The true crime / comedy podcast YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE. We recap your favorite true crime documentaries with humor, sass, and a well timed garbage bell. Hear our take on “Wild Wild Country,” “There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane,” “Jesus Camp” and many more. So many garbage people, so little time.
Meet Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming with an IQ of 168. 30 years ago, she fell in love with a young Mormon named Kirk. When Kirk disappeared and then turned up a few months later in the UK, Joyce was convinced he’d been kidnapped and was being held against his well. Determined to get him back, Joyce set off on a journey that would lead her across the globe, into jail, and onto the front pages of the most popular tabloids of the time. Her crusade for love took her through a surreal world of kidnapping, manacled Mormons, risqué photography, magic underwear, and celestial sex. Oh AND to the 1977 after party for the film “Saturday Night Fever.”
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COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! All ticket holders are welcome to join Patrick on a FREE walking tour of the West Village on the morning of the show! He'll show you all the spots from the gay liberation movement, old New York movies, and even Sex and the City--all within a few blocks! Get tickets to the Pride Show here!
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This episode covers episodes 4 - 6 of the Oxygen series. For part 1, covering episodes 1 - 3, go here. Or listen on Spotify here.
It's the most famous--and most obsessed over--missing person's case of our time:
On February 9, 2004, Maura Murray, a promising young nursing student, left her college dorm, emptied her bank account, and drove to a remote New Hampshire town where she didn't know a soul. Just after 7pm, her car crashed into a tree. A witness spoke to her, offering help, which she refused. And then she vanished into thin air. Nobody has seen or heard from her since. Everybody has a theory: The family knows more than they're saying, the police botched the case and are covering it up, Maura fled her life and started over in Canada. This documentary series attempts to solve the mystery.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? WHO COULD BLAME YOU! Join our Patreon fam and instantly get over 80 FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase," "Lorena," and so many more! You can also get ad-free versions of our regular episodes! JOIN HERE!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! All ticket holders are welcome to join Patrick on a FREE walking tour of the West Village on the morning of the show! He'll show you all the spots from the gay liberation movement, old New York movies, and even Sex and the City--all within a few blocks! Get tickets to the Pride Show here!
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This week's Palate Cleaser is "Green Street" from The Jonathan Larson Project. You need to buy the album immediately. Click here!
This episode covers episodes 1 - 3 of the Oxygen series.
It's the most famous--and most obsessed over--missing person's case of our time:
On February 9, 2004, Maura Murray, a promising young nursing student, left her college dorm, emptied her bank account, and drove to a remote New Hampshire town where she didn't know a soul. Just after 7pm, her car crashed into a tree. A witness spoke to her, offering help, which she refused. And then she vanished into thin air. Nobody has seen or heard from her since. Everybody has a theory: The family knows more than they're saying, the police botched the case and are covering it up, Maura fled her life and started over in Canada. This documentary series attempts to solve the mystery.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? WHO COULD BLAME YOU! Join our Patreon fam and instantly get over 80 FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase" and so many more! You can also get ad-free versions of our regular episodes! JOIN HERE!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! All ticket holders are welcome to join Patrick on a tour of the West Village on the morning of the show! He'll show you all the spots from the gay liberation movement, old New York movies, and even Sex and the City--all within a few blocks! Get tickets to the Pride Show here!
To learn about our sponsors AND GET THOSE PROMO CODES, Click here!
Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez - four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film begins its journey inside a Texas prison, after these women have spent nearly a decade behind bars. They were 19 and 20 years old at the time the allegations surfaced. Using the women's home video footage from 21 years ago combined with recent verité footage and interviews, the film explores their personal narratives and their search for exculpatory evidence to help their losing criminal trials.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? WHO COULD BLAME YOU! Join our Patreon fam and instantly get over 80 FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase" and so many more! You can also get ad-free versions of our regular episodes! JOIN HERE!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
To learn about our sponsors AND GET THOSE PROMO CODES, Click here!
Who killed Marsha P. Johnson?
When the beloved, self-described "street queen" of NY's gay ghetto was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD chalked it up as a suicide and refused to investigate. But Marsha was a lover of life and many who knew her refused to believe she would have taken her own life.
Now, a quarter century later, at a time of unprecedented visibility and escalating violence in the transgender community, Marsha's old friend and fellow activist Victoria Cruz has taken it upon herself to reexamine what happened to Marsha. Dipping deep into jaw-dropping archival footage of another era of New York City life, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows as this champion pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works to tell the story of Marsha's life and get to the bottom of Marsha's death.
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots. Take pictures with our sassy drag queens, meet fellow TCO fam, and hear our take on the definitive Stonewall documentary "Stonewall Uprising." IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST. Get tickets here!
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With a magical new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, 19 year old Elizabeth Holmes became the world's youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then, overnight, it was revealed that the technology she'd invented didn't work--it never had. Her $10-billion-dollar company dissolved, investors lost everything, and Holmes now faces jail time.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? WHO COULD BLAME YOU! Join our Patreon fam and instantly get over 80 FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase" and so many more! You can also get ad-free versions of our regular episodes! JOIN HERE!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
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GAYS! DRAG QUEENS! LIZA! DISCO! DRUGS! TAX FRAUD! DO I REALLY NEED TO GO ON?
Studio 54 was the epicenter of 70s hedonism--a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but also came to symbolize an entire era. Its co-owners, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, two friends from Brooklyn, seemed to come out of nowhere to suddenly preside over a new kind of New York society. Now, 39 years after the velvet rope was first slung across the club's hallowed threshold, a feature documentary tells the real story behind the greatest club of all time and the crimes that brought it down.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? WHO COULD BLAME YOU! Join our Patreon fam and instantly get over 80 FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase" and so many more! You can also get ad-free versions of our regular episodes! JOIN HERE!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on Saturday, June 29th--the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
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This episode covers episode 4 of the HBO series.
For our episode on Part 1 go here
For our episode on Part 2 go here
For our episode on Part 3 go here
In Part 3, the state's case against Adnan Syed falls apart as Adnan's legal team PROVES that he didn't murder Hae Min Lee. The state-held DNA evidence is finally tested and it all but exonerates Adnan. THIS IS THE EPISODE WHERE WE FINALLY GET ALL THE ANSWERS.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, "The Case Against Adnan Syed" explores the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the hugely popular "Serial" podcast.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Looking for more TCO? To hear our brand new interview with Rabia Chaurdry, our interview with Asia Mcclain, and our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," become a TCO Patron for just $5 per month! You'll instantly get all this PLUS over 60 other full bonus episodes including our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," and "The Staircase." Join Here!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
To learn about our sponsors AND GET OUR PROMO CODES, Click here!
This Week's Palate Cleanser: "It Ain't No Thing" From "Bring It On: The Musical."
This episode covers part 3 of the 4-part HBO series. For our take on Part 1, go here! For our take on Part 2, go here! And stay tuned till THE VERY END of the episode to hear a preview of our interview with Rabia Chaudry.
In part 3, Adnan’s 2016 appeal draws to a close, his family and attorneys brace for a ruling that could result in a new trial and hope for an acquittal 20 years after Hae Lee’s murder. AND GET READY FOR MIND BLOWING NEW INFORMATION TO BE PRESENTED IN REAL TIME TO JEN AND CHRISTY--INFORMATION THAT COULD COMPLETELY DESTROY THE STATE'S THEORY OF THE CASE!
Directed by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, "The Case Against Adnan Syed" explores the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the hugely popular "Serial" podcast.
Looking for more TCO? To hear our brand new interview with Rabia Chaurdry, our interview with Asia Mcclain, and our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," become a TCO Patron for just $5 per month! You'll instantly get all this PLUS over 60 other full bonus episodes including our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," and "The Staircase." Join Here!
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
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This Week's Palate cleanser is "Otto Titsling" from the film Beaches.
This episode covers part 2 of the 4-part HBO series. For Part 1, go here!
In part 2, Private investigators attempt to recreate circumstances at the crime scene, questions arise about the veracity of alleged accomplice Jay Wilds, the centerpiece of police and prosecutors’ case against Adnan Syed, we meet Jenn Pusateri (who is slightly terrifying), AND ASIA IS BACK (and looking flawless).
Directed by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, "The Case Against Adnan Syed" explores the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the hugely popular "Serial" podcast.
To hear our brand new interview with Rabia Chaurdry, our interview with Asia Mcclain, and our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," become a TCO Patron for just $5 per month! You'll instantly get all this PLUS over 60 other full bonus episodes including our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," and "The Staircase."
COME TO OUR PRIDE SHOW! Come hang with us in NYC on the 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots! It will be one of our most special and memorable live shows to date! Get tickets here!
To learn about our sponsors AND GET OUR PROMO CODES, Click here!
Directed by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, The Case Against Adnan Syed will explore the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the hugely popular Serial podcast.
In Part 1, we meet Adnan, Hae, and their friends in the magnet program at Woodlawn high school. When Hae disappears and then is found dead several weeks later, Adnan becomes the prime suspect in her murder. But there is also Don, the boyfriend of only 10 days who may have been the last person to see her alive. New investigators TRACK DON DOWN and attempt to get his side of the story.
To hear our brand new interview with Rabia Chaurdry, our interview with Asia Mcclain, and our episode-by-episode coverage of "Serial," become a TCO Patron for just $5 per month! You'll instantly get all this PLUS over 60 other full bonus episodes!
To learn about the recent developments in the Adnan Syed case go here and check out the "Crime Writers On" update here.
Come to our June Pride show! We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall by covering the definitive documentary "Stonewall Uprising." Tickets are going fast! Click her to join us!
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This podcast episode covers episodes 3 & 4 of the Netflix series. Listen to Part 1 (covering episodes 1 & 2 of the Netflix series) HERE.
In this episode, Ted Bundy breaks out of prison TWICE. He terrorizes south Florida where he takes at least 6 more victims. When he's finally caught, he decides to represent himself in court--in America's first-ever televised murder trial--and the shenanigans that ensue are almost too bizarre to be believed.
On the 30th anniversary of his Florida execution, CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES brings the infamously twisted mind of serial killer Ted Bundy into the light for the very first time in a fresh yet terrifying way through exclusive, never-before-heard interviews from the "Jack the Ripper of the United States," himself. This unique and gripping doc series, focuses on the man whose personality, good looks and social graces defied the serial-killer stereotype, allowing him to hide in plain sight as he committed the brutal sex-crime slayings of more than 30 women before being caught in 1978.
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THIS WEEK'S PALATE CLEANSER is called "Beautiful" and is from the 2018 Original Broadway Cast Recording of "Head Over Heels."
SURPRISE!
this week we wanted to do something we’ve never done before—give every member of the TCO fam access to one of our Patreon full bonus episodes. We decided that our take on "Making A Murderer" season 2, episode 1 would be a great example to share of what we’re doing over on the Patreon feed. Tick Tock, it's Zellner 0'Clock, you guys.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE PATREON FAM!
As a reminder, if you become a member of the Patreon Fam, you get instant access to over 50 full bonus episodes including our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Jinx", "Serial", "The Staircase", and "Making a murderer." you get a new full bonus episode every week, and we’re now offering a level where you can also get ad free versions of our regular episodes.
WE LOVE YOU OKAY BYE BYE!
This podcast episode covers episodes 1 & 2 of the Netflix series.
On the 30th anniversary of his Florida execution, CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES brings the infamously twisted mind of serial killer Ted Bundy into the light for the very first time in a fresh yet terrifying way through exclusive, never-before-heard interviews from the "Jack the Ripper of the United States," himself. This unique and gripping doc series, focuses on the man whose personality, good looks and social graces defied the serial-killer stereotype, allowing him to hide in plain sight as he committed the brutal sex-crime slayings of more than 30 women before being caught in 1978.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Binge our 40+ bonus episodes via Patreon! When you join our Patreon fam, you not only support us, you also INSTANTLY get our entire catalog of bonus episodes, including our episode-by-episode coverage of "SERIAL," "THE JINX," "THE STAIRCASE," and "MAKING A MURDERER." New FULL EPISODES are added each week AND IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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THIS WEEK'S PALATE CLEANSER is called "Find Your Grail" from the 2009 Original Broadway Cast Recording of "Spamalot."
It's Daisy's school vacation week, so Patrick is on full time dad duty! We'll be back with a brand new episode next week covering episodes 1 & 2 of Netflix's "The Ted Bundy Tapes." The following week, we'll cover episodes 3 & 4!
Mommy Dead And Dearest:
Late on the evening of June 14, 2015, deputy sheriffs in Greene County, Missouri, found the body of Dee Dee Blancharde laying facedown in a pool of blood from the stab wounds that had killed her several days earlier. There was no sign of her teenage daughter, Gypsy Rose, who, according to Blancharde, suffered from leukemia, asthma, muscular dystrophy, and several other chronic conditions, and had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. In the days and weeks that followed, the police came to understand the crime and the treacherous web of lies, child abuse, mental illness, and forbidden love that set the stage for this horrendous and brutal murder.
This week on Patreon, we're dropping the FULL VIDEO OF LAST WEEK'S LIVE SHOW! We'll also be dropping the live show in podcast form on the Patreon podcast feed! Join now and instantly get 60 + full episodes! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Jinx," "The Staircase," "Serial," and Making a Murderer! Join here!
Sorry you missed our live show? COME TO OUR JUNE PRIDE SHOW IN NYC!
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This Week's Palate Cleanser is from The Original Broadway Cast Recording of "Spring Awakening" which you can (and should!!) get here!
For 13 summers, Timothy Tredwell journeyed into the Alaskan wilderness to spend four months living among the grizzly bears. Though Treadwell believed that he and the bears had an understanding--he considered them his close friends--he and his girlfriend Amy Huguenard were eventually killed and devoured by one of the bears. For the five summers before his death, he took a video camera on his trips and shot over 100 hours of tape. "Grizzly Man", the brilliant documentary by master filmmaker Werner Herzog, tells the story of Treadwell's fascinating life and terrifying death--and uses much of treadwell's own footage to do so.
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The Fyre Festival was the defining scam of the millennial generation. Marketing for the 2017 music event went viral with the help of rapper Ja Rule, instagram stars, and models, but wound up being an epic failure as it stranded thousands of people in the Bahamas. Featuring an exclusive interview with Billy McFarland, the convicted con-man behind the festival, FYRE FRAUD is a true-crime comedy documentary bolstered by a cast of whistleblowers, victims, and insiders. And we have LOTS of feelings about it.
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THIS WEEK'S PALATE CLEANSER is called "Helpless" from the musical "Hamilton." (Try to) Get Tickets here.
Three strangers are reunited by astonishing coincidence after being born identical triplets, separated at birth, and adopted by three different families. Their jaw-dropping, feel-good story instantly becomes a global sensation complete with fame and celebrity, however, the fairy-tale reunion sets in motion a series of events that unearth the unimaginable secret behind their separation.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Binge our 40+ bonus episodes via Patreon! When you join our Patreon fam, you not only support us, you also INSTANTLY get our entire catalog of bonus episodes, including our episode-by-episode coverage of "SERIAL," "THE JINX," "THE STAIRCASE," and "MAKING A MURDERER." You also get our interviews with Asia McClain (Adnan Syed's alibi witness), Rabia Chaudry, "Tower" director Keith Maitland, all of our mini-episodes, extended outtakes, AND full bonus episodes covering "Madonna: Truth or Dare" and "The Queen of Versailles." AND IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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THIS WEEK'S PALATE CLEANSER is called "I Will Never Leave You" and is from the Original Broadway Cast Recording of "Side Show" starring Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner. It was recommended by my SHH.
Mike and Mina Block were married for 54 years. Friends, family, and neighbors all thought they had the perfect marriage. But then Minna died suddenly, and three months later Mike was married to his former secretary. Suddenly everyone realized that nothing in the Block home had been what it seemed to be.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Binge our 40+ bonus episodes via Patreon! When you join our Patreon fam, you not only support us, you also INSTANTLY get our entire catalog of bonus episodes, including our episode-by-episode coverage of "SERIAL," "THE JINX," "THE STAIRCASE," and "MAKING A MURDERER." You also get our interviews with Asia McClain (Adnan Syed's alibi witness), Rabia Chaudry, "Tower" director Keith Maitland, all of our mini-episodes, extended outtakes, AND full bonus episodes covering "Madonna: Truth or Dare" and "The Queen of Versailles." AND IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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THIS WEEK'S PALATE CLEANSER is from the new musical "Pretty Woman."Based on the movie. You should all go see it ASAP. Patrick's bestie is in it. But also, it's amazing. "Anywhere But Here" is sung by the utterly other-worldly Samantha Barks
Seinfeld mocked it. Letterman ranked it in his top ten list. And more than fifteen years later, its infamy continues. Everyone knows the McDonald's coffee case. It has been routinely cited as an example of how citizens have taken advantage of America's legal system, but is that a fair rendition of the facts? Hot Coffee reveals what really happened to Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald's, while exploring how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort, and to what end.
This week's palate cleanser: Doctor's Orders from the musical Catch Me if You Can.
In the summer of 1977, Jim Jones, leader of The Peoples Temple, moved nearly 1,000 of his followers to a plot of land in Guyana, South America. Less than a year later, on November 18, 1978, 908 of the followers died after drinking Kool-Aid laced with poison. Was it murder or suicide? And what had made all of these people follow Jones to their deaths?
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Binge our 40+ bonus episodes via Patreon! When you join our Patreon fam, you not only support us, you also INSTANTLY get our entire catalog of bonus episodes, including our episode-by-episode coverage of "SERIAL," "THE JINX," and "THE STAIRCASE." You also get our interviews with Asia McClain (Adnan Syed's alibi witness), Rabia Chaudry, "Tower" director Keith Maitland, all of our mini-episodes, extended outtakes, AND full bonus episodes covering "Madonna: Truth or Dare" and "The Queen of Versailles." AND IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN tells the story of the internet's elusive Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their best friend into the woods, stabbed her 19 times, then set out on an odyssey to meet the tall and faceless man known online as Slenderman. Shot over 18 months with heartbreaking access to the families of the would-be murderers, the film plunges deep down the rabbit hole of their crime, a Boogeyman. and our society's most impressionable consumers of media. The entrance to the internet can quickly lead us to its dark basement, within just a matter of clicks. How much do we hold children responsible for what they find there?
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On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, was assassinated in broad daylight in front of hundreds of people--at least 55 of whom were filming or taking pictures. And yet we still don't know what happened. Lee Harvey Oswald was the prime suspect. But then he too was killed in the middle of the day in front of almost 100 people.
Was it a lone gunman? The CIA? Fidel Castro? And will we every know the truth? We have some thoughts.....
This week's Palate Cleanser is from the 2004 Broadway Cast Recording of "Assassins" and features Neil Patrick Harris and Dennis O'Hare.
On October 17, 1974, 12 year old Jan Broberg was kidnapped by her next door neighbor and parents’ best friend—a man they all loving called “B.” B, unbeknownst to them, was a pedophile who had become obsessed with Jan and would stop at nothing to have her. This story is so full of of jaw-dropping twists, you really do have to hear it to believe it. OOH! It's important to note that Jan today is alive and well (and looking like a million bucks). She is one of the major story tellers here, and goddamn is she a force to be reckoned with.
EVERYONE BE COOL, KATHLEEN ZELNER IS IN THE HOUSE!!!
Before she became a household name with her work on the Steven Avery case in season 2 of "Making A Murderer," Kathleen Zelner used her brilliant, no-nonsense bad-assery to exonerate Ryan Ferguson. Ferguson had been convicted in 2005 at the age of 19 of a murder he didn't commit. There was no physical evidence, the "eye witnesses" were unreliable to say the least, and Ferguson was failed by an incompetent lawyer. AND. KATHLEEN. ZELNER. IS. NOT. HERE. FOR. IT.
Come for Zelner, but stay for Ryan's dad who's a super adorable Inspector Gadget type who learns how to use google and get on the online in an obsessive attempt to save his son.
In 2015, NYC Police Officer Gilberto Valle was convicted of conspiring to kidnap and eat young women. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT: KIDNAP AND EAT. Valle argued it was all a fantasy; the prosecution's narrative convinced jurors otherwise. Valle was facing a possible life sentence when filmmaker Erin Lee Carr began visiting him in prison to make this film.
There’s no way around it, you guys, this one is full of garbage—the cannibal cop himself (CANNIBAL COP, YOU GUYS), his enabling parents, and the filmmaker who never really tries to understand WHY and/or HOW Valle came to be the way he is. But don’t worry, there’s lots of good New York Post headlines….and one fabulous glamor shot.
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THIS EPISODE IS RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES, YOU GUYS!
In 2013, James (Whitey) Bulger, the South Boston mobster, was captured after 16 years on the lam. He was finally brought to justice for a murderous reign of terror that inspired books, films and a saga of Irish-American brotherhood and brutality. Last month (October of 2018) he was found beaten to death in a West Virginia prison. He was 89.
This documentary tells the story of Whitey’s rise to power in South Boston, his dealings with the FBI during that time, it tackles questions of his relationship with the FBI. The film ultimately deals with his capture, trial, and--for lack of a better term--legacy. Whatever, any way you slice it, he was garbage.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! We also covered "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. And now we're on to "The Jinx"--the first 4 episodes of that series are now live! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--*ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! *Join here!
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This week we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes!
A decade after making the documentary film “Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer” about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, director Nick Broomfield was subpoenaed as a witness for Aileen’s final appeal in overturning her death sentence. When he became a participant in Aileen’s legal fight, Broomfield decided made this new documentary which looks at Aileen's violent, tortured childhood in Troy, Michigan and her subsequent years on the road as a hitch-hiking prostitute which culminated in her committing seven murders in the span of one year. For the documentary, Aileen granted Broomfield exclusive interviews in order to share her side of the story—conspiracy theories and all—as she prepared to be executed.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! We also covered "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. And now we're on to "The Jinx"--the first 3 episodes of that series are now live! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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In 1975, the Lutz family moved into the old house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amittyville, New York. The house was beautiful, nestled in the heart of an affluent neighborhood, it had a pool and a dock, and best of all, the family had gotten it at a staggeringly low price. The only catch—a family of five had been brutally murdered there the year before.
According to the Lutz family, for the 28 days they lived in the home, they were tormented by ghosts and possessed by demons. They were thrown up the stairs, terrorized by mysterious creatures, and were levitated 13 feet into the air.
In “My Amittyville Horror,” Daniel Lutz, who was 9 at the time, tells his version of the terrifying story for the first time. And you guys, this bro is intense.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! We also covered "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. And now we're on to "The Jinx"--the first 3 episodes of that series are now live! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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Welp, throw “Killer Legends” on the stacks of Halloween-ey docs we’ve hated!
Having skimmed the Wikipedia pages and doing a combined 14 minutes of research, filmmakers Josh and Rachel head off to discover ‘the truth behind four of our most terrifying urban legends’….or whatever. Josh is overeager, Rachel is over Josh, and the city of Chicago is over the both of these fools asking if anyone is afraid of clowns. But hey, Donahue makes a hilariously morbid cameo, so it was all worth it.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! We also covered "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. And now we're on to "The Jinx"--the first 2 episodes of that series are now live! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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There’s no way around it, you guys: There is definitely a PORTAL TO HELL under the basement stairs in a crappy rental house in Gary, Indiana. It’s definitely definitely real, and I know this because that bro The Travel Channel--the one with the ghost hunter show or whatever-- said so. And so did the 12-foot goat-man who haunts his dreams. And he has NOTHING TO GAIN BY MAKING THIS WHOLE THING UP!
Once again, we haaaaaaaaaaated this movie, so you know the episode is going to be hilarious. Zak Bagans buys the ‘haunted’ house, a little boy gets possessed and walks up a wall, and a cameraman turns evil. That’s about it. Oh and Patrick tries out the word “Bro” (it doesn’t go great) and Gillian laughs so hard she nearly chokes.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! We also covered "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. And now we're on to "The Jinx"--episode 1 of that series is no live! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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YOU GUYS!!! A few weeks ago we got the chance to sit down with "Tower" director Keith Maitland for full interview about the film. That interview is now live on the Patreon feed.We chatted about how he made the film, how he tracked down the victims and won their trust, how he learned about the tower shooting as kid and why is stuck with him for decades before he finally made the film, and how it was to tell the story of the shooting--the first-ever mass school shooting--as the story had been something of a state secret for nearly 50 years. We play a 3-minute clip of the interview at the end of the episode.
We wanted to rebroadcast this episode today so you could listen before listening to the interview with Keith! So jump on over to the patreon feed and check it out!
You guys, THIS EPISODE IS ALSO WHERE THE HERO BELL MAKES IT'S BEAUTIFUL DEBUT!
Here's the original description of the episode:
On August 1, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the iconic University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes in what was a previously unimaginable event. Based entirely on first person testimonies from witnesses, heroes, and survivors, TOWER combines archival footage with rotoscopic animation to tell the story of that day. The film highlights the fear, confusion, and visceral realities that changed the lives of those present, and the rest of us, forever - a day when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.
You guys, we've covered A LOT of garbage on this podcast, but somehow THIS insanity is the first one to warrant an actual trigger warning. So here's the head up, THESE BITCHES think abortion, sexual assault, rape, incest, school shootings, racism, homophobia, hate speech and AIDS are HILARIOUS! So they talk about it a lot. IN THE LEAST. SENSITIVE. WAY. POSSIBLE.
So now, welcome behind the scenes of Hell House--a 'haunted house' where a bunch of SUPER JUDGY kids from a Dalas Pentecostal church play out depictions of Hell as they imagine it. You guys, this is "Glee" on, like, steroids. If steroids made you terrible, boring, sheltered, racist, and annoying.
First things first, you guys…WE HAAAAAAAAAAAATED THIS MOVIE….which is good news because we have SHIT. TO. SAY.
In the mood for a great movie about a suuuuper scary exorcism? GO WATCH THE EXORCIST AND SKIP THIS GARBAGE ALL TOGETHER (but don’t be a monster, listen to the episode.) So whatever, the guy who directed The Exorcist gets invited to witness and record an exorcism. He fakes a lot of the audio (WE’RE GUESSING, LAWYERS, DON’T COME FOR US) and then FORGETS HIS CAMERA when he goes to interview THE POSESSED WOMAN and has an ACTUAL SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTER in a 12th century church. We call bullshit.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 11 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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In 1930 4 SUPER grumpy people moved to the Galapagos Islands’ most deserted, most isolated, most remote outpost (that is Patrick you’re hearing having the GAYEST panic attack at the thought). Not only did the all HATE each other, they were bored to death. Enter the Baroness and her two….boyfriends? Gay best friends? Slaves? Nobody really knows, BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE THEY WERE FABULOUS AND FUN AND THE BARONESS IS TOTALLY NOT HERE FOR YOUR SHIT. But then people started to disappear. And die. Coincidence? We may never know.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 10 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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Look, the specifics of this story are confusing AF. BUT at the heart of it, we’re dealing with a murder, a wrongful conviction, a false confession and A. WOMAN. NAMED. SHAWN. (She’s garbage, but we’re obsessed with the gender swapping name situation.).
With his execution just 48 hours away, Anthony Porter's life was saved by a Northwestern University journalism class. Their re-investigation of the crime for which he was convicted-a double homicide in a Chicago park-led to the discovery of the real killer, Alstory Simon, whose confession exonerated Porter. If it all sounds too good to be true, it's because, as compellingly argued here, Porter actually is guilty, Simon is an innocent man and both are just pawns in a much larger plan.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 7 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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We hate to insult garbage by calling Anthony Weiner garbage...but we can't think of another word. DING!
Anthony Weiner did a lot for the people of New York as a Congressman from 1999 - 2011. HOWEVER it all went off the rails when he started SEXTING women WHO WEREN'T HIS WIFE (A quick timeout: his wife is Huma Abedin: brilliant woman, close adviser to Hilliary Clinton, and human-who-will-not-stand-for-your-shit). His resignation from Congress was quickly followed by a run for Mayor of New York City and, because (some) men will be (some) men, MORE DICK PICS TO WOMEN WHO AREN'T HIS WIFE CAME OUT! Huma isn't having it, neither is NYC, AND NEITHER is his chief advisor, Kueen Amit Bagga in her mustard yellow pants.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 6 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
YOU GUYS! It’s our final installment and all our friends are here! Boring Jane! The Lawyer Who Can’t Stop Crying! Bagwan(shhhhhhh)! And SHEELA! Hey Girl!
Basically, everyone goes to jail, The Lawyer really needs to seek psychiatric attention or at the very least hydrate because HE LITERALLY CAN’T STOP CRYING, Lunny Press Relations gets poisoned, Boring Jane abandons her kids, and Sheela has a secret hot tub. This one is bonkers and we sort of can’t stop laughing. You’re welcome.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 5 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
The lawyer is still crying, The Australian is still boring, Sheela is still not to be messed with.
This episode, which covers episodes 3 & 4 of the Netflix series, is jam-packed with guns, poisonings, voter fraud, enraged homeless people, attempted assassinations, and, of course, THE HOLLYWOOD CROWD. Oh my God, you guys, The. Hollywood. Crowd.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 4 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
YOU GUYS!! MAJOR LIVE SHOW NEWS! CLICK HERE FOR INFO AND TICKETS!!
Another bonkers cult-doc, you guys!
Attend the tale of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a guru who rose to prominence in India in the nineteen-seventies, and collapsed into infamy in Oregon the decade after. But actually forget about him because everybody knows this shit is actually allllllllllll about his Lieutenant, er personal secretary, Sheela. In episodes 1 and 2, we watch in…horror? Confusion? as this band of religious lunatics? Chosen people? Weirdos? take over the small town of Antelope, Oregon (population 50) and try to build a community of thousands in the wilderness. Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiit doesn’t go great, you guys.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon!We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 3 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS
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This one has it all, you guys: Garbage Cops, False Convictions, And An 80s Home Perm Gone Seriously Wrong (oh AND two IDIOTS riding a TANDEM BIKE in CENTRAL PARK at 10 PM in 1989. whatever, we'll get there.)
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and charged for brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling it "the crime of the century." But the truth about what really happened didn't become clear until after the five had spent years in prison for a crime they didn't commit. With THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, this story of injustice finally gets the telling it deserves.
LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 3 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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The working title for this one was: “Three Gays Rob a Bank”. And we have an idea for the sitcom version.
In August 1972, John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to finance his lover's sex-reassignment surgery. The act resulted in a fourteen-hour hostage situation that was broadcast on TV. Three years later Al Pacino portrayed his crime in DOG DAY AFTERNOON.
Directors Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren began filming THE DOG in 2002 and continued for ten years. Drawing upon extraordinary archival footage, the film shuffles between the 1970s and the 2000s. We gain a historic perspective on New York's gay liberation movement, in which Wojtowicz played an active role. In later footage, he remains a subversive force, backed by the unconditional love of his mother Terry, whose wit and charm infuse the film. How and why the bank robbery took place is recounted in gripping detail by Wojtowicz and various eyewitnesses.
Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 and 2 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS:
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WHY. ARE. THEY. ALL. HOARDERS?
Heads Up! This episode of TCO covers parts 3 & 4 of the Netflix series. To hear our coverage of the first two episodes of the Netflix series,go here!
In this episode, we watch Marjorie just berate the soul out of her lawyer via Skpye, learn that the filmmaker’s unhealthy (and possibly unethical?) relationship with Marjorie is off the rails, we learn who the masterminds behind the pizza-delivery-bank-heist were (maybe), we meet more hoarders, AND we posit that meathead Jerry from the FBI and Jason Zwick from ATF are in a relationship? Maybe? Whatever, it’s all awful but we make you laugh.
Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig. Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episode 1 is live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
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Let us paint a picture:
The weirdest bank robbery in history, a collar-bomb, a cane-gun, three dead men, and two homes so hoard-ey they required hazmat suits. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you “Evil Genius.”
In 2003 in Erie, Pennsylvania, a robbery gone wrong and a terrifying public murder capture the nation's attention, and a bizarre collection of Midwestern hoarders, outcasts, and lawbreakers play cat-and-mouse with the FBI. Eventually, a middle-aged mastermind named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong -- once a town beauty, now a woman grappling with mental illness -- is arrested. But 15 years later, this documentary proves there’s more to the conspiracy and murders than was ever thought.
Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig. Up next: our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Staircase." We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!
THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS
SQUARESPACE. Build your own website! Go to Squarespace.com/tco for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, use the code TCO to save $10 on your first purchase of a website or domain.
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There are no two ways about it, Harvey Milk looked great in a T-Shirt.
Happy Pride, everyone! Let's talk about some gay stuff! (don't worry, this one is super true-crimey too.). In 1978, Harvey Milk became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 11 months later Milk and Mayor George Moscone were gunned down in their offices by Dan White, another of the city's Supervisors. This doc tells the story of Milk's rise to prominence and circumstances that led to the double assassination. This one is full of the gayest gays (Hey Girls!), The smartest lesbians (Hey Girls!), a FABULOUS pair of seashell earrings, and a union guy who, just trust us on this, gets a pass on calling Harvey Milk a "Fruit." Oh AND this case gives us "The Twinkie Defense," which is exactly as bullshit as it sounds.
Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 10 and it's bonkers. After "Serial," we're diving into "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!
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Happy Pride Month, Everyone! Now let's talk about a gay club kid who was super mean to people, became addicted to drugs, and murdered AND DISMEMBERED a fellow club-goer, shall we? Did I mention that he stuffed the body in a box LIVED WITH IT IN HIS APARTMENT FOR A WEEK, and then threw it into the Hudson River? No? Ugh, we'll get to it.
Glory Daze follows the rise and fall of club kid Michael Alig. From his humble beginnings as busboy in 1984 to his eventual reign as King of New York City nightlife, to his (sweet deal of a) prison sentence for murder. And as if that wasn't enough, get ready for some bonkers cameos from Patricia Field, Michael Musto, and Amanda Lepore (In A Limo! For No Apparent Reason!)
Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 9 and it's bonkers. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!
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You Guys, I Swear to God this is what this movie is about….
In 2004, John Wood had his left leg amputated after a single-engine plane crash that left him badly injured. He somehow convinced the doctors to let him keep the leg (!!!!!), he mummified it—yes MUMMIFIED IT—and eventually put it in a storage locker. In 2007 Shannon Whisnant unwittingly bought the leg when he purchased the contents of John’s storage locker after months of unpaid rent. Shannon—who should have been horrified—saw the leg as a money-making opportunity. He branded himself “The Leg Man” and tried to turn the leg into a tourist attraction. After learning what had become of his leg (HIS LEG, YOU GUYS), John decided to try to get it back. And the most ridiculous and disgusting custody battle the world has ever known was born.
Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 9 and it's bonkers. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!
THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS:
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You guys, Gillian HATED this one, so, you know, buckle up this one is frikin' great.
Meet the White family--the most notorious pill popping, gun slinging, bad-tattoo-giving-while-hammered-in-the-kitchen, clan in all of West Virginia. For one year, the hot dummies behind MTV's "Jackass" followed them around with cameras to see what would happen. And Guess What Happens???!!!......really nothing. But somehow it's awesome. Drugs are done, dances are tapped (which should be super gay and fabulous, but definitely isn't), kids are removed by child protective services (thank God), attempted murders are admitted to, people go to jail, and one pair of sisters have an EPIC EXPERIENCE at the Taco Bell drive thru. This one is not to be missed.
ALSO! Check out our Patreon for our weekly bonus content! We're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode. We're currently up to Episode 7 and honestly we're pretty over Sarah Koenig and her self righteous nonsense. But in this episode, we meet Diedre Enright of The Innocence Project AND THERE'S FINALLY AN ADULT IN THE ROOM. Via our Patreon feed, you can also check out our weekly extended outtakes (the ones from this week are epic), as well as our other Full Bonus Episodes, and mini-episodes. Subscribe right now and immediately get like 22 new episodes in your Patreon podcast feed.
THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR:
Dagne Dover. Get 20% off when you visit DagneDover.com/TCO and enter the code TCO.
In June of 2003, college basketball star Patrick Dennehy vanished. For weeks leading up to the disappearance, Patrick had complained to friends, family, and teammates that he was in danger, but he was vague about the details. The FBI was called in to investigate and what they uncovered not only shocked Patrick's tight knight group of friends, but also threatened to upend the institution of college basketball at Baylor University by exposing the corruption at it's core.
This one is bonkers, you guys.
Meet the dirtiest cop in New York City history. In the 1980s, Michael Dowd patrolled the mean streets of one of the toughest precincts in Brooklyn. He also headed a ruthless criminal network that stole money and drugs, ultimately resulting in the city's biggest ever corruption scandal. In this explosive true crime saga, Dowd tells all as he relives his days as a criminal with a badge. The story that unfolds is a riveting real-life thriller full of larger-than-life personalities, stunning double crosses, and epic downfalls.
Also, Gillian explains Queens to us, we get all the Queenss-related accents and impersonations, and Patrick is just a Kueen.
Don't forget to check out all of our Patreon bonus content! We're covering Serial episode-by-episode! Subscribe now and instantly get access to 7 full bonus episodes, 7 mini-episodes, and the extended outtakes from this episode and the previous 4! Click here for access!
In 2000, the novel “Sarah” was published. It was written by a homeless teenaged hustler named JT LeRoy. Nobody had ever met him—his only correspondence with press and publishers was over the phone or fax machine—and still he became the literary sensation of the time. He was dubbed a ‘wunderkind,’ an ‘it boy’ and ‘the literary voice of his generation.’ He became a best-selling author and sold the film rights to his books. The only thing was, he didn’t actually exist. On January 9, 2006 The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about a sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally. It turned out that he was the creative expression of 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert. Author: The JT LeRoy Story takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Laura Albert--like a Cyrano de Bergerac on steroids--breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade. Albert's epic and entertaining account plunges us into a glittery world of rock shows, fashion events, and the Cannes red carpet where LeRoy becomes a mysterious sensation.
Also, our best friend Courtney Love (call us, girl!) Is back in a big, cocaine-infused way. Oh, how we’ve missed her.
You Guys! We're creating WEEKLY FULL BONUS EPISODES via our Patreon feed. We're currently covering "Serial" season 1 episode-by-episode. The firs 4 episode of "Serial" plus 2 full bonus episodes (covering "The Queen of Versailles" and "Madonna: Truth or Dare") are now available.
NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE:
The Seven Five. Check out the Trailer here!
THIS WEEK'S SPONSORS
Dagne Dover
Visit Dagnedover.com/TCO and use the code TCO to save 20% off.
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In 2006, three Duke University lacrosse players were accused of rape. The men were presumed guilty by the much of school's student body, the faculty, and when the story became national news, the country. If convicted, the accused men faced decades of mandatory jail time without the possibility of parole. The District Attorney who was trying the case was determined to put them away at all cost and was willing to break the law to do it. But the men were innocent. The victim had lied. The question was, would the men be able to prove. It.
In related-ish news. These lacrosse players had the filthiest bathroom on Earth. There is photographic evidence. And we go in on it. Because it’s disgusting.
Have you heard? We're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode via our Patreon feed! Check it out! You'll also find hilarious extended outtakes from recent episodes, 2 other full bonus episodes, and 7 mini episodes! Join our Patreon community today and see what everyone is talking about!
NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE: Author: The JT Leroy Story. Check out the trailer here
Kate Logan, an Evangelical missionary, was in The Dominican Republic on a break from her second year of film school when she stumbled upon Escuela Caribe, an American-operated, faith-based reform school that aims to "cure" teens of homosexuality and purge "ungodly" influences though "Christian milieu therapy." She set out to document the 'good work' the school was doing, but quickly realized that the kids she was documenting were in serious danger at the hands of their 'house fathers.' Kate then embarks on a year long journey of helping one of the students, David, escape.
There really aren't words to describe how much both Gillian and Patrick hated this film. H.A.T.E.D. Also, they both agree, this MIGHT be their best episode. These ladies are hilarious when they're furious.
Whatever, Garbage Bert meets Linda. He's disgusting, she's gorgeous. He's also insane, she's basically normal. He's rich, she likes him for his money and they date. But then she finds out that he's married. She finds someone else and he hires two guys to THROW ACID IN HER FACE. She's scarred and blinded. He goes to jail. But after he gets out her GARBAGE FRIENDS decide TO SET THEM UP ON A DATE (Like, I can't) and after five months THEY GET ENGAGED. And then THEY GET MARRIED.
Fine, whatever, they deserve each other.
Did you hear? We're covering 'Serial' episode-by-episode via our Patreon feed! Our first episode is live now! Check it out and join our Patreon community here!
YOU GUYS!! Our new podcast, "My So-Called Podcast" is live! It's hilarious and fun--it's TCO for "My So-Called Life." HEAR OUR TRAILER HERE! And e'd love for you to check out our episodes! Find "My So-Called Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts!
We've been keeping a secret from you. We haven't liked it. But it's time for us to come out about the fact that WE'RE MAKING A PODCAST ABOUT MY SO CALLED LIFE! It's called "MY SO-CALLED PODCAST" and you're going to love it. Imagine the format of True Crime Obsessed, but for "My So-Called Life"--all the flannel, floppy hair, drama, under aged drinking, and JORDAN CATALANO! Listen to this teaser and then go wherever you get your podcasts to listen to the full promo! And subscribe! We love you, that's why we're asking you to, like, join us on this journey....or whatever.
You can also stream the promo here!
As Gillian Says: "this is 'My Kid Could Paint That,' but with wine, meets 'The Queen of Versailles.' And I hated it."
Rudy Kurniawan has charisma, pockets full of cash, and an uncanny memory for vintages. He earns the reputation of a wine savant by surrounding himself with some of high society’s most fervent wine connoisseurs. But when Bill Koch – a top US collector – and Laurent Ponsot – a Burgundian wine producer – discover suspicious bottles, a humorous and suspenseful investigation begins into one of the most ingenious cons of our time.
Join our Patreon community to check out our 2 commercial-free full bonus episodes and our 7 mini episodes! And we're adding more content every week!
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Get 10% off your song from scratch by going to songfinch.com and using the promo code TCO.
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How not Awesome would it be if a group of weirdo Nazis tried to take over your town? That's exactly what happened to the 24 (yes twenty four) residents of Leith, North Dakota. As you might have guessed,the bad-ass residents of Leith were not having it and an all out war was waged to run the Nazis out of town. Maybe they shouldn't have been Nazis, you know?
Join our Patreon community to find our monthly full bonus episodes and our weekly mini episodes! Later this week we'll be dropping full bonus episode number 2--"Madonna: Truth or Dare." We are on record that this might be the funniest episode we've ever made! You can join our Patreon Community here!
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The hero bell and the garbage bell both got a workout with this one...
"How To Survive A Plague" is a riveting, powerful telling of the story of the grassroots movement of activists, many of them in a life-or-death struggle, who seized upon scientific research to help develop the drugs that turned HIV from a mostly fatal infection to a manageable disease. Ignored by public officials, religious leaders, and the nation at large, and confronted with shame and hatred, this small group of men and women chose to fight for their right to live by educating themselves and demanding to become full partners in the race for effective treatments. Around the globe, 16 million people are alive today thanks to their efforts.
Be sure to check out the hilarious bonus content we're creating via Patreon! We have a whole bunch of mini episodes--we upload at least one per week--and one FULL Bonus episode all about the bat shit doc "The Queen of Versailles." Our next FULL bonus episode will be out within the next few days and it's all about Madonna's "Truth or Dare." We promise April's full bonus episode will be slightly less gay.
It's a sports doc…but stick with us, you guys, it's also super murderey.
When billionaire John Du Pont decides to build the United States' premiere wrestling training facility on his property in Pennsylvania, he attracts the sport's top athletes and coaches to come live and train there. As the athletes and their families begin to create an idyllic 'sports utopia,' Du Pont devolves into a state of constant paranoia. As his mental state deteriorates and goes unchecked, Du Pont becomes suspicious and distrustful of the athletes who've come to depend on him--a combination that results in a brutal and senseless murder.
For even more TCO, find our weekly bonus mini episodes and our monthly Full Bonus Episodes on our Patreon page!
A decade after making the documentary film “Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer” about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, director Nick Broomfield was subpoenaed as a witness for Aileen’s final appeal in overturning her death sentence. When he became a participant in Aileen’s legal fight, Broomfield decided made this new documentary which looks at Aileen's violent, tortured childhood in Troy, Michigan and her subsequent years on the road as a hitch-hiking prostitute which culminated in her committing seven murders in the span of one year. For the documentary, Aileen granted Broomfield exclusive interviews in order to share her side of the story—conspiracy theories and all—as she prepared to be executed.
YOU GUYS! Our very first full bonus episode will be available via Patreon THIS WEEK! We're covering "The Queen of Versailles," a completely bonkers doc about a family of billionaires who begin construction on the biggest home in America just before the economy tanked in 2009. BTW, Gillian HATED this doc, which ALWAYS makes for the funniest episodes! Join our Patreon community here!
Kidnapping! Murder! Swindling Rich People! Fancy Art Shenanigans! This one has it all.
Christian Gerhartsreiter, a man eventually known as "Clark Rockefelle," lived a life of deception; the FBI called it "the longest-running con in FBI history." After ingratiating himself into New York society and marrying a top banker with a Harvard MBA, "Clark" settled into his new luxurious life. The two had a daughter before they divorced after 13 years. When his wife won custody, a distraught Clark abducted his beloved daughter. Ironically, it was the search for the missing child that not only exposed a web of lies and multiple identities, but a double murder committed decades earlier .
Check out our Patreon where you'll find mini bonus episodes (2 there now!), monthly bonus full episodes (first one coming this week!), exclusive videos (we're gonna watch Unsolved Mysteries and talk about it) and more! Join our Patreon Community!
On August 1, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the iconic University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes in what was a previously unimaginable event. Based entirely on first person testimonies from witnesses, heroes, and survivors, TOWER combines archival footage with rotoscopic animation to tell the story of that day. The film highlights the fear, confusion, and visceral realities that changed the lives of those present, and the rest of us, forever - a day when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.
For this one, you guys, the garbage bell is magically transformed into the hero bell. And there's a whole lot of dinging.
A four-year-old girl, whose paintings are compared to Kandinsky, Pollock, and even Picasso, has sold $300,000 dollars worth of paintings. Is she a genius of abstract expressionism, a tiny charlatan, or an exploited child whose parents have sold her out for the glare of the media and the lure of the almighty dollar? This one's a dozy, but hey, nobody gets murdered!
Do you know someone who would love TCO? Tweet them and us (@truecrimeobsess) using #GetObsessed and let us playfully harass them until the check us out!
This week's sponsor is Songfinch and Patrick is OBSESSED! This week's palate cleanser is the song Patrick had Songfinch write for Daisy's 4th birthday. If you love it, tweet them (@Sonfinch) and tell them that you heard it on TCO
BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN tells the story of the internet's elusive Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their best friend into the woods, stabbed her 19 times, then set out on an odyssey to meet the tall and faceless man known online as Slenderman. Shot over 18 months with heartbreaking access to the families of the would-be murderers, the film plunges deep down the rabbit hole of their crime, a Boogeyman. and our society's most impressionable consumers of media. The entrance to the internet can quickly lead us to its dark basement, within just a matter of clicks. How much do we hold children responsible for what they find there?
Find all of our episodes at our website and follow us on twitter!
Strangeness is afoot. Most people don't notice the hundreds of cryptic tiled messages about resurrecting the dead that have been appearing in city streets over the past three decades. But Justin Duerr does. For years, finding an answer to this long-standing urban mystery has been his obsession. He has been collecting clues that the tiler has embedded in the streets of major cities across the U.S. and South America. But as Justin starts piecing together key events of the past he finds a story that is more surreal than he imagined, and one that hits disturbingly close to home.
In the 1960s, Gerald Foos bought a motel in Colorado, furnished the rooms with louvered vents that allowed him to spy on his guests, and kept a journal of their sexual encounters and more (including maybe a murder?). Over the course of 30 years, celebrated writer Gay Talese coxes Gerald’s story out of him and finally convinces Gerald to let him publish it. But when the story gets out, questions are raised and nothing is as it seems.
The world couldn't keep its eyes off two athletes at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer - Nancy Kerrigan, the elegant brunette and Tonya Harding, the feisty blonde engulfed in scandal. Just weeks before the Olympics on January 6, 1994 at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Kerrigan was stunningly clubbed on the right knee by an unknown assailant and left wailing, "Why, why, why?" As the bizarre "why" mystery unraveled, it was revealed that Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, had plotted the attack with his misfit friends to literally eliminate Kerrigan from the competition. Now two decades later, The Price of Gold takes a fresh look at the worldwide spectacle that elevated the popularity of professional figure skating and has Harding still facing questions over what she knew when she knew it.
Meet Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming with an IQ of 168. 30 years ago, she fell in love with a young Mormon named Kirk. When Kirk disappeared and then turned up a few months later in the UK, Joyce was convinced he’d been kidnapped and was being held against his well. Determined to get him back, Joyce set off on a journey that would lead her across the globe, into jail, and onto the front pages of the most popular tabloids of the time. Her crusade for love took her through a surreal world of kidnapping, manacled Mormons, risqué photography, magic underwear, and celestial sex. Oh AND to the 1977 after party for the film “Saturday Night Fever.”
“Tabloid,” directed by the genius Errol Morris, is a portrayal of a phenomenally driven woman whose romantic obsessions and delusions catapult her over the edge into scandal, fame, and an unimaginable life.
It's not what you think.
After stumbling upon a bizarre "competitive endurance tickling" video online, wherein young men are paid to be tied up and tickled, reporter David Farrier reaches out to request a story from the company. But the reply he receives is shocking-the sender mocks Farrier's sexual orientation and threatens extreme legal action should he dig any deeper. So, like any good journalist confronted by a bully, he does just the opposite: he travels to the hidden tickling facilities in Los Angeles and uncovers a vast empire, known for harassing and harming the lives of those who protest their involvement in these films. The more he investigates, the stranger it gets, discovering secret identities and criminal activity. Discovering the truth becomes Farrier's obsession, despite increasingly sinister threats and warnings. With humor and determination, Farrier and co-director Dylan Reeve summon up every resource available to get to the bottom of this tickling worm hole.
Who killed Marsha P. Johnson?
When the beloved, self-described "street queen" of NY's gay ghetto was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD chalked it up as a suicide and refused to investigate. But Marsha was a lover of life and many who knew her refused to believe she would have taken her own life.
Now, a quarter century later, at a time of unprecedented visibility and escalating violence in the transgender community, Marsha's old friend and fellow activist Victoria Cruz has taken it upon herself to reexamine what happened to Marsha. Dipping deep into jaw-dropping archival footage of another era of New York City life, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows as this champion pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works to tell the story of Marsha's life and get to the bottom of Marsha's death.
Our most requested episode to date, and it was a doozy! But don't worry, we found a way to laugh through our rage.
In 2001, Dr. Andrew Bagby was shot dead by jealous ex-girlfriend Dr. Shirley Turner. Shortly thereafter, Bagby's friends and family were hocked to learn that Turner was pregnant with Bagby's son. Hoping to create a film that would serve as both a memorial to Bagby and an introduction to the father the boy would never know, Bagby's bwst friend Kuenne quickly began production on a film celebrating the life of his late friend.
Meanwhile, upon learning that Turner had fled to Newfoundland, Bagby's devastated parents uprooted their entire lives and relocated to the easternmost providence of Canada in order to fight for the custody of their newborn grandson, Zachary. However, the Canadian government freed Turner on bail and she maintained custody of Zachary as she awaited extradition to the United States. The situation took a devastating turn during that crucial time and tragedy ensued.
In May 2003, 16-year-old Martha Puebla was shot in the head on the doorstep of her Los Angeles home, days after testifying in a gangland murder trial. Police arrested 24-year-old Juan Catalan at gunpoint, alleging that he’d carried out the hit for his gangster brother Mario. Not only did Catalan not commit the crime, but he had an alibi. At the time of Puebla’s cold-blooded killing, he was at Dodger Stadium with his six-year-old daughter. Frustratingly, though, Catalan’s lawyer couldn’t find clear enough TV footage to prove it. Catalan faced death row if found guilty at trial. Even worse, the prosecuting attorney was unbeaten in murder cases and nicknamed “Sniper” because she liked to pick off defendants with the death penalty. Then came the head-spinning twist. It just so happened that an episode of the HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was also being shot at the ballpark that night. Finding Juan in the episode was the last hope this innocent man’s life.
Thomas Montgomery, a 47-year-old, married factory worker was playing a game online when a beautiful 18-year-old teenager named Jessi, screen name talhotblond, texted him ‘hello.’ He was instantly hooked. In order to keep her attention, he lied and pretended to be a buff, brave 18 year old soldier, screen name marinesniper.
The online romance was epic, but the fantasy blew up when the teenager found out who Montgomery really was. For revenge, she started up an online affair with one of Montgomery's co-workers, 22 year-old Brian Barrett. When Jessi pits the men against each other, the levels of desire and deceit escalate and mind games result in real-life murder. But even then, the story isn’t over and the truth about talhotblond’s is revealed.
In 1999, writer John Krakauer stopped at a gas station in Colorado City, AZ, a place he had never been. What he found was a town frozen in time, with women in long prairie dresses and hairstyles that rang of the 1800s. The curious sight led him on a journalistic investigation into a modern day 'prophet' named Warren Jeffs and the cult-like FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). When the investigation of Warren Jeffs sends him on the run, he winds up in the number two spot on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. The number one spot being occupied by Osama Bin Laden. The manhunt for Jeffs uncovers his 'religion's most vile atrocities including the forced marriages of underage girls, rape, and polygamy. Fun, right? But fear not, we play a LOT of "The Book of Mormon" in this one.
On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler left the campgrounds in upstate New York where she was vacationing with her family and set off towards home on Long Island. With her were five young children: her son, her daughter, and three nieces. Four hours later, she drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway for nearly two miles – eventually crashing into an oncoming SUV, killing herself and seven others. Nine days after her deadly crash, Diane’s toxicology report revealed she had a blood-alcohol content of .19% – the equivalent of ten drinks and more than twice the legal limit – as well as a high blood level of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. In sharp contrast to the toxicology report, Schuler had no known history of substance abuse or psychological problems and was generally known as a loving and stable wife and mother. In the aftermath, Diane Schuler was portrayed as a reckless drunk and a mother who cracked. But was she the monster the public made her out to be? Or the perfect wife and mother described by so many who knew her?
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of ‘Cropsey.’ For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Later as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when a 12-year-old girl disappeared from their community. The police quickly connected this disappearance to several other children who'd gone missing in the area. The hunt for the abductor would lead authorities to the real-life boogeyman living in their midst.
When the curtain rose on the murder trial of Pamela Smart 23 years ago, the stage was set for the birth of reality TV. Accused of plotting the 1990 murder of her husband Gregory, 22-year-old Smart was subsequently convicted in the first fully televised, gavel-to-gavel court case, which has inspired TV shows, books, plays and feature films. This documentary takes another look at everything we think we know about the case. Is it possible that Pamela had nothing do to with the murder? That her teen aged lover killed her husband in a jealous rage without Pamela's knowledge? The evidence is shockingly compelling. Join us on this bonkers romp through one of the most thought provoking true crime documentaries we've ever seen.
An amateur documentary filmmaker named Thierry is on a mission to track down and film the elusive and anonymous street artist named Banksy. When Thierry finds him, Banksy turns the camera on the filmmaker and hilarity, mystery, shenanigans, and some pretty frikking impressive art ensue. BUT SERIOUSLY YOU GUYS, ARE WE BEING PUNKED? Is the whole thing an elaborate piece of performance art? Is it real? And WHO is Banksy? We have lots of thoughts and opinions. We're flipping tables and taking the bait. Join us!
A bunch of altruistic hot people join a cult in 1980s West Hollywood, what could possibly go wrong? Using footage shot by the cult's (known as The Buddahfield) in-house documentarian, we follow these lovable gorgeous weirdos as they slowly become disenchanted by their 'master' 'lord' 'leader' 'prophet' who claims to have a direct line to God. It all, inevitably, falls apart. Lives are ruined, faiths are shaken, and fruit salads are painstakingly made.
In the early morning hours of March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was murdered in front of her building in Kew Gardens, Queens. According to the New York Times story that followed, 38 people watched the murder happen and did nothing. 50 years later, her brother is on a mission to uncover the truth. Is it possible that nobody tried to help her? Did she really die scared and alone? Why was she attacked? Could she have been saved?Through his investigation her brother gets to know her in a way he never knew her in life. Also, you guys, this episode is VERY Queens-centric and Gillian, our resident Queen...s.... (former) resident is our guide. We learn about Diners and cigar clubs, and bars that open at 8 am. And get ready for the accents and to #BeAnEarWitness.
Johnny Gosch was 12-years-old when he disappeared while on his paper route on September 5, 1982. There were FIVE witnesses, but the local police (and eventually FBI) declared there was no crime. Over the years, Johnny's parents never gave up hope that they would find him. This documentary tells the tale of the world's most ferocious mother, Noreen Gosch (who gives GREAT documentary), a horrendously managed investigation, a weirdo who might know where Johnny is, a possible sex ring (and we cannot even with that), and maybe (MAYBE!) a return by Johnny himself. This one's a doozy, you guys!
Jesus Camp follows a group of children as they attend an evangelical Christian summer camp, where they are taught that they have "prophetic gifts" and can "take back America for Christ. The film claims that it "documents and does not judge." But Gillian and Patrick sure do! Get ready for some good old fashioned speaking in tongues, Jesus hip-hop, climate change denial, and a complete dismissal of science, some SUPER intense kiddos, and even a dance number or two! But leave your "Harry Potter" books at home, because...well...you'll see.
Amanda Knox was an 21 year old exchange student in rural Italy when she and her boyfriend were arrested for and convicted of killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher. It took nearly five years, almost all of which she spent behind bars, to clear her name. In this bonkers documentary from Netflix, Amanda herself takes us through the entire journey. We also hear from a human-garbage 'journalist,' A lead prosecutor who's tight with God, and a defense attorney who's zingers are the stuff of legend. This is part 1 of our 2-part series on this documentary.
Amanda Knox was an 21-year-old exchange student in rural Italy when she and her boyfriend were arrested for and convicted of killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher. It took nearly five years, almost all of which she spent behind bars, to clear her name. In this bonkers documentary from Netflix, Amanda herself takes us through the entire journey. We also hear from a human-garbage 'journalist,' A lead prosecutor who's tight with God, and a defense attorney who's zingers are the stuff of legend. This is part 2 of our 2-part series on this documentary.
Meet the Friedmans: Father Arnold, Mother Elaine, and kids David, Seth, and Jesse. They're all living the 'perfect' middle class life on Long Island in the 1980 until Arnold and Jesse are arrested and charged with truly horrific crimes. And guess what? Thanks to the family's love of camcorders and, weirdly, taping every second of their lives, we're treated to a front row seat as their lives completely fall apart. The question is, did they do it? The police say yes, but many witnesses say otherwise. Come with us as we learn all about this strange family with their bizarre love of pre-jail piano parties, yelling at their mother, and VIDEO DIARIES! Ahhh, the 80s.
We believe the working title for this documentary was "The Garbage-Human Who Pretended To Be A 9/11 Survivor." Ugh, Meet Tania Head, the woman who claimed to be a survivor of the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. An "employee of Merrill Lynch" with "degrees from Harvard and Stanford" and the "fiancee of 'Big Dave,'" an employee in the opposite tower, Tania was, for all intents and purposes, the face of the survivors of 9/11....Until the New York Times looked into her story. As the truth of her story comes to light, we meet the real survivors she conned--some who'd figured her out early on, others who held out hope that she was who she claimed to be. Hear our funny, insightful, and super-annoyed take.
Who killed Sister Cathy Ceznick in Baltimore, MD in November of 1969? Two former students--our heroes Gemma and Abbie--launch a dogged investigation into the decades-old cold case. The horrors they uncover include stories of sexual abuse by Priests, a possible cover up by the Catholic Church, and a potentially corrupt city government. In pursuit of the truth, we meet crooked cops, gay uncles, pregnant drag queens (you heard me), a detective named "deep throat," and a whole bunch of bad-ass ladies who are getting to the bottom this thing, no matter what. This is part one of two. Yellow Tail Chardonnay is the EXCLUSIVE sponsor of this episode.
Who killed Sister Cathy Ceznick in Baltimore, MD in November of 1969? Two former students--our heroes Gemma and Abbie--launch a dogged investigation into the decades-old cold case. The horrors they uncover include stories of sexual abuse by Priests, a possible cover up by the Catholic Church, and a potentially corrupt city government. In pursuit of the truth, we meet crooked cops, gay uncles, pregnant drag queens (you heard me), a detective named "deep throat," and a whole bunch of bad-ass ladies who are getting to the bottom this thing, no matter what. This is part two of two. Yellow Tail Chardonnay is the EXCLUSIVE sponsor of this episode.
Late on the evening of June 14, 2015, deputy sheriffs in Greene County, Missouri, found the body of Dee Dee Blancharde laying facedown in a pool of blood from the stab wounds that had killed her several days earlier. There was no sign of her teenage daughter, Gypsy Rose, who, according to Blancharde, suffered from leukemia, asthma, muscular dystrophy, and several other chronic conditions, and had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. In the days and weeks that followed, the police came to understand the crime and the treacherous web of lies, child abuse, mental illness, and forbidden love that set the stage for this horrendous and brutal murder.
What drove music icon Kurt Cobain to take his own life on April 8th, 1994. Is it possible that he didn't? Could he have been murdered? After all, the gun had been wiped of finger prints and there are a LOT of questions about the legitimacy of the suicide note. And if he was murdered, did his wife, Courtney Love, have something to do with it? The 1998 Nick Broomfield documentary looks into all of this. We also meet Kurt's....colorful?....Seattle friends, become obsessed with his Aunt Mary, have an awkward encounter at the Washington State Lottery, and ride along with a pimp to the home of a weirdo named El Duce! Ahhhhh, the 90s.
A "Catfish" update! Hot nerds Nev, Ariele, and Henry are back! In the first part of episode 3, we take you through the 7-minutes "Catfish" follow up "Finding the Woman in the Pictures" in which the boys track down Aimee Gonzales, aka Megan Facio, who had NO idea about her stolen identity. Shenanigans ensue. In the second part of the episode, Patrick and Gillian break down the...brilliant? horrifying? interesting-but-completely-creepy Netflix documentary "Casting Jonbenet" and, oh boy, do they have LOTS of feelings about it. You can watch "Finding The Woman in the Pictures" here.
For our very first episode, Patrick and Gillian are breaking down the 2012 true crime documentary "The Imposter." The film centers on a young man in Spain who claims to a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who has been missing for 3 years. Using clips from the movie, Patrick and Gillian take you through the film while discussing everything that is tragic, ridiculous, and yes, even hilarious about it.
In episode two, Patrick and Gillian dive into 2010's Catfish, the documentary that shed a light on the world of people posing as others on the internet. We follow Nev Schulman, his brother Ariel, and their collaborator Henry Joost as they document Nev's online friendship with an 8-year-old artist named Abby, which leads to Nev falling in love with her beautiful sister Megan. But of course none of it is true: it's really Abby's mother, Angela, posing as Megan and about 15 other people. But does this make her a monster? Let's discuss it together, shall we?
Have you listened to "Serial" season 1 more than once? Do you have notes in the margins of you copy of "Zodiac"? Could you have watched seven MORE episodes of "The Jinx"? Us Too! Each week hosts Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle break down one of these true crime classics in the funny, engaging, and interesting way that only two gorgeous theater nerds can.
