'Before Midnight' (feat. filmmaker Jackson Smith)

A new Franchise Detours mega-series takes flight! Deanna Chapman of The Podcast Life joins us to take a fresh look at 1978’s iconic Superman: The Movie just as James Gunn’s 2025 reboot starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult soars into theaters. We’ll discuss Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal of the Man of Steel, how the original film set the blueprint for superhero cinema, and the enduring legacy that continues to influence the genre and filmmaking today. We’ll also dive into the film’s groundbreaking special effects, its hopeful storytelling, and what Superman: The Movie means for this beloved character’s big-screen future. No matter which version is “your” Superman, this episode welcomes all fans as a celebration of the superhero myth and its cinematic evolution. Join us as we revisit the series launched by director Richard Donner’s original film, including 1984’s Supergirl and 2006’s Superman Returns.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

Buckle up — we’re cruising into a major milestone! Four years and 100 episodes later, Franchise Detours is putting the pedal to the metal with a special celebration that takes you on a high-octane journey through the 16 mega-series we’ve covered so far.Past and future guests Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast, Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast, Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind, filmmaker Jackson Smith, Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast, and David Rosen of Piecing It Together make pit stop appearances as we pull over to revisit favorite moments, unforgettable conversations, and what makes these franchises legendary.Along the way, we'll steer you through reflections on the trip from Episode 0 to now, discussing all 16 mega-series to date in a bracket-style format that leaves one franchise standing. And we'll also announce the first mega-series queued up for 2026. Whether you’re a seasoned co-pilot or just hopping in for the ride, this episode is all about celebrating the road traveled and mapping out the journey ahead. So fill up your tank, roll down the windows, and enjoy the ride as we commemorate 100 exits to date.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtableFollow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

On this episode of Franchise Detours, we reach the final stop in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight. Jackson Smith returns to the show to unpack this raw, reflective chapter in the ongoing story of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy). Set nearly two decades after their first meeting, Before Midnight trades youthful idealism for hard-earned honesty as the couple confronts what lasting love really looks like. We’ll discuss how Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy bring a lived-in authenticity to this bittersweet installment, one that challenges everything that came before it. With its intimate long takes and emotionally charged dialogue, Before Midnight shifts the trilogy’s tone from romantic fantasy to grounded reality. It's a love story, yes, but one that dares to ask what happens after the fairy tale. Join us as we complete our trek through one of the finest trilogies in cinema history.Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

On this Franchise Detours, we continue our stroll through Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy with a stop in Paris and the heartbreaking honesty of 2004’s Before Sunset. Dallin Curtis, The Film Fanatic, joins us to unpack the film’s real-time structure, emotional depth, and themes of missed opportunities and second chances. Nine years after their unforgettable night in Vienna, Jesse and Céline reunite for another epic conversation. But was their brief connection just a fleeting moment or the beginning of something lasting? We’ll dig into how Before Sunset shifts the tone, raises the stakes, and digs deeper into the characters' emotional evolution. Join us as we talk Linklater’s direction, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s electric chemistry, and what Before Sunset teaches us about love, regret, and timing. And be sure to check back next episode as we revisit Jesse and Céline one last time, with an in-depth chat about 2013’s trilogy-ending installment Before Midnight.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

On this episode, we’re kicking off a mega-series on the Before trilogy, which quietly redefined what a franchise could be. Megan Kearns of Spoilerpiece Theatre joins us to unpack Richard Linklater’s 1995 romantic drama Before Sunrise, the film that launched one of cinema’s most intimate and epic love stories.Before Sunrise captures a fleeting connection between two strangers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy), as they wander, talk, and fall in love over the course of a single night in Vienna. We’ll discuss how the film's naturalistic dialogue, romantic spontaneity, and subtle direction helped redefine modern love stories. We’ll also dive into how Jesse and Céline’s dynamic continues to resonate with audiences decades later and what makes Before Sunrise such a timeless beginning to Linklater’s masterful trilogy. Whether you're new to the Before series or revisiting it with nostalgic eyes, this episode sets the tone for the cinematic journey ahead.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtableFollow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

Franchise Detours wraps up its wild ride through the Naked Gun trilogy as we welcome The Famous Ashley Grant to take on 1994’s Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. As Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) comes out of retirement for one last case, Robert and Ashley break down how this third installment pushes the parody further to deliver a grand finale. Together, we’ll explore the film’s biggest swings — from its over-the-top look at police to that unforgettable Oscars climax — and debate whether the final Naked Gun takes solid aim. It’s the end of the line for Frank Drebin. But will he go out with a bang, a whimper... or one last ridiculous pratfall? Catch the finale of Franchise Detours’ Naked Gun mega-series!Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

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!”

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

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.

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.