Crowning Around

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, attempt to supplement their experience watching The Other Boleyn Girl by watching the first half of the two-part mini-series Elizabeth I starring Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, and Hugh Dancy, directed by Tom Hooper. They quickly learn that someone in the prosthetics department must have also been in charge of the finan...

We're between seasons, which means it's time once again for some supplemental content! This time, Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, go farther back in royal history than they've ever gone before as they talk about The Other Boleyn Girl. The star power in this movie is overpowering, but where was Andrew Garfield? And also, who even is the other Boleyn...

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, convene on the Queen's birthday to recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 10: Cri de Coeur. After breaking down Helena Bonham Carter's For Your Consideration episode, they take a step back and evaluate Season 3 of The Crown overall. Is it possible that the third season neglected Elizabeth?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 9: Imbroglio. Together, they break down a packed episode that includes a classic royal scheme, a princess taking after her father, and the return of Wallis Simpson. Plus. Ivan shares highlights from his trip to Scotland.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 8: Dangling Man. Together, they mourn some on and off-screen losses of some favorite (and least favorite) characters, and they analyze the Charles/Camilla/Anne/Andrew quadruple situation that is happening. Plus, can you date someone with a similar name as you?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 7: Moondust. Together, they watch The Crown's depiction of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and the other one landing on the moon, and decide there's no way that Neil Armstrong came up with his famous line on his own. Also, what's up with Philip's polo cage?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 6: Tywysog Cymru. They finally meet Josh O'Connor's Charles and fail to learn basic Welsh. Plus, a comparison of university libraries.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 5: Coup. Dickie and Porchey both return, having aged dramatically differently. Sam, Carlyn, and Ivan attempt to learn "Horse Science."

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 4: Bubbikins. Ivan begins the episode skeptical of the newsroom depiction based upon his own experience in a newsroom some years ago, and tries to turn that energy into discontinuing the Kinky Crown Award. Will he succeed?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 3: Aberfan, which, according to the people on IMDb, is the best episode of television that The Crown has to offer. Unfortunately, it's such a downer that there may or may not be tangents involving grocery stores and aliens to try and lighten the mood.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 2: Margaretology. They start off optimistic that that since this episode takes place in the United States, they might be a little more knowledgeable about what's going on. That optimism quickly fades.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 3, Episode 1: Olding, and in the process meet a brand new cast of characters including Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, and Helena Bonham Carter. Oh, and Winston is back, too. Plus, a surprise Crown cameo from a former Kinky Crown Award winner!

Happy Christmas everyone! Grab your KFC, your orange juice, and your headphones for a special holiday edition of Crowning Around! In this episode, Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, sit down to talk about the 2021 biopic Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, with Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, and Sean Harris. And if you choose to not li...

God save...the Queen's sister? In this episode, Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, sit down to talk about the 2005 Channel 4 made-for-tv film The Queen's Sister, a film all about the life and times of Princess Margaret. In a movie from which Queen Elizabeth is largely absent, a perpetually old Philip steps in to shit all over Margaret's life, eventual...

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, sit down to talk about the 2011 film W.E., written and directed by none other than Madonna! Turns out, Madonna has been doing some investigating into the royal family as well, and instead of a podcast has decided the best way to communicate her findings is through the eyes of a woman in the 90s who suffers from Walli...

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 10: Mystery Man, and in doing so say goodbye to the first generation of actors from The Crown. Carlyn reveals the minimum amount of times an actor needs to appear on The Crown before she takes notice, and Ivan breaks down if Season 2 actually led to anything.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 9: Paterfamilias. Philip gets bullied and needs therapy, but instead decides to put Charles through the same trauma. But hey, at least now we know that Charles actually exists in the show - as long as he doesn't end up lost in the woods...

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 8: Dear Mrs. Kennedy. Just because this episode includes some famous Americans, don't expect them to be any more knowledgeable than usual. Who needs facts when Carlyn is ready to write some Liz/Jackie fan fic?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 7: Matrimonium. The group is torn over whether or not this is a good episode, but can agree at least that it's good to get another Margaret-focused episode in the books, especially in what might be the kinkiest episode of The Crown to date.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 6: Vergangenheit. Some uncomfortable news about David creates an awkward atmosphere, and the presence of Billy Graham does not make it better. Plus, outrage that The Crown has robbed us of what might have arguably been the best scene in the entire show.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 5: Marionettes. It's another episode of The Crown, another cameo from a Game of Thrones alum. Carlyn shares the recipe for a perfect toffee. Important questions are pondered like does the Queen need to shave? No stone is left unturned.

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 4: Beryl. This episode gets very high marks all around, with bonus points for bringing us Matthew Goode as Tony Armstrong-Jones. Plus, who doesn't love a duel?

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 3: Lisbon. Philip forgets how to utilize leverage in the most important negotiation of his life, and we finally get rid of our least favorite character, Mike - which also means that we lose our new favorite character, Eileen. Plus, is Anthony Eden low-key the kinkiest character in th...

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, recap The Crown Season 2, Episode 2: A Company of Men. Carlyn once again has a fan fiction idea, but swears she doesn't write real-life fan fiction. But seriously though, Eileen and that waitress? Power couple in the making, just saying. Come on, Eileen!

Sam Cheung, Carlyn Greenwald, and Ivan Vukovic, three regular everyday Americans, return from hiatus to talk about The Crown Season 2, Episode 1: Misadventure. Remember when a boat got stuck in the Suez Canal? Crazy times. And will Queen Elizabeth ever make the correct decision that we can respect? Plus, star jumps!