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Retro Spectacles

Looking Back on Pop Culture with Really Cool Glasses

Comedians Mitcz Marzoni and Teddy Tutson are on a mission to look back in time - at least 10 years at a time - and uncover hidden gems, discuss nuances of cult classics, figure out why things popped off the way they did, dig deep into both short-lived trends and enduring legacies, and so much more.

With a focus shifted more towards enjoyment and exploration, but never shying away from criticism, Retro Spectacles explores pop culture with two very opinionated media addicts in their 40s. They are here to think way too much about everything they've seen, read, heard and more, and to push each other - along with our audience - to think about and discuss it all at length.

We invite you to peer through the lenses of our retro spectacles with us.

Ep 9

Toy Story 2 (Franchise Deep Dive : Toy Story)

Toy Story 2 (Franchise Deep Dive : Toy Story)

Retro Spectacles continues the Toy Story franchise deep dive with the 1999 sequel that almost never happened. Disney wanted a cheap direct-to-video sequel. Pixar said no. Then somebody accidentally deleted 90% of the film’s files. Then John Lasseter scrapped the script and rewrote it in a weekend. And somehow, “Toy Story 2” emerged as one...Episode Details for "Toy Story 2 (Franchise Deep Dive : Toy Story)"

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Ep 8

Franchise Deep Dive : Toy Story & Pixar’s Story

Retro Spectacles launches its first-ever franchise deep dive with the animated classic that started it all: Pixar’s 1995 “Toy Story,” directed by John Lasseter, starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger, and Annie Potts. Mitcz & Teddy break down how Steve Jobs bought Pixar from George Lucas for pennies,... Listen to "Franchise Deep Dive : Toy Story & Pixar's Story"
Ep 7

Palate Cleanser : Rage Against the Machine, Grief, and Angst

Retro Spectacles continues the palate cleanser with Part 2 of the albums that shaped Mitcz & Teddy’s adolescence. Teddy’s pick: Rage Against the Machine’s 1999 album “The Battle of Los Angeles.” After his father died suddenly of a heart attack when Teddy was 11, nothing at home sounded like what he was feeling until Bulls... Listen to "Palate Cleanser : Rage Against the Machine, Grief, and Angst"
Ep 6

Palate Cleanser : Dead Kennedys & Punk Awakening

Retro Spectacles hits pause on the deep dives for a palate cleanser. Before the next series kicks off, Mitcz & Teddy each picked an album and related songs that had a huge impact on their adolescence. In Part 1, Mitcz tells the story of the summer before 7th grade when his best friend Kevin handed... Listen to "Palate Cleanser : Dead Kennedys & Punk Awakening"
Ep 5

Hidden Gems : Election (1999) & Life (1999)

In the final episode of our inaugural series about Hidden Gems (movies Mitcz & Teddy feel deserve more credit), we both picked comedy films from a year packed with hits : 1999. First up, Mitcz picked the Matthew Broderick & Reese Witherspoon MTV Film “Election” about an exceedingly ambitious high schooler trying to win it... Listen to "Hidden Gems : Election (1999) & Life (1999)"
Ep 4

Hidden Gems : The Frighteners (1996) & Small Soldiers (1998)

The penultimate Retro Spectacles series opener “Hidden Gems” episode is here with a bang! But what’s a hidden gem? We think you’ll agree with our picks today, but we define them as art (in this case movies) that we think got lost in the shuffle but are much better than the lackluster fanfare they received... Listen to "Hidden Gems : The Frighteners (1996) & Small Soldiers (1998)"
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