Shows
Raised by RentalsEscape from EarthFirst he had to escape from New York, then he had to get the hell out of L.A. For the debut episode of season 4, we'll tag along to see how Snake Plissken survives when he must ESCAPE FROM EARTH!
2025-02-012h 30Raised by RentalsEscape from EarthFirst he had to escape from New York, then he had to get the hell out of L.A. For the debut episode of season 4, we'll tag along to see how Snake Plissken survives when he must ESCAPE FROM EARTH!
2025-02-012h 30
Raised by RentalsThe Morgue File (Super Gushers)We celebrated our 3rd birthday this month so for the finale of Season 3 we're shining a spotlight on our most favorite topic ever: ourselves!
That's right, it's time to finally tell the mysterious origin story of RAISED BY RENTALS!
BONUS: You get to pick an episode topic! We cleaned out our stash of dead and abandoned episode ideas but now we want YOU to vote on which one we'll resurrect for an improv in Season 4 next year. Listen then vote on social media!
Dead episode ideas:
The Smurfs…but...
2025-01-012h 16Raised by RentalsThe Morgue File (Super Gushers)We celebrated our 3rd birthday this month so for the finale of Season 3 we're shining a spotlight on our most favorite topic ever: ourselves!
That's right, it's time to finally tell the mysterious origin story of RAISED BY RENTALS!
BONUS: You get to pick an episode topic! We cleaned out our stash of dead and abandoned episode ideas but now we want YOU to vote on which one we'll resurrect for an improv in Season 4 next year. Listen then vote on social media!
Dead episode ideas:
The Smurfs…but...
2025-01-012h 16
Raised by RentalsTales from the CryptmasHorror was all the rage in the 80s so it's no shock that decade spawned one of the greatest TV shows of all time, a spine-chilling anthology series so popular that Hollywood stars would kill to take part. Now it's our turn to take a stab, so we asked the madman himself Professor Pickman of Pickman's Vinyls to lend us a hand for a special Xmas episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT!
2024-12-241h 57Raised by RentalsTales from the CryptmasHorror was all the rage in the 80s so it's no shock that decade spawned one of the greatest TV shows of all time, a spine-chilling anthology series so popular that Hollywood stars would kill to take part. Now it's our turn to take a stab, so we asked the madman himself Professor Pickman of Pickman's Vinyls to lend us a hand for a special Xmas episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT!
2024-12-241h 57
Raised by RentalsThe Town That Dreaded FestivusA tiny rural town tried to drum up some tourism by making a SEINFELD joke their official annual holiday celebration and everything was going great…until the mayor's infidelity kicked off a series of events that cast a curse on their festivities forever. Join us on a trip to see what happens when a group of plucky teenagers decide to bring secular holiday fun back to THE TOWN THAT DREADED FESTIVUS.
2024-12-152h 05Raised by RentalsThe Town That Dreaded FestivusA tiny rural town tried to drum up some tourism by making a SEINFELD joke their official annual holiday celebration and everything was going great…until the mayor's infidelity kicked off a series of events that cast a curse on their festivities forever. Join us on a trip to see what happens when a group of plucky teenagers decide to bring secular holiday fun back to THE TOWN THAT DREADED FESTIVUS.
2024-12-152h 05
Raised by RentalsPlanes, Trains and BatmobilesThe last time Del Griffith tried to get home for Thanksgiving, he ended up on a road trip from hell but found friendship on the way. This year, the stakes are higher as Del and his new travel partner flee for their lives by hopping a ride on PLANES, TRAINS…and BATMOBILES?
2024-11-282h 14Raised by RentalsPlanes, Trains and BatmobilesThe last time Del Griffith tried to get home for Thanksgiving, he ended up on a road trip from hell but found friendship on the way. This year, the stakes are higher as Del and his new travel partner flee for their lives by hopping a ride on PLANES, TRAINS…and BATMOBILES?
2024-11-282h 14
Raised by RentalsWe Love Halloween and Halloween Loves Us Back (Super Gushers)It's that most holy time of year again when the night belongs to children big and small, tricks becomes treats, and the streets flow with fun size candy bars. For our spoopy season SUPER GUSHERS special, we share true crime anecdotes, cherished memories of getting the bejesus scared out of us, and all the reasons WE LOVE HALLOWEEN!
2024-10-311h 51Raised by RentalsWe Love Halloween and Halloween Loves Us Back (Super Gushers)It's that most holy time of year again when the night belongs to children big and small, tricks becomes treats, and the streets flow with fun size candy bars. For our spoopy season SUPER GUSHERS special, we share true crime anecdotes, cherished memories of getting the bejesus scared out of us, and all the reasons WE LOVE HALLOWEEN!
2024-10-311h 51
Raised by RentalsFright Night TheaterWhen two men move into the house next door together, Charley Brewster assumes the only logical explanation: they must be vampires! For the 2nd part of our SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we flip the script to see what happens when a normal day in suburbia becomes a FRIGHT NIGHT.
2024-10-271h 46Raised by RentalsFright Night TheaterWhen two men move into the house next door together, Charley Brewster assumes the only logical explanation: they must be vampires! For the 2nd part of our SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we flip the script to see what happens when a normal day in suburbia becomes a FRIGHT NIGHT.
2024-10-271h 46
Raised by RentalsCurse of the MannequinBrat Pack movies of the 80s oozed with style and swagger, defined by fashion, romance, coming of age…and falling in lust with inanimate objects?? For the 1st episode of our two-part SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we couldn't help but wonder: What was the dark secret behind the man who fell in love with a MANNEQUIN?
2024-10-211h 42Raised by RentalsCurse of the MannequinBrat Pack movies of the 80s oozed with style and swagger, defined by fashion, romance, coming of age…and falling in lust with inanimate objects?? For the 1st episode of our two-part SPOOKY SEASON SWITCHEROO we couldn't help but wonder: What was the dark secret behind the man who fell in love with a MANNEQUIN?
2024-10-211h 42
Raised by RentalsReady Player JoustIn 1982 Williams Electronics popularized two-player video games with an arcade hit featuring lance-wielding ostrich-riders, but when and where was this birdbrained deathmatch meant to take place? In this episode, we gaze into our misty CRT screen to scry a vision of the dystopian world that drives desperate survivors to JOUST!
2024-10-151h 58Raised by RentalsReady Player JoustIn 1982 Williams Electronics popularized two-player video games with an arcade hit featuring lance-wielding ostrich-riders, but when and where was this birdbrained deathmatch meant to take place? In this episode, we gaze into our misty CRT screen to scry a vision of the dystopian world that drives desperate survivors to JOUST!
2024-10-151h 58
Raised by RentalsTainted Love (Rental Rant)Cancel culture is on the wane but when celebrities are horrible people they’re bound to be exposed. So does that mean we have to shun their art? For the final installment in our RENTAL RANT series on toxic fandom, we explore the question: When the creator of a beloved property is cancelled, can you still enjoy your TAINTED LOVE?
2024-10-0452 minRaised by RentalsTainted Love (Rental Rant)Cancel culture is on the wane but when celebrities are horrible people they’re bound to be exposed. So does that mean we have to shun their art? For the final installment in our RENTAL RANT series on toxic fandom, we explore the question: When the creator of a beloved property is cancelled, can you still enjoy your TAINTED LOVE?
2024-10-0452 min
Raised by RentalsBad RubbishWe made you fear a fiery dumpster hungry for blood! Now we'll reveal the terrifying origin story of that unholy HOT GARBAGE. For the 2nd part of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE of original horror, we find the real good $#!% in a mess of BAD RUBBISH.
2024-09-291h 41Raised by RentalsBad RubbishWe made you fear a fiery dumpster hungry for blood! Now we'll reveal the terrifying origin story of that unholy HOT GARBAGE. For the 2nd part of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE of original horror, we find the real good $#!% in a mess of BAD RUBBISH.
2024-09-291h 41
Raised by RentalsReturn of the Vengabus: Enter Cotton Eye JoeThe Vengabus of Death is back! But what will happen when another catchy 90s club jam shows up for the party?
For the first episode of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE two-part sequel series, everybody wants to know: Where did you come from, COTTON EYE JOE?!
2024-09-162h 17Raised by RentalsReturn of the Vengabus: Enter Cotton Eye JoeThe Vengabus of Death is back! But what will happen when another catchy 90s club jam shows up for the party?
For the first episode of our MIDNIGHT DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE two-part sequel series, everybody wants to know: Where did you come from, COTTON EYE JOE?!
2024-09-162h 17
Raised by RentalsDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter Got WhackedKids in 80s and 90s movies were always left alone to take care of themselves, so of course it was a shock when Sue Ellen's mom hired a babysitter to watch the kids while she went on vacation without them.
But it's OK because the babysitter died right away so the kids could have their unsupervised summer fun!
For our 75th episode we investigate the suspicious events of DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD.
2024-09-071h 29Raised by RentalsDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter Got WhackedKids in 80s and 90s movies were always left alone to take care of themselves, so of course it was a shock when Sue Ellen's mom hired a babysitter to watch the kids while she went on vacation without them.
But it's OK because the babysitter died right away so the kids could have their unsupervised summer fun!
For our 75th episode we investigate the suspicious events of DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD.
2024-09-071h 29
Raised by RentalsSpite Unseen (Rental Rant)Why bother to watch a movie or play a game to see if you like it when you can just $#!% all over it before it even comes out! Our 13th RENTAL RANT episode is a warning to everyone about toxic fandom's most insidious attack: the PREEMPTIVE STRIKE!
2024-08-071h 00
Raised by RentalsOver the Big TopAfter saving the day with arm wrestling and a truck, Lincoln Hawk won the heart of his estranged son and went into business for himself. But life on the road is hard, especially when the next adventure is OVER THE TOP!
2024-07-281h 36
Raised by RentalsSkin DeepIt's 'bout time for body horror! If you can stomach it, this episode is guaranteed to make your skin crawl. For the 2nd part of our TRIGGER WARNING TWIN BILL original improv duology, we give ourselves the willies when we dare to poke more than SKIN DEEP.
2024-06-251h 49
Raised by RentalsNever Kill the DogThere's no limit to imagination but to write a story well, it's a good idea to keep some "rules" in mind--like avoiding clichés and preventing plot holes. But since rules are made to be broken, for the first part of our TRIGGER WARNING TWIN BILL original improv series, we blithely ignore the advice that good writers should NEVER KILL THE DOG.
2024-06-011h 28
Raised by RentalsFandom Toxicology (Rental Rant)Being a fan of something can be hard...especially when opinionated know-it-all jerks keep telling you you're liking it wrong! For our 12th RENTAL RANT episode, we go back to the well for a sequel to our tirade on TOXIC FANDOM.
2024-05-171h 15
Raised by RentalsWe Have Robocop at HomeWe started this podcast to imagine how we might "improv improve" our favorite pop culture stories if ever given the keys to the kingdom...but what if we broke bad and just %*@&ing RUINED a good story instead? In a twist that could only happen in Hollywood, we spend our nice episode cringing at the thought of what it would take to ruin a perfect movie like ROBOCOP!
2024-05-081h 43
Raised by RentalsPrayer of the SolarbabiesIn a future without parents, rad orphans only have one choice: skate or die! For this episode, Justin Von Strasburg joins us to imagine a world where PRAYER OF THE ROLLERBOYS meets SOLARBABIES!
2024-04-071h 44
Raised by RentalsPac-Man: Kill ScreenWhen a deep void research vessel goes missing on its way to an uncharted planet, the mission calls for a crack team of space commandos to follow the trail. In this episode, Josh and Mike return to the dark arcade to investigate the mystery of PAC-MAN!
2024-03-201h 47
Raised by RentalsFlapjack MassacreThe sleepy town of Flapjack, Arkansas doesn't boast much to put it on the map...unless you count the breakfast-themed serial murders. Fellow Rad Panther Michael O'May from the Count Kreepyhead's Saturday Morning Monster Mash podcast joins us to play horror-host and cruel gamemaster as we follow the maple syrup trail to unmask PANCAKE FACE!
2024-03-062h 20
Raised by Rentals100% More Christian SlaterBrian Kelly was just a skater-punk screw-up from Orange County until his brother became the victim of a deadly conspiracy. Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Brian got in too deep and his life would never be the same (or safe) again. So what do a vulgar radio pirate in Arizona and a teenage suicide bomb in Ohio have to do with it? Fellow Rad Panther Dawn D'Orazio joins Mike and Josh to connect the dots between the rebellious anti-heroes of GLEAMING THE CUBE, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, and HEATHERS!
2024-02-071h 25
Raised by RentalsJay and Silent Bob Meet FrankensteinAfter meeting God herself, the resident stoners of the View Askewniverse went to Hollywood to get revenge, get the girl, and get paid. Then what happened? For the first episode of RAISED BY RENTALS Season 3, we channel the spirits of Tinseltown's classic comedy duos to daydream a movie where JAY AND SILENT BOB meet FRANKENSTEIN!
2024-01-241h 54
Raised by RentalsThe Year in Rear-View (Rental Rant)It seems like a lot of content creators build their brands riding the coattails of actual creative people...and we make a whole podcast doing exactly that! So for our 11th RENTAL RANT episode, we turn the meta-spotlight on ourselves and take a look back at what we “made" in RAISED BY RENTALS SEASON 2.
2023-12-2857 min
Raised by RentalsYule PerishIn an age of consumerism and forgotten traditions, sometimes people need to be reminded what Christmas is all about...whether they like it or not. To round out our spooky holiday season, our very own horror host Samm Grandquist from WNY Horror Krue and Jerry's Closet calls the shots as we conjure the spirit of the YULETIDE AVENGER!
2023-12-202h 48
Raised by RentalsBlack FridayFor decades, the day after Thanksgiving in the US was a day for Xmas shopping, doorbuster bargains...and terrifying mob rule. But in recent years the tradition has declined, so in this episode we spitball a slasher flick to bring back the classic holiday horror of BLACK FRIDAY!
2023-11-292h 17
Raised by RentalsPauly Shore’s Thanksgiving VacationFrom MTV VJ to leading man to Hollywood has-been, Pauly Shore has had one long strange trip of a career...but we thought we could make it even stranger. For our 2023 Thanksgiving special, we take the Weasel on a holiday road to a good ol' fashioned Griswold family VACATION.
2023-11-151h 41
Raised by RentalsTrick ’r Treat: Good to EatThe residents of Warren Valley take Halloween very seriously and one trick-or-treater in particular makes sure the traditions never die...or else. For our 2023 All Hallow's Eve special, we lovingly contribute to the mythos with a fan-fiction sequel to TRICK 'R TREAT!
2023-10-312h 34
Raised by RentalsThe Incredible Jason ReturnsHe was melted by toxic waste in the sewers of New York but still made it home in time for the next film...but how exactly did Jason get back to Camp Crystal Lake? With an episode that hearkens back to our first ever, we fill in the blank between JASON TAKES MANHATTAN and JASON GOES TO HELL!
2023-10-182h 08
Raised by RentalsSuffer the ChildrenWhen kids from their school go missing but the adults can't seem to do anything about it, Paul and his friends decide to take matters into their own hands. In the second episode of our FRIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY DOUBLE PACK original series, we explore what happens when small-town America will no longer SUFFER THE CHILDREN.
2023-10-041h 46
Raised by RentalsLook AliveHighschoolers have a lot to worry about, from homework to acne to lovers' lane. The last thing they need is an insatiable hunger for brains! For the first part of our FRIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY DOUBLE PACK original improv special, we imagine what it would take for the walking dead to LOOK ALIVE.
2023-09-271h 30
Raised by RentalsSubmitted for the Approval of the Breakfast ClubWhat happens you put 5 high school troublemakers together for all-day detention...but they're not alone? In our second back to school special, we kick off #spookyseason with a murder mystery reimagining of THE BREAKFAST CLUB!
2023-09-172h 28
Raised by RentalsBack 2 School SpecialSummer's almost over and another academic year begins...but what's school really for? To get an education? Or is it all fun and games? It might not be the 80s anymore, but we've got some opinions on why Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect when he goes BACK TO SCHOOL!
2023-08-311h 54
Raised by RentalsHot Garbage!We've all had a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...but do you ever feel like you just want to throw your life away and watch it burn? For the 2nd part of our LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE PICTURE SHOW special, join us for a literal DUMPSTER FIRE THEATER.
2023-08-161h 18
Raised by RentalsThe Vengabus of DeathWhat happens when a 90s good-time party jam turns deadly? For the first episode of our LATE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE PICTURE SHOW special, everybody's running from the VENGABUS!
2023-08-091h 47
Raised by RentalsThe League of Extraordinary ArniesHarry Tasker thought spying on some teacher from Oregon was a standard Omega Sector operation...until he noticed he and John Kimble have the save face! For this new installment in the "Arnieverse," everyone's favorite KINDERGARTEN COP gets roped into a conspiracy of TRUE LIES.
2023-07-261h 39
Raised by RentalsErnest Goes to Slasher CampIf you can't beat 'em, SLASH 'em! Summer is the season for camps in the woods and the slashers they attract so it's the perfect time to revisit Freddy and Jason's Slasher Camp. For our 50th episode, we return to Crystal Lake to find out who will survive when ERNEST GOES TO CAMP!
2023-07-121h 37
Raised by RentalsSecret Origins Revealed! (Super Gushers)Every hero has an origin story and every pop culture nerd has something that hooked them forever—a formative moment, an older fan who shared the sauce, or a rad item that blew their mind. In our latest SUPER GUSHERS installment, Samm Grandquist of WNY Horror Krue and Jerry’s Closet (@injerryscloset) joins us to share the stories that sparked our fandom obsessions.
2023-07-051h 16
Raised by RentalsJohnny 5 Is Still AliveHe escaped his original directive as a military war machine, had adventures in New York, and found a family...but whatever happened to Johnny 5? Podcaster General Dawn D'Orazio joins Mike and Josh to chronicle the fate of pop culture's forgotten A.I. hero in a what-if threequel to SHORT CIRCUIT!
2023-06-071h 23
Raised by RentalsReturn of the Living Dead: Teenage WastelandBrain-slurping teenagers from beyond the grave! Special guest Samm from WNY Horror Krue and Jerry's Closet joins us to improv a totally rad sequel to Mike's all-time favorite flick, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD!
2023-05-241h 54
Raised by RentalsSpider-Man ’95Despite being one of Marvel's most popular characters, it took Peter Parker decades to get a proper big-budget movie...but what if it happened sooner? For Episode 46, Mike and Josh revisit the 90s to daydream a cast and script treatment for what would have been the first silver screen feature of your friendly neighborhood SPIDER-MAN!
2023-05-122h 07
Raised by RentalsAlien/Predator: Revengeance RisingHappy Alien Day! In this second part of our first two-part special, we break down two of the best-ever sci-fi franchises film-by-film and lay out a retroactive blueprint of what Hollywood should have done with ALIEN and PREDATOR!
2023-04-262h 26
Raised by RentalsAVP ABCs (Super Gushers)Horror and sci-fi fans of the VHS era had an impossible choice: Who's better, the Xenomorph or the Jungle Hunter?! So of course Hollywood cashed in and gave the fans what they wanted with canonical crossovers and bigger, flashier movies...to mixed reviews. For the first part of our first two-part episode, Josh and Mike the SUPER GUSHERS critique the dual-franchise films of ALIEN and PREDATOR!
2023-04-122h 14
Raised by RentalsCobra 2: Assignment Miami BeachGenre switches and mash-ups are always a good time, especially when it comes to the Hollywood badasses of the 80s and 90s. In this episode, Josh and Mike try to find Marion Cobretti's friendlier, squishier center with a PG comedy sequel to the 1986 action classic COBRA!
2023-03-311h 47
Raised by RentalsWhose Improv Is It Anyway?Audience choice! We asked our friends and listeners to participate by submitting clichés, tropes, genres, styles, etc.--random storytelling elements for a blind challenge game. Because no one demanded it, Josh and Mike fire up the randomizer to improv a story in real time from your suggestions...and boy, is it a doozy!
2023-03-173h 00
Raised by RentalsToxic Fandomology (Rental Rant)These days it's hard to just like what you like with so many negative-nelly armchair-critics poisoning the fun of being a pop culture fan. In the 10th RENTAL RANT episode, Josh and Mike brave the tip of an unfortunately deep iceberg to call out the evils of TOXIC FANDOM.
2023-03-081h 15
Raised by RentalsMr. Monopoly’s NeighborhoodSave the community center! The "greed is good" trope of the 80s led to one of the now-forgotten genres of the 90s: the social activism comedy. For the 40th episode, Mike and Josh revisit that era and once again dare to dramatize a story-less board game with a film pitch for MONOPOLY!
2023-03-011h 23
Raised by RentalsWeirder ScienceJohn Hughes movies are mostly classic coming-of-age films that set a standard for the VHS generation...but do they hold up to the scrutiny of 21st Century hindsight? In this episode, Mike and Josh extrapolate a ridiculous premise to its extremes by brainstorming a sequel to WEIRD SCIENCE!
2023-02-011h 23
Raised by RentalsBustin’ Makes Me Feel Good (Super Gushers)We remember our favorite childhood movies as awesome classics everyone should watch...but do they really hold up?
It's the return of the SUPER GUSHERS special feature as Mike and Josh ramble down rabbit trails and eventually head down memory lane to revisit GHOSTBUSTERS!
2023-01-251h 04
Raised by RentalsCentipede: The Motion PictureTwo of the best things about 1980s pop culture are the kickass action movies and the 8-bit video games. But why have one without the other?
For the first episode of 2023, Josh and Mike imagine a world where the sci-fi action hit of the decade was a film adaptation of the Atari classic CENTIPEDE!
2023-01-181h 22
Raised by RentalsAsh Saves ChristmasEver since Ash Williams found the Necronomicon in an old cabin in the woods, he's been cursed to endlessly battle the Evil Dead. But can he and his trusty boomstick catch a break at the most wonderful time of the year? For the first episode of Season 2, Mike and Josh improv a soon-to-be holiday classic: ASH SAVES CHRISTMAS!
2022-12-212h 24
Raised by RentalsThanksgiving: The Movie (Get Stuffed)The VHS era was over by 2007 but director Eli Roth nailed the 80s holiday slasher movie trailer with his contribution to Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse double feature. Tune in as special guest Mike O'May (Count Kreepyhead) joins Mike and Josh for a very special Raised by Rentals THANKSGIVING!
2022-11-231h 22
Raised by RentalsTeen Wolf AlsoIn the 80s, only a loveable star like Michael J. Fox could make a sports movie about a teenage werewolf a hit at the box office. So of course Hollywood tried to cash in with a sequel that was just a copy of the original...only worse. So much worse. Guest Justin Von Strasburg joins Josh and Mike to imagine what-might-have-been with the sequel to TEEN WOLF.
2022-11-091h 24
Raised by RentalsEvery Shape Has Its ThornAfter an aborted attempt at a holiday anthology series, the creators of the HALLOWEEN movies leaned hard into an origin story for the original iconic villain. But the so-called Thorn Trilogy became a thorn in the franchise's side that led to remake after reboot. For our big spooky season finale, Josh and Mike take a stab at spinning a more interesting legacy for MICHAEL MYERS.
2022-10-261h 56
Raised by RentalsHave Fun Storming the Castle! (Rental Rant)Pop culture fandom today is plagued by a serious problem: 9 out of 10 fans are affected by the evils of gatekeeping. If you've been the victim of a gatekeeper, it's important to know you're not alone. The new RENTAL RANT episode of RAISED BY RENTALS is here to help. Together we can heal...and kick some gatekeepers in the nuts. Who's with us?!
2022-10-1949 min
Raised by RentalsFreddy and Jason: Bros Before B!tches (Slasher Camp)For years, slasher movie fans begged Hollywood to see the two titans of the genre duke it out on the silver screen in the ultimate fan-service showdown.
In 2003, they got their wish with a knock-down-drag-out slash-fest...but was it everything it could be?
In this episode, Josh and Mike crack each other up with a fun re-imagining of FREDDY VS. JASON!
2022-10-121h 18
Raised by RentalsRevenge of the Living NerdsLewis and Gilbert were excited about college, until they got there and found out--oh no!--they were nerds all along. Fans cheered when they got their revenge on the popular pretty people who made their lives miserable...but this 80s classic is problematic at best. For their first double-feature episode, Josh and Mike bust out their calculators to solve the problems of REVENGE OF THE NERDS!
2022-09-281h 44
Raised by RentalsDumpster Diving for Gold (Super Gushers)We've all seen the blockbuster movies, read the bestselling book series, and jammed out to the newest viral song...but what about the hidden gems that take some digging to find in the dark corners of pop culture?
For the first episode of the new SUPER GUSHERS special feature, Josh and Mike gush about 90s comics, direct-to-video movies, and the shame-free fun of shutting down the haters by letting yourself just like what you like.
2022-09-221h 30
Raised by RentalsSuper Mario Bros. 2: Plumbertime BluesIn 1993 Hollywood took a chance with the first live-action movie adaptation of a video game, but it disappointed fans, riled up critics, and eventually became a joke. Only...was it actually pretty good? In this episode, Josh and Mike imagine an alternate world with a successful film franchise based on SUPER MARIO BROS.!
2022-09-141h 38
Raised by RentalsLast Action BarbarianArnold Schwarzenegger became one of the biggest action stars of the VHS era starting with spot-on casting as a musclebound barbarian and he stayed on top long enough to poke fun at himself in one of the genre's most misunderstood satires. For this episode, Josh and Mike continue their experiment to combine every Schwarzenegger movie into a shared universe by mashing up CONAN and LAST ACTION HERO!
2022-08-311h 44
Raised by RentalsCritters ReloadedIn the 80s there was a batch of low-budget horror movies based on creepy little monsters running amok. But were any of them actually scary?
In this episode, Josh and Mike improv a story to take the comedy out of horror-comedy and try to actually scare people with a serious take on CRITTERS!
2022-08-171h 26
Raised by RentalsSummer School 2: The Dave and Chainsaw MassacreThe raunchy teen summer comedy movie was a staple of 80s and 90s cinema, and the legendary Carl Reiner made one of the era's best.
In this episode, Josh and Mike daydream about how rad it would've been to see more of the horror SFX-obsessed duo of Dave and Chainsaw in a genre-bending sequel to SUMMER SCHOOL!
2022-08-031h 24
Raised by RentalsCats Gone WildImage Comics exploded onto the comic book scene in the early 90s, quickly becoming the number 3 comics publisher in the US based on the popularity of superstar artist-creators like Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, and of course Jim Lee!
It didn't take Hollywood long to come calling for characters to bring to life on the screen, big and small...with mixed results.
Putting comics in the spotlight for the first time, Josh and Mike imagine what it would have been like to go to the movies in the 90s for the live-action adaptation of Jim Lee's WILDC.A.T.S!
2022-07-202h 04
Raised by RentalsBig Trouble in Little ItalyJohn Carpenter made some of the most iconic horror and sci-fi movies of the VHS era, and it's obvious he loved having fun mashing up genres.
But what if he'd made a mafia movie? And what if he'd teamed up with Kurt Russell again?
That's a Venn diagram of awesome for 80s fans!
In this episode, Josh and Mike ponder what ol' Jack Burton would do in a silver screen sequel to BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA!
2022-07-061h 58
Raised by RentalsTower of SnakesThey said it couldn't be done! You can't make a good movie out of a board game...but Hollywood proved them wrong with CLUE.
Then RAISED BY RENTALS proved them wrong again with TROUBLE, the only (completely imaginary) horror movie with a Pop-O-Matic bubble!
But can they do it again?
In the 14th full-length episode, Josh and Mike venture into the karmic dangers of pitching a movie adaptation of...SNAKES AND LADDERS??
2022-06-221h 53
Raised by RentalsContamination Hazard Urban DisposalIn the 80s it seemed like everyone was getting mutated by toxic waste! Of all the horror movies in that sub-genre, the one with the best title was maybe the worst of the bunch. How can a film about cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers end up so boring?! For the 13th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine how great John Heard and Daniel Stern could have been with a good script for C.H.U.D.!
2022-06-081h 27
Raised by RentalsAdapt or Die! (Rental Rant)We've all felt the pain of getting excited when our favorite book or comic gets adapted to film only to walk away bewailing why? WHY?! For the 8th RENTAL RANT, Josh and Mike complain like grumpy old men about piss-poor adaptations and Hollywood alienating a built-in audience when they change things for no good reason.
Plus, a couple of mini-rants about The Wheel of Time and X-Men! Come get angry with us!
2022-06-0153 min
Raised by RentalsKnowing Is Half the Battle...and the Other Half Is ViolenceG.I. Joe was one of the most successful franchises of the 80s and early 90s. With the one-two punch of a popular cartoon and the greatest toyline of the decade, a hit feature film was surely to follow...yet the animated movie was released straight to home video and Hollywood wouldn't gamble on a live-action film for another 20 years. For the 12th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike fan-cast and fantasy-direct an in-era blockbuster movie worthy of the REAL AMERICAN HERO.
2022-05-252h 21
Raised by RentalsYour Kung Fu Grip Is Old and Now You Must Die (Rental Rant)Once upon a time, G.I. Joe set the standard for perfect playable toys, supported by an animated series, cutting edge comic book, feature film, and loads more that sparked the excitement of kids everywhere. But now it seems kids just don't play with action figures anymore.
This week's RENTAL RANTS is a crossover special with COUNT KREEPYHEAD'S SATURDAY MORNING MONSTER MASH!
Host Mike O'May--our first guest!--joins Josh and the other Mike to lay out the blueprint for how to reinvigorate and relaunch one of the greatest toylines in history.
2022-05-181h 23
Raised by RentalsFrom Here to Eternia80s kids rejoiced when Hollywood adapted one of the decade's most popular toy properties to the silver screen in 1987, only to leave the theaters confused at the treatment of He-Man. For the 11th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what could have been if we'd gotten a movie true to the origins of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
2022-05-111h 49
Raised by RentalsThe Angry Raised by Rentals Nerds (Rental Rant)In the 80s, the Nintendo Entertainment System--our beloved NES--revolutionized the home console market and delivered an unparalleled lineup of legendary games. So why, Lord Jeebus, why?? were there so many $#!&-tier games clogging the rental store shelves?
For the 6th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh and Mike shake things up a bit by daydreaming of the FRIDAY THE 13TH NES game that never was...
2022-05-041h 06
Raised by RentalsAre You There, God? It’s Me, KentKent was an ambitious and successful university student, leader of a top-secret laser optics project...until he was upstaged by a prankster and his wunderkind sidekick. When Kent heard the voice of God, though, he knew he was destined for greater things.
In the 10th improv-improve episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike consider what happens when God stops talking to a REAL GENIUS.
2022-04-271h 22
Raised by RentalsF Your Childhood (Rental Rant)Why are relaunches, remakes, and new installments for classic franchises making all the 80s and 90s kids so furious? In the 5th RENTAL RANT, Josh and Mike investigate the Case of the Ruined Childhood!
2022-04-2043 min
Raised by RentalsIn a Van Down by the RiverMatt Foley is 35 years old, thrice-divorced, and living in a down by the river...but how did this high-energy motivational speaker come to such a crossroads in life? In the 9th full-length episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh and Mike imagine what life must be like for the late great Chris Farley's trademark SNL character.
2022-04-131h 21
Raised by RentalsTitle Fight (Rental Rant)Why are movie sequel titles so unoriginal, confusing, and repetitive? In the 4th installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike go full curmudgeon on the laziness of movie series titles.
2022-04-0643 min
Raised by RentalsTwinsiesSarah Connor survived a ruthless attack at the hands of a killer cyborg from the future & thought she'd found safety in a small Mexican town. So why does she keep seeing a man with the same face as her would-be assassin? For the 8th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv the perfect 80s action movie crossover: COMMANDO VS. THE TERMINATOR!
2022-03-301h 55
Raised by RentalsSpoiler Warning, @$$hole! (Rental Rant)It's not a spoiler that spoilers suck! In the 3rd now-regular RENTAL RANTS feature, Josh & Mike vent about jerks who carelessly spoil the stories to movies, books, & more.
2022-03-2359 min
Raised by RentalsIt’s Fun Getting Into TroubleIn the grand tradition of movies based on board games like Clue and...Battleship, I guess?...for the 7th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv an actual story for a silver screen adaptation of the only game with a Pop-O-Matic bubble: TROUBLE!
2022-03-161h 25
Raised by RentalsAll Filler, No Killer (Rental Rant)Why the %*$& are shows so long these days?! In the 2nd installment of RENTAL RANTS, Josh & Mike swear up a storm about streaming TV run-times.
2022-03-0958 min
Raised by RentalsTo Catch a PredatorFrom the jungle canopy of Central America to the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, the Earth has often been a safari destination for alien sport-hunters. But what happens when things go wrong and predator becomes prey? For the 6th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine how the 90s-era blockbuster action scene would have been even better with PREDATOR 3.
2022-03-022h 22
Raised by RentalsRemake, Reuse, Recycle (Rental Rant)Doesn't Hollywood have any good ideas anymore?! In this first bonus episode, Josh & Mike go on a RENTAL RANT about remakes of popular movies.
2022-02-2335 min
Raised by RentalsStreet Fighter II: Electric ShadalooHadouken! Head-to-head fighters dominated the video game scene in the early 90s, so of course Hollywood got in the ring to kick ass with blockbuster movie adaptations. Only the movies we got didn't exactly hit hard. For the 5th episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike imagine a fighting game-turned-movie that doesn't pull punches & actually put some street fights in STREET FIGHTER II.
2022-02-162h 00
Raised by RentalsNightmares on Elm Streets1, 2, Freddy's comin' for you...& you...& you...he's everywhere! As the pandemic continues to menace the real world, can the survivors of Springwood prevail against a plague of nightmares? For the 4th episode--& 1st birthday special!--of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improve a story concept for the return of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
2022-02-022h 49
Raised by RentalsGoonies TooWhen they were just kids, Mikey Walsh & his friends faced pirates, gangsters, & booby traps to save their homes. But is one adventure enough? For the 3rd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if sequel to THE GOONIES!
2022-01-192h 23
Raised by RentalsPolice Academy and ChillFrom a ragtag band of misfits to a force to be reckoned with, Mahoney & the gang cracked up a generation with their screwball take on cleaning up the streets. But in the political climate of the 2020s, can a comedy about cops actually be funny? For the 2nd episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if relaunch of the POLICE ACADEMY series.
2022-01-052h 34
Raised by RentalsChristmas the 13thIt's the holiday season at Crystal Lake & we couldn't help but wonder: What would Jason do? He's been to Manhattan, he's been to space...why not a Christmas special? For the 1st episode of RAISED BY RENTALS, Josh & Mike improv a story concept for a what-if installment in the FRIDAY THE 13TH series.
2021-12-212h 22