The Incomparable

The Incomparable 80: Khan Film Festival

Jason Snell — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 04:15:00 GMT

Continuing our assembly of the Incomparable Film Festival! We fill out our list of 35 classic films for imaginary display to imaginary crowds. Find out our final 21 (or is it 22?) choices! Then vote for your favorites. (Part 2 of 2.)

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This episode is sponsored by AppsFire and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 79: Everything Sounds Beautiful in German

Jason Snell — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 GMT

We’re creating the Incomparable Film Festival! Each day for a week, one of us will introduce five films (to be screened at an imaginary location not to be determined). To prevent duplication of selections, our seven participants will choose favorite films in a draft format. When all is said and done, 35 classic movies will be chosen by our panel of geeks. (Part 1 of 2.)

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This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 78: Clones and Telepaths vs. Love

Jason Snell — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Our Comic Book Club gets in a romantic mood with a discussion of comic-book romances—the (very) few that have stood the test of time and the (very) many that have been thwarted by clones, telepaths, cloned telepaths, and—worst of all—Satan’s Annulment. Also, what are we reading?

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This episode is sponsored by Smile, Sourcebits, and Shopify.

The Incomparable 77: Women's Libber

Jason Snell — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:00:00 GMT

Step through your time portal, buy some cheap 1950s hamburger, and prepare for our discussion of Stephen King’s new novel 11/22/63. How does a 21st century man react to the racism and sexism of the south in the mid-20th century? Would the world have been a better place if Kennedy hadn’t been assassinated? Is Canada really eyeing the state of Maine anxiously? Like the book, we have some—but not all—of the answers.

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This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 76: Robert Redford's Foot

Jason Snell — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:45:00 GMT

Live from the Macworld |iWorld Live Stage, it’s a discussion of our favorite (and least favorite) uses of technology in movies, TV shows, books, and more.

Links for this episode:

Video version on YouTube courtesy Macworld

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 75: My Gazebox is Full of Menhirs

Jason Snell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Go north, get lamp, and check your inventory, as guest host Greg Knauss takes you on a journey into the world of interactive fiction, also known as “text adventures.” Did families in the ’80s really sit around the Apple II playing “Mystery House?” Will saving a game really erase your floppy disc? Listen if you dare, but watch out for grues!

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This episode is sponsored by Vidmeup and Stripe.

The Incomparable 74: I'm Definitely Not a Girl

Jason Snell — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:30:00 GMT

It’s fun for the whole family, as we discuss some of our favorite movies for kids (and their parents). Did we really recommend an animated movie from Dreamworks? And a movie with Melanie Griffith? And a German fantasy film? Well, yes, but you’ll have to listen to find out which ones.

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This episode is sponsored by Harvest and Rackspace.

The Incomparable 73: Ugh - A 2011 Clip Show

Jason Snell — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:30:00 GMT

We bid farewell to 2011 by listing the favorite things we inhaled into our brains during the past year. We also recall our favorite podcast moments, read a whole bunch of listener comments, and more. (Although this is a clip show, two-thirds of the running time is actually original material!)

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This episode is sponsored by MailChimp and Shopify.

The Incomparable 72: The Screams of Trees

Jason Snell — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

All hail the power of motherhood! We discuss this year’s “Doctor Who” Christmas special, “The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe.” Plus, why Christmas episodes make us feel warm inside, and the amazing scanner-blocking powers of wool!

Links for this episode:

The Incomparable #18: Christmas with the Doctor

This episode is sponsored by Shopify.

The Incomparable 71: The Holiday Movie Vault

Jason Snell — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:30:00 GMT

Grab some eggnog and hitch up your reindeer! It’s time to put six holiday films in the Incomparable Film Vault! We discuss some beloved classics and offer a few surprise choices that redefine what “holiday” and “film” actually mean. What is a realistic depiction of Santa? Is Bill Murray’s best Scrooge not actually in “Scrooged”? Has Clarence the angel left a trail of dead bodies behind him? Is Kris Kringle the original Apple Genius? Happy holidays, everyone!

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This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 70: At the Time, They Were Just Average Height

Jason Snell — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

It turns out we all like They Might Be Giants! So we did an entire episode about geeky music. We pick favorite TMBG songs, and then bring up some other geeky tracks we love by Fountains of Wayne, Moxy Früvous, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.

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This episode is sponsored by Squarespace and Smile.

The Incomparable 69: Love Conquers All, But So Do Guns

Jason Snell — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Break out your gaming laptop and pass the ammunition: It’s time to discuss Neal Stephenson’s “REAMDE.” Why does the book’s plot take a hard left turn halfway through? Why does Stephenson struggle to write endings—and does he succeed this time? Is this book about family, the victory of the outsider, or blowing things up? (Can’t it be all three?)

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This episode is sponsored by Squarespace and Smile.

The Incomparable 68: Jedi Weekend

Jason Snell — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:45:00 GMT

Gather some bounty hunters and warm up the carbon freezer! It’s time for the conclusion of our epic discussion of “The Empire Strikes Back.” We dissect the evolution of the Han-Leia relationship, the truly playful nature of Yoda and the importance of Dagobah, Vader’s agenda and his crunchy gloves, and Luke’s continuing adventures with garbage.

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This episode is sponsored by United Pixelworkers and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 67: Darth Vader's Office is Really Weird

Jason Snell — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Launch your probe droids and cut open your tauntaun! It’s time for part one of our two-part discussion of “The Empire Strikes Back.” Does Han Solo just want to be loved? Is Chewie sabotaging the Falcon on purpose? Why is snowy Hoth the setting? Why is Ben Kenobi a man of few words? Who’s scruffy-lookin’? And what is the purpose for Darth Vader’s clamshell office, anyway?

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This episode is sponsored by United Pixelworkers and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 66: Regular People Like Us

Jason Snell — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:15:00 GMT

Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One” is a sci-fi novel that’s chock full of references to 1980s culture. But is it a good book, or are the references all that it’s got going for it? What will John Hughes movies be like in the future? And what do Cline, P.G. Wodehouse, and Umberto Eco have in common?

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Discuss the episode and buy the book on theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Shopify and Squarespace.

The Incomparable 65: Maine is Purgatory

Jason Snell — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT

A new TV season is here! We analyze the new shows, plus some returning favorites. Among our targets: Revenge, Homeland, Terra Nova, Once Upon a Time, Grimm, Person of Interest, American Horror Story, Ringer, A Gifted Man, Boss, and returning shows The Walking Dead, Fringe, Community, Supernatural, Haven, and Dexter. Also: Why does Scott McNulty think every show is Prime Suspect?

Links for this episode:

Discuss on theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Bare Bones and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 64: Ghosts Cause Cancer

Jason Snell — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:00:00 GMT

When you want to get in the Halloween spirit, who you gonna call? Join us in celebrating 1984’s supernatural comedy classic, “Ghostbusters.” Are ghosts a serious environmental hazard requiring the intervention of the EPA? Why do the Ghostbusters transform from college professors into blue-collar plumbers when they put on their jump suits? Is Roasted Terror Dog with Human Nougat the worst candy ever devised? And which one of our panelists attended a cat-themed bat mitzvah in the same ballroom destroyed by the Ghostbusters?

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 63: Like a Good Book Exploded

Jason Snell — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:45:00 GMT

Is “The Wise Man’s Fear” a rich fantasy novel about storytelling and myth-making, or is it a collection of good story elements scattered across an overlong plot? Could it be both? Ninjas! Off-camera shipwrecks! Board games! Sexism! Off-camera courtroom drama! Discursions within digressions within framing sequences! Join us as we discuss yet another 1000-page fantasy novel, the sequel to “The Name of the Wind.”

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This episode is sponsored by Squarespace and TinyLetter.

The Incomparable 62: The Pig is Chekhov's Gun

Jason Snell — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:15:00 GMT

We discuss “A Dance With Dragons,” the latest 1000-page installment in George R.R. Martin’s bestselling “Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy series. Is this series going to end well? Which parts of this book were good, and which just treaded water? Would adding Klingons have helped? Why are trees the Westeros equivalent of security cameras? These are the sorts of questions you ask deep in the middle of a long fantasy series.

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This episode is sponsored by Sourcebits, Handelabra Studio, and Shopify.

The Incomparable 61: Number Ones

Jason Snell — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Our Comic Book Club tackles the topic of #1 issues, especially those in DC’s recent relaunch. We recommend some books and talk about some of our favorite Number Ones. Also we touch on a few of the controversial #1 DC issues and question whether DC is really trying to reach a new audience or just pander to the old one.

This episode is sponsored by Rackspace and easyDNS.

The Incomparable 60: Thanks For Everything... Now Go Die

Jason Snell — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:15:00 GMT

Why do secret agents wear make-up under their eyepatches? When do text messages not properly convey thanks for saving the universe? Are the Cybermen the worst villians ever? We wrap up the sixth season of “Doctor Who” with discussion of the last three episodes as well as the season as a whole.

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This episode is sponsored by Squarespace and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 59: Flitting is in (TV Fantasy Pitches)

Jason Snell — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:45:00 GMT

We conclude our TV Fantasy Draft with the unveiling of our series pitches. Vampire and ghost detectives! Star Trek meets the West Wing! A sitcom starring a robot and an omnipotent being! A gritty techno-drama. A psychedelic drama set on a Zeppelin! And John Siracusa’s pitch seems awfully familiar somehow.

Links for this episode:

Leave your comments about this episode at theincomparable.com.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 58: Greyskull Anonymous (TV Fantasy Draft)

Jason Snell — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:00:00 GMT

Who are the best TV characters of all time? Six people set out to draft teams of 10 characters each, from which they would form some of the strangest TV ensembles ever seen. Will Captain Kirk, Columbo, and The Fonz end up on the same show? Perhaps the craziest episode we’ve ever done highlights dozens of our favorite characters from TV history.

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This episode is sponsored by HelpSpot and Rackspace.

The Incomparable 57: Weird Subplots About Fondue

Jason Snell — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT

This past summer’s superhero movies are in the spotlight! Are the gods just aliens? When are mutant strippers unrealistic? Why would you beat up people after costing them their jobs? And why do the Stark boys enjoy themselves—and cheesy foodstuffs—so much? Our esteemed panel breaks down how “Captain America,” “Thor,” “X-Men: First Class,” and “Green Lantern” fared.

Links for this episode:

Episode 57 notes

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 56: Let Me in the Frickin' TARDIS!

Jason Snell — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Press the Green Anchor and jump into a parallel timestream: it’s time to talk “Doctor Who.” In this flash episode we deconstruct the two most recent episodes, “Night Terrors” and “The Girl Who Waited.” And here’s a hint: we liked one of them way more than the other.

Links for this episode:

Episode 56 notes at theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Campaign Monitor and Shopify.

The Incomparable 55: If a Show Never Airs, Can It Be Cancelled?

Jason Snell — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:00:00 GMT

This podcast is cancelled! We discuss TV shows that failed to reach their proper natural lifespan. When all is said and done, you’ll hear recommendations for 25 excellent series that burned bright and weren’t allowed to fade away. Fantasy football drafts were never this good.

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This episode is sponsored by Field Notes, Audible, and thoughtbot.

The Incomparable 54: Put on this Mask and Strut for Mama

Jason Snell — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Strap on your jet pack and locate your pet monkey! Our Comic Book Club reconvenes to discuss works by writer Brian K. Vaughan, who excels at the high-concept premise. In the spotlight: “Runaways,” “Y: The Last Man,” and “Ex Machina.” With plenty of digressions along the way, about feminism, parenting, sexism, and (once again) how hard it is to write an ending.

This episode is sponsored by Field Notes, Audible, and thoughtbot.

The Incomparable 53: Let's Quilt Hitler

Jason Snell — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Flash podcast! A largely unedited Skype conversation after this weekend’s “Doctor Who” midseason premiere, “Let’s Kill Hitler.”

This episode is sponsored by Field Notes, Audible, and thoughtbot.

The Incomparable 52: A Cthuluesque Vomiting of Ideas

Jason Snell — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:00:00 GMT

Rip off your hearing limbs and join us for the first anniversary edition of The Incomparable. As with the first podcast, the Book Club discusses a China Miéville novel: in this case, “Embassytown.” Also: What are we reading? Glenn is reading a comic book. We are disappointed.

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This episode is sponsored by Shopify and Rackspace.

The Incomparable 51: Zombie Marmaduke (Hugo Awards 2011)

Jason Snell — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

We read the 2011 Hugo nominees for Best Novel. Sit back and enjoy our reviews of “Blackout/All Clear,” “Cryoburn,” “The Dervish House,” “Feed,” and “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.” Plus, we recommend a few of the nominated short stories.

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This episode is sponsored by easyDNS and Campaign Monitor .

The Incomparable 50: We Apologize for the Extinction of the Clownfish

Jason Snell — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Talking “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story 2,” and “Wall-E.” Plus, we discuss what Pixar should do next to challenge itself, try to understand why “Cars 2” was made, and pick out our least favorite thing Pixar has ever done. Hint: Jason has a problem with rats. (Part 2 of 2.)

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This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 49: It's Like "Working Girl" With Monsters

Jason Snell — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Old men with balloons! Wisecracking monsters! Superheroes with mid-life crises! The films of Pixar are in our sights this week. Join us as we pick our favorite films and explore why Pixar’s movies are better than those from other animation studios. (Part 1 of 2.)

This episode is sponsored by MailChimp and easyDNS.

The Incomparable 48: Can I Get Some Extra Dragons on That, Please?

Jason Snell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:00:00 GMT

From the Wall in the north (behind which lurk the fearsome White Walkers) to across the Narrow Sea (which is sort of dull), the first season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” has everything the George R. R. Martin book has, with perhaps more attractive naked people having sex in front of you. Also: Uncomfortable chairs.

Links for this episode:

Show notes as theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and Shopify.

The Incomparable 47: Death Star University

Jason Snell — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Continuing our discussion of “Star Wars,” the original film. We praise the jump to hyperspace, explain why TIE fighter pilots wear black, ponder how Han and Leia somehow turn up in an Aaron Sorkin scene, reveal why there is no Space OSHA, comment on Ben Kenobi’s old man slippers and incomparable pseudonym, and expose the rebellion so rich it can have its own university and mint its own medals. (Part 2 of 2.)

This episode is sponsored by Field Notes and iStockphoto.

The Incomparable 46: I Like My Coffee Like My Evil Sith Lords

Jason Snell — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

“Star Wars,” the original film, is finally in our crosshairs, and if we can bulls-eye a Womp Rat we can take on this classic sci-fi film. We talk about our first memories of Star Wars, pretend the prequels didn’t happen, give Cantina drink-ordering tips, and marvel at Darth Vader’s coffee-drinking habits. (Part 1 of 2.)

Links for this episode:

Greg Knauss on Darth Vader’s coffee habit

This episode is sponsored by OmniGroup: OmniFocus and Worthwhile.

The Incomparable 45: Lesbian, Silurian, Victorian

Jason Snell — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Pour yourself a White Mickey and listen to our discussion of the first half of “Doctor Who’s” split season. We discuss “The Rebel Flesh,” “A Good Man Goes to War,” and the season as a whole. Or half? We also debate the merits of Lesbian Victorian Silurians and Auton Roman Centurions.

Links for this episode:

This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and Sound Studio 4.

The Incomparable 44: Emperor Aquaman

Jason Snell — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

DC decides to stick a fork in continuity and reboot its universe. Publicity stunt, bold creative move, or both? Andy Ihnatko joins Lisa, Jason, and the good Jason to discuss this latest attempt to save the comics industry.

Links for this episode:

Show notes at theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Rackspace and Shopify.

The Incomparable 43: Mulder and Pacey in "The F-Files"

Jason Snell — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Everybody’s got an adorable parallel-universe nickname — The Walternate! Flauxlivia! Pacey! — on the always unpredictable Fox sci-fi show Fringe. Sure, it’s no Lost (nor X-Files, nor “Enemy Within”) but it’s got its charms, including high-speed pregnancy, Leonard Nimoy impressions and cast members from “The Wire” not being given enough interesting things to do.

Links for this episode:

Show notes at theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Rackspace and Shopify.

The Incomparable 42: 42

Jason Snell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Do you know where your towel is? Are you a hoopy frood? Have you just consumed your fifth Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster? We have. And you’d better catch up. In honor of our 42nd podcast and the recent Towel Day, The Incomparable celebrates the life and work of Douglas Adams. We feature our special guest, Yoz Grahame, who worked for Adams’ The Digital Village, the producers of Web sites such as h2g2.com (a precursor to Wikipedia of sorts).

Links for this episode:

Show notes on theincomparable.com

This episode is sponsored by Harvest, Sound Studio 4, iStockphoto, and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 41: ...But Your Kids Are Gonna Love It

Jason Snell — Sun, 22 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Turn on your flux capacitors, calculate how many “jigabytes” your hard drive contrains, and prepare for our deconstruction of the “Back to the Future” movie series. Which film reigns supreme? Plus, we talk about other time-travel movies we love. This episode recorded entirely live in a tiny, enclosed space.

Links for this episode:

The Back to the Future collection on Amazon

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 40: An Ending Ten Years in the Making

Jason Snell — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

After long delays, our Comic Book Club discusses Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s “Planetary,” which is only fitting given that the 27-issue series took 10 years to be released. We also talk about how hard it is to write a satisfying ending to any fictional work.

This episode is sponsored by Rackspace and Shopify.

The Incomparable 39: Bigger on the Inside

Jason Snell — Sun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Neil Gaiman breathes life into the TARDIS in this week’s “Doctor Who” episode, “The Doctor’s Wife.” We discuss what we liked about this much-hyped episode, as well as detailing how Rory dies this week.

This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and OmniGroup: OmniFocus.

The Incomparable 38: Curse of the Bad Plot

Jason Snell — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Flash discussion of Doctor Who’s “Curse of the Black Spot.” We try to give it CPR, but we do it wrong and the patient dies. Or, no, wait! It came back to life! Hooray! Unrelated: why Rory is like Kenny from “South Park.”

This episode is sponsored by Webtrends and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 37: Shadow War of the Night Dragons

Jason Snell — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Our Book Club discusses the works of sci-fi writer John Scalzi, including “Old Man’s War.” We also talk about “The Forever War” and many other books. We play the “new author remakes classic novel” game we just invented. Find out why Dan says “Ce Podcast est Fini!” And stay after the end to learn Jason’s secret plan to create a terrible sci-fi trilogy.

This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and OmniGroup: OmniFocus.

The Incomparable 36: Impossible Astronauts

Jason Snell — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Flash! A discussion about the first two episodes of this season of “Doctor Who,” “The Impossible Astronaut” and “Day of the Moon.” Who is in that spacesuit? Who is the little girl? Are the Silence just lazy? We speculate wildly.

This episode is sponsored by Webtrends and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 35: The Only Way to Win the Game of Thrones is Not to Play

Jason Snell — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Everybody wants to rule the world, er, kingdom of Westeros. As the “Game of Thrones” series continues on HBO, we discuss the source material: George R.R. Martin’s bestselling “Song of Ice and Fire” books. If you haven’t read the books, you will be spoiled! We’ll post the climactic resolution of this podcast in about five years, so invest your time wisely.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 34: The Wrath of James Caan

Jason Snell — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Based on the best-selling novel! Inspired by HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” in this episode we discuss the translation of books to the screen. Should movies be faithful to the book? Is it better if filmmmakers take liberties? And what books do we wish would be made into movies? If you don’t want to listen to this episode, just buy the novelization.

This episode is sponsored by Audible and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 33: "I Drank What?"

Jason Snell — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

The lesson learned? Never share anything you love with John Siracusa. Like, for example, “Real Genius.” Or any ’80s movie. Or any ’80s anything. Or from-any-other-time anything. Fear John Siracusa, for he is the destroyer of dreams.

This episode is sponsored by Audible and MailChimp.

The Incomparable 32: The Story of Ted Chiang and Others

Jason Snell — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

This time, on the Incomparable: Ted Chiang short stories, including the anthology “The Story of Your Life and Others.” Plus, enough recommendations to get you through every bathroom break and bus ride for the next three years.

This episode is sponsored by Shopify and King of the Apps.

The Incomparable 31: Supernatural

Jason Snell — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

An entire hour devoted to The CW’s “Supernatural.” Can you imagine it? Brr. Fortunately, that’s not what this podcast is about. It’s about stuff we think is funny. Only one of likes “Supernatural.” To find out who, you will need to listen.

This episode is sponsored by Sound Studio 4 and Worldview.

The Incomparable 30: Let Me Show You My Warp Bubble

Jason Snell — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Make it so, Number One! Star Trek: The Next Generation is on our agenda. We talk favorite episodes, least-favorite episodes, killer snowflakes, why Jean-Luc Picard is catnip to the ladies, why everyone loves Geordi, and why in the future no one needs Wet Wipes.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 29: Magic Fridge

Jason Snell — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT

A hero with an unpronounceable name, magic that doesn’t actually do much, cardboard female characters, a story where nothing really happens, and the first and inconclusive part of a longer series? Sounds like an acclaimed fantasy novel to us! “The Name of the Wind” on this week’s Incomparable Podcast.

This episode is sponsored by MailChimp.

The Incomparable 28: Bad at High School

Jason Snell — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Zombie, Spaceship, or Wasteland? We explore the reasons Geek Culture exists, what it means, and if it really exists. Also: are nerds just as awful and exclusionary as jocks? Why will Oprah sit astride the apocalypse? Find out what happened when Scott McNulty met Kitty Pryde. And most importantly, learn the deadly secret about how Dungeons and Dragons relates to nuclear submarines.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 27: Coal Mound Sex Scene

Jason Snell — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Turn on your perpetual-motion machine, man your Zeppelin, and fly away for our next edition of the Incomparable Book Club. We discuss “The Dream of Perpetual Motion” by Dexter Palmer, as well as answer the question, “What are you reading?”

This episode is sponsored by FreshBooks and Rackspace.

The Incomparable 26: Hitler Was a Rules Lawyer

Jason Snell — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Grab your pound of dice, a bag of Cheetos and your +1 wit, to join the Incomparable Podcast as we venture forth into the world of “Dungeons and Dragons” and other role-playing games. Hey, at least we don’t LARP.

This episode is sponsored by MailChimp and CodeConf 2011.

The Incomparable 25: Studied His Agrippa

Jason Snell — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Hello. Our name is The Incomparable. You killed our father. Prepare to listen to a spoiler-filled podcast about the most quotable movie in the universe, “The Princess Bride.”

This episode is sponsored by Typekit and NZ Red Cross.

The Incomparable 24: My Word as Vorkosigan

Jason Snell — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Dive through a wormhole to defend the honor of the Imperium! We discuss Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series of novels, which we really can’t recommend highly enough. It’s swashbuckling Sci-Fi adventure with some great characters and a big canvas. And you can read most of them for free!

This episode is sponsored by MailChimp and Sourcebits.

The Incomparable 23: Origin Story

Jason Snell — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Don your mask and cape and join us for a discussion of the good, the underrated, and the overrated in the realm of superhero movies. And you think we’re going to praise “The Dark Knight” you might be in for quite a shock… No, seriously, we rip it apart. We also discuss “Superman 2,” “Darkman,” “Iron Man,” “Megamind,” “The Incredibles,” “Unbreakable,” “The Rocketeer,” and many others.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 22: Stephen Fry (does not appear)

Jason Snell — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Recorded live and in person before a studio audience (of one)! We discuss Stephen Fry, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Sean Connery, Scottish accents, corpulent detectives, V for Vendetta, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, Solaris, The Fountain, Garfield, “in medias res” movie conceits, Doctor Who special effects, our favorite TV shows of all time (including Buffy, Max Headroom, Sports Night, Spaced, Smack the Pony, and the Rockford Files), The Middleman, Kevin Sorbo, Gene Roddenberry’s posthumous oeuvre, and why Steven Spielberg can’t make a good TV show. Also: the debut of the Spoiler Quack.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 21: Event Crisis

Jason Snell — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Comic Book Club returns with a discussion of comic-book “special events,” and why they are (in most cases) amazingly disappointing. We discuss our favorite and least-favorite events, from Crisis on Infinite Earths to Civil War to that time that Superman fought Spider-Man.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 20: Everyone's a Redshirt in Real Life

Jason Snell — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Get your hat and your shotgun and prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse! We discuss AMC’s TV series “The Walking Dead,” as well as touch on some zombie movies including “Zombieland” and “Dawn of the Dead.”

This episode is sponsored by Postmark and Rackspace.

The Incomparable 19: This Podcast Never Existed

Jason Snell — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Hop in your time machine and listen to our latest Book Club installment—and then be sure to travel back and prevent the podcast from having ever been recorded, because time travel is tricky like that. We discuss “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe” and other time travel books we have liked.

This episode is sponsored by Sponsor 5by5.

The Incomparable 18: Christmas with the Doctor

Jason Snell — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

If you do something every Christmas for six years, it’s time to call it a tradition. And so we have to add the “Doctor Who” Christmas special to our lists. We enjoyed this year’s episode, “A Christmas Carol,” so much, we recorded this flash podcast to talk about it. Happy holidays, everyone.

This episode is sponsored by MailChimp.

The Incomparable 17: We're Going to Need Some More Christmas Movies, I Guess

Jason Snell — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Is “Die Hard” the greatest Christmas movie ever made? Dan Moren thinks so. Others are less sure, but there’s no denying how great this seminal ‘80s action flick is. We discuss John McClane’s adventure at Nakatomi Plaza, as well as other Christmas movies and TV shows we have loved.

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The Incomparable 16: If You Love an Autobot, Set it Free

Jason Snell — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Happy holidays from everyone at The Incomparable. In this pre-Christmas edition we talk about beloved gifts from our childhood, and discover a strange collection of cruel parents as well as a Transformer tragedy.

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The Incomparable 15: My Computer is Powered by Frisbees

Jason Snell — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Greetings, programs! It’s time to talk about “Tron” and the new sequel, “Tron Legacy.” Also, what’s the appropriate use of CGI? When should creators go back and use computers to “improve” their work? And does Jeff Bridges’ CGI doppelganger fall right into the middle of the Uncanny Valley?

This episode is sponsored by GitHub and Harvest.

The Incomparable 14: There's Guacamole on the Holodeck

Jason Snell — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

A new topic on the podast: video games! We talk classic (okay, OLD) games as well as the latest and greatest motion-controlled games. From Pong to the Kinect, we’ve got it covered—plus why the human race is doomed if someone invents a holodeck.

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The Incomparable 13: Harry Potter and the Picasso P.I.

Jason Snell — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:00:00 GMT

In honor of the release of the seventh Harry Potter film, we convene a collection of panelists to discuss the books, the movies, the phenomenon that is J.K. Rowling’s young-wizard saga. (If you haven’t read the series, there are spoilers and also the entire podcast will make no sense. Except for the part about “Magnum P.I.” and Pablo Picasso. This episode sponsored by the word “exegesis” and the musical stylings of Tom Bombadil.)

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The Incomparable 12: He Who Controls Mr. Peanut Controls the World

Jason Snell — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:00:00 GMT

Discussing Joss Whedon, from Buffy to Firefly (to the Avengers?) and everything in between. What’s the appeal? What are our favorite episodes? Why did Firefly die young and leave a great-looking corpse?

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The Incomparable 11: To Be Continued?

Jason Snell — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Three Hugo winners enter our Book Club. “Spin” by Robert Charles Wilson, “Hyperion” by Dan Simmons, and “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union” by Michael Chabon. Also: Why sequels suck.

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The Incomparable 10: It's Clobberin' Time!

Jason Snell — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:00:00 GMT

The Fantastic Four is the topic of this installment of our Comic Book Club! We talk “Unstable Molecules,” a strange mini-series about the fictional “inspiration” for the Fantastic Four. Also: the bad movies and worse TV shows, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and more.

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The Incomparable 9: Get the Bone Saw!

Jason Snell — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Get ready for halloween with this discussion of horror and scary movies. Plus, a neglected horror classic.

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The Incomparable 8: Top Men

Jason Snell — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:00:00 GMT

“Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and why it’s so great. Also, “Star Wars” comes up a few times.

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The Incomparable 7: Law & Order: Atlantis

Jason Snell — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Dissecting the fall TV season, including “The Event,” “No Ordinary Family,” and the promising third season of “Fringe.” Plus other sci-fi shows we have loved and hated, why trying to ape “Lost” is a bad idea, and Dan suggests a new “Law & Order” spinoff.

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The Incomparable 6: Go Ahead, Lisa, Destroy My Childhood

Jason Snell — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Comic Book Club returns! This week we talk about TV adaptations of comic books, TV shows inspired by comic books, comic books that would make good TV shows, and more. Plus, random discussion of X-Men Annuals, the Micronauts, and why Reed Richards is a douche (in X-Men Annual #5, anyway).

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The Incomparable 5: Shakespeare is a Hack!

Jason Snell — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Our Book Club reconvenes, to discuss Nick Harkaway, Cherie Priest, William Gibson, favorite prose stylists (Shakespeare? Please!), and multiple Shatners. Also in this episode, we introduce listeners to two new inanimate-yet-Incomparable characters: the Spoiler Horn and its good friend, the All-Clear Bell.

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The Incomparable 4: This Film Presented in Mummy-Vision

Jason Snell — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Movies and movie soundtracks are on the agenda, as we talk Giacchino, Star Trek soundtracks, bad movies we have loved, Blade Runner, Kick Ass, and the prospect of a “Dark Tower” movie/TV series combo platter.

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The Incomparable 3: Doctor Sherlock vs. The Melty Man

Jason Snell — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

It’s British TV time. Steven Moffat’s “Sherlock” and “Doctor Who” are on the agenda. We mention his sitcom “Coupling” too. And Glenn cranks the pretention meter up to 10, only for Jason to crank it right back down to 1.

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The Incomparable 2: A Feeling of Vertigo

Jason Snell — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:00:00 GMT

I call this meeting of Comic-Book Club to order! Today we will be discussing “The Unwritten” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross, published by Vertigo. But of course, we end up talking about much more than just “The Unwritten,” as any good book club should.

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The Incomparable 1: We'll Always Have Zeppelins

Jason Snell — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Climb in your Zeppelin, grab a self-burning book, and prepare for the first Incomparable Podcast, in which we discuss “The City and The City,” “The Windup Girl,” “For The Win,” and more. Plus we mispronounce the names of writers.

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