Episodes
-
If we told you this was the first time we’d covered a Nicolas Cage movie on the podcast - would you believe us? Well, baby - it’s true. And what a movie it is! The luminous Tatiana Maslany returns to talk about David Lynch’s smokin’ hot outlaw romance WILD AT HEART - a film that won the Palme d’Or and took Lynch away from the set of Twin Peaks. Get ready for lots of Cage career discussion (a favorite topic of Griffin Newman), a bunch of actor speak, and multiple “hey, did you know David Lynch was a fan of the Wizard of Oz?” asides.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
For a brief shining moment, Middle America went crazy for the surreal soap opera stylings of David Lynch and Mark Frost. We’re talking ABC, primetime, airing against “Cheers”-level mainstream. And then it all came crashing down. Listen as we take our first step into the intoxicating world of Twin Peaks - one of the most influential television series of all time and the project that would come to define Lynch for the rest of his career. Eva Anderson - who literally grew up in the town Twin Peaks was filmed in and can tell you for a fact that the diner cherry pie sucks - joins us to talk about how such a pop cultural oddity came to be, and why it has such staying power. Note - this episode covers Season 1 of Twin Peaks, but alludes to certain plotlines in Season 2 without directly spoiling them.
Blank Check Theme (Cherry Pie Remix) composed by Alex Mitchell, vocals by "The ghost of Julee Cruise" aka Marie Bardi.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook!
Buy some real nerdy merch
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Missing episodes?
-
For a brief shining moment, Middle America went crazy for the surreal soap opera stylings of David Lynch and Mark Frost. We’re talking ABC, primetime, airing against “Cheers”-level mainstream. And then it all came crashing down. Listen as we take our first step into the intoxicating world of Twin Peaks - one of the most influential television series of all time and the project that would come to define Lynch for the rest of his career. Eva Anderson - who literally grew up in the town Twin Peaks was filmed in and can tell you for a fact that the diner cherry pie sucks - joins us to talk about how such a pop cultural oddity came to be, and why it has such staying power. Note - this episode covers Season 1 of Twin Peaks, but alludes to certain plotlines in Season 2 without directly spoiling them.
Blank Check Theme (Cherry Pie Remix) composed by Alex Mitchell, vocals by "The ghost of Julee Cruise" aka Marie Bardi.
This episode is sponsored by:
FACTOR (Factormeals.com/check50)
Join our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
Lend us your (severed) ears! This week, we’re jumping back into our Lynch series with a trip to Lumberton, USA, as our beloved Jamie Loftus joins us to chat about 1986’s BLUE VELVET. We’re going deep on the star persona of Kyle MacLachlan, David Sims’ obsession with Dean Stockwell, and David Lynch’s unironic obsession with Americana. How does a movie that deals with such deeply disturbing themes end up being so watchable? That’s that Lynchian magic, baby!
Be sure to listen to Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Buy Jamie’s Book: Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs
Listen to The Bechdel Cast
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Lend us your (severed) ears! This week, we’re jumping back into our Lynch series with a trip to Lumberton, USA, as our beloved Jamie Loftus joins us to chat about 1986’s BLUE VELVET. We’re going deep on the star persona of Kyle MacLachlan, David Sims’ obsession with Dean Stockwell, and David Lynch’s unironic obsession with Americana. How does a movie that deals with such deeply disturbing themes end up being so watchable? That’s that Lynchian magic, baby!
Be sure to listen to Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Buy Jamie’s Book: Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs
Listen to The Bechdel Cast
This episode is sponsored by:
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
Zocdoc (zocdoc.com/check)
Harry’s (harrys.com/check)
Join our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
We’re taking a break from David Lynch to answer one of the year’s biggest questions - Is Burton Back, Baby? Ummmm…kind of! Grab your “Handbook for the Recently Deceased” commemorative popcorn tin and join us as we attempt to untangle the very messy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE. Which sequences wowed us with their sparkling ingenuity? Which plotlines would we excise from the script? What song would you possess people to lipsync to and why is it Bloodhound Gang’s “The Bad Touch”? And - the most important question of all - why has David Sims not been publishing movie reviews lately, why wasn’t he at TIFF, and what the hell is going on at the Sims Swamp?
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
We’re taking a break from David Lynch to answer one of the year’s biggest questions - Is Burton Back, Baby? Ummmm…kind of! Grab your “Handbook for the Recently Deceased” commemorative popcorn tin and join us as we attempt to untangle the very messy BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE. Which sequences wowed us with their sparkling ingenuity? Which plotlines would we excise from the script? What song would you possess people to lipsync to and why is it Bloodhound Gang’s “The Bad Touch”? And - the most important question of all - why has David Sims not been publishing movie reviews lately, why wasn’t he at TIFF, and what the hell is going on at the Sims Swamp?
This episode is sponsored by:
Bombas (bombas.com/check CODE: CHECK)
Join our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
The sleeper must awaken. The filmography must contain a flop. We’ve arrived at the Planet Arrakis aka the Desert Planet aka DUNE (1984) - David Lynch’s attempt at wrangling Frank Herbert’s space epic into a single studio blockbuster. Did it work? Not really. Do we have fun talking about it? Hell yeah, we do! John Hodgman joins us to talk about all things “spice” - including the infamous glossary of Dune terms handed out in theaters, and a wild anecdote about Peter Berg reading Dune on an airplane. We talk about Lynch’s decision to turn down directing Return of the Jedi, the differences between Lynch’s take on Dune and Denis Villeneuve’s more critically successful version, and David finally gets the chance to let his Fremen freak flag fly by going FULL NERD.
Buy John’s Books
Watch Dicktown on FX/Hulu
Listen to Judge John Hodgman
See Judge John Hodgman on Tour
Subscribe to John’s Substack
Get your Congratulations merch
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The sleeper must awaken. The filmography must contain a flop. We’ve arrived at the Planet Arrakis aka the Desert Planet aka DUNE (1984) - David Lynch’s attempt at wrangling Frank Herbert’s space epic into a single studio blockbuster. Did it work? Not really. Do we have fun talking about it? Hell yeah, we do! John Hodgman joins us to talk about all things “spice” - including the infamous glossary of Dune terms handed out in theaters, and a wild anecdote about Peter Berg reading Dune on an airplane. We talk about Lynch’s decision to turn down directing Return of the Jedi, the differences between Lynch’s take on Dune and Denis Villeneuve’s more critically successful version, and David finally gets the chance to let his Fremen freak flag fly by going FULL NERD.
Buy John’s Books
Watch Dicktown on FX/Hulu
Listen to Judge John Hodgman
See Judge John Hodgman on Tour
Subscribe to John’s Substack
Get your Congratulations merch
This episode is sponsored by:
MeUndies (MeUndies.com/check)
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
ExpressVPN (ExpressVPN.com/check)
Join our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
We’re getting in touch with our emotions this week, as Alex Ross Perry joins us to talk about Lynch’s deeply-felt, sensitively-rendered 1980 classic THE ELEPHANT MAN. Is this the most “normal” movie in Lynch’s filmography? What does “normal” mean, anyway? As with all Alex episodes, questions are posed and hotly debated, such as: What filmmakers, aside from David Lynch, made their most important work in the later part of their careers? What is the Lynch film that young people vibe with most strongly now? Did Michael Jackson actually attempt to purchase the Elephant Man’s bones? When will the Cinematrix puzzle get rid of the godforsaken “Rotten Tomatoes score” category? What does David Sims have against the famous David Foster Wallace profile of David Lynch?
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
We’re getting in touch with our emotions this week, as Alex Ross Perry joins us to talk about Lynch’s deeply-felt, sensitively-rendered 1980 classic THE ELEPHANT MAN. Is this the most “normal” movie in Lynch’s filmography? What does “normal” mean, anyway? As with all Alex episodes, questions are posed and hotly debated, such as: What filmmakers, aside from David Lynch, made their most important work in the later part of their careers? What is the Lynch film that young people vibe with most strongly now? Did Michael Jackson actually attempt to purchase the Elephant Man’s bones? When will the Cinematrix puzzle get rid of the godforsaken “Rotten Tomatoes score” category? What does David Sims have against the famous David Foster Wallace profile of David Lynch?
This episode is sponsored by:
FACTOR (Factormeals.com/check50)
Quince (quince.com/check)
DrinkTrade.com/Check (CODE: CHECK)
Join our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
In heaven (and in podcasting), everything is fine. Welcome to TWIN PODS: FIRE CAST WITH ME, a series on the films of David Lynch - former Eagle Scout and totally normal human man. With his 1977 debut feature ERASERHEAD, Lynch burst on to the scene somewhat fully formed as an artist, confused by normal social interactions and motivated by a seething hatred of Philadelphia. The last part of that sentence is only partially a joke. Join us as we discuss where Eraserhead fits in the pantheon of first features we’ve covered on Blank Check, where this film ranks in the “Dang Ass Freak” canon, whether we first watched this movie in a basement or on a “night porch,” the stress of parenthood, the origin story of McDonald’s mascot Grimace, and much more. Oh, and obviously - the Lady in the Radiator makes an appearance. You are not hallucinating, she is really there.
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In heaven (and in podcasting), everything is fine. Welcome to TWIN PODS: FIRE CAST WITH ME, a series on the films of David Lynch - former Eagle Scout and totally normal human man. With his 1977 debut feature ERASERHEAD, Lynch burst on to the scene somewhat fully formed as an artist, confused by normal social interactions and motivated by a seething hatred of Philadelphia. The last part of that sentence is only partially a joke. Join us as we discuss where Eraserhead fits in the pantheon of first features we’ve covered on Blank Check, where this film ranks in the “Dang Ass Freak” canon, whether we first watched this movie in a basement or on a “night porch,” the stress of parenthood, the origin story of McDonald’s mascot Grimace, and much more. Oh, and obviously - the Lady in the Radiator makes an appearance. You are not hallucinating, she is really there.
This episode is sponsored by:
Harry’s (harrys.com/check)
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
RocketRx (CODE: CHECK)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
Welp, our Kevin Costner series ends not with a bang, but a whimper. With the pulling of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 from theaters, we are left to only speculate what the future holds for Costner’s self-funded crazy passion project. What we can tell you is that Chapter 1 doesn’t really feel like its own self-contained movie. Plotlines are established, characters are introduced, and then…Giovanni Ribisi shows up.
Watch Kev on The Rich Eisen Show
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Welp, our Kevin Costner series ends not with a bang, but a whimper. With the pulling of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 from theaters, we are left to only speculate what the future holds for Costner’s self-funded crazy passion project. What we can tell you is that Chapter 1 doesn’t really feel like its own self-contained movie. Plotlines are established, characters are introduced, and then…Giovanni Ribisi shows up.
Watch Kev on The Rich Eisen Show
This episode is sponsored by:
DrinkTrade.com/Check (CODE: CHECK)
Zocdoc (zocdoc.com/check)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
You know the Butcher? That freakin' nutjob that goes around just chopping people up? Well, we’re about to spend nearly three hours talking about him! Join us as we unpack TRAP - the devilishly entertaining new thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, with special insights from our own David Sims, who spent much of this year interviewing Night at his compound in Philadelphia. We’re talking about a bunch of things - dads, serial killers, how much we don’t like going to concerts, the sexy elephant mascot of the New York Liberty, Josh Hartnett’s career arc - when we’re not excusing ourselves to go to the bathroom to uh…check on some apps.
Read David’s Profile of M. Night
Read Esther’s Article on The Shyamalans
Check out the Saleka merch
This episode is sponsored by:
ExpressVPN (ExpressVPN.com/check)
MeUndies (MeUndies.com/check)
MUBI (mubi.com/blankcheck)
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
You know the Butcher? That freakin' nutjob that goes around just chopping people up? Well, we’re about to spend nearly three hours talking about him! Join us as we unpack TRAP - the devilishly entertaining new thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, with special insights from our own David Sims, who spent much of this year interviewing Night at his compound in Philadelphia. We’re talking about a bunch of things - dads, serial killers, how much we don’t like going to concerts, the sexy elephant mascot of the New York Liberty, Josh Hartnett’s career arc - when we’re not excusing ourselves to go to the bathroom to uh…check on some apps.
Read David’s Profile of M. Night
Read Esther’s Article on The Shyamalans
Check out the Saleka merch
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Free-grazers and CR-heads - this is your week. The icon, the legend, the Ringer’s own Chris Ryan joins us to talk about Kevin Costner’s understated 2003 western OPEN RANGE. We’re finally doing a deep-dive on the Taylor Sheridan empire (aka Chris tells us what Mayor of Kingstown is actually about) as we set up the later part of Costner’s career in the run-up to Horizon. We spend a good amount of time lauding the consistent greatness of Robert Duvall and Annette Bening. You can practically hear the relief in our voices when we talk about how this movie is actually quite good! It may or may not be racist against the Irish, but - hey. How great is that chocolate scene?!
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Free-grazers and CR-heads - this is your week. The icon, the legend, the Ringer’s own Chris Ryan joins us to talk about Kevin Costner’s understated 2003 western OPEN RANGE. We’re finally doing a deep-dive on the Taylor Sheridan empire (aka Chris tells us what Mayor of Kingstown is actually about) as we set up the later part of Costner’s career in the run-up to Horizon. We spend a good amount of time lauding the consistent greatness of Robert Duvall and Annette Bening. You can practically hear the relief in our voices when we talk about how this movie is actually quite good! It may or may not be racist against the Irish, but - hey. How great is that chocolate scene?!
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/blankcheck Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter and Instagram! -
This week’s movie has everything - fake teeth on Giovanni Ribisi, a mule performing Shakespeare, Tom Petty, Kevin Costner’s irresistible sperm…you read that correctly. This film has a major plot line that revolves around Kevin Costner’s sperm. Our beloved Emily St. James joins us to talk about Kevin Costner’s colossal 1997 flop, the post-apocalyptic ode to the US Postal Service - THE POSTMAN. There are parts of this movie that are truly moving. There are other parts of this movie where Kevin Costner and Will Patton wrestle in slow motion. It’s a fascinating text.
Buy Emily’s Book about Lost: LOST: Back to the Island: The Complete Critical Companion to The Classic TV Series
Be on the lookout for Emily’s Novel “Woodworking” out April 2025 - Read more HERE
Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes.
Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and X!
Buy some real nerdy merch.
Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord
For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Show more
