The Bechdel Cast


The Bechdel Cast is a weekly podcast about the representation of women in film. It is named after the Bechdel test. The Bechdel Cast is hosted by Los Angeles–based comedians Caitlin Durante and Jamie Loftus.
In November 2016 The Bechdel Cast released their introductory episode titled "Welcome to The Bechdel Cast!" Their first episode was on the film Kill Bill with guest Zach Sherwin.
The show is broadcast on the iHeartRadio Network. Episodes are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, and Spotify. Select episodes are released to supporters on the crowdfunding platform Patreon twice a month.
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Premise

The name of the podcast derives from cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who developed the concept of the Bechdel test, sometimes called the Bechdel–Wallace test. The test investigates whether or not a work includes at least two women conversing about a topic other than a man. Sometimes a requirement that the two women must have names is added, which is a rule the podcast adheres to. For the purposes of the show, the exchange only needs to be two lines of dialogue. A commonality of many movies that pass is that often only this minimum is reached typically by an inconsequential conversation or one in which the two lines are nested within a larger conversation that is about men.
The hosts often discuss the limitations of the Bechdel Test and, despite using it as their namesake, primarily employ it to initiate a larger discussion about the depiction and uses of female-identifying characters in film. The hosts have recently moved to a use of the test that looks at whether a film has two named characters of any marginalized gender, who have a conversation about anything other than a man, for two lines of dialogue, and increasingly lines must be relevant or central to the plot.
They occasionally reference and utilize similar tests of representation, such as the Vito Russo test, the DuVernay Test, and the Mako Mori Test.

Format and structure

The podcast is informally comedic, and formatted in an improvisational style. They frequently mention supplemental running jokes, such as Loftus' obsession with actor Alfred Molina, and Durante's reminder of their master's degree in Screenwriting from Boston University.
The hosts begin by introducing their guest, often a comedian, actor, or other media personality. Durante then briefly recaps the film at the top of the episode with interjections from Loftus and the guest. This is followed by analyzing and discussing the representation of women through an intersectional lens, alternating in tone between serious and jocular.
At the end of each episode, they determine whether or not the film passes the Bechdel test, as well as rate it on a "nipple scale" from 0 to 5 nipples based on how marginalized genders are portrayed overall.
Episodes typically range from 45 minutes to 80 minutes, and are released once a week on Thursdays and additional episodes a month on Patreon. Most episodes are recorded in the HowStuffWorks studio in Los Angeles. Since 2018 they have begun touring and performing for studio audiences as The Bechdel Cast, which include live episodes such as "The Notebook with Caitlin Gill" and "Edward Scissorhands with Maggie Mae Fish".

Hosts

Caitlin Durante is a comedian and producer. They were the program producer for the Nerdmelt Showroom comedy venue at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles from early 2015 until it closed in April 2018. They are also a scriptwriter and story analyst, and frequently offer writing workshops in Los Angeles and Boston.
Jamie Loftus is an author, sketch writer, animator, and actor. Her comedic style can best be described as alternative comedy, with absurd pieces such as her one-woman show "I Lost My Virginity August 15, 2010" and her attempt to raise money for Planned Parenthood by selling Shrek nudes. She has also written and starred in video content for media sites Adult Swim, Comedy Central, Paste, and Super Deluxe.

Criticism and Reception

Early reviews of the show characterized it as a "roast of your favourite movie".
The tone of the podcast has evolved over the years as the hosts have become more educated on Intersectional feminist issues and episodes have taken on more serious films about or by marginalized people, with earlier episodes having been more flippant in their comedic style. Due to the evolution of the show, some reviewers have suggested new listeners try out the podcast by starting with later episodes such as the one covering Black Panther.
The podcast has appeared on multiple lists for top podcasts in the realm of feminist film review.

Episodes

Episode #Date airedTitle
1October 12, 2017Get Out with Rae Sanni
2October 27, 2017Things We Learned in the First Year of the Bechdel Cast
3November 13, 2017Superbad
4November 25, 2017The Muppet Christmas Carol
5December 18, 2017How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
6December 30, 2017Legally Blonde
7January 15, 2018Ghostbusters (1984)
8January 29, 2018Ghostbusters (2016)
9February 13, 2018I, Tonya
10February 26, 2018The Disaster Artist
11March 13, 2018Q&A with Jamie and Caitlin
12March 31, 2018Chocolat (2000)
13April 9, 2018Juno
14April 14, 2018Titanic
15May 13, 2018The Parent Trap (1998)
16May 28, 2018The Big Lebowski
17June 17, 2018Back to the Future with Kenice Mobley
18June 30, 2018Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
19July 16, 2018Incredibles 2
20July 30, 2018The Legend of Billie Jean
21August 18, 2018Doubt
22August 31, 2018Hackers
23September 14, 2018Q&A with Jamie and Caitlin
24September 28, 2018Teeth
25October 12, 2018The Babadook
26October 31, 2018Halloweentown
27November 8, 2018The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
28November 26, 2018Hard Candy
29December 10, 2018A Christmas Prince
30December 24, 2018The Princess Switch
31January 14, 2019Dumplin'
32January 28, 2019Drop Dead Gorgeous
33February 11, 2019Titanic: Sunk and Drunk
34February 24, 2019Titanic Audio Commentary: Part 1 & 2
35March 11, 2019High School Musical
36March 30, 201917 Again
37April 15, 2019Garden State
38April 29, 2019Annihilation
39May 17, 2019Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
40May 31, 2019Who Framed Roger Rabbit
41June 14, 2019Knocked Up
42June 26, 2019Obvious Child
43July 9, 2019American Pie
44July 29, 2019American Psycho
45August 18, 2019Freaky Friday
46August 30, 2019Jennifer's Body
47September 16, 2019Maid in Manhattan with Vanessa Gritton
48September 30, 2019The Wedding Planner Part 1 & 2
49October 14, 2019Death Becomes Her
50October 28, 2019Coraline
51November 11, 20199 to 5 with Sophie Lichterman
52November 27, 2019Working Girl with Maja Orsic
53December 10, 2019Jack Frost
54December 22, 2019A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
55January 13, 2020Someone Great
56January 27, 2020The Kissing Booth with Jacob Elordi
57February 7, 2020Oscar Coverage 2019
58February 24, 2020The Favourite with Iszi Lawrence
59March 15, 2020The Witches of Eastwick Part 1 & 2
60March 30, 2020Moonstruck
61April 13, 2020Bridesmaids
62April 27, 2020The Hangover
63May 17, 2020Shaun of the Dead
64May 28, 2020Monty Python and the Holy Grail
65June 15, 2020Blockers
66June 29, 2020Eighth Grade
67July 13, 2020Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
68July 27, 2020Cadet Kelly with Keah Brown
69August 18, 2020Lolita (1962)
70August 31, 2020I, Frankenstein
71September 14, 2020Stick It
72September 28, 2020Whip It
73October 12, 2020The Cabin in the Woods
74October 26, 2020What We Do in the Shadows
75November 16, 2020Billboard Dad
76November 30, 2020Passport to Paris
77December 14, 2020The Princess Switch: Switched Again
78December 21, 2020A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding
79January 12, 2021Enchanted
80January 26, 2021Arrival
81February 15, 2021Chicken Run
82February 26, 2021Coyote Ugly
83March 15, 2021Ralph Breaks the Internet
84March 29, 2021The Da Vinci Code
85April 14, 2021Another Titanic Episode: 2021 Edition
86April 26, 2021Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm
87May 17, 2021Sin CIty
88May 31, 2021Knives Out
89June 14, 2021Stuart Little
90June 29, 2021Babe
91July 12, 2021Léon: The Professional
92July 26, 2021No Strings Attached
93August 16, 2021Crossroads
94August 29, 2021The Lizzie McGuire Movie
95September 13, 2021An Education
96September 27, 2021Revenge of the Nerds
97October 11, 2021Happy Death Day
98October 25, 2021Death at a Funeral (2007)
99November 15, 2021You've Got Mail
100November 29, 2021How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days
101December 13, 2021The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star
102December 29, 2021The Snowman
103January 17, 2022Ella Enchanted
104January 31, 2022A Cinderella Story
105February 14, 2022Pride and Prejudice
106February 28, 2022Emma
107March 14, 2022Romancing the Stone
108March 29, 2022Dora and the Lost City of Gold with José María Luna
109April 15, 2022Another Titanic Episode
110April 29, 2022William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
111May 17, 2022Face/Off
112May 30, 2022Top Gun
113June 13, 2022I Know What You Did Last Summer
114June 27, 2022Midsommar
115July 16, 2022Despicable Me
116July 29, 2022The 40-Year-Old Virgin
117August 15, 2022Jamie's Birthday Hall of Horros
118August 29, 2022Saw
119September 12, 2022Never Been Kissed
120September 26, 2022Pitch Perfect
121October 17, 2022Final Destination 3
122October 31, 2022Malignant
123November 14, 2022The Godfather
124November 28, 2022Goodfellas
125December 12, 2022Falling for Christmas
126December 26, 2022While You Were Sleeping
127January 16, 2023Disney's Pinocchio
128January 30, 2023Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
129February 13, 2023Sweet Home Alabama
130February 27, 202350 First Dates
131March 13, 2023Big
132March 27, 2023The Virgin Suicides
133April 17, 2023Life-Size
134April 28, 2023M3GAN
135May 17, 2023Back to the Future
136May 29, 2023Office Space
137June 16, 2023What is the WGA Strike? a Very Bechdel Cast Explainer
138June 30, 2023Newsies with Sharon Jung and interview with Sarah Marshall
139July 17, 2023What a Girl Wants
140July 31, 2023John Tucker Must Die
141August 14, 2023Pee-wee's Big Adventure
142August 28, 2023Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
143September 11, 2023Daddy Day Care
144September 29, 2023Mr. Mom
145October 16, 2023It Follows
146October 30, 2023Barbarian
147November 14, 2023Do Revenge
148November 27, 2023Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2
149December 11, 2023Star Trek (2009)
150December 26, 2023Guardians of the Galaxy
151January 15, 2024Flashdance
152January 29, 2024Burlesque
153February 12, 202427 Dresses
154February 26, 2024Ready or Not
155March 18, 2024Singin' in the Rain
156March 30, 2024Some Like It Hot
157April 15, 2024Herbie: Fully Loaded
158April 29, 2024Desperately Seeking Susan
159May 13, 2024Monsters, Inc.
160May 27, 2024Mars Attacks!
161June 14, 2024Tank Girl
162June 28, 2024Madame Web
163July 15, 2024Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
164July 29, 2024High School Musical 2
165August 18, 2024Titane
166August 30, 2024Titanic 666
167September 16, 2024Ferris Bueller's Day Off
168September 30, 2024Sixteen Candles
169October 14, 2024The Exorcist
170October 28, 2024Pearl
171November 11, 2024Bling Ring
172November 25, 2024Ocean's 8
173December 16, 2024Hot Frosty
174December 23, 2024Our Little Secret
175January 13, 2025The Fly
176January 27, 2025Bee Movie
177February 17, 2025Before Trilogy - Part One
178February 24, 2025Before Trilogy - Part Two
179March 18, 2025Ratatouille
180March 31, 2025The Great Mouse Detective
181April 14, 2025Waitress (2007)
182April 28, 2025Lisa Frankenstein
183May 12, 2025The Shawshank Redemption
184May 27, 2025O Brother, Where Art Thou?
185June 16, 2025Camp Rock
186June 30, 2025Troop Beverly Hills
187July 14, 2025Young Frankenstein
188July 28, 2025Scary Movie
189August 18, 2025Serial Mom
190August 29, 2025Anatomy of a Fall
191September 15, 2025The Banshees of Inisherin
192September 29, 2025Amadeus
193October 13, 2025The Others
194October 27, 2025Sleepy Hollow (1999)
195November 10, 2025The Menu (2022)
196November 24, 2025Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
197December 8, 2025The Family Stone
198December 22, 2025Black Christmas (1974)
199January 12, 2026Saltburn
200January 26, 2026Shark Tale