HAPPY HOLIDAYS, REFINERS!! WELCOME BACK TO 'SEVERED'!! Ever wonder what it would be like to spend Christmas in a tiny cabin in a blizzard with John Hamm? Find out in this latest episode of "Severed: Origins." We're breaking down the incredible 'Christmas' Episode of the Black Mirror Anthology Series called "White Christmas." It's freaky all the way around. It's easy to see why it was an inspiration for Dan Erickson during his creation of 'Severance.' This time out in Part One, we get some...

WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE SEVERED!! Well, better late than never, right Refiner?? This week, "Severed: Origins" is finally taking some time to break down the weird little document Red Hour released a month after the premier of the show: "The Lexington Letter". It was presented as a whistleblower letter written by a Severed Employee working at the Topeka, KS location of Lumon Industries. It contained a few clues, but it was REALLY another attempt on the part of the producers...

WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! READY TO JUMP INTO A VOLCANO? So glad to have you along for the exciting conclusion of "Joe versus The Volcano." Last time we were just about to board the "Tweedle-Dee" and head for the fictional island of Waponi-Woo. This time, we hit the water for some fishing...and falling in love...and falling overboard. It's a very eventful trip. Joe and Patricia (Angelica's half-sister) do finally make it to the island of Waponi-Woo. Joe is ready to fulfill his obligation, until...

WELCOME BACK TO THE SEVERED FLOOR, REFINERS! Our look at those things that inspired Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance' continues!! This time out, we're breaking down the 1990 fairy-tale Rom-com "Joe vs. The Volcano." It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in their FIRST movie together! It was also written and directed by Oscar and Pulitzer prize-winning writer, John Patrick Shanley. With a pedigree like that, you'd think it would be a better movie! Then again, maybe it's just misunderstood....

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU AT HOME, REFINERS!! I wouldn't have initiated the OTC if this were not something important. Make sure to check out the latest information about the Second Season of 'Severance'. BECOME A PATRON-REFINER!! Make the most of your time on the Severed Floor. Visit Patreon.com/SeveredPod to become a Refiner!! Just $5/mo. for inside info, games, trivia and early access to future "Severed" podcast episodes. Join the fun and help support the Podcast!! APPLE PODCAST LISTENERS: If...

IT'S TIME TO END THIS THING, REFINERS!! Our three part "Truman Show" Origins Odyssey is about to come to an end. Truman's freakout is in full bloom. He crossed the bridge!! (This may or may not mean he has fixed his inner soul).  There's a nuclear plant meltdown, a forest fire and a fugitive escapee in the woods...and that's all in the first 20 minutes of this final Opus. Meryl must bid us a fond farewell...but don't worry. Christof has found another young actress willing to sleep with the...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! It's time for more "Severed: Origins" as we continue to break down the 1998 Jim Carrey classic, "The Truman Show." I'm making a long winter meal out of this one, gang. We start this segment by meeting Truman's mother. The lovely Holland Taylor is stellar as "Mom." We hang out with Truman as he's watching some of the offerings on Seahaven's TV channel.  Truman hears some weirdness on the radio and sees a LOT of weirdness in a building elevator. He follows both Meryl...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!!  The 'Severed' ORIGINS Series continues with a look at a fun an interesting movie from 1998. This time out, we take on "The Truman Show" directed by Peter Weir and Starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris and Laura Linney. In this installment, we learn about the long and twisting path this movie took when it came to getting both a director and a script. We'll actually hit 'play' and fire it up. That's when we'll meet Christof, Louis and Hannah. Although Truman doesn't know...

WELCOME BACK, REFINER!! This week, the "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a masterpiece created by a French Madman. His name is Jacques Tati and the film we'll be discussing is his 1967 opus "Play Time." "Play Time" is like no film you've ever seen. We'll get into just exactly why it's so different. Since it is so different, I can't even break it down the way I would normally review a movie. I'll explain, and we'll get into it...kinda. Tati doesn't believe much in plot, character...

["SEVERED" HAS A PATREON PAGE!! Support the show and keep it ad-free. Become a "Refiner" for only $5/mo. Go to: www.patreon.com/SeveredPod . Thank you for your support!!] WELCOME BACK FOR MORE "ORIGINS", REFINER!! We've got some fun planned for today. Maybe not as exciting as an Egg Bar...but still a good time. The "Severed: Origins" series is taking a look at a couple of oddball inspirations cited by Dan Erickson as he was creating 'Severance.' This week, we're looking at a video...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! ARE YOUR TPS REPORTS COVERED?? It's time for the second installment of our breakdown of "Office Space." The hilariously dry 1999 comedy was an influence on Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." That's why we're breaking it down as part of the "Severed: Origins" series. This time, Refiners, we'll be finishing up "Office Space." We've got a lot of ground to cover!! We meet 'the Bobs', Peter and Samir get fired, Tom gets hit by a truck and "Superman III" swoops in...

HEY THERE, REFINERS...READY FOR A LITTLE FUN?? If you happen to hang out in the SeveranceAppleTVPlus sub on Reddit, you may have seen an "ABC" list being posted for the past few weeks. A dedicated Redditor named "Milchicksgirl" really put a lot of great work into compiling this list...and a lot of folks really got into it!!  After reviewing the finished list, I noticed nearly all of the items listed are audio quotes from the show. I pulled a few...then a few more...until I decided I really...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! IT'S TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS" FUN!! This week, we're starting the breakdown of a 1999 comedy that was a huge influence on Dan Erickson and his creation of "Severance". It's the hilarious "Office Space" from Mike Judge. We'll get deep into the inner workings of Initech, what it can mean if you improperly cover a TPS report and just how bad a boss COULD be. It may not be the Severed Floor...but you'd have to agree, it's a pretty f-ed up way to make a living. Not only...

WELCOME BACK, INTREPID REFINER!! READY TO FINISH THIS THING?? You've found yourself at the third and final installment of the Severed: Origins look at the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix." It was one of those things that inspired Dan Erickson in the creation of "Severance." When we last left Morpheus and the crew, they were just preparing to jump into the Matrix and introduce Neo to the Oracle.  This time out, we meet the Oracle, Morpheus gets abducted by Agent Smith, Neo attacks a skyscraper...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS!! ARE YOU READY FOR MORE "ORIGINS"? Last time we gathered, we were just getting into the 1999 sci-fi classic "The Matrix." It's about time to meet Morpheus. It's also about time to find out just what the heck "The Matrix" is and why Neo is such a threat to the continued peaceful existence of the A.I. that has all humanity enslaved in a giant VR machine. But I might be getting ahead of myself. We need to free Neo from his goo-pod before we can get to the business of...

WELCOME BACK, REFINERS! TIME FOR MORE "ORIGINS"... It's been a long, hot summer on the picket line for both WGA and SAG-AFTRA members. Nothing is moving so far in the way of negotiations or agreements. Instead of sitting around bored down here on the Severed Floor, I've started to take a look at those things that influenced Dan Erickson as he was creating "Severance." I'm calling it the "Severed: Origins" Series. Hey, it may not be Season Two, but it's better than listening to Dylan tell us...

LET'S HAVE SOME FUN TODAY, REFINER!! Since things are kinda quiet down here on the Severed Floor, I've decided to lighten things up a bit. This week, we're going to do a full breakdown on the file marked "Sizzler" Corporate Video. It's loaded with Big Hair, Big Plates of Food and some Big Platitudes about corporate Steak House chain 'Sizzler.' Dan Erickson has talked about it in interviews as being an inspiration for "Severance." What is it? Where did it come from? How did the...

WELCOME BACK FOR MORE, REFINER!! (My, you are a glutton for punishment, aren't you??) This is it! We've finally reached the third, and final, part of our "Severed: Origins" deep dive into the 1985 movie "Brazil." If this is the first installment you've found for "Brazil", STOP HERE!! You need to go back and find parts One and Two before you wade into this. Enjoy, refiners! Tons of interesting new goodies to lay on you about this storied film. We get to break down the coolest scene Terry...

HEY THERE, REFINERS! Welcome back for more "Severed: Origins." This time out, we are continuing our re-watch of the 1985 Terry Gilliam dystopian sci-fi comedy "Brazil." We've got a LOT to cover....and we won't even finish it this week. The coffee is on, refiners...time to boot up your workstations and open the file called "Brazil." Having trouble finding "Brazil"? It's been pulled from streaming services all over the U.S. You can find the 142 minute copy on the free "Internet Archive."...

HEY THERE, REFINER!!  Glad to see you've come back for more Severed: “Origins”! Since the WGA continues to strike for the rights of our beleaguered writers, I decided we needed something to keep us busy between now and S2. Enter the "Origins" series from "Severed"!! It's a deep-dive look at those things that INSPIRED the creation of "Severance"! The logic goes like this: if you like the end result, you'll probably like what went into it, right?? This time out, we're going DEEP into the 1985...

WELCOME, REFINERS, TO A SPECIAL "ORIGINS" EDITION OF "SEVERED"! As the WGA strike grinds on, I decided to look into some of the things that have been cited by Dan Erickson as inspiration for "Severance." Philip K. Dick's work is often referenced as influential...some even think the relief statue in the Lumon Atrium is an homage to PKD. I don't know if I would go that far, but I'm certainly in awe of Mr. Dick's ideas and have been a fan ever since "Bladerunner." Today we're going to have a...

HEY THERE, REFINER! I realize waking you up at home is not the most ideal situation, but I had more thoughts about "Severance" Season One. We'll make this quick. Don't expect to hear from me again until Season Two...but, you never know. Keep the lines of communication open, just in case I need to be in touch between now and then. In the show I mention checking out Dylan's tour of the Severed Floor. It's a series of short videos available on the Lumon LinkedIN page. Here's a link that will...

HEY THERE, REFINER...SURPRISE!! I know, you thought I wasn't going to be talking to you until the Second Season rolled around. I didn't think so, either. Then I tried to give Season One a casual watch for fun after wrapping up the podcast. That's when I started to see MORE stuff!! I've got a few observations, a couple of weird theories and some other goofiness in this shortened "add-on" episode. Call it "Season Wrap-up  PT1A".  It won't take long...just until Dylan's kid counts to a...

PULL UP A CHAIR, REFINERS!! Time to get out the red rubber ball and talk over what we just saw in Season One. I've got theories all over the place. Where is this going? How are they going to start out Season Two?  I don't KNOW anything...but I've got enough wild speculation to keep everyone busy for a while, at least. There are things I didn't get deep enough into during the season. There are things I got WRONG! (can you imagine?) There are even things I totally MISSED! (I know, shocking,...