Tales From the Rec Room Archives

The Shining

We Hate Movies cohost Eric Szyszka returns to discuss our favourite elevated/elevator horror movie, The Shining!

Urban Legend

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.

Simpsons vs Simpsons

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.

Mafia!

Heavily bribed and plied with favours and snacks, Mikey “The Mouth” Stephens comes to discuss the infantile attempt at a mafia spoof, 1998’s Mafia!

Our old pal Mynt shows 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.

Family Guy

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.

Eurotrip

Miss the Euro Cup yet? That’s okay, because we’re taking a European adventure of our own! We follow three-and-a-half nobodies around Europe as we discuss the pervasive early-aughts depictions of teen sex and partying.

Super Mario RPG

Bree reunites with TFTRR video game expert and digital journalist Ted Raymond to talk about Super Mario RPG.

Walk Hard

It’s the John C. Reilly appreciation hour as Bree and best friend of the show Liz dive into 2007’s Walk Hard!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

We close out the week with Bree’s all-time fave, 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Bring It On

Brr, it’s cold in here! Bree and Liz head on down to Rancho Carne to revisit Bring It On.

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Kelsey Goldman stops by to discuss the cult classic Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Spider-Man 2

Patrick Hamilton stops by to talk Spider-Man 2, one of Dunst’s last significant blockbuster movies.

Small Soldiers

Happy HoliDunst, everyone! Welcome to five days of continuous podcasts about our favourite Kirsten Dunst movies. On the first day, Bree and Mike Stephens talk about Joe Dante’s Small Soldiers.

Majora’s Mask

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.

The Dark Knight

Where does the The Dark Knight 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

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.

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 and Maggie Taylor discuss the coming-of-age book series that shaped us all and then abandoned us, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Get Over It

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

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!

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.

Clone High

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.

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.”

10 Things I Hate About You

Episode 1 features blogger, author and all-around movie-lovin’ guy Kyle Martinak to discuss the millennial classic, 10 Things I Hate About You.

The Breaking Bad-iverse

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. So pick yourself off, dust yourself up and start all over again.

Millennial Pop Divas

Bree & Liz 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!

The X-Files

Bree and Andrew take a trip back to the 90s and discuss The X-Files – the lasting legacy of conspiracy theory content.

This Is Us

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,Continue reading “This Is Us”

BoJack Horseman

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 peopleContinue reading “BoJack Horseman”

Season 2 Finale: Flop Culture

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.

Star Wars – Episode 3

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 is joined by her pal Mike Stephens build a better Star Wars universe starring David Cross, Jennifer Coolidge and more.

Star Wars – Episode 1

Peak Show’s 2022 Super Month is here! For the first episode we talk with Eric Szyszka of the awesome We Hate Movies gang.

Kevin Smith

“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

Kelsey and her pal Jason Edwards lead the episode for a discussion on Mel Brooks.

The Babysitters Club

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.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker

Bree is joined by Eric Peacock 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.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

What up!!! Bree and Liz 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 and Ruin My Life co-host Kelsey Goldman discuss the Sand-man himself, Adam Sandler 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 and Mynt discuss Fincher 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

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 returns for another month-end pop culture recap with friend Laura Alix to discuss March in terms of pop culture disc horse. And if you listen closely, our old friend Mike Stephens just might stop by to discuss Peggy Hill.

Taylor Swift

Bree and culture writer/podcast host Elamin Abdulmahmoud detail the chronology and evolutions of country/pop/everything in between queen Taylor Swift.

Final Destination

Bree is joined by the lovely Patrick Hamilton of the Kill By Kill podcast to determine the peak of the formulaic but utterly fun Final Destination franchise.

M. Night Shyamalan

Bree chills out with travelling podcast bad boi Justin Case to discuss the rise, fall and subsequent flailing of semi-disgraced Hollywood wunderkind M. Night Shyamalan.

Peak of February

In a surprise/experimental mini episode, Bree sits down with friend of the show and Owatanna News editor Annie Granlund to discuss the various February pop culture discourse.

Mike Myers

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.

Brooklyn 99

Bree and Real Good 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?

Season 1 Finale

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.

Arrested Development

Bree is joined by her two swell pals Liz and Mike to discuss the incredibly high peaks and unfortunately low and kind of depressing valleys of the millennial staple Arrested Development.

Judd Apatow

Bree is joined by her friend, podcast hobbyist/sandwich lobbyist/author Kyle Martinak to discuss the portfolio of comedy juggernaut Judd Apatow.

Seinfeld

Bree and Armchair Reactions co-host Gowsh 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.

America’s Next Top Model

Bree and journalist/editor Annie Grandlund outline their high school fave, America’s Next Top Model as they discuss Tyra’s personality, traumatizing contestants and the difference between a fun bitch and a tragic bitch.

Arkells

Bree and producer/photographer Sam Brooks crack open a cold one around the (virtual) campfire to discuss known good dudes and uber-millennial Hamiltonian scamps, (the) Arkells.

Radiohead

Bree chats with Cam Gordon about the prolific, influential and seemingly contemptuous toward their own fame, Radiohead.

Scream

Entertainment journalist and author Frederick Blichert joins Bree for the long-anticipated Scream takedown. 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.