About Season Five

February 13th, 2024 - Present

We make Hot & Bothered because we are interested in the way that love stories have impacted our lives and culture. For our fifth season of the show, we’re turning our attention to romantic films.

The season begins with ten episodes on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, an iconic film of the early 2000s rom-com oeuvre. It has a perfect yellow dress. It has a karaoke battle. It has Matthew McConaughey on a motorcycle. It’s basically the epitome of everything people consider ‘silly’ about the genre. In the first ten episodes, Vanessa Zoltan revisits How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in conversation with media experts and scholars to better understand the language of romance on film.

Following those first ten episodes, Vanessa is joined by beloved academic and podcaster Hannah McGregor to dig into the canon of romantic films, from Titanic to Twilight to When Harry Met Sally, (just to name a few).

 
 

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An introduction to Season Five featuring Vanessa in conversation with dear friends who were part of her romantic film-filled youth.

For our first deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to look at the history of the rom-com genre. To help us dig into it, we called up the incredible Kathleen Karlyn, the founding director of the Cinema Studies program at University of Oregon and author of The Unruly Woman: Gender and the Genres of Laughter.

We wanted to know: Where does the history of the rom-com start? What do people mean when they say something is a ‘battle of the sexes’ movie? and how do gender norms and ideals inform this particular movie? 

For our next deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to better understand the story structure of a Rom-Com. We called up the delightful Hannah Giorgis, a film critic for The Atlantic, to help us break down the three-act structure and how it operates in this film.

Hannah brought some great citations and resources to the show:

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, like many Rom-Coms, is set in New York City. It’s got fire escapes, taxi cabs, and a dramatic Manhattan Bridge scene. In order to understand this film, we have to understand: What is it about New York that is so ripe for romance? And what parts of the city are highlighted in this movie and why?

To help us answer those questions, we’re joined by Eric Hynes, the Curator of Film at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. 

After talking about setting last episode, we wanted to dig even deeper into the physical space inhabited by Ben and Andie. How does the design of their workplaces, apartments, and date-nights affect how we perceive each of their characters?

To help us tackle this topic, we're joined by Production Designer Stuart Blatt. Stuart walks us through the role of Production Designer, how he works with other crew members, and what he noticed specifically when watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?

The success of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is built around the chemistry and star-power of its two leading actors: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. To truly understand this film, we have to understand the way movie stars operate in Hollywood, what casting these two actors meant in 2003, and what it means today.

Helping us in that task is Russell Meeuf, a professor in the school of Journalism and Mass Media at the University of Idaho. His work focuses on celebrity culture, popular cinema, masculinity studies and disability studies. He is the author of several books on media culture, including White Terror: The Horror Film from Obama to Trump, Rebellious Bodies: Stardom Citizenship, and the New Body Politics as well as John Wayne's World: Transnational Masculinity in the Fifties.

When watching at rom-com, have you ever noticed that the stars just kind of glow? That their skin looks silky smooth and their apartments are always sun-drenched? Lighting design and camera movement play a huge role in giving rom-coms their particular aesthetic, and those things (we're pretty sure) are part of the art of cinematography. This week, to help us understand the history of cinematography and the particular look of How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, we have Chris Cagle on the show.

Chris Cagle is an associate professor of film history and theory in the Film and Media Arts department at Temple University. His book, Sociology on Film: Postwar Hollywood's Prestige Commodity, examines the 1940s social problem film as both a form of popular sociology and a strain of middlebrow "prestige" cinema. Additionally, he has published essays in Cinema Journal, Screen, and Quarterly Review of Film and Video, and in a number of edited volumes, including most recently Cinematography and Middlebrow Cinema. 

The music of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days runs the gamut from country-pop songs to whimsical orchestrations. To the modern ear, it all sounds very specific to an early 2000s rom-com moment. This week, to help us understand that moment and the history of movie music more broadly, we have Julie Hubbert on the show.

Julie Hubbert is the LaDare Robinson Memorial Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina. She's the writer of Technology, Listening, and Labor: Music in New Hollywood Film (1967-1980) and Celluloid Symphonies: Texts and Contexts in Film Music History among other works.

We can't wrap-up a deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days without talking about the most memorable part of the movie – the yellow dress Kate Hudson wears in the climax of the film. And while we're at it, it's worth obsessing over all the costumes in this film because this is a movie steeped in fashion. To help us unpack the craft of costume design, we're welcoming Colin Wilkes on the show. Colin Wilkes is a costume designer who has designed theater, opera, puppetry, TV and film in many genres. She has her BFA in Costume Design from CalArts and her design work on rom-coms includes the 2020 Hulu movie Palm Springs and the 2022 Netflix movie Look Both Ways. She’s currently the designer for the Apple+ show Big Door Prize.

Well folks – we've arrived! Our tenth and final episode of our How To series about How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. We've puzzled over its messaging, marveled at its efficiency, and learned a lot about the mechanics of film-making. On today's episode, Vanessa shares her concluding thoughts on the movie and brings her lingering questions to the brilliant cultural critic Anne Helen Petersen. We end the episode looking at the HEA with our new co-host, Hannah McGregor.

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at the top of The Empire State Building to record their first episode of Hot and Bothered together, all about the 1993 classic Sleepless in Seattle. It’s got Meg Ryan, it’s got Tom Hanks, it’s directed by Nora Ephron. What more could you want? 

For the next nine weeks, we’re thinking about the influence and impact of Meg Ryan as a rom-com super star. Next week, we look at the final scene of Sleepless in Seattle. In two weeks, join us for When Harry Met Sally.

After our wide-lens analysis of a movie, we're going to spend a week closely studying its final scene. These scenes, which are often Happily Ever Afters, tell us a lot about what's important to the movie and its idea about love and coupledom. In this week's scene, the characters Annie, Sam, and Jonah finally get to meet each other on the top of the Empire State Building.

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about When Harry Met Sally. We’re continuing our deep-dive into Meg Ryan with the movie that put her on the map as leading-lady material.

This week we explore whether 'opposites attract' is really a romantic principle we believe in and interview Professor Claude S. Fischer about the social history of telephones. Next week, we look at the final scene of When Harry Met Sally.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah tackle the last scene of When Harry Met Sally. They discuss the interstitial ‘couch scenes’ which recur throughout the movie and the few details we learn about Harry and Sally’s life after reconciliation. 

This week, Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about You’ve Got Mail. We’re onto our final Meg Ryan/Nora Ephron collaboration.

This week we explore how politics intersect with attraction and interview the former Editorial Director of Publisher’s Weekly, Jim Milliot, history of big box bookstores. Next week, we look at the final scene of You’ve Got Mail.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah dissect (and relentlessly mock) the last scene of You've Got Mail. They discuss the lack of actual communication in this scene and the supposed charm of Joe Fox.

Vanessa Zoltan meets Casper ter Kuile on a beach in Cannes to record this week’s episode, all about the 1995 movie French Kiss directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

This week we discuss the 'criminal with a heart of gold' trope and the power of kissing. We finish the episode with an interview with anxiety coach Dave Carbonell, all about aerophobia (a fear of flying). Next week, Casper is back to look at the final scene of French Kiss.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Casper take a close look at the last two scenes of French Kiss. They discuss Kate's financial sacrifice for Luc and what it means that she's willing to up and move to France.

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet traveling through time to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Kate & Leopold. It's our final Meg Ryan movie!

This week we explore what it meant for Meg Ryan to be a rom-com star at 40 years old and the American fantasy of British history. We finish the episode with an interview with the chief historian of The Center for Brooklyn History, Dominique Jean-Louis, about the Brooklyn Bridge. Next week, we look at the final scene of Kate & Leopold.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Hannah examine the last scene of Kate & Leopold. They discuss what it would mean to time travel to the past for love and what they would bring with them to 1876. 

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Titanic – our first movie in our cross-class romance series. 

This week we explore hubris, whether it's possible to divorce James Cameron from the film, and what we consider a ‘shipwreck.’ We finish the episode with an interview with musicologist Julie Hubbert on the mega-hit My Heart Will Go On. Next week, we look at the final scene of Titanic. 

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Hannah and Vanessa break down the many endings of Titanic. They explore the meaning of the Heart of the Ocean diamond necklace and this movie's theology of heaven.

As we mention in the episode, Hannah has a new book out! You can buy Hannah's new book, Clever Girl: Jurassic Park, here.

Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Lauren Sandler meet in the Catskills to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Dirty Dancing – one of our favorite movies of all time. 

This week we discuss the abortion plot line, Baby’s relationship with her father, and the difference between desire and love. We finish the episode with an interview sociologist Phil Brown on the history of Jews in the Catskills. Phil is the founder and president of The Catskills Institute which is a robust online resource for this history.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Vanessa and Lauren Sandler try not to cry their way through the ending of of Dirty Dancing. They discuss the music choices, the class politics, and the side characters they wish they heard more from.

Hannah McGregor and special guest Professor Racquel Gates meet in the fictional country of Zamunda to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Coming to America.

This week we discuss the tensions between Eddie Murphy and John Landis, what makes a 'black' film, and Racquel's concept of formal negativity. We finish the episode checking in with Vanessa for her thoughts on the movie. 

Don't forget to check out Racquel's book, Double Negative: The Black Image and Popular Imagination!

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Racquel Gates is back to dissect the ending of Coming to America with Hannah. They discuss what Lisa gives up in moving to Zamunda, the Disney princess evocations, and the many roles played by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall.

Vanessa Zoltan and special guest Professor Matt Potts meet at a mansion in Singapore to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Crazy Rich Asians.

This week we discuss the tension at the heart of Asian American identities, how family pressures preserve class divides, and the allure of opulence. We finish the episode by calling journalist Jiayang Fan to talk to us about the important cultural impact of the film.

For this week’s bi-weekly scene study, Matt Potts is back to dissect the ending of Crazy Rich Asians with Vanessa. They discuss why Eleanor gives her approval, the over-the-top engagement party, and Rachel's final outfit.

If you want to hear more of Vanessa and Matt, good news! Together they host the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet in the Chicago Suburbs to record this week’s episode of Hot and Bothered, about Pretty in Pink – our last movie in our cross-class romance series. 

This week we explore the delightful aesthetics of the film, the ‘queerness’ of Duckie, and desirability politics. We finish the episode with an interview Holly Chard on the politics and influence of John Hughes. Next week, we look at the final scene of Pretty in Pink.