‘The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear’ (feat. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind)
The chaos continues on Franchise Detours as Leslie Nielsen’s bumbling Frank Drebin returns for more slapstick mayhem in 1991’s The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind — inaugural member of the Franchise Detours five-timers club — returns to tackle this comedy sequel. But does director David Zucker retain the deadpan humor that made the first film such a classic? Robert and Ryan explore Drebin’s evolution as a comedic force, the film’s razor-sharp jabs at politics and energy policy (yes, really), and how the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team doubled down on sight gags and wordplay. Plus, they discuss the series’ staying power and its influence on modern comedy. Ready for another round of pratfalls, puns, and perfectly timed chaos? With such a wide range of gags both high-brow and low in The Naked Gun 2 1/2, we guarantee “[you’ll] love it!”
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53:25
'The Naked Gun' (feat. Lauren Robinson of Beer'd Al Podcast)
Franchise Detours is back on the case with a brand-new mega-series on the hilariously offbeat journey of The Naked Gun trilogy. Of course, we’re starting with the David Zucker-directed 1988 original that turned Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin into a slapstick legend. Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast returns to the show to break down why this deadpan detective remains one of comedy’s greatest characters and how his absurd antics helped shape the comedic sensibilities of a generation. From banana peels to baseball games, The Naked Gun is packed with quotable one-liners, ridiculous sight gags, and wall-to-wall parody that redefined spoof comedy. And of course, we’ll touch on The Naked Gun’s connection to another comedy icon: Weird Al Yankovic. Whether you’re a lifelong Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker fan or just discovering Frank Drebin for the first time ahead of the 2025 edition starring Liam Neeson, this episode delivers all the chaos, charm, and unyielding silliness you could ask for.Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable
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1:04:19
'Elvira: Mistress of the Dark' / 'Elvira's Haunted Hills' (feat. Kai Yaniz)
Few characters capture the essence of camp and horror quite like Elvira. With her signature style and irreverent humor, Cassandra Peterson's sultry and sarcastic creation has reigned supreme as a perennial fan favorite. This beloved pop culture phenomenon even headlined two movies. As spooky season winds down, Kai Yaniz joins Franchise Detours to discuss 1988's Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and Elvira's Haunted Hills from 2001. We'll discuss how the character evolved from improv comedy into a global sensation, why Elvira's first movie still packs such a punch, and how she represents a type of stardom that has all but vanished in today's world. While Elvira: Mistress of the Dark emerged as a cult classic—following Elvira as she inherits a dilapidated mansion in a conservative town—Elvira's Haunted Hills is far more under-seen. But is this tribute to classic horror tropes set in the Carpathian Mountains worth digging up? Or should fans simply revisit Elvira's film debut? Give our chat a listen to find out.
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1:32:32
'Creed III' (feat. film critic Kevin the Critic)
It all ends here. After nearly five decades and nine films, the world of Rocky Balboa — and, by extension, Adonis Creed — comes to a close. Of course, there's still more in the works from these beloved fighters. But until we learn more about Creed IV's development or whatever Amazon has in store for Rocky fans, this marks the final round of our Rocky/Creed mega-series. Kevin the Critic joins us for our final punch, as we talk 2023's Creed III from star and first-time director Michael B. Jordan. We'll discuss how the movie sees Adonis' forge his own path, what new antagonist Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) brings to the franchise, and where we hope to see the Creed family saga go with the now-in-development fourth entry.
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1:26:32
'Creed II' (feat. Jason of Binge Movies)
Congratulations! You've successfully relaunched the Rocky series for a whole new generation, perfectly encapsulating what made the franchise great while updating it for a modern sensibility. So, now what? Where is a sequel to a legacy sequel to go next? That's the task ahead for Creed II. With Steven Caple Jr. stepping in for Ryan Coogler as director, the second film follows Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) as he claims the title, only to find the past creeping its way back. None other than Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) — who killed Donnie's father in the ring — and his boxer son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) reappear with a showdown in mind. Jason of Binge Movies joins Franchise Detours to discuss 2018's Creed II for an epic-length chat. We'll cover whether the film is helped or hindered by its ties to 1985's Rocky IV, how it undermines its theme of fathers and sons, and if it serves as a fitting final appearance for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky. This may be the swan song for "The Italian Stallion" on the big screen. So join us for a heart-wrenching journey through the entire Rocky franchise to date. Next up? The most recent entry, 2023's Stallone-less Creed III!
At Franchise Detours, we believe no movie series travels in a straight line. And through both standalone episodes or ongoing "mega-series," we aim -- one movie franchise at a time -- to explore the wild paths they tread through cinematic history.
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