The Flopcast (general)

Watch out, fair citizens of the Upper Midwest! Kevin is creeping back to Bloomington, Minnesota for CONvergence, an amazing science fiction convention happening July 5th-8th! This year's guests include Marina Sirtis (one of our favorite Star Trek counselors), Mary Jo Pehl (one of our favorite MST3K Mads)... and a classic 80s synthpop band: Minnesota's own Information Society! (And in case you're wondering: Yes, we are officially freaking out about Information Society.) Kevin will be appearing on panels throughout the weekend, discussing Swamp Thing, Stranger Things, Gotham, and more. And we will be debuting our new Flopcast badge ribbons at CONvergence too! So come to a panel, get a weird ribbon, and be the envy of your weird friends. Also: Our dream of Krofft-themed mini-golf, a new book and podcast about storytelling from Matthew Dicks, and Kornflake's tragic obsession with parchment paper.

Direct download: Flopcast_320.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:16am EDT

Are you ready for the summer? Not us... we are not exactly "outdoorsy" around here. But we do know how to hide inside with iced coffee, pizza pie, and a classic summer movie. So this week we're watching Meatballs, the beloved 1979 summer camp comedy starring Chris Makepeace (you know Chris from Mazes and Monsters) and Bill Murray (you know Bill from Ghostbusters II). Kornflake has never seen Meatballs before, so it's time for her to learn about Wudy the Wabbit, the Mystery Meat Contest, the disco hit "Makin' It," the weird sequels, and the North Star CIT sing-along (which has been trapped in our brains for decades). The conversation also drifts over to Caddyshack (and the wonderful new book about Caddyshack)... because it just had to. Plus: Despite a general avoidance of nature, Kevin went to Vermont and found two turtles, one turkey, and one folk singer (that would be Dar Williams). And we're celebrating the Day of the Gong, just as Chuck Barris would have wanted. So join us! Or don't! Because as the movie taught us... it just doesn't matter.

Direct download: Flopcast_319.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29am EDT

Not much happening here in Chickentown, and it's been a few weeks, so once again we're turning to our big crazy stack of Dynamite magazines. This time we're looking at a 1982 issue of Dynamite with a smiling Lisa Whelchel (you know her as Blair, your favorite Facts of Life rich girl) on the cover. And inside we find a shocking tell-all Lisa Whelchel interview! (Warning: The most shocking revelation is that she likes Rick Springfield.) Then thanks to a Dynamite quiz, we learn that we're awful at identifying product mascots, even when they're naked. (We did recognize those ne'er-do-wells Snap, Crackle, and Pop, who were fully clothed, thankfully.) This issue also contains a bizarre UFO story, Chewbacca's birthday, puzzle pages with Count Morbida (the freaky pink vampire), Dynamite Bummers (of course), and a pretty lame poster. Hey, 1982 was the year of Fast Times, Tron, and Pac-Man Fever (none of which are discussed in this show). 'Twas a magical time, and now you can relive it as two goofy podcasters flip through a children's magazine and giggle incessantly. You're welcome.

Direct download: Flopcast_318.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Kevin and the Mayor of Chickentown are back from a weird little trip to Ohio! (It's the Buckeye State, you know, named after Popeye's mortal enemy, Buckeye.) They visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (where they totally failed to get Air Supply inducted), Ratsy's Store (where they found chicken socks, Dynamite magazines, and Ratsy), and the 16-Bit Bar Arcade (where you can play Burgertime all night long). Meanwhile back in Chickentown, Kornflake prepares to bust some ghosts and/or dust on Ghostbusters Day, and in honor of the new Solo movie, we have a "What's in the Bag?" segment featuring some classic Star Wars memorabilia. (And no, it's not Bea Arthur's costume from the holiday special. But someday...)

Direct download: Flopcast_317.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:07am EDT

It's a quick but action-packed show this week. First, National Whatever Day somehow involves singing telegrams, kites, and a dentist. Then in Chickens in the News, Payo the Rooster terrorizes a Miami neighborhood, and we approve. Plus: the weird tale of a missing Amazon package, a Strange Brew review (we're about 35 years behind on our movies), and very small doughnuts. Because very small doughnuts are good for you.

Direct download: Flopcast_316.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:57pm EDT

After a long cruel winter here in Chickentown, we finally celebrate the return of our beloved iced coffee, with our beloved coffee cubes. (This is what Kornflake waits for all year.) And while we could (and sometimes do) just talk about coffee all night, there are a few other (far less significant) items to discuss this week. We have a pair of concert reports, as Kornflake attends a Star Wars-themed Jim's Big Ego show (it was May the Fourth, you see), while Kevin and the Mayor wander up to Maine to see Canadian power pop band Sloan (it was May the Fifth, aka Cinco de Pie-o). Also: Kevin spent a long weird day enduring physical challenges, solving puzzles, forming alliances, searching for immunity idols, and stabbing everyone in the back. Listen and learn his final fate as a contestant on... Survivor: Birthday Island. (Just don't tell Jeff Probst.) Plus: Free Comic Book Day, Disco Nightwing, FuMPFeST, Classic Con, a weird game in honor of Drew Carey, and a new bonus Flopcast episode for ESO Network Patreon supporters. Now excuse us; we must return to our cubes.

Direct download: Flopcast_315.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:36am EDT

This week we have three concert reports from three different states: First we creep up to Portland, Maine in search of lobsters and They Might Be Giants. Then we find two of our favorite beverages and/or bands, cider and Petty Morals, in spooky Salem, Massachusetts. And finally, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, we are the warriors, thanks to Patty Smyth and Scandal. Also: The quickest Avengers: Infinity War review you'll ever hear, the return of The Pod of Destiny, and Straw Hat Day (which is way more dangerous than you think). And hey, this is the sixth anniversary of The Flopcast! But we're not really celebrating, and we're passing the savings on to you.

Direct download: Flopcast_314.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

This is what happens when Kornflake chooses the subject for our Top 4 1/2 List: In honor of Cinco de Mayo (or our superior version, Cinco de Pie-o), the subject is... five. Yes, we're counting down "five" things... four and a half of them. The list includes music (Ben Folds Five was an easy pick), cartoons, comic book villains, Ally Sheedy's favorite robot, and a couple of really weird ones. (But we still missed some important "fives" -- please don't tell Tito Jackson.) This show is like a great big "high five" to the whole stupid internet, but we don't actually have to touch anybody. Also: It's World Migratory Bird Day, and we have a secret bird video. Or do we? We've already said too much.

Direct download: Flopcast_313.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EDT

Grab a bowl of Frankenberry, because we're flashing back to Arisia (our favorite local science fiction convention), where Kevin moderated a panel called "Cereal and Cartoons: Saturday Mornings Revisited"! Joining Kevin on the panel were filmmaker Kevin Cafferty, Andy Hicks (of the Coal Hill A/V Club podcast), and Karen (of the Foxes in the Hen House podcast)! Among the topics discussed: The Superfriends, Pee Wee's Playhouse, ALF, Captain Bob, Weird Al, Josie and the Pussycats, The Brady Kids, School House Rock, Time for Timer, Gilligan's Planet, Mr. T, Thundarr the Barbarian, Turbo Teen, Kidd Video, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Garfield and Friends, Galaxy High, Hanna Barbera, Filmation, Sid and Marty Krofft, the Friday night preview specials, the Saturday morning TV comic book ads, the continuity errors of Tom and Jerry, the horrors of candlepin bowling, and the eternal curse of Scrappy Doo. And folks, that is not a complete list. Not even close. Listen carefully, and you'll hear Kornflake and the Mayor of Chickentown in the audience too. (Warning: One of them may have been wearing a rubber chicken costume.) This was a crazy fun time, and this is why you all need to hitchhike to Boston and join us at Arisia next year. And that's one to grow on.

Direct download: Flopcast_312.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:08am EDT

It's a quick show this week, but we still knock out three classic Flopcast segments for you, right before our big nap. In Chickens in the News, a rubber chicken museum is coming to Seattle (compliments of the mad geniuses at Archie McPhee), and yeah, we're sort of freaking out. Then in our Pudding Pages segment, we remember Liquid Paper, because why use autocorrect when you can clumsily paint over your mistakes and make a huge mess instead? And for National Whatever Day, we're wishing a happy birthday to Kate Pierson of The B-52s. We are pretty big fans of both rock and lobsters, so why not.

Direct download: Flopcast_311.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

The stupid snow is melting, and we're starting to leave the house again, so we have a trio of concert reports for you this week. First, just ahead of their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Bon Jovi came to Boston to see and/or rock a million faces, including ours. (But we're even bigger fans of the opening band: our local power pop heroes, Sidewalk Driver.) Next was Juliana Hatfield, celebrating the release of her remarkable new album of Olivia Newton-John covers. (Just imagine... "Physical" and "Xanadu" performed live by a Boston alt-rock legend... it was magic. And yes, she also played "Magic.") And finally, we witnessed a surprisingly awesome show from perhaps the soft-rockiest dude in the history of soft rock... Christopher Cross. (We found him at a frighteningly smoke-filled casino in Connecticut, which is indeed located about halfway between the moon and New York City.) Also: Happy Birthday to Rick Moranis. From the Great White North to Gravedale High to Bedrock, he is our Keymaster.

Direct download: Flopcast_310.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:46am EDT

Join us as we flop back 42 years and flip through a 1976 issue of Dynamite! This classic magazine for kids was a staple of school book clubs from the mid-70s through the early 90s, and we recently acquired a big stupid stack of them. For this week's show, we selected an issue of Dynamite with Fonzie on the cover, because of course we did. Inside we found a Henry Winkler interview (obviously), as well as an article about skateboarding, a weird (and probably fake) advice column, instructions for a magic trick that won't work, instructions for a gymnastics move that will kill you, an address to send a birthday card to Horshack, a celebrity look-alike contest ("Who do you look like? Cher? Edith Bunker?"), Count Morbida (a goofy pink vampire) and his puzzle pages, and of course, Dynamite Bummers. If you missed 1976 the first time (or just forgot most of it), this is your big chance to celebrate the Bicentennial, vote for Carter, and party at the moon tower. Meanwhile here in the modern world, we're celebrating National Grilled Cheese Day... but that just leads to bizarre school cafeteria memories from long ago. Okay, distant past, you win.

Direct download: Flopcast_309.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43am EDT

It's the long-awaited return of a classic Flopcast segment, the Top 4 1/2 List! And it's an extra-stupid one, because the subject is simply... Peter. Yeah, we're listing our favorite Peters from music (yikes, lots of musicians are named Peter), sitcoms (don't play ball in the house, Peter), cartoons (including a seasonally appropriate Rankin Bass special), and peanut butter brands (hint: not Skippy). Plus: We're celebrating National Read a Road Map Day (why not), and the Mayor of Chickentown joins us with a report from (Re)Generation Who, a Doctor Who convention in Baltimore, Maryland. (Was everyone at the convention named Peter? Let's say yes.)

Direct download: Flopcast_308.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:57pm EDT

While Kornflake was away at MarsCon, Kevin was busy with silly things too. One of our comedy music heroes, "Weird Al" Yankovic, brought his "Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour" to Boston for two shows in the same day... and Kevin showed up for both of them. This long weird day also included stand-up from Emo Philips, a round of Weird Al Jeopardy, a backstage meet and greet, and a special late night show from Al's longtime band members Jim West and Steve Jay. (Live Hawaiian guitar music, at a Harvard Square folk club, at midnight, on a Sunday? Sure, we'll be there.) Plus: A stormy night in Rhode Island with The Mads (Mystery Science Theater 3000's Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu), a Stevie Nicks tribute concert and burlesque show from Niki Luparelli, and National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. So go ahead and make up your own holiday. It can't possibly be as stupid as ours.

Direct download: Flopcast_307.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:45am EDT

Despite a delightful series of weather-related delays and flight cancellations, Kornflake has returned from Minnesota with a full report on MarsCon! It's one of our very favorite conventions, thanks to its Dementia Track of comedy music concerts, under the direction of our pal the great Luke Ski. Performers this year included Luke, Donita Smith, Marc with a C, StarF and Mattari 2600, brentalfloss, Power Salad, Devo Spice, Insane Ian, TV's Kyle and Lindzilla, the Library Bards, the Faithful Sidekicks, Beth Kinderman, Karl Brown, and Carrie Dahlby! Plus: Dementia Smackdown Wrestling, Geek Bellydancing, Boob Tree (it's a game), Use Your Words (also a game), and of course... Kornflake's Dementia Water Aerobics! Hop in the pool, kids; we like to leave our fellow geeks soaking wet and exhausted.

Direct download: Flopcast_306.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:40am EDT

It's another movie-themed show, because Kornflake finally saw the latest Star Wars movie, just in time for actor John Boyega's birthday. (You know John. He plays Finn, the Stormtrooper with a heart of gold.) We also discuss Kornflake's January movie (for each month of 2018, she is watching a classic movie she should have seen years ago), Labyrinth! (Come on, it's Bowie and Muppets. Can't go wrong.) Then following a super-quick review of Black Panther, the rest of the show is all about Molly. We're gonna need 34 more candles, because our favorite Brat Packer, Molly Ringwald, just turned 50! So we're looking back at Molly's career, from Facts of Life (first season only, alas) through the John Hughes years and beyond, up to her present role as Archie's mom on Riverdale. And because Kevin just saw it, we spend way too much time on 1983's Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone. It has Molly, and Ernie Hudson, and space chickens, so we love it. There's some TV talk as well, about One Day at a Time and Red Oaks, because we also enjoy creepy 1980s mustache dudes. Don't judge us. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Molly! Next week: MarsCon.

Direct download: Flopcast_305.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

The Mayor of Chickentown returns with a full report from the big Los Angeles Doctor Who convention, Gallifrey One! Featuring: Doctor Who actors, writers, producers, podcasters, and puppeteers! Also featuring: Panels (the Mayor participated in several), costumers (including Yip-Yips, arguably not part of official Doctor Who canon), the Master (Doctor Who AND Lee Van Cleef versions), and our beloved Los Angeles Chicken Boy statue. Also: What's in the Bag, the ESO Network on Patreon, and National Retro Video Game Day (because if your game is more recent than ColecoVision, we're not interested).

Direct download: Flopcast_304.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:17am EDT

This week we open our long-neglected Flopcast Mailbag and find a Top 4 1/2 List of video games featuring chickens! It's a nice bizarre list, and the games are mostly new to us (since we stopped paying attention to anything after the 80s). But we were inspired to break out our old Atari 2600 and fire up a classic chicken game! So if you've always dreamed of listening to us play Freeway by Activision here on the Flopcast... this is your big day. Also: We're celebrating National Mulled Wine Day... with black coffee. Stay safe, kids. Don't drink and Atari.

Direct download: Flopcast_303.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:22am EDT

Join us as Kornflake prepares for MarsCon (March 2-4 in Bloomington, Minnesota)! Many friends of the Flopcast from the comedy music scene will be there too! The MarsCon Dementia Track will feature performances by the great Luke Ski, Power Salad, Insane Ian, Devo Spice, TV's Kyle and Lindzilla, the Library Bards, Marc With a C, brentalfloss (your Music Guest of Honor), and many more. And be sure to get up early and get in the pool, because yes, our own Kornflake is bringing Dementia Water Aerobics back to MarsCon. Let's see if there are any survivors this time. Also this week: Pangolins, the Pudding Pages, and perhaps a skink.

Direct download: Flopcast_302.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:31am EDT

It's World Hippo Day, and we're always up for a high-stakes round of Hungry Hungry Hippos... but we're still terrified by Henrietta from the New Zoo Revue. Meanwhile in this week's Chickens in the News, a weird bird known as the Bin Chicken emerges as a contender for Australia's Bird of the Year. (We assume Olivia Newton-John masterminded this whole operation.) And we also have a "What's in the Bag?" segment featuring a fine new item from our very own ESO Network! (Hint: It's time to reinstate the Flopcast Book Club.) And Los Angeles-area Doctor Who fans, beware! Our own Mayor of Chickentown will see you this week at Gallifrey One.

Direct download: Flopcast_301.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:13am EDT

Join us as we celebrate 300 episodes of The Flopcast! Yes, it's been 300 long weeks of giggling about stupid things for your amusement. (And yes, this has all been part of our court-ordered community service. Yikes, that judge was merciless.) So this week Kornflake has 300 other podcasts to recommend (don't worry, she moves quickly), while Kevin flips through a stack of comic books to see how Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and other heroes celebrated their 300th issues. (The short answer: With ads for Hostess Fruit Pies, Clark Bars, and Bubble Yum.) Plus: The classic version of National Whatever Day returns (just in time for World Nutella Day!); we review the top ten countries, and the top ten US states, for Flopcast listeners (alas, they're still ignoring us in North Dakota); we have a late addition to last week's memorial show list (sorry, Sister Sledge fans); and we plug our recent appearances on Earth Station One and Earth Station DCU. Okay, time to make 300 more shows. But first... Nutella.

Direct download: Flopcast_300.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:04am EDT

Once again, it's time for our annual memorial show, so we're looking back on everyone we lost in 2017, from the world of pop culture and beyond. (And once again, it's our longest Flopcast ever! We just can't help it.) Our list includes familiar old favorites from TV, movies, and music (such as Adam West, June Foray, Mary Tyler Moore, Tom Petty, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Don Rickles, David Cassidy, and Rose Marie), as well as directors, voice actors, comic book creators, game show hosts, wrestlers, and maybe a guy who could play three trumpets while hopping on a pogo stick. (Yeah, it's a long list.) In 2017, we lost Gomer Pyle, Joanie from Happy Days, Oscar Goldman from The Six Million Dollar Man, Morty from Meatballs ("Hi, Mickey!"), and Benson from, uh, Benson. But we'll get through this together. We'll settle things here, in our forum. That's what Judge Wapner would have wanted.

Direct download: Flopcast_299.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:04pm EDT

Kevin, Kornflake, and the Mayor of Chickentown have a full report on our weekend at "New England's largest and most diverse science fiction and fantasy convention," Arisia! Including: Kevin's panels on Riverdale and Saturday morning TV (yes, Robbie Rist was mentioned, more than once), keytar-based synthrock (and a Taylor Dayne cover!) from Minusworld, a gender-swapped Star Trek show from the Post-Meridian Radio Players, a Princess Bride shadowcast from the Teseracte Players, Geek Belly Dancing, stand-up comedy (from Wes Hazard, Srilatha Rajamani, Anthony Scibelli, Emily Ruskowski, and Nick Chambers), more panels (on Wonder Woman, A Wrinkle in Time, Hitchhiker's Guide, the movies of 1982, the year in science... and a panel about panels), Guest of Honor Mikki Kendall, Yukon Cornelius, the Mayor's new chicken suit, Kornflake singing in the swimming pool, and a wardrobe malfunction. Good job, nerds of Boston. We're exhausted.

Direct download: Flopcast_298.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:35am EDT

We're creeping around a convention in Boston right now (find us at Arisia!), but we saved something special for this week's show, from a whole different convention! It's a panel from the American Sci-Fi Classics track at DragonCon 2017! Join Kevin along with Scott Viguié, Anthony Taylor, and Andrew Gaska, as they discuss... Sci-Fi TV 1977! Our science fiction options were limited back in the disco era, before a certain little movie came along and Hollywood was conquered by space ships and robots. But things were interesting in 1977, and this panel covers TV shows ranging from the classic and beloved to the obscure and problematic. Including: Space 1999, Fantasy Island, The Man From Atlantis, Logan's Run, The Amazing Spider-Man, Space Academy, Quark, Lucan (does ANYBODY remember Lucan?), and lots more. Don't you wish you could leap back 41 years and watch them all over again, on a tiny TV with poor reception and no remote? Yeah, us too...

Direct download: Flopcast_297.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

We're in the middle of our 1990s-themed shows, so it's finally time to play the 90s Movie Game! (You may recall that we invented this goofy game last year. Check out Flopcast episodes 258 and 261 for the 80s and 70s versions.) The wacky premise is: For each year of the 1990s, we try to guess each other's favorite movie, points are awarded, and dreams of victory are crushed. For the 90s version, you can expect lots of Disney and Pixar, lots of Tim Burton, lots of Robin Williams, and lots of Kevin Smith. Maybe some Bradys and Ninja Turtles too. Will Kornflake be victorious yet again, or will Kevin's miserable losing streak finally come to an end? Let's find out. Meanwhile, if you're in the Boston area, you're probably buried in snow and ice like Arnold's victims from a certain 90s Bat-movie (that is NOT one of our favorites). But if you can possibly escape, join us January 12-15 at our first convention of the year, Arisia! But stay warm. Stay in your Yip-Yip costume.

Direct download: Flopcast_296.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:31am EDT

Why, it's New Year's Eve, so Kevin and Kornflake grab some coffee (that most festive of beverages) and look back at 2017. 'Twas a horrifying year overall (did you notice?), but we got through it together, and managed to have some fun here on our goofy little show. Our convention schedule was busy this year; highlights included our meeting with Judy Tenuta, our defense of Howard the Duck, and our final shocking confrontation with Greg Brady. We also brought you dozens of concert reports on the most exciting new artists of today, including Richard Marx, Men Without Hats, and Air Supply. (We define "today" as "at least 30 years ago.") And of course, 2017 also brought us a new Earth Station One book (have you read Kevin's weird chicken story yet?), a wonderful old Love Boat script, our ten-part review of High Feather (you're welcome!)... and the return of Robolar from Mars. But now it's time to look forward, as we also reveal our ridiculous New Year's Resolutions, and announce our schedule for Boston's favorite science fiction convention, Arisia! Join us there, get a Flopcast badge ribbon, and please bring more coffee.

Direct download: Flopcast_295.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:51am EDT

It's a quick show this holiday week, so you'll have plenty of time to dedicate to avoiding your family. But in the spirit of the season, we play a round of Figgy Pudding Pages, and discuss if kids prefer cool electronic games or weird hair appliances for Christmas. Also: A Flopcast correspondent reports live from Florida with a very festive Chickens in the News update. Plus: More 90s fun with MTV's The Real World, Elvis Costello, and Crash Test Dummies. Now it's time to pop in that DVD of Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey and relax. Pass the nog, please.

Direct download: Flopcast_294.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:04am EDT

Our goofy holiday festivities continue with a special visit from the Mayor of Chickentown! And the Mayor is here to present a Top 4 1/2 List of Mayors! Specifically, all those wacky mayors from our favorite holiday cartoons! You may recall the mayor from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (who freaked out over Mr. Trundle's broken clock) and the mayor from The Year Without a Santa Claus (who had to deal with those pesky Miser Brothers). But we cover some lesser known mayors too... including an evil mayor voiced by Charles Nelson Reilly! Yes, that really happened, and it was wonderful. Also: Tracy Bonham, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, the ESO Book Club, a Christmas Crustacean edition of What's in the Bag, and yes, evil gorillas. It's everything you need for a perfect holiday season. Enjoy.

Direct download: Flopcast_293.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:04pm EDT

This week we take a quick look back at some favorite cartoons, and one very memorable sax solo, from 1992. Also: Kevin returns to Oberon for a Nightmare Before Christmas concert and burlesque show with Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, and Kevin and the Mayor sneak down to Connecticut for another Speak Up storytelling show. And because we were in Connecticut, we have a major update on our recent Turkeys in the News segment! Join us as the story of Kevin the Turkey reaches its shocking conclusion. We also get Kornflake's final podcast recommendation of the year, and since we're in the middle of the stupid holidays, we recommend Grant's Advent Calendar too! Next week: More holiday silliness, probably. Meanwhile, watch out for turkeys.

Direct download: Flopcast_292.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:39pm EDT

It's a holiday spectacular, sort of, but not really! First, Kornflake's 1991 edition of National Whatever Day celebrates the debut of Ren and Stimpy, a show considered quite outrageous in its time. How innocent we were. Kornflake has also made her annual pilgrimage to the lobster trap Christmas tree up in Maine (a weird crustacean-themed holiday tradition, but why not). Meanwhile, Kevin ran around Boston like a maniac all week, and has concert reports on Letters to Cleo, Blake Babies, Squeeze, and Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers (with Lipstick Criminals). In other words, we're exhausted. But we still manage to play a round of Figgy Pudding Pages and come up with a wacky new holiday money-making scheme. (Listen to the show for details, but in short: If everyone knocks their Christmas trees over, we'll be filthy rich.)

Direct download: Flopcast_291.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:20am EDT

Our 1980s-themed shows have ended (but for how long?), and yikes, here come the 1990s. We'll get through this ten-episode descent into madness together, starting this week with a look at the year 1990. Yes, MC Hammer (and his giant pants) ruled the pop charts... but weirder acts like They Might Be Giants and Ed's Redeeming Qualities were around too, and that's what we liked. Meanwhile back here in 2017, Kornflake has a couple of concert reports. She traveled down to Rhode Island (land of coffee milk and lobby waffles) to see Eddie From Ohio, and up to New Hampshire (land of mountains and angry people) to see Janet Jackson! (You may remember Janet from Diff'rent Strokes, but did you know she is also a rather successful recording artist?) And Kornflake also has her podcast recommendation for November. Does it somehow involve Jon Cryer? Oh, you bet it does.

Direct download: Flopcast_290.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:17am EDT

In the final installment of our latest ten-part look at the 1980s, we recall the debut of the Energizer Bunny, and review how frightening Top 40 radio had become by 1989. (We'd rather listen to that stupid rabbit pound its little drum than suffer through any more Milli Vanilli.) We also have some listener feedback from last week's orangutan-themed Top 4 1/2 List, including a special message from the great Luke Ski! Then we move on to Thanksgiving topics, because Peppermint Patty just invited herself over and made us do it. In a special Turkeys in the News segment, we meet Wethersfield, Connecticut's most beloved citizen, Kevin the Turkey. (Is Connecticut also home to a Kornflake the Turkey? The search is on.) Also: One of our favorite podcasts, Foxes in the Hen House, is hosting a fun Thanksgiving weekend charity event, and they could use your help. Meanwhile, we'll be at the annual Black Friday David Bowie tribute concert with Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers and Lipstick Criminals! So don't just fill up on popcorn, jelly beans, and toast, and then nap all weekend. (Although that does sound like a good plan too... okay, your call.)

Direct download: Flopcast_289.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:48pm EDT

Kornflake is off this week (or is she???), but the Mayor of Chickentown is here to discuss the movies and music of 1988. (At the movies, it was a big year for Uma Thurman, Winona Ryder, and Dennis Farina's mustache. Meanwhile on the radio, the Escape Club warned us that we were heading for the 90s, and we were in trouble.) Then we celebrate the discovery of a new orangutan species with a quick Top 4 1/2 List of our favorite orangutans! Go ahead and sing a round of "Rock Me Doctor Zaius" as we recall some fine apes from movies, cartoons, and one bizarre sitcom. (Anyone else remember Mr. Smith?) Also: Our Halloween antics (and goofy costumes) in Salem and beyond, Kevin's recent guest appearances on Pop Culture Cosmos, listener feedback, and more. Next week: Less ape talk, more Kornflake. (Unless Kornflake wants to talk about apes. Then we'll have both.)

Direct download: Flopcast_288.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:51am EDT

Our ridiculous ten-episode trip through the 80s continues with a quick look at 1987! For astronomy fans, a supernova was visible in the sky; meanwhile back on Earth, we were dancing to Pet Shop Boys and Swing Out Sister. (The supernova, apparently not a fan of 80s pop, was unimpressed, and just kept on supernoving.) Also: Kevin has a surprise reunion with a couple of old friends and performers from his old open mic night (remember how we all spent the mid-90s in coffee shops?), Sean and Adam Fullerton. And we review the recent Super Megafest convention, where we found stars from LA Law, Battlestar Galactica, and The Flash, as well as our very favorite Bionic people, and the voice of Hermey the Elf. Who caused us to freak out the most? Oh yeah. It was Hermey.

Direct download: Flopcast_287.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

It's our goofy Halloween show, but we're also celebrating the year 1986! Oprah Winfrey's talk show debuted (but who cares), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted its first class (which totally should have included Air Supply), and Madonna invited you to make her "True Blue" music video. (Did you do it? She's probably still waiting.) Meanwhile this week, one friend of ours is participating in a 25-hour charity gaming event, while another friend is opening a new comic book store! (Our friends are crazy and that's how we like them.) And Kornflake has a 90s music-themed show for her monthly podcast recommendation. But it's Halloween, so we're also talking about lobster costumes, weird dentist pumpkins, the 1978 Halloween movie... and yes, problematic candy from the problematic candy nun. It's a subject that dates back to the very first episode of the Flopcast... but we're finally back with an update, as well as another ridiculous Flopcast Halloween taste test. Special thanks to Power Salad for providing this week's coffee, which we desperately needed to wash down all that weird (but delicious) nun candy.

Direct download: Flopcast_286.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT

This week we're celebrating 1985 by looking at the top ten songs from 32 years ago (including Tears For Fears, A-ha, and most importantly, "Oh Sheila" by Ready for the World) as well as a book that would eventually become a Tom Hanks movie (and we don't mean Mazes and Monsters). Then Kornflake reports on the Topsfield Fair, where she found an iconic disco act, a swimming pig, and an old friend of the Flopcast. And we get more information about that amazing autographed Love Boat script we received last week, straight from the source: Ed, from the Sponge Awareness Foundation! Also: Some follow-up on our list of robot animals from several weeks ago. (We missed some very important robot animals. Sorry, Bubo.)

Direct download: Flopcast_285.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:32am EDT

Stay angry, Monkees fans! It's time for our annual review of the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! And despite a complete lack of Air Supply, it's not a bad list this year. Find out which acts we're hoping will get in (come on, Cars) and which acts we're not so excited about (sorry, Kate Bush). But we are so excited about the Pointer Sisters. They're not on the list, but they did have a Top 10 song this week back in 1984 -- and since we're celebrating 1984, we review that list too. We also compare 1984 minivans to 1970s creepy vans. Then we end the show with a 1984-themed "What's in the Bag" segment... which turns into one of the most shocking and wonderful moments in the history of the Flopcast. Is Gopher from The Love Boat somehow involved? (Here's a hint: Yes.)

Direct download: Flopcast_284.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:41am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake celebrate 1983 with a fast car (maybe even faster than KITT) and the top ten songs from 34 years ago this week. (It's a weird mix of new wave, country, rockabilly, hat-free men, and Jim Steinman... so much Jim Steinman...) Also: At Granite State Comicon, we found old friends, artists, costumers, Spice Girls, Beavis, Daria, and drag-hens. (Drag-hens are dragon/chicken hybrids, and they're amazing.) Meanwhile it's almost time for another favorite convention, Super Megafest! It's October 21-22 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and the guest list includes the Bionic Man AND Bionic Woman, stars from Battlestar Galactica and The Flash, comedians, wrestlers... and Paul Soles, who was HERMEY THE ELF in the 1964 Rudolph cartoon! Be there. Plus: At the beginning of the summer, we tried to pick the winning teams for the new Battle of the Network Stars. Now it's time to check the results. Did our strategy of betting on Greg Brady, Daisy Duke, Potsie, Blair, and Tootie pay off? (Here's a hint: No.)

Direct download: Flopcast_283.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:42am EDT

It's a post-DragonCon catch-up show, with concert reports on the Bacon Brothers (we now have zero degrees of separation from the star of Footloose), They Might Be Giants (we celebrated with a whole day of old friends, shuttle buses, and watermelon), and Micky Dolenz (touring without Tork this year, but still delivering all your Monkees favorites). We also have a quick correction from last week's show, and it involves the Hardy Boys and the Partridge Family, as all corrections should. Plus: For National Whatever Day, we're looking back at 1982, including the opening of EPCOT Center (you know you want to ride through a giant golf ball) and the top ten songs from 35 years ago this week (we keep forgettin' how Michael McDonald sounds exactly like Michael McDonald).

Direct download: Flopcast_282.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:27am EDT

Here we go, kids: The Mayor of Chickentown joins Kevin and Kornflake to review our long weird weekend in Atlanta for DragonCon! Featuring: Panels on Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Westworld, Legion, Riverdale, Fantasy Island (!), Detective Chimp (?), and more; The Star Wars Holiday Special (original and puppet show versions); Doctor Who's Matt Smith; the casts of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and Birds of Prey; Howard the Duck's big day in court; Fake Adam Savage; RetroBlasting; Wicked Geeky; Yoda; pie; Captains Kangaroo and Crunch; Mighty Magiswords; and the debut of the new book Earth Station One: Tales of the Station Volume 2! (Warning: This book contains a goofy story by Kevin which may or may not feature a space chicken.) We also started DragonCon with some very rainy birdwatching, and ended DragonCon with an amazing Greater Atlanta Chicken Tour. We like to keep things strangely bird-themed. Also: We learn Kornflake's September podcast pick, and we celebrate 1981 with soft rock and Brady Brides. Now we'd better start preparing for DragonCon 2018. See you there, eighty thousand crazy people!

Direct download: Flopcast_281.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:45am EDT

We're still in DragonCon recovery mode around here, but this week we have something special from DragonCon to share with you! "Wonder Woman, at Last!" was Kevin's first panel of the weekend, for the American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media Track. Kevin was joined by panelists Jeni Green, Cammien Ray, Jenna Johnson, and Tyra Burton to discuss the Wonder Woman movie, which we all thought was just, you know, wonderful. (Let's throw a quick SPOILER WARNING right about here. If you haven't seen Wonder Woman yet, you may not want to hear this panel yet. Go see the movie first. You deserve it.) Discussion topics include the movie's cast, the World War 1 setting, the costumes (Functional attire for women in a superhero movie? This is madness!), the brilliance of director Patty Jenkins, the reactions on social media (good and bad), our favorite movie moments, and how in the world to pronounce "Gal Gadot." With a great lineup of panelists and an enthusiastic audience (standing room only!), this was a fine kickoff to DragonCon 2017, and we're thrilled to bring it to you. (If you don't believe us, hit us with your lasso of truth.) Meanwhile back in Chickentown: Since this is episode 280, we're starting a series of ten episodes celebrating each year of the 1980s! (Yes, we've done this before. We're quite predictable.) For the year 1980, Kevin has selected a Saturday morning cartoon about monsters. (See? Predictable.) Kornflake's pick, however, is from the world of sports! (Hey! Unpredictable! First time for everything...)

Direct download: Flopcast_280.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:24pm EDT

Kornflake is looking forward to Locate An Old Friend Day; Kevin is not. But we certainly agree on the awesomeness of the concert we attended recently, at which Kornflake was touched (literally) by Air Supply. This changes everything. We're also thrilled to announce the release of the ESO Network's new book, Earth Station One: Tales of the Station Volume 2! Kevin may have contributed a story to this book, and that story just might involve a chicken. You know you need this. We also look ahead at the upcoming Granite State Comicon, where we hope to locate a few old friends and not lose any more teeth. Next week: Our DragonCon review begins...

Direct download: Flopcast_279.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:53am EDT

It's a little later than usual (sorry, we've been very busy with very stupid things), but here is our sixth annual Flopcast Summer Robot Top 4 1/2 List! Hey, summertime is robot time around here. (We don't remember why... it just is.) And the subject for this year's list is... robot animals! We're listing our favorite robot dogs, robot cats, robot lobsters, and more. (But alas, no robot capybaras. Would some evil robot genius please get to work on that?) And these robots come from TV, music, cartoons, toys, coloring books, and secret government projects. (We may have said too much already.) So while we're still creeping around DragonCon (just in time for Wonderful Weirdos Day), enjoy this goofy little robot show! And feel free to dance, because our robot penguin is set on AUTO-PARTY.

Direct download: Flopcast_278.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

It's that time again! Time to panic! Join us as we frantically prepare for the craziest convention on the geek calendar... DragonCon. It promises to be another long, weird, wonderful Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, so let's get ready! The DragonCon guest list includes favorites from TV (Doctor Who's Matt Smith! MST3K's Trace, Frank, and Bill! Almost everybody from Star Trek: The Next Generation! Shatner! A Birds of Prey cast reunion! And more!), movies (Karl Urban! Michael Rooker! Chewbacca! JOHN CUSACK! And more!), music (Paul and Storm! Mikey Mason! Shelley Segal! Tom Smith! And yes, more!), and comics (Stan Lee! Plus a bunch more, but come on, STAN LEE!). Plus scientists, skeptics, writers, wrestlers, puppeteers, podcasters, and 6,000 Harley Quinns! We also run through Kevin's (tentative!) DragonCon schedule, which includes the DragonCon Walking Tour, the ESO Network Meet and Greet, Classic Sci-Fi Court, the Challenge of the Super-Nerds, and panels on Wonder Woman, Riverdale, Fantasy Island (really!), and much more. We're already exhausted. Also this week: We celebrate the Chicken Boy statue of Los Angeles, and Kornflake prepares for They Might Be Giants to invade Massachusetts! And in other podcasting news: Earth Station DCU looks at Batman: Year Three, The Pod of Destiny returns, and Luke and Carrie's Bad Rapport invents the Chicken Game. Okay, find us at DragonCon! Get a Flopcast badge ribbon! And then get out of our way!

Direct download: Flopcast_277.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:29am EDT

While preparing for this week's solar eclipse (with special glasses and coffee milk), Kevin and Kornflake catch up on their latest goofy summer activities, including: The Aquabats and CJ Ramone together in Boston; Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers under the stars at a science museum; Micky Dolenz and Billy West at the Boston SouthCoast Comic Con; Elvis Costello and the Imposters in Providence, Rhode Island; a visit to Alice's Restaurant in Stockbridge, Massachusetts; Petty Morals and Elettrodomestico (with Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's!) in Plymouth; and the Retro Futura tour, featuring a heap of classic 80s performers (Katrina, Paul Young, Modern English, English Beat, Men Without Hats, and Howard Jones). Then it's the shocking conclusion of our ten-part High Feather series review! In this week's "Food Follies" episode, our summer campers are singing, dancing, and hiding behind giant vegetables... and perhaps it's for the best that this is the end. Also: The return of Robolar! It's been decades since we last saw our favorite Boston-accented, Earth fruit-chomping Martian from that classic PSA, but now thanks to some friends of the Flopcast, Robolar is back. This is crazy. We're also celebrating the 87th birthday of Sean Connery (you remember him from such films as DragonHeart and Zardoz), and we wrap up this extra-long show with some Chickens in the News, as a giant angry chicken balloon arrives in Washington to join the resistance. Next week, at last: Our DragonCon preview. Get ready.

Direct download: Flopcast_276.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:20pm EDT

As we creep ever closer to DragonCon, we're celebrating National Badge Ribbon Day. (And yes, we'll have our ridiculous Flopcast badge ribbons at DragonCon, available for the very reasonable price of one human soul.) We also take another trip into the Pudding Pages, and learn of a shocking pudding-themed incident in Kornflake's past. And then, of course, we look at High Feather episode 9, featuring chocolate-covered tennis players, jelly sandwiches, and a little dog named Scruffy. Just one more High Feather episode to go, kids! Then we can all get on with our lives.

Direct download: Flopcast_275.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:50am EDT

Another goofy little summer show this week: We're celebrating Duran Duran Appreciation Day (despite being kicked out of the Union of the Snake years ago); Kornflake recommends My So Called Podcast (it's 90s-themed!); we play a long overdue round of The Pudding Pages (also 90s-themed, possibly Newsies-themed); we look at High Feather episode 8, in which the kids go to the county fair with a Micky Dolenz look-alike ne'er-do-well; and we learn that Kornflake once spent a week at Yogi Bear camp, where presumably the main activity is picnic basket theft, and the dress code is hats, ties, and collars only.

Direct download: Flopcast_274.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:40am EDT

It's a summertime catch up episode, before we completely shift into frantic get-ready-for-DragonCon mode! Discussed this week: Spider-Man Homecoming (they made another Kornflake-friendly superhero movie!), a Pink Floyd tribute show from Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers (called "The Blonde Side of the Moon," of course), TV Guidance Counselor live at Philly Podfest (you know we're always up for a crazy road trip), an online concert by Marc With a C (including an obscure Monkees cover, which we always appreciate), the Everyday Ethics podcast (Kornflake's podcast pick for July), and the dangers of singing in rounds (just don't risk it, kids). Also: Episode 7 of High Feather! Yes, we're still doing this. Sorry.

Direct download: Flopcast_273.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:11am EDT

We're gonna need a bigger podcast, because we're celebrating Shark Week with a ridiculous shark-themed Top 4 1/2 List! We have shark cartoons, shark TV shows, shark songs, shark candy, and perhaps even a real live shark. We also look at episode 6 of High Feather, in which our goofy summer campers get lost in the woods, end up at a scary farm, and meet a bunch of cows and chickens (but alas, no sharks). So has the Flopcast finally jumped the shark? If next week's show is hosted by Ted McGinley, you'll have your answer.

Direct download: Flopcast_272.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:43am EDT

We're back from Minnesota with a full report on CONvergence, an annual gathering of awesome crazy people who are really into convention badge ribbons. (We may have given out more Flopcast ribbons this year than ever before! It's the boldest fashion accessory of the season.) Our report features: Convention panels (on podcasting, Flash Gordon, Jack Kirby, Legends of Tomorrow, and the Star Wars Holiday Special), performances (from Beth Kinderman and the Player Characters, Karl Brown, Joseph Scrimshaw, and the Nerdlesque dancers), birds and snakes (from the Raptor Center and the Herpetological Society), life on Mars (hello, Robolar), an amazing Bea Arthur costume, and a field trip to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to visit a giant blue chicken. Meanwhile, Kornflake survived a dark and stormy night at Fenway Park, where she partied like it's 1991 with Paula Abdul, Boyz II Men, and her beloved New Kids on the Block. Also: We reach the halfway point in our High Feather series review with episode 5, featuring more summer camp ceramic mug-making action than you can possibly handle. And it's World Emoji Day. But instead of sending little smiley faces to your stupid friends, just send a turxt.

Direct download: Flopcast_271.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:22am EDT

Our excruciating all-summer-long review of High Feather continues! In High Feather episode 4, the kids publish the camp newspaper (using incredible technology like mimeograph machines and typewriters), and we learn a goofy apple-picking song too. (How did this show not sweep the Emmy Awards?) It's also National Gummy Worm Day, which makes us ponder the existence of gummy skinks (because creepy lizards just make everything better). And we review the list of celebrity contestants on the new Battle of the Network Stars, a revival of the classic (and ridiculous) Howard Cosell-hosted show from the 70s and 80s. The new show promises to be ridiculous too, but the players include Greg Brady, Danny Partridge, Daisy Duke, the Incredible Hulk, Isaac the Bartender, Electra Woman, and a couple of Facts of Life girls. So yeah, they have our attention, even if this is seriously cutting into our High Feather time. Next week: We'll be back from CONvergence! Hopefully!

Direct download: Flopcast_270.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Kornflake tells us about Boom Box Parade Day (probably the biggest American holiday celebrated on July 4th), so stock up on D batteries and take to the streets. Meanwhile, Kevin and Kornflake's recent activities include a trip to Vermont (featuring frogs, whistlepigs, and cheap CDs), a trip to New Hampshire (featuring wine, painting, and the music of Eddie Rabbitt), and live shows from Joan Osborne, Rifftrax, and The Great Molasses Flood. Then it's time to review High Feather episode 3, in which we learn that you can eat all the Hostess Cupcakes you want, as long as you're the Six Million Dollar Man. (These High Feather health tips just keep getting weirder.) Also: You can find Kevin on a couple of other podcasts this week: The Batcave Podcast (for a tribute to Adam West) and Earth Station One (for an ESO book club discussion of Watchmen). Now we're off to Minnesota, and we're bringing turkey ribbons. See you at CONvergence.

Direct download: Flopcast_269.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:11am EDT

Meteor Day is this week, and it's a painful reminder that we can never remember which ones are meteors, which are meteorites, and which are meteoroids. (There must be a better way. Let's just call them all meat-balls.) Meanwhile our summer-long review of High Feather (a forgotten TV series about summer camp) continues with a look at episode 2, featuring ceramic snakes, pickleball, Cookie Crisp, a carrot cake song, and a disturbing ritual known as "Frenching the bed." We also look ahead at one of our favorite conventions: CONvergence is July 6-9 in Bloomington, Minnesota! Kevin will be appearing on several panels there, on subjects including comic books, podcasting, the Flash Gordon movie, and yes, the Star Wars Holiday Special. (We're celebrating Life Day in July this year. Deal with it.) And in our "What's in the Bag?" segment, we reveal the fabulous prizes we'll be handing out at CONvergence, FlopFest, and beyond. (Here's a hint: They're sort of stupid.)

Direct download: Flopcast_268.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03am EDT

Flopcast listeners follow up on last week's turtle list with some favorite turtles of their own (yikes, we missed some good ones); Kornflake attends a Jim's Big Ego house concert along with her close personal friend Mr. Peanut; we loved the new Wonder Woman movie, even though the invisible plane was missing (or was it?); and it's Hike With a Geek Day, but we're encouraging geeks everywhere to stay inside and watch High Feather. Yes, we're starting our summer-long review of High Feather, an obscure 1980 educational TV series about kids at summer camp. You probably missed it, but this is your big chance, because the Mayor of Chickentown has set up a High Feather playlist on our new Flopcast YouTube channel! Now you have no need to leave the house all summer long. You're welcome.

Direct download: Flopcast_267.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

It's mostly turtle talk this week, kids -- join us for a Top 4 1/2 List of our favorite turtles! The list includes a ninja turtle or two, of course, as well as some slightly lesser known turtles from animation, comic books, music, movies, literature, and perhaps even the real world. (Oh, they're out there. And they're coming right at you. Very slowly.) Also: Since we've hit another episode number that ends in 66, we must again recommend the movie Life on the V: The Story of V66! (For 80s music nerds like us, this is required viewing.) Plus: It's National Eat Your Vegetables Day, which somehow inspired us to start a High Feather viewing club! Watch High Feather episode 1 this week, and we'll discuss it next week. (If you don't remember High Feather, that's okay. No one remembers High Feather. Watch it anyway.) Meanwhile, if we missed your favorite turtle, let us know! Or just tell a turtle; it will get the message to us. Very slowly.

Direct download: Flopcast_266.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:32am EDT

It's a mostly music-themed little show this week, with quick concert reports on Ben Folds (with the Boston Pops), Petty Morals, Go Betty Go, and The Dollyrots. We also recommend the new album from comedy band Power Salad, fail to attend an a capella festival (which is probably for the best), and create the perfect soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (you're welcome, Hollywood). Plus: In honor of Toy Industry Association Day, we recall our favorite toy stores of the past. (If anyone wants to time travel back to 1977 and pick up some Mego Teen Titans dolls at Child World, we'll gladly pay retail. Don't forget Aqualad.)

Direct download: Flopcast_265.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:49am EDT

We have an unusual show this week, and needless to say, it involves Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Years ago, we rescued a weird old book from a Woonsocket library book sale. It's called "My Private Life: A Personal Record For the Teen Years"... and this copy was actually filled in, by an actual teen, way back in 1966. Now don't worry; despite the title, there's nothing really private in it. But it does offer a fun glimpse at the life of a junior high student we'll call Joyce (not her real name) half a century ago. (The short version: Joyce was into horses, bell bottoms, horses, Batman, the Dave Clark Five, and horses.) Also: Kornflake recommends Pod Casserole (another fine show right here on the ESO Network), and the people of Fruita, Colorado are celebrating Miracle Mike the Headless Chicken. (If only Mike had kept a diary too...)

Direct download: Flopcast_264.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:33am EDT

Kornflake celebrates National Title Track Day with another goofy Flopcast game, in which we must identify album title tracks. (It would have been so much easier if we only used Air Supply songs.) Then Kevin reports on Boston's Women in Comedy Festival, with shows featuring our own Niki Luparelli, comedy music duo Abbaria, Second City's Kirsten Rasmussen, SNL's Sasheer Zamata, and more. We also discuss recent Boston-area concerts by Aimee Mann and Jonathan Coulton, Catie Curtis... and Midnight Oil. (Yikes, we need Midnight Oil now more than ever. As you may have noticed, our beds are still burning.) Plus: One of our favorite "What's in the Bag" segments ever, because the bag itself is awesome, its contents involve strange animals and a classic 80s cartoon, and now we have the power.

Direct download: Flopcast_263.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:14am EDT

Yes, our goofy little podcast is five years old this week, so we're celebrating, as expected, with coffee and more coffee. But we're also looking back at all our amazing guests (yikes, for a show that doesn't have a lot of guests, we've had a lot of guests) and beloved Flopcast segments. (We run through just about every subject ever covered in our Top 4 1/2 List, Pudding Pages, Chickens in the News, and What's in the Bag segments. It's a long, weird list. Get comfortable.) So hey, thanks for listening! We assure you, the next five years will be just as stupid.

Direct download: Flopcast_262.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:46am EDT

Kornflake is out sick this week, so the Mayor of Chickentown is filling in as special guest host. And with nothing better to do, we decided to play another stupid game. Yes, this is the 1970s version of that 1980s movie game we invented just a few weeks back. And yikes, the 70s and the 80s were two very different decades in film. (The 70s were much creepier, and suffered from a severe lack of Molly Ringwald.) So join us as Kevin and the Mayor try to guess each other's favorite movies from each year of the 1970s. There were some obvious picks from Lucas and Spielberg, as well as musicals, cartoons, disaster movies, obscure horror movies about frogs, and anything with Jackie Earle Haley. Will the 70s game make Kevin as crazy and frustrated as the 80s game? Let's hope so. And worry not; Kornflake shall return next week, as we celebrate five ridiculous years of the Flopcast. (If you listen carefully, you'll even hear Kornflake on this week's show, because Kornflake cannot be stopped.)

Direct download: Flopcast_261.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:53pm EDT

You asked for more Flopcast Top 4 1/2 Lists, and as long as you don't mind the topics getting stupider, we shall deliver. This week, for example, we're counting down our favorite Eds and/or Eddies. (Hey, you were warned.) Get ready for a bunch of Eds and Eddies from sitcoms, movies, Top 40 radio, and more. (Warning: Both Ed Grimley and Eddie Munster somehow didn't make the list, and we're not happy about it either. Some tough choices had to be made, but hopefully we'll all come out a little stronger on the other side.) Also: Free Comic Book Day, a secret chicken project, and carrots. (Warning: Do not leave the carrots unattended around Eddie Rabbitt.)

Direct download: Flopcast_260.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:45pm EDT

We're sleepy and confused as usual, but we're back with a quick silly report from Super Megafest! It's one of our favorite local conventions, and we ran into many of our favorite local nerds. We also ran into WKRP in Cincinnati's Loni Anderson, Flash Gordon's Sam Jones... and yes, Greg Brady himself, the one and only Barry Williams. (To prepare emotionally for this moment, we've been listening to Barry's amazing album "The Return of Johnny Bravo" all week. The suit still fits.) Also: Why we didn't run the Boston Marathon, the new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, a "What's in the Bag" segment featuring Canadian dinosaurs, and how to celebrate New Kids on the Block Day. But never mind all that. We finally met a Brady. It truly is a sunshine day.

Direct download: Flopcast_259.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:44am EDT

Ready for a stupid game? Kevin and Kornflake have each compiled a list of their favorite movies for each year of the 1980s (which, according to scientists, is the only decade that really matters). Now it's time to learn which of your Flopcast hosts knows more about the other, as we attempt to guess each other's choices, year by awesome year. And this is a high-stakes competition: the winner gets more coffee. (Yeah, we were both going to have more coffee anyway... but it's still an amazing prize. We like coffee.) And it's a fun list; you can expect lots of Disney, lots of Brat Pack... and a shocking amount of Corey Feldman. And hey, send us your own list of 80s favorites! We probably missed some good ones, especially if they didn't have any Coreys. Also: An actor who appeared in many of the biggest movies of the 80s is turning 80 this week! (Over the years, he worked with the Monkees, he fought with Batman, and he was a werewolf. But he'll never be a Corey.)

Direct download: Flopcast_258.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:51am EDT

This week the Mayor of Chickentown joins Kornflake for a Top 4 1/2 List of pop culture catchphrases! (Kevin could not be bothered to prepare a list. Hey, someone has to sip coffee and make sarcastic comments. That's important too.) So we cover a bunch of the goofy catchphrases (from sitcoms, cartoons, and more) that have been trapped in our poor brains for the last few decades. Maybe they're fun, or maybe they're super-annoying, but they're here, and we just have to deal with them. (And yes, Mr. T is represented. We could have stayed on Mr. T for the whole list...) So enjoy the show, and remember to scream "It's Turkey Time!" at everyone you see, all the time, from now on. We're sort of trying to start a new catchphrase.

Direct download: Flopcast_257.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:18am EDT

Thanks to an annoying springtime snowstorm, Kornflake cannot get to Chickentown Studios! So we're on Skype for this week's show... which means Kevin gets all the coffee. But we do have a couple of goofy concert reports, because Kornflake won Dar Williams tickets from a college radio station, while Kevin attended a benefit show with Belly, Nada Surf, Juliana Hatfield, Evan Dando, and more. (Sometimes you just have to party like it's 1995.) And because we tend to get everything wrong, we have a bunch of corrections from recent Flopcast episodes, on very important subjects like Donkey Kong, Flash Gordon, and skinks. Also: April 4th is World Rat Day! Now when it comes to rodents, the capybara will always be our favorite. But sure, let the rats have their big day. Especially if Patton Oswalt agrees to do all their voices.

Direct download: Flopcast_256.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:28am EDT

Here in miserable freezing Massachusetts, a knitting club is making tiny sweaters for chickens. (Yes, this is our kind of news item.) But this week we're also celebrating funny women (for She's Funny That Way Day), discussing Planters Cheez Balls (because they're tasty and weird and really good for you), and looking forward to the upcoming Super Megafest convention (April 7-9 in Marlborough, Massachusetts -- hopefully the weather will be more chicken-friendly by then). Super Megafest's guests include stars from Smallville, I Dream of Jeannie, WKRP in Cincinnati, Star Trek, The Outsiders... and a certain sitcom legend who has us absolutely terrified. Also: For some reason, we can't stop talking about Mr. Peanut. Maybe it's the monocle.

Direct download: Flopcast_255.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:19am EDT

Kornflake is back from Minnesota with a full report on MarsCon, which featured performances by: Carrie Dahlby, the great Luke Ski, Mikey Mason, Devo Spice, Marc with a C, Power Salad, Insane Ian, the Library Bards, and Guest of Honor Judy Tenuta! Plus: Dementia Smackdown Wrestling, Kyle and Luke Talk About Toons, the Space Oddity Music Club and Brew Pub, Klingons, karaoke, and a chicken! And yes, Kornflake found a way to terrify the hotel staff while preparing for her Dementia Water Aerobics class. We also play a round of What's in the Bag, celebrate Swedish waffles, and get Kevin's report from Northeast Comic Con, featuring Adam West and Burt Ward in the middle of an abandoned department store. So it was a busy week. Next week we're staying home.

Direct download: Flopcast_254.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:36am EDT

Although they're not Air Supply, we're still excited about the upcoming reunion tour by another great Australian band, Midnight Oil. (Hey, Air Supply and Midnight Oil should tour together! And Men at Work too! We'll bring the Vegemite sandwiches.) However, acquiring Midnight Oil tickets has been tricky. (Who knew there would be this much demand to see a giant screaming bald dude from down under? We thought it was just us.) Anyway, this week we're recalling how we used to get concert tickets back in the pre-internet era. Remember calling the box office a billion times (and getting nothing but busy signals)? Trying to win radio contests? (Be the 92nd caller next time we play Wang Chung!) Lining up at dawn outside a record store with hundreds of annoying crazy people? What fun... These days, of course, we're all just online, clicking little boxes, desperately trying to convince Ticketmaster that we're not robots. (As far as they know...) Also: Kornflake's March podcast recommendation is Manic Mondays, hosted by our pal Devo Spice! And it's International Ask a Question Day! (We're thankful for the "international" part, because most of our questions involve Vegemite.)

Direct download: Flopcast_253.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:26am EDT

The Mayor of Chickentown returns with a report from the Los Angeles Doctor Who convention known as Gallifrey One, where she found the original K9 robot dog (and yeah, some robot mummies), but did not find the great Luke Ski (or pants). Meanwhile Kevin breaks his vow never to leave the house again, first to butcher a Men at Work song at karaoke, and then to play Tron at a crazy little movie theater hidden deep inside an ancient mill. But when we're done with Tron, Kornflake suggests we play Mario Brothers, because Mario Day is this week! (Time to hang that Mario Lopez poster in your locker again...) Also: Our friends at the Foxes in the Hen House podcast just released their annual romantic fan fiction episode. It's hilarious, and we just might have suggested one of the ridiculous characters involved...

Direct download: Flopcast_252.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am EDT

We know you've all been wondering what we would do for our big milestone episode 251 celebration... and the answer is... not much! But this is still a fun little show with several classic Flopcast segments: National Whatever Day (which involves flowers and strippers, as all days should), What's in the Bag (it's something festive and delicious and 251-themed), and Chickens in the News (lock up your giant concrete hens; those chicken statue thieves have struck again). We also flip through a big stack of 251 comic books (trust us, it's a weird collection), and run through a list of sitcoms with at least 251 episodes. (The Simpsons is way out in front with over 600 episodes, while another old favorite, The Jeffersons, just barely makes the cut. But when it comes to wacky neighbors, we'll still take Mr. Bentley over Flanders.) So thanks for joining us, stick around for our next 251 episodes, and we'll see you at the big 502 celebration...

Direct download: Flopcast_251.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:01am EDT

Kevin returns to his old stomping grounds of Woonsocket, Rhode Island for a frighteningly close encounter with 1980s pop icon (and our personal hair hero) Richard Marx. (Yes, he was right there waiting, and yes, we should've known better... yikes, these Richard Marx references are becoming something of a hazard... 'twas a great concert nevertheless.) Not knowing when to quit, Kevin then makes a second visit to Rhode Island, this time to see The Mads (that is, Mystery Science Theater 3000's Frank and Trace, who brought along a goofy old movie, believe it or not). And along the way, we just might run into a member of our favorite synthpop band, and discover the Golden Chicken award. Meanwhile, Kornflake has her latest podcast recommendation (featuring science, and grit, and barking people), and teaches us about Single Tasking Day. (Single tasking is way more effective than multi-tasking -- especially if, like us, you lack the wisdom of a wombat.)

Direct download: Flopcast_250.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:36pm EDT

In honor of Champion Crab Races Day, we recall weird pet hermit crabs, weird comic book ads for Crazy Crabs, and weird late night calls for crab rangoon. And to keep a weird animal theme running through the whole show, we also have a lobster-inspired round of "What's in the Bag," and Kornflake reports on her visit to Zoo Creatures in Plaistow, New Hampshire. Stop by and make friends with the goats, eels, snakes, skinks, a turkey, and yes, a kookaburra. (A little touch of Australia in the Granite State; Air Supply would be so proud.)

Direct download: Flopcast_249.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:42am EDT

It's time to review our long crazy day at the Boston Women's March! (The ride into the city was crazy enough; all 175,000 marchers squished into the same subway car, or so it seemed...) Lots more friends of the Flopcast were out that day too, both in Boston and throughout the world... but the only familiar face we found in the crowd was Keytar Bear. (A bear playing a keytar does tend to stand out...) And in an effort to be completely exhausted, we also attended the ACLU benefit after-party, with awesome performances by Stars Like Ours, Carissa Johnson, and Petty Morals. (Did the whole night end with an appropriate George Michael cover? But of course.) Plus: Listener feedback from last week's Top 4 1/2 List of doctors! (Yikes, we missed some big ones.) And Kornflake reminds us to celebrate Plimsoll Line Day, because these may not be good times, but you still have to keep your head above water. (See, no matter how bad things get, we'll just keep making sitcom references...)

Direct download: Flopcast_248.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:18am EDT

After a brief but vital discussion about hula dancing in the winter (we highly recommend a weather-resistant adhesive for your coconut bikini), Kevin and Kornflake present a Top 4 1/2 List of our favorite doctors. Plenty of Muppets are on the list (you'd be surprised how many puppets and cartoon characters are licensed medical professionals), as well as doctors from Star Trek, The Krofft Supershow, Lost in Space, and even some doctor songs. (Apparently Doctor Worm is NOT a real doctor. But he's still on the list, and his drumming is getting better.) But if we missed your favorite doctor (because yikes, there are a bunch of them), let us know! We look forward to all those cards and letters from angry Whovians...

Direct download: Flopcast_247.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:08am EDT

Kevin is back from Arisia (Boston's big science fiction convention, held in the middle of winter, to eliminate the weak), with a full report including cosplayers, birdwatchers, bad science, a parade of wet singing people, and some Foxes in the Hen House. Meanwhile Kornflake is preparing for MarsCon (also a science fiction convention, but in Minnesota, where they must think our Boston winters are just adorable). And this year, MarsCon's Dementia Track (a whole weekend of comedy music concerts) will feature as Guest of Honor... Judy Tenuta! Prepare to surrender to the Love Goddess. We also recommend a couple of MarsCon-related fundraisers, and we suspect that Kornflake's MarsCon Dementia Water Aerobics class will be ruined by Neil Diamond. As Judy says, it could happen.

Direct download: Flopcast_246.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:45pm EDT

It's time for our annual memorial show, as we look back on those we lost in 2016, and knock back shots of coffee and/or water (you know, the hard stuff) in their honor. We remember the big ones, of course, like David Bowie, George Michael, and Prince (not to mention a certain Princess). But yikes, there were so many more, including old TV favorites like Grizzly Adams, Mrs. Brady, Henry from Punky Brewster, Mr. Carlin from The Bob Newhart Show, and yeah, Schneider from One Day at a Time. (If you want to walk around today wearing a tool belt and a weird little mustache, we'll understand.) We also cover people from music, comics, animation, wrestling, science... and we had to include a whole Star Wars category. Will even Kevin, Kornflake, and The Mayor of Chickentown survive this, the longest episode in Flopcast history? Let's find out. Then we'll go forward. Because that's what Abe Vigoda would have wanted.

Direct download: Flopcast_245.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:37am EDT

Just in time to be too late for the holidays, we open the Flopcast mailbag for a "What's in the Bag?" segment, and find a couple of mysterious envelopes mailed with Rankin Bass Rudolph stamps! Then as we prepare for next weekend's Arisia science fiction convention, we have even more events coming up the following weekend. On Saturday January 21st, there will be Women's March events happening all over the place -- look for us at the Boston version. And hey, Boston people, stick around for the after-party, featuring one of our favorite local rock bands, Petty Morals. (So much for our big plan to spend January hiding in a pillow fort...) Also: We celebrate Dave Grohl's birthday by actually drumming with an actual drumstick once used by an actual rock star. (But not Dave Grohl. You know we never get things quite right around here.)

Direct download: Flopcast_244.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:55am EDT

It's our first show of 2017, so once again it's time to reveal our New Year's Resolutions. (Kornflake's will interest you podcast fans, while Kevin's is just stupid. Some things never change.) And we have some rare Flopcast sports talk, because Kevin and Brittany went to see the Patriots (that's our local football team, you nerds), and encountered rain, free cookies, and rain. We also look ahead to Arisia (Boston's big science fiction convention, January 13-16), where you can sing in a swimming pool, learn how to be a cyborg, learn about bird-watching, and see Kevin on a panel about comic book art. (Hopefully that will all happen in the same room at the same time.) And just in time for the horrifying new year, we're celebrating I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore Day, and you should too. Dee Snider will be so proud.

Direct download: Flopcast_243.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:27am EDT

If you want to spend the holidays hiding from your family and listening to goofy podcasts, we have you covered (for 23 minutes, at least). First we celebrate No Interruption Day, and you can too, whether you're catching up on work or bellying up to the bar. (Let nothing interrupt that egg nog. You deserve it.) Then we secretly replace our regular Pudding Pages segment with a more festive version, the Figgy Pudding Pages, and recall nature shows from back in the 80s. (Come on, who wouldn't want to go on a safari with Boy George?) And we sneak in a little "Chickens in the News" too, as our friend Kitty reminds us that two chicken heads are way better than one. After that, you're on your own. (But if you haven't suffered through the Star Wars Holiday Special in a while, that's always an option. Just one more round with Bea Arthur, friend.)

Direct download: Flopcast_242.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Your Flopcast hosts have not been spotted together at many conventions in 2016, but it happened at Northeast Comic Con! (Just barely -- Kornflake was feeling under the weather, but still managed to arrive fashionably late. 'Twas a holiday miracle.) Wandering around the convention, we ran into a bunch of friends (including Tiki Zombie's Mike Gordon, TV Guidance Counselor's Ken Reid, and the Rubber Chicken Comics guys), a bunch of great costumes (including a "Stranger Things" costume that was just brilliant), and a bunch of people in Devo energy domes, because yikes, two members of Devo were there! (We love Devo... and as you may have noticed recently, they were right about "De-Evolution" after all. So show some respect, you spuds.) We also stayed for the Saturday night concert, with performers including Tsunami of Sound (with special guest Billy West!), The Lights Out (Kornflake's new favorite rock band), and The Fantastic Plastics (a Devo-inspired sci-fi pop duo with a theremin... so yeah, we sort of fell in love with them). We also have some recent podcasts to plug, from our friends at Earth Station One, Pop Culture Cosmos, and Grant's Advent Calendar. And thanks to National Whatever Day, we're thinking about "9 to 5." (Not the song, not the movie, but the sitcom. We try to make everything about 80s sitcoms. Hey, remember when Devo appeared on "Square Pegs"? We sure do.)

Direct download: Flopcast_241.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:43am EDT

Just in time for the stupid holidays, it's the long-awaited (by two or three people, maybe) return of the Flopcast Top 4 1/2 List! And in a desperate attempt to be festive, we're counting down our favorite holiday villains! If you've watched as many holiday cartoons as we have, you know there's a never-ending supply of creepy characters who want to stop Christmas, arrest Santa, turn Frosty into a puddle, kidnap Baby New Year, tell big fat lies to Cindy Lou Who, and of course, get rid of all the toys. (Raggedy Ann even faced a holiday villain obsessed with sealing up all the toys in "gloopstik" -- remember?) So if you're as cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel, we just might be celebrating you this week. (We're also celebrating World Monkey Day. We're multitasking. We're despicable and we make ourselves plain sickable. Don't judge us.)

Direct download: Flopcast_240.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:08am EDT

A trio of festive concert reports this week: Kornflake journeyed to a casino in the middle of Rhode Island and finally saw The Monkees (parking was tricky, but the view of Peter Tork was outstanding); meanwhile, Kevin and the Mayor were in Boston for the long-awaited return of Letters to Cleo (for the record, Kay Hanley remains our favorite singer in the universe); and once again we dodged flying undergarments at Niki Luparelli's annual David Bowie tribute concert and burlesque show. We also celebrate the 100th birthday of Mr. Peanut (the secret of eternal youth -- wear a top hat, a monocle, and nothing else), and remind everyone to appreciate ninjas. Especially coffee ninjas.

Direct download: Flopcast_239.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22am EDT

Great Hera, it's another 75th anniversary show, and this is a big one: we're celebrating Wonder Woman. We'll look back at Princess Diana's curious 1941 comic book roots, her bizarre 1960s TV pilot (YouTube it right now -- your head will explode), her goofy animated adventures with the Super Friends, the TV movie that got it wrong (with a pre-That's Incredible Cathy Lee Crosby and a pre-Fantasy Island Ricardo Montalban), and the TV series that got it right (when we all fell in love with Lynda Carter). And along the way, we'll point out several connections between Wonder Woman, The Brady Bunch, and The Facts of Life. (Hey, it's The Flopcast. You knew the risks.) So fire up your invisible airplane and join us. (If you bring along a magic lasso too, you'll see that we are quite sincere.)

Direct download: Flopcast_238.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm EDT

It's Thanksgiving week, and we're celebrating with cranberries, espresso, and Robbie Rist (you know, just like the Pilgrims). We also catch up on silly events of the last few weeks, including a weird trip to Rockport for a Joan Osborne concert, our friend Mous E's 25-hour charity gaming marathon (including Operation!), and Kevin's attempt at an even dumber Halloween costume than last year's debacle. (They said it couldn't be done. Challenge accepted.) And we're looking forward to next week's David Bowie tribute concert from Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers (with burlesque from the Lipstick Criminals), and next month's Northeast Comic Con (featuring Dean Cain, Billy West, members of Devo, TV Guidance Counselor's Ken Reid, The Lights Out, and perhaps even a Tiki Zombie). So hey, Happy Thanksgiving, true believers. We'll never be as festive as a giant Underdog balloon, but we're trying.

Direct download: Flopcast_237.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:59pm EDT

Okay, it's been a tough week, and we're even more frightened and confused than usual. But we have pizza (watch out for those creepy anchovies), we have root beer (and its tricky pal, Moxie), and we have a bootleg DVD of the ridiculous 1986 made-for-TV movie Combat Academy. (The cast is just amazing... if you think George Clooney never worked with George Jefferson, Cliff Clavin, Klinger from MASH, Doc from The Love Boat, and Bull from Night Court, we have evidence to the contrary...) So this week, we're just chomping on pie and learning why Kornflake is so obsessed with this goofy little movie. Next week: We keep going.

Direct download: Flopcast_236.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:10am EDT

Cover yourselves -- it's time for our annual whining and complaining about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! However, this year we're thrilled to announce that the nominees are The Monkees, The Go-Go's, Devo, Lionel Richie, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and Air Supply! So this will be... oh wait, sorry... give us a minute to snap back into reality. But hey, even the real list has some fine nominees, like Electric Light Orchestra (yikes, it's about time) and Kraftwerk (we do love scary synthy robot bands). And the long-awaited nomination of Journey means that arena rock is finally on the table! (Someday, REO Speedwagon, someday...) Join us as we look at each nominee, and learn which acts are Flopcast-approved (truly the highest honor in pop music). Also: It's Sally Field's birthday, and we have some weird ideas about how to reboot The Flying Nun.

 

Direct download: Flopcast_235.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:03am EDT

Since two geeky conventions happened the same weekend, we divided and conquered. Kornflake wandered up to New Hampshire for Granite Game Summit, where she enjoyed a new game called Junk Art (but don't forget the classics, kids; we're still endlessly amused by Hungry Hungry Hippos). Meanwhile Kevin was at Super Megafest, along with the guys from Rubber Chicken Comics, the ladies of Wicked Geeky, Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers, "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid), David Mazouz (Gotham), Richard Dean Anderson and Richard Grieco (best known for their Facts of Life backdoor pilots), Aileen Quinn (from the 1982 Annie movie, and her fun new band The Leapin' Lizards), and yes, Meat Loaf. Also: Our friends Kyle and Lindsay made a VERY quick trip to Massachusetts (because they were kidnapped by Kornflake) for water aerobics, brunch, and butterflies. (You're all watching Kyle's new cartoon series Mighty Magiswords, right? RIGHT?) And it's National Cookie Monster Day, which is good enough for us.

Direct download: Flopcast_234.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:15pm EDT

This week we're rolling (Del Amitri-style) back twenty years to recall the music of 1996. (You can blame Dar Williams; we just saw her in concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of her classic Mortal City album...) 'Twas an odd time in music... while the post-grunge pop charts were dominated by the likes of Celine Dion and those Macarena dudes, some interesting new acts were breaking through too. Some of them stuck around for a while (Alanis Morissette, Blues Traveler, No Doubt), while others had just a hit single and a weird band name (Spacehog, Dog's Eye View... and yikes, Deep Blue Something). The Barenaked Ladies broke into their old apartment, Dishwalla counted blue cars, and Tracy Bonham just kept screaming at her mother. Joan Osborne had some questions about God... but World Pasta Day is this week, and we're more curious about the Flying Spaghetti Monster. So relax at your favorite coffee shop (that's certainly where we spent most of 1996) and enjoy the show. We hope you find it even better than Ezra.

Direct download: Flopcast_233.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43am EDT

If you're a fan of Wonder Woman and/or potatoes, we have more podcast recommendations; rapper Eminem has a birthday this week (can you guess which one of us is a fan?); in the long-awaited return of "Chickens in the News," we find a chicken crossing the road in Scotland (probably searching for the Bay City Rollers); and we preview next weekend's Super Megafest convention, featuring comedy from our pals Niki Luparelli and Ken Reid, as well as stars from Good Times, Gotham, The Karate Kid, The Outsiders, Annie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a forgotten backdoor pilot episode of The Facts of Life. (We still believe that "Tootie's Aunt and MacGyver" could've been a big hit...)

Direct download: Flopcast_232.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:37am EDT

This week we rediscover Big John Little John (a lost classic of 1970s Saturday morning TV, starring Robbie Rist!); during weird trips to the dentist, Kevin gets a flu shot and Kornflake gets a flop wreath (both will protect us through the winter); our new stack of comic books includes Josie and the Pussycats (alas, they're not in outer space... yet), The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror (featuring Homer as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man), and Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (by Jill Thompson, who once gave us cupcakes); Would I Lie to You (Kornflake's favorite British game show) is back, with some familiar guest stars; and we end with a "What's in the Bag" segment, compliments of an old friend of the Flopcast who knows what we like. (That'd be chickens and robots, of course.)

Direct download: Flopcast_231.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:07am EDT

It's election season (had you noticed?), and the Mayor of Chickentown buys our votes with magical coffee-themed gifts; in case you're somehow not sick of our voices yet, we list our recent guest appearances on other podcasts (talking about DragonCon, Watchmen, iZombie, and more); Siri teaches us all about crayfish (for one thing, they're not made of crayons -- thanks for nothing, Ms. Russo's eighth grade biology class!); Mighty Magiswords, that crazy awesome cartoon created by our pal Kyle, is now a series on Cartoon Network (we haven't been this excited since Fangface); and it's National Kale Day... but we're just going to stick with our coffee.

Direct download: Flopcast_230.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:41am EDT

It's our annual DragonCon review show, in which Kornflake patiently tolerates Kevin's endless yammering about our very favorite gathering of nerds and/or geeks in hot and sticky downtown Atlanta, Georgia! Featuring: All our crazy awesome friends from the ESO Network, the American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track, the American Sci-Fi Classics Track, and Wicked Geeky; a field trip to the Center for Puppetry Arts (to visit all the Muppets, plus Kornflake's old friend Up-Up from Romper Room); the Cult of the Marriott Carpet; Kevin explaining "filk" on DragonCon TV; panels on Little Shop of Horrors, Watchmen, Gotham, Wonder Woman (with George Pérez!), and mullets; music from Here Come the Mummies, Kirby Krackle, Paul and Storm, Molly Lewis, The Doubleclicks, and Jonathan Coulton; the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Frank, Trace, and Bill!); the stars of Flash Gordon and/or Manimal (Sam Jones and Melody Anderson!); the one true star of Caddyshack (that'd be the dancing gopher, of course); a mysterious Polaroid fairy; an unexpected banana; and giant space chickens. Yikes, that was not a normal weekend. Also: We're celebrating National Good Neighbor Day (with a little help from Davey and Goliath), and we're drinking Hi-C Ecto Cooler from a plastic tiki cup. Because if nothing else, DragonCon taught us to be classy.

Direct download: Flopcast_229.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Kornflake is back from Chicago, where she was surrounded by some of our favorite silly people at FumpFest, a whole crazy convention of comedy music! Her adventures included Dementia Water Aerobics, field trips away from the convention for weird theater and weird French toast, receiving more lobster-themed gifts, and smashing up a rental car like she was in Hazzard County. There were also plenty of hilarious performers, of course, including Devo Spice, Carrie Dahlby, Seamonkey, Worm Quartet, The Gothsicles, Rob Paravonian, Tim Cavanagh, Tom Smith, Dino-Mike, Megathruster, 2D6, and FumpFest Guests of Honor Paul and Storm! Kornflake even brought us a special Flopcast interview with The Library Bards, Bonnie and Xander! (And listen carefully for cameos from Jaykitty, Insane Ian, and the great Luke Ski!) We also have a "What's in the Bag" segment (featuring a mysterious liquid Kornflake acquired in Chicago), and we're celebrating National Elephant Day. So come on -- this is the most Fumpfestive podcast you'll hear all day.

Direct download: Flopcast_228.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:24pm EDT

It's our convention recovery show! (Because we knew that after FumpFest and DragonCon, we'd need an extra week readjusting to reality...) So this week we're celebrating Scooby Doo (and his tricky pals Scrappy Doo, Scooby Dum, and Davy Jones), we're trying on turkey masks (this is why everyone turns to the Flopcast for fall fashion advice), and we're still obsessed with Shazam and Isis (because we like our Saturday morning TV low budget and forty years old). Next week our convention reports begin. Unless we decide to keep on relaxing. These turkey masks are shockingly comfortable.

Direct download: Flopcast_227.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:06pm EDT

Lords of light! Just in time for DragonCon 2016, we're flashing back to DragonCon 2015 for a panel about Thundarr the Barbarian! Yes, Kevin and a bunch more sleep-deprived maniacs from the American Sci-Fi Classics Track look back at our favorite post-apocalyptic Saturday morning cartoon hero. In Thundarr's world, the horses had beaks, the rats had stylish scarves, and nobody -- certainly not Ookla the Mok -- wore pants. It was glorious. Our conversation drifts to other Saturday morning science fiction favorites too: Space Ghost, Herculoids, Jason of Star Command, Gilligan's Planet... yikes, now all you need is a big bowl of Cookie Crisp (like we had at the panel -- yes, Joe brought cereal). Plus: Back in Chickentown, Kevin and Kornflake watch a very special Thundarr episode in which Thundarr goes to Boston! (A crumbling post-apocalyptic version of Boston, that is... but in a way, it's frighteningly accurate.) Thundarr's Boston episode is called "City of Evil." Write your own punchline; we're still sleepy.

Direct download: Flopcast_226.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:30am EDT

We're just days away from DragonCon, which means nerds and geeks from around the world shall soon descend upon hot and sticky Atlanta, Georgia. (Annoying reminder #1: Despite what everyone is saying, this is NOT the 30th "anniversary" of DragonCon. This is the 30th DragonCon. It started in 1987, if you want to do the math...) This year's guest list includes Sam Jones (Flash Gordon!), Melody Anderson (Flash Gordon AND Manimal!), William Shatner (TJ Hooker!), Erin Gray (Silver Spoons!), Judge Reinhold (every single movie from the 80s!), and more stars from Mystery Science Theater 3000, Firefly, iZombie, and all those superhero TV shows we could only dream of as kids. (The guy who plays Vibe will be there. VIBE. Time to practice our breakdancing...) Musical performers include Paul and Storm, Jonathan Coulton, Molly Lewis, The Doubleclicks, Mikey Mason, Kirby Krackle, and yes, Here Come the Mummies. We also have a few tips on surviving the convention as usual. (Annoying reminder #2: Vitamin C supplements, and all those products that claim to boost your immune system, will NOT help prevent con crud. Save your money. Or spend it on rum, which at least works as advertised.) And we run through Kevin's DragonCon schedule -- you can find him conducting tours for new attendees, meeting and/or greeting at the ESO Network Meet & Greet, and appearing on panels about Wonder Woman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Watchmen, Gotham, and more. See you there! As the old saying goes, we'll have more fun than a whale shark.

Direct download: Flopcast_225.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:54am EDT

Breaking news: The Olympic golf course has been overrun by capybaras (our favorite giant rodents), and it's pretty much the greatest thing in sports history. Meanwhile, Kornflake and Doornail celebrate Thanksgiving, on the beach, in August. (Peppermint Patty was aghast... but at least the menu didn't consist of popcorn and toast.) And Kevin's summer of goofy retro concerts reaches its finale with three shows in a week: Rick Springfield (who introduced the word "moot" to pop music), The Go-Go's (on their farewell tour -- be sure to catch them before they stop-stop), and Belly (Boston's mid-90s alt-pop heroes, back after a quick 20 year break). Now before we make our final preparations for FumpFest and DragonCon, we just have to launch our new fashion line for golfing rodents. (Yes, Kenny Loggins will perform "I'm Alright" at the runway show.)

Direct download: Flopcast_224.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:13am EDT

Time to get back in the pool, kids -- Kornflake is bringing her Dementia Water Aerobics class to FumpFest 2016! It's a whole weekend of comedy music, featuring a bunch of our favorite silly humans. (The lineup includes Paul and Storm, Carrie Dahlby, Devo Spice, Dino-Mike, Rob Paravonian, Seamonkey, Tim Cavanagh, Worm Quartet, and more!) Chicago will never be the same. Also: We catch up with our old pal (and Adventure Time artist) Andy Ristaino, we find cats (actual live cats) in a museum, and we murder a beach ball at a Joan Jett concert. It's been a busy and ridiculous week.

Direct download: Flopcast_223.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:08am EDT

It's become a beloved summer tradition here in Chickentown... yes, it's our fifth annual robot list. No special theme this time -- we're just listing whatever robots happen to be on our inferior human minds. We cover robot cartoons, robot songs, robot art, and perhaps an actual real world robot or two. (And hey, how did we take this long to mention Pee Wee Herman's robot?) And we open the Flopcast Mailbag for a correction from last week's show about Journey. (Relax, Journey is still awesome. We did get that part right.) Also: Zucchini.

Direct download: Flopcast_222.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:18am EDT

We're back from a long day of 1980s-style silliness in the middle of Kornflake's home state of New Hampshire. Our first stop was Funspot, a giant amazing arcade packed with dozens of classic video and pinball games from decades ago. Alas, there was no Swimmer or Donkey Kong Junior. But there was plenty of Frogger, Dig Dug, Tron, Gorf, Donkey Kong (as seen in the movie The King of Kong), Crazy Kong (a weird alternate version of Donkey Kong), and just about everything else. Get yourself a billion tokens and spend the day. Our next stop was... a Journey concert. Because Journey is awesome. Just admit it to yourself and move on. And we have a friendly reminder that FuMPFest (our favorite funny music convention) is almost here (August 26-28 in Chicago), and Kornflake will be there with Dementia Water Aerobics! Get your tickets and room reservations now, kids! Also: It's Kevin Smith's birthday, and we're encouraging everyone to celebrate by shutting up, just like Silent Bob.

Direct download: Flopcast_221.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:45am EDT