Chris and Lizzie speak with the incredible, Emmy-winning Casting Director, Wendy O'Brien (Abbott Elementary, Dave, It's Always Sunny, Wyrm). Enjoy a conversation about how this role is different from what you might think, how it has changed in a post-Covid world, what it's like to work with Chris, and much more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Mar 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 120
Marilyn Monroe can’t remember her lines, Jack Lemmon can’t walk in heels, and Billy Wilder is slipping sleeping pills up his tuchus. ‘Some Like It Hot’ is a groundbreaking comedy that nearly broke writer/director Billy Wilder. Join Chris and Lizzie as they break down Billy Wilder’s struggles with Marilyn, and Marilyn’s relationships with her overbearing husband and acting coach, and find out why Tony Curtis allegedly called her Hitler. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...
Mar 03, 2025•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 120
Three decades of development hell, a dozen drafts and one very embattled director. This week, Chris and Lizzie explore the tumultuous journey of Malcolm X, Spike Lee’s unusual path to the directing chair, and how the public battle over the civil rights leader’s story nearly eclipsed the story itself. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Feb 17, 2025•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 119
This week it’s Francis Ford Coppola vs Bob Evans vs everyone. Join Chris and Lizzie for part 2 as they break down the truly insane rivalries behind 1972’s The Godfather. Find out why Coppola’s team briefly turned against him, how James Caan might have beaten up a costar on screen, and why this movie has one of the most dangerous stunts we’ve ever covered. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 118
It’s a movie about the mafia… but they couldn’t say the word mafia… because the actual mafia threatened the entire production if they didn’t remove it. This week Chris and Lizzie dive into Francis Ford Coppola’s groundbreaking 1972 film, The Godfather. Find out why Coppola and Al Pacino both almost got fired, how Robert DeNiro almost made it into part 1, and why Paramount didn’t even want to make the movie. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 117
For over a decade, Tom Cruise was Hollywood's most bankable star, ruling Tinseltown with a million-dollar grin and a carefully crafted image. But when ditching his publicist led to couch-jumping antics, Scientology scandals, and box office bombs, La La Land’s Top Gun found himself in a tailspin that even Ethan Hunt couldn't escape. On each episode of Wondery’s podcast The Big Flop, comedians join host Misha Brown to chronicle one of the biggest pop-culture fails of all time and try to answer the...
Jan 09, 2025•7 min•Ep. 116
What happens when Tom Cruise’s unstoppable force meets Stanley Kubrick’s immovable object? Tune in as Lizzie & Chris uncover the secrets of the reclusive auteur’s thirteenth and final film, a production so difficult it (likely) ended a marriage, dispatched its director and may have sent not one, but two Kubrick collaborators deeper into the embrace of a truly secretive society. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...
Jan 06, 2025•2 hr 45 min•Ep. 116
Storyboard artist Warren Drummond (Shaft, A Beautiful Mind, Nightcrawler, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) has worked with some of the greatest filmmakers of our time, from John Singleton to Denzel Washington and Ron Howard. In this Below the Line interview, Warren illuminates the world of storyboarding, his journey into film, the transition from analog to digital, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...
Dec 23, 2024•39 min•Ep. 115
How did a tennis pro, a theater nerd, and a TV actor redefine the action genre? Because they had nothing left to lose. This week, Chris and Lizzie dive deep into 1988’s quintessential Christmas film: from Bruce’s receding hairline and an unfinished script to Rickman’s inability to hold a gun and Joel Silver’s desire to just blow shit up, this production had more problems than a McClane marriage. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 115
More Gremlins, more problems! But that didn’t stop Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg from adding an endless stream of critters to the deranged 1984 Christmas classic. Busted puppets caused massive delays and pushed creature master Chris Walas to his limits, but it could’ve been worse - they could’ve used… live monkeys?! Find out why parents were furious about the film, how it helped change the MPAA rating system forever, and why Tom Hanks isn’t in it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 114
Blue screens! Tennis balls! Directions from George Lucas! What are three things that make an actor’s job harder? Chris and Lizzie conclude their Menace coverage with a crunch at ILM, the public shaming of Jar Jar Binks and why George may have lost a lot more than $50 million in his divorce. Plus, how no one saw it coming… except for Weird Al. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Dec 02, 2024•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 113
Jedi! Lightsabers! Taxes? This week, Chris tests Lizzie’s midi-chlorians (and patience) with George Lucas’ polarizing return to Star Wars. Was Lucas a victim of his own success, or were we all victims of his divorce? Plus, how Michael Jackson and Denzel Washington were nearly canon, and more! CORRECTIONS: *Doctor Dolittle was release in 1967, not 1976, as Chris mistakenly stated. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 112
How did the 4th (or maybe 5th) version of ‘A Star is Born’ take almost 20 years to make… and why did it almost star Russell Crowe and Beyoncé?! This week Lizzie and Chris break down Bradley Cooper’s 2018 directorial debut, and discover why Lady Gaga was initially a tough sell. Find out how everyone from Jamie Foxx to Metallica had a hand in this Oscar nominated film’s journey to the screen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 111
The only thing worse than being a character in a Sam Raimi movie? Acting in one. This week, Chris and Lizzie unearth the grueling, injury-laden production of The Evil Dead. Discover the importance of such amenities as running water, toilets, and electricity; and the pain of removing fake blood with hot coffee. Plus, how Raimi couldn’t have done it without a veritable village, including a couple of Coens, a King of horror, and a septuagenarian sales agent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/...
Oct 28, 2024•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 110
Paul Rudd was almost murdered, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were wasted, and El Niño threatened to rain out production - that’s just the beginning of what went wrong on Clueless (1995). Find out how Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy got cast, and why one studio almost changed it to be more about… the guys? As if! It took writer/director Amy Heckerling years to get her vision to the screen, but it was like, totally worth it. CORRECTIONS: Chris mistakenly refers to having watched the Criterion...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 109
Tombstone' shot first and 'Wyatt Earp' died. In Part 2 of our coverage, Chris & Lizzie endure the explosive arrival of replacement director George P. Cosmatos, revisit Kurt Russell's last-minute rewrites, and try to answer the impossible question: does a better version of this movie exist? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 108
Saddle up and skin that smokewagon, because Kevin Costner's about to shut your movie down. In Part 1 of our coverage on 'Tombstone', Chris & Lizzie dissect the film's Hollywood duel with rival 'Wyatt Earp', Kurt Russell's hardball, and how writer/director Kevin Jarre assembled one of the greatest cast and crews of all time, only to listen to none of them. Manscaped - head to manscaped.com and get 20% off + free shipping with the code WRONG *CORRECTIONS: George P. Cosmatos's last name is pron...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 107
How did Shakespeare in Love beat one of the greatest war movies of all time for Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars? It’s simple: Harvey Weinstein. But Saving Private Ryan was just one of many massive snubs in this comedy of errors. Learn how producer and original director Ed Zwick's dreams were dashed, why Julia Roberts dropped out last minute, and why Gwyneth Paltrow didn't want to star across(ed) her lover. HelloFresh - For FREE breakfast for life go to HelloFresh.com/freewentwro...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 106
Lydia dies in a fire at the hands of a winged homicidal maniac?! ‘Beetlejuice’ (1988) started off as a gruesome, offbeat horror film, but it became the quirky classic we know and love thanks to Tim Burton, script doctor Warren Skaaren, an incredible production team, and the Beetle-Guy himself: Michael Keaton. Find out why missing her audition got Catherine O’Hara her part, how Harry Belafonte’s music made it into the final cut, why Michael Keaton almost didn’t take the job and so much more. ...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 105
Leonardo DiCaprio as Patrick Bateman? Directed by Oliver Stone?! There are so many versions of ‘American Psycho’ (2000) that we never saw, but thanks to Christian Bale and director Mary Harron, we eventually got something pretty close to perfect. Find out how Gloria Steinem accidentally saved Christian Bale’s job and why a real life serial killer made this film almost impossible to shoot. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 104
Oscars! Cannes! Smash Mouth? In Part 2 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie get to the bottom of Mike Myers' Scottish brogue, why 'All Star' became an anthem for the ages, and Katzenberg's all-out blitz against the Mouse House. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 103
Katzenberg's quest for revenge! The death of a beloved giant! A magical kingdom under siege! In Part 1 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie explore the revolutionary film's humble origins as DreamWorks' inaugural "B movie" and try to determine what, exactly, the film would have been with its original star, Chris Farley. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 102
Get ready to wrangle! We re-present our episode on Twister , but this time, Chris and Lizzie share their churning reactions to the sequel, Twisters in a special cold open! On set jet engines, temporary blindness, and hepatitis shots - three signs you might be in the “suck zone”! This week we’re covering Jan de Bont’s Twister and how he threw everything including the kitchen sink (literally) at Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton to get this movie made. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and ...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 102
How did Ryan Reynolds go from fans’ biggest disappointment to the Deadpool of their dreams? In this episode Chris and Lizzie explore the long road ‘Deadpool’ (2016) took to get to the screen, why a first time feature director was the best man for the job, and how a mysterious leak actually saved the film. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 101
This week Chris and Lizzie go 100% pure adrenaline on Kathryn Bigelow’s “Point Break”, a film that birthed one of our most unexpected action stars, one of Hollywood’s most powerful (and short lived) power couples, and cemented Patrick Swayze as a daredevil for the ages. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 100
How did an Academy Award nominated director helm what’s widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made? 2003’s “Gigli” gave us Bennifer 1.0 and torpedoed writer/director Martin Brest’s career. Find out how NOT to reverse engineer a romcom - especially when your main characters are a straight man and a lesbian. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez do their best, but thanks to one of the craziest post-productions we’ve ever covered, “Gigli” does its worst. See Privacy Policy at https://art19...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 99
A bereft budget! Malfunctioning motorcycles! Two dogs looking for love in all the wrong places! This week, Chris & Lizzie speak with the writer/director/star of Garden State, Zach Braff, on how he made 2004’s little indie that could, Danny DeVito’s unlikely role in getting the film made, and just how, exactly, he scored the soundtrack of the decade. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! Check Out Our Merch! Follow Us on Instagram! What Movie's Next? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 98
A specter of a script! A lead prone to ghosting! A soul-wrenching schedule! This week, Chris & Lizzie cross the streams with 1984’s supernatural success story, Ghostbusters . Learn how a cabal of Canadian comedians created an American classic and how John Belushi haunted the film more literally than you may know. *CORRECTIONS: *Chris incorrectly stated that Gremlins was the first film to receive a PG-13 rating. Though it helped prompt the invention of the PG-13 rating (created on July 1, 198...
May 27, 2024•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 97
This week, Faye Dunaway and Roman Polanski square off in one of the messiest on-set feuds of all time. Chinatown may be one of the greatest movies ever made, but between hair plucking, tv throwing, and alleged urine tossing, the production was an absolute disaster. Special guest Paul Scheer ( Unspooled , How Did This Get Made ) joins Lizzie & Chris to discuss the insane making of the 1974 Jack Nicholson classic, and the complicated legacy it leaves behind. Check out Paul's memoir, Joyful Rec...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 96
How did a director trapped in Harvey Weinstein’s movie jail, an action star who nuked his most recent film, and a children’s studio in crisis make one of the most influential horror films of all time? Join Chris & Lizzie as they find out why Toni Collette was less than thrilled to land her part, why Michael Cera didn’t score the lead role and how M. Night Shyamalan came to embrace the unexpected power of a PG-13 rating. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! Check Out Our Merch! Follow Us on Instagr...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 95
