Full Cast And Crew

John Boorman's 1972 adaptation of James Dickey's novel "Deliverance" is a unique New Hollywood film in that its origins lie more in the older studio system yet the film upon release would become of of the most notorious films of its time and an iconic classic that's still discussed and debated today. On this episode of the podcast my friend and returning FCAC guest Ted Jessup joins to talk about a film he's loved and been traumatized by since he was 13 (see Ep 86 'The Odessa File' and Ep 75 'Rosemary's Baby' for more Ted on the pod).  A sort-of Western, a dissection of toxic male behavior, a hillbilly noir, a slam of Southern culture...the film has been used and abused by decades of opinionated takes but in this episode we take a fresh look at this remarkable film and appreciate its powers anew. Ted's Wikipedia page. Listen to Ted's FCAC episode on Rosemary's Baby Listen to Ted's FCAC episode on The Odessa File

14 Jun 20221h 14min

Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinki's smash hit 'Top Gun: Maverick' has been out for a couple weeks now and if you're a rational, sentient human being, you've already seen this film in the theater and enjoyed it immensely like 99% of audience members and 97% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  For the 1% - 3% of you who were unable to set aside your limited worldviews and/or aversion to fan-servicing mass-market entertainment that's NOT Marvel-made...well, there's hope for you yet as my episode this week talks about all the myriad reasons there are to like and support this film, in the theater.

7 Jun 202239min

In this episode, Richard Brown and Jason Cilo tackle the making-of 'The Muppet Show', Jim Henson's seminal variety-show program of the late 70's.  Topics covered: the surprising British history of 'The Muppet Show', musings about Kermit's unique spirit and personality, Miss Piggy's actual rags-to-riches life story, Frank Oz's singular talents, an appreciation of Gonzo, the curious misnomer of 'Guys' and 'Men' appearing in formative Muppet docs and period books, the 5 best 'Muppet Show' episodes of all time, AND MORE!

31 Mai 20221h 52min

The original 'Battlestar Galactica', while a flawed and imperfect science-fiction TV series of the 1978 season, remains one of the most important and influential science-fiction TV series of all time. I'm joined again by Richard Brown (see our 'WKRP in Cincinnati', 'Taxi', and 'Network' episodes for more RF Brown) as we delve into the creation story of Battlestar and its creator, Glen A. Larson, known as "Glen Larceny" for his transparent adopting of movie concepts for his tv series. We run down some of Glen's Greatest Hits. Jumping into the making of the series, we drop down to discuss the insanely complicated way that the Cylon robot voices were produced back in the day.  Audio geeks and vintage recording equipment nerds will particularly enjoy that section, with full credit to YouTuber Supajc for his excellent video series. As Rick and I run through the cast and crew of Battlestar, we talk pros and cons and what-might-have-beens. I of course profess a decided appreciation for the much-maligned "Battlestar Galactica 1980", an admittedly misguided too-late network attempt to get the show right once and for all. Alternative Casting, the Columbo Cinematic Universe, and MORE! Pls like and follow the pod on Twitter and Instagram.

12 Mai 20221h 25min

Dan Erickson's Apple+ thriller series "Severance" is, to my mind, the best sci-fi TV series we've gotten since "Black Mirror".  So why isn't it getting quite as much attention as that series deservedly did?  In this episode, I briefly discuss some of the aspects that I think make "Severance" so uniquely good, particularly the very strong casting, idiosyncratic production design, thoughtful world-building, wicked sense of humor, and praise-worthy pacing and creative decision-making.  Then a brief discussion of some reasons why this series hasn't struck quite the same social media nerve endings as more buzzed-about (but perhaps also more disposable) series like "Euphoria" or "Yellowjackets").  This ties in nicely with the recent collective gasp over Netflix dropping a significant tranche of subscribers and our entry to What Comes Next for the Golden Age of Streamers. Waffle parties for everyone!

5 Mai 202235min

Last week's episode about the new Michael Cimino book spurred me to rewatch all three of these classic films and, in doing so, I surprised myself with a firm and resounding reset of what I THOUGHT I thought about these movies.  So here are some great clips and making-of anecdotes as I walk through what makes each of these films unique as well as give credit to foundational Viet Nam docs and other features along the way.

26 Apr 20221h 20min

In his new book, Charles Elton tackles the impossible; a biography of late director Michael Cimino, an elusive, mysterious, obfuscating, and contrary Hollywood figure in real life...and, if possible, a man even more complicated and gossiped about online, in the press and in the power lunch spots of Hollywood than any other Oscar-winning director of his or any time. From Long Island roots to Mad Men-era success in advertising to the 9 Academy Award Nominations for 'The Deer Hunter' to the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate' and to Cimino's final and often-misunderstood final decades of personal transformation, Charles Elton's book reads like an unfurling mystery, following clues and attempting to pin down elusive or outright combative Cimino friends and loyalists in pursuit of several important accomplishments that I think the book deserves credit for. The first is a resetting of the narrative that Cimino's 'Heaven's Gate" was responsible for bankrupting a major Hollywood studio in United Artists.  Elton's book reveals how, excess notwithstanding, Cimino himself was less guilty than the studio executives who were unable to reign in the rising costs and delays that they themselves set in motion. The second is a sensitive handling of Cimino's dramatic altering of his physical self in his final decades.  Was he, as was rumored, transitioning to live as a woman?  Was he someone who simply enjoyed wearing women's clothes from time to time but otherwise lived a heterosexual lifestyle? Is it telling that as Cimino altered his appearance so drastically as to be unrecognizeable from his 20's and 30's and 40's he also became more voluble and open and "himself" when he did speak to the press, however infrequently that was. Here, too, Elton parses the record with sensitivity and curiosity not of a prurient nature; how did this man who directed a masterpiece in "The Deer Hunter" never do it again and what fueled his drive and need for total, dominating control...even as he had a 50-year partnership with his producer, protector, and friend Joann Carelli which blurred the lines between their two lives to a degree never before so closely reported as in this new book.

19 Apr 20221h 13min

Thrilled to be joined again by pop culture historian and author Richard F. Brown to do the definitive 'Taxi' total rewatch and episode. We get into the mysterious beauty and melancholy of Bob James' 'Taxi' theme song 'Angela', and the temporary filmed open that became so identified with the ennui and thwarted ambitions of the beloved cabbies of the Sunshine Cab Co. We discuss all the characters and the actors who played them: Latka and Andy Kaufman, Danny DeVito and Louie, Marilu Henner and Elaine, Judd Hirsch and Alex, Christopher Lloyd and Reverend Jim Ignatowski, Tony Danza and Tony Banta, Jeff Conaway (RIP) and Bobby, Carol Kane as Simka, and more. 'Taxi' is one of the most interesting sitcoms in television history because of the originality of its approach to filming with four cameras instead of the sitcom-traditional 3 cameras. This allowed director Jim Burrows to capture what he calls the essential surprise of comedy being performed live in front of a studio audience. Any discussion of 'Taxi' offers the best opportunity we have to discuss Andy Kauffman and his unique and often challenging approach to comedy and performance art in everyday life. We cover his outstanding and long-shelved 1977 TV special, which features one of the most amazing and little-discussed Andy Kauffman bits: a heartfelt and very real and emotional conversation he has with Howdy Doody, his childhood TV hero.  And we cover Andy's famous prank on the Taxi cast and brass through the casting of his alter ego Tony Clifton, and Tony Clifton's firing and subsequent massive scene on the soundstage involving security guards and several extremely pissed off producers and actors. This is an episode that will hopefully share with you some things you might not have known about 'Taxi' and afford us all the opportunity anew to appreciate the fact that this series uniquely brought us out of this world talents like Andy Kauffman, Christopher Llloyd, Danny DeVito, and Carol Kane in ONE SHOW. Any series would and could be built on having one of those dynamic talents in the cast; Taxi had all four. Unreal!

7 Apr 20222h 7min