The Jacked Up Review Show Podcast

Genre critic/blogger Meredith Borders (Fangoria Magazine) joins for one of inevtiably more characters in fiction lists. This time, we decided to sum up various evil doctors and mad scientists (some who are surprisingly heroes) in movies and television.   How many times will we make some of the same selections? And which deep cuts will one or the other mention that will blow your mind?    Want food for thought, listen to these two brains geek out for an hour of fun!    

If you want the best dissection of George Romero (and sometimes John A. Russo)'s social commentary mixed in with the titular monsters, criminal protagonists & post-apocalyptic scifi settings, then we've got plenty of fun for your ears to listen to:   Why wasn't The Amusement Park, Knightriders or The Crazies part of his Zombie saga?   We also note how some of the villains have similarly gruesome plot arcs much like Damien in The Omen trilogy and Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now!       GUESTS INCLUDE: The Vern (Cinema Recall) Ryan McGann (Offtopic Podcast) Oreo Brewer Richard Glenn Schmidt (Hello! This is the Doomed Show) Matthew Soto Gabriel Jewett Steve Unger Jr. Mack Lambert (Mack & the Movies) Allen Adams & Kevin Edwards (Deadnotes Podcast) Jeff Kerr, Gil Palmer, Cameron Scott (Cinema Degeneration) & Jon Mark.     VOICEMAILS BY: Jim Evans (Film Rage) & The Western Wonder (Pic-A-Flic)

It's yet another zombie themed week so before we discuss the winners, let's get the losers out of the way first: Enter a double feature of the "short-lived" Dimension Films ZOMBIE DIARIES and let me sum up what little it did right in this minisode!   SONG USED:  "Cool Rock" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It was our third year to try yet another Mental Health and Fitness roudntable discussion and this was easily the most visceral yet relatable one we engaged in yet!   GUESTS: Filmmaker Neurodivergent Studies Podcast Host Carolyn Kiel (Every 6 Seconds), Filmmaker Lioness TeLaine & Entrepreneur Kat Diesel.     INTRO/OUTRO SONG: "Airtrack" by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's storytelling time so Cliff, A-aron and Cam dive into what keeps them going, the live podcasting shows vs. the pre-recorded events and why they will always have a mic in their face while they engage in these thought provoking chats together.   You want some inspiration packaged together with some amusing life perspectives, then this is the discussion for you!       MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: "Acoustic Shuffle" and "Acoustic Rock" by AudioNautix. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We get to finally do some more exclusive interviews: the guest that night is event planner and celeb Belinda Gavin!   TALKING POINTS: *She talks about many famous pals who helped her out with different careers including Hunter S. Thompson as well as encountering drunk celebs like Charlie Sheen! *She talks about her father who was part of the MAD MAX stunt team. *Listeners might recognize some of these now-defunct L.A. based bars and talent agencies. *And she reveals how she got to be a dancer in several hit '90s music videos!    

James Bruno & I sum up a true underdog of many acting faces: the one, the only Nick Nolte.   Aside from a career overview, we dig into this different personas, surprising appearances and dive into what he brought into his dramatic big-screen roles.

Gil, Tom & I were getting retro and funky this week so we thought we'd honor various superstars after a perfect candidate for Black History Month: the SHAFT movie franchise.   What other genre movies have done fun spiritual sequels?   Does anyone remember Samuel L. Jackson doing a hysterical WWE cross promotion?   What funny rewrite in the recent sequels was actually a perfect gesture?   Plus, we get to take a lookback at other fun recent Blaxploitation movie throwbacks!  

To finish off the Tom Clancy esque discussions, Gil and Cam do a fun summary of the first three years of the Amazon Prime's engrossing spy action mystery show REACHER.   We note how each of the first 3 seasons stands out: Which one is the best overall, which one had the best setting and plot twists & which one had the best-written villain who you instantly wanted the title character to crush when all was said & done?   Plus, predictions on the NEAGLEY spin-off show coming out later this year!     MUSIC INTRO: "Chaise Lounge Long" by Apple Free-to-Use Music

We continue the Tom Clancy tributes by chronicling our favorite moments from his movies, novels, TV shows and videogames. You've heard us review his adaptations in the past but it was way more fulfilling to dig into why so many of his properties and estate wanted to get his name on so many compelling titles.   TALKING POINTS: *We mention more of the book and movie differences as well as how there's so many STAR WARS actors in each of these entries *Why didn't they have AIR FORCE ONE be part of Harrison Ford's Jack Ryan movie's timeline? *Is Alec Baldwin's character in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE actually his version of Jack Ryan? *And we gets to highlight our favorite videogames by Clancy's estate (The Division, Ghost Recon, etc)!     AUDIO CLIPS: Patriot Games and Jack Ryan: Season 4   MUSIC CLIPS: "Georgia Stress" by Michael Richad Plowman & "Village- Discovered!" by Lalo Schifrin.  

In this minisode, we're getting into more of the nuts and bolts that makes the beloved yet deadly Sam Fisher character such a fascinating badass to witness:   How do the recent SPLINTER CELL novels compared to the earlier yet surprisingly bland entries?   And what do the comic novels bring to the table that other tie-ins don't necessarily do?   Grab your night vision goggles and get stealthy with us!       MUSIC USED: "Abandoned Reservoir" by Kaveh Cohen and Michael Nielsen, "Jerusalem- Discovered!" by Lalo Schifrin, "Burma Fight" by Michael Richard Plowman, "Jail Fight" by Behavior.

In this overview, I continue the weekly tribute to the SPLINTER CELL videogame franchise: I dive into the IGN Fan-Made Web Series EXTINCTION & the recent Netflix Anime Show DEATHWATCH.   Would this fan-effort entertain non-fans who just want to see a cool indie Action movie done by "do-it-yourself" folks?   How does the Netflix cartoon handle its vision with the assistance of the JOHN WICK creator?   And more pros and cons to list for these two very suspenseful visions!       MUSIC USED: "Bunker" and "Airfield" by Kaveh Cohen and Michael Nielsen.   "Common Fight" by Michael Richard Plowman   "Jail Timed Cue" and "JBA HQ Ambient Theme 3" by Behavior.   "Chaise Lounge Long" by Apple Free-To-Use Music.

Johnny Potoky rejoins for a unique overview on the Tom Clancy endorsed series of Ubisoft's SPLINTER CELL videogame series.    Along the way, we also note how the military technology made this stealth game series stand out, how it differentiated from METAL GEAR SOLID and conclude with an interview clip of the voice-actors from back in the day!

We conclude with another remastered episode: the ultimate ranking of the beloved TERMINATOR saga.   Oreo, Mike & I assembled some of the biggest podcasters and bloggers who adore the films, show, games, novels & videogames but what clever ways will they use to sum up their admiration for it?   How many of us will end up doing our best Arnie impressions to sum up our rankings?   Plus, you get to hear new segments by Jamie Ray (Fave Five from Fans Podcast) on the highlights of both GENISYS and DARK FATE!       PODCAST GUESTS: Shahi Sabzevari & Ryan Gillen of the Arnold Radio News & Arnold Fans site/podcast, John Reid of 30Something Podcast, Josh Hansen of Action Movie Book Club, Michael Petty & Tanner Radwick of No Fate: A Terminator Podcast & William Bregnard of Future War Stories blog

Join the gang for 4 key crime fighting/western oriented Arnie movie reviews in this amusing special:   Is The Villain a better cheesy movie hour for Arnie than Hercules in New York?   Where do Red Heat and Raw Deal often rank on the scale for Arnold fans?   And did The Last Stand deliver sheer whoop-ass energy despite not being quite the big comeback role for Arnold?   Chomp your cigars and giddy up, it's time for more Arnold love!         PODCAST GUESTS: Charlie Hildebrand & Jamie Ray

It's time for another duo review on two TERMINATOR TV show spin-offs:   You'll hear a partial re-edit of our admiration for Fox's short-lived SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES adventure show followed by a mini-review on Netflix's ambitious anime TERMINATOR ZERO.   What were the characterizations, details, villains and general style that made SCC show stand apart from the competition?   Did the anime visit any interesting ideas unexplored in the other films and comics?   And why were both cancelled prematurely?   Listen to us if you want to live!     GUESTS: Shahi Sabzevari & Ryan Gillen of the Arnold Radio News & Arnold Fans site/podcast John Reid of 30Something Podcast Josh Hansen of Action Movie Book Club Michael Petty & Tanner Radwick of No Fate: A Terminator Podcast William Bregnard of Future War Stories blog  

Our guests and I were at the podcasting recording console and decided to sum up two cyberpunk Arnie adventures: THE RUNNING MAN and THE 6TH DAY.   We talk about the apocalyptic landscapes in these cult film as well as the unusal B-movie casst & explosive collar concept.   How did Stephen King start the MultiVerse madness prior to Marvel & DC Comics adaptations?   What would a Running Man sequel with Arnie, Bruce Campbell & Jamie Lee Curtis look like??   And what famous sporting event did The 6th Day actually accurately predict???     OUR PODCAST GUESTS: Caomh McGillion Oreo Brewer Jim Evans (Film Rage) Corey Stevenson (Podcasting After Dark)     SONGS USED:   Paula's Theme (ORIGINAL FULL STUDIO VERSION)" by Jackie Jackson and Glen Barbee (Running Man OST)   "Restlest Heart" by John Parr (Running Man OST)

Aaron Frescas & Chris Chapman (See You at the Poddy, Richter Podcast) wrap up their final episode on the show for the second week in a row honoring all things Schwarzenegger and TERMINATOR related:   You heard us sum up the bad, the underrated and now it's time to conclude with us detailing our favorite trashy/"so-bad-they're-good" Arnie movies.   Which ones are enjoyed by most of his fanbase but still have questionable elements?   Which ones do we find entertaining either way?   And which ones MUST be seen by all moviebuffs regardless if it does or doesn't entertain?   Get pumped, get jacked and listen in!       OPENING MOVIE QUOTES FROM: End of Days (1999)  

One of our other mini-episodes is now available for your listening pleasure:   Like many of our amusing bloopers, the mics were still on but the Vern, Josh, Will & the main team were all giving a brief salute to actor/podcast host Michael Biehn.   Why was he not as big as other character actor turned leading men like Bill Paxton and Kurt Russell?   What recent comebacks and TV guest spots have we really liked him on?   And why was he not bigger outside of the William Friedkin and James Cameron films he was in?   All you need to end your Terminator week on is just a brief yet amusing honoring of the TRUE Resistance Fighter!     SOUND CLIP INTRO: "Fuck It! We'll Do It Live!!" by Bill O'Reilly

Aaron Frescas & Chris Chapman (See You at the Poddy, Richter Podcast) are back in the studio for another hysterical chat:   We discuss Arnie movies that we consider criminally underated but how many of them will we all agree upon?   Which ones are objectionally not great but are made better by our Austrian star's presence?    And which ones are easily solid double features with the likes of COMMANDO, THE RUNNING MAN, PREDATOR & even TRUE LIES?           OPENING QUOTE FROM: The 6th Day (2000)

Aaron Frescas & Chris Chapman (See You at the Poddy, Richter! Podcast) rejoin for more Arnie nostalgia and admiration:   All three of us discuss our 10 Bottom of the Barrel Arnie films we don't recommend anyone waste time viewing.   Which ones are surprisingly still divisive?   And which ones are morbid curiosities even though they stink to high heaven?   All that and noting why we will view anything starring hte former Mr. Olympia champion!       SOUND BITES FROM: Kindergarten Cop (1990)

Aaron Frescas & Chris Chapman (See You at the Poddy, Richter Podcast) join for this and next week's Arnold Schwarzenegger related chats:   Which Arnie movie has the single best score and which ones just have unique songs featured throughout?    Which ones don't get enough love (even if the movie itself is worth ignoring)?   And which ones are surprisingly original to listen to despite the films themselves emulating Arnie's earlier success?   All tons of movie soundtrack fanfare from all different aisles here so don't miss this segment!       SONG USED:  "Arnold Sings Yakety Yak" (originally by The Coasters; from the movie Twins)

We start another Terminator themed week to entertain everyone's earbuds:   We detail all the various unstoppable killer machine villains in the beloved franchise but which one is our personal favorite?   Which ones unfortunately are just flat T-1000 knock-off villains and which ones don't get enough love?   Plus, we discuss proof that the T-800 killed Bill Paxton's punk character & other details that shouldn't be up for debate!     SONGS USED: "T2 Theme" and "I Am A Cybernetic Organism, Living Tissue Over (Metal) Endoskeleton" by Austrian Death Machine

We end the week with tons of praise for Jackie Chan (and Pat Morita of course) with the on-going KARATE KID franchise!   How were the '80s was the perfect era for the empowering the teen protagonist in movies?   What other films used the ROCKY formula well (i.e. training montages, characters slowly changing/evolving)?   Which action stars of this era & the ones of today are really charismatic performers?   In contrast, which recent sequels did or didn't handle homages well?   Inbetween sharing hot takes, we try to dissect why it's become a part of the pop culture zeitgeist.   Wax on, wax off, Kemosabe!    

The penultimate episode of this Jackie Chan themed podcast week drops:   Bloggers and Filmbuffs Corey Danna & Fred Andersson enter the studio but which are their personal favorite entries in the SUPERCOP (A.K.A. POLICE STORY) franchise with Jackie and Michelle Yeoh?   How did director/stunt coordinator Stanley Tong & Jackie helm similar collaborations as a result?   What other films does Jackie portray a narc prior to this and post-POLICE STORY?   And Fred gets to note the ACES GO PLACES films being an interesting parallel franchise to this!    

In this brief overview, John & I question why Jackie's SHANGHAI NOON/KNIGHTS buddy films aren't more popular with both American and international audiences:   Why isn't Part 3 out already (and can we please not make RUSH HOUR 4 while we're at it)?   How many other fun character actors and genre favorites are in these movies?   And we also note some of Jackie's earlier buddy films and lesser known roles as a member of Bruce Lee's stunt team in the '70s!     AUDIO INTRO: Jackie Chan discusses playing Chon Wang in Shanghai Noon (2000 WFAA ABC Channel 8 News Interview)

The honoring of everyone's favorite modern-day physical comedian Jackie Chan continues: John Potoky and I reminisce about the two PROJECT A films and how they combined more acrobatic stunts while introducing Chan to do more spy movie mash-ups with his craft.   How did this inspire some of his later films like WHO AM I? and the OPERATION CONDOR series?   Which one has stuntwork that lives rent-free in genre lover's minds?   And which one is, you, the listener's personal favorite?   Sound off below and see you there that night!       AUDIO CLIP INTRO: Jackie Chan Interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (9/25/2002)  

Podcaster Johnny Potoky joins me for the entire themed week of Jackie Chan January:   We summarize the DRUNKEN MASTER movies in Chan's filmography while summing up their influence on similar Hong Kong Martial Arts Comedies.   Enjoy the minisode and remember to not start these kinds of fights the next time you're out at a bar!       AUDIO CLIP INTRO USED: Behind the Master (Drunken Master II: 2002 Dimension Films DVD Special Feature)

Comedian & Podcaster Kevin Israel returns to help me sum up some of the different teen/young adult apocalyptic book adaptations that divide audiences.   Why do they remind us how some of the '90s "Hunt or Be Hunted" movies were so much better?   Why are TV shows often more successful at getting their vision across?   And can any non-fans REALLY tell the Hunger Games, Maze Runner & Divergent franchises apart from one another?   Grab your bow-and-arrows and come hunting with us!     MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO USED: "Battle Rally" and "Stranger Land' by Soundscrate.

Crystal Hairston drops back into the studio to discuss two outrageously over-the-top Killer Baby Franchises: It's Alive & Basket Case!   Why were both coincidentally turnt into trilogies?   Was It's Alive one of Larry Cohen's more coherent B-pictures or was it more cheesy/low-brow fun?   Are any of the Basket Case films competently made or are they more of the trashy fun variety?   Come sit and listen with us as we continue this nostalgia themed podcast week!

Drop your Sword as we discuss the movie and book version of William Goldman's scripted THE PRINCESS BRIDE!   It's The Purple Rose of Cairo meets Monty Python in this endlessly rewatchable tale.   We also mention some less discussed trivia, some of the underrated jokes, the music talent involved & some of the other films it's inspired.       PLEASE NOTE: We recorded this long before the sudden murder of beloved filmmaker Rob Reiner but we knew that as we had to start off the year remembering his classic film just to cherish the memories he left for past and future audiences. Enjoy!

The podcast quintet is back to sum up the freakiest mysteries, memorably written scifi, well-acted terror, fascinating fantasies & most creative episodes featured on the original TWILIGHT ZONE.       SONG INTRO: "The Twilight Zone" by The Great Luke Ski

In this amusing re-edit, my beyond talented guests sum up some of the most bizarre, whacky, infamous and sometimes puzzling movies in Clint Eastwood's filmography.   We're all fans here but there are some which pose tons of questions with can only be answered with various shrugs (if not sighs).   What's your some of your favorite cheesy Clint Eastwood movies?     GUESTS INCLUDE: Jeffrey Rhodes (Unapologetically Stupid Podcast), Jay Skipworth (Film Strip Podcast), Sean Phillips (Guys at the Movies) & Will Styer (Geek with the Clip Ons)           INTRO CLIP USED: Why Burt Reynolds & Clint Eastwood Were Fired From Universal- CONAN on TBS Interview (Jun 21, 2018)    

We conclude the first week of the new year with a hysterical chat on crossovers/versus matches in fiction that should've been (but never were)!   Why didn't Tony Stark's dad & the Rocketeer team up in a steampunk adventure?   Should Jack Torrance & Patrick Bateman be in an axe fight match?   Why don't Jason Bourne & John Wick face-off?   Why are the Harlem Globe Trotters thrown into any encounter nowadays?   Would Dr. Katz & The Critic put up with each other's crap?   They should TOTALLY make a Godfather Vs. Scarface showdown but why didn't they?   All that and James & Oreo outlining the PERFECT Star Trek & Star Wars crossover concept!         SPEAKERS & GUESTS: Cam Sully, Daniel "Nightmare Nerd" Ryan, Oreo Brewer, The Pedator Minute trio (Cliff Stevenson, A-aron Landerville & Shane Kelley), James Bruno, Gil Palmer, Tom Lindaman & MIke Ensing     SONG INTRO: "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten

Oreo Brewer joins me back on the show as we discuss some of our favorite moments from the RIDDICK movies.   Are there other shows and anime that feel somewhat influenced by this mysterious ex-con who can see in the dark?   Why is there still a thirst for this saga this many years later?   What was the most dangerous planet he set foot on?   All that and more chronicles!

JJ, Tom & I were on one of several other casual pop culture discussions and in the midst of that we briefly summed up a brief overview on some oddball movies in Adam West's lengthy career.   Enjoy and be ready to learn something else about the late great legend!

Moviebuff colleague Tim Caldwell joins us for another outrageous chat: an amusing summary of the divisive POLICE ACADEMY film series.   How did this change up the dumb comedy format?   What other movies besides Caddyshack & Beverly Hills Cop have improvised every scene?   What's the funniest reference to this franchise in recent history?   All that and more (including why VERY FEW were fortunate to never see the infamous cartoon show spin-off)!      

We premiere the first week of  Season 13 with no shortage of the usual uncanny content:   We start one of five different episodes where we reminisce about entertainment treasures. For the first episode, James & I decided to dive into some infamous TV programs as well as some truly bizarre "One Season Wonders."   Sit down, grab a chair & feel free to let us know if you recognize any of these crazy shows we name-drop!    

We conclude the 12th Season the day after Christmas for a minisode on Luc Besson's SciFi Fantasy Trilogy: The Fifth Element, Lockout & Valerian.   Guests Oreo Brewer & Johnny Potoky bring up how these pre-STAR WARS comics and fantasy elements helped these film adaptations come to life in a post-mega blockbuster movie world.   Is FIFTH ELEMENT the most successful Bruce Willis film outside of his earlier '90s work (and is Korben Dallas his best role given how it allows him more comedic work while spoofing his DIE HARD ego)?   Are these movies perfect examples of paintings that can be reobserved and you find something new from them each time?   Is LOCKOUT still a damn fun time no matter which version you watch or did the Snake Plissken/Han Solo hero feel too derivative?   And should VALERIAN be given a better re-evaluation in this snobby internet world?   Come drive your flying car into space with us as we podcast across the galaxy!     MUSIC INTRO USED: "Redrum" Immediate Music (from The Fifth Element Trailer)    

On Christmas Day, you're getting more bullshit starring Bruce Willis for the holiday:   I briefly sum up Willis' final franchise that is both DIE HARD inspired and a rather forced homage/tribute on top of that.   Can you tell any of the 3 entries apart or do they all fade together?   Were any of them different in quality or was it all one overlong mess?   Plus, a brief spotlight on the indie director/producer duo (who also co-star in these films)!     FILMS DISCUSSED: Detective Knight: Rogue, Redemption & Independence     SONGS USED: "Delay Rock," "Cool Blast," "Groove Grove" and "Rock Hybrid" by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks joke with the podcast crew for this minisode about Action-Mystery films by Bruce Willis/Shane Black/Joel Silver that could've easily been a DIE HARD sequel.   Why is THE LAST BOY SCOUT mainly a LETHAL WEAPON movie co-starring John McClane?   Why is THE COLOR OF NIGHT a Giallo Erotic Thriller Mystery with a brief McClane car chase?   Plus, we also get to joke about other roles he did that are mainly Willis still in MOONLIGHTING mode!     FILMS DISCUSSED: The Last Boy Scout, The Player (especially that end movie parody sequence!), Striking Distance, Color of Night, Mercury Rising, Hostage (2005) & 16 Blocks

Caomh McGillion briefly stops by to help Cam sum up Bruce Willis' 30 VOD & Limited Release Movies prior to his retirement.   Which initial ones were rather reasonable B-movies/unofficial DIE HARD sequels?   Which ones easily rivaled the most infamous Steven Seagal/Mel Gibson/John Travolta/Sylvester Stallone/Eric Roberts/Mickey Rourke movies of late?   How did the producer of NARC/LONE SURVIVOR/THE IRISHMAN orchestrate such a ponzi scheme with these bottom-of-the-barrel Action flicks?   Were any of the other ensemble comedies & mystery flicks surprisingly well-done despite only having Bruce in a brief part?   All that and a proper farewell to one of cinema's once popular stars!     MOVIES REVIEWED: Set Up, Catch .44, Lay the Favorite, The Cold Light of Day, Fire with Fire, The Prince, Vice (2015), Rock the Kasbah, Extraction (2016), Precious Cargo, Marauders, Once Upon a Time in Venice, First Kill, Acts of Violence, Reprisal, Air Strike, Motherless Brooklyn, 10 Minutes Gone, Trauma Center, Survive the Night, Hard Kill, Breach, Cosmic Sin, Midnight in the Switchgrass, Out of Death, Survive the Game, APEX, Deadlock, Fortress, American Siege, Gasoline Alley, A Day to Die, Fortress: Sniper's Eye, Corrective Measures, Vendetta (2022), White Elephant, Wrong Place, Wire Room, Paradise City & Assassin (2023)             MUSIC USED: "Torn Jeans Medium" by Apple Free-To-Use Music.   "Die Hard 1 & 3 Trailer Music" by John Erik Alexander.   "Cool Rock," "Exhilarate," "Hitman," "Hot Rock," "Delay Rock" and "Rock Hybrid" by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   ADDITIONAL MUSIC by Soundscrate.

It's yet another DIE HARD themed Christmas Week to conclude the podcasting year:   Various guests return to cite irrefutable proof that DIE HARD (and even the 2nd & 5th sequel) are Christmas/Winter themed movies while playing the Christmas related music & dialogue from the film itself!   GUESTS INCLUDE: Jasen Bach, Oliver Rockside, Summer Brooks, Ethan Weeks, Ken Bates, Cliff Stevenson & A-aron Landerville     MUSIC PLAYED: "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-D.M.C. "Let It Snow" by Vaughn Monroe "Fuck Christmas" by Eric Idle

The week concludes with a retrospect on our favorite moments in the LETHAL WEAPON films.   Which movies started the "cut the red or blue wire" trope?   How much improvised comedy were in these films?   Are these the films that made Mel Gibson go crazy (or was it always unavoidable)?   All that and more summaries of physical comedy at its late '80s best!     GUESTS: Jasen Bach, Oliver Rockside, Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks   SONGS USED: "Lethal Weapon" by Ice-T "Lethal Weapon Trailer Music" by John Eric Alexander "Perspectives Medium" by Apple free-to-use music

Every good (or bad) movie needs an awesome villain and producer Joel Silver ensured that was the case with most of his movies.   We mention all kinds of antagonists rom Lethal Weapon & 48 Hrs.  To The Warriors, Executive Decision & Die Hard To Demolition Man, Streets of Fire, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Losers & Ricochet To The Last Boy Scout, Ninja Assassin, Demon Knight, Predator & Road House.   How many actors keep being reused in all of his movies?   P.S. Al Leong is still a national treasure!     CHECK OUT OUR STELLAR GUESTS: Summer Brooks (The Babylon Project),  Film Blogger Ethan Weeks, Oliver Rockside & Jasen Bach (In Your Earholes)     SONG/AUDIO INTRO: New York Film Academy 2016 interview with Joel Silver "Captured" by James Horner (from the Commando OST)  

Another all-star crew assembles for the rest of this month to highlight the beloved Action Comedies brought to life by antsy producer Joel Silver & witty screenwriter Shane Black.   What fictional movie producer characters are clearly inspired by Joel Silver's colorful antics?   Why did Shane Black make the best kind of cynical comedy & holiday movie mayhem mash-ups for the longest time?   All that and more uncanny film history!     GUESTS INCLUDE: Jasen Bach, Oliver Rockside, Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks   Featuring a Cameo by Culture Shocked's Mike Craig & Corey Baker!     OPENING AUDIO CLIP: John C. Tibbetts Interviews: Stuart Baird and Joel Silver promoting Executive Decision (1996)

The infamous Stallone franchise rankings continue this holiday season because, yes, the original RAMBO is set at Christmas!   Oreo, Cliff & Josh return to share their amusing rankings on everyone's favorite Green Beret led franchise.   TALKING POINTS INCLUDE: *We also give out exploding arrows & "Fuck 'Ems" as our measure of rating the films *Much like ROCKY V, there are surprisingly some fans of RAMBO 5 (and it's not the same person, trust me) *Is this still the rare franchise that balanced out low-brow sounding premises with psychological thrills and tactical suspense? *And a brief overview on the post-Vietnam dramas that preceded it.   SONG INTRO: "Preparations" by Jerry Goldsmith (from Rambo II)

Prepare for another week of blockbuster '80s movies set at Christmas time:   Cliff Stevenson, Josh Hansen & Oreo Brewer return to help us sort and rank the ROCKY and CREED movie franchise.   TALKING POINTS INCLUDE: *Should Rocky blame that toy robot of his for all the bad luck he endures? *We also talk about how Philadelphia is just as vital a character & the inspiring music used in the saga *What if Rocky & Rambo were the same character...? *Why wasn't Carl Weathers in more franchises? *Are the Creed films one of the few spin-offs/sequels that become their own format while also properly updating a beloved franchise? *How many other great actors from HBO's The Wire appear in the Creed films?    

We finish what we started last Christmas season: discussing some deep dives in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon catalogue.   Which installments didn't get much replay?   And which ones should totally be hunted down and viewed by all generations who desire quality cartoon time with the family?   Laugh, run and talk with us as we're on fire here talking about pure nostalgia for all age groups!

We got to keep in the Christmas spirit by mentioning more atypical ways to celebrate the holiday so I bring up the six season-appropriate episodes of THE WEST WING.   Which episode is not a good stand-alone episode?   Which episode has the holiday featured but barely spends much time on making use of that setting?   And which ones are just plain good television in general?     SONGS USED: "The Oval Office To Main Title ," "Walking the West Wing" and "Ways and Means" music tracks by W.G. Snuffy Walden (from the official soundtrack)    

We decided to do a wonderful showcase + tribute to the legacy of TV host Mister Rogers.   TALKING POINTS INCLUDE: *Mike, Gil & I all get to discuss the documentary and Tom Hanks biopic on the subject matter *James also talks about how his dad worked at a Sears & Roebuck company that was a sponsor for the show back in the day *Does Keith David get any fanmail from being on this show? *We also discuss the many network & cable TV channel's programs for different Captain Kangeroo type material at this time *Other educational programs with a similar format *One of us got really emotional mid-recording while doing this detailed tribute to a selfless icon who wanted to truly help those around him *A clip from Fred Rogers' 1997 Acceptance Speech at the 24th Daytime Emmys Awards is featured *How Mr. Rogers encouraged America to overcome the 9/11 tragedy *We talk about many of the ways that dealing with unwanted dreams, peers' alcoholism and anger can be solved by many of the lessons that Mr. Rogers sponsored *And we also mention the SCTV, National Lampoon Radio Hour, Clerks Comic Book, Celebrity Death Match & Ultimate Showdown parodies of this amazing icon!