Fri, 20 November 2009 Paul Elard Cooley, Horror author and podcaster for Shadow Publications joins the show. In this edition, we discuss many aspects of the Horror film genre, including some specific titles that we like, and others we don't. This is the first half of the podcast. It's been divided into two parts, due to our original running time of over two hours!00:02:22 - The great debate begins. Rob Zombie's version of Halloween and his work in general is discussed. 00:08:53 - The Evil Dead Trilogy comes up. 00:12:58 - John talks about the documentary, Halloween: 25 Years of Terror. 00:19:19 - Supernatural versus psychological. 00:26:07 - John makes a point to list off his positive opinions of the remake. Paul questions the swaying nature of nostalgia. The remake of Dawn of The Dead is discussed. 00:32:08 - The vampire craze is among us, and doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. 00:41:24 - The differences and similarities between horror films of today and those of old. The Saw franchise and the term, "torture porn" is dissected. 00:51:31 - Nothin' but love for the delightful, Julie Benz. It's brief, but there it is. :) 00:56:06 - If it's Halloween this year, it must be something else more worthy and fitting of the tag line. 00:58:50 - Paul recommends Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. 01:42:01 - Back to Rob Zombie's Halloween. Lots more discussions to come in part 2 of this episode. The following artists can be heard in this episode: Rob Zombie, White Zombie, Primitive Radio Gods, Face To Face, Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, Talking Heads, Echo & The Bunnymen, Johnny Cash, Bauhaus, Alice Cooper, Charlie Clouser, The English Beat, Shriekback and Brother Cane. Comments[0] |
Fri, 13 November 2009 Ray, from The Dollhouse Podcast joins in on this commentary for "Needs". In the eighth episode from season one of Dollhouse, Echo and her fellow actives mysteriously awaken to find some semblance of their original selves intact. Unfortunately, their memories are still very fuzzy, having no idea where they are or how they got there. They must band together in order to escape the Dollhouse and try to return to their former lives. Meanwhile, Paul Ballard discovers a chip in his phone that may lead him to Caroline.Please join Paul and I as we discuss disturbing dreams, telegraphing the story, the importance of foreshadowing and the pros and cons of Dr. Saunders' "experiment". Remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD. NOTE: Coincidentally, I was in the middle of editing this podcast, around noon of November 11th, 2009 when I heard the sad, yet unsurprising news that Dollhouse had been canceled. Comments[0] |
Sun, 1 November 2009 After more than two years away, Susie Richards returns to the podcast! This time, we take a look at the original horror classic, Halloween. John Carpenter's influential masterpiece has affected horror films and audiences alike for generations, resulting in many sequels and even remakes over the years, but we won't get into that right now.Please join us, as Susie and I discuss pacing, the nature of evil, how modern horror stacks up to more traditional methods and sadism versus suspense. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD. NOTE: Due to some minor, technical difficulties, the episode cuts off at the end, before we get the chance to say goodbye. Don't worry though, because we were pretty much finished by then, and you didn't miss anything big. Happy Halloween!!! Comments[2] |
Tue, 20 October 2009 Will Ritchie returns, with television on the brain and werewolves in his heart, or something. NOTE: This episode is very late, due to occasional moments where Will's audio is lacking in quality. I spent weeks trying to fix it as best I could. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please enjoy!00:02:00 - Will has been in a podcast Coma for months. He sheds some light on why. 00:08:05 - Will has been a TV fiend, lately. They discuss The Mentalist and True Blood. This leads to the lamentation of a lack of any werewolf-themed shows. The original Fox series, Werewolf is mentioned. 00:13:23 - Will talks about Big Wolf On Campus. 00:16:34 - Glee + Kristin Chenoweth = Heaven! 00:24:02 - Will and John talk about the oddity that is the Tuesday night TV wasteland. 00:27:31 - John recommends David Goyer's new conspiracy thriller series, Flash Forward. 00:30:32 - Will is feeling generous and wants to give John a TV. 00:33:01 - We heart Dollhouse. Just sayin'. This leads to talk of Smallville. 00:40:00 - Halo ODST results in a fun, mini-reunion for Firefly. Video games are discussed. 00:49:29 - Do you have a Collector's mentality? We do. 00:58:40 - Marshal loves this show so much, he sends not one, but two emails. Yeah, THAT'S why he did it. Alias is discussed. 01:11:24 - Marshal expresses Canadian pride by recommending the werewolf film, Ginger Snaps. Check it out! 01:16:27 - Will closes out the show by sharing his love for Bradley Cooper. The man is everywhere, and we couldn't be happier! The following artists can be heard in this episode: Quentin Tarantino, Amber Riley & The Glee Cast, Earlimart, Caviar, Four Star Mary, Hot Chip, The Martinis, Portishead, Alexi Murdoch, David Bowie, Splashdown, Massive Attack, Coldplay, The Crystal Method, AC/DC, Adam Merrin, Bishop Allen, Juliana Hatfield, Venus In Furs and Idlewild. Comments[3] |
Wed, 30 September 2009 In "Echoes", the seventh episode from Dollhouse's first season, a viral epidemic breaks out at a college campus. As Echo investigates, memories of Caroline shed more light on The Rossum Corporation. Jenn from The Dollhouse Podcast joins me for this commentary as we discuss show continuity, similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's, "Band Candy" and the comedy stylings of Olivia Williams.Please remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD. Comments[1] |
Thu, 24 September 2009 The new season of Dollhouse starts this Friday, the 25th! To celebrate, I thought I'd try a little experiment. During the Central Time Zone broadcasts of the new episodes, I will be on Skype, ready to chat with fellow Dollheads, LIVE! Ideally, we'll mostly be talking during the commercial breaks, discussing the episode as it unfolds on TV. It's like an expansive Watch Party, except spread out over the internet, through voice chat. If you would like to be an Active in this Engagement, simply log in to Skype on Friday nights, on or before the time the episode goes to air and search for my user name: john.pavlichKeep in mind, that due to Skype's capabilities with voice conferencing, space is limited and participants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. If you request to be added to the call a couple minutes before the broadcast at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central, it will be easier to work out any technical difficulties that may possibly occur. I'm excited for season 2 of Dollhouse and I hope to hear from you on Friday night! Category: Dollhouse -- posted at: 2:47 AM Comments[0] |
Fri, 18 September 2009 The thrilling (read: boring) conclusion to this two-part, Dragon*Con special with Jenn from The Dollhouse Podcast!00:03:47 - John takes advantage of some sound advice on podcasting and acquiring guests. Once again, the call goes out to Heather Stewart, Neha Tiwari, Elisabeth Rappe, Alex Albrecht, Dan Trachtenberg, Jeff Cannata and David Chen. 00:07:10 - Finally, John and Jenn talk about the Dollhouse panel with Felicia Day. 00:10:49 - Jenn tells the origin story behind how the panel came to be. 00:17:01 - John laments not having a firewire port on his computer and not being able to spend quality time with his fellow Dollhouse podcasters. 00:19:14 - Having no money to give to his favorite actors, John instead makes a personal mix CD to give out, with varying levels of success. He tries his hand at networking by passing out business cards for the podcast, also with similar results. 00:27:07 - James Marsters agrees, "Tim Minear is great." Jenn mentions her husband and a certain pretty, floral bonnet. 00:30:11 - Everyone should follow Julie Benz on Twitter, particularly for awesome recipes and dinner ideas. 00:33:23 - Felicia Day has awesome/familiar taste in music. 00:37:04 - John got his Buffy DVDs signed ("Thanks again, Felicia!"). One down, at least a dozen to go. 00:40:45 - The calculations are in. All things considered, Dragon*Con was a success! 00:44:23 - Jenn shares her first initial exposure to Serenity and the works of Joss Whedon. 00:49:27 - John talks about how he tries to spread the word of Firefly. 00:56:08 - Plans are already being kicked around to return to Dragon*Con next year. 01:03:31 - Consolation prizes are always appreciated. The following artists can be heard in this episode: Patton Oswalt, Metric, Sonic Librarian, Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, Primal Scream, Cassettes Won't Listen, Dianogah, Slicker & Telefon Tel Aviv, Slowdive, Jan Johnston, Liquid State, Dirty Vegas and Stars. Comments[0] |
Mon, 14 September 2009 In this two-part special episode, Jenn from The Dollhouse Podcast stops by to share in the epic, annual experience known as Dragon*Con!00:05:35 - The origin story behind John getting a ticket to Dragon*Con, thanks to the giant heart with arms, also known as Lisa Tobias. 00:07:56 - Lisa has to bow out of the Con. John is sadness incarnate. 00:16:25 - The Con Gods are battling John at every turn. Even laundry becomes a casualty of war. 00:22:33 - John is unable to buy autographs and photos at the Walk of Fame. Here's why. 00:27:36 - How young is too young to expose your child to the Buffyverse and horror films in general? 00:31:14 - Con Crud is approaching. Meanwhile, John talks about getting his Pre-Registration badge, bad cell phone reception and getting lost. 00:37:41 - John has amazing family and friends, just F.Y.I. 00:45:14 - Appreciation goes out to Kim, Crystal, Larissa, Suzanne, Paul and Nathaniel for their support and generosity. 00:48:33 - Nathaniel and his Hybrid car to the rescue! John is able to get a bit of cash from the very patient and helpful bank. 00:51:05 - The Comicon edition of Dollhouse suffers battle damage in Atlanta. 00:53:10 - If you snore loud enough to bring about a zombie apocalypse, please consult your doctor. 00:58:24 - Thievery should be punishable by cactus whip. Just sayin'. 01:01:50 - John wants to implant video recording technology into his eyeballs. This just in: The Dr. Horrible and Buffy Sing-Along events are amazing! Tell your friends! The following artists can be heard in this episode: Jon Ehrlich & David Boreanaz, Liam Howlett, Devics, The Cure, Blink 182, Missy Elliott & Ludacris, Luna, Aerosmith, The Fray, Aimee Mann, Queen, Coldplay, The Dandy Warhols, Spoon and The Original Cast of Once More With Feeling. Comments[3] |
Tue, 25 August 2009 After a five month hiatus, Couch Surfing returns to the Sofa Dogs podcast! Nick Jimenez joins the celebration for a jam packed episode, filled with over two hours of content.00:07:00 - Nick recommends The Goods as at least a solid rental comedy, but he loved Funny People to bits. 00:20:35 - John sings the praises of the short-lived series, The Middleman. 00:22:34 - There's also warm nostalgia for Parker Lewis Can't Lose. 00:29:48 - John enjoyed The Guild's music video, "Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?", NIck, not so much. 00:32:48 - Hot Tub Time Machine sounds like a potentially wacky love letter to the 80s'. We are so there. This leads into a discussion of the Internet Movie Database and the Top Ten Films of The Decade. 00:45:02 - Catching up on ancient emails, Hayden has a theory about Geek By Night. John and Nick try their best to clarify some things. 00:53:03 - Nick advises towards patience on the internet, while lamenting how podcasting can sometimes feel like work. 01:12:32 - Marshal has finished the Dead Like Me franchise and loved it, but did not care for the film. 01:19:32 - John is still occasionally giving Alias a chance, having watched a handful of episodes from season 3. It didn't go over well but the episode, "Conscious" was amazing. NOTE: Feel free to stop the podcast here, as there's much internet drama ahead. It's understandable to tune out at this point. 01:23:42 - The last email of the episode first requires some back story, concerning Geekshow.us and the death of John Hughes. 01:27:14 - Kristen Stewart or Kat Dennings? Do you care? 01:38:59 - It's apparently not common knowledge that Drag Me To Hell made a nice chunk of change. Some are even in denial about such news. 01:47:54 - John weighs the pros and cons of big, sensational summer blockbusters, like Transformers 2. 01:57:40 - John has hate mail. Confusion sets in as he tries to understand the minds of those who write such bile. 02:09:02 - Nick closes things out with some positive recommendations of his favorite podcasts. The following artists can be heard in this episode: Telefon Tel Aviv & Danny DeVito, Metric, Staind, Taxi Doll, Flo Rida & Katy Perry, Eminem, The Submarines, The Martinis, MC Lars, Joe Strummer, Stars, 12 Rounds, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Glasvegas, Beck, Charles Ives, Groove Armada, Owen Pallett, Peace Orchestra, Gary Chang, Young MC, Army Navy, Hugh Harris, Tears For Fears, INXS, Radiohead, Phil Collins, Splashdown, Beirut and Dianogah. Comments[11] |
Thu, 6 August 2009 Now that the DVDs are finally here, I resume commentaries for season one of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. In the sixth episode "Man On The Street", Paul Ballard comes face to face with Caroline for the first time, sort of. During this particular engagement, she takes on the personality of Rebecca Mynor, wife to wealthy internet mogul, Joel Mynor (played with heartbreaking sincerity by comedian, Patton Oswalt). As soon as Boyd takes Echo away, Paul and Joel have a meeting of the minds about the need to pursue a fantasy and the justification for that need.Back at the Dollhouse, someone is abusing Sierra, sexually. An investigation leads first to Victor, but then down a more disturbing path. Meanwhile, Agent Ballard retreats back home to lick his wounds, after having come so close to rescuing Caroline, but failing to keep her within his grasp. Luckily, his friendly neighbor, Mellie (the delightful Miracle Laurie) is there as a willing consolation prize. If you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with. Please join me for this jam-packed, game-changing episode written by Joss Whedon. I discuss obsession versus nobility, the importance of geography and physical space within a fight scene and Patton Oswalt's truthful, satisfying brand of stand-up humor. All this and more as I try to fight off drowsiness from painkillers, while recovering from Kidney Stones. From this point on concerning Dollhouse, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD. Comments[7] |
Wed, 22 July 2009 Nick Jimenez returns to talk about the film, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. The story concerns two teenagers falling in love, dealing with their past relationships and the search for an elusive band in the unpredictable streets of New York's nightlife. Please join Nick and I for our commentary as we discuss our opinions on contemporary relationships, "finding today's John Cusack", young love, "selling a soundtrack" and how the film stacks up to "teen" films of previous generations.Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD. Comments[5] |
Sat, 11 July 2009 In "Credit Where Credit's Due", the second episode from season one of Veronica Mars, Weevil's Grandmother is arrested for credit card fraud. Eli confesses to the crime in order to get her out, but Veronica has a sneaking suspicion that both members of the Navarro family are innocent. Could it all have something to do with Logan's new girlfriend and one of Weevil's biker boys? A few grand in stolen money says it just might. Please join me as I discuss school dress codes, the beauty of shooting by firelight, red herrings and the infamy of Paris Hilton. Remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD. Comments[4] |
Thu, 11 June 2009 It's the first ever (as far as we know) fan commentary for Joss Whedon's web-friendly sensation, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! The story concerns an ambitious super-villain (Neil Patrick Harris) who's obsessed with the Evil League of Evil, his crime-fighting nemesis (Nathan Fillion) who's obsessed with, uh, himself and the bright, big-hearted activist (Felicia Day) who's caught between them. On top of all that, there's singing! Really awesome singing! With words and everything!Please join Nick Jimenez, Will Ritchie and myself as we bring up Stephen Sondheim, Depeche Mode, Once More, With Feeling and appoint Felicia Day as the spokesperson for frozen yogurt! After all, it's about time this delicious treat had some solid representation, right? Remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the program. By the way, the hammer is my podcast. :) Comments[7] |
Fri, 29 May 2009 Veronica Mars is and was not only a smart and satisfying teen drama, but also an outstanding, contemporary murder/mystery. From creator Rob Thomas, the show dealt with the seedy underbelly of Neptune High School and its wealthy inhabitants. While also embracing its hard-boiled detective roots, Veronica Mars also defied convention by following the crime-solving exploits of the plucky, young female sidekick (delightfully played by Kristen Bell), giving the proceedings a fresh, new perspective.Please join me as I take a look at the very first episode, discussing "Pilot-itus", style versus substance and mystery shows of the past. This is just the beginning. Similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I will be making my way through every episode of the entire series' three seasons. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD. Comments[5] |
Tue, 5 May 2009 Rising from the ashes like a Phoenix, or a Firefly into a glorious state of Serenity, the Sofa Dogs podcast will be returning to the internet by next week. I've purchased a refurbished computer from an ebay store, and it has shipped today. If all goes well, it should arrive within this week, just in time for the season finale of Dollhouse. :) After the Mothers Day holiday weekend, the podcast will begin to get back into a regular schedule. At the same time, I will be attempting to transfer essential files and programs from my previous hard drive, over to my "new" computer. Thanks to everyone who have continued to keep the numbers strong during this extended period of down time. Big things are coming for the podcast and this site, so stay alert! :) -John Pavlich Category: News -- posted at: 4:14 PM Comments[5] |
Sun, 29 March 2009 ![]() With John's laptop on life support, I'm temporarily coming out of
retirement to provide some texty Lost reviews. If ever there was occasion to describe new content as 'filler', this is it ladies and gents.The last Lost review I threw together was for seminal Desmond episode The Constant (with The Other Woman tacked on as an afterthought). It's been over a year since that post made nary a splash in the podcasting pool, so let's see if 365+ days of C# and SQL has dulled my thirst for mild speculation and fanboyish whining... Spoilers for Lost episode 5x10, He's Our You follow: Click here to open the review Related links: LostCasts Official Lost site He's Our You screencaps at Lost-Media Category: Lost Reviews -- posted at: 4:09 PM Comments[4] |
Thu, 26 March 2009 With just a few days of March left to go, Sofa Dogs has reached a milestone: 5,224 downloads! The numbers for the month of February came out to 1,182. Thanks to the draw of Tim Minear and Dollhouse, as well as supportive word-of-mouth from the likes of Whedonesque, The Dollverse and The Dollhouse Podcast, our numbers have broken over the 5,000 mark in just a few weeks! Not only that, but another unprecedented special occasion has occured: Tim Minear's commentary for the Dollhouse episode, "True Believer" is the first single installment of the Sofa Dogs podcast to reach 1,000 downloads, with a current total of 1,012! My heart felt thanks to all of you who made this happen. I am truly grateful. "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty." Best wishes, John Pavlich P.S. Keep those iTunes reviews and emails coming. They give me warm fuzzies. :) EDITED TO ADD: Stuart Duncan, Co-Producer of Sofa Dogs has informed me of at least 5 previous episodes to break the 1,000 downloads mark: #4 - Firefly: Our Mrs Reynolds (1076) #68 - Summer Movies + Fall TV (1131) #36 - Firefly: Ariel (1153) #3 - Firefly: Jaynestown (1173) #47 - Lost: The Glass Ballerina (1564) "Having said that, the True Believer commentary has reached 1,000 far, far quicker than the others, so records are still being set." -Stuart Duncan Category: News -- posted at: 1:27 PM Comments[2] |
Sat, 21 March 2009 Motherboard (May 4th, 2005 - March 18th, 2009) A few nights ago, at 11:30pm, the Fire Department came knocking on my door to inform me that a pipe had burst in the building and water was flooding the halls. Everyone was to evacuate the sixth floor and head down to the lobby and await further instructions. Sure enough, stepping out into the hallway, I was met with pink water (yes, pink) about a quarter-inch deep. I took the elevator down to the lobby. Roughly thirty minutes later, a man with a clipboard arrived and took our names, apartment numbers and asked us how we were feeling. We were then told not to leave the building, as the water was potentially toxic and we had been quarantined. At 4:00am, we were finally allowed back up to our apartments. Luckily, no water had managed to penetrate into my apartment. It remained in the hallway. I tell that story as a preface to this: When I initially left my apartment, I shut down my computer, just in case. Arriving home at 4 in the morning, I discovered that my computer would never turn on again. I pushed the power button and nothing happened. After calling HP technical support, I was informed that my motherboard must have died. Basically, what this means is, aside from occasional e-mail updates, via the computers at my local library, I have no internet and no computer access at this time. My website and podcast, Sofa Dogs must now go on hiatus, the extent of which is currently unknown. Ironically, the numbers for the site are at an all-time high, due in large part to our Dollhouse commentaries and my recent chat session with Tim Minear. In March alone, we have 3,838 downloads and the month is still in progress! Big plans were in the works for the show, including more Dollhouse discussions and further involvment from Tim, as well as a brand new redesign to celebrate the site's 3rd anniversary in April. Sadly, all of this must now be put on hold, indefinitely. I am in the process of trying to find either a replacement motherboard or a refurbished computer that will allow me to simply transfer the guts of my original machine (hard drive, graphics card, DVD/CD burner, etc.), but limited funds is of course a problem right now. I will continue to respond to emails and comments as best I can during this time, but I have no idea when new content will be available again on the Sofa Dogs podcast. I'll keep you all posted. Until then, I wish to extend my appreciation and gratitude to those of you who continue to support the show. Will Ritchie and Nick Jimenez at Geekeasy, David Chen and company at /Filmcast, Crystal Smalling at 3 Chicks & A Mic, Jonathan London and Eric Diaz at Geekscape, Lisa Tobias at Hypersensitive, Heather Stewart at First Things First TV, the folks at Whedonesque, Tim Minear, Stuart Duncan and many others that I simply haven't the time right now to mention. My sincerest thanks for everything you've done to help get the word out. Without you, this show means nothing. Sincerely, John Pavlich Category: News -- posted at: 1:36 PM Comments[5] |
Mon, 16 March 2009 After our Dollhouse Commentary for "True Believer", Tim Minear (writer/consulting producer/narcissist) keeps the party going. Please enjoy as Tim and I talk about more Dollhouse, digital downloading, listening to your public, the "cult" of Darla and war stories concerning creative credit. Also, we get a little punchy and take many lighthearted, verbal jabs at each other. It's nearly an hour of podcasting that defies the laws of thermal dynamics (probably), due to its deadly combination of astounding brilliance and sheer stupidity (mostly). BEWARE: This recording contains some mature language not necessarily suitable for younger audiences. Listener discretion is advised. Comments[5] |
Sun, 15 March 2009 Tim Minear (writer of this episode) joins the podcast to talk about "True Believer", the fifth installment of Dollhouse. Echo undergoes surgery to become a blind woman, while the government's ATF division uses her as a mole to infiltrate the compound of a religious cult. Meanwhile, Agent Ballard finally gets the evidence he needs to prove that Caroline does or did exist, bringing him one step closer to the Dollhouse. Please join Tim and I as we discuss breaking the "cult" story, the importance of building a solid foundation for a script, "playing blind" and how to make exposition sound natural.NOTE: As this is not a DVD release, you are instead encouraged to view the episode either through Amazon, iTunes or Hulu. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the video on your computer or mobile device. Comments[5] |
Tue, 10 March 2009 After a long hiatus, Lisa Tobias makes a welcome return to the show. John decides to eat during this momentous occasion, loudly. Yeah, totally professional. Not rude at all. :)00:03:29 - Lisa is bummed about the end of Battlestar Galactica. They talk briefly about Caprica. 00:06:55 - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is discussed. Lisa loved it. John, not so much with the love. 00:12:28 - Is it acceptable to punch someone in the throat if they call you "jealous"? 00:19:30 - Summer Glau + The Big Bang Theory = Awesome! General appreciation for the Sitcom genre is also discussed, again. 00:28:42 - Ever heard of a horror movie called Midnight Meat Train? Yeah, we thought not. 00:33:50 - Lisa enjoyed He's Just Not That Into You, despite the off-putting, mixed message at the end. 00:37:26 - Apparently, the mixture of Cool Ranch Doritos and French Onion Dip causes toxic air pollution. Who knew? 00:40:12 - John and Lisa highly recommend the Hyperlink film, Twenty Bucks. 00:47:18 - Canada's own, Marshal writes in to the show with a double dose of emails, prompting discussions about Alias, Dollhouse and Dead Like Me: Life After Death. 00:55:38 - Marshal also asks about the mystery clip at the top of the previous episode. The answer is a Kevin Smith-type film called What Love Is. 01:05:18 - John and Lisa close out the show with discussion of Heroes. Can it be saved, and is Bryan Fuller the best man for the job? The following artists can be heard in this episode: Billy West & John Di Maggio, Kimberly Cole, Vampire Weekend, Mark Mothersbaugh, Band Of Horses, The Real Tuesday Weld, Barenaked Ladies, The Avalanches, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, Heather Nova, Coldplay, Electric President, Organic Audio, Josh Kramon, Etta James, Stewart Copeland, Vast, Cary Brothers, That Dog and We Are Scientists. Comments[8] |
Sun, 8 March 2009 In "Gray Hour", the fourth episode of Dollhouse, Echo is imprinted as a master thief. While attempting to steal a rare piece of art, a mysterious, remote mind-wipe occurs, reverting Echo back to her "blank slate". Meanwhile, Topher learns the truth about Alpha, and Agent Ballard gets a surprise visit from Victor/Lubov. Please join Lisa Tobias and I as we discuss magical cell phones, occasionally confusing subplots and Eliza's ability to command attention through her performance. Also, Lisa drops an F-bomb.NOTE: As this is not a DVD release, you are instead encouraged to view the episode either through Amazon, iTunes or Hulu. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the video on your computer or mobile device. Comments[0] |
Tue, 3 March 2009 In "Stage Fright", the third episode of Dollhouse, an unstable fan is getting dangerously close to his obsession, a pop star diva. Echo is brought in as a backup singer to keep an eye on things. Her engagement takes a turn when Sierra enters the picture as a contest winner. Meanwhile, we meet a new Active named Victor, and Agent Ballard gets closer to unraveling the mystery of the Dollhouse, with violent results. Please join Lisa Tobias and I as we discuss Eliza's singing ability, Paul Ballard's lonely neighbor and what to do when your third act feels like padding (the answer is hit someone with a folding chair).NOTE: As this is not a DVD release, you are instead encouraged to view the episode either through Amazon, iTunes or Hulu. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the video on your computer or mobile device. Comments[0] |
Wed, 25 February 2009 In "The Target", the second episode of Dollhouse, we learn more about the facility's humble beginnings and fatal mistakes. Also, a client hires Echo for an exciting adventure in the wilderness that may end in murder. Meanwhile, Agent Ballard receives clues about Caroline and where she came from. Please join me as I discuss Matt Keeslar, big game hunting and using flashbacks to help better your story and identify your characters.NOTE: As this is not a DVD release, you are instead encouraged to view the episode either through Amazon, iTunes or Hulu. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the video on your computer or mobile device. Comments[2] |
Tue, 17 February 2009 Do you like Joss Whedon programming and talking about it with other
fans? Do you like hearing yourself fan-gasm? Are you curious about this
thing on TV called Dollhouse? The Sofa Dogs commentary for the
Dollhouse pilot episode was so successful (317 downloads in just 2
weeks, and still climbing!), we're doing this every week a new episode
airs, and we want you to join the fun! Recordings for Dollhouse commentaries will occur on Saturdays at 10pm Eastern, 9pm Central. Anyone interested in co-hosting the podcast, please put in a request either through this site, or by email to sofadogs@hotmail.com. Please make sure you have a quality headset/microphone, a stable/strong internet connection and a Skype account (they're absolutely free!). Any submissions received during or after the scheduled podcast will be considered for the next available recording. Thank You. -John Pavlich Category: Dollhouse -- posted at: 10:27 PM Comments[3] |
Sun, 15 February 2009 It's the first ever (as far as we know) fan commentary for Dollhouse! This new series from Joss Whedon introduces an "active" named Echo, played by series Producer, Eliza Dushku. A top secret facility is wiping the memories and personalities of men and women, to be imprinted with new identities, so that they can carry out "engagements" offered up to high paying clients. But, what happens when Echo begins to become self aware, remembering who she really is and what she's hiding from?Lisa Tobias and I take a look at the pilot episode, Ghost. We talk about sexuality, pacing your story, Eliza's range and untapped potential as well as how happy we are to have her, Joss and Tim Minear back on TV again! NOTE: As this is not a DVD release, you are instead encouraged to view the episode either through Amazon, iTunes or Hulu. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the video on your computer or mobile device. Comments[1] |
Wed, 11 February 2009 Just in time for his 17th Birthday, Will Ritchie from Geekeasy makes an appearance on the show. Could this be considered some manly rite of passage? Probably not, but you decide.00:02:50 - Will's been watching and loving Dead Like Me. This brings up lamentation of Bryan Fuller's recent experiences with the TV Gods. 00:07:23 - How I Met Your Mother has become Will's new drug of choice. The nature and history of sitcoms and reality shows are discussed. 00:15:28 - John likes making new friends through pop culture references. This leads into curiosity about Nathan Fillion's work. Will suggests that Joss Whedon and his entourage may be cursed. 00:21:55 - Will schools John on Firefly's DVD exclusive episodes. John hangs his head in shame. 00:26:37 - This just in, Will and John love horror movies like a fat kid loves cake. John praises the strong acting in The Alphabet Killer, but warns against the so-so script. This leads into an appreciation of Eliza Dushku. 00:36:33 - John breaks Will, after discussing sexuality used in media as a marketing tool. Burn Notice is mentioned. 00:41:25 - Dollhouse is fast approaching. The anticipation is so thick, you can almost taste it. It tastes like cinnamon. Will throws in a story of random geekness. 00:45:16 - More email from Marshal, our neighbor to the far, far north. His favorite episode of Geek By Night is apparently That Yellow Mustard. 00:51:50 - Will just wants to spread the love and increase the peace. John is open to the idea, but not optimistic. 01:03:32 - John discusses his age and maturity level in relation to others. This is just before he closes out the show so he can go cow tipping, so your mileage may vary. The following artists can be heard in this episode: Cuba Gooding Jr., Fader Gladiator, Faithless, Groove Armada, Weezer, Zero 7, Why?, Coldplay, My Chemical Romance, Stars, Dreadzone, Moby, Jimmy Eat World, Echobelly, Syntax, Anthony Stewart Head & George Sarah & Alyson Hannigan and Deadstar. Comments[7] |
Thu, 5 February 2009 Nick Jimenez, co-host of Geekeasy returns to the show. This time, we record a commentary for the film Eagle Eye. The movie reunites Shia LaBeouf with the Director of Disturbia, D.J. Caruso. Both pictures were Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg.Unfortunately, these big names do very little for the quality of the film itself which is plagued by absurdly massive plot holes (the super computer needs to be unlocked in order to perform tasks it spends the entire movie already carrying out just fine), forced and manufactured tension (why does a brief case have a digital timer on it anyway? It's not even a time-sensitive bomb!) and underwritten characters (Rosario Dawson, you turned down a role written specifically for you by Kevin Smith for this?). Please join Nick and I as we shrug and laugh our way through this entertaining but stupid, popcorn actioner. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD. Comments[1] |
Sun, 1 February 2009 Eric Diaz, from Geekscape returns to the show to discuss his favorite television program, Twin Peaks. Also, we review The Strangers on DVD.00:02:22 - John had a Twin Peaks marathon a few months back. The discussion can finally begin. 00:08:37 - Eric feels that David Lynch has lost his mojo. 00:13:53 - Angelo Badalamenti is discussed, as well as Lynch's dreamspace aesthetic. John manages to bring up Buffy the Vampire Slayer, naturally. 00:17:23 - Femme Fatales in David Lynch's work is mentioned. Sherilynn Fenn is so beautiful, even gay men find her hot. Well, one, at least. 00:24:44 - Eric recalls the impact Twin Peaks had on him and the nature of television. 00:39:00 - Ray Wise gets some love for his fine acting. 00:43:40 - Eric recommends the prequel film, Fire Walk With Me. 00:48:36 - John and Eric both found The Strangers to be a pleasant surprise. What qualifies as "Torture Porn"? 01:03:55 - Horror sequels are discussed, as well as the three big, Slasher franchises. This just in, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 is the "gayest" horror movie ever made. 01:10:34 - Rob Zombie gets put in movie jail, for his hypocritical treatment of the Halloween remake. 01:14:29 - Eric and John lament the slow process of their favorite titles making it to Blu-ray. Tony Scott's first film, The Hunger is also talked about. 01:26:28 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Series needs to be converted to a high definition release, kinda now. Eric brings up Star Trek. 01:30:11 - After a short intermission, the podcast jumps ahead in editing, to a discussion about the polarizing passion of geek culture and fanaticism. Devon Faraci wishes fatal illness on Alex Billington. 01:38:14 - Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to The Darkside. The Darkside leads to stomach ulcers. Ask your doctor. It's true. 01:43:33 - John is compiling a list of potential guests he's contacted for the show (David Chen, Neha Tiwari, Elisabeth Rappe, Brian Gilmore, Alex Albrecht, Heather Stewart, Tim Minear). The list is growing and will soon break loose into the city. Hide your babies and small pets! :) The following artists can be heard in this episode: Crushing Velvet, Moby, Julee Cruise, Angelo Badalamenti, Mark Snow, Joanna Newsom, Mark Isham, Harry Manfredini, John Carpenter, Bauhaus, LaTour, Relient K, The Crystal Method, Nathan Fillion, Paul Oakenfold & Nelly Furtado and Denis Leary. Comments[2] |
Thu, 22 January 2009 All alone on a Wednesday night, I finally respond to some long overdue emails.00:02:15 - Gather 'round, kids. It's story time, as I talk about what it was like to meet writer/podcaster, Scott Sigler. 00:05:33 - Part two of the story takes place in a bar. Lisa and Suzanne get me tipsy. A good laugh is had by all. The moral of the story? Check out The Mannerscast, of course. 00:14:53 - Traci sings the praises of Stephanie Meyer and her Twilight series of books. 00:24:37 - Jess is curious about the promotional discs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer's score composer, Christophe Beck. 00:30:26 - My new best friend, Marshal shows his appreciation for my contributions to Geek By Night, and his disgust for the Powers That Be. This further adds to the growing big ball of awesome Canadians that enjoy this podcast. My kingdom for some Tim Horton's! 00:41:07 - I'm working on a top secret project. Need a hint? Here's one. :) The following artists can be heard in this episode: Antiqcool, Filter, AC/DC, Electric President, The Black Heart Procession, Vampire Weekend, Christophe Beck, Echobelly, Gomez and Rilo Kiley. Comments[1] |
Sat, 10 January 2009 Through the magic of Skype and high speed internet, episode fourteen of Couch Surfing pairs John up with native Londoner, Jack Gregson. More Judd Apatow talk within, as Jack gives his thoughts on Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which leads into a discussion about Muppets. He also talks about the films Leatherheads and In Bruges. Meanwhile, John is caught up on all things Chuck and Reaper, but is now hooked on Dead Like Me, and is looking forward to the DVD movie. The guys also cover news regarding the Jeepers Creepers franchise, The Hobbit and a remake of Friday The 13th. The following artists can be heard in this episode: The Clash, Rilo Kiley, The Muppets, Hank Williams Jr., Alabama 3, Thomas Newman, Stars, Everything But The Girl, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Runaway Cab, C+C Music Factory, Dan Stein, Alice Cooper, Scout, Caviar, Javier Navarrete, Danny Elfman and Warren Zevon. Direct download: Couch_Surfing_Episode_14_-_A_Slice_o.mp3 Category: Couch Surfing -- posted at: 1:10 AM Comments[5] |
Tue, 23 December 2008 It's the end of Angelus (for now), the end of Buffy's second season and the end of 16 millimeter film stock. Paul Maki joins the fun again as we take a look at the second half of this epic two-parter, Becoming. Giles has been kidnapped, Kendra has been murdered and Willow has resolve face. While Buffy tries to prevent the earth's impending destruction, her friends try to restore Angel's soul. To top it all off, Joyce finally learns of her daughter's secret life as a vampire slayer. All this show needs now is some heartbreaking piano music performed by Sarah McLachlan, and we've got a solid tearjerker on our hands... Oh, wait.Who needs a hug? As per usual, remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the episode on your DVD. Comments[2] |
Tue, 23 December 2008 Crystal Smalling returns to the podcast for part one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season finale, Becoming. Angelus wants to destroy the world. Spike just wants to grab Dru and skip town. Meanwhile, Buffy and her friends are trying to study for final exams. Everything comes to a head in this gripping finale that will have lasting effects on the next season and the series as a whole. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.Comments[2] |
Wed, 10 December 2008 ![]() Nick Jimenez takes a break from his voice acting gig with Geek By Night, to talk movies and TV with John. Don't forget to check out Nick's show, Geekeasy. You can find it over at www.geekshow.us.00:05:03 - Nick is digging on this groundbreaking new series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Better late than never. 00:11:44 - John is making his way through season two of Alias, with a few frustrating results. See above. 00:17:39 - John takes a moment to pimp Tim Minear's long-lost series, The Inside. This leads into a discussion of Fox's confusing treatment of Dollhouse. 00:26:01 - Nick brings up how Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is invading mainstream culture. 00:28:20 - Nick updates John on the current episodes of Heroes. The show was dropped a while back, and will now definitely stay dropped, stomped on, stabbed and set on fire. 00:38:00 - The both of them are excited about Star Trek, but weary of hardcore Star Trek fans. This leads to talk of Juno, Twilight and over-hype. 00:46:02 - Diablo Cody is really proud of her Oscar. Others, not so much. Nick and John explore the bile that is internet flaming. 00:54:50 - Will Smith wants a sequel to Hancock. Apparently, so does Nick. 01:05:00 - Nick longs for a serious, hard-edged vampire film. Let The Right One In comes up in the conversation, and the plans for an American remake, naturally. 01:09:56 - It turns out that Disney cartoons are full of all kinds of violent death. Who knew? 01:15:22 - Seth McFarlane is listed in Entertainment Weekly as the smartest man in TV. Eliza Dushku is all kinds of hot. What's the connection? Find out here. 01:22:35 - Nick closes out the show by sharing his thoughts on Mission: Impossible 3 and reminds listeners to visit his podcast, Geekeasy. The following artists can be heard in this episode: Jack Black, The Dismasters, The Breeders, Mick Smiley, The Killers, Dreadzone, Tricky, The Crystal Method, BT, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Nada Surf, The Submarines, Britney Spears, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Oceansize, Weekend Players, Mathew Good Band, Michael Jackson & Will I Am, Presidents Of The United States Of America and Kanye West. Comments[7] |












Ray, from The Dollhouse Podcast joins in on this commentary for "Needs". In the eighth episode from season one of Dollhouse, Echo and her fellow actives mysteriously awaken to find some semblance of their original selves intact. Unfortunately, their memories are still very fuzzy, having no idea where they are or how they got there. They must band together in order to escape the Dollhouse and try to return to their former lives. Meanwhile, Paul Ballard discovers a chip in his phone that may lead him to Caroline.
After more than two years away,
Will Ritchie returns, with television on the brain and werewolves in his heart, or something. NOTE: This episode is very late, due to occasional moments where Will's audio is lacking in quality. I spent weeks trying to fix it as best I could. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please enjoy!
In "Echoes", the seventh episode from Dollhouse's first season, a viral epidemic breaks out at a college campus. As Echo investigates, memories of Caroline shed more light on The Rossum Corporation. Jenn from The Dollhouse Podcast joins me for this commentary as we discuss show continuity, similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's, "Band Candy" and the comedy stylings of Olivia Williams.
The new season of Dollhouse starts this Friday, the 25th! To celebrate, I thought I'd try a little experiment. During the Central Time Zone broadcasts of the new episodes, I will be on Skype, ready to chat with fellow Dollheads, LIVE! Ideally, we'll mostly be talking during the commercial breaks, discussing the episode as it unfolds on TV. It's like an expansive Watch Party, except spread out over the internet, through voice chat. If you would like to be an Active in this Engagement, simply log in to Skype on Friday nights, on or before the time the episode goes to air and search for my user name:
The thrilling (read: boring) conclusion to this two-part, Dragon*Con special with
In this two-part special episode, Jenn from The Dollhouse Podcast stops by to share in the epic, annual experience known as Dragon*Con!
After a five month hiatus, Couch Surfing returns to the Sofa Dogs podcast! Nick Jimenez joins the celebration for a jam packed episode, filled with over two hours of content.
Now that the DVDs are finally here, I resume commentaries for season one of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. In the sixth episode "Man On The Street", Paul Ballard comes face to face with Caroline for the first time, sort of. During this particular engagement, she takes on the personality of Rebecca Mynor, wife to wealthy internet mogul, Joel Mynor (played with heartbreaking sincerity by comedian, Patton Oswalt). As soon as Boyd takes Echo away, Paul and Joel have a meeting of the minds about the need to pursue a fantasy and the justification for that need.
Nick Jimenez returns to talk about the film, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. The story concerns two teenagers falling in love, dealing with their past relationships and the search for an elusive band in the unpredictable streets of New York's nightlife. Please join Nick and I for our commentary as we discuss our opinions on contemporary relationships, "finding today's John Cusack", young love, "selling a soundtrack" and how the film stacks up to "teen" films of previous generations.
In "Credit Where Credit's Due", the second episode from season one of Veronica Mars, Weevil's Grandmother is arrested for credit card fraud. Eli confesses to the crime in order to get her out, but Veronica has a sneaking suspicion that both members of the Navarro family are innocent. Could it all have something to do with Logan's new girlfriend and one of Weevil's biker boys? A few grand in stolen money says it just might. Please join me as I discuss school dress codes, the beauty of shooting by firelight, red herrings and the infamy of Paris Hilton.
It's the first ever (as far as we know) fan commentary for Joss Whedon's web-friendly sensation, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! The story concerns an ambitious super-villain (Neil Patrick Harris) who's obsessed with the Evil League of Evil, his crime-fighting nemesis (Nathan Fillion) who's obsessed with, uh, himself and the bright, big-hearted activist (Felicia Day) who's caught between them. On top of all that, there's singing! Really awesome singing! With words and everything!
Veronica Mars is and was not only a smart and satisfying teen drama, but also an outstanding, contemporary murder/mystery. From creator Rob Thomas, the show dealt with the seedy underbelly of Neptune High School and its wealthy inhabitants. While also embracing its hard-boiled detective roots, Veronica Mars also defied convention by following the crime-solving exploits of the plucky, young female sidekick (delightfully played by Kristen Bell), giving the proceedings a fresh, new perspective.
With John's laptop on life support, I'm temporarily coming out of
retirement to provide some texty Lost reviews. If ever there was occasion to describe new content as 'filler', this is it ladies and gents.

After our Dollhouse Commentary for "True Believer", 
After a long hiatus, Lisa Tobias makes a welcome return to the show. John decides to eat during this momentous occasion, loudly. Yeah, totally professional. Not rude at all. :)
In "Gray Hour", the fourth episode of Dollhouse, Echo is imprinted as a master thief. While attempting to steal a rare piece of art, a mysterious, remote mind-wipe occurs, reverting Echo back to her "blank slate". Meanwhile, Topher learns the truth about Alpha, and Agent Ballard gets a surprise visit from Victor/Lubov. Please join Lisa Tobias and I as we discuss magical cell phones, occasionally confusing subplots and Eliza's ability to command attention through her performance. Also, Lisa drops an F-bomb.
In "Stage Fright", the third episode of Dollhouse, an unstable fan is getting dangerously close to his obsession, a pop star diva. Echo is brought in as a backup singer to keep an eye on things. Her engagement takes a turn when Sierra enters the picture as a contest winner. Meanwhile, we meet a new Active named Victor, and Agent Ballard gets closer to unraveling the mystery of the Dollhouse, with violent results. Please join Lisa Tobias and I as we discuss Eliza's singing ability, Paul Ballard's lonely neighbor and what to do when your third act feels like padding (the answer is hit someone with a folding chair).
In "The Target", the second episode of Dollhouse, we learn more about the facility's humble beginnings and fatal mistakes. Also, a client hires Echo for an exciting adventure in the wilderness that may end in murder. Meanwhile, Agent Ballard receives clues about Caroline and where she came from. Please join me as I discuss
Do you like Joss Whedon programming and talking about it with other
fans? Do you like hearing yourself fan-gasm? Are you curious about this
thing on TV called Dollhouse? The Sofa Dogs commentary for the
Dollhouse pilot episode was so successful (317 downloads in just 2
weeks, and still climbing!), we're doing this every week a new episode
airs, and we want you to join the fun!
It's the first ever (as far as we know) fan commentary for
Just in time for his 17th Birthday, Will Ritchie from Geekeasy makes an appearance on the show. Could this be considered some manly rite of passage? Probably not, but you decide.
Nick Jimenez, co-host of 
All alone on a Wednesday night, I finally respond to some long overdue emails.
Through the magic of Skype and high speed internet, episode fourteen of Couch Surfing pairs John up with native Londoner, Jack Gregson. More Judd Apatow talk within, as Jack gives his thoughts on Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which leads into a discussion about Muppets. He also talks about the films Leatherheads and In Bruges. Meanwhile, John is caught up on all things Chuck and Reaper, but is now hooked on Dead Like Me, and is looking forward to the DVD movie. The guys also cover news regarding the Jeepers Creepers franchise, The Hobbit and a remake of Friday The 13th. The following artists can be heard in this episode:
It's the end of Angelus (for now), the end of Buffy's second season and the end of 16 millimeter film stock. Paul Maki joins the fun again as we take a look at the second half of this epic two-parter, Becoming. Giles has been kidnapped, Kendra has been murdered and Willow has resolve face. While Buffy tries to prevent the earth's impending destruction, her friends try to restore Angel's soul. To top it all off, Joyce finally learns of her daughter's secret life as a vampire slayer. All this show needs now is some heartbreaking piano music performed by Sarah McLachlan, and we've got a solid tearjerker on our hands... Oh, wait.
Crystal Smalling returns to the podcast for part one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season finale, Becoming. Angelus wants to destroy the world. Spike just wants to grab Dru and skip town. Meanwhile, Buffy and her friends are trying to study for final exams. Everything comes to a head in this gripping finale that will have lasting effects on the next season and the series as a whole. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.
Nick Jimenez takes a break from his voice acting gig with Geek By Night, to talk movies and TV with John. Don't forget to check out Nick's show, Geekeasy. You can find it over at www.geekshow.us.