nerdfest Podcast: Movies, TV, Trivia and Fun!

Dan returns to join Jon, Andy and Peter as our nerds test each other's knowledge in an all-quiz special. Inspired by Marvel's "Loki", Dan's got some stories about what our favourite Variant got up to as a Norse god. Can you tell the myths from the mythstakes? And Peter goes all TVA too, with a timey-wimey quiz about memory in movies. And, of course, Film Buff or Film Bluff returns with facts covering everything from Crispin Glover's song about a 'Clowny clown clown' to Mary Whitehouse's attempts to ban all filth from the airwaves. Good thing she never heard our Podcast - we wouldn't stand a chance!"

It’s twice the movie quizzes, twice the smut in this episode, and it’s no coincidence that it sees the very welcome return of our beloved Ian McLaughlin. Ian has been away for some time looking after his "daughter" Treacle, who is…well, you’ll find out… As penance for his lengthy absence, Ian has a movie factoid quiz for us at the beginning of the show. If you ever wanted to know how many balloons you’d need to lift your own house, you need wonder no more. Then it’s time for our regular round of Buff or Bluff. This week, Andy’s topic is oversized monster movies, Peter reveals some interesting film casting choices, and Hazel has facts about two of Hollywood’s most revered names: Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Plus Jon has some utterly outlandish stories of how certain films obtained their funding, involving the Catholic Church and the Mafia. And Ian rounds things off with a medley of movie tidbits.

Ever wanted to have a movie that you loved as a child totally ruined by Jon? Well, you’re in the right place, as he presents his alternate musical version of 'Willy Wonka' ! We also have some brand new recommendations for you as Andy takes us through 'Valley of Souls' in a canoe, then Jon tries to defend the earth from superhero series “Jupiter’s Legacy”. Peter recommends new historical steampunk series 'The Nevers', whilst Hazel effuses about Kate Winslet’s mighty performance in gritty drama 'Mare of Easttown' And finally Kerris brings things home with two recommendations that are as different from each other as gravy and the concept of financial management: Netflix’s 'Superstore', and adult animation 'Mr Pickles'. Please send us any suggestions for musicals that you would also like Jon to ruin (@nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook), and we’ll hear him do just that in a future show.

Is there ANYTHING that isn't improved by a bacon sandwich? This is the kind of deep thinking you’ll find in this week’s Buff or Bluff quiz. Our topics include facts about one of the greatest movie composers of all time, John Williams, film disclaimers that originated because of political assassinations, the most dangerous movie sets in history, naughty films made by stars before they became famous, and the very best from the Bulwer-Lytton competition, which challenges participants to write an atrocious first sentence for a hypothetical novel. Plus, find out who triumphed and who capitulated in the Nerdfest Oscar’s sweepstake, and will they even get to give their acceptance speech?

It’s the 4th annual Nerdfest Oscars sweepstake! Hazel, with her customary two hats, reveals which Best Picture nominees we each received in the sweepstake - find out our reactions, plus mini-reviews of the contenders, and how we rate our chances on the night. Before that, it’s Buff or Bluff time. Can you guess the made-up fact from this week’s diverse categories: Donald Duck, ostentatious celebrity expenses, The Oscars, Peter Sellers, and the American Office?

In our latest review-packed episode we watch Oscar contender "Judas & The Black Messiah", wrap our big mouse ears around podcast "Disniversity", welcome Marvel's "Falcon & The Winter Soldier", investigate "Big Sky" and slog our way through Zack Snyder's cut of "Justice League" Oh, and Jon TRIES to give "Hellraiser" the review it deserves.

Recommendations? We'll give you recommendations! We cover a massive range this episode, from unreliable historical bonkfest 'The Great', through the wonders of Arrow's streaming service (apparently designed specifically for Jon!), the very Marmite flavourings of 'Resident Alien', and definitely-not-a-disaster movie 'Greenland', to finally come into land with 'The Expanse 5', world-beating videogame 'Fortnite', and Billie Piper's tour de force 'I Hate Susie'. Oh. AND we throw in 'Conan The Barbarian' for good measure. Huzzah!

You won't know WHAT to believe this episode, as we try to pull an entire sheep's worth of wool over each others' eyes with our legendary Buff or Bluff game. The delightful Kerris joins us from the safety of her blanket fort for some horrifying tales, Dan shows off his moves with some stories too ludicrous for WWE, Peter is giving notes on music, and Jon delves into the darker side of DIsney, and tries his best to traumatise Dan in the process. And we also Play Our Cameos right with a game about how much some second-string celebs charge for a personal video on website, Cameo! And, in what's becoming a regular occurrence, Jon has to apologise for something...

It’s double quiz time! We start the episode with a “Play Your Cards Right” quiz from Andy, who gives us the task of deciding which movies have the higher body counts. Join us as we compare the carnage from everything from 'Lord of the Rings' to 'Commando', 'Terminator 2' and 'Team America: World Police'. Then, it’s Buff or Bluff time. In celebration of “The Queen’s Gambit” (which is AWESOME and you all should be watching it!)Dan has a chess conundrum for us. Jon, partly in dedication to regular listeners Jenni and Gary, and partly for his own amusement, has 3 facts about “The Wizard of Oz”. Let’s just say he should have done his scarecrow homework... After the news that Ryan Reynolds is the new part of owner of Wrexham AFC, Hazel decides to investigate whether he has any more hidden talents. And Peter has 3 facts related to The X Men, but just like Jon his bluff soon gets unravelled, albeit for different reasons. And finally Andy has 3 plots of movies with the word “America” in. But which is the fake movie - is it “An American Christmas Carol”, “American Gladiator” or “American Angels: Baptism of Blood”? Tune in to find out! Oh, and for fans of Mr Blobby, both of you, you’ll like the last 5 minutes very much...

It's a bumper review special this episode, as we look for wonderful things to help you fill these dark winter nights. Dan puts his bigfoot in it by reviewing new novel "Devolution", which does for sasquatch what World War Z did for the living-challenged. Andy haunts us with BBC TV comedy "Ghosts". Hazel investigates Nathan Fillion's detective series "Castle". Jon hides out in "His House" with only a horror movie for comfort, and Peter gives Apple + comedy "Ted Lasso" a sporting chance. And we track down Ian Mayor for three British comics recommendations from the depths of his void, at an undisclosed location somewhere on the western spiral arm of the galaxy. Spend some of these dark nights with us!

In this episode we welcome an awesome guest nerd- Kerris Gibson. You'll love getting to know her and her eclectic taste in movies in our opening segment. (Full disclaimer - We’re not sure WHY we got onto the subject of a certain part of the human anatomy and how often it ‘shows up’ in film, but that’s the path Kerris leads us down...) We also have a bumper round of "Film Buff or Film Bluff", the game where we try to outfox each other with both true and made-up trivia about the world of entertainment. Jon has three ‘facts’ about movie plots and why they departed from their source material. Then Hazel, one of the biggest fans of “The West Wing” has three stories about its behind the scenes shenanigans, including the lesser-known lyrics to the opening theme. (Yes, we make her sing them.) Kerris befuddles us all with pranks from Japanese game shows. Followed by Peter, who's been spending his time wisely in lockdown on the trashiest of trash TV, and has three plots for movies allegedly streamed in 2020. And Andy finishes us off, with three facts about the awesome Orson Welles. Enjoy playing along to this one at home!

Halloween! The inspiration for so many great movies, which we try and rattle off in quick succession in our opening segment. From the moments that shook our childhoods, to what we think defines a great horror, be afraid. Be very afraid. After a quick change of underwear, we move on to discuss our recommendations of the week. First up is Dan who is sucked in by “Vampires Vs The Bronx”. Then Andy recommends the latest Sofia Coppola/ Bill Murray collaboration “On the Rocks”. Peter leads the charges against “The Trial of the Chicago Seven” (it was acquitted, on account of being great). And Jon recommends yet another disturbing horror movie that probably no one else will ever watch, “Possessor”. And finally Hazel rocks out to “Rocks”; the latest brilliant and heartwarming independent film to have found a home on Netflix. So....what’s *your* favourite scary movie?

Its Buff or Bluff time again as our nerds try to hide 4 massive whoppers in amongst 12 fabulous facts- will it take a truth serum to find out which is which, and can you beat the team? This time around, Dan covers masks (and The Mask), Jon describes some weird director antics, Peter polishes up our knowledge of Metal Mickey, and Andy evokes great showman William Castle and the amazing stunts he’d pull to promote his movies. In a “wide ranging discussion” we also reminisce fondly about Gladiators (although Jon and Peter are more concerned with Jet’s appearances on GamesWorld) and a close encounter with a manatee, and peek a little behind the scenes at how the podcast is put together, as Jon storms off to his trailer.

We have lots of new movie, TV, book and even orchestral recommendations for you this week. But before that, we discuss who we'd all like to see as the next James Bond. Is it Tom Hardy? Or possibly a more outside choice? Tune in to find out! To kick off our recommendations, Dan shares his nostalgic experiences of listening to the John Williams “Live in Vienna” concert. He also has a review of a brand new book “The Devil and the Dark Water” by Stuart Turton which we were lucky enough to be sent an advance copy of. Jon leads our review of “Bill and Ted Face the Music” which might just emerge as the best thing of 2020. From a brand new movie, to an absolute classic - Andy has been perusing the old blockbusters and shared his thoughts on watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for the very first time. Peter recommends “Raised by Wolves”, Ridley Scott’s first foray into TV. It’s a sci fi drama complete with androids and colonisations that should interest any Scott fanatic. And finally Hazel reviews Katherine Ryan’s semi-autobiographical Netflix show, “The Duchess”. Who would be your choice for the next Bond? Send us your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook @nerdfestuk

Dan got married! Jon got a puppy! Ian grew a beard! We have lots of reasons to celebrate in this episode, so please do join us for a bit of non lockdown-related happiness! We also have a great round of Film Buff or Film Bluff for you - including Jon’s definition of a “dedication” to Dan and his new wife. Ian has some made-up movie reviews to fool us with, Peter heads into the land of sci fi, Dan has 3 facts about the life of Buster Keaton, and Hazel treads dangerous waters with the plots of three propaganda movies, one of which she has made up from scratch (sorry Mr. Putin). And finally Dan brings us his review of 'Tenet', whilst trying (and somewhat failing) to explain what he saw. This episode also includes our tribute to Chadwick Boseman, one of the world’s most beloved and inspirational humans, gone too soon.

Love is in the air today, as we open the show celebrating Hazel and Andy’s minus one wedding anniversary, and Jon and Peter offer up some unusual ways on how they can celebrate it :) Then we bring you a tonne of new recommendations for your viewing pleasure. First up is 'Lovecraft Country' which premiered recently in Sky’s ‘Watchmen’ slot. Hazel then talks about an easy binge-watch on BBC iPlayer - “Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience.” Andy has another eclectic offering, with Ugandan film “Who killed Captain Alex”. Hear about some of the amazing action Wakaliwood can produce on a shoestring budget. And finally Peter has two recommendations - “The Americans” and “Perry Mason” which somehow inspires Jon to perform a series of raps about Arnold Schwarzenegger... In the second section of the show we tackle a listener question, which asks us what we’ve found most disappointing so far in nerd culture in 2020. Aside from all the cinema release postponements, this conversation takes us down some interesting paths. Some might even say it was a poignant discussion! N.B this episode was recorded before the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. We were incredibly devastated to hear about this and send all our thoughts to Chadwick’s family, friends, and legions of fans across the world. Wakanda Forever. Hi

This time we answer a question from a listener about just how wrong we all are. This leads us into a fun discussion about certain films that we personally love, but need to mount a bit of a defence for to other people. Before that we have our Film Buff or Film Buff quiz, which tests our knowledge on roles that had to be replaced mid-shoot due to an actor’s untimely death, the movie 'Almost Famous', 50s sci fi TV shows around the world, 'Star Trek', and the works of Alan Smithee. Do send in more of your listener questions for us to tackle! @nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook.

A pod poem: We hear all that’s going on, at San Diego Comic Con. “Old Guard” and “Palm Springs” halt time’s advance, as we cross space with “The Expanse”. A sequel to the “The Last Of Us”? (and Hamilton’s on Disney plus!)

Join Peter, Jon, Dan and Ian for another X-Citing episode of the Nerdfest podcast! In our regular Buff or Bluff feature, we examine the complicated profession of bounty hunting in the Star Wars expanded universe as well as some weird and wonderful cinematic sounds, before answering a listener question on how to bring the X-Men into the MCU and who we’d cast in the key roles. Then Jon delves into his own Sack of Fun, for 82 minutes on the "Money Plane". All that and more on this episode- SNIKT!

This week we’re answering some of your profound listener questions, such as "Which is the best cartoon TV show?", and "What's the most horrifying piece of movie tie-in merchandise you’ve ever seen?" giving us an excellent opportunity to talk about a certain pair of Pinocchio boxer shorts. Then we have our recommendations of the week. Dan has two podcasts worthy of your time, including “Californian Century” and the “Six degrees of the song of the south” episode of “You must remember this”. Hazel celebrates the works of Ava DuVernay, including “Selma”, the excellent documentary “13th” and “When They See Us”. Andy recommends the lockdown-themed “Staged”, featuring David Tennant and Michael Sheen trying to practice for a forthcoming theatre show. Peter reviews “Giri/Haji", a thriller set in London and Tokyo. And finally Jon, slightly grumpy that’s he’s not sat in a field surrounding by 100,000 sweaty bodies, recommends some of the most infamous Glastonbury sets from past years, currently featured on BBC iPlayer. We then have Taking One For The Team, where one of us must endure a critically-mauled film for the benefit of the pod. In this case, it’s Dan who drew the short straw and reviews “Artemis Fowl”, originally set for a cinematic release until COVID-19 had its way and it was released on Disney Plus. Cue much hilarity as he describes all the “fowlness” inherent within it. But can Judi Dench’s appearance as a leprechaun give it a redeeming taste? Please send us your listener questions for our next episode, by tweeting us @nerdfestuk on Twitter, or sending us on a message on our Facebook page (Nerdfest UK).

The Ians align for our latest episode! Yes, Ians Mayor and McLaughlin join Peter, Jon and Dan for a game of Buff or Bluff, encompassing everything from Aerosmith to Vin Diesel’s dog, before we squee about the many exciting things in store for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Join us for our thoughts on 'Black Widow', 'Eternals', Jane Foster as Thor, and loads more Marvel-ous stuff!

In a masterful and suspenseful episode, we discuss five of Hitchcock’s greatest film accomplishments. Join us as we dissect 'Rear Window', 'Psycho', 'The Birds', 'Vertigo' and 'North by Northwest' and see how they hold up today. We discuss the groundbreaking shots, the cameos, the treatment of women, behind the scenes factoids, the unique sets, and much more. Before that, we have an eclectic bunch of international recommendations to help you through the 98th week of lockdown. Peter sings the praises of 'Upload', an odd comedy set in a digital heaven. Jon reviews 'Border', a dark Swedish fantasy drama which he tries his best to excite us about without spoilering! Hazel talks about her second-favourite film podcast, 'Film Stories'; a celebration of movie making. Then Dan, on behalf of his fiancée Amy, recommends the truly brilliant cookery/travel show 'Somebody feed Phil', the third season of which has just landed on Netflix. And finally Andy reviews 'Woman at War', an Icelandic comedy drama about an environmental activist who wants to become a mother. Remember nerds, drama is life with all the dull bits cut out.

It’s a very special week here at Nerdfest, as not only did the brilliant 'Film Stories' magazine recommend us as their podcast of the week, but also it’s our fifth anniversary! We formed our cinema club in the pub, this time five years ago, so we open the show with a little bit of reminiscing. Also in this episode is our Film Buff Or Film Bluff quiz, featuring true and made-up facts about directors’ credits, which famous nerdy things came first, special makeup effects director Rick Baker, and obscure connections. And finally Dan has come up with a brilliant feature called “Getting to Nerd You”, in which he asks fellow nerds meaningful questions such as ‘What is the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?’ And ‘Who would you invite to a Nerdfest dinner party?’ Thank you to all our listeners! We’re very grateful to each and every one of you.

Join us, won’t you, for a Nerdfest recommendations special, with not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but SIX! nerds together on the podcast to discuss their top picks for lockdown entertainment. Andy kicks us off with a YouTube channel presented by Tom Scott, where he’s been learning such things as "Do the numbers on toaster dials mean minutes?", "What really classifies as a mountain?", and "What really is sea level, anyway?" Dan reviews Netflix’s first foray into improv comedy, with 'Middleditch & Schwartz'. Find out what he thinks their secret ingredient is. As Ian Mayor is perhaps one of the few people on earth yet to watch “Parks and Recreation”, lockdown provided the perfect opportunity for him to get acquainted with Lesley Knope and the gang. We then all delight in reminiscing about the series. Find out what Jon makes of new TV series 'Devs', starring Nick Offerman in a very different role to Ron Swanson. Peter covers the Netflix Chris Hemsworth-starring movie, “Extraction”, a rip-roaring actioner that has divided us nerds. And finally Hazel tells us what she thinks of new Apple TV + drama 'Defending Jacob' with Chris "Captain America" Evans and Michelle "Downton Abbey" Dockery. How does America’s finest ass handle a more down to earth role? Have a listen, and of course join in the discussion @nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook.

Welcome to another nerdy lockdown episode - as Jason Nesmith was fond of saying, “Never Give Up! Never Surrender!” Which leads us nicely in to this episode’s Shameful Gap, as Hazel has, quite shockingly, never seen 'Galaxy Quest'! Hear her thoughts as she watches it for the very first time, and bring yourselves on a nostalgic trip back to 1999 with Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, a bunch of delightful Thermians, and one heck of a concept. Also in this fun-packed episode we have our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz where we try to outwit each other with made up facts about Superman in the media, actor’s crazy demands on film sets, renegade and trailblazing women in film, 'Pirates of the Caribbean', and actors who’ve been in video games. P.s for any Thermians listening to this and thinking that the Nerdfest podcast is actually a historical documentary, we would very much like to fly a spaceship, please and thank you.

Looking for some lockdown inspiration? Our nerds discuss our most recommended distractions across movies, TV and comics. Hazel gets the ball rolling with a review of new Apple TV+ production, “The Banker” starring Samuel L Jackson and Anthony Mackie. Jon recommends TV show “Succession” with the one and only Brian Cox (not that one). Dan promotes the virtues of offbeat documentary “The Imagineering Story” which charts the success of Disney’s theme parks. Peter covers satirical comedy/ horror with “The Hunt”, and finally Ian Mayor actually joins us live (well, within social distancing rules) from the void to recommend 'Sabrina' (not the teenage witch); a comic novel which he absolutely raves about. We then have not one, but two quizzes! Dan's‘5 by 5’ tests our knowledge of the fifth film in a series. And Jon has us guessing which celebrity autobiographies he’s been reading, from ‘revealing’ lines taken from their pages. Stay safe and well everyone!

Can our nerds go the distance, as we attempt to trick each other with fiendish Buff or Bluffs on ludicrous "X-Men" characters, composer Hans Zimmer, the videogame "Donkey Kong" and seminal Edgar Wright masterwork, "Spaced"? Then Andy fills another shameful gap (how many can one man have?) by watching movie classic: "Rocky". What does he think of it? "Adriaaaaaaaan!" and we discover Peter and Ian's involvement in the "Rocky" videogames. We also discuss the rumours of James Mangold-taking over Indiana Jones 5. and what that might tmean for the franchise?

As Hazel and Dan watch Hamilton on opposite sides of the Atlantic, Jon is keeping the host’s chair warm as we offer up a brand new set of nerdy recommendations. Make yourself a tea (Earl Grey, hot) as the nerds discuss Patrick Stewart’s return to Starfleet in ‘Star Trek: Picard’, and 'Doom patrol', 'I’m not OK with this', and 'Midnight Family'. And Andy provides a quiz to test our knowledge of movie taglines. Whoever wins, you win!

This is the first chance we’ve had to bid a fond farewell to Terry Jones. So, we open the show by reminiscing about his best moments (Python and otherwise), and chat about some of the lesser known cultural influences he’s had. Then we have our Buff or Bluff quiz, featuring facts on Michael Palin, musicians in the movies, swearing in cinema, film production stories, and a lucky dip! Finally, we have the return of Shameful Gap! We scare the pants off Dan by making him watch ‘The Exorcist’. What did he make of it? And how much behind the scenes knowledge does Jon have? Have a listen to find out! Oh, and the first few seconds will reveal why this episode is called ‘Clucking Hell’. Don’t worry, Hazel’s fine...in a manner of speaking...

Welcome one and all to the newly-created Nerdfest 'Cats' Support Group. Curiosity got the better of Dan and Jon, and so they recall their cat-astrophic experiences of watching Tom Hooper’s 'Cats', with what little remains of their souls. As Dan remarks, "curiosity killed the cat, but Cats might kill your curiosity..." On a lighter note, we chat happily about the various Oscar winning films that we haven’t had a chance to talk about in depth yet, including '1917' and 'JoJo Rabbit'. We also have brand new recommendations for you, including the supremely interesting 'Song of Spider-Man' book about the doomed musical ‘Turn off the Dark’. Jon has (surprise surprise!) another Nic Cage film to recommend - 'Color out of Space' but he is forced to admit that the Cagester is not the best thing in it! What could it be? Hazel also recommends 'The Show that goes Wrong', a new BBC series that sees acclaimed slapstick theatre company The Mischief Theatre perform 6 different plays in front of a live studio audience. Shenanigans ensue. We cap off this episode with a thunderously entertaining quiz where our nerds have to guess which actor or director links various movies. During which Hazel has to change her scoring system on the fly! If you’re enjoying our shows it would mean the world to us if you could give us a little rating or review wherever you listen to us. Thanks friends!

In one of our notoriously bad segues, we begin this week’s episode not with a Buff or Bluff quiz, but with a trip to the gateway of the Hellmouth, the home of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Hazel has been rewatching the series from the start, and so our nerds discuss the groundbreaking storylines, the amusing consequences of remastering it for widescreen, and how they feel now about certain episodes. Once we get back on topic, our Buff or Bluff quiz features facts about the most unusual reasons for becoming a supervillain, the musical 'Cats', previously unknown tidbits about 'The Rise of Skywalker', and the all-time worst TV shows. Also in this episode is the return of Hazel’s needlessly overcomplicated Oscars Sweepstake. Our nerds (and a few special guests) discover which Best Picture nominee they have drawn, and how pleased (or not) they are with their picks.

What with 'Wonder Woman 1984’, 'The Eternals', 'Black Widow', 'Ghostbusters Afterlife' and more, the lineup for 2020 releases is looking mighty fine indeed, as our nerds count through the year, naming the movies we’re really looking forward to... and 'Candyman'. Also join us for our deep-into-spoiler-territory review of 'The Rise of Skywalker'. We’re joined by the much-missed Ian Mclaughlin, overcoming a prolapsed disc in his back to give his thoughts on J.J. Abrams’ closing chapter. We discuss everything about this 40-years-in-the-making movie, including character background notes from Dan, who’s been swotting up with the Visual Dictionary. We’d love to hear your thoughts on TROS - send us a tweet or Facebook message @NerdfestUK

It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate, we reflect back on some of our favourite recording moments from the past 2 years, and Hazel has a special quiz to test our knowledge of, well, ourselves! Also in this episode we each count down our top 3 films of the year. There are some surprising inclusions, and we debate and discuss how we feel now about certain movies. Any 50th episode would be remiss without our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz, so this round includes questions on Murder She Wrote, James Bond, Nicholas Cage (thanks, Jon) and some of the earliest female filmmakers, which gives us all a chance to chat about this long lost era. Last but not least, we’d like to wish all our listeners a very happy new year, and a huge thank you for supporting us for the last 50 episodes. We really appreciate it, and long may it continue :)

As we head into that time of year where no one has a clue about what day it is, and we constantly emerge blurry-eyed from multiple turkey comas, you can take comfort in our many and varied holiday viewing recommendations! In this episode, we review the excellent 'Watchmen' TV series, which Jon has declared his favourite TV show of the year. We also do a spoiler-free preview (because we obviously haven’t seen it yet. Ahem!) of 'The Mandalorian' from Disney+. Dan recommends 'Ladhood', a BAFTA nominated coming of age comedy. And we have a group discussion on Rian Johnson’s modern murder mystery, 'Knives Out'. We end the show with our immediate reactions to J.J. Abrams’ closing chapter of the new Star Wars trilogy, 'The Rise of Skywalker'. Having taken our pod recording equipment to the midnight screening, we put off going to bed for the sake of capturing this segment, featuring a few nerds you’ve never heard from before! Don’t worry if you haven’t seen it yet, we don’t reveal any secrets :) May we wish all our listeners the absolute best Christmas ever. Thank you for all your support this year. We’ll be back in early 2020 with our favourite films of the year, and a preview of what’s coming up! Until then, take care nerds!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, please take your seats for the return of Nerd Court! In the dock this week is a film that has almost divided a relationship - Thor Ragnorok. Engaged couple Andy and Hazel battle each other in the Nerd courtroom, in our most fiercely fought nerd battle yet. Will Thor Ragnorok see off all the evidence weighted against it? Will Judge Jon pronounce an unbiased ruling? Can Andy and Hazel’s relationship even survive this? Listen to find out! Also in this episode we have our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz, where our nerds must find the false fact from a web of lies and deceit. Topics this week include record breaking in films, ridiculous fighting game pairings, Star War’s The Emperor, and the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo Gameboy. Thanks for listening!

The year was 2019. An era of political strife. A climate crisis loomed. Royal reputations were in tatters. Cats were "sexy". And Sonic the Hedgehog scared the living daylights out of children and adults alike. Through the mist, one podcast emerged from tens of thousands of other film podcasts to bring peace and prosperity to each and every one of its listeners. In this episode, play along to our “Guess the movie from its opening crawl” quiz. Hopefully you paid more attention than most of us to the opening titles of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters! Also we have a ton of new reviews and recommendations for you. Dan tells us why we should all give 'Jack Ryan' a chance. Jon reviews 'Terminator: Dark Fate' amid multiple interruptions from the nerds who didn’t share his positive opinions. Peter double-taps 'Zombieland 2', Andy introduces a 7 minute film to those of us with short attention spans, and Hazel talks of the new BBC adaptation of 'His Dark Materials'.

This week our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz includes questions on ridiculous Disney live action plots, some devious Terminator facts, the weird and wonderful films available on SyFy, movie costumes, and how food was used as an effect in some iconic movies. Also Ian Mayor contacts us from the Void, to talk all things unique to John Wick, the Hipster Assassin. And spurred on by some recent awful examples, we have a good old fashioned debate about modern movie trailers- discussing what we feel a movie trailer should contain, and casting our minds back to our favourite trailers of all time. Join in to let us know YOUR opinion on the best/worst trailers you’ve seen- @nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook.

In one of our favourite episodes yet to record, we prove just how divisive “Joker” really is, as each of our nerds viewed the film in a different way. Our spoiler-heavy review explores fan theories, direction, Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the character, and how it all fits into today’s world. Before that, we have our main Reviews section. This week, Jon has been lucky enough to attend a preview screening of Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” - is it worth the 3 and a half hour run time, and how effective is the digital de-ageing? Andy is back, and talks fondly of little-known Japanese zombie comedy, “One Cut Of The Dead” which had us all dying to see it. Hazel has been bingeing true crime documentary “The Staircase” (Do you think he did it? Let us know!). Dan has an antidote for all the history-haters out there, with new podcast “You’re Dead To Me”. Peter reviews new Netflix series “Living with yourself”, starring Paul Rudd and Paul Rudd. And finally Ian reviews “It: Chapter 2” (let’s just say he wasn’t a fan) Plus, we have a brand new quiz! Andy’s “First Lines” quiz is full of fun, as our nerds try to guess the famous movie character from the first line they ever speak on the big screen...

DID George Lucas really name a Star Wars planet after Jon Stewart? DID Faye Dunaway once throw a cup of urine in Roman Polanski’s face? DID Patrick Swayze really chew on ice in order to hide his breath during the filming of Ghost? And DID the producers of "Thunderball" REALLY drag a dead shark past Sean Connery, only to discover it wasn’t actually dead? Find out in our regularly deceptive quiz, Film Buff or Bluff! Also in this episode, hear what Ian Mayor (still trapped in The Void) recommends you check out in order to prepare for Marvel’s Phase 4 and 5. And it’s the return of our "Shameful Gap". Whilst having grown up in the 90s, Dan had somehow never seen the action thriller Face/Off, featuring one of the craziest concepts ever committed to screen. Find out what he thinks of Nic Cage and John Travolta’s gun fu ballet as he watches it for the very first time...

The pitiful remains of what was once Jon Farthing join us for a bumper crop of recommendations and quizzing. Dan raves about Helen O'Hara's new "Superhero Movie Guide", Hazel swoons over Sir Ian McKellen's live show, Peter checks out the backstory of "Pennyworth", Batman's butler, Jon enthuses over Tarantino nostalgia-fest, "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood", and Ian eventually drag(on)s himself away from the clinically addictive "Merge Dragons" game to surf some shorts on the "Dust" channel. And who will win our closely-fought quiz, based on the plots of ten famous science fiction movies.

We’re excited by the recently-revealed plans for Marvel Phase 4, but Hazel and Jon think there’s room for one or two other ideas. So, for this episode we created our own version of Kevin Feige, to which Hazel and Jon must pitch their new Phase 4 concepts. This includes a movie centred on the backstory and adventures of Valkyrie, as well as a comeback vehicle for Marvel’s long-lost character, The Swarm. Get ready to hear Jon defend his alt-right mega bee movie... Before that, we have our Film Buff or Film Buff quiz, with questions on foreign superhero knockoff TV shows, "Home Alone", intriguing movie costumes, and links between Francis Ford Coppola and "Star Wars". We also have the return of Taking One For The Team, where two nerds debate over the merits or otherwise of Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don’t Die”- Is it a zombie comedy with a starry cast, or a self indulgent metatextual and disappointing version of Shaun of the Dead? Find out who triumphs...

This week our two special guests, Louise and Andy, join their significant others (Jon and Hazel) in the ultimate Mr and Mrs battle: ”How Deep Is Your Nerd?” See how well they know their partner’s true nerdiness, with a series of movie-based questions. We've lots of new recommendations for you, too: Peter tells us why new Amazon series “The Boys” is different from the other superhero shows. Andy enjoys Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse’s soothing and hilarious fishing trips in “Gone Fishing”. Hazel covers the mockumentary series “Documentary Now!” starring Bill Hader, Fred Armison and Helen Mirren. And Louise gets her licence to kill in Secret Cinema’s ”Casino Royale”. Jon "takes one for the team" by watching "Men In Black International", and not even Hazel’s beloved Chris Hemsworth can save this predictable piece of nonsense!

Welcome to a very special live episode, where hosts Hazel, Jon, Peter, Dan and Ian broadcast in front of an audience, as part of the Newcastle Improv Festival. We’re joined by some very special guests, including Bev Fox from renowned improv group The Suggestibles, who joins Ian to talk about the secret ingredients to their success, and we unearth some new intimate details about how they first met! We’re also joined by improviser and author of 17 novels, Stella Duffy OBE. In a frank and honest interview, Stella talks about how she emerged from a challenging childhood to being able to find herself on the page and on the stage. If you’re interested in writing or what goes into creating a great character, you’ll love her remarkable insights. We then talk to Kerris Gibson, a recent graduate of School of Improv, who reveals why she is so passionate about improvisation, and what skills she’s been learning and mastering. Of course, we pepper the interviews with some Film Buff or Film Bluff quizzes, and finish with a special game of Pitchstorm in which Hazel has to improvise a movie plot involving Jason Statham, the Cold War, and a mysterious tapestry! As this was recorded live in a busy theatre with a lively audience, the sound quality isn’t as great as our usual episodes, but we had the most amazing experience recording it, and we hope you enjoy it too!

If you're a fan of entertainment trivia you'll love our 40th episode, which is a Buff or Bluff bonanza! The nerds face off on questions about actor/ musician duets, obscure casting choices, the one and only Keanu Reeves (including whether or not he was babysat by Alice Cooper), the "Angel" TV series, and the career of James Cameron. Was he really the one who came up with the idea to cover Arnold Schwarzenegger with mud for Predator? That’s followed by a rapturous one-off (we hope) quiz concocted by Jon. He has 10 quotes, which are either lines of dialogue from Nic Cage films, or lyrics from Nic Cave songs. It’s tougher - and funnier- than you might think!

This episode is a mega review special - featuring everything new and exciting we've been moved by recently.... and "Brightburn". And we welcome a new guest. It may be a surprise to some listeners to find that Louise actually exists, and is not just a product of Jon's deranged imagination, but we're delighted to have her join us for this episode! We discuss Game of Thrones behind-the-scenes documentary, ”The Last Watch” and our lasting thoughts on Weiss and Benioff’s achievements, before speculating on the prequels coming up. Next up is a review of “Toy Story 4” including Forky’s existential crisis, the rise of Little Bo Peep, the wonderful Duke Kaboom, and the different direction for the character of Woody. Louise discusses "The Handmaid’s Tale" and how close to it's dystopian scenario we may well be in reaIity. Jon recommends that you DON’T watch “Brightburn”, produced byJames Gunn, which explores the notion of SuperMan growing up evil/ having a bad reaction to puberty. Find out why Jon had problems with yet another movie featuring a Bad Superman. Then Hazel recommends the second season of "Big Little Lies", which is just coming to an end (no spoilers though.. and that isn’t a lie!) And finally Peter discusses the TV show "Years and Years", and what Emma Thompson would be like as the British Prime Minister, if possessed by the spirit of Boris Johnson....

It’s a fight between good and evil, as Hazel and Jon contest the fate of “Superman 3” in Nerd Court. Will Hazel’s evidence send it to the Phantom zone? Dan is the unbiased judge, with Peter as our expert witness. We also have a voyage to the Void as Ian Mayor bids a wistful goodbye to Vertigo Comics, which announced its dissolution last week. Ian talks about how this comic giant came to be, and what made it so popular over the years. Plus, we open the show with our Film Buff or Bluff quiz, which this week includes trivia questions on everything from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Little Shop of Horrors to the X-Men. And don’t miss our very first LIVE podcast at Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle on Friday 2nd August 2019. It’s all part of the Newcastle Improv Festival that kicks off on 27th July. We’re on straight after The SuggestIbles, and entrance to the live podcast is free to all ticket holders for this gig. Find tickets at https://bookwhen.com/newcastleimprovfestival/e/ev-snmk-20190802200000

This episode takes us on a wild and crazy ride as we discuss the life and times of 1980s comedy stars Steve Martin, John Belushi, Rick Moranis, Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy and John Candy. Gain insights into everything from "Ghostbusters" to "Beverley Hills Cop" from Dan’s review of Nick de Semelyn’s new book ”Wild and Crazy Guys”, then test your own knowledge of 1980s comedy trivia as he sets us a quiz based on stories from the book. Jon has ignored Gary Netflix yet again, to review ”The Perfection”, a disturbing new horror film involving a pair of amorous cello players. Peter and Hazel discuss ”Rocketman”, the biopic of Elton Hercules John, and how it ranks as a musical fantasy. And Hazel broaches the subject of ”Nanette”, a 1 hour Netflix special by Australian comedienne Hannah Gadsby, and how it swiftly swerves from stand-up to something much, much more. And finally, we preview what’s coming up in cinemaland over the next few months: including ”Spider-Man Far From Home”, ”Yesterday”, ”Ad Astra”, ”Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, ”Toy Story 4” and ”Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker”.

If there was ONE thing that really stood out in 1997’s "Batman & Robin".... In light of the news there’s going to be a new Batman protecting the streets of Gotham, our nerds debate who was the greatest actor to don the Bat Cape, Bat-nipples or no Bat-nipples. Most of us chose different portrayals although, spoiler alert, none of us selected Batfleck (in fact, we sort of forgot about him...) Before that, we have our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz, where our nerds face questions on the friendship between Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen, the Starship Enterprise, and whether Jim Carrey actually paid for the CIA to torture him... We round off the show with a quiz, in which Jon asks us to identify movies, based on reviews from a Christian Right website...

How do you become a guest on the Nerdfest podcast? Sex and cookies, apparently. This time we have a new voice amongst our nerds, Andy, who joins us for an extra long spoiler special on 'Avengers: Endgame', now that most of the world has seen it (Some of us three times!) In the second part of the show we go scene-by-scene, discussing the fate of many beloved characters, whilst also pondering the eternal question: "How do you spoon a raccoon?" We open the show with lots of new recommendations: Jon reviews one of the best horror movies he’s ever seen,'The Babadook', now released on Amazon Prime. Hazel has been mesmerised by new Netflix documentary 'Knock Down the House' about four women vying to replace long-serving Congressmen in the 2018 House race. Peter explores the new 'What We Do In The Shadows' TV show based on the Taika Waititi movie. And finally Andy has a solution for anyone who has a beef with Bear Grylls - try and cause him harm in the new and interactive choose-your-own-adventure series, 'You vs. Wild'.

So, if you HAD to, which dinosaur would you choose to "make the beast with two backs" with? It’s these sort of high-brow questions and more which our nerds seek to tackle in this episode. First up is Film Buff or Bluff, starting with Jon's three outlandish storylines involving The Joker. Then Dan gives us three Jeff Goldblum facts, (one of which is his favourite dinosaur, taking us on said dinosaur dating route.) Peter tests our knowledge of some of Marvel’s wackiest characters, and Hazel tries to pull one over on us with her tricksy facts about the first cinematic appearances of certain female actors. This episode also sees the return of “Shameful Gap”, as Hazel shares her first ever viewing of “Groundhog Day”. This episode also sees the return of “Shameful Gap”, as Hazel shares her first ever viewing of “Groundhog Day”. The jokes don’t get much better we’re afraid, as we explore the themes of Bill Murray’s starring performance as Phil Connors, the egotistical weatherman doomed to repeat the same day over and over again. And Hazel and Dan just can’t stop talking about the musical "Hamilton", so the two unenlightened members of Nerdfest seek to thwart their attempts to rename the podcast “Hamilchat”.