Meet Mags, Daz, Anuja and Gez – two married couples who talk movies and pop culture every time they meet. They've now decided to record their conversations in the hope that someone will crown them the ABBA of pop culture commentary.
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Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue fell in love on live television and wed over 40 years ago. Eavesdrop as they visit the homes of famous long-marrieds for intimate conversations about enduring love and all its challenges: family, career, conflict, addiction, illness, jealousy — everything that binds couples together or can break them apart.With lots of laughs around the coffee table, we hear private takes, internal struggles and hilarious anecdotes from the likes of Viola Davis & Julius Tennon; ...
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Shane Mauss, a self-described “gangle-puss” (adj. a gangly snuggle-puss) with a penchant for animal mating behavior and science facts and April Macie, a self-denied “angry feminist” (Betty Freidan in a bikini) met on a bus… SHANE: “You can’t just say we met on a bus!” APRIL: “It was a bus!!” SHANE: “People are going to think we met on a Greyhound.” APRIL: “Okay! We met on a DAMN tour bus!” Anyway, after dating for a little over a year, these two professional touring comedians and lovers are ...
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Checking in with "House of the Dragon"
1:25:21
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Let's face it: we all felt a little burnt by the way "Game of Thrones" ended, so when HBO announced that it had greenlit a prequel show about House Targaryen, we were mightily sceptical. But little by little, we were sucked in, to the point where we now can't avoid the conversation about "House of the Dragon" – the time jumps, the casting changes, …
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Here's the thing about Tom Cruise: not since Napoleon has a man this short come so close to world domination. And yet there's no denying that as the world emerges from a prolonged pandemic lockdown, Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is being hailed as the saviour of cinema, the man who has given us all a reason to to go back the movie theatre otherwise tha…
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The Caped Crusader has returned in solo live-action feature for the first time in a decade, folks, and this time we're spending time with his dark side, which, by the looks of things, may be his only side. In this episode, we ponder whether "The Batman" has taken more than its fair share of thematic inspiration from the The Dark Knight Trilogy, whe…
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The year's most anticipated film has finally landed in Australia, and it's a big one – a film adaptation of a supposedly "unfilmable" novel, a novel so vast that the last time it was brought to the silver screen, no less formidable a director than David Lynch disavowed the final product. We ask ourselves whether this movie is too beautiful for its …
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After 15 years and 5 movies, Daniel Craig has finally hung up his Walther PPK in favour of doing his rather impressive Foghorn Leghorn impersonation as Benoit Blanc for years to come. But even as we say goodbye to the Craig incarnation of James Bond, we have to ask: Is this final outing any good? Where does it rank among the Craig films? Does it re…
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"Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"
1:04:22
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As large parts of Australia came out of lockdown, we went back into the cinema, this time to watch the latest big screen offering from Marvel Studios about a month later than the rest of the world. The big questions this week include the following: Is Simu Liu completely overshadowed by Tony Leung? Despite the big spectacle on offer, does this movi…
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"Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2" – a retrospective
1:03:53
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We conclude our Harry Potter re-watch with the earth-shaking final entry in this series of films. For all the heroics of our intrepid titular character, is this really Severus Snape's movie? Is Narcissa Malfoy the secret MVP of the Harry Potter universe? Was it right that Neville Longbottom should be the final wielder of the sworn of Gryffindor? Di…
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"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1" - a retrospective
1:18:14
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We're in the home stretch of our Harry Potter rewatch, folks, and we find ourselves asking whether this is the weirdest and weakest entry in the entire series. Does the movie suffer from a lack of any scenes at Hogwarts? Is the hint of a love triangle between Harry, Hermione and Ron at all believable? Does the ending land with the emotional punch t…
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"Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince" – a retrospective
57:43
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In the cinematic adaptation of the penultimate entry in the Harry Potter series of novels, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy and Albus Dumbledore each get a moment to shine and to deliver an emotional wallop. But does this make up some of the weird disjointedness of this movie? Does the blossoming "romance" between Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley make any…
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Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
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"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" aka The One with Dolores Phoenix. Or at least that's how it seems, as this most memorably unpleasant of villains in the Harry Potter universe takes over Hogwarts, and with it, our screens, big and small. Is this the movie in the series with the least sense of mystery? Does Sirius Black display uncharacter…
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"Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire" - a retrospective
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This week we continue our Harry Potter rewatch with the fourth instalment in the series, aka The One with Robert Pattinson. As the franchise takes a turn from time heist to sports movie, we ponder whether this Mike Newell joint holds up well after the heights to which Alfonso Cuaron took us; whether the rest of the movie compares to its earth-shaki…
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This is a big one, folks. "Prisoner of Azkaban" was, and remains, one of the most acclaimed entries in the Harry Potter film franchise, and in this episode, we ponder whether it still holds up, the importance of the movie as it foreshadowed a darker turn in the rest of the series, the introduction of Michael Gambon as Dumbledore 2.0, whether the ti…
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"Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" rewatched
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The big questions are all pondered in this spoiler-heavy discussion about the second of the Harry Potter films. What did the film makers do to deepen and broaden the world-building that they had so successfully launched in "Philosopher's Stone"? Did this movie do the right amount of introducing us to the darker elements of the Harry Potter universe…
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"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" – a retrospective
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Sick of half-baked movies and Marvel TV shows that disappoint, we decided to go back to something that we knew we'd like – the Harry Potter franchise. So on the eve of its 20th anniversary, we ponder how well the first of Harry Potters films holds up. Does it charm and inspire wonder as it did when we first encountered the world of these movies? Co…
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"F9: The Fast Saga" was not a good movie. It was, in fact, a very bad movie – worse than "Fast and Furious", worse even than "2 Fast 2 Furious". And the big question is why. Why, with Justin Lin back, with Han brought back to life, and without Dwayne Johnson around to piss Vin Diesel off, did this movie suck so hard? Was it the fact that when every…
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We are gathered, in the shadow of a potentially Hollywood-shaking lawsuit by one Scarlett Johansson, to ponder the merits of the film that inspired said lawsuit, the first feature-length release by that small independent outfit, Marvel Studios. Listen as we discuss the tonal shifts, occasionally entertaining but also occasionally jarring, in this f…
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We visited America’s sweethearts on Manhattan’s East Side and found them as devoted and candid as ever. During a short period in the late 80’s, Michael and Tracy got married, had a son, Michael lost his father and gained a life-altering diagnosis — a lot for a young couple to navigate. How it started and how’s it going? An inspiring story you won’t…
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You can’t drop in on Rob and Michele and not expect a lively conversation and a whole lotta laughs. This clever, committed couple knows how to use the middle of the night right: arguing about the Kennedy assassination and enjoying each other as a “best friend you can have sex with.” You can reverse the order, too, and it still works! Learn more abo…
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Did "Loki" suck? Was it the latest example of a Marvel show starting strong and then losing its way? Did the show live up to its promise of showing us new sides of the God of Mischief? Did it give us enough of the guarantee of laid-back awesomeness that is Owen Wilson? And was anyone actually sold on the romance between Loki and himself AKA Sylvie?…
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Two American icons of social justice, the Reverend and Jackie have trailblazed across history and endured threats — all the while raising their children and keeping their family intact. Hear their lessons of courage through world events, infidelity, forgiveness and keeping the faith. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw…
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Bryan and Robin met as actors when he had to kidnap her on a TV show. Friends first, their attraction blossomed later — like a lightbulb turned on that reveals everything. He proposed in a hilarious way – in a bathtub. They are serious about their relationship, they’re funny and sweet and we learned a lot from them. Learn more about your ad-choices…
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Hey Double Date listeners. While we're off this week, we wanted to share with you a fun new show from Wondery. Rich and Daily delivers laughs and all the latest celebrity news. Hosts Brooke and Aricia are comedians, besties and the perfect guides to give you your daily dose of pop culture. They'll keep you up to speed on all the secrets, scandals, …
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The role most people know David Boies for is not “husband.” But our interview with this legendary litigator and his whipsmart wife showed us how tragic loss, and a few well considered compromises (involving Las Vegas), can lead to an “upward spiral of kindness” — and a marriage that any couple would envy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/…
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How “Mambo Mouth” found love and lived happily ever after. New Yorkers to the core, John and Justine combined his Latin roots with her Jewish heritage, and they never met a holiday they couldn’t turn into a party for their extended family. He may need his own floor of the house in order to write, but Justine seems to keep him inspired, simply by be…
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How often do you get to talk to a former President and First Lady — about love? Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter explain how they’ve kept their marriage alive for — consider this — 75 years, and how the hardest thing they ever did was not surviving the White House, but writing a book together. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn…
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"Army of the Dead" – We need to talk about Zack
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We had the chance recently to watch the latest offering from Zack Snyder, an ambitious wannabe zombie heist film starring the surprisingly versatile Dave Bautista. What begins as a breezy chat about the many vices and few virtues of this movie turns into a meditation on Zack Snyder, his obsession with the aesthetics of gore, what he does and doesn'…
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Just a couple of kids from Michigan — Sanjay and Rebecca nonetheless had deep backgrounds that were very different. But interweaving his Indian family with her Scandinavian heritage was much easier than you might expect, thanks to this smart, grounded pair whose marriage made all the sense in the world. Hear the nation’s favorite Doctor in a truly …
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While we take a break this week, we're bringing you something special. Marlo and Phil spent the past year interviewing other couples about what makes their marriages work. Recently, they moved behind the microphone when Jo Piazza invited them to share their love story on the Committed podcast. They started at the very beginning, on the set of Phil'…
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She’s a nonstop dynamo, he’s a mensch, and they’ve been married not once but twice — to each other! With a year apart, and many lessons learned, Judy and Jerry figured out how not to let their Judge-iness get in the way of marital bliss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
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When a juggernaut crime novelist falls for a whip-smart neuroscientist, you kinda figure it won’t be ho-hum. Patricia met Staci during a research trip to Harvard, and knew instantly that attraction was in the books. As a researcher, Staci was cautious at first, but when Patricia showed up flying a helicopter for an early date — really, you just say…
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When they were getting fixed up by a friend, Ali was ho-hum about the prospect. Good thing she went anyway. This odd couple of proper-news-achor-meets-salty-adorable-comedienne is open to sharing how much they still enjoy sex — and why they believe it’s the root of their lasting bond. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet…
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On their first date, the NFL quarterback admired how this successful actress sauced up her fries and how she looked in her daisy dukes. A quarter century later, Rodney and Holly have met with the challenges of career stages, his recovery from addiction to pain medication and the autism of one of their children — facing down each obstacle and still …
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When you go to DC to visit two journalists at the heart of modern American political history, you don’t expect also to get a deep insight into the man who first introduced our nation to the revelations of “Deep Throat”. Bob and Elsa’s candid interview was not the conversation we were expecting with this journalistic legend. Learn more about your ad…
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Thanks to TV, Kelly is usually in our living room, not the other way around. During this hilarious and intimate visit at the gorgeous apartment she and Mark share with their three kids, we found out who’s the old-fashioned one, who’s the jealous type and who threw a wedding ring out the window. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart…
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2021 has given us few films as moving, poetic and profoundly visionary as the latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise. Everything, from Rebecca Hall's committed performance as the stepmother to the Kong Whisperer to the mandatory Kyle Chandler cameo as a put-upon bureaucrat, scored a bull's eye in this masterpiece. Listen in as we don't show jus…
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Ted was a self-proclaimed “hot mess” in 1994 when he met Mary in a cast meeting for the film “Pontiac Moon.” During our magical visit to their Santa Monica bungalow, we hear how Mary’s calm energy turned this conflicted playboy into a self-aware and deeply-committed husband, and how an early canoe ride down the Mendocino River became a fitting meta…
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What do you get when you pair a strong-willed tennis legend with a spitfire rockstar? John and Patty welcomed us to their spacious apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side to hear feisty banter, their story of combining families while building their own — and his plea that she just join his band already. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://…
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Everybody loves Ray, but no one knows his true heart and enduring neuroses better than Anna, his adorable wife of over 30 years. They met working at a bank in Queens, long before he was famous, and she is still the anchor that keeps his world — and occasionally his ego — firmly planted on the ground. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.…
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Justice League: The Snyder Cut– The Kindest Cut of All?
1:17:57
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After much begging and pleading by fans, the powers that be at Warner Bros have finally let loose upon the world Zack Snyder's cut of "Justice League", a film that weighs in at 40 minutes longer than "The Godfather Part II". But is it any good? Can this film be judged separately from what we now know about the on-set conduct and demeanour of Joss W…
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Before they met, Neil and David were two hot young actors often up for the same gigs. With love, determination and laughs, they've long since made sure that jealousy (professional and romantic) is the only thing unwelcome in the gorgeous Harlem brownstone they share with their two children. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc…
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We visit Sting and Trudie’s stylish New York apartment to find out how Sting disdains a hot temper, Trudie knows which women will catch his eye, and they both cherish a good ritual. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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Viola and Julius found deep love in the land of Opposites Attract. We visit their charming home in Southern California to find out who is the emotionally open one, and who leaves the bathroom a tornado site. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue fell in love on live television and wed over 40 years ago. Eavesdrop as they visit the homes of famous long-marrieds for intimate conversations about enduring love and all its challenges: family, career, conflict, addiction, illness, jealousy — everything under the sun. With lots of laughs around the coffee table, we h…
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"Wonder Woman 1984" – Gal Just Wants to Have Fun
1:17:15
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It's been three years since Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot (with an assist from Chris Pine) injected new life into the DC Extended Universe with "Wonder Woman". Now they're back with a neon- and pastel-coloured ode to the excesses of the 1980s, a decade of big shoulder pads, big hair and big dreams by restless conmen wanting to pass off their Ponzi sc…
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Living as we are in the era of COVID-19, there is both too much and too little new content to review. Gone in 2020 are the tentpole movies that dominated US summers in years past. Instead, we've had a bunch of streaming releases, some good, some not so good. In this setting, we've had the chance to check out "Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm", revisit G…
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In its latest cynical cash-grab masquerading as a nostalgia play, Disney has given us a live-action remake of "Mulan", minus Mushu, minus the songs, and quite possibly minus the fun, the soul and the heart of the animated original. We ponder the odd absence of any character arc for Mulan in this retelling of the 6th century story, ask whether this …
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Out with "The Old Guard"; In with the New
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"The Old Guard" is Netflix's latest foray into big-budget lockdown entertainment, featuring a big-name cast, a bold directorial hire and the highest of high concepts. But is it any good? The critics think so, and if so Rottentomatoes is to be believed, so do audiences. But is it possible that they've got it all wrong? Is it possible that with Holly…
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Westworld Season 3 – one week later
1:00:22
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This week, we perform an autopsy on the finale of Westworld's third season and the season as a whole. We ask whether there was a point to having William the MIB in the show; whether Maeve is still the endearing and compelling character that she was in the first two seasons; whether stealing the final shot of "Fight Club" works when you forget also …
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This week, we find ourselves again contemplating one of the most egregious declines in quality in the history of television and ask what the creative legacy and reputation of all involved will be. Does the occasional great action scene in "Westworld" redeem a show that no longer has anything interesting to say about either the human condition or th…
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Having been completely defeated by last week's "Genre", our intrepid double daters venture back into Westworld. Is it a case of "fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on us"? Or was this week's episode the start of a resurgence in the show's batting average? Along the way, we ask why Maeve is back in Warworld; why William, aka the Man in…
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