The Incomparable Superfeed

“Doctor Who” is back and so are we, for part one of this season’s six-episode-long epic story. As is so often true for multi-part Doctor Who adventures, it’s actually hard to judge how it went from a single episode! But we try our best to identify all the dangling threads in episode one, from men in hats to a surprisingly un-chilly Arctic Circle to a tiny house that puts one in the mind of The Master even if he’s not anywhere to be found! Also, we discuss if this sort of storytelling is what “Doctor Who” in a modern context should look like. - Host Jason Snell with James Thomson.

She has resorted to drinking chardonnay that comes in a clear bottle. Freaky (2020) - Host Joe Rosensteel and Dan Sturm.

Just in time for Halloween, our mega-sized Old Movie Club meets up in a spooky haunted house to discuss two horror-comedies that honor their source material more than you might think — it’s 1948’s “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” and 1974’s “Young Frankenstein.” We learn that werewolves can fly, quoting film dialogue on the playground can be cruel, and in the end it turns out that none of us are the doctor—we’re the monster. - Host Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz, Shelly Brisbin, Moisés Chiullan, Dr. Drang and David J. Loehr.

Don’t be alarmed! This is not a temporal incursion. Year of Hell is one of the most admired episodes of Voyager. One year ago, on episode 19 of this podcast, software developer and podcaster Tammy Coron was our guest. We were six months into the pandemic, and Year of Hell really struck home for both of us. Tammy’s situation especially, being flung into a pandemic with an unexpectedly extended family, was akin to Captain Janeway’s challenges in the Delta Quadrant. And like Janeway, we don’t know how long it will take, but we are still on a mission to see everyone through. We’re re-releasing this episode so that it’s in chronological order with the rest of the two-parters.. Enjoy this for the first time, enjoy a relisten, or skip to the next podcast episode, which will be all about the scary Hirogen. - Host Jean MacDonald with Tammy Coron.

The Muppets are kind of back and so are we! We walk through the Disney+ Halloween special, which features Gonzo and Pepe traversing through an homage to Disney World’s Haunted Mansion ride. Join us to hear about the good (lots of music!), the bad (not a lot of plot), and the weird (goats?) - Host Quinn Rose and Stephen Hackett.

Take a trip down memory lane with your hosts this week as we watch the latest episode of Legends of Tomorrow and discuss foregrounding background characters, cast budget cuts, and why nobody can save Hawkman. Then it’s the latest episode of Stargirl as the stage is set for a final confrontation with Eclipso…right after we deal with this giant hamburger. To get your question discussed on the show, email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter. - Host Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

To close out season 7 of Not Playing, we check in on Keanu Reeves once again, as surfer/bank robber Dan Moren and undercover FBI agent Lex Friedman sit down to watch the 1991 film Point Break. Hot topics include bad FBI agents, not enough heists, and why you always remember your first time jumping out of a plane with no parachute. Programming Note: In addition to this capsule episode, which contains our discussion before and after the film, members can watch along with Lex and Dan in a full-length commentary track, available in the members-only First Class feed. If you’re not already a member, why not sign up? And if you are, now’s a great time to update your membership allocations and maybe throw a little support in the direction of Not Playing. Thanks! - Host Lex Friedman and Dan Moren.

You don’t go to live at an orphanage if you have a motorcycle. - Host Joe Rosensteel and Dan Sturm.

Happy SHOCKTOBER, everyone! To celebrate the spooky season we bring you a new, extra-long, high-level campaign. Some familiar faces (and one new one!) attempt that classic, deadly adventure, Tomb of Horrors. Will Ch’omasa, Daffné, L’nell, and Thald survive the Tomb? Will they even get in? Will they have to come back in a year to continue the adventure? Maaayyyybe! - Host Scott McNulty with Annette Wierstra, Mikah Sargent, Monty Ashley and Nick Scott.

We return to “Ted Lasso” to discuss the second season of the Apple TV+ comedy-become-dramedy, with an increased view into mental health, questions of relationship power dynamics, the power of Rom-Communism and Holiday Specials, and much more. [The original version had two minutes of weird audio at 18:30. You can press “forward 30 seconds” four times, or delete the file and re-download.] - Host Jason Snell with Myke Hurley, Kelly Guimont, James Thomson and Dan Moren.