Planet 8 Podcast

Episode 150: The Wacky World of Rankin Bass

Happy holidays to all! It's that time of year for gift-giving, overindulging in treats, and, of course, watching holiday-themed movies and shows. To celebrate our 150th episode, and since it just happens to coincide with the holidays, we decided to take a look at those beloved Rankin-Bass holiday specials. To help us with this prodigious task, we asked our friend Mr. Lobo, to join us!
We'll review the history of Rankin-Bass, how the studio came to be, a little about the backgrounds of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass, and how they made the films. Then we'll dig into the films, particularly 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "The Year Without a Santa Claus," and more. These shows definitely had an impact on us as kids, and we bet they did with you too.
And if holiday specials aren't your thing, never fear - we also talk about Rankin-Bass's work on the King Kong cartoon, the King Kong Escapes film, Mad Monster Party, and more!
In our Sensor Sweep, Mr. Lobo leads off, and he has all sorts of genre movie goodness to share! You can find him hosting Cinema Insomnia -now heading into its 23rd year - and he livestreams on Twitch, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. He is on 52 broadcast stations with Cinema Insomnia. And there's a Roku channel called OSI 74 that has Cinema Insomnia and other horror hosts and their shows, cartoons, and all sorts of programming. There's another version on Amazon Fire TV too (for a small fee).  Mr. Lobo is also going to be in Sacramento, California January 25th to host the Sacramento Horror Film Festival. Just look for him on the internet, and remember, they're not bad movies, they're just misunderstood.
Bob took a trip to the Stanford Theater to see the Wizard of Oz with his friend Stan Wong, and got a nice surprise: a terrific bust of the Creature from the Black Lagoon! Stan painted it, it was sculpted by friend of the show Jeff Wehenkel, and released by Michael Reagan.
Larry shares an episode-appropriate ornament of Snow Miser and another of Heat Miser. He also has a Laurel and Hardy book of collectibles.
The episode wraps up as the crew discusses Skeleton Crew, Dune Prophecy, Superman and Lois, 28 Years Later, and more.
Many thanks to our pal Mr. Lobo for joining us this time around!
Please let us know your memories of watching Rankin-Bass specials!
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Have a holly jolly Christmas!
 

Episode 149: A Conversation with Judith O'Dea

Although this isn't exactly what we planned for this particular episode, we're none the less pleased to be able to share with you this fun and engaging interview we did with actress Judith O'Dea, best known as "Barbara" from the original Night of the Living Dead! We had a fantastic time talking with Judith, and we think you'll enjoy this conversation, whether you're a big fan of NotLD or not!
Next time we'll be back with some holiday-themed madness! See you in two weeks!
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We can't take the car, Johnny has the keys!!

Episode 148: Thankful for Arnold Schwarzenegger

It is that time of the year when we reflect and express thanks for those things and people for which we are grateful. Here at Planet 8, we have given thanks for the MCU, for Star Trek, for Godzilla. This year, we are thankful for the Austrian Oak, the Governator, the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger. 
We're obviously grateful for his many genre films, and we'll talk a bit about Conan, Terminator, the Predator, even The Running Man and Total Recall. But we'll also look at the other aspects of Arnold's amazing life. He's been a world champion bodybuilder, a major movie star, and even the governor of California. This is a man who has always set his sites high. Not to say he hasn't had his failings - who hasn't? - but Arnold has really done it all. We'll celebrate Arnold's life here on Planet 8.
Of course, we'll also have a Sensor Sweep, and there'll be a distinct Arnold flavor to it. Karen starts us off with two books. First is Arnold's recent self-help book, Be Useful, which she recommends. Next is the magnificent Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film by John Walsh, which is just packed with gorgeous photos and details on the making of the film. Then Larry shares another piece of Conan memorabilia, the replica Conan Atlantean sword. It's a big, full-size version of that amazing sword! This is why you need to check our YouTube channel! Finally, Bob brings it home with a non-Conan item, the Jonny Quest robot spy/spider figure. But wouldn't it be cool to see Conan fight that thing??
For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, we hope you have a wonderful holiday. And regardless of whether you are celebrating or not, we wish you all a pleasant fall. Let us know your thoughts on Arnold's career. Which of his films are your favorites?
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We'll be back!
 

Episode 147: Best Sci Fi Films of the 50s

Welcome back to Planet 8! This time, we're taking a stroll through one of the greatest decades for science fiction films, the 1950s. The 50s had it all - blockbusters and classics, thrillers and chillers, and grade D flicks that are more notable today for making you laugh rather than filling you with awe. There are some noticeable themes that run through sci fi of this decade. Of course, this was the time of the Cold War, and the threat of nuclear war never seemed too far away in most of these movies. Sometimes it was not nuclear war but radiation which played a role in matters. The fear of "The Other," whether a foreign agent, or an alien from another world, was also strongly expressed. And of course, flying saucers abounded! Sit back and relax, while we share with you our picks for the decade's best science fiction film offerings!
This time in the Sensor Sweep, Bob shares a book on the designer of the original Godzilla suit. He must be in a Big G mood (when isn't he?), as he also shares a collection of the Marvel Godzilla comics, printed in color. Larry got a werewolf mask at Goodwill (it was a bargain!), and a pumpkin monster home decor piece- you really need to see it, so head over to our YouTube site!
OK kids, that's it for us. As always, let us know what you thought of our picks. What are your top three films from the 50s? Tell us at:
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Klaatu barada nikto!
 

Episode 146: A Spirited Halloween

We're mere days from Halloween, and that means we've been looking at tons of horror films! For this year's Halloween episode, your Planet 8 crew decided to focus on the spookiest of fiends, ghosts! We travel through a variety of films, from classics like The Haunting (1963) to obscurities like The Stone Tape (1972). We hope you'll enjoy our thoughts on these films and even share yours too.
For our Sensor Sweep, the crew chat about some of the series they are watching, Bob's trip to Son of Monsterpalooza in Burbank, and  Larry's unbelievable Halloween decorations. Bob shares the unique blue "Gorath" robot he recently purchased, while Larry shows off his new Super 7 Super Shogun Mechagodzilla, Space titanium version. Karen is empty-handed this time, but recommends watching For All Mankind on Apple TV.
We want to wish you all a very fun and safe Halloween! Please let us know some of your favorite ghost or haunted house movies.
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"They're heeeere"

Episode 145: Horror Movie Laughs

It's October! And that means it's time for Planet 8 to delve into the spookier side of the things. But this time around, we are enjoying our horror films with a touch (OK, more than a touch) of comedy. That's right, we're talking about that wonderful combination of scares and laughs. Your crew discusses nearly 20 classic, and perhaps not so classic, horror films that will make you break out into giggles and even belly laughs. So sit back and relax, and enjoy this compilation of some of the best, and some of the most unique, funny horror films around.
In our Sensor Sweep, we'll share what's making us happy right now (hey, we keep it PG-13). Larry's excited about the kickstarter that will deliver the soundtrack to Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein. He also has a Jack O'lantern from Halloween 3, made by Trick or Treat Studios, which sings and lights up. Bob is recovering from the highly successful Godzillafest, and he purchased a very cool item from a vendor there, Titanic creations -a 12" tall Gorgo. Finally, Karen is deliriously happy to have obtained Blu-rays of Raised by Wolves, season one and two! She also shared a CD, volume one of the classic Star Trek soundtracks (the 1701 collection) from La La Land.
We hope you enjoyed this episode, and that it gave you seom ideas for your month of Halloween viewing! Please share with us some of your favorite humorous horror films, at any of our usual locations:
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“It’s pronounced Fronk-en-steen"
 

Episode 144: The Invaders land on Planet 8!

Finally! You've heard us mention it time and again, but we've done it: we're going to discuss and dissect that classic 1960s show, The Invaders!
What is it about The Invaders that makes it so memorable? It only had 43 episodes. It wasn't put into syndication. So how has it persisted as a sci fi icon?
It's a fantastic story of one man's battle to reveal the truth, to save mankind from total destruction. It's about paranoia - who can you trust? Who is an ally, and who is an alien? And it's also fantasy, with effects that are still pretty darn cool.
We'll talk about how The Invaders came to be, what made the show great, and why we think it didn't get more seasons. We hope if you've seen The Invaders, you'll enjoy this trip back. if you haven't seen it, we hope we've encouraged you to seek it out!
For our Sensor Sweep, we start with Chief Engineer Bob, as he shares an X-Plus Godzilla 1991 artist version figure. It's a big Godzilla figure! Also, Godzillafest is coming up September 13-15th! It's going to be absolutely amazing! Go to Godzillafest.com to find all the details. Since we talked about the Invaders, Karen shares a book about one of UFOlogy's best-known figures, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, titled The Close Encounters Man, by Mark O'Connell. It's a great read. Finally, Larry shared his Alien Face-Hugger from Neca -it's life sized but you have to supply your own slime. He also showed a new acquisition, or re-acquisition, from Sideshow, of the Wolfman vs Frankenstein's Monster. 
Did you watch The Invaders? What are your memories? Let us know!
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A Quinn Martin Production!

Episode 143: Deadpool and Wolverine - Has Marvel turned the page?

We're back, and yes, we're talking about Marvel again. We've skipped a few of the Marvel films and TV shows, because frankly, we haven't been all that enthused about them. But the latest MCU effort is different. Not only did this film bring Deadpool and Wolverine into the MCU, it was also a sort of love letter to the Marvel Fox films of the past. Don't listen to this episode unless you've seen the film, because it's going to be SPOILER-FILLED!
While we varied in our levels of appreciation for the film, we all agreed that it was fun seeing Deadpool and Wolverine put together in this adventure. There's a real chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and they are entertaining to watch. 
There were also numerous cameos from actors from many other Fox Marvel films and these were a real blast to see. It seemed like they were trying to give the Fox characters a final moment of glory. 
The story itself is lightweight- don't look too closely or you might look right through it. But between the fights, the cameos, and the sheer excitement of having Wolverine in the MCU, this movie feels like a move in the right direction.
We'll also discuss some of the Marvel news coming out of San Diego Comic Con, primarily the Fantastic Four movie and the announcement that Robert Downey Jr is going to play Dr. Doom (what?).
For the Sensor Sweep,  Karen shares two Planet of the Apes books. One is a collection of short stories, Planet of the Apes: Tales from the Forbidden Zone, which is highly recommended! The second collects the novelizations of Conquest and Battle, as well as 2001's Mark Wahlberg remake. Bob got a cool Creature from the Black Lagoon bust from his friend Mark Thompson! Bob has been very busy with Godzillafest, which was a huge success. But it's not over yet! The Godzillafest Convention is coming up September 13,14, and 15th in the Japan Center Mall in San Francisco. There will be films, guests, vendors, and cosplay! Go to Godzillafest.com for more info. Finally, Larry shares some of his missing treasure -his Lala Land Star Trek CDs! He also had his Creature from the Black Lagoon full scale bust (there seems to be a theme here) completely repainted by friend of the show Jeff Wehenkel. It had been smoke-damaged in the fire, but now looks beautiful.
That's it for now. Let us know what you thought of Deadpool and Wolverine, and the rest of the Marvel news. Is Marvel on the way back?
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Suck it, Fox! I'm going to Disneyworld!