Sam Pancake Presents the Monday Afternoon Movie

Actor and comedian Sam Pancake sits down with friends famous and funny to discuss the surreal, silly and nonetheless star-studded made-for-TV movies of the 1970s. It's a loving look at baffling not-quite-feature-length flicks that often aren't on DVD and have largely been lost to time.

BLACK NOON Watch-along with Sam Pancake 03/30/2026

Sam and Sarah watch a BONKERS Movie: The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane 03/10/2026

THE SEDUCTION OF GINA with Tipper Newton 02/23/2026

THE SEDUCTION OF GINA with Tipper Newton Just when you thought that Sam had covered all the troubled teen and young adult made-for-TV dramas, he comes at you with this ace up his sleeve about the dangers of gambling. Don't ask him to actually play any casino games though, as the only Kings and Queens he knows are the ones in drag. Joining Sam Pancake today is Tipper Newton, an actor, filmmaker, and musician. She is best known for her roles in The Mindy Project, The Guest Book, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She most recently starred in the clever film Fuck Your Son!, and plays shows with her band Color TV. Links below to dive deeper. The Seduction of Gina (1984) is a made-for-TV drama directed by Jerrold Freedman that explores how a moment of innocent fun spirals into a life-altering obsession. In the film, Valerie Bertinelli stars as Gina Breslin, a young, recently married woman feeling restless and unfulfilled while her husband is occuppied with his demanding medical internship. Seeking excitement and a way to break up the monotony, Gina agrees to try her luck at the blackjack tables during a trip to Lake Tahoe. What starts as beginner’s luck quickly turns into a dangerous compulsion as the thrill of gambling consumes her. As Gina’s wagering escalates, so do the stakes in her personal life. She begins to gamble away her trust fund, strains her marriage to David Breslin (played by Fredric Lehne), and entangles herself with Keith Sindell (portrayed by Michael Brandon), a smooth casino associate whose intentions are ambiguous at best. Along the way, supporting performances from Ed Lauter as Carl and Dinah Manoff as Mary help paint a fuller picture of Gina’s unraveling world. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action. Show Links: This episode was engineered & produced by . /episode/index/show/mondayafternoonmovie/id/40208160

MADAME SIN with Brandon Johnston 01/27/2026

THE GATHERING with Alonso Duralde 12/08/2025

THE GATHERING with Alonso Duralde Do you hear the bells and festive music? Feel that cold weather nipping at your toes? Smell the gingerbread and peppermint? I guess that means only one thing: Meika, cue up the Ed Asner clips because the yearly Sam Pancake Holiday Special is upon us once more and we're all out of Paul Lynde specials to cover. Today's episode takes us on a sentimental and heartwarming journey through ABC's 1977 Hanna-Barbera produced made-for-tv film The Gathering, starring legendary actors Ed Asner and Maureen Stapleton. Also of note, the movie was written by Academy Award winner James Poe, who gave us the screenplays for Around the World in 80 Days and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Ed Asner plays a grumpy and blunt middle-aged executive who finds himself facing a terminal illness diagnosis. He is forced to confront the prospect of leaving behind the life that he has built and the family he loves but has often taken for granted. In the end, The Gathering becomes more than just a family reunion. It’s a cathartic and emotional journey, one that teaches the importance of love, forgiveness, and the fleeting nature of time. With his characteristic stubbornness and unflinching honesty, he shows his family the value of coming together when it matters most, even as he faces his own mortality. From everyone at Sam Pancake Presents: The Monday Afternoon Movie, we'd like to wish you all a very merry holiday season. May it be filled with all of the things you love and cherish. Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon hours of Pancake action. Show Links: This episode was engineered & produced by . /episode/index/show/mondayafternoonmovie/id/39327545