We've got a new best friend , and it's Alison Rosen ! She drops by to discuss the Oscar-nominated Being the Ricardos , a movie that expresses Aaron Sorkin's deep and not at all bizarre understanding of how TV comedy works, and how it's the most solemn, earth-shaking thing that could ever exist, filled with people staring very seriously at jokes until their genius strikes them and they spew an impeccably-worded monologue about someone slipping on bananas, or whatever. Wikipedia entry for Being th...
Feb 26, 2022•2 hr 57 min•Ep. 363
Who's winning in our brackets? Find out here, without even having to check Twitter!
Feb 25, 2022•7 min•Ep. 386
We're going to do something a little different for this year's Maximum Fun donors exclusive bonus episode -- our first full-length movie commentary! And we're going to let YOU pick which of our previously-discussed Flop House faves we're recording a commentary for! We've put together a bracket, and starting on Monday, and going for four weeks in total, we'll be running Twitter polls at @theflophousepod to determine which fan-favorite movie will be revisited! But fear not! Even if you're NOT a Ma...
Feb 19, 2022•48 min
We're joined by bestselling children's book author and illustrator Adam Rex , to discuss the misbegotten Dungeons & Dragons movie from 2000. What does he know about D&D, oh, we dunno... just that he was an illustrator for a little book called... THE MONSTER MANUAL (3rd edition)? Ever heard of it? (...plus a ton of other D&D manuals, Magic the Gathering cards, and other role playing and fantasy games). Join us as we point our magic missles at this magic misfire. Wikipedia entry for Dungeons & Dra...
Feb 12, 2022•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 362
We're joined by Erik Marcisak , the man who holds a hallowed place in Flop House history, as the man who introduced Dan and Elliott to one another. We reminisce with Erik about the old days, doing shows in his tiny comedy theater; then we segue into a discussion of Nukie , one of the bad movies that bonded him with Elliott; and wrap up with Erik subtly hijacking the show to interview us for a little bit....
Feb 05, 2022•52 min•Ep. 385
Here's a new one -- two of the credited writers of Accidental Love (aka "Nailed," the movie that went through so many production issues that director David O. Russell asked for his name to be removed) actually PITCHED their own movie to us to cover. That's right, Elliott's colleagues, Matt Silverstein and Dave Jeser , join us to discuss this legendarily troubled film, and they seem just as baffled as anyone about it! Wikipedia entry for Accidental Love Movies recommended in this episode: Tenebra...
Jan 29, 2022•2 hr 45 min•Ep. 361
Scott Meslow , author of the soon-to-be-released (Feb 1st!) book "From Hollywood With Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy ," joins us to explain the surprising interconnectedness of Netflix's holiday romcom offerings. Praise for Scott's book: “ From Hollywood With Love gives rom-coms the analysis and respect they finally deserve, especially since part of the snobbery around them is rooted in misogyny.” - Rachel Bloom, comedian, actress, and writer...
Jan 22, 2022•49 min•Ep. 384
Up until now, Audrey has been like one of those sitcom characters who's oft-referenced, but remains unseen, but now it's time for her to take the spotlight! Did we mention that Dan married her in November? Mazel tov, etc. And for such a joyous occasion the boys have given themselves a break by watching a movie that many people have goofed on, but they were all pretty sure they'd actually enjoy -- Lady Gaga's accent extravaganza, House of Gucci ! Wikipedia entry for House of Gucci Movies recommen...
Jan 15, 2022•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 360
Author and host of Max Fun 's very own Feeling Seen podcast , Jordan Crucchiola , joins us to talk about Georgia Rule , the film she claims has the largest discrepancy between what the viewer expects the movie to be and what it actually is. CONTENT WARNING: includes references to sexual assault, a surprising element in the film's plot that certainly took us off guard, so we don't want you to have to experience the same surprise, if you're not up for it....
Jan 08, 2022•54 min
In what has become a mini-tradition, we kick off the new year with an examination of last year's biggest musical flop. Unfortunately this one has a lot fewer cats and a lot more lying to a grieving family, and it's called Dear Evan Hansen . Joining us for the discussion is noted bar owner, Stuart wife, and DEH-on-Broadway-hater, Sharlene Wellington ! Wikipedia entry for Dear Evan Hansen Movies recommended in this episode: Nightmare Alley House of Gucci The Worst Person in the World The Year of t...
Jan 01, 2022•2 hr 53 min•Ep. 359
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! Here's our gift to you -- a mini recorded LIVE from another special occasion: Elliott's birthday weekend! Before Omicron showed up to shut things down again, Dan and Stu and fam flew out to Los Angeles, to a beautiful house Elliott's wife had rented for the occasion, to celebrate four decades of that talkative special guy, Elliott Charles Kalan! We talk about growing older and being adults, but with jokes. With cameos from whomever happened to be around fo...
Dec 25, 2021•31 min
Is it Cagemas already? Seems like it comes earlier every year. At any rate, Saint Nicolas Cage has left us something awfully spicy beneath the tree this year. It's a giant slice of deep-fried southern ham, with big performances from Cage, KaDee Strickland, and Money Plane 's Kelsey Grammer. Dare you join us for a visit to Grand Isle ? Wikipedia entry for Grand Isle Movies recommended in this episode: Copshop The Fable The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill Malcolm X...
Dec 18, 2021•2 hr 37 min•Ep. 358
When last we left our doggie heroes, they had made their way inside the house, and thus far managed to protect the adorable kitten, Cutiepie -- but they STILL haven't scored any of that delicious chili, and their antics continue to threaten the farmer's daughter's wedding day. What will happen?!? Give a listen and see! (If you want to listen to the previous FlopTales RPG adventures, consider becoming a MaxFun member , and checking out the bonus feed!)...
Dec 11, 2021•57 min
The jolly bearded man himself, Alonso Duralde , writer of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas and co-host of Max Fun's own Maximum Film , as well as many , many other things , joins us to talk about the LEGENDARILY strange 1985 would-be Christmas blockbuster Santa Claus: The Movie , along with the usual shenanigans. Wikipedia entry for Santa Claus: The Movie Movies recommended in this episode: Licorice Pizza Blade of the Immortal Climate of the Hunter Original Cast Album: Company The Last of ...
Dec 04, 2021•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 357
Stuart leads Dan, Elliott, and friend of flop Zhubin Parang in part one (of two) of a short role-playing game. Listeners may already be familiar with the Hogsbottom Three from our appearance on The Adventure Zone, or from bonus episodes only available on the Maximum Fun member feed. (If you want to listen to the latter, consider becoming a MaxFun member! ) This adventure is kind of like those, except what if our characters were cartoon dogs?
Nov 27, 2021•49 min•Ep. 383
Hey, remember Crocodile Dundee? Remember him? Croc? Ol' Mick Dundee? Remember? Crocodile? Crocky D? Anyone? Well, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee is about how no one remembers Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan, and he's also somehow the most important star in Hollywood. Take this strange journey with us, and with our delightful guest Ben Harrison , of The Greatest Generation . Wikipedia entry for The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Movies recommended in this episode: Last Night in Soho Riders of Justice ...
Nov 20, 2021•2 hr 46 min•Ep. 382
Elliott ACTUALLY explains Adam Warlock.
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 381
Here we are in No-vember, best known for having "no" theme. And we kick the month off with one of the most star-studded movies that absolutely made no cultural footprint whatsoever that you could hope to see -- Breaking News in Yuba County . Wikipedia entry for Breaking News in Yuba County Movies recommended in this episode: Primal Rage Titane New York Ninja Dear Comrades...
Nov 06, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 380
Elliott talks to us about Adam Warlock.
Oct 30, 2021•42 min
We're joined for a second Shocktober by Edgar Award-winning bestselling author, screenwriter, and secret bad movie fan Gillian Flynn , to discuss The Unholy , a horror movie about a Three's Company-level name misunderstanding. Paste https://feeds.simplecast.com/EOAFriME into iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) to have new episodes of The Flop House delivered to you directly, as they’re released. Wikipedia entry for The Unholy Movies recommended in this episode: Grizzly II: Revenge Dea...
Oct 23, 2021•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 354
Those who woke up early this morning got the wrong episode -- due to a glitch, Dan ended up with a duplicate of an old file on his desktop, and that old episode is what he accidentally uploaded. This is just a note to let you know that if you delete the old file, and re-download today's episode, you will get the proper version of Episode #354 – The Unholy, with Gillian Flynn. It's a great episode that we're really excited about, so we'd hate for you to miss it! Thank you for bearing with us!...
Oct 23, 2021•1 min
Stuart's most ostentatiously-named mini format makes a triumphant return, as he talks to us about the Emmys, and current TV in general.
Oct 16, 2021•44 min
The star of the show has returned, to answer all of our questions about ghost-sightings, but also to discuss the somehow both boring and wild adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw , The Turning . Learn more about Max Fun's Block Party here ! Wikipedia entry for The Turning Movies recommended in this episode: The Fly To Live and Die in L.A. Breakdown We Need to Talk About Kevin...
Oct 09, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 353
The Super Mario Bros. live show had a thrilling, good-humored, and completely unexpected special guest in Parker Bennett, one of the film's (many) writers, who showed up in the chat purely to enjoy the show, but was happy to join us for a few minutes to talk about his experience making the movie. Time constraints prevented us from talking to him as long as we'd like, so we decided to have him on a minisode, where he could dish about the behind-the-scenes details at greater length. A NOTE: since ...
Sep 30, 2021•50 min•Ep. 379
Smalltember concludes with a doozy: Black Easter (previously titled Assassin 33 AD , in a slightly different edit) -- the movie that dares ask "What if someone killed Jesus? ...But not like, the people who ORIGINALLY killed Jesus. What if they were TIME TRAVELING MUSLIMS?" Content warning for all sorts of islamophobic and religious stuff, but honestly, this movie is WAY too silly for much of it to land. Mostly it makes for some great Flop Housing. The streaming LIVE SHOW is TONIGHT!!! — Tune in ...
Sep 25, 2021•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 352
Dan the infernal gamemaster returns to quiz Elliott and Stu on big Hollywood movies that the world has mostly forgotten.
Sep 18, 2021•32 min•Ep. 378
America's foremost hedgehog expert , Jamelle Bouie , returns to usher in Smalltember (vember) 2021, with our discussion of the make-work project for Dean Cain and Tara Reid, Andy the Talking Hedgehog . LIVE SHOW ALERT! — We’ll be doing another streaming live show, delivered directly to your computers or whatever you use for these things! Tune in on to watch us discuss the “classic” 1993 flop Super Mario Bros. , do a few presentations, take a few questions via Twitter, and other assorted nonsense...
Sep 11, 2021•2 hr 45 min•Ep. 351
Elliott asks Stu and Dan questions about video game movies in the form of a retro video game of the mind. Don't worry; it makes sense when you listen. Mostly. And if you want more talk about video game movies, get tickets for our streaming live show about Super Mario Bros . by clicking HERE ! Extra thanks this week to our producer and musical genius Alex Smith for the video game soundscape, and the 8-bit Flop House theme! Thank you to Lumi Labs for sponsoring this episode, along with all you won...
Sep 04, 2021•59 min•Ep. 377
If the boss baby from The Boss Baby: Family Business can enlist her family for their wacky adventures, then why can't Elliott make this a little more interesting by turning the podcast into his own little family business? His eldest son, Sammy, joins us for the movie discussion portion of the show! LIVE SHOW ALERT! — We’ll be doing another streaming live show, delivered directly to your computers or whatever you use for these things! Tune in on to watch us discuss the “classic” 1993 flop Super M...
Aug 28, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 350
Stuart asks his friends a bunch of questions about themselves, and Dan and Elliott answer surprisingly sincerely. But don't worry-- there are still jokes.
Aug 21, 2021•55 min•Ep. 376
