Episode 65: That's How You Get Throat Gonorrhea, Kids (S16E19 Granting Immunity)
Another Paternity Leave Installment, and we're turning to an episode where we spoke at length about an issue that's particularly germane to what's happening now. Patreon payments are frozen for the time being. A few resourceful new Munchies have figured out a work-around where you can join as a free member and upgrade from there to a paid account which charges you for one month and unlocks the back catalog behind the respective tier of the paywall. After that first payment, you won't be charged again until we're dropping new content (which we'll warn everyone is coming), so if you want more of this it can be had, along with access to the fully uncut episodes from 100 to present and Movie Club episodes.
This week’s selection is Law & Order: SVU’s swipe at the anti-vax movement—“Granting Immunity” (S16E19)—which puts the vulnerable Baby Doe in the path of a measles outbreak spawned by the casual dismissal of science by rich dick Tribeca parents who clearly know more than epidemiologists and have conspired to circumvent New York’s mandated vaccinations for all students. This leads the Munchie Boys to investigate just what started this anti-vax MMR-causes-autism nonsense that’s since metastasized in much more widespread and nefarious ways. Don’t worry, there’s also plenty of fun to be had, including (but not limited to) the virtues of Susie Essman, the horrors of opening montage music, the hilarious inappropriateness of filmed teenage sex parties, and the watercooler TV-watching habits of the dedicated detectives of the Special Victims Unit. Is this the scariest episode of SVU in Munchstory? Only one way to find out.
Sources:
Jenny McCarthy: anti-vaxxer, public menace - Los Angeles Times
Seth Mnookin: How the Vaccine War Has Changed - PBS
Hollywood’s Vaccine Wars: 20 Most Notable L.A. Schools at Risk of Disease - The Hollywood Reporter
Andrew Wakefield - Wikipedia
Reckless Endangerment in the First and Second Degrees - New York Lawyers dot Org
Music:
Divorcio Suave - “Munchy Business”
Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Diana R, Tony B, Zak B, Barry W, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Christine L, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Lily, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, Whitney C, Alex, Jannicke HS, Roni C, and Nourhane B - y’all are the best!
Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybenson
Be sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests’ youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts
Follow us on: BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam’s Twitter/BlueSky and Josh’s Twitter/BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)
Join our Discord: Munch Casts Server
Check out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at Zazzle
Check out our guest appearances:
Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).
Josh debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast and talking SVU/OC and Psych (five eps in all) on Jacked Up Review Show.
Visit Our Website: Munch My Benson
Email the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.com
The Next New Episode Once We're Back from Adam's Paternity Leave Will Be: Season 16, Episode 14 "Intimidation Game"
