The Front Row Network

Front Row Classics welcomes Steve Cubine and Nan McNamara to the show. Steve and Nan have their own classic Hollywood podcast called, "From Beneath the Hollywood Sign" which covers wide-ranging topics from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The two join Brandon for a deep-dive discussion on the best of Warner Brothers.

Front Row Classics is celebrating one of Alfred Hitchcock's most underrated masterpieces. Brandon welcomes author Stephen Rebello to discuss his new book, "Criss-Cross: The Making of Hitchcock's Dazzling Subversive Masterpiece, Strangers on a Train". The book is a witty and insightful look at a film filled with quirky and eccentric performances. Brandon and Stephen also discuss the political climate surrounding the film's production in the early 1950s.

"Criss-Cross: The Making of Hitchcock's Dazzling Subversive Masterpiece, Strangers on a Train" is available from Running Press wherever books are sold.

Stephen Rebello is a screenwriter and bestselling author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho and Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!: Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, the Most Beloved Bad Book and Movie of All Time. He has written screenplays for Disney, Paramount, Focus Features, and others. He has written for GQ, Playboy, Movieline, Hollywood Life, Statement, More, and Cosmopolitan. Born in southern New England, he is a longtime resident of southern California.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at the use of cigarettes as props in film. Brandon and Peter Martin are counting down their top 5 moments involving smoking in classic film. Directors and performers during the Golden Age knew how to use a cigarette for storytelling and dramatic purposes. Both Brandon and Peter ended up having very different takes on the topic. Let us know what you think of our lists.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome Scott Brogan to the show. Scott is an author and webmaster of The Judy Room online. He recently penned "Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM", which chronicles Garland's 15-year career at the studio that made her a star. Brandon and Scott discuss the highlights of her MGM life as well as some of the rich details included in the book.

"Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM" is available from Lyons Press wherever books are sold.

Scott Brogan is the webmaster and author of the world-famous The Judy Room website which includes the biggest and most detailed Garland discography ever compiled. He is also the author and webmaster of the Judy Garland News & Events blog which features the resource "On This Day" series that presents thousands of images and details about Garland's life and career for each day of the year. For four years, Brogan worked as a researcher and author for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. His program essays are cataloged by the Library of Congress and translated into several languages. He recently co-produced and wrote the liner notes for the successful "Judy at 100 - 26 Classics In Stereo" CD release. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at an unsung musical from the 1940s. Brandon is joined by film historian & content creator Harry Marks to discuss 1944's Step Lively. The movie marked the first starring role for Frank Sinatra on film. The lighthearted musical also features a score by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Harry also has a personal connection to the movie which we discuss in the episode.

You can find Harry's content here: https://linktr.ee/hcmarks?ref=lobbyintros.com

Front Row Classics is paying tribute to the late Gene Hackman who passed away earlier this year. Brandon is joined by, friend of the podcast, Lou Hare to chat about Hackman and highlight 1974's The Conversation. Brandon and Lou discuss Hackman's body of work and his ability to remain honest in every performance.

Front Row Classics welcomes some friends of the podcast for another top 5 list. Brandon welcomes Mary-Catherine Pazzano and Dana Harrison to rank our personal top 5 MGM Musicals. Brandon, MC and Dana bonded at the TCM Film Festival in 2024 over the genre and are bringing their opinions to the forefront. Let us know if you agree with our picks.

Front Row Classics is celebrating the legacy of Gary Cooper. Brandon recently sat down with Cooper's daughter, Maria Cooper Janis for an insightful and warm conversation. Brandon and Maria discuss growing up in Hollywood, her Father's films and finding your own voice. We also touch upon Maria's passion for the visual arts.

You can find out more about Maria here: https://www.mariacooperjanis.com/

Front Row Classics welcomes three beloved cast members of The Love Boat this week. Brandon chats with Ted Lange, Fred Grandy and Jill Whelan about a play the three are currently involved with. "Lady Patriot", written and directed by Lange, is currently running off-Broadway. Fred and Jill are among the talented cast of actors. The story is based on true Civil War events which is explained within the episode. We also spend time discuss an exciting new Love Boat podcast which all three are involved.

"Lady Patriot" runs through September 20th. Ticket information can be found at https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/lady-patriot/.

The Front Row Network welcomes two of WOW Women of Wrestling's most charismatic superheroes. Brandon is chatting with Animal Instinct (Goldie Collins and Katarina Jinx) about the premiere of Season 4 this weekend. The three discuss Goldie and Katarina's rise in WOW as well as their performance backgrounds. They also settle the age-old question if cats and dogs really can get along.

You can find Goldie and Katarina on IG at :

@goldiecollins_wow

@katarinajinx_wow

WOW - Women Of Wrestling is the premier all-female sports entertainment property, co-founded and co-owned by Jeanie Buss and David McLane. Led by the inspiring larger-than-life WOW Superheroes and their in-ring rivalries, WOW is an action-packed saga showcasing supreme athleticism and empowering stories centered around uplifting women and fans of all ages around the world.

WOW airs weekly in syndication across the U.S. and on VICE TV. All episodes from seasons one, two and three can be streamed on Pluto TV's dedicated WOW channel. Seasons two and three are currently available to stream on Tubi and season two is available on Paramount+. Paramount Global Content Distribution launched an all-wrestling FAST channel called Wrestling Central available now on The Roku Channel in the U.S. and Canada featuring new weekly matches from WOW.

Fans can check their local listings and learn more about WOW on wowe.com.