Roadtrippin' with Rob and Mike
"You know how your mind wanders when you're on the open road? Ever wonder what it would be like to have a stream-of-consciousness conversation with an Imagination Connoisseur? Trust us, it's hilarious, insightful and above all, an optimistic delight. Join me on my daily adventure with Robert Meyer Burnett down I-10 as we explore the Post-Geek Singularity." Mike Bawden co-host
Episodes
July 1, 2022 • 43 mins
What makes great sci-fi?
Rob and I certainly have our complaints about some of the current sci-fi television shows and films that have been released over the past few years. Sometimes the story is bad, sometimes the effects are bad, and sometimes the science doesn't make any sense. And more often than not, it's a combination of these three factors to varying degrees.
So when Robert Meyer Burnett says he's just watched the greatest ep...
Rob and I certainly have our complaints about some of the current sci-fi television shows and films that have been released over the past few years. Sometimes the story is bad, sometimes the effects are bad, and sometimes the science doesn't make any sense. And more often than not, it's a combination of these three factors to varying degrees.
So when Robert Meyer Burnett says he's just watched the greatest ep...
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June 30, 2022 • 43 mins
We all know Rob isn't big on nu-Trek. And in today's ROADTRIPPIN' podcast, RMB expresses his concerns and frustrations with the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds's latest episode.
But here's the thing about Rob's complaints - and, specifically, his concerns about the quality of writing for the latest generation of live-action, Star Trek shows currently streaming on Paramount+ ...
He's not wrong.
In fact, many of his comp...
But here's the thing about Rob's complaints - and, specifically, his concerns about the quality of writing for the latest generation of live-action, Star Trek shows currently streaming on Paramount+ ...
He's not wrong.
In fact, many of his comp...
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June 21, 2022 • 45 mins
I saw LIGHTYEAR at the theater this Sunday with my family. Tickets for the four of us were just under $65, so by my figuring, we were just four of around 3 million people who saw that movie during its opening weekend.
And while that missed projections, it’s still a pretty healthy opener for an animated movie.
But should we evaluate it as “just” an animated movie? That may not be fair to the movie, to Pixar, to other animated features...
And while that missed projections, it’s still a pretty healthy opener for an animated movie.
But should we evaluate it as “just” an animated movie? That may not be fair to the movie, to Pixar, to other animated features...
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June 20, 2022 • 20 mins
Why doesn’t Hollywood remake mediocre movies (and make them better)?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden discuss the broader implications of a question posed by an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Obi-Wan Kenobi is such a boring character in his own series. In fact, one could ask why so many Star Wars series seem to be “running in place” and not really going anywhere with characters who don’t seem to be do...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden discuss the broader implications of a question posed by an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Obi-Wan Kenobi is such a boring character in his own series. In fact, one could ask why so many Star Wars series seem to be “running in place” and not really going anywhere with characters who don’t seem to be do...
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June 20, 2022 • 14 mins
Why doesn’t Hollywood remake mediocre movies (and make them better)?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Hollywood seems content remaking and re-booting successful movies rather than making movies with “great potential” that might have not met expectations when they were first released to the public. As Rob and Mike point out, there’s a lot more ...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who asks why Hollywood seems content remaking and re-booting successful movies rather than making movies with “great potential” that might have not met expectations when they were first released to the public. As Rob and Mike point out, there’s a lot more ...
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June 20, 2022 • 64 mins
I suppose this was a long time coming.
I’ve noticed that Rob has been on the receiving end of more than one heated Twitter exchange with people his ongoing criticisms of both Star Trek and Star Wars. According to RMB, he receives several tweets a day of people sending him images of Gabe Simpson shaking his fist at the clouds (I’ve borrowed Gabe for this episode's keyframe).
Some people call him an “asshole” or a “bully.” But most oft...
I’ve noticed that Rob has been on the receiving end of more than one heated Twitter exchange with people his ongoing criticisms of both Star Trek and Star Wars. According to RMB, he receives several tweets a day of people sending him images of Gabe Simpson shaking his fist at the clouds (I’ve borrowed Gabe for this episode's keyframe).
Some people call him an “asshole” or a “bully.” But most oft...
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June 15, 2022 • 67 mins
It was a long day yesterday. Not only is the rise in gas prices and the wild ride the economy is on starting to show its tell-tale signs in So-Cal (there are noticeably fewer cars on the road this week), the overall level of social discourse on platforms like Twitter and Facebook seem to be taking a step back and becoming much more personal and mean-spirited.
Especially if you’re critical of large, corporate franchises like Star War...
Especially if you’re critical of large, corporate franchises like Star War...
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June 13, 2022 • 51 mins
On today’s podcast, Rob shared some details from his weekend. Turns out there were a fan or two who felt compelled to tell Rob that the original trilogy of Star Wars films were “trash” and the best Star Wars movie was ROGUE ONE. On social media, some people who follow the PGS on Instagram and TikTok felt compelled to call out Rob and his opinions, calling him all kinds of vile things for espousing opinions that were, apparently, di...
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June 12, 2022 • 44 mins
I don’t think there’s any surprise that RMB thinks very highly of Amazon Prime’s THE BOYS. But his comparison of the show to Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic, DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I STOPPED WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (a/k/a DR. STRANGELOVE) even caught me off guard.
Rob loves everything Kubrick. So, for him to make this comparison required a bit more scrutiny. And I have to say, I don’t disagree with him on this. And here’s the rea...
Rob loves everything Kubrick. So, for him to make this comparison required a bit more scrutiny. And I have to say, I don’t disagree with him on this. And here’s the rea...
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June 10, 2022 • 42 mins
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden discuss how the entertainment business has changed since Jeffrey Katzenberg wrote an internal memo (at Disney) about the future of movie-making. As the economic realities have changed and the budgets have ballooned, studios are finding themselves in a difficult corner – they need to make big-budget, franchise fare that will be sure to generate an audience, but one misstep c...
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June 10, 2022 • 42 mins
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who asks if fans aren’t actually nitpicking all of the fun out of our favorite things? How should fans treat each other and how should they handle discussions about shows or movies they don’t really like? Can we keep toxicity out of the PGS?
This "Extra" is a segment from the ROADTRIPPIN' with RMB podcast recorded on June 9...
This "Extra" is a segment from the ROADTRIPPIN' with RMB podcast recorded on June 9...
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June 10, 2022 • 42 mins
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who thinks fans may be getting a little too harsh in their criticisms of long-established, genre franchises.
This "Extra" is a segment from the ROADTRIPPIN' with RMB podcast recorded on June 9, 2022 (Episode #41).
This "Extra" is a segment from the ROADTRIPPIN' with RMB podcast recorded on June 9, 2022 (Episode #41).
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Rob was very excited to record today's podcast. He had something he wanted to share.
Rob really enjoyed the latest episode of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' - calling it the best, single episode of Star Trek since 2005. That being said and Rob being who he is, he did have one bone to pick with the show ...
The story behind the episode appeared to be a direct copy of a short story by legendary sci-fi author, Ursula K. LeGuin. That st...
Rob really enjoyed the latest episode of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' - calling it the best, single episode of Star Trek since 2005. That being said and Rob being who he is, he did have one bone to pick with the show ...
The story behind the episode appeared to be a direct copy of a short story by legendary sci-fi author, Ursula K. LeGuin. That st...
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June 8, 2022 • 29 mins
Being the star of your own show might be good for your ego but bad for the country.
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who contends that modern TV shows and movies aren’t as memorable as classic shows and movies from years gone by. He goes on to propose that even if those classic TV shows and movies were made today, they wouldn’t be as memorable, either. Are...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who contends that modern TV shows and movies aren’t as memorable as classic shows and movies from years gone by. He goes on to propose that even if those classic TV shows and movies were made today, they wouldn’t be as memorable, either. Are...
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Rob and I respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur asking why modern TV shows and movies aren't as memorable as the classic films and programs from decades gone by. He even goes as far as to say that if some of those legendary filmmakers released their classic films in today's media environment, their work wouldn't be as memorable, either.
Interestingly enough, Rob and I agree (at least in principle). Our rationales diffe...
Interestingly enough, Rob and I agree (at least in principle). Our rationales diffe...
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June 7, 2022 • 65 mins
Over the past 38 episodes of this podcast, Rob and I have discussed (ad nauseam, some might say) what we don't like about a good bit of the new, genre entertainment being produced by the major studios as continuations (or, more likely, re-boots and prequels) to long-established, franchise properties. To be honest, some of it is pretty bad and we're going to continue talking about it.
The problem is, of course, that if we continue to...
The problem is, of course, that if we continue to...
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June 7, 2022 • 24 mins
Sometimes you don’t have to change much to resolve a ear-splitting dissonance.
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who works in the music industry and asks a very interesting question about the “artistic dissonances” in the new, Obi-Wan Kenobi series streaming on Disney+. Matt points out that just making some small changes in how certain things are handled co...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from an Imagination Connoisseur who works in the music industry and asks a very interesting question about the “artistic dissonances” in the new, Obi-Wan Kenobi series streaming on Disney+. Matt points out that just making some small changes in how certain things are handled co...
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Is the outlook for the future of storytelling as bleak as it seems to be?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking where all of the optimistic stories have gone. Having been raised in the 60s and 70s, the letter-writer recalls that period as a time of optimism and possibility. But now, with the rise of social media (and, more likely, with the coming of middle age), he feels let down by th...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking where all of the optimistic stories have gone. Having been raised in the 60s and 70s, the letter-writer recalls that period as a time of optimism and possibility. But now, with the rise of social media (and, more likely, with the coming of middle age), he feels let down by th...
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June 7, 2022 • 21 mins
Creativity is in the eye of the beholder, until we invent technology to replace it.
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking about attempts to objectively determine what work is “creative” the limitations we face when it comes to trying to adopt such a standard. How can we say something is “objectively” creative when creativity seems to be such a matter of taste and personal preference?
Th...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter asking about attempts to objectively determine what work is “creative” the limitations we face when it comes to trying to adopt such a standard. How can we say something is “objectively” creative when creativity seems to be such a matter of taste and personal preference?
Th...
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Is “good enough” really good enough?
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why Star Wars fans aren't more discerning when it comes to the stories written for their favorite franchises and the way they’re produced. Should fans just accept stories that are ill-conceived or poorly produced and not ask questions? Rob and Mike chime in with a few thoughts of their own.
Thi...
ROADTRIPPIN' co-hosts Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden respond to a letter from a listener who asks why Star Wars fans aren't more discerning when it comes to the stories written for their favorite franchises and the way they’re produced. Should fans just accept stories that are ill-conceived or poorly produced and not ask questions? Rob and Mike chime in with a few thoughts of their own.
Thi...
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