Art work by Amber

Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness commemorate this, the one thousandth episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour (originally called “From the Heart of Hollywood”), by reminiscing about their first few years of “changing the way people listen to the internet” by examining how the media landscape has changed since they started podcasting, and how that landscape might evolve moving forward. The in-depth topics that get discussed include the podcasting field itself, the ways episodic television programming has changed, the dire need to change facing Netflix, and why binge watching quickly brought an end to the 21st century “golden age” of television. After a shameless (and hilarious) music plug for another podcast in the ever-expanding “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” universe of shows, the topic turns to AI, the coming revolution revolving around artificial general intelligence, whether humanity can adapt, and whether an economy altering AI “bubble” may be on the horizon. Finally, the latest news in the now-frozen Paramount merger with Warner Bros. gets analyzed. Trust us, even if you only want to listen to one of our one thousand episodes, you can’t do wrong with this one!

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Marc Hershon is a branding expert who has dreamed up names for countless hit products. He is a comedy veteran, a comedy impresario, and he teaches improv comedy. He has penned several television movies, and is the co-author of I Hate People, a guide to getting “what you want out of your job.” He has reviewed comedy podcasts for The Huffington Post and Splitsider and was the longtime producer and host of “Succotash” the comedy podcast podcast. Marc has spent much of his adult life trying to get people to stop using the word “podcast” and to use “soundcast” instead. Yet, he refers to this show as a “podcast”. He’s mercurial, that guy.

On this episode …

*Marc and Phil discuss a Bloomberg report analyzing the causes behind Netflix original series experiencing between 30% and 70% audience declines for their second seasons.

*Phil follows up on Marc’s list of Emmy “snubs” from last episode and suggests one snub involving a universally respected and beloved actress.

*The new spin-off series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe leads Marc to reveal two popular network sitcoms that proved to be all-time “nopes” for him (i.e. possibly great shows he will never end up watching).

*Phil asks Marc about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (while hailing the first two episodes of its fourth season), about the penultimate episode of Sugar season two (while hailing the brilliant Tony Dalton), and asks about the dark comedy mystery series Diarra from Detroit (whose second season just launched).

*Marc then rails against the cancellation of two promising series, offers a negative review of a new series, and discusses a high profile series for which his wife has vouched.

*Finally, the festivities close with Marc and Phil offering up some all-time “binge watches” that were unfairly short-lived.

Come for the news, views and reviews. Stay for the two wildly different “Hawaii Five-O” theme songs (including one with lyrics)!

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*What an AI has to say about Dean and Phil’s long-running Chillpak Hollywood Hour

*How Phil’s productivity in writing essays has been slowed by his need to record audio versions of them, but how the creation of those audio versions, as well as the creation of several podcasts each week is making Phil better at … everything

*Dean’s rage over the “insanity of green” reaches epic proportions

*What Dean and Phil’s friend Leigh McCloskey taught them about being “conscientious gardeners” of creativity

*Phil’s 40th high school reunion

*Routine vs. ritual and the importance of the latter

*The role musical scores play in great comedy movies

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

One episode shy of their 1,000 installment of this show, Dean and Phil jokingly compare notes on the tolls reaching such a milestone have taken. Phil hints at some of his weekend 40th high school reunion adventures, Dean updates the prognosis of his beloved Doberman, Leloo, and previews his own birthday celebrations. Of course, Dean and Phil now produce several different podcasts each week through the “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” Substack. And last week’s episode of “Celebrity Deaths” resulted in the need to begin with some corrections and/or clarifications! After those, it’s nothing but good news from the world of show biz, including the continued astonishing success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the halt (til at least next year) of the Parmount-Warners merger, and the announcement that an iconic Hollywood locale will be reopening in 2028. Finally, Phil sings the praises of the one of the all-time best debut features for any director ever, the heartbreaking and hilarious, sexually explicit, gay biker BDSM film, Pillion, and Dean reveals his early reaction to the new spin-off of “The Big Bang Theory”.

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

One of the most popular ongoing segments in Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness’ long-running, weekly “Chillpak Hollywood Hour” was always when they celebrated the lives and legacies of those who made indelible marks in the arts or in media. Now that Celebrity Deaths has become its own podcast in the Chillpak Hollywood Presents … universe of shows, these celebrations are no longer merely interesting and inspiring. They have also become truly bizarre and hilarious, especially with frequent contributor Jon Lawlor now along for the ride. So, join your friends in podcasting (and Jon Lawlor) as the following media notables get remembered …

*Young, up-and-coming (and groundbreaking) actress Kaylee Hottle

*Plas Johnson, a sought-after session musician who contributed one of the most indelible solos in an any movie theme song

*Unforgettable screen presence Wai Ching Ho

*Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker

*Sam Neill, one of the most respected actors of his generation

*Welsh recording star Bonnie Tyler, who had one of the most powerful voices in pop music

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listner-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*Dean’s love of the 1973 British supernatural biker horror movie Psychomania

*Whether The General or Sherlock, Jr. is actually Buster Keaton’s greatest comedy

*Whether Dean ever wished to become an editorial cartoonist

*The roles Dean, Jon and Phil’s pets play in their creative endeavors

*The greatest cinematographers of comedy films

*Great films that combine horror and comedy

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

In a truly confusing, but nevertheless hilarious, cold open, Phil offers a correction about “Malta Air”. Thanks to emails from loyal listener and frequent contributor Maurice Terenzio, Dean and Phil have a ball talking about three great actors of Hollywood’s golden age: Joe E. Brown, George Raft and Edward G. Robinson. The big show biz news of the week get discussed: the possible halt to the Paramount-Warners merger and the historic box office success for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Two new movies get reviewed: The brilliant comedy Stop! That! Train! and the hit Netflix offering Enola Holmes 3. Of course, Dean and Phil continue their ongoing film noir and neo-noir discussion, focusing on the nihilism of the 1970s as depicted in such modern classics as Arthur Penn’s Night Moves and the Paul New man vehicle The Drowning Pool. Finally, colleague Marc Hershon (star of the “Chillpak Hollywood Presents …” podcast Television with Marc Hershon) drops in to help your friends in podcasting come up with ideas for how they can commemorate their upcoming 1,000 episode, and to discuss ideas for Phil’s next movie, a documentary all about improv!

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

Marc Hershon is a branding expert who has dreamt up names for countless hit products. He is a comedy veteran, a comedy impresario, and he teaches improv comedy. He has penned several television movies, and is the co-author of I Hate People, a guide to getting “what you want out of your job.” He has reviewed comedy podcasts for The Huffington Post and Splitsider and was the longtime producer and host of “Succotash” the comedy podcast podcast. Marc has spent much of his adult life trying to get people to stop using the word “podcast” and to use “soundcast” instead. Yet, he refers to this show as a “podcast”. He’s mercurial, that guy.

On this episode …

*Marc tackles the Emmy Award nominations, hailing the record-breaking shows, revealing what he considers true “snubs” and providing a history lesson, of sorts, about shows past, and performers, that should have received more Emmy attention.

*Marc compares notes with Phil on Season 2 of Apple TV’s “Sugar”, which leads into an appraisal of “Spider-Noir”, its quality and its “noir” bona fides (or lack thereof). In the process, the great Brendan Gleeson gets his flowers!

*Marc reveals a “comfort watch”, the geriatric ward-set sitcom “Getting On”. Phil gets confused repeatedly about whether Marc is referring to the original BBC series, or its early 2010s HBO remake. Truth be told, Phil might be confused still. Marc also weighs in on the new Apple TV crime thriller miniseries “Lucky”.

*Along the way, Phil passionately reveals a recent “nope” (i.e. a possibly great show he will never watch under any circumstances) and he wraps things up with one of his all-time “comfort watch” selections: Remington Steele.

Come for the news, views and reviews. Stay for the harpsichord-heavy opening and closing theme song selections!

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

For the past several years, Dean Haglund, Phil Leirness, and Jon Lawlor have been getting together almost weekly to hold each other’s feet to the fire in the pursuit of creating art that is filled with life, while also learning how to live more artfully. Now, Chillpak Hollywood Presents … “The Art Life” as a regular podcast!

This week’s topics include:

*An appearance a loyal listener made on the Maxim EQ podcast discussing the adage “Growth doesn’t erase difficulty, it reframes it”.

*The importance of tension in comedy

*The visual styles and approaches of some of the all time greatest comedy movies

*Desperation as a theme common to so many great comedy movies

In addition, Dean and Jon provide updates on their latest artistic endeavors.

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe

It was a rough weekend for Dean Haglund, whose beloved Doberman, Leeloo, is undergoing emergency spinal surgery as we publish this show. It has also been a rough week for the media business where fear over job loss is concerned. In the UK, ITV has been taken over by Sky and several more television mergers, and downsizings, seem to be in the offing. In the U.S. Netflix is mulling a major expansion, and distribution company NEON has sold a major stake to production company Department M in hopes of massively “scaling up” operations. Dean and Phil have all this “business of show” news covered. Then, they go into detail analyzing Disclosure Day as a definitively “American” movie, and Guy Maddin’s Careful as a definitively “Canadian” one. Then, their ongoing discussion of film noir and neo-noir continues, with some key questions being asked and at least one truly awful neo-noir getting discussed in depth.

Chillpak Hollywood Presents ... is a listener-supported joint. To receive new shows and support our work, please become a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deanandphil.substack.com/subscribe