TBTL #4636: "Avatar 6: The Smell of Water"

Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Guest: Kelly Kilburn

Overview

In this lively episode of TBTL, Luke and Andrew start by riffing on a new (fictional) Soho-set TV pitch involving the "New Medusas" before plunging into an in-depth and frequently hilarious conversation about event movies, box office realities, the latest films they've both seen, and the gulf between "critic's darlings" and moneymakers like the fictional "Avatar 6: The Smell of Water". The hosts dissect "Marty Supreme" (another satirical movie), explore viral modern film promotion—especially Timothée Chalamet’s cross-media stunts—and address sports, from world-champion teenage darts players (and wasp attacks at tournaments!) to the current fortunes of the Seattle Seahawks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fictional TV Pitch: "The New Medusas"

• Opening Banter: Guest Kelly Kilburn describes a tongue-in-cheek show about three snake-haired women running a Soho salon. The banter highlights the hosts' familiarity with absurd Hollywood pitches.
  • Quote: “So this new project we have, it’s called the New Medusas…three women who run a salon in Soho…they have snakes for hair, and they turn dudes into stone.” (Kelly, 00:03)
• They joke about show development and the lack of clear direction in many "new projects".

2. Seasonal Blues & Homeowner Triumphs

• Luke opens with a classic TBTL weather update and boasts about fixing his heating system, linking "surviving winter" to personal victories and day-to-day “living truthfully in imaginary circumstances.”
  • Quote: “I fixed it and I can now do anything. I’m very proud of myself.” (Luke, 03:17)

3. Box Office Realities, Event Movies & “Avatar 6”

• Hollywood Events vs. Franchise Monoliths:
  • Andrew observes a rise in theatrical “event” movies post-pandemic (Barbenheimer, Sinners, etc.), while Luke notes how box office “success” is often spun by trade publications with deeper industry agendas (07:00).
  • Quote: “There’s a whole world of cinema and…the whole world of the cinema that actually seems to be making the money…is totally off my radar because I don’t have a kid and because I don’t care about…Avatar 6: The Smell of Water.” (Luke, 10:01)
• Critique of "Avatar" Series:
  • Both challenge the popularity and artistic merit of Avatar sequels, poking fun at the franchise’s obvious metaphors (“Unobtanium,” imperialism themes).
  • Quote: “It’s more somebody’s than any other film on that list are like, ‘I gotta see what the Na’vi are up to.’” (Luke, 11:43)
• Notable moment: Both admit watching the first Avatar, but can't fathom continued mass appeal.

4. Movie Discussion: “Marty Supreme” & Modern Promotion

• Review of Marty Supreme:
  • They analyze the movie’s structure, its “unlikable protagonist,” the anti-triumphalist end, and its commentary on individual exceptionalism.
  • Quote: “The Marty Supreme character is generally unlikable…he doesn’t, like, win the world championship. It’s not like Rocky.” (Luke, 25:07)
• A24’s Double Faced Marketing:
  • The trailer courts mainstream “trophy” moviegoers, while the real film veers into weird, dark, unexpected territory, resulting in walkouts.
    • Quote: “One thing…we're talking about promoting movies…A24 put more of a marketing blitz on this…I thought it was a joke.” (Andrew, 14:37)
  • Viral antics include Timothée Chalamet collaborating with a masked UK rapper, “SD the Kid.” Luke plays a snippet of Chalamet rapping from a tie-in music video.
    • Quote: “They really threw everything at the promotion of this movie…Timothy Chalamet rapping ‘My girl worth a billion with SD Kid’ for a certain other brain rot sector.” (Luke, 22:11)
• Compare/Contrast: Uncut Gems:
  • They link “Marty Supreme” to Uncut Gems in style and theme, noting both films’ relentless energy and focus on flawed main characters.
    • Quote: “After watching Marty Supreme…Genevieve said to me, ‘maybe I would watch Uncut Gems.’…But it did remind me what good filmmaking does and how it sucks you in, even if it’s uncomfortable.” (Andrew, 23:01)

5. Film Casting Trivia & Hidden Connections

• Luke’s Unheralded Discovery:
  • Odessa A’zion, who plays Chalamet’s love interest, is Pamela Adlon’s daughter (voice of Bobby Hill on King of the Hill).
    • Quote: “Her mom is Bobby Hill. I just love that.” (Luke, 41:16)

6. Sports: Seahawks, Darts, and Wasp Mayhem

• Seahawks Playoff Run:
  • Andrew and Luke dig into the Seahawks’ unexpected dominance, the defensive strategies, and playoff calculus, referencing specific big games and their ongoing affection and anxiety for the team.
  • Classic TBTL banter about superstitions, “Wilson” jokes, and “Luke, I am your father.”
  • Seahawks music remix and nostalgia for fan rap ("Seahawks, Seahawks!"), contributing to classic TBTL local-sports atmosphere.
• Darts Champion & The ‘Ali Pali’ Wasp:
  • The Luke Littler Phenomenon: They debate whether a teenage darts prodigy is “the greatest athlete," tongue locked in cheek about what counts as “sport.”
  • Wasp Attacks at World Darts Championship:
    • The show detours hilariously into the persistent wasp/yellowjacket invasions at the "Ally Pally," affecting play and even creating superstitions among competitors.
    • Quote: “Ross Smith was stung on his left hand three times…then during a post-match press conference was again stung by one of these wasps…What the hell is going on?” (Luke, 74:38)
    • They play the press conference audio of a player being stung live.

7. Personal Anecdotes, Inside Jokes, & Listener Shoutouts

• Reminiscences about old Seattle bowling hangouts and classic stories from the early days of both hosts.
• The customary “thank the donors” segment includes more inside jokes and friendly ribbing.

Notable Quotes (w/Timestamps)

• On the truth of modern moviegoing (Andrew):

  • "The types of movies that I...should have reframed that just by saying that like I am personally happy to see that the industry…is still creating at least cultural events." (09:17)

• On why "Marty Supreme" had walkouts (Andrew):

  • "I think they purposely made a very pedestrian looking movie trailer…You brought people into the theater who were not ready for the intensity of like sort of an Uncut Gems light at times." (17:35)

• On the anti-hero nature of “Marty Supreme” (Luke):

  • “By the time we get to his big ping pong triumph, it’s kind of like, who gives an F? Like, it’s not a real thing…none of it really comes together for him, and you’re not necessarily even rooting for him to win…” (26:31)

• On wasps at the darts championship (Luke):

  • “If you think about a wasp sting being a mini-paralysis…it's insane to me this is going on at the World Darts Championship.” (75:51)

• On Seahawks skeptics (Luke):

  • “There was a lot of naysayers…[now] TikTok keeps delivering to me are, like, sport knowers before the season…just talking about how horrible the Seahawks were going to be this year.” (104:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Movie Event Trends & Box Office Discussion: 06:14 – 12:30
• Marty Supreme Review/Promotion Stunts: 14:36 – 28:41
• On Odessa A’zion & Bobby Hill Fact: 41:12 – 43:58
• Sports/Seahawks Playoff Analysis: 85:05 – 95:00
• Darts Champion & Wasp Fiasco: 69:20 – 81:46
• Listener/Donor Shoutouts & Inside Jokes: 47:25 – 51:06

Tone & Style

• Playful, Ironically SelfAware: Even while discussing systemic industry dynamics or playoff stats, Luke and Andrew keep the vibe loose, gently mocking themselves, each other, and the pop culture topics at hand.
• Seattle-Loving, Nostalgic, and Deeply Referenced: The tone is distinctly regional and layered—full of callbacks, mutual teasing, and a well-worn comfort between the hosts.
• Insider/Bemused: The episode is made for longtime listeners, but even outsiders will appreciate the good-natured deep-dive into movies, sports, and random bee attacks at darts tournaments.

Memorable Moments

• Andrew describing walking out of "Marty Supreme": “We saw groups of people leaving the film in the middle of the film…” (15:46)
• Timothée Chalamet ‘SD Kid’ Viral Rap Played On-Air: Luke giddily playing the “Marty Supreme” rap and singing “It’s Marty Supreme!” (21:47–22:11)
• Wasp Sting Press Conference in Darts: Luke and Andrew’s bewildered deep-dive into professional darts’ wasp problem, culminating in a live audio sting (76:45–77:11)
• Classic Football Playoff Calculus & In-Depth Seahawks Analysis: (85:05 onwards)
• Luke’s Bobby Hill revelation: “Her mom is Bobby Hill!” (41:16)

For New Listeners

This episode offers a quintessential TBTL mix: freewheeling discussions of movies and pop culture, tangents into sports and obscure trivia, and long-form, affectionate banter. Even if you haven’t seen the movies or followed the Seahawks, the dynamic repartee, sly humor, and bizarre real-life trivia (wasps at darts, anyone?) make for an engaging listen.

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