On the 24th of December 2016, news outlets around the world reported that Carrie Fisher, movie star and cultural icon had suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to LosAngeles, a few days later on the 27th of December she died. Her mother, the golden age movie star and cultural icon Debbie Reynolds died the next day from a stroke. Reportedly, in the wake of Carrie Fisher's death, she had said 'I want to be with Carrie' who she also named as her best friend. Tonight on they don't make 'em like they used to we dedicate our entire show (format and everything) to two ladies from one family who indelibly left their mark on the world.

In this poignant episode of They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To, recorded at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight, hosts Tosin Ajayi, Sharon Bollen, and Shaun Harris dedicate the entire show to the memory of Hollywood royalty: Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher. Following the heartbreaking loss of both mother and daughter just one day apart in December 2016, the team reflects on the indelible mark they left on cinema.

• Bonafide Classic: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)We begin with the film that launched Debbie Reynolds into stardom. The team discusses her incredible energy, the iconic "Good Morning" sequence, and how she held her own alongside dance legends Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.

• Hidden Gem: How the West Was Won (1962)Sharon selects this sprawling epic as a showcase for Reynolds' versatility. We explore the film’s unique Cinerama three-camera process and follow Debbie's character, Lilith Prescott, through multiple generations of the American frontier.

• Carrie Fisher’s Breakout: Shampoo (1975)Moving to Carrie Fisher, we look at her sharp screen debut in this 1970s satire. The hosts discuss how her "fiesty" and "hard-edged" presence was evident even at the age of 20, long before she became a cultural icon in Star Wars.

• Exception to the Rule: When Harry Met Sally... (1989)To round out the tribute, we look at Fisher’s brilliant supporting role in what Tosin calls the "best romantic comedy ever made". We highlight her scene-stealing performance as Marie and her enduring wit both on and off-screen.

Note: Due to licensing restrictions, the iconic musical tracks featured in this episode—including "Good Morning" and the Star Wars theme—have been edited out of this recording.

Join us as we celebrate the legacy of two of cinema’s most beloved stars.

20 movies in 90 minutes ... and breathe. Welcome to They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To. We decided to give in to the Christmas Spirit and tonight, we're talking FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES on the Podcast. People dropped us a few lines as to what their Favourite Christmas movie was and why. We tried to get through them all (in 90 minutes). Great Christmas celebration.

Merry Christmas and welcome to a festive edition of They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To, broadcast from Sunshine Radio at St Mary's Hospital. In this supersized holiday episode, host Tosin Ajayi is joined by resident experts Sharon Bollen and Shaun Harris to explore the films that define the Christmas spirit.

The team dives deep into the "rules" of what makes a true Christmas classic—from the essential character arc of redemption to the nostalgic quality of films we grow up watching year after year.

• The Rom-Com Staple: The Holiday (2006)Tosin highlights this modern favourite, focusing on the lush Hans Zimmer score and the themes of friendship and new beginnings.

• The Quintessential Classic: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)We explore why Frank Capra’s masterpiece remains the ultimate Christmas film. The team discusses its realistic (and sometimes bleak) portrayal of life’s struggles and George Bailey's heartwarming journey toward gratitude.

• Musical Joy: White Christmas (1954)Sharon defends this "slice of joy in celluloid," praising its spectacular dance routines, vivid color, and the legendary Bing Crosby.

• The "Is it a Christmas Movie?" Debate: Die Hard (1988)The hosts tackle the long-standing debate, firmly siding with those who call it a Christmas essential. They break down the film's festive setting, its hidden message of family reconciliation, and Alan Rickman's "pantomime villain" performance.

• Darker Delights: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) & Gremlins (1984)From the unique stop-motion world of Jack Skellington to the chaotic, dark humor of Mogwais gone wrong, we look at the films that add a touch of the uncanny to the holidays.

Please note that while the team discusses the impact of iconic holiday scores—such as the works of Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, and the timeless vocals of Bing Crosby—the full music tracks have been edited out of this podcast version due to licensing restrictions.

Join Tosin, Sharon, and Shaun as they unwrap the best of holiday cinema and wish you a very Merry Christmas!

TONIGHT, she is our resident musical expert, she’s our resident romantic movie expert and still manages to have a nifty sideline in boys movies. Tonight she takes us through Hayley Mills finding Jesus in a Barn, Robert Duvall drinking and singing about the American South years before Jeff bridges pulled off the same trick, and Bill Murray waking up, and waking up and yet again waking up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Welcome to the Sharon Bollen takeover of They Don’t make ‘em Like they used to.

Welcome back to a very special edition of They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To, broadcast from Sunshine Radio at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. After a month-long hiatus while host Tosin Ajayi was busy dodge-rolling away from galloping horses on a film set in Wales, the team returns for a deep dive into cinema history.

In this episode, resident musical and romantic movie expert Sharon Bollen takes the reins, curating a selection of films centered on the powerful theme of redemption.

• Bonafide Classic: Whistle Down the Wind (1961)Directed by Bryan Forbes and starring a young Hayley Mills, this poignant film tells the story of three innocent children who discover a fugitive hiding in their family barn and mistake him for Jesus Christ. We discuss the film’s powerful religious symbolism and its snapshot of rural Lancashire life in the early 60s.

• Hidden Gem: Tender Mercies (1983)Sharon brings us a 1980s treasure featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Robert Duvall. Duvall plays Max Sledge, a washed-up country singer struggling with alcoholism who finds a second chance at life and love at a remote Texas motel. Fun fact: the team even has a close encounter with the film’s director, Bruce Beresford, at a local film quiz!.

• Exception to the Rule: Groundhog Day (1993)Breaking our "pre-1980" rule, we explore this modern masterpiece starring Bill Murray. Sharon and Tosin discuss the film’s evolution from cynical comedy to a deep, philosophical journey of self-improvement, and attempt to do the math on just how many decades Phil Connors might have spent trapped in that Pennsylvania time loop.

Note: Due to licensing restrictions, the music tracks featured in this episode—including the works of Malcolm Arnold and Robert Duvall’s country vocals—have been edited out of this recording.

Join us for a journey of faith, music, and time-loops as we celebrate the classics!

Tonight, we are in the home of the road. Might not have been invented there, but there is arguably no country that has embraced the road like the good old US of A. And Hollywood noticed, resulting in one of the most recognisable movie genres, the road movie. Tonight we have screwball comedy on the road in the 30s, existential youth culture on the road in the 70s, and Girl power on a crime spree on the road in the 90s. It’s going to be fun, Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘Em Like they Used To.

Buckle up for a journey on the open road with this episode of They Don't Make Them Like They Used To! 📻🚗 Hosts Tosin Ajayi and Sharon Bollen (the self-proclaimed "celluloid archaeologists") dig deep into the iconic "Road Movie" genre, exploring how cinema has embraced the spirit of adventure across different eras.

• The Bone-Fide Classic: A nostalgic look at Frank Capra’s 1934 screwball masterpiece, It Happened One Night. Discover how Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert defined the romantic road trip and established timeless cinematic tropes (yes, including that hitchhiking scene).

• The Hidden Gem: Sean takes us off the beaten path with the 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop. A gritty, existential time capsule of Route 66, starring folk legend James Taylor and Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.

• The Modern Masterpiece: A breakdown of Ridley Scott’s 1991 feminist manifesto, Thelma & Louise. The hosts discuss the powerful bond between Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, a young Brad Pitt's breakout role, and that unforgettable ending.

• The Great Oscar Quiz: Can you name the only three films in history to win the "Big Five" Academy Awards? (Hint: The hosts figure it out with a little help!).

⚠️ NOTE: Due to licensing restrictions, the music tracks featured in this broadcast have been edited out.

Whether you're a fan of classic Hollywood charm or 70s counter-culture, join us for a high-octane episode filled with wit, history, and a touch of Americana. 🌟🍿

#SunshineRadio #RoadMovies #ItHappenedOne Night #TwoLaneBlacktop #ThelmaAndLouise

This evening, we’re in the North of England, it’s realism on screen, it’s social commentary on screen, its dank and it’s a little bit grim. It can only be Ken Loach. We also look at the Far east meeting the wild west waaaaayy before anyone ever heard of Jackie Chan or Owen Wilson. And we end up with a film that briefly threatened to make Swords and sandals a viable genre again. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To.

• Regular host Tosin Ajayi and Shaun Harris lead the discussion for this episode, noting that their fellow host, Sharon Bollen, was unable to join them for the recording.

• Bonafide Classic: The team reviews Ken Loach's 1969 masterpiece, Kes. The conversation highlights the film's gritty realism, its status as a landmark of British cinema, and its poignant look at the 1960s education system.

• Hidden Gem: The episode features a deep dive into the 1971 Western Red Sun. The hosts examine its unique international cast—including Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune, Alain Delon, and Ursula Andress—and its blend of Western and Samurai film tropes.

• Exception to the Rule: The discussion concludes with the Ridley Scott epic Gladiator (2000). They reflect on the film's success in reviving the "swords and sandals" genre and its lasting impact on modern cinema.

Note: Due to licensing restrictions, the music tracks featured in this broadcast have been edited out.

The show was originally broadcast on Sunshine Radio at St Mary's Hospital.

This evening, we discuss the odyssey of a guy who was born a poor black Child, we drag a slightly forgotten movie from one of englands screen sweethearts into the sunlight, spend time watching movies for free with a 1950s cinema usher, and sticking with the 1950s, we defy the Governmental powers that be and bid you Good Night & Good Luck. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To.

In this episode of "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To" on Sunshine Radio, host Tosin Ajayi and studio guest Sharon Bollen take listeners on a cinematic journey through Hollywood history, focusing on films made before 1980 that remain timeless classics.

• Bonafide Classic: The show opens with a tribute to Steve Martin’s 1979 debut, The Jerk. Tosin and Sharon discuss Martin’s transition from a stand-up comedian to a film star and the enduring, innocent charm of his character, Navin Johnson.

• Patient’s Choice: Tosin visits the Alverston Ward at St Mary’s Hospital to speak with Kathleen Snow. Kathleen reminisces about her days as a cinema usher in the 1940s and her love for the dance films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

• Hidden Gem: Sharon selects the 1966 coming-of-age drama Sky West and Crooked, starring Hayley Mills and Ian McShane. The team discusses the film’s atmospheric portrayal of the English countryside and its themes of lost innocence.

• Exception to the Rule: The episode concludes with George Clooney’s 2005 black-and-white masterpiece, Good Night, and Good Luck. The hosts explore its historical significance regarding the McCarthy era and its stunning cinematography and jazz score.

Note: Please be aware that while various music tracks were discussed and played during the original broadcast, they have been edited out of this podcast version due to licensing issues.

Episode HighlightsFilm and Music ChoicesContributorFilm ChoiceSong ChoiceGlenn (via Facebook)The Jerk (1979)N/AKathleen Snow (Patient)Top Hat (1935)"Cheek to Cheek" (Heaven)Sharon Bollen (Guest)Sky West and Crooked (1966)N/ATosin Ajayi (Host)Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)"One for My Baby" (Dianne Reeves)