🪐 [00:00] Intro

📰 [02:00] News, Nerds, and Nods

- Shout-out to Ryan Coogler for his badass women cinematographers.

- A “Siri moment” with *The Andromeda Strain* = pure retro AI comedy gold.

- *The Pitt* fandom wants a spin-off already?! Hold your scalpels, people!

- Minecraft movie: Not just for tweens... or is it? Chaos in the theaters and kids throwing popcorn like it’s confetti.

- Coogler + Michael B. Jordan = box office gold again with *Sinners*. $61M and rising, baby!

🎬 [12:00] Film & TV Recommendations

- Cort gushes about *Sinners* and drags her horror-fearing sister along.

- Susan gives love to *The Wedding Banquet* remake in theaters now.

- Kelly goes Dutch with *iHostage* on Netflix (it’s not what you think).

- Plus: *Daredevil: Born Again*, *Havoc* (Netflix), and *The Shrouds*.

📺 [32:00] Beyond the Gates: Soapland Drama

- The soap tea is *scalding*.

- Twins? Maybe. Stolen embryos? Possibly. Leslie’s wigs? Always.

- DNA swaps, shady casinos, and a bottle-hugging ex-wife… we’re hooked.

📚 [33:00] Main Dish: The History of Sitcoms

- Susan discovers CNN’s *History of the Sitcom* (Max), and it’s a nostalgia avalanche.

- Evolution from *I Love Lucy* to *Ted Lasso*.

- Norman Lear = sitcom MVP?

- Can we love *The Cosby Show* but hate Cosby? Yup.

- Who’s the Boss, Growing Pains, Golden Girls, Murphy Brown, and other sitcoms that *raised us*.

- Streaming’s impact, and why *Abbott Elementary* is the chosen one.

👀 [01:13:00] What’s Next?

Next week: *Mr. Robot* rewatch! Get ready for psychological twists, cryptic tech hacks, and hoodie realness. 🖥️

💌 **Got sitcom faves or juicy recs?**

Send your love, hate, or laugh tracks to **geekgirlsoup@gmail.com** or @geekgirlsoup on socials. We’ll read 'em—dramatic soap voice optional.

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

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Geek on!

It’s a two-host ride with Susan and Cort this week while Kelly is on assignment. With no adult supervision, things get a little chaotic (in the best way). From cultural commentary and media clapbacks to in-depth TV talk and soap obsession, we’ve got it all. Come for the rants, stay for the joy—and a healthy dose of fun bullshit. Here’s what’s cookin’:

News & Commentary

[00:00:00] – We get real about American international travel vibes, selfish individualism vs. the collective “we”, and the importance of joy in dark times. Plus, Cort drops wisdom about emotional survival online.

Recommendations

[00:05:00] – Mike White’s spicy White Lotus quotes, Coffee Mate conspiracy, and Reality Gays explain edging (we’ll let them handle that one). Plus, a shoutout to the genius White POTUS SNL sketch.

Main Topic: Soaps & Storylines

[00:28:00] – Soap Corner takes center stage as Cort and Susan go deep into Beyond the Gates. We’re talking unhinged villains, legacy casting, wild wig reveals, and shady secrets. Danny’s redemption, Ted’s downfall, and May Sweeps predictions? It’s all here. Plus, a side of General Hospital nostalgia and a dash of Midnight Mass appreciation.

Coming Next Week

[01:02:00] – Maybe we’ll (finally) get into Midnight Mass when Kelly’s back. Expect more resurrection, repentance, and maybe a haunted White Lotus pitch?

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

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Geek on!

This week, we’re taking a mind-bending dive into three under-the-radar sci-fi gems: The Endless, Radius, and Upgrade. Indie, eerie, and occasionally WTF, these movies gave us plenty to chew on—from AI run amok to time loop cults to accidental mass murder by proximity. Seriously, there’s a lot going on here.

We also say a heartfelt goodbye to Val Kilmer, dissect the upcoming Beatles biopics, rage at the absurd “rebranding” of the Underground Railroad, and gave some hot (and not) streaming picks including The Pitt, Karma, MobLand, The Bondsman, and Pulse. (Spoiler: Skip Pulse.)

💡 Oh, and library love alert: It’s National Library Week! Go hug a book or download one on Libby.

⚖️ Beyond the Gates check-in: Shady lawsuits, HR in hell, and Joey the mobster trying to play real estate agent. (We’re on to you, Joey.)

🍿 Major Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Indie Movie Mashup: The Endless, Radius, Upgrade

00:01:30 – Remembering Val Kilmer 💔

00:05:00 – Beatles Biopic Madness: 4 Films, 1 Band

00:09:00 – WTF, National Parks Service?! Harriet Tubman, enslavement, & the Underground Railroad Erasure [UPDATE: As of 4/7/2025, the original website had been restored! For y'all reading this in the future, no idea what it's like now!]

00:11:00 – National Library Week PSA

00:13:00 – Recommends & Anti-Recommends: Karma, Pulse, Y2K, Mob Land

00:22:00 – What’s Coming Soon: The Amateur, G20, Hacks, Black Mirror, John Ham’s Burglar Drama

00:24:00 – Beyond the Gates Soap Watch 🔥

00:31:00 – Full SPOILER Chat on The Endless, Radius, Upgrade

🧠 Our pick(s) of the week? Radius—a unique twist on the serial killer narrative with a killer twist (pun very intended) and Upgrade’s stylish AI showdown. We enjoyed The Endless’s trippy loops, but we suggest you start with Radius and Upgrade!

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

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Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Geek on!

This week on Geek Girl Soup, Susan, Kelly, and Cort dive deep into the Apple TV+ two-part documentary Number One on the Call Sheet. The series honors Black excellence in Hollywood, focusing on the journeys of Black leading men and women who’ve redefined what it means to be at the top. From Eddie Murphy’s early meteoric rise to Angela Bassett’s powerhouse presence, this episode is all about spotlighting the trailblazers who’ve shaped the culture.

We reflect on:

• How representation on screen (and behind it) has changed over the decades
• The painful beauty of Black women’s stories in Hollywood
• What it really means to be number one on the call sheet
• Standout moments from the documentary, including tributes to Chadwick Boseman and the legendary Halle Berry Oscar moment

A few standout quotes:

• “A gun might stop a life, but a gun can’t stop the stories.” – Alfre Woodard
• “I felt safe for the first time on set when all the hair and makeup people were Black.” – Tiffany Haddish

Plus, we touch on Denzel’s modern-day Othello, the tragic legacy of Richard Chamberlain, and our usual buffet of current watches and recommendations!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 — Intro + Initial thoughts on Number One on the Call Sheet

00:03:00 — Tangents: Hollywood Black, No Other Land, and real-world headlines

00:07:00 — Broadway buzz: Denzel as Othello, ticket prices, and the theater-to-screen pipeline

00:11:00 — RIP Richard Chamberlain and remembering The Thorn Birds

00:13:00 — What We’re Watching: Ghosts UK, The Residence The Underdoggs

00:23:00 — Cort’s Corner: Beyond the Gates

00:28:00 — The youth are NOT alright: Cringe Gen Z dialogue

00:31:00 — Full deep dive: Number One on the Call Sheet

• Celebrating Black joy, struggle, and trailblazing talent
• The importance of proper hair and makeup for Black actors
• The power of storytelling and legacy

01:08:00 — The Halle Berry Oscar legacy and the pain of tokenism

01:14:00 — Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, and global Black excellence

01:22:00 — Next week: “Hidden Gems” with Radius, Upgrade, and The Endless

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

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Geek on!

—> After listening to this episode, Maria has this say: “I was just thinking about the irony of my podcast interview and how much of what I said is so relevant to mom passing away as we release the film (joy and pain!). And I had no idea mom was going to die.” <—

In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with Maria Semander Crawford to discuss The Empty Chair, a short film that tells the story of her sister Elena’s murder by little-known serial killer Coral Eugene Watts—and the decades-long fight for justice that followed.

This isn’t your typical true crime tale. It’s a deeply personal, emotional journey about grief, advocacy, and how one family refused to be silenced by a broken system. Maria opens up about the day her sister was murdered, the years of legal hurdles her family faced, and the extraordinary activism of their mother, Harriett Semander.

Sadly Harriett passed away just before the film became available to buy. She did see it, though. As much as this story is about Elena, it's more so about Harriett. May she rest in peace.

Along the way, we also discuss:

• Marvel’s mega-livestream casting chaos
• The cartoon apocalypse trend (seriously, what are they doing to Mickey Mouse?)
• TV picks including Happy Face, The Pitt, and more
• A Looney Tunes movie that surprisingly hits the apocalypse vibes 😆

Timestamps

00:00 — MCU overload, coming soon, and our recommendations

14:10 — Cort’s Corner (Beyond the Gates)

22:36 — Interview with Maria Semander Crawford begins

24:12 — The day Elena was murdered

31:04 — Who was Coral Eugene Watts?

44:29 — Why no one’s heard of him—and how close he came to being released

50:52 — Turning grief into activism

1:00:00 — Casting The Empty Chair and the film’s future

1:10:25 — Final thoughts and how you can help

🎬 Watch The Empty Chair

Apple TV+

Prime Video

Google Play

📝 Subscribe to the newsletter to stay updated on the campaign to turn this into a limited series.

theemptychairmovie.com

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

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Geek on!

The theme this week is, obviously, Severance (season 2). But… we spend the first 39 minutes discussing other stuff.

-> Ted Sarandos (Netflix) being a dick about Apple TV+. Two dudes on BlueSky being the best fans ever (after us) about Apple TV+. (We said what they said five years ago.)

-> A few recommendations: Dope Thief (Apple for the win). Adolescence (Netflix, yes, we still like you.)

-> Cort’s Corner, which has now taken over two corners!

-> Then all the spoilers all the time about Severance s2.

If you haven’t finished watching all of s2, you can listen to the first part of our episode. All the laughs. For us anyway.

The title of this episode? If you know us at all, you’ll recognize a nod to The Leftovers, specifically s2. (Ooh, s2 of Severance and s2 of The Leftovers. What does it mean?!?)

We’re not sure what that means. But we chat about all the mysteries, the answers, and the remaining questions about Severance. And guess what. We’re getting season 3, baby! (Hopefully it won’t take three years this time.)

TIMESTAMPS

00:01:00 — Entertainment News & Apple Love

00:10:00 — Recommendations

00:19:00 — Coming Soon

00:20:00 — Fuck a fucking duck

00:24:30 — Dissecting Tyler Perry

00:30:00 — Cort’s Corner (Soap Talk — mostly Beyond the Gates)

00:38:30 — Comment on how we've been recording for 55 minutes. I can't tell time.

00:39:00 — Severance Season 2 – Deep Dive [SPOILERS start here!]

• Helly R. and Helena, Mark S. and Mark Scout (and their complicated love triangle with Gemma and Ms. Casey)
• Cold Harbor and the meaning of reintegration
• Can Ms Cobel be trusted?
• The goat. The dance. The band. And of course, Milchak’s rhythm.
• Leftovers vibes, mural decoding, and the final choice that left us shook

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

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Geek on!

Welcome to the most prestigious event of the year—The Soupies! 🏆 Susan, Kelly, and Cort don their fanciest (or comfiest) attire to honor the best (and worst) of movies, TV, and more from the past year.

🎬 Categories include:

• The Most Bingeable Show Award 🍿
• Best Apocalyptic/Disaster Advice 🌍🔥
• The E-Chip Activator (aka "That Hit Me Right in the Feels") 😭
• The Award for Best Documentary 🎥
• The Guilty Pleasure Award 🍫
• Most Shocking Twist – DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! 😱
• The Best Thing We Read Award 📚
• And so many more!

🎤 Plus, an in-depth Paradise discussion at 1:06:00—because we have thoughts. Many, many thoughts.

📢 Did we get it right? Did we get it wrong? What would your Soupies picks be? Let us know at geekgirlsoup@gmail.com or @GeekGirlSoup on social media!

-

Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

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Geek on!

Hollywood’s biggest night has come and gone, and we’re here to break down everything—from the jaw-dropping wins to the record-breaking speeches, the best-dressed stars, and, of course, those iconic brooches.

This week, Susan, Kelly, and Cort are joined by our annual Oscars expert, Erik C. Andersen, to discuss the unexpected wins, the indie film takeover, and Conan O’Brien’s hilarious hosting.

Timestamps & Highlights

[00:00:00] Welcome Back, Erik! – A Geek Girl Soup Oscars tradition! Plus, a little love for soap operas before we get to the main event.

[00:04:00] Adrien Brody Sets a Record (And Not in a Good Way) – Five minutes and 40 seconds of speech? Make it stop.

[00:06:00] The Indie Film Revolution – This year’s Oscars had a record number of indie wins. Anora cleaned up, The Brutalist made waves, and Flow got Latvia its first-ever Oscar!

[00:10:00] Best Bit: The Sandworm – The Dune visual effects may have won an Oscar, but that Sandworm gag stole the show. (Also, we know the guy inside it!)

[00:14:00] Kieran Culkin, Oscar Darling – He’s hilarious, he’s talented, and he keeps winning awards.

[00:18:00] Mick Jagger, Elton John, and the Music Industry at the Oscars – A rock ‘n’ roll takeover!

[00:23:00] No Other Land: The Speech That Mattered Most – A powerful moment from the Best Documentary winners.

[00:30:00] The Best Fashion Moments – Coleman Domingo’s perfection, Halle Berry’s disco-ball dress, and brooches galore!

[00:40:00] What’s Next for Hollywood? – With indie films thriving and blockbusters struggling, where does the industry go from here?

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Original music by Garrett Thompson

Follow us:

• Instagram @GeekGirlSoup
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Listen to Cort's podcast with Brad at PureFandom.com

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Email your questions and comments to GeekGirlSoup@gmail.com

Geek on!