Hollywood Babylon

Hollywood Babylon: Ghosts, Meta Jokes, and Die Hard ReferencesWelcome to this episode of Gank That Drank: A Supernatural Drinking Game Podcast! Join hosts Krissy Lenz and Nate McWhortor as they dive into Supernatural Season 2, Episode 18, "Hollywood Babylon"—a meta-filled romp through a haunted movie set where Dean Winchester discovers his natural calling as a production assistant. This episode originally aired April 19, 2007, and remains one of Nate's most-watched favorites for good reason.When a horror film production on Stage 9 becomes plagued by actual supernatural deaths, Sam and Dean go undercover to investigate. What follows is a love letter to bad horror movies, industry in-jokes, and the show's willingness to poke fun at itself. From Gilmore Girls references (complete with a close-up of Jared Padalecki) to jokes about filming in Vancouver, this episode established Supernatural's self-aware tone early in its 15-year run. Dean flirts with scream queen Tara Benchley, discovers a disgruntled screenwriter is using real summoning rituals, and delivers an iconic Die Hard reference—"Come out to the coast, we'll have a few laughs"—that earns a drink multiplier in the game.The drinking game rules included taking a drink for screams, "son of a bitch" utterances, ghost appearances, Dean eating or flirting, and death scenes. The real challenge? Keeping track of all those screams. Krissy counted four; Nate estimated ten. Both hosts agreed the ghost appearances and screams carried the game, though some rules only triggered once or twice. The episode's highlight remains its commentary on Hollywood's creative process—a bitter writer uses occult knowledge to make ghosts murder for him after executives ruin his script. As Sam points out, "You find out there's an afterlife and this is what you do with it?"Additional Highlights:The boys never explain how Sam's 2007 camera phone can see ghosts (and never use this trick again)Don Stark (Bob from That '70s Show) plays the ill-fated producer who meets his end via industrial fanDean's genuine enthusiasm for terrible horror movies and celebrity spotting shows his softer sideThe episode features an Enochian summoning ritual—yet the show still pretends angels aren't realKrissy rated the drinking game 2 out of 5 mini Philly cheesesteaks; Nate gave it 4 out of 5Krissy and Nate celebrate how "Hollywood Babylon" set the template for Supernatural's meta episodes throughout its entire run—from "The French Mistake" to "Scooby Natural" to "Fan Fiction." The willingness to not take itself too seriously became the show's secret weapon, separating it from procedural dramas and making it endearing for 15 seasons. Next up: Season 10, Episode 13, "Hibbing 911," featuring Sheriff Jody Mills with rules including drinking whenever someone says "sheriff" (good luck with that one).Want more Gank That Drank? Become a member for just $5/month at trustory.fm/join to get episodes a week early, completely ad-free, plus exclusive bonus content. Learn more about the show and the TruStory FM network at trustory.fm.Connect with the hosts: See Krissy and Nate perform live at the Neighborhood Comedy Theatre in downtown Mesa, Arizona! Shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM. Visit nctphoenix.com for tickets and showtimes.Follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | BlueskyCheck out Krissy's other podcast: Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast covers everything from ninja films shot in Tempe to cult classics—a perfect companion for Supernatural fans who love pop culture deep dives.What's your favorite meta moment from Supernatural's 15-season run? ---Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.