Hell Is A Musical

Les Miserables is a film adaptation of the period musical of the same name. Released in 2012, it followed the exploits of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict going to great lengths to find personal redemption at the height of the French Revolution. The film version, directed by Tom Hooper, sought to emulate the epic scope of the stage musical, and featured grandiloquent and verbose set pieces and crowded chorus numbers, with an ensemble cast led by Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and numerous others. The film was a major box office hit, won many Academy Awards (Including a noteworthy Supporting Actress win for Hathaway), and set a new standard for movie musicals featuring live performances by the actors as opposed to backing tracks...in spite of largely receiving middling reviews upon its release.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back Maggie Noel (Friend of the pod and late of the Rock Candy podcast) to help them through a viewing of Les Miserables. Join them as they slog their way through an obscene amount of extreme close-ups, marvel at just how British 19th century France is in the action, and make a lot of the same jokes everyone's already made about Russell Crowe's singing voice.(It's not good.)...with Lilz and Scott!

Better Man is a 2024 musical biopic depicting the life of English singer-songwriter and former Take That member Robbie Williams. It was written, directed, and produced by Michael Gracey (On the heels of his success with noted piece of treacly crap The Greatest Showman), and features the central conceit of replacing the film version of Robbie with that of an anthromorphic CGI chimpanzee. Robbie Williams himself stars as the narrator and singing voice of the film version of Williams, portrayed via motion capture and acted by stage actor Jonno Davies. Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, and Damon Herriman also star, and the soundtrack features a collection of Robbie Williams hits set to theatrical set pieces.On a new (Wait, really?!) episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in a viewing of Better Man, and literally record the episode immediately after the screening from a car in the parking lot of a Showcase Cinemas. Join them as they cast a hypothetical Pearl Jam biopic, enjoy a delicious meal of spaghetti flingers and NASCAR fries, are thoroughly bewildered by the sight of a giant ape-man doing cocaine and other ilicit deeds....with Lilz and Scott!

Yentl is a 1983 film directed and starring screen actor and Broadway mainstay Barbra Streisand. Based on the Isaac Bashevis Singer short story Yentl The Yashiva Boy, Yentl the film follows the story of an Ashkenazi Jewish woman in Poland in 1904 who decides to disguise herself as a man so that she can receive an education in Talmudic law. Various misunderstandings follow as the titular Yentl attempts to keep her ruse afloat, and gets wrapped up in romances both unrequited and reluctant. The film also featured a supporting cast of Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving, Nehemiah Persoff, and Miriam Margolyes, among various others.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in a viewing of Yentl with all-star guest David Allen Prescott, who is incredibly upset to both find a Barbra film that doesn't hold up, and never fully embraces its own latent queerness. Join them as Scott gives the behind-the-scenes scoop on just how much Barbra Streisand whiffed the subject matter, Lilz puts her foot down against the music of Stevland Hardaway Morris, and David debuts a raunchy and unwelcome new personae....with Lilz and Scott!

Hearts Beat Loud is an independent comedy-drama starring Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Toni Collette, Ted Danson, and others released in 2018 across limited screenings. It followed Offerman as the owner of a failing record store, who hits upon minor viral success when he records a jam session with his daughter, a singer just about to attend medical school, and ends up in several major Spotify playlists. The film was directed by Brett Haley with a soundtrack by Keegan DeWitt of Wild Club, and touched upon themes of loss, familial expectations, and old age, resonating heavily with critics, who lauded the film as one of the best of the year.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back Rock Candy's Maggie Noel to the program, as they put on their persnickety Brooklyn hipster hats to review Hearts Beat Loud, and its' Postal Service-esque indie pop soundtrack. Join them as the three annoy Scott with another unwelcome recurring bit, pay proper homage to Mitski (Seriously, she rules), find paralells between dance sequences and guitar pedal noodling, and find it generally hard to make jokes during the episodes where the movies are really genuinely good....with Lilz and Scott!

Earth Girls Are Easy is a 1988 science fiction comedy film directed by famed music video director Julien Temple, and written by comedian/singer Julie Brown. Based off of a song previously released by Brown, the action follows a trio of space aliens landing upon Earth, and finding themselves under the care of a lovelorn manicurist in California. The film follows the group's efforts to blend in with the rest of humanity and eventually fix their crashed spaceship. It featured acting roles from Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Charles Rocket, Michael McKean, Julie Brown herself, and early performances from Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans, while also featuring music by legendary disco musician Nile Rodgers. Though not a major commercial success, the film has developed a devoted cult following over the years.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back all-star guest Ashley Rogers to the program for a screening of Earth Girls Are Easy. (Which we're only kinda sure counts as a musical in the first place?) Join them as Scott expounds upon the film's connection of golden age movie musicals, Ashley draws paralells between the film and the works of Bertol Brecht, and Lilz is thoroughly confused by whatever Angelyne's whole deal was....with Lilz and Scott!

Gigi is a 1958 movie musical based on a 1944 French novella, directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring a screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner. The film starred Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, and Maurice Chevalier, and followed the story of a bored French playboy Gaston attempting to reignite a spark in his life, and finding it in a young friend of the family, the titular Gigi. (Who appears in much less of the film than Gaston does.) The film was a major Academy Award winner in 1958, setting a record for sweeping 9 different Oscars, (A record that would be unbroken until 2003 when Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King won 11.) and though Gigi is well-regarded by cinema historians, it has since developed a sour reputation for its themes of grooming and power imbalance.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are in way over their heads watching Gigi with return guest Patrick S. Barry. Join the trio as they are thoroughly skeeved out by themes and attitudes that have aged like milk, and are equally amused and disgusted by the antics of Maurice Chevalier, the most French human being to have ever walked this Earth....with Lilz and Scott!

Anna & The Apocalypse is a hybrid Christmas/zombie/musical/comedy film released in 2017, directed by John McPhail, and the final screenplay posthumously released by Ryan McHenry. Set in a small town in Scotland, it follows several impending graduating students who find themselves embroiled in an unfolding zombie apocalypse on the cusp of Christmas break. The titular Anna finds herself at an emotional crossroads in her life as the events of zombie infestation unfurl around her and her friends. Heavily featuring themes of emotional growth and smalltown languishing, the film starred Ella Hunt in the titular role, as well as Mark Benton, Paul Kaye, Marli Siu, and various others, with a soundtrack provided by Scottish songwriters Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome HIAM all-star Christopher Brown back to the guest chair as they discuss zombie tropes, UK confections, and Lilz misses her goddamn cue on a recurring bit. (She had one freaking job.)...with Lilz and Scott!

The Phantom Of The Opera is a 2004 movie musical, one of of innumerable amounts based upon the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston LeRoux, and based specifically upon Andrew Lloyd Webber's famed musical production surrounding a tortured and disfigured artist's reign of terror upon an opera house. This film version was directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, and Minnie Driver. The film was not a major commercial success nor was it well-received critically, but has gone on to develop a cult following of it's own, especially among fans of Webber's musical.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, many years after having reviewed the sequel, Lilz and Scott finally take the time to review an actual adaptation of Phantom Of The Opera, with special return guest Susan Kim along for the ride! Join them as they're thoroughly creeped out by the age difference between Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, dazzled by the sheer number of horses that get stolen throughout the precedings, and astonished once again by the ever increasing depths and lengths of the Rootbeerm'n's ego....with Lilz and Scott!

A Goofy Movie is a 1995 comedy-musical from Disney Animation, based heavily on the Disney Afternoon cartoon Goof Troop, which relocated the iconic Mickey Mouse character Goofy to the suburbs to raise his single child Max. A Goofy Movie follows a misguided attempt at father-son bonding over a cross-country fishing trip, the antics which ensue, and the gradual repair of their relationship. The movie featured the voices of Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, and Kellie Martin, and featured music written by Tevin Campbell, and while only a moderate hit upon its release, the film developed a strong cult following over the years, and is now a beloved piece of ephemera among Disney fans.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome the return of Kendra Beltran of Crushgasm for a viewing of A Goofy Movie. Join them for a deep-digging discussion on the logistics of a high school assembly, the disturbingly Tarantino-esque levels of foot shots, Pete's tyrannical grip upon the town of Spoonerville, and...SIGH...Pauly Shore......with Lilz and Scott!

Cats is a 2019 film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the infamous rootbeerm'n. The musical itself is based upon a 1939 collection of poetry by T.S. Eliot called Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats. The film version was directed by Tom Hooper (His second musical feature following a controversial adaptation of Les Misérables) and featured an ensemble cast of Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, and more. The film was universally reviled by critics upon its release, with specific critique directed at the abberant CGI work, and became a box office bomb, unable to recoup its $100 million budget.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott witness the unbridled horror that is Cats, with Jon Reilly of the Life's But A Song podcast along for the journey. Join them through a twisted journey through the depths of human depravity and insanity. A journey filled with death cults, feline-human hybrid orgies, Taylor Swift and Jason DeRulo not doing much of anything, fictional butthole cuts, and Lilz' bottomless disdain for James Corden doing fat guy schtick....with Lilz and Scott!

Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic drama musical directed by Baz Luhrmann, or as he's best known in Zero Science circles; "Bag Lunchman". The film followed the story of a young British poet, and his doomed romance with a burlesque dancer and courtesan in Paris during the 1900s. It was noteworthy for its usage of contemporary popular music in contrast to the turn-of-the-century setting, (An early example of a jukebox musical) its manic and off-the-rails style of editing, and for the intense detail paid to visual aesthetics, marking it as a piece of post-modernist cinema in the eyes of some critics. It starred Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh, and was a major box office hit, catapulting Lurhmann/Lunchman into mainstream success.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in a viewing of Moulin Rouge! with special guest Hayleigh Kurland (Scott's Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife!), and attempt to make sense of the technicolor mishmash they see before them. Join us as Scott regails the listener with stories of adjacent high school dance cringe, Hayleigh posits on Nicole Kidman's boundless happiness with divorce, and Lilz slowly loses her goddamn mind as she is dragged deeper and deeper into Bag Lunchman's jukebox musical armageddon....with Lilz and Scott!

Annie is a 1982 film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was based upon the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It was directed by John Huston (Previously of The Maltese Falcon, The Man Who Would Be King, and The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre?!) and starred Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and child actress Aileen Quinn as the titular Annie. The story followed an orphan's adventures being adopted by an eccentric billionaire, and her own journey to find her real parents. Though it was released to mixed reviews it was a box office hit and was even nominated for multiple Academy Awards.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are rejoined by Malorie Savran to discuss their respective experiences watching the titular musical Annie. Join them for frank discussions on tearjerkers, Tim Curry's Christopher Walken impression, talk of wealthy privilege, and the eternal horniness of Carol Burnett's character....with Lilz and Scott!

The Commitments is is a 1991 musical comedy-drama based on the story of the same name by Irish novelist Roddy Doyle. In it a collection of working-class youths in Northern Dublin come together to form a soul band amidst crippling poverty and miserable living conditions, and quickly experience the trials and tribulations of being a local band as tensions rise and egos develop. The film was directed by Alan Parker and featured acting performances by a vareity of Irish actors and musicians with little acting experience, including Robert Arkins, Glen Hansard, Angeline Ball, Colm Meaney, Bronagh Gallagher, and many more. Though the film was not a major hit in North America, it received rave reviews and would go on to be a cult favorite among audiences.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are graced with the return of longtime favorite Christopher Brown, still feeling bitter from the trio's previous excursion into the filmography of Alan Parker. Join them as they take in The Commitments and Scott develops theories of an extended Glen Hansard-iverse, Lilz feels like the local music side of things cuts a little too close for her comfort, and CB helps herald the return of a beloved recurring segment....with Lilz and Scott!

That Thing You Do! is a 1996 comedy film written, directed, and co-starring Tom Hanks, detailing the rise and fall of a one-hit wonder pop act from the 1960s. The cast featured Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, and Steve Zahn among others, and included a soundtrack written largely by Hanks himself, with contributions from Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne, and other professional songwriters. The film performed modestly at the box office while receiving rave reviews from critics, and has since gone on to be a cult classic film.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by Al Gentile for a viewing of That Thing You Do!. Join them as Al discusses the intricacies of caramel camels, Lilz relives some troubling local music memories, and Scott idolizes Steve Zahn's character....with Lilz and Scott!

Josie & The Pussycats is a musical comedy film released in 2001, based on the Archie Comics series and Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name. The film starred Rachael Leigh-Cook, Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid, Alan Cumming, and Parker Posey, and was directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. The film followed the adventures of the eponymous band as they attempt to achieve and eventually navigate stardom, while a conspiracy involving subliminal messaging lurks in the backdrop. The film featured a soundtrack of original rock songs written by professional songwriters like Adam Schlesinger, Adam Duritz, and Anna Waronker, among others, and featured a vocal performance by Kay Hanley of the power pop band Letters To Cleo. Though not a hit upon its release, it has since gone on to become a cult favorite for its sharp satire of commercialism.On an all new Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by Kendra Beltran, writer for Collider, MTV Geek, and Cartoon Brew, as well as the host of the podcast Crushgasm. The three of them take in a screening of Josie & The Pussycats, debate the secret genius behind the film, shower praise upon MVP Alan Cumming, and REALLY work on their pronunciation....with Lilz and Scott!

Cyrano is a 2021 musical drama based on a musical theater adaptation of the Edmond Rostand play Cyrano De Bergerac. The film version was directed by Joe Wright, and featured Peter Dinklage in the title role, with Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Mendelsohn. Beyond being a musical version of the play (Featuring songs written by members of indie rock group The National) what set this adaptation apart was its incorporation of Dinklage's own dwarfism into the title character. (Where previous adaptations depicted him simply as having a large nose.)On an all new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by return guest Susan Kim for a viewing of Cyrano. Join them as Susan discusses key differences between the musical and the original Rostand play, Scott pitches an extended cinematic universe, and Lilz educates everyone on the proper plural form of Billy Corgan....with Lilz and Scott!

Matilda the Musical was a movie musical adaptation of the musical of the same name, which itself was a musical adaptation of children's book author Roald Dahl's famous story. It featured a cast of Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Emma Thompson, and like the original musical it was adapted from featured a soundtrack of songs by British-Australian comedian Tim Minchin. It followed a story similar to the original novel, following the adventures of the titular Matilda, a girl much smarter than her peers, as she attempts to navigate the English school system and her uncaring parents.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott herald the return of all-star David Allen Prescott to the podcast to talk about their viewing of Matilda the Musical. Join them as they discuss a variety of topics pertinent to the film such as the soft drink Irn Bru, Peter Gabriel, hot air balloons, and Lilz keeps making an XTC reference that nobody else gets....with Lilz and Scott!

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a musical fantasy/Christmas film directed by David E. Talbert, and released to Netflix in 2020. It featured a cast of Forest Whitaker, Keegan Michael-Key, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Ricky Martin, and introducing child acress Madalen Mills. Originally planned as a stage production, it followed the adventures of a disgraced toymaker and his granddaughter's efforts to restore his former glory. The film was a major critical success, and with many offering praise for its uplifting storyline and jubilant soundtrack.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott close out 2022 with a screening of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Join them as they marvel at the curious costume design, castigate a sheer lack of Ricky Martin songs, and ponder the unfettered G-rated horniness of Lisa Davina Phillip's character....with Lilz and Scott!

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story was a 2007 musical comedy directed by Jake Kasdan, and produced by Judd Apatow, featuring John C. Reilly in his first ever starring role, along with Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Kristin Wiig, Margo Martindale, Raymond J. Barry, and a slew of cameos. The film was an early parody of the musician biopic, following the trials and tribulations of Dewey Cox, a fictional performer who in universe has served as an unsung inspiration for years and years of rock and roll history. It depicts the life of Cox, his successes and failures, and his (Fictional) interactions with famed real world musicians like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and others. Though the film was a box office bomb, it received praise from critics, and would go on to become a cult classic.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are rejoined by recurring guest Christopher Brown to watch one of Lilz' favorite films of all time for her 35th year on Earth. Join them for a screening of Walk Hard, and frank discussions about Johnny Tsunami, Neil Young impressions, and the grand return of the pod's award-winning, critically acclaimed segment Scott's Stories!...with Lilz & Scott!

Grease 2 was a 1982 musical romantic comedy, directed by Patricia Birch and starring Maxwell Caulfield, Michelle Pfeiffer, Adrian Zmed, and various others. It posited itself as a sequel to the hit 1978 film Grease, which itself was based on a 1971 musical of the same name. This new film followed a new cast (With a few scattered returning roles) and featured a setting taking two years after the original Grease's timeline. (Moving the action from 1959 to 1961.) Though the film maintains a modern cult following, and would prove to be a breakout film for Pfeiffer, Zmed, and actor Christopher MacDonald, it received negative reviews upon release and performed tepidly at the box office.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott sit down with return guest David Allen Prescott for a screening of Grease 2. Join the three of them for a journey full of 1950s nostalgia, poorly-timed sequelitis, boring lead protagonists, and enough Eddie Deezen to shake a stick at....with Lilz and Scott!

Sing 2 is a 2021 animated jukebox musical comedy from animation studio Illumination. It was directed by Garth Jennings, and featuring an ensemble cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Bono, and various others. A sequel to the original 2016 film Sing, the plot (Such as it was) featured a cast of anthromorphic animal characters attempting to put together a show in the fictional entertainment capital of the world, Redshore City. The film itself released to mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success, which would go on to become the highest grossing animated film of 2021.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome the return of past guest Patrick S. Barry for a screening of Sing 2, while once again neglecting to view the original. Join them for a general sense of confusion and dread over the anthomorph-inhabited world Illumination created, wonder and befuddlement over Bono's barely present American accent, and for Scott to become thoroughly broken over the course of the movie....with Lilz and Scott!

Rock Of Ages was a 2012 film adaptation of the broadway musical of the same name, directed by Adam Shankman, and starring Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta alongside an ensemble cast including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and many more. The film, which takes place in Los Angeles during the late 1980s, follows the romantic journeys of two fresh-faced young individuals trying to make it big in rock & roll, while the inevitable closure of an institution rock club looms overhead. Upon its release, the Rock Of Ages would be snubbed by critics who considered it bland and unappealing, disowned by the creators of the original broadway musical, and bombed at the box office.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back return guests Rock Candy to discuss everything that they enjoyed about Rock Of Ages. (Spoiler: Nothing.) Join them for a thorough thrashing of this paen to 80s glam metal, as Lilz invokes the spirit of Aaron Neville, Scott licks Ewan MacGregor, and Ashleigh and Maggie still love Wings....with Lilz and Scott!

Xanadu is a musical fantasy film directed by Robert Greenwald, starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck. Containing a soundtrack heavily featuring the music of the band Electric Light Orchestra, Xanadu followed the story of a struggling artist in Los Angeles, who suddenly finds himself in the company of a mysterious woman, who encourages him to open a nightclub alongside a former big band orchestra leader, and mysterious circumstances abound. Though the film was a failure commercially and critically, and even helped inspire the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards, the film would develop a strong cult following, even inspiring a Broadway show based on the film, and several songs from the movie would become Billboard top 40 hit singles.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, with the recent passing of Olivia Newton-John fresh in their heads, Lilz and Scott sit themselves down for an impromptu screening of Xanadu. Join them as Scott flubs Michael Beck's name, Lilz eats delicious chicken wings, and both of them do egregiously bad Australian accents.Seriously.The worst....with Lilz & Scott!

The Music Man is a 1962 musical adaptation of the Meredith Wilson musical of the same name. Taking place in the early 1910s of America, it follows the national con man Harold Hill, as he slowly develops a plot to swindle the town of River City, Iowa (Based on Wilson's own hometown of Mason City) out of its money via the creation of a boys' marching band. The film version starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford, and Hermione Gingold, and has gone down as one of the greatest musical films of all time according to critics and historians.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott tackle the verbose Meredith Wilson musical head on, with a screening of The Music Man. Join them as they question the veracity of Harold Hill's conning abilities, the general sanity of River City itself, and the appropriateness of the virile, sexual stallion that is Buddy Hackett....with Lilz & Scott!

Bo Burnham: Inside is a 2021 Netflix special by standup/musical comedian Bo Burnham. Filmed over the course of a single year during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the special contained several short vignettes, songs, and segments filmed and performed entirely by Burnham himself. Though advertised as a comedy special, Inside was more of an experimental character study sprinkled with elements of satire, as it depicted Burnham's slowly deteriorating mental health, and gradual sink into deep depression over the course of filming. Upon its release it received rave reviews from critics and fans, heralding it as an artistic breakthrough for Burnham, and Inside would go on to win numerous awards, including a Peabody award in 2022.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by return guest Christopher Brown for a screening of Bo Burnham: Inside. Join them as they find the heart and humor in synth-pop songs about self-loathing, alienation, and contemplation of self-harm, as well as a brand new segment that Scott thoroughly loathes right out the gate. (Ding!)..with Lilz and Scott!CW: Discussion of Suicide

Hedwig & The Angry Inch began as a 1998 off-Broadway stage show, before being adapted to film in 2001, directed by and starring John Cameron Mitchell, who also wrote and starred in the original play. The movie follows Hansel Schmidt, a gay youth in communist East Germany, who escapes with a lover by undergoing a botched sex change operation, only to be abandoned upon reaching America, and turning to rock music as an outlet. The film featured a soundtrack heavily influenced by glam-punk acts like The Stooges, The New York Dolls, and more, and tackled themes of queer identity, rock culture as applied to theater, and of the philosophical concept of the divided self. While not a hit at the time, Hedwig went on to be a cult classic, and would inspire a Broadway revival of the stage version years later.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome Ashley Rogers back to the pod to dig into Hedwig & The Angry Inch. Join them for frank discussions on dualism, queer identity, and unhinged impressions of Bobcat Goldthwait....with Lilz and Scott!

Into The Woods is a 2014 musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. An adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim broadway musical, the film was directed by Rob Marshall, and takes place in a world drawn from the fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers, but with a more consequential twist. It featured an ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, and Johnny Depp among many others.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome special guest Byron McNeal to review Into The Woods, a well-received and commercially successful film, but one that's often been criticized for watering down Sondheim's original story. Join them as Scott faces the bane of his existence via one of the musical's famed songs, Byron relays his own stories of performing in adaptations of the stage show, and Lilz straight up goes to Hell....with Lilz and Scott!

Across The Universe was a 2007 romantic drama/jukebox musical film directed by Julie Taymor, and featured starring roles from Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, and Joe Anderson, with cameo appearances from Bono, Salma Hayek, Eddie Izzard, and Joe Cocker, among others. The movie follows a loose plot involving romance blossoming during the height of protests against the war in Vietnam, set against a musical backdrop of Beatles songs. Critics were unimpressed by Across The Universe's razor-thin plot, but offered heavy praise to its visual sequences and performances, and it would become a major commercial success.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome Malorie Savran to the podcast to attempt to make sense of Across The Universe. Join them through numerous psychedelic wonderlands of questionable point, extremely unsubtle Fab Four references shoehorned into an already unimpressive story, and watch Lilz get really REALLY sick of Beatles tributes....with Lilz and Scott!

Yesterday was a 2019 musical romantic comedy film, directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later) and written by Richard Curtis. (Love Actually, Four Weddings And A Funeral, Bridget Jones' Diary) The film stars Himesh Patel as a struggling musician who suddenly finds himself in a world where famed English pop group The Beatles never existed, and the subsequent success he finds in plagiarizing the material as his own. It also featured performances from Lily James, Joel Fry, Kate McKinnon, and pop artist Ed Sheeran in a notably self-parodying role. Against a backdrop of covers of Beatles songs, Yesterday was a commercial hit, and a modest critical success.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome Boston musician Jon Sasor onto the program to review Yesterday. Join them as Scott comes to grips with alternate realities, Lilz posits the existence of a Bermuda Triangle of bus accidents, and Jon thoroughly loses his mind in the illogical deluge of the film's setting....with Lilz and Scott!

Bugsy Malone was a 1976 musical gangster film written and directed by Alan Parker, who would later go on to direct acclaimed films like Mississippi Burning, Midnight Express, and The Commitments. Parker presented a setting at the height of the gangland 1920s, following the titular Bugsy Malone, a con man and swindler caught up in a war between two rival gangs. The twist of the film however, came from a cast consisting entirely of young children; it featured a young Scott Baio and Jodie Foster in starring roles, and a soundtrack written and performed by Paul Williams. (Who oddly overdubbed the singing voice of most of the male characters.) The film was a baffling critical success, especially in the UK, where it is a beloved piece of cinema that won multiple BAFTA awards.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back previous guest Christopher Brown to dissect Bugsy Malone, a thoroughly perplexing piece of film that has plagued Scott for over 30 years. Join them as they give Alan Parker the business for some thoroughly creepy behavior, remain confused over the usage of guns that shoot pies instead of bullets, and come up with a brand new can't-fail pilot project....with Lilz and Scott!

Phantom Of The Paradise was a 1974 rock musical/horror comedy, one of the earliest cinematic works of Brian De Palma. It featured a story loosely adapted from European works of literature such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, Faust, and most notably The Phantom Of The Opera, more than a decade before Andrew Lloyd Webber would get his hands on the property. The story of music industry excess and revenge featured a cast of William Finley, Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham, and Paul Williams, who also composed and performed the majority of the soundtrack. Though the film was considered a critical and commercial flop upon release, it would develop a strong cult following, and has been re-evaluated in the ensuing years as an underrated camp gem.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back return guest Jenna Sokalski for a viewing of Phantom Of The Paradise, a film that Jenna considered to be formative to her cinematic tastes. Join the trio for a wild and confusing romp of a musical, dripping with sweat and cocaine, featuring himbo punk rockers, metal teeth, and the raw, unfettered, bestial sexual energy of Paul Williams....with Lilz & Scott!

The Muppet Christmas Carol was a 1992 musical Christmas film produced by the Jim Henson Workshop, the directorial debut of Brian Henson, and the 4th overall Muppet franchise film; the first since the deaths of creator Jim Henson and principal player Richard Hunt. The film sought to re-tell the classic Charles Dickens story with a cast of Muppets characters standing in for characters from the original, as well as an appearance by human actor Michael Caine as the main character Ebenezer Scrooge. The film was a modest success critically and financially upon release, but it has gone down in history among cult audiences as a particularly strong adaptation of the Dickens story, as well as a new classic of Christmas cinema.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by their partners Susan Kim (Returning from the Love Never Dies episode) and Hayleigh Kurland for a special holiday edition of the program. Join them for a nostalgic viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol, as Scott reminisces about the worst movie-goer he's ever seen, Susan and Hayleigh gush over the detail in the costume design, and Lilz makes a lot of 90s references....with Lilz & Scott!

Tick, Tick...Boom! was a 2021 musical drama which depicted the life of composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson. It marked the directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and is adapted from the stage musical/one-man show of the same name. Starring Andrew Garfield, Robin de Jesús, and Alexandra Shipp, it depicted the trials and tribulations of Larson, fast approaching his 30th birthday, and in the midst of a mid-life crisis as he attempts to prepare for a workshop for his original musical production. The film was released to Netflix to widespread critical acclaim, and multiple award nominations.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott give Tick, Tick...Boom! a watch, and take in the intricate details of a playwright who many believe fundamentally changed the face of theater in his short time on Earth. Join them as Scott reminisces about college theater bureaucracy, and Lilz questions Larson's bonafidese as a writer of "rock" musicals....with Lilz & Scott!

Frank was a 2014 black comedy directed by Lenny Abrahamson, which followed the journey of an aspiring singer-songwriter struggling with his own mediocrity and inability to write good songs, who soon finds himself among a experimental rock band that he hopes to break into America. The film starred Domnhall Gleeson, Maggie Gylenhaal, Scoot McNairy, and Michael Fassbender as the titular character; the eccentric frontman and musical genius of the Soronprfbs, who wears a papier-mache mask over his head at all times.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott dig into Frank, which technically wasn't a musical, but was peppered with original experimental, psychedelic songs, and remains a mutual favorite of the two hosts. Join them as Lilz waxes nostalgic on her experiences as a local musician, Scott rolls his eyes at hipsters, and the two of them marvel at the storied career of Michael Fassbender putting things on his head....with Lilz & Scott!

Singin' In The Rain was a 1952 musical romantic comedy directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Starring Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Jean Hagen, the film follows a lightly satirical take on late 1920s Hollywood, depicting the story of famed silent film actors caught up in the transition to talking pictures. Though only a modest hit upon its release, it's been praised by modern critics as one of the greatest comedic films of all time, and possibly the greatest movie musical ever made.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in the cinematic splendor of Singin' In The Rain, accompanied by actor, voice-over artist, and musical fan Lara Fox. Join them as they pick apart the impossible choreography, the behind-the-scenes drama, and plan for Scott to jump out of a cake....with Lilz & Scott!

Reefer Madness was a 1936 propaganda film intended to be a morality tale to keep children away from drug usage. In it, the film professed to expose a seedy underbelly of marijuana usage, depicting scenes of hallucination, sexual assault, murder, and descent into insanity. Though presenting itself as educational, over the years it gained new life as an unintentional satire for its campy production style and over-the-top acting. In 1998, the film would be adapted into a satirical production of musical theater, marking performances in Los Angeles, Off-Broadway, and St. Louis before being adapted to film by Showtime in 2005.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical Lilz and Scott welcome the delightful duo of Ashleigh and Maggie of music history podcast Rock Candy, to discuss the movie musical adaptation of Reefer Madness. Join them for rousing discussions of Alan Cumming puns, Pizza Hut, 90s sitcom Wings, and a whole lot of Ana Gasteyer being awesome....with Lilz and Scott!

Mamma Mia! was a 2008 movie adaptation of the musical of the same name directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Utilizing the works of Swedish pop group ABBA as a soundtrack, Mamma Mia! tells a comedic story of infidelity and misunderstanding as a young girl invites three men suspected of being her father to come see her on the eve of her wedding night. The film adaptation featured Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård in starring roles, and was a major box office success, albeit one with mixed critical reception.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Scott welcomes back return guest David Allen Prescott to review Mamma Mia!, while Lilz finds herself trapped in an impenetrable prison of negativity and mediocrity. Join Scott and David as they discuss the finer points of jukebox musicals, while Lilz slowly descends into the maw of the abyss....with Lilz and Scott!

Annette was a 2021 musical romantic drama, directed by avant-garde filmmaker Leos Carax, and based off of a script by Ron and Russell Mael of the art-pop duo Sparks. The film follows the lives of two celebrities on differing career trajectories (Portrayed by Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard) whose idyllic lives are upended by the birth of a daughter, (The titular Annette) whom it is discovered has an amazing and other worldly gift. The film also featured performances by Simon Helberg and Devyn McDowell, as well as a soundtrack of orchestral pop, composed and performed by Sparks.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott go guestless to dig into the layers upon confusing layers surrounding Annette. Join them as Scott marvels at the surprising acting chops of a former Big Bang Theory castmate, Lilz coins a terrible new slang word, and a very creepy puppet happens....with Lilz and Scott!

The Greatest Showman was a 2017 musical drama film directed by visual effects artist Michael Gracey in his directing debut. It followed a dramatic re-interpretation of the life of American showman P.T. Barnum, touching upon the creation of his American Museum, and eventually his famous circus. It featured performances by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, and many others in a film that was roundly dismissed by critics for taking too many historical liberties, but was a major box office success.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott deliver exactly what's due to this stirring musical tribute to a man who owned human zoos. Joined by Dwight Stearns of the No Refunds podcast, the trio dive into The Greatest Showman and go on a journey filled with bright colors, CGI animals, and Imagine Dragons-like show numbers....with Lilz and Scott!

Hairspray was a 2007 film adaptation of the romantic, comedic musical of the same name, which itself was adapted from a 1988 comedy from John Waters. The film was directed by Adam Shankman, and followed the story of a young girl in the early 1960s pursuing stardom as a dancer on a local TV show, and rallying against racial segregation. It featured an ensemble cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, and Nikki Blonsky in the starring role, making her film debut, among many many others. The film was a box office success upon release, and garnered critical acclaim among movie critics.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott aren't so sure if they feel the same way. Joined by special guest Jenna Sokalski of the web series Weird Crushes, the three will unpack the 2007 film adaptation of Hairspray and see just how kind time has been to it. Join them as Scott expresses concern for Zac Efron, Jenna pines for a version starring Nicolas Cage, and Lilz brings the mood down a whole lot....with Lilz and Scott!

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga was a 2020 musical comedy film directed by David Dobkin, and written by Will Ferrell and Andrew Steele. The story follows an unlikely Icelandic musical duo, the titular Fire Saga, portrayed by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, who through a technical fluke are admitted entry to the Eurovision Song Contest after every other entry in Iceland simultaneously dies. The movie was intended for release in May 2020 to coincide with the actual Eurovision Song Contest, but was postponed due to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the final film arriving on Netflix in June.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, in what is a pretty obvious case of crossover synergy, Lilz and Scott are joined by Kylie Wilson, host of the Eurovision-covering podcast ESC Pulse. Join the three of them for a screening of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, as they leave biscuits out for the elves, and make absolutely sure to play Ja Ja Ding-Dong....with Lilz and Scott!

Once was a 2007 musical drama directed by John Carney. It featured Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of folk act the Swell Season in starring roles as two struggling musicians recording a record, and tensely working through mounting romantic feelings. Produced by the Irish Film Board on a shoestring budget, it was a considerable commercial and critical success, and received numerous film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song, via the now iconic folk ballad "Falling Slowly".On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott go guestless and celebrate a year of podcasting with a screening of Once, directed by the same filmmaker who did their first episode's film Sing Street. Join them as Scott questions the timeline of events, Lilz relates to the busking life just a little too much, and both engage in truly questionable Irish accents....with Lilz and Scott!

Prom was a 2020 musical film adaptation of the eponymous 2018 Broadway musical. It was directed by Ryan Murphy, and adapted to screen by the play's original authors; Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin, and Matthew Sklar. Partially inspired by real world events, The Prom follows the story of four past-their-prime theatrical performers, who in a fit of desperation for publicity travel to Indiana to inject themselves into a small town's drama over a lesbian student's exclusion from her high school prom. The film received a limited theatrical release at the tail-end of 2020, and eventually landed on Netflix, receiving largely tepid-to-negative reviews.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by playwright Ashley Rogers, also of the Is It Transphobic? podcast. Join them through a viewing of The Prom as Scott woos aging Broadway starlets with the promise of appetizers, Lilz coins a new exploitative slang word, and Ashley tries really REALLY hard not to talk about ponies....with Lilz and Scott!

Jesus Christ Superstar was a 1973 film adaptation of the rock opera of the same name. The original was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, while the movie version was directed by Norman Jewison, who had previously found movie musical success adapting the stage show Fiddler On The Roof to film. The cast was primarily made up of actors from the original stage show, who had never acted for film before. And though the film was a commercial success, it attracted controversy among religious groups, and disinterested reaction from reviewers, who criticized the film's monotony, miscasting, and strange directing decisions.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by The Only Humans frontman and Jesus Christ Superstar fan Tim Howd, to attempt to make some sense out of what they just watched. Join them on a journey filled with silly voiced priests, Ted Neely murder pacts, and once again run afoul of the wily and elusive Rootbeerm'n....with Lilz and Scott!