Going Hollywood - Movies and Television from the Golden Age to Today

Brad Shreve & Tony Maietta
  • 4.8 (37)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Will you side with the expert or the enthusiast? Film historian Tony Maietta and movie lover Brad Shreve dive into the best of cinema and TV, from Hollywood’s Golden Age to today’s biggest hits. They share insights, debate favorites, and occasionally clash—but always keep it entertaining. They’ll take you behind the scenes and in front of the camera, bringing back your favorite memories along the way.

  1. A Petrie Dish! Celebrating “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

    1D AGO

    A Petrie Dish! Celebrating “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

    A classic sitcom can look effortless, but behind the scenes can tell a different story. A failed pilot. A total recast. A “Hail Mary” save from first season cancellation. All true events that happened to one of the benchmarks of classic situation comedy: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" . We follow the legendary sitcom back to its origin story: Carl Reiner’s original pilot, why it didn’t sell, and how Sheldon Leonard helps transform the exact same core idea into one of the most respected comedies in TV history. If you love behind-the-scenes Hollywood history, this is the kind of development tale that explains how hits are really made. From there, we dig into what made the finished series feel different in the early 1960s. We talk about the show’s then-unusual split between the workplace and the Petrie home, the “Kennedy-era” polish, and how the writers’ room characters pull directly from Reiner’s experience on “Your Show Of Shows”. We also dish on Mary Tyler Moore’s path to Laura Petrie, her chemistry with Dick Van Dyke, the tensions with Rose Marie, and of course, the legendary battles over those “Capri” pants that helped redefine what a TV housewife could look like. If you enjoyed this, subscribe, share the episode with a classic TV fan, and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 31m
  2. Guess We Picked the Wrong Week to Talk About “Airplane!” (1980)

    APR 1

    Guess We Picked the Wrong Week to Talk About “Airplane!” (1980)

    It’s our third season, and we’ve decided that it’s time to take a more serious approach to appreciating the art of film, film history, and the craft of filmmaking. April Fools! It’s “Airplane!” (1980) An airliner full of passengers gets hit with food poisoning, the crew goes down, and the only hope is a washed-up pilot with a bruised past. That plot sounds like a straight disaster thriller and that’s exactly why “Airplane!” works: it uses a perfectly serious skeleton and then fires jokes at you so fast you barely have time to breathe. We dig into how Zucker, Abrams and Zucker built the movie on the bones of “Zero Hour” (1957), lifting the structure, character names, and even bits of dialogue, then twisting it into one of the most influential spoof comedies ever made. We also talk about the behind-the-scenes choices that matter more than any single gag: a lean budget, a tight shoot, and the decision to cast dramatic heavyweights like Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Peter Graves and Lloyd Bridges. Their deadpan commitment is the engine, turning every absurd line into a straight-faced “emergency,” which makes the humor hit harder. Not every moment lands the same way in 2026, and we don’t dodge that. We get into what still feels timeless, what depends on older pop culture references, and what now plays as uncomfortable, especially the jokes audiences are less willing to laugh off today. Along the way, we trade favorite bits, debate the few sequences that run too long, and zoom out to Airplane’s legacy in film history, including how it sets the template for later parody hits like “The Naked Gun” series . If you love classic comedy, Hollywood behind-the-scenes stories, and film analysis that still feels like hanging out with movie friends, hit follow, share the show, and leave a review wherever you listen. Check out Brad's YouTube channel about life in Spain on Our Chosen Spanish Life.  Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 2m
  3. Rob Reiner Remembered: "The Princess Bride" (1987) and "When Harry Met Sally..."(1989)

    MAR 25

    Rob Reiner Remembered: "The Princess Bride" (1987) and "When Harry Met Sally..."(1989)

    On December 14, 2025, Hollywood...and the world...lost a true icon. A man who was not only a gifted actor, but a once-in-a-generation filmmaker who was adept at any style, from satire to horror to romantic comedy. We also lost a true humanitarian and, as his alter ego Harry Burns may have said, a real "mensch".  We are indeed talking about the one and only, Rob Reiner.  So, for our Season Premiere, we wanted to celebrate this gifted filmmaker and great human being by discussing two of his signature films: the genre-defying but so entertaining (at least to Tony) "The Princess Bride" (1987), and what is now considered the grandfather of the late 20th century romantic comedies, "When Harry Met Sally..." (1989). Though it is with sadness that we mourn the loss, we keep things upbeat as we discuss the behind-the-scenes dramas of both films, the brilliant scripts by the legendary William Goldman and Nora Ephron respectively, and the sheer pleasure of entering the two very different--but equally enjoyable--worlds of late 1980s Manhattan and the Renaissance-era Florin ( by way of the Borscht Belt). We hope you will  join us as we celebrate this one-of-a-kind artist, discuss these very different, but equally brilliant, works, and share our opinions about the legacy of the late, great Rob Reiner.  So, if you want to have what she’s having, you'll join us for the Season Three premiere of "Going Hollywood!” It's INCONCIEVABLE that you won't have a dare-devilishly  good time!!! Check out Brad's YouTube channel, Our Chosen Spanish Life.  Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 31m
  4. The Real Housewives of 1939: “The Women”

    12/24/2025

    The Real Housewives of 1939: “The Women”

    All women, all claws. Jungle Red! Call it “The Real Housewives of New York- 1939 Edition”. For our season two finale, we tackle MGM’s 1939 classic satire “The Women”.  From savage one-liners to that wild Technicolor fashion show, we trace how Claire Boothe Luce’s play survived the Production Code, why Anita Loos’ screenplay still stings, and where the movie trades social ambition for a romance-first ending. We are joined by very special guest (and Brad’s husband) Maurice Chevalier and get his singular take on the proceedings. We also  get granular on the craft: George Cukor’s propulsive staging and mirror shots, Adrian’s jaw-dropping costumes, Rosalind Russell’s star-turn as the feline Sylvia Fowler, and Joan Crawford’s scene (and husband) stealing performance as Crystal Allen. And of course, there’s the Queen herself—Norma Shearer— at her noblesse-obligiest as the oh-so wronged, ever suffering but pride-fool  housewife, Mary.   Call it a proto–Real Housewives of 1939 or a couture cage match; either way, it’s irresistible, infuriating, and endlessly quotable. Ah, l’amour l’amour! If classic Hollywood, screwball rhythms, and sharp social autopsies are your thing, you’ll have plenty to love and plenty to argue with. Follow the show, share this episode with a movie lover, and leave a review to help others find us. What’s your verdict: team Mary, Sylvia, or Crystal? Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 16m
  5. The Mermaid's Tale: "Miranda" (1948)

    12/17/2025

    The Mermaid's Tale: "Miranda" (1948)

    He's baackkk!!! Brad makes his return to "Going Hollywood" and we celebrate by actually letting him pick a film!  And what a delightful film it is, too...from 1948 it's  "Miranda." Join us as we dive into the whimsy and wonder of this lesser-known British comedy starring the late great Glynis Johns as Miranda, a beautiful mermaid with a devastating fin and effect on males that come into her wake.  What can we say? The fish can't help it.  Johns, perhaps best recognized for her role as Winifred Banks in "Mary Poppins", holds special significance for Brad—who recounts personal stories about their friendship and why “Miranda” has always been close to his heart, despite never having seen it before this episode. We discuss why the charm of "Miranda" endures: It's unique British style, rapid scene changes, and the playful performances by Johns and a fabulous supporting cast. Glynis Johns commands every frame with that unmistakable voice and mischievous ease. Along the way we explore how British censorship allowed a cheeky boldness America’s Production Code would’ve nixed, why the quick-cut structure works despite its choppiness, and how a competing Hollywood mermaid picture pushed this production to move fast and think light. We guarantee you'll be unable to resist the siren song of this delightful comedy and the singular charms of its leading lady, Glynis Johns and "Miranda". Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    48 min
  6. My Fair Lucy: Revisiting “Lucy in London" (1966) with Special Guest Thomas J. Watson

    12/10/2025

    My Fair Lucy: Revisiting “Lucy in London" (1966) with Special Guest Thomas J. Watson

    Think you know Lucy? You don't know Lucy.  In this episode of "Going Hollywood" we dive into "Lucy in London" (1966), the most unconventional hour Lucille Ball ever made, and unpack how a TV icon tried to outrun her own legend at the height of the British Invasion. Today, Tony is joined by "Lucy" insider Thomas J. Watson, and we retrace the bold creative choices that stripped away the laugh track, left the studio behind, and embraced single-camera street shooting, speed-ramping, and still photography. Why did Lucy say yes to a one-day sprint across London with Anthony Newley as her mercurial guide? How did producer (and Lucy's cousin) Cleo Smith, cinematographer Fouad Said, and director Steve Binder use portable gear and editorial tricks to capture a star in motion—years before MTV made that language mainstream? We break down the three-act structure: Act One’s mod fashion blast on Carnaby Street with Phil Spector’s “Lucy in London,” Act Two’s controversial detour to Madame Tussauds, and Act Three’s luminous turn at Great Fosters, where Shakespeare rehearsals pivot into a surreal empty-theater mini-concert as Lucy morphs into multiple audience characters. The paradox lands hard: the broadcast topped ratings but baffled critics and fans who wanted Lucy Ricardo comforts. Plans for follow-up specials faded, yet the creative shockwaves pushed into "The Lucy Show's" later seasons, seeding stranger plots, musical set pieces, and location flavor. Along the way, we talk legacy, restoration, and why "Lucy in London" plays like a lost bridge between studio sitcoms and pop-forward variety television. If you love classic TV history, Lucille Ball’s fearless side, and the craft behind on-location filmmaking in the 60s, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a fellow Lucy fan, and tell us: was Lucy in London ahead of its time? And if you haven’t already, follow the show, leave a review, and help more listeners find Going Hollywood. To purchase Season Five of "The Lucy Show" featuring "Lucy in London" and "Lucy in London: Revisited" go to https://a.co/d/86c1CTf "Lucy in London" (CBS. 1966) Directed by Steve Binder,  Produced by Cleo Smith, Steve Binder and David Winters, Written by Ron Friedman and Pat McCormick, Music by Billy Goldenberg, Irwin Kostal and Phil Spector.                                                   Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 5m
  7. "The Karen Carpenter Story" (1989) with Special Guest Randy L. Schmidt

    12/03/2025

    "The Karen Carpenter Story" (1989) with Special Guest Randy L. Schmidt

    We're on the top of the world today at "Going Hollywood" as we have a truly special guest to discuss a truly special artist...Randy L. Schmidt is here to discuss the one and only Karen Carpenter!  A drummer first, a once‑in‑a‑century voice second, and a reluctant star always—the Karen Carpenter Story is as riveting as the records she left behind. We sit down with the author of the bestselling book Little Girl Blue and director of "Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection" (2024), to unpack how a 1989 TV movie created a tidal wave of new fans and why his documentary brings the real Karen back to the mic. Randy takes us behind the scenes of the seminal TV movie from 1989, "The Karen Carpenter Story". We talk about the beyond-meta nature of the filming in the Carpenter home, wearing Karen’s actual wardrobe, and the surreal moment when the same local paramedics from 1983 appeared on set. Then we pivot to the documentary’s heartbeat—rare, uncut interview tapes and birthday call‑ins that reveal Karen’s wit, warmth, and resilience. Voices like Olivia Newton‑John, Carol Burnett, Kristin Chenoweth, Belinda Carlisle, and Cherry Boone add piercing insight into the art, the illness, and the person. We dig into the questions that still echo: how a perfectionist culture and a misunderstood eating disorder collided, why that infamous UK ambush interview still shocks, and what might have changed if Karen’s solo album had been released instead of shelved. Along the way, we celebrate the music—"Superstar", "I Need To Be In Love", "We've Only Just Begun"—and the arranging magic that made the Carpenters timeless. The takeaway is clear: honor the legacy, tell the truth with care, and let the songs keep doing what they’ve always done—find new hearts to live in. If this conversation moved you, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and send it to someone who needs a reminder of how powerful a single voice can be. And don't forget to visit the "Going Hollywood" Spotify playlist to listen to the exquisite voice of the century, Karen Carpenter.  It's Yesterday once more.... To watch "Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection" go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0D6ZW9N6M/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To read "Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter" go to https://a.co/d/0blvCi2 Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 6m
  8. Rationed Romance: “The More the Merrier” (1943) with Special Guest Brandon Davis

    11/26/2025

    Rationed Romance: “The More the Merrier” (1943) with Special Guest Brandon Davis

    A housing crunch, a missing wall, and one of the sexiest stoop scenes ever filmed. Join us today as we break one of Tony's favorite movies, and one of the true classics of romantic comedy, from 1943, George Steven's "The More The Merrier." Guest host Brandon Davis, of NPR's "Front Row Classics" joins Tony for the second week in a row as they dive into this comedic jewel and discuss the genius of director George Stevens, the criminally underrated leading man, Joel McRae, the delightful  Charles Coburn (in an Oscar-winning performance) and the incandescent star Jean Arthur, a true gem of Classic Hollywood, in one of her final film appearances.  We unpack the film’s best moments—the meticulous “morning schedule” sequence, the rooftop sunbathing that captures the communal spirit of a city in wartime,  and that legendary stoop scene where push-and-pull becomes flirtation, consent, and release.  Underneath the laughs sits the knowledge of a nation at war, and romance lands because the war makes time precious. We also trace Stevens’ career pivot, from comedies with serious undertones to postwar dramas like "A Place in the Sun" and "Shane", and argue why Jean Arthur deserves to be named alongside Davis, Hepburn, and Crawford as one of the greatest stars of the studio era.   Most of all, this is a love letter to performers who make it look effortless and a director who knew how to frame human truth. If you’ve never seen "The More the Merrier", this conversation is your nudge to press play—and if you have, we think you’ll notice something new. Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a classic-film friend. What Golden Age romance still feels modern to you? For more information on Brandon's podcast, go to: https://classics136634685.wordpress.com/ Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode  Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.

    1h 4m
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Will you side with the expert or the enthusiast? Film historian Tony Maietta and movie lover Brad Shreve dive into the best of cinema and TV, from Hollywood’s Golden Age to today’s biggest hits. They share insights, debate favorites, and occasionally clash—but always keep it entertaining. They’ll take you behind the scenes and in front of the camera, bringing back your favorite memories along the way.

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