Now We Know
167 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 34 ratingsOn Now We Know, Kevin Werkheiser and Chris Tognotti return to resonant, haunting, farcical, or otherwise impactful entertainment obsessions of their youths, through the jaundiced eyes of adulthood.
Follow us on Twitter at @NowWeKnowPod!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
158. Aladdin and the King of Thieves
April 22, 2024 06:59 - 1 hour - 127 MBThey're finally gettin' married! Following the conclusion of the Aladdin animated series—which itself was kicked off by an earlier straight-to-video sequel—Disney rolled out a final VHS installment headlined by the return of Robin Williams as the Genie. Also featuring Jonathan Rhys-Davies and Jerry Orbach, this movie bravely asks: am I really better than The Return of Jafar?
157. Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light
April 08, 2024 10:01 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBThrowing back to the classic (if slightly underheralded) animation of our youths, Kevin brings forth Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, yet another Hasbro-backed vehicle reverse-engineered to sell toys. And, like the far more popular G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, this show was made by Sunbow Productions. Has lightning struck twice?
SPECIAL DISPATCH: Star Wars Marathon Patreon Challenge!
April 02, 2024 18:50 - 3 minutes - 4.3 MBThe gauntlet has been laid down: Patreon.com/nowweknow
156. Dragon Ball Z Movies (Dead Zone, The World’s Strongest, The Tree Of Might)
March 25, 2024 08:25 - 1 hour - 159 MBOn the occasion of the sad, premature passing of famed and influential manga author Akira Toriyama, Chris and Kevin look back at a trio of Dragon Ball Z movies that aired on American television in the late 90's—Dead Zone, The World's Strongest, and The Tree of Might.
155. X-Men (90s Animated Series)
March 11, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBWith a reboot on the horizon, Kevin and Chris look back at 1992's X-Men cartoon series, a childhood staple clearly loved and well-remembered by many. Please, join us for a little mutant madness, and see how this once and future hit holds up in our brave new world.
Superman Animated Shorts of the 1940’s
February 26, 2024 08:30 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBIt's a bird, it's a plane, it's Fleischer Studios' Superman animated shorts of the 1940's! Well, more accurately, we'll be talking about two of the classic Superman cartoons produced under the watchful eye of Max and Dave Fleischer, and one of the late-run entries produced by Famous Studios, Paramount's Fleischer successor studio. Join us for a look back at a trio of The Last Son of Krypton's adventures—The Mad Scientist, The Magnetic Telescope, and Jungle Drums.
154. Superman Animated Shorts of the 1940’s
February 26, 2024 08:30 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBIt's a bird, it's a plane, it's Fleischer Studios' Superman animated shorts of the 1940's! Well, more accurately, we'll be talking about two of the classic Superman cartoons produced under the watchful eye of Max and Dave Fleischer, and one of the late-run entries produced by Famous Studios, Paramount's Fleischer successor studio. Join us for a look back at a trio of The Last Son of Krypton's adventures—The Mad Scientist, The Magnetic Telescope, and Jungle Drums.
153. The Real Ghostbusters
February 12, 2024 06:08 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBWho you gonna call? Fortunately, not the police, but rather The Real Ghostbusters! That's right, with the unfathomably bizarre decision to release another self-serious Ghostbusters movie in theaters soon (wasn't what you loved about the original how maudlin it was?), Kevin revisits the classic 80's DIC cartoon series.
The Real Ghostbusters
February 12, 2024 06:08 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBWho you gonna call? Fortunately, not the police, but rather The Real Ghostbusters! That's right, with the unfathomably bizarre decision to release another self-serious Ghostbusters movie in theaters soon (wasn't what you loved about the original how maudlin it was?), Kevin revisits the classic 80's DIC cartoon series.
152. Babar The Movie
January 29, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 110 MBStep aside, Dumbo. Shove off, Horton. Get outta here, elephant... from... Operation Dumbo Drop... it's little Babar's time to shine! This episode we look back at Babar The Movie, a 1989 barely feature length flick which did screen in some theaters, raking in about $1.3 million at the box office, entertaining among others a three-year-old Chris Tognotti in his very first theatrical experience.
Babar The Movie
January 29, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 110 MBStep aside, Dumbo. Shove off, Horton. Get outta here, elephant... from... Operation Dumbo Drop... it's little Babar's time to shine! This episode we look back at Babar The Movie, a 1989 barely feature length flick which did screen in some theaters, raking in about $1.3 million at the box office, entertaining among others a three-year-old Chris Tognotti in his very first theatrical experience.
Commercials of the 80’s and 90’s Vol. 6
January 15, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 57 MBIt's that time again, friends! For his first episode of 2024, Kevin revisits a noble Now We Know tradition, taking us on a trip through Christmas cheer, grim reflections on secondhand smoke, and even a visit to the sacred Halls of Medicine—it's Commercials of the 80's and 90's Vol. 6!
151. Commercials of the 80’s and 90’s Vol. 6
January 15, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 57 MBIt's that time again, friends! For his first episode of 2024, Kevin revisits a noble Now We Know tradition, taking us on a trip through Christmas cheer, grim reflections on secondhand smoke, and even a visit to the sacred Halls of Medicine—it's Commercials of the 80's and 90's Vol. 6!
Titanic: A New Musical
January 01, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBHappy New Year to all our friends, lovers, and of course, listeners! To ring in a new year, Chris finally uncorks an episode he's had in his back pocket since, well, roundabouts Christmas of 1997 — Titanic: A New Musical (now called Titanic: The Musical, as it is no longer in any way new). Debuting on Broadway the very same year as James Cameron's epic movie, although actually releasing several months earlier, it took a ton of rehearsals, a lot of money, some complicated hydraulics, and a pu...
150. Titanic: A New Musical
January 01, 2024 08:05 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBHappy New Year to all our friends, lovers, and of course, listeners! To ring in a new year, Chris finally uncorks an episode he's had in his back pocket since, well, roundabouts Christmas of 1997 — Titanic: A New Musical (now called Titanic: The Musical, as it is no longer in any way new). Debuting on Broadway the very same year as James Cameron's epic movie, although actually releasing several months earlier, it took a ton of rehearsals, a lot of money, some complicated hydraulics, and a pu...
149. Babes in Toyland (1986)
December 18, 2023 07:35 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBBabes! Toys! Lands! Not really the first things you'd think of if you actually watched this made-for-TV movie, but here it is just the same. Noteworthy for performances by young Drew Barrymore, young Keanu Reeves, regular-aged Pat Morita, and for muddling Kevin's memories of 80s Christmastime with the things he watched yet again. Thrill to hear that one guy from Empty Nest say "Cinciwhatski" 100 times!
148. Blues Brothers 2000
December 04, 2023 08:05 - 1 hour - 138 MBBaaaa bah bah BAH! Ba ba ba baaaah baaaah bah bah bah. BAAAAAH bah bah BAH! Ba ba ba baaaah baaaah bah bah bah. BAAAAAAAAAAH bah bah BAH! Ba ba ba baaaah baaaah bah bah bah! BAAAAAAAAAAH bah bah BAH! Ba ba ba BA buh buh buh BA BA buh buh buh BA BA buh buh buh BA BAH!
147. Thanksgiving TV Cornucopia
November 20, 2023 08:02 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBHappy soon-to-be Thanksgiving, everyone! In celebration of the traditional themes, tropes, and gastronomies of the season, Chris and Kevin dive into a trio of classic TV episodes tackling the Thanksgiving spirit: Happy Days' "The First Thanksgiving," Small Wonder's "Thanksgiving Story," and Amazing Stories' "Thanksgiving." Enjoy, everyone! Also — we're thankful for you and we know you're thankful for us. To see all the bonus content we have on offer, including episodes on contemporary rele...
146. We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story
November 06, 2023 08:02 - 1 hour - 118 MBWith spooky season 2023 in the rear view mirror, Kevin and Chris turn their weary eyes to We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story, the ignoble, ill-fated Spielberg produced—though not directed—dino toon flick. Starring John Goodman, Walter Kronkite, Julie Kavner, and Jay Leno among others, this movie lays bare the fact that, while a Picasso scribble on a cocktail napkin may be worth millions, a tossed off Spielberg idea without the man himself at the helm is not.
145. The X-Files
October 23, 2023 07:01 - 1 hour - 70.8 MBWooo wooo wooo wooo wooo wooooooooooo dun de da dun de dah (this is supposed to be the X-files theme) Fan favorite Miranda returns to the pod to dish on the classic 1990's sci-fi paranoia series! We look back at a pair of episodes: "Squeeze," and "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose."
144. “Manos” The Hands of Fate
October 09, 2023 07:04 - 1 hour - 155 MBThe month of October is upon us, and so too are all the attendant ghosts, goblins, ambulatory skeletons—you know the drill. But here at Now We Know studios, a different sort of ghoul shambles out to center stage: Torgo, along with the Master, Michael, Margaret, little Debbie, and Manos (not pictured in this film). That's right, it's "Manos" The Hands of Fate, the basement-budget reviled cult horror flick made famous by those jokers at Mystery Science Theater 3000. We aren't here for laughs, ...
143. L.A. Story
September 25, 2023 08:18 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBLike a brilliant smoggy sunset against the skyline of 1990's Los Angeles, your loyal hosts are joined by returning guest Dr. Ian Werkheiser (PhD) to awe and delight you. This time we look back at L.A. Story, starring Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, and a cast of thousands! And don't worry—no showbiz phonies allowed.
142. The Rescuers Down Under
September 11, 2023 07:05 - 1 hour - 128 MBWho’s ready for a little outback adventure? Kevin and Chris revisit The Rescuers Down Under, the oft-forgotten Disney movie which sits snugly between The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, in the early days of Disney’s animation renaissance. With Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor returning as those selfsame Rescuer mice Bernard and Bianca one last time (barring a new Bernard-only sequel—RIP Eva, but happy 94th Bob!), you hardly ever hear about this one, possibly because unlike its contemporaries, it’s not ...
141. Poirot
August 28, 2023 07:01 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBKevin and Chris traipse back to the mid-90's, of PBS "Mystery!" vintage, to revisit one of Kevin's favorite childhood detective characters—Poirot, Agatha Christie's indefatigable, razor-sharp Belgian dandy investigator, complete with his trademark immovable mustache. Kevin presents two episodes of the classic series, featuring David Suchet as the titular detective.
140. FernGully: The Last Rainforest
August 14, 2023 07:05 - 1 hour - 94.6 MBKevin and Chris are joined by treasured returning guest Miranda to discuss FernGully: The Last Rainforest, a film which Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg attempted to pressure Robin Williams out of doing, on the grounds that his turn as the genie in Aladdin (which came out after this movie) would be crowded if he also portrayed the inimitable Batty Koda. Williams refused, however, joining Samantha Mathis, Tim Curry, Jonathan Ward, Grace Zabriskie, Tone Loc, and those daring young troubadou...
139. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
July 31, 2023 06:55 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBIn honor of the upcoming release of Perpetual Teenager Seth Rogen's take on Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and the rest, Kevin brings Chris the former #1 turtle movie to reassess. Is it totally tubular or a major bummer? And which of our heroes has more Cowabunga Attitude? Peel the shell open and see!
138. Video Games of the 80’s and 90’s Vol. 2
July 17, 2023 07:04 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBCrash, boom, bang, it's time again! For summer fun, holed up in your shabbily carpeted living room, peering into the searing, unrelenting glare of a CRT television! For ten minutes apiece, Kevin straps in to experience eight classic [citation needed] games from Chris' youth: The Little Mermaid, Ducktales, Prince of Persia, the ignoble Mario is Missing, and more.
137. The Flash (1990)
July 03, 2023 06:14 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBWith the hitherto disastrous release of THE FLASH (2023) still ongoing, and the Batman '89 topical content well already run dry here at Now We Know, Kevin looks back at the feature-length TV pilot for the 1990 The Flash series, starring John Wesley Shipp as the titular speedster. So how will it stack up, not against not just its contemporary edition, but also the early-90's Captain America? All your answers lie within.
136. The Scout
June 19, 2023 07:05 - 1 hour - 129 MBNow We Know's salute to Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser (The Whale, 2022) continues with The Scout, the 1994 baseball comedy (alongside iconic funny man Albert Brooks) that lit up Comedy Central's daytime programming slots, but decidedly did not light up the box office or the heart or minds of film critics. Was the jaded public reception appropriate? Or is this a misunderstood gem? Only one way to find out—you know the drill.
135. The Little Mermaid (1989)
June 05, 2023 06:50 - 1 hour - 49 MBHead on over to Patreon.com/nowweknow to find out what Kevin and Chris think of the new "live-action" Little Mermaid remake, in theaters now. That said, always thorough, this episode Kevin and Chris revisit Disney's 1989 classic The Little Mermaid, which kicked off their animation renaissance of the 1990's. Conventional wisdom says this is a stone cold classic, but then again, conventional wisdom has kept Peeps on our grocery store shelves for eight decades running. What's the truth? Find ...
134. Monkeybone
May 22, 2023 07:05 - 1 hour - 109 MBIt's Monkeybone night in America. After granting returning guest Evan Tognotti the unprecedented privilege to pick a surprise topic, with no prior knowledge on the part of Kevin or Chris, your humble hosts were shocked and appalled to be ambushed with the reviled Monkeybone, starring Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda, Dave Foley, John Turturro, and many more. Was this movie unfairly maligned in its time? No!
133. Camelot
May 08, 2023 06:57 - 1 hour - 47 MBPer listener request, the Now We Know boys look back at the musical movie sensation Camelot, starring Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, and a cast of thousands! Traipse back into medieval times, with magic, mayhem, and yes, copious amounts of cuckoldry.
132. D2: The Mighty Ducks
April 24, 2023 07:05 - 1 hour - 119 MBThe quack attack is back, Jack! That's right, for the very first time (but far from the last) audiences in 1994 got to return to The Mighty Ducks cinematic universe. Charlie! Gordon Bombay! Goldberg! The female goalie who's much better than Goldberg but never gets to play, for reasons definitely unrelated to sexism! Join Kevin and Chris as they look back at the most climactic and incredible finish in the history of the, I want to say, Junior Goodwill Games?
131. Super Mario Bros. (1993)
April 10, 2023 06:35 - 1 hour - 58.6 MB"Better than the others, you'll be hooked on the brothers. UNH!" But in all seriousness folks, Super Mario is back in theaters this month, with Nintendo's big-budget return to the silver screen already hauling in cash in wheelbarrows. But it took a long, long time for the iconic video game company to ever attempt another theatrical release, in no small part thanks to SUPER MARIO BROS. (1993), the Bob Hoskins/John Leguizamo vehicle that was a commercial and critical failure, and torpedoed the...
130. Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird
March 27, 2023 08:01 - 1 hour - 109 MBChris was but four years old when he first saw—for the only time—the critically praised yet commercially unsuccessful Sesame Street theatrical movie, Follow That Bird. It's loomed large in his imagination for decades for subjecting our beloved Big Bird to undue, needless, harrowing cruelty. Is Chris' inner child right? Or does this one go down a little smoother when you've reached the Age of Reason?
129. Nick at Nite (Dragnet, Taxi, Bewitched)
March 13, 2023 07:02 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBAt long last, to revisit one of the seminal experiences of an 80's childhood–watching decades-old shows because Nickelodeon had too much time to fill–CEO and managing partner of Now We Know Industries Jordan Banks stops by the pod. He, Kevin, and Chris watched a trio of classic Nick at Nite shows: Dragnet, Taxi, and Bewitched. So, late on a school night, why not cozy up in bed with a new episode to drift off to? You can finish it tomorrow when you wake up.
128. Titanic: Adventure Out of Time
February 27, 2023 08:08 - 1 hour - 106 MBAfter 25 long years, James Cameron's romantic epic Titanic is back in theaters for a limited time, a delight for White Star Line-heads everywhere. So, Chris decided to reach back into the annals of his sixth-grade PC and pull out Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, an "interactive movie" video game which actually preceded the Cameron film by one year. Can you win a race against time to change the future and save countless lives, but definitely not the ones aboard Titanic?
127. Willow
February 13, 2023 08:01 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBYou wanted more Burglekutt, and you got it. Kevin unveils the big Willow episode, in which we watch Willow, starring among others Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. PROGRAMMING NOTE: If you want to also hear our foray into the the Disney+ Willow series, head to Patreon.com/nowweknow!
126. Funny Farm
January 30, 2023 10:17 - 1 hour - 94 MBTo Kevin's abject horror, Chris wrests control of the wheel and sets course for Funny Farm. The 1988 comedy—characterized as a "small miracle" by Roger Ebert, and directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slap Shot)—is now, according to a citation-free claim on Wikipedia, considered one of Chevy Chase's best films. Is that true? And, if so, would that definitionally mean it has to be good? Let's all find out, together.
125. TigerSharks
January 16, 2023 09:45 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBTiger tiger by the tail! Hold on, tiger tiger! (this show stinks)
124. Four Rooms
January 02, 2023 10:46 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBHappy New Year, everyone! And to kick off Season Six, Kevin and Chris bring forth a consummate New Year's movie: 1995's Four Rooms, starring Tim Roth, Madonna, Ione Skye, Quentin Tarantino, Antonio Banderas, Bruce Willis (in an uncredited role), and many more. Rest assured, you won't find a better way to ring in 2023 than with your saintly friends and Now We Know.
Patreon Premium UNLOCKED: A Christmas Story Christmas
December 25, 2022 08:07 - 1 hour - 58 MBPatreon.com/nowweknow Merry Christmas! Your present this year, from your humble hosts straight into your podcast feed: we've unlocked the final Patreon premium episode of the year, free of charge. Kevin and Chris are joined by Evan Tognotti to watch and discuss A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS (2022), the legacy sequel to 1983's 24-hour TV marathon classic A CHRISTMAS STORY. If you like what you hear, you can access to all our bonus content—in addition to everything we've got cooking in the...
123. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
December 19, 2022 08:01 - 1 hour - 48 MBChristmas time is here again... again! Kevin and Chris dive even deeper into classic Xmas nostalgia with the 1978 PBS special, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. Join Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Oscar, Cookie Monster, and more—including a certain iconic star of small and big screen alike, who'd apparently rather sit out in the wintry New York cold than spend the holidays with his, ah, demanding girlfriend—for a heartwarming paean to good cheer, kindness, and community. And for you, yes you, wherev...
122. A Christmas Story
December 05, 2022 08:11 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBChristmastime, christmastime, christmastime is here! And with it comes Kevin and Chris finally tackling one of the foundational works of the American Christmas canon, that which famously aired in 24 hour broadcast TV blocks on the big day it—A Christmas Story, the 1983 Bob Clark film based on the work of legendary radio humorist Jean Shepherd. This movie is very much not niche, and there's a great chance you know its ins and outs better than almost any other subject we've covered. But, the e...
121. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
November 22, 2022 19:42 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBHappy Thanksgiving, everyone! Kevin and Chris are back in the seasonal spirit with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, the third Peanuts holiday special, released in 1973. Is it yet another stone cold classic like A Charlie Brown Christmas, or It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? Not exactly, but it still boasts that Vince Guaraldi magic, and would bring home Emmy gold the following year. So, join us this Thanksgiving, as we join Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Franklin, Snoopy, ...
120. Blank Check
November 14, 2022 08:23 - 1 hour - 50.6 MBEpisode 120 is finally here, and it's just another bread and butter Now We Know classic. This time around, your humble hosts Chris and Rachel look back at equal parts cynical and controversial 1994 kids flick Blank Check, featuring such luminaries as Miguel Ferrer, Karen Duffy, Michael Lerner, Tone Loc, and James Rebhorn. Come for the nostaglia, stay for Rachel's infamous buttermilk story!
119. Dracula: Dead and Loving It
October 31, 2022 07:10 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBHappy Halloween, everyone! On this dim, sanguinary Night of Fright, in the year of our gored 2022, Chris does the unthinkable and voluntarily hosts a vampire movie episode. But this isn't just any vampire movie—in fact, according to Wikipedia, it's "currently the latest film" directed by 96-year-old comedy icon Mel Brooks! That's right, it's Leslie Nielsen vehicle Dracula: Dead and Loving It, co-starring Peter MacNicol, Amy Yasbeck, Steven Weber, and Mel himself. Prepare yourselves, folks, b...
118. Dracula: The Series & Kindred: The Embraced
October 17, 2022 06:52 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBThe Halloween season is upon us, and so Kevin has once again foisted his trademark vampire nonsense on poor, unsuspecting, saintly Chris. This time it's the early 90's Dracula TV show, in which some radical kids and their uncle (could he be... Van Helsing?) take on an 80's businessman Drac, and Kindred: The Embraced, a sexy, thick-with-passion blend of vampires and the mob set in the milieu of 90's San Francisco. Scary stuff ahead!
117. Commercials of the 80s and 90s Vol. 5
October 03, 2022 07:13 - 1 hour - 47.3 MBThe boys are back with the fifth installment of their populist darling series, Commercials of the 80s and 90s. From rappin' Flintstones, to the sttely commands of the Bop-It!, to the unholy union of Michael Jordan and McDonald's, Kevin and Chris pour over 18 more memorable commercials from the annals of their youths. (Programming note: If you're confused — "Volume 5!? Where's Volume 4?" you ask, hands shaking, sweat pouring down your face, feet rapidly turning cold as ice — that episode, r...
116. Highlander 2: The Quickening
September 19, 2022 07:15 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MBThere can be only two! Two hosts, that is! Also, two Highlander movies as of the year 1991. Departing boldly from the plot and canon of the original film, yet nonetheless featuring returning co-stars Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, Highlander 2 sends our beloved sword-wielding boys from Earth, to the Planet Zeist, and back again! Remember your home... another galaxy!