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Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things Science Fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.
On this episode of The SciFi Podcast, we welcome a most-triumphant guest, Andrew W.K., to discuss his music, philosophies, science fiction and, of course, Bill S. Preston, Esquire and “Ted” Theodore Logan. That’s right, Andrew W.K. joins your hosts for reviews of the hard-partying films Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991). Station!
Find Andrew W.K.‘s rock anthems of the future on iTunes or, even better, get something real to hold in your hand directly from his website at AndrewWK.com. You can (and should) also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Please go find him on at least one of these platforms and thank him for coming on The SciFi Podcast.
On most episodes, theme music comes courtesy of I Hear Sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of I Hear Sirens’ ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. This episode’s theme music features Andrew WK tracks from his recordings, which can be found on iTunes. Podcast production by Mattroid. Artwork by SpaceWolf.
A. dubs is my hero.
Excellent Adventure < Bogus Journey
You’re nuts.
I’m sorry, I typed it the wrong way. What I really meant was:
Bogus Journey > Excellent Adventure
😉
Still wrong.
Excellent Adventure is tops, I remember when my mom took me to see it at the Central Square theater by Smith’s in Provo. I went back the next day with my own money to see it again.
What did your Mother think of the Bill’s stepmom and father asking him and Ted to leave so they could get it on in his room scene?
Excellent Adventure was a big part of my childhood. It’s also how I learned my first French curse word.
I know I’ve seen it, but I honestly can’t remember Bogus Journey.
Oh… my… Lord! You guys are insane! Insane, I tell you! Bogus Journey is like a billion times more memorable, quotable, and any other -ables that you could imagine. Any argument that you may have against it, I’ll just counter it with this:
Death
Station!
Melvins
You may be right, bro.
But I just can’t remember…
Just to be clear, I didn’t direct that message to you. I directed it to everyone who thinks Excellent Adventure is the better movie. Having said that, you are insane for not dropping anything you’re doing to watch Bogus Journey right meow.
Then why is your mathematical equation insisting that Excellent Adventure is greater than Bogus Journey?
Haha it’s not! Unless Mattroid messed with it *shakes fist*
“I’m not crazy, you’re the one who’s crazy.”
“What is this ridiculous, psychotic garbage?”
-Station!
Oh man…one of my favorite lines to date.
first time listening and it was excellent! im a new loyal scifi podcast fan!
Thank, Aton! Make sure you check out the other episodes too. Lots of stuff going on, lots of givaways too.
way cool thx. have you guys thought about doing a mars sci fi?
Aton,
Welcome and salutations.
I don’t say a lot here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you, it just means it’s not my strong suit, even though others would wish otherwise.
Actually, Mars is one of my favorite things in stories. We will be releasing an episode in later Dec reviewing The Martian (with contributor Brain) and early next year as an entire episode theme – Mars! or something equally unoriginal. 🙂
I was listening to your podcast regarding Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and felt that the themes of the film were completely misunderstood under the rose-tinted glasses of musicians and fans of music as opposed to seeing the film for other thematic elements. The idea that B&T would change the world through music was not a theme- that was a sort of MacGuffin to explain why someone was traveling back through time and giving them a time machine. The idea that people have changed the world throughout history is the real theme, and learning to respect that history is the real central theme to the story- each character brought forth through time are people who are remembered and who have inspired and who have had an effect on the world straight up to the current era. Philosophy (Socrates), Psychology (Freud), Faith (Joan of Arc), Military strategy (Boneparte), Barbarism (Khan), and the Outlaw spirit (Billy the Kid) were all represented as parts of our world history and would play a part in inspiring the music of B&T and would be instrumental (pun intended) in their ability to change the world.
What should be noted is that at the time of the film’s release there was a lot of cross promotion throughout many public schools to encourage kids to see this film and learn a little bit about history. The Scholastic Books program featured advertising for the film- I was in Middle-School at the time and our teacher actually wanted us to see the film, pick an historical figure, and write a paper about that person. This was originally intended to be a stand-alone film with no sequels but success breeds… but if you watch this film by itself, it makes perfect sense. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end- and I mean a total completion of their journey. They start off as irresponsible losers, go on a quest to pass their history final, and close the film having learned to play the music that would bring them to greatness. Story over. The second film only works to further elaborate on the success we already know that B&T are destined to have.
We explored it through music because we are all musicians; certainly other aspects and viewpoints exist, as you stated, but we focused on what makes it interesting to us as musicians. But I appreciate you bringing these things up, especially the second paragraph.
Thanks for your comment!
Oh, no doubt it made it interesting… and as an “element”, it’s interesting. But I was referring to “Theme”, specifically. There are often multiple themes in a story and those can be debatable, and music as a uniting principle is definitely a thematic element in Bogus Journey. But I don’t see “music” as an actual theme in the first film… an element, yes. But not a theme.
Sure. I think the first film uses music as a tertiary character, in some respects. But it’s not much of a theme; at best it’s a running attempt to become a theme by the sequel.
You’re not wrong, thanks for helping us point out some of the more obvious themes. Keep listening and the commits coming.