

Alienating the Audience
Andrew Heaton
Andrew Heaton and an army of nerds plunge deep, deep into films, books, and TV shows to ask: what's science fiction really about? What is The Twilight Zone really exploring? What are the underlying themes of Star Trek? What is the worldview of Star Wars? Also sometimes Heaton performs comedy on other planets.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 28, 2020 • 17min
Vagabonding: Return to the Fembot Homeworld
Nick and Heaton must journey to the Replicant Homeworld in hopes of tracking down their Netflix password. Cast: Nick Sperdute, Andrew Heaton, and Kourtni Beebe as Fuschia Robotski

Aug 27, 2020 • 1h 27min
How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse
First, Jennings and Heaton compare their plans to beat the undead in their respective cities of Los Angeles and Wichita. Then, author Daniel Kraus comes on to discuss his new book "The Living Dead," which he co-authored with the late George Romero. Kraus interview at 1:03

Aug 13, 2020 • 10min
Vagabonding: The Return of Nick
It turns out, rumors of Nick's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Jared Berman as Joeblobe

Aug 11, 2020 • 1h 6min
How They Made Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mary Jo Pehl wrote and acted in MST3K, a comedy show which dug up old (terrible) sci fi flicks and then pelted jokes at it. Over the course of its run, MST3K pioneered a new comedic medium, and rose from a local access program, to a Comedy Central hit, to cult classic. Mary Jo joins Heaton to discuss how they put the show together, and the deeper side of the comedy that went into it.

Aug 7, 2020 • 14min
Vagabonding: The Wrath of Nick (Comedy)
Nick selflessly enters a deadly chamber in order to save the other inhabitants of the apartment from radiation. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, Jared Berman as Joeblobe, Kevin Delano as AJ-19

Aug 7, 2020 • 15min
Vagabonding: Nick and Heaton meet the Spacehead god (Comedy)
Nick and Heaton travel through an inter-dimensional portal they found, and emerge on a planet strikingly similar to the one from Star Trek: The Final Frontier Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Andrew Young as the Spacehead god

Aug 7, 2020 • 17min
Vagabonding: Nick and Heaton go to Narnia
When Nick and Heaton discovered an inter-dimensional doorway in the back of their refrigerator, they're able to step through and visit the winter world of Narnia. And meet one of its talking animal inhabitants. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Nick Polowy as Mr. Beaver

Aug 7, 2020 • 8min
Vagabonding: Heaton Gets Totally Recalled (Comedy)
Heaton realizes he's actually been living inside of a virtual reality program, and must confront his actual reality. Cast: Andrew Heaton and Nick Sperdute

Aug 7, 2020 • 18min
Vagabonding: Hot Detroit! (Comedy)
Stuck in lockdown and bored, Heaton and Nick download into a virtual Sim City universe to manage an entire city. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Nick Sperdute, and Andrew Young as Mayor Sinclair St. Lewis

Aug 6, 2020 • 1h 1min
Philosophy in the Delta Quadrant – Star Trek: Voyager
Who had the best character arcs in Star Trek: Voyager, and what were the hardest ethical conundrums the Delta Quadrant lobbed at Captain Janeway? How does her command style compare to Kirk or Picard? Dr. Erin Macdonald and Andrew Young join Heaton to discuss the deeper side of everyone's favorite intrepid-class vessel.