Baseball and The Bad News Bears (1976)! Plus, Jenny Zigrino!

Summary

Dear Movies, I Love You – Episode Summary

Baseball and The Bad News Bears (1976)! Plus, Jenny Zigrino!

Release Date: March 24, 2026
Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O’Brien
Guest: Jenny Zigrino

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Episode Overview

This lively, nostalgia-rich episode celebrates both the Opening Day of the 2026 baseball season and the 50th anniversary of The Bad News Bears (1976). Hosts Millie and Casey deep-dive into what makes this film an iconic, enduring piece of American cinema—a little rough around the edges, a little renegade, all heart. They also share baseball memories from their youth, break down why the film still feels radical, and tackle how depictions of children, parenting, and Americana have changed. Plus: comedian and historical costuming expert Jenny Zigrino joins to school everyone on 18th-century fashion, with plenty of hilarious and genuinely fascinating costume insights (and thirst for historical hotties) along the way.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Film Diary & Pop Culture Check-In (07:11-15:25)

• Casey’s Watchlist:
  • F1 (“it's bad. I thought this movie was actually bad.” — Casey, 07:31)
  • Chris Fleming’s new HBO special (“God, is that man funny.” — Casey, 08:10)
• Millie’s Watchlist:
  • Scream 7 (2026): Critiques franchise for recycling the same narrative and lacking growth. (“[The Sidney plot] is done... Like, roasted to a crisp. No one needs to be trying to stalk her anymore.” — Millie, 11:19)
  • Six Degrees of Separation (1993): Early Will Smith, queer film controversies, and an anecdote about his method acting.

Baseball as a Personal and Cultural Touchstone (16:47-24:10)

• Personal connections with baseball:

  • Millie: Played softball throughout her youth, almost recruited for college before the fast-pitch transition changed her path (“I loved baseball and have loved it since I was, yeah, around like 10, 11.” — Millie, 19:08)
  • Casey: Quit after grade 8 for theater; highlights those “Minneapolis dirtbags” never made the team.

• The Bad News Bears’ ethos: Both connect to the “loser” spirit of the underdog team and how failure and trying are celebrated in this movie.

  • (“I kind of consider myself probably a loser too. And I feel like this movie [is] about losers.” — Casey, 21:19)

• Archetypes in the film:

  • Millie sees herself as a Kelly Leak (“the best representation of [the baseball to punk rock pipeline]”), Casey relates to Amanda Wurlitzer (“she has an artsier side, too.”)

The Bad News Bears (1976): Analysis and Why It Endures (15:45–54:10)

Plot Recap (26:20-27:48):
Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau), a washed-up, drunk pool cleaner, becomes coach to a team of misfits in a lawsuit-created league spot. The Bears start terrible, but after recruiting Amanda and the feral Kelly Leak, they become contenders.

Major Themes

• Raw, 1970s Realism:

  • “Children who are totally feral. Like not just their characters, but the actual actors seem feral as well…They don't let kids loose like this anymore.” — Millie, 03:12

• Under-parented kids and 70s freedom:

  • Millie and Casey reflect on latchkey kids, unsupervised mischief, and how children’s autonomy—and representation—has shifted.
  • “I get, like, really protective over these kids now…[but] maybe as when I was in my 20s and I was watching this movie, it's like, fuck, yeah, these kids are hilarious. They're cussing, they're like, you know, smoking, they're fucking riding dirt bikes and shit. And now I'm like, aw, these little babies.” — Millie, 27:53

• Parental types then vs. now:

  • Vic Morrow’s “scary dad” as a villain: “I did not have that type of dad…and I am so grateful…” — Millie, 43:01
  • Casey shares stories of real-life toxic sports dads, contrasting with supportive parents.

• Emotional Resonance:

  • “There were a lot of moments where I was really emotional…like, the part where, like, Walter Matthau's like, all the kids are quitting the team, and he's like, what about you, Tanner? You want to quit? He's like, I just want to play baseball. I got really emotional when he said that.” — Casey, 24:29

• Walter Matthau as a protagonist:

  • Loved for his roughness and mild redemption arc: “A grim 70s movie that will tell you that the alcoholic will still be an alcoholic after the credits roll. Like, it's like, there's no...It's not like he's like, I'm throwing my beer away. You know, I'm dumping out my flask. No, there's none of that.” — Millie, 40:11

• Cultural Reflection:

  • 70s “hangout” style, rough camera work, ensemble energy: “It feels so 70s. Like, and I...it's so rough around the edges…at times, it feels kind of like a documentary or something.” — Millie, 52:29

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Tough, tender kids: “You meet these shithead little kids…they say the worst stuff to you…then you turn around and you try to treat them like an adult…then they start crying, and you realize, this is a child.” — Casey, 25:17
• Kid drinking culture: “How hardcore is it if you are a kid, if you're like Timmy Lupus, to know how to make a perfect martini at his age? Like, someone taught you.” — Millie, 38:47
• The infamous trophy moment: “‘Hey, Yankees, you could take your apology and your trophy and shove them straight up your ass.’ And then they spray each other with beer because they gave the kids. Yeah, beer.” — Casey, 48:47

Notable Film Context

• Directed by Michael Ritchie, with nods to “bicentennial Americana” and other Ritchie films dissecting American institutions (Semi-Tough, Smile, The Candidate).

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Guest Segment: Jenny Zigrino, 18th Century Costume Nerd (55:01–81:45)

Jenny’s Path to Costume Buffery

• Love of historical dress began at age 5 with Amadeus.
• Did colonial reenactment (as John Singleton Copley's wife) in Boston.
• Explains her fascination with the flourish, gender-bending styles, and Enlightenment ideals of the 18th century (“Men could be flowery and they were dandies and they were macaronis…they wore embroidery and flowers and makeup and high heels…Men of their time. Check them out.” — Jenny, 59:36)

Deep Dives and Hilarious Anecdotes

• Wigs, Powder & Class: White wigs signaled wealth; men increasingly wore their own hair by late 18th century.
• Marie Antoinette/Bridgerton/1776: Calls out inaccurate cravats and costumes in 1776 (“just so bad…like community theater”), praises Sofia Coppola’s subversive approach in Marie Antoinette.
• Historical hotties: Establishes Aaron Burr as the “hottest founding father,” shares about her “Pounding Fathers” gay romance stories.

Jenny’s Projects & Recs:

• Live shows: “History Tonight” (King George III jokes) and new play “Drill Master.”
• Costume life lessons: “America doesn’t exist without gays and immigrants—foundationally, from the beginning.”

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Employee’s Picks: Baseball Movie Recs (82:07–85:18)

• Millie: Moneyball (2011) — “My favorite baseball movie…chill, entertaining, talks about an aspect of baseball nobody really thinks about. Moneyball has been my ministry for many years.”
• Casey: Little Big League (1994) — “I don’t know if this movie is actually good, but…a kids movie about the Minnesota Twins, shot in the Twin Cities. I loved it as a kid.”
  • Shoutout: “Happy 46th birthday to Luke Edwards,” the film’s star.

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Next Week’s Tease (86:27–87:24)

Topic: Is This Thing On (2025), directed by Bradley Cooper.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Film Diary & Pop Culture Chat: 07:11–15:25
• Baseball Backgrounds & Movie Setup: 16:47–24:10
• The Bad News Bears Discussion: 15:45–54:10
• Jenny Zigrino on 18th Century Costumes: 55:01–81:45
• Employee’s Picks (Baseball Movies): 82:07–85:18

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Final Memorable Quotes

• “A grim 70s movie that will tell you that the alcoholic will still be an alcoholic after the credits roll.”—Millie (40:11)
• “You meet these shithead little kids…then they start crying, and you realize, this is a child.”—Casey (25:17)
• “America doesn't exist without gays and immigrants — literally from the foundation.”—Jenny (78:00)

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Missed the episode? This summary captures the heart, humor, and historical geekery – but The Bad News Bears truly must be seen (and felt) to be believed.

Transcript

[A]

This is exactly right. Star maps. Star maps. Here, get your star maps. Ever wanted to know where Lady Gaga lives? How about Christian Bale?

[B]

Hey, Millie. Oh, it's Casey.

[A]

Yes, I do know. I do know that.

[B]

How's it going? Long time no see.

[A]

Yeah. Dude, where the hell you been?

[B]

Oh, you know, a little bit of the, you know, podcasting stuff. You know, Are you still. Are you. You still podcasting?

[A]

No, dude, I haven't done a podcast since you ditched me on the evening of the Podcast Awards back like a million years ago now. Why did you do that, by the way? I was dressed to the nines. So what happened?

[B]

Dude, Millie, I don't know. I was drunk. I don't know. I don't know what to tell you. I was drinking Budweisers out of my little cooler. I was smoking cigars. You don't mind if I light up real quick, do you?

[A]

Yeah, no, sure, whatever. Same old excuse.

[B]

Well, hell, I got a podcast mic here in my back pocket. I was just wondering, you know, if you wanted to, for old times sake, record a. Record. A podcast. Admit it, Millie. You love the podcast and game, and I know you can't quit it that easily. And listen, I'm still drunk. I'm drunk right now, and it's just too bad. But I know you love the. I know you love the game, and I want you to come back. I want you to podcast with me again.

[A]

Listen, I'll only podcast with you under one condition.

[B]

Well, what's that

[A]

now? I don't know the condition. I don't know the condition. I just wanted to say it. Okay. I just wanted to say there was a condition.

[B]

Yeah, that's fine. I mean, I. You had me. I was at your mercy.

[A]

Why don't you watch? You get your drunk brain, put together a condition, and that'll be it. Okay.

[B]

Okay, that's fine. I'll do the work. But come back, Millie. We got to record an episode of Dear People Want Want Us Back. Let's record an old. Just like old times. I know you still got that fastball, that podcast. Fastball.

[A]

I'm getting too old for this shit, Casey. Even though I'm, like, 13 years old, but I do. I do feel too old for this.

[B]

Okay, well, that's great to hear. I'm glad you're back because we got a. We got a great episode for the people here.

[A]

We do. Once you stop drooling on yourself, we can talk about how we're going to discuss not only opening day of the baseball season, 2026, which is very exciting. I can't wait to get your analyses on that. But we're also going to talk about maybe one of the greatest baseball movies of all time. The original Bad News Bears from 1976.

[B]

50th Anniversary too.

[A]

50th Anniversary, directed by Michael Richie, a really interesting filmmaker, starring Walter Matthau and a host of very talented 70s child actors.

[B]

Children.

[A]

Children who are totally feral. Like not just their characters, but the actual actors seem feral as well.

[B]

They don't. They don't let kids loose like this anymore.

[A]

Hell no. This is.

[B]

These ain't the Disney. Disney Channel kids.

[A]

There's no publicist around for miles at all. No helmets, no publicists.

[B]

No publicists. They reminded me we recently had Bradley Whitford as a guest on that's Messed up, the other podcast I produce. And he said maybe this was off mic. He said that he's been acting long enough where he acted in a don't smoke PSA when he was 6 years old. And they had him actually smoke cigarettes.

[A]

There's no like herbal cigarette. It's like a full, like a Marlboro Red or maybe like a filterless Chesterfield spirit. 1970s 6 year old smoking a cigarette. Oh, love it.

[B]

Anyways, so that's great. I'm excited. This is, this movie is right in both you and my wheelhouse. I feel like it's so good. And then we're talking to the wonderful, hilarious Jenny Zagre on the show. She's going to be talking for her area of expertise. She's going to be talking about 18th century costumes and she, I mean, we've had people, we've, we've called people experts on this show. She felt like an actual expert in this area of expertise. She went deep, taught me a lot.

[A]

Taught me. She taught me a lot. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So that's a, that's a fun convo as well. So lot to it. A lot to look forward to in this episode.

[A]

Absolutely. So stay tuned, everybody. You're listening to Dear Movies, I love you.

[C]

Dear movies, I love you. And I've got to know if you love me too.

[A]

Yes or no?

[C]

Check the box below.

[A]

Hey, everybody. You are listening to Dear Movies, I love you. This is a film podcast for those who are in love with films. My name is Millie de Chirico.

[B]

My name is Casey o' Brien.

[A]

And we have very springtime episode, I would say we are celebrating the opening day of the baseball season here in America 2026, which is actually two days from now on March 26th. Yeah. So I'm excited. I know that you said this last time, but my team is very exciting to follow, and your team is not. So you're not excited about baseball, right?

[B]

Well, yeah, and I think it's actually in the worst place it's ever been in my life, the team, because the. The owners, like, hate our team, and they're trying to cut costs, and so they cut, like, all their good players last year. They're trying to sell the team. No one's excited. They bought, like, they got, like, a cheapo manager. They fired the manager last year. And it just feels like a shipwreck. And there's, like. There's just no hope. I've never experienced. I've never been this low with our baseball team, the Minnesota Twins, before. And people are pretty sad and upset about it. So even the players, they interview the players, and they're like, yeah, it's kind of sucks with all the best guys leaving last season. So I don't know. It's. These are dark times for our team.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But that's nothing new in Minnesota sports.

[A]

But, yeah, you know. Well, now I'd love to be able to force you into talking about a film diary with me.

[B]

Sure. Let's open it up.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'll go first.

[A]

Please do. Shit.

[B]

So I saw F1 finally. Vroom, vroom.

[A]

Did we just trash the fuck out of that movie? Or maybe just the cost? The concept of F1, I think I

[B]

just thought it was weird that it was nominated, and I just wanted to make. I had to make double. Sure. And I did. And it's bad. I thought this movie was actually bad. And I, like, love popcorn movies. I liked the new Top Gun, which this director also did, but this was not working for me. I don't like. People shouldn't be driving cars that fast. I just didn't. I was bought. I didn't like it. So there's that. Then I watched. I know you're a fan of this guy. I watched a comedy special, which I don't do that often, but I watched a new one because I love this comedian. It was Chris Fleming live at the palace on hbo. God, is that man funny.

[A]

Huge fan.

[B]

I love him. And I've been a fan since long ago before he got hot. I've been fan a fan of his since, like, 2018.

[A]

That's a flex.

[B]

And I loved his songs Sick Jan and Boba Manifesto. I love. You know, he's not doing the songs as much, but I love him and his standup special. There were some really funny moments.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I've never. There's. There's not been somebody who's been able to, like, call out a fucking extremely specific reference like him since, like, Patton Oswald or something.

[B]

You know, I think he's the master. He also. He does not give a fuck. He's, like, calling people out by name. Like, he makes fun. There's like an extended run of him making fun of Mike Birbiglia on his special. And I'm like, oh, man, who's going after Mike Birbiglia? Fabulous.

[A]

Like, yo, King, go for it. Yeah, I kind of love that. That renegade energy. So that's good.

[B]

So that's what I watched.

[A]

Okay, well, I guess we'll get to mine. I also watched two films. One of them was Scream 7 from 2026.

[B]

People are not loving this movie.

[A]

Duh. Have you seen it?

[B]

No.

[A]

I mean, it is.

[B]

The reviews are in.

[A]

Yeah, there's. I read something recently, like, in the past a couple days about, like, the problem. The problem with the Scream franchise, which is, according to the person who was talking, I don't know if it was a tick tock or article. I. I forget that. Basically, like, they're not. The franchise relies too much on the canon for the narrative. Right. So it's basically like, you know, you have certain franchises that will dip back into the original story but then kind of go off and do new things, you know?

[B]

Yeah. Well, it's like Jason is showing up in fucking outer space. Or like, you know, like Freddy Krueger is terrorizing some new teens or something.

[A]

You know, Chucky got married and had a baby and shit. Like, we. Everybody's growing. There's growth.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Whereas Scream, according to this person. I can't remember who it was. Unfortunately, Scream is relying too much on, like, the old shit, too. Like, where you're having to go back and be like, fuck, I forgot. Is Laurie Metcalfe in two or three? Or is it, like, which one is it that. Like, this and that, you know, I get. I mean, listen, I know which one.

[B]

I'm Sidney's stepbrother, who she didn't know she had, and I'm mad at her. And so that's why I killed all these people.

[A]

It's like, huh, listen, this whole thing about Sidney. I love Nev. I love the vibe of Nev. I love the final girl of her.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But this has to stop. Like, the whole we have to stalk her and try to kill her thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is done. And when I say done, it's, like, roasted to a crisp. I'm like, no one needs to be trying to stalk her anymore. Like just at all. Like. Yeah, it's not believable. It's not fun.

[B]

Well, there's never been a horror franchise like this where it's like the same character needs to be the lead in every. Like that's tiresome for these types of movies.

[A]

Right. And like, you know, and it's like she keeps moving further and further into the woods. You know her, you know, she's like, just put her under witness protection, put her in the middle of a salt mine. Like where the. They keep finding her all the time. And then it's like it's. It's like the 10th season of Scooby Doo in terms of like who the villain becomes, where you're just like, oh yeah, that person is the murderer. Oh, there's 10 murderers and they're all.

[B]

That is funny. It's like they don't. There aren't any other like horror franchise franchises like that where it's like, you were the murderer. Like, it is hard to sequelize this franchise in that way. I mean, so silly.

[A]

It's so silly. I mean, at this point, if. If it keeps going, which I hope to God it fucking doesn't, they should do a like Running man scenario where everybody could be Ghostface and there's contract killings. I guess it would be a mix between the Running man and John Wick where like anybody could be a victim, but then also anybody could be Ghost Face. And then Sydney is finally able to like retire, you know, under her, you know, under eight levels of sheetrock in the middle of nowhere where she can't.

[B]

I think that's the biggest thing. They just need to get rid of Sydney. She doesn't need to be in. They. They need to move along, move on from that.

[A]

And they could, they could actually keep going with Gail. Cuz Gail's like a reporter. I could see her being like, oh, I'm like this reporter serial reporter that goes and finds the next ghost face crime. Yeah. Not Sydney as the victim. Cool it with that. It's annoying. It's bad. Like, move on. Anyway, that's Scream 7. And then I rewatched a movie. I saw this on TV actually on the MGM channel. But I rewatched Degrees of separation from 1993. Have you ever seen this movie?

[B]

No. I know, I know of it, but I've never seen it.

[A]

Yeah, it was a. Like it was known and it is known for being like Will. One of Will Smith's very early movie roles.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is based on a play it's about like, basically a grifter who, like, enters into this, like, rich art collector society via Stalker Channing and Donald Sutherland. They're kind of these rich art collectors and he tells people that he's the son of Sidney Poitier and he kind of, I don't know, scams, scams folks. But, like, yeah, it was interesting because there's like a little. We've done it, I think on. I saw what you did. But, you know, there was the whole controversy about how because in this. In the movie, Will Smith basically has, like, hires a hustler in their home and they catch him in bed with him when they wake up the next morning and that he wouldn't kiss a guy on screen or something. Like, they used a stunt double. Anyway, it's fascinating stuff.

[B]

Oh, I didn't realize that. I remember Will Smith saying he was like, I learned something in acting because I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing. I went too far in the character. Like, I was actually in love with her.

[A]

What?

[B]

That's what he said. Wow. So Will Smith wouldn't kiss a guy

[A]

on screen, but he would have fucked Stalker Channing on screen? No lube. Is that what you're telling me?

[B]

That's exactly what I'm telling you.

[A]

That's somehow gayer than not when kissing a dude. Am I right about that?

[B]

Well, Will Smith isn't exactly in his right mind.

[A]

Well, that's it.

[B]

Very good, Very good. Well, let's close up the film diary, shall we?

[A]

Yeah. Goodbye, I see you. Goodbye, I see you when I see you.

[B]

All right, now for our main discussion, we're talking about the Bad News Bears from 1976, directed by Michael Ritchie, written by Bill Lancaster, who also wrote the Thing which we just talked about. Isn't that wild?

[A]

It is wild.

[B]

It is. You know, this is a pretty well known movie. It's a comedy, it's a sports movie. It's heartfelt. It stars Walter Matthau, Vic Morrow, Tatum o' Neill and Jackie Earl Haley. Do you remember on the Best show when John Wurster would always be like, it's in that one movie starring, oh, what's. It was starring Jackie Earl Haley and Maria Conchita Alonso. Yes, yes, yes. And like Tom Sharply would always be like, they'd always fill in. The actors who were in it was Jackie Earl Haley and Maria Conchita Alonso. Anyways, Millie, what's your connection to this movie?

[A]

I mean, let's see. This movie was presented to me as a youth and, you know, just felt Like a kind of rite of passage actually to watch this movie. I didn't. I'm not old enough to have seen it in the theater or anything like that at all. But I do remember it playing on TV and I remember seeing it on VHS and thinking it was funny. But that's also because I was. Wasn't am obsessed with baseball. I mean, I think that's what you and I share is that we liked baseball. I played softball pretty much my entire young life. I was on a traveling team when I was like 12, 11.

[B]

And you play in high school too?

[A]

Played in high school. I lettered in it, Yeah. I almost went to college for it.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah. They sent some scouts to watch me play when I was in high school, but at the time they were really transitioning to fast pitch because, you know, I played slow pitch softball. And then pretty much all of the colleges were switching to fast pitch and it just was something that I didn't want to do. Like, it was kind of like I didn't want to get hurt. There was that part because the pitching was like all these girls were learning how to pitch fast and I was like, this is fucking crazy. I felt like the.

[B]

So how did the. You'd have a. Other, you know, a girl on the other team pitching, but they would just kind of toss it in there or like, was there strategy with the slow pitch?

[A]

With slow pitch? Yeah. I mean, there was. I mean, I wasn't a pitcher, but, you know, one of my good friends was. You know, I knew a new slow pitch pitchers. Yeah, there is something. Is a technique to slow pitch. There's a rise, there's a placement. I mean, sure, there is skill to slow pitch, even though it looks like you're just fucking tossing a ball in the air.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But fast pitch was this. Obviously this whole other thing. I mean, it's like over. And I actually think it's crazy to pitch fast pitch because you do it underhanded.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it looks pretty wild.

[A]

I mean, I tried to throw the ball like that a couple times just for shits and giggles. And I was like, oh, my arm's coming off. Like, who.

[B]

Who has longevity Sort of unnatural.

[A]

Yeah. Who has longevity as a pitcher pitching like this?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But at the time it was really like two things. It was the transition to fast pitch, which I wasn't interested in because I didn't want to like steal bases. I didn't want to be real, like grumpy. And then I also just was like 16, 17, was going to concerts, was smoking fucking Cigs was, you know, hanging out the mall. I didn't want to play sports anymore. And, you know, my parents were actually really good about it. They were like, yeah, sure, you can get a scholarship and, you know, be on the Olympic team or something one day. I don't know what they thought of me. That's, that actually probably would never happen. But, you know, they're just like, listen, if you want to quit this, I'm fine with it too. Like, do whatever you want. So. Yeah, but because I played so much, I loved baseball and have loved it since I was, yeah, around like 10, 11. So anyway, what about you?

[B]

I played, I played baseball until eighth grade and I was pretty good. I was a pretty good hitter.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then I tried out for the baseball team freshman year and I got put on the, the freshman B team instead of the A team. And I was just kind of like, looking around. I went to a very jock high school with a lot of rich baseball kids and I was like, none of the Minneapolis dirtbags are making this team, you know. And so I decided to do the spring musical instead of baseball. And that sort of set me on my trajectory of my entire life. So it all worked out just fine. But I like baseball still. And what I like about this movie is that it is more of the, not the hoity toity baseball that we know today. It's not the, it's like the everyman's game. It's kind of like loose. It's kind of like more blue collar and it's like more like the underdogs rather than the kind of, you know, conservative, like this is America's game type of attitude we have towards baseball. Now does that make sense, what I just said about baseball?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And you know, I don't know if you relate to this about the character in the movie, but I feel like I've had to eat a lot of shit in my lifetime and I feel like the characters in this movie had to eat a lot of shit. And so I related to that because I kind of consider myself probably a loser too. And I feel like this movie about losers.

[A]

Yeah, that's so funny. I don't see you as a loser, but I'll just take your word for it. I mean, I just like you too much. I don't want to think, well, that's

[B]

sweet, but I just mean like, you know, I, I, I, I've tried and I've failed a lot of my life and I don't regret that and I'm glad I, and I still I'll always try, you know, but, you know, I'm not on.

[A]

I'm not.

[B]

I'm not on top of the money mountain. I'm not su. You know, super successful at. I'm not a famous director, you know.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

But I still try.

[A]

What do you think is the. Like, just out of curiosity, now that we've set this up, because I quit baseball to smoke cigarettes and you quit baseball to be in theater, So who.

[B]

Who would you.

[A]

Would you be? Which one of the Bad News Bears you think is you and which one? Because I think I have a. Generally a feeling of, like, my personal. Like, who.

[B]

I think you're. Tanner, who do you think you.

[A]

I think I'm probably. I mean, I would say I'm Kelly Leak a little bit. I mean, he's wild, but in terms of, like, what, you know, the baseball to punk rock pipeline. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel like that's true.

[B]

He's.

[A]

He's the best representation of that. But what are you thinking? Who do you think. Do you think Ludder would be the theater kid? I don't know.

[B]

Well, I think I relate to Tatum o' Neal's character because she wanted to. She was, like, trying to do ballet and shit, you know? Like, I feel like she's, like, a team player and has a good heart, but she kind of want, you know, has an artsier side, too, so I relate to her.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I was never as good at baseball as she is in the movie, so.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, she was, you know, honestly, like Tatum o' Neill and the Bad News Bears is a tomboy icon. Including mine. One of mine, for sure. I loved, though, that she, like, you know, she had her moments where she was a tender baby, like she could pitch the fuck out of a game. But then, you know, she got her feelings hurt by Walter Matthau many times in this movie, which we'll talk about. But, yeah, I think that's what this movie is good at, I think. And this is why I think the movie persists so much, is that there. Yes. There are archetypes here. There are definitely, like, different types of kids. And, you know, these are, like, movies with big ensemble cast, and every kid has a different vibe. But then I also think that they do a good job of, you know, like, kind of trying to get into the interior lives of some of these kids.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which I appreciate, and.

[B]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, I gotta say, I don't know if you felt this when watching. Again, there were a lot of moments where I was really emotional yeah, like, there are, like, really emotional part and parts that sort of surprised me. I mean, it's like a ridiculous movie, and it's over the top. You know, we talked about the feral children, but, like, the part where, like, Walter Matthau's like, all the kids are quitting the team, and he's like, what about you, Tanner? You want to quit? He's like, I just want to play baseball. I got really emotional when he said that. Like, it was like, it's such a sincere moment, you know? And it's like these. It's easy to forget. I mean, out in real life, too, you meet these shithead little kids that, like, are awful. They're saying the worst stuff to you. Like, I was a camp counselor. I worked in schools. Kids say the worst. The meanest stuff they can think of, and it cuts you deep. And then you turn around and you try to treat them like an adult. You say something mean back to them, and then they start crying, and you realize, this is a child.

[A]

Yeah. They just fall apart.

[B]

They fall apart. Yeah. And that's, like the. That's what this movie really reminded me of. I'm like, these kids are tough. These are tough kids. You know, they're talking back to parents. They're getting in fights. They're smoking cigarettes. But these are kids, you know, and they're tender little babies, and they need to be taken care of, which I feel like Walter Matthau's character really learns throughout the course of this movie, too.

[A]

Yeah. And like. Yeah, there's. There's a lot of that in the film, too, is the adult world versus the kid world, and sort of like the ways in which adults compete with each other. And they use it. They use children to basically as pawns in their old person's competition, you know? And you're just like, that's fucked up.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Should I get into the synopsis a little bit?

[A]

Let's go.

[B]

Okay. It's 1976. We're in the Valley, baby, Los Angeles. We meet drunk former minor league baseball player turned pool man, Morris Buttermaker, played by Walter Matthau. He's taking over coaching a Little League team, the Bears. And now this team is in this league because the dad of one of the kids sued the league because his son wasn't good enough to play. I guess he. He couldn't get on another. So he sued the league. And we're like, okay, he can play, but he needs another team. So they cobbled together this team of kids who aren't, like, good Enough to be on the other teams. So, like. And then also it like ruins the league having all these little shitheads in there that suck. And so all the other teams hate this team and they're bad. And guess what? They do suck. And in the first game of the season, they forfeit. Because in the first inning, they. They're like down by 25 runs. They're never going to win, so they forfeit immediately. And I mean, Walter Matthau, he's drinking and smoking in front of the kids. And I mean, it's kind of shocking to see with my 20, 26 eyes seeing him just like, drink beer on a. In front of all these kids. I mean, it was. But man, that was great. I love that. So we talked about some of the kids who are some of the standout kids who are some of your faves to you.

[A]

Oh, God. I mean, like, I all. I love them all.

[B]

I love them all. I love them all.

[A]

I love the, you know, the like, little Mexican kids and stuff. I don't know. Really, that was the thing too, is that like, I don't know, just age, but I get, like, really protective over these kids now where I'm just like, oh, maybe as when I was in my 20s and I was watching this movie, it's like, fuck, yeah, these kids are hilarious. They're cussing, they're like, you know, smoking, they're fucking riding dirt bikes and shit. And now I'm like, aw, these little babies, like, honestly, the booger eating spaz.

[B]

My God, was it Lupus?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, I like when Tanner protects him against the bullies. You just like, you're just like, tanner's so funny, man. That kid is just cussing a mile.

[A]

I mean, what a. What a legend in that way. And I, you know, like, again, that's like, to speak to this like, different type of child who doesn't really seem like they exist anymore. I think it. I have. I've talked about this before. Like, I've talked about this with Danielle because we used to have a joke about this on. I saw what you did, which is that like, up until this point, like, children were like, largely unparented. Like, if you were like, especially if you grew up in the. Like, if you were a 70s kid or before, like, or if you were born in the 70s and 80s and stuff, and you were like a child during those eras. I mean, both my parents worked. Like, I had a key to the house when I was, you know, probably like 12 or something, you know, like, I was coming home alone. I Was supposed to like make my own snacks and like, never got picked up at school. Like I rode the bus, you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it was that kind of thing where I was just like this mini adult because my parents had to go to their jobs. And so I felt much more mature, I think, because of that. But then also I was fucking unparented. That's why I was watching all these fucking crazy movies when I was a kid. Like, that made me who I am, you know, that's why I was, you know, doing all this crazy. Because nobody was around to really be like, hey, don't do that. And like. So, yeah, like it feels like now the Tanners and the, you know, the Kelly leaks. I mean, it's like I can't even imagine a Kelly leak. Like, I. Whereas I felt like I knew. Whereas I felt like I knew like three of those guys at my high school, you know.

[B]

Yeah. And I'm not going to pretend that I was like wandering the streets of Minneapolis alone, you know, unparented, but I feel like I encountered kids like this all the time. I'd go to the park after school, play, you know, two hand touch football like every day when I was in like fourth grade. And it was like only a few blocks from my house, but it really felt like there were kids around where I'm like, that kid is like on his own.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I just, I remember encountering kids like that one time I was babysitting these kids and their house was like pretty close to ours, but next to a park. And the dad of these kids was like, yeah, you can go play at the park, but don't let any kids from the park in the house. I was like, huh? And he's like, don't let any kids from the park in the house. I was like, what? I was like, that's so weird. What a weird thing to say. But we go to the park and like, there's like dozens of like unparented kids. There's. And they're like bothering us. And I'm like, all right, we gotta go back to the kids I'm babysitting. We go back to their house and they all follow us and they try to get in the house and they run in the house and they're running around the house. And I'm like, get out of the house. And I'm kicking these 10 year olds out of the house that were just totally unparented.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so it reminded me of that time, certainly.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I think that like there was, you know, I grew up in the South. So there was a little. A little.

[B]

Little of that.

[A]

Little. There's bad kids around for sure. You know, and there was a time where I've talked to my sister about this because I was like, we were bad kids, I think, like, in the view of other people. Do you know what I mean?

[B]

Interesting, because we were.

[A]

Listen, my sister and I are good girls. Like, we have. We're totally fine. We've never had drug and alcohol problems. We're stand up people of society. We both have master's degrees. We're, you know, I mean, like, we're.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In the eyes of the world, like, we would be seen as, like, nerdy, half Asian, you know, like bright, ambitious women. Right. Or whatever.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But at the time, I think when we were kids, we just were like. Like we went through this whole period of where we moved from, like, rural South Carolina to, you know, northern suburbs of Atlanta. And we had kind of moved to this better, like, bigger and better house. And the people around us were like, you know, I mean, I don't know, like, upper middle class maybe or something like that. And like, everyone is white. Like, that was the thing that we didn't had. We did not have that experience when we were growing up in Charles, like, right outside of Charleston, which is. We had neighbors that were of every stripe. But when we moved to Marietta, it was like, oh, everybody's white and Southern. And there was this feeling of like, I don't think that these parents want us to hang out with their kids because we are foreign, you know, like, we're not white. Our grandparents lived with us at one point, so there was, you know, like, we ate ethnic foods and we were not like, you know, I brought like, fudgeing, weird soup, Filipino soups to school. You know, it's like, yeah, we were not like white rich people. And, you know, we were both like, loudmouths. My sister and I were fudgeing loudmouths. Like, we were so foul mouthed in high school. Like, we were like, especially high school. But even, like, before that, we were like, loud as. And, you know, my parents worked, so we were largely unsupervised. And I just felt like, if I look back in retrospect, I'm like, oh, yeah. Those, like, parents did not want us to hang out with their kids at all. And I feel like they think of us now as these, like, hellions or something.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where I'm like, I don't know, because I thought I was normal or whatever, but it's like, yeah, everybody else so I was like, I don't know, you come at it and you're thinking you're like Vic Morrow's kid or some. And then actually you're Kelly Leak and you're like, I didn't know that about myself.

[B]

So it's interesting. Wow. Well, something else I wanted to point out from the beginning of this movie is that there's a banquet at a Pizza Hut.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

Yeah. And I was like, this used to be a proper country. What a time. The pizza buffet at Pizza Hut where they were serving alcohol at Pizza Hut. Incredible.

[A]

I just googled Pizza Hut near me. I want it now. What the fuck? Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, but, like, do you remember those places you could go in?

[A]

I didn't know you could deliver Pizza Hut until, like, high school. I. I thought that Pizza Hut was a sit down restaurant for the first, like, 16 years of my life.

[B]

Well, I feel like McDonald's I used to think of as more of a sit down restaurant because we would eat in there. And also I had, like, birthday parties at McDonald's, but, you know, that's not the country we live in today. Anyways, moving on. The team is bad. The bad News Bears, they're bad. And they're on the verge of disbanding. But Buttermaker, he sees that these kids really want to play even though they suck. You know, like I said earlier, he's like, tanner, do you want to quit? And he's like, I just want to play ball. So he kicks them in the ass. And they get a little bit better. They get a little bit better. And then they get a lot better. When Buttermaker recruits the child of his former girlfriend. The child's name, Amanda Wurlitzer, played by Tatum o'. Neill. He sees her when she's selling maps to the stars on the side of the road, and he convinces her to join the team. And she's really good, and she makes the team that much better. You know, watching this, I was just like, Tatum o'. Neill, she was a very. She was a great child actor. She really was wonderful. And. And it's fun to watch her in this.

[A]

She's the best, dude.

[B]

Yeah. Did this movie make you think of licorice pizza at all?

[A]

No. Did it make you make you think?

[B]

Yeah, it made me think of it. I hadn't watched it since I watched licorice pizza. And it was just kind of fun seeing, like, the valley in the 70s. Oh, sure, sure.

[A]

No, I, you know, I see that and, you know, I. I do think that there is a whole generation of filmmakers that are influenced by 70s movies like this.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

This is not, like, PTA is not the first person to be influenced by Bad News Bears. I mean, honestly, like, so many. So many filmmakers that are, you know, of a certain age that really love a hangout. 70s Valley film. Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

One thing I wanted to ask you is, so what's your vibe on drinking in front of your kid? Like, I feel like there's a window of time. Like, I. Most of the people that I know who have kids are having beers before, like, two, because they're kind of like, they're too young to even know what the fuck is going on. Like. Right. But is there a time where you kind of, like, know, oh, well, maybe they're watching me have some brewskis and I should, like, cut it off?

[B]

Yeah, I. I'm not opposed to, you know, I had a beer with dinner last night in front of patients. You know, I'm not opposed to the act of drinking alcohol in front of my daughter. I do think a lot more now. Like, I don't really want to be even slightly buzzed around her because I got parenting to do, you know? And, you know, I'll have a drink at night after she's gone to bed, but I won't be like a Walter Matthau making her make me martinis. I love that part.

[A]

Well, yeah, I'm sure you did. I was like, martinis arrived. Casey is.

[B]

He's like, thank you, Lupus.

[A]

Fully locked in. Casey is fully locked in. But, like. So I guess my point is. I mean, how hardcore is it if you are a kid, if you're like Timmy Lupus, to know how to make a perfect martini at his age? Like, someone taught you.

[C]

Dude.

[A]

Little Dude.

[B]

Walter Matau. He was just, like, perfect. He's like, excellent. Like, it was like a great martini.

[A]

Like, you had to have seen your parents make them often in order to get the recipe right. Yes.

[B]

That part was, to me, really made me laugh. Holy hell. I love it, too, when he's smoking the cigar in the car and Tatum o' Neill takes it and throws it out the car, and he's like, I just lit that. That's terrible.

[A]

I want to, like. I love Walter Matthau, like, as much as he is such a scumbag in this movie. He really is a scumbag.

[B]

Yeah, he is. I mean, he really is drinking, so he's like the person taking care all of these children, and he is so drunk and drinking the whole movie.

[A]

And the thing that I love about a 70s movie is that this isn't like he doesn't have the biggest redemption arc. Like, it's. He has a mild redemption arc where he's kind of like, towards the end, he's like, all right, this.

[B]

Wait, that's what makes it more effective to me because he never goes full. Like, I've been a bastard. I've been. You know, he just changes his ways a little bit, you know?

[A]

Yeah. No, and that's. That's what I love about it is that, like, a grim 70s movie that will tell you that the alcoholic will still be an alcoholic after the credits roll. Like, it's like, there's no.

[B]

It's not like he's like, I'm throwing my beer away. You know, I'm dumping out my flask. No, there's none of that.

[A]

Yeah, sure, he's gonna take Tatum o' Neill to the drive in, but he's gonna be trash still, and that's fine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, so.

[B]

Yeah, no, that's. No, I mean, Walter Matthew, is he really. They don't make him like that anymore.

[A]

The king of the craggy hots. I mean, it's like, they don't make craggy guys because people don't smoke as many cigarettes as they used to.

[B]

Well, we'll be talking. Yeah, it's true. I just feel like movies in the 70s, you really felt like these people walked in off the street. Even the kids in this movie, you're like, this kid is a real kid where everyone is so precocious. All the child actors are so well polished and precocious now, like Kara Klank, she complains about how her kids talk like Nickelodeon shows now, like, her kids in real life, they'll be like, dad, you gotta cut it out. Like, they'll talk like that now. Whereas, like, people were much more raw in the 70s.

[A]

No. Yeah. You need a kid to be like, yo, kiss my ass.

[B]

Like, yeah, exactly.

[A]

Unfortunately, not going to happen, so.

[B]

Well, the team, they're getting better when they recruit the local punk who hangs around the baseball field riding a Harley and smoking cigarettes. I mean, Jackie Earl Haley, he was really riding that motorcycle without a helmet.

[A]

Yeah, man.

[B]

And he's like 12. So they recruit him and he's like, amazing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And the Bad News Bears become one of the best teams in the league. And guess what? They make the championship game against the hated Yankees. You know, it's sad. You see Vic Morrow in this movie, and I just only think about how he died every time I see his name. And it's very tragic and horrible.

[A]

Yeah, I know because that's. He died on set, right?

[B]

Yeah, with John Landis set. He was like, killed in like a helicopter crash on set. It's really horrible, but. And he's Jennifer Jason Lee's dad. So.

[A]

Anyways, his character is so scary in this movie.

[B]

Yeah, he's a scary dad.

[A]

Like, I did not have that type of dad.

[B]

Me neither.

[A]

And I am so grateful because I did have friends that had that type of dad. And it was scary to see, like, as a kid knowing my friend had this, like, real hard ass dad.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, my dad was super nice. Like, he just was like a total pussycat and never made me feel bad about anything. Like, both my parents were also like, they generally just let me do whatever the fuck I like. They were basically like, follow your bliss. Like, they never forced me to be this, like, thing that they wanted because that's kind of how it feels is like Vic Morrow's character, like his son is the pitcher for the Yankees. And it's like, you can tell, he's like, you will play baseball. You will go pro. This is the legacy that I have established for you. Um, and when you fuck up, you're destroying the legacy and you have to be punished for it. Whereas, like, I'm like, can't even imagine that.

[B]

Like, I'm just like, yeah, I mean, I can still. Emotionally, I was scared a lot of friends, dads, or like the coaches of teams that were also dads of kids on teams and that. Yeah, I remember that feeling and like encountering these types of dads growing up and I'm. I am thankful my dad was not that way at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they let me quit sports willy nilly. You know, I remember when I quit football, they were like, okay, not a problem. Yeah, we can quit. If you don't like it, you don't have to do it.

[A]

No.

[B]

You know, so I am appreciative of that because I think that would be really hard. I mean, I knew a kid who played basketball and he was on the varsity team and other people told me that his dad came into the locker room after game and started beating the shit out of him in the locker room. And like, high school kids had to pull him off and it's like, that's crazy. Can you imagine? I mean, how horrible.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, this. I would, I would rather you just have fucking dipped, dude. Like, you could just have dipped when I was like a kid versus you. Like, humiliating me on a baseball diamond. Like, punch, like hitting me in the face or like being like, aggressive towards me. I mean, it just seems so crazy. So I'm like, I don't know.

[B]

Yeah. There have been cases in Minnesota where dads have killed other dads in the stands because they're so mad about a youth hockey game. And it's like crazy. Like, I don't know, it's not good.

[A]

It just makes me really grateful that I had supportive parents. Like, they never told me to do anything I didn't want to do. Like, they were just like, you do you and we'll be proud. Yeah, it's great.

[B]

But I am going to be really hard on Patience when she plays.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, I figure that you were probably going to get a cattle prod and just shock her into ice skating. Another. Do another. Another double axel.

[B]

Yeah. Trish and I were talking and who knows what our child would be, you know, but we were kind of like, I don't know if our child is an athlete. Like, I don't. She's not. She is really not a risk taker physically. She like does not go down slides. So I don't know if she's got what it takes to be, you know, our next great hockey player.

[A]

But anyways. Yeah, I can tell. I can tell like through my nephews too. Like, what? Like, one of them just has more physicality than the other. Yeah, like, like one of my nephews, like, just likes to be low key and sit around and read and like play video games and stuff. And the other one is like fucking doing gymnastics in the goddamn dining room. And like, you know, you can just be like, oh, he might be a jock. He just wants to be more physical and run around and do shit, you know. Totally.

[B]

No, totally. And like, we have friends, kids who are like, like one of our friends kids is. And my friends are not this way. But he's obsessed with football, this little two year old boy. He like loves it when it's on the screen. He carries a little football around and he like loves being a little football player. So, like, I think some kids are just more naturally predisposed to that. Yeah. And should. It should be encouraged. I think sports are good, but I just don't know if Patience has what it takes. Anyways, the championship is here and Buttermaker has gone over the edge. He has started to care too much about winning. He throws beer on Amanda, saying he doesn't want anything to do with her after the season. That was, that was hard. Tough, hard. SCENE he tells Kelly to do whatever it takes to win. And so, you know, Kelly's like Swooping in front of people as they're about to catch the ball. And just in case they might drop it, he asks Rudy Stein to intentionally get hit by pitches. But things really come to a head, which we already referred to when Roy Turner, played by Vic Morrow, he slaps his own kid. Roy Turner's the coach of the Yankees. He slaps his own kid on the mound. And it's at that point that I feel like Buttermaker really realizes, you know, these kids just want to play ball. They don't want to. They don't. They don't. They want to win, but they don't care. They want to play baseball.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You know, so he starts kind of. Buttermaker starts putting the worst players out so they get a chance to play in the championship. And, you know, they almost win despite not pushing the gas pedal down super hard at the end, but they don't. And when awarded the second place trophy, our buddy Tanner, he turns to the Yankees and he says, hey, Yankees, you could take your apology and your trophy and shove them straight up your ass. And then they spray each other with beer because they gave the kids. Yeah, beer. I guess I was like.

[A]

I was. At first, I couldn't remember what. I was like, oh, certainly. Those aren't those, like, fruit punch barrels. Those are like Mickey's or something. Like, why?

[B]

Those are, like, little red striped bottles of beer.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

I was like, oh, he gave him beers.

[B]

That's hilarious. Yeah. So. And they're just spraying each other, having a good time. It's funny. There's, like, one supportive dad in the stands throughout the movie. They never, like, really meet him, but he's always like, yeah, bears. You don't really know whose dad it is either, but he's like. And then at the end, you see him carrying a kid, like, pouring beer on his head and stuff. So it's like, okay, there's one good dad in the stands that they don't really name. But what a film.

[A]

Yeah, I, like, honestly, Michael Richie is a director. We haven't really talked about him much, even though I did talk about him during Semi Tough when I recommended Semi Tough on the Burt Reynolds episode. I mean, he's quite a filmmaker. I mean, he made a lot of, like, popular movies in the 80s, but, like, his 70s movies are fucking insane. Like, he made movies like Prime Cut, which, if you've never seen Prime Cut. Holy shit, what a bizarre film that is. I mean, that's a crazy movie. But he made Smile, which is basically the original Drop Dead Gorgeous about the pageant industry. I mean, I already talked about how Semi Tough was one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. But the 70s movies seem to have this, like, weird arc about, like, American stuff, which I think that's something about the Bad News Bears that's really interesting, is that it came out basically 1976. Like, this bicentennial of America, which we've got another. Another celebration this year. Right. It's the. What do you call it? Semi.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

It's America's birthday. Casey, Come on. God damn it.

[B]

It's the 250th anniversary. What is that?

[A]

Semi quincentennial. Semi. Semi quincentennial.

[B]

Semi quincentennial. Yeah. Yes.

[A]

The bicentennial was in 1976. And to me, I always think this is interesting. We're gonna talk about this with Jenny a little bit in her area of expertise. But, like, when. When movies are like, these 70s movies that seem to have, like, nods to, like, Americana or, like, you know, flat. Like, there's a lot of, like, flag waving in the Bad News Bears. There's a lot of, like, kids singing the Star Spangled Banner. I think it's obviously, like, making, you know, a statement on these American things, Right? Yeah. Because it's America's birthday, and I feel like Michael Richie particularly has something like. He's got his finger on the pulse of that a little bit.

[B]

So he's got, like a. You know, he did the movie the Candidate and stuff. It seems like there's, like, a little bit of an American something streak.

[A]

He also did, like, Downhill Racer, which is about the Olympics and the US Ski Team. So it's kind of like. Yeah, he seems to kind of, like, take out, like, portions of American society and kind of give him a little, you know, football, the pageant industry, baseball, you know, politics. Anyway.

[B]

Yeah, that's interesting.

[A]

Yeah, I like him.

[B]

Any other thoughts about the Bad News Bears?

[A]

Uh, you know, it was really good to watch this again. I hadn't seen it in a long time. It definitely is a fun romp. Like, it feels so 70s. Like, and I. We had said this earlier, but it's so rough around the edges.

[B]

It reminds me, stylistically, of, like, the Longest Yard, where it is, like, we're just kind of. There's a lot of, like, hanging out and fun stuff is happening, and. Yeah, it is a 70s movie.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Through and through.

[A]

I mean, at times, it feels kind of like a documentary or something.

[B]

Like, you're just, you know, like, totally.

[A]

The camera work is real. Real shaky and shitty and you know, like I said, I mean, there's just, like, there's a scene where, like, Jackie Earl Haley and Tatum o' Neal are riding on a dirt bike with, like, no helmets on. And she's like, go faster. And he's like, okay. And I'm like, like, they. And he.

[B]

They are writing that. Oh, it's down the street. Yeah.

[A]

They are riding it like hell. And I'm like, they. No way they let these kids do that, period. Even if they were wearing, like, you know, padded suits and helmets, they're. They're not letting kids ride a dirt bike like that. Come on. So. Yeah, but I appreciate how. How renegade and off the cuff and rough around the edges this movie is, and that's why it's a classic, so.

[B]

No, it was great. It was really a joy. And I was getting, like I said, I was, like, getting emotional with these kids. I mean, you know, maybe I just. The older I get, the more I just, like, feel for the. You know, it's hard being a little kid.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, I feel bad for little kids, and I just get emotional when they're put in situations that they really have that are really hard. And I just. I don't know. I really loved watching this movie. I thought it was just great.

[A]

I'm glad that they eventually became first class citizens and were thought about, because there was a time where nobody really cared. Like, they were like, you just run around and I'll see you when the street lights come on.

[B]

So. Yeah. Yeah. All right, well, we're gonna move on to our talk with Jenny Zagrino. All right, everybody, we're back for another installment of my area of expertise. And we've got another expert on today. We've got the standup comedian Jenny Zagrino, who you may have seen on HBO dropout TV, and she's recording her new special, May 13th. Welcome, Jenny. Thank you so much for being here.

[C]

Thanks for having me.

[B]

A pleasure. Now, Jenny, you have a very specific, I would say, area of expertise.

[C]

Have you ever had anyone on who has something this specific?

[B]

Yeah. Alicia Malone came on and talked about people drinking out of empty coffee cups in movies.

[C]

Oh, I love that. That is fun.

[B]

No, this is great. This is par for the course. This is one of the. And I just saw an Instagram video of yours where you're even trying to buy, I think, a historical 18th century costume for your dog.

[C]

Oh, I bought it.

[B]

Oh, you bought it. Okay, fantastic. Which one did you go with?

[C]

Well, my friend's actually gonna crochet one, so I'M buying her. She's gonna crochet me a little red coat outfit from a dog. And I just bought a great coat. Do you know what a great coat is?

[B]

No.

[C]

It'll be your big military coat. It's got. Usually it's got like an Inverness cape and it's, it's a. It's like a cape, but it's clo. But it's got arms. So it's like a big, big military coat. So I just bought one of those.

[A]

Where, where are you doing this? Are you at auctions? Are you online?

[C]

Like, I went to Etsy.

[A]

Okay, cool.

[C]

To be fair, and I hate it. But this is the, this is the monetary life I live is. I can only afford mostly Amazon colonial outfits, which surprisingly not bad. Not horrific. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, God, that's amazing. Actually, I had to go recently I had to go to Amazon to find a flapper outfit for this, like, theme party. And it was terrible. So it is. It's kind of like you've got to maybe find your era. It seems like maybe that era is not as good as your era. Right.

[C]

Yeah. So specifically, for some reason, there is like this one brand that makes this pretty, like, I would say medium quality, rococo inspired 18th century men's outfit, which the look, the, you know, the fake embroidery is all wrong and the pants don't fit correctly, but it does what it's supposed to do.

[A]

Sure.

[C]

You know, it evokes. Yeah, it evokes the feeling that I'm going for. So. So it works. I got three.

[A]

Three. That's great.

[B]

But Jenny, how do. Where did this come from? Where. Where did. How did you become like, so knowledgeable about 18?

[C]

So this is, so this has been like a recurring theme in my life. When I was five, I saw the movie Amadeus.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

And that was like, well, this is who I am and never strayed. And then, you know, it gets bare every once in a while it gets buried. Like I'm like into it. And then I'm like, oh, I gotta. This is cringe. I'm gonna go like something else. And then I go, oh, God, I love this. So I've always liked historical costumes.

[A]

Always.

[C]

Like, I was a Renaissance Fair kid. I, you know, loved to dress up. I was always a theater kid on the inside. And I always wanted to be historic of like some kind of grandeur. So I've just always loved dressing up in historic costumes. At this point in my spiritual journey as someone who lived in LA for 10 years, clearly there's a past life thing going on. I existed in this time before as a man for sure. But I've done both. I've done both. I used to be a colonial reenactor in Boston. I was Susanna Copley, John Singleton Copley's wife.

[B]

I don't even know who those people are.

[C]

Copley Square. You've been to Copley Square?

[A]

I have.

[C]

Boston?

[B]

No.

[C]

Oh, you gotta get to Boston.

[B]

I gotta get to Boston, Yeah.

[C]

It's named after this famous painter who basically, any painting of John Hancock, Sam Adams, John Adams, General Gage. Like, all these colonial people were painted by him. He was a Loyalist. So I always try to portray a Loyalist because I'm a baddie and I'm a little shit stir. I'm like a shit poster from 1770. I just always loved it. And, like, I loved. I don't know why that particular era does something. I think it's partially. The Enlightenment period is really, like, kind of where a lot of modern ideas come from. Right. And it was. Men were flat. Like, men could be flowery, and they were dandies and they were macaronis. And, like, it was a very. Like, as much as, you know, if we want to take a modern gender stuff, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, you were. You wore embroidery and flowers and you had a powdered wig and you wore makeup and you had high heels. Like, was it. They are like, you know, those are the men of their time.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Check them out.

[B]

There's a flamboyance to it that's, like, really kind of exciting.

[C]

Exactly. And then you get into Regency, which everyone, you know, you know, has their dicks all over, and it's just, like, boring. It's brown and navy blue and trousers.

[A]

Ugh.

[B]

Now, is that is Regency? Because I am not. That's Bridgerton. Okay. Did that, like, when I was gonna ask you about Bridgerton. Did when that came out, and people were, like, getting so horny for that time period. Did that piss you off? No.

[C]

Okay. So in the romance world, there's a very particular, like, Regency romance is, like, its own thing. So. But Regency is like, you know, that's Jane Austen. Like, that is like, you're evoking such a. A time of romance with the Regency period. And I think that it's also. I don't know, it's like, you know, the dress, like, the fashion was so different, like, compared to, like, this, like, voluptuous, flowery, you know, money. There's. There's a lot of fucking money in 18th century clothing. And, you know, then you get into, like, the gentlemen and the gentry, and I don't know. I think that with Bridgerton, it's just a different. I think it's a little boring, frankly. No wigs. I don't. With that. Who gives a shit?

[A]

I was gonna ask about the Amadeus thing. Yeah. Because I remember when Amadeus came out, I'm a little. I'm a little old. And I watched it, you know, when I was probably in, like, elementary school or something like that, and, you know, was sort of like, maybe. Maybe it was a little too adult for me at the time. I was like, I'm not. Not really into classical music. I'm in, like, third grade or whatever. And then recently, and I talked about this on a episode recently on our podcast, I kind of, like, decided that I was just gonna, like, do an entire overview of classical music because I just felt uneducated about it. And so I was, like, listening to this. This. I guess it's like a Classical for Dummies type of podcast. And it went through all the different periods of classical music, and it made me want to go back and watch Amadeus again. And so I went on this, like, huge deep dive about Amadeus, and I was like, man, this movie is amazing. Like, I love it. I love the actors. I love the whole vibe of it because it feels kind of contemporary, but it's also, like, in the period. And I started reading about that. I was ignorant of this. And I'm sure you know all about this, about the wig thing, and about how I could understand, like, why people wore wigs, why they powdered them. I was kind of like, what's the deal? And then I was like. As I was slowly learning about it, I was, like, getting horrified by the idea of the wig getting disgusting over time. And that's why people were powdering them. Am I wrong about that or.

[C]

So I've heard. The reason for the powder was because. So white. Having a white wig was like, you're wealthy as fuck.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Okay.

[C]

So the wig color also is a class thing. So gray wigs tend to be businessmen.

[B]

Okay, interesting.

[C]

So the white wig is like, I'm wealthy. I'm royal. There's also a level of like, you're at a ball in your white wig. It's reflective, so you can see people better. Right. With all that candlelight. And so the powdered, I'm sure, was also, like, dry shampoo for your wig. And then also was probably reflective. And then it was like, well, okay, I can't afford a white wig, but I can afford to powder my wig. And then also later on in the. In, like, when you get to the 1780s and 90s, and even in the 1770s, men stop wearing wigs. They just start wearing their hair in quays or Q's. Q's quays. I think it's a Q turned to the ponytail is basically.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And yeah. And then wigs become more like, kind of like old fashioned and out of style.

[A]

Yeah. Okay.

[C]

BY like the 1780s and 90s, you're getting men not wearing wigs as much. Unless you're like higher class or older. And by this, by the 1800s, no one's wearing like wigs are of the past. But you also find that like, I find a very interesting women's. Women's hairstyle during that time. Because then you get like as. As you go to the 1780s and 90s instead of up, it becomes a volume thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, you'll notice the women wigs in like paintings in the 1780, 88 is like a very wide. It's called like, I was looking this up yesterday. It starts with a T. Triant. Like a trian or something. Style of wig that's like very voluminous on the side. And then you usually have long curls or long hair down it as well. Wow.

[A]

So, so fascinating.

[C]

I mean, also too, you had lice and you had, you know, all those problems and you were bald. Like one of the. I was researching this because I was like, who's the hottest founding father? And I've decided it's Aaron Burr. Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I've decided he's very cute. He's much cuter than Hamilton. Hamilton was like, ugh, okay, we get it. You're hot. But like, Aaron Burr is like that kind of like, oh, is. What is he? But one of his paintings is like, you can see his receipt, like paint him with the receding hairline. Right?

[B]

Yeah. It feels like they could have just edited that out.

[A]

I can see this Aaron Burr thing now that I'm looking at him, I'm like, I see he kind of looks. Okay.

[C]

There's a specific painting by Gilbert Stewart of Aaron Burr. So put Gilbert Stewart, Aaron Burr. And I think he's a little. I think he's a little cutie. It's him. Like, I think it was a painted like the 1780s. And he's like,

[A]

yes, that's the one I was just looking at.

[C]

That's. He's a little cutie there.

[A]

I mean. Yeah, he looks like kind of a sweet nerd and so. Sweetie. Yeah, I love it actually. That is so funny.

[C]

And I was like, it's him. He's the hot one.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I also do compile, so I also write gay 18th century romance called the Pounding Fathers. It always stars the Pounding Fathers.

[B]

This is good.

[C]

The Pounding Fathers of the Americom Revolution.

[B]

Excellent.

[C]

I'm currently editing the first one that's coming out. It's gonna be about Bennett Darnold and Ethan Allen over their takeover for Ticonderoga. These are deep cuts. Okay.

[A]

These are really deep cuts.

[B]

Oh, there's. I'm sure there's people that are just slurping are like, oh.

[C]

But I've on my. On the Instagram for it. I've compiled a list of, like, hottest hot founding fathers. And so there's like, one guy who was a captain in the British army. That so hot. I'm just like, oh, these. These paintings, you know, I'm jerking off to them.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

Once in a while, like, there'll be like, a TikTok or something where somebody will be like, who is this guy? And it's like. It's a picture of, like, somebody from this period. And they're like, holy fucking shit. I love the smash. And I'm like, yeah, I mean, totally.

[C]

Washington. Allston was a real hottie back then, like, one time. And. Well, this is how far back I go is that. After high school, my friend Cedar and I, I made her a book. We were, like, 19. I made her a book of, like, the hottest men from history that included, like, 18th and 19th century paintings. So this goes back. Like, my love of this goes very far back.

[A]

Yes. Well, that's exciting. We, like. So would you. Would you say that Amadeus was kind of your awakening in terms of, like, your love for this period and for these clothes? Yes. Okay.

[C]

For sure. And I think that, like. Like, the growing up in the Midwest, you don't have a lot of 18th century history. So when I moved to Boston, it was like, oh, my gosh, there's actual, like, history from the 1700s. So then I got more into the American history aspect of it. So I loved it then. And then also, I think it was like, I liked. You know, I liked the movie Amadeus a lot. And then in high school, my friends and I got really into Master and Commander for some reason.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

We fucking love that movie.

[B]

I love that movie. Wait, and that's late.

[C]

That's later. That's Napoleonic.

[B]

Yeah. I didn't feel like there was a wig to be. I don't remember there being.

[C]

No, the. The upper class, they. They're wearing them. I think they still have.

[B]

Oh, they Are. Okay. I wasn't looking for.

[C]

If I remember. If I remember in some of the scenes. So. But. But in that scene, you can see that Russell Crowe has his hair tied. So it's like. So he's doing the whole. My hair is still tied back, but it's not a wig.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Okay, so you can see some of that.

[B]

This is good. I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be on a wig lookout from now on. You sent us a note just to go back to some of the founding fathers stuff. You sent us a Note specifically about 1776 and the costumes being dumb in that one. I've seen this movie, but I didn't take note of the costumes being dumb. What was going on?

[A]

Okay.

[C]

All right, so first of all, let's talk about the Jabot's. Do you know what a Jabot is?

[B]

I don't know if I do.

[C]

Okay, so Jabot's Le Cravat.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Basically, so that's the French word for it. So in that movie is. They're just comical. They're big lace and puffy and like clearly the kind of like Halloween store velcroed on lace. Jabot, which is. They're just so inaccurate because actually. So John Adams costume in that is probably, I think, one of the more accurate ones where his cravat is tight and it kind of comes out the center of his vest. If you look at the photos, he's also like wearing a pretty simple brown linen suit.

[B]

John Adams, played by William Daniels, aka Mr. Feeny from Boynton.

[C]

Isn't that fucking crazy?

[B]

Yes. And he's still alive, I believe.

[C]

I love it. I love it. So I tried watching it and I had to stop at one point because I was like, I can't get through this. So the other guys, first of all, their hair is all like, it's very 70s. It's like someone put 70s hair and then like stuck a ponytail on it. Yeah, like, it's very 70s. A lot of like the fabrics is. They're just so like. Yes, they wore brocades and they wore like more fancy. And I think the southerners would have been a little more fancier than the northerners. So like a New England. So like John Adams, you know, the Rhode island, the Delaware, Maine. You're gonna get more plain looking clothing. Right. Because you've got puritan backgrounds. Just also like what's available. And. But if you go south, you've got these big, very wealthy. I mean, Virginia is like. Virginia and South Carolina are like the money of the revolution. And of the crown. So you've got a lot of money people and they're wearing more of the fancy clothes. But I would say the Sam Adams. HBO does a way better job of this, of the costuming. But yeah, the lace is just like. No one fucking wore these big like napkins on their chest that were like lace covered. So that I hate that. And also too these, they're just like the dresses or the dresses. The suits just look like costumes. Like a community theater came together and was like, well we gotta make 27, you know, jackets and waistcoats or waistcoats as they're called. And they're just like comical. They're just like so bad. And then the female, the one. So in the movie, Thomas Jefferson's wife comes to see him.

[B]

Because apparently I remember they bone in the movie.

[C]

Yeah, Jefferson can't write the dead question independence. Cause he's so horned up he's got come up to his eyeballs and he has to get it out. So his wife shows up and the dress she's wearing is a fucking monstrosity. There's almost nothing historically accurate about this dress that maybe the neckline is accurate, but it's this big fucking tool like tool shit. And her hair is all off. It's just like I'm like what is this? What am I watching? This is not accurate at all. And then it takes me out of it and I can't enjoy the thought of them boning.

[B]

Yeah, no, it's funny because I feel like, you know, it's inaccurate because it feels kind of 70s ish. Because that's what, you know, that's when it came out. But like this you. What did you think about a movie like Marie Antoinette? Which to me feels very of its time too. Or even like kind of like an 80s influence on it. But is that more historically accurate with the costumes?

[C]

I think so. I think though that there were like the Miranto nominee was like there's nods to it. Like it's not telling you were accurate. It's saying that like I'm doing an interpretation of a. Of a 16 year old girl who becomes queen. Right. And like. And how that relates to my 16 year old self. Like with the ch. I remember there's like a poster she wore Chucks or something. Yeah, that's to me is like more subversive because it's like saying I'm this. And I feel like with 1776 it was just like here's some bad costumes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, here's.

[C]

Here's some poor. Ooh, it's fun. But also to that. Is that the 70s? So, okay, so I also love just history of cost of fashion in general. The 60s into the 70s is 18th century. So in the 60s, the modern. You had like, these big updos of the women. Right. Which are like a memory of the 18th century. Big wigs that they would wear. You had like, the square necklines. You had like. Like, some of the long dresses were like, maybe like later 18th century. The empire waist came back. Right. That's a little more Regency, but we're still like, of that era. So, like, these are nods to that era. So I think when that came out in 1772 or 17.

[B]

Yeah, I think that's when it came out.

[C]

Yeah, I think you still have like. Like, it. There was kind of like an 18th century vibe. Like, men wore. Men were wearing cravats again.

[B]

Yeah, right.

[C]

Like you have men of that time wearing, like, cravats in. Just in fashion. And it having, like, a call to the 18th century also, too, I believe it's very interesting is that that was what, the centennial when America was 200 years old.

[A]

Yeah, it was like, in the 70s. Yeah. That's what Daisy Confused is about. Right? Is when they celebrate. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

So you have. So that's an inspiration, that's inspiring. Fashion of the times. We're celebrating America's 200th anniversary, and this 18th century style kind of comes back in the 70s, and it's the same as actually happening now if you're looking at fashion. Because we're about to do the 250th anniversary.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Even in just like I've watched. Seen, like, Coach ads or like, just like, in advertisements and in fashion, the 18th century is coming back. So I think also too, for me is I do love the. I love the enlightenment. I love that era. And I think that, you know, some of those ideals can are. Are still used or, you know, shape our world today. So I think it's important. And then also, who doesn't love to wear a big fucking dress with. With big old paniers? Panniers are the side. The hip. The hip stuff. And sometimes you want to show off your sick little calves.

[A]

Okay. You got.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, just as a refresher for this conversation, I watched the Walking on Broken Glass music video by Ann.

[A]

It's so good. I love that video.

[B]

Oh, it's so good. I was like, oh, I gotta watch Dangerous Liaisons again.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

The fact that John Malkovich was a sex symbol. What are we going.

[B]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[A]

That was Like, I remember when that movie came out, I was like, again, I was in, like, middle school and it was such a big deal and everybody looked gorgeous. I mean, I remember Michelle Pfeiffer in that movie was like, stunning.

[B]

Well, can you talk about your. Your History Tonight shows? Are you. You. Because you're in. You're often costumed.

[C]

So I do a couple of costumed things. So I do this show called History Tonight where I play King George iii and comedians come and do bits as famous people from history, like their favorite historian or historical figure. So. And then my friend Rob Crean is George Grenville, who was the prime minister during the stamp act. Again, deep cuts.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And so we just do a show where I do, like, you know, late night current event jokes, but as King George iii. So it kind of like, has fun little nods to history. And then I also do a character called the Baron von Steuben or Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben, who was America's first openly gay general of the American Revolution.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And this is a real person.

[C]

A real person, openly gay, polyamorous, in a throuple with his aide de camps, who were also in a gay relationship before they met him. And his other assistants were Alexander Hamilton and John Lawrence, who were also in a gay relationship.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

And basic. And we're writing up. Me and my friend Caleb are writing a play about him currently. So May 3rd, if you're at the Elysian in LA, you can come see the first reading.

[B]

Oh, really? Oh, that's amazing.

[C]

Yeah. So it's kind of like a. An ode to basically how the military is. Doesn't exist without queers. Like, we don't have a military without gay people. A gay people. A gay person is the reason we have a country because we would have lost every single battle. We did.

[A]

We sucked.

[C]

And then Steuben came in and kind of whipped people into shape. And also too, like, there were immigrants. Like, he's Prussian, Hamilton's Caribbean. Like, most of the. A lot of the generals were immigrants. It's just like America doesn't exist without gays and immigrants and like, foundationally. Yeah, literally from the foundation. And, you know, that is, I think, something that everyone. We just don't think about. We forget that we are, you know, country of immigrants and hopefully, hopefully, you know, someone dies soon.

[B]

Some person out there. Well, this is amazing. Millie, did you have anything else you wanted to.

[A]

No, I just love how knowledgeable you are about all this.

[B]

Really fascinating because I have to admit,

[A]

I'm like, so bad about this. This entire Thing, like, history is okay.

[C]

It is so niche, and I don't know why anyone else would know it, but, like, yeah, like, I'm. You know, I used to sew my own costumes. I don't do that as much anymore. But, like, yeah, I love it. I love it. I love the. You know, I could talk about costumes all day. Like, there's so many different types of women's dresses. You have, like, the round dress. You've got the robe of francais, you've got the English robe, and then you've got, like, a polonaise robe. Like, there's just so many dresses, and then men have their own thing, and it's all beautiful and wonderful, and I just. Just get me out of here. Just get me out of trouble. Send me to England and I'll just live in a little manor house by myself and wear my little britches and. Yeah. Buy my book. Temptation at Ticonderoga.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Part of the Pounding Fathers of the American Revolution series.

[B]

Jeffrey R. That's so good. Is there anything else that's coming up that you want people to check out

[C]

so you can see me live doing a live history tonight in Boston or Cambridge at the Comedy Studio. And that's a special Patriots Day Colonial One, because that's the week that Lexington and Concord happened, which is the first battle of the American Revolution. So we're doing a special Colonial one with a bunch of comics. Then on the 18th, I'm doing my one hour at my new hour special that I'm recording at the studio on the 17th, I'll be in Manchester, New Hampshire of April. We're also doing May 1st. I'll be in San Francisco at the Lost church. And then May 3rd is the Elysian, the live reading of the Drill Master. That's the play I think we've decided. It's called the Drill Master.

[B]

That's a good name. That's a good title.

[C]

So it's either the Baron or the Drill Master. I think we're gonna do the Drill Master.

[B]

The Drill Master is really good.

[C]

Yeah, it's gonna be a great T shirt.

[B]

Shirt that's great to play.

[C]

And you get a shirt that says the Drill Master on it. Come on, come on.

[B]

Amazing. All right. Well, thank you so much, Jenny. This was so great chatting with you and honestly learning so much about.

[C]

Thank you. I just want everyone to know I'm not a historian. If I get something wrong. Sorry.

[B]

All right, guys, don't email us. We don't want to hear any corrections.

[A]

Sounds good to me.

[C]

Yeah. And I get It. No one likes them. They're all bad people. Okay, I get it. Now just let me jerk off off to John Andre in turn, if you guys have seen that television show, and leave me alone. Okay.

[B]

Well, that was a great chat with Jenny Zagrino on 18th century costumes. That was fun.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

I feel like. Feel like I learned. I've been learned. Yeah. But we're moving on to employees picks, film recommendations based on the theme of the discussion. Millie, what do you recommend this week?

[A]

Well, I could be, like super duper esoteric and tell you guys to watch some baseball movie from 1918 or something, but I was like, fuck it. I'm just gonna tell you guys what my favorite baseball movie is of all time. And it is Moneyball from 2011 with Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, you know what I'm talking about. Directed by Bennett Miller, who sadly does not make more movies.

[B]

He's good. I wish he made more.

[A]

Damn. He hasn't made a movie since fox catcher in 2014, which is a movie I really like. Me, too. He made Capote, which is fantastic. He's made three features and one documentary, and that is it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So.

[B]

And that documentary is supposed to be really good to the cruise. Yeah. So interesting.

[A]

Come back home, Bennett.

[B]

Come back home. Come back home, please.

[A]

But the reason why Moneyball is my favorite. I mean, when I say my favorite movie, I mean, of course, you know, we talk about. I've loved baseball since, you know, the late 80s, so there's many great baseball movies that I love. Major League. I've seen Major League probably like a hundred trillion times. But, like, I think beats per minute. Moneyball is my favorite baseball movie because I feel like it's chill, it's entertaining. It kind of talks about an aspect of baseball that nobody really thinks about.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. Yeah. And it's just sort of that. That movie. I used to call it like my comfort film or like my Sunday. Sunday afternoon, hungover on the couch movie. But, yeah, if you haven't seen it. But I've been. I've been. You know, this has been my ministry. Moneyball has been my ministry for many years. So if you haven't seen it by now, hell's wrong with you?

[B]

There you go. I love Moneyball. Great film. Billy Bean, My Wreck is. You know, I was going to recommend E Fist, but I've talked about that movie enough, so I'm.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I'm kind of half recommending that one. It is good. But I'm recommending a movie. I don't know if this movie is actually good, but it's going to be my staff pick anyway. Little big league from 1994. Now this is like a kids movie, but it's about the Minnesota Twins

[A]

and

[B]

Jason Robards is the owner of the Minnesota Twins and he gives and he dies in the movie and he gives it to his 12 year old grandson to be the owner of the team. And so it's about this little kid who's the owner of the Minnesota Twins. Shot in the Twin Cities. Takes place at the old Metrodome, which was kind of a famous field. And I don't know if this movie's actually good, but I loved it as a kid.

[A]

Well, and weirdly enough, the lead actor in this film, Luke. Luke Edwards.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Today is his birthday.

[B]

That is spooky.

[A]

Happy birthday, Luke Edwards.

[B]

Happy birthday. Happy 46th birthday to Luke Edwards. Anyways, that's our show. Millie, what a great chat. I feel like we really got into it today. We had you. You went off on Dads, which I liked. And then we talked baseball. We talked to Jenny. It was a great, great show.

[A]

Yes, I agree. And if you want to email us for any reason, you can do [e-mail] usually we give out some film advice. If you have a gripe, a grope or a grit, please write in. And again, dear [e-mail] also you can leave us a voicemail that we could play on the show. If you do that, just make sure it's under a minute and email it to the same place. DearMoviesactlyRightMedia.com that's right.

[B]

Please follow us on our socials. Ear Movies I love you on Instagram and Facebook and listen to Dear Movies I love you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and rate and review the show. It helps helps to get the word out there. Millie, what are we talking about next week?

[A]

Let's see. We are watching finally.

[B]

Finally.

[A]

We've been talking about this forever. Is this thing on from 2025, directed

[B]

by Bradley Cooper, Another one of his films. We are gonna cover every film he ever makes and I think this is the one he did some second camera on. Remember we talked about that where he was doing some camera operating but then

[A]

I noticed that he's in it so he couldn't stay away for too long.

[B]

He probably wasn't operating on the scenes that he was in. If I'm guessing.

[A]

It's also the name of a pretty good promise ring song. Have you ever heard that song?

[B]

No, I haven't. Look, I keep thinking the name of this movie is is this on but it's Is this Thing On?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Anyways, I am so excited to talk about this movie because I think it's going to bring out some heightened emotions.

[A]

I bet, I bet. Okay, that's it.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Yeah. See you guys next week.

[B]

Bye. Bye.

[A]

This has been an exactly right production hosted by by me, Millie Dio and produced by my co host Casey o'. Brien.

[B]

This episode was mixed by Tom Bryfogel. Our associate producer is Christina Chamberlain. Our guest booker is Patrick Cotner and our artwork is by Vanessa Lilac.

[A]

Our incredible theme music is by the best band in the entire world, the Softies.

[B]

Thank you to our executive producers Karen Kilgarith, Georgia Hardstark, Daniel Kramer and Millie Di. We, we love you. Goodbye.