Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals
Episodes
Listen to all episodes of Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals at https://midnight-pals.simplecast.com
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Mini-episodes
In the run-up to the beginning of our first season, teasers and mini-episodes for Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals were released on the podcast feed, introducing the main Midnight Pals characters and some regular guest storytellers: Stephen King, Mary Shelley, Clive Barker, HP Lovecraft, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allan Poe, Anne Rice, Roger Corman, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker.
Mary Shelley tells her Midnight Pals a chilling tale about a brilliant young researcher, Victor, whose arrogance leads him to pursue a deadly ambition. The experiment has been attempted by generations of mad scientists, but never successfully accomplished: the creation of a Frankenstein! Stephen King gets pedantic about terminology. Listen
A new candidate for the Midnight Society, insufferable San Francisco hipster Robert Louis Stevenson, attempts to impress the Pals with the story of Henry Jekyll, a Victorian psychiatrist. On the steamship home from a business trip, Jekyll's seemingly chance meeting with a certain Edward Hyde will change his perception of reality forever. In a twist so unexpected that nobody even knows it's a twist, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde turn out to be the same person! An adrenaline-fueled social satire of mischief, mayhem and soup. Listen
Neurotic closet-dweller Bram Stoker visits the campfire to tell his iconic vampire story. In Transylvania, hot twink Jon "Jonathan" Harker shacks up with a rich older man who wants to consume his bodily fluids. Meanwhile in England, notorious strumpet Lucy Westenra attempts to ensnare her innocent friend Mina into the dangerous and disgusting world of sex. A cautionary tale about the perils of horniness, as Bram attempts to prove once and for all that vampires are in no way sexy. Mary Shelley invites Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer just to stir the pot. Listen
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stumbles upon the Midnight Pals' storytelling circle and reluctantly agrees to bring beloved supersleuth Sherlock Holmes back for one last, final, final case. A locked-room murder mystery turns to metafictional highjinks as the Pals are embroiled in the world of Holmes's adventures, sort of like when the holodeck malfunctions on Star Trek. Listen
Patricia Highsmith, crime writer, snail friend, and lovable weirdo known for her shabby trenchcoat, eccentric habits, and possibly imaginary wife, investigates a bizarre double murder. Two people who don't know each other, or if you will, "strangers", meet on a rail vehicle, or as it were, "train", and plan the perfect crime. What really happened with Mary Shelley and her polycule at Lake Geneva last summer? With special guest starts Helen Arney as Mary Wollstonecraft and Mike McShane as William Huskisson MP. Listen
Clive Barker takes the stage and relates his cult classic of an eternal battle—gay monsters versus redneck cops. Cabal has always had unsettling dreams of becoming a gay monster, but his personal journey to gay monsterhood is obstructed by queer-gatekeeping monsters, Nazi sheriffs' departments, and unconvincing gimp-mask serial killer David Cronenberg. Frank Belknap Long teaches Dean Koontz to be a furry. Listen
It's winter at the campfire, and that means one thing—snow-themed holiday special! Junji Ito, adorable catboy and terrifying master of fucked-up-face-filled manga horror, visits the campfire accompanied by original weeaboo Lafcadio Hearn. The two of them narrate an ancient Japanese folktale of ripped samurai, distressed noblewomen, and seasonal ice-demons. Lafcadio helps Junji out by using his insightful perspective as a Greek-Irish academic to explain Japanese tradition and culture. HP Lovecraft nearly has an aneurysm from cultural exposure. Listen
Low-budget movie mogul Roger Corman sets out to produce a papier maché blockbuster adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale of psychological suspense. Loosely following the plot of the original, Poe is tasked with taking care of a Scottish castle belonging to a certain formerly popular children's author. But uh oh! His wacky pal Stephen King arrives... with his all-amateur band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, in tow! When an electrical blackout results in the Pals smashing a priceless collection of literary awards, it's a race to get the castle presentable again before the gender-critical reptilian returns! With special guest villain Hailey Piper as She Who Must Not Be Named. Listen
Season 2 (coming late 2024)
Episode 1: The Tale of the Hellraiser
Edgar Allan Poe is missing after a violent altercation with Henry W. Longfellow. A mysterious puzzlebox leads the Pals to the 9th circle of Hell, where they confront a gang of sadomasochistic demons. Brian Jacques humorously outwits a cat.
Episode 2: The Tale of Little Red Riding Hood
The Pals visit JRR Tolkien and his fantasy storytelling friends at Unicorn Fuck Club, where Angela Carter puts a modern, feminist spin on a traditional fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen is smitten. Frank Belknap Long gets stuck in his fursuit.
Episode 3: The Tale of the Watchers
It’s Edgar’s turn with the flashlight… but little Dean Koontz ends up telling a story instead. It has everything—an all-American Special Army Marine, a poorly written neurodivergent lady, an evil monkey who's escaped from science, and a VERY good dog!
Episode 4: The Tale of the Interview with the Vampire
Anne Rice comes to the campfire to tell her timeless odd-couple romance about a depressed slave plantation owner who’s swept off his feet by a total asshole, also they’re both vampires. Al Copeland gets a taste of his own chicken.
Episode 5: The Tale of the Shadow Over Innsmouth
It's HP Lovecraft’s turn and nobody can stop it, so he tells a story about a decrepit town whose sinister residents guard a dark secret that is almost certainly “There’s a squid”. Howard and Mary go head-to-head in a high-stakes bet.
Episode 6: The Tale of THAT
It’s the night of the full moon, and someone—we’re not naming names, but Dean knows who we mean—forgot to lock up Stephen King securely. Now Steve’s evil alter ego, Richard Bachman, has escaped! The Pals have no choice but to hear his murder clown hotel story.
Episode 7: The Tale of Those Bullies at Clarion West
Those stuck-up snobs at the most privileged literary circle of all, Clarion West, have perpetrated a despicable prank on the Midnight Pals involving a paper bag full of dog poop, a match, and Steve's brand new sneakers. This means WAR!
Episode 8: The Musical Tale of Rebecca
Yes, it’s a musical episode! Daphne du Maurier tells her gothic masterpiece about a crowded marriage, and Alfred Hitchcock adds glitzy song-and-dance numbers. Patricia Highsmith tries out some pick-up techniques with the help of her snail friends.