Guys Of A Certain Age

In this episode, we learn that Jay does take the other Guys’ watchlist recommendations from time to time, and because Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had minimal zombies, he might actually take a recommendation again.  

Yes, Robbie and Art did an episode on SNW shortly after Season 2 ended.  Jay, on the other hand, took a little longer to finish, but it was well worth his time.  While Art visits the Atlantic, Robbie and Jay get caught up on Captain Pike and his musical crew.  Okay, that’s just one episode, but we all know Jay loves a good musical.  In fact, he loved the entire series, and was quite disappointed to learn that Season 3 was almost certainly delayed by various and sundry strikes that, thankfully, have finally ended.  

In other Star Trek news, Robbie found a podcast hosted by two Enterprise crew members that are friends in and out of space, while Jay happened upon a trailer for yet another Ghostbusters movie coming soon.  Maybe he’ll have time to watch the last one before this one comes out.  Listen long and prosper.  

The challenge was issued: pick a movie all The Guys would watch (again, presumably - yes, even Jay had seen this one, he thought).  Then come back and talk about how it held up 39 years later.  Wait, what??  

It’s been 39 years since The Last Starfighter hit the silver screen?  That’s right.  It was a cutting edge science fiction flick when it came to digital graphics, but what do those cutting edge scenes look like now?  And most importantly, is this a movie begging for a remake?  The Guys talk all that along with a nod to The Music Man himself, Robert “Centauri” Preston.  

Back on Earth, Robbie tells about his recent trip to a space-age concert venue in Vegas (but he won’t tell what happened) and brings us up to speed on all things Who.  Art listened to a new old Beatles song, and while Robbie walked the F1 racetrack, Jay went back to his NASCAR roots by way of an X-wing Fighter.  Buckle up!

While Robbie is off visiting a giant eyeball in the Nevada desert, never fear!  Art and Jay are still here.  But it’s Halloween - or it was - so there may be fear involved.  Before we get to the scary part of this episode, however, The Guys discuss alternatives.  Those clever Batman artists are releasing an alternate ending to a 1988 comic that could give one particular Robin another chance.  

And if you don’t want to end up in the ground or in an urn when your time on Earth is expired, why not leave Earth entirely?  There are ways, and it may be cheaper than a funeral.  When it comes to Halloween, The Guys also discover that there are lots of alternatives when it comes to costumes for grown-ups, from Mickey Mouse to the Mad Scientist.  

Art’s been watching The Fall of the House of Usher, with a story line that’s most definitely an alternative to Poe’s original work, but with lots of Easter eggs.  Or Halloween eggs?  Jay took one for the team and watched Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.  If that’s not an alternative ending, there isn’t one.  Despite all the alternative podcasts, you should listen to this one.  

This week, Robbie and Art look at the current state of Marvel TV shows and how, following the news of the Daredevil series overhaul, the blind seem to be leading the blind. (Without the advantage of enhanced radar-like powers)

It’s back to the books for The Guys on this episode.  No, they’re not going back to school, they’re just re-visiting and updating the fanbase on what they’re reading, how they’re reading it, and why a library card is still a good thing to carry.  

Robbie is off this week in search of the elusive TatoNut, but Art and Jay get in the literary weeds about books - Art even gets a surprise accolade via Jay’s handcrafted book list.  

Sadly, Jay gets duped by an internet post - certainly for the first time ever - but Art redeems it because of, well, art.  Art has news of a reboot getting a reboot, and they’re not just talking about the second half of the podcast.  

Another Star Wars limited series season has come to a close.  The greatly-anticipated Ahsoka is now in the books. Or on the screen, as it were.  What did The Guys think about it?  Did it stand up to Andor?  To Obi-Wan? To the Mandalorians?   It seems that is yet to be determined.  Okay, they do have opinions and those opinions vary.  

There were some great moments and there were some that maybe could have been left on the proverbial cutting-room floor.  And a few others added in their place.  Or maybe it’s just because Jay and Art didn’t watch the 29+ episodes of Clone Wars and Rebels that would’ve helped them understand.  Listen to see what The Guys think, then feel free to form your own opinions!

Meanwhile, we hear about what Captain Picard is writing about these days, where Disney is letting some of those other Star Wars properties loose on - gasp - “free” channels, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to embrace your inner ogre.  

Guys of a Certain Age Listener, come on down!  You’re the next contestant on The Price of Listening to This Is About 39 Minutes of Your Life!  But it’s worth it if you pick the episode with the big prize behind it, right?  

If it hasn’t been made abundantly clear by the clues given by a wannabe celebrity, this episode is about game shows.  In the days following the passing of legendary game show host Bob Barker, The Guys realized - hey, there’s a genre of shows we watched a lot of but haven’t talked about yet.  So they did.  

From the earliest days of their collective memories, they’re here To Tell the Truth about what they watched and hope it doesn’t get them in Jeopardy.  

But before they get to the bonus round, there is talk of eating sandwiches aloft, Planet of the Apes in print, and the new trailer for the upcoming Disney+ series, known to insiders as Percy Jackson and the Gods of a Certain Age.  How much of your winnings are you willing to wager that this episode will make you say “whoopee!”?

Every superhero has an origin story.  Superpodcasts do, too.  Guys of a Certain Age was born in Robbie’s brain - those around him are not sure if it was before or after he was bitten by a radioactive Mississippi mosquito.  Then the idea was shared with Art and Jay over lunch in those glorious golden years, somewhere around 2019 B.C. (Before Covid.).  And the rest is broadcasting history.  

On this epic episode which The Guys mostly agreed would be milestone number 250, they tell the story of starting, share favorite episodes, and even talk a bit about what comes next.  

Unfortunately, a majority of the Geeks of the Week have to do with endings: two out of the three are obituaries.  Thank goodness Robbie had updated news of a rebirth of one of his favorite movies.  If you haven’t listened to the previous 249 episodes, don’t worry - this is not Ahsoka.  

Once upon a time (or let’s just say, most episodes) The Guys take the opportunity to reminisce.  And with the Netflix DVD service about to send out its last little red envelopes, that seemed like the perfect segue to Robbie quizzing Jay about his semi-recent cutting of the proverbial cords.  

It’s been over a year since he quit getting the little red envelopes in the mail - that was the gateway cut.  Then it was his landline; no emergencies so far requiring landlines.  And most recently, it was Big Cable getting the boot.  Any regrets?  Any lessons?  Any Netflix DVD’s hiding under the old VCR that he’ll get to keep?  Listen as the last holdout of The Guys tells his tale.  

Then go watch the Aquaman 2 trailer, or any of the handful of geek-fave TV series or movies that star young Ariana Greenblatt.  But don’t try to watch them at an MGM hotel - they may not have Wi-Fi restored just yet.  

On this episode, Robbie and Art welcome fellow geek and children's book author Bill Sugg to the Guys' studio.

Taking Jay's place at his microphone (but never the place in the heart of Jay's fan) Bill, aka Cad E. Wampus, talks about the inspiration for and the process of creating and publishing his hand-illustrated book, Gibble the Goblin Has a Problem. It's the story of a goblin who learns an important lesson in asking for things. Visit the Book Baby link below to buy a copy! 

Geeks of the Week include a look a incredible prop maker's website, news of a new Super Highlander, a review of the new Babylon 5 animated movie, and thoughts on the trailer for Apple TV+'s new series about Godzilla and his pals.

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/gibble-the-goblin-has-a-problem1