Welcome to the show, everybody! In this very special episode of Make Me a Nerd, Mandy Kaplan sits down with Bruce Vilanch—Emmy-winning writer, cultural historian of kitsch, and the man behind some of the strangest, most infamous moments in television history. You may know him as the guy who put Bea Arthur in a space cantina or paired Paul Lynde with KISS on national TV, but there’s so much more to Bruce’s story.

Together, they dive headfirst into the murky glitter of The Star Wars Holiday Special, exploring its Wookiee problem (they don’t talk, dance, or sing), its sultry Diane Carroll fever dream, and the fact that Life Day was somehow born from this madness. Bruce offers behind-the-scenes stories of writing for characters who don’t speak, persuading Art Carney into a deep V-neck, and navigating George Lucas’s peculiar brand of control. And yes, there’s a lot of love for Bea Arthur.

But it doesn’t stop at Star Wars. Bruce reflects on his Broadway turn as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, his doomed but delightful musical Platinum, and the strange power of camp television to unify audiences in an era before narrowcasting. He’s candid about working with legends (and some disasters), about walking the line between comedy and cruelty on awards shows, and about why he finally wrote a book about all of it: It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time.

This episode is a love letter to nerds of all stripes—musical theater nerds, comedy nerds, pop culture archivists—and an essential listen for anyone who ever found beauty in a bad idea done well (or at least weird). Bruce Vilanch doesn’t just tell stories—he is a story.

🛒 Links & References:

• 🎧 Libro.fm Audiobook Version – narrated by Bruce Vilanch himself
• 📖 Bloomsbury Books – support Mandy’s favorite local shop
• 🖥️ Bruce Vilanch on IMDb
• 🎭 Avenue Q School Edition – yes, it’s real

🎉 Bonus Content Reminder!

Love this episode? There’s more! Join us at makemeanerd.com/join to become a member and unlock bonus content—like Bruce playing rapid-fire word association about his legendary collaborators. Plus, members get early, ad-free access to every episode.

---
Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

Do you remember a time when David Bowie’s pants were tighter than your schedule, owls were CGI nightmares, and puppets had a suspicious amount of emotional range? No? WELL, YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT. Because this week, Mandy steps right into the sparkly, slightly confusing fever dream that is Labyrinth. And she does so with none other than fan-favorite, tattoo-wearing, La Croix-powered 80s movie expert Krissy Lenz.

Yes, Krissy is back, and she’s brought the power of voodoo (who do? SHE DO.) along with enough trivia and nostalgia to flood the Goblin City. Together, Mandy and Krissy explore everything from Jennifer Connelly’s “emotionally lasagna” acting to the unsettling truth about baby Toby’s stripes (fashion crime? Or subtle form of goblin-initiated Stockholm syndrome?).

They break down why Labyrinth flopped harder than a toddler on a trampoline, only to rise from the VHS ashes like a glitter-dusted phoenix of cult status. We talk peach-induced amnesia, helping hands that are, frankly, too helpful, and why Ludo is the emotional support monster we all need. And in the greatest mind-meld since Vulcans became a thing, Mandy and Krissy simultaneously declare Lady Gaga as the only possible heir to the Goblin King throne. Bowie would approve. Probably.

Also on tap: the terrifying truth about The Dark Crystal, the trauma of ‘80s puppet animation, and Mandy’s theory that Sir Didymus is somehow a Gonzo cousin on a gap year.

Links & Notes

• 🎧 The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast
• 🍸 Gank That Drink: A Supernatural Drinking Game Podcast
• 🌐 Join our Nerds at makemeanerd.com
• 📸 Follow Mandy on Instagram: @mandy_kaplan_klavens
• 🐦 Find Mandy on Bluesky: @MandyMiscast
• 🐦 Find Krissy on Bluesky: @KrissyLenz

---
Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

Welcome back, nerdlings, to Make Me A Nerd — the show where one mainstream mom dares to plummet headfirst into the gelatinous pit of sci-fi anthologies, death anxiety, and…digital pigs. This week, Mandy Kaplan reunites with podcast übermensch Pete Wright and returning mensch Tommy Metz III to tackle Black Mirror — that show that asks the critical question: “What if your phone hated you as much as you hate yourself?”

Together, Mandy, Pete, and Tommy trudge through techno-paranoia, pastel dystopias, virtual beach towns where nobody drinks a full cocktail, and simulated space-faring hellscapes hosted by Jesse Plemons’ terrifying smirk. From “Nosedive” to “San Junipero” to “USS Callister,” they unpack it all — social media dystopias, afterlife existentialism, toxic masculinity with a side of laser guns — and yes, the entirely correct revelation that polite behavior toward Alexa might just save your life one day. Plus: why influencer culture is just Yelp for your soul, how CGI turns your eyes into dead fish orbs, and an accidental seminar on the Jewish concept of hell.

It’s dark. It’s funny. It’s deeply unsettling. It’s basically the perfect Monday.

Links & Notes

• 🌐 Join our Nerds at makemeanerd.com
• 📸 Follow Mandy on Instagram: @mandy_kaplan_klavens
• 🐦 Find Mandy on Bluesky: @MandyMiscast
• 🙀 Catch up with the new season of All The Feelings with Pete and Tommy as they tackle Adulting!

---
Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.