Just in time for Halloween (because we procrastinated like a week) it’s 1987’s Evil Dead 2, directed by Sam Raimi! Will Jon need a hand convincing Ali that this is groovy? Or will it swallow their souls? No, I will not apologize for writing that and yes, this was the first draft. THIS INTERVIEW IS OVER! (Hey, at least this one is short)

They’re baaack! And by “they",’ we mean Ali and Jon, watching 1986’s Poltergeist II: The Other Side! Ali just wants The Angel. Jon cahoots with no one. Can both become warriors in time? Who knows? Who cares? Hopefully you, or we’re wasting your time! P2: Judgement Day was directed by Brian Gibson and stars almost everyone from Poltergeist: Just the One Side.

Apparently it’s International Podcasting Day, which is what Jon is going to pretend is the reason we’re launching a few days late this week and not general bad scheduling. Anyway, we’re celebrating it with a dive into the cool waters of 1982’s The Dark Crystal, co-directed by Frank Oz and Jim Henson. Ali has wings. Jon doesn’t. It all makes sense in the end, sort of.

This week, Ali shows Jon the greatest 80s French farce. And after they get done watching Noises Off, they watch 1988’s Big Business, directed by Jim Abrahams and starring Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and Bette Midler! Ali’s a city mouse! Jon’s a country mouse! Both are trapped in a world they never made! Like Howard the Duck, who is not mentioned in the episode even once! Not sure why I’m bringing him up! I should go to bed! Big Business also stars Fred Ward, Michael and Mary Gross, Edward Hermann, Michele Placido, and SO MANY MORE PEOPLE I DON’T FEEL LIKE GOOGLING! GOOD NIGHT! PS: At one point I (Jon) call the creator of Garfield “Jim Abrams.” This was actually the name of my best friend in 3rd Grade. I have no excuse. I wasn’t tired then.

OH MY GOD Y’ALL. I DON’T THINK I CAN EVEN WRITE UP ANYTHING. Just listen.

Jon introduces Ali to a world of epic whimsy with 1988’s Willow, a movie that could best be described as “Asylum Pictures Presents: Lord of the Rings.” Ali just wants to get out of her crow cage. Jon stole the baby. Both are a raging Eborsisk of nostalgia. Willow was directed by Ron Howard and stars Wicket, Iceman, and a cast of dozens (including a surprisingly non-dirtbag Gavan O’Herlihy!

Ok, look: it turns out it’s very hard to get your stuff together during a pandemic, even if you’re both in the same house. Anyway, we finally recorded an episode! And it’s Working Girl, from 1988, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, and a bunch of other great people! Seriously, a stacked cast. But was it worth it? Jon is terrified to find out. Ali is terrified this one will once again be longer than the movie. Both are making no promises when #54 finally comes out!

Can you, fly Ali? This episode, Jon shows Ali the classic 1987 action movie/social satire Robocop, directed by Paul Verhoeven. Ali enjoys a rousing game of NUKEM! Jon buys that for a dollar. But will they be able to overcome Directive Four? Either way, dead or alive, you’re coming with them. Robocop stars Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Red from that 70s Show, Sol Gann, Albert from Twin Peaks, Leeza Gibbons, Ronny Cox, and so many more character actors!

In a fitting tribute to the largely plotless ambling of 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire, Ali and Jon spend a tremendous amount of time not really talking about anything at all, but they look good doing it. Ali walks right into a terrible joke at the beginning, Jon walks a fine line by making it. Both play some sweaty saxophone solo because it’s a Schumacher movie. St. Elmo’s Fire was indeed directed and co-written by Joel Schumacher, and stars most of the core of the Brat Pack, plus poor Mare Winningham. OH, AND MARTIN BALSAM AND DICK VAN PATTEN’S SISTER!

Surely this can’t be our 50th Episode? Insert Dadjoke here, while we take the liberty of monkeying with our format mildly to talk about the relationship between the 1957 Canada-centric thriller Zero Hour! and 1980’s disaster spoof Airplane! Will Ali make it 10 minutes without starting to quote the movie? Can Jon set their past aside and talk her down? Can either find someone who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner? Yes, but that’s not important right now. They have a pod to cast.