Background sound provided by podcast Skull Bottle Sorcery #184 WITH kind permission! (On Soundcloud and youtube)Brief updates with me and why we’re still focusing on the earlier Radio Drama episodes in retrospection. This podcast coincides with the original script release date. Why “The Prisoner” element was added, it was NOT just-for-fun: It was due to Josette’s Music Box tune being lifted from an episode of The Prisoner. Trivia, plain and simple.The podcast  explains a few things relating to how the ghost of Captain Gregg manages to help in this interruption to Dark Shadows. Also topics on Josette’s earings being given to Maggie, but in this series it’s the butler, Wadsworth, who bestows them rather than Willie and for different reasons. Carolyn’s troubled discussion of trying to fill out college applications with Tony and why it’s troubled. A brief stop via “The Prisoner” and how it ties into the episode.Next Barnabas and Prof. Stokes engage in a discussion involving some befuddling correspondence, as well as the whereabouts of Willie Loomis.Meanwhile, the Evans Cottage is busy with Maggie and Sam discussing her possible employment as David’s new governess, as well as her soured relationship with Joe. Upon Maggie leaving for her waitress shift, Capt Gregg appears and much is revealed of a supernatural bent after that. Angelique arrives to take back her painting but… Whoops! …wait…Where is it?Further explanation of how Captain Gregg and the reincarnation of Andre duPres can know each other...Barnabas, waking up from a dream in a setting from “The Prisoner”, proceeds to the coffee shop with the aid of Wadsworth. Maggie and Barnabas have a catch up discussion of all the bizarre circumstances, as well as her trepidation about switching employment. On the West Coast, Peter and Victoria’s road trip bring them to a familiar location also brought to the screen in the 1960’s. All seems fine enough until the proprietor reveals his name. Then: Narrative Discussion!

Brief updates with me and why we’re still focusing on the earlier Radio Drama episodes in retrospection. Focus on Ghost and Mrs. Muir fandom and it’s loose relationship with Dark Shadows. Reactions and non-reactions I received. Ghosts and Mrs. Muir novel understanding, etceteras. Background details of how Episode Four “Captain Gregg Gets Bent” was conjured, including the title. Gong through what happens in the episode from start to finish. Then eventually the responses from kind friends and acquaintances. 

Describing what the entire show is about and an aside about hard copies of shows, etc. being better but more difficult to obtain. (DVD’s LIVE!) Why I’ve become calmer even as it might disappoint listeners(?) Describing both the episode and the very first review I ever received, yay! Some rambling of how everyone gets hopped up on hype. Also the incident back in 2014 on a group and how the design of FB messed things up insisting to show me things I did NOT wish to observe. Love to Helena and Osheen for being understanding of blowing gaskets means you are Human NOT evil... On to “The Strega of Brooklyn” and our cameo with The Golden Girls and how it was conjured and encouraged. Going into explaining Sophia’s story of meeting up with her “old friend” Mrs. “Gabby” Johnson. (I invented the nickname.) How Freddy Kruger is mixed in and eventually foils the dream curse. (Since he’s good at that kind of thing.) Then? The JOY of Narrative discussion, at last! ^_^ (Pardon for all my yawning. Late night’s work, as per usual.) Confusion between Foley and Dave Foley. Appreciation to those who’ve clearly expressed I am doing much more that “writing”, THANK YOU! Discussion keeps up with fans enjoyment of “The Golden Girls” and how she’s easily seen as good friend with Collinwood’s housekeeper. How James Burke continues to blow my mind. We sort of wrap up with the review I received from Mad Margaret with appreciation and apologies for all the sour that came about, much outside of either of our control, alas. If someone wants to write to me about that topic? Sure! Please do! (Especially just to let me know if she has passed away or not.) Various forms of gratitude I still hold toward her. Apologies to pen pals and to phone friend: Thank you for being a friend! 

Going over the summary of the second radio drama episode in The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows. Then eventually I discuss the commentary as well as why changes for the better are occurring. How the Kids In The Hall hosts are acclimating to the differences and oddities. Drips of how knowingly being “despised” I just keep going? Well? It’s happened before! Going through various options with the supernatural, what to add, what to discard and what to keep. Vocal characterizations, etcetera. Josette’s chamber pot? Blending in the 1960 Time Machine film character.Hoffman and Barnabas butting heads over Wadsworth, and Dry Ice. Oscilloscopes? Special Effects = Crap your Dad has in the Garage... Racing up the stairs with Doctor Hoffman. If soap characters are so stressed out? Maybe drink LESS COFFEE?!? Examples of how Wadsworth understands how to handle Barnabas Collins “issues” fivefold.Wadsworth comparing Willie and Barnabas to each other from episode two and episode fourteen and how he goes about it. Doctor HJoffman and Carolyn having “a moment”. Mummies are gross... because. Throwing in Miss Cleo. Discussion details. Lemon curd over jam. Extra explanations over how I figured out the gossip and hate-speak was happening. How to get in touch and why it is important along with narrative chat being important. Hopefully all will work-out. Hope the ocean waves aren’t too loud. Take care!

Another Update what I've been working on and a Farewell to Lara Parker. Rest in Peace!My usual attempt to figure out what people want to hear and what about and how I really don't know and why and HOWDY get in touch and here is how, etceteras. My standard blather, really. Take care everyone! (And read Henry Huggins, get some true pain!)

After I introduce the usual show description I continue to blab with irritation at something that will likely shock people (minus the haters who will be pleased) when I tear-up the untouchable covenant of “Freedom-Of-Choice” which is not bestowed at all human births but given in a very delicate balance of many things we rarely take into account. Many people who were denied several choices as teenagers will be gratified to hear this bit. :)Freedom of choice comes further into play as I describe how the radio drama gives this delicate balance to the fictional characters according to the helper characters escorting them there. Rather than my usual retrospective where I describe the scenes, I eventually go straight to the narrative discussion given because for Episode One: There is the MOST discussion from people and there isn't time for me to explain the scenes. I wanted to focus on what most people contributed instead. Plenty of narrative blab in between all the comments from myself. I DO explain the confusion in the sixth inquiry on the list for Episode One. I decided to tell my bad treatment at school story not for the sob-content but for the ten-years-later-weirdness that happened between myself and those who'd been cruel all that time with the understanding this has happened again on a grander scale with The Pit and me and people being group-think-cruel for the sake of gaining "approval" from others, but sadly what was a bigger culprit was Big Tech using vulnerabilities to make money from this "resource" and from full-grown adults, rather than kids who are gleaning a rite-of-passage in life through the bad experience. I’d like to believe this will help you all but I, of course, have my doubts. (Good luck all y’all!)As always, I hope the people who love the show get in touch to discuss it with me as I would enjoy that as I have with the precious few who have done so in the past. However, I understand many who wish to talk to me about it often have the big problem: “I don’t know where to start!” I have a very old-fashioned suggestion, start with: “Dear Daryl,” and go from there. :)

The usual rigmarole of what the show is about and why it was originally shared, of course. From scene scene in episode 19 is explained and discussed going through listeners thoughts to each scene one at a time. Plenty of emphasis on Bewitched characters Samantha and Endora and how they feel about what they're witnessing via DS characters. Diabolos gets plenty of attention as well, along with Nicholas Blair and how our hosts feel about him. Recognition of the source material and how it was put together and why trivial pursuit of the details is very important. From Dark Shadows to The Ghost & Mrs. Muir to Bewitched. Pardon for the length of this but there is so much to explain and express in the details

Diving into the details of how Episode 18, Braving The Waters was created, including the goofy stuff for Sir Simon Milligan ala Mad Max and a recent loss. Additives of The Kids In The Hall references and characters for this episode will be included.Further explanation of Andre DuPres and Captain Gregg’s ghost-time friendship prior to and after Andre’s reincarnation as Sam Evans in The Pit series.  Building up  the friendship of Sarah Collins and Captain Gregg. Explaining how Endora and Captain Gregg encountered each other, as well as consulting all this with Maggie Evans as the reincarnation of Josette DuPres. How Bill Malloy’s character is reintroduced from original Dark Shadows into The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows, even as a ghost. Much help from Osheen Nevoy in real life and Lily Munster in fiction! Commentary from others shared throughout all scenes.Long description of layered scenes at Morning Glory Circle with Sam Evans, Captain Daniel Gregg, Samantha Stephens and, eventually, Endora, as well as the marvellous culmination! Whatever I could gather from Bewitched to make this all work AND the *retroactive saving* of Bathia Mapes from Dark Shadows as woven into the Bewitched playing field. How Gregg makes up with Endora and much gratitude towards Harpies Bizarre website.Introducing Chris Jennings character and the multifaceted fun of this, going as verbatim to original DS but with hilarious additives. (Admittance to how long I’ve had a crush on actor Don Briscoe and where that previously led.) Julia Hoffman losing-it for a while and then gaining-it-back, with Stokes maintaining his appreciation. Amy knowing more and why. Much fun with Victoria Winters at The Addams Family abode as well as why she had the visions she had in episode 18, only explaining so much. Focusing on time period contexts; and Wednesday bonding with Victoria during this scene.How Chris requesting a different room to Mr. Wells at The Collinsport Inn is altered with the help of Sam Evans, The Beach Boys and Saramonster’s permission of joke usage. ^_^ Saving Mr. Wells and a cameo with Mr. Tizick. If you care about scandal more than accuracy? This show is NOT for you, nor am I. For people who want to talk narrative? Get in touch. Wrapping up with the personal and recent stuff, ideas, problems, and hopes for the future, as well as a most favourite Douglas Adams quotation I discovered in recent years. Thank you, Mr. Adams. 

Hello and I dive into a pep-talk about anti-fans and the unfortunate lack of choices we had in this situation. (Hopefully the previous podcast caught you up with the main topic of the whole show.) Next I go for the scene by scene topics hitting on a little love for The Kids In The Hall with Milligan and Hecubus. Plenty of trivia involving all fandoms from Beetlejuice to The Munsters to Dark Shadows. (And even Star Trek!) How the big-fight was put together with BJ versus V’Angelique.Plenty of love for Roger, and in many ways The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows is meant for fans of Roger Collins. (If you are a fan of DS but not of Roger Collins? I’d say you’re S.O.L. for what I have.) Throughout this show reveals various helps from Osheen Nevoy! ^_^Fun adoration for Lester from The Munsters compared to DS werewolves. Also attention to Carolyn’s feelings and Victoria’s potential connection to her. Lengthy introspection with the Evans/duPres reincarnation duo.  Andre duPres’ strong feelings about Josette and Barnabas resounds from the 1790s. Continuing on to Wadsworth and Willie Loomis bonding further as well as Willie and Sarah’s ghost.Two romantic dates ensue from Tony and Carolyn interrupted by The Shriners to Hoffman and Stokes having a fancy dinner with supernatural topics they are so good at. Helping Milligan and Hecubus to catch up the audience with historical potentials, doing our best to get Lily and Liz on the boat, so the rush job on Bill’s ghost with how long this episode took to produce is the standard affliction known as “Hurry Up And Wait!” Wrapping up with what happiness came for the episode, and the koo-koo that’s plaguing us all with unhappiness. Tips on how to protect oneself against surveillance and persuasive technology. Hopes for anti-fans becoming ex-anti-fans. 

Introduction to me and the podcast, what it was originally created to present. (This will likely sound even more calm than my first six episode intros.) Some of the pitfalls and touching on the anti-fans as well as an invitation to turn this show off if you don’t enjoy it. ^_^Recognizing how freedom and choice were removed in recent years thanks to surveillance and persuasive technology. This takes a very, very long time to learn about and how it alters people. Why “The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows” radio drama is *not* a binge-able show. Good to discover and important to keep in mind! Chat about Barnabas and Josette: seeing the Jean and Lionel  connection, yes, but more Doctor Who fun in establishing which of the two, Barnabas or Josette, is closer to a Timelord. Josette is the answer, of course!When I mention Josette being dismissed in DS as similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi being dismissed in Star Wars, you may want to say, “But, I’ve never heard anyone dismiss Obi-Wan Kenobi!” Exactly. Neither have I. So why do fans dismiss Josette duPres as an unimportant Dark Shadows character?  It makes no sense.How we work with Josette duPres as a resolved character based on original Dark Shadows and other DS productions with her character. Moving on to the retrospective in The Pit, Ep. 16 “A Death In The Family”. Scenes, comments and reviewing the narrative content. The stress of working with BJ’s character with a segue into the goofy stuff posted on FB and the hilarity of posting bogus information in the disbelief anyone would “buy” it. Lots of fun pen pal chat I discuss in this one via various people over the years with this episode and more recent fun. Hopes for good fortune in our future, and all of us finding more and more wellness in the coming year. Lots of love, y’all. Take care!