The Jenny Position Episode #179 - Talk'n Docs: Swamp Kings

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew finish Season 5 with a review of the 2023 documentary Untold: Swamp Kings. The crew discusses the documentary in great detail with topics including: Urban Meyer’s arrival in Gainesville, cultish college football fans, their love/hate relationship with Tim Tebow, Florida’s dominance and controversies, and much more!
 
 

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #18- A Rogue's Tale & Beauty and the Beast

"You took away everything I had. Everything I ever was!"
 
After an explosive mid-season 2-parter, X-Position returns with a pair of stand-alone episodes picking right back up with the familiar character-focused format. And while another three episodes remain, these installments will actually round out the character spotlights that have come to define the show's second season. "A Rogue's Tale" functions as something of an origin for its titular character, as ghosts of the past come back to inform events in the present. It's a crunchy, lore-heavy episode no doubt satisfying for longtime X-Men fans, featuring a deep dive into Rogue's tortured past, tutelage under Mystique, and a prominent role for Ms. Marvel all reframed to fit the context of this animated universe. It smartly puts Professor Xavier's disappearance to use as a plot point, making clear that the central conflict is only made possible by his absence. Less satisfying is its conclusion, which essentially confines an innocent woman to solitary confinement and calls it a day. While far from being presented as a happy ending, it's unclear where the show ultimately lands on the existential question of how Carol Danvers' disembodied consciousness should be regarded - resulting in some muddled messaging ethically.
 
On the other side of the coin, "Beauty and the Beast" takes a closer look at Dr. Henry McCoy's interior life, a topic that is naturally of heightened interest given how little time viewers have spent with him relative to other characters. Aside from a quick scene of Hank reminiscing over some family photos, this episode is differentiated from the season's other character studies in that it is largely unconcerned with mining its protagonist's past. The approach makes sense given Beast's relatively stable upbringing. Despite his "heteromorphic" appearance, Beast has largely been presented as the character most at ease with his mutation and public image - whether as a mutant, accomplished scientist, or pardoned felon. Hitting Hank where it hurts the most means discrediting his accolades and good nature - and most pointedly, dashing a promise of love that he has long denied himself - solely on the basis of him being a highly visible mutant. All put to great effect by the militant anti-mutant Graydon Creed. It gives Beast the rare opportunity to cut lose while Wolverine employs the art of subterfuge in a satisfying role reversal, capped off with Creed's ironic comeuppance.
 
X-TRA: Another version of these episodes might have seen their otherwise disparate plots woven together by way of a common element: none of other than Mystique. While Rogue's upbringing by Mystique is the driving force in "A Rogue's Tale," we also have one side of Graydon Creed's parentage revealed in "Beauty and the Beast." Sabretooth is confirmed to be Creed's father, but his mother in fact being Mystique remains a mystery for another day. Despite this familial connection, the latter is actually the only episode of the season in which Rogue does not appear.

The Jenny Position Episode 178 - Talk'n Docs - The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox

Talk'n Docs is back with the next episode in our season devoted to sports documentaries. The crew gets in the time machine and takes you back to late Summer 2004 and the unforgettable run of the “idiot” Red Sox with “The Comeback”, a Netflix documentary. “The Comeback” tells the incredible story of the 2004 Red Sox and their unlikely march to the World Series. With interviews with the key players interwoven with footage, there is plenty to enjoy here. In addition to a review of the documentary, the Talk'n Docs trio shares personal stories about their relationship with baseball, the Red Sox and parallels between this team and other teams across the sports world. Sit back, grab a Fenway Frank and a cold one and enjoy this edition of Talk'n Docs. Go Sox!

The Jenny Position Episode 177- Freak Out Drive-In: Jaws

Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-seventh episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Jeff Machado to watch Jaws!
The finale of the 2025 season is here! Jenny and Jeff discuss their horror movie history on the show, Jeff and Jenny's Mom's favorite movie, sharks in swimming pools, bad acting from extras, good wine pours and so much more! So, stay out of the water at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 176- Freak Out Drive-In: The Strangers

Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-sixth episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Jacob Williams to watch The Strangers!
Home invasion horror comes to the Drive-in!  Jenny and Jake discuss their horror movie history on the show, black-eyed children, melting ice cream, Marlboro Lights, proposing at a wedding, and so much more! So, don't answer the door at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 175- Freak Out Drive-In: Longlegs

Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-fifth episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Keith Langston to watch Longlegs!
FBI agents, occult rituals and a freaky looking Nic Cage are all you need to know. Jenny and Keithie discuss their horror movie history on the show, horror movies that scare Keith, lost podcast episodes, a confusing plot, creepy dolls, a twist ending and so much more! So, make sure to call your mother at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 174 - Freak Out Drive-In: Return to Oz

Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith.
In the thirty-fourth episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes JT Rozzero to watch Return to Oz!
Join Dorothy on her demented journey back to Oz and learn all about Wheelers, a dime store quality Scarecrow, the legendary Tik Tok, how the sequel both plays into and drifts from the original classic and so much more! So, hold your breath at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 173- Freak Out Drive-In: Crawl

Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-third episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Tim Capel to watch Crawl!
Continuing Tim's loose theme of reptilians, his pick for this year is a tense and yet ridiculous look at killer alligators. Jenny and Tim discuss their horror movie history on the show, hurricane CGI, vermin, low-key old Barry Pepper, Madonna, and so much more! So, hold your breath at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 172 - Freak Out Drive-In: Species

Freak Out Drive-In is heading to 1995! 
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-second episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Matt Souza to watch Species!
Freak Out Drive-In joins in on the NoSo 95 fun with this live watch of the sci-fi classic, Species. Jenny and Matt discuss titacles, the excellent practical effects, the surprising amount of money the film made, Roman Feigns, the horror movie offerings from 1995 and so much more! So, get freaky with an alien at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 171-Talk'n Docs: Earnhardt

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew continue Season 5 with a review of the 2025 documentary Earnhardt. The crew discusses the documentary in great detail with topics including: Dale’s early success, his “dirty” style of racing, tumultuous relationships with his children, getting that elusive Dayton win, his death, and much more!

The Jenny Position Episode 170: Talk'n Docs- WrestleMania IX: Becoming a Spectacle

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew continue Season 5 with a review of the 2025’s WrestleMania IX: Becoming a Spectacle. The crew discusses the documentary in great detail with topics including: behind the scenes drama/hilarity, building of the set, Las Vegas as Mania destination, Mania being outdoors, and much more!

X-Postion: An X-Men Podcast #17- Time Fugitives Parts 1 & 2

"To save my world, I have to help Apocalypse destroy a past one."
After four consecutive self-contained episodes, X-MEN wisely ramps up the pace and the tension directly at the season's mid-point with a high-octane two-parter. "Time Fugitives" goes big in all the right aways, logically bringing together the show's resident time travelers Bishop and Cable as their respective futures are placed in direct conflict. Also returning is arch-villain Apocalypse, who is immortalized as a true existential threat unlike any other our heroes have faced by his malignant presence in two of the three distinct timelines tracked across these episodes. With recurring season 2 foes the Friends of Humanity continuing to sow anti-mutant sentiment amongst the public, the script has its hands full juggling a plethora of characters within a dense plot. Nevertheless, with the aid of veteran comics and science fiction writer Elliot S. Maggin pitching in, alongside some clever animation reuse through the magic of time travel, the story makes good on its epic ambitions as a series stand-out and fan favorite.
Cable in particular receives a welcome makeover following his introduction as a blank slate, stock badass/mercenary. It's confirmed from the jump that he's a time traveler, though this was probably best avoided in the first season given the proximity of his appearances to Bishop's arrival. Here, that redundancy is treated as a feature rather than a bug, with Bishop's successful efforts to create a better future threatening to unravel Cable's (even more distant) future. Time travel nonsense aside, it comes down to a classic moral dilemma wherein Cable must make the impossible choice between two horrible alternatives. Unlike our initial encounter with the character, this Cable is informed by an actual backstory and origin that the comics had finally settled on -- and all the better for it. Here we meet a world-weary soldier and hardened pragmatist by circumstance, but a principled man nonetheless. More importantly, this Cable is a dedicated leader and father, one who grapples with his conscience constantly in search of any way for his and Bishop's respective worlds to co-exist. Equally clever strategist that he is, Cable's solution is ingenious (and, true to form for this series, accidentally socially relevant over 30 years later). In a season defined by its focus on character development, this reinvention of Cable arguably outshines the high-concept action surrounding it.
X-TRA: Though Apocalypse's genetically engineered plague is only referred to once as a "techno-virus," it's fitting that this line is spoken by Cable. When his parentage is ultimately confirmed in X-MEN '97, we learn that Cable is the child of Cyclops and Jean's clone, Madelyne Pryor. Notably, he is exposed to a virus by Mr. Sinister, with symptoms very much resembling (and that Beast even compares to) this very same plague. Sinister's variant is more lethal, prompting Madelyne to send the stricken infant into the future as his only hope of survival.

The Jenny Position Episode 169: Talk'n Docs - Unguarded

After a brief hiatus, a new season of Talk’n Docs is here! Jenny, Logan and Cowboy are pivoting this season to a new genre of documentaries… sports! The crew kicks things off by taking a look back at the 2011 ESPN 30 for 30 feature: Unguarded. Unguarded is the story of former NBA point guard Chris Herren. Chris’s story is of a young man with immense talent who experiences the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows as he battles addiction issues thorough out, and after, his playing career. From his beginnings as a local high school basketball legend in Fall River, MA all the way through a near tragedy in that same city after his playing career ended, Unguarded is an unflinching look at Chris’s journey. It is a rough ride, but one that is quite inspirational. If you are a basketball fan or just enjoy an incredible personal story, kick back and enjoy this one with the Talk’n Docs crew!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #16- X-Men: The Last Stand (X3)

We interrupt our regular programming for the third of several periodic check-ins with the X-Men's exploits on the silver screen! This "show within a show" continues with the controversial and bombastic X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. Last stand... that means it's the last one, right? Right?? Oh, you sweet summer 2006 child. Jenny, Tim, and Keithie have some deep thoughts on this one, in ways that may be startling and unexpected. 
As quaint as it sounds by today's standards, the trilogy model represented a best-case scenario for any superhero film series in the early 2000s. Three movies was the mark of tremendous success for a genre considered radioactive less than a decade earlier, cementing the legacy of a property that managed to achieve this feat as a certified franchise and reliable money-maker. It also proved to be something of a double-edged sword in that the third entry typically represented the end of the line. Due to the reality of diminishing returns, changing tastes, and the complexities of reassembling an increasingly sprawling ensemble cast, conventional wisdom maintained that this was as far as a studio could realistically push it. Of course, cheaper spin-offs and derivative projects smaller in scope certainly remained in play to continue milking the franchise. But for all intents and purposes, it was three-and-done for the mainline, continuing narrative. Perhaps as a byproduct of the ballooning production and the pressure to turn out a respectable profit against a massively inflated budget, studio oversight tended to increase significantly for this supposed final outing -- arguably at the cost of quality control. In that respect, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND may as well be the poster child for the trilogy treatment kiss of death in blockbuster superhero filmmaking.

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #15: X-Ternally Yours

"I don't care about which spirit ladies do what to which Cajuns, I'm here to stop a wedding."
 
One of the gradual changes apparent in season two's more episodic format, with more zoomed-in, character-centric stories is the corresponding zoom-out on human-mutant relations as a unifying theme. That's not to say it's gone entirely by the wayside - domestic terrorist group the Friends of Humanity and President Kelly's unpopular newfound support for mutants were introduced as conflicts in the season premiere and continue to simmer in the background. The more globe-trotting adventures of subsequent episodes are less overtly concerned with these familiar social dynamics than with the exploration of character backstories, but they can still be read as having something to say about the issue, albeit through more of a geopolitical lens (i.e. the oppression or exploitation of mutants by the state, as dictated by wavering national interests). So while the societal angle might have ceased to be the driving force of every plot, it has managed to play some small part at least in all of this season's one-and-done installments.
 
That is, until "X-Ternally Yours."
 
Here we have the first episode of X-Men to be completely divorced from the social implications of mutants in the world at large. That's not necessarily to say the plot is worse off for it -- just that it is undeniably laden in backstory and melodrama. It's Gambit's turn to play protagonist, in a tale of star-crossed lovers with a little Cajun flair. There's perhaps an irony to be observed in the fact that the Thieves and Assassins, so caught up in their insular, centuries-old feud, fail to recognize how the existence of mutants could drastically shift the balance of power, absent the involvement of an ...external... benefactor. As it stands, both Guilds are completely indifferent to Gambit's status as a mutant, which could serve as a convincing motive for the Thieves in particular to bring him back into the fold. The episode has no time for that, however, as it must devote its runtime to establishing the stakes between these warring factions, the role of the tithing ceremony, contrivances to undermine said ceremony, Gambit's history with his jilted bride-to-be, and the X-Men doing their level best to untangle it all. Much of this is deeply silly, of which the script seems keenly aware as it gives Wolverine in particular some choice one-liners that threaten to invalidate the entire conflict. And yet, "X-Ternally Yours" manages to remain more charming than it is disposable by taking advantage of a fun setting and ratcheting up the soapy entertainment so intrinsic to some of the most memorable X-Men comics.
 
Marvel was understandingly eager to capitalize on Gambit's growing popularity at this time as a new, breakout star character. Striking while the iron was hot, and in an effort to gauge the X-Man's potential as a solo headliner, an eponymous limited series was published that would provide much of the source material for "X-Ternally Yours." In another serendipitous example of cross-media symmetry, said series wound up being released concurrently with the episode's airing (issue #3 of 4 was a little over two weeks away from hitting stores and newsstands). As a standalone television episode, it is less successful than its comics counterpart in giving Gambit a mythology to call his own. That said, given Gambit's versability as a natural lead in any number of genres, from action, to adventure, to romance, to crime, it's curious why Marvel felt that such convoluted world-building was additive in the first place. Regardless, positioning Gambit as a spin-off character was less of a concern for the animated series. Factoring in the production timeline for comics versus that of animation, the show staff would've been working from incredibly early drafts and concept art. When taken as an adaptation of a story that had yet to even be told, it could've turned out a lot worse.
 
X-TRA: Ghost Rider, who "appeared" as a brief mental image during Gambit's mind scan in "The Final Decision" (S1E12), regrettably does not factor into this blast from the past. Other than serving as one of the series many cameos inserted by director Larry Houston, character's significance to Gambit is presumably referencing an unlikely comics crossover: the team-up between Ghost Rider and the X-Men against parasitic aliens the Brood set in New Orleans! Spanning X-Men #8-9 and Ghost Rider #26-27 during the tail end of Jim Lee's tenure as X-Men co-plotter and artist in 1992, this story features the first appearance of Bella Donna Boudreaux and introduction of the Guilds, setting the stage for Gambit's 1993 limited series and its deep dive into the lore.

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #14: Repo Man

"There's always a choice. You're the one who taught me that."
After giving us a glimpse of Wolverine's past in "Red Dawn," the stage was set for a full-length exploration in our very next episode. And with that, season two continues its globe-trotting, introspective character-driven features with a solo outing centered on the enigmatic Canadian X-Man. Notably, the extended flashback at the center of "Repo Man" pulls directly from Barry Windsor-Smith's 1991 Marvel Comics Presents serial, "Weapon X." Violent and atmospheric, this adaptation can't help but suffer in comparison due to the necessity of reigning in the comic's harsher elements for Saturday morning consumption. Beyond that, "Weapon X" had a tenuous relationship with the canon from its inception, with the story calling its own authenticity into question at various points. Nevertheless, "Weapon X" was so well-received that it stood for years as the most definitive account of Wolverine's origin. Later revelations and retcons would muddy the waters, but at this point, the animated series is guided by a very solid pedigree.
The inclusion of Alpha Flight, while appreciated from a world-building standpoint, doesn't do this episode many favors in terms of clarity. Outside of shedding some light on Wolverine's past, the plot is concerned with linking two seemingly disparate milestones in Logan's history: how his skeleton came to be laced with adamantium, and his involvement with Alpha Flight. The shadowy, unscrupulous, ultra-militaristic Department H serves as the connective tissue, leading to an ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. If Department H was behind or had knowledge of the Weapon X Project, as the episode suggests, then Logan escaped their clutches by the skin of his teeth, only to soon thereafter coincidentally meet James Hudson, who happens to be the leader of Canada's premiere superhero team, and is brought in to join Alpha Flight, under the purview of... Department H. It begs the question as to how Wolverine was allowed to leave the team in the first place. (To say nothing for the fact that he was given the codename of the project that "created" him, a detail which makes little sense as either another absurd coincidence or as an inside joke by Department H... for the audience's benefit only.) Department H's connection to Weapon X seems like it should come as a major revelation, at least to Logan, but the script doesn't attribute any particular significance to this. Still, it's hard to fault the show for filling in logic gaps that the comics themselves had yet to address, given the time and resources allotted.
Wolverine's mysterious past represents a corner of X-Men lore that somehow always manages to be more interesting in theory than in execution. Every resolution offered comes with its own set of brand new questions, and in that sense, "Repo Man" can be considered faithful to the spirit of Wolverine's role throughout the '90s. As a cohesive story, it is ultimately unsatisfying, but almost manages to stick the landing by way of momentum and novelty. It remains to be seen how sustainable that approach will be going forward.
X-TRA: This episode was written by Wolverine co-creator Len Wein, his first of four such credits over the course of the series. It's a curious fit, given that Wein chronicled only Wolverine's earliest appearances when the character was effectively a blank slate. He therefore has the unenviable task of cobbling together pieces of a mythology which he had no hand in establishing. It's an admirable effort, and a credit to the production for reaching outside their usual pool of television writers.

The Jenny Position Episode 168: Talk'n Docs- Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

To finish off our music documentaries season, Talk'n Docs is back with 2024's Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary. Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger review this highly entertaining look at the birth of yacht rock as a concept, the highlights of the genre, and its lasting influence. From a parody web series to some of music's most memorable collaborations, this intriguing film reminds us to ride like the wind.

The Jenny Position Episode 167: Talk'n Docs- The Greatest Night in Pop

Continuing in our music documentaries season, Talk'n Docs is back with 2024's The Greatest Night in Pop. Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger review this 2024 documentary from Netflix. In 1985, dozens of the biggest artists in the world came together to record a single to raise funds for famine in Africa. This documentary takes you into that one night, showcasing all the talent, hard work and dedication that it took to pull off this incredible project. The crew give their thoughts on the song, the collection of superstars and the overall impact of this unprecedented collaboration. 

The Jenny Position Episode 166- Freak Out Drive-In: Jack Frost

Freak Out Drive-In SPECIAL HOLIDAY EPISODE!
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-second episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Chad Campbell to watch Jack Frost!
Not to be confused with the Michael Keaton film of the same name, this Jack Frost is much more fun...and deadly! Jenny and Chad discuss his horror movie fandom, if Halloween is bigger than Christmas these days, how parents can influence their kids' watching habits, Jack's hilarious kills and one liners and so much more! So, MERRY CHRISTMAS at the Freak Out Drive-In!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #13: Whatever It Takes & Red Dawn

"I do not yearn for an easy life, Magneto. Only a just one."
These third and fourth installments of X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES' second season are representative of a revised story structure, adopted at the behest of the Fox Kids executives. Gone is the single, unbroken heavily serialized narrative approach of the first season, wherein episodes that weren't explicitly identified as multi-partners still ended in cliffhangers and flowed directly into the next adventure. This was especially pronounced in the midseason, when animation errors forced delays and the airing of episodes out of script order. Fox understandably wanted to avoid such problems by having the freedom to air episodes as they became available, rather than in a strict sequence. Their edict called for more one-and-one episodes and fewer multi-part stories in general. Knowing that the show's loyal fanbase had certain expectations of an elevated presentation for a Saturday morning cartoon, showrunner Eric LeWald and the production staff came up with an ingenious workaround. Professor Xavier and Magneto's diversion in the Savage Land was conceived as a single episode, to be animated all at once, but written in such a way that it could be easily edited and inserted as segments in other episodes, and therefore serialized across the entire season. These interstitial cutaway scenes did not have to adhere to a rigid order, as long as they generally conveyed the pair being continuously imperiled in some way while narrowly escaping with their lives. Thus, the network's demands were fulfilled while still allowing for a season-long "wraparound" storyline. Without meaning to, this would be one of the ways the series was brought into closer alignment with the subplot-heavy nature of the contemporary comics. In particular, "Whatever It Takes" serves as the first episode to feature distinct A, B, and C-plots for the series. Storm and Rogue's tussle with the Shadow King takes center stage, but Wolverine's solo outing provides a follow-up to the loose end of Morph's return, while drawing a line under his status (for now). Finally, as something akin to a back-up strip in comics, Professor X and Magneto send the episode out by finding themselves in a new, exotic setting and establishing their pattern for the season. Even if nothing critically important is happening, the rapid-fire pace and juggling of plots makes for an easy, immersive watch. With more episodic, single installment A-plots doing the heavy lifting in season two, X-MEN's creative team uses this as an opportunity to explore the cast in greater depth. The result is a round of rotating character spotlights, once again drawing heavily upon the lore of then-recent comics.
Whereas the season opening explored Scott and Jean's background with the revelation of Mr. Sinister as a presence menacing them from behind the scenes since childhood, Storm and returning guest star Colossus would receive similar treatment in "Whatever It Takes" and "Red Dawn," respectively. Flashbacks are employed generously to show, if not outright origin tales, pivotal moments from these characters' pasts. Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, and Beast will each get their turn at such character-centered episodes over the course of the season. This exemplifies an evolution of the show's mission, from successfully selling the X-Men collectively as a fighting team to endearing the young broadcast audience ever more to its individual members. When talking to X-Men loyalists of a certain age to this day, there's a reason why they point to the animated series -- and, whether or not they recall the exact details, this run of episodes -- as the common denominator that made them fans of the characters for life.
X-TRA: In more comics-related synergy, issues on sale in the month of these episode airings feature Scott and Jean getting engaged. Their nuptials would go a bit smoother in print than the version seen on screen. Conversely, Colossus receives much kinder treatment in animated form. His second appearance in "Red Dawn" comes just a few months after the longtime X-Man joined Magneto's Acolytes, itself the culmination of a series of personal blows in which Colossus lost his brother, parents, and sister in short order. One such tragedy also involved a confrontation with Omega Red in only his second comics story.

The Jenny Position Episode 165- Talk'n Docs: Amy Winehouse

Continuing in our music documentaries season, Talk'n Docs is back with the acclaimed film Amy from 2015. Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger review this heartbreaking and in-depth look at the rise and fall of one of the most unique voices in all of music. The story is largely told through video clips of Amy and her friends from a young age, singing in small jazz clubs. moving in together and Amy's eventual record deal. Amy shows Winehouse in her glory and follows her to her tragic end, with candid voiceovers from her friends, family and collaborators. Available on Amazon Prime, this remarkable film takes you back to black.

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #12: 'Til Death Do Us Part, Parts 1 & 2

"Whatever happened, you're still part of the team! You're still one of the X-Men!"
Much like the comics from which X-Men: The Animated Series drew so much of its inspiration, season 2 would immediately see the show begin to double down on its history and build out an ever-expanding mythology. No longer obligated to present stories at an entry level, the show took full advantage of its serialized format to springboard plots off the backs of its own previous plots. To that end, season 2 opens with a bombshell: the return of Morph, long thought dead since the events of the series' opening two-parter. This came as a shocking and satisfying twist, rewarding loyal viewers for their continued interest. And if it came at the cost of invalidating the show's edgiest, most ground-breaking moment? So what! This was comics, after all, or at least comics-on-Saturday-morning. Further to that, Morph had proven to be an unexpected fan favorite based on initial impressions, so a reversal of fortune was arguably worth it not merely for a big reveal, but to offer a path back to semi-regular appearances for the character. The revolving door of death would be one of the many ways the show was brought more into alignment with the tropes of the comics. More direct echoes could be traced in the form of Scott and Jean's wedding, which would occur in the comics a mere four months later. Likewise, new anti-mutant antagonist Graydon Creed and his homegrown militia, the Friends of Humanity, had made their print debuts a little over six months prior to the airing of "Till Death," part 1. Henchmen the Nasty Boys are utilized prominently beginning in part 2 and throughout the season, despite having appeared in exactly one comics storyline from 1992 (and in lieu of an older and more infamous group that preceded them in the Marauders). All this, with little in the way of reintroductions to our principal cast. From a critical standpoint, this approach for a season premiere might politely be described as "inaccessible" to say the least. Owing to many of these changes was no doubt the arrival of X-Men line editor Bob Harras in an official capacity as Story Consultant. To Harras, inaccessibility was a feature far more than a bug. During his tenure overseeing the X-office at the height of the speculator era, the more tangled, sprawling, and convoluted the storytelling, the better. For the industry's many eager young collectors, the complex nature of the X-Men's history, combined with the present-day storylines whose conclusions typically offered more questions than answers, there was a desperate need to Make It All Make Sense.
Helping Jenny and Tim to Make It All Make Sense on this installment of X-Position is Keithie, not unlike Beast, joining the episode in progress. All told, this two-parter delivers a satisfying, intricately-plotted opening salvo that will be representative of the season as a whole. Thematically, the story makes excellent use of deception as a recurring motif. From Wolverine's brawl with a robotic duplicate of Cyclops, to the mutant-impersonating crisis actor disrupting President Kelly's inauguration, Graydon Creed's subsequent manipulation of the media, and right down to Morph's duplicitous divide-and-conquer scheme to use the X-Men to undo the X-Men, truly nothing is as it seems. And that's to say nothing of Morph's return from a seemingly certain death. It's fitting, then, that standing atop all of this subterfuge is the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma known as Mr. Sinister. His presence will loom large throughout the series following this maleficent animated debut. To its credit, the script makes effective and logical use of Sinister as Morph's corrupting benefactor, and even manages to flesh out his ultimate motives more decisively over the course of 22 minutes than 6-plus years worth of comics appearances had managed. Though taking its cues ever more from the comics, this stands as an example of the finite nature of the animated series imposing a storytelling discipline that occasionally outshined its source material.

The Jenny Position Episode 164- Freak Out Drive-In: Event Horizon

Freak Out Drive-In month concludes for the 2024 season! 
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirty-first episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Tim Capel to watch Event Horizon!
This chilling and creepy sci-fi cult classic is a wonderful addition to the Drive-In line up. Jenny and Tim discuss the unique designs of the ships, side parts, the absurd Captain's gaming chair, baby oil globules, noses, the lack of a "monster" and so much more! So, HAPPY HALLOWEEN at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 163- Freak Out Drive-In: The Babysitter

Freak Out Drive-In month continues for the 2024 season!
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the thirtieth episode in the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Kevin E. to watch The Babysitter!
Meet Kevin, a horror fan and old school backyard wrestler! Jenny and Kevin discuss his backyard wrestling days, snakes and alligators, Amazon, decluttering, spin the bottle, a cool double knife kill, and so much more! So, beware the babysitter at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 162: Freak Out Drive-in- Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey

Freak Out Drive-In month continues for the 2024 season!
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the twenty-ninth episode of the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Matt Souza to watch Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey!
With this gory episode, Matt joins the Five Timers Club here on Freak Out Drive-In!  Jenny and Matt discuss The Twisted Childhood Universe, flapper gams, relying on GPS, the movie's budget vs. the box office haul, and so much more! So, whatever you do, avoid the Hundred Acre Wood at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 161- Freak Out Drive-In: Weekend at Bernie's

Freak Out Drive-In month continues for the 2024 season!
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the twenty-eighth episode of the reboot era, Jenny welcomes JT Rozzero to watch... Weekend at Bernie's??
While this film isn't your typical horror fare, there IS a dead body parading around so we'll call it zombie adjacent. Jenny and JT discuss Bernie's mustache, The Hamptons, a plethora of coffee tables, amazing extras, 80's fashion and interior design, caviar and so much more! So, prop up your dead buddy at the Freak Out Drive-In!

The Jenny Position Episode 160 - Freak Out Drive-In: Heathers

Freak Out Drive-In month returns for the 2024 season!
Pull into the Freak Out Drive-In, a live watch horror podcast with host Jennifer Smith. In the twenty-seventh episode of the reboot era, Jenny welcomes Keith Langston to watch Heathers, a 1988 horror dark comedy!
Jenny and Keithie discuss the name Veronica, Silence of the Lambs, actors they hate, empathy powers, covering up a murder, high school scandals and so much more! So what's your damage at the Freak Out Drive-In!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #11- X2

Before delving into the second season of X-Men: The Animated Series, our periodic explorations of the X-Men on film continues with another special episode! Up next for the burgeoning 20th Century Fox franchise is fan-favorite sequel X2: X-MEN UNITED. Jenny and Tim are joined by Keith Langston for a retrospective on the 2003 summer spectacular that in many respects established the template for big budget superhero blockbusters. As a paltry $75 million production, 2000's X-MEN was very much a story of managed expectations. However, by achieving the rare hat trick for a comic book movie of being faithful to the source material, receiving critical acclaim, and (more importantly) making money, a sequel was all but assured. Time had only been kind to the principal players: director Bryan Singer saw his stock rise considerably on the back of the film's success, and Hugh Jackman's performance as Wolverine proved to be a star-making role. Halle Berry, meanwhile, had since gone on to win a historic Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002. Producer Lauren Shuler-Donner cemented her reputation as a hitmaker, and was rewarded with a vastly increased budget to do the same - but more! - with X2: X-MEN UNITED. Suffice to say, everything is a little more polished this time around. The costumes, the props, the make-up, the sets, the effects, and particularly the action, are all a cut above X-MEN's modest trappings. X2's set pieces are grand and memorable individually, in ways its predecessor's are not. And while the fight choreography stands out for its jarring and dated generous use of "wire-fu," this was very much in keeping with the style at the time. Other early 2000s aesthetics threaten to date the film, but instead have a grounding effect - anchoring the fantastic elements in a reality that feels tangible and familiar. From Bobby Drake's domestic troubles to Jean's unfortunate triangle hair, it feels like these charactergs and conflicts occupy the world outside your window (or at least that of 2003). The overall result is incredibly important and effective in selling the metaphor of mutants as a real-world persecuted minority. All told, it's tempting to look back on X2 and call the film dated. A fallacy that implies it has aged badly. On the contrary, X2 simply remains both as good and as bad as it ever was. What stands out as glaringly messy today - in terms of plot, characters, and pacing - didn't work in 2003 either. But what the picture gets right - the cast, the performances, the effects and action scenes - still holds up remarkably well. Though once considered the gold standard in superhero filmmaking, the reality is that X2 has always been characterized by high peaks and low valleys. It's to no great shock that it has since been surpassed in prestige by subsequent efforts; after all, X2 is competing with another 21(!) years worth of genre films. Uneven though the movie may be, X2's reputation isn't sustained merely on the strength of nostalgia. It truly cashes in on the inherent, restrained potential of the first film, taking the franchise to new heights. In that sense, it can be said that X-MEN walked so X2 could fly.

The Jenny Position Episode 159- Talk'n Docs: Stevie Van Zandt

New Talk’N Docs is live! In this installment Jenny, Logan and Cowboy take a look at the new Max documentary “Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple”. You may know Stevie as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, as a solo artist or as the iconic Silvio Dante on The Sopranos. “Disciple” tells Stevie’s incredible life story as a musician, activist and actor. The Talk’N Docs crew breaks down the story as only they can. Jenny, Logan and Cowboy all had different levels of familiarity with Stevie’s work before watching the doc, so are able to offer unique perspectives. This is not an episode to be missed. Enjoy!

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #17: Mancer Era

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast!
On this episode, they discuss the news and recent happenings from GCW including Jenny’s live report from Cleveland, Cole Radrick’s injury, Bloodsport XI, Mance Warner title defenses, and more! They then pick their match of the month and preview some upcoming shows including Homecoming!
So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #10- The Final Decision

"You're all fools. Heroic fools. The brave are always the first to die."
And with that, the first season of X-Men: The Animated Series comes to a triumphant, confident conclusion. In different circumstances, these 13 episodes might have instead served as the entirety of the series. The full production staff who worked their magic in crafting the show from the ground up, taking such care in maintaining fidelity to the source material while also telling original stories for a different medium, had fulfilled their contracts and largely parted company. They held no expectations of working on the series beyond the initial 13-episode commitment from Fox -- or, indeed, of the series even continuing beyond that. With the benefit of hindsight, such a premature demise sounds utterly ridiculous given the show's enormous success since its haphazard Halloween premiere. Against scheduling snafus, panic-inducing deadlines, animation errors, and tepid support from network executives, it became clear that X-Men would NOT be denied. By the airdate of this finale, the shoe was on the other foot with Fox scrambling to re-assemble their dream team ahead of an inevitable second season. As for the episode itself, it wisely dispenses with complex plot elements in favor of a straightforward rescue mission. Senator Kelly has been abducted, so the X-Men have a job to do. The interconnected, highly serialized series structure allows the story to lean on previous episodes to establish the stakes. Kelly's assassination is destined to start a chain of events that sees the world plunged into a brutal dystopia under Sentinel rule. It must be prevented at all costs. With the quick pivot away from Magneto's menace teased last episode in favor of the Sentinels' return, all of the pieces are in place for that dark future to almost certainly be realized. In some ways, denying viewers a highly anticipated rematch between the X-Men and Magneto feels like a bit of a cheat, especially on the strength of such a dramatically effective cliffhanger. Nevertheless, this proves to be a shrewd act of discipline consistent with what we will more commonly see in Magneto's presentation over the course of the series: conflicted antagonist at worst, and unlikely ally at best. It surprisingly proves to be a far more nuanced characterization as compared to the contemporaneous comics, which practically took him back to his stark-raving Silver Age roots. Controversial twist aside, "The Final Decision" is all the better for getting Magneto back into play. With the Sentinels almost immediately turning on their creator, the episode also manages to work in more commentary on the illogical nature of humanity's prejudice against mutants. From there, the plot smartly lays out to let the X-Men simply fulfill their remit: protecting a world that fears and hates them. This allows for a slower pace, lingering on a number of quick but effective character spotlights, before ratcheting the action back up for an appropriately kinetic climax. Each team member's individual decision in grappling with the question of whether or not to join what looks to be a hopeless mission, set to a dramatic, swelling score, is one of the finest, shining moments for the ensemble cast in the show's entire run. It's scenes like these that allow us to overlook some of the smaller, Saturday Morning Cartoon segments of unintentional goofiness (such as the Blackbird being packed with a comically enormous amount of explosives as Professor X flies it into Master Mold, or the goofiness of Master Mold's evil master plan). All told, capping off this first season with a satisfying, energetic, decisive victory over the Sentinels offers perfect symmetry in calling back to the series premiere, resolving our heroes' unfinished business and bringing a number of character arcs full circle.

The Jenny Position Episode 158- Talk'n Docs: Lynyrd Skynyrd

The wait is over… the latest season of Talk’n Docs has arrived!
Last season Jenny, Logan, and Cowboy examined the twisted world of serial killers so it was time for a lighter note (no pun intended).  To that end, the new season will focus on documentaries featuring a range of musicians spanning multiple genres.
The crew starts things off with a bang by taking a look back at  2018’s “If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd”
This excellent documentary follows the band from their humble roots to superstardom and, ultimately, tragedy and redemption. Woven in are all of the band’s major hits along with some excellent deep cuts.
Jenny, Cowboy, and “Simple Man” Logan Crosland give their thoughts across a gamut of topics related to the film and music. For any fan of the band or great documentaries, this is not an episode to be missed. Enjoy!

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #16: Return of the Blake

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast! On this episode, they discuss the news and recent happenings from GCW including Jordan Oliver’s injury, the ongoing World Title situation, Zilla Fatu, Matt Cardona, and more! They then pick their match of the month and preview some upcoming shows! So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

X- Position: An X-Men Podcast #9: Days of Future Past, Parts 1 & 2

With their previous adventure offering a rare, decisive ending that didn't propel our heroes headlong into their next conflict for a change, X-MEN uses this act break to try something completely different: a time jump, as part 1 opens without warning in the distant, bleak future of 2055. Of course, the episode's title gives long-time comics devotees some idea of what to expect. "Days of Future Past" serves as the series' first direct adaptation, employing not just common characters and plot points, but lifting its story and namesake right out of the source material. The production team will go to this well on several more occasions in seasons ahead -- to varying degrees of success -- but their placement of "Days" doesn't coast on reputation alone. Though it is considered an all-time great, this story was ripe for the picking even so early in the run. Given the heavy emphasis on human-mutant relations and ever-present threat of the Sentinels, it stands as a logical extension of the ideas this first season has been most interested in getting across. Already, the X-Men have battled these mutant-hunting robots at home, abroad, and now, in the far-off future. The Sentinels' specter of oppression seems inescapable, hammering home just how high the stakes have become in the fight for trust and acceptance.
Of course, like any effective adaptation, this teleplay takes some liberal departures from the original story in consideration of its audience, medium, and priorities. For the sake of simplicity (already a challenge for any tale centered around time travel as a plot device), absent are a number of characters not yet introduced within the universe of X-MEN: TAS. Notably, protagonist Kitty Pryde is nowhere to be seen, swapped out for Bishop as the mutant on a mission from the future. The specific motive, however, remains firmly intact, as made abundantly clear in part 2: prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly at the hands of Mystique and her Brotherhood to avert a nightmarish future under dominion by the Sentinels. Popular then-rookie X-Man Bishop was always going to find his way into the show sooner rather than later, and appending his introduction to a classic comics saga lends the character a certain gravitas he might have otherwise lacked as a random walk-on guest (we're looking at you, Colossus). While this necessitates changes to Bishop's own backstory, the time travel conceit alone provides a logical rationale for his inclusion. What he brings to the lore isn't entirely discarded, as the mystery of a traitor within the X-Men's ranks is incorporated and woven into Mystique's plan. It serves as an interesting addendum to the source narrative -- not only does Mystique seek to murder Senator Kelly, she means to frame the X-Men in the process. It's a strong example of the show's finesse in weaving together unrelated, disparate plot elements, separated by more than a decade of publications (not to mention efficiently concluding a subplot that would persist throughout the comics for years to come, namely in the form of Bishop's distrust of Gambit and efforts to identify the traitor). All of it coalesces on arguably the most brilliant cliffhanger the series would ever deliver. For all the production team knew, this 13-episode season was going to be their only shot at bringing the X-Men to life on Saturday mornings. With their penultimate story ending on a twist DESPERATELY in need of resolution, the stage is set for a monumental, can't-miss finale.
X-TRA: The reappearance of Mystique in this 2-parter allows for the opportunity to do a little continuity patchwork. Comics fans disappointed by Rogue's apparent lack of history with Mystique during their encounter in "Come the Apocalypse" were placated by the confirmation that the duo's familial relationship from the comics is maintained within the series after all. The explanation for Rogue failing to recognize her own foster mother? Rogue simply knew her in a different guise, with Mystique's natural appearance either previously unrevealed to Rogue OR a byproduct of Apocalypse's handiwork.

The Jenny Position Episode 157- Talk'n Docs: Ted Bundy

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew finish Season 3 with a review of the 2019 film Extremely Wicked, Shocking Eviland Vile and the Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes documentary. The crew discusses the series and the documentary in great detail with topics including: Bundy’s narcissistic attitude, the gruesome details of his murders, the performances from the film, thoughts on thedeath penalty, and much more!

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #15- Survival

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast! On this episode, they discuss the happenings from recent GCW shows including Blake Christian and the World Title situation, Tournament of Survival 9, Effy vs Mance Warner in Cage of Survival, and more! They then pick their match of the month and preview some upcoming shows! So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #8: The Cure & Come the Apocalypse

"I AM my powers. And the good they can do. For my friends, and for the whole world. I reckon maybe I can live with that after all."
Experts Jenny, Tim, and Keith are back with another double feature and faced with the question: what if the physical condition of mutation could be removed, rendering a mutant indistinguishable from their baseline human peers? This thought experiment has offered some of the richest concepts for exploration across all of X-Men media and drives the central conflict of our two-parter. Would such a mutation "cure" be selfish to pursue? After all, the Spider-Man Principle teaches us that with great power comes great responsibility; that is, a commitment to use said power to the maximum benefit of all. But does such a responsibility exist in a world that would just as soon see its self-appointed protectors erased from existence? Furthermore, wouldn't it be selfish or irresponsible for certain mutants, due to the nature of their powers, NOT to seek a cure if such an option was available? Possessing a dangerous, "always on" power that she cannot consciously control, Rogue is the one main character who represents the best argument in favor of a mutant cure. Her mutation is perhaps the cruelest of all - invisible on the surface, allowing her to easily pass as "normal," yet posing a risk to anyone within arm's reach. To counter this, Rogue must deprive herself even the most fleeting, casual acts of human intimacy. For all the good she can do as a member of the X-Men, it's hard to deny that the removal of her powers wouldn't be a net benefit: not only to Rogue individually, but society at large. There are others who view their mutations very much as gifts and intrinsic to their identities. This is where the series starts to touch upon the concept of mutant pride, and feels ahead of its time in doing so. While a number of X-Men stories can be boiled down to "good" mutants vs. "bad" mutants and the humans caught in the middle - or, the human response to living among mutants - another important dimension to consider is how mutants feel about themselves. On the one had, it would be easy to present the characters with superficially cool, wish-fulfillment powers completely under their control (itself an interesting type of privilege rarely brought up within the franchise) as being dismissive of the cure. Yet as with most things X-Men, the dividing lines are not so clear cut. In the end, the purported cure turns out to be a cautionary tale, with those who volunteered to go through with it ending up far worse off for the experience. Taking the cure off the board in this way may seem a cop-out, but to some extent the show has a moral imperative to do so. After all, there's no cure for any of the real-world stand-ins for mutation that make people "different." And even if there was, the onus isn't on the oppressed to change who they are for the satisfaction of their oppressors. The conclusions drawn and options available are much the same as where we leave this pair of episodes: there's no changing who you are, but you can change the way the world sees you. However unfairly, that burden is laid at the feet of the vulnerable communities most in need of such change. So it goes in life as it does in fiction, with the X-Men persisting in fighting for acceptance by a world that fears and hates them.
X-Position X-TRA: Dr. Adler - presumably the real Dr. Adler - can be seen in a photograph alongside mutant inventor extraordinaire Forge in episode 4 ("Lifedeath," pt. 1) of sequel series X-Men '97. Forge goes on to explain that he worked with the scientist while in the employ of the U.S. Department of Defense. He stopped short of outright developing weapons against mutants, but Adler had no such qualms. Adler used Forge's research and prototypes to create the power-blocking inhibitor collars first seen on Genosha (in "Slave Island"). This same technology was utilized in the development of the neutralizer gun Storm was de-powered by in episode 2 ("Mutant Liberation Begins"). (Also pictured with Adler and Forge, albeit partially obscured? None other than Bastion, leader of the anti-mutant taskforce Operation: Zero Tolerance. The doctor traveled in extremely mixed company.)

The Jenny Position Episode 156- Talk'n Docs: Zodiac Killer

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew continue Season 3 with a review of 2007’s film Zodiac and 2023’s Myth of the Zodiac Killer documentary. The crew discusses the series and the documentary in great detail with topics including: Different theories of what they think happened, who the killer really was, was there more than one person involved, and much more!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #7 - The Unstoppable Juggernaut

"Comrades, let us all work together!"
Jenny and Tim welcome Keith Langston back to the show as we cover the 8th episode (or 10th, depending on when you first saw it -- more on that below) of X-Men: The Animated Series! And it's no respite for our world-weary heroes, as they are flung from one crisis to the next. While the wrecked X-Mansion sets off television's most obvious whodunit, we can excuse this for likewise providing a handy excuse to introduce dual guest stars Colossus and the titular Juggernaut. Given the participants, this one doesn't exactly have high ambitions at being anything other than a massive throwdown. Consequently, it makes for the most boilerplate episode of TAS to date, in the sense that the show can't be said to be doing anything much different than a standard Saturday morning action vehicle. At a push, one could say that this does continue to keep some focus on human-mutant relations, by way of Colossus' quick payday and angry reprisals from the workers whose job he unwittingly swiped. It serves as a minor counterargument to Genosha's extreme answer to the question of mutation's economic utility. Why impose outright slavery when mutants are willing to be exploited and happy to be compensated for a fraction of what it would cost to employ a larger, human workforce? An all-too American solution, but not without its consequences, as the idealistic immigrant Colossus soon learns. There's also Juggernaut's single line clarifying that isn't a mutant, despite assumptions to the contrary. Still, this doesn't especially change his perception or treatment at the hands of the X-Men or the authorities. Nor does Juggernaut seem to hold any particular animus towards mutants, in a somewhat interesting change of course -- this one's personal for him. Beyond these minor signposts -- and a rather generic theme emphasizing the power of teamwork -- there's not a lot here to elevate "The Unstoppable Juggernaut" much above the surface.
That doesn't mean it isn't thoroughly entertaining, delivering on the expected action, turning in some genuinely clever one-liners, and putting in work with a memorably imposing score. Plus, we get a delightful surprise check-in with the imprisoned Beast, keeping his subplot alive. So after coming in hot, this installment ultimately pumps the brakes at least somewhat on the show's otherwise rapid-fire pace. While the matter of Professor Xavier's absence remains to be addressed, we at least know it is of his own volition, drawing a line under the nonstop conflict and dramatic cliffhangers for now. A welcome breather, then, in as much as any massive slugfest with the Juggernaut can be. X-TRA: "The Unstoppable Juggernaut" was delayed by animation issues and was originally shown slightly out of order, as discussed by the crew. That necessitated some hasty edits to episode 7's conclusion as it was first broadcast, in an effort to smooth over the continuity. The result was an even more confusing viewing experience by the time this episode did debut, following “The Cure” and “Come the Apocalypse.” For the alternate ending of "Slave Island," aired once and never again, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS8RHoTAh14. FINALLY, Stick around for our quick-hit impressions, predictions, and BIG FEELINGS on episodes 1-5 of the sensational X-Men '97!

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #14- The Collective

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast! On this episode, they discuss the happenings from recent GCW shows and The Collective including Jenny and Matt’s live report from Joey Janela’s Spring Break 8! They then pick their match of the month and preview some upcoming shows! So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

The Jenny Position Episode 155- Talk'n Docs: Aileen Wuornos

Welcome to Talk'n Docs, the monthly podcast where we dive into the world of documentaries and review them for your listening pleasure. Hosted by Jennifer Smith, Logan Crosland and Cowboy Roger, the crew continues Season Three with a review of 2021's Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer. They also discuss the film adaption of Aileen's life, Monster. Topics include: Aileen's murders, her motives and background, and ultimate death. 

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #6- Cold Vengeance & Slave Island

Our focus returns to X-Men: The Animated Series with a pair of episodes centered on the theme of escape - in ways both figurative and literal - for our homo superior heroes. In "Cold Vengeance," matters of the heart compel Wolverine's flight to the very ends of the earth (or as he puts it, "somewhere cold"). As opposed to any sort of mutation-specific angst, Logan's unrequited love for Jean Grey serves as a universal and painfully relatable motive. In a positive exploration of human-mutant relations, however, Wolverine's enhanced physique and superhuman metabolism prove extremely advantageous to the indigenous people who have no experience or concept of mutant bigotry and take him in as one of their own. Despite seeking solitude, the loner has at last found companionship, even belonging, that arguably rivals his found family amongst the X-Men. Sadly, not everyone is so accepting of Wolverine's contributions. And when that resentment collides with a returning Sabretooth, looking to settle the score after his defeat two episodes prior, Wolverine realizes that no amount of distance is enough to separate him from his harsh, cold reality.
Meanwhile, a trio of X-Men are offered an escape from their thankless responsibilities protecting a world that fears and hates them by kicking back on the island nation of Genosha. As a purported safe haven for mutants, Genosha is all-too alluring for Storm, Gamit, and Jubilee, who relish the opportunity to investigate the authenticity of this sales pitch under the guise of vacationing tourists. Of course, in an episode entitled "Slave Island," Genosha's peaceful and inviting veneer conceals a nightmare beyond imagination. To their horror, the trio learn that the nation is only interested in mutants for their "economic contributions" as instruments of human capital. Backed by Gyrich and Trask's revived Sentinel operation, the Genoshans waste no time pressing Gambit and Jubilee into hard labor, while a rebellious Storm is locked away in solitary confinement. As originally conceived in 1988, Genosha's comics origin positioned the locale as a fairly transparent apartheid allegory. Though less contemporary by 1993 and obfuscated by adaptation and filtration through Broadcast Standards & Practices, this Genosha still packs a punch and contains notes of relevance that ring true today. As a classist society where the rich get richer and everything feels like a scam to the workforce exploited to prop up the monied elite, Genosha can just as easily be viewed as a commentary on late stage capitalism, driven to its most brutal extremes. And in that world, where there also exists a minority population endowed with fantastic special abilities? Of course they would be regarded as commodities enlisted in service of the state, voluntarily or otherwise. It's heavy subject matter for any Saturday morning cartoon, and a mere seven episodes in at that.

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #13- Unhinged

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast! On this episode, they discuss the happenings from recent GCW shows including Mance Warner’s reign of terror continuing, Nick Gage vs Ryuji Ito, Blake Christian’s title defenses and more! They then pick their match of the month and preview upcoming shows including everything happening at The Collective! So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

The Jenny Position Episode 153: Flash n' Back- You Heard About Pluto?- Walker Texas Ranger

Originally published on The Jenny Position on 7/13/22, this episode of You Heard About Pluto is part of the Flash'n Back series right here on NoSo! I will be sharing these intermittently throughout the year to relive some of my favorite shows. Enjoy!
In this edition of You Heard About Pluto, Jenny welcomes returning guest Tim Slomka to watch an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger! Few men are as iconic as Chuck Norris for some undefinable reason. Jenny and Tim talk about that plus watching the show at Grandma’s house, dogs, various cleaning products, Fire Walker Texas Ranger, the perfect margarita mix, lame eBay purchases, the Chuck Norris jokes origin, inexplicable cell phone technology and so much more! Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits… on Pluto TV!

The Jenny Position Episode 152- Talk'n Pop: Keith Langston

Jennifer Smith and Tim Capel are back with a brand NEW episode of Talk'n Pop where we proudly welcome the loquacious Keith "Keithie" Langston! Keith's quick assimilation into the extended North-South community and fast friendships within our social circle DEMANDED his turn in the hotseat. And how very fitting, given his own upbringing as something of a north-south connection itself. This goes a long way in furthering our continuing mission to know "why are you like this?" which includes Keithie's musing on:
-Accepting the role of "caretaker" within his family-The... rather pointed generationally and geographically-influenced relationship he has with his mother and other immediate family members-Planning his own wedding-Eating the whole "shit sandwich" that is divorce-And hey, speaking of shit (because such stories are contractually obligated)...-The asshole kid who steals your WWF Hasbro Mr. Perfect who you're friends with anyway-Found family via wrestling, comics, travel, and Legos
Keith can be heard on the Greetings From Allentown Podcast, hosting his own interview show A La Carte with Keithie, and is part of the regular rotation on Video Jukebox Song of the Day for the Place To Be Nation POP Experience. And if you want more of the Jenny-Tim-Keithie trio, check out X-Position: An X-Men Podcast. Despite his status as special guest, he hasn't missed an episode yet! Follow Keithie on Twitter @flounder824 for even more merriment.

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #12- One Year

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast!
On this anniversary episode, they discuss the happenings from recent GCW shows including the ongoing Mance Warner vs Effy saga, Nic Nemeth vs Matt Cardona, The Jersey J-Cup, and more! They then pick their match of the month and preview upcoming shows in March!
So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #5- X-Men (2000)

We interrupt our regular programming for the first of several periodic check-ins with the X-Men's exploits on the silver screen! This "show within a show" begins with 2000's X-MEN - the movie that put comic book adaptations back on the map.
Apropos of the concept itself, X-MEN's path to a theatrical debut was long and hard-fought. Plans to translate the series to film can be traced back to the early '80s, with comics creators Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas collaborating on a prospective screenplay for Orion Pictures. After Orion folded, subsequent efforts would invite interest from the likes of Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron for Carolco Pictures. Carolco's bankruptcy saw the rights revert to Marvel, and development stalled for years with the company unable to make the case for their successful comics franchise.
However, impressed with the X-Men's unexpected Saturday morning dominance for Fox's children's television division, producer Lauren Shuler Donner thought it only made sense to option the property for 20th Century Fox's live action slate in 1994. The next two years brought drafts and treatments by 'SEVEN' screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, author Michael Chabon, and filmmaker Ed Solomon. The studio considered Brett Ratner, Robert Rodriguez, and Paul W.S. Anderson, but it was Bryan Singer in whom Fox believed they had found their perfect fit for director. Following Singer's hiring, a finalized script was eventually hammered out, with David Hayter receiving sole screenwriter credit (despite contributions from Solomon, Christopher McQuarrie, and Joss Whedon ending up in the onscreen product). Still, Fox was hedging their bets due to a string of critical and commercial failures by superhero adaptations in recent years, capping X-MEN's budget at $75 million (a paltry sum by today's standards).
Despite some shake-ups along the way (Exit Original Wolverine and Cyclops actors Dougray Scott and Jim Caviezel, respectively), what materialized was a lean and efficient picture, brought to life by an incredibly talented - if not entirely star-studded - ensemble cast. X-MEN would overperform to the tune of $300 million worldwide, establishing itself right out of the gate as a blockbuster franchise that would carry Fox to huge box office receipts for years to come. It would likewise serve as a career-defining film series for many of its performers, themselves household names today. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe poised to make a go at recreating the magic, X-Position takes a look back at where it all began!
Join Jenny, Tim, and unofficial third co-host Keithie as we break it all down. From the creative choices, the good, the bad, and the ugly one-liners, to the cast that could have been (Glenn Danzig's Wolverine? Bob Hoskins??), and even Magneto's Mutant Cave Rave, no thought shall remain unread (or unsaid).

The Jenny Position Episode 151: Flash'n Back - Talk'n Pop: Interview With A Vampire

Originally published on The Jenny Position on 6/8/22, this episode of Talk'n Pop is part of the Flash'n Back series right here on NoSo! I will be sharing these intermittently throughout the year to relive some of my favorite shows. Enjoy!
After a few months away, Talk'n Pop returns -- now at our new home on the North-South Connection! And while the packaging may be different, it's the same great taste as Jenny and Tim bring you another revealing tell-all. Our friend and fellow podcaster MATT SOUZA takes the call this time, as we explore his Catholic school upbringing, college experience, grisly occupational injuries, and passions for music, action movies, and professional wrestling. By the conclusion of this intimate and occasionally diverting interview, you will become acquainted with the following, and be all the better for it:
- Losing just the tip- The frustration of DSL internet service- Music on physical media- The clown car party convoy- Accidental pantsing- Jean-Claude Van Damme's immortal filmography- Movies that SHOULD BE on physical media- WrestleMania Backlash with Mom It's a wild ride into the macabre mind of this working class Massachusettsian! We'd like to thank Matt for being such a great sport, and you can hear him regularly on his podcasts ECW EXTREME THREE WAY DANCE, WRESTLING CHICKEN SALAD, POPCORN CHICKEN SALAD, and PIECE OF THE ACTION! Follow him on Twitter AT msouza1991. 

GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast #11: Who Remembers December

Jennifer Smith and Matt Souza are back with a brand-new edition of GCDub: A Game Changing Podcast!
On this episode, they discuss the happenings from recent GCW shows including Mance Warner’s heel turn, the Nick Gage Invitational, Jun Kasai vs Nick Gage, and more! They also pick their match of the month and preview upcoming shows in January and February!
So, pull a door off its hinges, bundle up the light tubes, and remember… It’s MDK… ALL FUCKING DAY!

X-Position: An X-Men Podcast #4: Captive Hearts

"Unlike you, we have no choice but to dwell here, away from those who fear us."
Merely five episodes into its run, X-Men: The Animated Series is already making impressive strides in laying down some truly foundational X-Men lore. This single 22-minute outing manages to organically establish and seamlessly weave together Storm's chronic claustrophobia (first hinted at in "Deadly Reunions"), the Scott/Jean/Logan love triangle, and an entire new mutant community in the Morlocks. Following the two-part pilot's exploration of human-to-mutant social dynamics -- and presenting a dissenting viewpoint via Magneto -- the introduction of the subterranean Morlocks presents a fascinating new dimension: how the concept of racial passing is applied to the mutant metaphor. Given the complications that passing entails for real-life POC, it only stands to reason that this would likewise be an issue in the X-Men's fictional world for individuals with highly visible physical mutations. Like Magneto, this offers another contrast to the X-Men. Whereas the titular cast largely consists of mutants who are able enjoy a relative degree of privilege walking openly among humanity, the Morlocks segregate themselves from society as an act of self-preservation. True to form, the episode allows the Morlocks' attitudes towards the surface world to stand largely unchallenged as an accurate, albeit depressing, reality. It's yet another example of the series' refusal to spoon-feed its young audience with simple platitudes. Outside of the big picture world-building, "Captive Hearts" also serves as the soapiest episode to date, with rich interpersonal conflicts amongst Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean, and Storm serving as particular highlights. In addition to the iconic love triangle which will remain a staple of the series, Storm overcoming personal adversity (with Wolverine's tough love encouragement) and cementing her role as co-leader of the X-Men is a welcome development. This kind of character-first storytelling takes a page right out of the comics, propelling the X-Men's popularity in the '80s and serves as the template to their enormous multimedia success will into the '90s. It all makes for a packed house on this installment of X-Position, where Jenny and Tim are joined by Keith, Matt, and Logan to dissect all the drama.