UI-Con 2026: Midwest Eighties Kids in an Anime World & The First 1986: RAD Movies or BAD Movies

  

I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss

Bonus: UI-Con: Eighties Movie Podcaster in an Anime World

CatBusRuss ⁠and ⁠"Couchman" Andrew Tiede⁠ may have felt like Frank Dux and Ray Jackson walking into Kowloon for the Kumite when they arrived at the ⁠UI-Con⁠. There was too much anime cosplay to feel like they belonged. Would they need to demonstrate the Dim Mak to show they were the right kind of nerds?

For those who feel this description is not appropriate since anime is not from Hong Kong, when CatBus was collecting tapes, the plot of "⁠Bloodsport⁠" was used for Episode 3 of "⁠Street Fighter II V⁠", an anime inspired by the video game.

They both visited the UI-Con's website. The top photo is an image of the exterior of the Illinois Conference Center above a header of, "Champaign-Urbana's Anime and Comic Convention". Anime is first on the call sheet, but comic con led them to both think that you need not be an otaku to feel welcomed. Thankfully, it ended up being true, but there was an initial culture shock for two 40-somethings in Midwestern nerdy garb.

When it came to panels not centered around Japanese animation, ⁠I Dig Crazy Flicks⁠ may have been the only representatives at the convention. ⁠Russ⁠ and ⁠Andrew⁠ were there to pitch the concept of "⁠Ninety For Chill⁠", determine which movies from 1986 were RAD and which ones were BAD, and to further determine who was the greatest action star from a time where we watched violence for the sake of violence, 1985. Without a focus on Japanimation, would anyone come to these panels?

With Ally Higgins coming to be a cheerleader, they were at least going to put on a good show. And maybe buy some fan art to expand to their culture.

Aside from cool trinkets on the floor, CatBus was introduced to "⁠Off the Balcony Podcast⁠". They offered up a great panel about lost media that anyone can connect with (anime being featured on every other slide), but they also brought out the anime-themed conversations to demand attention. Attention that also attracted legendary anime translator ⁠David Fleming⁠ and his awesome laser disc collection.

Our two podcasters left having a great time. Russ even thinks it was a successful effort. You will be able to listen to these panels in the upcoming weeks to be the judge.

But to further focus on CRAZY FLICKS, CatBusRuss has attached a review for another ⁠Lamberto Bava⁠ (Director of "⁠Demons⁠" and "⁠Demons 2⁠") film, ⁠Blastfighter⁠. It is essentially "⁠First Blood⁠" exploitation but with box art that suggest its an Italian apocalypse film. Chekhov's gun has nothing on what Jake "Tiger" Sharp is packing.

Episode 255 - UI-Con 2026: 1986 - RAD Movies or BAD Movies

For ⁠CatBusRuss⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠"Couchman" Andrew Tiede⁠, ⁠UI-Con⁠ truly kicked of for them at 8 pm on Friday night. The convention had taken a break from panels to let the visitors kick it to ⁠Otter Chaos⁠ and to prepare for the anime-themed rave. In other words, if you were there to be nerdy, the evening panels were where you wanted to be. Even if some may have lacked that Japanimation flair.

This was "⁠I Dig Crazy Flicks⁠" debut for a new panel, "1986: RAD Movies or BAD Movies". CatBus had listed the similar movies and Andrew brought the box office stats to see what audiences thought at the time. It was a time where the important thing was to be first to a new film premise.

Some would say one flick would be a blockbuster while the other a mockbuster. This panel takes you back to when there was no direct-to-video market for studios to spend little on a VHS tape to capitalize on a major motion picture. It was a time to go big or go home.

Some match ups included in the panel are: "⁠Iron Eagle⁠" vs. "⁠Top Gun⁠", "⁠An American Tail⁠" vs. "⁠The Great Mouse Detective⁠", and a Robot Triple-Threat Match. Was it the audiences who won or was it just ⁠Steve Guttenberg⁠?

The two panelists/podcasters' first panel was 4 pm's "Ninety for Chill: The Panel". With its poor attendance (At least the staff found it cool.), the two got to talk shop about their remaining two panels. Here is where they realized that "⁠Big Trouble in Little China⁠" may have had a similar battle in 1986 with "⁠The Golden Child⁠". To be ready for the next time ⁠Russ⁠ runs this panel, he gave ⁠Eddie Murphy⁠'s Chinese dark magic adventure a watch.

 

Follow me on Bluesky @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.

Bonus: Missouri Comic Con 2026: Day 1 - Supportive Nerds, Hooters, and Puppet Master

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Bonus: Missouri Comic Con 2026: Day 1 - Supportive Nerds, Hooters, and Puppet Master

CatBusRuss⁠ had arrived in Springfield, MO for his second panelist spot of 2026, the ⁠Missouri Comic Con⁠. It was originally intended to just be the "⁠1986: RAD Movies or BAD Movies⁠" for Saturday and the "⁠1985: Action Movie Triple-Threat Match⁠" on Sunday, but he was given a chance to deliver "⁠Ninety For Chill⁠" as a last minute insertion to the schedule.

If there is anything to be frustrated about, it maybe ⁠Russ⁠⁠ having to miss the "⁠Tucker & Dale vs. Evil⁠" reunion. Is he more upset about not getting to attend, or that it took away from his second Saturday panel's audience?

Our host probably was not frustrated at ⁠Alan Tudyk⁠, ⁠Tyler Labine⁠, and ⁠Jewel Staite⁠ at all. Because he is more upset about ⁠Sticker Mule⁠ misleading him about the small plastic pins he received for the con. Actually, it was not the order, it was their response to his review for the order. He should have known better since they are Trump supporters. If the orange twat can just throw money at you to make it go away without apologizing , why can they not?

Russ immediately thanks you for your patience as he aired their dirty laundry on this episode. At least that took his mind off his crappy landlord's attempts to nickel and dime him.

CatBus was pretty much focused on his two panels today. How the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds are laid out, the main stage arena is 300 yards from the panel rooms and show floor building. There were celebrity panels in the largest panel room, but our host was there to work...and stop himself from buying a "Pokemon Champion" championship belt. He has got to make that tax refund last.

The panels went well despite them once again being TEDTalks. They may as well be called successes as he was greeted by many of the audience members afterwards. Or were they just grabbing punch and pie for the road?

Regardless of their motives, Russ thinks he earned a victorious meal at Hooters. If only their was not guy taking their prom date to the dining establishment to make weird.

During his panels, he did bring up some under-appreciated horror movies. One of them was "⁠Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge⁠". This film does the two things that all mass produced horror franchises should do. Turn the villains into the protagonists (like "⁠Saw X⁠"). And kill a lot of Nazis.

If you want a snack that satisfies cravings like the puppets satisfy our dead Nazi fix,  ⁠try ⁠Doich! Snacking Dough⁠. It is cookie dough with more protein, less sugar, and none of the eight major allergens. Our host is not a cookie fan, but this stuff taste great and leaves you feeling full quickly. Follow the link below to save 20% on your order and give the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Brownie Batter, or Birthday Cake a try.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://snwbl.io/doich-foods/RUSS76280

"Fritz the Cat" with Gregory Carl and "Caught Up" with Jason Parker

  

I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss

Episode 253: "Fritz the Cat" with Gregory Carl and NWA 74

While watching the 74th Anniversary of the National Wrestling Alliance (August 28, 2022), Gregory Carl⁠ blessed ⁠"NinetyForChill: The #Podcast"⁠ with his presence again to discuss ⁠Ralph Bashki⁠'s "⁠Fritz the Cat⁠", the "first" X-Rated animated feature and the most successful independent animated film of all time. This is a movie that discusses a lot of issues that are still extremely sensitive today in regards to race relations while being as explicit as narratively possible. It is a film that needs to be chatted about, but not around the kiddies.

It has been a film that ⁠CatBusRuss⁠ had always wanted to get around to, but the reputation still seemed a bit much. How can you sexualize cats? Our host knew that the creator of the comic, the legendary ⁠Robert Crumb⁠, disowned the feature, but I did not know it was about race relation issues.

As a fan of "American Pop" and who is appreciative of "The Lord of the Rings" and "Fire and Ice", ⁠Russ⁠ was surprised and impressed to see Bashki tackle such topics, but is he the person that should be addressing them?

To add some less complicated concerns to this podcast, CatBus includes his review for the "Die Hard" at a beauty pageant feature "⁠No Contest⁠". It is only appropriate since Russ just got back from ⁠Fan Expo New Orleans⁠ where Robert Davi was one of the celebrity guests. This film also has a cast that is kind of the summation of Gregory's attitudes. The lead villain is ⁠Andrew Dice Clay⁠ and his number one guy is ⁠Rowdy Roddy Piper⁠.

With all the wrestling chatter, the podcast runs over 2 hours in length, but if you do not need to hear about Russ's past war stories, the movie conversation is concluded before the second hour starts.

Episode 254 - Caught Up (1998) with Jason Parker (@formelynicdestro.bsky.social)

CatBusRuss⁠ successfully survived all three days of ⁠Fan Expo New Orleans 2026⁠, and has stories to tell and a ⁠Joel Schumacher⁠ tale from ⁠Jamison Newlander⁠. Do not worry. There is enough fun stuff to be discussed that you will forgive our host resurrecting the disastrous "⁠The Crow (2024)⁠".

Having to get up early to catch the ⁠Billy Boyd⁠ panel, ⁠Russ⁠ took it as easy as he could when dealing with an ill-conceived remake to wind down Saturday night. He could not get his question answered in front of the panel, but per chance an autograph would give us the answer to, "Where are all the Scottish superheroes?"

Speaking of autographs, CatBusRuss may have done his most gushing over a celebrity in the presence of ⁠Joe Pantoliano⁠. The podcaster did his best to state how important to film and television he finds him as a stamp of approval for a project, someone worth having a drink for whenever he appears on screen as the ultimate that guy.

The biggest name from "The Goonies" cast (per 1985 Corey Feldman), does not listen to many (if any) podcasts, so he did not know the impact he has had on podcasting about cinema. When Russ brought up the "Joey Pants Award" on the "⁠The Rewatchables⁠", he may have pissed the ultimate "That Guy" off. With that said, Russ has been on a social media campaign to get ⁠Bill Simmons⁠ to get in touch with Mr. Pantoliano to answer for not having the nerve to call him "That Guy" to his face.

It is only appropriate that when you have a cinematic legend, that a movie he starred in should conclude the main festivities at Fan Expo. The movie was "⁠The Goonies⁠", and along side Joey Pants was his Fratelli Brother ⁠Robert Davi⁠ and three of those meddling kids, ⁠Corey Feldman⁠, ⁠Sean Astin⁠, and ⁠Kerri Green⁠. These cast-mates had fun ribbing the conservative Davi's claims of being the nice Fratelli. More importantly, they spoke highly of how impactful this film was on Generation X, be it the foul language they spread or that this is a film that can actually be kept alive unlike the franchise fair of today.

Sorry kids, Hogwarts is fake. Mikey's home is still standing.

Russ brings up his walk down Bourbon Street and how three beignets hindered any real partying energy. He also gives some critiques of ⁠Bizzaro Wrestling⁠ and security at the cons needing to keep con artists (the types who may have been inspired by that twat Trump) from trying to sell their music "for the kids". If only our host was up for starting some shit, but an arrest 17 hours from home would not be a wise gamble.

Stick around after the wahoo request to hear "The Hardest Working Man in Comics" ⁠Victor Dandrige⁠ stand up for young vampire hunters, like the Frog Brother from "⁠The Lost Boys⁠". If you think the legendary director of "Batman & Robin", can be questioned, of course.

 

Follow me on Bluesky @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.