Guys Of A Certain Age

This episode is sure to send the listener to The Dreaming, but not for the usual reasons.  Art is out taking a nap, which is appropriate, as Jay and Robbie discuss Season 2 of The Sandman, Neil Gaiman’s Netflix exposition of his award-winning comic.  Sadly, Season 2 may be the final season.  The video version was faithful to the comics, the story was compelling, the visuals were fantastic, and the characters (as well as the actors who played them) were fascinating.  If ever a show went out on top, this is the one.  No sleeping here, but definitely dreaming that more seasons might show up later.  In this week’s Geeks, Jay takes us on a journey to Notting Hill for lunch and a stroll in a bookstore it would be hard for him to leave.  (It’s not a travel bookstore, by the way - he’s just a boy, standing in front of a cook, asking her to feed him.)  Robbie talks of exits: Dr. Who from Disney, Sheridan from Paramount, and Disney (along with hopes of watching college football on ESPN over the weekend) from YouTubeTV.  It’s a big show - don’t sleep through it.  

Wes Shelton, one of GOCA’s most frequent guests, is back… but is it even grilling season?  Well, it is if Wes is around.  He joins Robbie and Jay in the studio to talk about grilling for the holidays.  

Thanksgiving approaches, which means turkeys will be smoked, fried, roasted, and otherwise prepared for feasting, and much of that can (and should) be done outdoors on grills, eggs, etc.  Or perhaps a duck?  Maybe pheasants?  And even in Mississippi, it will eventually get cold outside.  How does that affect smokers working low and slow?  Wes has ideas, answers, tips, and more for the holiday outdoor cooking enthusiast.  

In this week’s Geeks, Robbie takes Art’s usual role in sharing a notable obituary for Barbara Gips, while Jay takes the listeners on a tour (in past tense, unfortunately) of the latest iteration in snack food-based nightclubs.  As it turns out, in space, no one can hear you crunch Cheez-Its.  

With Jay still on his magical mystery tour and Halloween upon us, Robbie and Art share some of their favorite memories of spooky seasons past. Some of these stories have been shared before, but it's always good to hear the cautionary tale of homemade werewolf makeup. They also share their top 3 essential scary-ish movies.

Art went out for coffee instead of coming to the studio, leaving Robbie and Jay a choice: talk about Art?  or talk about coffee?  Perhaps there was a little of both.  

One of Robbie’s entrepreneurial adventures won a major award this fall for the seasonal coffee drink everyone loves to have an opinion on: the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  That excitement led to a discussion about all things coffee.  Methods vary, milk types vary, ratios vary, and coffee shops vary, but both the Guys agree: they want to taste the coffee.  

In this week’s Geeks, Jay announces a title change for an actor with lots of geek cred, and Robbie tells of the upcoming anniversary of a Marvel-DC clash of the universes between an alien and an arachnid.  Grab a PSL and listen up.  

Steve Taylor, recording artist, filmmaker and producer, is back for part two of his interview covering his directing career and recent entry as a member to the PGA (Producers Guild of America).

Jay and Robbie’s formative years were spent listening to Steve Taylor’s music.  Then Robbie grew up, became a video media guru, crossed paths with Steve in the film world, and that’s the focus of this episode’s interview.  From avant-garde film school, to Donald Miller, and on to Sketch (recently in theaters), Steve’s film career as a director, producer, and early adapter of Kickstarter funding is quite the adventure.  

This week’s Geeks takes an interesting turn…Robbie forgets to bring one!  But Art and Jay save the day, with news of Marvel exiting the Peach State and a rumor about the new (in many ways) James Bond.  Pop some popcorn and head to the movies with Steve Taylor!

Some creatives are really good at one thing and dabble in everything else.  Others, like Steve Taylor, seem to be really good at everything they touch. Or sing. Or produce. Or direct. All the things.  

In this episode, part 1 of 2, Robbie interviews Steve, covering his music career as a singer and producer, with stories of the early days of contemporary Christian music.  Steve talks about the beginnings of his career as a director, first in music videos then onto features as he grew as a filmmaker.  Wax museums, big tops and Violent Blue caves are all name checked.

But before Steve tells his tales, The Guys tell a few of their own.  Art’s Geek of the Week is the long-awaited arrival of the first Mando Grogu movie trailer, or is it The Muppets Invade the Outer Rim? Speaking of Star Wars, Jay finds yet another place to vacation with blasters within reach, and this time it’s close enough to drive.  Robbie has sad news, but not a celebrity obit: Spiderverse 3 is again delayed.  But the good news is, Steve Taylor is here!  

It’s Season Three of a Strange Old Guys podcast.  Or it’s a very long Season One.  It’s hard to tell.  But The Guys have all watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and have things to say.  

Did it live up to the previous seasons?  Will they keep watching when Season Four comes along?  Should Anson Mount’s hair get a separate credit? These questions and more may or may not be answered.  

In Geeks of the Week, Jay reflects on some Emmy nominations as he looks at some new food and drink shows hitting the stream-waves this fall.  Art is lost in space, but pops in via the magic of the Rodecaster Pro to give his thoughts as the resident Trekkie and to celebrate the anniversary of another classic show.  Robbie does a compare and contrast of a sort with Daredevil Season 3 and The Muppet Show Season 47.  Or something like that.  

Lots of interesting Emmy’s for the geek world are discussed as well as the loss of Hydra’s leader.  Listen where no man has listened before.  

There comes a time in a Guy’s life, especially at a certain age, when he begins to realize that things are not as important as experiences with the people he loves.  Or perhaps he’s just run out of room for things, and the people he thought loved him told him he couldn’t buy any more things.  (Thought we were getting philosophical there, didn’t you?) 

Well, Jay has had an epiphany of sorts, and he’s ready to share.  Instead of getting more stuff, he’s focusing on doing more stuff - Guys of a Certain Age don’t have all day, you know.  With Robbie out on the road having his own experiences (called “work”), Art and Jay hit the studio to talk concerts, bucket lists, trips, productivity and marriage.  (This episode truly has it all.)

Jay’s Geek of the Week even follows the pattern, with a Hardy Boy experience he probably won’t be able to attend.  What he Khan do, though, is listen to the new audio Star Trek series that Art told him - and the world - about. 

Robbie is involved in the restaurant industry, Jay is involved in food media, and Art has a storied history in food marketing.  It’s a wonder that the episodes aren’t shorter so they can get to lunch faster.  And it’s no wonder that the subjects often trend towards food.

This episode evolved out of both hunger and a listener request.  The Guys are based in an SEC college football town, and it’s the beginning of the season.  Fans gotta’ eat, but where?  What if all the well-known and loved places in town have long waits?  Or what if there are terrific places to grab a bite that might not even show up on Yelp?  That’s what The Guys are here for.  Art was out of the studio (eating?) but still sent in his favorites.  Local places are covered, with plenty of emphasis on gas stations and grocery stores, plus spots in surrounding counties that are easily accessible on the way in or out of town.  

If you’re hungry for another Superman movie, it’s coming … tomorrow, but in 2027.  If you want to buy Darth Vader’s light saber, you’re too late.  And if you want to eat dinner at The Shed at Dulwich, you’d better have a backup plan.  See you off the beaten path.

The instructions were clear.  The topic was to be TV series The Guys were enjoying currently that the others might not be watching.  

Robbie understood the assignment (since he made the assignment) with Stick and The Sandman season two.  Art understood the assignment, mentioning the new season of Wednesday, with honorable mention for the reboot of King of the Hill. Jay did not understand the assignment, but still recommends The Office for a lot of good reasons.  

Perhaps he will be redeemed with his Geek of the Week audiobook recommendation, Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller.  Art talks James Gunn’s willingness to shake up the cast list in the DCU, and Robbie breaks the news of a telling hint drop that could get interesting for fans of Princess Leia.  Movies, TV, Books and plenty of random conversation: this podcast has everything!