Episode 23: It’s Exciting! – Star Trek (2009) Score

Michael Giacchino arrives in the pantheon of Star Trek composers as The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular follows up on its discussion of the 2009 movie with a separate discussion just about its score. Glenn & Scott briefly summarize Giacchino’s career heading into Star Trek before breaking down the new themes he brought to bear, the plethora of alternate cues considered for the main title card, how a rare fully-original end credits sequence aids the musical storytelling of a film, what story is told by the return of Alexander Courage’s TOS theme in its entirety, and how Giacchino’s talent for crafting beautifully emotional music as well as thrilling bombast helped him make the most of the movie’s more intimate moments among its many action sequences. Scott can’t resist drawing comparisons to Jerry Goldsmith’s last several Trek scores, while Glenn prefers to concentrate on the positive. So tune in to this supplemental edition of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular!

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

Musical Selections from Star Trek by Michael Giacchino:

• “Nero Death Experience”
• “Nero Fiddles, Narada Burns”
• “Labor of Love”
• “Matter? I Barely Know Her!”
• “Chutes and Matter”

Purchase the Star Trek original score by Michael Giacchino.

Episode 22: Captain of the Enterprise – Star Trek (2009)

JJ Abrams arrives in the Star Trek film vault as The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular hits the 2009 movie. Glenn & Scott welcome special guest Greg Phillips for an extensive discussion of how Trek was rejuvenated for its eleventh film outing, what was involved in bringing the original series to the big screen in a way it had never been before, the different takes the new cast has on their roles, new designs for familiar objects & environments, how the movie has its cake and eats it too by moving the action to an alternate universe, Fratboy Dudebro Jim Kirk, and the many ways that Star Trek was brought back from the wilderness. Scott’s analysis of the title card in particular is not to be missed. So tune in to the new edition of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular — you can do zat!

(Note: This show was recorded before the death of Anton Yelchin, and as such does not address the sad and untimely news. Also, as this show was running long and the customary score discussion promised to be a lengthy one on its own, that topic was spun out into its own supplemental episode. Look for that episode directly following this one in your blog and podcast feeds.)

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

Musical Selections:

• “Booyaka 619” by P.O.D.
• “End Credits” (main theme/Kirk’s Theme excerpt) from Star Trek by Michael Giacchino
• “End Credits” (Spock’s Theme excerpt) from Star Trek by Michael Giacchino
• “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys
• “End Credits” (TOS Theme excerpt) from Star Trek by Michael Giacchino; TOS Theme originally by Alexander Courage

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Star Trek, original score by Michael Giacchino
• Ill Communication by the Beastie Boys
• "Booyaka 619" by P.O.D., from the album Wreckless Intent.

Episode 21: On the Orlando Shooting

Feeling the need to explore some issues around the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando this past Sunday, Glenn & Scott convene again on The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular. They discuss the nature of hate crimes, the widespread marginalization and dehumanization of LGBTQIAP+ people, easy access to guns, and the ubiquity of “thoughts and prayers.”

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

Musical Selections:

• “Fade To…” from Anonymous Rejected Filmscore by John Murphy
• “A Warm Place” (string quartet version) written by Trent Reznor, performed by Melissa Dunphy
• “Weather Storm” from The Space Between Us by Craig Armstrong
• “Your Favorite Color Is Green” from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 by James Newton Howard

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Anonymous Rejected Filmscore by John Murphy
• The Space Between Us by Craig Armstrong
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 score by James Newton Howard

Episode 20: This Is All a Damned Inconvenience – Star Trek: Nemesis

A generation comes to its end as Star Trek: Nemesis takes its place in the latest Star Trek film vault edition of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular. Glenn & Scott are joined by Steven Graham to try to figure out just what Shinzon’s plan is and how it’s supposed to work, what it means to seize the means of production on Romulus, how well the movie explores its ideas about mirroring and nature vs. nurture, action scenes that feel like they’re there to be used in a video game, and how the final voyage of The Next Generation treats The Next Generation. So set a collision course for the latest edition of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular! (Warning: discussion of sexual assault.)

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

Musical Selections:

• “I Need You” from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by James Newton Howard
• “My Right Arm” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The Mine” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The Scorpion” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “Repairs” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “A New Ending” (Shinzon’s theme, plaintive setting) from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The Mirror” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “Remus” from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “A New Ending” (Shinzon’s theme in its final form) from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith
• “A New Ending” (main theme, slow setting) from Star Trek: Nemesis by Jerry Goldsmith

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Star Trek: Nemesis, original score by Jerry Goldsmith
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, original score by James Newton Howard