Going Hollywood - Movies and Television from the Golden Age to Today

Movie Stars, ahoy!  And “The Love Boat” it ain’t— it’s the granddaddy of all disaster films: Irwin Allen’s 1972 classic, “The Poseidon Adventure”. 

A wave crashes, a ship flips, and suddenly a boat-load of Oscar-winners find themselves in a fight to survive when the world turns upside down. This groundbreaking 1972 disaster film didn't just entertain audiences—it created the template that would define an entire genre for decade...

Now boarding TGA Flight #2 non-stop to Rome! We've got elderly stow-aways (and Oscar-winners), surly mechanics, a French New-wave muse,  and oh yes, a former movie star with a briefcase full of dynamite. 

Would you like an aisle or a window seat? 

Please fasten your seat belts as we take flight on "Airport" (Universal, 1970), the iconic film that launched the disaster film genre  dominating  1970s cinema, surprising cr...

In "Midnight Express" (Columbia, 1978) Brad Davis delivers a gut-wrenching performance as a young man whose brief moment of stupidity in a foreign country derails his entire life and inexorably alters his future. Based on the true story of American tourist Billy Hayes’ harrowing fight to survive and escape from a Turkish prison in the 1970s, the film garnered 6 Oscar nominations and two wins (including one for first-time ...

Three producers. Four formats. One television season. “The Judy Garland Show” stands as a fascinating television tragedy that should have been a triumph. 

In the second part of our special tribute to Judy Garland, we discuss the sad but inevitable decline of what was to be the climax of the legendary singer’s career. Network executives shuffled through producers, writers, and formats with bewildering frequency while Judy s...

In the fall of 1963, television audiences witnessed something extraordinary –  the legendary Judy Garland starring in her very own weekly variety show on CBS. What should have been a triumphant venture and crowning achievement to an already legendary career became instead one of entertainment's most fascinating tragedies... and it was all captured forever on videotape.

With a roster of guest stars ranging from old pal...

Listen, mister man! We don’t want to get all “oogly” about it, but Kathy Bates went from a relatively unknown, but respected, stage actress to an Academy Award winner when she portrayed one of cinema's most unforgettable villains in 1990's "Misery." Meanwhile, James Caan, who had disappeared from Hollywood's A-list during the 1980s, found himself back in the spotlight playing the bedridden writer forced to ...

In our final “Mother's May” episode, we explore what may be the most psychologically disturbing maternal figure in film history - Angela Lansbury as Eleanor Shaw Iselin in “The Manchurian Candidate”, a brilliantly prescient political thriller that resonates as strongly today as it did in 1962 release.

The Manchurian Candidate (UA, 1962)

Starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury.

Screenplay by George...

Well, kiss our grits! Our "Mother's May" celebration continues with a TV Mom--  a widow with a young son who became one of television's most beloved mother figures, Alice Hyatt. "Alice" wasn't just another sitcom—it was a cultural touchstone that made Linda Lavin a household name and introduced us to unforgettable characters who felt like family.

Text us & We'll Respond on an...

It’s an interesting Mother’s Day celebration today, as we discuss our two very different experiences with George Steven’s 1948 masterpiece, “I Remember Mama”, the story of the everyday struggles and triumphs of a Norwegian immigrant family in 1910 San Francisco. At the heart of this story stands Mama, portrayed by the extraordinary Irene Dunne in what would be her fifth and final Oscar nominated performance. Dunne brings remarkable...

Happy Mother's May everyone! In our first episode for our special "Mother's May" celebration, we discuss one of the seminal dramas of the 1980s- Robert Redford's Oscar-winning film, "Ordinary People" (1980).

Mary Tyler Moore delivers the performance of her career as Beth Jarrett, America's sweetheart transformed into the emotionally unavailable mother whose brittleness masks unprocessed grief....

It's Tony's birthday and we commemorate the event by celebrating one of the greatest romantic comedies of the silent film era, Mary Pickford's final silent masterpiece…from 1927, “My Best Girl". Far more than just another romantic comedy, this jewel captures a pivotal moment in Hollywood history—the absolute peak of silent filmmaking just before sound would forever change the medium. What makes this nearly centu...

The butler didn't do it! Then again, Dame Agatha Christie never wrote that tired cliche. Join us as we embark on a glamorous, deadly journey down the Nile as we dissect the 1978 adaptation of Dame Agatha Christie's masterpiece, "Death on the Nile", a film that perfectly balances humor, intrigue, and shocking violence against the breathtaking backdrop of Egypt.

Whether you're a mystery aficionado, a...

"Nobody's as good as Bette when she's bad!"

 So heralded a famous movie tagline from the 1940s, and nothing could be more appropriate for today’s film, Lillian Helman's tale of mendacity in the moonlight, 1941's The Little Foxes.  In this classic film, the one and only Bette Davis plays Regina Giddens, a woman whose ambition knows no boundaries, and whose determination knows no limit. Many film scholars...

As we launch into our second season, we couldn't think of a better filmmaker to celebrate than the masterful comedic genius of Mel Brooks. We give our take on two iconic films that showcase different facets of his boundary-pushing humor: "Blazing Saddles" and "High Anxiety. A Mel Brooks, whose commitment to pushing comedy to its limits while maintaining heart and intelligence continues to inspire. What's yo...

It’s our Christmas episode! And what could be more appropriate than celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with one of the most joyous films ever made? From 1958, it’s “Auntie Mame.”  This classic film starring the magnificent Rosalind Russell in her most iconic role has become a holiday staple for many movie fans, and captures the essence of living life to the fullest in this holiday season.

Are we all lit??!

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We’re finishing off our first season of “Going Hollywood” on a high with a true masterpiece of chilling prophecy... from 1976, Paddy Chayefsky's "Network”! We explore how the film foretold the merging of news and entertainment long it became a norm at the networks. Sidney Lumet's collaboration with Chayefsky is also in the spotlight, as we discuss how their work revealed the troubling shift towards opinion-based news...

We explore the 1949 masterpiece "The Heiress," starring Olivia de Havilland, Ralph Richardson, Montgomery Clift, and Miriam Hopkins. Discover how de Havilland's break from Warner Brothers led her to a role that would define an era, as we unravel the nuanced performances and emotional depth of this iconic film. With insights fresh from Brad's first viewing and Tony's long-standing admiration.

The ps...

Ever wondered what it would be like if Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet") had a social media account in today's world? We explore the timeless humor of "Keeping Up Appearances,"(BBC, 1990-1995) drawing parallels between Hyacinth's endearing antics and the curated personas of modern social media influencers. Join us as we journey through the sitcom's charming world, celebrating everything from ...

Revisit a special moment with us as we relive Tony's second appearance on Brad's podcast, "Queer We Are," a conversation so rich we like to think of it as the "lost pilot" of our own show, "Going Hollywood." We discuss Tony's new documentary, "Cary Grant: The Man He Dreamed of Being" and celebrate this icon from Hollywood's golden age. We navigate the tricky waters of disc...