If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode #455, make sure to do so BEFORE you check out this week’s brand new show. Your friends in podcasting pick up where they left off as both Dean and Phil will reveal their Top Four favorite television series of 2015 (10 thru 5 were counted down last week). After that, Phil explains why he is so thrilled about the sequel to Blade Runner that is finally going before the cameras this summer, and in “Celebrity Deaths” one of the most important entertainment figures in Asia and a beloved American character actor are both remembered. Dean and Phil then tackle Hollywood’s award season, including analysis of the Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild Awards, before launching into the LATEST controversy over the Oscars’ lack of diversity (#‎oscarsowhite). Boycotts generate headlines, membership changes … change the membership. Real change, however, might involve actually changing the awards themselves and your friends in podcasting have some serious ideas in this regard, changes that will reward those unsung in the business for too long, refocus the purpose of the awards AND might just lead to greater diversity. That’s all this week on YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour.

Dean Haglund shares news of his weekly pay-per-laughs improv show where he performs an episode of “The X-Files” live on-stage in Sydney. Phil Leirness reports on his visit to the restored, remodeled and re-opened Los Angeles landmark Clifton’s Cafeteria. Phil then gets on a soapbox about the true purpose of Thanksgiving and the true meaning of gratitude. A legend of Japanese cinema is remembered. A classic of sci-fi cinema is celebrated … And then, your friends in podcasting rush headlong into “the season of self-congratulation”, a time when award-hopeful movies are released en masse and award nominations and film critic top ten lists are announced almost daily. This week, award hopefuls like “Bridge of Spies”, “The Danish Girl” and “The Big Short” and box office blockbusters like “Spectre” are discussed and the Spirit Award nominations (for the best in independent film) are analyzed.

Today is the day the annual movie awards season comes to a merciful conclusion and your friends in podcasting stick the final nail in its coffin with their annual review of the Oscars telecast wherein they reveal who they predicted would win in all 24 categories. As always, there’s a wager involved and for the 2nd year running, you’ll be treated to some classic clips from Academy Awards presentations past. And now, the envelope, please …

A day late, but now available on Stitcher (you can get the Stitcher app and rate and review the show!), your friends in podcasting are back at it, battling back the forces of darkness with their lethal wits and their irreverent bon mots!

Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness discuss the snubs in the recent Oscars’ “In Memorium” tribute, Dean’s upcoming live comedy shows, MesoAmerican art, Chris Carter’s new show, their ongoing search for the TRUTH and much, much more …

Hear all about Los Angeles’ design for a new green space that will rival Manhattan’s High Line (and will give bicyclists and pedestrians an uninterrupted path from Burbank all the way to downtown), learn why Canada doesn’t have game shows, remember L.A.’s first official film czar as well as a folk music icon and some of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s great on-screen roles, and appreciate the difference between “English” and “Irish” …

All that, PLUS, your friends in podcasting examine the storytelling in Harmony Korine’s The Spring Breakers, make sense of the success of The Lego Movie, the failure of The Monuments Men and the claim that Chris Pine’s days as a leading man are numbered following the failure of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

With a full week’s supply of insight, irreverence and inspiration, it’s YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour. Enjoy!

 

It’s Oscar Week here in Hollywood and it’s here on the Chillpak Hollywood Hour Oscar post-game show where the games REALLY begin! Dean and Phil have, as always, ten dollars wagered on the outcome of their predicted winners in all twenty-four categories. Last year, Dean finally notched a win after losing to Phil three consecutive years. Will he maintain that momentum this time around? Find out and enjoy Dean and Phil’s insightful, irreverent and sometimes scathing takes on the motion picture industry’s night of nights. Before the festivities can commence, however, Dean and Phil tantalize you with some details about a trip they took to San Leandro, California, for the UFO X-Fest’s Quest 4 Truth Conference at the historic Bal theatre.

A year ago, in one of their most popular shows to date, Dean and Phil combined high-stakes gambling with a ruthless appraisal of the Oscars, which had taken place the night before. 52 weeks later and it’s finally here again, Chillpak Hollywood Hour’s post-Oscar throwdown/showdown! The scathing commentary! The ugly truths! The tense competition as Dean and Phil’s Oscar predictions are revealed category by category! Listen and learn who will win the $20 office Oscar pool!

Philip Newby was an incredibly gifted actor-writer-performer, and the first guest Dean and Phil ever welcomed to Chillpak Hollywood Hour (27 August 2007, episode #17, back when we were still “From the Heart of Hollywood”). Philip killed himself this past week. Phil and Dean share memories of their friend and try to put this deeply felt loss into some sort of perspective.

Always grateful for the feedback from their listeners, Dean and Phil share some thoughts about their film Spectres sent to them by loyal listener Erynn and answer a couple of filmmaking-related questions and The Sicilian. Finally, Dean and Phil go over the Academy Award nominations with a fine-tooth comb.

The scathing commentary! The ugly truths! Listen and learn who will win the $10 office Oscar pool!