Matchett and the Other Guy

Episode fifty-two of fifty-two; as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, even fave podcasts… The past twelve months have been quite the broadcasting adventure, and we’re thankful for all our gentle listeners for sharing the oddity of the journey with us; joining us on the porch, along with assorted local (and vocal) wildlife, each and every week. With varied perspectives from both sides of the pond, we’ve touched on a truly diverse array of topics: music, first cars, television, movies, first jobs, vacations, museums, and much more - even a couple of daring episodes recorded in a smoke-filled kitchen. So, from Steve, Kevin, and John, we bid you farewell... for now. True, the podcast has completed its intended journey [albeit via an exceedingly rambling road - Ed] but, who knows, perhaps Matchett and the Other Guy will resurface in another dimension? And... on that wildly emotional cliffhanger, we say "stay tuned and stay well." Bye!

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Many films are well received by cinema audiences; some movies garner top honors at the Oscars. Then there are those sporadic offerings that appear destined to achieve cult status. True, some of these will never be considered cinematic masterpieces - indeed, several leave the masses scratching their heads in befuddled confusion - but all have struck a chord with a select collective whose ferver for them remains insatiable. Whether it’s a weekly midnight showing, complete with a cast of costumed characters and assorted props, or but a single fan about to cue up their 100th viewing of a firm favorite, these are the enthusiasts who know every scene: every set, location, costume, and line of dialogue... every nuance from start to finish. Let's join Steve and Kevin as they delve into some of these not-as-well-known gems, in this the penultimate episode of Matchett and the Other Guy.

The comics… the comic strips… the funnies… the funny papers… no matter what we call them, for generations they've been an entertaining part of morning coffee and leisurely Sunday afternoons. While many characters have come and gone, some have stayed to become legendary: a lasagna-loving cat; a penguin living amongst precocious elementary age lads; a cap-wearing chap headed to the pub; or a cast of childhood characters (and the world's most famous beagle) from the mind of Charles “Sparky” Schulz. Let's join Steve and Kevin as our two hosts open up the papers and see what’s going on in their favorite strips.

The unknown: the eternal foundation of our irrational fears... What could be lurking under the bed, listening to our every move? What could be hiding within the confines of the bedroom closet, silently watching, waiting in the darkness? For decades Movie Monsters have sent chills creeping up our spines. In bygone years, Universal provided us the iconic imagery of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Then there are the truly larger-than-life cinematic monsters… King Kong stomping through the panicked gridlock of New York; Godzilla screaming and smashing through the high-rises of Tokyo. An oddity of the human condition: We are frightened by monsters and yet we love them in equal measure. And no matter your favorite, all are welcomed friends, as we sit in the dark, nibbling popcorn, peering out from behind the security of a blanket, eyes unavoidably drawn to the glowing screen. Time now to join Steve and Kevin as they discuss this week’s topic, our hosts sitting amid the growing twilight on the banks of an eerily still lake… a slowly darkening setting in which hardly anything could possibly go wrong. 

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Commercials, they've become as much a part of our lives as our favorite television shows... indeed, some of them are better produced and more memorable than the very programs they're supporting. Who could ever forget growing up with Charmin’s Mr. Whipple; the Tootsie Pop wise owl; and Mikey, with his bowl of Life cereal? Some ads have become special yearly events, only aired during football's annual extravaganza: Huge budgets, top-shelf talent, and remarkable writing all combine and vie for their share of this truly massive viewership. Technology moves on, but it seems the ads will always be with us - endless companies weaving endless messages, all working to get our attention… and our dollars. Time now to join Steve and Kevin as we review some of these small vignettes that have been such a big part of daily life.

Dads, pops, patriarchs... no matter the moniker, all fathers have unique styles of raising their offspring. While Ward Cleaver and Mike Brady set some interesting standards, few of us actually grew up with life’s inevitable hurdles being instantly cleared with nothing but sage advice from a father figure, and with everything put to rights in under thirty minutes - the world of TV magic. Looking back, to days before fatherhood, many of our dads led remarkably interesting lives of their own, taking part in countless adventures before eventually settling down to family life. So, with all of this in mind, it's time to trade our painful wingtips for comfortable slippers, don our warmest cardigan, and push back into the most worn armchair as Steve and Kevin discuss growing up with their own dads, each based on opposite sides of the vast stretching waters of the Atlantic ocean. 

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“Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Seven words that have ushered in a weekly staple for over 45 years; and what began as a ragtag team affectionately known as “The Not Ready For Prime-Time Players” has continually evolved over the decades, growing to become an ever changing cast of hundreds of performers, each giving their all every Saturday night at 11:30pm sharp. Not only is the show an ongoing reflection of our evolving society, it has also created some of our most enduring pop culture icons, and while some cast members have come and gone quietly, others have shot to superstardom on the big screen and beyond. So, try to stay up late, as Kevin and Steve delve into this week’s topic! 

It’s a bird... it’s a plane... no, it’s this week's topic! Whether a brooding billionaire with a haunted past; an insecure teen with amazing powers, yet still having to cope with the swings of adolescent life; or a goodhearted alien living amongst us, superheroes have been a part of our culture for generations. The vast majority of these derring-do characters dwell within two distinct universes, the action-packed realms of DC and Marvel. While almost all began their careers as drawings on the pages of dime store comics, more and more of them have moved from 2D to 3D, now living large in blockbuster movies, Hollywood's superhero superstars. Quick! Into that telephone booth, to swiftly change into your alter-ego, as Steve and Kevin take on this larger-than-life page-turning subject.

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Bond, James Bond... Nearly seventy years ago, writer Ian Fleming introduced the world to his most famous, iconic action hero. A decade later, Sean Connery portrayed the derring-do secret agent on the silver screen; with actors Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig taking on the challenge throughout the following years. Bond's extensive skillset and gritty determination notwithstanding, his numerous world-saving missions could only be successful with the unflagging assistance of M, Q, Miss Moneypenny, and his American connection, CIA agent Felix Leiter. And then there are the gadgets, oh those remarkable gadgets! So, glimpsing the specter of this week's high-energy topic, we urge you not to engage the ejector seat rockets just yet... rather, mix a martini (shaken, not stirred), and sit back with Steve and Kevin as two our hosts discuss the most universally known fictional spy in the game of international espionage.

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"I want my MTV!" It was the mantra of the young generation in the early '80s... change was on the horizon but no one could have predicted the impact it would have on all of us. Soon the collective voices were heard, and the likes of Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Bow Wow Wow, David Bowie, and an ever-growing list of others were joining us in our living rooms twenty-four hours a day. At the helm of this voyage were the five original VJs -  Mark, Martha, J.J., Nina, and Alan. Let's join them once again as we look back on this ambitious upstart channel that forever altered the landscape of music-video entertainment.

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