Gobbledygeek

We're going back…to That Was Then! Paul, Arlo, and Eric return to their series of vintage movie discussions to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Robert Zemeckis' 1985 sci-fi comedy blockbuster Back to the Future. It's a classic beloved by many folks of different generations, but we're here to answer that most pressing question: Why? The gang unravels every last nonsensical thread of BTTF, finding plenty to love despite how fuzzy everything is beneath the film's surface. There's admiration for Zemeckis' ability to power through even the dumbest plot convolutions, praise for the dynamite chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, confusion about Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale's attitudes toward race and sex, and so very much more.   NEXT: Gobbledygeek will return.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:38  -  Intro  00:03:08  -  That Was Then: 1985 00:28:10  -  Back to the Future 01:55:46  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & The News, Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1985) "Back In Time" by Huey Lewis & The News, Back to the Future: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1985)  

For this month's (not that we're on any kind of schedule anymore, hehe) Four-Color Flashback, Paul, Arlo, and Eric are scurrying over to the first three volumes of David Petersen's Mouse Guard. Published from 2006-13 by BOOM! Studios, Petersen's medieval epic takes place in a world devoid of humans, where a civilization of mice attempt to survive harsh weather, even harsher predators, and each other. The gang discusses the many, gloriously illustrated sequences of absolutely brutal animal-on-animal violence; Petersen's awe-inspiring attention to detail, including a number of songs and poems that enrich the culture of his world; and Paul's newfound obsession with the series and its many ancillary offshoots.   NEXT: we're going back…to That Was Then! We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Robert Zemeckis' classic blockbuster Back to the Future.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:48  -  Intro / Banter 00:28:13  -  Mouse Guard 01:41:54  -  Outro / Next   LINKS David Petersen's Mouse Guard "Creator Commentary" videos   MUSIC "One Brown Mouse" by Jethro Tull, Heavy Horses (1978) "…And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps" by Jethro Tull, Heavy Horses (1978)

We lost one of our legendary screen stars earlier this year, so now we're passing through the gates of VAL-halla to celebrate some of his most notable films. That's right, this is the first in an occasional series of double features focused on the work of none other than the elusive, enigmatic Val Kilmer. To kick things off, Paul, Arlo, and Eric are going back to the very beginning. Kilmer got his big screen start in a Zucker-Abraham-Zucker laff riot, 1984's Top Secret!; with the benefit of hindsight, it's clear that Val wasn't a good fit for the ZAZ machine, and the gang tells us why. Faring much better is Martha Coolidge's 1985 cult college classic Real Genius, which avoids the pitfalls of the era's other slobs v. snobs comedies with real heart and–of course–a terrific lead performance from Kilmer. Where are he (and we) going next? Stay tuned! Plus, Eric sings the praises of synthpop artist Lights' new album A6.   NEXT: Four-Color Flashback gets mice-eval on your heinie with David Petersen's rodent epic Mouse Guard.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:27  -  Intro / Banter 00:21:06  -  Top Secret! 00:55:36  -  Real Genius 01:55:42  -  Outro / Next   LINKS Eric's review of A6 by Lights Top Secret!'s ridiculous bookstore scene backwards AND forwards The Behind-the-Scenes Story of Real Genius by Ashley Burns and Chloe Schildhause, Uproxx The Real Real Genius by Phyllis Rostykus, Slate Astrophysicist Michael Siegel discusses The Real Genius of Real Genius   MUSIC "Val Kilmer" by Bowling For Soup, The Great Burrito Extortion Case (2006) "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair (1984)  

Dear telefriends! Get ready to transcend this earthly plane, as Paul, Arlo, and Eric encounter a universe of concrete birds, homeo-whores, and techno-techno equipment for the latest Four-Color Flashback. The gang gets high (some of them too high) on Alejandro Jodorowsky and Mœbius' sci-fantasy The Incal, a far-out trip to a new state of being. What starts as a noir riff quickly becomes a galaxy-spanning, head-spinning epic. Topics of discussion include the Lee/Kirby-esque dynamic between Jodo and Mœbius, each page's intricate color design, what an asshole Detective John Difool is, whether or not any of this makes any sense (or if it needs to!), and much more.   NEXT: prepare to enter Val-halla. We begin our series of Val Kilmer double features with two of his first films, 1984's Top Secret! and 1985's Real Genius.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:45  -  Intro / Banter 00:30:12  -  The Incal 01:20:51  -  [Paul got too high] 01:41:08  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Because I Got High" by Afroman, Because I Got High (2000) "Too High" by Stevie Wonder, The Sounds of Stevie Wonder (1973)

Something passed between them: the faintest hint of a common destiny. Does this describe Paul and Arlo's first meeting, or the first time Farmer Hoggett sets eyes on the piglet known as Babe? What's the difference? For a new That Was Then, the boys are joined by perennial guest Eric Sipple to discuss Chris Noonan's 1995 film Babe. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the unlikely Best Picture nominee set a new standard for animal VFX and influenced a generation of vegetarians and vegans. The gang discusses the film's surprising macabre side, its view of destiny, how it compares to Orwell's Animal Farm, the contentious relationship between Noonan and co-writer/producer/shadow director (?) George Miller, and much more.   NEXT: drop some acid, find your spiritual center, and join us for a Four-Color Flashback exploring the first three volumes of Alejandro Jodorowsky & Mœbius' The Incal.     BREAKDOWN 00:01:22  -  Intro / Banter 00:03:38  -  That Was Then: 1995 00:24:20  -  Babe 01:47:28  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Pigs on the Wing" by Pink Floyd, Animals (1977) "Piggies" by the Beatles, The Beatles (1968)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, it's time for another nautical That Was Then. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year is none other than Steven Spielberg's Jaws, a landmark moment in American film that permanently changed the shape of the industry, for better or for worse. It can be tough to view such a classic as a piece of craft unto its own, but Paul, Arlo, and super-duper special guest Eric Sipple do their best. The gang recounts the film's storied production, examines a young Spielberg's filmmaking technique, discusses Jaws' place in the Spielberg canon (particularly in light of The Fabelmans), and much more.   NEXT: That Was Then…this is sow. Paul, Arlo, and Eric head on down to the farm for a look at Chris Noonan's 1995 Best Picture nominee Babe.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:43  -  Intro / Banter 00:19:02  -  That Was Then: 1975 00:32:00  -  Jaws 01:55:00  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Jaws (Main Title)" by John Williams, Jaws (1975) "Nightswimming" by R.E.M., Automatic For The People (1992)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

Pop open a can of spinach and set sail for the far-off year of 1980, when noted auteur Robert Altman had his crew build an entire functioning town so they could shoot a Popeye movie. This unassuming comic strip adaptation represents the collision of the New Hollywood movement and the old studio system, both in their waning days; neither would survive "Stalag Altman," as star Robin Williams coined it. Paul and Arlo are delighted by the end result, an improvisational-seeming ensemble picture in the Altman vein that also features cartoon gags, characters bursting into songs penned by Harry Nilsson, and a giant octopus. The boys discuss why the movie is so much better than its reputation suggests, Robin Williams' and Shelly Duvall's underappreciated performances, the surprisingly moving throughline of fatherhood, and so much more. Plus, a whole bunch of trailers for Marvel's Thunderbolts*, the new season of animated sci-fi anthology Love Death + Robots, the animated Predator movie Killer of Killers, and Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme; Paul stuns Arlo by singing the praises of the new Amazing Spider-Man #1; and Arlo is still reading old school Fantastic Four.   NEXT: just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, it's another That Was Then, as Paul, Arlo, and Eric Sipple take a bite out of Steven Spielberg's Jaws on the eve of its 50th anniversary.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:46  -  Intro / Even MORE Banter! 00:48:43  -  Popeye 01:59:28  -  Outro / Next   LINKS Thunderbolts* Love Death + Robots, Volume 4 Predator: Killer of Killers The Phoenician Scheme Popeye Is the Best Movie Robin Williams Ever Made by Eric Spitznagel, Vanity Fair   MUSIC "I Yam What I Yam" by Robin Williams, Popeye (1980) "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" by Robin Williams, Popeye (1980) GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

Here we go, here we go, here we go again: another Spider-Man adaptation? Don't get your webs in a tizzy, True Believers, because this one is really worth it. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, the new animated series created by Jeff Trammell, imagines a branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Peter Parker was never supposed to be bitten by that genetically altered spider–until he was. Cue wacky high school shenanigans, as a number of key changes from the comics and other shows/movies cause that butterfly effect to start flappin' its wings. Paul, Arlo, and forever guest Eric Sipple discuss how Trammell and company capture the spirit of the early Ditko/Lee comics, praise the vibrant animation, consider whether these iterations of the Osbornes are definitive, and much more. Plus, the gang pays tribute to Val Kilmer, there are new teasers for Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld and Superman, Arlo's been reading some more of the Kirby/Lee Fantastic Four, and Jonathan Hickman's Ultimate Spider-Man is the best Spidey book on the stands.   NEXT: we yare what we yare, and what we yare is discussing Robert Altman's 1980 take on Popeye for a new That Was Then.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:35  -  Intro / WAY TOO MUCH BANTER!!! 00:50:38  -  Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 02:04:30  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Neighbor Like Me" by The Math Club "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack, Across 110th Street (1973)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

It's a reunion at the end of the world as Eric Sipple joins Paul and Arlo for the latest Four-Color Flashback. Paul has invited everyone to The Nice House on the Lake, James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno's 2021-22 DC Black Label series about a group of old friends who have been sequestered from the apocalypse by their alien BFF. The gang discusses the way Tynion captures the feeling of being that friend who only has one other friend in the group, how Bueno uses his naturalistic and painterly style to evoke real horror, what the book says about what it takes to keep a group of adult humans from destroying each other, and much more. Plus, a whole bunch of casting announcements for Avengers: Doomsday and a trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another.   NEXT: Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can, like starring in the new Disney Plus animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:44  -  Intro / Guest 00:26:51  -  The Nice House on the Lake 02:11:10  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Drops in the Lake" by Lord Huron, Long Lost (2021) "Friends" by Whodini, Escape (1984)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

We're seeing triple on a new Geek Challenge featuring a duet of trios: first we've got John Landis' notorious flop Three Amigos from 1986, then Robert Altman's dreamy art film 3 Women from 1977. Paul and Arlo debate whether or not Three Amigos deserves its reputation, puzzle over the inscrutability of 3 Women, and compare the two films' respective turns into surrealism. Plus, Arlo's back in the Cage with a series of '90s action classics.   NEXT: three, two, one…who knows?     BREAKDOWN 00:00:30  -  Intro 00:21:43  -  Three Amigos! 00:48:39  -  3 Women 01:29:44  -  Outro / Next   LINKS 'Three Amigos' Revisited: Still Charming and Singularly Strange at 30" by Vince Mancini, Uproxx "Altman Had a Dream…" by Roger Ebert, rogerebert.com   MUSIC "Three Is A Magic Number" by Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock (1973) "The Magic Number" by De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

With How to Train Your Dragon, Chris Sanders taught us about human-dragon friendship. And now, with The Wild Robot, he shows us what happens when technology becomes stranded in the wilderness: a robot named Rozz learns to have a mother's love for a gosling named Brightbill. Paul, Arlo, and forever-guest Eric Sipple discuss how the film merges its natural and sci-fi elements, Sanders' evolution as a filmmaker, the stunning voice performance of Lupita Nyong'o, and what the movie says about parenthood. Plus, Paul gets Born Again with Daredevil and all the celebrities are dying.   NEXT: three is the magic number in a Geek Challenge featuring John Landis' 1986 flop Three Amigos and Robert Altman's obscure 1977 head trip 3 Women.     BREAKDOWN 00:00:39  -  Intro / Guest 00:35:00  -  The Wild Robot 02:01:00  -  Outro / Next   MUSIC "Wild Wild Life" by Talking Heads, True Stories (1986) "Mr. Roboto" by Styx, Kilroy Was Here (1983)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

Does a bear kill in the woods? That's the question Patrick Horvath sets out to answer in his "Richard Scarry meets Dexter" opus Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, the subject of this year's very first Four-Color Flashback. The 2024 IDW series takes place in an idyllic world of anthropomorphic animals where not all is as it seems–the local hardware store owner, Samantha Strong, has a nasty habit of heading out to the city and slaughtering random passersby. That is, until another serial killer comes to her small town of Woodbrook, threatening the life she has carefully maintained for decades. Paul, Arlo, and Special Guest™ Eric Sipple discuss Horvath's deceptively simple cartooning, his brilliant use of panel layouts, the limits of the book's suburban satire, Hassane Otsmane-Elhaou's visionary lettering, and so much more. Plus, Arlo raves about Best Picture nominee Nickel Boys.   NEXT: we'll be back, someway, somehow.   BREAKDOWN 00:00:28  -  Intro / Guest 00:02:48  -  Banter and generally wasting time 00:08:44  -  Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees 01:35:47  -  Outro / Next   LINKS "Exclusive Interview: Patrick Horvath on BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES" by Christian Angeles, The Beat   MUSIC "Teddy Bear's Picnic" by Henry Hall, The Best Children's Songs & Stories (2014) "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" by Lead Belly, The Tradition Masters (2002)   GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

And we're back. Just like that, in the blink of an eye–or, depending on your perspective, what felt like several eternities–six months have passed since the last episode of Gobbledygeek. What happened? Where were we? Paul, Arlo, and third Gobbler Eric Sipple attempt to answer these questions on our season 16 premiere. Along the way, we eulogize master filmmaker David Lynch, discussing what made his Midwest surrealism so unique and why the "Lynchian" descriptor so often fails to capture his genius. We also run down a list of some of our favorite pop culture from last year, including I Saw the TV Glow (there's some disagreement), The Substance (ditto), Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and much, much more.   NEXT: a big fat TBD.     MUSIC "Mairzy Doats" by Ray Wise "Falling" by Julee Cruise, Twin Peaks (1990)     GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

In an age where Deadpool & Wolverine is set to smash box office records, it can be hard to remember what things were like in the first wave of superhero blockbusters. Costumes were primarily made of black leather, nu-metal montages were all the rage, and yet–there was a willingness and desire to be experimental that is often lacking today. That's the scene The Incredibles burst onto in 2004, with its dynamic color palette, its retro-futuristic atmosphere, and (shockingly) its sharply defined point of view. For the next nostalgic installment of That Was Then, Paul and Arlo are joined by The Deli Counter of Justice co-founder Eric Sipple to discuss Brad Bird's landmark entry into the superhero canon. The gang discusses how Bird and his team utilized relatively primitive CGI to striking artistic effect, how comic books were not the film's main influence, and how Hollywood learned all the wrong lessons from The Incredibles' success.   NEXT: let's head to 1994 for more That Was Then, as we gaze upon the horrors unleashed by the Oliver Stone/Quentin Tarantino collab Natural Born Killers.     LINKS The Cinematography of The Incredibles, Part 1 by Ron Doucet, Flooby Nooby Part 2 Part 3     MUSIC "The Glory Days" by Michael Giacchino, The Incredibles (Music from the Motion Picture) (2004) "The Incredits" by Michael Giacchino, The Incredibles (Music from the Motion Picture) (2004)     GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/  

Hail and well met! This week, Paul and Arlo raise their overpriced goblets to Lance Oppenheim's HBO docuseries Ren Faire. The three-episode series concerns the nation's largest Renaissance faire, the Texas Renaissance Festival, and the power-hungry Oompa Loompas looking to take over the chocolate factory from their perverted Willy Wonka. The boys are in awe (derogatory) of TRF owner George Coulam, a self-professed horny old man who seems much more interested in "sugaring" young women than in running his theme park. George berates all his pitiful hangers-on, including lifer Jeffrey Baldwin, Red Bull aficionado Louie Migliaccio, and no-nonsense Darla Smith. Topics of discussion include Oppenheim's blend of documentary and narrative filmmaking techniques, whether or not anyone involved is deserving of our sympathy, and LARPing.   NEXT: hope you know where your super suit is, because The Deli Counter of Justice co-founder Eric Sipple is joining Paul and Arlo for a That Was Then look back at 2004's The Incredibles.     LINKS Important Scoop: A Job Shuffle at HBO's 'Ren Faire' by Vince Mancini Ren Faire's Darla, Jeff, and Louie on Surviving HBO's Real-Life Succession and King George by Julie Miller, Vanity Fair What If Game of Thrones and Succession Had a Docu-Baby? by Rebecca Alter, Vulture "Harvesting Artifice": Lance Oppenheim Heightens Reality in HBO Series 'Ren Faire' by Dan Schindel, Documentary Magazine     MUSIC "How Can I Keep From Singing?" by Enya, Shepherd Moons (1991) "Who I'd Be" by Daniel Breaker & Bryan D'Arcy James, Shrek: The Musical (2010)     GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Abortion Funds in Every State: https://bit.ly/AbortionFundsTwitter Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/  National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://www.unduemedicaldebt.org/  Register to vote: https://vote.gov/