Abbott Elementary (with Paige Elson)

It’s A Wonderful Smooch (Vanessa Guerrero Returns)

Vanessa Guerrero (Producer, Writer, Unemployed Hot Person) RETURNS for a special holiday episode! Vanessa and Lena talk about the iconic smooch in the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Later, they talk about their personal experiences shooting kissing scenes. Stick around to the end to learn about the origin of kissing under the mistletoe! Wishing everyone a Smoochy Holiday season and a Smacky New Year <3 NOTE: This is the final episode of Season 1 of Smooch Fest, thank you SO much for listening and watching. Season 2 will be back next Spring! Relevant Links: It’s A Wonderful Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk] The Celluloid Closet documentary: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-celluloid-closet [https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-celluloid-closet]  Follow Vanessa: https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/ [https://www.instagram.com/snesguerrero/]  https://x.com/nessguerrero [https://x.com/nessguerrero]  Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod [https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod]

Wicked: For Good and Gay Hallmark (Caitlin Alice Gilbert Returns!)

Caitlin Alice Gilbert (Author/Screenwriter) RETURNS to discuss Wicked: For Good and the smooch between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). They compare the chemistry from the musical and the film, Elphaba’s sex cardigan, and Jonathan Bailey becoming People’s Sexiest Man Alive. It’s also holiday season, so Lena takes us back to A Moment In Kisstory: where we learn about the first gay kiss in a Hallmark Christmas movie, The Christmas House. She shares how queer representation in Hallmark has developed over the years. Enjoy this penultimate episode of the first season of Smooch Fest! Follow Caitlin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/ [https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/]  X: https://x.com/caitlingilbs [https://x.com/caitlingilbs]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs [https://www.tiktok.com/@caitlinalicegilbs]  Pre-Order her book here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-dolce-veto-caitlin-alice-gilbert/e72b30b236dc7af4?ean=9781923232310&next=t& [https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-dolce-veto-caitlin-alice-gilbert/e72b30b236dc7af4?ean=9781923232310&next=t&]  Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod [https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod]    Photoshopped Shirt in Wicked: For Good  https://x.com/demboiii/status/1994185827870449927 [https://x.com/demboiii/status/1994185827870449927]  Wicked: For Good kissing scene - Because this is still in theaters, no legal clips are online, so I encourage you to see it in theaters or when it comes out on streaming! The Christmas House kiss: No clips online but you can rent it on multiple platforms. Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUTa9QG9uQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUTa9QG9uQ]  LGBTQ Hallmark Article: https://www.girlsgonehallmark.com/lgbtq-hallmark-movies/ [https://www.girlsgonehallmark.com/lgbtq-hallmark-movies/]

Abbott Elementary (with Paige Elson)

Paige Elson (Actor/Writer/Comedian) joins Lena to do a deep dive into Abbott Elementary! They discuss the two momentous smooches between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). The gals compare other sitcom slow burn relationships and give their predictions for the couple in future seasons. Paige shares a story about her best kiss (hint: it’s a New Year's smooch!) Stick around for the Smooch Fact to hear about your brain on smooching. School’s in session! Study up! Follow Paige: https://www.instagram.com/paigeelson/ [https://www.instagram.com/paigeelson/] https://www.instagram.com/anointedgreens/ [https://www.instagram.com/anointedgreens/]  https://www.youtube.com/@AnointedGreens [https://www.youtube.com/@AnointedGreens]  Substack [https://paigeelson.substack.com/] Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod [https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod]    First Janinory Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBrVPX2HqGQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBrVPX2HqGQ]  Second Gregine Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgKTD5q2Uw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxgKTD5q2Uw]  Weird Image of That Guy - Sensory Homunculus: https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/109358431327849124 [https://mastodon.social/@Sheril/109358431327849124]  Book: The Science of Kissing [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-science-of-kissing-what-our-lips-are-telling-us-sheril-kirshenbaum/956e1b9f9c6303b3?ean=9780446559904&next=t]

The Bodyguard (with Nina Concepcion)

Nina Concepcion (Actor/Writer) joins Lena to talk about her favorite pop culture smooch: the kiss between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner on the airport tarmac in The Bodyguard (1992)! (NOTE: the first few minutes of audio is lower quality than usual, luckily, it kicked back into gear by minute 5!) The girls gab about Costner and Houston's chemistry and how 90s movies were just BETTER. Later, Nina shares stories about her worst and best kisses (and it features a marching band). Lena ends the episode sharing a Moment in Kisstory: the time Al Gore made out with his wife, Tipper, too long at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. They get into the difference between Boomers and the Silent Generation. You’re gonna love this ep!  Follow Nina: https://www.instagram.com/nina_concepcion/ [https://www.instagram.com/nina_concepcion/] https://www.instagram.com/obsessed_theshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/obsessed_theshow/] https://www.instagram.com/ruthiejoinsadeathcult/ [https://www.instagram.com/ruthiejoinsadeathcult/]  Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod [https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod]    The Bodyguard Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gynU1x2Lk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gynU1x2Lk]  Al & Tipper Gore Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0kAoEWS2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0kAoEWS2o]

A Very Spooky Smooch: Jennifer's Body (with Fiona Nova)

We have a special Halloween themed episode for you! Fiona Nova (Director, Content Creator) has joined Lena to talk about the teen horror comedy Jennifer’s Body (2009) starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. They go in depth on the layered complexity of Needy and Jennifer’s relationship - is it love or is it a demon succubus manipulation tactic?? You’ll also want to hear Fiona’s personal smooch story about her best kiss. The episode ends with a roundup of SPOOKY SMOOCH FACTS! Listen, if you dare… Follow Fiona: https://www.instagram.com/fiona_nova/ [https://www.instagram.com/fiona_nova/]  Follow Smooch Fest: https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod [https://linktr.ee/smoochfestpod]    Jennifer’s Body Kiss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MdKI8kiXU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1MdKI8kiXU]