Unspooled

Latest Episodes:

Top 100 Comedies of All Time Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Paul and Amy dig into Variety’s list of the 100 greatest comedies of all time, celebrating the highs, questioning the rankings, and debating what makes a movie truly funny. From The Naked Gun taking the top spot to spirited discussions around Some Like It Hot, Annie Hall, Groundhog Day, and The Great Dictator, they unpack the list’s surprises, omissions, and the impossible challenge of ranking comedy at all.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts.

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Avatar (Re-Release) Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

Amy & Paul upload their consciousness into 2009’s otherworldly sci-fi spectacle Avatar! They confirm the concept of ‘unobtanium’ wasn’t invented by the film, learn which movie stars were up for the role of Jake Sully, and ask themselves why they feel protective of director James Cameron. Plus: did Cameron really insist the Na’Vi need to have breasts?

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muppets Christmas Carol Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Paul and Amy ring in the holidays with The Muppet Christmas Carol, celebrating the Muppets’ heartfelt take on Dickens, the film’s joyful performances, and the craftsmanship that made it a cozy holiday fave. They also reflect on the movie’s deeper emotional resonance in the years following Jim Henson’s passing, and why this Muppet classic continues to mean so much at Christmastime.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remembering Rob Reiner Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Over the weekend, the film world lost one of its greatest storytellers with the passing of Rob Reiner. In this special episode of Unspooled, Paul and Amy come together to celebrate Reiner’s extraordinary legacy, from his pitch-perfect understanding of characters and comedy to the heartfelt humanity that ran through his films.

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Reel Confessions: Molly Lambert Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Paul and Amy welcome Molly Lambert to Reel Confessions, where she gets candid about her film hot takes. From what people should and shouldn't eat in the theater to unpopular opinions on Charlie Sheen's acting, they truly discuss it all.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brick Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Paul and Amy step into the shadowy hallways of Brick, exploring how Rian Johnson fused hard-boiled noir with high school drama to create one of the most striking debuts of the 2000s. They also delve into Johnson’s meticulous planning, the film’s tight-budget and ingenuity, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s transformative performance.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anchorman Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Paul and Amy stay classy as they revisit Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, exploring how Will Ferrell and Adam McKay transformed a kooky idea about local news into a comedy landmark. They dig into the film’s improvisational energy, stacked cast, and reflect on how Anchorman helped launch a new era of American comedy.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 Thanksgiving Special Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thanksgiving from Unspooled! Paul and Amy celebrate Thanksgiving by ranking cinema’s most disastrous families to spend the holidays with. They revisit the Torrances, the Sawyers, the Tenenbaums, and the deeply unsettling brood of Dogtooth to determine who would ruin dinner fastest.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reel Confessions: Kareem Rahma Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

In the first episode of Reel Confessions, Paul and Amy sit down with Kareem Rahma to unpack his cinematic past. They touch on his first illicit R-rated watch, the strange ethics of “premium” movie theaters, and the almost spiritual journey of seeing emotionally devastating films on a plane.

You can find Kareem @kareem, @subwaytakes, and @keepthemeterrunnin

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wiz Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Paul and Amy ease on down the road with The Wiz, exploring its star-studded performances, ambitious set production, and how this all-Black reimagining of Oz became a cultural touchstone despite a less than stellar initial box-office run.

You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6

Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/

Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer

Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer

Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices