HollywoodOutsider

Here are three of our most popular topics from earlier this year: Bad TV Couples, Classic Movie Monsters, and the Perfect Summer Soundtrack.  First up, from  Episode 384 : we’re discussing bad TV couples. Anyone who loves television has a favorite couple, or even several favorites. But have you ever loved a show and two characters getting together just ruined it for you? Are there shows where you...

What Do You Think of the Portrayal of Mental Illness in Entertainment? As we close out September, which is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we’re approaching October 10th, which is World Mental Health Day, we thought it appropriate to take on a discussion about mental illness in entertainment. And this year it’s ironic, since so much of our personal mental health has been affected for bette...

Enjoy this sample of The Hollywood Outsider host Aaron Peterson's other podcast, Presenting Hitchcock, where he and Cory Metcalfe randomly break down a film a month in the filmography of the greatest directors of all-time, Alfred Hitchcock. This episode follows Psycho for its 60th anniversary, but be sure to subscribe to Presenting Hitchcock for the entirety of Hitchcock's work! As mentioned on th...

On this episode, we discuss the most satisfying TV character exits. The way a television series handles the exit of a beloved - or hated - character can make or break the relationship with fans. Sometimes they get it incredibly wrong, but other times, they get as close to perfect as fans could hope. Whether a despised character or a beloved one, we are looking back on the greatest character exits...

What have been your favorite ambiguous endings? Not every story has a concrete ending and not every writer tells their stories that way. These writers enjoy the continuous debate over what truly  happened. Inception is just one example, fairly recent in the scheme of things, that created a ton of water-cooler controversy on whether the token was spinning at the very end... or did it drop? We'll be...

Flavio Alves, the director and co-writer of the new film The Garden Left Behind, discusses his career, his film revolving around the trans experience, and much more on our latest exclusive interview. The Garden Left Behind is available in virtual theatrical locations now, and on VOD September 8th. Carlie Guevara stars as Tina, an undocumented trans woman living with her grandmother, Eliana  in Que...

Movie theaters are back in business...are you ready? This week began the reemergence of movies theaters across North America, as America catches up to the remainder of the civilized world. Having ventured out this past weekend to take in several films (including Russell Crowe's fiery Unhinged), Aaron and Amanda sat down to share their thoughts on experiencing movie theaters again, and specifically...

What are those jobs in film-making that don't receive enough attention? We know who the directors, actors, and even recognize the composers sometimes. However, we want to pay special attention to the people that make a film successful and remain an underappreciated job. These 7 jobs are not ones we pulled out of a hat, we actually reached out to three very successful individuals in the entertainme...

For this special episode, we are speaking with Ralph D’Amato, the producer and visionary for the documentary, Pretending I’m a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story . Pretending I’m a Superman is a documentary that tells the story of how skateboarding became a part of the mainstream by focusing on the success of the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” video game franchise. The film stars pro skateboarding...

Do you remember that one time, at Summer Camp? Summer camp movies are not completely rare, but the good ones arguably are. And we're not here to talk about movies that  mention  summer camp or simply take place during summer, but rather films that have the particular setting of summer camp. Examples like the iconic  Friday the 13th, more kid-friendly options like  SpaceCamp  and  Addams Family Val...

As medical examiners Luis and Charlie explore a curious cadaver known only as John Doe, The Living Dead opens with the beginning of the end...and what happens after. An epic conclusion to the world created by legendary filmmaker George A. Romero ( Night of the Living Dead, Creepshow ) and completed by celebrated author Daniel Kraus, this novel serves as the definitive cap on Romero's legacy of the...

The San Diego Comic-Con At Home for 2020 has officially come to a close! This year, the San Diego Comic-Con had to adjust, and for the first time ever, brought the convention home to us all! With the greatest event in popular geek culture finishing its 2020 run, it’s time for us to dive into the biggest news, panels, and trailers released at this year’s convention. Spotlighted on this special epis...

What makes a great movie dance sequence? We've all been there, watching a movie, getting absorbed into the proceedings...and then it happens! Music kicks up, toes start tapping, hips start moving, and before you know it, we're grooving along with a fantastic dance sequence that almost forces us to join in! Dance sequences don't always work, but when they do, it's some of the most exciting and joy...

In this week's episode, we're taking teams of movie or TV characters and pitting them into a fight of sorts - however we want! The concept of this topic originated in our Facebook group from a listener of who would win between the crew of Alien vs the crew of Predator.  We decided to expand this idea into a great topic on the show, taking our own battles and listener battles to the ring. With $3 b...

What Are Your Favorite TV Catchphrases? This week, we want to kick back, relax, and chat about our favorite TV catchphrases together. Every TV show has that great one-liner that sticks with us and we find ourselves repeating it in everyday life. The Simpson's  "D'oh!", the infamous "How you doin'?" from Joey on  Friends,  and even more recent ones like "Come on son!" and "You know that's right" fr...

An adventure 9 years in the making, THIS is the 400th episode of The Hollywood Outsider Podcast! On this grossly over-sized episode, we drop the usual strict adherence to format and simply speak about the changes in entertainment since the show’s inception, as well as the evolution of the podcast itself as Aaron, John, and Amanda join up with former HOsts Scott Clark and Brian Williams to discuss...

Please vote for The Hollywood Outsider at  PodcastAwards.com! The Podcast Awards award the best in podcasting, and the finalists are determined by YOU, the listeners. Therefore, here we are, asking for your support. Before July 31, you may cast your vote for us, if you would, and we would be eternally grateful. You can vote ONCE from EACH EMAIL you possess, and voting only takes a minute. We have...

Controversial Debates in Film and TV Did Rose really have enough room on the door for Jack? Was that  Karate Kid  kick illegal? Did Scarlett Johansson get a fair shake in Ghost in the Shell? Is the Snyder Cut really a good thing? Is replacing controversial actors or canceling shows over difficult themes the right course of action? The controversial debates in film and TV are infinite and we are de...

Which Summer Franchise of the 2000's is the Best of the Best? Movie Battle Royale is back, but this time: Summer Franchise Edition. We wanted to talk about those franchises released in the 2000's that kept us going back to the theater for the next. The rules are limited: the franchise must have had at least 3 films release in the summer (May-August), they must have occurred within the 2000's, and...

What Are Your Favorite Opening Sequences? On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we wanted to talk about those incredible movie intros. Whether it's an action-filled car chase, a terrifying phone call from someone in your house, or a bank robbery with triple-crossing and a mysteriously ominous character whose identity remains unknown, we're talking about it all. Of course, we al...

Enjoy a selected episode of the SMIRK podcast, more episodes are now available in your favorite podcast app or at SmirkPodcast.com . On this episode of Smirk, grab a notepad and settle in…for murder! We’re trying something a little differing this time, as our story reveals itself as a full-fledged murder-mystery. Only after we discuss and dissect our love for the genre will we reveal the killer. C...

Aaron sits down to share a few thoughts and ask one simple question: Are we listening?

Aaron sits down with director Matt Eskandari to elaborate on his new Bruce Willis and Chad Michael Murray thriller, Survive the Night. Matt discusses isolating in L.A. while waiting for filming to resume, casting his film, and working with an icon in Bruce Willis.  Survive the Night is now available on streaming platforms.  Read Aaron's full review of Survive the Night HERE

How do you feel about "predictable" plot devices? On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we wanted to talk about those regurgitated and predictable plots and devices that every movie has reused at this point. We discuss some of our favorites predictable plot devices, as well as the ones that drive us NUTS! Of course, a debate emerges as we even discuss the negative connotation b...

What Are The Craziest TV Premises You've Ever Heard of or Seen? On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we're discussing those wacky, crazy TV show premises. There are some TV shows that are so bonkers, you cannot believe a group of someones were high enough to green-light them. A lot of them involve animals, because who doesn't love a plot revolving around talking monkeys, but m...