Best Crooked Table Productions Podcasts (2024)

1
'Deadpool 2' (feat. Matthew Anderson of The Lone Screenplay Nominee Podcast) 1:18:59

5h ago1:18:59

1:18:59

Despite its crass humor and ultraviolence, 2016's Deadpool professed itself to be a self-described "love story." Likewise, its even more over-the-top sequel fancies itself a "family film." With a budget roughly twice that of its predecessor, Ryan Reynolds' second turn in the iconic red suit was a similar box office hit, expanding the first film's t…

1
'Deadpool' (feat. Jeff Johnson and Kev Smith of Suns and Shadows) 1:07:38

2h ago1:07:38

1:07:38

Deadpool. That sounds like a f**king franchise. Right? After the character's big-screen debut (kinda) in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it sure didn't seem that way. Ryan Reynolds' take on Marvel Comics' fourth wall-breaking quasi-superhero Wade Wilson aka Deadpool seemed like it had its one shot. Then some leaked footage later, the Merc with the…

1
'Freddy vs. Jason' (feat. Clare Brunton of W-Rated) 1:06:30

1d ago1:06:30

1:06:30

After eight films (including the meta-horror of Wes Craven's New Nightmare) and nearly 20 decades, Robert Englund wore the razor glove for the final time. But in keeping with the history of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy Krueger's curtain call wasn't what anyone expected it would be. Clare Brunton of W-Rated helps us close down this mega-series …

1
'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' (feat. film professor/author Ryan L. Terry) 1:29:26

8d ago1:29:26

1:29:26

Given its title, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare seemingly plunged the final nail into the coffin of Robert Englund's infamous horror villain. And yet, it was ultimately Wes Craven — writer-director of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street — who gave Freddy Krueger a new lease on life. Film professor and author Ryan L. Terry joins Franchise Det…

1
'Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare' (feat. Kev Smith of Suns and Shadows-Cast) 1:00:24

15d ago1:00:24

1:00:24

In hindsight, it makes sense the diminishing returns of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child might signal Freddy Krueger should quit while he was (at least relatively) ahead. So two years later, longtime creative collaborator Rachel Talalay took the director's chair for the "final" entry. Kev Smith of Suns and Shadows-Cast joins us to discu…

1
'A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child' (feat. David Rosen of Piecing It Together) 51:01

22d ago51:01

51:01

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master introduced fans to a brand-new final girl in Lisa Wilcox's Alice Johnson. So all its sequel had to do is build on that character and her story to keep that momentum going. But does A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child deliver a winner? David Rosen of Piecing It Together joins us to discuss how t…

1
'A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master' (feat. Kevin the Critic) 1:07:34

29d ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Thanks to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger became as popular as ever. The Springwood Slasher was suddenly a household name, leading to an increased focus on his macabre sense of humor. The result is the entry often known as the "MTV Nightmare." Kevin the Critic returns to the show to discuss director Renny Harlin's A Nigh…

1
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors' (feat. podcaster Deanna Chapman) 1:04:01

1M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

After the mixed reception to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, the franchise turned to series creator Wes Craven and original star Heather Langenkamp. As our eight-part Freddy-led mega-series continues, we arrive at 1987's fan-favorite A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Podcaster Deanna Chapman joins us to discuss how directo…

1
'A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge' (feat. Brandon Stanwyck of Fearsome Queer) 56:53

1M ago56:53

56:53

How do you follow a classic like A Nightmare on Elm Street? That was the task director Jack Sholder and star Mark Patton faced with A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Released less than a year later, the sequel dared to do something darker and very different, with wildly mixed results. Brandon Stanwyck of Fearsome Queer helps us break d…

1
'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) (feat. screenwriter/actor Bri Azmoudeh) 1:10:37

2M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

Chucky made some friends. Ash got groovy with Deadites. Now it's time for Freddy Krueger to slash his way into the spotlight, as we kick off Franchise Detours' first horror mega-series since 2021 with an in-depth chat about writer/director Wes Craven's 1984 classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. In keeping with tradition, screenwriter/actor Bri Azmoude…

1
'The World's End' (feat. Robert Stewart of Stew World Order) 1:06:01

2M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

As we raise our glasses to the final installment of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Franchise Detours dives into the bittersweet, otherworldly journey of 2013's The World’s End. The film ends the series with a poignant commentary on friendship, nostalgia, and the inescapable march of time. Robert Stewart of Stew World Order joins the show to d…

1
'Hot Fuzz' (feat. Lauren Robinson of the Beer'd Al Podcast) 1:02:54

2M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Continuing our genre-blending trek through the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, we’re locking and loading for a deep dive into the explosive Hot Fuzz. Armed with sharp wit and a barrage of bullets, this entry takes aim at action movie conventions with a dash of murder mystery thrown in. Joining us is Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast. We’ll …

1
'Shaun of the Dead' (feat. Clare Brunton of W-Rated) 1:11:24

2M ago1:11:24

1:11:24

Just as the zombie genre returned to life, Shaun of the Dead emerged as a cult classic that redefined the landscape of horror-comedy. As we dissect the intricacies of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy in our latest mega-series, we delve into the film that set the tone for Edgar Wright's signature work. Clare Brunton of W-Rated joins us to shed li…

1
'The New Mutants' (feat. Jackson Smith of Nightfall Entertainment) 1:40:24

9M ago1:40:24

1:40:24

Just when you thought Dark Phoenix put an underwhelming bow on the Fox era of X-Men movies, The New Mutants comes along to further complicate the franchise's legacy. In this BONUS episode to our mega-series following the X-Men movie franchise, we'll go in-depth on the oft-forgotten 2020 film. On paper, The New Mutants should have been an easy win. …

1
'Dark Phoenix' (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast) 1:54:12

9M ago1:54:12

1:54:12

Our X-Men mega-series comes to a close (or does it?) with 2019's Dark Phoenix, as the franchise takes a second stab at one of the comics' most iconic storylines. With X-Men: The Last Stand far behind him, can first-time director Simon Kinberg (who cowrote that 2006 movie) right past wrongs? Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast joins us to unravel the my…

1
'Logan' (feat. film critic Catherine Gonzales) 1:31:58

9M ago1:31:58

1:31:58

The claws are out and the adamantium is gleaming as we dive into the final chapter in the Wolverine trilogy. Hugh Jackman's iconic portrayal of the mutant hero faced a bumpy road in his solo films. But was 2017's Logan, featuring returning The Wolverine director James Mangold, worth the wait? Fans wondered if they'd ever see the character's true po…

1
'West Side Story' (1961/2021) (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast) 2:28:27

9M ago2:28:27

2:28:27

In a harmonious double feature, Close Watch continues venturing through the world of movie musicals with an in-depth breakdown of both the 1961 classic West Side Story and Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake. Does the Oscar-winning original still hold up, and was its update worth the creative risk? Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast joins us in this melodi…

1
'X-Men: Apocalypse' (feat. Clare Brunton of W-Rated) 1:38:17

9M ago1:38:17

1:38:17

After exploring time travel and creating a shared universe with X-Men: Days of Future Past, where could the sequel go next? Why, the gods, of course! For better or worse, 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse pits the Marvel mutants against their most formidable enemy yet: a big, blue Oscar Isaac. In this episode, Clare Brunton of W-Rated helps us uncover the t…

1
'X-Men: Days of Future Past' (feat. film critic Rosa Parra) 1:25:19

9M ago1:25:19

1:25:19

After The Avengers, superhero cinema has never been the same. Suddenly, everything needed to be interconnected, featuring tons of characters and an increasingly complicated timeline. Naturally, the X-Men series retroactively created its own shared universe of sorts with X-Men: Days of Future Past. Fourteen years after the first film, director Bryan…

1
'The Wolverine' (feat. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind) 1:19:22

10M ago1:19:22

1:19:22

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has always been a fan favorite. But X-Men Origins: Wolverine called into question whether the mutant hero would get the opportunity to carry more than a single solo film. Thankfully, Jackman's desire to take Logan to Japan paid off in the form of 2013's The Wolverine. Adapting one of the character's most popular storylines,…

1
'X-Men: First Class' (feat. Kevin the Critic) 1:43:09

10M ago1:43:09

1:43:09

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was meant to slash open a whole new avenue for the X-Men movie franchise. Yet, despite its commercial performance, the tepid reception ultimately led the series to take another approach: going back to basics with a fresh start on the whole mutant saga. In hindsight, it might seem like 2011's X-Men: First Class was always me…

1
'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (feat. Jose Lopez Jr.) 1:26:53

10M ago1:26:53

1:26:53

Despite the less-than-enthusiastic response from fans and critics, 2006's trilogy-ending X-Men: The Last Stand did at least offer fans something of a sense of closure (that final shot and post-credits scene notwithstanding). But it also outperformed its two predecessors at the box office. So it didn't take long for Fox to begin exploring ways to ex…

1
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem' REVIEW 19:22

10M ago19:22

19:22

We interrupt your regularly scheduled mutant superhero mega-series already in progress for, well, another mutant superhero mega-series. It's time to dip back into the sewers for a return to the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Seven years have passed since the latest franchise revival fizzled out with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the …

1
'X-Men: The Last Stand' (feat. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk) 1:22:27

12M ago1:22:27

1:22:27

Our X-Men mega-series continues, spanning 10 films and nearly 20 years. Following the success of X2: X-Men United, the franchise takes its first major shift. Director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) steps in to helm 2006's polarizing X-Men: The Last Stand. But is it a satisfying finale to the original trilogy of mutant adventures? Or is the film the X-Men…

1
'X2: X-Men United' (feat. Phoenix Clouden of the Film Code Podcast) 1:21:04

12M ago1:21:04

1:21:04

Welcome back, fellow mutant enthusiasts! As we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the X-Men film franchise, we continue our journey through the groundbreaking series that revolutionized the superhero genre. In this episode, we dive deep into the sequel that took everything we loved about the first film and elevated it to new heights: 2003's X2: X-Me…

1
'X-Men' (2000) (feat. Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast) 1:47:41

1y ago1:47:41

1:47:41

Twenty-three years have passed since the mutants of Marvel Comics made their big-screen debut. And it's an understatement to say the cinematic landscape has itself mutated since X-Men hit theaters. So on this 23rd anniversary of the film that started it all, we're taking a look back at Fox's dearly departed mutant saga with a mega-series covering 1…

1
'Fantasia' / 'Fantasia 2000' (feat. Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast) 1:26:45

1y ago1:26:45

1:26:45

Walt Disney is a name that has become synonymous with family entertainment. But back when Disney himself was running the company, the studio was pushing the boundaries of feature animation. And perhaps few films are as much of a testament to that as 1940's Fantasia. Brian Skutle of Sonic Cinema joins the show to discuss that film's ground-breaking …

1
'Knocked Up' / 'This Is 40' (feat. Kai Yaniz of Crooked Table Productions) 1:31:43

1y ago1:31:43

1:31:43

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, mainstream comedies were dominated by just one man: Judd Apatow. As a writer, director, and/or producer, Apatow was behind many of the biggest hits of the era, including classics such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Superbad, Bridesmaids, The Big Sick, and -- as we've previously discussed -- The 40-Year-Old…

1
'An American in Paris' (feat. Philip Boone of Ultimate Gilmore Girls Movie Night) 1:29:30

1y ago1:29:30

1:29:30

Every episode, Close Watch gives us the chance to get to know our guest through the movie they love. But more recently, the show has sharpened its focus on the wide world of movie musicals. And after the man-eating plant of Little Shop of Horrors and the cultural celebration of In the Heights, musical icon Gene Kelly has officially entered the chat…

1
'War for the Planet of the Apes' (feat. David Rosen of Piecing It Together) 1:05:59

1y ago1:05:59

1:05:59

After nine films and three different incarnations, our Planet of the Apes mega-series ends here. We went in-depth on the original five-film series, dug up the oft-maligned Tim Burton "reimagining," and now we conclude our discussions on the recent reboot trilogy starring Andy Serkis as Caesar. David Rosen of Piecing It Together joins us to discuss …

1
'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' (feat. Jason of Binge Movies) 1:26:55

1y ago1:26:55

1:26:55

Prior to its release, no one quite knew what to make of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. But after it became one of 2011's biggest surprise hits, it was clear just how much life was left in the decades-old sci-fi franchise. With its sequel, returning star Andy Serkis and director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) raised the emotional stakes and s…

1
'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (feat. film critic Nguyên Lê) 1:29:16

1y ago1:29:16

1:29:16

A full decade after director Tim Burton's "reimagining" of Planet of the Apes, the franchise seemed pretty much done. Hollywood turned its attention to other movie series, but after both Batman and Bond successfully relaunched by taking its iconic worlds back to basics, Fox ultimately took the same approach with one of its most successful brands of…

1
'Planet of the Apes' (2001) (feat. Lauren Knight of That Movie Is Fine) 1:21:29

1y ago1:21:29

1:21:29

After the disappointment of Battle for the Planet of the Apes, the franchise limped on in the form of two short-lived television series. First came 1974's live-action Planet of the Apes TV series, followed the next year by the animated project Return to the Planet of the Apes. Neither caught on with fans, and despite a long development, a new film …

1
'Evil Dead Rise' REVIEW 44:36

1y ago44:36

44:36

Evil Dead was only the second mega-series Franchise Detours covered. So it's only right that, with writer-director Lee Cronin's Evil Dead Rise now in theaters, we take a franchise u-turn back to that series. After a full decade of rest from the big screen, what are those pesky Deadites up to this time? Rob briefly interrupts the ongoing Planet of t…

1
'Battle for the Planet of the Apes' (feat. actor and author John Weagly) 59:07

1y ago59:07

59:07

Conquest for the Planet of the Apes sees Caesar (Roddy McDowall) lead an ape revolution that seemingly sews up the fate of humanity. So where could a sequel possibly take the story after the climactic turn of the previous film? As we continue our journey through the nine-film Planet of the Apes franchise, Battle for the Planet of the Apes gives us …

1
'Conquest of the Planet of the Apes' (feat. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind) 47:54

1+ y ago47:54

47:54

Escape from the Planet of the Apes set the franchise off on a brand-new course. And the sequel -- released just over a year after its predecessor -- follows the ape Caesar (Roddy McDowall, as a new character) as he plays a pivotal role in humanity's downfall in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind joins the show…

1
'Escape from the Planet of the Apes' (feat. film critic Sara Michelle Fetters) 1:15:14

1+ y ago1:15:14

1:15:14

No spoilers, but Beneath the Planet of the Apes seemed to negate the chances of a third Planet of the Apes film. And yet, the box office receipts sent a very different message to studio executives. And so Escape from the Planet of the Apes hit theaters in 1971, taking the series in a radical new direction. Film critic Sara Michelle Fetters joins th…

1
'Beneath the Planet of the Apes' (feat. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk) 56:34

1+ y ago56:34

56:34

1968's Planet of the Apes was a watershed moment for science fiction cinema and, in hindsight, franchise filmmaking. But what lies beneath? That's the focus of this episode, as we take a look at the first of many sequels to attempt to on the original Planet of the Apes film. Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk helps us dig into 1970's Beneath the Planet…

1
'Planet of the Apes' (1968) (feat. Thomas Greene of Perpetual Cinema) 1:26:19

1+ y ago1:26:19

1:26:19

We finally really did it. After spending the past several episodes with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Franchise Detours sticks to the world of anthropomorphic animals and prosthetic make-up for its longest mega-series yet: Planet of the Apes. On this episode, Thomas Greene of Perpetual Cinema joins the show to discuss the 1968 film that started…

1
'In the Heights' (feat. The Lady-Wan from Screen Run) 1:35:44

1+ y ago1:35:44

1:35:44

Way back in 2020, a few hardcore Hamilfans -- including this episode's guest -- united for the first-ever Crooked Roundtable to talk up the Disney+ release of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical Hamilton. Now, at last, loyal listeners get the long-awaited spiritual sequel to that discussion. On this episode, Close Watch continues its year-lon…

1
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows' (feat. Clare from W-Rated) 1:11:49

1+ y ago1:11:49

1:11:49

2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles seemingly kicked off a whole new era of movies starring the title heroes. But after its solid box office performance, the sequel -- 2016's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows -- still struggled to keep that momentum going. Clare from W-Rated joins this final installment of our Teenage Mutant Ninja Tu…

1
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' (2014) (feat. Kevin the Critic) 1:15:04

1+ y ago1:15:04

1:15:04

Kevin the Critic joins Franchise Detours to talk about the 2014 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' reboot from producer Michael Bay. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramBy Crooked Table Productions

1
'TMNT' (2007) (feat. Kai Yaniz of Crooked Table Productions) 1:16:51

1+ y ago1:16:51

1:16:51

As we continue our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mega-series, our very own Kai Yaniz makes her Franchise Detours debut as we discuss the oft-forgotten 2007 animated film TMNT. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramBy Crooked Table Productions

1
'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) (feat. film critic Morgan Roberts) 1:08:12

1+ y ago1:08:12

1:08:12

It's 2023, and Close Watch has a song in its heart this year. For the next year, we're dedicating this podcast to movie musicals. Every month, the show will feature at least one episode in which Rob and a guest go in-depth on a beloved movie musical. And what better way to celebrate one of cinema's most beloved genres than with a man-eating plant f…

1
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III' (feat. Philip Boone of Ultimate Gilmore Girls Movie Night) 1:23:18

1+ y ago1:23:18

1:23:18

As we approach the halfway point of our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mega-series, we bid a final farewell to the live-action turtles. Following the defeat of the Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, the filmmakers had a big decision to make with regard to the story of the third film. Their answer? Send the turtles to…

1
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze' (feat. Jeff and Kevin from Suns and Shadows-Cast) 54:36

1+ y ago54:36

54:36

Despite the success of the animated series, no one expected 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be such a blockbuster. So naturally, it didn't take long for a sequel to start inching toward production. And less than a year later, the turtles were back on the big screen with another adventure. Jeff Johnson and Kevin Smith from Suns and Shadows-Ca…

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