Watch This With Rick Ramos

THE CHANGING WORLD OF HORROR (THE WITCH,  HEREDITARY,  THE BABADOOK) On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss The Changing Face of Horror Films. We take a look at three recent hits: Robert Eggers' The Witch (2015), Ari Aster's Hereditary (2018), and Jennifer Kent's The Babadook (2014). From The Universal Horror Films of the 30s, 40s, and 50s through the emerg...

The Horror of Cronenberg (1975-1979) On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to talk one of the most innovative and disturbing filmmakers to emerge out of the 1970's - David Cronenberg. From his earliest (professional) film 1975's Shivers , through 1977's Rabid , and finally 1979's The Brood , Cronenberg has proven a filmmaker of immense depth and powerful imagery and...

No More Room in Hell: George A. Romero's Living Dead On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim and I sit down to celebrate this Holiest of Months by examining the severely underrated Horror genre. There's no better starting point than The Master of the Zombie genre - George A. Romero (February 4, 1940 - July 16, 2017). Beginning with the groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead (1968...

From Democracy to Tyranny The Fahrenheit Films of Michael Moore On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 & Fahrenheit 11/9 . Examining the nightmare that is the current political climate, we discuss Moore's examination of the media creation of Donald J. Trump and the links to his earlier documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 . We discus...

The History of Television (Part 10): Mass Masterpieces -  The Rise of the Cable Series and the Evolution of Cinematic Television On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I finish out our study of Television in The New Millennium. We discuss the emergence of HBO as The Future of Cinematic Television with groundbreaking series including: OZ , Deadwood , Boardwalk Empire , and - of c...

A Farewell to Burt Reynolds (February 11, 1936 - September 6, 2018) It's never a quick process, however when one of your idols dies it's necessary (maybe cathartic) to sit down and understand the emotions. On the morning of Thursday, September 6th I read that Burt Reynolds had passed away at the age of 82. Sometimes you have to come to terms with your childhood heroes and understand how that appre...

THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION PART NINE - REALITY TELEVISION On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our discussion of Television focusing on the rise of "Reality TV" and its impact on the culture as a whole. It's a spirited, and - sometimes - angry discussion about what Reality Television has meant to the public. Somewhat of a continuation of previous discussions, on this...

Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018)   On August 16th it was widely reported that Soul singer Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76. As we get older (for those of us who care) there is an understanding that we will lose those close to us and those who we have been close to from afar. Aretha Franklin is one of these latter relationships. I never met this women and she was one o...

THE HISTORY OF TV  (PART 8) - THE EVOLUTION OF A NEW MILLENIUM, THE EVOLUTION OF A NEW MEDIA, AND THE ATTACK ON THE TWIN TOWERS On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & Rick sit down to discuss the beginning of a New Millennium. They talk the growth of Reality Television, the evolution of the Medium, and the Impact of The Attack on The Twin Towers. There are arguments, conflict,...

History of TV Part 7 - The End of The X Era - Finishing The Decade & Tying It All Up On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Rick & Ibrahim finish their study of the 1990s looking at the decade as a whole and trying to bring a greater understanding to all of it. They talk the expansiveness of the decade and how it would, ultimately, set the foundation for the 2000s. Take a listen as they r...

History of TV (Part 6) - The X Era Continued - The Social Fabric of the Decade & The Birth of Reality TV On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our look at the 1990s focusing on a broader examination of the decade. Take a listen and enjoy. As always, we offer our appreciation. Questions, Comments, Problems, & Suggestions can be addressed to gondoramos@yahoo.com . Than...

The History of TV Part V - The X Era  On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I continue our walk through The History of Television. This week we look at the 1990s and what has come to be known as "Generation X". Take a listen as we discuss Post-Modernism and it's role in the formation of 1990s television. All of this culminating with a look at our choices for the most influential...

The History of TV Part 4 - The Reagan Era Continued   This episode was going a bit long so we broke it up . . . gotta give you guys a little bit of breathing room. We continue with sitcoms, Bill Cosby, constant and unrelenting news, the beginnings of FOX, Siskel & Ebert, daytime talk, and commercials - both public service, scare tactics, and selling! Take a listen as we finish the 80s and get read...

History of Television (Part 3) - The Reagan Era: NightTime Soaps, TV News & Talk Shows, The Sitcom, The Mini-Series, and The Birth of FOX On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our discussion of The History of Television, looking - specifically - at The 1980's. Take a listen as we discuss the first decade that we remember from personal experience. Thanks for listenin...

THE HISTORY OF TV Part 2 - THE VIETNAM ERA    On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our discussion of television through the ages. This week we focus on the 1970's, paying particular attention to The Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, Norman Lear, and the growing counterculture. Sit back and take a listen. As always, thanks for your continued love and support. Questions, C...

Going Back To The Comedy Store On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ramos goes solo out of The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to talk about the importance of The Comedy Store in his life and the steps that went into leaving and finally returning nearly a decade later. Just a quick change of pace that we hope you have a good time listening to. As always, thank you for your continued Love...

Anthony Bourdain - A Rememberance & Celebration (June 25, 1956 - June 8, 2018) On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim Chavez & I sit down to talk World Traveler, Social Critic, Writer, Chef, Humanitarian & Advocate Anthony Bourdain who passed away June 8th at the age of 61. With his passing there is an unmistakeable void in this world. Ibrahim & I discuss his role as an advocate o...

The History of Television Part 1: From Carhode Ray Tubes to Ed Sullivan  On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & Rick sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to begin a lengthy examination of  television. Part I takes a look at the early history of creating television, moving into the great early television shows that would make up the memories of The Baby Boomer Generatio...

Greatest Cinema Heroes   On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I take our mutual seats in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss the greatest heroes in all of cinema. From defining what a hero truly is to the vagaries of the hero, anti-hero, and dependence on villains we tackle this question from a number of angles. We discuss each of our Top 10's as well as a number of...

Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Jackie Earl Haley & The Bad News Bears -  On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos I'm flying solo and talking one of the most underrated films of the 1970's, Michael Ritchie's 1976 Little League Epic The Bad News Bears (1976). With standout performances from Walter Matthau as the drunken, miserable, ex-baseball player and current pool cleaner, Morris Buttermak...

Greatest Cinema Villains -  This week on WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I sit down to talk the greatest villains in cinematic history. From Hannibal The Cannibal to The Wicked Witch of the West, Zombies and Vampires, it's a pretty diverse list. We talk Slasher, Anti-Heroes, Tragic Villains and Redemption. Take a listen. Thanks for the continued Love & Support. Questions, Comments, Problems & Sugg...

George Carlin - Celebrating a Genius on What Would Have Been His 81st Birthday On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to talk one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time . . . George Carlin. We discuss Carlin's fascination with words, his prodigious output (14 HBO specials and countless albums), his cultural influence, and - fi...

Kurt Cobain, 90's Grunge, Suicide, Controversy, & The Voice of a Generation . . . On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss the Life, Death, Influence, and Controversy surrounding Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain. Take a listen as we discuss three documentaries that deal with this subject: Nick Broomfield's, Kurt & Courtney (...

Continuing with our practice of using ALL of our data for the month, on this episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to continue our Question & Answer analysis of Cinema . . . It's Purpose, Importance, and - often - the misunderstanding that comes with studying this art form. Take a listen and let us know what you think. We had a good time and are looking...

We had some room left before the data ran out, so Ibrahim & I decided to sit down - once again - in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness for a short episode of questions about Cinema, The Art, Interpretation, and Attitudes. Take a listen to a fun little talk as Ibrahim continues his interrogation. Thanks for the continued love & support. Questions, Comments, Problems, and Suggestions can be directed...