The Franchise Lives

How do you create a franchise out of characters that were written for shock and not emotional connection? Our hosts turn to the mother of shock-cinema in an attempt to find out, when they check in to Alfred Hitchcock's groundbreaking classic, Psycho. They discuss how effective the sequels were at utilizing Norman Bates as a protagonist, as well as the traps of having mental health as the ultimate...

How does a screenwriter reuse ideas from older films while still maintaining a cohesive and distinctive style? Our hosts seek tutelage from one of contemporary cinema's best directors at reinterpreting influences when they examine the two volumes of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. They discuss whether it is a writer's duty to make the audience despise the villains as much as possible in a revenge t...

The keys to successfully adapting a classic story into a modern version are straightforward and clear, but how do you adapt a classic story into a sequel when a follow-up was never written? Our hosts attempt to find those keys when they examine the holiday cult classic, Scrooged. They begin by analyzing the faithfulness of the 1988 adaptation; evaluate the additions, omissions, and changes to the...

How does a screenwriter deliver payoffs for a story centered on two antagonists fighting for the limelight? Starting in 1987, two studios slowly began moving heaven and hell in order to get their franchise villains to face off against one another. Today, our hosts determine if the resulting 2003 film, Freddy vs Jason, was worth 16 years of effort, or if the fight of the millennium was cursed to be...

What are the keys to turning a silly teen comedy into a deceptively substantive story? Full moons aren't needed when it comes to sniffing out what transformed the 1985 Michael J. Fox hit, Teen Wolf, from just a goofy B-movie to an unlikely success. Our hosts determine what the first movie had that made it feel like the writers really wanted to tell this story, and offer up ways to do the same for...

How many protagonists can a franchise withstand? Fate is put to the test when examining the overlapping and self-perpetuating paradoxical timelines of the Terminator franchise. Our hosts discover how well its action heroes evolved over the course of 6 films, the appropriate amount of lore and backstory a savior should be given, as well as how many times a villain can be sent back through time befo...

What are the universal traits of an action hero? Brains and charisma? Brawn and sex-appeal? Or is it simply big bombs and even bigger bums?? Our hosts take a look at action heroes throughout the history of cinema and from around the world. They examine action hero traits and determine which ones are enduring, and which ones are fads, in an effort to see if they can come up with a formula for craft...

How do you create a franchise in a sub-genre that doesn't emphasize arcs or theme? Our hosts take a look at a cold-case file that's slated to be re-opened later this year, when they investigate the Naked Gun franchise. They examine its origins as a short-lived, failed TV series, and piece together what was different about the feature film that made it succeed. They discuss ways in which its two se...

Our hosts roll out the red carpet for their first ever awards show! They take a look back at the films and franchises they've covered over the course of the podcast and hand out some hardware for the characters and sequels that truly deserve some extra recognition. They pay respect to a few of the lesser known actors we've lost along the way, and compare their sequel pitches for The Evil Dead and...

Can style compensate for breaking fundamental screenwriting rules? The conspiracy theories run deep when trying to uncover why John Carpenter's 1988 sci-fi action-comedy, They Live, never got a sequel or a timely remake. The boys dust off their sunglasses and take a hard look at what allowed the original film to transcend into cult status, while also exposing some ugly truths about its character t...

How do you write a compelling protagonist when your entire cast is jockeying for the spotlight? Our hosts attempt to solve the greatest mystery of all when they try to figure out why there has never been a sequel for the 1988 landmark blockbuster, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They investigate which elements would be most crucial for establishing a franchise blueprint and examine decades of past sequel...

What is the appropriate balance of mystery versus backstory for a villain? An all-nighter is in store when our hosts analyze the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. They discuss Nightmare's unique structure blueprint as compared to other slashers from the same era, evaluate the strengths and deficiencies of the various protagonists, and toss and turn over which character developments improved or we...

All input is considered when the boys go over the short-lived Short Circuit franchise. They disassemble the two films to see which parts fit together the best, discuss the rumored reboots and reappearances of Johnny 5, and lament over the many missed opportunities of turning this into a real franchise, before finally trying to make lightning strike again when they pitch their own ideas to make Joh...

Which feature film qualities are most necessary for making an adaptation to an animated series? Our hosts take a deep dive into the world of Saturday morning cartoons based on feature films and franchises, and examine the numerous hits and misses attempted by the networks. Afterwards, they take their checklist and apply its criteria to see if any of the films they think should have had their own c...

How much plot does a documentary need? In a first for the show, our hosts examine a soon-to-be franchise that defined the mockumentary blueprint when they plug-in to This Is Spinal Tap. They debate whether or not there was an appropriate amount of plot and stakes in the film, or if the memorable set-pieces were enough to carry the story, and assess whether or not the editors selected the correct s...

Which qualities need to be present in order to make a documentary sequel? Our hosts attempt to figure out which elements are necessary for warranting more content by reviewing some of the best documentary sequels, and a few of the worst, and then use that checklist to determine which of their favorite documentaries should have had sequels of their own!

Is character or tone more important to retain in a sequel? Our hosts check in to one of the more complicated franchises they've covered when they check out The Shining. They compare the differences between Stephen King's book and Stanley Kubrick's film, and analyze some of the many interpretations and themes that fans and critics have proposed. They discuss which aspects and characters are most de...

The boys compete for the title of "filthiest podcast alive" when they get down and dirty with John Waters' 1972 cult-classic, Pink Flamingos. They discuss how significant the midnight-movie circuit and the era was to the film's success, and decide which elements are necessary to recapture in a sequel, and if it's even possible to do so. They then review John's unrealized sequel script, Flamingos F...

Is the old saying, "never meet your heroes," good or bad advice? The boys try to figure that out by sharing some of their own personal stories.

This holiday season, the boys gift themselves the 2003 mega-hit Elf, starring an actor who was on neither of their Christmas lists. They consider whether its imaginative premise made up for its predictable plot points, and discuss additional ways in which the stakes could have been raised for a catalyst hero. Then they try to unwrap all the hang-ups that prevented this from having a sequel, and ma...

Just in time for Thanksgiving, the boys buckle up and hit the road with the 1987 John Hughes comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles. They review how the straightforward story impacted its overall success and if its surprise emotional ending is its saving grace. They discuss a few ways in which this could have had an immediate sequel, and then evaluate the casting choices rumored to be considered f...

What is the perfect blueprint for the slasher sub-genre? Our hosts pack their bags and prepare for a long night at Camp Crystal Lake when they head off to explore Friday the 13th. They discuss which elements of the original were the most critical for creating a franchise, and explore the multitude of ways in which they could've continued after killing their antagonist. They hike through the numero...

Is it a mistake to make a supporting character more likeable and interesting than your protagonist? Our hosts reacquaint themselves with a critically despised cult-classic from the 90's when they unearth Encino Man. They try to determine why there was such a chasm between audiences and critics, and pinpoint the film's most crucial factor to its eventual success. They speculate over who the protago...

Is comedy alone enough to make a movie timeless? Our hosts hit the links with a franchise that contains one of the most popular comedies of all time, and also one of the most hated sequels of all time, when they tee up Caddyshack. They attempt to locate exactly where this franchise was shanked into the rough, and debate which elements were good enough to make the cut. Then they discuss whether thi...

The boys tune-in for a mid-90's dark comedy that starred and marked the turning point for one of Hollywood's biggest stars at the time, when they set their dials on The Cable Guy. They try to unravel the real reason as to why this was such a failure with critics and fans, discuss if it is possible to make the antagonist the star of the film, and question whether the screenwriting rules that were b...