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Show Time: Predictions for “Ted Lasso” Season 3/Series Finale

It’s hard to believe that a one-off character from a decade-old NBC Sports commercial has completely stolen my heart (and the hearts of millions of other people) and somehow became an acclaimed series along the way.

“Ted Lasso” — the story of an American football coach who moves to England to coach the other type of football (AKA soccer) — has returned for its third and presumably final season. All the creatives have said they wrote and shot this season as though it was their last, and I honestly hope that stays true. I do expect and somewhat hope there will be a spin-off series down the road, but I believe the story of Ted Lasso himself is coming to a close this spring.

As I write this, the first two episodes of Season 3 have already dropped, and the third episode is dropping later tonight. I had hoped to put this together before they aired, but ran out of time. Still, I wanted to have a little fun by sharing my predictions for the next 10 episodes.

WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS!!!

In my predictions, I’ll be going over some tidbits from various trailers and TV spots we’ve gotten already, some set photos from fans who saw them filming certain scenes, and interviews and BTS footage. So, if you don’t even want anything remotely close to spoilers for S3, turn back now!

Also, I don’t pretend that all of these predictions are unique to me. Some of them are, but others are theories/predictions that many in the fandom believe in, and I’m simply one of them.

So, with all this preamble out of the way, let’s dive right into my predictions for the third and final season of “Ted Lasso.”

AFC Richmond

So, before I do really deep dives into the individual characters, I’m going to give a brief overview of how the team itself will do this season.

We saw in 3.02 that the Greyhounds tied their first game at Chelsea and now they’re adding superstar Zava to their ranks. I think in this first third of the season — both the soccer season and S3 — we’ll see Richmond doing really well. This will be thanks to Zava giving the team extra firepower on the field, even if I think there will be drama in the locker room. (I’ll get into that more later.)

However, in the second third of the season, I think Richmond will experience a series of unfortunate events. I think something will happen to Zava — either he’ll leave or he’ll get injured — leaving the team adrift. There’s a shot of the entire team in one of the trailers, and I’m guessing it’s from an episode about halfway through the season, and I didn’t spot Zava among the players. Granted, maybe I missed him, but I think still think there’s a good chance Zava will leave or get injured after a few episodes.

Around this same time, we’ll get Isaac’s suspension. In one trailer, we get a shot of Isaac in the stands accosting someone, and in another shot, we see him in street clothes tapping the ‘Believe’ sign. I’m not sure how long a suspension for fighting a fan would last. It might be through the rest of the season, or it might be only for part of it.

If he’s only suspended for a few months, I think his return could serve as a turning point for Richmond in the final third of the season. Between Isaac returning from his suspension and Nate rejoining the coaching staff (more on that later), Richmond will be a force to be reckoned with — especially if Zava or Jamie also return after being injured. (UPDATE: I rewatched the shot of Isaac fighting the fan, and it appears there’s another Richmond player next to him. I can’t tell if it’s Zava — it might be. It’s possible Zava starts the fight with the fan, Isaac goes into the stands to get him, a fan mouths off to Isaac too and that’s when he accosts the guy. Then, both Zava and Isaac would get suspended — explaining why both of them appear to be missing from the “I love you guys so very much” moment in the main S3 trailer.)

Just like Ted said last season, the middle of the season will be the team’s ‘dark forest.’ Things will look grim between Zava leaving/getting injured, Isaac being suspended, Jamie maybe getting injured too (more on that later), and probably a host of other things.

We know from set photos that Ted & co. travel to Amsterdam in the middle of the season. Not sure whether they’re doing so to play an off-season game or simply as a vacation to regroup from their slump. I don’t think Amsterdam will be a turning point for the team — I think they’ll continue to struggle to some degree after the trip — but it will be a turning point for some of the characters in their individual arcs. (I’ll delve into who/why in the next section.)

So, in the final third of the season, Richmond is going to make a significant comeback thanks to various people returning to the program (Nate, Isaac, Zava?, Jamie?), winning games they should’ve tied and tying games they should’ve lost. Ultimately, they’ll start overachieving and proving all the haters wrong. As they go into their final game, they’ll have a chance to “win the whole fucking thing,” as Ted said in the S1 finale. And, because this is a sports comedy, where the heroes triumph in the end, I believe they will win the championship just as Ted predicted.

But, as we got hints of in the S3 premiere, helping Richmond win a championship will prompt a big change for Ted. Which leads me to my next section:

Ted & Rebecca

I think it’s a no-brainer that the season/series will end with a shot of Ted’s face. S1 opened and closed with Rebecca in her office. S2 opened and closed with shots of Nate on the soccer field (albeit different fields). So, just as S3 opened with a shot of Ted’s face in an airport, I think it’ll close with a shot of Ted’s face, probably at an airport.

From the S3 premiere, it’s clear that part of Ted’s arc this season will be about finding reasons either to return to Kansas or stay in Richmond. If Richmond does win “the whole fucking thing” as Ted and Rebecca hope, I think Ted will feel as though he’s accomplished everything he set out to do. The team will have made history; all the players will be better people than when he first arrived; and Rebecca’s legacy as Richmond’s owner will be cemented.

Between Ted talking about his dad in S2 and S3 opening with Henry visiting Ted, I think it’s safe to say that Ted will feel obligated to return to Kansas and be more active in Henry’s life. He accomplished what he wanted to at Richmond, and now he needs to focus on being a dad.

So, the final scene will be him at the airport. But, I don’t think he’ll be alone.

Whether she catches him at Heathrow before he leaves, or hops on a private jet and meets him in Kansas City, I think Rebecca will convince him not to go. Or… she’ll go with him.

Yes, fam, I think Ted and Rebecca are our endgame couple for “Ted Lasso.” Much of S3 will be focused on building this up. We already had a very significant moment in the premiere, when Rebecca was vulnerable with Ted — something we rarely see from her — and asked him to fight back (for her)!!

Up till now their relationship has been platonic but significant. She’s the one who instantly recognizes his panic attacks in S1 and S2; he defends her from Rupert at the gala and during the darts game; he bakes her biscuits every day; she ‘saves’ him from spending Christmas alone in S2 … There are too many moments to mention.

In any case, I think their relationship will really start to shift after the Amsterdam episode, which will probably be Episode 6 or 7.

ICYMI: The “Ted Lasso” cast and crew filmed scenes in Amsterdam for this season, which is significant because the creators came up with the character of Ted Lasso in Amsterdam. So, needless to say, when the show “Ted Lasso” returns to the character’s “birthplace,” it’s going to be for some serious stuff.

So, leading into the Amsterdam episode, Ted and Rebecca will keep doing their usual stuff. They’ll have more significant interactions, but they’ll remain platonic. I think Amsterdam will be where one or both of them realize they have feelings for the other. (I’m putting my money on Rebecca realizing she likes Ted first.)

Anyway, this revelation will complicate their relationship through the remainder of the season/series. But, when Ted announces that he intends to return to Kansas after the final game, he and Rebecca will have an honest conversation about how they feel.

Before S3 premiered, I predicted on social media that Rebecca would go back to Kansas with Ted, and I do still see that as a genuine possibility. But, after seeing Episodes 1 and 2, I think it’s more likely that Rebecca will convince Ted to stay in England … at least for a while. Maybe they’ll go to Kansas together some day, but they’ll want to spend some time as a couple first.

Either way, I think the season has to end with Ted giving up his coaching gig. Whether it’s because he intends to return to Kansas or because he’s now dating the team’s owner, he can’t stay AFC Richmond’s coach.

Before I jump into who I think will succeed Ted as head coach, I wanted to touch on a few other predictions I have for Ted and Rebecca individually in S3:

  • By the end of the season, Ted will have some legit soccer knowledge. Up to now, he was mostly coasting on charm and the people around him. He let them focus on the strategies, lineups, techniques, play calls, etc., and he worried more about the team dynamics and morale. But, I think by the end of the season, Ted will come into his own as a proper soccer coach. Maybe he won’t be as smart as Nate or Roy, but he’ll be much, much better than he was in S1-2. We’ve already seen glimpses with him saying that he and Henry played a lot of FIFA video games over the summer, and him starting to read Beard’s soccer book.
  • Ted will continue his therapy sessions with Dr. Sharon, and he’ll have a lot of insecurities about his ex-wife moving on while he’s still processing their divorce. He’ll also continue exploring his role as a father, as I said earlier, wanting to return to Kansas to be more active in Henry’s life.
  • Based on set photos, we know Ted’s mom comes to visit him. I predict this will be either in the penultimate episode and/or the finale. I think Ted’s mom will help him realize what he wants to do once he’s accomplished everything at Richmond, and where he needs to go next. I also just generally think Rebecca meeting Ted’s mom is going to be hilarious — just like Ted meeting her mom was.
  • Rebecca will have a confrontation with her mother, and a separate one with Sassy. Both of them have been less-than-ideal influences in her life, and she needs to either set boundaries or cut ties completely. I think she may divulge to Sassy that she has feelings for Ted, which could lead to a major argument between them.
  • This one might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s possible that Rebecca will have a realization about Ted needing to go back to Henry based on her experiences with Nora. Rebecca disappeared from Nora’s life for six years, so much so that when she started spending time with her again, Nora was completely different from the little girl she remembered. When Ted shares with Rebecca how he feels he needs to return to Kansas to be there for Henry, Rebecca might be able to relate (on a smaller scale) based on her experiences with Nora.
  • Rebecca will ultimately triumph over Rupert. Not sure exactly what form it’ll take (maybe she’ll find out he’s cheating on his current wife Bex and spill the beans?), but there’s no doubt in my mind Rebecca will have the last laugh against Rupert.

OK. Now that we’ve addressed our two leads, let’s move onto the other couple on this show:

Roy & Keeley

I think it’s pretty obvious that Roy and Keeley are getting back together. I just think that Roy needs to grow a lot first.

We’ve seen hints at this in the first two episodes — the remark about how he needs to surrender to the earth, and the later conversation about him preferring to end things on his own terms rather than letting things play out (ie, quitting over being fired). Roy has a lot of growing to do personally before he can be in a relationship with anyone.

I do think Roy and Ms. Bowen, Phoebe’s (former?) teacher, might go out on a few dates. They set up in S2 that she might have a crush on him, but I think it’ll ultimately be a stepping stone to help him get back together with Keeley. Maybe he realizes that, as nice as Ms. Bowen is, she’s not Keeley. And as Roy told Rebecca last season, “You deserve to be with someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by fucking lightning! Don’t you dare settle for fine!” I think that moment will come back around, likely with Rebecca repeating the line back to him.

As for Keeley, her subplot has been the least interesting part of Season 3 for me thus far. It’s not terrible, but it’s not really grabbing me either. During my rewatches, I’ve just skipped those scenes. I think, generally, Keeley will step into that ‘boss’ role. She’s going to take pages from Ted and Rebecca’s books and learn how to motivate people and create good team chemistry. She’ll help break her coworkers out of their stuffy molds and really liven up the place, just like Ted did at Richmond. I also think she’ll channel Rebecca and help her friend become the next Keeley.

So, earlier I said that Ted will ultimately resign as Richmond’s head coach, and I could see Roy succeeding Ted. I don’t think it’s a certainty — because there’s another candidate out there — but I do think it’s a strong possibility. Roy started out the series as a past-his-prime footballer who thought Ted was a joke and hated everything Ted tried to do when he first came to Richmond. So, having Roy succeed Ted and continue that work at Richmond would be a great way to end his arc.

I’ve seen a few people theorizing that Beard will take over after Ted, but I honestly think Roy makes more sense. He has more cred as a former footballer, and the fans already love him. While Ted will plan to leave England, I think Beard will choose to stay at Richmond as an assistant for Roy … or for the other possible candidate to replace Ted:

Nate

Yes, I think it’s pretty obvious Nate isn’t going to stay on ‘the dark side’ forever. He is the Anakin Skywalker to Rupert’s Emperor Palpatine, so it’s only a matter of time before Nate reconciles with Ted and returns to ‘the good side.’

There’s a lot to unpack with Nate, but his arc will ultimately boil down to his relationship with Ted and his relationship with Rupert. He’ll see Rupert for the snake he really is and second-guess all his assumptions and criticisms about Ted.

Right now, Rupert is using Nate as a pawn in his grand game against Rebecca and Ted. It’s possible Nate senses this, but doesn’t care because he likes having Rupert’s approval and the power that comes with being a football club manager (rather than an assistant coach or a kit man).

But, I think we’ll soon see that Nate isn’t prepared to be a head coach, and that he’s the exact opposite of Ted.

Ted is very open with his players, creating a good sense of teamwork and collaboration among his staff. Even just walking into the training facilities, he has good banter and friendly greetings for all his coworkers. His office is on the ground floor, right next to the locker rooms. He also shares the office with Beard, and the door between their office and Roy’s is frequently open. He’s rarely on his phone, and doesn’t seem to use social media very much.

Meanwhile, in the few scenes we’ve had at West Ham, Nate’s been very demeaning toward his players, and doesn’t seem to have any rapport with his fellow coaches. In the season premiere, when he arrives at West Ham, he doesn’t respond at all to the staffer who tells him “hello.” His office is on the second or third floor, secluded and isolated. It’s away from the locker rooms, likely on a floor of other offices. But we don’t see any other coaches visiting Nate or vice versa. Also, Nate is constantly on his phone, checking social media.

Ultimately, Nate will find out the hard way just what it takes to be a successful coach. Unlike Ted, who seemingly lets criticism roll right off his back, Nate can’t let things go. The pressure will get to him and West Ham, specifically Rupert.

I think, in the latter half of the season, there will be a confrontation between Rupert and Nate. Rupert will be lashing out at Nate, feeling that he’s destroying West Ham. And it’ll become clear to Nate that Rupert was just using him and that he never believed in him the way Ted did.

We know from the trailers that Richmond will likely win or tie at West Ham, causing Nate to be absolutely furious with his team; and that later, Ted and Henry attend a West Ham game (probably while Henry’s visiting over fall/Thanksgiving/Christmas break).

I think I saw someone theorize that Henry will ask for Nate’s autograph and inadvertently tell Nate about Ted having Nate’s picture on his dresser at home. I don’t know about that specifically, but I think there will be a moment midseason that will force Nate to rethink how he treated Ted and whether leaving Richmond was the right thing. And, considering how Henry was a big advocate for Nate’s little Lego man rejoining Richmond in the S3 premiere, I think it’s possible Henry will be a catalyst for Nate rethinking his relationship with Ted.

Anyway, after all this, I think we’ll have the confrontation between Nate and Rupert, and that will be the final straw for the ‘fallen from grace’ coach. Nate will realize he shouldn’t have left Richmond. He’ll regret everything he said to Ted, prompting him to reconcile with his former mentor. Not only will Ted forgive him, but he’ll also probably offer him his job back.

This will probably be in the last 2-4 episodes of the season, and I think Nate coming back to Richmond for the final few games will be a major turning point for the team. If Richmond is going to win the whole fucking thing, as Ted predicted in the S1 finale, then Nate returning will have to be part of that.

Now, by the season finale, when Ted announces that he plans to leave Richmond, it is possible that he’ll choose Nate to succeed him as head coach. Seeing this wimpy kit man who was constantly bullied by the team becoming Richmond’s head coach, and seeing the man Ted dubbed “Nate the Great” who fell to the ‘dark side’ but came back to help Richmond to victory, would also be a satisfying conclusion to Nate’s arc.

But, in my personal opinion, I think it’d be best for Nate and everyone else if he leaves for another program — but with Ted & company’s blessing this time. I think he’ll realize that staying at Richmond would be too awkward with Ted leaving, as he might feel out-of-place coaching alongside Roy and Beard. It’s also likely that he’ll feel like he’s “outgrown” Richmond (in a good way) and that he needs to move on and do his own thing. Maybe he’ll decide to coach elsewhere in Europe — hell, maybe he’ll even go to the United States. (Wouldn’t that be hilarious?!)

Also, just like Rebecca, Nate needs to have some kind of ‘come to Jesus’ moment with his parents, specifically his dad. Nate’s relationship with his dad is the driving force behind his insecurities. His father doesn’t give Nate the time of day, so when Ted did, Nate picked Ted as a replacement father-figure. So, for the audience to feel like Nate’s fully matured from the awkward kit man we met in S1, he really needs to address his problems with his dad and with Ted.

Honestly, I think Nate’s reconciliation with Ted in the latter half of the season is going to be the most emotional moment in the show up to that point. Although, I do think the final Ted/Rebecca scene is going to top even that.

The Supporting Cast

This section shouldn’t take long, as I don’t have a lot of confident predictions for Beard, Higgins or the Richmond players.

As I said, I think Beard will stay in England as an assistant when Ted announces he’s going back to Kansas.

For Higgins, I think he’ll come into his own more by the end of the show. He was introduced as this very second-fiddle, butt-of-the-joke sort of character, but he’s really grown into someone who’s less awkward and more accepted by the Richmond players and staff. I think he’ll continue that trajectory, likely with some big promotion or recognition, but I’m not sure what. I saw one prediction that, when Rebecca goes back to Kansas with Ted, she’ll leave Richmond to Higgins. I like that idea on paper, but I don’t know how it’d work in execution. Owners need a lot of money to keep their team at the top of the league, and Higgins doesn’t seem to have that money. Although, I guess if Rebecca just gives him the team, he’ll start getting all those incomes (especially if they win the championship) without having to pay anything for it. But, that’s more of an idea that’s floating around, not a solid theory I’m putting forward.

Now, moving to the players: With Zava joining Richmond, this should kick off a nice little arc for Jamie. He’ll really come to terms with his role on the team — he’s not used to sharing the spotlight with someone equally gifted and equally cocky. Zava will challenge that status quo, and the two will likely butt heads.

If I were writing Jamie’s arc for S3, I’d have him get injured and be sidelined for a good chunk of the season. It wouldn’t be a career-ending injury, but it’d serve as a wake-up call that he’ll soon be where Roy was in S1 — at the end of his footballer career. I want to see Jamie develop an “after football” career plan — whether that’s becoming a pundit, a coach or something else. This would show how much he’s grown and how he’s not so egotistical that he thinks he’ll play forever.

I also think we’ll have another appearance from Jamie’s dad, and I think we’ll see Jamie and Roy becoming better friends in S3. Jamie won’t be tempted to hit on Keeley anymore, despite her and Roy breaking up. Ideally, I think Jamie will get a love interest in the latter half of the season, just to show how he’s moved on from Keeley and reaffirming to the audience that the Roy-Keeley-Jamie love triangle is definitely over.

I don’t have major predictions for the other players, though. Like Jamie, I hope Sam gets a nice love interest to show the audience that he’s moved on from Rebecca.

Additionally, once Isaac gets suspended for fighting, we see Sam wearing the captain band in the trailer, signifying how much of a leader he’s become on the team. To be honest, I think Sam is poised to become a franchise player at Richmond. If he didn’t leave in S2 to play for Morocco, I don’t think he’s going to leave at all. Maybe he’ll have enough money/stability to bring his family to the UK, and help him run his restaurant?

Finally, I’ll just briefly mention Colin. I’ve said on Twitter that Colin has consistently been the butt of the joke through S1-2. Of Nate’s three original bullies, we’ve seen tremendous growth from Jamie and Isaac. Now, S3 will be Colin’s turn. I think he’ll come into his own as a Richmond player. Someone predicted he could get into a serious car accident, possibly as a suicide attempt. I don’t think the show will go quite that dark, but I do think Colin will get some serious screen time in S3. After everything Nate did to him in S2, he needs to prove his worth to all the naysayers, like the nun he mentioned in the S3 premiere.

Anyway, I’ve been throwing a lot of predictions at you in this post. So, here’s a recap of the MAJOR ones:

TL;DR

  • Roy and Keeley get back together, possibly getting engaged.
  • Richmond wins “the whole fucking thing.”
  • Ted announces he’s leaving Richmond to return to Kansas and be with his son.
  • Roy will take over as head coach.
  • Beard will stay on as an assistant to Roy.
  • Nate will leave West Ham, reconcile with Ted & co., help Richmond win the championship, but then leave to coach another franchise (not Richmond or West Ham).
  • Ted and Rebecca have a scene at the airport, where she decides to go with him OR she convinces him to stay. And that’s the final scene of the show — Ted and Rebecca at the airport.

Miscellaneous/’Just For Fun’ Predictions

I thought of a couple of other random things while putting together this post. Most of these are random one-off predictions, but here ya go:

  • When Richmond plays at West Ham in a few episodes, Zava is going to help Richmond win or tie. This will really piss off Nate and Rupert, who wanted so badly to beat Richmond with Zava on their team. (Callback to the most recent episode.)
  • Ted will finally learn the offside rule and make a legit argument about it in a game, probably the finale. (This will be an inverse of the S1 finale.)
  • Rebecca will be wearing red in her final scene, and Ted will be wearing blue. (This is a Wizard of Oz reference. Rebecca=ruby slippers/way home; Ted=Dorothy)
  • With Ted leaving Richmond, I believe Roy will take Ted’s spot in The Diamond Dogs. However, I think Ted will dub Higgins as the leader of The Diamond Dogs in his stead, as Higgins is the best fit personality-wise. I also think Will will take Nate’s old spot. So the final set of Diamond Dogs will be: Higgins, Roy, Beard and Will. (Callback to various things.)
  • EDIT: We will also get another reference to Roy’s “yoga moms” group in S3. We’ve had at least one in S1 and S2, so I imagine we’ll either get another reference or scene with them this season. It’s possible he’ll introduce Jamie to them, but more likely we’ll get a scene where they tell Roy they always knew he was a famous footballer and just never said anything. Roy did say in S1 that they had no idea who he was, but I have a hard time believing someone in England wouldn’t recognize a famous footballer. I mean, would a group of yoga moms in the United States not recognize … I don’t know, Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes? Even if they didn’t recognize his face, wouldn’t they have heard his name somewhere? Anyway, I just think it’d be fun to see them again. (Callback to multiple episodes.)
  • We will learn the identity of the high-scorer of the Crown & Anchor’s Wizard of Oz pinball machine. (Callback to the S2 episode where Ted’s playing pinball.)
  • Trent’s book will have a pun in the main title, like “Better off Ted” or something like that. (This is just generally obvious based on all the headlines we’ve seen in this show, but I think Keeley said something in S1 about the power of rhymes and puns in England.)
  • “New Rebecca” (AKA Bex) will divorce Rupert after she realizes what a manipulative asshole Rupert is, just as Rebecca did. NGL, Rupert is probably going to cheat on Bex just like he did with Rebecca. (This seems obvious to me.)
  • We will get at least one more scene of Higgins playing upright bass. (A bit random, but we’ve gotten one scene like this every season thus far. *shrugs*)
  • Similarly, I think we’ll get another scene of someone spelling out “Hi” on the ground with objects/people. (Again, we’ve gotten one instance in every season so far.)
  • Colin will start dating someone he met off Bantr. (As I said earlier, Colin’s been the butt of the joke for long enough, and he deserves a happy ending. Him finding someone on Bantr, the company that sponsors his team, would be hilarious.)
  • We will get at least one scene at Sam’s new restaurant. (After I wrote this, I realized there’s a shot in one of the trailers where it looks like the players are at a restaurant. So, yeah, this is basically already confirmed.)
  • The flight attendant lady who took Henry to his plane will appear again in the finale, probably when Ted is trying to board his flight. (Callback to S3 premiere)
  • Beard and Jane will still be doing their on-again-off-again thing in the finale. I honestly don’t think the guy is ever going to leave her for real. If he was going to, he would’ve done it by now. Hell, maybe they’ll be talking about getting engaged/married by the finale. (IDK. Seems obvious.)
  • The Pub Guys will get Richmond/Ted Lasso tattoos. (Callback to earlier episode.)
  • Ted will call someone a wanker — probably the old guy he sees outside the pub who calls him a wanker. (IDK. I feel like he’s got to do it at some point.)
  • Once word gets out that Ted is leaving Richmond, he’ll get an offer to coach at another English soccer club. (Reference to the second “Ted Lasso” commercial from NBC Sports.)
  • UPDATE: We will definitely get a third “confession” moment between Rebecca and Ted in Ted’s office, mirroring when she confessed why she hired him in S1 and when she told him about Sam in S2. Ted himself already set this up last season, with him and Rebecca saying they’d reconvene at the same time, same place in S3. This will be the penultimate episode (3.11), and I imagine that Rebecca’s big confession will be that she has feelings for Ted. Now, I see one of two scenarios happening:
    • 1) Rebecca will make her confession to Ted, as scheduled, and he’ll tell her that he’s decided to go back to Kansas after the final game, causing both of them to reevaluate their decisions over the next two episodes.
    • 2) Rebecca will plan to tell Ted that she’s in love with him, but he’ll interrupt her and tell her about his plans to return to Kansas. Thus, Rebecca will decide not to tell him then and there, prompting her to do a romcom-style airport run in the finale, so she can confess her feelings before he leaves.

Alright, fam, thanks for sticking to the end of this post! I look forward to the remaining 10 episodes and sending this show out in style. Let’s go, Richmond!

Articles, Review, Show Time

Movie Madness 2023: Selection Sunday Announcement

It’s hard to believe this will be our fourth Movie Madness tournament. Didn’t we just start this thing, like, yesterday?

In case you missed it, in 2020, because the post-season college basketball tournaments were canceled, I thought, “What better way to keep the crazy competitiveness of March alive than with a movie tournament?”

So, I introduced Corinne’s Movie Madness.

A special thank you to Brad for the excellent graphic!

Just like the basketball tournaments, we had a field of competitors facing off in one-on-one competitions. You, the Reel Nerds fans, decided which of the two movies in a given match-up advanced to the next round, and eventually crowned The Princess Bride as Movie Madness 2020’s champion.

In 2021, I got my fellow Nerds involved in a Disney/Pixar Animation tournament. Of all the amazing 16 movies, I’m happy to say my No. 1 seed, Beauty & The Beast (1991), won the 2021 crown. Then, last year, we did DC vs. Marvel and Logan came out on top of the 16-film bracket.

This March, we’re finally tapping into the origins of Movie Madness with a sports movie tournament!

The competitors and bracket mechanics

Unlike the NCAA basketball tournaments, this one is very selective. Only 16 films qualify for a coveted spot on the bracket. No doubt you’re wondering exactly how I picked 16 films out of hundreds of sports movies.

Well, first, shout out to Brad for giving me the idea for this year’s theme. I had a couple of ideas in February, but after talking to some of the other Nerds, I realized a sports movie bracket would be perfect! I’m honestly surprised I haven’t done one yet. I practically grew up on sports movies, as there were tons that came out in the 90s and early 2000s.

So, that’s where I started building this year’s bracket. I decided that, to qualify, the movie had to come out in my lifetime — 1990 or later. I realize this excludes a ton of sports movies, including very beloved ones like Rocky, Field of Dreams and Hoosiers, but I had to start somewhere. It’s possible I might put together a pre-1990 sports movie tournament in the future.

I also decided to exclude any movies that involved animals (Air Bud, Seabiscuit, etc.), and required that the movie’s main character (or co-main character) has to coach or play the given sport. So, movies where the main character is only a fan, a parent, an agent or the team’s owner don’t qualify.

So, with those criteria, I started asking my fellow Nerds and other friends what their favorite post-1990 sports movies were. Based on their suggestions and some of my own favorites, I compiled a bracket of 16 films.

I decided to create the “regions” based on what time of year the sports depicted are typically played. For example: basketball movies in the winter sports, baseball in the spring sports, etc. I know soccer/futbol is played all over the world at various times of year, so I decided to go with the season when the local college plays it — fall. I also combined year-round sports and summer sports into one category.

Then, once I figured out which region/category the movies would start in, I selected the first-round matchups based on the sports and/or the tone of the movie. Some are more comedic, so I tried to pair them up with other sports-comedies. Same thing with sports-dramas.

Thus, because of the weird formatting, we’re not doing “seeds” or rankings for each movie this year. It would’ve complicated things much more than necessary.

How you participate

Just like the college basketball tournament, Movie Madness will start Thursday, March 16!

That day, we will post the first match-up on the Reel Nerds’ Twitter page so you can cast your vote! Simple as that.

For instance, March 16 will feature our first Winter Sports matchup; whichever movie receives more votes by the time the poll ends will advance to the next round. (If there happens to be a tie, I’ll cast the deciding vote.)

Eight days later, we will advance to the second-round match-ups, and the procedure will be the same until a movie is crowned the winner. If I’m counting right, our championship matchup should be on March 30.

Announcing the field

Here is your full field:

  • Thursday, March 16: Cool Runnings vs. Space Jam. Who knew winter sports could be so… looney? Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the Jamaican bobsled team making its debut in the 1988 Winter Olympics. While Space Jam is the “true story” of basketball legend Michael Jordan deciding to play professional baseball, only for the Looney Tunes to convince him that basketball is where his real talent lies.
  • Friday, March 17: Miracle vs. Hustle. Both sports-dramas, Miracle is based on the true story of the U.S. hockey team overcoming its underdog status in the 1980 Winter Olympics; while, Hustle is a recent Netflix movie featuring Adam Sandler as a pro basketball scout who puts his career on the line to train a complete unknown for the NBA combine/draft.
  • Saturday, March 18: A League of Their Own vs. 42. Both dramatic retellings of true stories, ALOTO shows women playing professional baseball during World War II and 42 portrays Jackie Robinson’s role in breaking baseball’s color barrier.
  • Sunday, March 19: Angels in the Outfield vs. The Sandlot. Both childhood classics of mine, each film examines what happens when the impossible becomes the possible, when the imaginary becomes reality on the baseball field. Angels in the Outfield is about the titular professional baseball team receiving some divine intervention, and The Sandlot is about a group of boys who spend their summers growing and learning together on the field.
  • Monday, March 20: Ford V. Ferrari vs. Creed. Both more dramatic sports movies, Ford V. Ferrari is based on the real-life racing rivalry, and Creed — a sequel to the Rocky franchise — shows Apollo Creed’s son picking up his father’s gloves and stepping into the boxing ring.
  • Tuesday, March 21: Happy Gilmore vs. Talladega Nights. Both insanely funny sports-comedies, Happy Gilmore is what happens when a NHL reject takes up professional golfing, and Talladega Nights is about Ricky Bobby’s journey to regain his racing mojo.
  • Wednesday, March 22: The Big Green vs. Bend It Like Beckham. These soccer comedies are what happen when your imagination runs away with you on the field. The Big Green shows a small Texas town forming its first-ever youth soccer team, while Bend It Like Beckham is a coming-of-age story about a Punjabi-British girl’s desire to play soccer despite her family’s objections.
  • Thursday, March 23: Remember the Titans vs. Rudy. These football dramas show the true power of real-life underdog stories. Remember the Titans depicts the titular players having to overcome their racial prejudices when their Virginia high schools integrate, while Rudy‘s the story of an underdog who dreams of playing football at Notre Dame.

Thus, on Friday, March 24, we will start the second round and on March 30, we will have our championship showdown.

Which sports movie will take home the 2023 Movie Madness Trophy? Which Cinderella story will take the crown? Which set of underdogs will triumph in the end?

You decide!

Articles, Review, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 126, Penny Serenade (1941)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

126. Penny Serenade (1941) Directed by George Stevens

The Movie: Julie Gardiner (Irene Dunne) reflects on her life as she listens to “Penny Serenade”.  Julie remembers the night she meet charming news reporter Roger Adams (Cary Grant). The two meet on a snow dusted New Year’s Eve and their whirlwind marriage. Julie and Roger continue their romance on his train to San Francisco.

Roger is sent to Tokyo and Julie soon joins him. Julie is pregnant and excited to spend the time with Roger. Tragedy strikes however as an earthquake rocks Tokyo. Julie loses her unborn child and her and Roger return to San Francisco.

Julie is informed by her friend Applejack (Edgar Buchanan) that her and Roger should adopt a child. Roger, meanwhile is struggling to keep his newspaper afloat, Julie focuses on a nursery for an impending arrival of a child.

Julie and Roger apply for a child, a two-year-old boy. The director of the adoption agency Miss Oliver (Beulah Bondi) and informs Roger and Julie that a five-week-old girl is available. Roger is not so sure as he wanted a boy, but when he sees the young girl he falls in love with her.

Roger and Julie are put on a one year probation for the child, where they must prove to be fit parents. During the year, Roger has lost his newspaper and does not have a stable income. Roger is told that the law will not allow him to keep his daughter. Roger makes an impassioned plea to the judge over seeing their adoption. Julie and Roger are granted custody of their daughter, Trina.

The years go by and the family continues to experience love and fulfillment. One Christmas, Julie and Roger are told that although Trina is too young to play an angel in a play, she is given the role of “echo” and they beam with pride.

Tragedy strikes the Adams’ again as in a letter to Miss Oliver, Julie informs her that Trina has died, and Roger is in the midst of a depression. Julie believes that she might be the reason and plans on leaving Roger. As Julie is about to leave, they receive another phone call from Miss Oliver. Miss Oliver informs that a two-year-old has become available. Julie and Roger decide to adopt the child and rebuild their family.

Why I Love Penny Serenade (1941): First and foremost, any film with both Cary Grant and Irene Dunne is guaranteed to be a winner (see my list, much later). Also. It is a legitimate tear jerker, which the stars deliver the goods. Grant’s plea with the judge is a highlight, in fact Grant would say this film is his best performance and he was nominated and robbed of an Academy Award. This was his first nomination.

Irene Dunne is so lovely in the film. She too loves the film as she said it reminds her of her adopted daughter.

George Stevens once again proves he is underappreciated director. He keeps the melodrama from being too wrought with clean cuts and smooth camera movements.

The use of music in the film is genius, and Dunne’s Julie reflecting on the music to high and low points of her life is pure joy and heartbreak.

Penny Serenade is a masterclass in great acting, beautifully told with charming leads and stellar direction.

Articles, Review, Show Time

Show Time: A Statistical Recap of Filmsplosion 2022

Well, it’s been several weeks since Filmsplosion 2022 came out. Have you finished listening to it yet? If not, don’t read the rest of this post, as we’ll be looking at all the Nerds’ Top 10 lists.

So, in putting this together, I basically assigned every movie a scored based on where it was on a Nerd’s list. If it was their #1 film, I gave it 10 points; if #2, 9 points; and so on until our #10 films received 1 point each. If it was one of the eight films that appeared on more than one list, then it has a combined score.

(In case you forgot, I did this for Filmsplosion 2019, Filmsplosion 2020, and Filmsplosion 2021.)

Now, we’ll get to which of the eight movies had the highest average score, but first, we’ll look at the movies that scored the highest overall.

So, here are the HIGHEST SCORED MOVIES of Filmsplosion 2021:

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – 42 points (a record high)
  2. Glass Onion – 30
  3. The Batman – 29
  4. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – 18
  5. Everything Everywhere All At Once – 13
  6. Pearl – 12
  7. Belle – 10*

The asterisk denotes that Belle only appeared on my list. The two other movies that appeared on multiple lists, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On and RRR, had 9 and 8 points, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, if we look at these films’ average scores (total score divided by number of lists it appeared on), it doesn’t look all that different.

So, THE AVERAGE SCORES for the eight films that appear on multiple lists are:

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – 8.4
  2. Glass Onion – 7.5
  3. The Batman – 7.25
  4. Everything Everywhere All At Once – 6.5
  5. TIE: Pearl and Weird – 6

Of the 10 highest-grossing movies of 2022, in terms of domestic box office, two of them appeared on multiple lists (Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman) and one of them appeared on just my list (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Looking at 11-20 at the 2021 domestic box office, three more appear in Filmsplosion 2022 (Elvis, Uncharted and Nope).

One more thing I wanted to examine is how our selected films break down by genre. How many action movies do we have? How many dramas? Super-hero flicks? etc.

So, for this assessment, I went by each film’s most basic genre. Our choices are: animation, action, comedy, drama, horror and superhero. No documentaries in the running this year, although that has been a category in the past.

I’m generalizing which category it’s in based on my own experience in either seeing the movie or watching the trailer, and most were pretty straightforward to categorize. In the few cases where I was uncertain, I went by which genre was listed first on its IMDB page.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the BREAKDOWN OF THE FILMSPLOSION LISTS BY GENRE:

  1. Drama (9)
  2. Comedy (7)
  3. TIE – Action and Horror (5)
  4. Animation (4)
  5. Superhero (2)

Dramas lead for the fourth consecutive year, and Comedies took silver again this year after getting bumped off the podium last year. Horror did much worse after coming in second last year, and surprisingly, Animation beat out Superheroes! The only other time that’s happened was 2020, when hardly any superhero movies came out.

I do find it interesting that only two Superhero movies were on our lists at all – The Batman and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The guys all had Batman of course, and I was the sole BPWF entrant and even that was a last-minute decision.

After reigning supreme for so many years, the MCU has definitely taken a tumble in our esteem, it seems. No Multiverse of Madness from Ryan and no Thor: Love & Thunder from anyone… which, sadly makes a lot of sense. We’ll see if Superhero does better at Filmsplosion 2023, as we’ve got Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, Shazam 2, The Flash and others dropping this year.

Anyway, thanks to Brad, I put all the Nerds’ Filmsplosion lists below so you can see for yourselves which genre I categorized each movie as.

Give the lists a look, in case you forgot what everyone picked. I also think looking over everyone’s lists by genre is very interesting, as you can see some Nerds lean more on one genre than others. Again, not a bad thing — just something to take note of.

Zach

  1. Everything Everywhere All At Once – drama
  2. Nope – horror
  3. The Fabelmans – drama
  4. Pearl – horror
  5. Halloween Ends – horror
  6. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – animation
  7. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  8. The Batman – superhero
  9. X – horror
  10. Elvis – drama

Ryan

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  2. Weird – comedy
  3. Prey – action
  4. The Batman – superhero
  5. Glass Onion – comedy
  6. Pearl – horror
  7. Tar – drama
  8. (Guillermo Del Toro’s) Pinocchio – animation
  9. Hustle – drama
  10. Barbarian – horror

James

  1. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  2. The Batman – superhero
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. Prey – action
  5. See How They Run – comedy
  6. The Banshees of Inisherin – drama
  7. Thirteen Lives – drama
  8. Weird – comedy
  9. Uncharted – action
  10. RRR – action

Corinne

  1. Belle – animation
  2. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – animation
  5. Hadestown – stage show
  6. Operation Mincemeat – drama
  7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – superhero
  8. Everything Everywhere All At Once – drama
  9. Stadium Fluffy – comedy
  10. Spirited – comedy

Brad

  1. The Batman – superhero
  2. Top Gun: Maverick – action
  3. Glass Onion – comedy
  4. RRR – action
  5. Weird – comedy
  6. New York Ninja – action
  7. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – animation
  8. CODA – drama
  9. Clerks III – comedy
  10. #ShakespeareShitstorm – comedy

Well, that’s all I got, folks. Hope you enjoyed this statistical breakdown of the 2022 Filmsplosion episode! 🙂

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 128-The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

128. The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984) Directed by Carolyn Raskin

The Movie: Join Rock ‘n’ Roll Superstar Rod Stewart as he performs in front of a sellout crowd in San Diego in 1984! Also included a mini Rod Stewart documentary that features Jeff Beck!

Set List:

Scotland the Brave/Infatuation/Bad For You/Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)/I Don’t Want to Talk About It/She Won’t Dance With Me/Hot Legs/You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)/Baby Jane/(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay/Young Turks/Passion/Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?/Maggie May/Some Guys Have All The Luck/Stay With Me/We’ll Meet Again

Why I Love The Rod Stewart Concert Video (1984): I have told this story many times, but this was my first memory of listening to and loving Rod Stewart. My dad was working on something in his garage and my brothers and I were most likely driving him crazy.

My dad sent us downstairs with his bootlegged copy of The Rod Stewart Concert Video and told us to pick our favorite song and let him know.

When Rod came out in a hot pink suit, canary yellow shirt and Ray Bans, singing “Infatuation” I was hooked. I ran upstairs and told my dad the first song was my favorite. My dad told me I had to watch the the whole concert. I did. Over and over again. And a life long obsession was born.

But forget all that and the heavily edited songs, seriously during “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” Stewart goes from being on the ground to instantly back up singing the final verse, it is awesome watching Stewart in his prime. He runs, jumps, spins, shimmies, and pours his heart out for the entire runtime.

There is no better introduction to the awesomeness of Rod Stewart than this grainy, but totally radical concert video.

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 130, Dracula (1931)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

130. Dracula (1931) Directed by Tod Browning

The Movie: Renfield (Dwight Frye) is on his way to Count Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania. He is a solicitor who requires the Count’s signature on a lease for a property on England, Carfax Abbey. Before he arrives at the Count’s castle he is warned by the villagers that a vampire lives there and not to go. Renfield ignores these warnings and proceeds to the Castle. On his voyage there, Renfield sticks his head out of the carriage to tell the driver to slow down, the driver is gone and the horses are being lead by a bat!

Renfield meets the charming Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and they discuss his lease over dinner. Dracula tells Renfield that he intends to travel to Carfax Abbey the next day. Renfield is soon under Dracula’s spell through hypnosis, and when Dracula’s Brides appear, he orders them away and attacks Renfield.

Renfield (and Dracula in a coffin) travel by the schooner Vesta to England. On the voyage there, Dracula feeds on the crew, killing them all. When the ship arrives at England, Renfield is the only survivor who is now a lunatic under Dracula’s control. Renfield is taken to a Sanatorium run by Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston), that just so happens to be adjoining to Carfax Abbey.

Later at a London theatre, Dracula meets Seward, his daughter Mina (Helen Chandler), her fiancé John Harker (David Manners) and her friend Lucy (Frances Dade). Lucy is smitten with Dracula. Dracula enters Lucy’s room later that night and drains her blood. Lucy is seen by doctors the next day as she appears to be quite ill. Lucy perishes despite the fact she was given multiple blood transfusions.

Renfield, meanwhile is eating bugs and insects at the sanatorium, which gets the attention of Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), who after analyzing his blood talks to Renfield about vampires. Renfield pleads with Seward to send him away. Renfield is soon called by Dracula through a wolf howl, which is interrupted by Van Helsing showing him wolfsbane, which he claims will protect him from vampires.

Dracula next sets his sights on Mina and bites her that night. Later that evening, Dracula stops by to visit Van Helsing and John. They notice the Count does not have a reflection. Van Helsing informs Dracula that he does not have a reflection and Dracula smashes the mirror and flees. Van Helsing is certain that Dracula is the vampire responsible for the attacks and deduces something must be done.

Mina leaves her room for the garden, where Dracula strikes. Mina is rescued by the maid. Mina, although weak the following morning reads stories in the newspapers about a woman in white, luring children out at night and biting them. Mina recognizes the woman as Lucy. Harker pleads with Van Helsing to let him take Mina to London, but Van Helsing orders Mina to stay under the watch of a nurse and with wolfsbane around her neck.

Dracula returns to the Seward home and confronts Van Helsing. Dracula informs him that Mina is now his and warns Van Helsing to leave. Van Helsing refuses and Dracula attempts to hypnotize him to no avail. Dracula lunges at Van Helsing, who brandishes a crucifix, forcing Dracula to retreat.

John visits Mina on her terrace when a bat appears and “talks” to Mina. Mina attacks John, but Van Helsing and Seward save him. Mina confesses her love for Dracula and tells John their love is over.

Later that night, Dracula hypnotizes the nurse caring for Mina and has her remove the wolfsbane from around her neck. Dracula takes Mina to Carfax Abbey where John and Van Helsing see Renfield running to the Count as well. Thinking that Renfield has betrayed him, Dracula kills him. Van Helsing and John wait until morning to hunt Dracula as they know he must return to his coffin during daylight. Van Helsing finds Dracula’s coffin, impales him with a stake through the heart, killing him and restoring Mina to normal.

Why I Love Dracula (1931): Although it might seem stiff to modern audiences, Dracula is one of the best gothic horror films of all time. The mood and atmosphere alone make the film a winner.

Bela Lugosi not only embodies who Dracula is, his performance would shape every interpretation of the Count going forward. In the film, he is suave as he is dangerous. Special mention to Dwight Frye as Renfield, he plays a lunatic with great enthusiasm.

And don’t let the over 90 years old deter you from the film, some of the staging is a little stiff, but Browning does move his camera when needed giving the film a nice foreboding vibe of impending doom. The film also sports some iconic dialogue, none more so than “Children of the night. What music they make.” My personal favorite is “There are far worse things awaiting man than death.”

With an all time iconic performance, brilliant set design and cinematography, Dracula has earned its rightful title as one of Hollywood’s best horror films.

Articles, Review, Top Lists

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 131, Night of the Creeps (1986)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

131. Night of the Creeps (1986) Directed by Fred Dekker

The Movie: It’s 1959, and onboard a spaceship an alien is running down its corridors. A canister is placed in in a cannon and shot into space, which crashes into Earth. A college student and his date notice the canister crashing, believing it to be a shooting star he goes and investigates. His date is suddenly attacked and killed by an escaped mental patient with an axe. A slug launches from the canister and into the college student’s mouth.

Let us flash forward to 1986, we meet Chris Romero (Jason Lively( his friend J.C. (Steve Marshall) and the girl that Chris is in love with, Cynthia (Jill Whitlow). They meet her during pledge week at Corman University. Chris decides that he is going to impress Cynthia by joining the fraternity of her boyfriend, Beta Epsilon. In order to join the frat, the boys must steal a corpse, and plant it at a rival fraternity house.

Chris and J.C. go to the medical center and find a secret room. Inside Chris and J.C. see a corpse, and thaw it out. When the corpse tries to grab them the run like hell out of the room. The corpse now alive, attacks and kills a lab worker and walks out the door.

After the break in, Detective Ray Cameron (Tom Atkins) is assigned the case. The corpse makes its way to a sorority house, where its head splits open and slugs pour out. Detective Cameron is called to the sorority and finds the corpse with its head split open. Cameron believes it’s an axe that did the damage, from a case that has haunted him for 27 years.

Believing that Chris and J.C. are responsible for the corpse at the sorority house, they are questioned by police. The boys confess to breaking into the medical center but deny any knowledge of taking the corpse. There is a new zombie loose now, as the murdered medical student has risen from the dead and attacked a janitor.

The janitor is now one of the walking dead and attacks J.C. in a bathroom. Chris is confronted by Detective Cameron who tells him that the woman killed by the escaped lunatic was his ex-girlfriend. Cameron says that he hunted the man down, killed him and buried him underneath the sorority house. Cameron gets a call that an axe wielding maniac has killed the house mother. Cameron arrives on scene and sees to his horror that the man he killed is alive, but he is very much a zombie. Cameron blows its head off with a shotgun.

The next night as the all the girls at the sorority are getting ready for a dance, Chris learns that J.C. left him a message as he was dying. Telling him that the slugs’ weakness is heat and that he loves him. Chris gets Detective Cameron onboard and a flame thrower from the police department. They set out to stop the slugs.

The sorority house is soon under attack from a busload of zombies. Which are vanquished by our heroes. Chris and Cynthia notice that the slugs are retreating into the basement, where they find thousands of slugs in a pile. Cameron goes into the basement, pours gasoline on the slugs and blows them up with himself still in the house.

Why I Love Night of the Creeps (1986): I am a firm believer of judging movies by their covers. Night of the Creeps has one of the coolest box arts ever. I remember seeing it in all its glory at Blockbuster Video. With the tube lights flickering and the smell of microwave popcorn wafting in the air, the picture of a zombie prom date was irresistible to my friend Branden and I.

The movie itself is a blast. Gory and full of one liners it makes for a B-movie good time. Director Fred Dekker is an underrated genre writer and director. His love of 1950’s B-movies oozes from every frame. From the slugs being an alien experiment to the overall feel of the film. He is also a really well known script doctor

The cast is fun and Branden and I always point to the fraternity bro as the standard of all horror movie douche bag, only surpassed in my eyes by Trent in Friday the 13th (2009).

Night of the Creeps is a movie that feels like it was made for me. Zombies, one-liners, made in the 1980’s, 1980’s style fraternity douchebag and gore. Thrill Me!

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 132, Ghostbusters (1984)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

132. Ghostbusters (1984) Directed Ivan Reitman

The Movie: Professors Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Akroyd) and Egon Spenger (Harold Ramis) work for Columbia University. They focus on the paranormal. They receive a call from the New York Public Library that there is a ghost in the stacks.

The encounter with the ghost and their subsequent dismissal from the University, they form “Ghostbusters” to capture and eliminate ghosts.

Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) is haunted by a demonic dog and it lived in her fridge. She calls the Ghostbusters for help. Venkman does not take her seriously and tries unsuccessfully to seduce her.

Next up for the ‘Busters is the get a call from the Sedgewick Hotel about a ghost causing damage to their hotel. Once there the boys meet Smiler, a gooey-green ghost who loves food and “sliming people.” The Ghostbusters chase him into the ballroom and they capture him there. Gaining fame after they do. After this encounter, the Ghostbusters get a new recruit Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson).

This catches the attention of Walter Peck (William Atherton) of the EPA who doesn’t believe the Ghostbusters. He asks to see the equipment but is denied. Peter meets Dana and informs her that Zuul is a demigod worshipped by Gozer the Gozerian, the shapeshifting God of Destruction. Peter goes to Dana’s home to see that she is possessed claiming to be the Gatekeeper.

Dana returns home and is possessed by Zuul and her neighbor Louis (Rick Moranis) has been possessed by Vinz Clortho, the Keymaster. Egon believes that they should stay separated.

William Peck returns to Ghostbuster headquarters with law enforcement and places the Ghostbusters under arrest. He also shuts down the containment unit which unleashes all the ghosts that the Ghostbusters have collected. Louis escapes and meets Dana at her apartment. There they go to the roof, where it transforms into a gateway between dimensions. The Ghostbusters see the Mayor where Winston is able to plead with the Mayor for their release to save the city.

The Ghostbuster arrive at the roof to see Louis and Dana transformed into demon dogs. Gozer appears as a woman and attacks. She asks the Ghostbusters to choose the form of their destructor. Stantz remembers the beloved mascot of Stay Puft Marshmallows, and Gozer takes his form and attacks. The Ghostbusters do the unthinkable and cross-streams with their proton packs and cause the Stay Puft Man to explode.

 Why I Love Ghostbusters (1984): The very first horror/comedy I remember watching was Ghostbusters. Another favorite that I would rent all the time, but not from Blockbuster, but from our local Safeway, when yes even grocery stores had movies to rent.

The script is whip smart. You appreciate it as a child, and then revel in it as an adult where it is more dirty and more fun. The special effects are still impressive, so too is the chemistry with the cast. They all are at the top of their game.

One of my great joys is showing my son movies I love. You get nervous because you wonder if he will like it as much as you do. And when he does, you just throw your hands in the air and everything you thought about the movie is validated.

Articles, Review

Rod Stewart: Year by Year, Track by Track Part 6 1978-1981

Part 6: In Which Our Hero Sells His Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul to the Disco Devil and Laughs All the Way to Hell and a Number One Smash Hit

Rod Stewart continued his chart topping success during his Mercury days to his new home at Warner Brothers Records. His first three albums he released after his move to the United States sold nearly 6 million copies in the States alone. Stewart had left the folk/rock albums behind for a more polished sound and stadium ready anthems to great acclaim. Atlantic Crossing and A Night on the Town were well received by critics and fans. Critics seemed to not care too much for Footloose and Fancy Free but the fans loved it. That album sold 3 million copies in the USA and Rod was about to make his most successful album and single ever, to the dismay of critics and some of his earliest fans.

But first, Scotland qualified for the 1978 World Cup and Rod Stewart celebrated with a single release honoring the Scottish National Team, who also appeared on the single as back up singers.

The Official Single From Rod Stewart and Scottish World Cup Squad ‘78

199. Ole Ola (Mulher Brasileria) (Evaldo Gouveia, Rod Stewart, Phil Chen)

A celebration and a good time is the best way to describe this song. Stewart’s joyful lyrics and reading get you into the mood for some South American football.

And although this is sort of a novelty song, that has never been released on anything but a vinyl single,(I have it on my iPod, but I got it digitally totally legitimately…) it has great energy and is a fun listen.

Grade: B

200. I’d Walk a Million Miles for One of Your Goals (Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) (Livingston, Evans)

This song is just pure fun. From the TV broadcast proclaiming that for “the second successive time Scotland has qualified for the World Cup!”

Stewart reworks the song to focus on Scotland with a catchy lyric and a happy breakdown of “so long, my Scotland, the teams play east, the teams play west, but we know which teams the best, my Scotland”

Maybe Scotland should have focused on the World Cup and not singing and having a good old time with Stewart as they did not make it out of the first round…but the song lives forever!

Grade: B

After a slight detour to celebrate Scotland, Stewart returned to the studio. According to Rod he was listening to Native New Yorker by Odyssey, which “the bass guitar is the driving force and almost the main provider of the melody.” It was when Rod heard The Rolling Stones’ Miss You, that Stewart had the idea to record a disco/rock song.

Blondes Have More Fun November 24, 1978

201. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice)

The song that launched a thousand dance moves and a thousand arrows. Has there ever been a song that is more loved/hated in the world?

When Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? was released it was a smash hit. In fact, it was the fastest selling single in Warner Bros. Music history, until Madonna’s Like A Virgin.

But while most of the world loved Rod’s rock/disco song, music critics and some of his fans were disgusted. Some thought the Rod had gone mad, and not only did he release a disco song, he made it seem that he was “hotter” than you.

Ignore all of the fluff and listen to the song. It’s catchy, fun and funky. Phil Chen delivers the goods with a slick bass line and co-writer Carmine Appice keeps the song thumping along.

And one last point that Stewart has been making since 1978, the song is in third person, “She sits alone, waiting for suggestions, he’s so nervous avoiding all her questions.” The chorus is a crescendo of two people getting it on with the thoughts in their heads being, “if you want my body and you think I’m sexy, come on sugar let me know.”

And before we leave this song, it’s “Da” not “Do”. It drives me crazy when the song is not written correctly, and I am off my soapbox.

Grade: A

There are many remixes of this song, one that Warner Bros released in 2004 has a different vocal take, with Rod emphasizing different words. There’s also a “disco mix” version that is about 3 minutes longer that appears on a 12” vinyl single.

And one last note, if you want to hear the ultimate version of this song, without the studio enhancements and embellishments, just Rod and his world class rock band, download the 1981, rehearsal version on the extended version found on iTunes. It is the best version of the song, I promise.

201. Dirty Weekend (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger)

When people tell you that Blondes Have More Fun is Rod Stewart’s “disco album” they have not listened to this album.

The second track on the album is a straight down and dirty rock song. And I do mean dirty.

Dirty Weekend is the story in which our Hero takes his “best friend’s girl” away to Mexico for a raunchy and sexy weekend. It’s crude with some harsh lyrics about the female anatomy and drugs.

It is a rock song and a quick one, that is fun if you can get past the non-P.C. moments.

Grade: C+

202. Ain’t Love a Bitch (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger)

A forgotten top 25 hit by Stewart, Ain’t Love a Bitch is a mid-tempo classic. Stewart actually had the idea for this song as far back as 1976. The original version of Fool For You in which Stewart opened the unused version with “Ain’t love a bitch…”

Here he warns the listener no matter how tough life gets, love is still a bitch and it is always there. The bouncy music, peppered with background vocals of “doo-doo” sells a sweet song when in truth, the song is full of bitterness and resentment. Which makes the music and lyrics that much better.

Grade: A

203. The Best Days of My Life (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan)

Jim Cregan’s sensitive guitar work is on full display here. Another example of a song that proves that Rod hadn’t totally abandoned his earlier successes.

Although The Best Days of My Life, is more polished than Rod’s earlier recordings, Stewart shows that he still can reach down to his formative days to write a sensitive song about a woman he loves.

Grade: B

204. Is That the Thanks I Get? (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan)

After the longing and lovely The Best Days of My Life, Stewart washes himself of that really quickly. He becomes vindictive to a woman who “kicked the shit right in my face!”

Not one to keep himself down for long, Rod picks himself up and “guess I find me a brand new girl, that won’t take me very long.”

I like this song a little more than The Best Days of My Life, it’s more driving and feels more personal.

Grade: A-

205. Attractive Female Wanted (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger)

While it might seem hard to believe, but it seems that our Hero can’t find a woman to love. “It’s Friday night and I’m alone, still a bachelor.”

Here he pleads that he isn’t Warren Beatty or Muhammad Ali, but he will share all that he has.

Attractive Female Wanted has the feel of Ain’t Love a Bitch with background singers doo-wop along to give the song a bouncy, driving force. Rod’s humor is also on full display, “I’ve been lonely too long and all my family think I’m gay.”

Grade: B

206. Blondes (Have More Fun) (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan)

I love this song. The hand claps, the bass, the guitar, the drums emphasizing and driving the whole rock ‘n’ roll song.

Rod is having a lot of fun as he wears his preference of woman on his sleeve. Also on full display is Stewart’s trademark humor, “you can keep your black and redheads, you can keep your brunettes too, I want a girl that’s semi-intelligent, give me a blonde that’s six feet two.”

The song never slows down, in fact with the horns that pepper the middle of the song make it feel that much more fast.

Grade: A

207. Last Summer (Rod Stewart, Philip Chen)

Ah, vacation. The lazy sound of music opens a song where our Hero strikes out with women at every turn. Nothing works for him, impersonations, libations, nothing works. In fact, when Stewart returns to the women he’s trying to woo, “suddenly she disappeared, like I feared with another guy, love always seems to let me down, maybe I’ll wait until next year.”

Last Summer almost doesn’t fit on the album. It sounds different than all the other songs, but that also makes it unique and stand out. It’s breezy and fun.

Grade: B+

208. Standin’ in the Shadows of Love (Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland)

If there was ever a true disco song on Blondes Have More Fun it might be this driving cover which was made famous by the Four Tops. Gone is all the subtlety of that song.

Rod does pour his heart out in the song, but he makes one misstep in this otherwise solid cover. In the breakdown, he whispers words that are on point, with the exception of “didn’t I screw you right.” It takes you out of the song and it takes a beat to recover.

Grade: C+

209. Scarred and Scared (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger)

The same writing team that wrote Dirty Weekend also wrote this heartbreaking song of a man on death row for murder.

Tonally, Scarred and Scared does not fit on this album, but it also might be why the song is so haunting. Stewart tells a story that breaks your heart, you actually feel sympathy for a murderer, and if you want evidence that Stewart is one of the best singers around, listen to him and the emotion he sings with on “I don’t need no trial humiliation, just tell me that I’m heaven bound, I don’t want no two faced consolation, what use is that to me six feet underground?”

Chills.

Grade: A+

210. Scarred and Scared (Early Take) (Rod Stewart, Gary Grainger)

Musically this early take of Scarred and Scared is the same. The lyrics however are quite different. They lose some of the subtlety of the finished version. Stewart still sings with a broken heart.

Stewart would polish the lyrics, and tighten the whole song up, but this version still has merit and begs to be heard.

Grade: B

Although Rhino promised a deluxe version of Blondes Have More Fun, we never got it. A couple of songs have trickled out since that promise in 2009 however.

211. Live Medley: (I Know) I’m Losing You, It’s All Over Now, Standin’ in the Shadows of Love, Layla (Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland Jr., Cornelius Grant, Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland, Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon)

Released in 2014 was a collection of 58 live Rod Stewart tracks that had never been released before. One such song contains a cover of a song Rod had not released before. In a 10-minute tour de force, Stewart rips through four songs.

Full of energy and top vocal form, this would have been a treat to see. The song that Rod had not released before was a cover of the Eric Clapton classic, Layla. Here we only get the chorus and it makes you long for a full version of the song with Stewart at the controls.

The shear amount of energy and rock show goodness makes this an absolute barn burner.

Grade: A+

Released in 2021, Rod Stewart 1975-1978 contained 2 songs that were recorded for Blondes Have More Fun, but were left behind.

212. Silver Tongue (Rod Stewart)

A sweet talkin’ “Baptist child from way down South”, is the object of Our Hero’s affection in a funky driving song.

Rod not being able to get a woman he lusts after is a fun, breezy song that is almost finished. The band is tight and Stewart delivers the goods.

He also delivers a really funny line, “Silver Tongue I didn’t get a start, Silver Tongue where do I fart?” Not sure if its finished lyrics but my 8 year old son thinks it’s really funny.

Grade: B

213. Don’t Hang Up (Rod Stewart)

In keeping with a more disco flavor of Blondes Have More Fun. Is more polished than Silver Tongue, but is not quite done as well as Rod mumbles some lyrics as he is trying to find the right words for the song.

The song deals with pleading with your lover not to hang up when he calls late at night and also not give up on their love, “as I would walk a million miles at night, just to be by your side.

Grade: B

Stewart scored a number one album and number one hit with Blondes Have More Fun and Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? Not only that but the album went platinum over 3 times. Rod was riding high and a greatest hits package was on the way. Lost was a song that didn’t see the light of day until 30 years later.

Greatest Hits, Vol.1 October 12, 1979

214. When I’m Away From You (Frankie Miller)

A common practice when a greatest hits package is released is to maybe have a “new” song ready to go to make fans like me buy the album of songs I already own for that one song I don’t.

Stewart recorded Frankie Miller’s When I’m Away From You for his Greatest Hits Vol. 1. For some unknown reason it never made it to the album. Another song that Rod recorded and abandoned. It is a shame too.

Rod crushes this song, and it begs to be heard. Miller’s version is incredible. Rod equals it and when I hear this song and Kiss Her For Me, I want a Stewart album of Frankie Miller covers, it would be most excellent.

Grade: A+

The 70’s ended and Rod Stewart was on the top of his game for the whole decade. He started with 1971’s Every Picture Tells a Story a number one album. He ends the decade with Blondes Have More Fun and Greatest Hits Vol. 1 both of which sold over 3 million copies in the USA alone. As Stewart entered the 80’s he was about to change styles again.

Perhaps a response to Blondes Have More Fun, Stewart entered the studio to record his 10th studio album and make it a double album. Not only that but he would write almost all the songs. In fact Foolish Behaviour would be the only Rod Stewart album that Rod wrote or co-wrote every song on it. Rod eventually ditched the idea of a double album and released a straight forward rock ‘n’ roll album.

Foolish Behaviour November 21, 1980

215. Better Off Dead (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Carmine Appice)

When life gets you down you need to go out and party, so is the story that Stewart is telling in the opening track of Foolish Behaviour.

“Wanna be silly and scream and shout, gotta get legless and fall about.” A fun little ditty that sets the mood for a different type of album by Stewart. Foolish Behaviour seems to focus a bit more on rock ‘n’ roll.

Grade: B

216. Passion (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

A wicked opening paves way to some haunting lyrics. Our Hero’s biggest hit on the album has a really ominous tone and feel to it. Stewart takes you on the streets on L.A. to reveal the seedy underbelly of the city.

I have a love/hate relationship with this song. I love the opening and the opening verse. The music and feel of the song is awesome. It also at the same time feels a little empty. Stewart gets you in a groove but it slowly devolves into him shouting out random things “In the bars and the cafes, Passion! In the streets and the alleys, Passion!”

The bass and the guitar are awesome and musically the song is badass. The breakdown is epic too.

Grade: A-

There is an extended version of “Passion” that clocks in at over 7 minutes. It is the same song except the longer play gives it more things for Rod to say have passion.

There’s also an early version of “Passion” available digitally. The lyrics are completely different, also Rod is just trying to get words to fit with the music, so it’s a lot of nonsense. It does have some value as it shows Stewart’s writing process.

217. Foolish Beahaviour (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

Living up to the title track, Foolish Beahaviour takes a dark turn. The opening of the song sets the mood right off the bat, “Can I introduce myself? Am a man of panache and wealth, sound in mind, body and health, Why I wanna kill my wife? I have this urge to take her life.”

I am not sure if Rod’s wife Alana Hamilton appreciated the song, but I actually love it. Rod does not go dark very often and this song certainly is dark, the second verse he fantasies about the different ways he could kill his wife.

Don’t worry though, as “telephone rang and he woke from his sleep, his wife snoring soundly next to him, it was all a very nasty dream.”

Grade: A-

218. So Soon We Change (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

Our hero trades in his dream of killing his wife, to maybe explaining to her why they are breaking up. The roughness of Foolish Behaviour makes way for the melancholy of So Soon We Change.

Our Hero explains to his lady, “We were different people then, inseparable never apart, But now the novelty is wearing thin, we spend most time arguing.”

Stewart was only married to Alana for about a year when this album came out and the theme of the album is someone who is unhappy and depressed. Stewart express it in song, much like he did on Footlosse and Fancy Free when his relationship with Britt Ekland was for the most part over, Rod would stick with Alana for another 4 years but it appears the cracks were starting to show.

Grade: B

219. Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

Every Rod Stewart album has a song on it that is a classic and amazing. They might not be a hit but they are on the album and true fans know them and love them. Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight is such a song. Great music, trademark Stewart witty lyrics make it a winning combination of a song.

Stewart is at his best when he wears his heart on his sleeve, here he pleads with his lady, “I could be home in time for Christmas if you want me to be, There’s a plane that leaves here at midnight, arriving at three, but I’m a bit financially embarrassed, I must admit, tell you the truth honey, I haven’t a cent.”

A magnificent song that begs to be listened to.

Grade: A+

220. Gi’ Me Wings (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

It seems that Our Hero was going through some tough times during the sessions of Foolish Behaviour as this was another song where he is singing about being depressed.

The lyrics are somewhat at conflict with the hard rock and driving force of the music. Phil Chen’s bass yet again delivers the goods.

Although only released as single in Japan, Gi’ Me Wings did gain some traction and airplay in the states where it reached 45 on Billboards Top Rock Tracks. A forgotten gem on this album, all Rod fans have songs we wish he would sing again live, this is one for me. I love the sound and Stewart is in top vocal form on the track.

Grade: A-

There is a studio rough version of “Gi’Me Wings” available digitally, with totally different lyrics, with Rod again trying to figure out the words for the song. A song for just the most hardcore of fans as it is not close to being finished.

221. My Girl (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger, Carmine Appice)

When anyone reads the back of the album for Foolish Behaviour, I am sure that they think that this is a cover of The Temptations all time classic (which Rod would cover, but that will covered later). Here it is a sweet ballad that has Our Hero giving up his wild ways for a woman he loves.

It isn’t the deepest song that Stewart has written but he sings it so well. The saccharine lyrics are washed away by an effective reading and singing that Rod’s voice just aches.

My favorite set of lyrics and the emotion that Rod brings is, “At last my heart has found a home, This time I know where I belong.”

Grade: B

222. She Won’t Dance With Me (Rod Stewart, Jorge Ben)

Ah yes, I am a sucker for Stewart’s down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll songs. She Won’t Dance With Me is one of my favorites. It is a quick and fun song. It reminds me of when I went out with my friends when we were young. Of course we would never leave the wall and just talk about how pretty the girls, I would never ask them to dance with me. I have no idea how I am married…

Anyways, here Our Hero is his rascal self while being funny and clever;

“Keep on watchin’ her across the room, waitin’ for the band to play a faster tune, I want her number but I’m scared to ask, I want dance and I want her ass, why the fuck is she ignoring me? I don’t know what’s wrong with me”

Fun piece of Rod Stewart trivia. She Won’t Dance With Me was the third video ever played and MTV. And they did not edit out the word “fuck”. Whoops.

Grade: A+

223. Somebody Special (Rod Stewart, Steve Hurley, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

“How can you say life’s gettin’ you down? Get yourself out go along with the crowd” Rod slows it down yet again, here he offers advice to the listener that the only way you will find Somebody Special is by getting out of your funk and find someone to love.

Along the lines of My Girl, but I think the lyrics are more catchy and fun.

Grade: B

224. Say It Ain’t True (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger)

Foolish Behaviour ends with a sweeping, overproduced, brilliantly sung ballad. Say It Ain’t True is a double-edged sword for this Stewart fan. Rod sings the song so well, it just doesn’t resonate with me. Because of the sound of the song it sounds disingenuous, I don’t know…it might just be me.

Grade: C

225. I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Live) (Willie Dixon)

An old blues number is a hidden track on the German cassette release of Foolish Behaviour. Rod’s cover is brilliant, as he covers one of his earliest influences Willie Dixon. A song that is right up Stewart’s alley with double entendre lyrics and a playful harmonica. You should seek out the Etta James version, it’s straight fire.

Grade: B+

Foolish Behaviour did not reach the heights of Blondes Have More Fun, but it still reached platinum status in both the U.K. and the USA. Stewart was still at the top of his game and delivering albums that resonated with audiences.

Foolish Behaviour was intended to be a double album, meaning there were most likely a lot of songs left on the cutting room floor. In 2009, on The Rod Stewart Sessions we finally heard some of them.

226. Time of My Life (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger, Carmine Appice)

A failed relationship is the subject of this haunting, beautiful song. “Listen it’s over, I could never forgive you.” As Rod pleads with his lover that she broke his heart and it is too late.

I adore this song. It has so much heartache and pain in it’s five short minutes. A song that I am not sure why was abandoned, but we were treated it to much later. Also features some killer guitar work by Billy Peek.

Grade: A

227. TV Mama (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger, Carmine Appice)

The original version of Foolish Behaviour has Stewart lusting after a woman on TV. After spending years listening to the music and the images of “trying to kill my wife” it is a complete 180 change.

It is not as clever as the finished song that appeared on the album, but it still is a lot of fun because she can “change gray skies into blue.”

Grade: B

228. Maybe Baby (Norman Petty, Buddy Holly)

When The Rod Stewart Sessions were announced and I saw the track listing, one song I wanted to hear the most was Rod’s take on a Buddy Holly classic. I am a huge Buddy Holly fan. I listen to his music almost as much as Rod and think he is an absolute genius.

Rod does not disappoint. His band is in top form. He changes the pacing of the song and emphasizes different words. He makes it his own without losing what made the original so great. Stewart also is at the top of his vocal game. I adore this song, I selfishly want him to record more Buddy Holly. The way he finishes the song “Maybe Baby, you’ll love someday” is so brilliant it gives me chills.

Grade: A+

229. Stupid (Rod Stewart, Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger, Carmine Appice)

Speaking of loving songs. Stupid is played with a reckless abandon, not only by the band but also Stewart who is just letting the song go, rough and ready.

Stupid is not finished but it sure as hell is a barn burner. There is a boogie down, guitar solos that pepper a song full of energy. The only downside The Rod Stewart Sessions exposed is there are so many good Rod Stewart songs that it has me thinking of what might have been…

Grade: A-

230. Oh, Carol (Live with Billy Peek on lead vocals) (Nicholas Barry Chinn, Michael Chapman)

Performed at Wembley, I acquired this on disc at a second hand store, a bootleg that made it to Denver, Colorado. I knew it existed and wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to find it. But I did and whomever turned it in to Twist and Shout thank you.

This cover is 100% different then the one that was released by Smokie. Their 1978 version is a bouncy, pop infused that has no bite. Here, Billy Peek does what he does best and turns it into a blistering rock ‘n’ roll song with Rod providing background vocals.

It gives the song a whole new meaning. It is so much better.

Grade: A

Stewart had entered the new decade with yet another top 20 album and platinum sales. Stewart had just released Foolish Behaviour when he headed back into the studio in November of 1980. Stewart would start recording one of his best albums, Tonight I’m Yours.

Tonight I’m Yours November 6, 1981

231. Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me) (Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan)

Originally written as a ballad, Rod Stewart reminisced in Storyteller, “We spent two days working on this one, getting nowhere, when someone said, out of sheer frustration (as opposed to creative genius), “Speed the bastard up.” We did.”

A winning song about sleeping with a woman that plays at breakneck pace makes for an awesome top 20 hit. The video is loads of fun too, with Stewart performing at a hotel pool with a bunch of women fawning over him. Stewart once again proves that he is a great lyricist, “I don’t want an everlasting thing, I don’t care if I see you again, so grab your coat and honey tell your friends, you won’t be home, you won’t be home, you won’t be home!”

Grade: A+

232. How Long (Paul Carrack)

Stewart tackles Paul Carrack’s 1975 hit, How Long. With a winning result. Carrack’s version would be a fixture on soft rock, Stewart changes the pace and gives it more edge, making it a rock ‘n’ roll song.

Stewart again blows Carrack away with a more emotional reading and phrasing giving the song bigger impact.

I love the cheap video they made for this as well. It looks like Stewart and the band were on tour and they needed another video for the hit record so it’s just Rod walking down the aisle of a theater with the band in tuxes playing along. My favorite thing, is Stewart is having trouble remembering the lyrics and looks down and away from the camera a lot. He did this on “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” As well.

Grade: A

233. Tora, Tora, Tora (Out With The Boys) (Rod Stewart)

Party time! Our Hero is going out with his boys and having a good old time and getting into a bunch of trouble. A rock ‘n’ roll song from beginning to end, the pace never lets up.

Rod sings “Jimmy got smashed took his trousers off, bar man says you boys have had enough, “why don’t you join the army, get yourself a decent job?” Indecent exposure in a parking lot!”

A fun doesn’t stop as at the end of the song women plead, “Tora, Tora, Tora, where’s my old man?”

Grade: A

234. Tear It Up (Dorsey Burnette, Johnny Burnette, David Burlinson)

A piano starts and the band is not impressed, a lad states, “no, that’s no good.” Before Rod and the band rip into a blistering cover of Johnny Burnette’s 1950’s hit Tear It Up.

Stewart and the band don’t mess with the structure of the song very much allowing the original greatness to shine through.

Grade: A

235. Only a Boy (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar)

Rod goes back to his youth for a whimsical tale that we relive with vivid pictures of being a kid growing up and being at school.

Stewart is so great painting a vivid picture of growing up and taking you back to not only his days, but you relate to him as well.

While not as poignant as I Was Only Joking, Only a Boy is a fun, energetic song.

Grade: B+

236. Just Like a Woman (Bob Dylan)

Blonde On Blonde is perhaps Bob Dylan’s most famous and best album, with Just Like a Woman being the most popular song on the album. It takes balls to sing this song, and Stewart has not only the balls to sing the song, but to also make it one of his best Dylan covers.

It is one of Rod’s best vocal performances on an album, hands down. Once again, Stewart outclasses Dylan on his on song vocally. Stewart’s version is also tighter and louder. Dylan’s is a rambling, beautiful song that is a signature tune for good reason.

If you want proof of Rod’s brilliance, I beg you to listen to the last verse, “Ahh, just don’ fit, I believin’ it’s time for us to quit, when we meet again, and introduced as friends, please don’t let on that you knew me when…”

Grade: A+

237. Jealous (Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Jay Davis, Danny Johnson)

Not completely leaving disco/dance music behind, Stewart comes out hot with a tale of jealousy. Seeing his woman out with other men sends Our Hero into an angry rage, with him pleading that she isn’t acting like they used to.

Stewart, again is in top vocal form. The song is driving and unrelenting with he band delivering the goods. Emotion is up front through the lyrics and the music.

Grade: B

238. Sonny (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Bernie Taupin)

Elton John’s writing partner, Bernie Taupin lends his songwriting skill on a total 180 from Jealous.

Rod pleads with “Sonny” that he’s given up the “purest love a man could ever have.” As he tells her that his new love can’t hold a candle to her, with awesome lyrics as “she can borrow all of your style, but never posses your soul.”

Grade: B+

239. Young Turks (Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, Kevin Savigar)

Easily one of the best written songs in Stewart catalogue, Young Turks tells the complete story of Patty and Billy, two kids that are in love, but they run away together after no one understands why they love each other.

Another prime example of Stewart being one of the best songwriters and lyricists around, “because life is so brief, and time is a thief when your undecided, and like a fistful of sand that can slip right through your hands!”

The hook on Young Turks is how you play a memorable song that sticks in your head, couple that with a catchy chorus of “young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side, don’t let them put you down, don’t let them push you around, don’t ever let them change your, point of view.”

I love this song love. Hearing thousands of people sing/scream “Young hearts be free tonight!” Is one of the best moments in any Rod Stewart concert.

Grade: A+

240. Never Give Up on a Dream (Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan, Bernie Taupin)

“If there’s doubt, and you’re cold, don’t you worry, what the future holds, we gotta have heroes to teach us all, to never give up on a dream. Calm the road, touch the sun, no force on earth could stop you run, when your heart bursts like the sun, never, never give up on a dream.”

Sometimes you don’t have to say anything, the song says all that needs to be said. A beautiful tribute to Canadian athlete Terry Fox, who ran 3,339 miles on a prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer research. A powerful song sung with heart and grace, a must listen.

Grade: A+

According to producer Andy Zax, when digging through Stewart’s unreleased material, only one two-track mixdown tape from the Tonight I’m Yours sessions was found, it did contain one hell of a song however.

241. Thunderbird (Rod Stewart)

It is known that Rod Stewart loves cars. He was conned out of carpets for his car early in his career on the Python Lee track, In a Broken Dream. Hear he sings about his love of his “white-walled” Thunderbird.

Hand-clapping blast of a song, Rod Stewart said it best when he says off the cuff, “it’s a fucking idea.”

Grade: A

242. Dirty Silly Filthy Boys (Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, Kevin Savigar)

One thing I learned about Rod Stewart as his unreleased songs were being released is he tried a lot of different lyrics to the songs. Some of the songs are not too different from the finished product, others like Dirty Silly Filthy Boys is 100% different than the song it would become, which is Young Turks.

The connecting tissue is the keyboard signature sound in both songs. Here, Our Hero sings about giving a man “what he wants, and he wants it all the time.” After he spends the nights with his friends, basically telling lady friends that no matter what, they must give into their men. Talk about a totally different song.

Anyhoo, it’s fun, light and interesting to think of what might have been.

Grade: B-

Stewart started the decade the same way he ended the 70’s. On top. Tonight I’m Yours spawned hit singles, rose to number 11 on the Billboard Charts and sold over 1,000,000 copies in the USA alone. But Stewart was about to be tested with the next albums he released, as Stewart again did not settle in on one sound, he continued to evolve what it meant to be a Rod Stewart album.

Stay tuned for Part 7: In Which Our Hero is Part of the Sex Police, a Cruel But Fair and Thankless Task.

Articles, Review

Ryan’s 150 Favorite Films: Number 137, The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

137. The Phantom of the Opera (1925) (Directed by Rupert Julian)

The Movie: It’s a new season at the Paris Opera House, and the cast is preparing for their production of Faust. The sudden rise of Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) from chorus to the understudy of the talented and difficult Carlotta (Virginia Pearson) has everyone talking. In attendance is Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry), Christine’s beau. During a break in the performance, Raoul meets with Christine, wanting to marry her and have her resign from the Opera. Christine refuses, she won’t let anything get in the way of her career, especially a man.

The Opera is enjoying their most profitable season ever, but the management for the theater resign, not before they warn the new owners of the “Opera Ghost”, the phantom of Box Number 5! The new management laugh it off as just a silly story.

Carlotta receives a letter from “The Phantom”. He demands that she step aside and let Christine be the lead in the opera, threatening her if she does not meet his demands. Christine can hear in her dressing room a mysterious voice that tells her that on Wednesday she must take Carlotta’s place.

Raoul meets Christine the next morning and begs her to reconsider his offer of marriage. Christine again refuses, stating that it is impossible for her to stop as she has been tutored by the “Spirit of Music”.

That night Christine is Marguerite in Faust and both the managers and Carlotta receive another warning from The Phantom, Christine must be Marguerite again, or there will be dire consequences!

Carlotta defiantly takes the stage the next night. The Phantom true to his word, has a giant chandelier fall from the ceiling, crushing and killing audience members!

Later that evening, Christine finds a secret door that leads to the depths of the opera. There she meets The Phantom, who introduces himself as Erik. Christine faints in shock, and Erik carries her to an unground suite.

When Christine awakes, she finds a note telling her she is free to go as she pleases but must never look behind his mask.

The Phantom is preoccupied with playing the organ and does not notice Christine sneaking up behind him. She pulls of his mask revealing a hideously disfigured face underneath it! Enraged The Phantom tells Christine she is now a prisoner. Christine begs The Phantom to let her sing again, he relents. She may return one more time, but she must not see Raoul.

At the masked ball, Christine finds Raoul. The Phantom is also there, disguised as “Red Death”. Raoul and Christine go to the roof, believing they are safe from The Phantom, but he listens from atop a statue. Raoul tells Christine that after her performance the following night, he will take her to London.

During her performance, Christine is kidnapped by The Phantom. Raoul meets Inspector Ledoux (Arthur Edmund Carewe) who informs Raoul that he has been chasing The Phantom since he escaped Devil’s Island. They find The Phantom’s secret door and attempt to find and rescue Christine. They fall into a trap set by The Phantom. Raoul’s brother Philippe makes his way to the crypt of The Phantom as well, where he is promptly drowned by The Phantom.

The Phantom tortures Raoul and Ledoux by intense heat, they escape but are locked into a chamber with gunpowder and causes the room to flood. Christine begs The Phantom to let them go and promises him she will marry him if he spares the lives of Raoul and Ledoux. The Phantom opens another trap door which Raoul and Ledoux go through and live.

A mob soon enters The Phantom’s liar and The Phantom attempts to flee with Christine. He never makes it as the mob beats him to death and throws his corpse into a river.

Why I Love The Phantom of the Opera (1925): Although a silent film, The Phantom of the Opera is suspenseful, scary and beautiful to see. Easily one of the most iconic scenes in movie history is the unmasking of The Phantom. The film is nearly 100 years old and it still packs quite the fright.

The makeup was created by Lon Chaney and it is legendary, with the actor giving an all time performance. And a sense of Colorado pride he was born in my home state. Also of note is the incredible sets that are throughout the picture. From the grandeur of the Paris Opera House to the depths of The Phantoms catacombs, each location is a character unto itself.

The film is a master class in suspense and horror. The Phantom just wants to love Christine, but his obsession with her is terrifying. And the lengths he will go to make Christine his is unrelentingly. Chaney is so good as The Phantom he will elicit fear, sorrow and terror many times in the same scene.

The film also boasts some color that stands out in a silent film, maybe no more so then when The Phantom appears dressed in red at the Masked Ball.

Don’t let the fact that it is a silent film scare you away from watching one of the most haunting films of all time.

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