
Showgirls (1995) with Lily Eagla
From Left of the Projector by Evan, Bill, Ward
March 24, 2026 · 1h 21m · Episode 241
About this episode
The episode features a discussion on the cult classic film 'Showgirls' and its cultural significance.
Two Verhoeven in a row! This week we are joined by Lily Eagla to discuss Verhoeven's notorious cult classic "Showgirls," a movie that stalled the career of Saved By The Bell alum Elizabeth Berkley before going on to be recognized as an important piece of satire ahead of its time. We discuss the uncompromising examination of Las Vegas, the way in which it represents the predatory and exploitative nature of the capitalist system, the dehumanization of sex workers, and try to understand the nature of the film's failure when it was released and why it has gone on to become an important piece of cultural criticism. Guest Links Lily on Instagram Lily on Tiktok Lily on Youtube Lily on Substack Left of the Projector Links Official Website Left of the Projector on Letterboxd Left of the Projector on Instagram Left of the Projector on Patreon Left of the Projector on Threadless Host Links Evan's Letterboxd Bill's Instagram Bill's Letterboxd Ward's Instagram Ward's Letterboxd
People in this episode
Hosts: Evan, Bill, Ward
Guest: Lily Eagla
Topics covered
- film analysis
- satire
- capitalism
- sex work
- cultural criticism
Keywords
- Showgirls
- Paul Verhoeven
- Elizabeth Berkley
- Las Vegas
- satire
- capitalism
- sex workers
- cultural criticism
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Showgirls
Places: Las Vegas
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