The Flop House

It's here! It's here! It's here! Did you get us any SHOCKTOBER presents? We got YOU something -- a discussion of this year's Fantasy Island, the goofy horror (?) movie based on the decidedly NOT horror 1970's light fantasy television anthology.

We couldn't get together for a mini this week, but our busy schedule is the listeners' gain, as we release this full-sized live show from the vault! It's a flashback to happier times, last July, when people could assemble to live comedy! Here's our live Hellboy (2019) show from The Parkway theater in Minneapolis, MN!Speaking of live shows -- mark your calendars for October 24, 6PT/9ET, when we'll be discussing Exorcist II: The Heretic over on our YouTube channel, in our socially-distanced livestream approximation of one of our normal touring shows. It's free to watch, but we'll be including charitable donations, including to a number of groups supporting voting rights!

If there's one thing we've learned in all our years of discussing bad movies, it's that vanity projects are often the creme de la creme of bizarre and terrible cinema. And hoo doggies, do we have something special for you. Made in 2006, then shelved for nearly a decade before getting quietly dumped to streaming in 2014, writer/director/star Stuart Paul's magnum opus, Deadly Lessons, is a fantasy self-help (?) thriller (?) that's impossible to describe, but lord, do we try.Movies recommended in this episode:Charlie's Angels (2019)Palm SpringsThe Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey

The longtime anchor of the NBC Nightly News drops by to break down the new Dune trailer, and how he left his heart on Arrakis.

After a run of guests, we're celebrating Smalltember with just family. Because at a time like this, family is important, y'know? Almost as important as a movie where Kelsey Grammer menacingly smokes a cigar while telling a professional wrestler to rob a sky casino. That's right, we talked about Money Plane. You're welcome.Wikipedia summary of Money PlaneMovies recommended in this episode:We Need to Talk About KevinDa 5 BloodsMotherless Brooklyn

Dan asks his co-hosts: do they want to play a game...?

We finally invited the boss over for dinner, so we'd better hide all those staplers we stole! Noted dog lover and the head of Maximum Fun himself, Jesse Thorn, joins us to discuss The Call of the Wild, based on that one book you probably read in middle school.Wikipedia synopsis of The Call of the WildMovies recommended in this episode:Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire SagaHostAh Wilderness!A Thousand Clowns

Stuart explains Warhammer to Dan and Elliott, and everything is 100% cleared up forever and ever.

The star of the show is back! We were SO happy to hang with the delightful and hilarious Hallie Haglund once more. And this time we didn't force her to discuss some fantasy bullshit she hates! Instead, we all watched what is surely one of the top three movies based on a Wham! song -- Last Christmas!Also, if you're listening to this show on the day of release, you can also get another shot of Hallie by tuning into our table read of The Boy Next Door, starring Hallie, Dan, Stu, Elliott, Natalie Walker, Jenny Jaffe, and X Mayo!Wikipedia synopsis of Last ChristmasMovies recommended in this episode:Tango & CashRunaway TrainThe Curse of the Cat PeopleSwallowMemories of Murder

What's this? An off-week FULL EPISODE? That's right -- as a li'l thank you for all of the support during the Max Fun Drive, we've reached into the vault and let loose this live episode, taped at Boston's CitySpace, on Alita: Battle Angel, so you can FINALLY learn the origin of Elliott's conviction that Dan loves backstory.ALSO! Two Flop House livestream events to put on your calendar for next week!On Thursday, August 13, at 5:30 pm PT / 8:30 pm ET, we'll be joining our Blank Check Podcast pal, Mr. Griffin Newman, to provide LIVE COMMENTARY for XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. Tickets can be acquired HERE!AND! On Friday, August 15, at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET, we'll be honoring the promise from our charity livestream and doing a table read of the screenplay for the J-Lo thriller The Boy Next Door, featuring Dan, Stu, and Elliott, along with SPECIAL GUESTS Hallie Haglund, Natalie Walker, Jenny Jaffe, and X Mayo. You can go to the Flop House YouTube page to check it out for free!!!Wikipedia synopsis of Alita: Battle Ang

Did you think we wouldn't pull out all the stops for Max Fun Drive 2020? More fool you! Because in this episode, we discuss legendary Hollywood flop and Bruce Willis passion project, Hudson Hawk! And to discuss this momentous film, we're joined by Roman Mars, of the blockbuster design podcast 99% Invisible, the man many have called "The Hudson Hawk of Podcasting."* (The character Hudson Hawk. Not the movie Hudson Hawk. Because the character is so good at his job. Like Roman. Who is good at podcasting. Like Hudson Hawk is with stealing stuff.)*No one calls him this.Wikipedia synopsis of Hudson HawkMovies recommended in this episode:RelicBuck and the PreacherPortrait of a Lady on FireQuick Change

In perhaps our silliest episode yet, Elliott and Stuart try and pitch a Flop House movie to Dan, who... we guess owns a studio in this scenario? Whatever. Just listen.

The fuck is this? No really, the fuck is this? What is this fucking thing? What? This? From a major studio and established director? What? The fuck? This? Was made? THIS? We talk about Artemis Fowl with critic and filmmaker Scott Weinberg.Wikipedia synopsis of Artemis Fowl (good luck)Movies recommended in this episode:Lucky GrandmaMonstrumThe Old GuardThe Watermelon Woman

In honor of the passing of Ennio Morricone, we discuss movie scores, and some of our personal favorite composers.

It's Cagemas in July! That cherished Flop House tradition that Dan totally forgot about for the past couple of years. But he remembered this time! Lay off! Anyway, the wonderful Erin Foley-Chan (supervising producer of The Big Fib on Disney+) joins us to discuss the weird-ass supernatural sex thriller Between Worlds. Meanwhile, Dan has done some sex scene research, Erin offers a producer's perspective, Stuart's old comics collaborator makes a surprise appearance, and Elliott makes "kid flashback" the two funniest words in the English language.Paste theflophouse.libsyn.com/rss into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released.Wikipedia synopsis of Between WorldsMovies recommended in this episode:Super Xuxa Contra o Baixo AstralWhat We Do in the ShadowsThe Last Black Man in San FranciscoOne Cut of the Dead

Our pals John Hodgman and David Rees have an animated show called Dicktown, about an aging boy detective and his aging bully/partner, premiering on FXX's "Cake" on July 9. Thus, in a completely generous, non-promotional gesture, they dropped by to discuss private detectives in movies, and in fiction generally.

"Hollywood" Kalan really worked his connections this episode, to bring us the utterly wonderful Felicia Day (of The Guild, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, MST3K: The Return, and much more) to discuss seminal high fantasy, low budget epic "Hawk the Slayer." Meanwhile Dan drops a crazy Pink Panther fact, Elliott launches an insulting guess-by-mail contest, Felicia is intrigued by some fish-eating prowess, and Stuart's in this fantasy discussion like a fuckin' fish in water.Also, we're no longer accepting receipts for the charity raffle, but the whole video livestream show is available for viewing on our YouTube page. We give an exact figure in the show, but between you generous listeners and the show's own donations, we raised about SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND dollars for charity. Thank you so much for doing good in the world!Wikipedia synopsis of Gemini Man.Movies recommended in this episode:Knock OffDeep CoverSlow West

Our delightful Flop House friend Chris Weitz returns to the show to talk about his career, and also continue to be unfailingly good-natured about our ribbing of Twilight: New Moon.ALSO the whole video livestream show for charity is available for viewing on our YouTube page, and we're still accepting charity receipts for the raffle through the end of the day 6/13/20. Details HERE!

Before we start -- today, Saturday, June 6, at 6 pm Pacific / 9 pm Eastern, is our video livestream on our YouTube page, with presentations, a discussion of Howard the Duck, and some audience interaction. We’ll be encouraging viewers to donate to charity for Black Lives Matter, bail funds, and hunger relief, and those who donate $20 or more will be entered to win some Flop House prizes!But you came here for a podcast! Our guest for this episode is the terrific Jordan Kauwling, Maximum Fun producer, the woman who has made our recent shows sound better than they ever have, and a sheer delightful delight. We talk about the Ang Lee-directed Will Smith would-be blockbuster, Gemini Man.

Somebody gave Stuart a movie, and he watched it! And now he's telling us about it!Also, watch The Flop House LIVE show LIVESTREAM for CHARITY in your OWN HOME next Saturday, JUNE 6!