Stop me if you've heard this one before: Tony Stark built a killer robot and things didn't go as planned.

Yes, that's right! Although we began Cinema Excelsior with a discussion of "Howard the Duck", only two of our five regular panelists were actually a part of that landmark episode. As a holiday present to you, dear listener, we have re-viewed the film and subjected it to a full five-panelist dissection. Have our thoughts changed since our initial viewing four years ago? Listen to find out!

I am a leading man!

These timelines are so confusing.

A priest beat up Valerian, John Adams, and Ray Charles to impress his girlfriend. It doesn't work.

We are not Spider-Fans.

The villainous Miguel remains missing in action.

All right, gang. This was a tough one. Starring Billy Barty as himself.

In this episode: Stefan and Drew take their destiny into their own hands.

WWE is the biggest American wrestling promotion, but it isn't the only one. In a post-WCW world, the independent wrestling scene has flourished, reaching audiences via digital distribution and differentiating themselves from the big dog. But what does it mean to be an independent promotion - or wrestler - in 2018, and is the industry's history of consolidation doomed to repeat itself?

In this episode: Stefan and Drew talk.

There comes a moment in any wrestling story where the performers will take the time to stop and speak directly to the audience. This fourth-wall breaking tradition has its roots in traditional sports interviews, but over the last half century has evolved into a staple of the medium. In this episode, we explore the past, present, and future of the promo, analyze what separates a good talker from a bad talker, and discuss some of our personal favorites on the mic.

In this episode: RAM JAM! RAM JAM! RAM JAM!

It's one of the most important representations of wrestling in mainstream culture of the last twenty years, but is 2008's Darren Aranofsky film The Wrestler really a "wrestling picture"? It's a question too big for Stefan and Drew to answer even in our tag-team configuration, so in this special Trios Edition podcast, we invite Dr. Derek Long, Assistant Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and secret uncredited creator of Smarten Up, to join us in breaking down Mickey Rourke's big comeback.

In this brief special episode, we discuss our thoughts on tonight's NXT Takeover event and whether the time is right for Johnny Wrestling to become Johnny Champion, among other topics. 

In this episode: Buzzer. Pause. Music.

The Royal Rumble is WWE's crowning achievement in the world of gimmick matches. Brilliant in its simplicity yet endlessly flexible, it is a unique stage upon which to tell stories. The Rumble is in many ways the perfect introduction to what WWE is at any given moment in time. This time around, we explore what makes the Rumble unique, the kinds of stories that it can tell, its significance in the WWE calendar, and what separates a great Rumble from a bad one. With the 2018 edition airing on Sunday, January 28, consider this your introduction to one of wrestling's greatest treats.

In this episode: Drew and Stefan walk the runway. (Do you ever run the runway?)

One of the primary objectives of any wrestling performer is to distinguish himself or herself from the crowd. In a primarily visual medium, costuming and ring attire are effective tools for standing out from the cavalcade of similar looking athletic performers. Costuming communicates critical information about a performer's character and may play an important role in helping a wrestler get over with an audience. In this episode, we dive into the clothes that make the men, and explore what the choice of attire says about the performer.

In This Episode: Stefan and Drew have a price.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Incorporated is a publicly-traded corporation worth approximately $2.5 billion. It is one of the largest companies in a global industry, boasting a surprisingly diverse set of revenue streams and one of the most innovative and important media technology services of the last decade. It cannot be overstated: wrestling is a business first and foremost, and the first objective of its leading promoters is and always has been to make money. This week, we dive deep on how that money is made - by promotions in general, and specifically by WWE. We also touch on a number of related issues, including talent compensation, labor market dynamics, and how business practices best suited to the carny circuit have been folded into a modern media empire.

In this episode: Stefan and Drew get silly.

Professional wrestling is at its core a variety show, with different segments meant to appeal to different audiences. But while its dramatic aspects are often highlighted, its comedic segments are rarely appreciated in the same way. Sometimes its easier to laugh at wrestling than with it, but there is a proud tradition of wrestling comedy, and the masters of the form are those that understand how to combine fists and farce to make something sublime.

This week: Stefan is Drew's hype-man.

Although less prominent than it once was, the role of the manager has a proud place in the annals of professional wrestling. Managers can make or break storylines, give voice and credibility to performers, and drive programs to new heights. A manager, like a wrestler, is tasked with creating a connection with an audience, but the tools in his or her toolkit are radically different than those of their in-ring charges. Those who wield those tools well can become as big a draw as the grapplers they lead.

In this episode: Stefan and Drew are en fuego.

Wrestling's reach extends far beyond the United States, and as the medium has moved into different countries, it has come to both reflect and influence local cultures in surprising ways. In Mexico, wrestling is lucha libre, and although the basic structures are largely the same as its US counterpart, its substance, presentation, and place in Mexican culture could not be more different. In this, the first of our journeys outside of the American circuit, we present an introduction to wrestling in Mexico, its history, and what distinguishes it as a unique variation on the form.

“Any understanding of this nation has to be based, and I mean really based, on an understanding of [Big Willie Style]. I believe that firmly. It defined us.” - Shelby Foote

What do you get for winning "The Oregon Trail"?