Super Fantastic Nerd Hour!

"The world itself is just one big hoax." We review season 1 of USA's critically acclaimed new series Mr. Robot! What makes Mr. Robot one of the most modern shows on TV? How does it get hackers right? What makes Rami Malek's performance so powerful? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, it's Mr. Robot versus Fight Club! We share our top 5 unreliable narrators.

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• 0:00 - 25:54: Mr. Robot
• 25:55 - 35:33: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Mr. Robot VS. Fight Club
• 35:34 - 48:26: Top 5 Unreliable Narrators

• Mr. Robot Season Finale: This Is TV's First Great Cyberpunk Show
  
• USA Postpones Mr. Robot Finale Due to Similarities to WDBJ Shooting
•  Mr. Robot functions best when it’s most human
•  When A Brown Actor Plays A White Character, Who Really Wins?
•  USA has already given Mr. Robot a second season
•  The Caper in 'Mr. Robot' Is No Robin Hood Scheme
•  Mr. Robot' Star Rami Malek's Past is All Online
•  'Mr. Robot' Boss Talks Finale and Season 2: Elliot "Is Past the Point of No Return"

Conrad: 

1. The Ususual Suspects
2. Inception 
3. Lolita
4. Big Fish
5. Memento

Ali:

1. Memento
2. Calvin and Hobbes
3. Life of Pi
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
5. A Clockwork Orange

"We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had — a mythology to call their own." Disney's announcement of new Star Wars films, theme parks, TV shows, and other goodies have us wondering — how much is too much? Do we need a new Spider-Man, a Fantastic Four reboot, more Star Trek, and another Avengers film? Where do artistic endeavors end and commercial franchises begin? Why do these stories keep repeating, despite our fatigue, and how do we keep them relevant? Special guest, geeky photographer and host of the On Taking Pictures podcast Bill Wadman.

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• 0:00 - 59:39: How much is too much?

• Star Wars: Rogue One - The Mission Has Begun
• Colin Trevorrow to Direct Star Wars: Episode IX
• Official Poster For Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• The President Of Lucasfilm Eases Our Worries About Han Solo Movie
• Star Wars Themed Lands Coming to Disney Parks
• The Problem with Supersizing Star Wars
• To Boldly Go - The Future of Star Trek
• Ant-Man, Age of Ultron, and The Problem With Marvel
• Enough, already, with the superhero movies
• Hollywood Should Make More, Not Fewer, Superhero Films
• Jurassic World Is A Huge Mega-Hit, And That’s Terrible News For Movies
• The Good, Bad and Meh: Lessons From Mad Max, Terminator, and Jurassic
• Psychology of Comic Con (THE PSYCH SHOW with Dr. Ali Mattu)

“Hunt is the living manifestation of destiny and he has made you his mission.” We (non-spoiler) review the fifth entry into the Mission: Impossible franchise — Rogue Nation! What makes this film series unique? How does Rogue Nation compare against other summer blockbusters? What makes Tom Cruise a big film geek? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, it’s Rogue Nation VS. Ghost Protocol! We share our top 5 rogues.

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• 0:00 - 25:54: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (non-spoilers)
• 25:55 - 35:33: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Rogue Nation VS. Ghost Protocol
• 35:34 - 48:26: Top 5 Rogues

• Nerdist Podcast: Tom Cruise
• Here's Every Crazy, Suicidal Stunt From The Mission Impossible Movies
• Rogue Nation preserves the stand-alone fun of the Mission: Impossible series
• 'Rogue Nation' Fulfills The Mission Of A Reliable Blockbuster Series
• Meet Rebecca Ferguson, the beautiful scene-stealer in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
• A tribute to 'Mission: Impossible' composer Lalo Schifrin

Conrad: 

1. Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly, Serenity)
2. Jack Harkness (Doctor Who, Torchwood)
3. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) 
4. Shane MacGowan (The Pogues)
5. Tom Sawyer (LOST)

Ali:

1. Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Catch Me If You Can)
2. Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica) 
3. Quark (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
4. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) 
5. Lando Calrissian (Star Wars: Rebels, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)

“They are as close to humans as can be, and yet still people insist that forming a relationship with them or treating them with dignity is somehow perverse.” We review Humans, AMC and Channel 4’s new science fiction drama. How does Humans explore the relationship between humanity and technology? What does it reveal about the singularity and artificial intelligence? How will society change if we create an artificial labor class? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what’s the better exploration of AI — Humans or Ex Machina? We download our top 5 warnings to the future. 

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• 0:00 - 18:30: Humans (non-spoilers)
• 18:30 - 46:56: Humans (spoilers)
• 46:57 - 58:31: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Humans VS. Ex Machina
• 58:32 - 1:25:08: Top 5 Warnings to the Future

• If Isaac Asimov Were Alive, Humans Would Be His Favorite TV Show
• Like its technology, Humans delivers more depth than advertised
• In an Android World, ‘Humans’ Is Real and Terrifying
• Crazy Sexy Geeks: Artificial Intelligence

Conrad: 

1. "The Entire History of You" (Black Mirror)
2. Oryx and Crake
3. A for Anything
4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home/The Bone Clocks
5. The Handmaid’s Tale

Ali:

1. 1984
2. Fahrenheit 451 
3. Gattaca
4. The Handmaid’s Tale
5. "Let that be your last battlefield" (Star Trek: The Original Series)

"This is not some cute tech like the Iron Man suit!" We review the newest edition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe — Ant-Man! After over a decade of development, multiple rewrites, and the departure of Edgar Wright, does Peyton Reed's Ant-Man work? We discuss how awesome Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly are in their roles, criticize the film's representation of diversity, and debate how much creativity is left at Marvel Studios. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what makes better use of the macroscopic perspective — Ant-Man or Honey, I Shrunk the Kids? We share our top 5 animal companions and sidekicks. 

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• 0:00 - 21:06: Ant-Man (non-spoilers)
• 21:07 - 38:45: Ant-Man (spoilers)
• 38:46 - 48:08: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Ant-Man VS. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
• 48:09 - 1:04:28: Top 5 Animal Companions and Sidekicks

• Watch A Viral Video Setting Up Ant-Man and Linking To Civil War
• Ant-Man builds a smaller, lighter Marvel movie
• ‘Ant-Man,’ With Paul Rudd, Adds to a Superhero Infestation
• Ant-Man: A Small Defeat for Marvel
• Ant-Man Is A Perfectly Competent Superhero Movie
• You Won't Believe Where the Ant-Man End Credits Scene Comes From
• How Ant-Man Will Affect Marvel's Movies For Years To Come
• Why There's Still a LOT Of Edgar Wright In Marvel's Ant-Man
• How ‘Ant-Man’ Highlights the Sad State of Marvel’s Female Characters
• An Ode To ANT-MAN’s Most Triumphant Scene
• ‘Ant-Man’ Shows Power and Limits of Marvel Brand
• Boy 'Bewildered' After Lost 'Hobbes' Toy Goes On Epic Adventure

Conrad: 

1. Direwolves (Game of Thrones)
2. Battle Cat (He-Man)
3. Falcor (The Neverending Story)
4. Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)
5. K-9 (Doctor Who)

Ali:

1. Remy (Ratatouille)
2. Yoshi (Mario Bros.)
3. Lockjaw (Ms. Marvel)
4. Falcor (The Neverending Story)
5. Darwin (seaQuest DSV)

“That thing out there…that is no dinosaur.” We review the wildly successful Jurassic World! How does this 4th entry compare against Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Jurassic Park III? Is it completely reliant on our nostalgic love of the original or does the movie have something new to offer? What about the controversy behind Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire? And how awesome is Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord..err…Owen. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what’s the better monster movie — Jurassic World or 2014’s Godzilla? We boldly share our top 5 stories about hubris. 0:00 - 12:39: Jurassic World (non-spoilers); 12:39 - 41:30: Jurassic World (spoilers); 41:31 - 48:34: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Jurassic World VS. Godzilla (2014); 48:35 - 1:11:40: Top 5 Hubris Stories.

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• 0:00 - 12:39: Jurassic World (non-spoilers)
• 12:39 - 41:30: Jurassic World (spoilers)
• 41:31 - 48:34: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Jurassic World VS. Godzilla (2014)
• 48:35 - 1:11:40: Top 5 Hubris Stories

• Jurassic World goes back to the park, but the danger is missing
• Jurassic World Has Third Biggest Opening Day of All Time
• 'Jurassic World': All the Easter Eggs, Callbacks, and Other Things You Might Have Missed (Spoilers!)
• Jurassic World Director Talks About That Infamous Running-In-Heels Scene
• Jake Johnson's 'Jurassic World' fanboy was inspired by this guy
• A Paleontologist Deconstructs ‘Jurassic World’
• ‘I enjoyed the whole absurdity of it': Paleontologists review ‘Jurassic World.’
• How the director of Jurassic World jumped from Sundance to Spielberg
• Jurassic Park’s VFX legacy still casts a shadow—especially for Jurassic World
• Jurassic World Psychology (THE PSYCH SHOW)

Conrad: 

1. Citizen Kane 
2. Waterworld
3. Amedeus
4. Frankenstein
5. Napoleon Bonaparte

Ali:

1. NSA surveillance program
2. Michael Bay and Transformers
3. Hughes H-4 Hercules Aircraft (aka Spruce Goose) 
4. Prometheus
5. Marvel Studios Phase 3

“I get things are bad, but what are we doing to fix it?” We explore Disney’s Tomorrowland! Does Brad Bird’s film live up to the vision of Walt Disney’s theme park attraction? What’s the film telling us about science and imagination? Is Tomorrowland a refreshing return to Kennedy era NASA optimism or an idea that already feels outdated and simplistic? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER we debate what’s the better adaptation of a Disney attraction - Tomorrowland or Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl? Get in line for our top 5 Disney rides. Special guest, former Disney cast member and present host of YouTube’s Without a License Diana Chang.  

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• 0:00 - 32:29: Tomorrowland (non-spoilers)
• 32:30 - 49:23: Tomorrowland (spoilers)
• 49:24 - 1:02:20: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Tomorrowland VS. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
• 1:02:21 - 1:44:33: Top 5 Disney Rides

• Disney’s Tomorrowland realizes a bright future dreamt up in the past
• Tomorrowland Is Baby-Boomer Nostalgia At Its Most Dreary
• Tomorrowland Is Like Watching A Jetpack Eat Itself
• Watch the Sequence Pixar Animated for ‘Tomorrowland’
• Here’s Why All Walt Disney References Were Cut From ‘Tomorrowland’
• How to do Disneyland Resort in 1 Day

Diana: 

1. Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)
2. Soarin’ (EPCOT) 
3. Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios)
4. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Hollywood Studios)
5. Mickey's PhilharMagic (Magic Kingdom)

Conrad: 

1. Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom) 
2. Mission: SPACE (EPCOT)
3. Star Tours (Hollywood Studios)
4. Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland)
5. Big Thunder Mountain (Magic Kingdom)

Ali:

1. Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (Disneyland)
2. The Haunted Mansion (Disneyland) 
3. Soarin' (California Adventure) 
4. Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland)
5. Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)

“Oh what a day, what a lovely day!” We review George Miller’s long awaited Mad Max sequel — Fury Road! How does Fury Road honor its source material while also charting a new course for action films? Does its treatment of women make it a “feminist film”? And what’s the story behind Doof Warrior, the onesie flamethrower guitarist? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who’s the better hero — Fury Road’s Furiosa or The Road Warrior’s Max Rockatansky? We step on the gas for our top 5 crazy vehicles.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 - 26:10: Mad Max: Fury Road (non-spoilers)
• 26:11 - 53:40: Mad Max: Fury Road (spoilers)
• 53:41 - 1:03:37: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Fury Road VS. Road Warrior
• 1:03:38 - 1:20:56: Top 5 Crazy Vehicles

• Mad Max: Fury Road was worth waiting 30 years for
• Mad Max: Fury Road Is An Astonishing Work Of Art
• Every Killer Car in Mad Max: Fury Road Explained
• The Best Character In Movie History, The Flamethrower Guitarist From ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ Has An Origin Story
• I saw Fury Road. I get why people like it. But it isn’t feminist.
• Sorry, haters: 'Mad Max' is an 'incredible feminist movie'

Conrad: 

1. TARDIS (Doctor Who)
2. Batmobile (Batman)
3. DeLorean (Back to the Future)
4. Boat (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)
5. Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Ali:

1. DeLorean (Back to the Future Part II)
2. Tumbler (Batman Begins)
3. Podracers (Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
4. Lightcycle (TRON)
5. Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix)

“What if these comic books are bleeding through from parallel worlds?” We give a spoiler-free review of Multiversity, the Eisner-nominated series from DC Comics! How is this Grant Morrison project the ultimate exploration of the past, present, and future of the DC multiverse? What is Multiversity saying about comics as art? Is it necessary reading for all or love letter to fans of comic books? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, we debate Multiversity versus Watchmen. Things get wibbly wobbly as we explore our favorite parallel universe stories.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 - 26:19: Multiversity (non-spoilers)
• 26:20 - 42:44: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Multiversity VS. Watchmen
• 42:45 - 1:04:37: Top 5 Parallel Universes

• How Multiversity Sets Up the Future of DC
• Grant Morrison’s ‘The Multiversity ‘Annotations
• Multiversity Easter Eggs Revealed
• Vampire Batman, Hypnotic Induction, And God: Grant Morrison Talks ‘The Multiversity’
• The Multiversity/Convergence Connection

Conrad: 

1. Fringe
2. Doctor Who "Rise of the Cybermen"
3. Sliders
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer "The Wish"
5. Donnie Darko

Ali:

1. Star Trek’s Mirror Universe
2. Star Trek: The Next Generation "Yesterday’s Enterprise”
3. Community "Remedial Chaos Theory"
4. Sliders
5. Back to the Future Part II

“There is only one path to peace — your extinction.” We kickoff the summer blockbuster season by reviewing Avengers: Age of Ultron! Does Marvel Studios overcome its villain problem? What's the film saying about teamwork and artificial intelligence? Why is everyone so upset about Black Widow? How does Age of Ultron impact future Marvel films? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER — phase one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe versus phase two. We assemble our top 3 Joss Whedon moments. Special guest Lowen Baumgarten.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 - 16:13: Avengers: Age of Ultron (non-spoilers)
• 16:14 - 52:49: Avengers: Age of Ultron (spoilers)
• 52:50 - 1:01:56: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: MCU Phase 1 VS. MCU Phase 2
• 1:01:56 - 1:21:03: Top 3 Whedon Moments

• Joss Whedon grapples with the franchise obligations of Avengers: Age Of Ultron
• Avengers: Age of Ultron - Marvel Universe Easter Eggs and Comic References Guide
• Corporate drone Joss Whedon fought the pure artistic impulses of Marvel executives
• Black Widow: This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
• ‘SNL’ Gaves Us Scarlett Johansson In The Natasha Romanoff Rom-Com No One Asked For
• The New “Avengers” Is Really About the N.S.A.
• Unofficial Marvel Cinematic Universe Chronology
• The enduring legacy of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer writers' room
• Han Solo and the Psychology of Happiness (THE PSYCH SHOW)

Lowen: 

1. "Trash" (Firefly)
2. Cabin in the Woods
3. Epitaph One (Dollhouse)

Conrad: 

1. Firefly
2. Cabin in the Woods
3. "The Body" (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Ali:

1. Serenity
2. Dr. Horrible's sing along blog
3. Buffy's writers room