Going The Distance: The Rocky Series Podcast

Continuing our Season 5 Rocky V breakdown on Going the Distance! Ryan, Ruban, and special guest Andrew pick up right where we left off at the airport press conference as Adrian announces Rocky’s retirement.  
We dig into Rocky’s reaction, the over-the-top reporters, the limo ride home, the changing Balboa houses across the series, the almost-robot from Rocky IV, Rotten Tomatoes scores, and the sweet (and funny) father-son scenes — including Rocky Jr.’s drawing of his French teacher, the “mushroom” joke, Russian currency, and the goodnight kiss.  
Huge thanks again to Andrew for joining us live.  
00:00 Live Start & Voice Apology  
01:05 Andrew Returns & Recap  
02:50 Adrian Announces Retirement  
04:12 Rocky’s Reaction & Press Pressure  
08:53 Union Cane & George Washington Duke  
10:46 Cindy Roberts Reporter Note  
14:38 Limo Ride & House Continuity  
15:50 The Missing Robot  
16:51 Rotten Tomatoes Scores Discussion  
24:55 Rocky Jr.’s Room & Artwork  
27:51 French Teacher Drawing Scene  
32:51 “Mushroom” Joke & Russian Money  
34:43 Born Again / Better Life Talk  
38:30 Goodnight Kiss & Cultural Notes  
43:17 Closing & Thanks

This is our Season 5 opener and the first live guest recording as Ryan and Ruban welcome local Rocky fan and boxing enthusiast Andrew to break down Rocky V.
We cover the 1990 box office numbers (far from a flop), teenage theater experiences, how the film deliberately returned to the roots of Rocky 1 & 2 after the spectacle of 3 & 4, the Burgess Meredith/Mickey flashback inspired by Cus D’Amato and young Mike Tyson, the airport press conference, George Washington Duke, and more.
Huge thanks to Andrew for joining us live for this special occasion.
00:12 Intro & Episode 101 / Season 5 Kickoff
00:53 Guest Andrew Introduction
03:04 Rocky V Box Office & “Flop” Myth
06:19 Initial Theater Reactions as Teens
08:52 Street Fight Ending Debate
09:48 Original Ending Where Rocky Dies
12:41 Burgess Meredith / Mickey Flashback
13:28 Cus D’Amato & Mike Tyson Inspiration
16:38 John G. Avildsen Returns as Director
39:43 Timeline & Rocky Jr. Age Issues
41:23 Airport Press Conference Scene
48:53 George Washington Duke Arrival
53:30 Adrian Announces Retirement – Cliffhanger
54:40 Closing & Thanks to Andrew

Join Ryan for an amazing interview with stand-up comedian Joe Matarese!
Joe Matarese is a South Jersey/Philadelphia-area comedian known for his sharp, autobiographical material about family, neuroses, marriage, parenting, and everyday life. He’s appeared on America’s Got Talent (standing ovation), The Late Show with David Letterman, The Howard Stern Show, Comedy Central, Chelsea Lately, and more. He has four one-hour specials available for free on YouTube: Medicated, The Poster’s Wrong, Mullets and Mixtapes, and Almost Sold Out.
His current tour is called “It’s In The Wooder.”
Find everything about Joe here:
Website: http://www.joematarese.com/
Instagram / TikTok / X: @TheJoeMatarese

Robert Doornick, creator of the iconic SICO Robot from Rocky IV, joins the podcast! Robert shares how SICO was designed as a therapeutic tool for special needs children, his connection to Stallone via his autistic son, on-set stories, voice work, future of robotics, and more. A fascinating look at the man behind one of Rocky’s most memorable characters.

Trisha Morrison, widow of Tommy Morrison (Tommy Gunn in Rocky V), joins the podcast for a heartfelt interview. Trisha shares stories from Tommy's room filled with memorabilia, their meeting, his personality, health journey, Rocky V, and legacy. Emotional, honest conversation touching on bullying, faith, and keeping Tommy's memory alive.