Todd Solondz's disowned debut finally gets its day. Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989) follows Ira Ellis (Solondz), a bespectacled, self-deluding playwright adrift in the last gasp of the East Village art scene — too busy pining after a performance artist named Junk to notice the woman who actually loves him.
Mike Sullivan and David Rodgers join Mike to dig into the film Solondz famously begged a friend not to rent, examining what makes it both a fascinating time capsule of downtown New York bohemia and an unmistakable preview of the tragicomic sensibility that would eventually produce Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse. They also make the case for why this orphaned debut — unavailable on any legitimate platform since its 1990 VHS release — deserves a proper restoration and re-release.
Special Guests: Timothy Galfas, Albert S. Ruddy, Gary Morgan, Elliott Gould Guest Co-Hosts: Cullen Gallagher, Mike Sullivan
Paul Gallico's 1970 novel Matilda told of a male boxing kangaroo who becomes an unlikely heavyweight contender, upending the worlds of sports promotion and organized crime. Producer Albert S. Ruddy, fresh from his Oscar-winning triumph with The Godfather, acquired the rights and brought the story to the screen in 1978, co-writing with Timothy Galfas.
The resulting G-rated family comedy stars Elliott Gould as Bernie Bonnelli, a small-time talent agent who discovers the boxing kangaroo and sees his ticket out of obscurity. Clive Revill plays Billy Baker, Matilda's devoted owner and former British boxer, while Robert Mitchum turns up as Duke Parkhurst, a manipulative sportswriter, and Harry Guardino heads the mob contingent scheming to control the outcome of Matilda's fights. The kangaroo himself was portrayed by Gary Morgan in a $30,000 suit.
Mike talks with co-hosts Cullen Gallagher and Mike Sullivan about the film, then brings in interviews with actors Gary Morgan and Elliott Gould along with two posthumously-released interviews with producer Albert S. Ruddy and screenwriter Timothy Galfas,
Special Guests: Paula Prentiss, Elliot Gould Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Sullivan, Emily Intravia
Mike White is joined by Mike Sullivan and Emily Intravia to take a long-overdue look at Move (1970), the surreal, seldom-seen New York comedy directed by Stuart Rosenberg. Fresh off his success in M*A*S*HElliott Gould stars as Hiram Jaffe, a would-be playwright stuck writing porn and walking dogs while waiting for the movers who never arrive. As his mundane reality refuses to budge, Hiram plunges into a chaotic interior world filled with absurd fantasies, sexual misadventures, and psychological spirals.
Adapted from Joel Lieber’s novel (and screenplay), Move attempts to blend urban anxiety, dream logic, and dark comedy—resulting in a disjointed but oddly fascinating time capsule of early ’70s male neurosis. Paula Prentiss co-stars as Hiram’s patient wife, while Geneviève Waïte plays a mysterious blonde who may or may not exist. The film mixes scenes of everyday tedium with dreamlike sequences involving rogue movers, hallucinated frogs, and even a fantasy duel, never quite committing to whether it's satirizing New York life or the fragile male ego.
Our hosts dive into the film’s tonal shifts, its place in Gould’s post-M*A*S*H career arc, and why it remains overlooked despite its stacked cast and studio pedigree. The episode also features brand-new interviews with stars Elliott Gould and Paula Prentiss, who reflect on the film’s production, reception, and what it means to them in hindsight.
Special Guests: Cary Woods, Rob Fried Guest Co-Hosts: Amy Nicholson, Mike Sullivan
Mike welcomes film writer Mike Sullivan and critic/podcaster Amy Nicholson to dig into So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Tommy Schlamme's cult romantic comedy where Mike Myers plays it (mostly) straight — no prosthetics, no outlandish characters, just a jittery San Francisco beat poet navigating his fear of commitment. That is, until his charming new love, played by Nancy Travis, starts to look suspiciously like a black widow killer. Expect plenty of riffs on the film’s quirky mix of romance, murder mystery, and Myers’s rare leading-man turn — plus some love for its killer soundtrack and sharply oddball 90s vibe.
Producers Cary Woods and Rob Fried join Mike to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the film.
Addendum: I think that it may have been James Gammon who played Gus, Charlie's mentor, in the deleted scenes.
Special Guests: David Renwick, Brian Eastman Guest Co-Hosts: Josh Hadley, Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan and Josh Hadley join Mike to discuss the 1986 comedy Whoops Apocalypse. Loosely based on the 1982 British TV series of the same name, it’s a story of chicanery and political intrigue centered on the obscure and fictional British territory of Santa Maya. A power struggle around this small island leads to heightened tensions between the UK, US, and USSR.
Producer Brian Eastman and co-writer David Renwick discuss the mini-series and feature versions of Whoops Apocalypse.
Special Guests: Bob Booker, Lou Antonio, Larry Hankin Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Sullivan, Terry Frost
Lee H. Katzin's The Phynx (1970) is a story of espionage, intrigue, rock and roll, and the generational divide. It's about a fake rock band, the titular Phynx, who are sent on the road to infiltrate Albania whose evil government has been kidnapping America's elderly celebrities.
Mike Sullivan and Terry Frost join Mike to discuss the film as well as other generation gap movies like Skidoo, Sextette, and more.
Interviews: 00:56:32 Writer/Producer Bob Booker talks about his career in radio, comedy albums, and more.
01:48:00 Actor Lou Antonio discusses his autobiography, Cool Hand Lou, and his roles in The Phynx, "Star Trek," and Cool Hand Luke.
02:14:07 In an excerpt from a longer interview, actor Larry Hankin shares memories of The Phynx and "Barry."
Music:
"I've Got Them Feelin' Too Good Today Blues" - Peggy Lee
"Trip With Me" - Nancy Wilson
"How About a Little Hand (For the Boys In the Band)" - The Boys In The Band
"Hello, Jack" - Jack Wild
Special Guest: Dale Wheatley Guest Co-Hosts: Andrew J. Rausch, Mike Sullivan
Bro, on this special episode of The Projection Booth we're looking at the 2001 movie from R. D. Robb, Don's Plum. The film remains officially unreleased in the U.S. while available legally in other parts of the world. It stars a group of young actors known as "The Pussy Posse" including Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio. It's about a group of guys who bring their dates to the titular diner where they talk, boast, and engage in bathroom-bound monologues.
Special Guest: Bob Koherr Guest Co-Hosts: Chis Gore, Mike Sullivan
Based loosely on Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary’s indie darling, Plump Fiction (1997) stars Paul Dinello and Tommy Davidson as a salt and pepper hit man team. Dinello has been asked by his boss to take out the boss’s wife, Mimi Hungry (Julie Brown) to show her a good time. Their adventure brings them in contact with a handful of other Tarantino films as well as other independent movies of the day.
Mike Sullivan and Chris Gore stop by to discuss Plump Fiction, Chris's film My Big Fat Independent Movie and more. Writer/director Bob Koherr provides some history and behind-the-scenes stories of making the film and what it did for his career.
Special Guests: Myrna Sokoloff Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Sullivan, Rob St. Mary
We’re looking at the Conservative comedy, An American Carol2008. The child of Charles Dickens and Bill O'Reilly, the film tells the tale of Michael Malone -- a stand-in for filmmaker Michael Moore (Kevin P. Farley). He's a liberal know-nothing who’s inflamed hate against the Land that We Love and is visited by four ghosts -- well, three ghosts and a contemporary country singer -- to try and convince him to love country music and stop complaining about gun control, global warming, unjust wars, and other bleeding-heart liberal causes.
Directed by David Zucker (Airplane!, Top Secret), the film was co-written by Myrna Sokoloff, as a reaction to Hollywood intolerance.
Rob St. Mary returns to the show along with Mike Sullivan to discuss the film, satire, and falafels. This isn't a podcast, this is The Flintstones.
Note: The Thomas Jefferson joke is from Joe Machi.
Special Guests: Adam Resnick & Danny Woodburn Guest Co-Host: Mike Sullivan
After Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) falls from grace, it's up to Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton) as Smoochy, the singing rhino, to save the network. He quickly finds himself embroiled in the shady underworld of children's television in Death to Smoochy.
Special Guests: Chris Elliott, Adam Resnick Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Sullivan
Hey... Wanna buy a monkey?
Cabin Boy (1994) is an absurdist comedy starring Chris Elliott as a snobbish "fancy lad" who makes a wrong turn, ends up on the wrong boat and heads out on the seas with a bunch of salty dogs aboard "The Filthy Whore." Get ready for hi-jinx on the high seas as we discuss the works of Elliott and writer/director Adam Resnick with writer Mike Sullivan.
This Italian film will curl the nosehairs on a dead nun. It's a "parody" of Jurassic Park but with chickens. Funny, no? No. Chicken Park comes to American shores courtesy of Jerry Calà, a national treasure in his homeland and scourge of anyone with a funny bone in the U.S.A.
Co-hosting this week is Mike Sullivan of Shock Cinema, Paracinema and Cashiers du Cinemart (among other things).
Guest Co-Hosts: Mike Sullivan, David Rodgers
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This Italian film will curl the nosehairs on a dead nun. It's a "parody" of Jurassic Park but with chickens. Funny, no? No.