Unjustly Maligned

A pop culture show about the sometimes strange things we love, that other people… don’t. Each episode, comics and games writer Antony Johnston asks a new guest to explain why that thing you hate is actually really great.

Episodes

87: "Loom" with Antony Johnston

September 25, 2017 • 70 mins

Ask him about it! Yes, it’s time to turn the tables again, and for his birthday this year, Antony hands the reins to Tony Sindelar. Together they weave an appreciation for the videogame so good, it made Antony want to write them for a living — the classic 1990 Lucasarts adventure “Loom”.

Tony Sindelar with Antony Johnston.

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86: "Ringo Starr" with Andy Ihnatko

September 12, 2017 • 64 mins

Is Ringo the best drummer in the world? Ho ho, he’s not even the best drummer in… no, let’s not go there (Lennon never actually said it anyway). Instead, Andy Ihnatko joins Antony to bang a drum for Ringo Starr’s innovation, charisma, and — yes — talent on the skins.

Antony Johnston with Andy Ihnatko.

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85: "Sherlock Holmes (2009 movie)" with Eddy Webb

August 28, 2017 • 67 mins

Was making Sherlock Holmes cool really a good idea? Is Robert Downey Jr simply playing himself? And shouldn’t Watson be a bumbling lapdog? Devoted Sherlockian Eddy Webb joins Antony to discuss all this and more in Guy Ritchie’s 2009 “Sherlock Holmes” movie.

Antony Johnston with Eddy Webb.

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84: "The Fast & The Furious (Franchise)" with Jessica Sliwinski

August 14, 2017 • 73 mins

Fast cars, impossibly skilled drivers, champagne groupies, loud explosions, and a complete disregard for the laws of physics. Sounds like hell? Jessica Sliwinski once thought so, but now she joins Antony to shift her appreciation for the “Fast & Furious” movies up a gear.

Antony Johnston with Jessica Sliwinski.

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83: "Pluto" with Marcos Huerta

July 31, 2017 • 60 mins

When is a planet not a planet? When it gets downgraded after 75 years, apparently. But was Pluto’s fate a mistake by the IAU, or an example of science in action? Marcos Huerta joins Antony to talk Kuiper belt objects, the New Horizons probe, and arbitrary astronomical definitions.

Antony Johnston with Marcos Huerta.

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82: "Predator 2" with Ed Brisson

July 17, 2017 • 70 mins

After the success of its gung-ho predecessor, “Predator 2” — which expanded the mythology of the alien hunters, like “Aliens” did for its predecessor — felt like a sure thing, not the flop it turned out to be. Ed Brisson joins Antony to explain why second chances are his specialty.

Antony Johnston with Ed Brisson.

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81: "Tapeheads" with Kelly Guimont

July 3, 2017 • 70 mins

Was it a “Blues Brothers” for the MTV generation, or just a nonsensical movie strung together with songs and bizarre cameos? Or… both?! Kelly Guimont joins Antony to lay down some tape talking about cult movie “Tapeheads”.

Antony Johnston with Kelly Guimont.

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80: "No Man's Sky" with Matt Johnston

June 19, 2017 • 84 mins

It promised the Earth — and an almost-infinite universe to play in — but the videogame “No Man’s Sky” launched to scathing criticism and disappointment. Matt Johnston joins Antony to explain why expectations were misguided, why players who quit early are missing out, and why being a space hobo is so relaxing.

Antony Johnston with Matt Johnston.

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79: "Star Trek: Enterprise" with Pete Mele

June 5, 2017 • 75 mins

The spirit of Star Trek has seen the franchise reinvented, revisited, and even rebooted, for more than 50 years — but of all its incarnations, perhaps none is so maligned as “Enterprise”. Pete Mele joins Antony to defend Captain Archer from threats on all sides.

Antony Johnston with Pete Mele.

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78: "Eyes Wide Shut" with Richard Rouse III

May 22, 2017 • 76 mins

Sold as an erotic thriller, Stanley Kubrick’s least popular film “Eyes Wide Shut” is neither erotic, nor much of a thriller. But Richard Rouse III joins Antony to argue that it wasn’t just mis-sold, it was misunderstood — and has only gotten better with age.

Antony Johnston with Richard Rouse III.

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77: Eurovision Song Contest 2017 pre-show glitterball special!

May 8, 2017 • 117 mins

Dust off your sequins, because once again the Eurovision Song Contest is almost upon us! Rachel Donner, David Loehr, and Liz Myles join Antony to marvel at this year’s contenders and catastrophes, and wonder if a post-Brexit UK will be left with nul points…

Antony Johnston with Rachel Donner, David J. Loehr and Lizbeth Myles.

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76: "Krull" with Carrie Patel

April 17, 2017 • 74 mins

Every kid who came out of the theater from “Krull” wanted a glaive… even if they were in no rush to see the movie itself again. Carrie Patel joins Antony to explain why that’s a shame, as they reminisce about this charming, naive fantasy/sci-fi mashup — plot holes and all.

Antony Johnston with Carrie Patel.

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75: "Killer Robots" with Kent Massey

April 3, 2017 • 68 mins

We all know it’s only a matter of time before the military builds Terminator-style robots, and from there a small leap to Welcoming Our New Robot Overlords… or is it? Robotics engineer Kent Massey joins Antony to ask, what’s the difference between a plant and a rock?

Antony Johnston with Kent Massey.

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74: "The Matrix Reloaded" with Filip SelldÃ©n

March 20, 2017 • 65 mins

“The Matrix Reloaded” wasn’t the sequel people were expecting, but was swapping bullets for brains really such a bad idea? Filip SelldÃ©n joins Antony to explain why making a modern Superman movie was the Wachowski’s best option.

Antony Johnston with Filip SelldÃ©n.

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73: "V For Vendetta" (the film) with Amal El-Mohtar

March 6, 2017 • 81 mins

Podcasts should not be afraid of their listeners; listeners should be… wait, that makes no sense. Much like the “V for Vendetta” movie! Or so some fanboys would have you believe. Not Amal El-Mohtar, who joins Antony to ensure England Prevails in the face of such authoritarian opinions.

Antony Johnston with Amal El-Mohtar.

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72: "Babe: Pig in the City" with Warren Frey

February 20, 2017 • 55 mins

Is “Babe: Pig in the City” really a tour de force of magical realism? Or “A New Yorker cartoon on mescaline”? Warren Frey joins Antony to explain why this kids’ movie from George “Mad Max” Miller deserves your renewed attention.

Antony Johnston with Warren Frey.

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71: "GURPS" with Monty Ashley

February 6, 2017 • 77 mins

In what must surely be our thinnest premise yet, Monty Ashley joins Antony to ostensibly defend GURPS from its detractors. But it’s basically two old RPG nerds chatting and reminiscing about games for an hour. Roll 3D6 to listen!

Antony Johnston with Monty Ashley.

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70: "Masters of the Universe" with Liz Myles

January 23, 2017 • 68 mins

They said it would be bigger than Star Wars. Instead it bankrupted a studio and sank without trace. Yes, in another instalment of our Dolph Lundgren love here on UMP, Liz Myles joins Antony to reassess “Masters of the Universe”, the well-known, uh, Christmas movie. Wait, what?

Antony Johnston with Lizbeth Myles.

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69: "Batman Returns" with Michael Molcher

January 9, 2017 • 80 mins

After making Batman palatable to the mainstream again with the first movie, Tim Burton’s sequel “Batman Returns” went all-in with his signature fairytale gothic style. Michael Molcher joins Antony to explain why it totally works, and disses the Nolan Batverse along the way. Happy new year!

Antony Johnston with Michael Molcher.

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68: "Micronauts" with Jason Snell

December 12, 2016 • 71 mins

Regular Incomparable Network listeners will know of Jason Snell’s oft-thwarted desire to talk about his lifelong love of “Micronauts”; a series of comics, starring characters based on American toys, which were based on Japanese toys. At last, this is our gift to him… and to you. Happy holidays!

Antony Johnston with Jason Snell.

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Unjustly Maligned

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}87: "Loom" with Antony Johnston

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}86: "Ringo Starr" with Andy Ihnatko

85: "Sherlock Holmes (2009 movie)" with Eddy Webb

84: "The Fast & The Furious (Franchise)" with Jessica Sliwinski

83: "Pluto" with Marcos Huerta

82: "Predator 2" with Ed Brisson

81: "Tapeheads" with Kelly Guimont

80: "No Man's Sky" with Matt Johnston

79: "Star Trek: Enterprise" with Pete Mele

78: "Eyes Wide Shut" with Richard Rouse III

77: Eurovision Song Contest 2017 pre-show glitterball special!

76: "Krull" with Carrie Patel

75: "Killer Robots" with Kent Massey

74: "The Matrix Reloaded" with Filip SelldÃ©n

73: "V For Vendetta" (the film) with Amal El-Mohtar

72: "Babe: Pig in the City" with Warren Frey

71: "GURPS" with Monty Ashley

70: "Masters of the Universe" with Liz Myles

69: "Batman Returns" with Michael Molcher

68: "Micronauts" with Jason Snell

Popular Podcasts

87: "Loom" with Antony Johnston

86: "Ringo Starr" with Andy Ihnatko