Episode 16: To Live Forever – Star Trek: Generations

The generations meet as Star Trek: Generations arrives in The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular’s Star Trek film vault series. Glenn & Scott break down The Next Generation‘s arrival on the big screen, including all the ways and all the times the torch was passed, how Captain Picard is like Tom Bombadil, what it means to have a TV production staff making a movie, aging, regret, the pull of duty, the dual symbolism of the Nexus, James T. Kirk: Existentialist, Data & Picard’s feels, symbolic sacrifices, normality, and what we leave behind. You don’t have to wait until Tuesday for this episode of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular!

Find Glenn’s article on the wider Star Trek franchise in 1994 here.

You can support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/nontoxicfanboys.

Musical Selections from Star Trek: Generations by Dennis McCarthy:

• “Overture”
• “Out of Control”
• “A Christmas Hug”
• “Final Fight”

Purchase the Star Trek: Generations original score by Dennis McCarthy.

Episode 15: Goy Vey

It’s time for a quick Campaign 2016 update on The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular, as Glenn & Scott welcome Steve Wille back to the podcast to examine how some of the candidates are campaigning among Jews in the lead-up to the New York primary. Candidates are rolling out matzah, quizzing Yeshiva students, listing their favorite figures from the Tanakh, bragging about their grandkids, and much more — and the ol’ Spectacular is ON IT. By the end of the show Scott hardly has any face left to palm. So get a bagel, try to parlay it into some votes, and enjoy a policy-light and sarcasm-heavy discussion!

You can support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/nontoxicfanboys.

Musical selections:

• “Hava Nagila” by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
• “Hava Nagila (Christmas Arrangement)” by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
• “Hatikvah”
• “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem“

Episode 14: Don’t Let it End This Way – Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

It’s the end of an era, as Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country comes under the watchful eye of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular. Glenn & Scott examine the final voyage of the collected Original Series cast, including its story’s parallels to the end of the Cold War, the celebration of Star Trek‘s 25th anniversary from the perspective of its 50th, the crew’s abruptly increased space-racism, the return of Nicholas Meyer, things and supplies, logic as the beginning of wisdom, and more adventures in budgetary restrictions. There’s also no small amount of debate as to what exactly one should call Spock’s violation of Valeris. (Warning: discussion of rape and torture from 38:31 to 53:40.)

You can support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/nontoxicfanboys.

Musical Selections:

• “Star Trek VI End Credits Suite” by Cliff Eidelman
• “Sign Off” from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country by Cliff Eidelman
• “I Need You” from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by James Newton Howard
• “Star Trek VI End Credits Suite” by Cliff Eidelman

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, original score by Cliff Eidelman
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, original score by James Newton Howard

Episode 13: What Does God Need with a Starship? – Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is the latest entry into the Star Trek film vault series, as The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular investigates one of the most derided entries in the franchise. Glenn & Scott welcome special guest Erik Amundsen for an in-depth discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Star Trek V, the character dynamics, William Shatner’s turn in the director’s chair, how the film also reflects Shatner’s interests as an artist, the film’s place in the development of the Star Trek franchise, the meaning of Uhura’s nude fan dance, Doctor McCoy’s stance on euthanasia, and whether The Final Frontier deserves the reputation it’s accrued. The three also consider two very important questions: what does God need with a starship, and why is Captain Kirk climbing a mountain?

We need our pain, but sometimes the words aren’t important, what’s important is that you have a good time singing.

Find Erik’s published fiction at Jabberwocky, Apex Magazine, Lackington’s, and twice at Clarkesworld.

You can support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/nontoxicfanboys.

Musical Selections from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier by Jerry Goldsmith:

• “The Mountain (Main Title)”
• “Life Is a Dream” (Klingon Theme excerpt)
• “Cosmic Thoughts” (AKA Kirk and Spock’s Love Theme)
• “Let’s Get Out of Here (Part 2)”

Purchase the Star Trek V: The Final Frontier original score by Jerry Goldsmith.