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Q: What do you get when you drench a Hollywood set with an “incredible amount of cocaine,” add an in-over-his head director making his debut, a marriage wrecking love-rhombus, an actors strike, and a bevy of naked Olympians? A: 1982’s Personal Best.  Slate’s June Thomas joins Dan Greenstone to break down this film , which stars Mariel Hemingway as an Olympic track hopeful, who falls in and out of love with her training partner, played by Olympian Patrice Donnelly. And while Personal Best is still a regarded as a landmark LGBTQ film for its nuanced portrayal of a same sex relationship, the film remains polarizing because of the way the camera lingers on the naked female body. June and Dan assess whether it should still be regarded as a lesbian classic and whether writer/director Robert Towne was a cinematic genius, or a lecherous old coke-head. Check out June at Slate.com, where she edits their Outward Blog,  and co-hosts the Double X Gabfest. And for more stories of Hollywood excess in the 70s and 80s check out Peter Biskind’s excellent book, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood.

With the rise of Donald Trump, Narcissism Personality Disorder has gotten a lot of attention. Pundits and opponents alike have glibly called him a narcissist. But does he actually have the disorder? Summoning every last bit (and more) of their psychiatric training, Dan Greenstone and Andrew Saunders put Trump on the couch. And what they discover is that while Trump certainly likes him some Trump, the diagnosis itself is problematic. The DSM (the psychiatrists’ bible) calls it a personality disorder. But it’s an awfully strange one. There are no agreed upon causes or treatments, and nearly no one acknowledges having the disorder. And in contemporary American society, where humility can hold you back, and parents and teachers actively promote self-esteem (“everyone gets a medal”), narcissists seem to be holding up pretty well.   Also, thanks to Foil, Hog and Arms, the great Irish sketch comedy troupe, for the intro and outro music. You can find more of their comedy here.

If Labor Day didn't already exist, it's hard to imagine the American public, in 2015, supporting the creation of a holiday that celebrates unions. Historian Liesel Miller Orenic, of Dominican University, joins Dan Greenstone to discuss the past, present, and future of labor unions in America. Unionization rates are at historic lows and declining fast. We tease out the cultural, economic and legal reasons for this decline, and we debate whether public sector unions are good for society. Finally, we discuss a case pending before the Supreme Court that could conceivably put a final nail in labor's coffin. Thanks to Roy Zimmerman for use of his great song, "The Unions Are to Blame," and to Evan Greer for use of his "Picket Line Song." 

Daryl Grove, co-host of the wonderful Total Soccer Show, joins Dan Greenstone to compare two iconic Woody Allen films, Manhattan and Annie Hall. Daryl and Dan debate which film is better in categories that include Funniest Film, Best Diane Keaton performance, Best Woody Allen Character, and Least Awkward Film To Watch With What We Now Know About Woody's Personal Life. Dan and Daryl also discuss how comedy and social norms about sex and love have changed since the 1970s. And they trace Woody's evolution from corny joke writer to auteur. And be sure to check out Daryl's show. It's a great listen for anyone interested in soccer. 

Indy Neidell, creator and host of The Great War Online Video Series, joins Dan Greenstone to discuss whether the 1930 best picture winner, All Quiet on the Western Front, is worth watching for modern viewers. One of the first talkies, this adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s book offers an uncompromising and grimly realistic portrait of the horrors of life during WWI. But while the film is accurate, it’s also old, slow, and stuffed with hammy acting. Dan and Indy also debate whether AQ was actually too faithful to the book, and they explore the Nazis violent reaction to this film (Goebbel’s thugs released mice in the theaters and threw sneezing powder to disrupt showings). Be sure to check out Indy’s amazing web series here.

Was Holden Caulfield a clear-eyed truth teller, a big rich baby, or just that voice rattling around in the head of so many delusional sociopaths? (Did you know that immediately after shooting John Lennon, his killer sat down on the sidewalk and began reading Catcher?) Master 8th grade teacher, David Fuder, joins Dan Greenstone to discuss whether J.D. Salinger's classic book, Catcher in the Rye, appeals to today's adolescent readers, or whether the old fashioned slang (crumbum! sonovabitch!) and its pre 60s apolitical worldview have made it seemed dated. And the hosts assess the complicated life of J.D. Salinger, who, sadly, never did learn the lesson Holden learns, that you can't retreat and avoid life. And thanks to Samuel Roth for providing our intro and outro music. Here's a link to his excellent song about the Catcher in the Rye.   

Theresa Squires Collins joins Dan Greenstone to analyze Harper Lee's prequel/sequel Go Set A Watchman. The good news? Watchman is more morally complex and presents more nuanced portraits of its black characters than To Kill A Mockingbird. And Scout's tormented reaction to her discovery that Atticus is a terrible racist raises a timeless thematic question: What are we to do when the people we love and revere hold views that are abhorrent to us? Which makes the book interesting. Unfortunately Watchman is also very much an early draft. It doesn't cohere completely,  and it has several long, dull sections that should have been (and indeed were) excised. And because this novel is more explicitly political than TKAM, many of the heated debates in Watchman (is the Civil Rights movement a front for the Communists?) will strike readers as long settled and tedious. Finally, thanks so much Laurier Lachance for writing this episode's intro and outro music!  Check out his excellent ode to Kill a Mockingbird, "Scout's Song," on Youtube.

Nona Willis Aronowitz, editor of TPM's the Slice and author of Girl Drive, joins Dan Greenstone to break down Thelma and Louise, Ridley Scott's 1991 film based on an Academy Award winning script by Callie Khouri. This 1991 classic tells the story of two women (Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon) on the road and on the run, undergoing a feminist awakening in the midst of a crime spree. Dan and Nona break down whether this movie is a revenge fantasy, a wild feminist shout against the sexist patriarchy, or both. And they discuss how the landscape has changed, and how it hasn't, for women in the quarter of a century since the movie's release. Oh, and Nona reveals which quotation from the film she chose for her tattoo.

On an earlier episode Dan Greenstone and Theresa Squires Collins explained why To Kill a Mockingbird doesn't hold up on race. Now Theresa and Dan return to explain why TKM is still a gorgeous, amazing book, starting with the novel's episodic structure, which, contrary to the complaints of many critics, is actually one of the novel's great attributes. They also analyze the novel's use of language and voice and its exploration of gothic themes. Finally, the hosts consider Flannery O'Connor's withering remark that TKM is a children's book. 

To Kill a Mockingbird is such a beloved novel that asking how it holds up on race can get you in trouble (with Dan's wife). But TKM was published more than 5 decades ago, and a rising chorus of critics now say that, in the crucial area of race, To Kill a Mockingbird no longer holds up.  And so on this episode, Theresa Collins and Dan Greenstone take a fresh look at this enduring classic. What they find may surprise you. 

Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles? Poor Molly or Rich Molly? Team Blane or Team Jake? On this pod, Carrie Tenebrini and Molly (Hobbs, not Ringwald) join Dan Greenstone to settle which of these classic 80s Ringwald/Hughes collaborations best stands the test of time. And utilizing their combined 30 years of experience living in Asia, the hosts assess  how accurately Long Duk Dong (Banzai?) reflects Chinese culture. Also, two of the three hosts swoon so embarrassingly at the thought of Jake Ryan coming to get them in his Porsche, that the other host blushes. Wanna know who swooned and who blushed? Or  which film holds up best? You'll just have to listen. 

Is the 1999 Gulf War film, Three Kings, evidence that David O. Russell is a brilliant director or proof that he's a crazy person? On this episode James Nau and Dan Greenstone examine how Russell managed to make a riveting, hilarious and scathingly political war movie, while also provoking George Clooney to threaten his life (hint: head butts were involved). Also, Dan and James wax nostalgic for a more innocent time, when an American presidents (W!) wasn't required to know  A Ran from A Raq or a Sunni from a Shia. And they marvel at how events in the Middle East have made this 16 year old movie more relevant than ever. And, fair warning, those Hollywood types swear when they’re angry.

Is Baseball dying or thriving? Mark Bazer (writer and host of the Interview Show at the Hideout) joins Dan Greenstone to discuss why baseball is no longer the national pastime, and why it once was. Also they explain why urine and cigar smoke makes older baseball fans wax rhapsodic, and why Mario Cuomo was, umm, wrong when he said baseball was more important than the bible. Mark and Dan also untangle the paradox of MLB baseball making record profits, even while ratings tank, the games drag on, and key demographics like African Americans and young people have given up on the game.

80s vs. 90s? Which was the least bogus decade to go to high school? To answer that question, Steve Poe and Dan Greenstone examine two of the greatest high school movies ever made, 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High and 1995's Clueless, both directed by Amy Heckerling. Though wildly different in tone and theme, the movies are in some ways eerily similar. So these films are essentially a science experiment, with the decade as the independent variable. Dan and Steve rate the movies in several categories, including gnarliest stoner, totally awesomest soundtrack, and most bogus teacher. By the end, you'll be buggin'. And, a quick reminder, if you like the show, please rate it or leave a review in iTunes. Pronto. 

  In this episode, Sports Illustrated senior writer, Chris Ballard, joins Dan Greenstone to break down the 1992 playground basketball classic White Men Can’t Jump. Dan and Chris fondly recall the time Dan (nearly) got them both shot because of Dan’s objection to having his game characterized as “suburban.” And, fortunately for the pod, Chris’ first book, Hoops Nation, was a travel guide for pickup players. Chris taps that expertise to analyze the film’s action and smack talk. And Chris and Dan note that the film presents a layered, complex portrait of masculinity, and is an early, neglected Bromance. And the film is unusual in the way it deals head on with race. Dan and Chris also lament the slow decline of playground hoops in the age of helicopter parenting and non-stop child supervision. Finally, Dan would REALLY like you to know that he grew up on the South Side of Chicago. 

On this episode, James Nau and Dan Greenstone discuss War Games, the 1983 nuclear thriller that made Matthew Broderick a star. War Games is made up of four linked stories: a high school romance between Broderick and Ally Sheedy; the story of a young hacker (Broderick) who gets himself into a world (literally) of trouble; a thriller about the possible accidental launch of nuclear weapons; and an intergenerational relationship about two intelligent misfits. James and Dan find that the hacking story is fresher than ever, while the romance and the story of the two misfit geniuses doesn't quite connect. But the hosts agree that, though the Cold War is long over, the threat of an accidental nuclear war is still frighteningly relevant. Also, one of the hosts (over)shares his painful history of unrequited love. But after a little cuddle, his spirits improved.      

McKinley, JFK, Madison--you better watch out. George H.W. Bush is coming for you in the presidential rankings. In this episode Andy Bigelow and Dan Greenstone explain why George H.W. Bush's masterful foreign policy will some day eclipse the fact that he lost re-election. The first year of Bush's presidency was a charged and volatile time, as the Berlin Wall fell, and communism collapsed. Dan and Andy make the case that this was an instance where the man met the moment. Bush's flexibility, humility,  pragmatism and ability to forge strong relationships allowed Bush to expertly manage the soft landing of the Soviet Empire.  Then Dan and Andy evaluate the key questions that arose during the Persian Gulf War. Again, they agree that Bush got tough call after tough call right. But Bush showed decidedly less skill as a campaigner in his 1992 re-election bid. When he wasn't flip flopping on taxes or vomiting in the lap of world leaders, he was getting his clock cleaned at a town hall debate, where he watched in despair as Bill Clinton showed him how to feel the electorate's pain. But in spite of his penchant for putting a silver foot in his mouth, in the end, Dan and Andy agree that Bush's presidency holds up remarkably well.   

Poor George! No other president has sunk from a 90% approval rating to losing re-election (and with only 37% of the vote, at that).  Mostly his fall was the fault of an economy over which he had little control. Worse still, who could have imagined his ne'er do well son would manage to both win two terms and somehow tarnish his father's reputation. On this episode Dan Greenstone and Andy Bigelow take a fresh look at the underrated presidency of George H. W. Bush. Dan and Andy recount Bush's upbringing among the bluest of the bluebloods, and his remarkable service in WWII (he remains the youngest Navy pilot ever). And Dan and Andy assess Bush's early political career as a rising GOP star in Texas. They find him to be likable, energetic, ambitious, and pragmatic, but also oddly uncentered in his convictions. This lack of an ideological core alternately helped and bedeviled Bush, over his long career, particularly in his dealings with the GOP's rising hard right. The hosts then examine Bush's run for president in 1980, which he parlayed into a spot on Reagan's ticket. And they revel in Bush's successful 1988 bid for the presidency, which was equal parts ruthless, entertaining and trivial. When it comes time to grade President Bush on his domestic policy, Andy and Dan find he holds up fairly well. Oh, and, hey, we're getting good at the sound! Other than the phone ringing once and Bingley, Dan's dog, briefly chewing her bone, this episode sounds pretty darn good. Next time Andy and Dan assess Bush's foreign policy. And we'll get back to movies and books soon. We promise.   

In this episode, Dan Greenstone and Mike Johnson look back at Airplane!, the 1980 comedy that (according to Science) is the funniest movie ever. Mike and Dan break down the different types of jokes used in the movie, and do their best to explain why humans laugh at jokes. The show also features a cameo from Robert Lynch, PhD., who is an expert in the evolutionary function of jokes and, like Mike, has performed standup. Coincidentally, Rob happens to be Dan's brother-in-law. Oh, and, we seem to be getting better at the audio. This episode actually sounds kind of good. 

Meatballs was one of 1979's surprise hits, and arguably the best summer camp movie ever made. In the film, Bill Murray leads the underdogs of Camp North Star against the posh villains of Camp Mohawk. Hosts Dan Greenstone and Matt Laufer consider this film's place in the pantheon of slobs versus snobs movies (Caddyshack, Animal House, Ghostbuster, and Stripes). Matt contends that Murray's photo-bombing of nearly every scene makes the movie, while Dan finds the film a revealing portrait of late-70s confusion about changing gender roles and sexual norms. The hosts give a brief history of date rape (yeah, it's in there) and wonder how this sex-comedy was ever rated PG. And the hosts compete over whose experience at overnight camp was the most nightmarish (Dan wins in a landslide). Also, Dan and Matt agree that camp would've been super fun if they'd been less lame as kids, because, by rights, camp really should be awesome. And (though we're not quite up to gimlet standards) we're getting better at the audio (we think we finally figured out which way to point the microphone). We've loved hearing from listeners, so keep the feedback coming. Direct your compliments, complaints, and suggestions for future episodes to: dangreenstone@yahoo.com And go ahead rate us in the iTunes store.