Double trouble but twice as nice. That's how we would describe the story lines for our latest favorite fictional characters. They are living double lives in order to make the most of the time they have. On this episode of Crush Fictionally, the very funny and extremely talented Jessica Coyle ("Make Up Talk Show" podcast) joins as we talk about our favorite fictional characters pretending to be someone else. Jessica jumps right in to help us figure out what we really like about these characters who are playing the long con of a double life. Is their double life justified by well-meaning intentions? Will their intricate web of lies just hurt the ones they love? If you've ever wanted to be someone else, this episode just may help you find the right motivation. Put on your glasses, slick back that gorgeous mane, and head over to The Daily Planet to get the scoop. Or, brew a cup of tea, slap on your favorite meringue mask, and say hEELLL-OOOhhh to this episode.
Making us do a *double* take and stealing our hearts this week: Clark Kent (Dean Cain) of Lois & Clark, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) of Breaking Bad, and Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams) of Mrs. Doubtfire.
This week's small business shout-out: Red Planet Books and Comics (Albuquerque, NM)
At Crush Fictionally, we firmly believe two things: age ain't nuthin but a number and timing is everything. On our new episode we are joined by the lovely and charming Joy Brunson – actress, acting coach (The Joy of Acting), and new best pal. We bask in the glory that is Joy as she brings the perfect energy along with her insightful perspective to this episode. The three of us discuss how women are perceived and received based on their age, what life experience has actually taught us, and that shirking society's imposed expectations can be extremely liberating. With Joy's help, we have a whole new outlook on life. So pack your bags, call up your friend who will support your life decisions, and take a much deserved trip over to our latest episode. We guarantee a great time!
Aging like a fine wine and capturing our hearts this week: Stella (Angela Bassett) of How Stella Got Her Groove Back, *all* of THE Golden Girls (Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty) of (dramatic pause) The Golden Girls, and Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) of Grace and Frankie.
You love him. Or maybe you hate him. There really is no middle ground when it comes to Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. On the latest installment of Crush Fictionally, we take an in-depth look at the fictionalized version of real life multi-hyphenate Larry David. With the help of culinary master, iconic sandwich maker, and our favorite web series star Chef Brian Tsao, we discuss how our favorite character from this quick-witted HBO series can be both polarizing and low key likable. Together we discuss our favorite “Curb Your Enthusiasm” moments, which Larry David predicaments we would most likely find ourselves in, and the ensemble of fictional characters who have captured our hearts. You can watch Chef Brian’s laugh-out-loud and very meta web series “Pro Chef Reacts” today while preparing yourself for Mission Sandwich Social opening in Brooklyn, NYC soon. Mission Sandwich Social will be serving THEE best sandwiches, which frankly we’d hop on a plane for. Hopefully after listening to this episode, you’re encouraged to watch or re-watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. But, if you choose not to, then to quote Larry, all we can say is: (shrug) “Eeh, ok.”
Winning us over and making us cry with laughter this week are: Larry getting roped into an awkward dinner party (Season 1, Episode 3), Larry’s fight with Ben Stiller during Ben’s birthday party (Season 4, Episode 2), and Larry’s spite store based on a petty feud (Season 10, Episode 10). We also have love in our hearts for: Jeff, Leon, Susie, Wanda, and Krazee-Eyez Killa.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
The only thing better than an unexpected twist is the mind-blowing double-cross-cross that you never even saw coming. This new episode of Crush Fictionally is action packed – we are joined by crime fiction writer Joe Ide. Joe brings his insight and expert guidance as we examine what characteristics make up a cool, fictional detective. Of course cool is a subjective term so as we break-down our preferences, we consider the role mystery, solitude, honesty, dedication, instinct, and natural intellect play in developing a quintessential detective. After imparting solid life *and* writing advice, we bow down to Joe's amazing ability to create fascinating character arcs, witty dialogue, and remarkable plot developments. You can find Joe Ide's IQ book series (“IQ”, “Righteous”, “Wrecked”, “Hi Five”, and “Smoke”) at your favorite local book store right now, with “The Goodbye Coast: A Philip Marlowe Novel” hitting shelves very soon.
Arresting our hearts this week: Harry Hole of the fictional crime book series from Jo Nesbø (although played by Michael Fassbender outside of the novels), Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) of Mare of Easttown, and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) of True Detective.
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SHOW INFO
Crush Fictionally is produced and edited by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Adventure. Is. Out. There. On this new episode of Crush Fictionally, we are taking a closer look at the world of fearless (fictional) adventurers. To help us on our journey, we've brought expert help. Enter Groundling, actor ("The Last O.G.", "Bajillion Dollar Propertie$", "Superstore"), and cool adventure-seeker Ryan Gaul. Ryan swoops in bringing laughter and excellent storytelling to our discussion about the best fictional characters who are tackling (fictional) adventures of a lifetime. Together, the three of us discuss the uncomfortable feelings of taking on anything new for the first time, the solid advice to offer someone going on an adventure, and what you would call a hot nerd. Ya HERD?!
Rescuing our hearts this week: Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) of (almost all of) the Indiana Jones movies, Xena *the* Warrior Princess (Lucy Lawless) of Xena: Warrior Princess, and Ezekiel Brown (Daniel Radcliffe) with Benny the Teen (Steve Buscemi) of Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail.
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SHOW INFO
Crush Fictionally is produced and edited by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Look out! This latest episode of Crush Fictionally is firing on all cylinders and racing through the busy streets of the City by the Bay. Our theme is planes, trains, and automobiles. Or more specifically, we are discussing our favorite fictional characters who are in, using, or stuck on some form of transportation. For help on this topic, we called in reinforcements. At the helm and guiding the way on this fun voyage are friends, movie and VHS aficionados, and cool hosts of Rewind Wednesday at Balboa Theater in San Francisco Ashley Graham and Chloe Ginnever (@balboatheater). With the charm and likability of a young Tommy Callahan, Chloe and Ashley help us examine how life is a journey and which fictional character we'd choose for our trip. And if we learned anything from Kim's trip to Curaçao, it's that no man is worth getting on a no-fly list for.
Who are our ride-or-die picks this week? We are making room on our door for Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) *and* Rose (Kate Winslet) of Titanic. Revving our engine is Robert Wilson (William Shatner) of Twilight Zone's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode. And we are riding into the sunset with the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
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SHOW INFO
Crush Fictionally is produced and edited by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
What is it about the unexpected that draws us in? Why do we tend to root for the unlikely hero? Well this *may* be a case for Bert Macklin, FBI or the pivotal questions for your favorite gals. Crush Fictionally is back in action! In this brand-new episode, we are joined by charismatic duo and clever podcast hosts Muriel Montgomery and Nick Casalini ("Hella in Your Thirties", "Muriel's Murders"). With insightful help from both Nick and Muriel, we discuss whether a fictional underdog can be the main character, how an understated character can make up for what they lack, and how drive and conviction can make the most unlikely of heroes the most likeable.
Who are we rooting for this week? Tune in to this bug circus troupe to find out: Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) of Game of Thrones, Brick Bardo (Tim Thomerson) of Dollman, Flick (Dave Foley) of A Bug’s Life, and Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) of Parks and Recreation.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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SHOW INFO
Crush Fictionally is produced and edited by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
What’s happening? As we reminisce about the golden age of television that raised us, we think about all the funny women from black TV sitcoms who created show-stoppable female characters, memorable moments, and instantly quotable dialogue. With help from graphic designer and assistant editor of news and entertainment at PureWow Nakeisha Campbell, we take a closer look at some of our favorite entertaining ladies. What makes these female characters so watchable and ground-breaking? Which sitcom characters paved the way for the storylines and characters we see today? With Nakeisha’s help we answer these questions, decide which female characters we would actually be friends with in real life, and agree that today’s tv theme songs can’t come close to the classic jams that introduced 90’s black tv sitcoms.
Making our hearts go “Ooooooohhhhhhh, I’m teeeelllin’!” this week: Synclaire James (Kim Coles) of Living Single, Gina Waters (Tisha Campbell) of Martin, and Dee Thomas (Danielle Spencer) of What’s Happening!!
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Our sights are set on space and we have stars in our eyes as we dedicate an episode to the entire Star Wars franchise. With all the coolly named characters in the Star Wars galaxy to choose from, selecting a #1 fictional crush proved more difficult than previously anticipated. But fear not! We enlisted the expert assistance of educator, tattooer, and author (“Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In”) Phuc Tran. With astute understanding of Star Wars lore, we trust Phuc to guide us through this legendary collection of characters and pilot our fictional X-wing towards supreme laughter and heightened consciousness. Together we discuss which complex Star Wars characters resonated with us the most, how family can and cannot define you, and why the galaxy appears to be the most diverse location of all. Between this episode and Phuc’s beautifully written memoir, you may just become one with the force and it with you.
Making our hearts travel through hyperspace this week: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) of the Star Wars series and Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus (Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang) of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
We want feminist men! When do we want ‘em? Now! We are taking to the streets this week to declare our love for men who support women. Enter actor, writer, improviser, and fellow feminist Anna Salinas. Join us as we declare our love for fictional male characters who truly respect, fully support, and actively listen to their fictional female counterparts. This week we discuss why we are so drawn to nuanced characters, why there doesn’t need to be a romantic connection for a man to support a woman, and why a male character being a feminist might be the hottest fantasy of all. It may be a man’s world, but it means everything when a male character champions the rights, dreams, and successes of ladies on-screen.
Seeing women as equals and making us swoon this week: Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) of Outlander, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) of Mad Men, and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) of This Is Us.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Are you ready for a trip back in time? Let’s go! On this week’s episode we are taking an in-depth look at the wonderful world of kids’ cartoons that shaped our childhood. Joining us on this insightful journey is comedian, writer, improviser, actor, and astute advice-giver Ruby Marez. Together we sweetly examine how you CAN go home again with the power of magical memories and activating your third eye with proper self-care. Because if you really think about it – it’s the animated shows we watched as children that taught us ethics, morals, and the importance of confidence. Ruby brings incredibly mindful energy to this episode as we revel in the multi-faceted aspects of kids’ cartoons. We find it’s these brilliant shows and movies that shaped our feelings, our minds, and our opinions on how to tell a good joke.
Tugging at our heartstrings this week: All the Care Bears from The Care Bears Movie, Bernard (Bob Newhart) from The Rescuers, and Spinelli (Pamela Adlon) from Recess.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Kim and Michelle never thought they would be in the business of solving mysteries. But here they are trying to unravel the answer to April’s biggest question, why isn’t Delroy Lindo nominated for an Oscar for his emotionally rich performance as a Vietnam vet in Da 5 Bloods?! Why?! Join us as we take a closer look at some of our favorite Oscar categories to discuss who the winners should be. Although we aren’t mad at the number of female and first-time nominees, we ARE mad that some exceptional standouts like Regina King, Spike Lee, and Alan Kim are noticeably absent from this year’s list.
Together we chat about Kim’s love/hate relationship with awards shows, Michelle’s feelings towards the thought-provoking stories told this year, and why we hope Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, The Sound of Metal, and A Promising Young Woman are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to representation and well-deserved recognition.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a good belly laugh must be worth a million dollars. We are making it rain on this episode as we talk buddy comedies! We are here to answer important questions like: what truly makes us laugh, what makes a solid friendship, and which characters and jokes stand the test of time? Enter lovely couple Emily Bolt and Preston Geer. Emily is an improviser and actor, and Preston is a screenwriter, actor, and producer. Together they are the dynamically funny hosts of the What’s Your Movie podcast. With expert help from Preston and Emily, we chat about what quotable dialogue make us laugh the hardest, which fictional pals remain unmatched, and why the chemistry between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker is impressively magical. This delightful episode will hit you in the heart not here, or here so much, but riiight here.
Making us laugh and capturing our hearts this week: Lloyd and Harry (Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels) of Dumb and Dumber, Seth and Evan (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) of Superbad, and Lee and Carter (Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker) of the Rush Hour trilogy.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Watching a fictionalized story from another time can be so romantic. But where are all the BIPOC characters? History is diverse and we think more period pieces should be too. As we look at movies and tv shows set in other time periods, we long for BIPOC characters who aren’t relegated to stereotypes or bit parts. To help us look at period pieces to find ones we love and explore what we wish they could be, we enlisted insightful help from Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, senior writer for The Cut at New York Magazine. Together we examine what fundamental elements make a period piece completely immersive, why we wish there were more period piece characters like the BIPOC characters we *did* find, and when Brad Pitt will stop being peak Brad Pitt. We think you will find Sangeeta's take on this episode just as charming and impressive as her writing for The Cut.
Expanding our hearts to another time this week: Achilles (Brad Pitt) of Troy, Billy Rocks (Lee Byung-Hun) and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier) of The Magnificent Seven from 2016, and Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) of The Shawshank Redemption.
This week’s small business shout-out: Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
As Sharon Jones so confidently sang, “Tell me you love me. Tell you care.” But doing it right is easier said than done. Professing your love can be anxiety-inducing and to quote De La Soul: stakes is high. To discuss the important elements of a genuine declaration of love, experienced assistance was required. Enter critically acclaimed authors, New York Times bestselling novelists, and funny friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Having written over 26 books spanning Adult Fiction and Young Adult Fiction, these long-time writing partners and best friends write under the combined pen name of Christina Lauren. With books full of amazing fictional characters and wish-it-happened-to-you romance, Christina and Lauren know a thing or two about how to weave a captivating declaration of love into impressive storytelling. Tune in to hear us discuss whether we believe in destiny, soulmates, and if Timothée Chalamet looks like an Italian shoe in Little Women.
Making our hearts flip this week: “As you wish” from Wesley (Cary Elwes) in The Princess Bride, “Ditto” from Sam (Patrick Swayze) and Molly (Demi Moore) in Ghost, “I’ve loved you since we were kids” from Sasha (Ali Wong) in Always Be My Maybe, and “I wanna be where you are” from Marcus (Randall Park) in Always Be My Maybe.
Pre-order the latest book from Christina Lauren titled “The Soulmate Equation” through Semicolon Books (Chicago)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
According to Mark Twain, clothes make the man. If this is true (and it is) then we believe the mask makes the crusader. We also believe that a stylishly appropriate mask takes any fresh ensemble to the next level. To help us take a closer look at masks worn for protection and why some emanate an undeniable air of mystery, we called in help from comedian / actor Chris Mack and writer / comedian Elizabeth Stanton. These two funny friends and podcasts hosts (“Show Me What I’ve Been Missing”) amp up the laughter exponentially as we discuss whether our fictional crushes are more appealing with or without their masks, why there isn’t an entire album based on the Darkwing Duck theme song, and what would be the most appropriate response to a human-sized talking turtle.
Making us say, “Damn! Who was that masked man?!” this week: Batman (Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Adam West, Val Kilmer, Will Arnett) of the Batman franchise, Dredd (Karl Urban) of Dredd, V (Hugo Weaving) of V for Vendetta, and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) of The Mandalorian.
This week’s small business shout-out: Breakaway Records (Austin)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
If you’ve ever looked in your dog’s eyes and waited for them to speak, you’re not alone. Often times it’s non-humans we feel a very human connection with. On this episode, we examine what truly connects us to non-human fictional characters. To guide us, we’ve brought along comedian, writer, and podcast host (“Lizard People”) Katelyn Hempstead. With insight, empathy, and enthusiasm, Katelyn helps us define what makes non-human characters so fascinating, why we can emotionally connect to characters who aren’t even real, and why Andy Serkis’ Caesar might be the only ruler our planet will ever need.
Capturing our hearts and reprograming our circuit boards this week: Data (Brent Spiner) of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Caesar (Andy Serkis) of Rise of/Dawn of/War for the Planet of the Apes, and Wall-E (Ben Burtt) of Pixar’s Wall-E.
This week’s small business shout-out: Breakaway Records (Austin)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
It’s the love of a lifetime. It’s the right amount of everything - a little bit of this but not too much of that. It’s romance based on the perfect match. In order to make the perfect match, you definitely need an eligible bachelor. With masterly help from sisters, reality tv connoisseurs, and podcast hosts (“Trust the Bachelor Process”) Alex and Sarah Franklin, we break down true love for all the right reasons, how ABC could actually build a better Bachelor process, and what characteristics make a fictional bachelor oh so eligible.
In it for all the right reasons and accepting our final roses this week: Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) of Ted Lasso, Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) of Gilmore Girls, a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) of Solo: A Star War Story, and Heimdall (Idris Elba) of Thor.
This week’s small business shout-out: Breakaway Records (Austin, TX)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
Similar to Brick Tamland, we brought *both* a trident and a bazooka to this Golden Globes knife fight to kick off awards season. On a very special episode of Crush Fictionally, co-hosts, funny gals, and long-lost sisters Kimberly Truong and Michelle Viray are here to help the best of the best battle it out. Upon further examination of this year’s Golden Globe nominations, we found that quite a few key players were missing. To remedy the situation, we’ve added our rightful favorites and deserving storytellers to the list of Golden Globe nominees.
Together we review how Michaela Coel and Spike Lee deserved so much more, why Jared Leto needs nothing from anyone, and which stories resonated with us the most. Who would we thank if we won a Golden Globe? Definitely you for listening. Tune in to hear who captured our hearts and who we think the ultimate winners should be.
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com
We aren’t shy about our love of supporting successful women and watching strong female leads on the silver screen. With assistance from improviser, writer, and multi-faceted man about town Ronnie Adrian, we review the many roles of Ms. Sandra Bullock. Together we discuss what makes Sandra Bullock’s characters so captivating, the Sisyphean efforts of female characters when it comes to fictional romance, and why seeing Sandy act is comforting to our collective souls.
At the top of our Best of Bullock list this week: Lucy Kelson of Two Weeks Notice, Debbie Ocean of Ocean’s Eight, and Gracie Hart of Miss Congeniality
This week’s small business shout-out: Bloom & Plume Coffee (Los Angeles)
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Show Information
Crush Fictionally is produced by Peter Byrnes. Original music by Edith Mudge. Artwork by Rose Feduk.
Have a crush-worthy episode idea? Slide into those DMs...
Instagram: @crushfictionally
Twitter: @crushfctionally
Email: crushfictionally@gmail.com