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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

51:23

Ep 267: "Scent of a Woman" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/11/26

Al Pacino won his first Academy Award for his role as Lt. Col. Frank Slade, a cranky, demanding, foul-mouthed guy who also happens to be blind. Oh yes, 1992’s Scent of a Woman had old Oscar in its sights (no pun intended). The grandstanding worked. Oodles of Oscar nominations and big bucks at the box office soon followed. But now, decades later, does this movie wear out its Thanksgiving welcome before we can say, “Hoo-ah”? Is Charlie (Chris O’Donnell) being noble or a nitwit in his efforts to

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25:26

Ep 266: "New Kids on the Block Videos" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/11/19

Oh oh oh-oh-oh … uh oh? This week, the Old Roommates revisit two music videos from the late-80’s Boston boy band, New Kids on the Block. Jordan, Donny, Danny, Joey and Jonathan made hit songs and broke young hearts in their heyday. But now, decades later, has nostalgia for bubble-gum pop officially burst? Who is “I’ll Be Loving You Forever” really about? And is “Step By Step” the best showcase of Kids’ individual talents? The Old Roommates hang tough and give the videos a rewatch through their

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73:44

Ep 265: "Mork & Mindy" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/11/12

Shazbot! Mork from Ork (Robin Williams) crash-landed in Colorado and into living rooms across the country. Yes, Mork & Mindy was an instant otherworldly hit thanks, in part, to its late-great leading man. But now, decades later, does the 70’s sitcom wear out its welcome before we can say “Nanu Nanu”? Does Mork’s method of learning seem more like an endless standup set? And why do the Old Roommates think Pam Dawber deserves an honorary Emmy Award? Brian and Christina take a seat, headfirst, and

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56:49

Ep 264: "The American President" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/11/05

Our Election Day episode! Michael Douglas is President Andrew Shephard. A dad, a Democrat, and a widower smitten with a lobbyist. What could possibly go wrong? Back in 1995, little did. The Rob Reiner film was a modest hit, winning with both audiences and film critics. But now, decades later, where does this ficticious President’s agenda fit into our 24/7 news cycle? Is there any place for gun laws in a romantic comedy? And is Annette Bening’s character a pit bull or a pussycat? The Old Roommates

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37:02

Ep 263: "The Witches of Eastwick" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/10/29

Jack Nicholson's Daryl van Horne was one hell of a guy. A self-described "horny little devil," he was powerful enough to seduce nearly any woman in Eastwick, and made others puke cherry pits. Yes, back in 1987, audiences fell under the spell of Nicholson - and Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfieffer as the titular witches. But now, decades later, is the supernatural tale funny enough, sexy enough, or scary enough to make a demonic dent? The Old Roommates work their magic and revisit all the

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35:08

Ep 262: "Interview with the Vampire" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/10/22

Gay-ish vampires trying to raise a bloodsucking Kirsten Dunst was certainly not on anyone's 1994 Movie Bingo card, but Neil Jordan's take on Anne Rice's novel burst into theaters anyway. Yes, audiences gleefully sank their teeth into the gothic tale of horror, loneliness, and rat eating. But now, decades later, does this 2-hour tale kinda suck? Is Tom Cruise miscast? Is Brad Pitt? And what are the wardrobe options when one becomes a creature of the night? The Old Roommates revisit the gore and the

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52:40

Ep 261: "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/10/15

Special Episode! It's cohost Christina's birthday, and as is tradition, she's making her cohost Brian watch a movie he's never seen before. Christina's pick this year is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Is the Dick Van Dyke classic a favorite of Christina's? Nope. Has the 1968 musical held any sentimental value for Christina over the years? Nah. Did the Ian Fleming story give Christina pop-culture PTSD for decades? Yep. Join the Old Roommates as they revisit the traumatic classic through a middle-aged lens

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45:16

Ep 260: "Midnight Run" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/10/08

Robert DeNiro wanted to do a comedy, and back in 1988, Midnight Run was as close as he got. Audiences needn’t worry, the movie still managed to squeak out a body count amidst the laughs. Yes, Midnight Run was a hit. The combination of Charles Grodin and DeNiro charmed moviegoers thanks to its quotable script, movie star chemistry, and inevitable friendship at the center of all the action. But now, decades (and so many buddy road trip movies) later, does this f-bomb laden chase still hold up? Is

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52:31

Ep 259: "Poison Ivy" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/10/01

Drew Barrymore was just 17 – seventeen, one seven – when she seduced a 58-year-old Tom Skerritt for the sake of the 1992 thriller Poison Ivy. Add to that a dead dog, a drunk dad, and a drugged Cheryl Ladd, and Poison Ivy was perhaps too much movie for commonfolk to handle. The film bombed at the box office, but was a bit hit on video, spawning two sequels. But now, decades later, were audiences right to avoid this film the first time around? Is this flick’s “Lolita Meets Fatal Attraction” gimmick

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67:35

Ep 258: "Parenthood" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/09/24

Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen led an all-star cast (including Dianne Wiest, who would go on to get an Oscar nom for her work here) in 1989’s Parenthood. Ron Howard’s ode to the roller coaster of raising kids was a big hit with audiences 35 years ago. But now, decades later, does this raucous movie need a timeout? Are the trials and tribulations – which include porn-fueled puberty and teen pregnancy - too much or not enough? Has parental problem-solving changed over time? And has Keanu Reeves

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28:51

Ep 257: "One-Hit Wonders of 1991" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/09/17

Right Said Fred’s "I'm Too Sexy" and Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch's "Good Vibrations" have a lot in common. They're both from 1991. They both feature muscle-bound singing males. They're both the chart-topping highlights of both musical acts. But now, decades later, has our muscle memory remembered the videos as well as the songs? Do the videos do these club classics justice? And which of these two bicep-bulging bangers deserve a coveted spot in our Old Roommates' Music Video Vault? Yes, there's

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50:44

Ep 256: "Dangerous Minds" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/09/10

"There are no victims in this classroom!" Michelle Pfieffer is a whitefish out of water in the 1995 hit, Dangerous Minds. Pfieffer plays Louanne Johnson, an ex-marine divorcee down on her luck. Her only prospect, it seems, is to attempt to teach a gaggle of "passionate" high school kids, most of whom happen to be (gasp!) teenagers of color. Cue "Gangsta's Paradise"! Yes, back in the 90s, mainstream films were fairly black-and-white. But now, decades later, does this white savior storyline get a pass

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45:43

Ep 255: "Back to School" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/09/03

Season 6 Premiere! Rodney Dangerfield earned As from audiences and critics in 1986's Back to School. Jam packed with one liners, hijinks, and the occasional boob, the Alan Metter directed movie was a big hit. But now, decades later, are we too smart for our own good? Would any child be thrilled at the prospect of their parents attending college with them? Would any woman be thrilled at the thought of having sex with Thornton Melon? Would anyone proudly shop at a store called Big & Fat? The Old

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70:09

Ep 254: Old Roommates 5th Anniversary Special

Old Roommates ·

2024/07/30

Number 5 is alive! Join us as we revisit the year that was. Filled with surprising stats, fun facts, and our favorite revisits, this episode just may inspire you to check out an episode you may have missed. And it doesn’t stop there. We’ll also present our 4th Annual Roomie Awards, where we celebrate and shame the cinema and stars who will forever hold a place in our memories … for better or worse. Listen to this.Old Roommates can be reached via email at oldroommatespod@gmail.com. Follow Old

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71:40

Ep 253: "Say Anything" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/07/23

John Cusack held up a boombox and the rest was history. Yes, the Cameron Crowe romcom holds a place in the hearts of many a Gen Xer. Lloyd Dobbler and Diane Court faced peer pressure, a keg party, and (oh, yeah) an IRS investigation into Diane’s father, played by John Mahoney. Audiences in 1989 were left swooning as the two flew off into an English sunset. But, decades later, was the movie a trip worth taking? Was the casting of a relatively unknown Ione Skye brilliant or baffling? What will Lloyd

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59:33

Ep 252: "The Lion King" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/07/16

Hakuna Matata means “no worries,” and back in the mid-90s, Disney’s The Lion King didn’t have a worry in the world. A massive box office smash, the animated coming-of-age musical would go on to win 2 of its 4 Oscar nominations and surface a hit Elton John sung soundtrack. But now, 30 years later, maybe there was cause to worry. Is a talking-animal Hamlet too heavy for a G-rated audience? Is the brother-murdering Scar too evil of a villain? And why does no one seem a bit concerned with Simba’s grief,

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48:00

Ep 251: "The Legend of Billie Jean" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/07/09

"Fair is fair!" Billie Jean Davy: Buzzcut rebel. Voice of a generation. Cute girl. Helen Slater led a young cast through a cross-Texas odyssey in 1985's The Legend of Billie Jean. Yes, the brazenly named flick didn't quite live up to its title upon release, but went on to cut out a name for itself on cable and VHS. But now, decades later, is $608 even worth the road trip in this economy? Is Billie Jean a reluctant hero or just a clumsy fugitive? And, are we sure Christian Slater isn't related to

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51:03

Ep 250: "A League of Their Own" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/07/02

Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and director Penny Marshall knocked it out of the park with 1992's A League of Their Own. A fictionalized retelling of the real-life All American Girls Professional Baseball League, the film scored big at the box office thanks to a game cast, big drama, and iconic screenplay ("There's no crying in baseball."). But now, decades later, does the 2-hour plus run time feel like one too many innings? Is Kit Keller the world's worst kid sister? And, how well does Madonna fare upon

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33:51

Ep 249: "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/06/25

Dudes, babes, and Napoleon were among the cast of characters of the 1989 hit, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves played the titular dimwitted duo with a radical relish that audiences ate up. But now, decades later, does this adventure feel more dim than witted? Is celebrating ignorance something better left in the 1980's? And what is George Carlin doing in this sci-fi slapstick spectacle? The Old Roommates hop in their podcast booth, hit 1-9-8-9 and revisit all the

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38:01

Ep 248: "Do the Right Thing" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/06/18

Sal's pizza isn't the only thing heating up in Spike Lee's smash, Do the Right Thing. From the story's raging temps and racial tensions, to the film's countless accolades and critical success, the 1989 slice-of-Brooklyn saga had a zeitgeist to burn. But now, decades later, in a post-Obama country where racist "Karens" fuel our social feeds, does Do the Right Thing now feel like the alarm bell we all watched but never really heard? Is Mookie the best character in the film - or the worst? And why is

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307 results

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