Now that Christmas is over, it's time to engage in Boxing Day! This week we look at what makes boxing movies so popular and inspirational. Jay and Shua come out swinging as we Enjoy Stuff!

From Rocky to Creed, boxing movies are popular, motivational, and award-winning. We look at some of our most memorable pugilistic stories and try to figure out why people like them. 

News

Bryce Dallas Howard will be heading up a reboot of Disney’s classic alien mystery Witch Mountain

Hey, look at that! They renewed Quantum Leap for season 2!

And the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses has been renewed for more holiday goodness next year. 

Check out our TeePublic store for some enjoyable swag and all the latest fashion trends

What we’re Enjoying

The holidays are over, but they delivered a new Christmas tradition for Shua. The Apple TV movie Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds was an impressive, Broadway-style musical. He was very impressed with the story, songs, and performances of the cast. Jay sat down for a rewatch of the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building with his wife. Like the TechnoRetro Dads, she was intrigued by the entertaining and hilarious show. 

Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout

For the end of 2022, Jay wrapped up Sci-Fi Saturdays with Dark City (1998). A wild psychological trip of a vision of the future. Tune in this Saturday for a reboot of Lost in Space (1998) with Gary Oldman, William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc, and Mimi Rogers. 

Enjoy Movies!

December 26 is Boxing Day in many parts of the world. Though it started out as a way for rich people to pretend like they cared about their servants, it soon evolved into….well, another excuse to lure shoppers into stores with sales galore. While it never really evolved into anything significant in the United States, it gave us the perfect excuse to Enjoy some boxing movies. 

Probably the first thing you think of when someone stops you on the street and says, “Hey buddy, what movie do you think of when I say boxing?” is “Get away from me you freak! Why are you asking random strangers about boxing movies?!?!” But then you’re going to think of Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 movie Rocky. 

It was an inspirational tale of an underdog boxer in Philadelphia who got a once in a lifetime chance to prove himself. And that’s what boxing movies do for us. They help us understand that hard work and perseverance can change your life, even if you don’t get the knockout. Rocky inspired a series of sequels, many of which are just as iconic or more! Whether he’s fighting Clubber Lang or Ivan Drago, we can cheer for this guy who we’ve come to know through good storytelling. 

Learning about characters is really the key to a good boxing movie. Winning the boxing match isn’t the real goal for our hero, it’s overcoming the hardships of their lives. The Champ (1979) starred Jon Voight as a boxer who was trying to keep his young son, played by Ricky Schroder. 

Robert DeNiro’s Raging Bull (1980) told the real life story of Jake LaMotta whose violence and temper made him a good fighter, but destroyed his life out of the ring. 

Sometimes the story could be fun. In 1979, Tim Conway starred with Don Knotts as a fighter who gets roped in by the mob to participate in a series of fixed fights. And The Main Event (1979) with Ryan O’Neal and Barbara Streisand was a romantic comedy about a boxer and a woman who tries to get him back into the ring. It was promoted as “A Glove Story”. 

The list goes on and on. Boxing movies don’t show any signs of going away and they even often earn high praises and awards in Hollywood. 

Are you inspired by boxing movies? Do you drink a lot of eggs first thing in the morning? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Yo Adrian!” will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com

Get in the holiday spirit with Jay and Shua on a special, festive, (and multiversal) musical episode of Enjoy Stuff. 

Jay and Shua are taking a cross country road trip in Jay’s new RV (Rocket Vehicle?) When they break down, the mysterious Agamotto button begins transporting them to different multiverses with some interesting Christmas music. Will they make it to the families before Christmas? It’s time to Enjoy some Christmas music to get in the spirit of the holidays on the 2022 Enjoy (Stocking) Stuff(-er).

Songs Featured

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Billy May

I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime is Here) - Old 97s

Carolina Christmas - Squirrel Nut Zippers

A Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - August Burns Red

Santa Drives a Hot Rod -The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Feliz Navidad (8-Bit Version) - 8 Bit Universe

Banjo-Kazooie - Freezeey Peak

I T’ant Wait Til Quithmuth Day - Mel Blanc

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Foghorn Leghorn

All I Want For Christmas Is More, More, More - Daffy Duck

Santa Claus is back in town - Elvis

Ding Dong, Ding Dong - George Harrison

Ho Ho Ho Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas - Elton John

Little Drummer Boy - Christopher Lee

Spidey Bells (from A VERY SPIDEY CHRISTMAS) - Chris Pine

The Avengers Sing Christmas Carols

Joker sings Jingle Bells

The Hulk Explains Christmas

The Avengers Theme / Christmas mashup - L'orchestra Cinematique

Yuletide Ride - Blackball Bandits

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - The Ventures

California Christmas - Switchfoot

I'm spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica - Tom Lehrer

Are you ready for Christmas - Neil Patrick Harris

Muppets - We need a little Christmas

Chewbacca - Silent Night

Here it is Christmastime Kevin Bacon

Christmas all over again - Tom Petty

Bonus:  Father Christmas - The Kinks

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our Earbuds! Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com

Every word of this podcast is wrong. Five years ago, a Star Wars movie premiered that may have divided fandom more than any that has come before or since. This week we revisit The Last Jedi and discuss what we liked, didn't, and how you can Enjoy Stuff!

Are you a fan of The Last Jedi? Do you pretend it doesn’t exist? Or are you able to still be a fan, no matter what your opinion? This week we look at the divisive movie and break down the pros and cons….and have fun while doing it!

News

RIP to some beloved educators and entertainers. Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and talented actress Kirstie Alley have passed away

William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer is coming as a series to Apple TV+

The Goonies house has sold for $1.5 Million to a real collector!

Indiana Jones gets a name (Dial of Destiny) and a trailer

Make sure you check out our TeePublic store to get ready for the holidays and all the latest fashion trends

What we’re Enjoying

Shua thinks they made some good decisions on how to construct the new Disney+ Willow series. The warmth, humor, and slightly-lighter than you’d expect a fantasy is what he is looking for. Jay thought that the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit at the Biltmore Mansion in North Carolina was a very cool experience. Immerse yourself in the geniusness of the legendary artist. 

Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout

Starship Troopers (1997) was a fun romp through a future where humanity is fighting for their lives against giant bugs that are the scourge of the galaxy! (Would you like to know more?) There are new locations for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on MCU Location Scout.

Enjoy Movies!

In 2017 our Christmas present was another new Star Wars movie. Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi presented a very different idea of how a Star Wars story could be told. It’s themes of failure as mentors, shades of gray, and hope are great messages in stories. The effects and designs were stunning. And the future of the galaxy was given a path. 

Yet, the movie was not necessarily well-received (insert understatement here). Fans were torn as they moved to both sides of the spectrum further than ever before. Some didn’t like the humor. Some didn’t like the performances. And some really didn’t like how our original heroes were treated. 

Jay and Shua break down a lot of these discussion topics and expose themselves by sharing their opinion about the film. 

Are you able to Enjoy The Last Jedi? Has it changed your perspective of fandom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Reach out” will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com

You want Action? We've got Action! This year's holiday tournament pits some of the most popular action figures against each other in an effort to take top spot in the toy catalogue circle-fest! The Earbuds voted. Now Jovial Jay and Shua break down the toy battle of the century on Enjoy Stuff!

This year’s bracket tournament promises to be full of action as we see which toys may have been the most anticipated holiday gifts of Earbud’s past. 

News

The 2022 National Toy Hall of Fame inductee is…..

Make sure you check out our TeePublic store to get ready for the holidays and all the latest fashion trends

What we’re Enjoying

Jay just got a book he’s been wanting for a while. The ​​Star Trek Genesis Trilogy Anniversary Special is a collection of some great Star Trek past. Check it out from Titan! Shua really enjoyed Wednesday on Netflix, starring Jenna Ortega as the brooding Addams daughter. A fun series that brings the classic feel of the Addams Family to the modern streaming age. 

Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout

Starship Troopers (1997) was a fun romp through a future where humanity is fighting for their lives against giant bugs that are the scourge of the galaxy! (Would you like to know more?) There are new locations for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on MCU Location Scout.

Enjoy Toys!

It is here! The action battle of the Action Figures! Tune in to find out the finalists and then stay with us as we look back to the JCPenny wishbook from 1980. 

Did your favorite Action Figure make the cut? What did you circle in the toy catalogues? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Dear Santa…” will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com