Who The Hell Are We?

Melanie and Ed talk about the current challenges of air travel and discuss *some* of their personal quirks. This week's movie dishing: KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949) starring Alec Guinness (who plays eight parts!)....making book recommendations with similar themes.  Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

THE AVIATOR'S WIFE is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. In this "behind the book" episode, podcast co-host Melanie Benjamin talks about the origin of this highly-acclaimed NYT Bestselling novel. Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Brave women, friendship, and eavesdropping on family members. In this bonus "behind the book" episode, podcast co-host Edward Kelsey Moore discusses the origins of his New York Times bestselling debut novel, THE SUPREMES AT EARL'S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT. Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed discuss THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) starring Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, and Gilbert Roland....then make book recommendations with similar themes.  Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

New York Times Bestselling Authors Melanie Benjamin and Edward Kelsey Moore love to watch (and dish!) on old movies, then make book recommendations with similar themes. Popular episode from April 2020, DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) Directed by Billy Wilder, starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall. Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Do...

Melanie and Ed discuss THE CARPETBAGGERS (1964) starring George Peppard, Alan Ladd, Carroll Baker, Robert Cummings, and Elizabeth Ashley...then make book recommendations with similar themes.  Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

New York Times Bestselling Authors Melanie Benjamin and Edward Kelsey Moore love to watch (and dish!) on old movies, then make book recommendations with similar themes.  Popular episode from June 2020, WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956) starring Rock Hudson, Dorothy Malone, Lauren Bacall, and Robert Stack. Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to t...

Melanie and Ed discuss SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) starring Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift and suggest novels that relate to the film.  Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Popular episode from June 2020...Melanie and Ed watch and dish on A SUMMER PLACE (1959), give Pride Month book selections and revisit Gone With The Wind. Send podcast comments and suggestions to Melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie (for the 900th time) and Ed (for the first time) watch and discuss the 1972 film adaptation of the award-winning Broadway Musical. Our hosts give recommendations for novels about the American Story.  Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

In honor of Pride Month, Melanie and Ed watch and discuss THE BOYS IN THE BAND (1970), the groundbreaking LGBT drama film directed by William Friedkin, screenplay by Mart Crowley.  Both hosts recommend novels with memorable gay characters. Send comments and show topic suggestions to  melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed discuss Pride Month and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) Starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, and Harold Russell. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed meet for hugs...REAL HUGS!  This week's movie is Stage Door (1937) starring literally *everyone*.  Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed host author Renée Rosen to discuss her latest novel, THE SOCIAL GRACES, which throws back the curtain on one of the most remarkable feuds in history: Alva Vanderbilt and the Mrs. Astor's notorious battle for control of New York society during the Gilded Age.  Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Ed contemplates adding a new family member; Melanie talks about entering the post-covid restaurant scene; Both forget next week's special guest. This week's movie discussion topic is The Boy Friend (1971), starring Twiggy and Tommy Tune. Mel and Ed recommend books about "backstage." Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Ed is gardening, Melanie's brain is not functioning, both reminisce about drive-ins. This week's movie is TO SIR, WITH LOVE (1967) starring Sidney Poitier. Mel and Ed recommend books with a similar theme. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie broadcasts with a live audience as Ed begins planning for the gardening season. Mel and Ed discuss FOR ME AND MY GAL (1942) starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, George Murphy and recommend books about WW I and Vaudville.  Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Ed shares some good news, Melanie recommends novels by Asian American authors. This week's movie discussion: DECEPTION (1946) starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains. As always, Ed and Melanie suggest novels on a related theme. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie's sons meet in the middle of the country; Ed is grumpy at Chicago's vaccine rollout; our movie-addicted hosts discuss HELLO, DOLLY! (1969) starring Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau, and recommend books with complementary themes. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed will read fan mail next week...write them today!  This week's movie is A STAR IS BORN (1937) Starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Professional podcast hosts try desperately to get through the opening 45 seconds, then describe the indescribable THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947) starring Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed's patented witty banter and 1946's HUMORESQUE with Joan Crawford and John Garfield.   Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Slush vs. 70 degrees; Ed talks about his music in the time of Covid; Melanie puts Ed in a movie-picking-timeout. This week's movie is BAD BLONDE, aka THE FLANAGAN BOY (1953). Our advice: DON'T watch the movie, DO listen to the podcast! Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Sixty-seven seconds of neither host able to breathe as they crack each other up; Ed and Melanie watched VIVA LAS VEGAS (1964) starring Elvis and Ann Margaret for the first time *ever*. Spoiler: THEY LOVED IT! Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Melanie and Ed talk about the weather, Girl Scout Cookies and Indy 500 legend Jim Nabors; Melanie runs away; AUNTIE MAME (1958) starring Rosalind Russell is...uh...discussed. Send comments and show topic suggestions to melanded@whothehellarewe.com Don't forget to subscribe to the show!