Licence to Spiel

“What’d you pay for those shoes?” We are back along with Robert Culp’s mustache as we discuss “The Most Crucial Game” and a whole lot of things that barely exist anymore. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net

We navigate “The Greenhouse Jungle” which is replete with fraud, fake kidnapping, murder, and really bad wigs. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Signed Photo Dime Store Fabio White Jacket Coffee Table Decor Outdoor Late-Night Chili Counter

We begin season 2 of Columbo with “Étude in Black,” a special, extended (or is that padded?) episode featuring Peter Falk’s friend John Cassavetes as the Murderer-of-the Week. Does this episode merit an extra 30 minutes of runtime? Did Cassavetes do any research at all on how to conduct an orchestra? Was every actor from the 70s in at least one episode of “The Virginian?” And what’s up with the sudden appearance of Adolf Hitler? Listen and find out! Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Moving Walkway Fake Conducting Dog More 70s Ties The Columbo Dynamic Suddenly…Hitler? Benedict the Referee James Olson’s Hair

We take a one-episode break from Columbo to revisit the final latest entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—THE FINAL RECKONING. Just like the first time we watched it, we found it to be too long. In our (hopefully not too long) discussion, we ask why the filmmakers have suddenly decided their audience is full of idiots; question the inflammability of Alaskan cabins; and lose track of the number of times Ethan Hunt should die in this film. Speaking of not dying, we have a hard time believing that this is the last film in the series… Other episodes mentioned: Clip Shows and Sparachutes (immediate reactions to THE FINAL RECKONING) …And that’s Why I Hate this Movie (INFERNO) Follow us on social media: Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net

We close out the first season of Columbo with “Blueprint for Murder,” which is also the first and only episode of the show directed by Peter Falk. Join us as we discuss after-market Cadillac modding, really cheap bourbon, and what might just be the most expensive murder investigation in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images)   Markham’s Tie Wool Jacket Reflected Astigmatism at Night Goldie’s Bedroom Audio Cassettes Dr. John Fiedler Hat with BBQ Sauce That 70s Hair (again) Gross Body

Carl and Thad are joined by special guest Ryan Riddle to discuss “Short Fuse,” starring Roddy McDowall as the murderer of the week. We had a fun and extensive conversation with Ryan that even touched on the episode at times. Follow us on social media Ryan Riddle – @ryanthomasriddle.com Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.net Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Darkroom Bomb-making Denim Suit Portraits of Yourself “I was not prepared for all the ass shots” Cigar Storage Roddy McDowall: Freaking Tool Answering Machine Homoerotic Silly String

In this episode, Thad and Carl discuss “Lady in Waiting,” the fifth of the first season of Columbo. While we would never condone murder, we both agree that Bryce Chadwick is the most murderable victim we have seen to date. We also get incredibly distracted by the usual things, including the inexplicable “Webster” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” crossover episode. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.net Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) “Webtrek” Bryce’s Keychain Isaac Asimov: L.A. Cop Bryce’s Framed Portrait Time Out for Star Trek Drive-in Car Trays Columbo Being Columbo Clothing Store / Bar / Pool Hall

Thad and Carl recently went to see MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — THE FINAL RECKONING. Hear our immediate thoughts on the movie, including our takes on some dubious UX decisions and some of the incredible stunts. WARNING: We mention being spoiler-free to start, but that goes out the window in about 5 minutes, so please, if you haven’t seen the movie yet, hold off until you do. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.net

Thad and Carl discuss “Suitable for Framing,” the fourth episode of the first season of Columbo. Famous art critic (if that’s a thing) Dale Kingston murders his uncle to inherit his considerable art collection. But we are more focused on his fashion sense, the propensity of people in the 70s to have bars in their homes, and yet another television set. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Blue Velvet Tuxedo Comb-Forward Dale Kingston on TV THE BIG CLUE More 70s Fashion Sense “You…you touched those paintings just now!” Gloves

In this episode, we discuss episode three of Columbo’s first season, “Dead Weight,” which had some behind-the-scenes drama that might be more interesting than the episode itself. We also get a bit hung up on issues related to Convoluted Body-Removal in murder mysteries. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Undershirt with a Bathrobe Sailing Outfits Bad Crate-Packing Gen. Hollister’s House Gen. Hollister’s House, Part 2 Tabletop TV European Dictator Painting Ms. Stewart’s Apartment Tuxedo Jacket Lining Chester Jones Coffee Pot Helen’s Outfit Again Not Peter Falk

We discuss “Death Lends a Hand”, which introduces another future-repeat murder: Robert Culp. We also take issue with some of Columbo’s ethics this time (or lack thereof), and we reminisce about taking our driving exams. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Redressed Office Shag Carpet in a Beach House Glasses Reflection The Cost of Golf Balls See-Through Map Columbo Being a Dick State of the Art Computer Topher Grace Guy Columbo Being a Creep Shag Carpet Search Car Trench

We officially kick off the first season of Columbo with “Murder by the Book,” which hits the ground running with a great first appearance by Jack Cassidy as the Murderer of the Week. The episode was also directed and written by nobodies Steven Spielberg and Steven Bochco. I wonder whatever happened to them… Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Bookshelf Corduroy Blazer Bookshelf Again Ferris’s Shirt Fire Pit/Coffee Table Bumper Sticker The Ferris’ Kitchen Naugahyde Brickwork Cuff Buttons on Pants Capsizing the Boat Columbo Being Columbo (again)

In this episode, Thad and Carl discuss “Ransom for a Dead Man,” the second Columbo pilot produced by NBC. In addition to dissecting the seemingly perfect murder plan, we also comment on an overuse of green in Lee Grant’s office and spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about a television. Follow us on social media Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Images for those listening on our website (or who cannot see the chapter images) Camera Astigmatism Margaret’s Television So Much Green

Join Licence to Spiel this episode as we leave the world of spies and espionage to start a new series that we admit will take us a while. We are going to be covering the entirety of “Columbo,” the fictional TV police detective who solves crimes that we have already seen be committed. And we are, of course, starting at the beginning with the 1968 television movie that started it all: “Prescription: Murder,” in which we see Gene Barry as Dr. Ray Flemming play the role of the first in a long line of famous murderers on the show. Peter Falk hits the ground running as the titular detective, despite being overly kempt for this outing. We also have lots of comments about Dr. Flemming’s choices in art, questionable police procedures, and the complete lack of booth seating on airplanes today. Programming Note: since recording this episode, Thad, Carl, and the show have all left the Platform Formerly Known as Twitter. You can find us all at the following handles on Bluesky: Licence to Spiel – @podspiel.bsky.social Thad – @tyranicus.bsky.social Carl – @listeningtofilm.bsky.social Also, because we are talking about a lot of visual things in this episode, we have put some photos in as chapter art so you can see what we are talking about. Please let us know on Bluesky if you have trouble seeing them. Thanks! For those listening on our website: Credits 70s Parties Cake Fire Hazard Green Shag and an End Table Airplane Lobby Not Dead Body Outline Columbo Being Columbo Flemming’s Secret Bar

We close out the Robert Langdon Cinematic Universe with a discussion of 2016’s INFERNO—a perfectly adequate action thriller…unless you’ve read the book. Hear Thad and Carl lament what Hollywood’s Dumb-it-down-extraordinaire David Koepp does with Dan Brown’s most daring novel. Meanwhile, friend of the show and actual historian Chrissie De Clerck-Szilagyi explains all the things the film gets wrong about the plague. We also go on all the side tangents you’ve come to expect from this show and even equate this film to the mess on an adaptation that is 1997’s THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (also written by David Koepp).

Thad and Carl are joined once again by Chrissie De Clerck-Szilagyi for a discussion of ANGELS & DEMONS (2009), the second film in the Robert Langdon Cinematic Universe. While there are still some things that Dan Brown gets blatantly wrong (e.g., the Illuminati), we all felt that this was a much better effort by all involved. That doesn’t mean we don’t critique things like stupid airtight rooms and spend way too much time debating whether priests are allowed to “beat the bishop.”* Editor’s Warning: For whatever reason, Thad decided to let loose that most terrifying of creatures, the Moopsy, during recording. While it makes a couple of appearances during the show, we want to put our listeners at ease by stressing that all three hosts are ok. That said, remain ever vigilant and look out for the Moopsy, because it drinks your bones. * we promise this is 100% plot-relevant. So much so that the alternate title of this episode is “I’ve closed my masturbation tabs.”

FACT: Dan Brown’s penchant for historical inaccuracies inspired us to invite an actual historian to join us for a discussion of THE DA VINCI CODE (2006). Both the Priory of Scion and Opus Dei are real organizations. Neither is how they are described by Dan Brown, nor are the Crusades, the Knights Templar, and a whole lot of other things.  

Delayed almost as long as the film we are talking about, Licence to Spiel finally returns with a full discussion of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—DEAD RECKONING PART 1. While we both agree that this is an overlong setup for the upcoming sequel, it’s still a fun movie that we enjoyed talking about again. Of course, we still managed to find time to rant about the lack of 3D home releases and some other ratholes (while still coming in at under half of the movie’s runtime). Note: if you are interested to hear our “fresh from the theater” takes on this film, check out our previous episode from July 2023: “Accidentally Topical.“

We come full circle this episode by discussing the television miniseries version of The Bourne Identity (1988) starring Richard Chamberlain, Jaclyn Smith, and a whole slew of “that guys.” Despite the low expectations that typically come with a made-for-tv movie from the 80s, we both enjoyed this one a lot. We do still find time to do our usual things like quibble over things like the complete lack of any police response in Europe and reminisce about microfiche. We also read a bit of feedback!

The Jason Bourne franchise concludes, at least for now, with the appropriately named JASON BOURNE (2016), a movie that we both enjoyed a lot more than we remembered. Of course, we still find time to poke fun at laptop choices, a hacktivist with the worst internet security we have ever seen, and the most amazing jacket ever committed to (19th century) film.

We’re back! After a long and unexpected hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns with a discussion of 2012’s THE BOURNE LEGACY (a.k.a. the Bourne film that doesn’t have Bourne in it). We would have returned sooner, but we got too distracted by the ins and outs of Rachel Weisz’s telephone.

The Jason Bourne story concludes with 2007’s THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, but that didn’t stop Universal Pictures from making two more films after this one. For now though, we discuss Motorola RAZR screen resolutions, the fat content of goat’s cheese, and whether John McAfee murdered anyone. Thad makes a prediction about Kevin McCarthy that turned out to be correct, and we also talk about the movie a little.

Thad and Carl talk about The Bourne Supremacy (2004), a film that added depth to the already-excellent story begun with the previous installment but also inflicted countless Paul Greengrass imitations on the movie world for years to come.

After a bit of a hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns to take a look at one of the best and most influential action film franchises of the 2000s—which continued to be one of the action franchises of the 2010s (but more on that in a few episodes). Today, we tackle the film that started it all: The Bourne Identity (2002), featuring a surprising (for the time) turn for Matt Damon, the villain du jour of the time in Chris Cooper, and Walton Goggins as a guy with a lot of push pins.

Our immediate thoughts on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART 1. WARNING: This show contains spoilers!

Before you go to see the latest Mission: Impossible film, catch up on the previous entry, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, just like we had planned from the start…

We discuss Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), a movie that is chock full of movie tropes and still manages to be quite excellent. We also get side-tracked by Thad’s dislike of opera and the fact that there are too many actors named Laura out there in the world.

It’s all about Brad Bird’s entry in the franchise, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. We discuss Ethan Hunt’s habit of being disavowed, mourn the loss of the IMF Director (served from Dec. 2011 – Dec. 2011), and realize how large screen bezels were back in 2011.

Much like the series itself, Thad and Carl return after an unexpectedly long hiatus to talk about the third installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, creatively titled Mission: Impossible III. As always, we ask the important questions like, what exactly IS the Rabbit’s Foot? How much current does it take to kill you? And how do a government employee and a nurse afford such a big house outside DC?

We continue our look at the Mission: Impossible films with Mission: Impossible 2—a movie that we can certainly say is part of the franchise. But this overblown action film’s effect on early 2000s cinema is much greater than you might think. #ReleaseTheWooCut

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find all Dutch angles, split diopter shots, and humorous computer/tech choices made in this film. Should you fail, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your existence. Your download will self-destruct in five seconds. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.

On this normal-length episode, we discuss the Extended Edition of Spy (2015), a film that despite some unfortunate choices at times, we both enjoyed quite a bit. However, when the Extended Edition mainly involves literal dick jokes and five punchlines for the same scene, maybe just go with the theatrical version.

A full seven years after the previous entry, the Johnny English franchise concludes (for now) with Johnny English Strikes Again (2018). We discuss whether the series has run its course (it has), bad mobile phone and submarine missile security, and spitball a British version of R.E.D.

This week it’s Johnny English Reborn (2011), a fun if not entirely necessary continuation of the Johnny English franchise. Even though Dominic West has a name, and so does his character in this film (it’s Simon Ambrose), we refer to him as McNulty throughout.

In this episode, we talk about 2003’s Johnny English, the first entry in the occasional film series that has a release schedule comparable to some BBC shows. We also discuss the merits of Mr. Bean and the line of succession to the British throne, and we pour one out for LightScribe.

Licence to Spiel returns, ostensibly to talk about the 1954 TV adaptation of “Casino Royale.” While we do talk about this interesting time capsule of entertainment, we also fall down several rabbit holes, including a long discussion of the 90s cartoon “James Bond, Jr.” Watch Casino Royale (1954) Normally, we would assume anyone listening to these shows will have seen the movie/show already. However, that’s probably not the case this time. Fear not! You can see the same version we did here courtesy of YouTube:

In this episode we discuss Austin Powers in Goldmember from 2002, a film that helps reinforce the Law of Diminishing Returns. is it good? No it’s not at all. But it’s not the worst film we’ve watched so far…

This episode, we talk about Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), a film that is absolutely hilarious if you are a thirteen-year-old boy. Sadly, Thad and (especially) Carl are much older…

Groovy baby! Join us (briefly) in 1960s En-ga-land as we talk about Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).  It’s a film that has certainly dated since it came out but is one we still enjoyed.

In this episode, we watched 1996’s Spy Hard, so you don’t have to. While occasionally funny, this movie mostly made us question its casting choices, acting choices, and random non sequitur movie references. We also make a comment that you would only ever hear on this podcast.

Normally we have to go out of our way to find opportunities to talk about Star Trek in our Bond podcast. This week though, we are talking about the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Our Man Bashir.” So if you thought we’ve gotten overly nerdy before… Embarrassing correction: Carl erroneously referred to the episode of TOS where Kirk is possessed by Sargon as “Yesterday is Tomorrow,” which isn’t even an episode of Star Trek. There IS an episode called “Tomorrow is Yesterday” but that’s not the right episode title either. The correct title is “Return to Tomorrow.” Carl is hereby docked 5 Geek Cred Points.

Remember when James Cameron made movies you wanted to see? We leave the world of James Bond for the first time to talk about True Lies (1994), a movie we feel safe in predicting will be more fun than Avatar 17.

The year 1967 saw two James Bond films hit theaters. One involved a plot to steal space capsules from a secret volcano lair and yet was somehow the less insane of the two. Sadly, we watched Casino Royale (1967) this week instead.

We discuss Thunderb…er…Never Say Never Again (1983): Kevin McClory’s answer to Octopussy. While neither film is very good, this one at least has Sean Connery, that glorious early 80s aesthetic, and yes, a whole lot of ass shots.

The Daniel Craig era of James Bond ends with a bang, quite literally, with No Time To Die—a film so delayed we’ve actually talked about it two separate times now. We now eagerly await the follow up: The Return of Dou Dou.

Several times in this episode we complain about a certain Bond movie not coming out. The same movie we talked about back in Episode 4. And the one we will also talk about next time. It’s almost as inexplicable as Bond’s lack of brain damage, Mr. White’s secret room hidden behind a plaster wall, or pretty much anything else that happens in this film.

In this 50th Anniversary outing, James Bond must contend with the looming spectre of old age. It’s still more nefarious than the villain’s so-called plot. Did we mention that this is only Daniel Craig’s third film?

In his first-ever direct sequel, James Bond must contend with dubious alternative fuels, questionable editorial decisions, and David Harbour’s mustache.

Daniel Craig is here to save the day and the franchise with a plethora of Sony gadgets!

Pierce Brosnan returns to Die Another Day, but first he has to make a lot of double entendres.