Streamed & Screened: Movie and TV Reviews and Interviews

Andrew McCarthy and the Brat Pack are back, but no, they're not getting back into the coming of age movies of the 1980s that made them famous.

"Brats" is the new McCarthy-directed documentary that looks back at the actors that were labeled the "Brat Pack." McCarthy reaches out to the actors and talks with Brat Pack actors like Demi Moore, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez, as well as Brat Pack adjacent actors like Jon Cryer.

"Brats" premieres June 13 on Hulu, and in this episode co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about the two 1985 films that featured three of the Brat Pack actors that led to the name, "The Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire."

They also discuss the films of John Hughes, who directed most of the movies of the era that featured Brat Pack actors of the time. The Hughes films, notably "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink" and "Some Kind of Wonderful," were iconic of the era and gave an opportunity for young actors to shine.

For more on John Hughes, listen to our preview episode: John Hughes classics set stage for 1980s nostalgia in Disney's 'Prom Pact'

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Would you see a musical adaptation of "The Notebook" or "Back to the Future"? Maybe "Water for Elephants" or "The Great Gatsby" is more your thing.

These are just some examples of how movies are now being adapted into musicals, rather than the other way around. Co-host Bruce Miller talks about his recent trip to New York where he spent a week seeing some of the hottest shows on Broadway, plus he shares his experience getting an autograph from Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, after a performance of "Merrily We Roll Along."

And do you remember around this time last year, when films like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "Fast X" were making a splash at the box office? 2024's summer movie season is stumbling after a sluggist opening for "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" over Memorial Day weekend. The family-friendly fim "IF" has struggled. And even this year's box office leader, "Dune: Part Two," has yet to yet to reach $300 million domestic. (You can see the full list at Box Office Mojo.)

We discuss some of the problems facing the industry, most notably the quick move to streaming services.

And finally, the new FX for Hulu limited series "Clipped" begins June 4. It features Ed O'Neill as Donald Sterling, the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleopatra Coleman as V. Stiviano. Hear from both stars on this week's episode.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Documentaries can put viewers into situations they'd never encounter, such as rock climbing in "Free Solo" or big-wave surfing through the HBO series "100 Foot Wave."

"The Blue Angels" brings you inside the cockpit of a U.S. Navy jet and tells the story from the perspective of those that are members of the team.

Co-host Bruce Miller talks about the documentary and shares an interview he had with Greg Wooldridge, the only three-time Boss of the Blue Angels, and director Paul Crowder.

"Garfield" is coming for the kids and action fans will get "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" for Memorial Day weekend, but there are some concerns about the summer lineup. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" has done well so far but has not exploded in the way other early blockbusters like last year's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

We also talk about "The Jinx: Part Two," which updates the story of real estate heir and convicted killer Robert Durst, "Back to Black," the story of Amy Winehouse, and the latest season of “Bridgerton.” 

We look at the career of Jeff Daniels, who has another new series in “A Man in Full,” and chat about the recent end to the 49th season of "Saturday Night Live."

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

The curtains eventually fall on every popular television program. Sure, "The Simpsons" is still going strong at 35 seasons and more than 750 episodes, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

"M*A*S*H" closed with a TV movie. "Newhart" was a dream of Dr. Robert Newhart. "How I Met Your Mother" ended on its own terms, but it's spinoff, "How I Met Your Father" was left unresolved.

Not long after "Curb Your Enthusiasm" wrapped, "Young Sheldon" is another popular program to close this season. We talk about that, have an interview with Montana Jordan who will continue in his role as Georgie Cooper in a spinoff series, and discuss other programs such as "Deadwood," "Mindhunter" and "Cobra Kai."

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

"The Fall Guy" with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt underwhelmed at the box office despite favorable reviews and audience scores. Is it a sign of a poor upcoming summer for blockbusters at the box office?

"Unfrosted," Jerry Seinfeld's fictional look at the history of Pop Tarts, is the No. 1 movie on Netflix but has not faired well with viewers or critics.

So maybe the biggest thing to come is the latest series of "Doctor Who," which debuted in 1963 but now finds itself as the newest, biggest show on Disney+. As an added treat, co-host Bruce Miller has an interview with co-stars Ncuti Gatwa, who stars as the Fifteenth Doctor, and Millie Gibson, who plays Ruby Sunday. Miller also talks with showrunner Russel T Davies.

We also look ahead to summer, where "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is expected to rule.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Zendaya has come a long way since becoming a favorite of tweens thanks to "Shake It Up" and "K.C. Undercover" on the Disney Channel.

She has starred in the not-PG HBO hit "Euphoria" and has appeared in a pair of "Spider-Man" movies, the two "Dune" films and "The Greatest Showman." Now, Zendaya is starring in the sports drama "Challengers," which has quickly become a hit.

In this week's episode, we talk about the film as well as other movies about tennis, which don't necessarily stack up with other sports features.

Also, would you head into space if given the chance?

Co-host Bruce Miller also has an interview with Dr. Cady Coleman, a former astronaut, and her son, Jamey Simpson. They talk about the problems of separation for astronauts and their families. They’re featured in “Space: The Longest Goodbye,” which airs May 12 on PBS.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dulé Hill returns to television after the cancelation of 'The Wonder Years' in a new four-part documentary on PBS, "The Express Way with Dulé Hill." Bruce Miller has an interview with Hill and they talk the arts, including his background in tapdancing.

Elisabeth Moss is back, but not in "The Handmaid's Tale," which remains on hiatus before its final season. Instead, she stars in a new FX/Hulu miniseries, "The Veil." And Jean Smart is also back for the third season of the Max series "Hacks."

Finally, Terry Lipshetz talks about a new show from HGTV that also airs on Max called "Lakefront Empire." It's an oddly addictive show that feels like a mashup between the Netflix drama "Ozark" and the HGTV reality series "House Hunters."

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Things had been relatively quiet, but there are now plenty of options coming to streaming services and in theaters, especially as we get closer to the summer movie season.

In this week's episode, co-host Bruce Miller shares an interview he had with Quinn Shephard and Samir Mehta, producers of "Under the Bridge," a new limited series on Hulu staring Lily Gladstone. It's the first big project for Gladstone, fresh off her Oscar nomination for "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Also on Hulu is a new four-part documentary called, "Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story." The series looks at the history of the band and includes interviews with Jon Bon Jovi, current and former band members, and Bruce Springsteen. Co-host Terry Lipshetz, who grew up in Jon Bon Jovi's hometown of Sayreville, New Jersey, shares some fun facts including a Star Wars connection.

Another new series is the Amazon Freevee comedy "Dinner with the Parents." The cast includes Carol Kane and Henry Hall, who is the son of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall.

And the show wraps with a discussion of the buzz surround "Civil War," the new film where the nation has fractured and a team of journalists is covering the war. Kirsten Dunst stars as a photojournalist and Nick Offerman plays the president. And of course, there's Dunst's husband Jesse Plemons stealing the show in an uncredited role.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dev Patel's breakthrough as an actor came in "Slumdog Millionaire." He now gets a chance to make his mark as a director with the new action film "Monkey Man" that was also produced by Jordan Peele, another actor-turned-director.

Patel is the latest in a long line of actors that have made the jump into directing. We look at many of the notable actors who have moved behind the camera. In some cases like Warren Beatty, their clout as an actor can help passion projects get made. Clint Eastwood has been a successful evertything, earning acclaim as both an actor and director. Ron Howard left acting to focus on directing. Greta Gerwig and Jon Favreau have both had solid acting careers, often in supporting roles, but have found their footing as writers and directors. 

Besides Patel, John Krasinksi, Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Costner are among the actors with directing efforts on the way.

Co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about the history of actors who have become directors and review some of the success stories.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.

You can't escape artificial intelligence these days. From Chat GPT to debates over the use of A.I. to bring deceased actors back into movies or de-age older characters like Harrison Ford in the most recent "Indiana Jones" movie, the technology is here to stay.

What do you think of when A.I. comes to mind? What would you do with it when it comes to the entertainment in your life? In this week's episode, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz talk about A.I. in movies in TV, and how it could be used in the future as a pair of new shows on the topic: “A.I. Revolution” and a “A Brief History of the Future” drop for viewers.

The program then moves into the 1960s pop act The Cowsills and Miller's recent interview with Bob Cowsill, which includes a discussion of the link between the band and The Partridge Family.

Contact us!

We want to hear from you! Email questions to [email protected] and we'll answer your question on a future episode!

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin.