Welcome to the first episode of season 5 of Two Old Farts Talk Sci-Fi! And what better character to launch a new season than a look at Superman?

Troy and David look at Superman, from its beginning, the comics, graphic novels, the radio show, the various TV series, and some of the merchandise. Do you remember, as a child, running around the yard in a towel / Superman cape? And how about the Commander Tom Show, where they played episodes of the old George Reeves Adventures of Superman?

Troy and David talk about Superman’s nicknames, his pets. They also talk about the number of comics Superman appeared in, and the villains he faced.

Who is your favorite Supervillain that Superman faced? Lex Luthor? Bizarro? Troy and David reveal their fave villains.

Troy does his history of Superman, not to be missed. He also recommends some graphic novels that should not be missed.

This is pt.1 of a 2-part episode. The second part (scheduled to be broadcast in four weeks, on Saturday, Nov 4, 2023), will look at the movies. In between, on Saturday, Oct 21, there will be an episode on the Stephen King Tour, a fitting October episode.

This episode, pt. 1 of Superman, is being broadcast on Saturday, October 07, 2023.

A Christmas Carol is the Dickens classic novella that has been adapted to the big screen, small screen, stage, and has been referenced / parodied countless times. The Muppets even did a special based on the novel. And, don’t forget Scrooge McDuck!

Many consider the 1951 film version starring Alistair Sim as the best representation of the tale.

Here are some basics:
The published title was: “A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas”

Ghost stories told around Christmastime were fairly common at the time, and very popular. The story was a novella (not a novel). It was first published in 1843.

There were a number of printings, all selling out. Dickens himself read the story to audiences over a hundred times.

The basic story centers around a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits, in succession. The three spirits represent stages in Scrooge’s life.

The Spirit of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to earlier, seminal moments in his life, a time when he was happy, but also to a time where he lost that faith and the light he had.

The Spirit of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to things that are going on currently that he is not aware of – how other people live, and how they feel about him.

The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come takes Scrooge to a time where he has passed on, and again, how others feel about him, how he is treated (in death), and also what may happen to Tiny Tim, if Scrooge does not change his ways.

The novella begins with a great first line: “Marley was dead.” It is considered one of the great opening lines in literature. It brings one immediately into the story.

There have been many versions of the story, and one that both David and Troy recommend, beyond the 1951 film, is the 2009 animated version, starring Jim Carrey.

Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, has a fantastic opening, and is well worth watching, just for that. Look for cameos from Lee Majors; John Houseman; James Farr; and Mary Lou Retton.

Troy and David rate some of the films, and do their Dream Cast and Schrödinger’s Cast. The Dream Cast is where they take the best actors/actresses of all time, either living or dead, to play the roles. The Schrödinger’s Cast takes the same six roles, but has very unusual casting to fill the roles. Here are the roles they look at, and the actors that portrayed them in the 1951 film.

Season 3!!!
First Episode!

Bruce Willis has been in so many science fiction, fantasy, and horror films, that it is hard to keep track.

Here are a few, not a complete list
(Movie <character> year [IMDB rating]:

Glass <David Dunn> 2019 [6.6]
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For <Hartigan> 2014 [6.5]
G.I. Joe: Retaliation <General Joe Colton> 2013 [5.8]
Moonrise Kingdom <Captain Sharp> 2012 [7.8]
Looper <Old Joe> 2012 [7.4]
Surrogates <Greer> 2009 [6.3]
Planet Terror <Lt. Muldoon> 2007 [7.1]
Grindhouse <Muldoon> 2007 [7.5]
The Astronaut Farmer <Col. Doug Masterson> 2006 [6.3]
Sin City <Hartigan> 2005 [8.0]
Unbreakable <David Dunn> 2002 [7.3]
The Sixth Sense <Malcolm Crowe> 1999 [8.2]
Breakfast of Champions <Dwayne Hoover> 1999 [4.5]
Armageddon <Harry S. Stamper> 1998 [6.7]
Mercury Rising <Art Jeffries> 1998 [6.1]
The Fifth Element <Korben Dallas> 1997 [7.7]
Twelve Monkeys <James Cole> 1995 [8.0]

Troy Harkin and David Clink will look at Bruce Willis’ genre films, and talk about the enduring legacy that he has left us, in the wake of his announcement in late March 2022 that he is retiring as an actor.

NOTE: The idea was that Troy and David would release this episode in the Summer of 2022, and their discussion during the episode relates that. But they are releasing it as their first episode of season 3.

The Exorcist is a book by William Peter Blatty, a film by William Friedkin, and there were sequels. The novel (1971) and movie (1973) tell the story of demonic possession. An actress’s daughter is the victim, and after exhausting all medical and psychological possibilities, they are left with a Catholic ritual to “exorcise” the demon from the child.

The book received a lot of praise, and the movie was a hit. Not since Psycho and Rosemary’s Baby has a film gripped the public’s imagination.

Here are six key characters in the novel and movie, and the actor/actress that played the role in the 1973 film:

Regan MacNeil | Linda Blair
Chris MacNeil | Ellen Burstyn
Father Damien Karras | Jason Miller
Father Lankester Merrin | Max von Sydow
Lt. William Kinderman | Lee J. Cobb
Burke Dennings | Jack Macgowran

Troy Harkin and David Clink will look at the book and the movie, and talk about the impact that they have had.

Our special guest is Valentino Assenza. He will also be our guest for part 2. Valentino will have a lot to add about the 1973 film. See author photo and bio below.

Valentino Assenza has been a published poet and performing spoken word artist for over the last two decades.

In that time he has released four chapbooks and performed all over Canada and the US.

Valentino has been a co-host and co-producer of HOWL on CIUT 89.5FM, where he has interviewed names such as George Elliott Clarke, Anne Michaels, Denise Donlon, Ron Sexsmith, and Margaret Atwood.