Maltin on Movies

Sean Gunn has scores of TV and movie credits to his name and two distinct fan followings: those who watched him for seven seasons on Gilmore Girls and others who marvel at his work for Marvel in such movies as Guardians of the Galaxy, where he stands in for Rocket Raccoon. He is a versatile actor who just happens to be the brother of writer-director James Gunn. His latest film, Appofaniacs, drops this weekend and it deals with the world of Deep Fakes. But let us assure you: Sean Gunn is the real thing.

After some years in the business world, Jim Curtis decided to become a writer and specialize in biographies. Since then he has turned out superior, often definitive books about Spencer Tracy, W.C. Fields, and Preston Sturges, among others. His latest book is the biography of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, charting the colorful tale of how this "comedy to end all comedies" came to be. It's called Comedy is a Grim Business and Leonard, for one, likes it better than the film itself!

When your film career starts out with E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and The Outsiders people expect big things to follow. C. Thomas Howell has made good on this promise by working steadily ever since those early 1980s milestones—and promoting literacy through screenings of the S.E. Hinton classic. He has scores of film and television credits, but Leonard and Jessie are most impressed with his work ethic. The quality that Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola noticed so long ago still fires his work, most recently in the features One Mile: Chapter One and One Mile: Chapter Two, both now available on digital.

It's been a long time since Patty McCormack became a sensation—and a star—playing the title role in The Bad Seed on Broadway and then in Hollywood, but it's still a calling card. Her talent has taken her from soap operas to sitcoms and The Sopranos. She's onscreen again in Stop Time, happy to be working but content to live outside the spotlight. Leonard and Jessie got to know her when she found rewarding work at a local bookstore and were happy to get reacquainted for this week's podcast.

To untold millions of people she will always be bright-eyed Jane Banks in the original Mary Poppins (1964). The real-life Karen Dotrice is the mother of three who grew up in a show-business family. Her father Roy was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and her godfather was Charles Laughton! Luckily for us, Karen cherishes the memory of making Poppins and has especially fond recollections of Walt Disney, who lavished personal attention on her and her family while they were in Los Angeles. Jessie and Leonard were tickled pink to engage in conversation with a woman they've known and admired for years. (Karen even attended Jessie's bat mitzvah!) This interview first aired in 2022.

Bryan Fuller has written, produced and directed more TV series than we can count—including popular shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Discovery, as well as cult-audience favorites Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies. Now he's unveiling his debut theatrical feature as writer and director, Dust Bunny, starring Mads Mikkelsen (with whom he made the Hannibal TV series) and it will not disappoint his loyal followers. Leonard and Jessie enjoyed listening to such an eloquent filmmaker also who also happens to be an articulate film buff. DUST BUNNY will be In Theaters December 12, 2025.

One of the mainstays of Disney+ and the Disney Channel is a delightfully funny show called Big City Greens. Like all great cartoons, it's not just for kids. It's bright and funny, and once you hear the two brothers who created it you'll know why. Chris (who also voices the main character, Cricket) and Shane draw on their own experiences as country boys who moved to the city to make good—and they have done just that. Their heartfelt ambition and positivity are an inspiration to fans like Leonard and Jessie.

From instant—and enduring—recognition for a TV commercial to the present day, Sean Whalen has forged his own path as an actor. You can see him in the new release Traumatika, or you can surf any channel and come upon him in movies and TV shows: he has more than 200 credits on IMDB! He has written and directed two feature films for himself, and become a genuine star in the newest medium, TikTok, where he has more than 400,00 followers. Leonard and Jessie applaud his upbeat, can-do outlook, even when sharing stories of being cut from movies like Men in Black at the last minute.