Regular Joes Podcast

After some well needed vacation, and some business travel, the Regular Joe’s are all back. This week they talk about the new Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte. Unless you’ve been really tuned out (if you have, good for you) It’s likely you’ve heard this show has set all time records with Star Wars fans … but not in the good way. The Joe’s talk about what they’ve seen so far, how they feel about it, and try to get a handle on why there’s so much dislike for this particular show. Is it too woke, or is it just bad? Is it possible it manages to do both well enough to alienate a huge swath of Star Wars fans? Can thousands of dudes living in their mom’s basement really be wrong? If you’re not particularly into The Acolyte, the Joe’s also talk about a few other things they’re watching now. They also cover the usual Random Topics and squeeze in a  round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

From early images of redesigned Klingons to a showrunner who departed before the first episode aired, Star Trek Discovery has had its challenges. As the first series of the “Nu-Trek” era Discovery was tasked with bringing in a new generation of viewers and appeasing existing Trek fans. While it did not always succeed with the later goal, in five seasons, over seven years, Discovery proved there was still an audience for Star Trek. Its legacy lives on Strange New Worlds and the upcoming Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy. This week the Joes sum up their thoughts on the series final outing and its long journey from a prequel to the original series to charting the far future of the future. And of course, there’s also the usual Random Topics.  Thanks for listening!

This week it’s a Regular Joes full house as Dave, Barry and Tod are joined by Derryl DePriest and Brian Mix for a RJP catch up episode. Derryl and Brian fill us in on their trip to the Star Trek Set Tour in Ticonderoga NY, we do our usual round of Discovery bashing and it all concludes with a major technical difficulty. As always, thanks for listening.

This week, the Regular Joes pay tribute to the late great Roger Corman (1926-2024) very likely the most prolific B movie Producer/Director ever.  Whether you saw a bootleg copy of the never released first Fantastic Four (1994) film, rocked out with the Ramones and Riff Randall in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979) or savored the 1960’s Vincent Price Edgar Allan Poe adaptations that made the afternoon movie circuit in the 70s.  It’s almost impossible to have not been exposed to his work. Few creators have left such a large footprint … just as few creators have made as many films about gigantic human beings trampling things. The Joe’s also take a look at the first episode of Dark Matter on Apple plus. Which is based on a book by Blake Crouch that Tod really likes.  Even if you are thinking you are over the idea of a multiverse you should give this one a try.  Wait … was that a SPOILER? There also What’s in the Box and the usual Random Topics. Thanks for Listening!

This week the Joes address the side effects of a lifetime of collecting. At some point you need to go through the accumulated detritus to find that overlooked box containing the Ark of the Covenant, and decide whether or not to keep that old sled marked “Rosebud.” In May the Fourth news, there also another Trailer for the Star Wars: The Acolyte, which may represent a bold new direction for the Star Wars franchise … or possibly not. Barry and Tod address the series ending of clone era saga, The Bad Batch, which leaves a big animated hole in the Star Wars universe. And, in passing, they talk about this week’s Discovery Episode (SPOILER: Burnham takes yet another bonding field trip) which might otherwise have been completely forgotten by now. And of course, there’s also the usual Random Topics. Thanks for listening!

Zack Snyder, the guy who gave us Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire late last year is back with the second installment in his would be original franchise. Normally we would write something here intended to make you curious as to what the Regular Joes thought of this film. SPOILER, they did not like Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver any more than anyone else. But you still get to hear why. They also take a look at Fallout, Amazon’s most recent video game inspired offering. Between Resident Evil, The Witcher (sort of), Halo, The Last of Us etc. the idea of adapting a video game universe for TV is not new. Some just work better than others. See what the non-gamer dude Regular Joes think about this retro, futuristic, post apocalyptic, action/comedy series. The slow march to the end of Star Trek: Discovery continues with an episode that at least uses sets from the show they would rather be watching. There’s also the usual Random Topics and around of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

While not every Star Trek fan knows the name Trimble, every true Star Trek fan should. This past week we lost John Trimble, husband of BJo (Betty JoAnn) Trimble, two SciFi fans who stepped up in big way in the 1960’s and had a galaxy sized impact on the things we love. As a tribute we replay our 2020 interview with John and Bjo, from episode 347: The Trouble with TrImbles, where we sit down with them and longtime friend Brian Mix to get the story behind the legend right from the source. Thanks for Listening!

This week, the Regular Joe’s wrap up their brief return to the crowded (by walkers and spin offs) landscape of The Walking Dead to discuss the now completed six episode run of Walking Dead: Those Who Live. Do Rick and Michonne get a happily ever after? More importantly, do we really care? And also, which Regular Joe (rhymes with  Scary Way) bailed out, and couldn’t make it through a lousy six episodes? They also take a moment to talk about the fourth episode of the 5th and final season of Star Trek Discovery, which Tod “did not hate.” So that’s something. Lastly, because there has to be something good, they take a look at the just dropped Deadpool Wolverine trailer … which includes almost no references to cocaine. There’s also the usual random topics in the rare round of What’s on my Workbench as we catch up on Dave’s recent experience carving up bodies in his basement. Thanks for Listening!

This week, the regular Regular Joe’s are joined by Irregular Joes, Darryl DePriest and Brian Mix to catch up and touch on a number of random topics. They start off with a rundown of some recent auction acquisitions, then wade in their collective stream of consciousness until it’s time for What’s in The Box. Unless this is your first episode, you know the drill. Thanks for listening!

Star Trek: Discovery is back and the reviews are in. “It’s so much better than Strange New Worlds.“ - Tod  “This could make me forget about sex and pizza.” - Dave “Who needs Star Wars, give me more Disco!” - Barry.  Wait … sorry. April Fool’s was Last week. Star Trek: Discovery is back. And it’s the final season … so that’s something. Now that Dave and the rest of the world is caught up, the Joes wrap up 3 Body Problem, Netflix concise adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel Three Body Problem. The only question that remains is, will we have to wait 400 years to see what happens next? There’s also the usual Random Topics and another round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

In 1979 Ridley Scott combined, sci-fi, suspense, and a the nightmares of H. R. Giger  to create the groundbreaking film Alien. Seven years later James Cameron doubled down, giving us the sci-fi, action thriller, Aliens. After these two films Alien(s) fans eagerly awaited the next bold, innovative pivot, they would see in this franchise. They’re still kind of waiting. This August the folks at 21st Century Fox (recently consumed alive by Disney) take another turn at bat with, Aliens: Romulus, which reportedly falls in between the two watchable films. The Regular Joe’s take a look at the trailer and chart their hopes and fears. In Aliens, Carter Burke was such a perfect soulless, corporate hack that audiences cheered when he died horribly. Recently Marvel, the current license holder for the Aliens comics, released a “What if Carter Burke had lived? story. Because they continue to cling for hope that something good will float to the surface in the oily, stagnant pool of the Alien franchise the Joes read it and le

As few mortals can consume media at Tod’s pace this week the Regular Joes take a SPOILER FREE pass at two recent film that two of the three have seen. First is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire the newest entry in the recently resuscitated 1980’s franchise. Next is Dune Part II, the somewhat more honestly titled, follow up to Dune (2021). But first, they address the alien in the room. Three Body Problem, the novel by Chinese author, Liu Cixin, was considered by many to be unadaptable for film or TV. Despite this, there are actually two adaptations, a Chinese made version, Three Body (2023), spanning 30 episodes that you can stream on Peacock, and the far more approachable 8 episode version that is at the top of the Netflix charts this week. Created in part by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the duo behind Game of Thrones (for better or worse) this epic story may prove every bit as challenging to scale down to the small screen … but, three episodes in, it’s pretty good. There’s also the usual Random Topics and yet an

Over the last quarter century, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have collaborated to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of the greatest generation in the Second World War. Following the universally lauded Band of Brothers (2001)  and  its successor The Pacific (2010) their most recent effort, Masters of the Air just completed its Apple TV + tour of duty. The Regular Joes deliver a post mission debrief, covering the high points and most resonant elements of the series. Like Barry and Dave you may have missed the 2019 Guy Ritchie film The Gentlemen, but now he’s back with a follow up series, likewise titled The Gentleman, on Netflix. If you like darkly, humorous British crime dramas, this may be just your cup of tea. The Joe’s give their take on the first episode, and then some.  There’s also the usual, Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

More than five years ago Barry, Dave and Tod walked away from onetime favorite, The Walking Dead. After enduring eight grueling years, from episode 1 to episode 5 of season 9, they vowed to never return. This week the fifth Walking Dead series, Walking Dead: Those who Live, debuted with the premise of reunite Rick and Michonne after five + years in real time, and who knows how long in nearly unreconcilable Walking Dead time. Can the Joes pick up at this point? Will they want to? Queue up this week’s ep to find out. Also, prompted by their recent pondering on which old films hold up and why, the Regular Joe’s re-watched a franchise launching film from 1986 to see whether it was better in their heads vs. now in the cold light of day. There’s also the usual, Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

In recent years two auction houses have dominated the competition for prop collector’s attention and dollars. In the coming weeks, both The Prop Store (March 12th - 14th) and Heritage Auctions (March 20 - 24th) are going head to head with large scale multi day prop and entertainment memorabilia auctions. As the Regular Joe’s preview the HUGE respective catalogs for you they find a lot of similar items, as well as some, that are be familiar from other recent auctions. The unique thing about the Heritage Auction is that it includes items from the collection previously displayed at former Planet Hollywood locations. Let’s just say, if you’re big into Stallone, your wallet is gonna take a hit. The Regular Joe’s cover the high points, ID a few favorites, and ponder, the increasing trend of prop replicas being sold, side-by-side with legit screen used props. Even if you’re not in the market, there’s some amazing stuff here that will either never see the light of day again … or pop up in an auction in a few months.

This week the Regular Joes, plus subject expert Brian Mix, address the topic of Star Trek uniforms. Note: please don’t call them “costumes.” That’s like calling an action figure a “doll.” With nearly sixty years of Star Trek, eleven series, and thirteen films, which of the dozens of uniforms would make the most sense for doing your day job in space? When would you want a jumpsuit, and when would you not?  Why all the flaps? How is it that certain styles hold up and why other visions of future fashion (Motion Picture PJs?) did not. And what’s with those Cuban heels anyway There’s also the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box? Thanks for Listening!

This week the Regular Joes are again joined by Tom Spina of Regal Robot and Tom Spina Designs. Barry and Tom recently traveled to Skywalker Ranch to complete research for Regal Robot’s newest limited run offering, a faithful reproduction of the Wampa puppet from The Empire Strikes Back. They dive deep into the painstaking level of effort and detail that goes into reproducing an item like this. Seriously, have you ever tried counting Wampa teeth? They also talk about what’s it’s like to visit the Lucas archive which is pretty much a complex filled with holy grails … including the Holy Grail.  All this plus the usual Random Topics. Thanks for listening!

Prompted by Dave’s recent re-watch of 1971 Oscar winner The French Connection the Regular Joe’s dive into the question, Does it Hold Up? More specifically why do some very successful mainstream films stand the test of time while others don’t. How some films like The Godfather (1973) achieve immortality, while others like Marty (1956) seemingly have the lifespan of a mayfly. Is it about transcending the moment in which they are created? Does being a period piece guarantee ageless. Or do certain styles and motifs just prove more ephemeral than others? All ground they’ve never really covered before. There’s also the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box? Thanks for Listening?

This week the Regular Joes finally get around to looking at The Marvels, the 33rd and worst performing of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings.  Did it require too much homework upfront? Are Marvel bro’s just not into women? Or is it another harbinger of doom for an overworked franchise? Apple TV+ just keeps cranking out ambitious series. This week ushers in the two episode debut of Masters of the Air. The Spielberg/Hanks produced series is a follow up to Band of Brothers and The Pacific. The US Army Air Corps European theatre bombing campaign was the most successful, and most perilous, in history.  Will this third take on the greatest generation likewise translate to great TV? All this plus the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s  in the Box. Thank for Listening!

Barry is back from his most recent big adventure (more on that soon) and the Regular Joes sit down to talk about the wrap-up of two shows. When Apple TV+ launched in November 2019, it seemed like they were late to the party. And, despite the tech companies long-standing interest in creating the future, no one really imagined that Apple would quickly become the most prolific producer of sci-fi on television. With the recent conclusion of the alternate timeline space program drama For all Mankind, and this year’s, Godzilla cinematic universe tie in, Monarch Legacy of Monsters they continue to demonstrate their commitment to a genre we love. Meanwhile, over on the Disney Channel, there’s Echo, which failed to resonate (you see what I did there?) with critics or viewers. On one hand, there’s a solid minute of Daredevil action, and then there’s the rest of the series. Should you watch? Should you pass? Will it matter one way or another? The hosts weigh in to help you with these questions and more. There’s also a r