In the wake of Knocked Up’s critical and commercial success, Judd Apatow has become “The Guy:” The Guy Who Brought You Superbad,” “The Guy Who Brought You Pineapple Express,” “The Guy Who Brought You Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

But as his empire reached new heights, Apatow prepared his riskiest film yet; A two and a half hour comedy-drama starring his former roomier Adam Sandler as a lonelier, more bitter variation on his beloved funnyman persona. At once an affectionate look back at his days as a hungry stand up comedian in Hollywood and also a melancholy examination of fame in the face of mortality, regret and middle age. It seemed like American film audiences couldn’t get enough of the lovable, profane comedies of Judd Apatow, but what would they think of FUNNY PEOPLE?

Join Scott and Nick on a meandering journey that leads them through the comedy clubs of Los Angeles to the forests of Marin County for a FRANCHISOGRAPHY that digs deeper than ever before.

No guests. Just vibes.

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

The 40-Year-Old-Virgin’s unexpected critical and box office success put Judd Apatow in a new and uncomfortable place in his career. No longer the guy who created much beloved, quickly canceled TV shows, but bona fide comedy blockbusters. For his next film, Apatow would drop the sketch comedy grossness in favor of more introspection and more honesty.

This is KNOCKED UP.

Scott and Nick get more personal as well in this ambling and nostalgic episode of FRANCHISOGRAPHY.

No guests. Just vibes.

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

With the massive Star Trek series behind them, Nick and Scott begin a new FRANCHISOGRAPHY adventure by diving deep into the filmography of director Judd Apatow, famous for his profane and heartfelt comedies that launched several successful film careers and helped define over a decade of comedy.

After spending much of the 90s and early 2000’s earning a reputation as comedy’s secret weapon, Apatow was finally ready to make his directorial debut. But the star of his first movie wouldn’t be one of the many comedy stars Apatow had worked with or written for like Jim Carey, Ben Stiller, or Will Ferrell. Instead, Apatow would put his faith in another 40-something secret weapon who had made a career hiding in plain sight but was on the verge of breaking out in a big way.

The star’s name was Steve Carell. The movie was THE 40-YEAR-OLD-VIRGIN.

No guests. Just vibes.

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Evil Dead franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2023’s EVIL DEAD RISE.

It’s been a decade since Fede Alvarez’s EVIL DEAD and in the time since Raimi, Campbell, and Tappert have been busy producing three seasons of the ASH vs THE EVIL DEAD television series for STARZ. But with Campbell’s Ash Williams officially retired, the crew was ready for another Evil Dead film. Enter director Lee Cronin, fresh off his directorial debut A HOLE IN THE GROUND, with a pitch about sisters, motherhood, and Necronomicons set in a derelict Los Angeles apartment building.

Grab your chainsaw and come get some as Nick and Scott talk about the latest evolution of the Evil Dead franchise, with a gruesome horror gem previously destined for HBO Max.

Next Week: APATOW begins!

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Scream franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2023’s SCREAM VI.

Only 1 year after the success of 2022’s Scream, writers James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett return to the franchise with a sharp and brutal sequel set in the city that never sleeps as Ghostface takes Manhattan! Sam has followed her sister and friends to college in New York City, but when a new series of Ghostface murders begin, leaving a trail of easter eggs that lead straight to Sam, the “Cour Four” will have to stick together if they want to survive long enough to find a killer who seems obsessed with the past.

It’s not a requel, it’s a franchise! Nick and Scott take a bite out of the Big Apple as they get to the bottom of Scream’s latest sequel.

SPOILERS BEGIN: 00:24:50

Next Week: EVIL DEAD RISE

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Rocky franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2023’s CREED III.

Eight years after stunning the boxing world with his electric debut against “Pretty” Ricky Conlan, Adonis Creed has hung up the gloves. Retired as a fighter and ready to settle down with his wife and young daughter, Donnie has his eyes set on the future, but his past has finally caught up with him in the form of Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson, a childhood friend who lost 18 years to the California Correctional Institution for a crime Adonis may have played a part in. Dame wants the shot that was stolen from him and he’ll do anything to get it back, even if it means breaking Donnie- Inside the ring and out.

Nick and Scott return to the emotional and epic Rocky universe with the biggest, boldest installment yet, this time directed by The Champ himself, Michael B. Jordan. Ding, ding.

Next Week: SCREAM VI

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

It’s a Betweenisode!

Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Star Trek mini-series, the future of the franchise, rank all 13 films, and announce our next mini-series (beginning on May 5th)!

Next Week: CREED III

FRANCHISE POTENTIAL: Lost in Space (1998) episode now available on PATREON!

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Patreon Associate Producers: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

After the controversy of Into Darkness, and in need of a new Trek film for its 50th anniversary, Paramount wanted a fresh take with a safe, geek-friendly writer, so they turned to actor/writer Simon Pegg and paired him with an up-and-coming co-writer from the Bad Robot stable named Doug Jung. Together with Fast & Furious franchise director Justin Lin, they created 2016’s STAR TREK BEYOND, a film that manages to straddle the line between being anti-Star Trek and unapologetically Star Trek, simultaneously.

Joining Nick and Scott on their final Trek is returning guest Cass Fredrickson to discuss this supremely underrated love letter to everything Star Trek represents.

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

2009’s Star Trek was a huge success and a sequel was greenlit quickly, but with Abrams busy making Super 8, writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci turned in a script that was too long and didn’t feature a traditional villain, sending Paramount into a development tizzy. So, fresh off of LOST, producer Damon Lindeloff joined the writing team to help bring the ship in for a landing.

Ultimately a film was made that seemed confused about Trek morality, brought in an iconic villain but lied to audiences about his inclusion, and featured an unsettling amount of 9/11 truther conspiracy theories that resulted in the sudden ending of a writer’s career. Join Nick and Scott on a wild ride through 2013’s controversial STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS.

No guests. Just vibes.

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Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

We interrupt your previously scheduled mini-series with a Franchisography Bonus Special!

Round 1 of this year’s Listener Pick Tournament is over and Nick & Scott are here to discuss where the choices made by our listeners on Discord and Patreon have led us. There were surprising victories, devastating losses, and obvious frontrunners. Let’s break it down.

Daily match-ups end March 31st!

Vote in our March Madness Listener Pick Tournament by Joining the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Get a second vote in every daily match-up by supporting us on PATREON!

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra