Monkey Off My Backlog

About the show

Every week, Tessa and Sam exorcise their personal pop culture demons by going through their media to-do lists one item at a time. Each week involves a discussion about the media they listened, watched, read, played, or experienced that week along with encouragement to continue tackling these backlogs. Plus bonus weekly episodes where one of the hosts reacts to a TV show that the other has forced them to watch.

Monkey Off My Backlog on social media

Episodes and Blog Entries

  • 13 Days of X-Men: X2

    Episode  |  December 14th, 2021  |  1 hr 2 mins
    anna paquin, brian cox, cyclops, fox, halle berry, hugh jackman, ian mckellen, jean grey, magneto, mystique, patrick strewart, professor x, rogue, storm, wolverine, x-men

    Tessa and Sam count down to Christmas Day with the 'X-Men' franchise, spreading some holiday cheer along the way. In the second episode of the 13 Days of X-men, the hosts are joined by special guest Megan to discuss 2003's 'X2.'

  •

    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 6

    Episode  |  December 14th, 2021  |  54 mins 49 secs
    kirk, mccoy, recap, spock, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    13 Days of X-Men: X-Men

    Episode  |  December 13th, 2021  |  52 mins 8 secs
    anna paquin, cyclops, fox, halle berry, hugh jackman, ian mckellen, jean grey, magneto, mystique, patrick strewart, professor x, rogue, storm, wolverine, x-men

    Tessa and Sam count down to Christmas Day with the 'X-Men' franchise, spreading some holiday cheer along the way. Up first is the film that started it all, 2000's 'X-Men.'

  •

    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 5

    Episode  |  December 7th, 2021  |  42 mins 44 secs
    recap, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    Sam Assigns! PT Anderson! Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, The Master

    Episode  |  December 6th, 2021  |  1 hr 13 mins
    adam sandler, haim, joaquin phoenix, licorice pizza, magnolia, movies, paul thomas anderson, philip seymour hoffman, pt anderson, punch drunk love, the master, tom cruise

    Sam assigns three movies directed by Paul Thomas Anderson: 'Magnolia,' 'Punch-Drunk Love,' and 'The Master.'

  •

    Ep. 78 - The Straight Story, One Tree Hill, The Haunting of Hill House, The Outer Worlds w/Jarret

    Episode  |  November 30th, 2021  |  1 hr 3 mins
    cw, david lynch, fallout, mike flanagan, movies, netflix, obsidian, one tree hill, television, the haunting of hill house, the outer worlds, the straight story, video games

    This week, we're joined by new friend of the pod, Jaret, for an episode of #monkeyfails, which is what happens when you intend to take one thing off your backlog but end up taking off something else. Jarret talks David Lynch's 'The Straight Story,' Sam goes old-school teen soap with 'One Tree Hill,' Andy and his dog Bard watch 'The Haunting of Hill House,' and Tessa plays 'The Outer Worlds.'

  •

    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 4

    Episode  |  November 30th, 2021  |  36 mins 22 secs
    recap, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 3

    Episode  |  November 23rd, 2021  |  39 mins 11 secs
    recap, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    Tessa Assigns! This Is How You Lose the Time War, Dirty Computer [Emotion Picture], Castlevania

    Episode  |  November 22nd, 2021  |  1 hr 10 mins
    amal el-mohtar, books, castlevania, dirty computer, emotion picture, janelle monae, max gladstone, music, netflix, this is how you lose the time war, tv

    It's Tessa turn to tell Andy and Sam watch to watch and read this week: 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, Janelle Monae's 'Dirty Computer [Emotion Picture],' and 'Castlevania'!

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    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 2

    Episode  |  November 16th, 2021  |  29 mins 11 secs
    recap, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    Sam Watches Star Trek - Episode 1

    Episode  |  November 9th, 2021  |  24 mins 42 secs
    recap, star trek, the original series, tos, tv

    A podcast devoted to Sam watching Star Trek

  •

    Andy Assigns! Odd Taxi, Your Name, One Piece

    Episode  |  November 8th, 2021  |  1 hr 21 mins

    Andy forces Tessa and Sam to watch Odd Taxi, Your Name, and One Piece.
    Will they learn to love Odakawa the Walrus who drives a taxi? How will they like the amazing Your Name. And finally will they embark on a voyage with Luffy in One Piece?

  •

    Tessa Watches LOST - Episode 6

    Episode  |  November 2nd, 2021  |  27 mins 35 secs
    bad robot, carlton cuse, damon lindelof, jj abrams, lost, recap, rewatch, tv

    This is it! What will Tessa think about the season two finale?

  •

    Bride of Spooktober, Episode 4

    Episode  |  November 1st, 2021  |  1 hr 49 secs
    alien, aliens, james cameron, jennifer's body, megan fox, milla jovovich, movies, pitchfork, resident evil, ridley scott

    Surprise! Bonus Spooktober episode! This week, Tessa watches 'Aliens,' Sam watches 'Resident Evil,' and Andy watches 'Jennifer's Body.'

  •

    Tessa Watches LOST - Episode 5

    Episode  |  October 26th, 2021  |  20 mins 15 secs
    bad robot, carlton cuse, damon lindelof, jj abrams, lost, recap, rewatch, tv

    Continuing our journey through Season 2. This week: "Lockdown," "Dave, "S.O.S," and "Two for the Road."

  •

    Bride of Spooktober, Episode 3

    Episode  |  October 25th, 2021  |  1 hr 6 mins
    black mirror, goodnight mommy, james wan, malignant, movies, stanley kubrick, the ring, the shining, tv

    This week, we're joined by new friend of the pod, Melissa, who checks 'The Shining' off of her list. Tessa watches 'The Ring'; Sam watches the episode of 'Black Mirror,' "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too"; and Andy watches 'Goodnight Mommy.'