125: The Ref - 30th Anniversary (feat. Nick Digilio)

Christmas Movies Actually

Kerry and Collin are joined by first-time guest, longtime friend, film critic Nick Digilio, who claims "The Ref"--starring Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis--is his favorite Christmas film of all time. Collin has similar feelings and wanted to wait until the movie had an anniversary, so it could be featured prominently in the December line-up, when the movie would hopefully get more attention than it did back in the day. Why did the studio botch its release? Do people still make fruitcake jokes today? How did screenwriter Richard LaGravenese get his revenge on a Chicago film critic with this film? Also, Nick's choice for a Christmas episode/TV special is none other than the classic "Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special." It truly is one of the best Christmas specials of all, as evidenced by the joy everyone experienced making it and the joy it continues to bring to audiences several generations later. (NOTE: Apologies for some of the sound quality on this one. It's mostly in the first 15 minutes).