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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

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Source Mentioned

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

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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!

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MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

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Source Mentioned

Alyson Stoner's "Dear Hollywood"

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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!

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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.

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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/

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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.

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Thoroughbreds (2017)

April 10, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"The only thing worse than being incompetent, or being unkind, or being evil, is being indecisive."

This week The Wives Colangelo are heading to Connecticut and contemplating whether or not being a jerk who wears Vineyard Vines is enough to justify meeting the sharp end of a kitchen utensil by discussing THOROUGHBREDS. Discussions for this gorgeous, creepy movie include trying to figure out why the emotionless Amanda is more relatable than the overly emotional Lily, why so many movies want to look like they were made by Yorgos Lanthimos, how growing up wealthy rots your brains, and what true love in a friendship can look like between two deeply unwell teenage girls.

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Harriet the Spy (1996)

April 03, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life."

On February 26, 2025, the world lost an influential performer in Michelle Trachtenberg. An icon in the world of teen movies and TV dramas, she first came into the hearts of many as the titular HARRIET THE SPY. In honor of her life, The Wives Colangelo are discussing one of the best kid's movies (that isn't structured at all like a kid's movie) that only feels like it's gotten more special as years have gone by. The first Nickelodeon film ever was unafraid to tackle difficult topics, difficult children, and the difficulties of growing up. Get your spy kit ready because we've got a lesbian nanny to learn from!

Rest in peace, Michelle. Thank you for everything.

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Article Referenced

My Cool Friend Michelle: https://www.vulture.com/article/mara-wilson-essay-child-actress-michelle-trachtenberg.html

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Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part 1 & 2) w/ Rosie Knight

March 27, 2025 by Brennan Klein

"You nicknamed my daughter after the loch-ness monster?!"

Sequel month comes to a close with the long-awaited conclusion to This Ends at Prom's coverage on The Twilight Saga. Joining The Wives Colangelo for a double-header episode is journalist and podcaster Rosie Knight, as the trio tackle the wedding, honeymoon, and sickly childbirth of Breaking Dawn Part 1, before diving into the fight-that-isn't-a-real-fight of Avatar: The Last Airbender vampires of Breaking Dawn Part 2. It's been a wild four years of Twilight movies. Imprint on us!

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Rosie Knight: @RosieMarx

https://www.rosieknight.com

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