Guys Of A Certain Age

There’s no way around this descriptor: this episode is Fantastic.  But be-Four The Guys get to The Thing they came to talk about, there are notable Geeks of the Week to mention.  

Jay heard about a Hamilton cast member who’s been there from day one, and hopes the same will happen to him in this podcast.  Robbie geeks out over a potential Star Wars-Dr. Who crossover (well, sort of - with a cast member, at least.)  And Art - in his own special segment, soon to be known as the Optimist with the Obituaries (they’re still workshopping the title)- shares sad news about one of WKRP’s finest.  

In Jay’s Regrettable Segment, ROM the Spaceknight gets special coverage: Robbie has been waiting for this one to get to Earth-1012.  Then they get to the final Stretch, a discussion of the MCU’s latest gift to the theater: Fantastic Four, First Steps.  This may be the best FF ever, less Torched by the critics than any of the variants thus far, and The Guys agree.  Good casting overall, balanced story with perhaps some nuances not seen very often in superhero flicks (spoiler: there’s a baby), terrific sets, fascinating time setting, useful mid-credit scene, and fun music.  

The MCU may not be Invisible much longer.  

It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!  The first major film in the DCG (DC Gunn-iverse, for those not caught up on the latest lingo, like Jay) hit theaters and Superman is back.  

The Guys had high expectations and some were met.  Others, maybe not so much.  But they agree that major steps  - especially in the casting - were made in the right direction for DC as the universe gets a reboot. As Art so eloquently put it, hopefulness has been restored to the franchise.  

Art is also hoping for a John Carter figure for Christmas (listeners can pre-order now), Jay wants a night light that might also scare away intruders (and/or unsuspecting family members), and Robbie may or may not want a new late night talk show, as one of the biggies has been cancelled.  It’s a super episode - or at least The Guys hope so.  

First, there were the Untouchables.  Then the Incredibles.  Later came the Expendables: 1, 2, 3 and 4.  (Apparently Stallone can’t be involved in something without multiple sequels.) Dare we say the GOCA-bles?  Probably not.  

Let’s move on to the Regrettables and quit while we’re behind.  This week Robbie is lost somewhere in Indiana, leaving Art and Jay to their own devices.  Having none, they go back to the well they like to call, “Jay’s Regrettable Segment on Steroids.”  Or in another brilliant alliteration, “Regrettable Round-Up.” The League of Regrettable Superheroes book will shortly come to a close, and this episode will help The Guys skate/truck/thunder/or…legislate (?) towards a bittersweet end.  With two voted redeemable and two most definitely regrettable, prepare to be introduced for perhaps the first and last time to Prez, Skateman, U.S. 1, and Thunder Bunny.  You can’t make this stuff up.  Yet somebody did.  

In Geeks of the Week, Jay wonders when his podcast salary will reach Superman status, and Art reports that an upcoming series about Green may be a bit Blue.  Don’t miss this colorful episode; pink ears, white booty shorts, and well, that’s enough.   

It’s a race to the finish in today’s episode.  

Only six more Regrettable Superheroes left in the book before Jay will have to create another segment, only a few more degrees before Mississippi weather hits 100 (that’s temperature AND humidity), and a challenge to see who’s seen the most auto racing movies.  Today’s redeemable regrettable is Phoenix the Protector, whose finish came not from the alien super-race determined to end humanity, but from the collapse of Atlas Comics.  

Geeks of the Week were short and sweet: Spiderman returns (again), Denis is not done with Dune, and Sandman Part the Second gets an eye-opening review via Robbie.  

Then it’s off to the races.  Jay and Robbie went to see F1 in the theater, and both left ready to take turn four at speeds never before reached in a Tundra.  Look for The Guys faces on your favorite Formula 1 car next season.  That led to a discussion of auto racing movies, a much larger genre than anticipated, leaving Jay with another list of movies to watch when he retires.  

Buckle up, this one goes by fast.  

It’s not the last of Them, but it is The Last of Us. The streaming series, that is. And the game.

In fact, it may be a first: not only are all three Guys in the studio this week, they even brought in a fourth: Jonah Holland, certified by GOCA as an expert in all things The Last of Us. The Guest even brought a Geek of the Week, so he got paid double and extra bonus points because his Geek related to the topic.

As for the rest of Them, Robbie brought news of yet another shift in the streaming scene, Jay revealed some not-so-secret Superman cameos, and Art boldly pronounced the name of the newest Bond movie director.  After the break, Jonah gave The Guys a primer on The Last of Us, with a little game history, a few highlights of the streaming series, and an opinion or two on how the two media matched up. Even the GOCA-phites got into the action, as Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Holland (via their sons) shared their thoughts on the highlight of the series, and who would also like you to “vote for Pedro.”

If Jay binged Season 2 in about 15 hours, it must be pretty good, right?  That’s what all the listeners who binge-listen to this podcast say, too…right? If nothing else, listen to Jonah - he knows what he’s talking about.  

After a brief-ish primer on barbecue styles in North Carolina and beyond, Jay dives into even more food talk in his Geek of the Week, with another movie-focused restaurant that is actually reachable from GOCA headquarters.  Robbie talks about a remake of a childhood favorite TV show and the placement of cameras in the movie he's most looking forward to. 

Movies are the theme in the second half, as they earn the most points in the GOCA Geek Index. Jay discovers that icons of comic book superhero movies may actually have lower Geek Indexes than one might expect.  Christopher Reeve is Superman to most of the GOCA generation, but his score is lower than a dude from the Bad News Bears, rivaled by a child Disney star, and just about doubled by a leading man with way better hair than Jay (maybe it's the hairspray.)..

Get out your pen, paper, and Texas Instruments calculator to keep score.  

The World waited in great anticipation for Season 2 of one of the greatest series in the Star Wars Universe.

Andor finally came back.  Andor kicked Empire bottoms.  The World is abundantly satisfied, especially now that The Guys are finally together in trio form to share their thoughts, and/or their feelings, about this series.  And it hit all the right colorful buttons on the control panel of the ship: great actors and acting, plot surprises, clear connections to the SWU, and a show that stands firmly on its own.  Hopefully Guys of a Certain Age Season 2 will rate the same.

 Art has obituary duty this week as everyday people in the music world remind themselves, don’t worry baby.  Jay shares the biggest rumor-that’s-hopefully-not-a-rumor regarding the next Black Panther film.  And Robbie has a plethora of geek news ranging from Dr Who (of course) to more of Les Grossman.  Listen as the guys prepare to go rogue one!

It’s the mostly annual outdoor cooking episode, an early summer tradition that usually occurs when Art is absent from the studio (though not from the heart.)  This year, however, Jay and Robbie are joined by Chef Mark Coblentz, who happens to be Robbie’s actual offspring and is known throughout the local area as Jay’s TV son.  

Jay grills Mark with questions about favorite back porch cooking methods, including one that began with disaster and ended with some prime TV footage.  They talk unusual foods cooked outside, veggies and fruits that work well on the grill, and the controversial idea of liquid smoke.  This episode may send you straight to the grocery and grill store.  

But first, there’s popcorn.  Yes, Jay introduces a new segment called “Limited Edition Movie Popcorn Buckets+.”  If you like the popcorn (and the buckets) but want to enjoy them from the comfort of your own home (because you have something on the smoker you don’t want to leave), this Geek of the Week is for you.  And perhaps, while grilling, you might want to listen to the new dance track just released from the hottest wedding in Andor’s galaxy.  Food, music, and entertainment - this episode has it all.  Or at least suggests where to find it.  

With Jay Reed out, Robbie and Art launch another rant session.