Explore every episode of the podcast WHAT WENT WRONG
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Psycho | 19 Aug 2024 | 01:22:35 | |
Leonardo DiCaprio as Patrick Bateman? Directed by Oliver Stone?! There are so many versions of ‘American Psycho’ (2000) that we never saw, but thanks to Christian Bale and director Mary Harron, we eventually got something pretty close to perfect. Find out how Gloria Steinem accidentally saved Christian Bale’s job and why a real life serial killer made this film almost impossible to shoot. | |||
| Shrek (Part 2) | 12 Aug 2024 | 01:18:01 | |
Oscars! Cannes! Smash Mouth? In Part 2 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie get to the bottom of Mike Myers' Scottish brogue, why 'All Star' became an anthem for the ages, and Katzenberg's all-out blitz against the Mouse House. | |||
| The Sixth Sense | 29 Apr 2024 | 01:21:58 | |
How did a director trapped in Harvey Weinstein’s movie jail, an action star who nuked his most recent film, and a children’s studio in crisis make one of the most influential horror films of all time? Join Chris & Lizzie as they find out why Toni Collette was less than thrilled to land her part, why Michael Cera didn’t score the lead role and how M. Night Shyamalan came to embrace the unexpected power of a PG-13 rating. | |||
| Below The Line - Armorer (Django Unchained) | 22 Apr 2024 | 00:50:54 | |
Armorer Larry Zanoff (Django Unchained, Captain America: Winter Soldier, The Matrix Resurrections) is a combat veteran, a bonafide gunsmith, and a weapons trainer for both actors and law enforcement officers. Join us for a discussion on the responsibilities of an on-set armorer, cross-collaboration with departments you wouldn't expect, and what we need to learn from the rare but devastating on-set firearm tragedies that have captured Hollywood headlines for decades. | |||
| The Crow | 15 Apr 2024 | 01:24:27 | |
A film that set the mold for R-rated comic book adaptations, but is perhaps most famous for putting its enigmatic star Brandon Lee on the map… and taking him off it forever. Lizzie walks Chris through a production riddled with problems long before Lee’s untimely death, who else almost played Eric Draven and the film’s surprising connection to John Wick. They're also joined by an expert, armorer Larry Zanoff, to break down the on-set shooting of Brandon Lee. | |||
| Boyz n the Hood (Part 2) | 01 Apr 2024 | 00:43:57 | |
What do Pee-wee's Playhouse, Stand By Me and Howard the Duck have in common? All played pivotal roles in the creation of John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood! This week Chris & Lizzie are joined by guest Jonathan Braylock for a deep dive on one of the greatest debut features of all time - from Ice Cube's bombed audition to John Singleton's insistence that he direct the film... one month out of film school. Make sure to check out Part 1 of this two part coverage! | |||
| Boyz n the Hood (Part 1) | 01 Apr 2024 | 00:53:25 | |
What do Pee-wee's Playhouse, Stand By Me and Howard the Duck have in common? All played pivotal roles in the creation of John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood! This week Chris & Lizzie are joined by guest Jonathan Braylock for a deep dive on one of the greatest debut features of all time - from Ice Cube's bombed audition to John Singleton's insistence that he direct the film... one month out of film school. Make sure to check out Part 2 of this two part coverage! | |||
| Below The Line - Steadicam Operator (Donnie Darko) | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:51:53 | |
An interview with Dave Chameides, legendary and award-winning steadicam operator whose career has spanned Donnie Darko, St. Vincent, The Tragedy of Macbeth, E.R., The West Wing, and Ozark. Join us as he talks to us about the joys, challenges, and evolving nature of his crucial role on film productions. For more on Dave and the art of camera operating be sure to check out his podcast, The Op. | |||
| The Fifth Element | 18 Mar 2024 | 01:12:28 | |
An on-set love triangle, a mid-shoot divorce, and costumes even Prince wouldn’t wear. This week producer David Boman takes Chris & Lizzie on a voyage through The Fifth Element: a movie conceived by a 16-year-old only to become the most expensive European film ever made and put the then-unknown Milla Jovovich on the map. | |||
| Lost (Part 2) | 04 Mar 2024 | 01:05:35 | |
What took a fake wedding, a real knife, and a willingness to literally die for the shot to pull off? The end... of LOST! This week, Chris & Lizzie close the books on the divisive series, exploring how it could have gone on much longer, recent allegations of a toxic work environment, and how even President Obama knew not to mess with the LOST fan base. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! *CORRECTIONS: Chris mispronounced writer/producer Monica Owusu-Breen's name. | |||
| Below The Line - Script Supervisor (Killers of the Flower Moon) | 26 Feb 2024 | 00:51:49 | |
This week, Chris and Lizzie chat with legendary script supervisor Jessica Lichtner. Ms. Lichtner's credits include a long-running collaboration with Martin Scorsese (most recently Killers of the Flower Moon), West Side Story, Knives Out, John Wick, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2, and many many more. Join us as we discuss what a script supervisor does in each phase of production, how to effectively communicate on set, and some great advice on working in the industry from a bonafide pro. | |||
| LOST (Part 1) | 19 Feb 2024 | 01:19:11 | |
No script? No problem! This week Chris & Lizzie crash into the insane gambit that became LOST. Learn how J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and their incredible production team turned around the most expensive pilot ever made… in 90 days… and how the man who greenlit the project paid the price. | |||
| Shrek (Part 1) | 05 Aug 2024 | 01:02:07 | |
Katzenberg's quest for revenge! The death of a beloved giant! A magical kingdom under siege! In Part 1 of our Shrek coverage, Chris & Lizzie explore the revolutionary film's humble origins as DreamWorks' inaugural "B movie" and try to determine what, exactly, the film would have been with its original star, Chris Farley. | |||
| Big Trouble In Little China | 18 Dec 2023 | 01:19:14 | |
Starring Clint Eastwood, directed by Walter Hill and set in 1880s San Francisco? This week, Chris & Lizzie dive into one of John Carpenter’s most subversive films - learn how Kurt Russell did everything in his power to avoid having to fight, Dennis Dun and John Carpenter made Wang Chi the real hero, and how Eddie Murphy stomped on all of it. | |||
| Mad Max: Fury Road (Part 2) | 04 Dec 2023 | 01:07:53 | |
It’s Tom Hardy vs. everyone in part 2 of our coverage of Mad Max: Fury Road! Lizzie & Chris learn how the tempestuous star and Charlize Theron almost came to blows, why he apologized to George Miller after seeing the film and the bumpy post-production road to Oscar valhalla! | |||
| Mad Max: Fury Road (Part 1) | 20 Nov 2023 | 01:07:05 | |
Join Lizzie as she guides Chris through a film that took almost 20 years to make it to the screen, how it was aided by a talking pig and dancing penguins, Charlize's fight to be in the fight, and why the ghost of Heath Ledger haunted its director. | |||
| Do The Right Thing | 06 Nov 2023 | 01:11:20 | |
Starring Robert De Niro, Laurence Fishburne and Matt Dillon? This week, join Chris & Lizzie as they learn how Spike Lee fought the powers that be to bring his 1989 classic to life! From executives' hand-wringing over riots (that would never happen) to last-minute budget cuts and an all-time Oscar snub, Do the Right Thing’s continued success and relevance is a testament to the power of an incredible cast and crew. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! | |||
| The Omen | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:54:57 | |
Was The Omen the most cursed movie ever made? Or was it just… the 70’s? Join Lizzie & Chris as they explore the series of tragic, strange, and mysterious events that plagued Gregory Peck and the crew of 1976’s horror classic The Omen. Could it be true that the devil didn’t want this movie to be made?! | |||
| Galaxy Quest | 23 Oct 2023 | 01:13:40 | |
What do you do when the number one on your call sheet won’t stop farting? Embrace it! This week, Chris & Lizzie travel to the Klatu Nebula to cover Galaxy Quest, a nearly perfect film almost undone by a terrible marketing campaign. Learn how this production survived the loss of its first director, on-set script changes, and Alan Rickman’s despair at working with Tim Allen to become one of David Mamet’s favorite films. | |||
| The Princess Bride | 09 Oct 2023 | 01:13:42 | |
What do Chernobyl, Fat Albert, and Andre the Giant have in common? Why, The Princess Bride, of course! Join Lizzie & Chris as they discover how this incredible film took over 14 years to make, why it was NOT a box office success, and how a massive fart can teach you the most important lesson in human empathy. | |||
| The Lord Of The Rings (Part 3) | 25 Sep 2023 | 01:37:59 | |
In part 3 of our coverage of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, Chris & Lizzie explore how Andy Serkis paved the way for Avatar, the pitfalls of an on-set gimp-suit, and why you should never cut one of Christopher Lee’s favorite scenes. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! *CORRECTIONS: *"Weta" is not the nickname of the many species of New Zealand giant crickets but rather their common name, stemming from the Maori word "Wētā". *Viggo Mortensen used Super Glue, not gum, to re-attach his chipped tooth during filming (specifically Hot Stuff Super T Medium Instant CA Glue - 1oz HST-7) *Chris referred to second-unit director Geoff Murphy as a young director, he was, in fact, one of the oldest directors on set (and quite well known in New Zealand for the road show "Good Bye Pork Pie"). *According to Weta employee Raymond Massa the Gothmog mask (designed by Bill Hunt) was not designed to look like Harvey Weinstein. Rather, there was a pull-over mask used for background orcs that resembled Weinstein. | |||
| Listen Now: Glamorous Trash with Chelsea Devantez | 22 Sep 2023 | 00:11:19 | |
Check out this sneak peak of What Went Wrong host Lizzie Bassett's episode of Glamorous Trash with Chelsea Devantez. They're discussing Tippi Hedren's memoir in all its lion-filled glory - head over to Chelsea's feed to listen to the full episode now! https://link.chtbl.com/ChelseaDevantez Glamorous Trash is all about going high and low at the same time— Glam and Trash. We recap and book club celebrity memoirs, deconstruct pop culture, and sometimes, we cry! If you've ever referenced Mariah Carey in therapy... then this is the podcast for you. | |||
| The Lord Of The Rings (Part 2) | 11 Sep 2023 | 01:17:23 | |
In Part 2 of our coverage of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, Chris & Lizzie learn how Sean Connery missed out on half a billion bucks, Stanley Kubrick inadvertently gave us Wolverine and Gandalf, and New Line’s decision to bet the franchise on a $2M blowout at Cannes. | |||
| ENCORE: Twister (with thoughts on Twisters) | 29 Jul 2024 | 01:19:56 | |
Get ready to wrangle! We re-present our episode on Twister, but this time, Chris and Lizzie share their churning reactions to the sequel, Twisters in a special cold open! On set jet engines, temporary blindness, and hepatitis shots - three signs you might be in the “suck zone”! This week we’re covering Jan de Bont’s Twister and how he threw everything including the kitchen sink (literally) at Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton to get this movie made. | |||
| The Lord Of The Rings (Part 1) | 11 Sep 2023 | 01:22:23 | |
The Lord of the Rings directed by… Quentin Tarantino? Planet of the Apes starring… Arnold Schwarzenegger? Hugh Jackman never playing Wolverine??? Let Part 1 of Chris & Lizzie’s three episode exploration of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings be proof that we definitively do not live in the darkest timeline. Go Ad-Free - Join Our Patreon! | |||
| Feed Drop: "The Op" with Dave Chameides | 04 Sep 2023 | 01:25:31 | |
This week we are sharing an episode of "The Op", a new podcast created by friend-of-the-pod, Steadicam Operator Dave Chameides. Listen to his fascinating interview with Director Tommy Schlamme (ER, West Wing, House of Cards, and much more). Click here for more episodes of The Op! | |||
| Raiders Of The Lost Ark | 07 Aug 2023 | 01:21:09 | |
6,000 snakes! A suitcase full of SpaghettiOs! Is Indiana Jones a sex offender? This week join Lizzie & Chris as they plunder the 1981 classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark! Learn how Spielberg and Lucas reinvented the B-movie by letting go of perfection and “just shoot(ing) the f*cker”. | |||
| Mommie Dearest | 24 Jul 2023 | 01:14:25 | |
Joan Crawford may have haunted the set, but the real terror on 1981’s Mommie Dearest was Faye Dunaway. This week Lizzie & Chris explore how a controversial memoir went from Oscar to instant camp classic. From accidental stabbings to dueling husbands, this production really had it all. As Mommie would say: bring us the axe! | |||
| Ripped From The Headlines - Double Strike | 19 Jul 2023 | 00:29:59 | |
Released on 7/19/2023. Chris & Lizzie break down the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Join them to learn the basics on AI, mini-rooms, minimums and more. | |||
| The Breakfast Club | 10 Jul 2023 | 01:04:39 | |
Rick Moranis gets fired, Judd Nelson goes full a**hole, and 16-year-old Molly Ringwald wields her power as John Hughes’ muse to great effect. This week producer David Boman guides Chris & Lizzie through 1985’s trope-defining The Breakfast Club; from its shoestring budget to the 110-degree set, and the birth of the Brat Pack. | |||
| Howard The Duck | 26 Jun 2023 | 01:23:45 | |
The Marvel movie Marvel wants you to forget! This week, Lizzie & Chris dive deep on full-breasted waterfowl, the ethics of using a child actor to perform a duck/human love scene, and why Howard T. Duck may have cost George Lucas seven billion dollars. | |||
| Below The Line - Safety On Set (with Dave Chameides) | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:37:22 | |
This week we are joined by friend of the pod, legendary steadiam operator, Dave Chameides, to talk about safety. Too often on this podcast we find ourselves discussing people being hurt or killed in situations that could have been avoided. In his extensive career, Dave has worked with the Local 600 Safety Committee to establish on-set safety guidelines and protocols that keep cast and crew safe. Join us for a discussion on what has been done, and the work that remains to be done to keep people safe while they make the films and TV shows we know and love. Check out Dave's podcast, The Op, for more on the art of camera operating and cinematography. | |||
| Dune (1984) | 12 Jun 2023 | 01:19:58 | |
20,000 extras, 1,000 pounds of spaghetti, and 1 unexplainable pug! This week, Chris & Lizzie fold space to learn how Dune birthed Alien, David Lynch died the slow death, and Patrick Stewart destroyed Sting’s ego (accidentally!). *CORRECTIONS: *Chris referred to the studio space in Mexico City as the largest in "South America" which is obviously wrong because Mexico City is in North America. He meant that it was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere (at the time). | |||
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | 29 May 2023 | 01:00:12 | |
Rivers of blood, beds full of rats, and a questionable British accent! This week Lizzie & Chris pry open the coffin for a look at Francis Ford Coppola's gothic guignol. Learn how The Godfather: Part III may have made this adaptation possible and why, in this case, nepotism worked in Dracula's favor. | |||
| Deadpool | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:59:54 | |
How did Ryan Reynolds go from fans’ biggest disappointment to the Deadpool of their dreams? In this episode Chris and Lizzie explore the long road ‘Deadpool’ (2016) took to get to the screen, why a first time feature director was the best man for the job, and how a mysterious leak actually saved the film. | |||
| Super Mario Bros. (1993) | 15 May 2023 | 01:10:12 | |
What took 9 screenwriters, 2 directors, and an unlimited supply of Bob Hoskins’ scotch? Super Mario Bros., the first ever big-screen video game adaptation (that nearly killed the genre)! Join Chris & producer David Boman as they explore how Japan’s beloved Brooklyn plumbers found themselves battling Dino-DNA Dennis Hopper in a dystopian alternate dimension. *CORRECTIONS: David Snyder was not the production designer of 'Blade Runner', he was the art director. The production designer of that incredible film was Lawrence G. Paull. Chris mistakenly states that the 2000 film 'Wonder Boys' starred Topher Grace - it did not, but rather featured Tobey Maguire. | |||
| The Twilight Saga | 01 May 2023 | 01:27:59 | |
Robert Pattinson’s bushy eyebrows, too much butt crack, and an insane production schedule. This week Lizzie force-feeds Chris everything that plagued the remaining four films in The Twilight Saga (New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2). Find out what Renesmee almost looked like and why Kristen Stewart deserves all the praise for keeping her cool throughout this sparkly train wreck. Make sure you listen to our previous episode on Twilight (2008) first! | |||
| The Mummy | 17 Apr 2023 | 01:17:50 | |
Sandstorms! Snakes! The strangulation of Brendan Fraser! This week Chris & Lizzie exhume 1999’s The Mummy. Learn how a decade of development hell gave us one of cinema’s sexiest on-screen couples and why open-toe sandals may have been a huge mistake. | |||
| Gone With The Wind | 03 Apr 2023 | 01:20:37 | |
Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, and Hattie McDaniel may have starred in 1939’s Gone With the Wind, but this was David O. Selznick’s dumpster-fire-turned-classic. Join Lizzie as she takes Chris all the way back through a truly disastrous production featuring more than a dozen writers, a hat trick of directors, an amphetamine fueled producer, and racism galore - both onscreen and off. | |||
| The Emperor's New Groove | 20 Mar 2023 | 01:05:14 | |
What has two titles, two directors and originally starred… Owen Wilson? Join Lizzie & Chris as they explore the miracle that is The Emperor’s New Groove, a movie that nearly broke Sting’s brain and may have ended the Disney Renaissance in one fell swoop. | |||
| Jurassic Park | 06 Mar 2023 | 01:28:28 | |
Guest host Steven Ray Morris joins Chris & Lizzie to break down 1993’s four-quadrant smash hit, Jurassic Park. Join them as they excavate the alternate casting options, how an actual hurricane shut down production, and why Steven Spielberg’s dinos still look so good 30 years later. For more from Steven on the Jurassic Park franchise check out his podcast See Jurassic Right. | |||
| Below The Line - Intimacy Coordinator (Magic Mike's Last Dance) | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:54:11 | |
Ita O'Brien (Watchmen, I May Destroy You, Magic Mike’s Last Dance) is the UK's leading Intimacy Coordinator, and the founder of 'Intimacy On Set'. Join us for a discussion on what is means to be an intimacy coordinator, what it's like working with actors on intimate scenes, and what the future holds for this important position in the industry going forward. Go to https://www.itaobrien.com to learn more about Ita and her work. | |||
| Twister | 20 Feb 2023 | 01:16:10 | |
On-set jet engines, temporary blindness, and hepatitis shots - three signs you might be in the “suck zone”! This week Chris & Lizzie get carried away by Jan de Bont’s Twister and learn how he threw everything including the kitchen sink (literally) at Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton to get this movie made. *CORRECTIONS: *According to screenwriter Terry Rossio, De Bont was actively considering Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton for the lead roles in his ill-fated Godzilla film (which pre-dated Twister). | |||
| The Lone Ranger | 03 Jan 2023 | 01:08:52 | |
Incredibly offensive casting, supernatural coyotes, a tragic on-set death, and a $190M+ loss for Disney. This week Chris & Lizzie learn why cannibalism plays a surprising role in this film, what Johnny Depp really said when he found himself on the wrong side of history, and how the filmmakers pulled off some incredible set pieces that couldn't save the movie. | |||
| Fifty Shades Of Grey | 20 Dec 2022 | 01:08:51 | |
Submit to the story of how E.L. James, an uncompromising fan-fiction author with no film experience, wielded an unprecedented amount of power in the making of this surprisingly tame exploration of domination. Plus, Lizzie & Chris get the goods on Jamie Dornan's used wee-bag, Dakota Johnson's digital pubes, and a drastic spike in BDSM related hospital visits! Guest-hosted by the incredible Naomi Lindh. | |||
| Point Break | 08 Jul 2024 | 01:22:13 | |
This week Chris and Lizzie go 100% pure adrenaline on Kathryn Bigelow’s “Point Break”, a film that birthed one of our most unexpected action stars, one of Hollywood’s most powerful (and short lived) power couples, and cemented Patrick Swayze as a daredevil for the ages. | |||
| Blade Runner (Part 2) | 06 Dec 2022 | 00:42:25 | |
Harrison Ford gets even grumpier, the producers kill Ridley Scott’s Unicorn, and no one gets a happy ending in the conclusion of our coverage of Blade Runner… except the movie itself. | |||
| Blade Runner (Part 1) | 22 Nov 2022 | 00:54:06 | |
Carbon monoxide poisoning, an on set "T-shirt war" and a very, very grumpy Harrison Ford are but a few hurdles Ridley Scott and company ran into while making this 1982 sci-fi classic. This week Chris fills Lizzie in on Rutger Hauer's sex appeal, the downsides of writing a script set entirely at night, and that one time Harrison Ford told Darryl Hannah to fish hook his nose just so he could feel something. | |||
| The Birds | 08 Nov 2022 | 01:05:25 | |
This week Lizzie illuminates how the truly terrifying cock on this set may have been Hitch, guiding Chris through the ways in which the celebrated director attempted to control, harass, and eventually assault newcomer Tippi Hedren during the film's production. | |||
| WYRM is now on HULU! | 02 Nov 2022 | 00:01:36 | |
Chris’ directorial debut follows Wyrm, a boy who learns he’s the last in his class to complete his level one sexuality requirement, typically osculation (kissing). WYRM is FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes and Chris’ Mom says, “The lighting is great!” JOIN OUR PATREON FOR 'WWW' BONUS CONTENT! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||