According to Harold Camping, Saturday 21 May was Judgment Day, so all of us who are still here must be damned! Which only seems appropriate as your friends in podcasting, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness had one HELL of a good time at the US premiere of their film The Truth Is Out There at the Retro Dome in San Jose. After the screening was completed, Dean and Phil took the stage for this LIVE installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour … Hilarity, special guests, audience questions, Phil’s tears … It’s the end of the world as we know it!

Chris Mancini is a stand-up comic, filmmaker and author, who was the guest on Chillpak Hollywood Hour #103 when he discussed his just-published book Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked-Out New Dad with Dean Haglund. Now, he’s back to discuss how the book was received (both commercially and critically), the state of (and future of) publishing, as well as of stand-up comedy, short filmmaking, and CHH “sister” podcast “Comedy Film Nerds”. This week’s installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour will definitely put the “happy” in Happy Holidays!

On Sunday, Dean and Phil drove all the way from Calgary, Alberta to Spokane, Washington. As soon as they crossed the border into the states, they recorded this podcast while driving through the natural splendor of Idaho’s panhandle Pile into the backseat of their rented RAV 4 and listen as your friends in podcasting discuss their on-going search for the truth in a world of conspiracy and their HELL GIGS documentary they shot with Roman Danylo in various parts of Alberta and supernatural British Columbia. Other topics include the war that has broken out in late night television, Jesse Ventura’s conspiracy show and the disaster in Haiti. Deprived of their usual podcast equipment, bringing this show to you again involved a great deal of work on Dean’s part, which is no problem at all as it is a labor of love. This is YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour, after all!

 

At the end of last week’s show, Dean and Phil promised a theme show this week focusing on the greatest heroes and villains ever to grace the silver and small screens. Unfortunately, technical difficulties are preventing that show from coming your way. The good news is that we have a very cool theme show for you anyway, as Dean and Phil reveal their Top Films of All Time! This particular hour focuses on the years 1920 through 1959.

Why is Willard Scott kissing our asses this week? Because we just turned 100, baby! Dean and Phil celebrate this milestone with a special show where they take you on a tour of their DVD collections! Many intimate details are revealed: Such as what titles are “rainy day” favorites, what selections are excellent to have on in the background while doing work, which ones instruct and inspire them, which ones cost the most (!), and which DVD’s are kept unopened and unwatched (Dean and Phil discuss the joy of having such “untouched” titles in their collections). Dean’s collection reveals a diversity bordering on the disturbing. Phil’s collection reveals him to have a very strong nerd component to his makeup! Who knew?!

Join us in singing “Happy Birthday” to ourselves on this week’s Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

 

Dean is back from doing a comedy benefit in San Jose, California. Phil spent all weekend doing paperwork (hush, hush film development work), though he got out to see a comedy benefit here in Hollywood. They discuss both these shows before launching into analysis of a wide range of films. From German cinema “you will never forget,” to the career challenges of once-hot Guy Ritchie, to the over-exposure of Seth Rogen, Dean and Phil offer their insights before finally giving their long-awaited appraisal of what went right and what went wrong with Watchmen.

Phil may be deeply ensconced in the woods of Vermont and Dean may be shooting a movie this week, but neither of those things can keep us from bringing you a brand new show! Long time listeners (like Erynn) have been clamoring for another one of Dean and Phil’s special Top Ten shows. This time, Dean and Phil countdown their all-time favorite comedians … Hundreds of names get mentioned, personal influences and inspirations are revealed and historic context and significance are analyzed. You won’t want to miss it!

Dean and Phil count down their Top 10 favorite television programs of all time. Remember, it’s not what they consider the “best” television of all time. It’s their favorites … and who knew they were both such big fans of “Small Wonder”?!?

Dean, Phil, and their special guest Lily Holleman discuss the booming film industry in the other LA (Shreveport, LA, to be precise). More news on the continuing writers’ strike, plus more good reviews for Phil’s new film “Karl Rove, I Love You”.