Mugglecast: The Harry Potter Podcast

The Court of MuggleCast is now in session. We all offer our individual opinions on the case and identify the key players. The trial was very emotional for both Jo and Steve but did it have to get to this point? Why did RDR initially make it so difficult for Warner Bros. to obtain a copy of the book? Why did Steve ask for a clause in his contract saying RDR Books would defend him should a lawsuit occur? Steve initially said he would never publish the Lexicon because “that would be illegal”. We review testimony given and comments made by both sides and offer our thoughts. Breaking down the “fair use” doctrine, we try and get inside the head of Judge Patterson. Which of the four categories of fair use would go in Jo or Steve’s favor? The negative impact this could have on the Harry Potter fandom and the “floodgates” that could open. We take a look at fan and media opinions of this trial. Elysa brings up a few previous court cases that have dealt with the “fair use” doctrine and the precedents set seem

Andrew has a treasure chest from HP Quest! Micah will be first in line at Equus in NYC. We announce when our next MuggleCast LIVE online will be. Thanks to everyone who’s voted for us on Podcast Alley! Listener Rebuttals take a look at the Elder Wand and more. Chapter by Chapter covers Chapter 26 of Deathly Hallows: Gringotts. Sorting Hat: Andrew, Eric, and Stephenie Meyer A couple voicemails and a temporary problem with our hotline. A new segment: This Week in MuggleCast (Episode 35) HUH?! E-mail of the Week. Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul. This week’s blooper reminds Andrew he’s only 18. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

APRIL FOOLS. Andrew questions the motives for mocking him when he’s away. We discuss JK Rowling’s answers at the James Joyce Awards. Could Intercollegiate Quidditch be the next big thing in the fandom? It’s a new month (mApril), so vote for us on Podcast Alley! Create Your Own MuggleCast Segment Contest returns! Micah updates you on the transcript situation and asks for new transcribers. We experiment with Amazon’s unSpun to get visitors involved with discussions. Andrew talks about his visit to the Twilight set. Chapter by Chapter covers Chapters 24 and 25 of Deathly Hallows. Dobby is dead, and we mourn. We discuss Griphook’s very intriguing view of Harry. Remus asks Harry to be Ted’s godfather. We talk about the change of heart since their last meeting. John Hurt MUST come back for Deathly Hallows reprise his role as Ollivander, we decide. We call an audible with Make the Music Connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew is absent, so the mockery kicks in immediately. Micah returns to anchoring the news. A new month is upon us (MuggleCast mApril) vote for us on Podcast Alley! We announce a brand new version of MuggleCast, starting next week. 1/4th Potter, 1/4th Twilight, 1/4th Narnia, and 1/4th Lord of the Rings. The co-hosts discuss the reasons why it’s happening, and what it means for the future. MuggleMail address last week’s hot topics. Chapter by Chapter covers Chapter 23 of Deathly Hallows. The Sorting Hat, a new segment, is given a shot. Jamie makes up for his time away with Make the Connection. The hosts give one final sign off as “the old” MuggleCast show format. Lots of bloopers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News Competition runner-up winner Ash Jackson gives us the news! We discuss David Heyman’s interview about the DH split. Will each part of the film get its own DVD release? Vote for MuggleCast on Podcast Alley! MuggleMail addresses some burning topics on listener minds. Chapter by Chapter covers Chapter 22 of Deathly Hallows. Make the Music Connection returns! Mikey and Micah host the M&M show. Voicemails return with questions about female listeners, Potter conventions, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Portus 2008 public relations director Aziza Aba Butain joins us… …to interview the narrator of the U.S. Harry Potter books Jim Dale. Mr. Dale gives his thoughts on the recent Deathly Hallows split as well as the movies in general. One of his sons is actually a movie helicopter operator who has worked on the Potter films. What is his favorite Potter character voice? Which one is the hardest – or as he puts it – the most annoying to do? He discusses how he prepares to record the Potter books: some water and a green apple anyone? How long does it take him? More like how long is he given! The answer may surprise you. How well does he know Stephen Fry and Mary GrandPre? Does he ever read the books for enjoyment and what is his relationship with J.K. Rowling? He denies using his relationship with Dumbledore to further his career. Just what does he think about the HP fandom? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a special Thursday night LIVE episode! Ben and Kevin return to host the show! We discuss all of the developments surrounding the Deathly Hallows split. Was it done to make more money? Is the 6 month wait between part one and two THAT bad? Where should the split be made? How do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? Will there be a trailer at the end of part one for part two? We give Jamie a quick call and Ben messes with his head. Oscar possibilities? We take YOUR calls about the split! And remember, because of you we have helped Mason raise over $1,000 towards cancer research. Please continue helping out and donate. The minimum donation is just $5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt and Mikey fight to intro last. Mikey wins. MuggleCast News guest anchor Edith gives us the news. Jim Dale will be joining us on MuggleCast next week! We’re looking for your questions to ask Jim. Call ’em in! Chapter by Chapter covers Chapters 20 and 21 of Deathly Hallows. Discussion topics include the Deathly Hallows, Xenophilius Lovegood, and more. Voicemails return and we have lots of fun questions and answers! Make the Music Connection challenges our musical creativity. Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul: Baby Edition! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A slip-up on last week’s show gets a lot of feedback. We respond. The Top 5 contestants for Micah’s News Contest! It’s a new month so vote for us on Podcast Alley! Help Mason raise money for the American Cancer Society. Listener Rebuttals take a look at cashing in, The Last Enemy, and Make the Music Connection. Chapter by Chapter covers Chapters 18 and 19. We have an in-depth discussion on Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship. Why is the sword at the bottom of the pond? Matt gets angry at Snape’s sword placement. Laura justifies Hermione’s anger at Ron when he returns. Make the Music Connection returns! A new segment: Hold Up, Hosts! Chicken Soup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six people host this week’s episode! … including one new host, Elysa Montfort of MuggleNet Fan Fiction! We discuss the recent unintentional director leak. What we think of a new scene being added to Half-Blood Prince, and when it will happen. Andrew, Laura, Matt and Elysa give a review of Spiderwick Chronicles. The word “Potter” and “Claritin” comes to mind in several of its scenes. The next live online MuggleCast is coming soon. Rebuttals address our statement about negative e-mails and Gryffindor’s Sword. Chapter by Chapter covers two chapters this week! Why doesn’t Harry care much about the statue created in memorial of his family? What do the lines the gravestones mean exactly? Favorites: HP movie poster/DVD cover. Make the Music connection returns, revamped. Elysa is great. Laura is fired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s show brought to you by Audible.com! Jim Dale picks up Grammy for Deathly Hallows. We celebrate. More evidence of Deathly Hallows being split and an imminent announcement. Micah is sad at the idea of no Fleur in HBP. Spielberg confirmed to not direct DH, and we make a DH Director Checklist. Andrew’s Wizard Rock single LIVE on YouTube. Our plans for future tours. Listener Rebuttals look at last week’s show. Chapter 15 of Deathly Hallows: The Goblin’s Revenge. Was the walking-through-the-woods plot necessary? Why were Ginny, Neville, and Luna stealing the sword? The group discusses Rons anger and if it was called for. Least Favorites: Least favorite movie. Make the Music Connection: Drawling parallels between DH scenes and real music. Chicken Soup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Gasp* No Andrew or Matt this week! Spielberg rumors still cropping up – Mikey and Eric provide a strong case for him. Jo compares Fudge to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. What will happen in HBP since the Dursleys are cut? Micah says the word “lovers”. How does Mad Eye’s magical eye work on a door? Was Umbridge influenced at all by the locket? Part Two of our interview with Freddie Highmore. Chapter By Chapter: Chapter 14, The Thief. How does Hermione give away the secret? Ron saves the trio unknowingly. We have some in-depth analysis on Grindelwald’s depiction in Gregorovitch’s memory. Can older actors perform stunts? If Slytherin only wanted purebloods, why did the sorting hat want to put Harry in Slytherin along with Voldemort and Snape, who were also half-bloods? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew kicks the show off with an intriguing, on-topic story. It’s a new month so vote on Podcast Alley! Del Toro isn’t directing Deathly Hallows, and we react. Betting Men better be betting. MuggleMail covers last week’s hot topics. We interview Paul DeGeorge from Harry and the Potters. Harry Year 7 discusses his second annual charity effort, the Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club. The MuggleNet song, created in 2005 by Paul and his brother, makes its worldwide debut. Chapter by Chapter: Chapter 13. Did the locket have any effect on Umbridge? Mad-Eye’s Eye on the toad’s door makes us sad. We discuss the Polyjuice Potion scenes in the film series and how this one should be done. Make the Connection ideas from listeners like you. A Pensieve Possibilities list sent in by MuggleCast Fan Forum listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss what we’re most looking forward to about Half-Blood Prince and what we think may be cut. Small update on the East Coast Tour. Vote on Podcast Alley…or else! Muggle Mail on movie intermissions, cliffhangers and Chapter 10. Interview with Freddie Highmore. Chapter-by-Chapter: Chapters 11 and 12. The hosts draw some excellent comparisons in these chapters to Nazi Germany. The story begins to take on a very dark tone. We analyze the argument between Harry and Remus from both perspectives – sorry Harry, seeing this one from just your point of view doesn’t cut it. One listener writes a very good defense of Lupin. Kreacher and the saucepan: finally some comedy! Jo shows just how good she is in her revelation that Umbridge has the locket. What is up with this plan to infiltrate the Ministry? Micah doesn’t buy it. Snape named Headmaster of Hogwarts – was he there to actually protect the students? Why does Hermione keep nagging Harry to close his mind? It actually helps him! Chicken Soup.

Andrew boasts about the new Wizard Rock section. Rumors concerning a two-part Deathly Hallows surface. Harvard announces JK Rowling to give commencement keynote. We fantasize. A possible MuggleCast spring break east coast tour? Listener e-mails cover last week’s discussion on the dust figure and more. Chapter by Chapter: Kreacher’s Tale. We sympathize for Harry seeing Hermione and Ron holding hands. How does the fidelius charm actually work? How does Bathilda Bagshot visit Lily if Pettigrew is the only secret keeper? Favorites: We each talk about our favorite song from the Potter soundtracks. Chicken Soup. Dog Bloopers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JKR Documentary discussion. Jo talks about her family and religious views. What was the character name she took from the book in the church? Universal adds a new poll to their website and we discuss the pros and cons of where we would like to have a drink. Andrew, Matt and Laura review Sweeney Todd. Our thoughts on the recent Helen McCrory interview. We respond to some Muggle Mail from our Holiday and New Year’s shows. Chapter-by-Chapter: A Place to Hide. Is Hermione the genie in the Potter world? Tottenham Court Road and Grimmauld Place. Make the Connection returns. Chicken Soup. Andrew attempts the fastest show close ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Further discussion about HBP casting and TIME’s “Person of the Year”. Andrew places a call to WB about his defective DVD. Top 10 Moments of 2007. Favorite Memories of 2007. Chapters 7 & 8 of Deathly Hallows. Should Harry really be opening his mind to Voldemort? Is Voldemort that stupid to be letting Harry see his actions? Harry’s birthday and a visit from the Minister. What good would it do the Ministry to know of Harry’s plans? The mark of Grindelwald: another Nazi-WWII reference? Character analysis: Xenophilius Lovegood, Aunt Muriel, Elphias Doge. Why did Dumbledore never tell Harry he lived in Godric’s Hollow? “The Ministry has fallen” becomes our first holy *%&$ moment of the series. Scrimgeour gets his swan song. Countdown to 2008. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s another holiday season! Jamie is back and recounts his problems with Christmas. We discuss the latest news, including casting, TIME, and the Jo documentary. Jamie and Laura add their input to the show ending announcement. MuggleMail address DVD issues and Chapter by Chapter. This week, Chapter by Chapter covers Chapters 5 and 6 of Deathly Hallows. Was Harry right to use Expelliarmus against the Death Eaters? Did Lupin have a right to discipline him? Was Mrs. Weasley’s motherly protection justified? Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione tension. Measures taken for the Horcrux hunt. British Joke of the Day returns! The hosts read a Holiday poem sent in by a listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon.com revealed as winning bidder for The Tales of Beedle The Bard. We announce a big change coming to our show. Order of the Phoenix DVD discussion. Andrew has pixilation problems. Were the deleted scenes really that good? Trailing Tonks one of the best special features. Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter: was it necessary? We read some Muggle Mail from last week’s show. Chapter-by-Chapter: The Seven Potters. Ties to previous books: Polyjuice Potion and the Motorcycle. Hedwig’s death sets an early tone to the novel. Was Expelliarmus the weakest explanation for the Death Eaters recognizing Harry? The mysterious wand reaction that saved Harry’s life. Chicken Soup Finals Edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where are the other co-hosts?! We discuss the Golden Compass and its controversy. MTV’s list of Wizard Rock bands is unfair and inaccurate. Happy Birthday Jamie! Next week we’ll be talking about the OOTP DVD – send in your thoughts! MuggleMail covers last week’s Chapter by Chapter discussion. This week we talk about Chapter 3 of Deathly Hallows. What were the Dursley’s feeling when they left Harry? Would Harry come back to save them? Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast soul. We reminisce over the old Sorcerer’s Stone VHS tape. Bloopers. This week’s episode brought to you by Audible.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices