Culture on My Mind – True North Broadcasting: Canadian Sci-Fi

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Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
True North Broadcasting: Canadian Sci-Fi
August 13, 2026

To celebrate Canada Day (and get the contractually obligated amount of Canadian content in the American sci-fi classics discussion), the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track cast its eyes northward. It so happens that Canada is more than just alien planets and attractive tax incentives for your favorite shows. It also has unique and cool shows worthy of discussion.

On July 1st, Gary Mitchel was joined by Deanna Toxopeus and Lola Lariscy to talk Hilarious House of Frankenstein, Odyssey 5, Sanctuary, Lost Girl, Starlost, Rocket Robin Hood, and more. Grab a pint of maple syrup and tune in, eh?

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Do Not Taunt the SNL Table Read

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Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Do Not Taunt the SNL Table Read
August 10, 2026

We all know about Saturday Night Live. For the last 50 years, that show has remained one of the gold standards of sketch comedy, showcasing talent and spawning careers along the way. The Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track has a tradition of paying tribute through table reads of favorite sketches from the show’s history.

On June 17th, Joe Crowe and Gary Mitchel were joined by ToniAnn Marini, O. Hai Mark, and Kevin Stallard to laugh about classics like Coffee Talk, Weekend Update, and Matt Foley’s van.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – No Disassemble! 40 Years of Short Circuit

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Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
No Disassemble! 40 Years of Short Circuit
August 6, 2026

In 1986, the world was introduced to Johnny 5. The Short Circuit films focus on an experimental military robot that is struck by lightning and gains sentience. There were two films, the first of which is arguably better and centers its story on discussions of life, intelligence, and warfare.

The films also have an unfortunate legacy of inadvertent racism, which I wrote about in 2020.

These films still remain favorites from my childhood, even though they aren’t the greatest things committed to celluloid. I may need to revisit them again for this site in the future.

On June 3rd, Joe Crowe, Gary Mitchel, Shaun Rosado, O. Hai Mark, and Kyle McCraw discussed these films and their legacy, including the ethics of robotic weaponry, the concept of AI souls, and the merits of El DeBarge.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Made of Steel: A Supergirl Tribute

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Made of Steel: A Supergirl Tribute
August 3, 2026

This time around, the folks at the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track are talking Supergirl. From the bottle city of Argo to her life, death, and rebirth, Kara Zor-El has quite the legacy in pop culture.

On May 13th, Joe Crowe, Gary Mitchel, Shaun Rosado, and Kevin Eldridge traced Kara’s journey in comics, radio, television, and the silver screen.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Honoring The Psychedelic Worlds of Sid & Marty Krofft

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Honoring The Psychedelic Worlds of Sid & Marty Krofft
July 30, 2026

Sid and Marty Krofft were titans of 1970s children’s television. These Canadian brothers revolutionized variety programming with their “Willy Wonkas of psychedelic television” approach to writing and puppetry. Their colorful universes were filled with large-headed puppets, high-concept plots, and low-budget special effects. If you’ve ever seen H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost, The Bugaloos, or Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, you know of their magic.

On April 29th, Joe Crowe, Gary Mitchel, and Kevin Eldridge hosted a lively discussion of these wild worlds.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Giants Walk The Earth: The Dark Knight Returns 40th Anniversary

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Giants Walk The Earth: The Dark Knight Returns 40th Anniversary
July 27, 2026

In 1986, Frank Miller crafted a story about Batman that became a pivotal moment for comics.

The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of a 55-year-old Bruce Wayne who has hung up the cowl and cape. He returns from a decade of retirement to fight crime once again, facing Two-Face, the Joker, and Superman while being confronted by Gotham police and the US government. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential Batman stories, and is routinely discussed as one of the greatest comics of all time.

On April 15th, Joe Crowe, Gary Mitchel, and Kevin Eldridge of The FlopCast explore the story, the themes, and the legacy of this 40-year-old title.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2026 #6: Dragon Pride

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2026 #6: Dragon Pride
July 23, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the sixth episode for 2026, the hosts celebrate Pride Month in Dragon Con style. This episode was aired and posted on June 22, but like I said before, I’m catching up. Luckily, the LGBTQIA+ community can be celebrated every day of the year.

Dragon Con is a place for everyone, including the LGBTQIA+ community. Quite honestly, that community makes Dragon Con feel like home. Jennifer and Channing are joined by Chandra Free, Joshua Duart, Josh Coleman, and Patric Good, one of the convention’s beloved resident Klingers (of M*A*S*H fame) to discuss what makes Dragon Con a beautiful place and a home away from home.

The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Canadian Comedy Takeover: 50 Years of SCTV

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Canadian Comedy Takeover: 50 Years of SCTV
July 20, 2026

It’s been fifty years since SCTV graced the airwaves, and the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track is gonna talk about it.

SCTV, known in the long-form as Second City Television, was a Canadian sketch comedy television show that ran from 1976 to 1984. It was an off-shoot of the Second City comedy troupe from Toronto, which has showcased the talents of so many writers, performers, stage managers, directors, producers, and musicians. Think John Belushi, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Shelley Long… the list goes on and on.

SCTV presented sketches as though they were a typical broadcast day at a fictitious television station in the town of Melonville, including news broadcasts, sitcoms, talk shows, and advertisements. Over six seasons, the cast included comedians John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Harold Ramis, Davis Thomas, Robin Duke, Rick Moranis, Tony Rosato, and Martin Short, along with a recurring cast of talent. SCTV is the birthplace of Bob and Doug McKenzie, originally a throwaway filler piece that spawned a very popular segment called Great White North and eventually grew into the 1983 cult film Strange Brew.

The show moved to NBC as SCTV Network 90 (1981-1983) and Superchannel/Cinemax as SCTV Channel (1983-1984). NBC didn’t place a high priority on the show despite its popularity with younger audiences, and Superchannel (in Canada) and Cinemax (in the US) are both premium cable channels so the audience was limited.

On April 1st, Joe Crowe, Gary Mitchel, and Deanna Toxopeus staged a RevolutionSF reunion as they celebrated the legacy of SCTV and talked all about the influences, the skits, and their memories of the show.

These Classic Track Quarantine Panels are hosted by Gary Mitchel and Joe Crowe, the diabolical masterminds behind the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Track. If you want to play along at home, grab your internet-capable device of choice and navigate the world wide webs to the track’s YouTube channel and/or the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

Gary can also be found on A Podcask of Amontillado, a horror-themed podcast that he co-hosts with Erin McGourn.

If you want to connect with the track, Joe, and/or Gary on the socials, you can find them on Twitter (ClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and sneezythesquid) and Instagram (SciFiClassicTrack, JoeCroweShow, and Gary_Mitchel). And, of course, to celebrate more pop culture awesomeness, you can find Dragon Con all year round on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find those discussions and more every other Thursday as the American Sci-Fi Classics Track explores the vast reaches of classic American science fiction.

The episode art each week is generously provided by the talented Sue Kisenwether. You can find her (among other places) on her website Subspace Sue.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2026 #5: It’s the Puppetry Track

Michael FalknerLeave a comment
Culture on My Mind

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2026 #5: It’s the Puppetry Track
July 16, 2026

I’m playing catch-up with the Dragon Con Report after being out of the loop since January.

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast.  Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the fifth episode for 2026, this team pulls some strings.

From felt to foam and beyond, if you’re into puppetry, this track is for you. Join Mike, Jennifer, and Channing as they chat with Beau and believe in the magic.

The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2026

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Returning to Dragon Con as an Attending Pro for 2026
Atlanta, GA – September 3 through September 7, 2026

Boldy celebrating the convention’s 40th show, we’re gonna do Dragon Con again!

I am pleased to be selected as an Attending Professional for Dragon Con 2026. This will be my eighteenth year at the con (participating in various capacities since 2009) and my ninth year as an AP (since 2016, excluding 2020 and 2023). Dragon Con is a pop culture convention spanning five days, hundreds of programming hours, and countless fan passions. It is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, and it remains a ton of fun both as an attendee and as a contributor. It’s also a fantastic nerd party to close out the summer.

From Dragon Con Newbies events to sci-fi classics, modern SF and fantasy, Doctor Who, military SF, and so much more, I’m excited to see what 2025 brings.

Dragon Con takes place in Atlanta, Georgia during Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit the official site. For more information about Dragon Con Newbies, visit the group on Facebook.

50 days until Dragon Con.

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The Convention Report is a semi-regular series that announces and discusses my convention appearances. For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.