Superfeed! from The Incomparable

Are you ready for some football? Football is Life is back and your friends Chip, Brian, and Kathy are excited to see some actual football in this show. The Greyhounds are up against Chelsea in the FA Cup, which is certainly exciting; but, there’s also a fair bit of quality time spent with the many relationships on the show. Tune in for some predictions from Chip and Kathy on where things might end up by the season’s end! Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

In this edition of Random Pursuit there’s a lot of guessing, many colours, and quite a bit of self-doxxing. Most importantly, a good time is had by all! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Jay Miller, Jesse Reid, Lex Friedman, Monty Ashley and Scott Ensign.

This week Q takes us to Battle World on My Adventures With Superman. Once that gets sorted out we’re up against the Big Bad. Can Clark get his powers back? Will our gang save the day? Are they going to stick the landing of this fun and unexpectedly thoughtful show? Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Jaee jigged when she should have jagged. Tink(’s player) has so many questions. K’ronng reaches out to the porch. Levithia is menaced by a monster. Cherish is livin’ glaive life. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Erika Ensign, Kat Griffiths, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

Inspired by the true story of a man caught in a cavern while spelunking, the show makes references to three generations of one family of Broadway composers. Also, a quick preview of the next run of shows and even some live shows coming up. David J. Loehr.

Is a car wash a building with machinery in it or a robot? This question allows us to flip the “episodes since ‘Robot or Not’ was about robots” sign back to zero. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

An episode of Friday Night Lights called “Full Hearts” can’t lose. Smash’s secret is getting less secret. Coach Taylor isn’t happy with quarterback girlfriends — either Jason Street’s, or QB1 Matt Saracen’s… since Matt is dating Coach’s daughter Julie. Brian and Lex have clear minds, so join them as they go Sorkin’ In It. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

This week’s episode has everything: Broken bones and crushed torsos; a detailed look at the past, present, and future of the ship’s medical org chart, a remote control Mind Meld, and the start of the most important character pair in the history of Star Trek: Scotty and the Enterprise. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Eleven books later, our Awards Book Club has finally reached the end of the line. In this episode we cover our last uncovered book, “Shroud” by Adrian Tchaikovsky, recommend some Hugo-nominated short fiction, and rank all eleven books. Plus: What are we reading other than shortlisted novels?! See you next year. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Heather Berberet and Scott McNulty.

Episode 4 opens with some familiar and most welcome voices as we soon realize the team needs a common goal, a common enemy, or perhaps both! It’s a wild, funny, and somewhat comforting episode, and your pals Chip, Kathy, & Brian are here to discuss it. Hopefully nobody gets injured or arrested. Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

What’s life without choices? How about books that are nothing but choices? Ross Cleaver discusses the choose-your-own genre with examples from both the U.S. and the U.K.: Edward Packard’s The Cave of Time (1978) and Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson’s The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (1982). John McCoy with Ross Cleaver.

Tink Talks to a fire. Levithia is a clumsy climber. Cherish is surprisingly sneaky. K’ronng is unsurprisingly sneaky. Jaee gets everyone in trouble. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Erika Ensign, Kat Griffiths, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a robot as “Your Plastic Pal Who’s Fun to Be With.” The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy defines the marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation as “a bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.” John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Nicholas Ray makes his film debut directing “They Live By Night,” a noir love story. Not your usual, noir dude obsessed by a bad woman, but an actual relationship, conducted under trying circumstances. Kathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger made a couple of films together, but this is the best. Enjoy Howard de Silva as a mean gangster. He has no dance numbers. The film is based on the novel, “hieves Like Us”. It’s genuinely one of my favorites, and so it becomes my birthday pick. Shelly Brisbin with Nathan Alderman, Micheline Maynard and Philip Michaels.

It’s the muppet show!!!!! [kermit flail] Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Our Summer of Sundance kicks off with Sundance himself, as we travel back to the end of the old west (and, later, to the garden spot of Bolivia) to visit a couple of robbers, their lady friend, and their not-very-important gang with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Did they use enough dynamite? Is Woodcock a little too loyal to his employer? What does it say about the old west when a call for a posse is hijacked by a bicycle salesman? Jason Snell with Dr. Drang, Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels and Dan Moren.

While our coaching staff appears to be settled in and working well together, the Greyhounds need to find a striker, even if it means going to the streets. Meanwhile, Ted really has to learn to knock. If that doesn’t make sense to you, not to worry. Kathy, Chip, and Brian talk it through, but do watch the episode first. Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

Once again, we bring together some lovely, generous Kickstarter backers who helped make Uncanny Magazine Year 12 happen! Will the cards be kind to a first-timer? Will there be lots of sports and too much math? As always, it’s up to the luck of the dice! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Dan Moren, David Matthewman, Fred Paffhausen and Seb Pollard.

A new adventure begins, and we learn that it’s not always a good idea to bring a dog to a heist. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Erika Ensign, Kat Griffiths, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

We wrap out our coverage of X-Men ‘97 Season 2 this week. Thankfully, nothing bad happens to our favourite characters. They mostly spend their time playing super-powered basketball and lounging by the pool. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Is a place overseas if you don’t have to go over a sea to get there? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Breaking down our day at Comerica Park, surrounded by hundreds or thousands of Magnums — and a few loyal listeners! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Author (and friend of the show) Samuel Garza Bernstein is back with another story about the characters who were central to Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond. His new book, Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life - From “How Green Was My Valley” to “Lassie” to “Planet of the Apes” is the story of a child star who became a great friend and beloved member to many in the Hollywood community. We spoke with Sam in 2024 when his Joan Crawford book was published. Shelly Brisbin with Samuel Garza Bernstein.

We’ve had a spooky vision! It’s your “Magnum, podcast” season finale live from Detroit on Magnum Day weekend! Your hosts introduce segments… in person! We differ on the quality of this episode, which a majority of our hosts really liked! Is it the prototypical Magnum episode, or is the psychic woo-woo too much? Is this a secret backdoor pilot? Is that how journalism works? We get to the bottom of it! [Last show of the season. But see you next year and we have some special plans in the meantime!] Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Buy some flowers and get ready to profess your feelings—we’re here to talk about “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” in which Tom Holland’s Peter gets to be a sad sack who is saving New York while his personal life has fallen completely apart. There are surprising character reveals, unsurprising character twists (well, at least Peter was surprised), interesting guest-star choices, and a lot of themes involving the dangers of letting yourself become isolated. Jason Snell with James Thomson, Moisés Chiullán and Ben Rice McCarthy.

This podcast is presented in vivid black-and-white, as we discuss a Strange New World visit that reminds us a lot of a TOS episode—but without the bright colors designed to sell color television sets in the 1960s. Una ponders space doppelgangers, M’Benga enjoys a selection of hats and coats, and Uhura gets the mind probe. Gratuitous Klingon guest stars! Confusing sci-fi rules! And if you haven’t seen “Casablanca,” well… Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

It’s time for Crossing The Line. Jason finally asks Lyla point blank: Is your name Lyla or Tyra, I can never remember? No, he asks her if she’s cheating on him with Riggins. (“Yes.”) Plus Matt asks Julie Taylor out. Coach and Tami are thrilled, is a lie I just wrote in this episode description. Sound confusing? Don’t worry. Brian and Lex are here. We’ll all go Sorkin’ In It together. (And to think, you were worried this was a show all about football‽) Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

We’re back at Nelson Road, where some things have changed and some are exactly the same. Some familiar faces, some new faces, and some faces not there anymore. We start to get a peek into the challenges Ted and the gang will be up against this year, but as Chip, Kathy, and Brian are happy to say, it feels like we’re in good hands. Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

Hey, it’s the one with Ernest Borgnine! He’s a wrestler down on his luck, which means we have to turn to Phil to get a read on the wrestling nonsense in this episode. Sit down next to me on the same side of the sushi table, Mag, real natural like. Detroit Death Grip Dept.: We will be in Detroit THIS SUNDAY, August 16, for Magnum P.I. Day at the Detroit Tigers. We are going to try to meet listeners post-game at Union Assembly near the stadium. Failing that, email us at magnum@theincomparable.com if you’re going to be around and we’ll try to let you know where we are. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

In this conclusion to Shard of the Accursed, the party makes a lot of noise, one character gets possessed, and several players read their character sheets. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, James Thomson, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

“Ted Lasso” is back, and we’re ready for a healthy dose of optimism and hope. Chip, Kathy, and Brian have assembled as the “Crystal Cats” to discuss the new season and what we’re looking forward to. This season opener comes with a few surprises, some familiar faces, and lots of barbecue sauce. I hope you’re as excited as we are. Oklahoma? Chip Sudderth and Brian Warren with Kathy Campbell.

We’re off to outer space this week with the new Supergirl movie. Kara is out on a bender when adventure calls. Krypto, her super-dog, gets poisoned by generic space-baddies and she sets off on a quest to both cure Krypto and her own sense of malaise. Read along to find out what we think of it all. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

If you can’t hear part of this episode it’s because that part was in parentheses. Thanks to (Listener) Charlie for sending in this question. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Put on your summer best and board a ferry to New England’s hottest tourist destination! It’s time for us to discuss “Widow’s Bay,” a funny horror story about the mayor and other denizens of a cursed island. Of course there’s a creepy clown, and a slasher, and a dark secret that goes back centuries. Of course Stephen Root is wild-eyed! Once you visit Widow’s Bay, you’ll never want to leave… which is good, because you might not be able to. Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Tony Sindelar and Monty Ashley.

It’s time for the next spin on the genre wheel, as “Strange New worlds” lurches from horror to comedy. Dave Foley is a weird alien with a weird pleasure planet. There’s a thin strand of plot and a Star Trek take on “The Hangover.” Pike gets a lot of tattoos! There’s Klingon karaoke! Someone’s wearing a Mugato suit! Most importantly, Scotty and Ortegas learn to understand each other and Spock bonds with an imaginary—or is he?—Jim Kirk. Also, prompted by the last two weeks’ genre whipsaw, Scott and Jason have deep thoughts about what we like, why we like it, and how we process stuff that doesn’t fit in our definition of the thing we like. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Texas lightning? You gotta get inside when that happens. Oh, wait, it’s just the nickname of some con artist who claims to be a spy? Magnum wears a tuxedo and plays high-stakes poker? This episode forces Phil to introduce a very popular new segment, “That’s not how it works!” The segment recurs. A lot. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Which detective is better, Edgar Allan Poe’s Auguste Dupin or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes? I mean it’s obviously Holmes but that won’t stop Jacob Haller discussing two genre defining stories, Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841) and Doyle’s “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” (1892). John McCoy with Jacob Haller.

In the return of the choose-your-edition edition of Random Pursuit, we bring back the same players with their same chosen editions, but this time we make sure they get more questions from their chosen edition. This is helpful…to some players… Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Dan Moren, Jason Snell, Kirsten Goruk, Monty Ashley and Shelly Brisbin.

In this episode, a nice ghost helps out, we learn the origin of the shard, and the party sleeps with the dead. Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, James Thomson, Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.

This week Dan is on assignment and John and Guy are left to fend for themselves. We’re back covering My Adventures with Superman and, hoo boy, does the Man of Steel get his metal tested in this set of episodes. After that we do a little Superhero Sweep and call it a day after not being able to remember anyone’s name. Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English.

Boo! It’s a spooky situation as Kirk, Spock, and La’an encounter a dead starship and face their worst fears. How did we, as non-horror fans, like the episode? That might be the scariest reveal of all. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Listener Joseph is unclear about where rafts fit into the whole boat hierarchy. We also toss some kayaks, canoes, and submarines into the water. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.