Open Tabs

This episode was a journey! After three attempts at uploading we are finally able to share this review of the 1992 Eddie Murphy and Reginald Hudlin classic (regardless of what the critics said at the time!) Boomerang. Robin Givens and Halle Berry light the screen up and David Alan Grier and Martin Lawrence bring the comedy along with a young Chris Rock and a screen chewing John Witherspoon. Our special guest tonight is the king of Washington, DC. Calvin celebrates his birthday on this episode. Yes it's a long one. Make sure you listen at 1.5X speed or higher!! We are #theopentabspodcast Subscribe on your favorite outlet and make sure you review and leave us a comment.

The hits keep on coming y'all. As the temperature rises and we approach the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by Derrick Chauvin it's about the time for us to discuss Spike Lee's finest work, 1989's Do The Right Thing. One day in the lives of a group of New Yorkers of various walks of life that becomes increasingly tense as the day goes on. Stellar performances by Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, Ruby Dee, Danny Aiello, and more. A killer score and soundtrack including Public Enemy's incredible, monster of a summer jam "Fight The Power". Of course we had to get film maker and film educator Derrick DC Cameron to join us and talk about all of the things that make this film so great! We are on fire and we are just getting started! Matter of fact we will be back before you know it with ANOTHER of your favorite films. Like us, subscribe, comment, review, tell a friend to tell a friend, and follow us on instagram @theopentabspodcast . We are #theopentabspodcast

At #theopentabspodcast we know that there are movies we love and then there are movies that are beloved. This film falls into the latter category. They teach elements of this movie in B school. Eddie Murphy's second film, filmed while he was 21 years old no less, is Trading Places. It teams he and John Landis for the first time and costars Dan Akroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis and it holds up amazingly well. What happens when two old rich guys pull a reversal of fortune on two unsuspecting pawns over a dollar bet? You get a priceless movie. Lenny brings great insights from his countless viewings and we talk about all of your favorite moments....censored and uncensored. Join us for the laughs and nostalgia on this episode of #theopentabspodcast. Like us, subscribe, review, rate, listen and watch at 1.5 speed for best results! Just trust us! We are #theopentabspodcast

On this episode of #theopentabspodcast we have our very first returning guest. Like Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn in Major League, our man Reese Hendrix, proprietor of SurlyShirts.com joins us to talk about the cultural phenomenon that is 1995's Waiting To Exhale. Forest Whitaker's feature film debut starring Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon and a KILLER soundtrack produced by Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds was ambitious and took on the task of bringing to life Terry McMillan's best selling and beloved novel. We cover almost all of the bases, and some surprising comparisons are made to some other films we've already covered. We don't want to spoil it but trust me, you don't want to miss this episode. Subscribe to our page and listen to #theopentabspodcast on anchor.fm, spotify, apple, or anywhere else that you choose. Follow our instagram page @theopentabspodcast . We hope you enjoy!

On this episode of #theopentabspodcast we uncork our favorite bottle of wine and take a trip up the coast of California to Santa Barbara and head over the hitching post to discuss Alexander Payne's 2004 film Sideways. Starring the great Paul Giamatti (snubbed by oscar!!!), Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh, and Virginia Madsen; this film deals in all sorts of "adult themes". Anxiety, wine, duplicity, wine, vulnerability, wine....you get the picture. This film was nominated for 5 academy awards and won for best adapted screenplay and it holds up incredibly well. Joe and Calvin open some tabs and you get a bit of behind the scenes banter that we usually save for the post show, blame it on the alcohol (shout out to Jamie Foxx). Next week we will cover Waiting to Exhale. In the meantime catch us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere else. Watch our video feed on youtube. Like us, subscribe, review us, tell a friend! We are #theopentabspodcast !!

We return on #theopentabspodcast​ with a very special guest tonight our dear Morehouse Brother In Arms, Faraji Whalen, to discuss one of our favorite films. On this episode we discuss the action classic, 1989's Road House. Directed, in Raj's words, "by a man named Rowdy Herrington" Road House holds up amazingly well and leave it to Raj to make a quite cogent argument about how before it's time this film truly was. This was a great episode to record, lots of thought provoking moments but even more laughter. Raj will have to come back and we hope you will too! Listen to us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Anchor, and pretty much anywhere else. Like us, subscribe, comment, let us know your thoughts! We are #theopentabspodcast

On this episode of #theopentabspodcast we cover Michael Bay's Feature Debut starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, 1995's Bad Boys. Mike Lowrey and fake Mike Lowrey's adventures protecting a Kar...I'm sorry a witness to a horrific drug related crime. Family and procedural buddy cop hijinks ensue. Also featuring the great Joe Pantoliano, Theresa Randle, and the aforementioned Tea Leoni, this film hold up remarkably well. Check out what Joe and Calvin have to say about this film that set the stage for so many other films in the careers of Martin, Will, and Michael Bay. Subscribe and like us. Follow us on instagram @theopentabspodcast. Liston on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor, Pirate Radio...get it how you live! Thanks for watching and/or listening!

It's been a long time....okay so it was only a week off but #theOpenTabsPodcast is back with a new episode. A little different from our norm. Tonight we start out talking a bit about the tragic loss to the culture with the death of Dark Man X, Earl Simmons. Then we spend the bulk of the show discussing a favorite "hot take" of Calvin's. We talk about whether the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has aged well. Please note, it's not a question as to whether the album is a classic and a national treasure, but how does it hold up over time. Good discussion was held. Surely you all have some thoughts. Do you agree with Calvin's hot take? Let us know. We are glad to be back with you all and we are ready to rock and roll. Follow us on instagram, like us, engage with us! Subscribe, rate, review, all that jazz. We are #theopentabspodcast

On this edition of #theopentabspodcast we cover the GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL. Francis Ford Coppola's epic story of family and the descent into corruption, The Godfather. Universally loved and agreed upon as one of the best films of all time, The Godfather had a ton at stake and came through when it was absolutely needed. Let us know your thoughts as we discuss this beloved film. Like us, rate us, review us. Comment and let us know your thoughts. We are #theopentabspodcast

On this episode of #TheOpenTabsPodcast we welcome our special guest Christian Nwachukwu Jr. to talk about one of our all time favorite television shows, a show that was revolutionary, HBO's monumental mob saga, The Sopranos. We talk about just about everything (except Pine Barrens...oops...hot take it was overrated). It's our longest episode yet, so listen or watch on 1.5X if you must, but you must listen or watch! Rate us, like us, subscribe, and tell a friend! We love this show and it shows! #theopentabspodcast