Episode 250 - SMALL SOLDIERS

Small Soldiers, big episode! We're marking our 250th outing by returning to this hidden gem from Joe Dante—and to the very origins of this podcast. There will be no mercy as we discuss an unapologetically savage kids movie brimming with easter eggs for the olds.

War! What is it good for? An absolutely fun-filled WWWW milestone!

Small Soldiers (1998)
Directed by Joe Dante
Written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio
Story by Gavin Scott and Adam Rifkin
Starring Gregory Smith, Kirsten Dunst, Kevin Dunn, Phil Hartman, Ann Magnuson, David Cross, Jay Mohr, and Denis Leary, with the voices of Frank Langella and Tommy Lee Jones

Episode 240 - THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD

We unlock the mysteries of The Indian in the Cupboard, an unusually sensitive kids' movie that's notable for both its visual effects and its verisimilitude. Amy Ambler returns to tell us how it strives to elevate the cultural discourse of the classic children's book series, and what lessons this well-meaning adaptation can still teach.

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Directed by Frank Oz
Written by Melissa Mathison
Based on the book by Lynne Reid Banks
Starring Hal Scardino, Litefoot, Lindsay Crouse, Richard Jenkins, David Keith, and Steve Coogan

Episode 203 - TOYS

It's good to know what you're getting into with Toys, a surprisingly adult-oriented movie built around the childlike whimsy of Robin Williams in an especially impish performance. It's an elaborate and impractical contraption that dazzles with stunning visuals and zany comedy, even as it departs from its family-friendly roots early and often.

Kev Young joins us for this Christmas in July special to talk about misdirection, mischief, and the militarization of our youthful fascinations!

Toys (1992)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Written by Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin
Starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, LL Cool J, Arthur Malet, Jamie Foxx, and Donald O’Connor

Episode 159 - WINTER WARS-A-THON

Happy Hoth-idays, everyone! We're spending our holiday vacation in a galaxy far, far away, and turning our traditional yuletide clip collection into a Star Wars celebration. In this very special Winter Wars-A-Thon, we tackle '80s cartoons, novelty records, fan-created art, and anything with the slightest connection to this festive season.

Marvel Star Wars Explorers co-host Brian Rudloff climbs into our toasty Tauntaun carcass with some special unboxing surprises, and joins us in a final round of Star Wars hot takes before we witness the big-screen conclusion to the Skywalker saga. Merry Christmas to all, and may the Force be with you!

Featured in this episode:

TV Episodes
Star Wars: Droids - "The Frozen Citadel" (aired 11/30/85)
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Season Scepter" (aired 11/1/86)

Music
Mark Jonathan Davis and the X-Swing Fighters - "The Phantom Medley/Star Wars Cantina" from Naboo Road (1999)
Meco - Christmas in the Stars (1980)

Fan Films
Park Wars - "O Holy Night" (1999)
"How the Sith Stole Christmas, Pt. 1" and the trailer for unfinished parts 2-3 (2002)

Episode 105 - TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990)

Like Renaissance sculptures made flesh, the film debut of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles transforms the testudinal heroes from cartoon characters into three-dimensional wisecracking, pizza-gobbling machines. Along the way, they somehow rediscovered their grittier comic book aesthetic, as they emerge in a seedy urban landscape rife with brainwashed children, unhinged vigilantes, and a ninja cult that's very comfortable with torture.

Guest star Nate Tapp joins us as we serve up some wide-ranging banter about family and fatherhood, rank our favorite turtles, and, of course, reminisce some more about the most awesome TMNT toys. So grab a New York slice and get ready for some serious turtle talk, 'cause this is what we do!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Directed by Steve Barron
Produced by David Chan, Kim Dawson, and Simon Fields
Written by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck
Based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Starring Josh Pais, Brian Tochi, Corey Feldman, Robbie Rist, Kevin Clash, Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, James Saito, Toshishiro Obata, Michael Turney, and Sam Rockwell


Cowabunga! Check out more of our TMNT tributes:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)
Raph Punk

Episode 103 - MEMORABLE TOY COMMERCIALS

All work and no play makes Cam and Eric dull boys, so we're looking back at a bunch of our most memorable playthings in this well-deserved commercial break. Whether they showcased one of our prized possessions or gave us a tantalizing glimpse of a coveted item, these extremely effective ads stuck in our heads well past childhood.

In this 30-second-spot barrage, we revisit fads like POGs and virtual pets, submit dispatches from the Nerf wars, and vehemently dispute the nomenclature of Socker (Sock 'Em?) Boppers. This episode is more fun than a pillow fight!

Ads featured in this episode:
Super Crocodile Mile
Crossfire
Sega Genesis
Nano Pets
My Pal 2
McDonald's Power Rangers Power Coin Packs
Nerf Max Force
Socker/Sock 'Em Boppers

Episode 102 - WINTER WONDER-THON 2017

Much like a delicious holiday fruitcake, our second-annual Winter Wonder-Thon showcases a hodgepodge of festive treats that also benefit from an infusion of adult libations. This year, our selections focus on a wide range of traditions both cultural and commercial, and feature two separate attempts to besmirch the reputation of jolly old Saint Nick.

Pull on your favorite sweater and pour yourself some eggnog as we come a-wassailing into your ears with a very special holiday podcast!

Featured in this episode:

Clips and Shorts
Animaniacs - "Noel" (aired September 7, 1996)
Hess Toy Truck commercials (1993, 1997, 1999)

TV Episodes and Specials
Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (aired December 4, 1992)
The Tick - "The Tick Loves Santa!" (aired November 25, 1995)
Power Rangers Zeo - "A Season to Remember" (aired November 27, 1996)
Seinfeld - "The Strike" (aired December 18, 1997)

Episode 100 - TOY STORY

What Were We Watching has finally made it to episode 100, and we're celebrating with another kind of milestone: Pixar's revolutionary computer-animated feature Toy Story. Part of a groundbreaking series that grapples with the inevitability of change and the functions of nostalgia, this movie provides the perfect framework for self-reflection. Our special extra-long discussion is all about storytelling, imagination, and the life-changing power of podcasting.

A big thank you to all the listeners and guests who have accompanied us on our journey thus far. We hope you enjoy the next 100 episodes!

Toy Story (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter
Produced by Bonnie Arnold, Ralph Guggenheim, Ed Catmull, and Steve Jobs
Screenplay by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow
Story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft
Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, R. Lee Ermey, John Morris, and Erik von Detten

Episode 56 - TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1987)

From satirical underground comic book characters to alpha reptiles of the late '80s and early '90s, the ascension of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a quintessential pop culture success story. TV, movies, music, books, toys (my god, the toys)--there wasn't a marketing opportunity missed by the Turtles brain trust.

As the wellspring from whence all consumer goods came, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon occupies a special place in the hearts of TMNT fans. We delve into the mythology, the minutae, and the merchandise in an especially sentimental discussion. This episode doesn't ask if the beloved series was crassly commercial (it most certainly was), but invites us to find within the profit motive and the artistic impulse a symbiotic entertainment entity that enthralled a generation.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
Created by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Fred Wolf
Based on the comic series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Starring Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, Peter Renaday, Renae Jacobs, James Avery, and Pat Fraley

Episodes featured in this podcast:
"Shredder & Splintered" (aired 1/1/1988)
"The Case of the Killer Pizzas" (aired 11/5/1988)
"Casey Jones: Outlaw Hero" (aired 11/7/1989)
"The Making of Metalhead" (aired 11/27/1989)
"Night of the Rogues" (aired 11/20/1993)

Cowabunga! Check out more of our TMNT tributes:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Raph Punk