CHILLPAK HOLLYWOOD HOUR

From L.A. to LA, SoCal to the Big Easy, from Los Angeles to Australia, Hollywood to Down Under, this installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour might just be one for the time capsule. The show starts off with Phil Leirness interviewing Lily Holleman, who is on location in Louisiana, filming "NCIS: New Orleans." They chat about historic hotels, Scott Bakula, the wives of Navy S.E.A.L.S. and the Lafayette theater shooting. Then, Phil connects with Dean Haglund, who regales with stories of his travels to Connecticut (where he hung out with fellow "Lone Gunmen" Tom Braidwood and Bruce Harwood), New Zealand and Melbourne. Dean talks of his latest improv comedy gigs, shares his disappointment with Ant-Man, and previews his forthcoming trip to Vancouver to appear in the six episode reboot of "The X-Files". Finally, Phil dusts off his soapbox and rants about people who look down at what others do for a living. All that, PLUS a brand new theme song! Enjoy!

Karen Forman and Lily Holleman return one final time before launching their own podcast to guest host for your friends in podcasting. On today's show, Karen and Lily remember the great Aubrey Morris, discuss films directed by women that everyone should see, analyze the four ways women get a "raw deal" in Hollywood, and try to make sense of why, now that it has been revealed that Bill Cosby admitted to the allegations in court, so many people refused to believe those allegations for so long. All that plus a ton of laughs. YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour. Enjoy!

Brought to you by our good friends at Empire State Gas, this week's installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour takes place on the road, after a surprise encounter between Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness at the Los Angeles International Airport (the first time they've seen each other since their fantastic "farewell"episode. Dean reveals what he's been up to, what conventions he's attended, where he's been performing comedy, how a certain graphic novel is coming along and how the Australian winter is treating him. Phil follows up on the recent two-part episode about film literacy, wherein your friends in podcasting engage in subtextual, mythological, symbolic analysis of the 2nd X-Files movie, by asking several questions related to "The X-Files" revival, including whether the Lone Gunmen are still alive (a questioned answered by Chris Carter, as heard on this podcast, more than 2 years ago!). Dean shares bit of information not available through internet sleuthing! Television binge-watching is discussed. "Silicon Valley", "Veep", and "Star Trek: Enterprise" season 4 are celebrated. "True Detective" season 2 and "Aquarius" are taken to task. The loss of "Hannibal" is decried. The world-wide blockbuster movie season is discussed. Dean and Phil riff on "The Age of Ultron", "Mad Max: Fury Road", "Tomorrowland", Pixar's "Inside Out", "Jurassic World" and Woody Allen's "Irrational Man". Phil reveals how Turner Classic Movies has turned his summer into the "Summer of Darkness". Dean gets dropped off at a certain "historic building in downtown Los Angeles". Fun is had by all.

Brought to you by THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE, the epic documentary of comedy, consciousness and conspiracy, this is part 2 the special 2-part episode delving into the meaning of the 2nd X-Files film (“The X-Files: I Want to Believe”). In this thumbs up/thumbs down, letter grade, scale of 1 to 10, good/bad, right/wrong world in which we live, where movie reviews pass for film criticism, the ability to actually “read” a film, to explore it’s subtext, to understand what it truly means and what it says, is becoming lost (dying?). This week and last, your friends in podcasting try to remedy that … Film fans, X-philes, art lovers, those interested in depth psychology or those who simply enjoy spirited, inspirational conversation are bound to be delighted. Unfortunately, the audio quality isn’t the best and for that, we apologize.

In part 1 of this special 2-part episode, Dean Haglund may say that he and Phil Leirness are coming at you from the offices of Rational Exuberance, but in reality, they recorded these shows in a secret location, screening a film they have often discussed on YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour. In this thumbs up/thumbs down, letter grade, scale of 1 to 10, good/bad, right/wrong world in which we live, where movie reviews pass for film criticism, the ability to actually "read" a film, to explore it's subtext, to understand what it truly means and what it says, is becoming lost (dying?). This week, your friends in podcasting try to remedy that ... As loyal listeners know, an ongoing debate between Haglund and Leirness has been over the merits of the 2nd X-Files film ("The X-Files: I Want to Believe"). This time around, the debate is avoided, the analysis is deepened, the (supposed) weaknesses are re-examined and the dark, beautiful, self-reflexive, satirical, and occasionally subversive meaning of the movie is explored. Film fans, X-philes, art lovers, those interested in depth psychology or those who simply enjoy spirited, inspirational conversation are bound to be delighted. Unfortunately, the audio quality isn't the best. Sorry!

Guest Hosts Karen Forman and Lily Holleman return to discuss stand-up comedy, women directors, the town of Eureka, men obsessed with Van Morrison, the end of "Game of Thrones", the brilliance of "Veep" the artistry of the Lifetime movie "A Deadly Adoption", the fun of "Scandal", and much more ... And there's a surprise appearance from your friend in podcasting, Phil Leirness, who checks in (from the Island of Yap?!) to remember Jack Rollins, Ron Moody, Christopher Lee and his own colleague, the great Neil Kinsella. Enjoy!

We are jumping into the "way back machine" for this week's show, re-visiting a time many of you will be too young to remember ... May of 2015! It was a more innocent time. We were all younger then. And we relished in our youth. It was also when your friends in podcasting sat down for an hilarious hour of conversation with Travis Clark. And they recorded it. Travis is a writer, actor, musician and comedian. He wrote for that show you never watched, appeared in productions you didn’t know he was in, played in that band that never went anywhere and has performed in at least one place where a stabbing occurred while he was on stage. He’s also a deeply flawed character with a weak back story. He's also the co-host of the hilarious podcast Tiny Odd Conversations. Your friends in podcasting have been trying to schedule him for some time and we're thrilled that he was finally able to drop by to regale us with stories of corporate life, stand-up comedy and all the creatures in Australia that might be trying to kill Dean Haglund!

Dean Haglund is down under, enjoying his new home in Sydney, Australia. And if this show is to be believed, Phil Leirness is on his way to visit Dean via "swim" (is that a new mobile app?). So, talented, funny, and razor sharp ladies Karen Forman and Lily Holleman step in to help your friends in podcasting change the way they "change the way you listen to the internet"! There is the familiar - Live Events of the Week, movie reviews, the Bechdel test, appeals for racial and age diversity in mainstream media, and an appeal for more opportunity for women both in front of and behind the camera. Bottom line: "Shame on you, Hollywood!" Karen and Lily also celebrate the Tony Awards, Lifetime Movies, and "Game of Thrones". All in all, it's an "outward display of inner self-love" and it just might save Christmas! One day late, but well worth the wait. Am I right, ladies?

A day late, but packed full of the irreverent podcasty goodness you've come to expect from your friends in podcasting, today's free-wheeling show addresses the Super Bowl, its halftime show, the death of a legendary poet and a baseball icon, a controversy over the Hollywood sign, an hilarious stand-up performance by friend-of-the-show Pete Handelman, the rumors surrounding an Indiana Jones reboot, the latest on "The X-Files" reboot, which should be called a "sequel series", an "Alphaville" remake and there's the latest news pertaining to Dean and Phil's film The Lady Killers and the forthcoming Sci-Fest. All that plus tips of the cap to Lily Holleman for her turn on "Shameless" and to Keira Knightley for her continued artistic growth. And don't kid yourself, Dean and Phil might joke about changing the name of the show to Chillpak Danger Hour or Chillpak Idiot Hour, but it is most definitely YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour ... Wherever good podcasts are found!

How great a year in film was 2014? So great that neither Dean nor Phil managed to find room on their Top Ten Lists for the likes of such highly recommended features as Selma, Inherent Vice, The Babadook, CitizenFour or Calvary. What DID make their lists? Listen to the episode (all 72 minutes of it!) and find out!

Phil is finishing up two feature-length motion pictures. Dean appeared in two live shows. Together they are talking about those activities, answering emails from listeners like you, tackling the lack of diversity in the recently announced Academy Award nominations and taking on some of the worst films of the year. And if they need ten percent more hour to get it all in, well who's going to complain? It's just six more minutes of Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness changing the way you listen to the internet!

After several weeks apart, your friends in podcasting usually hit the ground running and this week is no exception as they look back to what was learned following the Sony hack and the release of The Interview, as they discuss the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, as they remember a great actor, a great voice, two great musicians and a comedy genius as they preview two Live Events starring Dean Haglund, as they weigh in on "Star Trek 3" directing news, as they analyze the Golden Globes, as they theorize what went wrong with Chris Carter's "The After", and as they appreciate current female-driven television sci-fi ... Whew! Is that too much for one hour? Not when it is YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

Happy New Year, everybody! 2015 is definitely going to bring several changes to your friends in podcasting AND to YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour. Some of these changes are hinted at in this week's show, which is, of course, an annual tradition ... Dean and Phil begin by looking back at the resolutions they made at the start of last year, and hold their feet to the fire, before launching into their New Year Resolutions for 2015.

It's the last episode of 2014 and your friends in podcasting end the year in high style, welcoming two guests to the show ... First up, filmmaker and esteemed film critic and journalist John Alan Simon returns with advice and encouragement for all who wish to pursue careers in film criticism or film journalism. Then, Dean and Phil welcome the fabulous Tori Higginson (of TekWar, Stargate: Atlantis and The English Patient fame) who talks sci-fi, nudity, exploitation, the state of roles for women and first dates in Paris. To all of you who listen to YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour, thanks for helping to make 2014 so memorable and here's wishing you the best of everything in 2015!

Before taking off on their holiday travels, your friends in podcasting, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness are doing what they do best: Making sense of a (show business) world gone wild ... They weigh in on the cyber terrorist attack against Sony. They celebrate a milestone achieved by one of their favorite shows. They discuss live events starring the likes of Angela Lansbury and Jeff Goldblum. They dish on an animation price-fixing lawsuit, the decades-long Roman Polanski judicial drama and the idea of actors owning a copyright interest in their performances. They discuss casting news that has them hopeful and casting news that gives them pause. They champion three outstanding films from earlier this year that you probably missed that are available now on home video and they warn you against an award-hopeful Christmas Day opener that is without a doubt one of the worst films of the year. All that PLUS much more as they wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! All together now (singing): "We need a little Chillpak, right this very minute!"