Brace yourself for a mind-melting trip into cinematic obscurity as Mike White, Heather Drain, and Ben Buckingham dive headfirst into There Is No 13 (1974), the elusive, long-suppressed anti-war film from director William Sachs. Blending absurdist humor, surreal vignettes, and unflinching commentary on the Vietnam War, the film follows draftee George Thomas (Mark Damon) through a fractured journey of memory, fantasy, and emotional unraveling.
Almost impossible to find and never properly released in the U.S., There Is No 13 has lived more as rumor than repertory staple, with tales of government pressure and controversy haunting its legacy. First screened at the Berlin Film Festival to strong reactions, it’s become a ghost of radical cinema -- one that challenges, confounds, and sticks in your brain like shrapnel.
As part of our “Maudit May” celebration of cursed and forgotten films, this episode comes with a warning: spoilers abound, so track down this rare gem if you can. Then come back for a lively, unfiltered discussion of one of the strangest anti-war films you’ve never seen.
Special Guests: Cary Woods, Rob Fried Guest Co-Hosts: Amy Nicholson, Mike Sullivan
Mike welcomes film writer Mike Sullivan and critic/podcaster Amy Nicholson to dig into So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Tommy Schlamme's cult romantic comedy where Mike Myers plays it (mostly) straight — no prosthetics, no outlandish characters, just a jittery San Francisco beat poet navigating his fear of commitment. That is, until his charming new love, played by Nancy Travis, starts to look suspiciously like a black widow killer. Expect plenty of riffs on the film’s quirky mix of romance, murder mystery, and Myers’s rare leading-man turn — plus some love for its killer soundtrack and sharply oddball 90s vibe.
Producers Cary Woods and Rob Fried join Mike to discuss the behind-the-scenes of the film.
Addendum: I think that it may have been James Gammon who played Gus, Charlie's mentor, in the deleted scenes.
Mike was asked to return to the Caliber 9 from Outer Space podcast where he talked about the 1948 Anthony Mann film Raw Deal where Dennis O'Keefe is torn between two women as he battles against Raymond Burr. Rob Spencer and Joe Odber also opted to allow Mike to fawn over the 1986 film Raw Deal from director John Irvin, a strange poliziotteschi set on American soil starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mark Kaminski, a small town sheriff who has to go undercover to help his friend Harry (Darren McGavin) to avenge his son. Mark also shares some valuable advice for when alcohol and baking don't mix.
Special Guests: Ken Finkeleman, Robert Hays, James A. Watson Jr., Al Jean, Mike Reiss Guest Co-Hosts: Mark Begley, Chris Stachiw
In an episode 14 years in the making, Mike White, Mark Begley, and Chris Stachiw discuss Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), the zany follow-up to the original comedy classic. The episode features exclusive interviews with Ken Finkleman, Al Jean and Mike Reiss, plus conversations with Robert Hays and James A. Watson Jr.. Expect hilarious stories, insider perspectives, and a look at how the sequel carved its own path in comedy history.
Music:
"Airport Check-Ins - Richard Hazard & Elmer Bernstein
"Are there any other problems?" - Richard Hazard & Elmer Bernstein
"Out of My Way - 'This is the future'" - Richard Hazard & Elmer Bernstein
"Battlestar Galactica (Main Theme)" - Stu Phillips
Special Guest: Ginette Vincendeau Guest Co-Hosts: Judith Mayne, Lumi Etienne
Tension simmers and explodes in La Haine (1995), Matthieu Kassovitz’s electrifying portrait of disenfranchised youth in the Parisian banlieues. Mike is joined by guest co-hosts Lumi Etienne and Judith Mayne for a deep dive into the film’s kinetic black-and-white visuals, pulsing energy, and unflinching look at police violence, social unrest, and systemic alienation.
Set over a volatile 24-hour span, the story follows three friends -- Vinz, Saïd, and Hubert (Vincent Cassel, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Hubert Koundé) -- as they struggle to navigate a world marked by brutality, disillusionment, and rage.
Special guest Ginette Vincendeau, one of the foremost scholars of French cinema, brings essential context to the conversation, examining La Haine’s place in postcolonial French film, its socio-political impact, and its enduring relevance in the global discourse on race, power, and resistance.
The final squad room door closes on The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller, and we’re going out with one heck of a sendoff. In this emotional farewell episode, Mike and Chris are joined by returning guests Otto Bruno and Richard Hatem to break down the landmark three-part series finale—aptly titled Landmark.
Together, they explore the bittersweet end of one of television’s most quietly groundbreaking sitcoms, from Barney’s unexpected promotion to the fate of the squad room regulars we've come to love. It’s a deep dive into the final notes of a show that blended comedy, humanity, and social commentary like no other.
The gang reflects on what made Barney Miller so enduring—and why its goodbye still hits home all these years later.
Guest Co-Hosts: Jonathan Melville, Maurice Bursztynski
Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom -- Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the grim reality that the fallout is heading their way.
The episode explores the emotional depth and existential dread of both adaptations, from the restrained melancholy of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner to the more modern approach with Armand Assante and Rachel Ward. With perspectives shaped by different eras, the hosts unpack how each version captures the quiet devastation of waiting for the end.
Along with doing the various podcast Mike already host/co-hosts (The Projection Booth, The Shabby Detective, The Life & Times of Captain Barney Miller, Midnight Viewing, What No Fucking Ziti?!, Chasing Chevy Chase, etc), he occasionally gets asked to be on other podcasts. Here's a colleciton of the latest guest appearances he's made.
We start with Cinema Chat with David Heath where Mike joined David to discuss William Friedkin's The Night They Raided Minsky's, a period piece about the death of vaudville.
We continue with:
Cinematic Smorgasbord: Episode 267 - You Don’t Know Dick - Used Cars:
Love That Album Episode 184 - Record Store Memories Part 2:
Guest Co-Hosts: Ben Buckingham, Heather Drain
Special Guests: 
Mike was asked to return to the 
Special Guests: 
Special Guest: 
Guest Co-Hosts: 
