Show #94 - The Light is Winning

In this week's episode of A Little Snack, Monolith and Bear Trap get real and rap about the meaning of life and our place in the universe. Is there a purpose to this existence? They ask and answer that question, and others even more consequential, definitively. And they also laugh at that fat joke Obama made about Zach Galifianakis. Discussed: The Seth MacFarlane-produced "Cosmos", Monolith's religion, memories of Carl Sagan, a momentous meeting in Santa Fe between the author of 'Song of Ice and Fire' and the men adapting his work for television, a second chance for Mel Gibson, a simple WoW, the president's important moment spent between two ferns, a re-watching of the second installment of the Adventures of Katniss, a ratings decline for Bryan Fuller's evolving network television masterpiece, a Monolith Moment, and a discussion of 'True Detective' with SPOILERS (but it comes at the end, so most of the podcast can be "enjoyed" by those who have not yet witnessed the splendor of that show's first season). Enjoy, friends!

Show #94

Show #93 - Hugh Grant is a Savage

In honor of this Sunday's Academy Awards it's time for some Top Ten Films of 2013 lists! It's almost March, what better time to discuss the films of the previous year? So Bear Trap shares his Top Ten in this episode of A Little Snack; Monolith abstains. Kind of like how the dude abides. Hope you enjoy this one. We're hopeful all the sound issues have been fixed so you might be able to listen to this one without riding the volume dial. Discussed: Oscar picks for Best Picture, Bear Trap's pick for Worst Movie of 2013, Monolith surprises himself with how many of the top ten he's actually seen.. in a theater!, the Stay-Pufts remember the comedy writer and film director Harold Ramis, the life of paranormal investigator and particle accelerator system (or proton pack) inventor Egon Spengler is also discussed, David Mitchell's novel "Cloud Atlas" is compared with the Twyker/Wachowski adaptation and found to be superior, Bear Trap offers up a programming note for season two of a great show starting this Friday (hint: it's about a doctor who eats people), completely NON-SPOILER-Y discussions of both 'True Detective' and season 2 of 'House of Cards' that are okay to listen to for those who haven't yet but plan to watch, how "Ender's Game" is like 'Breaking Bad', the state of the digital effects industry in southern California, how (and perhaps why) filmmaker interviews like the ones that follow 'True Detective' have become unbearable, the Word of the Week is a smoking gun, the camera operator who died on a film set in South Georgia and how she's being honored by film professionals all over the world, and a Monolith Moment Darwin himself might have appreciated.

Show #93

Show #92 - Mercy

They did one last week, and here they've gone and done another one this week. Either you're being spoiled or punished, it's not clear which. Okay, yes, it's obvious you're being punished. Now here's a detailed rundown of how this week's punishment will be administered. Discussed: Last week's sup-par Word of the Week segment, season one of Netflix's 'House of Cards' and expectations for tomorrow's release of season two [SPOILERS!], the most recent manifestations of Stephen King's two big problems (graphomania and foot-in-mouth disease) are described, why the Olympics just aren't as interesting this go-round, Schwarzenegger's 'Escape Plan' and what happens at the end of that movie [SPOILERS!], Richard Curtis's 'About Time', a Word of the Week that could (should?) be the title of this podcast, a long overdue Apple News segment, and a sweet Monolith Moment that features an undertone of existential dread, and then a bunch of discursive chatting here and there. You know, like a podcast. Enjoy!

Show #92

Show #91 -- The Cruz Administration (or Cliff Almighty)

Join Monolith and Bear Trap for their apparently now bi-annual podcast, A Little Snack! There's no better cure for the Winter Doldrums and no, I don't know what those are. Please listen and enjoy. Discussed: what Monolith's been up to, the new Facebook videos everyone's been posting, Bear Trap's pathological overuse of the word 'dumb', Jesse Eisenberg as Luthor and Jeremy Irons as Alfred in the new Batman v Superman film, thoughts on the number of villains in the new Spider Man movie, Paul Verhoeven's insightful thoughts on the modern remakes of his films including the impending Robocop, Tom Shadyac's epiphany and, unrelated, inability to make good movies, Arnold's Super Bowl commercial wig, Philip Seymour Hoffman's legacy, Veronica Mars' appeal, the bad things that Verizon is doing now that Net Neutrality is over, Bear Trap's second attempt to make Monolith worried about the NSA, a Monolith Moment that will have you running out to your cars, and a Word of the Week that's really going to let you know what time it is! Hope you like it.

Show #91

Show #90 - Deaf Kids for Every Programmer: The Video Game Episode

The 'Lith and the Trap felt bad about their extended hiatus so, to make up for it, they've recorded a podcast that probably three of you will be interested in. Okay, two. But for those two listeners, super-sized show# 90 is going to be so awesome as Little Snack welcomes honest-to-God video game industry insider Paul Z to the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion about the current state of video games. Discussed: An inside account of the tragedy and triumph of "Superman Returns" (the game), XBox One versus PS4, "franchise fatigue", "Assassin's Creed", Sony's elite "Ice" team and which upcoming PS4 title will benefit from their ninja ways, Paul's favorite game of 2013 and of the last five years, the different stages of a pissing contest, a lightning round rundown of notable titles from the last few years including GTA 5, some big titles to look for in 2014, mobile gaming as a possible threat to Sony and Microsoft, long-term trends, and then Bear Trap takes a moment to spread some misinformation.

Show# 90

Show #88 - Ender's Game

If on the off-chance you've already made it out to theaters this past weekend to see 'Ender's Game', you need to get into this spoiler-tastic podcast right away. If you happen to not care about 'Ender's Game' but just like to listen to the 'Lith and the Trap opine about movies generally, then yeah, push play. No harm, no foul. BUT! If you have not yet seen the new Gavin Hood adaptation of Orson Scott Card's classic novel 'Ender's Game' but plan to, it would be a good idea to do four things in the order listed. One, do not listen to this podcast. Two, high-five yourself because you're about to see 'Ender's Game'. Three, go see 'Ender's Game'. Four, you go on ahead and listen to this 'Ender's Game'-centric episode of A Little Snack. I think we're all sorted. Enjoy, friend!

Show #88

Show #89 - Big Budget Movies About Flying Dudes in Red Capes

In this episode of A Little Snack, Monolith takes in screenings of 'Man of Steel' and 'Thor 2: The Dark World', and speaks with a certain Mr. Bear Trap about their various flaws and strengths. A proper show. Discussed: spoiler-free discussion of the Metropolis-smashing ending of 'Man of Steel', a spoiler-heavy discussion of the tornado scene in 'Man of Steel', a fresh appraisal of Zach Snyder's filmography as a director, how a headlock can stop a man with laser eyes from, say, looking to the right, why Natalie Portman does not fit in the Marvel universe and why, conversely, Scarlett Johansonn fits in quite well, the scene in Thor 2 that made the film briefly exciting for Monolith, a cool scene in a very special 'Captain America 2' trailer, and a 3-part Word of the Week that may or may not be gibberish. Please enjoy this one.

Show #89