Series Six
Episode #603 - Exploitation!: Showgirls
Welcome to the 1990s, the era of the NC-17 movie rating, and the mysterious world of Las Vegas "Showgirls." In this episode, the panel examines mystique of the Vegas showgirl, the titillation of the NC-17 rating, the rise, fall and fall of Joe Eszterhas, the relative merits of receiving a movie with your pizza, and the strange happenings at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893.
Episode #602 - Cyberpunkin: Hackers
It's part 2 (sort of) of our examination of kids and technology! In this episode, the panel gets into the phenomena of life imitating art, the tricky business of computer visuals, the art of movie cameos, and the proper viewing angle of gift horses.
Episode #601 - Exploitation!: The Manhattan Project
Surprise episode drop! This is the first in a (very loose) two-parter centered around technology and those those darn kids who fiddle with it. In this episode the panel discusses "The Manhattan Project," time travel, the upcoming Cancer Frog apocalypse, and the possibility of a "Sleepaway Camp/Manhattan Project" shared cinematic universe.
Series Five
Episode #506 - Family Matters: The People Under the Stairs
In this episode, the panel examines the work of Wes Craven, the ability of horror films to address social concerns, the wonders of the unexpected in cinema, and the joy of visiting your local Dollar Tree store.
Episode #507 - Special Presentation: Interview with Sean Clark
In this special bonus episode, we talk to the great Sean Clark about his show "Horror's Hallowed Grounds," collecting movie props, his experiences with Wes Craven and John Carpenter, the sometimes chaotic process of making movie commentary, and the possibility of yet another "Caddyshack" movie.
Episode #505 - Satanic Panic: The Gate
In which the panel revisits the 1980s Satanic Panic phenomenon, investigates backward messages on records, discusses memorable moments in Canadian horror films, considers the work of Paul Naschy, and the possible influence of the music of Barnes and Barnes on the movie "Twister."
Episode #504 - The Shadow People: I Walked with a Zombie
Diving into the deep shadows, the panel examines the history of zombie movies, the career of Val Lewton, the demise of RKO Studios, the dangers of living in the tropics, and the sad fate of DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Episode #503 - We Made a Monster: The Black Hole
In which the brave crew of the good ship SmoothThrills discusses the major changes happening at Disney on the eve of the 1980s, the unstoppable force of Touchstone Pictures, an alternate universe with even more "Freaky Friday" movies, the joys of "Automan," and our deep love of chicken-based movies.
Episode #502 - Exploitation!: Altered States
In which the panel explores the works of Ken Russell, debates the value of movie novelizations, learns a thing or two about sensory deprivation, and ponders the possibilities of erotic fiction narration.
Episode #501 - Musicalish!: The Apple
In which the panel examines disco-based movies, the oeuvre of Golan and Globus, the dubious nature of certain on-screen vampires, and the joys of expressing yourself through the majesty of song.
Series Four
Episode #407 - Cyberpunk 102: Strange Days
In which the team examines the wonders of technology, the risks of recorded memories, the weirdness of defunct video formats, the cinema treasure that is John Saxon, and whether or not rollerblades really are the future of transportation.
Episode #406 - Original Thrills: The Thin Man
In which the team discusses the legacy of Nick and Nora Charles, the joys and sorrows of detective film franchises, the missed opportunities of Andy Hardy movies, and whether or not a dog can win a Nobel Prize.
Episode #405 - Hollyweird: Inside Daisy Clover
In which the panel examines the careers of child actors, the ups and downs of fame, the strangeness of movie musicals, and the potentials of fishburger and beverage combo meals.
Episode #404 - Exploitation!: The Man with the Golden Arm
In which the panel takes on the misery of addiction, the battle against the Production Code, the crooked ways of low-level gangsters, and the reasons behind poorly-dubbed Italian films.
Episode #403 - Family Matters: It's Alive
In which the panel takes a perilous, dark, and often confusing journey through the works of Larry Cohen, the world of killer babies and their cat companions, the dangers of being Joan Collins, and the delights of Commander USA.
Episode #402 - Lost in America: Aloha Bobby and Rose
In this packed episode, the panel explores the lives of Bobby and Rose, the perils of life on the road, the risks of peeing in someone's car, and the remarkable acting of Dean Jones.
Episode #401 - Oozes and Goo: The Blob
In this episode, the team talks about Blobs, Gases, Mists, the sociopathic behaviors of semi-sentient goo, the wonderous world of Steve McQueen, and the dangers of working in certain French films.
Series Three
Episode #307 - Game Night: Clue
In this episode, the team talks about Clue, movie adaptations of games, the various adventures of the Guber-Peters Company, and the confusing nature of Beverly Hills Cop movies.
Episode #306 - 80s Comedy Part 2: Hollywood Shuffle
In this episode, the panel discusses the works of the great Robert Townsend, the merits of various Wayans, the somewhat sad state of Spoof Movies, and the strange world of double-feature discs.
Episode #305 - Subculture: My Own Private Idaho
In this episode, the panel talks about the beginnings of New Queer Cinema, the perils of life as a street hustler, the state of various movie bathrooms, and possible Miami connections to Samuel L. Bronkowitz.
Episode #304 - Adventureman: Commando
In this episode, our panelists muse over an essential Reagan-Era action movie, debate the realism of action comedies in general, the ASMR possibilities of gunfights, and the moral relativism of Porky's.
Episode #303 - Musicalish!: The Fabulous Stains
In this episode, our heroes behold the glory of the Stains, examine the Post Punk movement, watch some 80s television, and muse over the fate of Dan Haggerty.
Episode #302 - Dead End Drive In
In this episode, the team looks at Dead End Drive In, Ozploitation, the works of Brian Trenchard-Smith, and the sad fate of the ABC Family Channel.
Episode #301 - Fritz the Cat
The panel of experts examines the history and legacy of "Fritz the Cat," the troubled relations of its creators, the impact it had on animation overall, and the relative value of actors named Broderick.
Series Two
Episode #208 - Alternative Timeline: Dazzler
In this episode the panel examines the un-produced treatment Jim Shooter created for Dazzler, what happened with Casablanca Records and Filmworks, the strange abilities of the Village People, and the relative value of Howard the Duck.
Episode #207 - Living in Stereo: Jaws 3D
In this episode, we discuss the thrill of 3-D movies, the pain of 3-D movies, the dangers of living near water, and why dolphins can't ever shut up.
Interview with John Putch
In this special presentation episode, we talk with John Putch about his experience making Jaws 3D, his long and accomplished acting and directing career, the unique genius of Jim Wynorski, and the sad absence of movies about Jet Skis.
Episode #206 - Original Thrills: Manhunter
In this episode, we look at the start of a cinematic and television empire, debate the pros and cons of various adaptations, examine the beginnings of the Hannibal Cinematic Universe, and muse over the merits of 2-ply toilet paper.
Episode #205 - Satanic Panic: Mazes and Monsters
In this episode, we deep dive into the Satanic Panic of the 1980's, the moral crisis at the center, the casualties on the edges, the dramatic stylings of early Tom Hanks, and the majesty of Englebert Humperdinck.
Episode #204 - Teenage Wasteland: Pump Up the Volume
In this episode, the panel discusses the milestone 1990's movie "Pump Up the Volume", the perils of parasocial relationships, the merits of free speech, and the strangeness of an Italian Red Skull fighting Captain America.
Episode #203 - Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins and Quickly Ends
In this episode, the team examines the strange case of an attempted franchise, what may have gone wrong, what went right, and the perils of dealing with Morgue Farts in the wild.
Episode #202 - Musicalish!: Car Wash
In this episode, the panel discusses the disco slacker, workplace comedy, cult-movie favorite Car Wash, the mercurial Joel Schumacher, the prolific Michael Schultz, and the perils of going to see Lost in Space.
Episode #201 - Apocalypse Then: The Bees
In this episode, the team looks back at the Great Killer Bee Scare of the late 1970s, one of the looniest movies to come out of it, whether or not you can really talk to the animals, and the pros and cons of melty cheese.
Series One
Episode #107 - Mondo Cane and the End of Movies
In this episode, the team ruminates over the landmark exploitation film, what it might have meant then, what it for sure means to us now, and how it changed movies for better or worse. Also discussed, the difficult life of sharks, the perils of visual anthropology, and the possible whereabouts of Bob Keeshan's nose.
Episode #106 - Apocalypse Then: The Day After
In this episode, the team examines the substance and deep cultural significance of the classic TV movie. Jason Robards, John Lithgow, Steve Guttenberg, and a cast of dozens bring to life this vision of the end of the world, or least how we thought it would play out in 1983.
Episode #105 - 80's Comedy Part 1: Savage Steve Holland
In this episode, the team looks back at the feature film career of the mighty Savage Steve Holland, with "Better Off Dead," "One Crazy Summer," and "How I Got Into College. Also up for debate, the strange trajectory of "Porky's" films, the relative merits of the "Police Academy" movies, and whether or not "Her Alibi" should get a blu-ray release.
Episode #104 - Looking Back At: Fandango
In this episode, the team looks back at one of the great movies to come out of Texas - Fandango. We discuss why this epic road movie might have been overlooked over the years, the greatness of Judd Nelson, the importance of a good romp, and the majesty of Jaws 3D.
Episode #103 - Salem's Lot and the Death of Small Town America
In this episode, the team examines the 1970s TV movie adaptation of Salem's Lot, how it compares to the novel, how it fits in with late 1970s television culture, and how David Soul and Fred Willard became a fashion icons (probably).
Episode #102 - Cyberpunk 101: Hardware
In this episode, the team looks at what was once considered a lost gem of the cyberpunk movement, Richard Stanley's "Hardware." We examine the movie in its cultural context, its use of cyberpunk tropes (that had only just been established), and debate whether robots can have man butt.
Episode #101 - Summer of Wolves: The Howling, Wolfen, An American Werewolf in London
We look back at the extraordinary summer of 1981 and three important werewolf movies that shaped our culture for years to come.