Tag: GI Joe

DNA Podcast 139 – Half-Hour Toy Commercials of the 80s

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 139 - Half-Hour Toy Commercials of the 80s
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In this episode, Rob and Don revisit their childhoods as they talk about the time when capitalism and animation joined together to create one of the greatest marketing forces known to mankind – the half-hour animated toy commercials of the 1980s! Strawberry Shortcake! HE-MAN and the Masters of the Universe! GI JOE! The Transformers! JEM! It was a brief and truly outrageous time in North American animation history. But what forces led to this rise of these marketing behemoths? And, why did they die out almost as quickly as they appeared? Find out this, and what shows had the best theme songs, in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs!

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

GoBots
Gobots: Challenge of the Rock Lords
Popeye
Action for Children’s Television
Romper Room
Mister Rogers
Polka Dot Door
Hot Wheels Cartoon
Planet of the Apes Cartoon
Miss Twitch
Bunnicula
ABC Weekend Special (Anthology)
The Micronauts
Micronauts Marvel Comic
Strawberry Shortcake
Those Characters From Cleveland
ROM Space Knight Comic
The REAL Ghostbusters
SUNBOW Entertainment
Secret Galaxy YouTube Chanel
Todd (McFarlane) Toys
Daigata Defenders
Egg-Fu (character)
Microman Toys
Gaiking
Combatter V
Blackstar
The Bionic Six
The Inhumanoids
Jace and the Wheeled Warriors
The Galaxy Rangers
C.O.P.S.


DNA Podcast 063 – A History of GI Joe with Tim Finn

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 063 - A History of GI Joe with Tim Finn







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In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with Tim Finn, author of the upcoming book GI Joe: A Real American Book, to discuss the history of GI Joe. The trio discuss Joe’s origins as the first Action Figure for boys, how the GI Joe comic helped reboot the franchise, and the GI Joe: A Real American Hero animated series. All that, and the real meaning of the name Hasbro, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Tim’s Website 
GI Joe (Wikipedia Entry)
Hasbro Toys
Mister Potato Head (Oh, sweet Merciful Fates…!)
Don Levine
First GI Joe TV Ad
Larry Hama
HYDRA
MEGO Toys
Micronauts
Shogun Warriors
General Hawk
Duke
HISS Tank
GI Joe Steel Brigade
Lady Jaye
Mysticons Toys
Filmmation
Ron Friedman
Sunbow Productions
Marvel Productions (animation)
Steve Gerber
Howard the Duck
Shipwreck (Character)
Buzz Dixon
Sergeant Slaughter
Slaughter’s Marauders
Kenner Toys
GI Joe Extreme
Visionaires
ROM:Space Knight


DNA Podcast 010 – Twisted Robot Mego Chicken Theatre

The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 010 - Twisted Robot Mego Chicken Theatre







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In this episode, Rob interviews Don about his Mego toymaking hobby. They discuss the history of the Mego company, the current state of Mego fandom, and the future of toys in a 3-D Printing world. All this, and the Mego Mangler are waiting for you in this 10th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Thing Discussed:

Mego Corporation
The History of Mego (short video)
Meco Star Wars Cover
A History of Action Figures
GI Joe – America’s Movable Fighting Man
Wooden Superman Doll from the 1930’s
Major Matt Mason
The Fighting Yank (GI Joe Clones)
Action Jackson Commercial (with the coolest theme song ever!)
MegoMuseum.com
Popy Japanese Mego Figures
Gatchaman (aka Battle of the Planets)
The Post Brothers
Robot Chicken
Twisted Mego Theatre
What The?
Doc Mego
Mego Mangler
Fisher Price Adventure People
Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0 AV-4
Judge Dredd Lawmaster
Tor Johnson
Professor Badass
Hololens
Apple’s Giant Automated Factory (apparently, the project died and it was cancelled)
Lego Braille Printer

Gallery of of some of Don’s Custom Mego Figures