Weirding Way Media

•

Channel • 7 Shows

Film History

Film History

Updated Semiweekly
After Shows

After Shows

Updated Monthly
Film Reviews

Film Reviews

Updated Monthly
After Shows

After Shows

Updated 08/08/2024
TV Reviews

TV Reviews

Updated Monthly
After Shows

After Shows

Updated Monthly
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Monthly

5D AGO

Episode 761: Pelísky (1999)

Czechtember 2025 kicks off with Cosy Dens (AKA Pelíšky), Jan Hřebejk’s bittersweet 1999 coming-of-age dramedy adapted from Petr Šabach’s novel Hovno Hoří (Shit on Fire). Written by Petr Jarchovský, the film unfolds between Christmas 1967 and the Prague Spring of 1968, chronicling the warmth, absurdity, and heartbreak of two neighboring families caught between tradition, rebellion, and history itself. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

5d ago

•

1h 13m
SEP 3

Episode 760: Who's Minding the Mint? (1967)

Buonopalooza wraps up with Howard Morris’s caper comedy Who’s Minding the Mint? (1967). Jim Hutton stars as Harry Lucas, a hapless Treasury worker who accidentally swipes $50,000 and scrambles to replace it before he’s caught. To pull off the fix, he enlists a motley crew of oddballs, including Dorothy Provine’s Verna Baxter, who’s more interested in perfecting her brownies than in breaking and entering. The ensemble bursts with familiar faces—Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Walter Brennan, Jack Gilford, and of course, Victor Buono. Mike White, Otto Bruno, and Tim Madigan close out the Buono-palooza celebration with this breezy, big-cast caper. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Sep 3

•

1h 28m
JUL 28

Episode 755: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Sci-Fi July wraps up with Return of the Jedi (1983), the final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy—directed by Richard Marquand, guided by George Lucas, and packed with new creatures, recycled plot beats, and merchandising gold. Joining Mike to explore the film's legacy and limitations are Jamie Benning (Filmumentaries) and Stephen Scarlata (Best Movies Never Made), along with special guest Jim Bloom, associate producer on Empire and Jedi. From Jabba's palace to yet another Death Star, Jedi tries to close the saga with spectacle and sentiment—but not without creative compromises. We dig into the behind-the-scenes drama, the tonal whiplash between Ewoks and existential stakes, and how Jedi served as both a climax and a commercial pivot point for the franchise. Was it a fitting finale or just a soft landing pad for action figures? Strap into your speeder bike, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Jul 28

•

2h 43m
AUG 27

Episode 759: Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Buonopalooza rolls on with Robert Aldrich’s Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964). Following the massive success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Aldrich re-teamed with Bette Davis for another Southern Gothic nightmare. This time, Davis plays Charlotte Hollis, a reclusive woman haunted by whispers of murder and locked in a decaying Louisiana mansion where secrets fester and madness simmers. The film co-stars Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, and—of course—Victor Buono in a pivotal role. Mike White is joined by Tim Madigan and Otto Bruno to dig into the history, the production troubles, and the legacy of one of the juiciest entries in the “Psycho-Biddy” cycle. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Aug 27

•

1h 41m
AUG 15

Episode 757: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)

We’re kicking off a month devoted to the inimitable presence of Victor Buono — though in our opening pick, “starring” might be generous. Let’s say “featuring,” and featuring with impact. Robert Aldrich’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) stands as the grand dame of “Hagsploitation” — or “Psycho Biddy,” if you prefer — with Joan Crawford and Bette Davis locked in a barbed-wire sister act as Blanche and Baby Jane Hudson. Mike White is joined by authors Otto Bruno and Tim Madigan to unpack the film’s camp, cruelty, and craft. Plus, actor Dominic Burgess — who portrayed Buono in Ryan Murphy’s Feud — drops in to talk about stepping into the oversized shoes of this unforgettable supporting player. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Aug 15

•

2h 13m
JUL 18

Episode 753: Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

Sci-Fi July rolls on with Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), Roger Corman’s ambitious space opera directed by Jimmy T. Murakami and written by a pre-Lone Star John Sayles. This wild interstellar remix of The Seven Samurai stars Richard Thomas as Shad, a naive farm boy turned cosmic recruiter who must assemble a team of eccentric mercenaries to defend his planet from the tyrannical Sador—played with ruthless relish by John Saxon. Mike is joined by Father Malone and Chris Stachiw to dig into the film’s unforgettable cast of characters, James Horner’s rousing score (which sounds suspiciously like his work for Star Trek II), and the early visual effects work of James Cameron. Special guest Allan Holzman, the film’s editor (and future director of Forbidden World), offers behind-the-scenes insights from the golden age of Corman’s New World Pictures. Low-budget spectacle, recycled spaceship sets, and alien oddballs abound in this scrappy cult favorite. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Jul 18

•

2h 2m
JUL 14

Episode 752: Metropolis (1927)

Sci Fi July launches with a titan of cinematic futurism: Metropolis (1927). Fritz Lang’s visually stunning epic set the blueprint for dystopian science fiction, blending Gothic horror, political allegory, and machine-age spectacle. Co-written with Thea von Harbou, the film envisions a divided city of soaring towers and subterranean toil, where Freder—the privileged son of master planner Joh Fredersen—awakens to injustice through his encounter with the spiritual leader of the working class, Maria. Mike is joined by Ranjit Sandhu and Federico Bertolini to discuss the many versions of the film, its fraught production, the complex legacy of Lang and von Harbou, and why Rotwang's lab never goes out of style. From Giger to Gaga, Metropolis casts a long, haunting shadow. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Jul 14

•

2h 31m
AUG 4 · BONUS

Special Report: Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Mike is joined by Father Malone (Midnight Viewing) and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) to dig into Marvel’s latest reboot attempt, Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), the long-awaited introduction of Marvel’s First Family into the MCU. Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, the film blends retro aesthetics with multiversal madness as Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny leap from the 1960s into present-day chaos. Does Shakman finally crack the code that’s eluded three previous FF films? Or does Marvel’s Phase 6 entry stretch itself too thin? The trio tackles the film’s performances, its ties to Kang and the Secret Wars setup, and whether this version lives up to the legacy of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s original cosmic explorers. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Aug 4 · Bonus

•

1h 20m
AUG 20

Episode 758: The Strangler (1964)

Buonopalooza rages on with Victor Buono front and center in The Strangler (1964). One of his rare leading roles, Buono embodies Leo Kroll, a smothered man-child whose repressed rage against women spills into murder. Loosely modeled on the Boston police department’s profile of the Boston Strangler—and hitting theaters mere months after Albert DeSalvo’s confession—the film walks a fine line between crime drama and exploitation, delivering Buono at his creepiest. Mike is joined once again by Otto Bruno and Tim Madigan to dig into this twisted artifact of ‘60s true-crime cinema. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Aug 20

•

1h 27m
APR 2

Episode 736: Casablanca (1942)

The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem. Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, the brooding American expat running a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Morocco, where refugees gather in hopes of escaping the tightening grip of the Nazi regime. Things get complicated when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) strolls in—out of all the gin joints, etc.--alongside her resistance-leader husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henried). We're thrilled to be joined by two heavy-hitting guests: film historian Noah Isenberg, author of We'll Always Have Casablanca, and biographer Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film which sheds light on the director’s layered legacy. Together, we explore the myth, the making, and the magic of one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support. Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

Apr 2

•

3h 16m

An independent podcasting production company.