James Bond & Friends

What will be the impact of yet another delay to No Time To Die?

For this episode, the panel examines the unsurprising news that MGM issued yet another delay to No Time To Die, pushing the film back to October 2021. Will this hold with Bond being the first big film out this year, or should we really expect it in 2022? What other curve balls could we see between now and then, and will Ana de Armas be back dating Ben Affleck by the time Daniel Craig turns 60?

The recording took place on January 22nd, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

The alternative side of Bond’s sound. 

This week we interview four musicians who together contributed to the 2020 album of James Bond cover songs, 'Not From Where I’m Standing'. Organised by David Gedge of The Wedding Present, the new album involves Gedge’s colleagues and friends from 35 years in the music business. 

Join us as Gedge and friends recount the origins of the album, some challenges of covering the Barry songs of the ‘60s, how they recorded some of these tracks in low-tech lockdown, why they chose mental health advocates CALM to receive the profits of this charity album, and what they’re looking forward to post-pandemic. 

Listeners can win a vinyl or CD copy of the album - be sure to listen for how to enter.

The recording took place on January 4th, 2021 in the UK, USA, Spain, and New Zealand. 

Paul Atkinson is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential 

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com 

David Lewis Gedge is an English musician best known for his work in the influential indie rock group The Wedding Present, of which he is the singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only ever-present member. http://www.theweddingpresent.co.uk 

Terry de Castro was the bassist for London-based indie trio Goya Dress from 1993-1998 and for Cinerama and The Wedding Present from 1998-2010 (and still stands in on occasion). She lives in Los Angeles where she records music, teaches yoga and works for a documentary production company. 

Missy Tassles (aka Diane) is lead singer and guitarist of The Sleazoids, a raucous, trashy, garage punk trio, aiming for somewhere between The Cramps and The Fall. Their debut LP 'Insane Escapades' was released in 2018 and, if it hadn't been for some pesky germs, The Sleazoids would have recorded their second album by now. Rest assured, as the world allows, we'll get back to playing loud music, drinking beer and having a good time! https://thesleazoids.wordpress.com/ 

Shaun Charman was the original drummer of The Wedding Present from 1985-1987, now guitarist with Brighton based Jetstream Pony, self-titled album out now on Spinout Nuggets and Shelflife Records. https://www.facebook.com/jetstreamponyband 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021 

Join us as we watch the first two episodes of James Bond Jr together as a group experience. 

For this episode, we resurrect an oft-forgotten relic of the canon - James Bond Jr - as it celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Whether you grew up seeing it on TV, or have never watched it before, we recap the history of the project before diving in at the deep end with the first two episodes: 'The Beginning' and 'Earth Cracker'. You can watchalong with us via these YouTube videos:
 Episode 01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVkNZ7mvcNc 
 Episode 02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ7WeKCUHH0 

The recording took place on December 4th, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

'Pierce Brosnan' appears via StuOnlyLiveTweets

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

What were our Bondian highlights of 2020 and what are we looking forward to in 2021?

For this episode, we pull up our armchairs in front of the fire and chat about the year that has passed, trying to pick out some Bond-themed highlights in a 2020 that was challenging for almost everyone on the planet. Which film would we each pick to celebrate the holidays? And as we get ready to ring in a new year, what are we each looking forward to in Bond's world in 2021?

The recording took place on December 23rd, 2020 in the USA and Spain. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

We asked 100 James Bond fans... 

Taking a break from our usual discussion & watchalong format, we play Family Feud (or Family Fortunes, depending on where you're from) with returning champions Lisa Funnell and Ben Williams battling Bill Koenig and David Leigh in the grand final for the 2020 title. The peanut gallery is joined by Phil Nobile Jr. and Paul Atkinson to chip in answers they miss. Who can best guess the results of the top 100 answers from an MI6 survey of James Bond fans? Play along and see how many you can get. Who will walk off with the star prize and who gets a bus fare home?

The recording took place on December 18th in the USA, UK, Spain, New Zealand. 

James Page and Paul Atkinson are co-founders of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

We asked 100 James Bond fans... 

Taking a break from our usual discussion & watchalong format, we play Family Feud (or Family Fortunes, depending on where you're from) with Calvin Dyson, Phil Nobile Jr, Lisa Funnell, and Ben Williams in two teams hoping to make it through to the grand final. Who can best guess the results of the top 100 answers from an MI6 survey of James Bond fans? Play along and see how many you can get. Who will walk off with the star prize and who gets a bus fare home?

The recording took place on December 11th in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

We asked 100 James Bond fans... 

Taking a break from our usual discussion & watchalong format, we play Family Feud (or Family Fortunes, depending on where you're from) with Mark O'Connell, Sean Longmore, David Leigh, and Bill Koenig in two teams hoping to make it through to the grand final. Who can best guess the results of the top 100 answers from an MI6 survey of James Bond fans? Play along and see how many you can get. Who will walk off with the star prize and who gets a bus fare home?

The recording took place on December 10th in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Mark O'Connell's home base is markoconnell.co.uk 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Join us as we watch 1964's Goldfinger together as a group experience. 

Is the iconic film still the gold standard or are parts of it due for smelting down? Along the way, we discover Oddjob's bad fridge habits, effective grannies, why Gillette's not the best a man can get, nerve gas sponsorships, deckchairs for nuke watching, a suspicious Walgreens photo order, questions from insurance agents, the legacy of a serial number, and how Gary Marshall IS in Goldfinger despite Bill's insistence to the contrary.

* The audio quality is not up to our usual standard for this episode. Unfortunately, there were several production and technical hitches that plagued the post process and caused an untimely delay to release, but we wanted to keep the order of the episodes intact.

The recording took place on September 4th, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Were the 1980s a golden era for independent women in the Bond film series? 

For this episode, we reflect on the Bond Women of the 1980s, who were far from the gun-arm hanging damsels in distress the series had been criticized for in earlier decades. From the crossbow-wielding Melina set out on a mission of revenge, and ending with Pam’s strong-willed CIA pilot, we pick over the characters of the '80s, choose our favourites and shine a spotlight on some of the less-celebrated individuals. We also take a detour to chat about how the '80s saw a shift in the balance of power on Bond posters. 

The companion issue to this episode #57 of MI6 Confidential is now shipping around the world from mi6confidential.com 

The recording took place on November 25th, 2020 in the USA. 

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Dr. Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr

Mark O'Connell's home base is markoconnell.co.uk 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

For this episode, the panel remembers the life and career of the original big-screen James Bond - Sir Sean Connery - who died on this day at the age of 90 at his home in the Bahamas. We are joined for the first time by author Lee Pfeiffer who wrote the book on Connery's films and shares personal stories of meeting the man. We also dive into Connery's lesser-known film catalogue to recommend some movies to watch in honor of Big Tam.

The recording took place on October 31st, 2020 in the USA.

James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential

Lee Pfeiffer is co-founder of Cinema Retro magazine and author of The Essential Bond - the best selling 007 film book of all time

Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma

Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com

Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020