Hi, all! We named the episode “Gone Home,” because that is the name of the video game that you all should play. So don’t forget it. But besides that, we talk about Fab Labs, recent film lots of songs, and toast! Enjoy!
QUESTIONS:
Dear The Magical Talking Hat, What is the best TV sitcom theme song? — Kiya B.
Assuming that the podcast is truly powered by humanity’s belief in toast; does it matter what kid of toast it is? E.g. do you get more power if it’s rye toast? What about toasted bagels? — Mark McKibben
LINKS:
Here’s the article about the new Fab Lab mentioned in last week’s episode.
Here is the game you need to play. PLAY IT!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Glad to hear Tony’s reaction to “The World’s End” ’cause I want to go see it, but it had a really bad review in the local paper. On his blog though, Neil Gaiman told everyone they had to go see it (and that’s the first time he’s ever recommended a movie)–so Tony and Neil–yup, good enough for me.
I also love Shaun of the Dead and liked Hot Fuzz a bit less.
I think maybe the reason “Paul” is not considered part of that group of movies is that Edgar Wright didn’t direct it and he wasn’t one of the cowriters.
I think after this episode we might know which one is Mom and which one is Dad, if we didn’t have a guess before. 🙂
Wow, you guys are good at remembering theme songs.
I love the Malcolm in the Middle one. I think it’s called “You’re not the boss of me”?
What you said about “All in the Family” was so true!
Sub-genre of sitcom theme songs–theme songs sung by cast member
All in the Family
Frasier
Fresh Prince
Green Acres
That 70s Show
Those are all the ones that came to mind.
One more that I love is The Andy Griffith show–that whistling always makes me think about walking down a dirt road with a fishing pole. 🙂
ooo I thought of one more which might be my favorite–“The Addams Family.”
Just to extend the conundrum about toast–what’s the difference between roasting and baking? When I was a kid and first learning to cook I used to wonder why there was a “bake” setting, but not a “roast” setting. I think in the US potatoes are usually referred to as baked, but in the UK as roasted? I know I’ve heard the word “roasties” used about potatoes.
The etymology dictionary says toast comes from “*tostāre, deriv. of L tostus (< *torstos ), ptp. of torrēre to parch" so maybe it does have to do with the idea of drying something out. The outside of potatoes can get crispy but if the whole potato is dried out it's not any good. (It's toast!)
"Toast" is a cozy word when applied to people's warmth, but "roast" is negative. "I'm nice and toasty warm sitting by the fire" versus "Turn the heat down! I'm roasting in here!"
One more way to think about belief in toast–what do people picture when they hear the word? What is the platonic ideal of toast? I think it might be whole wheat.
GO Azuretalon!
That was great to hear 🙂
I usually marinade overnight. So 8 hours is about right I think.
FabLabs, are awesome. As I mentioned. He might also want to think about trying to do a Mini Maker Faire if there isn’t one already.
If you would like to know how I felt about The World’s End, I submit to you this picture of me on the first day of Dracon*Con.
http://instagram.com/p/doCx_FlDhi/
If you don’t want to, or can’t, click on that picture…
I will just say that those were some of the best fight choreography I’ve seen in some time.
So I liked it.
Saw it last night and I agree. I thought Nick Frost was especially good in the fight scenes.
I really, really liked it–maybe better than Shaun of the Dead.
One thing I like about Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, and now this, is the compassion for the moderate-to-extreme screwedupedness of people.
*waves pom poms for Azuretallon*
Wewt!
LOl [sic]
I HATE vampires.
I like warewolves better if I have to choose.
Warewolves are more expensive and work to portray in general.
You can MAKE vampires more expensive, but all you really need is a pair of Scarecrows and you’re GTG.
The other thing about Zombies…
They’re the sort of monster the average Joe can feel like they can take.
(Aside from the “rage zombie” that comes in floods like somebody turned on a goddamn zombie spigot.)
For a really cool Zombie story, I strongly suggest a narritive podcast called “We’re Alive”, which I believe is in it’s 4th (and final) season.
Songs that get stuck in your head.
The re-occuring theme in Into The Woods does the same thing, because it’s the pace when I’m walking quickly.
(“do do. do do. do da dododo”)
The theme song to Dexter is also pretty great.
I would say all the seasons of the Cosby show was the same tune arranged different ways.
Also, how can you guys dis Doctor Who like this?
Also, “Love American Style” and Busom Buddies.
Wasn’t he also in Quincey about a crime fighting Doctor?
Good Times DID have a great theme song.
And What’s Happening?
Sourdough is the king of all toast.
End of story.
Let me clarify.
It is the most powerful, most potent, most satisfying, most delicious.
Though you CAN toast marshmellows.
I would definitely second that–plus it’s got all that great bacteria!
sourdough I mean–not marshmellows 🙂
I think the way Werewolf stories are usually told makes them less appealing (to the average reader/movie-goer). They’re usually about this horrific change happening to your body that you can do nothing about. Vampire stories are more about something happening to you in a psychological way–an addiction that the person gives in to, or tries to resist to one degree or another.
I think the Dresden files actually do a much better job with werewolves than the traditional stories do. And I generally find the vampires in that series completely unappealing with the exception of the White Court (especially Thomas).
Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series about a skinwalker who was raised by, and primarily interacts with werewolves is good.
Maybe what both of those have in common is focusing on things about the group rather than on the individual and the physical change is shown as advantageous rather than grotesque.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081896/
I remember that show! 🙂 Was he the first gay character on tv? I kinda think so.
I agree, I thought Cosby was the same theme arranged different ways (or at least with different dancing in the opening credits).
Psych’s theme song is performed by the band the creator is in (Friendly Indians?), and he reports it’s the way to go, because they can change the song however/whenever they want for special episodes, and all the royalties that come from the success of the show go right in YOUR pocket.
I am pleased to report that the Director of Bands at The University of Iowa asked me the other day if I knew what was going to happen to the space at Sycamore Mall that was formerly Von Maur, and, thanks to this podcast, I knew the answer! Thanks to Tony for reporting on that, and on Tony’s neighbor for getting something interesting going in there! Unfortunately, Ben Franklin is going out of business, so it seems it’s a little late for them. Perhaps another craft mecca will reopen when the mall becomes appropriately vibrant again thanks to the Fab Lab.
I prefer either white or wheat toast, done to a light brown color with an crisp outside and chewy center. Can we use the term “al dente” to describe toast?
Still catching up but I’m amazed the Friends theme tune wasn’t mentioned, one of the defining 90’s sitcoms
Dammit now I’ve got the song stuck in my head, just what I need on a Sunday morning.
World’s End: It’s not really a trilogy; in the traditional sense, as the movies have no link in their stories. They just star 2 of the same actors, have the same director and were co-written by the same people. In any case, World’s End is much less parody and much more acted. I like their parody stuff better, but this was fun. Side note: I can’t make up my mind as to whether Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead is better. Some days I prefer one; some days the other.
Azure Talon: Woo, cancer news! That sounds better.
What kind of asshole is Tony: A big one! Badum-ching.
Gone Home: $20 for 3 hours of play time? That doesn’t sound like a very good deal. And Tony, your description doesn’t really sell the game for me. Though the mention of it being made by some of the creators of Bioshock does increase the likelihood of me checking it out. I’ve not played Bioshock all the way through, but I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen so far.
Werewolf fans who don’t like American Werewolf in London? Whats wrong with these people?
William’s Face/Beef Marinade: So William’s definitely the mom then?
Best Sitcom Theme Song: Maybe the song to The Big Bang Theory? Though if you want to restrict yourself to the 80’s then yeah either the Greatest American Hero or maybe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Is “Then Gives Up” the unofficial theme song of The Magical Talking Hat? Also was it just me or did William’s voice go extremely quiet in the middle of this conversation?
Wheel of Morality? I thought you broke that long ago….
Toast! That is all.
Or maybe not quite all. A better quality of toast could inspire a better quality of belief in toast but when you initially mentioned the podcast possibly being powered by toast; you didn’t specify it was belief in the existence of toast vs. the belief in toast’s deliciousness.