sofadogs's Podcast

#161 - Couch Surfing Ep. 30b: Fiendy McSpookerson (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:58:00 GMT

The debate for Rob Zombie's Halloween rages on with Paul Elard Cooley. This is part two, and the conclusion to this monster edition of the podcast.

00:03:02 - Is Rob Zombie capable of telling an original story? We search for an answer.
00:08:23 - Paul recommends the foreign gore sensation, Inside. This leads to talk about High Tension and George Romero's zombie offerings.
00:13:18 - Cable darling, AMC is adapting Robert Kirkman's zombie graphic novels, The Walking Dead.
00:17:22 - Paul mentions the three distinct zombie types of the genre.
00:22:38 - We talk about movie cancer: Boredom. This leads to talk of the Transformers franchise.
00:30:26 - We measure our manliness by way of our Netflix Queues. Spoiler: Paul's is bigger.
00:35:12 - Dissecting the pros and cons of Sam Raimi's, Drag Me To Hell.
00:46:11 - Paul sings the praises of the remake for My Bloody Valentine.
00:48:52 - Mel from the UK sends an email thanking us for sharing the music of Splashdown with the uninitiated listeners.
00:52:33 - When trailers attack! This leads to discussion of 2012. John recommends the indie drama, Grace Is Gone.
01:07:23 - Paul closes out the show by singing the praises of the PS3 and Blu-ray.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Bill Moseley & Rob Zombie, Michael Hoenig, Tears For Fears, Spacehog, Fabio Frizzi, Goblin, John Harrison, Linkin Park, Ash & Chris Martin, AC/DC, Tricky, Laika, Gus, Splashdown, REM, Ladytron, Lindsey Buckingham and KC & The Sunshine Band.

#160 - Q&A: Cast & Crew from Night of the Creeps

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:31:00 GMT

On June 13th, 2009, the writer and director of Night of the Creeps appeared with his cast members at The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas before a crowded audience of nostalgic fans. Of course, the folks in the sold-out theater were "screamin' like banshees". In conjunction with Red Shirt Pictures and Sony Home Entertainment, the filmmakers were there to present the newly remastered and restored Director's Cut of the 80s' horror classic, in preparation for the long-awaited DVD release. After a screening of the film, a Q&A session took place. Lisa Tobias and I were in the audience, and Lisa managed to record the festivities, now posted here for all to enjoy.

Thanks goes out to editing wizard, Stuart Duncan for doing such a fantastic job on cleaning up the audio quality. Thanks also to my dear friend, Lisa for making my attendance possible and for basically being made of awesome. I miss you.

Special thanks goes out to Eric "Quint" Vespe, Michael Felsher, Fred Dekker, Jason Lively, Steve Marshall, Jill Whitlow, Tom Atkins and everyone at The Alamo Drafthouse for their part in such an amazing evening. I'll never forget it!

Note: Alcohol was being served at this event, so the crowd was very loose and rowdy. Fair warning for those easily offended, this podcast does contain some explicit language.

Also, if you're interested in hearing more about my love for this film, please check out my guest appearance in episode 70 of The Geekscape Movie Club podcast, with Brent & Liz!

#159 - Couch Surfing Ep. 30a: Fiendy McSpookerson (Part 1 of 2)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:25:00 GMT

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.

#158 - Dollhouse: Needs

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:08:00 GMT

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.

#157 - Halloween (1978)

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 05:52:00 GMT

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!!!

#156 - Couch Surfing Ep. 29: Full Moon Madness

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:34:00 GMT

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.

#155 - Dollhouse: Echoes

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 03:01:00 GMT

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.

Dollhouse: Live Chat/Watch Party!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:47:00 GMT

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.pavlich

Keep 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!

#154 - Couch Surfing Ep. 28b: Dragon*Confidential (Part 2 of 2)

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:06:00 GMT

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.

#153 - Couch Surfing Ep. 28a: Dragon*Confidential (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:23:00 GMT

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.

#152 - Couch Surfing Ep. 27: Bee To The Face!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:21:00 GMT

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.

#151 - Dollhouse: Man On The Street

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 04:24:00 GMT

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.

#150 - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:21:00 GMT

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.

#149 - Veronica Mars: Credit Where Credit's Due

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:50:00 GMT

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.

#148 - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:34:00 GMT

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. :)

#147 - Veronica Mars: Extended Pilot

Fri, 29 May 2009 23:51:00 GMT

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.

Sofa Dogs: Back In Business!

Tue, 5 May 2009 20:14:00 GMT

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

Lost: S5 Review, Episode 10

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:09:00 GMT

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

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Lost - 5x10 - He's Our You

Summary: Sayid's separation from Jack, Kate and Hurley upon arrival in 1977 forces Sawyer to imprison him as a Hostile. While Dharma try to decide what to do about their supposedly broken truce, Sawyer and Sayid take strikingly different approaches to resolving matters. In flashback, Sayid recalls how Ben shaped his post-island life by bringing an innate talent to the surface.

Likes: So very glad the traditional flashback structure hasn't been forgotten about. Whether or not this is the beginning of a resurgence or just a convenient relapse I wouldn't like to guess, but it bodes reasonably well for Daniel and Miles who have each yet to have their solo moment in the sun (I think we can probably say Charlotte's chances are slim to none...). Gaps in the narrative are efficiently plugged with each fragment of backstory, showing the changing face of Sayid Jarrah along the way while also managing to squeeze in a little homage to classic Eko ep The 23rd Psalm. The on-island A-plot has its moments too, in particular a chilling reappearance for Roger 'Workman' Linus and of course the final scene in which Sayid decides to test the universe's proficiency in course correction. Dharma stalwarts Radzinsky and Horace are both excellent in their supporting roles, and our fore-knowledge of their grim futures makes Sayid's drug-induced confession all the more satisfying and believably unbelievable.

A quantum of solace?

Dislikes: Conventional flashbacks may be back, but as for their actual effectiveness the jury is out. I was never particularly convinced by Sayid's transformation into 007-esque assassin, despite The Economist being a highlight of last season. He's Our You seeks to establish via flashback that Sayid has always been a killer, even if a reluctant one, but to my mind the cumulative flashback content of the first three seasons doesn't give this impression at all. He was a soldier, yes, but a far cry from a cold-blooded killer. He was a torturer, yes, but it was neither something he sought out nor something he revelled in. His one on-screen kill pre-island is to facilitate the escape of the love of his life. Fair enough, the death of said love of his life was supposed to be the motivation for his future killings, but given his normal sceptical stance it's hard to believe anything Ben could say would have convinced him to go off the rails. In other bad news, Sawyer's comment to Sayid that Oldham is 'our you' rings somewhat false given that his sole contribution to proceedings was to feed Sayid a drugged sugar cube. You'd think Sawyer would be able to make a better comparison after experiencing the old bamboo-behind-the-fingernails routine firsthand. And one final quibble: no Desmond for the third ep running and, more surprisingly, no Locke for the second ep running

Musings: The first time I saw this episode it hadn't occured to me that Sayid didn't know he was in 1977 until meeting young Ben at the end of Namaste, which just goes to show that even the most ardent fans can miss massive plot details if they're not concentrating. As far as where things can go from here, I'd say the two most likely options are for Ben to be cured by the island or for Jin to wake up and whisk him back to Dharmaville just in time for Jack to bust out some mad surgery skills. Option 2 is probably the current frontrunner for me, not least because it echoes Jack reluctantly operating on Ben in season 3 and the Lost writers will seize upon any excuse for a little echoing. On the other hand, Jack has just been inducted as a janitor, so maybe the good Dharma folks won't be too quick to let him loose on mini-Ben with scalpel in hand. Either way, I can only presume our Losties will continue to ride the deterministic wave, secure in the knowledge that Whatever Happened, Happened.

Overall: A solid episode, providing a logical continuation of Namaste while at the same time throwing us off into an exciting new tangent.

Rating: It's been so long since my last review the station count is now up to a nice round 10. Applying a suitably convoluted alogrithm to upscale from 7 to 10 means that He's Our You receives 6 out of 10 DHARMA Stations

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Related links:
LostCasts
Official Lost site
He's Our You screencaps at Lost-Media

Sofa Dogs Hits 5,000 Downloads!

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:27:00 GMT

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

Motherboard R.I.P. - Sofa Dogs on Hiatus!

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:36:00 GMT

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

#146 - Q&A: Tim Minear from Dollhouse (After Commentary)

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:30:00 GMT

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.

#145 - Dollhouse: True Believer (with special guest, Tim Minear)

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:02:00 GMT

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.

#144 - Couch Surfing Ep. 26: Crunch All You Want, We'll Make More

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:11:00 GMT

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.

#143 - Dollhouse: Gray Hour

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 02:42:00 GMT

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.

#142 - Dollhouse: Stage Fright

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:50:00 GMT

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.

#141 - Dollhouse: The Target

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:26:00 GMT

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.

Who wants to join the Dollhouse Commentary?

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:27:00 GMT

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

#140 - Dollhouse: Ghost

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:45:00 GMT

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.

#139 - Couch Surfing Ep. 25: Sucking Chest Wounds

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:45:00 GMT

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.

#138 - Eagle Eye

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:50:00 GMT

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.

#137 - Couch Surfing Ep. 24: Damn Good Coffee

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:47:00 GMT

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.

#136 - Couch Surfing Ep. 23: Special Delivery

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:30:00 GMT

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.

#135 - Couch Surfing Ep. 14: A Slice Of Fried Gold

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:10:00 GMT

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.

#134 - Buffy: Becoming (Part 2 of 2)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:21:00 GMT

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.

#133 - Buffy: Becoming (Part 1 of 2)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:07:00 GMT

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.

#132 - Couch Surfing Ep. 22: Billy 2.0

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:19:00 GMT

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.

#131 - Drive: No Turning Back

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:38:00 GMT

Episode four of Drive, entitled No Turning Back, begins the second half of the six episode run of Tim Minear's fast-paced series. Alex Tully is awarded the Jump Start Challenge, but things turn sour when he's forced to bring the Salazar Brothers in on a bank robbery. Meanwhile, Lee and Susan are eliminated from the race, and Rob must report to the nearest Army base to stand trial for abandoning his duty to his country.

Just as with all my commentaries for Drive, there is no preemptive countdown.

#130 - Heathers

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:28:00 GMT

Dark comedies rarely get any darker than Heathers. Veronica Sawyer is fed up with the shallow, popular members of her highschool. With the help of her mysterious new boyfriend, the two of them begin killing their social betters and making it look like suicide. Unfortunately, this trend makes the recently deceased more popular than ever.

Join me as I discuss school violence, teen suicide and the art of black comedy while revisiting this wickedly funny gem from the 80s'. It's so very. Remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

#129 - Couch Surfing Ep. 13: We Ain't Been Shaved

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:30:00 GMT

Couch Surfing Episode 13 - We Ain't Been Shaved

Gibson and Elliot record a podcast! Well, sort of. Episode thirteen of Couch Surfing supplies John with Chris O'Connor from Geek By Night, filling in as Scott's replacement. Thanks to John and YouTube, Chris discovers the modern vampire cult classic, Near Dark. Civil rights advocate and NRA spokesman, Charlton Heston has unfortunately passed away, but at least the world still has epic favorites like Ben-Hur and Planet Of The Apes to remember him by. Remakes of both Dune and Short Circuit are currently in the works, which leads to a discussion about how robots will eventually rise to power and crush us all. Lionsgate may soon give The Monster Squad the High Definition treatment, even though John is still hopeful for Night Of The Creeps to be released on DVD soon. Chris has a substantial theory concerning Versus Movies, but is distracted when he learns of Armageddon in The Criterion Collection. The episode concludes with a possible correlation between African-American Presidents and movies about world destruction. Keep those co-host requests coming, folks. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Don Felder, Bear McCreary, Tangerine Dream, Joe Kraemer, Brian Tyler, Brian Eno, Styx, MC Lars Horris, The Platters, The Diamonds, The Perishers, Blondie, The Martinis, Heavens, Sum 41, Slowdive and Kaiser Chiefs.

#128 - Couch Surfing Ep. 12: X Marks The Scott

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:58:00 GMT

Episode twelve of Couch Surfing brings you mostly bad news, unfortunately. First off, John and Scott are without new iTunes reviews or e-mail. Secondly, they both lost two and a half hours of their lives, thanks to Richard Kelly's Southland Tales. If that's not enough, the dreaded Knight Rider revamp has been picked up for a series. In lighter news, Scott finds Horton Hears A Who to be quite endearing, and he's oddly excited about the new X-Files movie. John rediscovers the rewarding value of patience after watching Wristcutters: A Love Story, but warns listeners to proceed with caution when considering the very well made, but dark and disturbing Gregg Araki film, Mysterious Skin (Correction: The book that inspired the movie was written by Scott Heim). Finally, the guys contemplate a world without Superman. Scott decides to take an indefinite break from Couch Surfing, to focus on his many other projects. This leaves John without a co-host. If anyone wishes to fill in as a temporary replacement, please send an e-mail.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Relient K, HIM, Bloodhound Gang, The Beatles, Spoon, Mark Snow, The Church, Moby Michael Andrews, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Leftfield, The Killers, Dollshead, Blur, I Monster, Sigur Ros, John Ottman, Red House Painters and ELO.

#127 - Couch Surfing Ep. 21: The Rainbow Connection

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:42:00 GMT

Eric Diaz, from the video podcast Geekscape brings a unique perspective to the show this week. Lots of frank, dividing subject matter gets covered here in this overstuffed episode, so proceed with caution. Not suitable for children, unless you're really open and casual with your kids. Like, seriously.

00:02:46 - Eric is singing the praises of Mad Men. It won some important Emmy awards, so that's gotta count for something, right?
00:09:12 - John desperately wants to check out the special features on the Spaced DVDs, even though he's already seen and enjoyed the show.
00:11:48 - John is experiencing a love/hate relationship with season one of Eli Stone. The conversation turns into talk of the Green Lantern movie.
00:18:47 - Breaking news, Tim Burton was a hired gun on his remake of Planet Of The Apes, which ruined the movie.
00:20:28 - John and Eric discuss fan boy-submitted, great movies lists. Popularity goes head to head with actual quality.
00:26:00 - Back to Eli Stone. Season two will be arriving soon, but John is almost certain the show had been canceled. Confusion ensues.
00:29:55 - John brings up Fringe. It's entertaining, but the problems are still there. This leads into some Joshua Jackson love.
00:42:36 - If a show taps an idea really well, should no one else be allowed to expand on it? This leads to talk about Bones. The show has jumped the shark, so John has dropped it. Again.
00:46:27 - There's talk of the season three premiere of Heroes. It's not pretty. Thankfully, Hiro manages to escape more or less unscathed.
00:56:36 - John gives his play by play on Heroes through his Twitter posts.
01:06:24 - John continues his thoughts on season one of Six Feet Under.
01:13:45 - Eric explains the difference between sexual behavior and sexual orientation, using the new Buffy comics and the television series as reference material.
01:24:48 - Chasing Amy comes up in a discussion of the validity bisexuality.
01:34:27 - Buffy gets blamed for the decrease in female membership in the Church Of England. We roll our eyes and scoff.
01:45:41 - Eric makes a bold prediction about the Buffy comics. John gasps, but considers it.
01:54:02 - Eric praises the writing on the Angel comics, but the art makes him cry.
02:01:30 - John closes out the show by lamenting how expensive weekly comics are.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

C & C Music Factory, Etta James, Johnny Ace, Dan Mudford & Pete Woodhead, George Michael, Ladytron, Beck, Imogen Heap, Thomas Dolby, Moby, Pete Yorn, Crystal Method, Wendy & Lisa, Stars, Iio, Doves, Gym Class Heroes, Thomas Newman, Lamb, Stereophonics, Sarah Mclachlan, DJ Shadow, Massive Attack, Tricky, The Futureheads, Curve, Marvin Gaye, Overseer, Sinead O'Connor, BT, Joshua Radin and Dead Or Alive.

#126 - Buffy: Go Fish

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:25:00 GMT

Paul Maki returns for commentary on the twentieth episode from Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season, "Go Fish". The promising members of Sunnydale High's swim team are shedding their skins, literally! It's up to Buffy and her friends to find the connection between these bizarre deaths and a recent crop of scaly sea creatures roaming the halls. Naturally, it all has something to do with the fall of the Soviet Union.... Naturally.

Please join Paul and I as we talk about Wentworth Miller, David Fury and the subtle message in this episode which warns us, "performance enhancing drugs are bad, m'kay?" Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the program on your DVD.

#125 - Couch Surfing Ep. 20: Free O'Clock

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:42:00 GMT

The season of Fall is upon us. Lisa Tobias returns again to the show. That can only mean one thing: It's time for the Couch Surfing podcast, baby! It feels good to be back in the swing of things.

00:02:28 - Lisa is enjoying the updated version of 90210. John is indifferent.
00:05:35 - The Fringe pilot caused unintentional laughter from John, but Joshua Jackson is a bad-ass, so he's going to keep watching.
00:15:16 - True Blood was a bit of a letdown for Lisa, but she's still on board. John is reminded of Sundown, starring Bruce Campbell.
00:19:34 - John is finally watching Six Feet Under. So far, he's not impressed, finding much of Alan Ball's work cold and one-note.
00:27:52 - Free DVD rentals from the Library are exposing John to mediocre entertainment such as the Amityville Horror remake and Babel, but he strongly recommends the special edition of David Cronenberg's The Fly.
00:35:55 - Be sure to pick up the long overdue special releases of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science this month!
00:38:12 - At the end of this month, keep an eye out for the tenth anniversary release of Can't Hardly Wait. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of Amber Benson in the film!
00:40:05 - While trying to catch up on Bones online, John has to deal with his first ever serious virus on his computer. A system recovery (F10) was performed. Everything is fine, now.
00:42:25 - Due to the computer virus, John had to read stuff (!). When all is said and done, he finishes the novelization of Can't Hardly Wait, but was left kind of bored with the Brian Michael Bendis graphic novel, Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? (Answer: The Butler did it. Just kidding.)
00:45:36 - John is curious to check out the reboot of Geek By Night, and recommends listeners to do the same. He wonders how much of his input remains in the show, if any.
00:49:38 - A shout out to Geek By Night and Buffy Between The Lines alum, Rachel Ruzzo.
00:55:51 - We get our Neil Patrick Harris fix by watching Harold & Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay.
01:02:11 - John & Lisa are hopeful they can take Tim Minear up on his offer to be on the show soon (call us, Tim! Let's do cyber lunch!).
01:03:04 - The show wraps with Lisa recounting her experience at Dragon Con. NOTE: Sorry we didn't have time to get to listeners' emails. We'll hit it next recording!

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Three Dog Night, Weezer, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Eberg, Rolling Stones, Sneaker Pimps, Tom McRae, John McEntire, Massive Internal Complications, Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, Thirteen Senses, Van Halen, Mickey Avalon, Elvis Costello, Badly Drawn Boy and Craig Wedren.

#124 - The Guild: Season One

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 06:38:00 GMT

Lisa Tobias drops in for some Bicardi, pizza and The Guild. We chuckle and guffaw our way through the complete first season DVD of this hilarious and creative web-based series. The show is written by, produced by and stars Felicia Day as a sweet, plucky young violinist struggling with her addiction to online gaming and the other players she "socializes" with. The situation intensifies when one of her fellow gamers finds out where she lives and inserts himself into her life, with his overbearing mother trailing close behind.

Lisa and I discuss babies in cages, stalkers and the monetary value of a person's awesomeness. As per usual, please listen for the preemptive countdown before selecting "Play All" on your DVD.

"Commentaried."

#123 - Couch Surfing Ep. 8: The Whedon/Zombie Dance-Off

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:37:00 GMT

Couch Surfing Episode 08 - The Whedon/Zombie Dance-Off

In episode eight of Couch Surfing, our heroes rejoice at the end of the Writerâs Strike. Scott gushes about the new ABC show, Eli Stone, but weeps about the latest FOX game show, The Moment of Truth. John finally finishes Veronica Mars, and Scott must talk him down off the ledge, over the unsatisfactory âendingâ. They both praise the mind blowing bargains from Deep Discount. Scott finds the willpower not to punch a kitten after watching the BBC show, Primeval, while John shares a childhood story of his mad archery skills. The two of them finish up the show by lamenting Joss Whedonâs frustrating lack of follow-through, and laughing at the absurdity of Rob Zombie possibly directing Conan. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Leroy, Shakespeareâs Sister, Lords of Acid, George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, The Bravery, INXS, Bjork & PJ Harvey, The Delays, Guided By Voices, The Dandy Warhols, Primal Scream, Prince, Was Not Was, Hans Zimmer, AFI, Evanescence, Scissor Sisters, Nickelback, Staind, White Zombie and The Dollyrots.

#122 - Buffy: I Only Have Eyes For You

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:57:00 GMT

"I Only Have Eyes For You" is the nineteenth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Surrounding the day of the Sadie Hawkins Dance, a couple of ghosts from 1955 are possessing random folks at Sunnydale High, forcing them to play out a forgotten crime of passion, ending in murder and suicide. Things go from bad to worse when Buffy and Angelus become the next vessels for these tortured spirits.

Crystal Smalling (Three Chicks & A Mic and the Squint Squad) joins the show as we take a closer look at this episode about role reversal, heartbreak and forgiveness. In this commentary, Crystal and I discuss snakes, poltergeists and the possibility of a few hidden, subtle fashion statements.

Please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Official Buffy Score Album by Christophe Beck

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:56:00 GMT

According to Variety's online blog The Set List, Rounder Records will release a long overdue official score soundtrack for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The album will contain 29 tracks from seasons 2 through 4, composed by Christophe Beck (Bring It On, Elektra, Confidence) and released on September 9th.

Here is the track list:

1. Massacre (from âBecomingâ)
2. Angel Waits (from âPassionâ)
3. Remembering Jenny (from âPassionâ)
4. Twice the Fool (from âBewitched, Bothered and Bewilderedâ)
5. Moment of Happiness (from âInnocenceâ)
6. Loneliness of Six (from âLoverâs Walkâ)
7. Sugar High (from âBand Candyâ)
8. Tai Chi (from âBand Candyâ)
9. Kralikâs House (from âHelplessâ)
10. Magic Snow Music (from âAmendsâ)
11. Slayerâs Elegy (from âThe Wishâ)
12. Faithâs End (from âGraduation Dayâ)
13. Drink Me (from âGraduation Dayâ)
14. One Last Moment (from âGraduation Dayâ)
15. Haunted (from âFear Itselfâ)
16. From the Grave (from âThis Yearâs Girlâ)
17. Demon Got Your Tongue (from âHushâ)
18. Golf Claps (from âHushâ)
19. The Princess Screams (from âHushâ)
20. Spellbound (from âWho Are You?â)
21. Fyarl in the Morning (from âA New Manâ)
22. A Really Big Sandbox (from âRestlessâ)
23. Spaghetti (from âRestlessâ)
24. Body Paint (from âRestlessâ)
25. Xanderâs Nightmare (from âRestlessâ)
26. The Tower (from âThe Giftâ)
27. Losing Battle (from âThe Giftâ)
28. Apocalypse (from âThe Giftâ)
29. Sacrifice (alternate version, from âThe Giftâ)

Personally, I'm mostly excited for the previously unavailable material from season 4 (especially "Restless"), as I already have the rest from Beck's original promotional discs. Hopefully, if this sells well, we may see a second volume some time in the future. I wouldn't say no to music from the remaining seasons, either (particularly Thomas Wanker's work on "Into The Woods" and "Smashed").

For anyone interested in making their own compilation, here's the track list from Christophe Beck's promotional discs for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

NOTE: The order of these tracks may seem odd at first, as they are not initially in chronological order. The reason for this is, if you listen to the music very carefully, you will realize that much of it is actually seamlessly mixed together, like one, very long suite:

1. Resurrection
2. Twice The Fool
3. Remembering Jenny
4. Ampata's Kiss
5. Devil Child
6. What's That Do?
7. Sledgehammer
8. Cursed
9. Angel Waits
10. Mob Rush
11. Accused
12. Escape
13. Moment Of Happiness
14. The Buffy Rat
15. Love Is Forever
16. Robot Rampage
17. Show Me Your World
18. Waking Willow
19. Massacre
20. Vision Of Jenny
21. As Angel Becomes
22. The Mark Of Eyghon*
23. Deliverance
24. Tai Chi
25. Sugar High
26. Loneliness Of Six
27. Bizarro Sunnydale
28. Blood Machine
29. Slayer's Elegy
30. Dublin, 1938
31. Dreaming Of...
32. Magic Snow Music
33. Betrayal
34. Kralik's House
35. A Father's Love
36. Alternate Willow
37. Into The Mayor's Lair
38. Dearly Beloved
39. The Beginning Of The End
40. Class Protector
41. Poison Arrow
42. Faith's End
43. Aftermath
44. Drink Me
45. Little Miss Muffet
46. War
47. One Last Look
48. Close Your Eyes**
49. Dead Guys With Bombs***
50. Buffy & Riley's Love Theme****
51. Suite From "Hush"*****
52. Suite From "Restless"*****
53. Sacrifice From "The Gift"*****

*The end of this track starts to lead into a new, unknown piece of music. So, either a cue is missing from the promotional CD, or the track list I got from Blunt Instrument is inaccurate. Anyone who can clarify, please send email.
**Available on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album
***Available on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale (UK Mix)
****I can't even remember where I got this from. I'm not entirely sure if it's from the composer, or if a talented fan did their own cover of this piece. It's difficult to tell, since Beck mostly uses synth instruments in his work as well.
*****Available on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "Once More, With Feeling"

#121 - Buffy: Killed By Death

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 06:47:00 GMT

Eighteen episodes into Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season brings us to, "Killed By Death". Buffy isn't feeling her Wheaties. The Scoobies take her to the hospital. While recovering from the flu, she learns the Children's Ward is being visited by a mysterious figure every night and killing kids who are too weak to fight back. Is it the Doctor and his questionable experiments? Is it the invisible, eye-popping monster with an underbite? Hard to say. I guess you'll just have to watch and find out. :)

Please join Paul Maki and I as we discuss the high level of gullibility of Sunnydale residents, Day for Night shooting and the debate over whether or not Power Girl was created for the show, or if she's a preexisting superhero (Turns out, she is in fact a DC Comics Character. I knew it!).

Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#120 - Buffy: Passion

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:37:00 GMT

Paul Maki returns for the seventeenth episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season, "Passion". Angelus is stalking Buffy, killing Willow's fish and leaving delightful, creep-o-gram drawings for the Slayer and her friends to find. Meanwhile, Jenny Calendar is working on a rare, forgotten spell to restore Angel's soul. Also, Joyce learns of her daughter's recent intimacy with an older man. Much older. Much, much older. In any case, relationships are tested, secrets are revealed and someone dies.

Please join Paul and I as we talk about building sets versus shooting on location, practical effects versus CGI, strong casting and even vampire etiquette. NOTE: You may hear it on occasion, but I was enjoying a plate of angel hair pasta during this recording. :)

Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#119 - Couch Surfing Ep. 19: Horrible Doctors & Dark Knights

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:02:00 GMT

Lisa and John discuss their two favorite and most anticipated entertainment experiences of the year. WARNING: This podcast contains spoilers for The Dark Knight. Discretion is advised.

00:01:25 - John and Lisa give their thoughts on Joss Whedon's web series, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and they talk about what this could mean for the future of online entertainment.
00:18:50 - Lisa brings up the merits of novelists building an audience by providing their works online for free in the audio podcast format. She cites the superhero series, Playing For Keeps as being one example of success, similar in tone to Dr. Horrible.
00:24:22 - John and Lisa share their experience of seeing The Dark Knight on the big screen, with a packed crowd.
00:39:50 - Lisa expresses her disappointment in Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance, which leads back to a discussion about Katie Holmes playing the same role in Batman Begins.
00:46:11 - They both long for the days of ushers in movie theaters, which transfers over into talk about how common courtesy and etiquette are almost nonexistent these days. The ratings system and taking young children to inappropriate movies is also discussed.
01:07:55 - John mentions his optimism and curiosity with Terminator: Salvation, after having seen the Teaser.
01:16:50 - They're both amused by the Trailer for the new CGI film Bolt, especially a certain thrill seeking Hamster. "Let it begin!"
01:19:16 - There's a film about vampires coming out called Twilight. Not interested. We'll stick with Buffy & Angel, thank you very much.
01:21:53 - Ridley Scott made a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. It's called Body Of Lies. That's pretty much all the Trailer had to say.
01:25:52 - Apparently, the United States government doesn't like it when you talk smack about Ridley Scott's latest film, because they sent a very loud, intrusive helicopter after us.
01:26:47 - The show comes to a close with talk about the Teaser for Watchmen and the works of comic book author, Alan Moore.
01:33:50 - Promo for the Astral Audio Experience.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

AC/DC, Neil Patrick Harris, Blur, Teddybears, Fonda, Splashdown, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard, Ladytron, Robert Miles, 8mm, Aqualung, Brad Fiedel, Monster Magnet, Aretha Franklin, Seal, Hughes Hall and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Tim Minear @ CSTS Screening in Dallas on 06/22/08

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:49:00 GMT

I recorded this Q & A session in Dallas, during the North Texas 2008 Can't Stop The Serenity screening. Enjoy:

#118 - Couch Surfing Ep. 18: You Can't Stop The Signal

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:59:00 GMT

John is once again joined by the always delightful Lisa Tobias, from the Hypersensitive Podcast!

00:01:19 - John and Lisa squee like nobody's business over how awesome Tim Minear is, and what it was like to meet him.
00:22:37 - John was able to identify strongly with The Incredible Hulk, while Lisa is enjoying the build up to The Avengers movie.
00:29:50 - Neither of them cared for 27 Dresses all that much. It was absurd and lame, with an occasional sprinkle of charm.
00:39:00 - After having only watched the first disc so far, Lisa is already madly in love with Wonderfalls.
00:43:17 - Lisa finally watches Enchanted, and agrees whole heartedly that Pip rules all.
00:44:10 - John brings the listeners up to date on the whole internet drama fiasco (now you have the option to skip it entirely, if you so choose).
01:10:34 - John asks for help from the listeners in tracking down episode 8 of Couch Surfing, "The Whedon/Zombie Dance-Off".
01:13:03 - Tim Minear brings the show to a close with an important message.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Mates Of State, Jay Gruska, David Newman, Gavin Rossdale, Andy Partridge, Syntax, The Rhones, The Crystal Method & Milla Jovovich, Gorillaz, Nada Surf, Bloc Party, Greyboy, Kim Richey, Splashdown, The Dandy Warhols, Junkie XL, Puracane, Lunatic Calm and Four Star Mary.

#117 - Couch Surfing Ep. 16: These Cookies Taste Like Doom

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:19:00 GMT

It was bound to happen sooner or later, but a woman has been recruited to bring some class and intelligence to Couch Surfing. John is joined by Lisa Tobias from the Hypersensitive Podcast. They discuss the well roundosity (it's a word, now) of Lost and its fourth season. The both of them show some love for Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, and then John ruins everything by turning his nose up at Juno. Thankfully, Diablo Cody still comes out on top as generally awesome. Things go dark and depressing when The Mist rolls into the conversation, but childhood nostalgia brings the show back up, with talk of The Gate and Fraggle Rock. More Canadian mail gets answered, this time in regards to viral marketing. All the while, John searches for moral support from the audience. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Iggy Pop, Groove Armada, The Temptations, John Williams, Angels & Airwaves, Modest Mouse, Stars, Iron & Wine, The Moldy Peaches, Coldplay, Gary Numan, Dead Can Dance, Jon Brion, James Newton Howard, Michael Hoenig & J. Peter Robinson, Johnny Law, APM, Hooverphonic, The Fraggles, Arco, L7, Kathleen Edwards, Erasure and Boy In Static.

#116 - Couch Surfing Ep. 11: 9021-Oh What The F?!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:04:00 GMT

The eleventh episode of Couch Surfing, is over-stuffed with equal measures of both pain and pleasure. John loses a little piece of his soul, having watched Hostel Part 2. After a twenty minute rant about the works of Eli Roth, John and Scott go into joyous praise over Martian Child. They talk about the news of Bryan Singer having another go at Superman, which leads into a discussion about Kate Bosworth, followed by Scott getting a homework assignment. John suggests his casting of Chris Evans in Y: The Last Man. Scott expresses his love for the works of Amy Sherman-Palladino, but expresses mostly disgust with The Return Of Jezebel James and lead actress, Parker Posey. Thankfully, the two of them seem to be madly in love with Lauren Ambrose, so it balances out. Rob Thomas is bringing his show Cupid back to ABC, but he's also been hired by The CW to revamp the iconic, teen drama series, Beverly Hills 90210. Confusion and morbid curiosity ensues. Plus, answering e-mail from Wichita, Kansas. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

The Dust Brothers, Say Hi To Your Mom, Ministry, John Carpenter, Sigur Ros, Guster, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Aimee Mann, Stars, Christian Burns, Smashing Pumpkins, Mika, Elvis & JunkieXL, Dashboard Confessional, Shiny Toy Guns, Marvin Gaye, John E. Davis, Alison Krauss and Nada Surf.

#115 - Couch Surfing Ep. 10: Gay Pride & Prejudice

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:36:00 GMT

We're not homophobic, we swear! In this episode of Couch Surfing, John discovers a surprising association with top shelf Vivid Girl, Tawny Roberts. The guys give their thoughts on the films Superbad and Definitely, Maybe. A lengthy, heated discussion follows concerning some new developments in the latest comic book issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. John stands his ground on the idea of turning down another man's affections, while Scott is suddenly feeling alienated by the otherwise favored show, Torchwood. They finally count themselves among the worthy in the podcast section of iTunes, and answer listener e-mail from Canada. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Yummy Bingham, Elvis Costello, Lyle Workman, MIA, Re-Flex, The House Of Love, Slowdive, Meat Beat Manifesto, Cocteau Twins, New Order, Lush, Nine Inch Nails, Timbaland, Plain White Tees, Death Cab For Cutie, Metallica, Boards Of Canada, Barenaked Ladies, Etta James and Bear McCreary.

#114 - Couch Surfing Ep. 9: Kill Your TV, Hump Your Modem

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:35:00 GMT

Episode nine of Couch Surfing finds John and Scott discussing the differences between comics and movies as viable mediums of storytelling. Scott talks smack about dormitory living and teenagers, ensuring our audience doesn't get too big. John reviews Justice League: The New Frontier, which he finds entertaining but feeling very truncated. This leads into a discussion about the live-action counterpart, which still seems to be moving forward. The two of them question the credibility of i09.com, after a contradictory article on the success of science fiction in movies and TV. They push for a new measurement system to replace the Nielsen Ratings, while praising the merits of watching TV online. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

MGMT, Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay, Tuatara, Eminem, The New Pornographers, Rod Stewart, Ash, Linkin Park, Devo, Elastica, Goldfrapp, Regina Spektor, Rilo Kiley, Stars, Cornrowz, Aerosmith, Vast, Danny Elfman and Republica.

#113 - Buffy: Phases

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:25:00 GMT

The fifteenth episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season is all about "Phases". I'm joined by Paul Maki, from Geek By Night. It seems that Sunnydale is in the cycle of the full moon. A werewolf takes this as an opportunity to go trolling for late night snacks. It's up to Buffy and her friends to stop the big, bad wolf from eating civilians, or worse yet, making more of its kind. And on a completely unrelated note (I covered that up pretty nicely), Willow and Oz are making moon eyes at each other.

Join Paul and I as we talk about continuity errors, visible crew members, exposition and expensive globes. That's right, globes. Please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#112 - Couch Surfing Ep. 17: Being Elliot Markowitz

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:15:00 GMT

Lisa Tobias returns to the show and this time, it's personal. The new series on the USA Network, In Plain Sight gets a recommendation. Meanwhile, John goes nuts over the adorable Amy Adams and her equally adorable Chipmunk friend from Enchanted. The two of them rather enjoyed The Air I Breathe, and they give praise to Sarah Michelle Gellar and Brendan Fraser for their standout performances. The dynamic duo of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp plan to bring Dark Shadows to the big screen, while John tries to be optimistic about a fourth Beverly Hills Cop film. Also, Shirley Manson is set to kick ass and look hot next to Summer Glau in the second season of the Terminator series. By the end of the show, a kind listener gives strong, moral support and John makes a big announcement about his future. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

RJD2, Beastie Boys, The Chipmunks & The Chipettes, Coldplay, Mark Isham, Mat Kearney, Harold Faltermeyer, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Feist, DJ Erb & Ludacris, AC/DC, The Posies, Radiohead, Ambulance LTD, William Shatner & Aimee Mann & Ben Folds and The New Radicals.

#111 - Titus: Dave Moves Out

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:18:00 GMT

In the third episode of Titus, called Dave Moves Out, Christopher convinces Dave to leave the nest. Unfortunately, he tried to take his father's VCR. Ken is not too happy, and has Dave thrown in jail for grand theft. When it's revealed that Titus is behind Dave's sudden independence (and the theft of the VCR), their Dad makes Christopher join his brother as an accomplice.

Can Erin bring Father and Sons together through love and reconciliation? Will Ken get his VCR back? Will Tommy ever back off? Most importantly, why has it taken me over a year and a half to record more Titus commentaries? Please join me as I attempt to answer all these questions and more.

As per usual, please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#110 - Buffy: Innocence (Part 2)

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:46:00 GMT

Spiffy! The fourteenth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer brings us to Innocence. In the conclusion to this two-parter, Angel has lost a soul, but gained some swagger. This does not bode well for Buffy, after having done some "stuff" with Angel the night before. Thanks to Jenny Calendar's Gypsy ancestors, and their inability to let things go, Angel's cursed. Buffy soon learns the hard way that you really do hurt the ones you "love". Can she bring herself to do what must be done? Is there a weapon forged that can destroy The Judge? Do you really not know the answers to these questions by now?

Join Rachel Gatlin and I as we discuss inconsistent wardrobes, Gellar's heartbreaking performance, sexual milestones, an ever-expanding Sunnydale, a strange appreciation for matchbooks and the latest game to sweep the nation, Six Degrees Of Joss Whedon.

NOTE: UrbanDictionary.com defines "Wiggins" as:

The state of being uncomfortable or freaked out.

I want to go home, this place gives me the wiggins.

Just as before, please listen for the preemptive countdown before beginning the episode on your DVD.

#109 - Buffy: Surprise (Part 1)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:32:00 GMT

Surprise is the thirteenth episode from Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season. In this epic two-part event, Buffy's birthday has arrived, which basically seems to always coincide with lots of sex and lots of death. Go figure. Meanwhile, Spike and Dru are planning their own celebration, in honor of resurrecting the world's oldest and scariest Smurf (for now, but more on that later. Much, much later), more commonly known as The Judge.

Rachel Gatlin and I discuss wheelchair-bound vampires, the rules of pranking on party guests and the smooth pimpness of Angel and Oz. We also talk briefly about the passing of veteran, character actor, Vincent Schiavelli. Like I said, lots of sex and lots of death. Halfway through season two, and the party is still going strong.

As per usual, please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#108 - Buffy: Bad Eggs

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 05:08:00 GMT

Twelve episodes into season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer brings us to Bad Eggs. The school is pairing off students to take part in an early form of parenting, by using eggs. Unfortunately, these particular eggs are mind-controlling, energy sucking parasites. In Sunnydale, apparently, even your breakfast is evil and out to get you. Rachel Gatlin and I discuss shopping mall etiquette, overbearing mothers, gigapets and the excessive amount of stuffed animals on Buffy's bed.

Please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#107 - Buffy: Ted

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:04:00 GMT

The eleventh episode from Buffy's second season brings us to "Ted". Rachel Gatlin and I sit down to watch one of Joss Whedon's favorite episodes. In it, a new man is suddenly showing up in the Summers household. He rather quickly and easily wins the trust and affection of Joyce and the Scoobies, but Buffy herself is convinced something is rotten in Sunnydale. Who is this man named Ted, and what's the deal with all the crazy malarkey going on?

Rachel and I discuss busy shirts, the surprising lack of an official soundtrack score album, the pros and cons of 16-millimeter film and the late, great John Ritter. He's a man known for expert, comic timing and genuine warmth and sincerity. Gone, but never forgotten.

Just as before, please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

NOTE: Rachel and I briefly mention Ritter's passing, unable to recall exactly when it happened. Apparently, we were both mistaken. John Ritter died on September 11th, 2003, barely a week before his 55th birthday.

#106 - Buffy: What's My Line? (Part 2)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:12:00 GMT

Rachel Gatlin and I keep the party going with What's My Line?, Part Two. In the tenth episode of Buffy's second season, Kendra shows up. She's called to Sunnydale as a replacement Slayer, after that brief moment from Prophecy Girl when Buffy died, just a little. Rachel and I talk about lipstick on Men, vampires who breathe, Seth Green's ever-changing hair color from scene to scene and the apparent absence of a dress code at Sunnydale High. This just in: Giles secretly collects action figures.

As per usual, please listen for a preemptive countdown before beginning the episode on your DVD.

#105 - Buffy: What's My Line? (Part 1)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:05:00 GMT

Finally: the ninth episode from season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, What's My Line? (Part 1). Joining me for this two-part event is Rachel Gatlin, from Geek By Night. It's Career Day at Sunnydale High, and Buffy is considering a job in law enforcement. Meanwhile, Spike and Drusilla send three assassins after the Slayer. Rachel and I discuss the difficulty of ice skating, the meaning behind whacky neckties, the importance of potassium, and bad Jamaican accents. All the while, the battle of the hair rages on: Buffy Summers vs. Rachel Green.

As is generally the case with these commentaries, please listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Geek By Night

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:24:00 GMT

Geek By Night is here!.... except that it's not. It's over there, at Geekshow.us. In case you don't know what the smeg I'm talking about, head on over to the site and check it out. Point is, I'm a writer, producer and actor for the show, supplying my voice as the main character! So what are you waiting for? An invitation? You've already got one. Go! Listen! Enjoy!

Lost: S4 Review, Episodes 5 and 6

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:02:00 GMT

DESMOND! PHYSICS! DESMOND AND PHYSICS!

Okay so I'm well over a week late...but honestly, who wouldn't want to spend a little time rehashing the best episode of the season so far (even sans mp3) ?

In the intervening time we've also had a slightly less exciting episode, The Other Woman. Since I'm way overdue with both of these, and running short on time (so short this post has no accompanying images!), I'll abbreviate as much as pssble.

Spoilers for Lost episodes 4x05 and 4x06 follow:

Click here to open the review

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Lost - 4x05 - The Constant

Likes: Who can argue with answers? Speculation about the unusual temporal state the island seems to be in has been widespread since very early in the show's run, so it's extremely pleasing to have some of the details fleshed out and, in the same episode no less, have characters on the island verbally acknowledge the situation. The editing and acting were both very effective in creating a sense of urgency as Desmond raced to save himself from the condition to which Minkowski ultimately succumbed, and yet the slower moments between Desmond and father and daughter Widmore were equally well crafted. Minkowski himself was an excellent guest character, serving his purpose admirably while not lingering on to further expand the outward-spiralling cast list.

Dislikes: Not a whole lot to complain about this week. Sure, some characters (*cough* Sun and Jin *cough*) were absent again, but when the main story is this interesting it's not really an issue. My only real problem with The Constant is the precise nature of Desmond's movements in time. Each jump back to the past lasts exactly the right amount of time for him to complete his particular objective, whether that be a few minutes to phone Penny or several hours to take the train down to Oxford to meet Daniel. Of course, it may transpire that the island (or some other agency) had some kind of control over his flashing back, but within the confines of the episode it was portrayed as more of a random effect.

Overall: Almost certainly the best episode of the season thus far, although I don't think I'd rate it above last year's first Desmond jaunt, Flashes Before Your Eyes.

Rating: 6 out of 7 DHARMA Stations

Well it has taken some time but we finally learned what happened to the helicopter. I was pretty sure that it would tie into the the fact that there is a time differnce from the freighter and the island, but was very interested to see how it was resolved. The Constant ended up being a Desmond centric story and it touched on the idea of time travel just as Flashes Before Your Eyes did in season 3.

I really enjoyed this episode and found myself on the edge of my seat a number of times. It was interesting to see the younger version of Daniel and how he reacted to Desmond being there. All the time travel stuff was fun as well, as I always get a kick out of those sorts of stories. The only dissapointment was that there was so little activity on the island, but given that the audience has been wondering about Sayid and Desmond I suppose it was fair enough to focus on them for the episode.

The Constant scores 6 out of 7 DHARMA Stations.

Lost - 4x06 - The Other Woman

Likes: The whispers are back, which is a nice reminder to all us Lost-lifers that certain unresolved mythology plot points haven't been forgotten about. Also back is the great tradition of guest actors returning to play now deceased characters - The Other 48 Days was probably my number one episode from S2, so seeing Goodwin's involvement in the Juliet-Ben back story fleshed out was pleasing.

Dislikes: Unfortunately this week's island A-plot involved a sequence of coincidental meetings in random jungle clearings. Why Daniel and Charlotte decided to keep it a secret that they were saving everyone's lives is beyond me - it might have been believable if it were Charlotte alone (in which case we could assume she was lying), but Daniel seems to have good intentions and no desire to hurt the castaways. Juliet's back story also wasn't that interesting, despite the A Tale of Two Cities and The Other 48 Days connections. Could a more involving story have been on the cards before Nestor Carbonell (Richard) became unavailable? Who knows, but surely to goodness if you're doing an Others flashback you just gotta have Ethan in there!

Overall: A disappoint comedown from The Constant, but perhaps it would be unfair to expect more at this stage of the season.

Rating: 3 out of 7 DHARMA Stations

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Related links:
LostCasts
Official Lost site

#104 - Lost: S4 Review, Episode 4

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:12:00 GMT

Lost audio reviews: back for one week only!

Despite my optimism, it'll be back to a text review for the next episode since I'll be out of town. In the meantime, here's 30 minutes of speculative (and somewhat hoarse) chatter on the specialist subject of "Eggtown - Parenthood and the Oceanic 6".

Related links:
Eggtown screencaps @ Lost-Media
LostCasts
Official Lost site

#103 - Firefly: Objects In Space

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:24:00 GMT

Well, it took me nearly two years, but I've finally done it. I have now recorded commentaries for every episode of Firefly. I finish out this long, memorable journey, fittingly enough with the final episode, Objects In Space. In the show, River melts away and becomes the ship, a bounty hunter sneaks on board and wrestles with his own sanity while holding Simon at gunpoint and Jayne sleeps through it all.

Please join me for this one-man, pity party as I mourn the loss of such an amazing, innovative, funny slice of science fiction greatness in television. As is generally the case, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

The Firefly commentaries have stopped here, for now. He understands. He does not comprehend.

Lost: S4 Review, Episode 3

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:43:00 GMT

No podcast this week (again) because I had a bit of a throat thing going on (again) over the weekend, and the review is late because...well...I'm just writing it now.

The Economist is this week's ep, and with a nice, obscure-sounding title I was bound to enjoy it. Factor in that it was Sayid's turn to take centre stage and it's high fives all round.

The end of the writer's strike has thrown up the possibility of 5 more new episodes of Lost being produced this season, bringing the total to 13. Chances are there will be a long break before the new batch air though.

Spoilers for Lost episode 4x03 follow:

Click here to open the review

Related links:
The Economist screencaps @ Lost-Media
LostCasts
Official Lost site

Location, Location, Location

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:27:00 GMT

As of episode 8, John and Scott's Couch Surfing has now migrated across to Geekshow.us. Just as well really - I'm not sure our webspace could have coped with the sheer megabytage those guys were producing for a while there!

To check out episode 8, 'The Whedon/Zombie Dance-Off', click here.

And here is where you'll find new Couch Surfing episodes in the future :)

Lost: S4 Review, Episode 2

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:00:00 GMT

And our streak of weekly Lost podcasts ends at...um...one. Oh well, we had a good run...

This week's episode, Confirmed Dead, didn't interest me nearly as much as last week's, so perhaps it's fitting that it should be the first to fall by the audio wayside. With the writers' strike possibly at an end, there may still be hope (blindly optimistic or otherwise) for the season to be completed and aired the way it was intended - 16 consecutive episodes. More episodes means more chance of the odd podcast falling through the cracks, so with that in mind I'm instituting a radical new policy of subsitute textual reviews. Yes, while I may not have enjoyed Confirmed Dead enough to chat about it, I can still muster up the will to write about it!

Spoilers for Lost episode 4x02 follow:

Click here to open the exciting, text-based content!
Update: Now with added Gary!

Hide review

Lost - 4x02 - Confirmed Dead

Sometimes it's hard to know what the writers of Lost are thinking. Okay, so it's always hard to know what the writers of Lost are thinking, but this week there were more "Seriously?!" moments than usual. Let's take a closer look...

Locke considers Charlotte

Happenings: On island, the action centres around the arrival of four of Naomi's colleagues: Daniel Faraday, Miles Straume, Charlotte Staples Lewis and Frank Lapidus. Despite Jack's previous conviction that rescue was imminent, relations get off to a shaky start when it's revealed that Daniel is carrying a gun. Shakier still is their first encounter with Miles, who brandishes his own firearm and accuses Kate of killing Naomi. The hostilities are tempered slightly, however, when Miles seemingly communes with Naomi's spirit and confirms Kate's story implicating Locke. Reinforcements arrive from the beach in the form of Juliet and Sayid, and the group head out to find the other parachutees. Helicopter pilot Frank turns up unharmed, crucially with his helicopter in similar condition, but Charlotte has the (mis?)fortune of landing nearest to Locke's ragtag group of rebels on their way to the barracks. Ben shoots Charlotte. Charlotte's wearing a bulletproof vest. Locke smacks Ben around. Ben explains what the new arrivals want: him.

In flashback, we're given snatches of back story on Daniel, Miles, Charlotte and Frank. Daniel weeps uncontrollably at footage of the 'wreckage' of Oceanic 815, without knowing why. Miles convinces a boy's ghost to stop haunting his grandmother, slyly pocketing said ghost's hidden cash stash in the process. In Tunisia, Charlotte bribes her way onto an archaelogical dig and unearths some Dharma branded evening wear. Unconvinced by the underwater crash footage, Frank calls the Oceanic hotline to contest its authenticity. In a meeting with Matthew Abaddon, Naomi questions whether her four new colleagues are up to the task ahead.

The helicopter survives!

Likes: It was an unusual move to dive straight into the identities of the 'rescue' team, and a welcome one - the season 2 premiere introduced Desmond, but it was 20+ episodes later before we were treated to his first flashback. Short-term questions are answered fairly comprehensively, most notably that the freighter has brought these people on a mission to locate Ben. Less clear is what they're supposed to do with him, although the shadowy meeting between Naomi and Abaddon towards the end gives the impression that Ben has made it onto yet another enemies list. There are a few nice lighter moments - Jack winking at Kate, Frank being welcomed to the island by a cow - but also the odd telling comment, particularly Sawyer's warning to Locke that Ben has already planned their undoing. The fact that the helicopter survived intact is a more interesting proposition than the alternative (remember how long Desmond's boat lasted last season?), although whether it will remain in good condition much longer, or indeed ever return from the freighter, is anyone's guess.

Dislikes: With 12 main characters and plenty of recurring guests surviving from last season, what the show did not need this year was 3 new regulars (Daniel, Miles and Charlotte) arriving simultaneously. Factor in Michael's return to the main cast and you can probably anticipate many more episodes in which central characters don't appear at all - Desmond, Sun and Jin were this week's screentime casualties. The recurring guests don't stop coming either, with Frank making his first appearance and Abaddon popping up again. Even Naomi managed a posthumous flashback. It all adds up to a rather unsatisfying package as Jack, Kate and Locke monopolise proceedings and the likes of Claire and Hurley simply nod along in the background.

Miles at work

As much as I like the idea of changing up the execution of the flashback device, debuting 4 new characters in the same episode was a strange choice. Only Miles really gets anything to significantly flesh out his character; Daniel - who you would think would be our way into the group, as Jack and Juliet have been before him - gets only a few seconds, interesting though they may be. Focussing on Daniel may have been the more conventional approach, but then there's a good reason for certain conventions. Sharing out the flashbacks amongst a group of characters is a nice idea, but it should have been saved for later in the season, when we might have more reason to care about these people.

Of course, this wouldn't be a proper rant if I didn't bring up accents. As good as Lost is at breaking down character conventions, Confirmed Dead introduces us to yet another hard-headed, well-spoken, English anthropologist. Essex must be absolutely crawling with them!

Lastly, do we really need to see Ben being violently beaten again? Jack gave him a kicking in both Through the Looking Glass and The Beginning of the End, and this week Sawyer gets his licks in twice. Please people, give the poor evil genius a break.

Rating: 3 out of 7 DHARMA Stations

General Reaction: Well 2 episodes into the fourth season and the writers have had to set up some new characters. I suppose when you kill off Charlie and a few of the Others you're going to need to do that.

For me, the episode was treading water even though we learnt a lot about the people from the freighter. It will be interesting to see wether the helicopter manages to remain intact, as Locke seems intent on keeping himself and the rest of group on the island. I'm looking forward to seeing how this season plays out and eagerly anticipating the moment when Jack, Kate and Hugo leave the island. Confirmed Dead rates 4 out of 7 DHARMA Stations.

Points of Interest:

SF versus F - It looks like the supernatural themes brought to the fore in last week's episode are being taken forward fairly rapidly. Does this mean that I was wrong and Hurley was really talking to Charlie's ghost?
Ghost Whisperer - Characters who can see the future are pretty common in SF, but Desmond's abilities have been handled in quite an original way thus far. Characters who can see/talk to ghosts are equally common (Matthew Fox played one in Haunted back in 2002), so let's hope Miles's talents are taken in new directions too.
Dharma dig - The apperance of the Hydra logo at the archaeological site suggests Dharma's roots run a lot deeper than the research commune Ben grew up in.
Not Penny's Boat - We now know why Naomi's people came to the island, but if Ben is all they want then what do they need an anthropologist and a physicist for? Is this some sort of attempt to resurrect the Initiative?
POV - Drew Goddard, writer of hand-held monster movie Cloverfield, co-penned this episode as well as Lost Moment #13. Both feature first person camerawork, from Daniel and Vincent's perspectives respectively (!).

Points of Contention:

Before the watershed - Would a TV station really get away with showing footage of decomposed corpses from an air disaster during the day? Would they even get away with showing the same at night?
Work clothes - Why is Daniel dressed in a shirt and tie? Are the costume department simply bored of dressing people in grubby t-shirts, or is there something to be gleaned from Dan's attire?

Hide review

#102 - Lost: S4 Review, Episode 1

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:10:00 GMT

CANNONBALL!!!

As if anyone needed any reminder, Lost is back. 7 months to wait and scarcely 7 weeks worth of episodes to look forward to, so Stu and Gary make sure they get in on the ground floor with a wander through the season premiere, The Beginning of the End. Besides a little flash-forward confusion, it's business as usual.

No spoilers, as long as you don't count inferences made by reading the opening credits...

For more Lost:
Official Lost
LostCasts

#101 - Couch Surfing Ep. 7: Comic Conventional Wisdom

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 12:04:00 GMT

In episode seven of Couch Surfing, the guys wage war against ill-mannered comic shop owners. Scott recommends the film, 27 Dresses for both Men and Women, while pushing for more James Marsden on the big screen. John is unimpressed with both Saw IV and Hatchet, but finds plenty of Super-Action entertainment with Rambo. The two of them share celebrity meet and greet stories from conventions, but also urge Sarah Michelle Gellar to appear at this year's Buffy Reunion Event, or risk losing fans. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

John Reuben, Drowning Pool, Brian Tyler, Marilyn Manson, Fear Factory, Stars, Radiohead, The Crystals, Starling, Paris Hilton, Junior Senior, CSS, INXS, Garbage, Jet, Moby, Tuatara, Journey, Cat Stevens, Blink 182 and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

#100 - Serenity

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:53:00 GMT

Holy smokes! Three digits!

Yes, the episode counter has ticked over to 100 without the webpage imploding in some horrible imitation of the millennium bug. To celebrate said non-implosion, a well-worn DVD makes its way into two DVD players on opposite sides of the Atlantic and simultaneous chatting ensues. As if the name of said DVD was ever in doubt, let's just say it's the one with the llama on the cover.


100	Serenity

#99 - Couch Surfing Ep. 6: The Reals Cloverfield Monster

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:07:00 GMT

In episode six of Couch Surfing, John and Scott contemplate what it means to be a Real Hero, and then give their thoughts on the film, Cloverfield. Some points of debate include believable characters, motion sickness and magical cameras. Spoilers abound, so proceed with caution. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Wiseguys, David Bowie, Bjork, Bonnie Tyler, Elmer Bernstein, Chemical Brothers, Static-X, The Smiths, Psapp, Josh Joplin Group, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Dashboard Prophets, BT & Sarah McLachlan, Smashing Pumpkins and And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

#98 - Couch Surfing Ep. 5: Nonfat Sugar Free Love

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:30:00 GMT

In episode five of Couch Surfing, John & Scott search for elusive curves on today's modern woman. They outlaw gossip magazines and also praise the new surprise hit show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. After catching his breath from a title that's way too long, John welcomes Summer Glau back to science fiction. Scott proclaims effects powerhouse, Zoic Studios to be the North American version of WETA. The guys round out their week with a possible end in sight for the writers strike, as well as the superior Blu-ray gaining majority support in the format war. It's the war against weight, the war against the guild, the war against home entertainment and the war against the machines. We say, make love, not war. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Fine Young Cannibals, Weird Al Yankovic, Patsy Cline, Spoon, The Dust Brothers, Brad Fiedel, Nine Inch Nails, Prodigy, Vast, Edwin Starr, Foo Fighters and Deadsy.

#97 - Couch Surfing Ep. 4: I Want My SMG TV

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:49:00 GMT

In the fourth excursion of Couch Surfing, John & Scott live for the music. They go nuts over the entertaining adventures of Veronica Mars and Jaye Tyler, while exploring the possibly bleak future ahead for television and showing sympathy for Tim Minear. Eventually, Scott instigates a verbal slap fight, expressing his disappointment in Sarah Michelle Gellar, and her longstanding abandonment of the vampire slayer that made her famous. Attempting to prove that chivalry isn't dead, only missing an arm, John tries to defend her professional career choices. It's not easy. After the dust settles, the guys appoint themselves as Sarah's new managers and a mutual decision is reached in the new direction for her star to shine. It's the best career idea for her, ever! You'll have to listen to the show to find out. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Michael Jackson, Angels & Airwaves, Ivy, Abra Moore, Kate Havnevik, Coldplay, Travis, Longwave, REM, Gavin Rossdale, Orbital, The New Pornographers, Amy Studt, The Verve and The Solids.

#96 - Couch Surfing Ep. 3: Sick Daze & Stabbing America

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 11:18:00 GMT

For the third episode of Couch Surfing, John tries to call in sick, while Scott confesses his love of peddling comics on unsuspecting victims. John is lamenting the late, great Veronica Mars, having recently discovered the show on DVD at his local library. Scott longs for the days of a happy Spider-Man. The two also discuss hidden treasures to be found in novelizations of popular movies and television shows, as well as the joys of knifing Captain America and gutting that smug jerk like a fat trout. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Korn, The Dandy Warhols, Air, Death In Vegas, The Replacements, Lali Puna, Stars, Tears For Fears, Rogue Waves, Danny Elfman, Stretch, INXS, Oasis, Beck, Paul McCartney, Better Than Ezra, Rob Dickinson and Moby.

#95 - Couch Surfing Ep. 2: Cashey Money

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:53:00 GMT

The second episode of Couch Surfing finds John & Scott in the aftermath of the holiday break. They discuss the pros and cons of dollars as presents, ebay and "rare" collectibles and what the future holds for the Academy Awards. Also of note: For those of you who might give a pretentious crap, you can finally hear what Bill Murray whispered to Scarlett Johansson at the end of Lost In Translation, by going here. We're still working out the kinks of this experimental show, but we hope you will listen and enjoy. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

The O'Jays, The Flying Lizards, Andy Partridge, Stars, Dream Academy, Greyboy, David Newman, Rob Dougan, The Cure, Death Cab For Cutie, Bloc Party, Craig Armstrong, Moby, Pale 3 Featuring Beth Hirsch, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Michael Jackson and Moby (again).

#94 - Couch Surfing Ep. 1: Smodulation

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:21:00 GMT

Welcome to the first episode of Couch Surfing. This is a new section of Sofa Dogs, devoted to weekly discussions about the latest news in entertainment. Joining me on this experimental, maiden voyage is Scott Carelli, from Two Geeks, A Mic & A Podcast. Taking a page from the book of Kevin Smith (more like downright ripping out that page), we adopt the Smodcast structure, by playing music behind our random conversations. This is my first attempt at a podcast like this, so please send me feedback and let me know what you think. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Lionrock, Peter Gabriel, Portishead, Remy Zero, Shampoo, Lemon Demon, Sugarloaf, Sarah Michelle Gellar, New Order, They Might Be Giants, Prince, Gnarls Barkley, The Pixies, Camille Saint-Saens, U2 Darlene Love, Yoko Kanno, Danny Elfman, Telefon Tel Aviv, Cinderella
Angels & Airwaves, The Dandy Warhols, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Elmer Bernstein, Christophe Beck, Brad Fiedel, Justin Timberlake
Supertramp, Dave Pimer, Flyleaf, Fugazi, Charlie Clouser, Lazlo Bane Coldplay and John McEntire.

The Unhappening

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:32:00 GMT

While we were sorting out the general confusion, bewilderment and thumb-twiddling that led to first the sofadogs.com domain expiring and then the libsyn account going inactive, John still managed to distill his thoughts into mp3 form over at Geekshows.us. And when I say distill...well I guess I don't actually mean distill because his guest host spot on Two Geeks, a Mic and a Podcast lasted over two hours.

And as an incredibly minor, insignificant side note, it turns out that my failure to renew the .com domain resulted in it being snapped up by some webparking 'service' or other. Oh well. If I knew how to put a positive spin on things I'd say 'Look out for Sofadogs.NET in 2008!!!', but I don't. *sigh*

#93 - Gay By Dawn

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:02:00 GMT

After more than a year of procrastination, empty promises and flat out laziness, I finally get my hands on a copy of Jonathan London's award-winning short film, Gay By Dawn. Filmed in Austin, Texas, the flick concerns a small group of rednecks sitting around a campfire, telling scary stories. Little do they know, the real terror is out there in those woods. Suspiscion mounts and the accusations fly as the threat of homosexuality may exist among them.

It's a light, innocent and hilarious romp. If you happen to have a copy on DVD, please join me as I take a look at this amusing gem. As always, listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie.

P.S. Special thanks goes to Scott Carelli, for being kind enough to send me his copy. Remember kids, you might wake up to find yourself Gay By Dawn, but at least Mexicans and giraffes aren't real.

#92 - Heroes: S2 Review, Episode 1

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 6 Nov 2007 17:31:00 GMT

It's more than six weeks since season 2 of Heroes premiered, so what better time to bring you our thoughts on the first new episode? Six weeks ago, you say? Pfft.

Today's podcast is actually culled from a recording session intended to cover the first five episodes of season 2, but since we rambled on for 40 minutes about Four Months Later it seemed reasonable to split the thing up. Whether or not the rest of that conversation makes it to the feed is unclear - chances are we'll just cheat like we did with Lost and skip ahead to the latest episode. Yeah, we can do that.

Heroes Official Site

#91 - House (1986)

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:41:00 GMT

House is a classic, haunted residence story from 1986. William Katt stars as a struggling writer who revisits his Aunt's home, after she mysteriously commits suicide. While staying there, he's tortured by memories of his missing son and his personal experiences during the Vietnam War.

It's not long before the house begins to feed off his guilt and sadness. Strange and frightful things are happening, and it all seems to be related to the disappearance of a young boy. This is a fun, dark-humored ride of a ghost story that deals with one man's need to face and conquer his personal demons.

The film is produced by Sean Cunningham, directed by Steve Miner and written by Ethan Wiley, from a story by Fred Dekker. As is usually the case, please listen for my preemptive countdown before beginning the movie on your DVD.

Happy Halloween everyone!

#90 - Last 3 TV Shows #1

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:13:00 GMT

With John currently unable to post new episodes, Stu retires to the archives to dig up and finish editing a long forgotten episode. Well, long forgotten in the sense that it was recorded in September this year. Okay, so maybe just forgotten then.

For this episode we port the Last 3 Movies blueprint over to the TV world. Here are the picks:

Stu	Gary
The IT Crowd	The IT Crowd
Traveler	Dexter
Raines	Family Guy

Note: The episode is obviously a little behind the times, so when we talk about upcoming stuff it's clearly not so upcoming any more. Also, turns out that the IT Crowd season 2 was only 6 episodes long, as opposed to the 8 episodes Gary mentions here.

Promos:
OzPod
The 9th

#89 - Highwaymen

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:41:00 GMT

Jim Caviezel stars in Highwaymen, the unofficial companion piece to Robert Harmon's cult classic, The Hitcher. Rennie Cray (Caviezel) is a broken man following the murderous exploits of another broken man, Fargo (Colm Feore). Caught in the middle of this personal vendetta is Fargo's latest pretty, but scarred target, Molly (Rhona Mitra). Meanwhile, a State Traffic Investigator named Macklin (Frankie Faison), is trying to piece together the nature of this particular cat and mouse game between Cray and Fargo.

It's a loud, furious thriller where cars get mangled and destroyed because two men are way past the point of being able to "hug it out". In this commentary, I talk about the importance of rhythm and pacing in a thriller, balancing the ratio between action set pieces and character back story, all the while getting the most out of your sound mixing and editing. As is usually the case, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

NOTE: This is a Region 2 disc, so there might be a slight synchronization issue for those of you with Stateside DVDs. However, this looks to be a simple port of the American release, so perhaps playback will run at the same speeds. Please let me know if this is not the case.

#88 - Vacancy

Tue, 9 Oct 2007 17:42:00 GMT

Ever wonder how those seedy, desolate roadside motels across America manage to stay in business? Well, Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale find out the hard way in Vacancy. This eerie little gem concerns an estranged married couple, forced to spend the night in a rundown motel after their car breaks down.

They soon realize something twisted may be in store for them, when they discover hidden cameras are watching them and the windows are nailed shut. With solid suspense and a lean, well paced running time, Vacancy delivers mature, classical horror in the tradition of Hitchcock, with a modern sensibility in visual storytelling.

Please join me as I discuss claustrophobia, home video technology and Frank Whaley's sinister mustache. As always, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie on your DVD.

#87 - Fall TV Preview 2007 (part 3 of 3)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Tue, 2 Oct 2007 18:28:00 GMT

Technically, the shows discussed in this segment don't hit the airwaves until the start of 2008, but whatever. At least we're early this time. Concluding our Fall Preview podcast of the new TV season, Stu and I take a look at the genre offerings from the trigger-happy Fox Network: New Amsterdam and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Time travel, immortality, killer robots, forbidden love and Summer Glau kicking really high (hopefully). It's all here, or at least it will be, a few months from now.

New Amsterdam official site
Sarah Connor Chronicles preview site

SciFi Smackdown

#86 - Fall TV (P)review 2007 (part 2 of 3)

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:59:00 GMT

So does this podcast still count as being late if 1 of the 3 TV shows we cover hasn't aired yet? It does? *sigh*

Today's segment deals with the genre offerings from ABC, CBS and The CW: Pushing Daisies, Moonlight and Reaper respectively.

Notes:
Pushing Daisies official site
Chuck official site
Reaper official site

PodCulture

#85 - Fall TV Preview 2007 (part 1 of 3)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:41:00 GMT

With scarcely a week to spare before the new TV season begins, part 1 of our Fall preview hits the feed. Who'll give us 20-1 against on Stu getting parts 2 and 3 edited in time?

Today's installment covers the three new sci-fi shows debuting on NBC this season: Bionic Woman, Chuck and Journeyman.

Notes:
Bionic Woman official site
Chuck official site
Journeyman official site

The Totally Rad Show
TechnoFodder

#84 - Firefly: Heart Of Gold

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:04:00 GMT

My Firefly commentaries through the entire series are coming to an end with the thirteenth episode, Heart Of Gold. It seems a house of independent "companions" have got themselves into a world of trouble. One of the girls is pregnant by a powerful sociopath who will stop at nothing to claim his baby. Inara asks Malcolm and the crew of Serenity for help against this madman, and before you know it, it's The Jerry Springer Show with horses and lasers.

Please join me as I talk about the second season that never was, Shawna Trpcic's inspired costume designs and the search for Vera. As is per usual with these Firefly commentaries, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the show on your DVD.

....And oh yeah, Bwah!

#83 - Disturbia

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 19:38:00 GMT

Directed by DJ Caruso, Disturbia is about a troubled teen placed under house arrest. He's got an ankle bracelet that prevents him from going beyond his front yard. To make matters worse, an insanely hot girl moves in next door, and he's pretty sure his other neighbor is an elusive serial killer. But, Carrie-Anne Moss plays the boy's mother, so at least there's that.

Please join me as I go over some of the finer points of this surprisingly intense and well-crafted thriller. A few topics of discussion include comparisons to Fright Night, Cherish and Rear Window. I also ponder the absence of car alarms and a mother's intuition. :)

Just as with other movie commentaries, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

#82 - Firefly: The Message

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:00:00 GMT

Twelve episodes in, we come to one of my favorites from the Firefly series, The Message. The dead body of a fallen soldier is delivered to Mal and Zoe. For some reason, the police are in hot pursuit. An attempted autopsy brings about a rude awakening, and the body is very much alive. Turns out, he's transporting someone else's organs in order to make some quick cash for his family. Will he get home in time to deliver the goods, or will Mal and Zoe turn him in to the fuzz?

It's a harrowing tale, complete with a socially inept doctor, a naked soldier and something in a jar. As per usual with my Firefly commentaries, please wait for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#81 - Firefly: Trash

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:07:00 GMT

It's the eleventh episode in the Firefly series, otherwise known as Trash. Don't worry, this is the good kind of Trash. It's the return of Saffron, now having added more men to her roster of husbands, and more names for herself (including Bridget and Yolanda). She once again crosses paths with Mal and the crew of Serenity.

This episode completes the caper portion of the series, along with The Train Job and Ariel. Let me know if I've missed any. In this adventure, Mal reluctantly teams up with his estranged wife in order to steal the first ever laser pistol prototype.

As always with these Firefly commentaries, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#80 - Drive: Let The Games Begin

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:54:00 GMT

Let The Games Begin, is the third episode from executive producer Tim Minear's fun but short-lived series (as if there was only one), Drive. It focuses on an assortment of characters competing in a secret, illegal road race across the country.

In this episode, Alex and Corinna are separated when he's abducted by a police officer who is certain Alex used to be a getaway driver. Violet teaches her father, John the ins and outs of telling a convincing lie. Winston is arrested by a "Fugitive Recovery Agent", forcing his brother to make a tough decision. There's also the addition of an exciting new character, Alex's 1972 Dodge Challenger!

As is usually the case with these Drive episodes, there is no preemptive countdown. That means you can start the show simultaneously with this podcast. Also keep in mind, I'm skipping past any commercials and the recap segment at the top of the program.

Sofa Dogs: Now With Voicemail (and cavity fighting flouride)!

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:13:00 GMT

Now, thanks to a new FREE service called Jangl, we have voicemail. All you have to do is visit www.jangl.com and sign up. After that, you enter in our e-mail address, which is sofadogs@hotmail.com. You'll be given a phone number to call, which will allow you to leave us a message. Got a question you want answered? Give us a jangl. Want to tell us how awesome we are? Give us a jangl. Feel more like sending a litany of swears our way? You can do that too, just give us a jangl. If you're lucky, we may even include your message in the show (with your permission, of course).

You've listened to us for long enough, now it's time for us to hear what you have to say!

#79 - Buffy: The Dark Age

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:43:00 GMT

The Dark Age is the eighth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It seems that Giles was something of a miscreant during his formative years in England. One night of dabbling in the dark arts results in the death of a friend, the unleashing of a globe-trotting demon and a freaky tattoo. Now, Giles must own up to his sins of long ago, as his murderous past has caught up with him.

Throw in the slithering Ethan Rayne, the sexy Jenny Calendar and one nasty-looking demon, and The Dark Age is the place to be. Join me as I talk about unexplainable green lighting, a possible connection to Firefly by way of set decoration and one of the more baffling continuity mistakes in the history of this series. As per usual, please listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

#78 - Buffy: Lie to Me

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Wed, 8 Aug 2007 20:29:00 GMT

Slightly less than 7 years since they were released, Stu picked up the umpteenth reissue of the DVD set of Buffy season 2. Though the new fangled optical discs confounded him for some time, he was nonetheless finally able to make the episode Lie to Me appear on his computer screen and thus join John for a commentary.

Of course, the very fact that Stu made this purchase all but guarantees one of two things: either (a) the Chosen Collection will come crashing down in price or (b) Fox will announce a forthcoming HD release with shiny new bonus content. If it turns out to be option (b) then all you crafty consumers who waited more than 7 years will know who to thank...

Notes:
Lie to Me @ Buffyguide.com
Lie to Me @ TV.com
Lie to Me @ Wikipedia
Lie to Me screencaps @ Screencap Paradise
Buffy episode table @ RankItAll.com

#77 - Shadow Puppets

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 08:22:00 GMT

Shadow Puppets is written and directed by Michael Winnick. It concerns a handful of amnesiacs who awaken to find themselves trapped in an abandoned research facility. While they attempt to figure out their situation and their identities, they are pursued by a mysterious and dangerous shadow creature.

The film stars James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jolene Blalock (Star Trek Enterprise) and Tony Todd (Candyman). Fear, suspicion and paranoia run high in this fun slice of eerie entertainment, where nothing is as it seems and your own shadow is out to get you.

#76 - Last 3 Movies (July 2007)

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 17:19:00 GMT

Movie length commentaries sound like too much hard work, so Stu and Gary chicken out and instead debut the imaginatively titled 'Last 3 Movies' episode format. The six movies we talk about are listed below with highlight-spoiler-protection for anyone who wants to remain vaguely surprised.

Stu	Gary
Dawn of the Dead (2004)	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Raising Arizona	Transformers
The Big White	Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Note: A small part of this podcast was lost somewhere along the line, so parts of it have been heavily edited to make some semblance of sense! Hopefully it's not too noticeable :)

#75 - Buffy: Halloween

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:08:00 GMT

It's all about chaos and costumes in Halloween, the sixth episodes from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Willow becomes a hot ghost, Xander becomes a soldier, Buffy becomes a noblewoman and Cordelia is still Cordelia, but with cute, plastic cat ears. Ethan Rayne makes his first appearance and we see that Giles has a bit of a dark side.

In this commentary, I talk about volunteer work, trick or treat and the inconsistency of the vampire invitation rule. As usual, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before beginning Halloween on your DVD.

For the record, the last time I dressed up for Halloween, I was Leonard Shelby from the film, Memento. So, had I been in Sunnydale at the time, I would have been struck with short-term memory loss and a taste for murderous revenge. As Buffy would say, "It's good to be me." :)

#74 - Buffy: Reptile Boy

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:55:00 GMT

Reptile Boy is the fifth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While altogether funny and entertaining, it stands as one of the more well known Public Service Announcements of the series. What we learn here is that alcohol is bad, college guys are up to no good and if you discard your responsibilities, you just might get eaten by a giant snake monster.

Join me, as I discuss set dressing overkill, transparent clothing and the top notch acting performances from Nicholas Brendon and Charisma Carpenter. As is usually the case, listen for my cue to start your DVD for synchronization purposes. Remember kids, friends don't let friends drink and slay.

Please drink responsibly.... or I'll stab you with a spork.

#73 - The Hitcher (1986)

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:21:00 GMT

In 1986, The Hitcher assaulted cinemas around the world. From writer, Eric Red (Near Dark) and director Robert Harmon (Highwaymen), The Hitcher concerns a young traveler being tormented by a cold-blooded killer across the desolate, Texas landscape. The film stars C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders), Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hudsucker Proxy).

Supportive co-host and good friend, Stuart Duncan was generous enough to send me a Region 2 Special Edition DVD. Join me, as I take a fond look back at this cult classic. It's an intense psychological thriller with some of the most amazing car stunts ever realized on film. As per usual, remember to listen for my preemptive countdown before starting the movie. However, since this is a Region 2 disc, there may be issues with synchronization, as these tend to move at a slightly faster framerate, not to mention that the sound is also pitched up a bit.

In any case, strap in, buckle up and have fun. But always remember, never pick up a hitchhiker, unless it's me because, you know, I don't drive. :)

#72 - Buffy: Inca Mummy Girl

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:24:00 GMT

Inca Mummy Girl is the fourth episode from the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That much, I do know. Apparently, that's pretty much it. A few corrections I want to point out: In this commentary, I mistakenly refer to the actor playing Devon as the actual lead vocalist for the band, Four Star Mary. After researching the episode for show notes, something I probably should have done before the recording, I realize now that Jason Hall is an actor, playing the role of a musician. My apologies for the mix-up. Also, I talk about how Devon isn't in the show after season two. This is also false. Jason Hall appears quite a few times throughout season three, and at least once in season four. Again, I'm sorry for my ignorance.

Anyway, Inca Mummy girl gives us an abundance of at least three good things: Seth Green, cinematic lighting, quality music by Four Star Mary, Willow in an Eskimo outfit and special guest star, Ara Celi. Oh, and a mummy. Can't forget about the mummy. Okay, so that's clearly more than three good things. I can't help it, there's a lot to enjoy about this episode. I mean, it's another solid Xander-themed episode. What's not to love? You're not supposed to answer that. It's rhetorical.

#71 - How I Met Your Mother: Sweet Taste Of Liberty

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:57:00 GMT

After a sudden attack of kidney stones, followed by severe sickness, I'm back to my old self. To celebrate, I take a look at How I Met Your Mother's third episode from the first season, "Sweet Taste Of Liberty". Ted just wants to hang out with his regular friends at his regular bar, but Barney's got other plans. The fun becomes "legendary" when the two guys spontaneously board a plane to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, back at the bar, Robin and Lily try to spend some time together. When random guys start hitting on Robin, Lily is ultimately ignored. At Marshall's request, she pockets her engagement ring. In this episode, it's all about trust, adventure and the desire to lick things. This was recorded very late at night, so by the end of it, I'm very tired and a bit incoherent. As per usual, I'll do a countdown and tell you when to start the show on your DVD.

Happy Birthday, Joss Whedon

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:38:00 GMT

The Sofa Dogs team would like to wish writer/director Joss Whedon, a happy birthday. He turns 43.

#70 - Lost: Greatest Hits of Season 3

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:02:00 GMT

What do you do when there are no new Lost episodes to review? Rehash the ones you've already seen of course! With that in mind, the three of us embark on a Greatest Hits tour of Season 3, picking our many highlights across a range of categories and awarding one or two wooden spoons to break up the gushing.

Note: The Stu and Gary half of this episode was recorded around a week before the Stu and John half, and in an unprecedented turn of bad luck, 12 planes flew over Stu's house throughout the hour. Most of them were easily edited out, but one or two low rumbles survive.

Notes:
Promo: Tony's Losing It
Promo: PodCulture
Whedonesque
Gallery @ Lost-Media.com

Lost: Season 3 Box Art & Details

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Wed, 6 Jun 2007 12:36:00 GMT

It wouldn't be a true end to the season without tantalising DVD info being dangled in front of us rabid fans, would it? Unfortunately, this year's release has an awfully distant December 11th street date attached to it :(

Excerpt from the press release:

Examine all 23 one-hour episodes on 7-disc DVD and discover deeper secrets behind the series with over 6 hours of bonus features including never-before-seen "Lost Flashbacks", "Lost in One Day" that shows 24 hours of production, and a deeper dive into "The World of the Others," where cast and producers reveal more about the island's secret inhabitants. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at 10 episodes with "Lost on Location," deleted scenes, bloopers and more.

BONUS FEATURES:

"The World of the Others" - The secrets and mysteries of the Others revealed by the cast and producers
"Lost Flashbacks" - Never-before-seen glimpses into the past lives of the castaways
"Lost in One Day" - An exclusive behind-the scene look at 24 hours in the life of this series
"Lost on Location" - A behind-the-scenes look at 10 episodes
"The Lost Book Club" - Get hints to the significance of the show's literary references
Deleted Scenes
Bloopers
Audio Commentaries

All sounds fine and dandy, but if the US release date is mid-December I hate to think when the UK version will surface! Looks like I'm importing again...

Sources:
Check out the full-size artwork and the complete press release at TVShowsOnDVD.com

Jacob loves you!

#69 - Lost: S3 Review, Episode 22

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 12:21:00 GMT

No. More. Lost. Till. 2008.

AUGH!!!

Despite their anguish, Stu and Gary manage to compose themselves long enough to record a farewell podcast for the final episode, Through the Looking Glass. Even though the finale was a double-length episode, we somehow trimmed this review down to only a few minutes longer than The Man Behind the Curtain podcast. How? Probably by missing out lots of crucial discussion points, but hey, we're still in shock/denial/grief here okay?

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Enjoy Jack's beard with Lost-Media screencaps

#68 - Summer Movies + Fall TV Pre-preview

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 28 May 2007 16:08:00 GMT

It's John's 28th birthday (or at least it was last Wednesday...) and my present to him is a 9am wake-up call to record a special birthday podcast! It takes a wee while for him to shake the sleepiness, but soon we're getting into all the big event movies of the coming Summer including Spider-man 3, Transformers, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Day 2 of the recording session, seamlessly edited together with Day 1 (*ahem*), concerns a few of the shows that have perished in this year's end of season cancellation carnage, as well as one or two pilot pickups and 11th hour renewals: Veronica Mars, Jericho, The Class, How I Met Your Mother, Traveler and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Happy birthday John :)

#67 - Firefly: War Stories

Mon, 21 May 2007 19:10:00 GMT

Brandon Ortega joins me once again via speaker phone, as we take a look at Firefly's tenth episode, War Stories. Wash is jealous of the respect Zoe has for Mal, so he insists Mal take him on their latest adventure. A simple delivery operation becomes dangerous when Niska returns to kidnap Mal and Wash, holding them for ransom. Now, it's up to the remaining crew of Serenity to initiate a risky rescue mission.

Brandon and I discuss Book's past (or lack thereof), Jayne's eating habits and the cost of producing a weekly sci-fi series for network television. We also address what some of the cast members have been up to lately. Once again, be sure to listen for the preemptive countdown before engaging the hyper drive of your DVD.

#66 - Dust Devil: The Final Cut

Sun, 20 May 2007 16:59:00 GMT

An old friend from High School, Justin Krey sits down as my special guest as we revisit Richard Stanley's cult classic, Dust Devil. After spending the better part of a decade lost in video limbo and cut to incomprehensible shreds, the film can finally be appreciated in full on DVD.

A shape-shifting serial killer prays on lonely, desperate women who have lost hope and want to die. Meanwhile, a sullen cop tries to maintain order among the corrupt police force as he chases the demon across the South African desert. The Walking Man, played by Robert John Burke begins a cat and mouse game of seduction with his latest victim, as his human form conflicts with the spiritual realm.

Justin and I take a look at the film's layers of social, political and spiritual themes. We also discuss the circular nature of the film's narrative structure and how the most intelligent and creative filmmakers are usually misunderstood by the Hollywood assembly line. As per usual, listen for the preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

#65 - How I Met Your Mother: Purple Giraffe

Sat, 19 May 2007 06:30:00 GMT

The story of How I Met Your Mother continues, in Purple Giraffe, the second episode of the first season. After getting shot down by Robin, Ted attempts to win her heart again by throwing not one, not two, but three (!) impromptu parties. Meanwhile, Barney keeps running into a one night stand, as he tries desperately to find out who Carlos is. Also, Lily can't keep her hands off of Marshall who's struggling to finish an important paper before the deadline.

Join me as I talk about the art of controlling the claw machine, my disdain for parties and large crowds and the near impossible feat of staying "just friends" with a woman you wish would have your children. As per usual, listen for my preemptive countdown before starting your DVD.

#64 - Lost: S3 Review, Episode 20

Wed, 16 May 2007 21:51:00 GMT

Well I tried to get this episode edited up well in advance of tonight's US airing of episode 21, and um... I got the 'in advance' part right. I'll work on the 'well' for next week...

So...The Man Behind the Curtain. What can you say? This one had it all. Father issues in the flashback, a magic circle, gas masks, hand-carved birthday presents, a mass grave. Oh and 11 frames of Jacob.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Didn't spot Jacob? Lost-Media did.

Serenity: Collector's Edition Box Art & Special Features

Tue, 15 May 2007 03:02:00 GMT

"Shiny!" Universal Home Entertainment is releasing a 2-disc Collector's Edition of Serenity on August 21st. According to DVD Active, these are the special features for the DVD:

2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation.
English Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1 Surround tracks.
Audio commentary with Joss Whedon.
Audio commentary with Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Ron Glass.
Introduction by Joss Whedon.
Deleted scenes with director commentary.
Extended scenes.
Outtakes.
Take A Walk On Serenity featurette.
Green Clan featurette.
We'll Have A Fruity Oaty Good Time! featurette.
A Filmmaker's Journey featurette.
Future History: The Story Of Earth That Was featurette.
Re-lighting The Firefly featurette.
What's In A Firefly? featurette.
Session 416 featurette.
Sci-Fi Inside: Serenity featurette.

Click here for larger artwork.

What do you folks think of the new cover and these specs? Share your rants/raves on the Message Board. For the latest news on upcoming DVD releases, be sure to visit www.dvdactive.com

#63 - The Adventures Of Brisco County, Jr.: Pilot

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:33:00 GMT

YEEHAW!!!! Ahem, sorry about that. What I meant to say was, it's The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. In the Pilot episode of this prematurely canceled series, Bruce Campbell stars as a gunslinging free-thinker, hot on the trail of the criminals who killed his Father. However, the wild west is more than what it appears to be on the surface. In his seemingly endless quest for revenge, Brisco periodically encounters a mystical, metallic orb that may in fact be from the future.

Yes, it's the original Sci-fi Western, long before Joss Whedon came along and made it trendy. :) Just as with my usual audio commentaries, be sure to listen for my preemptive countdown before pulling a quick draw on your trigger-happy remote.

#62 - Lost: S3 Review, Episode 19

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 10 May 2007 16:32:00 GMT

Inevitability won out, forcing Stu and Gary to leapfrog 8 episodes of Lost and land smack in the middle of The Brig. Let's face it, we were deluded if we thought we had a hope of catching up, even with squeezing two episodes into each review. Not to neglect our responsibilities entirely, here are Stu's insightful one-word reviews of the missing 8:

Enter 77: Good.
Par Avion: Excellent.
The Man from Tallahassee: Excellent.
ExposÃ: Razzledazzle!
Left Behind: Meh.
One of Us: Good.
Catch-22: Desmond!
D.O.C.: Meh.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Notes:
Screencaps for The Brig
Promo: WhedonCast

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

The Monster Squad DVD Official Box Art & Special Features

Mon, 7 May 2007 19:22:00 GMT

Courtesy of Allie Leung at Lionsgate, here is the final, official information for the upcoming 2-disc 20th Anniversary Edition of The Monster Squad:

THE END OF THE WORLD STARTS AT MIDNIGHT

THE MONSTER SQUAD: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Street Date: 7/24/07
Order Date: 6/27/07
DVD SRP: $19.98

Click here for larger artwork.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The 1980s cult classic, The Monster Squad, makes its long awaited DVD debut with a monster-ous 20th anniversary edition. To pay tribute to this true fan favorite, the 2-disc set will be featured in collectible foil o-card packaging and is loaded with extra features, including a five-part retrospective, classic interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries and much more!

Count Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gillman adjourn to earth in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. However, a bunch of kids regarded by their peers as losers and outsiders uncover the devious plan and prepare for a counter strike. Now, our heroes - the Monster Squad - are the only ones daring to stand in their way...

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Monster Squad Forever! A five-part retrospective featuring new interviews with writer/director Fred Dekker, actors Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Ashley Bank, Duncan Regehr, Tom Noonan and more!
A Conversation with Frankenstein: A never-before-seen classic interview with the Monster himself!
Deleted Scenes
Audio commentary with Writer/Director Fred Dekker and "Squad Members" Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert and Ashley Bank
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Fred Dekker and Director of Photography Bradford May
Original Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot
Stills Gallery
Newly Mastered 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 1987
Title Copyright: Â 1987 Taft Entertainment Pictures/Keith Barish Productions. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Special Edition
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Horror
Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned
Subtitles: English and Spanish
Format: 16 x 9 Widescreen
Feature Running Time: 82 minutes
DVD Audio Status: Remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Original 2.0 Dolby Stereo Audio

For additional information on this release, e-mail Elizabeth Atler at Elizabeth_atler@bhimpact.com

Surf on over to DVD Empire and reserve your copy RIGHT NOW!

Big thanks to Allie and the fantastic company that is LIONSGATE.

#61 - Smokin' Aces

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sun, 6 May 2007 04:36:00 GMT

Smokin' Aces is a melting pot of genres and characters. Some of it works, some of it doesn't, but it's full of vibrant energy and it's never boring. The story concerns a Las Vegas Illusionist who must decide between his loyalty to his friends and his desire to escape the dangers of the mob lifestyle. Buddy "Aces" Israel is a prisoner in every sense of the word. He's forced to hideout in the Penthouse Suite of a posh hotel while negotiating a deal with the FBI to testify against The Mob.

As Buddy slowly breaks down and spirals deeper into self destruction, The Mob gets wind of his plans and decides to put out a free for all contract on the magician's head with a hefty reward in tow. Bail Bondsmen, Snipers and Neo-Nazi Psychopaths of all shapes and sizes descend on the hotel as the FBI tries to get to Buddy before everyone else.

Join me as the blood and bullets fly all over the screen, and Ryan Reynolds proves once and for all that he's more than just a funny Canadian. Just as with most of my audio commentaries, listen for my preemptive countdown before pressing "play" on your trusty, DVD remote.

#60 - Drive: Partners

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:18:00 GMT

Drive continues, with its second episode, Partners. Rob and Ellie's relationship is tested when she begins lying to him about his orders from the army. Corinna reveals her involvement with The Race to Alex. John changes his assumptions after he and Violet get assistance from the Salazar Brothers. Meanwhile, Mrs. Patrakas struggles with the notion of killing Ivy. The episode builds to an inspiring space shuttle launch, and the realization that Alex may be closer to rescuing his wife than first suspected.

Just as before, I recorded my commentary while watching the episode on streaming video, so there is no preemptive countdown.

#59 - Lost: S3 Review, Episodes 9 and 10

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 21:23:00 GMT

The new episodes of Lost just keep on comin' don't they? Shame we're still 9 episodes behind with our reviews. Wait...what's that? We've recorded another podcast and are now only 7 episodes behind? Huzzah!

As if John's commentary wasn't enough, we throw in our own lamentations for the dearly departed Drive, as well as deliver a crucial update on the unstoppable juggernaut that is Australia in the Cricket World Cup.

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

Planes fly over Stu's house a few times in this episode, so don't adjust your sets when you hear that low rumble...

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

#58 - Drive: The Starting Line

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:04:00 GMT

Drive involves an assortment of characters competing in an illegal, cross-country road race, with a prize of $32,000,000 rumored to be at the finish line. Some people have been coerced into joining The Race, while others have sought it out. Some people are going after the money, while others are trying to save their loved ones.

It's a fun and exciting mystery from executive producers Ben Queen (Century City) and Tim Minear (Angel, Wonderfalls, Firefly, The Inside), currently airing on the Fox Network.... Oh, no wait. I'm sorry, it's been canceled. The series has only produced 6 episodes, and thanks to MySpace and their Fox On Demand page, we may get to see them all. Using the site's streaming video, I jump right in for my commentary on the first episode, The Starting Line. No preemptive countdown here. That means the second you start the show, you can start the podcast.

If we get a DVD set for Drive, I can do a proper commentary later down the road. For now, you'll have to settle for these on-the-fly recordings. So, strap in, adjust your mirrors and put your hands at 10 and 2 as I discuss the turbulent nature of network television and the importance of story versus character progression.

#57 - Lost: S3 Review, Episodes 7 and 8

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:15:00 GMT

And no sooner has Lost season 3 resumed than 9 new episodes have flown past (as of recording - it's 10 now!) and Gary and I find ourselves so far off the pace we might as well be back kicking sand on the beach pre-hatch. Not to be deterred by such trifling details, we embark on what may well prove an insane attempt to get back up to date with Island proceedings, starting with Not in Portland and Flashes Before Your Eyes.

Since we're playing catch-up, we tried as best we could to stay away from the scene by scene format of the last 3 podcasts and focus more on the important points from each episode. Also: Desmond is Scottish!

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

#56 - Sofa Dogs One Year Anniversary: Jaws 4 (The Revenge)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 23:21:00 GMT

It's our 1st Anniversary! To celebrate, I've dug deep into the vault to bring you the lost commentary for Jaws: The Revenge. This track was recorded by myself and frequent co-host, Allen Coe at least a year ago. After our first session/episode for Sofa Dogs, which was the original Jaws from 1975, we decided to follow it up with the last film in the franchise.

By this point, Allen had consumed several tall boys (cans) of beer, which made for quite a loose and interesting commentary. A day or so after the fact however, Allen couldn't recall much of what he said and had second thoughts of releasing the recording to our audience. Afraid that this audio track reflected badly on him, he asked me to keep it to myself. Although I tried to convince him that he sounded just fine, I respected my friend's wishes, and so the file was tucked away in my hard drive and remained there for a full year.

He's since then had time to get over such fears, so it is with great pleasure that I can finally present to you our vague ramblings on Jaws: The Revenge. We laugh, roll our eyes and occasionally yell at the screen as a bloated, wobbly puppet of a shark manages to track down the last of the Brody clan all the way to the Bahamas, for...uh, for some reason. Tea and cake, maybe?

#55 - Empire Records Remix!: Special Fan Edition

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:02:00 GMT

It's been over ten years since Empire Records and its colorful employees came into our lives. Since then, the film has become something of a cherished, cult classic. My good friend and Empire fanatic, Susie Richards and I watch and discuss the movie together, via speaker phone. The story takes place roughly within a 24 hour period and centers around a small, independent record store. The place is in danger of being bought out by an evil, corporate chain called Music Town. It's up to Empire's underdog staff to rebel against the system and maintain their family unit of rock n' roll dysfunction.

Join Susie and I as we take a look at the 2003 Special Edition DVD (basically a Director's Cut), and ponder such baffling questions like:
What exactly happened to Deb to make her suicidal?
What really happened to Lucas when he was in Atlantic City?
Why has there never been a Volume Two Soundtrack Album?
Where's the rest of the footage still missing from the movie?
Why no definitive DVD (commentary, retrospective documentary, etc.)?
Just what the hell is Warren's real name, anyway?

After enjoying the podcast, head on over to Open Till Midnight for the ultimate Empire Records fan site. It's chock full of music info, trivia, custom MySpace layouts, desktop wallpapers and even an online store! I recommend the "You make me feel like a bath" t-shirt.

Us, elsewhere

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:38:00 GMT

As John and I try for the third time to get his latest movie commentary uploaded, I thought it might be worth pointing out some contributions we've made of late to other podcasts. To hear me ramble for five minutes about scifi classic The Abyss check out the latest episode of PodCulture. To read John's thoughts on Sarah Michelle Gellar's The Return (among other things) head on over to the reviews section at Geekshow.us.

Coming soon: Empire Records.

#54 - Lost: Pilot (part 2)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:41:00 GMT

The killer combination of illness (Stu), laziness (Stu) and dialup modem (John) means it's been over a month since a new episode was posted. But that's not to say new episodes haven't been recorded, as this second installment of John and Brandon's Lost pilot commentary amply proves. In your face Gods of Podfading!

As before, Brandon is on speakerphone for this episode so his half of the conversation, while generally intelligible, isn't as clear as John's half.

John and Brandon had seen the first few episodes of season 3 when this was recorded, but I don't think there are any major spoilers beyond the finale of season 2.

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

#53 - How I Met Your Mother: Pilot

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:48:00 GMT

According to a later episode of How I Met Your Mother, nothing good happens after 2 AM. I decided to test that theory by recording a commentary a couple of hours before sunrise. The pilot of How I Met Your Mother concerns the early years of Ted Mosby and his epic quest to find the future Miss Right. Meanwhile, newly engaged couple Marshall and Lily are lucky enough to have found each other, and man-about-town Barney is simply looking for Miss Right Now. It's a love story told in reverse. Suit up and join me, won't you?

#52 - Lost: The Mini Season Review (3 of 3)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Sat, 3 Feb 2007 17:05:00 GMT

Despite protracted interference from the gods of Skype, MSN and voice chat in general, Stu and Gary finally complete their jaunt through the first 6 episodes of Lost season 3. And with only 4 days to spare before the first new episode airs no less...

The Cost of Living and I, Do are up for scrutiny, and the result is a roughly equal mixture of ranting and approval. This being the final part of the review, we also touch a little on what we expect (and hope) to see in forthcoming episodes, as well as some general thoughts on the future of the show.

Episodes 1 through 6 of season 3 are considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned. Lost returns February 7th in the US and February 11th in the UK.

Promo: Fanboy Smackdown

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

#51 - Lost: The Mini Season Review (2 of 3)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:39:00 GMT

We return to Lost season 3 for another 2 episode installment. This time we're attempting to sift the divine insight of the Island itself from the convincing untruths of the conman, as we tackle Further Instructions and Every Man for Himself.

Once again, every episode of season 3 broadcast thus far is considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned. Lost returns in the US in less than 2 weeks!

Promo: Two Girls and a Podcast

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

#50 - Lost: The Mini Season Review (1 of 3)

sofadogs@hotmail.com — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:49:00 GMT

For the first episode of 2007, Gary of OzPod joins Stu to co-host the first in a three part review of the 6 episode mini-season which comprised the opening of Lost season 3.

A Tale of Two Cities (commentary) and The Glass Ballerina (commentary) are first up as we chat about the highs and lows of the new season, while trying to extract as many clues as possible as to where the show will take us when it returns on February 7th.

Any of the first six episodes of season 3 are considered fair game as far as spoilers are concerned

For more Lost:
LOSTCasts
The Official Lost Podcast

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

Episode 49 - Lost: Pilot (part 1)

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:38:00 GMT

In a vain attempt to claw back some chronological order for the Lost commentaries, John is joined via speakerphone by Brandon for a chat about the first part of the episode that started it all. (That's the pilot for you Tail section types...)

Much general discussion of the nature of the show and its success ensues, along with the requisite 5 minutes of intense debate over Jack's regenerating haircut.

The audio quality of Brandon's half isn't quite as good as on the last Buffy track, who knows why, but I've done my best to balance out the volume where I can.

[ Leave a comment at the forum ]

Episode 48 - Buffy: Some Assembly Required

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 07:27:00 GMT

The disembodied voice of Brandon Ortega joins me via speakerphone, or via my unstable psyche, I forget which. In any case, we talk about the second episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season, Some Assembly Required. As we first discover during this episode, in Sunnydale, there are many different ways to bring someone back from the dead. Two students apply the classic, Frankenstein method. They're hoping to revive the promise of a once great football hero. He's been totally off his game ever since he caught a slight case of death.

Unfortunately, the guy gets greedy and demands a mate. They decide to go after Cordelia Chase and her pretty, little head to complete the jigsaw puzzle of body parts. Sounds like the perfect plan to me. She is, after all, the apex of the cheerleading pyramid. If this episode teaches you anything, it's that dead guys need love, too.

Episode 47 - Lost: The Glass Ballerina

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:24:00 GMT

Having failed to set up a conference call so John, Tom and I could record a new episode, I head back to the grindstone (which is shaped oddly like a microphone...) to record another solo Lost commentary to fill the void.

As befits any last minute substitute, I go into The Glass Ballerina with no notes whatsoever and an MPEG file sans subtitles. Recipe for success? You decide...

As before, this commentary comes in two exciting varieties to maximise the chances of it synching up with the episode. You only need download the version specific to your region as the content is identical:

The Glass Ballerina (Region 1 / NTSC)
The Glass Ballerina (Region 2 / PAL)

Notes:
LOSTCasts: The Glass Ballerina
Official Lost podcast

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Episode 46 - Buffy: When She Was Bad

Sat, 2 Dec 2006 16:44:00 GMT

Finally, I have returned from my extensive hiatus. I'm back, I'm bad and I'm spreading the Buffy love....Eeeewww. Nevermind. Forget what I just said. In an attempt to bring back some semblance of order and chronology, I tackle the opener for season two, When She Was Bad. In it, Buffy returns to Sunnydale after her own little hiatus. She brings along with her a major Joan Collins 'tude. Could her new Bitca vibes be connected to the resurrecting power of The Master's remains? Yeah, sure. Why not?

Meanwhile, Willow's got something on her face (a cuteness booger, I call it) and Xander does a little Dirty Dancing with the Buffster to the sensuous sounds of Cibo Matto. Well actually, it's more like he just stands there while The Slayer grinds up against him, but honestly I'd be paralyzed from the neck down, too. :)

It feels great to back in the saddle, and by saddle, I mean of course my squeaky computer chair!

Episode 45 - Lost: A Tale of Two Cities

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:00:00 GMT

With the new season of Lost coming to the UK much earlier than predicted, I decided to get a jump on the commentaries and record some before the DVD is even out. Foolhardy? Maybe. Courageous? Not really.

Join me as I struggle through my extensive (and hard to read) notes on the season 3 premiere, A Tale of Two Cities, in which Jack, Kate and Sawyer discover that The Others really just wanted to be their friends all along. And what better way to start a new friendship than with imprisonment, intimidation and a spot of behavioural conditioning. It gets even better next episode: they get to do some heavy lifting too!

This commentary comes in two delicious flavours to maximise the chances of it actually synching up with the episode. You only need download the version specific to your region as the content is identical:

A Tale of Two Cities (Region 1 / NTSC)
A Tale of Two Cities (Region 2 / PAL)

Notes:
LOSTCasts: A Tale of Two Cities - lots of interesting observations and conjecture on the episode
Screencap of the Hydra logo at Wikipedia

The forum can now be reached at the much easier to remember forum.sofadogs.com and likewise the website at www.sofadogs.com.

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Episode 44 - Buffy: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:31:00 GMT

Right on time, John and Brandon deliver another in absentia Buffy commentary. The episode in question, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, is a season 2 highlight which sees Xander channel the very best of The Average White Band as a love spell goes awry. Join the guys as they attempt to solve the greatest ethical conundrum posed in the entire 7 season run: if you were Xander, would you unwrap Buffy?

Fall TV mini-update: I just saw the pilot episode of Standoff and quite enjoyed it. Perfect timing then for Fox to order another 3 scripts and bring the running tally for season 1 to 19 episodes. Here's hoping they make it to 22...

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Episode 43 - Fall TV Status Update

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:59:00 GMT

Been watching any of the shows we talked about in the Fall preview? Find out how they're all fairing as the networks begin pruning their schedules of dead weight while trying to resuscitate those shows that just might make it to Spring.

Confession: poor choice of microphone plus sore throat does not good audio quality make.

Notes:
ABC.com (Six Degrees, The Nine)
CBS Innertube (Jericho, Smith)
Fox On Demand (Standoff, Vanished)
NBC.com Video (Kidnapped)

Al, Bill and David Watch TV
FireflyTalk
The 9th - A Heroes Podcast
Two Girls and a Podcast

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Episode 42 - Buffy: School Hard

Thu, 2 Nov 2006 19:44:00 GMT

In perfect time for me developing a sore throat, here comes a dusty volume from the archives to save the day. Although House of the Dead was the first commentary Brandon appeared on that was posted to the website, he and John actually recorded two Buffy tracks for season 2 episodes some time beforehand. To spare my vocal chords for the week I present the first of these, recorded for episode 3 of season 2, School Hard, in which a certain peroxide blonde makes his first appearance. And to think they were going to kill him off before the end of the season...

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Episode 41 - Lost: The Other 48 Days

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:30:00 GMT

Take 2 of the Tom & Stu show sees us leapfrog 5 episodes (I doubt anything important happened in them...) to get to the Lost: The Tail Section season 1 recap episode, also known as The Other 48 Days.

The microphone merry-go-round continues as we employ our newest headset mic with super-duper in-built noise reduction. Still, audio is a bit on the rustly side (not least because I rustle my fair share of paper).

Notes:

Lostpedia: 'car in the background' goof screen cap (judge for yourself!)

In an effort to mix up the voices you're hearing, for next week I'll be digging up 1 of 2 Buffy commentaries John and Brandon recorded some time ago . We were holding them back to be released in chronological order (they're for School Hard and Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered) but, hey, if this isn't the time to make use of spare episodes I don't know when is.

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Episode 40 - Lost: Man of Science, Man of Faith

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 23:15:00 GMT

Against all odds I managed to convince my brother Tom to join me for a tour de stade of episode 1 of Lost season 2. Given that we haven't recorded a joint commentary for nearly a year, and the fact that the recording setup was different to what I usually use (which isn't that great in the first place...), the sound quality is not the greatest. Also, since I'd forgotten about 75 percent of this episode takes place in the dark, we tend to drift into general season 2 chat and therefore there are spoilers abound for the entire season.

[Scottish accent]Enjoy the show, brother.

Notes:
The Official Lost Podcast
Official Lost Podcast archive at dharmasecrets.com
Lost 'Hatch' Counter-Strike Source Map (video tour)

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Episode 39 - Not Fade Away: John Doe

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:42:00 GMT

Kicking off a new series of special episodes on cancelled shows is John Doe, the story of the guy who knows everything except who he is. Plus: News on Smith, Heroes, Eureka, Kidnapped and Standoff. This ep is a Stu solo effort, so slack may need to be cut...

Notes:
John Doe @ SciFi Channel
'John Doe's Secrets Revealed'
'EW Solves TV Cliffhanger Mysteries!'

Other links:
Brilliant But Cancelled
OzPod
Two Girls and a Podcast
WhedonCast

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Episode 38 - Titus: Sex With Pudding

Sat, 7 Oct 2006 17:39:00 GMT

In the second episode of Titus, called Sex With Pudding, Christopher fears that Erin is cheating on him. Things go from bad to worse when he learns that she's actually being sexually harrassed, by her Lesbian Boss! The show continues to turn sitcom convention on its head and tackle fresh, new areas of the human condition with hilarious results. Some stuff even gets set on fire!

Important News: I regret to inform the loyal listeners (all six of you), I will be absent from Sofa Dogs for at least a month. Recent money troubles have forced me to cancel my internet service. On the bright side, the show will still be around. Full hosting duties will be in the far more capable hands of my partner in crime, Stu. You can direct all questions and comments to him through sofadogs@hotmail.com and as always, keep those iTunes reviews coming. They're very much appreciated. Also, the Sharecrow site has a new Top 10 section. I've recently discovered that Sofa Dogs is in their list of popular downloads, so a big thank you to those of you responsible.

Finally, I wouldn't normally do this, but if you folks would like to contribute a small donation to this site, you can do so at my paypal account through kungfubear@msn.com. I hope you enjoy the show while I'm away and I hope to be back soon, putting you all to sleep again. :)

Warm and fuzzy love,
John

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Episode 37 - Lost: S1 Review (1 of 4)

Sun, 1 Oct 2006 16:31:00 GMT

There was really no contest for the first non-Whedon show to get the review treatment. Yes, it's Gilligan's Isla...no, wait...it's not Gilligan's Island? Okay, our producer informs me it is in fact Lost, but I think you can see why I'd be confused...

In this first of (probably) four parts, we make our way through the highs (35,000 feet, sipping on vodka miniatures) and lows (sea level, juggling day-to-day survival and father issues) of episodes 1 through 6 of the first season.

Notes:
WhedonCast
OzPod
PodCulture
Fanboy Smackdown
The Official Lost Podcast

In this super-extended nearly-100-minutes-long episode, John also shares his thoughts on some of the new Fall shows that have premiered recently: Jericho, Six Degrees, Smith and Heroes.

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Episode 36 - Firefly: Ariel

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:54:00 GMT

Almost five months after recording our first joint commentary for Out of Gas we return to the series that started it all with Ariel, the only episode for which neither one of us have recorded a commentary.

Dear Diary. Today I took River to have a brain scan in a super-secure yet strangely dark Alliance hospital. The crew stole lots of shiny medicine and Jayne sold us out. It was the best day ever!

Notes:
Notes on currency in Firefly
Ariel Ambulance Rescue

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Episode 35 - Q&A: Andre Gower from The Monster Squad

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:01:00 GMT

In this very special episode, I was fortunate enough to attend a midnight screening of The Monster Squad at The Denton Movie Tavern, as part of their Friday Night Frights. It was apparently the only remaining 35 milimeter print in the country! The film's star, Andre Gower was there to introduce the screening and he answered questions from an inebriated audience.

It just so happens that I brought my camera with me and I've recorded the event for all to enjoy. Andre was even nice enough to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, and this was probably around 2 AM! What a guy! The picture of Andre, Brandon and myself was taken in very little light. One of these days, my stupid ass will remember to use the lamp on the front of the camera. :) Thanks goes out to Stuart Duncan for somehow making the image presentable. Thanks also to my dear friend Brandon Ortega, for his help in getting to and from the screening and making it a fun time. You sir, rock!

Special thanks goes out to John Gray and Paul Salfen for putting together an unforgettable evening, and also to Andre Gower for taking the time to come all the way out to Texas, for sharing such wonderful stories with us and basically just for being awesome. See, it's officially in writing now, so that makes it true!

Note: Alcohol was being served at this event, so the crowd was very loose and rowdy. Fair warning for those easily offended, this podcast does contain some explicit language.

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Episode 34 - House Of The Dead

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:11:00 GMT

House Of The Dead is a lame, generic and cheap-looking movie based on a popular video game. You know what that means. Yup, it was directed by Uwe Boll. Brandon Ortega and I sit down for some commentary, having never seen the flick before. There's no way we could sit through this garbage twice. Hell, it was enough of a struggle the first time. In any event, Brandon and I keep the conversation alive and there are many laughs to be had with this obvious joke of a movie.

Note: The first countdown to begin the DVD failed, so just wait for the second one before pressing play on your remote. We hope you enjoy the show.

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Episode 33 - 2006 Fall TV Preview (3 of 3)

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:51:00 GMT

Completing the trifecta of Fall TV shows is our discussion of the CBS line-up. Only three shows caught our eye this time around: Jericho, Shark and Smith. Mmm...one word titles.

Notes: As it turns out, the full premiere episode of Prison Break available at TV.com only works for those in the US. And for said lucky citizens, they also have the full Vanished pilot.

Episode 32 - 2006 Fall TV Preview (2 of 3)

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:54:00 GMT

Part 2 of our Fall TV odyssey sees us tackling new shows from NBC and FOX. In other words, fifty percent of the shows on today's podcast have already been cancelled. ZING! Oh yeah, I went there.

Shoutouts: Two Girls and a Podcast

Episode 31 - 2006 Fall TV Preview (1 of 3)

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:09:00 GMT

With the Fall Season upon us, Stu and I take a look at the new batch of television shows the major networks have to offer. First, we'll be giving early impressions of the new programs from ABC. We'll read a synopsis for each show and give our reactions to the various trailers and video clips we've seen. The titles we will cover in this podcast are Day Break, Six Degrees, The Nine, Traveler and Help Me Help You.
We encourage you to chime in with your opinions in the comments section, or you can leave us an e-mail at sofadogs@hotmail.com
Also, you can subscribe to our show for free at iTunes and write your own user review. We'd love to hear from you!

Episode 30 - Interview: Jonathan London from Geekdrome

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 22:23:00 GMT

My first celebrity interview is Jonathan London, co-host of Geekdrome. In addition to podcasting, he's also a music video director, an award winning filmmaker and a Mexican wrestler. :)
During our Q&A session, we talk about the importance of mood regarding independent cinema, the return of Super Action, the diminishing distance between box office and DVD release dates and how this could affect the future of the movie theater experience.
I'd like to thank Jonathan for being so generous with his time and for sharing his thoughts. His short film, Gay By Dawn is available on DVD.
More information on Jonathan London can be found here.
Don't forget to visit Geekdrome for your weekly reviews of movies, trailers, comics and video games!

Episode 29 - Wonderfalls: Wax Lion

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 07:32:00 GMT

In the long line of prematurely cancelled shows on Fox, I take a look at Wonderfalls. It's a fantastical and clever existential comedy about a young woman who lives in a trailer park and "works" at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Her aimless life takes a startling turn when inanimate objects start talking to her and telling her to do things. These actions affect her and those around her in hilarious and unexpected ways. It's the creative brainchild from the producers of Firefly and Dead Like Me, starting with the pilot episode, Wax Lion.

Episode 28 - Buffy: S1 Review (Part 2 of 2)

Sat, 5 Aug 2006 22:07:00 GMT

This is the second half of our season one review for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Stu and I go over the remaining six episodes as we discuss the good, the bad and even dispense some trivia about the show. Sofa Dogs, the finest example of quality edu-tainment. At least, that's how we see it. Perhaps we're blinded by the eyes of love. Bring us back down to reality by sharing your thoughts in the comments section.

Today's promo is for Stargate Louisville.

Episode 27 - Constantine

Wed, 2 Aug 2006 19:03:00 GMT

Based on the Hellblazer series from Vertigo Comics, Keanu Reeves is John Constantine, an investigator of the occult and the supernatural. When demons start crossing over into the realm of the living, John has to track down the spear of destiny and stop the Devil's Son from bringing Hell on Earth. With a severe case of lung cancer and a history of sin, John must struggle for acceptance into Heaven and to escape eternal damnation. The things a guy's gotta do to stay in God's good graces. :)

Episode 26 - Firefly: Safe

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:32:00 GMT

My commentary for the episode, Safe is anything but. I bring up the topics of Buffy, The Village, Dogma and even my big, comfy couch. There's no telling what I may ramble on about. Please throw caution to the wind and join me in my delusion that I'm interesting. :) This was recorded on the 29th of March, in the year of our Joss, 2006.

Episode 25 - Firefly: Shindig

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:11:00 GMT

The professionalism continues as I babble through the episode, Shindig. Darkman, Cowboy Bebop & Brisco County Jr. all get honorable mention. I marvel at the pretty sets and costumes, while praising the big, squishy brain with arms that is Jane Espenson.

Episode 24 - Firefly: Bushwhacked

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:55:00 GMT

Completing the first disc in the Firefly Box Set, I'm back with the episode, Bushwhacked. In this commentary, I make comparisons and references to Event Horizon, Hellraiser and South Park. Obscure pop culture, a shout out from my telephone and the occasional seconds of dead air prove that I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm like a trained ape, without the training.

Episode 23 - Firefly: The Train Job

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:37:00 GMT

The fun continues, as I record a commentary for The Train Job. This time around, I have notes and I've fixed my microphone. Actually, I fixed myself. In my previous commentary, I was too close to the equipment. I've since learned to restrain myself from making out with my mic.

Episode 22 - Firefly: Serenity (Pilot)

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:01:00 GMT

Hey, folks. I've decided to post my current batch of Firefly commentaries. These are my very first recordings. They can also be found at www.bigdamncommentaries.com
I'm a Browncoat and a fan of all works by Joss Whedon. This commentary for the Firefly pilot is the first in a series which will cover the whole show and finish with the movie.

Episode 21 - Buffy: S1 Review (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:31:00 GMT

Thought we'd extracted maximum mileage from Season 1? Think again! John and I continue our Buffy adventure with a semi-coherent jaunt through episodes 1 to 6. That's right folks - no DVD commentary this week, although we do recommend watching your favourite episode along with the mp3 to try and take the edge off our inane 'analysis'...

The giggle-free promo featured in today's podcast is for Two Girls and a Podcast.

Episode 20 - Buffy: Prophecy Girl

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 21:12:00 GMT

Stu and I return to finish up the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the season finale, Buffy must finally face The Master and ultimately die, as is written in the Slaying For Dummies textbook. Meanwhile, Xander takes a page from Dating For Dummies and asks Buffy to the dance. Three guesses on how that one turns out. This episode has everything. Drama, adventure, suspense, romance and fruit punch mouth.

Episode 19 - Buffy: Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 17:44:00 GMT

Stu and I are back once again, with a vengeance. Okay, that's a lie. I mean, we are back, but certainly not in a vengeful fashion. We'll be saving that for when one of our fellow podcasters gets shot, or when one of them is left at the altar on their wedding day. Yeah, whichever one of those comes first.
Anyway, today we'll be discussing Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight. This is the eleventh episode from Buffy's first season.
Apparently, if you ignore someone long and hard enough, they really do go away! Neat!

P.S. Have A Great Summer! :)

Episode 18 - Titus: Dad's Dead

Fri, 7 Jul 2006 14:19:00 GMT

In the Season One pilot episode Dad's Dead, Christopher Titus is worried that his father may have passed on. You see, Ken has been in his room for four days straight....without getting a beer! It's the groundbreaking, autobiographical and hilarious sitcom that introduced a massive audience to the brilliance that is Christopher Titus....for three years.

Well hey, it was on Fox, after all. :)

P.S. I recorded this commentary at the butt crack of dawn, so keep that in mind while listening.

Episode 17 - Buffy: Nightmares

Thu, 6 Jul 2006 20:31:00 GMT

Stu and I wax philosophical about Nightmares, the tenth episode from Buffy's first season. Everyone's worst fears are materializing, and it might just have something to do with a little boy named Billy, seen wandering around the halls of Sunnydale High. Within this episode, we learn some stuff like: Clowns are scary. Singing in an Opera is hard. Being buried alive really sucks. And, if you find a candy bar on the ground, you should definitely eat it without question. Notes: The Buffy and Angel Trivia Guide can be found at www.restlessbtvs.com

Episode 16 - Buffy: The Puppet Show

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 12:22:00 GMT

Seeing as John is time-zone impaired right now (i.e. he's probably asleep), I've decided to tackle the arduous task of writing this episode's summary myself. Hmm....ok. It needs to be witty, insightful, informative - nothing short of a tour de force.

Um...

We talk about The Puppet Show. John's phone rings halfway through. Mimes and puppets are scary. - Stu

Notes: The voting site where you can help rank all 144 Buffy episodes, mentioned this commentary and last, can be found at www.rankitall.com

Episode 15 - Buffy: I Robot, You Jane

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:34:00 GMT

Today is Joss Whedon's birthday! Stuart Duncan and I celebrate by tackling the 8th episode from Buffy's first season, I Robot, You Jane. Willow begins an online relationship with a stranger, who turns out to be a centuries old demon attempting to break free from imprisonment. What did he do to become banished into the pages of an old textbook, and later the internet? Well, you know those tags on mattresses that read, "Do Not Remove"? He cut one of them off! That's right, this guy is dangerous. Will Buffy be able to destroy the demon and save her friends? Will we see a relationship grow between Giles and the new computer-science teacher, Miss Calender? Why does the demon Moloch dress himself up to look like a cross between The Predator and a rejected villain from the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers? And why does Sunnydale High have web-cam access? Join us, as we attempt to answer these questions, and more. It's Morphin' Time!

Episode 14 - War Of The Worlds (2005)

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:30:00 GMT

In this modern remake of the H.G. Wells classic story, Tom Cruise runs from a giant Green Screen. You see, space aliens showed up here thousands of years ago and buried their 3-legged Imperial Walkers deep underground. Now, they're popping up all over to well, suck, basically. I'm not just being mean, either. They show up to drain us of our precious life juice. But hey, that's what happens when gas prices keep going up. Of course, if everyone accepted Scientology into their lives, we would be the ones sucking....sucking money from the aliens' wallets. Okay, I'm done with all the biting.

Episode 13 - Buffy: Angel

Wed, 7 Jun 2006 03:37:00 GMT

After contributing so much time and effort into these podcasts, I've decided to make Stuart Duncan an official member of the Sofa Dogs team. What does that mean, exactly? Well, almost nothing. It's not like he really wins anything significant. No shiny badge or membership card. No special certificate or cool tattoo. Not even a crappy football phone. But, he does hold the title of having the most co-hosted episodes (3 at this point). I guess, depending on how you look at it, that's either really awesome, or kind of sad. :)
Anyway, in this installment, Stu and I discuss Angel, the seventh episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's first season. Buffy is developing feelings for Angel. Unfortunately, Angel's dark and mysterious past threatens to expose his true nature, ultimately putting Buffy's mother in grave danger. Meanwhile, the Master calls upon three warrior vampires to seek out and destroy the Slayer. Either that, or they're just looking to fill the fourth spot at Poker Night.

Episode 12 - Boy Meets World: Hair Today, Goon Tomorrow

Wed, 31 May 2006 05:41:00 GMT

Allen Coe makes a surprise return to the show. Taking a break from the string of Joss Whedon related material, we discuss the second episode from the fourth season of Boy Meets World. In Hair Today, Goon Tomorrow, Cory is going through a bad hair phase and is unhappy with his own appearance. In an effort to cheer him up and prove that looks aren't everything, his girlfriend Topanga purposefully butchers her own hair. Meanwhile, oldest brother Eric dreams of becoming the first Good Looking Detective, instead of getting a real job. It's sweet, silly Disney entertainment. Ah, to be a kid again. As always, feedback is very much appreciated and encouraged in the comments section.

Episode 11 - Buffy: The Pack

Sat, 13 May 2006 09:01:00 GMT

Through the wonder of computer technology, I'm joined once again by special guest, Stuart Duncan. In Buffy's sixth episode from Season One, The Pack, Xander is possessed by a Hyena at the Sunnydale zoo. Hyenas are dog-like, nocturnal mammals mainly found in Africa and southern Asia. They are carnivorous scavengers feeding chiefly on carrion, with powerful jaws, relatively short hind limbs and coarse hair. They are famously known for their distinct bark, which often sounds like laughter. So, basically, Xander is the same as he ever was.

Episode 10 - Buffy: Never Kill A Boy On The First Date

Thu, 11 May 2006 17:36:00 GMT

In Season One's fifth episode, Never Kill A Boy On The First Date, Buffy tries to uphold her duty as The Slayer while dating a dull, stale loaf of bread named Owen. Meanwhile, The Master begins his plans to open a Day Care Center for the Wayward Youth of Sunnydale. Is there enough room in Buffy's life for school, slaying and the occasional post-pubescent fantasy? Join me in this commentary and find out. If we're lucky, Angel might even show up to brood at Buffy while wearing some more cool clothes.

Episode 9 - Buffy: Teacher's Pet

Sat, 6 May 2006 19:48:00 GMT

In the fourth episode of Buffy's first season, Teacher's Pet, Xander is seduced by a substitute teacher at Sunnydale High. She's beautiful, she's mysterious and she eats bugs.... Um, yeah, bugs. So please join me as I talk about the authority of a substitute teacher, the trend of student/faculty intimacy and how at this point, Angel is only good for supplying Buffy with some boss threads. Again, I appreciate all forms of feedback, so please drop me a line and for the love of Joss, tell your friends about Sofa Dogs!

Episode 8 - Buffy: The Witch

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 01:49:00 GMT

Today, I will be commenting on The Witch, the third episode in the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Someone is using witchcraft to clear away the competition in the Cheerleading Tryouts. Who could it be? Is it the new alternate, Amy Madison? Joy, the Senior Cheerleader? The Denver Broncos? Mystery awaits at Sunnydale High, so break out the DVD and cue up the iPod as I discuss witches and continuity errors aplenty.

Episode 7 - Buffy: The Harvest

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:11:00 GMT

Part 2 of the pilot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest. In this episode, I discuss the evolution of the series and my likes and dislikes of the first season. As always, suggestions and feedback are welcome and encouraged.

Episode 6 - Buffy: Welcome to the Hellmouth

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:06:00 GMT

Part 1 of the pilot for Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Welcome To The Hellmouth. Starting here, I will attempt to provide commentary on every episode of the entire series. Today, I'll examine the show's humble beginnings. If anyone has suggestions for what I should discuss in later Buffy episodes, please make them known in the comments section.

Episode 5 - Firefly: Out of Gas

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:41:00 GMT

In this very special episode of Sofa Dogs, I'm joined by fellow Browncoat, Stuart Duncan. We discuss the Firefly episode Out Of Gas via transatlantic audio commentary. Other episodes relating to Firefly can be found at www.bigdamncommentaries.com As always, feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Episode 4 - Firefly: Our Mrs. Reynolds

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 06:24:00 GMT

In this episode, Keith Kinney and I discuss the Firefly episode, Our Mrs. Reynolds. Deception, trust, love and cross-dressing all get equal air time. As always, feedback and episode suggestions are encouraged.

Episode 3 - Firefly: Jaynestown

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 05:01:00 GMT

In this episode, Keith Kinney and I sit down and discuss the Firefly episode, Jaynestown. Themes of symbolism and endorsements for Mudder's Milk run rampant. Commentaries for previous episodes of the Firefly series can be found at bigdamncommentaries.com. As always, feedback is appreciated and suggestions for future episodes are welcome.

Episode 2 - Jaws (Part 2 of 2)

Tue, 4 Apr 2006 07:28:00 GMT

This is the second half of the Jaws audio commentary. Allen continues to drink himself stupid, while a loud, elusive weed whacker tries to hog the mic.

Episode 1 - Jaws (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 23:27:00 GMT

Welcome to the first episode of Sofa Dogs. My good friend, Allen Coe and I sit down to record our first audio commentary. Today in the DVD tray, the 1975 classic Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. It's about three men who share a boat, get drunk and go hunting a big, animatronic shark named Bruce. Due to the film's extensive running time of 2 hours and 6 minutes, this podcast has been slashed in half. We encourage you to watch the film along with us, so if you pause your DVD the moment this ends, you should be able to pick up right where you left off when starting the second episode. So please join us, as I parrot my trivia notes while Allen attempts to drink his own body weight in beer. We appreciate all forms of feedback and suggestions for future commentaries are also welcome.

sofadogs's Podcast

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#159 - Couch Surfing Ep. 30a: Fiendy McSpookerson (Part 1 of 2)

#158 - Dollhouse: Needs

#157 - Halloween (1978)

#156 - Couch Surfing Ep. 29: Full Moon Madness

#155 - Dollhouse: Echoes

Dollhouse: Live Chat/Watch Party!

#154 - Couch Surfing Ep. 28b: Dragon*Confidential (Part 2 of 2)

#153 - Couch Surfing Ep. 28a: Dragon*Confidential (Part 1 of 2)

#152 - Couch Surfing Ep. 27: Bee To The Face!

#151 - Dollhouse: Man On The Street

#150 - Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

#149 - Veronica Mars: Credit Where Credit's Due

#148 - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

#147 - Veronica Mars: Extended Pilot

Sofa Dogs: Back In Business!

Lost: S5 Review, Episode 10

Lost - 5x10 - He's Our You

Sofa Dogs Hits 5,000 Downloads!

Motherboard R.I.P. - Sofa Dogs on Hiatus!

#146 - Q&A: Tim Minear from Dollhouse (After Commentary)

#145 - Dollhouse: True Believer (with special guest, Tim Minear)

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#143 - Dollhouse: Gray Hour

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#141 - Dollhouse: The Target

Who wants to join the Dollhouse Commentary?

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#138 - Eagle Eye

#137 - Couch Surfing Ep. 24: Damn Good Coffee

#136 - Couch Surfing Ep. 23: Special Delivery

#135 - Couch Surfing Ep. 14: A Slice Of Fried Gold

#134 - Buffy: Becoming (Part 2 of 2)

#133 - Buffy: Becoming (Part 1 of 2)

#132 - Couch Surfing Ep. 22: Billy 2.0

#131 - Drive: No Turning Back

#130 - Heathers

#129 - Couch Surfing Ep. 13: We Ain't Been Shaved

#128 - Couch Surfing Ep. 12: X Marks The Scott

#127 - Couch Surfing Ep. 21: The Rainbow Connection

#126 - Buffy: Go Fish

#125 - Couch Surfing Ep. 20: Free O'Clock

#124 - The Guild: Season One

#123 - Couch Surfing Ep. 8: The Whedon/Zombie Dance-Off

#122 - Buffy: I Only Have Eyes For You

Official Buffy Score Album by Christophe Beck

#121 - Buffy: Killed By Death

#120 - Buffy: Passion

#119 - Couch Surfing Ep. 19: Horrible Doctors & Dark Knights

Tim Minear @ CSTS Screening in Dallas on 06/22/08

#118 - Couch Surfing Ep. 18: You Can't Stop The Signal

#117 - Couch Surfing Ep. 16: These Cookies Taste Like Doom

#116 - Couch Surfing Ep. 11: 9021-Oh What The F?!

#115 - Couch Surfing Ep. 10: Gay Pride & Prejudice

#114 - Couch Surfing Ep. 9: Kill Your TV, Hump Your Modem

#113 - Buffy: Phases

#112 - Couch Surfing Ep. 17: Being Elliot Markowitz

#111 - Titus: Dave Moves Out

#110 - Buffy: Innocence (Part 2)

#109 - Buffy: Surprise (Part 1)

#108 - Buffy: Bad Eggs

#107 - Buffy: Ted

#106 - Buffy: What's My Line? (Part 2)

#105 - Buffy: What's My Line? (Part 1)

Geek By Night

Lost: S4 Review, Episodes 5 and 6

Lost - 4x05 - The Constant

Lost - 4x06 - The Other Woman

#104 - Lost: S4 Review, Episode 4

#103 - Firefly: Objects In Space

Lost: S4 Review, Episode 3

Lost - 4x03 - The Economist

Location, Location, Location

Lost: S4 Review, Episode 2

Lost - 4x02 - Confirmed Dead

#102 - Lost: S4 Review, Episode 1

#101 - Couch Surfing Ep. 7: Comic Conventional Wisdom