Tag: TV

DNA Podcast 109 – Competition in Popular Culture

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DNA Podcast 109 - Competition in Popular Culture
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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by their friend Jack Ward to discuss the concept of competition as it plays out in our society and media. Some societies see competition as healthy, while others consider it destructive and wasteful, and the media often goes back and forth between the two approaches. Along the way, the three discuss comics, politics, old TV, and crappy movies, and how each offers an insight into competition. So come on and join us, if you think you can handle it! All this, and the most watched TV show of all time, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Act-Age Manga
Ratemypoo.com
Geeks versus Nerds
Most Watched TV Show of All Time
Cerebus the Ardvark
John Carter of Mars
Dark Shadows
Magnum PI
Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas
Life of the Party
The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment (Don calls it candy, but the experiment with kids was originally marshmallows.)
Tragedy of the Commons
George Orwell’s Theory of Revolution

DNA Podcast 106 – Lost Genres 2 Sitcom Bugaloo

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DNA Podcast 106 - Lost Genres 2 Sitcom Bugaloo
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In this episode, Don and Rob dive into another round of the genres that time forgot as they explore more things that have washed away into the river of time. The pair jump right into the types of TV shows and TV stories that once ruled the airwaves but have faded, and then go on to explore lost corners of print, toys and music. All this, and why Pac Man Fever was the end of an era, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Variety TV Shows
Texaco Star Theatre
Pink Lady and Jeff
Carol Burnett Show
Smothers Brother’s Comedy Hour
Sitcoms
The Spin-Off
All in the Family
Happy Days
Laverne and Shirley
Hooterville Trilogy
Good Times
Diff’rent Strokes
High Concept
Mork and Mindy
Quark
Herman’s Head
My Mother the Car
The Munsters
Daytime Soap Operas
Christmas Specials
That’s Incredible!
America’s Funniest Home Videos
Magazines
Korean Webtoons
Video Game Market Crash of 1983
Pac Man Fever
Shining Force
Novelty Songs
Dr. Demento
Nerdcore
Gloryhammer
Edguy
Beast in Black
Outlaw Country
Crooners
Surf Music
Gangsta Rap

DNA Podcast 092 – Police in Popular Culture

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 092 - Police in Popular Culture







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In this episode, Don and Rob take a look at the messy history of the police in popular culture. Starting off with a history of the police themselves, the pair explore how police stories are very much a reflection of the society which produces them, and how we seem to alternate between two forms of cop story in the modern era depending on society’s mood. All this, and why Sherlock Holmes was the original Deadpool, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Criminals in Popular Culture DNA Podcast
A History of Police
Sheriff
Robin Hood
Yakuza
Sam Vimes – Discworld
Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Pinkertons
The Moonstone (first Police Detective Novel)
Sherlock Holmes
The Keystone Kops
Dick Tracey
Bulldog Drummond
Dragnet
Serial Podcast
G-Men Movies
Heart to Heart
McMillan and Wife
Columbo
Dirty Harry
S.W.A.T.
Miami Vice
ADAM 12
C.H.I.P.S.
Hill Street Blues
Sledge HAMMER
COPS
Cop Rock
NYPD Blue
LAW and ORDER
LAW and ORDER: Criminal Intent
C.S.I.
VG CATS – 67 – Choice Words
CSI Zoom and Enhance Meme
Murder She Wrote
The Mentalist
Matlock
Elementary TV Series

DNA Episode 90 – Crime and Villainy in Popular Culture

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DNA Episode 90 - Crime and Villainy in Popular Culture







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In this episode, Rob and Don delve into society’s dark underbelly and explore how popular culture and our image of criminals have become intertwined. Along the way, the pair discuss where our concepts of villainy come from, how the roles of hero and villain have switched places over history, and how TV and movies have shaped how criminals see themselves. All this, and Don’s unhealthy obsession with 60s Youth Gone Wild films, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Gilgamesh
Druids
Jack the Ripper
Marijuanna
The Black Panthers
Bonnie and Clyde
Cowboy Cop (TV tropes)
The Yakuza
Troubled Teen Films
Japanese 70’s Exploitation Films (Yes, that’s a real movie)
Doc Savage
Dirty Harry
Knight Rider
Magnum PI
Revenge of the Nerds
PORKY’S
Dragnet and the 50’s version
Holmes and Yoyo
ADAM-12
CHIPS
Hill Street Blues
Matlock
T.J Hooker
The Six Million Dollar Man
Andre the Giant
Sandy Duncan
The Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors Bigfoot Andre The Giant Clip
Silence of the Lambs
The Godfather
Scarface
Bosozoku
Yanki Subculture
Tanuki
Ganguro Culture
Japanese Street Fashion (wikipedia)
I Accuse My Parents
Breaking the Law by Judas Priest
Judge Death
The Comics Code
Von Hoffman’s Invasion
Tales from the Tour Bus
Take This Job and Shove It

DNA Podcast 071 – Fake News

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DNA Podcast 071 - Fake News







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In this episode, Don and Rob discuss The News, exploring the past, present and future of our primary source of knowledge about the world around us. In the process, they discuss the relationship between the news makers and the audience, how the news has evolved to meet the needs of different eras, and how the democratic nature of the news actually works against itself. All this, and Ben Franklin’s tips on choosing a mistress, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Steal this Book! (Still available on Amazon.)
Amusing Ourselves to Death
Bards
Benjamin Franklin
Advice to a Friend in Choosing a Mistress by Ben Franklin
The Golden Age of Cinema
Milton Berle
Texaco Star Theatre
Watergate
Don Henley Dirty Laundry
Kennedy Nixon Debate
Vampire LARP
CNN First Broadcast
Culture War Profiteering Episode
Pundits
Citizen Journalism 
NHK World

 

DNA Podcast 69 – Retro TV Recycle Bin with Jack Ward

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DNA Podcast 69 - Retro TV Recycle Bin with Jack Ward







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In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with their friend Jack Ward to talk about the TV shows that might have died too soon (or not soon enough!). The trio leave no unfinished stone unturned as they delve into shows about science fiction, fantasy, comedy and cartoons that never made it past their freshman year. From Logan’s Run to Manimal, It’s Your Move to Madam’s Place, the three rummage through the recycle bin of TV history to see if there’s anything worth salvaging in there.

Note: Due to some technical difficulties, the audio quality on this episode is a bit dodgy. Our apologies.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed

The Incredible Hulk (TV Show)
Man in a Suitcase
Megas XLR
Sym-Bionic Titan
Firefly
Gene L. Coon
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
Battlestar Galactica Documentary YouTube
Kings (Tv Series)
Ian McShane
Cupid (1994)
Brimstone
Galactica 1980 (I thought we weren’t talking about this?)
Max Headroom
Matt Frewer
Dwight Schultz
The Lexx
Logan’s Run TV
Planet of the Apes TV
UFO
Space 1999
Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons
X-COM:UFO DEFENSE
It’s Your Move
Otherworld
The Fantastic Journey 1977
Voyagers!
The Sonic Society
The Starlost
Dark Skies
The First Wave
John Doe
Memento
I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
Alien Nation
Robert J. Sawyer
Highwayman
Space: Below and Behind
Peversions of Science
Babylon 5:Crusade
Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles
Manimal
Earth 2
Automan
Time Tunnel
Land of the Giants
Far Out Space Nuts
The Phoenix
Chariots of the Gods
The Powers of Matthew Starr
Benji and the Alien Prince
Madame’s Place
The Duck Factory
The George Carlin Show
MAD TV
Jericho
ROME
Space Academy
The Invaders
Tekwar
Under the Mountain
Outlaws
Starcops
Star Maidens
Saphire and Steel
Quatermass
Salvage One
Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire
The Time Express
It’s About Time
Time Trax
Space Precinct
Hypernauts
Crime Traveller
Mercy Point
Prey
Code Name:Eternity
The Last Train
Now and Again
Strange Luck
Threshold
Supertrain
The Man From Atlantis
The Invisible Man
The Gemini Man
Ancient Warriors
NHK World
Ninja Truth NHK/YouTube
Spicy City
Cool World
Roswell Conspiracies
The Wonderful World of Disney
Swamp Fox
Stranger Things

DNA Podcast 068 – Super Sentai with Squall Charlson

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DNA Podcast 068 - Super Sentai with Squall Charlson







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In this episode…everybody say HAI! Because Rob and Don sit down with YouTuber and Tokusatsu fan Squall Charlson to discuss the history of Japan’s Super Sentai genre. Donning the colours of Red, Blue and Yellow, the three heroes discuss the genre’s origins, how it evolved over time, and the highlights of Super Sentai’s 43 year history! All this, and how Dynaman is the greatest thing ever, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed

List of Sentai Series
IT’S HENSHIN TIME! The History of Super Sentai & Power Rangers (a YouTube documentary on the history of Sentai and Power Rangers)
Squall’s YouTube Channel
Dynaman Comedy Dub Episodes
Kamen Rider
Metal Hero Shows
Himistu Sentai GoRanger
JAKQ
Joss Whedon
Japanese Spiderman
Battle Fever J
TNT Ultra 7
Squall’s Video on Reused Sentai Locations
Bioman
Liveman
Jetman
Keita Amemiya
Zyuranger
Dairanger
Megaranger
Kakuranger
Gingaman
Gogo Five
Timeranger
Kamen Rider Kuuga
Magiranger
Hurrikenger
Boukenger
Kamen Rider Faiz
Dekaranger
V-Cinema
Go-Onger
Shinkenger
Gokaiger
Go-Busters
ToQger
Failed Megazord (ToQger Mecha Boner!)
Lupinranger vs. Patoranger
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
Kamen Rider Ryuki
Kamen Rider The First
Kamen Rider The Next

DNA Podcast 019 – Ghosts of Saturday Mornings Past

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DNA Podcast 019 - Ghosts of Saturday Mornings Past







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Crusader Rabbit

In this episode, Don and Rob discuss North American TV animation, tracing it from its roots in the 1950s to the rise of Saturday morning television and its eventual evolution in the age of Netflix. Along the way, they spend time with Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones, Josie the Pussycats, the Micronauts, and Goober and the Ghost Chasers. All this, and why Fred and Barney sold cigarettes on air is waiting for you in this, the 19th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Crusader Rabbit Episode 1
Huckleberry Hound Show Intro
Rough and Ready
The Flintstones
DuMont TV Network
Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS)
1948 TV Freeze
Hanna-Barbera Productions
Wait til your Father Gets Home
The Barkleys
The Roman Holidays
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Action for Children’s Television Advocacy Group (note Don was wrong during the episode, Tipper Gore was in fact not involved with this organization that I could find, it was run by Peggy Charren and Judith “Judy” Chalfen)
Josie and the Pussycats
Filmation
Animated Star Trek
Return to the Planet of the Apes (animated)
Rocket Robin Hood
Battle of the Planets Episode 1
The Micronauts
Thundarr the Barbarian Clips
Larry Hama
Mighty Orbots Episode 1
Galaxy High Episodes
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers Episode 1
Jem and the Holograms
Sunbow Entertainment
Batman the Animated Series
Japanese X-men Openings
Netflix Voltron Trailer