Blank Check with Griffin & David

The Piano with Esther Zuckerman

30 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just imagine…it’s 1993. Bill Clinton is in the White House, Seinfeld is on TV, and America has PIANO FEVER! Newly-minted member of the Five Timers...

An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens

23 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dana Stevens (Slate.com / Her new Buster Keaton biography “Cameraman”) returns to the pod to *literally* wax poetic about the literary coming-of-a...

Sweetie with Sarah-Violet Bliss

16 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve climbed up in our childhood treehouse and we’re not coming down! Sarah Violet Bliss (Search Party) joins us to talk about “Sweetie” - Ja...

Two Friends

09 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re kicking off our Jane Campion miniseries with her feature-length debut, auspiciously titled “Two Friends” - perhaps she has a competitive a...

The Matrix Resurrections

02 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year! We’re going back to the Matrix - which we last covered in 2016 (!!) - and we’re feeling pretty good about it! Seraph was a login s...

West Side Story (2021)

19 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

They said it couldn’t be done. Remaking possibly the most revered movie musical of all time?! A fool’s errand! But folks, we’ve learned a very i...

Benedetta with Marie Bardi

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alert the horny police, because we’re taking ourselves to a nunnery with the Dirty Dutch Daddy himself - Paul Verhoeven! The gang goes bonkers for “...

The Ward with Drew McWeeny

05 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve spent four months in the Mouth of Madness with the Horror Master, and we’ve reached the end point of Carpenter’s directorial career...for ...

Ghosts of Mars with Dave Schilling & Jonah Ray

28 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Contrary to popular belief (and Wikipedia), this film was NOT supposed to be another installment in the Snake Plissken series - John Carpenter just th...

John Carpenter’s Vampires with David Ehrlich

21 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

They’re not just Vampires, they’re John Carpenter’s Vampires!  “Closer in patina” to a classic Howard Hawks western than anything Carpenter...

Escape from L.A. with Matt Gourley & Paul Rust

14 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Less of a sequel and more of a “next gen video game re-skin,” Snake Plissken is back in “Escape from LA” and this time he’s got a surfboard!...

Village of the Damned with Amy Nicholson

07 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not “Children of the Damned” nor “Children of the Corn” nor “Corn of the Damned” - it’s John Carpenter’s “Village of the Damn...

In the Mouth of Madness with Angelica Jade Bastién

31 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for Halloween - it’s the conclusion of Carpenter’s “Apocalypse Trilogy” and one of the best Lovecraftian horrors ever to grace th...

Memoirs of an Invisible Man with Alan Sepinwall

24 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In which we try to find the John Carpenter in what is overwhelmingly a Chevy Chase vanity project. The legendary Alan Sepinwall (Rolling Stone) joins ...

They Live! with Mike Mitchell & Nick Wiger

17 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t adjust your sunglasses - it’s another epic crossover podcast! The Doughboys join #TheTwoFriends to tackle Carpenter’s still-relevant anti-...

Prince of Darkness with Keith Phipps

10 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every filmmaker gets one “Satan in a jar in a basement” movie and this is John Carpenter’s! Keith Phipps (The Next Picture Podcast) joins us to ...

Big Trouble in Little China with Jason Mantzoukas & Paul Scheer

03 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know what ol’ Jack Burton would do on an episode like this? Bring back Jason Mantzoukas and Paul Scheer, of course! The HOW DID THIS GET MADE? g...

Starman with Katey Rich

26 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Voyager II may be approaching the “Termination Shock” (Ben’s new favorite phrase), but we’re on earth cherishing the otherworldly romance of J...

Christine with Scott Wampler & Eric Vespe

19 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the Blank Check / Kingcast crossover event you’ve all been waiting for! Scott Wampler and Eric Vespe join us to discuss John Carpenter’s “...

The Thing with Emily St. James

12 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s the thing about THE THING - it might be the best movie we’ve ever covered? Emily St. James joins us (and joins the five-timers club!) to di...

Escape from New York with Karen Han

05 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grab your eyepatches - it’s Snake Plissken time! Karen Han joins the gang to chat Carpenter’s action classic ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK - which was actu...

The Fog with Nia DaCosta

29 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A film brave enough to ask the question - what if there was fog? Just kidding - this movie is ACTUALLY about vengeful pirate ghosts and a lady with a ...

Halloween with Alex Ross Perry

22 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s our biggest episode EVER as Alex Ross Perry brings his own dossier of talking points to tackle 1978’s iconic HALLOWEEN. We explore the histor...

Assault on Precinct 13 with April Wolfe

15 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

John Carpenter puts his own spin on Howard Hawks’ iconic western RIO BRAVO and Griffin learns about “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” - it’...

Dark Star with Emily Yoshida

08 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our long-awaited John Carpenter series kicks off with his ultra-low budget oddity debut DARK STAR. Ben goes Hollywood (actually, “Hosleywood”) to ...

Old with Marie Bardi

01 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if there was a beach that made you old? Only the mischievous mind of M. Night Shyamalan could conjure such a place! The gang (including Shyamalan...

Space Jam: A New Legacy with James Newman

25 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the slam, it’s time to jam - it’s our first in-person recording since the pandemic! Griffin’s brother James Newman returns to the pod...

Clifford 2: Hyper-Clifford with Tom Scharpling

18 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the direct-to-Crackle sequel to our original Clifford episode from four years ago! Clifford superfan and comedy legend Tom Scharpling (“The B...

Joe Dirt

11 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dust off your mullets, because it’s the return of PORCH CINEMA with another Ben’s Choice Blank Check Spectacular! The boys talk David Spade, Kid R...

Abduction with Jason Concepcion

04 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

John Singleton’s filmography comes to an inauspicious end with “Abduction,” a film that tests the viability of “Taylor Lautner as Action Star....

Four Brothers with Jonathan Braylock

27 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if there were four brothers? Has anyone thought of this before? Jonathan Braylock (Black Men Can’t Jump in Hollywood) joins us to talk about th...

2 Fast 2 Furious with Jon Gabrus

20 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s happening - the Two Friends finally devote an entire episode to THE FAMILY. Special guest (and Fast Franchise Devotee) Jon Gabrus joins us to t...

Baby Boy with Ayo Edebiri

13 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Who says you can’t go home again? John Singleton returns to South Central with BABY BOY and we imagine a trip to Tyrese’s backyard Benihana, a thi...

Shaft with Demi Adejuyigbe

06 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

He’s a bad mother...pod your cast! Demi Adejuyigbe (The Amber Ruffin Show) joins Griffin and David to discuss the cultural legacy of Detective John ...

Rosewood with Jamelle Bouie

30 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Blankie favorite Jamelle Bouie returns to the pod to discuss “Rosewood” - an ambitious historical epic whose failure at the box office (against no...

Higher Learning with Micah Peters

23 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re going back to school with John Singleton, Omar Epps, and...Zangief?! Micah Peters (The Ringer) joins the Two Friends as they discuss “Higher...

Poetic Justice with Jourdain Searles

16 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jourdain Searles (Bad Romance Pod) joins The Two Friends to discuss “Poetic Justice” - a film that is NOT about Janet Jackson teaching a poetry cl...

Boyz n the Hood with Aisha Harris

09 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we pour one out for John Singleton, the subject of our new miniseries - PODZ N THE CAST. Griffin and David welcome Aisha Harris (NPR’s Po...

Don Jon with Hollywood Handbook

02 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

He’s the kid from Third Rock. The Boy from Brick. The hitRECordjoe himself. Blank Check proudly presents a special one-film miniseries on the direct...

Ishtar with Clint McElroy

25 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Telling the truth is a dangerous business - but movies and podcasts can go hand-in-hand! We conclude our Elaine May series with one of the biggest bou...

Mikey and Nicky with Olivia Craighead

18 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grab 15 cups of cream, brush up on your Meisner Technique, and listen in as The Two Friends (Griffin & David) discuss the Two Friends MIKEY & NICKY, w...

The Heartbreak Kid with Avery Edison

11 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and comedian Avery Edison joins this week to discuss 1972’s The Heartbreak Kid! Topics include: how May’s directing elevated the Neil Simon...

A New Leaf

04 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Heavens! It’s technically April, but we’re talking MAY! The guys kick off our Elaine May mini series with her debut feature A New Leaf, while also...

The Sixth Annual Blank Check Awards with Joe Reid

28 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Griffin and David welcome back Joe Reid for the 6th annual Blankie Awards Ceremony for Excellence in Films. Together they present their own personal n...

Moana with Lenika Cruz

21 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Griffin and David are finally doing it! They are CONSIDERING THE COCONUT! In addition to the coconut they also have an in-depth conversation about Mus...

The Princess and the Frog with James III

14 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just when they thought they were out, Musker & Clements are called back in to helm 2009's The Princess and the Frog. After 7 years in directorial semi...

Treasure Planet with Emma Stefansky

07 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the BOUNCE BABY!!! This week, the gang heads to 2002’s Treasure Planet. But what would the Phil Collins bump have done for this movie? Can a...

Hercules with Larry Owens

28 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

BC welcomes multi-hyphenate Larry Owens (A Strange Loop) for a discussion on 1997's Hercules! Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus e...

Aladdin with Jerah Milligan

21 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#thetwofriends try and stay one jump ahead of the breadline and one swing ahead of the sword on this week's Aladdin episode as part of the mini series...

The Little Mermaid with Esther Zuckerman

14 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Esther Zuckerman (Thrillist) returns to discuss 1989’s massive hit, The Little Mermaid! Topics include: the musical contributions of Alan Menken and...

The Great Mouse Detective with Fran Hoepfner

07 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

All new, all fun! Blank Check launches a brand new mini series on the animated films of John Musker and Ron Clements. Writer and Ratigan stan, Fran Ho...

The Witches with Richard Lawson

31 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Over four months and 19 movies, we have finally reached the end of our mini series on the films of Robert Zemeckis! Richard Lawson (Vanity Fair) joins...

Welcome to Marwen with Emily Yoshida

24 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Yoshida is back to welcome you to Marwen! Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. Follow us @blankcheckpod on Instagra...

Allied with Chris Weitz

17 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Now in the final stretch of the Zemeckis mini series, Chris Weitz returns to discuss 2016's WWII spy thriller, Allied. Join our Patreon for franchise...

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10 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

!erom dna ,tsinogatorP eht sa notgnihsaW divaD nhoJ fo ecnamrofrep eht ,nosnittaP treboR fo reerac eht thgiltops ,DOV ot yenruoj lausunu "s'ameniC fo ...

Wonder Woman 1984

03 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the week of its release in December of 2020, Griffin and David discussed Wonder Woman 1984. Together they examine the heated online discourse, Wiig...

The Walk with J.D. Amato

27 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 1974 Philippe Petit performed his infamous walk between the Twin Towers. Director Robert Zemeckis many years later after discovering the story in a...

Flight with Olivia Craighead

20 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After twelve years since releasing a live action film, Zemeckis comes back to the living with 2012's addiction drama, Flight. Olivia Craighead (Iconog...

A Christmas Carol with Emily St. James

13 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What's today? Why its Christmas Carol day! Film critic Emily St. James (Vox) returns to discuss Disney's 2009 take on the classic holiday tale. The ga...

Beowulf with Jordan Hoffman

06 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This is Beowulf! Yes, in 2007, Bobby Z took the Old English epic poem and, once again using cutting edge mo-cap technology, delivered a 3-D movie that...

The Polar Express with Joey Sims

29 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the final days of 2020, Blank Check enters Zemeckis' motion capture technology period with The Polar Express. Joey Sims joins as we discuss the nua...

Cast Away with Nia DaCosta

22 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Zemeckis and Hanks reunited once again. Another box office and critical success. Filmed over two years, Cast Away captures both talents performing at ...

What Lies Beneath with Starlee Kine

15 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The central thesis to this week's episode on What Lies Beneath: folks, they just don't make them like they used to! Starlee Kine (Election Profit Make...

Contact with Jamie Bell

08 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Actor, Jamie Bell joins this week to discuss 1997's Contact! Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. Follow us @blankcheckpod...

Forrest Gump with Jamelle Bouie

01 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jamelle Bouie (NY Times) returns to Blank Check to discuss Forrest Gump! Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. Follow us @b...

Death Becomes Her with Katey Rich

25 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Now armed with an arsenal of wild special effects, Zemeckis takes it up a notch with 1992's Death Becomes Her – the first to include computer-genera...

Back to the Future Part III with Josh Gondelman

18 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Back to the Future, Marty ends up in 1955, the same age as his parents. In the sequel he has to jump between that timeline and a bizarre 2015. The ...

Back to the Future Part II with Nicole Byer

11 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Man wouldn't it be weird to have a future controlled by a rich blond bully who hates women, steals things and is awful to everyone? Robert Zemeckis pr...

Who Framed Roger Rabbit with Mike Mitchell & Nick Wiger

04 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A noir for kids. Disney and Warner Bros characters together for the first and last time. Live action drama with kooky Tex Avery-style animation. There...

Back to the Future

27 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It was the #1 film of 1985. It’s a theme park ride. An animated series. It spawned video games. Comic books. Musicals. It’s in the goddamn Library...

Romancing the Stone with Adam Kempenaar & Josh Larsen

20 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How did Robert Zemeckis go from commercial flops to a career-defining time-travelling trilogy of blank checks? It’s all thanks to his “guarantor”...

Used Cars with Jason Mantzoukas & Paul Scheer

13 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How Did This Get Made’s Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) returns with Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) for a rare-Rated R Zeme...

I Wanna Hold Your Hand with Patrick Willems

06 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Your March Madness winner series has arrived! Chosen by the listeners, our latest subject is Robert Zemeckis, a Hollywood hitmaker who gives us plenty...

The Old Guard

30 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In The Old Guard (2020), Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne, and a group of immortal warriors define why it's worth living to fight another day. Plus they lo...

Beyond the Lights with Ayo Edebiri

23 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The pressures of fame as a young pop star navigating the music industry. An overbearing, success driven mother. A quote loving cop with a big heart. B...

The Secret Life of Bees with Jourdain Searles

16 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A coming-of age story. Racism in America. Complex connections to motherhood. The Secret Life of Bees adaptation had a lot of themes to tackle. This we...

Love & Basketball with Carl Tart

09 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s rare we get to start a mini-series with a classic. 20 years after its release, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s directorial debut still stands the tes...

Julie & Julia with Romilly Newman

02 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alas, our Nora Ephron series has come to an end! For our last ep, we’re happy we get to end on a high note and a touch of the Tucc… with 2009’s ...

Bewitched with Dana Schwartz

26 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Years were spent trying to figure out the perfect way to bring back the 60s sitcom, Bewitched. The result was a confusing, critical bomb. How do you g...

Lucky Numbers with Alex Ross Perry

19 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s an extra-sized episode featuring director Alex Ross Perry for this strange film about lotteries or something. Which Seinfeld characters are the...

You've Got Mail with Bobby Finger & Lindsey Weber

12 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

AOL may have aged out but has this classic rom-com? We invited Who? Weekly's very own Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger to discuss another Nora Ephron bo...

Michael with Kevin Porter

05 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Blank Check tackles one of film’s greatest mysteries, John Travolta’s career in the 90s. In Michael (1996), he plays an angel who visit...

Mixed Nuts with Charles Rogers

28 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The friends are joined by Search Party director Charles Rogers to discuss this mixed bag of mixed messages of a Christmas movie that shows maybe Norah...

Sleepless in Seattle with Katey Rich

21 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Only Nora Ephron could make a rom-com where the leads interact for 2 minutes an instant classic. The BC crew makes a Tom and Meg inspired long distanc...

This Is My Life with Michelle Collins

14 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Everything is copy." is the code Ephron lived by and no film fit that better than her directorial debut, This is My Life (1992). After the success of...

When Harry Met Sally... with Dana Stevens

07 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It laid the groundwork for her entire film career. It set the mold for every rom-com that followed. Though it wasn’t her directorial debut, you just...

Stargate

31 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's a Ben's Choice bay-bee! Dry, dusty tombs ✓ Crazy convoluted tech ✓ Vast intergalactic conspiracies? ✓✓✓ 1994's Stargate really does hav...

Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You're entering a world of a b-b-b-bonus ep! We couldn't wrap up George Miller series without covering the totally bizarre Twilight Zone: The Movie (1...

Mad Max: Fury Road with Emily Yoshida

24 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Yoshida (Night Call podcast) joins #thetwofriends to discuss George Miller's magnum opus Mad Max: Fury Road. Together they examine the masterful...

Happy Feet Two with Sara Rubin

17 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Visual artist Sara Rubin joins BC this week to discuss Miller’s second dancing penguin movie! Together with #thetwofriends they breakdown the billin...

Happy Feet with Caitlin Durante

10 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Caitlin Durante (The Bechdel Cast) joins #thetwofriends to discuss Miller's first foray into animation with 2006's Happy Feet. Join our Patreon for ...

Babe: Pig in the City with Travis McElroy

03 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who is 1998's Babe: Pig in the City for? Is it for kids? Stoners? Four grown adults attempting to navigate a national pandemic? This is the question T...

Lorenzo's Oil with Bilge Ebiri

26 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hard to believe we're already halfway through our George Miller series! This week Bilge Ebiri (Vulture) returns to talk about one of his favorite film...

The Witches of Eastwick with K. Austin Collins

19 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Film critic K. Austin Collins (Vanity Fair) returns to Blank Check for an episode covering 1987’s fantasy comedy, The Witches of Eastwick. Together ...

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome with David Ehrlich

12 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Together, #thetwofriends and returning guest David Ehrlich (IndieWire) talk about not just the Thunderdome, but go beyond to examine Tina Turner’s f...

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior with Jon Gabrus

05 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian, Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty) returns to discuss 1981’s  sequel effort Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. Together with #thetwofriends they exam...

Mad Max

29 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Witness Blank Check because this week, Griffin and David ride towards Valhalla and into a new mini series on the films of George Miller! Together they...

5th Anniversary Special

22 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Griffin, David, Ben and Ang each from their own apartments celebrated Blank Check’s anniversary with a look back at some favorite moments and reflec...

Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

B-b-b-bonus Jonas, David and Griffin do a Jonathan Demme wrap-up with his last full-length music documentary. What is David's extensive background wit...

Ricki and the Flash with Bobby Finger & Lindsey Weber

15 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who? Weekly hosts Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber talk about Demme's last film, written by Diablo Cody. But they really just want to talk about Tully. ...