Podcast
Blank Check with Griffin & David
Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. Produced by Ben Hosley.
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Catalog
Episodes
- Cape Fear with Eva AndersonOct 25, 2026 · 2 hr 2 minWe spent 15 years in prison reading the North Carolina penal code and getting absolutely jacked to prepare for this episode. The great Eva Anderson joins us to talk about Cape Fear and all that that encompasses - the nasty 1991 Scorsese thriller, the 1962 Peck/Mitchum classic, the John MacDonald novel The Executioners, this year's wacky Apple TV miniseries, and of course - the classic Simpsons episode. Get ready for some bad Max Cady impressions, a rundown of the ludicrous MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss category, and a detour into the 2004 Billy Crystal-hosted Oscars opening, which Eva worked on. Every man has to go through podcasts to reach paradise.
Watch Billy at the 2004 Oscars
Watch Margos Got Money Troubles and Party Down
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Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.--
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For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- GoodfellasOct 18, 2026 · 2 hr 34 minAs far back as we can remember, we always wanted to podcast about GOODFELLAS.
No guest this week, folks - just the two friends, Producer Ben, and a Griffin Shinemaster Shinebox. From the iconic needledrops to the thinly sliced garlic (actually a bad way of incorporating garlic into a sauce!), from the famous Copacabana oner to the two dogs looking in opposite directions - we have a LOT to discuss this episode. And, we would like to formally apologize to Lorraine Bracco for not covering a good performance of hers until right now. Karen Hill forever.
Listen to Griffin on Podcast: The Ride discuss the new Fast & Furious Coaster
Watch James Grey discuss his bachelor party
Listen to David discuss Resident Evil (2026) on Critical Darlings
Get Tickets to Blank Check Presents: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie on Sun, Oct 25, 7:30pm at the Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
VOTE for Check Book as Best Podcast Newsletter in the Signal Awards!
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The Last Temptation of Christ with Jamelle BouieOct 11, 2026 · 2 hr 22 minThe controversy. The incredible Peter Gabriel score. The Last Temptation of Christ. This week, Jamelle Bouie returns to Blank Check to talk about Scorsese's long-gestating passion project, and David gets to geek out about the history of Christianity. None of us are particularly religious - yet we all find this movie profoundly moving. God bless Marty, man.
Get your tickets to the LIVESTREAM of Blank Check's sold out Bell House show on Fri, Oct 16 at 7:30pm ET! Watch our Scorsese-spectacular live with your fellow Blankies or on VOD (for a limited time).
Get Tickets to Blank Check Presents: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie on Sun, Oct 25, 7:30pm at the Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
VOTE for Check Book as Best Podcast Newsletter in the Signal Awards!
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The Color of Money with Chris RyanOct 4, 2026 · 3 hr 15 minFamously, 1986's The Color of Money was a money gig for Scorsese after a bunch of big-budget bounces. But it sure as hell doesn't feel like one!
Chris Ryan joins us to talk about the original legacyquel, which passed the torch from Newman to Cruise. We're also chatting snooker, Atlantic City, and Warren Zevon this week, so grab your balabushka and chalk. It's in the way that you use it.
Get your tickets to the LIVESTREAM of Blank Check's sold out Bell House show on Fri, Oct 16 at 7:30pm ET! Watch our Scorsese-spectacular live with your fellow Blankies or on VOD (for a limited time).
Get Tickets to Blank Check Presents: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie on Sun, Oct 25, 7:30pm at the Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City
Get your hands on Minnesota Fats: Pool Legend.
Check out Amsterdam Billiards.
Watch Sandler do Werewolves of London.
Listen to David discuss the novelization of Species and Species 2 on the Authorized podcast.
Listen to The Physical Media High Council episode.
Listen to The Watch, The Big Picture and The Rewatchables
Read Chris' Dad's Writing
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- After Hours with Alison SivitzSep 27, 2026 · 2 hr 26 min1985's After Hours - It's the ultimate "one crazy night in New York City" movie. It's also the ultimate Griffin movie (both Dunne and Newman). But is it the ultimate cool person choice for the best Scorsese movie? Let's discuss.
The lovely Ali Sivitz (also known as Bald Ann Dowd) joins us to talk about this deliriously entertaining slice of prime SoHo history. Apologies to everyone who hates when we talk too much about New York. It's kind of difficult to avoid it with this one.
Get your tickets to the LIVESTREAM of Blank Check's sold out Bell House show on Fri, Oct 16 at 7:30pm ET! Watch our Scorsese-spectacular live with your fellow Blankies or on VOD (for a limited time).
Get Tickets to Blank Check Presents: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie on Sun, Oct 25, 7:30pm at the Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City
Read When Real Ann Dowd Met Bald Ann Dowd
Follow Bald Ann Dowd
Follow Ali on IG
Check out Joe Frank’s Monologue “Lies”
Read Public Radio’s Bad Dream By Susan Emerling
Keep your eyes peeled and hopefully there are more Plaster of Paris Bagel and Cream Cheese Paperweights
Read Dwayne Johnson: A Little Golden Book Biography
Check out Tickly Octopus Written and Illustrated by Ruth Galloway
Read Pauline and Rogers’s thoughts on the film
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The King of Comedy with Stavros HalkiasSep 20, 2026 · 3 hr 1 minThis week we're covering Scorsese's The King of Comedy and we've got the real King of Comedy on to talk about how Rupert Pupkin should have done some open mic nights.
The great Stavros Halkias returns to talk Marty, Bobby, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, the Klumps, and his billion-dollar pitch for a new action franchise character named Fuccio Pussighetti. Plus - we all apologize to Jason Mantzoukas.
Blank Check's Merch Store is back! The first round of pre-orders on new items ends September 20.
Watch Jerry Lewis at the 30th Anniversary Screening of King of Comedy.
Watch Don Rickles Tribute, from De Niro & Scorsese.
Listen to our perfect ep on Is This Thing On?
Check out Uncle Stav.
Go see Tony
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Raging Bull with David KrumholtzSep 13, 2026 · 2 hr 15 minDid you pod my cast? DID YOU POD MY CAST?
Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull is often cited as one of the greatest films of all time - one of the greatest boxing films, one of the greatest biopics, one of the greatest screen transformations and lead performances of all time. It's also one of the greatest uses of repetitive dialogue.
The great David Krumholtz joins us to talk about Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, the luminous Cathy Moriarty, and the tonal tightrope this film walks.
Again - DID YOU POD MY CAST??
Check out Krumholtz's De Niro story
De Niro FUCK TRUMP
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- New York, New Yorkwith Lin-Manuel MirandaSep 6, 2026 · 1 hr 59 minStart spreadin' the news, we're podding today...
Broadway icon (and newly minted Disney Legend!) Lin-Manuel Miranda joins us to talk about what is possibly Scorsese's biggest bounce - 1977's New York, New York.
Cocaine, unchecked ambition, and a misguided attempt to try and get Liza Minnelli to do improv led Marty to some dark places. But hey - at least Robert De Niro learned how to play the saxophone! Expect lots of Broadway talk on this episode - with, of course, much props to the "Homie John Kander."
Check out the Disney Legends alongside Lin
Read Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You
Watch Mick respond to Mulaney
Watch The Songwriters: An Evening with The Homie John Kander & Fred Ebb
Read Colored Lights
Check out The Drama Bookshop
Theme from Blank Check, Blank Check Produced and mixed by “Synth Horn Savant" Kyle Joseph
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Taxi Driver with Tracy LettsAug 30, 2026 · 3 hr 49 minYou poddin' to me? Well, listener, actually - we are podding to you. For nearly FOUR HOURS.
The great Tracy Letts joins us to talk about Scorsese's monumental Taxi Driver, a film that is both fully ingrained in the American psyche and completely surprising and effective on every rewatch. Of course we're gonna spend our longest episode ever talking about it! This week, we discuss Paul Schrader's "God's Lonely Man" fixation, Ben's uncle's experiences as a New York City cab driver, the 1976 Oscars, Taxi Driver's themes of male loneliness and white supremacy, the incredible performances of Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster, and how totally normal it is to go to a porno theater on your second date. Oh, and there's plenty of physical media talk.
Taxi Driver discussion begins at 46:52
Listen to the 1976 Draft ep of the Big Picture
Check out MVD Marquee / Radiant / Vinegar Syndrom
Buy The Haunting to listen to Tracy and Sean do a commentary
Watch Bette Davis and Robert Wise, Oscars 1987
Watch "The King of Horror"
Read Transcendental Style in Film
Read You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again
Read Drama: An Actor's Education
Read Night-Shifting for the Hip Fleet “By Mark Jacobson
Listen to Marty go Hogg wild
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore with Katey RichAug 23, 2026 · 2 hr 28 min"Martin Scorsese doesn't make movies about women" - WRONG. "Martin Scorsese doesn't make movies that would work as a long-running workplace sitcom" - ALSO WRONG.
Katey Rich joins us to chat about Scorsese's unexpected follow-up to Mean Streets, 1974's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. We're talking diners, Ellen Burstyn, parenting strategies, "women's pictures," and far more Hootie & The Blowfish than you'd expect from this episode. We're also not "trying silence," okay?
Buy the Hootie and the Blowfish shirt Katey (and David) have.
Listen to the Screen Draft eps with Griffin and Katey.
Read about how Katherine LaNasa says Ghost of Ex-Husband Dennis Hopper Haunted Her: 'It Was Super Upsetting.'
Read Vincent Canby’s review.
Subscribe to Prestige Junkie at the Ankler and Fighting in the War Room.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Mean Streets with Miriam BaleAug 16, 2026 · 2 hr 31 minWe're heading to Little Italy's San Gennaro festival this week with Griffy Parm, David Bags, and the great Miriam Bale as we chat about 1973's Mean Streets - a major breakthrough for both Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro. Join us as we chat about the seismic impact this film had on American cinema, DeNiro's screen persona, those iconic needledrops, and the ways racism and misogyny permeate the film's atmosphere. Also - did you know this movie was mostly filmed in Los Angeles!?!
Listen to Bobby on Off Menu
Follow @judis.annie on Instagram
Read the Next Scorsese series in Esquire
Listen to SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Who's That Knocking at My Door / Boxcar BerthaAug 9, 2026 · 2 hr 23 minKnock knock! Who's there? MARTY, THAT'S WHO! Welcome to the first installment in PODCASTFELLAS - our supersized series on the films of short king and Italian-American asthmatic Martin Scorsese. This guy made some pretty good movies, huh.
This week, Griffin, David, and Ben discuss Scorsese's Little Italy upbringing and his two first features - 1967's Who's That Knocking at My Door? and 1972's Boxcar Bertha. One feels like a film school parody of Scorsese movie. The other, a not-scuzzy-enough exploitation picture. Neither really feel like his true debut.
Check out Mostly True: The West's Most Popular Hobo Graffiti Magazine by Bill Daniel Author
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- A Conversation with Andrew StantonAug 6, 2026 · 1 hr 30 minSurprise! In a first for Blank Check, we’re dropping a bonus main-feed episode featuring a conversation with the Academy Award-winning director of the films we just covered. The great Andrew Stanton joins us for a delightful conversation about Pixar, what happened to scatting, and how Elmo messed everything up for everyone. He answers many questions from Griffin (the Pixar nerd formerly known as FlikLover98), and goes in depth on the ending of WALL-E. Enjoy!
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Toy Story 5Aug 2, 2026 · 2 hr 29 minWoody, Buzz, and Jessie are back - and they're making us freak out about social media! Join Griffin, David, Ben, and Marie as they discuss Andrew Stanton's latest film - this summer's blockbuster hit Toy Story 5. David gets to talk about being a parent. Marie and Ben get to talk about wanting to be parents. And Griffin gets to talk about his special interest - the Toy Story franchise.
Special thanks to Nick “Tiger” Wiger (Doughboys, How Did This Get Played?) and Aiko Tanaka (@aikocomedy) for help with the Japanese translations.
Read Sucker: My year as a degenerate gambler By McKay Coppins
Watch Please take Toy Story 4 away from me by Jenny Nicholson
Read: Toy Story Confronts a Nightmare of Modern Parenting By David Sims
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- In the Blink of an Eye with Joey SimsJul 26, 2026 · 1 hr 59 minDid you know that Andrew Stanton released TWO movies this year? Toy Story 5, of course, but also the centuries-spanning sci-fi yarn In the Blink of an Eye?! This episode is dedicated to the latter - kind of. Theater critic and brother of the show Joey Sims joins us to chat about a BUNCH of things, not limited to In The Blink of an Eye; Off-Broadway plays, caveman movies, Power Rangers, and the status of the Lost in Space IP. It's a tangent-heavy listen, folks.
Listen to Joey’s Pod: House Closed: Theater We Saw
Read about how Off-Broadway's PERFECT CRIME and THE OFFICE halted performances due to theft of pipes at the theatre
Check out the Hayden Planetarium at the New York Museum of Natural History
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The OdysseyJul 19, 2026 · 2 hr 31 minSing in us, O Muse, and let us tell the story of four cunning podcasters, wanderers who gained entry into three different large format screenings of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey across three cities and two continents.
This week, we defied the gods to record an episode with missing King of Ithaca himself, Griffin Newman, as he continues his own mythical journey of trying to survive this European heat wave. Join us for a sensible two-and-a-half-hours gushing about this incredible cinematic event, breaking down our favorite set pieces and performances, and discussing previous attempts to bring The Odyssey to the screen. That Christopher Nolan really can't seem to bounce a check these days, can he?
Read Richard Nilsen’s review of the 1997 Odyssey miniseries.
Check out the Picture House in the UK if you are there.
Check out Mile End Kicks.
Read the classic tweet /post.
Read Bilge’s article about the making of the Odyssey.
Read David’s review.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Finding Dory with Zach CherryJul 12, 2026 · 2 hr 40 minHave you seen Dory? We have!
Zach Cherry joins us to talk about 2016's Finding Dory, a film that made a kajillion dollars and set off a run of four Pixar sequels in a row. In this episode, we're talking about Ellen DeGeneres, animating characters without mouths, the success of Modern Family, live action remakes of already live action films, and Zach's proposed future spinoffs for the Nemo franchise. Young Marlin, Old Marlin, Old Nemo - the possibilities are endless!
Read: After 30 years of Toy Story, Woody and Buzz face the tech age as a Pixar legend comes full circle in E.W. By Nick Romano.
Watch the trailer for The End of Oak Street.
Watch 72 Hours when it comes out
Check out the last Raaaatscraps show on August 8th
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- John Carter with Matt SingerJul 5, 2026 · 3 hr 10 minWe are going to Barsoom with 2012's John Carter - a film that bounced almost as much as the titular hero bounced around on Mars! Matt Singer joins us to talk about this legendary flop - the cursed marketing campaign, the year of Taylor Kitsch, and Disney's acquisition of Marvel and Star Wars, which effectively made John Carter irrelevant almost immediately. Plus, we spend a lot of time talking about X-Men Origins: Wolverine, for some reason.
Read Second-Act Twist By Tad Friend
and
The Untold Story of Disney’s $307 Million Bomb ‘John Carter’: ‘It’s a Disaster’ by Drew Taylor
Pre-Order Matt's Book
Read Matt's Writing
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- WALL-E with David EhrlichJun 28, 2026 · 3 hr 22 minPut on your pod-day clothes, there's lots of world out there! We're joined by David Ehrlich to discuss WALL-E this week - a film many consider to be Stanton's (and Pixar's) crowning achievement, and a film David Ehrlich's son has watched upwards of a million times. Join us for a long-ranging conversation that includes context around Disney's 2006 acquisition of Pixar, discussion about the film's depiction of humans, and speculation about the mental health of robots.
Read: Frankie Muniz Hasn’t Spoken to Hilary Duff in 22 Years, Says Her Mom Interfered in ‘Agent Cody Banks’ Casting and ‘It Pissed Me Off’: ‘I Regret Not Staying Friends With Her’
Check out Erlich’s Review of Lee Cornin’s The Mummy
Listen to Griffin on Podcast Like It’s Talking About Monsters Inc.
Read Ehrlich’s Interview with Stanton
Read Ehrlich’s piece on Alamo Drafthouse
Listen to Ben discuss his good friend Johnny5 on The Flop House
Cool Dad Raising Daughter On Media That Will Put Her Entirely Out Of Touch With Her Generation
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Finding Nemo with Rebecca AlterJun 21, 2026 · 3 hr 18 minWelcome to PODD-C, our series on the films of Pixar stalwart Andrew Stanton! This week, we're kicking off with 2003's Finding Nemo, a film that ushered in nearly two decades of Ellen DeGeneres supremacy and made millions of children remember the exact address of one "P. Sherman." Writer Rebecca Alter joins us to chat about Nemo's immaculate screenplay, the Finding Nemo attractions within Disney Parks, and the under-the-sea craze that had Nemo, Spongebob, and Shark Tale all hitting at the same time. Pixar obsessives - rejoice! Griffin really gets to nerd out here.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Disclosure DayJun 14, 2026 · 2 hr 19 minThis is "Spielberg Face: The Movie." This is radical empathy. This is Emily Blunt Supremacy. This is DISCLOSURE DAY.
Griffin, David, Ben, and Marie break down Steven Spielberg's latest offering, his first sci-fi film and his first contemporary-set film since War of the Worlds in 2005. It's bound to be divisive. We mostly love it. We've got trains, Fableman dynamics, car chases, Janusz Kaminski pools of light, expressions of awe and wonderment - all of Steve's greatest hits! Join us for a wide ranging discussion about aliens, cynicism, and Michael Caine riding a giant bee (completely unrelated to this film).
Listen to Regina Hall on Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
Check out who is getting this year’s Honorary Oscars.
Watch the Close Encounters SNL Sketches.
Listen to The Rewatchables in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ With Bill Simmons, Steven Spielberg, and Sean Fennessey.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- The Way Back with Alex Ross PerryJun 7, 2026 · 3 hr 4 minWe're talking about a very long walk this week as Alex Ross Perry joins us to discuss Peter Weir's final film, 2010's gulag escape drama The Way Back. Remember those couple of years when Jim Sturgess was everywhere? Remember when Peter Weir could barely get distribution for his follow-up to Master & Commander? Dire times. As is the case with most ARP episodes, expect some wild takes about everything from the Coen brothers to World War II movies, plus a very detailed rundown of the National Geographic Films slate.
Check out Videoheaven on the Criterion Channel
Buy some Pavements Merch / Blu-Ray
Listen to Critical Darlings discuss Train Dreams
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World with John HodgmanMay 31, 2026 · 3 hr 13 minBeat to quarters, men..and nice Brazilian lady holding an umbrella! We're sailing the high seas with John Hodgman this week as we unpack one of David Sims' favorite films - 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. We're talking Crowe. We're talking Bettany. We're talking James Cameron's Mexican water tank. We're talking soused hog and we're talking Saluting Day. And yes, we are talking BOATS. Is Ben about to enter his Salty Dog Era? He should!
If you wish to inquire about Ship Happens, shiphappensbrooklin@gmail.com.
Check out the rest of Patrick O’Brian’s work.
Read New 'Master and Commander' Film In The Works, But Russell Crowe And Paul Bettany Probably Won't Be Back BY Ben Pearson.
Listen to The Lex G Podcast.
Pop over to the Sunken Harbour Club if you’re in NY.
Watch Medieval Barber Theodoric of York - SNL
Read Grab your breeches, hoist the mainsail and prepare for an epic ride -- but is 'Master and Commander' seaworthy? By Mick Lesalle
Watch Dicktown on Hulu
Read Hodgman’s Books in any format
Subscribe to Hodgman’s Substack
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- The Mandalorian and Grogu with Chris GethardMay 24, 2026 · 3 hr 13 minThe Mandalorian and Grogu is the first new Star Wars movie in 7 years. It was also directed by Jon Favreau while he was making grilled cheese sandwiches. What the heck is going on with our favorite franchise? "Bad Boy of Blank Check" Chris Gethard returns to the pod to discuss The State of Star Wars: the deal with Dave Filoni, the Male Loneliness Epidemic, how watching Andor felt like texting your ex, and the complete and utter catastrophe of Rotta the Hutt. It's a cathartic three hours, so grab your Grogu Nilla Nummies and buckle up.
Listen to Hits Different
Listen to Beautiful Anonymous
Watch TCGS #28 | Ruin This Show
Watch Chris Gethard: Career Suicide
Read The Bracing Authenticity of Chris Gethard's Career Suicide
Check out Dave Filoni’s “Plan”
Read Star Wars: Thrawn Series by Timothy Zahn
Read the New Canon Novels
Read The Rise of the Fools by Allison P. Davis
Read the Kathleen Kennedy Exit Interview
Watch The George Lucas Talk Show LIVE From Smodcastle with Kevin Smith and Chris Gethard (2024)
Check out Smodcastle Cinema
Watch the 2020 Disney Investor Day Presentation
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- The Truman Show with J.D. AmatoMay 17, 2026 · 3 hr 38 minGood morning! And in case we don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night! JD Amato - often the Christof of Blank Check - joins us for a super-sized episode about Peter Weir's The Truman Show. We're getting into the history of reality entertainment, the implications of Christof's methods, the insanity of this movie's Oscar snubs, Jim Carrey's historic 1990s, and Matt Gaetz's childhood. Did you know that Matt Gaetz grew up in the Truman Show house? Really makes you think. Anyway - we hope you join us for a spirited conversation, but not before you pour yourself a mug of Mococoa Cocoa.
Read David's article with Ed Harris - A New Way of Looking at To Kill a Mockingbird
Buy J.D.'s Book The Endless Game
Watch The Undercovers
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- Fearless with Timothy SimonsMay 10, 2026 · 2 hr 57 minPeter Weir's Fearless is about a man who survives a plane crash and finds that he is no longer allergic to strawberries. It's also a deeply affecting, soulful exploration on what it means to be alive. And, as David Sims says - it's the "final boss" of plane crash movies. "Hitmaker" Timothy Simons joins us to chat about Jeff Bridges, Rosie Perez, "pink cloud syndrome," and aerophobia in this episode, so fasten your seatbelts and brace for impact!
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- Green Card with Esther ZuckermanMay 3, 2026 · 2 hr 45 minMost filmmakers dream of making ambitious, big-budget epics once they're able to cash in their "blank check." Peter Weir wanted to make Green Card. Writer and romcom expert Esther Zuckerman joins us to talk about this 1990 oddity, released the same year as Pretty Woman, but centered around the star persona of Gérard Depardieu instead of Julia Roberts. We're talking about the romcom genre, the many attempts to bring international stars to Hollywood, the golden age of Andie MacDowell movies, and the undeniable smokeshow that was early 90s Bebe Neuwirth in this episode. Pardon our French. Literally.
Get Esther's Book Falling In Love at the Movies
Read FILM VIEW; 'Green Card' Apes 'Pretty Woman'
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- Dead Poets Society with Nia DaCostaApr 26, 2026 · 2 hr 35 minBoys and girls, please open your textbooks. Rip out the pages. Carpe Diem.
We're seizing the day and talking about 1989's Dead Poets Society with filmmaker Nia DaCosta in this episode, but don't get too wild and change your name to Nuwanda or anything! This week, we discuss House MD, prep schools, the fact that David Sims played Puck in a high school production, and Robin Williams' Oscar legacy. O Podcast, my podcast!
Read about Franny's weirder cut
Check out Jack Black's YouTube
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- The Mosquito Coast with Sean FennesseyApr 19, 2026 · 3 hr 6 minWe all have those moments where we just want to disengage from conventional society. We often yearn to go "off the grid." But, would we ever want to go to the Mosquito Coast? HELL NO. Sean Fennessey joins us to chat about Peter Weir's 1986 film that tests the limits of Harrison Ford's likability to the extent that Ben Hosley would describe it as "anti-smile." Allie Fox is a bad hang. The Mosquito Coast? GOOD MOVIE.
Listen to Griffin and David on the Big Picture
Watch Harrison Ford on Conan spoil Star Wars 7
The Great Railway Bazaar
Read Roger Ebert’s review of Paul Blart Mall Cop
Read Rembert Explains America: Burning Man Forever
Listen to The A24 Podcast: A Bigger Canvas with Martin Scorsese & Joanna Hogg
Dive into the Hogg-verse with Davis piece on Joanna Hogg
Watch Ham Hat
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- Witness with Amanda DobbinsApr 12, 2026 · 2 hr 56 minStrap in, DobMob...we're going to Amish Country! The Big Picture's Amanda Dobbins joins us to talk about Peter Weir's Witness, perhaps the zenith of Harrison Ford's hotness, and the film that garnered him his sole Oscar nomination. We're talking Rumspringa, birds and birdhouses (Amanda is not a fan), Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, and young Viggo (which naturally lends itself to LOTR discussion). Listen up, or else you'll be shunned from the Blankie community!
Listen to Griffin and Ben on The Daily Zeitgeist
Check out the Kyle Chandler Men's Health Cover mentioned
Watch Tracy Letts talk shit about Star Wars
Read Roger Ebert's Review
Listen to The Big Picture
Listen to Jam Session
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- The Year of Living Dangerously with Tracy LettsApr 5, 2026 · 3 hr 21 minTracy Letts - Pulitzer and Tony winner, but most importantly The King of Physical Media - makes his much-anticipated Blank Check debut on an episode about a film that has no legitimate BluRay release. The irony! This week, we're discussing Peter Weir's The Year of Living Dangerously, a romantic drama set against the backdrop of Indonesian political unrest. We're discussing the star-power of Mel Gibson, the improbable performance of Linda Hunt, and, because this is Blank Check - the trench run at the end of Star Wars. Plus, we present the King of Physical Media with some meticulously chosen discs.
Log your physical media using CLZ
Check out Night Owl Video if your are in the Brooklyn area.
Listen to The 1988 Movie Draft, The 1982 Movie Draft and The Legal Draft Episodes of The Big Picture
Read the Linda Hunt Interview
Listen to Mike Duncan's Revolutions
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- Gallipoli with Jennifer KentMar 29, 2026 · 2 hr 6 minThis week, we are honored to welcome Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent to the podcast as we discuss Peter Weir's devastating classic Gallipoli. In addition to bringing much needed context on the history of Australian cinema, this episode also delves into the significance of the Gallipoli Campaign in the Aussie national consciousness, the undersung career of actor Mark Lee, and the genius of Peter Weir's approach to telling this story. Plus, we get to ask Jennifer about her role in Babe: Pig in the City AND we ask her to tell her buddy Justin Kurzel how much Ben loves his Assassin's Creed movie.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- The Last Wave with BenDavid GrabinskiMar 22, 2026 · 2 hr 35 minPeter Weir's follow up to Picnic at Hanging Rock - 1978's The Last Wave - deals with similar themes, with colonialism butting against the wild mysticism of Australia's land and people. However, this time...it's WET AS HELL. BenDavid Grabinski - the filmmaker behind the upcoming Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice - joins us to talk about this beguiling film, apocalyptic thinking, Richard Chamberlain's status as the king of TV miniseries, and Tom Shadyac's Dragonfly, weirdly enough.
Watch BenDavid's new movie Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
If you're in New York, be sure to go to Sunken Harbor Club or Nitehawk Trivia
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- Picnic at Hanging Rock with Jane SchoenbrunMar 15, 2026 · 2 hr 33 minOn St. Valentine's Day in 1900, a group of podcasters set out to record an episode about Peter Weir's Picnic At Hanging Rock. Some were never to return...because they got addicted to the calming sounds of pan flute! Filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun joins us to chat about this 1975 classic of Australian cinema, and we're getting into the eerie qualities that make this film such an enduring mystery. From Rachel Roberts' wig drama to frame rate manipulation...from the Aboriginal concept of "dream time" to the casting of actual private school girls...there's much to unpack. But don't worry, we also spend a lot of time discussing The Grabber from The Black Phone 2.
Check out Jane's Dream Film Syllabus
Watch the Virgin Suicides Zoom Reunion
Read Australian Gothic: Peter Weir’s ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ at 50 by Tim Pelan
Check out Jane's Sully Tumblr
Pre-Order Jane's Book Public Access Afterworld
Pan flute accompaniment composed and performed by Alex Mitchell
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- The Cars That Ate ParisMar 8, 2026 · 1 hr 54 minBonjour! Erm...we mean...G'day mates! Our Peter Weir series PODNIC AT HANGING CAST kicks off with Weir's 1974 feature debut The Cars That Ate Paris, a film about the guy who plays Napoleon in the Bill & Ted movies getting stranded in a quirky and murderous Australian town. We're getting into the origins of the Australian New Wave, the various "calling card" projects that Weir made in the beginning of his career, and this film's spiky car which Ben has a lot of affection for, obviously.
Check out the Steve Martin Cold Open - Saturday Night Live
Listen to Griff on Comedy Bang!Bang!
Check out Dirty Laundry on Dropout
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- The Eleventh Annual Blank Check Awards with Joe ReidMar 1, 2026 · 3 hr 3 minLive from our windowless studio in Downtown Brooklyn, it's the 11th Annual Blankies! Joe Reid joins us once again to give out golden Wattos to our favorite films, performances, and craftspeople of the year. Some of our picks are certainly part of the greater award season conversation. Others are Materialists. Join us as we honor the best Putters and Murmurs, the Wettest flicks of the year, and as Griffin debuts his latest Billy Crystal opening showtune.
Listen to This Had Oscar Buzz
Watch Igby Goes Down
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- Die My Love with Alison WillmoreFeb 22, 2026 · 2 hr 59 minOur Lynne Ramsay series comes to a close with last year's Die My Love, which brings us to the realization - damn, have we really never talked about Jennifer Lawrence before? Join us and Vulture's Alison Willmore as we do a full career deep-dive on J.Law, and grapple with this film and Mubi's decision to purchase it out of Cannes for a buttload of money.
Read the NY Mag profile of Darren Aronofsky from 2017
Read Alison's work at Vulture
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- You Were Never Really Here with Sean ClementsFeb 15, 2026 · 2 hr 43 minIn 2018, Lynne Ramsay released You Were Never Really Here, a film about a completely implausible scenario...a townhouse on the East side of Manhattan houses a sex trafficking operation that implicates high-level government officials in its web of depravity???? Could you even imagine?!! Hollywood Handbook's Sean Clements joins us to chat about this eerily relevant film, the literary career of Jonathan Ames, Joaquin Phoenix's screen persona, and Joseph Gordon Levitt's recently announced follow-up to Don Jon.
Listen to Hayes Davenport's (not a guest on this episode) episode of High & Mighty where he talks about newspaper comics.
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- We Need To Talk About Kevin with Jia TolentinoFeb 8, 2026 · 2 hr 48 minThe time has come for us to talk about Kevin. The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino joins us to talk about Lynne Ramsay's depiction of every parent's worst nightmare - 2011's We Need To Talk About Kevin. We need to talk about how Griffin grew up with Ezra Miller, and even auditioned against them to play Kevin. We need to talk about Lionel Shriver's awful politics. We need to talk about Tilda Swinton comparing her performance here to Buster Keaton. And we need to again explain the whole Fantastic Beasts franchise to another guest who is blissfully unaware of Credence Barebone.
Read Jia's Profile of Jennifer Lawrence and her other work at the New Yorker.
Check out the r/HowIsLivingThere
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- Send HelpFeb 1, 2026 · 2 hr 26 minAlmost four years ago, Producer Ben Hosley watched Sam Raimi's "A Simple Plan" and proclaimed that if he'd been in that scenario, everything would have worked out perfectly. With the gleefully satisfying "Send Help," Raimi gives Ben the ending he's always wanted. Join Ben, Griffin, David, and Marie as they chat about the endless likability of Rachel McAdams, the heel turn of Dylan O'Brien, and how the various employees of Blank Check Productions would fare on a deserted island.
Read "Dylan O’Brien Is Ready to Talk About That Accident"
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- Morvern Callar with Emily YoshidaJan 25, 2026 · 2 hr 36 minMommy's back! Emily Yoshida joins the gang to talk about 2002's Morvern Callar, a surprisingly tender film about grief, starting over, and taking a Jet2 Holiday. We're chatting about Samantha Morton's unconventional star quality, our personal history with mixtapes, and the Fantastic Beasts franchise for some reason. Plus, Ben reveals his love of seaside snow, Griffin adds some context from the source material (or whatever he could translate from the Scottish dialect), and everyone agrees that Morvern did nothing wrong.
Watch Shogun Season 1
Check out the official Shogun podcast
Listen to the Emily’s Traitors Podcast: First To Breakfast
Watch Carnival of Souls
Watch the Romano Tours SNL Sketch
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- RatcatcherJan 18, 2026 · 2 hr 5 minWe need to pod about Glasgow. We need to pod about the arresting inner lives of these complicated protagonists. We need to pod about every incredible project Lynne Ramsay has been attached to over the past 25 years that never actually happened. So yeah, WE NEED TO POD ABOUT CASTVIN! Join us as we discuss Ramsay’s debut film Ratcatcher, a striking study of a young boy on the precipice of adolescence in the slums of 1970s Glasgow. Ben discovers that he adores this movie. Griffin discovers that he can make “Lin Manuel Ramsey” a bit. And everyone discovers that Scottish accents are not that easy to imitate.
Watch the Characters Welcome Sketch from Tristan Griffin
Watch Timmy on Fallon
Check out Meshes of the Afternoon
Watch The Mother Project
Check out Notes on the Cinematograph
Watch Barry Jenkins in the Criterion Closet
Listen to the Top 21 Sports movies of the 21st century episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- No Other ChoiceJan 11, 2026 · 2 hr 40 minJoin Pulp Men (and Woman) of the Year Griffin, David, Ben, and Marie as they discuss Park Chan Wook’s latest offering, the silly and sublime No Other Choice. We’re talking about paper, AI-proof jobs, the handsomeness of Lee Byung-hun, the possibility that Director Park is the Michael Jordan of dissolves, and the fact that this is likely Griffin’s favorite film of 2025. Plus, David breaks down over the finale of Stranger Things, and we all apologize for a bunch of stuff.
Read the Chevy Chase New York Times profile.
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- Is This Thing On?Jan 4, 2026 · 2 hr 28 minTesting, testing…does anybody know? Is this thing on? It depends on who you ask, frankly. The Blank Check team are divided on Bradley Cooper’s latest offering, the divorce dramedy Is This Thing On? Can you just walk in off the street to do an open mic at the Comedy Cellar? No. Is Peyton Manning one of our finest athlete actors? Yes. Is Griffin’s opinion of this film possibly strained by his anxiety over the New York City mayoral election? Probably. Join us for an episode that we hope is funnier than Will Arnett’s sad sack stand-up, but also probably not as brilliant as Bradley Cooper’s performance as a guy named “Balls.”
Read the Cybertruck article
Listen to Cannes I Kick It
Watch the Vic Mensa ft. Wyclef Jean performance on Colbert
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- Avatar: Fire and AshDec 21, 2025 · 2 hr 44 minWe went back to Pandora and we all fell in love with a very special lady. She’s a bit prickly. A bit unconventional. But boy, is she something! Join us as we chat Avatar: Fire and Ash, aka VARANG: THE AWAKENING, the third installment in Big Jim’s Sully family saga. Yes, this movie’s a bit messier than the previous ones. Yes, it repeats many of the same beats as The Way of Water. No, we do not care. We are too distracted by our new Na’vi queen.
Listen to Big Jim drop Big Lore on The Town with Matt Belloni (Part 1 - Part 2)
If you're in the area check out Nitehawk Trivia
Watch the Anaconda Trailer to have 3 Bad Minutes
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
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- Ella McCay with Richard LawsonDec 14, 2025 · 2 hr 5 minIt’s pretty hard being the governor of an unnamed state when you’re a 34-year-old woman with a husband who’s the heir to a local pizza empire and you’ve got a brother who has agoraphobia and your sleazy dad keeps leaving you weird voicemails and Julie Kavner is narrating your entire life story! Wooo, that was a lot. James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay is A LOT. Richard Lawson joins us to chat about this very strange movie that feels like a real outlier at contemporary multiplexes. If anything, Ella McCay is a refreshing throwback. Kind of. Minus a few glaring, mind-boggling missteps. Anyway, join us for a fun conversation about this latest Brooksian offering, and stick around for a very exciting announcement about the expansion of Blank Check Productions!
Subscribe to Richard’s newsletter Premier Party
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- Honey Don't with Mattie LubchanskyDec 7, 2025 · 2 hr 35 minHoney Don’t? Honey probably shouldn’t have. But that’s okay, because Honey, we’re gonna talk about it anyway! Writer and illustrator Mattie Lubchansky joins us to close out our Coens series with Ethan and Tricia’s latest offering from earlier this year. How do we feel about Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza as performers? How do we feel about Chris Evans’ “year of trying stuff”? How do we feel about the threatened third film in this Lesbian B-Movie trilogy, “Go Beavers!”? Well, honey, you’ll just have to listen to find out.
Plus - stay tuned after this episode to hear our introduction to The Hudsucker Proxy from our screening at Friend of the Fest at the American Cinematheque!
Read Mattie's books
Check out Mattie's Wife Jaya's writing
Check out Slow Xmas 5
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
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- Drive Away Dolls with mxmtoonNov 30, 2025 · 2 hr 30 minTwo gals and a briefcase full of dicks. What more could an 84 minute caper need? mxmtoon joins us to chat about Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s lesbian road trip movie Drive Away Dolls, and brings with her the fascinating perspective of someone whose first Coen movie was…Drive Away Dolls! We’re chatting about Ethan and Tricia’s unconventional relationship, the legacy of Cynthia PlasterCaster, and the unlikely leading man trajectory of Pedro Pascal. Plus, we’re mourning the dearth of lesbian bars and Geraldine Viswanathan vehicles in our current cultural climate.
Check out mxmtoon’s YouTube Channel
Read Ethan’s Collection of short stories
Support The Lipstick Lounge if you are in Nashville Or Sugar and Spice Bar, The Cattyshack, The Cubby Hole, Gingers
Check out Demon Slayer
Follow mxmtoon on Twitch
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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- The Tragedy of Macbeth with Dana SchwartzNov 23, 2025 · 2 hr 44 minYou can’t say “Macbeth” in a theater, but you can certainly say it on a podcast! Dana Schwartz joins us (in her third Blank Check appearance on a witch-centered film) to talk about Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the first solo-directorial effort from a Coen Brother after their amicable split. We’re debating the success of Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington’s performances, learning about the history of Scottish kings, and discovering Ben Hosley’s family crest in the first Blank Check episode devoted to a work of Shakespeare. Trust us, this isn’t homework. It’s fun!
Listen to Noble Blood
Listen to Hoax
Read Anatomy A Love Story
Pre-order The Arcane Arts
Read If Roast Beef Could Fly
Check out Forbidden Planet
Watch Jefferson Mays’ A Christmas Carol
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs with Paul Scheer & Jason MantzoukasNov 16, 2025 · 3 hr 29 minSix segments. Four legendary movie podcasters. Three and a half hours of keeping David Sims away from his family. Welcome to our Ballad of Buster Scruggs episode! How Did This Get Made’s Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas join the Two Friends to talk about the Coens’ final film together (as of this recording), a grab bag of western vignettes that could have been titled “A Million Ways to Die in the West” if Seth MacFarlane hadn’t already claimed it. We’re picking our favorite segments, chatting about the “wild west” of Netflix projects back when Scruggs was greenlit, and ranking the Coens’ filmography before we cover their solo directorial efforts. Oh, and Jason has a few bones to pick with Griffin and David about a certain section of the True Grit episode.
Listen to How Did This Get Made - Grizzly II: Revenge w/ Jake Johnson
Listen to the Coens on Fresh Air
Check out the Parker Novels
Check out the Darwyn Cook Parker novels graphic novel adaptation
Listen to Telly Savalas’ Album
Listen to Tim Blake Nelson on WTF
Read Joshua Pease piece on Buster Scruggs
Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
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