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Episode fifty-two of fifty-two; as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, even fave podcasts… The past twelve months have been quite the broadcasting adventure, and we’re thankful for all our gentle listeners for sharing the oddity of the journey with us; joining us on the porch, along with assorted local (and vocal) wildlife, each and every week. With varied perspectives from both sides of the pond, we’ve touched on a truly diverse array of topics: music, first cars, television, movies, first jobs, vacations, museums, and much more - even a couple of daring episodes recorded in a smoke-filled kitchen. So, from Steve, Kevin, and John, we bid you farewell... for now. True, the podcast has completed its intended journey [albeit via an exceedingly rambling road - Ed] but, who knows, perhaps Matchett and the Other Guy will resurface in another dimension? And... on that wildly emotional cliffhanger, we say "stay tuned and stay well." Bye!   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Many films are well received by cinema audiences; some movies garner top honors at the Oscars. Then there are those sporadic offerings that appear destined to achieve cult status. True, some of these will never be considered cinematic masterpieces - indeed, several leave the masses scratching their heads in befuddled confusion - but all have struck a chord with a select collective whose ferver for them remains insatiable. Whether it’s a weekly midnight showing, complete with a cast of costumed characters and assorted props, or but a single fan about to cue up their 100th viewing of a firm favorite, these are the enthusiasts who know every scene: every set, location, costume, and line of dialogue... every nuance from start to finish. Let's join Steve and Kevin as they delve into some of these not-as-well-known gems, in this the penultimate episode of Matchett and the Other Guy. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

The comics… the comic strips… the funnies… the funny papers… no matter what we call them, for generations they've been an entertaining part of morning coffee and leisurely Sunday afternoons. While many characters have come and gone, some have stayed to become legendary: a lasagna-loving cat; a penguin living amongst precocious elementary age lads; a cap-wearing chap headed to the pub; or a cast of childhood characters (and the world's most famous beagle) from the mind of Charles “Sparky” Schulz. Let's join Steve and Kevin as our two hosts open up the papers and see what’s going on in their favorite strips. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

The unknown: the eternal foundation of our irrational fears... What could be lurking under the bed, listening to our every move? What could be hiding within the confines of the bedroom closet, silently watching, waiting in the darkness? For decades Movie Monsters have sent chills creeping up our spines. In bygone years, Universal provided us the iconic imagery of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Then there are the truly larger-than-life cinematic monsters… King Kong stomping through the panicked gridlock of New York; Godzilla screaming and smashing through the high-rises of Tokyo. An oddity of the human condition: We are frightened by monsters and yet we love them in equal measure. And no matter your favorite, all are welcomed friends, as we sit in the dark, nibbling popcorn, peering out from behind the security of a blanket, eyes unavoidably drawn to the glowing screen. Time now to join Steve and Kevin as they discuss this week’s topic, our hosts sitting amid the growing twilight on the banks of an eerily still lake… a slowly darkening setting in which hardly anything could possibly go wrong.    If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Commercials, they've become as much a part of our lives as our favorite television shows... indeed, some of them are better produced and more memorable than the very programs they're supporting. Who could ever forget growing up with Charmin’s Mr. Whipple; the Tootsie Pop wise owl; and Mikey, with his bowl of Life cereal? Some ads have become special yearly events, only aired during football's annual extravaganza: Huge budgets, top-shelf talent, and remarkable writing all combine and vie for their share of this truly massive viewership. Technology moves on, but it seems the ads will always be with us - endless companies weaving endless messages, all working to get our attention… and our dollars. Time now to join Steve and Kevin as we review some of these small vignettes that have been such a big part of daily life. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Dads, pops, patriarchs... no matter the moniker, all fathers have unique styles of raising their offspring. While Ward Cleaver and Mike Brady set some interesting standards, few of us actually grew up with life’s inevitable hurdles being instantly cleared with nothing but sage advice from a father figure, and with everything put to rights in under thirty minutes - the world of TV magic. Looking back, to days before fatherhood, many of our dads led remarkably interesting lives of their own, taking part in countless adventures before eventually settling down to family life. So, with all of this in mind, it's time to trade our painful wingtips for comfortable slippers, don our warmest cardigan, and push back into the most worn armchair as Steve and Kevin discuss growing up with their own dads, each based on opposite sides of the vast stretching waters of the Atlantic ocean.  If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

“Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Seven words that have ushered in a weekly staple for over 45 years; and what began as a ragtag team affectionately known as “The Not Ready For Prime-Time Players” has continually evolved over the decades, growing to become an ever changing cast of hundreds of performers, each giving their all every Saturday night at 11:30pm sharp. Not only is the show an ongoing reflection of our evolving society, it has also created some of our most enduring pop culture icons, and while some cast members have come and gone quietly, others have shot to superstardom on the big screen and beyond. So, try to stay up late, as Kevin and Steve delve into this week’s topic!  If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

It’s a bird... it’s a plane... no, it’s this week's topic! Whether a brooding billionaire with a haunted past; an insecure teen with amazing powers, yet still having to cope with the swings of adolescent life; or a goodhearted alien living amongst us, superheroes have been a part of our culture for generations. The vast majority of these derring-do characters dwell within two distinct universes, the action-packed realms of DC and Marvel. While almost all began their careers as drawings on the pages of dime store comics, more and more of them have moved from 2D to 3D, now living large in blockbuster movies, Hollywood's superhero superstars. Quick! Into that telephone booth, to swiftly change into your alter-ego, as Steve and Kevin take on this larger-than-life page-turning subject.   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!  

Bond, James Bond... Nearly seventy years ago, writer Ian Fleming introduced the world to his most famous, iconic action hero. A decade later, Sean Connery portrayed the derring-do secret agent on the silver screen; with actors Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig taking on the challenge throughout the following years. Bond's extensive skillset and gritty determination notwithstanding, his numerous world-saving missions could only be successful with the unflagging assistance of M, Q, Miss Moneypenny, and his American connection, CIA agent Felix Leiter. And then there are the gadgets, oh those remarkable gadgets! So, glimpsing the specter of this week's high-energy topic, we urge you not to engage the ejector seat rockets just yet... rather, mix a martini (shaken, not stirred), and sit back with Steve and Kevin as two our hosts discuss the most universally known fictional spy in the game of international espionage.   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

"I want my MTV!" It was the mantra of the young generation in the early '80s... change was on the horizon but no one could have predicted the impact it would have on all of us. Soon the collective voices were heard, and the likes of Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Bow Wow Wow, David Bowie, and an ever-growing list of others were joining us in our living rooms twenty-four hours a day. At the helm of this voyage were the five original VJs -  Mark, Martha, J.J., Nina, and Alan. Let's join them once again as we look back on this ambitious upstart channel that forever altered the landscape of music-video entertainment.   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

DIY: three little letters that instill feelings of  hope, excitement, and inspiration in some - an overwhelming sense of fear and trepidation in others. In either case, people tackling their own do-it-yourself projects have never been more popular. Ranging from a simple turn of the flat-blade screwdriver, to full scale, multi-step jobs, many folks are finding their initial inspiration on home improvement television shows; these thrilling ideas followed up with how-to instructional videos via YouTube. Well, be it a good idea or a bad idea, it's time to tighten our tool belts, don our safety glasses, and give this week's rather unstable topic a solid swing of the mighty sledgehammer. After all, with our two hosts Kevin and Steve in control of the work area, what could possibly go wrong?   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Museums... Reflections of society; the repositories of our collective culture - be them the vastness of the Smithsonian’s endless archives, or but a tiny collection housed within a single room, they all represent carefully curated centers of our varied interests and passions. No matter the chosen subject - somewhere on this tiny spinning blue marble of ours - there is housed a museum dedicated to it. As visitors to these intriguing halls of learning, we can always count on leaving with more knowledgeable than when we entered. And, with this as our loose subject of exploration, it's now time to open the front doors and venture [with more than a little trepidation - Ed] into the rather dusty halls and galleries that serve as our two hosts' museum of unreliable memory recall.   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!  

The coming together of nations in the spirit of competition. What started in Olympia, Greece later became the organized modern games we know today 125 years ago. Many of sporting’s greatest moments have come from these gatherings throughout the world. What are your favorites? Which have awed and inspired? Lets ignite the cauldron on this topic as Steve and Kevin look back on the games, athletes, and experiences that have stayed with us over the decades. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Marco Polo… Sharks & Minnows… Kick the Can… all games evoking summer memories of local pools, backyard lawns and fresh cut grass, all while keeping ourselves hydrated from the nearest garden hose. It was summer activities like these (whether traditional games or simple invented fun) that kept us entertained - and we needed to be entertained for endless hours because Mom had no intention of allowing us back inside until dinnertime arrived. This summer sun bonding with the kids in our “hood” cemented many of our friendships of youth - and talking of friendships, let’s get this week's discussion with Steve and Kevin underway, before the street lights begin to flicker alive, and we need to be heading back home, if we know what’s good for us! If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

Clack!… clack!… clack!... that telltale mechanical sound beneath our feet that stirs the butterflies of excitement deep inside. Not that we're given long to dwell on things; already the front of the coaster is over the peak and we're whipping down this next terrifying descent at warp speed! Amusement parks: those fabricated fantasy lands where we willingly exchange our hard earned cash to be spun, twirled, flipped, and thrown about like rag dolls. And that's the fun part, often achieved only after shuffling through endless switchback lines, seemingly waiting for hours on end, with everyone in our group quite certain that folks must be cutting in ahead of us, just around the next bend. Well, amused by them or not, these ever growing theme parks remain a top destination for young and old alike. And so, as we near the start of this week's thrilling ride of podcast excellence, it's time to gulp down the last of our giant pretzels and frozen lemonade, as we prepare ourselves to brave this soaring [though extremely rickety - Ed] ride all the way to the top! If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!  

Quite possibly the two most glorious words of the entire school year: Field trip! Really, was there anything better than rolling off campus knowing we were going to be away from the classroom... all day? Staple destinations of these thrilling ventures were often local zoos, museums, and planetariums but, once in a blue moon, there were other truly special outings, events leaving warm memories to last a lifetime. And with these reflections in mind, it's time to pack a brown bag lunch (complete with your name scribbled in black marker), load up the busses, and join Kevin and Steve, as together the class of 'Matchett and the Other Guy' head out into the wild blue yonder. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

The lights go down... the curtain rises... the show is about to begin. There is something simply magical in attending a live performance, a revered play or a modern musical. From ghostly hauntings on remote moorland islands; to the song-filled prisons of the roaring twenties; from renowned ballet troupes, whose dancers float with unequalled grace across the stage; to powerful opera arias, where strong voices carry passion and emotion to every corner of the theater - any of these stage performances promises to carry us away, to different times and faraway lands. These talented professionals have given their all to their chosen art, have ceaselessly honed their craft... and are gracious enough to share their talent with us; a bond with their awed audience. So, before the lights come back up, returning us to the starkness of reality, let's take a few minutes to enjoy our hosts' [clearly less than - Ed.] Shakespearian storytelling abilities in this week's discussion on the grand majesty of the live stage. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!  

Flora and Fauna... well fauna anyway. Whether home is urban or rural, a rough hewn cabin or a well-appointed apartment, our friends from the animal kingdom are always popping by to visit. Some of these uninvited guests are genuinely endearing, and we warmly welcome their scampering antics as they search for food and water; others not so much… and many generations have strived to perfect methods of keeping these various garden nibblers and hole diggers at bay. Be them cute or conniving, however, we have no option but to share our world with these near innumerable “critters” (as the Clampetts might say). And so, as we once again find ourselves sitting on the porch, pondering life, lets join Steve and Kevin - and more than a few grumpy geese - as our hosts discuss some of our furry/feathered friends. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

When perusing the pages of the family photo album - looking back at our emerging youth - the often heard plaintive cry is: "What on earth was I wearing!" For better or worse these funny, cringe-worthy moments are forever frozen in time for our future generations to enjoy… Grown-ups dressed our very early days, then, fortunately, we gained identity, personality and opinions; even given limited freedom to influence our own wardrobe choices. A brave new world. Inevitably there were some coveted must-have items: expensive brands, outfits and accessories which our parents had absolutely no intention of indulging. That said, even given these inevitable budget limitations, the reality of living in the real world, we still found a way to forge our individual styles. Sure, with the benefit of hindsight, some of our early style choices left much to be desired - but at the time we remained thoroughly convinced that we were staying sharp, looking good. Time now to join our podcast's very own aspiring fashion gurus, Steve and Kevin, as our two [definitely not so well-dressed - Ed.] hosts venture to the deepest depths of their own closets, where they might just unearth things infinitely more terrifying than mere undressed skeletons. If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!

It's often suggested that laughter is the best medicine... well, if that’s the case, then comedians must be our go-to healers. With their first stand-up routines limited to dingy small clubs, a select few talented performers have perfected their craft, swiftly ascending the career ladder with endless acclaimed tours in sold-out arenas. An even smaller number have managed the move from stage to screen: central figures in their own television shows or Hollywood films. At any level of personal success, their aim is to make us chuckle, to create laughter even in the most dire of times. And so, in this week's episode, let’s leave our troubles at the comedy club door and join Kevin and Steve as we explore something of these curious entertainers - those misfit troupers set on turning our slight smiles into full-on belly laughs.   If you would like to leave feedback, please email us at contact@matchettandtheotherguy.com or rate our episode on your favorite podcasting app!