It's our final Flopcast of 2015! Almost time to flop over and relax! We celebrate with the return of Kornflake's regular National Whatever Day segment, in which we learn why paper snowflakes can be disgusting. (You're welcome!) Then Kevin reports on last month's Super Megafest convention, featuring Nichelle Nichols, Peter Tork and Bobby Hart, the Dukes of Hazzard, and the Miser Brothers. (Apparently Heat Miser finally outwitted Snow Miser, because we certainly had a green Christmas here in Chickentown.) And of course, we reveal our (really stupid) New Year's Resolutions. Meanwhile, Kornflake is spending the final days of 2015 frantically hopping on a trampoline, thanks to her OLD Year's Resolution. She is dedicated. And dizzy.

Happy Holidays from The Flopcast, where we hide our toys inside rubber chickens, so the Burgermeister won't find them. This week Ed joins us again, to talk about yet another pre-Sponge Awareness Foundation project: his goofy 1989 college band, Wet Paint! We look back on this short-lived band's eclectic lineup, their repertoire of dance/pop cover songs (awful), their one original song (even worse), their big night playing at the Suitcase Dance (there were no survivors), and the time they ruined a beach party (but it was New Hampshire, so who cares). And Kornflake reminds us that 1989 was also the year of the Super Soaker! (Did you know it was originally called the Turkey Launcher? Please don't fact-check us. Just spread the word.) Also: How to find tacky Christmas lights (our dog just won the big lights and display contest, by the way); a "What's in the Bag" surprise from Ed (hint: it's not a piece of the Berlin Wall); the new Earth Station One book (get it!); and the Christmas music of Air Supply, Smashy Claw, Zamfir, and a bunch of very festive chickens.

This week we're joined by a special surprise guest (it was certainly a surprise to Kornflake): Ed, of The Sponge Awareness Foundation! (That's Kevin's old comedy band, which you probably knew already, because we're super-famous.) And we're talking about 1988, which was the year Ed put together his high school rock band, Vortex. (Yikes, those guys covered a lot of Bon Jovi.) Ed takes us through the history of Vortex, including their crazy gigs (a mix of children's dances and creepy all-ages rock clubs), their self-produced cassette album (Kevin found a copy years later at a flea market), the "Playgound Closed" sign they stole from Burger King (the perfect crime), and the explosions (yes, the explosions). And speaking of the rock scene of 1988, Kornflake tells us about a controversial omission from that year's Grammy Awards. (But we manage to fix everything retroactively, through the magic of Debbie and Tiffany.) Also: Everyone is now turxting instead of texting (good job, everyone), our Turkey Stark business cards are even dumber than we thought, and Kevin and Christine report from the happiest place on Earth: an Air Supply concert.

Kevin and Kornflake's ill-conceived trip back through the 80s brings us to 1987! It was the year Debbie Gibson taught us to shake our love -- a practice which is illegal in most states these days. Kornflake reminds us of the 1987 debut of the San Francisco-based sitcom Full House, as well as the time that city's famed Golden Gate Bridge nearly collapsed under the weight of a million hippies. (Historians still debate which was the greater disaster.) Kevin's 1987 pick is the goofy Jon Cryer movie Hiding Out, which was set in the Boston area and a little creepy, just like us. And if you think we got through 1987 without sneaking into a Pretty Poison concert, you really don't know us anymore. Also: A festive time was had at Freezepop's recent EP release show, also featuring Madaila, The Lights Out, and Math the Band. (But no one shook their love, thankfully.)

This week our excruciating ten-part look at the 80s brings us to 1986! 'Twas the year we danced on the ceiling, had fun tonight, and were rocked by Amadeus (which explains the headache we've had for the last thirty years). Kornflake tells us about the 1986 reopening of the Statue of Liberty, which had spent much of the 80s surrounded by scaffolding, while construction workers added giant shoulder pads and one massive sequin glove. Meanwhile Kevin recalls the high school sitcom Head of the Class, in which a bunch of genius kids learned simple life lessons from Doctor Johnny Fever. Also: Kevin and the Mayor are back from their goofy Caribbean cruise, during which they tried (and failed) to avoid people, reggae, piano bars, napkin folding demonstrations, and pretty much anything that wasn't a howler monkey.

We're halfway through our court-ordered ten-episode celebration of the 80s, which means it's time to talk about 1985. Kornflake has a song by Passion Pit (not from 1985, but still thematically appropriate... well played, Kornflake). Meanwhile Kevin selects the classic Pat Benatar-meets-Supergirl film The Legend of Billie Jean, because fair's fair. Then we move on to some holiday talk -- Kevin's Halloween costume was the stupidest thing anyone has ever seen, and we have the Turkey Stark business cards to prove it. We also thought Thanksgiving week would be the perfect time to tell the world about "turxting" -- a bold new breakthrough in turkey-themed communications technology. (You might even hear us send and receive turxt messages from some friends of the Flopcast during the show! Try to contain your excitement.) And we look forward to our final convention of the year, the Northeast Comic Con! (If Judy Robinson from Lost in Space will be there, then we'll be there. This is how we plan our lives.) Hey, if you found this week's show to be a little weird, please let us know. Send us a turxt.

For our 1984-themed episode, Kevin and Kornflake each have a weird TV memory to share. Kornflake recalls DTV, which was Disney Channel's take on MTV-style music videos. (But where was Billy Ocean? A certain cartoon rodent owes us an apology.) Meanwhile Kevin is still obsessed with The Master, a short-lived TV series about a ninja, his dopey apprentice, and their pet hamster. It was ridiculous and we loved it. And in our "Chickens in the News" segment: Well, there's a chicken on Twitter. For real. This is best thing to come out of Australia since Air Supply (and coming from us, that really means something).

This week we're creeping back to 1983, the year Top 40 radio was totally conquered by goofy new wave. We were blinded with science, rocked down to Electric Avenue, safety danced if we wanted to, and watched 99 red balloons go by. In fact, Kevin's pick for our 1983 discussion is Nena, the young German lady who taught us about those red balloons (or luftballons, if you prefer). Meanwhile, Kornflake reminds us that 1983 was also the year of the Chicken McNugget! (Mayor McCheese knew his days were numbered when those little creeps blew into town.) We also look ahead to the Super Megafest convention (November 21-22), where you can meet MacGyver, Big Bird, a Bad News Bear, a Monkee, and all three Dukes of Hazzard cousins! (We're not counting Coy and Vance. Sorry, guys.) And we sneak in a quick review of the new Supergirl TV series, and learn that Kevin would not make a good Supergirl. Alas, another dream has died...

Kevin and Kornflake celebrate the year 1982 by discussing a couple of lost Saturday morning cartoons ("Meatballs and Spaghetti" and "Pandamonium") and an early computer virus ("Elk Cloner"). Scientists are trying to determine which of these 1982 creations has done the most damage over the years. Then we review the recently announced nominees for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year: Chic, Deep Purple, Nine Inch Nails, NWA, The Smiths, The Spinners, Yes, The Cars, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Janet Jackson, The JB's, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, and Steve Miller. Warning: This list contains one of Kevin's all-time favorite artists, as well as one he thinks is the worst thing that ever happened. (The Hall of Fame has a lot of range, apparently.) By the way, we're still angry about The Monkees getting snubbed every year. Also, Tiffany.

With our neighboring red planet in the news lately (we can't wait to try that delicious new Martian water), Kevin and Kornflake are counting down their Top 4 1/2 favorite Martians (and miscellaneous Mars-type stuff). We cover Martian cartoon characters, music, movies, candy bars, and lots more. (You know, Matt Damon isn't the first Martian from Boston. It's time for you to meet Robolar.) Also: This week's 1981 edition of National Whatever Day includes Gary Coleman movies, a royal wedding, and yet another Weird Tale of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. And speaking of the Ocean State, we also preview the upcoming Rhode Island Comic Con, where you'll find Tiki Zombies, Wicked Geeky cookies, and HENRY WINKLER! (Yikes, the Fonz in Rhode Island... this can only end with a Marvin the Martian-approved Earth-shattering kaboom.)

This week our usual National Whatever Day segment is replaced by a weird tribute to 1980! (Next week we'll tackle 1981. And because we're so obsessed with the 80s, we'll keep this going for ten weeks, or until we're shut down by the government.) 1980 was the year of Pink Lady and Jeff (a variety show so bizarre that it could only come from those far out space nuts, Sid and Marty Krofft) and the year of the Post-It note. (Kevin and Kornflake disagree on whether or not you should lick Post-It notes. So just follow your heart.) Also: We have feedback on last week's backwards show (uh, sorry about that); Kornflake appears in Dino-Mike's new music video (it's kind of silly, believe it or not); and we review Puglet, a recent production of Hamlet with an all-pug cast. Yes, modern theater has gone to the dogs, and we approve.

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It's a quick show this week, but we still manage to cover all the pressing issues of the day, including bumblebee costumes (Kornflake wants hers back), World Octopus Day (Doctor Octopus is celebrating by creeping everyone out), and the 25th First Annual Ig Nobel Prizes! This year's Ig Nobels, which celebrate the sillier side of science, recognize studies in how to unboil an egg, how to fight bribery with bribery, and how to make chickens walk like dinosaurs. (Yes, we did indeed cover that last one here on The Flopcast several months ago. We try to stay ahead of the curve on chicken stories.) Now if you'll pardon us, we really do need to go track down some Frankenberry.

As summer turns to fall, Kornflake bids a fond farewell to iced coffee, and we consider packing up and moving the whole show to Turkeytown. Also: We recommend several podcasts recorded during (or looking back at) DragonCon, from our friends at Earth Station One, The Adam and JP Show, Needless Things, and Arrow Squad; Kornflake is bursting with Chubby Checker trivia; The Doubleclicks, Molly Lewis, and Joseph Scrimshaw wrap up their Nerd Night Out tour and teach us about snakes, dinosaurs, and chickens; and Kevin's trip to Vermont Comic Con features Clerks, a Vulcan mermaid, that Monster Squad board game, and (once again) chickens. It's been a weird week. Hold us.

Last week Kevin wouldn't shut up about DragonCon, so this week we're catching up with Kornflake! As usual she has been busy with silly adventures of her own, including an impromptu trip to Chicago for our friend Sara's birthday! And to double down on the silliness, Doornail came along too! Join us as Kornflake learns about root beer waffles, gypsy jazz, the Mud Show, why Lewis and Clark were the Hall and Oates of the nineteenth century, why you should always dress like Tootie at a Renaissance fair, and yes, how to bellydance like Groot. Also: It's time to trade in your stupid gas-guzzling car for a sleek fuel-efficient trampoline. That's the Chicago way.

We're safely back in Chickentown after a crazy weekend in Atlanta (with 70,000 of our favorite geeks) for DragonCon! Our convention report includes: the stars of Arrow, Flash, Kids in the Hall, and Mystery Science Theater 3000; the music of Rasputina, Paul and Storm, Mike Phirman, Molly Lewis, The Doubleclicks, Carter Parton Rogers, Mikey Mason, and Here Come The Mummies; the Sci-Fi Drive-In Heckle-Along; the Amazing James Randi; lots more ESO Network podcasters; and American Sci-Fi Classics track panels on important topics like Thundarr the Barbarian, Otherworld, Battlefield Earth, and mullets. We also review our favorite costumes, including Yip-Yips, Super Friends, Hall and Oates (!), our friends from Wicked Geeky, and of course, Carl. Also: Make A Hat Day is this week, and it's way more dangerous than you think.

Kevin has abandoned Chickentown to join the crazy people at DragonCon! Assuming he isn't captured by Sleestaks, we'll have a full report in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, here's a special panel we recorded on the Fourth of July at CONvergence in Bloomington, Minnesota! Kevin is joined by our new best friends Jennifer, Mark, and Anna, and we discuss one of our very favorite subjects: Saturday morning cartoons! Included in the discussion: Scooby Doo, Gilligan's Planet, Jabberjaw, Fangface, Strawberry Shortcake, New Kids on the Block, Danger Mouse, Beetlejuice, The Harlem Globetrotters, Mighty Mouse, Jem, Captain Caveman, Speed Racer, Gargoyles, PSAs, Magic School Bus vs. Mission: Magic!, Filmation's Ghostbusters vs. The Real Ghostbusters, the problem with Super Friends (what?), and much, much more. And if you stick around for the panel's shocking conclusion, you just might hear the Mayor of Chickentown (along with the whole audience) join us for a School House Rock singalong! (Be kind when you unpack your adjectives.) Also: Kornflake learned her multiplication tables not with School House Rock, but with Hershey's chocolate bars. You're not surprised, are you?

This week we're celebrating 75 years of the fastest man alive, The Flash! In the comic books, Flash was a founding member of the Justice League and the Justice Society, as well as a pivotal figure in the history of the DC Comics universe. On the other hand, he has been known to hang around with goofballs like Mopee (Flash's version of the Great Gazoo, sort of) and The Three Dimwits (whose resemblance to The Three Stooges was completely coincidental, we assure you). We also look back at the Flash on TV, including the Filmation cartoons, the Super Friends, and a couple of bizarre live action appearances in the late 1970s. (Alas, Dan Aykroyd has only played Flash once. So far...) And of course, there have also been two live action Flash TV series: the short-lived but fondly-recalled 1990 version, and the surprisingly excellent current version. Both shows, by the way, have guest-starred Mark Hamill as the Trickster. And as Kornflake learns in our totally unfair Flash Villain Quiz, Trickster was certainly not Flash's goofiest villain. Not even close. Also this week: Did Mr. Peanut ever work for the phone company? We think he did, but we're about as reliable as The Three Dimwits.

We're less than two weeks from our favorite geek event of the whole stupid year: DragonCon. So before we begin the long, treacherous journey from Chickentown to Atlanta (we got a great deal on a MTV LeRun skate-bike), here's our DragonCon preview show! This year's guest list includes some of our favorite actors (from Arrow, Flash, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and of course, Silver Spoons), comedy and music performers (including Paul and Storm, Molly Lewis, The Doubleclicks, and Mikey Mason), puppeteers (Carol "Big Bird" Spinney!), skeptics (The Amazing Randi returns!), and even a couple of guys from Monty Python and The Kids in the Hall! All our friends from the ESO Network will be there too, appearing on panels, podcasting, and ordering way too many buckets of rum at the Hyatt bar. (Speaking of panels, Kevin runs through his whole crazy panel schedule too. Yes, of course we're doing a panel about Thundarr the Barbarian. Did you really have to ask?) Also this week: Kornflake is back from Otis, Massachusetts (where dogs hate to swim, and everyone might be naked); Kevin is back from WeddingCon (where dogs wear Star Trek uniforms) and Connecticut ComiCONN (where we found ANOTHER Disco Boba Fett!); Kyle and Luke talk about Homestar Runner; and Pluto (arguably our favorite dwarf planet) is full of jive turkeys.

Summertime is robot time (as all good citizens know here in Chickentown), and so it's time for our fourth annual robot-themed Top 4 1/2 List! This year, in a desperate attempt to keep things interesting, we're looking specifically at EVIL robots. Evil robots from movies, TV, and video games... evil robot cars... evil robot lobsters (yeah, Kornflake found one)... and of course, an evil robot with a pet monkey and no pants. Hey, humans won't be completely obsolete for another month or two, so you have plenty of time to enjoy this list. Still not convinced? Then here's some evil robot-style click-bait for you: This week we reveal which of the following is NOT an evil robot: Belinda Carlisle, Gloria Estefan, or Enya. The answer will not shock you.

It's another Flopcast convention report, this time from Boston Comic Con! (Official convention motto: "Let's see how many Harley Quinns we can squish into one building!" It sounds better in the original Latin.) There were comic books aplenty, of course, including at least one amoeba-themed mini-comic. (Say goodbye to the X-Men; amoeba comics are the wave of the future.) There were amazing costumes everywhere -- and one of those Harley Quinns even had a rubber chicken. (This is important to us.) And there were celebrities lurking about too, including Gotham's Robin Lord Taylor, 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander, Agent Carter's Hayley Atwell, and the Mistress of the Dark herself, ELVIRA! (We're still sort of freaking out about Elvira.) And in non-convention news: Kornflake has another hammock-themed adventure and checks out the new Minions movie, Kevin nearly gets run over by the roller-disco stars of Xanadu, we celebrate National Lazy Day (or not, whatever), and we remember Rowdy Roddy Piper. Also, yeah, there was a weird juggling incident.

We have an extra-short, extra-goofy show this week, because Kool and the Gang were right: it's TOO HOT. (Of course, Kool and the Gang were always right. So bring your good times and your laughter too, or suffer the consequences.) In honor of National Watermelon Day, we recall the good old days when the government forced everyone to rent Gallagher tapes and pretend to like them. (For a while in the mid-1980s, this was a largely a Gallagher-based economy.) Despite the horrifying heat, we also fire up our supercomputer for a round of "The Pudding Pages," and end up discussing Jolt Cola and other weird soda from the past. (Kornflake still misses OK Soda, mainly because she was addicted to their toll-free hotline.) And finally, our "Chickens in the News" segment takes us to the jungles of Indonesia, where some mad genius built a giant chicken church! But we don't need to visit, because our studio is already hotter than an Indonesian chicken church (as the old saying goes). And so we trust in the wisdom of Kool: Gotta run for shelter, gotta run for shade.

Kevin and Kornflake are back in Chickentown after a goofy road trip to Vermont, where they found bugs, mud, and other constant reminders that they should never leave the house. But hey, in addition to all that pesky nature, there was a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert! Well played, Vermont. We also note the closing of T. T. the Bear's Place, a legendary club that was the heart of Boston's rock scene for decades. TT's was the site of countless shows by some of our favorite performers (including Ed's Redeeming Qualities, Mojo Nixon, The Shods, Mary Lou Lord, Freezepop, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and yes, the Christmas Chickens), and we'll miss it. (These days, not enough rock clubs are named after pet hamsters, and it's killing the music industry.) Also: We look ahead to Boston Comic Con, learn that mustard belongs in a museum, and suspect that Kevin might be a zombie.

Kevin, Kornflake, and The Mayor have abandoned Chickentown to record this week's show from a secret undisclosed location! But we'll be back in our regular studio next week (the chickens are getting restless), and all will be revealed. This week, however, we're looking back at the 4th of July weekend (which took place in early July, according to scientists). Kevin and The Mayor journeyed west to Minnesota for CONvergence, where they encountered a giant walking milkshake, Disco Boba Fett, bellydancers, Trek Bunnies, rat puppets, Feng Shui Ninjas, School House Rock singalongs, and Buzzed Aldrins in the Skepchick party room. Meanwhile, Kornflake and Doornail headed north to New Hampshire, where they started their own weird new convention called FlopFest. And if you suspect that FlopFest largely consists of flopping in hammocks, giggling, napping, and looking for Vodka... yeah, that just about covers it! Also: It's National Drive-Thru Day, so talk to the clown and keep moving.

It's been 100 weeks since Flopcast episode 66, which was dedicated to V66 (Boston's own UHF music video channel back in the mid-80s). So for episode 166, we're doing it again, just in time to celebrate the DVD release of Life on the V, a documentary all about V66! This week, we recall our favorite music video stars from 30 years ago, including The Cars, The Bangles, A-ha, and Weird Al (who once appeared on V66 with a rubber pig). We recall Hurricane Gloria, which tore through New England in the fall of 1985, was covered on V66, and inspired young Kornflake to dream of being a 6-year-old meteorologist for a music video channel. We recall the shockingly goofy music video produced by V66 for the New England Patriots' 1986 Superbowl appearance. (Seriously, you MUST see this thing. It's just awful, and we love it.) And we recall the day the music (or at least the 'Til Tuesday music videos) died, when V66 suddenly turned into a stupid home shopping channel. But wait, there's more! We're also joined by Life on the V director Eric Green for an exclusive Flopcast interview! Also: Embrace Your Geekness Day is this week, and the facts of life are all about us.

Kornflake dreams of a Flopcast road trip to Wayne, Nebraska... possibly because they have a GIANT ANNUAL CHICKEN FESTIVAL!!! Meanwhile Kevin has been creeping around the rock clubs of Boston again, and reports on recent shows by Telelectrix (they have a keyboard fort), Party Bois (they like to drink, they like to party), Petty Morals (aka Go Bang), CJ Ramone (who brought along an Aquabat or two), Shonen Knife (they sing about cats and capybaras, so we love them), and (get ready to freak out) Men Without Hats. (We can pretend it's 1983 if we want to.) Kevin also dropped by Northeast Comic Con, and found pirates, rubber chickens, gargoyles, Adam West, our favorite TV Guidance Counselor, and a whole bunch of Shriners. Also: Kornflake reviews the new Pixar movie Inside Out, which may or may not be a shameless ripoff of Karate Kid Part 3.

Kevin and Kornflake have one more item of business to discuss from FuMPFeST, as Kevin reveals that in the middle of this funny music convention, he sneaked off to a whole other convention! This was Mego Meet, a show dedicated to the Mego superhero dolls (sorry, action figures) of the 1970s. Found at Mego Meet: Kid Flash's boots, Tiny Titans creator Art Baltazar, an Ark II Halloween costume, and (according to a rumor started by some goofy podcast) Taylor Swift. The toy talk continues as we flip through a fun book called Rack Toys, which features page after page of bizarre cheapo toys from the 70s and 80s. (The Land of the Lost pinball game looks awesome, but we're baffled by the Love Boat Barber Shop set.) Then we look ahead to CONvergence, a big crazy convention happening Fourth of July weekend in Bloomington, Minnesota. Kevin will be there, mostly talking about Fangface. Meanwhile, Kornflake just wants you to enjoy a bowl of angry ice cream.

Kevin and Kornflake are back in Chickentown, but can't stop screaming about FuMPFeST! This week we review our whole crazy weekend at this funny music convention in Wheeling, Illinois (a town Kornflake would visit just to have breakfast). Highlights include: Kornflake's water breaking (what?), an Inspector Gadget chorus, Kenny Rogers-themed water aerobics, a Pod of Destiny field trip to see the Neo-Futurists, The Logan Awards, a shocking allegation from The Boobles, Dumb Parody Ideas, Dementia Smackdown Wrestling, Doornail spilling stuff, and the ancient art of "padlockigami." Plus, of course, performances by Insane Ian, Bad Teenage Moustache, TV's Kyle and Lindzilla, Tim Cavanagh, Drew Jacobs, the great Luke Ski, Steve Goodie, Carla Ulbrich, The Arrogant Worms, Smashy Claw, Matt Griffo, Todd Chappelle, Devo Spice, Carrie Dahlby, Power Salad, Rhiannon's Lark, and more! Also: Apparently we have to wear sparkly fairy wings this week. One of us is not happy about this.

Kevin and Kornflake are back in Wheeling, Illinois for the second annual FuMPFeST comedy music convention! And we're joined by our regular giggling, coffee-spilling correspondent, Doornail! Also on the show this week: Alyssa (of Rhiannon's Lark), DJ Particle, and FuMPFeST performers Todd Chappelle and Carla Ulbrich! Plus cameos by Tim (aka Poohbear) and Blasted Bill! Topics of discussion include: Doornail and Alyssa's college days (breakfast was a rare event; being stared at creepily was not), Mad Mike's wine, Seamonkey's beer, dating Amish women, saying hello in Klingon, wearing a Snuggie at an Arrogant Worms concert, and an insane phone call with Insane Ian. (Plus lots of immature giggling about boobs, because we're so classy.) Note: This episode was recorded in the hallway just outside the main FuMPFeST concert room, so expect a little background noise here and there. And if you think there wasn't a maniac in a Spider-Man costume lurking around through the whole show... you are quite mistaken.

Kevin and Kornflake discuss a new documentary featuring Big Bird, a new Kickstarter campaign for The Perhapanauts (get a voicemail message from a chupacabra!), new music from Dar Williams and Anaria, and old music from John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Also: Freezepop, Duran Duran, Petty Morals, the Somerville Ukulele Club, the Swedish Chef, Kornflake's all-time favorite edition of "Chickens in the News," and yet another trip into the Pudding Pages. Next week: FuMPFest! Things just might get silly.

Most scientists agree that Kevin is tragically obsessed with the classic 1984 movie Footloose. Kornflake, however, had never actually seen it! Thus our mission was clear -- we had to watch Footloose, and then try to make sense of it all. So this week, we discuss the Footloose cast (which was completely upstaged by Lori Singer's red boots), the soundtrack (yikes, so many Top 40 hits, including one from a guy who may have been from Krypton), the dancing (let's hear it for the adorable "Kevin Bacon teaches Chris Penn to dance" montage), and of course, the chicken race. (No actual chickens were harmed in the chicken race -- just Bonnie Tyler's crazy singing voice, and a couple of tractors.) We also have some perfectly reasonable ideas for new versions of Footloose involving squirrels, Klingons, and Rowan Atkinson. And the Mayor of Chickentown drops by and considers passing some Lithgow-style anti-chicken-dancing legislation. So kick off your Sunday shoes (do you really need a pair for each day of the week, Imelda?) and enjoy. And remember that somewhere, Kenny Loggins' beard is judging you.

We have quite a mixed bag (but not a "What's in the Bag?") of silly topics this week. You'll learn why Kornflake is totally obsessed with Highlander, how to look insane when you see the new Avengers movie, how to stare creepily at folk singers through a window, and how to be a loser at a freak show. Also discussed: The Nerdist's Chris Hardwick and Matt Mira; the weird old diners of Lowell, Massachusetts; Free Comic Book Day; a festive Freezepop show; the horrors of face-painting booths; one of your two dads, Paul Reiser; steampunk hula-hooping; Rifftrax Live; and our new favorite cartoon, Mighty Magiswords. We also just invented the hammock sidecar, so get ready to be very relaxed and very hospitalized.

It's the end of an era in late night TV, as David Letterman wraps up 33 years of stupid pets and guys under the seats. So this week, we're looking back on how we discovered Dave in the 80s, how he influenced Kevin's goofy band, and how he inspired Kornflake to hide inside a couch. And we share the silly tale of how Kevin actually ended up on Dave's show way back in 1991. (We may even have a rare audio clip from that appearance. You have been warned.) Also: Kornflake reviews the nominees in this year's Logan Awards for excellence in comedy music; Rowdy Roddy Piper takes a stand against bullies (yikes, the irony); and for National Whatever Day, we're celebrating a birthday during which many fools shall be pitied.

Kevin and Kornflake are frightened and confused by creepy leprechauns; The Sponge Awareness Foundation is crushed by falling drunk people at a They Might Be Giants concert; Jay Leno is mesmerized by our Leave It to Beaver t-shirt; we prepare to pitch a gritty crime drama to HBO (it's about a chicken detective, and shut up); Kornflake has a trampoline update; and we celebrate the third anniversary of The Flopcast by observing that no one in North Dakota has ever listened to our goofy little show. But that's okay, North Dakota. We understand, and we salute you.

Another convention report, from the new spring edition of Super Megafest! Featuring pirates, Ghostbusters, Bigfoot hunters, Mr. T, Wicked Geeky costumers, a Niki Luparelli concert, a CHiPs reunion, Supergirl's Helen Slater, Soap's Katherine Helmond, Star Trek's Jonathan Frakes, a kilt-free Rowdy Roddy Piper, and an alligator on the loose! Plus: A quick detour into Harvard Square for a live edition of TV Guidance Counselor with Ken Reid, Eugene Mirman (from Bob's Burgers), and Jon Glaser (from the Slipnutz)! Also: Bird Day is this week. Happy Bird Day to you.

It's been too long since we presented a good old fashioned ridiculous Flopcast Top 4 1/2 List... and so this week, we bring you a Betty list. (Hey, we take that "ridiculous" part pretty seriously.) We're listing our favorite Betty cartoon characters (from the Stone Age and beyond), our favorite (and least favorite) Betty songs, our favorite Golden Girl (of course), and many more. Whether you're looking for a 1950s pin-up model or a big box of cake mix, you could probably use a Betty, and here they are. (But if we missed your favorite Betty, please let us know. This is very, very important.) Also: This week's National Whatever Day reveals a shocking secret about one of the stars of The Big Bang Theory! (Not really, but we're trying to trick everyone into listening.)

Our report from the South Coast Toy and Comic Show includes: silly cat comics; a very tempting Monster Squad board game; the stars of Buck Rogers, Clerks, and The Last Dragon; and our dream of unleashing the New England Brethren of Pirates on Fish Island. Also: comedian Marc Maron (whose podcast is arguably even more popular than this one), DNA Day (celebrate by running up and down a spiral staircase), and another "Chickens in the News" story (which is eerily similar to our last "Chickens in the News" story). As the old saying goes, this show is more fun than pouring hot coffee on a snowbank.

According to the Elders, it's time to celebrate 75 years of Captain Marvel! Yes, young Billy Batson has been screaming "Shazam!" and fighting crime (and Superman's lawyers) as Captain Marvel since 1940. This week we'll look at the comic books, the movie serials, the cartoons, and of course, the live action Saturday morning TV series from Filmation (from which we learned that driving around in a Winnebago looking for troubled teens is not NECESSARILY creepy). Along the way we'll meet Mary Marvel (Billy's surprise twin sister!), Captain Marvel Junior (who was a huge influence on Elvis Presley, believe it or not), a talking tiger, an evil worm, and maybe even Hoppy the Marvel Bunny. We'll learn about the weird 1960s version of Captain Marvel, who could separate his head and limbs from his torso. (Then again, everyone could probably do that, at least once.) We'll learn how to stop your city from being buried in strawberry Jell-O. (Folks, it's not a question of if it will happen, but when.) And we'll learn why we should get totally liquored up for the Shazam movie. (Just don't tell those pesky Elders.) Also: National Whatever Day, Super Megafest, and the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival. That should keep you busy until the evil Dr. Sivana destroys us all.

Kevin and Kornflake are finally back in Chickentown, just in time for Jackie Chan Day. (We're celebrating by doing our own stunt work throughout the entire podcast.) This week: An 80s-themed concert report, featuring Katrina (without the Waves) and Howard Jones (with a keytar); reviews of comics we found at the Rhode Island Independent Publishing Expo (featuring birthday clowns, giant sandwiches, and city chickens); Kornflake's new job (inspired by Janet from Three's Company, of course); and a "Chickens in the News" story from Athens, Georgia, where a giant metal rooster is on the loose.

Still live from Minnesota, it's the shocking conclusion of our MarsCon coverage! We thought we'd end the convention by stuffing a bunch of crazy people into a hotel room. We did it for science. Joining us were: Blasted Bill, Ed, Bob, Tony Goldmark, Break Man Z, Mr. Tuesday, Angela, Jared, the great Luke Ski, and Carrie Dahlby! Discussion topics include: Dementia Track concerts by Luke, TV's Kyle and Lindzilla, Power Salad, Tony, and Rob Paravonian; Kornflake's shiny new lobster songs; The Sponge Awareness Foundation's tired old School House Rock medley; Blasted Bill's Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume; bellydancing vs. wrestling; and how Bon Jovi wants to be the air for you. Then it's time for THREE rounds of "What's in the Bag," featuring: weird items requested by Kornflake from the Pod of Destiny, a weird TV dinner from Bob, and weird cookies from Break Man Z for our annual MarsCon taste test. (Perhaps the weirdest thing is that, by Flopcast standards, this was a pretty normal weekend in Minnesota.)

Live from Minnesota, our MarsCon coverage continues! First Kevin and Kornflake are joined by Ed, the other half of The Sponge Awareness Foundation! (We get Ed's first impressions of the insanity that is MarsCon, and we learn the final fate of the tuba from the previous night's SAF concert.) Next we meet a couple of actual Klingons, from the long-running Klingon group that hosts the most notorious party at MarsCon every year! Finally we spend some time with MarsCon Dementia Guest of Honor Rob Paravonian! Rob talks about the New York comedy scene, his love of The Monkees and Family Ties, and working with the legendary George Carlin. And hang on -- we'll have more from MarsCon next week! (Warning: It just gets weirder.)

Kevin and Kornflake have always secretly dreamed of being Match Game host Gene Rayburn. (Don't pretend you haven't too, you weirdo.) And so for our live version of The Flopcast at MarsCon last week, we decided to play "The Flop Game"! We don't have Charles Nelson Reilly, but we do have a celebrity panel of some of our favorite comedy musicians: the great Luke Ski, Tony Goldmark, Devo Spice, ShoEboX of Worm Quartet, TV's Kyle, Lindsay (aka Lindzilla), DJ Particle, and Rob Paravonian! We have prizes ranging in quality from "pretty good" to "incredibly stupid"! And of course, for players, we have the craziest people in Minnesota -- the MarsCon attendees. (Warning: Weird chanting and random singalongs break out frequently.) We assure you, a silly time was had by all... and you can take that to the BLANK. 

Kevin and Kornflake are far from Chickentown Studios this week, because it's time for MarsCon! So instead of a regular show, here's something special we've been saving for you. A few months back, while Kornflake was out of town (or so we thought), Kevin and the great Luke Ski spent an hour or so listing their Top 4 1/2 live action characters of the 1980s! Not just any old fictional characters from TV or movies -- we're talking about the larger-than-life cartoonish characters who walked among us in the real world. (So Beetlejuice, for example, would not qualify, but Pee Wee Herman would.) That was our wacky premise, and what fun we had. (If we missed your favorite 80s character, please let us know!) And hey, Kornflake is here too, with a National Whatever Day for Friday the 13th! (It isn't scary, but it is, of course, kind of weird.)

The Mayor of Chickentown reports on the Gallifrey One convention (where she met a Doctor Who-themed Muppet) and Rebecca Watson's Quiz-o-Tron (where Mike Phirman had to count his chickens); during an impromptu Top 4 1/2 List of frozen foods, we vaguely recall Hot Bites, Otter Pops, and horrifying school lunches; Howard Jones is coming, and we're walking on sunshine, Katrina-style; and we reveal some of the shiny new items we're bringing to MarsCon next week. (If you've always dreamed of owning a "You Love The Flopcast" badge ribbon... this is your big chance.)

Next week, assuming we're not grounded by a horrifying blizzard (place your bets now), Kevin and Kornflake shall return to Bloomington, Minnesota for MarsCon! In addition to seeing some of our favorite funny musicians, we'll be hosting a game show-style live version of the Flopcast, and Kornflake will be back in the pool for Dementia Water Aerobics! Kevin's goofy band The Sponge Awareness Foundation is performing too, and this week we reveal the new SAF merchandise we're producing just for MarsCon! (This could become a rare collector's item!!!) (But probably not!!!) Also: Although we miss his giant crazy 80s hair, no one is to blame for our love of Howard Jones.

Kevin and Kornflake celebrate National Drink Wine Day by popping open a bottle of Rex Goliath Pinot Noir... and the Mayor of Chickentown crashes into the studio like Kool-Aid Man to join us. A coincidence? Perhaps. Anyway, a wine-fueled round of "The Pudding Pages" leads to some 80s sitcom talk, featuring Love Sidney, The New Leave It To Beaver, and Jennifer Slept Here. (Alas, only one of these shows starred Ann Jillian as a ghost.) And in a follow-up to a previous "Chickens in the News" segment, we reveal our plans to trick everyone into reading the new book Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? Also: We're still getting ready for MarsCon... but sometimes you just have to stop and watch The Karate Kid, Part III.

There comes a time for Kevin and Kornflake to devote the whole stupid show to the 30th anniversary of "We Are the World" by USA for Africa! We're shameless 80s geeks, our Lionel Richie mugs are loaded with nasty black coffee, and we don't care how long this takes. We discuss each "We Are the World" soloist (and learn which one Kornflake was planning to marry), as well as each member of the chorus (even Dan Aykroyd, whose presence still puzzles us). We also note some artists who should have been there, but weren't. (Alas, without Irene Cara, there was no D.C. Cab representation...) And we list our favorite "We Are the World"-inspired parodies, including songs from the Ramones, the FuMP, and Saturday Night Live (where Michael Bolton sang for the chickens). Discussed along the way: 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan vs. Buckwheat, Cyndi Lauper's giant 80s earrings, Lindsey Buckingham's giant 80s hair, Billy Ocean's weird island, and Dionne Warwick's creepy psychic friends. Also: Clean Your Computer Day is this week. But since we're sort of trapped in 1985, just clean your Commodore 64.

Chickentown is completely buried in snow, but Kevin and Kornflake tunneled and/or tauntauned their way into the studio, just for you. This week Kevin reports on a Niki Luparelli show (Niki can sing like Marilyn, play the ukulele, hula hoop, and remove your tattoo, possibly all at once) and "Pulp Friction" (a Tarantino-themed burlesque show, believe it or not). Meanwhile Kornflake spent more time bouncing at the trampoline park, and provides snappy answers to Kevin's stupid questions about the weird world of trampolining. Also: We enjoy an art-themed edition of our long-neglected "What's in the Bag?" segment; Weird Al's world tour is coming soon, and it's mandatory; we plug a couple of MarsCon-related fundraiser projects; and we're looking for a creepy ukulele guy. (And admit it, you are too.)

Kevin and Kornflake celebrate Puzzle Day by dressing like the Riddler (or not); a recent production of the Mayor's favorite musical features hula hoops, chicken people, and the sister of the guy who starred in Automan; thanks to the Pudding Pages, we're talking about Jim Carrey (Kornflake likes The Truman Show, while Kevin prefers The Duck Factory); we're so excited about the new book "Why Did the Chicken Cross the World?" that we're starting several book clubs; and yikes, it's time to get ready for MarsCon. (We'll have lots more MarsCon talk over the next few weeks, kids. Because, as Eve Plumb would say, MarsCon MarsCon MarsCon.)

In a "very special episode" (as they say in annoying network promos), Kevin, Kornflake, and the Mayor look back on those we lost in 2014 (including folks from movies, TV, radio, and comics -- our usual favorite subjects). But instead of getting all miserable (which is more like our plan for 2015), we keep things light and fun, because that's how the Professor from Gilligan's Island would have wanted it. Discussed along the way: Saturday Night Live, The Electric Company, Mad magazine, The Partridge Family, the Ramones, Diff'rent Strokes, Rankin Bass cartoons, The Brady Bunch, Car Talk, Starcade, Ghostbusters, Devo, Welcome Back Kotter, American Top 40, WWF wrestling, and of course, Manimal. Also: Kornflake has her first trampoline update of 2015, and we're celebrating Dwight K. Schrute Day, which we just made up.

This week, in a very special post-holiday Flopcast: We celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day (and have a correction about the Tic Tac Dough dragon); Kornflake and Doornail's Christmas trip to Florida is all too similar to the Rifftrax classic "Santa Claus and the Ice Cream Bunny"; Kevin knows where the Pointer Sisters go for coffee (aren't you impressed?); Christmas dinner at the Red Arrow Diner is weird and bacon-filled; the final Rankin Bass Christmas cartoon (2001's Santa Baby) features a chicken and a lobster (it's a Flopcast miracle); and thanks to Moon Hooch, Kornflake rings in the new year with topless saxophone players. This is a super-quick episode, but you can hear even more of your Flopcast hosts this week on Earth Station One! Episode 248 is ESO's 2014 geek year in review show... and Kornflake is in the Geek Seat.

The rumors are true! The government is secretly controlled by zombie chickens from space! Also, the Flopcast is now part of the Earth Station One Network! That's right, we've completely sold out! We've even adopted a stodgy corporate attitude! But otherwise it's business as usual around here, and that means a new Top 4 1/2 List for the new year. In fact, the theme of this week's list is "new" -- as in new music, new conventions, New Teen Titans, the New Zoo Revue, and maybe even (cover yourselves) the New Kids On The Block. (Kornflake just never got over Donnie Wahlberg.) So get ready for another goofy year of Flopcasting, as we join our ESO Network friends and conquer the universe. (Except for the parts already conquered by zombie chickens -- we like what they're doing.)