Munch My Benson: A Law & Order: SVU Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In conjuction with this week's interview with Michelangelo Milano, who plays Patrick Binder, Larissa/Brandy's boyfriend in this episode, we are dropping this classic episode back into the feed. Make sure to listen to Michelangelo's interview which dropped today, and check out his podcast, The Return Slot... Of Horror (YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

Wanna hear what happens when an episode breaks the Munchie Boys and their patented SVU-episode scoring system? Well, “Possessed” (Season 12, Episode 12) broke it like the Kool-Aid Man. Next to every other of the 96 episodes they’ve watched so far, this beautiful piece of art had Adam and Josh contemplating some pretty grand concepts like: was Jerry Horne’s Twin Peaks walkabout really a representation of the liminal state at the end of his life where he was just looking for his Brandy? what exactly was contained within the pages of Buzz’s skin mags that Kevin couldn’t wrap his head around in Home Alone? where is the line where we progressives can stomach police brutality? are we seeing the tripartite peak of pedo performance?

If this were a podcast that employed trigger warnings, it’d probably have to get tagged with all of them. Instead, you are advised to hold onto your butts. There is simply an abundance of insanity that’s too fantastic to ignore. Bask in the glow of “Possessed,” listen, and rejoice.

Old Munch My Benson Blog Entry: Mimi’s Path to Crossroads and Back Again

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, and Alison M - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Regularly Scheduled Episode: Season 20, Episode 20 “The Good Girl”

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

We were fortunate enough to have been graced by the presence of Michelangelo Milano this week, who dedicated listeners will know as Patrick Binder, the boyfriend of Taryn Manning's character, Larissa in Season 12, Episode 12 "Possessed." Not only does he appear in one of just TWO EPISODES OF SVU TO RECEIVE A PERFECT 10.0 FROM US, but he plays a huge part in what might be the most memorable scene we've ever seen in the history of this show. We had a great chat with Michelangelo, who told of his life's path to a random apartment in New York where he just so happened to grapple for hours with the older brother in Home Alone (who was wearing nothing but a creepy mask and a pair of whitey-tighties) and where he's been since.

Michelangelo Milano can be contacted via his website: http://www.michelangelomilano.com/
Follow him on Instagram.
Make sure to listen to Michelangelo's podcast, The Return Slot... Of Horror (YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify). The Return Slot... Of Horror can be found on Instagram and Threads.

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, and Alison M - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Regularly Scheduled Episode: Season 20, Episode 20 “The Good Girl”

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

Who loves ya, baby? That's right, the Munchie Boys do. This month we did an entire bonus Movie Club entry for all of our audience, not just the Munchies on Patreon who get one of these a month.

And we didn't do just any old movie. We did the anti-rom-com that might just have been the origin of cringe comedy, Elaine May's 1972 masterpiece The Heartbreak Kid, starring Munch alums Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd, along with two different Academy Award nominees for their work in this film, Eddie Albert and Jeannie Berlin. Did those two ever earn their nominations here. Wow. Great film. Come along for a blast.

You can watch this film (which has otherwise evaporated into the ether on account of its distributor shuttering more than two decades ago) on: Archive.org or YouTube.

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, and Johnathon M - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

Both Josh and Adam were a little sick when they recorded this one, but not nearly as sick as the twisted minds inside Michael Chernuchin's SVU writers' room who crafted this byzantine scheme wherein a 13-year-old girl convinces her 15-year-old sister to murder their own father, so that she can become adopted by and live with the love of her life, a 30-something weirdo who lives down the hall who reads Shakespeare with her. Obviously, the Munchie Boys are forced to confront The Bard among many, many other topics including the real reason no one on SVU orders food at the Square Diner, and the many spellings of "Catherine."

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Pedro H, Amy Z, Nikki B, Louise M, Whitney C, D Reduble, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Karen D, Madelin K, Sara L, Miriam J, Drew D, Meghan M, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, and Christine L - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Follow us on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/munchmybenson
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MunchMyBenson/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/munchmybenson/
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/MunchMyBenson/
Adam’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/atschwitters
Josh’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/oldmanduggan

Check out Munch Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/munchmybenson

Check out our guest appearances on:
…These Are There Stories
- Adam - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/sick
- Josh - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/plastic
Both of us on FMWL Pod
- 1st Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/9271395
- 2nd Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/10596164
Chick-Lit at the Movies - https://www.spreaker.com/user/14744598/the-thin-man-munchie-boys-final

Visit Our Website: https://www.munchmybenson.com/

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Episode: Season 18, Episode 12 "No Surrender"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

To say Law & Order: SVU's historic treatment of the transgender community is fraught with problems is an understatement of epic proportions, and this week's episode--S17E13 Transgender Bridge--makes, ummm, progress? Of course, it's incremental at best, and much of the ground gained is immediately lost by jamming the episode full of racial stereotyping that plays rough.

This week's episode pushed the Munchie Boys so far out of their comfort zone that they brought in reinforcements in the form of a guest (for Munchies, this was an entirely separate bonus episode) with gracious trans listener Summer, who hopefully makes up for the two cishet honkies who host this weekly show and is more qualified to speak on how this episode still had a lot of work to do to get things right.

Hold onto your butts. This is a long one.

Sources:

Arrests by Age and Offense - The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/ucr.asp?table_in=1

Signs, Saints, and Symbols: Transgender Kids in Media are Not Here to Forgive You - Evelyn Deshane, bitchmedia - https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/transgender-kids-television

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Pedro H, Amy Z, Nikki B, Louise M, Whitney C, D Reduble, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Karen D, Sara L, Miriam J, Drew D, Meghan M, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Madelin K, and Isabel P - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Follow us on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/munchmybenson
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MunchMyBenson/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/munchmybenson/
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/MunchMyBenson/
Adam’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/atschwitters
Josh’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/oldmanduggan

Check out Munch Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/munchmybenson

Check out our guest appearances on:
…These Are There Stories
- Adam - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/sick
- Josh - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/plastic
Both of us on FMWL Pod
- 1st Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/9271395
- 2nd Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/10596164
Chick-Lit at the Movies - https://www.spreaker.com/user/14744598/the-thin-man-munchie-boys-final

Visit Our Website: https://www.munchmybenson.com/

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Episode: Season 20, Episode 13 "A Story of More Woe"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

When a sting to catch a groomer pedo goes sideways in a New Jersey train station, Alexandra Cabot disregards due process, civil rights, and decades of precedents in the pursuit of a conviction. We see the SVU debut of everyone's favorite legal hard ass, Elizabeth Donnelly, we learn about a particularly outlandish purchase that Josh is contemplating, and we definitively answer that age old question: Who's the boss? Those wanting Adam's airport rankings or our views on the relegation system in world football are encouraged to sign up for the Munchies tier on our Patreon. Enjoy!

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Pedro H, Amy Z, Nikki B, Louise M, Whitney C, D Reduble, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Karen D, Sara L, Miriam J, Drew D, Meghan M, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, and Madelin K - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Follow us on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/munchmybenson
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MunchMyBenson/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/munchmybenson/
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/MunchMyBenson/
Adam’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/atschwitters
Josh’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/oldmanduggan

Check out Munch Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/munchmybenson

Check out our guest appearances on:
…These Are There Stories
- Adam - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/sick
- Josh - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/plastic
Both of us on FMWL Pod
- 1st Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/9271395
- 2nd Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/10596164
Chick-Lit at the Movies - https://www.spreaker.com/user/14744598/the-thin-man-munchie-boys-final

Visit Our Website: https://www.munchmybenson.com/

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Episode: Season 17, Episode 3 "Transgender Bridge"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

The Munchie Boys tackled a tough one this week, as Stabler is forced to investigate the murder of an admittedly odious perp he'd locked up previously. If ever there were an episode that wallowed in the "you can't choose your victims" edict, it's this one. "Victims" also has some pretty big names in it to go along with some pretty rough pre-9/11 fashion and a Guardian Angels storyline that gives Adam a bit to talk about.

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Pedro H, Amy Z, Nikki B, Louise M, Whitney C, D Reduble, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Karen D, Sara L, Miriam J, Drew D, Meghan M, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, and Robyn S - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Follow us on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/munchmybenson
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MunchMyBenson/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/munchmybenson/
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/MunchMyBenson/
Adam’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/atschwitters
Josh’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/oldmanduggan

Check out Munch Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/store/munchmybenson

Check out our guest appearances on:
…These Are There Stories
- Adam - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/sick
- Josh - http://www.lawandorderpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/plastic
Both of us on FMWL Pod
- 1st Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/9271395
- 2nd Time - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1679521/10596164
Chick-Lit at the Movies - https://www.spreaker.com/user/14744598/the-thin-man-munchie-boys-final

Visit Our Website: https://www.munchmybenson.com/

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week’s Episode: Season 3, Episode 18 "Guilt"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

This Season 12er takers us on a wild ride from unionizing dry cleaners, to piss-wielding nurses who just need an early-morning quickie, to militant environmentalists, and finally to the first installment of the Calvin Arliss saga which might have spared us all from the horrors of Baby Boy Doe, but for the fact of a clearly non-legally binding guardianship document. So many wild things happen in this one before it devolves into a weird template for later SVU character development.

Sources:

Can dry cleaning give you cancer? The hidden hazards of delicates - The Guardian

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, and Johnathon M - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week's Episode: Season 20, Episode 1 "Man Up"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

This week's installment really takes the Munchie Boys on a wild ride, starting with a working boy stumble-crashing a wedding in his boxers, dipping its toes in the water with Finnish furniture design and Altoona-style pizza, and finishing with a perp stroking Elliot's hand asking if he's going to protect them. Along the way, we take a voyage through high-end gigolo culture, the world of political donors and ambassadorial appointments, and one of the most extreme instances of folie à deux imaginable for a married couple. This is a classic early season journey where we're a pinball flicked between weird plot points in a way that's truly refreshing after spending so much time in late-season SVU.

Sources:

Deaths: Leading Causes for 2001 - CDC

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, and Johnathon M - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week's Episode: Season 12, Episode 7 "Trophy"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

When an overprotective mom has a second daughter disappear, only to be accused of smothering the second daughter and murdering the first, you know SVU is going to be involved. This one features an aggressively weepy Joan Cusack and some seriously sassy kid work from Bailee Madison. Watch as the entire world gaslights this mom into insanity while she's right about what happened all along. Oh, Liv also turns down a date for no good reason.

Music:

Divorcio Suave - "Munchy Business"

Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Nikki B, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Sara L, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Isabel P, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, Douglas P, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Kevin, Lily, Lucy, Sarah L, and Melsa A - y’all are the best!

Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson

Be sure to check out our second podcast: Unkind Rewind on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)

Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server

Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle

Check out our guest appearances:

Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).

Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC on Jacked Up Review Show.

Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson

Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com

Next Week's Episode: Season 2, Episode 17 "Folly"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.