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The 10th episode of Middle of the Dial is a conversation with singer and songwriter Sydney Sprague whose debut album “Maybe I will see you at the end of the world” comes out February 26th on Rude Records. At the time of our call she had just released the music video for her second single "Steve", but has since also released the video for her song "Staircase Failure", and the her newest single "Object Permanence". You can watch videos for "Steve" and "Staircase Failure", as well as the one for her first single, "I Refuse to Die", down below. We talked about the process of recording her album, making the video for "I Refuse to Die", and opening some DNC rallies for Cher and Alicia Keys. Listen and enjoy!

One of the only blockbuster releases of 2020 came on Christmas Day, with the release of Wonder Woman 1984. It wasn't great, and we dive into the WTF of it all. A movie with potential that wastes it in a ludicrous final act, we were left wondering, “What the hell happened.” Download. Listen. Enjoy. The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less/The Elevator Pitch (3:00) General Thoughts (5:30) Star Ratings/So Spoilers? (19:20) Performance Prize/But, Why? (22:00) Let’s Talk About That Ending.../More But, Why? (36:00) The Hot Take Theater (45:10) Repeat After Me (49:30) Expert Opinions/The Upgradeables (52:00) To Infinity & Beyond?/The Internet Says... (56:00) One Last Pitch/Wrap Up to Next Week... (59:45) @middleofrow #nothe

It’s our Time Capsule episode for 2020! This is the episode where we all pick something we want everyone to remember from the year and save it for posterity’s sake. So take a listen, judge our picks, and listen to us ramble about the year! Download. Listen. Enjoy! 3:00 Jon - Run The Jewels - RTJ4 12:30 Ben - Final Fantasy VII Remake 24:00 Lauren - The Last of Us Part II 39:00 Honorable Mention Catch-Up/Overload!!! 44:45 Zac - David Byrne’s American Utopia 49:30 Predictions For 2021’s Time Capsule: Zac: New Paul Thomas/ Wes Anderson Movie Lauren: Horizons Zero Dawn/God of War Sequels/Julian Baker Ben: Horizon/God of War Sequels Jon: He Was Awake And ?????????? @middleofrow #nothe

The Happiest Season was a holiday release from Hulu around Thanksgiving, but you are getting it in your feed as a holiday treat. We meld the old format with the new, to mixed results, as are our feelings on this movie, a bit mixed. Still, we can all agree, Jane is the best. Download. Listen. Enjoy. The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less (3:45) The Elevator Pitch/General Thoughts (6:15) Star Ratings (18:30) Let’s Talk About That Ending... (19:50) Performance Prize/The Hot Take Theater (22:58) Repeat After Me (28:00) The Upgradeables (31:45) To Infinity & Beyond?/One Last Pitch (34:50) Wrap Up to Next Week... @middleofrow #nothe

It’s our wrap up to our first GenreRama Mini-Series, Comedy, with Zac’s pick, Boogie Nights. Somehow, everyone found it as funny as I did. We commiserate over the endless greatness that PTA’s movie delivers. Stacked cast, amazing filmmaking, and endless BDE. GeneRama will return in February with the theme of: Love Story. Download. Listen. Enjoy. The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less (1:00) The Elevator Pitch/General Thoughts (2:45) Star Ratings/The Hot Take Theater (16:45) Let’s Talk About That Ending.../Performance Prize (27:20) But, Why? (33:00) Repeat After Me (36:00) Expert Opinions (39:00) The Upgradeables/Would Recommend! (40:45) One Last Pitch (46:00) Wrap Up to Next Week... @middleofrow #nothe

It’s episode 3 of our GenreRama mini-series! This week, Ben’s pick for comedy, The Nice Guys! Two newbies to this movie and everyone is in agreement with how great this movie is. Lots of Gosling praise and plenty of lines dropped throughout, as we have a blast recounting the ways this movie is great. An underseen/underappreciated gem from the last few years. Give us a sequel! Download. Listen. Enjoy! The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less (1:00) The Elevator Pitch/General Thoughts (2:00) Star Ratings/The Hot Take Theater/I’m A Changed Person (11:00) Let’s Talk About That Ending... (12:32) Performance Prize (18:20) But, Why?/Repeat After Me (25:15) Expert Opinions (36:00) The Upgradeables/Would Recommend! (39:00) One Last Pitch (42:24) Wrap Up to Next Week... @middleofrow #nothe

It’s Episode 2 of this inaugural GenreRama: Comedy Edition, this time with Jon’s pick, Superbad. Considered a comedy classic of this century by many, we take a look back and see if it still holds up. We find plenty to discuss and continue to get used to the categories around these new stomping grounds. Download. Listen. Enjoy! The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less (2:00) The Elevator Pitch/General Thoughts (4:45) Star Ratings (16:00) The Hot Take Theater (17:45) I’m A Changed Person (26:30) Let’s Talk About That Ending... (29:40) Performance Prize (30:30) But, Why? (34:55) Repeat After Me (38:40) Expert Opinions (45:12) The Upgradeables (46:28) Would Recommend! (52:52) Catch All (54:00) One Last Pitch (58:00) Wrap Up to Next Week... @middleofrow #nothe

Welcome to a new podcast! GenreRama will be a series of miniseries covering one film picked by each of us in a pre-selected genre. First up, comedies and our first film is a pick by Lauren; Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids. Download. Listen. Enjoy! The Categories: (Time:Stamp) 8 Words or Less (2:15) The Elevator Pitch (3:40) Star Ratings (11:30) The Hot Take Theater (12:30) Let’s Talk About That Ending... (27:00) Performance Prize (29:00) But, Why? (33:45) Repeat After Me (38:30) Expert Opinions (41:30) The Upgradeables n/a Would Recommend! (46:00) To Infinity & Beyond? (49:30) I’m A Changed Person (52:00) One Last Pitch (53:40) Wrap Up to Next Week... @middleofrow #nothe

Another Netflix film, this time a Halloween entry (I know, I know, way late), and that is the film Vampires vs. The Bronx. We actually argue quite a bit over this one, as this is one of the most divisive episodes in a while. Zac’s on the Yay side, everyone else, not so much. Listen in to hear him defend the movie, while maybe also conceding that this isn’t the film his counterparts want it to be. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Spoiler Free Discussion of Vampires vs. The Bronx 0:21:00 Spoilers For Vampires vs. The Bronx 0:21:00 Ending Blues, Payoffs or Lazy, Nitpick City 0:35:00 Who Is This For, More Nitpicks, Politics, Wrap-Up @middleofrow #nothe

We discuss another Netflix movie, again. It fails to impress, again. Even if it does manage to not look like shit, again. The star studded adaptation of a young adult reimagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle series, brings great music, fancy backdrops and not a lot else. PG Fleabag Enola can’t pull us into her mystery, but that might have to do with the fact that she isn’t even that great at solving it. Lost in too many subplots and setting up the EHCU, the film never gets off the ground, and we all agree! I guess you should still listen to the podcast? Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Spoiler Free Thoughts On Enola Holmes 0:15:55 Spoilers For Enola Holmes 0:16:00 Fuck The Patriarchy?, Try To Find Praise 0:25:00 Smart Dumb People, Wrap-Up @middleforow #nothe

Yes, the podcast still exists! We don’t pack it in at 150, but we are going to change it up in a bit. This is the first of three episodes I have left in the bank before we pivot to a new format, with new episodes of this podcast dropping intermittently when there is something to discuss. For now, a Netflix new release for 2020, The Devil All The Time. The southern gothic drama is dripping with sweat and religious questioning, ripe for a discussion among our theologically inclined, Jon and Zac. Still, Ben and Lauren find plenty to discuss in between Jon and Zac trying to find some clarity around the religious messaging of the film. A good listen, even if the film isn’t really anyone's favorite (well, except Jon). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Spoiler Free Thoughts On The Devil All The Time 0:24:00 Spoilers For The Devil All The Time 0:24:01 Talkin’ ‘bout Faith... 0:37:00 Talkin’ Filmmakin’, Character Arcs 0:43:00 More Faith..., Tom Holland?, Wrappin’ Up @middleofrow #nothe

Hey all, our 150th episode! Thanks so much for listening, if you have, for as many episodes as you’ve listened too. We discussed our last flashback for 2020, thanks Covid, but it is a good one! And everyone liked it! Maybe some warming up here or there, but by the end of this thing, Banksy finds quite the story to tell. Mr. Brainwash is one of a kind and this film is extremely prescient even today. It predicted a lot about where culture was going. Still, we laugh at Thierry, Banksy’s one liners, and the absurdity of art culture. Good time! Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Exit Through The Gift Shop?, Art Is Stupid? 0:15:00 Back to Assessing Things, More Art Debate 0:25:00 Wrapping Up Exit Through The Gift Shop @middleofrow #nothe

***Spoilers for all of Nolan’s Filmography*** Grant and Zac talk Tenet. They definitely don’t figure out Tenet, but they certainly talk about it. Zac thinks it will be in the running for the next decade of movies, Grant is pretty sure it’s not even in Nolan's top tier. Still, they have a spirited debate and find plenty they agree on, even if they have diverting final takes on the film. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 General Nolan Talk 0:07:00 Tenet The Comedy?, “Don’t Think About It, Feel It” 0:15:00 Grant’s Not As Hot On Tenet, Nolan Standouts, No Tenet Standout? 0:25:00 Nolan Has A Plan?, Politics 0:33:00 The Ending Explained? Sequel Yay or Nay 0:42:00 Nolan Last Decade, Wrap @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

Our second to last flashback is to a Christopher Nolan movie! His breakout film Memento is still pretty damn good, even if it feels really damn small compared to what the is currently putting out. Still, there is so much to enjoy (like human characters) and a script/plot that works as long as you don’t ask too many questions (how does he remember Sammy Jankis if he is Sammy Jankis?). A good talk, with lots rambling about how some of these dummies haven’t seen all of Nolan’s movies (I haven’t seen Following, for what it’s worth!). Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Memento?, Nolan Talk 0:09:00 Digging Into Memento, 0:19:00 Forget Sammy Jankis? & Plot Holes 0:27:00 Guy Pearce Talk, More Nitpicking 0:37:00 More Nolan, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe

We flashback to 2000 for Christopher Guest’s Best In Show. Written with Eugene Levy, the improvised comedy was a breakout for the genre at the turn of the century and has been one of the major comedic influences of the last twenty years. The film has a great cast, lots of good boys, and more than a few amazing one liners we can’t help but repeat here. The film holds up quite well for Zac and Ben, but first timers Lauren and Jon aren’t quite as sold. Though, I think they might change their tune on a rewatch. Download. Listen. Enjoy! 0:01:00 Why Best In Show?, Christopher Guest In General, Best Lines 0:14:00 Cast Praise, Straight Men Praise, More Praise, Wrapping Up @middleofrow #nothe