Matt's So-Cast Pod

I'm chatting with a super exciting guest this week: It's the delightful Senta Moses, who played Delia Fisher on My So-Called Life! We talk about her early career, the inspiration for her performance, the real-life confession that may have influenced the coming-out scene in the finale, and even take a peek at her original script notes for insights into how she tackled the role. Amazing!!!

And then, James and I reflect not just on thi...

When last we left Angela and Brian and Rickie and Rayanne and all their friends, they were in the early days of 1995 and at a point of no return in their teen lives. So what's happened to them in the intervening 30 years? On this week's episode, we have a reunion episode of sorts, with a roundup of past guests speculating on where the characters might have found themselves. And then James and I explore a few more possibilities -- f...

My So-Called Life lives again! This week, we're chatting about how MSCL was saved from oblivion, resurrected on cable. What made MTV such a perfect home for this show -- better, in fact, than the network where it originally aired? Joining me this week for a chat about MTV is the delightful Peppermint: Drag Race icon, actor, singer, and child of the 90s. Then I'll dive even further into the decade with James, in a conversation touch...

In this week's episode of Matt's So-Cast Pod, it's the dramatic conclusion -- OR IS IT??? We've reached the final episode of My So-Called Life, in which everyone has revealing dreams and Brian finally tells Angela how he feels ... but she thinks that it's actually how Jordan feels. Meanwhile, Delia's got the hots for Rickie but has an important question to ask: Is he gay or what? And Graham and Hallie get a little steamy over a rac...

We're closing in on the end of the series, and it's time for some wacky hijinks after last week's heart-rending drama! The grownups are going to take a VERY SERIOUS vacation, and they leave Angela in charge ... but it doesn't take long for chaos to reign when Rayanne accidentally handcuffs herself to a bed, and Patty is tempted by forbidden booze.

Breaking it down this week we have the delightful comedian, actor, writer Drew Droege ...

Everyone’s life is FINALLY going smoothly … for about five seconds before it all comes crashing down, thanks to some extraordinarily bad decisions by Rayanne and Jordan, who decide to climb into the back of a car together; by Brian, who videotapes them; by Graham, who “forgets” to mention that Hallie broke up with her fiancee; and who knows, Amber’s probably up to something screwy off-camera. 

Making sense of it all this week a...

Happy 1995! It's a new year, and time to make some resolutions ... which will almost immediately be broken. Angela wants to stop being so introspective (although on second thought, maybe not), Patty wants to stop being so suspicious, Danielle wants to wear makeup ... and Rickie wants a place to live, which puts everyone else's resolutions into perspective. Mr. Katimsky, recently having sworn off coffee, wants to help, but can't -- ...

It's Christmas this week on the So-Cast Pod, but the yuletide is not particularly gay for Rickie, who has been cast out of the house and has nowhere to go. Fortunately, a mysterious folk singer appears to watch over him (kind of? A little unclear how she's actually helping) and Patty's two Christmas wishes are that the family go to church and that Brian shut the hell up for once. Meanwhile, Danielle points out that all this talk ab...

We've reached episode 14, in which Rayanne is one month sober -- but alas, she's starting to get a little fidgety. Can Angela and Rickie keep her from slipping back into old habits? Especially now that Angela has her hands full trying to figure out what her relationship with Jordan has become. Meanwhile, Patty learns a thing or two about Kurt Vonnegut.

Joining me to break it down is Aaron Berman, author of an upcoming book about My ...

On the podcast this week: No longer content with the boiler room assignations, this week Jordan's nagging Angela to explore more a more carnal pastime, but she's not sure she's ready -- so she borrows an erotic VHS tape from Sharon, and before long everyone's staring, transfixed, and lithe bodies kneading dough. Meanwhile, Graham brings Hallie Lowenthal and her fiancé into his kitchen and prepares a dinner that appears to be some k...

We're back from our little summer vacation and ready to tackle some saucy secrets. Angela's sneaking off to the boiler room with Jordan for make-out sessions, but that sneaking is starting to take a toll. Meanwhile Graham is the star pupil in his cooking class, but something may be cooking between him and a fellow student. And Rickie's aghast at the new English teacher's suggestion that he might want to join Drama Club.

Helping us b...

Everyone's at maximum freakout in the leadup to World Happiness Dance, whatever that is, and nobody can figure out who's going with who -- especially with the addition of two new students, Delia and Cory, shaking up the social circles. Adding to the confusion: We're getting Brian's inner monologue instead of Angela's! What's going on???? And why is Graham so determined to wallpaper the bedroom instead of dealing with those cooking ...

On this week’s episode, Rayanne and Patty throw dueling parties on the same night! It seems like the most worst thing that could possibly happen to Angela...until Rayanne’s drinking spirals out of control. Meanwhile Patty’s mother Vivian stuffs a turkey in the fridge, to Graham’s dismay. And the karma around the Chase household gets really low. Or dark. Or whatever karma does.

Breaking it all down with me are Scottish comedian Sam P...

It’s Halloween! Spoooooooky chills are in the air as Rayanne plots a seance, but winds up making a connection with someone she least unexpected. Meanwhile, Angela finds a new boy to fixate on — one who’s even more doomed than Jordan. Patty and Graham obtain some haunted (???) outfits from a mysterious costume shop. And Danielle finally gets some attention.

Chatting with me this week are drag icon Peaches Christ, something of an expe...

A medical emergency throws everyone into a panic, and things get weird at the Chase household. Sharon starts hanging out with Brian, Rayanne is nice to Sharon, and Graham makes a cake that makes Patty question their entire relationship. It’s enough to make Angela almost forget that Jordan even exists! (Almost… but not quite.)

Helping me break it all down are Ryan O’Connor (actor, director, and character actress) to talk about the ca...

Angela is DEFINITELY over Jordan this week, honest, swear to God. Except then she discovers that he can barely read, and decides it's her mission to help him... which conveniently provides a reason to ask him out on a date. (To see a movie with subtitles. Good thinking, Angela.) Meanwhile, Graham and Patty discover they might or might not be pregnant, and grapple with the implications of Sc...

On this week's podcast: A new substitute teacher arrives at Liberty High, bringing a shocking attitude, mismatched socks, and carpets galore. His class becomes the hottest ticket in town — but who really is Vic Racine, and is he as “cool” as the teens say? And who wrote that saucy sexy poem for the literary magazine?

In search of answers, I’m jo...

This week our heroes grapple with their greatest horror yet: Being perceived! A list circulates around Liberty High that ranks the sophomore girls on their appearance, much to the dismay of just about everyone. (Except Rayanne, who is tickled to be recognized for "most slut potential.") Meanwhile, Angela is furious to have developed a zit, and even furious-er when Patty decides they should ...

Do not be misled! The title of episode 4, “Father Figures,” does not refer to dad bods, but instead to dads who loom large in the lives of Angela, Patty, and Rayanne — often when those dads are nowhere to be seen. Angela’s annoyed to have discovered Graham’s possible philandering; Patty is annoyed that her father keeps interfering in the family’s IRS audit; and Rayanne was annoyed at her da...