SEPTEMBER!!!

Hope everyone’s soaking up the last bit of summer, because September is basically here — and it is going to be a BIG month around here. New book release, a new podcast, and several live events are all on the way, so buckle up. Details coming soon, but I promise it’s going to be a busy, exciting stretch!

Reminder: My next Nick’s Pix screening at Classic Cinemas is coming up on Wednesday, September 9th — we’re doing the Marx Brothers classic Duck Soup! Come hang out for the big screen viewing, discussion, trivia, and prizes.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 486!

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to talk movies, but first Nick reflects on the recent passing of a couple of legends, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. Then Erik and Steve break down the latest box office numbers and review a batch of new releases, including the long-awaited Looney Tunes comedy Coyote vs. Acme, Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars, and the creepy new horror movies It Ends and Buddy — about a Barney-like kids’ TV character who starts killing kids.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we make our weekend plans before wrapping up a wonderfully weird conversation about celebrity phobias — this time Khloé Kardashian’s fear of belly buttons, followed by a deep dive into exactly what anatidaephobia is. Hint: it involves ducks.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 485!

Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter is back, and we start with the latest developments in the Big Brother house — including one of the best moves a houseguest has ever made — and CBS’s insistence on jamming “Big Brother Unlocked” down our collective throats. Then Dan reviews HBO’s new superhero comedy Lanterns, we talk the best TV Teen Dramas of all time, this summer’s TV Beauties and Bores, and the life and career of Hayden Panettiere.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we dive deep into the weird world of celebrities and their exotic pets — Nicolas Cage’s octopus, Reese Witherspoon’s donkeys, and Elvis Presley’s chimp all make an appearance. Pay attention, because there’s a quiz.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 190!

Nick looks back at one of the most unmistakably ‘90s episodes of Saturday Night Live. On November 11, 1995, Quentin Tarantino made his only appearance as host in a strange, controversial, often uneven show that also featured The Smashing Pumpkins as musical guest — plus a transitional season introducing new cast members like Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, and Cheri Oteri. Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories and revisits several memorable (and not-aged-well) sketches from a true SNL time capsule.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• Conan O’Brien Rules!

• Lin Shaye: Legend

Next Week!

• Live Action & Animation Mixed

• ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: Duck Soup

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Coyote vs. Acme

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

The Whisper Man – Now streaming on Netflix

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

One of the all-time great comedies — the Marx Brothers at their absolute peak, skewering politics, war, and pomposity with pure anarchic joy. It’s a tight, breathless 68 minutes of nonstop laughs, and it never gets old.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A modern horror masterpiece from Jennifer Kent that’s as much about grief as it is about scares. Essie Davis gives one of the great horror performances of the last twenty years, and this one still burrows under my skin every time.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

November

One False Move (1992)
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm

A criminally underrated crime thriller co-written by and starring Billy Bob Thornton, directed by Carl Franklin. Tense, brutal, and emotionally devastating — this is one I’ve been wanting to share on the big screen for years.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

Check Out My Books!

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And coming September 15th: my brand-new book, 40 Years, 40 Horror Films — a love letter to my favorite genre of all time, with a Foreword by the legendary Svengoolie, Rich Koz! It’s available for pre-order now.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

Like so many people, I grew up on Looney Tunes. I watched them constantly on television as a kid in the ‘70s, saw many of those cartoons in theaters, and those characters became part of the fabric of childhood.

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, these aren’t just car…

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Big week in the Village! First — Tom and I just wrapped the last “Theater of Trash” segment on the Nick D Podcast before Theater of Trash officially launches as its own show on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network on September 2nd! Also, Jim Ryan stopped by with a stacked concert rundown, and over on That Show I dug into the three times SNL was hosted by a James Bond.

AND — my new book, 40 YEARS, 40 HORROR FILMS, is officially available for pre-order now from Eckhartz Press! It’s my love letter to the horror genre, out September 15th — just in time for Halloween season!

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 484!

Tom Hush joins for the final “Theater of Trash” segment before the new show launches. Tom and Nick dig into the truly bizarre, insanely entertaining Italian flick Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man — very, very loosely inspired by Starsky & Hutch, complete with an extended motorcycle chase and the bloody death of a seeing-eye dog, among other crazy things.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later and we drift into a preview of weekend fun, a deep analysis of The Lord of the Rings, more celebrity phobias, and a very weird bug invasion at Esma’s house!

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 483!

Jim Ryan is back with his latest interviews, including a chat with Corey Glover of Living Colour — plus a packed concert rundown covering Chicago and Styx at Allstate Arena, Guns N’ Roses and Public Enemy in Tinley Park, Rush at the United Center, and Billy Idol at Ravinia. We also compare notes on this past weekend’s Fan Expo at the Rosemont Convention Center.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later and we drift into how Mel Gibson made about $45,000 in three hours just standing still, the illegal raves at the Congress Theater, and revisit Marathon Man to ask — why the hell didn’t Dustin Hoffman have locks on his doors?

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 189!

The title’s a little misleading, but this one celebrates the three times Saturday Night Live was hosted by a James Bond — three episodes, two Bonds. We start with Pierce Brosnan’s hilarious 2001 appearance, then move on to Daniel Craig’s two turns as host in 2012 and 2020, and wrap it all up with a montage of Sean Connery’s greatest Celebrity Jeopardy moments. Bond. James Bond. Saturday. Night.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• Anthony Bourdain: A Hero

• “Dave’s Not Here” The Best Stoner Comedies Ever

Next Week!

• Lin Shaye: A Legend

• The Best of Conan O’Brien

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Late Fame

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

Conan O’Brien Must Go - Now on HBO MAX

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak — pure, gleeful anarchy from start to finish, and one of the funniest films ever made.

October

The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A masterclass in psychological horror, and one of the most acclaimed genre films of the last decade — grief given a truly terrifying shape.

November

One False Move (1992)
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm

A criminally underseen crime thriller with a gut-punch of an ending — one of the great overlooked films of the ‘90s.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

Check Out My Books!

My first book, 40 Years, 40 Films, is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And my brand new book, 40 Years, 40 Horror Films, is now available for pre-order through Eckhartz Press — my love letter to the horror genre, releasing September 15th!

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

For about the past 15 years, we have been inundated with a particular kind of supernatural horror movie, many of them somehow connected to James Wan, Leigh Whannell, Blumhouse or one of several franchises that have become virtually interchangeable in my brain.

There are the Conjuring movies, the Insidious movies, the Sinister movies and assorted spinoffs, prequels, sequels and demon-related side projects, and I swear to God I can’t keep half of them straight anymore.

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Big week over here in the Pop Culture Village — I’ve got a new book up for pre-order AND a brand new podcast launching in a few weeks. Let’s get into it!

Reminder: My new book, 40 Years, 40 Horror Films, is now available for pre-order through Eckhartz Press! It’s my love letter to the horror genre — essays on my favorite horror films of the last 40 years, with a Foreword by the legendary Svengoolie himself, Rich Koz.

And speaking of new things — I’m thrilled to announce Theater of Trash, a brand new podcast launching September 2nd on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network, with my co-host Tom Hush! Can’t wait for you all to hear it.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 482!

Film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to review a new batch of movies, including Tony, the story of Anthony Bourdain as a teenager, the dinosaurs-invade-’80s-suburbia thriller The End of Oak Street, the slasher satire Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and The Brink of War, a political drama about the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we shift into talking weekend plans before returning to the wonderfully strange world of celebrity phobias — this time Christina Ricci’s fear of houseplants and Benicio del Toro’s constant need to knock on wood. Yep...still weird.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 481!

Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter is back to review some new shows, including USA Network’s Anna Pigeon, HBO’s reptile-trafficking docuseries Monsters of God, and Ryan Murphy’s latest exercise in excess, The Shards. Nick and Dan also catch up on the latest news from the Big Brother house and talk about what else is happening in television.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and she and Nick catch up on the weekend, talk about Heat, and get into some truly bizarre celebrity phobias — Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t stand eggs, Tyra Banks is afraid of dolphins, and Jennifer Aniston has serious issues with water...and tricycles. Yeah, it’s pretty weird.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 188!

Nick looks back at one of the funniest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history — the “Two A-Holes,” played by Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig, a self-absorbed couple who spend their time talking on their phones, chewing gum, ignoring everyone around them, and driving everyone they meet completely crazy. We revisit every appearance the Two A-Holes made, alongside hosts including Jack Black, Matt Dillon, Annette Bening, Steve Carell, and the cast of Mad Men — from shopping for a Christmas tree to butchering karaoke. Unbelievably annoying...and absolutely hilarious.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• Ricky Gervais RULES

• Eli Roth: RANKED

Next Week!

• Stoner Comedies

• The Best of Anthony Bourdain

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Tony

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

Don’t Say Good Luck – Now on Netflix

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

September

Duck Soup
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

One of the Marx Brothers’ finest, and one of the sharpest comedies ever made. A gleefully anarchic satire of politics and war that still lands every single joke nearly a century later.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A modern horror classic and one of the smartest, most emotionally devastating films the genre has produced in years. Jennifer Kent’s psychological nightmare about grief is as haunting as it is brilliant.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

November

One False Move
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm

A criminally underseen crime thriller from the early ‘90s, with a young Billy Bob Thornton and a gut-punch of an ending. One of the best neo-noirs of its era.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

My Books!

40 Years, 40 Films

and 40 Years, 40 Horror Films

are both available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

“I was — to be frank — a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.”

- Anthony Bourdain “Kitchen Confidential”

As I write this review, I’ve already seen Tony twice. I fully expect to see it a few more times before the year is over. At this point, with several months of 2026 still to go, it is easily the best movie I’ve seen this year.

Nothing else even comes close.

Read more

Huge thanks to everyone who came out to see us at Flashback Weekend Horror Convention last weekend — what a blast. It never gets old getting to hang out with fellow horror Tribe in person, and I’m still buzzing from it.

Reminder: This Wednesday, August 12 at 7 pm is ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: Defending Your Life at the Lake Theater in Oak Park! Come hang out for the movie, discussion, trivia, and prizes.

And I’ve got some exciting news — I have a new book coming September 15th from Eckhartz Press called 40 Years, 40 Horror Films. It’s my love letter to the horror genre, featuring essays on the best horror movie of each of the past 40 years. AND: Svengoolie wrote the foreword! It’s available for pre-order right now — more details down below!

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 480!

Monica Eng from Axios Chicago is back to talk about the stories she’s been covering, including Chicago’s $13 billion lead pipe problem, the latest twists in the CPS budget drama, the best food to grab at Sox Park, the passing of Corny the Cornstalk, where to find great Uyghur food in Albany Park, and who really serves the best Chicago-style hot dog in the city.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we look back on the fun we had at Flashback Weekend before diving into some of the most awkward, outrageous, and unforgettable talk show appearances of all time — from Tom Cruise’s couch-jumping moment to Bobcat Goldthwait setting a couch on fire.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 479!

I recap my weekend at Flashback Weekend and let you know how to pre-order my new book. With Consumerman Herb Weisbaum on vacation, I take the reins for this month’s “For The People” segment, covering the latest consumer news along with money-saving tips on groceries, services, insurance, and more.

Later, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins me to talk about the latest vehicles he’s been test-driving. We also get into what’s going on with Tesla, how long you should really warm up your car, and look back at a pair of automotive oddities — the 1974 Dodge Colt and Canada’s Monarch. Plus another round of #StarSpotter, #MysteryShow, and more.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 187!

I look back at one of the funniest and strangest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history: The Legend of Bill Brasky. Created by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, these late-night classics feature a table full of loud, drunken businessmen swapping increasingly outrageous stories about the mythical Bill Brasky, whose exploits as a lover, salesman, father, and inventor get more absurd with every tale.

You’ll hear several of the best Brasky sketches, featuring Will Ferrell alongside David Koechner, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, and hosts Alec Baldwin and John Goodman. I also share some behind-the-scenes stories and dig into why these sketches remain some of the weirdest, funniest work from the legendary McKay and Ferrell writing team.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: Defending Your Life

• Spider-Man Universe: RANKED

Next Week!

• Eli Roth: RANKED

• Ricky Gervais Rules

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Super Troopers 3

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

Alley Cats – Season 1 on Netflix

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

August

Defending Your Life (1991)
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

Albert Brooks’ delightfully odd afterlife comedy is one of my all-time favorites — funny, sweet, and secretly profound. It follows a recently deceased ad exec who must defend the choices of his life in “Judgment City” before he can move on. Come see one of the smartest comedies ever made about facing your fears.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak — a gleefully anarchic war satire that’s routinely ranked among the greatest comedies ever made. Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo tear through Freedonia with some of the sharpest, silliest gags in film history.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

One of the best horror films of the last decade — a devastating, deeply human allegory about grief and motherhood wrapped in genuine, skin-crawling dread. Jennifer Kent’s debut earned raves from horror fans and critics alike (William Friedkin himself called it one of the most terrifying films he’d ever seen).

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

November

One False Move (1992)
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm

A tense, brutal, and underseen crime thriller co-written by Billy Bob Thornton, with Bill Paxton giving one of his best performances as a small-town sheriff in over his head. Roger Ebert called it one of the best films of its year — this one deserves way more love.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And I’ve got a NEW book on the way — 40 Years, 40 Horror Films, coming September 15th from Eckhartz Press! It’s my love letter to the horror genre, with essays on the best horror movie of each of the past 40 years. Pre-order it now from Eckhartz Press!

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

Subscribe now

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The comedy troupe Broken Lizard has been around since the early ’90s, when the guys met at Colgate University, started performing together onstage, and eventually developed the very specific style of comedy that has sustained them for more than three decades.

Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske write the movies together, they all appear in them, and Chandrasekhar usually directs. Their breakthrough was Super Troopers in 2001, a genuinely funny little comedy that gradually became a cult classic, a stoner favorite and the kind of movie people can quote endlessly at midnight screenings.

Read more

Huge thank you to everyone who came out to the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention — it was an absolute blast, and the turnout made it one for the books. So great to see so many of you in person!

Reminder: Next Wednesday, August 12, is Nick’s Pix screening of Defending Your Life at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park! Come hang out, watch it on the big screen, and stick around for discussion, trivia, and prizes.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 478! (BONUS)

Recorded LIVE at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, this special bonus episode has Nick and Esmeralda Leon on stage with a rowdy, fired-up crowd, trading scary childhood memories and horror favorites — with a surprise pop-in from Chicago horror legend Svengoolie.

The stage also welcomed the cast of the cult classic Night of the Creeps — Jason Lively, Jill Whitlow, and the legendary Tom Atkins — celebrating the film’s 40th anniversary with stories, memories, and a great live conversation in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 477!

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to talk about the box-office success of The Odyssey, plus reviews of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, and the sci-fi family drama Sheep in a Box.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later to recap the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, and we drift into a conversation about TV characters who got written off their shows because the actors were reportedly too difficult to work with — from Susan on Seinfeld to Chef on South Park.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 476!

Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter is back to review Adult Swim’s President Curtis, the Will Ferrell golf comedy The Hawk, and Apple TV+’s Lucky starring Anya Taylor-Joy — plus their ongoing bi-weekly check-in on Big Brother Season 28.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later as we gear up for the live Flashback Weekend show, talking tribute bands, Stephen King, and the genuinely unsettling 1972 documentary Future Shock — narrated by a truly terrifying Orson Welles.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 186!

A listener-requested deep dive into one of Saturday Night Live’s funniest recurring sketches: Bronx Beat, created and performed by Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler. We revisit standout installments with guests like Jake Gyllenhaal, Brian Williams, Miles Teller, Tina Fey, Justin Timberlake, and Andy Samberg — plus behind-the-scenes stories and an unaired sketch with Betty White. It may not be cold outside, but this one’s definitely “Sweata Weatha.”

My Blog!

Last Week!

• Heatwave Movies

• Flashback Weekend Preview

Next Week!

• Spider-Man: RANKED

• ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: “Defending Your Life”

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

The Drama – Now on HBO Max

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

August

Defending Your Life (1991)
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

One of Albert Brooks’ best — a smart, funny, and surprisingly touching comedy about a man who dies and has to defend the choices he made in life. Romance, fantasy, and comedy all rolled into one, with a killer performance from Meryl Streep.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak. A gloriously anarchic comedy about the fictional nation of Freedonia that still holds up as one of the funniest films ever made.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

One of the best horror films of the last decade — a genuinely terrifying, emotionally devastating look at grief and motherhood from writer/director Jennifer Kent. Perfect timing for spooky season.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

November

One False Move (1992)
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm

An underseen gem — a tense, brutal crime thriller from Carl Franklin featuring one of Billy Bob Thornton’s earliest great performances. One of my all-time favorite hidden classics.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

Whenever I review a comic book movie, I feel obligated to begin with the same disclaimer: I am not a comic book guy. I never grew up reading them, I do not follow the complicated timelines, alternate universes, resurrections, reboots, streaming shows, post-credit sequences, or whatever other nonsense has been invented to keep these giant corporate properties alive forever.

I am also not a fan of the overwhelming majority of comic book movies produced by Marvel, DC, or anyone else trying to get a piece of that extraordinarily profitable pie.

To me, most of these movies are calculated exercises in fan service designed primarily to get people through the door, sell merchandise, and keep intellectual property circulating indefinitely.

Characters can die and return in another timeline. Entire relationships can be erased with a magical spell. Anything can be undone whenever the studio needs another sequel. There are no real rules because the only rule that matters is keeping the franchise alive and squeezing more money out of the audience.

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We’ve got a jam-packed one this week, with horror convention history, legendary stunt work, one of the best celebrity athlete SNL episodes ever, plus a revenge thriller and a pickleball comedy for your watch list. Let’s get into it!

Reminder: Flashback Weekend Horror Convention takes over the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare from Friday, July 31st through Sunday, August 2nd, and I’ll be there all weekend hosting and moderating Q&A panels! Even better — there’s a LIVE version of The Nick D Podcast happening right on stage at the convention. Come hang out, ask questions, and say hi!

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 475!

Mike Kerz, co-creator of Flashback Weekend Horror Convention and co-owner of the Midway Drive-In in Dixon, Illinois, returns to look back at the convention’s 24-year history, before previewing this year’s lineup, including David Arquette, Jane Levy, David Naughton, Dermot Mulroney, and Chicago’s own Svengoolie.

Esmeralda Leon joins later as we keep revisiting the movies and TV moments that haunted us since childhood — this time landing on one of the most heartbreaking episodes of Futurama, featuring Seymour the dog.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 474!

Dick Warlock, the legendary stuntman and actor whose career spans more than 175 films, joins Nick. From the 1960s through his retirement after Spider-Man in 2002, Dick doubled for Kurt Russell for decades and famously played Michael Myers in Halloween II. He shares stories from his incredible career, previews his upcoming Flashback Weekend appearance, and talks about his new autobiography, Dick Warlock: The Shape of My Career.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we continue our countdown to Flashback Weekend with another trip through the movies and TV shows that terrified us as kids.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 185!

Nick looks back at the night Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce proved athletes really can host Saturday Night Live. Thanks in part to castmate and Chiefs superfan Heidi Gardner talking Lorne Michaels into booking him, Kelce delivered one of the funniest episodes of the season, including a killer American Girl Cafe sketch, an emotional ex reunion bit, and an awkward family musical performance. We also dig into a bonus Weekend Update segment featuring Punkie Johnson’s famously shaky celebrity knowledge.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• The Best of Molly Shannon

• Christopher Nolan: RANKED

Next Week!

• Flashback Weekend: A Preview

• Best Heatwave Movies

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Motor City

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

The Dink – Now on Apple TV+

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas

🎟️ Schedule & Tickets:

classiccinemas.com/nick

August

Defending Your Life (2025) Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

A charming, funny take on the afterlife-courtroom classic, this one’s a total crowd-pleaser — romance, comedy, and just enough heart to make you think about how you’re living your life. Come laugh with us and stick around for discussion, trivia, and prizes after.

September

Duck Soup (1933) Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

One of the all-time great comedies from the Marx Brothers — pure anarchic genius from start to finish. If you’ve never seen it on the big screen, this is your chance, and if you have, you know it never stops being funny.

October

The Babadook (2014) Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A modern horror classic and one of the most genuinely unsettling films of the last decade — a masterclass in dread that’s as much about grief as it is about a monster in a book. Perfect way to kick off spooky season with us.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

Nicolas Winding Refn has become one of the most polarizing filmmakers working today, and I completely understand why. Early in his career, with the gritty, brutally realistic Pusher trilogy, he established himself as a gifted crime filmmaker with an eye for violence and atmosphere.

Then came Drive, the movie that launched him into the cinematic stratosphere and earned him the Best Director prize at Cannes. It was stylish, emotional, hypnotic, funny, heartbreaking, and incredibly violent. It also marked the point where Refn fully embraced the dreamlike aesthetic that has come to define his work.

Read more

Big week in the Pop Culture Village! Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy stopped by to break down the box office and review a stack of new releases — and yes, we have to talk about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Despite all the hype, I’ve got to be honest with you: it’s a resounding disappointment, and it’s just not a good movie. I won’t be recommending it this week.

Meanwhile, Dan Fienberg swung through to dig into the 2026 Emmy nominations, and we took a trip back to 2021 for a look at Owen Wilson’s one and only Saturday Night Live hosting gig.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 473!

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to break down the latest box office numbers and talk current movie trends before diving into reviews of Evil Dead Burn, Moana, and one of the year’s most anticipated films — Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey — which, spoiler alert, doesn’t live up to the hype.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later as we continue getting ready for Flashback Weekend, revisiting more childhood movie and TV moments that left lasting scars, from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Ernest Scared Stupid to the unforgettable talking toilets from Look Who’s Talking Too, Rick and Morty, and even Better Call Saul. Turns out some things are just as disturbing the second time around.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 472!

Dan Fienberg is back to review the new Little House on the Prairie reboot and Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness starring Larry David. We also break down the 2026 Emmy nominations, with the biggest surprises, the most obvious picks, and a few notable snubs. And we kick off our bi-weekly Big Brother coverage.

Esmeralda Leon joins later to recap our weekends, talk about the upcoming Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, and revisit some of the movies and shows that traumatized us growing up, including a spirited debate about just how terrifying Dumbo really is. Seriously.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 184!

We look back at the only time Owen Wilson hosted Saturday Night Live, kicking off Season 47 back in October 2021 — and it turned out to be a really strong show, with Wilson a terrific host from the start. We revisit standout sketches, including a chaotic school board meeting, a daytime talk show parody interrupted by COVID test results, and a bit involving some very questionable dialogue for the next Cars sequel. Plus a bonus look at Melissa Villaseñor’s spot-on Owen Wilson impression.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• The Evil Dead Universe

• Illumination: RANKED

Next Week!

• Christopher Nolan: RANKED

• Molly Shannon Rules

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

The Hawk – Season 1 on Netflix

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

August

Defending Your Life (1991)
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

Albert Brooks’ romantic fantasy-comedy about the afterlife is one of the smartest, sweetest movies ever made about facing your own fear. Meryl Streep is a total delight opposite him, and it’s the kind of film that sneaks up on you emotionally.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak — pure anarchic comedy that still holds up nearly a century later. If you’ve never seen it on a big screen with a crowd, you’re missing half the fun.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

One of the best horror films of the last couple decades — a genuinely unsettling meditation on grief wrapped in a monster movie. Perfect timing for spooky season.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

The Odyssey is exactly the kind of movie that reminds me why I have what is, for a lot of people, a very unpopular opinion: I am simply not a Christopher Nolan fan. I know that’s practically cinematic heresy these days.

Nolan has become one of those filmmakers who has somehow reached a point where every new release is treated like a cultural event before anyone has even seen it. He’s hailed as a genius, one of the greatest directors of all time, and every new film arrives wrapped in prestige and expectation.

I’ve never bought into that. I think he’s enormously overrated. I think he’s made a couple of truly terrific movies, a small handful of good ones, and quite a few that mistake complexity for depth and cinematic gimmickry for storytelling.

The Odyssey doesn’t change my mind. In fact, it reinforces just about every criticism I’ve ever had of Christopher Nolan as a filmmaker.

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What a week! We caught up with Monica Eng on all things Chicago, from cold soup recipes to why Lake Michigan stays so cold. Then it was a monthly “For The People” episode with Herb Weisbaum and Tom Appel tackling outlet mall myths and the mystery of the vanishing cigarette lighter. And on That Show..., we took a nostalgic trip back to Vanessa Bayer’s unforgettable Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy… Billy Crystal cameo and all!

Reminder: Huge thanks to everyone who came out for Nick’s Pix: Inception at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park. What a blast seeing that one on the big screen with all of you! Next up: Defending Your Life on Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm — mark your calendars!

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 471!

Monica Eng from Axios Chicago is back to run through the stories she’s been covering, like great new spots to eat in Harbor Country, how police are handling teen takeovers, the idea of moving the Pride Parade downtown, refreshing cold soup recipes, and why Lake Michigan stays so brutally cold even in summer.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we catch up before diving into anthology shows like Tales from the Crypt and the genuinely creepy Mexican series La Hora Marcada. We also revisit the movie and TV moments that traumatized us as kids (and honestly, still do), like the shoe scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Beast from The Sandlot, and of course, The Brave Little Toaster.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 470!

It’s a monthly “For The People” episode! Herb Weisbaum, The Consumerman, joins to break down what outlet malls are really selling, the newest tricks cybercriminals are running, how to dodge overdraft fees, and a few gas-saving myths that need to die.

Then Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive stops by to talk the end of Polestar, the wild forgotten story of AvtoVAZ, the bizarre product known as Motor Honey, and why cigarette lighters vanished from new cars — even though there’s still a way to get one. Plus another round of #StarSpotter and #MysteryShow!

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 183!

We look back at one of the all-time great Saturday Night Live characters: Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy, created and performed by Vanessa Bayer. Jacob’s an awkward 13-year-old die-hard Yankees fan reading painfully corny jokes from a binder on Weekend Update, and he was inspired by Bayer’s real-life brother.

We dig into some of Jacob’s funniest moments, the story of how the character came to be, and behind-the-scenes stuff from Bayer’s SNL run, including a special appearance from Billy Crystal as Jacob’s dad. A hilarious trip back to one of Weekend Update’s most lovable oddballs.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• The Worst Movies of 2026 (so far)

• The Best Movies of 2026 (so far)

Next Week!

• Illumination: RANKED

• The EVIL DEAD Universe

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

The Five Star Weekend – Season 1 on Peacock

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas
🎟️ Schedule & Tickets:

classiccinemas.com/nick

August

Defending Your Life (1991)
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

One of Albert Brooks’ finest — a smart, funny, genuinely moving look at what happens after we die. Rip Torn and Meryl Streep are perfect, and it’s one of those comedies that sneaks up on you emotionally.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

September

Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak. Pure, gleeful anarchy from start to finish, and still one of the funniest movies ever made almost a century later.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A modern horror classic — genuinely unsettling and surprisingly emotional underneath all the dread. Perfect timing for spooky season.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

It’s still remarkable to me that one scrappy little independent horror movie made by three young filmmakers outside Detroit with virtually no money has become one of the most influential horror franchises in cinema history.

Back in 1981, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell unleashed The Evil Dead, and what began as a micro-budget labor of love eventually grew into one of the defining horror series of all time. Raimi, of course, went on to become one of our great filmmakers, directing everything from horror classics to blockbuster superhero movies, but he never abandoned the universe that put him on the map.

Forty-five years later, we’re now six feature films and one terrific television series deep into the Evil Dead saga, and that’s something that genuinely warms the heart of a lifelong horror fan like me.

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This week’s a loaded one. Erik and Steve are back with a fresh batch of movie reviews, Marnie Shure stops by for her monthly visit, and we kick off a brand new series digging into SNL cast members meeting the real celebrities they impersonate. Also this Wednesday, July 8th, is ‘Nick’s Pix’ at the Lake Theatre, and we’re watching Inception on the big screen! And if you’re heading to the multiplex this week... it’s a pretty weak slate of new releases, but Minions & Monsters is the best of a not-so-great bunch, so that’s my pick, for whatever that’s worth.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 469!

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to talk the latest box office news and trends before diving into a new batch of movie reviews. This time around they cover the new animated franchise entry Minions & Monsters, the dark comedy The Invite, the campy melodrama Maddie’s Secret (already landing on the year’s worst list), and the historical epic Young Washington.

Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and a conversation about the summer heat somehow spirals into the surprisingly deep history of donkeys and mules. Then it’s round two of terrible TV adaptations of great movies, including the long-forgotten small-screen versions of Serpico and The Outsiders. Yes, they were real. And yes, there’s a quiz.

🎙️ Nick D Podcast – Ep 468!

Marnie Shure stops by for her monthly visit, bringing her review of the new horror hit Backrooms and a funny story about the surprise box office success of Obsession. We also get into the world of Mortified, the growing trend of government-owned grocery stores (something that may be coming to Illinois) and Marnie’s take on the wildly popular new Hello Kitty Cafe in downtown Chicago.

Esmeralda Leon joins in later, and we look back at some pretty terrible TV adaptations of great movies, including Heathers, Clueless, and 9 to 5. We even dig up the long-forgotten TV version of Weird Science… which somehow leads to a quiz.

🎙️ That Show... – Ep 182!

Saturday Night Live has a long history of great celebrity impressions, but some of the funniest moments happen when the real person shows up to meet their TV counterpart. This kicks off a new series revisiting those moments: Ego Nwodim’s Dionne Warwick standing face-to-face with the real Dionne, Hillary Clinton joining Amy Poehler for a Cold Open, Vanessa Bayer and Jennifer Aniston in a Friends showdown, and Nicolas Cage sharing the screen with Andy Samberg’s over-the-top version of him on Weekend Update. Lots of behind-the-scenes stories along the way, this one’s a fun one.

My Blog!

Last Week!

• ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: Inception

• The Genius of Jackass

Next Week!

• The Best Movies of 2026 (So Far)

• The Worst Movies of 2026 (So Far)

What to Watch This Week!

In Theaters Now

Minions & Monsters

(My Review - Substack Review)

Streaming

Silo – Season 3 on Apple TV+

Nick’s Pix at Classic Cinemas

🎟️ Schedule & Tickets: classiccinemas.com/nick

July

Inception (2010) Wednesday, July 8 @ 7 pm

Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending heist-through-dreams thriller is one I never get tired of revisiting. Big, ambitious, and endlessly rewatchable — this one’s a big-screen must.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

August

Defending Your Life (1991) Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm

Albert Brooks’ sweet, funny afterlife comedy is one of those movies people always seem surprised to be reminded of. A gentle, genuinely thoughtful film about facing your own fears.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

September

Duck Soup (1933) Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm

The Marx Brothers at their most anarchic. Still one of the funniest movies ever made, and a great one to experience with a crowd.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

October

The Babadook (2014) Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

A genuinely unsettling modern horror classic that’s as much about grief as it is about the monster in the closet. Perfect timing for spooky season.

Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.

40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.

And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.

Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,

Nick

PS: My subscribers rule the planet.

I’ll admit something right up front: before I walked into Minions & Monsters, I actually had to stop and remember how many of these things they’ve made.

Seriously. I had completely lost count.

Then I looked it up. Four Despicable Me movies. Three Minions movies, including this one. Seven movies altogether. That’s an awful lot of little yellow guys speaking gibberish.

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Hope everyone’s having a great week! We’ve got Bollywood weirdness, TV talk, Slap Slapply, and a deep dive into one of SNL’s strangest characters — plus a big one coming up at the movies.

Reminder: Get your tickets now for the next Nick’s Pix screening — we’re watching Inception on the big screen at Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre on Wednesday, J…

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Anybody who has listened to my podcast, heard me on the radio over the years, or regularly reads my reviews knows one thing: I am not a comic book guy.

I’m not invested in the endless mythology. I don’t keep track of timelines or multiverses or alternate dimensions or whatever convenient narrative loophole the studios need to resurrect characters they killed off three movies ago.

Most of these giant Marvel and DC tentpoles strike me as calculated corporate products first and movies second, designed primarily to keep intellectual property alive and the cash registers ringing. They often feel shallow, cynical, and engineered by committee.

So naturally, the one comic book movie in recent memory that actually engaged my brain and stirred my emotions is the one getting hammered by comic book fans.

That somehow feels perfectly appropriate.

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