It's election week...maybe not in real life, but it is in this week's episode of "Alien Nation." We review "The Spirit of '95" when there's a referendum for giving Tenctonese the right to vote.

- How tough is George for going into enemy territory to defend his family?

- What was going on with the bag that Matt was carrying down the hall and that he dropped? Was it groceries coming in or trash going out? What did Cathy spot in Matt's bag, and why did she think it smelled so good?

- What lessons did Matt learn in this episode?

- What adorable thing did Cathy say this week?

- Why was George grouchy with his family, when they were almost victims of a bombing?

- Are Tenctonese less protective of pregnant women, and is it because Tenctonese women and/or their...pods...are tougher than Human equivalents?

- Did the plot twist work well in this episode?

- How well did the political content work in this episode? Should we have seen more?

- Which guest star of this "Alien Nation" episode was also in a low-budget sci-fi movie, filmed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for which Todd got to visit the filming, on the night they blew up a van and set a stuntman on fire?

- How long did it take before major character George Francisco actually showed up in this episode?

- What does "I love you" sound like in Tenctonese?

- And, what philosophical question during an interrogation scene totally blew Nick away?

Listen now for the answers to these and other civil questions as Nick and Todd debate "The Spirit of '95."

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After a brief "Star Trek" detour, we're back to our "Alien Nation" rewatch with 1.12 "The Red Room," an episode that explores another dark secret in George Francisco's past.

- What did Nick like so much about the Monopoly scene?

- What did Todd notice & appreciate so much about the episode?

- What is special about this week's medical examiner character and the actress that plays her?

- In what ways does this episode explore the growing friendship (and possibly more) between Matt & Cathy, and what was illogical about some of Matt's reactions this week?

- What scenes had seemingly bad police procedures?

- What things did both co-hosts like from George's hypnosis scene?

- What nitpicks did Nick have involving animals, keyboards, teasing, and hypocrisy?

- Was there anything notable and the writing, directing, locations, or casting, this week?

- What brand new weekly segment did Todd introduce, based on something he got for Christmas (well, almost weekly; he forgot it one week, possibly the week right after introducing it)?

- And, how well did this week's episode explore psychology, government agencies, and technology?

Listen now for the answers to these and other mind-altering questions, as we investigate..."The Red Room."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

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This week, we take a quick detour from "Alien Nation" to review the recently completed 1st season of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

- Which co-host leaned toward not liking this show? And, which co-host accepted that he may not be the target audience and liked it a little better than other recent "Star Trek" incarnations?

- Which opinion about female leadership in the cast of characters was something Nick & Todd both agreed with right away?

- Who were Todd & Nick's respective favorite cast members?

- Did the co-hosts agree or disagree about the lines given to Stephen Colbert as the Digital Dean voice?

- Which cadet character was under-utilized according to one co-host?

- Which co-host was very careful to highlight diversity, inclusion, and representation, as strengths of the show, partially in hopes to avoid being lumped in with people complaining that this show is "too woke" (along with other "Star Trek" installments)?

- Which co-host appreciates the show's positive attitude toward Starfleet as an organization?

- Which co-host noted similarities between the atrium set of Starfleet Academy and the interior of the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta, one of five host hotels for Dragon Con, which both co-hosts attend annually?

- Which co-host complimented the show's tone & format.

- Was there agreement that the Klingon-focused episode was one of the better episodes of the season?

- Which co-host had an issue with the show's anti-authoritarian tone?

- Which co-host felt this show, allegedly about a school, wasn't enough about...school?

- Which co-host pointed out that it sometimes feels like the academy only has about 6 or 7 students?

- Which co-host described everything in the show as being "half-baked"?

- Did both co-hosts agree on being frustrated with the main bad guy character (not including the performance of the actor)?

- Which co-host...very carefully...counted both diversity & production quality as both positives & negatives?

- What is the War College, and why is it there?

- Were there too many cultural inconsistencies assigned to one character, when it comes to the Klingon cadet, Jay-Den Kraag?

- What directions did the co-hosts feel this show, as well as the whole franchise, should go in the future?

- How did conversation of this show lead to mentions of other TV shows including "Community," "Beverly Hills 90210," and "Star Trek: Picard"?

- If this podcast were to ever review "Star Trek: Picard," does Todd have the strength to rewatch season 1 (or 2, or 3, but especially 1)?

- How did the "drive by" of episode 5 ("Series Acclimation Mil") turn into a half-hour deep dive, and which co-host lost his mind about this episode?

- What were the main complaints about episode 5, and how did this episode fail (according to one co-host) to pay homage to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as producers & some fans claim it did?

- Tangent Topic: Why, why, why, for the love of everything good & holy, was there not a season, or at least one single episode, of "Star Trek: Picard" about Picard's love of archeology?!?!?

- Despite disagreeing on overall sentiment, how close were Nick & Todd's average grades for the whole season?

Listen now for the answers to these and other academic questions as Nick & Todd take a class on "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

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Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

This week Nick & Todd reach the halfway point through "Alien Nation" with the episode "Chains of Love." Someone is drugging unsuspecting victims with the Tenctonese love potion Sardonac, a potential victim is accidentally bonded to Matt via Sardonac, and George & Susan consider using Sardonac themselves to strengthen their marriage.

- Nick & Todd read listener e-mail from Preston who asks about alien holidays & yogurt. What did Nick & Todd have to say about it, and is Cathy Frankel a vegetarian or not? Do worms count as meat?

- Between both co-hosts, who were the two performance VIPs this week?

- Which character's laughter was a major perk this episode?

- In what creative, thoughtful, and articulate way does Matt find to apologize to Cathy?

- What were some of Nick's favorite moments of comedy in the episode?

- What did Todd wonder about how Tenctonese have so many traditions & rituals as opposed to their oppressive time on a slave ship?

- Which cultural, culinary, and geometric factoids did Nick enjoy from the episode?

- What did Nick notice most about Hobbs' appearance in the episode?

- What inconsistency did Nick notice about cinematography and the hallway between Matt & Cathy's apartments?

- How did Todd have only one nitpick for the whole episode, and what was it?

- What misogynist moments did Matt exhibit in this episode?

- What guest star in this episode had a connection to "Xena: Warrior Princess"?

- What weird connections did Todd make between a scene in this episode and one from "Babylon 5"?

- Is there actually a significant Dobb's Watch in this episode?

- Why was the Albert Einstein Award more of a challenge this week?

- What are other moments & trivia from this episodes were notable?

- With this being halfway through the season, what did Nick & Todd have to say about the season so far and what they hope for in the 2nd half?

Listen now for the answers to these and a chain of other lovable questions as Nick & Todd court the "Chains of Love."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes on the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music from this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

This week, we review one of the best episodes of "Alien Nation." It's called "The Game," and it's an episode that keeps on giving, with multiple big reveals and an emotional ending.

- With both co-hosts agreeing that this is a great episode, Todd focuses on performances, and Nick focuses on the world-building.

- How does this episode have not just one "Babylon 5" connection but two?

- How many great moments of performance did Eric Pierpoint have as George Francisco, and how many great reveals are there?

- What do the co-hosts appreciate about the Day of Descent holiday depicted in the episode?

- Despite being a serious episode, what moments of humor does the episode have? And, despite being a great episode, what few flaws does it have?

- This episode continues the tradition of this show capping things off with an amazing final scene. What is it about this episode's final scene that almost got one co-host choked up?

- What were this episode's moments of bad police work, and was George guilty of it this week instead of Matt?

- As much as this week's titular game was a central aspect of the episode and a great source for storytelling, which nitpicks did the co-hosts still point out about it?

- Which actress from the opening credits is finally back in this episode but doesn't even get a line a dialogue?

- Which technical nitpicks did Todd point out?

- Which connection to another movie, pointed out by Nick, led Todd to explain a possible, brief, vague, boring, and convoluted connection he might have had years ago?

- Nick usually does a "Star Trek" actor count, and this week, Todd does a "Babylon 5" actor count too. How high did the counts go?

- Seriously, how many minutes did Todd rattle on about this week's "Babylon 5" connections? Was there almost certainly a quicker way of saying it? And, how did Todd make fun of himself for it, through the editing?

- George Francisco is one of Todd's favorite characters, but what is his all-time overall #1 favorite character, any genre, any medium, and why is it relevant to this episode?

- What connection did Nick find between this episode and the 1980s TV show "Manimal," leading to a brief mention of Joe Crowe, director of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track at Dragon Con?

- And, was "Dobbs Watch" a productive segment this week?

Listen now to the answers to these and other strategic questions as the co-hosts are lucky enough to dissect, "The Game."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

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This week we review "Three to Tango," one of the best episodes of "Alien Nation" and a great episode of sci-fi TV in general. This installment explores gender, sex, procreation, faith, and religion -- topics that you wouldn't think go together, but that's the beauty of science fiction. We learn that the Tenctonese species has a 3rd gender that is required for Newcomers to reproduce. Binnaums, as they are known, seem similar to males, but they have noticeably different...parts...and functions. And, one of our recurring characters is a member of that order.

- Do both co-hosts agree on the strengths and appeal of this episode?

- What parallels did one co-host notice between this episode and the Moclan species storyline from "The Orville"?

- Which co-host had great appreciation to the details applied to the beliefs & rituals portrayed in this episode?

- What were the noticeable differences in the Albert character, when he was acting as Binnaum to the Francisco family rather than just the janitor at the police station?

- Which co-host described the acting, directing, editing, and music, from the last few minutes of the episode as "perfect"?

- What does George teach Matt about what makes a Tenctonese women attractive?

- Matt already gets on the co-hosts' nerves for a few reasons. In this episode, we learn that Matt is bad at something else. What is that new revelation?

- What issues made one co-host feel like the weekly crime subplot was predictable?

- As much as the co-hosts love the George Francisco character, what did George do in this episode that disappointed one co-host?

- What questionable police actions did Matt Sikes demonstrate this week?

- What guest star was also a main cast member in all three seasons of the science-fiction TV show "Seven Days"?

- How much does Dobbs get to do this week?

- How much unwanted information is shared about North Carolina, just because one Tenctonese character is named after Jame K. Polk, the 11th president of the United States, who was born in N.C.?

- What aspect of this episode warrants a reference to "Ally McBeal"?

- And, is this, whether the writers intended it or not, a transgender-themed episode?

Listen now for the answers to these and other mind-bending questions as our co-hosts explore "Three to Tango."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave reviews on individual episodes on the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com and The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

We are back and with another slight detour from "Alien Nation." We cover a review of 2025 with a focus on the following...

Movies

• "Captain America: Brave New World"
• "Thunderbolts*"
• "Fantastic Four: First Steps"
• "Superman"
• Mentions of "Wicked For Good," "Tron: Ares," "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," and "Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning"

Television

• "Alien: Earth" season 1
• "Ironheart" (probably only season)
• "Andor" season 2
• "Stranger Things" season 5
• Mentions of "The Pitt" season 1, "High Potential" seasons 1.5 & 2.0, and "Pluribus" season 1

Personal Note From The Editor: I'm sorry for the unintentional hiatus between episodes #012 & #013 in January 2026. I explain why at the very beginning of the episode. Hopefully February 2026 & beyond will go more smoothly.

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments directly on episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps.

Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Happy New Year! We welcome 2026 with a review of the "Alien Nation" episode "Contact," a story about a Kleezantsun intimidating scientists into sending a nefarious signal into outer space. Meanwhile, Matt deals with memories of his uncle, Cathy shares with him aspects of her own childhood, and the Franciscos consider having another child of their own.

- What is Nick's favorite moment in the episode, a line from George that stuck with him the most over three decades?

- How many ways did George encounter racism in this episode?

- What logistical & emotional reasons do the Franciscos have for deciding to have another child, which would be their first one born on Earth?

- What comedic line from George made Todd giggle out loud multiple times?

- Why does Matt get emotional after he receives a trunk full of photos, an old coat, and other items, from his late uncle? Sharing these memories with Cathy, what does she share with him about her own childhood?

- What is the legitimate fear about a Tenctonese-related signal that is being sent out into space?

- What two totally different nitpicks did Nick & Todd separately flag from the first minute or two of the episode?

- What conspicuous guest character accent were both Nick & Todd ready to rip into? What accent was that actor attempting, why did it not work, and considering some of that actor's past acting experiences in other countries, why was the accent not better?

- What is the latest example of Matt's bizarre & inconsistent wardrobe?

- Were the interactions between Matt & Cathy this week enough for one co-host, or was he hoping for more?

- What did Nick feature in this week's installment of his "Yikes, Sikes!" segment?

- What prop from Matt's uncle's trunk did Todd think should have been bigger and more impressive but probably wasn't due to a possibly low episode budget?

- Which guest star was in the obscure foreign horror movie, "Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory"?

- Which guest star has a varied career as an actress, cartoon writer, and TV host?

- Which guest star is transgender and transitioned later in life after this episode?

- And, what great episode do we have to look forward to next week?

Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as Nick & Todd interpret the signals in the episode, "Contact."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music in this episode came from Pixabay.

Just in time for Christmas is our review of the "Alien Nation"...Halloween episode. Sorry, I guess we should have started the podcast a couple months earlier. Anyway, you will shriek with delight, uh, I mean, terror, at this week's episode, "Night of the Screams."

- Which co-host has a lot to say about the germy ickiness of bobbing for apples?

- What did the co-hosts feel about this episode's medical examiner gnawing on some beef or pork ribs while giving an autopsy report to cops?

- Which 1980s movie's score did one co-host think this episode's music sounded like?

- How did a simple dialogue scene in Cathy's apartment somehow feel cinematic?

- What questions, theories, and head-canon, did the co-hosts have about an Overseer character & his wife?

- How & why did a few other scenes in this episode feel cinematic?

- What did we learn this week about Tenctonese myths, folk lore, medical conditions, and the Kleezantsun (Overseers)?

- What did the co-hosts feel about the material given to Emily & her friend Jill?

- What did one character completely flip out over in this week's episode?

- And, what's up with Nick's new segment, "Yikes, Sikes"?

Listen now for the answers to these and other horrifying questions, as we we brave the "Night of the Screams."

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Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Because of the December timing, Nick & Todd make one more slight detour from "Alien Nation" to talk about the 2014 "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas."

- What are each co-host's respective journeys with "Doctor Who"? Do they both love it, or do one or both co-hosts have mixed feelings? How much has each one seen of the show? Who are their favorite Doctor(s)?

- How many gaps in viewing does Todd have during the new era of DW? Which Doctors has he seen all of? Which episode -- or more accurately, which half-episode from Matt Smith's era -- does Todd love & defend? Which two episodes from Jodie Whitaker's first season does Todd appreciate?

- What did Nick like most about classic DW? Which family member recommended to him the Jodie Whitaker era?

- What were the co-hosts' opinions of "Last Christmas"? Did Todd think it was better than most DW Christmas specials he's seen? How often does Nick watch this episode? Is it a part of his Christmas viewing rotation?

- How did Nick compare this special to other Christmas-themed movies & TV episodes? Does he feel this special is suffiently "Christmas-y" enough?

- What did the co-hosts feel about Nick Frost's portrayal of Santa Claus?

- Was Peter Capaldi's more curmudgeon & less affectionate portrayal considered a good thing or bad?

- Did Nick & Todd like Clara as a companion?

- What musical moment in the episode did Nick appreciate?

- What good (even if slightly somber/sobering) message did Todd feel was the main point of the episode?

- How did Todd compare this episode to some things he doesn't like in certain episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"?

- Is this special an homage or a rip-off of "Alien," and does "hanging a lantern" on the similarities make it all okay?

- How did Nick compare this special to things from "Rick & Morty," "Inception," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and typical sitcoms?

- What were Todd's two nitpicks about the old-Clara scene?

- How did Todd compare this special to something bad from season 3 of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"?

- What bit of trivia did Todd have about how close Faye Marsay was to continuing her role of Shona McCullough in more DW?

- What did the co-hosts enjoy about this special's take on Santa Claus & elves?

- Which quotes & comedic moments did Todd appreciate?

- Who is Todd's favorite version of The Doctor, and what are all his reasons for this odd choice? Which scene for that one Doctor does Todd think is so cool that he doesn't care how or why it happened?

- What are Nick's choices for favorite Doctor overall and his favorite specifically from the new era?

Listen now for the answers to these and other festive questions as we explore space, time, and the realm of the mind, in the 2014 "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Last Christmas."

Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected].

Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

- "twelve-days-of-chaos-443478" - Music by Alexander Nakarada / https://www.creatorchords.com

- "jingle-roll-262183" - Music by BFCMusic