Top Podcasts of 2011

One of the things that changed for me in the year 2011 was not so much that I discovered podcasts, but that I really became a fan of podcasts. Sadly, I have a really hard time finding new music that I like, and honestly sometimes I just want to hear conversation instead of music and podcasting fits that need perfectly! So in the spirit of listing everything imaginable I give you my top 5 podcasts (shows) in order for the year 2011!

5. Hollywood Babble-On

Hollywood Babble-On features Ralph Garmin and Kevin Smith each week bitching about random crap that goes on in Hollywood. Whats great about this podcast is it really just plays out like a raunchy live celebrity and pop culture blog.  Garmin's impersonations of Hollywoods A through D list is second to none (in most cases I prefer the Garmin version of the celebrity more than the actual person he is impersonating, especially with Bowie).  I really love this show because its a great way for me to keep on "news" that I like to pretend I don't care about and at the same time listen to comedic ripping of celebs that I could not give less of a shit about. Recommended Episode:Episode 43:Comic-Con Theater

4.ESPN Football Today

This show is my bread and butter during the week.  Timely football related news with a crew of hosts that don't annoy me, I wish ESPN could anchor more shows this way.  Ross M-Dub and Jay all give relavnet information for the most part, which I appreciate as  a fan in a number of picks and fantasy leagues.  Football today also has a different feel to it than most football shows, more down to earth and easy to relate to.  There isn't an overabundance of things I can say except that this is hands down the best NFL podcast that I have come across and I look forward to continuing to listen in 2021. This is the only podcast I won't recommend an episode for because it is so current that going and listening to an old episode would be kind of pointless.

3.The Joystiq Show

I listen to about 4-5 different podcasts each week about video games, what sets the Jostiq podcast miles ahead of all the others in the field is that it is so much more objective.  The Joystiq Show is the only media source that I came across during the holiday season that didn't simply just love up on all the AAA titles with out reason. Perfect example of this, Batman Arkham City, when this game launched every media source seemed to have absolutely 0 criticism on this game.  The Joystiq Show was the only source I found that was still able to praise the game but do it in an objective way and still add some criticisms to the game and even point out some of its flaws, as minor as they might be.  The Joystiq show is also great during the months when there just isn't as much to report on and instead delivering a more retro approach to a podcast and giving a few episodes that will more or less take you down memory lane and make you nostalgic for the good ol days of gaming.  Recommended Episode: Episode 12 The Desert Bus to Skyrim

2. The Nerdist Podcast

One of the funniest thing about this show is that every episode starts with some sort of audio problem and closes with Chris Hardwick (yeah the singled out guy, I know right) saying "enjoy your burrito" than explaining to the guest on the show that they say enjoy your burrito to close the show.  One those cases where redundancy can be fun. Aside from being genuinely entertaining and hitting on topics that as a nerd I normally find interesting the real strength of The Nerdist is to land guests on to the show that are nothing short of awesome.  Hardwick also has a great interview style, very much like some of the better late night hosts, he seems to be very laid back with the guests on the show and it works well. Recommended Episode: Dave Attel Interview

1.Smodcast

Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier being frigging hilarious.  Smodcast is just glad out enjoyable, week in and week out to the point were if they take a week off it almost bums my week out from the start.  Smodcast, for a long time, was the only podcast I made a point of listening to and it still reigns at the top as far as radio style programs I want to listen to.  There was a point this summer where I got the joy of mowing my lawn and listening to the Harry Potter "what to do with Voldermont" episode where my neighbors were literally watching me walk around on my lawn laughing to my self with headphones in.  Recommended Episode: Episode 180: Harry Scotter and The Deaftly Swallows Part 2

2011's 10 Movies for Nerds

I read a really shitty list today of the 10 best nerdy movies that came out in 2011 and I was rather pissed off about this, and from a website I usually like to, any way I figured I give good list, so here, this is a better list for all you nerds out there of 10 movies that all those of the nerd empire should take the time to watch. I myself actually still need to watch a couple of these titles!

10:Sucker Punch

Get a bunch of girls together and put them in fetishy style clothing give them guns and swords and blow a bunch of shit the fuck up!! Well as far as I'm concerned Snyder found a  way, mostly by sexually abusing the cast and for some reason trying to convince me that this movie needs some half assed yet "deep" plot. regardless I wasn't a fan but considering the cinematography in Sucker Punch and if your a fan of Snyder's past work you could probably do worse than this and you probably owe it to yourself to watch it at least once.  Just don't fall for the same trap that I did hoping for 2 hours or mindless boob filled fun violence (ala a Robert Rodriguez style flic).

9.Green Lantern

Greg, I mean Green Lantern! Ok, not much of anything went right in this glowing green turd of a movie, which I think most of us knew once we saw the cast.  But hey, as a nerd Green Lantern was one of the movies I was most curious about going into summer of 2011, I was really hoping that DC could prove me wrong and make another franchise that totally recaptured my imagination.  They did not, but if you don't have to drop a lot of cash check out Green Lantern, laugh at how bad it is, and wait for a sequel.

8. Super 8

Super 8 is the first film on this list that I myself have not yet watched, and I will be the first to admit that I am totally on the "J.J. Abrams needs to stop dicking around and make another Star Trek" bandwagon.  Still Super 8 is one of the movies I have in my back log that I cant wait to watch and am including on my list here due to what the subject matter of the movie is alone.  Now go make Star Trek J.J. Abrams!

7.Scream 4

Yo Dawg, I heard you like movies, so I'm gonna recommend this movie, because Scream 4 starts you with a movie inside of a movie inside of the movie! That's tight!  OK, now that we have that out of the way we can go deeper... Scream 4 wasn't all bad, it was Scream with a 4 on it. No your probably not going to leave it totally blown away but your not going to be mad at it either.  It gives you what all slasher flicks should give, a body count. 

6.Shark Night 3d

Sharks doing what they do best, attacking women in bikinis. Do I really need to talk this up anymore?

5. Super

My biggest complaint about Super, without spoiling anything, is that at some point the movie takes a turn and becomes a dark drama of sorts, and before the movie gets a chance to recover and let the audience start laughing again it ends.  The movie isn't bad though, Rainn Wilson is pretty good in it and Ellen Page is awesome and adorable at the same time. Totally worth at least a rental.

4.X Men : First Class

Charles I can't let you get this franchise right!!!! Seems like every year now were getting a new movie with ties to these characters, and yet I can't honestly say one of these X Men movies have been done right yet.  This one is at least comically bad I suppose. Look at Magneto up there looking all constipated, lol right?

3.Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This is the other movie on this list that is still in my back log of movies to be watched. But yeah, James Franco + pissed off monkeys, I think it will be a win, and I have yet to hear a bad thing on this movie.

2.Red State

A Kevin Smith movie on a list of titles for nerds? Never would have guessed!  In all seriousness Red State is an achievement in film.  Smith outdid himself, Red State is one of the most original feeling movies I have seen in a long time, with an very unique story, amazing visuals (yes a Kevin Smith movie with amazing visuals), possibly the best ending I have seen this year.  I love seeing a film maker go outside his comfort zone and still make a great film and Red State knocked it out the park.  Oh, and it has Ralph Garman in it, so go purchase it post haste!

1. Paul

I honestly don't know if it is possible to make a movie more nerdy than Paul.  The good thing is not only is it nerdy, it's still fun.  It shows the culture of the nerd and makes you feel ok with who and what you are.  Paul is one of those great movies that gets better every time you watch it, and if you really want to have fun with it drink, it gets even more fun with every beer.  To close this I'll end with one of my favorite clips from Paul thus closing out 2011, the year in nerdy movies.