Podcast Summary: Dear Movies, I Love You

Episode: Obsessed Fans & The King of Comedy (1982)
Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O'Brien
Date: September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Millie and Casey plunge into the world of obsessive fandom through the lens of Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" (1982). They discuss the film’s place in cinema history, the nuances of celebrity worship, and their own complicated relationships with fandom. The discussion extends to other "obsessive fan" movies, the evolution of celebrity culture, and ends with playful film etiquette debates and recommendations for further viewing.

Key Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter and “Script Reading” Skit

• [01:41] Casey opens with a comedic bit about being cast by "Marty" Scorsese, riffing on obsession and fantasy—a segue into the episode's theme.
  • “You want me to take over for Leonardo DiCaprio in your next feature film? That's insanity…” – Casey ([01:50])
  • Millie gently teases Casey for his "Scorsese call" and pivots the conversation to the episode’s real topic.

2. Fandom and Boundary Issues

• [03:29] The hosts admit to dangling the topic of obsessed fans for a while and are excited to finally dig in.
  • Millie: "Some of our favorites in the micro genre of crazy fans loving crazy celebrities." ([03:44])
  • They anticipate discussing both classic obsessed fan movies and the nuances of modern fandom.

3. Weekly Film Diary

• [07:02] Both admit to not having watched any movies recently, sparking a humorous digression into reality TV (Bravo’s "The Valley") and children’s programming.
  • Millie recounts the "tragedy" of restarting "The Valley," likening it to “Greek tragedy,” and discusses the dark side of reality TV personalities.
  • Casey adds: “Jax is a very evil and dark figure and I think there's something deeply wrong with him and I'm afraid of him.” ([11:22])
  • Lighthearted talk about Teletubbies and the surreal nature of baby television as a coping mechanism or creative inspiration.

4. The Main Discussion: "The King of Comedy" and Obsessed Fan Movies

Fandom as Identity & Boundaries

• [20:01] Casey initiates:
  • “Can you at all relate to the obsessive nature of Rupert Pupkin and Masha? And would you kidnap somebody?” – Casey ([20:59])
  • Millie: "Absolutely not...I literally have not enjoyed anything enough to warrant that level of dedication and passion." ([21:01])
  • Both agree they’ve never let fandom define their identities or pushed obsession to extremes.
  • Millie discusses her fear of rejection as a key factor for not idolizing celebrities: “My brain was always working, like, two steps ahead, being like, what if he doesn't like me and he's mean to me and then I'll not be able to enjoy his work anymore.” ([23:40])

The Evolution of Celebrity Culture

• Both reflect on earlier eras when stars seemed untouchable and mysterious.
• Millie: “Luke Perry is not like me at all. Luke Perry is this gorgeous star that rests in the sky.” ([24:39])
• Casey: “Trish and I talk about that all the time. That there are people waiting for the smallest crumb of success or fame... then all of a sudden they have evolved into full celebrity asshole mode.” ([26:22])
• Social media has made celebrities seem more “of the people,” which brings both positive and negative changes.

"The King of Comedy" – Synopsis & Analysis

• [28:08] Casey summarizes the movie, emphasizing the tragic, delusional nature of De Niro’s Rupert Pupkin and the calculated intensity of Sandra Bernhardt’s Masha ([28:09]–[29:48]).
• Millie delights in the recurring “Rupert Pumpkin” gag and the specific delusions of comedy fans:
  • “There's something like extra delulu about somebody who thinks they're super funny.” ([31:22])
  • Casey: “Just because you're obsessed with comedy doesn't make you funny, you know?” ([30:37])
• Discussion of the film's ambiguities around subjective funniness, audience laughter, and the reality/delusion line:
  • "The brilliance in it is that it’s bullshit. It’s still bullshit—like he’s not super funny. But also the idea that people are canned laughing at him is kind of humiliating..." – Millie ([35:15])

Jerry Lewis and the Old-School Star System

• Millie shares a story of meeting Jerry Lewis ("He was like a star… he was hard to work with from some accounts" [39:27]).
• They contrast disappearing old-school stardom with the contemporary expectation for celebrities to share their “real selves” online:
  • "Now to be a movie star, you're really just kind of put into, like, a social media machine..." – Millie ([42:21])

The Double-Edged Sword of Modern Fandom

• Discussion of celebrity expectation, online stans, and the weird demand for stars (especially K-pop idols) to align with fans’ values:
  • “It's like these K pop fans want to know… how they feel on politics and… every single thing… and break them down to like, molecular…” – Millie ([43:51])
• Complicated feelings about the modern requirement for celebrities to comment on world events ("Is it some sitcom actor's job to be telegraphing to the world their personal and political beliefs at all times?" – Casey [46:42]).

5. Other Obsessive Fan Movies

• Rapid fire recommendations and mentions:
  • "Misery" (1990);
  • "Play Misty for Me" (1971);
  • "Ingrid Goes West" (2017);
  • "Big Fan" (2009).
  • Millie’s personal favorite: "I Think We’re Alone Now" (2008) – documentary on Tiffany superfans. ([55:11])

6. Film Etiquette: Should You Catch Up Your Movie Companion After a Bathroom Break?

• [57:02] Casey asks: Is it your duty to explain missed scenes if your companion leaves for a bathroom break?
  • Millie: "No, I'm like, you're on your own as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to talk to you." ([58:16])
  • Casey is the opposite: "I always...be like, this happened." ([62:05])
  • They humorously debate relationship/friendship obligations and what counts as being “a good partner.”

7. Employees’ Picks

• [63:18] Casey recommends:
  • "Rock ‘n’ Roll High School" (1979): “It is, you know, it’s about fandom. They’re obsessed with the Ramones. But… she doesn’t let being a fan...be her whole identity.”
• [66:50] Millie (in a "reverse recommendation"):
  • "Almost Famous" (2000): She jokingly wishes fewer people loved it so much, but lauds it as a fandom-centered movie. Suggests listening to Cameron Crowe’s recent interview on The Daily: “It's about, like, basically, kind of, our little glimpse into fandom, which is that sometimes it's not good to be around the artists that you like because you will start seeing things you don't want to see.” ([69:42])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's something like extra delulu about somebody who thinks they're super funny… which to me, makes Rupert Pupkin scary…” – Millie ([31:22])
• “Just because you're obsessed with comedy doesn't make you funny, you know?” – Casey ([30:37])
• “Luke Perry is not like me at all. Luke Perry is this gorgeous star that rests in the sky.” – Millie ([24:39])
• “It takes a minute for you to be like, oh, this isn't reality. So the end, it's sort of the same way…” – Casey on the film's reality/delusion ambiguity ([37:34])
• "Now to be a movie star, you're really just kind of put into, like, a social media machine..." – Millie ([42:21])
• “He almost wants to eat Jerry, too, in a different way. That he, like, wants to consume him and become him.” – Casey on Rupert Pupkin’s relationship to Jerry ([50:19])
• “That is such a fudgeing dark world. Is like the fandom world where the fans that create hierarchies between them and other fans.” – Millie ([51:38])

Important Timestamps

• [01:41] Comedic Scorsese skit & transition to main topic
• [03:44] Setting up the "obsessed fan" theme
• [07:02] Film diary/reality TV tangent
• [20:01] Main "King of Comedy" discussion begins
• [28:08] Plot summary of "The King of Comedy"
• [31:22] Dissecting the psychology of fandom and funniness
• [35:15] Analyzing the climactic stand-up set
• [39:27] Millie’s encounter with Jerry Lewis
• [42:21] Debating the death of the "movie star" mystique
• [43:51] Modern fandom and parasocial relationships
• [53:52] Other obsessed fan films
• [57:02] Film etiquette: “should you catch up your friend after a bathroom break?”
• [63:18] Employees’ Picks and hat-collecting confession

Tone and Style

Millie and Casey maintain a playful, candid, and sometimes self-deprecating tone, wrestling the high-minded and ridiculous sides of movie obsession. They mix academic insights, personal anecdotes, and sharp humor—appealing to both passionate cinephiles and casual culture watchers.

Next Episode Teaser

October will be dedicated to horror movies, beginning with an episode on "Midsommar." Millie reveals it will be her first time watching it, promising fresh perspectives and a discussion on the "A24 horror" phenomenon.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Obsession can be fascinating, hilarious, and dangerous—on screen and off.
• “The King of Comedy” remains sharply relevant in our era of blurred lines between celebrity and fan.
• Question your relationship to fandom—don’t let admiration eclipse your own identity.
• Don’t expect Millie to recap plot points if you leave mid-movie.

For more, follow @dearmoviesiloveyou on Instagram and join the ongoing conversation about movie love, etiquette, and fandom.