Superfeed! From The Incomparable

You know how Brian and Lex hate Dana’s dating plan for Casey? Boy oh boy, does it come to a head this week, in A Girl Named Pixley. On a podcast named Sorkin’ In It, two hosts named Lex and Brian are an emotion called annoyed. Also, Jeremy might win an award. (Spoiler: He doesn’t. Just ask Natalie.) Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

The Summer of Submarines resurfaces with James Garner going on a secret mission to an enemy island in 1959’s “Up Periscope.” The Skipper is not a skipper, but he’s got some interesting romantic ideas. Some scenes are impressively bad from multiple angles. And we realize that we’re starting to get good at this submarine-movie business, maybe? Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Shelly Brisbin, David J. Loehr and Erika Ensign.

Never before has Vulcan Hello said hello to so many Vulcans. (And a Romulan, but shh, don’t say Romulan for canonical reasons!) We discuss Trek comedy, the delightful true fan of Humanity known as Doug, the depth of Number One as played by Rebecca Romijn, the action buddy comedy starring Kirk and Scotty, Batel’s jerk Vulcan boss, and Chapel’s inability to make good Plomeek soup. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head Canon yet: Miłosz. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Brush up on the Large Object Theory of History. Shaenon K. Garrity returns to discuss Jean Merrill’s The Pushcart War (1964). John McCoy with Shaenon K. Garrity.

Join us for a new experimental game show: Bracket Case. In our inaugural episode, five players try to decide who’s our Zaddy. Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with James Thomson, Brian Hamilton, Kelly Guimont, Erika Ensign and Glenn Fleishman.

A chaotic crew assembles to free a head from a book. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.

“Strange New Worlds” gets the documentary treatment this week, as the Enterprise is confronted with some difficult choices that call into question some of Starfleet’s most deeply held beliiefs. The documentary has a real character arc, going from deep skepticism to a final understanding in just 40 minutes. Unfortunately, that’s not how documentaries work! Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

We return to 1995 not to hack into the Net but to wander, Netless, around Vienna with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Palm readers! Street poets! Plays featuring cows! It’s “Before Sunrise,” a movie in which nothing happens… except maybe the most extraordinary thing in two people’s lives. Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, Erika Ensign, Annette Wierstra and Steven Schapansky.

The most important supporting character in the show (the Ferrari) is sidelined and, oh yeah, Magnum is hospitalized! But is his amnesia a result of his head injuries, or is it more sinister? What does Thomas have in common with Superman and Batman? Jason focuses on island vibes, Phil gets to talk an awful lot about baseball, and we may or may not have subjected David to ’80s hypnosis. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Jasper aggressively chugs a healing potion while making eye contact. K’ronng starts pressing buttons and pulling levers. J’osh pulls a Teddy bear. Revelle has a hot wet lion summer. Tony thinks monks’ robes are like drab toga parties. Tixie Tockworth is air-gapped and did not plan for lions. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Can a drinking glass be made out of plastic? Or is it just a cup? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Our Awards Book Club closes up shop for 2025 with a final set of rankings, the presentation of an award we made up, and an overview of all the Hugo-nominated short fiction. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Scott McNulty, Aleen Simms and Heather Berberet.

Captain Kirk takes control of the USS… Farragut! While he’s facing his first crucial command decisions in an emergency situation with the help of a few familiar faces, Pike and company are repelling a monstrous boarding party. (The monsters are, in hindsight, exactly who you should have expected.) Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Fresh off his drug scandal, Dana’s brother is coming to visit. Casey tells her to be nice. Dan is TOO nice when reviewing Natalie’s audition tape — until he veers unnecessarily hard the other way. Casey is failing his audition for “best friend ever” with Brian and Lex, but no matter. We’re still Sorkin’ in it together. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

Candy Clark returns as an ex-hooker who is a deeply unreliable partner. We get caught in the Island Breeze, which services a lot of local men who need their carpets cleaned on a regular basis, sometimes by an unlikely pair of janitors? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The last of the recent trilogy of Doctor Who episodes of Feuding Families is ready for your ears! Do we still love our listeners? Of course we do! Do they know a lot about Doctor Who? Of course they d…checks notes…Of course some of them do! Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Erika Ensign, Evan Teng, Glenn Fleishman, Mikayla Micomonaco, Riley Silverman and Steven Schapansky.

J’osh is still alive…ish. K’ronng is poetry in motion. Revelle shifts the wind. Jasper tried. Tony is mean to the people he actually likes. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.

Forth time’s a charm? The Fantastic Four are back on the big screen and they’re better than ever! We’re off to the lovely universe of Earth-828. A place just brimming with Silver Age charm where you’ll find Moleman, intelligent super-apes, our family of heroes and a hungry Galactus. Pop this episode into your face-tape-player and join us for a cosmic ride full of heart. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

We celebrate the tenth anniversary of our Summer Superhero Spectacular tournament with something slightly different: A draft of our favorite superhero movies. Jason Snell with Andy Ihnatko, Chip Sudderth, James Thomson, Annette Wierstra, Tony Sindelar, Moisés Chiullán and David J. Loehr.