The Front Row Network

Today on the pod Jeremy is speaking with writer, director, producer and show-runner Liz Hannah. Liz is an incredibly accomplished person having wrote the 2017 Steven Spielberg film The Post for which she was nomninated for a Golden Globe. More recently, she was a writer and executive producer on the Hulu series The Dropout. But our conversation today primarily concerns her work co-creating, writing and executive producing the true crime series The Girl From Plainville on Hulu.

The series follows the story of Conrad Roy and his long-distance girlfriend Michelle Carter who was convicted of manslaughter after encouraging him over text to commit suicide. The series is a fascinating and heart-breaking look at everyone's everlasitng search for meaning and self-worth and how those desires can lead to tragic outcomes. We talk about this and so much more from the person who's brain it came from! Check out this awesome conversation!

Front Row Classics kicks off summer with a film that truly embodies the word, "iconic". We celebrate James Dean's signature performance in Rebel Without a Cause. Brandon and Eric welcome Beyond the Mouse's Craig McFarland to discuss this 1955 classic directed by Nicholas Ray. The hosts pay tribute to the trailblazing performances of Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. We also discuss how the movie remains both timeless and a time capsule through the many themes still relevant in 2022.

Craig had an excellent opportunity to catch up with the showrunners behind the new Disney Channel series Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion, Leo Chu and Eric Garcia. This team has been creating together for a decade going back to their time developing Afro Samurai. They open up about their creative process and discuss the writing and creative growth of Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion. It's a fun conversation digging a bit deeper into what it takes to bring a show to series.

"Violet Rodriguez, an everyday Mexican American teen, is chosen by a magical luchador mask which transforms her into Ultra Violet, a superhero fighting crime alongside her luchador uncle, Cruz, also known as Black Scorpion."

FEATURING: Craig McFarland

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we'll see you in the front row!

Hello all you Marvel Crazies and welcome to the very first episode of MCU HQ; the all things Marvel Cinematic Universe podcast from the Front Row Network on NPR Illinois! On this show we will discuss all things MCU from Disney+ after-show and feature film reviews to interviews with MCU creators and the odd STRANGE episode where we'll just GEEK OUT! In this intro episode, Front Row editors-in-chief Jeremy Goeckner and Craig McFarland give an overview and the genesis of how the show came to be. New episodes will drop EVERY FRIDAY so be on the look-out!

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome award-winning author, Alison Macor, to the podcast. Brandon and Front Row Flashbacks host, Jay Hoffman join Alison to dicsuss hew newest book, "Making the Best Years of Our Lives: The Hollywood Classic that Inspired a Nation". Macor discusses the history of The Best Years of Our Lives along with its many themes that remain contemporary in 2022. We also get Jay's perspective on the way veterans issues were portrayed in the 1946 film. The hosts also discuss why this film remains such an unsung classic among comnemporary audiences.

Look, this whole show is about celebrating differences, right? Well, Larry REALLY doesn't like The Wizard of Oz. Like, really doesn't like it, so he would like to find out why he's wrong about this. Joining him on the show are the incredible Brandon Davis, host of Front Row Classics, and the incomparable Anna McFarland, cohost of the network, Craig's wife, and The Wizard of Oz superfan. Fun episode and Larry accepts he may be wrong...may.

After a couple weeks of reflection, and just sheer busyness, Jeremy and Craig have a chance to speak about their experience at Fan Expo St. Louis. The two recap the planning that went into the con. Then they jump into their individual experiences including their panels with Carl Weathers, the cast of Smallville, the cast of Clerk, Billy West, Ron Pearlman (and surprise Theo Rossi), Kevin Smith and so much more! It was such a great weekend, come along and experience the memories.

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner and Craig McFarland

We were delighted to be invited to a recent press junket in preparation for the release of Physical season two on Apple TV+. Craig was able to preview some of season two as well as interview the show's creator Annie Weisman. She provided insights on where we will find our characters as they move throughout season two, and who messages she is hoping to convey to the audience. Next, Craig caught up with actress Dierdre Friel, who plays Greta in the series. She explains how she relates to her character and talks about the onset chemistry between her costars. Catch new episodes of Physical on Apple TV+ beginning June 3.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland

Front Row Classics kicks off June with a discussion of George Stevens' Oscar-winning film, A Place in the Sun. Allison Means joins Brandon and Eric to disucss this well-made drama from 1951. They discuss the bold direction from Stevens as well as the Oscar-nominated performances from Montgomery Clift and Shelley Winters. The hosts also pay tribute to the legendary Elizabeth Taylor in her first mature role in a film. The discussion also turns to the central themes of the film, which amazingly are still relevant in 2022.