Out of Touchstone

This special two-part episode looking back at the first decade of Touchstone Pictures concludes with Mike and Chad analyzing the success of Touchstone films at the box office during the Eisner/Katzenberg regime, and how the "Disney Renaissance" brought the studio back to the forefront of the moviegoing public's collective mind. Finally, the co-hosts share their Top Ten favorite films from 1984 to 1994 across all three Disney divisions: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures. Now...it's on to 1995!

Before moving on to Disney's 1995 slate, let's take one final look at the first ten years of Touchstone Pictures - in Part 1 of this two-part episode, Mike and Chad touch on Disney's earliest forays into live-action films, the legacy of their animated content, and Ron Miller's wish to produce films that appealed to older audiences without the "family friendly" stigma associated with the studio. Lastly, the co-hosts single out some of the Disney films from the late 1970s and early 1980s that helped spawn the need for Touchstone Pictures, such as THE BLACK HOLE, NIGHT CROSSING and TRENCHCOAT.

While Touchstone did manage to win a couple of Academy Awards in 1994, the year also provided some notorious flops for the studio. Mike and Chad look back on the year that was, handing out Ronnie Awards for their favorite films and performances - though one film received the lion's share of praise, a few others stepped up to remind us why we enjoy doing this podcast. It may not have been the best year for Touchstone, but both Disney and Hollywood Pictures provided welcome entertainment for kids and adults alike, with some lesser-known releases that still hold up today.

It's time for another special interview episode of Out of Touchstone, as Mike had the great thrill to chat with writer/director Ron Shelton! In addition to being responsible for some of the best sports movies of the last few decades, Ron also directed two features for Touchstone Pictures: BLAZE (1989) and PLAY IT TO THE BONE (2000), and shared stories about the casting and production of both films. We also talked about his upbringing in California, his minor league baseball career, and his lengthy time in Hollywood - some of which is detailed in "The Church of Baseball", his wonderful new book about his approach to the craft of screenwriting and the making of arguably his most famous film (1988's BULL DURHAM). Lastly, Ron expressed his thoughts on the state of the film industry in the 21st century, and touched on the projects he's working on that will hopefully be coming to both the big and small screen very soon.

With ED WOOD serving as Touchstone's final film of 1994 in late September, Disney leaves themselves three months to wrap up the year with five releases across multiple genres in an attempt to make as much of a mark at the box office as possible. The results were mixed, but the films served their purpose: Hollywood Pictures brought forth sci-fi horror (THE PUPPET MASTERS) and action comedy (A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME) for adult audiences, while Walt Disney Pictures relied on family fare to educate and entertain (SQUANTO: A WARRIOR'S TALE, THE SANTA CLAUSE, THE JUNGLE BOOK). In this unique "Touchstone-less" episode, Mike and Chad eschew their normal deep dive and give an overview of Disney's holiday slate and how they performed in theaters.

The end of Touchstone's 1994 slate brings forth one of the best films in their entire catalog: ED WOOD! In this special extended episode, Chad and Mike welcome two of their best friends from college - Mike Meyer and Sean Reynolds - for a roundtable discussion covering many aspects of this beloved entry in director Tim Burton's filmography. From the incredible performances by Martin Landau and Johnny Depp to the stellar writing of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the four friends paint a glowing portrait of a motion picture that highlights acceptance and companionship on the fringes of 1950s Hollywood and the studio system. They also touch on the career of Ed Wood himself, who was once labeled as "The Worst Director of All Time" and now stands as a shining example of the spirit of independent filmmaking. I predict...you will enjoy this lengthy podcast!!!

Disney rebounded from a difficult August 1994 with a September that brought critical acclaim but not the greatest box office results. First up, Touchstone presents a more serious Steve Martin with A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE - both Mike and Chad lauded the performances and the subtle hints of humor, but the third act doomed the film. Thankfully, Hollywood Pictures gave the co-hosts two enjoyable films to discuss in the back half of this episode: QUIZ SHOW, the epic Best Picture nominee with a stellar cast; and TERMINAL VELOCITY, a very fun popcorn film that likely would have done better had it been released during that tumultous prior month for Disney. We've got hermits raising orphans! We've got congressional hearings about TV! We've got...blond-haired Russian gangsters!?!? It's a jam-packed podcast!!

It was a month of misfortune for Disney: August 1994 brought four separate flops, though one was clearly better than the others. Touchstone gave us IT'S PAT: THE MOVIE, a poor attempt to bring the popular SNL character to the big screen. What can you say about it? Not much, and Mike and Chad preferred it that way. From there, the co-hosts turned to Hollywood Pictures, which churned out another Pauly Shore "comedy" (IN THE ARMY NOW), an erotic thriller (COLOR OF NIGHT), and an enjoyable film aimed at a pre-teen audience (CAMP NOWHERE). Disney's attempt to "cast the net wide" by releasing films in different genres aimed at different audiences at roughly the same time may not have worked, but it still made for a lively discussion on this episode.

It's now the Summer of 1994 and Disney has both a huge hit and a minor success at the box office - but sadly, neither of those came from Touchstone. As a result, the co-hosts get to do their customary deep dive into I LOVE TROUBLE, a film mostly remembered for the behind-the-scenes squabbles between its two stars, Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts. Mike and Chad both agree that it was a missed opportunity for Touchstone to cash in on the star power of the two leads, though the supporting cast is top-notch. At least Disney made out okay with the other two films mentioned on this episode: THE LION KING stands as one of their greatest achievements, and their inspirational remake of ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD was another feather in the studio's cap. You win some, you lose some.

We're excited to bring you another interview on Out of Touchstone as we sit down with Jim Burnstein, the writer of RENAISSANCE MAN who now serves as the Director of the Screenwriting Program at the University of Michigan. He discusses his career at length, beginning with his decision to become a writer and how he managed to navigate the film industry in Hollywood in the late 1970s. He then recounts the arduous process of bringing RENAISSANCE MAN through years of development to the big screen, and touches on the legacy of the film as well as its importance to one of his current co-workers: Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh. Hope you enjoy this fascinating chat with a real-life "Renaissance Man"!

Addiction and education are the topics of the day as we wrap up Spring 1994 on Out of Touchstone by looking at two of the studio's offerings. First up is WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN, which features strong dramatic performances from Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia in a hard-hitting look at the effects of alcholism on the family unit. We both enjoyed the film, even though the supporting cast was underutilized. Then we shift our focus to the charming RENAISSANCE MAN, the Danny Devito-led comedy about an unemployed businessman teaching Shakespeare to Army recruits. Mike loved the film as it reminded him why he started this podcast in the first place: to provide a chance to uncover some hidden gems that we missed during their initial theatrical release. Our long hiatus is over and we are happy to be back!

Mike provides a brief update on the show: please bear with us through this delay, as we are excited to re-start the show and post new episodes soon. Thank you for listening!

April 1994 has arrived on Out of Touchstone, as we look at three Disney films that feature younger characters growing up somewhat quickly.  First up from Touchstone Pictures is THE INKWELL, a unique look at affluent African Americans in the 1970s and the psychological progression of an impressionable young man.  Mike and Chad both agreed that the film was not what they expected and had a great cast, but was doomed by its mismatched tone.  The co-hosts then look at the maturation of young men in two unique settings: HOLY MATRIMONY, the Hollywood Pictures story involving bizarre marriage laws; and WHITE FANG 2: MYTH OF THE WHITE WOLF from Walt Disney Pictures, the mediocre sequel to their 1991 Jack London adaptation.

It's March 1994 and Disney has decided to release three movies set during the holidays or around winter - time for the guys from Out of Touchstone to put on their warm weather clothes!  First up, Mike and Chad do a deep dive into Touchstone's THE REF, a wonderfully underrated dark comedy with a stellar cast that deserves to be a Christmas staple.  From there, the co-hosts look at ANGIE (from Hollywood Pictures) and D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS (from Walt Disney Pictures) to see how they fared in the crowded box office landscape of family comedies and Oscar contenders.

We continue into February 1994 on Out of Touchstone, which features two films that include questionable romantic entanglements.  We start with the unsettling Touchstone comedy MY FATHER THE HERO, which creeped out both of the hosts and made them question the laws in the Bahamas.  Maybe something was lost in translation from the original French version of the film?  Thankfully, Mike and Chad both found comfort in Disney's BLANK CHECK, a much more harmless look at a kid spinning an elaborate lie.  They may have come out in the same month, but the films are miles apart in terms of entertainment value.

We've come to 1994 on Out of Touchstone, which brings us a series of adventures for the new year.  We kick things off with the low-budget (and low-brow) comedy CABIN BOY, a star vehicle that Mike had a real hard time watching, though Chad did find it slightly enjoyable.  Thankfully there were two other films released by Disney in the same month - THE AIR UP THERE (from Hollywood Pictures) and IRON WILL (from Walt Disney Films) - for the co-hosts to compare to Touchstone's flop.  It's Chris Elliott on the high seas!  It's Kevin Bacon in Africa!  It's Mackenzie Astin in the Great White North!  Adventure awaits!!

1993 brought us several notable films and performances from the Touchstone library, so Mike and Chad take this opportunity to shine a light on their favorites.  While one film dominates the Ronnie Awards due to its technical achievement and another draws praise for its superb acting, there were also a few hidden gems that the co-hosts found pleasantly surprising.  On top of that, both Walt Disney Pictures and Hollywood Pictures managed to release some easily overlooked films during the year that definitely merit reconsideration in the streaming age.  All in all, it was an unspectacular-but-solid year for Disney and we had a blast reminiscing about how these movies left their mark both during their initial release and now three decades later.

We're looking at the role of saviors as we come to the end of 1993 on Out of Touchstone: we start with Whoopi Goldberg's return to the fold in SISTER ACT 2, another mostly unnecessary sequel from Touchstone that doesn't quite capture the charm of the original film.  Mike and Chad then turn their gaze to period pieces involving soldiers (Disney's THE THREE MUSKETEERS) and lawmen (Hollywood's TOMBSTONE), in order to compare their heroic exploits to Touchstone's singing nuns.  Listen as we answer several burning questions, including “Which group needed saving the most?” and “Who had the best mustache in TOMBSTONE?”

Two of Disney's most peculiar films of 1993 are the focus of this episode of Out of Touchstone: first we look at Touchstone's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, a landmark of stop-motion animation with a fantastic soundtrack, which has since been re-branded as a full-fledged Walt Disney film.  The film has a solid legacy, as compared to the other film that Mike and Chad discuss: SUPER MARIO BROS. from Hollywood Pictures, which does have some amazing world-building, but also retains a certain level of notoriety from its doomed production.  Both films are bizarre and strange - but is that necessarily a bad thing?

The fall of 1993 brings us a few sports movies to discuss on Out of Touchstone, starting with THE PROGRAM: a melodramatic look at a struggling football team.  Mike and Chad both felt the Touchstone drama was just a little too corny to be taken seriously, even though it did shed some light on important issues facing student-athletes.  The co-hosts then look at two other sporting efforts from the studio - Hollywood Pictures' ASPEN EXTREME and Walt Disney's COOL RUNNINGS - comparing the athletic endeavors (and personal drama) from the winter sports of skiing and bobsledding to the high stakes world of college football.

We wrap up the summer of 1993 on Out of Touchstone by looking at three comedies involving resurrection and unconventional love.  First up is MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK from Touchstone Pictures, a wickedly dark comedy with an outstanding supporting cast (featuring several stars in the making).  Both Mike and Chad enjoyed the wackiness of the film and wish Hollywood would produce more like it.  From there, the co-hosts compare this zombie romance to two other films in the Disney catalog, focusing on the themes of fathers disapproving of their daughter's taste in men (SON IN LAW from Hollywood Pictures) as well as humor in the morbidity of coming back from beyond the grave (Walt Disney's HOCUS POCUS).

Crime continues not to pay in the summer of 1993, and on this episode of Out of Touchstone our hosts look at the long arm of the law and some questionable decisions from reluctant criminals.  We kick off with the Touchstone sequel ANOTHER STAKEOUT, which allows Mike and Chad to question why it was even made while marvelling at the power of a sweet moustache. We then shift our focus from police work to those skirting the law in two films from Hollywood Pictures: FATHER HOOD, featuring Patrick Swayze as a deadbeat dad attempting to win the love of his kids, and MONEY FOR NOTHING, starring John Cusack as a ne'er-do-well who accidentally comes into possession of a large sum of stolen cash.  We attempt to answer the burning questions on this episode: Will the cops get their man?  Will the criminals find a heart?  And most importantly, will a good moustache lead to higher box-office returns?  

We continue in the summer of 1993 by looking at some difficult subject matter on Out of Touchstone.  First up is the musical biopic WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, which features two outstanding lead performances and an unflinching look at domestic violence.  From there, Chad and Mike compare the tale of Ike and Tina Turner to two films from Hollywood Pictures: a musically-inspired drama set in Nazi Germany (SWING KIDS) and a courtroom thriller about a manipulative lady-killer (GUILTY AS SIN).

The summer of 1993 has arrived and gives us a look at precocious children and manipulative adults on Out of Touchstone. The first film that Mike and Chad discuss is the underrated Touchstone family film, LIFE WITH MIKEY, featuring Michael J. Fox as a talent agent taking in a new protegee.  The child stars (Christina Vidal and David Krumholtz) are terrific and though it is quite conventional it still warms the heart.  Afterwards, the co-hosts look at two more Disney films to compare and contrast the idea of mentorship of an impressionable mind (with BORN YESTERDAY from Hollywood Pictures) and detail how kids get away with anything (as in Walt Disney's THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN).

The spring of 1993 brings about two films that highlight the difficulties of maturing into adulthood.  First up, Mike and Chad take a deep dive into the ensemble Touchstone dramedy INDIAN SUMMER, which features a group of characters longing for their younger days.  While neither co-host felt the film had much of a plot, we both loved the terrific cast.  Finally, we look at the Hollywood Pictures epic BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT, focusing on a group of men who have to come to grips with the long-lasting consequences of prior mistakes. 

We continue along in 1993 by looking at two exclusive clubs and the drama unfolding amongst their members. THE CEMETERY CLUB is the first group under the microscope, as Mike and Chad dissect the tale of three Jewish widows attempting to move on with their lives in this heartwarming Touchstone Picture.  The performances are solid (especially Danny Aiello) and the film does have some nice sentimental touches.  From there, the co-hosts look at another Disney organization - THE JOY LUCK CLUB, courtesy of Hollywood Pictures - to highlight how the Chinese women do a much better job of coping with unforeseen tragedy than their Jewish counterparts.

We begin another year on Out of Touchstone, kicking off 1993 by looking at films involving characters fighting against the elements.  First up is the harrowing Touchstone film ALIVE, the inspiring true story of a group of plane crash survivors stranded in the Andes Mountains.  It's a very powerful film, but both Mike and Chad felt that it was also hard to watch at times due to the intense subject matter and speed at which the events unfold on screen.  Finally, the hosts look at two entries from Walt Disney Pictures - HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY and A FAR OFF PLACE - to compare the plight of each film's protagonists in the wild to those of the doomed passengers on the treacherous mountain.

It's time for a special episode of Out of Touchstone as we had the pleasure of interviewing Marty Kaplan: He's a fascinating individual who has spent time working under a U.S. President and now has an esteemed academic career. But in the 1980s he was a Vice President with Touchstone Pictures, and then worked as a writer/producer for Disney in the 1990s. He shares some detailed stories about developing ideas and working with Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg during the formation of the new Touchstone division, while also describing how his political background helped him shape the screenplay for the 1992 Hollywood Pictures comedy, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN. It was a very enlightening interview and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed conducting it!

It was a quiet year for Touchstone as 1992 saw the studio only release six films, but Mike and Chad still had a fun time picking their favorites of the bunch. While two films received the lion's share of praise, the other four still garnered attention for some wonderful performances. Franchises were established, filmmakers began relationships with the studio, and some iconic characters were born. In addition, both Walt Disney Pictures AND Hollywood Pictures made some respectable (and underrated) additions to the overall Disney catalog. Sit back and listen as we enjoy a fun year!

We wrap up 1992 on Out of Touchstone by looking at shady protagonists with questionable backgrounds. First up is the Touchstone comedy CAPTAIN RON, featuring a stellar comedic turn from Kurt Russell but a dismal script with lame jokes aplenty. Finally, Chad and MIke focus on three more films - Disney's ALADDIN and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, and THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN from Hollywood Pictures - to judge each lead character against Captain Ron to see who is the most selfish and who has the greatest redemption. 

The examination of the criminal mind is the focus of this episode of Out of Touchstone, as we start by discussing Touchstone's CROSSING THE BRIDGE, a "coming of age" drama about three friends faced with the decision to engage in criminal activity. Both Mike and Chad enjoyed the performances but thought the film was a tad slow. After that, the co-hosts look at the 1992 slate of thrillers from Hollywood Pictures - THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE, A STRANGER AMONG US and CONSENTING ADULTS - and contrast them with the only Touchstone film of the year to bear any resemblance to the genre.

We've got characters pushed to their limits on this episode of Out of Touchstone, highlighted by one of the most notorious flops in Touchstone's history: THE GUN IN BETTY LOU'S HANDBAG. While Penelope Ann Miller was great in the lead role, both Mike and Chad felt the script left a lot to be desired. The hosts also look at the stressful predicaments in Disney's HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID and the oppression featured in SARAFINA! from Hollywood Pictures, comparing the plight of each film's protagonist to the turmoil facing Betty Lou.

It's all about "kid power" for this episode of Out of Touchstone, as we focus on the 1992 films released by Disney aimed at young viewers. First up, Chad and Mike dissect Touchstone's 3 NINJAS, and lament about how they both feel that they missed out by not seeing the film when they were younger. From there, the hosts look at three other releases geared toward a youthful crowd - Disney's NEWSIES and THE MIGHTY DUCKS, and ENCINO MAN from Hollywood Pictures - to see how they stack up against the ninjas from Touchstone. We've got Stoney, Tum Tum and bad guys named Snyder on a fun-filled episode!

We roll into the first half of 1992 on Out of Touchstone by looking at films featuring proactive leads being dropped into unfamiliar surroudings and inspring those around them. First up, the hosts dissect the wildly successful star vehicle, SISTER ACT, and focus on the merits of Whoopi Goldberg's ability to carry both a film and a tune. Though Chad and Mike have different views on the film, they both agree that the supporting cast is quite strong. Finally, the guys compare the themes of two other Hollywood Pictures - MEDICINE MAN and STRAIGHT TALK - to see how they relate to the strength of Touchstone's biggest hit of 1992.

A new year of films brings a new format to our podcast, as we kick off 1992 by dissecting only one Touchstone film, the stage adaptation NOISES OFF. Mike and Chad discuss their favorite moments and performances from the ensemble comedy, highlighting the terrific work done by the late Christopher Reeve and John Ritter. In the second half of the show, the hosts briefly look at two other movies released near the same time from Hollywood Pictures - BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY and PASSED AWAY - to see how all three films fit within the Disney development slate as well as the box office charts of the season.

Another year has come and gone, which gives Mike and Chad a chance to pick their favorite films and performances from the 1991 Touchstone films. The year provided several surprises from the studio - both good and bad - but two gangster films seems to shine the brightest. We say goodbye to Ernest P. Worrell and "The Queen of Touchstone", but also look forward to a new era that sees increased production under the Hollywood Pictures banner. Finally, the hosts also discuss the infamous "Katzenberg Memo" that made an immediate impact on Disney's future plans for success within their film division. 

We bring 1991 to a close on this episode of Out of Touchstone, with two films featuring families adding new members.  First up, the hosts discuss BILLY BATHGATE, the organized crime thriller starring Dustin Hoffman and a young Nicole Kidman.  Both Mike and Chad agree that the acting and storytelling are superb, and wonder why this wasn't a bigger hit.  Finally, we wrap up the year with the remake of FATHER OF THE BRIDE, as Steve Martin attempts to fill Spencer Tracy's shoes as a man reluctant to watch his daughter grow up.  The movie has issues but also has a heart to it.  So long to another year of Touchstone films!

Touchstone ventures back into the thriller genre, and says goodbye to a beloved character on this episode of Out of Touchstone. Known for her “bubbly” persona in a comedy-filled career, Goldie Hawn plays against type and headlines our first film, DECEIVED. The thriller also features the late John Heard as Hawn’s husband, who may or may not have a shadowy past that threatens their marriage. The hosts agree that the film has some genuine suspense, but also a very ridiculous conclusion. Lastly, we bid farewell to Jim Varney in ERNEST SCARED STUPID, his final Ernest P. Worrell film for the studio. While Mike and Chad both enjoyed the previous Ernest outing and the charm of the character itself, the franchise ultimately leaves Disney on a very low note with this Halloween dud.

The fall of 1991 sees Disney venturing into serious issues with two intriguing films on this episode of Out of Touchstone.  First comes TRUE IDENTITY, an exploration of race and society wrapped in a screwball comedy package.  The tone is uneven but Lenny Henry is a joy to watch.  Finally, the co-hosts have wildly different opinions on PARADISE, a Southern-based melodrama starring real-life married couple Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith.  Chad was moved by the drama while Mike was a little bored, though both were impressed by the performance from a very young Thora Birch.  Simply put, these are two movies that more people should see...

We continue into 1991 on Out of Touchstone, using surgical precision to dissect two medical-themed films.  First comes the zany comedy WHAT ABOUT BOB?, which presented some serious issues for Mike as he wasn't quite ready to laugh at mental illness, though Chad felt it was harmless.  But the guys were in agreement on THE DOCTOR, an underrated gem featuring outstanding performances from a trio of talented leads.  All in all, Disney came up with a solid prescription for success with these two features.

1991 has arrived on Out of Touchstone, bringing both satire and farce in the year's first two films.  We start with the final film from the "Queen of Touchstone", Bette Midler, as she stars opposite the legendary Woody Allen in SCENES FROM A MALL.  Both of the co-hosts love a nice trip to the mall, but not this cinematic look into marital unhappiness.  And then there is Sylvester Stallone doing comedy in the delightfully underrated OSCAR.  Mike and Chad can't say enough good things about the film, and also use the opportunity to tell their riveting stories of meeting director John Landis.

It's the first year of a new decade, and Mike and Chad look back and give their picks for the highlights from Touchstone's 1990 slate of films.  Two blockbusters commanded most of the attention of the year, but lesser known and underappreciated gems also get their due on this episode.  Plus, the hosts get another chance to remind you to NOT watch FIRE BIRDS!

We put a bow on 1990 with two holiday releases on Out of Touchstone: First up, Mike and Chad dissect the unnecessary sequel THREE MEN AND A LITTLE LADY, which once again features alpha males behaving badly, and this time there's no baby to bail them out.  Then the hosts turn their attention to the fraudulent nuptials of GREEN CARD, director Peter Weir's charming but bland love story which brought Gerard Depardieu into the American movie landscape.  Both of these films are labeled as comedies, but are they even funny?  We didn't think so.

Road trip!  1990 rolls along into North Carolina on Out of Touchstone, bringing forth two underwhelming comedies with fantasy elements (or are they fantasies with comedic elements?).  BETSY'S WEDDING is the first film to be discussed, as Mike and Chad admonish Italian stereotypes and question Molly Ringwald's post-adolescent acting career.  Finally, the hosts look at MR. DESTINY, starring one of the most famous alums from their alma mater, Jim Belushi.  While he can't quite carry the dramatic heft that the movie requires, the supporting roles from Linda Hamilton and Michael Caine are stellar.

The summer of 1990 has arrived on Out of Touchstone, as Mike and Chad look at two films featuring a variety of good guys out to fight crime.  First up is the deplorable FIRE BIRDS, a feature-length Army recruitment video with some of the worst dialogue you'll ever hear - but it's got Tommy Lee Jones and he's always awesome.  Finally, the hosts look at the comic-book adaptation DICK TRACY, Warren Beatty's worthy attempt to bring the famed detective to life on the big screen - and it's got Al Pacino and he's always awesome.  Come for the Madonna songs, stay for "insane Nicolas Cage"!

The spring of 1990 continues on Out of Touchstone, as Mike and Chad discuss two movies for which they held low expectations and wound up being pleasantly surprised.  The first is ERNEST GOES TO JAIL, as Jim Varney ("The Clown Prince of Touchstone") returns to the role of Ernest P. Worrell to get some of his biggest laughs in his most adult-oriented adventure.  Finally, the hosts look at the sci-fi shenanigans of SPACED INVADERS, a movie that is overlooked and often misunderstood by the majority of viewers.  Give these movies a chance and you might enjoy them both!

It's the biggest Out of Touchstone episode yet, as we come to one of the studio's biggest films, PRETTY WOMAN. From its humble beginning as a dark story centered on a drug-addicted prostitute to the glossy finished product with Pygmalion-esque touches courtesy of director Garry Marshall, the film inspired a lengthy discussion for Mike and Chad.  In addition to their positives and negatives of the film itself, the co-hosts also look at the evolution of the script, the extensive list of people who turned down the lead roles, and the amazing soundtrack.

It's a new year and a new decade for Out of Touchstone, as we kick off 1990 with a star vehicle as well as a visionary director's artistic statement.  First up is STELLA, a remake of the soapy melodrama starring the Queen of Touchstone, Bette Midler.  The story has been told before and doesn't need to be told again.  Finally, the hosts discuss WHERE THE HEART IS, John Boorman's ensemble film based on Shakespeare's "King Lear".  It's a little-known gem, and it's always a pleasure to talk about Dabney Coleman and Christopher Plummer.  Enjoy!

We've wrapped up the 1980's on Out of Touchstone, which gives Mike and Chad the chance to look back and scrutinize the films of 1989.  After discussing the notable moments and most successful films of the year - both commercially and artistically - the guys hand out Ronnie Awards for their favorite achievements from Touchstone's releases.

We wrap up 1989 on Out of Touchstone by looking at two interesting but average films. First up, Mike and Chad do their best medical student impressions by dissecting GROSS ANATOMY, focusing on the underrated talent of both Christine Lahti and Matthew Modine. Then the guys head south to "the great state of Louisiana" for BLAZE, starring a mumbling Paul Newman, a naive Lolita Davidovich, and the man whom Chad has dubbed "The Prince of Touchstone".

1989 rolls along on Out of Touchstone, as two Toms return to the studio, giving both Mike and Chad multiple opportunities to mix up their names. First up, Tom Hanks learns the perils of dog ownership in TURNER & HOOCH, and the hosts learn that criminals are dumb. Then we come to the surprising drama AN INNOCENT MAN, featuring a stoic Tom Selleck and a wonderful F. Murray Abraham navigating the prison system. Oh, and we also learn that cops are dumb too.