Every Rom Com - podcast cover

Every Rom Com

Jennifer Howellevery-rom-com.castos.com
Every Rom Com is an entertainment podcast where we have fun taking romantic comedies seriously. We cover a wide range of romantic comedies from classic to contemporary, blockbusters to independents. Our podcast goes beyond the usual suspects to include movies with diverse casts and LGBT representation, and we may also branch out into foreign films. In addition to providing reviews, we also provide cultural analysis and feminist perspectives. This podcast is intended for mature audiences and may, at times, contain adult language or subject matter.

Episodes

Every Rom Com 74: Pretty Woman

This week on Every Rom Com we’re continuing our L.A. Stories series with a 1990 rom com classic that travels from the gritty streets of Hollywood Boulevard to the snooty boutiques of Beverly Hills - “Pretty Woman”! We’ll discuss the movie’s unusual journey to the screen, explore the careers of Richard Gere and Garry Marshall, and dip into the topic of sex work in movies, and stop to appreciate the film’s many iconic moments and locations! Don’t miss this episode - It would be a “big mistake… hug...

Jun 19, 20252 hr 38 minEp. 74

Every Rom Com 73: The Idea of You

This week Every Rom Com tackles the world of paparazzi, Coachella, and boy bands, as we discuss the 2024 age-gap romance - “The Idea of You!” We’ll talk about the challenges of love with a celebrity, discuss our own boy band and celebrity fandoms, pick our favorite songs by movie band August Moon, and express our appreciation for the many women involved in the film - including its writers and producers. If you need a break from reality, join us for a few hours with this fun, feminist fantasy we ...

May 23, 20252 hr 46 minEp. 73

Every Rom Com 72: L.A. Story

Every Rom Com is relaunching our L.A. Stories series with the movie it’s named after - the delightful 1991 Steve Martin film - “L.A. Story”! Joined by the hosts of the Get Me Another podcast, we unpack L.A. stereotypes and truisms, do a deep dive into Steve Martin’s career, and embrace the magic of talking freeway signs, Shakespearean gravediggers, and spinning spokesmodels named SanDeE*! You won’t want to miss a moment of this funny and informative conversation! 0:00-1:10 Pre-Show Message 1:10-...

Mar 14, 20252 hr 25 minEp. 72

Every Rom Com Now Streaming February 2025

Every Rom Com is back with an episode of Now Streaming for February 2025. We know times are tough right now, so we’re recommending eight movies and TV shows full of romance, travel, and love at any age to help you find some welcome rest and distraction. Whether you live near the Gulf of Mexico, near Denali National Park, or somewhere outside of the United States like Canada or Greenland, we hope we’re able to recommend something you’ll love.

Feb 12, 202533 min

Every Rom Com 71: Valley Girl

He’s cool; she’s hot. She’s from the Valley; he’s not! This weekend stop the world and melt with Every Rom Com as we enter our “L.A. Stories” series with the 1983 cult classic “Valley Girl.” We’ll discuss pioneering female director Martha Coolidge, get into the movie’s bitchin’ soundtrack, and of course dive deep into Valley Girl culture. We’ll also tackle important topics, like “what’s up with that crazy clown doll?” IYKYK 0:00-8:43 Intro, Favorite L.A.-Set Movies 8:43-23:30 Trailer, Basic Info...

Oct 25, 20242 hr 23 minEp. 71

Every Rom Com Now Streaming: May 2024

This month our bonus show, Now Streaming, has turned into a Nicholas Galitzine love-fest, with 3 of our 8 picks featuring this versatile actor! We also tip our hats to Glen Powell, Miles Teller, and Josh O’Connor, each of whom we’d like to see in more romance. And we celebrate rom coms that made us laugh, including one of Jen’s favorite rom coms of the 21st century, “I Want You Back”! Check out these picks and more as Jen and Cybil recommend rom com and rom com adjacent movies and TV shows that ...

May 23, 202422 min

Every Rom Com 70: Drive Me Crazy

This week on Every Rom Com, we continue our High School Movies series with a look at the under-seen 1999 gem, “Drive Me Crazy”! We discuss the careers of stars Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier; highlight songs from the movie’s eclectic soundtrack; and open with a discussion of some of our favorite comfort rom coms! Plus, don’t miss our double feature recommendations for your next rom com movie marathon! 0:00-11:02 Introduction; What Are Your Comfort Rom-Coms? 11:02-20:58 TRAILER Basic Info; ...

May 04, 20242 hr 11 minEp. 70

Every Rom Com Now Streaming April 2024

Every Rom Com is back with our special bonus show, Now Streaming! It’s been 2 years, so Cybil and Jen have saved up some treasures to recommend, from Oscar nominees like “Past Lives” to the latest Netflix releases like “Players”! Jen will also wax poetic about her affection for the free streaming service, Tubi! Join us now for another set of rom-com and rom-com adjacent recommendations! Find us: everyromcom.com Follow us: Facebook: Every Rom Com Podcast & Blog Instagram: @everyromcom Twitter...

Apr 13, 202423 min

Every Rom Com 69: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Every Rom Com is back with episode 69 (dudes!), and nothing could be more fitting than taking a trip back in time to one of the most famous bromances of all with 1989’s “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”! Jen is joined by David Rosen of the Piecing it Together podcast and her most excellent brother and history aficionado, Ishtar Howell, to discuss what’s so great about this movie, and learn some historical and cinematic facts along the way! As always, stay tuned to the very end for some bodaci...

Jan 30, 20242 hr 32 minEp. 69

Every Rom Com 68: Grease

This week Every Rom Com continues our high school movies series with one of the most popular musicals of all time - “Grease”! We discuss cast members John Travolta and Stockard Channing, talk about our favorite songs and most relatable Pink Ladies, and sift through the feminist and not-so-feminist aspects of this late 70’s film. We’re joined this week by returning guest, Steve from the For me these Films R the Juice movie podcast! 0:00-11:20 Introduction with guest Steve Doyle from For me these ...

Nov 16, 20232 hr 12 minEp. 68

Every Rom Com 67: Alex Strangelove

This week on Every Rom Com we’re exploring the world of gay teen rom coms as we discuss “Alex Strangelove” with Clayton from the Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies podcast. We talk about coming out narratives and coming out in real life; discuss the movie’s hilarious scenes, hot chemistry, and what we thought could have been better; and we get into the careers of up and coming actors Daniel Doheny and Antonio Marziale, and director Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins”, “Wilson”). This episode gets ...

Sep 14, 20232 hr 50 minEp. 67

Every Rom Com 66: To All The Boys I've Loved Before

This week Every Rom Com is leaving John Hughes (mostly) behind to enter the world of the Netflix teen rom com, with the popular 2018 streaming hit, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”! We’ll discuss the film’s Asian-American representation, talk about the trend of YA novel adaptations, explore the fake-dating trope, and rate Peter Kavinsky as a rom com love interest! Cybil and Jen are joined this week by Ryan Pak, from the Soundtrack Your Life podcast! 0:00-11:21 Introducing Ryan Pak from the So...

Aug 19, 20232 hr 24 min

Every Rom Com 65: Sixteen Candles

This week on Every Rom Com we’re diving deep on the first of the John Hughes teen rom coms, “Sixteen Candles”! We’ll discuss the cultural associations with turning sixteen, as well as the enduring charm of Molly Ringwald, and how Jake Ryan became one of the most memorable and desirable cinematic love interests. We’ll also dig into several ways this movie hasn’t aged well, from sexual harassment and rape culture, to the complex layers of Gedde Watanabe’s portrayal of the foreign exchange student,...

Aug 05, 20232 hr 51 minEp. 65

Every Rom Com 64: Some Kind of Wonderful

“Some Kind of Wonderful” may be the last of the John Hughes teen rom coms, but it’s first in our hearts! This week Sophia and Jen are joined by Neil, the man behind the popular Twitter account @neilbelieves, to discuss one of our favorites, as we continue our High School Movies series! We’ll look into the troubled development phase of the movie, which temporarily drew in another legendary director; we’ll explore the careers of Mary Stuart Masterson, Eric Stoltz, and Lea Thompson; we’ll discuss t...

Jul 01, 20232 hr 34 minEp. 64

Every Rom Com 63: Can't Hardly Wait

This week, join all 4 original hosts of Every Rom Com as we kick off our High School movies series by celebrating the 25th anniversary of “Can’t Hardly Wait”! Find out which characters ended up on the cutting room floor, which actor was so stoned he couldn’t remember shooting the movie, and which future stars showed up in minor roles! Plus, we start the whole show off with a high school movies trivia quiz and later get personal and share who we were in our senior years! Whether you were a ‘Denis...

Jun 12, 20232 hr 28 minEp. 63

Every Rom Com 62: Mamma Mia

This week on Every Rom Com we finish our Musicals series with a wedding, a Greek island, three possible dads, and an ABBA explosion, as we take on the blockbuster jukebox musical, “Mamma Mia!” We’ll talk about love over 40 with Poppy from Confessions of a Closet Romantic; give a brief introduction to ABBA, including some deep cuts; share an overview of Meryl Streep’s legendary career; and throw in some bizarre Greek mythology for good measure! We’ll also talk about the history of the jukebox mus...

Jun 10, 20232 hr 33 minEp. 62

Every Rom Com 61: Xanadu

This week on Every Rom Com, Jen and Cybil explore the magic of the 1980 cult classic “Xanadu”! If you’ve never seen it, check out our spoiler-free section to find out why you should! If you’re already a fan, join us for the lowdown on the script, cast & crew, filming locations, and more! We’ll also talk Greek muses, the roller-skating culture of the 70’s and 80’s, and the music of ELO and Olivia Newton-John! Don’t walk away - all you have to do is press play! 0:00-9:30 Introduction, The Musi...

Jun 01, 20232 hr 1 minEp. 61

Every Rom Com 60: The Music Man

This week our Musicals series leads us into contemporary topics of book bans, moral panics, and representation as Jen discusses “The Music Man” with Jess Salow, an archivist and Curator of Black Collections at the Arizona State University Library and the co-host of the Bawdy Literati Podcast! We also cover the impressive careers of Meredith Wilson, Robert Preston, and Shirley Jones; talk about the making of the film; sigh over the romance of it all; and Jen sings far too many song snippets! Don’...

May 25, 20232 hr 36 minEp. 60

Every Rom Com 59: On The Town

Join Every Rom Com as we continue our Musicals series with “On The Town”, a film with an all-star cast, including the legendary Gene Kelly! We’ll discuss the innovations Kelly brought to the movie musical, talk about actresses Vera Ellen and Betty Garrett, and choose our favorite songs and dance numbers! We’ll also discuss the real-life inspiration for Miss Turnstiles - New York City’s Miss Subways pageant! Whether you’re into film history or men in uniform, don’t miss our episode on this 1940’s...

May 11, 20232 hr 8 minEp. 59

Every Rom Com 58: Top Hat

Join Every Rom Com as we begin our Musicals series with the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers classic “Top Hat”! We talk about the early days of musicals, and how Astaire revolutionized the genre; we discuss Rogers’ own genius and how she stuck by a costuming choice that elevated one of cinema’s most iconic scenes; and we discuss whether there may have been a gay subtext at play in scenes between hilarious character actors Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore! All this and much more as we dive into a m...

Apr 19, 20232 hr 19 minEp. 58

Every Rom Com 57: Think Like A Man

Join Every Rom Com as we wrap up our Self-Help series with a look at the powerhouse ensemble rom com “Think Like A Man.” We’ll discuss some of the talented black cast and crew, including director Tim Story and actress Regina Hall. We’ll share our thoughts on the dating and relationship dilemmas encountered by the film’s characters. And we’ll give our opinions on the best-selling Steve Harvey dating advice book that inspired the movie: “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man.” We’re joined this week b...

Mar 27, 20232 hr 37 minEp. 57

Every Rom Com 56: He's Just Not That Into You

This week on Every Rom Com, we go deeper into the self-help movie genre, with a look at an ensemble rom com based on one of the most successful dating advice books of the 2000’s. We’ll explore an all-star cast, including Ginnifer Goodwin and Justin Long. We’ll talk about the movie and book’s relationship advice and whether it holds up in 2023. And we’ll rank the storylines from worst to best as we discuss the 2009 hit movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You.” This episode features returning guest Ja...

Mar 06, 20232 hr 1 minEp. 56

Every Rom Com 55: Man Up

This week on Every Rom Com, we continue our Self-Help series with a blind date gone sideways in the 2015 film “Man Up.” We’ll talk about personal mantras and resolutions, discuss the fictional self-help book “Six Billion People And You”, and give some ideas for good first date questions. We’ll also take a look at Tess Morris, a screenwriter who improves the wacky misunderstanding genre by moving the uncomfortable truth into the second act. Tune in and find out why we all enjoyed this Lake Bell/S...

Feb 14, 20232 hr 4 minEp. 55

Every Rom Com 54: Eat Pray Love

This week on Every Rom Com we’re continuing our Self-Help Series with perhaps the ultimate story of healing through travel - “Eat Pray Love.” We’ll talk about how the best-selling book became a hit film; discuss author Elizabeth Gilbert, director Ryan Murphy, and more; and co-hosts Serena and Asa will inspire you with their thoughts about traveling solo as women. As always, stick around for our double feature recommendations, where we’ll recommend more women-led films to inspire your future adve...

Jan 27, 20232 hr 28 minEp. 54

Every Rom Com 53: Yes Man

This week on Every Rom Com we’re beginning our Self-Help Series with a look at the 2008 movie “Yes Man”! Joined by David Rosen of the Piecing it Together podcast, we explore the careers of Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel, dig into behind the scenes info, and get a bit personal as we talk about saying “yes” in our own lives. We’ll also talk to David a little bit about his new album, “More Content”! And stay tuned to the whole show for your chance to win a copy of the book “Yes Man” by Danny Wallac...

Jan 04, 20232 hr 31 minEp. 53

Every Rom Com 52: White Christmas

Just in time for Christmas, Every Rom Com has paired up with Poppy from Confessions of a Closet Romantic to bring you one of the most beloved Christmas classics of all-time, “White Christmas.” In addition to a fair amount of gushing over costumes, music, and romance, we’ll also give you an historical overview of the song “White Christmas”, its connection to World War 2, and its writer Irving Berlin. We wrap the whole thing up with double feature recommendations, including some black and white cl...

Dec 24, 20222 hr 24 minEp. 52

Every Rom Com 51: The Preacher's Wife

This week on Every Rom Com we’re going to church with the women of the Bawdy Literati podcast, as we discuss the holiday rom com “The Preacher’s Wife”! We’ll learn about the history of angels and talk about angels in pop culture. We’ll cover the careers of some of the heaviest hitters yet as we discuss Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington, and Penny Marshall! And we’ll touch upon issues of racial and economic justice, as we talk about the film’s subplots, and as our guest, Jess Salow, tells us a l...

Dec 17, 20222 hr 26 minEp. 51

Every Rom Com 50: Dashing In December

This week on Every Rom Com, we’re spending Christmas at the ranch as we discuss the gay Christmas rom com “Dashing in December”! Joined by guest Billy Ray Brewton of The Incinerator Podcast and Scripts Gone Wild, we explore both the tired tropes and unexpected delights of made-for-TV Christmas rom coms, and introduce you to some queer creators who are beginning to shake up the genre. Then we wrap up the episode with some holiday double feature ideas you won’t want to miss! 0:00-15:53 Introductio...

Dec 05, 20222 hr 20 minEp. 50

Every Rom Com 49: The Love Witch

This week on Every Rom Com, prepare to be enchanted as a beginner witch (Jen) and an experienced witch (Cybil) introduce you to Anna Biller’s visually sumptuous masterpiece, “The Love Witch.” In addition to behind the scenes info and film commentary, we’ll also talk tarot, love magic, and love addiction, as we cover a film about the darker side of romance. We may be past Halloween, but any time is a good time to discover this 2016 cult classic! 0:00-6:32 Introduction, Favorite Witchcraft Movies ...

Nov 20, 20222 hr 32 minEp. 49

Every Rom Com 48: Once Bitten

This week on Every Rom Com, find out what happens when a vampire movie meets an 80’s teen sex comedy, as we cover one of Jim Carrey’s earliest movies - 1985’s “Once Bitten.” Joined by David Rosen of the Piecing It Together podcast, we’ll look into the influences that went into this movie, from the historical Countess Elizabeth Bathory, to earlier vampire films, to teen virginity loss comedies. We’ll discuss actors Lauren Hutton, Karin Kopins, and Cleavon Little. And we’ll laugh at some ridiculou...

Oct 30, 20222 hr 7 minEp. 48
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