Tales From the Rec Room

Crossroads

Bree! — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:00:53 +0000

Would it even be a season of TFTRR without super best friend of the show Liz stopping by? Following up on our deep dive into millennial pop divas, we detour into pop star movie vehicle town on the weirdly slow cross-country road trip that is Crossroads. Were critics and audiences way too unfair to this movie or… was it actually kind of bad and we just feel guilty for everything else we put Britney through? Is it possible to include all this horrific subject matter in a movie targeted at tweens? Can we please have a little less exposition and more actual acting, or however that Elvis song goes? And maybe spare some Kim Cattrall? Plus, Bree’s nephew is born in the middle of the podcast. No, really.

Goodfellas

Bree! — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:00:21 +0000

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a podcast host. Being a podcast host to me was better than being the president of the United States!

Mynty Cicero returns to the podcast to discuss Goodfellas and, more broadly, the legacy of organized crime, the mafia, Martin Scorcese and his gangster movies. We go over the “film bro” persona that has been much discussed over the last 20 years and what role Scorcese and Goodfellas played in this. Bree tries to convince Mynt that Ray Liotta is a good actor. Is it OK for non-Italians to play Italians? How about all the Jewish stuff in this movie? Also, is Christopher Nolan the brutalism of directors?

Super Smash Bros

Bree! — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:00:27 +0000

No items, Fox only, Final destination.

It’s time for our annual video game episode! Bree and video game culture correspondent Ted Raymond – host of Let’s Playmond With Ted Raymond – party (game) like it’s 1999 with a look back at Super Smash Bros and the franchise that followed. We discuss the divisive nerdiness and overcorrection that resulted in Melee’s pivot, the limitations of the cartridge era, Nintendo’s evolution to the party game platform and the very sexy Captain Falcon.

Harriet the Spy

Bree! — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:32 +0000

Friend of the show Kelsey Goldman whip out their notebooks full of observations for their triumphant return to the mid-90s. In this fun and introspective episode, we revisit Nickelodeon’s first feature-length movie, Harriet the Spy. We discuss the evolution of the Kid Power genre, the movie’s meditations on the loneliness of childhood – which both of us experienced – Harriet’s iconic style and, of course, the career trajectory of the gone-too-soon Michelle Trachtenberg. There’s also a lot of ponderance on this movie’s portrayal of class, friend groups and parents that are neither amazing nor terrible at it!

Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue

Bree! — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:00:43 +0000

Well-rounded multimedia producer and former music journalist Ryan Stephenson Price stops by to continue our journey through the early aughts and to go to where the podcast has never gone before: pop punk! Yellowcard’s violin gimmick didn’t win them a lot of fans with critics, but they were much loved by sort-of-angry teenagers everywhere – and then they sort of went away, and then came back, and then went away, but not really, and now they’re back again! We discuss the commercial rise of pop punk (and where it went), cynicism versus idealism versus the evil pragmatism of wanting to make money as a musician, the technical and theoretical challenge of being a drummer and the millennial obsession with nostalgia.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Bree! — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:00:01 +0000

Former high school wallflower Helen joins Bree, who really should have been more of a wallflower in high school, to discuss the 1999 novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. We discuss the pace of change in pop culture from the early to late 90s, how we see ourselves in Charlie, how to communicate deeply internalized feelings in a book versus a movie, how music shapes (or doesn’t shape) your adolescence and much more!

This episode deals with issues of childhood sexual abuse and substance abuse.

The Butterfly Effect (2004) with Stephen Sajdak

Bree! — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:00:18 +0000

Welcome to Season 3, where you can’t sleep at night, because everyone is screaming! We Hate Movies cohost, improviser and former Smash Mouth frontman impersonator Stephen Sajdak joins us to, for some reason, revisit the 2004 attempted Ashton Kutcher reinvention, The Butterfly Effect. We’d say Kutcher’s laughable attempt at a dramatic turn is the most offensive thing about this movie, but man, the mentally ill really get it, don’t they? In true TFTRR tradition, we go back to the best and the worst (no, seriously, the worst) of 2004, a time when you could still pretend mental health facilities were nightmare factories and make tasteless prison jokes while still claiming to be a serious movie. Plus, we discuss the Edgy Media Economy, this movie’s weird insistence on attachment to your childhood friends and high school sweethearts and, of course, the Bash Brothers.

A Very Sunny Christmas

Bree! — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 02:00:45 +0000

“You talk about things that are important to me, I’m gonna talk about Danny DeVito in that couch.”

You really thought it was going to be a TFTRR special week without Liz? No way. Comms pro and hockey writer Liz shows up to discuss traumatic Christmas traditions, Rashoman-ing your own life, actors getting too pretty for their own good, the newfound stigma of rewatch podcasts and more. What were your favourite toys? What were your Christmas traditions? Turns out, we don’t care, we’re just watching Glenn Howerton’s little kicks!

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Bree! — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:36:56 +0000

“Another sympathetic reaction is watching people above the age of 30 fall on their backs. How is he walking?!”

New friend of the show Amber Flannery Field – the only good tour guide in New York City – stops by to discuss Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Strap the heck in for a discussion on the highly protected institution of the white American boy, the “clean-up” of New York City in the 90s, the racial politics of tourism, power, homelessness, violence and – look out below – Brenda Fricker. Settle in and learn why they call Amber “America’s comic.” Also, what is a Lynchian couch? Gotta listen ‘til the end. This is about Home Alone 2, by the way.

Marge Be Not Proud

Bree! — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 21:06:17 +0000

“Would you buy an NHL game with Steven Lorentz on it?” “I mean… yes?”

Shove this up your stocking! Bree and Mike Stephens get surprisingly all up in their feelings for a classic Christmas comfort watch: The Simpsons Season 7’s “Marge Be Not Proud.” We start Freud-raging, discussing the dynamic between mothers and sons, tough love, the lack of 90’s schmaltzy Christmas movies, the pain of Bart, and, of course, video game culture, uh huh?. Plus, a lot about Lawrence Tierney, that’s right. Well, try to have a Merry Christmas.

The Shining

Bree! — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:00:14 +0000

I’m sorry to defer with you, but you’ve always been in the rec room.

Pour yourself a bourbon and advocaat. It’s time to discuss The Shining! We Hate Movies cohost Eric Szyszka returns to discuss our favourite elevated/elevator horror movie, The Shining. Does the lore around how Kubrick treated Duvall border on disrespectful toward her legacy? What is the actual best Stephen King adaptation? And, in all seriousness, what are the biggest ways in which this movie has influenced the horror genre and filmmaking in general? Plus, lots of Treehouse of Horror V references!

Urban Legend

Bree! — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:00:44 +0000

After a summer of legendary audio issues, Bree and friend of the show Frederick Blichert cap off the season with a playful romp through a home viewing favourite (“favourite” might be generous for Bree), Urban Legend. The movie obviously apes Scream every chance it gets, which might make it the ultimate movie through which to explore the context of late 90’s blockbusters. In the fun of figuring out exactly what about this movie doesn’t work – when in fact there’s a bit about it that does work – we also look at what sets it apart from the horror movies it was trying so hard to imitate, and how its themes fits into the 2020’s era of misinformation. Also, lots of love for Brad Douriff and Loretta Devine.

Simpsons vs Simpsons

Bree! — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:00:02 +0000

Climb into the RV and don’t forget to strap in Milhouse! In our first-ever showdown episode, Ted comes back to discuss two of our favourite Simpsons episodes from our rec room eras – and what they say about our childhoods. Ted’s here to discuss the classic boys’ adventure, Lemon of Troy, and reminisces about playground wars, the cliche of boys never growing up, the perfect depiction of an early summer day where time stretches on forever. Bree brings to the table Summer of 4 ft. 2, to discuss its depiction not only of the 90s but also of, well, a girls’ adventure. Which, naturally, is all about rejection and loneliness. But, like, you know, whatever!

Mafia!

Bree! — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:00:18 +0000

Welcome to the Jay Mohr Cinematic Universe, where your favourite comedy legends are apparently in mortal danger. Friend of the show Mikey “The Mouth” Stephens, having been heavily bribed and plied with favours and snacks, comes to discuss the infantile attempt at a mafia spoof, 1998’s Mafia! (also known as Jane Austen’s Mafia!, for some reason). Does this movie kind of work? (Mike says no, Bree says yes). What was the magic of the ZAZ-iverse (Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker) that was kinda missing here? Could Leslie Nielson have made this movie better? What is the best mafia movie of all time? (Spoiler alert: Not this one). Also, it’s Christina Applegate Appreciation Hour!

American Beauty

Bree! — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:00:30 +0000

Well, after last week’s miserable slog through Family Guy, we’ve come to a nice palate cleanser with… oh, American Beauty? Okay. Well, our old pal Mynt showed up to discuss American Beauty, a movie that was considered such a masterpiece in 1999 that it cleaned up at the Oscars and, less than two decades later became almost universally regarded as a joke, mostly because of the you-know-who of it all, but also because of the argument that it was no longer as edgy, profound or as ground-breaking as we once thought. But upon further reflection it’s still… pretty good? Do people get the criticism of this movie wrong? Do we really think the movie is on Lester’s side, or does it agree that he’s a reckless, misogynistic loser who projects his issues onto everyone? How does this movie reflect the immediate post-Cold War, peak-Lewinski sexual politics of the era? Why did none of these young actors have bigger careers? How did Mynt miss a very young John Cho in this movie? How has the show managed to go off on tangents about Aaron Sorkin two weeks in a row and yet has still never covered The West Wing? Anyway, stick around for the ultimate “hear us out” episode of this season.

Family Guy

Bree! — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:38:49 +0000

Well, they can’t all be winners. Bree and sitcom retrospective expert José look back at the first three season of adult comedy “bad boi” Family Guy – the adult animation juggernaut accused of being everything from a Simpsons clone to one of America’s “worst TV shows for primetime viewing.” The show gained cult status thanks to the DVD box sets that littered many a rec room (hey, that’s the name of the show!) but… did it actually earn it? No, no, this show was just plain bad, even though teenage Bree really, really liked it. Listen to Bree and José try to rationalize how this show has managed to stay on the air for so long, find some nice-ish things to say about Seth MacFarlane, and ponder what it’s like to be a tween of the 00’s raised on Family Guy the way we were raised on The Simpsons. Plus, the first-ever case of someone completely blanking on almost every question of the Lightning Round. It’s my fault, folks, I asked someone to say nice things about Family Guy.

Eurotrip

Bree! — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 10:20:28 +0000

Miss the Euro Cup yet? That’s okay, because we’re taking a European adventure of our own! Bree welcomes returning guest and We Hate Movies host Andrwe Jupin to discuss the 2004 teen sex comedy, Eurotrip. We follow three-and-a-half nobodies around Europe as we discuss the pervasive early-aughts depictions of teen sex and partying (why do all high school students have easy access to kegs? Why are they into G&Ts?), try to figure out what happened to R-rated teen movies, lament that okay-looking people aren’t allowed in movies any more and are shocked that only a few things in this movie (you know, like the big extended sexual assault joke) haven’t aged all that well. It’s okay, we’re Catholic.

Super Mario RPG

Bree! — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:00:15 +0000

Bree reunites with TFTRR video game expert and digital journalist Ted Raymond to talk about the time Mom and Dad (a.k.a. Nintendo and Square) got divorced, and the honour student they made before that happened: Super Mario RPG. We discuss RPG history and the meteoric, early-90s rise of everyone’s favourite plumber, get really, really nerdy about the vaudevillian nature of Super Mario RPG, share our differing opinions about Gino and give our take on the Switch reissue. Oh, and we sing a lot.

Walk Hard

Bree! — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:00:03 +0000

It’s the John C. Reilly appreciation hour as Bree and best friend of the show Liz dive into 2007’s Walk Hard! How did such a silly movie manage to have such an impact – temporarily killing the musical biopic genre and the superspoof genre? Does this movie somehow work as a serious movie? How did this movie managed to get such a stacked cast, and will we ever see another movie like this again? Speaking of things you won’t see anymore: cool rock stars, pot jokes and SNL character movies. Where did they all go? Anyway, welcome back to the Rec Room, folks – load up your mouths with popcorn, take a swig of diet soda and enjoy!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Bree! — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:00:01 +0000

We close out the week with Bree’s all-time fave, 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – and our good friend, Rachel Kellogg, has joined us! Yes, Dunst is a supporting player here, but she might be the most tragic supporting actor of all time. We discuss the timelessness of this movie, whether or not this movie is hopeful about love, how Dunst herself influenced the popular character analysis lexicon, and why Elijah Wood is the perfect Weird Lil Guy. Also, we’ve got a Mark Ruffalo Falling Over And/Or Dropping Things counter, Lacuna might be an absolute Mickey Mouse operation, and we’ve got some beef with Walk The Line.

Bring It On

Bree! — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 11:00:51 +0000

Brr, it’s cold in here! Bree and Liz head on down to Rancho Carne to revisit Bring It On. We talk about how this movie permeated schoolyard culture, how it taught all us dorky white people about cultural appropriation, how well this would work as a 21st century Netflix series, and how this movie respects its teen audience. Plus, is there a male equivalent of the Bechdel test? Because this movie does not pass it, and we love it.

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Bree! — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 11:00:49 +0000

We’re off to Minnesota for this episode of Home for the HoliDunst! Kelsey Goldman stops by to discuss this cult classic – why does it appeal to queer people so much? Is there a universe in which the Will Sasso stuff has aged well? What is the magic sparkle dust that makes this movie so amazing and has allowed it to go from a critical and commercial flop to a total cult classic? We discuss it all – and also take some time to nod to the maybe-almost-a-good-movie Sugar and Spice.

Spider-Man 2

Bree! — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 11:00:25 +0000

Let’s take a trip back to 2004 against the backdrop of a whole lot of bad stuff happening in the world, but a great time at the air-conditioned cinema. Patrick Hamilton stops by to talk Spider-Man 2, one of Dunst’s last significant blockbuster movies. Does Dunst elevate Mary-Jane from being a really hot redhead? Is it hard to write a Spider-Man screenplay? Is this the last time emo will ever make it to a blockbuster OST? We detail the best parts of this movie, the few things that fall flat (James Franco, we’re lookin’ at you) and learn all about Midori sours.

Small Soldiers

Bree! — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 11:00:49 +0000

Happy HoliDunst, everyone! Welcome to five days of continuous podcasts about our favourite Kirsten Dunst movies. On the first day, Bree and Mike Stephens take a stroll through the toy aisle and into a simpler time – a time when we were weirdly casual about guns, bomb threats and abject cruelty. Joe Dante’s Small Soldiers was famously panned, but as Bree and Mike look back at this movie, they find that it might be… almost good? There’s some brilliant one-liners, an absolutely charming final performance from Phil Hartman and, of course, Kirsten Dunst shines against the snoozy Gregory Smith. Also, does David Cross secretly suck as an actor? Anyway, chainsaw skateboard!!

Majora’s Mask

Bree! — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 10:00:34 +0000

Happy Halloween! Bree is joined by her old friend Jason Edwards on this special occasion to discuss a spooky, scary… video game? In 2000, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask took players by surprise and alienated a generation of Zelda fans. Or did it? While Majora’s Mask was certainly a departure from the familiar formula due to its altered structure, uncanny valley characters and, of course, its horror elements, the retroactive portrayal of Majora’s Mask as a video game that was unappreciated in its time may be slight revisionist history. Nevertheless, Bree and Jason get to the bottom of what made Majora’s Mask so special then and now, how it influenced adventure games, whether or not it is the true best Zelda game and how it fits into the franchise as a whole.

Read Jason’s newsletter: https://thesecrethistoryofmodernlife.substack.com/

The Dark Knight

Bree! — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 10:00:18 +0000

On the season finale of Tales From The Rec Room, Bree is joined by We Hate Movies co-host and film critic Chris Cabin to discuss one of our favourite “dadfernoon” movies, The Dark Knight. Where does this movie fall in the big picture of Nolan’s films? Could he ever take on another superhero movie? Why do dads love this movie so much? Does this movie’s take on surveillance age poorly? Is this movie about good versus order? Also, Eric Roberts!

Titanic

Bree! — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:00:32 +0000

All aboard the S.S. Hubris! Bree is joined by Chelsea Jupin (chelseajupin.bsky.social) to go to the intersection of Chick Flick Ave. and Disaster Movie Blvd. to re-explore Titanic. We discuss the seemingly endless power of Leonardo DiCaprio, 90s superhunk, being “second VHS” girlies, and how James Cameron is really just girlie in a Titanic phase who was given a blank cheque. Plus, Bree talks about her first movie boobs, while Chelsea reflects on the love of historical dramas sparked by this movie, and there’s a lot of talk about what a “huge-budget” movie looks like now. We defend the love story, dissect the deleted scenes and ponder about James Cameron’s feelings toward the Irish.

Juno

Bree! — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:00:45 +0000

Bree hangs out with friends of the show Frederick Blichert and Mynt Marsellus for a look back at the highly affected, 2007 indie darling Juno. What was the experience like watching this movie as a high schooler versus middle schooler versus young adult? Why did people turn on this movie and the screenplay so much – and was it justified? Is there a possible queer reading of this movie? How does the fall of Roe V. Wade affect the viewing of this movie in 2023?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Bree! — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:00:18 +0000

Bree is joined by self-professed book nerd Maggie Taylor (@maggieolsontaylor) to discuss the coming-of-age book series that shaped us all and then abandoned us, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Is the fifth book a betrayal of the characters? Is Carmen Lowell all of us? Should Eric Richman be in jail forever? Do teenagers even like jeans anymore? And why aren’t there more books about girls just being supportive of their friends? Also, jail for Eric.

Get Over It

Bree! — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:00:18 +0000

Strap in as Bree and Kelsey discuss the okay-est teen movie of 2001 – which might have very well been so okay that it killed the genre all together. We discuss Get Over It, fawn over Kiersten Dunst, ponder what kind of messed up name Berke Landers is and wonder if teen movies are even allowed to be so okay anymore.

Miracle

Bree! — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:00:36 +0000

Hockey expert Liz stops by the Rec Room with her DVD copy of Miracle. We break down what is generally regarded as one of the best sports movies of all time and discuss why exactly it is regarded as such – and yes, acknowledge the propaganda as well! We break down the Brooksisms, fawn over the f**kboys and ponder: where have all the modern sports movies gone?

Chrono Trigger

Bree! — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:00:43 +0000

Ottawa-based journalist and former Nintendo Power aficionado Ted Raymond joins Bree as they settle into the rec room for a time-travelling adventure with Chrono Trigger! Largely regarded as one of the best RPGs, if not video games, of all time, we discuss how this game influenced our love of video games and storytelling, follow the careers of the Traveling Wilburys of video game production and determine which Final Fantasy game was the undisputed best.

“Timeless: A History of Chrono Trigger”

Clone High

Bree! — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 10:00:49 +0000

Way way back in the early ‘00s, Mike and Bree discovered a cartoon. Friend of the show and cartoon expert Michael Stephens pops by to discuss the short-lived series Clone High. The series came at a perfect trifecta of sketch comedy, adult animation and teen dramas. And yet, no one watched it. Then some people wanted it back and it came back and was bad. But that doesn’t change the beauty that was Clone High, which might be the best MadTV sketch that never happened. We discuss the animation highs and lows, why we’re kinda fine with Gandhi being discontinued, and why the reboot just does not work.

Center Stage

Bree! — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 10:00:35 +0000

Episode 2 features writer, social media pro, dancer and mom Rachel Kellogg talkin’ Center Stage. We continue riding this late-90s/early-00s wave of teen movies and discuss the highly specific genre of the “elite academy movie,” ponder the difference between this and male-targeted sports movies, dissect the glory days of stunt and dance doubles, make the inevitable Save The Last Dance comparisons, get very alienating as we talk about our dance histories and wonder if this movie is both incredibly specific to its time and very, very timeless.

10 Things I Hate About You

Bree! — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 10:00:29 +0000

Episode 1 features blogger, author and all-around movie-lovin’ guy Kyle Martinak to discuss the millennial classic, 10 Things I Hate About You. We go back to the glory days of movie original soundtracks, reminisce about the days when teen characters were allowed to be jerks and look 30, ponder the enduring power of Save Ferris and discuss how this movie shaped not only our lives, but also the “high school movie” wave of 99-00.

The Breaking Bad-iverse

Bree! — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 10:00:21 +0000

Guess we got what we deserved: an episode on Vince Gilligan’s two triumphant series, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as well as El Camino, featuring Soundtracker’s (@soundtracker_) Eric Peacock (@uwebollocks). How do you find the peak of such a high-quality franchise? Does it really matter that there’s really only one female character in Better Call Saul? Does anyone get a more raw deal than Nacho Varga? Are Howard Hamlin and Marie Schrader perfect foils? And most importantly: which is the better series? Plus, the episode opens with a special announcement you do not want to miss. But don’t worry, Peak Show fans: pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.

Millennial Pop Divas

Bree! — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 10:00:22 +0000

It’s Peak Show, b*tch! Bree is joined by show bestie Liz (@yanoforsure) to talk about the rise, peak and fall (and peak, and fall, and peak, and fall) of Britney, Christina, Jessica and Mandy. But it doesn’t stop there! We discuss the foundation laid by the VH1 divas, what the anti-Britney era of Avril, Fefe, P!n and others said about our stockpiled societal misogyny, how European (and ESL) producers created confounding hits and how Newlyweds convinced us we were all better than Jessica Simpson. Also, #FreeBritney means stop doing wellness checks on her!

The X-Files

Bree! — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 11:00:52 +0000

Bree is joined by We Hate Movies host and film programmer Andrew Jupin to take a trip back to the 90s and discuss The X-Files – the lasting legacy of conspiracy theory content, the magic of the Mulder/Scully dynamic, the delicate balance of mytharc vs. MOTW, the (maybe slightly anticlimactic?) mystery of Samantha Mulder, and Bree’s unhealthy obsession with X-Cops.

This Is Us

Bree! — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 11:00:06 +0000

Get out your tissue boxes! Bree is joined by writer, critic and Role Calling podcast host Caroline Siede to talk about the recently concluded NBC family drama, This Is Us. Is this show mushy schmaltzy emotional manipulation, or is it much smarter, more layered and self-aware than people think? We detail the best stars (Hi, Mandy Moore! Hi Sterling K. Brown!), the unsung heroes (What’s up, Justin Hartley?), the amazing use of guest stars (Hey, Pam Grier!), the totally baffling (Randall is a landlord/politician now!) and everything in between. Okay, don’t let me keep you.

BoJack Horseman

Bree! — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 11:00:06 +0000

Bree is joined by TikTok essayist Lucky Leftie, to discuss the Netflix original series BoJack Horseman. With a show so layered, complex and controversial, sometimes a 90-minute discussion is necessary. We discuss mental illness, forgiveness, self-punishment, relationships, addiction, the entertainment industry, childhood trauma and the secret joke about Sextina Aquafina that a lot of people don’t seem to get. Let’s binge it!

Please note: Due to some technical difficulties during recording, this episode has some of the sloppiest audio since Season 1, but we promise it’s good!

Season 2 Finale: Flop Culture

Bree! — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:43 +0000

Bree gets together with Mynt, Liz and Frederick to bid farewell to Peak Show Season 2 and summer 2022 with a look at the best things that have been released so far this year. What do Bob Odenkirk and Isabelle Fuhrman have in common? What the hell are people on re: Us all of a sudden? Was this album Kendrick’s first miss? How dare the Duffer Brothers create characters people are emotionally invested in and then give that emotional investment payoff? Is Prey not being released theatrically one of the biggest let-downs of all time? Plus, Liz is overtaken by the spirit of Tom Cruise and his movie magic, and if you listen closely, you just might hear a call-out of a good Mike Stephens tweet.

Star Wars – Episode 3

Bree! — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:00:07 +0000

You’re all nerds! Bree is joined by Ottawa-based digital journalist and former radio man Ted Raymond to round out Super Month. Together, they trash the nerds (sorry, nerds), discuss the origins of Wookieepedia, call BS on George Lucas, lament the gatekeeping, defend The Last Jedi and more. Utini!

Star Wars – Episode 2

Bree! — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 10:00:34 +0000

Bree is joined by her pal Mike Stephens (@bymikestephens) build a better Star Wars universe starring David Cross, Jennifer Coolidge and more – which might be better than everything we’ve gotten from this series from 1999 on. We discuss what’s gone wrong, if the sequel trilogy was really that good, how underused Mace Windu was, moral ambiguity, lack of tension in the TV series and, of course, toys. Get ready for some nerdy talkin’, some belching and some unhinged begging for Disney to tell a new story.

Star Wars – Episode 1

Bree! — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:00:53 +0000

Peak Show’s 2022 Super Month is here! We take a month-long journey into Star Wars. For the first episode, Eric Szyszka of the awesome We Hate Movies joins to discuss the prequels, Clone Wars, re-casting (and lack thereof), standalone movies, genre, Disneyfication and more. We also talk about Target, tilling and Tim Hortons. Oh, and Star Wars isn’t a Western.

Kevin Smith

Bree! — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 10:00:30 +0000

“Bluntman” Bree and Kyle “Chronic” Martinak team up to talk about the Gen X Jersey slacker king himself, Kevin Smith. We discuss Smith’s pivot to podcasting, the secretly sweet aspect of his marriage, his wannabe Judd Apatow phase, the impact that pot had on his humour and more. Plus: is Tusk secretly amazing?

Mel Brooks

Bree! — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 10:00:59 +0000

Kelsey Goldman is in the driver’s seat for this special episode! Kelsey and her pal Jason Edwards lead the episode for a discussion on Mel Brooks. What was special about the way Mel wrote men – and women? Has anyone come close to Mel Brooks in terms of movie spoofs? We also discuss the specificity of Jewish humour versus New York humour, power and influence, how music makes him a better filmmaker and more. Content warning: Bree may or may not poop herself, and also there’s some disturbing talk about Barf the Mog and The Shining.

The Babysitters Club

Bree! — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 10:00:33 +0000

Say hello to your friends! Bree is joined by pop culture enthusiast Chelsea Jupin to discuss the books, movies, graphic novels and TV iterations of the Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club. They discuss being late bloomers, the power of female friendships, themes of chosen family, age-appropriate life lessons and, of course, Claudia’s style. Listen through for their dream Netflix series episodes, which baby-sitter they think they are, and some very important discussion about almonds.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker

Bree! — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 10:00:57 +0000

Bree is joined by Eric Peacock, host of the Soundtracker podcast, to discuss the varied and highly musical stylings of Matt Stone and Trey Parker, two of the most frustrating creators to ever come up on Peak Show. But despite our South Park-related misgivings, there’s a surprising deal of appreciation for their work. We discuss Gen X cynicism, the art of parody and, uh, a lot of 9/11 stuff. Oh, and Bree starts talking about AMAs and TV trading.

Indiewire article on South Park’s most transphobic episodes.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Bree! — Thu, 26 May 2022 10:00:17 +0000

What up!!! Bree and Liz (@yanoforsure) are two cool girls doing a podcast for other cool people who want to hang out in our party mansion. Nothing sexual. People in good shape encouraged. If you are fat you should be able to find humour in the little things. Again, nothing sexual.

Adam Sandler

Bree! — Thu, 12 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Exit light, enter night! Bree and Ruin My Life co-host Kelsey Goldman (@kelseyrebecca) discuss the Sand-man himself, Adam Sandler! What should have been a straightforward episode about the gradual Flanderization and downfall of a beloved comedic actor turns into a multifaceted discussion about pain, masculinity, sports movies and a whole lot about Uncut Gems you just plain can’t understand if you’re not Jewish. Are Sandler’s Netflix movies really that bad? Does he give hope to the average looking men of the world? And why hasn’t he tried harder to make more movies on the level of Uncut Gems/Meyerowitz Stories/Punch Drunk Love?

David Fincher

Bree! — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:00:01 +0000

U of T cinematic studies PhD student Mynt Marsellus returns to the show to discuss one of their favourite directors, David Fincher. Bree and Mynt discuss how Fincher gets the most out of his actors, how he uses space, time and movement uniquely, his blind spots for female characters, whether or not it matters that he’s a “difficult” director and what his most overrated movies are. Also, what would Spider-Man (2002) look like if it had been directed by David Fincher?

King Of the Hill Redux

Bree! — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:00:53 +0000

Uh-oh! A Peak Show emergency has forced Bree to go back into the archives and bring back the best episode you never heard! Friend of the show Mike Stephens and Bree discuss the all-timer that is King of the Hill, from the inherent way in which comedy ages like milk to the tragedies that are Bill, Dale and Peggy. If nothing else, marvel at how far the show has come.

Peak of March

Bree! — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 10:00:40 +0000

Bree returns for another month-end pop culture recap with friend Laura Alix (@lauraalix) to discuss March in terms of pop culture disc horse – Turning Red, Netflix prices, the CEO of Goldman-Sachs DJ-ing Lollapalooza and everything but the Oscars slap. And if you listen closely, our old friend Mike Stephens just might stop by to discuss Peggy Hill.

Taylor Swift

Bree! — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:00:15 +0000

Bree and culture writer/podcast host Elamin Abdulmahmoud (@elamin88) detail the chronology and evolutions of country/pop/everything in between queen Taylor Swift. They discuss everything from the Kanye controversy and Taylor’s victim/survivor image to how the discourse around her dating life has influenced her musical direction. Also, there’s a lot of gushing about bridges.

Final Destination

Bree! — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:00:52 +0000

Bree is joined by the lovely Patrick Hamilton of the Kill By Kill podcast (@killbykillpod) to determine the peak of the formulaic but utterly fun Final Destination franchise. They compare box office receipts, analyze what happens when Scream and Nightmare on Elm Street influence meet a group of X-Files writers, gush about Tony Todd and one of the hosts reveals their dubious connection to noted sixth-billed Keegan Connor Tracy. Is the gymnastics death really that great? Can we stop with the sweaty horror tribute names already? Did the Butterfly Effect guys do something kind of right? Did Tony Todd simply not feel like making it out to Vancouver for a couple movies? Find that out on Peak Show.

Donate to the Lilith Fund

M. Night Shyamalan

Bree! — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:00:21 +0000

Bree chills out with travelling podcast bad boi Justin Case (@ceJustinCase) to discuss the rise, fall and subsequent flailing of semi-disgraced Hollywood wunderkind M. Night Shyamalan. After a good decade of stinkers, has Shyamalan really come back? Does anyone have any business comparing him to Spike Lee or Quentin Tarantino? Can he absolutely please cool it with the cameos? If you say The Happening was supposed to be a B-movie enough, do you have to believe him? Also, Justin gets really bent out of shape about some newspaper sweepstakes and Bree exposes her dad for leaving her in a hot car.

Friend of the show Fred ranks Shyamalan’s 14 movies from worst to best.

Donate to the Trans Education Network of Texas (TENT).

Peak of February

Bree! — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:00:33 +0000

In a surprise/experimental mini episode, Bree sits down with friend of the show and Owatanna News editor Annie Granlund (@anniegranlund) to discuss the various February pop culture discourse – from Wordle and Arthur to the Oscars and the Olympics – and discuss peaks and predictions for where these will go.

Mike Myers

Bree! — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:00:11 +0000

Bree is joined by We Hate Movies co-host Stephen Sajdak (@stephensadjak) to discuss the meteoric rise and rather confounding fall of Canadian wonder-boy, Mike Myers. As Bree and Steve explore his career from the humble beginnings of late-night CBC content to some of the most memorable characters and skits of SNL’s 90’s glory days and his frustrating descent into franchise town, they touch on key comedy moments like the former glory days of the Second City-to-SNL pipeline, the rise of the 2000’s “comedy crew” and the Shrek effect on animated comedy.

Centretown Worker Relief Fund We Hate Movies – Shrek We Hate Movies – Cat in the Hat We Hate Movies – The Love Guru We Hate Movies Patreon

Brooklyn 99

Bree! — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:00:38 +0000

Bree and Real Gud Pros co-host Helen Marukh get together to gab about comedy and copaganda with Brooklyn 99. Can you still enjoy the show despite its unignorable propaganda? Just how badly did NBC screw up the show? Did the show engage with criticisms of policing properly? Is there anyone more deserving of a happy ending than Rosa Diaz? (The answer is no). Get ready for some uncomfortable discussions about the way we engage with the show, the way the show attempts to engage with the real world and the way it hides behind identity politics – plus lots of talk about bisexuality and ADHD because what else would we talk about?

Season 1 Finale

Bree! — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:00:54 +0000

And just like that, Peak Show Season 1 has come to a conclusion! Bree and some of the guests from the past year reunite virtually to discuss the year that was, the highlights from their episodes, what their favourite media events of the year was and what they’re looking forward to next year. Plus, Sam wants Jarrod to be his dad and Bree to be his… stepmom?

Arrested Development

Bree! — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 11:00:36 +0000

Take a look at podcast, audience! Bree is joined by her two swell pals Liz (@yanoforsure) and Mike (@bymikestephens) to discuss the incredibly high peaks and unfortunately low and kind of depressing valleys of the millennial staple Arrested Development. Is the show harder to enjoy with the Tambor of it all? Did the show get away with punching down a lot? How adorable and punchable is Michael Cera? And, is Jessica Walter the most gif-able performer of all time?

Judd Apatow

Bree! — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Bree is joined by her friend, podcast hobbyist/sandwich lobbyist/author Kyle Martinak (@kylemartinak) to discuss the portfolio of comedy juggernaut Judd Apatow. Did Katherine Heigl have a point about his movies and the gender of it all? Was working with the same actors over and over limiting, or did it create magic? Did he seriously not have anything to do with I Love You Man and we’re all just nuts? Plus, we answer the question nobody asked: Undeclared, or Freaks and Geeks?

Buy Kyle’s book, Cinema Autopsy.

Seinfeld

Bree! — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Bree and Armchair Reactions co-host Gowsh (@GowshiganS) put on their bright white sneakers and take a trip back to NBC’s powerhouse Thursday nights in the 90’s with a look back at Seinfeld. There’s some clashing over their lasting impression of Season 4 and the NBC plot, discuss the meta-tragedy of Susan, reflect on how Michael Richards’ outright racism affects the Kramer character, unveil a sort-of-secret connection to the 00’s comedy romp Eurotrip and try to envision a version of Jerry and Elaine that would work as a romantic plot.

America’s Next Top Model

Bree! — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Bree and her birthday twin, journalist and editor Annie Grandlund (@anniegranlund) outline their high school fave, America’s Next Top Model as they discuss Tyra’s personality, traumatizing contestants, the difference between a fun bitch and a tragic bitch, the gimmicks and more. We talk about what made the series go sour (was it the show, or the industry?) and what kind of legacy Top Model has left in its wake.

Arkells

Bree! — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Bree and producer/photographer Sam Brooks (@samuelgbrooks) crack open a cold one around the (virtual) campfire to discuss known good dudes and uber-millennial Hamiltonian scamps, (the) Arkells. We dive into the band’s evolution from college rockers to stadium fillers, the odes to southern Ontario, the difference Tony made in the band and whether the band is in dad-rock territory. We also talk extensively about Hamilton, shitmalls and Kyle Dubas, and somehow (we swear) it’s all relevant.

Radiohead

Bree! — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Bree chats with Twitter Canada head of comms Cam Gordon (@cam_gordon) about the prolific, influential and seemingly contemptuous toward their own fame, Radiohead. We discuss the musical influences of Radiohead, whether or not they evolved enough between In Rainbows and King of Limbs, the band’s relationship to the capitalist hellfire of the music industry and more. As a Gen X-er, Cam can verify what a live Radiohead show in the 90s was like. However, he can’t get you verified.

Scream

Bree! — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Entertainment journalist and author Frederick Blichert (@FABlichert) joins Bree for the long-anticipated Scream takedown. The highly meta franchise re-ignited the teen slasher genre in the 90’s before being derailed by real late-90’s mass tragedies – and then kinda-sorta coming back. When could Scream have stopped? When should it have stopped? Which characters should have survived? What, as a society, made us so obsessed with these movies? Fred discusses how the “survivor” aspect of Scream set it apart from its contemporaries while Bree ponders on how Scream fits into the tiresome “elevated horror” label.

Parks and Recreation

Bree! — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Bree and screenwriter/performer Kristy LaPointe (@kristylapointe) grab some JJ’s waffles and discuss the highs and lows of Parks and Recreation. Kristy brings her perspective as a comedy writer to discuss the places where Parks & Rec came up short, but also the ways that it comforted us throughout the years. We look at the positives – like the amazingly weird supporting characters – and the negatives – like this show’s seriously weird issues with fat people. Join us as we search through Pawnee to find the peak of Mike Schur’s series!

The Mighty Ducks

Bree! — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Bree and podcaster/hockey fan Kelsey Goldman (@kelseyrebecca) discuss the highs and lows of the Mighty Ducks trilogy and the recent live-action follow-up series. Does D2 undermine the underdogs premise? Would D3 have worked better as a Disney Channel movie? Has Aaron Lohr had the best post-Ducks life? Would Emilio Estivez have been Zdeno Chára’s snack? Plus, there’s a loooooot of naive, pre-draft, pre-free agency talk about hockey. You’ve been warned.

The Simpsons (Part 3)

Bree! — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:54:37 +0000

Peak Show’s Simpsons supermonth comes to a close with insight from return guest, YouTube pop culture and political essayist José! Bree and José put on their brave faces as they dissect the humour of the 20-something era of episodes, discuss the downfall of Itchy and Scratchy and get deep about Flanderization. Plus, there’s some singing.

The Simpsons (Part 2)

Bree! — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 11:33:16 +0000

The Simpsons super-month continues! Bree and Jason Edwards (@somethingfell) of Ruin My Life dive into the unpleasant turn of The Simpsons — the Scully years — and try to reconcile their fandom with the show while finding its peak.

The Simpsons (Part 1)

Bree! — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:15:23 +0000

The first of Bree's three-episode Simpsons supermonth is here! Bree and Ottawa-based digital journalist Ted Raymond (@TedFriendlyGuy) begin to break down the buildup and the tipping point of The Simpsons. They discuss the effects that different showrunners had on the characters, the Futurama brain-drain and how Frinkiak changed everything.

Next episode, Bree digs a little deeper with Jason Edwards!

Canadian Indie Music

Bree! — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:09:50 +0000

Bree chats with Toronto-based audio engineer and music industry professional Luke Leveille (@lukeveille on Instagram) in this special episode devoted to finding the peak of Canadian indie rock and pop. We discuss the way Canadian broadcasters left musical acts hanging out to dry, how Spotify changed the game in all the wrong ways, the Junos’ tokenization of hip-hop and Black artists, venue closures and, of course, Scott Pilgrim.

This show has a companion playlist! Listen to all the acts we mentioned and more on Apple Music and Spotify.

Support community mutual aid:

Saw

Bree! — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 10:54:34 +0000

Bree chats with Mynt Marsellus (@Myntaford on Twitter) on the peak of the up-its-own-ass horror series, Saw! The two break down the totally legitimate psychology of what made these films — and the whole torture porn genre — so popular, discuss Jigsaw’s weird fixation with putting kids in danger, fawn over Carlo Rota and ask the important question: have these writers ever actually known anyone who uses drugs? Oh, and they talk about the OC, too.

The Office

Bree! — Thu, 27 May 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Noted millennials Bree and Maggie (@maggiebolson on Twitter) dissect the perennially popular series The Office to determine the exact moment when the show could have (and should have) ended. Was keeping The Office alive purely a matter of economics? Did any beta couple on the show come close to recapturing Jim and Pam? Did the writers do Roy/David Denman dirty? Are office romances really all that common? Can we all just pretend Season 8 didn’t happen? And, naturally, can Creed Bratton be our crazy uncle?

So You Think You Can Dance

Bree! — Thu, 13 May 2021 10:52:47 +0000

UPDATE 10/22/2021

We want to issue a trigger warning on this episode. Recent allegations have come to light regarding the actions of Travis Wall and his actions toward young dancers at conventions. In this episode, recorded in April 2021, we are highly complimentary of Wall as a dancer and choreographer. If that may be upsetting to you, we urge you not to listen. We believe survivors.

Bree and her hockey pal Liz, host of the Leafs podcast Real Gud Pros (@realgudpros on Twitter) sit down to talk about their other big passion: dance (dance, dance, dance). Did So You Think You Can Dance help the world of dance, or hurt it? Can you imagine if the show hadn’t hired Cat Deeley? When did the show just become something competition dancers tried out for when they turned 18? Is Tyce Diorio both the best choreographer and the worst judge? And, of course, we have to ask: what was with the way this show treated Black men?

Here is a playlist of some of our SYTYCD highlights.

King of the Hill

Bree! — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:26:50 +0000

Bree sits down with known outrageous dude Mike Stephens (@bymikestephens on Twitter) to debate the peak of Mike Judge’s long-running phenomenon King of the Hill. Can you blame The Office for the downfall of King of the Hill? Can you blame King of the Hill for the downfall of The Simpsons? Should Wes Archer be more of a household name? Is a bad episode of King of the Hill still pretty good? Could you make this show today? Are all our dads secretly Hank Hill?

Malcolm in the Middle

Bree! — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:50:56 +0000

Bree is joined by YouTube political and pop culture essayist José (@JoseNotAJay on Twitter) to locate the peak of the underrated family sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle. Along the way, we ask the key questions like: was Lois a great mom or an abusive monster? What would the show have been like if Brian Cranston hadn’t shaped Hal into a different character? How many high-concept episodes are too many? Is Malcolm actually the worst? And, most importantly, what happened to Eric Per Sullivan?