MuggleCast 169 Transcript
Show Intro
[Intro music begins playing]
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[“Innuendo” by Queen begins to play]
Andrew: Because we have yet another Half-Blood Prince trailer, this is MuggleCast Episode 169 for January 23rd, 2009.
[Music continues]
[Show music begins playing]
Andrew: And good morning! I couldn’t hear myself, sorry. [clears throat] MuggleCast Live. It’s a new day. We have a new trailer, and we have a wonderful panel here today. First up, Ben Schoen’s back. Hey, Ben.
Ben: How are you?
Andrew: I’m good, Ben. How are you?
Ben: I’m great.
Andrew: Good.
Ben: You know, doing school and all that.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: It’s going well.
Andrew: Mhm. Thanks for joining us. Laura’s also here. Hi, Laura.
Laura: Hey!
Andrew: Love you.
Laura: It’s good to be here again.
Andrew: Yeah. Sorry, is there something wrong with doing two live shows in a week!?
Laura: No, no, nothing at all. It’s fantastic.
Andrew: Excellent, excellent.
Laura: You know I live for this kind of thing.
Ben: I think we should do a live show every week.
Andrew: [laughs] I’d do one every day.
Laura: Will you actually be here?
Andrew: Ooh.
Ben: Huh? If we did a live show every week I’d be here.
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah right.
Ben: Live shows are so much fun.
Andrew: They are, they are.
Ben: They are.
Andrew: Also, Micah’s here.
Ben: They’re better than doing a regular show.
Andrew: I think so. Hey Micah.
Micah: Hey. What’s up?
Andrew: Nothing. You?
Micah: Not too much.
Andrew: And also, Nick’s here. Hey Nick.
[Laura laughs]
Nick: Hey Andrew. Thanks for having me back on.
Andrew: Hey, no problem. Like I said, the fans love to hear the wonderful English voice of Nick. So there you go.
Ben: Hey, don’t cheapen Nick down to just his English voice.
Andrew: [laughs] I’m not!
Ben: He has much more to contribute than just that, Andrew.
Andrew: He does. He absolutely does. I’m just saying the fans love Nick partially because he’s English. Isn’t that right, Nick?
Nick: Mainly because I’m English, yeah. [laughs]
Announcement: MuggleSpace Close to 10,000 Members
Andrew: [laughs] Okay. So actually, we have a very exciting announcement to kick off the show. And I only spoke to Ben about this, so I hope you all are very excited. We’re actually very close 10,000 members on MuggleSpace. We actually have 9,934 members, so I thought it would be exciting if maybe the people in the live stream right now could possibly help us break the 10,000 mark, and then we’ll have a celebration. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Laura: Oh, that’s pretty cool.
Ben: Yeah, and that includes me. I haven’t even signed up for MuggleSpace yet.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: I’m going to go sign up right now pushing us towards the 10,000. So, everybody join me right now on MuggleSpace.com. Let’s all sign…
Micah: Ben, what are you talking about? Your picture’s on so many different people’s profiles.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: Your picture is everywhere.
Micah: I thought you joined like a thousand times. Yeah.
Ben: I’m actually going to be – I’m making a profile and all that.
Micah: Oh, okay. Did you know your picture was being used as the default?
Ben: I did know that actually, yes. I have been to MuggleSpace, I just didn’t create an account.
Andrew: There was actually – it was actually Mason’s idea to set the picture of you as the default picture.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Ben: Why exactly was that the idea? I’m just curious.
Andrew: Because it’s funny. Because it’s you.
Ben: Oh, thank you.
New HBP Trailer Released in Japan
Andrew: [laughs] It’s nothing personal. Anyway, we’re here, we’re live. Why are we here? A new trailer came out for Half-Blood Prince in Japan, actually. It wasn’t even a U.S. trailer. But it’s actually a surprisingly good trailer, if I do say so myself. Would everyone else agree?
Nick: Yeah.
Andrew: Don’t all speak at once! Laura? Hesitation?
Laura: Well, okay, it was cool to see some of the new scenes, and I kind of see that we have some comments on this later in the show. It was kind of poorly put together, I thought.
Andrew: Yeah. Well, let’s be honest. This isn’t – it didn’t even feel like a trailer. You know what I mean? It was kind of…
Laura: No, it felt like a T.V. ad.
Andrew: Yeah, and this Japanese television, I’ll tell you, you watch this video and there’s all this crap running at the same time as the trailer. It’s like, how distracting! But I guess that’s typical Japanese television. There’s all this stuff and these credits…
Micah: It looked like it was running after a movie.
Andrew: Yeah. Exactly.
Micah: If you looked at the bottom right hand corner of the video, there was a little box that had a scrolling list of credits. So it was almost like it was a T.V. show, or a movie, or something like that.
Andrew: Exactly. Yeah, so it was a bit strange. Not to mention that it took a while for this trailer to come out. It had aired on Japanese television, what, three or four days ago now? And just now, finally, somebody decided to put it on YouTube. Well, let’s go around the panel. Hey, Nick, how about your thoughts? What did you think about this trailer? What are we going to call it? A T.V. trailer?
Nick: Yeah, it was more of a T.V. trailer than anything, wasn’t it? Yeah, I loved seeing the new scenes. Like Laura said, it was poorly put together, but that didn’t bother me too much. It was just good to see something new.
Michael Gambon as Dumbledore
Andrew: Yeah. And what really stood out for me with this trailer was the acting. Particularly Dumbledore. He continues to please me in these trailers, and I don’t know about everyone else, but do you remember what he said in this trailer? The comment about traveling via – what were they doing? They were Apparating.
Laura: Oh yeah, he was like, “That was fun.”
Ben: Most people throw up the first time?
Andrew: Yeah, hold on, let me play the clip really quick. Boom. Boom.
[Trailer clip plays]
Andrew: [laughs] It was pretty funny!
Laura: That was pretty good.
Andrew: There’s a certain tone in Dumbledore’s voice, I think, tat – he’s different, isn’t he? We’ve seen four trailers now. Am I the only one who thinks he’s really going to be different in Half-Blood Prince?
Ben: No, he’s not.
Laura: Well, something you need to consider, though – I really don’t think in terms of acting, I don’t think he’s going to be different. But I think Dumbledore as a character was different in Half-Blood Prince.
Andrew: Mhm. He was weaker.
Laura: Yes, he was weaker, and he was sharing more information with Harry. He was more frank with him.
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: I know that reading the books, I saw a change of him as a character, so I’m not really sure it’s due to Michael Gambon finally reading the books or something. I think it’s just the way Dumbledore’s character sort of evolved as the books wore on.
Andrew: Ben? Did you have something to say about it? I thought you were…
Ben: Oh, about the trailer in general?
Andrew: Well, about Dumbledore.
Ben: About Dumbledore.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: I mean, I don’t really think you can tell if Gambon has developed or changed much just by looking at a few trailer clips, but I hope that he portrays Dumbledore in a better way than he has in the past. But it’s gotten to the point where after a while, he’s been Dumbledore for so long that when I read the books, I think of Dumbledore – I just get it all mixed up anyways, so…
Andrew: Mhm.
Ben: …to me, in a way, he’s become Dumbledore, he’s made Dumbledore his own character.
Andrew: Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. There’s just this extra – different tone in his voice that I’m really, really enjoying. Nick, Micah, any thoughts about this?
Nick: Yeah, I’m really impressed with him in the trailer. From what I’ve seen, I think you’re right, there is a bit of a change. I think the Dumbledore in the book itself changes into – Gambon’s more serious, too, I agree what Laura said earlier.
Andrew: Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
Micah: Well, I think the first trailer that we looked over – Ben and I actually discussed the fact that Gambon was changing. And Ben said something along the lines of, “How can you really say that if you’ve only seen 30 seconds of him on the screen?” And he’s right about that. But I think as more and more trailers have now surfaced related to Half-Blood Prince, he does seem different. He seems like he’s much more into the role, and he seems more along the lines of the Dumbledore that I expected.
Andrew: Do you think it’s sort of like, “I’ve got one last chance to do this.” Like really, you know, “It’s my final shot,” so he’s really giving it his all? Or no?
Ben: I would say that not so much that, but more of the fact that he’s had several movies now to get into the role, and…
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: …he’s developed more as Dumbledore. And now maybe he’s got enough hate mail, enough flaming crap left on his doorstep…
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: …that he’s ready to be the Dumbledore we want to see.
Micah: Yeah.
Andrew: And we’re absolutely positive this has nothing to do with the revelation that Dumbledore is gay?
Ben: So you’re thinking that he’s being more of like – being a softer character?
Andrew: Well, sort of.
[Ben laughs]
Andrew: Yeah, because I mean, we – you know, right before the start of the film, we heard – of the start of them filming – there was that one thing from Dan Radcliffe saying, “Oh, yeah, he’s camping it up a bit.” And everyone was like, “Oh, he’s just joking, he’s not going to do that on film.” But I think he acts a little different, and I don’t know if it’s because of that, but something’s changing him. [laughs]
Micah: I don’t know. I agree with Ben, though, to the extent that we’re going to have to see the movie in full to know if he’s really changed…
Andrew: I guess so, but all these…
Micah: …compared to previous films.
Emma Watson Has Improved
Andrew: I guess. All these clips really have me. And then there’s this – Hermione, personally, I think she’s really advanced. And I know it’s just another one clip, but listen to this, listen to this clip.
[Trailer clip plays]
Andrew: Now, if that was in Sorcerer’s Stone…
Laura: Oh my God.
Andrew: …she would be going, [in a whiney voice] “Do you honestly suspect that…” whatever she said. She’s changed as an actor, too. I think she sounds really serious in this role and she’s not that annoying girl that is in Sorcerer’s Stone. [laughs]
Ben: Well, they…
Laura: Yeah.
Ben: …they’ve grown up. They’ve grown up. They’ve matured as people and as actors, and it just really shows…
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: …because, like you said, there’s no – it’s not the same, and you don’t get annoyed by how bad their acting is, so…
Andrew: Right. Yeah.
Ben: They’ve come a long ways.
Laura: I agree with you, Andrew. Because in past films she kind of had a tendency to exaggerate her lines, like you were saying. And in this particular clip, at least, she just sounds more like the Hermione that I imagine in the books.
Andrew: Right.
Laura: Her tone is just softer, but at the same time, it’s so much better. She doesn’t need to use – she doesn’t need to accentuate every word to get her point across.
Andrew: Right.
Laura: So I really appreciate that she’s finally…
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: …doing that.
Andrew: It’s just really refreshing. She’s very serious and it’s not annoying. It’s not a typical role. Now, I don’t think there’s enough proof for Rupert and Dan, but – Micah, were you about to say something?
Micah: No, but I will if you want me to. [laughs]
Andrew: Yeah, go ahead. I thought I heard a Micah.
Micah: No, no, no, no.
[Andrew laughs]
Micah: No, I agree with what Ben said. They’re older now, so – and I would expect that her voice from Sorcerer’s Stone is completely different today. So she would obviously sound better then she would all those years ago. Probably almost ten years ago now.
Andrew: Yeah. But I think it has to do with the acting, too.
Micah: Oh, absolutely. But over time you mature.
Andrew: Mhm.
Micah: And she definitely has.
Emphasis on “The Chosen One”
Andrew: Yeah. Now, another thing with this trailer that I noticed, and we got a couple pieces of feedback about this – and I’m trying to see if we – I don’t think it’s in here. But there’s a lot of references to The Chosen One in this trailer, and the first reference is you see Snape doing it. He’s like – what was he – here we go, I’ve got the clip right here.
[Trailer clip plays]
Andrew: He sounds so – I think this is the deepest Snape we’ve ever heard from Alan.
[Laura laughs]
Micah: He’s awesome.
Andrew: Did you like that? Did you like that?
Micah: Yeah! I just think him playing Snape, it’s just perfect. There’s no other word to describe it. I just think he’s perfect in that role.
Andrew: Yeah. I don’t know, but that clip in particular really just freaks me out because he’s hit a new vocal low. It just sounds so incredibly low. [laughs]
Micah: Like creepy low?
Andrew: Yeah, exactly! Here, let’s listen again.
[Trailer clip plays again]
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: He sounds like…
Laura: He’s got his big boy voice.
Andrew: Yeah, yeah. It’s cool, sort of, but if you listen to it a couple times you realize how deep it sounds. Yeah, so then there’s that reference, and then they have the clip of Harry going, “But I am The Chosen One!” And I think there may have been one more reference, but I don’t know.
Micah: Hermione.
Andrew: Right, yeah.
Micah: When they’re in the library.
Andrew: Yeah. And then Harry says, “But I am…”
Nick: At the end.
Ben: “The Chosen One!”
Andrew: They do it at the end again, Nick?
Nick: Yeah, Dumbledore mentions it.
Andrew: Oh right. So is this going to be Harry Potter and The Chosen One? I mean, there’s a lot of references to it. It’s like – we get he’s The Chosen One, but – I don’t know. Do you think that’ll be one big emphasis in this movie?
Micah: Clearly, yeah.
Laura: Yeah.
Micah: I think it could show up on a poster.
Laura: I’m hoping they don’t do it every other line. That was one thing that annoyed me about the book, because they kept saying – there was that one scene where Harry was talking to Slughorn and he said, “I’m The Chosen One.” And I was like, “Oh God, are you Jesus or something? Shut up!”
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: I got so sick of him saying that, so I really hope they tone it down in the movie.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: He is The Chosen One, Laura.
Laura: We know!
Andrew: Yeah, well, I sort of think in this Japanese trailer, it may have been also – maybe it was for comedic value. Like, “The Chosen One. The Chosen One! The Chosen One.” I don’t know, if you spread four…
Laura: But would that translate like that? I mean, obviously, they’re just reading subtitles. Right? Like the Japanese subtitles?
Andrew: What do you mean? No, I mean, that’s what they said. They didn’t say it in the narration.
Laura: Yeah, yeah, I know, but there were subtitles in Japanese.
Andrew: Right.
Laura: And I’m assuming that if the subtitles were Japanese, most of the people watching it don’t speak English.
Andrew: Oh!
Laura: Would that translate…
Andrew: Oh, I see what you’re saying.
Laura: …as a joke? I don’t know.
Andrew: Yeah. Which kind of confused me, because the narration in this trailer was Japanese – like the guy doing the narration, the voiceover guy. And then the clips were English, so shouldn’t the – isn’t that weird? Shouldn’t the narration be English, too, and just do the whole thing Japanese subtitles?
Laura: Probably what they did was have someone do the narration in Japanese because we have our narration in English. And also because they can’t release a trailer fully in Japanese because they haven’t even dubbed the film yet. So they probably just got some random guy to dub over it, if you know what I’m saying, to kind of give more context to the trailer, to explain what’s going on.
Ben: Well, and if it’s going to be airing on Japanese T.V., it would probably make sense for there to be some Japanese in it.
Rating of the Film
Andrew: Yeah. No, you’re right. But it would be like us listening to – well, maybe that’s a bad example. Whatever. Just bringing it up for discussion sake. And the other thing is, yet, through all of this, it’s still a PG film. And I really got a dark impression in this trailer.
Ben: I mean, if Snape’s voice is going to be that low, it has to be PG-13.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: It looks pretty scary. I get nightmares.
Micah: Yeah. Well, not only that, but you look at the bridge being torn apart and the attack in Diagon Alley and all the fire that’s going on around Hagrid’s hut – Ben, I know you’re probably pretty upset about that. Those are all really dark scenes. Andrew, you just said that. But I can’t imagine, especially with Dumbledore dying, and I’m not sure how they do his death, but it’s still PG? I don’t know.
Andrew: Yeah. I’m so confused! I want to do an interview with the Motion Picture Association of America and be like, “Why!?” I don’t know. I mean, I think WB’s happy, because that just brings more people to the film. The little kids and their parents.
Ben: Do you think maybe – I don’t know if you discussed this before – do you think that they may perhaps had less – when the movies before were rated PG-13, do you think that an audience they were trying to attract they weren’t able to attract as much because of the PG-13 rating? And perhaps that’s why the PG would be important to them this time?
Andrew: That’s a good thought, but they did it for two films. Don’t you think they would have noticed that after Goblet of Fire?
Ben: Yeah, probably. I don’t know. Just thinking.
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: I’m wondering if this movie was rated the first time around, when it was supposed to be released in November, and if it received the same type of rating.
Andrew: Oh, it must have. I mean – well, yeah. Some bloggers were like, “Oh, it’s just because the MPAA was just being generous or lenient that day.” I don’t know.
Micah: But do their rating systems change each year? You know? Does it go – like 2009, so now the standard for PG increases or decreases.
Ben: Yeah, because you would think with the constant degradation of society…
[Micah laughs]
Ben: …that for sure it would be harder – or actually, what’s PG-13 anymore isn’t – is a higher…
Micah: It’s R.
Ben: Yeah.
Andrew: Oh, that’s a good point, yeah. Because think about these days. These damn kids, they start cursing younger and younger every year.
[Laura and Micah laugh]
Andrew: But I don’t think – I mean, because then wouldn’t video game companies be making their ratings more lenient too?
Laura: Well, I think the difference is that movies have been around a lot longer than video games. I mean, if you look at movies from twenty years ago and you look at the rating, the rating probably makes no sense to us.
Andrew: Yeah. I’m looking at a list: the Top 8 PG-rated Movies That Should Not Have Been Rated PG. To be honest with you, I haven’t seen many of these personally, but Beetle Juice, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws. I can’t believe Jaws was rated PG. I mean, that’s pretty violent.
Ben: Jaws was rated PG?
Andrew: Yeah, back in ’75.
Ben: Wow.
Andrew: Yeah. [laughs] Pretty bad. So maybe they were just feeling a little lenient, who knows? They should put a man-eating shark in Half-Blood Prince just to make it worse.
[Nick laughs]
Andrew: And they’d still get away with it.
Andrew: Thank you, Nick, for laughing. Because nobody else did.
[Everyone laughs]
Laura: I did.
Andrew: Oh, you did, Laura? Didn’t hear you.
Laura: Yeah, I did. I was trying to be nice to you, but, you know…
[Micah laughs]
Andrew: Any other…
MuggleSpace Update
Ben: Hey.
Andrew: What?
Ben: Just quickly here. I only see 9,907 MuggleSpace members, and I already took the time to sign up. So don’t let me down.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Come sign up.
Laura: Make a duplicate an account if you have to.
Andrew: I think that – well, no, no. I don’t want to encourage that. [laughs]
Ben: And I am in the chat, by the way. Some people in the chat are wondering if it was me, and I am in the chat. Come get in the MuggleCast chat.
Andrew: MuggleSpace…
Ben: The MuggleCast chat. MuggleSpace chat. What’s with all this Muggle? MuggleNet, MuggleSpace, MuggleCast.
Andrew: MuggleShop.
Ben: Can’t handle it.
Andrew: MuggleTunes.
Ben: Oh my.
[Andrew laughs]
Andrew: I think it’s a cool way of associating all of our things.
Ben: It’s like a brand.
Andrew: It is a brand.
Ben: Kind of like McDonald’s has the McChicken, McNuggets…
Andrew: Yeah. [laughs] Right.
Ben: MuggleSpace, MuggleNuggets.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Let’s do it. Let’s patent Muggle. Oh, wait. Should we take some calls? Or anyone else have any thoughts about the trailer?
Laura: Let’s take some calls.
Andrew: Okay, let’s take some calls. The number is 1-218-20-MAGIC in the United States. In the United Kingdom, and I don’t have the number. I think it’s 0-208-144-0677. Hey, got it memorized already. All right, let’s take the first call now. Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
[Call disconnects]
Ben: Not anymore.
Andrew: Oh. See? Scaredy pants. Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Call: Confusing Japanese
Caller: Hello.
Andrew: Hi. What’s your name?
Caller: Edith.
Andrew: Edith, how are you?
Caller: Yeah. Good, good.
Andrew: So what did you think about the trailer?
Caller: I don’t know, the whole dubbing in Japanese thing was really confusing.
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: I know.
Andrew: But it wasn’t for you. It wasn’t for us.
Caller: I know.
Andrew: We shouldn’t even be talking about it.
Caller: Well, I know.
[Andrew and Edith laugh]
Andrew: Well…
Laura: I don’t think the voiceover should have been in Japanese.
Caller: It was just really confusing – distracting.
Andrew: Yeah, they were kind of distracting. Laura, can you speak Japanese?
Laura: No.
Andrew: Konichiwa!
Laura: [laughs] That’s pretty much it.
Andrew: Oui oui. Oh no, that’s French.
Caller: That’s French.
Andrew: Hey, are they going to make this a U.S. trailer, do you think, or what?
Caller: I think they should.
Andrew: Me too. [laughs] Hosts? Panelists?
Trailer is Badly Cut
Laura: If they’re going to make it a better trailer, sure.
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: I’m still not impressed with how that was put together.
Andrew: Nick?
Nick: Yeah, I agree with Laura. If they put it together better then definitely.
Andrew: Yeah, I noticed at the beginning, too, when Dan’s talking there’s a cut between two of the things he’s saying. Like they didn’t even try to cover that up. It’s a pretty blatant cut. You know how he says like three sentences? After the first or second one there’s a cut to the next thing, and he moves ever so slightly. It’s hard to tell, but I noticed, and I was very upset. But yeah, it was poorly put together. [laughs] All right, Edith, well thank you for calling in!
Caller: You’re welcome!
Andrew: Buh-bye!
Caller: Bye!
Call: The Ring
Andrew: There’s Edith. She was displeased that the Japanese trailer was not made for us American visitors. Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live! What’s your name?
Caller: Hey! My name is Ellen.
Andrew: Oh! What’s up Ellen? Are you Ellen DeGeneres?
Caller: I was on last week’s…
Andrew: I love your show.
Caller: Excuse me?
Andrew: Are you Ellen DeGeneres, host of the fabulous daytime talk show?
Caller: Of course.
Andrew: [laughs] Oh, wonderful!
Caller: Yeah, okay.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Andrew: What’s going on?
Caller: Sure.
Laura: Denied, Andrew.
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Okay.
Andrew: What’s going on, Ellen?
Caller: I have two specific things from the trailer. Do you think the 1:04 – that might be the timestamp, I’m not sure – where someone was playing with their ring on their hand, do you think that was Tom Riddle’s hand?
Andrew: Hold on. I’m getting the video up. Does anyone else have the video up right now?
Caller: Okay, it’s like…
Andrew: 1:04 – oh! Maybe. That’s a good point. That’s a really short clip at 1:04 in.
Caller: Yeah. Kind of iffy.
Andrew: But right before that in the shot, Slughorn’s looking at something. Could it be he’s looking at the person putting on the ring?
Caller: I don’t know. Since it was in the whole Slughorn mix, I was thinking maybe it was part of his memory.
Andrew: Yeah. That’d be pretty cool.
Caller: [unintelligible] maybe.
Andrew: And it makes sense they wouldn’t show it for Voldemort. Like they wouldn’t show the face, just the person putting on the ring.
Call: Avoiding the PG-13 Rating
Caller: Yeah. And real quick, my question from last week – I kind of forgot it when I got on the show.
Andrew: [laughs] It’s okay.
Caller: [laughs] But anyway, this – here, I have it now. Do you think that they would cut out the battle and/or the funeral to avoid the PG-13 rating?
Andrew: Oh, good point. I don’t know.
Laura: Hmm.
Andrew: Laura?
Laura: I don’t know that the funeral would affect the rating. I would think that Dumbledore’s actual death would affect the rating more.
Andrew: Yeah. But we don’t even really see his death, right?
Laura: Well, I thought they just cut the funeral.
Andrew: Oh, that’s right.
Laura: I mean, if they cut his death I’d be really ticked off.
Andrew: Well, I mean, I can’t imagine you see him hitting the ground. I would cry. [laughs]
Laura: Well, yeah. That scene in the book – and that’s another thing I was wondering, because the scene in the book, basically it talked about how when he hit the ground, it clearly mangled his body because Harry was talking about how he was distorted and laying in an awkward position, and I’m not sure they’re going to show that in the movie…
Andrew: Right.
Laura: …considering the rating.
Andrew: Right.
Laura: So I’m kind of concerned.
Andrew: Yeah. Nick, what do you think?
Nick: If they cut the battle or the funeral scene – they’re cutting the funeral scene, right?
Andrew: Yeah, and they cut the battle too.
Nick: They’ve cut the battle too?
Andrew: Yeah. Well, because in David Heyman’s words, because it’s too repetitive.
Nick: Ah, right.
Andrew: But I guess they wouldn’t say they cut it to avoid the PG-13 rating because that would upset a lot of fans.
Nick: Yeah, definitely.
Ben: Except those younger than thirteen.
Andrew: What?
Ben: Nothing.
Andrew: Oh.
Ben: I said except those younger.
Ending of Movie a Mystery
Laura: So what exactly happens at the end of this movie, I’m wondering?
Andrew: Sorry, say that again.
Laura: I’m wondering what exactly is supposed to happen at the end of this movie.
Andrew: Well, didn’t Eric say there was something like there was going to be shots of everyone being sad or something? Because you know that shot of Hermione when she’s crying in the courtyard or whatever?
Caller: That was awkward.
Andrew: Yeah. That reminded me of the old Emma, not that one I played in the clip earlier. But yeah, I don’t know. I think it’s just going to be a really sad moment and everyone’s just sort of hanging around crying. I don’t know. [laughs]
Caller: We’ve seen Emma cry in every movie. She cried in Hagrid’s hut in Chamber of Secrets, and then she cried when Buckbeak got killed…
Andrew: Right.
Caller: …and now she’s crying again.
Andrew: Goblet of Fire when Cedric died. But…
Caller: Yeah, seriously.
Andrew: …who didn’t cry during that? Well, she’s a crybaby. What’s there to say?
[Ellen laughs]
Andrew: All right! Thank you, Ellen.
Caller: Yeah. Thanks so much.
Andrew: Buh-bye!
Caller: Bye. Thank you.
Andrew: You’re welcome. Glad to…
Ben Proposes to Laura
Ben: Hey, Laura.
Laura: Hmm?
Ben: Hey, Laura, I was just in the MuggleCast – MuggleSpace chat and…
Laura: Yeah.
Ben: …people think I should marry you.
Andrew: [laughs] Aww.
Laura: Oh, you’re kidding me.
Ben: And I was wondering if you were down.
Laura: No.
[Someone applauds]
Laura: Sorry. Wait, wait, wait. Didn’t you already marry Jamie like…
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: …two years ago…
Ben: Did I?
Laura: …on the show? Yeah.
Andrew: Yeah. Jamie proposed to you.
Ben: You see, I’m a polygamist.
[Everyone laughs]
Laura: I’m pretty sure that’s not legal here, so…
Andrew: See me…
Laura: …sorry.
Andrew: …on HBO’s Big Love.
[Laura laughs]
Ben: We should all get married, how about that?
Andrew: All right.
MuggleCast 169 Transcript (continued)
Muggle Reality Show
Ben: We just all live in a big house together.
Andrew: Do a whole reality show.
Laura: We can just all move to California and get a giant apartment.
Andrew: We’ll call it Muggle Survivor or Muggle Brother.
[Laura and Nick laugh]
Andrew: Big Muggle Brother. [laughs]
Ben: Yeah, then we can vote people off and stuff.
Andrew: Yeah. Oh, that would be terrible. [laughs]
Ben: That would be awesome! We should do that. We should vote somebody off the show each week until there’s one person left. They have to do the show for the rest of time by themselves.
Andrew: Well, I would win. No doubt.
Laura: Have fun with that.
Andrew: I would.
Ben: That’s because you’d cheat.
Call: Who Actually Likes Harry Because He’s The Chosen One?
Andrew: I – no, I would create alliances with everyone. All right. [laughs] Well, let’s take some more calls now. Hey, Sam. Sam Watchman, MuggleSpace mod and aspiring MuggleNet staff member.
Caller: Hey.
Andrew: You’re on the show. What’s up?
Caller: I’m good, thanks. How are you?
Andrew: I’m just fine.
Caller: Good.
Andrew: What do you think of the trailer?
Caller: I’m – it was all right. Nothing special, really.
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: But I was watching that and I thought I’d look back on the old ones.
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: And the scene in the library where Hermione goes, “Ginny likes you because you’re The Chosen One.”
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: They changed it in the newest one and it says, “He only likes you – or he’s only interested in you because you’re The Chosen One.”
Andrew: Really?
Caller: It’s – yeah.
Laura: It’s true.
Caller: I may be wrong. I hope not because I’ll sound like an idiot now.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: Yeah, you’re right. They did.
Nick: No, I noticed that, you’re right.
Andrew: Oh, hold on. Let me – let’s play it. Let’s all listen.
Ben: Ooh.
Andrew: Oh, wait. Hold on. I’m not a professional podcaster. Here we go. Rewind. Okay.
[Trailer clip plays]
Andrew: Uh-huh.
Ben: It wasn’t even there.
Andrew: I heard a weird cut though. Did you guys hear that cut?
Laura: Yeah.
Ben: Play it again.
[Clip plays again]
Nick: It’s a dubbing error, perhaps?
Andrew: Yeah. It’s because… [cuts] …”he thinks you’re The Chosen One.” There’s a lot of very bad editing in this video.
Laura: Well, I think…
Nick: And it’s right after Slughorn just said…
Laura: …what they were trying to do…
Nick: Just talked about Harry. And it’s all about Slughorn. And then it says, “He’s only interested in you…”
Andrew: Right. Yeah. Well, I – yeah. Hmm, that’s weird.
Ben: Hmm.
Andrew: I doubt they changed the scenes so it’s a guy. I mean, because wouldn’t – wait. What would that scene create?
[Laura laughs]
Ben: Dan has…
Andrew: Dan would have someone…
Caller: It was a guy in the corner and not a girl.
Andrew: No, it wasn’t.
[Laura laughs]
Andrew: Shut up.
[Ben laughs]
Andrew: Was it really?
Ben: Jo’s going to drop another bombshell.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Ben: “Harry was gay all along!”
Andrew: [laughs] Couldn’t you tell? Hold on.
[Laura laughs]
Andrew: No, you can’t tell. This trailer’s too crumby quality. You were kidding, right, Sam?
Caller: Well, you never know. It could be a guy.
[Everyone laughs]
Call: Harry-Ginny Kiss
Andrew: I guess so, I guess so. Any other revealing aspects from the trailer you have for us?
Caller: The kiss with Ginny.
Andrew: What about it?
Caller: It’s a bit…
Andrew: Oh.
Caller: Is it – I take it it isn’t the first kiss. Could it be the break-up kiss?
Andrew: What time is it at? I don’t remember the…
Laura: It’s the same one we’ve seen in the trailers before.
Caller: It’s the same as Cho, sort of. The same position.
Andrew: Oh.
Caller: But with the first kiss, it was meant to be Happy Birthday sort of kiss.
Andrew: Does anyone have a…
Caller: But…
Andrew: …time code?
Laura: No. It’s up to you, Andrew.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: The show depends on you.
Caller: I think it’s 1:39.
Andrew: Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. We saw this during the first Half-Blood Prince sneak peek when they were filming it. It’s on YouTube.
Caller: Some people are talking about it, and it doesn’t look like it’s the first kiss. So it was, like – is it the break-up one?
Andrew: Maybe. I don’t know. I’m not a believer in break-up kisses. Leaves things too open.
Ben: It’s… [laughs]
Andrew: What?
Ben: Oh, I was just laughing at the idea of a break-up kiss.
Andrew: Oh. [laughs] Yeah.
Ben: Like, “This is it. Oh, can I just get one more kiss?”
Andrew: “Just one more.” [laughs] I had an experience like that. Should I say that on the air?
Ben: Just did.
Laura: Why not? Share your stories, Andrew.
Andrew: Oh, whoops. [clears throat] Well, it was about a year ago. No, I’m kidding about the year ago thing. Anyway, all right – I told the person, though. Anyway, thanks, Sam. They were…
Caller: Try and nail ’em.
Andrew: Ah, no problem. Bye. Man, Harry being gay. I don’t know. [laughs] It’d be a little too much for me. Kramer, hi, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Call: Caller Apologizes to John Noe
Caller: Hey.
Andrew: What’s up, dude?
Caller: Nothing.
Andrew: Were you on the show last week?
Caller: Yeah, I was.
Andrew: Yeah, I recognize you. You were that really chill guy.
Ben: Cut him out, Andrew, he can’t be on the show twice.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: No, I’m just kidding.
Andrew: Anyway, what do you think about the trailer?
Caller: I thought it was cool, but – yeah, like you said I think there was a lot of poor editing in it, though.
Andrew: Yeah. For video professionals like you and I, Kramer, it’s not up to standards.
Caller: Right. [laughs]
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Also, I just wanted to apologize to John Noe for yelling out that he was telling people to spam your show.
Andrew: Oh, it wasn’t true?
Caller: Oh well, yeah it was, but you never know.
Andrew: Oh. [clears throat] Very professional of him. Anyway… [laughs]
Caller: Right.
Andrew: All right. Thank you, Kramer.
Caller: Yep, bye.
MuggleSpace Update
Andrew: MuggleSpace update, we have 9952 people! So we’re inching ever closer to that 10,000 mark. I have…
Ben: There’s currently 92 people on the chat. Let’s get it to a hundred.
Andrew: [laughs] Let’s break it. Yeah.
Ben: Let’s break a hundred.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: We get it to a hundred, I’ll do something crazy.
Call: “The Chosen One” Scenes
Andrew: Ooh, uh-oh. Uh-oh, what’s he going to do? Amanda, you’re on MuggleCast Live. Hello.
[Feedback from stream]
Andrew: Mute your feed, please. Hello, Amanda.
Caller: Hi!
Andrew: Hey, what’s up?
Caller: Oh, Snape! You – I – you answered my call. I’m so excited.
Andrew: [laughs] Did you just say “Oh, Snape”?
Caller: I definitely did.
[Amanda and Andrew laugh]
Caller: I was actually going to mention, when you guys were talking about how they definitely use The Chosen One lines a lot…
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: …and when they did the thing – they reused the scene with, “She’s only interested in you because you’re The Chosen One,” I think that was kind of out of place in there, because everything else seemed sort of dark, and they just threw in a comedy out of nowhere.
Andrew: Yeah. Yeah, I agree, but I think that one scene in this Japanese trailer that you – “But I am The Chosen One” – it wasn’t really in a comedic form, because…
Micah: Well, she slaps him on the head with the newspaper.
Caller: Yeah.
Andrew: Yeah, but it’s missing – I don’t know, I think it’s missing that – that extra shot where she’s – that girl in the background – or apparently now guy – is daydreaming about Harry.
Caller: Yeah, that was a guy. [laughs]
Laura: Well, it was awkward because they were sort of using that to get the point across that Slughorn was interested in having Harry around because Harry’s The Chosen One. But the whole context of the scene originally was that a girl liked Harry. So it’s like they’re trying to mix these two elements and it doesn’t work very well.
Andrew: Yeah. Good point. What should they have done? I think it’s important, though, to keep in some funny bits though, don’t you think?
Caller: Yeah, but I mean they could have probably put it somewhere differently, because like you guys said, the ending was horrible. I think they just threw it in randomly somewhere where it didn’t fit at all.
Andrew: Right. Yeah, you’re right. Well…
Comedy
Micah: There are some comedic lines, though, between Dumbledore and Harry. We talked about the one at the beginning of the show, about…
Andrew: Yeah, the vomit.
Micah: …the vomiting, and then Harry also says that he’s getting used to Dumbledore surprising him.
Andrew: Yeah. I got to say, I love Steve Kloves. There’s been a ton of clever things in this movie that – or at least in these trailers – that we’re seeing, that are not as like corny as in past films. Granted, he did write those too, except for Order of the Phoenix, but I think – have you guys noticed that the writing for this film has changed at all or is it just me?
Laura: Eh, I mean there are some funny bits but – and this seems to happen with a lot of movies – they put the best lines and the best scenes from their movie in the trailer. And I’ve noticed that a lot with Harry Potter. Like they’ll put the funniest lines in the trailer, and then when you go see the movie everybody laughs like they’ve never heard it before.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: And you’re just sitting there like, “Oh yeah, I’ve heard this six times.”
Andrew: Yeah. [laughs]
Laura: You know?
Andrew: Yeah. Well, that’s why I hate watching all the clips, the promotional clips that they put up, and sometimes they’re like, full scenes. Yahoo! always has up those full scenes and it’s just – it’s kind of annoying, because you don’t want half the movie to be spoiled for you. All right! Well… [laughs] …thank you, Amanda, for calling in.
Caller: Thank you so much for answering my call.
Andrew: You’re welcome. It’s a Friday night. Are you doing anything tonight?
Caller: Actually, I’m not. I’m going to finish listening to this podcast while I’m watching T.V.
Andrew: Oh.
Caller: It’s my birthday on Sunday, so…
Andrew: Oh, well, Happy Birthday.
Laura: Happy Birthday.
Caller: Yeah. I’m going to see Equus on Broadway. [laughs]
Andrew: Oh nice.
Laura: That’s a good birthday.
Caller: Yeah, I’m so excited.
Andrew: Take some pictures, if you know what I’m saying. [laughs sarcastically]
[Amanda laughs]
Andrew: Just kidding!
Caller: I know exactly what you’re saying.
Andrew: [laughs] All right, well, thank you for calling in, Amanda. Have a – have a Happy Birthday weekend.
Caller: Thank you. Bye guys.
Will Deathly Hallows Overshadow Half-Blood Prince?
Andrew: Bye. Equus is running for, what, another month I think? Well, it’s got to be because Half-Blood – or Deathly Hallows filming starts. Let’s talk about that for a second. Emma Watson revealed on her official site that test shooting begins Monday. What do you guys think?
Laura: Nice. It’s exciting.
Andrew: It’s – it’s kind of unbelievable that they’re filming this next film and Half-Blood Prince won’t be out for another six months.
Micah: I think Deathly Hallows is going to end up overshadowing Half-Blood Prince. I know we talked about this on a previous show, but I really think that’s what’s going to end up happening. Because you’re going to have a lot of news coming out of the filming over the next couple of months and maybe get something from WB, but I think Half-Blood Prince is going to fall in the wayside. I don’t think people are going to be as into it leading up as they normally would be.
Andrew: Do you think that – well, what do you mean exactly by overshadowing?
Micah: News-wise, I think, you know, particularly because this is the final film. It’s not like you’re dealing with a delay in Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince is starting filming. This is the final film.
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: And so they’re going to pay a lot more attention to it than they normally would, I think. And I think the news is going to be that much more important to everybody. I don’t know what anybody else thinks of that, but I think Half-Blood Prince is going to get overshadowed.
Andrew: How about everyone else?
Ben: I’m not so sure. I think that anytime you have a – I mean sure, the filming – the cycle has always been – there’s always been one film being made about the other time the other comes out, right? Isn’t that pretty usual?
Andrew: Not really. No, because usually it’s a couple weeks after the premieres they start filming again.
Ben: Oh, okay. I mean, I don’t know. I think people are just going to be so excited for the movie and it’s not going to matter.
Andrew: I think WB is going to be orchestrating it so they don’t get in the way of each other. Because I don’t think they would want Deathly Hallows to overshadow Half-Blood Prince. And I just don’t think – I don’t know. The Potter franchise is too much of a powerhouse. I don’t think you can have it overshadow itself, in a way. They’re not going to be releasing interviews about Deathly Hallows until after Half-Blood Prince is out, I would think.
Laura: I really don’t know.
Call: Dumbledore Taking the Tube
Andrew: But I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Didn’t we have a caller on? No, we didn’t. Let’s get another caller in here. Andrew Carol, what’s up, dude? You’re on MuggleCast Live.
Caller: Hi.
Andrew: What’s up, man?
Caller: I was wondering what – at the beginning of the trailer, there’s like a – Dumbledore is in a subway thing.
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: Why is he in a…
Andrew: [laughs] Anyone got any ideas on that? Why Dumbledore’s in a…
Laura: He wants to decrease his carbon footprint.
Andrew: [laughs] What?
[Andrew Carol laughs]
Andrew: I – it is weird. Oh, you know what? Just random fact, the trailer that is playing over top – sorry – the movie that was finished playing while this trailer was on was Goblet of Fire. If you watch the beginning, it’s the Goblet of Fire parchments. So anyway, I don’t know. It’s kind of strange. What do you guys think? Why is he there?
Caller: He’s on his way to Slughorn’s house. [laughs]
Andrew: Yeah, but why in the Underground? That’s not in the book.
Micah: Are you talking about when the Apparates?
Andrew: No, no, no, in the subway. Of course, over in England, it’s called the Underground.
[Andrew Carol laughs]
Micah: Oh. Let me take a look.
Andrew: Nick, any ideas?
Nick: No idea. It’s very unusual.
Andrew: Yeah.
Nick: I mean, unless it’s sort of in there to – as a bit of foreshadowing with the whole – with how Deathly Hallows ends, I suppose.
Andrew: Yeah, maybe.
Nick: Tie it in there.
Andrew: To get London in there a little more?
Laura Went to the Presidential Inauguration
Caller: And I also have another question for Laura. How was the inauguration? [laughs]
Laura: Oh my God it was amazing!
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Really?
Laura: It was fantastic. I mean we stood for twelve hours so…
[Andrew Carol laughs]
Laura: …we were really really tired, and we were about to pass out, and the police didn’t know what they were doing but…
[Andrew Carol laughs]
Laura: …actually being there was fantastic.
Caller: Ah.
Laura: It was such a wonderful feeling and I’m still full of hope.
[Andrew and Andrew Carol laugh]
Ben: Yes. We. Did.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: Yes we did.
Andrew: Some people are calling Obama the Kingsley Shacklebolt of the American world. What do you guys think about that?
Laura: Hmm.
Andrew: [laughs] No? [laughs]
Caller: Change is coming. [laughs]
Andrew: Yes.
Laura: I never really thought about it, but, sure I guess.
Andrew: Well, Andrew, thank you for calling in.
Caller: No problem.
Andrew: Bye.
Caller: [unintelligible] [laughs]
Andrew: What did he say?
Micah: I don’t know.
Laura: I don’t know. [laughs]
Call: The Rating
Andrew: All right. Jenny, you’re on MuggleCast Live. Good evening.
Caller: Hello?
Andrew: Hi, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Caller: Hi. Sorry.
Andrew: It’s okay. What is your question about the trailer?
[Jenny laughs]
Andrew: Or your comment.
Caller: [laughs] Sorry. I – editing quality aside – I really liked this trailer. Though I agree with you guys said earlier in the program about why they would rate it PG, because this trailer does seem to showcase a lot of the darker elements of the film.
Andrew: Yeah. Do you have any ideas why it would be rated PG?
Caller: I don’t know. Aside from – again, you guys spoke earlier about it – about how if you look back at films that were rated PG or even R in the seventies and in the eighties, they probably wouldn’t be rated be PG today. And this is even – aside from the fact that they didn’t have the PG-13 rating then – I think that’s part of it.
Andrew: So really the MPAA has gotten stricter.
Caller: Or softer, rather.
Andrew: Well, no, I mean, because if Jaws was rated PG in ’75 and wouldn’t it be rated PG-13 now? Or no?
Caller: I don’t know. With all the violence it might actually be rated R. I have to admit I never got all the way through Jaws.
Andrew: Oh.
Caller: Because when I saw it about nine years old and it scared the crap out of me.
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah, exactly. [laughs] So yeah, I don’t know. But Nick’s idea was very interesting last week; he was saying the trailers over there are rated 12A, which is the equivalent to PG-13. So, it’s like, could this be the first time that a film gets rated a higher rating in England than it does over here? Just…
Caller: That is pretty interesting.
Andrew: Yeah. But I wonder, on the other hand, what is it, Nick? The British Film Classification Board?
Nick: Yeah. BBFC.
Andrew: I wonder if they were influenced at all by the MPAA. I would kind of think so.
Nick: Well, the earlier trailers are actually PG and actually the latest one’s 12A.
Andrew: Oh, I see. Hmm. That’s so weird!
Nick: But I mean, if they’re putting a 12A in there surely the overall rating has to be a 12 too because it’s made up of the same part.
Andrew: Right. Right. Was the third one that we got darker than the others?
Caller: I think it was.
Andrew: I guess so. I can’t even remember.
Caller: At least it had – it seemed to bring those darker elements to the forefront. I mean, there are some slightly lighter moments like the Slug Club dinner when they do the little toast thing, but a lot of it’s pretty dark.
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: Especially at the very end of it where you see that scene…
Andrew: The bodies crawling up to the – are you talking about the Japanese trailer?
Caller: Yeah, the Japanese trailer. Yeah. Right at the end sort of starting with you see Ron passed out on the floor and then going through the – it’s lots of action and…
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: …bad things happening.
Andrew: Yeah. [laughs]
Micah: Right.
Andrew: I’m so confused! I think the MPAA made a mistake.
Micah: I do too. I think we should write to them.
Andrew: [laughs] We should! Or call them! We can get them in for an interview or something.
Micah: Well you just brought up…
Laura: How about it? Let’s call them right now.
Micah: …a whole new thing with the Inferi crawling out of the lake, and you also have Sectumsempra. Is that going to be in this film or is that cut too?
Caller: I heard that it – I heard from – I’m not sure where, but a lot of – the rumor going around just said that they cut it from the film.
Andrew: Hmm.
Micah: Yeah, because if that happens, that’s PG-13 in of itself.
Andrew: Right.
Caller: Definitely.
Nick: They could probably just tone it down though.
Andrew: Right. Hey, should we call the MPAA right now? I found a number.
Micah: Yeah, let’s.
Andrew: [laughs] Okay. All right, Jenny, thanks for joining us.
Caller: Yeah, thanks for taking my call.
Call: Hagrid Calls the Show
Andrew: You’re welcome. Bye. Actually, before we do that, I’ll just take one more caller. Hello? Caller?
Ben: [as Hagrid] Hello!
Andrew: Oh! Hagrid!
Ben: [as Hagrid] Can I speak to Laura?
Andrew: Oh, sure, sure, sure. Laura, Hagrid’s on the phone for you.
Laura: Oh, really? Hi. How’s it going?
Ben: [as Hagrid] Laura! It’s Rubeus Hagrid!
Laura: Wow. It’s been a long time since I heard from you. What’s going on?
Ben: [as Hagrid] I was wondering if you wanted to go back to my hut and help me tame a dragon.
[Everyone laughs]
Laura: Uhh…
Andrew: What do you say, Laura?
Laura: Uhh…
Andrew: Pretty big honor.
Laura: I don’t know, I think – I don’t know. I think Madame Maxime would be pretty upset about that.
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: I don’t think I can… [laughs]
Ben: [as Hagrid] Oh, what she don’t know won’t hurt her.
Laura: No, I’ve got things to do. Sorry. But Hagrid, I do hear that your good friend Ben Schoen – all the people in the chat really want him to sing. On the show.
Ben: [as Hagrid] Oh. I can’t…
Laura: Maybe you could talk to him about that?
Ben: [as Hagrid] I’ll put in a word.
Laura: Okay. I’d…
[Andrew laughs]
Laura: …really appreciate that.
Andrew: All right. All right. Thank you, Hagrid. Ben, did you hear that? Hagrid just called.
Ben: I know, I stepped away for a minute. I was in the bathroom.
Andrew: You always step away when he’s here. I don’t get it.
Ben: I know. It’s – it doesn’t make any sense. I keep missing him.
Andrew: Bad timing. Yeah. All right.
Ben: But Hagrid – but Laura, Hagrid did want me to tell you that he’s expecting a phone call later, so you really got to come through, so…
Laura: All right, all right. I’ll – I’ll give him a call.
Andrew: I think it’d be worth it, Laura.
Laura: Sure, yeah.
Andrew: He proposed a marriage. I think something could happen between you all.
Ben: Oh and by the way, speaking of marriage, someone by the name of Charlie in the chat really likes Micah and I just wanted to…
Andrew: Aww.
Ben: …let Micah know.
Andrew: You have a friend, Micah.
Micah: Oh, well, thanks.
Andrew Calls the MPAA
Andrew: All right we’re calling the MPAA.
MPAA Representative: Motion Picture Association.
Laura: This is like a [unintelligible] show.
Andrew: Hello?
MPAA Representative: Hello?
Andrew: Hi, I have a question about a rating for a film.
MPAA Representative: Okay, one moment.
Andrew: Okay. Let’s get to the bottom of this.
Ben: Did you really just call the MPAA?
Andrew: Yeah.
[Laura and Ben laugh]
Andrew: [whispering] Shh, everyone, be quiet.
[Telephone rings]
Andrew: Very concerned.
MPAA Answering Machine: Sorry… [long beep]
[Andrew sighs]
MPAA Answering Machine: …is not available. Record your message at the tone. [short beep]
Andrew: Hi, this is Andrew Sims calling from MuggleNet.com. We had a question about the recent trailer rating for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It received a PG rating, and we wanted to know if the MPAA would like to comment on that given that the two previous films, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix, were both rated PG-13. So if you could give us a call back it would be greatly appreciated. My number is 1-218 MAGIC. M-A-G-I-C. Thank you. Bye.
Laura: You gave the wrong number.
Ben: Andrew, why didn’t you give your cell phone number? Did you forget it? It’s 609…
Andrew: [laughs] Shut up!
[Laura and Micah laugh]
Andrew: I wanted – I want…
Laura: It’s [unintelligible].
Andrew: I forgot – what did I say?
Laura: [laughs] You said, “1-218 MAGIC.”
Andrew: Oh. Darn! All right, I’ll call back later.
Laura: She’s going to be like, “What?”
Andrew: I’ll call back later and get a real – damn. I blew my one shot. Damn it!
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Andrew: Anyway. I guess she’s out for the day. It’s almost 5:00. Well, it was worth a shot, right? [laughs]
Micah: Yeah.
Call: The Harry-Ginny Kiss Again, Broadbent as Slughorn, and the PG Rating
Andrew: All right, here comes another MuggleSpace mod. Madame Rosmerta. Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Caller: Hello?
Andrew: Hi.
Caller: Hi, how are you?
Andrew: I’m doing good, how are you?
Caller: I’m good. I’m…
Ben: Are you actually Madame Rosmerta? Can you bring me some butterbeer?
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Sure. I’ll get a fresh Butterbeer right away.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Thank you. You’re awesome.
Caller: I don’t think I called earlier about the kiss. We were talking about that on the chat and we were just saying how I personally didn’t feel like it was the kiss that we saw in the book. Well, definitely wasn’t. The kiss in the book was in a room full of people and it was exciting, it was like, “Oh my God. Harry and Ginny are kissing.”
Andrew: Right.
Caller: And now this is kind of just depressing.
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: And also, I was watching the new trailer and I just really – I was hesitant about Jim Broadbent playing Slughorn, but seeing the scene where he’s taking the memory out of his mind…
Andrew: Oh yeah.
Caller: …it just really kind of sealed the deal for me. He looks physically sick like he’s in pain and really scared of sharing that memory with somebody else.
Andrew: Yeah, it was really cool. I was pretty impressed by him too. There’s also this other clip I actually – I didn’t play yet. It’s Harry asking Slughorn about Voldemort, and I thought really – Slughorn really shined through. So I’ll play it right now.
[Clip plays]
Andrew: That is pretty freaking cool, wasn’t it? Especially Harry. He’s like, “PROFESSOR!?”
[Madame Rosmerta and Nick laugh]
Caller: No I’m just saying – I just – and as far as the PG rating goes, I know Eric was saying last week that he doesn’t think this film or this book is as dark as the others.
Andrew: Mhm.
Caller: And I think there are so many dark elements in this book that we haven’t seen before, like the Inferi. Those are scary creatures.
Andrew: Yeah really! Especially that scene where they’re crawling up to Dumbledore.
Caller: Yeah.
Andrew: I mean…
Caller: So I’m confused how – where the PG rating is coming from.
Andrew: Yeah.
Caller: But considering that Jaws killed business on the Jersey shore for that July 4th weekends, that kind of makes me a little more positive.
Andrew: Wait, wait, wait, wait. What? What about the Jersey shore?
Caller: [laughs] You said Jaws was rated PG, right?
Andrew: Oh yes.
Caller: The weekend that came out there was no beach goers on the Jersey shore.
Andrew: Oh. [laughs] Wow.
Caller: So maybe – maybe this will be as scary.
Andrew: Yeah. A PG movie shouldn’t be able to do that.
Caller: No.
MuggleCast 169 Transcript (continued)
Ben’s Theory
Ben: Maybe – maybe just maybe right before the film comes out – you know WB has been putting all these twists on everything.
Andrew: [laughs] Right.
Ben: They waited so long to give us a trailer. They waited so long to give us – I mean, they switched the release date of the movie. So now at the last minute they’re probably going to rate it R.
[Andrew laughs]
Nick: They are just messing with our minds.
Caller: They’re going to smack us with an R rating.
Andrew: That would be pretty awesome. That would be a big twist that everyone would actually like for once, I think. They should just go – we’ve said this on the show before – they should just go all out for Deathly Hallows and just rate it R. Rate it X. Why not?
Ben: Why not?
Caller: [laughs] What?
Ben: That’s always the better question.
Andrew: [laugh] Well, thank you, Natalie, for calling in, and thank you so much for all your help with MuggleSpace. You’ve been a mod there for a few weeks now and we really appreciate your help.
Caller: Oh no problem. Thank you.
Andrew: Thank you. Good night.
Caller: Bye bye.
Always Ask, “Why Not?”
Ben: I want – I would like all MuggleCast listeners to always ask the question, “Why not?”
Andrew: It’s a good way to look at life.
Ben: Why not?
MuggleSpace Update
Andrew: MuggleSpace update, 9,965. I don’t think we’ve moved. I can’t believe we have not actually hit the 10,000 mark tonight. Definitely by tomorrow but not tonight I guess.
Laura: Come on, guys. Help us out.
Andrew: I feel like all the people listening to the show already – we don’t want to encourage people to make duplicate accounts. I mean, we want…
Ben: Don’t make duplicate accounts. We want legit accounts.
Andrew: Yeah, exactly. So don’t make an account if you already have one.
Ben: So are we doing another live show tomorrow?
Andrew: [laughs] Why?
Ben: Because I like this. This is fun.
Andrew: Well, maybe you should be on them more when we do these.
Ben: You never call me, dude.
Andrew: Ben – Ben, you’re always on the e-mails. You’re always – you’re the first one I compose the message to.
Ben: Aww.
Andrew: [laughs] I’m really disappointed about the MPAA. That would’ve been a…
Laura: Yeah, that would’ve been awesome.
Andrew: That would’ve been…
Laura: We should keep doing that.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: Call back – call back and let’s talk to the operator.
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Operator, do you have a comment?
Ben: Please let us know.
Andrew: No, I don’t – I don’t want to bother them. We don’t want them to hate us.
Ben: I know, they’re probably so busy…
Andrew: I’ll call them later.
Ben: …just rating movies.
[Andrew and Micah laugh]
Andrew: Maybe she’s in a movie right now. Maybe that’s why she didn’t answer. I’ll call them back later and give them the right number. Maybe we can get a little comment from them. But for now let’s take another call. LuffTheHufflepuff…
Call: Disappointing Scenes from the Trailer
Caller: Hey.
Andrew: ….another MuggleSpace mod! Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Caller: Hey.
Andrew: Hey.
Caller: Hey. So I just have a really quick question about the trailer.
Andrew: Okay.
Caller: So I was wondering what you guys’ feelings are? What scenes are you guys willing to cut?
Andrew: From what, the trailer or the actual film? What do you mean?
Caller: The actual film.
Andrew: Like after seeing them in the trailer?
Caller: No, no, no, no. Well, yeah, after you’ve seen them in the trailer. Yeah.
Andrew: Personally, there weren’t any scenes that really made me want to – that I was disappointed in. How about you guys though? That’s a good question. Anyone disappointed by any scenes?
Andrew, The Master Podcaster
Micah: Hold on a sec. First of all, what’s your name and where are you from?
Andrew: She’s LufftheHufflepuff…
Caller: Oh. [laughs]
Andrew: …from Hogwarts.
Caller: My real name is Shelby and I’m from Seattle.
[Andrew laughs]
Micah: Thank you. Andrew, you should be – nobody that’s listening knows who these people are that are calling. [laughs]
Andrew: No, no, no. They do. When I picked up I say, “Hello LufftheHufflepuff,” but then you guys are on hold because I have to have you on hold…
Micah: Oh okay.
Andrew: …to add a person to the call. So that’s why you always miss it. Yeah.
Micah: Gotcha.
Andrew: Micah, don’t – don’t – don’t – come on.
Micah: You could have asked where she’s from.
Ben: Micah, let Andrew do his job. Okay?
Andrew: Yeah.
[Ben laughs]
Andrew: I’m the Master Podcaster.
[Caller laughs]
Micah: Not.
Andrew: I’m the Howard Stern of podcasting. Anyway – I’m just kidding.
Ben: Wow.
Andrew: I’m just kidding. It’s incredibly cocky.
Ben: What a claim.
[Andrew, Ben and Micah laugh]
Ben: You should write a book.
Back to the Caller’s Question
Andrew: Ben, were there any scenes in any of these trailers you saw and you were like, “Cut that out of the movie”?
Ben: I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean, a little too much kissing for me.
[Andrew and Caller laugh]
Andrew: Yeah right.
Caller: I personally – I’m going to be a fan of all the kissing and everything like that. Ginny and Harry’s kissing is going to be hot!
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Hot!
Andrew: Ben, are you jealous of Ginny – or of Harry?
[Andrew and Caller laugh]
Ben: I am very jealous of Harry. I mean, Bonnie Wright is beautiful, and my Emma is beautiful.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Yes. I said “my Emma” because she’s mine. She’s amazing, but – yeah. I’m figuring – I’m figuring this time, premiere, I might – red carpet, it’s just going down right there.
[Andrew and Caller laugh]
Ben: I’m just – I’m just going to lay it on her. It’s going to be…
Andrew: Well, you should…
Ben: …over.
Andrew: You should talk Emerson out of asking the questions this year. You can do it and then I’ll be filming, and then when she comes up, you know, “Hey, Emma. First question: will you marry me?”
[Caller laughs]
Ben: Yes! That would be awesome and we’d have it on video and everything.
Andrew: Exactly. I think she would really like that. Third time’s the charm, right?
Ben: It’s going to happen.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: I mean, eventually…
Caller: I bet it will.
Ben: …I’ll probably make her my bride.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: But right now…
Caller: I bet it…
Ben: …it just – I got to get my foot in the door first. I got to actually talk to her.
Laura: When she doesn’t have security around.
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Hey Ben, I got to tell you honestly, I bet it will happen.
Andrew: Aww.
Ben: I wouldn’t be surprised. I really wouldn’t.
Caller: Of course not!
Ben: I just got to wear that MuggleNet T-shirt and I got a hat now.
Andrew: Oh yeah. That’ll sell her. [laughs]
Keep Our MuggleSpace Users Safe
Caller: Yeah. Hey Andrew, can I just quickly say thank you so much for taking my call.
Andrew: Oh. You’re welcome. And thank you for being a great mod on MuggleSpace.
Caller: And thank you for joining my group. That was awesome! A whole bunch of people joined because of you.
Andrew: Aww. Well, I’m glad they did. And what’s your group? Plug it real quick. It’s a good group.
Caller: [laughs] Okay. So I came up with this group called “Keep Our MuggleSpace Users Safe.” It’s all about getting rid of online predators, and I’m tired of getting sexually preyed upon with guys on the Internet. So I created this support group, and we’ve already brought somebody in.
Andrew: Good job. Good job.
Caller: Thank you.
Ben: That’s awesome.
Caller: Thank you.
Andrew: Yeah. MuggleSpace: Catching Predators. [laughs]
Ben: Seriously, we should make our own Harry…
Caller: [laughs] Dateline NBC.
Ben: How to Catch a ‘Harry Potter’…”
Ben and Andrew: “…Predator.”
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: And me and Andrew will be sitting there in the room and they’ll come and be like, “Why did you do it, huh? Why? Who do you think you are?”
Andrew: “This is Andrew Sims, and I’m from MuggleSpace.com.”
[Caller laughs]
Andrew: “I’m Chris Hanson with Dateline NBC.” I love that line whenever he says it.
[Andrew and Caller laugh]
Andrew: “I’m Andrew Sims with MuggleSpace and we’ve just caught you.”
Caller: It’s so funny. Okay, not to bring up NBC and everything, but it’s so funny. The guy’s walking and like “Oh I shouldn’t have.” It’s like why did you show up? Sorry.
Andrew: Right, right. Yeah. Micah’s been through that a couple times. Haven’t you, Micah?
Caller: Oh, poor Micah.
Andrew: [laughs] I’m just kidding.
Ben: Next week on How to Catch a Predator.
Caller: [laughs] Yeah. Micah, I promise I won’t report you. I won’t report you.
[Andrew and Micah laugh]
Andrew: And you better not run. The Death Eaters are waiting outside to take you – take you away.
[Caller laughs]
Andrew: That would be a great video show. We should do that. [laughs]
Caller: You know what? I might just – I don’t know. I just might make a video.
Andrew: [laughs] All right.
Ben: What if we stopped calling cops “cops” and we called them Aurors. You know what I mean? Just for like…
Andrew: Called them Aurors?
Ben: …shits and grins.
Andrew: “Oh man! It’s the Aurors!”
[Caller laughs]
Andrew: Be like, “The what? Excuse me?” The Auror cars. Doesn’t…
Caller: You know – okay, Andrew, let me explain. There’s these wizard cops named Aurors and…
Andrew: [laughs] Exactly.
[Caller laughs]
Andrew: All right. Well, thanks for calling in.
Caller: You’re welcome.
Andrew: Enjoy Seattle.
Caller: I will. Yeah, all the rain.
Andrew: Let me know if you see Edward.
Caller: [laughs] No. Oh shut up, Andrew.
Ben: [singing] Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday…
Andrew: Why are you singing?
Ben: …to you. [stops singing] Didn’t he say your birthday?
Andrew: No. I said, “Let me know if you see Edward up there.”
Ben: Oh, I thought you said, “Sing me ‘Happy Birthday.'”
Andrew: No. Thanks though.
[Caller laughs]
Ben: Oh. I must have missed that.
Andrew: [laughs] All right. All right. Thanks for calling in. Have a good night.
Caller: Okay, you too.
Andrew: Thanks. I will. Oh, she hung up on me. Meany face. Okay, it’s past 8:00. We said we were only going to do this for an hour. I don’t know – should we take one more? The calls have been good today. [laughs] Last time they weren’t so hot but this week they’re pretty good. So what do you say, guys? One more call and then we’ll wrap it up?
Laura: We can take one more.
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: Yeah.
Andrew: Hopefully it’s a good one though. That would be bad. Hello – oh, it just put everything on hold. Hello Kelsey. You’re on MuggleCast Live. Hello? Kelsey? Kelsey, hello? [switches to another call] Hello. Hello, you’re on MuggleCast Live.
Call: PG Rating a Mistake
Caller: Hey. Can you hear me?
Andrew: Yes I can, and now the other hosts can too. What’s up?
Caller: Okay. It’s really laggy right now but it’s okay.
Andrew: Oh. Sorry.
Caller: Okay, about the PG rating, I don’t think it’s that much of a big of a deal because I really do think they made a mistake in the way of – I don’t know. I think they made a mistake.
Andrew: Yeah. Why? Explain yourself.
Caller: I’m sorry.
[Andrew laughs]
Caller: Because [laughs] – well, because obviously, it’s – it’s a dark movie and a book. And like I said, Dumbledore’s death is – is good enough to make it a PG-13.
Andrew: Me – yeah, I agree. It’s very confusing.
Caller: [laughs] It’s such a lag. It’s weird.
Andrew: Well, anyone else? Anyone else got thoughts? I’m researching breaking news right now we’ve just received in the MuggleCast studio.
Micah: Well, are you saying – I’m sorry…
Caller: Go ahead.
Micah: …that you don’t think that it’s going to make that big of a difference one way or the other? I mean it’s…
Caller: I think it’s the same movie.
Micah: Yeah.
Caller: Whether they said it’s PG or PG-13, I think it’s the same movie.
Micah: Yeah, absolutely. I think you’re right. In the end it’s not going to make a difference in terms of sales. I think everyone is still going to go out and see it, but this opens it up to a much wider audience and maybe…
Caller: Sure.
Micah: …some parents will be more wanting to take their kids to it since it’s PG as opposed to PG-13.
Andrew: Mhm.
Trailer Not a Trailer
Caller: And plus the trailer, I don’t think it was made for – even – I think that of course it was made for the Japanese, but I think that it was made really quick. Like on the fly. Just because they needed something at the end of those credits. I don’t think it was meant to be – no one was really meant to see that in America. [laughs]
Micah: Yeah. That might change though…
[Caller and Micah laugh]
Micah: …depending on what we find out here in the next few minutes. Right, Andrew?
Andrew: What?
Micah: That that might have just been a trailer that we weren’t really supposed to see.
Andrew: No. No. There were – there were rumors about this being with Inkheart, but I’ve just confirmed that this is actually false, so – if that’s what you were referring to.
Micah: Yeah, that’s what I was referring to.
Caller: Because if it is it’s a really – it’s not a great trailer at all. It’s not a professional trailer.
Micah: Not at all.
Andrew: Yes. Well, okay. Well, thank you for calling in. You’re right. It’s not a professional trailer. I think it was more of a promo thing more than anything else. Plus Dan is – in the beginning he’s like, “Hey! Check this out. I really think it’s good.”
Micah: He called it – he said it was new footage. He didn’t even say trailer.
Ben: So we’ve been calling it a new trailer when it hasn’t been a trailer the whole time.
Andrew: Ah! We were robbed.
Ben: What a blunder, Andrew. What a blunder.
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah, well…
Caller: Oh! And one more thing. I can’t wait to see Dean Thomas and Ginny.
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah, that’ll be interesting. That’ll be exciting, I mean. All right, well, thanks for calling in, dude.
Caller: Yeah, thanks.
Andrew: All right, bye bye.
Caller: Bye.
Ben’s Plans to Drink Apple Juice
Andrew: All right, well, on that note, I think it is time to wrap things up. It’s been a good show.
Ben: It has been.
Andrew: Hasn’t it been Ben?
Laura: It’s been Ben.
Ben: It’s been Ben.
Andrew: It’s been Ben. Ben been. What are you guys doing tonight? Anyone going to any parties?
Ben: I’m not going to any parties, but me and my friends – my friends are coming over to play Uker and drink apple juice.
Andrew: Oh cool.
Laura: Apple juice!?
Andrew: That’s fun.
[Micah laughs]
Andrew: I’m going – I’m going to a friend’s house too. It’s a Harry Potter party.
Ben: Say that three times fast, Andrew.
Andrew: Harry Potter party, Harry Potter party, Harry Potter party. I don’t stumble anymore.
Ben: Say it for five minutes.
Andrew: [laughs] I can’t do it for five minutes. Well, thanks, everyone, for listening tonight. What are we at here? 490 viewers right now and I saw it was higher at 500 earlier today.
MuggleCasters React to Snape Shushing Harry
Micah: Should we just talk about one more thing?
Andrew: Yeah please.
Micah: Because I don’t know, we didn’t really bring it up, but the scene where Snape is shushing Harry.
Andrew: Oh yeah!
Micah: I know a lot of people sent in a message about that. What do you guys think?
Andrew: I – what do you think? Because I saw that, and I don’t – I don’t know. I mean, is he essentially saying that he’s…
Micah: I think it’s right before he kills Dumbledore.
Andrew: Huh? Right, it’s…
Micah: I think it’s right before he kills Dumbledore.
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: So can he see under the Cloak? Is Harry even under the Cloak? Who knows? He would have to be.
Nick: He’s moving though in it as well.
Micah: He’s what?
Nick: He’s moving in it though, isn’t he? Isn’t he immobilized when he’s under the Cloak?
Micah: Right.
Nick: In the trailer he actually moves.
Micah: Yeah, and what’s also weird about it is this would suggest that Snape can see Harry when we know…
Nick: Oh yeah, yeah.
Micah: …in the book that he doesn’t. Or maybe he does, who knows? Maybe he can sense Harry under the Invisibility Cloak.
Andrew: Yeah. Yeah, it’s – it’s – it’s – it’s weird. I don’t – but do you think this could be – I mean, this essentially reveals though that if Snape is telling him to be quiet, then isn’t it sort of giving it away that he’s the good guy?
Micah: Well, I don’t know, because right before he kills him maybe Harry sees Snape coming up the staircase and thinks he’s there to help. It could be one of those situations because Draco has already – or no, has Draco – would Draco have already disarmed Dumbledore? He would have, right?
Andrew: Yes, I think so, by this point.
Micah: So I would say it would be the scene where Snape is sort of coming up the steps to the Astronomy tower, and Harry might see him there, and he just turns to make sure that Harry doesn’t move. I don’t think it would imply that he’s good.
Andrew: Yeah.
Micah: Because Harry doesn’t know what he’s about to do.
Andrew: Right. Anyone else? Any thoughts about that? I think it’s bad. I think fans are going to be upset with that.
Nick: Yeah.
Andrew: No? Nobody? Laura? Micah? Ben?
Laura: Dead air.
Ben: Nothing. I’ve got nothing, Andrew. I’m all showed out.
Andrew: [laughs] Okay…
Ben: All this time on the stage, thinking and all that, has been rough.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: Just kidding. It’s been fun. It’s been a blast!
Andrew: I know. I’m sure you’re – it’s a lot of work, isn’t it, just sitting there?
Ben: It must be a lot of work for you too, Skype Master!
[Andrew and Micah laugh]
Show Close
Andrew: Podcasting Master. Well, thanks, everyone, for listening. This has been a fun show. Thanks to the 500 of you who have been listening too. It’s a nice – nice big audience for a last minute show, and we hope you all have enjoyed it. So yeah, Ben, you have fun with your apple juice. And the rest of you have fun being losers Friday night just sitting around.
[Andrew and Ben laugh]
Andrew: I’m just kidding.
Ben: I’m not.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Actually I am. I’m sorry.
Andrew: Hey, fun – fun last minute question. When do you guys think the next trailer will come out? Because there’s got to be one more.
Nick: A couple of months.
Ben: Oh, it’s coming to me in a vision, hold on. [makes choking noises]
Andrew: Is he Trelawney?
Ben: [as Trelawney] The true trailer will come out on February 27th.
Andrew: Wow!
[Everyone laughs]
Andrew: Wow.
Ben: Guys, I have no idea what just happened there.
Andrew: February 27th.
Ben: What? What happened?
Andrew: February 27th. That’s a Friday. I guess that’s a possibility.
Ben: What’s going on? What were we talking about? What’s going on?
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: I just blanked out for a second.
Andrew: I don’t – you just had a vision, Ben, I think.
Ben: Oh my gosh!
Andrew: You predicted February 27th for the next trailer. We’ll see. [laughs]
Ben: Wow.
Andrew: That was so weird.
Ben: Sorry. Sometimes it just comes to me.
Andrew: Right. I understand. Thanks, everyone, for listening.
[“My Generation” by The Who starts playing]
Andrew: Whoa! That was really loud! We’ll leave you with “My Generation” by The Who. Goodnight, everybody!
Nick: Bye.
[“My Generation” plays]