Episode 27: Stranger Things

Stranger Things has made a splash as the newest blockbuster Netflix original series, and The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular is ON IT. Glenn is joined by Alanna Kelly to talk about the pacing concerns of streaming shows, a shared love of damaged people doing their best, Stranger Things‘ various models of parenting, and much more. So tune in on your walkie-talkie, make sure your compass is pointing in the right direction, and check out the latest episode of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular!

(Mentioned in the show: the Hyperbole and a Half post “Adventures in Depression“)

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

Musical selections from Stranger Things by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein:

• “Stranger Things”
• “Breaking and Entering”
• “Hanging Lights”
• “Dispatch”

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Stranger Things, Vol. 1 by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
• Stranger Things, Vol. 2 by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein

Episode 26: Life Is But a Dream - The Star Trek Mailbag

You sent in your Star Trek questions, and The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular is ON THEM. Glenn & Scott reflect on their Star Trek film vault series with a short list of topics they missed, such as horsies and dreams, followed by questions sent in by listeners, friends of the show, and past guests. The mailbag leads the ol’ Spectacular on a journey through Shakespearean Klingons, the meaning of family, the future of the franchise, and much more. In the jingle-jangle morning, listen to the latest episode of The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular!

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

Musical Selections:

• “End Credits” from Star Trek Into Darkness by Michael Giacchino
• “Sub Prime Directive” from Star Trek Into Darkness by Michael Giacchino
• “Sub Prime Directive” from Star Trek Into Darkness by Michael Giacchino
• “Mr. Tambourine Man” by William Shatner & Bob Dylan

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Star Trek Into Darkness original score by Michael Giacchino
• The Transformed Man by William Shatner

Episode 25: Happy Birthday – Star Trek: Beyond

Star Trek: Beyond has arrived, and The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular is ON IT. In this reaction show, Glenn & Scott follow their Star Trek vault series with their take on the fiftieth-anniversary film offering, including a spoiler-free section to start. After that they discuss the villain’s motivations, Starfleet’s mission, Kirk’s journey, the nature of family, and much more. The occasion of Rihanna’s contribution brings up the history of Star Trek movies’ engagement with the pop music. Also, of course, the film must deal with the losses of Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin.

The spoiler-free section at the beginning of the show contains no spoilers for anything. The rest of the show contains SPOILERS for Star Trek Beyond, the Destiny trilogy, two Harry Potter books, and amazingly enough, the yet-to-be-written Star Trek 4.

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

Musical selections from Star Trek: Beyond by Michael Giacchino:

• “Hitting the Saucer a Little Hard”
• “Night on the Yorktown”
• “Crash Decisions”
• “A Lesson in Vulcan Mineralogy”
• “Star Trek Main Theme”

Purchase the Star Trek: Beyond original score by Michael Giacchino.

Episode 24: It’s Nice to Have a Family – Star Trek: Into Darkness

Star Trek: Into Darkness crashes into the Star Trek film vault as The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular’s archival journey reaches the most recent installment. Glenn & Scott are joined by Alanna Kelly to discuss warmongering, the rule of law, Admiral RoboCop’s A Few Good Men moment, the meaning of role-reversal in terms of the new Trek movies’ engagement with AU fanfic, Sassy Spock, more love triangles, Leonard Nimoy’s final appearance, Scotty’s tenure as the movie’s conscience, Kirk’s merry-go-round of ranks & jobs, Klingons who’re into body modification, and the movie’s issues with race & gender — particularly regarding The Actor of Many Names. Scott and Alanna indulge their love of the movie, while Glenn spends some time writhing around trying to adequately express his discomfort.

(Note: This show was recorded before the death of Anton Yelchin, and as such does not address the sad news.)

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

Musical Selections from Star Trek: Into Darkness by Michael Giacchino:

• “Ode to Vengeance”
• “Warp Core Values”
• “Klingon Chase”
• “Warp Core Values”

Purchase the Star Trek: Into Darkness original score by Michael Giacchino.

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

Episode 19: It Becomes Wrong – Star Trek: Insurrection

Star Trek: Insurrection threatens to cause an insurrection of its own in the newest dive into the Star Trek film vault on The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular. Glenn & Scott are joined by Scott Criscuolo to break down the fountain of youth, how a family feud becomes a parable about imperialism, F. Murray Abraham, what could have been done with Data in this movie that would actually have been interesting, the late stage of Jerry Goldsmith’s career, what insights can be gleaned from Michael Piller’s book about the writing of the film, and how The Next Generation deals with being jammed into a standard action movie formula. This podcast is replete with Scotts but doesn’t get confusing…not that we care about such things in this day and age. So pop a gorch and join the latest Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular!

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

Musical selections from Star Trek: Insurrection by Jerry Goldsmith:

• “End Credits”
• “Ba’Ku Village”
• “The Drones Attack”
• “The Healing Process”

Buy the Star Trek: Insurrection score album by Jerry Goldsmith.

Episode 18: Where Was Your Evolved Sensibility – Star Trek: First Contact

Star Trek: First Contact tries to add The Glenn Butler Podcast Hour Spectacular’s distinctiveness to its own, as the Star Trek vintage vault series continues. Glenn & Scott discuss genre drift as First Contact lurches from horror film to action thriller to something more akin to a Star Trek story, and as the Borg lurch from zombies to vampires to insects. They also discuss the meaning of the Borg (and how that changes now that they have a queen), why Captain Picard invites the whole collective to the gun show, the bizarre eroticism of the Borg Queen, the beginning of the Star Trek future, and the beginning of the end of a Star Trek series. Now with the intense discussions of starship design you’ve all been asking for!

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

Musical Selections:

• “End Credits” from Star Trek: First Contact by Jerry Goldsmith
• “Main Title” from Star Trek: First Contact by Jerry Goldsmith
• “I Need You” from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by James Newton Howard
• “First Contact” (spaghetti western version) from Escapade Velocity by Steve Greaves

Purchase the music excerpted in this episode:

• Star Trek: First Contact original score by Jerry Goldsmith
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire original score by James Newton Howard
• Escapade Velocity by Steve Greaves