The Flopcast

Kevin and Kornflake are back from Northeast Comic Con, where they found Muppet choirs, Rubber Chicken Comics, the Lost in Space chariot, and some of our favorite costumers (including Cosplay Dad, RW Martin as Indiana Jones, and Brandon the Shapeshifter as Thundarr the Barbarian). And the convention's Saturday night concert featured Tsunami of Sound, The Lights Out, Draco and the Malfoys, Loose Salute, Sam Mulligan, a Walton (Jon Walmsley), a Blackheart (Ricky Byrd), and yes, a Monkee (Micky Dolenz)! 'Twas a long show; we're still sleepy. Also from Northeast Comic Con, we have a Flopcast interview with the original Captain America (from way back in 1979), Reb Brown! (Did we mostly ask about Reb's appearance on The Facts of Life? What do you think?) Plus: The Mayor of Chickentown makes her Earth Station One podcast debut, we unveil our new Flopcast convention badge ribbons, and Kornflake is still obsessed with popsicles.

Direct download: Flopcast_216.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:53am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake want you to celebrate National Selfie Day, especially if you're a macaque; we creep down to the rock clubs of Providence, Rhode Island in search of Mongoose Molly; we have a new movie review, all thanks to a power outage; and we look ahead at CONvergence (4th of July weekend in Bloomington, Minnesota), featuring meteorites, owls, Martians, Joseph Scrimshaw, the Skepchick Space Lab, and Kevin's big chance to mansplain Supergirl. Also, yes, Kornflake and Doornail invented a new fun beverage. The secret ingredients are vodka and vodka.

Direct download: Flopcast_215.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:35am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake are talking music again this week, following a concert by 80s legends Cyndi Lauper and Boy George. It's been over thirty years since Cyndi conquered the world of pop music, with a little help from The Hooters, The Goonies, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. These days she takes an occasional detour into country music, but she still just wants to have fun, and most importantly, her hair is as big and crazy as ever. Meanwhile, Boy George is armed with a huge amazing backup band, and still delivers all the Culture Club hits you never admitted you loved so much. Friends, it's time to give "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" another chance. It's also time for some "Chickens in the News" from the other side of the world: New Zealand, once thought to be solely populated by sheep and hobbits, is actually being terrorized by drunk roosters. Really. And Nature Photography Day is this week too, so go creep around outside and try to get a picture of a karma chameleon.

Direct download: Flopcast_214.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:23am EDT

The Mayor of Chickentown joins Kevin and Kornflake for a very special Flopcast celebrating fifty years of The Monkees! We discuss our earliest memories of the TV show (from reruns on a Boston UHF station in the 70s), recall our earliest Monkees album purchases (horribly scratched vinyl from yard sales, also in the 70s), and look at each individual Monkee. Peter had the serious folk music background and the super-silly TV persona; Micky was the former child star (with a baby elephant!), destined to be the lead singer and drummer by default; Mike had Nashville-style musical aspirations and a hat; and Davy had stars in his eyes, plus a date with Marcia Brady. We also recall seeing The Monkees in concert on their various reunion tours over the last thirty years, including this year's 50th anniversary tour. (You'd better get ready -- they may be coming to your town.) And then there's the remarkable new Monkees album Good Times! (Do not miss the "She Makes Me Laugh" video, featuring 1960s Monkees comic book art!) We're also looking forward to Northeast Comic Con (June 18-19), featuring stars from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Affair, Captain America (1979 version), and more! Plus nerd comedy with Mark Gallagher, music from The Lights Out, and hey, MICKY DOLENZ! (Want to meet a Monkee? Be there!) And although we've never seen The Monkees' freaky 1968 movie Head at a drive-in, we're still celebrating Drive-In Movie Day, and you should too. Don't forget to visit the snack bar, and try the clam cakes.

Direct download: Flopcast_213_mp3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:26am EDT

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