Licence to Spiel
Carl Wonders and Thad Hait
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Hosts Carl Wonders and Thad Hait discuss movies in and around the James Bond franchise, as well as anything else that pops into their heads.
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3 days ago
Sometimes You Just Wanna Feel Gouda
In this episode, we talk about 2003’s Johnny English, the first entry in the occasional film series that has a release schedule comparable to some BBC shows. We also discuss the merits of Mr. Bean and the line of succession to the British throne, and we pour one out for LightScribe.
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Jan 17, 2023
Entertainment that Costs Less than Your House
Licence to Spiel returns, ostensibly to talk about the 1954 TV adaptation of “Casino Royale.” While we do talk about this interesting time capsule of entertainment, we also fall down several rabbit holes, including a long discussion of the 90s cartoon “James Bond, Jr.” Watch Casino Royale (1954) Normally, we would assume anyone listening to … Continue reading Entertainment that Costs Less than Your House
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Dec 15, 2022
Hey, It’s Better Than Spy Hard
In this episode we discuss Austin Powers in Goldmember from 2002, a film that helps reinforce the Law of Diminishing Returns. is it good? No it’s not at all. But it’s not the worst film we’ve watched so far…
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Nov 15, 2022
Way To Go There, Norway
This episode, we talk about Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), a film that is absolutely hilarious if you are a thirteen-year-old boy. Sadly, Thad and (especially) Carl are much older…
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Nov 7, 2022
Chekhov’s Penis Pump
Groovy baby! Join us (briefly) in 1960s En-ga-land as we talk about Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997). It’s a film that has certainly dated since it came out but is one we still enjoyed.
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Oct 29, 2022
The Matlock Cinematic Universe
In this episode, we watched 1996’s Spy Hard, so you don’t have to. While occasionally funny, this movie mostly made us question its casting choices, acting choices, and random non sequitur movie references. We also make a comment that you would only ever hear on this podcast.
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Oct 8, 2022
When Fandoms Collide
Normally we have to go out of our way to find opportunities to talk about Star Trek in our Bond podcast. This week though, we are talking about the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Our Man Bashir.” So if you thought we’ve gotten overly nerdy before… Embarrassing correction: Carl erroneously referred to the episode … Continue reading When Fandoms Collide
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Sep 30, 2022
Kevin Costner Is Not In This Movie
Remember when James Cameron made movies you wanted to see? We leave the world of James Bond for the first time to talk about True Lies (1994), a movie we feel safe in predicting will be more fun than Avatar 17.
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Sep 16, 2022
I Don’t Understand This At All!
The year 1967 saw two James Bond films hit theaters. One involved a plot to steal space capsules from a secret volcano lair and yet was somehow the less insane of the two. Sadly, we watched Casino Royale (1967) this week instead.
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Sep 10, 2022
So Many Ass Shots
We discuss Thunderb…er…Never Say Never Again (1983): Kevin McClory’s answer to Octopussy. While neither film is very good, this one at least has Sean Connery, that glorious early 80s aesthetic, and yes, a whole lot of ass shots.
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Sep 2, 2022
You Only Podcast Twice
The Daniel Craig era of James Bond ends with a bang, quite literally, with No Time To Die—a film so delayed we’ve actually talked about it two separate times now. We now eagerly await the follow up: The Return of Dou Dou.
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Aug 26, 2022
They Should Have Cut Off Christoph Waltz’s Earlobes
Several times in this episode we complain about a certain Bond movie not coming out. The same movie we talked about back in Episode 4. And the one we will also talk about next time. It’s almost as inexplicable as Bond’s lack of brain damage, Mr. White’s secret room hidden behind a plaster wall, or … Continue reading They Should Have Cut Off Christoph Waltz’s Earlobes
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Aug 2, 2022
I Heard About It On ZNN
In this 50th Anniversary outing, James Bond must contend with the looming spectre of old age. It’s still more nefarious than the villain’s so-called plot. Did we mention that this is only Daniel Craig’s third film?
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Jul 18, 2022
The Bond Ultimatum
In his first-ever direct sequel, James Bond must contend with dubious alternative fuels, questionable editorial decisions, and David Harbour’s mustache.
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Jun 26, 2022
Product Placement Royale
Daniel Craig is here to save the day and the franchise with a plethora of Sony gadgets!
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Jun 9, 2022
Explicit Fig and Diamond Boolooloop
Pierce Brosnan returns to Die Another Day, but first he has to make a lot of double entendres.
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May 27, 2022
#ReleaseTheAptedCut
Despite some overlong action scenes and an ending stuffed with Christmas puns, we can’t help but wonder if this one might have actually benefitted from a longer runtime. This episode might not make up for a rather long and unexpected hiatus, but it’s such a perfect place to start.
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Apr 29, 2022
Where in the Movie Is Hugh Bonneville?
What do Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Pryce, Julian Fellowes, Geoffrey Palmer, and Teri Hatcher have in common? They all starred in Tomorrow Never Dies with Hugh Bonneville. Or is that just fake news?
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Mar 31, 2022
The Film Based on the N64 Video Game
James Bond enters the 90s with new actors and a new tone to the franchise, and we’re here for it.
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Mar 10, 2022
Recovering from an Acute Case of Being John Terry
Our licence to spiel has been revoked, but we’ve gone rogue and released this episode anyway.
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Feb 17, 2022
That’s a Really Bad Wax Hitler
We finally watch a good movie again, Joe Don Baker notwithstanding.
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Feb 10, 2022
Single Entendre
Dance into the fire with us this week as we meet you with A View to a Kill.
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Feb 2, 2022
They Stole Their Seats from the Enterprise-D
This film is a high point in the franchise, if your metric is escape methods disguised as animals.
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Jan 27, 2022
Eating Opium with Margaret Thatcher
If you listen to our episode about For Your Eyes Only, we may just buy you a delicatessen in stainless steel.
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Jan 19, 2022
The Worst Spy in the History of Spies
007 goes to space, Jaws falls in love, and we are inexplicably thirsty for 7up.
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Jan 13, 2022
Requiem for Dead Technology
Roger Moore has finally hit his stride with The Spy Who Loved Me, and we’re here to talk about.
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Dec 15, 2021
Recycled Fake Nipples
Join us as we talk about the second installment in the JW Pepper cinematic universe!
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Dec 8, 2021
A Whole Different Kind of Racist
Roger Moore makes his franchise debut in a film that that we should perhaps let die.
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Nov 17, 2021
Maybe It‘s a Dutch Thing
Richard Nixon (ahem, we mean Sean Connery) is living it up in Las Vegas this week.
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Nov 9, 2021
There Are No Bears in Zurich
This never happened to the other guys. Actually, it’s still just Carl and Thad. We couldn’t find Australian replacements to talk about On Her Majesty’s Secret Service for us.
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Nov 2, 2021
Little Debbie
You only hear us talking about the fifth James Bond film twice, or so it would seem.
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Oct 26, 2021
How the Heck Did I Forget the Jetpack?
This week—for real this time—Licence to Spiel strikes like Thunderball! Thad and Carl discuss the fourth James Bond film and draw their attention to many things in this (perhaps overlong) movie, including Largo’s several fashion faux pas, the introduction of Kevin McClory, how NOT to be secret, and of course, that jetpack.
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Oct 19, 2021
We‘re Really Bad at Podcasting
At long last, No Time to Die is finally here, and so are our thoughts on it, fresh from the theater.
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Oct 12, 2021
Regional Authenticity
The Bond series hits its stride with Goldfinger, where we learn how not to smuggle gold, discover that Kentucky Fried Chicken may not be in Kentucky after all, and help Thad with his aversion to unnecessary hydraulic lifts.
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Oct 5, 2021
Does James Bond Shave His Back?
From Russia with Love turns this into a full-fledged franchise and adds some elements that will become staples of the series. Join us as we talk about Sean Connery’s second Bond film.
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Sep 28, 2021
Making Boolooloop with the Duke of Wellington
In our first episode, we cover the film that started it all: Dr. No.
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