In case you're somehow still not tired of me talking on podcasts this week, the new episode of Firewall & Iceberg is up and ready. NJ.com has the rundown, as well as the usual links for downloading, streaming, subscribing, etc.
In case you're somehow still not tired of me talking on podcasts this week, the new episode of Firewall & Iceberg is up and ready. NJ.com has the rundown, as well as the usual links for downloading, streaming, subscribing, etc.
My theory on why sci-fi shows fail when they air after Lost: the Lost fans are too busy analyzing, tweeting, blogging, and generally discussing what they just watched to want to spend time trying to get into a new universe. Especially anything that requires any kind of thought.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear that Life aired on BBC with David Attenborough (however you pronounce it :). That means I'll just wait for the DVD of that version instead of Oprah's. Yea!
I really enjoy Dan, however, I think his criticisms on Richard's wish for eternal life was just picking nits. Everything Alan said regarding Hell, penance, grief, and damnation completely make sense and is exactly why I figured Richard would want eternal life.
ReplyDeleteGreat podcast once again.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteDo you guys prepare notes for this/have a bit of a rundown on what you're going to talk about? I'd love love love if either of you were able to post a quick summary for those of us who don't have time to sit down and listen to the whole thing.
Drew, all we plan in advance is the outline, which is listed on both blogs that host it, in the RSS feed, the iTunes subscription, etc.
ReplyDeleteAlan, you keep ominously referring to your upcoming time off. Can we get some type of signal that it is for a good reason (vacation!) and not something worrisome?
ReplyDeleteNo Chuck talk this week? Are both of you sick about talking about the show?
Really enjoyed the podcast again. And thanks for making my wishs come true, notably the smaller filesize and you talking about Caprica. Though for some reason I actually enjoy sisters Clarice's storyline.
ReplyDeleteAlan, you keep ominously referring to your upcoming time off. Can we get some type of signal that it is for a good reason (vacation!) and not something worrisome?
ReplyDeleteNothing worrisome. Just some time off with the family that isn't 100 percent nailed down yet in terms of when.
Just read a review of Wright vs. Wrong. The reviewer said the show title reminded him of some cheesy 80s sitcom gimmick (the lead character is named Wright). Couldn't help but think of Firewall and Iceberg.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with @Robin--going to wait for the DVD sans Orpah (lol)-- I personally can't stand her voice!
ReplyDeleteDid the other Life series air on BBC America? I seem to remember ads for something like it. If so, I regret not watching it at the time.
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely better than last week. I can't always tell who is who since you guys have similar personalities and outlooks (I actually see this a good thing overall; this is not a criticism).
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I think it is you that says he doesn't care much about answers for LOST, just good stories and characters. On the whole, I tend to agree with this in theory. However, in practice the creators, writers, and promoters have been making such a big deal for YEARS about how having a set end date was perfect. A set end date was supposed to provide closure and a chance to answer questions. While it won't change whether I watch these last few episodes, it will factor in to whether I buy the DVDs and watch it all over again. Not everything needs to be tied into a loose strings, but the general big mythology and plot questions need to be answered. Just as a serious serialized show like The Wire provided at least some semblance of closure, so too must Lost. This is particularly true when you think about how invested we are in the plot/mythology and the characters (which includes the obvious actors and the island itself). It is difficult to see how they can provide even a bit of closure in the few episodes they have left.
I think that even you Alan can acknowledge that every good story needs an ending, one that has at least some sense of closure...
Alan, I think I write for everyone here when I say I think the WAW? readers should decide when you can have time off, although we will certainly take your desires into account. Give us some dates to mull over and we'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteListened to you and Simmons today and have to say, I enjoy you on that podcast better--maybe because it's you as the expert vs. you with (as Anon alludes to) someone with a similar outlook. I dunno. I appreciate this blog and all you do yet for some reason enjoy the Simmons ones more. Maybe just me.
Is there any way, in the future, the index of the shows and times during which you talk about them could be included in the info on the iTunes podcast? For instance, if I'm listening to the podcast on the way class, could I see the shows and times by simply pushing the center button on my iPod (rather than relying on using a computer)?
ReplyDeleteRegardless, great show as usual, and I rated it 5 stars on the iTunes Store!
That info's already included in the iTunes info.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt reply, Alan. It must be a problem with my iPod.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for what it's worth, I think you're George Clooney. :)
I know Flash Forward's Zachary Knighton just got cast in a pilot, but that wasn't until after last week's return episode debuted to low numbers. Is it possible that ABC was blocking the actors from going out for pilots before then? Because otherwise I'd have expected to see more of those actors being cast in new shows. Unfortunately I think at this point it might be too late since most of the pilots are already cast.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Dan allegedly grew up in Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you still having a hard time telling Dan and Alan apart, here's an easy shortcut - Dan's the sarcastic one, and Alan's the exasperated one. Easy peasy!
Great job as always, gents - Alan going near-apoplectic will never not be funny (though I can't for the life of me remember what was triggering the rage - must have been either Survivor or Idol).
I gotta say, as much as I like Dan, his argument against Richard's request for eternal life just sounded like he wanted to complain.
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ReplyDeleteI vote for Myles McNutt or Mo Ryan as your replacement for the podcast if one of you guys aren't available that week.
ReplyDeleteThe Lost discussion was really good this week, and Dan swayed me in the sense that the episode would have been better if it was a full 2 hours long & it went more in depth with the character's history instead of just 1867.
Alan, I liked your reasons for why Richard asked for eternal life...makes sense.
ReplyDeleteBut I think Dan missed what this episode really showed...the beginning of Jacob quasi-intervening in the direction of the island, a big step. Plus, we learn definitively that the MIB is evil and what him leaving the island risks.
I have to agree with Dan's assessment on Lost this week. I liked the episode, I like Richard and his backstory (though would have preferred a Ben type flashback where we'd see Richard as the mediator through the years), but I don't really see how it was mindblowing to people - or why some compare it to The Constant. And once I think about that, I realize that The Constant was not only just the perfect showcase for a character like Desmond and to a lesser extent Penny (and this episode was a fine showcase for Richard), but it also had a bunch of sci fi elements and plots that actually explains the situation in a (out there but still) scientific and clever way. Here, all we got was some mythical supernatural explanation about Jacob trying to bottle up the 'evil', and magically granting Richard eternal life. Not clever, and not scientific, which isn't a good sign of things to come (Lost mythology wise).
ReplyDeleteRe: scifi show failure after Lost. I don't think it's because of Lost that these shows fail, but beacuse Scifi shows in general don't flourish well on network tv. With or without Lost, those shows would have probably failed anyway.
"Have a Week", "And that's the way it is"...Enjoy the podcast and can really hear improvement, not only in audio quality, but in flow and general discussion. Only thing that bugs me is your (lack of) sign off. It's like neither one knows what to say. Good job on the name, next task is a cool sign off.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the podcast from three weeks ago and your discussion of The Rockford Files remake. I'd never watched it, or paid any particular attention to James Garner. Intrigued, I watched an episode on Hulu. And now I am hopelessly addicted to all things James Garner. I'm even watching episodes of Maverick, a show that holds up astoundingly well. Thanks for giving me even more TV to watch.
ReplyDeleteI have been listening to your podcast for quite some time and for a big part enjoyed what you had to say. However recently I sense such a negative vibe. You trash shows constantly, procrastinate and kick NBC whereever you can. I am so fed up with the negative overall mood of the two of you that I decided to take a break from the firewall&iceberg podcast. Can't stand yopur negativity anymore. so,long, tom
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