09.30.2025 TOXIC FANDOM!!! With KEN DALY!

MONSTER PARTY WANTS EVERYONE TO THE CALM THE F**K DOWN!

JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, wave an olive branch to all those monstrous malcontents of the nerdverse! It’s time to lower the temperature of the raging dumpster fire that is… TOXIC FANDOM!!!

To most genre enthusiasts, the love of science fiction, horror, and fantasy is a unifying force that brings all of us oddballs together. A special club where everyone is welcome, so long as you don’t act like a jerk. So why are there suddenly so many jerks? Since when is simply having an opinion or preference about a movie or TV series a cause for picking a fight? Is social media to blame? Or the current cultural climate? Are these jerks really genre fans at all, or just a bunch of internet trolls who have nothing better to do than make personal attacks about your love for Star Wars: The Acolyte or the latest incarnation of Doctor Who?

In this hard-hitting episode, we’ll examine some of the factors that may contribute to the current toxic fandom epidemic, and suggest healthier ways of dealing with folks who may not love the stuff you love in the same way that you do. But why listen to us? Well, after more than 300 episodes and a sizeable amount of bickering, the hosts of MONSTER PARTY are still great friends. And Cthulhu knows, if we can do it, so can you!

Joining us for this “Can’t we all geek-along?” podcast is a return guest and dear friend, who is kind of an honorary 5th member of the show. He’s an absurdly talented actor, writer, artist, and podcaster, who has lent his talents to such projects as STAN AGAINST EVIL, SUPER ADVENTURE TEAM, MR. SHOW WITH BOB AND DAVID, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, THE KARATE KID, QUINCY M.E., DUCK DODGERS, and NERD POKER! And let us not forget, he was also the man who introduced the world to the greatest culinary inventions of our time: Chicken McNuggets and the Shamrock Shake! Please welcome back, the antidote for toxic fandom... KEN DALY!

TO PARAPHRASE THE LEGENDARY PUNK BAND, SHAM 69, “IF THE FANS ARE UNITED, THEN WE’LL NEVER BE DIVIDED!”

Guest(s): Ken Daly

Follow Ken: kd (@unclegoopy) • Instagram profile | Nerd Poker | Dungeons & Dragons Podcast | Actual Play D&D 5e |T-Shirts by shrunkenken by unclegoopy | TeePublic

KEY TOPICS:

• The hosts and their guest, Ken Daly, define the concept of "toxic fandom". They describe it as fans getting angry when a studio changes a beloved property , believing their way of loving something is the only correct way , or having an agenda behind their dislike of a franchise.

• James shares a personal story from his high school years as one of his first experiences with toxic fandom: being challenged by other kids to choose a side in the "rock or disco" debate. This led to a broader discussion of the intense backlash against disco in the 70s.

• Matt Weinhold proposes a theory that the horror genre has significantly less toxic fandom than science fiction or superhero genres. The group suggests this might be because horror is cathartic for its fans, allowing them to get anxieties out of their system.

• A recurring humorous moment is the discussion around Larry Strothe's competitiveness as a collector. This includes his lingering disappointment over not winning a plastic King Kong toy at a childhood birthday party and his self-realization that comparing collections with others might be "toxic adjacent".

• The group analyzes the historic letter-writing campaign that successfully saved the original Star Trek from cancellation after its second season. They speculate on whether this early form of fan activism would be considered a type of "bullying" or toxic fandom if it had occurred with the tools of the modern internet.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00:17: Introduction and parody of toxic fandom.

• 00:01:04: The hosts introduce themselves.

• 00:02:30: Guest Ken Daly is introduced.

• 00:03:45: The main discussion on the definition of toxic fandom begins.

• 00:05:28: The group discusses how media and the internet have changed fandom over the years.

• 00:10:50: Using Star Wars as a prime example, the hosts discuss generational differences in fandom and how what one generation loves, another may dislike.

• 00:26:26: The hosts bring up the fan petition to remake the final season of Game of Thrones as an example of fan entitlement.

• 00:45:36: A theory is proposed that horror fandom is significantly less toxic than science fiction or superhero fandom.

• 00:50:49: The historic fan letter-writing campaign that saved the original Star Trek is discussed and compared to modern fan behavior.

• 01:07:17: The conversation shifts to toxic behavior among collectors.

• 01:19:25: The hosts give their concluding thoughts on the topic.

• 01:21:48: The "Listener Shout Out" segment begins.

• 01:25:00: The hosts begin promotions for merchandise and their Patreon page.

• 01:28:51: Final sign-off from the hosts.

• 01:29:35: Post-show bonus conversation begins.

RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED:

Film

• The Usual Suspects: Mentioned in the introduction as one of guest Ken Daly's acting credits.

• The Karate Kid: Also listed as one of Ken Daly's acting credits.

• Star Wars (Franchise): Used as a recurring, primary example of a franchise with a deeply divided and often toxic fandom, particularly between generations who grew up with the original trilogy versus the prequels.

• The Phantom Menace: Discussed as a "watershed turning point" for toxic fandom, citing the intense, personal hatred directed at the actors who played Jar Jar Binks and young Anakin.

• The Last Jedi: Referenced as another divisive Star Wars film that prompted hateful personal attacks on actress Kelly Marie Tran. The hosts also express their own strong disappointment in the movie.

• Ghostbusters (2016): Used as an example of a film that received a massive amount of hate and bullying, which was inflamed by the decision to feature an all-female cast. One host argues it is better than Ghostbusters 2.

• Ghostbusters 2: Mentioned briefly for the sake of comparing it to the 2016 reboot.

• Wonder Woman (2017): Called a "perfect example" of a film franchise where the first movie was a "breath of fresh air," but the sequel was inexplicable in how bad it was.

• King Kong: Referenced in an anecdote about host Larry Strothe's decades-long grudge over not getting a plastic King Kong toy at a childhood party.

• Jaws: Recalled as one of the formative movies of the hosts' youth that was "fucking fantastic" and viewed with a "naive reverence".

• Raiders of the Lost Ark: Mentioned alongside Jaws as another beloved, fantastic film from their childhoods.

• Superman (James Gunn's film): Discussed in relation to the "Snyder Bros," a group of rabid Zack Snyder fans who allegedly spread negative misinformation about the new film because it was a different, more positive take on the character.

• 300: Mentioned as another Zack Snyder film that his fanbase is passionate about.

• Batman (1989): Used as an example of a film that generated fan controversy (over Michael Keaton's casting) but did not result in the same kind of vitriol seen today, partly because social media did not exist.

• Halloween (Rob Zombie's remake): Cited as a rare horror remake that drew some fan ire, but not to the toxic level seen in other genres.

• Friday the 13th (Franchise): Referenced as a horror series where fans don't get angry if one of the movies isn't good; they just move on to the next one.

• Weapons: Mentioned as a recent horror film that one of the hosts was "not a fan" of.

• The Long Walk: A Stephen King adaptation that the hosts mention but have not yet seen.

• Christine: Mentioned as a Stephen King movie that is enjoyed by casual viewers, but fans of the book often find it inferior.

• The Lawnmower Man: Called a "real weird adaptation" of a Stephen King story.

• Silver Bullet: Another Stephen King adaptation mentioned in passing.

• Hocus Pocus, Gremlins, and The Goonies: All mentioned together as generational "guilty pleasures".

• Avengers: Doomsday: Used as an example of a future film that fans are already trying to spoil or declare a failure long before its release.

• Right Hand of the Devil: Mentioned in the "Listener Shout Out" segment, as the hosts recorded a commentary track for its Blu-ray release.

• Door to Door Maniac: The other film included on the double-feature Blu-ray with Right Hand of the Devil.

• Zardoz: Name-dropped in a joke during the Patreon promotion about soothing the "fury of toxic Zardoz fandom".

• Harry Potter (Franchise): Joked about at the end of the episode as a franchise whose fans they could easily provoke.

• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Debated in the post-show bonus material, with one host calling the E.T. puppet an "ugly design" with dated effects.

• The Thing (1982): Praised for its special effects that still look "amazing," especially in contrast to E.T., which came out the same year.

• Aliens: Mentioned as the last great film in its franchise before a long string of disappointing sequels.

• Alien vs. Predator: One host defends it as "a really fun movie".

• Barbie: Mentioned briefly in the post-show conversation when Larry asks Ken if he enjoyed it.

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Used as a sarcastic example of a film genre that doesn't have large fan conventions.

Television

• Alien: Earth (TV Series): Discussed as a recent attempt to try something new with a franchise, which some hosts felt failed. It is debated extensively in the post-show bonus material.

• Andor (TV Series): Held up as a prime example of a show that successfully took a franchise in a completely different, more adult direction while still feeling true to the source material.

• Westworld (TV Series): Given as an example of a series with an "amazing" first season and a "horrible" second season.

• The Last of Us (TV Series): Mentioned as a show where, like the video game it's based on, the first installment was beloved and the second was widely hated.

• The Langoliers (Miniseries): While the miniseries is not a fan favorite, the hosts highly recommend the audiobook version read by Willem Dafoe.

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Larry mentions this as a "magical" holiday special from his childhood that he still watches every year.

• Doctor Who: It is mentioned in the episode's introduction. Host Larry Strofe later admits he used to make fun of the show's low budget but had a change of heart after seeing a "terrific" later episode. Another host feels the newer version of the show is "not for me".

• Stan Against Evil: Listed as one of guest Ken Daly's professional credits.

• Super Adventure Team: Another one of Ken Daly's listed credits.

• Mr. Show with Bob and David: Mentioned as a show Ken Daly worked on.

• Quincy M.E.: Listed among Ken Daly's acting credits.

• Duck Dodgers: Mentioned as another project Ken Daly lent his talents to.

• Star Trek (Franchise): The original series is brought up as a show that was saved from cancellation by a fan letter-writing campaign. The hosts also discuss how fans of the original series were initially very upset about The Next Generation when it first aired.

• Picard: Mentioned as one of the newer Star Trek series, with a host noting that its last season was "better".

• Strange New Worlds: Another new Star Trek show that one host criticizes as being like "Ally McBeal in a Star Trek box" because of its tonal departures, such as a musical episode.

• Lower Decks: The only one of the new Star Trek shows that one of the hosts says he likes.

• Ally McBeal: The show is used as a point of comparison to criticize Strange New Worlds.

• Starfleet Academy: The trailer for this upcoming show is discussed, with the hosts comparing its look and feel to Dawson's Creek.

• Dawson's Creek: Mentioned because the hosts feel the trailer for Starfleet Academy makes it look like "Dawson's Creek".

• The Acolyte: Discussed as a show that was "review bombed" and hated by the fan community before it even premiered. The hosts thought it was "terrible".

• Game of Thrones: Used as a key example of fan entitlement, focusing on the fan petition that demanded the "anticlimactic" final season be remade.

• Seinfeld: Mentioned briefly as a show that, unlike HBO's model for Game of Thrones, was able to get more money each season due to high viewership.

• House of the Dragon: The successor to Game of Thrones, whose existence was fueled by the fervor for the original show.

• Speed Racer: Mentioned in a joking manner as a classic show one of the hosts might have been a fan of.

• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The hosts recall the show featuring disco music and discuss how its pilot was released in theaters before the series aired.

• Battlestar Galactica (Original Series): Remembered as a show that came out after Star Wars that the hosts were excited about, even though some people dismissed it as a rip-off.

• Battlestar Galactica (Reimagined Series): Praised as a "great example of a reinvention of a show" that became a sophisticated, multilayered series despite initial fan backlash to its casting choices.

• Abroad in Japan: One host mentions this YouTube series as a form of "comfort food" viewing.

• Samurai vs Ninja / Samurai Shinobi: A YouTube channel mentioned for hosting many classic samurai shows that one of the hosts enjoys watching.

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