Podcast
The Incomparable Mothership
Hosted by Jason Snell · EN
The Incomparable Mothership is the flagship of the Incomparable podcast network. It’s all about geeky media we love, including movies, books, TV, and more, featuring a rotating panel of guests and hosted by Jason Snell and friends.
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
798: Trust Dan, Not Fish
Dec 3101:51:42Tap to summarizeOur most frequent panelists of the year join Jason to talk about their favorite stuff from the year gone by, and we also pause to recall some favorite Incomparable moments. Synergy! The Best of 2025 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán, Tony Sindelar, David J. Loehr, Annette Wierstra, Scott McNulty, Dan Moren and Brian Warren Show Notes & Links Erika: North of North, “The Same Old Wasted World” by Motion City Soundtrack Moisés: Sinners, Frankenstein, Running Man, Ludwig, Bookish, Nautilus, Tucci in Italy, Split Fiction, Donkey Kong Bananza, Downey Wrote It, the Super Bowl Shuffle Tony: Sinners, Frankenstein, Superman, Wake Up Dead Man, The Studio, Andor, The Lowdown, Frieren Beyond Journey’s End, Odd Taxi David: The Lowdown, Wake Up Dead Man, North of North, Sinners, Dark Winds, Jason Mantzoukas on Taskmaster, Dead in the Frame by Stephen Spottswood, Good Spirits by B.K. Borrison, KPop Demon Hunters, Star Trek: Khan, Only Murders in the Building, The First Snow of Fraggle Rock Annette: Slutty Little Glasses, Heated Rivalry, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Taskmaster, K-Pop Demon Hunters, North of North, Wake Up Dead Man, The Residence Scott: Barker & Lllewellyn series by Will Thomas, The Devils by Joe Abercombie, Moonbound by Robin Sloan, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Diplomat, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek Lego, Lego Ferris Wheel with Fireworks, Tiny Heart Legos in general Dan: Wake Up Dead Man, Thunderbolts, American Fiction, Thelma, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Empire of the Wolf by Richard Swan, The Hierarchy (The Will of the Many, Strength of the Few) by James Islington, If Wishes Were Retail by Austin Habershaw, Don’t Trust Fish, Recommending The Lowdown to Tony, Andor, Skeleton Crew, Down Cemetery Road, Peacemaker, Severance, Foundation, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Brian: Dungeon Crawler Carl, Heretical Fishing, Beware of Chicken, He Who Fights With Monsters, Severance, Ape Club (Escape from the Planet of the Apes), ARC Raiders, Dept. Q, The Pitt, Dropout TV, Thunderbolts, Taskmaster Jason: Sleeper Beach, Automatic Noodle, Moonbound, Barker & Lllewelyn series, The Pitt Pluribus, Ludwig, Severance, Hacks, Shoresy, Dept. Q, Das Boot, The Rest is History Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →742: Hi, Anxiety
Nov 15, 202401:16:01Tap to summarizeSeveral panelists consider Pixar’s “Inside Out” one of their favorite films. Now it’s time to process “Inside Out 2.” Some struggle with the sequel more than others. But at least Bing Bong makes a tiny cameo. "Inside Out 2" Lex Friedman with Brian Hamilton, David J. Loehr and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works Inside Out 2 Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →741: Evil Giant Cicadas
Nov 8, 202401:26:21Tap to summarizeVin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Keith David, and a lack of bozos… It can only be 2000’s “Pitch Black,” one of the finer entries in the always-popular “Alien” homage movie genre. We enthuse about elevated filmmaking, great decisions, and low-budget effects. "Pitch Black" Antony Johnston with Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar and Todd Vaziri Referenced Works Pitch Black Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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740: The Coffin Test
Oct 28, 202401:30:47Tap to summarizeJust in time for Halloween week, Old Spooky Club returns for 1985’s “Fright Night.” It’s an entirely ’80s comedy-horror movie with zero cynicism and only a single layer of meta. Chris Sarandon is the perfect vampire, even when he’s villanously chowin’ down on a topless lady as he exchanges intense stares with the neighbor kid. If you’ve never experienced it, you don’t know what you’re missing. "Fright Night" (1985) Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Annette Wierstra, Erika Ensign and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works Fright Night Show Notes & Links The Flop House talks with Tom Holland Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →739: Above the Zeppo Level
Oct 25, 202401:07:13Tap to summarizeDo you like gladiator movies, Joey? It’s 1980’s “Airplane!”—the comedy version of “Zero Hour!”—with serious actors playing ridiculous parts more or less straight. How does the comedy hold up? What’s unique about the approach? Why was it such a huge hit? We put the ZAZ boys under the microscope. Surely we’ll all have a good time! (Don’t call us Shirley.) "Airplane!" Jason Snell with Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang and Steve Lutz Referenced Works Airplane! Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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738: Condor to the Neck
Oct 18, 202401:34:38Tap to summarizeDon’t order the fish! Old Movie Club celebrates Aviatober with 1939’s “Only Angels Have Wings” and 1957’s “Zero Hour!” One bears a striking resemblance to forgettable 1980s TV series “Tales of the Gold Monkey,” and the other is undeniably the inspiration for the more notable 1980 movie “Airplane!” (That’s foreshadowing.) "Only Angels Have Wings" and "Zero Hour!" Jason Snell with Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels, Monty Ashley, David J. Loehr and Micheline Maynard Referenced Works Only Angels Have Wings Zero Hour! Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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737: The Bolthole of My Own Self-Referentiality
Oct 11, 202401:25:53Tap to summarizeIt was the late ’80s and comic writer Grant Morrison was fast becoming Grant Morrison. Come back with us to look at his run on Animal Man, issues 1-26, in which a has-been/never-was superhero becomes an outspoken animal rights activist, witnesses the near-undoing of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and meets his own maker—who looks strangely like Grant Morrison. Before Deadpool and She-Hulk broke the fourth wall, this was Peak Meta. Grant Morrison's "Animal Man" Chip Sudderth with Lisa Schmeiser and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Animal Man Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →736: I Have Planets for That
Oct 4, 202401:06:30Tap to summarizeDan Moren’s “The Armageddon Protocol” is now on sale. He joins Jason to discuss how to wrap up a long-running series (while leaving doors open for future adventures), juggling an increasingly complex home life with a two-book contract, the broader publishing options available to fiction writers, and (of course) sandwiches. Dan Moren's "The Armageddon Protocol" Jason Snell with Dan Moren Referenced Works Galactic Cold War Show Notes & Links The Armageddon Protocol Javan War - John Birmingham and Jason Lambright Rosemary Kirstein "Steerswoman" series Penric and Desdemona series Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →735: Who Took My Lady?
Sep 27, 202401:20:59Tap to summarizeMiyazaki Club returns to discuss 2010’s “The Secret World of Arrietty,” a Studio Ghibli production with a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki based on a series of children’s books. Why are we so unnerved by the linear storyline and lack of weirdness? Why does Jason have Bay Leaf head canon? And why is surface tension the true star of the show? "The Secret World of Arrietty" Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Moisés Chiullán, John Siracusa and Aleen Simms Referenced Works Hayao Miyazaki The Secret World of Arrietty Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
Transcribe →734: Hang a Lantern on a Lantern
Sep 20, 202401:43:13Tap to summarize“Warner Brothers called and they’re demanding that we do The Matrix IV, with or without you?” So motivated, Lilly Wachowski made a movie that revisits “The Matrix” that’s about revisiting “The Matrix.” Could it be that this 19-years-later sequel… is better than the other sequels? "The Matrix Resurrections" Jason Snell with Chip Sudderth, Erika Ensign and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works The Matrix Resurrections Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.
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