di Audrey Cornell and Louise Kolman
Our first movie of 1992 is quite a tear-jerker; based on the true story of five children whose mother (Sarah Jessica Parker) sends them to foster parents (Sally Struthers and John Dennis Johnston) who want to adopt them, leading to a legal battle that received nationwide attention in the late '80s. This movie stood out to us due to the strong performances, especially from the kids, but we discuss our complicated feelings about the outcomes of the story and how we feel about the film's presentation of each character. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
We close out Lifetime's 1991 catalogue with a star-studded cast and dramatic storyline. Ellie (Reese Witherspoon) finds an abused and hard of hearing girl named Alice (Patricia Arquette) locked in a shed. She and her brother (William McNamara) work to help educate Alice and rescue her from her situation. Despite the film's best efforts, we found it has not aged well and discuss what alterations could have made it better. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
The most predictable Lifetime movie we've covered so far and also the worst. After Victoria (Susan Lucci)'s friend is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect. Along with her husband Michael (Tim Matheson), she works to find out who the real killer is. We discuss the nonsensical plot structure and character motivations, how normalized cheating is within the story, why Randy the private investigator is the greatest character of all time, and Michael Dudikoff's unhinged performance. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
Our fifth Lifetime movies takes us all the way to Australia, where Leonie (Linda Blair) quickly becomes attached to a mysterious weirdo (Jerome Ehlers) while a serial killer is on the loose. Join us as we attempt to navigate the three different plots, talk about what does and does not work in lovers-on-the-run stories, Lifetime's obsession with murder (and why that aspect makes no sense in this movie), and the rest of its so-bad-it's-good qualities. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
Our first Lifetime movie directed by a woman tells the true crime case of Pamela Smart (Helen Hunt) who manipulates a teenager (Chad Allen) into killing her husband Gregg (Hank Stratton). We also discuss To Die For, the 1995 Gus Van Sant movie inspired by the same story. We talk in depth about the actual case and the accuracies of Murder in New Hampshire. Both filmic interpretations have convoluted the historical narrative and it's difficult to really know the truth, but it's important to keep talking about what occurred since Pamela Smart continues to seek commutation to this day. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
We're officially getting into Lifetime tropes territory with The Perfect Bride! Laura (Kelly Preston) is concerned for her brother Ted (Linden Ashby)'s safety when the woman he is engaged to (Sammi Davis) starts displaying concerning signs. Unfortunately Laura must take matters into her own hands when a body count starts tallying up and nobody in her family believes her. Join us in our discussion about the crazy events in this movie and how little sense certain elements make. We talk about how Laura might be the most put-upon character in movie history, ways the story could have been improved, and its not just one but two Shirley Temple connections. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
TW: this episode is about the real life crimes of a serial rapist. Our second installment of the podcast is also the first Lifetime movie we're covering inspired by a true story! Kevin Coe (Dale Midkiff) is a spoiled and troubled aspiring real estate agent whose complicated relationship with his mother (Elizabeth Montgomery) connects to a series of violent rapes in Spokane, Washington. We discuss the difficulties of translating such a horrific event into a film and whether or not Sins of the Mother did a respectful job, comparing the true story to what's presented in the movie (and what happened afterwards), some of the most unhinged lines that Ruth Coe says to her son, and much more. Despite the upsetting content, we had a great conversation about the justice system in the United States and how this movie unfortunately does present some iffy opinions about the mother's relation to her son's crimes. Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters
Our first episode details the debut of the Lifetime original: 1990's Memories of Murder. A woman (Nancy Allen) suffers from amnesia and becomes the target of a campy murderer (played by Vanity) who has something to do with mysterious past events that she can't remember. We share the beginnings of the Lifetime channel and why this movie in particular is a strange start. Other topics include the weirdest lines of dialogue, how quickly the gaslighting husband got on our nerves, and why the amnesia plot point just added to the confusion. We can't wait to go on this fun and crazy journey with you all! Music: They All Become Blueberries - Tiger Gang Mysterious Grove - Cast of Characters