ESO Podcast - Episode 297

My 100th podcast of 2015!!!

It is a great time for geekdom. After ten years, the franchise that is a force to be reckoned with has returned to begin a new chapter. Mike and Mike lead the brave crew of Ashley Pauls and Joe Harris to restore peace and harmony to the galaxy now that the box office behemoth has awakened. Plus, Leo Marinak tries to con himself out of the Geek Seat. All this, along with the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 297: Star Wars - The Force Awakens

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Show Open Rants and Raves
0:09:28 Interview and Geek Seat w/ Leo Marinak of Con-Men
0:37:42 Star Wars: The Force Awakens
1:59:49 Geek Girl’s Take On…
2:02:28 The Khan Report
2:04:33 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever fine podcasts are found.

This week's Shout Out goes out to the award-winning author, Bobby Nash who currently is running a contest in which one of the prizes is the ESO anthology, Tales of the Station. Check out BobbyNash.com for more details. Deadline is soon, so enter now!

Next week, we chill out for the holidays and record some casual geek chat! Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, Geek Seat victims, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

ESO wants to hear from you! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

And don't forget to check out items in our Amazon estore!

Holiday Track o' the Day 18

Star Wars. Nothing but Star Wars.

ESO Podcast - Episode 295

Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed, start your engines and prepare to blast off! Mike, Mike, Mark Holmes, Joe Harris, and Alan J. Porter rave about the top gear of pop culture. Plus, cartoonist Bill Alger meets the menacing Geek Seat! All this, along with the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 295: Our Favorite Geek Vehicles

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Show Open Rants and Raves
0:21:28 Interview and Geek Seat w/ Bill Alger
0:44:25 Our Favorite Geek Vehicles
1:42:10 Geek Girl’s Take On…
1:44:17 The Khan Report
1:48:32 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever fine podcasts are found.

This week's Shout Out goes out to our good friends at Genterine Records. For a limited time, the new holiday tune, "What Are, You, Christmas?" by The Silvers is available as a FREE download!

Next week, it is time for our annual Geek Gift Guide! Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, Geek Seat victims, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

ESO wants to hear from you! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

And don't forget to check out items in our Amazon estore!

ESO Podcast - Episode 291

The ESO crew makes a wish upon a star and goes to the place where dreams come true. Mike, Mike, Darren Nowell, and Cary Gordon board the monorail and discuss their personal magic memories of the most popular entertainment complex in the world. Plus, we challenge the “Interstellar Woman of Mystery” Stephanie Osborn to engineer a way out of the Geek Seat. All this, along with the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 291: Walt Disney World

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Show Open Rants and Raves
0:33:23 Interview and Geek Seat w/ Stephanie Osborn
0:55:01 Walt Disney World
1:50:12 Geek Girl’s Take On…
1:52:05 The Khan Report
2:05:07 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever fine podcasts are found.

This week's Shout Out pays tribute to the "King of Kustoms" and the designer of my all-time favorite vehicle, the 1966 Batmobile. RIP and thank you, George Barris.

Next week, we review the latest entry in the 007 franchise, Spectre! Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, Geek Seat victims, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

ESO wants to hear from you! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

And don't forget to check out items in our Amazon estore!

ESO 2014 DragonCon Khan Report - Episode 6

Dragon Con is only two months away! Mike, Mike, Darren, and MaryLouWho check in with the hotel situation. Darren issues a harsh warning, Zan Bowden lets us know what to do with what’s left, and Kevin Batchelder has suggestions for the best ways to get around. Star Wars Track Director Brandy Roatsey previews a long list of programming in a panel room not so far away, and our Cosplay Snapshot catches and releases Rick aka the “True Aquaman.” This is the episode before the big unveiling!

ESO 2014 DragonCon Khan Report – Episode 6

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

ESO wants to hear from you! Do you have any questions about DragonCon you'd like us to answer? We'd also love to hear about your past DragonCon memories! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments.

ESO Podcast - Episode 218

On this episode, the ESO crew takes the stage at The Rock Shop in the Mall of GA! Mike, Mike, and the award-winning author Bobby Nash play all the top geek hits with guest performances by Shiksa Ravelli, Peter Cutler, and Grundy. Assistant to the Regional Manager Elaine Opal tells us why The Rock Shop is a great store for fan boys and girls before we strap her in The Geek Seat! Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs! Recorded live in front of a consumer audience.

Earth Station One Episode 218: Our Favorite Movie & TV Music

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:05:48 Rants and Raves
0:16:12 Elaine Opal in The Geek Seat
0:32:28 Our Favorite Movie & TV Music
1:29:25 Doctor Geek’s Moment of Science
1:31:05 ESO Khan Report
1:34:31 ESO Shout Outs & Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

This week's Shout Out goes out to a recently released image that give me geekbumps...

TMZ.com

Next week, the ESO crew takes a campy look at LGBT issues in geek culture. Plus, more Rants, Raves, Geek Seat victims, Khan Reports, and Shout Outs!

ESO wants to hear from you! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

And don't forget to check out items in our Amazon estore!

ESO 2014 DragonCon Khan Report - Episode 3

The countdown to Dragoncon 2014 continues! Mike, Mike, Darren, Nikki, and MaryLouWho discuss the latest news and notes, including new registration deadlines, guest announcements, and hotel info. Keven Batchelder has another tip for newbies, Darren provides some helpful shopping tips for costumers, and Nikki introduces us to the idea of a “budget.” Plus, we get an behind-the-scenes look at DragonconTV from producer Crispy, and our monthly Cosplay Snapshot captures Steampunk Boba Fett himself, John Strangeway. If you’re not working on your costume while listening to this episode, it may already be too late!

ESO 2014 DragonCon Khan Report – Episode 3

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

ESO wants to hear from you! Do you have any questions about DragonCon you'd like us to answer? We'd also love to hear about your past DragonCon memories! Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments.

My Favorite Monsters - The Rancor

Countdown to Halloween Day 29

My Favorite Monsters

Rancor

The opening of Return of the Jedi is one of my favorite sequences in the entire saga. Luke returns to his home planet a much different man from the boy who left (far less whiney). He confidently enters Jabba's palace prepared for anything the Hutt may throw his way. And why not? He's a Jedi now and he has his friends backing his play. After Jabba threatens him, C-3PO tries to warn him that he's standing on a trap door, but he just gives the droid a look as if to say, "Don't worry, Goldenrod. I got this." And down he goes! We all know there's something big and nasty down there because earlier the big pimp-daddy slug tossed one of his gals down there. And the tough Gamorrean guard that follows Luke down the hole knows it, too. As soon as he hits the ground, he starts squealing like a lil' piggy. And I don't blame him one little bit!

It's a moment of great anticipation and Lucas and the ILM designers do not disappoint. The rancor is an absolute behemoth. Powerful legs, long arms, tough hide, and literally bone-crunching jaws. Out of all the creatures in the Star Wars Universe, this would be the one I would least want to share a room with (I bet it's breath smells like a wet abattoir). 

And it's a puppet!!! Originally it was going to be portrayed by an actor in a suit, but the early tests were not effective. So, a puppet was made and filmed in high-speed. The results were worthy of the legendary Ray Harryhausen himself. I find this arena battle much more thrilling and this creature much more threatening than the ones that later appear in Attack of the Clones. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the rancor was an actual fully realized creature model rather than a computer graphic, even if it was "just a puppet." It also makes a very cool toy and collectible.

Thanks to the mountainous expanded universe material, the rancor has an extensive bio and has appeared in numerous novels, games, and comics. I was always hoping to see one in the Clone Wars series, but they featured something called the "Jungle Rancor" that just wasn't the same.

ESO Podcast - Episode 174

On this episode, the ESO crew honors one of the true geniuses of our time – the award-winning master musician, songwriter, producer, director, author, actor, humorist, podcaster, multi-media artist known as “Weird Al” Yankovic. Mike, Mike, Jennifer, and the award-winning author Bobby Nash are joined by Phantom Troublemaker and Gary Mitchel compare one anther’s ultimate “Weird Al” playlists. We also are joined by New York Times Bestselling author Jonathan Maberry and we show him our version of the “Extinction Machine” aka The Geek Seat! Plus, the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 174: The Satirical Work of “Weird Al” Yankovic

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:10:43 Rants & Raves
0:44:06 Interview & Geek Seat w/ New York Times Best Selling Author Jonathan Maberry
1:16:01 "Weird Al" Yankovic
2:15:52 The ESO Khan Report
2:25:44 ESO Shout Outs & Show Close
2:33:56 The Weird Al Montage

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

This week's Shout Out goes out to the coolest couple in comics and they finally made it official! Congratulations to newlyweds Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner!!!

Check out other items in our Amazon estore!

Next week, the ESO crew feels the burn as we say goodbye to one of our favorite tv series, Burn Notice. We review the past seven seasons and look ahead to the upcoming series finale with our predictions on how it all ends.

ESO wants to hear from you! Share your favorite Burn Notice stories and memories. Have you recently visited a cool convention or planning one? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

ESO Podcast - Episode 168

Androids, replicants, automatons, mechanical men…no matter what you call them, we do serve their kind on Earth Station One. Mike, Mike, award-winning author Bobby Nash, Dr. Scott Viguié, and the Amy Adams-obsessed Grundy discuss the greatest robots in fiction and whether or not they’ll be a reality in our lifetime. Plus, we travel back to 1860′s New York to strap writer Jim Musgrave in the Geek Seat! All this and the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 168: Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:06:06 Rants and Raves
0:26:30 Interview & Geek Seat w/Jim Musgrave
0:40:45 Our Favorite Robots
1:33:45 The ESO Khan Report
1:39:18 ESO Shout Outs
1:45:24 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

This week's Shout Out goes out to one of our sister podcasts on the ESO Network, the Ratchet RetroCast! I was honored to be invited to join Q, Strangeway, and Ratchet for their Man of Steel episode. It was great geeky fun!

Check out other items in our Amazon estore!

The Earth Station One returns next week to discuss the works and legacy of H.G. Wells!

ESO wants to hear from you! What are some of your favorite H>G> Wells stories? Have you recently visited a cool convention or planning one? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

Cover Rave - Carmine Infantino

In honor of the late, great Carmen Infantino (1925-2013), here are five favorite of his covers from my collection.

Detective Comics #374

Artists: Carmine Infantino & Irving Novick

Spider-Woman #6

Artist: Carmine Infantino

Star Wars #22

Artists: Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek

Star Wars #31

Artists: Carmine Infantino & Bob Wiacek

Superman vs Spider-Man

Artists: Ross Andru, Dick Giordano, Carmine Infantino

ESO Podcast - Episode 155

This week, ESO steps up to be a real American podcast as The Phantom Troublemaker leads an elite team of Mike, Mike, JD, and the award-winning author Bobby Nash, to discuss all aspects of the franchise from the debut of the 12″ action figures in 1964 to the new movie hitting theaters this month. And speaking of soldiers, we also talk with Gary Phillips, Sam Ingraffia, and Doug Birch about their new web series, Midnight Mover, and all three face a fate worse than COBRA – The Geek Seat! Plus a report from Joelanta and the usual Rants, Raves, Walking Dead review, and Shout Outs!

Earth Station One Episode 155: YO JOE!!!

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:5:59 Rants and Raves
0:28:37 Interview & Geek Seat with Gary Phillips, Sam Ingraffia & Doug Birch about their new web series, Midnight Mover
0:52:57 GI Joe
1:48:55 The Walking Dead Season 3 Ep. 14
2:00:19 The ESO Khan Report & Review of JoeLanta
2:09:18 ESO Shout Outs
2:12:57 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

This week's Shout Out! New Legend Fantasy Baseball League! Play ball!

Check out the new items in our Amazon store!

Next week on ESO, winter is coming...

ESO wants to hear from you! Are you excited for new episodes of Game of Thrones? Have you recently visited a cool convention or planning one? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

ESO Podcast - Episode 140

So many sequels, so few of them have been good! Every once in a while comes one that lives up to the original. Mike, Mike, Bobby and special guest Grundy chat reveal their favorites. And speaking of continuing missions, Star Trek & Doctor Who comic book writer Scott Tipton takes a turn in The Geek Seat. As if that wasn¹t enough, we take a look at AMC¹s The Walking Dead as it heads into the fall finale. Plus the usual Rants, Raves, Shout Outs, and the ever-popular Khan Report!

Earth Station One Episode 140: Surprising Sequels

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:06:46 Rants & Raves
0:27:36 The Walking Dead Season 3 Ep 8 Review
0:42:31 Interview & The Geek Seat w/ Scott Tipton
1:09:47 Surprising Sequels
2:12:58 The Khan Report
2:17:27 ESO Shout Outs
2:26:19 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

Do your holiday shopping at our new Amazon store!

Next week, Earth Station One takes a look back at Highlander. Sharpen your swords as Transmissions From Atlantis’ Jason and Rita De Le Torre join the ESO crew to trace the history of The Clan MacLeod. Plus, ESO sits down with Andy Mangels, co-author of the Lou Scheimer biography, "Creating The Filmation Generation." Andy also takes a turn in The Geek Seat. It’s going to be another action-packed episode of Earth Station One you won’t want to miss because in the end... there can be... only one.

ESO wants to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the Highlander franchise? Have you visited a convention or planning one? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air your comments on the show!

ESO Podcast - Episode 111

Who’s bad? This week, the ESO crew descend into the wretched hive of scum and villainy to determine the tops of sinful sots and the baddest mf’ers in the galaxy. Malicious Mike, Mike the Merciless, and Rat Bastard Bobby join forces with Atrocious Anthony Taylor, the Award-Winning, Devilishly Devious Mark Maddox, Vile Victor Fishman, and Hockey-Mask-Wearing Jason Adams to name the greatest villains of all time. Also, Wheel of Death spinner Marc Ballard joins us to give us a preview of the upcoming Knoxville Comic and Anime Show. All this, plus the usual Ranting, Raving, Shouting, and Khaaaaaan Report!!

Earth Station One Episode 111: Bring On The Bad Guys!!

Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:09:46 Rants & Raves
0:40:41 The Geek Seat w/ Jason Adams
0:54:13 Bring on the Bad Guys
2:36:33 Khan Report w/ Marc Ballard of The Knoxville Comic and Anime Show
3:08:36 Shout Outs
3:20:05 Show Close

To listen, click the link above or download this podcast from iTunes.

Next week, the Earth Station One crew turns out the lights, checks the locks on the doors, locks up the dogs, and grabs a flashlight as we discuss the master of the macabre, author Stephen King. ESO wants to hear from you. What are your favorite Stephen King novels and/or movies and why? Drop us a line at www.esopodcast.com, at the ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your comments. We just might air yours on the show!

ESO Podcast - Episode 95

After being plagued with technical issues galore, ESO proudly returns to the air with Mike, Bobby and Mike in a hodgepodge episode full of talk, silliness, and some of our favorite songs used in the past on the podcast.

Earth Station One Episode 95: The Technical Difficulties Episode

Table of Contents

0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:04:53 Rants & Raves
0:41:07 ESO Music
2:00:29 Khan Report w/ Bobby Nash
2:09:34 Shout Outs
2:19:22 Show Close

To listen, click the link above, or download this podcast from iTunes.

Next week, Earth Station One abandons ship! If you were trapped in an escape pod with only 5 entertainment items what would you take with you if you had to leave the station in a hurry? With all the technical difficulties we’ve been having at the ol’ Earth Station One station, it seemed like a timely topic.

We would still love to hear from your top 5 escape pod items! Leave us a comment at www.esopodcast.com, at the
ESO Facebook Group, email us at esopodcast@gmail.com, or call us at 404-963-9057 with your list. We might just read yours on the show!

Friday Night Videos

I recently discovered that before she was The Doctor's latest companion, Karen Gillan was a featured player on The Kevin Bishop Show. Here's a clip of her parodying Katy Perry.
The Green Lantern footage released at Wondercon makes me feel much better about this project!
Game of Thrones looks like the "best new show that I will not be able to watch because I don't have HBO."
I think Brandon Routh is trying to make the Guinness Book of World Records for appearing in the most movie adaptations from comic books.
Just when I thought I'd seen every angle of the Star Wars franchise...
Writer Peter David contributed to the new video game where Spider-Man meets his future.
Honestly, when I first heard about The Governator project from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stan Lee, I thought it was an April Fool's prank.
Two very cool trailers for the Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers animated comic.
If you love spooky humor, you should really check out Lenore!

Friday Night Videos

Green Day has generously released this free video on iTunes from their most recent concert in Japan. Whatever money you would have spent on this, please donate towards Japanese relief efforts.
Full trailer for Captain America has me sold!
LucasArts has released a few short videos promoting LEGO Star Wars III. They are pretty good, but I'm still waiting to see LEGO Kit Fisto!
Troopers is a funny new series of shorts from College Humor well worth checking out! New episodes are released every Monday.
It's Blinky! It's Blinky! It's fun for a girl or a boy!
There's a new Torchwood series coming in July! While you're waiting, pick up the comic series with some stories written by members of the cast.

Friday Night Videos

David Lynch directs a live online concert by Duran Duran airing March 23rd!
The teaser for the new Conan movie is just that!
More footage of the upcoming Abrams/Spielberg collaboration.
New Doctor Who segment created for the charity event called Red Nose Day. Looking forward to the new season!
This video shows why you don't need a huge budget for a Simon Pegg/Nick Frost film. Just start the camera and roll film!
Well-edited look at the distractions of allowing FB in the work place.
It is trailers like this that make me sad I do not have a gaming console!
Love the energy of Mike White's first graphic novel!