Don’t Push Pause

With Friday the 13th creeping up again, it felt like the perfect time to head back to Camp Crystal Lake.

In this episode, Lindsay & Justin take on the entire FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise — from the original summer camp shocker to telekinetic showdowns, red herrings, Manhattan field trips, outer space upgrades & beyond.

But before these evocative debates, we rewind to the beginning & revisit the 1980 original — the scrappy little slasher that proved a good title, a creepy camp setting, & a lot of creative kills could launch one of horror’s most unstoppable sequel machines.

The ranking of all 12 films will be revealed, favorites will be defended & sanity will be questioned throughout countless machete slayings.

The rankings are in. Friendships may not survive, but Jason Voorhees will never die.

We said we wouldn’t be back until 2026… but we were infused with the spirit of the season. When the world gets overwhelming, we turn to movies that remind us why we love them… and also why nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.

This is a full-blown, four-alarm HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

Not only are we diving into Christmas movie classics, subgenres & our personal favorites, we’re also going behind the scenes of how the beloved NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION came to be. Favorite moments & quotes abound with this one!

So grab a mug, get cozy & deck the halls with the Griswold family.
Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol? 🎄✨

Halloween’s our favorite season, and despite being away from the mic for almost a year, we couldn’t let it pass us by. So we’re back — just in time for spooky season — with a special Don’t Push Pause comeback episode!

This year’s treat? We’re kicking things off with Ranked!: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (Franchise) — a sneak peek at our all-new format coming in 2026. Our deep dives into the best films of yesteryear aren’t going anywhere (never fear), but exciting changes are ahead, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride.

For now, it’s time to face off. Justin and Lindsay compare their rankings of every Elm Street film — from dream demons to meta madness. Grab your popcorn (and maybe stay awake)… because Freddy’s not the only one making a comeback.

Nothing says Halloween like multiple tales of terror & revenge! The magical collaboration of George A. Romero & Stephen King was born from a genuine love for the horror genre, comradery & ingenious creativity. Join us for this dive into the lively CREEPSHOW spirit & how it became one of the most celebrated horror anthologies around. 

///***Discussions include***\\\
Bringing Romero, King & Tom Savini together; EC Comics, formation of the film & assembling an anthology screenplay; dissection of individual stories, tonality, common themes; bits about the cast & performances, plus special effects, editing & music; release, reception, favorite moments, longevity of the franchise & plenty of behind the scenes action.

Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Stephen King, Leslie Nielsen, E.G. Marshall & so many more star in CREEPSHOW (1982) /// Directed by George A. Romero.
 
///***Picks of the Week***\\\
 • Lindsay’s Pick: TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972). Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Richard Greene /// Directed by Freddie Francis.
 • Justin’s Pick: TALES FROM THE HOOD (1995). Clarence Williams III, David Alan Grier, Rosalind Cash, Corbin Bernsen /// Directed by Rusty Cundieff.

///***MurrayMoment***\\\ Bill gets some innocent revenge on a well-known film critic.

///***Final Thoughts on CREEPSHOW***\\\
 
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 • Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders.
www.dontpushpausepodcast.com
[email protected]

Be Kind & Rewatch // October 15, 2024

Prior to 1982’s FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, few films were brazen enough to depict an honest slice of teenage high school life. But that all changed with the keenly observant & smart pairing of writer Cameron Crowe & director Amy Heckerling. Not only did it usher in a brave new baseline for teen stories, but it also launched countless budding careers. Let’s head back to school & rediscover the film that was edgy for its time… and now feels more progressive 40 years later!

///***Discussions include***\\\
Brief recap of Cameron Crowe’s early career & what led to his novel, Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story, becoming a film; finding director Amy Heckerling, her relationship with Crowe & importance of a female voice; intense studio concerns, adapting the book, changes, creating a narrative flow, emotional complexity & tonality; soundtrack, the film’s ending, memorable moments, in-depth character & cast discussion; struggle with the MPAA, editing, test screening, release/reception, plus the top movies of 1982.

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates & Sean Penn star in FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) /// Directed by Amy Heckerling.

///***Picks of the Week***\\\
    •    Lindsay’s Pick: THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY (2001). Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming, Phoebe Cates, Kevin Kline, Jennifer Beals /// Directed by Jennifer Jason Leigh & Alan Cumming.
    •    Justin’s Pick: RUSH (1991). Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jason Patric, Sam Elliott, Max Perlich /// Directed by Lili Fini Zanuck.
.
///***MurrayMoment***\\\
Cameron Crowe’s seemingly impossible feat of landing Bill for his 2015 film, ALOHA.

///***Final Thoughts on FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH***\\\

Coming in October:  CREEPSHOW (1982)

    •    Please rate, review & subscribe.
    •    Follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube.
    •    Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders.
www.dontpushpausepodcast.com
[email protected]

Be Kind & Rewatch // September 17, 2024