Unspooled

Each episode of Unspooled covers a single film and analyzes its artistic, thematic, and historical significance.{{Cite web|title=My 5: Paul Scheer Reveals the Surprisingly Good Movies You've Probably Missed (Exclusive) {{!}} Entertainment Tonight|url=https://www.etonline.com/my-5-paul-scheer-reveals-the-surprisingly-good-movies-youve-probably-missed-exclusive-102382|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=www.etonline.com|date=May 17, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017120719/https://www.etonline.com/my-5-paul-scheer-reveals-the-surprisingly-good-movies-youve-probably-missed-exclusive-102382|url-status=live}} Episodes begin with facts about the year the film was released and a summary of the cast and plot. As the hosts debate what works and what doesn't about each movie, they include audio excerpts from the film to illustrate their points, plus supplemental clips such as interviews with the director and cast. Scheer has described the podcast as a "book club where we are watching movies once a week."{{Cite web|title=The Good, the Bad and the Godawful: Paul Scheer Takes on the Movies (in Podcast Form)|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13866252/paul-scheer-how-did-this-get-made-unspooled-podcasts|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=KQED|date=September 12, 2019 |language=en-us|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017120720/https://www.kqed.org/arts/13866252/paul-scheer-how-did-this-get-made-unspooled-podcasts|url-status=live}}

Episodes wrap up with a negative review of the film from the time it was released. In Season 1, the show included clips of The Simpson's parodies of the film, if available, to demonstrate the film's continued cultural relevance. In Season 2, the show includes a clip of the top song on the Billboard charts the week of the film's release to examine the film's connection to the zeitgeist.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Unspooled debuted at number 1 on iTunes Film & TV podcast rankings and number 4 on the iTunes overall top chart.{{Cite web|title=Unspooled Podcast – Listen, Reviews, Charts|url=https://chartable.com/podcasts/unspooled|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=chartable.com|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017122200/https://chartable.com/podcasts/unspooled|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Amy Nicholson|url=https://www.twitter.com/TheAmyNicholson/status/997547528017989632|url-status=live|website=Twitter|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144221/https://twitter.com/TheAmyNicholson/status/997547528017989632}}

The podcast has garnered many positive reviews in the popular press. Esquire called it one of the best podcasts of 2019.{{Cite web|author=|date=November 7, 2019|title=The Best Podcasts of 2019 (So Far)|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g26535406/best-podcasts-2019/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Esquire|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017122205/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g26535406/best-podcasts-2019/|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone wrote that the show was "wildly entertaining" and ranked the show as one of the best podcasts of 2020.{{Cite magazine|last1=Ehrlich|first1=Andrea Marks, Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Brenna|last2=Marks|first2=Andrea|last3=Garber-Paul|first3=Elisabeth|last4=Ehrlich|first4=Brenna|date=December 18, 2020|title=The Best Podcasts of 2020|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/best-podcasts-2020-1105406/|access-date=October 17, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008081839/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/best-podcasts-2020-1105406/|url-status=live}} Town & Country Magazine lauded it as a "sharp, funny series…[with] charming chemistry," and Vanity Fair noted that the show's "fresh and intriguing takes on venerable movies make for entertaining listening."{{Cite magazine|author=|date=June 8, 2020|title=The Best Movie Podcasts to Binge If You Are a Cinephile|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g32213443/best-movie-podcasts/|access-date=October 17, 2021|magazine=Town & Country|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144219/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g32213443/best-movie-podcasts/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Liebenson|first=Donald|date=April 30, 2020|title=Eight Great Movie Podcasts to Try Once You've Finished You Must Remember This|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/best-movie-podcasts|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Vanity Fair Blogs|language=en-US|archive-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508081006/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/best-movie-podcasts|url-status=live}} Vulture called it "funny and accessible."{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Nick|date=December 3, 2020|title=What to Read, Watch, and Listen to If You're Obsessed With Mank on Netflix|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/hollywood-history-what-to-read-watch-listen-after-mank.html|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Vulture|language=en-us|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144216/https://www.vulture.com/article/hollywood-history-what-to-read-watch-listen-after-mank.html|url-status=live}} Another article in Vulture noted that "Unspooled is definitely among the best of [the good-film appreciation podcasts]."{{Cite web|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|date=October 28, 2020|title=Alice Isn't Dead, Radio Rental, and 2 More Spooky Podcasts Worth Trying|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/anime-in-america-talk-aint-cheap-podcasts.html|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Vulture|language=en-us|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144219/https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/anime-in-america-talk-aint-cheap-podcasts.html|url-status=live}} The AV Club described it as "both serious and silly," and The Hollywood Reporter listed the show as an essential film history podcast.{{Cite web|title=Inside The Disney Vault tackles the entire twee canon, from the classics to the bombs|url=https://www.avclub.com/inside-the-disney-vault-tackles-the-entire-twee-canon-1827227459|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=The A.V. Club|date=July 9, 2018 |language=en-us|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144219/https://www.avclub.com/inside-the-disney-vault-tackles-the-entire-twee-canon-1827227459|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Omar|date=September 1, 2018|title=8 Podcasts About Film History|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/8-podcasts-film-history-listen-right-now-1138086/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144220/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/8-podcasts-film-history-listen-right-now-1138086/|url-status=live}} IndieWire said that the podcast "provides an interesting context for what does or doesn't remain timeless in the movie world."{{Cite web|last=Greene|first=Steve|date=July 13, 2018|title=The 50 Best Podcast Episodes of 2018 (So Far)|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/2018-top-podcasts-to-listen-to/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144219/https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/2018-top-podcasts-to-listen-to/|url-status=live}} Discover Pods referred to the show as "slightly more highbrow" than Scheer's companion podcast, How Did This Get Made?,{{Cite web|date=December 3, 2019|title=The 20 Best Movie Podcasts (for every film buff)|url=https://discoverpods.com/movie-podcasts/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Discover the Best Podcasts {{!}} Discover Pods|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145102/https://discoverpods.com/movie-podcasts/|url-status=live}} while Emily VanDerWerff in Vox complemented its "entertaining segments … [while being] dedicated to placing these movies in their proper historical context."{{Cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|date=May 28, 2018|title=4 great new movie podcasts to listen to right now|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/5/28/17392352/best-movie-podcasts|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Vox|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019053711/https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/5/28/17392352/best-movie-podcasts|url-status=live}}

Other critics have noted that the podcast is as an "absolute joy ... Scheer and Nicholson usually treat even the movies they don't care for with a measure of respect."{{Cite web|last=Zook|first=Austin|date=September 11, 2018|title=Get Wrapped Up in UNSPOOLED|url=https://lwos.life/2018/09/10/get-wrapped-up-in-unspooled/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=LWOS life|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144221/https://lwos.life/2018/09/10/get-wrapped-up-in-unspooled/|url-status=live}}

The podcast has been recognized for its willingness to take a critical eye to respected classics. One review commented that the show "fuels discussions of whether these movies are truly brilliant, or simply just respected because no one has ever questioned them."{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Declan ·|date=March 16, 2019|title=Review: 'Unspooled' Podcast|url=https://www.thenerddaily.com/review-unspooled-podcast/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=The Nerd Daily|language=en-AU|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144222/https://thenerddaily.com/review-unspooled-podcast/|url-status=live}} Another stated more directly, "Amy and Paul are not afraid to make the point: Do you really need so many movies about Vietnam?"{{Cite web|title=Unspooled Podcast: Podcast Review|url=https://www.quillpodcasting.com/podcast-review/unspooled|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=www.quillpodcasting.com|language=en|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017144221/https://www.quillpodcasting.com/podcast-review/unspooled|url-status=live}}

The show began by going through each of the 2007 AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies beginning with Citizen Kane.{{Cite web|title=Unspooled: Preview: What Is Unspooled? on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/preview-what-is-unspooled/id1381507437?i=1000410895543|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-AU|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145101/https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/preview-what-is-unspooled/id1381507437?i=1000410895543|url-status=live}} For the first half of season 1, films were chosen by a random roll of a polyhedral die. At the end of the season, the hosts eliminated 60 films from the AFI list. Many were eliminated because of repeated directors or genres, particularly war films and Westerns. Other films were rejected because the director is believed to have made a better film that should fill the slot instead, such as replacing William Friedkin's The French Connection with The Exorcist. The trimmed list was published as the API List, an acronym of the hosts' names Amy and Paul.{{Cite web|title=Unspooled|url=https://www.unspooledpodcast.com/|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Unspooled|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145101/https://www.unspooledpodcast.com/|url-status=live}}

Following seasons of Unspooled have grouped films into thematic miniseries. Movies are chosen by the hosts and listeners with the goal of expanding the initial list to represent a more diverse, multi-faceted overview of cinema.{{Cite web|date=March 30, 2019|title=Q&A: Why comedy everyman Paul Scheer is acting as fast as he can|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-paul-scheer-q-and-a-interview-20190330-story.html|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145100/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-paul-scheer-q-and-a-interview-20190330-story.html|url-status=live}}

Unspooled has produced annual episodes covering each year's Oscars and year-in-review series about the best films of that year. Other special episodes include live shows taped at film festivals and at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

Unspooled also has an ongoing series of mini-episodes called Top 3. On Top 3, a guest is interviewed about the three movies they would add to the top 100 list.

{{collapse top|Unspooled episodes}}

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{{More citations needed section|date=July 2022}}

At the conclusion of Season 1, the hosts eliminated 60 movies from the AFI list and kept 40, publishing these selections as the core of their own "API" list (the "Amy and Paul Institute"), with the goal of again expanding the new list to 100 films, this time with an eye to gathering a more diverse representation of film creators and subjects than the AFI list offers. In the following seasons, additional films have been viewed and discussed, and added to the list. The hosts maintain that the collection, when complete, will be "shot into space" so that humanity's artistic endeavors can be shared with alien civilizations.

The API list currently includes 76 films and 2 tentative additions; 40 of which were retained from the AFI list in the final episode of Season 1, 18 of which were added in the final episode of Season 2, 13 of which were added in the final episode of Season 3, replacing 3 previously added films, 2 of which were added in the Listener's Choice episode mid-season 4, replacing 1 previously added film, and 7 of which were added in the final episode of Season 4.

Notably, the hosts have attempted to include no more than one film by any particular director, but due to the variety and quality of their work three directors are currently featured twice: Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Billy Wilder.

Screen Test is an Unspooled film-themed game show hosted by Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson. Contestants are tested on their "wits, bravado, and collaboration—the three necessities if you want to make it in Hollywood". The show launched in October 2020 on Stitcher, with some episodes airing live on Paul Scheer's Twitch Channel, FriendZone.{{Cite web|title=Unspooled: Screen Test on Stitcher|url=https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=www.stitcher.com|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017150921/https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test|url-status=live}}

Spool Party is a live stream that focuses on fan favorite films with special guests. Episodes premiere live on YouTube. Shows have featured the films Big, Clue, and Clueless. One episode featured a House Party reunion with director Reginald Hudlin and Christopher "Play" Reid.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

{{Portal|Film}}

• {{Official website|https://www.unspooledpodcast.com/}}
• {{URL|https://www.earwolf.com/show/unspooled/|Unspooled on Earwolf}}

Category:Audio podcasts

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