Episode 179 - THE RANKIN/BASS RANK-A-THON

We're making ranked lists...checking them twice...introducing our new thematic device: the Rank-A-Thon has come to our pod! We're doing a thorough breakdown of four vintage Rankin/Bass animated specials, and evaluating them in a wide array of aesthetic, narrative, and festive categories. And we couldn't do it without the help of our old Christmas confidant, Nate Tapp!

We conclude a banner year with this massive holiday extravaganza, and the crowning of a champion among classics. But don't you worry...we'll be back again someday.

Holiday specials included in this episode:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

Episode 178 - THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

What's this? A macabre and moving musical classic? A gracefully ghoulish gem of gobsmacking animation? The mother of all modern mashups? The Nightmare Before Christmas has been all this and more for nearly three decades, as it transcends labels to illustrate the importance of being true to yourself.

Kev Young brings us dual-holiday delight in this screamingly fun episode that'll speak to anyone who loves to get their creep on at Christmastime. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick
Screenplay by Caroline Thompson
Adaptation by Michael McDowell
Based on a story by Tim Burton
Starring Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Ken Page, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Ed Ivory, and Danny Elfman 

Episode 177 - THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

I wish I could tell you that The Shawshank Redemption was the greatest movie ever made, and just leave it at that. I wish I could tell you that...but podcasting is no fairy-tale world. A theatrical disappointment that found a second life on TV and home video, the film has earned its classic status with great storytelling and disarming sentimentality in depicting hope's hard-fought battle against despair.

We hope you enjoy the mononymous Barm (aka Tyler Neufeld) in his WWWW debut. We hope our love and gratitude fill this special Shanksgiving episode. We hope you have many reasons to give shanks, too. We hope.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Written and directed by Frank Darabont
Produced by Niki Marvin
Based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, and James Whitmore

Episode 176 - SCREAM 2

Sequels suck! Or do they? That's just one pillar in the tantalizing metatextual framework of Scream 2, a sly, sneaky, savage whodunit that builds upon the foundation of its trope-savvy predecessor. The redux uses a wealth of suspenseful setpieces and hilariously knowing dialogue to create a fine-tuned cinematic ouroboros that's always several steps ahead of audience expectations.

Daren Sprawls inexplicably returns from our first encounter with the Woodsboro gang to discuss the commodification of horror violence, debate the relative merits of movie sequels, and go deep on another soundtrack of eclectic '90s tunes. 

Scream 2 (1997)
Directed by Wes Craven
Produced by Cathy Konrad and Marianne Maddalena
Written by Kevin Williamson
Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jerry O’Connell, Jamie Kennedy, Timothy Olyphant, Elise Neal, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jada Pinkett, Omar Epps, Liev Schreiber, and Laurie Metcalf

Episode 175 - RETURN TO OZ

If you thought tin men and flying monkeys were strange, let me tell you about Return to Oz, a film that doubles down on the inexplicable whimsy of L. Frank Baum's beloved books and the unrestrained darkness that pervaded children's fantasy films during the 1980s. It's nightmare fuel delivered with a sprightly, wholesome spirit. It's also a marvel of practical effects with enough imagination and offbeat humor to enthrall a whole new generation of weirdos.

Thank goodness we've brought our friends Brian Rudloff and Nate Tapp along to share their thoughts about uncomfortable creature suits, traumatizing imagery, and the dangerous truth about eggs. Join us as we embrace the odd in our journey back to Oz. After all, it can't be helped now!

Return to Oz (1985)
Directed by Walter Murch
Produced by Paul Maslansky
Written by Walter Murch and Gill Dennis
Based on The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Starring Fairuza Balk, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Denise Bryer, Sean Barrett, Brian Henson, and Nicol Williamson

Episode 174 - MULAN

Let's get down to business as we flap our gums about Mulan, the mold-breaking animated classic that loaded the Disney canon with its strongest questioning of gender roles at the time. In several ways, it transmuted the traditional formula that sustained the studio's modern resurgence, while still remaining a reflection of deeply internalized storytelling (and brand) values. The result: a rousing and memorable film that's true to its complex heart.

Kevin Chu brings honor to our pod as we dig into some of the catchiest tunes in the Disney discography, discuss the movie's depictions of Asian culture, and show Mushu a little love. This episode will surely make a man/woman/person out of you!

Mulan (1998)
Directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft
Written by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer
Starring Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, James Hong, Jerry Tondo, Gedde Watanabe, Harvey Fierstein, Soon-Tek Oh, Pat Morita, George Takei, June Foray, and Eddie Murphy

Episode 173 - THE LITTLE RASCALS

Kids say the darndest things...when they're not acting out an adorable and sometimes unsettling microcosm of the adult world. That's what we see in The Little Rascals, a modernized take on the scrappy Our Gang serials that relocates the antics of unsupervised moppets to the suburbs of the late 20th century. It also happens to be a lesson on maturity, inclusion, and gender equity pitched at a kindergarten reading level.

Ariel Quist Sprawls helps us explore how a Depression-era staple made a lasting impact on a generation of '90s kids, and challenged us to recognize the necessity of personal growth and societal change. The struggle is real, but you don't have to worry: Everything's gonna be oh-tay.

The Little Rascals (1994)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
Produced by Michael King and Bill Oakes
Written by Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur, and Penelope Spheeris
Based on Our Gang created by Hal Roach
Starring Travis Tedford, Bug Hall, Brittany Ashton Holmes, Kevin Jamal Woods, Ross Bagley, Zachary Mabry, Blake McIver Ewing, and Petey the Dog

Episode 172 - SPICE WORLD v. GLITTER

How far will you go to defend your fandom? That's the question on our minds in this star vehicle showdown between Spice World and Glitter, two oft-maligned movies that deserve their long overdue day in court. And we've got the perfect stans to give us the case for each, as Matt Steele stands up for his beloved Spice Girls, and Matt Palmer goes to bat for his number one, Mariah Carey.

The Two Gay Matts unite for the first time on WWWW, and engage in a musical debate full of heartfelt entreaties, stunning rebuttals, and #JusticeForGlitter (and for Sporty Spice, too). If you're not a Wannabe, you'll get with these Loverboys - and feel their passion for pop music queens!

Spice World (1997)

Directed by Bob Spiers

Produced by Uri Fruchtmann, Mark Rosen, and Barnaby Thompson

Written by Kim Fuller

Starring Melanie Brown, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Richard E. Grant, Alan Cumming, Claire Rushbrook, George Wendt, Mark McKinney, and Roger Moore

Glitter (2001)

Directed by Vondie Curtis Hall

Produced by Laurence Mark

Written by Kate Lanier

Starring Mariah Carey, Max Beesley, Da Brat, Tia Texada, Ann Magnuson, Eric Benet, and Terrence Howard

Episode 171 - HAPPY GILMORE

The Summer of Sandler strokes back with the cross-training classic Happy Gilmore. It's a film that helped solidify the Sandman's reputation as a sophomoric softie with a predilection for helping little old ladies and a knack for getting humiliated by cameo-ing celebrities. And not only that, it might've turned a generation of slackers into weekend hackers, and helped transform golf culture as we know it.

Jim Gallivan joins us for his first round of WWWW as we tee up all our favorite lines, and find out if Happy's sense of humor is still up to par...jackass!

Happy Gilmore (1996)
Directed by Dennis Dugan
Produced by Robert Simonds
Written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler
Starring Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Frances Bay, Kevin Nealon, Allen Covert, Joe Flaherty, Richard Kiel, and Carl Weathers

Episode 170 - TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE

Marionette might makes right in the raunchy puppet satire Team America: World Police, which takes aim at big-budget action clichés, Hollywood pomposity, and post-9/11 geopolitics. It's an indiscriminately edgy film that packs all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, yet also stands as a showcase of painstaking production design and visual effects. For this movie, commitment is clearly not a problem.

Andrew McNally has the I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E. to guide us through some complex feelings about America, South Park, and cinematic provocations in this special 4th of July blowout. Fuck Yeah!

Team America: World Police (2004)
Directed by Trey Parker
Produced by Scott Rudin, Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady
Starring the voices of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Masasa Moyo, Daran Norris, Phil Hendrie, and Maurice LaMarche

Episode 169 - NICKELODEON GAMESHOW SHOWDOWN

Kiddie competitions clash in our Nickelodeon Gameshow Showdown! We're serving up a bracket of eight iconic TV contests full of elaborate sets, screaming studio audiences, and lots of slime. Only one game show can be the final champion, as we put our own competitive twist on Nick's most memorable efforts to expand the possibilities of playtime.

Our grand prize guest, Brian Rudloff, has the guts to take on this (physical) challenge, and makes a legendary mark on this wild and crazy episode!

Episodes included in this podcast:

Global GUTS - "Angel vs. Alexey vs. Ana" (1995)
Get the Picture - "Nick & Amy vs. Jason & Kelli" (1991)

Family Double Dare - "Texas Twisters vs. Virginia Dares" (1992)
Nick Arcade - "Gina & Derek vs. Quincey & Robert" (1992)

What Would You Do? - "Making Sound Effects" (1993)
Wild & Crazy Kids - "Wild Rivers Water Show" (1990)

Figure It Out - "11 Pounds of Watermelon/Sour Milk Signal" (1997)
Legends of the Hidden Temple - "The Metal Beard of the Egyptian Queen" (1995)

Episode 168 - INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM

In our ongoing quest to seek meaning in cultural artifacts, few escapist fantasies have seized our hearts like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. From its nightmare-inducing imagery to its wince-inducing colonialism, it's a movie that sticks with us for an entire spectrum of reasons. But beyond its complex reputation as the darkest chapter of the Indiana Jones saga, the film is a trove of moments and milestones that deepen our connection to an iconic character.

Manny Lozano makes his long-awaited return to WWWW as we join our old pals George and Steven in a whip-crackin', stereotypin', globetrottin' adventure!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Robert Watts
Written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz
Story by George Lucas
Starring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Roshan Seth, and Amrish Puri

Episode 167 - SUPER MARIO BROS.

Everyone's favorite Italian plumbers trade the colorful fantasia of the Mushroom Kingdom for a grim cyberpunk dystopia in Super Mario Bros., the very first movie to be adapted from a video game. The film employs plenty of wild imagination in connecting the dots of Mario and Luigi's bare-bones backstory, and conjures up an inter-dimensional tale of dinosaurs, dictatorship, and de-evolution that certainly didn't feature in any Nintendo marketing materials.

Matt Schley joins us for some multiplayer fun, and helps us understand the movie's bizarre and undeniable legacy in his WWWW debut. Ready, player one? Let's-a go!

Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel
Produced by Jake Eberts and Roland Joffé
Written by Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon
Starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis, Fisher Stevens, Richard Edson, Fiona Shaw, and Dennis Hopper

Episode 166 - THE ROCKETEER

"The Rocka-Who?" So said initial audiences of The Rocketeer, a film with blockbuster-sized expectations that struggled to stay aloft in an atmosphere thick with more familiar pulpy comic book franchises. But over the years, that anonymity may have given rise to something more important: relatability. The movie certainly ignited our imaginations, thanks to a winning combination of art deco sleekness, high flying thrills, and old school optimism.

Eric Wheeler drops in like a bolt from the blue to give us his perspective on how the film takes inspiration from Hollywood's Golden Age, and helps us get to the bottom of The Rocketeer's appeal as a blueprint for the makings of a true hero. Go get 'em, kid!

The Rocketeer (1991)
Directed by Joe Johnston
Produced by Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon, and Lloyd Levin
Screenplay by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo
Based on The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens
Starring Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, and Timothy Dalton

Episode 165 - ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN

Arriving to mixed reception upon release and with stiff competition from a juggernaut of the Disney canon, All Dogs Go to Heaven is a film whose dark sensibilities nonetheless left an indelible mark on young minds of a certain age. But you can't keep these good dogs down, as further examination unearths the occasional moments of haunting beauty contained in this uneven exploration of life, death and resurrection.

Does an intersection between the strong creative voice of Don Bluth and comedic stylings of Burt Reynolds and Dom De Luise make any kind of sense on screen? What exactly are the religious implications of Charlie's ascent to, and rejection of, heaven? And why in the world is there a singing alligator in this movie? Guest hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold make music together in tackling these questions and more in a very special episode that could only release on April 1st! Treasure it now, because after this you can never come baaaaack.

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
Directed by Don Bluth
Produced by Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and John Pomeroy
Written by David N. Weiss
Starring Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Judith Barsi, Vic Tayback, Loni Anderson, Ken Page, and Charles Nelson Reilly

Episode 164 - TITANIC

Tragedy meets triumph in the twisted Venn diagram of Titanic, a movie that stands not only as a memorial to its namesake, but also as a monument to Hollywood spectacle. Both disturbingly realistic and cleverly dramatized, James Cameron's leviathan combines forbidden romance, disaster action, historical reenactment, and groundbreaking film-craft in one seamless package.

But that's just the tip of the conversational iceberg as Blythe Rudloff comes aboard to discuss stupid teenage love, all-consuming cultural obsessions, and the most memorable White Star Line employees on this colossal episode. We're the kings and queen of the podcast world!

Titanic (1997)
Written and directed by James Cameron
Produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Gloria Stuart, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Kathy Bates, Bernard Hill, Victor Garber, Jonathan Hyde, David Warner, and Bill Paxton

Episode 163 - DUNSTON CHECKS IN

No monkey business is too silly for Dunston Checks In, a film that takes pride in the commitment and craft of its slapstick hijinks. It feels as familiar as any movie pairing kids with mischievous animal pals—in this case, a trained orangutan forced to help his handler rob the guests of a luxury hotel. Yet it also remains a quasi-parody of said formula, blowing raspberries at the more wholesome conventions of its genre.

We extend our hospitality to Ryan Kasmiskie, co-host of No One Can Know About This, who makes his WWWW debut to express his appreciation of the film's many unique amenities. Join the orangu-gang and enjoy this five-star episode!

Dunston Checks In (1996)
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Produced by Todd Black and Joe Wizan
Written by John Hopkins and Bruce Graham
Starring Jason Alexander, Rupert Everett, Paul Reubens, Eric Lloyd, Graham Sack, Glenn Shadix, Nathan Davis, and Faye Dunaway

Episode 162 - The Double Dubbie Awards

It's taken only six years for our humble little tradition to balloon into a multi-hour masterpiece of mutual appreciation. Yes, the Dubbies are growing up, and this year we're doubling down on the accolades: not only do we honor the best of 2019, but we're also handing out our Dubbies of the Decade to commemorate the best of the past ten years.

It's the only ceremony without a time limit on acceptance speeches, so keep your seat-filler on call for this wonderfully effusive episode!

This year's program of awards:

• Best Actress
• Best Actor
• Best Film
• Best Comeback
• Most Unnecessary Throwback
• Future WWWW Candidate
• Most Nostalgic Moment
• Best New Oldie
• Best Performance by a Guest
• Best Performance by a Co-host
• Best WWWW Episode of 2019
• Dubbies of the Decade

Episode 161 - ENCINO MAN

Hey bud-dy! We return to a time when hair metal and surfer slang ruled the earth as we unearth all the early '90s artifacts of Encino Man. The film is a finely preserved specimen from a fascinating evolutionary period in the teen comedy genre, epitomized by Pauly Shore's colorful verbiage and Brendan Fraser's lunkhead charm.

We find our missing link in first-time guest and lifelong Valley resident Jose Santos, who teaches us how to properly wheeze the juice of this movie's corny Cali vibes. Oooow!

Encino Man (1992)
Directed by Les Mayfield
Produced by George Zaloom
Written by Shawn Schepps
Starring Sean Astin, Brendan Fraser, Megan Ward, Michael DeLuise, Robin Tunney, Mariette Hartley, Richard Masur, and Pauly Shore

Episode 160 - JUMANJI

What year is it!? As the calendar turns to a new decade, we remain comfortably ensconced in the past with one of our most beloved stars. Robin Williams guides us through the perils and pitfalls of the darkest jungle in Jumanji, which transforms the whimsy of a classic children's book into action-packed pathos that's mainly for the adults.

Debuting guest Matt Polizzi joins us in this safari of cinematic, literary, and gaming nostalgia, as we invite all those who seek to find a way to leave the present behind. Jumanji!

Jumanji (1995)
Directed by Joe Johnston
Produced by Scott Kroopf and William Teitler
Written by Jonathan Hensleigh and Greg Taylor & Jim Strain
Based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg
Starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde, Patricia Clarkson, and David Alan Grier