Regular Joes Podcast

More than five years ago Barry, Dave and Tod walked away from onetime favorite, The Walking Dead. After enduring eight grueling years, from episode 1 to episode 5 of season 9, they vowed to never return. This week the fifth Walking Dead series, Walking Dead: Those who Live, debuted with the premise of reunite Rick and Michonne after five + years in real time, and who knows how long in nearly unreconcilable Walking Dead time. Can the Joes pick up at this point? Will they want to? Queue up this week’s ep to find out. Also, prompted by their recent pondering on which old films hold up and why, the Regular Joe’s re-watched a franchise launching film from 1986 to see whether it was better in their heads vs. now in the cold light of day. There’s also the usual, Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

In recent years two auction houses have dominated the competition for prop collector’s attention and dollars. In the coming weeks, both The Prop Store (March 12th - 14th) and Heritage Auctions (March 20 - 24th) are going head to head with large scale multi day prop and entertainment memorabilia auctions. As the Regular Joe’s preview the HUGE respective catalogs for you they find a lot of similar items, as well as some, that are be familiar from other recent auctions. The unique thing about the Heritage Auction is that it includes items from the collection previously displayed at former Planet Hollywood locations. Let’s just say, if you’re big into Stallone, your wallet is gonna take a hit. The Regular Joe’s cover the high points, ID a few favorites, and ponder, the increasing trend of prop replicas being sold, side-by-side with legit screen used props. Even if you’re not in the market, there’s some amazing stuff here that will either never see the light of day again … or pop up in an auction in a few months. And of course there’s the usual Random Topics. Thanks for listening!

This week the Regular Joes, plus subject expert Brian Mix, address the topic of Star Trek uniforms. Note: please don’t call them “costumes.” That’s like calling an action figure a “doll.” With nearly sixty years of Star Trek, eleven series, and thirteen films, which of the dozens of uniforms would make the most sense for doing your day job in space? When would you want a jumpsuit, and when would you not?  Why all the flaps? How is it that certain styles hold up and why other visions of future fashion (Motion Picture PJs?) did not. And what’s with those Cuban heels anyway There’s also the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box? Thanks for Listening!

This week the Regular Joes are again joined by Tom Spina of Regal Robot and Tom Spina Designs. Barry and Tom recently traveled to Skywalker Ranch to complete research for Regal Robot’s newest limited run offering, a faithful reproduction of the Wampa puppet from The Empire Strikes Back. They dive deep into the painstaking level of effort and detail that goes into reproducing an item like this. Seriously, have you ever tried counting Wampa teeth? They also talk about what’s it’s like to visit the Lucas archive which is pretty much a complex filled with holy grails … including the Holy Grail.  All this plus the usual Random Topics. Thanks for listening!

Prompted by Dave’s recent re-watch of 1971 Oscar winner The French Connection the Regular Joe’s dive into the question, Does it Hold Up? More specifically why do some very successful mainstream films stand the test of time while others don’t. How some films like The Godfather (1973) achieve immortality, while others like Marty (1956) seemingly have the lifespan of a mayfly. Is it about transcending the moment in which they are created? Does being a period piece guarantee ageless. Or do certain styles and motifs just prove more ephemeral than others? All ground they’ve never really covered before. There’s also the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box? Thanks for Listening?

This week the Regular Joes finally get around to looking at The Marvels, the 33rd and worst performing of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings.  Did it require too much homework upfront? Are Marvel bro’s just not into women? Or is it another harbinger of doom for an overworked franchise? Apple TV+ just keeps cranking out ambitious series. This week ushers in the two episode debut of Masters of the Air. The Spielberg/Hanks produced series is a follow up to Band of Brothers and The Pacific. The US Army Air Corps European theatre bombing campaign was the most successful, and most perilous, in history.  Will this third take on the greatest generation likewise translate to great TV? All this plus the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s  in the Box. Thank for Listening!

Barry is back from his most recent big adventure (more on that soon) and the Regular Joes sit down to talk about the wrap-up of two shows. When Apple TV+ launched in November 2019, it seemed like they were late to the party. And, despite the tech companies long-standing interest in creating the future, no one really imagined that Apple would quickly become the most prolific producer of sci-fi on television. With the recent conclusion of the alternate timeline space program drama For all Mankind, and this year’s, Godzilla cinematic universe tie in, Monarch Legacy of Monsters they continue to demonstrate their commitment to a genre we love. Meanwhile, over on the Disney Channel, there’s Echo, which failed to resonate (you see what I did there?) with critics or viewers. On one hand, there’s a solid minute of Daredevil action, and then there’s the rest of the series. Should you watch? Should you pass? Will it matter one way or another? The hosts weigh in to help you with these questions and more. There’s also a round of What’s in the Box and the usual Random Topics. Thanks for Listening!

As 2023 fades into memory the Regular Joes, along with Irregular Joes Derryl DePriest and Brian Mix, take a look back to the year that was. What were their favorite films, TV shows, events and collectibles? Conversely, what were their least favorites. And while they’re at it, in a year, when many long, anticipated projects failed to find audiences, what did they see as the most overlooked and under appreciated offerings of 2023? The gang also note some of what they are looking forward to in 2024, and bid a fond farewell to several of those who left us last year. Thanks for listening!

Zack Snyder has made some good films. Rebel Moon: Part I. A Child of Fire is not one of them. Described as both the start of a new sci-fi franchise, and the byproduct of a failed Star Wars pitch, what Rebel Moon most resembles is amalgamation of scenes and themes from a long list of other familiar films. You haven’t seen it? Here’s a recap, Gamora, who is estranged from her evil dad, rounds up slightly less than seven samurai, to take on an evil galactic empire before being betrayed by Han Solo. The Regular Joes conduct a postmortem review examining how, with top-notch talent, excellent visual effects and clearly a healthy budget did this project still manage to go so wrong. And, moreover, with part II coming shortly, and a director’s cut no one other than Barry will watch, is there anywhere to go with this franchise? There’s also the usual random topics. Thanks for listening, and Happy New Year!

As 2023 came to a close, the Regular Joes convened at a not so secret location (Dave’s House) to break bread and to prove yet again that with a little thought you can actually buy gifts for people who literally have everything, it’s the annual Regular Joe’s gift exchange where you listen in as we open presents!  Then , as an added bonus, our wives join us to discuss the filmography of everyone’s favorite action hero, Tom Cruise and evaluate which of his films are “unwatchable”, the results may surprise you, or maybe not…but the wives are back on the show, so there you go!  We sincerely thank you all for listening and hope you all have a very safe and Happy New Year.

This week the Regular Joes check out the recent documentary A Disturbance in The Force (available on disc or stream) which provides the best explanation to date on how and why the 1978 Star Wars Christmas Special came to be. As part of their rigorous preparation the Joes also dug up and watched the first episode of season three of the Donnie and Marie show from 1977, which included a Star Wars skit. This provided much needed context and forced Tod to come clean on his childhood Marie Osmond crush. If all of this does not seem compelling there’s also a lengthy discussion about Dave’s sports apparel peccadillos. Barry, heavily medicated, did not admit anything embarrassing. At this point it’s traditional to note, there’s also Random Topics, but the randomness of the aforementioned content makes this seem somehow redundant. Thanks for listening … and  happy Life Day!

With the holidays fast approaching the Regular Joes pause to reflect upon the difficulty of finding gifts for people who are hard to buy for. You know, the folks who have everything, or those people who  don’t hesitate to buy themselves things … even two weeks before Christmas (see also, Barry Kay). They cover electronics, services, gadgets and several things people don’t yet know they need. All just in time to make those last minute purchases. There’s also Random topics and 2/3 of a round of What’s in the Box because at least one of the Joes is exercising restraint.  Thanks for listening!

This week Dave comes back from vacation and the other Regular Joes, plus the Irregular Joes , catch him up on what they have been up to. Barry checked out this past weekend’s Annual WinterCon. Brian made another trek to Ticonderoga to help update the Star Trek Set Tour and hang with Shatner. Tod gives his thoughts on Godzilla Minus One. And, late arrival Derryl, has been unboxing auction winnings and action figures. There’s also a plethora of Random topics and a Round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

Prompted by Dave’s recent observation about the scarcity of good sci-fi / fantasy / action / adventure genre films from the 1990’s the Regular Joes dive into the last decade of the last millennium. And while the 1990’s does not holdup to the decade immediately prior, there are a good many films from a wide range of genres that are worth a second look. Though opinions vary on several titles, it is clear the 1990’s yielded a few gems. One of the best sequels ever in Terminator 2 Judgement Day 1991. An original Sci Fi offering, in Matrix 1999, whose magic proved impossible to recapture. And a groundbreaking shift in how animation is handed on the big screen with Toy Story 1995. There are also a bevy of sentimental favorites along the way, including the Rocketeer 1991 (Tod), A few Good Men 1992 (Dave) and Clerks 1994 (Barry). Like the 1990’s as a whole, there are some high points, but also a whole lot best left in the rear view mirror. And, of course, there’s also the usual Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

As we dig into our Thanksgiving leftovers, in a year end oddly without a Disney+ Star Wars series, the Regular Joes take a look at one new show and one returning Apple TV+ series to fill the void. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters shares a universe with the four most recent Godzilla and King Kong films. In dual time lines, and with at least one very unique casting decision, the series details the secret events prior to Kong: Skull Island 2017 and just after Godzilla 2014. With a minimum of SPOILERS (yes there are monsters in this monster show) the Joes give three titanic sized thumbs up. In year four it’s easy to slip back into the known, but very deadly, alternate reality of For all Mankind. Yes, space … it will kill you. There are returning, more aged, faces and a few new ones as we continue to explore the “what ifs” of a space race that never ended. There’s also the usual, Random Topics and a round of What’s in the Box. Thanks for listening!

This week, Barry, Dave and Tod settle back into their normal routine. There’s no celebrity interviews or overly complicated recording set ups. It’s just the three of them catching up on random topics, debating the merits of the recently concluded Disney+ series Loki, and taking a last pass at the just wrapped Star Trek Lower Decks season four. Note: there is agreement on only one of these topics. There’s also a round of What’s in the box. Really, it's just a plain ol’ regular episode. Pretty much exactly what you would expect. Just like putting on a comfortable pair of jeans. Thanks for listening!

Yes, our 500th episode, quite a milestone and we have a show worthy of that milestone. We travel to Rhode Island Comic Con for our 10th time and interview possibly our best guests yet! John Rhys Davies of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings fame as well as director, producer and make-up effects creator Greg Nicotero. Both sit down for lengthy discussions and a great time was had by all. Barry could not be there in person but joins remotely.  Irregular Joes Derryl and Brian made the trip and join in on the fun. Huge shout out to Brian for securing both awesome guests.  We also recap the con and let you know who we saw, smelled and met. RICC and The Omni Providence do not disappoint.  Thanks for listening x 500!

It’s that time again when the Regular Joe’s thoughts turn to the Rhode Island Comicon. Making the trek to Providence has been a RJ tradition for 10 years, pretty much as long as the podcast has been running. This year as they prepare, they take a second round (apparently this is now tradition as well) at rating the huge list of convention guests, based on autograph, appeal, visual appeal, and …. wait for it, aromatic appeal. This stems from an entirely reasonable comment Tod once made about Karen Gillan, and as things do, it just spiraled from there. There’s also a round of What’s in the Box, dominated by two very large boxes, that Tod and Dave have been waiting on for well over a year. Tomy’s epic scale die cast NCC-1701  has been met with awe and minor nitpicking, find out what the Joes think as they add what is certainly the heaviest starship they have ever owned to their respective collections. Oh … and Barry has a new Star Wars thing.  There’s also the usual random topics  Note: somewhat astonishingly this episode contains no references to Greg Jein. Thanks for smelling!

While recent shows have been somewhat narrowly focused, this week’s is decidedly not. One might even walk away with the impression that there was no discernible plan at all. There is some (inevitable) follow up from the recent auction, followed by a deep dive into … well, nothing in particular. There is a segment of Random Topics that never really ends, and some talk about current, and upcoming TV shows. So really very much what you have come to expect these past ten plus years. Thanks for listening!

There has never been an event  like the now completed Heritage Greg Jien Collection Auction of props, costumes and model miniatures. The Regular Joes, as well as Irregular Joes Derryl DePriest and Brian Mix, each went in with a wish list and high hopes. In the aftermath, the five of them get together to discuss their wins and losses (ranging from the highly recognizable to the incredibly obscure) and some of the history making sales that came out of the marathon event.  Including a fair bit of speculation on the mysterious buyer 7101, who went home with a huge swath of the offerings. Equal parts, debrief and group therapy session, this episode might be the last one they devote to this collection, but certainly not the last time they think about the ones that got away. Thanks for Listening!