Guys Of A Certain Age

It’s not a rom-com, but it has both rom and com with an extra-large side of Twister fries.

Twisters, the movie, is the surprise hit of the summer, and also of note: The Guys all saw it in the theater, with their wives, and within a few days of being in the theater for another film.  But this one didn’t star Ryan Reynolds.  In fact, perhaps the biggest name in this tornado-flick-sans-sharks was an amazing singer who didn’t get to sing.  The plot line was pleasantly predictable, but hey - so is this podcast.  The Guys recommend this one 100% and especially in the theater, but if you can’t do that, at least find a large TV with a surround sound system, and turn the ceiling fan on high.  

Geeks this week include: The US Mint does a cross-over with DC and you can help! Batman Caped Crusader has made it to Prime!  And if you live near enough to an IMAX theater, Interstellar is celebrating 10 years with a re-release in those big, tall, round theaters.  Not the Globe… not the Sphere…the other ones.  In fact, you should listen to this episode in an IMAX ear theater.  

Hello, and welcome to Hall G at the first annual GOCA-CON!  We can pipe dream, can’t we?  In the meantime, The Guys will live vicariously through those who were privileged to attend the 2024 version of what used to be a comic book convention, now the site of every major reveal in geek media.  

The announcements were plenty: RDJr reappears with a different metal mask, Harrison Ford enters the MCU and seems to be embarrassed  (or is his face red for another reason?), and the Fantasticar flies around Hall H along with the cast of F4.  And that was just Marvel.  In other Marvel news, Jay discovers a super cooking show, Art relives his travels during the Crowdstrike pandemic, and Robbie doubles up with another Star Wars show on the horizon and a Netflix adaptation of Dragon’s Lair, featuring Ryan Reynolds playing…Ryan Reynolds.  

Apparently all roads lead to Marvel on this episode, since it was a marvel that Art made it home without having to rent a car.  Except the golden age superhero emblazoned with all the colors, that unfortunately gets a 3 Regrettables rating.  Every week is GOCA-CON!

At long last, The Guys talk about the biggest movie characters of all time.  Not box office dollars big, not IMDB page credits big, we’re talking literally big - titanic, even: Godzilla, Kong, and all their frenemies.  

With the recent release of Godzilla Minus One on Netflix (the dubbed version) and Godzilla X Kong on Max, it seemed like a perfect time to talk about Mothra.  Or Monarch.  Or both.  From the vintage look and feel of Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One, to the colorful romp through Hollow Earth of Godzilla x Kong, these films make interesting modern bookends (until the next one, anyway) for anyone familiar with the story or just getting into the genre.  

And in this week’s Geeks, someone’s political comments end up with a literal cancellation, all the geek genres in holiday housing are available in North Carolina, and it appears that the next big Avengers movies with have some familiar names at the helm.  Listen to this episode for sure - it’s the biggest yet.  

The Brats are back!

And if you’re keeping score, The Guys are not officially part of the Brat Pack.  But who is, really?  Andrew McCarthy’s fascinating documentary on Hulu attempts to answer that question through interesting camera work and a series of interviews with his old friends, a handful of writers, and a few Brat-Adjacents.  The Guys reminisce with them, with Jay telling a bit too much about his almost-encounter with the one he considered the Queen of the Brats.  

On other channels, it looks like Max is going all in on DC villains this year while waiting for Gunn to gear up the DCU, there was a loss in the Land of the Lost, and the House of Mouse may be reconsidering its renovation of the Tardis.  Grab some friends and listen together in your favorite Georgetown bar or high school detention room.  

Too many cliche’s to choose from, so … let the games begin!  it’s all fun and games until The Guys show up in your earholes, but this time it’s different.  

In this episode, it’s all about games - board games, to be specific - and it’s even more fun because one of the sons-of-the-podcast, Jacob Reed, came to the studio to share his knowledge and geekdom concerning all things board gaming.  Jacob not only built a cabinet specifically for games, he also has an app to keep up with how many times his wife wins, he’s in a Facebook game trading group, and he can explain “deck building” - and it’s not what Robbie is doing behind his house.  They reminisce about the favorite games of their childhoods, and talk about what’s current and how to find the good ones.  

Jacob even contributes a geek of the week about brain science when it comes to gaming.  Art tells of a documentary about the making of a graphic novel, Robbie reveals the drop date of Marvel’s latest TV series, and Jay brings snacks that reveal the dark side.  Be sure to listen to this one, and don’t worry: you won’t be board.  The game is afoot!

The “Get to Know The Guys” series comes to a spine-tingling conclusion in this episode.  And not just because of Robbie’s hard-hitting questions for Jay - spines just start tingling when you get to be a certain age.  

But before they got to the details of “Jay Reed, this is your life,” there were Geeks of the Week.  It’s only a few months until the holidays commence, and in November, Red One hits theaters; Jay thinks it could be the most action-packed Christmas movie since Die Hard.  Dr. Who’s latest season is complete, and Robbie wonders aloud if it’s time to put the Tardis in the garage.  Speed Centaur begs the question: Narnia reject or a regrettable super horselike hero?  

After the break, Robbie unearths Jay’s western roots, eastern travels, northern wife and southern charm in the final installment (and hopefully not exit interview) of the series.  Listen to this one for food recommendations from your favorite Tex-issippian pharmacist.  

At long last, Jay and Art - aka “The Dune Dudes” - abided at their respective houses in front of the telly long enough to watch Dune Part Two.  It had been harkonneng for a long time.  And in a strange twist, they didn’t just arrive at different opinions, they flipped from their opinions of part one.  But both agreed there was enough great action, great actors, and great sand-skiing scenes to keep one’s attention for the nearly three hour spice-fest.  

In another plot twist, Pat Parker, War Nurse, gets a thumbs up in the regrettable superhero segment.  

As for geeks, who’s watching the Watchmen?  Jay is.  Art wants to know who’ll be watching Gladiator 2, and the enthusiasm waned.  Robbie just Hamm-ed it up about another potential Marvel movie not in the works.  Listen to the only podcast around that’s recorded entirely in infrared.  

Once a year, or whenever they get hungry for things with grill marks and smoky aromas, The Guys emerge from the basement and venture into the great backyard with grill-master and friend of the podcast Wes Shelton.  In fact, Wes is one of the rare repeat guests and may be the first ever to bring along his own Geek of the Week.  

Keeping it on subject, Wes talks about the debunking of a common grilling practice, and Jay shares news of a pop-up restaurant in Vegas that will likely be gone by the time the What Happens to The Guys in Vegas Road Trip eventually happens.  Robbie keeps it in Vegas, at least, with the announcement of another supergroup taking their turn at The Sphere.  

Then they head outside to talk lesser-known but delicious cuts of beef that do well on the grill or smoker, where to find them, how to use thermometers and the Egg Genius to make grill life more delicious and efficient, and some thoughts on how to do fish and chicken without drying it out or losing it through the grates.  

There may even be some fruit and veggies on the menu.  Light your coals and listen.  

This week's episode takes a different turn as Robbie and Art welcome special guest Paige Hunt to talk about her favorite movie, Steel Magnolias. In an attempt to broaden the Guys' horizons, Paige explains why this movie is not only the best movie to come out in 1989 (an amazing year for movies) but of ALL time, despite there being nary a lightsaber nor blaster in sight.

In this exciting conclusion to Robbie’s interview with Jim Biddle, a genuine contestant on MTV’s early game show, Remote Control, the question is answered: did he win?  Well, of course … he answers the question.  

And The Guys build that anticipation by answering the question: what are the geeks of the week?  This time Jay shares the celebration of life for one of Disney’s most prolific songwriters, Art is eager to play with some new GI Joe figures, and Robbie catches everybody up on how a Star Wars villain made the jump to Marvel villain.  

Hands off that remote control: keep it on this podcast.