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PODCAST

Love at First Screening

Chelsea Ciccone & Madison Hill

An examination of classic tropes and iconic characters pits connoisseur against cynic—one romantic comedy at a time. The cinematic world of love and laughter had rom-com enthusiast Madison head over heels from the time Harry met Sally. For genre skeptic Chelsea, however, it’s been a grueling enemies-to-lovers plot. In Love at First Screening, Madison introduces Chelsea to all the fan-favorite love stories she’s never wanted to watch. One friend’s passion might be the other’s displeasure, but doesn’t

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

01:34:18

Mads' Mouth Is Only for Communion (People We Meet on...

Love at First Screening ·

2026/04/15

This week, our hosts embark on a few holiday hijinks wrapped up in some beloved rom-com tropes with People We Meet on Vacation (2026). After Madison attempts to soft-launch a new horticulture podcast and hard-launch a war with her local stink bug population, Chelsea reveals that this movie did not, in fact, suck like she thought it would. (It was foolish to have ever doubted Emily Henry IP.) And while Mads sorts through her feelings on this page-to-screen adaptation, Chelsea contemplates whether

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01:50:28

The 100th Episode Spectacular

Love at First Screening ·

2026/04/02

Take a jaunt down memory lane with our hosts as they meander through the previous 99 episodes of this show and discuss the hot or not of what Madison has made Chelsea endure. Find out what movie was the crowd favorite in the March Madness bracket and listen as Chelsea makes Madison choose between her favorites, Madison makes Chelsea pick from the worst of the worst, and everyone is forced to pick their lesbians of choice.If we are honest, never did we think we would get this far in the show. It

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01:32:43

Pedro Pascal Could Fly a Helicopter (Materialists)

Love at First Screening ·

2026/02/11

This week, our hosts find reasonable parking rates at the intersection of love and money with Materialists (2025). Not everyone has realistic expectations when it comes to finding a good match, but Madison doesn't think it's too much to ask for a film's trailer to match its tone. Chelsea wholeheartedly believes people as rich as Pedro Pascal was in this flick should invest in some art for their cement walls, or at least an interior decorator. Starring Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans, this

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01:08:06

Cocaine Rollerskates (Xanadu)

Love at First Screening ·

2026/01/28

Brought to you by the butts of the Town and Country security guards, Chelsea's most baffling experience of the season: Xanadu (1980). This beautifully rendered 80's roller disco fever dream skated its way into Madison's heart and melted Chelsea's brain in the process. What was the plot? What was that Ferngully-styled animated love montage? Why is Gene Kelly on skates? None of this gets answered! You'll love it, we promise. The soundtrack is incredible and the visuals were cutting

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01:30:15

Have Yourself a Manic Pixie Dream...Ghost? (Last...

Love at First Screening ·

2025/12/17

Happy Holidays, LAFSters! To celebrate the season, our hosts peel back the wrapping paper on Last Christmas (2019). Chelsea hypothesizes that this story may be A Christmas Carol for the modern age, and although this stocking may not be stuffed with uncomplicated cheer, Madison can’t get enough of its Wham!-ful soundtrack. Starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, and with memorable performances from Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh, this seasonal tale of second chances underscores the gift of

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01:14:36

Channing Tatum Sends Us Into Orbit (Fly Me To The Moon)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/11/19

This week's movie is one small step for LAFSters, one giant leap for LAFSters' kind. We are riding the high of seeing Channing Tatum in his slutty bisexual short sleeved turtlenecks all the way to the moon with our viewing of Fly Me To The Moon (2024). Chelsea and Mads discuss the nostalgia of a country united by scientific progress, the grift of marketing, the importance of funding science, and their unending love for Channing Tatum. Was the moon landing real? Guess you will have to watch

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01:10:35

A Case for Chatty Polycules (Move Over, Darling)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/11/05

Welcome to the '60s, LAFSters! This week, our hosts find themselves in a farcical love triangle between a widower, his new bride, and his not-so-late wife in Move Over, Darling (1963), starring Doris Day, James Garner, and Polly Bergen. Straight people will do anything but communicate, and Chelsea says this film is Exhibit A. Madison expresses concern about the lackadaisical parenting displayed on screen. And both hosts really want to jump in a random taxi for an epically comical car

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01:38:08

Keep Bleeding Love (Heart Eyes)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/10/25

There’s a chill in the air, like a shiver down your spine. Something wicked (Heart Eyes, 2025) this way comes and it isn’t only the creepy time of year. Don’t look behind you, keep away from that spooky closet, and whatever you do, don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Heart Eyes Killer on the loose. This week, our hosts venture into the unknown of slasher flicks– but don’t worry, love is never far away. We’ve been known to watch films that fall short of the romantic comedy genre, but this one

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01:29:08

Electrified Boy Toys and Dismembered Genitalia (Lisa...

Love at First Screening ·

2025/10/09

This week, our cohosts turn the dial to "max bronze", giving a real jolt to this spooky season as they discuss Lisa Frankenstein (2024), directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody. Chelsea and Madison love an unnamed creature who doesn't speak, and wish some critics, who condemned the film for stitching together too many genres, had taken note. Starring Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, and Carl Gugino, they hypothesize this one's destined to be a cult classic

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01:11:01

A Spirited Love Story (Just Like Heaven)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/09/25

Okay, picture me this: you're a resident-- wait no, now attending-- physician run off her feet and your sister insists you come to dinner at her house for a blind date. On your way, you get in a wreck that leaves you in a coma, but he was going to ghost you anyway. What do you do, but one up him and literally ghost him. Hot girl shit. Anyway, that's the plot of 2005's Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. They only have so long to see if they can bring Elizabeth back

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01:27:29

Why Another Jane Austen Adaptation? (Emma)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/09/11

In the season seven premiere, our hosts crack open a classic literature adaptation at the request of a LAFSter with Autumn de Wilde's Emma (2020). Madison swoons over this Regency-era friends-to-lovers tale, and Chelsea wonders whether the filmmakers intended to produce such a glaringly gay story. Amidst their appreciation for this movie's humor and memorable performances from Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, and Bill Nighy, our cohosts investigate what warrants yet another adaptation of a story

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01:45:06

Not Your Average Rom-Com (Save the Date)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/08/07

For your season 6 bonus episode, Chelsea and Madison have dusted off their English degrees and learned how to read (again) to discuss Allison Raskin's debut novel, Save the Date. After Emma's fiancé unexpectedly calls off the engagement, months before the wedding, Emma is left high and dry with a stack of non-refundable wedding deposits. Solution? Save her wedding date and find a new groom! This is certainly not your average rom-com and Madison and Chelsea discuss how it defies tropes and

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01:14:15

You Can't Spell Espionage Without Lesbians (D.E.B.S.)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/07/24

In the season six finale, our hosts are joined by special guest Savannah to discuss the high-camp sapphic spy spoof D.E.B.S. (2004). Listen in as they discuss peak 2000s-era fashion trends, terrible special effects, and the magic of queer camp culture. Starring Amy Foster and Jordana Brewster — with memorable appearances from Holland Taylor, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Jimmi Simpson — this hilarious romp proves that while you should never meet your heroes, you should always meet your supervillains

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01:40:05

Cat Ladies Hate Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/07/09

The best (worst) episodes always start with a notes app apology from Madison trying to defend her decision to torture herself and Chelsea (and potentially you, dear listener) with a movie no one asked for. This week, our hosts survived watching 1996's "romantic comedy" Jerry Maguire. This movie can't pick a struggle (Tom Cruise, scattered plot, no romance), but by God it can pick a blessing: Regina King. Don't watch the movie, just listen to us discuss it-- you'll thank

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01:13:06

Christian Rock Awkwardness (Saved!)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/06/25

In this week's Cynic's Choice episode, our hosts brave the epic highs and lows of one Christian high school's evangelical battle with teen pregnancy and homosexuality as they discuss the biting satire Saved! (2004). After Chelsea pulls Madison away from a sermon on her personal lord and savior, Julien Baker, the duo launches head on into a discussion of this hilarious comedy's criticism of evangelical Christianity. Connect With UsFollow us on Instagram @loveatfirstscreening or send

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01:07:00

Mads Finally Gets It Right (While You Were Sleeping)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/06/12

This week, Madison reports to us live from the bottom of a well while waiting for Lassie (at least that's what we assume by the horrendous quality of her audio--truly sorry!) to bring Chelsea the fabulous Sandy B flick While You Were Sleeping (1995). Chelsea surprised us all by actually enjoying the quirky movie, finding the found family story heartwarming despite the odd circumstances that create it. Tangents include peeing in the woods, Chelsea's potential serial killer neighbor, and so

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01:22:41

Tomei Saves the Day (Only You)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/05/28

This week, we once again question-- is this movie only fine because of the cast? Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. save a moderately horrible script for Only You (1994). Listen as our hosts demand justice for Bonnie Hunt, try to remember the infamous name of the film (David? Damon?) and propose ways that this movie could have been changed to make it far more enjoyable. Also, can someone please confirm what happened to the podiatrist? Like, was he ever clued into what happened?Tangents include the

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01:17:07

This Is a Crying Episode, Get Over It (Four Weddings...

Love at First Screening ·

2025/05/14

This week, we hope you have a box of tissues handy, because here come the waterworks and the epic highs and lows of Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). After a brief contemplation on whether Madison's one-eyed step-cat can wink, our hosts make a mad dash to the chapel alongside a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, John Hannah, Rowan Atkinson, and even more "Oh, wait, I know them!"-Brits. Between the laughs are genuine tear-jerker moments that lead to another

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01:29:28

Podcastin' in the Rain (Singin' in the Rain)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/05/07

This week our usual and only host, Marissa, graciously invites Chelsea and Madison on to have a thoughtful and intellectual discussion about the 1952 American musical romantic comedy (?) Singin' in the Rain. Marissa guides our guests through the plot, history, and fun facts of this comedic romp, exploring the pitfalls and follies that accompanied the transition from silent films to talkies. Is it a rom com? Ehhhh. Is it a fabulous musical rich with quippy dialogue, catchy tunes, and mindboggling

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01:02:05

A Calculated Inflation Tease (The Wedding Singer)

Love at First Screening ·

2025/04/23

This week, the pod dives into the best Drew Barrymore-Adam Sandler flick of all time, The Wedding Singer (1998). After the show's impromptu hiatus (thank you, LAFSters, for your patience!), has Madison finally picked her first rom com of the season? Either way, Chelsea has a bone to pick with Barrymore and stands firm that Sandler is not the comedic genius Hollywood seems to think he is. Plus both our hosts have questions about the wedding industry, finance bros, and why women settle.Connect

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