Raised by Rentals

Groundhog Day 2

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered? For this episode, join us in the existential time loop of history repeating itself with a rare Bill Murray sequel: GROUNDHOG DAY 2!

Garbage Pail Kids

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:31:36 -0500

In the 80s, when trading cards and silly novelty toys were all the rage, one fad captured the imagination--and the gag reflex--of kids like no other. So of course adapting it to a feature film would be a big hit…right? In this episode, we carefully traverse the trash-heaped back-alley switchbacks of memory lane to imagine THE GARAGE PAIL KIDS MOVIE that should have been.

Storytelling Tips with Unc and Jefe (Super Gushers)

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:06:06 -0600

Attention, students! This Super Gushers special is Storytelling 101. Everyone take your seats and sharpen your pencils, because class is in session with your pals Unc and Jefe.

The Clip Show Cliché

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:22:40 -0600

What do Die Hard, The Lost Boys, and Mrs. Doubtfire have in common with Pong? You'll have to listen to find out! For the premiere episode of RAISED BY RENTALS Season 5, we try our hands at the age-old series trope of the CLIP SHOW CLICHÉ.

We Love Christmas and Christmas Loves Us Back (Super Gushers)

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 23:20:47 -0600

The holidays are in full swing, which means it’s time to wrap up Season 4! Get it? Like wrapping up a gift? Because it’s Christmas? Geez, tough crowd… For the last episode of the year, join us while we reminisce about our favorite holiday movies and music, review this year’s episodes, and super-gush about all the reasons WE LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Yule Perish Next

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:40:08 -0600

Christmas may only come once a year but nothing can stop JUERGEN THE YULETIDE AVENGER from returning again to punish all the naughty boys and girls! It's a threequel threat this episode with guest Samm Grandquist (WNY Horror Krue) and another festive family tale of holiday horror.

Yule Perish Too

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:57:44 -0600

It's Christmastime once again, so of course JUERGEN THE YULETIDE AVENGER must return! Friend of the podcast Samm Grandquist also returns this episode, to join us in a tale of spreading holiday cheer…across the walls with a battleaxe!

Turkey Hands!

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:17:25 -0600

Thanksgiving is the season for family, appreciation, and…perving on the girl next door?! This episode, join us as we give thanks for the horny hilarity and horror of the boy cursed with TURKEY HANDS!

In the Arnieverse of Madness

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 00:38:14 -0600

When the League of Arnies is jeopardized by the return of a powerful enemy, they send their most versatile variant on a perilous mission across worlds. Trapped in other realities, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER finds himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home…

The Great Pumpkin

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:11:01 -0500

On Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises out of his pumpkin patch and flies through the air with his bag of toys for all the children…or at least that’s what Linus van Pelt believed. But after years of waiting in the pumpkin patch and missing trick or treats, could he remain sincere? To cap off this year’s spooky season, we celebrate the first and best Halloween TV special and ask ourselves: Does Linus still believe in THE GREAT PUMPKIN?

Tarman and the Wraith

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

October always makes us nostalgic for the good old days of the VHS era, when the local rental store was sure to have its shelves stocked with schlocky straight-to-video sequels to all our favorite horror movies and the television airwaves were replete with seasonal Halloween specials. In this DEALER'S CHOICE DOUBLE OR NOTHING DOUBLEHEADER episode, we blind-challenge each other to improvise follow-ups to a couple of our favorite spooky movies.

Snobs Anonymous (Rental Rant/Super Gushers)

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 22:20:38 -0500

Here at RAISED BY RENTALS we don't put up with elitist know-it-all fans…unless they're us! In this special RENTAL RANT/SUPER GUSHERS mashup episode, we finally come clean and admit we have a problem: we’re snobs!

Hot Garbage 3: Trash Mouth

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 22:22:17 -0500

You screamed at the HOT GARBAGE horror of a bloodthirsty dumpster fire. Your spine went cold from the terrible truth of what was buried in the BAD RUBBISH. But now you'll learn true terror, when you find yourself alone in a dark alley with the atrocity known only as TRASH MOUTH!

The Vengabus Saga: One Week to Live

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:50:07 -0500

1998 spawned an impressive lineup of catchy pop hits, but one song haunted the airwaves like no other with its perfect mix of rapid-fire lyrics and a radio-friendly alt-rock hook. Now, one unlucky college student will learn just how haunting it can be when she listens one too many times to the earworm that is ONE WEEK!

Slasher Camp 3: Killing Time! (or, Freddy & Jason's Excellent Adventure)

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 21:33:18 -0500

The kids are back! That's right, summer camp is in session and our boys Freddy and Jason are making the most of this SUMMER SLASHERAMA (Part 2)! Tune in this episode to find out what happens when these legendary spree killers get lost in time and must discover a way back to SLASHER CAMP.

The Monster Squad 2: Slasher Summer (100th episode)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:33:25 -0500

It's our 100th episode! We're celebrating with a 2-part SUMMER SLASHERAMA special to indulge in our favorite improv topic: slasher movies! So join us as we imagine what happens when all the best 80s horror flick killers bring the pain to a quiet suburban town…only this town is protected by THE MONSTER SQUAD!

Does the Kombat Have to Be So Mortal?

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:14:09 -0500

90s kids reveled in the ultraviolence and gore of tournament fighting games so of course cash-grab movie versions were inevitable. But what if we were in charge? We could write a screenplay that proves films based on video games don't always have to suck. But some Hollywood producer douchebag would probably just $@%&in' ruin it… For this episode, wince along with us as we improv-ruin a cinematic adaptation of MORTAL KOMBAT!

The Where's Waldo? Movie

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 01:05:39 -0500

We’ve imagined film adaptations of pop songs, an Internet meme, and even board games with no storyline. But what about a book with no words? For this episode, we challenge ourselves to improv a live action movie version of WHERE’S WALDO?

SNAAAKES IN SPAAACE!

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:02:16 -0500

Snake Plissken escaped from New York, L.A., and Earth itself…but he just can't seem to get away from corrupt men in power. Now in space, he'll go face to face with the head of the Zombie Squad, the one and only Marion Cobretti, AKA Cobra. It's a knock-down, drag-out, blockbuster crossover for the ages between these two SNAAAKES IN SPAAACE!

The Zed Word (Super Gushers)

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:39:50 -0500

When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth… And we're here for it! Everyone loves a good living dead flick, but who would survive an actual undead plague? In this SUPER GUSHERS special, we gush about our favorite shamblers and imagine how we might fair if the world were overrun by ZOMBIES!

Flapjack Massacre: Second Breakfast

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:01:00 -0500

The sleepy town of Flapjack, Arkansas is in the spotlight again, this time because the mascot of a murder-themed breakfast cereal is really making a killing. Count Kreepyhead's Mike O'May joins us once more, to chronicle the return of PANCAKE FACE!

Loud, Confident, and Wrong (Rental Rant)

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:01:33 -0500

Um, actually…this isn't a regular improv episode, this is a Rental Rant special where we complain about people who insist on correcting us--whether they're right or not--and bemoan the horrors of being mildly inconvenienced. So if you can't wait to pounce on someone and belittle them for making an unimportant error, join us for a patented Random Righteous Rancorous Rental Rant b*tchfest!

The Muppet Chainsaw Massacre

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:59:00 -0500

The podcast which you are about to hear is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five musicians, in particular Janice and her bandmate, Animal. It is all the more tragic that they weren’t paid for their gig. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them a normal drive to a gig in the armpit of nowhere became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, the Muppet Chainsaw Massacre.

Space Vietnam

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:59:38 -0500

When the second Death Star is destroyed, the Rebels rejoice because they're finally safe from the evil of the Galactic Empire. But what about the Stormtroopers left behind on the Forest Moon of Endor? Abandoned to face the natives, the stranded Imperials are far from safe…

Harry and the Hendersons 2: Hardcore Harry

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 23:40:47 -0500

When the Hendersons accidentally hit a sasquatch with their car on the way back from a camping trip, they didn't expect to end up welcoming him into their home and family. But when his own family's home is threatened, a Bigfoot's gotta do what a Bigfoot's gotta do. In this episode, we improv an action-adventure sequel to the family-friendly classic, HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS!

Young, Dumb, and Full of Opinions (Rental Rant)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Sometimes we're just (literally) sick and tired and need to vent, so we figured it was high time to hate on prequels, superheroes, and lazy storytelling. For this Rental Rant episode, we channel our inner angsty know-it-all teenage selves and revisit the days when we were YOUNG, DUMB, AND FULL OF OPINIONS!

Weekend at Bitey's

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:50:18 -0600

Richard and Larry thought they found a shortcut to the good life when their rich and successful boss invited them out to his beach house to party, but their yuppie dreams were dashed when Bernie suddenly died…or did he? Join us on a trip to the Hamptons to see how Richard and Larry handle an encounter with the undead during their WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S.

Laser Swords at Dawn (Rental Rant)

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Did Rian Johnson make one of the worst Star Wars movies or a worthy installment in the Skywalker Saga? For our most anticipated Rental Rant ever, it's finally time for us to trade fightin' words 'bout THE LAST JEDI!

Escape from Earth

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:27:46 -0600

First he had to escape from New York, then he had to get the hell out of L.A. For the debut episode of season 4, we'll tag along to see how Snake Plissken survives when he must ESCAPE FROM EARTH!

The Morgue File (Super Gushers)

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 18:42:13 -0600

We celebrated our 3rd birthday this month so for the finale of Season 3 we're shining a spotlight on our most favorite topic ever: ourselves!

That's right, it's time to finally tell the mysterious origin story of RAISED BY RENTALS!

BONUS: You get to pick an episode topic! We cleaned out our stash of dead and abandoned episode ideas but now we want YOU to vote on which one we'll resurrect for an improv in Season 4 next year. Listen then vote on social media!

Dead episode ideas:

The Smurfs…but it's a creepy 80s fantasy
Lost Boys spin-off TV show about the Frog Brothers
Al Leong tribute--the universal goon
Reginald VelJohnson is a multiversal cop
The Explorers/Flight of the Navigator crossover
Children of the Corn as a screwball 90s comedy
Weekend at Bernie's…but Bernie is a zombie
Howard the Duck as a family TV sitcom
The Pirates of Dark Water…finish the story
C.O.P.S. and Crooks live action adaptation

Tales from the Cryptmas

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:32:09 -0600

Horror was all the rage in the 80s so it's no shock that decade spawned one of the greatest TV shows of all time, a spine-chilling anthology series so popular that Hollywood stars would kill to take part. Now it's our turn to take a stab, so we asked the madman himself Professor Pickman of Pickman's Vinyls to lend us a hand for a special Xmas episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT!

The Town That Dreaded Festivus

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 22:57:04 -0600

A tiny rural town tried to drum up some tourism by making a SEINFELD joke their official annual holiday celebration and everything was going great…until the mayor's infidelity kicked off a series of events that cast a curse on their festivities forever. Join us on a trip to see what happens when a group of plucky teenagers decide to bring secular holiday fun back to THE TOWN THAT DREADED FESTIVUS.

Planes, Trains and Batmobiles

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:23:10 -0600

The last time Del Griffith tried to get home for Thanksgiving, he ended up on a road trip from hell but found friendship on the way. This year, the stakes are higher as Del and his new travel partner flee for their lives by hopping a ride on PLANES, TRAINS…and BATMOBILES?

We Love Halloween and Halloween Loves Us Back (Super Gushers)

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

It's that most holy time of year again when the night belongs to children big and small, tricks becomes treats, and the streets flow with fun size candy bars. For our spoopy season SUPER GUSHERS special, we share true crime anecdotes, cherished memories of getting the bejesus scared out of us, and all the reasons WE LOVE HALLOWEEN!

Fright Night Theater

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 19:07:29 -0500

When two men move into the house next door together, Charley Brewster assumes the only logical explanation: they must be vampires! For the 2nd part of our SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we flip the script to see what happens when a normal day in suburbia becomes a FRIGHT NIGHT.

Curse of the Mannequin

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 01:44:19 -0500

Brat Pack movies of the 80s oozed with style and swagger, defined by fashion, romance, coming of age…and falling in lust with inanimate objects?? For the 1st episode of our two-part SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we couldn't help but wonder: What was the dark secret behind the man who fell in love with a MANNEQUIN?

Ready Player Joust

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 14:30:32 -0500

In 1982 Williams Electronics popularized two-player video games with an arcade hit featuring lance-wielding ostrich-riders, but when and where was this birdbrained deathmatch meant to take place? In this episode, we gaze into our misty CRT screen to scry a vision of the dystopian world that drives desperate survivors to JOUST!

Tainted Love (Rental Rant)

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:25:30 -0500

Cancel culture is on the wane but when celebrities are horrible people they’re bound to be exposed. So does that mean we have to shun their art? For the final installment in our RENTAL RANT series on toxic fandom, we explore the question: When the creator of a beloved property is cancelled, can you still enjoy your TAINTED LOVE?

Bad Rubbish

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 22:44:31 -0500

We made you fear a fiery dumpster hungry for blood! Now we'll reveal the terrifying origin story of that unholy HOT GARBAGE. For the 2nd part of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE of original horror, we find the real good $#!% in a mess of BAD RUBBISH.

Return of the Vengabus: Enter Cotton Eye Joe

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:21:34 -0500

The Vengabus of Death is back! But what will happen when another catchy 90s club jam shows up for the party?
For the first episode of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE two-part sequel series, everybody wants to know: Where did you come from, COTTON EYE JOE?!

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter Got Whacked

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 16:03:54 -0500

Kids in 80s and 90s movies were always left alone to take care of themselves, so of course it was a shock when Sue Ellen's mom hired a babysitter to watch the kids while she went on vacation without them.

But it's OK because the babysitter died right away so the kids could have their unsupervised summer fun!

For our 75th episode we investigate the suspicious events of DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD.

Spite Unseen (Rental Rant)

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Why bother to watch a movie or play a game to see if you like it when you can just $#!% all over it before it even comes out! Our 13th RENTAL RANT episode is a warning to everyone about toxic fandom's most insidious attack: the PREEMPTIVE STRIKE!

Over the Big Top

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:09:07 -0500

After saving the day with arm wrestling and a truck, Lincoln Hawk won the heart of his estranged son and went into business for himself. But life on the road is hard, especially when the next adventure is OVER THE TOP!

Skin Deep

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 23:25:45 -0500

It's 'bout time for body horror! If you can stomach it, this episode is guaranteed to make your skin crawl. For the 2nd part of our TRIGGER WARNING TWIN BILL original improv duology, we give ourselves the willies when we dare to poke more than SKIN DEEP.

Never Kill the Dog

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 14:14:26 -0500

There's no limit to imagination but to write a story well, it's a good idea to keep some "rules" in mind--like avoiding clichés and preventing plot holes. But since rules are made to be broken, for the first part of our TRIGGER WARNING TWIN BILL original improv series, we blithely ignore the advice that good writers should NEVER KILL THE DOG.

Fandom Toxicology (Rental Rant)

Fri, 17 May 2024 16:43:25 -0500

Being a fan of something can be hard...especially when opinionated know-it-all jerks keep telling you you're liking it wrong! For our 12th RENTAL RANT episode, we go back to the well for a sequel to our tirade on TOXIC FANDOM.

We Have Robocop at Home

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:35:53 -0500

We started this podcast to imagine how we might "improv improve" our favorite pop culture stories if ever given the keys to the kingdom...but what if we broke bad and just %*@&ing RUINED a good story instead? In a twist that could only happen in Hollywood, we spend our nice episode cringing at the thought of what it would take to ruin a perfect movie like ROBOCOP!

Prayer of the Solarbabies

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 02:45:53 -0500

In a future without parents, rad orphans only have one choice: skate or die! For this episode, Justin Von Strasburg joins us to imagine a world where PRAYER OF THE ROLLERBOYS meets SOLARBABIES!

Pac-Man: Kill Screen

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:45:17 -0500

When a deep void research vessel goes missing on its way to an uncharted planet, the mission calls for a crack team of space commandos to follow the trail. In this episode, Josh and Mike return to the dark arcade to investigate the mystery of PAC-MAN!

Flapjack Massacre

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:13:39 -0600

The sleepy town of Flapjack, Arkansas doesn't boast much to put it on the map...unless you count the breakfast-themed serial murders. Fellow Rad Panther Michael O'May from the Count Kreepyhead's Saturday Morning Monster Mash podcast joins us to play horror-host and cruel gamemaster as we follow the maple syrup trail to unmask PANCAKE FACE!

100% More Christian Slater

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Brian Kelly was just a skater-punk screw-up from Orange County until his brother became the victim of a deadly conspiracy. Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Brian got in too deep and his life would never be the same (or safe) again. So what do a vulgar radio pirate in Arizona and a teenage suicide bomb in Ohio have to do with it? Fellow Rad Panther Dawn D'Orazio joins Mike and Josh to connect the dots between the rebellious anti-heroes of GLEAMING THE CUBE, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, and HEATHERS!

Jay and Silent Bob Meet Frankenstein

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:42:38 -0600

After meeting God herself, the resident stoners of the View Askewniverse went to Hollywood to get revenge, get the girl, and get paid. Then what happened? For the first episode of RAISED BY RENTALS Season 3, we channel the spirits of Tinseltown's classic comedy duos to daydream a movie where JAY AND SILENT BOB meet FRANKENSTEIN!

The Year in Rear-View (Rental Rant)

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 22:58:03 -0600

It seems like a lot of content creators build their brands riding the coattails of actual creative people...and we make a whole podcast doing exactly that! So for our 11th RENTAL RANT episode, we turn the meta-spotlight on ourselves and take a look back at what we “made" in RAISED BY RENTALS SEASON 2.

Yule Perish

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:37:23 -0600

In an age of consumerism and forgotten traditions, sometimes people need to be reminded what Christmas is all about...whether they like it or not. To round out our spooky holiday season, our very own horror host Samm Grandquist from WNY Horror Krue and Jerry's Closet calls the shots as we conjure the spirit of the YULETIDE AVENGER!

Black Friday

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600

For decades, the day after Thanksgiving in the US was a day for Xmas shopping, doorbuster bargains...and terrifying mob rule. But in recent years the tradition has declined, so in this episode we spitball a slasher flick to bring back the classic holiday horror of BLACK FRIDAY!

Pauly Shore’s Thanksgiving Vacation

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:27:38 -0600

From MTV VJ to leading man to Hollywood has-been, Pauly Shore has had one long strange trip of a career...but we thought we could make it even stranger. For our 2023 Thanksgiving special, we take the Weasel on a holiday road to a good ol' fashioned Griswold family VACATION.

Trick ’r Treat: Good to Eat

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 03:05:03 -0500

The residents of Warren Valley take Halloween very seriously and one trick-or-treater in particular makes sure the traditions never die...or else. For our 2023 All Hallow's Eve special, we lovingly contribute to the mythos with a fan-fiction sequel to TRICK 'R TREAT!

The Incredible Jason Returns

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 01:22:29 -0500

He was melted by toxic waste in the sewers of New York but still made it home in time for the next film...but how exactly did Jason get back to Camp Crystal Lake? With an episode that hearkens back to our first ever, we fill in the blank between JASON TAKES MANHATTAN and JASON GOES TO HELL!

Suffer the Children

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

When kids from their school go missing but the adults can't seem to do anything about it, Paul and his friends decide to take matters into their own hands. In the second episode of our FRIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY DOUBLE PACK original series, we explore what happens when small-town America will no longer SUFFER THE CHILDREN.

Look Alive

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Highschoolers have a lot to worry about, from homework to acne to lovers' lane. The last thing they need is an insatiable hunger for brains! For the first part of our FRIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY DOUBLE PACK original improv special, we imagine what it would take for the walking dead to LOOK ALIVE.

Submitted for the Approval of the Breakfast Club

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 18:40:14 -0500

What happens you put 5 high school troublemakers together for all-day detention...but they're not alone? In our second back to school special, we kick off #spookyseason with a murder mystery reimagining of THE BREAKFAST CLUB!

Back 2 School Special

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 23:52:11 -0500

Summer's almost over and another academic year begins...but what's school really for? To get an education? Or is it all fun and games? It might not be the 80s anymore, but we've got some opinions on why Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect when he goes BACK TO SCHOOL!

Hot Garbage!

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We've all had a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...but do you ever feel like you just want to throw your life away and watch it burn? For the 2nd part of our LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE PICTURE SHOW special, join us for a literal DUMPSTER FIRE THEATER.

The Vengabus of Death

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

What happens when a 90s good-time party jam turns deadly? For the first episode of our LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE PICTURE SHOW special, everybody's running from the VENGABUS!

The League of Extraordinary Arnies

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:16:15 -0500

Harry Tasker thought spying on some teacher from Oregon was a standard Omega Sector operation...until he noticed he and John Kimble have the save face! For this new installment in the "Arnieverse," everyone's favorite KINDERGARTEN COP gets roped into a conspiracy of TRUE LIES.

Ernest Goes to Slasher Camp

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:57:28 -0500

If you can't beat 'em, SLASH 'em! Summer is the season for camps in the woods and the slashers they attract so it's the perfect time to revisit Freddy and Jason's Slasher Camp. For our 50th episode, we return to Crystal Lake to find out who will survive when ERNEST GOES TO CAMP!

Secret Origins Revealed! (Super Gushers)

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Every hero has an origin story and every pop culture nerd has something that hooked them forever—a formative moment, an older fan who shared the sauce, or a rad item that blew their mind. In our latest SUPER GUSHERS installment, Samm Grandquist of WNY Horror Krue and Jerry’s Closet (@injerryscloset) joins us to share the stories that sparked our fandom obsessions.

Johnny 5 Is Still Alive

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

He escaped his original directive as a military war machine, had adventures in New York, and found a family...but whatever happened to Johnny 5? Podcaster General Dawn D'Orazio joins Mike and Josh to chronicle the fate of pop culture's forgotten A.I. hero in a what-if threequel to SHORT CIRCUIT!

Return of the Living Dead: Teenage Wasteland

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:26:45 -0500

Brain-slurping teenagers from beyond the grave! Special guest Samm from WNY Horror Krue and Jerry's Closet joins us to improv a totally rad sequel to Mike's all-time favorite flick, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD!

Spider-Man ’95

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:35:08 -0500

Despite being one of Marvel's most popular characters, it took Peter Parker decades to get a proper big-budget movie...but what if it happened sooner? For Episode 46, Mike and Josh revisit the 90s to daydream a cast and script treatment for what would have been the first silver screen feature of your friendly neighborhood SPIDER-MAN!

Alien/Predator: Revengeance Rising

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:13:36 -0500

Happy Alien Day! In this second part of our first two-part special, we break down two of the best-ever sci-fi franchises film-by-film and lay out a retroactive blueprint of what Hollywood should have done with ALIEN and PREDATOR!

AVP ABCs (Super Gushers)

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 23:55:13 -0500

Horror and sci-fi fans of the VHS era had an impossible choice: Who's better, the Xenomorph or the Jungle Hunter?! So of course Hollywood cashed in and gave the fans what they wanted with canonical crossovers and bigger, flashier movies...to mixed reviews. For the first part of our first two-part episode, Josh and Mike the SUPER GUSHERS critique the dual-franchise films of ALIEN and PREDATOR!

Cobra 2: Assignment Miami Beach

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:30:19 -0500

Genre switches and mash-ups are always a good time, especially when it comes to the Hollywood badasses of the 80s and 90s. In this episode, Josh and Mike try to find Marion Cobretti's friendlier, squishier center with a PG comedy sequel to the 1986 action classic COBRA!

Whose Improv Is It Anyway?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 01:41:35 -0500

Audience choice! We asked our friends and listeners to participate by submitting clichés, tropes, genres, styles, etc.--random storytelling elements for a blind challenge game. Because no one demanded it, Josh and Mike fire up the randomizer to improv a story in real time from your suggestions...and boy, is it a doozy!

Toxic Fandomology (Rental Rant)

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:45:08 -0600

These days it's hard to just like what you like with so many negative-nelly armchair-critics poisoning the fun of being a pop culture fan. In the 10th RENTAL RANT episode, Josh and Mike brave the tip of an unfortunately deep iceberg to call out the evils of TOXIC FANDOM.

Mr. Monopoly’s Neighborhood

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:34:56 -0600

Save the community center! The "greed is good" trope of the 80s led to one of the now-forgotten genres of the 90s: the social activism comedy. For the 40th episode, Mike and Josh revisit that era and once again dare to dramatize a story-less board game with a film pitch for MONOPOLY!

Weirder Science

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 01:00:54 -0600

John Hughes movies are mostly classic coming-of-age films that set a standard for the VHS generation...but do they hold up to the scrutiny of 21st Century hindsight? In this episode, Mike and Josh extrapolate a ridiculous premise to its extremes by brainstorming a sequel to WEIRD SCIENCE!

Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good (Super Gushers)

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 23:33:24 -0600

We remember our favorite childhood movies as awesome classics everyone should watch...but do they really hold up? It's the return of the SUPER GUSHERS special feature as Mike and Josh ramble down rabbit trails and eventually head down memory lane to revisit GHOSTBUSTERS!

Centipede: The Motion Picture

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Two of the best things about 1980s pop culture are the kickass action movies and the 8-bit video games. But why have one without the other? For the first episode of 2023, Josh and Mike imagine a world where the sci-fi action hit of the decade was a film adaptation of the Atari classic CENTIPEDE!

Ash Saves Christmas

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 02:06:54 -0600

Ever since Ash Williams found the Necronomicon in an old cabin in the woods, he's been cursed to endlessly battle the Evil Dead. But can he and his trusty boomstick catch a break at the most wonderful time of the year? For the first episode of Season 2, Mike and Josh improv a soon-to-be holiday classic: ASH SAVES CHRISTMAS!

Thanksgiving: The Movie (Get Stuffed)

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:58:37 -0600

The VHS era was over by 2007 but director Eli Roth nailed the 80s holiday slasher movie trailer with his contribution to Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse double feature. Tune in as special guest Mike O'May (Count Kreepyhead) joins Mike and Josh for a very special Raised by Rentals THANKSGIVING!

Teen Wolf Also

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 23:32:49 -0600

In the 80s, only a loveable star like Michael J. Fox could make a sports movie about a teenage werewolf a hit at the box office. So of course Hollywood tried to cash in with a sequel that was just a copy of the original...only worse. So much worse. Guest Justin Von Strasburg joins Josh and Mike to imagine what-might-have-been with the sequel to TEEN WOLF.

Every Shape Has Its Thorn

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 23:28:04 -0500

After an aborted attempt at a holiday anthology series, the creators of the HALLOWEEN movies leaned hard into an origin story for the original iconic villain. But the so-called Thorn Trilogy became a thorn in the franchise's side that led to remake after reboot. For our big spooky season finale, Josh and Mike take a stab at spinning a more interesting legacy for MICHAEL MYERS.

Have Fun Storming the Castle! (Rental Rant)

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:48:27 -0500

Pop culture fandom today is plagued by a serious problem: 9 out of 10 fans are affected by the evils of gatekeeping. If you've been the victim of a gatekeeper, it's important to know you're not alone. The new RENTAL RANT episode of RAISED BY RENTALS is here to help. Together we can heal...and kick some gatekeepers in the nuts. Who's with us?!

Freddy and Jason: Bros Before B!tches (Slasher Camp)

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:53:33 -0500

For years, slasher movie fans begged Hollywood to see the two titans of the genre duke it out on the silver screen in the ultimate fan-service showdown. In 2003, they got their wish with a knock-down-drag-out slash-fest...but was it everything it could be? In this episode, Josh and Mike crack each other up with a fun re-imagining of FREDDY VS. JASON!

Revenge of the Living Nerds

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Lewis and Gilbert were excited about college, until they got there and found out--oh no!--they were nerds all along. Fans cheered when they got their revenge on the popular pretty people who made their lives miserable...but this 80s classic is problematic at best. For their first double-feature episode, Josh and Mike bust out their calculators to solve the problems of REVENGE OF THE NERDS!

Dumpster Diving for Gold (Super Gushers)

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:39:06 -0500

We've all seen the blockbuster movies, read the bestselling book series, and jammed out to the newest viral song...but what about the hidden gems that take some digging to find in the dark corners of pop culture? For the first episode of the new SUPER GUSHERS special feature, Josh and Mike gush about 90s comics, direct-to-video movies, and the shame-free fun of shutting down the haters by letting yourself just like what you like.

Super Mario Bros. 2: Plumbertime Blues

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 01:13:40 -0500

In 1993 Hollywood took a chance with the first live-action movie adaptation of a video game, but it disappointed fans, riled up critics, and eventually became a joke. Only...was it actually pretty good? In this episode, Josh and Mike imagine an alternate world with a successful film franchise based on SUPER MARIO BROS.!

Last Action Barbarian

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Arnold Schwarzenegger became one of the biggest action stars of the VHS era starting with spot-on casting as a musclebound barbarian and he stayed on top long enough to poke fun at himself in one of the genre's most misunderstood satires. For this episode, Josh and Mike continue their experiment to combine every Schwarzenegger movie into a shared universe by mashing up CONAN and LAST ACTION HERO!

Critters Reloaded

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In the 80s there was a batch of low-budget horror movies based on creepy little monsters running amok. But were any of them actually scary? In this episode, Josh and Mike improv a story to take the comedy out of horror-comedy and try to actually scare people with a serious take on CRITTERS!

Summer School 2: The Dave and Chainsaw Massacre

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The raunchy teen summer comedy movie was a staple of 80s and 90s cinema, and the legendary Carl Reiner made one of the era's best. In this episode, Josh and Mike daydream about how rad it would've been to see more of the horror SFX-obsessed duo of Dave and Chainsaw in a genre-bending sequel to SUMMER SCHOOL!

Cats Gone Wild

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Image Comics exploded onto the comic book scene in the early 90s, quickly becoming the number 3 comics publisher in the US based on the popularity of superstar artist-creators like Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, and of course Jim Lee! It didn't take Hollywood long to come calling for characters to bring to life on the screen, big and small...with mixed results. Putting comics in the spotlight for the first time, Josh and Mike imagine what it would have been like to go to the movies in the 90s for the live-action adaptation of Jim Lee's WILDC.A.T.S!

Big Trouble in Little Italy

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0500

John Carpenter made some of the most iconic horror and sci-fi movies of the VHS era, and it's obvious he loved having fun mashing up genres. But what if he'd made a mafia movie? And what if he'd teamed up with Kurt Russell again? That's a Venn diagram of awesome for 80s fans! In this episode, Josh and Mike ponder what ol' Jack Burton would do in a silver screen sequel to BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA!

Tower of Snakes

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:34:32 -0500

They said it couldn't be done! You can't make a good movie out of a board game...but Hollywood proved them wrong with CLUE. Then RAISED BY RENTALS proved them wrong again with TROUBLE, the only (completely imaginary) horror movie with a Pop-O-Matic bubble! But can they do it again? In the 14th full-length episode, Josh and Mike venture into the karmic dangers of pitching a movie adaptation of...SNAKES AND LADDERS??

Contamination Hazard Urban Disposal

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In the 80s it seemed like everyone was getting mutated by toxic waste! Of all the horror movies in that sub-genre, the one with the best title was maybe the worst of the bunch. How can a film about cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers end up so boring?! For the 13th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine how great John Heard and Daniel Stern could have been with a good script for C.H.U.D.!

Adapt or Die! (Rental Rant)

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We've all felt the pain of getting excited when our favorite book or comic gets adapted to film only to walk away bewailing why? WHY?! For the 8th RENTAL RANT, Josh and Mike complain like grumpy old men about piss-poor adaptations and Hollywood alienating a built-in audience when they change things for no good reason. Plus, a couple of mini-rants about The Wheel of Time and X-Men! Come get angry with us!

Knowing Is Half the Battle...and the Other Half Is Violence

Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

G.I. Joe was one of the most successful franchises of the 80s and early 90s. With the one-two punch of a popular cartoon and the greatest toyline of the decade, a hit feature film was surely to follow...yet the animated movie was released straight to home video and Hollywood wouldn't gamble on a live-action film for another 20 years. For the 12th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike fan-cast and fantasy-direct an in-era blockbuster movie worthy of the REAL AMERICAN HERO.

Your Kung Fu Grip Is Old and Now You Must Die (Rental Rant)

Wed, 18 May 2022 00:47:03 -0500

Once upon a time, G.I. Joe set the standard for perfect playable toys, supported by an animated series, cutting edge comic book, feature film, and loads more that sparked the excitement of kids everywhere. But now it seems kids just don't play with action figures anymore. This week's RENTAL RANTS is a crossover special with COUNT KREEPYHEAD'S SATURDAY MORNING MONSTER MASH! Host Mike O'May--our first guest!--joins Josh and the other Mike to lay out the blueprint for how to reinvigorate and relaunch one of the greatest toylines in history.

From Here to Eternia

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:34:02 -0500

80s kids rejoiced when Hollywood adapted one of the decade's most popular toy properties to the silver screen in 1987, only to leave the theaters confused at the treatment of He-Man. For the 11th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what could have been if we'd gotten a movie true to the origins of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.

The Angry Raised by Rentals Nerds (Rental Rant)

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In the 80s, the Nintendo Entertainment System--our beloved NES--revolutionized the home console market and delivered an unparalleled lineup of legendary games. So why, Lord Jeebus, why?? were there so many $#!&-tier games clogging the rental store shelves? For the 6th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh and Mike shake things up a bit by daydreaming of the FRIDAY THE 13TH NES game that never was...

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Kent

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Kent was an ambitious and successful university student, leader of a top-secret laser optics project...until he was upstaged by a prankster and his wunderkind sidekick. When Kent heard the voice of God, though, he knew he was destined for greater things. In the 10th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike consider what happens when God stops talking to a REAL GENIUS.

F Your Childhood (Rental Rant)

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Why are relaunches, remakes, and new installments for classic franchises making all the 80s and 90s kids so furious? In the 5th RENTAL RANT, Josh and Mike investigate the Case of the Ruined Childhood!

In a Van Down by the River

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Matt Foley is 35 years old, thrice-divorced, and living in a down by the river...but how did this high-energy motivational speaker come to such a crossroads in life? In the 9th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what life must be like for the late great Chris Farley's trademark SNL character.

Title Fight (Rental Rant)

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:01:00 -0500

Why are movie sequel titles so unoriginal, confusing, and repetitive? In the 4th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike go full curmudgeon on the laziness of movie series titles.

Twinsies

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:38:43 -0500

Sarah Connor survived a ruthless attack at the hands of a killer cyborg from the future & thought she'd found safety in a small Mexican town. So why does she keep seeing a man with the same face as her would-be assassin? For the 8th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv the perfect 80s action movie crossover: COMMANDO VS. THE TERMINATOR!

Spoiler Warning, @$$hole! (Rental Rant)

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

It's not a spoiler that spoilers suck! In the 3rd now-regular RENTAL RANTS feature, Josh & Mike vent about jerks who carelessly spoil the stories to movies, books, & more.

It’s Fun Getting Into Trouble

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:31:01 -0500

In the grand tradition of movies based on board games like Clue and...Battleship, I guess?...for the 7th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv an actual story for a silver screen adaptation of the only game with a Pop-O-Matic bubble: TROUBLE!

All Filler, No Killer (Rental Rant)

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:00:00 -0600

Why the %*$& are shows so long these days?! In the 2nd installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike swear up a storm about streaming TV run-times.

To Catch a Predator

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0600

From the jungle canopy of Central America to the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, the Earth has often been a safari destination for alien sport-hunters. But what happens when things go wrong and predator becomes prey? For the 6th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine how the 90s-era blockbuster action scene would have been even better with PREDATOR 3.

Remake, Reuse, Recycle (Rental Rant)

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:56:45 -0600

Doesn't Hollywood have any good ideas anymore?! In this first bonus episode, Josh & Mike go on a RENTAL RANT about remakes of popular movies.

Street Fighter II: Electric Shadaloo

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 08:09:53 -0600

Hadouken! Head-to-head fighters dominated the video game scene in the early 90s, so of course Hollywood got in the ring to kick ass with blockbuster movie adaptations. Only the movies we got didn't exactly hit hard. For the 5th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine a fighting game-turned-movie that doesn't pull punches & actually put some street fights in STREET FIGHTER II.

Nightmares on Elm Streets

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:44:14 -0600

1, 2, Freddy's comin' for you...& you...& you...he's everywhere! As the pandemic continues to menace the real world, can the survivors of Springwood prevail against a plague of nightmares? For the 4th episode--& 1st birthday special!--of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improve a story concept for the return of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

Goonies Too

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:03:21 -0600

When they were just kids, Mikey Walsh & his friends faced pirates, gangsters, & booby traps to save their homes. But is one adventure enough? For the 3rd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if sequel to THE GOONIES!

Police Academy and Chill

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:11:52 -0600

From a ragtag band of misfits to a force to be reckoned with, Mahoney & the gang cracked up a generation with their screwball take on cleaning up the streets. But in the political climate of the 2020s, can a comedy about cops actually be funny? For the 2nd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if relaunch of the POLICE ACADEMY series.

Christmas the 13th

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:39:00 -0600

It's the holiday season at Crystal Lake & we couldn't help but wonder: What would Jason do? He's been to Manhattan, he's been to space...why not a Christmas special? For the 1st episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if installment in the FRIDAY THE 13TH series.