Monster Party

MONSTER PARTY GIVES PASADENA ANOTHER CASE OF THE CREEPS! BUT NOT IN A CREEPY WAY. JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, once again descend on the quiet Bavarian village of Pasadena, California, to inflict their own brand of podcast mayhem on an unsuspecting convention center. It's MONSTER PARTY vs.... MONSTERPALOOZA 2024!!! It's no secret that MONSTERPALOOZA is our favorite horror convention, and we always look forward to manning a booth at the show. And just when we thought this festival of frights couldn't get any better... it did! MONSTERPALOOZA 2024 proved to be an off the charts magical experience, and it was our honor to rub elbows with fans/friends, celebrities, industry professionals, artists, cosplayers, dealers, sfx makeup artists, and the usual assortment of die-hard monster kids! This year, we were joined on the mic by such familiar folks as super-fan and should-be film critic, ADAM HULTS, foamfabber genius and MONSTER PARTY benefactor, TED HAINES, artist supreme, MARK TAV

WHAT'S ALL THIS THEN? JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take a cinematic excursion through the history of one of the world's most notorious serial killers. Follow MONSTER PARTY down the fog-laden streets of Whitechapel London as we explore the terrifying case of... JACK THE RIPPER! Jack The Ripper was the name given by the media to a maniac who carried out a series of brutal murders of women in the Whitechapel district of London, from roughly 1888 to 1891. We say roughly because although there are five so-called "canonical" victims of The Ripper, he was suspected of committing even more of these heinous crimes. As the brutality of Jack's crimes increased, more pressure was placed on the police to capture him. But despite the efforts of law enforcement, Jack The Ripper was never caught. Over the years, Jack The Ripper has captured the imagination of the public, and many theories about his identity have been brought forth. And with this fascination, commercialization was bound to fo

JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, invite a revered British horror scholar to share the mic, and talk about a beloved era of horror cinema. MONSTER PARTY presents a special "across the pond" episode that we've playfully titled... LET'S SCARE KIM NEWMAN TO DEATH: HIDDEN HORROR GEMS OF THE 70S!!! If you're a monster kid and are not aware of KIM NEWMAN, this is the moment when your life gets back on track. Mr. Newman is an award-winning journalist, film critic, and author, whose works include the immensely popular ANNO DRACULA series of novels, the essential horror cinema book, NIGHTMARE MOVIES, and the upcoming yuletide novella, A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY!  Kim has also worked as a film critic for EMPIRE, ROTTEN TOMATOES, VENUE, VIDEO WATCHDOG, and SIGHT AND SOUND, and has provided a slew of MONSTER PARTY endorsed commentaries for many of their favorite films.  Of course, we're barely scratching the surface of Kim Newman's accomplishments, so for more information about this MONSTER PART

MONSTER PARTY GETS WORDY! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, revisit a topic that provides our listeners with a unique glimpse into their minds. Cthulhu help us! It's a psycho psyche-slicing celebration called... THE MONSTER PARTY WORD ASSOCIATION GAME VOL. 2!!! Again, this game is exactly what you think. We each take turns saying a word, and the others must respond with the first genre-related thing that pops into their minds. This game is a tried and true technique utilized by therapists throughout the ages. So what could be more fun than listening to a bunch of nerds who frivolously misuse it? This game was first introduced in a PATREON EXCLUSIVE segment, but was such a hit that we had to do it as a regular episode! Then that episode was such a giant hit that we felt we had to do another one! But this one needed something extra! Some OOMPH! And that OOMPH came in the form of a guest! Helping to navigate the dark waters of our minds is a returning guest, and friend of the show. S

MONSTER PARTY IS GOING TO THE MOVIES! AND WE MAY BE THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, climb up their imaginary rickety ladder with an armful of imaginary red plastic letters to create the movie billings of their dreams. Sit back with your flat Dr. Pepper and box of Hot Tamales, as we present another round of monumental movie mashups that we're calling... THE MONSTER PARTY MOVIE MARQUEE VOL. 2!!! Once again, MONSTER PARTY chooses from their favorite and not so favorite sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films, to provide listeners with a night (or sometimes night AND day) of themed viewing that is sure to please even the most discerning monster kid. We're talkin' double features, triple features, film festivals, and MORE!  Joining us for this marathon of monstrous movie madness is the film fiend who was with us for THE MONSTER PARTY MOVIE MARQUEE VOL. 1. He's an amazing actor, writer, filmmaker, and comedian (The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, anyone?), who ha

IN SPACE... NO ONE CAN HEAR A GREAT PODCAST. UNLESS IT'S... MONSTER PARTY! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, engage in another round of high octane movie poster blurb competitiveness! The imaginary stakes have never been higher as we ask the question... WHOSE TAGLINE IS IT ANYWAY?!!! Throughout film history, taglines have been an integral part of film promotion. At their best and worst, they have the ability to shock, titillate, educate, and amuse. That's why MONSTER PARTY is pleased and proud to bring you this 4th installment of the, "guess the movie from the tagline" game. It's the topic that keeps on giving! Joining us for battle in the TAGLINE TERRORDOME is a longtime friend of the show, and a pop culture expert. He's an astoundingly accomplished actor, writer, producer, host, and voice artist, as well as the co-founder of BIF BANG POW! TOYS. Please welcome back the always delightful... JASON LENZI! (A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE, PLASTIC SOUL: THE ENTERTAINMENT EARTH POP CULTURE

MONSTER PARTY WANTS TO BE THE HOLY GRAIL OF YOUR PODCAST COLLECTION! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take a deep dive into an unrelenting but often rewarding obsession. With the precision of a surgeon, MONSTER PARTY wields its nerd scalpel to examine the... ANATOMY OF A COLLECTOR!!! One thing all the members of MONSTER PARTY have in common is their love of collecting genre-related items. Whether it be toys, books, records, artwork, or other assorted treasures, acquiring these often elusive items has been an almost endless source of pleasure throughout our lives. But what makes a collector tick? Why do we collect? Is it a fun financial investment? Is it to provide us with a sense of self-worth? Is it okay to just collect what we like, or is it crucial that our collection is "better" than someone else's? And what is better? Does what we collect say something about us as people? Should our collections be on display? Or is keeping them in a safe deposit box WAY more fun? In this epi

MONSTER PARTY GOES FASHION FORWARD AND BEYOND! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take a time-travel trip down the runway of tomorrow, to celebrate the most incredible outfits from science fiction. It's a guided tour through the garments of the galaxy, as we present... FUTURE FASHION! Whether it's fashion week on Tattoine, Triskelion, or Terra, sci-fi has always provided us with a tantalizing array of would-be wardrobes. This episode playfully takes aim at some of the most amazing, outrageous, and awful creations in genre films and TV throughout the years. With a Tim Gunn-esque eye for detail, we explore the pulp-inspired creations in THINGS TO COME, the hits and misses of STAR TREK, the 70s chic of SPACE:1999 and LOGAN'S RUN, the dressed down/samurai sizzle of STAR WARS, the cyber-punk noir gear of BLADE RUNNER, and much more! But for a podcast of this magnitude, we needed a guest with the one-two punch excitement of Dolce & Gabbana! He's a friend of the show, as well as a tal

WOKE UP THIS MORNING, GOT OURSELVES SOME MICS! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, proudly welcome a very special guest who is also our topic! Get your crew together as we celebrate the many works of the world's most beloved goomba... STEVE SCHIRRIPA!!! Arguably best known for his role as BOBBY "BACALA" BACCALIERI on the legendary HBO series, THE SOPRANOS, Steve Schirripa has an amazing story. Starting out as the entertainment director for The Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (where he was very kind to a young, up and coming comedian named Matt Weinhold), Steve went on to carve out an extremely successful career as an actor, voice artist, host, producer, writer, and podcaster. Aside from starring in multiple seasons of THE SOPRANOS, Steve Schirripa has appeared in such varied films and TV shows as CASINO, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, WONDER WHEEL, JERSEY BOYS, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, UGLY BETTY, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, NICKY DEUCE, LAW AND ORDER, GEORGE LOPEZ, K

A DOLL! A DOLL! MONSTER PARTY WANTS A DOLL! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, gather virtually together to get weirded out over some very creepy toys. They’re way more than just innocent playthings, they're... DEADLY DOLLS! Surprisingly, we've never actually devoted an entire episode on dolls until now, but what we came up with is sure to make you cry, "Mommy!" Aside from covering the bigger names in the doll horror genre like Chucky, Annabelle, the Zuni Fetish Doll, and Talkie Tina, we also explore the various villainous ventriloquist dolls from films like The Great Gabbo, Dead of Night, Devil Doll, Magic, and TV shows like The Twilight Zone, Batman The Animated Series, and Goosebumps. If that were not enough, MONSTER PARTY salutes the lesser-known scary doll films like Dolly Dearest, Black Devil Doll from Hell, Asylum, Pin, Deep Red, and many more! We also explore the horror that accompanied the some of the more bizarre real toy dolls that were marketed to children. And if you

MONSTER PARTY STARTS THE YEAR OFF WITH A "B"! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, start the year off right with a loving salute to those little movies that could. They may have had low budgets and questionable special effects, but to monster kids of every age, they're classics. MONSTER PARTY proudly invites you to explore... THE B MOVIE LEGACY!!! The original definition of a "B movie" was a film that was the second feature of double bill. These films usually had substantially lower budgets than the "A" movies," but what they lacked in funding, they often made up for with creativity, outrageousness, and style.  These days, the term "B movie" is used to describe any small production that is considered by snooty critics to be schlocky or lowbrow. But any non-jaded lover of genre cinema will tell you that whether it's UNKNOWN ISLAND, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, or the much maligned, THE GIANT CLAW, there's way more to these movies than you might expect. Joining us for this B movie bas

MONSTER PARTY ENDS THE YEAR WITH THE KING OF ALL MONSTERS! It's been a banner year for our favorite daikaiju, and we here at MONSTER PARTY couldn't be happier! So, let's take a trip to Monsterland and visit the subject of this epic episode, as we invite you to attend... THE MONSTER PARTY GODZILLA STOMPIN' NEW YEARS BASH!!! For decades, Godzilla has proven to be an unstoppable pop culture force. And with the well-deserved success of GODZILLA MINUS ONE, visionary filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki has shown us that you don't need a bloated budget or a barrage of CGI clutter to give audiences an action-packed giant monster film with intelligence and heart.  So let's pop the champagne corks and give a toast to all things Godzilla, as we ring in 2024 with this city-smashing celebration?! Joining us for this raucous reptilian rager is an atomic breath of fresh air! He's a return guest, and a two-time Rondo award-winning writer, researcher, producer, editor, lecturer, event promoter, and Japanese film expert! And if you're

MONSTER PARTY GOES WALKING IN A WORDPLAY WONDERLAND! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take the words right out of our favorite genre character's mouths. It's another celebration of sensational sentences that this time we're calling.... QUOTE PARTY 2023!!! What better way to launch yourselves into the holidays than with a fun-filled fan-favorite game?! MONSTER PARTY presents a brand-new batch of quotes from various horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films.... and it's up to YOU to guess which ones they're from! Sounds fun, right? But a word of warning: It may be a bit harder than you might think! Joining us for this melee of monstrous monologues is an award-winning writer and filmmaker, whose quote quotient is high. Making his MONSTER PARTY debut, please welcome.... JAMES COLE! (THE LAST RUNG ON THE LADDER, THE NIGHT BEFORE, HOPE AND MIRACLES: TWO SCREENPLAYS BY FRANK DARABONT, THE CAPE COD CHRONICLE) MONSTER PARTY IS GONNA MAKE THIS THE BEST HOLIDAY SEASON EVER!!! BUT DON'T QUO

'TIS THE SEASON FOR MONSTER KID SHOPPING! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, once again offer hideously helpful hints when it comes to finding the perfect present for that hard-to-shop-for genre enthusiast! Get the gift they won't re-gift by consulting... THE MONSTER PARTY HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2023!!! Shopping for your favorite hardcore geek can tough! You often wind up buying something they don't want, or already have. And it's not like you can walk into Nordstrom's and go to the "Stuff From A Movie No One Has Heard Of" department. That's where we can help! In this episode, we'll guide you to the gifts that will make any monster kid put down their garage kit and make merry! Whether it's books, DVDs, cosplay gear, one of a kind art pieces, or limited edition toys, MONSTER PARTY has you covered! Speaking of a one-of-a-kind work of art, our guest is just that! Not only is he a cherished friend and past unpaid MONSTER PARTY intern, but he's also the glue that holds our yearly holiday sh

FEAR! IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, prepare for the THANKSGIVING holiday by compiling the gruesome ingredients they'll need for history's most monstrous meal. Come shopping with us, won't you, as we load up on... FEARSOME FOOD!!! Last year, MONSTER PARTY presented you with the topic, DIABOLICAL DINNERS!!!: A celebration of the most uncomfortable and inappropriate gastronomic gatherings ever put on film. But what goes into those sinister soirees? What are the evil ingredients that are sure to send a Top Chef contestant packing their knives for protection? In this episode, expect dastardly dining that includes yucky yogurt, petrifying pies, nauseating number twos, raw rodent, mobile meat, cannibal crackers, Starfleet snacks, fiendish fungus, a carrot kook, and  more! And since it's Thanksgiving, there's also a lot of arguing.  Joining us for this creepy culinary confab is a dear friend of ours, and perennial guest. He's a terrifyingly talented actor, writ

MONSTER PARTY TRICKS YOU INTO TREATING YOURSELF! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, don their audio costumes and virtually visit your homes to inflict excitement, consternation, and mayhem! It's the time of year for our favorite holiday, and that's why we're throwing... THE MONSTER PARTY HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY! Join for this shivering shindig, as we sort through the mixed bag of elements that contribute to a truly memorable ALL HALLOW'S EVE. That includes crappy vintage costumes (Ben Cooper, what you were thinking?), great and not so great candy, alternative "treats," dangerous interactive mazes (tasers anyone?), essential Halloween films, scary decorations (do we really need to decorate the outside of our homes?), and more! Of course, all of this is served with the usual dollop of MONSTER PARTY bickering. Making the scene for this fiesty festival of frights, is a return guest who is no stranger to Halloween hyjinks. He's an acclaimed filmmaker who has lent his talents to such chi

MONSTER PARTY GETS FLOORED! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take on a topic that literally puts a "lift" in their spirits. Push the button for terror, as MONSTER PARTY asks the question, "Is it an... ELEVATOR OR HELLAVATOR?!!!" The elevator is one of the most signifcant inventions of the modern age. But everytime you get on board a car, isn't there always a little voice in the back of your mind that says, "I don't trust this thing." Well, when it comes to a certain sub-genre of genre films, your fears are more than justified. In this episode, we'll discuss the many flavors of horror that the elevator has provided us in film and tevelsion. From satanic scenarios in films like, DEVIL, THE OMEN II, and VAULT OF HORROR, classic moments from THE SHINING, DAWN OF THE DEAD, and BLADE RUNNER, to offbeat entries like WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE LIFT and DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF HORRIBLE, there seems to be no shortage of ominous "Otis" inspired thrills.  We also take a loo

MONSTER PARTY WELCOMES BACK AN OLD PLASTIC FRIEND! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, revisit a favorite topic that is all topics! And if that were not enough, a vital element has returned to the show that was sorely missed. Brace yourself, listeners, for... TOPIC FREE-FOR-ALL: THE SKULL IS BACK!!! Long-time listeners will know that TOPIC FREE-FOR-ALL is like getting a dozen shows in one go. Traditionally, it worked like this: The MONSTER PARTY gang and their guests write down various mini-topics on a slip of paper and place them in Larry's plastic skull with the light-up eyes. The skull is shaken up, each person randomly pulls out a topic, and said topic is briefly discussed. But, the last time we did TOPIC FREE-FOR-ALL, something went horribly wrong! Larry happened to be out of town, and had left the skull back in his palatial Van Nuys apartment. But MONSTER PARTY is not a podcast to let adversity stop a show, and with some slight alterations, we managed to do the episode... skul

MONSTER PARTY GOES ON A TACTILE TIRADE! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, make their case for what is clearly the most reliable way to get, and keep, your favorite movies and TV shows! When it comes to media, MONSTER PARTY says... LET'S GET PHYSICAL!!! In this episode, MONSTER PARTY salutes physical media in all its forms. We're look at the early days of 8mm, Super 8 films, and 16mm films, the Betamax vs. VHS war, the birthof bonus supplements with the introduction of the laserdisc, the incredibly brief run of the stylus based videodisc, the DVD and Blu-ray revolution, the selective appeal of home 3-D, and try to answer the question, "To 4K or not to 4K?" And if that were not enough white-hot format talk for you, we even sing the praises of the Viewmaster, and it's predecessors, the Stereoscope and Stereoopticon! Joining us for this audio innoculation for "streamingitis" is not only an expert on the subject of phsical media, but a man who is nothing short of showbiz nobility. He's

MONSTER PARTY TAKES A TANTALIZING TOUR OF TOKUSATSU TREMENDOUSNESS! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, join together to form a Voltron-esque robot of fun, as we storm the halls of THE BURBANK AIRPORT MARRIOT.  Accompany us on a Far East adventure in tropical stormy LA, as we bring you the...  JAPAN WORLD HEROES EXPO 2023!!! While interviewing super-talented artist, toy painter, mega-collector, and convention mogul, SCOTT ZILNER at MONSTERPALOOZA 2023, he offered us a booth at his upcoming JAPAN WORLD HEROES EXPO. This event celebrates the things MONSTER PARTY loves: Ultraman, Kamen Rider, super sentai, kaiju, celebrities, toys, art, collectibles, and all thing Japan-cool! The show is held only once every two years, and needless to say, we immediately accepted Scott's gracious offer. Cut to the convention: All our dreams are being realized! We're meeting fans and cosplayers, swimming in sea of rare/exclusive collectibles, hosting our own panel, and spending WAY too much money! If th