Last Looks: The Big Hit

Airborne LIVE! w/ Scott Aukerman, Kumail Nanjiani, & Danielle Schneider (Classic)

Jul 7, 20261h 13mSummary

In this live episode of How Did This Get Made, the hosts are joined by guests Scott Aukerman, Kumail Nanjiani, and Danielle Schneider to dissect the 1993 rollerblading film Airborne. The panel immediately establishes that the movie is a bizarre, plot-less amalgamation of sports—frequently confusing the audience by oscillating between surfing, rollerblading, and hockey, despite none of these elements coming together cohesively. The discussion highlights the film’s aggressive 1990s aesthetic, the questionable casting of adult actors to play teenagers, and the bizarre nature of the protagonist, Mitchell Goosen. The guests express deep frustration with the character’s lack of likability and his confusing, nonsensical dialogue. The panel also marvels at the presence of a young Jack Black and Seth Green, who stand out as performers desperately trying to inject life into an otherwise aimless script. Beyond the poor narrative structure, the hosts engage in a humorous breakdown of the movie's nonsensical scenes, including a bizarre speech class montage and several deeply uncomfortable sequences involving school showers and toilets. Ultimately, the group concludes that Airborne is a baffling piece of cinema that fails to deliver on any of its multiple premises.

Vertical Limit w/ Laci Mosley

Jul 3, 20261h 13mSummary

In this episode of How Did This Get Made, hosts Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas are joined by comedian and host of Scam Goddess, Laci Mosley, to break down the 2000 extreme sports thriller Vertical Limit. Set against the backdrop of a K2 rescue mission, the film follows a brother and sister who must navigate treacherous terrain and a villainous billionaire while carrying highly unstable—and magically explosive—nitroglycerin. The group engages in a spirited critique of the movie’s logic, questioning everything from the ridiculous opening sequence to the characters’ baffling choice to climb a death-defying mountain in light jackets while sporting fresh, clean-shaven faces. The hosts and Mosley express disbelief at the film’s "cartoonish" physics and its repetitive, low-stakes approach to character deaths. They also delve into the strange, quasi-romantic tension between the lead siblings, the film’s bizarrely indifferent political subplots, and why the movie’s two-hour runtime feels unnecessarily bloated given the simplicity of its "rescue mission" premise. Ultimately, the panel concludes that while the film attempts to mirror the tension of real-life climbing documentaries, it fails to capture any semblance of reality, resulting in a hilariously "fake" viewing experience.

Double Team w/ Owen Burke (Classic)

Jun 30, 20261h 3mSummary

In this classic episode, the hosts and guest Owen Burke dive into the bizarre 1997 action film Double Team. The discussion centers on the inexplicable casting of Jean-Claude Van Damme as a quintessential American agent named Jack Quinn and the surreal experience of watching Dennis Rodman in his acting debut. The team marvels at the film’s disjointed narrative, excessive use of ADR, and a plot that seems to ignore basic logic, including a sequence involving a plutonium-laden truck that disappears from the story entirely. The group hilariously deconstructs the film’s setting—a house in the South of France conveniently located next to a train track—and questions the confusing timeline surrounding the protagonist's pregnant wife. They also analyze the absurd action sequences, specifically an amusement park shootout where bystanders remain nonchalantly in line despite the surrounding carnage. Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight the film’s lack of internal consistency, the strange stylistic choices, and the general sense that the movie feels like a tax-shelter project rather than a coherent piece of cinema. It is a deep dive into pure, unadulterated blockbuster confusion.

Last Looks: Circus Island [Jason Edition] w/ Justin Halpern

Jun 26, 20261h 12mSummary

In this episode of How Did This Get Made?, guest host Jason Mantzoukas steps in to lead a spirited deep dive into the film Circus Island, also known as Circus Camp. Despite his initial reluctance to engage with listener feedback, Jason navigates a series of corrections and listener voicemails that shed light on the bizarre nature of the movie. The discussion features fascinating context regarding the film’s roots. Listeners provide insight into the real-world Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida, and the vintage TV show Circus of the Stars, which featured actress Judy Landers performing impressive trapeze stunts. A major highlight of the episode is a call from Nathan Dedz, an actor who actually appeared in the film as a teenager. His firsthand account—revealing that the young cast felt safe, supported, and treated like royalty during production—offers a surprisingly heartwarming contrast to the typical behind-the-scenes stories often shared on the show. Jason concludes the episode by praising this positive contribution and encouraging listeners to continue utilizing public library resources to track down obscure films.

Tough Guys Don't Dance (Classic)

Jun 23, 20261h 10mSummary

In this episode of How Did This Get Made, the hosts tackle the perplexing 1987 film Tough Guys Don't Dance, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer. The panel, consisting of Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael, expresses significant frustration and bewilderment throughout the viewing process. They describe the experience of watching the movie as uniquely uncomfortable and chaotic, often comparing the film’s disjointed narrative and intense, over-the-top performances to a fever dream or a significantly worse version of The Room. The discussion highlights the film’s confusing structure, which includes multiple narrators and excessive, circular flashbacks. The hosts also take aim at the source material, noting that the dialogue feels like a collection of rejected lines from a Tennessee Williams play. Beyond the narrative failures, the group critiques the film's offensive undertones and the strange lack of consistency in the performances. They also touch upon Norman Mailer’s unconventional choice to use actual negative reviews in the film’s promotional marketing. Ultimately, the hosts struggle to find any redeeming qualities in what they consider a genuinely baffling piece of cinematic history.

Circus Island LIVE!

Jun 19, 20261h 24mSummary

In this celebratory 400th episode of How Did This Get Made, the hosts dive into the bewildering 2005 film Circus Island. The movie, which appears under various names like Island Fever or Circus Camp on different databases, quickly becomes a focal point for confusion and hilarity. The hosts dissect the nonsensical plot, which involves estranged sisters, long-lost daughters, ghosts, and a bizarre circus camp located on a seemingly deserted Florida island. The discussion highlights the film’s erratic geography and questionable character motivations, particularly focusing on Carlos, an aging, remorseless "deadbeat dad" who is obsessed with being a trapeze artist despite his obvious lack of professional skill. The hosts are baffled by the film’s editing, which frequently uses professional circus performers to obscure the actors' faces during training montages, and they question the economic reality of a summer camp that lacks basic infrastructure. With its strange tone, questionable relationships, and unexplained supernatural elements like the "Jesus beach," the panel agrees that Circus Island is a true cinematic anomaly, leading to an episode filled with disbelief and comedic analysis of its most absurd sequences.

Morbius LIVE! (Classic)

Jun 16, 20261h 20mSummary

In this live recording from the Chicago Theater, the hosts dive deep into the Marvel-adjacent film Morbius. The discussion centers on the movie’s confusing plot, which follows a scientist who attempts to cure his rare blood disease using vampire bat DNA, resulting in a transformation into a living vampire. The hosts humorously break down the film’s erratic pacing, questionable scientific logic, and the baffling decision to set pivotal "international waters" scenes just miles off the coast of Long Island. They express confusion over the protagonist’s inconsistent power set—noting he seems to gain flight and sonar abilities without any struggle—and the strange choice to have the villain, played by Matt Smith, inexplicably adopt the name "Milo" after being renamed by the lead character. The conversation also touches on the lack of proper laboratory infrastructure, the absurdity of the counterfeit-money-turned-medical-lab, and the missed opportunity to explore the protagonist’s life as a healthy individual before his descent into villainy. Despite the film's shortcomings, the hosts find plenty of comedic material in its overly serious tone, questionable editing, and the bizarre narrative choices that define this generation-defying spectacle.

Last Looks: The Manitou w/ Ashley Ray

Jun 12, 202659 minSummary

In this episode of How Did This Get Made?, the hosts delve into the feedback and fan theories surrounding their recent screening of the horror film The Manitou. The show kicks off with a segment dedicated to listener corrections and omissions, featuring insights from a pathologist who clarifies the film's medical inaccuracies, as well as listeners confirming the bizarre prevalence of wall-to-wall carpeting in 1970s hospitals. The hosts also explore the film's pacing issues, debating whether certain scenes were mere padding to extend the runtime, and discuss the strange intersection of spiritualism and fraudulent seance practices. Following the film breakdown, Jason Mantzoukas is joined by comedian and television critic Ashley Ray for a deep dive into the current landscape of television. The pair focuses their enthusiasm on the breakout hit series Widows Bay. They praise the show for its expert balance of compelling supernatural horror and genuine comedy, highlighting the stellar performances of Matthew Rhys and the series' ability to develop deep character arcs within a mystery-driven narrative. The discussion serves as a lively look at why the show stands out as a unique highlight of modern television.

The Quest w/ Jon Gabrus (Classic)

Jun 9, 20261h 20mSummary

In this classic episode of How Did This Get Made, hosts Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael are joined by comedian and martial arts enthusiast Jon Gabrus to dissect the 1996 film The Quest. Directed by and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, the movie is framed by the hosts as a bizarre, watered-down attempt to recreate the magic of Bloodsport. The panel engages in a lively discussion about the film’s confusing timeline, its strange period-piece aesthetic set in the 1920s, and Van Damme’s questionable choice to include a street-gang subplot involving children. The hosts highlight the humor in the film’s opening, which features an elderly Van Damme in makeup and a comical scene involving stilt-walking. Beyond the film’s narrative shortcomings, the conversation takes a hilarious turn into the hosts’ personal lives, covering everything from the lack of physical flexibility in men to the bizarre contents of vintage instructional books. The group struggles to track the protagonist’s motivations, leading to a breakdown of why this film fails to capture the same thrill as its predecessor, despite Van Damme’s clear attempt to expand his creative influence as both director and writer.

The Manitou w/ Jessica St. Clair

Jun 5, 20261h 12mSummary

In this episode of How Did This Get Made, the hosts explore the 1978 horror film The Manitou. The movie features a woman who discovers a mysterious lump on her neck that turns out to be the reincarnation of a 400-year-old demonic Native American spirit. She is assisted by her former boyfriend—a phony psychic played by Tony Curtis—and a medicine man in a bizarre battle against the entity. The discussion highlights the film’s erratic pacing, noting that the first hour feels like a redundant medical mystery before devolving into total absurdity. The hosts poke fun at the odd aesthetic choices, including mustard-yellow lab coats, extensive office computer equipment that serves no clear purpose, and characters who seem to disappear after being introduced. A major point of amusement is Tony Curtis’s questionable wardrobe and his habit of sitting in a barber’s chair while wearing a fake mustache. The panel also critiques the film's lazy exposition and the sheer commitment of the actors despite the nonsensical script. Ultimately, the episode serves as a deep dive into the campy, schlocky nature of 70s supernatural cinema and the peculiar creative decisions that define this cult classic.