The Poufwa Exchange

Episode 24 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

Absent a spontaneous, liquor-induced discussion of Glee popping up out of left field, we are pleased to release our final Poufwa Exchange of our first season!  This one was lost, literally, in the editing bay for quite some time and was recently discovered behind a 24 pack of refreshing vitamin water.  This episode features Julia’s microphone from hell, Mike’s final contribution to Poufwa before GoldGate, and repeat references to who we think will win the 2008 presidential election.  This episode is about as current as the Golden Girl episodes where Rose wrote to Gorbachev and HW Bush stopped by the lanai, but it’s certainly a Poufwa Production!

Completing our four episode arc of West Wing’s first season, this episode is a commentary of the critical episode, Let Bartlet be Bartlet!

Rumors percolate about a scathing memo that outlines the weaknesses of President Bartlet’s (Martin Sheen) administration for his political rival and grip the White House, until C.J. (Allison Janney) learns it came from one of the trusted staff. Now in someone else’s possession, C.J. finally tracks it down to one reporter and tries to dissuade him from publishing it. Meanwhile, Sam (Rob Lowe) and Toby (Richard Schiff) meet with opposing military officers and congressmen to discuss amending the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy towards gays in the armed forces. When two members of the Federal Election Commission resign, Josh (Bradley Whitford) sees opportunity and moves fast to meet with contentious senator’s staffers to suggest that the President appoint two campaign finance reformers as replacements instead of those wanted by the Senate leadership. Leo (John Spencer) not only has trouble with the White House’s faulty e-mail system, he confronts the President and issues a challenge that could define or destroy his administration.

On behalf of the podcasters and staff, this first season of Poufwa Exchange has been a pressure-releasing hobby for us.  PotterFicWeekly takes up a lot of hours in our day, and these twenty-four episodes represented downtime and variety for us.  With Season 2, with PotterFicWeekly in the safe hands of loving and new owners, the Poufwa Exchange moves to our front burner!  We’ll be transitioning to a Poufwa-style discussion format each week, with commentaries sprinkled in here and there, and in the first batch of episodes you can expect in-depth discussion and review of the pilot movie and first season of J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 and a reading group review of George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones.  Future episodes will cover the balance of the works set in these universes, and we plan to also visit Firefly, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and if the wife and I have to record it by ourselves with Mama and Mother-in-Law Huggles, we’ll do it:  Glee!

Happy listening, enjoy, and you’ll be hearing from us soon!

Episode 23 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

Join seven Poufwanians shoved into the back of a Buick for a lively commentary of the second best Star Trek movie ever made, Galaxy Quest!

Eighteen years after their sci-fi adventure show “Galaxy Quest” was canceled, actors Jason Nesmith, Gwen DeMarco, Alexander Dane, Tommy Webber, and Fred Kwan are making appearances at sci-fi conventions and store openings in costume and character. They’re wallowing in despair and at each other’s throats until aliens known as Thermians arrive and, having mistaken the show for fact and consequently modeling their entire culture around it, take them into space to save them from the genocidal General Sarris and his armada.

Happy listening!

Episode 22 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

Join Jen1, Aaron, Sue and me for our commentary of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek !

A cataclysm over 150 years into the future throws two ships into the 23rd century, altering the course of history. With a different life where he never knew his father, James T. Kirk becomes a brilliant yet cynical misfit who is finally convinced to join Starfleet by Captain Christopher Pike in 2255. Three years later, Kirk, Spock and the young crew of the USS Enterprise, with guidance from Spock’s future self, must figure out a way to work together to prevent the one responsible for the death of Kirk’s father, the future Romulan known as Nero, from wreaking destruction throughout the Federation in a mad quest for vengeance, using a powerful new weapon. For some, their help comes too late.

Happy listening!

Episode 21 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

This episode spoils all of BattleStar Galactica!  Beware!

Dethryl, PS and I kick back and, in addition to nitpicking what type of music the fleet makes when it drives on past and laying out predictions on the identity of Emmanuelle, share our discussion-based, extreme-edition commentary of Caprica’s ninth or eighth episode, Ghosts in the Machine.

Daniel is beginning to suspect that Zoe-Avatar is in the robot, but his pleas for his daughter to reveal herself go ignored. In an effort to flush her out, he launches a campaign of psychological torture, resulting in escalating tests that force Zoe into a choice she cannot take back.

This discussion was recorded while we were watching the encore presentation of the podcast.  We are Poufwanians, and may the gods help you and the crazy nun, for we are live!

So say we all!

Episode 20 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

This episode spoils all of BattleStar Galactica!  Beware!

PS and I return for a discussion-based commentary of Caprica’s eight episode, The Imperfections of Memory, otherwise known as The Imperfections of Mercy, otherwise known as the not classic BattleStar Galactica episode preceding Warehouse 13, otherwise known as I’m blind!

Amanda fears for her sanity while Daniel and Joseph close in on their daughters.

This discussion was recorded while we were watching the encore presentation of the podcast, beginning about ten seconds into the “Previously on Caprica” segment.

So say we all!

Episode 19 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

This episode comes to you in three parts.  The first bit was never meant to be a podcast, but was great conversation that couldn’t be left on the cutting room floor.  While waiting to start Poufwa 98, PS, Mike and I found ourselves with some downtime waiting for Jen2 to get her microphone working. PS and I shot the geek over her BSG experience while Mike hummed to himself in the corner. This portion of our podcast is an extreme edition, and provides active spoilers for through to the middle of BSG Season 2.5, with passive spoilers and hints through to Season 3 of BSG. This portion starts the podcast and runs through the 33′50 mark.

The second portion of our podcast is actually our first true Exchange of the season. PS has now started the third season of BSG, I’ve wrapped Season 2 of the new Doctor Who, and we sit down to geek on the other’s favorite series. This portion of the podcast provides active spoilers for BSG through the Season 3 episode “Exodus, Part 1″ and for the first two seasons of Doctor Who, with passive spoilers and hints for the third seasons of both series. This portion of the podcast starts at the 33′50 mark and runs through 1′53′41.

The last portion of our podcast is a commentary of the BSG Season 2 finale, Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2, where I am joined with Poufwanians “MD” Matt and Richard to discuss how this episode was the true turning point of the series.  This episode contains active spoilers for all broadcast episodes of BattleStar Galactica. Beware!  This portion of the podcast starts at 1′53′41 and runs through the end of the episode.

Spoiler reminders will sound throughout the episode.  Enjoy the discussion, and happy listening!

Episode 18 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

In the event that you were concerned, this episode does not spoil all of BattleStar Galactica, but does totally spoil Dead Poet’s Society.  

Join Kelly, Julia, Rae, MagikCat for this live commentary of Much Ado About Nothing, starring Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves, the music of Patrick Doyle, the breasts of Dolores Umbridge, and Big Air!

That’s right.  Poufwa is taking on the Super Bowl.  Bring it!

Happy listening!

Episode 17 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released!

This episode spoils all of BattleStar Galactica! Beware!

Our weekly live watch of BSG’s prequel series, Caprica, continues this week with The Reins of a Waterfall, which aired for the first time on February 6, 2010.

Following Amanda’s (Paula Malcomson) public revelation that their daughter was responsible for the MagLev tragedy, the Graystones must face the wrath of angry Capricans. For Daniel (Eric Stoltz) this includes a confrontation with Sam (Sasha Roiz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) in which Joseph demands that Daniel reunite him with his daughter’s avatar — the essence of his daughter Tamara (Genevieve Buechner), living on in virtual space. Daniel also realizes he can’t deal with his grief in private — this is all going to play out on a public stage. At the same time, Zoe Graystone (Alessandra Torresani) adjusts to living life in a robot. She hopes her friend Lacy (Magda Apanowicz) will help her escape to another planet — neighboring Gemenon. Lacy is concerned, however, that she is rousing the suspicions of headmistress (and STO leader) Clarice Willow (Polly Walker). While in V-World, the girls meet a frightened Tamara Adama who doesn’t understand what she is or how she came to be here. At the Global Defense Department, Agents Duram (Brian Markinson) and Youngblood escalate their efforts to track down the terrorist group responsible for the bombing.

So say we all!

Episode 16 of the Poufwa Exchange has been released! 

This episode spoils all of BattleStar Galactica!  Beware!

PS and I watch and provide commentary for Caprica’s post-pilot premiere episode, Rebirth, as it airs for the first time on January 29, 2010.  Yes, for BattleStar Galactica, we will release these things within 30 minutes!

Zoe (Alessandra Torresani) struggles with being trapped in the robot while grief and pressure mount on the Adamas and the Graystones. Joseph (Esai Morales) makes a decision that drives him to confront Daniel (Eric Stoltz), and Amanda (Paula Malcomson) makes a shocking public confession.

This commentary may not line up precisely as not all commercial breaks were created equal, but luckily PS is deaf as a stump and had the volume turned up.

So say we all!