Franchisography

Five years after Trainwreck, director Judd Apatow was now nearly two decades into his storied career as Hollywood’s leading comedy director. For his next film, Apatow would return to a now familiar formula: Collaborating with a young star-in-the-making to craft a deeply personal, semi-autobiographical character study that mixed big laughs with honest self-examination.

This time, his muse would be then-26-year-old Pete Davidson, a stand-up wunderkind turned Saturday Night Live superstar more well-known for his list of famous ex-girlfriends than his film and TV roles. But Davidson had a mission with his first big movie, emotional baggage he needed to process in order to grow not just as an actor and comedian, but a person.

In interviews, Apatow had often said his love of working with actors in their first projects stemmed from their hunger and passion for finally bringing their story to the screen, and in Pete Davidson, he may have found his ultimate collaborator. This is THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND.

No guests. Just vibes.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

One day while stuck in LA traffic, Judd Apatow heard stand-up comedian Amy Schumer talking on Howard Stern and felt the same excitement and curiosity he felt when he first discovered Steve Carrell, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Lena Dunham. And so, after brokering a deal between himself, Schumer, and his old home at Universal Studios, Apatow began work on a more back-to-basics romantic comedy than his two previous films.

This is TRAINWRECK.

With exceptional performances from supporting actors like Bill Hader, Brie Larson and LeBron James, can a movie still work if its star just might be delivering its weakest performance?

Nick and Scott hold nothing back on this brutally honest episode of FRANCHISOGRAPHY.

No guests. Just vibes.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

We interrupt your regularly scheduled mini-series for a Centenisode!

Join Nick and Scott as they celebrate 100 episodes of Franchisography, answer listener questions, and rank all of the franchises that we’ve covered so far.

Plus, what better way to commemorate our 100th episode than discussing both entries in a franchise that we wouldn’t be able to cover as a regular mini-series? The story of two high school rivals who become cops and eventually best friends when they go undercover as high school students, and then again as college students, with strong ties to our very first mini-series.

It’s Lord & Miller’s 21 JUMP STREET & 22 JUMP STREET.

Strap in folks, it’s gonna be a long one.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

2009’s Funny People was neither the critical nor the commercial success that his previous films were, but for his follow-up, writer/director Judd Apatow decided to get even more personal while returning to familiar characters from the world of his previous blockbuster success, Knocked Up, with 2012’s THIS IS 40.

Gathering stories of middle-aged anxiety and marital angst with wife and muse Leslie Mann, Apatow crafted a comedy that put honesty and vulnerability above easy laughs and easier answers. Would audiences return after their chilly response to Funny People?

Scott and Nick struggle to shape this ambling collection of scenes and sketches into a story, but you the listener will have no such difficulty enjoying this loose and (of course) honest addition of FRANCHISOGRAPHY.

No guests. Just vibes.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra

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.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

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.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

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.

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

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!

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

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

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

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

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter to hear our “Franchise Potential” companion podcast, plus bonus podcasts each week including Dueling Genre Tonight hosted by Nick!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Patreon Associate Producer: Matt Bennett & Mark Ybarra