The Con Men Show

The Con Men!

The Con Men Show is a weekly conversation between Dan w/ deckr.media and Adrian w/ Nerd @ Heart. From comics, movies, television, video games, conventions, toys, and technology... through unexpected rabbit holes... every episode is an honest, humorous exploration of the fandoms and stories that shaped us. It's less a lecture and more a conversation between friends—equal parts nostalgia, curiosity, and laughs. Pull up a chair and join us!

  1. 6h ago

    The Fanciest Show We've Put On

    The Con Men Show goes live! After 54 episodes of unconventional conversations, Dan and Adrian finally welcome viewers into the studio for their first livestream. Naturally, things begin with a little technical chaos, some Captain Planet-inspired superhero nonsense, and the familiar chemistry that makes the show what it is. The conversation turns to a heartfelt celebration of Sir Patrick Stewart, reflecting on his extraordinary career, his influence on Star Trek, and the remarkable performances that made Jean-Luc Picard an enduring cultural icon. From The Inner Light and Chain of Command to his theatrical work and memorable appearances beyond the Enterprise, the guys explore Stewart's range, legacy, and personal significance, with Adrian sharing stories from his convention experiences alongside members of the Next Generation cast. Then it's time for VisionQuest Episodes 5 and 6, “Firewall” and “Deadlocked,” as the series shifts gears without sacrificing its remarkable storytelling density. With Ultron controlling Vision's body, the remaining AIs reconstruct events from inside their digital prison while Ultron pursues the mysterious Jocasta. Meanwhile, Tommy finds himself caught between Paladin, the Ten Rings, and an increasingly dangerous conspiracy involving artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. Dan and Adrian dig into the series' theatrical staging, ingenious visual design, layered dialogue, and the exceptional chemistry between James Spader and Tania Miller. They also celebrate a scene-stealing AI assistant, speculate about the mysterious client pursuing Vision, and consider the series' impressive rewatchability. The verdict? Two more five-AI episodes, and The Con Men are having an absolute blast.

  2. Oct 31

    The Twinkiest Podcast

    The Con Men are expanding their horizons! Dan and Adrian kick off Episode 54 with news of their upcoming live broadcasts on Twitch, a little reflection on a year's worth of unconventional conversations, and heartfelt tributes to Tom Skerritt, Walter Koenig, and Eric Bauza. From Alien and Star Trek to the voices of Looney Tunes, the guys celebrate the performers who helped shape their childhoods. Adrian laments the reported demise of BioWare and the uncertain future of Mass Effect, while Dan finally experiences Back to the Future on the big screen and shares his thoughts on the body-horror spectacle of Clayface. It's a bittersweet start before diving headfirst into Marvel's latest obsession. Then it's back to VisionQuest for Episodes 3 and 4, “Reboot” and “Malware,” where things are getting considerably more complicated inside Vision's head. With his systems failing, Vision must trust Tommy Shepherd to bring him back online, even as the young man struggles with the possibility that he's actually Tommy Maximoff. Meanwhile, Paladin encounters the mysterious Butcher Bird, and the artificial intelligences living inside Vision reveal increasingly human fears, desires, and memories. What follows is an extraordinary blend of family drama, philosophical questions, and comedy, culminating in a delightfully absurd Interpol infiltration, a high-society heist, and the revelation that Butcher Bird is Dr. Josephine Carrington. But when Vision finds himself outmatched, he makes the potentially catastrophic decision to hand control of his body to Ultron. Dan and Adrian dig into the performances, storytelling, and remarkable attention to detail that make VisionQuest such a standout. From Paul Bettany's impeccable comic timing and James Spader's velvet-voiced menace to the emotional depth of FRIDAY and EDITH, there's an embarrassment of riches to discuss. The guys celebrate the series' inventive visual humor, its surprisingly affecting character moments, and sound design powerful enough to rattle Dan's car. They also speculate about Paladin's mysterious employer, the possibility of Doctor Doom's involvement, and how the series might connect to Avengers: Doomsday. With “Reboot” earning strong marks and “Malware” scoring a full five AIs, the verdict is clear: Marvel is serving up something special, and The Con Men are eating very, very well.

  3. Oct 23

    I'm Here for the Trap

    Season Two is officially underway, and The Con Men are back with a little nostalgia, a lot of Marvel. Dan kicks things off with his take on the new Street Fighter movie, celebrating a video game adaptation that finally embraces the glorious ridiculousness of its source material. That leads to a trip through arcade history, six-button controllers, increasingly absurd Street Fighter II editions, and the enduring brilliance of Raúl Juliá's M. Bison. Throw in a little Back to the Future, Steve Guttenberg, and the Stonecutters, and we're off to a properly unconventional start. Then it's time for Marvel's VisionQuest, as Dan and Adrian dive into the first two episodes, “No Strings” and “Theseus.” White Vision is searching for something resembling humanity, and inside his mind lives an entire household of familiar artificial intelligences—including JARVIS, FRIDAY, EDITH, U, Dum-E, and one particularly dangerous attic resident named Ultron. Meanwhile, Tommy Maximoff's complicated existence brings the Maximoff family story back into focus, and a ruthless mercenary named Paladin is hunting Vision for a mysterious employer. Between James Spader's magnificent beard, philosophical questions about identity, and a surprisingly brutal amount of superhero violence, the series is already giving the guys plenty to chew on. As the discussion turns to adamantium bullets, JARVIS's sacrifice, Ultron's suspiciously helpful advice, and the possibility of Doctor Doom lurking somewhere behind the curtain, The Con Men consider what makes VisionQuest such a promising continuation of WandaVision and Agatha All Along. There's plenty of speculation about where the story is headed, some appreciation for Terry Matalas and his familiar collaborators, and a little comparison with the recently concluded Lanterns. After a full year of unconventional conversations, Season Two begins with a familiar question: what happens when a superhero has all the memories of being human, but isn't sure he has the feelings to go with them?

    I'm Here for the Trap

  4. Oct 15

    They Had to Remove the Buttholes

    When did Hollywood decide that everything needed to be computer-generated? Dan and Adrian are back for a spirited debate about practical effects versus CGI, exploring the history, artistry, and occasional atrocities of movie magic. From 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars to TRON, The Last Starfighter, and Jurassic Park, the guys trace the evolution of visual effects and consider whether technological progress has actually made movies look better. Along the way, they revisit the early days of Pixar, the groundbreaking effects of Young Sherlock Holmes, and the modern marvel of virtual production technology like The Volume. The question isn't necessarily whether practical or digital effects are better, but whether filmmakers remember that they're supposed to be making art. Of course, no discussion of CGI would be complete without acknowledging its greatest crimes against cinema. Henry Cavill's digitally erased mustache, the horrifying Scorpion King, the questionable revisions to the original Star Warstrilogy, and the infamous missing anatomical features of Cats all make appearances. But there's plenty of praise to go around, too, as Dan and Adrian celebrate the craftsmanship of Ray Harryhausen, Rick Baker, Stan Winston, and the artists behind An American Werewolf in London, The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek: First Contact, and Pirates of the Caribbean. From Christopher Nolan's commitment to practical filmmaking to the increasingly demanding economics of modern visual effects, the conversation becomes a celebration of the people whose extraordinary work makes the impossible believable. Then things take a wonderfully unexpected turn toward the painstaking beauty of stop-motion animation, with Kubo and the Two Strings, Wallace & Gromit, and Aardman Studios leading directly to the cultural phenomenon of the California Raisins. Yes, those California Raisins. Somehow, a discussion about the evolution of filmmaking also becomes a history lesson about telephone companies, the breakup of Ma Bell, and why Sprint's logo looks the way it does. Add a little convention talk, some Winnie the Pooh, and a reminder that Superman: The Movie made audiences believe a man could fly long before computers could do the heavy lifting, and you've got another thoroughly unconventional conversation. Because sometimes the greatest special effect isn't what you see on the screen—it's the ingenuity that made it possible.

  5. Oct 13

    Hi, I'm Nothing. He's Next to Nothing.

    Nine weeks in the vault, and The Con Men are back with a nostalgic trip to a time when Halloween candy didn't have calories, movie ratings were more like suggestions, and a trip to the video store could change your entire weekend. Adrian recounts a family adventure in Savannah, Dan remembers the physical consequences of getting older, and the two celebrate the approaching Halloween season with giant animatronics, questionable dietary science, and a shared appreciation for making memories. Then it's off to the movies, where the glory days of cable television, VHS rentals, and the wonderfully permissive PG rating lead to some uncomfortable questions about exactly what kind of parental guidancewas expected during Ghostbusters. Adrian introduces the world to Peter and David Paul, better known as the Barbarian Brothers, whose cinematic achievements include The Barbarians, Think Big, Double Trouble, and the magnificently named Twin Sitters. Naturally, this leads to Mr. T, D.C. Cab, Lou Ferrigno, and the immortal cinematic masterpiece No Holds Barred, including a scene involving Hulk Hogan, a limousine, and an unfortunate bodily function that Adrian considers one of the greatest moments in film history. Along the way, Dan and Adrian discover that their video-call windows are positioned directly over the Barbarian Brothers' crotches, contemplate the finer points of professional wrestling, and establish that some movies deserve to be remembered for reasons entirely unrelated to their artistic merit. But beneath all the ridiculousness lies a genuine affection for an era of filmmaking that's largely disappeared. From Julian Sands in Warlock to the Lovecraftian detective adventures of Cast a Deadly Spell and Witch Hunt, the conversation wanders through forgotten favorites, beloved character actors, and the strange treasures waiting on video-store shelves. Peter Jackson's journey from Meet the Feebles to The Lord of the Rings raises the question of what makes a movie worth watching, while memories of Blockbuster, The Inhumanoids, Jackie Chan, and the golden age of cable television remind us that sometimes the experience of discovering a movie matters more than the movie itself. So dust off your VCR, embrace your favorite cinematic guilty pleasure, and join The Con Men for a celebration of the movies that probably weren't very good—but were absolutely worth watching.

  6. Oct 11

    I Love You Too, Junior

    The Con Men hit the big five-oh with a trip through the Saturday mornings of their childhood. When Adrian encounters a youngster who's barely heard of Looney Tunes, Dan recalls the brilliance of The Devil May Hare, and the two discover why having someone who understands your most obscure cartoon references is practically a superpower. From there, it's a nostalgic journey through Alien Nation, Farscape, Stargate, Lexx, and the wonderfully strange early days of premium-cable television. Along the way, Terence Stamp, Mandy Patinkin, talking horses, and Barbara Eden remind us that some entertainment never really gets old—even if the people watching it certainly do. Then it's time for the Lanterns season finale, “Dirt and Stars,” and the answers are finally on the table. Sinestro has forged a power battery corrupted by fear, Noah's Manhunter identity is confirmed, and the truth about Hal Jordan's death reveals a tragedy born from a mother's desperate attempt to protect her child. John Stewart faces a series of choices that will determine what kind of Green Lantern he'll become, including whether to sacrifice Halogram, how to handle Noah's dangerous programming, and whether justice always requires punishment. What emerges isn't the explosive superhero spectacle some viewers expected, but a surprisingly intimate story about compassion, responsibility, and the power of choosing empathy over violence. After eight episodes of mysteries, theories, questionable decisions, and increasingly yellow imagery, Dan and Adrian look back at what Lanterns actually accomplished. Was it perfect? Hardly. But as a Hal Jordan retrospective and John Stewart origin story, it delivered something considerably more thoughtful than a conventional superhero adventure. John finally claims his place as Earth's Green Lantern, establishes some very clear boundaries with Guy Gardner, and even writes his own oath. The Con Men give the finale a strong eight-ish rings out of ten, then reveal what's coming next: two episodes from the vault before Season Two launches with VisionQuest and Episode 53.

  7. Oct 3

    Chekhov’s Bird

    The Con Men are officially a year old, which seems as good a time as any to contemplate mortality. Adrian takes a look at what appears to be the final ride for Jackass and the strange sadness of watching a group of lunatics who built a franchise out of destroying themselves finally become too old to keep doing it. From Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O to the loss of Ryan Dunn and a younger crew that never quite captured the original chemistry, it becomes a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about friendship, nostalgia, getting older, and the ever-encroaching march of time. Also, Dan and Adrian discover their own podcast is basically Jackass, except the mousetraps are metaphorical and nobody has to drink anything from a flying portable toilet. Then it’s the penultimate episode of Lanterns, “The Jordan Boy’s Legacy,” and the series finally shows us the burden Hal Jordan has carried since childhood. Young Hal learns the truth about his father and grandfather while, decades later, John Stewart gets a second chance to know the version of Hal preserved inside the ring: Halogram, the man from before Sinestro’s betrayal left Hal broken. As John and Halogram slowly find the friendship their living counterparts almost managed to build, we discover something potentially much bigger: John can maintain Halogram without even wearing the ring. Chekhov’s Bird has come home to roost, and the series appears to be telling us that John Stewart’s will may be powerful enough that he doesn’t need a Green Lantern ring at all. A portable black hole sends John and Halogram to a dead world soaked in fear, where childhood trauma, yellow skies and a suspiciously forge-like structure make the destination feel considerably less accidental than it first appears. John nearly loses himself to the planet’s fear toxin before his own subconscious manifestation of Halogram saves him—and waiting on an island in the middle of it all is Sinestro. With one episode left, the mysteries are finally colliding: John’s impossible willpower, Hal’s legacy, Sinestro, fear, the increasingly yellow imagery and whatever the hell this season has been building toward. The Con Men give Episode Seven eight rings out of ten on its own—but with this much story still on the table, the finale has one hell of a landing to stick.

  8. Sep 26

    Yeet Yet?

    Dan survived Arkansas Comic Con and returns with stories: Kim Rhodes is a delightful goofball, Matt Ryan remains an absolute gem, Nana Visitor adds the second signature to the increasingly ridiculous Niners jersey, and Ming-Na Wen turns out to be every bit as lovely as you’d hope. There are signed action figures, airport rides, Star Wars, Star Trek, Supernatural, and even an important lesson in translating the title of Ming-Na’s upcoming cookbook into proper Southern: “Have You Eaten Yet?” becomes “Yeet Yet?” Meanwhile, Adrian finally starts Shōgun and discovers a show good enough to make him homesick for the years he spent living in Japan. Then Lanterns Episode Six, “Bad Optics,” finally brings us back to 2026 and directly into the aftermath of the mystery that opened the season: Hal Jordan is dead. John returns to Rushville, discovers Hal spent ten years in prison and somehow became friends with his mother, punches him in the face during what was allegedly supposed to be an apology, and—hours later—is standing over his body with a very awkwardly explainable broken nose. Guy Gardner finally gets some meaningful screen time, Rushville still wants nothing to do with Green Lanterns, Hal has naturally written his own magnificently self-important eulogy, and even poor Earl the carnivorous plant has to mourn the loss of his dad. But John ultimately insists Hal be buried as what he was: a Green Lantern. Except John isn't quite ready to leave Hal—or the ring—buried. With Sinestro mysteriously escaped, Noah still looking suspiciously Manhunter-adjacent and John's supposedly normal life rapidly falling apart around him, he digs Hal back up, retrieves the decommissioned ring and uses its last five-percent charge to activate the backup Hal left behind. So while Hal Jordan may be dead, Hal Jordan apparently isn't done with the show. From there, Dan and Adrian get into the difference between genuine criticism and performative toxicity, why nerd culture makes that distinction increasingly difficult, Vision Quest, Picard, the unforgivable existence of Section 31, and the horrifying discovery that Adrian knows of a 1970s spy series starring actual chimpanzees. Just another week at The Con Men Show.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Con Men Show is a weekly conversation between Dan w/ deckr.media and Adrian w/ Nerd @ Heart. From comics, movies, television, video games, conventions, toys, and technology... through unexpected rabbit holes... every episode is an honest, humorous exploration of the fandoms and stories that shaped us. It's less a lecture and more a conversation between friends—equal parts nostalgia, curiosity, and laughs. Pull up a chair and join us!

Information

  • Creator
    The Con Men!
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Con Men!
  • Show Website
    The Con Men Show