The Weekly Substandard | A nerdcast on movies and pop-culture

On this latest episode, the Substandard discusses mother! and movies they never want to see again. Sonny admits he used to love Baskin Robbins bubble gum ice cream—two treats in one! JVL just might pay 7 euros for Irish ice cream. Vic refuses to pay $60 for steak. It’s a classic First World episode. Plus a word from our sponsor that’ll have you on the edge of your seat!

On this latest micro episode, we discuss sugar and spice and all things pumpkin spice. Vic questions the origins of the Pumpkin Revolution. JVL educates his listeners on the flavors of each season—how on earth did grapefruit become the flavor of summer? Sonny loves grapefruit sprinkled with sugar—but not grapefruit-flavored beer. Ahem.

The Substandard is sponsored by the Dollar Shave Club. Get their $5 starter box (a $15 value!) with free shipping by visiting dollarshaveclub.com/substandard.

On this latest episode, the Substandard grapples with the “monster” at the box office: Stephen King’s It. Why do horror flicks do so well? JVL loves his sweater vests, Sonny ranks sweaters, and Vic is mad as hell and isn’t going to take this anymore!

On this latest mini episode, JVL interrupts our Fall Sports segment with an airing of grievance—namely that the show is tearing apart the cohosts and destroying their friendships. Sonny and Vic are sure it's fine.

On this latest episode of the Substandard we discuss the 40th anniversary of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and rank the Steven Spielberg oeuvre. Jonathan returns from hiatus, Sonny mourns the loss of his raison d’être, and Vic’s grill plan goes up in flames. Plus ice cream, surfing, and Pearl Jam—all on the latest Substandard!

In this latest episode, the Substandard discusses The Trip to Spain and ranks road trip movies. We also debate if ’90s rock music counts as classic rock. Special guest host Mike Warren saw Smash Mouth live. Vic saw Bell Biv DeVoe. And Sonny saw Sponge. Plus The Dark Knight on IMAX, spray painting sidewalks, and a valediction to mulch. All on this week’s episode of the Substandard!

On this week’s episode, the Substandard reviews Logan Lucky and ranks the Soderbergh oeuvre. Sonny does Internet research, Mike goes mulching, Vic asks: What’s mulch? Plus: Sonny makes Old Fashioneds (and his own simple syrup) and Gene Shalit returns! All on this week’s “Dick York-Dick Sargent” episode of the Substandard!

On this week’s episode, the Substandard discusses The Dark Tower, the best and worst Stephen King film adaptations—i.e., rankings!—and this summer’s box office doldrums. Sonny reveals himself as a Stephen King scholar. JVL thinks Tolstoy > Stephen King (he must be joking). Vic hated the deli slicer scene in Children of the Corn. Plus a trip to IKEA, a schnitzel recipe, and more horology—all on this week’s Substandard!

On this latest micro episode, the Substandard discusses Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 35 years later (of course we mention Phoebe Cates). Plus the rise of mall culture and a mini ranking of the Cameron Crowe oeuvre. Which is better: Jerry Maguire or Almost Famous? Did someone just say Vanilla Sky?