Episode 212 - STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURES

Our March bracket tradition continues with Memory Alpha Madness, as we boldly go into the world of Star Trek movies. And it's our biggest bracket yet - a field of the first ten Trek films, which encompass many highlights (and a few lowlights) of the franchise's headiest, silliest, and most thrilling storytelling.

We've beamed up a bona fide Trekspert, Charles Benimoff, for a three-way mind-meld to determine which movie is ultimately the most...fascinating. Memory Alpha Madness, engage!   

Movies featured in Memory Alpha Madness:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek: Generations (1994)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Episode 211 - The 9th Annual Dubbie Awards!

The glitz! The glamour! The Dubbies! It's our annual celebration of excellence in entertainment and nostalgia, as we take a look back at what we were watching in 2022. Just remember, please be kind...and keep Will Smith's wife's name out your mouth!

This year's program of awards:

• Most Watchable Performances
• Worthiest Watches
• Best Comeback
• Most Unnecessary Throwback
• Future WWWW Candidate
• Most Nostalgic Moment
• Best New Oldie
• Best Performance by a Guest
• Best Performance by a Co-host
• Best WWWW Episode of 2022

Episode 210 - THE PRINCESS DIARIES

Tabloids schmabloids, we're obsessed with the most wholesome royal drama ever in The Princess Diaries, a heartwarming coming-of-age tale about hidden pasts and found identity. It's a movie that wears its earnest heart on its sleeve while giving younger millennials their own enlightened update of the classic ugly duckling tale.

Her majesty Jenny Rudloff joins us for lots of G-rated family fun (and surprise charcuterie) as we transform into our best selves for Anne Hathaway's coming-out party. 

The Princess Diaries (2001)
Directed by Garry Marshall
Written by Gina Wendkos
Based on the book by Meg Cabot
Starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Heather Matarazzo, Héctor Elizondo, Robert Schwartzman, Erik von Detten, Caroline Goodall, Sandra Oh, Larry Miller, and Mandy Moore

Episode 209 - THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY

The world has changed. It's been two decades since The Lord of the Rings trilogy redefined everything about epic cinema, and we're kicking off a new year of podcasting with an episode to match the scale and ambition of Peter Jackson's classic imagining of the seminal fantasy saga. 

Because though some of what was has been lost, there are still many who remember, including our own fellowship of Alyssa Renzi, Barm, and Sean Davis, who each join us to pontificate on their personal favorite entry of the trilogy. It's a LOTR lovefest that's nothing short of...precious.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Two Towers (2002)
The Return of the King (2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
Based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien
Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortenson, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Bernard Hill, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, John Noble, Ian Holm, and Andy Serkis

Episode 208 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION

It's that time...Christmastime is here...and we're saying hip hip hooray to the holiday hijinks of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. No yuletide tradition is safe from the film's combination of sardonic wit and slapstick hysteria, creating the perfect storm of holiday stress that feels exhaustingly relatable to this day.

But don't despair - there's still plenty of genuine Christmas spirit too! Our buddy Jake Beal returns to offer his perspective on the highs and lows of all our cherished holiday rituals. Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Directed by Jeremiah Chechik
Written by John Hughes
Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, William Hickey, Mae Questel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brian Doyle-Murray, and Randy Quaid

Episode 207 - AIRPLANE! / AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL

Happy Planes-giving! First, we're serving up a heaping helping of hilarity with Airplane!, the classic spoof from the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker comedy team. Then we're back for seconds - literally - with Airplane II: The Sequel, a continuing send-up of overwrought '70s disaster flicks.

Spoof movie superfan Josh Lee returns to save the day and land this episode safely. Surely you'll see he's serious about his love of these frantically funny films. (And don't call us Shirley!)

Airplane! (1980)
Written and directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Stephen Stucker, Lorna Patterson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Written and directed by Ken Finkleman
Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, Rip Torn, Chuck Connors, John Vernon, Sonny Bono, and William Shatner

Episode 206 - THE MONSTER SQUAD

Under-appreciated in its time, The Monster Squad rose from '80s obscurity to become a cherished favorite of the cult movie crowd, as well as a key influence on other stories featuring kids fighting a supernatural threat. Striking a perfect balance between frights and frivolity, it's a screamingly clever and silly tale co-scripted by high concept wunderkind Shane Black.

Alisha Carderella is in the goddamn club as we celebrate the true spirit of spooky season. This episode's got nards!

The Monster Squad (1987)
Directed by Fred Dekker
Written by Shane Black and Fred Dekker
Starring Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Brent Chalem, Ryan Lambert, Michael Faustino, Ashley Bank, Stephen Macht, Duncan Regehr, Jon Gries, Leonardo Cimino, and Tom Noonan