recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

**Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** is episode 177 focusing on the movie of the same name, as part of the Podback Mountcast miniseries covering the films of Ang Lee. Posted 12 August 2018.

## Summary

> David Ehrlich (IndieWire) joins Griffin and David for an in-depth conversation on 2000’s Wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Together they examine the sweaty nature of the Police inspector Tsai and his daughter, eye performance, cave life and share James Schamus stories. This episode is sponsored by WeTransfer.
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David Ehrlich is back - and this time he's returned as a full-fledged Blankie, having listened to a large percentage of the back catalog of episodes since he was last on the show. Right on! And now he's in the studio to talk about - hot take - the best movie Blank Check has ever covered.

Was this movie ahead of its time in terms of empowerment narratives, even within its ancient-times fairy-tale setting - and is that why it seems to have aged so well in the culture? (Unlike the rest of the titles in the Box-Office Game - yikes.) What do actual Mandarin Chinese speakers think about the recorded dialogue and the English subtitles - and the accents, for that matter? Is *Lady Bird* actually a remake of this story? Is Dark Cloud a videogame or what? And did Sony Pictures Classics ever learn how to wide-release a film?

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Gunning for the Blank Check Twenty-Five-Timers Club: David Ehrlich
* Big fan of bandits with kerchief masks: Ben Hosley
* "What dark thought would have inspired you guys to consider doing away with the best part of your podcast?" --David Ehrlich, on the prospect of retiring the Ben's Nicknames bit. Engrave them on a wall-hung plaque for the studio so the memorization doesn't stress out Griffin anymore. Or, hey, use the wiki if the wifi isn't out!
* Griffin's impression of Randy Newman: ready for the MadTV reel
* Merchandise Spotlight!
* Also: Griffin might finally be a toy soon. December 2018?
* Is that a new drop in the mix from Producer Ben? "Rosetta Stone" has an audio sample now?
* Box-Office Game: Weekend of December 12, 2000

### Sponsors

* **We Transfer** lets you share big files - no sign-ins, no avatars, no offer codes, no cost! David quickly abandons a bit involving *Ready Player One*, which I feel is wise. We Transfer is easy and lets you quickly get back to your creative processes and making what you make, such as SOLID GOLD PODCASTS. Or that sweet love. wetransfer.com - you make, we transfer.

## References

1. ↑ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Audioboom.
F9 Trailer - An Emergency Minisode

**F9 Trailer - An Emergency Minisode** is episode 43 of Blank Check: Special Features focusing on the trailer for the 9th Fast & Furious film. Posted January 31, 2020.

## Summary

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> On the day and the hour of its release, January 31st, 2020, Griffin, David, Ben and guest Joe Reid watched the official trailer for the ninth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The Trailer
* A companion episode to F9: Our Return to Theaters.

## Quotes

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> | Griffin: |  I’m so curious. What do you think they’re doing with Han?
> | David: |  He’s back.
> | Griffin: |  But how? And why?
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. F9 Trailer. Patreon. Retrieved on January 30, 2023.
Alien Commentary

**Alien** is episode 72 of Blank Check: Special Features and the first of their Alien Franchise commentary episodes. Posted October 1, 2020 and released from behind the paywall on October 1, 2023.

## Summary

> While we're all stuck in limited spaces during this strange time facing an ominous threat, we're glad we can provide you guys some solace and escapism with something extremely different from our current reality: *Alien*! It was #2 in the March Madness bracket and remains #1 in David's heart. Our 6-part series starts with the ultimate horror classic from 1979. Just in time for October!
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> The movie starts at 6:23
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Fight Club

### Sponsors

NO ONE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT OUR JOBS. WE ARE NOT OUR ADVERTISERS. HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSON.

**Fight Club** is episode 445 focusing on the 1999 film of the same name as part of the The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast miniseries on the films of David Fincher. Posted October 1, 2023.

## Summary

> The first rule of Fight Club? Don’t talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club? DON’T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB. For those of you who like following the rules, we have an edited version of this episode available on Patreon wherein we do NOT talk about the seminal 1999 film FIGHT CLUB. But for the rest of you sickos, we’ve got a supersized episode with Project Mayhem’s own Alex Ross Perry. In this episode, we discuss our picks for the iconic DVDs of the “DVD era”, dive into the career of SERIOUS ACTOR Edward Norton, wonder what this movie would have been like with Janeane Garofalo as Marla Singer, and reveal the very dumb reason why Fred Durst is a playable character in the Fight Club video game.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* ARP breaks the running time record again, barely edging out The Matrix Resurrections.
* EW's 50 Essential DVDs list - good luck trying to read it
* The Chinese censored ending
* Fox's Deadpool DVD Covers
* Despite a promise to explain the Hip Hop Sims nickname, Alex decides to keep it in his back pocket for another time.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of October 15, 1999

## Quotes

Intro:

> "*Gentlemen, welcome to podcasts. The first rule of podcasts is: you do not talk about podcasts. The second rule of podcasts is: you DO NOT talk about podcasts! Third rule of podcasts: someone yells "stop!", goes limp, taps out, the pod is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a pod. Fifth rule: one pod at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: No shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule: pods will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at podcasts, you have to pod.*"
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> | Alex: |  The music in this movie works very well in this movie. It is dumb, terrible music. It's very silly.
> | David: |  I gotta say, I only ever listened to the score isolated. Maybe I should.
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# The First Rule Cut

## Fight Club (The First Rule Cut)

### Audio link

Patreon

**Fight Club (The First Rule Cut)** is an episode of Blank Check: Special Features **NOT** focusing on the 1999 film of the same name and part of The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast miniseries on the films of David Fincher. Posted October 1, 2023.

## Summary

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> The first rule of Fight Club? Don’t talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club? DON’T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB. For those of you who like following the rules, this is an edited version of our main feed episode wherein we do NOT talk about the seminal 1999 film FIGHT CLUB.
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Fight Club. Audioboom. Retrieved on October 1, 2023.
2. ↑ @ 2:27:27
3. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Fight Club (The First Rule Cut). Patreon. Retrieved on October 1, 2023.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Commentary

*This article is about the commentary on the film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes from 1972. For other uses see Planet of the Apes (disambiguation).*

## Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

### Reddit thread

Link

**Conquest of the Planet of the Apes** is episode 178 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary for the 1972 feature film of the same name. Posted June 1, 2023.

## Summary

> June kicks off with the fourth installment of the OG Planet of the Apes series. Join Griffin, David, and Ben for the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
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> **Movie starts at…6:30**
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The #twofriends are watching the unrated version which is primarily found only on the physical media editions
* Breakdown of changes between the Theatrical and Unrated versions

### Box Office Game

July, 1972

1. The Godfather
2. Frenzy
3. Fuzz
4. Shaft's Big Score
5. Cabaret

Others in the top 10: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Portnoy's Complaint, Prime Cut, Now You See Him, Now You Don't, Come Back, Charleston Blue

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Patreon. Retrieved on June 1, 2023.
2. ↑ VideoRaider. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (Comparison: Theatrical Cut - Unrated Director's Cut). Movie-Censorship.com. Retrieved on June 5, 2023.
Black Panther Commentary

**Black Panther** is episode 30 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary episode on the Marvel Cinematic Universe film of the same name. Posted September 20, 2019.

## Summary

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> Writer, Jamelle Bouie (New York Times) visits Big Nice studios in New York City to discuss 2018's *Black Panther* on another BC:SF MCU commentary episode!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* **The movie starts at 0:20:42.**
* The movie was a multiple nominee at The Fourth Annual Blank Check Awards including:
	+ Griffin:
		- Best Supporting Actor - Michael B. Jordan
		- Best Adapted Screenplay - Winner
	+ David:
		- Best Supporting Actor - Michael B. Jordan
		- Best Adapted Screenplay
		- Best Score - Winner
* The movie was a multiple nominee at Best of the Decade Blankies Awards including:
	+ Griffin:
		- Best Adapted Screenplay
	+ David:
		- Best Supporting Actor - Michael B. Jordan

## References

1. ↑ Black Panther on Patreon. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
Brokeback Mountain

**Brokeback Mountain** is episode 179 focusing on the film of the same name as part of the Podback Mountcast miniseries. Posted August 26, 2018.

## Summary

> Comedians and the hosts of Las Culturistas podcast (foreverdogproductions.com) Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang join Griffin and David to discuss 2005’s western romance, *Brokeback Mountain*. Together they examine the careers of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, Oscar winners over the years and, of course, erasure.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box office game: Weekend of December 9, 2005
Aliens of the Deep/Ghosts of the Abyss

**Aliens of the Deep/Ghosts of the Abyss** is episode 84 focusing on the two IMAX documentaries of the same name, as part of the Podinator: Judgment Cast miniseries covering the filmography of James Cameron. Posted November 18, 3016.

## Summary

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> Griffin and David this week discussed two documentaries directed by James Cameron: 2003’s *Ghost of the Abyss* and 2006’s *Aliens of the Deep*. But what were the early days of IMAX like? What kind of very rich person loves risking their lives in a submarine? Does David or Producer Ben rep Jupiter's moon, Europa, harder? Together, they examine Bill Paxton’s Texas accent, water drones James & Elwood and play a double dose of the box office game.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box-Office Game 1: Weekend of April 11, 2003
* Box-Office Game 2: Weekend of January 28, 2005

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Aliens of the Deep/Ghosts of the Abyss. Audioboom. Retrieved on May 10, 2022.
Digital Filmmaking

**Digital Filmmaking** is episode 20 and the eighth part of the Attack of the Podcast miniseries, about the film *Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones*. Posted 24 August 2015.

## Summary

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> Joining Griffin and David this week is special guest J.D. Amato ("The Chris Gethard Show") to discuss the behind-the-scenes making of this film, including, a featurette entitled: “Star Wars State Of The Art: The Pre-Visualization Of Episode II” (found in the initial DVD release of *Attack of the Clones*.)
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> Together, they examine the process of pre-visualization, why the CGI technology of its time compared even with today’s still makes this film ambitious, the uncanny valley and reasons why most of the special effects didn’t enhance or contribute to the overall story.
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> Though George tried his best, why did Lucas put himself into a situation where no one could help him or this movie? Why did actors perform to no one in a blue room? Was there ever even a bigger picture or cohesive plan? Find out these answers and more!
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Early in this miniseries Griffin laid the groundwork for this topic by noting that the skin coloring of the actors in this movie looked a little weird. Maybe it was because this was one of the very first major motion pictures to be shot entirely with digital cameras, and they hadn't figured out the lighting and makeup yet? What were the other unintended effects of going all-digital?

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Number of times J.D. Amato is introduced: three
* J.D. Amato: "Have you ever seen the movie *Cube*?"
* What about *Cube 2: HyperCube*?
* First time "blank check" is invoked? (Just after 1h19, by Griffin)

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Digital Filmmaking. Audioboom. Retrieved on August 30, 2022.
Aliens

*For the Patreon episode, see Aliens Commentary*

**Aliens** is episode 77 focusing on the movie of the same name, as part of the Podinator: Judgment Cast miniseries covering the filmography of James Cameron. Posted October 1, 2016.

## Summary

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> Fran Hoepfner (ClickHole) joins Griffin and David to discuss the 1986 horror/sci-fi sequel *Aliens*. But how did James go about pitching this project to studio executives? What exactly is Paul Reiser mad about? Could Private Vasquez be anymore of a badass? Together they share their thoughts on Cameron’s masterful storytelling, Sigourney Weaver’s outstanding performance, milk blood, pleasant adult flirting and more!
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Fran Hoepfner flies in from Chicago to join Griffin and David in discussing James Cameron's third motion picture. Just think about that - this huge thing was just his third movie.

Random points of discussion: Alien Day is 4/21. The director's cut has more Newt. James Cameron's infamous Alien$-with-a-dollar-sign pitch. The Vietnam metaphor. Cameron's fondness for showing technical processes onscreen. Thirsty Paul Reiser and decent uncomplicated Lance Henriksen. "HAHAHAHAHA! ... Bay twelve please." Sigourney Weaver's Best Actress nomination for *Aliens*.

Questions for discussion: How does this film cement James Cameron's motif of strong woman characters -characters with not only agency, but now with authority and gravitas among the cast? What was Sigourney Weaver's pseudonym on the callsheet for a project that Griffin was also in? What were some of the amazing scripts and pitches for Alien3? In the series of Alien movies, how does each installment work as a metaphor for stages of American society?

This seems to have been the earliest mention of the Blankies subreddit, which Griffin and David had just discovered.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Fran's favorite Marine: Jenette Goldstein as Vasquez, in her first movie role
* Griffin's favorite Marine: Bill Paxton as Hudson
* David's favorite Marine: Al Matthews as Apone
* Michael Shannon: Big Chicago
* David's name for the *Deepwater Horizon* film: *Dirty People: The Movie*
* Ben: getting into fashion
* Box office game: Weekend of July 18, 1986

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Aliens. Audioboom. Retrieved on January 30, 2023.
Avatarland/The Second Blank Check Mailbag

**Avatarland****/The Second Blank Check Mailbag**, is episode 139 and an everything bagel of an episode. It starts with coverage of Griffin's visit to **Avatarland**; the second part is devoted to a second serving of the Blank Check Mailbag, where Griffin and David answer questions sent to them by listeners. Due to the bifurcated episode structure this episode is filed as both a Standalone episode and a Podinator: Judgment Cast episode. Posted 10 Dec 2017.

## Summary

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> #thetwofriends once again answer listener submitted questions! Plus, Griffin discusses his recent trip to **Pandora – The World of Avatar** at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. But how would Griffin and David fix Men in Black II? Does **Avatar** work better as a theme park or movie? Will beloved actor Dan Lewis really quit acting, and if so, what will he do instead? Together the hosts discuss how they would rank The Muppets movies, potential future Blank Check live shows, poutine and a garbage plate of other topics. Also, the debut of the Burger Report™ hotline 802-8-BURGER.
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Good lord, Griffin loves theme parks. This discussion goes into great detail on Disney World's different park sections, what each tends to focus on, and why **Avatarland** is part of the Animal Kingdom section. Then he gets into the actual visiting experience he had with a couple of his fellow theme park fanatics, and how the rides went, what the lines were like, and even shares some recorded-live commentary from the park. Does Griffin have a new all-time favorite theme park ride? Does David understand the appeal, even a little bit?

And oh no, oh no, what is Griffin doing in the studio....

To finish up the segment, gifts! Ben got a crazy huge mountain mug that is awesome, and David... David is rendered speechless. He is stunned to discover that he is now the proud parent of a bouncing baby Na'vi.

In the back half of the episode, in response to rampant fan demand #TheTwoFriends launch the discussion with a public airing of their retroactive infamous and ingenious story pitch for *Men In Black II*. Followed by lots of listener questions and answers: What are their own favorites and least favorites among Blank Check episodes? How would they rank all the Muppet movies? Where do each of them stand on poutine?

This episode was sponsored by Mack Weldon. And thank goodness, because after removing all his Na'vi ceremonial garb Griffin was left cold and naked in the studio, in desperate need of quality clothing.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Griffin's impression of Daniel Day-Lewis: (listeners narrow eyes, purse lips)
* Blank Check Live episodes: need more planning
* Burger Report: via the hotline, from u/ilaughalone !
* Ben's favorite Luis Guzman performance: *Waiting*

## References

1. ↑ **Avatarland**/The Second Blank Check Mailbag on Audioboom.
Eyes Wide Shut

**Eyes Wide Shut** is episode 401 focusing on the 1999 film of the same name as part of Pods Wide Cast miniseries on the films of Stanley Kubrick. Posted November 13, 2022.

## Summary

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> Cruise. Kidman. Kubrick. Ehrlich. We’re concluding our Stanley Kubrick series with 1999’s EYES WIDE SHUT and a trip to cinema’s most famous masked orgy. Indiewire’s David Ehrlich joins us as we discuss liminal spaces, the late-90s ABC sitcom “Dharma & Greg,” Nick Nightingale’s skills as a piano player, and Sydney Pollack’s barrel chest. Are there “more Christmas lights in this movie than there are in an NYU student’s dormroom?” What is the platonic ideal of a Tom Cruise hairstyle? Did making this movie kill Kubrick, or was working to finish it what kept him alive? What can one expect to find where the rainbow ends? And more!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The inaugural guest at the as-yet-unnamed Blank Check Studios!
* Box office game: Weekend of July 16, 1999

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Eyes Wide Shut. Audioboom. Retrieved on November 13, 2022.
F9

**This article is a disambiguation page for F9**

The following is a list of links to pages that might share the same title.

Please follow one of the disambiguation links below or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

**F9** might refer to:

* F9 Trailer - An Emergency Minisode
* F9: Our Return to Theaters
A Conversation with George Lucas

**A Conversation with George Lucas** is episode 32 and the ninth and final part of the Revenge of The Podcast miniseries, about *Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith*. Posted 23 Nov 2015.

## Summary

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> With Griffin and David nearing the end of their investigation into the Phantom Menace trilogy there were still a lot of unanswered questions. So they decided to invite a very special guest who played a central part in creating these three indie films to help them better understand: director George Lucas. Yes, that's right - Georgie Porgie himself in the flesh!
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> Listen in as the hosts attempt to make sense of Jar Jar Binks, Jake Lloyd’s performance, Coruscant the city planet, and more with the architect behind it all.
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> Also, a GIANT revelation is brought to light that completely changes everything Griffin and David thought they knew about the Star Wars universe!
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Lucas is a slippery one - can Griffin nail him down or will *he* play the role of Professor Frustrated in this episode for a change? What box office records have George Lucas projects set? (Records count in both directions!) Can Lucas provide guidance on the central questions about these movies that Griffin and David have so desperately sought, before his 'hard out' on the recording session?

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Q: "What is *The Phantom Menace* about?"
* A: "This little boy seems important, maybe he is."
* Q: "What is *Attack of the Clones* about?"
* A: "Can a boy love a girl? Maybe."
* New Ben Hosley nickname: **Producer Ben Kenobi**

## References

1. ↑ May not be the actual director George Lucas.
2. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. A Conversation with George Lucas. Audioboom. Retrieved on August 30, 2022.
Esther Zuckerman

**Esther Zuckerman** (@ezwrites on Twitter) is a freelance writer and entertainment editor with credits on *The A.V. Club* and *The Atlantic*. During her time as editor at *The Atlantic*, she and David Sims bonded over discussions of lunches and prospective lunches, and often saw films together at critics' screenings.

Esther was a guest for the Aloha episode of Blank Check. She expressed frequent and justifiable distaste for Cameron Crowe's casting decisions in the movie, which were particularly infuriating for the way he seemed to avoid casting actors of color even when the role asked for or indeed demanded it.

During the James L. Brooks miniseries Podcast News, Esther guested on the duology of *I'll Do Anything* episodes - discussing both the the official release of the film and the bootlegged doomed musical cut. It was a lot to ask of a guest to come back for a second episode on that one, but even as everyone in the room discovered that somehow they all disliked the musical version even more, she bore the burden with aplomb.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

**Charlie and the Chocolate Factory** is episode 208 focusing on the 2005 movie of the same name, as part of the Podward Scissorcast miniseries covering the films of Tim Burton. Posted March 17, 2019.

## Summary

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> Writer, Pilot Viruet returns to Blank Check to discuss 2005's remake, *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*. But, at one point, were Al Pacino and Robert De Niro considering doing a Willy Wonka picture? What are the gang's Peter Farrelly rankings? What do you call a doctor’s jacket? Together they examine the four grandparents in bed, the trained squirrels and more!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box office game: Weekend of July 15, 2005

## References

1. ↑ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Audioboom. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
Hulk

**Hulk** is episode 178 focusing on the film of the same name as part of the Podback Mountcast miniseries. Posted August 19, 2018.

## Summary

> This week is all about 2003’s *Hulk*. The origins of this project. How Ang Lee played the *Hulk* on set. Our hosts favorite film genre: the bad dad Nick Nolte. The juxtaposition of serious and comic books in the filmmaking. How the hulk hands kid’s toy comes from a somber, meditative family drama about the way our fathers damage us. And the careers of Jennifer Connelly and Eric Bana.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* For a hulking deep dive, make sure to listen to Hulk Live with James Schamus.
* Box office game: Weekend of June 20, 2003
A Simple Plan

**A Simple Plan** is episode 373 focusing on the 1998 film of the same name as part of Podcast Me to Hell miniseries on the films of Sam Raimi. Posted May 1, 2022.

## Summary

>
> $4.4 million, a murder of crows, and a cursed crashed plane…the ingredients for a real nail-biter of a fable! Filmmaker Kevin Smith (yep, THAT Kevin Smith) joins us to talk about one of his favorite films - 1998’s “A Simple Plan” - and to pay tribute to the late producer Jim Jacks, who shepherded several filmmakers (such as Raimi, the Coens, Richard Linklater, and Smith himself) as they made their transitions from scrappy indies to the big leagues. How successfully is Raimi able to meld his signature kinetic style with this film’s air of prestige? Was Billy Bob Thornton “the best actor alive between the years of 1998 and 2003,” per David? What would YOU do if you discovered all that money in the woods? Ben would buy an island, and there would be no problems or conflicts, and it would just be really chill and fun!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The mentioned Billy Bob interview , also talked about on the Princess Mononoke episode.
* Box-office game: Weekend of December 11, 1998

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. A Simple Plan. Audioboom. Retrieved on May 1, 2022.
2. ↑ q on CBC. Billy Bob Thornton 'Blow Up' on Q TV. Youtube. Retrieved on August 7, 2022.
Miami Vice - Pilot Episode

**Miami Vice - Pilot Episode** is episode 228 focusing on the TV pilot episode of the same name, as part of The Cast of the Podhicans miniseries on the films of Michael Mann. Posted August 1, 2019.

## Summary

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> Griffin and David review the 1984 Miami Vice television series pilot entitled "Brother's Keeper" in a special b-b-b-b-bonus episode, reference the term 'podfade' from a recent New York Times article and examine the careers of Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.
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## References

1. ↑ Miami Vice-Pilot Episode on Audioboom. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
Ocean's Eleven (disambiguation)

**This article is a disambiguation page for Ocean's Eleven (disambiguation)**

The following is a list of links to pages that might share the same title.

Please follow one of the disambiguation links below or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

**Ocean's Eleven** may refer to:

### Patreon

* Ocean's 11 Commentary, commentary episode on the 1960 film starring Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack.
* Ocean's Eleven Commentary, commentary episode on the 2001 film directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Mank

**Mank** is episode 452 focusing on the 2020 film of the same name as part of the The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast miniseries on the films of David Fincher. Posted November 19, 2023.

## Summary

> Nerts! Are you folks ready to get MANK-PILLED? We advise that you start by “mankro-dosing” David Fincher’s 2020 exploration of the life and times of cantankerous screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. The Big Picture’s Sean Fennessey joins us to chat about Fincher’s first Netflix feature, and we’re asking all the important questions. Would this film have a better reputation if it had been titled “manK!” ? Will there be a film made 40 years from now entitled “SORK” about Aaron Sorkin, David Fincher, Mark Zuckerberg, and the making of THE SOCIAL NETWORK? Is Mank the “Jabba the Hut of cynicism”? Will Griffin use this episode as another excuse to talk about The Offer?
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The fourth in Griffin's "Blanking the Blank" Night Court theme rewrites, after The Judge, Hulk and Shaft.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of November 13, 2020
* At The Sixth Annual Blank Check Awards, Amanda Seyfried was David and Joe's winner for Best Supporting Actress. *Nerts*!

## Quotes

Intro:

> "*This is a business where the buyer gets nothing for his money but a memory. What he bought still belongs to the man who sold it. That's the real magic of the podcasts. And don't let anybody tell you different.*"
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Mank. Audioboom. Retrieved on November 19, 2023.
For Your Eyes Only Commentary

**For Your Eyes Only** is episode 151 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary for the 1981 feature film of the same name. Posted October 11, 2022.

## Summary

>
> It's back to basics Bond with this next entry in the Moore commentary series, 1981’s For Your Eyes Only. Topics include: train sounds, the IRREPLACEABLE character Luigi Ferrara, a shirtless Charles Dance, Topol running the table on the character Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and more!
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> **Movie starts at...6:06**
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box Office Game: Weekend of June 26, 1981.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. For Your Eyes Only. Patreon.
More Deleted Scenes

**More Deleted Scenes** is episode 31 and the eighth part of the Revenge of The Podcast miniseries. Posted 16 Nov 2015.

### Summary

>
> Mike Ryan (*Uproxx*) joins Griffin and David to discuss Revenge of the Sith’s deleted scenes and special featurettes: The Chosen One and Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III. Together, they examine George’s directing style, Producer Rick McCallum’s love of catering, elevator hijinks, and the American Film Institute’s ‘Funny Times for Funny People’ list.
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> Also, please get tickets for a special LIVE recording next monday November 23 @ Union Hall in Brooklyn: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1000755
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We're really getting getting down to the nitty gritty at this point in the Star Wars discussion. But hoo-boy, folks... might be TWO big surprises in the next episode! Stay tuned...

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Elevator Antics: Great Atari 2600 game
* "Anakin and Obi-Wan fingerbang each other in the elevator." -- Griffin Newman

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. More Deleted Scenes. Audioboom. Retrieved on August 30, 2022.
David Ehrlich

**David Ehrlich** (@davidehrlich on Twitter) is a writer at Indiewire.

## Biography

Formerly Ehrlich wrote at *Little White Lies* and *Rolling Stone* among other publications, and he is one of the top reviewers/users on Letterboxd.  He is one of the hosts of the Fighting In The War Room podcast, together with co-hosts Dave Gonzales, Katey Rich, and Matt Patches.

He has appeared in the Blank Check episodes on The Village, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Howl's Moving Castle. He has also appeared in the Doctor strange and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 episodes. He is known on the internet for being anti-franchise filmmaking as far as their effect on the movie industry at large and the movies they produce. However he adores the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull movie. An exception that proves the rule.

He does not care for the character of Rocket Raccoon, although his dream in life is to get an e-mail from a raccoon.

### Physical Appearance

David has self-described Paulie Walnuts-esque gray hair. He is also quite hirsute, with his son Asa enjoying "daddy's scratchy arms" à la the book *Pat the Bunny*.

## References

1. ↑ Popular users. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
2. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Patreon. Retrieved on March 11, 2022.
Iron Man 2 Commentary

**Iron Man 2** is episode 4 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary episode on the Marvel Cinematic Universe film of the same name. Posted February 1, 2019.

## Summary

> Tony Stark is at it again! And so are Griffin, David and Producer Ben! Join them for another live MCU commentary on 2010’s *Iron Man 2*. But why is Tony Stark such a drunken jerk in this movie? Is 'creaming it up' Griffin’s new catchphrase? Which is better: a bird whip or a whip made of birds? Together they examine Mickey Rourke looking completely normal and trustworthy, Sam Rockwell playing catch and stupid, shitty drones.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* **The movie begins at 0:03:05.**
* The episode was released from behind the paywall on February 1, 2022.
* Lots of Extra Talk from Griffin.
* Recorded at Big Nice, where David only had one beer.
* Griffin's hot *Isle of Dogs* take: all the humans should speak in barks.
* Box office game: Weekend of May 7, 2010.

## Quotes

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127 Hours

**127 Hours** is episode 419 focusing on the 2010 film of the same name as part of Trainspodcasting miniseries on the films of Danny Boyle. Posted April 2, 2023.

## Summary

> Welcome to another installment in the “If This Happened to Ben Hosley, It Wouldn’t Have Gone Down Like That” series of films - it’s 127 HOURS! Hollywood Handbook’s Sean Clements returns to the pod as we all discuss what we would do if, like real-life outdoorsman Aron Ralston, we got literally “stuck between a rock and a hard place.” What is gnarlier - cutting off your own arm, drinking your own pee, or hosting the Oscars the same year you get your first acting nomination and completely self-sabotaging during it? James Franco, we’re looking at you.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* David's mid-movie snack: an orange.
* If you are prone to nausea and/or averse to the discussion about the arm, skip from about 1:51:44 (when they start discussing the knife) to 1:59:39 (when they talk about him showing up at a different campsite after freeing himself).
* Box office game: Weekend of November 5, 2010

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. 127 Hours. Audioboom. Retrieved on April 2, 2023.
Panic Room

**Panic Room** is episode 446 focusing on the 2002 film of the same name as part of the The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast miniseries on the films of David Fincher. Posted October 8, 2023.

## Summary

> We’re scootin’ through some wild Manhattan real estate this week and locking ourselves into David Fincher’s PANIC ROOM with the wonderful Eva Anderson! Can you believe that Jodie Foster wasn’t even supposed to be in this movie? And that David Fincher was the one who braided Jared Leto’s cornrows? Just kidding about that last one. Come for Griffin’s formative crush on young Kristen Stewart, stay for the inexplicable amount of talk about “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” - a show that has absolutely nothing to do with this movie.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The very model of a modern network TV show
* Matt Albie's Studio 60 twitter: @MattAlbie60
* Nicole Kidman's post-divorce court pic
* The Minus Man trailer
* Another film in the "Ben would have done it better" canon.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of March 29, 2002

## Quotes

Intro:

> "*-Get out of my podcast!
> -Say fuck!
> -FUCK!
> -Mom! "Get the fuck out of my podcast"!
> -Get the FUCK out of my podcast!*"
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Panic Room. Audioboom. Retrieved on October 8, 2023.
Lucky Numbers

**Lucky Numbers** is episode 281 focusing on the 2000 film of the same name as part of the You've Got Podcast miniseries. Posted on July 19, 2020.

## Summary

>
> It’s an extra-sized episode featuring director Alex Ross Perry for this strange film about lotteries or something. Which Seinfeld characters are the Two Friends, Ben, and Ang? What awesome tidbits did Alex pick up from the *Lucky Numbers* commentary? What are the merits of the films of all the other Friends (from *Friends*)?
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* At time of posting, this episode was the longest of the podcast. It has subsequently dropped lower on that list behind several other ARP eps.
* In addition to being the longest episode, the run time of the episode is 1:11 longer than the run time of the film which is currently the 5th largest discrepancy.
* The first F Cinemascore film to be covered on the pod!
* Griffin trying to invert The Bit: fail.
* King of the ginger scum bums: Rapaport
* Possible blender: Rapaport's sports memorabilia
* Talking Telephone Numbers
* Box office game: Weekend of October 27, 2000.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Lucky Numbers with Alex Ross Perry. Audioboom. Retrieved on July 5, 2022.
Inception (no bits)

*This is the no bits version of this page. For a bit-laden version, see Inception.*

## Inception (no bits)

### Running time

2:09

**Inception** is episode 120 focusing on the movie of the same name, as part of the The Pod Knight Casts miniseries covering the filmography of Christopher Nolan. Posted 6 Aug 2017.

## Summary

> Griffin and David present a very special episode on 2010’s dream heist, *Inception*.
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It's a podcast within a podcast. But still we have to go deeper; plug in, David! Hold on, the podcast is collapsing!

It is likely that this is the episode treatment that Producer Ben pitched this miniseries with. The Pro-doer gets his chance to go Hoz-Hog-wild with the post-production on this one, with voice effects, samples, soundtrack, background ambience, and of course:

This is a blank check movie. For Nolan, it's a passion project with personal meaning; in this case a plot that functions as an analogy for the filmmaking process itself. But Nolan, he's earning more blank checks with his blank check - this movie was a huge hit. And Griffin and David know it's sweaty, as if it's a script written by a 12-year-old and directed by a master craftsman. The first half is like an instruction manual. But if you buy in, the last hour is like a grand symphony.

Can #TheTwoFriends go all the way into unconstructed podcast space and return with a cogent analysis? Is the Pussy Posse in effect? Is Tom Hardy the best actor in this movie? Is the dreamlike CGI effective? And of course: at the end, is this the real life or is this just fantasy?

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Cillian Murphy's blender: his wallet
* "Screaming, and colors, and people melting...": Ben's dreams
* MVP of the film: Hans Zimmer
* Box-Office Game: Weekend of July 16, 2010
Blank Check with Griffin and David Wiki

## **Welcome**

**Blank Check with Griffin and David** (@blankcheckpod on Twitter) is a film podcast where #TheTwoFriends, Griffin Newman and David Sims, examine the filmographies of famous directors and determine the moment when they got a "Blank Check". This is a wiki for information on the hosts, producers, Benducers, inside jokes, director discussions and featured guests.

* The show has been featured in articles at the AV Club, Buzzfeed, TIME Magazine, and many other publications. See About The Show for more.
* **Blank Check Merch** is available! Check out the latest designs on teepublic. They also have a new shop through shopify, with a hat, a limited-edition 5th Anniversary t-shirt, and comedy points coinage.
* **Patreon:** the supplemental series Blank Check: Special Features is up and running. Subscriber patrons have access to a new podcast feed with extra episodes every 10 days, including commentary tracks and discussion of long-requested franchise films. Plus, whenever they hit a new total goal they do weird stuff like record episodes live on tape at basketball games and amusement parks. You can find their sign-up page here.
* Odds and Ends pages: the Card System, slate of Blank Check Pictures, types of Comedy Points, March Madness concept, Podcast Records, Five-Timers Club

**March Madness 2023** and **Special Features March Madness 2023** are finished! Voting on the World Cup bracket began on March 1, 2023 on the new-ish Blank Check Website! Patreon voting took place, well, on Patreon. Track Park Chan-Wook and the Ocean's films' paths to victory and stay tuned for both upcoming series.

## Featured Article

**Ratatouille** is episode 166 focusing on the movie of the same name, as part of The Podcastibles miniseries covering the films of Brad Bird. Posted June 3, 2018.

>
> In another family edition episode, this week, siblings Romilly Newman and Joey Sims help discuss 2007’s rat foodie journey, *Ratatouille*. But what were the circumstances behind Bird being brought onto this project? What was the cultural impact of this movie and children’s relationships with food? Is it a coincidence that ‘rat’ is in the title? Together they discuss food culture, Paris, picky eating and more!
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**Read More...**

## **Podcast Credits**

* Griffin Newman, Co-host
* David Sims, Co-host
* Ben Hosley, Pro-doer
* Layne Montgomery, Theme Songs
* Joe Bowen and Pat Reynolds, Artwork
* Marie Bardi-Salinas, Social Media
* AJ McKeon & Alex Barron, Editing
* JJ Bersch, Research
* Angela Ferraguto, Co-Producer & Social Media — Emerita
* Rachel Jacobs, Producer — Emerita
* Nick Laureano, Researcher — Emeritus

## **Wiki Credits**

This wiki was developed as an initiative of the Blankies community on Reddit.

Primary contributors are antlersantlers, Ceiling99, Ilaughalone, Armyofmeee, and Puercster. You can see all contributors listed here. We document real nerdy shit.

If you would like to help, a great place to start is with one of these article stubs!

### Current Poll

Polls are back!\*

\*(sort of. You have to have an account, but we're looking into a different option!)

Past Poll Results
David Fincher Music Videos

**David Fincher Music Videos** is episode 191 of Blank Check: Special Features focusing on David Fincher directed music videos as bonus for The Curious Pod of Benjamin Buttcast miniseries on the films of David Fincher. Posted October 11, 2023.

## Summary

> Heh heh. We’re like watching music videos directed by some buttmunch named David Fincher? YES thats right, Beavis and Buttheads, for October’s bonus ep the gang presents commentary of 30 different video selections spanning the entirety of da Finchman’s career as a music video director. Topics include: Christopher Cross' 1981 Grammy sweep, why Bamboléo hits different, too much Billy Idol, the tiniest desk concerts, pondering if its funnier when Glick says it and so much more!
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> Playlist: Youtube
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> Video Playlist Starts at: 5:41
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Griffin - Beavis, David - Butt-head, Ben - Beavis, Marie - ~~Daria~~ Butt-head
* New David nickname: David "Strong Ox" Sims since he shrugged off the COVID booster with no side effects.
* Allergic to cats (maybe. There are a lot of parody songs with that title)

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. David Fincher Music Videos. Patreon. Retrieved on October 11, 2023.
Live and Let Die Commentary

**Live and Let Die** is episode 146 of Blank Check: Special Features focusing on the 1973 feature film of the same name. Posted August 21, 2022.

## Summary

>
> Checkmates! Presenting this year’s March Madness winner: the James Bond films starring Sir Roger Moore. Griff, David, and Ben kick off the new commentary series with 1973’s Live and Let Die. Topics include: the best Bond songs, a fear of sharks, Tee Hee’s robot arm, local possums, the career of Geoffrey Holder, and more!
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> **Movie starts at...12:18**
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Ben's vocalization of the James Bond stinger: "Bennett gun"
* Griffin did not foresee the success of these bonds in Special Features March Madness 2022. Beat Connery Bond by 2%, Police Story by 5 votes, RoboCop by 14%, Monty Python by 26%, and Planet of the Apes by **2 VOTES**!
* Ben and Griffin are coming in fresh on Roger Moore.
* The OG McCartney Live and Let Die and the GNR cover
* "Reverse coffin flop"
* Bond would NEVER write in the tub.
* Ben's scariest animal rankings: Shark, Snake, Bear
* Lots of lunch talk. Griffin's in the mood for something lighter. David considers getting a 7-Up.
* Tee Hee's Prosthetic Claw has its own page at the James Bond wiki.
* James Bond — pairs of jeans worn: 1; visits to Canada: 0.
* Next year David thinks they should each pick a main feed series. Brest on main!
* Woman Is NYC Bar Hero After Calmly Grabbing, Removing Opossum That Wandered Inside

#### Box office

June 27, 1973

1. Live and Let Die
2. Scarecrow
3. The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
4. Shaft in Africa
5. 40 Carats

## Quotes

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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Live and Let Die. Patreon. Retrieved on August 21, 2022.
2. ↑ Ida Siegal. Woman Is NYC Bar Hero After Calmly Grabbing, Removing Opossum That Wandered Inside. NBC New York. Retrieved on August 23, 2022.
3. ↑ @ 01:48:51
New Moon Commentary

**New Moon** is episode 99 of Blank Check: Special Features, and is a commentary track for the 2009 film of the same. Posted June 1, 2021.

## Summary

>
> BC:SF is proud to present commentary for the second installment in the Twilight Saga with friend of the show and director of New Moon, Chris Weitz! Topics include: how Chris got involved with the project, the intense fandom of the Twilight universe, night shoot drama, what it's like directing a franchise film, CGI jorts, and more! Plus, a special peek inside the writing process for *Night Eggs*.
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> **The movie starts at...32:04**
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## References

1. ↑ New Moon on Patreon. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
March Madness 2018 Recap - Round 1

**March Madness 2018 Recap - Round 1** is episode 152 discussing the Blank Check March Madness 2018 event. It was released mid-week and was filed as a Standalone March Madness episode. Posted March 15, 2018.

## Summary

>
> Griffin and David unleashed a March Madness bracket pitting directors against one another. The filmmaker deemed the champion will decide a future mini series coming in the fall. In a *spot on* drivetime sports talk radio style, the hosts walk through the recent match-ups and discuss all the drama! To get in on the daily action goto https://twitter.com/blankcheckpod and vote!
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With the excitement and attention that the Blank Check March Madness bracket of directors has attracted on Twitter and Reddit, David asked Griffin and Ben to come into the studio and produce a surprise minisode to recap all the results of the matchups up to that point. The episode was recorded towards the end of the first round, so it covers who's won and lost so far, what remains in Round 1, plus what's on tap for Round 2.

This was also the first chance Griffin and David had to comment on the record about the bracket entries themselves, so they discussed the merits of most of their choices for the competitors and the seedings. Why so few of this type of director, why this unpopular director, why this juggernaut director, etc? What in Bob Fosse's filmography would make for a good Blank Check miniseries? How did Heckerling get matched against Bay? They also offered some clarifications on a few questions about filmographies and which movies would be covered in the event of, say, a Besson or an Altman win.

Because this is tangentially sports-related, #TheTwoFriends make an impressionistic attempt at adopting drive-time sports talk-radio personalities, something they are both very familiar with and they totally nail it. But really, Producer Ben really does nail it with all the guitar-lick samples and a comprehensive sound effects library at his disposal.

Stay tuned for another recap episode in a couple weeks as the Final Four approaches...

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Griff "The Grip" Newman
* David "Dawg" Sims
* Hahaha, David had thought they could make this a ten minute episode...
* Ben: "Hell...wait, what's that? ***YEAH-AH-AH.***"
* Terrence Malick's *Knight of Cups*: "Live-action 'Bojack Horseman.'"
* Besson v. Aronofsky: The Scarf vs. The Beret, Merlot vs. Manischewitz

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. March Madness 2018 Recap - Round 1. Audioboom. Retrieved on May 21, 2022.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man

**Memoirs of an Invisible Man** is episode 347 focusing on the 1992 film of the same name and part of the They Podcast miniseries on the films of John Carpenter. Posted October 24, 2021.

## Summary

>
> In which we try to find the John Carpenter in what is overwhelmingly a Chevy Chase vanity project. The legendary Alan Sepinwall (Rolling Stone) joins us to make sense of this befuddling genre mishmash. What are the invisibility rules of this movie? Who is the silver-voiced British man named “Richard” and is that his real voice? Is Chevy Chase good at acting? Does it matter? In this movie…yeah, it kind of does! We’re sad to see the Carpenter hot streak end with this movie, but that’s what Blank Check is all about - the bounces, baby!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* What's Alan Watching?
* Box Office: Weekend of February 28, 1992

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Memoirs of an Invisible Man with Alan Sepinwall. Audioboom. Retrieved on October 24, 2021.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Commentary

**Ghostbusters: Afterlife** is episode 125 of Blank Check: Special Features and about 2021 film of the same name as part of the Ghostbusters commentary miniseries. Posted February 21, 2022.

## Summary

>
> BC:SF wraps up its Ghostbusters commentary series with the recent *Ghostbusters: Afterlife*! Topics include: “giving it back to the fans”, how the character named Podcast got his nickname, counting eggs, and more!
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> **Movie starts at…0:51**
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Alison Willmore's *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* review: *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* Is a Reanimated Corpse, *Vulture*.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Patreon. Retrieved on February 21, 2022.