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Emanating from their studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, The History of Bad Ideas sees hosts Jason, Jeff and Blake talk about all things geeky on their podcast. Whether it’s rumours of the latest comic book movies, debating who really is the worst villain of all time, discussing the latest comic issues or just wondering about life in general, you are sure to have a fun time with them! In theory.

If you haven’t listened to the show before – why not? – you can check out previous episodes of The History of Bad Ideas podcast on iTunes and look out for new episodes here on Nerdly each and every week…

Episode 554: You’re an Asterisk Man!

The Hobi Gang is back in the studio with a mostly full team! Per listener request, the guys watched The Heavenly Kid, Bryan watched Deadpool and Wolverine, Jason watched Batman the Caped Crusader, and Blake went to GenCon!

Mort Engelberg, who was a producer on films including Smokey and the Bandit and The Big Easy before transitioning into politics as an “advance man” for Bill Clinton and other presidential candidates, died Saturday in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 86.

“He was a wonderful person, a wonderful husband. He loved the movie business, and he loved his work with President Clinton,” his wife, Helaine Blatt, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He told the best stories of anyone I ever met, the best jokes.”

Born and raised in Memphis, Engelberg graduated from the University of Illinois and then spent a year working on a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri. He left school before completing that degree and worked as a journalist for a few years before moving to Washington in 1961 to work for Sargent Shriver, the director of the then-newly formed Peace Corps, and later...

The Malcolm in the Middle cast is filled with great actors – both sitcom staples and traditional dramatic performers in comedic roles – playing the show’s delightfully wacky characters. Created by Linwood Boomer, Malcolm in the Middle revolves around the titular child prodigy and the various misadventures he gets into with his dysfunctional family. From its single-camera shooting style to its regular fourth-wall breaks, Malcolm in the Middle made a few stylistic revolutions to the TV comedy format that went on to influence future sitcoms. Its dark, surreal comic sensibility was also a radical break from the family sitcom style.

A consistent ratings success and a hit with critics, Malcolm in the Middle ran for seven seasons on the Fox broadcast network. Throughout its run, the series won many prestigious awards – including a Peabody Award. While the writing was highly acclaimed, Malcolm in the Middle received particular praise for the work of its hilarious ensemble cast.

There’s sad news to report this evening, as it has been announced that Ricou Browning – who was the last surviving actor to have played a classic Universal Monster, since he portrayed the Gill-Man in the underwater scenes in all three entries of the Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy; Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) – has passed away at the age of 93. The Hollywood Reporter notes that his daughter Kim confirmed he passed away yesterday, just eleven days after his birthday.

Born in Fort Pierce, Florida on February 16, 1930, Browning started his career in the entertainment industry by working in water shows at tourist attractions and performing in underwater newsreels. When Gill-Man scenes were being filmed for Creature from the Black Lagoon in Florida, the crew chose Browning to play the swimming creature because he was a strong swimmer and could...

Dancing With the Stars had us a blast with its tribute to Grease, but then the elimination happened so fast. Don't worry—we'll tell you more. On Monday, Oct. 18, the ABC competition series celebrated Grease Night, as the pairs dressed up to channel the 1978 hit film with appropriate costumes and song choices. As E! News exclusively reported, actress Olivia Newton-John made an appearance to offer her perspective as the original movie's Sandy, while Didi Conn and Frankie Avalon—who starred in the film as Frenchy and Teen Angel, respectively—participated in the episode as well. Didi offered pointers to Amanda Kloots, and Frankie sang "Beauty School...

It’s no longer “Summer Nights,” but that’s not going to stop “Dancing with the Stars” from doing a “Grease” Night. The remaining 11 couples will perform to tunes from the iconic musical on Monday because the show is hopelessly devoted to theme nights.

You’ve got all the usual suspects from “Grease” and will be treated to a double dose of one song: Melora Hardin and Artem Chigvintsev will perform their Viennese waltz to “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” while JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson will foxtrot to the reprise. For the first time this season, the Charleston will be performed — Suni Lee and Sasha Farber will do one to “Born to Hand Jive.” The other dance styles are foxtrot, jive, Viennese waltz, rumba and quickstep.

See the full list of dances below.

Jimmie Allen and Emma Slater: foxtrot (“Sandy”)

Melanie C and Gleb Savchenko:...

Conchata Ferrell, best known for her role as Berta the housekeeper on “Two and a Half Men,” died on Tuesday in Sherman Oaks, a rep for Warner Bros. Television confirmed to Variety. She was 77.

“Two and a Half Men” creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre described Ferrell as “one of the greats.”

“We called her Chatty. And we all loved her,” Lorre said in a statement. “Twelve years of highs and lows, and lots and lots of laughter. Through it all she was a rock. One of the greats. I was privileged to call her a friend.”

“We are saddened by the loss of Conchata Ferrell and are grateful for the years she brought us laughs as Berta which will live on forever,” Warner Bros. TV, the studio behind “Two and a Half Men,” tweeted.

We are saddened by the loss of Conchata Ferrell and are grateful for the years...

Exclusive: Longtime The Simpsons executive producer/showrunner Al Jean has signed with the Gersh Agency. This represents the highest-profile new writer signing since Gersh earlier this year became the first major full-service talent agency to sign a franchise agreement with the WGA.

Jean has been on Fox’s The Simpsons since the 1989 pilot and, with brief breaks in the 1990s, for the iconic comedy’s 21-season run to date. He has been a sole showrunner since Season 13.

With The Simpsons, Jean has shared nine Animation Program Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. He also was co-writer and producer on The Simpsons Movie, which grossed over $500 million worldwide, and on The Simpsons-themed Oscar-nominated animated short film The Longest Daycare.

In addition to his work on The Simpsons, Jean co-created series The Critic and Teen Angel and worked on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show. He also co-wrote Funny or Die’s SNL Presidential Reunion Video,...

Have you heard about this new movie about five Canadian youngsters who embark on an adventure involving walking across a frozen Lake Ontario from their dead-end Canadian town to New York State? It’s called Skating To New York, and We Are Movie Geeks wants to give you the Blu-ray.

From the creators of 8 Seconds, Mr. Baseball and Pain and Gain comes the contemporary coming-of-age adventure Skating To New York, debuting on Blu-ray™ and DVD Feb. 17 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Five teenage boys leave their small Canadian town behind and risk skating across Lake Ontario to New York on the coldest day of the year. The story of home and friendship, leadership and facing up to danger, about growing up and never giving up stars Connor Jessup (“Falling Skies”), Gage Munroe (Immortals), Wesley Morgan (Kick Ass 2), Matthew Knight (The Grudge 2), Dylan Everett (“Degrassi”), Michelle Nolden (“Nikita”) and Jason Gedrick...

Jason Gedrick (Iron Eagle, Backdraft) has joined the cast of Dexter season 7. Comingsoon reports that the actor will appear in a multi-episode arc, will play the manager of a Miami-area gentlemen's club that becomes linked to a high-profile murder case. Filming for the new season starts in May in Los Angeles with episodes premiering on Showtime Sunday, September 30th at 9:00 Pm Et/Pt.

Gedrick is also known for his roles in Stacking and Heavenly Kid. He also co-starred with Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland in Promised Land and in Crossing the Bridge. He has also appeared on Broadway in a production of Our Town with Don Ameche and Helen Hunt, as well as recently appearing in the production of Wrongturn at Lungfish, directed by Gary Marshall. He recently appeared in the television series Luck, and has also appeared in Murder One, Ez Streets, Falcone, Boomtown, Ally McBeal and Desperate Housewives.

Jason Gedrick has joined the cast of Showtime's "Dexter" for Season 7. Gedrick, who will appear in a multi-episode arc, will play the manager of a Miami-area gentlemen's club that becomes linked to a high-profile murder case. Production on "Dexter" begins in May in Los Angeles and will premiere on Showtime Sunday, September 30th at 9:00 Pm Et/Pt. Jason Gedrick has had leading roles in several films including Iron Eagle , Stacking and Heavenly Kid . He also co-starred with Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland in Promised Land and in Ron Howard's Backdraft , as well as starring in Crossing the Bridge . His stage work includes starring in the Broadway production of "Our Town" with Don Ameche and Helen Hunt, as well as recently appearing in the...

The summer of 1985. Has it really been twenty-five years. Wow! I don't really feel old, but its amazing that era was so long ago and yet the memories feel like yesterday. I was ten going on eleven and enjoying my summer break. Though my parents wouldn't let me leave my neighborhood with my friends, they always took me to the cinema as often as they could, which is where my love of movies comes from. I consider myself fortunate to have shared some great movie moments with my family and with my parents coming to town to visit me this summer, we hope to have some more.Hollywood still makes great movies today, but the eighties were a time when most of the movies you saw were good. At least they seemed to be good at that early age. Time can often be cruel and with maturity comes the revelation...