I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss
Bonus: Fan Expo New Orleans 2026 (Days 1 & 2): The Flashpoint Paradox
CatBusRuss was waiting for panel approvals that did not come. But as he waited, he checked out the room rates available during the Fan Expo New Orleans weekend. Under $150 a night in the Big Easy was too good to pass up. Hence, our host is off on his first networking and promotion trip to a comic con.
How well is Russ doing promoting "I Dig Crazy Flicks"? Not as well as Brian Plaideau from "NOLA Film Scene" (Check out "Ninety For Chill X Nola Film Scene" to get to know Brian and TJ.), but if he has enough Studio Ghibli attire, guests will come up to him to chat. Day One worked out a lot better with four separate pieces (six if you count the Jiji and Cat Bus earings). The Cat Bus hat on it owns might just seem too weird.
It has mostly been a good experience, but CatBus is upset that hosts will no show panels that could be useful to so many content creators. If they are not going to use their time, he feels he better get in next year. There may be a little too much "Kpop Demon Hunters" influence as well, but he will say the Aerial Space Squad burlesque team made the idea look better than what made it to Netflix. Once Russ gets out of his shell, he is rolling.
And the panels that he did attend were mostly great. Mike "Luke Cage" Colter came off to him as a little "alpha" male, but he at least knows that enduring struggles will pay off. Anyhow, can you be a alpha when John Cena is present? The 17x champ's humbleness puts us all to shame.
Perhaps Jamison Newlander can. A hero from "The Lost Boys" is hard to upstage.
Now, was Cena as much fun as Aaron Reynold's "Bootleg Safari" or a Mardi Gras-themed kick off to the Hobbits 25th Anniversary tour? You better have the extra $25 for the next Fan Expo they attend to find out yourself.
It has been an odd experience for CatBusRuss's return to the Gulf Coast, so it feels appropriate for him to review the DC Animated Movie "Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox". We will see with Day 3 if this podcaster fixes the Time Boom.
Episode 252 - Fan Expo New Orleans 2026: The Wussy Frog Bros & The Crow 2024
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.
