(Recorded on November 19th, 2023) Well, we’ve made to episode nineteen, the series finale of My So-Called Life, “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities.” Jordan is trying to get Angela back and much like in her dreams, he seems incapable of apologizing. He enlists the help of Brian and we get “Cyrano De Bergerac: Liberty High” (sadly not added to abc’s Fall ‘95 lineup). Brian does his best to feed Jordan some lines he can remember and Angela buys it enough to tell Jordan that now they can have “a serious talk.” Jordan, who lacks the capacity to take accountability for his actions, convinces Brian (it wasn’t a hard sell) to write the world’s worst love letter to Angela. Since Angela is in high school, the letter makes her forget that Jordan had sex with her best friend. Angela only realizes that Brian wrote the letter in the last few minutes of the show (come on girl! This guy couldn’t even spell your name right!) but still drives off with Jordan. The investors of the restaurant want Graham out of the picture but Hallie thinks that if can just cook for them, they’ll be blown away enough to forget that he’s never run a professional kitchen in his life. It works, because this is not reality. Graham and Hallie embrace for a second too long for it to still be considered a friendly hug. Patty invites her high school boyfriend, Tony Poole, to the house under the pretenses of him having restaurant experience. He’s a no show, but the 1995 version of him (Jordan) shows up and proceeds to drink every ounce of milk they have in the house. Patty, forgetting that this 30 year old sophomore slept with her daughters best friend, says that it’s “clear [he] didn’t mean to hurt her.” Like WTF, Patty!?! Rickie comes out with the help of Delia and this is really the only story line that matters to us. George gives us a very hot take on who he thinks the show is actually about. Meaghan rejects that very hot take. And we discuss the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in media in 1995. (Original network air date January 26th, 1995)

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(Recorded on November 5th, 2023) This week, we’ve got the eighteenth episode of My So-Called Life, “Weekend.” Patty and Graham are headed to the saddest inn this side of the Allegheny River with Uncle Neil and his surprise girlfriend, Cheryl. While packing for the trip, Camille offers Patty her handcuffs—let’s hope she sanitizes after each use. When Graham comes into the room, Patty ends up hiding the handcuffs underneath the 500 decorative pillows on her bed. Patty finally learns that Hallie is no longer engaged and you can hear her screaming internally. At the inn, Patty wants to do activities and the rest of the crew want to get drunk and abandon her to find alcohol, since they are staying at the only dry inn in the western hemisphere. Instead of ice skating, Patty spends her afternoon sitting on a couch in the common area and annoying Warren the inn keeper, a man not suited for the hospitality industry. At dinner, Patty deals with her abandonment issues by getting drunk on contraband ginger flavored brandy to prove to everyone that she’s not a stick-in-the-mud (it only sort of works). Back at the Chase house, Rickie is spending the weekend with Angela and Danielle. While he’s there, Rayanne drops by under the guise of trying to collect $6 from him (but we all know she wants to see Angela). Of course she finds the handcuffs and and proceeds to handcuff herself to the bed. Too bad Patty accidentally brought the key with her to the worst inn in Pennsylvania. Angela, Rickie, Danielle, Sharon, and eventually Brian spend the rest of the weekend trying to free Rayanne from the headboard; all that’s missing is the Benny Hill theme. We have some wildcards for our biggest winners and losers; and we are treated to a quintessential 90’s needle drop. Meaghan and George discuss the Milli Vanilli documentary (love!); Graham licking Patty’s jaw (definitely don’t love); why there wasn’t any alcohol at this inn (Warren is a buzzkill); and how we would have preferred if Uncle Neil was played by Jon Lovitz. (Original network air date January 19th, 1995)

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(Recorded on October 29th, 2023) Up this week we are digging into episode seventeen of My So-Called Life, “Betrayal” and boy is it a doozy. Angela is totally over Jordan (whatever you say girl), Rayanne is auditioning for the school play, Sharon gave Brian a camcorder (big mistake), and Corey Helfrick is back with a brand new look (#basic). Sadly Corey’s style change is the not the only betrayal in the episode; Rayanne and Jordan finally go big in the messing up department and hook up in the back of his car. And we wish we could say that’s the worst part of the whole thing, but it was caught on camera (not accidentally!!!) by Brian. This leads Angela to have a bit of a breakdown and do her best Rayanne impersonation. In the process, Angela freaks Corey out and hurts Rickie’s feelings (unforgivable). Rayanne shows up at the Chase house and tells Patty (for some reason) what she did. Patty is unfazed by this because she too had a bit of a hoe era and slept with one of Camille’s crushes. Elsewhere in adult land, Graham, a man who has only ever cooked for his family and Hallie, a woman who can’t remember where she’s supposed to meet her business partner, are still somehow doing this restaurant together. Hallie’s inability to remember where she’s supposed to meet Graham gives Camille an opportunity to instantly hate her on behalf of Patty like a real friend (and not like one who sleeps with their bff’s crush). Patty suggest another couples date not knowing that Hallie is now Brad-less; because why would Graham tell Patty anything? There’s obviously some runaway nominees for biggest loser in this episode, but will they win? George and Meaghan (neither are legal scholars) discuss the legality of filming two people (underage!) doing it in the backseat of a car in 1995. George has a bone to pick with Hallie and her restaurant etiquette. And Meaghan asks the important question: What’s in Rayanne’s flask. (Original network air date January 12th, 1995)

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(Recorded on October 22nd, 2023) This week we’re talking “Resolutions,” the sixteenth episode of My-So Called Life. It’s a new year and we're ready to party like it’s 1995! Everyone in Three Rivers is resolved to do something: Angela says she won’t do Jordan’s homework anymore (girl, really?); Rickie want’s to find a place where he’ll really fit in (ugh Rickie, don’t make us cry); Brian wants to stop obsessing over Angela (get a hobby other than perving then); and Sharon wants to stop having sex with Kyle (we support this). Patty wants to be less of a nag and Graham vows to tell Hallie that he won’t do the restaurant with her—which we thought he already did a few episodes ago. Mr. Katimski has given up coffee in the year of our lord, 1995, and boy was this a bad time to do that. With Angela no longer doing Jordan’s homework, she signs him up for peer tutoring and he’s paired with none other than Brian Krakow and just wait until you hear how Jordan pronounces that. Hallie convinces Graham to help her look at potential restaurant spaces and we learn that Brad hates these two as much as we do. The heart and soul of the episode is Rickie—nothing sarcastic to say here folks, unexpected, we know. Rickie leaves the Chase home after a week, thinking he’s not wanted. With no where to go he tells Mr. Katimski what’s going on. Mr. K, who should be in the running for teacher of the year, does his best to help Rickie. While things don’t go quite as planned, Rickie eventually ends up in the right place. George thinks it’s weird that Graham talks to Hallie on the phone like he’s some giddy school girl; Meaghan doesn’t understand how Sharon uses a Brad Pitt movie to get hot for Kyle; and we make our pick for the most stable relationship in Three Rivers—it’s definitely not Patty and Graham. (Original network air date January 5th, 1995) 

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(Recorded on October 15th, 2023) We’re back this week with episode fifteen of My So-Called Life, “So-Called Angels.” It’s Christmas in Three Rivers and all is not calm and bright. We’re blessed with a restaurant free storyline this week, but unfortunately, Rickie’s family has kicked him out of the house and he’s doing his best to pretend that things are FINE when things are obviously not fine. Angela wants to know why her family doesn’t go to church (hashtag: it's boring) and for the portion of the episode where she’s not fighting with Patty, she’s white savioring all over the place. Patty, who’s still feeling the sting of Amber Vallon telling her to “get off her high horse” doesn’t think that it’s their place to get involved with helping Rickie. Graham makes a Spike Lee joke without ever probably having seen a Spike Lee film. Danielle is taking the Christ out of Christmas; Brian is left alone for the holidays (even his parents don’t want to spend time with him); Rayanne turns Sharon’s teen help line into 1-800 line; and Jordan helps Rickie find a place to stay (not a great one, but still). We get some one and done characters: a cop who has to explain the difference between a “run away” and a “throw away” to Patty (must be nice in that bubble, Patty!) and Female Clarence™. Only one of those people will be getting their wings this Christmas! Meaghan and George discuss the bachelorette party situation in Nashville (harmless fun or an epidemic?); Meaghan admits that she cried during the episode (not such a Grinch after all, is she?!); and George, in the hopes of a Christmas miracle of his own, tries to revive the defunct clothing store Structure. (Original network air date December 22nd, 1994)

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(Record on September 17th , 2023) Up this week is episode fourteen of My So-Called Life, “On the Wagon.” Jordan and Angela are “sort of” broken up, meaning that Angela now listens to all of his boring stories without the added benefit of a makeout sesh. Rayanne’s 33 days sober and desperate for attention. Tino’s quit the Frozen Embryos and Jordan’s got twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours to go until he needs to find a replacement for the ex-lead singer. And after seeing one of the band practices, we’re starting to get an idea as to why Tino wanted out. Rayanne tries to convince Angela to get Jordan to let her audition for the band and even Jordan, an adult man with a 1st grade reading level, knows it’s a bad idea. But Rayanne Yoko’s her way in via the drummer and they all spend approximately zero minutes practicing together before their big audition at Vertigo. Rayanne bombs and Jordan has to step in as singer leading us all to wonder why he just didn’t do that in the first place. Given Rayanne’s odd behavior, everyone thinks she’s headed towards a bender, but is she? Patty thinks she is (based on absolutely no evidence) and inserts herself into the situation. Patty eventually goes toe-to-toe with Amber and her blender and it’s no longer peaceful in Margaritaville. There’s a small pool for biggest winner leading both Meaghan and George to surprising choices. George asks if Jordan and Rayanne are good singers; Meaghan asks if Zack Attack is the better tv show band; and since Oliver Stone will never be on our podcast, we’re finally free to say what we think of his movies (hint: they’re too long!) (Original network air date December 8th, 1994)

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(Record on September 9th, 2023) We’re back this week with episode thirteen of My So-Called Life, “Pressure.” You may recall where we left off with the last episode; Jordan coming to a sudden realization that he should hold hands with Angela. Well, this relationship has accelerated at record speed. Jordan’s letting Angela drive his car—maybe he thinks that teaching her how to drive stick will subconsciously make her want to have sex with him. Jordan’s got two tickets to Pound Town but Angela isn’t sure she wants to join him. She seeks counsel in a few people: Sharon, who brings over her parents' instructional “intimacy” VHS, a tape so unsexy they could show it on ABC in 1994; and Rickie, who tells her that her first time should be like a miracle and not with someone who has been held back twice and cant read (kidding, he only said the first part). After Angela backs out of having sex with Jordan at an abandoned house (the miracle here would be not rolling over on to a rusty nail) we learn that his other philosophy in life is POGO—put out or get out. Hallie’s back and this time we meet her fiancé, Brad, who may or may not think that Graham is letting his 15 year old daughter date an adult. Hallie wants to open a restaurant with Graham as the chef (may we remind you: no credentials). Of course when Graham tells Patty she’s not excited and the cycle of their miserable marriage continues! George has a lot to say about Cynthia Hargrove, resident baddie at Liberty High. Meaghan isn’t quite sure what interests Jordan about Angela so much anyways. And as delicately as possible we try to figure out how far these two had gotten before the "going all the way" question was posed. Was it over or under the pants stuff? (Original network air date December 1st, 1994)

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(Record on September 10th, 2023) Up this week is “Self-Esteem,” the twelfth episode of My So-Called Life. Angela and Jordan are making out in the school’s boiler room, not for the thrill of it, but because Jordan doesn’t want his friends to know about Angela. Rough! Angela invites herself to a Buffalo Tom concert to prove to Sharon and Rayanne that he’s not treating her like garbage only to have him treat her like garbage right in front of them. We learn that Jordan can’t spell Angela’s name and that Angela is a glutton for punishment. Liberty High finally replaces Ms. Mayhew (no word on if she’s still alive) with Mr. Katimski. Mr. Katimski desperately wants Rickie to join the drama club and will stop at nothing to get him to sign up—except calling him Enrique, he won’t stop doing that. Graham finally starts the cooking class that Patty signed him up for. He meets Hallie Lowenthal, a woman he describes as loud and obnoxious, so you know these two are already in love. Stephan Dieter, the teacher, is on the sauce (not spaghetti) and when he goes to rehab, Hallie convinces the school to let Graham, a man with no credentials of any kind, teach the class. We also get another round of Brian yelling at Angela in her house—someone please, arrest him. He gives Jordan a run for his money in the biggest loser category. George geeks out over Buffalo Tom, even going so far as to pull out a cassette tape. Meaghan talks about the bus route from Loserville to Liberty High—is it a direct route or are there stops? And finally we discuss Mrs. Lerner’s workplace flirtations—harmless or should HR get involved? (Original network air date November 17th, 1994)

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(Record on August 8th, 2023) This week, we're discussing episode eleven of My So-Called Life, “Life of Brian.” It’s a nightmare scenario for Meaghan, but she soldiers on. From the first scene to the last, Brian terrorizes us with his narration and bad decision making. We get two new students at Liberty High: Delia, who is crushing on Brian (for some reason) and Corey, an artsy student who wears a beret that has Rickie’s attention. Sharon is organizing the World Happiness Dance, but for some it will be the World Sadness Dance. Angela wants to ask Jordan, but do they let adults into high school dances? Brian debates asking Delia or Angela to the dance, turning to Graham for help; he of course is no help at all. At the dance, Rickie and Delia give us one of, if not the greatest dance performances ever to air on television. And we get an epic, epic needle drop. There’s a clear cut winner for biggest loser, but Graham really, really tries to steal the crown. He’s mad at Patty for suggesting community college for cooking classes when she knows future Kitchen Nightmares restaurant owner Graham wants to go to culinary school. Finally, we learn that the three worst men on the show all have the same philosophy in life. Also, George makes a shocking declaration—but by the end of the series, will he feel the same way? Meaghan finally admits something Jordan did was “kind of hot,” and we discuss George’s incredible high school fashion evolution. Learn how he went from Wu-Tang to Brian Krakow in just a few years. (Original network air date November 10th, 1994)

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(Recorded on August 6th, 2023) This week, we’re discussing episode ten of My So-Called Life, “Other People’s Mothers.” Amber’s back baby and she’s brought her blender and some margarita mix! In a grass is always greener sitch, Angela thinks Amber is not like other moms, she’s a cool mom. Rayanne get’s a birthday card with some money from her estranged father. Instead of taking Rickie’s advice to buy some makeup or a leather jacket, she decides to throw a party. With all the drugs and alcohol she can procure from the school parking lot you can imagine how this party goes. Patty is throwing a party of her own for her parents anniversary, which could have benefited from some tablets of Rayanne’s ecstasy. Patty comes to the rescue when Angela and Rickie need her help with Rayanne; who’s the cool mom now, Angela? We get a blissfully Krakow free episode and what we think may be a top needle drop moment. Also, George and Meaghan share their thoughts on Zach Braff (Jay Sherman Voice: He stinks!); if 90’s rock groups made a mistake adding reggae to their songs (yes); and we do our best to work out the timelines of the two parties in the episode. Something’s not adding up! (Original network airdate November 3rd, 1994)

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