It’s a big week, as we’re joined by Friend of the Show (and star of Man Finds Tape!) John Gholson to talk about his new movie, being a hungry actor, and The Game Awards. Also other things!

00:00 Musical theater

11:08 John talks about the response to Man Finds Tape and the struggle of full-time acting

40:57 Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

52:45 Catching up with John’s recent gaming, Dispatch

01:09:44 Marvel Cosmic Invasion

01:29:48 Final thoughts on Death Stranding 2

01:49:24 Ghost of Yotei

02:02:55 Blade Runner, becoming a home owner

02:14:33 Recapping The Game Awards 2025

Please support John's next project, Terms and Conditions if you can! https://seedandspark.com/fund/terms-conditions#story

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It's a secret to everybody!

As we begin to wind down the second season (and the holidays are upon us) we have fewer games to talk about. But this is still a fun episode, I think. Maybe. I don’t even know anymore. I’m tired, y’all.

00:00 Thanksgiving

14:41 Julian returns to Death Stranding 2

34:50 Justin returns to Cyberpunk 2077, Julian is done with Ball x Pit

01:00:35 Judge My Mix

01:41:44 Julian’s trek for mall Chinese food, Zootopia 2

02:02:08 Lord of the Rings and what it means to Julian

02:11:16 Justin also watched movies (High Tension, The Others, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, The Roses)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

Hello. This is Morgun, the stage manager for The Stage Select. Julian told me to write the show notes for this week’s episode, but I am not allowed on stage during the show, so I am not aware what they discussed. However, I would like to say that I am okay after they landed their spaceship on me. I am not sure how long I was unconscious, but Abramo told me that he didn’t get around to moving the ship until three days after they landed. Which makes me a little sad, but at least it’s better than living in the poison swamps…

00:00 The McRib is BACK

29:28 Julian’s final thoughts on Bloodlines 2, Dispatch

01:11:06 Justin’s final thoughts on Dark Deity II

01:40:54 Justin’s adventures in home searching

01:50:34 The decisions made for Black Ops 7 are the worst possible; Demonschool

02:13:59 Movie roundup (Keeper, Bugonia, Final Destination series, The Usual Suspects)

02:31:26 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

It’s another one of those weeks where we didn’t do much, but we go deep on Bloodlines 2, get into it about the increasingly terrible user experience of Xbox, AI art in Black Ops 7, and more!

00:00 Going to bed at a decent hour for once, proving your identity

15:06 Bloodlines 2 has sunk its fangs into Julian

54:17 Dark Deity II, Justin’s final thoughts on Dispatch

01:25:51 Justin’s big adult adventure

01:40:01 The enshittification of Xbox continues; Julian’s theory on AI art used in Black Ops 7

02:06:24 Let’s go to space

02:32:13 Justin’s movie roundup (Scream franchise, Final Destination franchise)

02:45:21 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

See John Gholson as Carl in the play Noise/Complaint on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP1ynRInd34&t=5s

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We’ve been slacking when it comes to addressing your comments, questions, and concerns, so we thought we’d kick this episode off with those. Then we have some closing thoughts on some games, some initial thoughts on some others, and quite a few movies to talk about!

00:00 Doordash advice, what is wrong with Julian?

10:36 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)

01:05:09 Final thoughts on Keeper, Ball x Pit is a PROBLEM

01:18:07 Justin’s final thoughts on Ghost of Yotei

01:45:49 Justin’s initial thoughts on Dark Deity II

02:13:47 Julian’s tale of woe in The Outer Worlds 2, first thoughts on Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2

02:44:27 Julian’s movie roundup (Fuck My Son!, Talk to Me, Prey, Psycho Goreman)

03:04:20 Justin’s movie roundup (finishing off Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, Scream series)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

After the craziness of last week it was nice to return to normal. Or, whatever passes for “normal” at The Stage Select. Don’t worry, we’ll catch the Phantom of The Stage Select one day. Richard Harden, Private Detective, is on the case! Still!

00:00 Friday the 13th is a weird franchise, announcements

15:38 Justin’s final thoughts on Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2

25:49 The Outer Worlds 2

57:34 Judge My Mix

01:36:35 Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Ghost of Yotei, Dispatch

02:02:28 Julian’s final thoughts on Dark Deity 2, Ball x Pit

02:23:18 Thanking Patrons, movie roundup (The Crow 2024, Sinners in IMAX, Better Off Dead)

See the trailer for Man Finds Tape, starring John Gholson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9gk6zpf7U&t=2s

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Theme song lyrics:

What could this possibly be?

Seems a lot like a podcast…

Wonder what specifically?

Talkin’ bout video games,

With your hosts, you’re in good hands.

Not more of the same!

Now we’ll jump right in,

So expect the unexpected and more.

Now we’ll get groovin,’

Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!

There just might be some treasure in this chest,

Having fun with our special guests,

Time for Stage Select!

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions

We already planned to have a good deal of nunsense this week, but things got out of hand in a big way. The Phantom of The Stage Select struck back in a big way, and he’s having nun of our shenanigans. Nuntheless, we persisted, with a good handful of games and movies to talk about. You’ll also want to be sure to listen to the very end, but keep it under your hat. Nun’s the word!

00:00 Haunted dog, it’s weird living in a place for a long time

41:15 Video games are weird, Justin’s final thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

01:08:02 Ledgerbound

01:16:06 Vampire: the Masquerade Bloodlines 2

01:50:09 Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4

02:04:44 Julian’s movie roundup (Good Boy, Good Fortune, Black Phone 2)

02:17:21 Justin’s movie roundup (Jaws 2-4, Friday the 13th series, Nightmare on Elm Street series)

Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com

Logo and artwork by John Gholson

Announcer: John Gholson

Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect

Email: thestageselectpod@gmail.com

Theme song lyrics:

What could this possibly be?

Seems a lot like a podcast…

Wonder what specifically?

Talkin’ bout video games,

With your hosts, you’re in good hands.

Not more of the same!

Now we’ll jump right in,

So expect the unexpected and more.

Now we’ll get groovin,’

Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!

There just might be some treasure in this chest,

Having fun with our special guests,

Time for Stage Select!

Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions