Monster Party

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO LISTEN TO MONSTER PARTY! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD revel in the legacy of a shark named “Bruce.” Get a bucket of chum, and find yourself a bigger boat, as MONSTER PARTY presents… JAWS: 50 YEARS OF FRIGHTS AND BITES!!! In 1975, STEVEN SPIELBERG unleashed a breathtaking thriller that would go on to be one of the highest-grossing motion pictures of all time, ushering in the era of the “blockbuster.” Based on the best-selling book by PETER BENCHLEY, JAWS’ journey from novel to screen was a difficult one. Faced with a malfunctioning shark, precarious ocean conditions, bickering actors, and skyrocketing production costs, Spielberg would rise above these obstacles, turning adversity into ingenuity. And let’s not forget the contribution of JOHN WILLIAMS' legendary score. To this day, can anyone resist humming “Dun Dun Dun Dun” when they hit the pool? After JAWS' initial worldwide success, the film was followed up by several lackluster sequels an

MONSTER PARTY BRINGS YOU THE ONLY KRYPTO YOU CAN TRUST! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, salute what is arguably the most famous superhero of all time. Join us as we pry open the doors of The Fortress of Solitude to examine the meta-human miracle that is... THE LEGACY OF SUPERMAN! Created in 1933 as a villain by the ill-fated team of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Superman made his heroic debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. Since then, the orphan from the planet Krypton has been the subject of numerous pop culture interpretations, including serials, cartoons, live-action TV series, and major motion pictures. Although these vehicles have been hit and miss, the release of the most recent 2025 film, SUPERMAN, written and directed by JAMES GUNN, sees Superman come full circle back to the tone of his earlier comic book roots.  In this episode, MONSTER PARTY dissects what has made Superman retain his universal appeal. Concentrating primarily on his depictions in films and t

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT? WE DID!!! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD celebrate an astounding anniversary of earth-shattering importance! Behold, the triumphant tricentennial that’s anything but a trifle… MONSTER PARTY: THE 300TH EPISODE!!! WORST MONSTERS STRIKES BACK! From the days of our early (and sweaty) YouTube episodes, to our ongoing podcast series. MONSTER PARTY has happily provided monster kids with the kind of quality entertainment and life coaching they deserve. For over 13 years, we’ve featured a diverse range of guests, including industry professionals, celebrities, stand-up comedians, genre historians, a psychotherapist, and even an emergency room physician! It’s been an exciting ride, but it’s only the beginning. Okay, maybe more like the middle. For the 300th episode, we present a look back at some of the things that have made this podcast special! Aside from allowing us to yak about horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, this show has provided unique opportuniti

MONSTER PARTY INVADES THE V.I.P. SECTION! A beloved past guest returns to help us rub virtual elbows with some of showbiz’s best and brightest! Lay down the red carpet and brace yourselves as MONSTER PARTY presents… JOHN STANLEY’S CELEBRITY ONSLAUGHT!!! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, have not made a secret of their love for JOHN STANLEY! From 1979 to 1984, John was the host of the San Francisco Bay Area TV series, CREATURE FEATURES, taking over from legendary first host, BOB WILKENS. Since that time, he has gone on to author many books, including several editions of THE CREATURE FEATURES MOVIE GUIDE, THE GANG THAT SHOT UP HOLLYWOOD, THE NOVELS “WORLD WAR III (AKA NAPALM SUNDAY)” AND “BOGART 48,” THE AUTOBOIGRAPHICAL “I WAS A TV HORROR HOST,” and the recent follow-up to that classic tome, “THE CAREER THAT DRIPPED WITH HORROR.” When it comes to films, John directed the love letter to the horror genre, “NIGHTMARE IN BLOOD,” as well as producing many other movies, documentaries, mu

PASADENA WAS SO PETRIFYING... WE CAME BACK FOR MORE!!! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, present more frightful fun from the Pasadena Convention Center! Don't look behind you because you may discover you are being stalked by... MONSTERPALOOZA 2025: PART 2!!! As our most beloved convention comes to a close, MONSTER PARTY is there to guide you through all the "slay-by-slay" action! Sample another steaming cauldron of fans/friends, horror aficionados, cosplayers, artists, and drop-in celebrity industry professionals like JOE COLWELL (CARNOSAUR, THE SHINING, THE FIRST OMEN), MARK McCRACKEN (PUMPKINHEAD II: BLOOD WINGS, THE OUTER LIMITS, MATINEE), PAUL SCARLATA (KING OF THE HILL, FAMILY GUY, REGULAR SHOW), TOM & MIRANDA FRANCK (JUMBO TITAN X AND THE GREAT ROBOT ARMS RACE!, A DINOSAUR CHRISTMAS, GARADA K7 OWNER), and ALLEN ALVARADO (FLIGHT 29 DOWN, COLD CASE, BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE STORE)! And LOTS more! We also include such MONSTERPALOOZA staples as infuriating movie reviews/atta

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES... TO PASADENA!!! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, return to the hallowed halls of the Pasadena Convention Center for another 3-day round of monstrous merriment! Better schedule your back surgery now because your spine is about to be shattered by... MONSTERPALOOZA 2025: PART 1!!! Our favorite convention strikes back with a vengeance, and MONSTER PARTY is there to talk you through the first two days of it! Once again, we speak to a seemingly endless parade of fans/friends, horror aficionados, cosplayers, artists, and drop-in celebrity industry professionals like BOBBY SLAYTON (ED WOOD, THE RAT PACK), DAVID WEINER (FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS), and TED HAINES (AVATAR, THE HUNGER GAMES)! And More! Of course, what would a MONSTERPALOOZA be without the usual petty arguments, "free" gifts, lunch critiques, every joke taken seriously, purchase bragging, seemingly endless Creature From The Black Lagoon references, and other high-octa

THE SKULL IS BACK! AND WITH LESS MOLD THAN EVER! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD bring back the topic, which is all topics! Can your ill-equipped nerves handle the raw intensity and bone-chilling randomness that is... TOPIC FREE-FOR-ALL: SKULL-POCALYPSE!!! For the uninitiated, let us explain: Like in past TOPIC FREE-FOR-ALL episodes, we all write several concepts for brief nerdy conversations on strips of paper, and place them within the confines of Larry's vintage plastic skull-shaped Halloween candy bucket. Then, we each take turns blindly choosing one of the strips and reading the topic. What follows is a lively and informative discussion, peppered with opportunities for trivia, merriment, and personal potshots.  Some of these topics come from unchosen strips from past episodes that suffered water damage from a leak in Larry's garage. Yes, they are literally moldy oldies. But a little mold can't dampen the unbridled excitement these personally crafted argument starters bring.

IT'S OUR PARTY AND WE'LL QUOTE IF WE WANT TO! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, choose their words carefully for one of Monster Party's most beloved games. We're taking the stage for another round of genre film dialogue karaoke that we're calling... QUOTE JAM 2025!!! Once again, the rules are simple: We each take turns reciting a quote from a horror, science fiction, or fantasy film, and the rest of us must guess the movie in question. But trust us, it can be a lot harder than it sounds.  Ideally, when we play this game, we do our best to deliver the most dramatic reading our humble acting skills can provide. This can often result in a series of shaky actor impersonations that would make Rich Little cringe. Well, cringe no more Monster Partiers, because in this episode, we have a talent who puts the "impress" in impression. Not only is our guest a gifted improviser and voice actor, but he is also the founder of the historic San Francisco landmark, COBB'S COMEDY CLUB! Please welcom

MONSTER PARTY TOASTS A MODERN MASTER OF THE MACABRE! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD sit at the knee of a literary juggernaut to learn the delicate art of spine-tingling storytelling! Join us as we take a creepy crash course in... WRITING HORROR WITH RICHARD CHRISTIAN MATHESON. R.C. MATHESON started his career in television, working on such legendary shows as THREE'S COMPANY, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, KNIGHT RIDER, THE A-TEAM, QUINCY, M.E., AMAZING STORIES, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, MASTERS OF HORROR, and the Emmy award-winning NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES: FROM THE STORIES OF STEPHEN KING. As a screenwriter and film producer, his credits include the GENE HACKMAN/DAN AYKROYD comedy LOOSE CANNONS, the horror film IT WAITS, STEPHEN KING'S BIG DRIVER, the werewolf thriller FULL ECLIPSE, and the upcoming French production of the classic RICHARD MATHESON story "The Shrinking Man," L 'HOMME QUI RETRECIT. In his literary career, R.C. Matheson has authored over 100 short psychological horror stor

MONSTER PARTY SALUTES THE LIFE AND CAREER OF A CREATIVE VISIONARY! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD celebrate the legendary artist who designed many of the most iconic attractions at Disneyland Theme Parks. But as you’ll soon learn, his work and legacy far surpass the gates of The Magic Kingdom. MONSTER PARTY is proud to present… BOB GURR: TO DISNEYLAND AND BEYOND!!! While pursuing a career in car design, Bob got the call from Disney to create ride cars and animatronics for Disneyland. The Autopia cars! The Matterhorn bobsleds! The Haunted Mansion Doom Buggy! The original Disneyland monorail! The internal mechanisms of Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln! All designed by Bob Gurr! After a long career as an "Imagineer," Bob left Disney to start his own company and bring us the original (and best!) King Kong Encounter for Universal Studios and the sinking pirate ship at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas! In this enlightening and inspirational episode, Bo

MONSTER PARTY GETS TIME STONED! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD use THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO to predict the fate of the current trend of meta-human films. It's a cacophony of caped crusading conjecture, presenting the question, "What is ... THE FUTURE OF SUPERHEROES!!!" In this episode, we chronicle the fantastic evolution of screen superheroes from past to present, and what might lie ahead. Expect some mutant level banter about the racist Batman serials of the 1940's, TV offerings including THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, WONDER WOMAN, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK, the lightning in a bottle that was SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, the unrivaled success of the MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE, the hit-but-mostly-miss offerings of the D.C. EXTENDED UNIVERSE, and so much more! But is the world's obsession with superheroes dwindling? Have recent big-budget failures contributed to this "cape fatigue." Will D.C. ever get its superpowered act together? And is the MCU's Phase IV a gamble that will pay off? We're talkin' t

NO TOM JONES, SOME THINGS ARE UNUSUAL! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, take a lesson from the recently featured film, INCUBUS, and delve deeper into the fun-filled world of off-beat horror, sci-fi, and fantasy films. So join us, won't you, as we uncover... GENRE ODDITIES! So what is a GENRE ODDITY? Well although there may be some crossover with the CULT FILM category, GENRE ODDITIES push the weirdness a bit further! Whether it's an unusual theme, a troubled production history, or the complete disregard for a mainstream audience, a GENRE ODDITY can often lead you to the question, "How the hell did this movie ever get made?!" If you're intrigued by things like avant-garde animation, handicapped horror, frustrating patience experiments, shelved superhero epics, pretentious horror comedies, A-List auteurs, B-movie bombs, Star Search narrators, post-apocalyptic sitcom dogs, and more... this is the episode you've been waiting for. OH, AND FOR THIS EPISODE, WE'RE SANS GUESTS, IN AN ATT

MONSTER PARTY HAS A SONG IN ITS HEART.  NOW WE’LL NEVER GET IT BACK IN ITS JAR! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, get their toes a tappin’ for this monstrous music festival of an episode. Follow the bouncing ball as we present… SOUNDTRACKS: THE SONGS!!! Soundtracks are usually remembered for the emotion-evoking melodies that gracefully punctuate the moments of a film. There are many masters of this remarkable craft: Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, John Barry, Lalo Schifrin, Goblin, John Carpenter, Bernard Herrmann, and countless others that only James Gonis could remember. But occasionally, plopped in the middle of all this symphonic pageantry, is an actual song with lyrics that makes us wish for a Karaoke bar strictly for nerds. Get ready for a sinister sing-a-long as we chart the hits from campy sci-fi favorites like The Blob and The Green Slime, bawdy beach films, 70's and 80's horror classics, genre TV shows, classic kaiju films, the world of James B

MONSTER PARTY TAKES AN ESPERAN-TOUR INTO CINEMATIC OBSCURITY! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD explore the difficult history of a little-known genre film gem. Join us as we embark on... THE TWISTED JOURNEY OF INCUBUS!!!  In 1966, members of the creative team behind the groundbreaking science fiction series, THE OUTER LIMITS, gave us an atmospheric horror film whose legacy is so troubled, it was considered by many to be cursed. Written and directed by OUTER LIMITS creator LESLIE STEVENS, shot by ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING cinematographer CONRAD HALL, and starring a pre-STAR TREK WILLIAM SHATNER, INCUBUS also has the distinction of being the first horror film in the language of Esperanto! For those unaware, Esperanto is an artificial language created by L.L. Zamenhof in 1887. But what would possess someone to make a horror film in this relatively unknown tongue? And would this decision jump-start the film's infamous "curse?"  Get ready for a fascinating tale that must be heard to be beli

MONSTER PARTY PRESENTS ANOTHER GEEK INTERVENTION! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD return to a topic they only tackled once before, when their guest was comedian/podcaster, JIMMY PARDO. So, why revisit it now? Because our newest test subjects are pure perfection! Prepare to have at least some of your opinions challenged as we present... WHY AREN'T YOU A BIGGER NERD? VOL. 2!!! It's no secret that the hosts of MONSTER PARTY have an obsessive passion for horror, science fiction, and fantasy. It affects our attitudes, relationships, bank accounts, and most frustratingly, our shelf space. Our love of this stuff is so all-consuming, that we often find it perplexing when we meet people with only a casual interest in genre-related entertainment. Yeah, okay, they "like" it. But why don't they live it?!  Joining us to answer these questions are two insanely talented writers, producers, and podcasters, making their MONSTER PARTY debut! They are currently the hosts of the entertaining and inf

THE SMACKDOWN IS BACK! AND NOT A MINUTE TOO SOON! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, start the year with a game that is really just an excuse for genre film nerds to read more. Can your inflated sense of film trivia entitlement handle... THE MAD MOVIE SMACKDOWN A.D. 2025!!!? MONSTER PARTY fans know the drill, but if you're late to the game, here's how it works: We each take turns thumbing through a genre film reference book, randomly stop on a page, blindly point at a film entry, and discuss said film with the group. What results is the kind of white-hot excitement you've come to expect from MONSTER PARTY! Joining us for this marvelous melee of meandering movie madness is a beloved return guest! You've listened in awe at his rapid-fire encyclopedic knowledge of obscure movies on our CULT FILMS episodes, and been yearning for his return. Not only is he a well-respected writer, editor, and film journalist, he is also the host of the long-running TV show, MEDIA FUNHOUSE! Please welcom

MONSTER PARTY PRESENTS A TANNENBAUM TIME MACHINE! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD summon the ghosts of Christmas past, to relive seasonal stories that will enlarge the Grinchiest of hearts. It's an audio trip down the chimney that we're aptly calling... MONSTER PARTY HOLIDAY MEMORIES!!! This season MONSTER PARTY gives you the gift of our mixed bag of holiday recollections. Gather 'round the "ghoul log," as we reminisce about some of our best and worst presents, waiting to open said presents, surviving family gatherings, traditional stranger danger (yeah, we're talkin' about you shopping mall Santa), cherished ornaments, dangerous decorations, and so much more! So move aside past beloved Christmas presents like STAR WARS toys, G.I. JOE, BIG JIM, and the S.S.P. SMASH UP DERBY. This year all you need under the tree is... MONSTER PARTY!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FANS AND FRIENDS! YOU ARE OUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

MONSTER PARTY WANTS TO DECK YOU IN YOUR HALLS! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD invite you once again to experience a series of cage matches in our audio octagon. But this time, these fights of fancy have a seasonal sting! Can your headphone-bruised cauliflower ears stand the Christmassy carnage that is… WHO WOULD WIN? VOL. 8: THE WINTER EDITION!!! If this is your first time attending a WHO WOULD WIN? event, the rules are quite simple: We choose horror/sci-fi/fantasy characters to enter a room, stage a fictitious battle for their lives and debate who would leave the victor. It’s pretty much the type of game you used to play in the schoolyard, only this one doesn’t leave you with dodgeball-induced internal injuries. We’ve done many of these episodes in the past, and they’re always a ton of fun. But for this round, we decided that the timing necessitated a winter twist. We’re including at least one character from a holiday-themed film, TV show, book, or legend for each of our fictio

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, MONSTER PARTY ENCOURAGES YOU TO BUY OUR LOVE! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, have Christmas stockings that are just screaming to be filled! And what they want, you want! So get ready to go into even deeper debt, as you check off the items in... THE MONSTER PARTY HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2024!!! The HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE episode is one of the year's most anticipated MONSTER PARTY events, second maybe to our annual Zardoz-themed sumo wrestling tournament.  And this year, our Santa's sleighful of genre-centric treasures has never been better! We've got a gleefully geeky selection of choice toys, books, comics, ornaments, art pieces, blu-rays, movie memorabilia, and more! We'll also provide some inexpensive gift alternatives that are sure to please in these most challenging times. Joining us once again for this shopping showdown is a staple of THE MONSTER PARTY GIFT GUIDE! He's an insanely talented artist, and toy creator, who has created masterpieces for SEA DEMON VINY

MONSTER PARTY SALUTES A GLORIOUS EIGHT-DECADE CAREER! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, celebrate the works of one of the most talented and prolific character actors of our age. Take a journey with us into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's a signpost up ahead: your next stop... THE WORLD OF H.M. WYNANT!!! H.M Wynant is an actor who, although you may not be familiar with his name, you have probably seen hundreds of times. He has an IMDB bursting list of credits and has appeared in almost every radio, stage, television, and film genre. His massive resume features numerous westerns including  BONANZA, WAGON TRAIN, MAVERICK, SHOTGUN SLADE, and THE BIG VALLEY, popular dramas like PERRY MASON, 77 SUNSET STRIP, THE ROCKFORD FILES, QUINCY, DALLAS, and THE WEST WING, the spy shows I SPY, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, and GET SMART, and even the somewhat controversial WWII comedy, HOGAN'S HEROES. Yes, he almost sent Colonel Klink to the Russian