This week, the Nicks tackle iconic 90s nerdy show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They'll talk about the emergence of genre television, what Buffy means as a Strong Female Characters & how the whole world now sounds like 90s teens! Here are some of the sources we used for the episode: [The Importance of Being the Zeppo: Xander, Gender Identity and Hybridity in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Mark Camron](http://www.whedonstudies.tv/uploads/2/6/2/8/26288593/camron.pdf) [Buffy Summers: Third-Wave Feminist Icon](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/07/how-buffy-became-a-third-wave-feminist-icon/493154/) [The Complex Feminist Legacy Of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’](https://decider.com/2017/03/09/the-complex-feminist-legacy-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/) [How Buffy the Vampire Slayer transformed TV as we know it](https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/10/14857542/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-explained-tv-influence) [10 Ways Buffy The Vampire Slayer Changed the World](https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/262778/10-ways-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-changed-the-world) More information about Epic Film Guys' Livestream for the Cure can be found [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095)! Z's Beowulf blog can be found [here](https://bloggersbeowulf.com/)! G's Bandcamp page is [here](https://fragileair.bandcamp.com/)! ### Fandom Facts “The series narrative follows Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply "Slayers". In the story, Slayers or the 'Chosen Ones' are "called" (chosen by fate) to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Buffy wants to live a normal life, but as the series progresses, she learns to embrace her destiny. Like previous Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang".” –Wikipedia - Buffy the Vampire Slayer * The Buffy subreddit has us covered this week for fan data; [in a survey conducted in 2017](https://www.reddit.com/r/buffy/comments/7eipxc/rbuffy_2017_survey_results/) (you can also check out [one from 2013 to compare](https://www.reddit.com/r/buffy/comments/1i9pwc/official_rbuffy_survey_results/)), here is some interesting tidbits: * Gender: _Unlike_ much reddit data we see, the results ...
This week, you're all gonna be in this experimental film! Provided, of course, that you're a fan of They Might Be Giants (TMBG) (and are OK with film being... tape? Nevermind). What is it about this quirky musical group that has kept fans interested for over 30 years? Next week, we'll put on our robes and wizard hats to talk about fans of tabletop RPGs! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a duo, often accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG expanded to include a backing band. > > — [Wikipedia - They Might Be Giants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants) TMBG is known for having an unconventional, experimental kind of music, has released 19 studio albums (including _Flood_ which has been certified platinum), has created theme music for several television shows, and has produced children's music. Think you haven't heard of them? Try one of the following: - Boss of Me (theme song of _Malcolm in the Middle_) - Dog On Fire (opening theme of _The Daily Show with Jon Stewart_) - The theme song for _Oblongs_, and _The Wrong Coast_ - Birdhouse in your Soul, Istanbul (Not Constantinople), and Particle Man **Most Active:** Given that They Might Be Giants has been a band since the 1980s, it's not surprising that the [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07n3s) data shows a pretty low amount of interest over time. To be fair, unlike many of the fandoms we've covered, interest in TMBG was already quite low in 2004. There was a huge spike in interest in July 2004 which corresponds to the the release ...
As we get closer to the new year, the Nickscast explores a seasonal fandom: Christmas fans? Is there really a fandom for Christmas? If so, what is it? What is it about Christmas? Be sure to deck the halls, and settle in (but not for a long winter's nap!) as we get to the 'Why' of Christmas fandom! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Play-by-play 00:05 - Theme Song 00:24 - Introduction 02:02 - Who are Christmas Fans? 02:58 - Trivia 17:30 - What is it about Christmas Fans? 39:41 - Fans of the week: Mick Foley on Santa Claus and belief in Christmas magic 53:32 - New year plans for the podcast? 59:08 - Spotlight: [The Internet Archive!](http://archive.org/donate) 1:01:40 - Goodbye! 1:03:18 - Outtakes Citations ["Christmas Fans - Rankings - Anime :: Manga"](http://christmasfans.com/) ["12 Reasons To Be A Christmas Enthusiast"](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/12-reasons-to-be-christmas-enthusiast) ["Confessions Of A Hardcore Christmas Enthusiast | Thought Catalog"](http://thoughtcatalog.com/kathryn-kvas/2014/12/confessions-of-a-hardcore-christmas-enthusiast/) ["The Christmas Enthusiast - Light Knights"](http://lightknights.ca/christmas-enthusiast/) ["About | International Santa Trackers Association"](http://santatrackers.org/about/) ["Christmas junkies call to arms - Christmas Fan Club"](http://www.christmasfanclub.com/forum/christmas/general-christmas-discussion/4955-christmas-junkies-call-to-arms) ["Mick Foley Explains How He Became Santa Claus"](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2012/12/becoming_santa_claus_a_pro_wrestler_learns_the_secrets_of_father_christmas.html) ["Why Japan is Obsessed with Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian"](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-japan-is-obsessed-with-kentucky-fried-chicken-on-christmas-1-161666960/) ["Christmas Expo|Learn about holiday lighting"](http://www.christmasexpo.com/) ["Community for Christmas Fanatics - Christmas Fan Club"](http://christmasfanclub.com/) ["Christmas Stay Auction | A Christmas Story House"](http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/christmas-stay-auction/) ["r/Christmas: What are Some Christmas Traditions You like to do During the Holidays? Why do you Love Christmas so Much"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/2dafmc/what_are_some_christmas_traditions_you_like_to_do/) ["r/Christmas: Why do You Love Christmas"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/2efr3i/why_do_you_love_christmas/) ["r/Christmas: Why do You Believe in Christmas"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/14t6xf/why_do_you_believe_in_christmas/) ["Reasons Why Christmas is a Terrible Holiday"](https://newrepublic.com/article/115994/reasons-why- christmas-terrible-holiday) ["Madrid ...