For this year's Nutcracker entry, Kerry and Collin fulfill a listener request with "The Nutcracker Prince," surprisingly not a direct-to-video animated film from this era, but sure feels like one. What is Blue (or Bleu) Cheese Cake? Is it acceptable to have a Nutcracker movie without the slightest hint of ballet? Is it worth the effort to travel to Miller's Pub on Wabash Avenue in Chicago to try the seasonal Tom and Jerry beverage? All these questions answered, plus a Blu-ray Gift Exchange from December that feature a few classics and obscurities.

Blu-ray films covered:

Universal:

"Love Actually" (4K) (2003)

Criterion:

"The Red Balloon" and Other Tales by Albert Lamorisse (1951-1965)

Sony:

"School Daze" (4K) (1988)

MGM:

"Bikini Beach" (1964)

Warner Bros.:

"The Color Purple" (4K) (1985)

Warner Archive:

"Tarzan The Ape Man" (1932)

"Anna Christie" (1930)

"Madame Bovary" (1949)

"The Great Ziegfeld" (1936)

Giant:

"A Disturbance In the Force" (2023)

Music Box Films:

"Fremont" (2023)

Friend of the show, Jim Peebles, joins Collin and Kerry for a look at one of the most enduring and successful of all Christmas films, Jon Favreau's 2003 comedy "Elf," starring Will Farrell as the eternally childlike Buddy The Elf and James Caan as his long lost father. How does the film hold up after 20 years? Did the film breathe new life into the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside"? How is it that there's never been a sequel? Collin and Kerry also give quick reviews on three new Christmas films now streaming: "Family Switch" (Netflix), "Candy Cane Lane" (Amazon) and "The Sacrifice Game" (Shudder). Kerry then gives us three more titles from the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" book.

Before any of that, though, Kerry and Collin share their adventures in Pink Wonderland, a pop-up bar in Chicago that is just too pink to believe. Go to https://solo.to/pinkwonderland to get more information on both their Chicago and New York location,  as well as their upcoming New Year's Eve celebration. 

Book movies covered:

"Marty" (1955)

"Fireworks" (1997)

"Downfall" (2004)

Kerry and Collin take the show on the road for their 100th episode (or is it?). They are joined by frequent guests Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski for a discussion in front of an audience following the screening of the film. Does John Landis' film represent Eddie Murphy at his peak? How does this movie work as a time capsule of '80s greed and specific movie tropes? How does it harken back to comedies of the '30s and '40s? After that, Kerry and Collin look at a study that examined profanity in Christmas movies. They also share a few ideas they will try with the show starting in 2024. Merry New Year!

Ed Daly, author of "The Christmas Book," joins Kerry and Collin for a discussion on the 1988 classic comedy "Scrooged," starring Bill Murray. For Ed, it was a memorable childhood moviegoing experience. For Collin, it was a memorable teenage experience working at a movie theater at the time. For Kerry, it was a memorable cable TV staple. Does it hold up? Are the supporting actors actually funnier than Murray? What do we all remmeber about the films "Moving Violations" and "Pandemonium"? All this, plus a non-holiday related edition of the Blu-ray Gift Exchange. 

Ed Daly's book "The Christmas Book: The Ultimate Guide To Your Favorite Holiday"

Blu-ray movies covered:

Paramount:

"Scrooged" 4K

"Terms of Endearment" 4K

Warner Bros:

"A Christmas Story Christmas" DVD

"The Fugitive" 4K

Criterion:

"Jackie Chan: Emergence Of A Superstar" collection

Warner Archive:

"Rapa Nui"

"Looney Tunes: Collector's Choice, Vol. 2"

Music Box Films: 

"The Unknown Country"

Kerry and Collin talk about the Christmas episodes from Murder She Wrote, Moonlighting, Psych, The Office, Pee-Wee's Playhouse and The Bear. Collin also covers some holiday offerings new on blu-ray/4K and offers his choices for the best blu-ray/4K releases of the year. Finally, they each recommend a movie-related book ("Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever," by Matt Singer and "Christmas On the Screen: Reviewing the Evolution of American Spirituality," by John A. Zukowski). Sprinkled in are some TV Christmas Special ads that aired in 1987. 

Blu-ray Movies covered:

"A Magical Christmas Village" (Hallmark)

"Psych: The Complete Series" (Universal)

"Stealing Christmas" (Universal)

"The Office: The Complete Christmas Collection" (Universal)

"The Christmas Martian" (Vinegar Syndrome)

Books covered:

"Opposable Things: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever," by Matt Singer.

"Christmas On the Screen: Reviewing the Evolution of American Spirituality," by John A. Zukowski

Film critic Marya E. Gates joins Collin and Kerry to talk about Netflix's latest holiday offering, "Best. Christmas. Ever!" This "fam-com" stars Heather Graham, Brandy and Jason Biggs and is directed by Mary Lambert of "Pet Sematary" fame. How does this film figure into the rest of her work? Do rich people really have multiple, full-size Christmas trees throughout their homes? Would a solar powered hot air balloon fly successfully on a cold winter night? Plenty of questions, some of which get answered. Plus, Kerry talkes about three more entries from the book "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." Also, stay tuned for some exciting news about the show and upcoming episodes. 

Book movies covered:

"Winchester 73" (1950)

"Terms of Endearment" (1983)

"Dead Man" (1995)

The first big Christmas film of the season, Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers," is actually pretty great (the first Christmas movie of the season is rarely ever good). Film critic Steve Prokopy joins Kerry and Collin for the discussion of this theatrical release that is worthy of your time at your local theater (SPOILERS WARNING FOR THIS EPISODE!). Paul Giamatti plays a teacher stuck babysitting a prep school kid on campus during winter break. Is this one of Payne's best films? What would a pandemic have been like in the 1970s? What is the proper way to make any flaming dessert? All this, plus a look at the latest and greatest in physical media for the month of October for the Blu-ray Gift Exchange. 

Since this is a brand new movie, be on the lookout for SPOILERS, particularly in the 49:00 - 55:00 portion.

Films covered on the Blu-ray Gift Exchange:

Criterion:

“Videodrome” and “Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers”

Janus FIlms:

“EO” 

Paramount:

“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” 

Sony:

“Rock Around the Clock” 

MGM:

"Mr. North"

Warner Archive:

"Double Trouble"

"Christopher Strong"

"Dance Fools, Dance"

"The Devil Doll"

Warner Bros."

“Barbie”

“Meg 2: The Trench"

Universal:

“The Black Phone” 

The tradition continues! Patrick Ripoll joins Kerry and Collin once again to look beneath the early-'90s, direct-to-video sheen and plunge into the most disturbing of depths to dissect "Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation," quite possibly the most disgusting movie ever covered on this show (and yes, we did cover that Kirk Cameron movie). Is it wrong to bring stemware to a picnic? If Clint Howard isn't playing Ricky from the first three films, which Ricky is he playing? Can a male director make a "feminist parable" while his lead actress spends much of the movie gratuitously naked and covered in slime? So many questions, plus Kerry talks about three movies from the book "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." 

Book movies covered:

"Frenzy" (1972)

"The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" (1978)

"Nosferatu" (1922)

Who doesn't love a good musical-zombie-Christmas movie? Kerry and Collin are joined by frequent guest Peter Sobczynski to talk about the 2017 horror-musical "Anna and the Apocalypse" and break down how it manages to mix vastly different tones into a tight 93 minutes. How different is the film today when viewed after the height of the real pandemic? How does this film compare to ther horror-based cult movie musicals? Will Collin and Kerry be able to master their Dudley Moore and Mary Tyler Moorse imitations on a future episode? All this, plus a robust Blu-ray Gift Exchange segment.

Movies covered on the Blu-ray Gift Exchange:

Criterion:

Walkabout

Paramount:

Poker Face - Season 1

Warner Bros. 

The Exorcist - 4K

Warner Archive:

Saratoga

Westward The Women

Cats Don't Dance

Universal:

Cocaine Bear - 4K

Drafthouse Films:

The Youtube Effect

Music Box Films:

L'immensita

11In between enthusiastic discussions of their recent wedding and the reissue of Jonathan Demme's "Stop Making Sense," Kerry and Collin take a few minutes to discuss the 2004 tearjerker drama "Noel," starring Susan Sarandon, Alan Arkin, Paul Walker, Penelope Cruz and Robin Williams. Are ringbearers absolutely necessary in a wedding ceremony? What went wrong with Spike Lee's recent Q&A with Talking Heads? How does a DVD self-destruct? All these questions get answered and more. Plus, Kerry gives three titles from the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" in the Book segment, one of which leads into the discussion of the greatest concert film of all time, which everyone should see in IMAX (or fake IMAX if that's the case) while you can. Don't cheat yourself. Bring the kids. Introduce them to one of the greatest bands of all time at the peak of their powers and a director who redefined what a concert film could be. It's on IMAX in September. Check your local listings.

Read Chaz Ebert's article on Kerry and Collin's wedding. 

Book movies covered:

"Philadelphia" (1993)

"Fantastic Planet" (1973)

"The Double Life of Veronique" (1991)

Also on the episode, Kerry and Collin talk about "Noel."