The Incomparable Superfeed

Hello fellow nerds! We’re back after a short hiatus and super excited to talk Nine Inch Nails (mostly Trent Reznor), Gallifrey One, the Olympics and My Melody. We even dabble a little in sports psychology. It’s a strange combination, but we think it works. Stacy Watnick and Heather Berberet with Chelsea Hackman.

Welcome back to Missed Connections, a game in which our contestants must make four colorful word connections while guessing tricky (some might say problematically tricky) word clues. This episode was devised by a monstrous figure who lurks in the darkness, namely our own Brian Hamilton. Can Lex and Monty defeat Tony and Dan? Only time, and words, will tell. Jason Snell and Brian Hamilton with Lex Friedman, Monty Ashley, Dan Moren and Tony Sindelar.

In this episode… Jaee tries to be commanding. J’osh is a lover, not a fighter. K’ronng hides under things. Tink Her Bell is besties with Blueberry. And Tony is really good at Dungeons & Dragons. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

Being mayor of New York City is back-breaking work and Wilson FIsk is ready for a little beach vacation after all that’s happened. It’s the season two finale of Daredevil and we’ve cracked open the law books to follow along with all the courtroom drama as Matt faces off with The Kingpin. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Listener Ed doesn’t keep his pizza wheel in his knife, but it’s got a blade and cuts things. What makes a knife a knife? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

This season of Maul - Shadow Lord concludes, and your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony are here to discuss who survives, the strengths of animation, and Crimson Dawn’s reporting structure. Plus the conclusions of olive talk, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and our preferred apples. Lucasfilm Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and Kat Benesh.

Put on your eye phones and jack in to the cyberscape! Rocket Surgery comes for 1996’s cyberpunk epic “Lawnmower Man 2.” (Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the original “Lawnmower Man,” half of us didn’t either.) Matt Frewer is Max Headrooming it up! A bunch of urchins populate a rainy L.A. that’s straight out of “Blade Runner,” but, you know—cheaper. There’s a brilliant doctor in charge of virtual-reality research, and also there’s Jennifer! And everything in the future is hackable! Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar and Annette Wierstra.

Disasters in space are a “For All Mankind” tradition, so let’s see how everyone does getting to Titan. But also, Mars is a place where disasters can happen, so let’s see who is in the Corn Dome at 3 a.m. on a weeknight! Things are getting tense everywhere. Let’s break it all down. Dan Moren and Jason Snell.

You can’t win ‘em all. And the Panthers don’t. Meanwhile, Lyla tries to convince Jason he’ll walk again. And Coach makes his players run drills in the rain. Honestly, this time around… we’re Soakin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

In this episode… Jaee makes some fashion contacts. J’osh plays a boy toy. K’ronng picks a lock, at range. Tink Her Bell takes great advantage of flight. And Tony is just a guy who phrases things. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

Things start to come together as Karen gets her day in court, Dex is given a good deed to do, and Daniel makes some tough decisions. Can Fisk maintain control of New York and Red Hook while spiraling out of control? Can Matt do what Daredevil can’t? Can Johnny Dollar ever look at a hot dog again? Find out on this week’s episode of Biff! Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Listener Caleb saw an ergonomics assistance backpack at a trade show, advertised as a robot. Can you wear… a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The season’s second half starts with a gun to someone’s head and complete chaos in Mission Control. Dev and Aleida feel trapped, but Dev’s got some weird ideas about security. Our favorite new Space Marine reveals her amazing lineage. Boyd and Fred finally have that heart-to-heart. And who does Irinia really work for, and is it just herself? Let’s see how long we can all survive waiting to find out what happens next. Lock the doors. Dan Moren and Jason Snell.

In this episode… Jaee gets mission-drunk. K’ronng wears a security-guard hat. J’osh is capable of causing a distraction. Tink Her Bell does a drone-style flyby. And Tony does less berating. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

In the aftermath of Bulleye’s attack on the Fisk familly an old friend of Matt’s shows up to put an end to the gun problem in Star City. Bibi and Daniel spend a little time together for his birthday while Matt pays Wilson a visit to offer his condolences. Dan is away this week but we’re confident he’d have loved this episode. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Listener Jason used ChatGPT to find information that answered a colleague’s question. But did he “look it up?” John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We have Predator armor at home. Joe Rosensteel and Dan Sturm.

By request, we take on this late-50s musical, directed by Stanley Donan. Our stars are Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. (I’ll have lots to say about Kay.) Revolving, as it does around the fashion industry in Paris, Funny Face is pretty to look at, including many great costumes. It also features songs by the Gershwins and some better ones that are not by them. Shelly Brisbin with David Almeida, Lisa Schmeiser, Micheline Maynard, Erika Ensign and David J. Loehr.

Matt Saracen has a grandma. And a job. Oh, and he’s now officially QB1, after Jason Street learns he will never walk again. Lyla can’t stop visiting Jason, but Tim won’t even start. And Coach Taylor has a lot of pressure. But with the clear eyes of Lex and Brian guiding you through, dear listener, you can’t lose. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Live from Estes Park, Colorado, listener Kyle has eaten at a pizza place where his food was delivered via a robot! But… is it a robot, or not? After a swift verdict, John and Jason then spend far more time digging deep on Antonio’s Pizza and what sort of pizza it provides to the people of Colorado. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Fritz Lang directed a pair of noirs in the mid-40s, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. The other is Woman in the Window. In Scarlet Street Eddie G. Is a mild-mannered cashier who meets Kitty, a beauty who might not mean him well. And then Dan Duryea gets involved. Like any self-respecting noir classic, this one is nice to look at, and even features twelve paintings created for the film. In real-life, Eddie collected art and Dan Duryea was a nice man. Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.

It’s space cops, Sith Lords, and shockball this week as your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony discuss the latest pair of Maul - Shadow Lord episodes. Plus, moral quandaries, a call for listener mail, and more than you wanted to know about copyright law. Lucasfilm Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and Kat Benesh.

A new game! Each round, players are presented with an assortment of letters. They must retcon the best initialism for the round’s category and hope that everyone else votes for theirs. And since each round is drawn at random, host Lex gets to play, too! Will someone beat Lex at what is literally his own game? Lex Friedman with Kathy Campbell, Brian Warren, Tony Sindelar, Dan Moren and Brian Hamilton.

boss these podcasts are getting out of hand the other day i heard dan mccoy and his much older brother discussing archy and mehitabel by which i mean the column by don marquis that started in 1916 and then was collected into a book if you could call it that in 1927 John McCoy with Dan McCoy.

Listener Joshua is really focused on the grammar of Superhero and Supervillain names. Is Batman a bat? Does Doctor Doom have an advanced degree? Can Rogue keep her name while joining the X-Men? Are there any rules at all? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony are back to cover a brand new show: Maul - Shadow Lord (not to be confused with other Mauls, accept no substitutes). We discuss the long strange charisma of this Sith Lord/crime boss/suspect mentor, mixing crime tropes with our sci-fi, and a frankly surprising amount about ska. Lucasfilm Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and Kat Benesh.

Someone suggested we honor the films of 1926 — 100 years ago — and so we shall. Beau Geste has been remade often, but here is the original, starring Ronald Colman in his matinee idol period. S recent massive restoration of the film has the film looking great, with lots of footage restored. It’s a silent film, if that affects your interest, but it’s quite compelling. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard.

Listener Jack seeks a true definition of what it means when we say “humans will live on the Moon (or Mars).” Does a brief visit count? Do you need to grow your own potatoes? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Steven and Erika re-review the other recently returned episode and pine for more. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Erika and Steven revisit an episode we first reviewed in 2016! Why? Because it’s no longer merely a reconstruction! Two episodes of “The Daleks’ Master Plan” were recently recovered, thanks to the good work of Film Is Fabulous. We’ve made good on our promise to return and re-cover recovered episodes, and “The Nightmare Begins” is the first of the two. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

The LTS lineup drafts baseball movies for your enjoyment. At least one choice from every panelist must fall within our old-timey timeline, but newer films about bats and balls make it in, too. And don’t worry, bad baseball movies do not strike out here. Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Micheline Maynard, Randy Dotinga and David J. Loehr.

After covering all of Sorkin’s films, we moved to TV with The Newsroom, Studio 60, and Sports Night. Now, there’s only one show left to cover, with perhaps Sorkin’s finest and enduring work yet: Friday Night Lights. We start with the pilot, meeting a whole bunch of characters, and Lex is deeply curious about whether Brian will like the show or regret signing up for yet another season. Find out the answer and enjoy a new theme song. It’s Season 5 of Sorkin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

It’s time to Mind Meld again, where five contestants across six rounds have second thoughts about being wrong in order to be at one with each other for points. Except for the seventh round, where they have to be right. Tony Sindelar and Kathy Campbell with Annette Wierstra, Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman, Shelly Brisbin and Lex Friedman.

Happy Opening Day! It’s Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, in our first baseball episode. And yes, it’s all LTS inside baseball this week. We complain about the lack of actual baseball in this movie, suggest other movies with more baseball and go on a complete tangent halfway through, that no one would let me edit out. But first, listener mail! Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard, David J. Loehr and Randy Dotinga.

Love of wisdom means never having to say you’re sorry. Professor Marina McCoy joins her husband to discuss Plato’s The Apology (c. 399-90 BCE). John McCoy with Marina McCoy.

Listener Tom really wants us to explain what it means if someone is “out of pocket.” This leads to some existential questions about the pocket and the people who may not be in it. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Steven and Erika finish off “Revenge of the Cybermen” — and Season 12 of Doctor Who! And no need to email us — immediately after recording, Steven discovered the “heartbeat” music cue was Peter Howell, not Carey Blyton. Erika regrets her incorrect guess! (Ok not really. No actual regrets. Everyone is wrong sometimes!) Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Erika and Steven discuss what makes a good Cybermen story, and whether this is that. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Steven and Erika issue corrections, then talk about direction, music, and other assorted nonsense. Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Erika and Steven (finally) dive into the first Cybermen story they’ve covered in ages! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

The son of a man convicted of murder faces bullying, then suspicion when he is accused of a crime, too. Directed by Frank Borzage, the film is moody, dark and a bit gothic. Dane Clark and Gail Russell are your leads, with a late-film appearance by Ethel Barrymore. And you’ll hate young Lloyd Bridges. Noir czar Eddie Muller calls Borzage ‘relentlessly romantic,” which is a huge contrast to this film, which Muller ranks it among his top 25 noir films. Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga, Nathan Alderman and Micheline Maynard.

The team is clearly eyeing their future while the fate of the network lies in the balance. Rebecca returns, Natalie and Jeremy are back with full hearts in orbit around each other, and Clark Gregg is there with his inexplicable sideburns. It’s the final episode of Sports Night; but, don’t worry friends, it’s not the final episode of Sorkin’ In It. Want to know what we’re doing next? Stick around. This episode is can’t miss. The future? Can’t lose. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Welcome back to “Inconceivable!”, the show that tests two teams’ knowledge of the nerdy, the useless, and the obscure. This time around, our panelists must divine means of telling the future, identify portrayers of the world’s greatest detective not named Batman, and untangle mashed-up superhero song titles. Kathy Campbell, Chip Sudderth, and Shelly Brisbin take on Monty Ashley, Annette Wierstra, and Tony Sindelar in a battle of wits to the pain as host Dan Moren and scorekeeper Lex Friedman keep order. Dan Moren and Lex Friedman with Kathy Campbell, Chip Sudderth, Shelly Brisbin, Monty Ashley, Annette Wierstra and Tony Sindelar.

Listener Niels follows on from the logical question of if a glass can be made of plastic to ponder what makes a can a can. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Gene Tierney does comedy. John Lund is not bad. And THELMA RITTER IS THE BEST. Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and Nathan Alderman.

Deanna shares a spiritual geek-out in a conversation so full of joy and woo—we had to do it twice. Sandra Wong with Deanna Raybourn.

Listener Justin tries to get us to stretch the definition of “facial hair” beyond the beard. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

In this, the penultimate episode of Sports Night and the current season of Sorkin’ In It, we start with a “big honkin’ doofus.” That doesn’t relate to the plot, but we just love saying it. The gang’s at the bar meeting strangers and pondering the future — of the network, of the show, of their lives. These are desperate times — and Natalie’s not wearing socks, so who knows what will happen next! Whatever the future, Brian and Lex will be Sorkin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Jennifer shares a nifty little geek-out and in the doing, has us sharing insights about the meaning of joy itself. Sandra Wong with Jennifer Hillier.

Action Castle returns! This time, the players navigate the charred remains of post apocalyptic Ne Ork City. Watch out for rat people and burning rivers! Another amusing and entertaining text adventure game from Parsley Games! Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, Brian Hamilton, Dan Moren, James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.