The Flopcast

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 PĂ©rez!), 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

This week we've secretly replaced our regular coffee with Hi-C Ecto Cooler, because it's time to check out the new Ghostbusters movie! Kevin recalls his favorite cover version of the Ghostbusters theme, by that legendary band, the Happy Hamsters. Meanwhile, thanks to our friends at the Kyle and Luke Talk About Toons podcast, Kornflake has become an actual Ghostbuster, and is already busting ghost lobsters. We also get hit by mysterious articles of clothing during Strip Zeppelin, a burlesque show featuring Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers, the Lipstick Criminals, and an elf. And we recommend new music from Richie Ramone (the third Ramones drummer, between Marky and, uh, Marky) and Moon Hooch (because we just can't get enough crazy saxophones). Plus: If you'd like to learn how to talk to a rabid weasel in an elevator, we just might have you covered.

Direct download: Flopcast_220.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:35am EDT

Kornflake reports on the second annual FlopFest celebration, which mostly involves flopping in a hammock in the middle of New Hampshire. This year's FlopFest also featured tall monsters, small manservants, Isaac the Bartender, an Internet-famous dog, and waffles. Next year's FlopFest will feature a giant Silver Spoons-themed parade float shaped like Ricky Schroder's head (if there's any chance of Kevin showing up, that is). Kornflake also has a concert report, because those crazy Indigo Girls came around again. And we open the Flopcast mailbag and learn that someone really wants to sell coffee to Kevin's old band, the Sponge Awareness Foundation. (Throw in a Silver Spoons coffee mug, and we just might have a deal...) Also: If you prefer fractions to decimals, relax and celebrate Casual Pi Day! No need to pack up that FlopFest hammock just yet.

Direct download: Flopcast_219.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:48am EDT

We're back from a long weekend of science and silliness at CONvergence in Bloomington, Minnesota! Our convention report includes: A meteorite from Mars (Robolar would be so proud), special guest birds from the Raptor Center, comedy from Joseph Scrimshaw, music from Beth Kinderman and the Player Characters, Science for the People with Desiree Schell, a sneak preview of Vermin (with lab rat puppets!), the Supergirl and iZombie panels (no mansplaining, but plenty of gummy brains), a live version of "Would I Lie to You?" (Kornflake's favorite game show!), happy little trees, robot chickens, Ladro the Squirrel, and a final round of Buzzed Aldrins in the Skepchick Space Lounge. Also: It's Town Crier Day! You were going to run around screaming anyway, and now you have an excuse.

Direct download: Flopcast_218.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:52am EDT

It's miserably hot here in Chickentown, and local scientists (who are totally not just rubber chickens in lab coats) say that summer is to blame. They're probably right; we can't blame EVERYTHING on the cancellation of Knight Rider. (But you must admit, it's been a rough thirty years.) So this week we're presenting a Top 4 1/2 List of summer songs! Be warned that these are not necessarily our favorites; they happened to get stuck in our heads many summers ago, and they just won't go away. But we still cover some fun stuff, and along the way, we even figure out which 80s pop stars were actually robots. And hey, Huey Lewis (relax, probably not a robot) has a birthday this week! Celebrate by hitting the beach, playing your favorite summer songs, and burying your backup band members up to their necks in the sand.

Direct download: Flopcast_217.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30am EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids, this week we're talking about snakes. (Blame our tricky pal Matt, who suggested another weird Top 4 1/2 List...) Whether you're totally creeped out by snakes (a touch of ophidiophobia, perhaps), or you like them creeping all over you (Jake "The Snake" Roberts could help with that), you cannot deny that snakes are everywhere. (Samuel Jackson might not be happy about it, but these days he's so busy with the Avengers... and hey, the Avengers have snake troubles of their own, thanks to the Serpent Society...) So we're listing our favorite snakes, from goofy old horror movies, sitcoms, cartoons, and maybe even Paula Abdul songs. Slither on over and join us! Bring macaroons.

Direct download: Flopcast_212.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:54pm EDT

As summertime approaches here in Chickentown, Kevin and Kornflake are back on the iced coffee, featuring our beloved coffee cubes! (Coffee cubes are like Time for Timer's "Sunshine on a Stick," but without the toothpicks, and you use coffee instead of orange juice. We'll send you the recipe.) This week Kevin has a couple of concert reports, as Ben Folds and yMusic rock Boston (with a bass clarinet!), and Freezepop returns to Harvard Square (with a bunch of keytars, of course). And by the way, there are just a few days left in Freezepop's Kickstarter campaign! Send them your human money, and you might even get a Fluff sandwich in return. Also: Kornflake cannot avoid the Red Arrow Diner (which is not a problem), we celebrate National Grape Popsicle Day, and we peek inside the old Flopcast mailbag. As one might assume, it's filled with lobsters and skinks.

Direct download: Flopcast_211.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:03am EDT

Another superhero anniversary is upon us, as Green Arrow turns 75 this year! So we're looking back at the long crazy history of our favorite comic book archer (sorry, Hawkeye). We recall how Green Arrow totally ripped off Batman (Arrow Car, Arrow Cave, kid sidekick...), his Justice League induction (because Superman and Wonder Woman would be helpless without a bow & arrow dude), his one true love (Black Canary, of course), his 1970s Mego doll (good luck not losing that tiny bow), and most importantly, his weird little goatee. Green Arrow made just one TV appearance during his first sixty years; apparently he was just an adequate friend, because the Super Friends never invited him back. But in recent years, he has popped up in multiple cartoons, as well as Smallville, and of course, his current hit TV series Arrow. (They dropped the "Green" for the show's title, probably to get an earlier listing in the phone book.) But Green Arrow isn't the only comic book subject in this week's show, as we also look at Long Distance, a romantic comedy (in graphic novel format) by Thom Zahler. And in honor of National Piercing Day, we recall how a quarter century ago, we were all freaked out by Jane Child. Plus: Kevin and Kornflake reveal their own archery experience (or lack thereof), and design their own trick arrows. (You know you want a rubber chicken arrow.)

Direct download: Flopcast_210.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:59am EDT

In honor of National Night Shift Workers Day, we're completely exhausted! But we still manage to creep up to Lowell to see Gunpowder Gelatine and Aerochix (covering the music of Queen and Aerosmith, respectively); we return to the Triiibe exhibit at the Fitchburg Art Museum, and do not get trapped in the basement (trust us, it can happen); a visit to Maine features one turkey, one whistle pig, and a billion lobsters; and a trip into the Pudding Pages reminds us of Funny Face drink mix, which was at once delightful and horrifying. Hey, as of this week, we've been Flopcasting for four years! We have almost paid our debt to society...

Direct download: Flopcast_209.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:22pm EDT

Last week Harvard University was invaded by Stormtroopers (and at least one Wookiee), possibly because Carrie Fisher was there receiving the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism. We were there too, to cheer for our Princess, although our view was somewhat obstructed by a giant bird. (This was not a problem. We like giant birds.) And speaking of birds, did a chicken recently visit the White House, in the name of science? Find out in another ridiculous "Chickens in the News" segment. Also: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day is this week! But Kornflake, Doornail, and Tom Hanks started celebrating decades ago.

Direct download: Flopcast_208.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Can Kornflake see all the costumes, collectibles, and celebrity guests at Super Megafest in just ninety minutes, and not be late for karaoke? Let's find out. We did indeed find plenty of crazy characters there, including our friends from Rubber Chicken Comics and Wicked Geeky, costumer R. W. Martin (as Doc from The Love Boat!), and our old pal Mr. T. We also ran into stars like Lee Meriwether (Catwoman!), Michael Beck (The Warriors! And Xanadu!), and William Zabka (Cobra Kai!). And we even attended a Q&A session with Burt Reynolds, because we still have a lot to learn about early 80s mustaches. Also: Steve Martin and Martin Short (two amigos, approximately) come to Boston, Kornflake is the Chico DeBarge of poetry, and lobsters are the new cows.

Direct download: Flopcast_207.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:02am EDT

We received a long list of suggestions for this week's Top 4 1/2 List... and we picked the very dumbest one. So please enjoy our list of guys named Bill. (Yes, despite "Bill" being such an exotic name, we were able to think of a few.) Our Bill list includes songs, movies, cartoons, excellent adventures, science guys, and a bunch of bizarre characters from radio and TV. (Note: In accordance with international Bill list protocol, guys named "Billy" were not eligible. Otherwise we would have just listed Billy Ocean 4 1/2 times.)

Direct download: Flopcast_206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:01pm EDT

Kornflake's 2016 convention tour continues, and this week she shares her adventures at Anime Boston! Getting there was an adventure in itself, but eventually she found a subway mermaid to lead the way. At the convention, Kornflake encountered Teen Titans, the Bear Hug Squad, anime crustaceans, Chickenhead, our old pal Keytar Bear, and many more strange and wonderful characters. Meanwhile, your other Flopcast host may or may not have been creepily lurking just outside the convention. (It was all part of our plan.) Also: a quick look ahead at DragonCon, an important turxting update, and National Dolphin Day. (You know Flipper is still out there somewhere. And Flipper is angry.)

Direct download: Flopcast_205.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:05am EDT

While every other podcast is busy reviewing Batman v Superman, we know what the people really want. They want Kornflake's brutally honest review of the new Full House sequel series, Fuller House. (We've been preparing for this moment for years, by staring at the same photo of Dave Coulier every day.) Kornflake also recommends Zootopia, which offers more political intrigue than any cartoon since Captain Caveman. And we look ahead to next week's Super Megafest convention, where you can meet Burt Reynolds, Chewbacca, Hercules, Eddie Munster, a Beatle, a Badfinger, and The Warriors! (One of those Warriors also starred in the old Ted Knight sitcom Too Close For Comfort, which is very, very important to us.) We hope to see you there -- remember, as Huey Lewis said, it's hip to be a square root, or something.

Direct download: Flopcast_204.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:55am EDT

A sleepy Mayor of Chickentown joins Kevin and Kornflake for a round of "What's in the Bag?" featuring Batman and lobsters (our two favorite things); in perhaps our all-time stupidest National Whatever Day, we learn about Chinese gooseberries, and how Kornflake really feels about produce managers; Kevin wanders around Vermont and experiences the bizarre tradition of "sugar on snow" (it's weirder than you think -- pickles are involved); and we check out a crazy CBGB-themed concert and burlesque show, featuring a Blondie tribute by Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers, a Ramones tribute by Warthog, and a Talking Heads tribute by Byrne's Big Suit. (We'd been trying to figure out what was lacking in Kornflake's life. The answer was punk rock and strippers. But isn't that always the answer?)

Direct download: Flopcast_203.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT

Get ready to party, kids -- it's National Button Week. (Which one of your Flopcast co-hosts had New Kids on the Block buttons, and which had Men at Work and Air Supply buttons? The world may never know...) Then during our Pudding Pages segment, Siri is horribly offended when we ask a simple question about Roseanne. (The robots are getting angry, people. The revolution has begun.) We also have some Chickens in the News, because a bunch of Canadian kids have started a Chicken Club at their school. (Those lucky Canadians... at Kevin's old school, we certainly didn't have any chickens. All we had was carbon paper.) And we wrap up this goofy little show with a super-quick review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens! (Have any other podcasts covered this movie yet? No, we're probably first, as usual.)

Direct download: Flopcast_202.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

Thanks to the highly lucrative world of podcasting, Kevin and Kornflake are pretty much their own bosses these days. But before they got filthy rich giggling about chickens every week, they too had to answer to a bunch of crazy hotheaded bosses. So in this week's Top 4 1/2 List, we're counting down our favorite bosses from our favorite TV shows and cartoons! Thanks to Hanna Barbera, we know all about gravel quarry bosses way in the past, and sprocket factory bosses way in the future. We recall sitcom bosses from The Office, Parks and Recreation, and a little place in Phoenix called Mel's Diner. And of course, there's a certain boss we can't forget from back in Hazzard County. So if you, like Tony Danza, can't figure out who's the boss, just relax and listen. We'll sort it all out for you. Also: National Awkward Moment Day is this week. Remember to tell your boss that you'll need some time off to celebrate.

Direct download: Flopcast_201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm EDT

Oops! Kevin, Kornflake, and the Mayor of Chickentown are trapped in a walk-in freezer! (Kornflake didn't know the door locked automatically!) But while waiting to be rescued by a wacky neighbor, they recall favorite moments from past Flopcast episodes through a series of annoying old clips. Okay, not really. For our 200th show, we're just relaxing in the studio as usual, because alas, this isn't quite a 1980s sitcom. (But we're working on it.) In honor of National Cereal Day, Kevin shares a really stupid idea he once had for a really stupid new cereal. Then the Mayor discusses her recent trip to California for the annual Doctor Who convention known as Gallifrey One. She encountered many colorful characters out west, including the great Luke Ski, TV's Kyle, Lindzilla, Ken Reid, Greg Proops, Laura Kightlinger, Phil Plait, Joseph Scrimshaw, and ESO Director Mike Faber! Meanwhile Kornflake tells us all about her visit to New England's largest game convention, TotalCon. She even has a Flopcast interview with the creators of a new robot-themed card game, PBL Robots! Finally we review some Flopcast stats after 200 ridiculous weeks of podcasting, and reveal why we're dispatching Flopcast listeners, one by one, to North Dakota. (Watch your inbox. You might be next.)

Direct download: Flopcast_200.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:35pm EDT

This week we're talking with novelist (The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs), storyteller (The Moth), and podcaster (Boy vs. Girl) Matthew Dicks! Matthew and Kevin grew up in the same tiny town, rode the same stupid school bus, and were the only non-girl flute players in the school band. We recall a time when kids (and crazy unleashed dogs) ran free, and we'd ride our bikes down to Main Street in search of comic books, Donkey Kong, and John Candy on VHS. Our old school was torn down years ago, but our memories of weird little lunches and angry little gym teachers will never die. Also: We're not trying to make "Turkeys in the News" a regular Flopcast segment, but when the police are called to rescue a New Jersey mailman from a bunch of crazy turkeys, what choice do we have? And speaking of New Jersey, Kornflake reminds us to wish a Happy Birthday to Bon Jovi. (We could also wish a Sad Death Night to "Jon Bovi" -- the Bon Jovi opposite band.)

Direct download: Flopcast_199.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03am EDT

Because we tend to get everything wrong, we have some corrections from a previous Flopcast, mostly involving astronauts and Monkees; a recent benefit show by Dar Williams and Catie Curtis turned wonderfully Schoolhouse Rock-ish; the Fitchburg Art Museum has an amazing new exhibit by our friends from Triiibe (but alas, no plastic lawn flamingos); we visit the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square for a bizarre night featuring Niki Luparelli, Mark Gallagher, Nathan Burke, Skip Daniels, magic, improv, kazoos, and a dumbwaiter; National Whatever Day celebrates our favorite cartoon snowman/Mormon, Josh Gad; and we're going on strike. A podcast strike. But probably just until next week's show.

Direct download: Flopcast_198.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:08am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake celebrate 75 years of the King of Atlantis, the guy in the scaly orange shirt (perhaps not the fanciest of superhero costumes), Aquaman! Yes, Aquaman has been talking to the fish since 1941, he's a founding member of the Justice League of America, and he's your favorite Super Friend. So let's show some respect. We also look at Aquaman's whole crazy Aqua-family: his flipper-footed wife Mera, his teen sidekick Aqualad, and Aqualad's "deep-six chick" (yeah, that's what they called her) Aqua-Girl. And then we have Aquaman's greatest villain (and coolest member of the Legion of Doom) Black Manta, his pesky little "water sprite" Quisp (sort of an underwater Great Gazoo), and his giant octopus buddy, Topo (who is also a fine musician, because why not). We cover Aquaman's 1960s Filmation cartoons, his 1970s Mego action figure, his live action debut on Smallville, and his truly outrageous appearances in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. And of course, a dark scary Game of Thrones-style Aquaman is coming soon to a theater near you! But we suspect that the lighter, sillier version of Aquaman will always be our favorite. And we have freshly-baked Aqua-cookies to prove it.

Direct download: Flopcast_197.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:44am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake check out the new MarsCon Dementia Track fundraiser album, and you should too. (Warning: Contains goofy songs by The Sponge Awareness Foundation, and lobster songs by Kornflake!) Also: Astronaut Cady Coleman has a space flute, we have mixed feelings about a new ninth planet that isn't Pluto, Kornflake has big plans to play Connect Four and Hungry Hungry Hippos at TotalCon, the Mayor of Chickentown has seized control of our Twitter account, and Kevin was back on the Earth Station One podcast to talk about The Monkees. (Speaking of which, we have a correction from this week's Flopcast! Melanie Mitchell's book is actually called Monkee Magic: a Book about a TV Show about a Band. Get it through Amazon! We sure did. Because we just can't get enough Tork talk.)

Direct download: Flopcast_196.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:53am EDT

Kevin and Kornflake are full of excuses this week, because somebody decided "excuses" should be the subject of this week's Top 4 1/2 List. (We won't name any names, except for the name "Kornflake.") Some of our favorite excuses come from Steve Martin, Marcia Brady, the Blues Brothers, the Kids in the Hall, and of course, Juan Epstein. And these days, with the right excuse, you can even bring a turkey on an airplane! (Several listeners brought this wonderful story to our attention. It turns out that Mr. Carlson was right, and turkeys CAN fly.) Also: It's National Carrot Cake Day, and Kornflake learns about her new favorite superhero, Flaming Carrot, just in time.

Direct download: Flopcast_195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

After a three year absence, Kevin and Kornflake went creeping back to Arisia! (A science fiction convention on the Boston waterfront in mid-January... this is how we eliminate the weaker nerds from the pack.) Kornflake was there on Saturday, and enjoyed a game of Munchkin, a Princess Bride shadowcast show with the Teseracte Players, a workshop about shiny things, and a large angry chicken. Kevin didn't show up until Sunday, and just sort of wandered around not doing much of anything. (The winner is Kornflake!) Also: National Kazoo Day is this week, so our usual advice applies -- don't leave the house.

Direct download: Flopcast_194.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:54am EDT

We have a quick show for you this week, because we're sleepy, and Kornflake keeps spilling the coffee. In our "Chickens in the News" segment: It has been suggested that in order to sustain the human population, we should shrink everyone down to the size of chickens. (We can't decide if this is a good idea or a GREAT idea. Either way, it's another step toward a world ruled by chickens.) Then in our "Pudding Pages" segment, we look at the Six Million Dollar Man action figures of the 1970s. And coincidentally, those action figures were just about as tall as chickens! So after you step through our shrink ray (on loan from Brainiac and the Legion of Doom), stop by our wardrobe department. You can dress like a chicken-sized Bionic Man, Bionic Woman, or maybe even a Fembot. And remember, Winnie the Pooh Day is this week. So pants are optional.

Direct download: Flopcast_193.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:29am EDT

It's time for a Flopcast-style look back at those we lost in 2015. The Mayor of Chickentown joins Kevin and Kornflake as we recall some of our favorite recently-departed actors, musicians, writers, artists... and maybe even the guy who invented plastic pink flamingos. Including: Stars from The Dukes of Hazzard, Happy Days, The Partridge Family, Eight Is Enough, The Beverly Hillbillies, and yes, Archie Bunker's Place; the voices behind Space Ghost, Pac-Man, Mr. Slate, and the Chiquita Banana; the singers of "Stand By Me", "Unforgettable", and "The Thrill Is Gone"; the creators of Wolverine, Zatanna, Marmaduke, and Barbapapa; and many more. (Did we mention the flamingo guy?) Hey, 2015 was the year we lost Mr. Spock, Jimmy Olsen, and Batgirl -- so feel free to cry if you want to, Lesley Gore-style. But then feel free to enjoy yourself with a Stan Freberg record, a Christopher Lee Dracula movie, or just a giant cup of coffee. (Kornflake really needed coffee this week.)

Direct download: Flopcast_192.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:52pm EDT

We're kicking off the new year with one more convention report from the old year! Northeast Comic Con featured the stars of A Christmas Story; a round of Press Your Luck (No Whammies!) with Big Bucks Entertainment; legendary comic book artist George Pérez; TV Guidance Counselor with Ken Reid, Claudia Wells, John Wesley Shipp, and Andrew WK; and the 50th anniversary of Lost in Space. Speaking of which, we have a special Flopcast interview with one of the stars of Lost in Space, Marta Kristen! Marta discusses not only her time aboard the Jupiter 2 as Judy Robinson, but also her role as Lorelei the mermaid in Beach Blanket Bingo, her critically acclaimed theatrical work, and her current projects. (Listen carefully for a cameo from Marta's Lost in Space co-star Mark Goddard! And you might even hear the Robot in the background, screaming about danger, as usual.) Also: Soupy Sales would have been 90 this week. Why not celebrate by hitting yourself in the face with a pie?

Direct download: Flopcast_191.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:18am EDT

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