Raised by Rentals

G.I. Joe was one of the most successful franchises of the 80s and early 90s. With the one-two punch of a popular cartoon and the greatest toyline of the decade, a hit feature film was surely to follow...yet the animated movie was released straight to home video and Hollywood wouldn't gamble on a live-action film for another 20 years. For the 12th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh a...

Once upon a time, G.I. Joe set the standard for perfect playable toys, supported by an animated series, cutting edge comic book, feature film, and loads more that sparked the excitement of kids everywhere. But now it seems kids just don't play with action figures anymore. This week's RENTAL RANTS is a crossover special with COUNT KREEPYHEAD'S SATURDAY MORNING MONSTER MASH! Host Mike O'May--our fir...

80s kids rejoiced when Hollywood adapted one of the decade's most popular toy properties to the silver screen in 1987, only to leave the theaters confused at the treatment of He-Man. For the 11th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what could have been if we'd gotten a movie true to the origins of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.

In the 80s, the Nintendo Entertainment System--our beloved NES--revolutionized the home console market and delivered an unparalleled lineup of legendary games. So why, Lord Jeebus, why?? were there so many $#!&-tier games clogging the rental store shelves? For the 6th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh and Mike shake things up a bit by daydreaming of the FRIDAY THE 13TH NES game that never was....

Kent was an ambitious and successful university student, leader of a top-secret laser optics project...until he was upstaged by a prankster and his wunderkind sidekick. When Kent heard the voice of God, though, he knew he was destined for greater things. In the 10th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike consider what happens when God stops talking to a REAL GENIUS.

Why are relaunches, remakes, and new installments for classic franchises making all the 80s and 90s kids so furious? In the 5th RENTAL RANT, Josh and Mike investigate the Case of the Ruined Childhood!

Matt Foley is 35 years old, thrice-divorced, and living in a down by the river...but how did this high-energy motivational speaker come to such a crossroads in life? In the 9th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what life must be like for the late great Chris Farley's trademark SNL character.

Why are movie sequel titles so unoriginal, confusing, and repetitive? In the 4th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike go full curmudgeon on the laziness of movie series titles.

Sarah Connor survived a ruthless attack at the hands of a killer cyborg from the future & thought she'd found safety in a small Mexican town. So why does she keep seeing a man with the same face as her would-be assassin? For the 8th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv the perfect 80s action movie crossover: COMMANDO VS. THE TERMINATOR!

It's not a spoiler that spoilers suck! In the 3rd now-regular RENTAL RANTS feature, Josh & Mike vent about jerks who carelessly spoil the stories to movies, books, & more.

In the grand tradition of movies based on board games like Clue and...Battleship, I guess?...for the 7th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv an actual story for a silver screen adaptation of the only game with a Pop-O-Matic bubble: TROUBLE!

Why the %*$& are shows so long these days?! In the 2nd installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike swear up a storm about streaming TV run-times.

From the jungle canopy of Central America to the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, the Earth has often been a safari destination for alien sport-hunters. But what happens when things go wrong and predator becomes prey? For the 6th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine how the 90s-era blockbuster action scene would have been even better with PREDATOR 3.

Doesn't Hollywood have any good ideas anymore?! In this first bonus episode, Josh & Mike go on a RENTAL RANT about remakes of popular movies.

Hadouken! Head-to-head fighters dominated the video game scene in the early 90s, so of course Hollywood got in the ring to kick ass with blockbuster movie adaptations. Only the movies we got didn't exactly hit hard. For the 5th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine a fighting game-turned-movie that doesn't pull punches & actually put some street fights in STREET FIGHTER II.

1, 2, Freddy's comin' for you...& you...& you...he's everywhere! As the pandemic continues to menace the real world, can the survivors of Springwood prevail against a plague of nightmares? For the 4th episode--& 1st birthday special!--of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improve a story concept for the return of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

When they were just kids, Mikey Walsh & his friends faced pirates, gangsters, & booby traps to save their homes. But is one adventure enough? For the 3rd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if sequel to THE GOONIES!

From a ragtag band of misfits to a force to be reckoned with, Mahoney & the gang cracked up a generation with their screwball take on cleaning up the streets. But in the political climate of the 2020s, can a comedy about cops actually be funny? For the 2nd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if relaunch of the POLICE ACADEMY series.

It's the holiday season at Crystal Lake & we couldn't help but wonder: What would Jason do? He's been to Manhattan, he's been to space...why not a Christmas special? For the 1st episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if installment in the FRIDAY THE 13TH series.