Back from our checks scores fifth-inning stretch, our baseball season continues! This time, rookie freshman Lex Friedman is taken under the wing of (very!) veteran Dan Moren in 2016’s Everybody Wants Some!! Hot topics include repercussions (or the lack thereof), how this differs from our college experiences, and whether this movie is even really a baseball movie.

Programming Note: In addition to this capsule episode, which contains our discussion before and after the film, members can watch along with Lex and Dan in a full-length commentary track, available in the members-only First Class feed. If you’re not already a member, why not sign up? And if you are, now’s a great time to update your membership allocations and maybe throw a little support in the direction of Not Playing. Thanks!

Lex Friedman and Dan Moren

Don’t order the fish! Old Movie Club celebrates Aviatober with 1939’s “Only Angels Have Wings” and 1957’s “Zero Hour!” One bears a striking resemblance to forgettable 1980s TV series “Tales of the Gold Monkey,” and the other is undeniably the inspiration for the more notable 1980 movie “Airplane!” (That’s foreshadowing.)

"Only Angels Have Wings" and "Zero Hour!"

Jason Snell with Shelly Brisbin, Philip Michaels, Monty Ashley, David J. Loehr and Micheline Maynard

We are back for Season 6 in time for the dark moody vibes of fall with a series of episodes on Gothic Romances. We begin with an episode about Kat Dunn’s sapphic witchy romance set in the most gothic of castles: Bitterthorn. Our agents get lost on side topics a few times as they wander through the woods to discuss other books and video games. In the end, they make it through just in the nick of time.

Our Agents start with a non-spoiler pitch to convince you to read Bitterthorn, and then they go full spoilers with fair warning.

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn

Annette Wierstra with James Thomson

We owe you an apology. Whoops, our mistake: We owe you a podcast about the Sports Night episode called “The Apology.” Dan must apologize after voicing his support for a group advocating the legalization of marijuana. The episode is as strong as that premise is dated. Except for Josh Malina’s storyline. But that’s okay.

Lex Friedman and Brian Warren

In 1970, Arthur Hailey’s blockbuster book, Airport, became the first film in that decade’s disaster movie cycle. It also led to three more Airport films, and the adaptation of Zero Hour (also a Hailey story) into Airplane!. This second installment, Airport 1975, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It straddles the line between big budget, all-star A picture (the original), and implausible 70s schlock, as observed in the final two Airport films. Here, we’re also treated to appearances by classic stars, including Gloria Swanson and Myrna Loy. I am contractually obliged to say that Charlton Heston is the hero.

Airport 1975

Shelly Brisbin with Micheline Maynard and David J. Loehr

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The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

They’re always after his Lucky Charms! Higgins’s Northern Irish half-brother arrives in Oahu and it’s all light comedy despite what’s going on back home. Meanwhile, Magnum investigates an unfaithful wife and, wow, does the tone of this episode shift dramatically from moment to moment.

Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr

Our heroes delve deep underground, commit numerous HR violations, and make questionable hiring decisions as they interrogate quietly quitting cultists and more, in the grand finale of this Shocktober (lost soul moaning) adventure!

Shocktober 2024, Nest of the Eldritch Eye Part 4

Dan Moren and Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Brian Hamilton, Lincoln Hayes, Monty Ashley and Tiff Arment

Edited by Warren Frey.

Grab your brooms and come fly with us across the the blood red moon as we discuss Episode 5 of Agatha All Along. At the midpoint of the season we pivot abruptly as Agatha is haunted by her childhood after playing a little Ouija.

Dan Moren, John Moltz and Guy English

It was the late ’80s and comic writer Grant Morrison was fast becoming Grant Morrison. Come back with us to look at his run on Animal Man, issues 1-26, in which a has-been/never-was superhero becomes an outspoken animal rights activist, witnesses the near-undoing of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and meets his own maker—who looks strangely like Grant Morrison. Before Deadpool and She-Hulk broke the fourth wall, this was Peak Meta.

Grant Morrison's "Animal Man"

Chip Sudderth with Lisa Schmeiser and Tony Sindelar

It’s season one, episode one. We’re watching Sports Night for this season of Sorkin’ In It. We meet a slew of characters. We deal with that grating laugh track. And we wonder if Casey’s gonna quit the show halfway into the Sports Night pilot. (Spoiler alert: He doesn’t.) Will Brian or Lex quit the podcast in this first episode of our new season? Only one way to find out.

Lex Friedman and Brian Warren