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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep178: The Fools Who Dream

This week, the Kicking the Seat Podcast sings the praises of the year's best film, La La Land! Join Ian and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel as they roll out the red carpet for Damien Chazelle's wondrous ode to hope and Hollywood. If you haven't seen it yet, please do so immediately and then join us back here for a spoilerific discussion of all things Gosling and Stone.

Speaking of music, Ian has details on an appearance by Chicago's own Dark Room Men, who will be performing at an open mic tonight at Quencher's Saloon on the North Side. Guests and friends of the show Patrick "Uber Critic" McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com and Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com will brave the cold temps to provide you hot some sounds. Be sure to swing by if you're in the area!

Lastly, as we wind down a year for the record books, Ian has a last-minute gift idea, courtesy of our friends at Shout! Factory! They have two great Blu-ray releases commemorating the Chicago Cubs' historic World Series win, both of which are available now.

We're slinging verses and breaking curses on Episode 178, so get up and dance!

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Ep179: Wilson the Bartender

Ep177: ROGUE ONE: A [SPOILERS!] STORY