This Week In Fandom History

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead! This week, TWIFH is delighted to bring you a special preview episode of Lez Hang Out, the #1 lesbian hangout podcast and a super-fun listen for fans of fandom. Our good friend -- and CONstruction co-host, @jarrow from TGIF/F! -- is their expert guest on this episode, a deep dive into the batshittery of Pretty Little Liars. Check out what they have to say, and listen to our episode over on the Lez Hang Out feed, too!
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This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with return guest and founder of TGI Femslash, John Arrow (@jarrow272), to talk about the 7 season teen mystery drama, Pretty Little Liars, for this Lez-ssentials episode, a recurring segment on the essential movies and TV shows in the lesbian canon.
Come with us on a journey back to 2010, when television seasons were 26 episodes long and showrunners were just starting to figure out how to harness the power of social media to engage with fandoms in a big way. Pretty Little Liars itself does not age all that well in many ways, especially in the treatment of their one and only trans character; but back in the 2010s it was actually considered pretty progressive for having several queer characters and a lesbian showrunner.
If you were queer or questioning in the early aughts you 1000% knew about Shay Mitchell as sporty lesbian Emily Fields who seemingly turned every woman within a 5 mile radius of her gay. If you are a lesbian of a certain age, Emily likely played a role in your own coming out journey too.
For those of you who were part of the #BooRadleyVanCullen (like Leigh), you may recall more of the social fandom experience than you do the plot. Before Twitter became the cesspool it is today, there were the golden days of weekly live tweeted episodes of PLL with the cast members, the showrunner and the writers. The extremely unhinged plot made it the perfect group-viewing show and we highly recommend that if you have never watched PLL, you watch with a friend or three. While we do talk about a lot of the major plot points, the whole series is just too convoluted for us to really spoil anything for you. Even hardcore fans like John find something new in each rewatch.
At the end of the episode, stick around to hear our original song based on PLL, titled “A Liar”, written by Leigh Holmes Foster and produced by Ellie Brigida.
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#StreamBTSDynamiteNewSong! This week, V and Emily head back to the days of quarantine to look at an event that is... sigh. It showcases the culture differences between pre-2020 fandom and post-2020 fandom, Twitter fandom and the lineage of Livejournal-originated fandom, and corporate internet versus free internet. When fans take it upon themselves to become de facto employees for their blorbos, are they still acting out of fandom or does it become purely parasocial? Is there a difference? What is the line between self-interested fandom and selfish fandom? Plus, why -- yet again -- AO3 is different from other sites, and why those differences matter. We're very nervous putting this episode out. We've been told repeatedly not to cover BTS or we'll get yelled at. Please don't yell at us, we did our best!!1! #JIMIN!
Sources
Fanlore: BTS vs. AO3
Fanlore: Kpop Stan Twitter
Kpop Army Battle Royale by Geoff Golberg
Fanlore: BTS ARMY
Fanlore: How BTS Became...
Fanlore: BTS
Time Magazine
Fandom Exile
Reading the Room: The Magicians, BTS, and the Responsibility of Creating Popular Culture
Promo
Virtual TGIF/F - Our friends at TGI Femslash have just announced a brand-new, online fan con happening this summer. On August 29–30, Virtual TGIF/F will bring femslash fans from around the world together for discussion panels, online events, and more. Registration opens June 1st. Find out more at tgifemslash.com/virtualcon
Dragons in the Details - Dragons in the Details is the podcast that helps YOU better understand your favorite books. We never recap chapters—we find new insights, make new connections, and give you those WOW moments you love. WARNING: Once you hear these theories, you can't unhear them. Join Abby and Ronnie as we laugh, cry, and lose our minds diving deep into the internet's favorite stories!
Aim High Brooch Designs - For 25% off any order on Aim High Brooch Designs on Etsy, including a custom brooch, bag charm, keychain, or magnet design, use the promo code TWIFH.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode will be available to all listeners for 7 days before access is locked to our $5+ Patreon donors.
This week, our C-List Superhero is Louise Grant AKA the Blonde Phantom (Marvel Comics), and our A-List Superhero is Namor (Marvel Comics and the MCU). Our Uninformed Expert Panel this week is Emily Jaye, as always, and our special guest is our wonderful Patron Lina @pandaimitator. Listen in as they learn about our two heroes and weigh in on whether either, or both, is fuckable... like, at all.
Do you want to be a future guest on BWSW? Supporters of TWIFH on Patreon at the $10 and $15 tiers get to be Uninformed Expert Panelists, so head over to http://www.patreon.com/thisweekinfandomhistory and support the show!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Slash fans, rise up! (Sorry.) This week, V and Emily look at a triple-shot of '90s slash goodness: the multifandom zine "Nothing to Hide," the STIFfie Awards of 1998, and STIFfie founder Mary Urhausen. We're wading deeper into a pool that we thought we knew the depths of but boy, were we wrong, because there are shows that got slashed that we NEVER thought had slashy sexiness content. Plus, a look at the 1997 MediaWest controversy regarding slash content ~not being family-friendly enough~ (blegh) and our first toe in the waters of Beauty & the Beast (TV) fandom. Come splash with us, the pool's big enough for everyone!
Sources
Fanlore: Nothing to Hide Fanlore: Mary Urhausen Zine Recommendations & Reviews, 1998 Fanlore: STIFfie Awards The Official STIFfie FAQ Fanlore: STIFfie Awards 1998
Promo
Virtual TGIF/F - Our friends at TGI Femslash have just announced a brand-new, online fan con happening this summer. On August 29–30, Virtual TGIF/F will bring femslash fans from around the world together for discussion panels, online events, and more. Registration opens June 1st. Find out more at tgifemslash.com/virtualcon
Rebel Ever After - As we face down a second Trump Presidency, we need the escapism of a good romance novel more than ever. But romance isn't a fluffy distraction from politics — from its first transgressive pages, the romance genre centered the needs, desires and ambitions of women. Now more than ever, we need romances that envision a world where everyone can live their happily ever after. Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After. Join sex & culture critic and author Ella Dawson, as she interviews her favorite romance authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels. Plus: Has the internet ruined media literacy? Will the "smut" discourse ever end? Why is the Mothman so hot? Follow the show on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky @brosandprose. Support the show by subscribing at patreon.com/brosandprose.
It's A Lot - It's a Lot is full of real stories and messy feelings, empathy and hilarity. In one episode they analyze a campy, queer, dystopian graphic novel and in another they share what it's like when your kid comes out to you as trans. Whether you're curious why mom influencers share their kids' lives online, what it's like living with a rare genetic disease, or you just want to hear from relatable parents who actually go to therapy, It's a Lot is a great listen! Find it wherever you get your podcasts – just look for the pink logo with a skeleton hand holding a phone.
Psychotronic Sisters - Psychotronic Sisters is for fans of offbeat, genre, and cult cinema, classic to current. Every other week we do deep dive analysis, appreciation and background on a movie, person, or theme. Recent topics include: The Substance and similar classic films about women and aging, Men losing control in 3 1980s horror classics, Urban siege films of the 1980s, a tribute to German icon Udo Kier, female giallo thrillers, backstage horror, and more. Check out the show on YouTube.
Aim High Brooch Designs - For 25% off any order on Aim High Brooch Designs on Etsy, including a custom brooch, bag charm, keychain, or magnet design, use the promo code TWIFH.
This Week In Fandom History is a fandom-centric podcast that tells you… what happened this week in fandom history!
Follow This Week in Fandom History on Tumblr at @thisweekinfandomhistory

We're now on Instagram! @thisweekinfandomhistory

Check out our Fandom Primer playlist via linktr.ee/twifh

You can support the show via our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/thisweekinfandomhistory

Please remember to rate the show 5 stars on your listening platform of choice!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Muffins! This week, Emily and V are... surprisingly heartwarmed? Pleasantly shocked? Tentatively on board with a fandom they were very nervous to cover? We're talking about Bronies this week, which is to say, adult (mostly male) fans of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. This week in fandom history, they were acknowledged by their show canon with the inclusion of their fandomwide blorbo, a backgrounder named... well... therein lies the wank. It's a rare thing when both Emily and V agree with all sides of a fandom argument, but this is one of those cases. Everyone was right, and everyone was wrong, and while nobody won, nobody really lost, either. Get your background cels aligned and hoist your mailbag onto your shoulder, because this is the Ballad of Derpy Hooves.
Sources
Fanlore: Derpy Hooves Fanlore: Save Derpy Equestria Daily MLP Wiki
Promo
Virtual TGIF/F - Our friends at TGI Femslash have just announced a brand-new, online fan con happening this summer. On August 29–30, Virtual TGIF/F will bring femslash fans from around the world together for discussion panels, online events, and more. Registration opens June 1st. Find out more at tgifemslash.com/virtualcon
Rebel Ever After - As we face down a second Trump Presidency, we need the escapism of a good romance novel more than ever. But romance isn't a fluffy distraction from politics — from its first transgressive pages, the romance genre centered the needs, desires and ambitions of women. Now more than ever, we need romances that envision a world where everyone can live their happily ever after. Fight fascism and fall in love with Rebel Ever After. Join sex & culture critic and author Ella Dawson, as she interviews her favorite romance authors about writing swoony, sexy and progressive romance novels. Plus: Has the internet ruined media literacy? Will the "smut" discourse ever end? Why is the Mothman so hot? Follow the show on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky @brosandprose. Support the show by subscribing at patreon.com/brosandprose.
It's A Lot - It's a Lot is full of real stories and messy feelings, empathy and hilarity. In one episode they analyze a campy, queer, dystopian graphic novel and in another they share what it's like when your kid comes out to you as trans. Whether you're curious why mom influencers share their kids' lives online, what it's like living with a rare genetic disease, or you just want to hear from relatable parents who actually go to therapy, It's a Lot is a great listen! Find it wherever you get your podcasts – just look for the pink logo with a skeleton hand holding a phone.
Psychotronic Sisters - Psychotronic Sisters is for fans of offbeat, genre, and cult cinema, classic to current. Every other week we do deep dive analysis, appreciation and background on a movie, person, or theme. Recent topics include: The Substance and similar classic films about women and aging, Men losing control in 3 1980s horror classics, Urban siege films of the 1980s, a tribute to German icon Udo Kier, female giallo thrillers, backstage horror, and more. Check out the show on YouTube.
Aim High Brooch Designs - For 25% off any order on Aim High Brooch Designs on Etsy, including a custom brooch, bag charm, keychain, or magnet design, use the promo code TWIFH.
This Week In Fandom History is a fandom-centric podcast that tells you… what happened this week in fandom history!
Visit us online at http://www.thisweekinfandomhistory.com


Follow This Week in Fandom History on Tumblr at @thisweekinfandomhistory

We're now on Instagram! @thisweekinfandomhistory

Check out our Fandom Primer playlist via linktr.ee/twifh

You can support the show via our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/thisweekinfandomhistory

Please remember to rate the show 5 stars on your listening platform of choice! (And give us a nice review where you can, too!)
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.