And Almost Starring: Recent Episodes
Jeff Ronan and Amy Jo Jackson
And Almost Starring is a comedic podcast in which husband and wife duo Jeff Ronan and Amy Jo Jackson discuss who almost starred in some of your favorite movies. Each week they’ll pick a different film and break down who almost got cast and whether it would have been for the better or for the much, much worse.
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On this month’s Patreon-exclusive episode, we’re breaking down all the actors who almost starred in Footloose in a syncable, watch-along commentary! Which rock star turned down Ren? Which sitcom legend turned down Ariel? And what’s with all the gymnastics equipment in that warehouse? Also – our jaws it the floor during Footloose: Fury Road!
Footloose stars Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Chris Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Dianne Wiest; directed by Herbert Ross
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On this week’s listener request episode (and our final ep of the year), we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the delightful Bridget Jones’s Diary! Which Oscar-winning actor/writer was considered for Bridget? Which co-star originally auditioned for a completely different role? And how much better is this friend group than the one in Devil Wears Prada? Also – Happy Holidays!
Bridget Jones’s Diary stars Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Embeth Davidtz, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, and Salman Rushdie; directed by Sharon Maguire
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With Christmas just a few days away, we’re breaking down all the actors who almost starred in the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life! Which horror icon was considered for Mr. Potter? Who was Frank Capra’s first choice for the role of Mary? And how obvious is it that George can’t stand any of his kids except Zuzu? Also – we pitch a Truman Show-style conspiracy theory and fall down the rabbit hole of forgotten Hollywood films involving killer octopuses, misbehaving professors, and the original MCU: The Maisie Cinematic Universe!
It's a Wonderful Life stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame, and Lionel Barrymore; directed by Frank Capra
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As the new Netflix movie musical adaptation nears, we’re revisiting the 1996 adaptation of the classic children’s book Matilda! Which famous child stars were considered for the title role? Which Oscar-winner was sought to play Trunchbull? And how wild is that kid getting chucked over a fence by the pigtails? Also – Celine Dion brings her ‘cuckoo crazy’ vibe to the world of Roald Dahl!
Matilda stars Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Paul Reubens, Tracey Walter, and Pam Ferris; directed by Danny DeVito
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at who almost starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights! Which movie superhero was considered for Dirk Diggler? Which Oscar-winning director turned down Jack? And did anyone else forget how funny the first half of this film is? Also – we pitch the high-concept rom-com I Love the 90s starring Drew Barrymore as – The 90s!
Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Luis Guzmán, Nicole Ari Parker, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, William H. Macy, Joanna Gleason, Robert Ridgely, Philip Baker Hall, Ricky Jay, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Thomas Jane, and Alfred Molina; directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
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On this month’s Patreon exclusive episode, we’re breaking down all the actors (and Muppets) who were almost cast in The Muppet Christmas Carol in a full-length commentary! Which stand-up comic was considered for Scrooge? Which classic Muppets were originally meant to play the three Christmas spirits? Also – we pitch more Muppet literary adaptations and ponder the lives of Muppet produce!
The Muppet Christmas Carol stars Michael Caine, Steven Mackintosh, Jessica Fox, Meredith Braun, Robin Weaver, Raymond Coulthard, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, David Rudman, and Frank Oz; directed by Brian Henson
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This week, for its 30-year anniversary, we’re looking who almost starred in the box office smash The Bodyguard! Which pair was set to play the leads when the film was originally developed in the 70s? Which pop singer was denied an audition because she made a joke about Costner? And how hilarious fake-sounding are these best song nominees? Also – we pitch two surefire hits: Beethoven Bodyguard and Private Princess!
The Bodyguard stars Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Bill Cobs, Tomas Arana, Ralph Waite, Mike Starr, Devaughn Nixon, Michele Lamar Richards, Christopher Birt, Gerry Bamman, and Debbie Reynolds as herself; Mick Jackson
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re celebrating Hanksgiving by breaking down who almost starred in the movie Splash! Which 70s sex symbol turned down the Hanks role? Which rock singer was the role of Madison written for? And is there really a coral reef AND an underwater kingdom in the Hudson?
Splash stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, Dody Goodman, and John Candy; directed by Ron Howard
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This week, we’re looking at all the actors who almost starred in the 1971 musical/fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Which member of the Rat Pack pursued a role? Which rock legend wanted to play Wonka? And which iconic scene in the film was actually Gene Wilder’s idea? Also – Jeff pitches a dark theory about the Bucket family and goes knocking on the door of the CIA searching for movie trivia!
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, Roy Kinnear, Leonard Stone, Julie Dawn Cole, Denise Nickerson, Nora Denney, Paris Themmen, Ursula Reit, Michael Bollner, Diana Sowle, and Aubrey Woods; directed by Mel Stuart
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re breaking down all the actors who were almost in the action-packed franchise starter John Wick! Which classic Hollywood star did the screenwriter have in mind when writing the titular role? Which Harry Potter actor was cast as Winston but had to drop out? And would the movie have been anywhere near as successful with its original title? Also – we admire Keanu’s hair acting and give props to the movie for somehow finding both the cutest AND second-cutest puppies ever put on film!
John Wick stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Dean Winters, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane
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On this month’s Patreon-exclusive episode, we’re tackling our first TV show as we break down all the actors who were up for The Office! Which Oscar-winner turned down Michael? Which MCU standout auditioned for Pam? And which actor started their audition by insulting the creator to his face? Also – we drop an Only Murders in the Building exclusive and try our darndest to not succumb to the effects of our booster shots!
The Office stars Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nuñez, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein, Craig Robinson, and Melora Hardin; created by Greg Daniels
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On this week’s show, we’re breaking down everyone who almost starred in Cameron Crowe’s excellent Almost Famous! Which Oscar-winning A-lister was set to play Russell but dropped out? Which celebrated director turned down the chance to play Penny Lane? And how was Philip Seymour Hoffman this good as Lester when he had the flu the entire shoot? Also – Jeff’s coworker claims to be auditioning for Batman, and we attempt to break down a wild-sounding children’s film from Australia!
Almost Famous stars Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Angarano, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Noah Taylor, Jimmy Fallon, Bijou Phillips, and Philip Seymour Hoffman; directed by Cameron Crowe
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For our 100th episode(!) and our final film of October, we’re breaking down one of the most iconic horror films of all time: The Shining! Which beloved comedian did Kubrick think was too psychotic to play Jack? Who did Jack Nicholson think should play Wendy? And to get Nicholson in the proper foul mood for shooting, they fed him WHAT for two weeks?? Also – we pitch a Don’t Wake Daddy game featuring Jack Torrance and groove to the sultry sounds of Grady and the Ghosts!
The Shining stars Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Barry Nelson, Philip Stone, Joe Turkel, and Scatman Crothers; directed by Stanley Kubrick
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For our third week of October, we’re breaking down everyone who almost starred in Tim Burton’s suburban fantasy Edward Scissorhands! Which celebrated comedian auditioned multiple times for the title role? Which John Hughes regular was up for Kim? And why didn’t anyone think to cover those scissor hands with some wood knife blocks? Also – we ponder how Edward would fare against vampires and pitch a new side podcast: North by NorthWiest!
Edward Scissorhands stars Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Alan Arkin, Kathy Baker, Robert Oliveri, Conchata Ferrell, and Vincent Price; directed by Tim Burton
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On our second week of October, we’re looking at everyone who could’ve starred in the satirical horror film American Psycho! Which Star Wars actor was up for Patrick Bateman? Which former costar did Christian Bale try to convince to play Evelyn? And what would Oliver Stone’s cast have looked like if he’d stayed on to direct? Also – we pitch the Mad Men/American Psycho mashup you never knew you needed but can’t possibly live without!
American Psycho stars Christian Bale, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Jared Leto, Cara Seymour, Guinevere Turner, and Willem Dafoe; directed by Mary Harron
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On the first week of our Spooky Scary Movies Month, we’re breaking down who almost starred in the interminable gothic drama Interview with the Vampire! Which method actor was cast as Lestat but dropped out just weeks before shooting? Who was supposed to play the interviewer but passed away before filming began? And what did Louis think of the Before Sunrise movies? Also – Columbo finds himself on the wrong side of Lestat, we ponder who else is getting the annual Cruise Cake, and this might just be the movie that breaks Jeff!
Interview with the Vampire stars Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas, Steven Rea, Christian Slater, and Thandiwe Newton; directed by Neil Jordan
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Start snappin’ your fingers because for this October’s Patreon-exclusive episode we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the absolutely delightful sequel Addams Family Values! Which Oscar-winning pair were set to play Gomez and Morticia for Ivan Reitman in the late 80s? Which horror icon turned down Fester? And break out the Cusack Cannon as we rave about the one-and-only Debbie Jelinsky!
Addams Family Values stars Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Carol Kane, Jimmy Workman, Carel Struycken, David Krumholtz, Peter MacNicol, Christine Baranski, Mercedes McNab, and Joan Cusack; directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at all the actors who almost starred in Dead Poets Society. Which double Oscar-winner was set to direct and star as Keating? Which future Marvel villain auditioned for a role? And how is Knox Overstreet the name of Josh Charles’ character in this movie and not his character in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp? Also – Amy Jo meets Robert Sean Leonard in real life, and we attempt to make it through the film without crying (spoilers: we fail!).
Dead Poets Society stars Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Dylan Kussman, Allelon Ruggiero, James Waterston, Norman Lloyd, and Kurtwood Smith; directed by Peter Weir
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re joined by AJ Ditty (The Worst of all Possible Worlds, Puffs) to break down who almost starred in Scott Pilgrim vs the World! Which Judd Apatow regular was considered for Scott? Which Marvel hero was up for Lucas Lee and Stephen Stills? And would the movie have worked with its original ending? Also – Scott Pilgrim gets a full Mario recast!
Scott Pilgrim vs the World stars Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Ellen Wong, Satya Bhabha, Keita Saitou, Shota Saito, Brie Larson, Mae Whitman, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, and Thomas Jane and Clifton Collins Jr as the Vegan Police; directed by Edgar Wright
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the film adaptation of Sondheim’s classic musical Into the Woods! How amazing is the cast for the early-90s version Rob Reiner was set to direct? Which Lord of the Rings actor was set to play a role? And why couldn’t we get Debbie Jellinsky as a murderous giantess? Also – Amy Jo tells the tale of the disastrous production of Into the Woods she was in featuring a live falcon and a show cow named Thriller!
Into the Woods stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick, Daniel Huttlestone, Christine Baranski, Lucy Punch, Tammy Blanchard, Tracey Ullman, Lilla Crawford, Simon Russell Beale, Johnny Depp, Billy Magnussen, Mackenzie Mauzy, and Frances de la Tour; directed by Rob Marshall
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This week on the show we’re looking at all the actors who almost starred in Christopher Nolan’s twisty 2000 film Memento! Which Oscar-winning A-lister was supposed to play Leonard but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts? Which X-Men star was considered for Natalie? And how lovably scuzzy is Joe Pantaliano in this? Also – who the heck is reminding Leonard to dye those roots??
Memento stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantaliano, Mark Boone Junior, Harriet Sansom Harris, Callum Keith Rennie, and Stephen Tobolowsky; directed by Christopher Nolan
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This month on Patreon, just in time for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we’re breaking down the WILD number of people who almost starred in Fellowship of the Ring in a watch-along commentary! Which A-lister said Frodo was his worst audition? Which rock icon courted Peter Jackson for a role? Who was originally cast as Arwen but had to drop out when she found out she was pregnant? And what the heck would the version starring The Beatles have looked like?? Also – we debate where in Middle Earth we’d most want to live, Samwise starts a midnight lawncare service, and it’s your newest jingle courtesy of And Almost Starring: The Kylie Minogue song!
For those who need to stop of restart the commentary, the sync starts at Timecode: 00:02:12 of this audio track, matched up to 00:00:00 of the film’s timecode.
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For our final episode of Dog Days month, we welcome friend of the show Evan Maltby (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens) to break down who almost starred in the bloated Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves! Which future Robin Hood turned down a role in the film? Which sci-fi legend turned down the Sheriff of Nottingham? And how random was Friar Tuck breaking the fourth wall? Also – we try to make sense of the wildly inconsistent accents, point out what appears to be a talking goose, and celebrate Alan Rickman’s bananas performance, including his incredible Baftas speech!
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves stars Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Geraldine McEwan, Michael McShane, Michael Wincott, Sean Connery, Brian Blessed, Nick Brimble, Soo Drouet, and Alan Rickman; directed by Kevin Reynolds
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Our Dog Days month continues with the supremely silly fantasy-action film Highlander! Which professional wrestler claims he was offered the lead? Which double Oscar-winner was considered for Ramirez? And if your only weakness is getting your head cut off, why aren’t these immortals investing in neck armor? Also – thank god for this absolute banger of a Queen soundtrack!
Highlander stars Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Roxanne Hart, Beatie Edney, Sheila Gish, Alan North, Hugh Quarshie, Jon Polito, and Clancy Brown; directed by Russell Mulcahy
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Our Dog Days month continues as we break down who almost starred in the ridiculous musical Burlesque! Which Oscar-winner did Christina Aguilera want for Nikki? Which Twilight-actor was considered for Jack? And does this movie know what burlesque even is?? Also – we debate whether Alan Cumming was digitally inserted into the movie and Jeff gives a dramatic reading of the lyrics to Jack’s dumb, dumb song: Show Me How You Burlesque!
Burlesque stars Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Eric Dane, Julianne Hough, Peter Gallagher, Kristen Bell, Dianna Agron, Glynn Turman, David Walton, Terrence Jenkins, and Alan Cumming; directed by Steve Antin
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On this week’s listener request episode, our Dog Days month gets super silly as we break down who almost starred in 1984’s Supergirl! Which three-time Oscar nominee was up for the title role? Which country music legend turned down a part? And why does Peter O’Toole keep saying, ‘squirt’ so much?? Also – we pitch the muppetized version of the movie we most want to see: Superpig!
Supergirl stars Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole, Mia Farrow, Brenda Vaccaro, Peter Cook, Simon Ward, Marc McClure, Hart Bochner, and Maureen Teefy; directed by Jeannot Szwarc
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On the first episode of our Dog Days month, we’re breaking down who narrowly dodged starring in the Michael Crichton sci-fi/adventure Congo! Which British rom-com star turned down a role? Which Oscar-winner was Monroe Kelly originally written for? And how did John Patrick Shanley go from writing Moonstruck to this nonsense? Also – Amy Jo schools us on these so-called “talking” gorillas, and Jeff pitches the Gorilla Workout!
Congo stars Laura Linney, Ernie Hudson, Dylan Walsh, Grant Heslov, Joe Don Baker, Bruce Campbell, John Hawkes, Delroy Lindo, Joe Pantaliano, and Tim Curry; directed by Frank Marshall
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On this month’s Patreon-exclusive episode, we’re looking at who almost starred in the Spielberg classic Jaws in a watch-along commentary! Which Godfather actor turned down a role? Which musical theatre star was up for Hooper? And how was the original plan to TRAIN an ACTUAL SHARK?? Also – bada bing – It’s the sequel you never knew you wanted but can’t possibly live without: The Sopranos vs Jaws!
Jaws stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Murray Hamilton, and Lorraine Gary; directed by Steven Spielberg
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To celebrate it’s 30th anniversary, we’re breaking down who almost starred in the pitch-black comedy Death Becomes Her! Which Oscar-nominee could have played Helen? Who was cast as Ernest but dropped out over a pay dispute? And what’s the announced musical adaptation going to look like? Also – Amy Jo gives a dramatic reading from Sweet Bird of Youth, Jeff goes on a Michael Caine deep dive, and it’s Nick Nolte like you’ve never seen him before: massive musical theatre buff!
Death Becomes Her stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, Isabella Rossellini, Ian Ogilvy, and Sydney Pollack; directed by Robert Zemeckis
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This week we’re joined again by the hosts of Poor Unfortunate Podcast, Conor Perkins and Caroline Aimetti to break down the casting of Disney’s EXTREMELY 90s take on Hercules! Which comic legend was originally cast as Hades but replaced after having already recorded all his lines? Which Oscar-winning director auditioned for Phil? How different would the music have been if they’d gotten their original choice to play the Muses? And Zeus SWEARS he’s never been to this Hooters before! Also – category is: Column Couture!
Hercules stars Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods, Barbara Barrie, Hal Holbrook, Matt Frewer, Bobcat Goldthwait, Rip Torn, Lillias White, Roz Ryan, LaChanze, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas, and Danny DeVito; directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the delightful Terry Gilliam adventure/fantasy Time Bandits! Which future Gilliam star turned down Evil Genius? Which Oscar-winner was cast as Mrs. Ogre but had to drop out when she broke her leg? What would the proposed 90s sequel have looked like? And how gloriously bananas is that ending?? Also – we debate whether Sean Connery is recognizable by his gams alone, and Jeff goes on a furious rant against Garfield!
Time Bandits stars Craig Warnock, David Rappaport, Kenny Baker, Malcolm Dixon, Mike Edmonds, Jack Purvis, Tiny Ross, Ian Holm, Sean Connery, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Shelly Duvall, Katherine Helmond, Peter Vaughan, and David Warner as Evil Genius; directed by Terry Gilliam
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We’re delighted to welcome special guest Adina Verson (Only Murders in the Building) to chat about who almost starred in the 80s comedy Three Amigos! Who did Steve Martin have in mind when writing the roles of Dusty and Ned? Who did Steven Spielberg want for the Amigos when he considered directing? And why didn’t they make that talking turtle an honorary Amigo? Also – Adina takes us behind the scenes of what it was like working with Steve Martin and Martin Short, and we pitch the Martin Short action franchise you never knew you needed but can’t possibly live without!
Three Amigos stars Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Patrice Martinez, Alfonso Arau, Tony Plana, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, and Joe Mantegna; directed by John Landis
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On this month’s Patreon exclusive episode, just in time for Love and Thunder, we’re looking at everyone almost cast in Thor: Ragnarok! Which former James Bond turned down a role? Which comedy star was a fan favorite for Loki since the 90s? Which TV sci-fi star was the front-runner for the Hulk? And are we finally free from the clutches of Morbius?? Also – Amy Jo is forced to endure a (thunder and) lighting round quiz on MCU trivia!
Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom ‘Sexy Gene Wilder’ Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Karl Urban, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel House, Taika Waititi, Clancy Brown, and Jeff Goldblum as himself.
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June-a Davis Month comes to a close with the excellent A League of Their Own! Who was cast as Dottie but dropped when they learned Madonna would be in the film? Which Oscar-winner auditioned for ‘All the Way’ Mae but couldn’t play baseball well enough? And what would a potential musical League look like? Also – we marvel at the casting of Older Dottie and Jeff finds himself forever hounded by the specter of the film Newsies!
A League of their Own stars Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, Madonna, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, Ann Cusack, Jon Lovitz, David Strathairn, Garry Marshall, Lynn Cartwright, and Bill ‘King of New York’ Pullman
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June-a Davis month continues with the supremely silly swashbuckler Cutthroat Island aka: Slash ‘n Dash! Which Oscar-winning legend was considered for Morgan Adams? Who was cast as the male lead but dropped out last-minute after Geena Davis’ role was expanded? And NOBODY could think of a better alternative to the “blow out his bottom” line?? Also – we workshop a better villain outfit for Langella’s Uncle Dawg and try to get to the bottom of the great V-8 mystery!
Cutthroat Island stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella, Maury Chaykin, Stan Shaw, Rex Linn, Patrick Malahide, George Murcell, Christopher Masterson, and Harris Yulin
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June-a Davis Month continues with the kick-ass and ridiculous The Long Kiss Goodnight! Which future talk show host auditioned for the villainous Timothy? What would the proposed sequel have looked like? And how did Samuel L Jackson not die seventeen different times? Also – it’s the one thing this movie is lacking: Charly Baltimore vs. Matilda’s Principal Trunchbull!
The Long Kiss Goodnight stars Geena Davis, Samuel L Jackson, Craig Bierko, Yvonne Zima, David Morse, and Brian Cox; directed by Renny Harlin
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Our June-a Davis Month kicks off with the delightfully campy comedy-musical Earth Girls are Easy! Which brat-pack regular turned down Valerie? Which two actors in the film wound up swapping roles with each other? And who else clocked that vegetable oil standing in as sensual oil? Also – Jeff gets a bad case of wig blindness, and we go down a Corey Feldman-centric IMDB user review wormhole!
Earth Girls are Easy stars Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, Julie Brown, Charles Rocket, Michael McKean, and Angelyne; directed by Julien Temple
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For our first Patreon-exclusive episode, we’re breaking down the casting of David Cronenberg’s The Fly in a watch-along commentary! Which action icon turned down Veronica after she was disturbed by the script? And which black market keeps selling Seth all these baboons?? Also – it’s Amy Jo’s first time seeing this movie, so you know what that means: plenty of horrified shrieking!
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at everyone almost cast in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera! Which pop singer desperately wanted to play the Phantom? Which Oscar-winning musical star was offered Christine but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts? And why did they give Raoul a Wes Anderson wig?? Also – Jeff and Amy Jo break down their varied experiences with the musical which for a young Jeff nearly involved Rosie O’Donnell!
The Phantom of the Opera stars Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Ciarán Hinds, Simon Callow, Jennifer Ellison, and Minnie Driver; directed by Joel Schumacher
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On this week’s episode, we’re traveling back to the 80s to break down everyone who almost starred in the HS classic The Breakfast Club! Which double Oscar-winner was up for both Claire and Allison? Which comedy legend was cast as the janitor but got replaced when he decided to play him as a heavily bearded Russian? What would the proposed sequels have looked like? And did this movie really invent the phrase ‘Eat my shorts’? Also – it’s the Wet Hot American Summer/Breakfast Club mashup that you never asked for but can’t possibly live without!
The Breakfast Club stars Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, John Kapelos, and Paul Gleason; directed by John Hughes
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On this week’s episode, we’re looking at who almost starred in the stunning Best Picture-winner Amadeus! Which rock star auditioned for Mozart? Which 70s sex symbol was considered for Salieri? And is this the Two Truths and Some Guy game that breaks Amy Jo for good?? Also – we find ourselves back on Faeire Tale Theatre Watch, and Judy Garland want to know: “How do you do it?”
Amadeus stars F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, and Cynthia Nixon as Lorl; directed by Milos Forman
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On this week’s episode, Jeff and Amy Jo are tackling one of their favorite films: The Shawshank Redemption! Who did Rob Reiner want for the leads when he considered directing? Which double-Oscar winner had to turn down Andy due to scheduling conflicts? And what’s the deal with putting Andy’s wife and the golf pro on the back of the VHS box? Also – we go gaga over those delicious Morgan Freeman Narration Nuggets and Jeff continues his vendetta against Forrest Gump!
The Shawshank Redemption stars Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston, and James Whitmore as Brooks; directed by Frank Darabont
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We’re thrilled to be joined this week by actor/singer/songwriter Robyn Cage to help us break down everyone almost cast in the epic actioner Mad Max: Fury Road! Which Fast and Furious actor read for Furiosa? Which rapper was up for Max but would only do the movie if they filmed in his hometown? And were we the only ones on Miss Giddy Watch? Also – we pitch the sure-to-be hit Broadway Musical: Furiosa!
Mad Max: Fury Road stars Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Josh Helman, Nathan Jones, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, John Howard, Richard Carter, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, and Iota as The Doof Warrior
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On this week’s episode, we’re looking at everyone almost cast in the hilarious 1981 comedy Arthur! Which actor was originally cast in the titular role but replaced by Dudley Moore after the success of 10? Which sci-fi icon was meant to play Hobson? And why was Liza dressed like a concession stand in her first scene? Also – we pitch the Dudley Moore-starring Lord of the Rings movie you can’t possibly live without!
Arthur stars Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Stephen Elliot, Ted Ross, Barney Martin, and John Gielgud; directed by Steve Gordon
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Just in time for Nic Cage-as-Nic Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, we’re looking back at one of Cage’s earliest films: the delightful rom-com Moonstruck! Which double Oscar-winner was Cher’s role originally written for? Which Scorsese leading man auditioned for Ronny only for the director to say he had no style? And is this top to bottom the best casting of a film we’ve covered so far? Also – we debate whether or not we could take Cage in a fight and learn which bananas movie Cage did as a direct result of having made Moonstruck!
Moonstruck stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., and John Mahoney; directed by Norman Jewison
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We’re thrilled to welcome our guest, writer and actor Malka Wallick, to help us break down who almost starred in the 90s cultural epic Titanic! Which 80s child star told Cameron that she’d be miscast as Rose? Which indie-darling turned down the audition for Jack? Which country star almost played Molly Brown? And how did Jeff make it 25 years without seeing this movie? Also – we create a Pauly Shore-inspired vocal warmup and attempt to figure out what in the world a “regular phone friend” is!
Titanic stars Kate Winslet, Leonardo Dicaprio, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton, David Warner, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, and Victor Garber; directed by James Cameron
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For our first episode back, we’re looking at who almost starred in the delightful 90s Shakespeare riff 10 Things I Hate About You! Which sitcom star almost landed Patrick? Which Oscar-nominee was forced to pass on Kat because her mother hated the script? And why couldn’t we get 500% more Allison Janney writing erotica? Also – Amy Jo talks about her high school’s cowboy clique the Ropers and Jeff posits a theory about the Zodiac killer being a kleptomaniac monkey all along!
10 Things I Hate About You stars Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, Gabrielle Union, Larry Miller, Daryl ‘Chill’ Mitchell, and Allison Janney
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Hey listeners!
Amy Jo and Jeff will be coming back this April with some brand new episodes! We’ve got a ton of fun stuff lined up that we can’t wait to share with you. And don’t forget, if you have a movie you want us to breakdown the casting of, e-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com and let us know!!
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Happy 2022, listeners! See you (at some point) in the new year!
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For our final episode of the year, we’re joined again by Amy Jo’s brother, comedian Aaron Jackson, to break down the casting of the holiday classic Home Alone! Which double Oscar-winner turned down Harry? Which sitcom star had a murderous take on Uncle Frank? And what’s the deal with that random dog door? Also – we attempt to unravel the McAllister family tree and pitch the Hawaii-set Home Alone sequel: Home Aloha!
Home Alone stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara, John Heard, Roberts Blossom, Gerry Bamman, Ken Hudson Campbell, and John Candy as Gus Polinski: Polka King of the Midwest; directed by Chris Columbus
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With No Way Home coming out next week, we’re looking back at all the actors considered for 2002’s Spider-Man! Which potential Peter Parker did Sam Raimi say, “wouldn’t even be allowed to buy a ticket”? Which future Joker was considered for a role? And how bananas would the Cannon Films version have been? Also – Jeff and Amy Jo talk about seeing the infamous Spider-Man musical and break down the nixed cameo that could have changed the face of superhero movies!
Spider-Man stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, Elizabeth Banks, Joe Manganiello, Bruce Campbell, and J.K. Simmons; directed by Sam Raimi
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re celebrating Hanksgiving with the charming comedy Big! Which Oscar-nominee wanted to star but was considered “box-office poison” at the time? Who was originally cast as Susan but had to drop out due to her pregnancy? And is this a horror film for Mercedes Ruhl’s character or what? Also – Amy Jo uncovers the shocking past of that seemingly innocuous hotel clerk!
Big stars Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, John Heard, Mercedes Ruhl, Jared Rushton, David Moscow, Jon Lovitz, and Robert Loggia, directed by Penny Marshall
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In honor of Ghostbusters: Afterlife coming out this week, we’re looking back at everyone who almost starred in the original 1984 Ghostbusters! Which SNL alum was the role of Venkman written for originally? Which Oscar-winning rom-com star auditioned for Dana? And what would that original version of Gozer have looked like? Also – we pitch the Ghostbusters burlesque routine you never knew you wanted but can’t possibly live without!
Ghostbusters stars Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton, David Margulies, Slavitza Jovan, and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man as himself; directed by Ivan Reitman
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For our second horror film of October, we’re going back to the very first Stephen King adaptation to break down the casting of Carrie! Which role did Sissy Spacek almost play before nailing her audition for Carrie White? Which sitcom star was almost cast as Tommy Ross? And whose school library has so many books on telekinesis? Also – we get obsessed tracking Hat Girl and pitch Richard Linklater’s secret Carrie film: Girlhood!
Carrie stars Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, John Travolta, Nancy Allen, William Katt, P.J. Soles, and Betty Buckley; directed by Brian De Palma
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For our first horror film of October, we’re celebrating the 25th year anniversary of Scream! Which Oscar-winner was up for Sidney? Which Clueless duo were considered for roles? And why are we calling him Ghostface when the costume clearly says Daddy Death? Also – we pitch the sure-fire hit pizza parlor horror film Slice!
Scream stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Henry Winkler, Liev Schreiber, and Drew Barrymore; directed by Wes Craven
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We’re gearing up for No Time to Die by going back to break down Craig’s first outing as James Bond in Casino Royale! Which Marvel hero turned down Bond? Which Oscar-winner was considered for Vesper? And what the heck would Tarantino’s 1960s-set Bond have looked like? Also – we try (and fail) try to make sense of a goose-napping movie starring Chevy Chase!
Casino Royale stars Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Caterina Murino, Jesper Christensen, and American Dreamer’s Giancarlo Giannini
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This week we’re breaking down the casting of the gorgeous Jane Austen adaptation Sense and Sensibility! Which real-life sisters were considered for Elinor and Marianne? Who did Emma Thompson originally want for Colonel Brandon? And who’s more famous: Jane Austen or Selena Gomez? Also – enjoy the hit new single: Stick in a Bog!
Sense and Sensibility stars Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Harriet Walter, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Laurie, Greg Wise, Imogen Stubbs, Elizabeth Spriggs, and Tom Wilkinson; directed by Ang Lee
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On the final (listener-requested) episode of our Dog Days month, we’re breaking down the casting of the box office Bob-Omb Super Mario Bros! Which double Oscar-winner had his pick of Mario or Luigi? Which action heavyweight turned down Koopa? And what is up with that cut rap scene? Also – Dennis Hopper gets roasted by his son, and we pitch our new podcast: Hangin’ with Mr. Koopa!
Super Mario Bros stars Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Fiona Shaw, Samantha Mathis, Fisher Stevens, Richard Edson, Francesca P. Roberts, Mojo Nixon, Gianni Russo, and Lance Henriksen
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Our Dog Days month continues as we break down the casting of the disasterpiece that is Showgirls! Which 80s child star was offered Nomi? Which pop singer was considered for Cristal? And did we just strike gold coming up with 2001: A Space Goddessy? Also – hold the phone – there’s a Showgirls sequel??
Showgirls stars Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Gina Ravera, Lin Tucci, Alan Rachins, Greg Travis, Rena Riffel, and Glenn Plummer; directed by Paul Verhoeven
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On the first episode of our Dog Days month, we’re breaking down the casting of the Stallone vs Snipes sci-fi silliness that is Demolition Man! Which action stars were originally set to square off but couldn’t decide which one of them got to play the hero? Which actress was cast as Huxley but fired after two days due to ‘creative differences’? And how much would it cost to eat on a Frozen Stallone table? Also – Arnold runs for politics to spite Stallone, and we try to add “Enhance your calm” into our everyday vocab!
Demolition Man stars Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Glenn Shadix, Denis Leary, Rob Schneider, and Bob Gunton; directed by Marco Brambilla
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On this week’s listener request episode, we break down who almost starred in the 1985 comedy Clue! Who was originally cast as Miss Scarlett only to drop out four days before shooting? Which British actor passed away before he could play Wadsworth? And what’s up with that proposed fourth ending? Also – Amy Jo talks about playing Mrs. Peacock for director Jonathan Lynn for the film’s 30th anniversary!
Clue stars Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Lee Ving, and Colleen Camp; directed by Jonathan Lynn
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This week we’re breaking down the casting of the Barbra Streisand passion project musical Yentl! Which star of erotic thrillers turned down the male lead? Which 17-year-old future Oscar-nominee auditioned for Hadass? And why did we have to have so much narrated think-singing? Also – did our subtitles cover it up, or did this film feature full frontal Patinkis?
Yentl stars Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Irving, Nehemiah Persoff, Steven Hill, Allan Corduner, Doreen Mantle, and Miriam Margolyes; directed by Barbra Streisand
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by the hilarious Jonathan Braylock (Black Men Can’t Jump [In Hollywood], Netflix’s Astronomy Club) to break down the casting of Men in Black! Which former DC superhero turned down J? Which actor allegedly won their role in a poker game? And were those cockroaches SAG? Also – Jeff finds the ridiculous user reviews for the MIB filming location!
Men in Black stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, Tony Shaloub, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Rip Torn; directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
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As the ninth(!) film in the franchise rolls into theaters this week, we’re going back to the beginning to break down the casting of 2001’s The Fast and the Furious! Which 90s heartthrob was considered for Dom? Which Oscar-winner passed on Brian? And how the heck did this franchise go from DVD player heists to car magnets and space spies?? Also – Amy Jo attempts to keep track of the Hollywood Jasons and watches the trailer for F9 for the first time!
The Fast and the Furious stars Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick Yune, Chad Lindberg, Johnny Strong, Matt Schulze, Ja Rule, Noel Gugliemi, and Ted Levine; directed by Rob Cohen
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re doing our best to ‘handle the truth’ of who almost starred in A Few Good Men! Which two-time Oscar winner turned down Colonel Jessup? Which sitcom legend was supposed to play the Kevin Pollak role? And – hold up – that was Christopher Guest?? Also – it’s the My Cousin Vinny/Few Good Men mashup you never knew you needed but can’t possibly live without!
A Few Good Men stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Pollak, James Marshall, Wolfgang Bodison, J.T. Walsh, Christopher Guest, Xander Berkeley, Noah Wyle, Cuba Gooding Jr., Joshua Malina, and Kevin Bacon; directed by Rob Reiner
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Just in time for its 40th anniversary, we’re breaking down the casting of Raiders of the Lost Ark! Which Saturday Night Live stars were considered for Indiana? Which Oscar-nominee turned down Marion? And how delightful would a Mr. Bean-starring Raiders spoof be? Also – we discover the Disney sidekick who was hiding in the film the whole time!
Raiders of the Lost Ark stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliot, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins, and Alfred Molina; directed by Steven Spielberg
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at everyone up for 1978’s Superman! Which Oscar-winner had his pick of playing Clark Kent, Jor-el, OR Lex Luthor? Which Grammy-winning singer was considered for Lois Lane? And did Frozen rip off that Fortress of Solitude scene? Also – Brando starts a feud with Stallone, Gene Hackman and Richard Donner get into a mustachioed standoff, and we try to make sense of a bananas-sounding thriller featuring telepathic plants!
Superman stars Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jeff East, and Terrence Stamp; directed by Richard Donner
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Somehow we've been doing this show for a whole year already, and we wanted to celebrate with the first annual Almost Starries Awards! Who will win Most Unfortunate Accent? Or Most Bananas Alternate Casting? And how long can we make it before giving all the awards to Joan Cusack? Plus - we play the Newlywed Game and answer the questions our listeners were dying to know!
This week we’re joined by the hosts of Poor Unfortunate Podcast, Conor Perkins and Caroline Aimetti, to break down the casting of Disney’s gorgeous The Hunchback of Notre Dame! Which Monty Python star almost landed a role? Whose audition for Quasimodo turned into a wall-shaking shouting match? And is “The Bells of Notre Dame” the one song you can’t option down at the end? Also – break out the cheesecake as we add the one thing this movie’s missing: The Golden Goyles!
The Hunchback of Notre Dame stars Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander, Mary Wickes, Charles Kimbrough, Paul Kandel, and Tony Jay; directed by Gray Trousdale and Kirk Wise
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On this week’s listener request episode, we look at everyone who almost starred in 1999’s delightful The Mummy! Which Batman star turned down the role of Rick? Which method Oscar-winner was sought for the titular role? And after it worked the first time, why didn’t they just keep launching cats at the mummy? Also – Judi Dench refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer, and we get an absolute banger of a Veggie Tales song stuck in our heads.
The Mummy stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Kevin J. O’Connor, Jonathan Hyde, and Oded Fehr; directed by Stephen Sommers
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On this week’s episode, we’re breaking down everyone who almost starred in the awesomely 80s Flashdance! Which Golden Globe-winner berated the director for taking a call during her audition for Alex? Which rock star turned down Nick? And what the heck would the 2 hour and 20-minute version of the movie have looked like? Also – we imagine a Saturday Night Fever/Flashdance crossover, freak out over the film’s Clue connection, and pitch the sure-to-be smash hit: Joan on Ice!
Flashdance stars Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson, Lee Ving, and Cynthia Rhodes; directed by Adrian Lyne
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the dark comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous! Which Nickelodeon star auditioned for Amber? Which sci-fi star was sought for Gladys? And is Allison Janney ever NOT the MVP? Also – Amy Jo talks about her former classmate’s role in the film, we get to the bottom of whether or not that reporter died at the end, and Amy Jo pitches a One Cole Show!
Drop Dead Gorgeous stars Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, Ellen Barkin, Kirstie Alley, Amy Adams, Sam McMurray, Mindy Sterling, Brittany Murphy, and MVP Allison Janney; directed by Michael Patrick Jann
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On our final week of Oscars month, we’re breaking down the casting of the 1972 musical Cabaret, including everyone else considered for Liza Minelli and Joel Grey’s Academy Award-winning roles: Sally Bowles and the Emcee! Which Bond girl was considered for Sally? Who did Joel Grey say Fosse wanted for the Emcee over him? And how wonderfully bananas is Marisa Berenson’s song on The Muppet Show? Also – Amy Jo talks about playing Fraulein Schneider in college and Jeff and his dad sit through a production of Cabaret featuring – you guessed it – completely nude dancers!
Cabaret stars Liza Minelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Fritz Wepper, Marisa Berenson, and Joel Grey; directed by Bob Fosse
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On the third week of Oscars month, we’re looking at everyone almost cast in 2001’s Training Day and whether anyone else could hold a candle to Denzel Washington’s tour-de-force performance as Alonzo! Which Marvel star was dropped from playing Jake? Which action heavyweight turned down Alonzo? And whose idea was that green-tinted ‘weed vision’? Also – move over Godzilla as Jeff pitches: Denzilla vs Kong!
Training Day stars Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eva Mendes, Macy Gray, Harris Yulin, Raymond J. Barry, Raymond Cruz, Peter Greene, and Terry Crews; directed by Antoine Fuqua
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On our second week of Oscars Month, we’re looking at everyone up for one of the most acclaimed films of all time, The Godfather, and whether anyone else would have touched Marlon Brando’s iconic Academy Award-winning turn as Don Vito Corleone! Which Godfather actor almost wound up playing a completely different role? Which rock and roll singer auditioned for Tom Hagen? And Brando was voted the champion of what during filming?? Also – the Godfather/sitcom mashup you never knew you wanted, and Jeff and Amy Jo learn the hard way to not watch The Godfather on an empty stomach!
The Godfather stars Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Richard S. Castellano, Sterling Hayden, Abe Vigoda, Al Martino, Morgana King, and John Cazale; directed by Francis Ford Coppola
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On our first episode of Oscars Month, we’re breaking down who almost starred in the courtroom comedy My Cousin Vinny and whether anyone else could have compared to Marisa Tomei’s absolutely delightful Academy Award-winning turn! Which stand-up comic almost played Vinny? Which comedy legend could have played the Judge? And how good is Ralph Macchio’s titular line reading? Also – Amy Jo and Jeff are delighted to discover the continuing adventures of Vinny Gambini in both book and song!
My Cousin Vinny stars Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, Bruce McGill, and Austin Pendleton; directed by Jonathan Lynn
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at all the actors who were lucky enough to not be cast in the 2004 Cat-astrophe Catwoman! Which Aussie star turned down the titular role? Which double Oscar-winner passed on Ophelia Powers? And would Patience Phillips have been the Jellicle choice? Also – Catwoman joins the Princess Switch franchise and we pitch the surefire hit: Air Bud…But With a Cat!
Catwoman stars Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Alex Borstein, Lambert Wilson, and Frances Conroy; directed by Pitof
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On today’s listener request episode, we’re cutting class with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! Which John Hughes regular turned down Ferris out of fear of being typecast? Which horror icon was the first choice for Jeannie? And where did those stair dancers come from during the parade? Also – Amy Jo cuts class for a Lawrence of Arabia screening and we nominate Charlie Sheen as our first ever #dangerbae!
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Charlie Sheen, Del Close, and Edie McClurg; directed by John Hughes
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On this week’s show we break down the casting of the Jim Carrey dramedy The Truman Show! Which Oscar-winning comedian was considered for Truman? Who was originally cast as Christoff but left production after only a few days of shooting? And what would the show’s producers have done if Truman grew up to be a serial killer? Also – Jessica Fletcher rides into town to help Truman solve a mystery on a very special Murder She Wrote/Truman Show crossover episode!
The Truman Show stars Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElHone, Holland Taylor, Peter Krause, Philip Baker Hall, Harry Shearer, and Paul Giamatti; directed by Peter Weir
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On this week’s episode, we’re breaking down the casting of the 60s crime classic Bonnie and Clyde! Which Oscar-winning singer/songwriter did Warren Beatty want to play Clyde? Which former co-star of Beatty turned down Bonnie as she found working with him too difficult? And which French director was originally supposed to helm the film but insisted on shooting in – of all places – New Jersey in winter? Also – Bonnie, Clyde, and their hobbit getaway driver go on a crime spree across Middle Earth!
Bonnie and Clyde stars Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard, Estelle Parsons, Denver Pyle, Evans Evans, and Gene Wilder; directed by Arthur Penn
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On this week’s listener request episode, we look at everyone almost cast in the high-fashion comedy The Devil Wears Prada! Which Oscar-nominee turned down Andy? Which talk show host almost landed the role of Nigel? And is Nate the worst boyfriend in cinema history? Also – Amy Jo meets Valentino and Jeff investigates whether or not Christian Thompson is moonlighting as the Dapper Dan Strangler!
The Devil Wears Prada stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, Simon Baker, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, and Daniel Sunjata; directed by David Frankel
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On this week’s show, we’re joined by comedian (and Amy Jo’s brother) Aaron Jackson to break down who almost starred in the iconic comedy Sister Act! Which singer/comedienne was attached to star but turned it down because she didn’t think her fans wanted to see her in a wimple? Which member of Hollywood royalty was considered for Mother Superior? And how many people did Eddie Souther punch before he knocked out the right guy? Also – Jeff performs for an audience of nuns and Aaron talks about dancing with Whoopi on the set of Broad City!
Sister Act stars Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Harvey Keitel, Kathy Najimy, Bill Nunn, Mary Wickes, Wendy Makenna, Beth Fowler, and Jenifer Lewis; directed by Emile Ardolino
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at everyone almost cast in the entertainingly ridiculous sci-fi/action film: The Fifth Element! Which problematic star turned down Korben? Which pop singers were considered for Ruby Rhod? And were the Princess Leia buns on that Major military regulation? Also – we break down the performative stylings of the Diva Plavalaguna, aka: Opera Squid!
The Fifth Element stars Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker, Luke Perry, Brion James, and Tom Lister Jr.; directed by Luc Besson
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In a toast to Valentine’s Day, we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the twisty and twisted mystery-thriller Gone Girl! Which singer/dancer was considered for Amy? Who wanted to play Nick but couldn’t work around the schedule of his hit TV show? What the heck would a sequel look like? And can we please get a Tanner Bolt spinoff series? Also – it’s the Gone Girl/Chicago musical mash up you never knew you needed but can’t possibly live without!
Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Emily Ratajkowski, Casey Wilson, Lola Kirke, Boyd Holbrook, Sela Ward, and Missi Pyle; directed by David Fincher
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This week on the show, we’re looking at who almost swapped faces in the wonderfully ridiculous Face/Off! Which macho heavyweights were considered for Archer and Troy? Which Bostonian leading man turned down Pollux? And would you rather switch faces with a chimpanzee or a velociraptor? Also – Cage and Travolta go to boot camp to play theatre games and recreate scenes from Duck Soup!
Face/Off stars John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, Colm Feore, John Carroll Lynch, Robert Wisdom, Chris Bauer, Margaret Cho, Thomas Jane, and CCH Pounder; directed by John Woo
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On this week’s listener request episode, we’re running down the casting of the adventure/fantasy Hook! Which Oscar-winner was originally cast as Peter but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts? Which singer turned down Hook? Which rom-com star did the screenwriter want for Tinkerbell? And how the heck did we never get a Hookland at Universal Studios? Also – get your subscription now to Maggie Smith’s Goop!
Hook stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Arthur Malet, Dante Basco, and Maggie Smith; directed by Steven Spielberg
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This week we take a jolly holiday and break down who almost starred in the Disney classic Mary Poppins! Which two-time Oscar winner did Walt Disney want for the titular nanny? Which actors did Dick Van Dyke think would have been a better fit as Bert? And did Poppins kill all those other nannies? Also – Tenet rips off Mary Poppins and Amy Jo explains why you should never watch Saving Mr. Banks on a plane!
Mary Poppins stars Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomilson, Glynis Johns, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Reginald Owen, and Ed Wynn; directed by Robert Stevenson
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On our first ever double feature episode, we’re breaking down the charming Schwarzenegger/DeVito comedy Twins and the bizarre Hulk Hogan sci-fi “comedy” Suburban Commando! Would Twins have worked with the alternate casting the studio had lined up? Would an actor other than Hogan have made Suburban Commando watchable? And what kind of suburb has night mimes running around? Also – Amy Jo plays ‘Spot the Faerie Tale Theatre Actor’ and we all learn the valuable lesson: Never go to a secondary planet with Hulk Hogan!
Twins stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston, Chloe Webb, Bonnie Bartlett, David Caruso, and Tony Jay; directed by Ivan Reitman
Suburban Commando stars Hulk Hogan, Christopher Lloyd, Shelley Duvall, Mark Calaway, Roy Dotrice, and Larry Miller; directed by Burt Kennedy
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For our first film of the new year (woo hoo!) we’re looking at everyone almost cast in the time travelling comedy classic Back to the Future! Which method actor was fired after filming as Marty for six weeks? Which Oscar-winning actor/director was up for Biff? Which star of The Office originally signed a two-picture deal before being let go? And what would the raunchy teen comedy version that studios wanted have looked like? Also – let’s go to the movies to see the new Michael J. Fox hit: Spaceman from Pluto!
Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, Claudia Wells, James Tolkan, Casey Siemaszko, J.J. Cohen, and Billy Zane; directed by Robert Zemeckis
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In honor of the sequel having just been released, we’re going back to the distant year of 2017 to break down who almost starred in Wonder Woman! Which Grammy-winning pop star was considered for Diana? Which Oscar-winner was offended when they offered her the ‘mom role’ of Queen Hippolyta? What would the Julie Taymor-directed Wonder Woman have looked like? And does this film feature the first instance of a ‘reverse She’s All That’? Also – whose idea was it to slap a lopsided mustache on the God of War??
Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock, Lucy Davis, and David Thewlis; directed by Patty Jenkins
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For our first winter holiday-themed episode, we’re looking at everyone who was almost cast in the action classic Die Hard! Which famous crooner passed on John McClane? Which action legend was considered for Holly? Which Jurassic Park actor turned down a role? And would you rather win an Oscar or have lunch with Alan Rickman every day for a month? Also – Amy Jo can never look at the dad from Home Alone the same way again, and we find the one element that Die Hard is missing: a live bear!
Die Hard stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, William Atherton, De’voreaux White, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Alexander Godunov, Robert Davi, and Grand L Bush; directed by John McTiernan
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On our second listener requested episode, we’re breaking down the casting of the glitteringly bombastic Moulin Rouge! Which rock singer was pissed at Nicole Kidman for beating her to Satine? Which British comedian was up for Lautrec? Which Lord of the Rings star almost landed a role? And is this movie Michael Bay for drama kids? Also – Jeff shares embarrassing high school memories, and the Muppets take Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge stars Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, Jacek Koman, Caroline O’Connor, Natalie Mendoza, and Kylie Minogue; directed by Baz Luhrmann
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This week on the show we look at the many people up for the excellent Thelma & Louise! Which Oscar-winning duo did screenwriter Callie Khouri want for Thelma and Louise? Which Marvel superhero was deemed too short to play JD? Which Grammy-winning rock star turned down a role? And how did it take us so long to figure out Thunderbird wasn’t the name of that weightlifter in the background? Also – Mad Max takes a backseat as we pitch Thelma & Louise: Fury Road!
Thelma & Louise stars Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, Stephen Tobolowsky, and baby Brad Pitt; directed by Ridley Scott
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On this week’s episode, Amy Jo and Jeff break down the casting of the 90s-est Shakespeare movie ever made: Romeo + Juliet! Which R&B singer was up for Juliet? Which former child star was considered for Romeo? Which two-time Oscar-winner wanted to play Father Laurence? And did Nicolas Cage base his Face/Off performance on John Leguizamo’s Tybalt? Also – move over Tom Hanks, John Leguizamo is taking over as ‘Devil’ S. Pumpkins!
Romeo + Juliet stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlethwaite, Miriam Margolyes, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora, Dash Mihok, Brian Dennehy, Christina Pickles, Jesse Bradford, M. Emmet Walsh, Zak Orth, Jamie Kennedy, Harriet Harris, and Paul Rudd as a lego astronaut; directed by Baz Luhrmann
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On this week’s show we’re looking at everyone almost cast in the greatest film that features surfing bank robbers dressed like ex-presidents ever made: Point Break! Which John Hughes stars were up for Johnny Utah? Which sci-fi star almost landed Bohdi? And when will the FBI finally invest in a national buttprint database? Also – which is the better Point Break fantasy cast: the Ninja Turtles or the cast of Saved by the Bell?
Point Break stars Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, John Philbin, and Bojesse Christopher; directed by Kathryn Bigelow
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For it’s 25th anniversary, Jeff and Amy Jo are looking at everyone who almost starred in Pixar’s first film Toy Story! Which future Pixar duo was considered for Woody and Buzz? Which British comedian almost got cast as Slinky? And is a lobsterman the Northeastern equivalent of a cowboy? Also - Tom Waits takes over songwriting duties from Randy Newman and Jeff relives the nightmare of when he had to play Woody in a summer camp revue!
Toy Story stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, R. Lee Ermey, and the Queen of Broadway: Laurie Metcalf; directed by John Lasseter
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at the casting of the Nicole Kidman-led dark comedy To Die For! Which rom-com sweetheart passed on Suzanne? Which future Oscar-winner got turned down as Jimmy cause he looked like an all-American baseball player? And is there a bigger flex than playing ‘All by Myself’ at the funeral of the guy you had killed? Also – we’re thrilled to be joined today by John Say of The Love of Cinema podcast!
To Die For stars Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Illeana Douglas, Alison Folland, Dan Hedaya, Wayne Knight, Kurtwood Smith, Holland Taylor, Maria Tucci, and George Seagal; directed by Gus Van Sant
On this week’s show, we break down who almost starred in the utterly delightful Who Framed Roger Rabbit! Which two Grease actors almost reunited on this film? Whose Judge Doom audition did Zemeckis and Spielberg find TOO scary? And are we the only ones still scarred by that sweet little shoe getting’ the dip? Also – Jeff and Amy Jo try to make sense of a Scarecrow-led UK children’s show and meet Goopy, Goofy’s secret Nazi doppelganger!
Who Framed Roger Rabbit stars Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Kathleen Turner, Stubby Kaye, and Charles Fleischer as Roger; directed by Robert Zemeckis
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On the final episode of our month of spooky films, we’re looking at Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi horror Alien! Which two actors hot off Star Wars almost landed roles? Which Oscar-winner was offered Captain Dallas, but only wanted to play the alien? And could Ash have been a more obviously evil robot? Also – move over Grizabella, the Xenomorph is coming to the Great White Way!
Alien stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, and Bolaji Badejo; directed by Ridley Scott
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Our month of horror films continues with the Hitchcock classic Psycho! Which musical star was considered for Marion? Which Marvel actor almost played heartthrob Sam? And how excited was Flush Magazine to cover the first onscreen toilet? Plus – Don Draper pitches Bates Bubbles and we craft the Full House-meets-Psycho remake that you never knew you wanted, but can’t possibly live without!
Psycho stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Patricia Hitchcock, and Simon Oakland; directed by Alfred Hitchcock
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On the second week of our month-long Horror lineup, we’re looking at the casting of the Best Picture winner: The Silence of the Lambs! Which two-time Oscar winner was supposed to direct AND had his choice of playing Hannibal or Jack Crawford? Which rom-com star turned down Clarice due to the violent subject matter? And what’s a creepier title: Silence of the Lambs or Butterfly Kisses? Also – Hannibal joins the Breakfast Club and we try to figure out which movie owes a bigger debt to Silence of the Lambs: Skyfall or Zootopia?
The Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Brooke Smith, Kasi Lemmons, Frankie Faison, and Anthony Heald; directed by Jonathan Demme
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On this week’s show, Jeff and Amy are breaking down the casting of the operatically silly Devil’s Advocate! Which temperamental star almost landed Keanu’s role? Which two Hollywood heavyweights did Pacino think would have been a better fit for Milton? What would this movie have looked like as a full-blown comedy? And was Keanu trying to do a Zach Morris Time Out? Also – we’re Rockin’ with Reeves in Keanu’s daisy-centric workout series and Mark Ruffalo takes on the mantle of the Pope Detective as he hunts that dastardly devil across Italy!
The Devil’s Advocate stars Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Judith Ivey, Connie Nielsen, Craig T. Nelson, Tamara Tunie, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and – wait, was that Broadway’s Debra Monk?; directed by Taylor Hackford
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at who almost got cast in Spike Lee’s super enjoyable thriller Inside Man! Who was supposed to play Jodie Foster’s role back when Ron Howard was attached to direct? Which actor in the film almost got cast in a completely different role? And whose idea was it to cover up Clive Owen’s gorgeous face for so much of the movie? Also – Rootin’ Tootin’ Russell is yee-hawin’ his way through this bank heist, and Jeff and Amy Jo finally watch Grease 2!
Inside Man stars Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe, Daryl Mitchell, James Ransone, Marcia Jean Kurtz, and the ageless Christopher Plummer; directed by Spike Lee
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On this week’s episode, we’re looking at who almost starred in the charming 80s comedy-drama Working Girl! Which two-time Oscar winner turned down Tess? Who was originally cast as Jack but got bumped because Harrison Ford was a bigger name? And how unnecessary would a Forrest Gump musical be? Also – coming to NBC this Fall: Peter Falk as The Pope Detective!
Working Girl stars Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin, Philip Bosco, Nora Dunn, Oliver Platt, Olympia Dukakis, Amy Aquino, and the one and only Joan Cusack; directed by Mike Nichols
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Just in time for Ryan Murphy’s bananas-looking Ratched prequel series, we’re breaking down all the actors who were up for one of the most acclaimed films ever made: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest! Which actors from The Godfather were considered for McMurphy? Which comedy icon turned down Ratched? And was that a disguised Mandy Patinkin sneaking his way into the film? Also – Amy Jo shares tales from a non-union theatre production of Cuckoo’s Nest, and in the role he was born to play, Hugh Grant stars as that stammering, good-natured Brit, Received Pronunciation McMurphy!
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest stars Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif, Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd, William Redfield, Josip Elic, Vincent Schiavelli, Sydney Lassick, Mews Small, Louisa Moritz, and Scatman Crothers; directed by Milos Forman
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On this week’s show, Jeff and Amy Jo are heading to Rydell High to discuss the casting of the smash hit musical comedy Grease! Which sci-fi star was considered for Sandy? Which rock star was up for both Danny AND Teen Angel? How horny would Ralph Bakshi’s version of Grease have been? And does the FBI have a national buttprint database?? Also – sorry drama department, Coach Calhoun is gonna need to toss you into this bonfire as a sacrifice to the High School football gods!
Grease stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Didi Conn, Jamie Donnelly, Dinah Manoff, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward, Frankie Avalon, Sid Caesar, Susan Buckner, Eddie Deezen, Lorenzo Lamas, and the incomparable Eve Arden as Principal McGee; directed by Randal Kleiser
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On this week’s show, we’re gearing up for the release of Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things by looking back at his first film: Being John Malkovich! Which A-list star did New Line Cinema want in the title role? Which actress was dropped as Lotte when Cameron Diaz showed interest? And how delightfully random was that Being John Monkey-vich sequence? Also – John Cusack and Malkovich bond over their mutual disdain of Con Air, and we rank Craig’s street puppet show on our list of ‘Horniest Times Square Acts’.
Being John Malkovich stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Charlie Sheen, Orson Bean, Mary Kay Place, Octavia Spencer, and John Horatio Malkovich as himself; written by Charlie (Kauf Syrup) Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze.
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On this week’s show, we’re looking at the casting of 1995’s absolutely delightful comedy Clueless! Which actress had to turn down Cher because her TV show wouldn’t work around the shooting schedule? Which future Avenger was up for Josh AND Christian? And is The Picture of Dorian Gray based on Paul Rudd’s life?? Also – Jeff and Amy Jo completely lose their minds when they realize which episode of the Clueless TV show Amy Jo watched.
Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Stacey Dash, Donald Faison, Elisa Donovan, Breckin Meyer, Jeremy Sisto, Justin Walker, Wallace Shawn, Twink Caplan, and Dan Hedaya; written and directed by Amy Heckerling
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This week – GET OVER HERE – it’s the 25th anniversary of the stupidly watchable Mortal Kombat movie! Which Hollywood star was originally cast as Sonya Blade but had to leave production after breaking her wrist? Which Oscar-winner turned down Raiden so he could focus on his golf game? And why was Sonya dressed like Shrek the last third of the film? Also – meet Manny, the medic/security guard who doesn’t care how big a celebrity you are: get off his set!
Mortal Kombat stars Robin Shou, Christopher Lambert, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Linden Ashby, Talisa Soto, Trevor Goddard, and Prince Goro as himself; directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
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This week on the show we’re suiting up for Christopher Nolan’s first blockbuster: Batman Begins! Which actors who have played Batman villains were up for the Dark Knight himself? Which controversial rock star was considered for Scarecrow? What would Darren Aronofsky’s Batman film have looked like? And is Ra’s Al Ghul just the Dread Pirate Roberts? Also – Batman meets his new nemesis Dead Carp, Cillian Murphy causes property damage with his piercing eyes, and countless Boy Scouts drown because of Liam Neeson’s adlibbing!
Batman Begins stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Mark Boone, Junior, Linus Roache, Rutger Hauer, and Tom Wilkinson; directed by Christopher Nolan
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This week we’re breaking down the casting of the utterly charming Disney film Enchanted! Which pop star was considered for Giselle? Which action heavyweight turned down Robert? And did that troll in the beginning eat all the other Disney princesses? Also – Adele Dazeem gets mistaken for Adele, the Oscars introduce their new category: Dumpin’ on Dempsey, and if you can guess how many Judy Kuhns are stuffed in this closet, you win a pizza party!
Enchanted stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, and the wickedly talented Adele ("romanic") Dazeem; directed by Kevin Lima
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On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
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Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com
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On this week’s episode – whoa! – we’re breaking down the casting of The Matrix! Which five-time Grammy-winner was approached to play Trinity? Which Oscar-winner had her choice of Trinity OR Neo? And wouldn’t the machines have an easier time stopping the rebellion if they set the Matrix on the Oregon Trail? Also – step right up and win yourself a Neopet in the Matrix claw game!
The Matrix stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Julian Arahanga, Matt Doran, Anthony Ray Parker, and Belinda McClory; directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
This week we’re looking at the 1995 comedy To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar! Which Oscar-winner turned down Vida because he didn’t want to play another role with extensive make-up? Who was second choice for the title character if Newmar didn’t give them the rights to her name? And which potential Vida did screenwriter Douglas Carter Beane think looked like the Joker’s sister in drag? Also – we give our picks for which contestants from Rupaul’s Drag Race we’d love to have seen star, and Stephen Baldwin tries to draft Amy Jo into his religion, which may or may not revolve around the movie Bio-Dome.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar stars Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Arliss Howard, Jason London, Chris Penn, Beth Grant, Alice Drummond, and RuPaul; directed by Beeban Kidron.
This week we’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1990 smash hit Ghost! Which real-life married couple almost starred as Sam and Molly? Which legendary singers were up for Oda Mae? And when did Molly and Sam stop to wash all that pottery clay off? Also – who the heck thought that office should have blue wall-to-wall carpeting, and it’s time to decide: are you a Wall Street bro or are you livin’ that sweet, sweet #tentlife?
Ghost stars Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn, Rick Aviles, and Vincent Schiavelli; directed by Jerry Zucker
This week on the show Jeff and Amy Jo hold on to their butts as they learn who almost got cast in the iconic blockbuster Jurassic Park! Which sci-fi star did Spielberg almost cast as Ellie? Which future Hollywood leading man auditioned for Tim? How bananas would James Cameron’s Jurassic Park have been? And what do we gotta do to get Andy Serkis voicing a dino in one of these sequels? Also – Amy Jo sells glasses to the stars, Jeff places bets on how dumb Dodgson’s upcoming return to the franchise will be, and the Muppets take Jurassic Park!
Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, BD Wong, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Wayne Knight, and Samuel L Jackson; directed by Steven Spielberg
This week we’re giving them the ol’ razzle dazzle with best picture Oscar winner Chicago! Which trio was set to headline the original 1970s film adaptation before it fell through? Which action star was Rob Marshall’s first choice for Amos? Which pop star did Harvey Weinstein try to shoehorn into the film? And how the heck did Catherine Zeta-Jones get into that corset all by herself? Also – Catherine Zeta-Jones teaches us the ABC’s: Always Be Caroling and Amy Jo finds herself on the jury for the state of New York vs Maid in Manhattan!
Chicago stars Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, and the incomparable Christine Baranski; directed by Rob Marshall
This week, we’re looking at the high-flying silliness that is Con Air, aka: The plane movie that ROCKS. Which action heavyweights were up for Cameron Poe? Which Oscar-nominee pulled out a bowie knife during his audition for Cyrus the Virus? And what’s John Cusack hiding in those baggy, baggy pants? Also – John Malkovich was classically trained and don’t you forget it!
Con Air stars Nicholas Cage, John Malkovich, John Cusack, Ving Rhames, Mykelti Williamson, Colm Meaney, Dave Chappelle, Rachel Ticotin, Steve Buscemi, Monica Potter, and Danny Trejo; directed by Simon West.
On this week’s show, Jeff and Amy Jo break down who almost got cast in the Tim Burton comedy Beetlejuice! Which member of the Rat Pack did Tim Burton want for the ghost with the most? Which 80s sitcom star was first choice for Barbara? Also, were any actors not in She’s Having a Baby??
Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Glenn Shadix, and Sylvia Sidney; directed by Tim Burton.
On this week’s episode, we’re looking at the movie that kicked off the MCU, the original Iron Man! Which future Marvel villain was up for Tony Stark? Which X-Men actors almost played Tony and Pepper? Also, meet Tony Stark’s new assistant – Peppa Pig!
Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub, Leslie Bibb, Paul Bettany, Samuel L Jackson, and Clark Gregg; directed by Jon Favreau.
On the inaugural episode of And Almost Starring, we’re looking at who was nearly cast in the Rob Reiner classic The Princess Bride! Which EGOT winner campaigned for Buttercup? Which Oscar-nominee was up for Fezzik the giant but got scoffed at for only being 6’4”? Also, is Tom Hiddleston just a handsomer version of Gene Wilder?
The Princess Bride stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Fred Savage, and Peter Falk; directed by Rob Reiner.