Welcome to the special holiday-filled episode! Joining Nick this week is USC film student and good friend, Mila, who decided to watch the 1993 Tim Burton holiday classic: The Nightmare Before Christmas (because somehow they never saw it). In this episode, they discuss whether this is even a Christmas movie (or just a Halloween movie), Tim Burton's style, the process of stop motion animation, what the other holiday worlds would be like, potential spinoffs and sequel ideas, if Jack is a hero or a villain, references this movie makes and its inspiration in making it, our personal favorite Christmas movies, what defines a "Christmas movie," our favorites songs from the movie, and so much more craziness!

Get into the holiday spirit and listen to this zany episode!

November 26, 2018.

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@miladanton

What?? Music?! That’s right. On this week’s show, they mixed it up a little and decided to listen to music. Joined by returning guest Mason Robinson, they listen to some new music that at least one of them had never heard before and then give their opinions. Actually playing the songs on the show, you get a chance to jam out to the songs with Mason and Nick! The songs discussed on this episode include:

Daniel Caesar: Who Hurt You?

Mitski: Nobody

Matt Corby: New Day Coming

Kelly Finnigan: Catch Me I’m Feeling

Ariana Grande: thank you, next

Gonzo: July

Khruangbin: White Gloves

Jon Bellion: Guillotine

Earl Sweatshirt: nowhere2go

St. Paul & The Broken Bones: Apollo

Khruangbin: People Everywhere

November 11, 2018.

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@maeroob

Recorded during KXSC's 24 Hour Programming week, Nick was joined by friend and Kubrick fan, Matt Parker, to discuss one of the most talked about and strangest Stanley Kubrick films: A Clockwork Orange. What makes this episode especially unique is that Matt has actually seen this film before, making him the first guest to do so. However, don't let that deter you... if anything, Matt was able to supply necessary answers to questions Nick could not get on his own and through that, they were able to provide a deeper and more nuanced discussion of the film. In this episode, they discuss their immediate thoughts vs thoughts after the 5th time viewing, the purpose of the milk, the eyelashes, the phallic imagery, and use of "Singin' in the Rain," what was allowed in films at the time, things Matt noticed for the first time on this viewing, if watching violence in film influences violence in real life, what the message is of the film, if the film is trying to talk about innate vs. learned behavior, whether medicine helps "fix" you or if it just sedates your true self, how the character of Alex really isn't too different from the rest of society, the relationship between sex and violence, if violence is power, if the purpose of prison is to punish or to rehabilitate, the meaning of the title, and much, much more!

November 14, 2018.

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@zesaladin

Joined this week is friend of the host, Henry Hiemstra, to discuss the 1999 philosophical action sci-fi: The Matrix. In this episode, they discuss whether the film is dated or holds up, their thoughts on the romance and its similarity in themes to Interstellar, what the true message of the film is and if there is more than one, the idea of choosing ignorance over the truth and the problems with that mentality, taking the red or blue pill, if people have to feed their own impulses to be happy, if sin makes people human, the conflicting ideas of Buddhism and Christianity present in the film, is artificial intelligence the next evolutionary step, is suffering required in the current world, can the world come together to create real change, if the film is meant to appeal to mass audiences or high culture, if there's an age where people stop being as open-minded, and much, much more!

November 13, 2018.

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@henry_hiemstra

This week Nick is joined via call by his friend and art-lover Georgia Hausmann, all the way from Cornell University in Ithica, NY. They both watched the 2010 Oscar-nominated street art documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, directed by the man who brought this form of art into the spotlight: Banksy. The documentary focuses on the development of Banksy's friend/coworker, Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash), and has transformation from filmmaker to street artist.

In this episode, they discuss several of Banksy's famous stunts, how Banksy's art was meant to be temporary yet it is sold in galleries now, if Thierry Guetta is a genius or an idiot, whether he is scamming people or if he believes his work is good, whether everyone should be encouraged to pursue art, why certain artists make it and others are left forgotten, if street art has reinvented how we think about art or if this is how it's always been, the idea of branding and its relationship to art, originality with art and what makes it actually good, if Mr. Brainwash's work is all a hoax, and much more!

For any of those on the fence about this episode or documentary, please go watch and witness one of the most fascinating stories about art, talent, fame, and how a man without any of that made it.

November 5, 2018.

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@hausparty_

Happy Halloween! In honor of the spooky holiday, Nick is joined by friends and scaredy-cats, Joe Lappin and Brad Lynds. This week, they finally watched the 1973 horror classic: The Exorcist. In this episode, they discuss whether the film was scary, the logistics of being possessed by a demon, how religion and Christianity play into the film, the concept of suspension of disbelief in film, if certain parts could have been cut down in the final cut, trying to make sense of the story and its motifs, what defines a horror movie vs. a drama or thriller, if the film holds up today, how it compares to other modern horror films, and much, more more!

October 29, 2018.

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@joelapp23

@b.lynds

This week it is once again taken back to 1941 for what is considered the FIRST noir film ever: The Maltese Falcon. Joined by Nick this week is old-school film enthusiast, Nick Weir. In this episode, they discuss which aspects still hold to today's film standards, the early noir traits developed and shown in this film, Humphrey Bogart and his performance, the formation of the trans-atlantic accent, the meaning behind the character's names, the similarities to 'Casablanca' and 'A Shot in the Dark,' the ending of the film, and much more!

October 22, 2018.

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@nickweir_

Nick is joined this week by roommate and show fan-favorite, Kareem, to discuss the new Damien Chazelle film: First Man. This movie covers the eight years prior to Neil Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon and his personal struggles along the way. Seen on IMAX at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA, Nick and Kareem delve deep into this film's themes and execution. In this episode, they discuss the aesthetic and how it shows contrast between the moon and home, the design, the score by Justin Hurwitz, the performances of Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, how the pacing might have taken away from the story, Armstrong's suppressed emotions and his arc, the influence of the current social climate, thoughts on the controversy of anti-patriotism, how this movie compares to other space flicks including 2001: A Space Odyssey, how this compares in Damien Chazelle's repertoire, thoughts on potential oscar nominations, and much much more!

October 15, 2018.

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@k.danan

SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE! Nick's parents were in town this week, so of course they had to come on for an episode. They watched the 2017 Stephen King-adaptation horror flick: It. While a strange choice to do, it made for some pretty diverse analyses and discussion. In this episode, they discussed whether the film was successful in being scary, the idea of showing vs. implying, common horror tropes, setting horror "rules" in your story, the seriousness of the kids' family struggles, the story structure, Stephen King's version vs. the script, the coming-of-age aspect, our thoughts on 'It: Chapter Two,' and much more!

October 13, 2018.

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@laduetk

@tladue1

On this week's episode, Nick is joined by friend and big Lady Gaga fan Stevie. This week's episode is a little different, in that the movie they are discussing is the newly released Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga remake: A Star is Born. In this SPOILER-filled episode, they discuss the sound design, comparisons to the previous versions, the accuracies of alcoholism and insecurities presented in the film, the realism in their relationship, how guilt was placed throughout the script, why the title is called a star is born and whether it works, what their relationship really meant and the true meaning of the film, and much more!

October 8, 2018.

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@nick_ladue

@stephnomore