Nerd Lunch

David asks Erik, Michael, and Dave to find the hidden connection between Fargo, Jingle All the Way, and Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back. If you haven't seen one or more of the movies, feel free to skip to the discussions of your choice: 00:01:24 - Review of Fargo (1996) 00:13:03 - Review of Jingle All the Way (1996) 00:32:09 - Review of Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) 00:51:05 - Guessing the Connection

Michael goes solo this episode to talk about the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. 

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax gather in the library for another rambling discussion about what they've been listening to, reading, watching, and thinking about, including breakfast cereals, megamixes, musical theatre, and bad office jargon.

Michael and Rob welcome back Chad Young and Jeff Somogyi for another few rounds of throwing improbable contestants into battles and arguing about who would emerge victorious. If our panel can stay on topic, that is.

In the first of a series of James Bond episodes, Michael and Rob are joined by Karen Flieger to talk about Bond's first screen appearance in 1954's Climax! TV adaptation of Casino Royale. How watchable is "Card Sense" Jimmy Bond's team up with Clarence Leiter to take down Peter Lorre? Grab a seat at the table and we'll be glad to deal you in.

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax convene for another meandering conversation about what they've been listening to, reading, watching, and thinking about. As always, recommendations abound and lead into other discussions, this time about perfect albums, anticipation for Shang Chi, method acting, and V’Ger's eternal question.

September 9, 2021 is the 10th anniversary of the very first episode of the Nerd Lunch Podcast.  The original Nerds get back together to talk about it.  And maybe make a quick Movie Menu.

The AfterLunch MCU panel wraps up Phase 1 with an in-depth discussion of the improbably excellent Marvel mash-up film, The Avengers. Among the many important topics are Iron Man's hubris, Black Widow's agency, Hawkeye's archery technique, and Captain America's costume.   

AfterLUNCH's 50th episode coincided with Michael's road trip south to see a bunch of friends he hasn't seen in a long time (and one he's never met face-to-face before). Some of them grew up in the South, some transplanted there, and some transplanted away from there, so Michael talks to them about Southern living and what movies, TV shows, and books best represent it. 

Following up on some discussions in the After Dinner Lounge episodes, Michael and Evan welcome Evan's daughter Sarah to talk about favorite manga and anime. Some of the manga discussed are: Black Butler Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Moriarty the Patriot Bungo Stray Dogs Silver Spoon Akira Samurai 7 Anne Freaks Children of the Sea A Silent Voice And anime like: Jujutsu Kaisen Death Parade Yuri on Ice Cowboy Bebop Grave of the Fireflies The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Mary and the Witch’s Flower Your Name And of course, the films of Hayao Miyazaki

Back on Episode 35, we sexified some stories for the CW. On this episode, we do the opposite as Michael and Rob welcome Karen Flieger and Adam Pope to turn material for grown-ups into kid-friendly fare.

On the second episode of AfterLUNCH, we reran a discussion of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl from an old podcast that Michael and his son David used to have. In addition to Michael and David, the panel featured Lizzie Twatchman, Mike Westfall, and Ron Marz. Now, the panel finally reconvenes (and with 100% more Rob Graham) to take a critical, but fond look at the second Pirates movie, Dead Man's Chest. 

Lizzie, Pax, Rob, and Michael drill into the first Captain America movie like a SHIELD laser drills into ice.

In the first of a series of Sherlock Holmes episodes, Rob and Michael talk about their history with and love for the character as well as favorite adaptations. And somewhere along the way they get really sidetracked into a discussion of board games.

Michael, Rob, and Pax raise a glass to the sadly absent Evan and get into yet another meandering discussion about what they've been listening to, reading, watching, and thinking about. Topics are diverse, but much time is spent on Thanos, Stephen King, Star Trek vs Star Wars, and spontaneity in podcasting.

Dave asks David, Evan, Erik, and Michael to find the hidden connection between An American Werewolf in London, The Butterfly Effect, and X-Men: First Class. If you haven't seen one or more of the movies, feel free to skip to the discussions of your choice: 00:02:16 - Review of An American Werewolf in London (1981) 00:14:22 - Review of The Butterfly Effect (2004) 00:27:58 - Review of X-Men: First Class (2011) 00:49:59 - Guessing the Connection

Our MCU panel (Lizzie, Pax, Rob, and Michael) are back to talk about the middle two movies of Marvel's Phase 1: Iron Man 2 and Thor. Opinions are certainly divided on the first film and there's also some disagreement about who Thor should be dating, so get your opinions ready and see who you agree with.

Michael and Rob welcome Rob's son, Ben Graham, to the show to create situation comedies in which each panelist is a character surrounded by other characters from existing sitcoms. As opposed to the non-existent sitcoms that we're imagining. It'll make sense when you listen, I promise.

The plan was for Lizzie Twachtman, Paxton Holley, Rob Graham, and Michael May to briefly discuss each of the films in Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But in a shocking turn of events, the panel had a lot to say and only got through the first two films (plus some opinions about Ang Lee's Hulk from 2003). Clearly we're not going to get through this project as quickly as we originally imagined, but please enjoy this in-depth discussion of the first two films in the MCU and we'll be back soon to talk about a couple more.

Sue London, Jeff Somogyi, Rob Graham, and Michael May make another movie out of whatever's trending on Twitter at the time.