Cinematic Omniverse

There's never been another character actor like Kumar Pullana (1918-2013). Glimpsed briefly in the revolutionary jungles of Mexico, he burst forth decades later from the brain of Wes Anderson, juggling, tumbling, and stabbing folks left and right. Join Marty and Scott for a star-studded tour of the Kumar Cluster! Romance & Cigarettes (2005, Dir. John Turturro) at 4:01 The Royal Tenenbaums...

Janet Leigh murders the glass ceiling... Moonlighting takes a spin on the dance floor... and Nick Knight flashes back just when he's needed most! Evaluated this ep: Columbo  S5E1 "Forgotten Lady" at 2:00 Moonlighting  S3E6 "Big Man on Mulberry Street" at 16:41 Forever Knight  S2E9 "Undue Process" at 26:51 Continuity Boulevard at 38:12 Lightning Round at 44:03 Fol...

In the concluding episode of their Robert Redford duology, Scott and Marty spend a disproportionate amount of time snickering over a suggestive bit of production design in a 40-year-old movie. THAT'S the Cinematic Omniverse advantage! Also, we praise and bury four of RR's standout performances, as follows: Legal Eagles (1986, Dir. Ivan Reitman) at 1:41 Sneakers (1992, Dir. Phil Alden Rob...

Cinema's most famous twinkly blue eyes become constellations in the omniverse, as Scott and Marty slam into Robert Redford's filmography like a Wonderboy home-runner slamming into a clock. Follow Bob through these criminally good films: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid  (1969, Dir. George Roy Hill) at 3:16 The Natural  (1984, Dir. Barry Levinson) at 19:15 Inside Daisy Clover (1965, Dir...

Columbo vs. Dracula! The Cuckoo's Nest comes (back) to Moonlighting ! Detective Knight writes a cheque to the Church of Scientology! All of these astonishing things  kinda happen this week... on the TV Dick Triptych! Skip ahead if you like: Columbo S4E6 "A Deadly State of Mind" at 1:52 Moonlighting S3E5 "All Creatures Great... And Not So Great" at 13:05 Forever Knight S2E8...

Just when you thought you heard of ALL the best non-existent bands, Scott & Marty return with a bonus Mock Rock episode... for the grrrrrrls! If you're happy and you know it, jump to these timestamps: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970, Dir. Russ Meyer) at 2:33 Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982, Dir. Lou Adler) at 17:54 Josie and the Pussycats (2001, Dir. Harry Elfont and...

Does anybody remember laughter? Marty and Scott do, as they watch FOUR MORE real movies about the fake rises and faux falls of bunk bands! It's all happening! More specifically, here's when it's all happening: That Thing You Do (1996, Dir. Tom Hanks) at 2:27 Almost Famous (2000, Dir. Cameron Crowe) at 16:34 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007, Dir. Jake Kasdan) at 33:33 Popstar: Ne...

1, 2, 3, 4, hit it! Cinematic Omniverse returns with a series of real episodes about real movies about fake bands. What makes one nonexistent rock group soar above all the other nonexistent rock groups? Is it the volume? The violence? Or maybe just... the trousers? Smell these gloves, and find out: The Rutles: All You Need is Cash (1978) at 3:21 This is Spinal Tap (1984) at 21:41 The Commitments (...

Nick and Mabel reunite! Herbert Viola moves into the Blue Moon -- and into our hearts! And Forever Knight shatters the serial killer glass ceiling at last! Episodes encapsulated: Columbo S4E5 "Playback" at 3:18 Moonlighting S3E4 "Yours, Very Deadly" at 18:26 Forever Knight S2E7 "Hunted" at 32:15 Continuity Boulevard at 44:05 and Lightning Round at 54:24 Follow us on S...

One of the all-time great crowd-pleasing Hollywood directors, Howard "The Tropinator" Hawks gave us classics in nearly every genre. Scott and Marty tackle four of them. Also featuring: our first feline guest host; an intimate peek at Marty's Spotify playlists; and the return of Bogie and Bacall, after, what, seven episodes?? Welcome back, Steve & Slim! My Timestamps, My Pony, an...

It's one of our most controversial episodes ever! Marty and Scott, who usually agree on pretty much everything, duke it out over two of tonight's three detective-laden offerings... but find common ground by dunking on the third.  What the f**k am I talking about? Answers can be found here: Columbo S4E4 "Troubled Waters" at 1:46 Moonlighting S3E3 "Symphony in Knocked Flat&q...

Giant thumbs, killer attack legs, hymen blood, and the Face of God on an oatmeal tin. Marty and Scott explore some deeply bizarre corners of the omniverse -- and find some hidden gems -- as they get to know the inimitable Udo Kier. If you think that intro was weird, check these out: Blood for Dracula (1974, Dir. Paul Morrissey) at 4:39 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993, Dir. Gus Van Sant) at 19:38...

Finally, Scott gets to demonstrate his expertise in artillery forensics! Let's hope his love for cannons doesn't blow up in his face. Episodes obsessively unpacked: Columbo  S4E3 "By Dawn's Early Light" at 2:24 Moonlighting  S3E2 "The Man Who Cried Wife" at 20:38 Forever Knight S2E5 "Forward Into the Past" at 30:51 Continuity Boulevard at 43:13 The Ever...

If you are down for some films that are fresh, funky, AND fly, then Scott & Marty are your white MCs (Masters of Cinema)! Once you've checked out these legendary hip hop-themed movies, you'll be rapping your love just like Jeanne Dielman does for Donald Sutherland! (It's a whole thing) From the 'hood straight to your ears" Wild Style (1982, Dir. Charlie Ahearn) at 3:05...

The "dick" jokes come thicker than ever before as Scott & Marty celebrate one of the greatest of Columbo's adversaries: Dick van Dyke. Also, David Addison turns out to be a sequel; leprechauns are everywhere; and Jack the Ripper turns out to be an incompetent undead dork. Listen!!! Episodes we dismember: Columbo S4E2 "Negative Reaction" at 1:42 Moonlighting  S3E1 &quot...

The mirror might have two faces, but Marty & Scott are pretty sure that Lauren Bacall only had one face... but what a face!! In this episode, they flit merrily through the last four decades of Bacall's 60-year filmography. Films we flirt with: The Shootist (1976, Dir. Don Siegel) at 1:43 The Fan (1981, Dir. Ed Bianchi) at 17:46 The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996, Dir. Barbra Streisand) at 33:...

"Discovered" at 19, Betty Joan Perske became one of the brightest (and most durable!) stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. She also became Lauren Bacall! In this episode, Scott and Marty learn how to whistle by blowing through Bacall's first two decades onscreen. Jump around a bit, why don't you? To Have and Have Not  (1944, Dir. Howard Hawks) at 2:14 Key Largo  (1948, Dir. Jo...

So, this one's called "An Exercise in Fatality" because it's about an  exercise dude . Get it? And then there's "Stranger than Fiction," and that one's about an author , see? And then "Camille," well that's the cleverest episode title of all... uh... Pilloried this week: Columbo S4E1 "An Exercise in Fatality" (at 1:51) Moonlighting S...

'Tis the Season, and Scott and Marty have been seasoning a four-course Yule feast for your ears! If your family doesn't have a Chirstmas movie-watching tradition, here are four merry (or scary) selections to consider. Or, who knows? Maybe listening to  this very episode will become your yearly thing! Fa la la la la along to: It's a Wonderful Life  (1946, Dir. Frank Capra) at 1:41 Bl...

In this colossal episode of detective-TV podcastery, Scott and Marty ascend the Ziggurat of Cleanliness and educate themselves (and you!) about the World's Second Oldest Profession. Join in! Conquered in this episode: Columbo S3E8 "A Friend in Deed" at 2:13 Moonlighting S2E17 "Funeral for a Doornail" at 18:10 Forever Knight S2E2 "A Fate Worse Than Death" at 31:25...

Put on your best stabbin' hat and hop on your motorized scooter, cuz it's time for Part Two of Donapalooza! Scott and Marty follow Sutherland, Sr. into the 21st century, and in the process learn about the world's most famous Canadian (no, it ain't Justin Bieber). Eye of the Needle  (1981, Dir. Richard Marquand) at 2:26 Bethune: The Making of a Hero  (1990, Dir. Philip Borsos) a...

DON'T FALL ASLEEP! You'll become a pod person, and more tragically, you'll miss the first installment in our Donald Sutherland two-parter! Scott and Marty dive deep into Big Don's stellar performances in four 1970s films: M*A*S*H  (1970, Dir. Robert Altman) at 3:29 Little Murders (1971, Dir. Alan Arkin) at 25:16 Don't Look Now (1973, Dir. Nicholas Roeg) at 40:32 Invasion o...

If you fall asleep while listening to this episode, you might dream that Johnny Cash had guest-starring roles in the 1980s smash hit TV show "Moonlighting" AND the 90s vampire cop romp "Forever Knight." But you'd be wrong! Scott and Marty disabuse you of all your notions regarding the following episodes: Columbo S3E7 "Swan Song" (with Johnny Cash!) at 2:36 Moonli...

"Omniverse." What does it mean? "Om," from the Sanskrit, meaning "you'll achieve enlightenment if you listen." "Ni," from the Knights who Say Ni. And the rest... doesn't mean anything. But that shouldn't stop you from checking out this episode, in which Scott and Marty celebrate the all-too-short life of Gen X icon Brenda -- er, I mean Shannen...

Everybody pipe down! This is the one where Columbo fights Robby the Robot! Okay, that's not quite true. But it's the season finale of Forever Knight, which is almost as cool. (Especially if, while you're watching it, you're mostly imagining Columbo fighting Robby the Robot...) Detected this week: Columbo  S3E6 "Mind Over Mayhem!" at 2:37 Moonlighting  S2E15 "Witn...