James Bond & Friends

0108: Bowing Out

How did the end of each Bond actor's tenure differ? 

As the Daniel Craig era comes to an end with 'No Time To Die' playing in cinemas around the world, the panel discusses how each previous James Bond actor wrapped up their run. Who came out looking good? Do we see those films differently knowing it was their last one? Who left on their own terms, was a victim of circumstance, or misread history? Do old spies die or do they become villains? 

The recording took place on June 26th, 2021 in the USA, New Zealand, and Australia. 

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

Natalie Bochenski (@girlclumsy) is a writer, performer, and producer from Brisbane known for her Raven On series 

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

Dr. 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 © 2021

0107: Keen Eye For NTTD

What Easter eggs and callbacks have we found so far in 'No Time To Die'? 

This week we gather to swap notes on the special nuggets that we have discovered so far in 'No Time To Die'. What Easter eggs have we spotted and how many callbacks to previous James Bond films have we found - beyond the obvious ones to 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'? As we reference events in the film, make sure you watch it before listening to this episode to avoid spoilers. 

The recording took place on October 15th, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

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

Tom Butler is Editor at Yahoo Entertainment UK and host of @JamesBondAtoZ 

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

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

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

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

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0106: Brothers From Langley

Full spoiler discussion of No Time To Die. 

A week after it opened in most countries, the 25th James Bond film is finally out in the USA, so we gather a panel of American fans to discuss the movie and how it went down with the audiences they saw it with. If you have not seen the film yet, please save this episode until you do. We won't put the usual list of things covered in this episode as those themselves will be spoilers for some passing by, except to say that we find a way to fix the gunbarrel.  

The recording took place on October 8th, 2021 in the USA. 

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

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

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

Tim Guccione (@TheTimGuccione) is host of the podcast No Time To Bond

Melanie runs @birb.jamesbirb on Instagram and is a contributor to several Bond podcasts and YouTube channels

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

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0105: Hot Takes

Full spoiler discussion of No Time To Die. 

Now that the 25th James Bond film is out in most of the world, we take the gloves off and discuss the good, bad, and the ugly of No Time To Die with full spoilers. If you have not seen the film yet, please save this episode until you do. We won't put the usual list of things covered in this episode as those themselves will be spoilers for some passing by. We'll be back in the next episode with a different panel to look deeper into the film as it opens in the USA.

The recording took place on October 1st, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain.

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

Madeline Grant (@Madz_Grant) is a columnist for the Telegraph and lifelong Bond fan 

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

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

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

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

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0104: First Takes

Our no-spoilers first impressions of No Time To Die

We return from our premiere screenings of the latest adventure No Time To Die with our initial impressions. This podcast contains no plot spoilers and only discusses overall themes (anything in the trailers is fair game as a reference). How do we think it ranks in the Daniel Craig era? And to get a view on what wider audiences beyond hardcore Bond fans will think, we invite a new panelist to bring outside perspective. Our next episode will be released on Friday and will contain spoiler discussion after it has opened in most of the world.

The recording took place on September 28th, 2021 in the USA.

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

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

Doug Russell represents John Q Public

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0103: Great Expectations

How we're all getting ready for the No Time To Die premiere

We're just a few days away from the world premiere of No Time To Die as we gather to chat about past premiere experiences and how this time will be different under the special circumstances that also marks the end of an era of Bond. We offer first-timers Calvin and Sean some bad advice about bow ties, royal protocol, and bathroom breaks, and as is the norm with Bond fandom, already have one eye on the 60th anniversary next year. 

The recording took place on September 24th, 2021 in the USA & UK.

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  

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

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0102: Trailer Palooza

Did the two new No Time To Die trailers reignite our excitement?

It has been a long and tortuous road to the release of No Time To Die, with many false starts and a rollercoaster of excitement and disappointment. With two new trailers launched, what was new, what did we learn, and did they have the desired effect? Along the way we trip over some unused Ian Fleming material and ponder what Daniel Craig's last line might be.

The recording took place on September 3rd, 2021 in the USA, UK, and Spain. 

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

Henry Stephens hosts The Bond Geek channel on YouTube

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

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

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

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com

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

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0101: Watchalong Recap

What did we learn from our 24 film marathon?

If you have been following our James Bond Watchalong series, this episode recaps our thoughts from the 24-film exercise, and asks whether our opinions of anything changed? Along the way, we debate the moment when 007 becomes an assassin and not a spy, discuss Corporate Bond, FYEO's sensible fun, the colour of phones, Connery's rugs and his lack of emotional journey, and how fans could curate the Bond series in different ways.

The recording took place on October 16th, 2020 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

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 

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

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021

0100: Quiz Special

This is the big one, 007.

Team North America take on Team Europe in an epic James Bond themed Family Fortunes/Feud extravaganza to mark our 100th episode. Compered by a very special guest (who finally showed up), the evening's frivolities culminate in a nail-biting conclusion. Can you guess the top answers to the 007-themed questions better than our panelists? 

The recording took place on August 6th, 2021 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 

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  

Tom Butler is Editor at Yahoo Entertainment UK and host of @JamesBondAtoZ

Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger 

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

Pierce Brosnan appears courtesy @SOLTS007

Thank you to all the @jamesbondlive followers who completed the survey to find our top answers.

This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2021 

0099: Watchalong with The Man With The Golden Gun

Have we saved the most interesting commentary for last?

The Man With The Golden Gun marks the end of our watchalongs of the official EON series of James Bond films - but don't worry - we'll be back with the non-canonical adventures next! Along the way, we have the final lion raw from Brian Laws, ponder why Scaramanga had an anatomically correct waxwork, ask which end Bond chose for his bullet extraction, spot some flawed floors, and wade into the debate about JW Pepper and Calvin's choices for hypothetical nights out.  

The recording took place on October 9th, 2020 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

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