How Did This Get Made?

My Boyfriend's Back LIVE!

November 14, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts of "How Did This Get Made?" generally recommend the 1993 film "My Boyfriend's Back LIVE!" despite its low critical reception (13% on the tomato meter) and financial failure. 
  • The discussion frequently highlights the unsettling creepiness of the main character, Johnny Dingle, and the surprisingly unhinged, electric performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman (credited as Philip Hoffman). 
  • Paul Scheer shared several unexpected and detailed personal childhood stories, including a long anecdote about trying to find hidden nudity in VHS tapes by misinterpreting the phrase "tickle my paws" from *Teen Wolf*. 
  • The discussion revealed a shocking real-life connection between *My Boyfriend's Back LIVE!* actress Traci Lind and Dodi Fayed, who died in the same car crash as Princess Diana shortly after Lind publicly accused him of abuse. 
  • The hosts and audience were deeply impressed by the historical coincidence of a magazine cover featuring Princess Diana appearing in the film, which was released years before her death. 
  • The consensus among the hosts was that *My Boyfriend's Back LIVE!* represents a highly enjoyable, committed, and now-missed style of straightforward, dumb comedy that has been replaced by dramedy. 

Segments

Initial Reactions and Recommendation
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Both Jason and June surprisingly recommend “My Boyfriend’s Back LIVE!” despite its flaws.
  • Summary: Jason Mansuch immediately recommends the movie, comparing it favorably to the harshness of The Ghosts of Mars. June Diane Raphael also recommends it, though she notes she doesn’t know if she liked it. June found the comedic premise consistently funny, stating the jokes never got old.
Guessing the Release Year
Copied to clipboard!
(00:06:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts significantly misjudged the film’s release year, guessing the 1980s.
  • Summary: Jason guessed the movie came out in 1987, while June guessed 1988, basing her estimate partly on the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Matthew McConaughey. The actual release year for the film is 1993, placing it among other 1993 zombie/horror comedies like Weekend at Bernie’s 2 and Return of the Living Dead 3.
Paul’s Childhood Nudity Quest
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer detailed elaborate childhood methods used to seek out hidden nudity in media.
  • Summary: Paul recounted believing the line “tickle my paws” in Teen Wolf was a cue to pause the VHS tape for nudity, a theory fueled by his experience with interactive VHS games like Clue. He also mentioned his parents’ born-again Christian phase, which led him to investigate backward masking on albums for hidden messages. Furthermore, he shared a story about cutting out nude pictures from Playboy and hiding them inside a Hunting and Fishing magazine.
Title Misleading and Creepy Lead
Copied to clipboard!
(00:25:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The title of “My Boyfriend’s Back LIVE!” is misleading because the resurrected character is fundamentally a ‘straight-up creepo.’
  • Summary: The hosts agree that the male lead is a creep, noting that he staged the robbery that led to his death. They found it troubling that the female lead never seemed to acknowledge the elaborate, scary hoax he orchestrated to gain her attention.
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Performance
Copied to clipboard!
(00:32:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Philip Seymour Hoffman’s early, unhinged performance as the villainous friend is electric and steals the screen.
  • Summary: Hoffman, credited only as Philip Hoffman, delivered a performance so intense it reminded Paul of his role in The Big Lebowski. His denim-on-denim look and physical acting were described as ‘comedia-level’ and immediately overshadowed the other actors.
Adult Actors Elevate Film
Copied to clipboard!
(00:34:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The quality of the adult character actors, including Austin Pendleton and Mary Beth Hurt, saves the film from being unwatchable.
  • Summary: The movie is held up by its supporting adult cast, who are described as ‘Balaban-level character actors,’ referencing director Bob Balaban. Austin Pendleton’s role as the doctor was particularly praised for its comedic value. The film is compared to a John Waters version of Teen Wolf.
Lack of Character Growth
Copied to clipboard!
(00:48:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The film fails to deliver a satisfying coming-of-age arc, as the protagonist learns nothing from his resurrection.
  • Summary: The central flaw identified is that the main character does not learn or change; he remains a creep who stages elaborate hoaxes. Unlike Teen Wolf, where the protagonist learns popularity isn’t everything, the lead in “My Boyfriend’s Back LIVE!” still fixates on the popular girl, who seems attracted only to his undead status.
Audience Question on Fetishization
Copied to clipboard!
(00:52:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The female lead’s attraction to the protagonist only manifests after he dies, suggesting a fetishization of his undead state.
  • Summary: An audience member questioned if the main girl fetishized the protagonist for his ‘otherism’ as a zombie. The hosts agreed, noting she seems turned on by his decomposing body, evidenced by the disturbing dream sequences involving his falling ear and crawling in heart-patterned boxer shorts.
Critique of Hero’s Journey
Copied to clipboard!
(01:15:30)
  • Key Takeaway: The protagonist’s lack of growth prevents a satisfying hero’s journey resolution.
  • Summary: The main character gains nothing from his experience, as the girl only agrees to date him out of indebtedness for saving her life. A relationship built solely on indebtedness lacks a solid foundation for growth. The film fails to deliver a true hero’s journey arc.
Appreciation for Dumb Comedy
Copied to clipboard!
(01:16:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts miss committed, straightforward, non-dramatic comedies like My Boyfriend’s Back LIVE!.
  • Summary: The movie is praised for playing out its strong comedic premise beat by beat with everyone committed to the game. Dramedy is cited as having killed this type of pure, dumb comedy. The hosts express a strong desire for the return of these simple, fun genre films.
Dead Heat Suggestion
Copied to clipboard!
(01:17:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts agreed to consider Dead Heat as a future episode topic.
  • Summary: The 1988 film Dead Heat, starring Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo, was suggested as a comparable zombie comedy. The suggestion was immediately added to the docket for future consideration. This film fits the mold of the fun, genre-blending comedies the hosts enjoy.
Audience Second Opinions
Copied to clipboard!
(01:08:34)
  • Key Takeaway: A listener recap song highlighted the plot points, including Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character going to the afterlife after prom.
  • Summary: The ‘Second Opinions’ segment featured a listener’s song summarizing the movie’s plot, noting Johnny’s return to the start after the prom. The listener gave the film five stars, emphasizing the fun, silly ride. The recap served as a good refresher for the audience.
Reviewer’s Bizarre Take
Copied to clipboard!
(01:10:35)
  • Key Takeaway: One five-star review contained extensive, bizarre analogies comparing school personnel to rotting salmon and zombies.
  • Summary: A review by Dr. Jacques Coulard compared school personnel to rotting salmon and discussed zombies having fish bones. The reviewer also noted the film’s Shakespearean elements, including a Romeo and Juliet scene for zombies. The full nine-paragraph review was noted for being posted online.
Reviewer’s Religious Objection
Copied to clipboard!
(01:14:27)
  • Key Takeaway: A one-star review objected to the film solely based on the use of the Lord’s name in vain, despite accepting the zombie resurrection premise.
  • Summary: Shelly left a one-star review stating offense at the use of foul language, specifically ‘G-D.’ The hosts pointed out the irony of accepting a non-Christian figure being resurrected while objecting to religious language use. This highlighted a specific type of audience feedback received.
Production and Merch Updates
Copied to clipboard!
(01:20:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Video clips of the live show will be released on social media for the first time, and the episode T-shirt features ‘Brian Orlando Electronics’.
  • Summary: For the first time, video clips from the live show will be shared on HDTGM social media pages. The official T-shirt design for this episode features ‘Brian Orlando Electronics’ with a joystick graphic. Listeners are directed to hdtgm.com for merch and to call 619-PAULASK with corrections.
Upcoming Live Show Announcement
Copied to clipboard!
(01:21:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The annual virtual holiday show, featuring June, Jason, and Jessica St. Clair, is scheduled for December 10th.
  • Summary: The annual virtual holiday show will take place live on December 10th, marking the first time the hosts will be on the Enter The Dark Web set together. Tickets are currently available at hdtgm.com. The Deep Dive is also hosting a separate live event on December 5th.