Hold On to Your Butts: A Podcast About Great Franchises that Uhhhhhhhhh Lost Their Way

Paul Karolyi and JD Lopez

God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God created Man. Man created a podcast about dinosaurs. And then, the podcasters just kept going. Hold On to Your Butts started as a Jurassic Park rewatch podcast about how the biggest show on Earth lost its bite. But now that "Rebirth" has been birthed, Paul Karolyi and JD Lopez are revisiting other great franchises that once dominated the cultural landscape and now, well, don't. For season two, we tackled Indiana Jones because Disney is rebooting it, apparently without Harrison Ford, and we have feelings about that. And now in season three, it's time for our most-maligned franchise yet -- Predator. They've made nine movies, and we're still asking: what the heck even is a Predator?

  1. 1d ago

    Predators (2010) Finally Fixed the Franchise | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 20

    The Predator franchise gets a second chance. JD and Paul are joined by comedian Mitch Jones to revisit Predators (2010), the Robert Rodriguez-produced soft reboot that transported the series from the jungles of Earth to an alien hunting preserve. Did this movie succeed where the previous entries stumbled? The crew discusses Adrien Brody's unlikely action hero turn, Walton Goggins stealing scenes, Topher Grace's casting, Predator lore, Robert Rodriguez's original script, the franchise's expanding mythology, and whether Predators deserves more recognition as one of the strongest sequels in the series. Along the way they debate Predator society, the "Ripley-Verse," comic book canon, Hollywood casting, Bugs Bunny's influence on the English language, and why this movie feels like a return to form.

    Predators (2010) Finally Fixed the Franchise | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 20

  2. Jul 10

    Alien vs. Predator: Requiem Is So Dark... We Could Barely See It | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 19

    The Predator series hits what many fans consider its lowest point. This week, JD and Paul are joined by comedian Ethan Everhart to break down Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), the sequel infamous for being so dark that audiences literally couldn't tell what was happening on screen. The crew dives into Wolf the cleanup Predator, the Predator honor code, behind-the-scenes production stories, practical creature effects, why the movie pretends Vancouver is Gunnison, Colorado, and whether the franchise completely lost its way. Plus, there's plenty of time for discussions about streaming services, The Godfather, Stephen King, Predator vs. Santa Claus, and a surprising amount of Predator lore.

    Alien vs. Predator: Requiem Is So Dark... We Could Barely See It | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 19

  3. Jul 1

    Alien vs. Predator Was Inevitable... But Was It Good? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 18

    The ultimate movie crossover finally arrives. JD and Paul are joined by Ian Silverii (Get More Smarter Podcast, Bighorn Company) to tackle Alien vs. Predator (2004). The film that united two legendary sci-fi monsters after years of comics, rumors, and fan speculation. Was the crossover worth the wait? We discuss the surprisingly ambitious mythology behind the film, Paul W.S. Anderson's direction, practical vs. digital effects, Predator culture, Alien lore, why the movie went PG-13, and whether AVP deserves more credit than it gets. Along the way they also debate Predator presidential campaigns, connected cinematic universes before the MCU, DVD commentaries, Blade Runner connections, and which monster would actually be scarier to face. Featuring special guest: 🎙️ Ian Silverii (Get More Smarter Podcast & Bighorn Company)

    Alien vs. Predator Was Inevitable... But Was It Good? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 18

  4. Jun 24

    Predator 2: Better Than You Remember? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 17

    Predator 2 might be the strangest blockbuster sequel of the 1990s. JD and Paul are joined by Eric Riley (Graveyard Choir, In The Whale) to discuss Danny Glover's sweaty showdown with the Predator, Gary Busey's alien-hunting government task force, Jamaican Voodoo Posse stereotypes, and the sequel that accidentally created Alien vs. Predator.  Along the way they discuss franchise history, DVD special features, action movie excess, Paul Verhoeven comparisons, Predator lore, and whether Danny Glover only working out for five weeks was enough to save humanity.

    Predator 2: Better Than You Remember? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 17

  5. Jun 17

    Is "Predator" Perfect? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 15

    A new season of Hold On To Your Butts begins. JD and Paul leave Indiana Jones behind and start their journey through the Predator franchise with the original 1987 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and one of the most iconic movie monsters ever created. They discuss whether Predator deserves its reputation as an all-time action masterpiece, why Arnold became the defining action star of the era, the fascinating behind-the-scenes production stories that shaped the film, and whether the franchise has finally found its footing again with the recent movies. They also spend an alarming amount of time debating Schwarzenegger vs. Stallone, Jesse Ventura's political career, and the eternal mystery: What is a Predator?

    Is "Predator" Perfect? | Hold On To Your Butts Ep. 15

  6. Jun 9

    The Young Indy TV Show, the 'Great Circle' Video Game, the Novelizations & Our Next Franchise (Ep. 15)

    The movies are over, but the adventure isn't. After rewatching every Indiana Jones film, Paul and JD take one final trip into the world of Indy by exploring everything beyond the movies. JD watched the entire Young Indiana Jones Chronicles series, Paul read one of the Indiana Jones novels, and together they discuss whether these forgotten corners of the franchise enrich the character or just complicate him. They also dive into Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the acclaimed 2024 video game that may have delivered the best Indiana Jones story in decades, before revealing what's next for Hold On to Your Butts. If you've enjoyed our Indiana Jones season, thanks for coming along for the ride.

    The Young Indy TV Show, the 'Great Circle' Video Game, the Novelizations & Our Next Franchise (Ep. 15)

  7. Jan 8

    Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) with Neyla Pekarek

    In this week's Hold On to Your Butts, JD and Paul are joined once again by singer, songwriter, and Indiana Jones enthusiast Neyla Pekarek to discuss the final chapter in the franchise, "The Dial of Destiny." Together, they dig into the legacy of Harrison Ford, argue about the emotional payoff (or lack thereof), the maguffin as a metaphor for aging, and ask: Does this movie justify its own existence?  This episode is filled with heartfelt laughs, nostalgic tangents, and one last question: what do we want from our heroes as they age? Follow JD on Left Hand Right Brain and Paul on City Cast Denver

    Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) with Neyla Pekarek

  8. 12/17/2025

    Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

    Comedian and podcaster Mitch Jones (Broadcast Geeks) joins Paul and JD to talk about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The conversation includes aliens, nuked fridges, swinging with monkeys, Cate Blanchett's villain, and whether this was the franchise's first real stumble or just misunderstood.  Find more from JD on Left Hand Right Brain or on Instagram @lefthandrightbrain. Hear Paul on City Cast Denver talking about the latest news and culture in the Mile High City.

    Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
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About

God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God created Man. Man created a podcast about dinosaurs. And then, the podcasters just kept going. Hold On to Your Butts started as a Jurassic Park rewatch podcast about how the biggest show on Earth lost its bite. But now that "Rebirth" has been birthed, Paul Karolyi and JD Lopez are revisiting other great franchises that once dominated the cultural landscape and now, well, don't. For season two, we tackled Indiana Jones because Disney is rebooting it, apparently without Harrison Ford, and we have feelings about that. And now in season three, it's time for our most-maligned franchise yet -- Predator. They've made nine movies, and we're still asking: what the heck even is a Predator?

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