Guys Of A Certain Age

Sometimes The Guys have to really reach to come up with Geeks of the Week (see Jay reaching back to 1990’s Popular Science issues or announcing new movies advertised on ancient Netflix DVD’s).  Other times, there’s so many to choose from it’s hard to pick just one.

 This week’s episode is all geeks, and we’re not just talking about The Guys.  The ever-popular-in-Bavaria Geeks of the Week segment transmogrifies into the main subject, and some of Jay’s breaking news items are truly current.  Or they were on the day it was recorded.  From a new Fantastic Four theory to an accidental international announcement of a possible Grogu short film, from Sandman part the second to multiple bits of news from Cavill headquarters - even the Broadway debut of Marty and Doc’s musical version of a classic film (not to be confused with Art and Jay’s attempt to join the cast of Les Mis).  

This episode has it all - don’t miss a thing or you will miss things.  

The event hung in the balance for weeks, uncertainty abounding, Art and Jay wondering if Robbie would go with them to a non-Batman DC movie (in the theater, no less), and they finally got their answer: he would see Black Adam with.  

Only Jay came in full cosplay, muscles rippling (or were those love handles of a certain age?), but they all saw the movie together, except for those few minutes when Jay’s favorite app insisted he take a break from the action.  But there’s no break in the action of The Guys’ discussion of The Rock’s rendition of this lesser-known comic book superhero from the Shazam generation.  

This time, in Geeks of the Week, it’s Jay with news from the DCU, shining a green lantern in this dark world.  Speaking of dark worlds, Art shares yet another obituary that surely caused Rudolph’s nose to dim in tribute.  And Robbie brings even more news from Who-ville, but not the one with the Grinch: it’s Mickey this time.

Current Hulk-tor Mark Ruffalo recently referred to the role as “our generation’s Hamlet…everyone’s going to get a shot at it.”  And in this episode, The Guys celebrate (spoiler alert: they like it) the most recent member of the club: She-Hulk, with Tatiana Maslany.  Fun cameos, future tie-ins, fan service, fourth wall, funny dialogue, and a few fights for good measure - this Marvel limited series is one they hope will not be limited to one season.  

Art and Robbie are also hoping this isn’t Jay’s last season, as he contemplates partaking in the McRib Farewell Tour.  Robbie brings news of another finale, and you can guess “Who” he’s excited about seeing.  

Meanwhile, Art speaks of new beginnings, as the DCU introduces their two-man answer to Marvel’s Feige.  

Jay's out attending what seems to be a ComicCon for Food, so Robbie and Art take a look at DC Film's new idea in spoilers, INTENTIONALLY leaking them. Is it a marketing ploy? Is it laziness? Is it just easier to concede? Are Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo encouraging Marvel to do the same? Tune in and hear Robbie and Art (SPOILER) voice their opinions on the topic.

It’s official!  Sort of.  Rolling Stone magazine gathered an elite committee of opinionated people in the TV industry for the purpose of naming and ranking the Top 100 TV shows of all time.  

The Guys were not invited.  

But that doesn’t mean The Committee was right about everything, and it certainly doesn’t mean The Guys don’t have valuable opinions on such matters.  And WHAT they really want to know is HOW there is no Dr. WHO.  WHY was he left out?  WHEN will that error be rectified?

In the Geeks of the Week segment, Jay shares deep space thoughts from Captain Shatner himself, Art brings news of the new (old) Superman, and Robbie depresses them all with the just-announced pushed-back-yet-again schedule of MCU movies.  There’s plenty of time to catch up on GOCA podcast episodes while you wait for the next phase to begin.  

It’s February 1, 2019.  Three Guys of a Certain Age release Episode One of a podcast dreamed up over a meat and three lunch a few weeks before.  They had no audience, no sponsors, no idea how long it would last.  

Fast forward to October, 2022.  That’s over three and a half years, and The Guys can’t believe it either.  Still no sponsor…but this time there was an audience to celebrate the recording of the 200th episode, live at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern in Starkville, Mississippi.  

The Guys are still a little bit shocked, but also thrilled to share this special episode with all their loyal listeners, whether or not they made it to Dave’s.  Geeks of the Week still anchored the show, with special attention to the new Black Panther and the latest Roblox character to wander the metaverse, plus a fascinating link between a Vulcan and a Time Lord.  Several former guests make live appearances, including - you guessed it - the infamous Mrs. Reed.  And should anyone be brave enough to associate The Guys’ faces with their voices, there is a Facebook Live video to prove that Jay was actually in the room this time.  

Listen, watch, and let the frivolity ensue!  It’s Episode 200!

This episode is full of deep questions.  The Guys are the ones answering said questions, however, so deep answers may be in short supply.  

The issue before them?  When it comes to the genres most discussed on this podcast - superheroes, Star fill-in-the-blank, perhaps a Middle Earth adventure - do they shine more brightly on the movie screen or the CRT (or whatever small screen one might currently be watching)? Quotable comparisons like “Spectacle vs Story” and “Message or Medium” are provided free of charge - no subscription necessary.

Jay also gets schooled on whatever a Kelvin is, another full-filmed project is cancelled, and the Hugh-Ryan rivalry takes an interesting turn.  Listen to this one with big headphones.  

This is the one For All Guy-Kind.  It began with a recommendation from Robbie - “Are y’all watching For All Mankind on AppleTV+?”  Art soon started watching, and finally Jay embraced his NASA roots and began the binging.  Just think (spoiler ahead): if Jay’s dad had stayed at NASA, maybe Jay’s wedding would have been on Mars.

Maybe not, but For All Mankind definitely stirred the imagination and earned 15 stars from The Guys.  (That’s 5 each when we all show up to record.) But perhaps predictions should be left up to The Simpsons, as Jay reports in his Geek of the Week.  Art-soka delivers some Disney+ casting news and Robbie adds to the never-ending announcements from D23.  

Listen to this one.  If not for yourself, for all mankind.  

Robbie is missing in action this week, but never fear, Art and Jay are here!  And it’s a big week, indeed.  D23 2022 is in the books, and lots of announcements were made, leaving The Guys to ruminate over some of the shows they’re looking forward to, and perhaps a few that bring a little less enthusiasm. 

But in the words of Art, “At least it’s not another deathwatch…”  Since most of the announced shows won’t come till 2023 or 24, we all need something to do until then, right?  How about some audiodrama?  Art and Jay review the genre - are they all fancy names for podcasts?  Or are podcasts a subset of something else?  They talk about their favorites from short series, to pod-movies, to old time radio, including an announcement about a season two of a show that both consider a fave. 

You have permission to listen to those once you’ve caught up with The Guys.  

The Queen is dead. Long live the King.