MuggleCast EP10 Transcript
Show Intro
Ben [Show Intro with music in background]: This is MuggleCast – Episode 10 for October 09, 2005.
Andrew: Ben… Ben… Ben…
Ben: Yeah?
Andrew: It’s 1:15 AM. It’s Sunday night. Just, just get on with it.
Ben: I know. I want to go to bed too. This is my first time editing. This has taken ALL day.
Andrew: What is wrong with you?
Ben: I don’t know.
Andrew: I’m falling asleep right here.
Ben: Me too.
Andrew: The music is running out. Quick, hurry!
[Both laugh]
Ben: Oh, geez. Okay. This is Episode 10. Please enjoy!
Welcome to MuggleCast everybody! This is a milestone episode – Episode 10! I’m Ben Schoen!
Andrew: A to the Andrew Sims!
Kevin: I’m Kevin Steck.
Ben: Yeah, so this is our Tenth Episode. We’ve been around for ten weeks now. Our first episode was back on August 7th.
Kevin: I’m sorry to interrupt, but I forgot, it’s only three of us today. I should have said, “And I’m Kevin Steck.”
Andrew: Oh, because we’re going for that classic appeal.
Kevin: Yeah. Yeah.
Ben: Yeah. There’s no Jamie Lawrence. No Eric Scull. No Laura Thompson. They were all unable to make it, so this is a throwback episode.
Andrew: I like this.
News
Ben: Before we get into too much reminiscing, let’s go to Micah for this past week’s news.
Micah: All right, Ben.
On Thursday, thanks to Warner Bros., MuggleNet fans were given special access to a Mad-Eye Moody website. More of these on different characters are expected in the weeks to come. GobletofFire.com has been updated with additional pictures and biographies for all the main characters in the movie.
And, Electronic Arts released a website for the Goblet of Fire video game. In order to have complete access to all of the site’s features, you’ll have to work your way through a few challenges.
On Friday, it was reported the latest issue of Xpose Magazine would contain a huge feature on the Goblet Of Fire movie including interviews with Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, James and Oliver Phelps, and David Heyman amongst others. There are also additional interviews posted on MuggleNet’s Main Page with JK Rowling (whoses book series just eclipsed the 300 million sales mark) and Ralph Fiennes, the actor portrays Lord Voldemort.
Wrapping up the movie news, on the morning of October 29th, Kids WB is set to air “Spellbinding Secrets Saturday”. This program will detail how certain special effects in the first three movies were created. Possible additional scenes from the upcoming film may be revealed.
Of course there are plenty of screen shots, videos, poster scans, and calendar scans over on MuggleNet’s Main Page.
Finally, at the release of the German translation of Half-Blood Prince last Saturday in Hanover Railway station, an overeager 24-year-old man couldn’t bear to wait in line, so he made off with six copies of the book down the crowded platform. An officer claimed the man said, “he couldn’t wait to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is.” First of all buddy, the book has been out for almost four months. If you could wait that long, you could wait 30 minutes to get your own copy. And six copies? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just steal one? Geez!
That’s all the news from our News center in New York for this October 09, 2005 edition of MuggleCast. Back to you guys!
Ben: Thanks for that wonderful insight on this past week’s news, Micah.
Reaching A Milestone
Ben: So guys. This is our Tenth Episode. We have come quite a long way. We’ve been No. 1 on iTunes. We’ve been getting 50,000 plus downloads.
Andrew: A week!
Ben: Andrew, what are your thoughts?
Andrew: My thoughts. Oh, they are great thoughts! We started this on August 7th. We’ve grown so much. You want to hear a fun fact? This is going to make you have fun. If you look at this iTunes list, right now I think we are, it looks like we are No. 28. There is not one podcast ahead of us that has not been promoted on the main page. So basically, we’re No. 1. That’s what I am trying to say. The No. 1 non-promoted podcast.
Ben: Pretty much. That’s pretty much it.
Andrew: Yeah. So whatever Adam Curry.
Kevin: It’s true. They just won’t give us…
Andrew: Take that Al Franken. Whatever Family Guy.
Ben: Yeah.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: I think Steve Jobs is out to get us.
Andrew: Yeah, probably.
Kevin: I’m still very surprised that they didn’t promote us when they released the Harry Potter iPod.
Ben: That, too.
Andrew: Yeah.
Kevin: That was very disappointing.
Ben: Oh well.
Kevin: Steve Jobs, I’m a Windows person.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: Yeah.
Kevin: I don’t like you.
Ben: Whoa! You trying to get us thrown off the iTunes Music Store?
[Kevin laughs]
Ben: Yeah. Quite a few things have happened since we started this show. For example, the time we really did get thrown off the iTunes Music Store.
[All laugh]
Kevin: It’s true. That is true.
Ben: Yeah. That was kind of mysterious and strange, and then…
Kevin: Yeah. We worked it out.
Ben: We’ve had quite a few people on the show. I don’t have an exact count, but I would just like to the time right now to thank everyone who has participated including all of our listeners and everyone who has ever sent us a question, sent us suggestions. [Somebody claps] I’d like to encourage people to keep sending us your comments, questions, anything, because we like constructive criticism. We want to keep this show and make it progressively better. And when we make an error, please call us out on it.
Andrew: Yeah. We apologize for last week’s episode. We had one or two errors. Not many.
Kevin: Definitely.
Ben: Yeah.
Andrew: But, I was adding up the stats last week, seeing how many downloads we’ve had. We’ve had close to half-a-million downloads of all the shows combined.
Kevin: Wow!
Andrew: Yeah. If you think about it, I mean we only have the stats starting from, I think, Episode 6.
Ben: Yeah. The beginning of September about.
Andrew: Yeah. We’ve been getting… Oh, it’s just been great! Super! Over… Close to half-a-million.
Ben: Yeah.
Kevin: Well, to put it into perspective, we’ve had to get a separate media service just for the podcast, just to host it because it was killing us.
Ben: Yeah. And we originally used another…
Andrew: Our Media.
Ben: …media delivery place. Yeah. It was completely free.
Kevin: Yep.
Ben: For what it was, I’d like to thank them too because, for what it was, it was actually pretty good.
Kevin: It was excellent.
Ben: It was excellent, but it wasn’t…
Kevin: They just couldn’t support the amount of users we had.
Ben: Yeah!
Andrew: Well, the problem was the speed was…
Ben: They didn’t throw us off or anything. Yeah. And the downloads were taking quite a while. Yeah, things have changed since the very first episode. For example, in the First Episode we used a program to record everyone at once, and then we found a way to make the audio a better quality. How we were converting it. Turning up the volume. So, I think that everyone would agree, that even though sometimes the content has been a bit shaky, that progressively from the First Episode to even last week’s episode, the audio has been actually getting better.
Andrew: Which is…
Kevin: Until this week’s episode when you edit.
Ben: Yeah. This week Andrew is taking a break. He’s going to be down at the Shore.
Andrew: Thank you, Ben!
Ben: So, last week when he said that he never gets a break, he’s lying! I’m giving him a break this week.
Andrew: This is my first show! I think I have edited twelve shows together total.
Ben: Mhm.
Kevin: Twelve?
Andrew: So, it’s well overdue.
Kevin: Yeah. Between the special episodes and the normal podcasts. You’ve been editing quite a bit.
Ben and Andrew’s Premiere Journey
Andrew: When Ben is here, we’re either… I don’t know if we’re going to do a behind-the-scenes on an actual video of how we make it or if it’s just going to be an audio version. I think people would appreciate a video version.
Kevin: What Ben is doing?
Ben: I will be at Andrew’s house on November 9th. So, those who want to greet us, meet us at Philadelphia International Airport!
[Andrew laughs]
Andrew: Yeah. Let’s have a meet-up!
Ben: On November 9th. At 6:30 PM. Let’s do a meet-up right there.
Andrew: I’ll be wearing… I’ll wear my… Oh, geez! Forget it! Just look for my face!
[Andrew laughs]
Kevin: What will you wear? Your T-shirt?
Ben: I’ll wear my broken MuggleNet T-shirt. The one my Mom destroyed in the washing machine. For you guys.
Kevin: Your broken one?
Ben: Yeah. My Mom washed it. Messed it up. I’m not really surprised.
Kevin: How did she mess it up?
Ben: The emblem on the front is all smeared.
Kevin: Oh, warm water or something like that?
Ben: Yeah. Something like that.
Kevin: It bled?
Ben: So, guys… Yeah.
Kevin: I know nothing about wash.
Ben: So, once again our ideas were that we were going to make “Ben and Andrew’s Premiere Journey.”
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: And make a little podcast.
Andrew: Okay. Can I just go over this real quick?
Ben: And actually…
[Kevin laughs]
Andrew: We are going to set…
Ben: Andrew, take it away.
Andrew: We are going to set some new standards in podcasting.
Kevin: Uh oh!
Andrew: We will be the first to podcast from Philadelphia International. We will be the first to podcast from a train going from Trenton, New Jersey, to New York City. But, we will not be the first…
Kevin: Now, are they going to allow you to videotape?
Andrew: Oh, no. We’re just podcasting. I’m going to by an iTalk for the iPod.
Kevin: Oh! Podcast.
Andrew: Yeah.
Kevin: Oh! At the airport?
Andrew: Oh. Will security?
Kevin: For the airport as well?
Andrew: They won’t care! Whatever.
Kevin: Yeah. See that’s what I am wondering. I’m wondering if security will let you do it.
Andrew: It’s a music player.
Kevin: I’m sure if you get permission, they’ll let you.
Andrew: It doesn’t matter! We’re going to be in the terminal, or whatever.
Kevin: Yeah. I’d check.
Andrew: I don’t know. I’ve never flown before.
Ben: Right.
Andrew: I thought you said record, like “radio-wise.” I was going to say.
Andrew: No, I’m going to be recording while I walk through the metal detector and going on the plane. Do you think they will allow that? [Laughs] Just kidding!
Ben: [Laughs] Yeah.
[Andrew laughs]
Kevin: Set your iPod on through the metal detector.
Ben: They’re going to be like, “What’s this going doing talking to himself going on to an airplane?” Maybe he’s a bit crazy.
[Kevin laughs]
Andrew: Eh, Ben. The plan was you were going to be there too.
Kevin: Well, you can’t go through the metal detector because you’re not going on the airplane.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: Right.
Kevin: You need a boarding pass.
Ben: But anyway. Andrew, talk about our podcasting precedents some more. Please.
Andrew: Oh, okay.
Kevin: Whatever.
Andrew: We will not be the first people to podcast from a New York City subway, although we would like to because the “Dawn and Drew Show” already beat us to that. But, we will find new places to podcast from. This is going to be… We are going to be setting new records.
Kevin: Oh, definitely.
Andrew: You’re just going to be blown away.
Kevin: Well, Barnes & Noble.
Andrew’s Listener Challenge of the Week
Ben: We will even podcast from the bathroom at Barnes * Noble if we have to.
Andrew: Yeah, whatever. There you go! That’s it! That’s it! There’s “Andrew’s Challenge for the Week.” Send in the most creative places to podcast from. [Laughs]
Ben: Also… Hold on. Hold on.
[All laugh]
Ben: Really.
Kevin: Andrew has found his moment…
Ben: Also, also, I’d like to send… I’d like to make an additional challenge to visitors.
Andrew: Oh no.
Ben: To draw a picture, a fan art image of Andrew and I in a bathroom recording a podcast.
Andrew: [Laughs] NO! OH MY GOD! NO!
Ben: Yes!
Kevin: Okay. No! No! That would be wrong.
Ben: That would be funny!
Kevin: No! Neh, neh, neh, no!
Ben: Why not?
Andrew: That’s so wrong. But, okay.
Ben: Oh. Okay. Whatever guys. I’m leaving this in.
Kevin: It is. It is definitely wrong.
[Andrew laughs]
Goblet of Fire Movie Discussion
Ben: Okay. So, it is just back to the original three this week, what do you guys want to talk about? I’m pretty much open to any type of discussion.
Andrew: Well, there’s…
Ben: Well, the first thing I would like to mention is that we’ve seen about 65 billion, trillion, quadrillion, to the infinitieth power new pictures from the new calendars. The German calendar. The Dutch calendar. The Norwegian calendar. The Czech calendar. No. Not really all those countries.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: There’s been calendar pictures everywhere. So, what do you think about what we’ve seen, Andrew? What do you think, buddy?
Andrew: Actually, have we ever seen this many pictures prior to a movie release?
Ben: I think we actually did with Prisoner of Azkaban. We probably saw more or just as many, at least.
Andrew: Ah, these…
Kevin: I don’t think so. I don’t think so. Not this quality.
Andrew: Well, quantity.
Kevin: Well, yeah.
Ben: Hmmm. I don’t know. I think. I remember one time there were a load of pictures that came in for Prisoner of Azkaban from the calendar, actually. I think it’s been pretty even from what I’ve been able to assess.
Andrew: I think it’s overwhelming.
Kevin: Really?
Andrew: Look. We have so many pictures. I was reading the comments in one of the News Posts the other day and people are seeing the whole movie. Everyone knows what the movie is. Why do we need to go see it now?
Ben: Yeah. I understand.
Andrew: What’s going on?
Ben: I see what you’re saying.
Andrew: No.
Ben: I don’t know. Things like the “Lord Voldemort Scene,” that’s going to be the most exciting thing ever.
Andrew: Yep. We haven’t seen any pictures of that yet. Well, not many.
Ben: Yeah, so we have sort of seen the Priori Incantatem thing, but besides that we haven’t seen much.
Kevin: Yeah. Actually, in the TV spot, they actually showed a glimpse of that a little longer. I noticed.
Andrew: Which one was that?
Kevin: In the end…
Andrew: TV Spot #1 or TV Spot #2? Because Warner Bros…
Kevin: I believe it was TV Spot #2.
Andrew: Okay.
Kevin: I believe it was TV Spot #2.
Andrew: Because Warner Bros. did release, officially release two TV spots the other day. Great quality now. Originally, we just had scans or people recording it off their TV, which did not turn out as good.
Kevin: Which we appreciated, of course.
Andrew: Eh, I guess.
Kevin: Right. People being ready with recorders.
Andrew: Not only that. Yeah. So, more stuff came out.
Ben: If you catch any, if you catch any, if you see it on TV, don’t hesitate. Even if you think there might be one new clip, please send it in because we can use any video you have. And, send it in any pictures you have, too. Send in any picture.
Kevin: We figure we can piece together the whole movie using… Andrew: Yeah. We’re working on that. [Laughs] Ben: Yeah. Kevin: So, we want to be able to have this movie to you. Ben: [Laughs] Yeah. We’re kidding! WB please! [All laughs] Kevin: We are joking. Not going to do that. Ben: Okay. Andrew: Kevin, you mean that copy of Goblet of Fire you sent me isn’t legal? [All laugh] Kevin: Right. It was actually in TV Spot #1 that the longer scene was, with Priori Incantatem. Andrew: Thanks for clearing that up. Ben: There has been tons of other news too. What about this MuggleNet exclusive Mad-Eye Moody mini-site that we just put up today? That we linked to today. What do you think, Andrew? Kevin? Whomever. Andrew: Well, not today. By the time somebody listens to it, it’s going to be a few days old. Ben: Yeah. Andrew: Don’t date the show! Ben: That’s true. Kevin: There are secrets on this site. Andrew: There are. Kevin: I know that. So, we need people to be looking around for those. Andrew: Not many, but some of the things you look at, you’ll notice it’s kind of suspicious. Kevin: There has to be secrets. Andrew: Well, you pointed one out, Kevin. Kevin: Oh, yeah. With the belt buckle in, what was it, the Download Section? Andrew: I do not know. I am going back to it right now. But, nothing really happened though, right? Kevin: Yeah. Maybe it is because they are still setting it up. Andrew: Yeah. Kevin: Hopefully. Andrew: Well, you would have thought…the Game Section is still “Coming Soon.” Ben: Yeah. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: I think what is really weird are those two things that say “Constant Vigilance” on them. When you mouse over each one, it goes back and forth. I think there is something up with those. Kevin: And then there’s a book in one of the sections as well that says that. Andrew: Yeah. Yeah. What’s up with that? Kevin: I don’t know. Andrew [in weird voice]: What’s up with that? Kevin: I don’t know. Ben: I think this site actually looks pretty cool. Andrew: Yeah. Ben: Mad-Eye Moody. Speaking of him, we’ve seen a few posters of him. I think he is really going to fit the part. At first, I didn’t like Brendan Gleeson’s stature per se, but now I think I actually like the way (of what we’ve seen in the trailer), the way he portrays Mad-Eye Moody. So, he turned out to be pretty good. Kevin: Yeah. He does seem to be pretty good, but he’s not the way I envisioned him. Ben: I envisioned him to be a little bit skinnier in my mind. Kevin: I did too. Actually, yeah. Skinnier and more scarred. I thought his face was a lot more deformed. Andrew: I think what we’ve learned from WB so far is that you can’t expect the characters to look as they did in the books. Because look at Krum. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: He’s got semi-long hair. Kevin: That’s true. Andrew: In the movie, he’s got a shaven head. [Laughs] Ben: Look at Ron. Ron is supposed to be tall and skinny. Andrew: Forget him! Ben: Now, we have this stocky Rupert Grint. Yeah, so. I don’t know. I think the actors really do fit their characters pretty well though, and they’ve chosen some really good people for the movies even though they may not be 100% true to the book, they still fit their characters very, very well. Andrew: I’m very impressed by Rita Skeeter who is played… Kevin: Yeah. She looks excellent. Ben: Very, very well. Andrew: Oh, what’s… Okay. Kevin: She’s one of the only characters that is the way I saw her. That’s how I envisioned her. Andrew: But, that part… Kevin: I can’t say that word today. “Envisioned”. Okay. There we go. Andrew: That part in the trailer, in the TV spot, I believe it is, she asks something to Harry. Kevin: Yep. Andrew: That was when I really saw that she was great for the part. Ben: Well, is there anything else you want to talk about? We’ve seen quite a bit of news about Goblet of Fire. It’s just Goblet of Fire mania everywhere. That’s pretty much it. [Laughs] Kevin: Yeah. Posters. Mini-site. Video gamesite. Andrew: Yeah, the video game site came out, too. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: There has actually been some confusion. I think Amazon.com is the one to blame here. Everyone’s been saying, and I think it is them from Amazon that the Goblet of Fire video game would be coming out on November 15th, when in all reality, this entire time I was told by a representative at WB that it’s coming out actually on November 10th. That is the worldwide release date, on-sale date. Ben: Hmmm. Kevin: Huh. Andrew: And the something happened with the soundtrack too. You didn’t hear it from me, but the Goblet of Fire is going to be released [whispers] “not in stores” first. You heard it here first. [Laughs] Ben: Oooh. Kevin: Oooh. That’s right. Ben: All right. I think that’s enough chitchat about Goblet of Fire Let’s role the voicemails guys. Ben: Our first voicemail, please. [Audio]: Hi, my name is Kim and I am from Ohio. And, I listen to you guys on my way to work every week and I love your show! It’s great! I was also wondering what your opinions are on the Dursleys? Whether they would make their typical appearance at the beginning of 7th Book, and be done with them when Harry is emancipated at 17, like Dumbledore said he would be? Or if they are going to play an important factor with his conquest against Lord Voldemort? I was also wondering if we are going to have any resolution with Aunt Petunia and why she keeps acting strangely around Harry and why JK keep referencing that and if that’s going to be important? Thanks, guys! I really appreciate it. Ben: That’s a very good question. Andrew, what do you think about this? Andrew: Well, look, I really hope that it goes back to how we’ve seen it in previous books where the story would open up with Harry because that is the real, that is the real, that is how you always see the Harry Potter books starting off. And, I think that is a great way to show… Kevin: Yeah. Definitely. I think so too. Andrew: …that things aren’t always perfect. After things were resolved in the 2nd Book, you go back to this Dursley life in the 3rd Book. Ben: Right, but we’re not going to see that happen in the 7th Book. Andrew: And… Ben: Honestly. Andrew: No, but I think it would be cool if he went back to the Dursleys’ house. Kevin: Yeah. I think at the very least they should play the normal role. If they play a role larger than that, that’s fine, but I do want to see them as the original role they played in all the other books, which is the guardians of Harry until he turns seventeen. Ben: Yeah. I was kind of hoping, I don’t want them to turn into spoilsports preventing Harry from capturing his goal. Because I don’t think… Well, they really won’t be able to because he’ll become of age this summer. If you’re thinking, the next book is the next summer. So, he can leave, basically do whatever he wants. Actually, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon don’t even have to keep him there. Once he turns seventeen, they can throw him out because I think the agreement was as long as… Dumbledore said at the beginning of the 6th Book, “as long, just keep him there for just one more summer. Promise me that. Then, let him be gone!” And, what about the part about Petunia acting strange? What do you guys think? Kevin: Yeah. I think we may see a tidbit of why she’s acting strange, but I don’t think she’s is going to play a major role. Andrew: I hope this is going to be one of those mysteries. Kevin: Fun facts. Yeah, maybe like fun facts she gives. Andrew: Well, I was going to… I was hoping it was going to be one of those things we don’t find out in Book 7. It’s going to be one of those theories that are left open to keep the Harry Potter fans still interested in the series. Everyone will want to know, because it is a good topic for discussion. Perhaps we should look it to it. Ben: Yeah. Kevin: And she has said that she intends to, at most she is going to write books for charity. Andrew: Right. Kevin: JK Rowling had said that, right? Andrew: Which would be fact books and things like Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them. Kevin: Yeah. Exactly. Ben: She should write Hogwarts: A History. That’s just my thought on it. Okay. I think we’ve covered that. Roll the next voicemail. [Audio]: Hi MuggleCast! My name is Susannah and I am from Portugal. My question is, do you think Harry will survive in the end? I mean, even if he finds the Horcruxes, do you think he will be able to defeat Voldemort in the last battle or that JK Rowling wants to show us that the good ones don’t always win? Love your show! Bye! Ben: Well, what I think is that it would be ultimate plot twist because the entire Harry Potter books have been about the plot twists. With Mad-Eye Moody really being Barty Crouch Jr., with the Polyjuice Potion and things of that sort. So, I really wouldn’t be surprised if at the very end she had Harry die and Voldemort take over the world because everyone talks about being a “good vs. evil” story, but at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if JK Rowling twisted it around on everyone. The ultimate plot twist of all time. And have Voldemort virtually destroy the entire wizarding world when he takes out Harry. What do you think, Kevin? Kevin: Well, I think that, at least I hope that what happens in the end is that Harry defeats Voldemort, but dies in the process. It sounds as if it’s like, why would I hope for that? But, it would be the perfect resolution to the series because so many bad things have happened to Harry that it just seems to me that it can’t get any worse. You know what I mean? Ben: Right, and some people mention how he is destined to be reunited with all those people we’ve seen die. Kevin: Exactly. Ben: His parents. Kevin: Exactly. Ben: Dumbledore. Sirius. Kevin: And that’s why the think. Ben: I wouldn’t be surprised… Kevin: I actually… Ben: It could go either way. Kevin: I actually think it would be a good ending, the way she writes, having Voldemort be defeated by Harry at the same time as Harry sacrificing himself for everyone else. Ben: But, I don’t know how that would really be a resolution because then the rest of the wizarding world, I guess they’d honor Harry and stuff, but his close friends, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, all the people who have been around him for the past seven years, they’d just be torn apart. But, I guess at the same time they would realize what he had to do. Andrew, do you have anything to say about this? Andrew: No, other then that if Harry died in the last book people would be upset. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: Everyone is expecting Harry to win. Ben: That’s true. Andrew: Everyone thinks it. Kevin: Yeah, that’s what I am saying. Not necessarily Harry wins, but just because Harry wins doesn’t mean he has to live. Ben: That’s true. Andrew: That’s true. Only one can survive! Ben: If you guys, if anyone… Yep. Only one can survive! Andrew: [yelling] ETERNAL GLORY! HARRY POTTER! Ben: Yeah. [yelling] Only one will reach eternal glory! Okay. Kevin: Okay. Moving on. Ben: Okay. Enough movie line quoting. Andrew: Ben! Ben! Ben! Hold on! Ben: What? Andrew: You don’t get it? [Laughs] Ben: I can’t. My hand is all sweaty. [All laugh] Kevin: Okay. Ben: Okay. Roll the next voicemail. [Audio]: Hi! This is Zach calling from Pennsylvania. Love the show! Think you guys are doing a great job! And, I am curious if you guys have ever played the Electronic Arts Harry Potter video games, and if so, what do you think of them? Thanks! Keep it up! Ben: Honestly, I really haven’t played them that much. Kevin: I haven’t either. Ben: I tried out Sorcerer’s Stone and I am not much of a gamer. I think Andrew is the only that’s really, I don’t know if you’ve played the games. Andrew: No. I’m not really… Ben: I don’t know. I’m not a gamer. Andrew: I’m not a gamer, but I used to play, I played Sorcerer’s Stone on GameBoy. I played Quidditch World Cup on GameCube, and then I also played Chamber of Secrets. But, I really think if any three of those games, actually there are four of them. Out of the four of those, Quidditch World Cup was definitely the best because I thought it was going to be some stupid, slow-paced, “Eh, throw the ball. Quaffle. Yay!” Ben: Yeah. Andrew: It was actually really fast-paced and it resembled a regular EA Sports game, and I think that was their goal. And, they actually did a really good job with it. So, out of the four games that are out right now (of course the Goblet of Fire video game is coming out on November 10th), out of the four that are out right now, I would recommend Quidditch World Cup. Although, go ahead… Kevin: Now… Andrew: Go ahead. Kevin: Well, what do you think about Goblet of Fire video game? Do you think, what do you think about the ratings? Andrew: What is it rated? I never caught that. Kevin: I don’t know. Andrew: Did it get rated yet? Kevin: Oh. It’s “E” for “Everyone.” Andrew: Okay. Well, there you go. Kevin: Yes. It’s “E” for “Everyone.” Andrew: So, there you go. It doesn’t resemble the movie. [Laughs] If it did… Kevin: [Laughs] In any way shape or form. Okay. Ben: Okay. What I think about the video games is, when I played Sorcerer’s Stone it didn’t really attract me that much because I really wasn’t into hopping around Hogwarts Castle finding Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavored Beans. Andrew: That didn’t resemble the book at all. Ben: Yeah, that was just sort of a turnoff, but I’ve known other people such as Damon (he works at MuggleNet), he played the third video game on PC, and he thought it was absolutely terrible. And, I typically trust his opinions. He wrote a review about it probably still somewhere on the site. Andrew: Yeah. It still is. Ben: Yeah. He didn’t think that it was a very good game, especially in comparison to the first two because it was just so easy, and the thing about games is they are supposed to be a challenge, and if it’s not, it’s not very fun. Andrew: I think they realize this and that’s why they’re going for more of a movie resemblance with every video game. Look at the Goblet of Fire one now. Their faces are actually in the game. The faces of the actors are actually in the game. Kevin: Yeah. Yeah. Which is sort of creepy? Andrew: So, is it, are they desperate? Is this what they need to keep people interested in the game? Because I don’t really think that is required. Kevin: Yeah. I don’t think it is because they sell enough just because it is Harry Potter. Andrew: Yeah. Kevin: You know? Andrew: Right. Kevin: I think they are just trying to have a different approach. After making three or four games, actually three games, which are based upon the same premise, you tend to want to start something new. Ben: Right. Andrew: Right. Ben: I agree. Andrew: Well, I hope it is good. Actually, can I just? Ben: Yeah. Andrew: Electronic Arts – I know you’re out there. If you’d like to give us a preview copy, we will review it on the show. I promise I’ll give you a good review. Kevin: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Ben: Yeah. Andrew: Give us every copy. PSP, GameCube, PS2, XBox. Kevin: Yeah. [Laughs] Andrew: And give us an XBox. Kevin: An XBox. Andrew: Give us a PS2. Give us a GameCube. Ben: Oh, I am shocked. Kevin: No. Oh yeah. Ben: I am sure they are listening right now. Kevin: No, but if they do want to send us a copy, absolutely we will review it, but we’ll review it honestly. Andrew: No, I’ll give it a positive review. Don’t worry. I’ll plug it. I like free stuff. Ben: Yeah. Okay. Kevin: You like free stuff? Oh, geez. [Andrew laughs] Ben: I like free stuff too. [Laughs] Okay. Next voicemail. [Audio]: Hi MuggleCast! This is Michael from Minnesota. I really like your show. I was just reading Book 5 and was noticing how Aunt Petunia turned pale and got scared when the dementors are mentioned. Is it possible that somewhere in her past she was attacked by dementors and possibly that is what made her hate the magical world in the first place? And if so, do you think this could effect anything in Book 7? And that’s it! Thanks! Ben: Well, that’s a really good question. I think that since she grew up in a wizarding household, and her sister was a wizard, she may have heard about how creepy, and how scary, and how frightening, and how these creatures just basically suck the life out of you. And, that’s why she may have had the paralyzing look or the look of fear in her eyes. That’s just my take on it. Andrew, do you have any thoughts? Andrew: I have no take on it. Kevin: Well, I think it is exactly what you said. It’s that she hates the wizarding world because she was different. Well, she wasn’t different. She was normal in her family. And her family held Lily above herself in her mind at least. So, she was jealous of that, and because of that, that spawned her hate of the wizarding world. Andrew: What if… Ben: I agree. Andrew: But, how did Petunia find out about these dementors? Ben: Because she said that she heard him. She referred to Harry’s father talking about it. Isn’t that what happened? I believe. Kevin: Yep. Andrew: Oh okay. Because I thought it might have been passed along… Ben: She referred to Harry’s father talking to Lily. Andrew: Passed along by Lily. Kevin: Although Mike does have a point. She does have some large reaction to the mention of dementors, a larger reaction then you would expect from someone who hasn’t ever seen one. Ben: Right. Hates wizards. Kevin: You would think if she had such a big reaction, that she had seen one before. And if so, where? Ben: Well, she didn’t see it. She felt the effects of it. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: What if per se Petunia and Lily actually, Petunia is afraid of them because of Lily’s death? Because Petunia was Lily’s sister, so what if they really were close? Kevin: Yeah, but why would she be afraid of it because of Lily’s death? Andrew: Because she liked Lily. Ben: Well, I think there may be a hidden source of bitterness here. It’s that Lily was always the favorite child because she was a witch, and what happened was that this witchcraft, this thing that she grew up hating is what killed her sister because Lily was killed by the evil wizard Voldemort. It maybe that she loved her sister, but she hated what Lily was practicing. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: Yeah. Ben: Do you think that makes sense? Andrew: Yeah. Definitely. Kevin: Yeah. That makes sense. Definitely. Ben: Okay. And about her actually having an effect on Book 7, I don’t know. I think it’s in the past really. I don’t know what effect it will have except that Petunia may actually have some other type of connection to the wizarding world that we don’t know about, but beyond that, I don’t know. Kevin: It is all speculation. Ben: Exactly. Kevin: Okay. Ben: Okay. So roll the next voicemail. [Audio]: Hey! My name is Rachel and I am from Manchester in England. First, I’d like to say what a wicked job you’re doing and I think you all rock. Especially Jamie because he’s English. All right. My question is this: Jo Rowling has already said and confirmed that the last word in Book 7 is “scar.” Do you think this gives away any bearing on whether Harry dies or stays alive in the end because some I know have taken it that Harry’s scar is fading away, meaning Voldemort is defeated or something, but I am not honestly sure. What is your take on it? Ben: Since I fielded most of these, Kevin, you take this one. Kevin: I don’t think that the scar will be fading because of Voldemort dying. First of all, I don’t think that theory…that’s all speculation. There’s no basis for that. It’s a scar, so you would assume that even when Voldemort is gone, it will remain there forever. Ben: Right. Kevin: The way I envisioned it was she would say something along the lines of, “and it all started with a scar” or something like that. Andrew: Right. Kevin: Just like a closing sentence to sum up the whole series. Ben: It could be, it could be so many things. Kevin: Well, it could. Yeah. Definitely. Ben: I was thinking. Me and one of my friends were just sitting around thinking of funny ways the book could end or just things like Hermione says, “Harry, where’s your scar?” or “Voldemort stands over the boy he just murdered, the one with the famous scar.” Just something. It was more elaborate and more fluent when I originally typed it out and thought of it then it is now, but the point is there can be so many endings. Kevin: Definitely. Andrew: Or what if… Kevin: Good or bad endings. Ben: I don’t think it’s fair to speculate about what it’s going to be when there are literally a trillion things it could be. Andrew: If JK Rowling would tell us that and say, “Okay. Yeah. It is going to be scar. That’s the last word.” What if it even doesn’t relate to Harry’s scar? It could be an emotional scar? Kevin: That’s true. Although she did say that she was considering, in that interview, she said… Andrew: Considering changing it? Kevin: She said, yeah, she’s considering changing it. She’s going to see how it turns out. Because I guess she’s had some thoughts on the last chapters. So, we shall see. Andrew: Yeah. New question. [Audio]: Hi! My name is Kiki. I really enjoy the show and all its humorously intelligent discussions! The question I would like to pose to you is going with the theory that Dumbledore knew he was going to die, that Snape was going to kill him eventually. Would it be possible that Dumbledore was able to store many of his memories in the Pensieve and that later Harry can go and use it to gain knowledge that previously he wasn’t able to have, since Dumbledore is now dead? Thanks! Andrew: Okay. Yeah. I think this is a great theory because a lot of people have been led to believe that Dumbledore actually might die, I mean he knew that he was going to die. So, as a back up per se, he put some of his thoughts into this Pensieve. So, that way Harry can go back to it and say, “Oh, look! Here’s Dumbledore’s conveniently placed Pensieve.” And there you go. Harry… Kevin: See the problem I see with that theory is what could Dumbledore have stored that would be valuable to Harry without compromising what they learned? Andrew: Memories. The Black Hand. What happened with that? What’s up with that? Could that have related to one of the Horcruxes he was looking after? So, Harry could go back to where he was, where he got that Black Hand. Kevin: Yeah, but what I am saying is that he would have to store it in his Pensieve. If he didn’t, the Pensieve is not a secure thing by any means. Andrew: Hmmm. Kevin: Anyone can go into those memories. Ben: Right. So, anyone can go into those memories. So, the thing is he could be compromising the Order of the Phoenix. Kevin: Exactly. That’s why I say… Ben: Dumbledore might not have done it for that reason. Kevin: Exactly. Andrew: But what if McGonagall was protecting it or something? Ben: You agree with that? Kevin: Yeah, but then McGonagall would have said something to Harry at the staff meeting. Andrew: Well, how do you know she’s not waiting until… Ben: Well, I don’t know if she would have. Andrew: Yeah. Not necessarily. Ben: I don’t know if she would have said something to him. Kevin: If they were addressed to Harry and Dumbledore created them, I am sure she would have said something. Ben: I don’t know. Kevin: I am sure she has a fair idea. Andrew: I can believe that even if Dumbledore didn’t know that he was going to die, he could have still made a Pensieve of very, very early thoughts. Kevin: That’s true. At least knowledge for… Ben: And couldn’t he make the Pensieve so that you have to be a certain person? Maybe? Kevin: I don’t know. Ben: There could be some sort of charm that he could use. Andrew: There are charms for everything. Andrew: Everything! Well, there is. Kevin: But remember that when Dumbledore died, his charm on Harry got released. So, does that mean the other charms are released? Andrew: Hmmm. Ben: That’s true. I don’t know. What I look like? JK Rowling? Geez. [Andrew laughs] Kevin: I don’t know. Andrew: Yes. Kevin: You do look like a woman. Andrew: Oh! Ben: Oh! Kevin: Oh! Burn! Ben: Guys. Guys, come on. So, do you guys have anything else you want to talk about before we wrap this up? Andrew: Yeah. I do. Okay. Ben: Okay. Kevin: Okay then. Andrew: So we have a few challenges for people this week. Just in case one doesn’t tickle your funny bone, we’ll give you another one. Let’s have three this week. So, the first one is to come up with crazy, the most unique places you can think we can podcast from in New York City. And, if we like your idea, we’ll definitely do it. Ben and me will go anywhere in New York City. Well, wait a second. Almost anywhere. [Laughs] Ben: Almost anywhere. Kevin: Yeah. Andrew: ALMOST anywhere. Kevin: Don’t say anywhere. I know I’m not going anywhere in New York City. Andrew: I am not going *BEEP*! So, that’s our first Listener Challenge. So, then Ben do you still want to do your second one? I think is weird. Ben: Oh, yes! Yes. Yes. The next Listener Challenge is to make a song for MuggleCast. Make a song about MuggleCast. For MuggleCast. And if we like it, we might even play it on the show as the intro. Andrew: Here’s what we are looking for. We’re looking for a HOT remix! One that is going to make people want to dance. Catchy stuff. You have 110% permission to go pull stuff out from all the past shows or even this show. Funny lines or whatever. Just make a remix, for those of you who can do that. Kevin: Yeah. Definitely. Ben: Something about MuggleCast. Andrew: Yeah. Ben: Just for us. Okay. Also. This week’s edition of “Spy on Spartz.” Kevin: He has a very detailed away message. Andrew: Yeah. I am excited. This is the best one yet. He did it just for this show. Kevin: You read it. Ben: It’s the best. Okay. “Watching Joe Gandalfi represent Nott Hall in the Mr. ND Pageant. 8:30 at La Fortune Ballroom on the 2nd Floor. I’m there!” Andrew: I’m there. Let’s go guys. Ben: Andrew. Andrew is watching the Mr. Notre Dame Pageant right now. Andrew: Me? Ben: Oh, it’s some pretty intense stuff. No, I mean Emerson. [Andrew laughs] Ben: Sorry, Andrew. You’re not that cool. Emerson is watching the Mr. Notre Dame Pageant right now. Andrew: That’s cool. I guess. Ben: I think that wraps up this week’s edition of “Spy on Spartz.” For all of you out there who keep wanting Emerson on a podcast. Andrew: Live show! Ben: Be there! New York City! November 12th! Don’t miss it! He’ll be there! Andrew: Everyone should come out because after the show, we’re going to be meeting everyone afterwards. You’re going to be able to see us do the show live. We’re going to give you guys the scoop. Ben: And we’re going to go eat at Chili’s! Andrew: Chili’s? Ben: Emerson is paying for us all. I’m kidding. I don’t know. I just made that up. Andrew: No, we’re going to eat at whatever the closest place is to the Barnes & Noble because we’re going to be hungry. Kevin: [Laughs] Whatever the closest place is? Andrew: Oh, did I say McDonald’s? Ben: Okay. Kevin: NOT McDonald’s! I don’t eat McDonald’s. Ben: No, not McDonald’s. Andrew [Show Close with music in background]: Also, one last thing. We’re also going to start running comments from you guys. Audio comments at the end of the show. So, send those in to voice at staff dot mugglenet dot com put in the “Subject Line: Comment” and we will then maybe air it at the end of the show if it is good enough. We like comments. Ben: Okay, so I think that pretty much concludes this week’s edition of MuggleCast. It’s really a throwback. We’re back to the original three. Next week, we’ll probably see some of the other guys poke back in. Andrew: And girls. We still have Laura. Ben: So, that… Kevin: Yeah. Ben: Yeah. We still have Laura. Guys and girls both. We’re not sexist. Kevin: And Laura should be good with the audio by next week. Andrew: Yeah. For those of you who were wondering why her headset wasn’t the best, she was actually using the microphone built into her computer. And, it made this really loud humming noise, so I had to get rid of it, which made her sound quality bad. Kevin: Yeah. Ben: Okay. Enough explanation, boys. Andrew: Sorry. I got carried away. Ben: Once again. That wraps up Episode 10 of MuggleCast. With all this in mind, I’m Ben Schoen. Andrew: I’m me. Kevin: And I’m Kevin Steck. Ben: So, if you have any questions or suggestions just shoot us an e-mail. Do any of that stuff. And, we’ll see you next week.