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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

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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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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