x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

46:05

Ep 149: "The Good Son" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/05/24

Macauley Culkin’s dad was allegedly a bigger villain than Henry Evans. Yes, the making of The Good Son was complicated. But let’s talk about the actual 1993 thriller that wanted us to hate the little kid from Home Alone. Back then, audiences lined up to see a different side of their beloved “Kevin!” Critics weren’t kind and audiences weren’t too crazy about it either. But now, nearly 30 years later, were our expectations simply higher than the cliff Henry’s mom hangs out on? Could The Good Son –

en

72:20

Ep 148: "One Day at a Time" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/05/17

This is it. Thiiiiis is it. Or was it? The original 1975 sitcom One Day at a Time focused on a divorced Ann Romano raising two daughters in Indianapolis. Tackling issues ranging from teenage runaways, petty thieves, and the pressure of “going all the way” pushed the TV show into the “dramedy” realm and also kept it a hit for nine seasons. Over forty years later, in a world where half of all marriages ending up like Ann’s, does the show’s POV have anything more to offer? Could we see iconic stardom

en

63:12

Ep 147: "The Color Purple" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/05/10

Whoopi! Oprah! Spielberg! None of them are here, but Brian and Christina have re-watched the multi-Oscar-nominated saga of sisters Celie and Nettie. Back in 1985, The Color Purple an opportunity for its director and stars to break out. Audiences went in droves. Could Whoopi do drama? Could Oprah act? Can Steven Spielberg make a movie without special effects? The answers were resounding yeses. But how about now? Is the domestic abuse and mistreatment of Celie too much in a post-Lifetime TV Movie

en

37:41

Ep 146: "Freaky Friday" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/05/03

Yes, the original one starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris! Freaky Friday provided the outline for all future "switching bodies" movies to come. Back in 1976, kids loved it. Critics liked the performances, but little else. Now, decades and a remake later, is it just slapstick kids' stuff? Could we see inklings of Oscars in Foster's performance? And, who hired all these stunt doubles? The Old Roommates buckle up for a rewatch of this action-packed Disney classic. Listen to this.Bonus content

en

58:23

Ep 145: "Baby Boom" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/04/26

"I can't have a baby because I have a 12:30 lunch meeting." Back in 1987, audiences met workaholic JC Wyatt, played by Diane Keaton. Released in the heyday of "baby" movies, Baby Boom didn't rattle the box office much, but it found new life on cable and even spawned a TV series. Now decades later, is "having it all" a goal better left in the 1980's? Should Keaton's "Tiger Lady" be loved or loathed? And will the Old Roommates still rank this movie among their all-time favorites after a rewatch

en

83:14

Ep 144: "Showgirls" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/04/19

Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, and Kyle MacLachlan put their careers on the line and left their clothes on the floor for 1995's epic flop, Showgirls. The Paul Verhoeven NC-17 drama shined a light on Vegas showbiz, strip joints, and Berkley's private parts...and audiences and critics hated every minute of it. Now, decades later, is it really as bad as we remember? The Old Roommates ice up their DVD players and re-watch the skin-filled spectacle. Listen to this. Bonus content including Christina and

en

27:30

Ep 143: "Duran Duran Videos" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/04/12

“Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio” were two of the top videos of the early 1980’s by the English new wave band, Duran Duran. Back in the day, the videos were filmed-on-location, rock star romps featuring lots of beaches, body paint, and shirtless-ness. But now, decades later, do the videos turn us on...or just make us want to travel? Are Simon LeBon and John Taylor as swoon worthy as Gen Xers remember? And, is it ever okay to flip a table in a foreign country? The Old Roommates put on their cherry ice

en

53:36

Ep 142: "Star Wars" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/04/05

A long time ago, on a podcast far, far away...Brian and Christina somehow forgot all about Star Wars. The original (or Episode 4, if you’re into that) blockbuster that changed cinema as we know it, Star Wars was everything. The movie, the toys, the...bed sheets? Made for a paltry $11M, the George Lucas space opera went on to become the second highest-grossing film of all time. But now, decades, sequels and prequels later, does the film still light our sabers? And, since so many of the film’s secrets

en

32:10

Ep 141: "Caddyshack" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/03/29

Beloved by dads everywhere, "Caddyshack" was the quote-loaded comedy everyone was lining up to see back in 1980. The cast featured some of the funniest men on TV (Ted Knight, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray) and then top-comedian Rodney Dangerfield. Back then, the film served as a showcase for each funny man to do their thing. But now, over 40 years later, does the humor just putter along or do these jokes still hit it out of the park? (Yep, we totally mixed metaphors.) The Old Roommates grab a Baby Ruth,

en

58:21

Ep 140: "Psycho" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/03/22

"A boy's best friend is his mother." Before uttering that gem, Norman Bates appeared to be pretty okay, and (if we're being honest) kind of a hottie. In the 1960's classic horror, Psycho, director Alfred Hitchcock left audiences shocked, speechless, and forgoing unnecessary showers. From killing off a main character one hour into the story, to the twisted...twist of the killer's identity, Psycho was a brutal black-and-white chiller. Now, over 60 years later, with no surprises left to reveal, does

en

49:03

Ep 139: "The Commitments" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/03/15

Deco was 16 years old. We repeat, "Deco was 16!" Andrew Strong was a wee lad when he busted out covers of "Mustang Sally" and "Try a Little Tenderness" in the 1991 film, The Commitments. The Alan Parker drama-comedy about an assembled band of soul-singing Dubliners featured a rough and ready cast, great music, and one bummer of an ending. Three decades later, do the melodies linger? Do the accents still charm? And would a happier ending have made this movie a hit? The Old Roommates step up to the

en

45:34

Ep 138: "The Fisher King" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/03/08

Has Robin Williams ever been more “Robin Williams” than in The Fisher King? Yes, back in 1991, Robin gave audiences everything: the comedy, the drama, the furry, full-frontal nudity. The movie also gave Brian and Christina full-on “pop culture PTSD” via a graphic nightclub-shooting scene. Yes, this kinda-complicated tale of a former shock-jock seeking redemption from a homeless man shook audiences with a variety of themes and an Oscar-winning performance by Mercedes Ruehl. Now, over 30 years later,

en

59:49

Ep 137: "The Golden Palace" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/03/01

Thank you for being a...flop? How could a beloved sitcom like “The Golden Girls” dish out a much-disliked spinoff like “The Golden Palace” in 1992. Did the continuing adventures of Rose, Blanche, and Sophia mean nothing to us back then? Or were we simply not interested in learning about hotel management? Whatever the reason, the one-season misfire was met with disappointed fans and ever-dwindling ratings. But, decades later, were we too hard on these sassy seniors? Did our blind love of Bea Arthur

en

59:39

Ep 136: "The NeverEnding Story" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/02/22

Atreyu! Falkor! Moon Child! Character names were perhaps the least weird thing in 1984’s The NeverEnding Story. Loaded with multi-headed townspeople, rock-eating rock people, sad horses and more, the fantasy film dazzled kids and enchanted adults. Now, decades later, does the world of Fantasia still fascinate? Brian is using his “Birthday Episode” to force Christina to endure the 94-minute movie. Did Christina love it? Does Brian still love it? And did the filmmakers kill a horse? The Old Roommates

en

46:15

Ep 135: "Mystic Pizza" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/02/15

Kat, Daisy, and Jojo. Friends who work together. Friends who share everything together. Friends who giggle...about everything together. Yes, in 1988, audiences were smitten with the friendships and relationships on display in Mystic Pizza, a film that helped launch its leads (Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor, and Annabeth Gish) into movie stardom. Decades later, is the film still as fresh as Leona's pizza? Is Kat really smart enough for Yale? And, how can Daisy get drunk on a beer? The Old Roommates pop

en

48:46

Ep 134: "Stand by Me" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/02/08

"You guys wanna see a dead body?" In 1986, it seems we all did. Audiences lined up for Stand By Me, an adaptation of Stephen King's novella, The Body. Set in 1959, the film followed four boys on an adventure that involved train dodging, leech attacks, and an unhinged Keifer Sutherland. Decades later, is there still fun to be had in the search for a corpse? Is the "Lardass" story engaging or just kinda gross? And, what is Goofy? The Old Roommates chow down on Pez and rewatch the 80s classic. Listen

en

37:33

Ep 133: "Ace Ventura Pet Detective" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/02/01

Alllllllrighty then. In 1994, audiences were dropped into the crazy pool of Ace Ventura, Jim Carrey's gyrating, face-contorting, bizarro pet detective. And they loved it. Ace would go on to have two blockbuster films and an animated series. Decades later, is Ace playing with a full deck? What exactly is wrong with him? And, oh man, how exactly does the "Finkle is Einhorn" storyline land with our LGBTQIA community? The Old Roommates drain the dolphin tank and rewatch the comedy classic. Listen to

en

57:05

Ep 132: "Saturday Night Fever" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/01/25

John Travolta got an Oscar nomination for his star-making role as Tony in "Saturday Night Fever," the low-budget blockbuster of 1977. Decades later, as we look through the disco lights and dance-floor fog, we find unchecked racism, drug use, and sexual assaults. Is this a dance movie or a downer? Is Tony good enough for any of his dance partners? And what SNF scene scarred co-host Christina for life back when she was just 10 years old? The Old Roommates double up on their pizza slices and re-watch

en

42:06

Ep 131: "The Cutting Edge" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/01/18

"Toepick!" Yes, the 1992 sporty rom-com "The Cutting Edge" stopped audiences cold with its downright adorable cast, quotable quotes, and oh-so happy ending. Decades later, does the figure-skating flick still thrill ... or does its lightweight plot find itself on thin ice? Were Moira Kelly and DB Sweeney stuck in a movie better left in the 80s? Or are its 80's tropes the reason audiences gave it a second life on cable and VHS? The Old Roommates lace up and rewatch this fan favorite. Listen to this.

en

37:24

Ep 130: "Backstreet Boys Videos" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2022/01/11

"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "As Long As You Love Me" were two mega-hits for the Backstreet Boys. One was a spooky, sexy costume party. The other, an audition for love. Both featured the Boys singing, dancing, and smirking ... and showing the occasional nipple. Now decades later, how do these 90's music videos hold up? Are they as memorable as their song lyrics? And how does the presence of Nick Carter manage to annoy both of our co-hosts? The Old Roommates throw their hands in the air and

en

309 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser