Tapeheads: A Podcast on VHS: Recent Episodes
Tapeheads
Join VHS enthusiasts Lyndsey and Sean every other Monday as they dive into each other's video cassette collections, from childhood favorites to obscure gems. Is "Surf Ninjas" the classic that Lyndsey remembers? Will Sean find a horror tape he doesn't like? Is Jonathan Taylor Thomas' hair as soft and luxurious as it looks? Find out now on Tapeheads!
Sean selects his VHS copy of the 1984 holiday horror classic Gremlins, written by Chris Columbus, directed by Joe Dante, and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Frances Lee McCain, Hoyt Axton, Dick Miller, and Corey Feldman.
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the 2000 Nancy Meyers blockbuster What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson (pre-meltdown), Helen Hunt, Ashley Johnson, Marisa Tomei, Sarah Paulson, Judy Greer, Bette Midler, and Alan Alda.
In this very special Halloween episode, the Tapeheads discuss the 1996 horror classic Scream, written by Kevin Williamson, directed by Wes Craven, and starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Rose McGowan, and Drew Barrymore.
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the 1995 romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.
Globe-trotting diplomat and friend of the show Paul Fischer presents his VHS copy of Barry Levinson’s genre-defying 1992 film Toys, starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, and an Oscar-worthy LL Cool J (!) for Tapeheads inspection.
Merry Quarantinemas! In this belated holiday special, Lyndsey and Sean tackle not one, not two, but THREE films of the Home Alone series that all began with director Chris Columbus' 1990 classic starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara. We also discuss the 1992-based Manhattan sequel featuring a memorable extended cameo from Tim Curry, plus the 1997 black sheep of the family starring Alex D. Linz. We hope you're ready to see hell!
Lyndsey and Sean discuss the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui and starring Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, Paul Reubens, David Arquette, Hilary Swank, and a 3-second cameo by Seth Green. Red Snow is in its final days of crowdfunding, so go to www.RedSnowMovie.com to help Sean make the greatest vampire Christmas movie of all time!
To both celebrate Halloween and to kick off the crowdfunding campaign for his upcoming vampire film Red Snow, Sean selects his VHS copy of Interview with the Vampire, the hit adaptation of Anne Rice's classic horror novel starring Tom Cruise as Lestat, Brad Pitt as Louis, Kirsten Dunst as Claudia, Christian Slater as Malloy, and Antonio Banderas as Armand. Hear what Lyndsey and Sean have to say about the film and be sure to check out www.redsnowmovie.com to support Sean's movie!
Lyndsey dusts off her VHS copy of Shanghai Noon starring Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, Xander Berkeley, and Walton Goggins. Topics of discussion include the trailers for rom-coms Keeping the Faith and Boys and Girls, genre mash-ups, intentional anachronisms, Kid Rock, and the deus ex machina of the Native American bride.
Lyndsey and Sean dive into the 1999 rom-com Runaway Bride, the blockbuster reunion of Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, and director Gary Marshall. Egg preferences, Gere's acting choices, and marriage conventions are discussed at length.
Philip Laird returns to Tapeheads with his sister Liz in tow to discuss the 1977 TV holiday special Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, a Jim Henson tale that depicts a cute but dystopian world in which talented Muppet animals distract themselves from their extreme economic hardships with a little bit of washtub bass. Topics of discussion include the Laird siblings’ history with the tape, the Riverbottom Nightmare Band, and the baffling economic structure of Frogtown Hollow, which may in fact be a post-apocalyptic wasteland populated by mutant creatures.
Lyndsey chats with Sean about her VHS copy of 1999’s action-adventure remake The Mummy, directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, and Arnold Vosloo. Topics include the Egyptology craze of the 1920s, the performances, and (as always) the ads on the tape.
In this special Halloween episode of Tapeheads, Sean has Lyndsey watch his VHS copy of Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College and things get dark really fast. Talking points include: the little monster craze of the 1980s, Patrick Labyorteaux, Matthew Lillard, and the disturbing parallels between Ghoulies Go to College and current events.
In this episode, Lyndsey revisits her VHS copy of the 1995 kids sports flick The Big Green, in which Olivia d'Abo takes it upon herself to teach a bunch of rag-tag rural Texas kids how to become competitive soccer players while dodging the advances of Deputy Steve Guttenberg. The film co-stars John Terry, Patrick Renna, and a goat. Ads on the tape include the Toy Story video game for Sega Genesis and SNES, Man of the House, A Kid in King Arthur's Court, and an extended music video starring Timon and Pumbaa.
Actor Ben Bellamy visits the podcast to revisit his beloved VHS copy of the 1997 Jim Carrey film Liar Liar in which an unethical lawyer cannot tell a lie for 24 hours after his son Max's birthday wish comes true. Topics include the tape's opening advertisements, Carrey's filmography, and the horrific implications of Max's powers.
Ben can be seen as Caleb Zechman in Prep School, now streaming on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and cable on demand.
We're well into baseball season, which means its time for Tapeheads to revisit the 1989 Kevin Costner fantasy film Field of Dreams! Directed by Phil Alden Robinson and based on the novel Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, the film tells the story of Iowa farmer Ray (Costner) who decides to build a baseball diamond in his corn fields after hearing a voice whisper "if you build it, he will come." The film co-stars Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster, and little Gaby Hoffmann.
Lyndsey revisits her VHS copy of Simply Irresistible (1999), a strange tale of witchcraft, love, and fine dining. The film stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flannery, Patricia Clarkson, Dylan Baker, Larry Gillard Jr., Amanda Peet, and a magic crab. Ads on the tape: Anna and the King, Ravenous, Office Space, Wing Commander, Party of Five, and the soundtrack, which includes Katalina's "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered."
It's that holly jolly time of year, which means it's time for Sean to introduce Lyndsey to what he alone considers one of the great Christmas movies of the 20th century. 1986's Cobra stars Sylvester Stallone as hero cop Marion "Cobra" Cobretti who must face down an aimless psycho cult during the holiday season. The film co-stars Stallone's then-wife Brigitte Nielsen, Brian Thompson, Reni Santori, and Marco Rodriguez as the extremely memorable Supermarket Killer. "It's the way of the new world!" Axes clank
It's the Christmas season, which means it's time for Lyndsey to unwrap her VHS copy of Disney's 1994 hit The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen, Eric Lloyd, Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz, and Judge Reinhold. Together, the Tapeheads dissect the logistics of becoming Santa Claus, the 90's fascination with absentee fathers, and whether or not 1-800-SPANK-ME is a real phone sex number.
Gather up the coven, turn off the lights, and pop in this classic 90's VHS selection starring Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, Rachel True, and Skeet Ulrich. Topics include abuse of witchcraft, Sean's childhood obsession with Neve Campbell, and the theme music to Charmed.
Hold on to your broomsticks! On this special Halloween episode of Tapeheads, Lyndsey selects her VHS tape of the 1998 supernatural family drama Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman!
"Would you excuse me? I cut my foot before and my shoe is filling up with blood!" In this episode of Tapeheads, Sean introduces Lyndsey to his VHS copy of 1997's Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, the cult comedy starring Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo, and Alan Cumming.
I'll have what she's having! Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the beloved 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally, starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Nora Ephron.
Utah! Gimme two! Tapeheads gets radical as Sean selects his VHS copy of Point Break, directed by Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow and starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, and the incomparable Gary Busey.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!! Lyndsey selects her VHS tape of the 1986 fantasy/sci-fi/Queen rock opera Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert (not Dennis Quaid), Clancy Brown, and the great Sean Connery as an Egyptian/Spaniard/Scotsman immortal named Ramirez. Topics include immortals, the quickening, the gathering, the prize, the swords, and the rampant 1980's homophobia.
In tribute to the late great Roger Moore, 007 enthusiast Sean selects his VHS copy of 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Moore as James Bond, Barbara Bach as Russian agent XXX, Curt Jürgens as fishman supervillain Stromberg, and Richard Kiel as the immortal henchman Jaws.
On our fiftieth episode spectacular, Lyndsey pulls a switch-a-roo when she realizes her VHS copy of Matilda has gone missing. Instead, we watched Nora Ephron's 1993 romantic comedy blockbuster Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Bill Pullman. Topics include the heart-wrenching performance of Bill Pullman, inevitable You've Got Mail comparisons, love at first sight, and the morality of Meg Ryan's actions. Commercials on the tape include Hook, A League of Their Own, and a twofer soundtrack spotlight.
Quack! Quack! Quack! From the depths of Sean's VHS collection, wading into the open beak of the Tapeheads' increasingly unreliable VCR, comes 1992's The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay, the most reckless asshole to ever coach a pee-wee hockey team. Co-starring Joshua Jackson, Shaun Weiss, Lane Smith, Marguerite Moreau, and Joss Ackland as mysterious (imaginary?) hockey guru Hans (seriously, he may be a ghost in this film). D2 may be the superior movie, but we really can't say at this time.
Filmmaker Alrik Bursell drops by the podcast to watch the 1984 sci-fi classic The Terminator on VHS. Topics include: Alrik's experience watching the movie on a CED video disc; the films of James Cameron; the original Terminator as a horror movie; the sequels; the performances of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, and Lance Henriksen. Be sure to check out Alrik's podcast Making Movies is Hard at www.makingmoviesishard.com and watch his award-winning short films Strange Thing and Brother at www.bursellproductions.com
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of The Man with One Red Shoe, the bizarre 1985 spy comedy starring Tom Hanks, Lori Singer, Jim Belushi, Carrie Fischer, Edward Herrmann, and Dabney Coleman. This film is a 20th Century Fox Selection, which is "a selected series of films available at a special value for a limited time".
Michael! It's time to watch your VHS copy of The Lost Boys, Michael! It stars Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Jami Gertz, and Barnard Hughes, Michael! It was directed by Joel Schumacher, Michael!
Can three wealthy bachelors raise a baby on their own? Lyndsey investigates with her VHS copy of the 1987 blockbuster Three Men and a Baby, directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. Trailers: Cocktail, Beaches.
Spend this Valentine's Day with a lovable Disney prostitute in Gary Marshall's beloved 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman, starring an excellent Julia Roberts, a possibly miscast Richard Gere, an evil Jason Alexander, and everyone's fairy godmother, Hector Elizondo.
Sssssmokin’! Lyndsey opens her underwater treasure chest to revisit Chuck Russell's The Mask, the second of three big Jim Carrey movies to debut in 1994. The film co-stars newcomer Cameron Diaz, the villainous Peter Greene, a very talented dog, and a sidekick who is not Tom Arnold.
Talking points: The rise of Jim Carrey. Are there any good comedy sequels? A likable banker. The soundtrack. Pop Secret. Space Ghost. Convincing CGI. 1994: the year of Jim Carrey. Dumb and Dumber. Ace Ventura. Female characters. Signed photos of Jim Carrey and R.L. Stine. Julia Roberts.
I want my two dollars! Sean selects his VHS copy of Savage Steve Holland's 1985 cult classic Better Off Dead, starring John Cusack, Diane Franklin, and Curtis Armstrong.
Happy 2017! We're kicking off the new year with Lyndsey's treasured VHS copy of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, the 1993 Disney remake about three pets -- wise Golden RetrieverShadow (Don Amiche), pompous Himalayan cat Sassy (Sally Field), and scrappy American Bulldog Chance (Michael J. Fox) -- who try to find their way back home after a serious miscommunication from their milquetoast owners. Trailers include montages for the Disney Family Film Collection and the Disney Masterpiece Collection.
A chain-smoking department store Santa must stop a Nazi plot to create a new master race of two-foot elves on Christmas Eve! No, we're not making this up. It's 1989's Elves, starring Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), a deep cut from Sean's holiday VHS collection. Topics include the trailer for Alien Seed, incest, rape culture, conspiracy theories, weirdo professors, cover art, and our favorite VHS Instagram accounts.
Ho, ho, ho! For the holiday season, Lyndsey revisits her VHS copy of the Olsen twins classic, To Grandmother's House We Go from Full House creator Jeff Franklin. The film stars Mary-Kate and Ashley (of course), with co-stars Cynthia Geary, J. Eddie Peck, Rhea Perlman, and Jerry Van Dyke. Topics include egg nog cocktails, the absence of likable characters, and a major ethical dilema that goes largely ignored. Trailers: The Little Princess, The Secret Garden, Black Beauty, and a lot of Dual Star productions.
In a flailing spiral of stomach-churning agony and dread, Disney's Tom and Huck did not seem like an appropriate choice for the historical moment that is November 2016, so we watched Sean's VHS copy of the 1979 post-apocalyptic classic Mad Max, starring Mel Gibson and directed by George Miller. Topics of discussion include the awful American dub, Goodtimes Entertainment, The Road Warrior, Mad Max: Fury Road, simple storytelling, and the complete lack of exposition in this film. No ads on the tape.
In this episode, Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of 1991's Beauty and the Beast, the beloved animated film that upped the bar for the Disney renaissance of the 1990s. Trailers discussed: Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, and 101 Dalmatians.
Dee-doo-doo-dee-doo-doo-dee-doo-dee-doo! This time we're doing not one, not two, but THREE spooky VHS selections with Sean's own specially curated "chillogy" (or "thrillogy") of select films in the Halloween series, specifically John Carpenter's classic 1978 original, Rick Rosenthal's direct sequel Halloween II, and Steve Miner's polished Halloween: H20, all starring Jamie Lee Curtis in her breakout role of Laurie Strode. Topics include Dean Cundey's beautiful cinematography, Donald Pleasance as Michael Myers' deranged hype man Dr. Loomis, the music, the masks, those other sequels, and so much more!
Happy Halloween! For the spookiest month of the year, Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of 1990's The Witches, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name and starring Angelica Huston as the grand high witch.
Get off my plane! Sean picks the 1997 hostage thriller Air Force One, a Die Hard clone with political ambitions starring Harrison Ford as President James Marshall and Gary Oldman as his nemesis Ivan. Bit parts played by Glenn Close, Xander Berkeley, and William H. Macy.
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the 1988 fantasy adventure Willow, from the minds of George Lucas and Ron Howard, starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whaley, and Phil Fondacaro.
It's time to go to camp! Camp Crystal Lake, that is! Sean selects the 1980 horror classic Friday the 13th, starring Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Kevin Bacon.
Methode Sauvage winemaker Chad Hinds returns to Tapeheads with his VHS copy of 1999's found footage phenomenon The Blair Witch Project, starring Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams. To learn more about Chad's wines, visit www.methodesauvage.com!
Hey kids, wanna save the rainforest? Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the 1992 animated film Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, starring Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Jonathan Ward, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, and Tone Loc.
John Cusack re-teams with writer-director Savage Steve Holland in 1986's One Crazy Summer, the companion film to the cult classic Better Off Dead. Demi Moore, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Joel Murray, Curtis Armstrong, and Jeremy Piven co-star.
For the Fourth of July, Lyndsey selects her copy of the 1996 alien invasion blockbuster Independence Day, starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum.
Comedian Chloe Kiester offers up a VHS copy of Don Bluth's unhinged canine musical All Dogs Go to Heaven, starring Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and the late Judith Barsi.
Sean unwraps a "new" VHS copy of 1981's An American Werewolf in London and tries to explain to Lyndsey why John Landis' gory travelogue is a perfect werewolf film.
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of Nora Ephron's 1998 romantic comedy You've Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Talking points: You've Got Mail is better than Sleepless in Seattle. A dated AOL reference. The soundtrack. Shop Around the Corner. Book stores. The golden age of romantic comedies. What was the last good rom-com? The cafe scene. Gendered interests. The finale. Dial-up internet. Quirky co-workers. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Werewolves again.
Terry O'Quinn seeks the perfect family in 1987's psychological thriller The Stepfather, co-starring Jill Schoelen and Shelley Hack.
Talking points: A companion film to Man of the House. A kid in a wheelchair does not fall into a meat grinder in Stepfather 3. A Man in Love. Reel Deals. Defense of the Realm. A masterful performance by Terry O'Quinn. Brother-in-law subplot. Therapist. Family values. Gratuitous nudity. The finale. Sequels and a remake. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Cinematographer Gavin Murray stops by with his VHS copy of Sam Raimi's immortal horror comedy classic Evil Dead II, starring Bruce Campbell in his signature role of Ash Williams.
Talking points: The death of a 25¢ videotape. A psychedelic religious experience. Box art. Army of Darkness. Bruce Campbell gives an incredible physical performance. Ted Raimi as the horror hag. Spider-Man 2. Headless muppet. Lights and colors. The sun and the looking glass. A nonstop powerhouse. Continuity. A manual horror film. Crabs! Ranking the Evil Dead trilogy. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Brunch. Batman and Robin. Man of the House as a horror film.
Cowabunga! It's a turtle triple feature as Lyndsey gets radical with her VHS selections, picking the 1990 smash hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its sequels, 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and 1992's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.
Talking points: A triple feature. The comics, cartoon, and movies. The original film. Pizza party at Pizza Hut. Cartoons on VHS. The Foot as an allegory. Leonardo, Michelangelo, Corey Feldman as Donatello, and Josh Pais as Raphael. Rapid turnover in cast. A gritty first installment that feels like a reboot. Casey Jones. A violent and fully realized world. Secret of the Ooze. The BK Kids Club. Suburban Commando. Stepkids. Ernie Reyes Jr. These turtles look different. Paige Turco replaces Judith Hoag as April O’Neil. Out of the shell and on Oprah Winfrey. What does Splinter eat? Tokka and Rahzar fill in for Bebop and Rocksteady. Everything is toned down. Go Ninja by Vanilla Ice. Missed opportunity with the anti-mutagen. The third film. Army of Darkness. The soundtrack. A Hanes commercial. Surf Ninjas. All Effects Company takes over from Jim Henson, turning Splinter into a dog puppet. Oregon fills in for feudal Japan. Time travel. Romeo and Juliet subplot. Jokes for adults. A demon gives CPR. No pizza or consequences. Human-turtle relationships. Lame villains. A double role for Elias Koteas. Favorite turtles over the years. Buy it/rent it/tape over it for the series. Other adaptations of TMNT. Turtle nostrils. An American Werewolf in London.
As a new baseball season begins, Sean picks the 1989 underdog sports romp Major League, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Rene Russo, Corbin Bernsen, and Dennis Haysbert.
Talking points: The Hunter Pence episode of Fuller House. Building a bad team. A stalker romance. Moneyball. Baseball as a form of community. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. The fall of kids sports movies. Turtles.
Lyndsey selects her VHS copy of the 1989 John Hughes film Uncle Buck, starring John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffman, Amy Madigan, and lil' Macauly Culkin.
In honor of Leap Day, we're leaping back in time to the fifties with Sean's pick, the 1957 sci-fi B-movie bonanza Invasion of the Saucer Men, about a group of dumb teenagers, dumb con men, and dumb army dudes running afoul of some equally dumb bulb-headed aliens.
Talking points: Happy Leap Day! The cover. American International Pictures. Lover’s Point. Bug-eyed aliens. Artie as an unreliable narrator. Alcoholic subtext. Uncomfortable rape humor. Why drive with your headlights off? A sleepy protagonist. Alien vs. bull. Incompetent cops. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. John Hughes.
Lyndsey selects the classic 1988 film Big, about a boy who wishes to be Tom Hanks. The film co-stars Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, and John Heard.
Talking points: A film made for adults. Josh makes a pretty great adult. Zoltar. The keyboard dance. A 20th Century Fox Selection. Is Splash a good movie? Tom Hanks talk. Penny Marshall directs. A taboo relationship. Eating baby corn. Kidnapping yourself. Wishing away your childhood. Rip-offs and body-swaps. You've Got Mail vs. Sleepless in Seattle. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Leaping back for leap day.
Horror enthusiast Sean picks his well-worn VHS copy of Child’s Play, starring Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, and Brad Dourif as the infamous killer doll Chucky.
Talking points: Renting Child’s Play 2 as a child. Confusing franchise titles. Rambo. The slasher boom of the 80’s. A solid slasher series. Visit MGM on the web! Good Guy dolls and Turbo Man. Brad Dourif as Charles Lee Ray. Nobody believes the kid. Chris Sarandon’s frustrating car ride. Batteries included. Alex Vincent is a solid child actor. Voodoo. Messy breakfast. A slasher movie weirdly aimed at kids. Child’s Play. Child’s Play 3. Bride of Chucky. Seed of Chucky. Curse of Chucky. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Tom Hanks.
Lyndsey selects the podcast's first animated film with 1989's Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, a troubled Japan/USA co-production that initially flopped at the box office only to later gain a cult following thanks largely to the involvement of Yutaka Fujioka, Mickey Rooney, Chris Columbus, Brad Bird, and Ray Bradbury.
Talking points: A long production history. A lot of people involved. Nemo has the personality of an eggplant. The Alice in Wonderland dream problem. Heavily cut for American audiences. A Nightmare on Elm Street. Tropicana. A strange culture mesh. The Gate. The heir to Slumberland. The cut scenes. A film that terrified Lyndsey. Imaginationland. Cruel characters. The Wizard of Oz. Sleeping with squirrels. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Chucky.
UPROXX writer and freelance journalist Chloe Schildhause selects the Olsen Twins classic It Takes Two, starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Kirstie Alley, and Steve Guttenberg. Be sure to check out Chloe's writing at www.schildhause.com, including a very special Vanity Fair article about a certain set of identical strangers.
Talking points: A special guest. The epic tale of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Cruise. Meeting the Olsen Twins. Trailer talk. How the West Was Fun. Long Dualstar sales pitch. The Amazing Panda Adventure. The book series. Doris Day. A supernatural Parent Trap. Identical strangers. Orphan tomboy Amanda and rich girl Alyssa. Steve Guttenberg as cell phone wizard Roger Calloway. The horseback meet cute. Buff Guttenberg in a wet shirt. Escaping an evil adopted family and an evil stepmother. Vincenzo, the Jersey mobster butler. Conspiracy theories. The current whereabouts of the Alyssa Calloway painting. Food fight. The lake scene. The Butkis family. Ranking the Mary Kate and Ashley films. The wedding. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Chloe's new projects. An oral history of Blossom. A scary children's movie. The Gate. The Witches.
Christmas is here, so we're breaking out the egg nog and putting Santa hats on dead European terrorists as we watch Sean's holiday favorite, Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Gudonov, Reginald VelJohnson, Robert Davi, and William Atherton.
Talking points: Violence brings the family together. Die Hard as the perfect Christmas movie. The Fly II is gross. A Fish Called Wanda. The perfect action movie? John McClane as the mortal hero. The Die Hard legacy. Simple but effective. Alternate casting. The shirt color change. Limo vs. ambulance. The rose bushes. The balance of grimness and humor. Running on glass. Economic storytelling. Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. Memorable henchmen. Sgt. Al Powell. The sequels. Argyle. Late 80's tech. The media as a villain. Holly McClane as a believable hero. Ellis. Blowing up the roof. The music. Christmas trappings. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Die Hard drinking game. Chloe Schildhause.
In this special Christmas episode, Lyndsey selects Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1996 family romp Jingle All The Way, which pits him against a crazed Sinbad and a lecherous but festive Phil Hartman as he tries to fulfill the demands of his shouty son, Jake Lloyd.
Filmmaker, actor, attorney-at-law, and noted dinophile Philip Laird guests on the show with his beloved VHS copy of Adventures in Dinosaur City starring Omri Katz and a cast of talking, walking, kung-fu-flippin' dinosaurs.
Talking points: Introducing Philip. A young dinophile’s favorite. Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles. Star Wars. Trailer talk. Timmy, Jamie, and Mick. The cartoon. Scientist parents. Alternate dimensions. The star of the show is Forry. Nuclear reactor. Volcanic slang. Dinosaur graveyard. The cantina scene. Rex and Tops. A classic three-act structure. Treehouse downtime. Tinkerbell song. Jamie’s retainer. Mr. Big the evil Allosaurus. The clothing of dinosaurs and Rockies. Remote control. Dinosaur dystopia. Prison tower. Papa Rex. Forry flies. Going back home. Where young Phil stopped the tape. Cliffhanger ending. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In celebration of the release of the new James Bond film Spectre, Sean selects his favorite 007 tape: Licence to Kill, starring Timothy Dalton as Bond, Robert Davi as Sanchez, Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier, Talisa Soto as Lupe, and Benicio Del Toro as Dario.
Talking points: Happy 007 November. Lyndsey’s experience with Ian Fleming's Bond, James Bond. Sean Connery. George Lazenby. Roger Moore. Our man Timothy Dalton. John Cleese Schweppes commercial. A dark and unusual Bond movie. The Bond girls. The cold open. The villains. A messy revenge plot. Does it feel like a Bond film? The violence. The Gladys Knight song. The water skiing sequence. Tanker truck chase. A few flaws. Evaluating Dalton. Pierce Brosnan and the Daniel Craig era. You don’t have to be English to play Bond. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Dinosaurs.
In another very special Halloween episode, Lyndsey selects the wild and witchy Disney tape Hocus Pocus, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the dreaded Sanderson sisters, with supporting turns from Omri Katz, Thora Birch, and Charles Rocket. Boo!
Talking points: Fuller House taping at AT&T Park. The Mystery of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Cruise Ship Cake Smash. Trailer talk. Children's sports movies. Hocus Pocus as a cult movie. Why was this released in July? Quick recap. Virgin. Salem. Fish out of water. California dude. Binx the cat. Child actors that aren't annoying. Ice and Jay. Billy Butcherson. Another racist children's horror movie. Gary Marshall as Satan. Hocus Pocus as a made-for-TV movie. Casting choices. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. James Bond.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen use witchcraft to fight evil Cloris Leachman as Sean makes an out-of-character selection in a very special Halloween episode of Tapeheads.
Talking points: The kids of today aren't getting spooked. An in-depth history of the Olsen Twins and Dualstar. Stilted performances. Trailer talk. A Little Princess. The Secret Garden. Black Beauty. Babies at Play. The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley. Our First Video. Sleepover Party. The fan club. To Grandmother's House We Go. Quick recap. Children's Halloween party. Phil Fondacaro as Oskar the Clown. Asian jack-o-lantern. The hidden connection between Aunt Agatha and Lynn. The troubling Mr. N. Is this movie racist? Jurgen Wolff. Stranger danger. Witches gathering. Setting the clock forward. Lack of witch costumes. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. More witches.
It’s Meryl vs. Goldie as Lyndsey picks the “immortal” 1992 classic Death Becomes Her.
Talking points: A mean and catty movie. No trailers for Lyndsey. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as rivals. Fighting over milquetoast Bruce Willis. Morbidly obese cat lady. No positive qualities in these characters. The Robert Zemeckis eye for detail. Cosmetologist for the dead. Isabella Rossellini. Eternal life. Iconic imagery. A timeless world. Wardrobe. Lessons learned. Sean’s favorite line. Kevin Kline. The floating nun anomaly. Dead celebrity party. The funeral. Don’t drink the potion. Alternate Swiss Alps ending. Brave roles for women. The duality of Goldie Hawn. Alan Silvestri’s score. Lyndsey’s VHS memories. Critical reception. The cult legacy of the film. Bruce’s Babylonian pontoons. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Cynical Zemeckis. Gearing up for Halloween.
Sean selects the 1990 western monster comedy Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward as two country handymen who lead their town of eclectic characters to fight against graboids, giant underground worms that hunt by sound.
Talking points: A shared favorite. Visalia’s Video Zone, home of the animatronic corpse and Indiana Jones snakes. Mom and Pop video rental stores. The Blockbuster in Lodi. San Francisco’s Le Video. 3-2-1 Video in Florence, Oregon. Sam Raimi directs Liam Neeson in Darkman. Not your typical monster movie. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward as Val and Earl. Finn Carter as Rhonda. Michael Gross and Reba McEntire as the Gummers. Victor Wong as Walter Chang. Melvin. The Bacon/Ward chemistry. A good spirited monster mash. The perfect horror/comedy. RIP Wes Craven. The rules. Pulled punches. An amazing ensemble. The slow reveal. Philip and Sean’s Attack of the Flesh Eating Beatles. Sequels and spin-offs. Tremors 5: Bloodlines with Jamie Kennedy. Alternate ending. Buy it/Rent it/Tape over it. Meryl Streep’s one miss?
Lyndsey picks Disney's 1993 adaptation of the immortal Alexandre Dumas classic The Three Musketeers with an all-star 90's cast including Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, Chris O'Donnell, and Tim Curry!
Talking points: Adaptations. Trailer talk. D2: The Mighty Ducks. Cool Runnings. Iron Will. Trailer scorecard. Adventures of Huck Finn. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Most popular versions. Star-studded cast. Lyndsey's history with the tape. Pirates of the Carribean. D'Artagnan. Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Cardinal Richelieu. Michael Wincott. Rebecca De Mornay. Hardcore Disney violence. Gabrielle Anwar. Julie Delpy. Paul McGann. Creepy Cardinal. Carey Elwes. Quick synopsis. No CGI. Curry vs. Charlie. Loose adaptation. Cardinal's wine-filled carriage. Critical response. "All for Love" by Sting, Rod Stewart, and Bryan Adams. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Kevin Bacon.
Winemaker Chad Hinds of Methode Sauvage supplies Tapeheads with his treasured VHS copy of 1997's The Saint, starring Val Kilmer as Simon Templar, an international thief and master of disguise who must woo beautiful genius/virgin Elizabeth Shue in order to steal her sexy cold-fusion secrets!
To learn more about Chad and his delicious wines, visit him online at www.methodesauvage.com. Methode Sauvage wines can currently be shipped to California residents or purchased in several Bay Area stores, including Local Cellar and both Bi-Rite locations in San Francisco and Ordinaire in Oakland.
Horror fanatic Sean selects his VHS copy of 1997's I Know What You Did Last Summer, the Kevin Williamson slasher adaptation of Lois Duncan's bloodless 1973 suspense novel, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Talking points: Kevin Williamson. Scream. The soundtrack. Kula Shaker. Rental copy. Lois Duncan. Modernized text. Book vs. movie. Tame slasher. A cast of pretty people. Freddie Prinze Jr. is terrible. Low bodycount. Sweater sets. The 90's cast photo. The not-so-violent kills. The unmasking of the killer. Trying to explain the plot of this movie. Supernatural slasher, revenge tale, or something in the middle? The vapid survivors. Jump scare finale. Creepy backwoods Anne Heche. Lapses in logic and horror movie tropes. The filmmakers hate Lois Duncan too. The inevitable remake. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. If you were to remake this movie, who would you cast? Next time, our first guest episode.
Lyndsey selects the 1995 Disney hit Man of the House, in which Chevy Chase tries to win the heart of Jonathan Taylor Thomas by appropriating Native American culture. Farah Fawcett co-stars.
Talking points: JTT. Stepdads. Disney knows their pre-feature trailers. Aladdin and the King of Thieves. The Aristocats. Gordy. Heavyweights. Tall Tale. YMCA Indian Guides Club. JTT's fashion. Expectations vs. reality. The bad guys. Weird third act genre shift. Appropriation of Native American culture. Raindance montage. The disappearance of Farah Fawcett. Sex and race in the world of Man of the House. Is JTT a latent homicidal genius? Chevy Chase's character. Indian names. Lyndsey's history with the film. Production value. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Late 90's Kevin Williamson horror.
As our special two-week premiere continues, Sean dips into his VHS collection and selects the "classic" 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Commando starring Rae Dawn Chong, Alyssa Milano, Vernon Wells, and Dan Hedaya.
Talking points: 20th Century Fox Selections. VHS vs. DVD. Evil garbage trucks. John Matrix is a young retiree. Plane plan. Creepy Sulley. Digital watch. Inscrutable evidence. Useful Cindy. Sean's history with Commando. The beauty of 80's action cinema. Climactic island assault. Chainmail sweater. Arnold catch phrases. Commando 2: Die Hard. Is Arnold attractive? Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
In our series premiere, we dive into one of Lyndsey's childhood favorites, 1993's Surf Ninjas starring Ernie Reyes Jr., Rob Schneider, Tone Loc, Kelly Hu, and Leslie Nielsen.
Talking points: John Cusack. Childhood martial arts. Why VHS? Pre-feature trailers. Mr. Nanny. Mortal Kombat. 90's slang. Rob Schneider's purpose. Leslie Nielsen's answering machine. Detective Tone Loc. Magical Sega Game Gear. Multicultural casting. Moto-surf. Climactic island assault. Arranged marriage. RIP Leslie Nielsen. Baba Ram. Buy it/rent it/tape over it. Arnold Schwarzenegger.