Nine episodes and a wake-up!
This time around, I take a look at part two of the three-part Tet Offensive storyline “The Beginning of the End”, plus historical context from the middle of 1973. Then, I look at the career of Vietnam Veteran Principal Seymour Skinner.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
In Country Episode 91 direct link
Here’s a playlist of the Principal Skinner clips that I used in this episode:
10 episodes and a wake-up are left!
It’s a return to the regular coverage of The ‘Nam with the first of a three-part storyline that takes us back to the Tet Offensive of 1968, “The Beginning of the End.” I’ll take a look at issue #79 of the series and will also finish up the two-part Punisher/Iceman storyline from Punisher War Journal by looking at issue #53 of that comic. Plus, I round things out by looking at the history behind the war in January-March of 1973.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
In Country Episode 90 direct link
As mentioned in the episode, here is the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “Burst of Joy,” which depicts a POW returning home to see his family:
You can read more about this on the photo’s Wikipedia page.
And here are the covers for our issues.
It’s the first of two “milestone year” episodes where Amanda and I sit down and take a pretty thorough look at what was going on in a particular year of the 1990s. First up, 1995. Join us as we talk about where we were in our lives in ’95 and then run through the television shows, movies, and music of that year.
You can listen here:
11 episodes and a wake-up are left!
This time around, I take a break from comic book coverage to look at another book and film about the Vietnam War, Born on the Fourth of July. I start by looking at Ron Kovic’s autobiography about his time in Vietnam as well as his recovery from the injuries that paralyzed him and journey toward being an antiwar activist. Then, I take a quick look at the first movie that was inspired by Kovic’s story, 1978’s Coming Home, which stars Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern. Finally, I look at Oliver Stone’s 1989 adaptation of Born on the Fourth of July, which stars Tom Cruise.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
In Country Episode 89 direct link
Here are some extras for you …
The trailer for Coming Home:
The trailer for Born on the Fourth of July:
John Williams’ theme to Born on the Fourth of July:
The Bruce Springsteen song, “Shut Out the Light”:
12 episodes and a wake-up are left!
My coverage of Don Lomax’s run on The ‘Nam continues with issue #78, a story about combat in Quang Tri through the eyes of Ed Marks. Plus, we get the next chapter in the “Stateside” backup as Rob Little and Sarge try to track down Top, who may have been involved in the death of Rob’s brother Eugene. Then, I look at an article about the comic in Marvel Age #122 followed by a Punisher/Ice team-up in Punisher War Journal #52. It’s all this and the historical context for the fall and winter of 1972.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
Sixty years ago today, rock and roll lost three of its earliest stars when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash. In this episode, I take a look back at that event by focusing on how I learned about it as a kid in the 1980s and teenager in the 1990s. I begin by talking about my history with each of the artists and that era of music and then spend time going through the event via the 1999 episode of VH-1’s Behind the Music. Finally, I look at the song that gave “The Day the Music Died” its name: Don McLean’s “American Pie”.
You can listen here:
Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page
Also, here is a playlist I created that consists of the entire Behind the Music episode:
Ed Marks finds himself on an aircraft carrrier and we hear the story of a fellow soldier’s bombing run, plus we go “Stateside” to see Rob Little reunite with Sarge. It’s all in issue #77 of The ‘Nam, which is written by Don Lomax with art by Wayne Vansant, Mike Harris, and Frank Percy.
Plus, I take a look at the events of the war in the summer of 1972.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
In what is now an annual Pop Culture Affidavit tradition, it’s time for us to celebrate Festivus, the holiday that is for the rest of us! This year, I’m joined for the airing of grievances and the feats of strength by The Irredeemable Shag. We complain about fandom and other things that irritate us and then follow that up by looking at War Dancer #4, which was published in 1994 by Defiant Comics.
You can listen here:
Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page
After the cut, a few extras from this episode …
Blank VHS tapes. So many of us had them. So many of us still have them. But what happens when you unearth a pile of vaguely labeled blank tapes in your parents’ basement and you pop them into your VCR? Well, that’s exactly what I did. In this episode, I talk about my personal history with VCRs and VHS tapes as well as what I found in a pretty large pile of tapes that I grabbed on a trip to Long Island back in April. It’s an hour of me rambling about Seinfeld, Baywatch, holiday cartoon specials, and anything else I taped in the 1980s and 1990s.
You can listen here:
Pop Culture Affidavit podcast page
After the cut, a few links and extras from this episode …
I’m back to the classic format of the show and back to some classic characters as I take a look at issue #76 of The ‘Nam, a story titled “Brothers” that stars Rob Little. It’s June 1972 and while standing at the grave of his brother Eugene, Rob flashes back to a story from 1967 where he and Ed Marks help a paymaster complete his job of getting back pay to GIs in the field.
Plus, I take a look at the history of the war in June 1972.
You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website
In Country Episode 86 direct link
Some extras:
During this episode, I talk about Nick Ut’s famous photograph of Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked down a street burned from a napalm attack. Here are some resources if you would like to learn more:
“The Long Road to Forgiveness”, which is her contribution to NPR’s long-running “This I Believe” series.
The Kim Foundation, her foundation dedicated to helping children who have been injured as a result of war.
Wikipedia’s page on Phan Thi Kim Phuc, which is extensive and was an excellent resource.
