Back of the Theater Podcast

As the empire starts to crumble. Menelek and Hans try to make sense of it.

We breakdown the historic Superbowl Halftime show and talk about Kendrick and hip-hop. Bye Drake... Also...Menelek is providing script coverage at Fiverr.com. A list of services can be found here...https://www.fiverr.com/s/m53BDXR

and we continue...

Trump wants to destroy the country. Mumba's computer died. So we had to break this up in two parts.

Hans and Menelek go over the tough results from the 2024 Presidential Election. Brace yourselves, folks. It's three hours. 

Menelek and Hans breakdown the election. Get out and vote, gang!

We discuss the debate and catch up on some news.

Hey, Gang! We break down some politics and the importance of texture in film. 

Menelek was named a Quarter-Finalist in the prestigious Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship. (Run By the Academy) 5% of 5,5000 applicants make it to the QF round. (But again, Mumba is too humble to care about any of this) Enoy the 3 hours of radio. 

We recorded this right after the Nuggets lost game 7. Menelek is a touch angry. Having said that, Lebron James has no moral courage.

We break down the great beef. Who won? IT WAS CLEARLY KENDRICK!!  

We talk about getting older. Menelek, as always, is angry.

Dave Chappelle starts the new year on fire. BUT THEN...Katt Williams says, "Hold my drink, Bitch." Buckle Up and Happy New Year!

Hans and Menelek breakdown all of the amazing radio we have done this year. Listen, we promise to do more radio this year. We talk about the historic opening of The Color Purple and we find a way to make fun of Boots Riley again. (Hack)

The answer is "Yes, she does". 

We break down the press tour of Jada "Smith". Menelek is angry. And well, so is Hans.

Menelek is back. And guess what? He's still angry. At everyone. 

Hans has officially hijacked the show.

Hans has some things to get off his chest.

Hans and Menelek return. We break down Dear Mama. Ja Morant. Classism. Ebony K. Williams. And Menelek keeps singing gospel music for some reason.

Stephanie Malson is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and producer. She is currently a BlackStar 2023 Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab Producing Fellow. OURIKA!, a short film Stephanie produced was an official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. She is also Co-Producer on the upcoming feature documentary, ULRICK, which chronicles the life of Haitian master painter Ulrick Jean Pierre. Stephanie holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Rosemont College.

We're back to give you the radio you deserve and need.

Hans and Menelek fight over who is committed to the podcast. We talk about Wakanda Forever and Black Adam. Hans falls asleep at one point.

Menelek and Hans disagree about Black Adam. Menelek actually liked it. Hans very much did not. We also talk about the latest Kanye West meltdown. "Bye, Ye."

Hans and Menelek breakdown some of their favorite internet conspiracies. JFK? Moon Landing? Is Space real?

Hans and Menelek breakdown the innovations of camera tech. Cinema has changed and we are here for it. We almost get through the show without a fight. Almost.

Will had the moral courage to step out of his mansion and address the public. We talk about his apology with the upmost respect and care. Just kidding.

Menelek and Hans catch up on the news and more!

Hans and Menelek talk about yet another mass shooting and the lack of police response. This somehow leads to a conversation about Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Oh, and Boots Riley. Sorry, boots.

Menelek turned 41 last week and he's very excited about it. (not really) Hans and Menelek talk news and Ozark.

Menelek feels like he may have written all that he has to write. Hans does not agree. At All.

We can't stop talking about Will Smith slapping the hell out of Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock because of a joke. Hans and Menelek talk about it.

A little Tension this week. What else is new?

Two weeks in a row? Is this a real podcast? Thoughts and prayers to brother Hans he fights Covid-19. We debate Will Smith's rap career. And Menelek, as always, is angry.

Menelek and Hans start the show with a battle for who really wants to do the show. That leads to a discussion of Stanley Kubrick and other random topics. Enjoy! Happy New Year!

Hans wants to leave the show. He just lacks the moral courage to admit it. The guys talk about the future of the show, Will Smith, Kanye, and Aaron Rodgers. Enjoy the show while you can. Hans wants to leave. Please let him know how you feel about that on social media. @cineclass on twitter and instagram.

Menelek and Hans are in person! We break down the backlash of Dave Chapelle's latest Netflix special "The Closer". What does free speech mean in 2021? Let's break it down.

Nicki Minaj set twitter on fire with some some comments on the Covid-19 vaccine. We talk about the passing of Norm McDonald and old stories from Menelek's wedding.

Menelek and Hans talk film and breakdown the role of the Director and the cinematographer. Here's a shock: They don't agree.

Hans and Menelek argue about Joe Biden and then talk about the crate challenge. Yup.

We talk about the suspension of Sha'Carri Richardson and Bill Cosby's release from prison. You can always email us at backofthetheater@gmail.com

Hans returns from a shoot in Louisville, Ky. He talks about the amazing art installation Promise, Witness, Remembrance. We talk about politics. Hans lost a friend this week. He talks about the nature of grief.

Menelek and Hans start with a fight about the future of the show. Joe Budden fired his co-hosts this week. Kwame Brown has a lot of anger.

First of all. We would like to apologize for being away for so long. Hans was working on a long shoot. Menelek was finishing up his MFA and trying to find a new home. We catch up on a lot of things and we promise to be more consistent with shows in the future.  

We breakdown Kirk Franklin's verbal attack on his son. That leads to a discussion about the drama in the royal family. 1 Angry Black Man is streaming for free on Tubi.com. See it here!

Hans and Menelek debate anger. They talk politics and Black Hollywood.

We talk about the terrible storm in Texas and the current state of politics.

Hans and Menelek bring in the new year with some political talk. As they are on the air, a mob of angry white people start to storm the capitol.    

Dr. Shakib Hassan joins the show to talk about the second wave of Covid-19. He has received the first dose of the vaccine as well.    

The guys reflect on the last four years under Trump. We play clips from our show FOUR YEARS AGO. The night the world changed and Trump became president.