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Prodigious Saps
Prodigious Saps episodes
- Episode 52: SUPERMAN III (1983)
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/EBP1jZH08QgWell, here we are. The people asked for it, and today we deliver. Brendan has finally watched Superman III. But... he's not happy about it.
Our opinions of the movie are fairly similar, only I am much softer on it because I saw it so many times on cable TV when I was a kid, and came to terms with its mediocrity decades ago. Brendan is still reeling from it, as you will see straight away. Brace yourselves.
There's a lot of things I could say about Superman III, but I think the real tragedy is that pretty much everything Richard Donner fought to prevent from happening to a Superman movie happens here... like, all within the first five minutes. And to make matters worse, Superman is reduced to a supporting character in his own film. It's not even a good Richard Pryor movie, and we love Richard Pryor.
Not everyone hates this film... in fact, a lot of people actually love it. So if you feel we're being too harsh, tell us why!
But you know, maybe give Brendan a minute. It's been a rough couple of weeks.
Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr 37 min - Episode 51: Are we the SUPERMAN channel now?
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TpGSm3C09i4?si=huRxnFH4zTo5sJ61SORRY for the lateness on this getting this one out! Several clips have been culled from this episode already, but there's still plenty of fun stuff in here that y'all haven't seen yet.
Several things on the agenda this time:
Following up on the commotion stirred up in the comments section on a recent clip from P-Saps No. 49 about the time travel sequence at the end of SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE
(https://youtu.be/d-mrYe1E3Lw)Reacting to James Gunn's recent reveal that KRYPTO the Superdog will be featured in his upcoming SUPERMAN movie.
Excitement for Batman in the DCU based on a character reveal in the new CREATURE COMMANDOS trailer
Brendan shares a hilarious moment from a 1967 issue of Captain America.
...and MORE undisclosed nerdy crap.
Thank you all for your continued support!
00:00:00 — Channel update
00:01:28 — Following up on the "Spinning the World Back" controversy00:18:03 — Krypto00:25:23 — Batman in the DCU00:27:38 — SUPERMAN updates from James Gunn00:30:32 — Lanterns00:31:20 — Funny moments from old Captain America comics00:44:04 — Exploring early drafts of SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE00:53:31 — Props to Michael Thau (Donner Cut editor)Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/59 min - Episode 50: SUPERMAN II & the DONNER CUT
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/kpf3hCUpZKcHere is the second installment in our SUPERMAN rewatch series! And this one is a doozy, because we're covering two very different versions of the same movie.
If you're unfamiliar with either version of SUPERMAN II, as usual we're spoiling pretty much everything, so be warned!
The story of these two cuts is pretty legendary, but in a rambly nutshell: Richard Donner was hired to direct both the first SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II simultaneously, but midway through production they decided to put the sequel on the backburner and focus on getting the first one done. Then, after the premiere of SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, Donner was fired and replaced with Richard Lester (most famous for directing A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and HELP! with the Beatles). In addition to completing the movie, Lester wound up reshooting a lot of things Donner had already shot, simply so he could earn the sole director's credit.
The heartbreaking thing about this was while Donner had a deep respect for SUPERMAN as a character and a unique vision of what a SUPERMAN movie should be, Lester simply just didn't.
To make matters worse, Gene Hackman, screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, and several other key members of the crew refused to come back and finish the sequel. Thankfully, what we wound up with was still a great movie, but not everything it could and should have been.
BUT... many years later, Donner and Mankiewicz were able to put together their version of SUPERMAN II after a huge trove of their footage was rediscovered, thanks mostly to the tireless work of editor Michael Thau.
So... is the Donner Cut an improvement over Lester's theatrical cut?
Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr 39 min - Episode 49: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)
Prodigious Saps No. 49: "Down the Love Hole"
Nitpicks & praise for SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@prodigioussaps?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJaU6rw754l-Z0HQ4SB3gwA/joinPATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ProdigiousSapsThis week we have a long, critical discussion about Richard Donner's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, a movie we both love dearly... in part to demonstrate that we don't think of it as completely flawless.
We did find it hard to only concentrate on nitpicks, because despite all its flaws it is STILL such an amazing film, even after all this time.
Next we'll be talking about SUPERMAN II, something we both have many more major quibbles with, and comparing it to the DONNER CUT.
Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr 30 min - Episode 48: Terry Gilliam's BRAZIL (1985)
Prodigious Saps No. 48: "The International Fund for Interesting Directors"
At long last, here is our piece on Terry Gilliam's masterpiece BRAZIL. This was well over a year in the making... not because it literally took that long to finish it, but just in that I was so hellbent on not half-assing the edit that I kept kicking it down the road. It's still not perfect, but tonight, I'm letting it go.
If you dig Gilliam's work I think you'll find this to be a fun watch. Please let us know what you think.And Brendan, thank you contributing so much heart to this discussion, and for being patient with my obsessive, perfectionist video editing ass. 🙏
CHEERS ALL
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iRhmr7wbtjIThere is also a completely UNCUT version of this episode on our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/p-saps-no-48-110854269and available to YouTube channel members as part of the P-Saplings tier:
https://youtu.be/kcIaQgmEtcU?si=TQCj7lLU0wI90behProdigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/40 min - Episode 47: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
This one is all about the acclaimed Prime Video series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", which completed its fifth and final season last year.
SPOILERS ABOUND in this episode about all five seasons of Mrs. Maisel (particularly the last one), so if you've never watched the show you may want to hit pause on this one and come back to it later. You have been warned.
Why is this show P-Saps worthy? Well, not only is it EXCELLENT television about an aspiring female stand-up comic in the early 1960s, but the lead role is played by none other than RACHEL BROSNAHAN.... who is also playing LOIS LANE in James Gunn's upcoming SUPERMAN. ALSO the supporting cast in Mrs. Maisel is absolutely stellar across the board, terrific writing, direction, music, set and costume design, the whole shebang.
If you're familiar with Brosnahan's performance as Midge Maisel and you remember the great Lois Lanes of the past like Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill and Margot Kidder, you'll know why we're so excited about this casting choice.
Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr - Episode 46: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINEProdigious Saps No. 46: "My Zing-Zang Heart"
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ProdigiousSaps
PODCAST: https://prodigioussaps.fireside.fm/We've both seen the highly anticipated DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. We will be spoiling the bejesus out of this movie today. You've been warned.
BUT FIRST... we react to the big bombshell from SDCC. The bombshell that has shocked and befuddled the nerd world, raising nerd eyebrows, gaping nerd jaws and curling nerd toes across the globe. We are of course referring to the deeply weird news that none other than ROBERT DOWNEY JR. will be returning to the MCU to portray Victor von Doom, a.k.a. DR. DOOM, in the upcoming AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. What does this mean? Should we be excited or concerned?
More importantly: what do YOU think?
ALSO, guess what? We just hit 1000 subscribers on YouTube! We couldn't do it without you, so as always THANK YOU so much for your support, lovely P-Saplings!
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:18 — Goodbye Kang00:02:18 — RDJ as Doom?!00:17:14 — DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (SPOILERS)00:33:11 — Fantastic Four: First Steps00:38:01 — Secret Wars00:39:55 — Young Avengers?00:41:33 — THE PENGUIN trailer00:42:23 — Hall of Justice in SUPERMAN?00:47:19 — Retro-futuristic esthetic in SUPERMAN00:53:35 — SUPERMAN saving a squirrel?00:55:42 — More on DEADPOOL & WOLVERINEProdigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of @Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla Ciity Stories (@theteslacitystories7337).
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussaps
RELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr 3 min - Episode 45: STOP! Superman Time
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/7DSH7Jc6cjs?si=lu1mP40Sa0FR6RFDYou'll have to excuse our rampant enthusiasm for these SUPERMAN set photos, because there is still quite a bit to talk about.
This time we geek out about the potential reveals of Krypto, Ultraman, and Supergirl, and try valiantly to piece together bits of storyline from everything we've seen unfolding on streets of Cleveland, Ohio.
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:17 — Overview00:00:52 — Final thoughts on Clark's hair00:04:05 — Krypto theories00:09:20 — Krypto's classic origin00:10:45 — Supergirl's classic origin00:12:07 — Krypto's intelligence00:13:22 — A proposal for Mr. Gunn00:13:57 — Gunn's statement on potential spoilers00:14:33 — Ultraman?00:15:33 — The Engineer00:16:37 — Metropolis retro style00:20:47 — Different Superman suits?00:21:32 — Superman & Lois flying together?00:22:15 — Superman suit design influences00:24:21 — Superman flying effects00:25:41 — MAN OF STEEL flying effects & suit design00:27:16 — How will Superman change into his suit?00:29:52 — Justice Society in DCU?00:31:04 — Multiverse in DCU?00:33:24 — Captain Carrot & He-Man00:34:31 — Channel updatesProdigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/39 min - Episode 44: Super Twirly Powers
Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TA9jIpDek8kLast week, James Gunn's SUPERMAN began shooting on location in Superman's birthplace of Cleveland, Ohio. And as many people predicted, the leaked photos are JUMPIN' and the nerddom is high.
So in this episode, we excitedly discuss the absolutely thrilling photos that appeared on Twitter during the first two days of shooting. We have now a REALLY great look at Superman's new costume, as well as characters like Mr. Terrific, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Ron Troupe, Cat Grant etc.
But possibly the most surprising reveal we saw those first two days of shooting was Clark Kent's hair. We've never seen Clark sport a curly hairstyle like this before, which is dramatically different from his Superman hairstyle. What's up with that? Is this really Clark's normal hairstyle? And how will Clark make his hair-transition to Superman the movie?
00:00:00 — Intro
00:00:29 — Overview of leaked set photos00:07:34 — Mr. Terrific00:13:50 — Theories about what we saw (days 1 & 2)00:18:39 — Superman's suit00:23:00 — Clark's hair00:25:06 — Theory about Clark's hair00:27:18 — Does Lois know Clark is Superman already?00:32:49 — Will Jimmy have a signal watch?00:33:31 — Kryptonian visual esthetic?00:36:16 — Mr. Terrific's dynamic with Superman00:39:27 — Captain Marvel (Shazam)?00:42:35 — Batman?Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of @Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla Ciity Stories (@theteslacitystories7337).
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussaps
RELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/44 min - Episode 43: PLANET OF THE APES (1968-1973)
Here is the EXTENDED version of our nitpicky deep dive into a classic nerdy franchise (made before Hollywood really had any idea how to handle nerdy franchises), which has inspired a truly remarkable reimagining in the newer films.
A shorter version focusing on the original films is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2UTXOZPjabQ
Are you familiar with the original PLANET OF THE APES? The four sequels that followed? And are you a fan of the recent films (featuring Andy Serkis)? Let's talk about it!
Prodigious Saps: profusive nerdery from Chad Smalley of Blaggards and Brendan Jones of Tesla City Stories.
https://linktr.ee/prodigioussapsRELATED LINKS:
Blaggards
https://blaggards.com/SlapperCast: a weekly podcast/road diary from Blaggards:
https://linktr.ee/slappercastTesla City Stories
https://www.teslacitystories.comBreakfast of the Gods
https://www.indyplanet.com/breakfast-of-the-godsCampbell & Jones Meet the Monsters
https://meetthemonsters.podbean.com/1 hr 2 min
About Prodigious Saps
From the publisher's feed
Chad Smalley and Brendan Jones (friends for more than 30 years) reflect on movies, TV, music and comics… with a special focus on their shared love of Superman.