Stepping out of the wood, out of the dark, out of the night, the so-cast pod is back for a chat about the surprising parallels between Wicked and My So-Called Life! Sure, Winnie Holzman is one of the main writers behind both projects, so it makes sense that they'd have some things in common -- and we go deep on all of it, from the costumes to the music to the original novel.

Guests this week: Costumer Samantha Rei; Scottish comedian Scott Pirie, and media historian Terrence Moss. Plus, from the Sewers of Paris archives, my 2019 interview with Gregory Maguire -- the author of the novel on which the musical Wicked is based! And then James and I share some of our own Ozian experiences.

Also, here's a link to the Wicked video that Samantha Rei mentioned in our conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd7bOTZCYT4

I'm chatting with a super exciting guest this week: It's the delightful Senta Moses, who played Delia Fisher on My So-Called Life! We talk about her early career, the inspiration for her performance, the real-life confession that may have influenced the coming-out scene in the finale, and even take a peek at her original script notes for insights into how she tackled the role. Amazing!!!

And then, James and I reflect not just on this conversation, but on what the show has meant to us over the years; on how this podcast has changed the way that we look at the show; and about what lies ahead, now that it's our time to get out onto a metaphorical gymnasium floor to dance in defiance.

Find Senta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sentammoses

And on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CurlyGirlWatercolors

And stay in touch with me:

Sewers of Paris podcast for conversations about the entertainment that changed queer people’s lives

YouTube for videos about boundary-breaking movies and TV shows

Email newsletter for stories about the making of iconic pop culture

Twitch streams for watch-alongs of fun shows & films

Patreon for bonus videos & care packs & more

Social media: BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram

When last we left Angela and Brian and Rickie and Rayanne and all their friends, they were in the early days of 1995 and at a point of no return in their teen lives. So what's happened to them in the intervening 30 years? On this week's episode, we have a reunion episode of sorts, with a roundup of past guests speculating on where the characters might have found themselves. And then James and I explore a few more possibilities -- from talking cars to communes to a secret relationship with J.D. Salinger, anything's possible.

- 80s TV Ladies: https://www.80stvladies.com

- Ryan O'Connor: https://www.instagram.com/ryanoconnor1981

- Virginia Sole-Smith: https://virginiasolesmith.com

- Kerri Doherty and H. Alan Scott on Out on the Lanai: https://www.patreon.com/goldengirlspodcast/about

- Drew Droege: https://www.instagram.com/drew_droege

- Guy Branum: https://guybranum.com

- BenDeLaCreme: https://www.bendelacreme.com

- Trevor with Media Processing: https://www.youtube.com/@mediaprocessingchannel

- Sam Pirie: https://www.instagram.com/sampvevo

My So-Called Life lives again! This week, we're chatting about how MSCL was saved from oblivion, resurrected on cable. What made MTV such a perfect home for this show -- better, in fact, than the network where it originally aired? Joining me this week for a chat about MTV is the delightful Peppermint: Drag Race icon, actor, singer, and child of the 90s. Then I'll dive even further into the decade with James, in a conversation touching on David Bowie, adult animation, Clarissa Explains it All, and why James once spent a week wandering town in his underwear.

Check out Peppermint’s new book club with Hugh Ryan here, and her Drag PAC here.

In this week's episode of Matt's So-Cast Pod, it's the dramatic conclusion -- OR IS IT??? We've reached the final episode of My So-Called Life, in which everyone has revealing dreams and Brian finally tells Angela how he feels ... but she thinks that it's actually how Jordan feels. Meanwhile, Delia's got the hots for Rickie but has an important question to ask: Is he gay or what? And Graham and Hallie get a little steamy over a rack of lamb. Also, Patty meets Princess Diana.

Diving into all this drama with me is the delightful Sam Pirie (Instagram, YouTube), returning guest and newcomer to MSCL. Now that he's watched the whole series, how does he like this tale of 90s woe, as a youngster who wasn't even alive when it aired?

And -- what's next for the podcast? All will be revealed in my illuminating conversation with James!

We're closing in on the end of the series, and it's time for some wacky hijinks after last week's heart-rending drama! The grownups are going to take a VERY SERIOUS vacation, and they leave Angela in charge ... but it doesn't take long for chaos to reign when Rayanne accidentally handcuffs herself to a bed, and Patty is tempted by forbidden booze.

Breaking it down this week we have the delightful comedian, actor, writer Drew Droege (who has worked with both Lisa Wilhoit, who plays Danielle, and Bess Armstrong!) and also the return of writer and Linoleum Knife podcaster Alonso Duralde. And of course, my very specialest of special guests, James.

Everyone’s life is FINALLY going smoothly … for about five seconds before it all comes crashing down, thanks to some extraordinarily bad decisions by Rayanne and Jordan, who decide to climb into the back of a car together; by Brian, who videotapes them; by Graham, who “forgets” to mention that Hallie broke up with her fiancee; and who knows, Amber’s probably up to something screwy off-camera.

Making sense of it all this week are the delightful Ryan O’Connor, and also Kristin Russo, host of Buffering: A Rewatch Adventure and The Boiler Room. And also of course James!

Happy 1995! It's a new year, and time to make some resolutions ... which will almost immediately be broken. Angela wants to stop being so introspective (although on second thought, maybe not), Patty wants to stop being so suspicious, Danielle wants to wear makeup ... and Rickie wants a place to live, which puts everyone else's resolutions into perspective. Mr. Katimsky, recently having sworn off coffee, wants to help, but can't -- for reasons that will become SHOCKINGLY (for the 90s) clear.

Breaking it down with me this week is Aaron Berman, author of the forthcoming book So Beautiful it Hurts: The Making of My So-Called Life. (Check out Aaron's MSCL community on Facebook here.)