Episode 60: Où sont les toilettes? (AD-FREE)

This week’s prompts: Worm, White, 22

Lauren over-caffeinates and contemplates French survival phrases, while Neal unpacks Cold War musicals and desert planets. Together, it’s part history lesson, part space opera geek-out.

First, Neal dives into Chess (1986), the Cold War musical born from Tim Rice and the songwriters of ABBA. From concept album origins to a notorious Broadway flop, Neal traces how a story of spies, romance, and rival grandmasters gave us both “One Night in Bangkok” and one of theater’s most beloved cult scores. You’ll hear about Michael Bennett’s abandoned vision, Trevor Nunn’s rewrites, Frank Rich’s brutal review, and why Josh Groban and Idina Menzel helped rescue Chess in concert form. Plus: the upcoming Broadway revival with Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Danny Strong’s new book.

Then, Lauren goes full space nerd with Dune (2021/2024), Denis Villeneuve’s sweeping adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga. From Timothée Chalamet’s brooding Paul to Zendaya’s scene-stealing Chani, Lauren breaks down Bene Gesserit politics, spice-addled blue eyes, sandworm rides, and Stellan Skarsgård’s terrifying Baron Harkonnen. She also explains why Austin Butler’s eyebrow-free Feyd-Rautha might haunt your dreams, and how Villeneuve used infrared cinematography to make Giedi Prime look like a silver gelatin nightmare.

PLUS:
♟️ How Tim Rice swapped the Cuban Missile Crisis for a chessboard musical
🎶 “One Night in Bangkok” climbing to #3 on the Billboard charts
🌌 Zendaya > Timmy: Chani finally gets her due
🪱 Sandworms, spice, and the practical goo bath you won’t forget

Next week’s prompts: Dice, Aubergine, 150

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