In yet another Flopcast Top 4 1/2 List, we're counting down our favorite movies about bands. And since we've ruled out documentaries and biopics, that leaves movies about fictional bands. Some of our picks are obvious, as Jake and Elwood get the band back together, some wacky Irish kids bring soul to Dublin, and Eddie, you know, cruises. But one or two lesser known films also make the list. (Did anyone besides us see Still Crazy? Come on, get on that.) If this isn't enough fictional band action for you, go see our friends at Dragon Con's American Sci-Fi Classics Track, where this subject is an ongoing obsession. Meanwhile, enjoy, and remember: This podcast goes to eleven, but then immediately sinks back down to about a three.

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This week's promo: Tales From Hollywoodland!

A few weeks ago, we reviewed the 1925 silent black and white version of The Wizard of Oz, and it was... not great. So this week, we're watching the 1939 version, which has sound and color (you know, mostly), and is arguably the superior film. And we're here to talk about it. Our discussion includes: Professional show chickens, crullers, how people are still suckered by psychics, Dorothy's red hair, professional show crows, Martin Short as a picket fence, the Tin Man's Boston accent, "Existential Blues" by Tom "T-Bone" Stankus, a scarecrow with a gun, fake owls, and Huey Lewis. If this is all too much for you, just click your heels 251 times and download a different podcast.

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This week's promo: Cosmic Pizza!

While poking through a box of old magazines at Rubber Chicken Comics, we found something called Superstars of Soul. It's an odd little educational workbook from 1986, and it taught vocabulary and reading comprehension to the kids while they learned about their favorite soul acts. So we're flipping through the whole book today, and our conversation includes: Chaka Khan on The Love Boat! Prince punching a guy! Coffee for the Pointer Sisters! Jeffrey Osborne meets the Big Blue Bug! Hall meets Oates in a freight elevator! And lots more. (Is this just our excuse to talk about Irene Cara for two episodes in a row? Perhaps...) Also: Kevin is talking Scooby Doo on A Podcask of Amontillado, and we're celebrating Pi Day with an irrational pie.

A Podcask of Amontillado - the Scooby Doo episode!

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This week's promo: Modern Musicology!

In the wake of last week's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode, Kevin and the Mayor check out documentaries about two of the nominees: Luther Vandross and Jeff Buckley. (Kevin also stumbled upon a 1985 movie starring Tatum O'Neal and Irene Cara that we suspect has never been seen by anyone else ever.) And we brave the mean streets of Allston, Massachusetts (featuring poorly shoveled sidewalks and drunk college kids) to see a couple of wonderful bands: Foxy Shazam (those glam rock maniacs responsible for the Peacemaker opening theme song) and Descartes a Kant (a Mexican quartet with Devo-style costumes and a super-cool retro-futuristic concept album). Plus: The Mayor is a guest on a couple of other podcasts (The Doctor's Beard and The 42cast) to discuss Doctor Who, Witchblade, and perhaps other nerd stuff.

The Mayor on The 42cast!

The Mayor on The Doctor's Beard!

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This week's promo: Legends of the DCU!

The new list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees was just released, and as usual we spend a whole episode kicking it around. And once again we're joined by writer, publisher, and podcaster (BatChums, Dragon Con Report, Earth Station Who) Michael Gordon! Join us as we recall seeing INXS live, wonder if this will finally be Mariah's year, and try to figure out what a "sussudio" is. Of course, Air Supply still has not been nominated. And that's why we're furious.

Find all of Mike's projects here!

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This week's promo: Dragon Con Report!

Back in the 70s and 80s, the television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz was a hugely anticipated annual event. The kids had their Wizard of Oz dolls from Mego, and their Wizard of Oz comic book from Marvel and DC, just to get them through the long year between viewings. But that was the classic movie from 1939. Have you ever seen the 1925 version? Kevin and the Mayor just did, so we're here to file our report for you. This is a bizarre little silent slapstick comedy, and it features a Buster Keaton-type Scarecrow, a Dorothy played by a lady actually named Dorothy, Oliver Hardy (pre-Laurel) as the Tin Man, an unhealthy dose of blatant racism, and a vomiting duck. It's not great, but it is a curiosity. And since it's silent, you don't have to worry about the duck breaking into "Over the Rainbow."

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This week's promo: Have Coffee, Will Travel!

The Mayor is back in Chickentown with a full report on her trip to Los Angeles for Gallifrey One, the long-running annual Doctor Who convention! Including: The 1986 Doctor Who USA Tour! The Mayor's panel about the Doctor's companions! A quick bonus visit to the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego! A special appearance by Flash Gordon! And the return of a long lost Flopcast segment, What's in the Bag! And now with this California adventure out of the way, we can get back to enjoying the soul-crushing miserable winter.

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This week's promo: Earth Station Who!

It's been over a year, but we're finally returning to The Super Dictionary, that bizarre book from the 70s that taught vocabulary to the children using DC Comics superheroes. This time we're learning (sort of) about words starting with H, I, and J. But because this book is so weird, we're really learning that Batgirl is fascinated by geese, whales love Wonder Woman's shoes, Atom rides hummingbirds, Supergirl irons her cape, Catwoman's house is filthy, and Comet the Super Horse hates chickens. Yikes, we've learned so much, and we're not even halfway through The Super Dictionary. But we're trying to pace ourselves, lest our heads explode with too much very important information. (Is Aquaman secretly a kangaroo? We'll find out soon, when we get to the K section.)

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This week's promo: Earth Station Trek!

This week's other promo: the MarsCon Comedy Music Track!