Craig & Friends

Released in 1990 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES was a blockbuster smash. No one burned with the fever of Turtle Power more than my guest, Tom Schwartz (Vanderpump Rules). Get a nice cheese pizza, stay out of the sewer and enjoy our chat about this cultural phenomenon. This series is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠⁠⁠  Head on over and see which tier suits you, support the show and get exclusive content. Follow the show on Instagram & Twitter Tom Schwartz on Instagram Pump Rules Podcast Instagram Pump Rules Podcast Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Musical pioneer Chaz Jankel welcomed me to his home to discuss his legendary musical career - from his days with Ian Dury & The Blockheads (co-writing Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Sex & Drugs & Rock’N’Roll and more) through his wildly influential solo career, his later foray into film scoring and that time  Quincy Jones covered one of his songs. We also get deep into society’s conventions, life’s rhythms, Elkhart Tolle, the illusion of control, energy balances, exotic cheeses and the importance of never squandering the light. This series is brought to you by ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠⁠ Head on over and see which tier suits you, support the show and get exclusive content Listen to Chaz's music

Craig, special guest co-host Katya & Sapphira continue their chat and talk going vegan, discovering opera, straight tone, vibrato’n’viagra, Miss D’America, resting diva face, doing the thing you need to be doing and MORE! This series is brought to you by ⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠ 

Originally posted in the salad days of the pandemic (August 2020), this Encore Presentation is in honor of our beloved Sapphira Cristál gooping and gagging the world on Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Craig & special guest co-host Katya welcome Sapphira Cristal via satellite to talk perfect pitch, homeless schooldays, sorority sister saves, carbonara complications, putin’ it out your mouth, dagger dick, proper preparation, P-town drama, rotten rumors, Perestroika, growing up in Houston, Videodrome Discothèque, opera lust, fair wages, and MORE! This series is brought to you by ⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠ 

Our girl for all seasons Eureka O'Hara joins me to talk the mirth, magic and mayhem of the undercover feminist cult classic GREASE 2! We get into what a T-Bird could mean these days, the majesty of Michelle Pfeiffer, shooting dance numbers before the songs are ready, the chaotic grandiosity of producer & impresario Allan Carr, the impact of RSO & Robert Stigwood on our culture, fan theories about Grease's Sandy (and our own theories about Frenchie), John Travolta, Maxwell Caulfield's brief moment of Hollywood Heat, Cool Rider and much much more. Support this show & get hott bonus content at the Craig & Friends Patreon For more EUREKA Craig & Friends Instagram & Twitter

Nashville’s pre-eminent film critic, connoisseur & Prince devotee Jason Shawhan returns to Movie Club as we talk Prince’s 2nd film UNDER THE CHERRY MOON. We get into Prince’s ever-practical wardrobe choices, Jerome Benton’s woefully short film career, the rather progressive queerness of the film, “Martin Scorsese’s Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”, Wendy & Lisa, The Linn LM-1 drum machine, Prince’s proteges, Michael Ballhaus, smuggling pimento cheese across state lines, why this is Prince’s finest film, Morris Day & The Time, the sheer awfulness of Graffiti Bridge, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Siskel & Ebert missing the point and our own mistakes of believing received wisdom on this film - thus avoiding it - in younger days. Join the ⁠Craig & Friends Patreon⁠ For more Jason Shawhan: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/jshawhan?s=21&t=2TXy7cSLOHZN-Ef4khov0A⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠http://rebirthoftheflesh.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠ Jason & Sam Inglis host ⁠FEARLESS PRETENDER⁠- The Only Podcast That Provides Extensive Analysis of Every-Single Film & Television Show Featuring Jennifer Jason-Leigh. Hear my guest spot on the episode devoted to the bizarro Rodney Dangerfield classic ⁠EASY MONEY⁠

My dear friends Mike Chapman & Maddy Paterson join me to talk writing and producing decades of hits like “Ballroom Blitz”, “Hey Mickey” “Simply The Best” and much more, Michael Des Barres, producing Agnetha from ABBA, Suzi Quatro, pairing Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne, the trouble with Sharon Osbourne, working with mentor Micky Most, Dreamland Records, The Knack, telling the truth, producing Blondie, mentoring others, the psychology of record production, Rodney Bingenheimer, singing on Australian radio as a child, Le Dome, the majesty of Hull, finding love at Fortress, and so much more ❤️ Join the Craig & Friends Patreon to support the show and receive Hott bonus content  Craig & Friends  Instagram Twitter 

The Muppet Movie, Phantom Of The Paradise, Bugsy Malone, A Star Is Born, “You And Me Against The World”, Smokey & The Bandit...what singular magical element do these cultural touchstones have in common? The legendary, inspirational & hilarious singer, songwriter, actor,  author, recovery advocate/counselor AND President of ASCAP known as PAUL WILLIAMS. Yes, one of my all-time heroes joins me for a truly special episode full of love and laughter that is sure to lift your spirits, heart & mind as much as it did (and still does) mine. Join the Craig & Friends Patreon to support the show and receive Hott bonus content  If you or a loved on is in need of help with drugs and/or alcohol: SAMHSA For More Paul: Official Website  Instagram Twitter Craig & Friends  Instagram Twitter 

This candid chat with legendary compser, co-creator of Hedwig & The Angry Inch and all-around terrific person known as Stephen Trask continues, picking up where we left off: the difficulties of coming out during the Reagan era, the extremes of youthful idealism, protest & arrests, Don Hill's and the dream of a better nightlife future coming true with Squeezebox!, meeting John Cameron Mitchell, Cheater, Leonardo the heartthrob, special slices, CBGB blizzards & more. Join the Craig & Friends Patreon to get bonus content while supporting the show. Stephen On Instagram Stephen On Twitter

Nashville's pre-eminent film critic, curator & connoisseur Jason Shawhan returns for EATING RAOUL. We talk Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, The Roger Corman Expanded Universe, Robert Beltran, swingers, wine-snobs, bad musical theater, the lurking terror of The Beach Boys, SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS and much more. Join the Craig & Friends Patreon For more Jason Shawhan: ⁠⁠https://x.com/jshawhan?s=21&t=2TXy7cSLOHZN-Ef4khov0A⁠⁠ ⁠⁠http://rebirthoftheflesh.blogspot.com/⁠⁠ Jason & Sam Inglis host FEARLESS PRETENDER- The Only Podcast That Provides Extensive Analysis of Every-Single Film & Television Show Featuring Jennifer Jason-Leigh. Hear my guest spot on the episode devoted to the bizarro Rodney Dangerfield classic EASY MONEY

Stephen joins me to talk scoring films, replacing Randy Newman, taking Hedwig & The Angry Inch from stage to screen, studio sabotage, leading the house band at the legendary SqueezeBox! party, negative pickups, falling in love with punk & piano lessons, the terror of coming to terms with being queer in the early 80s, hitting big at Sundance and much more. Taped in late 2020 but unreleased ‘til now due to a freshly resolved technical issue. Part 2 out next week.  Stephen On Instagram Craig & Friends Instagram Join the Craig & Friends Patreon page to support this show and get Hott Hott bonus material

For this merry Movie Club Monday, an encore presentation of the very first Movie Club episode. Taped in 2018 with my former co-host Katya, this is a gleeful exploration into the magic and mystery of Brian De Palma's oft-misunderstood masterpiece BODY DOUBLE. Sign up to The Craig & Friends Patreon to support the show and get hott bonus content.

The gorgeous & hilarious scientist of drag known as JUDY returns to discuss our membership in the Bipolar gang, my fairly recent diagnosis, vacation rashes, massage vibes, biblical floods, intentional consumption, calm candy moments, cognitive behavioral therapy, loving partners, Gordon Lightfoot’s guiding light, British food VS American food, the rumination rhumba and more. Get yer Judy merch HERE Judy On Instagram Join the Craig & Friends Patreon - support the show and get hott bonus content

From NYMPHOWARS, the International Amuse Douche chanteuse Macy Rodman joins me via satellite from Pittsburgh to discuss the lurid, sinister and quasi-legal pleasures of David Cronenberg’s prescient 1983 masterpiece VIDEODROME. We talk the divine Deborah Harry, Spectacular Optical, the brilliant actor yet repellent person that is James Woods, Canadian content, tax-shelter filmmaking, the continued relevance of Cronenberg’s cultural commentary, Scott Baio's bogus blacklisting, foley work revelations, corporate musicals, CRASH, Betamax body horror, Bianca & Brian O'blivion and so much more.  Enjoy Macy & Theda Hammel’s NYMPHOWARS And check out their PATREON MACY ON INSTAGRAM  Join ⁠The Craig & Friends Patreon⁠ : support the show and get hott bonus content. FILMS MENTIONED Dead Ringers The Fly  A History of Violence Out of Bounds Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Tightrope Eastern Promises Rabid Crimes Of The Future  Against All Odds Scanners The Brood Because I Said So Coyote Ugly  Looker Crash Fast Company The Onion Field  The Exorcist Bathtubs Over Broadway  Repo Man Straight To Hell Sisters  Passion Phantom Of The Paradise Femme Fatale  Inland Empire  The Thing Stalker  Best Seller Salvador  Cop The Wrestler Star 80 Possession  Taxi Driver 

Willam joins me to discuss the power and particulars of the latest and greatest adaptation of a story as old as show-business itself : 2018's A STAR IS BORN. Starring Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (who also co-wrote and directed) with William, Shangela, Andrew Dice Clay & Sam Elliott. Willam takes us through the casting process, working with Gaga & Cooper, Stefani's backrubs, ARTPOP, Cooper's supportive collaborative nature, the ins-and-outs & ups-and-downs of a working actor and then we answer Listener Questions. Originally released on Patreon in 2020, premiering to the public today. Happy Movie Club Monday! For More Willam For The Craig & Friends Patreon : support the show and get hott bonus content.

Shocked to learn of the death of our darling Sophie. To celebrate the laughter, love and lust she brought to this world, here is an encore presentation of our first chat in London, from 2019. Rest In Peace, my dear 💔 Original Episode Notes: Craig welcomes the enchanting Sophie Anderson to London HQ1 for her very first podcast! We talk Cock Destroyers, Krispy Kremes, being a Mom, finding your community, the power of spunk, sunglasses in the house days, VHS porn, plastic surgery, Trixie Mattel, gettin’ it in, going full-on, kebab’n’curry, “Driving For D*ck”, Jodie Harsh, escaping dangerous situations, creating yourself, being bullied, reaching out for help, crossdressing, chosen family, skin-tag surprises, porn preferences, Rebecca More, how to bolster your self-confidence, staying off drugs, our relationship with food, and MORE! Our pals Mike Chapman & Maddy Paterson join in at the end to talk British accents, hangovers, DragWorld disasters and exciting future collaborations.  Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my ⁠PATREON!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show while you enjoy ad-free & early versions of these episodes, solo episodes AND get in early on Movie Clubs & film related fun. Add your questions, comments (and maybe be directed to certain places where certain films might be) while supporting the show.

Gala Avary of The Gala Show & The Video Archives Podcast celebrates her birthday by joining me to talk Uncle Ken’s lurid 1984 classic CRIMES OF PASSION. We examine the magic mirth and mayhem of Russell’s aesthetic, Anthony Perkins’ penchant for poppers, the majesty of Kathleen Turner, sex-worker positivity, Gala & Craig’s “Correct Cut” feud, Oliver Reed, Robert Stigwood, Paul Nicholas, Sir Paul Williams, Celebrity Big Brother as well as Movies, Cinema AND Film 🍿🎥🎬 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GALA!!! 🌞 Subscribe to THE GALA SHOW THE VIDEO ARCHIVES PODCAST Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my PATREON!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show while you enjoy ad-free & early versions of these episodes, solo episodes AND get in early on Movie Clubs & film related fun. Add your questions, comments (and maybe be directed to certain places where certain films might be) while supporting the show. FILMS MENTIONED  Blame It On Rio Tommy The Lonely Lady All That Jazz  Bad Timing (A Sensual Obsession) White Of The Eye  Savage Messiah The Boy Friend  Manhunter  Hedwig & The Angry Inch Altered States Goodfellas Lisztomania  Yellow Submarine  Help! Bugsy Malone Phantom Of The Paradise  Saturday Night Fever  Making Love  Puss’N’Boots 2 Sonic The Hedgehog Top Gun : Maverick Barry Lyndon Thieves Like Us  Ken Russel's The Planets The Devils  Lair Of The White Worm Women In Love  Behind The Green Door Making Love Valentino Black Widow …And God Created Women  Psycho Psycho 3 The Fool Killer Play It As It Lays Cosmopolis Taxi Driver  Gothic Salome  Evita The Apple  Times Square  Author, Author Cry For Me, Billy Staying Alive  Thief  Sorcerer Dance Of The Seventh Veils Mahler Shadows  The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie Tar Moment By Moment  Mikey & Nicky  A Woman Under The Influence  Aria  It’s Pat Clifford  Tiptoes 

Legendary filmmaker Allan Arkush joins me to talk GET CRAZY, directing Dokken, Bette Midler, getting dosed by The Grateful Dead, enrolling the Ramones into ROCK'N'ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, dealing with difficult people (Chevy Chase, Andy Kaufman), getting Sinatra to do more than one take, FAME, Mick Jagger’s kitchen, Electric Larry, making THE TEMPTATIONS, graduating Roger Corman University, directing episodes of ST. ELSEWHERE & MOONLIGHTING, Mary Woronov, Executive Producing HEROES, working for Bill Graham at the Fillmore East and MORE! Hear me on the latest episode of the fabulous Gala Avary’s podcast, THE GALA SHOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gala-show/id1712577523?i=1000637015548 Check out Allan's videos on Trailers From Hell https://trailersfromhell.com/ Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Snatch up ad-free & early versions of these episodes, exclusive bonus episodes AND get in early on Movie Clubs. Add your questions, comments (and maybe be directed to certain places where certain films might be) while supporting the show.

A sleaze masterpiece directed by star Anthony Perkins, PSYCHO 3 plunges Norman Bates deep into the vibe & venom of the mid 80s Nashville's pre-eminent film critic, curator & connoisseur Jason Shawhan joins me to talk Perkins magic, the consistent brilliance of the PSYCHO franchise, the horror of Bill Wyman, Alfred Hitchcock, lurid lighting, Michael Mann's BATMAN, Siskel & Ebert's review, Brian De Palma, Perkins' personal life, Quentin Tarantino, the silky synth score from Carter Burwell, Katt Shea, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey and more. Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Snatch up ad-free & early versions of these episodes, exclusive bonus episodes AND get in early on Movie Clubs. Add your questions, comments (and maybe be directed to certain places where certain films might be) while supporting the show. .For more Jason Shawhan: ⁠https://x.com/jshawhan?s=21&t=2TXy7cSLOHZN-Ef4khov0A⁠ ⁠http://rebirthoftheflesh.blogspot.com/⁠ Jason & Sam Inglis host FEARLESS PRETENDER- The Only Podcast That Provides Extensive Analysis of Every-Single Film & Television Show Featuring Jennifer Jason-Leigh. ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/17u9DSmsiByQ56LijyERoo⁠ Hear my guest spot on the episode devoted to the bizarro Rodney Dangerfield classic EASY MONEY

The hilarious & charming Venus Black joins me to talk Subculture, Elvira, beer roadies, Paul Schrader, underground drag, Videodrome Discothèque, how to sneak booze into venues, Steven Tyler’s Can O’ Coke & Pill Stuffed Scarf, feather boas, Tootsie, Knott’s Berry Farm and much more. Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/CraigAndFriends⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Snatch up ad-free & early versions of these episodes, exclusive bonus episodes AND get in early on Movie Clubs. Add your questions, comments (and maybe be directed to certain places where certain films might be) while supporting the show.