Guilty Pleasures – Details, episodes & analysis

Hey, hey, hey, a wild ride is on the way with this episode of Guilty Pleasures! Join Stephanie, Jack, and Kelly as they take a bite out of the bizarre and bewildering 1980 musical oddity,The Apple. Set in a dystopian 1994 where the music industry reigns supreme, this film is a kaleidoscope of disco, biblical allegories, and questionable songwriting that gives your hosts plenty to talk about... but is any of it GOOD?

Kelly and Jack share their reactions to the film's outrageous fashion choices, perplexing character arcs, and uncomfortable moments. Meanwhile, Stephanie tries to defend the film against an onslaught of abuse, but can she make a compelling case thatThe Apple is so bad it's good and not just plain BAD?

The conversation is peppered with laughter, debate, and disbelief as the trio navigates through the film's ridiculous musical numbers, including the infamous "BIM" anthem that will stick in your head long after the episode ends. But if you're anything like Jack and Kelly, that may inspire more rage than respect.

Join the Guilty Pleasures Crew as they grapple with the absurdity ofThe Apple and try to get to the core of the matter, deciding if it's a guilty pleasure worth revisiting or a cinematic disaster best left forgotten.

Is "The Apple" an actual, actual, actual trainwreck?

Welcome to another episode of No Notes, where Stephanie, Kelly, and Jack take a break from dissecting guilty pleasures to delve into some cinematic treasures. This holiday season, Kelly takes center stage with her selection of three lesser-known Christmas specials that promise to warm your heart and tickle your funny bone.

First up, we have Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, a charming tale featuring Jim Henson's magical Muppets and the melodic genius of Paul Williams. This special offers a unique twist on the classic "Gift of the Magi" story and introduces us to the greatest fictional band ever—the River Bottom Nightmare Band. The hosts explore the deeper themes of poverty and resilience, all wrapped up in a heartwarming holiday package.

Next, Kelly presents the delightfully bizarre Opus and Bill's A Wish for Wings That Work. This oddball gem, featuring voice cameos from Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, is a surreal holiday experience that had Kelly's family hooked from its single TV airing. The hosts revel in its absurd humor and unexpected sincerity, making it an unforgettable addition to any holiday watchlist.

Finally, they discuss the emotional rollercoaster that is the Bob's Burgers Christmas episode, "The Plight Before Christmas." This episode captures the chaos of holiday scheduling conflicts and the profound love within the Belcher family. The hosts reflect on the genuine, heartfelt storytelling that brings tears and laughter in equal measure.

Welcome to Guilty Pleasures, the show where we give in to pleasure, rising from our coffins to discuss a modern horror film and debating just how guilty we need to feel about loving or hating it. 

It was Steph’s pick this month, and she was once again desperate for any excuse to talk about the (according to her) greatest actor of our generation and possibly of any generation, Nicolas Cage.

We asked our adoring fans to choose between 2021’S PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND and 2023’S RENFIELD.

In an absolute bloodbath of an online vote, RENFIELD eviscerated the competition to earn its time in the light of this podcast.

So welcome us into your ears as we find out if RENFIELD glamours us with its charms or sucks the life out of us.

Join us for Steph's pick as she introduces Kelly and Jack to one of her favorite films in recent years, starring the cinematic love of her life, Nicolas Cage, who must venture out from his life as a reclusive truffle hunter to recover his stolen beloved truffle pig — forcing him to confront a life he left behind and grapple with the nature of art, passion, grief, and life after loss.

As Stephanie argues for the film's place in the hallowed halls of cinematic perfection, she says:

“At times gut-wrenching and at other times soul-stirring, PIG touched my heart in a truly profound way.”

Join us for Kelly's pick as she serves up an all-time holiday classic, the unspeakably great Planes, Trains & Automobiles. So grab a glass of wine or even some premature eggnog, and join us as we dive into an unmissable Thanksgiving/holiday favorite on this episode of NO NOTES.

As Kelly argues for the film's place in the hallowed halls of cinematic perfection, she says:

"I've been, I've seen a million Hallmark Christmas movies that don't understand what this movie comprehends at a bone-deep genetic level. Every action is more compelling and more moving when it's anchored in fully realized and developed characters. John Hughes wrote a beautiful movie. One that has moments that make me laugh incredibly hard while also reducing me to tears every time I watch it. Each component is astonishing on its own, but combined, they create something transcendent."

Welcome to NO NOTES, the show where three cerebral cinephiles take a break from chatting guilty pleasures to discuss cinematic treasures. Each month, we’ll take turns selecting a film we believe to be virtually flawless, one that had a significant impact on our lives and/or helped shape the film lover we became. 

For our third episode, it was Jack’s pick. He picked a film thundering with two-person tension, one that fills in the blockbuster gaps with small-stakes storytelling, and one that proves that sticks and stones may NOT be the only harmful things, after all.

Whether you’ve been keeping time with this podcast from the very beginning or are just now finding the tempo, we are happy to have you with us as we strike the gong and focus our percussive pontification on this No Notes pick, featuring a decidedly un-Christmas-like little drummer boy, 2014’s WHIPLASH.

Welcome to Guilty Pleasures, the show where we give in to pleasure, taking flight with a modern horror film to find out just how guilty we need to feel about loving or hating it.  It was Jack’s pick this month, and he’s got us suiting up for WWII horror. We asked our adoring fans to choose between 2020’s genre-bending SHADOW IN THE CLOUD and 2019’s vampire horror BLOOD VESSEL.

In another razor-thin online vote, SHADOW IN THE CLOUD just nudged out the competition to earn its tour of operation on the podcast.

So come along for the ride as we earn our stripes and find out if SHADOW IN THE CLOUD IS a soaring pleasure or a guilty sin that crashes and burns.  

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THIS MONTH'S THEMED SPIRIT: SIDECAR SALLY

Coat the rim of a coupe glass with sugar, if desired, and set aside. Add 1 1/2 ounces cognac, 3/4 ounces of orange liqueur (such as Cointreau), and 3/4 ounces of lemon juice (freshly squeezed if possible) to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange twist if desired. Enjoy this slightly sweet, sophisticated treat!

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VOTE FOR NEXT MONTH'S GUILTY PLEASURE!

It's Nic Cage horror, and we're picking between RENFIELD (2023) and PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND (2021). Help us pick by following us on one or more of our social channels so you can participate in voting.

Our Instagram handles are:

Morbidly Beautiful ⁠@morbidlybeautifulhorror⁠ | Stephanie ⁠@srgreenhaw⁠ | Jack ⁠@jack_wells_author⁠ | Kelly ⁠@kellyemintzer⁠

Follow Morbidly Beautiful ⁠on Twitter @xmorbidbeautyx⁠ or ⁠on Facebook⁠.

Join the Guilty Pleasures crew as we continue the conversation, hanging out after the show, shooting the shit, and talking about all our thoughts and feelings on this month's featured film that we couldn't fit into our regular, hour-long episode.

We had an amazing time recording our BAIT episode (if you missed it, don't forget to tune in for a killer conversation). On this after-show, we talk a little about the shark film you didn’t pick, MEG (though, it’s mostly just a Jason Statham love fest). For the MEG talk, you’ll want to dive in about the 30-minute mark.

Prior to that, we discuss movies and filmmakers we love that are problematic. Plus, we talk about the good, bad, and ugly when it comes to romantic comedies and teen dramedies, new and old. We also bemoan the disrespect for goths in films like BREAKFAST CLUB and THE FACULTY. 

Towards the end of the show, you’ll get some big hints about what’s coming to future NO NOTES and GUILTY PLEASURES episodes. We wrap with an ode to perfect films and briefly chat about why we love horror so much. 

Welcome to Guilty Pleasures, the show where we DIVE into pleasure, CHUMMING THE WATERS OF A modern horror film to find out just how guilty we need to feel about loving or hating it. 

It was Steph's pick this month, and she wanted to say farewell to summer by swimming with the sharks. We asked our adoring fans to choose between the underseen 2012 shark horror BAIT and the 2018 mega-hit MEG.

In our closest online vote yet, BAIT took a bite out of MEG to seal a narrow victory.

So buckle up, boys and girls, as we start the show and find out if BAIT is a killer pleasure or a guilty sin better left on the hook.

THIS MONTH'S THEMED SPIRIT: SHARK BITE

Place ice in a rocks glass. Pour 1 1/2 oz spiced rum over the ice. Add 3/4 oz Blue Curacao. Top off the glass with 3 ounces of sour mix. Finish with a splash of grenadine to create blood in the water. Enjoy! 

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VOTE FOR NEXT MONTH'S GUILTY PLEASURE!

It's WWII horror, and we're picking between 2020's SHADOW IN THE CLOUD and 2019's BLOOD VESSEL. Help us pick by following us on one or more of our social channels so you can participate in voting.

Our Instagram handles are:

Morbidly Beautiful @morbidlybeautifulhorror | Stephanie @srgreenhaw | Jack @jack_wells_author | Kelly @kellyemintzer

Follow Morbidly Beautiful on Twitter @xmorbidbeautyx or on Facebook.

Welcome to NO NOTES, the show where three cerebral cinephiles take a break from chatting guilty pleasures to discuss cinematic treasures. Each month, we’ll take turns selecting a film we believe to be virtually flawless, one that had a significant impact on our lives and/or helped shape the film lover we became. 

For our second episode, it was Kelly’s pick. She put the spotlight on the criminally underrated 1974 rock-musical-comedy-horror film PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, directed by Brian De Palma and scored by and starring Paul Williams. 

As Kelly argues for the film's place in the hallowed halls of cinematic perfection, she says:

“This movie means EVERYTHING to me. It’s so fearless and bold. Paul Williams is so funny. The visuals are so striking. The soundtrack is so catchy. There’s no lesson, and I love every goddamn second of it.”

Tune in to hear us wax poetic about this spellbinding work of renegade art and find out why we unanimously grant it NO NOTES status.