Gobbledygeek

It's time for another Gobbledygeek Thanksgiving! This year, in lieu of

being sociable and actually talking to other human beings, Paul and AJ

decided to watch the Bat-Turkey-approved ThanksKilling and ThanksKilling

3, all about a murderous turkey being all murder-y. While they find the

first ThanksKilling awful but sort of funny, they have not a single nice

thing to say about ThanksKilling 3. This episode is mostly just them

consoling each other. Maybe they'll talk to people again next year. Plus,

the boys discuss the closing of Hostess and the recent (recanted)

allegations made against Kevin Clash.

Next: we're taking a week off to recuperate from ThanksKilling 3, but also

to celebrate Thanksgiving itself. So happy Thanksgiving! (We won't inform

Bat-Turkey of your dinner plans.) When we return, it will be with the

third annual Gobbledygeek Gift Guide.

Gobbledygeek is no stranger to generations-spanning epics; the whole show has been an experimental piece showing how different pop culture artifacts complement and dovetail with one another, and of how the love of two co-hosts will endure for the rest of history. Haha, just kidding, we're just a dumb podcast, but this week we are talking about something that is certainly not dumb and is most definitely ambitious: Tom Tykwer and Andy & Lana Wachowski's Cloud Atlas. Paul and AJ are both fans of the film and describe why it works for them and how emotional it made them, while also discussing the whole "yellowface" controversy. Plus, there was this whole big election thing that happened. They talk about that.

Next: It's the third annual Gobbledygeek Thanksgiving! This time, instead of actually talking to other human beings, we will be most thankful for the Thankskilling duology.

This week, Paul and AJ are joined by Eric Sipple, author of the new YA novel Broken Magic. Eric talks about what led him to write this story, the challenges of finishing a novel, adventures in self-publishing, and how much he loves Steven Moffat. Plus, the guys attempt to get out the vote and discuss why or why not Disney buying Lucasfilm is actually a big deal.

Next: Paul will be a young Asian woman, AJ will be an Aboriginal hunter, but don't worry, it all makes sense; they'll be talking Cloud Atlas.

This week, Paul and AJ put a stake through the heart of Gobbledyween 2012 with a look at Psych's "This Episode Sucks." AJ has never seen an episode of Psych, so according to him, this is what the show is about: the Santa Barbara Police Department is attempting to investigate a murder whose perpetrator may or may not be a vampire, and while doing so, Turk and J.D. pop up for some reason and start making jokes. Also, Dr. Cox falls in love with Buffy--I'm sorry, Kristy Swanson, it pains AJ too much to call her Buffy. Plus, the guys talk about Joss Whedon's new video on Mitt Romney's zombie apocalypse, AJ gushes over Matt Kindt's Mind MGMT, and Paul loves Cloud Atlas.

Next: with vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness vanquished for another year, Eric Sipple joins us to talk about his new book Broken Magic.

For the penultimate episode of Gobbledyween 2012, Paul and AJ take a break from being all reflective and whatnot for the zombie antics of Community's "Epidemiology." There's a whole lotta zombies, a whole lotta ABBA, and a whole lotta hilarity. Highlights include Troy's Sexy Dracula costume, Chang being the "racist prover," and Chiquita M.D. It's a good time. Plus, Paul talks about loyal listener Valerie's trip to Alabama and AJ gives brief thoughts on Seven Psychopaths and Argo.

Next: Gobbledyween 2012 comes to a close with Psych's "This Episode Sucks."

Gobbledyween 2012 continues with a discussion of Freaks and Geeks' one and only (cue sad music) Halloween episode, "Tricks and Treats." Lindsay is trying to transition from passing out candy with her mom to knocking down mailboxes with the freaks; Sam feels like he's too old to trick-or-treat, but it sure seems more fun than reading Crime and Punishment for school; and their mother has to come to terms with the fact that Halloween is a little different than when she was younger. This Halloween-themed reflection on adolescence prompts Paul and AJ to talk about their favorite/most embarrassing trick-or-treating memories. Plus, AJ hates on Cosmopolis and Paul is surprised by Hotel Transylvania.

Next: things get all zombified (not to mention ABBA-fied) with Community's "Epidemiology."

Are you ready for Gobbledyween 2012?! Well, even if you're not, it's here now, so. This year, we're looking at a different Halloween-themed TV episode each week in October. First up is "Fear, Itself," from the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The gang's fears are all made real at a haunted house that's a little more haunted than your average house. Paul and AJ talk about how the group's fears drive them away from one another, how that resonates with the overarching themes of the series, and even defend season 4 as a whole. Plus, they also rave about Looper.

Next: for week two of Gobbledyween, the boys look back on Freaks and Geeks' "Tricks and Treats."

Is it just us, or are the works of Jim Henson kind of making a comeback?

Then again, they never really went away. Paul and AJ discuss Henson's life

and career, including such legendary projects as The Muppet Show, Sesame

Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and more. Plus, the boys geek out

over the Avengers Blu-ray and Paul lets us know how his cassowary

presentation went.

Next: Halloween's creeping up on us once again, so the boys kick off a

month about Halloween-themed TV episodes with a look back at Buffy the

Vampire Slayer's "Fear Itself."

We're taking a trip to outer space this week as we look at Brian K. Vaughan's latest comic book series, Saga, which just wrapped its first arc last month; and Joss Whedon's Firefly, which just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Paul and AJ discuss the weirdness and gorgeousness of Saga, then think about where they were when Firefly first aired and how they felt watching it become a cult phenomenon after its cancellation. Plus, Paul discusses the cassowary presentation he'll be delivering at the National AAZK Conference, AJ muses on The Master, and more!

Next: do you know the Muppet man? We'll be discussing the works of Jim Henson.

It's been a recurring theme throughout the show, so it's inevitable that it was going to come to the forefront at some point: Paul and AJ have different attitudes about the art (or lack thereof) of film criticism. In broad/reductive strokes, AJ thinks that critics provide a valuable public service to their audience while Paul isn't sure why someone should tell anybody why they shouldn't like what they like. Again, that's putting it very simply, and there are moments where they agree, but also where they disagree. In other words...holy shit, it's an actual discussion of something! Plus, AJ talks about Bronson and Hunger, and Paul blows minds with his Angel & Faith theory.

Next: celebrating Jim Henson's birthday or the 10th anniversary of Firefly. Maybe both?