This week’s Ferris Out Loud covers it all, from national controversies to pop culture buzz! Kayla Muter, Rockne Smith, and co-hosts dive into hot topics like national park employee terminations, Trump’s tweets, and the NCAA’s transgender athlete ban. They also debate Oscar predictions, films vs. books, and the best way to watch movies before testing their film knowledge in Game Time and sharing fun facts in Did You Know?.
Written by Brody Sara and Bryce Dysard | Producer/Featured image by Ciara Brooks
National Park Employee Terminations
The conversation kicked off with the recent termination of national park employees. Kayla chips into the conversation first, very irritated about this. She says that national park employees keep people safe and free from harm. Rockne echoes his concerns and agrees with Harmony and Kayla that the government is cutting back on a lot of stuff that isn’t necessary. With the busy season fast approaching, Kayla raises a compelling question: Why are these workers being let go at such a crucial time?
Trump’s Tweets
The discussion then shifts to the ever-evolving political landscape, specifically focusing on Donald J. Trump’s social media presence. Kayla was confused by Trump’s tweet, and everyone shared the same opinion. Torin expresses skepticism, questioning the legitimacy of Trump’s statements and the challenge of distinguishing fact from fiction.
The Toronto Plane Crash
Kayla introduces the topic of the Toronto plane crash, pondering whether such incidents will deter travelers—especially with spring break on the horizon. However, she also notes that many young travelers remain undeterred, particularly those planning trips to Florida. Kayla brings up that she saw reports of a lady planning on suing Delta for this horrific plane crash. Torin brings up an interesting point, questioning whether the recent surge in aviation accidents is coincidental or indicative of a larger issue.
The NCAA and Transgender Athletes
The conversation takes a turn toward sports as the group discusses the NCAA’s recent decision to ban transgender athletes from competing in certain categories. Rockne supports the decision, believing it ensures fairness in women’s sports. Harmony agrees in part, suggesting that a required period of hormone treatment might provide a middle ground. Kayla also agrees with Harmony and found that when trans women take hormones, it lowers their bone mass and takes away testosterone, and she feels that it levels the playing field. Torin offers a different perspective, wondering if the creation of separate leagues for transgender athletes would provide inclusivity or lead to further division. He also brings up a point that the NCAA should be focusing on this rather than the government.
The Oscars: Anticipation and Predictions
Finally, the group rounds out the segment with a discussion on the Academy Awards. Torin, typically uninterested in the Oscars, shares his excitement this year due to his admiration for Conan O’Brien. All of them discuss if they watch shows like the Oscars or the Grammys, but everyone came to a consensus that they are just there for the outfits. Kayla expresses her support for The Memoir of a Snail, hoping a smaller studio can triumph over Disney’s Inside Out 2. She also advocates for Wicked to take home awards for Best Music and Best Costume Design. Meanwhile, Rockne admits his perspective is limited, as A Complete Unknown is the only nominated film he has seen.
This or That?
Moving on to the This? or That? segment begins with a debate on the live-action vs. animated versions of the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, discussing differences in character portrayal and audience preference. Kayla and Harmoy agree that Johnny Depp is not their favorite, and Torin also agrees that Johnny Depp, who was Tarrant Hightopp in the live-action Alice in Wonderland, is not his favorite, but the movie was well done. The conversation then shifts to streaming vs. movie theaters, weighing the convenience of watching from home against the immersive experience of the big screen. Kayla shares her dislikes about the movie theater, and Torin says that it is difficult for him to focus in a movie theater rather than just streaming.
Books vs. Movies?
Next, the group tackles the classic debate of books vs. movies, considering how adaptations often leave out important details while also acknowledging that movies provide a quicker and more accessible way to experience a story. Harmony loves reading, and Torin disagrees, saying that movies are so much better. They continue with heroes vs. villains, discussing how the complexity of a character and the context of a story influence whether a hero or villain is more compelling. Kayla decides she likes villains, whereas Torin prefers heroes.
Game Time
Following this is Game Time, where the hosts try to guess which movies three iconic quotes are from, adding a fun and competitive element to the episode. The first one is “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” This is from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Next is “the worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t. This was from the Joker 2019. Finally, we have “I never look back, darling; it distracts me from the now.” This was from The Incredibles. To close things out, Rockne and Kayla present their picks for the Did You Know? segment, sharing interesting facts from films that spark further discussion.
That wraps up this week’s episode of Ferris Out Loud, featuring lively debates, movie trivia, and insightful discussions!
