Those of you who were fans of the JEMcast will loooove this episode. In it, I interview and Aleen and I talk about writer Kelly Thompson, who wrote the Jem & the Holograms comics plus several others (including, at this current moment in time, Captain Phasma, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, and Hawkeye). We do go on about Jem-related stuff in this episode, yes, but talk about a bunch more! Such as writing within existing worlds, being a fan who then gets to write for the thing they love, how to organize your day if you’re a freelance writer, and imposter syndrome.
This is a long episode, but I hope well worth it!
Also: JEM. WHO IS TRULY OUTRAGEOUS. Just like Kelly.
On this week’s JEMcast we talk about a bunch of people’s favorite episode: Alone Again. Season 2 seems packed with PSA-type shows. We had two on literacy and now this one about drug use. What I find fascinating is that the main character, Laura, goes through the entire drug addiction arc in the space of 22 episode minutes and 6 days of in-show time.
Feeling depressed/worthless –> falling prey to slick drug dealer with free product –> getting hooked immediately and can’t live without the drugs –> Can’t afford to pay for drugs, so steals from loved ones –> Discovers that drug dealer is the worst ever –> Told they must go to therapy/AA/rehab –> Won’t admit they have a problem –> Finally admits they have a problem. In 6 days.
This episode also provides more evidence that Jerrica is a terrible foster mom as well as the world’s worst CEO.
Listen and let me know what you think! Also, just a reminder: the JEMcast is eligible for the Best Fancast Hugo Award!
I am behind on posting about new JEMcast episodes! My apologies. (Though if you subscribe to the podcast you don’t need me reminding you. Hint.)
The most recent three episodes have been okay, though none are among my favorites in season 2. I do have fond memories of Roxy leaving the Misfits after winning the lottery. That episode also taught me to never trust the IRS.
The Jazz Player is one of those episodes that solidifies the fact that Jem exists in a parallel universe where the United States is about 500 miles wide at best and going between Los Angeles and Chicago is a matter of minutes on a plane.
Good news, bad news time. Good news: there’s a new JEMcast out! Bad news: I am not in this episode.
Cue weeping and rending of garments!
Never fear, Alex and Aleen did a great job. And even more good news for me: I didn’t have to watch “Music Is Magic” and suffer through all that bad animation. Wow, such terribad animation.
The JEMcast: Music Is Magic
More good news: I was on last week’s episode where we talked about “Aztec Enchantment.” A decent episode that managed to not be as offensive as the china episode. This is the measure we use for these things on the podcast.
There are some facepalmy moments of WTFness balanced out by moments that show the writer truly meant well, even while still coming from a place of privilege.
In this week’s episode we talk about The Treasure Hunt. Not one of my favorites. However, Alex Knight couldn’t record with Aleen Simms and I and so we had to wing it. We didn’t have Alex’s deeply detailed show notes to go off of, just my snarky rewatch tweets. And the both of us giggled through the entire thing. It was fun, tho.
Sadly, the episode itself is not that great in my opinion. And Aleen and I both agreed that the songs were meh. But yay reading, right? Right.
According to Amazon, on October 15th of last year Light-up Synergy earrings went on sale and no one told me. I feel as though Amazon should have contacted me personally to say: buy these things, they are for you. Amazon has failed.
No matter! I found out about them (from fellow JEMcaster Alex Knight) and immediately obtained a pair because they are Jem’s earrings and they light up. Plus, they cost $8.
The day they arrived in the mail I did an unboxing video because this is what we do now, we film ourselves unboxing things.
Now of course you want these earrings, right? Buy them here. And then subscribe to the JEMcast.
On this week’s JEMcast we talk about the episode “Father’s Day,” one I have always liked but I rarely watch because it’s very emotional. Because I rarely watch it, I had forgotten a very important piece of character background revealed in this episode. It’s about Pizzazz, and it explains SO MUCH. To find out what it is, you have to listen.
I also get super weepy about this song:
I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING.
ahem.
If you’re a regular listener of the JEMcast you know all about the Raymond Crime Family theory. I’d love to hear if you think my theory bears out some of the info we discover in this episode.
Okay, no more teasing you. Listen below or subscribe via iTunes or whatever other podcast program you use with the RSS feed.
Keen eyes on social media may have noticed that I quietly began a new vlog called The Tempest Challenge in which I recommend books to read if you’re interested in taking up my reading challenge. The first two episodes are up and subsequent ones go live on Saturdays.
I created a landing page here on the site with info on the challenge, including the official hashtag for recommending books: #KTBookChallenge. Once I get a few more episodes going I’ll probably create a Tumblr for the vids and reblogs of book recs.
I don’t mind telling you that Alethea Kontis is to blame for all of this. She has an ongoing web series where she rants about fairy tales (because she writes amazing books that weave fairy tales together). And, since I’ve been hanging out with her for the past six weeks, she’s had me on as her special guest a few times. Here’s the latest one:
And my favorite one in which I sing the first song to ever be banned from the radio:
And the one where I try to mimic Wagnerian opera…
And a playlist of them all:
As you can see, we had a fabulous time. And it inspired me! Thus my own vids.
Depending on how things go, I may start another web series in which I rant about TV shows or something. But first I need to get the hang of editing and possibly find some better software for Windows. (iMovie is the only thing I miss about having a Mac.)
Video is not the only form of media I’m indulging in lately. As I pointed out the other day, I was also on the radio. And after that I was interviewed by the esteemed Minister Faust for his podcast–I’ll drop the link once it’s live–and after that I lucked into being in the first episode of the JEMcast! That was a lot of fun to do and I shall return as a guest host any time they ask. Because I never get tired of talking about Jem.
I suspect there are more things coming up in the near future. In the meantime, if you want me to be on your podcast or radio show or whathaveyou, please use the handy contact links on the sidebar :)
Okay, JemCon is the last weekend of this month. Hotel rooms are inexpensive and membership is similarly so. I want to go. I want to dye my hair purple and pretend I can play the drums. I want to recapture my misspent youth. I want to karaoke with other people who, like me, still remember the words to the songs (mainly because we were just listening to them last week).
Here’s what’s needed:
Someone who can drive.
A car.
That’s pretty much it. I have another non-driving friend interested, and we’re willing to pay for gas and such. Anyone out there wanna go?
