Roadtrippin' with Rob and Mike
by ICU LLC
"You know how your mind wanders when you're on the open road? Ever wonder what it would be like to have a stream-of-consciousness conversation with an Imagination Connoisseur? Trust us, it's hilarious, insightful and above all, an optimistic delight. Join me on my daily adventure with Robert Meyer Burnett down I-10 as we explore the Post-Geek Singularity." Mike Bawden co-host
Episodes
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Why season three of 'For All Mankind' is must-see sci-fi (#048)
What makes great sci-fi? Rob and I certainly have our complaints about some of the current sci-fi television shows and films that have been released over the past few years. Sometimes the story is bad, sometimes the effects are bad, and sometimes the science doesn't make any sense. And more often...
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Is Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek's new hope? (#047)
We all know Rob isn't big on nu-Trek. And in today's ROADTRIPPIN' podcast, RMB expresses his concerns and frustrations with the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds's latest episode. But here's the thing about Rob's complaints - and, specifically, his concerns about the quality of...
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Attention Star Command, there seems to be a problem with Buzz Lightyear (#046)
I saw LIGHTYEAR at the theater this Sunday with my family. Tickets for the four of us were just under $65, so by my figuring, we were just four of around 3 million people who saw that movie during its opening weekend. And while that missed projections, it’s still a pretty healthy opener for an...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Why is Obi-Wan the most boring thing about the Obi-Wan Kenobi series?
Why doesn’t Hollywood remake mediocre movies (and make them better)? ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden discuss the broader implications of a question posed by an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Obi-Wan Kenobi is such a boring character in his own series. In fact, one...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Does it make sense to remake good movies?
Why doesn’t Hollywood remake mediocre movies (and make them better)? ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Hollywood seems content remaking and re-booting successful movies rather than making movies with “great...
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Rob comes out and admits he's THE Gatekeeper of Fandom - and letters from listeners (#045)
I suppose this was a long time coming. I’ve noticed that Rob has been on the receiving end of more than one heated Twitter exchange with people his ongoing criticisms of both Star Trek and Star Wars. According to RMB, he receives several tweets a day of people sending him images of Gabe Simpson...
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Why a musical sequel to THE JOKER isn't such a bad idea - and letters from listeners (#044)
It was a long day yesterday. Not only is the rise in gas prices and the wild ride the economy is on starting to show its tell-tale signs in So-Cal (there are noticeably fewer cars on the road this week), the overall level of social discourse on platforms like Twitter and Facebook seem to be…
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When does criticism go too far and become toxic (#043)
On today’s podcast, Rob shared some details from his weekend. Turns out there were a fan or two who felt compelled to tell Rob that the original trilogy of Star Wars films were “trash” and the best Star Wars movie was ROGUE ONE. On social media, some people who follow the PGS on Instagram and...
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Is THE BOYS this generation's DR STRANGELOVE (#042)
I don’t think there’s any surprise that RMB thinks very highly of Amazon Prime’s THE BOYS. But his comparison of the show to Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic, DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I STOPPED WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (a/k/a DR. STRANGELOVE) even caught me off guard. Rob loves everything Kubrick....
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Maybe Jeffrey Katzenberg was right (but not about Quibbi).
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden discuss how the entertainment business has changed since Jeffrey Katzenberg wrote an internal memo (at Disney) about the future of movie-making. As the economic realities have changed and the budgets have ballooned, studios are finding...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Are we nitpicking all the fun out of our favorite things?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who asks if fans aren’t actually nitpicking all of the fun out of our favorite things? How should fans treat each other and how should they handle discussions about shows or movies they...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Why can't we disagree wihtout being so disagreeable?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who thinks fans may be getting a little too harsh in their criticisms of long-established, genre franchises. This "Extra" is a segment from the ROADTRIPPIN' with RMB podcast recorded on...
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The latest episode of Strange New Worlds told a great story - too bad it wasn't written for the show. (#041)
Rob was very excited to record today's podcast. He had something he wanted to share. Rob really enjoyed the latest episode of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' - calling it the best, single episode of Star Trek since 2005. That being said and Rob being who he is, he did have one bone to pick with…
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: The average person is not as interesting as they think they are.
Being the star of your own show might be good for your ego but bad for the country. ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who contends that modern TV shows and movies aren’t as memorable as classic shows and movies from…
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They don't make 'em like they used to. Why movies and tv shows aren't memorable anymore. (#040)
Rob and I respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur asking why modern TV shows and movies aren't as memorable as the classic films and programs from decades gone by. He even goes as far as to say that if some of those legendary filmmakers released their classic films in today's media...
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Why you need to be more than just lucky to make it in the storytelling busines. (#039)
Over the past 38 episodes of this podcast, Rob and I have discussed (ad nauseam, some might say) what we don't like about a good bit of the new, genre entertainment being produced by the major studios as continuations (or, more likely, re-boots and prequels) to long-established, franchise...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: How would you resolve Obi-Wan Kenobi's artistic dissonances?
Sometimes you don’t have to change much to resolve a ear-splitting dissonance. ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who works in the music industry and asks a very interesting question about the “artistic dissonances” in…
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ROADTRIPPIN EXTRA: What happened to all the optimistic stories of our future? Where did they go?
Is the outlook for the future of storytelling as bleak as it seems to be? ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking where all of the optimistic stories have gone. Having been raised in the 60s and 70s, the letter-writer recalls that period as a time of...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Is there an objective standard for creativity?
Creativity is in the eye of the beholder, until we invent technology to replace it. ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking about attempts to objectively determine what work is “creative” the limitations we face when it comes to trying to adopt such a...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Why aren't fans more critical of poorly written stories for their favorite franchises?
Is “good enough” really good enough? ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why Star Wars fans aren't more discerning when it comes to the stories written for their favorite franchises and the way they’re produced. Should fans just...
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Letters from listeners - where have all the good stories gone? (#038)
We received a number of letters over the weekend and spent Monday's podcast reading and answering them. As we've come to expect from Imagination Connoisseurs, the letters were interesting and posed some great questions which Rob and I delighted in answering. I'll also be posting each letter (and...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Why aren't Obi-Wan Kenobi's production values up to snuff?
Has technology handcuffed the creative teams on the Disney+ streaming series? ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking why the production values on the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series seem to be so “flat.” Given the history of Disney as an innovator in...
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The BOYS are back in town - and there's blood everywhere (#037)
THE BOYS returned with the first three episodes of their third season yesterday and the Viceroy of Verisimilitude binged them all before breakfast this morning. LOL! As you can imagine, he has a few thoughts on both the start of the third season and the series overall. When you take a look at…
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Is the DC Cinematic Universe reaching its own FLASHPOINT? What does the future hold? (#036)
Rob and I talk about today's article in Variety laying out the troubles facing the DC Cinematic Universe - a management shake-up at Warner Bros. and bad behavior by the lead actor in their upcoming FLASH movie (scheduled release: June 23, 2023). You can read the article here:...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Established genre franchises should use their best stories, even if not originally developed for film or TV.
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why when it comes to making films or TV, genre franchises don’t use the best stories available – even if those stories were created for other media like comics, novelizations, etc.? And when it...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Are we turning into our grandparents or are we just grumpy old men?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why fans seem to get more belligerent about their likes and dislikes when it comes to appreciating art and storytelling as they age. Is it all because of bad storytelling or are there other...
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ROADTRIPPIN' EXTRA: Why producers buy sci-fi IP and then not use any of it.
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why producers spend the money necessary to purchase established, science fiction intellectual property and then develop projects that have very little in common with that IP. Two examples…
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Is fan outrage an acceptable excuse for unacceptable behavior (and letters from listeners)? (#035)
Is it okay to send messages to public figures via social media and "give them a piece of your mind"? What about criticizing their performance? Is it still okay to contact them and tell them they should be fired, canceled, or killed ... or that the only reason they were selected for the role they...
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Are the days of movies numbered? (#034)
It's the last day of May and this summer's season of blockbusters is already off to a flying start with the release of (and reception to) TOP GUN: MAVERICK. Make no mistake, this film's opening weekend was terrific by any measure and the industry trade press is lavishing praise on Tom Cruise's...
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Is Star Wars incompatible with the Disney brand? (#033)
Here's our special Memorial Day edition of ROADTRIPPIN' ... Today, Rob and I got into a rather lengthy discussion as to why Disney doesn't seem to be able to capitalize on the LucasFilms acquisition and the Star Wars franchise, in particular. This, in large part, was due to a question asked by a...
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First impressions of the first, two Obi-Wan Kenobi episodes on Disney+ (#032)
The new Obi-Wan Kenobi series dropped its first two episodes on Disney+ today and RMB had some thoughts. Writing genre entertainment is proving harder for this generation of screenwriters than in previous years. There's still hope for this series (and the franchise), but there's still a lot of…
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Can Obi-Wan's failure to save Anakin Skywalker save Star Wars (#031)
The new Obi-Wan streaming series starts tomorrow with two episodes dropping on Disney+ ... and expectations are high. And with good reason. As Rob points out in today’s podcast, this Obi-Wan project first started out as a Star Wars Story film project, like Solo and Rogue One. But eventually it...
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Star Wars turns 45 - has it reached middle age or will it catch a second wind with Obi-Wan? (#030)
Star Wars turns 45 today. And in today's podcast, Rob and I both road trip down "Memory Lane" as we relate our experiences watching the film when it premiered in theaters - Rob in Seattle and me in the little, midwestern town of Milan, Illinois. Rob and I both stumbled across Star Wars in advance...
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SPECIAL COVID Edition: Part 2 - Why is everyone so bitchy? Outrage pays. (#029)
As you know, last Monday, Rob tested positive for COVID and we were only able to record two sessions last week. The first session is streaming pas Par 1 of our SPECIAL COVID EDITION Podcasts and takes a deep dive into why fans seem to be so upset and cranky about genre entertainment and the...
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SPECIAL COVID Edition: Part 1 - There is a critical shortage of genre fiction writers (#028)
This is the first part of a special, two-part podcast we’re calling our SPECIAL COVID EDITION podcasts. It was originally recorded last Monday, but I held onto it and didn’t release it until after Rob had recovered from COVID (which he contracted over his birthday weekend). In this episode, we…
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A look at the week in review and the weeks ahead ... uh oh, it's Friday the 13th (#027)
(NOTE: Due to delays in production, this podcast was not streamed until the Tuesday following its recording. My apologies. - Mike) I suppose it's no surprise that when Rob and I took some time to look at the world around us on a particularly ominous Friday the 13th, we spent very little time...
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Is economic turmoil bringing on the collapse of streaming? What does the future hold? (#026)
Rob and I talk economics today - with so much uncertainty and volatility in the markets this week, it's top-of-mind. What do collapsing market valuations mean to the future of streaming and the viability of so many of the programs we love and care about? Those are valid questions. And while 45...
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How The Twilight Zone and anthology series changed the face of TV (#025)
Wednesday is National TWILIGHT ZONE DAY ... which is a little odd, because the show debuted on October 1, 1959. But then again, it IS the Twilight Zone, so ... Rob and I spend a good deal of time talking about how important Rod Serling's breakthrough show was in shaping the face of science…
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How will the movie industry save itself if audiences stop being curious (#024)
(NOTE: This is one of our more philosophical ROADTRIPPIN' podcasts ... and if you're not into discussing "existential" issues, we apologize. But as we've said before, we have no idea where or how these conversations will go when we start them and I make minimal edits to the recordings to preserve...
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Will clichéd storytelling spell the end of our favorite franchises? (#023)
Is it time to let some of our favorite entertainment franchises come to an end rather than constantly resurrecting them with poorly-written re-boots, re-imaginings or remakes? Rob and I discuss this in greater detail during today's ROADTRIPPIN' Podcast as we speculate on the long-term fate of the...
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Madness extends far beyond the MCU - what's wrong with fans and our franchises (#022)
Rob gives us a quick run-down of what he liked about DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS and we continue to discuss how managing fan expectations appears to be the single largest obstacle to continued MCU success. But why is that? We also talk about fan expectations and biases on the AVATAR...
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nu-Trek has a writing problem but that's nothing compared to the MCU's cosmic crisis. (#021)
ROADTRIPPIN’ co-hosts, Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden talk about the end of Season 2 for ‘Star Trek: Picard’ and the start of Season 1 for ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ which – to put it mildly – were a bit underwhelming. Hopes for the MCU’s latest chapter (the thirtieth) are high, but...
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Why we can't keep a secret and the nature of spoilers (#020)
Happy Fake Star Wars Day, everybody. Star Wars holds a particularly dear spot in the hearts of Imagination Connoisseurs of my age because we were the perfect age for viewing the original trilogy of films (Episodes 4-5-6, for those of you who are counting) when they first appeared in theaters. And...
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It's National Paranormal Day - seems like a great time to talk politics (#019)
Every now and then, Rob and I have an opportunity to talk politics. We're not members of the same political party, but there's a healthy level of respect and a shared interest in finding solutions and working together, so we tend to work through the nuanced differences of opinion we have and…
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What a strange week it's going to be in the PGS (#018)
We catch up with writer-producer-director Robert Meyer Burnett while he was on the road to do The John Campea Show today. It's going to be a "strange" week in the world of genre entertainment: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debuts on Thursday and the sequel to Dr. Strange appears in theaters (in…
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The World needs the world of AVATAR 1 and 2 (#017)
Rob is back from Cinemacon in Las Vegas and he gives us a full report on today's ROADTRIPPIN' podcast (while he's driving down the 10 and then taking the exit to the 15 and then ...). Of all the studio presentations made during the convention, Disney seemed to be the most impressive. They...
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The allure of prequel storytelling and why it's killing the things we love (#016)
Since the dawn of mankind and the use of language and art to convey meaning through story, there has been a tension between the intent of the creator to tell the story they long to tell, the desire of the audience to hear more about the characters with whom they fall in love, and the corporate...
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Crimes of the Future and the last of the Red Hots Lovers (#015)
The sweetness at CinemaCon 2022 isn't only on the screen. Rob isn't on the road today ... at least, not in his car. Today through Thursday, Rob is in Las Vegas with John Campea and the rest of the crew from The John Campea Show as they provide live coverage of CinemaCon 2022, the annual trade…
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Cinemacon 2022 preview and the importance of shared stories (#014)
In today's podcast, Rob and I talk about what he expects to see (and hopes to see) at Cinemacon 2022 when he's there tomorrow through Thursday with John Campea and the Campea Crew. Rob, of course, is excited to see the exclusive footage and star power each studio rolls out for the event - but…
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Are we fans of old stuff or cultural connoisseurs? You decide! (#013)
In today's podcast, we talk about how culture in this country (and others) seems to be trending more and more toward quantity over quality. Are we sacrificing the qualities that "stuff" interesting in favor of accumulating and having more stuff? That approach just seems to make all the stuff…
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About this show
"You know how your mind wanders when you're on the open road? Ever wonder what it would be like to have a stream-of-consciousness conversation with an Imagination Connoisseur? Trust us, it's hilarious, insightful and above all, an optimistic delight. Join me on my daily adventure with Robert Meyer Burnett down I-10 as we explore the Post-Geek Singularity."
Mike Bawden co-host
Hosted by
ICU LLC