Author | Lightnews

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Sep 16

"Storytellers broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire, and ultimately, connect us." - Robert Redford

Look forward to a short episode tomorrow morning digging deeper into the Redford files, remembering his career and appreciating his legacy.

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Sep 7

Rick Moranis shot scenes for the Breakfast Club and was FIRED! Find out some more fun tidbits in the newest unspooled Substack

vist.ly/45xjt

John Carpenter’s They Live bombed in 1988—but thanks to Rowdy Roddy Piper’s bubblegum line, a six-minute alley fight, and Shepard Fairey’s OBEY, it became a cult classic. We dig into the props, posters, politics, and philosophy that turned this B-movie dud into an immortal satire.

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Aug 17

They Live came and went in 1988. But a six-minute alley fight, a line about bubblegum, and Shepard Fairey’s OBEY campaign turned it into a cult gospel.
Read the new Unspooled Substack.

The Cult of "They Live"

What Won (and Flopped) at the Summer 2025 Box Office

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Aug 10

It's A Summer Recap Unspooled Style from Box Office Fun Facts, to Battle of The PopCorn Buckets - We even ask the Question is it SCARF SUMMER? Read This and More

From billion-dollar blockbusters like Lilo & Stitch to surprise smashes like Weapons—and yes, Amy liked The Smurfs—we break down Summer 2025’s winners, losers, and the moments that made Paul Scheer cry.

From Leslie Nielsen’s fart machine to Liam Neeson’s deadpan reboot—this is the absurd, untouchable history of The Naked Gun.

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Aug 3

It was fun to go deep into the original NAKED GUN this week on the Unspooled Substack, Original Script Pages, Side by Side Comparisons to M Squad, A hilarious detail about Leslie Neilsen's Funeral, and more.

The Naked Gun Files

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jul 17

Today on the podcast, Paul and Amy talk about a Summer Flop. Plus they chat with TCM's Ben Mankiewicz who has his own personal connection to Hollywood misfires.

Air Force One: DIE HARD BUT WITH DEMOCRACY

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jul 6

It was Die Hard on a plane. With the President. But it almost didn't land.
A rejected Randy Newman score, Shawshank in Kazakhstan. Plus Amy touches a dictator's hand. Here’s everything you didn’t know about AIR FORCE ONE

How did Air Force One become one of 1997’s biggest box office hits? We dive into Harrison Ford’s iconic president, Gary Oldman’s ideological villain, Randy Newman’s scrapped score, and the Cold War nostalgia packed into one wild action thriller.

Best Movies Since 2000: A NYT List Designed to Make You Fight Your Friends

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jul 3

Out today, Amy and Paul navigate Air Force One and talk about the appeal of President James Marshall.

Listen!

Thanks to the inimitable @kimtroxall

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jul 1

Today, Unspooled breaks down the NYT Best 100 films of the 21st Century in an Emergency Mini Episode. You can listen wherever podcasts are heard and read our Substack companion now

Parasite Tops the List, but Who Voted for ‘Madagascar 3’?

Speed Racer: Too Much, Too Soon

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 28

While you are waiting line for F1 check out a deep dive on the Original Speed Racer.. A New UNSPOOLED Substack is here with some amazing commercials for product tie ins.

Critically panned on release, Speed Racer is now hailed as a visionary, anti-corporate visual triumph. We explore how the Wachowskis’ bold anime adaptation went from misunderstood to masterpiece—and why the culture finally caught up.

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 26

Racing hasn't changed and it never will! Today, @paulscheer and @theamynicholson dive into 2008's Speed Racer!

Still Not Safe to Go Back in the Water

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 23

JAWS turns 50, and we went deeper than Hooper in the shark cage, our new post breaks down, Canceled meta sequels, Class warfare in a beach town, Spielberg’s Oscar snub meltdown and Jaws Dog> Read it here.. It's Free

Celebrate 50 years of Jaws with a deep dive into rare on-set photos, bizarre branded merch, Spielberg’s Oscar snub, and why the real villain isn’t the shark—it’s capitalism. Discover what Jaws still has to say in 2025.

Fat Guy in a Little Legacy

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 20

Today on the pod, we dive into Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 13

MOVIE PEOPLE! Every week, I've been doing deep dives on movies like John Wick, Empire Strikes Back, & Basic Instinct. Follow @unspooledpod for little tidbits & for full deep dives, check out the free Substack this week, TOMMY BOY!

The Behind-the-Scenes Chaos, Cult Status, and Secret Sadness of Tommy Boy

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 13

Brothers don't shake hands. Brothers gotta hug!!!

Amy is back with Paul to talk about Tommy Boy so grab your little coat and get ready to talk about auto parts.

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 8

If you haven't checked it out yet, our newest ep on the iconic But I'm a Cheerleader is a riot to revisit. Paul is joined by Jeff Hiller and Clea DuVall to chat about coming of age, plastic flowers and the overwhelmingly pink True Directions. Hang up the chick habit, daddy!

https://unspooledpodcast.substack.com/p/barbie-dream-house-conversion-nightmare?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&triedRedirect=true

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · Jun 6

Jump into the new weekly Unspooled newsletter that goes deeper into each movie we cover, this week BUT I’M CHEERLEADER - from props for sale, a spotify soundtrack, a musical and more.

open.substack.com

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 31

LA: HANDFUL OF TICKETS released for tonight 5/31 DINOSAUR at Largo with this insane lineup - Mantzoukas, Byer, Huebel, Tart, Holland, Scheer, & Morris

vist.ly/3n5qu4h

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 29

Today on the podcast, Paul Scheer digs deep into John Wick 4 with the guys from the Action Boyz podcast. Baba Yaga

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 26

This week on the pod we are dipping our toes in the lake. Need more Wet Hot content? Join the substack! vist.ly/3n5b67d

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 24

It’s our Queen Amy’s birthday and even though we love her every day… we show it extra today😍 happy birthday to our North Star, @theamynicholson

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Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 24

I bought my tickets to MI8 but have to sit in between a bunch of strangers. UGH

Unspooled @unspooledpod.bsky.social · May 23

Right after the release of “Wet Hot American Summer,” Paul and Jake Fogelnest hosted this ‘talk show’ featuring the movie’s cast!! We discuss this and plenty of other Wet Hot lore on this week’s episode of Unspooled