How do you create a franchise out of characters that were written for shock and not emotional connection? Our hosts turn to the mother of shock-cinema in an attempt to find out, when they check in to Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking classic, Psycho. They discuss how effective the sequels were at utilizing Norman Bates as a protagonist, as well as the traps of having mental health as the ultimate antagonist. They compare and contrast the decisions made by the films versus the original author’s sequel novels, evaluate the Bates Motel setting as a vehicle for generating compelling content, and analyze the much maligned remake for valuable lessons. They conclude by returning to the scene of the crime 30-plus years since its last installment, and determine whether there are any worthwhile themes left that can contribute to the legacy, or if this is a case of the brand being better and stronger than any of its films, when they take a stab at pitching their own ideas for Psycho 5!

How does a screenwriter reuse ideas from older films while still maintaining a cohesive and distinctive style? Our hosts seek tutelage from one of contemporary cinema’s best directors at reinterpreting influences when they examine the two volumes of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. They discuss whether it is a writer’s duty to make the audience despise the villains as much as possible in a revenge tale, contemplate the trade-offs between building mystery versus providing backstory, ask if the protagonist was written to be as empathetic as she could be, and evaluate the effectiveness of the stylistic genre shifting between the two volumes. They then put their training to the test by incorporating genres, sequences, and characters from older, lesser-known exploitation films, as well as grapple with the challenge of structuring a story in non-chronological chapters, when they pitch their own ideas for Kill Bill volume 3!

The keys to successfully adapting a classic story into a modern version are straightforward and clear, but how do you adapt a classic story into a sequel when a follow-up was never written? Our hosts attempt to find those keys when they examine the holiday cult classic, Scrooged. They begin by analyzing the faithfulness of the 1988 adaptation; evaluate the additions, omissions, and changes to the characters and setting; and contemplate whether the magnanimous climax is a believable lifelong change or just a hysterical momentary reaction. They then discuss the four other Christmas novellas written by Charles Dickens in the years after A Christmas Carol, and judge their suitability for potential sequel material, before picking and pitching their own classic story adaptations, and discover what one should look for when trying to create a complementary and worthwhile sequel for Scrooged 2!

How does a screenwriter deliver payoffs for a story centered on two antagonists fighting for the limelight? Starting in 1987, two studios slowly began moving heaven and hell in order to get their franchise villains to face off against one another. Today, our hosts determine if the resulting 2003 film, Freddy vs Jason, was worth 16 years of effort, or if the fight of the millennium was cursed to be a letdown from the start. They discuss how the slasher blueprint should be adapted to accommodate this unprecedented genre crossover, and traverse through the long and arduous history of the dozens of screenwriting attempts to see if any good ideas were left behind in development hell. They then attempt to resurrect the stars for a rematch, when they pitch their ideas for Freddy vs Jason 2!

What are the keys to turning a silly teen comedy into a deceptively substantive story? Full moons aren’t needed when it comes to sniffing out what transformed the 1985 Michael J. Fox hit, Teen Wolf, from just a goofy B-movie to an unlikely success. Our hosts determine what the first movie had that made it feel like the writers really wanted to tell this story, and offer up ways to do the same for the much maligned sequel. They explore other media incarnations and spin-offs for additional inspiration, before finally revealing their own reasons for continuing the franchise when they pitch their ideas for Teen Wolf 3!

How many protagonists can a franchise withstand? Fate is put to the test when examining the overlapping and self-perpetuating paradoxical timelines of the Terminator franchise. Our hosts discover how well its action heroes evolved over the course of 6 films, the appropriate amount of lore and backstory a savior should be given, as well as how many times a villain can be sent back through time before it becomes tiresome. They explore whether the multi-year gaps between sequels helped or hindered the story development, and assess if the multitude of different rights-holders created a fractured existence. Then they traipse through an entire multiverse’s worth of rumors and multimedia off-shoots, before determining if there are any more stories to tell, and if it’s even possible to terminate this franchise, when they pitch their own ideas for Terminator 7!

What are the universal traits of an action hero? Brains and charisma? Brawn and sex-appeal? Or is it simply big bombs and even bigger bums?? Our hosts take a look at action heroes throughout the history of cinema and from around the world. They examine action hero traits and determine which ones are enduring, and which ones are fads, in an effort to see if they can come up with a formula for crafting the perfect, most marketable, audience-pleasing, demographic-encompassing, box-office-smashing, Hollywood motion-picture action hero that will rise to stardom for the rest of time!

How do you create a franchise in a sub-genre that doesn’t emphasize arcs or theme? Our hosts take a look at a cold-case file that’s slated to be re-opened later this year, when they investigate the Naked Gun franchise. They examine its origins as a short-lived, failed TV series, and piece together what was different about the feature film that made it succeed. They discuss ways in which its two sequels could potentially continue or establish plots that would make an audience care. They attempt to honor Leslie Nielsen’s legacy and on-screen character, but find out just how difficult implementing the franchise formula is when trying to answer the ”why now” question after 30 years and with no returning cast. They then wrap things up by applying the lessons learned to a few other failed TV shows, but not before they make their own pitches for The Naked Gun 4!

Our hosts roll out the red carpet for their first ever awards show! They take a look back at the films and franchises they’ve covered over the course of the podcast and hand out some hardware for the characters and sequels that truly deserve some extra recognition. They pay respect to a few of the lesser known actors we’ve lost along the way, and compare their sequel pitches for The Evil Dead and Ghostbusters with the sequels put out by the Hollywood competition. They then nominate and select each other’s best sequel pitch, and wrap up the festivities with advice on how to make award shows more meaningful with the lessons learned from producing the first ever semi-occasional Frankie awards!

Can style compensate for breaking fundamental screenwriting rules? The conspiracy theories run deep when trying to uncover why John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi action-comedy, They Live, never got a sequel or a timely remake. The boys dust off their sunglasses and take a hard look at what allowed the original film to transcend into cult status, while also exposing some ugly truths about its character types and plot points. They then get to experience firsthand just how deceptively complicated it is to continue the story, and determine if this is one franchise that should be exposed or covered up, when they unveil their own sequels for They Live 2!