Blank Check with Griffin & David

Griffin, David, Ben, and Marie accepted the mission. They live and pod in the shadows, for those they hold close, and for those they never meet. They also have a few notes for Tom Cruise and Chris McQuarrie with regards to Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Join the crew as they break down all the problems of this latest (and final???) installment of the beloved franchise. Join them as they rave over some of the most incredible sequences ever to grace the silver screen - ALSO in this movie. It’s a mixed bag, folks. But speaking of bags - we still love popcorn. And movies. If you’re in NY check out the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—Story and Spectacle at the Museum of the Moving Image [https://movingimage.org/event/mission-impossible-story-and-spectacle/] Read Owen Gleiberman’s Review [https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-review-tom-cruise-1236396671/] Use code CHECK at monarchmoney.com [http://monarchmoney.com] in your browser for half off your first year. Sign up for Check Book [https://blankcheckpod.substack.com/welcome], the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your  pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. [http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck] Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter [https://x.com/blankcheckpod?lang=en], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/?hl=en], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@blankcheckpod?xmt=AQGzctAh4mbWTwYzCV1pzNT6AMV9o99EOfymi8TLR5mTde0] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blankcheckpodcast/]!  Buy some real nerdy merch [https://kinshipgoods.com/blankcheck] Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/s/gpcOkQr8Sv] or Discord [https://discord.gg/Q6YGSR3JrA] For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com [https://www.blankcheckpod.com/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Ubriacco family are back and - can you believe it? - they’re still talking! Actor and filmmaker Max Minghella joins us to talk about Look Who’s Talking Too, the contractually-obligated, quickly produced sequel to Amy Heckerling’s surprise hit. We’re talking about Mr. Toilet Man (he eats your pee pee and poo poo), Elias Koteas’ Mr. Scary Uncle Man (he has a gun), and Mr. English Man (David Sims, who grew up in London). Plus, Ben continues to flesh out his “Look Who Hath Talked” prequel, and Griffin becomes the first person with the courage to ask, “Who was the first baby?” Sign up for Check Book [https://blankcheckpod.substack.com/welcome], the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your  pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. [http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck] Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter [https://x.com/blankcheckpod?lang=en], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/?hl=en], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@blankcheckpod?xmt=AQGzctAh4mbWTwYzCV1pzNT6AMV9o99EOfymi8TLR5mTde0] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blankcheckpodcast/]!  Buy some real nerdy merch [https://kinshipgoods.com/blankcheck] Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/s/gpcOkQr8Sv] or Discord [https://discord.gg/Q6YGSR3JrA] For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com [https://www.blankcheckpod.com/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In perhaps the spermiest film we’ve ever covered, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley hang out with a baby voiced by Bruce Willis and Amy Heckerling gets revenge on Harold Ramis. As David Sims says early in this episode - Look Who’s Talking is a VERY RICH text. Vanity Fair’s Hillary Busis joins us to talk about this 1989 “forgotbuster,” a film that made a bozo amount of money and dared to ask the question, “What if baby talked??” We’re going deep on Travolta lore, grappling with Kirstie Alley’s later career, and following numerous tangents on everything from the rules of the Rugrats universe to advancements in crib safety. Look who’s podcasting! Sign up for Check Book [https://blankcheckpod.substack.com/welcome], the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. [http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck] Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter [https://x.com/blankcheckpod?lang=en], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/?hl=en], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@blankcheckpod?xmt=AQGzctAh4mbWTwYzCV1pzNT6AMV9o99EOfymi8TLR5mTde0] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blankcheckpodcast/]!  Buy some real nerdy merch [https://kinshipgoods.com/blankcheck] Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/s/gpcOkQr8Sv] or Discord [https://discord.gg/Q6YGSR3JrA] For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com [https://www.blankcheckpod.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Congratulations! You’ve won an all-expenses-paid vacation with Griffin, David, Ben, and Jon Gabrus to Europe! Only downside is…well, you have to watch this movie. From the strange cultural stereotypes to the unfortunate lack of jokes, Amy Heckerling’s sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation isn’t the smoothest trip. But, it certainly gives us an excuse to talk about one of the most beloved franchises of the 1980s! Join us for Stonehenge stories, a deep dive into Beverly D’Angelo’s incredible biography, travel talk, and a whole lot of Chevy chat. Listen to Action Boyz [https://www.patreon.com/ActionBoyz] and Staying Alive [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/staying-alive-with-jon-gabrus-adam-pally/id1807624961] Sign up for Check Book [https://blankcheckpod.substack.com/welcome], the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your  pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. [http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck] Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter [https://x.com/blankcheckpod?lang=en], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/?hl=en], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@blankcheckpod?xmt=AQGzctAh4mbWTwYzCV1pzNT6AMV9o99EOfymi8TLR5mTde0] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blankcheckpodcast/]!  Buy some real nerdy merch [https://kinshipgoods.com/blankcheck] Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/s/gpcOkQr8Sv] or Discord [https://discord.gg/Q6YGSR3JrA] For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com [https://www.blankcheckpod.com/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

He’s the nicest bad guy in town. His last name is an adverb. And he’s got some pretty wacky bits! Sweetie pie comedian Josh Gondelman joins us to talk about 1984’s Johnny Dangerously, Amy Heckerling’s loving homage to 1930’s gangster pictures. Things we attempt to understand in this episode: the cultural legacy of Joe Piscopo; the actual joke that’s being told in the “Your Testicles and You” animated reel / is there one?; Marilu Henner’s insane memory thing; if the Danny DeVito bull scene is a parody of anything; why does Richie Rich have cent signs in his name if he’s so rich?; and most crucially - why is this movie so damned hard to see in 2025?!?! Real fans know that Blank Check started off as an investigative podcast. Maybe it’s time to bring that element back! Subscribe to Josh's newsletter [https://joshgondelman.substack.com/] If you haven't been able to find the movie maybe watch the Internet Archive version [https://archive.org/details/johnny-dangerously]. Buy Mattie Lubchansky's Book Simplicity [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739012/simplicity-by-mattie-lubchansky/] Listen to Griffin on The Michael Keaton Movie Mount Rushmore episode of The Big Picture [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mGouPiErnMYXsOewjyLmo] Read Coolio's Obituary [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/28/arts/music/coolio-rapper-dead.html] Watch the end of Disaster Movie [https://youtu.be/54ymp9TqDbw?si=lGux4sNdFNmMIfxz] Sign up for Check Book [https://blankcheckpod.substack.com/welcome], the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your  pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won’t want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. [http://www.patreon.com/blankcheck] Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter [https://x.com/blankcheckpod?lang=en], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blankcheckpod/?hl=en], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@blankcheckpod?xmt=AQGzctAh4mbWTwYzCV1pzNT6AMV9o99EOfymi8TLR5mTde0] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/blankcheckpodcast/]!  Buy some real nerdy merch [https://kinshipgoods.com/blankcheck] Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/s/gpcOkQr8Sv] or Discord [https://discord.gg/Q6YGSR3JrA] For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com [https://BlankCheckPod.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]