In Defense of Fandom Sadie Witkowski

Thanks to my background as a scientist, I’m always trying to answer questions with data. And wouldn’t you know it? Destination Toast was happy to answer the call! In this episode, we look into fanfiction on AO3 and see which tv fandoms are still trying to rewrite (or right?) the ending of their favorite shows.

Spoiler Warnings! Want to avoid all spoilers? Use these timestamps to skip them completely:
 
Banana Fish: 10:02-10:28
TV fandom fix-its analysis, by Destination Toast: archiveofourown.org/works/54262792
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
Have thoughts on TV endings? I want to hear them! 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuaL485NpQ3iqinVjq7GUAoId0gPqKU26LpQCntngiGhVHgQ/viewform
 
 
 Toast’s Graphs: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wZbzYs7XpizYHXCKWt4Ntz2RYfVi-wvZ9dkV7fOLvd0/edit#slide=id.g2cb2539deb7_0_214 
Toast’s deep dive into Supernatural: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54262792/chapters/140386390#main
where Toast blogs about fandom data and many other things: destinationtoast.tumblr.com 
Just fandom data: toastystats.tumblr.com
 
 
Thanks to the voices you heard in this episode (in order of appearance):
Destination Toast: https://toastystats.tumblr.com/
Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk

Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
 

I have a little theory about TV endings. Good endings are fondly remembered, bad endings kill fandoms, and divisive endings make them stick around forever (to argue!). So, am I actually right? Let’s find out… 

Spoiler Warnings! 
Want to avoid all spoilers? Use these timestamps to skip them completely:
Avatar the Last Airbender: 7:37-8:30
Dexter: 11:16-11:40

Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
Have thoughts on TV endings? I want to hear them! 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuaL485NpQ3iqinVjq7GUAoId0gPqKU26LpQCntngiGhVHgQ/viewform
 
Thanks to the voices you heard in this episode (in order of appearance):
Casey Mendoza: @CaseyMdoza
Elizabeth Minkel: @elizabethminkel
Rebecca Williams: @augustaquarius
Jeff Hersh: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3354593/
Rob Benedict: @RobBenedict
Paul Booth: @pbooth81
Richard Speight Jr: @dicksp8jr
 
And thanks to Cassie, Erin, Taylor, Kelsey, Francisco, and Marissa for voicing some of the comments from my survey!
 
Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
Additional Links of Interest:
My FMA fanfic (I’m both embarrassed and proud of middle school me): https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3627739/1/Escape-from-Auschwitz
 
Statistics on GoT: https://www.statista.com/statistics/993970/united-states-engagement-game-of-thrones-by-generation/
 
Fansplaining podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fansplaining/id1024216991
 
As always, transcripts of the episodes are available at my personal website: https://www.sadiewit.com/in-defense-of-fandom

New season, new topic!
This season, we’re talking about how television shows bring their stories to a close, and how that affects the fandom. We’ll talk about great endings and terrible endings. Shows that got to go out on their own terms and shows that were canceled, only to later be revived in a new format. 
And of course, there will be discussion about the ending of Supernatural. A LOT of discussion.
 
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
Have thoughts on TV endings? I want to hear them! 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuaL485NpQ3iqinVjq7GUAoId0gPqKU26LpQCntngiGhVHgQ/viewform
 
Thanks to the voices you heard in this episode (in order of appearance):
Lynn Zubernis: @FangasmSPN
Richard Speight Jr: @dicksp8jr
Paul Booth: @pbooth81
Elizabeth Minkel: @elizabethminkel
 Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
Sound Effect from Pixabay
 
Additional Links of Interest:
Lynn’s article about fans grieving: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-fandom/202105/how-fans-cope-when-their-fan-favorites-come-end 
 
Sarah Z’s video on the end of Supernatural: https://youtu.be/M0QhgQ-g4C0?si=NfLR5hrStlzuJ0e0 
 
Fansplaining podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fansplaining/id1024216991 

I was so excited to meet Gabe at San Diego Comic Con last summer! He graciously agreed to an interview for this little podcast, all about his experiences writing for The Winchesters.
 
Tell me your thoughts on shows ending: https://forms.gle/d2KGqChpietazZh29
 
Definitely stick around to the end where he answers some fan questions that I collected!
 
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
 
Thanks to Gabe Gonzalez for sharing his time and insights. You can find him at IMDB, as Gabriel Alejandro Garza: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4509179/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr6
 
When I asked if Gabe wanted me to promote any projects, he just asked we support the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/)
 
Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
 
Additional Links of Interest: 
The Flash CW series: https://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-flash/
Favorite examples of scary audio drama series: https://qcodemedia.com/theleftrightgame, https://qcodemedia.com/borrasca, https://www.grimandmild.com/bridgewater
Supernatural comics: https://www.dc.com/comics/supernatural-2007/supernatural-1
JD Garcia (body contortionist): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13477952/
Julia Cooperman (writing partner): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6269516/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

While I assumed costume designers would have a heyday with Halloween, it turns out costumers just want to dress others up - not themselves. At least, that’s according to costume designer Jennifer May Nickel. For this bonus episode, I’m bringing you a conversation with the costume designer from Gotham Knights!
 
Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
 
Additional Links of Interest: 
Jennifer May Nickel: @jennifermaydesigns, @JMNDesigns, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3415772/, 
Another interview with Jennifer: https://comicbook.com/dc/news/gotham-knights-costume-designer-jennifer-may-nickel-interview/
Misha talking about the Two-Face neckties: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed8IZyHFJ1k
Gotham Knights: https://www.cwtv.com/shows/gotham-knights/

And don’t forget to send your best, your weirdest, your most creative fanart to the Family Business Beer Company by December 15th!
 
Send your art to:
Gino Graul
19510 Hamilton Pool Rd
Dripping Springs, TX 78620

What’s it like to be on the other side of fandom, when you’re not the famous one? And how does having a famous family member affect a non-fandom business? Family Business Beer Co CEO Gino has seen it all. It turns out when fandom and ‘normies’ mix, you get all sorts of stories.
 
Stay tuned for a unique contest at the end!
 
Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/in_defense_of_fandom
 
Competition Details:
Send your best, your weirdest, your most creative fanart to the brewery. Remember, to be considered, you MUST tie the piece back to Family Business Beer Company in some fashion. That can mean including their logo, slogan, elements of the brewery, or whatever else you can imagine into your art piece.
 
Gino & a panel of judges will determine the winner(s), who will have their art proudly displayed in the new bathroom art gallery. Plus, winners will also get a swag prize from the brewery!
 
Make sure to send your art by December 15th to be eligible to win!

Address:
Gino Graul
19510 Hamilton Pool Rd
Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Thanks to the voices you heard in this episode (in order of appearance):
Douglas Witkowski (my lil bro!)
Gino Graul: @GinoGraul, @ginograul (insta)
Debbie Graul
 
Editorial Support by Dr. Anna Funk: @DrAnnaFunk
Music written & performed by Chris Scott: @Chrispscott
Some music also from: https://pixabay.com/users/kaazoom-448850/
Cover art by Liz Hand: @__ellie
Record Scratch from Pixabay
 
Additional Links of Interest: 
Family Business Beer Company: https://familybusinessbeerco.com/
Chicago Cane Cooperative: https://www.chicagocane.com/
San Jacinto Saloon: https://www.sanjacsaloon.com/
Get FBBC Beer Delivered to you (in the US): https://www.tavour.com/
FBBC Family Reunion Recap: https://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/22798-fun-times-at-family-business-beer-company-s-family-reunion/