Agents of SMOOCH 138: Chekhov's Antlers

The Wreath of Khan continues with our review of the “Star Trek: Khan” audio drama—available where you get podcasts. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Our Ape Club reconvenes to celebrate the holidays with a viewing of 1971’s “Escape from the Planet of the Apes!” Is this an ape movie or an episode of “Mannix”? What happens when you change lanes on the Freeway of Time? Why is Zira the smartest of all creatures, ape or human? And was Dr. Cornelius framed by big government? Apes smart, humans dumb! Jason Snell with John Moltz, Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren and David J. Loehr.

This year is our 5th annual Holiday Movie Bingo Marathon. For this mission, our Agents watch three Christmas movies, including An Alpine Holiday, Merry Christmas Ted Cooper!, and A Keller Christmas Vacation. We unintentionally chose the theme of siblings, but there are still miscommunications, almost smooches, and European settings. And we learn that just about anyone can climb mountains in the Alps if you carry your yoga mat. Grab your Bingo Cards and get ready to play with us. Annette Wierstra with Erika Ensign, Steven Schapansky, Kirsten Goruk and Sandra Wong.

Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Gotta be a musical, right? Actually, it’s a film noir, whose connection to Christmas is limited at best. So much misdirection, and I haven’t even told you the plot. Shelly Brisbin with Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard.

Bracket Case returns for the third time, and on this occasion our panelists whittle down a list of the best Christmas movies to determine which one is the most Christmassy of them all! Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, Jason Snell, Monty Ashley and Micki Maynard.

Who watches the Watch House? Not us, the book is better. Ross Cleaver returns to discuss Robert Westall’s The Watch House (1977). John McCoy with Ross Cleaver.

A crew of adventurers (some new, some old friends) gathers to do some academic research! And then hit the road toward the actual adventure. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, Chelsea Hackman, Heather Berberet, James Thomson and Jason Snell.

We kick off “The Wreath of Khan,” our monthlong celebration of Star Trek’s favorite mad tyrant, with a look back at where it all started: “Space Seed.” At least, after Khan wakes up 15 minutes into the episode… Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

Set in a bright retro-future world, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” doesn’t have anything to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe… yet. We analyze the latest attempt to translate Marvel’s first family to the big screen, including the trade-offs involved in introducing characters, not retreading the origin story again, turning Galactus into Rumplestiltskin, and the inevitable downbeat ending that never comes. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán, Scott McNulty and Chip Sudderth.

Jeremy meets an intriguing woman…primarily because he wasn’t invited to the office game of Celebrities. Breakups are hard. What’s not hard is breaking DOWN… another Sports Night episode. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.