"Shills" with Erin Bowles

Filmmaker Devin Das hits up the video store to rent the GREATEST ACTION MOVIE OF ALL TIME! "Die Hard" meets "Predator" meets "The Hunt for Red October" meets "Ocean's Eleven" meets "The Purple Rose of Cairo" meets "Last Action Hero" meets "8 1/2" meets "The Studio" meets "Chef" in the unfuckingbelievable TRUE STORY "McTiernan!" Learn about all of Devin Das's movies at devindas.com This is a (slightly abridged) rerelease of an episode that was originally released on September 22, 2025. David wasn't able to get to the video store this week because they issued a restraining order against him. He came up with a workaround for next week. This episode's artwork incorporates a photograph by Andy Watkins. Stephen Root turns 75 on November 17. Please wish him a happy birthday if you see him.

Writer Susan Bridges (of the comic book "Star Trek: Voyager - Homecoming" and the graphic novel "DC Princesses of the Universe") visits the video store and rents a 2000 teen romance movie that seemingly came from some sort of alternate reality! In the homonormative society of "STR8," the popular girls are good in shop class, the popular boys are into musical theater, and straight kids are bullied in high school. Get all the info on Susan's comic books, graphic novels, TV shows, films, podcasts, and more at birdguest.com Get your copy of the New Zealand women's firefighter calendar (and support breast cancer research) at https://breastcancercure.org.nz/pages/wahine-toa-firefighter-calendar-1 Episode art incorporates photography by Laura Rivera.

Fard Muhammad, co-host of the live variety/comedy/talk show "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," returns to the video store to rent the FREAKIFYING modern horror movie "AI Detector." College freshman Storm Reid faces an accusation that she used AI to write her English essay. Nothing she does can convince the nefarious Dean of her innocence as the tests she undergoes turn more sinister! Come see the Halloween SpecDRACULAr special installment of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" on Tuesday, October 27 at the Hobgoblin Playhouse in Hollywood. Fard co-hosts, and David will be there presenting a SCARY "Classic Movie Corner." Tickets are on sale now: https://events.thestagecrafts.com/projects/15372?tab=details This episode's artwork incorporates photography by Dan Counsell, Denny Müller, and Sister Circle TV, whose image of Storm Reid is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Mike Celestino, host of the live variety/comedy/talk show "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," returns to the video store to rent the SPOOKIFYING modern horror movie "Anechoic Chamber." Aaron Paul enters the newest million-dollar giveaway from dipshit YouTuber MrCreature. To win the cash prize, he must spend 30 days in a soundproof room with no stimuli. Will this contest make him rich, or make him lose his mind??? Come see the Halloween SpecDRACULAr special installment of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" on Tuesday, October 27 at the Hobgoblin Playhouse in Hollywood. Mike hosts, and David will be there presenting a SCARY "Classic Movie Corner." Tickets are on sale now: https://events.thestagecrafts.com/projects/15372?tab=details Today's movie is brought to you by Dos Baños Mezcal, the only mezcal brand with just a hint of shit. Do you ever go to the bathroom for a #2 and think to yourself, "This doesn't smell that bad"? Get that feeling every night, with Dos Baños Mezcal. This episode's artwork incorporates photography by Markus McKay and Adamantios, whose photograph of the radio-frequency anechoic chamber is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Mad scientist Dr. Bethany Carboneau takes another trip to the video store, this time to rent the FREAKIFYING tale of internet-enabled appliances gone horribly wrong, "Smart Home" starring teen-actor-turned-adult-actor Topher Grace. Everything in his home is smart... except him! Come see the Halloween SpecDRACULAr special installment of the live variety/comedy show "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" on Tuesday, October 27 at the Hobgoblin Playhouse in Hollywood. David will be there, presenting a SCARY "Classic Movie Corner." Tickets are on sale now: https://events.thestagecrafts.com/projects/15372?tab=details This episode's art incorporates photography by Alexandre Boucey and Johannes Beilharz. 

Author and podcaster Ashe Sass-Woodward (host of the horror analysis show "The Spooky Scholars Podcast") visits the video store and rents the slasher movie masterpiece (SLASHTERPIECE!) "Cinema of Blood!" Acclaimed actress Glenn Close has been nominated for the Oscar 8 times, but has never won. After one final insult from the Academy, she doesn't just lose the Oscar, SHE LOSES HER DAMN MIND! Listen to Ashe's show "The Spooky Scholars Podcast" wherever you get your podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-spooky-scholars-podcast/id1603009187 Episode art incorporates photography by Max Surprenant, Merch Husey, and Russel Bailo.

Comedian Katie Novotny swings by the video store to rent the rousing musical movie "The MLM Woman!" 20 years after the smash success of "The Music Man," Meredith Wilson's failson created this musical about a NEW grifter coming to River City to offer the townsfolk all-natural oil and herb supplements to cure any ailment up to and including cancer. Get Katie's new comedy album "Son of Your Dreams" on iTunes or Bandcamp. You can pre-order now, and the album releases October 2. https://linktr.ee/burnthisrecords?lt_utm_source=lt_share_link#598944367 Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katienovotnyyyyy/ Visit Katie's website: https://www.katienovotny.com/ Episode artwork incorporates photography by Polina Rytova and illustrations by Rahmad Kurniawan and Vector Elements.

In honor of Mike Celestino's new live comedy variety talk show "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," here's a new Special Collector's Edition of his first "Forgotten Video Store" episode, the sleep paralysis horror movie "The Hat Man." This isn't just a rerun, this includes ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES! The type you'll remember from the golden age of DVD: audio commentary, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, and an interview with the real figure who inspired the movie! Don't miss "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" at the LA Connection Theatre, in Burbank, California, at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 22. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Link here: https://www.purplepass.com/events/385080-say-goodbye-to-hollywood-a-celebratory-funeral-for-the-entertainment-industry-sep-22nd-2026

Writer Tilly Bridges (the comic book "Star Trek: Voyager - Homecoming," the graphic novel "Just Another Summer") swings by the video store to rent the science fiction teen adventure movie "You and What Army?" What if you could go back in time one day and meet yourself from yesterday? And then you both go back an additional day and meet yourself from that day and now there's three of you? What if all three of you go back yet another day until... things get very confusing. Jenny Lewis plays a centuple role in "You and What Army?" Find out more about Tilly's writing (including "Star Trek" and "Just Another Summer" and much, much more) at birdguest.com Follow Tilly on BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tillybridges.bsky.social) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/heckyeahtillybridges/) Read Tilly's weekly essays about the trans experience at https://www.tillystranstuesdays.com/ Come see David perform his film history talk "Classic Movie Corner" as part of the live variety comedy show "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" at the LA Connection Theatre in Burbank, California, on Tuesday, September 22. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.purplepass.com/events/385080-say-goodbye-to-hollywood-a-celebratory-funeral-for-the-entertainment-industry-sep-22nd-2026 Episode art incorporates images from Johnson Martin and Sean Benesh.  

Actor, film scholar, and podcaster Erin Bowles (of the Fox sitcom "Welcome to Flatch" and the podcast "Required Reading") heads to the video store to rent the pre-code romantic screwball comedy movie "Shills." This movie has a ton to offer: Splashes of naughtiness! Drinking culture during prohibition! Roommates who have to pretend to be married! Depression-era influencers! Listen to Erin's wonderful podcast "Required Reading" wherever you prefer to get your podcasts. (Apple Podcasts link) Check out Erin acting in "Welcome to Flatch" (link to Amazon) and keep yer peepers peeled for her in "Gaslit" (Amazon link) For more lively discussions of classic movies (and so much more) follow Erin's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@erinrbowles Episode art incorporates photography by Rosario Fernandes, NBC Television, and Sean Benesh.