"No, I think the moral of the story here is you should be happy with who you are. This whole time we've been spending money on expensive clothes to impress people. Never made me happy. No. Happ; -Oh, my gosh. Happiness is on the inside. I'm not this..I'm not what I wear. I'M NOT WHAT I WEAR!" It's BJ's birthday and the final week of MAY-usical Month! We're joined by the man who gave this very podcast its name, jack of all trades and delightful human being, Michael Varrati to discuss one of BJ's ...
May 27, 2021•1 hr 19 min
"You didn't need my help. You just thought you did. Believe in yourself, Cinderella, and trust him to love you as you really are." For the third week of MAY-usical Month, we're joined by Venchise Glenn to look at one of the most successful TV Movies of all time, CINDERELLA (1997). Harmony gushes over the costumes, BJ reminisces about being a baby belt singer, and Venchise dives deep into what happens when beloved characters are re-cast with Black actors. ----- Articles Discussed The Whitney/Bran...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 21 min
"Your body is imperfectly perfect. Everyone wants what the other one's working." TW/CW: Bullying, disordered eating, and sexual assault. If you have to skip this week, we understand, and we love you. In the second installment for MAY-usical month, we're looking at the music movie written, directed, produced, starring, and designed by Melanie Martinez, K-12. BJ helps break down the events of childhood trauma discussed through song in the film, and Harmony does double duty with emotional labor by ...
May 13, 2021•2 hr
“If you think this is just some high school club where you can sing and dance your way through any social issue or confused sexuality, you have come to the wrong place. There is none of that here. That's high school. This shit is real life.” It's MAY-usical month and we're kicking things off with the aca-beloved start of the smash-hit trilogy, PITCH PERFECT (2012). BJ painfully relives the days of swing choir, Harmony gets to flex her music appreciation muscles, and the Wives Colangelo desperate...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 23 min
"Gary, I want you to know that I really appreciate what you've done for me. You've been a true friend." In honor of Mike "McBeardo" McPadden, the wives are joined by Wes Allen of the 'Why Did We Ever Meet?' podcast (and the father of BJ & H$'s niece and nephew) to talk about the super intense yet progressive drama disguised as a teen sex-comedy, THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN (1982). Misunderstood upon release, the three make the case for a reappraisal and argue this is the kind of movie the LGBTQ...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 33 min
"You should write a book: How To Offend Women In Five Syllables Or Less." We're back with another animated feature, 1994's THE SWAN PRINCESS. BJ spends the entire episode trying to convince Harmony this is an important movie, Harmony hops on her anti-House of Mouse soapbox, and both say "Derek" like THE GOOD PLACE way too many times. (Sorry!) ----- Articles Discussed The Swan Princess--From Flop to Franchise: https://www.themarysue.com/swan-princess-anniversary-from-flop-to-franchise/ ----- Beco...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 16 min
"I need to know there's a way out of this place." By popular request, The Wives are back with a horror movie, and one that went unfortunately underseen, 2019's KNIVES AND SKIN. BJ talks about de-stigmatizing risky behavior among teen girls figuring themselves out, Harmony talks about the disconnect between parents and teens making sense of our constantly traumatic world, and both pay respects to adventurous and subversive filmmaking. ----- Articles Discussed Knives And Skin (2019) Is An Amazing ...
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 32 min
"I'm a loser, I'm trouble and I'm stupid. It's basic genetics. Can't help it." We're back with another body swap film, this time the giant ball of cringe better known as IT'S A BOY GIRL THING. Join as Harmony explains why the U.S. Military no longer sends her recruitment calls, BJ uncovers a conspiracy theory surrounding this film, and both debate why a movie that has such potential to be queer positive is instead so aggressively heteronormative. ----- Become a Patron! www.patreon.com/thisendsat...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 19 min
"I may be a beginner at some things, but I've got a black belt in shopping." Gather round you friends of mine! We're Wilderness Girls and IT'S COOKIE TIME! This week we're having a thrill of a time with TROOP BEVERLY HILLS. Harmony talks about the time her Boy Scout leader embezzled popcorn fundraiser money, BJ tackles the complications of femme representation, and together the wives discuss whether or not "eat the rich" includes these Beverly Hills families. ----- Become a Patron! www.patreon.c...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 23 min
"I guess you just had to think about it the right way." Sometimes the world of womanhood is not a fun, bright, poppy, or safe place. This week, the wives dive into one of the most polarizing films in recent memory, and discuss some really difficult topics presented in the film and their own lives. Trigger Warning. **** Articles Discussed this Episode Bright Wall Dark Room: Love, Friendship, and Vengeance: Reimagining Romance in Promising Young Woman What To Watch: Promising Young Woman's Ending ...
Mar 25, 2021•1 hr 47 min
"It's got to be that can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kind of stuff, right?" The wives are finally diving into a "real" Mary-Kate and Ashley movie and are joined by unofficial Olsen expert, Kristen Lopez! Together we break down the heartbreak of Kirstie Alley turning out to be a bigot, the struggles of cinematic representation of the foster care system, continue the debate about Steve Gutenberg's alleged hotness. and crave justice for Clarice Kensington! ...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 27 min
"Things sure have changed since we got kicked outta high school." Hey everyone, we're This Ends at Prom and this is 'Rock 'N Roll High School!" This episode is a celebration in punk rock, challenging the system, and the absolute icon Riff Randell. BJ confesses a secret band she loves, Harmony breaks down what it means to be a "real" punk, and we both explain why this movie only works because it's about The Ramones. Article Discussed this Episode: **** Minneapolis Post. - "Riff Randell Forever" V...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 16 min
"I just want them to know that they didn't break me." In honor of the 35th anniversary of the third in the John Hughes/Molly Ringwald trilogy, we're celebrating Andie Walsh and discussing all things 'Pretty in Pink.' BJ questionably defends the lovable albeit ignorant goof in Andrew McCarthy's "Blane," Harmony is ready to join the religion of Annie Potts' "Iona," and both have the conflicting conversation of just what we're supposed to do with Jon Cryer's "Duckie." Article Discussed this Episode...
Mar 04, 2021•1 hr 29 min
"To do something, anything, is hard. It's much easier to blame your father, your mother, the environment, the government, the lack of money, but even if you find a place to assign the blame,it doesn't make the problems go away." Kick on your dancing shoes and get ready to tango into some social emotional education, we're ending February with the criminally underappreciated TAKE THE LEAD with special guest, Bryce Evan Lewis. Harmony laments her own school's social upbringing in rural Ohio, BJ get...
Feb 25, 2021•1 hr 36 min
"Give her the right look, the right boyfriend, and bam. In six weeks she's being named prom queen." Did you miss us at the Reel Love film Festival? No worries, we've got the audio from our "lovecast" talking about the iconic teen masterpiece, She's All That. Harmony reinstates her war with 10 Things I Hate About You, BJ confesses her undying love to Rachel Leigh Cook, and both wives agree that Matthew Lillard makes everything better. Become a Patron! www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom Find the show ...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 21 min
"Okay? Okay." In a Very Special™ Valentine's Day episode of the podcast, the wives are doing a deep dive on everyone's favorite cancer romance story NOT by Nicholas Sparks, 2014's THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. This episode gets a little heavy, tackling both the offensive dismissal of the severity of the Holocaust and Anne Frank, and the romanticization of terminal illness. It's the episode where BJ cries! Article Discussed in today's episode--Is Anne Frank's Role In "The Fault In Our Stars" Offensive?...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 52 min
“Well, she is not a Zeta because she's our new hizzity house mother. She'll be hizzy-tizzy - - She'll be here all the time." The wives had a wedding cancelled by COVID so instead of getting a maid of honor speech, they've got a maid of honor GUEST. Joining BJ & Harmony is vintage dealer and Midwest fashion icon, Cassie Trainer. BJ worships at the altar of writers Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah, Harmony talks about her endless crush on Kat Dennings, and Cassie dives deep in the continued va...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 23 min
“We each need to find our own inspiration, Kiki. Sometimes it’s not easy.” It's our first animated film! The wives are moving out of Ohio and heading to start life anew in California, so it was only right to talk about another gal moving to a new city--Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service. BJ discusses her mixed feelings about moving into already settled places, Harmony tells a beautiful story about Mama Jo, her very own real-life "Osono," and the two get real about their fears and excitemen...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 22 min
"What is so horrible about that? About feeling strong and graceful and beautiful for once in my life?" We're enduring the ice cold midwest winter by hitting the ice and talking about the surprisingly feminist and wholly underrated ICE PRINCESS (2005). BJ relives her years as a competitive baton twirler feeling seen by Kim Cattrall's scary coach persona, Harmony confesses a secret childhood fascination with ballet dancers, and both decide that Joan Cusack is a national treasure and Hayden Panetti...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 27 min
"We have come to show this community that gay people, and gay positive icons such as myself, are made of the same flesh and blood as they are." Happy New Year, Prom Party! This week the wives are covering what should have been the most on-brand movie possible for this show, the Broadway hit turned Netflix Original THE PROM (2020). Harmony confesses she doesn't follow the career of Ryan Murphy, BJ puts on her musical theatre snob glasses, both have some pretty strong feelings about James Corden p...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 35 min
"I need to know that it's possible that two people can stay happy together forever." We're closing out 2020 by talking about one of the wives favorite movies of all time, and one that feels more relevant now than ever, JUNO (2007). Harmony finally agrees that she's the Paulie Bleeker to BJ's Juno, Mac MacGuff is praised for being the perfect teen girl movie dad that he is, and the wives dive into the film's surprisingly progressive gender themes surrounding pregnancy. Article Discussed in today'...
Dec 31, 2020•1 hr 20 min
"I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of running!" In a very special Christmas episode, the wives are discussing the highly controversial remake BLACK CHRISTMAS (2019) with the two women behind the film, April Wolfe and Sophia Takal. BJ and Harmony firmly stake their flag on planet "DIe Mad About It" to those that dislike this movie, Sophia and April talk about the massive backlash upon the film's release, and all of them discuss what it's like dealing with everyday misogyny. Become a Patron! www.patr...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 28 min
"Okay, well, you kids may as well learn this now. Grownups will say anything to get kids to cooperate." Before we dare tackle the inevitable legacy of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, we're starting at the very beginning with TO GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE WE GO, the made-for-TV Christmas movie that showed the world FULL HOUSE's Michelle Tanner was actually two children. BJ tells the story that got her bullied off of TikTok about trapping her little sister under a Christmas tree for four hours, Harmony's ana...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 20 min
"And guess what, I need a friend right now. And it’s like, you guys are smashing the s**t out of me." Fresh on the heels of it's VOD release, we're talking about body swapping teen girl horror in FREAKY, with the film's co-writer, Michael Kennedy! This week BJ gets really sentimental about FREAKY's highly-discussed "car scene," Harmony explains why body-swap movies are NOT inherently transphobic, and Michael talks about making Josh the queer representation he wished he had in high school. Who kn...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 13 min
"I told everyone! Well, actually I told one person, but you know how these things work. It’s like wildfire." You asked for it, and we're delivering, it's time to jump back into 2010 to discuss EASY A with special guest, Brennan Klein (producer of this very show!) This week BJ tells the story about her Christian ex's soon to be wife calling her a decade later, Brennan confesses he aspires to be a parent like Stanley Tucci's Dill Penderghast, Harmony admits that Olive is exactly the type of cool w...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 37 min
"What if we just tried to be honest and treat each other with respect? That is what Jesus wanted, right?" The wives are going deep into the world of organized religion, discovering sexuality, and teaching the world what it means to "toss a salad" with Karen Maine's YES, GOD, YES. This week BJ explains why googling "girl uses cellphone" has scarred her for life, Harmony relives the hell of suburban Ohio Sunday school, and both talk a lot about the life-affirming moments that exist from having eve...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 41 min
"I can't believe that I gave my panties to a geek." The wives are finally diving into the patron saint of teen movies, John Hughes' directorial debut, SIXTEEN CANDLES. This week BJ talks about the rite of passage for Chicagoland teens experiencing John Hughes cinema, Harmony has a full breakdown after drawing a parallel from the treatment of Long Duk Dong to her own family's treatment of immigrants, and both have to grapple with the normalization of rape culture present in what is considered one...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 22 min
"I transferred from Los Angeles. Your school has no gymnastics team. This is a last resort. *clap* " In honor of the iconic cheerleading classic's 20th anniversary, we're flipping onto the blue carpet of BRING IT ON! This week BJ gives Harmony a crash course in the world competitive spirit sports, Harmony realizes that this movie is about way, way deeper issues than just cheerleading, and we read from Gabrielle Union's interview in Vogue about the staying power of Isis and the representation of ...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 25 min
"If only there was a place where a superficial, materialistic b*tch could fit in... Oh, wait. There is" Fresh off the heels of the latest U.S. election, we're diving into baby's first socialism movie, the Amanda-Bynes-as-Snow-White flick SYDNEY WHITE (2007). The wives are joined with comedian, co-host of the Kicking and Screaming podcast, and host of El Rey's 'Top 5,' Vanessa Guerrero, to talk about collegiate life as an introduction to dismantling the screwed up world of rigged democracies, the...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 32 min
"We are the weirdos, mister." We're closing out sp0o0oky season with a bang, by traveling back to the 90s and examining the beloved witch classic, THE CRAFT (1996). Sisterhood of the Traveling Tripp Pants, this is not. This week your favorite wives talk about the dangers of groupthink, the communal misremembering of what this film is actually about, and the absolutely iconic aesthetic of Fairuza Balk's Nancy Downs. Strap in, friends. This one gets pretty intense. Find the show on Twitter & I...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 14 min
