051 Spaceballs: The Schwartz Awakens

This week, Michelle and Cherie blast off into the galaxy of the beloved (and hotly debated) sci-fi parody, Spaceballs.

One sister is thrilled about the upcoming sequel and the return of Rick Moranis, while the other remains unconvinced that the original deserves its cult-classic status. Along the way, they discuss the film's connections to Star Wars, the surprising support of George Lucas, and the many pop-culture references packed into the movie.

Topics include:

•  Why the upcoming Spaceballs sequel has fans excited 
•  Rick Moranis' long-awaited return to the screen 
•  The cast, including Bill Pullman, John Candy, and Joan Rivers
•  Dot matrix printers and why younger generations may never understand the joke 
•  George Lucas' one major condition for allowing the parody 
•  The famous "Merchandising!" scene 
•  Hidden references to The Wizard of Oz, Alien, and Planet of the Apes
•  Whether the movie still holds up nearly 40 years later 
•  Why Spaceballs became a cult classic despite mixed reviews 
•  The surprising connection between Spaceballs and Tesla's "Ludicrous Mode" 

Plus: fried chicken cravings, pizza cravings, and one very disappointed Star Wars-loving podcaster learning that Heath isn't a Spaceballs fan.

Question for listeners: Are you Team Spaceballs or Team "I Don't Get Mel Brooks"? Let us know!