Fan Effect

We are in the final countdown for FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention 2025, which takes place THIS WEEK, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, September 25th - 27th. And in our second Fan(X) Effect preview episode of 2025, we have an eclectic mix of content to prepare for the three-day Xperience! Visit FanxSaltLake.com for event information, to purchase tickets, and download the FanX App (a great way to plan and track your con!), and follow #FanX on Facebook for the latest show updates and tips. 

In this double-sized episode, we get a sneak peek at what these celebrity panels are like, featuring guest insights, creative tips, and stories of how their work has touched fans around the world. We start with KSL Newsradio’s Heather Kelly interviewing Happy Days actors Don Most and Anson Williams. Then, FanX’s Jeremy Kartchner interviews voice actors Sarah Natochenny and Erica Schroeder. We then switch to planning and exploring (semi-live) the FanX website with Producer KellieAnn Halvorsen, which features a plethora of lists of panels, artists, celebrities, events, and more. 

We wrap up with a thought of how FanX serves as an annual family reunion celebration for all of us Utah nerds, geeks, and fandom fans. 

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of September 12, 2025. It's a big send-off for the much-loved "Downton Abbey" franchise with “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” in theaters this week. Fans will love all the nods to moments over the years, and it's a nice, comfortable escape. Also for the fans, the long-awaited sequel "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," as the fake documentary director follows the fake rock band's reunion concert 40 years later. And for streaming, Miranda Cosgrove goes on a reality show that she DOESN'T want to win in "The Wrong Paris".  She's even more upset when the show is in Paris… Texas. 

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of September 2, 2025. Two films are hitting the big screen with very different feels. A funny yet adult comedy, "Splitsville," starring Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona, who have different ideas on how to handle their marriages, with occasionally laugh-out-loud results. And for those looking for a faith-based option this week, "Light of the World" is a beautifully animated film that explores the life of Jesus from the perspective of his young disciple, John.

And the real big deal is on streaming, fans of "The Office" can now check out the sequel series "The Paper".  It took a couple of episodes for Andy to get the hang of it, but he liked the characters and became invested really quickly.

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy; with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 29, 2025. Labor Day weekend brings Austin Butler getting brutalized in "Caught Stealing," a violent action comedy that will make you question how much punishment one person can take. Also in theaters, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman try to convince us that they love each other and then hate each other in "The Roses". And "Sharing Aloha" takes you behind the scenes at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii, letting you hear the amazing stories of those who appear in the famous show. And for streaming fans, "The Thursday Murder Club" on Netflix is a fun little murder mystery featuring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley.

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy; with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for fangirls (and boys) like our host KellieAnn Halvorsen, as the countdown to FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention is hitting the 20s! In only a month, fans, nerds, geeks, cosplayers, artists, authors, and creatives of all sorts will descend on the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City for a three-day event like no other in Utah — not to mention big-name celebrities like David Tennant, William Shatner, and Marisa Tomei. 

On this episode of KSL’s  Fan Effect podcast, FanX Founder Dan Farr previews the 2025 event, talking all about what to expect this year, a sneak peek into show highlights and guests, and tips on how to get your con on. And joining as our guest co-host is fellow FanX fan and moderator Heather Kelly from KSL Newsradio.

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisodes taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 22, 2025. The highest-grossing animated film of all time, "Ne Zha II," comes to local theaters from China and is dubbed into English for the first time.  It's epic and looks great, but patience is required. If you want to see beautiful people roughing it, "Eden" from director Ron Howard may be more your thing. Of local interest, "The Streak" is a must-watch for sports fans as this new documentary in theaters explores the 1987 Salt Lake Trappers and their historic 29-game winning streak 38 years ago.  And finally, a young adult romance movie on streaming for Gen Z called "The Map That Leads To You" is a gorgeously shot movie about star-crossed lovers on Amazon Prime Video.

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 15, 2025. Today’s episode is brought to you by the number 2! Starting with the movie hitting theaters, "Nobody 2” brings Bob Odenkirk's assassin and his family to the vacation spot he went to as a kid, and comedic (but savage) violence ensues. Next, "Highest 2 Lowest" teams up Spike Lee and Denzel Washington in an action drama that has a music mogul dealing with a ransom request. Netflix’s "Night Always Comes" makes you glad you're not having the same kind of night that Vanessa Kirby is.

For parents of younger viewers and those looking to relive some nostalgia, "Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical" is a must-watch. It follows Charlie Brown and company as they try to save their summer camp from closing down, now available on AppleTV+. 

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 8, 2025.  The sequel "Freakier Friday" takes a lot from the 2003 "Freaky Friday" movie, but it's still fun to see Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis trading bodies with a couple of teenagers.  It's also got a good message about seeing things from others' perspectives. Other options include a couple of scary movies... one that could be a good test to see if your kids can *handle* scary movies called "Sketch" from Angel Studios. And NOT for kids, a film called "Weapons"... it's still a freak-you-out and make you nervous and uncomfortable for two hours kind of scary movie.  Finally, on streaming on Amazon Prime Video, you could check out Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, and Eva Longoria in "The Pickup".  You gotta like Pete Davidson, though, to enjoy this at all...and that may be too much to ask for some.

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

The 2025 "Freakier Friday" sequel to the 2003 "Freaky Friday" is a fun-filled, heartfelt, drama-fueled comedic ride—a practically perfect (for its purpose) Summer movie for women and audiences of all ages.

To prepare for the feature, producer KellieAnn Halvorsen read the original (and very outdated) 1972 book by Mary Rogers, watched the campy 1976 version "Freaky Friday," re-watched her generation's version with the Lindesy Lohan movie (2003), as well as the 2018 musical version. Now she is joined again by her honorary niece Adele Kemp (now 15 years old, featured previously on our deep dive into "Inside Out 2" and as the main child of KSL NewsRadio's Quarters for Chrismas radio drama, "A Pocket Change Christmas") and HallMarkies Podcast host/Rachel's Reviews writer, Rachel Wagner, to explore the movie and it's body-swapping legacy. Our first segment is spoiler-free!

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 1, 2025. The big movie this week is a reboot/sequel titled "The Naked Gun," starring Liam Neeson in the slapstick farce about a group of hilarious idiots called Police Squad. Andy hasn’t laughed this hard in a movie for a long time, even if it did get a little vulgar at times. Another funny sequel is "The Bad Guys 2," an animated family movie about a group of anthropomorphic animal former bad guys who are getting framed for crimes they're not committing by a group of bad gals. Andy highly recommends Netflix’s new documentary, "WWE: Unreal," a must-watch for pro-wrestling fans. And after a bit of a delay, Netflix also has a mostly satisfying sequel with “Happy Gilmore 2.” 

The brains behind Fan Effect are connoisseurs of categories surpassing nerdy, with a goal to publish a weekly "What to Watch on the Weekend" minisode taken from KSL-TV's Friday segment, and two deep-dives a month on shows, creative works, artists, local events, and other fandom topics. 

Based in the beautiful beehive state, Fan Effect celebrates Utah's unique fan culture as it has been declared The Nerdiest State in America by TIME, and is hosted by KSL Movie Show's Andy Farnsworth and KSL Podcasts' KellieAnn Halvorsen. 

Listen regularly on your favorite platform, at kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSLNewsRadio App. Join the conversation on Facebook @FanEffectShow, or Instagram @FanEffectShow.

Fan Effect is sponsored by Megaplex Theatres, Utah's premier movie entertainment company.