Ep. 03-07: This Island Earth (1955)

Season Three, Episode 7 “This Island Earth”

Scientist, Cal Meacham (Rex Reason), solves a complicated puzzle that allows him access to a highly secretive program led by the mysterious Exeter (Jeff Morrow). Exeter has assembled the world’s greatest scientific minds to learn how to generate and store nuclear power. But with the help of fellow scientists Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) and Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson), Meacham soon discovers that his host is not what he claims to be.

B-movies can be classic too, and that’s exactly why This Island Earth (1955) has spirited its way into our third season lineup. Join us as we discuss this mid-50s matinee gem and its lofty attempts at screenwriting, special effects, and general logic. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys blasts off to the mysterious Metaluna where we encounter diabolical alien masterminds and their mutant slaves!

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Ep. 03-03: E.T. (1982)

A gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth and is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Elliott introduces the alien (dubbed E.T.) to his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep it a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for the children and the alien.

Welcome to the first of three Steven Spielberg films we’re covering this season. And who wouldn’t want to start with this timeless classic tale of discovery, friendship, and love? Join us as we dig deep into the film’s development and the blossoming of its director’s immense talent. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys ventures back to the early 1980s and the beautiful story of a little boy and his best friend from another planet.

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Ep. 02-06: Independence Day (1996)

Episode 02-05 “Independence Day”

Gigantic spaceships invade Earth and hover over major cities. Soon, our sense of wonder turns to terror as these extraterrestrials use powerful weapons to obliterate Earth. The President of the United States and his team must determine their weakness and combat these intruders before our planet is reduced to a cinder. Is mankind’s will to survive and the power of the human spirit enough to persevere and triumph these overwhelming odds?

Independence Day was a phenomenal success, touting the power of the human (re: American) spirit to overcome insurmountable odds. It was the beginning of writing/directing team Dean Devlin and Rolan Emmerich’s quest to destroy Earth in as many special effects extravaganzas as humanly possible. Join us as we discuss why this film was such a sentimental success. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys travels back pre-9/11 when Earth is terrorized by an intergalactic menace and a group of rag-tag Americans are our only hope.

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Foundation

To beg or not to beg… that is the question.

Actually it’s not begging at all—but it sure is hard to shake the feeling that it isn’t. David and I are both hardworking individuals, we’ve never needed charity and have been gainfully employed our entire lives.

But we’re both artists—him more acting/directing; me more writing/acting. We come from an era where it was not as easy to break into the business … especially in regards to physical geography (East Tennessee) and the internet (not having been invented). So, much of our artistic devotion has been for love, not money—through passion projects and a LOT of community theatre.

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