Guys Of A Certain Age

The Guys did not approach this episode tentatively - rather, it was Tennant-ively.  David Tennant, that is.  

Robbie takes this opportunity to introduce the GGI, the GOCA Geek Index, which heretofore will be used to gauge the geek factor of major screen stars, and it appears that Mr. Tennant scores well.  Though he may be primarily known as the tenth (and the fourteenth) doctor in Robbie’s favorite series, he also makes appearances in just about every other franchise known to geekdom.  And he just seems like the kind of Scot you’d like to hang around with.  

Moon Girl (the 1940’s version) takes a spin on the regret-o-meter, net neutrality is back in the news, Jay tries to convince Robbie to watch Hobbits sing in Chicago, and Art’s obituary this week is … TikTok?  Grab a pen or a stylus while you listen, and keep your own GGI at home!

The Guys watched a lot of movies in the 80’s and 90’s, and a lot of them exist thanks to writer/producer/director/collaborator/uncredited actor John Hughes.  Without Hughes, would we have the Brat Pack?  Would the pop culture references we know and love be absent from our vocabulary?  Would anyone who survived their teenage years during those two decades been able to recognize their angst?  

You’ll have to listen to get The Guys’ answers to these and many more questions on the subject of the legacy John Hughes left us.  Jay handles the obituary page in this episode with memories of running through airports and slowly chasing white Broncos.  Art’s rebel tendencies surface, and Robbie wants to be (or was it see?) a hero.

 Jay’s Regrettable Superhero of the week leaves The Guys a little perplexed on the he/she question, because Madam Fatal is not the droid they were looking for.  Join Art, Robbie, Jay and Duckie this week, for the podcast with almost as many episodes as there are Beethoven movie sequels.  

It’s time for an Art history lesson, podcast family and FOG’s (Friends of the Guys, of course.) But it’s not the kind you sleep through trying to get that one easy credit to graduate, it’s the kind where you learn all about our co-host, Art Shirley.

Jay puts on his interrogator hat - er, it should be interviewer - and extricates all the details of Art’s life.  You’ll learn where he came from, where he’d like to go, and meet all the comic characters he’s created or made famous.  Or will make famous after this episode airs.  

Robbie is sadly absent this week, but Jay and Art forged ahead with geek news from both the Marvel and DC worlds, and Jay’s Regrettable Segment features an early female fighter of Nazis and other dastardly deed-doers that goes by the name of Lady Satan.  Somebody made it up, but The Guys didn’t.  Listen till the end, you don’t want to miss the lightning round!

With Jay out, Robbie and Art take a deep dive into the latest trends in producing digital and print content with software alternatives to challenge the tech behemoths currently monopolizing the industry. Do you really need to pay a high annual subscription to produce a professional-looking flyer or video?

Do you Sci-Fi?  The Guys Sci-Fi.  And in this episode they talk about the sci-fi books that influenced them - and more or less the world - in all kinds of crazy ways.  

Art talks ERB and his Mars series, Robbie extols the virtues of Dune and more, and Jay riffs on the book he read sometime in 1982 that actually took place 2 years later.  Heroic quests, dystopias, and military might…oh my.  They cover it all.  And as a bonus, they bring news of Star Trek movies, super birthdays and spider shorts.

Plus, let’s not forget this week’s Regrettable Superhero, Justin Wright. Or maybe we should…everybody else did. Oh, and Jay’s foray into the podcast transfer portal gets a little pushback.  Listen to him while you can.  

Robbie took out his Han Solo blaster and said, “We’ll be talking toys today.”  Or he would have, if he still had one.  That and many other toys that got away and are now virtual college funds on eBay are the subject of this episode’s discussion of regret.  

(And it’s not even Jay’s regrettable segment, which is invisible this week, so to speak.)  

Robbie and Art talk about the ultimate G.I. Joe vehicle and how to get your own: Dumpster Diving 101.  Art remembers Johnny West and family and scowls about a missing cowl.  Jay has trouble identifying with the subject because he still has everything.  Or at least Mrs. Reed does, in her Museum of a Happy Childhood.  

In geeks of the week, Jar-Jar is redeemed, moviegoers have the opportunity to spend 20 hours straight watching droids and ewoks, and there is news from the Tardis: Who knew?  You will, once you’ve listened.  

There are three members of the Ghost Patrol, the feature of this week’s Jay’s Regrettable Segment, but only 2 Guys in the studio today.  Jay and Robbie were ghosted by Art.  

But they mustered up the courage and the words to talk about Oscar and all his little statuettes.  Geekdom did fairly well this year- at least in the nominee category - with Indiana Jones, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Spiderverse getting some love.  Thank goodness for Godzilla, right?  

Geekdom of the weekdom revealed that the Rogue Squadron may not be lost after all, Nolan is planning his next Oscar, and Austrian starlets know how to take down a U-boat.  See what happens when Art leaves?  Don’t leave till you’ve listened.  

It’s the first of a series if The Guys remember to finish: it’s time to  “Get to Know the Guys.”  Art is out this week taking care of his executive producer, so Jay takes a few minutes to interview Robbie.

To figure out where he came from, how he got all his irons into all his fires, what makes him the vibrant media personality all listeners know and love.  Or it could be called, “What Robbie does when he’s not making this podcast, and why.”  Who knew The Guys had other lives?  

Robbie also brings news of a kickstarter with significant figures, and Jay is ready to go to the theater (even if it’s his surround-sound-enhanced living room version) to see a little ungentlemanly warfare.  Regrettably, this week’s regrettable superhero is just a part of a hero, despite it’s excellent vision.  Be the first to listen to this inaugural episode!

It’s finally here, the year 10,091, and with it the science fiction movie of the moment - and probably little ol’ 2024: Dune Part 2.  

obbie gets to see the movie, Jay gets the sandworm popcorn bucket (or he would, if his little ol’ hometown had an AMC theater.) Art’s interest to be named later.  But apparently Robbie thought highly enough of the epic film for all The Guys - he gave it a 3 Guys rating all by himself.  Nonstop action, grimy and gritty world-building, better-than-average casting.  Jay may actually go to the theater to see it.  Unlike this podcast, however, the listener is advised to see Dune Part 1 before investing in this one. (The Guys do recommend for the sake of inherent joy alone to listen to the previous 250 or so episodes.)

Speaking of spice, Jay brings snacks to the studio from WcDonald’s, Art updates the cast for Superman (which may or may not be named Legacy), and Robbie updates his “this is your life” episode with tales from the prize patrol.  They also recommend a listen to this episode, as it is protected by Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle and Podcasts.  

The Guys are definitely a certain age, thought not quite a gilded age.  But that didn’t stop them from going a little bit off-genre in this week’s episode as they discuss both seasons of The Gilded Age streaming series on Max.  Jokes were attempted about whether or not Art actually knew any of the characters portrayed, but even he is a youngster compared to the fine folks of society in 1880’s New York City.  

In this episode, listeners will hear about the battle between new money (the Russells) and old money (the Astors) discussed by “no money” (the Guys).  They do, as usual, find a link to geekdom in at least one of the cast members (we see you, Proxima Midnight, in your fancy opera dress).  Overall, it’s just a good series about a fascinating period in American History - kinda’ like this podcast.  

It’s a pretty exciting week for Geeks of the Week, too, with spaceships landing on the moon and all - unfortunately, the video was better in 1969.  Jay invites all the the Borderlands, and Robbie makes another Superman Legacy casting announcement.  And is a Thor by any other name just as strong?  Jay’s Regrettable Segment tells of a Thor you may not have heard of before.  Or care to ever again.  Put on your top hat and listen.