Welcome to a truly great episode and it all starts with an alternately touching and hilarious cold open! In “Celebrity Deaths”, Dean and Phil remember a jazz music pioneer, an actor who was an important influence on Dean, and a versatile, prolific, Oscar-winning filmmaker. Last week’s Oscar nominations get analyzed, as does the ensuing anger surrounding supposed “snubs”. After the break, the great film critic Luke Y. Thompson joins the fun, discussing how critics, like performers, can get “pigeon-holed”. He offers up thoughts on the Oscar-nominated The Zone of Interest and the underrated Beau is Afraid, and hips you to a black and white sci-fi comedy that is well worth your 68 minutes! He even talks about toy reviews and toy photography! And trust us, this episode offers a lot of laughs! Find links to all of Luke’s articles and reviews at https://linktr.ee/lytrules. And learn about his work as a toy collector, photographer and reviewer at https://www.eql.com/media/adult-toy-collecting

 

In a cold open, this week’s show begins where last week’s show left off, with Phil delighting Dean with some surprising facts about the late comedic genius Tommy Smothers. After that, Dean and Phil dive into “Awards Season” news, offering up thoughts on the recent Emmy Awards, the forthcoming Oscar nominations, and on how viewing of awards shows might change in the years to come. Suffice it to say, your friends in podcasting and broadcasting have both bones to pick and things they hope to see. Speaking of “see”, Phil saw The Zone of Interest in the recently remodeled and re-opened movie theater where he was married. Dean saw the highly acclaimed romantic comedy from Finland, Fallen Leaves, and explains why he did not enjoy it. He also takes the time to explain why Phil does not enjoy the all-time classic screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby! Dean and Phil also weigh in on their thoughts regarding Alec Baldwin (once again) getting charged with involuntary manslaughter for the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. All that, plus Phil turns “Celebrity Deaths” into a game, quizzing Dean on his cultural literacy, and there is a crackerjack production meeting on the air!

Last week, Dean and Phil got Season 4 of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour underway with an hilarious and fascinating installment recorded in the nation’s capital. This week, Dean is back in Detroit, Phil is back in Los Angeles, and they have a ton to follow up on, as well a great deal of show biz to news to catch up on! Here is just some of what they have on their agenda: Dean’s thoughts about the need for all-encompassing cultural experiences, highlights (and lowlights) from his D.C. adventures with friend of show John Kay Steel, two inspiring live events Phil attended this week, the avalanche of movie and television award news, a juicy celebrity-laden “Lawsuit of the Week”, and several “Celebrity Deaths”.

Last week, Dean and Phil said hello to 2024 and said goodbye to “Season 3” by welcoming a special guest and discussing their creative intentions for the year. This weekend, Dean and Phil got together in the nation’s capital to get “Season 4” underway by swapping stories about art galleries, historic battlefields, historic D.C. clubs, the James Webb Space Telescope, New Jersey restaurants, Wim Wenders and his 3D documentary about the artist Anselm Kiefer, and a whole lot more. A whole lot of laughs ensue!

Years back, Dean & Phil used to start each year with a show where they revealed their New Year’s Resolutions. They stopped doing this because their perceived failures to fulfill their resolutions started to become depressing! Flash forward to present day and your friends in podcasting and broadcasting participate in a “side project” called The Art Life with good pal (and creator of many Chillpak Hollywood Hour theme songs) Jon Lawlor. Each week they hold each other’s feet to the fire as they try to free up their creativity, make it manifest in the world AND encourage each other to live more artful, authentic lives. This weekend, they discussed their intentions for 2024 and how they intend to set their compasses to their true North(s). We thought it might prove interesting, funny and maybe even inspiring, so we are sharing that conversation with you. Happy New Year, one and all!