Defocused 380: Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Popes

It’s the new season! Joe Rosensteel and Dan Sturm.

Our adventurers deal with several goblins (and someone who is totally not a goblin) as their search takes them to the library. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, Chelsea Hackman, Heather Berberet, James Thomson and Jason Snell.

The difference between a slegh and a sled. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Is the Return of Doctor Mysterio the most romcom episode of Doctor Who? We think so. We’ve got superheroes, secret identities, snooping reporters, and invading aliens. This calls for Doctor Mysterio! Join our Agents for this Boxing Day mission and relish the 12th Doctor as matchmaker while he saves the world again. Annette Wierstra with Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.

Christmas Trivia returns, and in this year’s celebration we learn about festive broadcasting networks, nondenominational reindeer, who invented gifts, and so many birds. Kathy Campbell and Erika Ensign with Annette Wierstra, Shelly Brisbin, Steven Schapansky and Tony Sindelar.

A paladin learns a valuable lesson about picking things up. Nearly everyone learns a valuable lesson about playing air-guitar. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, Chelsea Hackman, Heather Berberet, James Thomson and Jason Snell.

The Wreath of Khan rolls on with part 3 of 4, as Scott and Jason spend some time discussing one of their favorite movies, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” after having followed Khan from “Space Seed” through “Star Trek: Khan.” We don’t know how many times we can say that we love this movie, but we tried and it seems like we could do it forever. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.

The Magnum, podcast holiday special is here! We watched the failed 1979 pilot for Boston and Kilbride, “The Chinese Typewriter,” starring Tom Selleck (as Tom Boston) and James Whitmore Jr. (as Jimmy Kilbride). The dubbing! The fake signs! The weird casting! The original Al’s Automotive and Muffler King Tigers! We break down everything that makes this pilot a fitting failure, though with some admiration about how it does a lot with almost zero budget. Also: you, the listeners, introduce many segments. See you next year! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Kilmas comes but once a year! This year we’re climbing into the cockpit and revisiting 1986’s “Top Gun,” starring some airplanes, Val Kilmer, and Tom Cruise. It’s a very subtle movie. Were Tony’s parents right in protecting his young mind from it? And most importantly, why do we remember Val Kilmer’s character being the villain when he’s actually the conscience of the entire film? Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Katie Mack, Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar and Brian Warren.

Dan isn’t one of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports, but Casey is. You can bet that goes over like a fart in church. Speaking of church - Dana visits one to get out of the rain… and likes it (the church, not the rain… or the fart). The rain also helps Jeremy continue his flirtation with Jenny. There’s so much Sorkin In It to do. We got you. Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.