The Rank

🎮⚡ In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John dives into the neon-lit world of 1982’s sci-fi action classic Tron , starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, and Cindy Morgan . John explores how Tron revolutionized digital filmmaking with its groundbreaking visual effects and immersive computer world long before CGI became mainstream. He breaks down the story of Kevin Flynn , a compu...

🕺💬 John jumps into Season 2’s late-run antics with “Think Like a Peter,” where post-breakup Mindy leans on office wingman Peter for a dating reboot. Peter’s advice: think like a man — which leads them to test his pickup tactics at a bar, where they run into Lee (guest star Max Greenfield), a smooth-talking first-grade teacher who isn’t what he seems. Meanwhile, Danny plays reluctant relationship...

🥊🎙️ John takes a pit stop at the Sunshine Garage for Season 2, Episode 15 — “The Reluctant Fighter.” Tony gets his shot at a real boxing match when he’s invited to fight a former champ in Scranton — a dream opportunity that doesn’t go how he imagines. The trip exposes Tony’s pride and vulnerability when the match ends in defeat, and the aftermath puts pressure on friendships back home. Compoundin...

🎙️🔥 John dives into Season 4, Episode 5 of The Good Place , where the team splits into two dangerous missions: Michael and Jason sneak into the Bad Place to rescue Janet. At the same time, Eleanor and Tahani struggle to keep the fake neighborhood running without Janet’s help. Expect frantic rescue plans, demon-filled conventions, and the show’s trademark mix of sharp comedy and real stakes—Michae...

🎮⚡ In this electrifying episode, John immerses listeners in the neon-lit world of Tron: Ares (2025), plugging it into his Action Movie Rankings system. A direct follow-up to Tron: Legacy , Ares delivers high-octane digital combat, labyrinthine visuals, and philosophical stakes—pitting humans against AI in a virtual war for the fate of reality itself. John breaks down how Tron: Ares evolves the f...

😂💘 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John digs into The Mindy Project Season 2, Episode 18 — “Girl Crush.” Mindy and Danny are navigating the awkward new phase of their relationship (he wants to keep it quiet; she doesn’t), which sets up a lot of the episode’s tension and comedy. Mindy also develops a literal “girl crush” on a high-profile OB/GYN (guest star Anna Gunn) and gets tempted by an...

🧾📚 John opens Season 3 with a classic Bundy cringe-comedy: Al discovers a library copy of The Little Engine That Could he borrowed decades ago — it’s been overdue since 1957, and returning it means facing the same stern librarian who humiliated him as a kid. When Al tries to make good on his long-buried mistake, he learns the overdue fine has ballooned into a serious debt, and his attempts to fi...

🎙️😇 John breaks down Season 4, Episode 4, a twisty, funny entry that turns the neighborhood upside down. A meek demon named Glenn shows up claiming he’s defecting — and drops a bomb: the Michael the humans trust is actually Vicky disguised in a Michael suit. The group scrambles to prove who’s telling the truth. Janet builds a demon “lie detector” to test Glenn’s claims — but when she uses it, Gle...

🎙️🌌 In this episode, John dives deep into James Cameron’s groundbreaking 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar . Set on the lush alien world of Pandora, the film follows paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he becomes part of the Avatar Program — a mission to connect with the planet’s indigenous Na’vi people. But as Jake grows closer to Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and learns the ways of her people, he’s...

🎙️💘 John dives into Season 2’s spicy chapter where Mindy and Danny finally try dating — but decide to keep it secret at work, which immediately creates tension and awkward misunderstandings. Danny’s insistence on privacy clashes with Mindy’s desire to be open, and things get messier when Danny’s former fling, Brooke, reappears (complicating feelings) and a high-profile doctor shows interest in po...

🚕🐴 John digs into Season 2, Episode 14— “Jim Gets a Pet” —where Reverend Jim catches the horse-racing bug after a lucky day at the track. He plunges his winnings into the long-shot he backed, buys the horse (affectionately renamed), and even tries to keep it in his tiny apartment—prompting equal parts worry and comic concern from the Sunshine Garage crew. The story ends on a darker, surprisingly...

🎙️😌 In this episode, John tackles Season 4, Episode 3: “Chillaxing.” After the reboot of the experiments, the group discovers Chidi has become too relaxed—he’s no longer driven by ethical anxiety and is totally chill, to the point that he’s no longer useful in their mission to help the new humans. To shake him out of it, Eleanor and Michael enlist Jason to reveal his true, reckless nature and rei...

🎬🏆 In this episode of The Rank Podcast, John tackles the ambitious 2025 action-thriller One Battle After Another, placing it on his Best Picture Rankings. Directed, written, and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. This modern epic follows Bob (DiCaprio), an ex-revolutionary living in para...

🎙️😂 John digs into Season 2’s “Indian BBW,” the second half of the French Me, You Idiot / Indian BBW two-parter. After Mindy and Danny finally confront the fallout from their kiss, Mindy discovers an old, embarrassing homemade sex video of hers (with Tom) circulating online. Horrified, she turns to Peter to help bury the clip and stop it from reaching Danny — which leads to a frantic, awkward att...

😂📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast, John dives into Sitcom Rankings with the classic 1987 sitcom Married… With Children. He takes a look at Season 2, Episode 22, “All in the Family”, where Peggy’s parents, Ephraim and Wanker, drop in for a surprise visit. Things spiral quickly as Al has to deal not only with his in-laws overstaying their welcome but also with the clash of family values and P...

😇📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John continues his Sitcom Rankings with NBC’s hit comedy The Good Place . He reviews Season 4, Episode 2, “A Girl from Arizona, Part 2” , where Eleanor struggles to step into her new role as the leader of the neighborhood experiment. As she attempts to guide the four new humans toward moral growth, she faces resistance from Simone, skepticism from Brent,...

🎬🏆 In this episode of The Rank Podcast, John takes a look at the 1957 romantic drama Sayonara, starring Marlon Brando, Miiko Taka, Red Buttons, and Miyoshi Umeki. The film tells the story of an American Air Force pilot stationed in Japan who falls in love with a Japanese woman, challenging cultural taboos and military regulations. With its exploration of forbidden love, prejudice, and cross-cult...

💋🔥 John digs into the episode that finally forces Mindy to stop skirting the obvious. Right after the Danny–Mindy kiss, Mindy tries to engineer a breakup by acting erratically so Cliff will dump her — but when Cliff’s grandmother dies, he’s devastated and Mindy ends up staying with him to offer comfort, which makes breaking up even messier. The situation explodes at the funeral when Mindy and Da...

🚕😂 John digs into Season 2, Episode 13 as Louie nervously prepares to meet his girlfriend Zena’s parents. Terrified of making a bad impression (Zena’s father is a minister), Louie hires/bribes Alex to come along as a chaperone to keep him in line—only for Louie’s blunt, crude instincts to nearly derail the dinner. Despite Louie’s awkward behavior, the parents respond with surprising graciousness...

😇📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John kicks off Season 4 of The Good Place with the premiere episode, “A Girl from Arizona, Part 1.” The story picks up as Eleanor (Kristen Bell) steps into her new role as the architect of the neighborhood, leading the team’s latest attempt to prove that humans can become better in the afterlife. The stakes are higher than ever as four new test subjects a...

🎸😂 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John dives into the world of rock ‘n’ roll and satire with a review of the 1984 cult classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap . Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, this hilarious comedy follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they embark on a disastrous U.S. tour filled with bizarre...

😂📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John continues his Sitcom Rankings series with a dive into the hilarious 2012 comedy The Mindy Project , created by and starring Mindy Kaling. The spotlight is on Season 2, Episode 14: “The Desert” , one of the most pivotal episodes in the show’s history. After a disastrous trip to Los Angeles ends with a failed meeting and some hard truths, Mindy and Dan...

😂📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John dives into Sitcom Rankings with a look at the classic sitcom Married… With Children. The episode under review is “Father Lode” from season 2, where Al Bundy finally gets a break from his daily grind. After Peg nags him into taking the family out for dinner, Al strikes unexpected luck at the racetrack and brings home a wad of cash. But of course, this...

😂📺 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John dives into Sitcom Rankings with a look at the season 3 finale of The Good Place , the episode “Pandemonium.” After Eleanor reluctantly takes charge as the new “architect” of the neighborhood, the humans prepare for the next big experiment — but nothing goes smoothly. With Michael sidelined by an unexpected panic attack, and the arrival of four new te...

🎬🏆 In this episode of The Rank Podcast , John dives into the Best Picture Rankings with a look at the 1957 classic “Peyton Place.” Based on Grace Metalious’ groundbreaking novel, this romance/crime drama takes us inside a seemingly quiet New England town, where scandal, secrets, and moral conflicts lurk beneath the surface. John explores how the film — starring Lana Turner, Hope Lange, Lee Phili...