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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

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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82:37

Ep 247: "The Real World: New York (1992)" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/06/11

MTV charted new territory with their reality TV groundbreaker, The Real World. Back in 1992, not only did we discover what happens when people stopped being polite, we also saw real GenX conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and abortion. These roommates had a lot to say and audiences tuned in to hear it. But now, decades later, does anyone over 50 really want to hear what 19-year-olds have to say about anything? And how do the concerns of 1990's young adults compare to today's batch of world

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49:25

Ep 246: "Splash" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/06/04

Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks came, saw, swam, and conquered the box office in Ron Howard's hit, Splash. Audiences couldn't get enough of the boy-meets-mermaid romcom back in 1984. Who could blame them? With iconic scenes (lobster, anyone?), cool underwater sequences, and great supporting work from John Candy, Splash was an all-around crowd pleaser. But now, forty years later, will our common sense still allow us to get lost at sea? Does Allen even deserve true love? And why is Madison so horny? The

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58:33

Ep 245: "Postcards From the Edge" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/05/28

“It twirrrrrrled up!” Back in 1990, Mike Nichols’ “Postcards from the Edge” also twirled up some big box office. Meryl Streep and Shirley Maclaine laughed, cried, and sang their way to critical and audience acclaim, thanks Carrie Fisher’s acerbic script, loosely based on Fisher’s life and best-selling novel. But these days, how much sympathy can we truly “twirl up” for these privileged, fictious, and moneyed movie stars? Do we still buy Ms. Meryl as a recovering pill-popping drug addict? Would we

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65:41

Ep 244: "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/05/21

"My son is not a freak!" No, there was nothing subtle about the 1976 John Travolta made-for-TV movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, yet we remember it fondly. Sun-dappled horses, loving parents, and a kindhearted kid in a plastic tube certainly ring the bells of nostalgia, but how well do we really remember it? Is Gina just a girl next door or a cold-blooded, money hungry bully? Is the family doctor a savior or ... something else? And why does this "boy" look 35? The Old Roommates rub on the

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45:09

Ep 243: "Sister Act" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/05/14

Whoopi Goldberg was a nun on the run in the 1992 megahit Sister Act. The Emile Ardolino directed comedy had its offering plate overflowing in box office bucks, with audiences unable to get enough of the film's pop-song-singing Sisters. But now, decades later, is the novelty of the "nunsense" enough to sustain a rewatch? Does the movie still take us to church, or have us reaching for earplugs? And what on earth is an acclaimed actress like Maggie Smith doing in this thing? The Old Roommates get down

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67:56

Ep 242: "Boogie Nights" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/05/07

Marky Mark in a movie about porn? Sign us up! Yes, back in 1997, the anticipation for the film Boogie Nights was bigger than Mark Wahlberg's 13-inch prosthetic penis. Back then, the story of Dirk Diggler certainly was exciting, but it was also depressing as f*ck. But now, decades later, does the A-list cast outweigh all the moaning about what this film wasn't? Why did Burt Reynolds hate one of his most-acclaimed films? And are these the most fun-looking pool parties ever? The Old Roommates grab

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49:44

Ep 241: "Temple of Doom" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/04/30

We need to talk about Willie. Any fan of Indiana Jones holds a special place for Willie Scott, the oh-so-loud lounge singer played by Kate Capshaw in 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. But is that special place in their hearts or in hell? Now decades later, does time heal all cinematic wounds? Has Harrison Ford ever looked better? And why did Ke Huy Quan's Short Round never get a spin-off? The Old Roommates hop in a mine cart and revisit the Steven Spielberg adventure through their

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31:55

Ep 240: "Election" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/04/23

Reese Witherspoon's 11th film, Election, nabbed her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, and turned her into a critics' darling. Though the movie vanished at the box office, Reese's Tracy Enid Flick was unforgettable. But how well do we remember the rest of this dark comedy, 25 years after its release? Is Matthew Broderick's boyish charm enough to forgive his sleazeball character? Are elections ever a laughing matter? The Old Roommates share their vote regarding the 1999 Alexander Payne film

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38:11

Ep 239: "Better Off Dead" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/04/16

"I'm sorry I blew up your mom, Ricky." This line was uttered by Lane Meyer. Lane neglects his chores. Flunks his classes. Drives recklessly. And falls asleep on the job. And he's the good guy. Yes, back in 1985, audiences loved a John Cusack anti-hero. But now, decades later, do we want our 95 minutes and our two dollars back? Is our nostalgia for this little comedy strong enough to withstand its light grasp on parenthood, heartbreak, and ski safety? And, is suicide ever funny? The Old Roommates

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65:58

Ep 238: "The Shawshank Redemption" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/04/09

"The Shawshank Redemption" RevisitedThe voice of Morgan Freeman helped a prison movie break into the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. Back in 1994, everyone was swooning over convicted killers, thieves, and other criminals in Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption. Based on a novella by Stephen King and graced with an odd name, the movie got shanked at the box office but soon became a classic on video. Now, thirty years later, should this violent yet heartwarming tale be approved as a classic or

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30:47

Ep 237: "1982's One-Hit Wonders" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/04/02

"Come On Eileen" and "Mickey" were two iconic tunes from the early 1980s. Both were #1 hits. Both were about objects of affection. And both were earworms we couldn't get enough of. But how well do we remember their music videos? Did it turn the earworms into eyesores? Were Dexy's Midnight Runners in need of new clothes and a bath? Did Toni Basil's crush on Mickey border on crazy? And why is it okay for 80s men to grope women but not for women to even talk about groping men? The Old Roommates get

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54:24

Ep 236: "The Lost Boys" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/03/26

“The bloodsucking Brady Brunch.” As we learned from 1987’s The Lost Boys: vampires are people too. From shop owners to runaways to hippie teens who love concerts, vampires were everywhere. And movie audiences couldn’t get enough of them. A 17-year-old Kiefer Sutherland led a fanged gang while “the Coreys” (Haim and Feldman) fended them off. But now, decades later, does this adolescent adventure kinda suck? Or does it hold up better than bat feet in a cave? The Old Roommates put on some garlic

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56:24

Ep 235: "Bound" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/03/19

Live nude girls! Now that we have your attention, let’s discuss 1996’s lesbian-lovers crime thriller, Bound. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon stole scenes while their characters stole mafia money. Upon release, people couldn’t stop talking about the Wachowskis stylish directorial debut … they just couldn’t see it. Available only in limited release then, the film achieved iconic LGBTQ status on DVD. But now, decades later, were we all hot and bothered for nothing? The Old Roommates pour some black

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54:58

Ep 234: "Look Who’s Talking" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/03/12

Bruce Willis and Kirstie Alley brought their TV comedy chops to a romcom with a baby-voiced twist, Look Who’s Talking. The 1989 flick delivered big numbers at the box office, spawned two sequels, and gave John Travolta a career rebirth. But now, decades later, has the new-baby smell worn off? Are toddlers and romantic comedies ever a winning formula? And what on earth is Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis doing in this? The Old Roommates tie on some bibs and feast their eyes on this Amy Heckerling smash

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54:57

Ep 233: "Speed" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/03/05

Keanu Reeves got buff and buzzed for his action-hero turn in 1994's runaway hit, "Speed." The movie hit the ground running, delivering two hours of suspense, big numbers at the box office, and a star-making performance from Sandra Bullock. But now, decades later, does our common sense pump the brakes on all the sideswiping shenanigans? Is Dennis Hopper's "Payne" a madman with a heart of gold? And can a city bus really clear a 50ft jump? The Old Roommates buckle up and revisit the bomb-on-a-bus

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74:40

Ep 232: "Newhart" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/02/27

Bob Newhart struck sitcom gold for a second time with the 1982 launch of Newhart. The TV comedy featuring Manhattanites who open a Vermont B&B welcomed oodles of quirky characters, fans, and dozens of Emmy nominations. It also introduced the world to “Larry, Darryl, and Darryl” in its second episode, and swapped out a chunk of the cast by its third season. The show was a mainstay for CBS for eight years. But now, decades later, is the sitcom’s stagey setup nostalgic or annoying? Do its offbeat

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74:24

Ep 231: "Pete’s Dragon (1977)" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/02/20

He had the head of a camel and the neck of a crocodile, but back in 1977, the one thing Pete’s Dragon didn’t have was much love from the critics. For all its star power, courtesy of Helen Reddy, Shelley Winters, Jim Dale, Red Buttons, and Mickey Rooney, the Disney live-action-meets-animated adventure did only flittering box office. But now, decades later, was the movie as misunderstood as Pete? How does the Oscar-nominated ballad “Candle on the Water” hold up against other Disney songs? And why was

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60:01

Ep 230: "Sixteen Candles" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/02/13

She's back! Our beloved bestie, fan favorite, and John Hughes aficionado, Naomi returns to the pod. This time around, she's joining an oh-so shallow dive into the 1984 classic, "Sixteen Candles." Back in its heyday, the film was an instant hit, thanks to its lovable characters, outrageous antics, and the man of every Gen Xer’s dream, Jake Ryan. But now, decades later, has the movie aged appropriately? Is Long Duk Dong's gong iconic or horrific? And is Anthony Michael Hall's Geek too good for Molly

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60:07

Ep 229: "Sex, Lies and Videotape" Revisited

Old Roommates ·

2024/02/06

"I'm impotent" may not be the most amazing of conversation starters today, but back in 1989 it was ... also not amazing. But for the characters of Steven Soderbergh's big debut, "sex, lies, and videotape," it's just par for the course. Yes, everyone in this indie classic has a fascinating relationship with sex (and, so it seems, with lying). Decades later, will this groundbreaker still thrill when we turn it on? Is James Spader's Graham a good guy or just plain gross? And why is the dive bar Laura

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308 results

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