Sidebar Forever

On this special Halloween-themed episode, we chose a topic we could truly ... sink our teeth into. Vampires have been a go-to in the horror genre since the 1922 silent film 'Nosferatu' and they show no signs of going to that eternal sleep. 
From Bela Lugosi to Christopher Lee to ‘Fright Night’ and ‘The Lost Boys’ to ‘Buffy’ and ‘Blade’, all the way to modern day with things like ‘Twilight’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’, people dig these bloodsucking creatures of the night. 
But as the writers and directors (and mediums) have changed, so has the popular image of the vampire. 
Is this how the undead have managed to survive all these years?Thanks for checking out the podcast and don't forget to subscribe to the show here on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts. 
 
Lastly, the pandemic has a lot of us keeping it close to the house this Halloween. And with good reason --it's scary out there. To our listeners and friends who do decide to venture out this Saturday, please be safe. And definitely wear your mask!
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

Hughie, Marvin, Frenchie, Kimiko and Butcher have returned for season two of Amazon Prime’s hit streaming series ’The Boys’. With more heroism (and carnage) at the hands of the vainglorious Supes, and more ingenuity (and infighting) from our ragtag squad of anti-Supes. And we three are here to chop up all of it!
On this episode, we start with major takeaways, do a short dive into new characters like Stormfront and Lamplighter, and praise Antony Starr’s nuanced portrayal of the powerful yet broken Homelander. Also addressed in the conversation are the elements of Nazism and racism that have come to the fore, as well as a few of our critiques of season two.
And of course, we couldn’t skip over that epic season finale beatdown! Girls get it done, right?
As always, thanks for listening and please subscribe to the show here on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

Today, we start a new movie review series called Playback. This first episode looks at the cult classic action-fantasy ‘Highlander’ starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown as the menacing Kurgan. 
Released to theaters in March of 1986, 'Highlander' is the tale of immortals warring across time for the ‘Prize’ - to become mortal. We discuss our favorite scenes, performances, cool trivia, and give praise to the film’s memorable score by composer Michael Kamen and the rock band Queen. Also, we delve into the franchise of sequels and spinoffs birthed by the film.
We've referenced ‘Highlander’ many, many times on past episodes, so this was a long time coming. 
As always, thanks for listening and please subscribe to the show at Sidebar Forever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

Let’s play a game, shall we?
On today’s episode, we resurrect a game we used to play on the previous iteration of the show. It's called "Either Or, Choose One No More" and it goes like this: You present the players with two pop culture options and they have to choose one or the other.
Simple, right?
But the object of the game is to create pain, if you will, in the choosing. To really make your players think about — and care about — their answers.
For example:
"Alien or Aliens? Either or, choose one no more."
or
"American Gods or Penny Dreadful?  Either or, choose one no more."
 
Today, we play that game amongst ourselves and it could not have been more fun. We won’t give away the specific rules we played by here, but please know, there was a TWIST!
 
Thanks again for listening to Sidebar Forever and please subscribe on sidebarforever.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

Originally broadcast in 2007, here is a classic interview from our 'Barchives' with legendary artist Drew Struzan.
Drew has created perhaps some of the most iconic movie posters in the last 40 years. He has illustrated the posters for such films as the ‘Indiana Jones’ movies, the ’Back To The Future’ trilogy, the Star Wars prequels, John Carpenter’s The Thing, First Blood and countless more. In addition, Struzan has had a lauded career including 14 U.S. postage stamps, over 100 book covers, 70 album covers, a Saturn Award and artwork residing within the private collections of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Frank Darabont and Guillermo Del Toro. 
We think you’ll be as humbled as we were by Drew’s warm candor about his life and work.
This episode continues our re-presentation of classic interviews and roundtables from our previous incarnation as SiDEBAR: The Pop Culture Podcast into our podcast feed.
We hope that our listeners, both new and old, will enjoy these vintage back episodes and follow us here for new episodes of Sidebar Forever!
—Also available online wherever you get your podcasts.—
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

On this episode, Dwight and Adrian recount their experiences hosting respective panels at this year's Lightbox Expo 2020. We also discuss the event as a whole and as a 'wave of the future' for other virtual conventions.
And remember, you can still check out the video of both panels and art jams right now on the Sidebar Forever YouTube channel.
Finally, we take a moment to remark upon the passings of Chadwick Boseman and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, two luminaries who left indelible marks upon our culture.
— Don't forget to subscribe and follow Sidebar Forever at sidebarforever.com or online wherever you get your podcasts! —
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson
 
 

On this episode, from Lightbox Expo 2020, Adrian hosts a panel discussion and art jam on Creature Creation for the entertainment industry. 
Panelists include Kei Acedera (Alice In Wonderland), Christian Alzmann (The Mandolorian), Natalie Hall (The Shape of Water), Peter Han (Sony, Konami), Brynn Metheney (Men In Black: International), Karla Ortiz (Dr. Strange, Black Panther), Roberto Ribeiro Padula and Terryl Whitlatch (Star Wars: Episode 1).
It’s a lively discussion with laughs and knowledge being dropped while the panelists collaborate on one canvas at the same time for a final piece that must be seen to be believed.
 
You can check out the entire panel and art jam on video now on the Sidebar Forever YouTube channel.
 
Huge thanks to Bobby Chiu, Lightbox Expo and Wacom for allowing us to host the panel.
 
— Don't forget to subscribe and follow Sidebar Forever online wherever you get your podcasts! —
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

On this episode, from Lightbox Expo 2020, Dwight hosts an all-star roster of black creatives for a discussion and a MONSTER art jam on diversity in the entertainment art industry. 
Panelists include Phil Boutte, Jr.( Star Trek, Black Panther), Chase Conley (Black Dynamite), Justin Copeland (Batman: Hush), Everett Downing (Hair Love), Chrystin Garland (Niko and The Sword of Light), Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), Brie Henderson (Guava Island), Kofi Ofosu, Ifesinachi Orjiekwe (Malika: Warrior Queen), Mike Uwandi (The Mandolorian), DJ Welch (Adventure Time) and Marlon West (Frozen 2).
Plenty of laughs and insight are shared in addition to seeing all the panelists collaborate on one canvas at the same time for a final piece that must be seen to be believed.
You can check out the entire panel and art jam on video now on the Sidebar Forever YouTube channel.
Huge thanks to Bobby Chiu, Lightbox Expo and Wacom for allowing us to host the panel.
— Don't forget to subscribe and follow Sidebar Forever online wherever you get your podcasts! —
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

Back in 2012, on our previous incarnation, we released a two-parter reviewing HBO’s lauded crime drama 'The Wire'. Created by former Baltimore journalist David Simon, 'The Wire' is known, almost unequivocally, as the greatest show in television history.
 
Sidebar Forever shares that opinion, full stop. And since the pandemic has us all spending far more time at home, we thought: "Maybe it's time to re-up?"
 
Inspired by another Wire podcast, as well as a terrific book that chronicles the behind-the-scenes of the show, we re-watched all five seasons. That's right, we're checking in on the detail: McNulty, Lester, Kima, Cedric, Herc, Carver, Prez and Ronnie. And not to mention: Avon, Stringer, Wee Bay, D'Angelo, Bodie, Omar and even the silver-tongued Senator himself, Clay Davis ("...Sheeeeiiiiiiiiid").
 
It's been almost 20 years since "The Wire" debuted on HBO, and in that time, many of its character arcs and ruminations on inner-city life and the systems therein, continue to resonate powerfully. Join us as we cruise the streets of West Bald'more; looking for stash houses and unsuspecting corner boys. Cuz the game is the game — ya feel me?
 
As always, thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe to Sidebar Forever online wherever you get your podcasts.
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson

The recent HBO series 'Lovecraft Country' is a hit, and as a result, there has been renewed interest in the works of the horror writer H.P. Lovecraft from whom it takes its name. However, Lovecraft was a notorious racist and xenophobe and the show doesn't shy away from acknowledging his personal legacy of hate and ignorance, while at the same time, celebrating his contribution to the genre of horror.
In other words, they don't cancel him.
But that doesn't happen for everyone. Celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Louis CK, Kevin Spacey, Roseanne Barr and actor Chris D'Elia have all been cancelled for gross, ugly and in some cases, criminal behavior. Even the microcosms of the comic book industry and the visual arts have not been unscathed as several known figures within them have been cancelled due to sexual impropriety and harassment.
On this episode, we ask a few questions: Has 'cancel culture' put power in the hands of fans, and honestly, do we like canceling people?
Why are some celebrities persona non grata after cancelation (Michael Vick) while others never get called out in the first place (Cardi B)?
And ultimately, do we as a society stand to lose out on great art in the future because we can't separate the art from the artist?
 
As always, thanks for tuning in! 
 
 
— Don't forget to subscribe and follow Sidebar Forever online wherever you get your podcasts! —
 
 
SIDEBAR FOREVER ©2020 Dwight Clark, Swain Hunt and Adrian Johnson