Window Dressing

Shelly Johnson's episode, Played By Madchen Amick, marks my last episode in Window Dressing's Twin Peak's mini-season: Women Of The Woods. I began this series with Norma Jennings, played by Peggy Lipton. It seems apt that I end with the woman she has worked hard to support in an act of care that she did not receive from her mother.

This week on Window Dressing's Twin Peaks mini season: The Women of the Woods, I talk about Sherilyn Fenn's character Audrey Horne. Audrey's transformation from high schooler in red hot high heels to fully formed adult in a powder pink sweater isn't just the trajectory of Audrey, it also defines the trajectory of the show.

I would like to recommend a new podcast by critic and podcaster Frank Calvillo. What Ever Happened to Bette and Joan looks at the later careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford following the success of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, exploring the variety of projects they took on and the committed performances the two legends gave. From Strait-Jacket to The Nanny, Trog to Wicked Stepmother, join Frank as he traces What Ever Happened to Bette & Joan? Available on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts as part of the One of Us network.

This installment of Women In The Woods: Window Dressing's Twin Peaks mini season is all about Laura...and her identical twin cousin Madeline.

Norma Jennings is the first portrait in Window Dressing's Twin Peaks mini-season: Women Of The Woods. Played by the ultimate 1960s blonde beauty, Peggy Lipton. Norma is the heart of Twin Peaks and the victim of one of the most heartbreaking and ill-fated love affairs in TV history. But it's her relationship with Shelly Johnson that defines her deep capacity for love and underlines her strength and beauty.

I am pleased to announce season 4 of Window Dressing—A Twin Peaks Mini Season: Women of The Woods. David Lynch's death affected me deeply, and I think it's time I explored the influential pop culture that was Twin Peaks. My approach will be slightly different from others, but it will be right on brand for me. I plan to devote individual episodes to the women of Twin Peaks who touched me. I begin with an overview of the series.

Rapper Iggy Azalea helped define the culture of the 2010s with her decadent figure, blonde hair, and Alicia Silverstone-inspired version of the American Dream.  This week, I get into the joy of her pop culture reference heavy music videos and the controversies and sex positivity that canonized her in the popular imagination.As promised, here is the Instagram account I reference in the episode for coining the phrase “Iggy is the Lana Del Rey of rap.”  @iluvlindsaylohan

This week I bring you a a casual chat with my friend Ani Danielian about our mutual love of Anora. This episode is dedicated to Ani and the Oscars hopeful Mickey Madison. Thank you @ani.danielian (on Instagram)

This week I bring you yet another bonus Lynch episode this one dedicated to lovers on the run. Wild At Heart opens like Casino and Ends like True Romance, carrying the pixie dust of Tinkerbell throughout. This 1990 masterpiece is a hero's journey if the journey was paved by the promise of the American dream—lovers' edition.

Join me and my special guest Frank Calvillo Film critique and fellow Fletcher enthusiast to discuss the 1973 film Night Watch starring Elizabeth Taylor. The film was written by famed writer Lucille Fletcher. Fletcher brought us the 1943 radio play Sorry, Wrong Number and the subsequent 1948 film of the same title starring Barbara Stanwyck as Leona. Leona died at her husband's hand. It took nearly 3 decades but she finally gets her revenge via Taylor's portrayal of Ellen in Night Watch.

In tribute to David Lynch and Los Angeles, California, my home, I bring you a bonus episode about his 2001 film Mulholland Dr.  In light of the devastating fires here in LA and Lynch's recent death just shy of his 79th birthday, I thought now would be a good time to devote an episode to him.  The reverence David Lynch had for the city of Los Angeles, the dream of Hollywood, and the magic of the movies transcends tragedy.  This episode is dedicated to him, the city of Los Angeles, and the magic in the heart of Hollywood. As always, this episode is written, performed, and edited by me-Madelaine Jane Auble.

This week I discuss Megan Fox, her status as a man-eating icon, and her very relatable experiences with abusive men. Stay safe LA LA fire resources to donate to: Red Cross: Donate to help families affected by wildfires by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or texting CAWILDFIRES to 90999  California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund: Donate to help the most vulnerable Angelenos affected by wildfires  Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: Donate to support the firefighters who respond to wildfires 

Spoiler alert! In this bonus episode about the recent Mikey Madison film Anora, I go through the whole film scene by scene. Anora takes cues from some of my favorite crime comedies from the 1930s but performs modernity the way only a neon sign at a strip club can. I wrote this episode the day before the Los Angeles fires and evacuations. I held the release for several days but am releasing it now because people may need a distraction from the tragedy we are still experiencing. Please donate to the Red Cross, the LAFD, or the Los Angeles Humane Society as soon as possible if you are able. The whole city needs your help.

In my second and final Britney Spears episode I get into her divorce from Kevin Federline, custody battle, 5150, and conservatorship. I am releasing this episode on the anniversary of her January 4th, 2007 5150. I am doing this with love and respect as it falls near my own traumatic anniversary. It is so important to own our own stories because as Britney's conservatorship shows us, the world wants to silence and co-opt our power for their benefit. My ex-boyfriend recently co-opted the anniversary of my rape in an effort to injure me and express his power. This affects every woman in this country regardless of status.

Britney Spears represents the 2000s better than any other star. She was publicly degraded, shamed, and ultimately reduced to being a workhorse for her daddy. The tragedy of Britney's fame reminds us of the insidious yet clearly visible hatred of women that seems to trump even the most powerful women's will. In this first part I focus on her early career and the joy that she brought, and continues to bring to the world.

Window Dressing's Quickie Film Review Corner: Short film reviews of particularly special new movies. I'm starting with two in one: The Last Showgirl and Anora. Time Stamps: The Last Showgirl Anora

In the final episode of my Aubrey O'Day, Making The Band and Diddy series I discuss Danity Kane's video Bad Girl and the break up of the group. I examine Diddy's public firing of Aubrey and the slander he threw at her as an excuse for his actions.

This is the second part of my three-part Aubrey O'Day, Making The Band, & Diddy episode. Aubrey has been vocal about who Diddy is and how he treated her and others for decades. She was demonized, dismissed, and straight up slut shamed as a result of her honesty and unwillingness to bow down to him. Now is the time to give her the credit she deserves.

This "Diddy Addendum" episode addresses the new accusations against Jennifer Lopez in connection with Diddy's alleged crimes.

Window Dressing's third season, Sirens and Gossip Rag Goddesses of the New Millennium starts with a deep dive into Aubrey O'Day, the MTV reality show Making The Band -that she rose to fame on, The girl group Danity Kane-that came out of the show, and Puff Daddy aka Diddy who was behind the show and the horrendous power dynamics on it. Aubrey has been vocal about who Diddy is and how he treated her and others for decades. She has been demonized, dismissed, and straight up slut shamed as a result of her honesty and unwillingness to bow down to him. In a series of three episodes, I dive into the details of the show, her life, and the unraveling legal battles Diddy is entrenched in.

Window Dressing's season 3 topic will be Sirens and Gossip Rag Goddesses of The New Millenium.

In my very special Halloween episode, I explore true crime, sex work, and media of the 1980s through the lens of this summer's horror hit MaXXXine. It is the third film in Ty West's trilogy. Maxine isn't worried about crime, Aids, or drug addiction. She is concerned with fame, or as she says, “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.” The adage is a gift from her father, a preacher turned serial killer who represents the patriarchy in its purest form. The buxom bootstrap babe makes her way through Hollywood in a twisty and turny homage of a film that climaxes on the Hollywood Sign in a standoff with a shotgun to her daddy's face. My sources for this film include Michael Connely's podcast turned mini-series The Wonderland Massacre & the Secret History of Hollywood and the Netflix docuseries Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer.

In this special edition episode of Window Dressing we (myself and special guest Colleen Raspberry) recap Murder, She Wrote season 6, episode 11: Town Father. The mayor is up for re-election, weekenders are trying to gentrify Cabot Cove, and a seemingly naive redhead from Casper Wyoming causes quite the stir.

In my season finale of season two of Window Dressing: American Trash and National Treasures I talk about my favorite arm of the Housewives franchise and my favorite woman in it: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Lisa Rinna. The cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is very interested in accountability and truth. If you break down the “drama” on the show, it is usually fueled by a desire to get the facts of a situation, reckon with them, and then move on. The queen of this investigative work is Lisa Rinna of Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, and QBC fame. She wants to lay it out there and tell the truth, or as her season 12 tagline put it, “Hi, I'm karma, and yes, I am a bitch.” Season 12 was her last season of the show.

MGM's 1931 film A Free Soul and Norma Shearer's role as Jan is the topic of this episode of Window Dressing. This film fits neatly into my season two theme: American Trash and National Treasures. Shearer is the treasure, addiction is the undercurrent, and trash is how Clark Gable's character Ace treats her in this classic film costumed by Adrian.

Daisy de la Hoya speaks to me about her time on the VH1 reality shows Rock of Love and Daisy of Love. She also shares her thoughts and feelings on life. Thank you Vanessa for taking the time to speak with me

Daisy was the breakout hit of Rock of Love season two and starred in her own VH1 show Daisy of Love. In this episode, I delve into both shows and her role in culture. I will be interviewing Daisy in a follow-up episode that will be out shortly.

A new episode is coming the first week of July! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

This week I wrap up my Tori Spelling discussion with the continuation of Donna and Ray's tumultuous relationship. Ray chipped away at Donna's dignity through verbal abuse that escalated to physical abuse. But, Donna wins out in the end by standing in her Tori Spelling branded power source-her kindness. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

This week I focus on the later years of 90210—specifically season 5.  The days where Donna's storyline became the primary storyline and her hair went from long to short and her boyfriend changed from David to Griffith to Ray.  Ray Pruitt played by Jamie Walters epitomizes the unstable nice guy so many of us have encountered in our dating life and Donna plays the lost lamb we have all stood next to on the slaughter house steps. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

In the next couple of episodes, I delve into one of the most influential teen dramas of all time— and a personal touchstone of my childhood: Beverly Hills 90210. Specifically Tori Spelling's character Donna Martin and Tori's life post 90210, including her very public divorce, her reality show True Tori, and her two podcasts Misspelling and 9021omg. This week I focus on one episode of 90210 in particular and its real-world subject matter—the international modeling market. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

Tori Spelling Part 1 - one week delay --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

Jessica Fletcher Part 2 is a smorgasbord from which I cherry-pick a smattering of episodes and scenes from Murder, She Wrote to give a more holistic sense of the series. The episodes for this week are Truck Stop, Something Borrowed, Someone Blue, and The Magnum P.I. crossover episode Magnum on Ice. I recommend listening to part one before listening to part 2 for context about Angela Lansbury, her character Jessica Fletcher, and the show.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

This episode's topic is the Murder, She Wrote episode inspired by Hugh Hefner and Playboy. I focus on the personal toll the politics of the time, and Playboy has taken on women culturally through the lens of Angela Lansbury's famed portrayal of female protagonist Jessica Fletcher. The season 2 episode of Murder, She Wrote Episode inspired by Playboy: Christopher Bundy Died on Sunday is littered with references to stories that had been coming out of the mansion for decades by the time it aired in 1986. Since Hefner's death, those stories have come to light through docu-series like The Secrets of Playboy and Playboy Murders, along with tell-all books that predate Hefner's death like Jennifer Saginor's, Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside The Playboy Mansion and Holly Madison's book Down The Rabbit Hole, among many others. I rely heavily on all those resources in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

In part two of my Heather Locklear episode I pick up mid-series in Melrose Place and end with Texas Justice the 1995 made-for-TV mini-series starring Heather Locklear as the real-life Priscilla Davis, a victim of two attempted murder plots on the part of her husband, Texas millionaire Thomas Cullen Davis. Her portrayal of Priscilla didn't win her a lot of fanfare but it did win her a special place in my heart. A few notes: No costume designer is listed in the credits or on the IMDB page for Texas Justice. Melrose Place, like 90210 had many different costume designers, so I did not reference any specifically in this or the first Heather Locklear episode. Special thanks to Bitchslap, the Melrose Place re-watch podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

This week on Window Dressing: American Trash and National Treasures is the first of a two-part episode dedicated to the queen of TV Heather Locklear. Locklear spent the entirety of the 1980s, 1990s, and part of the 2000s on hit Television shows. Specifically Aaron Spelling TV Shows. I focus on her role as Amanda Woodward in Melrose Place and her portrayal of Priscilla Davis in the true crime mini-series, Texas Justice. I also discuss Heather herself-her icon status and the construction and influence of "The Bitch." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

This week I discuss the most well-known and reviled Femme Fatale in film history: Phyllis Dietrichson, played by one of the most well-respected and loved actresses in American film: Barbara Stanwyck. The 1944 film noir Double Indemnity is one of the shiniest, most monied film noirs produced in its time. The film is based on James M. Cain's book of the same name. The story itself is inspired by a true crime that is so American it smells like apple pie and fresh blood. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/madelaine-jane-auble/message

It's difficult to articulate Alabama's, and by extension Patricia Arquette's charm in the 1993 film True Romance. It's somewhere close to a fairy princess that has fallen from her tower to earth and landed near a pack of Chesterfields, a cubic zirconia wedding band, and a hamburger stand in Hollywood. The only one for her is Christian Slater's depiction of a midwesterner who drives a Cadillac, talks to Elvis, and literally kills for her love. If she is the dream, he is the one that prevents it from being dashed by reality. That's a tall order but it happened in the only place it could—the land of dreams: Hollywood California

I will discuss Laura Leighton's character on Melrose Place Sydney Andrews. Sydney is cut from the same cloth as last week's heroine, Kitty March, played by Joan Bennett. She moons and swoons over her sister's soon-to-be ex-husband Micheal Mancini the same way Kitty melted in the arms of Johnny Prince, her pimp boyfriend played by Dan Duryea. Sydney is a love-to-hate brand of soap queen that is the stuff of daytime and primetime legend. This particular femme fatale came with a large dose of Americana thanks to the show's producer Aaron Spelling.

Joan Bennett stars as Katherine (Kitty) March in the 1945 Fritz Lang film Scarlet Street. Her character is a unique kind of femme fatale- she is innocent and dripping with a sexuality that she is more than willing to use to her advantage, or more specifically her pimp boyfriend Johnny's (played by Dan Duryea) advantage. In this episode, I explore the strange yet deeply relatable struggle between the romance of innocence and youth and the grown-up desires of the flesh. All are easily exploitable by any and all men not just murderous painters and snake oil salesmen pimps.

This week on Window Dressing: American Trash and National Treasures I untangle the web of Hitchcock's 1958 film Vertigo. I take a deeply personal look into Madeline, Judy, Carlotta, and Midge's roles in the scheme of womanhood and romance. This is the second part of my first episode about the 1988 film Heart of Midnight, two very different films that fill similar spaces emotionally.

Season two of Window Dressing: American Trash and National Treasures begins with the 1988 film Heart of Midnight. In this season I will discuss the women of American culture and cultural products that are either revered or reviled. I will put Lisa Rinna and Joan Crawford at the same level and give films like Vertigo and this episode's Heart of Midnight the same weight. As usual, every component of this podcast is created by me with love and genuine admiration for film and television and the women who make it matter. This week that woman is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Carol playing opposite Peter Coyote as Shapre. Trigger warning on this episode, rape, porn, and brutality run rampant in this film and my discussion of it.

Klute and Heartbreak is my more personal take on the 1971 Jane Fonda film Klute. This is a between-seasons "one-off" episode where I try to dissect what it is about this film that I find so comforting and relevant to my life today. I approach Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda's character) and her relationship with John Klute (Donald Sutherland's character) through the lens of modern womanhood and heartbreak. If you're interested in Jane Fonda's life and career during this time period or just want to do a deeper dive into Klute listen to my first season episode on Jane Fonda.

BONUS EPISODE: Window Dressing's very special Santa Anna winds Halloween episode: I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer—these 1997 and 1998 classic teen slasher's mark the genre's renaissance culturally. I focus on Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt's characters, Julie and Helen as the archetypal blonde and brunette teen scream queens. 

The season finale of Window Dressing: Glamour Girl Next Store: MGM to Playboy is all about Holly Madison and Playboy. She was the last star to come out of Playboy and the first one to successfully take ownership over the Playboy legacy through caring for it. She eclipsed Hugh Hefner from his own bed.  In this episode I talk about her, Brigette Marquart, Kendra Wilkinson, The Girls Next Store and Holly's place in the history of Playboy.  

Cultural phenomenon and icon Pamela Anderson changed beauty standards and the conversation around female power sources in this country forever. She became the first Playmate to successfully cross over into the mainstream - only to have her new found power taken from her after the theft and release of her, and then husband Tommy lee's private home movie(s). Twenty years later she has finally told her own story, after an unsolicited television show forced her hand. In this episode I talk about the Hulu show, Baywatch, Playboy and a near academic breakdown of the sex tape. All is done with kindness, respect, and a deep love for Pamela. My resources include all of her Playboy covers, several of her books including: Star: A Novel (2004), Raw (2015), Lust for Love: Rekindling Intimacy and Passion in Your Relationship (2015), and Love, Pamela (2023), multiple interviews, her 2005 Comedy Central roast, Baywatch, Pam and Tommy (2022), and Pam and Tommy Lee: Hardcore and Uncensored (1996).

The character of Ginger in the 1995 film Casino is one of the best roles of all time (in my book). This week I come to the defense of the maligned character and make a case for the dripping in glamour women she is based on and all the woman Stone's portrayal has inspired.

This week I talk about Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, Cryin, and Crazy. The latter two being early 1990s Aerosmith rock opera style music videos. I attempt to describe what she did for me as a young girl and what she represents to the culture - now and then. Teen girl icon doesn't begin to cover the impact she has had. She is one of my favorite people and it is a joy for me to talk about what she embodied for me growing up and honestly to this day.

The second part of my Dyan Cannon discussion includes the film she wrote, directed, and starred in called The End of Innocence. Rebecca Schaeffer plays the younger version of Dyan's character in this film. It was her last role before her murder at the hands of a crazed fan on the doorstep of her West Hollywood home. Her death is the reason we have stalking laws in this country. I discuss her murder, along with 3 other notable names in the 1980s, Dominique Dunn, Theresa Saldana, and playmate Dorothy Stratten. The "reason" for Rebecca's murder was a role she played in the 1989 comedy Scenes from the Class Struggles in Beverly Hills. That film and her role in it is discussed at length along with the details of the laws that went into place after her death. Resources include The End of Innocence and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, Dyan's memoir, a 2020 episode about Rebecca's murder, Theresa Saldana's film Victims for Victims, Star 80, and countelss other interviews memoirs and magazine articles consumed over the course of my life.

This is the first episode of two Dyan Cannon episodes ranging from the 1960s-1990's. Dyan is a Hollywood mainstay that ushered in a different kind of "it" girl- the comedian with an appetite for sex and a sense of humor about men. She had a wild life and the roles she played are fully embodied examples of her experience and knowledge. Her laugh alone does a lot for humanity but her brutal honesty is a holy quality that we could use more of as a society. All of these episodes are deeply personal for me but talking about Dyan gave me a lot of insight into what I value in women and in society generally. I hope it does the same for you. My sources this week were her memoir My Life With Carey and her body of work. Including a slew of interviews she has done over many many decades. I also spend a significant amount of time on her instagram page, even when I am not writing about her. I highly recommend you check that out @therealdyancannon.

Jane Fonda embodied the girl next store in the early 1960s and a sex kitten in the latter half of the decade. By the time the 1970s rolled around she became the "real woman" type that embodied the realism and political uncertainty of the new decade. In this episode I talk about two of her transitional films- They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and Klute. The latter marks the beginning of the neo-noir era. Fonda's character Bree Daniels wardrobe marked a tide change in American Fashion. Costumed by Ann Roth, Klute is as important visually as it was culturally. This week's resources are Jane Fonda's biography " My Life So Far". and the HBO doc "Jane Fonda In Five Acts." In addition to a lifetime of collected imagery, articles and common knowledge about the American Royalty that is Jane Fonda.