09.17.2025 TAGLINE TIRADE!!! With MARK PITTA!

Sep 17

Written By Stephanie Morgan

MONSTER PARTY GETS BELLICOSE WITH BLURBS!
JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD, experience a description conniption as they revisit a much-loved topic/party game. Just when you thought it was safe to read a movie poster, MONSTER PARTY goes off on a… TAGLINE TIRADE!!!
Although the emotional level is high, the rules are still the same. We each take turns offering up taglines from various genre films, and the others have to guess the movie the tagline belongs to. Sound easy? Not so much. Sound fun? You bet your encyclopedic knowledge of film taglines ass!
But, don’t expect softballs like “In space… no one can hear you scream,” or “If this one doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead.” This is MONSTER PARTY, and we go deep!
Joining us for this scintillating slogan smackdown is a dear friend of MONSTER PARTY and a man who knows his way around a good (or bad) tagline. He’s a turbo-talented comedian, actor, and filmmaker who has appeared in a plethora of movies and TV shows, including HOUSESITTER: THE NIGHT THEY SAVED SEIGFRIED’S BRAIN, MAD ABOUT YOU, DR. KATZ, PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, BRAIN DONORS, and TOTALLY HIDDEN VIDEO. For several years, he was the host of KTVU’S MORNINGS ON 2, and his stand-up has been featured on multiple shows, most notably, THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO and JOHNNY CARSON. THAT’S RIGHT, JOHNNY FRIGGIN’ CARSON! Please consider yourself lucky to welcome the great... MARK PITTA!
IT'S A TAGLINE TIRADE! JUST THE WAY OLIVER REED INTENDED!

Guest(s): Mark Pitta

Follow Mark: MarkPitta (@markpitta) | Mark Pitta

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

The "Tagline Tirade" Game: The main event is a game where the hosts and their guest present taglines from sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films. Everyone then tries to guess which movie the tagline belongs to, leading to discussions about clever and sometimes misleading movie marketing.
Special Guest Comedian Mark Pitta: The episode features a return visit from comedian, actor, and filmmaker Mark Pitta. He is introduced as a "beloved comedian" with an extensive career that includes appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Behind-the-Scenes Movie Stories: Mark Pitta shares fascinating personal anecdotes, including a detailed story about visiting the set of the 1976 film Burnt Offerings. He recounts an encounter with actor Oliver Reed that was later documented in a biography about the star.
Deep Dives on Obscure and Classic Films: The taglines serve as a jumping-off point for in-depth conversations about a wide range of movies. The group discusses everything from the dystopian themes of the 1972 film Z.P.G. to the unsettling psychological horror of Looking for Mr. Goodbar and the animated feature Monster House.
The Art and Evolution of Movie Taglines: The hosts discuss the nature of movie taglines and where they typically appear, debating whether they are used more on posters or in trailers. They note that while classic films like Alien used them effectively in trailers, taglines are less common in modern previews.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:01:12 The hosts—Matt Weinhold, Shawn Sheridan, Larry Stroth, and James Gonas—introduce themselves.
00:01:58 The topic of the episode is officially announced as "Tagline Tirade".
00:02:43 Special guest Mark Pitta is introduced with a detailed overview of his career in comedy and film.
00:05:01 Mark Pitta kicks off the game by presenting the first tagline of the episode from the film The Nutty Professor.
00:22:04 Matt Weinhold presents a very misleading tagline for the film Godzilla's Revenge, sparking a discussion about movie posters that misrepresent a film's actual content.
00:32:11 Shawn presents the tagline for Looking for Mr. Goodbar, leading to a discussion about the harrowing 1977 film and its cast.
00:47:35 Mark Pitta shares the tagline for Burnt Offerings, which prompts him to tell a detailed personal story about being on the set and having a memorable encounter with actor Oliver Reed.
00:56:29 Shawn shares the tagline for Blade, leading to a conversation about the film series and the announcement of a future remake.
01:02:11 Matt presents a tagline with a "direct connection" to the podcast, which is revealed to be for the film Zombeavers, directed by former guest Jordan Rubin.
01:08:51 Mark Pitta discusses David Cronenberg's new film The Shrouds, sharing that the director made the movie to process his grief after his wife's death.
01:11:15 Larry presents a tagline for the obscure Japanese monster movie Gappa, the Triphibian Monster, which Shawn immediately recognizes.
01:20:53 The hosts begin the fast-paced "Lightning Round" to close out the game.
01:41:40 Matt concludes the lightning round with the tagline for the classic 1973 adult film The Devil in Miss Jones, leading to an analysis of its surprisingly bleak, philosophical ending.
01:55:04 The "Listener Shout-Out" segment begins, with a dedication to a longtime listener from Iowa.
01:57:07 The hosts discuss their merchandise available on their eBay store and promote their Patreon bonus content.

RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED:

Film

House Sitter: The Night They Saved Siegfried's Brain, and Brain Donors: These films are listed as part of guest Mark Pitta's acting filmography during his introduction.
Alien: The film is used as a classic example of a movie with a famous tagline ("In space no one can hear you scream") that was used effectively on both posters and in trailers. It's mentioned again later when discussing Veronica Cartwright's career, with Mark noting he had just rewatched it.
The Hideous Sun Demon, The Illustrated Man, The Manster, and The 4D Man: These were all incorrect guesses for the first tagline of the game.
The Nutty Professor (1963): This is the correct answer to Mark Pitta's first tagline: "What does he become? What kind of monster?". Mark shares that he owns a piece of the original billboard, has a three-sheet Italian poster signed by Jerry Lewis, and once did the "Buddy Love" voice for Jerry Lewis himself.
Devil's Rejects: An incorrect guess for Larry's first tagline.
Captain America: Civil War: This is the correct answer to Larry's tagline: "United we stand, divided we fall. Whose side are you on?".
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: The hosts praise Civil War for doing a "way better" job of executing the "villain manipulates two heroes to fight" plot than this film did.
Near Dark: Mark asks Larry if he has finally seen the film, which Larry admits he has not. At the very end of the episode, Mark uses a tagline from the film ("Pray for daylight") to stump Larry one last time.
Zodiac: Mark brings up the film, leading to a lengthy discussion about its nearly three-hour runtime, historical accuracy, and the real-life case. Matt notes that director David Fincher was meticulous about recreating the crime scenes accurately.
All the President's Men, Apollo 13, and Sully: Mark compares Zodiac to these films as examples of movies where the audience knows the outcome but remains in suspense.
The Zodiac Killer (1971): Mentioned as a low-budget, exploitative film about the killer that was released shortly after the events.
Heretic: This is the correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "Question everything". The hosts praise Hugh Grant's "masterful" performance and discuss how the film makes you think. It's also noted that the end credits state no AI was used in its production.
Right Hand of the Devil: This is the correct answer to James's tagline: "The most satanic plot since the Abulik!". James mentions that he recorded a commentary for this obscure 1963 film, and the hosts praise its low-budget creativity and cinematography.
Barbie: Joked as an incorrect guess for the Right Hand of the Devil tagline.
The Land That Time Forgot and Lost Continent: These were incorrect guesses for Matt's first tagline.
Frankenstein Conquers the World: An incorrect guess for Matt's tagline.
Godzilla's Revenge: This is the correct answer to Matt's extremely misleading tagline: "See prehistoric monsters crawl out of the hidden depths of the earth and take revenge against the living". This sparks a discussion about Matt's frustration with deceptive movie marketing and posters that show things not in the movie.
Twisted Nerve: This is the correct answer to Mark's second tagline, which was a rhyming poem: "Cleaver, cleaver, chop, chop...". The hosts note that the film's theme by Bernard Herrmann was famously used by Quentin Tarantino.
Kill Bill and Death Proof: Mentioned as the Quentin Tarantino films that feature the musical theme from Twisted Nerve.
Creature from the Black Lagoon: Larry's favorite film is brought up jokingly as a potential answer multiple times.
Mars Needs Women: An incorrect guess for Larry's second tagline.
The Wasp Woman: This is the correct answer to Larry's tagline: "A beautiful woman by day, a lusting Queen Wasp by night". The hosts discuss the film's creepy and economical monster reveal.
Audrey Rose: An incorrect guess for Shawn's second tagline.
Looking for Mr. Goodbar: This is the correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "All kinds of people loved Teresa". The hosts discuss its harrowing tone, its amazing cast (including Tom Berenger and a "super scary" Richard Gere), and how it serves as a snapshot of the 1970s singles scene.
The Godfather: Mentioned because Diane Keaton's character in Looking for Mr. Goodbar is seen reading the book, despite Keaton having starred in the film adaptation.
Marathon Man and Rocky II: Referenced when discussing the prolific careers of 1970s character actors Richard Bright and Joe Spinell.
Inserts: Discussed as a bizarre, near-NC-17 film starring Richard Dreyfuss as a washed-up director making porno films, which features a nude Veronica Cartwright.
Jaws: Referenced as the film that catapulted Richard Dreyfuss to stardom just before he made Inserts.
The Goodbye Girl: Mentioned as another popular film Richard Dreyfuss made during this era.
Beware! The Blob or Son of Blob: This is the correct answer to James's tagline: "It's loose again, eating everyone!". The hosts note its "insufferable" comedic tone and that it was directed by Larry Hagman.
What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?, Eating Raoul, Frenzy, and Kiss Me Monster: These were all incorrect guesses for Matt's obscure tagline.
Orgy of the Dead: This is the correct answer to Matt's tagline: "A Nude (N-E-W-D) Anatomy Award Winner" from the "producer of Not Tonight, Henry". Matt shares a review describing it as a "dumbass nudie comedy" with a sentient, talking four-leaf clover.
Suspiria: Mentioned because actress Jessica Harper from that film also stars in Inserts.
The Burning: An incorrect guess for Mark's tagline about a vacation rental.
Burnt Offerings: This is the correct answer to Mark's tagline: "The perfect summer rental for the last vacation you'll ever take". This prompts Mark to tell a long story about being on the set as a teenager, where Oliver Reed flubbed a line, blamed Mark for being in his eyeline, and the incident was later documented in a biography about Reed, which Mark reads from.
Now, Voyager and Fantastic Voyage: Mark pitches a movie idea that would combine the plots of these two films, where scientists are shrunk to clear Bette Davis's lungs.
Monster House: This is the correct answer to Larry's tagline: "Hide your children, this house will eat them". The hosts describe it as a fun, early motion-capture animated film with a neat story about three kids solving the mystery of a living house.
Paranorman: Mentioned as another great animated film with a Halloween theme.
Highlander: An incorrect guess for Shawn's tagline.
Van Helsing: Discussed briefly as a film with a good black-and-white opening that "went downhill from there".
Blade: This is the correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "The power of an immortal, the soul of a human, the heart of a hero". The hosts agree that the sequel, Blade II, is the best in the series.
Deadpool & Wolverine: Referenced as a recent film where the character Blade makes an appearance.
The Gorgon: This is the correct answer to James's tagline: "Petrifies the screen with horror!".
Clash of the Titans: Mentioned for featuring the "best cinematic" version of Medusa, created by Ray Harryhausen.
Muck: An incorrect guess for Matt's tagline from a film with a "direct connection" to the podcast.
Zombeavers: This is the correct answer to Matt's tagline: "You'll all be DAMMED," which has a direct connection to the show as its director, Jordan Rubin, was a former guest.
The Shrouds: This is the correct answer to Mark's tagline: "Things are getting weird". It's David Cronenberg's newest film, which Mark explains was made as a way for the director to process his grief after his wife's death and involves a cemetery with video screens.
Midsommar: An incorrect guess for The Shrouds tagline.
Mighty Joe Young and Gorgo: Incorrect guesses for Larry's tagline about a giant monster mightier than King Kong.
Reptilicus: Incorrectly guessed by Shawn for Larry's tagline.
Gappa, the Triphibian Monster: This is the correct answer to Larry's tagline: "...even mightier than King Kong". The hosts discuss Shawn's special love for the film and his rare Gappa figures acquired during their trip to Japan.
Sinners: This is the correct answer to Mark's tagline: "Dance with the devil".
Malcolm X: Mentioned because actor Delroy Lindo from Sinners also appeared in this film.
The Addams Family: Incorrectly guessed for James's tagline: "Weird is relative".
Addams Family Values: Referenced for its tagline: "The Addams family just got a little stranger".
Somewhere in Time and Time After Time: Incorrect guesses for James's tagline about the future.
Boy and His Dog, The Final Programme, The Bed Sitting Room, and Logan's Run: All incorrect guesses for James's tagline.
Z.P.G. (Zero Population Growth): This is the correct answer to James's tagline: "The time is tomorrow and there's no time left". The film's bleak, dystopian world—where people raise "creepy" robot children due to overpopulation—is described in detail.
Zardoz: Mentioned as a good, stylistically similar double feature with Z.P.G..

Lightning Round

Alligator: The correct answer to Mark's first lightning round tagline about a creature 50 feet beneath the streets.
House of Dark Shadows: The correct answer to Mark's radio spot tagline: "See how the vampires do it".
The Thing: The correct answer to Mark's tagline: "Sometimes man is the warmest place to hide".
Street Trash: The correct answer to Mark's tagline: "...things in New York City are going down the toilet". The plot, which involves tainted booze making people explode in color, is described.
Fade to Black: The correct answer to Mark's tagline: "Eric Binford lives for the movies. Sometimes he kills for them, too".
The Awakening: The correct answer to Mark's final tagline about a mummy waiting for 4,000 years.
The Hunger and The NeverEnding Story: Incorrect guesses for Larry's first lightning round tagline.
Twilight: The correct answer to Larry's tagline: "When can you live forever, what do you live for?".
Sleeper: The correct answer to Larry's tagline about a love story 200 years in the future.
Take the Money and Run: Mentioned in an anecdote by Mark about owning a prop "gub note" from the film.
Star Trek: First Contact: The correct answer to Larry's tagline: "Prepare for assimilation".
Blackfish: The correct answer to Larry's final tagline, which he presents as an "inside joke" because it's a documentary, not a narrative horror film.
Cemetery Man (or Dellamorte Dellamore): The correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "Zombies, guns, and sex, oh my!".
Freaked: The correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "But ugly, but funny".
Exorcist II: The Heretic: The correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "It's four years later. What does she remember?".
Little Murders: An incorrect guess for Shawn's next tagline.
Homebodies: The correct answer to Shawn's tagline: "Do you know where your grandmother is tonight?". The plot, about elderly tenants murdering real estate agents to save their building, is described.
The Keep: An incorrect guess for James's first lightning round tagline.
The Island (1980): The correct answer for James's tagline about a 300-year-old secret.
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave: The correct answer for James's tagline: "The worms are waiting".
Werewolves on Wheels: An incorrect guess for James's next tagline.
Night Creatures (or Captain Clegg): The correct answer for James's tagline: "Their oath was terror, their cry blood, their goal death".
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead: The correct answer for James's final tagline: "The sequel you did not see coming (N-A-Z-I)".
Nightmares (1983): The correct answer for Matt's tagline: "Shut your eyes and scream".
The Undead: The correct answer for Matt's tagline: "A thousand years of naked terror," a Roger Corman film about a hypnotized prostitute who travels back in time.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes: An incorrect guess for Matt's next tagline.
Madhouse (1974): The correct answer for Matt's tagline: "If stark terror were ecstasy, living here would be sheer bliss".
Army of Darkness and The Toxic Avenger: Incorrect guesses for Matt's tagline: "He's the hero".
Phantom of the Paradise and The Muppet Movie: Incorrect guesses for the same tagline.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The correct answer for Matt's tagline: "He's the hero," referring to Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!: An incorrect guess for Matt's final tagline.
Deep Throat: Mentioned as an inspiration for the next film.
The Devil in Miss Jones: The correct answer for Matt's final, controversial tagline: "If you have to go to hell... go for a reason". Matt explains its surprisingly bleak, philosophical ending, which was inspired by a Jean-Paul Sartre play.
Boogie Nights: Mentioned for the visual similarity between Burt Reynolds's character and the director of The Devil in Miss Jones.

Post-Game Discussion

Frozen: Joked about as a movie Larry is going to watch instead of Near Dark.
Longlegs and The Monkey: Discussed as recent, disappointing films, with Matt particularly criticizing The Monkey for its "forced comedy".
Mad Monster Party: Mentioned in a video montage idea for Mark Pitta, using the song "It's the Mummy".
The King of Comedy: Referenced for a quote from Rupert Pupkin.
Spartacus: Referenced for the iconic "I'm Spartacus" scene.
The Bad Seed: Discussed for its unique curtain call ending where the cast is introduced to soften the dark plot.
C.H.U.D.: Mentioned as a film Mark regrets not being able to discuss.
Jaws and its sequels (Jaws 3-D, Jaws: The Revenge): Discussed in the context of James's Patreon video about the filming locations.
The
Godzilla series, including Son of Godzilla and Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero), is discussed regarding the infamous "Godzilla dance".
The Minecraft Movie: Mentioned as a film Matt saw where the audience was well-behaved and engaged.
This Is Spinal Tap: The upcoming sequel is mentioned as a movie Mark wants to see with an audience.
Superman and Tron: Ares: Mentioned as big-screen spectacle films the hosts want to see in a theater.

Television

Mad About You, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Third Rock from the Sun, and Totally Hidden Video: These are all listed as part of guest Mark Pitta's acting and hosting credits during his introduction.
The Tonight Show (with Jay Leno and Johnny Carson): Mentioned as a show where Mark Pitta performed stand-up comedy.
The Righteous Gemstones: Referenced during a discussion about nudity in media, specifically noting Walton Goggins's character.
Bewitched: When discussing the monster effects in the film The Gorgon, Larry compares the creature's appearance to the character Endora from this show.
Dallas: The show is brought up in connection to Larry Hagman, who directed the film Beware! The Blob.
Squid Game Season 2: Matt references the show to make a point while defending his opinion on the film Exorcist II: The Heretic.

Print & Other Media

The Godfather (novel): The hosts point out an odd detail in the film Looking for Mr. Goodbar where Diane Keaton's character is seen reading the novel, despite Keaton having starred in the movie adaptation.
What Fresh Lunacy Is This? (book): Mark Pitta reads a passage from this biography about actor Oliver Reed, which documents an on-set encounter Mark had with the star during the filming of Burnt Offerings.
The Crabby Cook Cookbook (book): Mark mentions owning this cookbook by actress Jessica Harper and finding a recipe in it called "Richard Gere's Pot Pie".
No Exit (play): The classic 1973 adult film The Devil in Miss Jones is said to have been inspired by this 1944 play by Jean-Paul Sartre.
The Long Walk (novel): James mentions that he is rereading this Stephen King novel in anticipation of the upcoming film adaptation.