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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.

Ep1182: Wicked: For Good (2025) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1182: Wicked: For Good (2025) - Live Roundtable Review

Celebrate "Emerald Friday" with Earth's Mightiest Critics and a downright wicked review of Wicked Part 2!

Jon M. Chu's sequel is an even bigger box office smash than last year's reimagining of the hit Broadway musical. But now that Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has defied gravity and struck out on her own against the shady Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), will her struggles prove to be as engaging as the Odd Couple antics with Galinda (Ariana Grande) from the first film? Or is Wicked: For Good's intersecting with The Wizard of Oz the beginning of the end for audience interest?

Join us for a gravity-defying good time as we talk spoilers and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

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Ep1181: Escape from Hammerland: The Abominable Snowman (1957) - Movie Review

Ep1181: Escape from Hammerland: The Abominable Snowman (1957) - Movie Review