Screwball Comedy from Shakespeare to Classic Hollywood... and Beyond

In which we take a survey of many screwball-comedy-plotted romantic comedies before looking at where the genre is today. Each episode takes a deep dive into one particular pattern in the genre, asking why it matters, what it tells us, and where we see it getting updated in a more contemporary film from the last 15 years.

A podcast by the students in the Screwball Comedy senior elective at The Lawrenceville School.

Films discussed:
Much Ado About Nothing (1993 & 2012)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Libeled Lady (1936)
The Lady Eve (1941)
Clueless (1995)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Contemporary films discussed:
Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Anyone But You (2023)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Set It Up (2018)

Overboard (2018)

Failure to Launch (2006)

Red, White and Royal Blue (2023)

Palm Springs (2020)

Listen on:

Episodes

Mar 3, 2026

SEASON 2 Ep 1! POV: The Act Becomes Real: Helen & Wallis discuss Screwball Comedy and Overboard

Mar 3, 2026

45 min

Welcome to Season 2: I Hate the Way I Don't Hate You!
POV: The Act Becomes Real: Helen & Wallis discuss Screwball Comedy and Overboard

Mar 3, 2026

Ep 2 Love Through a Lens: Sarah and Isabella discuss the issues of Public vs. Private in Screwball Comedies and To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Mar 3, 2026

44 min

Season 2! I Hate the Way I Don't Hate You
Love Through a Lens: Sarah and Isabella discuss the issues of Public vs. Private in Screwball Comedies and To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Mar 3, 2026

Ep 3 Electric Love: Bunny & Lana discuss The Formation of Love in Screwball Comedies & Palm Springs

Mar 3, 2026

43 min

Season 2! I Hate the Way I Don't Hate You
Electric Love: Bunny & Lana discuss The Formation of Love in Screwball Comedies & Palm Springs

Mar 3, 2026

Ep 4 Who Pulls the Strings: Michael & Jabrahlyn discuss Power Dynamics in Screwball Comedy & Failure to Launch

Mar 3, 2026

46 min

Season 2! I Hate the Way I Don't Hate You
Who Pulls the Strings: Michael & Jabrahlyn discuss Power Dynamics in Screwball Comedy & Failure to Launch

Mar 3, 2026

Ep 5 Performative Love: Kallista & Anna discuss the issues of Public vs. Private in Screwball Comedies & Red, White, and Royal Blue

Mar 3, 2026

45 min

Season 2! I Hate the Way I Don't Hate You
Performative Love: Kallista & Anna discuss the issues of Publicity (and what's public) vs. Privacy (and what happens out of the public eye) in Screwball Comedies & Red, White, and Royal Blue