30 Years of Clueless and 5 Years of This Ends at Prom

August 28, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"UGH. AS IF!"

Back in 2020, the recently married Wives Colangelo sat down in their Cleveland apartment to kill some time during quarantine and talk about teen girl movies. Now, five years later, in a different apartment in Los Angeles, they're returning to the movie that started it all and celebrating how it has changed culture in the last 30 years -- CLUELESS. A film this monumental deserved revisiting and a proper This Ends at Prom episode backed by the expertise forged out of over 500 hours worth of weekly film analysis.

Thank you for five years of This Ends at Prom, supporting teen girl cinema, and validating movies that "filmbros" ignore.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

Interview Referenced

Clueless at 30 (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/19/clueless-movie-30th-anniversary

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Friendship Place: https://friendshipplace.org/

--------

Social Media Plugs

@ThisEndsAtProm

@BJColangelo

@Veloci_trap_tor / @harmonycolangelo.bsky.social.com

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Freakier Friday (2025)

August 21, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"My face looks like a Birkin bag that's been left out in the sun to rot!"

The long-awaited sequel to 2003's FREAKY FRIDAY is finally here, and The Wives Colangelo are thrilled to finally have a movie in theaters that they can cover on the show. Is FREAKIER FRIDAY a worthy follow-up to the absolute best film in the franchise, or was it another cheap bid for nostalgia that no one needed? Is a four-way body swap too confusing for audiences to make sense of, or is the promise of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan getting to be partners in crime enough to look past the plot conveniences? This week's episode will attempt to answer all of these questions and so many more. Tune in, you won't want to miss it!

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Friendship Place: https://friendshipplace.org/

--------

Social Media Plugs

@ThisEndsAtProm

@BJColangelo

@Veloci_trap_tor / @harmonycolangelo.bsky.social.com

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Now & Then (1995)

August 14, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"As we grow older, it becomes difficult to just believe."

In honor of the film's 30th anniversary, The Wives Colangelo are stuffing their bras with pudding, trying to find the truth about a tombstone, having an existential crisis about coming back to their hometowns, and falling in love all over again with the movie NOW AND THEN. Let's talk about the sapphic energy of Sam and Roberta, the chokehold Devon Sawa had on a generation, and why male critics comparing the film to STAND BY ME is lazy film criticism.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Friendship Place: https://friendshipplace.org/

--------

Social Media Plugs

@ThisEndsAtProm

@BJColangelo

@Veloci_trap_tor / @harmonycolangelo.bsky.social.com

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

In Memory of Margo Donohue, Heaven Help Us (1985) Re-Release

August 07, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"I've been kicked off the track team, and without track, my grades will be based on ...my grades."

The world lost a wonderful woman this month with the passing of Margo Donohue. In honor of her life and legacy, we're re-releasing our episode with her on HEAVEN HELP US, the 1985 Catholic school boys film filmed in Brooklyn. At the time of the episode, Margo had just released the book FILMED IN BROOKLYN, all about movies set in her stomping grounds. We also read a bit from Mike McPadden's TEEN MOVIE HELL, had the chance to examine how teen boys function differently around women compared to all-male groups, and tried to figure out why we love Kevin Dillon's Rooney so much, even though he says the f-slur more in this movie than any others combined.

We miss you already, Margo.

For more of her work, check out the books FILMED IN BROOKLYN and FEVER: The Complete History of Saturday Night Fever, as well as her podcasts What a Creep!, Dorking Out, and Book Vs. Movie.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

Social Media Plugs

@ThisEndsAtProm

@BJColangelo

@Veloci_trap_tor / @harmonycolangelo.bsky.social.com

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Light of Day (1987)

July 31, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Music is all that matters. One hour on stage makes up for the other 23."

The Wives Colangelo are heading back to the Midwest for a trip, so it's only fitting that they'd cover an underrated shot-in-Cleveland story starring Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox about a pair of musical siblings trying to find their places in the world. Directed by Paul Schrader and featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, LIGHT OF DAY is an odd little slice of life in the Rust Belt that might be more interesting to talk about than it is to actually watch.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Street Vendor Support: https://gofund.me/d26a596f

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Dumplin' (2018)

July 24, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"As far as I'm concerned, a swimsuit body is a body with a swimsuit on it."

This week The Wives Colangelo are heading to Texas, signing up for a pageant to piss off our mothers, and learning from drag queens what it means to be a beauty queen with DUMPLIN'! It's time to discuss the insecurities our moms imprint on us, why seeking external validation while existing in a marginalized body is not anti-feminist, and why Dolly Parton truly is the North Star for anyone who has ever felt like they were too much or not enough.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Street Vendor Support: https://gofund.me/d26a596f

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Blue Crush (2002)

July 17, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"You're a girl that doesn't ask a guy what to do..."

Surf's up, and we're remembering having very confusing feelings about watching all of these cool surfers! BLUE CRUSH is one of those seminal sleepover classics that caused quite a stir for millennials everywhere, but we're breaking down why it's so good, why Anne-Marie is so iconic, and why the hell a guy is hanging around our surfer sisterhood story!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Street Vendor Support: https://gofund.me/d26a596f

----

Articles Mentioned

Surf's Up: How Blue Crush Inspired a Generation to Catch a Wave: https://www.eonline.com/news/1341805/surf-s-up-how-blue-crush-inspired-a-generation-to-catch-a-wave

Keala Kennelly for Surfer Magazine: https://www.surfer.com/news/keala-kennelly-interview

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Mermaids (1990)

July 10, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Charlotte, I know you're planning a celibate life, but with half my chromosomes, I think that might be tough."

We at This Ends at Prom firmly believe that we never stop coming-of-age, and this Cher/Winona Ryder/Christina Ricci/Bob Hoskins classic is proof positive of that! We're cutting our sandwiches into stars, co-opting Catholic guilt, yearning after people we shouldn't, moving across the country to avoid addressing our feelings, and finally talking about one of the ultimate "watch with your mom" movies, MERMAIDS.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Street Vendor Support: https://gofund.me/d26a596f

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

July 03, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"That's a shame, being that it's the 4th of July and all. Kids like you should be out having fun. Drinking, partying, running people over, getting away with murder... things like that!"

Happy 4th of July to Helen Shivers, and only Helen Shivers. With a legacyquel on the way, it's time we finally talked about I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. BJ loves this movie and Harmony ... tolerates it, so for those of you who love episodes where The Wives Colangelo disagree, this one is going to be a favorite. Let's talk about urban legends, guilt keeping you from washing your hair, why Ryan Phillippe deserved a better career, and figure out where the hell all those crabs in Julie's car went.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A. Street Vendor Support: https://gofund.me/d26a596f

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

The Doom Generation (30th Anniversary)

June 26, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Ever feel like reality is more twisted than dreams?"

The Wives Colangelo are closing out Pride Month by introducing Harmony to the punk rock cinematic world of Gregg Araki and celebrating 30 years of THE DOOM GENERATION. Sometimes being a teenager feels like looking down the end of the world, and no one understands that feeling quite like Xavier Red, Jordan White, and Amy Blue. Let's talk about this middle finger to American conservatism, pro-polyamory, bisexual disasterpiece. This isn't queer as in "love is love," but it is most certainly queer as in f*ck you.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Queers in Palestine (https://alqaws.org/ )

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Prom Dates (2024) w/ D.J. Mausner!

June 19, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"It's a first-year college party. Everyone's gay."

This week The Wives Colangelo are joined by the ultra-hilarious D.J. Mausner to talk about their prom night comedy, PROM DATES! It's time to learn how this movie came to be, hear about the real-life inspirations behind the characters and absolutely wild scenarios these two best friends get themselves into, and honor the high school experiences of idiot pervert teenagers still figuring themselves out everywhere. It's bonkers, it's gay as hell, and it's a conversation you won't want to miss.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Queers in Palestine (https://alqaws.org/ )

----

Follow Our Guest!

@djmausner on IG

Catch a show at UCB! https://ucbcomedy.com/shows/los-angeles/

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Saved! (2004) w/ Sarah Marshall

June 12, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Why would God make us all so different if he wanted us to be the same?"

The incomparable Sarah Marshall makes her mighty return to discuss one of the best films of the 2000s, the religious satire SAVED! Together with The Wives Colangelo, the trio discusses repression, queerness, being filled with Christ's love, a perfectly written script, cool pastors, teenage pregnancy, and why we all wish we were as cool as Cassandra Edelstein.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Queers in Palestine (https://alqaws.org /)

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----

Follow Our Guest!

Listen to Sarah Marshall at You're Wrong About and You Are Good

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Loser (2000) 25 Years Later

June 05, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"I love self-loathing complaint rock you can dance to."

It's Harmony's birthday and whatever baby wants, baby gets, so we're upgrading Amy Heckerling's LOSER from the Sadie Hawkins Dance episodes on the Patreon and bringing Jason Biggs and co. to the main show! Let's talk about why so many people misunderstand the loveliness of this story, why Greg Kinnear should be in the villain hall-of-fame for his performance as Professor Alcott, sing the praises (again) of Mona May's costume design, and debate whether or not Everclear is secretly an emo band.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Queers in Palestine (https://alqaws.org/ )

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Rent (20th Anniversary)

May 29, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"How do you measure a year in the life?"

May-usical month comes to an end as The Wives Colangelo reflect on the film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical, RENT, 20 years later. What do we do with a show that was so important to a generation that hasn't quite held up to the hourglass of time? What do we do with a show that would probably benefit from some rewrites, but is untouchable as the last work of someone who was taken from us too soon? What the hell do we do with RENT?! Well, we're going to try and figure it out!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Mermaids U.K. (https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ )

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Stage Fright (2014)

May 22, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"I sleep with women, but musicals make me feel gay!"

It's BJ's birthday week so she's forcing Harmony to watch a horror musical, the CAMP meets FRIDAY THE 13TH theatre geek slasher comedy, STAGE FRIGHT (2014). The Wives Colangelo are here to discuss the weirdest interpretations of beloved musicals, Meat Loaf (the man), theater kid jokes that hit just as hard 11 years later, and why this film is criminally underseen. All the world's a song to sing, so sing with all your heart!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Mermaids U.K. (https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ )

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Cry-Baby (1990)

May 15, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"I may be a drape, but I love your granddaughter. And if that's a crime, I'll stand convicted, ma'am."

John Waters returns to This Ends at Prom with the second of his unofficial teen trilogy and first true musical, the 1950s satire, CRY-BABY. This week The Wives Colangelo are discussing finding your path in a rigid world, why Waters' brand of "beautiful" is the way to be, stressing the importance of staying true to yourself, and determining why Wanda Woodward is one of cinema's greatest badass babes.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Mermaids U.K. (https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ )

----

Source Mentioned

A Conversation with John Waters: https://www.hammertonail.com/interviews/john-waters-cry-baby/

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Camp Rock (2008)

May 08, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"I'm not ashamed. It's just, for once, I just wanted to fit in and be popular."

May-Usical Month continues with another Disney Channel Original Movie, the Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers summer camp musical, CAMP ROCK. This week, The Wives Colangelo are talking about the Radio Disney pop-rock machine (complete with Disney Knees), how nonsensical this plot is, and the unfortunately dark truth behind what was going on with the actors during production. Sing it out, Prom Party. "This is real, this is me! I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, now!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Mermaids U.K. (https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ )

----

Source Mentioned

Alyson Stoner's "Dear Hollywood"

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Cabaret (1972)

May 01, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Does it really matter so long as you're having fun?"

May-Usical Month returns with an all-time great musical about a 19-year-old Cabaret singer in Berlin just before World War II, the original manic pixie dream girl — Fräulein Sally Bowles in CABARET. This week, The Wives Colangelo muse on one of their favorite films of all time and discuss the political commentary embedded in the story, why Bob Fosse's changes from the Broadway show were for the best, and why Liza Minnelli is truly one of the greatest to ever do it. Life is a Cabaret, old chum! Come to the Cabaret!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Mermaids U.K. (https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ )

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

April 24, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

If you were on Tumblr in 2012, chances are you or someone you know had a huge THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER phase. This week, The Wives Colangelo are talking about the book-turned-movie phenomenon, addressing their personal hang-ups from a decade ago, getting extremely candid about the ways they relate to Charlie, and why this story is far more important than its "hipster" reputation.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

Article Referenced

How The Perks of Being a Wallflower Became a Generation-Defining Classic: https://consequence.net/2022/09/perks-of-being-a-wallflower-why-its-good/

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The Buckeye Flame! https://thebuckeyeflame.com/

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/

Where The Lilies Bloom (1974) w/ Sam Pancake

April 17, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"Sometimes on the wind, I feel something say my name, telling me to come to some far-off place."

This week The Wives Colangelo are going back to the 1970s, heading into the Appalachian hills, and joining their friend Sam Pancake on a journey WHERE THE LILIES BLOOM. Together the trio discuss coming-of-age in rural communities, Hollywood's failure to accurately depict Appalachia, the parentification of young children properly, and why we all love Harry Dean Stanton.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

Follow our guest! @TheSamPancake

Sam Pancake Presents the Monday Afternoon Movie: https://www.patreon.com/mondayafternoonmovie

----

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The Buckeye Flame! https://thebuckeyeflame.com/

----

Follow the Show: @ThisEndsAtProm

BJ Colangelo: @BJColangelo

Harmony Colangelo: @Veloci_trap_tor / @HarmonyColangelo on Bluesky

----------

Logo Design: Haley Doodles @HaleyDoodleDo

Theme Song: The Sonder Bombs 'Title': https://thesonderbombs.bandcamp.com/