• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast

A philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer talk about media and how we consume it.

  • About
  • Episodes
  • Subscribe
  • Support
  • Contact

TV

PMP#126: Political Sci-Fi in “The Expanse”

June 17, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

On the novel series and TV show written by James S.A. Corey (aka Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck). Mark is joined by fact-checker Al Baker, educator Sabrina Weiss, and voting rights guy/former reality TV editor Colin Cole. We talk about the politics, dialects, casting, message, etc. How well did this adapt to TV? Are the books actually better? Plus passive vs. active … [Read more...] about PMP#126: Political Sci-Fi in “The Expanse”

PMP#125: The Dramatics of “This Is Us”

June 9, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

Mark is joined by rhetorician/educator Michelle Parrinello-Cason, Chris Sunami (The Pop Culture Philosopher), and award-winning former journalist Kera Mashek to discuss the recently concluded NBC drama created by Dan Fogelman. What's the message of the show, and is it a good one? Is this comfort food, or a stark portrayal of a diverse array of struggles with death, guilt, … [Read more...] about PMP#125: The Dramatics of “This Is Us”

PMP#123: We Are All Jackass

May 20, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

Mark is joined by comedian Matty Goldberg; filmmaker/podcaster Rolando Nieves; and comedy juggler Josh Casey to discuss the Jackass franchise that began in 2000 in light of the new (final?) film Jackass Forever. This is perhaps our sole remaining form of popular entertainment that relies on sheer physicality, without the gamesmanship of sports. What's the appeal of this … [Read more...] about PMP#123: We Are All Jackass

PMP#120: Dexter the Loveable Serial Killer

April 8, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

Mark is joined by repeat offenders Lawrence Ware and Sarahlyn Bruck and new-to-the-podcast psych/philosophy student Michael Paskaru to talk about the Showtime TV horror-dramedy shows inspired by Jeff Lindsay's novels, in light of the revival show Dexter: New Blood. People loved this character so much that they were very mad that he didn't die at the end of the show's initial … [Read more...] about PMP#120: Dexter the Loveable Serial Killer

PMP#118: Adapting Agatha Christie

March 8, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

In light of Death on the Nile, we discuss the continuing appearance of the works of the world's most successful mystery writer in film and TV.  Mark is joined by repeat guests Sarahlyn Bruck, Al Baker, and Nicole Pometti to discuss the recent Kenneth Branagh films, the Sarah Phelps TV adaptations (like The ABC Murders), the Poirot BBC TV series, and earlier films. We … [Read more...] about PMP#118: Adapting Agatha Christie

PMP#116: Good Grief! Peanuts Persists

February 10, 2022 by Mark Leave a Comment

Animator/musician David Heatley, comedian Daniel Lobell, and academic/3anuts author Daniel Leonard join your host Mark Linsenmayer to discuss Charlie Brown and his author Charles Schulz from Peanuts' 1950 inception through the classic TV specials through to the various post-mortem products still emerging. What's the enduring appeal, and is it strictly for kids? We talk about … [Read more...] about PMP#116: Good Grief! Peanuts Persists

PMP#112: Class Critiques in Squid Game, Succession, etc.

December 21, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

Popular shows have commented on wealth inequality by showing how dire the situation is for the poor and/or how disconnected and clueless the rich are. How effective is this type of social commentary? Mark is joined by philosopher and NY Times writer Lawrence Ware, novelist and writing professor Sarahlyn Bruck, and educator with a rhetoric doctorate Michelle Parrinello-Cason … [Read more...] about PMP#112: Class Critiques in Squid Game, Succession, etc.

PMP#111: Our Beatles Love-Fest

December 9, 2021 by Mark 4 Comments

Mark is joined by musician David Brookings, Gig Gab host Dave Hamilton, and OpenCulture writer Colin Marshall to discuss Peter Jackson's documentary Get Back and the enduring popularity of The Beatles. This was recorded on 12/8, the anniversary of John Lennon's death. We consider the arc of their career, the various post-mortem releases that keep our interest, why Beatles … [Read more...] about PMP#111: Our Beatles Love-Fest

PMP#105: The Death of Soap Operas (Is Greatly Exaggerated)

September 15, 2021 by Mark 2 Comments

Writers Sarahlyn Bruck and Kayla Dreysse join Mark to discuss how this once very popular TV show type has simultaneously become niche yet has had a tremendous influence on current prestige TV as well as reality shows. We talk about soaps' story and structure conventions, the demands on soap actors and writers, and how changing market forces and technology have affected the … [Read more...] about PMP#105: The Death of Soap Operas (Is Greatly Exaggerated)

PMP#100: Directing Comedies w/ Heather Fink

July 21, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

What makes for a good comedy film or show? Funny people reading (or improvising) funny lines, right? WRONG?  Mark, Erica, Brian, are joined by Heather Fink to discuss the role of the director in making a comedy (or anything else) actually good. Heather has directed for TV, film, and commercials and spent a lot of time doing sound (a boom operator or sound utility) for … [Read more...] about PMP#100: Directing Comedies w/ Heather Fink

PMP#98: The Spirit of Captain America w/ Anthony LeBlanc

July 5, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

What is it for a super-hero to represent America? Though the character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941 may have been a way to capitalize on WWII patriotism, it has since been used to ask questions about what it really means to be patriotic and how America's ideals and its reality may conflict. We're of course talking about race, a theme explored by Sam Wilson, … [Read more...] about PMP#98: The Spirit of Captain America w/ Anthony LeBlanc

PMP#97: The Girl in the Wooder: Our Mare of Easttown Show!

June 28, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

Insofar as something is a TV hit at all these days, the small-town Pennsylvania murder mystery starring Kate Winslet seems to qualify, but what distinguishes it from the many many other crime dramas on TV? Mark, Erica, and Brian discuss the plot structure, casting, and other creative choices and try to figure out how the show relates to Broadchurch, The Undoing, etc. Should … [Read more...] about PMP#97: The Girl in the Wooder: Our Mare of Easttown Show!

PMP#95: “The Nevers” With a Side of Whedon

June 9, 2021 by Mark 2 Comments

Mark, Erica, and Brian discuss the HBO Max show out Victorian-era super-powered feminine outcasts, helmed and now abandoned by the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, etc. It's jam packed with steampunk gadgets, fisticuffs, social injustice, and far too many characters and plot threads to keep track of. Given that the season was reduced to a half season in light of … [Read more...] about PMP#95: “The Nevers” With a Side of Whedon

PMP#93: Made for Love (and other Silicon Villainy)

May 27, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

The tech genius has become the go-to bad guy in recent films: They're our modern mad scientists with all imaginable resources and science at their command, able to release dystopic technology to surveil, control, and possibly murder us. Even Lex Luthor was made into a "tech bro" in Batman v. Superman. Mark, Erica, and Brian discuss the HBO Max series Made for Love starring … [Read more...] about PMP#93: Made for Love (and other Silicon Villainy)

PMP-Partially Examined Life Crossover: Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death”

April 27, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

Is TV ROTTING OUR MINDS? Marshall McLuhan famously said "The medium is the message," by which he meant that when we receive information, its effect on us is determined as much by the form of that information as by the actual content. Neil Postman, in his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, ran with this idea, arguing that TV … [Read more...] about PMP-Partially Examined Life Crossover: Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death”

PMP#89: The Chicago 7 (and the Aaron Sorkinverse)

April 14, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

In lieu of an Oscars episode, we consider one of the nominated films, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and the career of its writer/director, Aaron Sorkin, which started with A Few Good Men through four TV series (most notably The West Wing), and films like The Social Network, Steve Jobs, and Molly's Game.  Brian, Erica, and Mark consider Sorkin's stock recurring characters … [Read more...] about PMP#89: The Chicago 7 (and the Aaron Sorkinverse)

PMP#85: What the WandaVision!? w/ Rolando Nieves

March 9, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

The long-awaited debut Disney+ Marvel superhero series is... a tribute to classic sit-coms? Mark, Erica, Brian, and guest Rolando from the Remakes, Reboots, and Revivals podcast try to figure out what kind of storytelling this really is, whether this experiment was successful, whether you have to be a Marvel die-hard (or old enough to have watched those sit-coms) to get it, and … [Read more...] about PMP#85: What the WandaVision!? w/ Rolando Nieves

PMP#83: Disabled and Other-Abled Representation w/ Kayla Dryesse

February 24, 2021 by Mark 2 Comments

At least 20% of us have some sort of disability, yet such conditions are reflected by only tiny portion of TV and film characterizations, and what characters are portrayed typically get played by non-disabled actors. Depictions often focus on what it's like to live with the condition. This can of course be socially beneficial, but we don't want to essentialize people as their … [Read more...] about PMP#83: Disabled and Other-Abled Representation w/ Kayla Dryesse

PMP#82: Cobra Kai and the Karate Kids

February 18, 2021 by Mark 1 Comment

Did anyone suspect that the beloved 1984 "Kid Rocky" karate film (and its decreasingly beloved sequels) would now be not just remade but revived as the YouTube-Red-turned-Netflix hit Cobra Kai? Is this new show actually good, or just living unhealthily on nostalgia and the fascination of watching teens and middle aged people fistfight and fall in love. Mark-san, Erica-san, and … [Read more...] about PMP#82: Cobra Kai and the Karate Kids

PMP#80: Reliving Groundhog Day (and Palm Springs, Russian Doll, etc.)

February 2, 2021 by Mark Leave a Comment

Time looping, where a character is doomed to repeat the same day (or hour, or longer period) is a sci-fi trope dating back more than a century, but really entered American consciousness with the 1993 Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. Since then, and especially in the last five years, there have been numerous iterations of this idea in various genres from racial police-shooting … [Read more...] about PMP#80: Reliving Groundhog Day (and Palm Springs, Russian Doll, etc.)

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar


patreon

What is Pretty Much Pop?

On Pretty Much Pop, a philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer (often with entertainment industry guests) talk about media and how we consume it: TV, film, music, novels, games, comics, comedy, theater, podcasts, and more. Most of what (other) people like is pretty weird when you think about it, so thinking about it is what we do.

Get 3 shows ad-free with all bonus content from Apple Podcasts!

PEL Network

© 2022 · Pretty Much Pop