Back of the Theater Podcast

Hans Charles & Menelek Lumumba. We met in film school. We have talked to each other about film for ten years. Now we record it.

Get off My Lawn 01/13/2024

Get off My Lawn We talk about getting older. Menelek, as always, is angry. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/29469688

Dave Chapelle & Katt Williams set the world on fire 01/05/2024

Dave Chapelle & Katt Williams set the world on fire Dave Chappelle starts the new year on fire. BUT THEN...Katt Williams says, "Hold my drink, Bitch." Buckle Up and Happy New Year! /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/29352228

Maybe God Is Trying to Tell You Something (End of Year Review) 12/28/2023

Maybe God Is Trying to Tell You Something (End of Year Review) Hans and Menelek breakdown all of the amazing radio we have done this year. Listen, we promise to do more radio this year. We talk about the historic opening of The Color Purple and we find a way to make fun of Boots Riley again. (Hack) /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/29259363

Does Jada Hate Will (Part Two) 11/30/2023

Does Jada Hate Will (Part Two) The answer is "Yes, she does". /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/28867523

Does Jada actually hate Will? (Part One) 11/06/2023

Does Jada actually hate Will? (Part One) We break down the press tour of Jada "Smith". Menelek is angry. And well, so is Hans. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/28527578

Mumba returns to the Show 09/11/2023

Mumba returns to the Show Menelek is back. And guess what? He's still angry. At everyone. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/27996354

Hans only wants to do radio alone 08/28/2023

Hans only wants to do radio alone Hans has officially hijacked the show. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/27865293

Hans Goes Solo 08/14/2023

Hans Goes Solo Hans has some things to get off his chest. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/27741816

TWO SHOWS IN THREE WEEKS 05/17/2023

TWO SHOWS IN THREE WEEKS Hans and Menelek return. We break down Dear Mama. Ja Morant. Classism. Ebony K. Williams. And Menelek keeps singing gospel music for some reason. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/26871906

Stephanie Malson 05/05/2023

Stephanie Malson Stephanie Malson is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and producer. She is currently a BlackStar 2023 Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab Producing Fellow. OURIKA!, a short film Stephanie produced was an official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. She is also Co-Producer on the upcoming feature documentary, ULRICK, which chronicles the life of Haitian master painter Ulrick Jean Pierre. Stephanie holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Rosemont College. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/26760312

The Return of Real Radio 02/28/2023

The Return of Real Radio We're back to give you the radio you deserve and need. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/26074182

How is This a Show? 12/01/2022

How is This a Show? Hans and Menelek fight over who is committed to the podcast. We talk about Wakanda Forever and Black Adam. Hans falls asleep at one point. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/25190994

Black Adam & Kanye West 10/27/2022

Black Adam & Kanye West Menelek and Hans disagree about Black Adam. Menelek actually liked it. Hans very much did not. We also talk about the latest Kanye West meltdown. "Bye, Ye." /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/24820770

Conspiracy Talk 09/27/2022

Conspiracy Talk Hans and Menelek breakdown some of their favorite internet conspiracies. JFK? Moon Landing? Is Space real? /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/24504720

Camera Talk 09/18/2022

Camera Talk Hans and Menelek breakdown the innovations of camera tech. Cinema has changed and we are here for it. We almost get through the show without a fight. Almost. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/24409725

Will Smith Is Very Sorry 07/30/2022

Will Smith Is Very Sorry Will had the moral courage to step out of his mansion and address the public. We talk about his apology with the upmost respect and care. Just kidding. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/23908653

How's your summer? 07/08/2022

How's your summer? Menelek and Hans catch up on the news and more! /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/23681003

Uvalde, Texas Shooting. 06/01/2022

Uvalde, Texas Shooting. Hans and Menelek talk about yet another mass shooting and the lack of police response. This somehow leads to a conversation about Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Oh, and Boots Riley. Sorry, boots. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/23294207

Happy Birthday Menelek 05/17/2022

Happy Birthday Menelek Menelek turned 41 last week and he's very excited about it. (not really) Hans and Menelek talk news and Ozark. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/23143874

Burnout 04/21/2022

Burnout Menelek feels like he may have written all that he has to write. Hans does not agree. At All. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/22865528

A Little More Will Smith and Chris Rock Talk. (Then we are done, we promise) 04/02/2022

A Little More Will Smith and Chris Rock Talk. (Then we are done, we promise) We can't stop talking about Will Smith slapping the hell out of Chris Rock at the Oscars. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/22658723

Does Will Smith have to Slap a B*tch? 03/28/2022

Does Will Smith have to Slap a B*tch? Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock because of a joke. Hans and Menelek talk about it. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/22590743

Angry Mumba & LA Hans 01/23/2022

Angry Mumba & LA Hans A little Tension this week. What else is new? /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/21861233

Hans has Omarion 01/05/2022

Hans has Omarion Two weeks in a row? Is this a real podcast? Thoughts and prayers to brother Hans he fights Covid-19. We debate Will Smith's rap career. And Menelek, as always, is angry. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/21682793

HAPPY NEW YEAR 12/28/2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR Menelek and Hans start the show with a battle for who really wants to do the show. That leads to a discussion of Stanley Kubrick and other random topics. Enjoy! Happy New Year! /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/21612590

The End of The Podcast? 11/14/2021

The End of The Podcast? Hans wants to leave the show. He just lacks the moral courage to admit it. The guys talk about the future of the show, Will Smith, Kanye, and Aaron Rodgers. Enjoy the show while you can. Hans wants to leave. Please let him know how you feel about that on social media. @cineclass on twitter and instagram. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/21157139

On Dave Chappelle 10/23/2021

On Dave Chappelle Menelek and Hans are in person! We break down the backlash of Dave Chapelle's latest Netflix special "The Closer". What does free speech mean in 2021? Let's break it down. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/20914502

Nicki Minaj Has a Few Thoughts 09/16/2021

Nicki Minaj Has a Few Thoughts Nicki Minaj set twitter on fire with some some comments on the Covid-19 vaccine. We talk about the passing of Norm McDonald and old stories from Menelek's wedding. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/20498168

Cinematography & Collaboration 09/07/2021

Cinematography & Collaboration Menelek and Hans talk film and breakdown the role of the Director and the cinematographer. Here's a shock: They don't agree. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/20395511

U.S. Foreign Policy & The Crate Challenge 08/25/2021

U.S. Foreign Policy & The Crate Challenge Hans and Menelek argue about Joe Biden and then talk about the crate challenge. Yup. /episode/index/show/backofthetheater/id/20263559

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