Oh, Rhoda!

Before the iconic Ms. Morgenstern, there was another Rhoda...a 9-year-old psychopath that struck terror in her enemies, torment in the hearts of her loved ones, and unintended laughter from the audience watching her exploits. Yes, it's the camp classic, "The Bad Seed" from Warner Bros in 1956, starring the iconic Patty McCormack and the insufferably dramatic Nancy Kelly.

A nine-year-old with perfect penmanship and a talent for murder shouldn’t be funny—yet "The Bad Seed" somehow is. We dive into how a Broadway sensation became a Hollywood lightning rod, why Mervyn LeRoy shot it like a stage play, and how the Production Code twisted a bleak ending into a thunderbolt of “justice.” Along the way, we unpack the nature versus nurture debate that rattled 1950s audiences, the strange power of offscreen violence, and the way theatrical performances from Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, and the incomparable Eileen Heckart create a tone that’s equal parts chilling and camp.

So, postpone your social obligations and join us as we celebrate the perverse joys of “The Bad Seed”!

Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode

Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com

Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod

To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT

Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com

Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist

Podcast logo by Umeworks

We dive into Jesus Christ Superstar as a human story told through rock, politics, and performance, balancing reverence with critique. From a bus in the desert to tanks on the dunes, we trace how Norman Jewison’s choices turn myth into modern memory.

Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode

Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com

Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod

To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT

Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com

Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist

Podcast logo by Umeworks

Picture it: Hollywood 2025.

Forty years after four unlikely roommates gathered around a kitchen table in Miami, “The Golden Girls”remains one of television's most beloved and groundbreaking sitcoms. In part two of our special 40th birthday celebration, we explore what made the show so revolutionary and why its legacy continues to resonate with audiences today. We’ll deep dive into the “Golden Girls” universe, from untangling the complex web of family relationships, to the meticulous put downs, to an expose of the most notorious residents of St. Olaf.

The supposed rivalry between Bea Arthur and Betty White has become something of a Hollywood legend, but was it real? We examine what happened behind the scenes, drawing on firsthand accounts and shedding light on how these two different personalities created magic despite their contrasting approaches to acting.

Our episode spotlights two standout installments from the later seasons of the show, along with the perfect series finale, "One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest," analyzing how Dorothy's departure managed to be both hilarious and heartbreaking – ending not with a whimper but with three emotional goodbyes.

What made Golden Girls truly special wasn't just the laughter but its willingness to tackle issues other shows wouldn't touch – from aging and sexuality to HIV/AIDS and chosen family. Join us as we reflect on how four women in their golden years revolutionized television and created a legacy that continues to inspire new generations.

Did you have a favorite Golden Girls episode or moment? We'd love to hear about it! Share your memories with us on social media or leave a review telling us which golden girl you identified with most.

Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode

Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.com

Follow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpod

To watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

To watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDT

Reach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.com

Listen to our Going Hollywood Playlist

Podcast logo by Umeworks