Electric Enthusiasm

Mel Brooks' cult classic parody of Star Wars is dumb, yes... but Katie argues that it works so well for four main reasons - and she is happy to tell you all about them.

So dive in with us and get surrounded by assholes.

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Aliens is not only an EPIC 80s action movie it's also explicitly feminist and anti-capitalist. Alex argues that it is James Cameron's masterpiece and (heresy!) better than Ridley Scott's Alien.

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Katie was doomed by her parents to nerdiness from an early age, when they subjected her to a steady diet of Weird Al Yankovic. But there's much to be enthusiastic about in his decades-long musical career, including:

Also, THIS IS EPISODE NUMBER 50!!! That's CRAZYCAKES!!!

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Is it the costumes? The visuals? Jenna Ortega? That dance scene? Christina Ricci?

Alex has never seen a single Addams Family movie or TV show episode. He doesn't particularly like Tim Burton and he's not a fan of high school drama. So why did he love Wednesday, Netflix's new hit show? Let's see if we can figure it out.

BTWs include Parks&Rec, Brooklyn 99 and Fred Armisen.

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Tim Minchin wants to be "the Boring Keith Richards." But while this red-headed Ozzie's homelife may be boring his musical comedy is anything but.

In this episode Katie gets to show Alex some highlights of Minchin's career and it is AWESOME!

BTWs include Hallelujah and assorted nerdiness.

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Taylor Swift is more than just a pop star - she has changed the music industry in some really interesting ways.

Katie is not a real Swiftie but she is very enthusiastic about the savvy way Taylor Swift has controlled her career and media image and how she takes no bullshit from nobody.

BTWs include copyright law and who has the worst fanbase.

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Kate Bush's song Running Up That Hill made it to #1 in the UK, 37 years after it was released when they used  it in Stranger Things.

Alex has been a fan of Kate Bush since the 80s and when a listener suggested we do an episode on her, he got to research her and find out just how awesome she is.

BTWs include drag queens vs. evil Disney queens.

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You may not have heard OFF The Amen Break - but you've definitely heard it. This 6 second drum solo is the world's most used sample and appears in 6,000 other songs - from Slipknot the Futurama theme.

Alex shares the fascinating history behind The Amen Break, how it was discovered, what makes it so good and why copying other people's stuff in your art is a good thing actually.

In the moment of meta Katie talks about 2 new mottos that she believes are essential to enthusiasm:

1: It's OK to make mistakes

2: Don't blame others - or yourself

BTWs include:

Famous B-side songs that became more popular than the A-side

The Danish band that ALMOST became a hit in black dance clubs

Paying artists for their work

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Parasites are everywhere - in us and on us and on animals as well. And our guest Pikka Jokkelainen is very enthusiastic about them and even finds them beautiful.

Learn all about these fascinating life forms and especially about Toxplasma Gondii - a parasite you (or your cat) might very well have right now!

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Of all the movies movies Katie was forced to watch when she studied cinema - this is the one she's actually enthusiastic about. M is a 1931 movie by German director Fritz Lang that revolutionized the art form.

So many of the tricks and techniques you see in nearly all modern movies were first used in this one. And you can find the whole movie on YouTube so get watching :)

BTWs include:

Find more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.