profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep228: Duking it Out

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast journeys to the dark side of the American Dream with a look at Art Linson's Where the Buffalo Roam, starring Bill Murray as Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (now available on Blu-ray from Shout! Factory).

HollywoodChicago.com's Pat "The Über Critic" McDonald joins Ian on this long, strange trip, which includes detours into reality television; Thompsons' legacy of truth and journalism in the Internet age; and a drunken, sleep-deprived debate about modern politics.

Don't worry, there's a bona fide trigger warning in the intro.

Also, Ian reminds listeners that today is the last day to enter Kicking the Seat's Max 2: White House Hero contest. It's super-simple, and the field is wiiiiiide open!

Episode 228 is where the drugs begin to take hold!

You can keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep229: Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard

Ep227: Females are Strong as Hell!