Starbase 66

This week the Admiral's friend Keith returns to chat about all things Tolkien. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Smaugs_Treasure-300x222.jpg) Show notes: He's not Canadian, but his name starts with a "K," and his prowess as a sensei of the Ring Trilogy and Beyond makes the Admiral's friend Keith a favorite returning guest here at the Starbase! Join us as we talk all things Tolkien with Keith, learning along the way what he thinks makes Tolkien such an enduring contributor to the fantasy genre, his thoughts on Peter Jackson's cinematic interpretation of the trilogy, what he hopes for and expects from the upcoming Hobbitses movie, and other shocking revelations (including one about Xander Harris that knocks the resident Bajoran so off her game that she's just now getting to this episode's show notes)! Humblest apologies for just now getting to this entry, listeners. In light of our (read: The Prodigal Bajoran's) lateness, here are some fun "accessories" to go along with your listening experience: The Little Pod of Horrors (http://www.thelittlepodofhorrors.com) will be re-launching soon! Two out of three Starbase officers adore the horror genre, so while the third is hiding in his quarters, we're looking forward to joining Gordon and Boz in their weekly dish on all things dark and diabolical! The Trek game whose name eluded Ro for the duration of this episode was Star Trek: The Next Generation–A Final Unity. (http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation_-_A_Final_Unity) Tedious battle scenes aside, the Bajoran remembers this being a fairly entertaining game, and it was obviously a major studio investment...voiced by the original TNG cast and packed with what was the best of the best in CGI for a 1995 release. We're not sure how well the story or game play would hold up 17 years later, but we do remember a great deal of antici...pation at the Bajoran outpost for the release of more TNG. Finally, enjoy this lovely photo of Dame Helen Mirren. We spoke fondly of her in this latest episode, and since she and others have voiced a serious interest in her donning the title of The Doctor whenever Fez Boy finally moves along home, we feel her presence here at the Starbase is more than appropriate. (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/mirren1.jpg)

This week the crew are joined by Jakob and Mandi of the Nerd Hurdles podcast to discuss, amongst many a tangent, author Robert J. Sawyer's contention that Star Wars ruined Science Fiction movies. Show notes: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas ruined the science fiction genre. At least that's the argument put forth by Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer in a lecture he gave in February 2008 (you can listen to this lecture in its entirety here (http://www.sfwriter.com/2008/02/rob-sawyer-sf-lecture-on-tvontario.html)). Hyperbolic posturing aside, does Sawyer have a point? Has Lucas weakened the foundation of our beloved science fiction genre through his hackneyed attempts at telling the same story over and over and over again? Or are there darker forces driving Sawyer's animosity toward The Bearded One and his fractured intergalactic fairytales? This week. the Admiral and Ro are joined by that Nerd Hurdlelicious (http://www.nerdhurdles.com) duo, Jakob and Mandi, to tackle this Death Star-sized topic. First, however, all involved parties take a moment to praise the generosity of musical maestro Steven Cogswell, both for the listening pleasure (http://husks.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/lets-put-2011-in-a-box-and-burn-it/) and awesome (and sometimes strangely random) gifts he bestows upon us. The Admiral then confronts Ro about her recent dalliance with another podcast! Seems that those smexy Starbase men simply weren't scratching the Bajoran's "ancient Greek mythology in leather and brass" itch...so she found a place where she was more than welcome to "battle on" in high warrior princess style. if you're dying to hear even more of the belligerent Bajoran, head on over to Episode 14 of The Televerse. (http://www.soundonsight.org/the-televerse-14-spotlight-on-homelandxena-warrior-princess-with-ro-karen/) And if you'd like to listen to more delicious discourse on what's hot and what's not in the television world, join Kate and Simon as they take their listeners on a weekly tour of the Televerse! (http://www.soundonsight.org/category/radio/televerse-podcast/) Of course, as punishment for her straying from the Starbase, Ro must then listen as the Admiral goes through a litany of recently announced casting choices (http://www.reelz.com/movie-news/12787/j-j-abrams-discusses-casting-and-3-d-for-star-trek-2-production-starts-this-week/) for the sequel to that Trek abomination from a few years ago. Oh, and hey guyz!! It's gonna be in teh 3-Dz!!!111!!!! You know, just in case you wondered what the Cloverfield monster looked like in 3-D. Because you know it's going to be in this movie. Somewhere. It is, after all, a movie brought to us by J.J. Abrams, MMD. Just try not to look directly at the screen through all the bajillion lens flares. However, with names like Peter Weller and Benedict Cummerbund on the roster, Ro has envisioned a possibility that might even entice her to see this sequel... (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rhrts_poster.jpg)

Kennedy and the Admiral discuss their very favorite, and not so favorite episodes of their very favorite Science Fiction TV series.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/enterprise-tos-300x187.jpg) Show notes: Seal the airlocks and post guards at all the shuttle bay doors, listeners! The Admiral finally found where the Bajoran disposed of Kennedy Kennedy's away mission location and has brought him back to the Starbase, safe and sound. Well, mostly sound. And safe as long as the Bajoran is still on her covert operation anger management retreat. Strikethrough text. Could there be a more amusing yet utterly pointless font trick? For this episode, our Sexy Studs of the Starbase embrace their inner TOSers and take us on a journey through what they consider to be the best and the worst of the original voyages of the Starship Enterprise (and her apparently "sweet ass" [honestly, you'd think the Admiral was part Bajoran with comments like that!]). What did they love? What did they hate? What was the Trek-esque name the Starbaby would have received had she been a boy? Which episode should have featured a cameo by Pedo-Bear? Which episode used a hobby model? Which maligned episode is actually one of the best of the series? How does Drew Barrymore's family tie in with Captain Kirk and his crew? Why is it that excessive eyeliner is both a sign of Kirk being evil and of Kirk being a woman? And why did neither the Admiral nor Kennedy make the obvious "Turnabout Intruder" joke about the true "turnabout" being a woman inside Kirk?

Wow, another year is behind us, so here is this year's pile of screw-ups, misspeaks, and rambles that were swept up off the cutting room floor. See y'all in 2012!!(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gingerbread-at-at1-300x300.jpg)

This week Ro Karen and the Admiral welcome Noelle Hannibal (http://noellehannibal.com/), Star Trek and Buffy actress and musician, back to the show. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/TShonra1-282x300.jpg) Show notes: The Admiral welcomes back to the Starbase actress/musician/demon/Vulcan/possessor of infinite grooviness, Noelle Hannibal. (http://www.noellehannibal.com/) Listen in as Noelle shares stories about her appearances on genre fiction favorites, including her turn as a denizen of darkness on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "The Zeppo" and as the first female Vulcan to visit Earth in First Contact. She also talks about "copyrighted ears," fan mail, her convention circuit adventures, James Marsters, and the "intimate apparel" story she shares with Stan Lee. It's a story you won't want to miss, True Believers! The Starbase crew encourages you to listen to Noelle's return to the Starbase and then check out her album, Somewhere In Between, available for purchase through Amazon.com, (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O4R4ZG/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1323096325&sr=8-4) AmazonUK, (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Somewhere-in-Between/dp/B005O4SXO2/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1323096535&sr=8-11) iTunes, (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/somewhere-in-between/id465390230) and her Web site, NoelleHannibal.com. (http://www.noellehannibal.com/music.html) Noelle continues to support the efforts of Montreal's T3: Triple Threat. (http://www.t3triplethreat.com) Geek Correction for This Episode: The Starbase crew does know that it was Andrew Robinson and not Anthony Robinson who played plain and simple Garak. Sometimes, however, the hamster that runs our Trek Trivia nodule gets sleepy and simply cannot match speeds with our speech processors. (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/noelle.jpg)

This week Kennedy and the Admiral ponder what future geekery lies in store for their children.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/c754_star_trek_onesies_inuse-251x300.jpg) Show notes: The Prodigal Kanadian finally returns from space exile, to find his quarters converted to extra rum storage, his action figure collection posed in impressively questionable positions, and a completely new rotation of redshirts since his last visit. This would also explain why the Bajoran is back in anger management therapy... In celebration of the Starbase's Command Center being 100-percent breederlicious on this episode, the Admiral and Kennedy delve into a topic near and dear to their fertile hearts: the future of potential geekery that lies in wait for their progeny. What dorky delights await the Star Baby and the Weather Baby? Will these geeky dads get their way and be allowed to indoctrinate these newest additions to the Starbase crew into the realm of genre fiction adoration? Will their offspring share their affection for sites like the Mego Museum (http://www.megomuseum.com/) or Plaid Stallions (http://www.plaidstallions.com/)? Will they become the future spokespeople for ThinkGeek (http://www.thinkgeek.com/)? Actually, never mind the babies...Dear Timmy, can the current Starbase crew become the spokespeople for ThinkGeek? That would be teh awesome. OKTHXBAI. Interspersed throughout this episode, the Admiral and Kennedy share aspects of their own journey to geekdom while revealing themselves to be secret Luddites by lamenting how easy technology makes everything for the young whippersnappers these days. The Bajoran blogger is willing to bet that somewhere on the digital cutting room floor is one of her crewmates uttering the phrases, "Back in my day" and/or "uphill both ways in the snow." Finally, the Bajoran would like this to be her contribution to this particular discussion: Combining Total Recall and baby products has already occurred. It's called the "Peekaru" or "Baby Snuggie." You have been warned. (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/peekarukuato.jpg)

While Cmdr. Kennedy languishes somewhere in the Phantom Zone, Ro and the Admiral wonder if ST:TNG would have survived its first season if it premiered today.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tng1-300x200.jpg) Show notes: Would the intrepid crew of the NCC-1701-D have survived their inaugural season if they'd started their continuing voyages in today's high stakes, instant returns television culture? Or would they have ended up as nothing more than a 2-disc DVD release, nestled in the Walmart bargain bin between The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Bionic Woman reboot, relegated to cancelled cult status and known only to über geeks? The Admiral and Ro tackle this very question through an episode-by-episode rundown of TNG's first season episodes. What had promise? What was jarringly awful? How did some of these scripts ever make it to the screen? Who knew Metamucil and printer's ink was a deadly combination? And who thought life-sized hairless Troll dolls in furry togas and mukluks would be scary? (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/furryferengi.jpg) Travel back to the future to find the answers to these questions and more! And don't miss... (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/alien_cultures.jpg) You know...never mind. All that being said, we here at the Starbase still love TNG. For all the bumpiness of its maiden voyage, it remains dear to our hearts. So dear, in fact, that the prospect of the show's Bluray release might actually inspire the resident Bajoran to finally break down and buy a Bluray player. But not until at least the release of Season Three...

Commander Ro and the Admiral are joined by some very special guests to ruminate on reaching the 100th show, and on the 100th episodes of some other wonderful...well, mostly wonderful...shows.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/mspmentor-100-top-managed-service-providers-300x205.jpg) Show notes: This is it, listeners! The Starbase breaks through Q's pesky force field grid (complete with 1987 CGI goodness!) to finally hit 100! How could they do it up right, you might ask? Why, by inviting some friends aboard for the party, of course! Smexiness reigns supreme on this episode, as the Admiral and Ro welcome aboard Boz and Casey from Here Goes Nothing (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/shows/heregoesnothing/) fame to coordinate refreshments, and musical maestro Steven Cogswell (http://husks.wordpress.com/) to spin the tracks and keep the Starbase crew dancing well into the wee hours of night. (No, it didn't look like the rave scene from that Matrix movie. Although the Starbase crew would not protest if Gina Torres ever felt like coming on board and teaching us how to dance like that.) In what might go down in history as the lewdest, most suggestive, one-handed-typingest episode of the Starbase, our intrepid crew try to tackle a topic of Centennial Celebration by discussing some of their favorite genre fiction television shows that also reached the 100-episode mark. Admittedly, not all the shows discussed are actually genre shows...but we guess you're just going to have to listen to make that call for yourselves, aren't you? Along the way, we hear some fantastic audio comments, the Admiral brags about his Cogswell Box, we touch on Klingon Kleavage, someone please go back and CGI Commander Sela's hair black before Ro blows a fuse!, why is Scully English now? (http://youtu.be/IdbxIlSYAUM) (oh, wait, she's not (http://youtu.be/5Mb3Cle-_VU)), purple-haired moon chicks, Maria Bello in leather pants, what was he about to say about Jorja?!?, Christina Hendricks and her spectacular contributions to the genre, and that infamous Lucy Lawless wardrobe malfunction...which is no longer available on YouTube, so enjoy this instead. (http://youtu.be/PP-MUSwJZqc) The Admiral and his crew would like to thank each and every one of you for joining us this far into the journey. We've got light years yet to go!

This week Karen, Kennedy, and the Admiral talk about actors whose very presence in a bad movie elevate the film to cult status.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/600full-hugo-weaving-300x191.jpg) Show notes: What's that? Levitated actors? Well...it is the month of All Hallow's Eve, and lots of people do like to experiment with the darker arts during this time of the year. It's not all that difficult to imagine the Starbase crew gathering around the conference room table for a quick session of "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" before heading off for the...wait, what? Oh. Elevated actors. Right. Perhaps the Bajoran shouldn't try to listen to the episode while still wearing ear plugs. It's just...Dave does snore a bit loudly. Anyway. As we were saying, the Starbase crew join together to summon the spirit of io9's list of the 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Actors Who Make Everything Better. (http://io9.com/5839581/10-science-fiction-and-fantasy-actors-who-make-everything-better?tag=daily-10) The resident Kanadian even makes a rare public appearance for this episode (we swear, he's gone so Hollywood ever since that three-picture deal on the life and loves of Big Dawg). First on the list, the crew spend a little time (and by a little, we really mean practically half of the episode) catching up with each other, traveling down tangential paths such as happenings at the September Toronto Meet-Up (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1201) in which much is revealed, including secrets about the special guest, Jonathan Bloody Wilkinson, from The Greatest Events in Sporting History (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/shows/sportinghistory/) podcast and possible crimes committed on foreign soil by some from the American contingent. (The Bajoran gives her word that she was on her best behavior while under the watchful eye of the Canadians. She cannot, however, vouch for her Beloved. But that's a story for another podcast to tell. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/nh-128-geek-girls/)) From there, Kennedy takes us on a tour of the genre movies that he's seen recently and the one that gets his vote as best movie of the year and what gets his vote as meh movie of the year. He's also been reading a lot of the comics from the recent DC Universe reboot. Which ones are worthy? Which ones are worthless? And which one does the Admiral want to check out without pants? (And, no, we're not specifying which kind of pants...or who might be without them.) The Bajoran then pulls a bit of a time-traveling trick by discussing her "recent" purchase of a book (http://www.cafepress.com/b5pat) that she's somehow already reviewed here at the Starbase blog. (http://starbase66.com/2011/10/03/pleasure-thresholds/) Rather than gushing discussing it even more, let's simply enjoy this...random screen capture of Worf and a security detail: (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/tng_security.jpg) Yep. Totally random. Just like this link to a random Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/patriciatallman) that we think you all should follow. At this point, the Admiral goes all professor on listeners and actually gives a homework assignment. Of course, it's fun homework in which he asks for horror movie recommendations (yes, we were shocked as well). The two most recommended movies will be chosen, viewed by all Starbase personnel, and then discussed for this year's Halloween episode. So start your recommending, listeners! Discussion switches to NASA's announcement about how they're going to get our asses to Mars. (http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/deltav/27162/) Maybe. By the 2030s. Possibly. If they don't liquefy us first. The Admiral and Kennedy then babble about some kind of Tribble-shitterific shared hallucination they've been having. The Bajoran missed this portion of the show due to unexpected lens flare-induced blindness. All was fine, however,

While Kennedy swings through The City in his Spidey underoos, Ro Karen and the somewhat brain damaged Admiral go over some news and some emails. Show notes: No, the Starbase hasn't been invaded by Lilliputian zombies. That's just the Admiral, suffering from a massive case of "We had a Starbaby!" syndrome. We suspect it's a long-term condition. And with Kennedy off "web-slinging" in the wilds of Kanadia yet again (we've learned not to ask when such euphemisms are used), it's up to the Bajoran to keep things on track. Which explains a lot about the random nature of this week's episode. A lot. Then again, any episode that begins with the Admiral giggling is bound to be enjoyable! We kick this flea throw...er, free throw into gear with a "Grew Review" of Ro's birthday present from her Beloved: an Amazon Kindle. (http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b/ref=topnav_storetab_kinh?ie=UTF8&node=133141011) Lots of free books available, smexy futuristic design, but can e-Readers do to real books what digital music and movies are doing to CDs and DVDs? And why, oh why, isn't there a TARDIS Kindle cover? Oh, wait. (http://www.treasuresmadefromyarn.com/2011/08/tardis-kindle-cover-finished.html) Then somehow, Bones comes up. No, not Dr. McCoy. Bones Deschanel. Dressed as Wonder Woman. (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/deschanelww.jpg) We'd buy that for a dollar. The Admiral then lays down the edict that Ro must track down Lynda Carter before the restraining order kicks in (we're kidding, of course. That restraining order went into effect YEARS ago), before launching into a bit more gushing over the remastered version of the Original Series. And finally, we begin with e-mails! Featured submissions from this episode came to us from Colin, Karl (Valdora), Steven (Kazon Nystrøm), Deepa (DesiLady), and Shane (tokenbg). Colin thanks the crew for taking the Roddenberry pilots bullet for listeners (we're still healing from the dink damage (http://starbase66.com/2011/06/08/episode-log-roddenberry-pilots/)) and asks a question that somehow brings up pigs in kilts, (http://www.landescostumes.com/node/30) Karl shares Ro and Kennedy's uncanny love for the X-Men, while Steven mourns the loss of Superman's red skivvies, which launches a tangent about the new Superman movie costume: (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/ncsuperman.jpg) Sorry. Wrong file. That's from Kennedy's fantasy folder. We meant this new Superman movie costume: (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/hcsuperman.jpg) Ooh. Bulgy. Actually, that might be from Kennedy's fantasy folder, too. At some point during this part of the discussion, the Admiral reveals a fetish that he may or may not share with Ro pertaining to footwear, right before that tricksy Bajoran sneaks in a mention of Anne Hathaway's recent rap dalliance, just so she could post this video: We here at the Starbase applaud all forms of creative outlets that end with Ms. Hathaway uttering the line "I know you love to feel my pop." Deepa dips back to the crew's vivid Voyager vivisection episode and joins the fanbase for the GeeksOn Garrett Wang interview (http://www.geekson.com/archives/archiveepisodes/2006/episode111406.htm) that we love so much. Mention is made of that Tim Russ Trek movie, Of Gods and Men (not Gods and Monsters, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120684/) which is a completely different movie, Admiral), which is once again online for viewing (http://startrekofgodsandmen.com/main/) (if you dare), and a Mulgrewian apology (http://trekmovie.com/2011/01/20/kate-mulgrew-talks-voyager-v-tng-jeri-ryan-why-she-hasnt-seen-star-trek-2009/) for her reaction to teh sexy drone on her ship. Kind of. Okay, maybe not. Finally, we round things out with Shane's response to Karen Hears a Who (http://starbase66.com/2011/08/26/episode-log-karen-hears-a-who/) and the withholding of British scorn. For now.

This week Greg from the Inappropriate Conversations (http://inappropriateconversations.podbean.com/) podcast returns to aid Ro Karen and the Admiral in a discussion of the diabolic one himself as he...or she...appears in movies/TV shows/ books, and even music. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/jon-lovitz-devil.jpg) Show notes: As some listeners may know, it was about as hot as the Devil's jockstrap in many parts of the Alpha Quadrant this summer, and that heat got to many of us...including the intrepid crew of the Starbase. So while Kennedy high-tailed it to Hoth to cover their annual Rebel Alliance "Yavin a Laugh" comedy festival and wampa roast (Copyright HGN (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/shows/heregoesnothing/)), the Admiral and Ro clicked the central cooling up to 11, popped open some cold ones, and summoned the sweltering sauna of sinfulness with some Satanic synergy. And lots of sibilance. To help them along, the Starbase crew welcome back Greg, GAB on the Simply Syndicated forum (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/) and host of the Inappropriate Conversations podcast. (http://inappropriateconversations.podbean.com/) (Some might think that Greg was the perfect choice for this particular topic because of his impressive religious knowledge. Ro knows that it's because of his infliction of the Roddenberry Pilots (http://starbase66.com/2011/06/08/episode-log-roddenberry-pilots/) on the Starbase. That was just EVIL.) First, though, the Borg want us to know that our moon might have been lying to us all this time about its age (http://www.geekosystem.com/tag/lars-borg/) (we always suspected that was a fake ID). Also, the Starbase crew is extremely honored to have been nominated by one our Swedish listeners for "Bästa utländska kanal" (which we hope means "Best Foreign Podcast") in the 2011 Svenska Podradiopriset. (http://www.daytona.se/podradiopriset/2011) It really is an honor just to be nominated. However, the crew would not be averse to winning. Especially if the award is a shipment of Swedish fish. Or meatballs. Then it's on to the tainted topic of terror as this week's trio discuss some of the greatest depictions of the Devil in movies, television, and Clay-mation, starting with smelly Klingons and giving the lissome Devil her Lycra-d due, down through the Doctor's Satan Pit, horny Tim Curry, Alan Cumming, implied Devil, epicene evil, Dio's devilish logo, (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-find-the-Hidden-Word-on-the-Dio-80s-Metal/) don't dial 976-EVIL on the Admiral's dime, Damien Thorn and birth control advertisements, Tilda Swinton brings sexyback to androgyny, "Christian picketing" is really Hollywood's best-kept marketing secret, and listening to "Stairway to Heaven" backward will Jack. You. Up. Finally, the crew of the Starbase would like to formally introduce you all to our newest member and the Admiral's pride and joy...'tis the Starbaby herself! Congratulations, Admiral! (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/starbabyandstardaddy.jpg)

One Friday when Rich and Allison needed some not so super or happy or fun time, Boz, from Here Goes Nothing, and the Admiral did a live show to at least fill the void. This is that show. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/leonberger3.jpg)

While Kennedy runs around the city in his underwear with a towel tied around his neck, Karen and the Admiral talk about Karen's recent journeys in the TARDIS and her opinions of the first two new Doctors. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/media_httpfc08deviant_hBvHo.jpg.scaled1000-300x199.jpg) Show notes: Our resident Bajoran has been called many things, but it's only now that she has earned the distinction of another honorific to boost her geek cred: Wholigan. That's right, listeners, we here at the Starbase do pay attention to what you ask for (even if it sometimes takes us a little while to get to where you want us to be!). Ro heard the growing rumbles of frustration from our international outposts and, not wanting to be the victim of that infamous "British Scorn," she finally fired up the TARDIS and began her journey through New Who. Prior to bouncing along in that smexy blue police box, the Admiral vents over SyFy stupidity, Ro breaks the logic framastat by bringing up a Quinn-tessentially non-scifi show, the Admiral is no longer "animated" over a certain series, ball of hormones and a Dink Flashback, and look for Emergence of the Starbaby, coming soon to your local bookstore! And then we're off! Strange worlds await, and even stranger aliens (even the bobble-headed gaseous variety that caused eye-roll-induced sprains) as the Admiral and Ro hop through the first three seasons of new Doctor Who. What was liked? What was mocked? What was with the Mary Sue angle? How do you pronounce Agyeman? Why is there no action figure for Lady Christina de Souza? Okay, no one probably cares about that last question but Ro, so we'll let it go. For now. And once you've listened, let us know what you think! (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1545) What did we say that you agreed with? What did we say that caused you to shatter a molar or two? Should Ro go back to the beginning? Or is it best to keep full-steam ahead to the Matt Smith era? Are we asking too many questions? We do apologize. Here. Enjoy some music: Not into metal? How about a dubstep version? No? Trance then? Seriously, there's a bajillion of these things out there. How about Doctor Who, the Springfield Remix? (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/dw_springfield_sm.jpg) This graphic is from Springfield Punx, (http://www.springfieldpunx.com/) a delightfully geeky site run by an artist who likes to draw various genre characters in the style of Simpsons characters.

This week Ro Karen nearly sighs herself into unconsciousness as the boys talk toys, science, and bad jokes. Oh, and there is some discussion of the mashing up of Westerns and Sci Fi.(http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SpaceWestern1952-205x300.jpg) Show notes: This ain't no show for intergalactic greenhorns, pardners! So, sidle on up to the bar and order up a round for the crew, because we're settlin' in to talk about Space Westerns! First, though, the Admiral and Kennedy have a "toy-off" as they rejoice in nearing the ends of their simultaneous unpacking efforts from their recent moves; Nimoy is packing in his convention appearances (allegedly) after the recently finished Las Vegas Creation mega-party and the upcoming Chicago convention (http://creationent.com/cal/stchi.htm) this September 30; the Admiral has time-warped back to his youth with Star Trek: The Animated Series on Netflix streaming; Kennedy tries to surprise Ro with a sci-fi movie recommendation but underestimates the Bionic extremes to which she has already gone in pursuit of certain actresses; The Nerdist podcast interviewed Wil Wheaton, Matt Smith, and Karen Gillan (http://www.nerdist.com/2011/07/nerdist-podcast-109-live-at-sdcc-11-w-matt-smith-karen-gillan-wil-wheaton/) and the Admiral says it's good; Kennedy dips into his archive of geekery to plug the Garrett Wang GeeksOn interview (http://www.geekson.com/archives/archiveepisodes/2006/episode111406.htm) and episode 10 of ...Do You Think That's Just Bollocks?; and more space news, now with private docking and Uranus humor! Then it's time to head 'em up and move 'em out to that big rodeo in the sky as the crew discuss Cowboys and Aliens, The Adventures of Chin-co County, Jr. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105932/) MacGuyver and Q in the Old West (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112045/) (?), Will Smith is NOT James West, Back to the Future III and the branchless McFly family tree, Andie MacDowell as H.G. Wells? (Ro! Put the rum down and pay attention!), Michael Knight versus Jack the Ripper, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088852/) Westworld, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070909/) Wagon Train to the stars?, The Valley of Gwangi, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065163/) Cowboy Bebop, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213338/) and only one mention to the greatest space western of them all..."A Fistful of Datas." (http://starbase66.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/role_playing.jpg)

And we're back!! In this somewhat unfocused, tangent-riddled show the crew try out a new catch phrase, welcome each other back, talk movies and TV, then contemplate the results of playing the shell game with famous SciFi crew members. (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vLu5o-300x225.jpg) Show notes: No, the Admiral hasn't decided to implement that "Starfleet Swingers" program that Kennedy recommended a few months ago. This is instead a forum topic (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1443) suggested by listener Steven Nystrum (Kazon Nystrøm on the forum). Steven posed the question, How well would some of our favorite genre characters do if they found themselves faced with stepping into the roles held by other sci-fi scions? Could Captain Picard have handled running DS9 and being a Bajoran religious icon? Or would the constant offerings of spring wine and hasperat have driven him mad? Would Mal and Riker have gotten along as two roguish cads leading the Enterprise into non-stop adventure? Or would they have challenged each other to a duel to the death for the love and attention of Counselor Inara? Er, Companion Troi? Would Inara have crashed the Enterprise? Let's tangent off into this video clip of Marina Sirtis discussing Troi's infamous go at the helm of the NCC-1701-D, shall we? Good times. What other bizarre swaps can our intrepid crew devise? Wookie engineers? Psychotic Razors and Voyaging Captains? Cruise Director Starbuck?! And who the hell is Rocket Robin Hood? Oh. Wow. Canada. Plus, enjoy the front-loaded gab fest at the beginning of this episode, in which our heroes play a little catch-up with each other and discuss: the shuttle program (ONE MORE TIME!); the recent confirmation that the Russians will crash the ISS into the ocean in 2020 (we knew they never should have renamed it the ISS Sirtis!); Ro's disappointment in the Admiral for not "liberating" Dr. Crusher's lab coat from the Star Trek Exhibit he toured with UNKK!!TM at Cape Canaveral; lots of super hero movie talk; PEOPLE EYES!!; Captain Janeway in an eye patch (http://video.adultswim.com/promos/ntsfsdsuv-july-21st.html?cid=vplayer_promos_ntsfsdsuv-july-21st); Twitter Talk; Jeri Ryan as a Marine; the Admiral loves The Bloggess, (http://thebloggess.com/) Treknologic, (http://www.treknologic.com/) and Star Talk (http://startalkradio.net/) with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson; rainbow-shitting Pop Tart cat that Ro refuses to acknowledge with a link...only silent judging of the Admiral's Brokeback Mountain-like obsession ("I wish I knew how to quit you!"); Toronto Meet-Up! (http://www.simplysyndicated.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1201); and Ro's Beloved now blogs! (http://dumbassgirl.posterous.com/) Whew. That's a lot. And that's not even the half of it. Welcome back to the Starbase, listeners. It's ON.