HEYYYYYYY!!
Huge thanks to everyone who came out to see us at Flashback Weekend Horror Convention last weekend — what a blast. It never gets old getting to hang out with fellow horror Tribe in person, and I’m still buzzing from it.
Reminder: This Wednesday, August 12 at 7 pm is ‘Nick’s Pix’ Screening: Defending Your Life at the Lake Theater in Oak Park! Come hang out for the movie, discussion, trivia, and prizes.
And I’ve got some exciting news — I have a new book coming September 15th from Eckhartz Press called 40 Years, 40 Horror Films. It’s my love letter to the horror genre, featuring essays on the best horror movie of each of the past 40 years. AND: Svengoolie wrote the foreword! It’s available for pre-order right now — more details down below!
Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the Pop Culture Village...
Monica Eng from Axios Chicago is back to talk about the stories she’s been covering, including Chicago’s $13 billion lead pipe problem, the latest twists in the CPS budget drama, the best food to grab at Sox Park, the passing of Corny the Cornstalk, where to find great Uyghur food in Albany Park, and who really serves the best Chicago-style hot dog in the city.
Esmeralda Leon jumps in later, and we look back on the fun we had at Flashback Weekend before diving into some of the most awkward, outrageous, and unforgettable talk show appearances of all time — from Tom Cruise’s couch-jumping moment to Bobcat Goldthwait setting a couch on fire.
I recap my weekend at Flashback Weekend and let you know how to pre-order my new book. With Consumerman Herb Weisbaum on vacation, I take the reins for this month’s “For The People” segment, covering the latest consumer news along with money-saving tips on groceries, services, insurance, and more.
Later, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins me to talk about the latest vehicles he’s been test-driving. We also get into what’s going on with Tesla, how long you should really warm up your car, and look back at a pair of automotive oddities — the 1974 Dodge Colt and Canada’s Monarch. Plus another round of #StarSpotter, #MysteryShow, and more.
I look back at one of the funniest and strangest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history: The Legend of Bill Brasky. Created by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, these late-night classics feature a table full of loud, drunken businessmen swapping increasingly outrageous stories about the mythical Bill Brasky, whose exploits as a lover, salesman, father, and inventor get more absurd with every tale.
You’ll hear several of the best Brasky sketches, featuring Will Ferrell alongside David Koechner, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, and hosts Alec Baldwin and John Goodman. I also share some behind-the-scenes stories and dig into why these sketches remain some of the weirdest, funniest work from the legendary McKay and Ferrell writing team.
Last Week!
Next Week!
Eli Roth: RANKED
Ricky Gervais Rules
In Theaters Now
Streaming
Alley Cats – Season 1 on Netflix
August
Defending Your Life (1991)
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 pm
Albert Brooks’ delightfully odd afterlife comedy is one of my all-time favorites — funny, sweet, and secretly profound. It follows a recently deceased ad exec who must defend the choices of his life in “Judgment City” before he can move on. Come see one of the smartest comedies ever made about facing your fears.
Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.
September
Duck Soup (1933)
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7 pm
The Marx Brothers at their absolute peak — a gleefully anarchic war satire that’s routinely ranked among the greatest comedies ever made. Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo tear through Freedonia with some of the sharpest, silliest gags in film history.
Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.
October
The Babadook (2014)
Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm
One of the best horror films of the last decade — a devastating, deeply human allegory about grief and motherhood wrapped in genuine, skin-crawling dread. Jennifer Kent’s debut earned raves from horror fans and critics alike (William Friedkin himself called it one of the most terrifying films he’d ever seen).
Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.
November
One False Move (1992)
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm
A tense, brutal, and underseen crime thriller co-written by Billy Bob Thornton, with Bill Paxton giving one of his best performances as a small-town sheriff in over his head. Roger Ebert called it one of the best films of its year — this one deserves way more love.
Big screen viewing, followed by discussion, trivia, and prizes.
40 Years, 40 Films is available now through Eckhartz Press.
And I’ve got a NEW book on the way — 40 Years, 40 Horror Films, coming September 15th from Eckhartz Press! It’s my love letter to the horror genre, with essays on the best horror movie of each of the past 40 years. Pre-order it now from Eckhartz Press!
And don’t forget — Substack is where the video reviews, live events, and community happen. Paid subscribers get all of it.
Thanks, and let’s continue to rock,
Nick
PS: My subscribers rule the planet.
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