Shows
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 42: Humbug (in which Michael Anderson doesn't dance, not once!)Zaki Hasan of The San Francisco Chronicle joins me to discuss a first for The X-Files...COMEDY! Well, not necessarily, but in any case this is the first darkly humorous and deeply strange episode to be written by Darin Morgan, brother of Glen Morgan.
Zaki and I discuss the sociocultural impact of the series as a whole and try to place it in a modern context, before diving into the ins and outs of this episode, which is basically a whodunit that is rather easy to figure out... Though it doesn't really matter because you're really here...2021-05-0843 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 51: Bart the Lover (but who in their right mind plays with yo-yos nowadays?)Bolivian musician and writer Petrus Silón sits down with me to discuss one of his favorite episodes... And, really, this shows up on a lot of fan favorite lists. Not just because it's a good source of memes, but because it's a very well-written (and acted) story with a lot of real heart.
And, of course, Homer and the swear jar...another one in a long line of classic Simpsons sequences.
Petrus and I talk about that, and a couple of other fun things in this breezy chat.
Dig in.
2021-05-0735 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 41: Død Kalm (no, I don't know how to pronounce that and neither do you)Natalia Castro sits down with me to discuss this episode, which has a great concept and a great guest star in John Savage and yet... It doesn't really do it for us.
Maybe the concept is too far fetched? It's weird to say that about a sci-fi show, but in a spirited discussion Natalia and I go into why that is. Why is it that X-Files can't really pull off out there concepts such as this, which are so commonplace in, say, Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Make-up is also not really up to snuff...2021-05-0445 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 50: Homer Alone (which is so thin, it looks like Robert John Burke wearing terrible make-up!)Jason Pollock and I sit down to talk about this missed opportunity of an episode, which should be about Marge getting some much needed away time from her burden of a family, but is instead about Homer farting around the house and stuff while she's away.
And so, since the episode itself barely generates enough meat for scintillating conversation, we find ourselves drifting...talking about morning drive time DJs, and Indiana Jones movies, and popular genre TV shows that had surprisingly long runs... and so on.
It is, of course, a tangent-filled and very engaging...2021-04-2356 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 49: Lisa the Greek (don't worry...she's not a clueless racist and she won't get fired by CBS)Chris Prentice and I talk...FOOTBALL!!!
Well kind of...and I am referring to American Football, as opposed to what the rest of the world calls "Football," though we do name-drop that one too. We kind of talk about sports in general, and the audience interaction with competitive sports. In a word: gambling. And so on.
Because this is the episode where Homer discovers Lisa can always pick the winners. And they bond. Until Homer reveals he's a selfish ass.
In any case, sit back for a talk that delves into these topics a...2021-04-091h 00
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 40: Fearful Symmetry (even The Last Starfighter can't save these animals)Friend of the podcast Jared Kilbourne sits down with me to discuss a weird episode written by Steve De Jarnatt and guest starring Lance Guest.
It's clear there was a lot on the minds of De Jarnatt and the showrunners, but it may not be clear to us, the viewers, exactly what that is. Well... The "message" is certainly clear. "Let's stop treating our animals like shit." But that message is presented at the expense of a coherent or particularly engaging story.
Oh well... You can't win 'em all. But Jared and I still...2021-04-0745 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 48: Radio Bart (and pictures of starving children sell records!)The Pensky File's Clay McCormack joins me this week to discuss a classic episode that pokes fun at media circuses and charity singles - like "We Are the World" and what not. Sting guest stars as himself and gets to headline a catchy tune.
We talk about that, and we also talk about bad birthday experiences or crummy gifts from well-meaning adults.
We even discuss Live Aid, Queen and the motion picture sensation Bohemian Rhapsody.
It's a really fun, breezy talk.
Dig in.
For more Clay...2021-04-031h 01
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 39: Colony / End Game (it's not a double-feature of action pictures by Albert Pyun)Daniel and I sit down to discuss this extremely exciting two-part episode!
Somehow, Samantha Mulder has returned... But, is it her? As per X-Files tradition, things are not quite what they seem. Meanwhile, there's an alien bounty hunter played by the bad guy from Stallone's Cobra running around stabbing clones in the back of the neck with an icepick - or something. He's also a shapeshifter...and he morphs into Robert Stack!
Mulder tries to be an action hero...and fails.
And get ready for the brawl of 1995... Skinner vs. X...2021-03-181h 08
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 47: I Married Marge (...but who shot J.R.?)The second in the series of Simpsons flashbacks takes us back to the summer of 1980, as we see the circumstances that led to Bart's conception and the early days of Homer and Marge's marriage.
This is exactly the kind of episode Josh Fein and I tend to talk about and so here he is again, and we explore the series' approach to character development, attention to period detail, balance of sentiment and humor, and so on...
We also talk at length about the reality of being a young parent... And then we go off on...2021-03-1257 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 38: Fresh Bones ("Don't bury me...I'm not dead!!!")It's voodoo time on The X-Files!
Daniel and I sit down to talk about this cool, creepy episode which features some startling imagery and the baby-faced character actor from forgotten 90s procedural drama Murder One.
It's come up in conversation before but it really does seem like The X-Files is two shows in one. There is the paranoid alien conspiracy serial on the one hand; and the horror anthology on the other. This is ultimately a good example of the latter.
It's a fun talk.
Dig in.
2021-03-0837 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 46: Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk (that's German for "an underrated band.")Jim Laczkowski of The Director's Club joins me to talk about this episode, in which Homer Simpsons visits The Land of Chocolate. Well... that's not really the plot of the episode, but it's probably the one thing most people remember about it.
Jim and I discuss the ins and outs of this one episode, but we mostly discuss The Simpsons as a whole... Its cultural impact then and now, our relationships with it, etc...
Jim's a good guy and this is a good talk.
Dig in.
Subscribe to T...2021-03-0851 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 45: Flaming Moe's (how good can one stupid cocktail really be? Anyway...)This week I'm joined by Sean Malloy of I Must Break...This Podcast, which is a great show about the career of Dolph Lundgren. But he's not here to talk about Lundgren, no, we're here to discuss a classic season three episode of The Simpsons, which features Aerosmith and an impossibly amazing drink taking the world by storm.
And then we go off on a tangent about Rocky IV, because yes - this is what we do.
In any case, it's an - as usual - fun talk.
Dig in.
2021-03-0155 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 37: Die Hand Die Verletzt (It's German for: "the hand, the")It's SATANIC PANIC TIME on The X-Files!
The Pensky File's Clay McCormack sits down with me to discuss this fun episode about a New Hampshire high school run by a cult of devil worshippers.
I mean, there's a lot to talk about you know what I'm saying? We discuss the ins and outs of this particular episode... what works and what doesn't. For the most part, it does work. But it falls prey to the typical X-Files problem of overstuffing your episode with ideas that can't be properly concluded in just 45 minutes.
...2021-02-201h 05
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 44: Saturdays of Thunder (come for The Simpsons, stay for Michael Jackson grabbing his crotch)Saturdays of Thunder is probably a minor classic, with more than one memorable gag, and a heartwarming story about Homer connecting with Bart.
But, for Chris Prentice and I, it's an excuse to go off on several adjacent tangents about Henry Winkler, Joel Silver action films and - of course - Michael Jackson... The thing is, his famous (infamous?) "Black or White" music video (or short film, if you prefer) originally premiered right after this episode. So, of course we can't help ourselves and we talk about that...at length, which leads us into talking about Macaulay...2021-02-141h 11
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 36: Irresistible (...she's so fine, there's no tellin where the money went...)Another monster of the week, another serial killer, another backdoor pilot for Millennium...or so one would think. In any case, we'll get to Millennium soon enough. But, for now, this is a very good creepy episode.
Daniel and I speculate on the behind the scenes implications of airing two atypical serial killer themed episodes of The X-Files on two consecutive weeks... And we discuss Nick Chinlund's creepy performance. How is it that a man this unsettling is able to get as far as he does in his awful mission without anyone really noticing.
And...2021-02-1044 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 35: Aubrey (I could pull a better title for this episode out of my @$$)Daniel and I sit down to discuss this rather atypical episode...atypical for The X-Files, that is. Because, although it delves into the territory of the inexplicable, it is at heart just a serial killer thriller.
Now, don't get us wrong, it's a very good one. And it features Terry O'Quinn in the first but most certainly not the last of his appearances in a Chris Carter-related project. And it also has an excellent performance by Deborah Strang as a police detective, with a rather puerile name, who is ultimately channeling the violence of a serial...2021-02-0641 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 43: Lisa's Pony (where an 85-dollar ice cream is actually cheap compared to real life)Arianny Pilarte sits down with me this week, and we discuss Homer's very questionable parenting - which involves gross overcompensation after disappointing Lisa (again).
It's a sweet episode that doesn't forget to be very funny as well. We discuss our favorite gags... We talk about neglectful, emotionally distant parenting. We also talk about The Crown, because we both like that show. And we talk about a disgusting NYC coffee shop called Serendipity. And you'll have to listen to see why I called it disgusting.
Anyway... Good times.
Dig in.
2021-02-0552 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 34: Excelsis Dei (What if Cocoon were a horror movie?)There's a lot of heavy stuff going on in this episode, whether its the issue of elder care or elder abuse or sexual harassment by the elderly towards young nurses, under the excuse that "they come from a different time where this is harmless and who cares it's just a harmless old man..."
In any case, yes, the episode is kind of heavy. And maybe not entirely successful in making all of its points as concretely as it would like to. But there it is.
It's strong enough that Daniel and I certainly have...2021-02-0237 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 33: Red Museum (is Chris Carter a vegetarian?)Daniel and I discuss this strange episode about meat turning Wisconsin townsfolk into assholes; and the cult of vegetarians who are trying to keep them at bay.
We speculate about whether or not writer Chris Carter is a vegetarian and if this was his none too subtle dig at mass meat production in the US, and it's effects on America's heartland.
We talk about that and a bunch more.
Dig in.
Subscribe to The Erix Antoine Network on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2AzQd3...2021-01-3043 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 42: Treehouse of Horror II (Is world peace really such a good idea?)The Pensky File's Clay McCormack sits down with me to discuss the second Treehouse of Horror special. We both agree that it is superior to the first. But, is it as widely celebrated as some of the more famous ones? It seems that maybe this one has somehow slipped through the cracks. Or maybe it hasn't.
In any case, we go into detail as to the episode's best qualities. A good story is a good story, and it's an interesting challenge for the writers to deliver a satisfying horror comedy in 8-minute segments.
It's a...2021-01-2959 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 32: Firewalker (alas, Chuck Norris is nowhere to be found)Natalia Castro joins in this week to discuss a weird monster-of-the-week story about silicon fungus that breeds in a volcano, before it infects you and kills you by growing out of your throat.
Yuck.
The episode is not particularly "exciting," but it is interesting. And it features Bradley Whitford as mad scientist, Shawnee Smith as an unfortunate ingenue; and Leland Orser...in the Leland Orser role.
It's a good talk.
Dig in.
Subscribe to The Erix Antoine Network on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com...2021-01-2640 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 31: One Breath (...all you need is Enya on the soundtrack and you're all set!)Scully returns!
After a very brief absence...but, even though she had just popped her first baby out of the oven, Gillian Anderson was anxious to get back to work.
Daniel and I discuss that, and we talk about this very good episode in general - one of the best mythology episodes, maybe THE best to date in how it displays rich character growth for Mulder and expands on his relationship with the Scully family.
It also features great scenes with Skinner and The Smoking Man...
If I have...2021-01-2249 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 41: Like Father, Like Clown (...Like Hell)O Mein Poppa!
Chris Prentice and I sit down to talk about Krusty again. Namely, Krusty's tumultuous relationship with his dad - played by Jackie Mason.
And so, we discuss this episode that, while possessing a fair share of laughs, falls more on the sentimental side. It's a good story, and it's well-written and acted. But, more than anything else, it shows The Simpsons really starting to tap into the universe they've established - experimenting with a story that doesn't really focus on the family at all, but takes advantage of its rich supporting cast.2021-01-2248 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 30: 3 (...not "The Three," just... "3.")And now, finally, VAMPIRES on The X-Files! They pulled a bait-and-switch in season one. But then they gave us honest-to-goodness werwolves... So, it was only a matter of time before we got vampires.
The result is, I suppose, a bit of a mixed bag. And, maybe if we're being 100% honest, not a particularly good episode. But, in any case, Daniel and I are here to break it down and discuss it's qualities, both good and bad. And we reflect on the basic strangeness of having Mulder on his own, without Scully, and what that means for...2021-01-1837 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 29: Duane Barry & Ascension (and Steve Railsback, who always starts...at eleven)It's the first of the X-Files "epics," but it won't be the last.
The writers had to figure out creative ways to incorporate Gillian Anderson's pregnancy into the schedule (and, yes, the narrative) of Season 2. But, Daniel and I argue, this worked in their favor ultimately. It forced them to come up with some intriguing wrinkles - like shutting down The X-Files and separating Mulder and Scully, for a while... Leading to this climactic story event that results in a rather exciting two-part thriller.
We talk about good serialized storytelling and great acting...2021-01-151h 02
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 40: Homer Defined (...but did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone?)It's another very funny episode of The Simpsons! Maybe this is not quite as memorable or "iconic" as some of the more classic segments, but the laughs are definitely there.
Josh Fein and I go over our favorite bits and pieces and, as it is the nature of the podcast, we go off on a bit of a tangent far as the hidden banality behind great events throughout history, which somehow leads to us briefly discussing Quantum Leap, among other things.
Of course we're nowhere near the "breaking point" of the series. But we're not...2021-01-1545 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 28: Sleepless (...in Vancouver -- doubling for New York)Tony Todd is a wonderful actor, and it's great to see him show up here - in one of his many appearances on genre TV in the 1990s - and Daniel and I do talk about that, as we discuss this very good episode.
But we also discuss the particulars of The X-Files at this point in its run, when the writers had to figure out how to craft episodes around the reality of Gillian Anderson's pregnancy and come up with ways to minimize her use, while still delivering on the initial promise of the series.
2021-01-1148 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 27: Blood (if you want it, you got it)And so, here we have a rather engaging, intriguing, suspenseful techno thriller. But... Is it an X-File?
Daniel and I aren't sure. But we did both enjoy this episode that features a great performance by William Sanderson, plenty of memorable set pieces, and Ashlyn Gere as you have never seen her before!
But it also has a story that doesn't quite make a lot of sense, with the usual convoluted elements that tend to bog down X-Files episodes and not a particularly satisfying resolution.
In any case, the episode is what it...2021-01-0839 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 39: Bart the Murderer (...but we're so PC! We're SO PC!)Jason Pollock and I sit down to talk about arguably the first really funny episode of the series! Well, ok... Maybe that's an exaggeration. But it's the first genuinely good, funny episode that Pollock and I have talked about. And it's most definitely the first great episode of Season 3.
Pollock and I talk about that and we also go off on a couple of tangents about how stupid it is in this day and age to rail against "PC culture" and "Cancel Culture," when you consider that an episode like this - which is about a 10-year-old-boy w...2021-01-0852 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 26: The Host (beware of random port-a-potties in New Jersey!)Clay McCormack of The Pensky File sits down with me to discuss the very gleefully disgusting episode... The Host.
Is that Ralph Macchio? Is that Joe Kubert? (The answer in both cases is no.)
Ultimately, The Host gave Clay and I a lot to discuss, we reflect on the series as a whole...we compare the realities of 90s genre TV to today's serialized "bingeworthy" dramas available for instant gratification on streaming services, and how that affects storytelling.
And we also ask ourselves: would a series like The X-Files "work" in today's...2021-01-041h 07
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 25: Little Green Men (gets extra points for having a Puerto Rican who actually speaks Spanish like a Puerto Rican!)Season 2 of The X-Files opens in more than respectable fashion... With a compelling, well-written episode, which finds Mulder having a crisis of faith, and wondering if any of this nonsense is worth it. Wondering, in fact, if the catalyst to his lifelong obsession (the abduction of his kid sister) even happened in the first place.
A noticeable uptick in the show's production value, plus good scenes featuring Walter Skinner and a US senator played by the wonderful character actor Raymond J. Barry, are among this very good episode's highlights.
Daniel and I kick off the...2021-01-0142 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 38: When Flanders Failed (Boy, there sure are a lot of lefties in Springfield!)And so, the third season just rolls along... And we are still seeing the remnants of season 2's production cycle as the series struggles to find its specific identity amidst the landscape of TV comedy. Some people consider "When Flanders Failed" a classic episode, others hate it... I suppose we fall somewhere in between.
Troy Anderson of AndersonVision.com joins me this week to discuss this often funny, sometimes maudlin...ultimately rather bland episode. And we find ourselves trailing off and discussing the sociopolitical global landscape in the fall of 1991, a time that saw The Soviet Union...2021-01-0140 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 24: The Erlenmeyer Flask (They used to kill off fan favorites back then too!)And so we have arrived at the end of Season 1...and what a season of television it has been. Maybe not a perfect season, but certainly about as solid a full first season as a modern genre show has ever gotten.
Daniel and I reflect on the season as a whole, we pick our favorite episodes, stuff like that. But mainly we discuss this rather potent finale, which does a couple of really ballsy things: First, it kills off an important and seemingly untouchable supporting character - who had become a fan favorite. And then, it actually...2020-12-2545 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 37: Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington (and the 90s were a more naive time!)The Simpsons get political this week and, yes, so do we.
Josh Fein sits down with me to talk about this episode, which finds Lisa coming of age as she wakes up to the reality of corruption in the halls of DC. But the episode also gave us a chance to talk about political commentary in general...how media approached it then vs. how it approaches it now; and the intricacies of navigating discussions of global politics on social media, where not everyone is quite as informed as they claim (or wish) to be.
It's...2020-12-251h 00
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 23: Roland (What if Tom Cruise's disembodied head possessed Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man?)This episode should be extremely cringey and, in some ways, I suppose it is. And I suppose it's also the sort of thing that would get dragged through the mud in this day and age because they cast non disabled actors to play disabled characters in a TV show.
But, in any case, it does have a rather intriguing concept; and those non disabled actors do give convincing performances as disabled characters. You can tell the actors did their research, probably spent some time around people like those they were portraying. And the result is a well-crafted...2020-12-2135 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 22: Born Again (what if Law & Order had ghosts and people dying like in Final Destination?)Once again, an episode involving resurrection (in one form or another) and with a vaguely biblical sounding or alluding title. And so, once again, Daniel was confused. See...a few episodes ago, when we watched "Lazarus," he had gone into that one thinking it was this one. And maybe he thought "Born Again" actually referred to "Miracle Man," since that one had the very overt religious themes and so, well...
And, not only does it have a confusing title, its plot is basically a remake of "Shadows," and it was written by the same team. Only I...2020-12-1834 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 36: Stark Raving Dad (Yes, it's that one.)And so...
Here we are with Season 3 of The Simpsons, which begins with the legendary episode that THEY don't want you to see! Whoever THEY are, and for whatever reason THEY care. But, in any case, we here at The Simpsons Countdown made a pledge to go back to the beginning and watch ALL of The Simpsons...and "All" cannot properly be considered "All," unless we include this episode... An episode that came to us at a more innocent time - the 90s, when life was simpler. And when it took more than just a series of t...2020-12-1845 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 21: Tooms (the celebrated return and unceremonious demise of Eugene Victor Tooms)Daniel and I discuss the first X-Files "sequel," which is not unlike an actual horror sequel - it brings back crowd-pleasing elements and attempts to further the story, while not necessarily bringing anything particularly new to the table.
But it's a fun episode anyway, and an important one - as it introduces Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner.
The "B story" elements are ultimately more satisfying in this X-Files adventure, which - for better or worse - provides a definitive sense of closure for one of Mulder and Scully's strangest cases.
As usual, it's...2020-12-1442 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 20: Darkness Falls (And a kewpie doll if you know how to pronounce Jason Beghe's name)This episode is, in monster-of-the-week tradition, a tight 45-minute horror movie, with an ecological message. Maybe episodic TV is not quite the place for Chris Carter to indulge absolutely all of his apocalyptic tendencies, as this episode's naturalistic "downer" tendency makes it feel needlessly ambiguous and somewhat unsatisfying...lacking in a particularly effective resolution.
But it does offer pleasures anyway. Mainly through well-executed tension, good atmosphere and excellent performances from a solid guest cast that includes Titus Welliver and Jason Beghe, who Daniel and I are both embarrassed to admit has a name we can't pronounce.
2020-12-1139 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 19: Shapes (Featuring Michael Horse cast against type as a Native American cop)Both Daniel and I are enthusiasts of the werewolf subgenre in horror, and so this is an episode that hit our sweet spots.
It provides an authentic-feeling glimpse into Native American culture, with an engaging story that is paced very well. And it features Michael Horse in the role of a Native American law enforcement official. It also has one pretty decent transformation scene, considering this was a prime time sci-fi TV series and not a feature film with effects by Rick Baker or Rob Bottin. So, all things considered, they pulled it off very acceptably.
2020-12-0740 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 18: Miracle Man (An episode with more villains than a Joel Schumacher Batman movie)Daniel was at first confused as to which of the "back from the dead" episodes this was. He thought maybe it was "Lazarus," but then we saw "Lazarus" a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't this one... And there's another episode called "Young at Heart," and there's ANOTHER episode coming up called "Born Again," so... the resurrection/biblical allegories are thick in this show, aren't they?
And maybe this episode is even more confusing since its cockamamie story has too many loose ends far as motivations are concerned. And did it need to have more than...2020-12-0441 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 17: E.B.E. (The Passion of Deep Throat)As we delve deeper into the X-Files mythology, at last the backstory and motivations of Deep Throat are made clear. Even if the general conspiracy remains murky - either by design or because the writers have by this point still not come up with any answers themselves.
But that doesn't matter. What matters is that we have a reasonably engaging episode that finds Mulder and Scully playing Cloak & Dagger across America, The Lone Gunmen are introduced; and Jerry Hardin is, as usual excellent in all his typically cryptic scenes.
Daniel and I have a...2020-11-3030 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 16: Young at Heart (Or: the one with the salamander hand)Yeah, this is a pretty dreadful episode. The first real stinker of the season, but - as we're more than half way into the season, and the first one at that - it really says something about the series' overall quality that they took this long to cook up a real turkey. For reference, TNG's "planet of black people that want to force Tasha into marriage" episode was, I think, number three!
In any case, Daniel and I spend most of the time talking about why this particular episode kinda sucks and we focus mainly on...2020-11-2740 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 15: Lazarus (For a second there, I thought I was watching Miami Vice...with ghosts)On the one hand, it's kind of interesting or at least unusual to just see Mulder and Scully do standard police procedural things. You know, the sorts of things that normal feds do...not the feds on a genre series about aliens and ghouls. Just, like normal feds or normal cops or however you want to look at it.
On the other hand, this episode is kind of silly.
But it gets a lot of mileage out of compelling performances, and the typical X-Files minimalism that keeps things grounded no matter how outlandish.
...2020-11-2334 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 14: Gender Bender (Or: Horny Amish From Outer Space!)Sure, I suppose the title of this episode creates an unnecessary polemic for what is ultimately just a fun, creepy horror movie of an episode...about Amish aliens from outer space who have the power to fornicate you into oblivion.
Oh yeah... And they can switch back and forth between the male and female gender. To what end? The episode never really makes that clear or even relevant, really. It's just convenient for a gender-swapping sexual predator/serial killer to be able to cover all their bases I suppose.
Anyway, Daniel and I do...2020-11-2043 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 13: Beyond the Sea (You can't go wrong with The Dourif!)Jim Laczkowski of The Director's Club sits down with me again, and we talk about a very dramatic episode...about deep grief and deep possibility.
With a customarily galvanizing guest performance by Brad Dourif as the "Hannibal Lecter" of this particular Silence of the Lambs pastiche.
Jim and I talk about Dourif and we also talk about the "fridging" of Fox Mulder; in an episode that at last gives Gillian Anderson center stage - and she is most definitely up to the task, delivering a strong, poignant performance.
It's an excellent episode, and...2020-11-1642 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 12: Fire (Fox Mulder's thrilling journey out of The Friendzone...and back again!)Weren't we just talking about Mulder's sex life? Or lack thereof?
In any case, maybe this episode is aptly named...since it's so HOT.
No, not really. But the lovely Amanda Pays is on hand as Mulder's former FLAME...a flame that is reignited, only to once again be extinguished.
Daniel and I get into the particulars of this solid monster-of-the-week episode, which has good guest stars and terrific special effects.
It's a fun talk.
Dig in.
Subscribe to The Erix Antoine Network...2020-11-1339 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 11: Eve (Hate to see you go, but...)Although they pull a very weird bait and switch with this episode, it's still a very good and compelling adventure nonetheless. And so, Daniel and I get into the ins and outs of this particular episode, which was a spec script by freelancers inspired by The Boys From Brazil.
How does the concept work for an X-Files episode? Why would the murderous little girls try to pass off their crime as the work of alien vampires? Did Mulder have to slap the soda out of Scully's hand so harshly? And what is it with Harriet Sansom Harris...2020-11-0931 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 10: Fallen Angel (He's kinda like The Predator...but cheaper)Daniel and I discuss "Fallen Angel," which is a mythology episode and that means that of course it's all about shady conspiracies and at some point there is a shouting match between Mulder and some authority figure.
Nothing new under the sun, except for the introduction of Max Fenig - gamely played by Scott Bellis.
It occurs to us that maybe all 45 minutes should've just focused on him...would've resulted in a more compelling episode.
In any case, this is still worthwhile and, yes, essential. Daniel and I get into why.
...2020-11-0632 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 9: Space (The FACE...of CHEESE)Natalia sits down with me again to talk about "Space," which is a very intriguing episode with good performances...and terrible special effects.
Basically: Was the concept too ambitious for what the meager first season budget could accommodate? Why do this episode now? Why not do it later? What was the urgency for Chris Carter in telling this story, this way, right now?
Does it matter?
It probably doesn't. And, in any case, Natalia and I decided to focus on the episode's good qualities - and highlight how often distractingly bad production issues...2020-11-0235 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 8: Ice (Are we who we are?)Jim Laczkowski of The Director's Club joins me this week to discuss "Ice," which is a classic X-Files episode that owes more than a tip of the hat to John Carpenter's The Thing.
Are those establishing shots of the research base actually from The Thing? Did it have to be Kenny Banya that greeted Mulder & Scully at the hangar in Alaska? Think Xander Berkley is the bad guy? Think again.
Anyway... There's a lot of great stuff going on in this episode: a genuinely tense atmosphere throughout, accentuated by Gillian Anderson and David...2020-10-3042 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 7: Ghost in the Machine (Yeah... It's basically just HAL.)My dear friend Natalia Castro calls in this week from Colombia and we talk about "Ghost in the Machine," which is a kind of X-Files techno thriller, with a familiar concept, familiar plot beats and familiar faces...even if we can't remember the names.
In any case, the episode on a whole is solid enough that it allowed Natalia and I to discuss its strengths, as well as the strengths of The X-Files as a whole. We also ponder an odd tendency by Fox to take a chance on "risky" sci-fi properties only to eventually abandon them...2020-10-2638 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 6: Shadows (This is your idea of a "meat and potatoes" story?)There's a lot going on in "Shadows," that's for sure. As it's a convoluted mess with enough plot ideas for three episodes all crammed into 45 minutes!
You have the super duper ghost haunting his former secretary, you have a conspiracy involving a defense contractor having covert dealings with Middle Eastern extremists, you have a murdered guy trying to avenge his death from beyond the grave... You have assassins busting into people's houses with switchblades only to get choked out by super ghosts!
As I said, there's a lot going on in this thing.
...2020-10-2334 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 5: The Jersey Devil (They couldn't do better than that chicken scratch?)It's nice to see Mulder kick back and have some fun in Atlantic City. It's nice to see Scully try and have a "normal" life for a change, even if this is dramatized through an excruciatingly boring date with some divorced dad that hits on her at a kiddie party. And maybe that explains why, when all is said and done, Scully would rather go off with Mulder chasing after an X-File.
The Jersey Devil is a kind of middle-of-the-road episode, but it's reasonably enjoyable nonetheless and it gave Daniel and I a couple of things to...2020-10-1936 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 35: Blood Feud; or When Did Fox Lose its Edge?Well... Here we are at the season's end. And, as it was with season one, so too it is that Mike Drew Flynn is on hand... to discuss "Blood Feud," which although technically the "last" episode of Season 2, actually aired in the middle of the summer hiatus. And so, in essence almost serves as a kind of bridge into the next season...where The Simpsons really took off and began its tenure as the cultural benchmark and premiere source of social satire of the 1990s.
Flynn and I discuss this very funny episode, but more than anything...2020-10-1838 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 4: Conduit (Why would Mulder go to a church?)Daniel and I discuss "Conduit," maybe not the best episode of Season 1, but nonetheless an important one - as it delves into a very important aspect of Mulder's backstory. Namely, the childhood trauma (his sister's abduction) that has been the driving force of his FBI career.
It's an engaging episode with some intriguing scenes. But why is Duchovny so wooden? In an episode that requires him to go to some emotional places, he unfortunately falls a bit short.
In any case, the episode may not be a "mythology" episode in the traditional sense but it's...2020-10-1634 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 3: Squeeze (Has Doug Hutchison ever not been creepy as hell?)Daniel and I discuss "Squeeze," which is the third episode of the series - eschewing the mythology for a more standard "monster of the week" formula and, as such, it functions very well as a kind of self-contained 45-minute horror movie.
This is mainly due to the series' customary minimalist approach and a very creepy performance by Doug Hutchison as Victor Tooms.
Daniel and I get into all the aspects that make this episode work so well and we also discuss the key elements that have kept the series from really dating itself, at...2020-10-1250 min
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 2: Deep Throat (Is he the "real" Deep Throat?)And so, Daniel and I sit down to discuss "Deep Throat," which is the second episode of the series, but it could also be seen as the first "official" episode. Or, in any case, almost an extension of the pilot...as it sort of completes the arc, if you will, or at least finalizes its presentation of this series' ethos.
Is the title character supposed to be the actual Deep Throat? Did we know, in 1993, that Deep Throat was actually Mark Felt? In any case, actor Jerry Hardin looks more like Mark Felt than Hal Holbrook...2020-10-0947 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 34: Three Men and a Comic Book & Two Men and Lots of Comic BooksIt is my sincere pleasure to welcome The Pensky File's Clay McCormack to the podcast. We sat down for a balmy afternoon to discuss the episode "Three Men and a Comic Book," which was appropriate for us to discuss as longtime comic book aficionados ourselves (me as a reader/collector, him as someone who actually makes them).
The episode is very funny, of course, but it also presents an authentic portrayal of comic book fandom and accurately captures a young boy's obsession with procuring an elusive book - not as a collector, per se, but for the...2020-10-091h 05
Discovering The X-FilesEpisode 1: Pilot (It still holds up!)Welcome to a new podcast, in which a newbie (that's me) finally takes a deep dive through the entirety of Chris Carter's creepy universe....guided by fans he is lucky enough to have in his circle, who will kindly walk him through the journey.
In this first go round, Daniel Baldwin (not the actor, but a terrific guy nonetheless) sits down with me to discuss the excellent pilot episode for this classic series. How providential that everything seems to be locked into place - as far as the series' ethos, central characters and sophisticated tone - right...2020-10-0646 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 33: The War of the Simpsons Prevented Me From Finishing PicardJason Pollock sits down with me to discuss "The War of the Simpsons," in which Homer makes an ass of himself and almost destroys his marriage, until Marge decides to forgive him even though he has done nothing to atone for his selfishness and all around failure as a husband.
The episode explores some serious themes, and so Pollock and I have a bit of a serious discussion. And we discover that for all the episode's highlights, good writing and several funny moments, it just isn't that satisfying. Maybe it hits a bit close to home? For...2020-10-0250 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 32: Lisa's Substitute Had Better Vote in the Election!Josh Fein is back to discuss "Lisa's Substitute," a heartwarming episode guest starring Dustin Hoffman in the title role.
The chief feature of the episode is that its a touching coming-of-age love story for Lisa, which gives Yeardly Smith the opportunity for emoting on a deeper level than she ever had up to that point in the series.
We discuss the episode's dramedy aspects, which were clearly and heavily influenced by James L. Brooks. But, also, we delve into the episode's chief source of comedy - the B story- in which Bart and Martin compete in...2020-09-2539 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 31: Brush With Greatness and Other Dieting TipsMy good buddy Chris Prentice is back, to discuss "Brush with Greatness," which is a very funny episode about Marge painting Mr. Burns in the nude.
There's more to it than that, of course. Primarily a poignant subplot about Homer wanting to shed a few pounds after getting stuck in a water slide.
Ringo Starr was the first Beatle to make an appearance on The Simpsons, as the object of teen Marge's affections, who comes in as a Deus Ex Machina to inspire her at the last minute to paint her heart out and make M...2020-09-1855 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 30: Old Money to Make Way for TomorrowArianny chimes in once again from Jersey, and we talk about the episode "Old Money."
We also discuss the differences in how we treat our elderly in the US vs. Latin America... Because, frankly, this episode brings up those thoughts!
In any case, it is a spirited discussion. About The Simpsons. And, well, old people.
Dig in.
Subscribe to The Erix Antoine Network on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2AzQd3F3yfQ_kdoOM9Y_A
Follow The Erix Antoine Network on Twitter - http...2020-09-1136 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 29: Bart's Dog Gets an F, For Being Unable to Defeat the Bats in CastlevaniaJason Pollock is back this week, to discuss "Bart's Dog Gets an F," which originally aired in the US on March 7, 1991.
It is yet another slight, inconsequential episode for Pollock and I to discuss...and so we go off on tangents about a bunch of stuff, including the ever present fact that - as Gen Xers, we are able to spot (and scoff) at even the most "obscure" film and pop culture references in the series. We are also in the rather enviable position of living from the dawn of video games through the evolution of that...2020-09-0438 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 28: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou Is Arguably Better Than the Coen Brothers MovieTroy Anderson is back to discuss one of his favorite episodes - "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou," which originally aired in the US on February 21, 1991.
This episode introduced Homer's half brother Herb Powell, unforgettably brought to life by Danny De Vito. It is rightfully a classic, which Troy and I acknowledge, while also talking a little bit about the episode's exploration of character and its deepening of the Simpsons mythology.
Meanwhile, we throw out some behind the scenes tidbits about the tumultuous relationship between Matt Groening and Sam Simon, and how often some of the...2020-08-2837 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 27: Principal Charming and the Citizens on PatrolMike Drew Flynn joins me this week, to discuss "Principal Charming," which originally aired in the US on February 14, 1991.
Valentine's Day is an appropriate day, in any case, to air the sweet story of how Principal Skinner dates Marge's sister Patty... Flynn and I acknowledge this. We acknowledge that this is a charming, effectively romantic episode.
But we also acknowledge that the Police Academy franchise is a good series of comedies. We acknowledge that the fifth entries in a horror series tend to be the worst. We acknowledge that Simpsons video games tend to suck...v...2020-08-2141 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 26: Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment - to Ignore Jimmy Woods' Ramblings and Just Watch His MoviesChris (Moltisanti) Prentice is back on the podcast to talk about the classic episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment," which originally aired in the US on February 7, 1991.
It's another winner of an episode full of classic moments, witty gags, and basically all the good stuff you expect out of the series' golden age...proving the adage from a couple of episodes ago, that this show really began its uptick once they "jumped the gorge."
And the episode gave Chris and I a lot to discuss for just about an hour. We reminisce about g...2020-08-1459 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 25: The Way We Was 2002 Really All That Different From 2020?Josh Fein is back to discuss "The Way We Was," which originally aired in the US on January 31, 1991.
It's the first of The Simpsons' many flashback episodes...this time focusing on how Homer and Marge first met and fell in love.
More than anything else, it got us thinking about the 17-year difference between 1974 and 1991 - how clear that difference was in aesthetics, culture, trends, etc... And it got us pondering on how unclear that difference is between 2020 and 2003. Of course things are different. Of course society has changed, and it will continue to change. B...2020-08-0749 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 24: One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish, Ceviche; and Other Hangover CuresNatalia Castro once again calls in from Colombia, and we discuss "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish," which originally aired in the US on January 24, 1991.
Despite the dark subject matter, it's a very funny episode that balances its sentimental aspects with humor very well. And, besides, we know Homer's not actually going to die because this is not the series finale. It's not even the season finale. It's just another Simpsons episode - half way through a season on the uptick.
Natalia and I discuss the humanizing of Homer, and we also go off...2020-07-3145 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 23: Bart Gets Hit By a Car and Did You Know About Gwyneth and Ben?Arianny calls in from New Jersey and we talk about "Bart Gets Hit By a Car," which originally aired in the US on January 10, 1991.
This episode has some historic firsts. Principally: Lionel Hutz makes his first appearance, which means Phil Hartman makes his first appearance and the wonderful funnyman would go on to be an almost mythical presence on the show from this point on.
The episode itself is pretty funny until a maudlin, out-of-nowhere ending that all but ruins it. Arianny and I discuss the ins and outs of this, and we go off o...2020-07-2434 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 22: Itchy & Scratchy & Marge & Dorothy & Rose & Blanche & Sophia & Rhett & Scarlett & Don Cheadle & Butterfly McQueenNatalia Castro joins me this week, to discuss Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, which originally aired in the US on December 20, 1990.
The episode is funny and everything, with Marge taking on The Itchy & Scratchy Show after its violence influences Maggie to attack Homer with a mallet. But, above all, it is a strangely topical piece of television history...touching upon issues of well-intentioned censorship, which were relevant then and are relevant now - as we see people and corporations desperate to show their awareness of changing mores by engaging in some well-intentioned censorship of their own.
Natalia...2020-07-1755 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 21: Bart the Daredevil is the Quintessential Simpsons Episode...For NowPetrus Silon is on the line this week, to discuss "Bart the Daredevil," which originally aired in the US on December 6, 1990.
This is Matt Groening's favorite episode, and it's probably the first really "classic" episode of the series - certainly in the first two seasons - as it's one of the few episodes from those first two years that people in general remember; and was made even more of a perennial by continuous references within the show itself...right up until the movie.
Petrus and I talk about that...about the episode's basic canonical importance, de...2020-07-1035 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 20: Bart vs. Thanksgiving in the Garish Real-Life Simpsons House in the Middle of NowhereTroy Anderson makes his Simpsons Countdown debut to discuss "Bart vs. Thanksgiving," which originally aired in the US on Thanksgiving itself in 1990, which was November 22.
The episode, despite some customarily "edgy" Simpsons humor, is basically a pretty traditional holiday special all things considered - with equal doses of sass and sentimentality, but making sure to end on a heartwarming note. It doesn't represent the series at its best quite yet, but it still gave enough fuel for a wide-ranging discussion that somehow found us reminiscing about the teen drama craze of the 90s.
It's a...2020-07-0347 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 19: Dead Putting Society of Toxic CompetitivenessFellow ex-pat Dan Lebofsky returns this week, to discuss "Dead Putting Society," which originally aired in the US on November 15, 1990.
Neither of us much care for the sport of golf. Though Dan has at least played it once upon a time, while I have not. But whatever... The most interesting aspect of the episode is Homer's extremely aggressive desire to upstage Ned Flanders and how that has repercussions when he tries to egg Bart on to "destroy" Todd Flanders in a mini golf competition.
Did our own parents ever project their own failings and insecurities...2020-06-2638 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 18: Dancin' Homer Really Hates The Rise of SkywalkerJason Pollock is on hand this week to discuss "Dancin' Homer," which originally aired in the US on November 8, 1990.
The episode achieved massive ratings at the time, was well reviewed, and is fondly remembered by fans...but is it really that great? We discuss that briefly. And then we get sidetracked, of course, talking about why European (and Latin American) sports fans are so much more "badass" than American ones - in particular Soccer Hooligans.
We ponder what the fictional Capital City is analogous for... Is it Chicago or New York? Does it matter?
2020-06-1942 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 17: Two Cars in Every Garage and Two Eyes on Every Fish; and Politics in Every PodcastAnd so, my fellow expat Dan Lebofsky and I sit down to talk about "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish," which originally aired in the US on November 1, 1990.
And so, inevitably, the first outwardly political episode of The Simpsons takes us to a highly political place more focused on the current environment, which includes a global pandemic and the worldwide protests in solidarity with the victim of a brutal murder at the hands of a police officer in gross violation of his code and severe abuse of his authority.
So...2020-06-1238 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 16: The Treehouse of Horror Sets the Writers FreeIt's the very first Treehouse of Horror! Which originally aired in the US on October 25, 1990.
This is probably the quaintest of the now perennial Simpsons Halloween specials. But, nonetheless, the three-story format is already established up front. As is the basic hallmark of the writers putting their own spin on a classic film or piece of literature; or episode of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits...
Appropriately, this podcast also switches things up a bit. As three guests - Jason Pollock, Natalia Castro and Mike Drew Flynn - join me to talk about the...2020-06-051h 10
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 15: Simpson and Delilah, and the Fantasies of Bruce WillisChris (Moltisanti) Prentice is here to discuss "Simpson and Delilah," which originally aired in the US on October 18, 1990.
This is the episode where Homer discovers a miracle hair growth formula that changes his life...briefly.
It's a very good, funny episode with a bitter edge - and a cynical worldview as far as elements of the common male self-image. So we spend a bit of time discussing the episode's merits, which include a wonderful supporting character - Homer's secretary named Karl - played by Harvey Fierstein.
Some of us even confess about our ow...2020-05-2949 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 14: Bart Gets an "F" Because Mrs. Krabappel Doesn't Care for Old Parr WhiskeySeason 2 is off to a compelling start, as Josh Fein and I sit down to discuss "Bart Gets an F," which originally aired in the US on October 11, 1990.
This heartwarming episode came on the heels of a summer hiatus in which "Bartmania" had taken American kids by storm - and everybody wanted to either "be" Bart Simpson, or wear him on a t-shirt.
Josh and I recall this pop culture powder keg as best we can. And it also gives us an opportunity to reminisce about our own scholastic adventures in underachieving. Neither of us...2020-05-2243 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 13: Some Enchanted Evening, You'll Find Yourself Watching The Earth Day SpecialMike Drew Flynn returns to the podcast, and we close out the first season discussing "Some Enchanted Evening," which originally aired on May 13, 1990 - paving the way for Simpsons Mania to take America by storm over the summer hiatus.
I guess Flynn and I don't really like this episode very much, which is probably why this laid back conversation finds us discussing everything from 24 to Brian De Palma to the goddamn Earth Day Special from 1990. Remember that one?
You probably don't.
But we do.
It's a lean and mean conclusion to t...2020-05-0334 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 12: Krusty Gets Busted and the Tabloid TV Craze is BornChris Prentice returns to the podcast, to discuss "Krusty Gets Busted," the penultimate episode of the first season, which aired on April 29, 1990.
This classic episode is the formal introduction of Sideshow Bob, which is a fan favorite character, brilliantly brought to life by the dulcet Mid Atlantic tones of Kelsey Grammer. Both Chris and I happen to be huge fans of this fine actor, and we spend quite a bit of time singing his praises. Tracing his career from Cheers through Frasier and beyond...as he got plum roles in terrible Robert De Niro/Ed Burns movies...2020-04-2657 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 11: The Crepes of Wrath Was Not Remade as a Colombian TelenovelaMy good friend Natalia Castro makes her podcast debut. Literally: as in this is the first podcast she's ever participated in. And it is an honor to have here here, discussing, "The Crepes of Wrath," which originally aired on April 15, 1990.
The episode, on the surface, is about Bart participating in an exchange program and being sent to France, where he is forced into slave labor. Meanwhile, his counterpart back home turns out to be an Albanian spy. Now, all of that - in and of itself - is the rich sort of plotting you'd normally expect a...2020-04-1952 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 10: Homer's Night Out...um...Does This Count As Cheating?Arianny Pilarte is on the line this week...bringing a valuable perspective to the episode "Homer's Night Out," which originally aired on March 25, 1990.
The optics are a little weird here, let's be honest. I mean... Is a belly dancer the same thing as a stripper? And, for that matter, is a stripper the same thing as a prostitute? Furthermore... Is sex work inherently a bad thing? Does having innocent fun at a stag party count as cheating? Is Homer an asshole or is Marge overreacting?
So many questions.
We try to answer them in...2020-04-1252 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 9: Life on the Fast Lane Leads Directly to Jimmy Hoffa's FatePlease welcome Chris Prentice to the podcast.
Veterans of Chud.com might remember him as Moltisanti. And it's great to have him here.
We are discussing "Life on the Fast Lane," which originally aired on March 18, 1990.
In this episode, Marge comes very close to having an affair with a French bowling champion named Jacques. And so we discuss the show's realistic portrayal of marital strife, the concept of infidelity and how these things can affect a family as a whole, particularly the children.
We also talk about the genius of Albert Bro...2020-04-0557 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 8: The Telltale Head and Other Matters of Sociopolitical ImportanceJason Pollock returns to the podcast to discuss the momentous episode "The Telltale Head," which originally aired on February 25, 1990.
The episode is a classically structured fable in which Bart decapitates the statue of the town hero and learns that becoming popular isn't all it's cracked up to be when coupled with the infamy of committing a crime against humanity. But, is it though? Do statues of historical figures really matter all that much? We ponder this.
We also talk about Apu, because this is the episode that introduces him to the world. But, as that...2020-03-2943 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 7: The Call of the Simpsons is to Be a Burger King Kids Meal PlaysetPetrus returns to the podcast, to discuss - "The Call of the Simpsons," which originally aired on February 18, 1990.
This is an episode he really cares about. Because, to be fair, when he sat down to talk "Homer's Odyssey," he was just doing Erix a favor.
But this episode has a special place in Petrus' heart. It's the first one he remembers watching...way back when he was just a little tyke. And that's rather appropriate as the episode - a wilderness adventure starring The Simpsons - is actually very kid friendly. Arguably the most kid fri...2020-03-2240 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 6: Moaning Lisa is Kind of a Drag, So Let's Talk About Video GamesErix is once again joined by Josh Fein, and they discuss “Moaning Lisa,” which originally aired on February 11, 1990.
Well… There are a few tangents, let’s be fair.
Maybe the episode doesn’t inspire quite the same level of enthusiasm of other episodes. So they need to talk about stuff like video games - specifically Konami’s classic Simpsons Arcade Game. And there is also a brief discussion about The Simpsons Sing the Blues - a novelty record that has maybe been wisely forgotten after thirty years. An album so bad, in fact, that maybe it merits a f...2020-03-1541 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 5: Bart the General Impression is Metallica Peaked with The Black AlbumErix is joined by Dan Lebofsky, a Canadian expat - also living in La Paz, Bolivia. He's a good musician and a good friend...making his podcast debut.
They discuss "Bart the General," which originally aired on February 4, 1990. They discuss that for a few minutes, until they go off on tangents involving retirement homes, treatment of the elderly, and so on...before doubling back again and discussing The Simpsons in general; and its cultural impact both in the US and abroad.
Yes, Metallica is mentioned. They talk about a lot of things. It's all in...2020-03-0852 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 4: There's No Disgrace Like Home; But Does Motorola Still Make TVs?Erix is joined by Josh Fein, and they discuss “There’s No Disgrace Like Home,” which originally aired on January 28, 1990.
There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, it seems… with its unusual portrayal of family therapy - climaxing in a scene so classic, it was featured as a prominent button in the summer blockbuster Die Hard 2.
No, they don’t talk about Die Hard 2. But they do discuss the general development of The Simpsons, as well as its cultural impact.
Far as bonus personal details? You will find out how Erix and Fein had...2020-03-0148 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 3: Homer's Odyssey...to Stamp Out Political Incorrectness In Comedy.Erix is joined by Petrus (Pedro Pablo) Silón - lead singer of the Bolivian rock band Oz.
They discuss the rather forgotten episode "Homer's Odyssey," in which Homer goes into a funk after being humiliatingly fired in front of his son. But, after briefly contemplating suicide, he finds a new purpose in life - becoming a crusader for safety. It's an odd episode with a surprisingly dark and heavy emotional core for a sitcom, more so for a cartoon.
It may not be a "classic," but it certainly provides for ample discussion. And much of...2020-02-2353 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 2: Bart the Genius, and I Can't Say Channel Five!The first "official" episode of the podcast! In which Erix and Mike Drew Flynn discuss "Bart the Genius", the first "official" episode of The Simpsons.
They also relate their own experiences in the American public school system, which are exactly the same as Bart Simpson's! And yet, completely different!
As a bonus, there is some tangential stuff of possibly archival interest regarding the history of New York's Channel 5!
Good times.2020-02-1643 min
The Simpsons CountdownEpisode 1: "Happy 30th Anniversary!"In this extremely rough around the edges "pilot" episode, Erix chats with Jason Pollock about The Simpsons Christmas Special, general musings about the series as a whole, and a bunch of irrelevant things. Overall, it's two friends talking about The Simpsons.
Also: In a rather long-winded intro, Erix goes into a little detail about the premise of this new podcast...in the hopes that listeners will be hooked and encouraged to keep listening when the podcast launches - officially - in early 2020.
Good times!2019-12-1857 min
Director's ClubEpisode 106: M. Night ShyamalanI'm back! This time I needed a lot of help (and defense) of a director I'm not that high up on. I certainly don't consider myself an outright detractor, but this is a bit of a departure since most episodes this year so far have been glowingly positive. I am joined by first-time guest Erix Antoine, a filmmaker and avid fan of genre films, to enlighten each other on the rather divisive M. Night Shyamalan. We cover it all from the good to the bad to the Happening. 00:00 - 07:45 - Introduction07:46 - 17:15 - Introduction With Erix2016-04-193h 33
Director's ClubEpisode 106: M. Night ShyamalanI'm back! This time I needed a lot of help (and defense) of a director I'm not that high up on. I certainly don't consider myself an outright detractor, but this is a bit of a departure since most episodes this year so far have been glowingly positive. I am joined by first-time guest Erix Antoine, a filmmaker and avid fan of genre films, to enlighten each other on the rather divisive M. Night Shyamalan. We cover it all from the good to the bad to the Happening. 00:00 - 07:45 - Introduction07:46 - 17:15 - Introduction With Erix...2016-04-193h 33