09/15/2026
🎬 NEW EPISODE ALERT: The Jersey Nerds begin their journey through the history of Superhero films with two blockbusters from the dawn of the superhero era; Superman (1978) and Flash Gordon (1980)!
Superman — "You'll believe a man can fly." Christopher Reeve puts on the cape in Richard Donner's landmark superhero adventure, taking us from the destruction of Krypton and Clark Kent's childhood in Smallville to his arrival in Metropolis. We discuss Reeve's iconic performance, Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder's Lois Lane, John Williams' legendary score, and how Superman helped establish the blueprint for the superhero movies that followed.
Flash Gordon — FLASH! AHH-AHH! Sam J. Jones blasts off for the planet Mongo in one of the most gloriously over-the-top sci-fi adventures of the '80s. We dive into Ming the Merciless, Brian Blessed's unforgettable Prince Vultan, the outrageous costumes and production design, the campy performances, and—of course—Queen's legendary soundtrack.
🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:
🦸 Two Classic Heroes — Superman and Flash Gordon's journeys from comic strips and comic books to the big screen
🎠Christopher Reeve & Sam J. Jones — comparing two very different leading-man performances
🎵 John Williams vs. Queen — one of cinema's greatest orchestral superhero themes against one of the most unforgettable rock soundtracks ever recorded
🎨 Practical Effects, Sets & Costumes — revisiting blockbuster spectacle before the age of CGI
🌟 Legacy — how both movies became enduring pieces of superhero and sci-fi pop culture
🎥 Plus our favorite scenes, performances, fun facts, trivia, and final ratings!
From "You'll believe a man can fly" to "Flash! AHH-AHH!", it's time to save the universe!
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!