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PODCAST

Old Roommates

Do our favorite movies and tv shows hold up as we get older? We change, but do they? And, does nostalgia beat quality? Join best friends, pop-culture junkies, and yes, old roommates, Brian Masefield and Christina Walsh as they experience old loves from the 70s, 80s and 90s all over again. Old Roommates is the only weekly podcast that revisits pop culture…through a middle-aged lens. Follow Old Roommates on Facebook, and @oldroommates on Twitter and Instagram.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

50:17

Ep 219: "On Golden Pond" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/11/28

You old poop! You gotta give it to the late-great Katherine Hepburn. The then-74-year-old icon lifted lumber, rowed boats, and even dove into rocky waters for 1981’s On Golden Pond. Hepburn and Henry Fonda would go on to win Oscars for their roles. But now, in a time when age is just a number and our world leaders are older than the fictional Thayers, does this drama need a nitroglycerin pill? And why is Jane Fonda’s character such a brat? The Old Roommates do a gosh darn back flip and rewatch it

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48:46

Ep 218: "Home for the Holidays" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/11/21

Can Jodie Foster do no wrong? Well, back in 1995, the verdict was still out. Despite the film’s all-star lineup of Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, and Robert Downey Jr, Home for the Holidays was a turkey at the box office. Now, decades later, can we find the fun in this family’s disfunction? Who’s the real antagonist in this holiday tale? And just how many cooked turkeys were needed to make the big dinner scene? The Old Roommates grab their gravy ladles and dig into this misunderstood family dramedy –

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45:25

Ep 217: "Pee Wee’s Big Adventure" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/11/14

He meant to do that. The late-great Paul Reubens character, Pee Wee Herman, made his cinematic splash in 1985's Pee Wee's Big Adventure. The film was coincidentally the feature film debut of director Tim Burton. The happy marriage created a beloved box office hit. But now, decades later, is the titular "man child" just too much or not enough? Is "Dotty" now endearing or desperate? Is "Large Marge" still as menacing? The Old Roommates pour two big bowls of Mr. T cereal and give it all a rewatch

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53:16

Ep 216: "City of Angels" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/11/07

You may think Nicolas Cage is an unlikely choice to portray a lovelorn angel ... and you'd be right. Yes, 1998's City of Angels asked audiences to suspend a variety of beliefs: Meg Ryan as a seen-it-all surgeon. Dennis Franz as a fallen deity. And, oh yeah, beach-loving angels with cloudy job descriptions. Audiences bought it all. But now, over two cynical decades later, does this fantasy flick raise or sink our spirits? The Old Roommates adjust their middle-aged lenses, polish their halos, and

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47:29

Ep 215: "Fright Night" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/10/31

Happy Halloween! This year, in honor of All Hallows Eve, we rewatched 1985's Fright Night, written and directed by Tom Holland. Back in the 80's, vampire movies were all the rage (The Hunger, Once Bitten, The Lost Boys). Fright Night more than succeeded by delivering gore, good performances and even guffaws. But now, decades later, has our bloodlust for such stories run dry? Why is "Evil" evil? And, could Chris Sarandon's Jerry Dandridge successfully seduce our fearless co-host, Christina? The Old

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34:22

Ep 214: "Young Frankenstein" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/10/24

What hump? Yes, the 1974 comedy classic Young Frankenstein had its work cut out for it for a younger audience. Adult jokes, old horror film references, and its black-and-white palette may've been lost on hip kids of the 1970s. But now, nearly 50 years later, we're all grown up and ready for our rewatch. Do visual gags and slapstick have an expiration date? Is this Mel Brooks' finest hour (and a half)? And, umm, did the monster commit sexual assault? The Old Roommates strap in for an electrifying

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57:09

Ep 213: "Grease 2" - Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/10/16

A very special episode: It's Christina's birthday! As is tradition, co-host Christina gets to make co-host, Brian, watch one of her favorite movies for The First Time. Christina's choice? Grease 2, that much-maligned 1982 sequel to the 1978 masterpiece. Michelle Pfieffer cooly rode her way to super stardom while critics panned the rest of this (now) cult classic. Upon rewatch, does Christina still love it? Did Brian enjoy it at all? The Old Roommates head back to Rydell High for a lesson in

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54:07

Ep 212: "Chasing Amy" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/10/10

Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams star in Kevin Smith's 1997 romcom with a twist, Chasing Amy. Back then, the film's slim budget, sex-centric themes, and salacious script were the talk of the movie world, indie and otherwise. But now, decades later, is the movie's boy-loves-a-lesbian plot doomed to feel dated? Does the flick's filthy dialogue still have an edge? And is Affleck's "Holden McNeil" the worst male character of 90's cinema? The Old Roommates throw darts, down beers, and discuss it all

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34:09

Ep 211: "Michael Jackson Videos" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/10/03

"Billie Jean" and "Thriller" were two of the biggest videos of 1983 and both from the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Both videos featured Jackson, darkly lit streets and, well, the similarities kind of end there. Billie Jean's dance moves and Thriller's big budget both got MTV audiences talking 40 years ago. But nowadays, do the videos hold up as well as the songs do? Would zombies really dance the way they do in Thriller? And, in Billie Jean, why does MJ look like he wants to talk to the

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85:48

Ep 210: "Laverne & Shirley" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/09/26

Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer incorporated. The #1 TV show in America in the late-70s, Laverne & Shirley, certainly did it their way. The groundbreaking sitcom featured lead characters who were unmarried, hardworking, independent, sex positive ... women! The fact that the series took place in the late-50s was all the more fascinating. But now, 40 years since it last aired, are our fond memories as blurry as a Shotz beer hangover? Are Lenny and Squiggy adorable or annoying? And what's with

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39:50

Ep 209: "Cocoon" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/09/19

Wilford Brimley was a sprightly 49 years old when he took the role of Ben in 1985's sci-fi adventure, Cocoon. Directed by Ron Howard and featuring a cast of septuagenarian movie stars, the movie went on to win Oscars and bring in over $80M at the box office. But now, decades later, does the whole saga feel past its prime? Why is Steve Guttenberg's character so awful? And, should a person ever have sex with an alien? The Old Roommates pop on their swimsuits and take a shallow dive into this 80's hit

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62:26

Ep 208: "Kindergarten Cop" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/09/12

Arnold Schwarzenegger was kicking ass and taking names in the 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop. Directed by Ivan Reitman, the movie combined a variety of genres - comedy, action, drama - with mixed results. But now, decades later, how does its Terminator-teaches-tots concept measure up? Are themes of child abuse, drug addiction, and divorce all too much for a PG-13 flick? And is Eleanor Crisp one of the scariest villains of the 90's? The Old Roommates march in single file and wait for the whistle while

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74:09

Ep 207: "The Godfather" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/09/05

Season Premier! "Take the gun, leave the cannoli." Back in 1972, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather took it all. Big box office, Academy Awards, and a place on many lists as one of the best films of all time. But now, over 50 years later, does the 3-hour saga give us an offer we "can refuse"? Was Brando's Don Corleone just too sensitive for his own good? Was Diane Keaton's Kay too understanding to be believed? And, why did Michael's eye take several years to heal? The Old Roommates go behind

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69:46

Ep 206: Old Roommates 4th Anniversary Episode

Old Roommates ·

2023/07/25

Bonus: Our 4th Anniversary episode featuring The 3rd Annual Roomie Awards.Join us for a recap of our recaps! Brian and Christina take a look back at the films, tv shows, and music videos they've revisited over the past twelve months. They'll discuss their most-downloaded episodes, surprising stats, and their favorite moments. And after all the pleasantries are exchanged (cue drum roll) they'll present The Roomie Awards to the best and worst of their revisits. Which film will win "Biggest Waste of

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28:29

Ep 205: "Mariah Carey Videos" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/07/18

"Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby" were two #1 hits (among many) for Mariah Carey in the mid-90s. They also have the rare distinction of spawning music videos directed by the Queen of Christmas herself. Both videos featured Carey smiling, posing, lip syncing, and riding both roller coasters and tire swings. But now, decades later, are the videos as good as the songs? Do they need to be? And how many times can Mariah raise her hands in the air...before we just don't care? The Old Roommates fight the

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38:00

Ep 204: "National Lampoon’s Vacation" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/07/11

Clark. Ellen. Rusty. And...Audrey. Back in 1983, National Lampoon's Vacation featured the Griswolds as the quintessential American family attempting to have a cross-country road trip. The fact that everything went wrong only made them more endearing to movie audiences, more than quadrupling the film's budget at the box office. But now, forty years later, what's the wear and tear on this thing? Is this Chevy Chase's finest "Vacation"? Did Aunt Edna deserve better? And is a dead dog ever a laughing

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51:52

Ep 203: "Jaws 2" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/07/04

Just when you thought it was safe to re-watch a sequel. As co-host Christina exclaims in this episode, “No one talks about Jaws 2.” Back in 1978, though, they sure did, and for a variety of reasons.Most critics trashed it. Audiences devoured it. Roy Scheider didn’t even want to be part of it. Yes, “Jaws 2” tore people up with its clunky shark, screaming teens and awfully familiar storyline.But now, decades later, were we all too hard on this big-fish flick? Could it have ever lived up to the first

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44:25

Ep 202: "Cruel Intentions" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/06/27

“I wanna f*ck!” Yes, friends, 1999’s “Cruel Intentions” didn’t beat around the bush in showcasing the carnal needs of its oversexed highschoolers.Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon formed a Dangerous Liaisons-inspired lust triangle with mixed results among audiences and critics.But now, decades later, has the movie’s edgy dialogue, casual coke-snorting, and borderline incestuous premise caught up us? Or do all these kids just need their mouths washed out with soap?And how

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58:04

Ep 201: "Schoolhouse Rock" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/06/20

Conjunction Junction, what was your function? Many 70’s kids grew up singing and learning in 3-minute intervals thanks to those Saturday morning cartoon gems, Schoolhouse Rock.From the solar system to subtraction, Gen X youngsters were smitten with these educational earworms. But now, nearly half a century later, how much did we retain of the cartoons themselves? Did “Just a Bill” really prepare us for filibustering and a President’s right to veto? And perhaps the biggest question of all … was this

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59:25

Ep 200: "The Talented Mr. Ripley" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2023/06/13

Our 200th Episode! For this amazing (and, quite frankly, shocking) milestone, we went back to 1999 to rewatch the first movie Brian, Christina, and their two best pals ever saw together. If only Christina could remember it. Yes, back then, The Talented Mr. Ripley had the hottest of young Hollywood stars - Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and an Oscar-Nominated Jude Law. It also had a lot of time on its hands; The over-2-hour suspense thriller had its haters. But now, decades later, when

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