Baconsale: Hickory-smoked Pop Culture

We don't know how to put this, but Baconsale is kind of a big deal. We may not have nunchuck skills or bow-hunting skills, but by Grabthar’s Hammer, we are skilled at creating contentious tournaments. On this episode, we have a plethora of infamous comedies that were submitted by you, the really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking listener. Joel, Kent, and Zack have put these humorous movies on a bracket, and you’ll see the violence inherent in the system as we vote for which one is the funniest. Some decisions are so fetch, others are gonna leave a mark, and you may believe we’ve pulled the wrong lever at times, but just when you think our decisions couldn’t possibly be any dumber, perhaps we totally redeem ourselves?   Don’t call us Shirley, just press play, you hoser!   And visit Baconsale.com to print out our official comedy bracket & play along!

It’s been a very slow road getting here, but the fastest man alive has finally arrived on the big screen. But is The Flash worth the wait? On this BaconBit, Kent and Joel are ready to quickly review the speedster’s solo movie. Kent may be a little bitter about the path the DC Extended Universe has taken, and Joel is surprised that this movie wasn’t canceled before it was released. However, is this film the big reset button DC Studios was hoping for? Have Ezra Miller’s extra-curricular activities killed the buzz surrounding this Justice League follow-up? Will Batman save the day? Listen to find out.   Press play to enter the Polar Express Vortex!

Have you ever started to get invested in a TV series, only to have it abruptly end without a satisfying conclusion? That’s what we’ll be venting about on this episode of Baconsale with our guest, Debbie. We’ve each picked five television shows that ended before their time. We’ll share what they were about, why they were canceled, and how we wish they could have ended. No, we won’t be talking about Firefly, because this whole episode is brought to you by that amazing space Western. However, we will be discussing flesh & blood adaptations, sharing some disappointing revelations, and giving spoiler alerts before kind of (but not really) spoiling each show.   Press play before this episode is erased from existence by either FOX or Netflix!

A few years ago, Baconsale confessed our pop culture blind spots to you, the listener. You accepted us, despite our shortcomings, and so we decided to do it again. First of all, Joel, Kent, and Zack follow-up on the films we talked about last time and see how much progress we've made. Then we'll take a look at the gaps in our knowledge about popular bands, books, TV series, and video games. Plus, we have a miscellaneous category where we can confess anything else we know nothing about. Along the way, we'll approve each other's answers, support each other in their endeavors, and plan some very strange sleepovers.   Press play to get blind with Baconsale.

Our words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup, and they slither wildly as we review Spider-Man: Across the Universe. Kent & Joel are ready to share their thoughts on this highly anticipated animated sequel, while Zack is going to web sling out of the Baconcave when we enter the BaconBit spoiler-verse because he hasn’t seen this movie yet. But does this film live up to the hype? Or is animation vomit? Will Miles Morales go the distance? And does it all fit into Spider-Man canon?   Everyone keeps telling us how our review is supposed to go. Nah. We’re gonna do our own thing. Press play.

Don’t bother us, we’re eating. Okay, we’re done eating now, so it’s time for Baconsale to talk about our latest menu quest: Carl’s Jr. We ate everything on the menu and are ready to give you all the hand-scooped details! As we chat about the history of this fast-food chain, Joel, Kent, and Zack will reveal the Hardee’s connection, ponder the disappearance of Green Burrito, and try to ignore most of the restaurant’s ads from the 2000s. Then we’ll share our favorite burgers, the worst breakfast menu items, our go-to orders, the biggest surprises we encountered, and more. Along the way, we’ll discover the difference between the Apple and Android apps, discuss the hierarchy of chicken nugget shapes, debate about the Famous Star, and compare almost everything to Cinnabon Maverik.   Press play to hear a Western talk about bacon and cheeseburgers.

Baconsale admits that in the past we’ve been a nasty about live-action Disney remakes. You weren't kidding when you called us, well, cynics. However, nowadays, perhaps we’ve mended all our ways, repented, seen the light, and made a switch. True? Maybe. On this BaconBit, we’re going to review the live-action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid. So is this latest cash grab a poor, unfortunate, soulless remake? Or will we accept this movie as part of our world? You’ll have to listen to find out. And even though there’s not much to spoil about the story, we’ll still keep any major changes under the sea until the end.   Don't be such a guppy, press play!

From a desk in the basement of Kent’s mom’s house, heeeeeere’s Baconsale! On this episode, we’re chatting about late-night talk shows. We’re going to rank fifteen popular TV hosts, including Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, and the Jimmys. We’ll talk about the history of this type of television programming and discuss why it seems to be in decline lately. We’ll also reminisce about some of our favorite sketches, characters, and jokes from the past. Joel, Kent, and Zack may match answers more than they’d like to, but we hope you’ll stick around to hear the musical act at the end of tonight’s show.   Press play to join our other guests on the couch.

Are you Enchanted by Amy Adams? Our guest Jonathan is, which is why he had no Doubt as to what he wanted to discuss on this episode of Baconsale. Not only does he think that Amy is Drop Dead Gorgeous, but Her movies are his Vice. However, do Amy’s acting chops, red hair, and Big Eyes impress Joel, Kent, and Zack? Do they think this Underdog’s career is Standing Still? Or do they see her as The Fighter Jonathan does, who is On the Road to even more acting success? Listen to the Arrival of our answers to categories such as Most Adorable Performance, She Was Miscast, and Underrated Role as we do our best to not confuse Amy Adams with Isla Fisher.   Press play, Junebug!

It only took 400 episodes, but Baconsale is finally doing an episode all about The Beatles! Joel is riding on a Beatles high (NOT the kind that involves greener grass or fungus) and would happily talk Eight Days a Week about The Fab Four. Zack is Across the Universe on the opposite side of Beatlemania and was yelling “Help!” as he had to listen to all of their albums. Kent is Something in the middle, and prefers the darker, experimental side of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. However, despite our differences, We Can Work It Out as we take The Long and Winding Road of discussing the history of the band. Then we’ll Come Together to reveal our bottom five and top five songs from the best-selling music act of all time.   All you need is to press play to hear the biggest hits of Yesterday.

It’s time for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 to face the music. Joel and Kent saw this delayed conclusion to the GotG trilogy and they’re ready to review it and talk about their feelings for Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket, Nebula, Mantis, and James Gunn. We’ll start off with our spoiler-free thoughts, and then we’ll warn you before we enter the spoiler quadrant. Since this film is darker and heavier than the previous two, will that make Kent like it more, since he, too, dwells in darkness? Will Joel be completely turned off by this MCU movie’s “accomplishment”? Can this franchise stand on its own? And how’s the soundtrack?   You’ll hear all this and more by pressing play and listening to Baconsale’s review of Guardians 3.

Even though the weather might not agree, it seems that the summer season is upon us, and Baconsale is ready to guide you through the cinematic forecast. Joel and Kent have looked forward at Hollywood’s upcoming offerings and will let you know five movies they want to avoid followed by five films they would like to see. Although, to be honest, Kent is only really excited for three of his five picks. And while Joel hopes his choices will fail, Kent definitively knows his films are going to flop. Join us as we unleash our inner-dad hype and speak about sequels, rant about remakes, and babble about Barbie.   Now that release dates are somewhat reliable again (with the exception of the DCEU), it’s time for you press play!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your podcast speaking. We’d like to thank you for joining Baconsale on this journey through the sometimes-friendly skies. Kent, Joel, and Zack are prepared to discuss proper behavior when arriving at the airport, waiting for your flight, boarding the plane, magically flying through the sky, and eventually deplaning. As we present both our proposed rules and the listener’s suggestions, we’ll decide whether they’re cleared for takeoff, experiencing some turbulence, or if they’re grounded. And as we set the ground rules for the air travel, we’ll reveal some shocking truths about ourselves, including the little-known fact that Kent is tall.   Please put your tray tables up, return your and seat backs to their full upright & locked position, and press play.

Now that Chad has The Listener victory trophy securely in his hands, it’s time for him, Taylor, and Briggs to see if they can go toe-to-toe with Baconsale’s Team JK, who are still undefeated (at a board game called Time’s Up). And since Joel and Kent weren’t able to answer any questions during the recent anniversary show episode, they’re itching to hit their buzzers as quickly as possible. However, for reasons only known to them, they have to hold a finger boop to give their official responses.   Press play to hear us guess translated movie titles, answer A.I.-generated questions, and accuse each other of cheating.

Look, if we would have waited for the 400th episode to do our anniversary show, it would have been pushed into mid-May, and we want to keep this annual event near Baconsale’s birthday in April. So we’re celebrating our beginnings on our 397th episode with a pop culture trivia contest that pits three contestants against each other: Chad, the returning Listener; Taylor, who tinkers with tools; and our youngest voluntary listener, Briggs. Zack will host this quirky quiz show and question our guests about casual dining menu items, boy bands, sporting team names, horror film franchises, and, of course, Gilmore Girls. Kent will do his best not to give away answers to our guests, Joel just keeps gasping at everything, and we hope you have a good time listening to this ridiculous competition.   Who will come out victorious? Don’t wait until Tim Burton passes away to find out, press play!

Have you ever watched a TV series or movie where they celebrated a fictional holiday and you wanted to join in on the fun? That’s what we’re talking about on this episode of Baconsale. Joel, Kent, and Zack are taking a look at holidays made up by screenwriters such as Festivus, Galentine’s Day, Purge Night, Life Day, Chrismukkah, Robanukah & Yak Shaving Day and deciding whether or not they should be celebrated in real life. We’ll also discuss their origins, some traditions, and how best to observe these imaginary celebrations. Press play to help Kent figure out who his best friend is!

Okay, here’s the situation: Zack just got a fancy Aston Martin and he’s getting ready to go on a road trip to the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota (obviously). However, he’s only got room for one passenger in his car, so one of the other two Baconsale hosts will have to stay behind. And Zack is going to make his decision on who he’s taking with him based solely on the snacks they’re providing for the journey. We asked you, the listener, for suggestions of the worst road trip food out there, and now it’s up to Joel and Kent to pick the best of the bad and see if they can persuade Zack to let them ride shotgun.   Press play to learn the fanciest way to pronounce pistachios.

Don’t touch that dial, listener, because Baconsale is ready to repeatedly hit the nostalgia button for everyone who was born before Zack was. Our friend Casey is joining us to talk about television series from the 1980s, and pick answers for such categories as Best Cartoon, Biggest Crush, Most Annoying Character, and Family You’d Want to Be In. Considering how many TV shows aired at least 50% of their episodes in the 80s, you’d think that we’d have little to no overlap, but we’re all a little surprised by how much we match each other.   Press play to hear Kent make mildly inappropriate robot noises.

We’ve debated about songs with similar titles before on Baconsale, but what about tunes with the exact same lyrics? On this episode, Joel, Kent & Zack are comparing popular cover songs to the original versions and deciding which one is better. These matchups will include such hits as “I Will Always Love You,” “Live and Let Die,” “I’m A Believer,” “Hurt,” “Always on My Mind,” and “Landslide.” There are also some triple-twin rounds where we’ll be choosing between three different artists. Yes, our decisions are very subjective, and our arguments vary from round to round, but hey, that’s Baconsale.   Press play to hear Joel insult Kent and Zack in multiple languages.

The 95th Academy Awards did their best to avoid any drama this year, and therefore the ratings surged to make it the third-lowest viewed broadcast in the ceremony’s history! Zack watched the whole bland thing, Kent struggled to find a place to stream it, and Joel just looked up the winners on Twitter. On this BaconBit, we’ll be discussing the swanky gift bags, inconsiderate dresses, what made Zack cry, stripped down performances, suspenderography and, of course, the winners of each category. We’ll also see who did best on their ballot and announce the winner of our Oscars contest!   Press play, Short Stack!