Sam Pancake Presents the Monday Afternoon Movie

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THE SEDUCTION OF GINA with Tipper Newton Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Just when you thought that Sam had covered all the troubled teen and young adult made-for-TV dramas, he comes at you with this ace up his sleeve about the dangers of gambling. Don't ask him to actually play any casino games though, as the only Kings and Queens he knows are the ones in drag. Joining Sam Pancake today is Tipper Newton, an actor, filmmaker, and musician. She is best known for her roles in The Mindy Project, The Guest Book, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She most recently starred in the clever film Fuck Your Son!, and plays shows with her band Color TV. Links below to dive deeper.

The Seduction of Gina (1984) is a made-for-TV drama directed by Jerrold Freedman that explores how a moment of innocent fun spirals into a life-altering obsession.

In the film, Valerie Bertinelli stars as Gina Breslin, a young, recently married woman feeling restless and unfulfilled while her husband is occuppied with his demanding medical internship. Seeking excitement and a way to break up the monotony, Gina agrees to try her luck at the blackjack tables during a trip to Lake Tahoe. What starts as beginner's luck quickly turns into a dangerous compulsion as the thrill of gambling consumes her.

As Gina's wagering escalates, so do the stakes in her personal life. She begins to gamble away her trust fund, strains her marriage to David Breslin (played by Fredric Lehne), and entangles herself with Keith Sindell (portrayed by Michael Brandon), a smooth casino associate whose intentions are ambiguous at best. Along the way, supporting performances from Ed Lauter as Carl and Dinah Manoff as Mary help paint a fuller picture of Gina's unraveling world.

Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Watch today's film: The Seduction of Gina Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Tipper Newton's Important Links Tipper's Band: Color TV Brandon Johnston's Instagram

This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

MADAME SIN with Brandon Johnston Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to 2026! The Monday Afternoon Movie's latest season continues. Our featured film today stars a couple of legendary icons of the screen, big and small. It's also completely wacky and an all over the place bargain bin James Bond clone. The 1972 film, starring Bette Davis and Robert Wagner, centers on Madame Sin, a wealthy, brilliant, and deeply manipulative woman who runs a private organization that trains people to be elite criminals. She recruits individuals with specialized skills—pilots, scientists, strategists—and molds them into a secret force she can control. Her operation is polished and almost glamorous, but underneath it's all about power and domination.

A former British intelligence officer (Wagner) who's been burned by the system, is lured into Madame Sin's world. At first, the offer looks tempting: money, prestige, and a chance to use his talents again. But he soon realizes that Madame Sin's ambitions go far beyond crime for profit. She wants leverage over governments and plans a massive, high-stakes scheme that could destabilize international politics. Joining Sam Pancake today is actor, writer, and 90-second historian Brandon Johnston. Follow him on Tik Tok and Instagram (linked below) to check out his Hollywood History series.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Watch today's film: Madame Sin Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Brandon Johnston's Hollywood History Tik Tok Brandon Johnston's Instagram

This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

THE GATHERING with Alonso Duralde Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Do you hear the bells and festive music? Feel that cold weather nipping at your toes? Smell the gingerbread and peppermint? I guess that means only one thing: Meika, cue up the Ed Asner clips because the yearly Sam Pancake Holiday Special is upon us once more and we're all out of Paul Lynde specials to cover. Today's episode takes us on a sentimental and heartwarming journey through ABC's 1977 Hanna-Barbera produced made-for-tv film The Gathering, starring legendary actors Ed Asner and Maureen Stapleton. Also of note, the movie was written by Academy Award winner James Poe, who gave us the screenplays for Around the World in 80 Days and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Ed Asner plays a grumpy and blunt middle-aged executive who finds himself facing a terminal illness diagnosis. He is forced to confront the prospect of leaving behind the life that he has built and the family he loves but has often taken for granted. In the end, The Gathering becomes more than just a family reunion. It's a cathartic and emotional journey, one that teaches the importance of love, forgiveness, and the fleeting nature of time. With his characteristic stubbornness and unflinching honesty, he shows his family the value of coming together when it matters most, even as he faces his own mortality. From everyone at Sam Pancake Presents: The Monday Afternoon Movie, we'd like to wish you all a very merry holiday season. May it be filled with all of the things you love and cherish. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Watch today's film: The Gathering Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Alonso Duralde's Instagram Alonso's Patreon page: Linoleum Knife Check out Alonso's book, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas

Alonso's previous episode on Monday Afternoon Movie: Horror at 37,000 Feet

This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

THE DARK SECRET OF HARVEST HOME with Daniel Vincent Gordh Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

The time has come for our yearly Thanksgiving harvest, only this year, Sam Pancake has deciede to share with you all the dark secret of the corn. It's going to be a shuckin' good time. To help unfold that secret is actor, comedian, and content creator Daniel Vincent Gordh (Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Matt and Dan) THE DARK SECRET OF HARVEST HOME is a 1978 tv mini series produced by Universal Television. It stars (in what may be her most ideal role ever) Bette Davis, David Ackroyd, and a young screechy Rosanna Arquette. When advertisement peddler Nicholas moves his family to a quiet peaceful New England town, they slowly come to the conclusion that there's more to this town that it seems and they are slowly pulled into their strange and corn loving ritualistic ways. What's the deal with all of the corn worship? Haven't they ever heard of soy? Or wheat? They really should diversify their crops a bit. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Daniel Vincent Gordh's Instagram Watch Sam on Daniel's show! This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

HALLOWEENTOWN with DeVaughn Taylor Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

The Halloween episode has arrived and we come bearing Debbie Reynolds and a little bit of Disney Channel magic. In a Monday Afternoon Movie first, Sam and his guest will cover all 4 movies of the series in one action packed epsiode! HALLOWEENTOWN, starring Kimberly J. Brown and Debbie Reynolds, follows Marnie and her siblings as they learn from their Grandma Aggie all about the wonders, dangers, and rules of being and witch, as well as how to navigate a strange new world they've learned about called Halloweentown. Sam has enlisted a popular name in the horror podcast circles, DeVaughn Taylor to come sit down and digest all 4 movies back to back to back to back. Will they make it to the end? Will all of the actors? Or will they all be recast and replaced before our anti-climactic finale?

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree DeVaughn Taylor's Instagram This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

ALL THE KIND STRANGERS with Melanie Hutsell Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Today's Monday Afternoon movie involves overalls, Stacy Keach, backwoods Tennessee children, willow switches, and rattlers! ALL THE KIND STRANGERS is a 1974 ABC Move of the Week starring Stacy Keach and Samantha Eggar. When photojournalist Jimmy sees a young boy carrying a heavy load back to his house, Jimmy offers to take him home. What he finds when gets there is a family of children with no clear adults present but always the promise of one to arrive. What strange direction will this Lord of the Flies vibe take us? Sam's has asked friend, colleague, and SNL alum Melanie Hutsell back to the show for another round of wacky made for TV goodness. Follow her Instagram to keep up with her latest shenanigans, or also check out the link below to check out her previous episode with Sam.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Melanie Hutsell's Instagram Melanie's previous episode: Daughter of the Mind Link to Mother's Little Helpers This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

DEADLY MESSAGES with Mario Diaz Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

The mystique and intrigue of the Ouija board is on full display this Monday afternoon. What will its' connection to the spirit world reveal to Mr. Pancake and his guest? More importantly, who, or what, is Dick Pizza? DEADLY MESSAGES is a 1985 ABC made-for-TV horror film starring Kathleen Beller and Michael Brandon. When main character Laura finds a Ouija board, her roommate decides to use it behind her back to talk to a murder victim that was supposedly killed in their apartment. When this leads to someone beginning to stalk her, they begin to realize that it may be more than just a game... Sam's guest brought in to handle the heart-shaped planchette with him today is none other than actor, promoter, L.A. club King and long time friend Mario Diaz. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Mario Diaz's important links This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

MOON OF THE WOLF with Tommy Hobson Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Aaaaa-rooooooOOOOOOO! Werewolf-philes and lycanthrope enthusiasts unite as today's Monday Afternoon Movie is all about your favorite furry moon loving creatures of the night. MOON OF THE WOLF is a 1972 ABC Movie of the Week starring David Janssen, Barbara Rush, and Geoffrey Lewis, father of the lovely Juliette Lewis. Fun fact: The director, Daniel Petrie, is probably best known for his work on A Raisin in the Sun, with the legendary Sidney Poitier. As per usual, Sam has enlisted the help of an amazingly talented actor friend to break it all down for us. Tommy Hobson, star of Nickelodeon's That Girl Lay Lay and the Fresh Beat Band, as well as the supernatural thriller Ghosts of the Ozarks) was kind enough to join us and share his professional industry takes on the wacky and wild world of werewolves. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Tommy Hobson's Instagram Tommy Hobson's TikTok This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.

SWEET, SWEET RACHEL with Bridger Winegar Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Eye! Knife! Raven! Doll! Coffin! Sam is back for your monthly Monday Afternoon adventure. Today's wild movie? Sweet, Sweet Rachel, a 1971 TV movie starring Pat Hingle, Louise Latham, and Alex Dreier. When a murderer strikes using psychic power as a weapon, an expert on paranormal and ESP abilities uses his knowledge to try andtrack down the killer. Juicy subplot: Will Sam's voice make it to the end without a functioning humidifier? Tune in to find out!

Sam's guest today is Bridger Winegar: writer, producer, podcaster, and actor. Bridger also hosts the popular I Said No Gifts podcast. Link below. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, as well as all past episodes for hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Bridger Winegar's Instagram I Said No Gifts Podcast Instagram Engineered & Produced by Meika Grimm.

WOMEN IN CHAINS with Pete Zias May 27, 2025

Show notes

Let the prison tropes begin! Sam Pancake has a hot caged piece of heat for you with this episode. The movie? WOMEN IN CHAINS, the 1972 American television film directed by Bernard L. Kowalski. Originally released for ABC's Movie of the Week, the film stars Ida Lupino, Jessica Walter & Belinda Montgomery.

Sam's guest today is Pete Zias: actor, commedian, and alum of The Groundlings Sunday Company and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, as well as all past episodes for hours of Pancake action.

Sam's Patreon Page Show Links: Sam Pancake's Instagram Sam Pancake's Linktree Pete Zias' Instagram Pete Zias' Linktree Engineered & Produced by Meika Grimm.

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