Jury Duty: Company Retreat E6, E7, E8

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

When I started watching this season of Jury Duty: Company Retreat, I was unsure how I felt about it. By the end, I found myself absolutely lovoing it.

The last two episodes continued the storyline of the purchase of Rockin’ Grandma’s by the Triukas group and the reveal that they had a sinister motive behind the deal, giving Anthony a chance to come in at the end as a hero to stop the deal.

The Talent Show section of the show was absolutely amazing, and bringing in Sia as a guest star in the talent show was such a ridiculous, over-the-top moment, but worked so well.

Anthony Norman was such a wonderful man, and the perfect piece for the heart of the show. He was willing to take on all sorts of craziness from the collection of characters around him and he did it with such leadership and empathy. I did not think this show could top Ronald Gladden from season one of Jury Duty, but I think maybe Anthony was able to do it.

The final episode of Jury Duty has been when they go behind the scenes after the final reveal to the non-actor and it has always been one of my favorite episodes of the season because you get to see how intricate things have to be and to what lengths they take things to make this show work. Being able to see Anthony with his eyes finally open to what was going on around him is so much fun.

It also truly showed how much of a bond he had made with the actors, how connected he was with these fictional characters in real life and how much of an effect he had on them is so sweet and heart-warming. It gives you the message that if you are respectful and kind to people, good things will happen. I would be curious to see what would happen if they guy they bring in to the series would just freak out or not go to the extremes that they required him to do.

I am sure they spent all kinds of time researching their non-actor, making sure they would find the strongest possible candidate. They truly succeeded in that aspect this year.

I was iffy on the show at first, but it quickly turned into one of my favorite shows. It was easy to watch, always funny and entertaining and had a fabulous message. Jury Duty ahs had two stellar seasons of TV on Amazon Prime so far. Here’s hoping for a season three down the line.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Doc

I went to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie today in a packed Phoenix Theater in Dubuque. As I was leaving, I was very disappointed and not entertained, but the kids around me leaving were bouncing with energy, bantering about their favorite parts and were just filled with an excitement that you could feel.

I wish I shared that same kind of feeling.

I was bored through most of this movie. I did not find anything to the story and I am not a big fan of Nintendo or Super Mario to be interested in the characters that were appearing on the screen.

According to IMDB, “Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.”

The animation was sensational. The colors popped off the screen and every moment looked fantastic. The color and the imagery was another reason why kids are going to love this movie.

The voice acting was fine. Jack Black as Bowzer is great as always. Chris Pratt as Mario is fine, but not that memorable. Other voice actors included Glenn Powell, Brie Larson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Benny Safdie, Keegan-Michael Key, Charlie Day, Donald Glover, Kevin Michael Richardson, Issa Rae, and Luis Guzman.

The problem was, for me, the story was lacking. I did not find anything happening that was engaging. It felt more like a bunch of random adventures with music playing over top. It was not a competent, overarching story that worked. It had some definite strengths to the movie, but the over loaded characters did not feel as if they were given any time to develop.

BUt as I said, the kids of my theater loved what they got. So, my thoughts on this movie are coming from an adult purpose, and I am not a fan. I prefer that the animated film worked for both kids and adults, but I struggled to get through the 90 + minutes of the film.

It is going to make all the money though. I liked the first one much more than this one.

2.4 stars

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S2 E6

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

“Requiem”

I guess Skull Island is taking place at Jurassic Park now.

What was that opening scene meant to convey? It was a huge nothing. I guess there had not been many scenes between Kentaro and Hiroshi so the writers felt they needed something to show the audience. Or maybe they needed to throw a Kong cameo in to justify the name.

I don’t know how much more of this show I can take.

I did like how Kentaro ripped into Cate with her ridiculousness. The Cate character does the same thing every episode and it feels like they could just take her dialogue and copy it every scene.

What has been true about this show since day one is that the flashbacks are heads and shoulders above the present day material. That remains to be true. We follow Shaw in his reassignment and we come to meet his father. It didn’t make me feel much better when his father asked him why he was here, and he said was it a fight or fornication. Fornication? Who uses that word in their daily dialogue?

It was interesting to see how Lee’s flashback to his father was similar to the way Lee was thinking in the present. It is meant to show that Lee is not thinking clearly, but if he is on the opposite side of Cate then I am all down with it.

The Godzilla cameo in Kentaro’s dream was ridiculous. It was not as superficial as the Kong cameo, but it wasn’t much above it.

Then, as Lee was attempting to see if it was possible to open a rift to summon Godzilla to fight Titan X, something wonky happened and present day Lee started talking to young Lee on the walkie talkie.

Has the show added a time travel element to it? That ending was an interesting tidbit that maybe becomes something to help the show out. I have found this to be quite the sludge to get through each week, and I hope that the second half of the season would bring more to intrigue me than what it has done before.

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #86

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Doc

#86

Polka on 45

Title: “Polka on 45”

Album: In 3D

Genre: Polka medley

Release: 1984

Parody: The idea was a style parody of “Stars on 45” from 1918.

Songs in polka: “Jocko Homo,” “Smoke on the Water,” “Sex (I’m A…),” “Hey Jude,” “L.A. Woman,” “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” “Hey Joe,” “Burning Down the House,” “Hot Blooded,” “Bubbles in the Wine,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “My Generation.”

Polka on 45 was the first polka medley on a long list of polkas done by Weird Al. This is the second polka to appear in the Top 100, following #99 The Hot Rocks Polka. The polka medleys are some of my favorite things done by Al and they only continued to get better.

Lyrics

They tell us that we lost our tails
Evolving up from little snails
I say it’s all just wind and sails
Are we not men? We are Devo
Are we not men? D-E-V-O

Smoke on the water
And fire in the sky
Smoke on the water

I’m a boy
(I’m a man) well, I’m your mother
(I’m a man) I’m a one-night stand
(I’m a man) am I bi?
(I’m a man) I’m your slave
(I’m a man) I’m a little girl when we make love together

Hey, hey, hey!
Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it
Better, better, better, better, better, better, yeah

L.A. woman
You’re my woman
Got my mojo risin’
Mr. Mojo Risin’
Hey!

In-a-gadda-da-vida, honey
Don’t you know that I love you?
In-a-gadda-da-vida, baby
Don’t you know that I’ll always be true?

Hey, Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Hey, Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Gonna shoot my old lady
Caught her messin’ ’round with another man

Yodel-ay-ee, yodel-ay-he-hoo, yodel-ay-ee, yodel-ay-he-hoo
Yodel-ay-ee, yodel-ay-he-hoo, yodel-ay he-hoo
Yodel-ay-ee, yodel-ay-he-hoo, yodel-ay-ee, yodel-ay-he-hoo
I’m an ordinary guy burnin’ down the house

I’m hot-blooded, check it and see
Got a fever of a 103
Come on, baby, do you do more than dance?
I’m hot-blooded, hot-blooded

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take
I’ll be watchin’ you

Darling, you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
But you gotta let me know, whoa, whoa, whoa
Should I stay or should I go?

But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas
But it’s all right, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it’s a gas, gas, gas

People try to put us down (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we get around (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Hope I die before I get old (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
This is my generation (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
This is my generation, baby (talkin’ ’bout my generation)
(Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
My, my, my, my, my, my generation (my generation)
Well, I’m talkin’ ’bout my g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-generation
Hey!

Source: Musixmatch

Invincible S4 E5

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

“Give Us A Moment”

Holy crap.

Okay, that was as gruesome and as brutal as anything I have ever seen. I was shocked and disturbed by the imagery of Conquest ripping Mark’s intestines out of his body while Mark choked him to death.

I mean… clearly Invincible is not dead, but I have no idea how he survived that ending of this episode.

I sure hope Conquest is finally dead. The show made it appear that he is done, but I know super hero shows bring dead people back.

This episode seemed to be a slower episode as Mark and Oliver prepare to leave earth with Omni Man and they dealt with a bunch of the moments on the planet. The face off with Debbie and Nolan was amazing. Debbie was brutal as she listened to Nolan’s excuses but responded with so much vitriol.

There was a nice meeting with Nolan and Art, and Art’s reaction to Nolan’s departure was great and very understandable. When Art told Nolan that he had closed his account because he only does costumes for heroes was rough.

It seemed like everything else was just a pre-fight episode… and then all hell broke loose.

The battle between Mark and Conquest was absolutely insane. I was actually screaming at the TV when Conquest shoved his hand through Mark’s gut. I can’t believe how devastating this fight was and how vicious the struggle was. Mark, refusing to break his grip from around Conquest’s neck no matter what happened, was amazing.

I know Mark does not die… or at least, he is still alive in the comics. I don’t know if there is some kind of death but resurrection coming. Mark sure was left in a horrendous state.

Shrinking S3 E10

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

“The Bodyguard of Sadness”

Woof. This one packed a punch.

It was graduation day for Alice and the emotions are all over the place for poor Jimmy, with his father departing for a deep sea fishing trip instead of attending graduation, Paul getting ready to move to Connecticut and the fact that Alice is graduating is really crushing Jimmy’s spirit.

Jason Segal gave one of his best performances of the series in this episode as he confronted Paul about a myriad of issues, some of which were directed toward Paul and others that were directed toward his own father. It was devastating to see Jimmy rip into Paul like he did, especially since a lot of the anger was actually directed to his father and his childhood trauma, the fact that everyone was leaving him, and that he was feeling alone.

Harrison Ford has been brilliant in this series, and this episode was no exception. He was so subtle throughout, but you could tell how much Jimmy’s attack affected him. He sat in his home, waiting for the car to take him to Connecticut, and you can see how much he was suffering from the rejection of Jimmy, who Paul had invited for a goodbye breakfast.

The line: “I get it now. I’m not as important to you as you are to me. I just feel stupid it took me that long to realize it. I’m just not that sensitive, Paul. I’ll survive” dropped by Jimmy was like a dagger and put in words they way that Jimmy was feeling.

This was the penultimate episode of season three, but man did it feel like a finale. Everyone was finding their path over the next several months, and Jimmy was there all on his own.

It makes me worried for Jimmy as his mental health seems to have taken a huge back step from the positive areas that it had reached since the loss of Tia.

One more episode of the season next week. The finale should be fire.

EYG Favorite Comic Covers of the Week

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

April 3

It is Good Friday. Last night, I came back from buying my comics in the Quad Cities, and I drove through a shelf cloud. It was something I had never experienced before. It was clear and then it was as if I had hit a wall as the rain fell. I can go a long time without doing that again.

Also-Rans: Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story #1, Wonder Man #1, Alien: King Killer #1, and venom #256 (B cover).

Bronze Medalist

Daredevil #1

Cover art by Lee Garbett

The brand new Daredevil series kicked off with a great A cover and a bunch of blind bag variants. The variants I have at this point do not match up with this classic DD cover from Lee Garbett.

Silver Medalist

Kilroy is Here #1

Variant Cover B

Cover art by Brian Bolland

The variant cover for the new one-shot featuring Kilroy is a beautiful black and white version with our returning character. It is a compelling cover for a fun issue.

Gold Medalist

Narco #1

2nd Printing

Cover art by Daniel Hillyard

Typically I do not worry about picking up 2nd printings of comics, but this cover just was so awesome that I had to have it. This second printing of the Narco #1 cover is better than the original.

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #87

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

#87

Lame Claim to Fame

Title: “Lame Claim to Fame”

Album: Mandatory Fun

Release: 2014

Written: Al Yankovic

Style Parody: Southern Culture on the Skids

Lyrics

One time I was in the checkout line
Behind Steven Seagal
Once I’m pretty sure Mr. Jonah Hill
Was in the very next bathroom stall
My best friend’s brother
Well, he was an extra in Wayne’s World 2
My neighbour’s baby sitter
Dated three of the guys in Motley Crue
I swear Jack Nicholson
Looked right at me at a Laker’s game

I got a lame
Lame claim to fame

Check it out, I bought a second hand toaster
From a guy who says he knows Brad Pitt
I got me an email from the prince of Nigeria
Well, he sure sounded legit
My sister used to take piano lessons
From the second cousin of Ralph Nader
Last year I threw up in an elevator
Next to Christian Slater
Well guess what, my birthday and Kim Kardashian’s
Are exactly the same

I got a lame
Lame claim to fame
A really lame
Lame claim to fame

Once at a party, my dentist accidentally
Sneezed on Russell Crowe
I posted first in the comments
On a YouTube video
I tried to sit by Steve Buscemi
But he told me this seat’s taken
I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy
Who know a guy who knows a guy who know Kevin Bacon

I had a car that used to belong
To Cuba Gooding Jr.’s uncle
A friend of mine in high school
Had jury duty with Art Garfunkel
One time I was staying in the same hotel
As Zooey Deschanel
I used the same napkin dispenser
As Steve Carell at a Taco Bell
Well I don’t mean to brag but
Paul Giamatti’s plumber knows me by name

I got a lame
Lame claim to fame
A really lame
Lame claim to fame
I’m talking lame
Lame claim to fame
A really really really lame
Lame claim to fame

Ow, let’s get lame boys

Source: LyricFind

The Pitt S2 E13

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

“7:00 PM”

I have never watched The Pitt live on HBO Max on the night it released until tonight. It had a premiere feel to me. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it did seem to make the episode pop even more than it does.

Robby and Dana continue their conflict with each other that resulted in a fiery scene to end the episode. Dana is trying to get Robby to go home and start his sabbatical and Robby is listing the reasons why he is still there. You can tell why these two are the backbone of the ensemble. Then, Robby blurted out the episode ender, leaving us all with our mouths agape… “What if I don’t come back?”

Obviously, this is something that has been weighing on Robby for awhile now, and part of the reason he is avoiding his departure is that he is afraid that if he heads out, he’ll find what has been missing and he won’t come back. Robby stated that he was unsure if the place could go on without him. This is, of course, extremely narcissistic feelings, but they stem from his own breakdown.

There are speculation online that this might be leading to suicidal thoughts for Robby, with some going as far as to say that Robby might die. It does seem as he has been getting worse as this season progressed, but I find it hard to believe that there is going to be any sort of suicide attempt by the lead character of this show.

It was nice to get some extended time this week with Whitaker as he has seemed to be somewhat benched this season. It is ironic that we get more of Whitaker on the screen at a time when his shift should be over. It is funny how the show consistently looks for ways to keep these people in the ER well past when they should be gone.

I have to say that I am not sure I appreciate this show giving me a character like Ogilvie, who I hated, only to bring him down to earth, humanize him, and make him someone I can relate with.

Then, I did not understand why Sean was here as a night shift doctor named Henderson. I thought Sean was preparing to be a sous chef. Of course, this is a reference to the fact that actor Luke Tennie, who has played Sean on Shrinking for all three seasons of that show is now appearing on The Pitt. It was a touch distracting through no one’s fault but my own.

There are two remaining episodes of the season and with Robby’s friend Duke getting a horrible diagnosis, things may be amping up to a painful final two episodes of a season that has been sensational once again.

Backrooms /Official Trailer

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Doc

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #88

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Doc

#88

Mr. Popeil

Title: “Mr. Popeil”

Album: Weird Al Yankovic In 3D

Written: Al Yankovic

Released: 1984

Style Pastiche: B-52s

Fact: Background vocals were provided by Lisa Popeil, the daughter of Sam Popeil, who this song was about.

Lyrics

I need a vegematic!
I need a pocket fisherman!
I need a handy appliance
That’ll scramble an egg while it’s still inside its shell!
(Operators are standing by.
How does that make you feel?)
Help me.
Mr. Popeil!

I wanna shine some pennies!
I wanna mend some leather!
I wanna Krazy-glue my head to the bottom of a big steel girder!
(Please, no c.o.d.’s.
Don’t miss out on this deal.)
Ah, help me.
Mr. Popeil!

Help me.
Mr. Popeil!
Mr. Popeil!
Mr. Popeil!

It slices. it dices.
Look at that tomato!
You could even cut a tin can with it,
But you wouldn’t want to!

Mr. Popeil, I’m in trouble.
Need your assistance on the double.
Oh no! now how am I gonna make
My old vinyl car top look like new?
Mr. Popeil!
Tell me, what am I s’posed to do?

Mr. Popeil!
Mr. Popeil!

But wait, there’s more!
It’s not sold in any store!
(Now how much would you pay?)
Don’t answer yet,
Just look what else you get!
(Now how much would you pay?)
If you order today,
You get a ginsu knife and a smokeless ashtray!
(Now how much would you pay?)
Now how much would you pay?
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil.
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil.
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil.
Mr. Popeil, Mr. Popeil.

Make me buy a garden weasel!
Make me buy a bamboo steamer!
Make me take advantage
Of this amazing tv offer!
(Call our toll-free number,
We’ll make you such a deal.)
Aw, help me!
Mr. Popeil. I want it!
(Mr. Popeil.) well, I need it!
(Mr. Popeil.) I got to got to got to have it!
Mr. Popeil!
Mr. Popeil!
Hey!

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #89

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Doc

#89

You Don’t Love Me Anymore

Title: “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: Off the Deep End

Release: 1992

Style: Acoustic ballad/Comedy

Style Parody: Soft rock break-up songs -inspired by Nicolette Larson’s “Still You Linger On”

Fact: The music video to the song is a parody of “More Than Words” by Extreme.

Lyrics

We’ve been together for so very long
But now things are changing, oh I wonder what’s wrong?
Seems you don’t want me around
The passion is gone and the flame’s died down

I guess I lost a little bit of self-esteem
That time that you made it with the whole hockey team
You used to think I was nice
Now you tell all your friends that I’m the Antichrist

Oh, why did you disconnect the brakes on my car?
That kind of thing is hard to ignore
Got a funny feeling you don’t love me anymore

I knew that we were having problems when
You put those piranhas in my bathtub again
You’re still the light of my life
Oh darling, I’m beggin’, won’t you put down that knife?

You know, I even think it’s kinda cute the way
You poison my coffee just a little each day
I still remember the way that you laughed
When you pushed me down the elevator shaft

Oh, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s this poisonous cobra
Doing in my underwear drawer?
Sometime I get to thinking you don’t love me any more

You slammed my face down on the barbecue grill
Now my scars are all healing, but my heart never will
You set my house on fire
You pulled out my chest hairs with an old pair of pliers

Oh, you think I’m ugly and you say I’m cheap
You shaved off my eyebrows while I was asleep
You drilled a hole in my head
Then you dumped me in a drainage ditch and left me for dead

Oh, you know this really isn’t like you at all
You never acted this way before
Honey, something tells me you don’t love me any more, oh no no
Got a funny feeling you don’t love me anymore

Source: LyricFind

Daredevil: Born Again S2 E2, E3

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

“Shoot the Moon”

“The Scale & the Sword”

This week, Disney + dropped episode two and three of Daredevil: Born Again tonight.

There are some amazing things happening in this series. The highlights of these two episodes include:

Trial of the Swordsman. Spoiler… it was fairly rigged and he was found guilty.
Reveal of the Mayor Kingpin online person: It’s Bebe.
Matt and Karen lead an attack on the AVTF base in Red Hook.
Daredevil got all the caged individuals out.
White Tiger returns… kind of…
Bullseye is running around. He killed two AVTF agents in the elevator- brutally.
Heather continues to slip into darkness.
Fisk was preparing to box, killed his trainer.
Daniel is concerned that the leaks were coming from his laptop. He warns Bebe.
Gallo’s death is covered up as a car wreck.
Karen and Matt are roused out of the bar where they are hiding out.
Cherry is safe, gotten out of the hospital before the AVTF got him.
Vanessa has weird dreams
Kingpin had the ship blown up, killing the workmen on the ship.
Karen captured a AVTF agent who wants to help them stop Fisk.
Karen and Matt take up residence in Frank’s place.

The Daredevil fight scene at Red Hook was awesome, with DD and Jack fighting brutally.

I am anxious for Jessica Jones, who has yet to appear. I am excited to get her into the show.

Episode two was a little slower, but I thought the characterization is great. This show has done a really great job including the story of the ensemble cast around Matt and Karen.

It did feel a little easy for DD to get into the cages and to get the people out of the prison.

However, I did not want episode three to end. When it went to black screen, I literally yelled out. I wanted it to continue. I am excited to see next Tuesday.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S2 E5

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Doc

Spoilers

I just HATE Cate.

Yet again, her stupidity or selfishness has led to tragedy. This time, you could see it coming a mile away. Cate couldn’t though.

Her latest brain dead moment had her right in the path of Titan X for no reason.

I had seen a spoiler somewhere online that someone major was going to die in this episode and I so hoped it would be Cate, but I knew it wouldn’t be. I had my fingers crossed, but she continued to be the worst character on TV.

I want to point out that this is not a diss at the actor playing Cate, Anna Sawai. She is doing what she can and she has a lot of emotional moments. My complaints are how the character is constantly being written.

As soon as she was standing before the gigantic monster and Hiroshi noticed she was not with the crew, I knew who was going to be the tragic loss. In fact, earlier, when they were dealing with the fact that Hiroshi had found the letter Keiko wrote Lee, it reminded me of how things would be resolved on LOST and then that character would bite it.

I don’t know where this show goes next, but I am not a fan of the current path of this story.

There Comes Humans!

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Doc

My seventh graders were writing a poem from the perspective of an intelligent life form viewing the arrival of humans who are exploring space. I joined in the fun…

THERE COMES HUMANS!

Boom!

Never has our planet heard such a sound

The shiny, metallic object from the heavens it fell

The fiery tail extinguished, touching down on the ground.

My three-eyes cast a gaze like I was under a spell.

Whoosh!

Steam announced their arrival as it opened a door

I scurried for cover behind a large rock.

A large, bulky figure I had never seen before

Stepped cautiously forward from out the airlock.

Clank!