Role Calling

Role Calling's three-part Lord of the Rings holiday special comes to a conclusion, but not before a rousing climax and several emotional endings. This week, actor/producer Mary Kate Wiles joins Ned and Caroline for a conversation all about Peter Jackson's third and final LOTR installment, The Return of the King. And boy is there a lot to discuss!

From the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to the showdown on Mount Doom, the trio go deep on what makes Tolkien's world so special, which performers shine brightest in ROTK, and which scenes they can't stop thinking about.

You can follow Mary Kate on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Patreon (@mkwiles on most social media platforms). And be sure to check out Shipwrecked Comedy's delightful new series "Headless: A Sleepy Hollow Story," which is streaming for free on YouTube as both a 10-part series and a single-cut version.

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

The journey to Mordor continues as Ned and Caroline move on to Peter Jackson's action-packed epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Special guest Joe Cunningham of the Cinematic Universe podcast joins to break down the debuts of Gollum, Rohan, Treebeard and more — not to mention a little sequence called the Battle of Helm's Deep.

The trio also touch on The Rings of Power, analyze the accents across the LOTR ensemble, and get into an unexpectedly heated debate about Faramir.

You can follow Joe on Twitter (@JoeCunningham14) and find Cinematic Universe (@cine_verse) wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as on Patreon.

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

Golden rings, bearded men, elves in white dresses with blue satin sashes — what are The Lord of the Rings films if not the ultimate holiday classics? So to celebrate the festive season, Ned and Caroline are kicking off a brand new series on Peter Jackson's iconic LOTR trilogy and its stellar ensemble acting.

This week, returning guests Zoë Maltby and Emily Marso join for a goofy, earnest, unexpectedly horny celebration of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Watch the 2020 Lord of the Rings cast Zoom reunion

You can follow Zoë on Instagram and Twitter (both @captainmaltby), as well as on Letterboxd (@zoecatherine). And you can follow Emily on Instagram and Twitter (both @missmarso).

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

Before Ned and Caroline journey to Middle Earth for their Lord of the Rings specials, they take a look back at the best, worst and most "meh" films they watched in 2022. Welcome to Role Calling's first (maybe annual) Letterboxd Special!

From Barbarian to Jurassic World Dominion to Marcel the Shell, enjoy some spoiler-free recs for what to watch and what to avoid as the hosts recount their defining movie-watching experiences of the year — and how they logged them on Letterboxd. 

• Follow Ned on Letterboxd (@nednednedned)

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

44 years after Jamie Lee Curtis burst onto the scene as Laurie Strode, she returns to wrap up her time with Michael Myers in Halloween Ends. So, naturally, Ned and Caroline had to check in on their former Role Calling star in a special Halloween bonus episode!

They're joined by Happy Harvest Horror Show co-host Brian Muldoon to chat about David Gordon Green's controversial trilogy capper, JLC's unexpectedly upbeat performance, and the Corey Cunningham of it all. Don't worry, however, both fans and detractors of Halloween Ends will find something for them in this episode.

You can find the Happy Harvest Horror Show wherever you listen to podcasts, and keep up with all their spooky season antics on Instagram (@happyharvesthorrorshow). You can also find Brian on Instagram and Twitter (both @brimuldoon)

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

Our Zac Efron retrospective series comes to a close with a brand new movie and a brand new jawline! This week, Documentary Now! writer/producer Matt Pacult joins Caroline and Ned to break down Zac's new AppleTV+ Vietnam War comedy, The Greatest Beer Run Ever. The trio also chat about the new look Zac debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, his role as a brand ambassador for Kodiak Cakes pancake mix, and where they think his career might head next as he celebrates his 35th birthday this week.

You can follow Matt on Instagram (@mattpacult), and be sure to watch the new season of Documentary Now! on IFC and AMC+.

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

After a brief detour with Neighbors, Caroline and Ned return to "Zac Efron: Oops All Musicals" territory with The Greatest Showman — one of the wildest cinematic endeavors of the past decade. And to break down the circus insanity, they're joined by a very special guest: Caroline's sister, Katie Siede!

Together, the trio chat about CGI lions, impressive aerial stunts, and Zac's unique brand of musical theater earnestness. Plus Katie and Caroline reminiscence about trying to learn the "This Is Me" choreography; Ned celebrates the athleticism of Dog Boy; and everyone is thoroughly baffled by the choice to frame P.T. Barnum as a hero of the oppressed.

Is this movie good? Is it bad? Forget it, Jake. It's The Greatest Showman. 

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

Eight years after High School Musical, Zac Efron reinvented himself as the ultimate bro comedy star with 2014's Neighbors. But how did he do it? Caroline and Ned are here to find out as they dive into the era of Frat Efron!

From the lows of Baywatch and Dirty Grandpa to the highs of the Neighbors franchise, Caroline and Ned analyze the appeal of these raunchy comedies (and recount some of their best and worst jokes). Plus they try to figure out what these films have to say about Zac's own bro psychology.

Read the 2014 Hollywood Reporter interview we keep referencing in this episode

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

Hey there, teenage Baltimore! Don't change that channel, 'cause it's time for the Role Calling podcast, brought to you by Ultra Clutch Hairspray!

After bursting onto the scene as an aughts teen heartthrob in High School Musical, Zac Efron got a chance to put his spin on a 1960s teen heartthrob too — in the 2007 movie musical Hairspray. How does his work as Link Larkin hold up today? And how does this movie as a whole hold up today? Caroline and Ned get into the good, the bad, and the John Travolta of it all in the latest installment of their "Zac Efron: Oops, All Musicals" series.

Watch Seth Rudetsky break down James Marsden's performance of "It's Hairspray" 

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].

It's the start of something new! This week, Caroline and Ned launch their brand new series on the one and only mid-aughts icon, Zac Efron. And to help them revisit his breakout turn as Troy Bolton in High School Musical, they're joined by special guest and HSM aficionado Zoë Maltby.

Together the trio dig into all things East High, from the highs and lows of the trilogy to the irresistible appeal of Troy Bolton to the high-camp of Ryan and Sharpay. Plus they share their nostalgic memories of the franchise, discuss the cinematic brilliance of "Bet On It" and just generally have one of the most in-depth discussions of a Disney Channel Original Movie series ever recorded.

What team?!? Wildcats!

You can follow Zoë on Twitter and Instagram (both @captainmaltby), as well as on Letterboxd. And donate to her short film via Venmo: @zoemaltby

Our theme music was created by Patrick Budde, and our logo was designed by Nick Wanserski. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (both @rolecalling) or email us at [email protected].