Elwood City Limits Podcast

They're back! Lucas and Will return to chat Binky's anxieties in "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," and the odd imagery on display in "Whistling In The Wind." It's been a while between episodes, so a lot of email has cropped up, and Will can't contain his excitement about new Teletubbies; plus, Arthur's treehouse, juice bars, ties, and an ECL mystery to solve...

Will and Lucas break from conventional format to discuss both iterations of the classic PBS staple, The Electric Company, from the 1970s and the late 2000's! For the full episode, along with the complete For The Kids series, join our Patreon today, and pay what you want for nearly 100 hours of exclusive content...

We've heard from Arthur fans and people who have worked on the show, but now, let's talk to some (former) kids! Will sits down in two separate interviews with Catherine Dore and Holly Holland to find out what it was like to film the classic Arthur interstitial segments and their memories of their respective shooting days. Catherine has cool insight on how kids were originally selected for the show, and Holly goes in-depth on how being a small-town girl on one of the biggest cartoons in the world affected her life. Catherine Dore appeared in Season 1, episode 12, "Arthur Writes A Story" Holly Holland appeared in Season 4, episode 4, "The Contest"

Lucas and Will get the chance to talk to a Halifax YouTube legend, The Betamax King! His channel collects old commercials, station IDs, promos, and even full specials and local music albums from the 1980s - early 2000's, including Arthur and PBS Kids content. The guys talk to the King about how he got started and why media preservation is important to him, the process of taking footage from VHS and Betamax, some of the wild clips he's collected over the years, and just how much advertising and television has changed since then. The Betamax King on YouTube Betamax King on GoFundMe (support his efforts to archive old media!) Check out a 5-minute video documentary on the King, including a look at his set-up!

Time to squad up with the Super Readers, as Will and Lucas explore a program from the creator of Blue's Clues and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, it's Super Why! This is a free preview of the full episode; to listen to the whole thing and dozens upon dozens of hours of content, sign up at our Patreon for as little as $1 a month!

Come celebrate the 6th year of Elwood City Limits with Will and Lucas talking about the premiere of Arthur season 15! The guys break out the wood candy for "Fifteen," as they juggle three storylines of wildly different repute. Plus, the Best of Halifax Awards, emails about Degrassi and the worst Arthur episodes, and a schedule update for the next few weeks...

Will and Lucas link up (separately) to discuss a surprising season of Arthur in many ways, as they both give their top 5 episodes of the seasons, and Lucas fills in the gaps with mini-reviews of the episodes he missed this season!

It's been a long road, gettin' from there to here...but Lucas and Will are ready to cover the final episode of Season 14! The two get into model kits and a famous astronaut in "Buster Spaces Out," then wrap up the saga of El Boomerang and entertain a weird aside by Will in "The Long Road Home." Plus, Lucas' yard sale, the real BINKY lyrics, a couple of fit checks, crappy regional beers, and a case of mistaken identity...

After another narrow Patron's poll, the winner is DT. Daniel Tiger...'s Neighborhood, that is! Will and Lucas discover the show's deep connection to the world of Fred Rogers and the ways in which it looks to honor his legacy, as well as the many companies that made it happen and the connections to other popular kid's shows along the way. The full episode is available now on our pay-what-you-want Patreon, along with dozens of hours more extra content!

Hot time, summer in the city! The guys beat the heat by chatting about childhood insults and bullying in "DW, Queen of the Comeback" before exploring different parts of a beautiful continent through song with "In My Africa." Lucas further bemoans the lack of good Italian representation on the show, and he and Will pitch the music that the Arthur characters listen to, and much more...

Lucas and Will go exploring in La Maison de Ouimzie, or if you watched in North America, Wimzie's House! The guys take time to poke into the show's history, including the many channels it aired on and its legal brush with Jim Henson Studios, before getting into the production itself, which offers unique takes on the puppet show genre and some very familiar voices... Pay what you want at patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits and gain access to the full episode, plus dozens and dozens of hours of exclusive ECL audio content!

Will and Lucas express confusion over both a classic hobby and an awkward Arthur meme in "Arthur Unravels," before discovering just how ahead of its time the show is, fashion-wise, in "All The Rage." Plus, a heapin' helpin' of emails, a truly strange Easter egg(?), and the long-awaited update on Lucas' luggage!

No, that's not a typo, because we're talking about that family of bears from our childhoods! Will leads Lucas through the detailed history of the Berenstain Bears franchise, including the books, other cartoon adaptations, why you may not see it as much anymore, and yes, why people seem to remember them as the "Berenstein" Bears. For the full discussion, subscribe to our Patreon and gain access to the episode plus dozens more on PBS Kids classics...

Lucas returns from his adventures in Ireland to catch up with Will, as they both grumble through "Around The World in 11 Minutes" before praising the before-its-time nature of "Muffy and the Big Bad Blog." Along the way, the guys answer emails and look back on their #1 Arthur episodes, determine their most hated characters, reminisce on their old blogs, and Will recounts the first ECL patron/listener meet-up. Hey, WestJet, where is Lucas' luggage?!

Lucas returns from his roadrunning across Canada to answer some emails with Will about celebrity Arthur voice casts and adoption in the Arthur universe. Then, the guys deal with body horror and Saul Bass titles in "Follow The Bouncing Ball," before fretting about Buster's future and lament the lack of ICP in "Buster Baxter and the Letter From The Sea." Plus, the Arthur adaptation of Zodiac, Will makes a proposition to the Arthur Wiki, and what podcast pair do Lucas and Will look like?

After narrowly winning the Patron's poll, Will and Lucas try to get their heads around the forgotten 90's 'toon, Adventures From The Book of Virtues! This one is full of weird history and funny moments, so subscribe to our Patreon for the complete episode AND dozens of hours of extra content featuring Arthur, PBS Kids, and more...

Will is joined by Arthur/PBS Kids expert Peeebs to talk about the first scary thing you ever saw in "Tales of Grotesquely Grim Bunny", and just how darn cute Pal is in "Pet Projects." Peeebs is a font of Arthur knowledge and sheds light on some mysteries about the show, including a potential bombshell on Arthur's name itself. Peeebs also gets into his own Arthur origin and why he is such a big fan, and he and Will chat about the importance of archiving, the show's first stoner, and a PBS Kids manga?! Follow Peeebs on Twitter (@itspeeebs) and on YouTube (Peeebs)!

The voice of Finding D.W. returns to tackle an Arthur episode! Jason Szwimer and Will discuss where geek culture was in 2010 in "Falafelosophy," and see the 2008 financial crisis through one of the strangest Arthur episodes ever, "The Great Lint Rush." Jason also discusses his history with Arthur post-DW and his most nostalgic shows, the 3 words every writer wants to hear, and some deep Arthur lore questions. Plus, does Will hate Neil Gaiman? Follow Jason on Twitter and Instagram, and listen to Finding D.W. on your favorite podcast service!

Lucas and Will wind the clocks forward in covering one of the newest shows on the FTK docket, Molly of Denali! There's a lot to discuss in terms of the creative and cultural powerhouses behind the show, its relationship to the Indigenous people of Alaska (and across North America), and how it explains very serious subjects to a younger audience. The guys definitely learn a thing or two themselves! For the full episode and dozens more on your favorite PBS Kids shows, subscribe to our Patreon!

Despite the best efforts of Mike, ECL has returned! Will and Lucas waste no time in getting to the Kingdom Hearts 4 of it all, before discussing the mechanics of long nicknames in "Nicked By A Name," followed by Lucas bemoaning the loss of his favorite gag in "The Play's The Thing." The guys confront some of Arthur's weirdest moments along the way, ruminate on the fates of the unseen Arthur characters, and get a little Mad Men in there as well...

It's an off week for Will and Lucas, so please enjoy our episode of the Patreon-exclusive For The Kids podcast on Sid The Science Kid! The guys discuss the ground-breaking digital puppetry technology behind the show and the 90's CGI shows of the past that paved the way, as well as how Sid's method of storytelling measures up to its peers. Plus, the many different projects the show's cast found themselves in, and Lucas' class analysis on the show. To check out more episodes of FTK, consider subscribing to our Patreon!

Will and Lucas turn back time again to the 1990's for a look at one of the earliest PBS Kids hits, GhostWriter! This is a preview of the latest Patreon-exclusive episode; for the whole thing and dozens more great full-length episodes talking about PBS Kids shows, consider joining our Patreon for as little as $1 a month. patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits

Happy Wrestlemania weekend to all who celebrate (and apologies to those who don't)! Will and Lucas take time off from watching the grappling to discuss Arthur's handling of a topical issue in "The Agent of Change," and the state of TLC's reality TV offerings in "DW Unties The Knot." Plus, a spirited defense of Emily, cartoons that represent the animation process, and does Lucas say yes to the dress?

This is a preview. For the full episode, subscribe to our Patreon! Will and Lucas, together again, go back to school with Sid The Science Kid! The guys discuss the ground-breaking digital puppetry technology behind the show and the 90's CGI shows of the past that paved the way, as well as how Sid's method of storytelling measures up to its peers. Plus, the many different projects the show's cast found themselves in, and Lucas' class analysis on the show.

Will welcomes back former guest KashCash to the show, as they chat a new character and the contest that made her in "The Wheel Deal," before uncovering a shocking secret about Mr. Ratburn's past in "The Buster Report." Kash offers insights on the character designs of the show and can't help but get into a bit of tokusatsu discussion with Will; plus, a new animal hierarchy theory, and Buster goes Ultra Instinct? Check out the KashCast on Spotify and Anchor, and watch their cool YouTube videos! Follow Kash on Twitter (@Kash_Cash_) and support them on Ko-fi!

The end of another season of Arthur allows Will and Lucas to reflect on what they've seen, as they look back at how they feel about season 13 and rank their top 5 favorite episodes. Then, check out an extended free preview of the guys talking about the final Arthur episode, "All Grown Up," a review that is available now on Patreon! What did you think of Season 13? Send us your top episodes and/or general thoughts!

Arthur may be "over", but ECL lives on! Will and Lucas rediscover the power of music in "Waiting For Bonnie," while Arthur speaks truth to (super)power in "The Secret Origin of Supernova." Along the way, the guys discuss the ethics of sleepovers, Deliverance, Jack Kirby, a character's subtle design change, and yes, the animal hierarchy.

Will is joined for a second time by the man behind the Finding DW podcast, and former voice of DW, Jason Szwimer! This is a preview of the 40-minute+ interview; for the full scoop, subscribe to Elwood City Limits on Patreon! Follow Jason on Instagram, Twitter, and subscribe to Finding DW on your favorite podcast service...

Enjoy another Lucas Mancini Day with Will and the man himself as they deal with an unexpected flash-forward in "Paradise Lost," followed by the dark side of school spirit in "The Pride of Lakewood." The guys take time to answer emails including the tracklist of a 90's Arthur album, Lucas remembers his first word, and hits his limit with the show's weird food... Join us for our stream Saturday Feb 19 at 6:00 PM EST, twitch.tv/ElwoodCityLimitsPod

Will and Lucas enter the mysterious jungles of their post-childhood to explore the puppet/CGI combination show that was It's A Big Big World! This is a sneak preview of the full episode. To gain access to it and dozens more hours of content including commentaries, movie reviews, and the entire For The Kids back catalog, subscribe to our pay-what-you- want Patreon!

Fresh off the new Arthur book release, Will provides a report from the Marc Brown Q&A before he and Lucas launch into talking about the side-hustle in "Fernlets by Fern," before getting into some classic Arthur horror with "Prunella and the Haunted Locker." Plus, Will writes a birthday card for Lucas, parents are raked over the coals, and a big announcement for February!

It's the Sesame Street segment that captured kid's imaginations, as Will and Lucas travel to Elmo's World! This is a preview of the full episode. Get access to the whole thing and dozens more like it by signing up for as little as $1.00 at patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits!

Welcome to the kingdom of Lurewi, as Lucas and Will welcome Réjean aka Rage from Podcast 69 to discuss NFTs and more artist scams in "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Tibble," before trading secret websites in "The Secret Guardians." Along the way, Will gets out-Englished and an unexpected connection to The Simpsons is made; plus, Sword Art Online, emails, and Arthur's final season updates! Podcast 69 is available on your favorite podcast provider and at https://podcast69.buzzsprout.com/ Follow Rage on Twitter: @Re_accent_aigu

Will and Lucas return to Ragdoll Productions for this little-known precursor to shows like Teletubbies and Boohbah, and one that was a childhood favorite of Will's. The guys slow the vibe waaaaay down for adventures with millipedes and trains and a character with an awful voice, plus a brief exploration of the explosion of popularity for Elmo in 2022 and Will's galaxy-brain take on the themes of Ragdoll Production shows. The full episode, and dozens more on your favorite PBS Kids shows, are available on our Patreon for only $1!

It's a brand new year, as Will leads Lucas through one of Arthur's more famous episodes, "When Carl Met George," and perhaps the most important Word From Us Kids segment in show history. Then, they DIVE into "DW Swims with the Fishes," a more light-hearted affair. Plus, emails that bring back grade school memories, and is Will a Gas-head? We welcome your feedback on this episode, feel free to contact us on our socials or email us, [email protected]!

There is no new content on the free feed this week, but head over to patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits and subscribe if you want to hear a one-time-only pilot episode Will worked on during the pandemic, all about movies and their accompanying soundtracks. Happy New Year to you, we'll see you in 2022 with all-new episodes of ECL, FTK, and more!

Grab the turkey and sit down with Will & Lucas for the last(?) Arthur commentary for An Arthur Thanksgiving! The guys chat about all manner of holidays as well as tofurkey, parades, and they even manage to say a couple of nice things about the Flash animation... This is a commentary track watch-along, instructions for syncing up our audio with "An Arthur Thanksgiving" are given at the beginning of the audio. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best from us at Elwood City Limits. See you in 2022!

Will and Lucas get the obvious joke out of the way immediately before turning the dial back to the 1990's to revisit every millennial's favorite educational program, Bill Nye The Science Guy! This is a preview, subscribe at patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits for the full audio and dozens upon dozens of hours of podcast episodes, commentaries, movie reviews, and more!

Tonight, on a very special ECL, Will and Lucas explore one of the show's most groundbreaking episodes, "The Great MacGrady." The guys explore the origins and effects of the episode in detail, as well as the episode's 2021 remake, their personal feelings on Arthur dealing with a serious subject, and a listener email that puts things in perspective. There are still lots of laughs and goofs in the episode, too, so sit back and vibe with us...

It's double trouble at the cinema when Will and Lucas sit down to talk about Denis Villeneuve's new adaptation of "Dune", and the live action/CGI hybrid adaptation of Clifford! This is a free preview. For the full hour-long review and dozens more hours of content for as little as $1 a month, head to patreon.com/elwoodcitylimits!

Will is joined by Nick Demarco, aka TheFrenskyStar, who lends his expertise on Arthur lore to the exploration of Macbeth-as-told-by-Arthur in "Macfrensky," and Binky livening up an Emily episode in "The Good, The Bad, & The Binky." Nick also talks about his Arthur origin story and his website's place in the current Arthur community, and much more! Follow The Frensky Star on your favorite social media platform and visit the website for Arthur reviews, articles, and more: https://thefrenskystar.com/

It's a big freakin' red dog! Lucas and Will investigate the still-relevant children's book series and its first PBS animated adaptation, a staple of both of their childhoods. This is a preview of the full episode, now available on the ECL Patreon, along with dozens more hours of content!

A l'il late but here for your weekend! Will and Lucas sort through news and updates, including social media milestones, before discussing numerology in "Arthur's Number Nightmare," while Will relives his memories of Lost in "Brain Gets Hooked." Plus, new revelations in the Arthur canon, thoughts on tech ed/shop class, an email from across the world, the reveal of the next ECL movie review, and far more!

It's time for another 90's PBS staple, as Will and Lucas don their gumshoe gear and try to find the elusive master criminal! There's a lot of interesting history to this game show, from the excellent cast to the unforgettable musical talent, and the guys put their geographical knowledge to the test along the way. Plus, plenty of spirited asides on GeoGuessr, acapella, manga, and more! Access the full episode and dozens more at our Patreon!

It's Halloween and, even though Will has been enveloped by inky blackness, he manages to power through with Lucas to discuss a surprisingly personal George episode in "The Silent Treatment" and a weird, tai chi-laden narrative in "Kung Fool." Along the way, they meet a new character, discuss shop class and aglets, play a double round of "Would You Eat It," and even hear Will's real voice! Stay past the end for a little spooky extra, and keep your eye on the free feed this weekend...

Will and Lucas reach back deep into the 1990's to uncover what was, at one time, one of the most popular PBS Kids shows ever made! There's a lot to talk about around this left-leaning, socially conscious puppet show, including just how big the show was in its time, potential reasons why it is not as easily remembered as its contemporaries, and what it gets right (and not-so-right) about socially conscious issues and representation. Plus, tongue twisters, Will's misheard lyrics, and...Hulk Hogan speaking Pig Latin? Unlock the full episode and dozens of hours of content by subscribing to our Patreon!

Season 13 is here! Will and Lucas check in on their plans for Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween before settling into the season premiere. First up is a huge special guest star in "No Acting, Please", followed by the perils of speed-reading and page-skimming in "Prunella and the Disappointing Ending." Plus, the guys get a peek behind the scenes of the production of A Christmas Carol, an update on Lucas' Dune re-read, and determine whether Lucas or Charlie Day deserves to play Luigi...

It's time once again! Will and Lucas go over their thoughts on the season of Arthur just past, plus their top 5 episodes, and an email with a data-based follow-up from last week's episode. What did you think of Season 12? What are your top 5? Feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts!

Will dons the NPR voice and soldiers through with Lucas to talk about the final episode of Arthur season 12! Arthur's inner lefty comes out in "The Perfect Game", while Lucas bemoans the baby voice in "DW's Furry Freakout", plus more cat stuff, the recent Arthur poll, and an ECL patron gives the guys a big surprise! vote.thecoast.ca (voting ends Sunday October 3rd!)

Will and Lucas turn the clock all the way to the right and touch on the most up-to-date piece of Arthur media to date with the final(?) one-hour special! The guys have a spirited discussion about the things they liked and didn't like so much about the transition to 4th grade, the new characters, and yes, the new fits. Plus, after Lucas' glowing review of The Matrix, what did Will think of it upon rewatch? For our full review and dozens more hours of content, subscribe to our Patreon!