Culture on My Mind
Pop Culture Download
May 13, 2018

On the Docket

Bill & Ted 3 is coming with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter returning to their roles. – [THR]

Network TV 2018-19: Fox canceled The Mick, Last Man on Earth, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine… – [AV Club]

Network TV 2018-19: …only for NBC to save Brooklyn Nine-Nine. – [THR]

Network TV 2018-19: NBC’s renewal schedule doesn’t include Timeless or Champions… yet. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: NBC renewed The Blacklist for a sixth season. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: NBC renewed Blindspot for a fourth season. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: NBC canceled Taken after two seasons. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The rest of NBC’s Fall 2018 schedule. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: ABC has passed on a reboot of The Greatest American Hero. – [Den of Geek]

Network TV 2018-19: ABC has canceled Marvel’s Inhumans, Deception, and The Crossing. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: ABC has also canceled Designated Survivor and Quantico. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: ABC’s renewals don’t (yet) include Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: Fox renewed Lethal Weapon with a major recasting. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: Fox renewed Gotham for a fifth round. – [Variety]

Network TV 2018-19: Fox canceled Lucifer after three seasons. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The CW has greenlit a Charmed reboot. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The CW ordered another year of The 100. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: CBS’s renew/cancel includes a 14th season for Criminal Minds. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The slate of new shows coming to the major networks next season. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The slate of cancelations (so far). – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: The slate of renewals (so far). – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: Syfy has ended The Expanse after three seasons. – [TV by the Numbers]

Network TV 2018-19: Starz wants more Outlander with a two-year renewal. – [TV by the Numbers]

Keith DeCandido continues the 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch with Hellboy II: The Golden Army. – [Tor]

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Culture on My Mind
Pop Culture Download
April 29, 2018

On the Docket

The classic Doctor Who serial Genesis of the Daleks will be screened in movie theaters on June 11. – [Entertainment Weekly]

Julie Newmar, Catwoman on the 1996 Batman television series, has experienced a non-fatal heart attack. – [13th Dimension]

The inside story of how Lost in Space was remade. – [THR]

Bob Dorough, the creator of Schoolhouse Rock, has died at the age of 94. – [CNN]

Paramount has plans for two more Star Trek films. – [TrekCore]

One of those new Star Trek films will be directed by S.J. Clarkson, the first female director of a Star Trek film. – [Variety]

The next Star Wars animated series has been announced. Star Wars: Resistance will be spearheaded by franchise favorite Dave Filoni and will be set in the sequel trilogy era. – [StarWars.com]

Keith DeCandido continues the 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch with nap-time, also known as Elektra. – [Tor]

Read More »

Culture on My Mind
Pop Culture Download
April 15, 2018

On the Docket

Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels, Marvel’s Inhumans) has been tapped as Captain Christopher Pike of the USS Enterprise for Star Trek: Discovery‘s second season. – [StarTrek.com]

Stand-up comedian and star of One Mississippi Tig Notaro is joining Star Trek: Discovery as Denise Reno, chief engineer of the USS Hiawatha. – [Deadline]

Arrow‘s Season Seven: Willa Holland is out and Colton Haynes is back in. – [THR]

Nat Geo is adapting Hidden Figures as a television series. – [Variety]

Black Panther will be released to digital on May 8 and physical media on May 15. – [IGN]

TV everyman Tim O’Connor (Buck Rogers, Peyton Place, Twilight Zone) has died at the age of 90. – [THR]

Iconic Full Metal Jacket drill instructor R. Lee Ermey has died at 74. – [THR]

Keith DeCandido continues the 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch with the third (and often possibly worst) Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. – [Tor]

Read More »

Culture on My Mind
Pop Culture Download
April 8, 2018

On the Docket

Black Panther is now the third-highest grossing film in domestic history, sailing past the once unsinkable Titanic. – [THR]

A new trailer has been released for Solo: A Star Wars Story. – [YouTube]

A League of Their Own is being optioned for television by Amazon Studios. – [THR]

Keith DeCandido continues the 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch with the second Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. – [Tor]

Into The Chronic Rift

Presenting the Transcription Feature: Fibber McGee and Molly & Boston Blackie
First up, on “Fibber McGee and Molly,” the duo race around town trying to reclaim a very valuable coin accidentally spent on some cigars.  The comic coincidences and tongue-twisters will leave your head spinning.  Then we present, for the first time, an episode of “Boston Blackie.” Blackie is a righter of wrongs, a reformed safecracker and jewel thief.  He first appeared in 1914, and his tough-but-clever style has taken him from magazines to films, television, and, of course, radio.  This is a baseball-themed episode.

The Chronic Rift Classic – Episode 36: Vampires
Andrea Lipinski and Keith DeCandido welcome author Greg Cox and editors Ellen Datlow and John Betancourt to the studio to discuss the appeal of vampires in our literature and movies. Plus, James Frenkel shares a selection of books to try and Keith reviews “Billi 99” by Sarah Byam and Tim Sale. 

Originally Aired: October 21, 1991

The Batcave Podcast: From the Files of the Batcomputer 29: “Wonder Woman: Who’s Afraid of Diana Prince?”
We move into the post-review era with the first in a series of episodes looking at the Batman-related works of the producers and stars of the show and at the pop culture influences from the series.  First up, a look at William Dozier’s attempt at adapting another DC property – Wonder Woman.  In this curious short, “Wonder Woman: Who’s Afraid of Diana Prince?” we are only given a taste of the potential of the series.  Which begs the question, why wasn’t a full pilot produced, especially in light of the fact that a full script was commissioned, co-written by Batman scribe Stanley Ralph Ross?  This question and possibly a few more will be asked by John and his guest, Chris Franklin of the Super Mates Podcast.

The Chronic Rift Classic: Episode 35 – Heroes & Villains
Andrea Lipinski and Keith DeCandido welcome writers Chris Claremont, Joe Nazzaro and Ellen Kushner to our Roundtable discussion on heroes and villains and their use in popular literature and cinema. Plus, the Man in Black returns with a new video release report, Keith reviews “Curse of the Molemen featuring Big Baby” by Charles Burns, and the Memorable Moment is from “Aliens 2”.

Originally Aired: October 14, 1991

The Weekly Podioplex: April 3, 2018

Until next time, enjoy the journey.

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
Pop Culture Download
April 1, 2018

On the Docket

The 2018 Hugo Award Finalists have been announced. The winners will be announced on Sunday, August 19. – [Tor]

Powerhouse television producer Steven Bochco has died at the age of 74. – [THR]

Funko is introducing a horror/occult line of cereal, including Freddy Krueger, Elvira, and Beetlejuice. – [Bloody Disgusting]

Colin Trevorrow has been tapped for a third Jurassic World film. – [Variety]

Keith DeCandido continues his 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch with the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. – [Tor]

Into The Chronic Rift

The Chronic Rift: Episode 012 – A Chat with Author Chuck Harter
Chuck Harter, author of “Mr. Novak: An Acclaimed Television Series”, chats with John about the groundbreaking TV series about high school teachers and their students, the appeal of star James Franciscus, the making of Chuck’s book and more.

The Shazam/Isis Podcast – Episode 39: Isis – “The Show Off”
Steve is a student who has a serious inferiority complex. He compensates by showing off, but his recklessness gets him into trouble very quickly.

John and Richard have a lot to talk about in this episode. First, there’s the excitement over Michael Gray’s appearance on AMC’s Comic Book Men this fall. Next, they look through the fourth issue of DC Comics’ 1976 run of The Mighty Isis. It’s the last issue before the series took an interesting turn. Finally, they review, “The Show Off,” an episode of Isis that turns out to be two stories in one as the first story is abandoned early in the second act. Plus, there’s admiration of Joanna Cameron’s acting with Tut, Brian Cutler’s fishing hat, and the use of more realistic gorilla costumes if you don’t want to use a real gorilla in your story.

The Hornet’s Sting Podcast: Episode 16: “Seek, Stalk and Destroy”
A trio of Korean War vets hatch a plan to bust their sergeant out of prison with a stolen tank.  Will the Hornet be able to stop them in time? John and Jim are back with an episode that they are once again mixed on.  They both agree the episode has merit, but one of them is overly enthused by the premise.  Also, they discuss the influences of the Batman series on The Green Hornet and the music of Billy May.

The Chronic Rift Classic: Episode 33 – Time Paradoxes
Andrea Lipinski and Keith DeCandido welcome editor Ian Randal Strock, author Tim Powers, and movie critic Daniel Persons to our Roundtable discussion on time paradoxes and their place in literature and movies. Plus, Marc Macagnone reviews the PBM game, Real Politic, Keith reviews “Deadface: Doing the Island with Bacchus” by Eddie Campbell, and the Memorable Moment is from “The Avengers” episode, “The Masked Avenger”.

Originally Aired: September 30, 1991

The Chronic Rift Classic: Episode 34 – The Society for Creative Anachronism
Andrea Lipinski and Keith DeCandido welcome Ted Dillenkofer, Veda Crewe and Sondra Venableto the studio to discuss the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). They appear in period regalia and offer video of SCA events in order to give the viewers a better idea of what the organization offers. Plus, Orenthal Hawkins offers his thoughts on the animated shows, “Bobby’s World” and “The Toxic Crusaders” and Keith reviews Innovation Comics’ take on “Quantum Leap” and “Lost in Space”.

Originally Aired: October 7, 1991

The Weekly Podioplex: April 1, 1988

Until next time, enjoy the journey.

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
Pop Culture Download
March 25, 2018

On the Docket

Toys R Us founder Charles Lazarus has died at the age of 94. Coincidentally, it was just days after the company announced that it was liquidating its stores in the United States. – [CNN]

The Marvel News Desk channel on YouTube has compressed the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a twenty-minute video in preparation for next month’s Avengers: Infinity War. – [YouTube]

Deadpool 2 has a new trailer, one that definitely earns a red band. – [YouTube]

H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of the now defunct Blockbuster Video, has died at the age of 80. – [THR]

Disney Music Group is remastering the single-disc soundtracks for the first six Star Wars films – A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith – for release on May 4th. The remaining two-disc complete soundtracks for Episodes II and III are still missing in action. – [StarWars.com]

Keith DeCandido’s 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch continues with a look at the first cinematic outing for the Incredible Hulk. – [Tor.com]

Into The Chronic Rift

The Chronic Rift: Episode 011 – In Review March 2018
Our monthly review episode is jammed packed with opinion pieces from old and new contributors to the Rift.  Keith DeCandido and Dan Persons are back with TV and movie reviews.  We welcome Denise Lhamon of The Weekly Podioplex as our book reviewer.  And for the first time ever on The Chronic Rift, we have a music reviewer in the form of J. Andrew World.  Add to it another look at pop culture by Ken Holtzhouser and you’ve got a new In Review episode of The Chronic Rift.

The Batcave Podcast – Episode 79: “Batman vs Two-Face”
How is it possible to top the success of last year’s The Return of the Caped Crusaders? You add William Shatner to the mix!  Shatner takes on the role of Harvey Dent/Two-Face in this new feature length film and just as with the previous film, the producers bring us an interesting take on the classic villain.  In this episode, we discuss Adam West’s final performance, just how couched in the first season this film is, and our thoughts on the possibility of the series continuing without its lead actor.

Joining John to breakdown this movie in a double-sized episode is Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension, Billy Flynn of Geek Radio Daily, and Ben Bentley of the Batman 66 Message Board.

The Weekly Podioplex: March 20, 2018

Until next time, enjoy the journey.

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
Pop Culture Download
March 18, 2018

On the Docket

Doctor Stephen Hawking, world-renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, has died at the age of 76. – [BBC]

Mark Hamill has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. – [Variety]

Lynda Carter of Wonder Woman fame will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next month. – [Syfy]

The trailers have been released for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Mary Poppins Returns, Christopher Robin, and Avengers: Infinity War. – [In order on YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4]

Keith DeCandido’s 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch continues with the sort of sequel to the Christopher Reeve era of Superman with Superman Returns. – [Tor.com]

Into The Chronic Rift

The Chronic Rift: Episode 010 – A Chat with Author Jeremy K. Brown
Author Jeremy K. Brown returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Zero Limit.  Before they get to that, he and John discuss Netflix and how the streaming service is moving towards feeling like a television network.  Then, they discuss Zero Limit and the parallels of motifs with his previous work, Ocean of Storms. 

The Shazam/Isis Podcast – Episode 38: Isis – “How to Find a Friend”
Tom is a troubled student who tries to make friends, but fails.  He comes up with the idea of really impressing a kid with a dirt bike he wants to ride by offering him an antique gun that belongs to his father.  The problem is the firing mechanism of the gun is rusted and the weapon could go off in the user’s hands.

This is a packed episode even though it isn’t action packed.  First, Richard relates his attending Big Apple Comic Con in New York with Jackson Bostwick and how the two participated in a panel on the history of the use of the name, Captain Marvel.  Next, John and Richard discuss the third issue of the 1976 DC Comics run of Isis.  Finally, they discuss the episode itself.  Richard likes it more than John, finding the time manipulation elements interesting, while John just finds it weird.

The Hornet’s Sting Podcast – Episode 15: “The Hornet and the Firefly”
There’s an arsonist on the loose in the city and the Hornet takes the case.  But Mike Axford has a former police investigator with a specialty in arson that he’d like to bring in.  He quickly learns that the man has more to prove than just the case.  John and Jim are at odds over the merits of this episode.  Take a listen and see. 

Presenting the Transcription Feature: Vic & Sade and Escape
“Vic and Sade” is the driest of domestic comedies.  We present two 15-minute visits to “the small house half-way up on the next block.”  First, Sade may have at last found a place to store all of her husband’s fraternal lodge regalia that’s always cluttering up the house.  Then, what did people do for entertainment at the height of the Depression?  Rush’s pal Rotten makes performance art out of a collapsed porch.  Finally, on “Escape,” we all escape to Kafiristan, via an adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic story, “The Man Who Would Be King.”

The Weekly Podioplex: March 13, 2018

Until next time, enjoy the journey.

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
Pop Culture Download
March 11, 2018

On the Docket

Toys “R” Us is reportedly on the verge of liquidating U.S. operations, marking the end of an era. – [LA Times]

Lost in Space is coming back to televisions, this time on Netflix. – [Trailer]

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has returned to BBC Radio with The Hexagonal Phase, part six of the famous trilogy. – [Ars Technica]

Jon Favreau has been tapped to executive produce and write a Star Wars live-action series. – [StarWars.com]

Keith DeCandido’s 4-Color to 35-Millimeter: The Great Superhero Movie Rewatch continues looking into the X-Men with X-Men: The Last Stand. – [Tor.com]

Into The Chronic Rift

The Chronic Rift: Episode 009 – Oscar Picks 2018 and More!
The Oscars have come and gone and John doesn’t care. And yet, there he was, offering his thoughts on this year’s Oscar nominees. See what he got right and what he got wrong.  Also, it’s also a chance for John to do some housekeeping and present some things to you, the viewer, you may not be aware of when it comes to The Chronic Rift in general.

The Shazam/Isis Podcast – Episode 37: Isis – “Bigfoot”
Lee and Cindy claim to have seen Bigfoot while walking through the woods.  Is it possible?  Rick has a hard time believing it, but when the kids begin to panic and decide to hunt the beast down, Isis steps in and discovers the secret of Bigfoot (long before Steve Austin did).

John is especially excited to tackle this episode in light of his love for Bigfoot on The Six Million Dollar Man, but there are problems with it as John and Richard discuss.  Plus, they also talk about how Isis managed to debunk supernatural tropes that were popular in the 70s, wonder how a man with shoes leaves a bare footprint, and discuss the second issue of the DC Comics The Mighty Isis Series, “The Creature from Dimension X” and “Lost and Found”.

The Batcave Podcast – Episode 67: “Return of the Caped Crusaders”
It’s the movie 50 years in the making (well, in the waiting).  Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar return to the Batman 66 universe in an all-new animated movie.  Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman have reunited to take control of Gotham City and the world once again with the theft of a duplicator ray.  But it wouldn’t be Batman 66 if there wasn’t more to the plot and there certainly is as Batman becomes more aggressive in his pursuit of the villainous quartet.  What is happening and will good triumph over evil in the end? Joining John to breakdown this movie in a double-sized episode is Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension, Billy Flynn of Geek Radio Daily, and Ben Bentley of the Batman 66 Message Board.

The Weekly Podioplex: March 6, 2018

Until next time, enjoy the journey.

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.