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Excessively Diverted

Beau North and Sammi Campbell are here to guide you through the world of Modern-Day Classic Literature Film Adaptations. From the good to the very, very bad we present a judgement-free look at how these Classics translate in the modern era.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 30, 2017

Sammi and Beau discuss the coming hiatus, Season 3, and the future of Excessively Diverted. 

Dec 18, 2017

Sammi and Beau return to Pemberley Digital for Bernie Su's take on Emma, Emma Approved.Not just a lifestyle coach/matchmaker, Emma Woodhouse is a savvy business woman and personal brand, along with her business partner Alex Knightley and adorable assistant Harriet Smith, Emma is determined to be the face of Lifestyle Excellence (whatever that means?) So grab your tablets, your Kate Spade binders and your structured blazers and join us for Emma Approved, part 1 of 2. 

Dec 4, 2017

This week Sammi and Beau are joined by superstar podcaster Gena Radcliffe of the show Kill By Kill to discuss Whit Stillman's 2016 comedic masterpiece 'Love & Friendship,' based on the novella 'Lady Susan.' While Love & Friendship is not a modern adaptation, it is probably Austen's most subversive surviving work, and the scheming Lady Susan is played to absolute perfection by Kate Beckinsale with support from the marvelous Chloe Sevigny. 

Nov 13, 2017

Sammi and Beau are Bollywood bound once more for this Tamil adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. While it took a few minutes to acclimate to this movie, we found it incredibly charming with well drawn characters, humor, lots of entertaining musical numbers, and plenty of sweetness. These might be the best versions of Elinor and Marianne in any modern adaptation that we've seen! As an additional bonus, this movie features a cat wedding, so this definitely checked all of our boxes. 

Oct 23, 2017

A slightly intoxicated Sammi and Beau are joined by returning guest Karolinn and first-time guest Brian to discuss the 2015 Straight outta Salt Lake City series Austentatious, which asks "what would happen if the Dashwood sisters, Emma Woodhouse, and Elizabeth Bennet were all single career gals who lived on a series of sound stages? There is little here to recommend the series, from creepy, miscast, and poorly adapted characters to cheap sets and some rampant misogyny. If you were considering watching this, our advice would be "don't." 

Warning to listeners, this might be our most profanity-riddled episode yet. 

Oct 9, 2017

Beau and Sammi road trip to the Oregon coast where they get the rare opportunity to play 'Marrying Mr. Darcy' with Award-Winning author Linda Beutler and previous guest Karolinn Fiscaletti. 

Sep 20, 2017

Karen M. Cox joins Beau to talk about her new novella, The Journey Home and her 1970's Emma-inspired extravaganza, I Could Write A Book. Karen convinces Beau to give Knightley a second chance, which is a miracle unto itself. 

Sep 13, 2017

This week we are joined by BOTH of the amazing ladies of Drunk Austen to talk about Hallmark's rather sanitized version of Teri Wilson's book 'Unleashing Mr. Darcy.' We unravel a vast conspiracy of money laundering and sex dungeon in the D.C. private school system, but mostly because we were kind of bored and hangry. 

 

 

Aug 28, 2017

Sammi and Beau close out the last chapter of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries with some real emotional highs and lows. As things start to stray into the dangerously cute zone for Lizzie and Darcy, news from home sends Lizzie rushing back, leaving all uncertain. Lydia gets a terrible shock and the Bennet Sisters rely on each other to cope and heal. Charlotte brings good news and Lizzie gets the best sort of birthday surprise. And in the end, the future looks very bright indeed. 

 

Aug 14, 2017

A lot of big events happening in between a *whole lot of filler* in these episodes. Jane gets real, Lizzie screws up big time, and Darcy plays along. 

Aug 1, 2017

In this whirlwind episode, Sammi and Beau are introduced to George Wickham, Catherine de Bourgh (and her little dog too), Fitz Williams, and finally, FINALLY the show introduces our William Darcy in the most dramatic possible way. Stay tuned at the end for a discussion on sexism from the literary fiction community, it's a real barn-burner. 

Jul 17, 2017

As the events of the show begin to follow Pride & Prejudice more closely, In this block of episodes the girls go to VidCon and have a long sojourn at Netherfield. We meet the astonishingly beautiful Lee siblings, Bing and Caroline. We also get introduced to the adorably emo cousin Mary and the unexpectedly entertaining Ricky Collins. 

Jul 3, 2017

Welcome to part 1 of our 5-part series on the 2012 web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries! We'll discussed what worked (the very true-to-life female friendships) and what didn't (slut shaming booo). This was one of the most refreshing, truly modern adaptations we've watched for the show. Make sure to join in the discussion on our Facebook page! 

 

Jun 19, 2017

Sammi and Beau take a brief step back into the regency to watch the film adaptation of PD James' Death Comes to Pemberley. A straightforward "Elizabeth Darcy Murder Mystery" was too much to hope for, and instead we get a dour miniseries with a convoluted plot and characters that don't quite fit the Austen mold. We found ourselves unequal to caring about such questions as "Who killed Captain Denny?" and "Who is that hissing woman in the woods?" because we were so wrapped up in figuring out WHY Colonel Fitzwilliam was so aggro and why Darcy was ALWAYS SHOUTING. 

Death Comes To Pemberley was directed by Daniel Percival and stars Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Rhys, Matthew Goode and Jenna Coleman

Jun 5, 2017

AAAAAnnnnd Sammi and Beau are BACK just in time to celebrate #pridemonth to discuss the first-ever gay Pride & Prejudice (film) re-imagining, Before The Fall.

May 22, 2017

In the season 1 Finale of the JAFFcast, Beau is joined by IPPY-Award Winning author Karen M Cox to discuss Heather Lynn Rigaud's Rock & Roll retelling of Pride & Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy: Rock Star

May 15, 2017

Jenetta James, author of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy and The Elizabeth Papers joins Beau to discuss Elizabeth Adams Austen-inspired contemporary romance, Green Card, as well Austen's talent for comedy and her current cultural significance. 

May 8, 2017

Beau and Sammi are together again! Join the Excessively Diverted origin story as we discuss KaraLynne Mackrory's IPPY Award-winning book Haunting Mr. Darcy, as well as Austen's legacy of Feminist comedy. 

May 1, 2017

This week Beau is joined by her collaborator on The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Brooke West. They discuss Jenetta James' marvelous debut Suddenly Mrs. Darcy, and why angst is absolutely necessary in fiction. 

Apr 24, 2017

Time to talk books! Author Linda Beutler joins Beau North to discuss Jane Austen Fan Fiction, her relevancy today, and Joana Starnes' swoon-worthy book, The Unthinkable Triangle

Apr 3, 2017

Sammi and Beau are joined by the effervescent Robin of Drunk Austen to discuss the 2004 Bollywood Extravaganza "Bride and Prejudice." With full dance routines, color wheels, horrible mothers, Sitar workout playlists, and all the Grand Canyon Canoodling you can handle!

Bride and Prejudice was directed by Gurinder Chadha and Stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Martin Henderson

 

Special thanks to Robin!  Please check out Drunk Austen on all their social media

Mar 27, 2017

Sammi and Beau are joined by two very special guests - Brian Skinner and Josh Hollis of The Predict-O-Cast! In this episode the fearsome four discuss adult men who can't dress themselves, embarrassing singing, therapy horses, swiss cheese, limousines, and lotion. SO MUCH LOTION. What's that smell? It's fruit, flowers, and a whole lotta bull. Also, despite the inoffensive movie we watched, the language gets a little salty, so listen with discretion. 

Mar 20, 2017

Sammi and Beau have some exciting guests to announce as well as some housekeeping announcements. 

Mar 13, 2017

Sammi and Beau get a little liberal with the cursing in this episode as they travel along with Amanda Price - all they way back to Longbourn. Join the ladies of Excessively Diverted as they discuss Modern ideas in a Georgian world, and why a life without Lizzy is one they're just not interested in. 

 

Lost in Austen was directed by Dan Zeff and stars Jemima Rooper, Elliot Cowan, Hugh Bonneville and Alex Kingston

Feb 27, 2017

Sammi and Beau take on Mansfield Park in discussing Metropolitan, Whit Stillman's clever tale of young Manhattan socialites in the early 1980's. The whip-smart humor of the Sally Fowler Rat Pack hit our intellectual sweet spot and their rapid-fire dialogue evoked our love for both Jane Austen and Gilmore Girls. Stay tuned for the miraculous declaration at the end of this episode (spoiler: the declaration is that this clever, lovable movie made us rethink Mansfield Park). Please enjoy responsibly. 

 

Metropolitan is written and directed by Whit Stillman and stars Carolyn Farina, Edward Clements, Chris Eigeman, and Taylor Nichols

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