The CageClub Podcast Network: Best of 2024!
This past year saw the release of more than 260 episodes! As in past years (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017): thank you for listening. If you’re looking for your next favorite podcast, our hosts have selected their favorite episodes released this year. If you need a place to start, look no further than the selections below! (Shows listed in alphabetical order.)
1999: The Podcast #052 – She’s All That – “Kiss Me” with Chase Mitchell
This week, we take a look at one of 1999’s biggest surprise hits, the 38th-highest grossing movie, which took in a very impressive $103 million on a budget of just $10 million, She’s All That.
She’s All That opened at #1 on January 29, boosted by being nicely timed around Valentine’s Day and by coming out in one of the least-competitive box office periods of the year. Directed by Robert Iscove and written by friend of the show R. Lee Fleming Jr, She’s All That boasts one of the most incredibly deep casts of 1990s icons, as well as launching the career of the titular “she” Rachael Leigh Cook.
It is the very definition of the nostalgic favorite, and it finds charm and humor in places not typical of the teen rom-com genre. So this week, we invited comedy writer Chase Mitchell to join us down by the broken treehouse to talk all about it, so bring your flowered hat as we see if, all these years later, this ugly duckling is still a swan.
You can find Chase on Twitter @ChaseMit
2 Fast 2 Forever #374 – Fast X (Lap 14)
Fast X is our final Fast & Furious movie this lap and our final episode (at least for now) with Walt Hickey and Kim Bhasin! Also joining us is Brian Rodriguez (Coastal Grand Bros), who is pulling double duty as both guest and our unofficial producer.
After Joey falls down another physical media rabbit hole, Walt and Kim share a train fact that is close to Joey’s heart (in a way). We discuss the current status of the franchise, what will happen at the start of the next movie, Jason Momoa as Dante, and “Bargain Bin Pat McAfee.”
We make our picks for the Most 80s (and Most 90s… and Most 2000s??) Moment before Kim shares his Most Wrestling Moment (and a list of wrestlers using their actual finishers in films) and Walt shares his Most D&D Moment (which impacts the future of the franchise).
We ask: do the Torettos’ neighbors like them, at all? Is Eteon an insurance company? What is the Toretto family legacy? What is the world’s awareness level of the family?
Kim breaks Walt. Walt makes another plea for Vin Diesel’s Hannibal movie. Brian tries to pivot our podcast. Kim plugs a story, which has an amazing real-life update since we recorded.
#BoyfriendMaterial #032 – The Fall Guy (2024)
The Fall Guy is in theaters now, so we took a #BoyfriendMaterial field trip to watch it and record this spoiler-filled episode! After welcoming in new listeners in the mailbag — and Gosling’s new era of acting — we catch up on his busy past few months: hosting SNL, presenting and performing at the Oscars, and much more. We admire the stunt work and appreciating the meta levels on display in The Fall Guy, as well as how it blends elements of past Gosling movies. We talk about how cool Gosling looks — almost improbably so — and how fun the stunt dog Jean Claude is. Joey laments a dropped thread/running joke and talks about his favorite moment in the movie (and why it worked so well). We make our picks for the most and least boyfriend material moments and play through all of our games.
#CageClub #120 – Longlegs (2024)
The biggest Nicolas Cage film in years is finally here, and we’re here to talk all about the summer’s biggest horror film: Longlegs! First, though, we talk about Nicolas Cage discourse on Twitter, his fears surrounding AI, and how many movies he (might, possibly, could?) have left. We discuss the marketing of Longlegs and what it means that both Cage and director Osgood Perkins dedicated this movie to their moms. We talk about the movie not exactly aligning with what we expected it to be (and the importance of going into films without a preconceived notion), Cage once again “going full Cage,” and whether or not Brad Pitt would have worked in the role of Longlegs. We also talk about Osgood Perkins’ other films (as well as his type of filmmaking), Maika Monroe’s strong performance as Lee Harker, and the inevitability of the ending. We wonder: is the titular character of Longlegs simply a sad old man? What does his name mean?
#HANX for the Memories #069 – Asteroid City (2023)
Last summer, Tom Hanks teamed up with Wes Anderson for Asteroid City, and now it’s time to talk about it on #HANX for the Memories! After a brief explanation as to why this episode is roughly one year late, we talk about the fact that this is the first Wes Anderson movie either of us have covered for a podcast, how COVID impacted and inspired this film, and how father and grandfather roles seem to suit Tom Hanks pretty well. We talk about how Hanks handles the specific requests and needs of a Wes Anderson movie and what we’d like to see if Tom Hanks was the true star of a Wes Anderson project. We ask: did this movie not hit as well the second time around? Does the artifice in Wes Anderson’s movies work anymore? How does Wes Anderson compare and contrast with Tim Burton? We look ahead to upcoming Tom Hanks movies.
High School Slumber Party #332 – Angel (1984)
We’re walking the gritty streets of Hollywood with the 1984 cult classic, “Angel.” The Superintendent Mike Manzi, joins us to peel back the layers of this unique story that blends the innocence of high school with the harsh realities of the night life in Los Angeles. “Angel” tells the tale of Molly, a straight-A student by day and a street-smart prostitute by night, who finds herself in the midst of a dangerous serial killer on the loose. Also don’t miss Mike Manzi’s insights and his teaser about continuing the discussion on his show, Second Time Around, part of the Third Time’s a Charm podcast feed.
.html #152 – Ranking The Drag Race Group Songs Seasons 1 – 16!
We don’t just watch the show: we know the looks, know the moves, and we sing the damn songs as loud as we can. The early years lacked the single-ification that later RPDR would come to be defined by, but it’s impossible to miss how central to the identity of the show music has always been. And now thanks to the magic of Tiermaker, kick back with a House of Love cocktail (jk), but on your Best Of The Dolls playlist, and listen/vote along as we rank all (well, like most) of the Drag Race Group Songs Seasons 1 – 16!
And make sure to check out all the great stuff we have to offer over on our channel, X Is For Show! X Is For Show is your premiere place for web content where we discuss your favorite media, from comics to film & television to gaming and beyond! You can find the Action Pack here every week, so be sure to tune in and join us for all the fun.
how to win the lottery s9e2 – the overstory by richard powers
our eco module continues with the overstory by richard powers, which marks an early high point in the season as it’s one of our favorite books of all-time, and one of the best books we’ve ever read. first, though, we get into some heavy lotto pod lore. then, we dive into the overstory and wonder: is this the ideal version of this module? we talk about the return of literary magic tricks, our favorite characters and storylines, and the villain of the book. shreds shares some recent related (and unrelated) book reviews and then likens filmmakers to comedians. we talk about how to adapt this book (which may already be in the works).
The Return of the Monsters That Made Us #8: The Wolfman (2010)
In this episode, “The Invisible Dan” and “Monster Mike” got that dog in ’em! Join them as they discuss Universal’s back-to-basics approach to their 2010 remake, The Wolfman, as well as the last minute personnel changes, the reshoots a year after principle photography wrapped, the differences between the theatrical cut and the (superior) unrated director’s cut, Rick Baker’s Academy Award-winning makeup, and so much more!
Pod Only Knows #028 – Dr. Matthew Taylor on An Appeal to Heaven, Alito, and the NAR
We’re back for season two, and we’re kicking it off by talking to Dr. Matthew D. Taylor about that weird An Appeal to Heaven flag that got Justice Samuel Alito in so much trouble!
Taylor holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and Muslim-Christian Relations from Georgetown University and an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. His book, Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians’ America (Cambridge University Press), offers an introduction to the oft-misunderstood Salafi movement in the U.S. by way of comparison with American Evangelicalism.
He is also the creator of the acclaimed audio-documentary series “Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation,” which details how networks of extremist Christian leaders helped instigate the January 6th Insurrection. His next book, The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian movement that is threatening our democracy (Broadleaf Books), will be published in Fall 2024.
He joined Kelly and John to talk about the threat to democracy the flag represents, and offered his thoughts about what we can still do to break the spell of Christian Nationalism in America.
Third Time’s A Charm #081 – The Return of the Shaggy Dog (1987)
Woof, Woof ! The legendary, magical Shaggy Dog is back ! Mike and Brian are trying to shoot a commercial and get Married but one of them keeps changing into a Sheep Dog ! Put on the ring and say the magic words because the Shaggy Dog is back with his human brother and all sorts of craziness is about to ensue. Can our faithful podcasters stop the professor’s maid and butler from cashing in on the magic ring ? Can the bros. shot a commercial in time before anyone finds out the dog is a dude ? Will a Dog get married to a human ? All this and more is revealed on this all new episode !
Uncle Francis’s Wine Cellar – Megalopolis First Look Reactions
Mike and Brian share their first reactions to Francis Ford Coppola’s surprise drop of the First Look teaser for Megalopolis staring Adam Driver! Francis’s favorite nephews also bring you up to speed regarding the films distribution.
Viva Pod Vegas #024 – Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
Elvis returns to Hawaii — and Viva Pod Vegas is right there with him — as we talk about Paradise, Hawaiian Style! After kicking off with some Graceland news, Col. Tom Parker drops by the podcast again before Mike recasts the Fantastic Four with Elvis Presley and associates. We run through this movie’s mixed bag of taglines, explore the (more interesting than usual) backstories for the other actors in this movie, and lament Elvis’s seeming resignation around the songs he had to sing for this movie.
We talk about how weird it is that this movie starts with a cold open, find ourselves once again confused by Elvis’s many lookalike girlfriends (of which there are more than ever before, but somehow there’s no love interest?), and break down the “Elvis + Kid = Great!” streak snapper. We talk about the incredibly low stakes in Paradise, Hawaiian Style, the (truly wonderful) element of this movie we’ve never seen before, and its unmemorable soundtrack. We look ahead to Spinout.
Watch The Theron #056 – The Addams Family (2019)
Watch The Theron is back and ready to catch up on what we’ve missed! First up: 2019’s animated film The Addams Family! After establishing our history with the Addams Family (across its many incarnations), we talk about whether this particular version is as good as it could be and we wonder what its goals are. We talk about how the cast would be great in a live action version, and wonder if that’s why they were cast in these (voice only) roles. We wonder if Charlize was given any motivation for her character, and we talk about how hard it must be for anyone playing Morticia to not simply channel Anjelica Huston. We pitch some ideas for how the film’s two main storylines could have crossed over. We talk about the animation style and character designs. We look ahead to The Addams Family 2.
Winona Forever #054 – Stranger Things: Season Four (2022)
In this episode, Rekha and Lindsay talk about the fourth season of Stranger Things. Winona gets a bit lost in this too-many-plotlines season, but they’re still rooting for Joyce Byers.
X is for Show #494 – X-Men ‘97 Episodes 8-10 Plus Season Two Speculation!
It seemed impossible, then like a dream – Disney+ brought X-Men: The Animated Series back! And then it was a mature, adult, considered, thoughtful experiment that sometimes missed the mark completely – BUT far more often, accomplished what seemed like the impossible: capture the spirit of the best of the X-Men. And now, after the three-part finale, “Tolerance Is Extinction,” the Action Pack examines the stories we saw (& the ones they were based on), the characters (& their comics, movies, and other version counterparts), and far more as we think about the future of the franchise and what may be X-Men ‘98! All this and more on an all new X Is For Show!
X Is For Show is your premiere place for web content where we discuss your favorite media, from comics to film & television to gaming and beyond! You can find the Action Pack broadcasting every week, so be sure to tune in and join us for all the fun.
#ZacAttack #042 – The Iron Claw (2023)
#ZacAttack makes its triumphant return to the (podcasting) ring as we grapple with last year’s Von Erich family biopic The Iron Claw! Joe shares his history with the Von Erich family and Joey shares his history with watching this movie twice. We talk about the wildly depressing stuff *omitted* from this already-depressing film, talk about Zef’s declaration to never get Baywatch-level jacked again, and admire his ability as a “song and dance boy” which shines through in this film. We compliment the wrestling cinematography, talk about how difficult it is to really “make it” in wrestling, and wonder if the corny moments at the end of the movie work. Zef’s haircut. (Enough said.) We talk about Zef’s freakout vs. Ric Flair, the movie’s “Tom Sawyer” montage, and its misleading (?) trailer. We play Fire Ass Titles and look ahead to Ricky Stanicky. We wonder: could we get Zef to wrestle Nathan Fielder?
