The Con Guy Podcast

Get ready to scream.... with delight! The Scare Season is here, and no none does it better or BIGGER on the West Coast than Universal Studios Hollywood's HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS! On this week's special CON GUY show, we present a presentation from our 'Scarier Side' — THE SCARE GUY show. We rank our most anticipated SCARES from the 8 Haunted Houses and the Terror Tram, plus 3 Scare Zones, 2 new live shows, and Harry Potter's Death Eaters! We've got it all here... If you like the Halloween Season, make sure to subscribe to THE SCARE GUY on Youtube, Spotify, and everywhere you listen to podcasts!

The Studios didn’t come. The writers didn’t show up. And the actors, for the most part, stayed away—pop culture watchers and pundits predicted a Comic-Con apocalypse. They said fans would revolt. Attendance would drop off. Hotels would be canceled. They predicted this would be the Comic-Con that never was…. Were they right? Or, like the Grinch, did they see that even without all the bright, shiny spectacles, that Comic-Con came anyway?

With most of the major studios skipping San Diego Comic-Con because of the impending writers and actor strikes, this year might be a tad quieter than some of the most recent years. But don't fret! With the full schedule revealed, we dive in and bring you the best, coolest panels not to mis this year! ALSO, we talk with Tony Kim about his panels, merch, and a cool new offsite.

With most of the major studios announcing that they're skipping this year's San Diego Comic-Con (mainly because of the writers and actors strike), lots of folks are proclaiming gloom and doom for the event. But not us! Sure, there will be some things we'll miss, but overall, there are so many reasons to believe that this year's event is going to be awesome! Here's 21 reasons — but we're sure there's more!

If you like Battlestar Galactica — and who doesn't??? — then this is for you! From comics and graphic novels to audio drama and animation, Terminus Media is producing exciting and meaningful stories that you will love! And their latest is a sci-fi epic about kings, prophets, outterspace battles, and the crumbling of a king as the chosen successor comes. Oh -- and don't forget the promised giant of legend that will put everyone to the test. This is DOMINION Volume 2, The Fall of the House of Saul. This week we're joined by the writer and artist of this brand-new series, who are here to tell us all about the Kickstarter and their plans for future installments.

In 1993, Steven Spielberg's monumental JURASSIC PARK roared into theaters and convinced us that dinosaurs were real, forever changing motion pictures. It was the biggest (literally) movie of all time, ushering in a whole new era of CGI special effects and shaking up summer blockbuster records. Join us as we reveal the events, screenings, merchandise, and Comic-Con offsites celebrating the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park, an adventure 65 million years in the making!

Ready Player One, Nick at Nightclub, the Monster Ball, and the Barbie Dream Lounge—Bernie Bregman, of XLE Productions, takes us inside this incredible Party Headquarters, which will be touching down at Parq Nightclub in downtown San Diego for this year's San Diego Comic-Con. It's a party every night!

The Force was strong in London! From new movies, TV shows and animated specials, to the latest cast reveals and updated attractions, we bring you the biggest and most exciting news out of Star Wars Celebration 2023. Buckle your seatbelts — we're jumping into hyperdrive!

It's our annual BIG WONDERCON SHOW! It's also our 7th Anniversary (Who'd a thunk it?).... This episode, we go over everything you need to know for an awesome WONDERCON - the badges, hotels, panels, meetups.... and tips for getting the most out of your Con! Wondercon is our hometown event, and we can't wait to see everyone there. Come and wish us happy birthday!

#wondercon #wondercon2023

When their parents head out of town one Halloween weekend, an all-time rager of a teen house party turns to terror when aliens attack, forcing siblings Gary and his older sister Samantha to band together to survive the night. We talk with the film’s director and co-writer, JASON EISENER, and star CALEM MACDONAL.

Move over ‘Die Hard’, there’s a new R-rated Christmas classic in town! Co-Writer Josh Miller takes us into the creative process of writing the crazy new holiday film, VIOLENT NIGHT. When an elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, they aren’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

The Con Girls are back and they're getting spooky! It’s the return of the Sanderson Sisters in HOCUS POCUS 2, and Sam’s first time on the big screen in the theatrical release of modern horror classic TRICK R’ TREAT! Throw in a bit of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and it’s a bewitching potion for a cool October night.

Khan, Poltergeist, Bladerunner, E.T. — and the list goes on. 40 Years ago, the Summer of 1982 delivered some of the most iconic films and characters the big screen had ever seen.... or ever will see. It's hard to quantify just how monumental that summer was, but on this week's CON GUY LIVE SHOW, we try out best to tell the story of the summer that forever changed Hollywood.

The Con Guys talk about everything that's in store for this year's Halloween Season - Halloween Horror Nights, Knotts Scary, Halloween Ends, and more! Halloween is finally BACK!

As part of our "Summer of 1982" celebration, THE CON GUY shines the spotlight on the film that cemented Steven Spielberg's reputation as the genius of 80s cinema, and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time — E.T. the EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL! It's the story of a gentle alien left behind on earth, and his friendship with young Elliott. Featuring the debut of Henry Thomas and a scene-stealing Drew Barrymore, E.T. endures as one of the most magical and timeless movies ever made.... from the summer that forever changed films!

After two years of pandemic closures, San Diego Comic-Con returned in force, welcoming 130,000-plus fans and industry professionals back to Southern California's Pop Culture Super Bowl—and we were right there in the middle of it all! On this episode, we detail the BEST and the WORST of Comic-Con 2022, from the panels to the offsites to the parties and more!

Here's our annual guide to the best offsites and parties OUTSIDE of Comic-Con 2022. From HBO to NBC, Amazon and FX, all the big brands are out in force this year, with parties, offsites, photo ops, yachts, art shows, and tons of stuff... even if you don't have a convention badge. We can't all get into all the events, and a lot of them are already sold out, but with so much to choose from, you're gonna find something for everyone!

San Diego Comic-Con released a MONSTER of a programming schedule for its first in-person summer event in three years! From the over-the-top spectacle of Hall H, to the niche and passionate industry panels in the smaller rooms, THE CON GUY crew goes through our picks of the MUST SEE panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

With help from the crew of The Enterprise, Admiral James T. Kirk faces his old enemy, Khan Sing, and must stop him from using the ultimate weapon — the Genesis Device, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. As part of our celebration of the movies of the Summer of 1982, the Con Guy turns the spotlight on the film that saved the Star Trek franchise, and we do it with two Star Trek experts: regular host Derek Samms and frequent guest Thomas Parham, PhD, the author of ‘Hailing Frequencies Open: Communication in Star Trek: The Next Generation.’

The countdown is on — we're just three weeks out from San Diego Comic-Con 2022, happening July 20-24, and we've got all the latest news about panels and exclusives! Also, special guests Tony Kim (Hero Within) and Stephen Burns give us a sneak-peek at their panels, plus Jake Jarele catches us up on the latest announcements about exclusives at this year's event.

Comic-con is back! There are just 4 weeks left until San Diego Comic-Con 2022, which means there's so much to find out! From hotels, to parking, to badges (any left?), to offsites and panels, we've got the lowdown on everything you need to know RIGHT NOW... including a special interview about the biggest party of the Con!

SPOILER WARNING! This week, we tackle the Netflix phenomenon that’s stealing the summer—STRANGER THINGS 4. When a series of mysterious and gruesome murders again shake the community of Hawkins, Dustin, Max, Nancy, Steve and the whole gang spring into action to try to solve the mystery. It’s the most spine-tingling season yet of STRANGER THINGS, and Derek and Danae Samms — or, as we like to call them, THE SAMMBLINGS — review and take us through the first seven episodes of Volume 4. Watch the episodes first on Netflix, then join in our discussion.

This is a HUGE WEEK for Geeks! On this episode, we preview Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Season 4 of Stranger Things, Bob's Burgers the Movie, and Top Gun Maverick. Whew! So much happening in one week! The summer's heatin' up fast.

IT'S MORPHIN TIME: CELEBRATING 29 YEARS OF POWER RANGERS — Campy, colorful and often over-the-top, the Power Rangers franchise launched in 1993 and quickly exploded into a worldwide phenomenon, a multi-media franchise which endures to this day. Celebrate 29 years of Power Rangers mania with some of your favorite actors from the franchise, including Abraham Rodriguez (Beast Morphers), Brennan Mejia (Dino Charge), Roger Velasco (Power Rangers in Space), and Cameron Jebo and Ciara Hanna (Super Megaforce)!

The "con season" is really heating up, with the Grandaddy of them all, San Diego Comic-Con, 11 weeks away. This episode we discuss everything we know so far about SDCC, along with a preview of some of the biggest events in the next three months. PLUS, this Saturday Free Comic Book Day returns--here's what you need to know. And we respond LIVE to the new Jurassic World Dominion trailer!

WonderCon 2022 kicked open the doors of fandom and jumpstarted the year's Convention Season with gusto! From the panels to the merch to the cosplay, WonderCon welcomed the fans back to Anaheim and proved that, "Yeah, baby! Comic Cons are back!" This week we wrap up our favorite moments (and challenges) of the event, and take a look at own Power Rangers panel — our best ever! — and our first-ever booth on the convention floor. We even had Potsy and Ralph from Happy Days!

The Night Stalker. Los Feliz Murder House. The Ripper. Not Another True Crime Podcast.... Murder, Betrayal, Love, Hate... Why does it seem that women, in particular, are so fascinated by True Crime Stories? What are some of your favorites? And which mysteries can't you stop obsessing over? This week, THE CON GIRLS indulge their true crime fascination... it's gonna be killer!

It's Morphin Time! Actor JAZZ BADUWALIA, who played Ravi Shaw, the Blue Ranger in POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS, talks about getting the role, his favorite part about fan conventions, and why it was so hard to say goodbye his last day on set. PLUS, crossover predictions. He is the first Indian actor to portray a Ranger in the franchise. 

What did you think of the first season of THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT? THE CON GUY crew breaks it all down, episode by episode, telling what we liked, what we didn't, and what we hope to see going forward. Vespa Bikes. Tusken Raiders. Luke. Ahsoka. Fennec. And one very, very cute Jedi-in-training. Needless to say, SPOILER WARNING, so put your blast shields up!

With so much happening in Geek News right now, THE CON GUY crew takes a look at all the latest announcements and cool updates from fandom at this moment in time: Boba Fett and Mandalorian cross paths again, the Star Trek franchise has SO MANY SHOWS coming, we get a first look at Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power from Amazon, Spider-Man reaches new heights, The Walking Dead just won't die, Supernatural back from the dead, Wondercon, Comic-Con.... and even some Fight Club dust-ups. This week, we round up everything that's getting us excited.

THE WITCHER season 2 has become one of Netflix's most-watched TV shows of all-time. Join us for this special episode as THE CON GIRLS break it all down! If you're a fan of the show (or just Henry Cavill!), then please join in as we review the episodes of Season Two. Based on Andrzej Sapkowski's novels of the same name, Cavill stars as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter on a quest throughout the medieval landscape known as the Continent.

The most anticipated movies, the biggest TV programs, epic streaming shows, and the fan conventions we've been waiting for — this episode, we say GOODBYE 2021 and we gladly look forward to the best of 2022. Woo hoo! Bring on the fun!

San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition, L.A. Comic Con, Emerald City, Midsummer Scream — What do all these events have in common? They all held IN-PERSON events this year, to varying degrees of success. On this episode, Comic Book writer DAVID BOOHER helps us review the highs and lows of San Diego and L.A. Comic Con, and discusses what 2022 holds. PLUS, it's our holiday episode, so we reveal our Nerdy Christmas Wish List... and what cool new fandoms we might be following next year.

Who ya gonna call? The Con Guys, that's who! Because we ain’t afraid of no ghosts! And we’ll prove it this week as we discuss GHOSTBUSTER AFTERLIFE, the latest installment in the beloved Ghostbusters franchise. It seems to be stirring a lot of debate. SPOILERS ahead.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES. TWO EVENTS. San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition arrives Thanksgiving Weekend, November 26-28, followed one week later by L.A. Comic Con, hitting downtown Los Angeles December 3–5. And both events are IN-PERSON, the first (and biggest) West Coast events of the year! On this episode, we go inside both... and, we go over all the latest announcements (and events) of Disney+ Day.

San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition happens Thanksgiving Weekend, and we're your source for the panels, the events, and everything you need to know to make this an EPIC return to your favorite fan convention. THIS WEEK, we shine a spotlight on the hotels and the panels... and don't listen to the naysayers—there are a TON of panels covering everything from gaming, cosplay, comics, breaking into the industry, TV and film, and everything else. PLUS, tonight we talk Spider-Man, Stranger Things, Disney+ Day, the Eternals, the brand-new FORGED graphic novel, and more! It's a packed show!

Halloween Season is in full swing, and this week we've got a triple-hitter of Halloween treats: FIRST, we talk with Matt McWilliams, director of ANGEL CITY HORROR, a new short film premiering at L.A.'s SCREAMFEST; then, we discuss the brand-new MUPPET'S HAUNTED MANSION; and finally, we finish the show with a celebration of the 55th anniversary of IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, the ultimate Halloween TV special… plus, as a bonus, our favorite spooky films for Halloween, including Danae’s first time seeing Rosemary’s Baby!

It was the scene that changed horror movies forever! A young boy returned home from trick-or-treating, grabbed a kitchen knife, crept upstairs and STABBED his older sister to death in the iconic opening scene of the film that terrified America and forever changed the face of the Halloween holiday. Now, that older sister SPEAKS in this exclusive interview. She’s an icon of 70s fanboys. A legend of horror. Brother to Michael Myers. And, she’s got a PhD. Doctor Sandy Johnson, aka the original 1978 JUDITH MYERS from John Carpenter’s classic film HALLOWEEN is our guest on this week’s show!

Before the Avengers, before Spider-Man, and before Shang-Chi or Black Panther, there was the Fantastic Four, the First Family of Marvel Comics, hItting the scene 60 years ago THIS WEEK. But we’ve got one better: Before 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four, or its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, there was Roger Corman’s unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four, which has become a nerdy cult classic. And tonight, we get to geek out about that film and all things Fantastic Four with JAY UNDERWOOD, who played Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch in that 1994 film. This is gonna be fun!

Shang-Chi, the master of unarmed martial arts, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization. The super hero action adventure, starring Simu Liu, had an even bigger debut than expected, collecting $90 million in its first four days of release and setting a new high watermark for the holiday weekend. And this week we break it all down on THE CON GUY MOVIE TALK.

Since we've entered the Halloween season (yeah, hard to believe), we decided to join our sister podcast, THE SCARE GUY, as they present their fist ever HYPE LIST — everything you need to know for a "killer" Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 30! With 10 mazes and 5 scare zones, it's the biggest event EVER! Beetlejuice. Bride of Frankenstein. Leatherface. Hill House. And tons of original haunted houses — PLUS, a celebration of 30 years of the best icons to ever haunt the event (Jack is back!). See if our rankings match yours! And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This week, it's all about STRANGER THINGS and SPIDER-MAN.... We talk with the creator of the new musical STRANGER SINGS, now playing off-Broadway in New York. Then, we celebrate MAYIM BIALIK as the interim host of JEOPARDY with our own CON GUY Jeopardy tournament, testing all our Stranger Things knowledge. BUT FIRST, Wow! The new Spider-Man trailer drops just moments before our show, and we DEFINITELY have opinions (Alfred Molina!!!).

It’s X-File meets Million Dollar Listing on Syfy’s brand-new series SurrealEstate! Real estate agent Luke Roman is the owner of The Roman Agency, a boutique residential real estate brokerage specializing in "metaphysically engaged" properties, also known as haunted houses. Along with his team, Luke takes on the houses nobody else can or will. Our guests this week are Luke Roman himself, the actor Tim Rozon, who fans will recognize from Wynonna Earp, Vagrant Queen, and cult favorite Schitt’s Creek. He’s joined by SurrealEstate's producer and director Danishka Esterhazy.