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Our 400th consecutive episode... who'd have ever believed it! And to celebrate, we're turning to movies that continue a tradition that dates back to Shakespearean times - Men dressing as women! First up, directed by Sydney Pollack (who also plays a role in the film... more on that in the episode) comes the story of Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman), an actor who's just a little too opinionated about his craft, to the point where no one will hire him. To prove a point, he makes himself up as a woman who calls herself Dorothy Michaels, and auditions for a daytime soap opera. To his surprise, he lands a recurring role and becomes one of the most popular characters on the program! Along the way, however, he has to deal with gorgeous female co-stars and a tongue-kissing legacy leading man (played by George Gaynes). The biggest surprise, however, is Michael falling in love with his co-star Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange), while her father Les (Charles Durning) is falling for "her!" It's a comedy that also has some wonderful dramatic moments as well, and is the perfect combination of talent, writing, and directing to serve as our 400th episode! Also starring Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, and Bill Murray!

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The second film in our pairing of stories which were inspired by, and affected, race relations of the era, we turn to one of the most consistent voices speaking through the medium, writer/director Spike Lee. His 1989 film, "Do the Right Thing," follows a day in the life of neighborhood resident Mookie (Lee) as he navigates his various responsibilities, primarily working for local pizzeria owner Sal (Danny Aiello). He's also dealing with Sal's sons Pino (John Turturro) and Vito (Richard Edwon), and his rather reactionary friend Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito). Due to a heat wave, tempers are short and relationships begin to fray. We're also introduced to local fixtures Da Mayor (Ossie Davis) and Mother Sister (Ruby Dee), as well as Mookie's sister Jade (Joie Lee) and his girlfriend (and mother of his child) Tina (Rosie Perez), and hear the day narrated by local DJ Mister Senor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson). As the heat rises, anger bubbles over between the African-Americans, the Hispanics, the Koreans, and the police, resulting in the death of another well-known local, which turns out to be the spark to light the fuse of rebellion once and for all! As celebrated critic Roger Ebert wrote, "'Do the Right Thing' doesn't ask its audiences to choose sides; it is scrupulously fair to both sides, in a story where it is our society itself that is not fair." And finally, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff reveal which two films they'll be reviewing for their 400th episode pairing!

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For the last pairing of the three-hundreds, we turn to films that have an indelible place in U.S. race-relations, in two separate decades. First up, from 1967, a film whose production during a time when mixed-race marriages were still illegal in over a dozen U.S. states. Directed by Stanley Kramer, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" put the issue front-and-center and called into question the truth of many liberal views on the subject. Dewey-eyed college graduate Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton) returns from a trip to Hawaii with a new fiance, Dr. John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) to introduce him to her parents Matt (Spencer Tracy) and Christina (Katharine Hepburn). Both Matt and Christina are staunch democrats, liberals, and have been vocal in their support of the civil rights movement, but John's arrival forces them to decide if they can actually live their ideals. Add to the mix suspicious and protective housekeeper Tillie (Isabel Sanford), long-time friend of the family Monsignor Mike Ryan (Cecil Kellaway), and the arrival of John's parents, (Roy Glenn and Beah Richards) and the question becomes one of love, principles, and family! The film also stars Virginia Christine, Barbara Randolph, and Skip Martin!

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For our second episode spotlighting the work of actor Kevin Kline, we turn to his dramatic work in a film that will tug at your heart in a way few others have! Directed by Irwin Winkler, 2001's "Life As A House" follows George Monroe, an architectural model-builder whose usefulness is ending thanks to computer modeling. He is divorced and his ex-wife, Robin Kimball (Kristin Scott Thomas) has remarried and lives with husband Peter (Jamey Sheridan), George's estranged son Sam (Hayden Christensen), and two younger children from her second marriage. After George loses his job and finds out he has terminal cancer, he resolves to tear down his eyesore of a home and build his dream house in the four months he has left. He shanghais Sam into moving in with him for the summer to help him in his efforts. Next door is an ex-girlfriend of George's, Colleen Beck (Mary Steenburgen) and her daughter Alyssa (Jena Malone). Across the street is George's nemesis, angry neighbor David Dokos (Sam Robards), who tries several times to end the construction for personal, vindictive reasons. As George's time nears, more and more people he has connected with throughout his life arrive to help get the house finished, but its ultimate disposal ends up being something no one could have predicted! The film also stars Mike Weinberg, Scotty Leavenworth, and Ian Somerhalder! Plus, the trio reveal which two films were pivotal in affecting real-world race relations will make up their next pairing!

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