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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

01:17:47

Chasing Ghosts Through NYC (Serendipity)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/11/20

In the season five finale, our hosts return to an episode formerly lost to the internet ether as they discuss Serendipity (2001) ... again. (And if you're reading this, their second-chance romance had a happy ending!) Special guest Lily has qualms with the main characters' blatant disregard for their romantic commitments — although for fidelity's biggest fan, she would not hesitate to kick Madison to the curb for the coveted position of LAFS cohost #PodsBeforePals. Chelsea thinks it's absurd anyone

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01:30:37

Katharine Hepburn: An Icon (Desk Set)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/11/14

Madison puts on her smarty pants and comes prepared to talk all things Desk Set (1957) with Chelsea. This Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy romp explores the age old battle of the intersection of industrialization and the human condition. Digressions include the Luddite movement and AI, but the conversation in this one really serves to remind listeners that both hosts actually did get something from their degrees-- the ability to dissect this film in a way as fun and interesting as dissecting owl

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01:19:18

We're All Too Tired for your Nuptials (The Wedding Year)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/11/06

Pack your party-ready wardrobe because we've RSVPd "I do" to an engagement (or seven) with The Wedding Year (2019). Starring Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Willams, with a special cameo from Wanda Sykes, this marriage manic rom com has our hosts weeping for every guest's bank account—and cheering for the gays (the only healthy relationship in this mess of a movie). P.S. Everyone (except Mara and Jake) is invited to Madison's future backyard taco truck wedding ... so long as someone pays for Chelsea to

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01:19:31

Find Ella Somebody to Love (Practical Magic)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/10/31

Spooky season is upon us, the witching hour has struck, and our hosts alongside their fabulous guest, Ella, leap from the roof and land in the gorgeous New England landscape of 1998's Practical Magic.Ella provides valuable, fresh insight for a movie the hosts have seen a million times and reminds us that while the bar is set in hell for men, we can always raise the standards. Folks, if he isn't helping cover up the murder he's investigating you for after you killed your sister's ex twice, he's not

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01:10:08

All-American Silly Goose Keira Knightley (Laggies)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/10/23

This week it's another Cynic's Choice! Has Chelsea picked an actual Rom Com, or has she pulled a fast one on the LAFSters yet again? As our hosts dive into Laggies (2014), Madison may be too distracted by Keira Knightley's American-accented performance to notice. With Sam Rockwell and Cholë Grace Moretz, this tale of feeling lost in adulthood — caught between expectation and personal truth — leads to messy exit strategies. You may have your ducks in a row, or you might just be a silly goose swimming

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01:17:06

Andrea's Audition to be Nic Cage's 6th Wife (Moonstruck)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/10/16

As the moon grows fuller, our hosts and their fabulous guest, Andrea, find themselves quite Moonstruck (1987) by Cher's beauty and Nicolas Cage's dedication to his performance. Tune in as they discuss newly acquired vocal stims (MY HAND), the way Nic Cage should never say "To the bed" like that again, and how we should all revere Olympia Dukakis. Are men chasing youth (and women) to run from death? How many dogs does the grandpa own? Would you lose a hand to get out of a failing relationship? When

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01:14:36

What the Hell is MILF Cinema? (The Idea of You)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/10/09

This week, we circle back to Chappell Roan and the troublesome nature of parasocial relationships with a thoughtful discussion of The Idea of You (2024). Starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, this latest entry into the canon of what some are calling "MILF Cinema" has our hosts contemplating the perceptions of age gap romances, examining societal expectations of mothers, and asking: How the heck is Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princess of Genovia, old enough to have a teenage

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01:22:11

Justin Trudeau Fills a Power Vacuum (Wanderlust)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/10/04

This week, Mads puts Chelsea's friendship with her to the ultimate test as they watch 2012's Wanderlust. Do you long to be disturbed by Paul Rudd saying overtly disgusting sexual things in a mirror? Do you wish to feel let down by Jennifer Aniston? Do you want to question your allegiance to watching anything Kathryn Hahn is in? Do you want to replace Mads as Chelsea's permanent guest host? Boy, do we have a movie for you! For the first time in LAFS history, we are advising you to not watch the

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01:31:38

Daniel Radcliffe's Villain Era (The Lost City)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/09/25

This week, our hosts embark on a campy adventure to track down a priceless artifact at gunpoint with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in The Lost City (2022). While Madison thinks the pink jumpsuit lasted far too long in that jungle, she agrees with Chelsea's assertion that this 21st-century take on Romancing the Stone improves the "romance novelist finds herself on a romantic adventure" plot. With memorable performances from Daniel Radcliffe and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, this

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01:24:50

A Plea for Libraries (Two Weeks Notice)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/09/18

This week, our hosts find themselves embroiled in a discussion of the issues of philanthropy, system theory, and who should be driving community support projects. Is Two Weeks Notice the rom-com exploration of Audre Lorde's quote “For the master’s tool will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change"? Oh, and they chat about Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock and how they make this

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01:21:12

Love Is Olympic Gold...I Guess (The Cutting Edge)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/09/11

This week, our hosts hit the ice with two Olympic hopefuls to discuss the sports romance The Cutting Edge (1992), starring Moira Kelly and D. B. Sweeney. While their banter about writing idols and the 2024 Paris Olympics had Chelsea and Madison feeling inspired at the onset of this episode, dissecting the film's middling romantic plot and character arcs left them dissatisfied. For the viewer, it may have been unclear if Doug(las) and Kate's dreams of winning gold came to fruition, but it's clear to

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01:24:25

A Shakesperean Return (Anyone But You)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/09/11

Welcome to Season Five! This first episode is classic LAFS! Madison is reporting from an underground tunnel by the sound of her audio and Chelsea admits that while this isn't the worst season opener, movie-wise, this still isn't quite her cup of tea.This week, our hosts see the beginnings of a return to a rom-com standard they've been longing for: Shakespearean rom-com adaptations. Rising star hot actors Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell have their first appearances on the pod as they star in the Much

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01:31:17

Never Date a Screenwriter (Tales from the LAFSters)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/08/14

In this special bonus episode, LAFSters write in to share their horrible, no-good, very bad dates with our hosts. From pretentious redheads with business cards to a man with the audacity to deny a woman the joy of laser tag, our contributors (and their poor cars) have survived the worst dating has to offer!Connect With Us Follow us on Instagram @loveatfirstscreening or send an email to loveatfirstscreening@gmail.com Production Hosts: Chelsea Ciccone and Madison Hill Music: Good Steph Artwork:

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01:05:29

Rom Com Respawn: My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/07/24

Most comedies age poorly, but our hosts find this season's Rom Com Respawn pick, My Cousin Vinny (1992), not guilty! Madison asks Chelsea who they should call when her antics inevitably land them in jail, and Chelsea questions the correlation between her rising anxiety levels and her proximity to Madison. Starring Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, and the incomparable Marisa Tomei, our hosts agree the only thing that could make this classic better is more Mona Lisa Vito dropping jaws in that Alabama

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01:08:13

RWRB Part Two: Electric Boogaloo

Love at First Screening ·

2024/07/10

Host note: at some points during recording, Chelsea uses the incorrect pronouns when discussing the author. This was unintentional. Casey McQuiston uses they/them pronouns.CW: Queer outing In the most long-awaited second part of season four's bookish two-part bonus extravaganza, Chelsea and Madison discuss Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue (2019). This episode is a longtime coming-- both in how excited Madison and Chelsea were to discuss a book they love so dearly and with how long it

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01:01:59

History, Huh? Bet LAFS Could Make Some (Red, White &...

Love at First Screening ·

2024/06/19

CW: Queer outingIn the first part of season four's bookish two-part bonus extravaganza, Chelsea and Madison discuss the film adaptation of Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue (2023). In this first episode, they discuss the movie as a standalone film and explore both how it fits into the rom-com genre, but also how it fits into queer media as a whole. Listen in as they discuss how the film manages to address more serious topics than your average rom com while still maintaining a

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01:18:46

The Crocodile Dies at the End (Romancing the Stone)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/05/22

In their season four finale, our hosts deliver classicly differing opinions on the 1984 Action/Adventure Rom Com Romancing the Stone. When a romance novelist journeys to Colombia to rescue her kidnapped sister, she finds herself on an adventure she could only imagine writing alongside a cantankerous, exotic bird smuggler who's a far cry from any hero. Madison finds herself melting into the pages of this romantic plot, while Chelsea feels this tale is a first draft at best. (And did they have to kill

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01:24:36

Free Chelsea 2024 (Sabrina)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/05/16

CW: Suicidal ideation/attempt This episode took a whole extra day to render, not because of Madison’s ancient computer wheezing its way through production, but because of how much Chelsea hated this movie. Chelsea’s derision, disdain, and disparagement for the 1954 film, Sabrina, is really what this podcast is all about: Madison trying to defend truly awful movies while Chelsea explains how the only way to redeem them is to let them fade into bleak obscurity. Have our hosts hit a new record

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01:21:23

Abandon All Composure (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/05/08

This week, our hosts welcome a man (gasp!) into the studio to discuss the pod's most-requested film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003). Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey (and an exciting Kathryn Hahn cameo), this approach to "the Bet" trope has our hosts and special guest Luke questioning which behaviors constitute poor dating etiquette specifically vs. generally unhinged human conduct. (Talking during a movie is just bad manners, whether or not you're on a date!) A

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01:34:02

Bottoms Up with Senator Green (Bottoms)

Love at First Screening ·

2024/05/01

This week, in a very special guest episode of Love at First Screening, Tori Green joins our hosts to discuss a movie that she never wanted to watch: Bottoms (2023), starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri. Chelsea picked both this movie and Tori as its viewer as a special birthday gift to herself and it’s honestly a gift to us all. Listen as we talk root vegetables, epic monologues, Ayo Edebiri’s Irish origins, and so much more. While she knows she said this earlier in the season, Madison has

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