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With Luke currently wandering the mines of Moria, Caleb and I are kicking off a three-part retrospective on Peter Jackson’s legendary The Lord of the Rings trilogy, starting with 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring! Before diving into Middle-earth, we check in on an agonizing question: who has more goals right now, Kirill Kaprizov or our entire Los Angeles Kings roster? We also hit some MLB postseason updates before getting into the main event. We look back at our family history with the films—from a lucky clearance find at Amoeba Music to breaking up the extended editions into bite-sized viewing chunks—and explore why revisiting this masterpiece through older eyes hits so much deeper. Plus: Why Samwise Gamgee is the true heart and soul of the story (and why everyone needs a Sam) The sheer miracle of New Line greenlighting and filming the trilogy back-to-back-to-back The brilliant dynamic between Legolas and Gimli Sir Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom’s unmatched early-2000s runs A wild Christopher Lee pub story involving J.R.R. Tolkien himself Caleb’s recent real-life hobbit adventures in New Zealand And, of course, the official verdict from the Potato Rating System Grab your lembas bread, fire up your extended editions, and journey back to the Shire with us! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

We are officially locked in for Avengers: Doomsday—yes, Luke and I secured tickets for a 4:15 AM Friday showing, and yes, we might be a little crazy. Before the chaos begins, we’re continuing our "Doomsday Preppers" marathon by revisiting all four Avengers films. Join Caleb, Luke, and me as we rate the 2012 original on our official Potato Scale, debate whether Infinity War actually tops Endgame, look back at Cap’s campy roots, and break down why Thor’s grief arc in Endgame is some of the MCU’s best storytelling. Plus, we open the vault on the re-released Avengers: Endgame Encore to dissect those additional scenes. We also dive into Doctor Doom's power set and debate what Robert Downey Jr.’s casting really means for the future of the MCU. In this episode: 80s rock trivia & Narnia’s upcoming The Magician's Nephew trailer The Avengers (2012) retrospective and official potato rating Giving Age of Ultron the credit it deserves Infinity War vs. Endgame: Stakes, Thanos, and that epic final battle Deep-dive spoiler talk: All 4 new Endgame Encore scenes and what they mean for Doomsday Who is Doctor Doom? Dissecting his power level and RDJ's return This is your place for community and conversation for pop culture and storytelling!

With Caleb off watching some violence on ice, Luke and I hold down the fort to break down the second half of season one of DC’s Lanterns (Episodes 5–8)! Before we dive into the grounded sci-fi madness, we kick things off with our early NHL Stanley Cup predictions—and cast Hal Jordan, Jon Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Sinestro as NHL franchises. Then, it’s full spoilers ahead: Why Episode 5 felt like an explosive season finale The genius of Aaron Pierre’s Jon Stewart and his masterclass in quiet control Hal Jordan’s heartbreaking backstory, the Jordan boys’ legacy, and that emotional send-off Guy Gardner’s surprising depth (athletic director vibes and all) Spoiler’s Manhunter reveal, space portals in storage lockers, laser-butchered cows, and Earl the meat-eating plant Our official verdict: Where does Lanterns land on the ColbyCast potato scale? Grab your power battery, ride the roller coaster, and let us know your thoughts on the finale! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

We put our Avengers: Doomsday prep on the back burner this week because we had some serious unfinished business to settle! Following up on last week's battle, Caleb, Luke, and I are back in the studio to finish hashing out the generational divide: Were the '80s and '90s really the peak of pop culture, or do the 2000s and 2010s take the crown? Before we dive into the debate, we unpack the underrated luxury of breathing uninterrupted through your nose, the mystery of whether music videos still exist outside of YouTube, and a quick shout-out to Simbot for keeping us honest about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Then, the gloves come off across our remaining battleground categories: Tech: Microwaves and Walkmans vs. iPhones, air fryers, and Raspberry Pis. Sports: Why endless replay reviews might be ruining the live experience, Wayne Gretzky's landscape-altering trade to Los Angeles, the birth of big-budget Super Bowl commercials, and the unstoppable force of Shohei Ohtani. Movies: '80s and '90s cinematic benchmarks vs. superhero blockbusters, modern CGI, and the double-edged sword of endless streaming queues. Video Games: The unbeatable tactile atmosphere of classic mall and pizza parlor arcades vs. the magic of cross-platform couch co-op. The Silver Bullet: We wrap it up with our ace in the hole—DoorDash convenience vs. true third-space community. Whose side are you on? Tune in to see who claims victory (or if I just flex the naming rights to declare myself the winner). Remember to search TheColbyCast (all one word) on your favorite podcatcher! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

Caleb is finally back from the Southern Hemisphere, which means my co-hosts are reunited and ready to gang up on me again. To welcome him home, I decided to do something completely reckless: put my childhood ('80s and '90s) head-to-head against Luke and Caleb’s childhood (2000s and 2010s) to prove once and for all that my generation had it better. Naturally, they didn't make it easy. In this, our first generational showdown, we battle it out over four big categories: +Cartoons: My sacred Saturday morning ritual with Transformers and Robotech vs. the boys weaponizing The Clone Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender against me. +Sitcoms: Classic live-studio comfort like Family Ties, Cheers, and Alf vs. The Office, Modern Family, and my absolute weakness, New Girl. +The Music Experience: Why spending hours building the perfect cassette mixtape off the radio beats modern streaming algorithms every single time. +Snacks & Cars: Ho-Hos, microwave popcorn burns, and '80s Corvettes going toe-to-toe with Kool-Aid Jammers, air fryers, and Lightning McQueen. Did I successfully defend Gen X, or did my sons mop the floor with me? Listen in, take a side, and let me know who you think won! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

With Caleb still MIA somewhere along Route 66, Luke and I are holding down the fort for week three! This week, we dive into the 20th anniversary theatrical re-release of Pixar’s Cars. We talk about taking our five-year-old nephew Ezra to see it on the big screen—complete with pizza, candy, and an icy—and what it was like watching a whole new generation get completely captivated by Lightning McQueen. From that pitch-perfect opening sequence and Sheryl Crow needle drop to the real NASCAR history of the Hudson Hornet and Paul Newman’s iconic Doc Hudson, we break down why this film remains a timeless masterpiece. Plus, we share our favorite moments, discuss what made Pixar’s golden run so unbeatable, and explain why the sunset neon lighting in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure will always move us to tears. Ka-chow! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

With Caleb out collecting rocks this week, Luke and I hold down the fort to tackle the first four episodes of HBO Max’s Lanterns! We talk about our entry points into the Green Lantern lore—from my lone reference point of the 2011 Ryan Reynolds film to Luke’s childhood staple, Justice League Unlimited. From there, we dissect: Kyle Chandler's acidic, gut-instinct Hal Jordan vs. Aaron Pierre's stoic, meticulous John Stewart, the grounded, small-town detective dynamic and ring limitations, why Episode 3 ("OutKast") delivers one of the best character origin stories we've seen, the Manhunter lore, secret alien benefactors, strange slaughterhouse setups, crystallized hearts, and where Sheriff Kerry Kane fits into all of it. This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

Welcome to the premiere of our brand-new "Avengers Doomsday Preppers Series" on The ColbyCast! While Caleb is off investigating a strange sheep-related crime in the English countryside, Luke and I kick off our official countdown to Avengers: Doomsday using the Disney+ preparation playlist. In this episode, we break down the first three essential films on the list: X-Men (2000), X2, and Captain America: The First Avenger. We discuss everything from early 2000s comic book movie aesthetics and legacy casting to how these foundational stories feed into the massive finale of the Multiverse Saga.

After three and a half years, we are finally rolling out the official, 10-tier ColbyCast rating system—and yes, it’s 100% inspired by Yelena Belova's conversation with Spider-Man about potatoes ! Luke, Caleb, and I break down everything from an "Omega-Level Potato" all the way down to a "Greasy Pork Sandwich Served in a Dirty Ashtray Potato." To put the new scale to the test, we dive deep into Marvel history, debating and ranking every Spider-Man movie, the entire X-Men film universe, Wolverine's solo run, and MCU staples like The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America, and Thor. Tune in to find out where your favorite Marvel films land on the spud spectrum! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

While Luke is off on week two of his Vhagar hunt, Caleb and I are holding down the fort to break down the biggest reveals and trailers dropping out of D23! We dive deep into some of our favorite upcoming releases across the Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel universes: Ahsoka Season 2: Hayden Christensen’s return, mysterious new lightsabers, Thrawn’s war declaration, and Huyang going full combat mode. Vision Quest: Ultron’s return, quirky sitcom energy, and how it caps off the WandaVision trilogy. Avengers: Doomsday Special Look: The Russo brothers taking the helm, Doctor Doom’s arrival, and classic X-Men crossovers. Star Wars & MCU Future: Ryan Gosling joining the galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming X-Men movie lineup, and new animated sequels like Zootopia 3 and Coco 2. Tune in for the trailer breakdowns, Star Wars trivia, and some serious aura farming! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

With Luke away hunting for Vhagar, Caleb and I sit down to dissect the complete third season of House of the Dragon following last Sunday’s finale. From the stunning dragon choreography and standalone highlights like Helaena Targaryen and Roddy the Ruin to the head-scratching pacing and detour storylines, we give our honest thoughts on how season three sets the table for the final stretch!

On this episode, we dive headfirst into full spoiler territory for Spider-Man: Brand New Day! We get into the incredible box office numbers powered by Tom Holland and Zendaya, we discuss Sadie Sink’s debut as (SPOILER), Jon Bernthal’s standout evolution as Frank Castle, that terrifying return of Savage Hulk, and why this street-level story was exactly what the MCU needed. Plus, we untangle the emotional core of Peter, MJ, and Ned’s post-No Way Home dynamics and debate the massive future implications of Peter’s mutation-suppressing tech.This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has completely taken over our minds, and we realized that 90 minutes wasn't nearly enough time to cover it all. With Caleb finally catching a showing and Luke going back for his third theatrical viewing, we couldn't help ourselves—we had to dive back in for a whole second episode of conversation! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!

With Caleb taking the week off, Luke and I sat down for an in-depth, spoiler-filled discussion of Christopher Nolan’s epic film, The Odyssey. Having already seen it twice in theaters, Luke broke down why he believes this might actually be a "perfect movie", while I explored the powerful underlying themes of Zeus’s law, hospitality, and moral duality. In this episode, we dive into: Production & Scale: Practical effects, 70mm IMAX filmmaking, and that massive Cyclops puppet. Standout Performances: Matt Damon’s emotional weight as Odysseus, Zendaya’s striking presence as Athena, Robert Pattinson’s skin-crawling turn as Antinous, and incredible supporting work from John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, and Jon Bernthal. Story & Structure: How Nolan tackles ancient mythology, the three distinct perspectives on the Sacking of Troy, and that incredible climax in Ithaca synced up to Ludwig Göransson’s score. Box Office & Beyond: The massive opening weekend numbers, sold-out screenings, and what’s next for stars like Tom Holland and Zendaya. This is your place for community and conversation about pop culutre and storytelling!

On this episode of The ColbyCast, we dive into the latest addition to the DCU: Supergirl! We break down everything from Millie Alcock’s fantastic performance as Kara Zor-El to our mixed feelings about the story's structure. We discuss her unique origin story, the growth behind earning her super suit, and whether this was the right time to drop a Supergirl movie into James Gunn’s new universe. Plus, we share our spoiler-free thoughts on season three of Shrinking on Apple TV and Steven Spielberg’s highly engaging new film Disclosure Day! This is your place for community and conversation about pop culture and storytelling!