Your friends in podcasting discuss Netflix’s (perhaps misleading) embrace of movie theaters, they celebrate the resurrection of Todd Hayne’s seemingly dead but now forthcoming detective film (with Pedro Pascal replacing Joaquin Phoenix), and an upcoming movie starring Simon Pegg, Sofia Boutella and Quentin Tarantino. Nia DaCosta’s Hedda gets analyzed, as does the Thai comedy A Useful Ghost and the Charlie Chaplin masterpiece Modern Times. More upcoming movies get previewed and the outstanding discodelic soul of Say She She gets celebrated in the return of “Live Event of the Week”.

It’s part one of a special two-part episode! After a rather hilarious cold open, Dean and Phil immediately get down to the serious (ridiculous?) business of counting down their respective lists of the Top Ten Best Films of 2025. This week, they reveal #10 thru #6 on their lists. As with years past, Dean’s list includes films he has hopefully seen, and Phil’s list stretches the definition of “ten” in “Top Ten”. Because they actually accomplish this week’s task in less than an hour, Phil takes some time at the end to regale Dean with what might be the best sci-fi movies to be coming out in 2026! So, buckle up and prepare to celebrate the (recent) past AND look forward to the (near) future.

This week’s show was recorded several days early because Dean is off to Canada to workshop a new play, to re-visit some of his old, musical stomping grounds, and to prepare for an art show! Phil hosted a live stage show this past week, one that featured such good friends of Chillpak as Lily Holleman and Jon Lawlor. Phil offers a full report in “Live Event of the Week”. An email from a loyal listener about the dangers and responsibility of making historical dramas leads to a fascinating, deeply thoughtful, thorny conversation, one that promises to continue to unfold in the weeks to come. Another friend of the show, Steve Benaquist, drops in to help answer a question from a listener about the current box office smash Weapons before Dean and Phil tackle Marvel’s Thunderbolts* and all of the MCU’s “Phase Five” before turning their attention to the brand small-screen franchise adaptations “Alien: Earth” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”.

From a secret location somewhere in America (actually a rooftop high atop the historic village neighborhood where Phil resides): Dean and Phil got together IN PERSON, and Phil’s better half, Lily Holleman, joined them, first to see an experimental film from 1990 (All the Vermeers in New York) at the American Cinematheque, and then to discuss it (over cocktails). You have probably NOT seen the movie, but the discussion is both interesting AND sets up many later conversation strands that prove hilarious! In fact, if this is not the funniest episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour, it will do until the funniest episode gets here! Partway through, Steve the Turk (who last joined the festivities at a bar in Helsingør, Denmark, when Year 18 Episode 45 was recorded during Dean’s bachelor party) joins the trio. Steve regales with information about Turkey, Denmark and Hamburg, Germany. Personalized license plates, the “No Kings” protests and who Steve the Turk’s “best friend” might be are just some of the hard-hitting topics the team delve into before opening the Chillpak morgue and getting down to the brass tacks of a VERY competitive round of “Celebrity Deaths”!

Today is not only St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also Dean Haglund’s wedding day! Therefore, this week’s installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour is an absolute travel adventure. First, Lily Holleman joins Phil at the Hotel Kong Arthur in Copenhagen to share her thoughts about their trip to Venice. Then, we switch locations to a pub in Helsingør near the Kronborg Slot aka Hamlet’s Castle and the spot where Dean will be entering into the bonds of matrimony. At the pub, while Dean’s bachelor party is getting started, Dean reveals his most recent travel nightmares regales with tales of Turkish Airlines, in-flight movies from Turkey, and robots at the Istanbul Airport. There is a special cameo appearance from a surprise guest, and quite a bit of drinking, plus a lot of fascinating talk about the Copenhagen City Hall, ancient Constantinople and mermaids.

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 …