Twelve Monkeys (1995)

The perfect pandemic film, Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys has it all: time travel, the earth healing itself as humans get killed off, and Brad Pitt being TOTALLY CRAZY.

Sorry we’ve been away, a lot has happened since we last recorded. A little thing called COVID-19 has really been narshing our high.

12 Monkeys on IMDB.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

The ultimate high school hooky film, this buddy movie hits all the right notes: sweet car, cute girlfriend, sullen teenager, snooty (snotty?) maitre d’.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on wikipedia.

BTW, Del Close was the great improv-master who played the English teacher. Ken regrets not being able to recall his name while recording the episode.

Trading Places (1983)

Santa probably ought not eat the pilfered smoked salmon he’s stuffed into his jacket.

1983’s best Christmas movie (even if it was released in the summer), Trading Places is a John Landis-directed classic that explores class, race, nature vs. nurture, and the greed that characterized the 1980s.

Pour (another) one out for Gummy.

Trading Places on Wikipedia.

Christmas Vacation (1989)

Our first-ever live show was a success! Thank you to the fine folks (dare we say “fans”?) who joined us for the live recording and viewing party. And thank you to St. Joseph Parish for allowing us to take over the parish center for the evening. As Cousin Eddie might say, it was just “a real nice surprise. A real, real nice surprise.”

Your intrepid hosts, mid-conversation. Note the fine array of Hallmark Christmas Vacation ornaments lining the table.

Here’s a bonus trivia tidbit you’ll only get by reading these (so-called) show notes: Christmas Vacation is the only film in the series not to feature Lindsay Buckingham’s classic song “Holiday Road” on the soundtrack.

The “Clark W. Grisberg” house on Ridgedale Road in South Bend, as mentioned by Ken.

Christmas Vacation on Wikipedia.

Back to School (1986)

Rodney Dangerfield was at the height of his powers in this film, wherein he played a successful businessman heading back to earn a college degree. Would you believe that this film leads Ken to make a connection to the Great Books?

Back to School on wikipedia.

Oingo Boingo on wikipedia.

Fletch (1985)

Chevy Chase makes a second appearance on the podcast, in one of his best roles ever: Irwin M. “Fletch” Fletcher, investigative reporter.

Fletch on wikipedia.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

The Griswold Family

The first in a now five-part film series (with one direct-to-video entry and one reboot), the one that started it all. Featuring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Jane Krakowski, and the great Imogene Coca, among others.

As mentioned in the episode, the soundtrack by Lindsey Buckingham is awesome, including the quintessential road trip song, “Holiday Road“.

Vacation on Wikipedia.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

The John Hughes classic, perhaps the definitive Thanksgiving film.

PTA on Wikipedia.

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Admin Episodes

Listen to the trailer!

Here’s the trailer for the new show. Episodes 1–4 coming later this week.

just wait