Killing Your Darlings

Well, long time no see, darlings!  Apologies for our long hiatus but, ya know, s**t happens.  Back just in time for Halloween, this month we are watching the 80s comedy/horror classic Ghostbusters!  Dan is...lukewarm on this movie.  So we're gonna hopefully change his mind!

When they lose their funding from Columbia University, paranormal research scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) decide to go into business as paranormal pest control.  But when they are tasked with investigating the haunting of cellist Dana Barrett's (Sigourney Weaver) apartment, they find themselves tasked with an even greater challenge...saving the world!  Also featuring the immense talents of Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis and Slimer the hungry ghost!

Chrysten of course grew up with this movie and its sequel in constant rotation on her TV.  Dan, not so much.  Will bustin' make Dan feel good?  Or will he roast it like a Stay Puft marshmallow man?  Join us and find out!

Btw...Here's the link to the ruined painting mentioned in the episode.  Brace yourselves, darlings:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/world/europe/botched-restoration-of-ecce-homo-fresco-shocks-spain.html

A very special thanks to all of our special guests over the years: Kate Holland, Mark & Sophie of the You Know What I Like...? podcast, Dan Rogers, Eleanor Cohen, Tami Stronach, Tom Snyder, Harrison Chang...and, of course, our Fairy Podfather, Patrick Walsh of ScreamQueenz fame. If you haven't listened to ScreamQueenz yet, you can check it out here: https://www.screamqueenz.com/

On July 16th, 2021, Warner Bros. released the LONG anticipated sequel to their 1996 masterpiece, Space Jam.  And for just a moment, the world stood still.  Just kidding, it was released in theaters and on HBOMax and people seemed to be pretty "meh" about it.  Your beloved hosts were part of this "meh" group.  So they figured they would go back and watch the original and see what all of the fuss had been about back in the 90s and what could possibly prompt a sequel over 20 years later.

Michael Jordan (played by himself) is at the peak of his fame and success as a basketball player and decides that he is going to retire and become a baseball player.  Makes sense!  Meanwhile, up in space, evil amusement park owner Swackhammer (voiced by Danny DeVito) kidnaps the Looney Tunes to use them as the new attraction at his theme park.  The Looney Tunes challenge their kidnappers to a game of basketball and recruit none other than Michael Jordan to help them win.  But the kidnappers have also stolen the talents of some of the best basketball players of the 90s to help THEM win! 

Who will be victorious??? And more importantly...will Dan & Chrysten like Space Jam?  Join us & find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Now that Dan is officially DONE with his thesis, he is able to catch up on a bunch of weird animated films he has always had on his list.  First up on that list...Disney's oft-overlooked 80s animated film The Black Cauldron!

Taran (voice by Grant Bardsley) is a young farm boy, tasked with looking after an oracular pig named Hen Wen that has visions of the location of the magical and evil Black Cauldron.  The dark and powerful Horned King (voiced by John Hurt) is desperately searching for the Black Cauldron so that he can raise an army of the dead to take over the world!  When Hen Wen is captured by the Horned King's minions, Taran, along with a group of misfit friends he meets along the way, must fight to keep Hen Wen safe and stop the Horned King from succeeding in his evil deeds!

But will The Black Cauldron use its mystical powers to charm our hosts?  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Link to the Slate article Dan referenced: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/dvdextras/2010/10/the_black_cauldron.html

Link to the Defunctland episode that Chrysten referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6rnPqSrE40

Darlings, we don't have to tell you that we love a franchise.  And like all good franchises, this month we are bringing back a beloved character: your missing in action co-host DAN!  Along with your stalwart co-host, Chrysten, and our favorite guest host, Kate, we are watching and discussing the modern continuation of the Karate Kid saga...Cobra Kai!

30 years after his brutal defeat at the All-Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament, a down and out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is haunted by his failure and the success of his rival, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).  When he sees his teenage neighbor, Miguel (Xolo Mariduena) being bullied by some other kids, he intervenes and it sparks an idea...re-open the Cobra Kai dojo and teach kids how to kick some ass!  But when Daniel finds out Johnny is back, he sets out to stop him, reigniting their decades old feud! 

Kate recommended this to Chrysten and Dan as perfect pandemic viewing, and, boy, did it deliver!  Join us as we take this final trip down Karate Kid lane and talk about the badassery that is Cobra Kai!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Well, darlings, this one has been a long time comin'! Our beloved substitute co-host, Kate Holland, has been asking Chrysten to be a guest for this movie since this podcast was in short pants!  And now, after all these years, the time has come!  Get ready, darlings, for...The Last Unicorn!

When a beautiful, young unicorn (Mia Farrow) learns that the rest of her kind have been driven into the ocean by a frightening Red Bull belonging to a cruel king in a faraway land, she leaves the safety of her forest to try and find them.  Helped along the way by a bumbling magician named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) and a gruff matron named Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes), the trio make their way to the castle of King Haggard (Christopher Lee).  But when they encounter the Red Bull on the road, Schmendrick transforms the unicorn into a human woman to hide her from the bull.  But as she spends more time in her womanly form, the unicorn starts to lose sight of her quest and her true self!

This movie was a fave of both Kate and Chrysten as youngsters...but will they, like the unicorn, lose sight of their true feelings?  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Well, darlings, here we are...we made it through Parts 1 and 2...fasten your 80s seat belts, because this month we are watching The Karate Kid Part III!  We are joined once again by the delightful Kate Holland, so it's another very special LADIES ONLY episode!

Disgraced karate instructor, John Kreese (Martin Kove), decides to exact revenge on his sworn enemies, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki Pat Morita).  Recruiting his old war buddy, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), Kreese and Silver lay out a plan to lure Daniel into another round at the tournament, but FIRST!  They bring the PAIN! 

Will Kreese finally get his revenge?  Will Kate & Chrysten love this movie as much as they loved the second one?  Will Chrysten EVER watch Cobra Kai???  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE! 

"So what would you little maniacs like to do first?"  We hope the answer is "Listen to a podcast!" because this month, Dan & Chrysten are taking on the 80s John Hughes teen sci fi comedy Weird Science!

High school losers, Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) want nothing more than to be confident, popular and successful with girls.  So when Wyatt's parents go out of town, the friends decide that the way to do that is to make their perfect woman.  Using Wyatt's computer, Gary & Wyatt create Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), a gorgeous woman with the intelligence of Albert Einstein and the sex appeal of a Playboy centerfold.  Through a series of wacky antics, Lisa turns the young pair's world upside down and helps them to fully realize their cool potential. 

But will your hosts realize the cool potential of this movie?  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Hoo boy, darlings!  Who would have thought the stylish 90s sci-fi film Gattaca could bring out such intense feelings in your hosts?  Certainly not your hosts, that's for sure. 

Vincent (Ethan Hawke) dreams of becoming an astronaut and exploring Titan, one of Saturn's moons.  But in a world where humans are genetically modified to be exceptional, natural born Vincent's genetic heart condition prevents him from realizing his dream.  Until genetically perfect Jerome (Jude Law) offers to let him use his modified DNA to join the elite Gattaca space program.  Vincent has everyone fooled, until the investigation of a murder within Gattaca's walls threatens to expose him.  Uma Thurman co-stars as Vincent's beautiful co-worker who falls in love with him while tasked with investigating him.

This movie is quite a personal darling of Dan's adolescence.  But will this tale of bio manipulation win over Chrysten like Ethan Hawke wins over Uma Thurman?  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Happy Holidays, darlings!  This month, your hosts are happy to bring you a very special episode, devoted to a very special Christmas episode of TV...Will Vinton's A Claymation Christmas Celebration!

The show opens on two dinosaurs (cuz nothing says Christmas like dinosaurs!), hosting a variety show consisting of different videos set to Christmas carols!  Featuring a very special performance by the one and only California Raisins!

But why are the California Raisins so popular?  Why were they the big draw of this special?  We strive to answer these questions and more.  Tune in to hear what we find out!  And don't forget to RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!

Guess who's back, darlings?  That's right!  After a short hiatus from our little show, Dan is back!  Put him in, coach, he's ready to play! And I hope you caught that we just referenced a song that references a sport!  Because this month we are watching a special request from our new listener, Trey in Texas...the 1980s sports comedy Major League!

When the owner of the failing Cleveland Indians decides to secretly tank the team's season on purpose for personal gains, she drafts some of the most misfit players in the minor leagues.  Unbeknownst to them, they help to further her nefarious plot by losing games spectacularly at the start of the season.  But when their stalwart coach (James Gannon) discovers her plan, he rallies the team to shoot for the top instead!  Featuring performances by a young Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert, Tom Berenger and Rene Russo!

But will this redemption story redeem itself in the eyes of your hosts?  Join us and find out!  And don't forget to RATE REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE!