Geek Girl Soup

The girls are back this week digging into the latest entertainment news and chatting about current shows and movies. Susan and Cort may have found yet another new thing to love about K-Pop Demon Hunters. Which song from the movie fits your personality? Kelly is embracing her own inner horror fangirl as she jumps headlong into the Conjuring Universe. This week’s main conversations center on a spoiler-filled discussion of Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest and a deep dive into the storied legacy of the Wayans family. The Soup crew discuss some of the careers launched from In Living Color and some of the show’s most memorable characters and moments. Did you know the story about the Wayans’ huge impact on the NFL and halftime show performances? Hit play and listen in as the girls hit on everything from sportsball to Akira Kurosawa. Spoiler-talk for Highest 2 Lowest runs from 33:58 to 46:00. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Kelly makes an appearance to chat about entertainment news and recommendations (including Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, KPopped, and Hostage). Then Susan and Cort take over to catch up on Love Island. Find out what streaming shows have recently been renewed — and which two favorites have been canceled. (How dare they?!) And does the 40th anniversary of The Breakfast Club make you feel old?! ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Susan and Cort discuss all-things KPop Demon Hunters! And don’t forget the sing-along version. Both on Netflix. Everyone has seen these, right? (Okay, not Kelly. But we’re working on her!) ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Did you watch “Smoke” on AppleTV+? If you did… man, do we have a lot to talk about! If you didn’t… dude. Today we’re chatting about not only “Smoke,” but also “Nobody 2.” (Mirrors. Get it? If you’ve seen it, you get it!) Yes, we actually went to the cinema to catch a new film! ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Susan and Cort dive into the Law & Order universe, connecting actors, episodes, and the wild web of Hollywood projects through their own version of Six Degrees of Separation. From surprise guest stars and missed casting opportunities to Netflix’s odd release models, and upcoming spinoffs, the Soup crew stir up plenty of TV and movie talk. Plus: recommendations you won’t want to miss, a little Beyond the Gates soapiness, and even some nostalgia for Melrose Place. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

This week, Susan, Cort, and Chris dive deep into the outrageous and brilliant return of South Park. From behind-the-scenes gossip to eye-popping sight gags, the gang breaks down the season 27 jaw-dropping premiere and why the show feels sharper than ever. They reminisce about their own history with South Park (including near run-ins with the creators), the lightning-fast six-day episode production cycle, and the unexpected revival of cultural relevancy that’s got millions tuning back in. It’s not all about South Park, though. We wander into other TV universes—Foundation, Smoke, Wednesday, the latest War of the Worlds, and even the questionable charm of sequels like Happy Gilmore 2 and Old Guard 2. Plus, a nostalgic detour into The Bionic Woman’s strangely dark finale. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Hosts: Susan & Cort Special Guest Appearance: Kelly’s stand-in, NekoZilla 🐾 It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year – in the middle of summer! This week, Susan and Cort celebrate Christmas in July with lots of cheer, nostalgia, and just a bit of chaos. From heartfelt tributes to pop culture icons we’ve lost, to the sharp satire of South Park’s season 27 premiere, it’s a whirlwind of emotion and entertainment. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

It’s just Susan and Cort this week—Kelly’s still “swimming with sharks”—but the conversation is packed! We dive into the theme of immigrants and hidden gems, with shoutouts to Superman (yes, he’s an immigrant too), the new Superman movie from James Gunn, and hidden cinematic/documentary treasures. Plus, there’s plenty of tea on Beyond the Gates, Love Island USA, and what the hell happened to Chelly & Ace?! ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

🎉 Happy Birthday, Kelly! 🦈 This one’s for you. In honor of Kelly's birthday and the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the Geek Girl Soup crew dives deep into Spielberg’s genre-defining blockbuster. Susan and Cort are joined by special guest Scot from the Serious TV Drama Podcast to celebrate one of Kelly’s all-time faves. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Happy Juneteenth! 🎉 This week, Susan and Cort celebrate Black freedom and storytelling by diving into the cultural feast that is Sinners, the latest masterpiece from Ryan Coogler. With vampires, music, history, and a whole lot of swag, Sinners is a film that refuses to be defined by a single genre—and the Geek Girl Soup crew is here for it. The hosts break down: Their favorite characters (Smoke supremacy 🔥) Historical and cultural symbolism Why that surreal montage deserves all the awards Improv moments that made the film legendary The future of vampire lore through a Black cultural lens Plus, there are recaps galore: Latest Love Island USA drama (Ace & Chelley are a mess, y’all) Summer TV recommendations: Revival, Materialist, How to Train Your Dragon 2025, and more Beyond the Gates soap recap: fake pregnancies, secret exes, and THAT slideshow

Summer’s here and we’re diving headfirst into the horror! Susan, Kelly, and Cort are all back in the pod to dish about what’s been keeping us up at night (and hitting that “play next episode” button anyway). From physical media debates sparked by ATXtv Festival to spine-tingling summer scares like Gerald’s Game and I Know What You Did Last Summer, we’re deep in the scream stream. We also break down the latest Beyond the Gates drama — because yes, Kat is still tampering with evidence (girl, NO). Plus, what’s hot in recommendations, and why we might just be side-eyeing Gwyneth’s candle game. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Day 4 – We Are Leftovers & Mad Men Magic This was the day. The day Susan and Cort traveled to Austin for: The Leftovers cast reunion panel. Get ready for chills, tears, laughter, and maybe even some “JustinKevin” spiritual energy. Then, they rounded out the evening with the 10th anniversary celebration of Mad Men’s finale—aka  Jon Hamm worship. From mystical on-set experiences to Chipotle firsts, this ep covers it all. 00:00 – Leftovers Day Begins!Lined up early with the superfans. The anticipation, the crowd, the vibe… all worth it. 03:00 – The Leftovers Cast PanelAnn Dowd, Amy Brenneman, Carrie Coon, Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta, and Mimi Leder deliver heartwarming stories, behind-the-scenes truths, and long-awaited answers. 35:00 – Mad Men PanelJon Hamm, John Slattery, and moderator Noah Hawley dish about casting, smoking 72 fake cigarettes, and why slouching was banned on set. 51:00 – Chipotle Firsts & ATX Fest Wrap-UpGranola bar survival tips, cotton candy nightcaps, and exhausted reflections from four full days of TV nerdery. 📺 Panels & Shows Mentioned: The Leftovers Mad Men ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Part 2 – Lost Authors, Leftover Fans & Legendary Voices Our Day 3 (or Festival Day 2?) brought surprises, voice crushes, elevator chaos, and fangirling in full force. Susan and Cort dive into early screenings (Duster Ep. 4), secret societies in Anne Rice’s universe, and a panel with Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta. Expect TV nerdiness, near-missed seats, and Cort’s personal vendetta against chocolate croissants. 00:00 – Rainy mornings & lazy startsSkipped morning panels to recover from late-night storms and schedule shuffles. 02:00 – Duster Episode 4 Early ScreeningSeventies vibes, FBI twists, Keith David’s velvet voice, and car chases galore. 07:00 – AMC’s Anne Rice Universe PanelInterview with the Vampire season 3 updates, Talamacus show revelations, and a new rockstar vampire on the rise. Yes, actual rock songs are coming. 24:00 – Showrunners & Authors PanelElevator drama, sneaking into packed rooms, and saving seats like champions. Damon & Tom spill tea on The Leftovers, book-to-screen shifts, and Carrie Coon’s game-changing performance. 41:00 – Punch Bowl Burgers & Restaurant RejectionsA Big-Ass Burger and a big-ass letdown when their favorite restaurant becomes VIP-only. 46:30 – Book Club CurveballCort and Susan attend an ATXtv “book club” hoping for another Damon & Tom Q&A... only to realize they were never coming. Womp womp. 50:00 – Poolside Nostalgia & Looking Ahead to the Cast PanelPhotos, chills, and predictions for Day 4’s main event: The Leftovers cast reunion. 📺 Panels & Shows Mentioned: Duster Interview with the Vampire The Mayfair Witches We Were Liars The Leftovers The Vampire Diaries Lost ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Days 1 & 2: Tornadoes, Panels, and Popcorn DramaSusan and Cort are live(ish) from the Austin Television Festival! From Texas-sized hailstorms and hotel confusion to binge-watching and brushing shoulders with TV legends, they recap their first two whirlwind days at ATX. Tune in for festival highlights, travel misadventures, unexpected heartthrobs, and the joy (and pain) of trying new coffee. ___________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

We’re peering into the present through the cracked lens of the future this week with Susan, Kelly, and  Geek Guy Chris. From AI chatbots with too much personality to dystopias where “reality” is a broadcasted spectacle, it’s a soup of sci-fi predictions that hit way too close to home. Whether it’s Mission Impossible’s rogue AI, the gentle (and totally not creepy) vibes of Her, or the calculating logic of Colossus: The Forbin Project, we’re diving into how film and TV imagined our now—and nailed it a little too well. _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

We’re bringing Nollywood to your earbuds this week as Susan and Cort take a cinematic trip across the continent to celebrate Africa Day! We curated a rich watchlist featuring African films—from rom-coms and thrillers to revenge flicks and supernatural twists. Plus, we catch up on entertainment news, discuss Final Destination: Bloodlines, and unpack the juicy drama unfolding on Beyond the Gates. (Spoiler: wigs and secrets are flying.) _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

We’re back from the wilds of real life and diving straight into the post-apocalyptic drama of The Last of Us! In this episode, the Geek Girl Soup crew gets emotional, philosophical, and maybe a little fungal as we dissect Season 2 up through Episode 5 (“Feel Her Love”). SPOILERS!!! _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

This week, we’re taking a mind-bending dive into three under-the-radar sci-fi gems: The Endless, Radius, and Upgrade. Indie, eerie, and occasionally WTF, these movies gave us plenty to chew on—from AI run amok to time loop cults to accidental mass murder by proximity. Seriously, there’s a lot going on here. We also say a heartfelt goodbye to Val Kilmer, dissect the upcoming Beatles biopics, rage at the absurd “rebranding” of the Underground Railroad, and gave some hot (and not) streaming picks including The Pitt, Karma, MobLand,  The Bondsman, and Pulse. (Spoiler: Skip Pulse.) _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

This week on Geek Girl Soup, Susan, Kelly, and Cort dive deep into the Apple TV+ two-part documentary Number One on the Call Sheet. The series honors Black excellence in Hollywood, focusing on the journeys of Black leading men and women who’ve redefined what it means to be at the top. From Eddie Murphy’s early meteoric rise to Angela Bassett’s powerhouse presence, this episode is all about spotlighting the trailblazers who’ve shaped the culture. We reflect on: How representation on screen (and behind it) has changed over the decades The painful beauty of Black women’s stories in Hollywood What it really means to be number one on the call sheet Standout moments from the documentary, including tributes to Chadwick Boseman and the legendary Halle Berry Oscar moment A few standout quotes: “A gun might stop a life, but a gun can’t stop the stories.” – Alfre Woodard “I felt safe for the first time on set when all the hair and makeup people were Black.” – Tiffany Haddish Plus, we touch on Denzel’s modern-day Othello, the tragic legacy of Richard Chamberlain, and our usual buffet of current watches and recommendations! _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

—> After listening to this episode, Maria has this say: “I was just thinking about the irony of my podcast interview and how much of what I said is so relevant to mom passing away as we release the film (joy and pain!). And I had no idea mom was going to die.” <— In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with Maria Semander Crawford to discuss The Empty Chair, a short film that tells the story of her sister Elena’s murder by little-known serial killer Coral Eugene Watts—and the decades-long fight for justice that followed. This isn’t your typical true crime tale. It’s a deeply personal, emotional journey about grief, advocacy, and how one family refused to be silenced by a broken system. Maria opens up about the day her sister was murdered, the years of legal hurdles her family faced, and the extraordinary activism of their mother, Harriett Semander. Sadly Harriett passed away just before the film became available to buy. She did see it, though. As much as this story is about Elena, it's more so about Harriett. May she rest in peace. Along the way, we also discuss: Marvel’s mega-livestream casting chaos The cartoon apocalypse trend (seriously, what are they doing to Mickey Mouse?) TV picks including Happy Face, The Pitt, and more A Looney Tunes movie that surprisingly hits the apocalypse vibes 😆 🎬 Watch The Empty Chair on Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play 📝 Subscribe to the newsletter to stay updated on the campaign to turn this into a limited series. theemptychairmovie.com _________________________ Original music by Garrett Thompson Follow us on social media: @GeekGirlSoup Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com