Tag Archives: clone high

Orphan Black & Cloning in Fiction

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This week we talk about Orphan Black! Earl and Brent discuss this underrated Canadian sci-fi thriller series, and its star Tatiana Maslany, as well as the prospect of cloning and all its ramifications. They also bring up cloning in other fiction like in Star Wars, Clone High, and Multiplicity. And somehow they veer off from Jurassic Park to Power Rangers and Human Centipede. (Spoilers for season 1 of the show.)

Guests:
Brent Peckham – “The C-Word”

Supplementary notes:
Orphan Black – Series Trailer
VFX Reel / Extended Version (Note: Spoiler-heavy reel.)
Russian scientists: We have a “high chance” of cloning a wooly mammoth

Audio notes: (1hr. runtime)
0:01:20 – Intro to Orphan Black, Tatiana Maslany, VFX effects, and fave clone
0:16:50 – Supporting characters, being unlikeable but sympathetic, and the season villain
0:22:55 – Season 1, Kira, cloning & ownership, and science in real world vs. show
0:33:55 – BBC America, Canadian shows, and the state of Canadian television
0:38:30 – Other takes on cloning like Multiplicity, Clone High, and Star Wars
0:45:45 – Jurassic Park & cloning in real world, and other favourite cloning fiction
0:55:20 – Season 2 expectations, and Brent slaughters the podcast outro

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
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How I Met Your Mother & TV Show Finales

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Kids, we’re going to tell you about the story of the How I Met Your Mother Finale! Earl and Andrew discuss the show’s long-awaited ending, coming at it from a non-fan and fan view respectively. They deal with the massive outrage and express their thoughts on the finale, how it stacks up against Friends, Definitely Maybe, and Eternal Sunshine, and whether the show worked as whole. They also end up talking about other TV show finales, compare it to Lost’s own divisive finale, and Earl comes up with the strangest parallel between two characters from both shows. (Spoilers on that finale, minor Lost spoilers, and lots of hinting at other TV show endings.)

Guests:
Andrew Lawrence – “Patent pending”

Audio notes: (1hr. 2min. runtime)
0:01:00 – Finale backlash, Eternal Sunshine, and people’s lives being intertwined
0:11:25 – Soulmates, passion v. dedication, Definitely Maybe, unrequited love
0:20:10 – Tracy in retrospect, season 9 as a whole, and storytelling as catharsis
0:28:20 – Series as tragicomedy, finale as spectacle, Friends, How I Met Your Dad, and Noah Baumbach
0:38:00 – Comparing to LOST finale, expectations between show & audience, and other TV endings
0:50:00 – Finales for cancelled shows, ellipsis endings, and having post-mortem articles for cancelled shows

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
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The LEGO Movie

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Today we’re talking about The LEGO Movie! Andrew returns to chat with Earl about the animated film, dish out their impressions, and talk about their own experiences with the long-running toy franchise. They also bring up terrible LEGO sets, collecting, the “believing in yourself” epidemic, and seeing knock-off brands’ commercials before the screening. (Some noted spoilers.)

Guests:
Andrew Lawrence – “Everything is Lawesome”

Supplementary notes:
Clone High Opening
‘Lego Movie’ Production B Roll
You Can Do Anything: Must Every Kids’ Movie Reinforce the Cult of Self-Esteem?
The LEGO® Story
​The 16 Most Awful Lego Sets Ever Assembled

Audio notes: (1hr. 1min. runtime)
0:00:50 – Initial thoughts, experiences with LEGO, and the movie
0:15:15 – Animation, orange chainsaw & laser pieces, “believing in yourself”, and licensing
0:27:00 – (Spoilers here.) Differing views on LEGO building, custom sets, and being creative
0:35:50 – Attention to detail, The LEGO Story, and classifying it as a kids’ movie
0:47:05 – General LEGO talk, Modulars, awful LEGO sets, knock-offs, and disappointments

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
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Title Sequences

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Cue music, insert titles… All Kinds of Philler. This episode is all about title sequences in film and television, which means opening titles, stingers, studio logos, and ending credits. Earl brings in Anna again to talk about some of the most iconic and memorable sequences in visual media. It’s a whirlwind discussion about memorable themes, ever-changing sequences, and what makes a great title. And somehow, they end up spoiling the intro to Lord of War. It’s a very distilled episode, with many examples left on the cutting room floor, but goes through a wide range of choices both obscure and popular.

Guests:
Anna (@gobanana66)

Supplemental notes:
Playlist of selected titles discussed
Art of the Title

Audio notes: (1hr. 15min. runtime)
01:00 – Interest in motion design
02:25 – Design sensibilities: Game of Thrones, and Scott Pilgrim
07:00 – Comparing American Psycho and Dexter
10:05 – TV vs. film openings
11:05 – Setting up films: Enter the Void, Darkplace, Lord of War, and Watchmen
18:15 – Updating sequences: Supernatural, and The Simpsons
25:20 – Kyle Cooper and David Fincher: Se7en, and Fight Club
28:32 – Prologue Films: Iron Man, Speed Racer, and 21 Jump Street
31:40 – Imaginary Forces: Marvel Studios, DC Studios, and Rubicon
38:40 – Jared and Jerusha Hess: Napoleon Dynamite and Gentlemen Broncos
42:25 – Changing sequences: James Bond, Community, and Drew Carey Show
51:05 – Music: Bob’s Burgers, Chuck, Mad Men, and Clone High
58:00 – Comparing X-Files and Fringe, and ageless actors
64:25 – Revisiting the Dexter intro
65:15 – Comparisons: Snatch vs. Baccano, and James Bond vs. Archer
67:55 – Iconic titles: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, ’60s Batman, and Star Wars

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