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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.

Ep366: Lord Bunnington

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com's Pat “The Über Critic” McDonald hustle their way through 18th-century Europe with a look at Barry Lyndon! For decades, the guys had somehow skipped this fascinating entry in Stanley Kubrick's filmography, and they duel over the many interpretations of Ryan O'Neal's scheming Irish rogue.

Also, Pat invites listeners to join him and both his bands, The Telepaths and The Dark Room Men, for tomorrow night's Toys for Tots benefit at The Store on Halsted. And Ian cries for help amidst the Awards Season deluge, while also plugging the latest episode of the 90 Under 90 Podcast, in which he breaks down The Lonely Island's criminally underseen mockumentary Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping with Dan and Jeremy Eden!

Episode 366 looooves powdered wigs!

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Ep367: Page2Screen: The Edge of the Desert

Ep365: RENDEZVOUS on Harms