AIO Article: Why AIO Has Remained Popular 8/16/12

     First of all, PF should have his article by next Tuesday, so expect a nice long article soon. I'm going to write a pretty short one today, however, so get disappointed. Also, I pmed Wooton a AIC 7 preview, so that should be up on his site soon. I think AIC 7 might be one of my longest and best yet. Why else would I go on a week hiatus? Well, let's get to the article!

     For your entertainment, I have compiled a list of reasons on why AIO Has Remained Popular in an age of mediocre entertainment and a lack of morals.

     1. It's relateable. Of course, no one can relate to Jason Whittaker battling economic terrorists in London, (except maybe James Bond) but we can relate to, say, the episode Opposite Day. We all get obsessed with computers and sites like Barret, (In fact, I think I'm obsessed with the Odyssey fan blog world in general! But that's another article, so I'll stop putting up parentheses in the middle of an article.) and we all have those rather annoying people who we have want to be friends with and have want to tell "Get lost!" to like Olivia. I could completely relate to both characters, and it's not just in Opposite Day. Episodes like Slumber Party, The Defining Moment, and even older episodes from generations gone by like Good Business, The Prodigal, Jimmy, and Coming of Age all have relateable characters in relateable situations. Kids (like me) like to see other people go through their troubles. It makes them feel that they're not alone in their emotions and situations, and they can automatically attach to the character and his.or her situation because they've been where the character is. Also, it's fun to see how other people will handle a situation that I've been through. And while other shows may have relateable characters and situations, I think Odyssey handles these situations better than any show I've ever seen/heard.

     2. It's timeless. When I listen to Albums 1 -12, and I put the disc in, and that classic theme song starts blaring, I get all excited. I can't wait for the adventure, and it feels like I'm listening to a piece of history. But at the same time, the episode and what it teaches feel just as important now as it did 20 + years ago. I don't care if they mention records or VCR's, as long as the stories are still fresh, uplifting, and entertaining. There are other shows that I believe are timeless as well, such as I Love Lucy and The Muppet Show, but Odyssey is probably my favorite out of those three. I enjoy listening to old episodes just as much as new episodes, if not more. The old episodes were, are, and always will be fabulous. Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows won't.

     3. It's exciting. In order for younger children (I'm talking 8 - 9 year old boys who watch superhero movies) to truly enjoy a show, it has to grab their attention. As they get older, they'll appreciate shows that they considered 'boring' when they were younger a lot more, but when they're that age, they're bored easily and they only like exciting stories. Now, exciting does not mean intense, so The Black Veil wouldn't be considered the only exciting episode in the Odyssey canon. Exciting means, in my own words, captivating. Odyssey episodes like The Labyrinth, the entire Novacom and Blackguaard saga, Castles and Cauldrons, and even non-intense episodes like Mayor For A Day and Red Herring, are definitely captivating. And when younger children buy Album 55 and listen to The Labyrinth, they might appreciate quieter episodes like To Mend Or Repair more after getting their dose of intrigue and excitement. Excitement is a trait in many shows for marketing purposes, and Odyssey is exciting too, but it doesn't need an explosion every 15 seconds to achieve that excitement.

     4. It has diehard fans. Odyssey has quite a massive fanbase, with over 2 million listeners, but it also has a lot of diehard fans. I mean, not that many shows have about 50 websites completely devoted to them. And the webmasters aren't the only diehard fans. There are incredibly loyal listeners everywhere, from Canada to India to New Zealand.

     5. It has good morals. The purpose of Odyssey is to encourage believers and sometimes non believers to grow in Christ by presenting lasting Biblical truths. That was poetic, wasn't it? Christian parents want their kids to learn Biblical truths, so they buy Odyssey tapes. The kids get involved in the story, and then learn something at the end. And Odyssey isn't just a sermon like some Christian 'entertainment' these days. It aims mostly to teach, but it also wants to entertain its listeners. If people aren't entertained, they won't want to listen or watch the thing that's not entertaining them, so they won't learn anything.

     Well, that's it. There's a new U.S.S. Response out, a short one, so check that out, as well as the awesome AIC preview on The Unofficial AIO Blog.
     Thanks for reading!

AIO News 8/15/12

     I apologize once again for not posting on Monday. It was basically procrastination. But, now I'm back with the latest AIO News!
     Hello, I'm Alex Jefferson, reporting at you live from the AIO product table, where information on two new Odyssey products, the Silver Celebration and 90 Day-Devotionals For Kids has been revealed. I look forward to purchasing at least the Devotional book, though maybe not the Silver Celebration, when it comes out. You can check out both of these products on Christianbook.com or in your local Christian bookstore where they will be hitting the shelves soon.
     Well, that's about it for today. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and you are listening to... AIO News!
     Thanks for reading!

Weekly Feature 8/12/12

     Alright, today I have an interview with someone who surprisingly has been interviewed only once! Who is that person? Jacob Isom, of course! Yes, I had the oppurtunity to interview Jacob Isom. This is a nice long interview that I think you all will really enjoy! So here it is:

1. What was your first exposure to AIO?

 

Technically, I saw my first Adventures in Odyssey animated cartoon with my cousin ("A Fine Feathered Frenzy"), though I don't think that counts because it's not the audio series.

 

I was first introduced to Adventures in Odyssey in, I believe, 1991 when I was six years old. I come from the original generation of Odyssey listeners and grew up with the show. My aunt gave me a cassette copy of "Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions" as a Christmas gift. Meanwhile, my brother and sister both received their own AIO albums on cassette as well that same Christmas. My sister received "It's Another Fine Day" and my brother received "Other Times, Other Places." The first episode I ever heard is "The Ill-Gotten Deed", and when I heard it, my initial reaction was that "this show is weird". Fortunately, I decided to give more episodes a try. Needless to say, by the end of the album I was hooked. And since I had access to two more albums right off the bat, it's a given that my siblings and I swapped albums after they had similar positive experiences. After hearing three albums in a very short amount of time, I'm sure you can imagine how eager I was to obtain more albums.

 

Because I was new to the show, I assumed that getting "The Early Classics" would fill in all the details I'd missed by jumping right into the series. It didn't. To me, the album felt very discombobulated and random, and rightly so since the album was pieced together with out-of-order episodes after the series started. Thankfully, that has been corrected with the release of "The Adventure Begins."

 

I think I had collected all the available albums up through "Signed, Sealed & Committed" by 1998 or 1999. That was considered a complete collection in those days, and "Chronicles, Kings & Crosses" was that special coveted extra compilation album with the "cool" cover.

 

2. What was your inspiration for The Odyssey Scoop?

 

Primarily my love for Adventures in Odyssey spawned my desire to start my own fan site. I began working on The Odyssey Scoop during a time when it was difficult to obtain certain Adventures in Odyssey graphics, and the product images available at the time were very low quality. Fan sites were very few and far between. I don't remember this as 100% fact or anything (time has a way of doing that if you don't keep a journal), but I think I remember I had browsed through the AIO HQ, a fan site by Odyssey writer Nathan Hoobler, and The Soda Fountain by Corey van der Laan. Those two, along with the newly-released Official Site, inspired me to start a site of my own.

 

I launched the website on December 22, 2000 titled as "The Odyssey Scoop", which happened to share the name with a feature in Focus on the Family's Clubhouse magazine--though, I didn't know it at the time. Regardless, I stuck with the name because it was just too perfect not to use. Otherwise, our podcast down the road would never have had the chance to be called the "ScoopCast". A very fitting name, don't you think?

 

Regardless of the name, I'm thankful for the opportunities that have arisen since as I developed design skills for the past 12 years. I would probably cringe at my earlier work and disown it if given the chance. I guess that's why I'm never truly satisfied with one look to the site. What you see today is the result of persistence and not being willing to be content with the status quo.

3. Who is your favorite AIO character?

 

Probably Whit, mainly because I remember him there throughout my entire childhood. The performances of Hal Smith as "Whit" stand out as really powerful as I listened, and I looked up to him as a kid. My other favorites are Connie and Eugene for their personalities and Bernard for his sarcasm. Of course, Jason, Tom, Jack, and Joanne are my favorites as well.

4. If you could have any AIO character come back, who would it be and why?

 

If you're hoping I'd choose Regis Blackgaard or Richard Maxwell to return, you're turning to the wrong person. I'm glad the Blackgaard Saga has come and gone, and while Richard turned out to be a hero, there's not really a whole lot the team could do with him if they decided to bring him back. My choice would most likely be to bring back Jimmy Barclay as they have done in the past, but keep him in Odyssey to raise a family. Having Donna around wouldn't be a bad option, either, though they could probably bring her in from out of town occasionally. The same goes for Jana Whittaker. There was something real about Jana's presence in Odyssey on occasion and to be able to see her relationship with her father.

 

I am glad to see the Odyssey team is doing their best to bring in old faces for older listeners like me. It brings it all back!

5. What are your favorite AIO episodes?

 

Throughout my listening years, I've become attached to "Grins, Grabber and Great Getaways" (or "The Wildest Summer" as the team calls it now) because I received it the following Christmas and listened to it in that entire day Christmas Day. I remember "The Case of the Secret Room" scared me to death, and after I'd heard the first scene for the first time, I rushed downstairs and made my brother and sister come up and listen to the episodes with me. We rewinded the episode (and yes, we had to physically rewind back in the day) and played from the beginning.

 

Many of the older episodes were my favorites growing up because those were what I was exposed to. Nowadays, I'm always excited to see what developments are coming up in more recent albums for newer generations of fans. And as cynical as I find myself to be sometimes (I'm a 90's generation listener with lots of memories attached), I'm trying to enjoy the show for what it has become, not for what I remember it used to be. And when I remember that today's generation of target audience fans is enjoying the show for what it is, I remember it's all worth it.

6. What are the best and worst things about running The Odyssey Scoop?

 

The best part is that I've come in contact with many fans throughout the years who send e-mails of encouragement, comments, suggestions, complaints--everything. The fans are the ones who keep me going. Without their feedback and suggestions, I would have quit a long time ago. Another awesome thing about the site is seeing the traffic to the site inch its way up every year. The site becomes more well known and I've developed a relationship with several members of the Odyssey team who keep me posted on products and things going on behind-the-scenes.

 

On the flipside, the site has grown so large that it's often difficult to keep site features updated. Real life away from the Scoop tends to pull me away with its demands. And because the site is so large and has improved design-wise throughout the years, it's become common for me to explain via email (on hundreds of occasions) that The Odyssey Scoop is merely a fan site and isn't the Official Site. Because of that, I'm always looking for ways to improve communication on the site to avoid having to write as many of those types of emails... but not everyone reads so I guess I can't win!

 

Overall, the fans keep me going. I've seen the site impact a lot of people, and seeing a small snippet of my work published in the Official Guide is like a big welcomed reward for my work. Thanks, Focus!

7. Why did you decide to start The Soda Shop?

 

For years, I had tried to incorporate more ways for fans to interact on the website, which ended up being something I had to try to keep up with on a daily basis. By releasing a message board where fans can step up and get involved and keep the ecosystem functioning daily, it becomes a win-win situation. And I'm thankful for the people who have stepped up to help me out.

 

Mainly, I wanted to create a place where fans can login to a safe environment (on the Scoop) and discuss Adventures in Odyssey. Currently, other Odyssey message boards exist but are not limited to just AIO discussion (which I have been involved with as well). I wanted to create a community of fans who can discuss only AIO and immerse themselves in it alone. Oftentimes, other message boards are so large that it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate and get involved. The Soda Shop fills a void for the online fan community... and I welcome the use of other big message boards like the ToO as well as it fills a void, too.

8. Do you have any advice for AIO fans looking to start their own website?

 

If you don't have the commitment to keep a site going long-term, I'd say don't even bother starting a website. If you do have that commitment, be ready to provide your own unique content. You want something that other sites don't have as your enticing site feature. There have been quite a few cookie cutter fan sites over the years. If you want yours to stand out, you have to be different. Go that extra mile. Don't just start a site to provide the latest Odyssey news when that's already covered by other sites (and the Scoop).

 

Oh, and find ways to gain feedback from your visitors. Without the visitors, you really don't have a website. It's always good to stay in touch with them and find out what they think, because they're the ones interacting with it!

 

Most of all, be consistent and patient with yourself as you begin. Learn what works and what doesn't. Watch your site morph into something else as time goes by. And don't be afraid to take chances. Not everything you try will work or catch fire. It's okay to experience failure along the way. I'm still in shock at how huge the Scoop has become and how much it has changed since 2000.

9. I understand you enjoy other radio dramas. What other radio dramas do you listen to and overall which one is the best?

 

I like good acting, so acting dictates my radio drama preferences. I absolutely love Focus on the Family Radio Theatre for its high-quality drama and cinematic feel. Also I like Lamplighter Theatre because it's pretty high-calibur like Radio Theatre, though I consider myself far more loyal to Radio Theatre. I've heard other audio dramas including "Left Behind", "Jungle Jam" (another drama I grew up with and highly recommend), and others. By far, Radio Theatre takes the cake.

10. Have you ever considered working for AIO or FOTF?

 

At the moment, I'm actually working as an independent contractor work for Focus on the Family for some of their Adventures in Odyssey products. Although I'm not officially on payroll, it's been a pleasure to work with the team and handle some of their graphic design needs. I've quickly discovered that the team gives a lot of creative liberty and generally allows me to show them what I have in mind. I must say... Focus has been an awesome group of easygoing people to team up with!

 

If you'd like to see some of my work, be watching for Adventures in Odyssey's updated "Official Guide" this fall. I designed the eight-page color tip-in featured in the back of the book which serves as a huge selling point for the book. It's got new photo galleries and pays tribute to all the art styles of the past. Also, I recently took on design work for AIO's upcoming numbered albums. "The Grand Design" is my first album project I was responsible for, from front and back traycard covers, to CD labels, to bonus insert completion. Look for the hard copy of Album 56 this fall.

11. Have you ever been to a live show?

 

Alas, no, I have not. I've usually had things come up to where I am unable to attend. I would love to go and experience one myself!

12. Have you ever met any AIO actors?

 

Not yet. I guess you could say that's on my bucket list. It's a very deep bucket.

13. How has AIO impacted your spiritual life?

 

Overall, I believe AIO has shaped me a lot over the years. As cliche as this sounds, I learned a lot from Whit and I occasionally remember things he said in a former episode to remind me of how I should act. I can certainly blame AIO for my historical knowledge of many of the Bible stories. Hearing those episodes over and over really drives the stories home. I believe storytelling is, perhaps, one of the strongest influences in a person's life. It usually isn't the sermon from your pastor you remember several years afterwards. It's the sermon illustration he used as a memory tool to help you. Stories have the ability to bring doctrine from head knowledge to your heart because you see its application through a story. Now, allowing the Holy Spirit to always work in your life is a challenge in itself.

 

So yes, AIO has been a a strong influence in my life spiritually. AIO shouldn't be my spiritual life; it should merely aid in pointing you to Christ and encourage you to press on. I don't know here I'd be without AIO.

 

     That was amazing, wasn't it? I'm honored to interview such an asset in the AIO fan community, and I'd like to thank Jacob, if he's reading this, for taking to time to give long, thought-out answers! Well, no AIC today, but AIC will be back with a bang next week along with yet another great interview! Who will I be interviewing next week? I'll give you a hint: He/she works with Odyssey!

     Thanks for reading!

Weekly Review: Call Me If You Care 8/11/12

     Sorry there was no post yesterday, but I have a great excuse: no news. Finally, I released the long-awaited return of The U.S.S. Response! Another U.S.S. Response will be put out Monday as well. And now, for my rather short review of Call Me If You Care...

     Nathan Hoobler is great, isn't he? He can take an mildly interesting idea and make it brilliant through good writing and intriguing situations. This is not the most memorable Nathan Hoobler episode, and it's not a standout in Album 43, (probably due to the fact that Sunday Morning Scramble, Stars In Our Eyes, and The Coolest Dog are a whole lot funnier than this one) but I still enjoy it immensly.
    The episode begins with a few lines that make you think this is another one of those "Connie's dad" episodes. I really like Emotional Baggage, Father's Day, and Where Is Thy Sting?, but I was sort of hoping this wouldn't turn into a "Connie''s dad" episode, probably because we haven't had one in so long it would be a little weird.
     I also commend Nathan Hoobler on the "cell phone" mystery idea. AIO has done plenty of mysteries, but most of them don't involve modern technology. But, then again, cell phones aren't exactly 'modern technology'.
     But as the episode progresses, we are introduced to two new, one-time characters: Cindy and William Bancroft. I like these two characters, they're unfortunately a rather realistic depiction of some father-daughter relationships. But I'll get into them later.
     I was surprised by two things at the beginning of this episode: the appearence of Jack and the 'Plan B' feel of this episode. It's not just that there's Plan B music after every scene, but Jack was in Plan B, and in this, and some of the lines just seemed reminiscent of Plan B. As some of you know, the Plan B series are one of my all-time favorite episode, so I actually get excited when they use Plan B music and themes. But that was just something I noticed.
     To be honest, Jack's appearance seemed forced, considering he had about five lines. I don't really understand the point of having him drop in, except to find the note. But, oh well.
     When Connie and Whit finally arrived at the Military hospital and met William, I thought William actually sounded a lot like Lester from No Way Out. But, after looking it up on AIOwiki, I figured out that it wasn't the same actor. The scene with Cindy and William seemed a little corny and sentimental, but AIO pulled it off as best as they could. The note, on the other hand, was a very good device to tell the story, and even I was touched by the end.
     And then, at the very end of the episode, Connie's dad is mentioned again. That was a good way to tie up the beginning and end, and I felt satisfied when the episode concluded.
     Overall, great job Nathan Hoobler! This one wasn't perfect, but I give points for good writing and originality!

     Call Me If You Care Rating: 8/10

     Sorry the review is short, but I'm kind of anxiously waiting to review Album 56, so I'm writing short reviews. But only a couple more weeks till The Perfect Church airs! I'm so excited to listen to it and review it! But until then, I'm gone! There's going to be a really great interview tommrow for a feature, and not just from me! The Old Judge is interviewing Christian A.!
     Thanks for reading!

AIO Article: The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me 8/9/12

     Well, I'm back on SS! Check out the grand return of The U.S.S. Response right after you're done reading this! Well, PF might write another article next Tuesday or the Tuesday after that, so I guess I can scratch what I said last post about no articles on Tuesday whatsoever. Anyway, I'm doing an article today. I hope you like it, cause it's longer and deeper than any article I've done so far!

     Note: After careful thought and consideration, this article has been edited by the writer a few days after it was published.

     Weird title for an Adventures in Odyssey article, right? After all, this isn't Just Another Muppet Blog! But, being a fan of the Muppets, I thought The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me would be a good title for the article I'm about to write. It does have to do with AIO, though, don't worry!

     Once upon a time in 1987, some kid got a copy of Odyssey USA. No one really knows who that kid was, but I'm confident he's out there. I'm also confident that that kid was the first Odyssey fan, or maybe the kid who got the album next was. Whoever the first AIO fan was, they fell into one of three categories: The Lovers, the Dreamers, or my category: The Involved. I'm guessing the first Odyssey fan was a Lover. You're probably wondering what exactly these three categories mean, so I shall explain.

     The Lovers make up the majority of Odyssey fans. These people love AIO, and they listen to it a lot. But it doesn't go beyond that. These people don't usually go to live shows, (well, some of them do) they don't check Odyssey websites with the possible exception of The Official Site, and they don't know nearly as much Odyssey trivia as we do. Often, when these kids grow up, they'll forget about Odyssey, and it'll just be some little radio drama they heard when they were kids. These people, however, are still Odyssey fans, even if they're not very dedicated to the show. They learn a little and laugh a little listening to Odyssey, but it was never incredibly important in their lives. These are the people that we never hear about, but they're out there. Like I said, the Lovers make up the majority, and they never really do anything with their love of Odyssey except listen to it. This is perhaps because they don't know that message boards or Odyssey websites exist.. I had a friend a few years ago who was a Lover. He liked Odyssey, and in a way got me hooked on it, and at first, he knew more about it than me. But he sort of stopped listening, while I kept listening more, until I it's reached the point where I don't know if he's listened  to it in years. For the Lovers, Odyssey is a passing fad, not something incredibly meaningful. All of my family except maybe my little sister are Lovers. Even I fell into the Lovers category when I was an early Odyssey fan. But then there's the Dreamers...

     The Dreamers are another group of Odyssey fans, smaller than the lovers, but in many ways more important to the Odyssey fan community. Some of this group could be considered hardcore Odyssey fans, since they know so much about the show, but many of them, like the Lovers, don't really do anything with their love of Odyssey. Most of the Dreamers get online and look at Odyssey fan sites, and wish they could make their own. Or they want to become the next Nathan Hoobler and write for Odyssey, or they want to send in questions to The Official Site. In fact, I believe that most of the people who send in Q & A questions to Paul and Dave are Dreamers, with the exception of Austin Peachy. AIO Message Boards are made up of almost entirely Dreamers. Some Dreamers on MB's include: Hannah J., Pound Foolish, various adults on ToO, gabbygirl17, suzylou, and others like maybe mymustang17 from CC! Being a Dreamer is actually a good thing, it means that you want to get involved with Odyssey-related things but you just don't. That's absolutely fine. Fan sites must be carefully thought-out before being made. But if Dreamers have a good, unique idea for an Odyssey fan site, I don't see what's stopping them from making it! Dreamers are also sometimes people who have Odyssey blogs that stick around for just a month or two, (you know the blogs I'm talking about) or people, like I said, who do stuff on The Official Site and dream of writing episodes but just don't want to. Once again, I was stuck in the Dreamer stage for a very long time. It was probably only about a month ago when I 'upgraded'. Yes, I'm making these categories into special elite clubs with this article, but I'm not meaning to. Dreamers are big Odyssey fans who have listened to the show for years, but don't have the dedication to start a website or get involved with Odyssey. In fact, I might still be lingering in between the Dreamers and the Involved stage. My sister would probably barely be considered a Dreamer. Also, it may not be that Dreamers don't want to start Odyssey websites or step up and talk to Odyssey actors and Odyssey crew, it could just be that they don't have the skills or time to start their own website. But, if they don't have time, they can't be classified as Involved, the next category.

     Ah, yes, The Involved. The last group of Odyssey fans. As I said before, I'm not sure if I would be in this group, but I think I'm pretty close. This group has Odyssey fans sites that have stood the test of time, (I guess mine hasn't really, yet) and they're not afraid to let the Odyssey team know they're out there. Some examples are: Angela Phillips, (The Writer's Scholarship winner) Austin Peachy, Jacob Isom, Bren McFarlond, Ben Warren, and others. I'm not sure if I deserve to be put in that list, but maybe one day I will. I'm hoping that one day, when I'm 21, JAAIOB can have a 10th Anniversary Celebration. But that could just be wishful thinking. Who knows how long this blog will last? But anyway, The Involved fans are often not on MB's, but that doesn't mean they aren't involved. Actually, if you'll notice, all of the people who started the MB's are Involved! The Invovled group have credentials in the Odyssey fan world, and deserve to be put on TOJ's Cast and Crew: Take 2 page. They also are obsessed with Adventures in Odyssey. But, really, they probably know about as much about the show as The Dreamers. This is because there reaches a point when you can't learn anything else about Odyssey, and Dreamers and Involved alike achieve this. And these 'Involved' people go to live shows and meet the actors and talk to them and get INVOLVED! I hope that one day, I can without question be among them.

     In conclusion, it really doesn't matter which group you're in, it just matters if you're an Odyssey fan! I just noticed that there seem to be three categories that AIO fans fall into, so I wrote an article about it. Lovers can become Dreamers, and Dreamers can become Involved. You just have to want to.

     Sorry the article was a little weird, that's just what I felt like writing today. Comment and tell me which group you think you fall into! Just in case you guys don't know, I configured the settings so that anyone can comment under Anonymous, so you don't need a Google account anymore! Anyway, The U.S.S. Response will be out later today, so keep watching for that! Also, I have two interviews right now. One will be released this Sunday, one, um, next Sunday! Also, the Webster ceremony is due the last Sunday in August, so that should be great, particularly the possible acceptance speeches I can get.
     Thanks for reading, and please comment!

AIO News 8/8/12

     Oh boy... Yes, I know I have quite a bit of explaining to do, as not only did I not report the news two days ago, I also had no article for you guys yesterday. It was partly procrastination and business, (Yes, I'm a bit of a procrastinator. Sorry.) but I also realized something. I was posting every day, so people didn't have to wait long to read my posts, but the quality was starting to suffer. My article on sagas was pathetic, I realized, and the reason? I was in a rush. I read PF's article, and I read mine. His was a lot better-written and longer, because he took more time to write it. I never want to make the mistakes I made with my articles again. So, starting now, I'm skipping Tuesday altogether and only writing one article a week, on Thursday. This may change later, but for at least a few weeks, nothing on Tuesday. I'm sorry for breaking my promise to do a daily post, but I'm sure you all prefer good, infrequent posts, to rushed posts every day. So yes, I might have been able to post yesterday, but I didn't want to. Well, actually, yesterday was literally spent entirely with my friends, so I didn't really want to sit on the computer while they were at my house. Alright, I'm done with the announcement. It is time... for the news!
     Hello, this is Alex Jefferson, coming at you live from Pikes Peake, where  The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is about to begin. This may seem unrelated to Adventures in Odyssey, but considering one of the contestants has an AIO-themed car, many would say otherwise! That's right! Jeff McPherson of Bozeman, Montana, is racing in a car that includes the AIO logo! I'm sure most AIO fans will be rooting for him in this historic race. More on that as the story unfolds.
     Also, a new Official Podcast that gives the first glimpse of Album 56 as well as an interview with an actor discussing The Labyrinth is out. So definitely check that out as soon as you can.
     Well, AIOwiki has a new poll up as well, so go check that out. Well, that's about it. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and this is... AIO News!
     Thanks for reading!
   

Weekly Feature 8/5/12

     Sorry this post was so long in the making, but I couldn't think of a feature because my interview isn't here yet. But just a few minutes ago, an idea popped into my head. I could do another list! (I know, I've done a lot, but I kind of like these things!) So here, in my own words, are the The Top 5 Best AIO Podcasts of all time! Also, don't forget to check out the new AIC!

     
       #5: The Unofficial AIO Podcast: Ah yes, the original fan podcast. The one that started it all. This is by no means the best Odyssey podcast, for various reasons including how old it is and the length of some of the podcasts, but it's still very good and it definitely deserves the #5 spot. Chris and Sarah did a good job on UAIOP and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we miss them. But this awesome podcast still couldn't beat...
     #4: Audio Theatre Central: Yes, I am aware that some fans don't consider this an Odyssey podcast because it focuses on other audio dramas like Jonathan Park, Radio Theatre, and Lamplighter Theatre, but considering it gives news and reviews of AIO, I consider it a part of the AIO podcast world. I discovered it very recently and have fallen in love with it. These three are so funny and great together, you can't help but love their podcast. And their insightful thoughts on episodes are always enjoyable to listen to, and their love of radio drama is apparent in every episode. This podcast is not perfect, but it's entertaining and a great listen. But what beat ATC?

     #3: The Boredom Buster Podcast: BBP is a perfect example of an overnight sensation that became a sensation because of great episodes and a great interview! Even though it's relatively new to the podcast market, BBP still absolutely deserves a spot on this list. As I said in an earlier article,. I didn't love the first episode, but the next several episodes made up for it. I love their interview with Jave Griffin, as well as their reviews of A Member of the Family, Recollections, and all the others they've reviewed! I can't wait for them to start reviewing Album 2. If you're reading this Noah and Hallie, keep up the good work!

 #2: The Ceiling Fan Podcast: Hmm... I've always enjoyed TCF. It's one of the longest running AIO podcasts, and it's also the most unique. Ethan Daniels and his antics have entertained fans for years, and I hope they continue to entertain fans for years to come. I am eagerly awaiting the special podcast coming out soon, and I would call myself a 'Fan of the Fan'. However, this podcast has gotten so unrelated to Odyssey that I'm not sure I would call it an Odyssey podcast anymore. So, #1 is...

    
     #1: The AIO Blogcast: Some of you on CC may already know that this is my favorite podcast. But I decided to say it again here. Austin and Natasha have done an absolutely SPECTACULAR job with their blog/podcast. I especially love their audio dramas. What other AIO podcast would've thought of doing that? Austin and Natasha are amazing, but there are rumors that the AIO Blogcast is ending. (Sob, sob) Even if it does end, it had a very good run, and I will enjoy it for as long as I'm an Odyssey fan.

     Alright, that's um, it. Once again, sorry I posted so late. I'm not positive that I'll even post news tommorow. I know this is sad that JAAIOB is coming out of its golden age, but I warned you last post. I'm not ending this blog, but once again, expect less posts. And don't forget to check out Installment 6 of AIC! As I said before, no AIC next week as it's going on a week-long mid-story break.
     Thanks for reading!

Weekly Review: Think On These Things 8/4/12

     Okay, I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing for tommorow's feature. I was expecting and interview, but I still don't have the answers, so I might have to do something else. Also, after Installment 6, AIC will be taking a week-long mid story break, so no AIC next Sunday. For today's post, I will be reviewing Think On These Things...
    
     Has anyone noticed that a lot of Odyssey episodes have misleading openers? Something Blue did, as well as episodes like The Last Great Adventure of the Summer. In the case of Something Blue, the opener made the episode seem more action-packed than it really was. In the case of TLGAOTS, (The Last Great Adventure of the Summer. Yes, that's kind of a long, obnoxious acronym, but they shouldn't have made the title so long!) the opener made it seem like a typical summer episode, possibly similar to Our Best Vacation Ever, but it turned into an epic spy story.
     In the case of today's episode, the opener made it seem like a fast-paced IS episode, when what we really got was a rather simple episode about purity. This isn't to say that I didn't like this episode, I'm just not a really big fan of misleading openers, as I said in my review of Something Blue.
     The episode progresses nice and quickly, and we are reintroduced to the character of Dr. Hawthorne, who we haven't heard in 6 years, though his actor has made other appearances. I was once again a bit unnerved by Dr. Hawthorne's apparent unfairness. I understand he wants to discipline his students, and that's sometimes a good thing, but he goes a little overboard in this episode and in future episodes. Even so, it wasn't right for Trent to do what he did at the end of this episode.
     The mayonaise scene was, in my opinion, pretty funny, particularly this line:

     Marvin: Why do these people need so much mayonaise?

     I might be the only person in the world who laughs at that, however. Marvin cheating seems a little out of character, but it still provides a good life lesson. Trent, on the other hand, has some things to learn about respect. (I probably do too, though.) I'm afraid I still laughed when Trent was ordering Dr. Hawthorne around. I know it wasn't supposed to be funny, but I just found it comical when he created that impossible train story problem.
     And, in the climax of the episode, Marvin cheats, Dr. Hawthorne is himself, and Trent is toast. Overall, this episode taught a good lesson, and I like that it involved so much math. But it still seemed a little short, and Dr. Hawthorne was a little strict, but of course that was the point. Sorry I have to wrap up this short review, but I really didn't have that much to say about this episode.

     Think On These Things Rating: 6/10

     Thanks for reading, and check back tomorrow for my feature and the last AIC before the mid-story break!

AIO News 8/3/12

     I hope you enjoyed yesterday's article. PF did a great job, didn't he? Anyway, it may interest you to know that the 6th Installment of AIC is written, so I should have that up soon. Also, I'm expecting an interview for the next Weekly Feature, and Ep. 1 JAAIOP podcast is in the works, as well as the grand return of The U.S.S. Response. Oh gosh, I'm starting to get busy with this blog! That's another thing I wanted to bring up before I started the news.
    As I said in the last few posts, I'm getting busier with my life. For instance, I performed in a play for a few hours today. That's why I'm so late with the news. Also, I'll be starting school and other things, so I'm afraid I want all you readers to brace yourself for less material from JAAIOB and from me in general on AIO message boards. You can all rejoice now, for you won't have to constantly read new posts and U.S.S. Responses and Adventures in Connellsville's and listen to new, dull podcasts all the time! Well, I've rambled enough. Let's get on with the news...
    Hello, I'm Alex Jefferson, reporting at you live from Canada, where Canadian AIO fans are rejoicing over the news that Album 56 is available for download there! I know there are several big AIO fans in Canada, including Garret Vandenburg, Wooton Basset from UAIOB, and David Hilder from The AIO Update, so I think it's great that FOTF released it in Canada.
     Well, that's about it. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and this is... AIO News!
     Thanks for reading!

AIO Article: Wooton and Penny: The Deathly Serious Controversy 8/2/12

     Once again, sorry this post is a little late. I'm starting to get busier with my real life, and I can't be online as much as I was in July. But, I'm back, but I don't have to write much, because, I have for you a brilliantly written article by none other than Pound Foolish! Here it is:

     Wooton & Penny: The Deathly Serious Controversy
By Pound Foolish

     We have the Olympics because of individuals, not deeds. Deeds alone are nothing to us, what stirs us are those who do the deeds. Jessica Ennis makes people talk about the triathlon, and Jade Jones sparks conversations about Taekwondo. They show us, through their deeds, that they are here to fight to the heights of the extraordinary. If the same deeds, contests, struggles, were done by a variety of different people, rather than all emblemized in a single individual, they would pass unnoticed.
      We know the greatness of deeds because those who do them, who sweat out, struggle through, and live within, the impossible.
      Basketball would be just a game if it wasn’t for people like Michael Jordan. Painting would just be moving a brush around if it wasn’t for people like Renoir, Monet, and Michelangelo. Singing would just be…
Recently, Wooton, one of AIO’s most beloved characters, fell in love, as we know. He’d done it before, but, this time, we knew the candidate to be Christian. They can be together. Will it happen?
Many fans, according to the online buzz, frown on the idea. Some find Penny and Wooton silly and unentertaining together. Some argue their similarities make the match uninteresting, or even that Penny is just a female Wooton. Some think Wooton would evolve out of his goofball, immature attitude. Finally, some just plain don’t like Penny.
      In order for Penny and Wooton to justify their romance’s existence, unless it is intended only for comedy, it must be not just a deed, but a deed that shows us intriguing sides of themselves as people… and Penny must be a worthwhile person for Wooton. But is the question really , is she good for Wooton? Perhaps we should as is Wooton good for Penny…
      After all, don’t girls have any rights here! Why are the boys always the center of attention! What about equality!? What about grrrl pow… sorry, got carried away. Anyhow, Penny just isn’t a girl Wooton, she’s very different. Wooton would change, some, but in a good way. And as for not liking Penny… what are you, nuts!?
     As I said, some dislike the combination of Penny and Wooton. Some find them too much alike. Too enthusiastic, loud, and obnoxious together. Well, live with it. This is a children’s show. Children are used to Disney Channel and The Cartoon Network, overflowing with nutty characters behaving crazily together. If you aren’t willing accept this, get out. I know that sounds like I’m being grouchy. Yet, the fact remains, this show isn’t made for us… So, should we try to dumb down to a child’s level when listening to an AIO? Nope. We should realize we are not dumbing down. We’re just enjoying an art form made, really, for kids. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, good children’s entertainment is still good to adults.
We need to accept AIO on its own terms. Kids’ terms. Not ours. Take it or leave it.
      Others think Penny and Wooton’s similarity makes them implausible and unentertaining. There’s no friction or risk in their relationship, the argument goes. “Oh, darn. Penny and Wooton are so similar. Penny’s just a female Wooton. It’s just not interesting.” Really? Penny was, as many of us AIO fans know, intended to be a bad guy, who seemed good and then turned out to be in league with Dr. Trask. She wasn’t meant to stick around and be Wooton’s girlfriend, that just wasn’t her purpose. I doubt the AIO team decided…
     Nathan Hoobler: “How about we have Penny be another girl-Wooton? Oh, and how about she’s a bad-guy?”
     Dave Arnold: “LOL, let’s do it!”
     The fact is, Penny just likes licorice and is somewhat goofy. If she was rarely seen with Wooton, would we even notice her supposed over-similarity? Penny is into the study of art and has the sophistication to listen to long art lectures and the patience to put pen or brush to surface for however long is necessary. And she even is philosophically wide-eyed to the world, enjoying meditation and frequently thinking on her emotions and person. Now, refresh my memory… when was the last time Wooton languidly sat, drinking a grape-juice float and painting an imitation Renoir, chit-chatting with Connie about philosophy?
     Penny has her own personality. The more they are together, the more it shows. Far from too similar, if they date, or are married, their differences will emerge more and more. Penny has a heart of curiosity, wonder, and artistic fascination. Wooton has a heart of “I love everyone in the whole world” and laser tag.
Wooton would change, yes. We find this hard to accept. Most of us, after all, like Wooton as-is. He’s the best, right? (Ben Warren, you stay out of this.) One thing, as The Old Judge pointed out on his Twists and Turns site, is that there would probably be an end, or at -least a near-end, to Wooton’s occasional mail-route-episodes, in which we see him caring for everyone on his route as best friends. Sure, we’d hate this. But, though it would take a long time to get used to… isn’t the idea of Wooton caring for a wife, and maybe even children, just as tantalizing? Perhaps it’s just what’s needed to humanize him further, and to put an end the Wooton-haters who scream he is just not that funny. How could Wooton being married not be funny? It’s practically impossible.
      Connie, Eugene, Katrina, Mitch, Liz… they all matured and changed as the years went by. Maybe it’s time we let Wooton do the same. Sure, we will miss the old Wooton. But, he is already changing, before our eyes… because Penny is unconsciously slipping into the center of Wooton’s life. Wooton no longer centers around making people in general happy. He’s about making … her happy. He loves her. He cares about one girl, with his heart, and he’s changing himself for her. You didn’t know he could do that, did you? (I’m tempted to insert a smiley here, but that would be painfully unprofessional.) Wooton is developing. Is that really bad?
     It’s an odd relationship we have with AIO characters. On the one hand, they’re our role models and inspiration. On the other, they make us sad because they grow up… almost like they’re the children we can’t have yet. But, in order for us to accept their change, as with parents, we must change. Maybe it’s time we asked ourselves… do we need to change as well?
     Finally, we must address those who dislike Penny… loonies though they are. (No offense, Penny disliking organization.) Some find her “annoying”… My friend, Suzy Lou, a new writer for The Unofficial AIO Blog, sometimes has an aversion to Penny for reasons she is unsure of. She says “...she has a odd, kind of ditzy personality. Normally I enjoy characters like that, but not so much with Penny. Maybe I'll grow to like her with time, who knows.” (On a side note, she recently said she’s warming up to Penny.) Okay, I’d say another quote, though it’s on a different subject, will round things off nicely. It’s from my pal, Bryce, the creator of this site, in the USS feature… “I think a lot of fans do act like they hate the new era because there are new characters. But, change can help you change, you know, and that can be a good thing! (Listen to Back to Abnormal)… I'll bet one day they'll be saying, "When Whit Hertford got too old to be on AIO, Odyssey was horrible." or ‘"When Kimmy Robertson stopped working with them, AIO went down the tubes.” So you see, people were complaining about The Washingtons, and now they're asking them to return...”
     Dum-dah-dah, there you have it. Penny’s new here. Give the girl a chance. When Connie came to town, she was a bit of a brat. A likeable one, but a bit of a brat, nonetheless.
     As I’ve been saying, Penny has artistic instinct… a wandering, open, philosophic spirit… another thing: a voice, courtesy of the ingenious Kimmy Robertson, that shines. I love her. But she had to become a major character overnight, so it’s understandable a lot of fans are having a hard time adjusting. But the kid has potential. Some fans, I guess, will always just dislike her. We are all cursed with something called taste. But, eventually, Penny shall have just as many fans as all the other major AIO characters.
     Penny and Wooton are entertaining together. Penny isn’t a Wooton with a Miley Cyrus figure, she’s her own person. And Wooton will never lose his, but if he shows his maturity and grows in responsibility more… well, we’ll just have to take that. And some will dislike Penny, some will enjoy her. That’s the way characters, and most things in artistic matters, are. But, as far as rounded character, believability, likability… and potential for even better things to come… she’s a good character.
     So... maybe Penny and Wooton’s deeds speak for themselves. They’ve spoken. They like each other. Maybe Penny and Wooton have shown they love each other. Maybe their laughing together, agreement, enthusiasm… whether it annoys us or not, are all signs of love. And, maybe, they matter.
They call for change. In them. In us. Because the deeds are done by two special people.
And that’s part of what makes love special. Sometimes, amazing people fall in love. Brought together by God.
     So, who knows? Perhaps, someday, (inside joke alert) Penny and Wooton will be picking out china patterns together.

     That was amazing, wasn't it? I'm so honored that he inserted a quote from me, considering it was such an absolutely fabulous, well thought article. That's one of the reasons I brought PF on to write articles. So we could have long, fascinating articles along with my short, consice articles. If he agrees, I'm hoping to get him writing an article every two weeks or so, so get used to this awesomeness!
     Thanks for reading!

AIO News 8/1/12

     I'm so sorry I'm posting so late, but I sort of forgot to. As I said in my last post, I have other things on my mind. But, I finally remembered to post and I am here to report the latest news!
     Hello, this is Alex Jefferson, reporting at you live from many online Christian book stores, where Album 56 is available for download today. I am not going to download it, as I already heard Happy Hunting and that's enough for me, but if you guys want to go download, nothing's stopping you! (Unless you don't have a computer, but then you wouldn't be reading this.)
      Well, I'm afraid that big news is all for today. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and this is... AIO News!
     Thanks for reading!

AIO Article: AIO Websites: A Competitive Market? 7/31/12

     Alright everyone, I'm sort of going through a period of rather deep soul-searching, among other things right now in my real life, so I'm not entirely focused on my blog at the moment. But, even so, I decided to write an article. I was sort of expecting an article from PF today, but we'll save that till Thursday since I don't have it yet:

     The title of this article may seem like a joke, but when you think about it, it really isn't. AIO websites can get in competition with each other. But before I get into that, I'll provide some background.
     For the first 10 years of its existence, AIO never saw any fans start AIO-dedicated websites. This is probably because AIO wasn't a major and popular enough radio drama for it to have many truly dedicated fans. Also, the Internet was relatively new, so not many AIO fans had any resources to start a website. Of course now we can hop on Blogger or Weebly and start a website in literally two minutes, but it wasn't easy back then.
     Then, along came a 19-year old AIO fan named Nathan Hoobler. Yes, I just wrote an article about him. He started an AIO Fan Internet Revolution, and many other fans, such as Corey Vanderlaan and Jacob Isom started websites soon after him. Back in early 1999, it was just Nathan Hoobler who had an AIO fan site, so fans would go to his site and his site alone for reference, reviews, and news. Even The Official Site was never as good for news, reference, and reviews as AIOHQ, The Soda Fountain, and The Odyssey Scoop.
     But, by 2001, fans had a choice. Would they just go to The Official Site? Would they be AIOHQ fans? Would they mainly stop by at The Soda Fountain? Or would they get the scoop at The Odyssey Scoop? Or would they go to all four? Yes, all four seems like the best and most logical option. But fans can't just keep checking each site all day. They have to pick one or two to go to a lot and simply check up on the others. But later, this competition grew even bigger, in the form of podcasts.
     Chris and Sarah, like Nathan Hoobler, revolutionized the AIO fan community by creating a new medium for fans: The Odyssey Fan Podcast. Back in 2007, once again, Chris and Sarah had no podcast competition, with the possible exception of the Official Podcast. So if fans were looking for a AIO podcast, they would most likely go to UAIOP. But along came other podcasts following UAIOP: The Whit's End Podcast, The Ceiling Fan, and, probably my new personal favorite, The AIO Blogcast. Chris and Sarah's podcast, however, soon faded away, and other AIO fan podcasts rose to stardom, like The Ceiling Fan and TWEP, and now, BBP.
     And now, we've come to the present. Now, there are so many AIO blogs, websites, and podcasts, it's difficult to know which ones to go to. So fans are starting to choose. I, personally, am choosing The Odyssey Scoop for Official News, Twists and Turns for Unofficial News, and I'm listening to The AIO Blogcast most, probably. That doesn't mean I will not go listen to TWEP occasionally out of loyalty to The AIO Blogcast, or check out what The Unofficial AIO Blog for news, it just means those are my most frequent. It also doesn't mean that I'm purposefully excluding other AIO websites when I get in the AIO world, I just don't have time to check every current AIO website. And finally, it also doesn't mean those websites are my all-time favorites.
     But I'm not really addressing what I wanted to talk about in the first place. I'm afraid, as a webmaster of an AIO fan blog, I feel as if I'm in a friendly competition to get fan's attention with other AIO blogs slightly similar to mine, like Out of Control In Odyssey and The Unofficial AIO Blog. I don't mean to feel as if I'm in a competition, it just happens. Sometimes I subconsciously wonder which story people are reading more: Adventures in Connellsville or Jason and Mitch: Secret Agents, even though I realize later that that really doesn't matter. The purpose of AIC was to creatively write about Odyssey characters I want to return, not to make my website more popular. But still, I can't help wondering. I also wonder every time Out of Control In Odyssey comes out with a new, amazing article, if while people are reading that, they don't read the article I just put out. Once again, I don't want to wonder these things, it just happens.
     As a blogger, I want to give my thoughts on AIO, but I also want to captivate fans. I do the best I can with this blog, and I decided to do something different, to do a daily post. One of the advantages of a daily blog is that people will come to expect a post from me each day, so they'll come to my blog and read my thoughts on Adventures in Odyssey. But, (this is sort of the flip side to a daily blog) if I happened to miss a few days of posting, people may not expect a post from me. When an Odyssey blog goes on hiatus, I don't visit it nearly as much, because I'm not expecting anything. So, in other words, frequent posters make more popular blogs.
     But the content on the site itself matters too. I try to bring unique, fun things about Odyssey and the Odyssey community to JAAIOB, such as AIC and The U.S.S. Response. Odyssey websites that don't have unique content will be forgotten by fans.
     So, in conclusion, competition among Odyssey websites cannot really be avoided, competition is a part of life and we can learn a lot from it. But as we saw in Top This! it can't get out of hand. So far, the competition among Odyssey websites has not gotten out of hand. But I enjoy friendly competition, even if I don't like thinking whether people are reading this post while they're over at The Odyssey Scoop.

     Thanks for reading my random ramblings!

AIO News 7/30/12

     I would like to welcome Pound Foolish to the JAAIOB team! He will be writing articles for this website!

     Hello, I'm Alex Jefferson, reporting at you Live From Jason's Dark Side, where Jason has taken over the Campbell County MB and renamed it Jason's Place. As of today I have become a rather large part of the start arc. It's very fun, and there are some crazy things on there, like a program called Mass Mix. So get over there!
     Also, The Odyssey Scoop has released a free download of Happy Hunting, an episode from Album 56. I recently listened to it, and I'm very impressed and am expecting great things from Album 56.
     Well, I'm afraid that's all for tonight. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and this is... AIO News!
     Thanks for reading!

Weekly Feature 7/29/12

     Well, I know I said the first edition of Just Another AIO Podcast would be out in November or December, but the opportunity came up, and, after countless hours of recording, downloading, uploading, importing, and exporting, I finally got it up! But then I listened to it... There are several big problems with it, including the format, the audio quality, the script, and Penny's microphone. So, for all these reasons, I've labeled it as Episode 0: Alex's Flop. I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but you can still go listen to it! Yes, I know it's not top-notch quality, but, since I spent so much time working on it, I figured I might as well upload it to the blog as a flop. We'll have Episode 1 in September and we'll hopefully get all those problems fixed!
      Also, after much thought, I have deleted the page Contests and Quizzes. I just simply don't like it. It's not fit to be on this blog. I'm sorry to any of you who are saddened by this decision, but I'm planning on opening a new, much better, contest page soon.
      And now, finally, since that business about the podcast is settled, I will post my interview! I will be interviewing Austin Peachy and his sister Natasha today! Yes, I was expecting their answers sooner, but he (Austin) later informed me that he and his sister were on vacation. Then, just when I was considering doing yet another Top 5 list, I checked my email and there they were! The answers! And so, for your enjoyment, my interview with Austin Peachy:

1. When did you first start listening to AIO?

Austin: I can't really remember a time when I wasn't listening to it. I think I was maybe 4 when I first heard AIO. I could be wrong but I think the first episode I heard was in The Search for Whit album.

Tasha: I'm not sure. I've listened to AIO for as long as I can remember.

2. What was the inspiration for the AIO Blogcast?

Austin: It was 2 things: the Unofficial Podcast and trends. In 2008, after the Ceiling Fan made its debuet, AIO fans were starting new podcasts of their own. I wanted to be one of them. I loved listening to Chris & Sarah's podcast and wanted to someday do what they've accomplished. I originally created the first episode in November of 2008. My sister & I tried to make it like the CF, but I see now that what we did was awful. I was almost done with it and then I started moving my stuff to a new computer. After that, I found out that the program I used to edit it wouldn't work. I still had the audio, but I decided to start over from scratch. I believe it was the grace of God that we didn't release it! Now the Blogcast is a mix of different things: reviews, interviews, skits, radio dramas, and whatever else we can think of.

3. What are the best and worst parts of running an AIO blog/pod cast?

Austin: Pretty much everything is the best! Blog wise, I love writing stuff and designing logos, banners, and such for it. As for the podcast, laughing hysterically with (and at) my sister, talking with really cool people, & entertaining our listeners are all perks. The worst? Sometimes we don't feel like we have the energy to record. Also, there are times when there are technical problems that delay the recording. But all in all, it's all awesome!

Tasha: The best part of co-hosting is probably the laughs we have. I can't think of a "worst".

4. I really enjoyed Sibling Spies. How did you get the idea for it and how did you get Phil Lollar and Frank Montenegro to act in it?

Austin: We both love anything having to do with spies. We had parodied the detective genre with Austin Peachey, P.I. so we decided to do a spy spoof. It was originally called Sister Spies because we wanted our cousin, Jessica, to play in it. That fell through so we went to Sibling Spies (I was NOT going to play a sister! :) We also wanted to have a redeeming message with it. It's hard to teach something with an action show but I think it flowed pretty well with the story. As for the actors, Phil was so nice to allow us to interview him on our podcast and we love the great voices he does so we asked him to perform in our drama. Once again, he obliged us and did an awesome job! Frank is such a wonderful person and he really liked the script we wrote. We both love listening to him as Kendall Park in Jonathan Park so we asked him to be a part of our show. He really came through for us as well!

5. What are some of your favorite AIO episodes?

Austin: I like a lot of the comedic ones, like Aloha Oy!, Fast As I Can & Do or Diet. For dramatic ones, The Underground Railroad, The Jubilee Singers, Karen, & The Chosen One. These are just a few of the many hundreds of my fav eps!

Tasha: Almost all of them.

6. Who is your favorite AIO character?

Austin: Before the hiatus, it was Wooton. I loved his quirkiness and humor and heart. Now he's too silly and overused. Whit, Jared & Jack Allen are some of my favorites. I'm sure you probably know who my least favorite character is...(In case you don't know, it's Emily Jones)

Tasha: Probably Jared, Eugene, Connie, or Jason.

7. If you could have any AIO character return, who would it be and why?

 

Austin: Richard Maxwell for sure! When I was listening to the Green Ring Conspiracy & The Labyrinth, I was really hoping and expecting him to be a part of those shows. I really believed that Richard was the mysterious person in the plane crash. The writers have never said that he won't come back so I'm hoping that he'll return when Odyssey has another action-adventure show.

Tasha: The Washingtons and Kelly, because their story wasn't finished.

8. Are you planning any future AIO-related or non-related projects?

Austin: We are working on a new radio drama called Skye Weldon & the Crazy Cactus Caper or simply Skye Weldon. It's a Western comedy spoof. The script is finished and we almost have actors for all the roles. A few of the people performing in it are my sister & I (of course), Devon Francis, Aria Curzon, Kevin McCreary, and David Griffen. I hope to start recording this September and release it at the end of the year. It's a real fun story and I can't wait to let you guys hear it!

     Thank you, Austin, for taking the time to interview! And I can't wait for the Skye Weldon drama! And, while you're here, go check out the flop podcast, the new AIC, and vote in our polls! And so, once again, thanks for reading!

Weekly Review: Split Ends 7/28/12

     Before I start the review, I would like to thank The Old Judge for putting me on his Cast and Crew: Take 2 page. It was amazing to be put among names such as Jacob Isom, Bren McFarlond, and Austin Peachy, all assets to the AIO fan community. That page states my real first name and my last initial, so go check it out now! Has anyone noticed that the AIO fan community is becoming less and less private? People are revealing their full names and pictures of themselves and where they live and so on and so forth. But I'm getting off topic. Anyway, if you haven't already, once you're done reading this post, go to TNT and check out their interview, their Courtroom, (which, unfortunately, I haven't read yet.) and their new page. But I'm getting really off-topic, so, sit back and read my review of: Split Ends.

     Liz: What do you think of this sweater?

     Jared: Eh, it makes you look fat.

     These two lines are quite possibly the best openers to an AIO episode of all time. The way Brandon Gilberstadt says that 'fat' line is absolutely hilarious! And Liz's response! Oh, it's just perfect!
     Yes, I liked this episode. Some say it's too silly, some say Ollie and Genevieve are annoying, and some say the moral isn't up to scratch. Jacob Isom (or maybe Ben Warren, I don't know) wrote a review of Split Ends and said that AIO was contradicting themselves, for in A Model Child they clearly stated that modeling was wrong, but in Split Ends they don't seem to address that issue. Frankly, I don't really mind this. The moral wasn't vanity, it was holding grudges. AIO didn't necessarily need to address the topic again since it had already done it in A Model Child. And this episode isn't really saying that modeling is good, in fact, they portrayed Ollie and Genevieve, the two people from the modeling agency, as annoying scam artists. But enough about Jacob's (or Ben's, I don't know) review.
     I like the pairing of Mandy and Connie, don't you? Connie may not exactly be at her wisest in this episode, (That's also in Jacob's review. Boy, I never shoud've read that! I'm stealing all his ideas!) I still like Connie and Mandy together. Their chemistry is enjoyable.
     Ollie and Genevieve... These two characters actually don't get on my nerves. In fact, the only AIO character who I can think of who gets on my nerves is... EMILY! (What do you have to say to that, Pound Foolish?) They are used for comedy and are supposed to be annoying, so I just sit back and laugh. It's similar to Ricky in Do Or Diet. Many fans think he's annoying, but I love him and think he's hilarious.
     Next up in the episode, Mandy is brought to the modeling agency place, where Ollie offers her fat-free mints and calls her a peach. I'm starting to love this guy!, I think.
     Mandy and Liz's fight has escalated since Seeing Red. I love this mini-storyline, and I've had the pleasure of being able to review two of the episodes in it. (I only wish I could have reviewed Stubborn Streaks.) It may not be Blackguaard or Novacom, but this still brings out a side in Mandy, Liz, and even Jared and Connie that we've never seen before. The beauty of this mini-story is that it's something that actually happens to us, something that we can actually relate to. With all due respect to Novacom, we can't relate to an evil company taking over the world by controlling everyone's minds.
     The episode goes on, with many twists and turns. It's all very entertaining, and I liked the reconciliation scenes at the end. I only wish I could have heard the modeling conspiracy that Jared talked about, however. All we heard was Liz requesting Mandy! And I absolutely LOVE that commercial at the end!
     But while there are many good things about this episode, it's not perfect. The moral was something we've heard before, Connie's appearance seemed just a bit forced, (Because if she wasn't in the episode, there would be no major adult characters.) and it didn't quite feel like Odyssey. But overall, it was a good way to wrap up Mandy and Liz's fight. It was funny, it was set-up well, and it was just a good episode. It's not perfect, but it's good.

     Split Ends Rating: 7/10

     Thanks for reading, and once again, don't forget to vote in the Websters!

AIO News 7/27/12

     I'm sorry it took so long, but the rest of the polls are finally up! You can now vote for your favorite AIO site/blog/podcast/podcast episode/post/feature/message board/new site/blog. Whew, that was a mouthful! So make sure to vote in all those polls! Also, I just got back from vacation, so expect some longer articles and longer posts in general.
     There have also been rumors of a JAAIOB podcast called JAAIOP. (Just Another AIO Podcast) Well, the rumors are true. A podcast is in the works, but it'll be a while before we air our first episode. I have an idea, some possible co-hosts, and I'll get on the script very soon. (It's partly scripted, partly ad-libbed.) But like I said, it'll be a while before it comes out. I'm expecting a Thanksgiving or Christmas podcast for our first one. But, as I say in reporter form, more on that as the story unfolds. Speaking of reporting, it's time for the news!
     Hello, I'm Alex Jefferson, reporting at you live from two places: The Odyssey ScoopCast and the live show in Dallas. Yes, the video edition of The ScoopCast came out a couple days ago. We here at the newsroom thought it was amazing, but you need to see it for yourself! It's on The Odyssey Scoop.com as well as iTunes. Trust me, you don't want to miss out!\
     Well, that's about it. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and you are listening to... AIO News!
     And don't forget to vote in the Webster Awards with our new polls! Thanks for reading!

AIO Article: Nathan Hoobler: The Man, The Fan, The Writer

     As some of you Soda Shoppers might know, today I began a two-week fast of the Soda Shop, as I believe I am getting addicted to it. So no U.S.S. Responses for two weeks. Sorry. But I have an article for you about (who else?) Nathan Hoobler.



     One the first episodes that Nathan Hoobler ever heard was Camp-What-A-Nut. I'm not entirely sure where or when he got it, but it was the first step in a massive adventure he was about to take; an adventure in Odyssey.
     Nathan Hoobler also had the guts to do something that no other AIO fan had ever done before. Make a website. That website, is of course, AIOHQ. Nathan Hoobler has always been a big inspiration for me as my website/blog becomes bigger and bigger and I get more and more posts and more and more readers.
     His website is truly a masterpiece of a site, and I enjoy visiting it often, even if it is six years old. And though Nathan was the webmaster, he in a way hired other people to contribute to his site. Jacob Isom has done that, and Wooton Basset recently brought suzylou on his UAIOB team. In fact, I'm considering getting some help with articles and other pages as well. But I'm getting off topic.
     And then, all of a sudden, Mark Drury stepped into Nathan Hoobler's life. Drury asked him if he'd like an internship. This was the beginning of Nathan's AIO career. In fact, Nathan dedicates The Official Guide to Drury, for starting his adventure. But really, Mark Drury didn't start Nathan's adventure. He started it himself, the second he played the first episode he ever heard.
     The Triangle was great, wasn't it? I don't consider it the best Hoobler episode, but it's definitely in The Top 5. So Nathan got off to a great start in his AIO career. But he wasn't finished yet.
     What soon followed were a bunch of album standouts: Plan B: Collision Course, The Pact, and The Taming of the Two. Nathan's episodes were amazing, and he didn't churn out a single clunker. He's the King Midas of Odyssey, in other words, every episode he touches turns to gold. That's poetic, isn't it?
     And though AIOHQ ended, Nathan is still active in the AIO community. He is one of their best writers, and he is an inspiration to all AIO fans. Thank God that Nathan listened to Camp-What-A-Nut all those years ago.
     Thanks for reading!

AIO News 7/25/12

Hello, I'm Alex Jefferson, reporting at you live from Whitsend.org, where Bob and Jesse have unveiled yet another podcast discussing Sergeant York. But this time, instead of chatting with the actors or the sound designer, Bob and Jesse are talking with Dave Arnold, the writer/director of the show, about the true history of the episode. So check that out at Whitsend.org.
And, in other news, The Odyssey ScoopCast is set to release a special video podcast involving the Birthday Bash. More news on that at The Odyssey Scoop.
Well, that's about it. Until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson and you are listening to... AIO News!
Thanks for reading'

AIO Article: Sagas and More Sagas 7/24/12

No U.S.S. Response today. Sorry. But I still have an article!

AIO has had many, many sagas over the years. For today's article, I'll be giving my thoughts on the four major ones. Sorry this'll be a short article, but it's pretty late. (8:30 P.M.)

The Blackguaard Saga:

Ah, yes. The classic Odyssey saga. And it's named after just one man: the infamous Regis Blackguaard. I can't say it enough, this saga is amazing. There's not a single episode that I don't like. Blackguaard is truly evil, and all the drama and all the intensity of this saga make it one to remember for a very long time.

The Novacom Saga:

Ooh, this one's creepy! Once again, AIO outdid themselves with this one, and all the plot twists are just plain awesome. And the villains! And the concept! Oh, it was just great.

Eugene's Search For His Father Saga:

I think this saga is often underrated. It's dramatic, intense, and it's starring Eugene! The only episode in this saga that was a bit of a downer: Dead Ends. Other than that, I love it!

The Green Ring Conspiracy Saga:

When GRC first came out, it was amazing! Jason returned, Monty returned, and Katrina returned, all in the same album! I loved every part of it, and while it may not have lived up to The Blackguaard and Novacom, sagas, it still has a special place in my heart. And I loved The Labyrinth!

I'm sorry the article was so short, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a rush. I might even add more sagas to it later.
Thanks for reading!

AIO News 7/23/12

     There's not much news today, so this'll be quick. But before I start, I'd like to apologize for not having the Webster polls up yesterday. It was the result of technical difficulties. But, once I get back from vacation, I should have those polls up. If I don't you can always pm me on the SS or email me at CreativeThinker101@gmail.com. And now, for the news...
     Hello, Alex Jefferson here, reporting to you live from The Wooton Blog, a blog that has been overlooked in the AIO community, mostly because it doesn't have many posts and it wasn't advertised very much. Actually, it was started before JAAIOB, so it's not exactly a really new AIO blog. It's pretty good, but it needs some more features and longer posts. You can check it out with this link:

 The Wooton Blog
    
     Well, that's it for today. So until next time, I'm Alex Jefferson, and I'll see you next time on... AIO News! Thanks for reading!