The Black Case Diaries Movie/TV Podcast

This week, we dove deep into the black case to bring you an episode about the history of film censorship and the current MPAA rating system!  We all know the ratings well: G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, Unrated, or not-yet-rated. But, where do these ratings come from, and how did they come to be? What do these ratings really mean in terms of what is or isn’t appropriate for specific audiences?  Censorshi...

Hello and thank you for joining us once again at The Black Case Diaries!  Today, we’re taking a look at one of Jim Henson's most well-known and beloved creations: The Muppet Show. The Muppet show aired from 1976 to 1981, five seasons of perfect insanity and uninhibited joy. It followed Kermit, a hapless producer and host of a weekly variety show, and the rest of the Muppets as they put together a...

Welcome back to another episode of The Black Case Diaries! This week we're talking about the career of one of the most prolific voice talents of all time: June Foray! From Rocky the Flying Squirrel to Talky Tina, June entertained millions over the course of her 85-year career.  We couldn't possibly talk about everything June voiced, but we touched on some of the highlights! Please visit https://ww...

What makes a screwball comedy? Well, to get technical, screwball comedies began as a sub-genre of romantic comedy in the 1930’s. The term has become a little more broad over time, and movies that we consider to be screwball comedies today might not focus specifically on a love story, but have elements that still turn the classic romance on its head. Come join us as we discuss some famous comedy pa...

In the 1990's, there was no bigger star than Michael Jordan. He was everywhere and on everything. He was a hero, a God among men, “the greatest basketball player of all time.” Mix that with the iconic image of Bugs Bunny, a killer soundtrack, and state-of-the-art special effects, and you have the highest grossing basketball movie of all time: Space Jam!   Join us as we talk about the making of thi...

Join us this week as we honor summer and baseball with an episode about The Natural! Based on the novel by Bernard Malamud, this film paved the way for successful baseball movies. Join us as we talk about its legacy! Show notes and sources can be found: https://www.blackcasediaries.com/

Today we are taking a look at the career of choreographer-turned-director, Kenny Ortega! Kenny Ortega is responsible for some of the most iconic dance scenes of the 1980's, from the lift in “Dirty Dancing” to Duckie’s moves in “Pretty in Pink.” He went on to direct some of Disney’s cult classics that will be remembered for generations. Check out our website for show notes, sources, and clips! http...

Welcome Back! This week for June Tunes, we decided to have a little fun and rank our top 10 Disney Villain songs!  It’s undeniable that Disney music is an iconic element to the studio’s best animated films. Disney songs have permeated American (and sometimes world) pop culture throughout the last 70 years. Some songs are tender moments between characters while others are show-stopping power ballad...

Welcome to season 4 of The Black Case Diaries! We decided to return strong with our now annual series on movie music: June Tunes! This month we will be covering various topics all involving music in movies. Today we’re starting with an all-time favorite: The Blues Brothers!  In the summer of 1980, a film that defied description raced into theaters. The Blues Brothers starred two big names from SNL...

Hey everyone and welcome back to the season 3 finale of The Black Case Diaries! Last week we wrapped up our series on Animation, and today we have decided to completely shift gears to discuss one of our favorite TV shows.  In February of 2006, UK audiences were introduced to a new multi-camera sitcom created by Graham Linehan (co-creator of another popular sitcom, Father Ted) called The IT Crowd....

Welcome back to our last episode in our animation series! This month we talked about the history of animation: a story of passion, ego, and innovation. We’ve covered the Disney Exodus, the history of Pixar, stop-motion, and of course LAIKA. Today, we wrap up our series with an episode about a studio that has been enchanting audiences with breathtaking visuals and rich stories for the past 35 years...

Welcome back to yet another week about animation! This week, we’re continuing our look at Stop-Motion with a studio that stands on its own as a leader in claymation.  Since its founding in 2005, Laika has been making a name for itself among the animation elite. Though stop-motion is not the most popular or cost-effective form of animation, they continue to stun audiences with their technical maste...

Hey Cassettes! Welcome back to another episode about animation! This week we're covering the history and process of stop-motion! We all know that animation takes patience, but none so much as stop-motion animation. Animators spend years meticulously creating hand-built sets and characters, moving their pieces millimeters at a time for at least 24 frames every second so the audience can watch it al...

Welcome back to our month of Animation! This week we are going to focus on one particular studio that hopped into the animation world back in the mid-1980s, and completely changed the game.  Since its first feature film in 1995, Pixar has been a symbol of animation excellence. Not only that, it became known for rich, original storytelling that engaged audiences while pulling on their heartstrings....

Hey everyone, welcome back to our series on Animation! This week, we’re continuing to look at the development of other major animated film studios through the lens of The Disney Exodus; an event that took place over the course of a few decades, but ultimately occurred in the late-70's and early 80's, when animators left the studio to pursue other projects--taking their skills and ideas with them....

Hello Cassettes, Happy Animation April! This month we're focusing on the animation medium, its history and some of its major studios/films. This week we are starting with a general history of animation through the cartoons and films of the early 20th century! This week, we’re taking a look at the history of animated films and their evolution throughout early cinema. So bust out your flip-books, pe...

Love them or hate them, zombie movies have their place in cinematic history. These films featuring the living dead have been around as early as the 1930’s. Not long after that, however, a new genre appeared: The Zombie Comedy.  In 2004, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg utilized the zombie concept and created Shaun of the Dead: a modern Zom-Rom-Com about an uninspired man leading an uneventful life unti...

Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles.  Doesn’t sound too bad right? Today we’re talking about the greatest love story ever told. It tells of a love so pure it can be simplified to three words: As You Wish. “The Princess Bride” galloped, soared, and leapt into theatres in the fall of 1987 and has left a lasting mark on American culture ever sin...

This week we are celebrating women's history by discussing the trailblazing comedy duo Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd! In the early days of talkies, Pitts & Todd made 17 comedic shorts with Hal Roach Studio.  Listen as we discuss these hilarious women, their lives outside of the movies, and our favorite shorts.  Check out our blog https://blackcasediaries.wordpress.com/ or website https://www.blackcas...

In August of 1993, children across America fell in love with a campy live-action TV show about five teenagers who battled the evils of the universe. The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers soon became a global phenomenon, and the series still has a strong following 27 years later. Join us this week as we discuss the history of The Power Rangers! You can find our show notes and sources on our website htt...

Hey Cassettes! In the late 1960s, six comedians premiered a sketch comedy show on BBC. They became known as Monty Python, and their wacky, nonsensical humor changed television. Join us this week as we discuss the history of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and their feature film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). Check out our Patreon for Marci's drink of the week: The Holy Hand Grenade of Anti...

Water, Earth, Fire, Air... Fifteen years ago, Nickelodeon premiered Avatar: The Last Airbender! Join us on the anniversary of this groundbreaking show to discuss how it was made, and its impact on our lives.  You can find show notes and sources on our website https://www.blackcasediaries.com/ and our blog https://blackcasediaries.wordpress.com/ As always, thanks for listening!

Hey Cassettes! This week we dive into a subject Adam has been waiting to discuss... Dinosaurs!!!! We know Adam has been periodically inserting facts about Jurassic Park in many of our other episodes, but this time we discuss the history of dinosaurs in film. We also talk about some of the most well known and loved dinosaurs in these movies by ranking the top five. So join us on a journey to a land...

Hey Cassettes! Once again, it's time for a short(er) episode on the Oscars! Last night was a night of history-making wins, predictable honors, and some interesting surprises. Just like last year, we gathered to watch and record our reactions right after. What did you think of the Oscars? Were you excited, disappointed, or bored? Let us know! As Always, thanks for listening!

Happy Thursday, Cassettes! This week we talk about a beloved BBC mini series, the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. There have been several different adaptations of Jane Austen’s books, but it seems as though this version has caught the hearts of many. In this episode we have a very special guest: Em from Verbal Diorama! We will begin with a little about Jane Austen, the history behind the BBC show, who i...