Character Progression

Starting season 2 off with a bang!  Unfortunately, that bang started a fire that destroyed the home and parents of the newly orphaned Baudelaire orphans.  Luckily, their dear Count Olaf will be there to take them into his home and our dear Lemony Snicket will be there to tell the tale!  Whether with Jim Carrey or Neil Patrick Harris, the story of these children who invent, read, and bite has captured the imaginations of millions through books, Nickelodeon movies, and Netflix shows.  And now they find a new home in the one medium they have yet to explore...unscripted audio conversations on the internet!

Eight months into this passion project called Character Progression and it's time to make this monster grow!  Both with the announcement of season 2 and the introduction of a new sister series called Pod Pilot!  Want to know what's going on?  Check out this episode to find out!

Few shows become part of the cultural zeitgeist as soon as they come out.  Friends did, The Simpsons did, and The Office did.  These shows didn't just have their finger on the pulse of what audiences wanted, they changed the beat to suit themselves.  And, with The Office still being the most streamed show on Netflix, it really says something when people still argue about when it was better than the producer's next show, Parks and Rec!  No matter what side you're on, there's no denying that Parks & Rec is an all-time classic show.  With character's like Ron Swanson and Andy Dwyer being endlessly quotable and launching Chris Pratt's career.  But none of that would have happened without the show's star, Amy Poehler, and her iconic portrayal of the  Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, Leslie Knope!

Phase three of the MCU has come to a close.  And with it, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been through a lot of changes.  Whether that's Captain America passing on the shield to Falcon, 2014 Gamora running around, or just the fact that many of the characters lost five years.  But no change has hit the universe or fans as hard as the death of Tony Shark...also known as Iron Man!  Between creating Ultron, escalating the super hero Civil War, or getting drunk while in his suit, Tony's flaws often got the better of him.  However, he always fought his way back and, through personal strength and determination, always found a way to win.  And that's the way we choose to remember him.  Not just as a superhero, but as a man!

For the Duck family in DuckTales, life was like a hurricane, there in Duckberg.  Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad, Donald Duck, Webby, Huey, Dewey, and Louie had used race cars, lasers, and airplanes to do everything from solve and mystery to rewriting history!  Few TV shows bring as many good memories as those from the Disney Afternoon block.  But, as great as Talespin, Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck were...there was something special about the wild adventures of the McDuck family.  Maybe it was the wild adventures or maybe it was scrooge's swan dives into his money bin.  But if you ask me, it was the fact that all of Scrooge's riches would've meant nothing if his family wasn't there to show him what real wealth is!

When you think of superheroes, who comes to mind?  Batman?  Spider-Man?  Iron Man?  Captain America?  They're all heroes, and some of the greatest examples in comics book history.  But none of them would exist without the inspiration of two men from Cleveland, when they created Clark Kent.  A reporter for the Daily Planet who grew up in Smallville...and is also know as DC Comics' Superman!  So with today being the Fourth of July, there didn't seem like a better time to do an episode all about the hero of heroes who stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way!

Disney's library of original animated shows is second to none!  Shows like  Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers  and  TaleSpin  breathed new life into old characters.  Meanwhile Darkwing Duck and Adventures of the Gummi Bears forged their own paths with new shows.  And while all of them were fantastic, there was something special about Gargoyles!  Maybe it was the multicultural characters, the cast of Star Trek alumni, the adult themes, or the literary allusions, but this show stood out among a sea of other quality animated series.  Goliath, Elisa, Demona, Brooklyn, Hudson, Bronx, Broadway, and Lexington roared onto our tv's and have stood the test of time.  Even garnering interest from Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us).  This week's we're showing some love to the clan's jalapeno eating, Shakespeare reading, noir watching, warrior...Broadway!

William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of all time!  With classic's like Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth (aka The Scottish Play), there's no end to his talent and influence.  But the main characters aren't always the most influential.  For example, Hamlet is the story about a Danish prince who's on a quest to avenge the murder of his father.  For my guest this week, that isn't relatable at all.  But Ophelia, Hamlet's scorned lover who had her agency stolen by those she trusted until she had nothing left.  That possibility rings far truer. The Yellow Hammer Fund

DC Comics has many iconic heroes!  Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash to name a few.  But with details of his movie on the horizon, now seemed like the perfect time to talk about Green Lantern!  An identity that can be held my anyone with strong enough willpower!  These space cops hold classic members such as Guy Gardner, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner.  Along with newer recruits like Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz.  But for old school fans of the character, there's no lantern quite like Hal Jordan!  This test pilot rewrote the rules of what it meant to have courage and, in doing so, taught generations how to dig deep and overcome great fear!

When you think of Disney tv shows, what comes to mind?  Animated shows like DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, or Gravity Falls?  Maybe 2000's live action shows like Hannah Montana,  Lizzie McGuire, or That's so Raven?  Nothing against those shows but, for 90's kids all around the globe, there was one show that was on everybody's list; Boy Meets World!  Cory, Shawn, Topanga, and Eric came into our homes each week on ABC's TGIF block.  And, over the seven years that show was on the air, no one influenced the lives of those who influence us more than Mr. George Feeny!  Between the Feeny call and his wise advice, Mr. Feeny had a lesson for just about everything we could experience.  And my guest this week has never forgotten it all the good that one man did for those he cared about.

Over the years, Fox has had many medical dramas.  But few have captured the love of fans quite like House.  Along with Cuddy, Wilson, and a rotating diagnostics team, House solved the medical mysteries no one else could.  Even now, seven years after it's ending, the show's fan base is still going strong with a legions of fans all over the world.  Something about this vicodin popping, cane walking, atheist, curmudgeon has captured the hearts of millions.  Including this week's guest.  A man who couldn't be any more different from House but was still shown something to believe in!

Nintendo has released some incredible franchises over the years,  Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, etc...  but few have become a worldwide phenomenon quite like Pokemon!  With cute characters, collecting, and everything from video games to anime to cards, it would be difficult to find anyone who doesn't know about the series.  And, of all 807 current pokemon, none are more recognizable than Pikachu!  This electric mouse is currently starring in the hit movie, Detective Pikachu (with some help from Ryan Reynolds) but, to this week's guest, he'll always be Ash Ketchum's loyal partner!

Sometimes a character speaks to us because we've never seen anything like them before.  In the case of this week's guest, that character is Static Shock!  The young, black superhero many of us grew up watching each week on Kids WB!  Static impacted my guest because it was the first time he saw himself in a heroic protagonist.  One who was stood for everyone, regardless of what they look like or where they're from.  You could say Static put a shock to his system!

When we watch cartoons as a kid, we never knew how they might affect us.  We just knew that the channel they were on was hyping it up and we fed off that excitement.  Just like Cartoon Network did when they released The Powerpuff Girls in 1998.  A few years later, the show was a global phenomenon!  With Blossom (commander and the leader) and Buttercup (The toughest fighter) stealing the spotlight.  But, for Jensen Eddins, Bubbles brought the joy and the laughter!  As well as teaching her that it's OK to be kind and that caring for others is it's own form of strength!

Many times on this show, my guests have been inspired by a character's words.  And while today's is no different, the actions of one bold kid have proven to be just as impactful as any words could ever be.  Whether having dinner with Pigeon Man, helping Stoop Kid get over his fear of leaving his stoop, or finding an immigrant's long lost daughter, Arnold never shied away from doing what was right.  Never asking anything in return, except to try to help those around you.  And my guest, Sade, has worked to fulfill Arnold's request as thanks for the inspiration and entertainment he provided to millions of 90's kids around the world!

Fictional characters inspire some of us to be better people.  Others inspire people to fight through a difficult time.  In the case of my guest today, she was inspired with a love of travel that has lead her all the way around the world.  Caleigh Gilfillan has loved Ariel from The Little Mermaid from a very young age.  And, from that love, grew a love of travel and a love of adventure that lead her all the way to Shanghai, China!

Sometimes it's not who a character is that inspires us, but why they were created!  In the case of my guest, it's a character who was conceived to be a hero after a tragedy that his creator was powerless  to stop.  By creating heroes that didn't fit the standard archetypes, Shotaro Ishinomori created a concept that could be adapted to anyone, no matter who they are or what they're going through.  Today, almost exactly 41 years since it first premiered, Josh Steelman and I celebrate the legacy of Kamen Rider and how this bizarre, Japanese, superhero show has had a lasting impact on his life! Bizcooitz Twitch Stream TV-Nihon Over-Time Subs

November 23rd, 1963 is a day that means Many different things.  It's both a day of tragedy, and the day that hope began to rise anew.  But no matter what it means to you, there is one definitive message that it brings across.  We must stand together.  And one of the leading voices in that message is an man who isn't even one of us.  Doctor Who!  This alien from the the planet of  Gallifrey is a man with two hearts full of love for humanity.  And he's here to do whatever he can to save us.  And that includes reminding us that the best thing we can do is to be here for each other.  Because, no matter what kind of person someone is, "They're not exempt from kindness, just because they're not kind."  International Cesarean Awareness Network

Some people always know the right thing to say.  No matter what the situation is, they somehow find the words to lift you up and inspire you to keep going.  Sometimes you can even be inspired by words meant for someone else.  Like my guest, Vicky Hallam was with the words of Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender!  Throughout the series, Uncle Iroh gave words of wisdom to Zuko and helped him grow from an angry boy into a young man with hope for the future and a direction in life.  And, even though Vicky isn't destined to be the child of a Fire Lord (to my knowledge), Uncle's words still made an impact as both she and her love of tea matured into adulthood.

Inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of characters.  And, in my case, it came from a character who co-starred on a show that ended two years before I was born.  BJ Hunnicutt was a fourth season addition to the cast of M*A*S*H and, through his humor, loyalty, and sincerity, showed me the kind of person I wanted to become.  Even if I didn't know it yet.   Being a "meatball surgeon" in a mobile army surgical hospital, BJ saw the kind of horror that war brings, day in and day out, and he didn't just feel close. He clung to those around those around him.  His family, his friends, even his enemies.  Because he knew that, no matter what happened, they would always be a driving force in his life.  Just as those I care about are a driving force in mine.