05.22.2026 WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT HORROR, SCI-FI AND FANTASY?!!! With TAMMY GOLDEN!
IS MONSTER PARTY HAVIN’ A LAUGH?
JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD ponder the age-old question of whether humor and genre topics can live and laugh comfortably together. So, as Elvis Costello might ask… WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT HORROR, SCI-FI, AND FANTASY?
Let’s face it, making a truly funny horror, sci-fi, or fantasy film or television show can be tricky business. There’s a fine line between a loving send-up and an uninformed attack. And even with the best intentions, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll be watching a knee-slapper.In this side-splitting study of genre jocularity, MONSTER PARTY puts all their funny favorites (and not-so-favorites) to the test. How did films like ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN manage to find the sweet spot between over-the-top comedy and a loving homage to Universal horror films? Is SPACEBALLS a better film than we remember, or should we just push that reassessment aside and watch GALAXY QUEST instead? How do genre TV shows like RED DWARF and WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS generate laughs while presenting often thought-provoking horror and sci-fi concepts? Where do cult classics like DR. STRANGELOVE, REPO MAN, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, and THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI fit in? And are superhero vehicles like THE BOYS, PEACEMAKER, and the DEADPOOL film series the best comedies coming out of Hollywood today?
Helping us answer these important questions while tickling our ribs in her own right is a return guest who is no stranger to the world of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy humor. She is a mega-talented writer who has worked on such beloved genre comedy projects as MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and HANGING WITH DR. Z. Please welcome back… TAMMY GOLDEN!
OH, AND YES, WE DID JUST WIN THE 2026 RONDO AWARD FOR BEST PODCAST! OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL THE MONSTER PARTIERS OUT THERE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN! NOW, LET’S START CANVASSING FOR 2027!it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Guest(s)
Tammy Golden:
Follow Tammy: Tammy Golden (@tammy.golden) • Instagram profile | Programme 4 | Tammy Golden (@tammy.golden) • Threads, Say more
Key Topics Discussed
Balancing Tone and Sincerity in Genre Parodies: The group discusses why horror, fantasy, and sci-fi comedies succeed when they play the underlying world and stakes straight - why a movie like Shaun of the Dead and Young Frankenstein really shines vs. an overly broad or disconnected comedy or parody.
Evolution of British and American Sci-Fi Humor: The discussion explores differing comedic styles across the ocean, specifically the long-running charm and character dynamics of British series like Red Dwarf and Hyperdrive.
The Fine Line Between Satire, Tone, and Audience Expectation: The hosts debate how films such as Starship Troopers, They Live, and American Psycho walk the boundary between serious genre execution and subversive social commentary, and how audience reactions have shifted over time.
The Writing and Riffing Process of Low-Budget Cinema: A conversation covers the technical process of writing comedy to pre-existing footage, dealing with pacing and dead air, and finding the humor in obscure, low-budget b-movies.
Genre Oversaturation and Retrospective Favorites: The hosts and guest trade recommendations and critiques across classic and modern subgenres, discussing how slasher parodies, superhero comedies, and offbeat cult films emerged in response to what’s become more popular.
Timestamps
00:00:17 – Introductions, Rondo Award win, and guest Tammy Golden
00:05:15 – Shaun of the Dead and playing genre humor straight
00:07:00 – Red Dwarf and British vs. American sci-fi comedy
00:17:03 – Mel Brooks, Spaceballs, and Young Frankenstein
00:24:00 – Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and classic horror crossovers
00:28:07 – Horror comedies, satire, and tonal balance (An American Werewolf in London, Fright Night)
00:32:32 – Ghostbusters, elaborate effects, and comedy
00:35:26 – Subversive satire and audience reactions (Starship Troopers, The Substance)
00:41:07 – Modern comic book movies and superhero satire
00:46:37 – Cult sci-fi comedies (Free Enterprise, Repo Man, Buckaroo Banzai)
00:54:00 – Satirical and low-budget sci-fi classics (Dark Star, Dr. Strangelove)
01:05:20 – Sci-fi and fantasy favorites (Galaxy Quest, Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
01:11:30 – What We Do in the Shadows and vampire comedy
01:22:00 – Remakes, sequels, and genre tonal shifts
01:24:28 – 1970s sci-fi television and Quark
01:27:05 – The Return of the Living Dead and zombie comedies
01:29:35 – Writing and riffing for Mystery Science Theater 3000
01:38:23 – Lightning round: underrated sci-fi, fantasy, and horror comedy picks
Resources/Links Mentioned
Films
The Cabin in the Woods: Named as a favorite genre comedies to start off the discussion.
Shaun of the Dead: Cited as a prime example of pitch-perfect tone that balances genuine horror, emotion, and character-driven humor.
Hot Fuzz: Mentioned as another great Edgar Wright comedy alongside Shaun of the Dead.
Carry On Screaming!: Brought up as a standout 1966 horror parody of Hammer films within the long-running British Carry On franchise.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: “Debated” as a fantasy film featuring comedic performances, dramatic moments, and musical numbers.
Spaceballs: Discussed as a broad, hit-and-miss Mel Brooks sci-fi parody with memorable moments like the John Hurt alien cameo.
Young Frankenstein: Praised as a masterpiece that works because it serves as an authentic, loving homage to original Universal monster movies.
Frankenstein (1931): Mentioned for providing original laboratory electrical equipment and sets that were reused in Young Frankenstein.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother: Cited as a film Gene Wilder directed and starred in after collaborating with Mel Brooks.
The World's Greatest Lover: Noted alongside Gene Wilder's solo directorial efforts that followed his work with Mel Brooks.
Dracula: Dead and Loving It: Mentioned as a later, lesser Mel Brooks parody.
Love at First Bite: Shawn mentions preferring this vampire comedy over later Mel Brooks horror parodies.
High Anxiety: Discussed as a Mel Brooks Hitchcock parody with mixed opinions on how well its jokes hold up.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Highlighted as a classic horror comedy that succeeds because the monsters play the horror straight against the comedy.
Superman III: Used as a negative counter-example of awkwardly injecting a broad comedian into an established film franchise.
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy: Mentioned as part of Abbott and Costello's subsequent run of Universal monster crossover comedies.
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Brought up as another sequel in Abbott and Costello's Universal monster comedy cycle.
An American Werewolf in London: Analyzed for John Landis’s use of realistic, character-based humor as a coping mechanism alongside terrifying werewolf sequences.
The Howling: Noted for featuring subtle, wry satirical moments and Joe Dante-style nods within a werewolf horror film.
Fright Night: Praised as a character-driven horror film that balances genuine scares with lighthearted comedic moments and classic late-night horror host nostalgia.
Ghostbusters: Discussed as an iconic blend of high-budget special effects, deadpan dialogue, and comedic performances.
Stripes: James mentions his love for this comedy as the reason he had different expectations for Ghostbusters.
Ghostbusters II: Briefly referenced as the follow-up to the original film.
Starship Troopers: Debated as a heavily effects-laden, subversive Paul Verhoeven sci-fi satire that audiences initially misinterpreted.
RoboCop: Cited as another example of Paul Verhoeven's subversive approach to genre filmmaking.
The Substance: Discussed as an over-the-top, grotesque modern satire that leans heavily into comedy by its conclusion.
Equus: Thrown out jokingly as a non-comedic dramatic film.
The General: Mentioned as a classic film comedy favored by Orson Welles.
Airplane!: James credits this classic spoof as the film that made him laugh harder than almost anything else in a theater.
Airport 1975: Mentioned in connection to the 1970s disaster movie cycle that Airplane! famously parodied.
Deadpool films: Highlighted as modern superhero genre comedies that successfully deliver huge laughs.
Deadpool & Wolverine: Mentioned for its deep meta-humor, industry in-jokes, and cultural commentary.
Student Bodies: Listed as an early 1980s slasher parody created in response to the horror boom.
Saturday the 14th: Brought up as another broad, early 80s horror spoof capitalizing on the slasher trend.
Pandemonium: Mentioned alongside early 80s horror parodies that poked fun at the glut of slasher movies.
Jason X: Defended as an intentional, campy sci-fi slasher comedy that takes the franchise into outer space.
Friday the 13th series: Referenced in relation to Jason X marking the tenth installment of the franchise.
Infinity Pool: Mentioned positively during a discussion of Brandon Cronenberg's filmmaking.
The Brood: Pointed out by Matt as a David Cronenberg body horror film that contains darkly amusing moments.
The Avengers films: Referenced in discussion regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe's approach to incorporating comedy.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Praised for its comedic execution while noted for inadvertently influencing MCU films to overuse quips.
Thor: Love and Thunder: Criticized as an example of superhero comedy pushed too far into self-indulgence.
Free Enterprise: The hosts debate this cult sci-fi comedy, discussing walkout reactions versus audience enjoyment at film festivals.
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again: Brought up as an over-the-top, guilty-pleasure 1980s comedy starring Mark Blankfield.
Zapped!: Suggested as a comedic double-feature pairing with Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again.
The Ice Pirates: Recommended as a charming, unapologetically silly sci-fi comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Galaxina: Paired alongside The Ice Pirates as an unpretentious, fun B-movie sci-fi romp.
Dark Star: Praised as a low-budget, quirky, and tense sci-fi satire directed by John Carpenter and co-written by Dan O'Bannon.
2001: A Space Odyssey: Mentioned as a classic sci-fi film playfully jabbed and satirized by Dark Star.
Dr. Strangelove: Examined as a brilliant, terrifying political satire exploring ridiculous leaders handling immense destructive power.
A Clockwork Orange: Mentioned for containing unsettling, pitch-black comedic beats despite its horrifying sequences.
Lolita: Referenced briefly during the discussion of Stanley Kubrick's darkly comic sensibilities.
Singin' in the Rain: Brought up due to its memorable, disturbing subversion in A Clockwork Orange.
Don't Look Up: Debated by the hosts as an on-the-nose modern apocalyptic sci-fi satire about societal and political dysfunction.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: Highlighted as a recent fantasy adaptation that was surprisingly entertaining, funny, and respectful of the material.
Galaxy Quest: Celebrated as a pitch-perfect sci-fi parody, high-budget comedy, and genuine love letter to fandom.
Sleeper: Recommended alongside Galaxy Quest as a sharp, cynical classic sci-fi comedy.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Cited as one of the greatest fantasy comedies of all time, noted for its sketch-style abrupt ending.
Time Bandits: Praised as a dark, imaginative Terry Gilliam fantasy comedy that hit the sweet spot for several hosts.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014): Named as a favorite mockumentary vampire horror comedy.
Big Trouble in Little China: Mentioned as John Carpenter's successful foray into comedy-action fantasy.
They Live: Discussed as a biting sci-fi satire that reveals its comic, satirical nature through its famously extended fight scene.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension: Debated for its intentional cult-film tone, weirdness, and dedicated fanbase.
Repo Man: Celebrated as a stylish, cynical, and cool punk-rock sci-fi comedy.
Eternals: Joked about in reference to long-delayed sequels.
Creep: Praised as a deeply uncomfortable, disturbing, yet darkly hilarious parody of found-footage horror.
Man Bites Dog: Brought up as a brutal Belgian mockumentary satire about a documentary crew following a killer.
American Psycho: Discussed as a sharp satire of 1980s consumerism and narcissism that operates as a dark comedy.
The Stepford Wives (2004): Criticized as a misguided remake that drained the tension and power of the premise by forcing broad jokes.
The Stepford Wives (1975): Praised as a genuinely creepy and subtly satirical thriller.
Godzilla (1998): Referenced regarding Matthew Broderick's comedic delivery in big-budget genre films.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Hypothetically mentioned when discussing serious sci-fi concepts that shouldn't be turned into broad comedies.
Zardoz: Mentioned during the discussion of strange sci-fi films and later referenced regarding replica collectibles.
The Exorcist: Mentioned hypothetically to contrast serious horror against comedic parodies.
Repossessed: Brought up as an overt, Airplane!-style spoof of The Exorcist starring Linda Blair.
Child's Play / Chucky films: Analyzed as a horror franchise that evolved from serious beginnings into self-aware camp and comedy with later sequels.
Saw series: Referenced in a discussion about gore and elaborate Rube Goldberg-style traps.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Discussed as a late-70s sci-fi property that leaned into camp and accidental comedy.
The Return of the Living Dead: Hailed as a reigning champ of horror comedies featuring Dan O'Bannon's script, great gore, and a punk rock soundtrack.
Avalanche: Tammy names this Roger Corman disaster movie as one of her favorite, most fun films to riff on MST3K.
Carnival Magic: Described by Tammy and the hosts as one of the bleakest, most painfully difficult movies ever tackled on MST3K.
Dracula vs. Frankenstein: Mentioned in relation to director Al Adamson's filmography.
Manos: The Hands of Fate: Cited as the ultimate example of an obscure, forgotten film given legendary new life through MST3K.
Faces of Death: Mentioned jokingly regarding the grueling effort required to make any movie.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil: Recommended as a modern horror-comedy favorite that brilliantly flips slasher tropes.
Freaked: Shouted out as an outstanding, surreal cult comedy directed by Alex Winter.
The Incredible Shrinking Woman: Mentioned as an interesting satirical comedy riff on classic sci-fi.
The Incredible Shrinking Man: Referenced as the original sci-fi classic that inspired The Incredible Shrinking Woman.
Howard the Duck: Brought up as an infamous genre misfire, with the hosts joking that Matt has a background appearance in the film.
The Man with Two Brains: Recommended as a classic Steve Martin sci-fi comedy.
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini: Highlighted as a vintage 1960s beach-party horror-comedy mashup.
Brazil: Recommended as Terry Gilliam's brilliant dystopian satire.
Dawn of the Dead (1978): Noted for incorporating broad humor and consumer satire compared to other Romero zombie films.
Night of the Living Dead (1968): Referenced in contrast to the more humorous tone of Dawn of the Dead.
Day of the Dead (1985): Mentioned alongside George Romero's darker, non-comedic zombie installments.
Q: The Winged Serpent: Cited as a great Larry Cohen genre film featuring offbeat, darkly funny elements.
The Stuff: Mentioned as another Larry Cohen satirical horror favorite.
Birdman: Pointed out as a dramatic satire exploring meta-superhero themes.
Explorers: Mentioned as a Joe Dante film that unintentionally shifted into broad satire in its final act.
Bio Zombie: Recommended as a hilarious 1998 Hong Kong horror-comedy inspired by Dawn of the Dead.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken: Highlighted as one of an all-time favorite classic horror comedies starring Don Knotts.
Hardware Wars: Praised as a pioneering classic 1978 short film parodying Star Wars.
Star Wars (1977): Referenced throughout as the foundation for spoofs like Hardware Wars, Troops, and Spaceballs.
Troops: Recommended as a 1997 fan film parodying both Star Wars and the TV series COPS.
Troll Hunter: Recommended as a clever 2010 Norwegian found-footage monster satire.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes: Celebrated by Matt as a stylish, dark horror-comedy masterpiece starring Vincent Price.
Dr. Phibes Rises Again: Mentioned as the fun, campy sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes.
Big Man Japan: Tammy highlights this surreal Japanese mockumentary kaiju film as a hilarious, bizarre satire.
Phantom of the Paradise: Praised as a beloved Brian De Palma rock-opera horror comedy.
The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: Mentioned as Larry Blamire's affectionate spoof of 1950s B-movies.
The Trail of the Screaming Forehead: Cited as another sci-fi B-movie parody from director Larry Blamire.
Dark and Stormy Night: Mentioned as Larry Blamire's parody of classic old dark house horror mysteries.
Zombeavers: Shouted out by the hosts as a fun horror-comedy directed by previous guest Jordan Rubin.
Big Ass Spider!: Recommended as a creature feature comedy directed by past guest Mike Mendez.
Satanic Hispanics: Mentioned as a horror anthology film directed in part by Mike Mendez.
Dune (1984): Brought up during post-show banter regarding vintage 1980s LJN sandworm toys and modern popcorn buckets.
Television
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Introduced as the acclaimed comedy series guest Tammy Golden wrote for, leading into discussions about remote writing rooms, comedic timing, and riffing low-budget films.
Red Dwarf: Explored extensively as a premier British sci-fi comedy series, praised for combining broad, lowbrow gags with high-concept science fiction ideas and regular-Joe characters.
Are You Being Served?: Referenced to illustrate the specific, character-driven style of traditional British sitcom humor that shares DNA with Red Dwarf.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Mentioned as a strong contemporary animated American sci-fi comedy.
Avenue 5: Discussed as an Armando Iannucci sci-fi comedy series with mixed opinions on its multi-season execution.
The Orville: Examined as a show that blends comedy with classic Star Trek-style sci-fi storytelling.
Star Trek: Referenced throughout when comparing modern sci-fi television tones and franchise satires.
The Boys: Discussed as a biting, violent social and political satire that deconstructs the modern superhero genre.
Peacemaker: Praised as one of the best recent genre comedies, highlighting James Gunn's writing and John Cena's comedic chops.
The Big Bang Theory: Mentioned critically during a comparison of how nerd culture is portrayed in media.
Time Bandits: The 2024 streaming adaptation directed in part by Taika Waititi is discussed regarding its visual style and big budget.
What We Do in the Shadows: Highly praised as a standout television adaptation that expanded the original film's vampire mockumentary world and introduced memorable characters like Colin Robinson.
The Creep Tapes: Referenced when discussing the expansion of Mark Duplass's found-footage killer premise into serialized television.
Quark: Highlighted as an obscure late-1970s sci-fi comedy series created by Buck Henry, starring Richard Benjamin as the captain of an interstellar garbage scow.
Severance: Mentioned in a comparison between actor Richard Benjamin and series star Adam Scott.
Battlestar Galactica: Mentioned chronologically to place late-70s television sci-fi series in context.
The Dukes of Hazzard: Referenced when describing the bizarre, low-rent rural vibe of the film Carnival Magic.
COPS: Referenced in connection to the fan short Troops, which adopted the reality series' handheld documentary style.
Firefly: Brought up as a cult sci-fi series that balances space-western adventure with great character humor.
Hyperdrive: Recommended as an underappreciated British sci-fi workplace sitcom starring Nick Frost, Miranda Hart, and Kevin Eldon.
Hanging with Dr. Z: Plugged by Tammy as the comedy web series starring Dana Gould as a Johnny Carson-esque Dr. Zaius, which was crowdfunding its fourth season.
Books & Comic Books
American Psycho (novel by Bret Easton Ellis): Discussed in comparison to its film adaptation, with the hosts noting that the original book is far more graphic, disturbing, and difficult to read directly as a satire.
The Stepford Wives (novel by Ira Levin): Referenced as the hard-hitting, genuinely creepy source material that laid the groundwork for the original film's subtle satirical edge.
EC Comics: Shawn brings up classic EC horror titles to describe the distinct, colorful, and over-the-top comic aesthetic captured in The Return of the Living Dead.
Howard the Duck (comic book series): Mentioned by Matt as a great, acclaimed comic book run despite the infamous failure of the live-action movie adaptation.
