weirdness of those scenes in Tommy. That's Ken Russell. Ken Russell did Lair of the White Worm and um the movie was called Gothic and it was about Mary Shelley and Lord Byron all like uh getting >> was it it dealt with the night when they when she wrote Frankenstein >> because was that in the 80s?
>> Uh yes, >> I think I saw that movie. Was Helen Bonum Carter in it?
>> I don't remember who played Mary.
>> I think I saw that movie. But I'm just telling you what the hell was Ken did he write those red shoe diaries or was he one of those >> King this is a weird thing man I don't know I'm very disturbed about this Margaret stuff I'm getting worked up about a 60y old scene >> my favorite I mean >> Pinball Wizard with Elton John and the giant right >> that's hilarious my favorite song from Tommy is Eyesight to the blind with Clapton and the who backing him up.
That's a cool scene. But like I mean my god, Tina Turner is the acid queen.
That's all weird and cool.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> And and no, there's a lot of disturbing stuff in Tommy. A lot of disturbing.
Gothic. Gothic was 1986.
>> Oh, okay.
>> And here's another great Jason Isaac movie that everyone should watch. The Death of Stalin. It is >> it >> freaking hilarious.
>> Yep.
>> It is without a doubt. And it is another all-star cast of people.
>> Yep.
>> Dealing with the death of Stalin and who's gonna take his place. And it is funny.
>> He's >> okay.
>> I want to say Diane or Judy I forget her last name >> is in Death of Stalin as well.
>> Judy Dench.
>> Not No, not Dench. Like the same age as like Diane Wuest. Diane Wuest was in all the Woody Allen movies in the 80s.
>> Yeah, I know. I know Diane W. wasn't she the mom in Edward Scissor Hands?
Yes. Yes, she was.
>> Yes.
>> Um >> anyway, >> but uh no, I love I I I I really enjoyed Death of >> I'll tell you what, speaking of uh an Easy on the Eyes that we weren't doing, but I'm going to bring it up. Miss Priscilla Presley will be at Terrific and I am doing her panel unless I chicken out and I throw it to Johnny at the last minute because that has happened. But um >> happy to back up. [laughter] They sent me um some publicity stills and photos and such to promote.
Man, Elvis, he knew what he was getting into. I'm just telling you, I saw some shots from the 70s. Forget the 80s when she was in the Naked Gun movies, which she was amazing looking.
>> She was only in her 30s about then because I'm like, wait, how old is she?
She's >> Well, honestly, yeah. I mean, truly, and and I'll talk to you about it, but I would be very curious because she was barely of age when she married Elvis.
when they were dating. Yes. That you know there was always a chaperon because you know they met obviously in Germany.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Was in the army and stuff >> and her dad was a general and whatever or something like that.
>> Right. Right. Right.
>> No.
>> But I'll tell you man, >> I'm thrilled you got her. I I'm thrilled you got her.
>> They sent they sent me a bikini picture.
I was like it's it it's up there with Raquel Welsh stuff. It's like holy. She was a looker back in. I didn't know she was a model. I thought she was Mrs. Elvis and did some D or was it Dallas and that was the end of it. But >> Dallas, >> oh my goodness gracious. She was >> she was up there with like Derek and >> truly that's why if at least if I get a photo with her I have every intention of going you were great in the Naked Gun movies. You were great on Dallas and congratulations on carving your own niche beyond the shadow.
>> Yeah.
>> What a life.
>> Yeah. probably >> probably the I mean well of course Yoko is certainly accomplished. I'm not a big fan of Yoko's work on her own, but I certainly will respect the body of work and her place in avantgard art. But I would say she and she and Priscilla are the rock and roll wives that really kind of made their own mark.
>> Yeah. No. Yeah, they are.
>> You know, >> I can't think of anybody else up there.
I mean, Linda >> Yeah. Linda leaned on Paul, and that's okay. I I don't blame Paul for putting his wife in the band. That's okay.
>> Sharon Osborne, she had her own thing.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's true. No, you're right about that, Mitch. That's a fair point.
>> But most of the rest, no, a lot of these guys were married four or five times, but that's the other thing. Other than Yoko, I can't think of anybody.
>> Oh, Mitch also.
>> Hello. Oh, Barbara Bach. Oh, duh. Hello.
>> Yeah. Oh, you're right about Yes, you're right about that. Although she pretty she pretty much retired after uh Caveman Caveman wasn't a way to go out.
>> But uh but Stanley, he's right. Uh Ben Edlin, the guy who's from around here.
Ben Edund's from I think Massachusetts.
>> I knew that. Yes, I forgot.
>> I don't know where he is now. I don't know. I mean, I'd love to have him.
>> He's probably in LA, but he's a really interesting guy. He worked on, of course, he worked for a long time on Supernatural. He also, by the way, a good puppet, a good puppet episode. He wrote the Angel Smile Time puppet episode that g I wonder if the Strange New Worlds guys I wonder where they got that idea from.
>> No kidding. I did not know he was a TV writer. I did not.
>> Oh, very much so. And he worked on uh the first season of Powers. Bennis and Ome. Yeah.
>> Yep. Yep.
>> He was at Baltimore Comic-Con a couple years ago when I was there. So, >> he's a really I' I've had him on the show. Very nice guy.
>> Well, you have his email if you got it.
I think it's probably too late now.
>> If he's nearby, put the call out. If he's nearby, I got an extra hotel room he could come.
>> What' you say, Wayne?
>> Put up the tick light.
>> Put up the tick light. There you go.
>> And got it. Well, if you ever got uh Mickey Dolan, of course, he was Arthur.
>> Oh, >> sidekick. I know.
>> Mickey Dolan does a lot of shows around here. Believe it or not, he does.
>> Oh, no. He comes to Chicago.
>> He comes here every every few years. So, >> you know what's funny, Mitch?
>> Not this year, but maybe next year >> with my buddy Owen from uh Tala Academy of Sequential Art. Um we're doing a uh Steve Ditco documentary. I'm narrating it.
>> Oh. Uh Owen did all the heavy lifting, but he was saying, "Oh, you know, if Mitch wants it for Terrific this year," I'm like, "I bet he's his programming is full, but it would be fun next year potentially."
>> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
>> So, yeah. No, >> I would I would love to do a bit about Mr. Dick Co.
There's a lot of people out there that know about me and say, "Hey, didn't you meet him?" Maybe I did.
Anyway, oh, speaking of uh John Samino, uh there's going to be a st there's going to be a documentary about uh Stan Lee coming out this week or next week uh done by um what's the guy's name? There was not Matt Anderson, the other guy. B Bowl Bowlerjack or something. He's a he was a a friend of Stan Le. He was there. It's called Stan the Last Days or something.
The Last Days.
>> Oh, I heard about that.
>> It's like a documentary or something.
Yeah. and they they were trying to get funding for a long time and and it's uh I think it's coming on video on demand.
I saw some article and I don't know if I'll be watching this cuz it doesn't look like it's going to be fun watching Stan just being shoved in a closet towards the end. Well, he was at um uh uh god damn it um >> that guy, what was the guy?
>> West West Coast um Silicon Valley Con >> Silicon Valley Con. And the guy that called me that wanted like a half a million dollar guarantee and eight flights here, the guy that was like showing Stan how to write his name, he was in a tuxedo and a top hat and Stan started going, I know how to write my name or whatever. It was towards the end, like just before he passed away, but it it was not a >> The photos are depressing cuz literally it's like somebody had to have had like a hook in his back to literally prop him up cuz it really like he's like slumping to the side like an old man who was an old man. He was 90 something years old.
He just come off a lung infection or pneumonia.
>> It was It was bad, man. You know.
>> No, they ran him into the ground. They really ran him into the ground.
>> They did. They really did. I mean, nobody should have to deal with that.
Yeah. So, I'm just curious if you had watched it because I I saw it was making the rounds.
>> No, I'm just aware of it. But the uh the Ditco documentary that uh Owen is making, my buddy Owen McCauley, uh it dispels a lot of myths. I was telling Wayne because everyone thinks that Dicko was this like recluse. And it's like, no, he just like he he led a normal life and just didn't believe in celebrity.
That's all.
>> That's all.
>> You know, I mean, >> Paul met him plenty of times. You can talk to Paul. Paul worked with him on some DC stuff and uh Yeah.
>> So did he Yeah, he was making those little books.
>> He would make he would self-publish these little tiny comics and stuff >> and uh yeah, he was always active. He would do them Mr. A thing and he'd talk about his ran stuff, whatever it was.
>> Mark Mark, his nephew Mark is in for the documentary. Jack Harris, the former DC editor who was a very good friend of Steves. He's he's in the documentary.
And then my buddy, the comic historian, Dr. Zack Crusie, who wrote uh one of the books about Ditco in the last 20 years.
>> Well, you know what, too? And he worked down here in Charlton Comics uh right up the street from me here in Connecticut uh at Derby, Connecticut. He did uh Blue Beetle >> and uh Captain Ash and a bunch of stuff for Charlton back in the day.
>> Sure, he did.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> No. Um, by the way, God, I really want that uh documentary to come out.
>> I know. I knew you were going to say that. I don't know what happened with that kid. Dude, I I donated to that campaign like $500 >> because he's got so many great interviews with people aren't here anymore. I mean, he's got Neil Adams on there. I think he's got um he might have Yeah, Denny O'Neal was on there because Denny worked at Charlton as uh Edennessy or something. He had like a pseudo name or >> N Plume. Yeah. Some Sheamus >> Oness. Yeah. Some and and then uh Joe Stton's on it.
>> Uh John Burns on it. They got burn to talk about working at Charlton Comics.
So many people. And I think he's got like 12 hours or more of just interviews about what it was like to be a Bob Leighton's in it. I'm in it. Yep. But uh I don't know what ever happened. He ran out of money. And I've talked to him since and I said, 'Wh don't you just put it out there, serialize it and put it up on the, you know, YouTubetubes or whatever and make money on it that way?
I get you want to make money, but >> I mean, no, no one's done a Charlton Comics documentary. That's what's >> because it was mobbacked and everything.
>> Oh, damn well it was. You're damn right it was. Those guys went to jail because not for any comical stuff they did because of they would print song lyrics in >> Yeah. Oh yeah. The hip trade. They didn't have the the song rights, the trademark copyrights and all that. Went to jail for that. And that's how they started. The guys met each other in jail >> and they were like in Cell Block C and like hey let's do funny books.
>> But uh I told you >> they had because they had all the they had all the machinery.
>> Yeah. They had all this. It is the difference is I don't think people understand it. It was over here in Division Street. It was this massive building. They had the writers and artists in one department and then down the hall they had the the print making stuff, the photo guys and all that and they burned the plates and then they had the printing press at the other end of the building. So they were literally one-stop shop. You got the guys writing the books printing it and then they put it on a truck and they distribute it around here. And then Howard could tell you about distribution because it was all mob connected because they used to have the bootleggers would deliver liquor and then once booze got legal they had to figure out something else.
So they got into magazine distribution.
Why not? Makes sense. So they would distribute the comic books and magazines and stuff. It was all mob thing. But I was going to tell you one story that not a lot of people know. During the war, World War II, uh, >> the big one, FBI guys came to Charlton Comics to speak to the owner, Mr. Santangelo because they had found out that they sold a printing press, one of the ones they had to Mussolini and they were shipping it out of New York down near Lucky Luciano's uh docks down in New York City and it was getting on a boat and they were going to send this printing press to Italy and they were afraid that they were going to make counterfeit money with this press and try to flood the market and ruin the economy and stuff. So the FBI comes to their offices and they said, "You do know, sir, that we are at war with the with the Italians. So why are you selling them this printing equipment?"
They go, "Ah, it's okay. That printing press is broke."
[laughter] So they sold a broken printing press to Mosul.
>> Outstanding. Outstanding.
>> Thank you, America.
>> Thank you.
>> Yeah. uh keeping the documentary uh talk alive. Uh I supported the Get Me Doug Jones documentary that was a Kickstarter.
So >> Doug Jones was here last year.
>> Yeah, man. He was he was so nice to everybody.
>> He really was great. He's a general and I'm so happy for him and really as you guys know kind of owes a lot of his >> uh camera career to uh David Hyde Pierce because in the Hellboy movies he was doing both movies as Abe Sapion and Pierce very voluntarily in the second movie is like let Doug do it. He's doing the heavy lifting acting and he sounds great. You don't need me for this movie.
you Doug Doug can do this and everything opened up for Doug ever since >> Doug is in Batman Returns. Did you know that >> he told I forgot that he's one of those tall the red circle gang or red triangle gang whatever the hell they were called back in Batman Returns.
>> So very nice guy. Did you talk to him about Star Trek at all? Did you talk to him about >> I only very briefly because you know I again >> busy. He was busy. I didn't Well, and also what I did see and I those guys that uh are always at your show that are like a Star Trek fan club.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> It was incredibly generous to them >> and really spent time with them and that was really great and they loved it and you know I I you know if you don't have anything nice to say about and again I love Siru he's just surrounded by a really great character.
>> Yeah. And I don't want, you know, it's like it's like Picardo being an academy where I've made the sports analogy before where it's like you're not going to crap on your on your losing team.
You're going to support your team. So I I would never, you know, so I didn't want to like, you know, hey, I really like Cisco, Doug. It was really good because it wasn't. But he was great. So I, you know, but I did say I really enjoyed your performances in general.
And if anything, I brought up Abe Sapion more so.
>> And he hugs everybody.
>> Yeah, he does.
>> He is just >> He's such a >> hugger. He's a hugger.
>> Sweet guy. Definitely.
>> He's a close talker. Oh, no. That's Tom Hiddston.
>> Tom Hiddston. I swear to God, I thought he was going to kiss me, but I'll be seeing him soon, too. I'm going to see him on Broadway.
>> Yes. He's got a new documentary about Pompei. He and Miss Haley Atwell, who was here last year.
>> They will be in um some William Shakespeare thing. I can't think of it.
>> Oh, okay.
>> And it's a singing and dancing thing.
>> So, they're singing Kate.
>> No, it's not K. Yeah, Shakespeare wrote, "I Meiss Me Kate is based on a Shakespeare play, dude.
>> Well, that's not the one they're in, pal.
>> Midnight Summer Midnight Summer's Dream or whatever the [ __ ] Midsummer's Dream or >> Midsummer Night's Dream >> something. What a bouncy scene.
>> Whatever. Go back to Canada. Go back there. Go eat your freaking Tim Hortons.
>> I knew what he was saying. I knew what he was saying. It's all right.
>> Else did.
>> All right, everybody. There you go. Um, you know, I'm counterprogramming uh with San Diego coming and uh tomorrow night I'm gonna have another movie show. We'll be doing Scene Missing. my friend uh Lady V. Veronica Samuels of Washington DC and I will be talking about an interesting Shan Connory movie from 1964 with Gina Lola Brida and uh Ralph Richardson. It's called Woman of Straw.
It's an interesting suspense movie >> about two years after he started doing Bond and um an interesting film at that point in Connory's career. It was her suggestion. Uh but also uh I'm you're also going to see this week an interview with my buddy Owen McCauley uh about the Ditco documentary that he is making and I am narrating and Michael Stratford's going to be on. He was in the chat earlier. He's got a Black Plutation Kickstarter that he's starting up.
>> Oh, nice.
>> And uh more surprises. So yeah, we'll uh we're Bo Chugs along and we'll certainly acknowledge San Diego news as it happens. And maybe again depending on because I know it's getting close for Mitch. Hopefully uh we're available next. I mean I'm gonna do something.
>> We'll do a we could do a Star Trek next week. I gotta get one more [ __ ] [ __ ] session in before the show. Uh real quick with us. I know Wayne will be on time, but >> my buddy Gabe Gabe Hardman did a Twilight Zone book. Uh just came out issue eight or nine. I think it's a very good uh it's a standalone. You don't have to read them. It's an anthology. It's obviously the Twilight Zone. It's in black and white just like the show. So, if you get a chance, >> it's good. Number nine's out already. I didn't pick up nine. I just picked up Gab's book and his um his uh his DC book. I can't think of the title. That's out.
>> Uh he did a it's a Batman question Arrow story.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. That that Yeah, he completed that.
Yeah, we talked to He and I were did and he also is doing he did a G.I. Joe silent issue. That was great.
>> Oh. And he also did he started a Rocketeer miniseries and infiltrator. I got that up.
>> No, Gabe on a tear. Gabe on a tear.
>> He could have come here, but I heard he's too busy. So that's fine.
>> Well, he just he story he storyboarded disclosure day.
>> I know he did. I know he didn't.
>> So yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Maybe in his story boards they talked about how they could hide behind a rock and not be seen by bad [laughter] guys.
Stupid. It's all right. It's all right.
All right. Uh there you go everybody.
So, uh full week coming up on Word Balloon Live. I hope you'll join us.
>> Thanks for the smoke coming into my town and ruining my air breathing.
>> Yeah. No [ __ ] Hey.
>> Hey. Thanks. Thanks for your president not believing in climate change.
>> Yeah. Well, now that you're getting terrify your shitty smoke. They didn't have to smoke when I grew up. I said that I was talking to my mother. I never heard a Canadian smoke for 50 something 60 years on this planet. Now it's every other week.
>> Yeah, it's because of climate change.
>> Also, >> get it out of here. Put a plug in >> I never smelled it >> like I did this week.
>> Yes.
>> And it really like I mean >> you without the meat >> on my weather forecast app on my phone, it will do the air quality. Yeah. And when it's like when it's 80 or above, you know it's bad for people that have trouble breathing.
>> It was 172.
>> It was in the 300s, Mitch. At least down by me, it was 300.
>> Yeah. How do you like living on Venus, [ __ ] That's what my phone said today.
>> Hey, hey, >> come on. The smoke stayed up here, too, because Toronto had the worst air quality than New Delhi.
>> They deserve it. Did you see the picture I posted with the red sun? I WAS LIKE, "MY GOD, I'M LIKE KRYPTON."
>> KRYPTON.
>> NO, not krypton. Krypton.
>> Krypton.
>> Yeah. Krypton if you're Marlon Brando.
Exactly.
>> Whatever. Jesus. Wayne, work on it. Will you get over there and, you know, get some water and put that [ __ ] Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get on there, will you, Wayne?
>> Get it, Wayne.
>> Yeah. I'll do that between now and till I fly out to San Diego. Yeah. Yeah.
>> All right. Yeah, >> next Sunday, uh, a full-blown review of, uh, of Strange New Worlds, episode one, and, uh, some likely other TV and film that we're watching. So, uh, join us then. Until next time, stay safe, stay happy, stay healthy.
[music]
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