9to5 Entertainment System (9ES)

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake is one of those rare shows that actually assumes its audience has grown up with the show. It assumes that if you were like 9 or 10 when Adventure Time started, you’re now a person in your 20s. So Fionna and Cake treats you like an adult. Not in a “now we can cuss and show violence” kind of way (although there is more graphic violence than in the original run) – but more in a “let’s deal with some complex issues like depression, anxiety and misplaced guilt while still somehow (mostly) taking place in the Candy Kingdom.

If you ask me, that’s dope.

For those of you know us personally you know that 9ES is basically an extension of the endless hours Jon, Scott and Keith spent either at a bar or at the Dawson Sci-Fi club just shooting the shit about comics, movies and whatever else we happened to be into at a given moment.

The first half of this episode really taps into that vibe in a way that the show doesn’t always manage to perfectly capture. It’s just the three of us taking a meandering talk about somewhat obscure comic book characters who have spun off into somewhat obscure television shows.

If you had to take a wild guess what we would talk about in this week’s episode I would challenge any of you to say: “They’re going to talk an awful lot about Shadow King.”

I challenge all of you.

Unrelated but we really need to figure out who is next up to watch a really bad movie – if only to make Jon watch The Eternals.

Over on Garbage Time Scott and I talk a little bit about (what else) Marvel Snap before Jon shows back up. We also get into the origin of the phrase “You’re Toast” before we spend a good chunk of time talking about Indiana Jones. If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES294: Brad Bramish Is IN appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

CM Punk is my favorite wrestler.

As a bit of a “smart” mark wrestling fan I became aware of him initially in his run with Ring of Honor. I vaguely remember some ROH stuff online in the mid-2000s but it was still pretty obscure and hard to follow along with. From what I saw I dug the character and his wrestling and was genuinely excited when he started popping up in WWE enough that I could actually follow along with.

Anyhow – it’s hard to be a fan of a guy who apparently choked a guy nearly half his age because the younger guy really wanted to do a stupid stunt. Stupid stunts are a part of wrestling and even if Old Man CM Punk thinks it’s a dumb idea it’s pretty shitty to get real-world violent because of it.

I think CM Punk maybe not wrestling anymore and retiring might be best – it will certainly make it easier to stay being a fan of him. I can be like “yeah he messed up at the end there a little, but maybe he’s got CTE” and just sort of remember the good times he brought me as a performer.

Meanwhile – while the wrestling world was buzzing about CM Punk getting fired, 70,000 people at Burning Man were getting bogged down in the mud and Steve Harwell from Smash Mouth died. Here’s something I found out while recording this episode: Steve Harwell retired from the band but the band still plays shows. There’s a new guy singing. His name is Zach Goode and let’s be real – he’s not as good as Steve Harwell. Seriously.

Over on Garbage Time we talk about Baldur’s Gate 3 because Jono decided to restart the entire game. Keith is also getting into the show Silo (based on the novel “Wool” if that helps) and Scott watched Season 2 of Good Omens so that is pretty nice. If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES293: Of Course It Was Always All Real appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

Baldur’s Gate 3 is here and it kind of feels like the current “biggest game in the world” at the moment. I mean, it’s not. That will always be Fortnite probably. Or maybe Minecraft.

Anyways, I overheard people at work talking about Baldur’s Gate 3. People. At work. That’s the zeitgeist in action everyone.

I find it crazy that Dungeons & Dragons is simultaneously one of the biggest intellectual properties there is and also somehow constantly in financial danger. How much money do you think Hasbro makes off of Baldur’s Gate 3? I should consider looking that up.

Keeping on the “everything old is new again” path I still cannot fathom who greenlit Twisted Metal to be a television show. I’m enjoying the show well enough but honestly I would have much rather a new Twisted Metal video game instead of a live-action adaptation over a decade removed from the latest entry in the series. We live in wild times.

Finally, we all should all make a mental note to watch Deep Rising. I love it when things get new life breathed into them and they have a renaissance moment as cult classics. I hope that happens one day to this podcast.

Over on Garbage Time we talk about a dream that I had about unwittingly stealing a van from someone I haven’t really seen in nearly 20 years. We also talk about Scott auditioning to be a voice actor which leads into some comic talk which obviously ends off with talking about Marvel Snap.. If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES292: Venture Fourth appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

The Montreal geek and pop culture podcast that is definitely hosted by the Sexiest Men Alive returns to talk about Last One Laughing, that Flash movie, John Wick 4, Taskmaster and more.

Seriously though – Nick Nolte was once considered to be The Sexiest Man Alive. There’s something very strange about that list that People magazine does, and not just because they once thought Nick Nolte was the winner. If you’re the sexiest man alive, and then the next year you are not dead – how did you lose the title? Are we to believe that each consecutive year the newly crowned man is even sexier than the previous year? If so, are we approaching some kind of nexus level sexiness that might end the world? And what about those men who have held the title for more than one year? Did they stop being sexy for a while and then regain their sexiness?

This is a very serious train of thought you guys.

Meanwhile, Scott saw The Flash so you don’t have to.

Over on Garbage Time we take a look at Montreal wrestler Lufisto’s account of the backstage situation at AEW and Scott and I talk about the various festivals we went to last weekend. He was at the Highland Games and I was at Osheaga. Only one of us ended up in the medical tent but you will have to subscribe to our Patreon to find out which one! If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES 291: The Sexiest Men Alive appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

So a while ago they renamed the famous Montreal venue ‘Metropolis’ to the MTelus, because Telus bought the venue. A few things on that. First of all, I mostly just still call the venue “Metropolis” and when I don’t I call it “mmmmm… Telus…” as though I just ate Telus and it was delicious. I feel much the same way about “Elon Musk X” or “Elon Musk says Twitter is X now.” Or whatever.

Like sure, maybe if I had kids they would eventually call Twitter “X” in the same way that I call… I don’t know, what’s something that had a name and then was renamed to something else and our parents still call it something else.

DORCHESTER.

Ok, so maybe that only makes sense if you live in Montreal. René Levesque Boulevard used to be called Dorchester (and it still is in Westmount). The street was renamed in 1987, and now if anyone calls it Dorchester you look at them funny. I went to college in 2000 and only ever knew the street as “René Levesque” – so let’s say that Papa Elon has a good 10 to 12 years before “X” overtakes “Twitter” in the parlance of the common chum.

Will Twitter be around in 12 years? Let’s find out together. I’ll wait.

Keith got to see the Foo Fighters to a crowd of about 3700 people at the Verdun Auditorium. He sang “Everlong” with his high school band and his wife walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of the song. Either you know why seeing that band in that venue is a “big deal” or you don’t care.

Moving on.

Over on Garbage Time we take a look at the Rolling Stones’ setlist from “Voodoo Lounge” only to realize that none of us are really big fans of the Rolling Stones. Jon debates whether or not he should convert Dragon Mountain to 5e (and maybe just settles on converting White Plume Mountain instead). Finally, Keith tries to stump the boys with some of the best riddles The Riddler has tried to stump Batman with. If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES290: A Woman Looks At Him Angrily appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

It’s full on summer vibes and between injuries, vacations and epic rock concerts our window to record this week’s 9ES slammed shut without us ever actually doing a new episode. Whoopsie!

We’ll be back in 2 weeks!

Enjoy this photo of Sarah and I about 20 feet from the Foo Fighters.

The post Whoopsie – No 9ES This Week appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

I still maintain that my favorite part of the whole Titan submersible disaster was when Cardi B had a hot take about one of the billionaires’ stepson going to a Blink-182 concert.

Read that sentence again. Soak it in. Bask in it.

I think we say everything that needs to be said about this news event and we can all pretty much move on. Before recording this episode I (Keith) said “yeah, but billionaires aren’t people.” I didn’t mean that they were not human beings or anything, but that nothing in their lives is like our own. They might as well be aliens.

I saw a thing the other day that really drove home just how much a billion was and why being a billionaire is just fundamentally different from a millionaire. It used seconds.

1 million seconds = 11.6 days

1 billion seconds = 31.7 years

That’s a huge difference. Connor McDavid signed a $100,000,000 dollar contract, one of the highest payouts in NHL history. Even at 100 million dollars, if he started spending a dollar a second he would still run out of money in 3 years.

A billion dollars is so much fucking money.

Is it enough money to start a coup in Russia? You know, it just might be. Meanwhile, I’m very happy that apparently that Flash movie isn’t very good. I now don’t want to see it and that’s a nice feeling.

Meanwhile over on Garbage Time Scott continues his crusade against Mario. Scott is a true follower of the yellow electric rat. You know, I knew a girl in high-school that repeatedly said she wanted to “learn the Pikachu language”. What a strange aspiration. If that sounds coo  then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES 289 – You A Whole Billionaire appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

We talk a lot about a lot of things in this episode of 9to5 Entertainment System. We break down the reddit blackout news, Conor McGregor knocking out a mascot and we maybe even figure out why Ridley Scott movies suck after a certain point.

But we also talk about whether or not Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 might be a metaphor for James Gunn’s relationship with Marvel/Disney.

But don’t take my word for it, here is chatgpt once again to explain:

Rocket’s storyline in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 can be interpreted as a metaphor for James Gunn’s relationship with Disney, with Disney represented by the character of the High Evolutionary. This metaphor emphasizes the power dynamics, conflicts, and challenges that Gunn may have encountered while working with the studio.

The High Evolutionary, a character known for his desire to control and manipulate genetic structures, represents Disney in this metaphorical interpretation. Just as the High Evolutionary seeks to shape and control lifeforms, Disney, as a powerful studio, has a vested interest in maintaining control over its intellectual properties and maintaining a specific brand image.

Rocket, a genetically modified and rebellious creature, symbolizes James Gunn. Rocket’s nature reflects Gunn’s unique artistic vision and his willingness to challenge established norms. Gunn, like Rocket, brings his distinct voice and creativity to the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Throughout the storyline, the High Evolutionary attempts to exert control over Rocket, dictating his actions and imposing limitations on his freedom. This mirrors the potential struggles Gunn may have faced with Disney’s influence and restrictions on his creative choices. Gunn’s desire for artistic freedom and his willingness to push boundaries could have clashed with Disney’s desire for control and adherence to their established brand.

Rocket’s journey of self-discovery and defiance against the High Evolutionary’s control represents Gunn’s own resistance and quest for creative autonomy. Just as Rocket rebels against the High Evolutionary’s manipulation, Gunn may have pushed back against Disney’s attempts to restrict his artistic expression.

Ultimately, Rocket’s triumph over the High Evolutionary can be seen as a metaphor for Gunn’s ability to navigate the power dynamics and find a balance in his relationship with Disney. It suggests that Gunn may have successfully asserted his creative vision and secured a level of autonomy within the collaboration.

In summary, Rocket’s storyline in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 can be interpreted as a metaphor for James Gunn’s relationship with Disney, with Disney represented by the High Evolutionary. This metaphor highlights the potential struggles and power dynamics that Gunn may have faced while working with a powerful studio, emphasizing his quest for creative freedom and the importance of finding a balance between artistic expression and studio control.

Not bad robot. Not bad at all…

Meanwhile over on Garbage Time we talk once again about the League of Legends North American pro walkout that may or may not be happening. Scott also saves his hot take about Citadel for Garbage Time and Keith watched a movie that was nominated for a bunch of Academy Awards. If that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

The post 9ES288: Studio Meddling appeared first on 9to5 (dot cc).

There’s a point in this episode of 9ES where Jon finds out that Keith went to Disney World and simply asks: “Why?”

I think Jon is probably the least enticed by extravagant consumerism of the three of us so I understand why he might question the reasoning of spending three days and a pretty exorbitant amount of money just basking in all the glory of The Mouse.

However, it must be clearly stated that Keith got to build a BB-Unit droid that he can now drive around his home.

While I admit that a certain degree of separation has to be maintained between the fun and “magic” you’re experiencing in the theme parks and the absolute all encompassing corporate ooze surrounding you, I also have to admit that it’s a whole heck of a lot of fun.

The last time Keith was in Disney World they hadn’t yet consumed Star Wars and Marvel. Maybe if they hadn’t there would be less for him to enjoy. But they have. So now it’s all there. Comics, cartoons and Star Wars dripping from every surface.

On the topic of Marvel – Scott and Keith both saw Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. And they both liked it a lot.

And they both got a little emotional (albeit at different points of the film apparently).

Meanwhile over on Garbage Time we talk about the League of Legends North American pro walkout that is currently being staged, along with the state of esports in general. We also talk about Nightmare Alley for some reason. Oh, and Jon finally saw the D&D movie – if that sounds cool then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

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Part of me loves the fact that other podcasts try their best to stay up to the minute with pop-culture references and current events and our podcast sometimes talks about movies like Meet the Spartans for 20 minutes.

And it’s not like this show is JUST a bad-movie podcast or something, so who even knows why any of this resonates with our audience.

But every month we get a good little number of people downloading the show so, we must be doing something right?

I’m not going to lie, a decade ago when we started up this website a tiny little part of me was like “yeah, we’ll be like Vice!” So it’s a little sad to me to see it’s demise in 2023. But hey, we’re still going strong – take that Vice!

Seriously though, the company was once evaluated at nearly $6 billion is likely going to be sold off for parts to the tune of $225 million. Bummer.

Finally, if I could recommend taking a look at this video to understand the pure lunacy people are getting up to in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I’m not sure but I don’t think Nintendo envisioned Link rolling around Hyrule in a tank when they designed this game, but the fact that they designed a game where you could make that exact thing happen is a true testament to their mastery of video game design.

Meanwhile over on Garbage Time we dive haphazardly into the filmography of Guy Ritchie and Keith talks about Scott Snyder’s “The Batman Who Laughs”. If that sounds like your cup of tea (since you live in a castle now) – then show your support and head over to Patreon and subscribe at the 9ES Deluxe tier to listen to this and all past episodes of Garbage Time!

Credit Where Credit is Due

Our intro song is a brand new jam cooked up by OKU-DA just for us, do yourself a favour and check out his SoundCloud).

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