aw yeah xmas special

Welcome back to Scene Missing, the show where we dig past the highlight reels and get into the real story. This time, Gabriel Hardman, Ian Brill, and I take a hard, unsentimental look at the career of Burl Ives—a performer whose legacy is far bigger, messier, and more complicated than the warm baritone most people remember.We start with the role that earned him Hollywood’s highest honor: his Oscar-winning turn as Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country, opposite Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, and Charlton Heston—a performance that weaponized charm into something quietly menacing. From there, we contrast it with the brutal, snowbound moral reckoning of Day of the Outlaw, where Ives delivers one of the coldest outlaw portrayals ever put on film. We also explore his unexpected presence in prestige drama, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, and how his earthy gravitas grounded Tennessee Williams’ overheated world.On television, we revisit his folksy patriarch on O.K. Crackerby!, his later dramatic turn on The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, and how TV both extended and softened his public image. And yes—we absolutely talk about the role that permanently etched him into pop culture: the voice of Sam the Snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a performance so comforting it practically erased the edge of the man behind it.But we don’t stop at acting. Ives’ massive influence as a folk singer is front and center—from “Blue Tail Fly” to “Big Rock Candy Mountain”—along with the career-altering moment that still sparks controversy: his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he named names, including Pete Seeger, reshaping both of their legacies in opposite directions. This isn’t a tribute. It’s an honest conversation about talent, ambition, fear, and compromise—and how one man could be a beloved storyteller, a terrifying screen presence, and a cautionary tale all at once.

Today on Word Balloon, a best of talk with writer, producer, and comics industry fixture Andy Mangels It's a vital conversation about breaking barriers in geek culture. In this episode, Andy opens up about his experiences as an openly gay creator working in comics, television, animation, and fandom —how he navigated an industry that wasn’t always welcoming, and how he helped push the door open for others through his writing, advocacy, and community leadership. From his early days in fandom to his work creating inclusive stories, Andy shares the highs, the lows, and the moments that mattered most. We also talk about the broader landscape of representation in geek media, what it means to break the “gay geek glass ceiling,” and why visibility still matters in 2025 and beyond. It’s a candid, inspiring conversation about identity, passion, and the hard-won progress of LGBTQ+ creators in a culture that’s still evolving.

the beatles meet star wars, rankin bass xmas specials, and why are the avenger doomsday trailers locked into avatar screenings? 

Josh Trujillo talk about the upcoming marvel crossover the planet of the apes versus the fantastic four . you can tell from our talk he's done his homework on both sideswe also discuss his dc go digital comiic about aquaman in the D Sea universe. 

On this episode of Word Balloon, I sit down with pop-culture archivist and entrepreneur Mr. Skin for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of MrSkin.com and the state of movies and television in 2025.Mr. Skin breaks down how his site has adapted in the streaming era, what sets true curation apart from casual online searching, and how audience habits have changed over the years. From data and editorial instincts to surprising traffic trends, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how a long-running pop-culture brand stays relevant.The conversation also dives into Mr. Skin’s Top 10 of 2025, examining the performances, scenes, and trends that defined the year. They talk about breakout stars, shifting attitudes toward sexuality on screen, and whether modern film and TV are pushing boundaries or circling back to familiar territory. It’s an honest, thoughtful discussion about pop culture, preservation, and what our entertainment choices say about the moment we’re living in.

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Ed Catto, Editor-in-Chief of Retro Fan Magazine, a publication dedicated to celebrating the movies, television, comics, and pop culture that shaped generations.We’re talking about the latest issue of Retro Fan, which is packed with deep-dive features and thoughtful retrospectives — including a look back at Adam West’s iconic run as Batman, a comprehensive history of Lee Falk, the creator of The Phantom, and a fun, nostalgic revisit to Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. And that’s just the start — this issue is loaded with the kind of researched, enthusiast-level storytelling Retro Fan is known for.Ed also shares what goes into curating each issue, balancing fan passion with historical accuracy, and keeping classic pop culture alive for new readers without losing what made it special in the first place. If you love smart nostalgia, deep cuts, and pop-culture history done right, this is a great conversation.

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Anthony Snyder — the son of the legendary sports broadcaster Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, and the owner of AnthonysComicBookArt.com, one of the most respected destinations for original comic book art collectors. Anthony talks about growing up around the larger-than-life world of sports media, what it was like being raised by Jimmy the Greek, and how that legacy shaped his own path. We also dig into his passion for comics, the evolution of the original art market, and how he built his business by connecting collectors directly with artists and their work.If you have an offer you'd like to make from art on his website (https://www.anthonyscomicbookart.com) please email [email protected] with links to the artworks you'd like to make an offer on, and the price you're offering

On this episode of Word Balloon, host John Siuntres continues his in-depth conversation with acclaimed artist Bryan Hitch in Part Two, focusing squarely on Superman, Lex Luthor, and the larger DC Universe. Bryan breaks down his visual approach to the Man of Steel, how he balances power with humanity, and why framing Superman correctly on the page is one of the hardest challenges in comics. The discussion also digs into Lex Luthor as a character — how Hitch visually communicates intellect, menace, and ego — and how those elements shape DC’s larger narrative world. Bryan shares behind-the-scenes insights into collaboration, continuity, and the realities of working at the center of DC’s flagship titles. It’s a creator-level look at superheroes, villains, and the visual language that defines the DCU — thoughtful, candid, and packed with craft talk.

On this episode of Word Balloon, host John Siuntres kicks off a wide-ranging conversation with legendary artist Bryan Hitch in Part One of an in-depth interview covering his career past, present, and future. Bryan talks about his creator-owned series Redcoat, the ideas and influences behind The Authority, and how those books helped redefine widescreen superhero storytelling. The conversation also digs into Bryan’s work on Superman, his approach to visual scale and cinematic pacing, and how blockbuster storytelling changed comics in the 2000s. Along the way, Bryan shares behind-the-scenes insights into collaboration, deadlines, and the evolution of his art style across Marvel and DC.

Today on Word Balloon, we’re diving into the legacy of Olan Soule — the original animated Batman — and the long, fascinating TV career that made him a cornerstone of early superhero entertainment. And there’s no better guide for this conversation than our guest, Dan Pasternack.Dan  is one of the great archivists and historians of television comedy and classic broadcast performance. Over the years, he’s worked with and documented some of the most influential talents in the medium, including Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, Betty White, Bob Newhart, and Jonathan Winters. His work preserving and celebrating these artists has made him a crucial voice in understanding how TV comedy and character performance evolved.Dan is also the producer behind the acclaimed Jonathan Winters Record Store Day release, Jonathan Winters Unearthed, a project built from both classic and newly uncovered recordings — a tribute to one of comedy’s purest improvisational geniuses.Beyond his archival work, Dan is shaping the next generation of creators as an educator at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he teaches graduate students the craft of developing television and digital storytelling.Today, he joins us to break down Olan Soule’s journey from Chicago radio actor to defining the animated voice of Batman in Filmation’s 1960s shows, The Batman/Superman Hour, and the Super Friends era — and how Soule’s understated, square-jawed vocal style helped create the template every animated Batman actor followed. It’s a deep dive into forgotten history, iconic performances, and the building blocks that shaped superhero animation long before the modern era.