As the ToB Crew kickoff 2024, we begin by lamenting what we lost. If only we could return to the simpler times, pre-pandemic. Alas, this is not to be, so instead Julian and Jeremy rely on "ol' faithful", which of course means reviewing the latest news concerning film and television. Unfortunately, they immediately lose focus, perhaps subconsciously staying true to the nostalgic undertone that accompany the start of a new year, and enjoy a fun sidebar discussion about the state of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars in the early 2000s (We didn't know how good we had it back then). All of which was of course an offshoot of the news of John Williams un-retirement. Next the guys unpack some Star Wars news, and then lean into Marvel. Specifically the fresh legitimacy the Netflix 'Defenders' saga shows have received as Daredevil is pulled further into the MCU. They also save some time to review the Golden Globe winners and look ahead at the Emmys (which were happening live during the recording). All that and so much more on this week's episode of The Tower of Babble Podcast.
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Episode 189 - Marvel Feeling Desperate
We're hitting the ground running as we attempt to get back to a regular cadence this week with one of the biggest stories in Hollywood right now. If you've been listening to this show for awhile you know that we've paid close attention to the troubles that have beset Warner Brothers over the last few years. My have the tables been turned. Variety has put out a pretty scathing article (hit piece?) on the current state of Marvel Studios that didn't hold back in its indictment of the management (mismanagement) by Disney for what was, up until very recently, a nearly unblemished brand. Julian and Jeremy unpack how they got themselves in this situation and ponder what moves they can make to bring people back into the world Stan built. Meanwhile, of course, WB still manages to find it's way into the limelight with it's latest attempt to burry a film for tax credits, so of course that is touched on as well.
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Episode 178 - Batgirl Shelved & Marvel Comic-Con
The turmoil at Warner Brothers Discovery continues, this time in the form of bloodletting. News broke early this week that the HBO Max original ‘Batgirl’, which was finished shooting and in late stages of post production. was going to be cancelled by the studio. Shortly after, an official statement was released and the outcry online was loud. This comes amongst rumours of further shakeups coming to the studio, specifically around their HBO Max streaming service, as they apparently look to pivot away from scripted programming nearly across the board, in favor of cheaper unscripted options. Naturally, Julian and Jeremy break down all the details surrounding this unprecedented decision and what it means for the future of DC on the big and small screens. Meanwhile, on the fun side of the news, over at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel held no punches as they discussed the next 2 phases of the MCU, and announced A LOT of new movies and shows, while finding time to drop a spectacular trailer for ‘Black Panther 2’, amongst a whole pile of other announcements. Oh and a new trailer for ‘Andor’ dropped. The show looks stunning, but you’ll have to wait an extra 3 weeks as they have pushed the premiere to September. That pretty much takes up all the time this episode, but trust us, it’s more than enough.
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Episode 177 - Not All Sunshine and Rainbows
The era of shady business practices continues it seems in the Hollywood world. This time it's not just WB involved, but their own "distinguished competition", at Marvel that's up to no good this week. Rolling Stone released a piece on the Snyder Cut movement, identifying 13% of the online activity being attributed to bots. This on it's own is not big news, as it was largely known, but it's the timing of the piece that's most questionable. Over at Marvel, they're up to their usual tricks of not properly compensating comic book creators, now being accused of "bait and switch" tactics to stiff writers and artists when their characters appear on the screen. Julian and Jeremy break down both stories, while also diving into a plethora of more lighthearted fare, including: news on 'Mortal Kombat 2' and 'Top Gun 3', a Powerpuff Girls animated reboot, a fun "Agree of Disagree" segment, and much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!
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Episode 176 - News Ketchup
It feels like a lifetime since we did a news show. What with ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ coverage, reviews of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Dr Strange’ sucking up all of our time, it’s no wonder it’s been so long! Ultimately, this means that Julian and Jeremy have a smorgasbord of movie and TV news to unpack. Not the least of which being the all sorts of fun stuff coming out of the mounting ‘Avatar: The Way of the Water’ press barrage, which includes not only the teaser trailer, but also some VERY fun comments from the legend himself, James Cameron. Next up, is another round of DC related news out of Warner Bros. Between the ‘Flash’ movie now being in limbo, the lackluster trailer for ‘Black Adam’ and the constant befuddlement of their new CEO, there’s practically enough there for a whole episode on it’s own. But we have more! The guys also cover the odd reactions to Marvel’s CG in ‘Thor’ and ‘She-Hulk’, the box office success of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, another ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off series (this time it’s interesting I promise!), and a metric ton of “what we’ve been watching”. All that and so much more on this week’s Tower of Babble Podcast!
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Episode 173 - Obi-Wan Kenobi Trailer, Netflix Havoc, and DC Delays
How long have we been waiting for trailer for the Obi-Wan show? It feels like an eternity. Well the wait is finally over and Julian and Jeremy are here to break it all down, along with some other exciting teasers for 'The Boys' season 3, a new alien themed horror comedy from Jordan Peele, 'Nope', and even Marvel's exciting new addition to their Disney+ series lineup, 'Ms Marvel'. But that's not all, there's also a metric tonne of news to cover as well. Including, Netflix's controversial move toward limiting password sharing, or in a similar vein, Disney adding an ad-supported tier to Disney+, all while WB announces another set of delays for their DC films. On a lighter note, announcements of new projects include a surprising sequel to Will Smith's 'I Am Legend', a reboot of Charlie Cox's 'Daredevil' on Disney+, a sequel series to ‘Blade Runner 2049’ with Ridley Scott attached at Amazon, and even a 'Sonic' spin-off series starring Idris Elba's Knuckles in the works. All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!
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Episode 142 - Spider-Man: Returning Home
After weeks of “Slow News Day” podcasts the the floodgates have finally opened and there’s almost too much too talk about. The main story of course is Spiderman’s triumphant, albeit temporary, return to the MCU; the guys discuss both the implications for the MCU as well as potential Sony Universe concepts. From there we transition to Star Wars with news that Kevin Feige may be bringing his Marvel experience to Disney’s other cinematic universe, also, the Obi-Wan series has found a director and J.J. Abrams opinion on Emperor Palapatine’s inclusion in the Episode IX. All this plus some crazy trailers and a couple “Agree or Disagree” segments.. feels good to have a real show again.
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Episode 129 - The 2018 Tobie Awards
It’s that time of year again - where we reflect on the year that was. What was special, scary, moving, heart pounding or mind bending. The movies, television shows and games of 2018 have now all come and gone, so Julian Meush, Daniel D’Souza and Jeremy Kozier sit down for a retrospective look at the year that was. 2018 brought with it some absolute gems in all three categories. Whether it was comic tent-poles at the theatre that left audiences stunned, whip-smart comedies on TV that always brightened your day, or some of the most ambitious games ever made that dropped your jaw in awe of their scale and scope, it was a good year to be a fan of entertainment. Here’s to another great in entertainment!
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Episode 128 - Aquaman
It’s Julian and Jeremy in The Tower this week as the two review a bounty of DC related content, including the season finale of Titans, CW’s big “Elseworlds” crossover event, and of course the latest instalment in the much maligned DCEU, Aquaman. The guys also briefly touch on some Marvel news coming from Netflix, Kevin Feige, and Sony, as well as touch on the first look at Will Smith’s Genie in the live action Aladdin remake. All that, and much more, in this week’s Tower of Babble Podcast.
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Episode 127 - Trailers Galore
It’s been over a fortnight since the last full ToB Podcast but the guys are back to unpack a metric ton of nerdy news. Starting with Marvel, who certainly didn’t help lighten the news load, as they dropped both a Captain Marvel trailer AND a teaser for Avengers 4, now titled Avengers: Endgame. On top of that Disney released the first teaser for their Lion King remake, which quickly became an internet sensation. Plus, as we get closer to the premiere of Aquaman, DC treated us to even more footage with their final trailer. Julian, Dan and Jeremy also discuss the latest drama out of the Oscars, debate Christmas movie lists and question the strange Sonic the Hedgehog “motion poster”. All that, and much more, on this week’s Tower of Babble Podcast!
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