Tag Archives: television

How I Met Your Mother & TV Show Finales

Posted on by Leave a comment
AKOP-himym2

Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

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
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
Follow us (@AKOPPodcast) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!

Veronica Mars

Posted on by Leave a comment
AKOP-VeronicaMars

Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

This week, we catch up with a friend from a long time ago, Veronica Mars! After being cancelled, the series returns with a feature film that Earl and Andrew checked out in theatres. As big fans of the show, they talk about Kickstarter, the FBI pilot, the love triangle, and all the cameos. They also end up talking about their terrible theatre experience, and other movies that spun off from television. Did they enjoy their two-hour return visit to Neptune? The answer may surprise you, so check out the episode! (Spoiler talk half-way through.)

Guests:
Andrew Lawrence – “Not even Timeplay could make this better”

Supplementary notes:
The Greatest Event in Television History – Bosom Buddies
Failed FBI Pilot
“I expect nothing and I’m still let down”

Audio notes: (59min. runtime)
00:50 – Intro to series, theatre experience, Tommy Texter & Suzie Seatkicker, and noises
10:25 – The movie, Kickstarter, appealing to non-fans, and the audience
17:25 – The FBI, cameos, our favourite episode, the Kanes, and being a cold hard bitch
27:45 – (Spoilers start here.) The love triangle & Leo, Logan’s whole deal, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Krysten Ritter
36:40 – Our movie ideas, the death, cast hierarchy & Weevil, and Neptune conspiracies
42:10 – What if the story was another season, OG supporting cast, and Veronica Mars in the future
51:45 – Last thoughts, “I expect nothing…”, and movies that developed from TV shows

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
Follow us (@AKOPPodcast) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!

True Detective

Posted on by Leave a comment
AKOP-TrueDetective3

Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

This week we’re talking about True Detective! Earl and Patrick discuss the recently finished first season, critique the finale and its take on spirituality and existentialism, debate the concept of a “television novel”, and speculate on a second season. They also end up butchering people’s names, and connect the series to Taxi Driver, Top of the Lake, and Kenny vs. Spenny. Get ready to enter Carcosa and check out the episode! (Full spoilers, because time is a flat circle.)

Guests:
Patrick Barfoot (@patrickbarfoot) – Editor and Director, patrickbarfoot.com

Supplementary notes:
True Detective Conversations
As many as five serial killers who operated in London, Ontario, may still be alive and free, new book says – National Post article
The Genius of True Detective: “It’s Just One Story” – Badass Digest / Film Crit Hulk
Seitz: The 7 Things That True Detective Was About

Audio notes: (47min. runtime)
0:01:10 – General thoughts on series, and the finale
0:07:30 – Speculating nominations, performances, and straight man & funny man dynamic
0:10:40 – Ending analysis, spirituality, Nic Pizzolatto & Cary Fukunaga, and the afterlife
0:20:40 – “Television novels”, miniseries format, detective genre, and writer/director combo
0:28:15 – Dread, cosmic horror, “little priest”, and HP Lovecraft
0:33:20 – Occult history of US transportation system, keeping it strange, and London as capital of serial killers
0:37:05 – Speculating on Season 2, fractured perspectives & time periods, and female leads

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
Follow us (@AKOPPodcast) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!

The LEGO Movie

Posted on by Leave a comment
AKOP-lego

Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

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
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
Follow us (@AKOPPodcast) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!

Netflix – House of Cards

Posted on by Leave a comment
AKOP-houseofcards

Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

Today we’re jumping into House of Cards and the online network, Netflix! Earl chats with Leo Panasyuk about the series, David Fincher, anti-heroes, and the network’s future. They also discuss avoiding spoilers, and whether or not we need a statute of limitations on divulging spoilers. Plus a moment of remembrance for Philip Seymour Hoffman. (Very minor spoilers overall, with one segment tagged with a spoiler warning.)

Guests:
Leo Panasyuk – Film critic for We Eat Films

Audio notes: (48min. runtime)
0:00:00 – Intro and Philip Seymour Hoffman
0:05:15 – Impressions of House of Cards, critical acclaim, and general thoughts
0:12:30 – David Fincher, writers & directors, and cinematic style in television
0:18:00 – (Spoilers in this segment.) Beau Willimon, politics, and anti-heroes vs. villains
0:25:50 – Longform narrative, spoilers, and dealing with spoilers
0:36:55 – Netflix, binge-watching, exclusivity, and competing with streaming networks

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
Follow us (@AKOPPodcast) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!

Page 4 of 6« First...23456