Episode 473: 'The Musical' with Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino

This week we've got expert musical improvisors Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino with us to discuss a movie about a middle school musical gone way off course, at the hands of a drama teacher pushed to the edge. Part comedy, part film noir, it's the feature debut of director Giselle Bonilla, and it was a Sundance premiere. THE MUSICAL! Then we talk about other films that use film noir tropes to comedic ends, and pitch some actually-pretty-genius new movies in that genre too.
Look out for Jess and Zach's movie, Mock Trial (mocktrialthemovie.com/#trailer)
Listen to Off Book (thezachandthejess.com/podcast-off-book.html) (or see it live (linktr.ee/Offbook)!)
What’s Good
Alonso - Get your colonoscopy!
Drea - Bob the Drag Queen even makes the Love Island Reunion show fun
Jess - The Gilded Age on a plane
Zach - The Wolves of Glendale, Go to the Woods (wolvesofglendale.bandcamp.com/album/go-to-the-…)
Kevin - seeing the Rams live
ITIDIC
AMC Burbank Pepper-Spray Guy: Villain or Hero? (nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/amc-b…)
New California Post Production Tax Credit Becomes Law (latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/…)
Staff Pick
Alonso - You Had to Be There (justwatch.com/us/movie/you-had-to-be-there-how…)
Jess - Original Cast Album: Company (justwatch.com/us/movie/original-cast-album-com…) (w/”Co-Op” double feature)
Drea - The Incomer (justwatch.com/us/movie/the-incomer)
Zach - The Court Jester (justwatch.com/us/movie/the-court-jester)
Kevin - Resident Evil (justwatch.com/us/movie/resident-evil-2026)

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With
Kevin Avery (instagram.com/kevinaverycomedy)
Drea Clark (twitter.com/thedreaclark)
Alonso Duralde (bsky.app/profile/aduralde.bsky.social)
Produced by Marissa Flaxbart (instagram.com/flaxbart)
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher (twitter.com/swish)