Episodes
Prodigious Saps No. 49: "Down the Love Hole"
Nitpicks & praise for SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)
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This week we have a long, critical discussion about Richard Donner's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, a movie we both love dearly... in part to demonstrate that we don't think of it as completely flawless.
We did find...
Published 09/21/24
At long last, here is our piece on Terry Gilliam's masterpiece BRAZIL. This was well over a year in the making... not because it literally took that long to finish it, but just in that I was so hellbent on not half-assing the edit that I kept kicking it down the road. It's still not perfect, but tonight, I'm letting it go.
If you dig Gilliam's work I think you'll find this to be a fun watch. Please let us know what you think.
And Brendan, thank you contributing so much heart to this...
Published 08/27/24
This one is all about the acclaimed Prime Video series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", which completed its fifth and final season last year.
SPOILERS ABOUND in this episode about all five seasons of Mrs. Maisel (particularly the last one), so if you've never watched the show you may want to hit pause on this one and come back to it later. You have been warned.
Why is this show P-Saps worthy? Well, not only is it EXCELLENT television about an aspiring female stand-up comic in the early 1960s,...
Published 08/17/24
Prodigious Saps No. 46: "My Zing-Zang Heart"
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We've both seen the highly anticipated DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. We will be spoiling the bejesus out of this movie today. You've been warned.
BUT FIRST... we react to the big bombshell from SDCC. The bombshell that has shocked and befuddled the nerd world, raising nerd eyebrows, gaping nerd jaws and curling nerd toes across the globe. We are of course...
Published 08/02/24
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/7DSH7Jc6cjs?si=lu1mP40Sa0FR6RFD
You'll have to excuse our rampant enthusiasm for these SUPERMAN set photos, because there is still quite a bit to talk about.
This time we geek out about the potential reveals of Krypto, Ultraman, and Supergirl, and try valiantly to piece together bits of storyline from everything we've seen unfolding on streets of Cleveland, Ohio.
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:17 — Overview
00:00:52 — Final thoughts on Clark's...
Published 07/12/24
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TA9jIpDek8k
Last week, James Gunn's SUPERMAN began shooting on location in Superman's birthplace of Cleveland, Ohio. And as many people predicted, the leaked photos are JUMPIN' and the nerddom is high.
So in this episode, we excitedly discuss the absolutely thrilling photos that appeared on Twitter during the first two days of shooting. We have now a REALLY great look at Superman's new costume, as well as characters like Mr. Terrific, Lois...
Published 07/01/24
Here is the EXTENDED version of our nitpicky deep dive into a classic nerdy franchise (made before Hollywood really had any idea how to handle nerdy franchises), which has inspired a truly remarkable reimagining in the newer films.
A shorter version focusing on the original films is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2UTXOZPjabQ
Are you familiar with the original PLANET OF THE APES? The four sequels that followed? And are you a fan of the recent films (featuring Andy Serkis)? Let's talk about...
Published 06/10/24
Prodigious Saps No. 42: "Where's my Spider?"
(Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k9heUvea93Q)
In this episode: the phenomenal failure of MADAME WEB... will Sony ever get their shit together?
ALSO:
FANTASTIC FOUR casting and plot speculation
Excitement for DEADPOOL 3
James Gunn's visual esthetic for SUPERMAN
00:00:00 — Preview
00:00:30 — It’s bad
00:02:30 — Madame Web in the comics
00:03:00 — Madame Web origin in movie
00:04:41 — The problem at SONY
00:15:11 — Sam...
Published 04/18/24
An extended version of this episode is available on our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ProdigiousSaps
This is a very Superman-heavy episode of P-Saps... so much news has been dropping about James Gunn's upcoming SUPERMAN (previously titled SUPERMAN: LEGACY) that it's hard to keep up with, and we couldn't be more excited.
Lots of other stuff to talk about as well..
SUPERGIRL casting news
SUPERMAN casting and plot speculation
Why a Superman "Elseworlds" story set during WWII is...
Published 04/10/24
Prodigious Saps No. 40: "I Want a Wookiee Pal"
Star Wars Fandom: the First Generation
FINALLY, as long promised, today we're joined by our friend Jerry Chrisman to talk STAR WARS... our memories of seeing it for the first time, the seismic impact it had on us and the world around us, and what it was like growing up while the Original Trilogy was unfolding. We also talk a bit about the Special Editions and Prequels.
Just to give a little bit of context... Brendan and Jerry went to high...
Published 03/22/24
This week on P-Saps:
Marvel's ECHO series and the reaffirmed Netflix Daredevil canon
Elvis Presley was a cosplay nerd
Fantastic Four casting
...and lots of other wacky crap.
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:19 — Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
00:01:27 — Elvis Presley & Captain Marvel Jr.
00:03:36 — Marvel's ECHO
00:17:20 — Netflix Daredevil is officially canon
00:22:04 — 3 examples of PERFECT casting in MCU
00:23:11 — Hopes for Daredevil: Born Again
00:28:25 — Paste Pot Pete
00:29:41 — Tomb of...
Published 01/29/24
Brendan's disappointment in Aquaman II prompts a discussion of why it's often a problem when studios wind up "bending the character around the actor". Also look back at the failed DCEU and the incoming DCU. Also: the Doctor Who Christmas Special, Slow Horses Season 3, Batman... and more!
Our Patreon has an uncut version of this episode containing 20 minutes of extra material, including Netflix's "Cunk on Earth", season 2 of Marvel's "What If?", and the recent news about Marvel embracing...
Published 01/21/24
In this one we talk about the 60th Anniversary DOCTOR WHO specials featuring the return of David Tennant and show runner Russell T. Davies, and the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor.
ALSO: SUPERMAN: LEGACY casting news, GODZILLA: MINUS ONE, AQUAMAN, and BLUE BEETLE.
Available on Patreon NOW: our review of Ncuti Gatwa's first full episode as the Doctor, the Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road":
https://www.patreon.com/posts/prodigious-saps-96203780
00:00:00 —...
Published 01/16/24
As promised last week, in this episode we dig deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We review THE MARVELS and LOKI Season 2, and talk about the recent wild news about the upcoming Disney Plus series DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN.
Also discussed: Madame Web, Spider-Man, Juggernaut, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and a few vintage selections from Chad's comic book collection.
Beyond Marvel, we talk about recent trailers for AQUAMAN II and GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE... the latter prompting a belated...
Published 11/24/23
We are both huge Beatles fans, so with the recent release of their new single "Now and Then" (advertised as "the last Beatles song"), we decided to do a whole episode about the Beatles.
Among the topics discussed:
what the Beatles mean to us
how we first were introduced to the Beatles as kids,
memories of the two of us geeking out over them in our early 20s,
why they're so important historically, and of course...
what we think of the new song.
Also, towards the end we touch on some...
Published 11/16/23
This week we weave an odd but surprisingly coherent path from Happy Days and Mork & Mindy through to Jerry Lewis, Walter Matthau, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason... eventually winding up talking about the Marx Brothers again, because OF COURSE.
The highlight of this episode, though, is Brendan's passionate solo vocal performance that followed Chad's computer suddenly shutting off (the full performance and more bonus material is available on Patreon:...
Published 10/28/23
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/1eO2ufT4Vuo
This week we welcome our very first guest JOHN CAMPBELL, Brendan's fellow cast member of Tesla City Stories and also a very prolific podcaster himself. Among many other shows, John does two podcasts with Brendan: the ongoing "Campbell & Jones Meet the Monsters" and the patron-exclusive "Nights Talking" about the cult classic 1970s tv show KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER, which was famoustly a direct influence on THE X-FILES.
We...
Published 09/25/23
On the docket this week:
Chad's rant about the remixed soundtrack of STOP MAKING SENSE (the legendary Talking Heads concert film directed by Jonathan Demme) with comparisons to the original 1984 mix and how it reminds him of George Lucas's revisions to his original Star Wars trilogy.
Brendan's discovery of a deeply weird and hilarious SUPERMAN comic strip in his copy of SUPERMAN: THE SILVER AGE DAILIES, 1959–1961
Chad's review of THE CENTER SEAT: 55 YEARS OF STAR TREK, a really engaging...
Published 09/13/23
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An extended, unedited version of this episode is available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/prodigious-saps-87922804
In this episode:
QUARK, the short-lived 1977 sci-fi comedy series starring Richard Benjamin, created by Buck Henry
DARK STAR, John Carpenter's cult classic 1974 sci-fi comedy film
Our favorite war films (thank you Manasven for the...
Published 08/25/23
This week we celebrate the life of our recently departed hero of comedy: PAUL REUBENS (a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman), and pay our respects to and the late great ALAN ARKIN.
ALSO:
Marvel's Secret Invasion and the status of the MCU in general right now
Superman II and "the Donner Cut"
Our favorite superhero origin story movies
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UNqAA91Ui30
An extended version of this episode is available on Patreon:...
Published 08/16/23
Join us on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ProdigiousSaps
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nuvrqwbpjMA
FINALLY! Brendan has seen INDIANA JONES & THE DIAL OF DESTINY, so we spend most of this episode talking spoilers from the film (which we both LOVED), while trying to figure out why critics have reacted so weirdly to it.
Also in this episode:
UNCLE CROC'S BLOCK, Charles Nelson Reilly's short-lived kids TV show
Chad's brief review of OPPENHEIMER
Problems shared by THE DARK...
Published 08/09/23
This week we answer questions from Patreon supporters, leading us into a discussion of recent casting news for James Gunn's SUPERMAN: LEGACY, speculation on what this means for the DCU, and our thoughts on Matt Reeves' THE BATMAN and what we hope to see in the sequel.
Brendan then takes us on another nostalgic nosedive into 1970s primetime television with the classic one-season wonder CLIFFHANGERS... with many thanks to Vincent Dawn's Pilot Showcase, whose impressive collection of...
Published 07/27/23
In this episode of P-Saps:
Chad has a bone to pick with critics of Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny
Filmation's ARK II and Jason of Star Command
Irwin Allen's classic THE TIME TUNNEL
How advanced special effects have "spoiled" us
Superman: Legacy casting announcements
and more!
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/HX61wTdjL58
Support TESLA CITY STORIES:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-tesla-city-stories-help-us-boost-the-signal#/
ALSO: We here at Prodigious Saps now have...
Published 07/10/23
We're BACK! This week we respond a bunch of your comments on our recent videos, and man, do the rabbit holes run DEEP in this episode.
Topics follow in the timecode bookmarks.
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/d239idqHRns
00:00:00 — Intro / updates
00:02:54 — LOST SAUCER / FAR OUT SPACE NUTS
00:06:04 — Dusty's Trail
00:07:19 — The Good Guys
00:08:14 — Gilligan's Island - Why it got cancelled
00:09:04 — Rescue from Gilligan's Island
00:11:32 — The GHOST BUSTERS (1975)
00:13:00 — Legal...
Published 07/05/23