What A Cartoon! - The March 2023 Schedule (Patreon)

2023 is moving fast. It just felt like yesterday we were preparing for our live show, and now March is here! And as we near the start of spring, we've got some really cool podcasts planned to get us out of winter. Not only are we finally covering one of the biggest cult classics of the early '00s, but we're also taking a look at the biggest stop motion movie of that same timeframe. Meanwhile, this month's Futurama will be a patriotic ep that had unfortunate timing, and our TalKing of the Hill happens to be the second part a secret two-parter. Lastly, we're starting our new schedule of quarterly Batman podcasts with a real classic!

And remember, if you'd like to listen to this month's episodes of TalKing of the Hill and Talking Futurama, you'll need to sign up at the $5 level or higher on the Talking Simpsons Patreon. Once you subscribe, you'll get to hear our miniseries episodes as soon as they go live, and also access our extensive back catalog of Patreon-exclusive podcasts—over 100 to date!

Here's what's on the schedule for March:

Invader ZIM - "Bad, Bad Rubber Piggy" and "Hamstergeddon" [Patreon: 3/6/23 - Free Feed: 3/13/23]

Chosen by one of our top Patreon supporters, we are overdue for a chat about this animated series of doom and pigs! Yes, we talk all about Jhonen Vasquez's show that had a brief life on Nickelodeon and then a very long history of cult success afterwards. Not only do we chat about a pair of the best segments from the first season, we dig into its creation, cancelation, and lasting influence (for good and ill) on so many creators the last 20 years.

Invader ZIM currently is streaming on Paramount+.

Talking Futurama - "A Taste of Freedom" [Patreon: 3/13/23]

Freedom, freedom, OY! Freedom Day has arrived for our pals in the future, and we're chatting about an ep that was written pre-9/11 as a commentary on flag burning that then aired after 9/11 where it felt very different. It's a tale of the Supreme Court, the sticky issue of "free speech," giant spaceships shaped like crabs, and freedoms such as polygamy. So start practicing your freedom dance!

TalKing of the Hill - "Next of Shin" [Patreon: 3/20/23]

Though not promoted as a two-parter, this episode picks up right after the previous one as Hank and Peggy are struggling with baby fever. At the same time, Cotton is about to become a father again and he's having trouble with it. All of this sends the show to a very accurate version of mid-'90s Las Vegas in this story of the pains of fertility troubles.

Blabbin 'Bout Batman: The Animated Series - The Man Who Killed Batman [Patreon: 3/23/23]

Our January was so packed we couldn't get this one up on that empty Monday but we are finally catching up to our new Batman schedule with this (and look forward to another Blabbin podcast in May). This time we're covering the life of one Sidney Debris, the man who killed Batman. How'd a small fry like him get to be such a big deal? Learn all about it in one of the best (and most offbeat) eps in the entire series.

An Extended Free Preview of Chicken Run [Patreon: 3/27/23 - Free Feed: 4/3/23]

Even counting inflation for the last 23 years, one film remains the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history, and we're covering it as this month's What A Cartoon Movie! After the success of the Wallace and Gromit shorts, Aardman signed a deal with Dreamworks for their first feature film, Chicken Run. Learn how their first experience with Hollywood went and yes, we're gonna have to talk some about the reprehensible lead voice actor, so get ready for a fun chat about the best prison escape animated film ever (yes, better than Toy Story 3).

And remember: $5 patrons and folks on the free feed will hear an extended preview of the podcast, but if you want the whole thing (and access to all other episodes of What A Cartoon Movie) you'll have to bump your subscription up to the $10 level.

A pretty big March is headed your way, so we hope this helps you prepare for it! Thanks as always for all your support as we bring you more great podcasts.