NERDS AROUND TOWN
Nerds Around Town: Archer's back, FXX's future, and delicious bread.
Jun 4, 2019, 6:34 am
NERDS AROUND TOWN
Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio, Sports and Wrestling. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!
Hey Nerds!
It's Tuesday, it's a great week and there's no reason not to knock everything out of the park this week.
Zoey's Angels is an amazing organization with a heartbreaking story and this Sunday they are hosting their 8th annual Family Fun Walk. An organization that centers around helping families deal with the horrific ordeal of having a baby stay in the hospital for a long battle after it's born and then pass. The family then has to deal with burying a little family member and also a ton of medical bills and Zoey's Angels helps with both. Obviously for many people this is an incredibly personal story and issue and is something that is absolutely devastating for families to go through and deal with, and to have an organization there to help support people is incredibly important. This is that opportunity to help this group raise funds to help families deal with this all year long. #NerdsUnite
The new season of Archer debuted last weekend and it is freaking great! There is absolutely no way to complain about this show, they keep reinventing it and the cast every season these last few years and I think that's done a lot to keep it fresh. There's no getting around the reality that 10 seasons is a lot of anything and like most shows the old way of doing things can get stale so they've avoided that by changing stuff up as much as possible these last few seasons and I love it. This season it's become a science fiction show and the cast is in space and struggling to make it in a great big galaxy while also dealing with all the inappropriate relationships and issues this cast has always had. Overall it's a hilarious journey through some great adventures, check it out.
This overall brings me to what's next for FXX and FX in general after the Fox/Disney deal. So FXX and FX are more centered towards adults and adult programming and while overall it's easy to believe that Disney would greatly enjoy the prospect of having these added channels in their portfolio, it isn't clear if they have the stomach for it. Lewis CK famously chose FX over HBO for his comedy show a few years back because they gave him the exact deal he wanted, and Baskets with Zach Galifianakis is from a similar arrangement and while Baskets has worked out great the Lewis CK deal obviously became an issue down the road where while on hiatus he admitted sexual misconduct allegations against him were untrue and the network ended their relationship. While "family" television isn't exactly full of saints, at least their program content isn't in constant need of defense from various people and parties. Adult comedy takes risks and goes out on limbs to make comments about our society, and how long Disney is willing to let that limb linger is the interesting long term question for both FX and FXX.
The sweet love affair with the bread that can't be put down continues, they wrote me back guys, they wrote me back. Stay tuned.
Jared Kushner just did the season premiere of Axiom on HBO, it's a big picture journalism show where they try and really find the important parts of stories that people aren't talking about including things like global threats and the friction we have globally with China. They aren't a "gotcha" media by any means, but they aren't going to do a fluff piece on anyone they are going to push back on things that are issues. They spent a lot of time on Palestine and they spent a lot of time on the inappropriate relationship between "friends" and money and honestly Kushner doesn't change any minds in the interview but it all could have gone a lot worse. The one thing I do have an issue with though is his response on the Russia meeting in Trump tower was "I get 250 emails a day" but important people get a lot of emails, and it's their job to handle the information coming in and making decisions, also it said "Russia" in the subject line, so that should have gotten some focus from someone running a campaign. I just really didn't like that answer at all.
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Tuesday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back Wednesday and we'll be bringing more good times your way. Feel free to check out my digital short story The Wilson House or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where some proceeds help fight cancer or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!