Peak Show

Take a look at podcast, audience! Bree is joined by her two swell pals Liz (@yanoforsure) and Mike (@bymikestephens) to discuss the incredibly high peaks and unfortunately low and kind of depressing valleys of the millennial staple Arrested Development. Is the show harder to enjoy with the Tambor of it all? Did the show get away with punching down a lot? How adorable and punchable is Michael Cera? And, is Jessica Walter the most gif-able performer of all time?

Bree is joined by her friend, podcast hobbyist/sandwich lobbyist/author Kyle Martinak (@kylemartinak) to discuss the portfolio of comedy juggernaut Judd Apatow. Did Katherine Heigl have a point about his movies and the gender of it all? Was working with the same actors over and over limiting, or did it create magic? Did he seriously not have anything to do with I Love You Man and we’re all just nuts? Plus, we answer the question nobody asked: Undeclared, or Freaks and Geeks?

Buy Kyle’s book, Cinema Autopsy.

Bree and Armchair Reactions co-host Gowsh (@GowshiganS) put on their bright white sneakers and take a trip back to NBC’s powerhouse Thursday nights in the 90’s with a look back at Seinfeld. There’s some clashing over their lasting impression of Season 4 and the NBC plot, discuss the meta-tragedy of Susan, reflect on how Michael Richards’ outright racism affects the Kramer character, unveil a sort-of-secret connection to the 00’s comedy romp Eurotrip and try to envision a version of Jerry and Elaine that would work as a romantic plot.

Bree and her birthday twin, journalist and editor Annie Grandlund (@anniegranlund) outline their high school fave, America’s Next Top Model as they discuss Tyra’s personality, traumatizing contestants, the difference between a fun bitch and a tragic bitch, the gimmicks and more. We talk about what made the series go sour (was it the show, or the industry?) and what kind of legacy Top Model has left in its wake.

Bree and producer/photographer Sam Brooks (@samuelgbrooks) crack open a cold one around the (virtual) campfire to discuss known good dudes and uber-millennial Hamiltonian scamps, (the) Arkells. We dive into the band’s evolution from college rockers to stadium fillers, the odes to southern Ontario, the difference Tony made in the band and whether the band is in dad-rock territory. We also talk extensively about Hamilton, shitmalls and Kyle Dubas, and somehow (we swear) it’s all relevant.

Bree chats with Twitter Canada head of comms Cam Gordon (@cam_gordon) about the prolific, influential and seemingly contemptuous toward their own fame, Radiohead. We discuss the musical influences of Radiohead, whether or not they evolved enough between In Rainbows and King of Limbs, the band’s relationship to the capitalist hellfire of the music industry and more. As a Gen X-er, Cam can verify what a live Radiohead show in the 90s was like. However, he can’t get you verified.

Entertainment journalist and author Frederick Blichert (@FABlichert) joins Bree for the long-anticipated Scream takedown. The highly meta franchise re-ignited the teen slasher genre in the 90’s before being derailed by real late-90’s mass tragedies – and then kinda-sorta coming back. When could Scream have stopped? When should it have stopped? Which characters should have survived? What, as a society, made us so obsessed with these movies? Fred discusses how the “survivor” aspect of Scream set it apart from its contemporaries while Bree ponders on how Scream fits into the tiresome “elevated horror” label.

Bree and screenwriter/performer Kristy LaPointe (@kristylapointe) grab some JJ’s waffles and discuss the highs and lows of Parks and Recreation. Kristy brings her perspective as a comedy writer to discuss the places where Parks & Rec came up short, but also the ways that it comforted us throughout the years. We look at the positives – like the amazingly weird supporting characters – and the negatives – like this show’s seriously weird issues with fat people. Join us as we search through Pawnee to find the peak of Mike Schur’s series!

Bree and podcaster/hockey fan Kelsey Goldman (@kelseyrebecca) discuss the highs and lows of the Mighty Ducks trilogy and the recent live-action follow-up series. Does D2 undermine the underdogs premise? Would D3 have worked better as a Disney Channel movie? Has Aaron Lohr had the best post-Ducks life? Would Emilio Estivez have been Zdeno Chára’s snack? Plus, there’s a loooooot of naive, pre-draft, pre-free agency talk about hockey. You’ve been warned.

Peak Show’s Simpsons supermonth comes to a close with insight from return guest, YouTube pop culture and political essayist José! Bree and José put on their brave faces as they dissect the humour of the 20-something era of episodes, discuss the downfall of Itchy and Scratchy and get deep about Flanderization. Plus, there’s some singing.