Craig & Friends

Latest Episodes:

Nell Campbell Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The fabulous Nell Campbell joins me to chat Rocky Horror, Lisztomania, Richard O’Brien, Tim Curry, Jim Sharman, Richard Hartley, Patricia Quinn, Sue Blane, Brian Thomson, mental health, Ken Russell, the pros & cons of tri-coastal living, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the state of the world, Alan Parker, the dull danger of drugs, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Cole Escola’s Oh Mary! and much more.

Taped the day before the terribly sad passing of Tim Curry, this episode is dedicated to Tim’s life & legacy.

Get your tickets for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spooktacular! See, hear...even smell the delightful aromasof Nell, Patricia Quinn & Barry Bostwick in person and watch the movie with original cast.

Listen to my chat with Richard & Linus O’Brien

Head on over to the Craig & Friends Patreon

John Glover - 52 PICKUP Movie Club (Part 3 of 3) Aug 04, 2026

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The legendary, lovely and brilliant John Glover joins me to talk all things 52 PickUp, director John Frankenheimer and co-stars Ann-Margret & Roy Scheider. We also discuss his work in the groundbreaking AIDS drama An Early Frost, Joe Dante & Gremlins 2, the challenges of being a gay actor in the 70s & 80s, working with Jane Fonda and so much more.

https://www.patreon.com/cw/CraigAndFriends

52 PICK-UP Movie Club (With Erik Clapp) Part 2 of 3 Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Erik Clapp of the mighty Cinema Force joins me for Part 2 of our discussion of John Frankenheimer’s 1986 sleaze & suspense classic 52 Pick-Up. Adapted from Elmore Leonard’s book by John Frankenheimer and Leonard himself, 52 Pick-Up is a tension & twist filled thriller that always keeps you guessing.

This film also gives us one of the most iconic villains in cinema history, brought to life by the legendary John Glover. Also starring Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, Clarence Williams III, Vanity & Robert Trebor, 52 Pick-Up was Produced by Menahem Golan & Yoram Globus for Cannon Films. It was also strongly disliked by a pearl-clutching Gene Siskel. What more could a film-fan ask for?

This is Part 2 of 3 - Part 2 features another taping with Erik & Part 3 is my chat with the legendary John Glover.

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube

Head over to the Craig & Friends Patreon to get early access to all of these shows, exclusive content and more.

Check out Erik’s video essay on 52 Pick-Up and subscribe to his stunning Cinema Force on YouTube

52 PICK-UP Movie Club (With Erik Clapp) Part 1 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Erik Clapp of the mighty Cinema Force joins me to discuss John Frankenheimer’s 1986 sleaze & suspense classic 52 Pick-Up. Adapted from Elmore Leonard’s book by John Frankenheimer and Leonard himself, 52 Pick-Up is a tension & twist filled thriller that always keeps you guessing.

This film also gives us one of the most iconic villains in cinema history, brought to life by the legendary John Glover. Also starring Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, Clarence Williams III, Vanity & Robert Trebor, 52 Pick-Up was produced by Menahem Golan & Yoram Globus for Cannon Films - and strongly disliked by a pearl-clutching Gene Siskel. What more could a film-fan ask for?

This is Part 1 of 3 - Part 2 features another taping with Erik, Part 3 is my chat with the legendary John Glover.

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube

Head over to the Craig & Friends Patreon to get early access to all of these shows, exclusive content and more.

Check out Erik’s video essay on 52 Pick-Up and subscribe to his stunning Cinema Force channel on YouTube

The Monkees HEAD Movie Club - With Julie Klausner May 06, 2026

Show notes

Julie Klausner of the How Was Your Week & Double Threat (With Tom Scharpling) podcasts joins me to talk The Monkees & all things HEAD, the subversive 1968 classic that Quentin Tarantino considers one of the greatest films of 1969. Written by Jack Nicholson & Monkees co-creator Bob Rafelson (who also directs), HEAD is a biting satire of pop-culture, Hollywood "magic", show-business, America and The Monkees themselves.

Support This Show & Get Exclusive Content By Heading To ⁠The Craig & Friends Patreon⁠

Subscribe now to this show & Julie's hilarious programsHow Was Your Week?Double Threat (With Tom Scharpling)

273: David Zucker (Airplane!, Naked Gun, Ruthless People and more) Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Writer, director, producer and comedy legend David Zucker joins me to talk about the serious business of comedy, his new - and free - online comedy class MASTERCRASH the secrets to making a NAKED GUN, Kentucky Fried Theatre, moody moments with Val Kilmer, pitching to Warren Beatty, learning from failure, Francis Ford Coppola getting in the way of a brilliant AIRPLANE! sequel, co-directing RUTHLESS PEOPLE and gets us a ticket to Fazio's, the best damn dry-cleaners in the business. Oh, and why the new Naked Gun reboot stinks.

Keep an eye out for David's upcoming NAKED COMEDY podcast, featuring his chats with other comedic masters and sign up for MASTERCRASH now

MASTERCRASH

David Zucker, Jim Abrahams & Jerry Zucker's Book On The History Of AIRPLANE!

Subscribe to this podcast now and head on over to the Craig & Friends Patreon to get exclusive content while you support this show

272: William Petersen Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

William Petersen joins me to talk To Live And Die In LA, William Friedkin, Robby Müller, Darlanne Fluegel, Willem Dafoe, Manhunter, Michael Mann, Chicago theatre, 12 Angry Men, Dennis Farina, James Caan, nearly working with Oliver Stone, Richard Chamberlain, Hamlet, working with George C. Scott, what brought him to acting and much much more.

The Craig & Friends Movie Club for To Live And Die In LA will be out later this year, featuring chats with Billy Petersen, Bob Yeoman, Wang Chung, Linda Bass & Gala Avary (and more that I can't reveal at the moment). Portions of this chat will be included, along with material Billy & I taped that's exclusive to the Movie Club.

If you haven't heard the Manhunter Movie Club (with Gala Avary & Rich Johnson) or watched it on YouTube...don't deprive yourself. Get into it, sport.

Head over to The Craig & Friends Patreon and get set for raw To Live And Die In LA interviews and other exclusive material. New programming to be announced shortly. Up right now is the Q&A I moderated at Wang Chung's concert for To Live And Die In LA's 40th Anniversary, taped in December at the Belasco Theater in LA.

271: FEAR CITY Movie Club (With Rich Johnson) Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Abel Ferrara’s 1984 NYC sleaze gem FEAR CITY gets the Movie Club treatment, with a side order of TEQUILA & BONETTI - a show that just might change everyone’s life. The brilliant and charming film essayist, cinema professor & connoisseur Rich Johnson returns to join me in celebrating all things Abel Ferrara, the charisma of Jack Scalia, magic of Melanie Griffith, triumph of Tom Beringer and brilliance of Billy Dee Williams in a film about a stripper agency whose clients are being hunted by a serial killer. In short, a wholesome romp that somehow hasn’t yet popped up on the Hallmark Channel.

Watch the film for free on Amazon or get the recent deluxe reissue on 101 featuring Rich’s definitive essay AND both cuts of the film

Dive into Rich’s amazing archive of brilliant Companion Pieces, video essays, interviews and more

Craig & Friends Patreon

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270 - Nicholas McCarthy, Student Confidential & The Vanity Project Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Filmmaker, archivist, podcaster and cinema connoisseur Nicholas McCarthy joins me to discuss his fabulous & moving 6-part docu-podcast, The Vanity Project. In it, we follow him along his decades-long quest to solve the mystery of Student Confidential, a film that was financed, written, directed, scored, edited by and starring the elusive Richard Horian. Who was he? Who is he? What was he like to work with? Where the hell IS he? And does anyone know where the original film elements are?

We also get into the deep magic & influence of UHF channels in the 80s, cult films culture, Cop & 1/2 and much much more.

Listen & Subscribe To Nick’s podcast The Vanity Project

Get Student Confidential AKA The Counselor on 4K & BluRay From Severin Films

Craig & Friends on Patreon

269: Richard O'Brien & Linus O'Brien & Strange Journey - The Story Of Rocky Horror! Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Richard & Linus O’Brien join me to talkStrange Journey - The Story Of Rocky Horror!

Directed by Linus, this is the definitive documentary on the origins, legacy and impact of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

We get deep into Richard’s life, his journey from gender dysphoria to gender euphoria, Tim Curry, Shock Treatment, sexual and social liberation, Richard Hartley, the tyranny of repression, his relationship with Linus, Hair, swinging London, Jean & Chrissie Shrimpton, T. Zee, Jim Sharman, mental health, Paul Nicholas, Rocky Horror Shows His Heels, Revenge Of The Old Queen, shadow casts, Jessica Harper at the commissary, Christopher Lee & the Captain Invincible situation, President Farley Flavors, Disaster! and much much more.

Watch on YouTube

Strange Journey Official Site

The Rocky Horror Official Fan Site

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