Fan Effect

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of November 21, 2025 . The wait is over for " Wicked " fans as " Wicked: For Good " finally comes to theaters with a pretty good second act, though it doesn't quite hit the high notes of Part One. The musical sequel is worth watching for the sets, costumes, and Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo's chemistry, but it...

“ America's Test Kitchen ” is celebrating 25 years on set, on your television, and cooking in your kitchens. The PBS TV show has grown since its 2001 start to multiple shows, platforms, magazines, recipe books, and other products. Currently, they are traveling the nation with a fun live show experience, which sold out its Salt Lake Show this October. On this episode of Fan Effect, KSL...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of November 7, 2025 . November’s Box Office is launched with an excellent film, “ Nuremberg , ”a powerful retelling of the post-WWII trial of what remained of Nazi leadership. Also wildly entertaining is “ Predator: Badlands ,” which crosses over with the Alien franchise in an intrigu...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of October 31, 2025 . A cute new movie worth adding to the annual family Halloween rotation is " Stitch Head ," which is kind of a mix of "Monsters Inc" & "Frankenweenie.” But the new torture film, “ Bugonia " is a big fat F- from Andy, for pretentiousness, violence, and being a total waste of time...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of October 25, 2025 . This is a week of contrasts with one of the worst movies Andy’s seen this year, and one of the best.  Also, there’s a kids' show on Disney+ for “Frozen “and LEGO fans.  " Regretting You " wastes talented up-and-comer McKenna Grace in an overly melodramatic ad...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of October 17, 2025 . Frankly, " Good Fortune " is a good watch! The new movie featuring Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari & Seth Rogen is a slow-burning comedy that gets even better once you think about it. Also in theaters, the historical thriller, and faith-fueled, story of " Truth & Treason ” is the true...

In this FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2025 recording, guest host Heather Kelly chats with television and Broadway performer Cleavant Derricks about his journey from childhood make-believe to professional acting. Known for his role as Rembrandt Brown on the '90s science fiction TV series “ Sliders ,” this Tony Award-winning singer and songwriter shares his unique start in the entertai...

In this episode of Fan Effect, originally produced for a KSL NewsRadio special, host Andy Farnsworth asks, “ When parents see a movie rating, do they really understand what it means? What goes into a movie rating? Who rates the movies in the first place?” He examines the movie rating process and how it can help parents best decide what movies are the most appropriate for their kids. Ta...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of October 3, 2025 . It's the Rock like you've never seen him before!  Seriously. You almost don't recognize him in " The Smashing Machine ," where he tells part of the true story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr.   As for streaming, there is a movie from director Shane Black, " Play Dirty ", starring Mark...

We are in the final countdown for FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention 2025 , which takes place THIS WEEK, at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, September 25th - 27th. And in our second Fan(X) Effect preview episode of 2025, we have an eclectic mix of content to prepare for the three-day Xperience! Visit FanxSaltLake.com for event information, to purchase tickets, and download the Fan...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of September 12, 2025. It's a big send-off for the much-loved "Downton Abbey" franchise with “ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ” in theaters this week. Fans will love all the nods to moments over the years, and it's a nice, comfortable escape. Also for the fans, the long-awaited sequel " Spinal Tap II:...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of September 2, 2025 . Two films are hitting the big screen with very different feels. A funny yet adult comedy, " Splitsville ," starring Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona, who have different ideas on how to handle their marriages, with occasionally laugh-out-loud results. And for those looking for a faith-based op...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 29, 2025 . Labor Day weekend brings Austin Butler getting brutalized in " Caught Stealing ," a violent action comedy that will make you question how much punishment one person can take. Also in theaters, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman try to convince us that they love each other and then hate eac...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for fangirls (and boys) like our host KellieAnn Halvorsen , as the countdown to FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention is hitting the 20s! In only a month, fans, nerds, geeks, cosplayers , artists, authors, and creatives of all sorts will descend on the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City for a three-day event like no other in Utah — not t...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 22, 2025 .  The highest-grossing animated film of all time, " Ne Zha II, " comes to local theaters from China and is dubbed into English for the first time.   It's epic and looks great, but patience is required. If you want to see beautiful people roughing it, " Eden " from director Ron Howard...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 15, 2025 . Today’s episode is brought to you by the number 2! Starting with the movie hitting theaters, " Nobody 2 ” brings Bob Odenkirk's assassin and his family to the vacation spot he went to as a kid, and comedic (but savage) violence ensues. Next, " Highest 2 Lowest" teams up Spike Lee a...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 8, 2025 .  The sequel " Freakier Friday " takes a lot from the 2003 "Freaky Friday" movie, but it's still fun to see Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis trading bodies with a couple of teenagers.  It's also got a good message about seeing things from others' perspectives. Other options include a...

The 2025 "Freakier Friday" sequel to the 2003 "Freaky Friday" is a fun-filled, heartfelt, drama-fueled comedic ride—a practically perfect (for its purpose) Summer movie for women and audiences of all ages. To prepare for the feature, producer KellieAnn Halvorsen read the original (and very outdated) 1972 book by Mary Rogers , watched the campy 1976 version "Freaky Friday," re-watched her gen...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of August 1, 2025 . The big movie this week is a reboot/sequel titled " The Naked Gun ," starring Liam Neeson in the slapstick farce about a group of hilarious idiots called Police Squad. Andy hasn’t laughed this hard in a movie for a long time, even if it did get a little vulgar at times. Another funny sequ...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of July 25, 2025 .  Andy had high hopes for Marvel's latest superhero movie, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," and was mostly pleased with the result. Director Matt Shakman got the family dynamic right and didn't over-rely on action, plus had a (dare we say?) fantastic retro-futuristic design. In the second...

In this special episode of Fan Effect, ripped from the streams of our friend Rachel Wagner at the Hallmarkies Podcast , producer KellieAnn Halvorsen discusses the latest “Superman” movie , and in particular, the lasting love of Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Darin Lundberg of the NostalgiaCast Podcast joins Rachel and KellieAnn for a masculine perspective on the beloved pair. Not only do th...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of July 18, 2025 . A reboot of a Saturday morning cartoon from the 1980s, "Smurfs," has a handful of funny moments and some decent animation, but otherwise is just for the little ones. “Eddington” might give you PTSD flashbacks to the early days of the COVID pandemic of 2020 as Joaquin Phoenix and Pedr...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the weekend of July 11, 2025 . The big question of the weekend is whether James Gunn can pull off a film about one of the most famous superheroes of all time. Thankfully, according to both Andy and producer KellieAnn’s opinions, he nailed it! “ Superman ” is fun, vibrant, and enjoyable! Producer KellieAnn ev...

" Jurassic World: Rebirth " is poised to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the summer, as the seventh in a long legacy of Jurassic Park movies. On this episode of Fan Effect, host and producer KellieAnn Halvorsen is joined by her 13-year-old nephew Cole Halvorsen, who is also a massive dino-fan. The movie, featuring a new cast, including the stunning Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, is...

Andy Farnsworth joins KSL-TV to help audiences decipher #WhatToWatch for the long Independence Day weekend .  The dinosaurs are back on the big screen with " Jurassic World: Rebirth ," which Andy thought was a highly enjoyable entry into the franchise. For weekend streaming: " The Old Guard 2 " on Netflix has Charlize Theron back to kick some more butt leading a team of immortal mercenaries i...