This week The Con Men start with a deep dive into the early days of color film and television, sparked by a discussion of The Wizard of Oz and how groundbreaking the transition from sepia to Technicolor really was. Dan and Adrian explore the strange technical tricks used in early filmmaking — including painted sets, body doubles, and bizarre makeup palettes designed specifically for black-and-white film.

From there the conversation spirals through classic cinema, Rocky Horror Picture Show trivia, Tim Curry appreciation, and the wild creativity of early Hollywood effects.

Eventually the guys land back in familiar territory, highlighting upcoming shows like Blue City Con and Missouri Comic Con, along with a surprisingly diverse guest list that proves modern conventions are far bigger than just comics.

Along the way they also reflect on nostalgia for classic television, variety shows, movie soundtracks, and the strange way pop culture becomes a time capsule for our lives.

Dan and Adrian break down the Mandalorian & Grogu preview, talk about why fandom sometimes turns toxic, and introduce a simple rule for judging movies:

Consider the premise.

"Is it a good film… or a good giant-fighting-robot movie?"

Rather than nitpicking every frame, the conversation centers on a bigger question: how should fans judge the media they love?

Dan introduces the idea of “consider the premise”:

Evaluating films and shows based on what they’re trying to be rather than what fans expect them to be.

The discussion explores:

• Why Star Wars works best as pulp adventure

• Whether modern trailers reveal too much

• The role of fan expectations in franchise fatigue

• Why The Mandalorian became a phenomenon

• The economics of streaming platforms and ads

• Convention culture and celebrity guests

• A detour into Galaxy Quest, Mission Impossible, and Vin Diesel’s D&D habits

Along the way the Con Men debate villains like Gul Dukat vs Khan, share stories from the convention floor, and explain why sometimes the best way to enjoy fandom is to simply remember it’s supposed to be fun.

The week The Con Men stumble from Deep Space Nine, into Picard, Discovery, and Admiral Vance’s… culinary revelations.

Then we pivot hard into 80s nostalgia, Galaxy Quest, Saturday morning cartoons, Mr. Rogers, Kevin Smith, and our most controversial segment yet: cinematic confession hour.

Some of the greatest films ever made? We’re not all convinced.

Plus — listener emails, five-star gratitude, and a legally ordained Dudist minister reveal.

This is The Con Men Show.