Clearing The Queue

Episode 85: Baseball Movies (77 minutes) On what would've been MLB Opening Day 2020, Matty watched Field of Dreams in lieu of real baseball... what happened next may shock you! Nah, it won't shock you at all - he spent the next 3 months watching a new baseball movie every week, and is now ready to share his findings with Alex. Tune in to hear where "Mr. 3000" got his nickname, whose birthday party Alex saw Bad News Bears at, what Owen Wilson's hair looks like under a baseball hat, who Susan Sarandon *really* chose in Bull Durham, and which movie Alex's dad called "not a baseball movie!" PLUS: CTQ sets a new single-episode record for most synopses!

Episode 84: The Susan-Kate Heaney Trilogy (83 minutes) Wunderkind Susan-Kate Heaney returns to complete the CTQ trifecta of appearing in the studio, in a live episode, and via Skype. SK fully embodies Ms. Frizzle by teaching the guys all about tooth-forward acting, ideal moisture levels, and the meaning of the word "harlequin." Has Matty finally found a friend to save him from watching a horror movie, or will Alex thwart his plans once more? Hold onto your bodices, it's our steamiest episode yet! And remember: if a man wants a taco, you can't just offer him an enchilada.  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Like Water For Chocolate" (1992), "Winter of Our Dreams" (1981), "Tootsie" (1982)

Get in! CTQ Quarantine Edition continues with our friend Claudia Dillard, who stans The Stand. Self-described scaredy cat Matty believes he's found a kindred spirit, but will self-described Pixar Elitist Alex shepherd her to the dark side? Tune in to find out! #LaikaVirgin QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Midsommar" (2019), "Missing Link" (2019), "I Lost My Body" (2019)

Matty and Alex continue to shelter in place separately, while calling their friends to undertake the XKCD Unpopular Positive Opinion Challenge: Name a movie that... (1) you genuinely like, (2) came out in your adult life, and (3) is rated below 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Email clearingthequeue@gmail.com to declare your favorite!

Settle in, Queueheads, Alex and Matty have figured out a way to record the podcast while maintaining a safe distance! CTQ navigates the quarantine by taking part in the XKCD Unpopular Positive Opinion Challenge: Name a movie that... (1) you genuinely like, (2) came out in your adult life, and (3) is rated below 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Featuring surprise special guest appearances galore! 

It's Clearing the Queue...now brought to you by Real Fake Knobs! Izzy Maxwell makes his 13th, 14th, or 15th appearance on CTQ to promote his new business and clear a movie off of his "Netflix Queue." Alex propositions him to have an Algorithm Baby, while Matty cases venue security and tries to figure out who Adam Driver is. In the end, the question is "Tubi, or not Tubi?" #knobsnob QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Fearless Freaks" (2005), "Logan Lucky" (2017), "Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo" (2006)

Turn up the GRIT (but not too high), it's Michael Rhima time! Michael shares his collection of Nigerian Meg Ryan DVDs, outlines the "Notorious B.I.G./Citizen Kane" theorem, and impresses his hosts with a few casual backflips. Alex tries to remember the last time he drove Matty to the airport, while Matty gets his Red and Dead seas confused (and pays the price). The question on everyone's mind is: Can you be predestined to change your fate?  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" (2019), "Kung Fu Hustle" (2004), "The Red Sea Diving Resort" (2019)

Break out the wigs and grab your finest petticoat, it's time to take a canoe trip down the Buffalo River with power couple Chris and Shane! As CTQ continues its pivot towards television/relationship advice, the group desperately searches for a historical drama with some laughs. Along the way, Matty discovers the truth behind Alex's aversion to Matthew Broderick, and the result may shock you!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: John Adams (the TV show), Rome (the TV show)

Celebrity chef couple Melody and Craig Towe join us for the premiere of Clearing the Queue Season 4! In this macabre episode, the show pivots to television in order to find Alex's long lost cigarette smoking goateed older brother. Meanwhile, Matty and Left Shark share a bottle of limoncello whilst zesting their faces. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "What We Do In the Shadows" (the TV show), "American Vandal" (also the TV show)

The hills are alive with the sights of music in this adventure-based episode starring Trevor Brightman! Trevor reveals the secret to competitive erotic photo hunting, admits why he got fired from the Lexington Flick, and gives the "Brightman Hard Sell" regarding a local dentist. PLUS: Matty's Wi-fi password!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "They'll Love Me When I'm Dead" (2018), "American Masters: Ted Williams" (2018), "Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much" (2017)

Much like X-Men's Dark Phoenix, Clearing the Queue rises from the ashes with the help of old friend Dane DiLiegro! Dane really plays with the medium, unleashing a Pandora's Box of topics ranging from bone holes and banjos to Bitcoin and burnt toast. In the end, Alex and Matty learn an important lesson: never bet against Dane DiLiegro.

It's 2019 and our hosts have a lot to catch up on! Matty is shocked to learn that Alex finally watched Schindler's List, and even more shocked to learn that Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is a movie, not a theme park ride. Later, they're joined via Skype by Alex's dad, who gives the hard sell on Afternoon Delight, reveals what beloved movie he recently slept through, and somehow ties Jim Carrey's "The Mask" to New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. This episode will have you shouting "Oh, that's my dentist!"

What is this, a crossover episode? Aaron McLane and Matt Corrigan from The Launchpad Podcast invade the Queuedio to close out 2018. After much deliberation over who gets to be "Matt #1" and who is saddled with "Matt #2" (the results will shock you!), the self-styled Rocketeers record an episode with so much whimsy it'll make you want to high five a stranger. Along the way, the gang discusses who would've mourned Gaston's demise, plays a knee-slapping round of "The Day After," and spends way too much time dissecting what is essentially a 90 minute long McDonald's commercial. Check out The Launchpad Podcast for part two! 

New episode! We were definitely on a break, but now we're back to take care of some unfinished business. Last year Matty and Alex set out on a quest to watch every Friendsgiving episode with their pals Chris and Andrea, but they only made it 5/9ths of the way through. Now nothing will stand in their way of viewing the final four episodes - not even Chandler's severed toe. Join the four of us as we learn what it truly means to be a "Friend!"

2017 Rebroadcast: CTQ welcomed back Chris "don't call me Chris Ly" Li, as well as first time guest Andrea "my last name was Falk before I married Alex" Popkin for this special episode. In it, the gang sifted through the Friendsgiving episodes in search of the Spirit of Thanksgiving. But did they find it before Matty's "P.C. Police" showed up to ruin the fun? Tune in to find out! 

Grab some kindling and open that flue - filmmaker Peter Bean is here to set up a fireplace for your home! While he's hard at work, Alex plus Matty discuss the rise of YouTube, examine urinal etiquette, reverse engineer the meaning of the word "revery," and attempt to figure out who the David Beckham of comedians is. All that and a whole lot of pageantry in this righteous new episode! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Look Who's Back" (2015), "The Babadook" (2014), "Battlefield Earth" (2000)

Oh my God! Film composer Ameya Saraf joins Alex and Matty for a high stakes game of chess in their non-existent basement. The two vegetarians form an unlikely alliance, while Alex goes deep undercover to investigate "Big Trailer." As we learn what's inside Ameya's mind, remember: you can't spell "synthesizer" without "science. " QUEUE CONTENDERS: "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" (2003), "The Sixth Sense" (1999), "Inside Man" (2006)

Submarine-enthusiast Steve Dukeheart enlists Alex and Matty's help in cleaning the bottom of his t-shirt drawer, and boy is it a mess! Along the way, they encounter crying cars, roman numeral-based puns, Bane impressions, lost Kevin Costner roles, and learn just what it means to "add the d." Ultimately, we discover that the Tao of Steve Dukeheart is simple: don't "bypass" the waiting room during your "stent" on Clearing the Queue. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Outside In" (2017), "The Vanishing" (1993), "Chicken Run" (2000)

Italian Hero Dane DiLiegro emerges from a creepy abandoned hospital to make his triumphant return to Clearing The Queue! In this post-apocalyptic, end-of-days, dystopian tale, we witness Dane's "Babadook/Izzy Maxwell" strut, and learn what God would say to him at the pearly gates. Plus: Alex, Matty, and Dane cast themselves in a remake of "Hook" and the results might shock you! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Coco" (2017), "The Road" (2009), "Food on the Go" (2017)

On July 11th, 2017, Matty & Alex took a field trip to their local 7-Eleven to raid the bargain DVD shelf. Were they be able to record an entire episode inside the store before being kicked out for loitering? Tune in to find out!   QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Nebraska" (2013), "Due Date" (2010), "The Internship" (2013)

Matty, Alex, and Doug have one task: to find a pre-1991 movie that imagines a future which, in 2018, has already passed, and *doesn't* star a straight white male. Will they follow the letter of the law, or the spirit of the law? And can they do it without being consumed by "absolute energy?" Tune in to find out! PLUS: A cameo from Popcast favorite Justin Linde. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Akira" (1988), "Alien Nation" (1988), "The Apple" (AKA "Star Rock") (1980)

Join us as we explore the CW Vortex with high-powered business executive Doug Warner! Along the way, Alex takes a stroll down the (1988 drama) beach(es), and Matty ponders Jerry "The King" Lawler's true intentions. Plus, we debut two new rival segments - Under A Rock and Under *The* Rock. Dougie's back, alright!

Vlogger enthusiast Mario Grilli makes his debut podcast appearance and brings the guys their biggest challenge yet - a 350 movie queue! In this mind-bending episode, Alex and Matty explore a symbiotic relationship, ultimately rising from the ashes to discover a Razzie Award-winning film the whole family can enjoy. Plus: Paul Rudd's mustache gets even thicker!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Wackness" (2008), "Mr. Nobody" (2009), "Mute" (2018)

Amid a menagerie of stars, Jessica Martins straps on her name tag and glides into the studio with kazoos, foley, and Charo! Later, Matty dons a fake pink mustache and Alex joins the "Carma" police. Happy holidays! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Pee-wee's Playhouse: Christmas Special" (1988), "Can't Buy Me Love" (1988), "The Sex Changes That Made History" (2015)

Not even Adam Levine and his jet ski penguins can stop Chris Cannavo from making his highly-anticipated CTQ debut. In this Ghibli-esque episode, Chris introduces the guys to Terrestrial Sci-Fi, Hyper-realism, and Godzilla's reproductive system. PLUS: We got worms!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Tremors 5: Bloodlines" (2015), "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007), "The Jungle Book" (2016)

In the inaugural episode of "Clearing the 'Lu," aspiring children's author Amanda Carney provides a scathing rebuttal to her husband's previous appearance on CTQ (Varun & Mike Ep 51). Then, as Amanda begins her ultimate fighter training to survive the zombie apocalypse, Matty accepts that he'll probably be the first to meet his demise. Will Alex be dubbed the Lord of the Fries? Grab your randomly assigned crossbow, cooking pot lid and binoculars find out! PLUS: we look up "Popkin" on urban dictionary, and the result is super gross.  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Battle Royale" (2000), "True Romance" (1993), "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" (2006)

Alert the amphibious squadron: Zach Sherwin is coming out of retirement for one last job! In this vaguely medicinal 2nd anniversary episode, Matty learns whether he's a moderator or an abstainer, while Alex ponder the question "What is a comedy?" Now grab some Milk of Magnesia and get comfortable - it's gonna be a wild ride.  PLUS: The Return of the Hard Sell: SKATWOT! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (2004), "She's Gotta Have It" (1986), "The Loving Story" (2011)

Knock Knock! Who's there? The relentlessly charming Ewen and Amrit, hosts of Blond Tips Podcast! The advice experts help Alex and Matty figure out what to do with all their old DVDs, what the statute of limitations on spoilers is, and whether it's ok to continue with the wildly popular American Beauty Bag segment. It's a real Texas Chainstitch Massacre of an episode!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Brother's Keeper" (1992), "Freakonomics" (2010), "Into the Abyss" (2011)

Live from New York...it's Omolara Heywot-Kumasi! The artist formerly known as Tiberon comes equipped with his own entrance music, his own bag of questions, and his own opinions on Thomas Jane's portrayal of The Punisher.  Alex and Matty can do nothing but sit back and relax, passing snacks between each other on a lazy Susan whilst watching their favorite Barack-Obama-romantic-comedy.  PLUS: What would it take for us to actually see Sharknado?  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead" (2007), "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017), "Chasing Coral" (2017)

Get ready for an LA story featuring New Jersey's own Angela Giacchetti! The gang ponders the ethics of the American Beauty bag, admires Paul Rudd's ageless face, and propose another Netflix innovation: the "Queue Import" feature. Then, while Alex piles an impossibly tall stack of tables and chairs, Matty quietly admits that he cried during Lemonade. In the end, we learn that even celebrities have to put on their meat suits one leg at a time.  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Gaga: Five Foot Two" (2017), "The Little Prince" (2015), "The Boss Baby" (2017)

Question: What would it take for CTQ to dedicate an entire episode to the unsung 2015 Chris Rock film "Top Five?" Answer: A chance to dissect the movie with Alex's dad, Certified Public Accountant Bill Popkin, who just so happens to be Top Five's certified number one fan. Come for the father/son bonding and bar-mitzvah memories, stay for Bill's list of his favorite rappers.

Hoo-Hah! After a long hiatus, the guys discuss their homework assignments. Matty gets harpooned by the second-half of Jaws, does his best to practice the "Sheryl Crow Theory of Pop Culture," and finally finds a bio-pic that delivers, while Alex actively recruits for the Walton Goggins fan club and is too distracted by the "Scent of a Woman" orchestral score to appreciate an Oscar-winning performance. (Hoo-hah!) In the end CTQ agrees: you will be moved by "Brigsby Bear." (hoo-hah!)

Pack your bags, it's time to head home for the holidays! Matty and Alex give each other recommendations for which movies to watch while doing puzzles, which to enjoy during earthquakes, which to wait until they can see together, and which to remove from their queues without viewing at all. Along the way, they coin the phrase "Sub-optimus Prime" and decide that Daniel Day-Lewis should really be called "Michael."  PLUS: in the cage match between Alex's Curb Your Enthusiasm mixtape and Matty's Bojack Horseman mixtape, who will emerge victorious? 

We are definitely on a break! Thanksgiving break, that is. CTQ welcomes back Chris "don't call me Chris Ly" Li and first time guest Andrea "my last name was Falk before I married Alex" Popkin for this special episode. The gang sifts through all 10 Friendsgiving episodes in search of the Spirit of Thanksgiving, but will they find it before Matty's "P.C. Police" show up to ruin the fun? Tune in to find out!  PLUS: The Return of the Dirty Paintbrush

It's a family affair when Alex's cousin Sarah shows up to teach him about Italian vowel pronunciation and journalistic integrity. The gang then debates the morality of Netflix's new "Skip Intro" button over a piping hot cup of sad chicken soup for the soul. Later, Matty ponders the utility of human toes. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Finders Keepers" (2015), "Nobody Speak" (2017), "World's Greatest Dad" (2009)

In this special Halloween episode, we tackle the ultimate "trick or treat" - Nicolas Cage movies. Fan favorite Dan Riley returns to help us figure out which recent Cage film to watch, using the patented CTQ Caginess Quotient. Will we end up with a peanut butter cup, or a razor blade filled apple? Tune in to find out! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Outcast" (2014), "Next" (2007), "Stolen" (2012)

Grab a baseball bat and have a seat on the regal toilet, it's time for CTQ: The Queuelywed Game! Old friends Varun Sriram and Mike Hill bring their lionlike ferocity onto the show, where Alex warns them, "Don't be a menace to this ratings system while drinking your whiskey in our studio." Later, Varun consoles Matty that while we couldn't get a female president, we WILL get a female "Junior."  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" (1996), "Super High Me" (2008), "Mac and Devin Go To High School" (2012)

Susan-Kate Heaney returns for CTQ #50 Live - our most whimsical episode yet! Past guests Aaron McLane, Bryan Burgan, Casey Newlin, Chris Ly, Jensen Abler, and Oliver Taylor each take turns giving SK the "hard sell" on which movie she HAS TO watch. After some painful deliberation, questionable interference from Alex & Matty, and a shocking confession, Susan-Kate picks a film that the whole gang views together at the brand new Ingenuity Studios. Grab a Midori sour and join us on our journey! QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Innerspace" (1987), "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" (2010), "Paris Is Burning" (1990), "Heavyweights" (1995), "Chasing Coral" (1997), "The Trip'" (2010), "Amelie" (2001)

Live from Queens, it's multi-hyphenate Evan Bass! Evan teaches the guys how to circumvent child labor laws, while Matty wrestles with the truth about Hello Kitty. Later, Alex finally answers the age-old question: What is the champagne of comics?  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Death Note" (2017), "For The Love Of Spock" (2016), "The Beaver" (2011)

It was foolish to think Dane Diliegro could be contained to one single episode of Clearing The Queue. In this bonus ep, Alex referees a basketball game between Dane and Matty, and then the three of them cast a hypothetical Clearing The Queue biopic.  PLUS: Matt's 3-year-old niece tells us what SHE thought of Moana! 

It's time to step into the pants machine with aspiring roller coaster tycoon Dane DiLiegro (who may in fact be two mischievous kids in a trench coat). While Dane attempts to teach the guys how to run a staggered screen, Matty reveals the true meaning of the word hubris. PLUS: Alex tells a little wet lie. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Moana" (2016), "Rounders" (1998), "The Astronaut Farmer" (2006)

It's a young adult snuggle fest with Casey Newlin and Jon Ching! Alex explores the differences between dystopian and utopian futuristic societies, while Matt is careful not to look a gift horse in the mouth (especially if the horse's name is Keanu). Then, Clearing the Queue makes its first foray into ranked voting, and the results may shock you! PLUS: The unauthorized origin story of our 44th President.  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Giver" (2014), "Iris" (2015), "The Incredible Jessica James" (2017), "Fruitvale Station" (2013), "Whale Rider" (2002), "Bowie: The Man Who Changed The World" (2016)

What's up queueties! Our guest this week is: TECHNOLOGY. Alex and Matty use the power of the internet to video-chat with their old friend Oliver, who shakes them to their core with his provocative questions. Then they make a spontaneous call to the "World's Biggest Tom Hanks Fans" Donna and Bill Popkin (Alex's parents). PLUS: the first t-shirt winner is announced! Submit your iTunes review now for a chance at your very own Clearing The Queue t-shirt. 

It's Alex and Matty like you've never seen them before! On a scorching summer day in LA, the guys take a field trip to their local 7-Eleven to raid the bargain DVD shelf. Will they be able to record an entire episode inside the store before being kicked out for loitering? Tune in to find out!  QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Nebraska" (2013), "Due Date" (2010), "The Internship" (2013)

In their most self-indulgent episode yet, the guys set out in search of the perfect wave with their friend Sammi. Along the way they discover Finchstagrams, invent the "dirty paintbrush," debate the best time to take a bathroom break during Memento, and greenlight Matt's new body swap movie. They deeper they go, the weirder the episode gets.    QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004), "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), "The Sixth Sense" (1999)

Retired actor Justin Owades joins us in the studio after a highly successful letter-writing campaign. We take a behind-the-scenes look at the Netflix call center, learn how many villains you can cram into one movie, and then spend way too much time discussing the Air Bud cinematic universe. PLUS: Our hero makes the ultimate sacrifice (and then turns out to be totally fine). QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Minions" (2005), "Wet Hot American Summer" (2001), "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987) Minionese subtitles now available.

Bartender extraordinaire Eli Shapiro kicks off this episode by taking a Scrooge McDuck dive into a bed full of Hanukkah gelt and chocolate-covered matzo. Once he's clean, the guys help Eli create a Queue from scratch, while also solving the classic "Armageddon vs. Deep Impact" debate once and for all. PLUS: Alex eats a glutton bowl and Matty defends Vanessa Carlton's honor. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Hot Fuzz" (2007), "Yoga Hosers" (2016), "Gantz: O" (2016)

Episode 41: Love Songs on the Queue. Gentleman of Leisure Chris Li lends his silky smooth voice to CTQ in what begins as a loving episode. However, much like the Airheads mystery flavor, things take a twist and we end up deep in the bowels of Stephen King's twisted mind, where only Kevin McCallister with a crossbow can save us. PLUS: Give us a 5 star rating on iTunes and earn the chance to win a free CTQ t-shirt! LIST: "Hush" (2016), "The Disappointments Room" (2016), "Stranger By The Lake" (2013)

In the third millennium Clearing The Queue changed. The 5 Star Rating, American Beauty Bag, all were in upheaval...The podcast transformed into a poisonous scorched desert known as "The Cursed Podcast." From the decay rose a new guest, with the power to dispense both justice and interesting movie anecdotes. He was judge, jury, and executioner all in one. He was: Matt Luck. QUEUE CONTENDERS: "Judge Dredd" (1995), "Armageddon" (1998), "Batteries Not Included" (1987)

It's a family affair, as Matt's brother Dan brings his filtered reality to the first post-truth episode of CTQ. The guys try to get to the bottom of the Pizza Hut/Pizza Hat mystery, but then Dan yells "pivot!" and starts reciting digits of pi. Eventually they choose a "critically acclaimed" movie Alex missed because he was busy listening to Mambo No. 5 QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), "Paradox" (2016), "Creep" (2014)

Clearing the Queue celebrates their one year anniversary with the help of guest hosts Chris and Rachel - The Nerd Lys! Alex is put in the hot seat and forced to explain why there are so many goddamn Nicholas Cage movies in his queue, while Matty attempts to keep himself busy pitching imaginary Outkast films and making farcical top 5 lists. Then the gang gives a Netflix star rating for the last time ever...but why? QUEUE CONTENDERS: "The Iron Giant" (1999), "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992), "Demolition Man" (1993)