Welcome To The Party Pal: The Mind-Bending Film & Television Podcast You Didn't Know You Needed!

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal celebrates The Menu, the black comedy horror film directed by Mark Mylod, written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, based on an original story created by Tracy, and produced by Adam McKay, Betsy Koch and Will Ferrell. It features an ensemble cast that includes Ralph Fiennes as a celebrity chef with Hong Chau playing his assistant and Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo playing diners who attend his exclusive restaurant. In The Menu, a young couple travels to a remote island to eat at a swank restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. This episode features a consummate breakdown of the film, wherein hosts Michael Shields and Douglas Grant discuss the bevy of recent films targeting the rich with satire while exploring the depth behind the multi-course meal that resides at the heart of the The Menu. They tip their chef's hat to the remarkable cast, the rich hilarity of the dark comedy found within The Menu, and much, much more.

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal, hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan dissect the Oscar-nominated film The Banshees of Inisherin which was directed, written, and co-produced by Martin McDonagh. Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, the film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them. It reunites Farrell and Gleeson, who previously worked together on McDonagh's directorial debut, In Bruges (2008). The Banshees of Inisherin received nine nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Farrell), Best Supporting Actor (Gleeson and Keoghan), Best Supporting Actress (Condon) and Best Original Screenplay. At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, it achieved three wins from eight nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (Farrell), and Best Screenplay. So, join in on an episode celebrating easily one of the past year's best films.

This episode of Welcome To The Party celebrates the return of Mike White's Emmy-winning television series White Lotus which premiered its sophomore season this past October. The second season stars Jennifer Coolidge, Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Theo James, Michael Imperioli, among others. It recently won Golden Globe Awards for Best Limited or Anthology Series and Best Supporting Actress for Coolidge. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and Justin Wells attempt to explain the phenomenon of White Lotus and its far-reaching appeal. They discuss the themes of the show revolving around desire, power structures, and the transactional nature of relationships. They breakdown the complex character interconnectivity in the season, what might occur in the forthcoming third season, and of course, tip their hat to the absolutely banging theme song, and much, much more.

In this episode of Welcome To The Party, Avatar: The Way of Water, the epic science fiction film directed and produced by James Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, is dissected and celebrated. It is the sequel to Avatar (2009) and the second installment in the Avatar film series. Cast members Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, and Giovanni Ribisi reprise their roles from the original film, with Sigourney Weaver returning in an additional role. New cast members include Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, and Jemaine Clement. In the film, Na'vi Jake Sully (Worthington) and his family, under renewed human threat, seek refuge with the Metkayina clan of Pandora. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan explore the themes of The Way of Water while discussing James Cameron undying love for the sea. They consider the film's gaudy runtime, the remarkable special effects and CGI featured in the film, and so much more!

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal looks forward to the year ahead and previews a slew of the captivating television shows set to air in 2023. First, hosts Michael Shields and Ryan O' Connell discuss heralded television shows returning for their latest season — those highly anticipated, beloved programs such as Succession, Barry, The Mandalorian, and Loki. Then, they dig into a bevy of television shows premiering this year, ones that star such renowned actors as Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, Natasha Lyonne, Harrison Ford, Kate Winslet, Bob Odenkirk, Jodie Foster, and Matthew Rhys (just to name a few!). A bounty lies ahead, and this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal aptly prepares viewers for the goodness that awaits.Two articles were mentioned in this episode, those are: "Which Wildly Different TV Shows Make A Surprisingly Good Pair?" by Ryan O'Connell and "Fargo's Perfect Second Season" by Michael Shields.

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal pays tribute to The Fabelmans, the coming-of-age drama directed by Steven Spielberg and written and produced by Tony Kushner and Spielberg. It is a semi-autobiographical story based on Spielberg's adolescence and first years as a filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy, with Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Judd Hirsch in supporting roles. The film is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg's real-life parents Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who died in 2017 and 2020, respectively. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and Mitch Lucas marvel at Spielberg's latest while exploring the themes present in the The Fabelmans. They discuss how the movie speaks to the power and beauty of film as they celebrate the tremendous performances found in the film. Ultimately, this episode serves as a tribute to one of the greatest storytellers in the history of filmmaking.