Podcasts about Music Box Theatre

Head to the Binny's at 7330 W North Ave (Route 64) in Elmwood Park, to get your Parce this week! BRUCE BOLT - Texas-based designer of premium batting gloves: Look good. Hit dingers. ⁠⁠https://brucebolt.us/?afmc=HAPP⁠ On this week's episode of the Compound Podcast with Ian Happ, the guys recap the live show this past weekend at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, then chat with Dave Phillips, the co-founder of the Titleist Performance Insititute about the new technology he has developed to advance baseball. Check out full video episodes on Marquee every Thursday and on YouTube on the Marquee Sports Network channel. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris welcomed on Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes for transition.

Meet Jon Lovitz, acclaimed actor and comedian. You may know him from Saturday Night Live, The Critic, A League of Their Own, or his many appearances across film and TV. Jon has also appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon’s play “The Dinner Party”, taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He has sung at Carnegie Hall three times and performed the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open. Please enJOY my conversation with Jon!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener requested this title quite some time ago and it finally happened! Film critic Nell Minow joins Kerry and Collin to talk about this relatively obscure, but wonderful movie that might just be the first ever in the sub-genre of holiday films where the family returns home for the holiday festivities and slowly start airing their grievances and secrets. Do clergymen really enjoy doing the Christmas sermons? Is there a moment in "Love Actually" that is a tribute to this movie? How does director Mike Leight figure into all of this? All the answers to all of these questions, plus an extended "knitability" segment, as well as three more films from "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." Before any of that, though, you get a chance to win a pair of free movie tickets from the Chicago Critics Film Festival, which runs May 2-8, 2025 at the Music Box Theatre.  Book films covered: "The Wages of Fear" (1953) "Viridiana" (1951) "Secrets & Lies" (1996)

Warfare is a 2025 war film written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. Based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a U.S. Navy SEAL, the film is a re-enactment of an encounter he and his platoon experienced on November 19, 2006 in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi. To maintain historical accuracy, the film's material is exclusively taken from the testimonies of the platoon members, and is presented in real time beginning from the main title. It stars an ensemble cast that includes D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Mendoza alongside Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini. The film is dedicated to platoon member Elliott Miller, played by Jarvis, who lost his leg and voice in the incident.Warfare premiered at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 16, 2025, and was released in the United States by A24 on April 11, 2025, and in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Oscar, Victor, Hector, and (Rod)rigo discuss the MUBI FEST Chicago taking place at the Music Box Theatre & The Salt Shed, and evolving along with the local social scene.The 4x4 segment includes songs by Saba, Wet Leg, The Shanghai Restoration Project, and Coco Jones. Follow along with the monthly 4x4 picks by Liking the YCT Playlist on Spotify & subscribing to the podcast. Listen to all of the music discussed on the latest episode of the show here: https://spoti.fi/3rTsZ9TYou can also listen to the YCT Playlist on Apple Music: https://apple.co/39CwlaC

Vice President J.D. Vance dropped the NCAA football championship trophy at a White House ceremony, CBS News anchor Gayle King kissed the ground after returning from space, President Trump's doctor says golfing is keeping him in good shape, and Sen. Bernie Sanders surprised the crowd at Coachella. Emmy- and Olivier Award-winning actor Sarah Snook tells Stephen how he prepared for the grueling challenge of starring in a one-woman Broadway play where she speaks 60,000 words and embodies 26 different characters. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is playing now at the Music Box Theatre. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We present our Warfare (2025) review! Warfare is a 2025 war action film written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. Based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a U.S. Navy SEAL, the film is a re-enactment of an encounter he and his platoon experienced on November 19, 2006 in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi.[4] To maintain historical accuracy, the film's material is exclusively taken from the testimonies of the platoon members, and is presented in real time beginning from the title drop. It stars an ensemble cast that includes D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Mendoza alongside Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn and Charles Melton. The film is dedicated to platoon member Elliott Miller, played by Jarvis, who lost his leg and voice in the incident. Warfare premiered at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 16, 2025, was released in the United States by A24 on April 11, 2025, and pending release in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2025. The film received highly positive reviews from critics. Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network. Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76 alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark RadulichLCSW Tiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza's Warfare is now in theatres, and we can't recommend it enough! Based on first-person accounts of a 2006 attack on US Navy SEALs in Iraq, the film offers a harrowing, on-the-ground look at modern combat.In this spoilerific review, Ian and Cati dive into what makes this a standout among the war-picture genre--and share their experience of having front-row seats to the Chicago premiere, with the co-directors and star Will Poulter in attendance!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Warfare (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the review, you can catch the full Q&A from last month's Music Box Theatre special screening, featuring co-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, and star Will Poulter!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to talk about the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival, returning to The Music Box Theatre this May. They also review the latest releases, including Drop, The Amateur, Sacramento, and Warfare. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for another round of the Ultimate Pop Culture Quiz. They also swap stories about life in college dorms, reflect on the chaotic brilliance of Supermarket Sweep, and dive into the bizarre late-'90s trend of performing autopsies on Furbys. [Ep 340]

In this episode of *Half Hour with Jeff & Richie*, we dive into the Broadway production of The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Music Box Theatre. Featuring Sarah Snook's captivating one-person performance, we discuss how Kip Williams' direction and innovative use of technology bring Oscar Wilde's classic tale to life. From themes of vanity and youth to the immersive video design that redefines storytelling, we explore why this production is a game-changer for Broadway. Plus, we share our thoughts on its Tony Awards potential and the future of tech-driven theater.   Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on Instagram, and YouTube. Share your thoughts with us on The Picture of Dorian Gray on our podcast cover post on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

usic Box Theatre has curated a selection that will hit the home run for baseball fans and film buffs alike in their series “Play Ball!” Reset sits down with the series programmer Jeremy Marder and WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout to break down what makes this pairing of film and baseball so riveting. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Earth's Mightiest Critics don't toy around--even when reviewing Osgood Perkins' The Monkey!In this (very loose) adaptation of a short story from Stephen King's Skeleton Crew collection, Theo James plays twin brothers Hall and Bill, who, as children, discovered a cursed monkey toy in a closet. When winding the gold key in its back, the spooky little novelty beats its drum...and someone dies! Decades later, after having rid themselves of the evil thing, the monkey shows up to resume its reign of terror!In what is sure to be one of the podcast's more animated episodes (one critic calls The Monkey a "year's best", another "one of the worst in years"), the gang will get into Perkins' success at bringing the short story to the big screen; the pitfalls of horror/comedy; and how this stacks up to other King adaptations!Join us as we get wound up talking spoilers and taking your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Monkey trailer.Cati filmed Osgood Perkins' recent Q&A at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre, following a sneak preview of The Monkey. Check it out! Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Yearly film series Melanin, Roots, and Culture celebrates Black stories and filmmakers at the Music Box Theatre, wrapping up tonight with “Life Within The Lens” — a short film screening showcasing Chicago creators. Other featured films included ‘The Woman King,' ‘Here and Now' and more. Film programmer Tyler Michael Balentine discussed the series with Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder. Find more information at musicboxtheatre.com. "The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic.

Yearly film series Melanin, Roots, and Culture celebrates Black stories and filmmakers at the Music Box Theatre, wrapping up tonight with “Life Within The Lens” — a short film screening showcasing Chicago creators. Other featured films included ‘The Woman King,' ‘Here and Now' and more. Film programmer Tyler Michael Balentine discussed the series with Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder. Find more information at musicboxtheatre.com. "The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic.

Earth's Mightiest Critics return to kick off the year-long deluge of comic-book movies with a look at Captain America: Brave New World!Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, with a newly minted mantle and a global conspiracy to put down. Can he stop the shadowy figure pitting the United States against Japan for control of a mysterious cosmic resource? Can he keep President "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford) from losing his temper and turning into the Red Hulk? And just how badly did the handful of reshoots hamper this film's ability to tell a story worthy of the Cap brand?Join us for super-charged spoiler talk and find out! We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow Links Watch the Captain America: Brave New World trailer.As mentioned in the show, Cati filmed Osgood Perkins' recent Q&A at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre, following a sneak preview of The Monkey (which we reviewed here)! Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian sits down with writer/director Adam Rehmeier and stars Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs to talk about their cult hit comedy, Dinner in America!Gallner stars as Simon, a troubled and struggling punk rocker who will do anything to break out of his small Michigan town (and avoid the cops). He meets Patty (Skeggs), a twenty-year-old pet store worker whom everyone writes off as mentally challenged (the movie is not so precise with its words). Together, they embark on a spree of awakening, revenge, and even...*gulp* love in this twisted romp that recalls Heathers, Pump Up the Volume, and Welcome to the Dollhouse!The film's 2020 release was knee-capped by a global pandemic, but has recently found new life through social media. In this spoiler-lite round table, the cast and creator talk about bringing their in-your-face suburban-malaise fable to life; bringing out the actors' wild side to play characters very different from themselves; and how fandom has finally caught up with Dinner in America!Plus: We're pretty sure Emily performs magic at the end! Oh, and before we forget: Adam, Emily, and Kyle will be in Chicago this Monday at the Windy City's historic Music Box Theatre for exclusive screenings and Q&A's of the film. See below for more info on this One-Night-Only event!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow Links Watch the Dinner in America trailer.Get tickets (while you still can--the 7pm show is sold out) to The Music Box Theatre's special 9:45pm Dinner in America screening happening this Monday, February 3rd. Adam, Emily, and Kyle will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A!Can't make it to Chicago? You can stream Dinner in America at home via Hulu (but, seriously, get your butt to Chi-town!).

Broadway's"Suffs"  tells the story of the fight for women's suffrage, led by National Woman's Party founder Alice Paul. The show won Tony Awards for both Best Book and Best Original Score, as well as a number of nominations including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role (Nikki M. James) and Best Direction (Leigh Silverman). James and Silverman join us. "Suffs"  is running at Music Box Theatre through Jan. 5.

Happy New Year, to all our beloved, black-gloved bellezze!Accademia Giallo is back with a special "Credito Extra" look at The Music Box Theatre's latest edition of its wildly popular "January Giallo" film series--kicking off this Monday, January 6!Co-programmers William Morris and Katie Rife join Ian to talk about how this terrifying tradition made its way to Chicago and what genre fans can expect from this year's lineup.Far from being a 40-minute infomercial, Will and Katie pull back the curtain on the surprising challenges of putting together an annual film series; reveal why Giallo has become so popular with younger audiences; offer a delicious tease of untapped international gialli, which may be coming soon to a classroom near you! If you're in Chicagoland on any Monday this month, treat yourself to a lurid evening of backstabbing, front-stabbing, J&B Scotch, and bumbling cops! January Giallo is back!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow Links Watch the trailer for The Music Box Theatre's "January Giallo 2025" series!And get your tickets to these scream-worthy screenings every Monday, starting January 6!Support our guests's creative and critical exploits! William Morris of Music Box of Horrors and Oscarbate Film Collective.Katie Rife, of too many things to list! So here's a handy Muckrack page with all the links.You can also follow Katie on X.If you haven't seen our interview with legendary director Sergio Martino from “January Giallo 2024”, you can check it out here.Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

In a Holiday spectacular that is older in concept than this very show, Seamus and Garrett FINALLY make their pilgrimage to the historic Music Box Theatre for the White Christmas/It's a Wonderful Life Double Feature! Plus, we report on the discontinuation of Sesame Street from Warner Bros. in our embedded position on the frontlines of the War on the Muppets, and we take a longer look at the history of The Music Box Theatre. Episode timecodes: News - 0:57 Warner Bros. discontinues new Sesame Street episodes- 0:57 White Christmas - 7:20 It's a Wonderful Life - 31:30 Pop Culture Reference (The Music Box Theatre) - 59:16 Save The Rec Center Best & Worst of 2024 - 1:07:19 Reach the show: Email: popculturereferencepod@gmail.com Twitter: @PCR_Podcast TikTok: @PCR_Podcast Instagram: @PCR_Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/PopCultureReference Music from filmmusic.io "Wallpaper" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

As 2024 comes to an end, we look in a rearview mirror filled with some amazing films, especially ones that came out this year. Filmmakers around the world wowed us with creative stories, intriguing plots and outstanding techniques. It is definitely a great time to be a horror fan. 2024 was another stellar year for us at the podcast, where we covered a wide variety of subjects, from Bigfoot to Amicus Films, from Women Directors to Al Adamson & Sam Sherman, to more obscure topics like German Expressionism, and much more. We also had an astonishing lineup of special guests including Severin's David Gregory, Vinegar Syndrome's Archivist Oscar Becher, HorrorHound's Aaron Crowell, and Will Morris from Oscarbate and The Music Box Theatre, just to name a few. One thing that continues through this year is our constant love and admiration for those that have made some long lasting impact on the genre, and our constant striving to help share that love with our listeners. Nothing excites us more than hearing that we've turned someone on to a film or filmmaker or even sub-genre that they might have not experienced before. And you can be damned sure that we plan to continue that in 2025. So join us in this extra long special episode as we go over our favorite viewings of this year, as well as some shout-outs and discussions on other films that came out in 2024.  Titles mentioned in this episode: Abilgail (2024), Alien Romulus (2024), All You Need is Death (2023), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Azrael (2024), Baghead (2024), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015), Blackout (2024), Caveat (2020), Cemetery of Terror (1985), Contracted (2013), Crawl (2019), Cuckoo (2024), Daddy's Head (2024), Darker Than Night (1975), The Deliverance (2024), Depraved (2019), The Descent (2005), The Devil's Bath (2024), Don't Panic (1987), The Dead (2010), The Equalizer (2014), Exhuma (2024), The First Omen (2024), Godzilla Minus One (2023), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), Grave Torture (2024), Habit (1995), Heretic (2024), High Tension (2003), His House (2020), The House of the Devil (2009), Humane (2024), Immaculate (2024), Impetigore (2019), In a Violent Nature (2024), Infested (2024), Infinity Pool (2023), The Innkeepers (2011), I Saw the TV Glow (2024), I See You (2019), Late Night with the Devil (2024), Like Me (2017), Little Bites (2024), Longlegs (2024), Macumba Sexual (1983), Maxxxine (2024), Mr. Vampire (1985), Never Let Go (2024), Night Swim (2024), Nosferatu (2024), Oddity (2024), Pearl (2022), Poison for the Fairies (1986), Re-Animator (1985), Robot Jox (1989), Salem's Lot (2024), Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), Saloum (2021), Satan's Slave (2017), Savage Hunt of King Stakh (1980), Sea Fever (2019), Smile 2 (2024), Something in the Water (2024), A Song from the Dark (2024), Starve Acre (2023), Sting (2024), Stopmotion (2024), Strange Darling (2024), Suzzanna: Queen of Black Magic (2024), The Substance (2024), Talk to Me (2022), Terrifier (2016), Terrifier 3 (2024), The Terror (2018), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), Things Will Be Different (2024), Under Paris (2024), Under the Shadow (2016), Vampyros Lesbos (1971), V/H/S/Beyond (2024), The Wind (2018), Winterbeast (1992), X (2022)

Whether you're a fan of big blockbusters like “Dune: Part Two” or “Wicked” or someone more interested in arthouse hits, there were a lot of movies to choose from in 2024. Reset talks with a panel about what made their best-of lists. Michael Phillips is the film critic at the Chicago Tribune. Ahmed Ali Akbar is a Chicago Tribune food writer and co-host of “Dune: Prophecy The Official Podcast.” Colton Campbell is a manager at the Music Box Theatre. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

If you're in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you're going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/   On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Avery chats with Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's resident trend expert. If that job sounds really cool, that's because it is. Dayna spends her days interpreting data and trend insights and talking about creativity to uplift and promote Etsy's 5.4 million makers. She makes frequent TV appearances and talks to the media about emerging design trends. Yup, she knew about cottagecore way before the rest of us did. Dayna did not apply for the job she has now—but she created it by zeroing in on what she loved to do and asking Etsy's leadership to create a role that fit her talent and excitement.  Avery and Dayna talked about the unusual way Dayna figured out her dream job, how to tell if a company will be a great place to work from the interview stage, and play a special round of In or Out: Design Trends Edition.

The theme of today's lesson is, "Out with the old, in with the Neo"--Neo Giallo, that is!Watch along as your fearsome faculty turns the page on their favorite genre, with a look at Luciano Onetti's 2015 thriller, Francesca--which centers on a series of grisly murders whose victims all had criminal pasts. Could the motive have something to do with the disappearance of a young girl several years prior?In this lively and oh-so-spoilery round table review, Ian, AC, Bryan, and Jon will look at how Giallo transitioned from a 70's/80's horror phenomenon to a new-century curiosity, and how Onetti's film stacks up to the movies that inspired it!Join us for leather gloves, creepy dolls, and a review of Francesca (heh heh heh)! It's our last show of 2024, so let's go big for winter break!Plus: The guys reveal the lineup for next month's "January Giallo" series at the Music Box! You won't wanna miss it!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Francesca trailer.As mentioned in the show, Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre is ramping up for the 2025 installment of their "January Giallo" series! Get tickets and learn more about their incredible lineup at the MB website.Speaking of which, if you haven't seen our interview with legendary director Sergio Martino from this year's “January Giallo”, you can check it out here!Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

This episode is brought to you by SIX.

The great Jon Lovitz talks about comedy, acting, stand-up comedy, dogs, The Groundlings, Managers, A league of Their Own, The Simpsons, The Critic, and the serendipity of show business.  Bio: Jon Lovitz has been one of the best known comedians for the last thirty years. He got his start acting in High School plays and developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. He began taking classes with the famous improv comedy group, “The Groundlings” in 1982. One year later, after being accepted into “The Sunday Company”, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year”. Thinking he was on his way, he promptly quit his job at a clothing store…and became a messenger. The next three years – nothing!!! Then, in September of 1984, he was accepted into the main company at “The Groundlings”.On March 28, 1985, “The Groundlings” appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous”. Following the introduction of this persona, Jon got an agent, and booked a movie, a series, a voice over for a cartoon, and “Saturday Night Live”. Jon has been working non-stop since. He was nominated for an Emmy his first two years on “Saturday Night Live”. While on SNL, he became known for his characters “Tommy Flanagan of the Pathological Liars Anonymous” (“Year, that's the ticket”), “Master Thespian”, “Hanukkah Harry”, and “the Devil”. He has appeared in over 40 films, including “Big”, “A League of Their Own”, “The Wedding Singer”, “High School High”, “Small Time Crooks”, “Rat Race”, “The Producers”, “Eight Crazy Nights”, “The Benchwarmers”, “Grown Ups 2”, “The Ridiculous 6”,  among many others. He has also worked with acclaimed directors such as Penny Marshall, Rob Reiner, Jerry Zucker, and Woody Allen.  He one of a handful of actors used regularly in almost all his movies by Adam Sandler.This year, in 2024, he just completed the lead character in the film “The Toast” and will be appearing in “Happy Gilmore 2” starring Adam Sandler.Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. He was the lead voice for the character “Jay Sherman” in the acclaimed cult cartoon series, “The Critic”. He has also appeared in twelve episodes of “The Simpsons”, even creating the character of Marge Simpson's boyfriend, “Artie Ziff” (who sounds suspiciously like Jay Sherman). Jon has also appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon's play “The Dinner Party”,  taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He has sung (yes, he can sing!) at Carnegie Hall three times (including “Great Performances: Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall) and sung the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open. He also sang with English rock star, Robbie Williams at the Royal Alpert Hall and appears on his album, “Swing While You're Winning!”He currently is performing his new musical comedy show, “From the Shower to the Stage” with celebrated musical conductor and arranger, Randy Waldman. Randy has been Barbra Streisand's personal pianist for the last 36 years and is her current musical conductor as well.Jon has also had an illustrious television career. He was the first famous guest star on the hit show “Friends”. In the same week, he appeared on an episode of Seinfeld. Jon also has had recurring roles on “Hot in Cleveland”, “Las Vegas”, “Two and a Half Men”, “Hawaii Five-O”, and “New Girl”.Editing Notes: Jon Lovitz episode seem to go on and on. Jon won't stop talking. Interested in how you think it is. I think I talk too much about wanting to have sex with Kate Upton. I do it TWICE.  (Kate Upton might not be famous anymore) Funny?  If not,  feel free to cut it.

This episode is brought to you by HigherDOSE.  Get 20% off sitewide at HigherDOSE.com with the code GIRLBOSS20—excluding bundles and subscriptions. If you spend over $500, you'll get an exclusive gift with your purchase. But don't wait too long—this offer ends on December 7, 2024. One last thing: If you're in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you're going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/   What if you could hack your happiness? Lauren Berlingeri, the co-founder of HigherDOSE, will teach you how in this episode.  The certified holistic nutritionist and health coach shares her journey behind the wellness brand that's changing how we think about self-care. Lauren and Avery get real about the science of “happy chemicals”—dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (yep, that's where the name HigherDOSE comes from!). They break down what these mood-boosters are, why they matter, and how to “microdose” them in your daily life.  Spoiler alert: quick fixes, like that pre-girls'-night-out glass of wine, might feel good in the moment but real, sustainable joy? That takes some mindful magic (don't worry—Lauren will give you the cheat codes). From the healing power of infrared technology to transitioning between masculine and feminine energies, Lauren shares her tips for balancing her busy schedule as a CEO and a mom of twins while prioritizing her own wellness. Yes, it's possible! ✨Learn more about HigherDOSE here: https://higherdose.com/ 

Is there secret sapphic subtext between Mary Todd Lincoln and her Chaperone, Louise? Bianca Leigh and Sarah discuss lesbian fan theories, the many many laughs, the transfer from the Lortel to the Lyceum, and more about Cole Escola's Oh, Mary! Then Sarah decides "How Queer Is It?" BIANCA LEIGH is an actress, singer, writer, and educator. Miss Leigh's acting roles include Mary's Chaperone in OH, MARY (Off-Broadway & Broadway), Waxy Bush in MTC's THE NAP on Broadway (Understudy/performed), Mary Ellen in the groundbreaking film TRANSAMERICA, Time/Wind in Taylor Mac's theatre epic THE LILY'S REVENGE, Franny Halcyon in the New York and San Francisco workshops of TALES OF THE CITY THE MUSICAL (performed in concert at the Music Box Theatre), Tatiana in Paul Lucas' award-winning verbatim piece TRANS SCRIPTS at American Repertory Theatre, Beatrice in Christina Anderson's MAN IN LOVE at Kansas City Rep, and Dr. Rachel Sandow on LAW & ORDER: SVU. Bianca wrote and performed her solo musical BUSTED, about the challenges facing a young Trans woman in pre-Disney New York, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. She is featured in Laverne Cox's documentary DISCLOSURE, an exploration of Trans representation in motion pictures and on television, and can be heard on the Audible recording of Chonburi Hotel and Butterfly Club. Conect with Bianca Leigh Instagram: @bianca_leigh2000 Connect with GOOD SHOW! Instagram: @goodshowpodcast  Tik Tok: @goodshowpodcast   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway's "Suffs"  tells the story of the fight for women's suffrage, led by National Woman's Party founder Alice Paul. The show won Tony Awards for both Best Book and Best Original Score, as well as a number of nominations including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role (Nikki M. James) and Best Direction (Leigh Silverman). James and Silverman join us. "Suffs"  is running at Music Box Theatre through January 5.

Nick welcomes food writer and horror fan Marnie Shure to the podcast to discuss the upcoming "Mortified" event at The Music Box Theatre, the *Halloween* movie franchise, and some food stories, including California's new regulations on food labels, the oddity of McDonald's Chicken Big Mac, the trend of "Fridgescaping," and the latest M&M flavor rankings. Later, Esmeralda Leon teaches Nick about the fabulous Spanish term "tocaya," and they chat about Gene Hackman being grumpy, vampires avoiding humidity, and why people should just leave Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder alone. They also taste test some incredibly tasty buttery pretzels from Korea. [Ep290]

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 111 - JESSE JAMES Live Q&A - with Wendy Roderweiss This special episode of the Team Deakins Podcast features a recording of what was a live conversation between Team Deakins and filmmaker and DePaul University professor Wendy Roderweiss following a screening of THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. During the conversation, we discuss our experiences shooting the movie and working together as creative and life partners, and James reveals how her involvement allowed Roger to simultaneously shoot JESSE JAMES while colour timing JARHEAD. She also discusses how she balanced the workload between the two films (and countries!). We later share the genesis of the opening montage, and we also reflect on the limited use of the Deakinizer lenses invented for the film. We also answer a series of audience questions, and we reflect on our time working with the DePaul students during our visit to Chicago. Roger also offers his (brief) review of the print used at the screening!   This was recorded in early 2024 during our visit to DePaul University to participate in a series of events with their students. - This episode is sponsored by Aputure

When the young Zion, Ill., band Local H shrunk from four members to two, leader Scott Lucas decided he liked the guitar-and-drums attack and has stuck with it for more than 30 years. Local H has had its moments of popularity (the 1996 album As Good As Dead and single “Bound for the Floor”), critical triumphs that fell short commercially (1998's dazzling concept album Pack Up the Cats) and subsequent albums that showcase Lucas' smart, melodic songwriting, his formidable vocal and guitar chops, and the duo's ferocious interplay. Local H is marking the 20th anniversary of Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?, the album that Lucas thinks best represents him, with deluxe rereleases and shows, including the tour finale Oct. 16 at Metro Chicago. The previous evening Lucas is premiering his hybrid Local H concert film Lifers at Chicago's Music Box Theatre. The ever-thoughtful Lucas has much to say about bands, labels, maintaining a vision and the meaning of success.

Nick talks with Mike Kerz from The Midway Drive-In in Dixon, IL, about their upcoming "Dusk Til Dawn Horror Movie Marathon," which Nick will be hosting. Then, film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy join Nick to review new movies, including the horror remake "Speak No Evil" and Kevin Smith's latest, "The 4:30 Movie." Steve also gives an update on the Music Box Theatre's new seats and redesign, while Erik reviews a slate of films he recently saw at the Toronto International Film Festival. Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick discuss the differences between cats and dogs, share their thoughts on bad episodes of "The Simpsons," and talk about how the much-maligned Nicole Kidman movie "Australia" has now been turned into an endless mini-series on Hulu. Plus, they enjoy some great snacks in this jam-packed episode. [Ep280]

In this episode, we sit down with Bianca Leigh to discuss her role in the Broadway production of "Oh, Mary!". Please note that this episode may contain spoilers about the show. If you haven't seen the musical yet, you can catch "Oh, Mary!" playing at Lyceum Theatre.  Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on Instagram, and YouTube. Share your thoughts with us on "Oh, Mary!" on our podcast cover post. BIANCA LEIGH (Mary's Chaperone/Bill). Original Off-Broadway cast. Miss Leigh's performances include Waxy Bush in The Nap (u/s, performed) at MTC, Frannie Halcyon in Tales of the City: The Musical, in concert at the Music Box Theatre, Time/Wind in Taylor Mac's The Lily's Revenge, Tatiana in Trans Scripts, Part 1: The Women, Mary Ellen in the groundbreaking film Transamerica, Dr. Rachel Sandow on "Law & Order: SVU," and Karma Johnstone in Hurricane Bianca. Her writings include "Orla" in Overheard: Fourteen Monologues commissioned by the Breaking the Binary Festival. She is featured in Laverne Cox's documentary Disclosure on Netflix, and can be heard on Audible's recording of Chonburi International Hotel and Butterfly Club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a Text Message.On this episode of Remainders we watch the 1935 John Ford movie The Informer. The story of Gypo Nolan, a disgraced IRA man of war in 1920s British occupied Ireland and his willingness to sell out his comrade best friend for a small reward. Victor McLaglen gives an all-time great sweaty performance as Gypo and his descent into guilt, remorse and whiskey until atonement is the only option. An underappreciated classic from John Ford.Other topics include lessons in Irish independence, Ti West's X Trilogy, visiting the Vista and the Music Box Theatre, more 80s hair metal, Riot Fest, The Scissors in Chicago, and the new Films of Faith Scorsese collection.Songs of the WeekTell Me by Catfish HavenTrick or Treat by FastwayRemainders Podcast JukeboxWebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter

Description: Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code COMPOUND  BRUCE BOLT - Texas-based designer of premium batting gloves: Look good. Hit dingers. www.brucebolt.us  On this week's episode of the Compound Podcast with Ian Happ, it is the big live show from the Music Box Theatre in Wrigleyville! Ryne Sandberg joins the show to talk about his brand new statue outside Wrigley, his career and so much more. Plus, Nico Hoerner, Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele all come on stage and break down their seasons and their preparation for 162 games with Dakota and Ian. Finally, it wouldn't be a live show without Danny Mueller giving his hot take, and let's just say, the crowd didn't love it. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NH/NJ/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). 21+ (18+ KY/NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY only. Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Valid 1 per new customer. Min $5 deposit. No Sweat Bet awarded upon deposit. No Sweat Bet automatically applied to qualifying first bet. Min. $1 bet. First bet after opting-in must lose. Reward issued as 1 Bonus Bet upon first bet settlement and in amount of losing bet. Max. $1,500 Bonus Bet. Bonus bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. Bonus bets must be wagered 1x before any resulting cash winnings can be withdrawn and stake is not included in winnings. Ends 6/23/24 @ 11:59PM ET. See terms at dkng.co/base. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description: Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code COMPOUND  BRUCE BOLT - Texas-based designer of premium batting gloves: Look good. Hit dingers. www.brucebolt.us  On this week's episode of the Compound Podcast with Ian Happ, it is the big live show from the Music Box Theatre in Wrigleyville! Ryne Sandberg joins the show to talk about his brand new statue outside Wrigley, his career and so much more. Plus, Nico Hoerner, Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele all come on stage and break down their seasons and their preparation for 162 games with Dakota and Ian. Finally, it wouldn't be a live show without Danny Mueller giving his hot take, and let's just say, the crowd didn't love it. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NH/NJ/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). 21+ (18+ KY/NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY only. Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Valid 1 per new customer. Min $5 deposit. No Sweat Bet awarded upon deposit. No Sweat Bet automatically applied to qualifying first bet. Min. $1 bet. First bet after opting-in must lose. Reward issued as 1 Bonus Bet upon first bet settlement and in amount of losing bet. Max. $1,500 Bonus Bet. Bonus bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. Bonus bets must be wagered 1x before any resulting cash winnings can be withdrawn and stake is not included in winnings. Ends 6/23/24 @ 11:59PM ET. See terms at dkng.co/base. Sponsored by DK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What will be left of Ian and David after they review What Remains?Artist and first-time feature filmmaker Ran Huang's drama about "Sweden's first serial killer" is not at all what it seems--both in terms of the real-life events that inspired it, and the way in which he and co-writer Megan Everett-Skarsgård choose to tell the story.In the early 90's, a convicted murderer named Mads Lake (Gustaf Skarsgård) confesses to additional crimes on the eve of his release from a mental institution. This alarming revelation begins a years-long search for clues and burial sites, which traps therapist Anna Rudebeck (Andrea Riseborough) and investigator Soren Rank (Stellan Skarsgård) in a tragic codependency with the most unhinged and unreliable of perpetrators.This spoilerific examination of What Remains finds one critic defending the movie as a fascinating look at broken lives and an even more broken justice system--and another taking issue with its lack of verisimilitude and lack of a need for having been made. In the end, can these friends/colleagues find common ground? And will David ever recommend a movie to Ian that won't cause them to come to virtual blows?Pop some popcorn and find out!What Remains is now playing in theaters and is available ON Demand from VMI Worldwide.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksWatch the What Remains trailer.As mentioned in the show, you can watch a very informative interview with co-writer/director Ran Huang here.And learn more about the real-life case that inspired What Remains here.Speaking of Chicago institutions, here's your reminder that the 11th Chicago Critics Film Festival has taken over the Music Box Theatre! Get your festival passes and tickets now!Plus! Listen to Ian and David's other contentious reviews (mentioned in the show) of:Manchester By the Sea (2016)The Old Oak (2024)Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to review the latest movies: "The Bikeriders" featuring Austin Butler, Russell Crowe in "The Exorcism," June Squibb as the charming "Thelma," and "Kinds of Kindness" from the director and stars of "Poor Things." They also discuss the upcoming renovations for The Music Box Theatre, including new seats and carpets, and a local movie that is generating a lot of buzz. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to begin their culinary tour of the United Kingdom, starting with lamb-flavored crisps and blackcurrant-flavored candies. Nick also challenges Esma with a tough quiz about the UK, featuring questions about a brave dog, a poison garden, and the term "Butt" used to describe good friends in Wales. [EP255]

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to the podcast to talk about the Godzilla-Fest happening at The Music Box Theatre, and review some new movies including the latest Richard Linklater comedy "Hit Man," the horror film from the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan called "The Watchers," and what could very well be the worst movie of this (or any) year: "Bad Boys: Ride or Die." Then, Esmeralda Leon and Nick chat about appointment TV, Jason Skaggs Cicadas, flying killer spiders, and the fact that Esma is all "Duned out." They also continue their Universal Yums Thailand snack tasting, with some sweet and spicy shrimp chips. [EP250]

Shamus Toomey, Editor in Chief and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. Shamus has details on: Music Box Undergoing Major Renovation This Summer For Its 95th Anniversary: The historic movie theater will be closed Aug. 12-Sept. 5 for repairs and facility upgrades, including improved lighting and new […]

Going coastal, a newbie in New York City, killer cabbies, the amazing Kim's Video, a Blonde Redhead redhead, drunken sledding, neighborhoods and abbreviations, meet me on Stacy Keach Street, a short Christopher Nolan movie, check out Jim Knipfel, porno theaters make no sense, Jeffrey Epstein is dead and rotting in hell, a double Spader, Mark Valley is a stand up guy (did I ever tell you that Vincent D'Onofrio liked me in an acting class?), planning trips, some Broadway movies, some Broadway plays, the dearly departed Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Hartley rules, welcome to my candy store, a great Gatz, I've got the golden brick-et, the ghosts of the Hotel Chelsea, and a summation from Werner Herzog. Stuff mentioned: Green Acres (1965-1971), Pace Picante Sauce commercial (1988 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S828Y7Eais), The Freshman (1990), Kim's Video (2023), Balthazar (80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012), Following (1998), Thurston Moore Sonic Life: A Memoir (2023), Sunshine Hotel (2001), New Museum (235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002), New Museum The Last Newspaper: Contemporary Art, Curating Histories, Alternative Models (October 6 2010–January 9 2011), Jim Knipfel Slackjaw (1999), Escape From New York (1981), Alphabet City (1984), Police Academy (1984), The Cruise (1998), Taxi Driver (1976), I, The Jury (1982), Manhattan (1979), The Blacklist (2013-2023), Boston Legal (2004-2008), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), Neue Galerie New York (1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028), Neue Galerie Richard Gerstl (June 2017-September 2017), Richard Gerstl Self-Portrait, Laughing (1907 https://www.neuegalerie.org/content/self-portrait-laughing), Café Sabarsky (1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028), Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) [2014], Rope (1948), Game 6 (2005), After Hours (1995), Late Night with Conan O'Brien "A Visit with Hunter S. Thompson" (June 11, 1997 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zwLuFy-TrY), All About Eve (1950), Sam Shepard True West (Circle in the Square Theatre 2000), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), Eugene O'Neill Long Day's Journey Into Night (Plymouth Theatre 2003), Will Eno Thom Pain (based on nothing) [DR2 Theatre 2005], Fay Grim (2006), Henry Fool (1997), Heathers: The Musical (New World Stages 2014), Heathers (1989), Heathers: The Musical "Candy Store" (2014), Elevator Repair Service Gatz (REDCAT 2012), F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby (1925), Samuel Beckett Waiting for Godot (1953), Maidstone (1970), Dear Evan Hansen (2017 Music Box Theatre), Pitch Perfect (2012), In & of Itself (2017 Daryl Roth Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Hotel Chelsea (222 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011), Arthur C. Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), William S. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1959), Chelsea GIrls (1966), Andy Warhol grave webcam (https://www.earthcam.com/usa/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/warhol/), Sid and Nancy (1986), Sid Vicious "My Way" (1979), Chelsea Hotel (BBC Arena 1981 https://vimeo.com/84587129), Nico "Chelsea Girls" (1967), and Nico Chelsea Girl (1967).

Ian and David are on the hunt for the perfect thrilling summer blockbuster--and have traveled all the way back to 1993's The Fugitive!In Andrew Davis' Academy Award-nominated adaptation of the 1960s TV show, Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble--a famous surgeon wrongfully accused of killing his wife (Sela Ward). Set free by a catastrophic accident during his prison transport, Kimble sets out to clear his name by finding the mysterious one-armed man who actually committed the murder. He's beset by a team of U.S. Marshals, led by the dogged and calculating Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), whose pursuit of his prey knows no compromise.In this loving and spoilerific look-back, the guys praise The Fugitive for being the kind of serious (and seriously exciting) big-budget entertainment Hollywood refuses to make anymore; puzzle over the movie's wild "Illinois" geography; and plow through the film's numerous "errors".Plus: Ian evades capture by changing his appearance live on camera!Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksWatch The Fugitive (1993) trailer.Pick up The Fugitive on 4K UHD Blu-ray from Warner Bros.Speaking of Chicago institutions, here's your reminder that the 11th Chicago Critics Film Festival has taken over the Music Box Theatre! Get your festival passes and tickets now!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

It's a classic case of head versus heart as Ian and David take on The Old Oak!The guys have very different takes on the (purported) final film by esteemed director Ken Loach, in which a young Syrian refugee named Yara (Ebla Mari) and her family move into an impoverished Northern England former mining town in 2016. Yara befriends TJ (Dave Turner), the owner of the titular pub, who is caught between loyalty to his xenophobic friends/patrons and the instinct to look out for these new, well-meaning strangers.In this spoilerific discussion, Ian and David dig into Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty's effective use of acting, aesthetics, and mood in crafting their sympathetic, pro-immigrant "message movie"--one that paints all attendant concerns about numbers, culture, and economics as strictly the domain of alcoholic racist idiots.Is this, as the filmmakers likely thought of it, "the movie we need right now"? Or is it a polemic disguised as a (very well executed) slice-of-life drama?Pull up a stool, pour yourself a drink, and find out!Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksWatch the Old Oak trailer.As mentioned in the show, The 11th Chicago Critics Film Festival kicks off this Friday (May 3rd) at the Music Box Theatre. Get your festival passes and tickets now!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

On their Return to Hammerland, Ian and AC pick up fellow traveler Bill Gudmundson for an out-of-this-world review of 1957's Quatermass 2!Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donleavy) has spent years working on a moon colonization project--only to have it scrapped by the government. In a bizarre twist, he discovers that alien invaders have secretly built a fully operational version of his moon base in the desert! Can he crack a high-level conspiracy and save the world from enemies who can manipulate minds to sinister ends?Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that we've covered the first and third movies of this sci-fi trilogy (based on Nigel Kneale's books) in our previous Hammerland series, but never its middle installment. In this episode, you'll find out why!Note: Late in the episode, AC mistakenly refers to Andre Morell, when he meant to say “Andrew Keir”.Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksWatch the Quatermass 2 (1957) trailer.Check out Bill Gudmundson's amazing monster sculptures at Bill's Kitchen! Speaking of monsters...Chicagoans! Get your tickets now for the Music Box Theatre's June event, “Godzilla Versus Music Box” (featuring Godzilla Minus One and the entire Showa Era-Godzilla filmography)!Get educated with AC's frightfully enlightening film criticism at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.It's not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"!

Ian and AC recently attended the opening of The Music Box Theatre's "Triple Threat" 3-D festival,* and returned eager to discuss Andre de Toth's 1953 thriller, House of Wax!Vincent Price stars as the curator of a newly opened exhibit, featuring eerily lifelike recreations of tragic historical figures. But is there more to his creations than mere wax, wardrobe, and Plaster of Paris? Of course--it's a horror movie!In addition to talking about the film and their experience with the Music Box's new state-of-the-art 3-D projection system, the guys compare House of Wax with the film that inspired it: Michael "Casablanca" Curtiz's 1933 movie, Mystery of the Wax Museum!Join us for hot commentary, dripping with insight---and responses to your questions, comments, and SuperChats!*Cati Glidewell, The Blonde in Front, was there, too!Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksIf you enjoyed the show, jump on over to The Spoiler Room Podcast to hear Ian talk about 1933's King Kong (also starring Fay Wray)!Watch the House of Wax (1953) trailer: Learn about the Triple Threat 3-D movie series, taking over Chicago's Music Box Theatre this April (mentioned in the show and featuring state-of-the-art Digital 3-D technology!).Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.It's not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"!

Nick shares the details of his new monthly film series: "Nick's Pix," and then he welcomes movie critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to the podcast to discuss a great new "Godzilla Fest" at The Music Box Theatre, and review "Godzilla X Kong," "The Listener," and the new Apple+ documentary about Steve Martin. Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about the upcoming Dusk Til Dawn George Romero Fest at The Midway Drive-In, summer music festivals, The Jim Rose Freak Show (with Mr. Lifto and Matt "The Tube" Crowley), fast food secret menu items, and the glory of corn dogs. Plus, they continue their snack tour of Ukraine. [EP232]

[REBROADCAST FROM May 9, 2022] Composer and performer Shaina Taub is the creator of the musical, "SUFFS,"  which was a hit off-Broadway show in 2022. Taub starred as Alice Paul, one of the leaders of the suffragist movement and the campaign for the 19th Amendment. The musical is now opening on Broadway, with previews beginning at Music Box Theatre on March 26. We revisit our conversation with Taub from when the show first premiered off-Broadway.

Nick talks with film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy about the upcoming Oscar telecast and predictions of the winners, the terrific 3D movie fest happening at the Music Box Theatre, and they review the highly anticipated: "Dune: Part Two," and Adam Sandler's new sci-fi drama "Spaceman." Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to listen to a very entertaining subscriber voicemail about crazy neighbors, eat some tasty French dark chocolate, and talk about some annoying celebrities, many of them with neck tattoos. [EP224]