MuggleCast 175 Transcript
Show Intro
[Intro music plays]
Mason: Listen up, MuggleCast listeners! 2009 is finally here, and now GoDaddy hosting plans are more powerful than ever! Best of all, plans start at just $3.95 a month, and no matter what plan you choose, your site receives 24/7 maintenance and protection in the GoDaddy.com world class data center. Plus, as a listener of MuggleCast, enter code Ron – that’s R-O-N – when you check out, and get your dot com domain name for just $6.95 a year. Some restrictions always apply, but check that site out for the details. Get your piece of the Internet at GoDaddy.com.
[“Hedwig’s Theme plays”]
Jim Dale: [as Professor McGonagall] This is Professor McGonagall welcoming you all to MuggleCast hoping you enjoyed – Dobby! Dobby, come here! Here! Dobby! [as Dobby] Yes, I’d just like to say how very pleased I am to introduce MuggleCast to all of you! Thank you! Thank you!
[Show music begins]
Micah: Because it’s about time we did our own Audio Fanfics on this show, and we’re just under one month away from the release of Half-Blood Prince, this is MuggleCast Episode 175 for June 16th, 2009.
[Show music continues]
Reminiscing
Andrew: Welcome, everyone, to Episode 175. It’s sort of a landmark episode, I guess, right?
Jamie: Yeah.
Andrew: Because it’s another quarter of a hundred complete. Jamie’s here, Eric’s here, Laura, Micah. Hey everyone!
Jamie: Feels like the old days.
Laura: Hey!
Andrew: I know…
Eric: Aw.
Andrew: We all jumped on Skype…
Laura: This is old school.
Andrew: …it was like we were living in Episode 20 again. It’s wonderful. The days of books about to come out and many a film yet to be seen.
Jamie: Events coming up and…
Andrew: Axnd Skype 1.0.
[Everyone laughs]
Jamie: And Audacity.
Laura: Audacity! [laughs]
Andrew: Audacity. [laughs]
Jamie: Eric, you’re…
Eric: Hey, I’m still using Audacity!
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Oh good, you’re keeping things real for us.
Jamie: That’s classic, that’s classic.
Andrew: It’s been a while since we had our last show, which was Episode 174, and sorry. It’s been a while, but now that we don’t do them weekly anymore, we get a show finished and time flies and then all of the sudden it’s three weeks later and you’re like, “Oh crap, we haven’t done MuggleCast in almost a month!”
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: So, it’s amazing.
Eric: We’ve all been at college, you know, now. I mean, before that we were in high school. Way back when Episode 20 and all that…
Andrew: Yep.
Eric: …and we were in high school, and we had lots of…
Laura: We had no lives.
Eric: …more structure.
Andrew: We were all so innocent. [laughs]
Eric: We were all so innocent.
Andrew: Potter corrupted us. Anyway…
Micah: Yeah, but we’ll be to Episode 200 by the time the movie comes out, so…
Andrew: What, Part II? Deathly Hallows?
Micah: No, no, no. Half-Blood Prince.
Jamie: Aw!
Andrew: What? Twenty-five episodes?
Laura: Way to make promises, Micah!
Andrew: Yeah.
Jamie: Yeah.
Eric: Yeah.
Laura: You go ahead and record those shows by yourself.
Andrew: Anyway, enough reminiscing! Let’s get into it. I’m Andrew Sims.
Eric: I’m Eric Scull.
Jamie: I’m Jamie Lawrence.
Laura: I’m Laura Thompson.
Micah: And I’m Micah Tannenbaum.
[Music continues]
Andrew: Micah, like I said, it’s been a while since our last episode so there’s lots of news to catch up on.
Micah: Lot’s of news, plenty of news.
Andrew: Help us out, Micah! What’s in the news?!
News: Grindelwald Casting
Micah: Well, let’s start with Deathly Hallows and then we can worry about this movie that’s coming out in a month.
Andrew: Okay.
Micah: Back in May, because it’s been so long since we’ve done another show, Jamie Campbell Bower was confirmed to be playing Grindelwald…
Jamie: [laughs] Can I comment on this? Sorry.
Micah: In the 7th Potter film. So I guess the question on this is; what are you guys’ thoughts on this? Do you think he will do a good job?
Jamie: [laughing] This is absolutely ridiculous.
Andrew: Why? Why is it ridiculous?
Jamie: Because he’s going to be walking around killing people and I’m going to expect him to be like [singing], “I feel you, Johanna!”
[Everyone laughs]
Jamie: I don’t know! I was just like…
Andrew: [singing] I feel you, Dumbledore…
Jamie: [laughs] Yeah! I just see him doing that.
[Laura laughs]
Jamie: I just don’t know – I’m sure he’ll be very good but… I don’t know.
Laura: It’s hard to imagine him falling into that role.
Jamie: Yeah.
Andrew: Yeah, it is.
Laura: I don’t know, he seems so young and innocent.
Jamie: And it’s a tough role to play as well.
Andrew: Absolutely. And it’s weird because at first there was a rumor about this a couple months ago and then this was confirmed in mid-May like Micah said. And it wasn’t even official, it was like a Harry Potter fan site confirmed it through the rep – some Spanish fan site. So, you know, I assume it is official [laughs]. You’re right, Jamie. I’m just going to expect him to break out into song.
[Jamie laughs]
Eric: Geez.
Andrew: But you know, he’s also confirmed for New Moon and he filmed those scenes a few months ago.
Jamie: Who did he play in that?
Eric: Caius.
Andrew: He is – yes.
Eric: He’s the leader of the Volturi.
Jamie: Oh.
Andrew: Yeah, one of the bad guys.
Eric: The vampire guys.
Jamie: Oh, really?
Andrew: Yep.
Eric: He’s got his work cut out – he’s a very pretty boy. Ooh!
Andrew: Yes. [laughs] Eric’s got a crush.
Eric: I’m just saying he’s a pretty boy, I don’t…
Jamie: Oh, actually – go on, sorry.
Andrew: I have a crush, too. [laughs]
Eric: No, I don’t think he is – I really didn’t – I mean, I’ve seen Sweeney Todd but it was in a really broken down theater, so I don’t even know – I’m not even sure I’ve seen him.
Andrew: If you were Dumbledore, Eric, would you be in love with Jamie Campbell Bower as Grindelwald?
[Jamie and Laura laugh]
[Eric says nothing]
Jamie: Ooh, that silence says it all.
Andrew: [laughs] Yes, it does. What were you going to say, Jamie?
Jamie: I have a friend – where I used to go to University, I have a friend there whose girlfriend went to the same acting group as Jamie Campbell Bower.
Andrew: Oh, so it must have been a good school.
Eric: So you got connections. You could get him on MuggleCast, couldn’t you?
[Everyone laughs]
Jamie: Well, I don’t know.
Andrew: That’s a very blind connection.
Jamie: Maybe though, maybe. That could be our way in and then we could arrange a date with Eric with – for him.
Andrew: Maybe we could give him a few songs to do for Harry Potter.
Jamie: [laughs] Yeah.
Andrew: [laughs] Based on the Sweeney Todd soundtrack. What else is going on, Micah?
News: Deathly Hallows Filming
Micah: The only other news about Deathly Hallows, surprisingly, is that…
Andrew: Other than – let’s just say – I mean, obviously there’s a lot of news going on filming wise, but there’s not much to discuss with that, so…
Micah: Yeah, not until we start getting pictures or video clips…
Andrew: Right.
Micah: Something along those lines.
Eric: We have enough pictures of Deathly Hallows, in my opinion.
Micah: Yeah, we do. No, actually we don’t – not compared to Half-Blood Prince.
[Jamie and Laura laugh]
Andrew: Well, they were filming on Shell Cottage and that was after the last episode of MuggleCast and it was pretty cool. But it wasn’t too much…
Jamie: It’s still early days though, isn’t it?
Andrew: Yeah, it is. They got another year of filming, I think.
Micah: Yeah. And the other piece was Malfoy Manor, right? That building was supposedly going to be used. I forget the name.
Eric: Potentially, potentially. They did not even say that it was or wasn’t. They just said it could be.
Micah: Right.
Andrew: Right.
News: First Family Meet Potter Stars
Micah: So the only other piece of news was that Michelle Obama took her daughters to meet the stars of the Harry Potter series – I think it was last week – and J.K. Rowling was also there. A party was held in the Great Hall for Sasha Obama’s tenth birthday. So that’s kind of cool, I guess.
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: Yeah.
Micah: Being the President’s daughter has some perks.
Andrew: I don’t know about you guys, I’d love a Harry Potter party in the Great Hall.
Eric: Yeah, I would too. I just wonder if that video is going to be on the DVD set.
Jamie: That would be cool, yeah.
Eric: Because they’re looking for special footage for their DVD set, but…
Andrew: Well, it seems like they really want to keep it on the down low because at first the White House wouldn’t confirm anything. The head publicist at W.B. said it didn’t happen. She said she wasn’t aware of it but then the White…
Jamie: So she lied.
Andrew: Yeah. Well, it’s weird because she said she wasn’t aware of it, which is odd for the head publicist not to be aware of it.
Jamie: Yeah. [laughs]
Andrew: And then the White House person – the White House correspondent said it did happen.
Jamie and Micah: Oh.
Andrew: So, [laughs] who should we trust?
Laura: I don’t know.
Micah: Maybe Warner Bros. was told to say that.
Laura: Yeah, it could have been a security thing.
Andrew: Right.
Micah: They did a special on Obama on NBC and one of the things he mentioned was that his children are pretty much off – hands off in the sense of not doing interviews or anything like that, so this could be part of that.
Andrew: Oh, and they love Harry Potter, as we know. I mean, they’re complete diehards, so…
Micah: Hmm.
Laura: Very cool.
Jamie: So was he there? Was Barack Hussein there?
Andrew: No, no. I think he’s – I think he would have gotten some flack if…
Jamie: …if he came to the set, yeah.
Andrew: From a few Americans.
[Everyone laughs]
Eric: Well, no, the thing is, he actually – he delivered – the whole reason they were there too was he delivered that address to the Middle East.
Andrew: Right.
Eric: And he had to fly home the next day. He and Michelle were in Paris.
Micah: For D-Day.
Eric: And from Paris they split up and Michelle took the kids around Paris shopping and then to the Harry Potter set a few days later, but Obama himself had to come back home. There was some budget deficit.
Andrew: Yeah, he had to come back here for the Iron Man 2 set party.
Eric: Yeah.
[Everyone laughs]
Laura: All the important things the President has to do.
Jamie: That would have been so cool, though, if he’d been on the Harry Potter set and got confused and thought he was in the Middle East and then in the middle of the film he just steps up and says, “They need to close Guantanamo Bay” and stuff.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Yeah. Okay, Micah, so that’s it for Movie 7 news for now?
News: Half-Blood Prince Video Game Release Date
Micah: Yeah, that’s it. I’m sure we’ll have more in the coming weeks, but moving on to Half-Blood Prince, we finally got a confirmation of a release date…
Andrew: Yes.
Jamie: Wow.
Micah: For the new video game from Electronic Arts and that’s going to be on June 30th here in the United States, so not too far from now and then on July 3rd in the United Kingdom. Sorry, Jamie, you’ve got to wait.
Jamie: Ah, it’s okay.
Andrew: Now, Eric and Micah, I know you two are pretty big video game enthusiasts…
Micah: Yeah.
Andrew: At least with the Harry Potter games. Are you guys going to buy this?
Micah: Sure.
Eric: Yeah.
Micah: Unless EA gives us a free copy.
[Andrew and Eric laugh]
Micah: Wink, wink.
Eric: Yeah, I don’t – I’m sure this is one of those games that they’ll probably still release for PS2, but I don’t have a next gen console. Guys, I’ve fallen behind on that. I don’t even have a Wii!
Andrew: I don’t get you. Audacity…
Laura: How do you live?
Jamie: Yeah!
Andrew: PS2…
Eric: Well…
Andrew: Yeah, you’re weird.
Eric: I know, see, for the longest time it was school and work and now I have the summer, you know, this big stretch of summer, and I’m thinking of getting a Wii, but…
Andrew: Oh good. It is going to be available for the PS2, so you could purchase it.
Jamie: Well there you go.
Eric: I’ll probably end up just getting it for the PS2 then because I have an iPhone 3G S, I think, that I’m going to get.
Andrew: Ooh!
Eric: The Harry Potter games have always been good and I can’t wait to see them and they’re only going to get better with the free-roaming and Hogwarts-ness and all that.
Andrew: Yeah, they really care about these games, it seems, so…
Jamie: Yeah.
Laura: I have to say…
Andrew: It’d be cool to check out this one.
Laura: The graphics look really good, too.
Micah: Yeah.
Jamie: It’s a labor of love, that project. They are passionate over it.
Andrew: Oh, totally, yeah…
Jamie: I like that phrase.
Andrew: I mean, Jamie, you and I were there, right?
Jamie: Oh, yeah. Yeah, that was fun.
Andrew: That one guy – the one designer – was the biggest Harry Potter fan…
Jamie: Oh, yeah, yeah, I remember the one.
Andrew: One of the biggest I’ve ever met.
Jamie: It was him and…
Andrew: Yeah…
Jamie: The other guy, the two of them there, who did the – they were talking about the main Hogwarts-like thing where it’s like an explorable world and it was…
Andrew: You can walk anywhere…
Jamie: Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Andrew: Yeah.
Jamie: Oh, yeah, they’re big fans which is the best thing, as we know.
News: Half-Blood Prince Runtime
Micah: The next story is we also now have a runtime for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It’s going to be…
Eric: Woo!
Micah: A hundred and fifty-three minutes and that’s two hours and thirty-three minutes for those of us who’re…
Jamie: That is a long film.
Micah: …mathematically challenged.
Andrew: That is, but, you know, it’s standard for a Potter film…
Jamie: Yeah, yeah.
Andrew: Because – what is it, the second longest?
Micah: I believe so.
Eric: By a couple minutes. I don’t know which is third, but that’s what it says.
Laura: Should make people happy.
Andrew: Yeah. Yeah and I think now – you remember how people used to be upset, like, “Oh, why aren’t they longer?” Nobody really cares now because Movie 7’s going to be so long…
Laura: Mhm.
Andrew: You know what I mean? So…
Laura: They could probably release Half-Blood Prince, it could be like a ten minute long movie and nobody would care.
Jamie: [laughs] Yeah.
Andrew: [laughs] Well after waiting this long for it I think people would care, but…
Eric: Yeah.
Laura: That would be the greatest prank ever.
Andrew: Yeah it would be. All right, so that’s exciting, Micah.
Micah: Yeah, well it’s, you know, a little bit of news.
Andrew: What else can you excite us with? I must admit, I’m very…
Micah: Well what I’m so glad about is…
Andrew: All this excitement…
News: Half-Blood Prince Video Footage
Micah: We’ve finally moved away from pictures. Now we’re actually dealing with video.
Andrew: Yes.
Jamie: Yeah!
[Andrew laughs]
Micah: Several new TV spots have shown up in the last few weeks and one of them was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The other at the MTV Movie Awards. And they are two very different scenes, as you’ve pointed out, Andrew. The one on the Ellen Show was all about love interest for Ron and the one on MTV was about Dumbledore showing Harry his most important memory of Voldemort, so…
Andrew: Right, right.
Micah: A little bit more insight, I think people are actually getting a little bit fed up though, to be honest with you, because…
Eric: I’m angry. I am angry.
Andrew: Why?
Eric: Because they’re showing the whole movie! And granted it’s in little clips…
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: …and little things but there’s – I can’t think of a scene that isn’t in one of the trailers. It’s just ridiculous!
Andrew: Really?
Eric: Every day I go on MuggleNet – it’s three new TV spots and their little features about the love and about the thing. They’re just tearing the movie apart and chopping it up and putting it in these easy – it’s ridiculous. You want a reason to go see this film, but dang.
Andrew: Yeah…
Laura: Yeah…
Andrew: I think I’ve…
Laura: They did that with Goblet of Fire, too.
Eric: They did, it was…
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: And we talked about how horrible that was and…
Andrew: I mean, they just have all this extra promo time to fill and so that’s what we’re stuck with. And it stinks, I agree, because I hate watching a movie and being like, “Oh, I already saw this.”
Eric: Like, there’s that…
Andrew: You know, there’s two scenes that aired on Ellen and MTV Movie Awards. I know I’m going to be like, “Aw, darn it, I already saw these.” And they’re quick clips, you know, I can live with those because they’re quick and you’re not seeing the whole scenes. But it does give us a good look at the film, I think. We saw two very opposite ends and that scene where Dumbledore is explaining to Harry his – the memory. It’s very cool.
Micah: Yeah.
Andrew: Very dark.
Micah: I mean, part of the reason why I said that people are getting fed up is I posted something recently about how NBC is going to be airing a sneak peak with Merlin, which is debuting next weekend here in the U.S. and a lot of the comments were, “Oh, I’m so tired of getting previews already. Stop showing us the movie.” And…
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: …part of it though is they delayed it. I mean, that’s…
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah, exactly.
Micah: …what you have to contend with.
Andrew: They have more promo time…
Micah: Exactly.
Andrew: …to fill.
Jamie: Yeah and people say that, but it’s just the excitement of the film. They probably still want to see them. I’m sure if Warner Bros. said, “Oh, well, we aren’t going to release any more promo material,” people wouldn’t like it. You know, it’s like…
Andrew: Right.
Jamie: It’s still nice. It just builds up the excitement.
Eric: Well, [sighs], I don’t know though. I mean, usually, I’m used to any other movie, which will have – or any other movie a few years ago which would have a teaser trailer and maybe two or three actual trailers. Then…
Jamie: Then the film comes out.
Eric: You know…
Jamie: Yeah.
Eric: …each – they’re – yeah, for months apart. Here we’re getting all these TV spots. And granted, the film’s only a month away. I mean, that’s something that is kind of unreal to me. I just – it is a month away. It is very close. But I still think Warner Bros. has shown us too much.
Andrew: All right…
Eric: Yet again…
Andrew: …Micah. Give us some positive news, Micah.
News: Half-Blood Prince in IMAX
Micah: Well, considering that the…
Andrew: We’re all on a low.
Micah: …movie is only a month away, the IMAX version of the movie is even further away.
Jamie: That’s not good news!
Eric: That’s not good news!
Micah: I’m sorry! I just – you know, I can’t control it. It’s what they give me.
Jamie: You should try harder.
[Andrew laughs]
Micah: Well, what if I said it differently? Would that make you feel better?
Jamie: Yeah. Or just lie.
Andrew: I guess.
Jamie: Just lie.
[Micah laughs]
Jamie: Say it comes out now.
Andrew: Rephrase it, Micah, in a more positive tone.
Micah: Well guys, here’s the thing. I know you’re all disappointed about the fact that the movie is a month away and you’re seeing all these previews and it’s spoiled for you. But I got even better news for you. The IMAX version of it is going to be out on July 29th. How do you guys feel about that?
Jamie: Oh, that’s just good!
Andrew: Oh, that’s great!
Laura: That’s fantastic!
Andrew: Sweet!
Eric: Two whole more weeks.
Andrew: Wait, why is it two weeks after the release?
Micah: Oh.
[Andrew laughs]
Micah: But…
Laura: But wait, what happens to those of us who are going to be at Azkatraz in July?
Andrew: So, what happened was Transformers had this – the people – whoever run Transformers, Universal or whatever…
Eric: Paramount, I think.
Andrew: Paramount. They had a contract with IMAX saying, “We are exclusively in your IMAX theatres for four weeks.” Well, it turns out the four weeks runs right over the release of Half-Blood Prince. And I guess – for some reason, this story just came out now. [laughs] And I don’t know why nobody realised it sooner.
Micah: They didn’t want it…
Andrew: But…
Micah: …to come out sooner. That’s probably why.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: Oh, yeah.
Eric: Well…
Andrew: I guess so.
Eric: So…
Andrew: So…
Eric: When Warner Bros….
Andrew: Go ahead.
Eric: …pushed the film back to next month, they – there was not much they could do about getting Harry Potter 6 in IMAX the same weekend. So, Harry Potter won’t be in IMAX until the 29th of July. So, I know our buddies over at Azkatraz have issued a statement saying, “We’ll see what’s going on. But if you want a refund, we’ll grant you one. And otherwise we’re going to go to -” I think, they had said just another big theatre nearby. And you’ll still get to see the movie with all your other Harry Potter friends that you usually…
Andrew: Right.
Eric: For the – for us. We don’t get to see all our friends and stuff that often. So, it’s still going to be special and they are giving some money back, I think, because the IMAX tickets cost – it did cost a lot more than a regular movie ticket and stuff. But it’s unfortunate, but at the same time, it’s Warner Bros. and they don’t owe us anything.
Andrew: Do you guys think this is going to affect IMAX ticket sales? Because if you’re going to see it, maybe you’ll only want to see the film once. Is it going to be worth seeing it again in IMAX? Is it really worth paying more money to see it a second time just for the twelve minutes of IMAX footage?
Micah: The avid fan…
Jamie: Yeah, I agree.
Micah: …probably will.
Jamie: It’s not only for that. It’s for seeing it hugely, all of it.
Andrew: That’s true. I don’t – I’ve never been that big of a fan of IMAX. I get it. It’s a really big screen. And there’s some 3D stuff…
Eric: It always…
Andrew: …and it’s cool.
Eric: …gives me a headache…
Andrew: But…
Eric: …actually. IMAX…
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: See, I always kind of get a headache. I think I saw V for Vendetta in IMAX.
Jamie: Oh, that must have been amazing!
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: It was pretty cool. [laughs] It was pretty cool, Jamie. But, yeah. IMAX – I don’t make a special trip out to go to IMAX. Even Harry Potter movies. I’m content with the movie theatres. So, I probably wouldn’t have gone to an IMAX to see Harry Potter unless it was during Azkatraz. I might not go see the movie in IMAX simply because – it used to be that there wasn’t one near me. Now there is at Navy Pier in Chicago but I just – yeah I don’t – I’m not that into – seeing it in IMAX is just not a big deal for me.
Andrew: All right, Micah onward. What else is going on?
News: Half-Blood Prince U.K. Classification
Micah: Well – this kind of goes along with the runtime we were talking about earlier but the British Board of Film Classification, Jamie, has rated Half-Blood Prince 12A.
Jamie: Awww!
Micah: Which is PG-13 equivalent here in the U.S. So what’s the deal? I mean could the MPAA here not just own up and say, “Look, this is PG-13?”
Eric: I think it’s clear they were on crack. And the contracts are already signed and I don’t know who made this movie PG but I’ve said…
Andrew: Too late to change it.
Eric: Been saying from the beginning…
Andrew: Well I’ve talked about this before – it’s – the MPAA is just a group of parents. And they sit there, they watch the film and they give it a rating. And that’s it.
Eric: They draw straws and…
Andrew: There’s no computer that, you know, watches it and be like, “Oh, I detect this amount of blood or whatever.”
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Or “It’s this dark…”
Laura: Do you think they have such…
Jamie: Yeah.
Laura: …a computer that could detect like, amount of violence.
Andrew: Laura they have computers for everything these days. You’re so out of touch!
Laura: Oh I know.
Andrew: Get on it. Anyway…
Laura: It’s because I’m from Georgia.
Andrew: [laughs] Yes, you’re from the South, what do you know? So it’s a mistake I think. And I cannot wait to see this film and then talk about it again whether we think it should have gotten a PG-13 rating.
Micah: Yeah.
Andrew: Is it that big of a deal? Not really, I mean kids are going to see it anyway. It doesn’t affect sales, blah blah blah blah blah.
Jamie: Not really, yeah, it really won’t be a big deal whatsoever especially since, PG – Parental Guidance, like if generally parents are stupid then they probably just let their children watch it anyway.
Andrew: Yeah but maybe this will be a learning lesson for the MPAA. Maybe they’ll get feedback from families and be like, “Hey, this is not PG.” You know?
Eric: Yeah.
Jamie: Yeah, that’s true. I wasn’t just talking about…
Micah: Let’s hope all their children have nightmares because some girl gets…
Eric: [laughs] Yeah.
Micah: …strung up by a necklace in midair.
Eric: That’s a pretty freaky part of the scene there.
Andrew: Well you know speaking of that scene, just real quick, somebody e-mailed in and said that was removed. So the shot of her face was removed in the theatre version of the trailer I think? So…
Laura: For some reason that shot just didn’t do it for me. Like I saw that…
Jamie: What – it didn’t turn you on?
Laura: And it just – [laughs]. Yes, Jamie. No, it’s just like – you know I was looking at it and I was like, it just wasn’t scary to me and it looked fake. I don’t know, I didn’t like it.
Eric: It’s because everything is going so darn fast though.
Andrew: Yeah maybe you need more time to soak it in.
Eric: I think that is – I mean it’s actually a pretty creepy scene just…
Laura: Okay.
Eric: …the way that it’s shot and – and yeah, it doesn’t look dumb. It’s not like you’re going to be like, “Oh great, what’s wrong with Katie Bell. She’s doing this stupid face”.
Laura: Well no she looked like something from one of those stupid – like The Grudge. You know that’s kind of what she reminded me of. [laughs] So I was like…
Jamie: That’s a crap film, that is.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Again Laura, you’re from the South so…
Laura: I know, I clearly don’t understand.
Andrew: Your perspective usually doesn’t matter as much.
Eric: Hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys.
Andrew: What?
Laura: What? What? What? What?
MuggleCast 175 Transcript (continued)
News: Harry Potter Lego
Eric: Lego – Lego Harry Potter.
Andrew: Yes, what a great transition.
[Jamie and Laura laugh]
Eric: I’m sorry, I just – I couldn’t wait for Micah to do that because I am so psyched. Because I have…
Andrew: Go ahead Micah. What’s this new Lego Harry Potter about?
Eric: My gosh.
Micah: Well Eric is so excited, [laughs] maybe he should tell everyone about it.
Andrew: Go ahead Eric, tell us all – tell us all about it.
Eric: All right, all right. You know those – those games that – that Lego games for you know all the systems now? They started out with “Lego Star Wars”. Then they did “Star Wars – The Prequel”. Then “Lego Indiana Jones”, “Lego Batman”, all of which I have.
Andrew: Right.
Eric: Now they’re coming out with “Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4.” Which is the same deal, it’s basically the Harry Potter story – it’s a video game done up Lego-style and I thought these games were just endlessly clever, always. And they’re always fun. They’re always cute and quite – quite – something quite special. I mean I love the Lego brand of video games that have come out recently, so “Lego Harry Potter” there is a trailer for it, which is more of like a teaser because it’s going to be I think another year before it comes out. But it’s Years 1 through 4 and it will be pretty much the same deal – free-roaming kind of Hogwarts-esque with six or seven levels per book I imagine – is pretty much their standard formula now. And you get to play as Harry, Ron and Hermione and in free-play mode no doubt you get to play as everyone. You know, Snape, Dumbledore, anybody they have a Lego character for you usually play as them in these kinds of games. So it will be a lot of fun.
Andrew: Well it sounds like a great game. I know I have the original Lego Harry Potter so everyone should be looking forward to it.
Jamie: What, the Hogwarts castle do you mean? Because that was really rare in its time. The Hogwarts Castle was so rare…
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: For – for a video game, you mean?
Jamie: Oh, sorry. No, no. I meant the…
Eric: Wait, there was a Lego – Lego – oh, wasn’t it a creator? Lego creator?
Jamie: Sorry.
Andrew: Yeah, a Lego creator.
Eric: Yeah.
Jamie: No, no, no. I didn’t mean the video game. Sorry. I got – I went off on a tangent. I meant the actual Lego thing. The Hogwarts castle was really expensive back in the day.
Andrew: Oh yeah. Oh yeah, it was.
Eric: The set?
Andrew: It was over a hundred dollars, I think.
Jamie: Yeah, yeah.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: Yeah, but those were fun. I had a couple of those. I guess you guys did too.
Jamie: Yeah.
Andrew: They – they had the Hogwarts Express, some other stuff. And then their contract expired [laughs] last year. And we got an e-mail saying that they weren’t going to renew it, so…
Eric: Yeah.
Jamie: Oh really…
Andrew: No more real Lego Harry Potter toys.
Eric: Whatever. I get – I can’t imagine that they sold that well. I mean, even the Hogwarts castle being rare to me, it just wasn’t interesting. I mean, even the graveyard set – like…
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: All the indoor things they tried to do, like for instance they had the Chamber of Secrets I think set and it was just – even Hogwarts castle was just kind of the inside of the – of the – of the room, you know.
Jamie: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eric: It was like a dollhouse basically, out of Legos.
Andrew: It was fun to build.
Eric: They were fun to build. That’s what I – I mean I had a lot of Legos Star Wars, Millennium Falcon, The Blue Star Fighter, all that. That was a lot of fun. But as far as Hogwarts castle, you know, that structure, and there’s not a whole lot else from the Harry Potter world you would build besides the train and the castle.
Andrew: Yeah.
Jamie: I couldn’t – I couldn’t collect Lego, though. Because if I bought the Hogwarts castle and I lost one piece the entire thing would be ruined.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Eric: No, no, no. Jamie.
Jamie: I can’t handle that risk.
Eric: It’s not Puz 3D.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: It’s not Puz 3D, man. Legos are…
Jamie: It’s not what?
Eric: Legos are replaceable.
Andrew: Yeah. I remember there used to be an order form where you could order lost pieces.
Eric: Yeah, there is.
Jamie: Yeah, but you couldn’t order like Dumbledore’s hat, could you?
[Laura laughs]
Andrew: I think so.
Jamie: Do you mean like basics?
Eric: Sure, sure, sure.
Andrew: No, no. No, like really – individual pieces. I mean, you could probably get a new Dumbledore not just the hat.
Announcements: Podcast Alley and MuggleCast T-Shirt Day
Andrew: But – okay so let’s move onto announcements now. Don’t forget as always, please do vote for us on Podcast Alley. You know, we’ve been asking you for so long that we can’t at this point have an episode go by where we don’t tell you about Podcast Alley. So, thank you for voting for us there. And also June 2nd guys, was “Global Wear Your MuggleCast T-Shirt Day.” It’s an annual thing around here. I believe it was the third or fourth annual “Global Wear Your MuggleCast T-Shirt Day.” It was another rousing success. Thank you to everyone who wore their shirts and then posted, I know we got a few people posted pictures on Twitter, we checked them out. You guys all look fabulous. And it was another fun year. We didn’t have as much time to promote it, because we [laughs] sort of – we – we remembered it like two days beforehand, but maybe next year we’ll make it just global Muggle shirt day.
[Jamie laughs]
Andrew: So then people can wear MuggleNet shirts, too. You know?
Jamie: How about just global t-shirt day?
Eric: Well, there aren’t really many of those either.
Andrew: [laughs] Global shirt day?
Jamie: [laughs] Yeah.
[Eric laughs]
Announcement: Azkatraz
Andrew: Then everyone in the world will participate. Our final announcement for today is about Azkatraz, HP2009.org. We’re going to be doing three things there. One, the Leaky Mug. It’s going to be – actually it’s going to be everyone on today’s show minus Jamie. I’m sorry, Jamie.
Jamie: That’s all right. [sniffs]
Eric: Oh!
Andrew: Sorry you can’t come. We’re also going to be doing a “How to Podcast” thing. And we’re – we’re still planning that, that should be a lot of fun. And lastly, we’re going to be doing a MuggleCast meet-up which we did last year at Portus, it was a lot of fun, we ordered pizza and we just hung out with the fans. So, that was a lot of fun and we’ll be doing all three of those things. So, we encourage you to register if you haven’t already. Of course, you got to register soon. It’s in San Francisco this year. It’s HP2009.org, register, put MuggleNet in the referral box please so, they know where we – you were sent from. And we hope to see you there. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Of course that’s going to be right after the release of Half-Blood Prince so, we cannot wait to see the movie with everyone. So, let’s move on to Muggle Mail, this week. Micah, will you please, please, please, please read the first e-mail.
Muggle Mail: Amazon Kindle
Micah: Sure. The first e-mail comes from Matt Jordan, 18 of Lexington, Kentucky. He says:
“Hi, I own an Amazon Kindle, the latest book tech where you can download thousands of books onto a screen and read any book at any time. All books are under ten dollars. It’s great to have since I’m a college student and can’t lug around books all day. And this is the perfect device since there are almost 300,000 books. The problem is the Harry Potter series is not on it. Lord of the Rings is but not ‘Harry Potter.’ Jo said her books should only be read on paper. What do you think?”
Andrew: There’s – for the record, I looked around for a quote of Jo saying that. I don’t think she ever said that. But her publishers have always – her publishers, Bloomsbury in particular said they weren’t – they didn’t want to do the e-book format. I guess just for security reasons maybe. Don’t you guys think it is weird that – I mean, in this day and age, e-books are more popular than ever. I’m sure they do great in sales. Amazon Kindle is huge.
Laura: Well, I have a question.
Andrew: Why isn’t Harry Potter been brought on?
Laura: Do you actually have to buy an official e-book version to put it on the Kindle, or can you find one of the many versions that people have typed up?
Andrew: For the Kindle I think you have to put it – you have to get the official version.
Laura: Oh, that sucks. Isn’t this thing outrageously expensive too?
Jamie: Yeah.
Eric: Yeah.
Laura: I mean, I know the books are only ten bucks but…
Andrew: Yeah.
Jamie: That’s like DRM for like, books.
Andrew: Right. Yeah.
Eric: Well, that’s what it is. It’s the legal – it’s the only legal way to do this and it’s just all these things like the e-book readers that are out there are just so – I mean, I would call them elitists because you have to have their version of the thing to do it and it’s just ridiculous.
Andrew: So the question is why isn’t Bloomsbury and Scholastic on board with this yet for Harry Potter?
Eric: Maybe it’s not a big enough deal…
Jamie: Yeah, maybe.
Eric: …the e-books and stuff. And J.K. Rowling’s feelings are that her book should only be read on paper and you know I can’t say I disagree.
Andrew: Yeah, but there is going to be you know – I mean we have audiobooks. Isn’t that high tech?
Jamie: Yeah, that’s true, yeah.
Andrew: I mean, I guess it makes sense for those who are blind. I can see that. But I think it really is revolutionary having so many books on this little thing. It would certainly encourage me to read more.
Jamie: Yeah, but…
Andrew: Just having that little thing with you at all times.
Jamie: Yeah, but would it? It’s not really reading is it? I think it’s weird to read on a computer screen.
Andrew: It is.
Jamie: I’d read like academic articles or essays, but not books.
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: But the Kindle has a special screen that looks like paper. It’s not – it’s not – it’s a very – I don’t even know if you can call it a screen because it’s just – it’s a certain type of display that just…
Eric: Yeah.
Andrew: It looks like paper so it doesn’t hurt your eyes after you stare at it for a while.
Eric: But see, that’s even more absurd.
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: What’s wrong with paper?
Andrew: Well, you’re saving trees here with this.
Eric: No – well, recycled paper. I mean, all the Harry Potter books are printed on…
Andrew: Yeah, but…
Eric: …you know, recycled paper.
Andrew: No, that’s true.
Eric: And so…
Micah: Yeah, but I mean, say you’re taking a trip to London and you’re flying eight hours. You can store how many books on this little thing as opposed to lugging around ten books along with you.
Jamie: Yeah, but you aren’t going to read ten books.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: And how long does the battery last?
Jamie: Probably sleep for the half of it.
Eric: That’s the other question. With an electric device that you can’t plug in you need a battery. So how long does the battery last?
Jamie: So Micah, if you’re flying Virgin Atlantic you’ve got video on demand so…
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Maybe they – they’re going to have e-books one day. I wouldn’t put it past them.
Jamie: Yeah, books on demand.
Andrew: So, I thought it would just be interesting to discuss why they haven’t – why J.K. Rowling hasn’t approved that yet, but maybe down the road. Eric, do you want to take the next e-mail?
Muggle Mail: Deathly Hallows Split
Eric: Sure, second e-mail. I don’t think we have a name.
Andrew: It’s at the end. Kelsey.
Eric: Kelsey, aged 15, she says:
“Hey MuggleCasters, I love the show and appreciate every one of them. I was just listening to “It’s All Coming Back” and had a theory as to where the ‘Deathly Hallows’ will be split. Since they say it will be a semi-cliff hanger I thought they might split it after Harry buries Dobby and has to decide between Hallows and Horcruxes. I think it would be very cool if the last shot was a close up of Harry’s face with him saying, “Griphook. I’ll speak to Griphook first.” Because it’s his – it’s his official choice of which to make his priority. I think it will be very epic and have a sense of finality, yet leave you wanting more. Anyways that’s just my opinion. Can’t wait for the movie and your next podcast. Lots of love, Kelsey.”
Andrew: I – I think that is a pretty cool…
Jamie: I think it is, yeah. Definitely.
Andrew: …way to end it. Because that’s when you will – that’s when Harry makes his decision, makes his choice of where to go, how to wrap up the book, so. And the next e-mail also relates to that. Laura could you read this one?
Muggle Mail: More on Deathly Hallows Split
Laura: Sure. Our next e-mail comes from Megan, 14, of Michigan. She writes:
“Hey MuggleCasters, I was just listening to your most recent podcast and I was thinking about where they might split the movie and how you guys wanted to be surprised and figure it out when you first see the movie. However, I think it might be kind of distracting when you are watching Part 1 if you are just waiting for the end. I think it would be hard to properly enjoy the end if you were going over what happened in the book like, ‘Oh well, they’ve already done the Silver Doe so maybe they’ll cut it at Malfoy Manor. What’s after Malfoy Manor again?’ I think I might prefer to know where it was going to end before seeing the movie so then, even though it wouldn’t be a surprise the movie will be easier to enjoy without the distraction of waiting for the end. I really doubt Warner Brothers will let us know before the movie comes out, but it’s just a thought and I wanted to know what you guys thought. Love the show and all of the hosts. Matt, you’re my favorite.”
Eric: Awww, Andrew will you answer for Matt.
Andrew: [imitating Matt] Thanks!
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: That’s not how he sounds.
Laura: Awww.
Andrew: So, what would you guys prefer, knowing where it ends or watching the movie and be like?
Laura: No. I want to wait for the movie.
Eric: I think it’s a joke to pretend that we won’t know, considering how much footage they’re giving of – of Half-Blood Prince. By the time Deathly Hallows rolls around.
Andrew: Yeah.
Eric: And the second one like a year later, it’s just by then they will have actually given the whole movie away.
Andrew: Yeah, but they very rarely show you the end of a movie in a trailer or in a preview or something like that.
Laura: Yeah, but there are really only so many places they can cut it. I mean…
Eric: It’s true.
Laura: …I think all of our guesses have been pretty spot on.
Andrew: Well, and remember, I think we talked about an interview on the last episode, I can’t remember who said it, maybe it was the screenwriter, Kloves? I think he said something about – or Heyman said that they were going to do it in a non-traditional spot, or a spot you wouldn’t expect. So, I don’t – maybe they’re just trying to create some false hype.
Micah: Yeah. The important thing to remember though is that they have to do it at a spot that’s going to be good not just for the crazy Harry Potter fan…
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: … but for people to understand what’s going on as well, who aren’t as big fans of the series. So, I don’t really see what the big deal is. I mean, I don’t need to know where it’s going to be cut. But I’d like to be surprised just like everyone else.
Andrew: Yeah, I guess – yeah, I think that’ll be part of the excitement. Although at the same time I feel like I will be watching it, and like Megan suggests, I’ll be like, “Okay, is it going to end here? Is this going to be it?” Like, I’ll be checking my watch…
Eric: [laughs] Yeah.
Andrew: …to see what time we’re at.
Jamie: They might still work up to it. Is it going to be like, you know, you can generally tell where you are in a film by how the music’s going, the momentum…
Andrew: Yeah.
Jamie: Is it going to be like that, or is it going to stop dead?
Eric: It’s going to cut to black.
Laura: Unless it’s – yeah – like the first Lord of the Rings film.
Jamie: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Andrew: Or what if it – what if it – what happened to me with Prisoner of Azkaban, where I didn’t think it would be ending so soon so I went to the bathroom, and then when I walked back into the theater the lights were up and the credits were rolling.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: [laughs] I missed the ending. I was like, “Nooo!” So, you know, people can miss the ending and not even intentionally.
Eric: Poor Andrew thought they were going to explain the Marauders’ back story.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Exactly.
Eric: Poor, silly Andrew!
New Segment: Avada Kedavra, Imperio and Love Potion
Andrew: Well, we’re going to move on to a new segment now. This is going to be a lot of fun.
[Eric gasps]
Andrew: And I’m going to explain it. It takes a little bit of explanation, but this is going to take over the Harry Potter fandom, I’m telling you this is huge. You’re going to be playing this during the symposiums and everything. It’s fantastic, okay. It’s called Avada Kedavra, Imperio, Love Potion. So, as everyone knows, we have two spells there and one potion. Now what we’re going to do, I’m going to give one of the hosts three characters and they are going do decide which one they would Avada Kedavra, which one they would give a love potion to, so, you know, you may want to be romantically involved with them; and one that you have to Imperio, one you have to torture. Now, you have to pick – select – one for each. You can’t cop out and be like, “Oh, I don’t wanna do this!” you know? So, it’s going to be quite a challenge, and I am just going to bring up some characters now. I’m going to start simply with you, Laura.
Laura: Aw. I wonder why?
Andrew: Are you ready?
Eric: He said, “simply.”
Andrew: Well, I’m going to – I’m going to keep it pretty simple like the first one. Okay? We’re going to do the Trio.
Laura: Wow!
Andrew: So Avada Kedavra, Imperio, Love Potion. Assign them each to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Laura: Okay. I would definitely Love Potion Ron…
Andrew: So typical.
Laura: … and then, oh gosh, I guess that means I’d have to Avada Kedavra Harry and Imperio Hermione.
Eric: [laughs] You would kill Harry?
Laura: Well, maybe Harry Potter should’ve died!
[Andrew laughs]
Jamie: Hey, there’s a plug!
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Andrew: Now when you Imperio Hermione, what would you do to her?
Laura: I don’t know.
Jamie: Make her [censored] with Harry’s corpse.
[Everyone laughs]
Laura: I don’t know. I mean, she clearly has a lot of influence in the wizarding world, so.
Andrew: Mm, that’s true.
Eric: So, you would make her dictate a new law?
Laura: Yeah, sure. Use her for political purposes.
Eric: Yeah! That’s pretty cool.
Andrew: All right, Jamie.
Jamie: Yeah?
Andrew: Same – same three items.
Jamie: All right.
Andrew: Avada Kedavra, Love Potion and Imperio Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy.
Jamie: All right. I would Avada Kedavra Lucius because I think he’s a despicable character, really.
Andrew: Mhm.
Jamie: I think he’s very mean. I don’t like him at all. I would Imperio Draco Malfoy, make him do good things because I think in his heart he wants to do good things but he just can’t. He just needs a gentle push.
[Eric laughs]
Andrew: So sweet of you.
Laura: You’re such a romantic, Jamie.
Jamie: Thanks, thanks.
[Andrew laughs]
Jamie: And I would Love Potion Narcissa. I don’t know why.
Andrew: Oh! Well, because you have to.
Jamie: Well, yeah.
[Andrew laughs]
Jamie: Yeah, yeah, because I have to, yeah. There are no other options.
Laura: Sure there are.
Jamie: Yeah, I would do those. Yeah, I can’t think of much to add to that.
Andrew: Eric, same three, of course. Fred Weasley, George Weasley and Charlie Weasley.
[Jamie laughs]
Eric: Hang on, I have to Love Potion one of them? Give me Ginny, come on.
[Laura laughs]
Eric: Give me Ginny.
Andrew: Well, see, but then it would be too easy.
Jamie: Jamie Campbell Bower as well.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: You could substitute one of them for Jamie Campbell Bower.
Jamie: Anyone you like, anyone.
Andrew: If it’s really going to make things easier.
Laura: How about the one who’s already dead?
Eric: Hang on.
Andrew: Assuming they’re alive.
Eric: The past two people have gotten two boys and one girl, follow suit.
Andrew: Yeah but we – we have to make things harder. All right, fine, fine. We’ll save three guys for Micah.
[Andrew and Eric laugh]
Micah: Hey! What the hell?
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Andrew: Come on guys it’s part of the fun.
Eric: All right, give me three more. Come on.
Andrew: All right – all right. Okay, here we go. I’ll make it harder then. Fleur Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Molly Weasley.
Eric: There we go.
Andrew: Kill one, love one, and control one.
Eric: Sorry, Fleur, Ginny, and Molly?
Andrew: Yes.
Eric: Ugh! Okay I would Imperio Fleur and Love Potion Ginny.
Andrew: And when you Imperio‘d Fleur, see this is what- if you’re picking or when you’re picking Fleur you have to explain why. Now what – what would you make her do? And it can’t be anything in the love category.
[Jamie and Laura laugh]
Laura: Well, what he’s thinking doesn’t necessarily mean it’s love.
Eric: I would just make her dance.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: I would just make Fleur dance.
Andrew: Okay, all right. That’s kind of weird.
Micah: What kind of dancing?
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Eric: I guess that means that I have to – actually I would – I would Imperio Fleur – I would Imperio Fleur to AK Molly for me, and I would run off with Ginny.
Jamie: Ooh!
Andrew: [laughs] Okay, all right. Micah, this is the final one. Godric Gryfinndor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw.
Jamie: Oh, that’s a good one. That’s a decent one.
Andrew: You must love one, you must control one, and you must kill one.
Micah: I would say I’m surprised you didn’t give me a goat first of all to be honest with you.
[Andrew laughs]
Eric: Next time.
Micah: But anyway I would Imperio Godric Gryfinndor because he’s far more powerful than I ever could be, and have him do my bidding.
[Andrew and Eric laugh]
Jamie: That’s decent. That’s a good answer. That is a good answer.
Andrew: Okay.
Micah: Thank you, Jamie.
Jamie: It’s all right.
Micah: I would Avada Kedavra Rowena Ravenclaw because her daughter just didn’t play a whole hell of a lot of a role in the series. She just – she was creepy too and she didn’t come forth with information before and could’ve really helped Harry out. And that means I guess I would love potion Helga Hufflepuff.
Andrew: Okay.
Micah: I don’t really know what she looks like but…
[Eric laughs]
Andrew: Well, she’s a bit old. But that’s okay.
Micah: She’s a bit dead too.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Assuming these people are alive, come on.
Micah: Oh okay, all right.
Andrew: No, not really. Well, all right cool. Can anyone of you guys do one for me?
Laura: Yeah. I’m just going to randomly throw names at you. Neville Longbottom [laughs], Severus Snape or Cho Chang.
Jamie: Ooh!
Andrew: Okay. Well, I always thought Cho was a bitch for not sticking around with Harry longer. So, I think I would kill her because that’s just preposterous. I would love potion – love potion Snape because I think you would you know make him be less of a stiff.
Laura: Or more of a stiff?
Andrew: More of a stiff!
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Well, you know what I’m saying. He’s – he’s – he’s very upset. He’s always angry and he needs a little bit of love in his life.
Micah: I don’t think you got it.
[Laura laughs]
Andrew: No, I got it. What do you mean I didn’t get that? That stiff joke.
Eric: Okay. What would you do with Neville?
Andrew: With Neville I would…
Laura: Well you’ve only got one option left.
Andrew: No, no, no. What would I do controlling him?
Laura: Oh yeah.
Andrew: I would make him give – I would make him discover some awesome new plants and then sell it for millions of dollars, I don’t know.
Laura: Cool.
Andrew: [laughs] I would make him teach me Herbology so I could be as smart as him.
Eric: Cool.
Andrew: That’s my clean answer.
Jamie: That’s nice. That’s nice.
New Segment: Fireside Chats with Micah Tannenbaum
Andrew: So, that was fun. If you guys want to send in any ideas for your own, send in characters or if you want to switch a spell for a different one, send in like the three spells and the three characters and send them into us and maybe we’ll use them on the show. So, now we’re going to do another new segment. And as I said earlier on the show on Episode 174 we were jokingly playing around with the idea of Micah reading erotic Potter fan fiction and now it’s come time to do so. Micah has a very unique voice as we all know, and we feel this would be an entertaining segment. Now Micah I’d like to call this either Micah’s Corner or Fireside Chats with Micah Tannenbaum.
Andrew: Now, Micah, I’d like to call this either like “Micah’s Corner” or “Fireside Chat with Micah Tannenbaum.”
Jamie: “Fireside Chats” cool.
Andrew: Okay. Well, we’ll call it that then. I can’t play…
Micah: With Uncle Micah, huh?
Andrew: Yeah. With Uncle Micah, and you’re going to read us some fan fiction – some stories from your Potter fan fiction collection. Now, this story we’re using, it’s called “Last Chance to Lose Control” by Lily_Evans34. It’s a Harry – sorry, it’s a Hermione/Draco romance fan fiction from FanFiction.MuggleNet.com, and Micah, you’re going to have the help of Eric and Jamie, too, I believe.
Jamie: Oh yeah.
Andrew: So, again, this is the story “Last Chance to Lose Control.” Eric begins as Hermione. Eric, take it away.
[To read this story, please click here, or continue reading.]
[Music plays]
Eric: “It’s been so long. For years…”
Micah: She exhaled, breaking her gaze momentarily to steady herself, before continuing.
Eric: “I’m not doing so well at my job, but I stay there after hours because I have nothing to go home to. But then I do go home, and I sleep, and I wake up and realize that I have nothing to work for. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve felt something, Draco?”
Micah: She leaned in toward him, their faces almost touching.
Eric: “You do. You know exactly what I mean. And that is why I’m here.”
Micah: Her lips met his, and she could taste the regret, the pain, the emotion that she hadn’t felt in years. The kiss was brief, but promising, and she let her lips rest against his for a moment before whispering.
Eric: “I need someone to remind me I’m alive.”
Andrew: This is fantastic, guys. I know we’re going to advance later in the story. Jamie, take it away.
Jamie: “You’ve always had a cause, Hermione. So have I. We can’t be together on opposite sides.”
[Micah and Laura laugh]
Eric: “We won’t have to be. I swore to you that I was done with them… Harry, Ron, Remus, all of them. They fought, and look what it cost them.”
Micah: She sighed.
Eric: “I won’t go back on my word. Draco, I promised you my entire [beep] heart. You have it. You have all of me.”
[Everyone laughs]
Jamie: What?!
Andrew: This is probably the best thing we’ve ever done. Oh my God.
Micah: She stepped toward him and kissed him, running her hands through his hair and feeling the heat rush to her head as she remembered what it felt like to feel. She could feel the control slipping out of her grasp, but it was easier to ignore it. She could feel the thrill of spontaneity, the satisfaction of knowing that she had someone. He was hers, and she was his. It was too easy to close her eyes and to picture his face, and forget that everything she was experiencing was everything that had broken her, the day Ron left. She had wanted her life back, she had wanted to feel again – but not at the cost of giving herself so completely to someone who was so capable of breaking her heart.
[Music fades out]
Andrew: That was fantastic. Congratulations, guys, that was wonderful. That was excellent. I think that was one of the best segments…
Jamie: That was funny. That was cool.
Andrew: …this show has ever seen.
Laura: Yeah.
Eric: Who writes this stuff?
Laura: Micah, you should do this for a living.
Andrew: There’s going to have to be more of this.
Eric: Yeah, it was fun.
Andrew: Micah, your voice is beautiful.
Jamie: Yeah, it is very good.
Micah: Thank you.
Eric: Good stuff, Micah.
Jamie: Very good.
Andrew: I must confess something, Micah. I’m in love – with you.
Eric: You have such a connection to the readers, too. As a narrator, you’re just, you know, you’re telling the story and…
Andrew: It’s beautiful.
Eric: …it’s beautiful.
Audiofic
Andrew: Anyway, speaking of audiobooks, now we’re going jump into another installment of the “Audio Fiction” segment. As everyone knows, MuggleNet Fan Fiction has this awesome part of their site called “Audio Fictions,” and they’re narrated stories by the MuggleNet Fan Fiction team. So, the fan fictions were already written on the site, but then they had their team narrate it, and it’s an awesome way to listen to the stories. It’s like, you know, reading more audio – Harry Potter audiobooks, and this next one’s a real funny one. It’s narrated by Lupin Patronus. He introduces it and all. So, take it away.
[Intro music plays]
Lupin Patronus: Hey Audio Fiction listeners, Lupin Patronus here. I’m glad to report that classes are over, summer is here, and now I’ve got plenty of time to read more fictions for you guys. Today, I’ll be reading “Drool” by MutualUnderstanding. This fic was nominated by MahoganyWand in “The Black Lake” section of the MuggleNet Fan fiction Beta forums. Mahogany nominated the fic for its humor and characterization of Sirius. Although I enjoyed the fic immensely, I had a tough time settling on a voice for Sirius, so hopefully the voice I picked works out for you guys. This fic is rated first and second years with no warnings, so here we go, and I hope you enjoy.
To read this story, click here.
[Music continues]
Andrew: All right, great job! That was another great reading.
Laura: Yeah.
Andrew: A really funny story.
Micah: It wasn’t as serious as ours…
Andrew: No. Yes.
Micah: …but it was good.
Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul: Finals Edition
Andrew: Well, Micah, you – I think – I feel you can only read the serious stories. It was very good. [laughs] Anyway, and so was that story, too. So we hope everyone enjoyed that. To wrap up the show today, it’s time for a Chicken Soup: Finals Edition, and I’ll read it. You all have done enough reading for today. It comes from Nick, 16, of Canada. And, you know, it seems like – you realize how fast time’s been flying by when every year we get to these new Chicken Soups with the final – you know, they’re about finals and studying for finals. And, you know, it’s another year, and another series of them. Like I said, it comes from Nick. He writes:
“I’ve been listening to MuggleCast for exactly two years now. I started listening on episode 83 when you guys were discussing the Deathly Hallows cover, and I fell in love with the show. Recently, I had to sit through four exams in school and I was under a massive amount of stress. To make it easier on myself, I downloaded my
favorite episodes of MuggleCast and all the current episodes of Imprint, and I just want to say a great big thank you to you guys for making me smile during a time when I was on the verge of a stress-induced meltdown. I love you all and I love the show, as well as Imprint and Twilight Source, which I check every morning. Thank you for making such great podcasts and keeping me sane.”
[Outro music plays]
Andrew: Well, you’re welcome, Nick. And there’s another finals edition story of Chicken Soup.
Eric: F-f-f-f-finals edition.
Contact Information
Andrew: F-f-finals! And that wraps up another awesome edition of the show. We are going to have several episodes throughout the month of July. We’ll try to get them out more, since July is going to be a very busy month. So stay tuned for those, please. We want to remind everybody about our contact information, because, as you’ve heard throughout the show, there’s so many ways to get involved. And to get in contact with us, just go to our website at MuggleCast.com. There you’ll find a contact form where you can reach any one of us. Or you can also send in general feedback and such. Or just write to one of our first names – any one of our first names – at staff dot MuggleNet dot com. You can also visit our website for the community outlets. We encourage you to follow us on Twitter, you can fan us on Facebook, don’t forget to vote for us once a month on Podcast Alley, and all the other links. You’ve got the MySpace, the YouTube, the Frappr, Last.FM, and the fanlisting and the forums over at MuggleCastFan.net. So, there we go. It’s been another great episode.
Show Close
Laura: Yeah, it has.
Andrew: It’s been great talking to all of you again.
Micah: Yeah.
Laura: I know.
Andrew: And what else? What else, guys?
Laura: We’ll talk to you – I’ll talk to Jamie again in another fifty years.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Jamie: Yeah.
Andrew: Once again, I’m Andrew Sims.
Eric: [Singing softly] Hm? What?
Laura: Who’s next?
Andrew: Go ahead, Eric.
Eric: I’m Eric Scull.
Jamie: I’m Jamie Lawrence.
Laura: I’m Laura Thompson.
Micah: And I’m Micah Tannenbaum.
Andrew: We’ll see everyone next time for Episode 176. Buh-bye!
Jamie and Laura: Bye.
Eric: Bye. Bye-bye.
Andrew: Happy one seventy five!
Eric: Woot.
[Music continues to play]