The Hollywood Outsider

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it is time to say goodbye to one of our favorite TV shows of this century with our Stranger Things Season 5 and Series Finale spoiler review and wrap-up! We venture through each and every character's arc, hitting highs and lows, debating Will's monologue and the reaction it caused, the choice to focus on Holly this season, the finale and repercussions, and so much more. Hawkins, Indiana will never be the same. So let's head into this special podcast and spend one last adventure with Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Eleven, Max, Hopper, Joyce, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and the 46 other characters we met along the road. Goodbye, Stranger Things! Discussed on this episode Stranger Things Season 5Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsider

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it is time for our final episode of the year, and therefore it is time to say goodbye to 2025! We dive into a few of the biggest stories of the year - while shying away from all of that low-hanging political fruit - as well as recent news on director Rob Reiner that has impacted us all. The Warner Brothers and Netflix OR Paramount merger, watercooler TV makes a resurgence, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and even the impact of AI. Then, we say cheers to the past 25 years in movie and TV by an entire section of our show dedicated to a few of the highlights and even - using AI - determining what truly is the best of the best when it comes to this quarter century. How accurate is it? Let's find out together. It's a packed episode, and we appreciate all of your support, so we hope you enjoy. We will see you on the other side of 2026! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 46:59)(47:00 – 1:20:06)Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we are at the quarter mark of this century and it is time to reflect. This is an introspective look back at our favorite movies and TV shows between 2000 and 2025, aka the past 25 years, with both narrowing our focus down to our favorites within this time frame, as well as listener Top 10s. This episode covers a lot of ground, so enjoy this discussion on the best movies and TV shows of the 2000s! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 1:14:30)(1:14:31 – 2:08:37)Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we are at the quarter mark of this century and it is time to reflect. Therefore we are continuing our series that we began earlier this years by discussing the best holiday or Christmas movies of the past 25 years. The important distinction here, is that these are the best movies that we watch at this time of year to get us in the holiday spirit, so they are not necessarily Christmas movies. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Hateful Eight - they all are just as relevant as Elf or 8-Bit Christmas. So sit back, grab some mistletoe, and lets debate the best holiday movies of the 2000s! Click here for info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

Every year, we love to celebrate the holiday season with our listeners, and there is no better way to do that than with our 2025 Holiday Special! It all started 10 years ago with a random idea: we were big fans of holiday specials, yet podcasts seemed to skip over the idea completely. Therefore, we decided we can do whatever we want here at The Hollywood Outsider, so let's create our own tradition and the Annual Holiday Special was born! Every year we rekindle the past (and occasionally add a little something new), assembling some of the best moments from our hosts for the most fantastic holiday special ever! Debating what constitutes a Christmas movie and specials we love, what makes for a great Christmas movie, Christmas cliches, and even our Holiday Spirit Movie Battle Royale! That's not all, oh no. The Christmas spirit kicks into overdrive as we open up and share our personal memories of the holiday season, stories that remind us of Christmas. And no holiday special would be complete without a visit from the big man himself, so get ready for as much St. Nick as legally allowed as Santa Claus drops by the studio to tell us just how naughty or nice we are, all throughout the episode! With a special game from Amanda, Santa in his sleigh, John's obsession with puppets, Troy's intriguing selection of Holiday Spirit films, Scott's first Christmas Poem, Bad Santa, and a lot of fun for everyone – This is the one podcast you don't want to miss this holiday season!

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, WICKED: FOR GOOD has arrived in theaters to magically conquer the world! Therefore, it's time to grab a broom and fly back to Oz to see how Elphaba and Glinda (or Galinda) wrap up their story. Does Jon Chu's film correct the issues of the second half of the musical? Do the new songs add anything? Are important aspects fleshed out? Do Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande repeat their stellar performances from the first film? Most importantly, does Wicked 2 captivate us the way the original did? Listen as we break down every character in the rousing conclusion to the Wicked franchise. After challenging the Wizard's totalitarian regime in Oz, Elphaba must grapple with her identity as the "Wicked Witch of the West". Meanwhile, the Wizard has given Glinda the title "Glinda the Good" and a public status as the nation's defender against Elphaba. The two witches must make decisions that seal their fates in this second musical installment. Let's dive in to our Wicked: For Good review and spoilercast! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 8:27)(8:28 – 46:16)Click here for our Wicked Spoiler ReviewClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, let's see if we can make this podcast disappear by wading into the world of magic in movies and TV. David Copperfield, David Blaine, Now You See Me, Harry Potter...wait, does that count? We head into the world of magic to discuss both our fascination with the topic, as well as where it has been done well. Also, should heist movies count in this subgenre? Also on this episode, Kyle Nolan from NoReruns.net joins us to discuss showrunner trouble at the networks, a V for Vendetta series, Poker Face folds, Apple TVs Pluribus, and Netflix finally gets a jolt of life with Frankenstein. Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 21:20)(21:21 – 47:32)(47:33 – 56:29)-Now You See Me, Now You Don't(56:30 – 1:01:35)-Eternity(1:01:36 – 1:12:15)Pluribus, FrankensteinClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, with Predator: Badlands offering a completely different kind of film than all previous ones in the series, it's time to discuss when it is time to shake up a franchise. It has been numerous times - James Bond, Fast and Furious, Friday the 13th, Breaking Bad - so when do you know it is time to start shaking up a franchise? Also, what are the best and worst examples? Also on this episode, we discuss the potential sale of Warner Brothers, Walking Dead celebrates its 15th anniversary, Mummy 4 gets an amazing update, plus reviews of Predator: Badlands and All's Fair. Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 20:05)(20:06 – 1:00:51)(1:00:52 – 1:09:52)-Predator: Badlands(1:09:53 – 1:17:14)All's FairClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it's time for our Holiday Movie Preview 2025! Every major theatrical and streaming release for the remainder of the year is on tap as we debate the best and worst of the upcoming season. From Wicked: For Good, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wake Up Dead Man, Anaconda, The Housemaid, Song Sung Blue, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, and everything in between! Curious what's worth watching this holiday season? Then don't miss this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 06:55)(06:66 – 55:40)(55:41 – 1:06:32)-A House of Dynamite(1:06:33 – 1:14:10)Anniversary(1:14:11 – 1:22:00)IT: Welcome to Derry, Dead of Winter, Coyotes, Nobody Wants This Season 2Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it’s Halloween, and as we have done in the past for Halloween and Christmas, we like to put out a bit of a compilation of favorite topics or interviews from years past that celebrate these specific holidays. So for Halloween, let's discuss vampires, monsters, demonic possession, and the dos and don'ts of horror movies! First up, with SINNERS taking a bite out of theaters this year, it felt time to revisit the concept of vampires. Most importantly, are vampires scary? For decades fear of the undead has been a driving force of countless Hollywood movies and TV shows. But are they actually terrifying? Then we keep the talk going as we dive into the concept of monster movies, specifically what makes for a great one. We also debate what actually constitutes a monster movie – does Jason or Freddy count, and what about werewolves or vampires – and our favorite memories while watching them. Next up is our Horror Movie Survival Guide! We’re just as sick of characters doing stupid things in horror movies as you are, so we decided to compile a list of all of the Dos and Don’ts of horror flicks. For every DON’T do that we scream at the screen, we’re offering the correct solution of what to DO! It’s time movie characters learned the errors of their ways, and we’re here to teach them! Finally, we end on demonic possession. Specifically, are demonic possession movies even still scary? Does this notion of an otherworldly force occupying our bodies work in a cynically jaded society? Do your personal beliefs amplify or decrease your fear? It’s an intriguing discussion as we take out the crucifix and take a jab at this topic. Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 16:45)(16:46 – 37:34)(37:35 – 1:08:34)(1:08:35 – 1:45:15)Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, once again streaming networks have cancelled shows and left us with TV cliffhangers, such as Prime's Countdown and Butterfly. Therefore, it's far time we demanded that they stop ending shows that aren't renewed with cliffhangers and give fans story resolutions. But how do we make them pay attention? Also, Jared Leto isn't a movie star, M. Night Shyamalan shakes his Magic 8 Ball. Plus, reviews of Good Fortune, The Mastermind, The Wilderness, and more! Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 18:15)(18:16 – 40:40)(40:41 – 46:05)(46:06 – 49:17)The Mastermind(49:18 – 54:23)The Wilderness(54:24 – 59:44)Good Fortune(59:45 – 1:09:25)Boots, The Woman in Cabin 10, Chad PowersClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, Apple TV's new series The Last Frontier has arrived, and it prompted a conversation about the impact of filming locations. The locations we have seen on film or TV that prompted us to travel the country or the world and see more of it, and why. Following that up, we have our review of The Last Frontier, Apple's crime thriller where U.S. Marshall Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke) pursues a group of escaped convicts in an Alaskan wilderness, with Haley Bennett and Alfre Woodard involved to elaborate a potential conspiracy in what brought the plane down in the first place. Joining us to discuss his new series, is The Last Frontier creator Jon Bokenkamp (The Blacklist) in an interview that discusses why he created a series set in Alaska (along with Richard D'Ovidio), where the show is headed, and much more! That's not all! We also have Troy's review of the latest entry into the grid - TRON: ARES! Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 33:08)(33:09 – 44:49)Tron: Ares(44:50 – 1:09:34)Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it's time to again reflect on the past 25 years as we debate the best villains of the 21st century! Sure, there are the standards - Joker, Joffrey, Thanos, Pennywise, Ben Linus - but are they the best of them all? We discuss these and more villains from both film and television in our latest reflection on the past quarter century. Also, AI Actors have arrived, and are pissing everyone off. Plus, reviews of The Smashing Machine, Good Boy, Shell, and more! Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 09:20)(09:21 – 1:04:41)(1:04:42 – 1:09:55)(1:09:56 – 1:15:24)Shell(1:15:25 – 1:21:55)The Smashing Machine(1:21:56 – 1:27:53)Good Boy(1:27:54 – 1:38:08)Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, there has been a lot of back-and-forth in terms of the relevance of late-night talk shows, especially after the cancellation of Stephen Colbert and the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel. Therefore, we felt it was apropos to debate the real elephant in the room: are late-night talk shows over, or should they be? Are they still relevant? Does anyone TRULY care what happens to these dinosaurs of television? Also, movie theaters invested $1.5 billion into renovating theaters, but is that what will bring the audience back? Reviews of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another and Black Rabbit, and more! Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 20:20)(20:21 – 42:29)(42:30 – 47:30)(47:31 – 1:04:44)One Battle After Another, Black RabbitClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

Want to know what new TV shows to watch this Fall? On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, it’s time for our Fall TV preview 2025, including our most anticipated new and returning shows on the Fall television schedule. TV has evolved so much, and there are so many options, it becomes overwhelming every year to know what we should be spending our time on. Therefore we rolled up our sleeves, jumped in the water, and pulled out some of the best that television has to offer this season. High Potential, Stranger Things, Black Rabbit, Task, The Last Frontier, The American Revolution, The Beast in Me, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, The Lowdown, Pluribus, Nobody Wants This, and so many more shows are discussed and dissected on our annual plunge into the biggest season for television. Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, does anything ever truly end anymore? In a world where it’s all about IP, even when an ending is nailed, the first thing people think is: when is it coming back? And when an ending is junk, maybe give it a few years and reboot it to try again? Dexter: Resurrection and Conjuring: Last Rites are just two of many examples. So this week we dive into why won't franchises die? Also this week, it's standing ovation season, the Rock undergoes a massive physical transformation, reviews of The Long Walk and Wednesday Season 2, plus our thoughts on recent releases The Conjuring: Last Rites, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, and Foundation. Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 27:48)(27:49 – 49:24)(49:25 – 53:01)(53:02 – 1:01:44)The Long Walk, Wednesday: Season 2(1:01:45 – 1:10:41)The Conjuring: Last Rites, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, FoundationClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

What were your favorite moments in entertainment from this past summer? On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we are taking a look back at the past few months and presenting our Summer Entertainment Awards for 2025 and each category is for EITHER movies or TV! What was the best of all of it? F1, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Chief of War, Ballerina, The Life of Chuck, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, Thunderbolts*, Superman, Weapons, Dexter: Resurrection, The Studio, Squid Game, Untamed, Poker Face, MobLand, and so many more. So, what's it going to be?? It’s our pick for the BEST in entertainment for the categories from May 1st through Labor Day weekend. The winners can be from any TV series (regardless of season) or movie, but had to be a new movie or aired new episodes between those dates. What did YOU love in movies and TV this Summer? Discussed on this episode NoReruns.netClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, legacy sequels are all the rage, with movies like Happy Gilmore 2 and Freakier Friday being just a pair of recent examples. Is it the nostalgia, IP recognition, or a lack of original content that keeps revitalizing long-dead properties with a sequel meant to cause a resurgence of fanfare? We discuss this, as well what are the best and worst examples, plus the one legacy sequel we are still holding out hope for. Also this week, John Rambo has a star, reviews of Nobody 2 and Red Sonja, plus our thoughts on recent releases Freakier Friday, The Hunting Wives and Weapons. Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 12:25)(12:26 – 48:21)(48:22 – 50:15)(50:16 – 1:09:33)Red Sonja, Nobody 2(1:09:34 – 1:27:00)Freakier Friday, The Hunting Wives, WeaponsClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we take a break from the norm and bring a pair of Original Hollywood Outsiders - Scott and Brian - back to the podcast for reflection on iconic actors in the 21st century, should the ratings system be revamped, and then a host of games and hilarity like Movie Innuendo and Let's See Where This Goes. We hope you has much fun listening as we did recording this special episode! Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, we head back to San Diego to look at Comic-Con 2025 and debate the biggest news to drop out of Hall H and other locales such as: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, IT: Welcome to Derry, Predator: Badlands, Peacemaker, Rick and Morty, Spartacus: House of Ashur, LEGO goes big, Coyote vs. Acme, and much more. All this, plus a report from Kyle Nolan with NoReruns.net, who was live on the ground at this year's San Diego Comic-Con! Then, parody makes a triumphant return with Liam Neeson in The Naked Gun, and we debate if Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps was enough to get the MCU back on track. Click here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise! Discussed on this episode (0:00 – 1:05:08)(1:05:09 – 1:11:01)The Naked Gun(1:11:02 – 1:26:18)The Fantastic Four: First StepsClick here for more info on our 2026 Alaskan Cruise!Inspired By A True StoryPatreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsiderFacebook GroupJoin us on Discord@BuyPopcornSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SpotifySubscribe via RSS