Ep. 54: The Palindrome Parallax Paradox Podcast

Hi! My name is Terry J. Aman and this installment marks my 54th episode of "VideoFuzzy," my twice-monthly progress report on cataloging more than 2,800 VHS transfers and digital recordings. In this installment, titled "The Palindrome Parallax Paradox Podcast," I feature the series finale of short-lived ABC Family comic book-inspired series "The Middleman" for my Friday Night Feature, "The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome" and discuss my interest in comic books and graphic novel-inspired media.

In Cross Connections, I trace "Studio Six Feet Under" connections from "The Middleman," as well as connections from the third season of "Eureka" and the 1940 production of "Gaslight" to the 1948 production of "The Red Shoes."

In Old Business, I pull up the closing scenes of the pilot episode of "Raising the Bar" I featured in Episode 53: We Are As Gods, a few moves I called and a few I'd completely forgotten.

In my Classic VHS-to-DVD Collection, I talked about a first season episode of "Prison Break," a fourth season episode of "Nip/Tuck" and a first season episode of "30 Rock" that all turned up recently.

In Crowdsourcing, research continues but breakthroughs thus far prove elusive on Exhibit E, a piece of sketch comedy, some screen caps posted here. Any tips, hints or leads are greatly appreciated.

In my direct-to-DVD Current Collection, some discussion on "Pearson" and "Suits" as well as "Preacher." Also, looking at a few eyecatching commercials, an Audi commercial makes me feel pretty good about what I've heard about the new 007.

In VideoFuzzy at the Movies, I talk about the FX production of Spike Lee's "Summer of Sam" (1998), and I take the opportunity to trace connections from the 1971 production of "The Zodiac Killer," including to Nightstalker reporter Carl Kolchak, highlighted in a couple of my favorite episodes of the Forgotten TV podcast you can find here and here.

In What I've Been Watching, I comment on episodes of "Straight Up Steve Austin" on USA, which drew my attention to his podcast, David Spade's "Lights Out" on Comedy Central and "Supermarket Stakeout" on the Food Network. Finally, Ralph and I recently took in the FMCT's amazing production of Michael Frayn's "Noises Off!"

In Upcoming Shows, looking forward to finally seeing the ninth season of "American Horror Story: 1984," a little bit of FXX weirdness in the series premiere of "Cake," and season premieres of "Superstore" and "The Good Place." Also, BBC America is observing the 50th anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" by airing first-season episodes Sept. 29. And shoutouts to Geek Radio Daily and Forgotten TV podcasts. Enjoy!

VideoFuzzy

Catalog Post #054

Classic Collection

0738
  Nip/Tuck S4x08 "Conor McNamara"
  30 Rock S1x03 "Blind Date"

0739
  Criminal Minds S2x06 "The Boogeyman"
  The Nine S1x04 "Brother's Keeper"
  TCR: Green Screen Challenge • Finalists: Bonnie R., George L. – Winner: Bonnie R.
  South Park S10x11 "Hell on Earth 2006"
  Raising the Bar S1x01 "Pilot"
  The Middleman S1x12 "The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome"

0740
  The Middleman S1x12 "The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome"

0741
  FX presents "Summer of Sam" (1999)
  Eureka S3x01 "Bad to the Drone"
  Eureka S3x02 "What About Bob?"

0742
  Eureka S3x03 "Best in Faux"
  Eureka S3x04 "I Do Over"
  The Shield S7x01 "Coefficient of Drag"

Current Collection

X273
  Title 1: BoJack Horseman S3x06 "Brrap Brrap Pew Pew"
  Title 2: TCM presents "Steel Magnolias" (1989)
  Title 3: TCM presents "Sweet Charity" (1968)
  Title 4: Preacher S4x06 "The Lost Apostle"
  Title 5: Pearson S1x07 "The Immigration Lawyer" [part 1]

X274
  Title 1: commercial: United Health Services: The Birds
  Title 2: promo: "The Goldfinch"
  Title 3: Pearson  S1x07 "The Immigration Lawyer" [part 2]
  Title 4: FXM presents "My Cousin Rachel" (1952)
  Title 5: TCM presents "The Opposite Sex" (1956)
  Title 6: FXM presents "Goodbye Charlie" (1964)
  Title 7: BoJack Horseman S3x07 "Stop the Presses"

X275
  Title 1: BoJack Horseman S3x08 "Old Acquaintance"
  Title 2: Family Guy S16x12 "Send in Stewie, Please"
  Title 3: Pearson  S1x08 "The Political Wife"
  Title 4: Preacher  S4x07 "Messiahs"
  Title 5: FXM presents "No Good Deed" (2014)
  Title 6: TCM presents "Gaslight" (1940) [scrap: can-can dancers]
  Title 7: LSSC: Condoleezza Rice
  Title 8: LSSC: Banks "Contaminated"
  Title 9: Syfy presents "Ghost in the Shell" (2017)
  Title 10: Psych S6x03 "This Episode Sucks"

X276
  Title 1: American Dad S2x04 "Lincoln Lover" [scrap: "We're Red and We're Gay"]
  Title 2: LSSC: Vampire Weekend "Sympathy"
  Title 3: BoJack Horseman S3x09 "Best Thing That Ever Happened"
  Title 4: BoJack Horseman S3x10 "It's You"
  Title 5: commercial: Dave Quick $$$ No-Interest Loan Service
  Title 6: Full Frontal S4x21 Cold open: "Jaws" themed DNC commentary • GOP chicanery  
                              in North Carolina • Trump graft • John Bolton out • Abolish the Electoral 
                              College • Undocumented workers at Trump properties
  Title 7: commercial: Audi Bond-themed daydream, Milk marketing board
  Title 8: Pearson S1x09 "The Rival"
  Title 9: Freeform presents "Paddington" (2014)
  Title 10: FXM presents "Perfect Stranger" (2007)

Ep. 53: We Are As Gods

Hi! My name is Terry J. Aman and this installment marks my 53rd episode of "VideoFuzzy," my twice-monthly progress report on cataloging more than 2,800 VHS transfers and digital recordings. In this installment, titled "We Are As Gods," I highlight a short-lived Steven Bochco courtroom cable drama "Raising the Bar," pulling up the pilot episode for my Friday Night Feature.

In Cross Connections, I trace "Studio Six Feet Under" connections from that show through J. August Richards and Teddy Sears, then tracking actors Mark-Paul Gosselaar and J. August Richards' multiple appearances throughout my collection, as well as golden thread represented by Mark A. Sheppard.

In my Classic VHS-to-DVD Collection, I found several fifth-season episodes of "24," along with a few episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus, featuring some racist language that has not aged well, but also featuring a couple of housewives pondering the human condition culminating in a visit to Jean-Paul Sartre, so these guys, you gotta take the good with the bad. Also, Tom Cavanagh in "Love Monkey" and The Daily Show's spoof of the Obama intro video at the 2008 DNC.

Then, as the title reference for this entry, I found Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the seventh season episode "Storyteller," a scrap of video featuring The Trio dancing about in Elysium fields with gold and a unicorn singing "We Are As Gods." I took a run at recreating that here, and in all modesty .. nailed it. :D

In my Nerd Shows, my Classic Collection also turned up an episode in a History Channel science series called "Evolve," tracking the evolution and adaptation of skin across so many millions of years and species. Fascinating.

In my direct-to-DVD Current Collection, I discuss the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, "Pose," "Preacher," "Claws" and "A Million Little Things." Samantha Bee highlights expanded reproductive services provided at clinics in southern states to expand public support.

In VideoFuzzy at the Movies, I touch on broadcast presentations of "I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry," "Dragonwyck," "I Wake Up Screaming," "The Bishop Murder Case," "Hangover Square," "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "The Bone Collector" and "The Perfect Guy," as well as "Sweet Charity," "Steel Magnolias" and "Woman Times Seven," featuring Shirley MacLaine and Peter Sellers. Finally, I encountered the Turner Classic Movies presentation of Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman in 1979's "Agatha," exploring the real-life disappearance of queen of crime Agatha Christie. I first heard about that intriguing little speculation on the "All About Agatha" podcast by Kemper Donovan and Catherine Brobeck, and you can check that out here.

In What I've Been Watching, Ralph and I recently finished watching all episodes of "Polar Bear Cafe" on Crunchyroll, and in upcoming shows, we'll be taking in the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater production of Michael Frayn's "Noises Off!" They do a great job and I'm very much looking forward to that.

VideoFuzzy