Hate Watch / Great Watch

150. Armageddon (1998) 

Hello Excellent Roughnecks! 

We’re celebrating our landmark 150th episode with a bang, taking a look at a genre-defining late ‘90s disaster movie. Ben Affleck sings! Billy Bob Thornton is: NASA Papa! And-- does Peter Stormare really look that much like the guy from Rammstein?
PLUS: Can you guess our puzzle of films?
Time to figure out what you’d demand from the gov’t, it’s Armageddon (1998)!

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 

Ep. 6: The Fifth Element (1997) 
Ep. 122: The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

149. Shadow of the Vampire (2000) 

Hello Excellent Method Actors! 

To coincide with the release of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu - also releasing today - we’ve invited Bryan Bierman back to discuss an overlooked Hollywood satire. We praise this stacked cast, get treated to Bryan’s Andrew Dice Clay impression, and wonder: could this film have been an FMV game in the 2000s? Plus: a brief Seinfeld diversion. Get ready to learn about “fingles”, it’s Shadow of the Vampire (2000)! 

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 

Ep. 144: Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

148. Jingle All the Way (1996) 

Hello Excellent Turbomans!

In our only holiday-themed episode this year, Allison and Hunter take on a semi-beloved seasonal classic. Why was Sinbad done so dirty by this script? Why is Arnold Schwarzenegger playing some average dude? And: will he get chuckle-cucked© by Phil Hartman? Plus: we pitch several simple fixes for the film’s tone problems.
Strap on your fully-functional rocket pack, it’s Jingle All the Way (1996)!

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 

Ep. 53: The Beethoven Franchise (1992-2014)
Ep. 72: Last Action Hero (1993)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

147. Grease 2 (1982) 

Hello Excellent Pink Ladies! 

We’re joined by 8-time guest Bottle and their pal Karima for a return to Rydell High! Everybody’s into motorcycles now, especially when they’re ridden by a masked hunk who definitely couldn’t be that new exchange student! In this episode, we dish out motorcycle-related proverbs, invent some Brand New Sentences©, and court a sponsorship from Crocs footwear! PLUS: Does anybody want to pamper Bottle’s feet? Get ready for unsubtle songwriting and bike stunts, it’s Grease 2 (1982)! 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Ep. 146: Grease (1978)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

146. Grease (1978) 

Hello Excellent T-Birds! 

Allison & Hunter go to Rydell High on the new episode to learn why Grease (1978) is the word (have you heard?) * CONTENT WARNING: brief mentions of abortion and SA, which might not be everyone’s jam * This episode features turducken talk, discussion of how depiction does not equal endorsement, and how those extras had to be doing the Hand Jive at gunpoint! PLUS: Is Pulp Fiction set in the 1970s? This is now a Betty Rizzo stan account, it’s Grease (1978)! 

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 

Ep. 140: Alison’s Birthday (1981) 
Ep. 76: Australia (2008) 
Ep. 96: Die Hard (1988) 
Ep. 138: High Fidelity (2000) 
Ep. 5: The Apple (1980) 

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

145. Love Bites (1988) 

Hello Excellent Fang-Bangers! 

We’re bringing Vamp-tober to a close on Hate Watch/Great Watch with our pal Will Congleton discussing a direct-to-video, gay, west coast, softcore porno romance! On this episode we decide that we’re more of a “vice podcast” than an “advice podcast”; We examine the specific vocal cadence porno actors have; and ask: Who is the most famous person where you’ve seen the back of their balls? Hunter’s answer may surprise you! PLUS: we pitch a Shakespeare x Vampires mash-up! Get ready for a 347 year release, it’s Love Bites (1988)!

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

144. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) 

Hello Excellent Plague Rats! 

On our second episode of Vamp-tober, we’re joined by Gabby Reeves to talk about Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake of a silent-era classic. Topics of discussion include Hunter’s dark history with telemarketing; How hyenas were once on trend; and how the events of the film all began with a land deal! PLUS: We ordain the new face of tantra (and you won’t believe who it is!) AND: shout out to Dracula Daily! Protect ya neck, it’s Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)! 

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 
Ep. 8 - Dune (1984)
Ep. 113 - Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

143. Jugular Wine: A Vampire Odyssey (1994) 

Hello Excellent Bloodsuckers! 

We’re kicking off our all-vampire Vamp-tober block with a low budget, high concept flick that we discovered in a foot stool! Filmed on location in Pennsylvania, California, Louisiana, Utah, and Alaska, (!!!) this film is the dictionary definition of an odyssey! We discuss the movie in depth, including whatever we could glean about its cast, crew, and production! PLUS: Allison invents the term “shampire”. Count up your frequent-flyer miles, it’s Jugular Wine: A Vampire Odyssey (1994)! 

Previous Episodes Mentioned: 

Ep. 1 - The Octagon (1980)
Ep. 53 - The entire Beethoven franchise (1992 - 2014)
Ep. 125 - Fantastic Four (2005)
Ep. 126 - The Chase (1994)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

142. Real Steel (2011) 

Hello Excellent Robots! 

Many call boxing “the sweet science”, well they don’t know the half of it! On this episode of HWGW, we’re discussing the 2011 robot boxing movie Real Steel! While the film can’t settle on one plot through-line to follow, we basically stay on topic, discussing author Richard Matheson’s original Twilight Zone episode, what we would name our boxing bots, and why director Shawn Levy’s Free Guy s-t-i-n-k-s. PLUS: praise for BattleBots! Engage your pugilism protocols, it’s Real Steel (2011)!

Previous Episodes Mentioned:
Ep. 80 - Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
Ep. 100 - Elvis (2022)

Questions, comments, requests? Write us at: [email protected]

141. Carnival Magic (1983) 

Hello Excellent Carnies! 

Step right up! Step right up! Aydan Schlaffman returns to Hate Watch/Great Watch for a truly left-field pick: Al Adamson’s magician-with-a-monkey programmer Carnival Magic (1983)! We discuss apes & chimps in popular culture, rant about animal safety and superhero bodies, and discuss our favorite carnival rides. PLUS: we cast Young Markov! Grab your seats, the show’s about to start. It’s Carnival Magic (1983)!

Questions, comments, requests: [email protected]