Bonus Episode 2: How Much Is Too Much?

Star Wars theme park coming to Disneyland and Disneyworld

"We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had — a mythology to call their own." Disney's announcement of new Star Wars films, theme parks, TV shows, and other goodies have us wondering — how much is too much? Do we need a new Spider-Man, a Fantastic Four reboot, more Star Trek, and another Avengers film? Where do artistic endeavors end and commercial franchises begin? Why do these stories keep repeating, despite our fatigue, and how do we keep them relevant? Special guest, geeky photographer and host of the On Taking Pictures podcast Bill Wadman.

Bonus Episode 1: Best of San Diego Comic Con Panels

Lowen Baumgarten, Raphael, and Ali Mattu at San Diego Comic Con 2014

Lowen Baumgarten, Raphael, and Ali Mattu at San Diego Comic Con 2014

We continue our San Diego Comic Con 2014 coverage with clips and recaps of our favorite panels! Does TV have the power to heal? Why did Atari secretly bury thousands of E.T. video game cartridges? What does Max Brooks think of the WWZ film adaptation? How did the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get their start? What made Fight Club go from a failed book to a cult film? Who wins the psychology of Star Trek VS. Star Wars? What do San Diegans think of Comic Con? 

Show Notes

  • 0:00 - 4:02: Introduction.

  • 4:03 - 12:44: Psychology of Cult TV Shows.

  • 12:45 - 27:44: Digging E.T.: Behind the Scenes of the Xbox Originals Documentary, Atari: Game Over.

  • 27:45 - 41:02: Max Brooks-Zombies vs. Vampires: The Extinction Parade Survival Panel.

  • 41:03 - 57:24: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 30th Anniversary.

  • 57:25 -  1:09:28: Fight Club: From Page to Screen and Beyond.

  • 1:09:30 - 1:22:26: The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars: Episode IV.

  • 1:22:28 - 1:36:43: An Interview With Alix and Justin.

Panel Downloads

Psychology of Cult TV Shows

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A panel of therapists and scientists (mad or otherwise), including Dr. Janina Scarlet (The Superhero Manual), Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), Dr. Ali Mattu (Nerd Hour), and Billy San Juan (Alliant International University) discuss the psychology behind TV shows, such as Doctor Who, Sherlock, Firefly, Grimm, and Buffy. Find out how TV shows might help us cope with painful experiences and geek out in discussing such fundamental questions as: With all the regenerations, what is the Doctor's true identity? What makes Sherlock a better detective than London's finest? What does psychology tell us about the demons that live inside us? With these questions and more, this panel is a must for loyal fans of these shows.

Digging E.T.: Behind the Scenes of the Xbox Originals Documentary, Atari: Game Over

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Comic-Con fans will get the first glimpse at Atari: Game Over, the Xbox Originals documentary that chronicles the fall of the Atari Corporation through the lens of one of the biggest mysteries of all time, dubbed "The Great Video Game Burial of 1983." As the story goes, the Atari Corporation, faced with overwhelmingly negative response to the E.T. video game, disposed of hundreds of thousands of unsold game cartridges by burying them in the small town of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, original Atari video game designer Howard Scott Warshaw (E.T., Yar's Revenge, Raiders of the Lost Ark), two-time Academy Award-winning executive producer Simon Chinn (Searching for Sugar Man and Man on Wire), Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jonathan Chinn (FX's 30 Days and PBS's American High), director Zak Penn (X-Men 3, Avengers, andIncident at Loch Ness), Fuel CEO Mike Burns, and more as they take fans behind the scenes and share an inside look into the making of this weird and wonderful film. Moderated by Larry Hyrb (Xbox's Major Nelson).

Max Brooks-Zombies vs. Vampires: The Extinction Parade Survival Panel

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New York Times bestselling author Max Brooks (The Zombie Survival Guide) is renowned for his zombie survival lectures but this year he returns to provide intel and anecdotes on how to survive a Vampires vs. Zombies apocalypse! Moderated by William Christensen (Avatar Press publisher), this panel and Q&A introduces readers to Max Brooks's new all-original comic book series, Extinction Parade: War!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 30th Anniversary

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In 1984, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird published the first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The comic book was an overnight success, and three decades later, the Turtles are more popular than ever, starring in a hit Nickelodeon television series, an award-winning toy line, monthly comic books from IDW, and a new live-action movie later this summer. Join TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman for a 30th anniversary celebration featuring a who's who of talented people who have contributed to the Turtles' enduring history. Guests include Karl Aaronian (Playmates Toys), Townsend Coleman (voice of Michelangelo in the original TMNT animated series), Lloyd Goldfine (4kids TMNT, Turtles Forever), Ciro Nieli (executive producer, NickelodeonTMNT), Ernie Reyes Jr. (Keno inTMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze), and Tom Waltz (writer, IDW TMNT comics), and panel moderator Andrew Farago (curator, Cartoon Art Museum; author of TMNT: The Ultimate Visual History).

Fight Club: From Page to Screen and Beyond

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Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, Haunted), director David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, The Social Network, and Gone Girl), Gerald Howard (Doubleday executive editor), and special guests discuss the seminal novel's journey from book to film and beyond. Moderated by Rick Kleffel (TheAgonyColumn.com).

The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars: Episode IV

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Step into the pop culture ring with geeky psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) and Dr. Ali Mattu (Super Fantastic Nerd Hour) as they bring their popular, intergalactic sci-fi battle back to Comic-Con for round 4! Special guests Sam Witwer (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Being Human) and Rod Roddenberry (Trek Nation, Roddenberry Entertainment) join the psych pros to debate, tackle, and explain some of the most fascinating aspects of both universes. Pick a side and cast your vote as they crown one the winner! Impartially refereed by Brian Ward (Shout! Factory).

An Interview with Alix and Justin

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Friends of the show Alix and Justin sit down to talk being a nerd, how San Diego Comic Con has changed over the past 10 years, what happens to the city when the con takes over, and why this place is a perfect match for the ultimate fan gathering.

Episode 28: San Diego Comic Con Recap, Marvel Entertainment VS. Warner Bros., Top 5 SDCC Moments

San Diego Comic Con banners

The best of San Diego Comic Con 2014! We discuss everything that makes Comic Con the best convention in the country, share the biggest film, TV, and comic book news, and debate if the con bubble is about to burst. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who won Comic Con – Marvel Entertainment or Warner Bros.? We share our top 5 SDCC moments. 

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Show Notes

  • 0:00 – 1:09:22: San Diego Comic Con Recap.
  • 1:09:23 – 1:18:10: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Marvel Entertainment VS. Warner Bros.
  • 1:18:11 – 1:41:36: Top 5 San Diego Comic Con moments.

Links

Top 5 San Diego Comic Con Moments

Ali:

  1. Hanging out with cool geeks
  2. How to panels
  3. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken)
  4. Max Brooks's panel
  5. Geeky TSA agents 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Gender bending cosplay

  • Scifi plush toys

Episode 14: WonderCon Recap, WonderCon VS. San Diego Comic Con, Top 5 Fan Gatherings

Cliff Chiang's WonderCon 2014 logo

Cliff Chiang's WonderCon 2014 logo

The best of WonderCon 2014! We discuss the things that make conventions such an awesome experience and highlight the coolest panels from this year's WonderCon. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what's the best place to connect with nerds - WonderCon or San Diego Comic Con? We share our top 5 fan gatherings.

Science in Science Fiction (check out their book)

The Indoor Kids live at WonderCon

Top 5 Fan Gatherings

Conrad: 

  1. The Internet
  2. PAX East
  3. Comic book stores
  4. Midnight releases
  5. Board game meetups 

Ali:

  1. The Internet
  2. Comic book stores
  3. 1990s video game arcades
  4. Midnight releases
  5. Nerdy trivia nights

Honorable Mentions:

  • Renaissance Fairs
  • Anywhere you wear a geeky t-shirt