Nerdy Show

It's the Top 20 Nerdy Things of 2017 - our annual list that does the the impossible (and highly unnecessary) task of summarizing the year in orders of geekitude. Our list turns a discerning eye to all corners of human endeavor - from every medium of pop culture to scientific discoveries - and ranks them on a completely arbitrary and unscientific scale. Join Cap, boR, Trench, and Brandon as this manic year comes to an equally manic crescendo. When gauging "nerdiness" there's always plenty of surprises - this year is no different including past winners that returned to dazzle us again, and a shocking wealth of so, so, so many gloriously good television shows. Grab some latkes and join us for this feast of likes. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/12/top-20-nerdy-things-of-2017/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join Cap for an in-depth exploration of one of the most tragically-overlooked films of the 1990s: Barry Levinson's Toys. This highly unusual holiday film starring Robin Williams turns 25 this year and we're celebrating by putting it in its rightful place as a marvel of filmmaking and a chilling satire of drone warfare - made years before that was even a thing.Haven't seen the film? No problemo! With help from acclaimed director Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man) Cap pops open every facet of Toys to see what makes it tick: the gorgeously surreal visuals, the incredible Hans Zimmer/ Trevor Horn soundtrack, and the chilling tale of tiny tanks and tiny planes ushering in an era of endless war. We get the film's full history - from its origins in the late 70s, to the marketing fumble that doomed it, as well as the personal stories of how this movie rocked Cap's world when they saw it in 1992. Yeah, it's one of Cap's favorite films and researching Toys has been a personal quest for years. (Need proof?

Episode VIII, The Last Jedi is coming out so this week we're putting out THREE episodes of our Star Wars speculation podcast, State of the Empire! Check them out at http://nerdyshow.com/starwars We've got an episode priming you for the film to come, a review of the film, AND a review of the new high-tech VR experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Celebrating 300 episodes of Nerdy Show, it's Derpy Show's 300th episode spectacular! Wait... that's not right... What's happening here?! The Derpy Show crew has reunited to host this special episode of Nerdy Show. If you replace the entire crew of a show with that of another, is it even the same show anymore? Find out as we answer that question, and learn what DJ Snorlax, Robojoe, Neofaust, and boR have been up to for the past 2+ years. You probably want to know what else is in the episode... well too bad! You're just gonna have to stop reading this and listen. Seriously. Let's just say you're going to love it. Let's just say your expectations will not just be met, but exceeded... Neofaust brought portable synthesizers. That's all you're getting. Happy 300th episode. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/12/derpy-show-episode-300Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

15 years ago a television show lived and died, but in its single season rocked the 'verse of geeks everywhere. Joss Whedon's Firefly is still one of the greatest sci-fi adventures to ever straddle the small and big screens. Join Cap, boR, Trench, Jon, and Doug - four longtime fans and one nonplussed nerd who doesn't get the hype - for a listener-requested episode where we reminisce about the series, Serenity, the comics, and the fandom at large. For fans old and new, we think you'll agree, it's a mighty fine shindig. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/11/microsode-15-years-of-firefly/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Don't get too excited folks, this is but a toe-dip into the torrid seas of the multiverse and a Thanksgiving bulletin that Nerdy Show is cooling our collective heels as we prepare for the brutal onslaught that is the holiday season. But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun! Join *undecipherable whale noise* and land lubber cetacean enthusiast Pat Freely for gripping casual conversation on ocean mammal concerns. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/11/pod-cast-bulletin-multiverse/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Of all the crazy gambles in superhero cinema, Justice League is the biggest. With DC/ Warner Brothers' spotty track record for their cinematic universe... there's no way this ensemble film of largely undeveloped characters could work, right? We're glad we didn't put money on this one because Justice League has absolutely flipped expectations and re-writes the book on what's possible for the future of DC heroes in cinema. Join Cap for a spoiler-free exploration of how this film handles introducing some of DC's most iconic characters to the big screen, where it falls in the landscape of superhero movies, where it falters, and how it succeeds against all odds. And yeah, if you want to go deeper, we'v got a little bit of spoilery chat safely tucked away after the credits. Booyah. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/11/nerdy-show-review-justice-league/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-ou

Here at Nerdy Show, we're a melting pot of pop culture. We'll gladly mash subjects and mix genres when it comes to geeky discussion and dweeby diatribes. Unfortunately, the same thing can be said for us and food. Sometimes you have a peanutbutter cup-like combo of good ideas, but more often than not we make bad, bad ideas. Join Cap, boR, Brandon, and Trench for spoiler-free opinions on Thor: Ragnarok and Stranger Things season 2. We extol the virtue of some shows you might not be watching such as Nathan For You and Pickle and Peanut, rumble with our old favorites: VR and WoW, and take you with us on some delightful diversions on the winding road of life. Oh yeah, and we also basically eat garbage. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/11/nerdy-show-299-toxic-nut-soup/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is dedicated entirely to Margaret Atwood's landmark dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. It's a horrifying story that gets closer to reality with each passing day - in which America has been overthrown by religious fundamentalists and anyone not male, white, and heterosexual is killed or subjugated. We experience this awful reality through the eyes of a woman trapped in sexual servitude; her existence reduced to being a walking womb to compensate for the future's low birth rate. Join Cap, Denika, Jess, and Brandon for an overview of the novel, a dramatic reading, and then spoiler-intensive discussions on both the book and the recent television adaptation. We discuss the challenges of the world, and the narrative itself, as well as the novel's massive cultural impact, parallels in our own reality, and even manage to make some jokes to soften the blow of how hard this book hits. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/11/nerdy-show-book-club-episode-15-r

This episode of Nerdy Show is presented by: Candy Corn - the blissful indulgence every hole hungers for. Hear us get hopped up on sugary snacks as we ramble through the streets of our nerdy neighborhood. We knock on a lot of topical doors, but it's not all Snickers and Smarties. Destiny is handing out unwrapped treats with chaos snuggled within their sugary folds. Join Cap, Brandon, boR, and Jon as we discuss the latest gaming crazes: Cuphead and the Duck Season - both nostalgia-fueled horror shows. We also tell the spooky story of the battery that breathed HUMAN AIR, take a trip to Brandon's Backwoods Bird Bungalow, visit Scale Watchers, and watch new seasons of some of our favorite TV until the sugar high wears off. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/10/nerdy-show-298-tricks-treats-assortedLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As we brace ourselves for our forthcoming dissection of the disturbingly relevant Handmaid's Tale, we first divert into greener and more peculiar pastures by talking about the other things we've read. Join Cap, Denika, Brandon, and Jess as they unload on a wide expanse of literary explorations. Discover a genre specifically about faeries being dicks, explore the world of video game translation and The Legend of Zelda to a point of fascinating minutia, learn what's the opposite of Death Note, and gird your loins for the Funky Pickle. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/10/nerdy-show-book-club-episode-14-a-handmade-tailLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This season of television you've got choices when deciding where to boldly go. Option A: Seth MacFarlane's The Orville; a Galaxy Quest-style, Roddenberry-fueled sci-fi comedy. Option B: Star Trek: Discovery; a darker slice of Trek set in the new movie continuity. Option C: BOTH?! Join Cap, boR, Trench, and Doug as we weigh the pros and cons of both series. The very fact that we have two high-caliber, space-faring shows at once after such a long time without anything Trek-flavored is hitting us with one heck of a displacement wave! We also review Blade Runner 2049, the long-lost SNES title Star Fox 2, and discuss the confusing news surrounding MegaBots, peculiar home archeology, and more! For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/10/nerdy-show-297-the-orville-vs-star-trek-discoveryLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

VGM is a strange genre. For starters, it's a genre consisting almost exclusively of covering other people's music - but the difference between a random band covering a random song and Video Game Music is substantial. VGM focuses on rearrangement of music, sometimes drastically so; often uplifting the source material to previously unrealized heights. So quality VGM is a very special thing - for lovers of video games and instrumental compositions alike. Even more special is the rare occasion of there being a VGM supergroup, rarer still when in this Internet-based culture such an act actually gathers perform to a live audience. That's Careless Juja for you - a high level, shiny Pokémon appearing when you least expect it. Carelss Juja are Careless (Random Encounter, co-creator of Liberty), YouTube VGM sensation, The Great Juja, and a cadre of talented musicians bringing songs you love to life as you've never heard before. Nerdy Show's Cap and boR caught up with the band on the eve of the final performance of thei

Our workloads and life are all feeling fatigue from the Hurricane Irma monkey wrench. We'll resume our regularly scheduled programming next week. In the meantime, here's some updates about the latest happenings behind the scenes.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We survived Hurricane Irma! Venture to the "dirty side of the storm" and thrill as we describe all our first world inconveniences of sassy trees, migratory bird flight plans, power outages, and copious hunkering. It turns out while we were keeping clear of windows and raking endlessly, some cool media came out. Hear our thoughts on Seth MacFarlane's spin on Star Trek and Galaxy Quest, The Orville. We also explore how Stephen King's IT measures up against the classic, Tim Curry-fronted 1990 miniseries and discuss what we can do about un-cancelling Dark Matter. So crack open a can of escargot, boot up your Richard Dawkins simulator, and HUNKER DOWN with this episode of Nerdy Show. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/09/nerdy-show-296-the-hunker-games/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chamber Band have made it their mission to emotionally disarm you while exploring beloved nerd worlds. In their debut record, Deities, they cheekily adventured through Dungeons & Dragons, in Careers they braved The Hunger Games, and now in Governor's Square they're taking on H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and The Invisible Man. However, in all cases it's best you check your preconceived notions before venturing further. Love, loss, and existential but infinitely relatable quandaries await you - and with those universal themes, captivating music. This is no mere fanfiction; Chamber Band cuts their source material to the core. Join Cap and vocalists/ songwriters Chris Littler and Ellen Winter as they explore the new record and how it fuses two beloved sci-fi classics into one potent narrative. But that's far from all Chamber Band has been up to - they're the writers behind the podcast smash-hit 36 Questions! Hear about how this musical/ audio drama hybrid came to be, the challenges of drastically changing up

Looking for a spoiler-free review of Twin Peaks - The Return? Well sorry, folks - there's no such thing. Tune in to the first couple minutes to hear the broadest of discussions of our thoughts on the revival series, and then buckle up. After we cross the spoiler wall you're going to want to have seen all of the series or the strange desire to be even more confused than the average Peaks fan. This summer we took a vacation, more of a road trip really - we spent more time than expected in Las Vegas and middle-of-nowhere North Dakota, but most importantly we returned to a small town in Washington where strange things happen. It was a wild ride; one that we could never have predicted, and now that it's over we need to decompress. Cap is joined by Peaks-pal, Consequence of Sound's Mike Roffman, for a support group-like unpacking of all the mirth and horrors we've witnessed. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/09/nerdy-show-review-twin-peaks-the-returnLearn more about

Do you want to be a master of martial arts fish-ticuffs? Well, you'd better look somewhere else, friend! We've got zero good advice and only the dregs of the nerd world to feed on. We're pop culture catfish! Join us as we nom through the goop of our geek lives. Learn about the fruits of Brandon's plant harem, Doug's difficulties with Deep Space Nine, Cap's strange adventures prepping for the second series of The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, and boR's burning hype for the new season of Dik Gently. We unload about the upcoming Secret of Mana remake, check out the new Cartoon Network series, OK KO!, utterly fail to pitch television shows to Doug, and yes - there's more in store. It's everything you could ever fish for. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/08/nerdy-show-295-the-immortal-iron-fishLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The biggest, boldest, bluest name in superhero comedy is bounding back into your life! This week Amazon unveils the first season of The Tick (or half of it anyway). Ben Edlund has returned to his cyan creation with the incomparable Peter Serafinowicz in the title role alongside a cast of up-and-comers. Join Cap, Tony, and Doug as we celebrate the Ticks that have come before and discuss the finer points of what this new spin on an old favorite does differently. In this spoiler-free review, learn how the show has evolved past the pilot that was released last year and what a darker, more story-driven series can do for comedy and classic Tick stories that prior shows couldn't. For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/08/nerdy-show-review-amazons-the-tick-season-1Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Global warming getting you down? Just go carbon nano toobin', brah! We discuss a surprising new science that could eat CO2 and spit out the multi-use material of the future: carbon nanotubes. Blind and unchecked science and capitalism have got us into this mess, and it turns out they might save us too. We're full of summer fun science facts! Join us as we explore the games we've been playing - such as Splatoon 2 and Player Unknown's Battlegrounds - as well as share our thoughts on Disney's new incarnation of DuckTales. Are we about to see a Disney Afternoon shared universe? What do the Scale Watchers hosts think of Elon Musk? How does a Heavenly Sandwich taste? And most importantly, is your salmon cannon ready? For links and more info, head to the main episode page: https://nerdyshow.com/2017/08/nerdy-show-294-carbon-nano-toobin/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.