To acknowledge this ongoing, hugely popular form of "entertainment" popularized by shows like The Osbournes and The Kardashians wherein some celebrity and/or family just shows off their life, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al are joined by returning guest Kayla Dryesse to discuss first few episodes of The Baldwins and talk about why this kind of show exists, … [Read more...] about PMP#192: Exhibitionist Reality TV
TV
PMP#191: Saturday Night Liver
Are we taking for granted this unique, talent-filled weekly nationally televised live comedy event that's been around for 50 years? (as in "What do we think this show is? Chopped liver?") Does its format even make sense at this time given YouTube and streaming? What will its legacy be? Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the casts, highlights, and the recent anniversary … [Read more...] about PMP#191: Saturday Night Liver
PMP#188: Vampire Appreciation
In light of Robert Eggers' film Nosferatu and the end of What We Do in Shadows, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the many vampire shows and films all the way back to Bram Stoker's 1897 novel (and of course the folklore goes back much further). The journey from the Dracula novel to the 1922 rip-off Nosferatu through a 1979 Werner Herzog version to the current one … [Read more...] about PMP#188: Vampire Appreciation
PMP#185: Steve Martin: X-Tuple Threat
Steve Martin was the biggest comic celebrity in the late '70s, became a huge movie star, and now delivers gentle comedy and fast banjo licks according to his desired rich guy schedule. In light of the popularity of Only Murders in the Building (which just finished season 4), last March's Apple TV documentary STEVE! (martin), and his current blockbuster tour, we consider … [Read more...] about PMP#185: Steve Martin: X-Tuple Threat
PMP#184: !BREAKING! Comedy News
Many people use shows like Last Week Tonight or The Daily Show to not just satirize the news but to provide us with our news. Late night shows, SNL, and many other shows get in on this, and conservative media is catching up via Gutfield. How does the comedy news format relate to panel shows, podcasts, and other light-hearted political talk? Some of the historical shows we … [Read more...] about PMP#184: !BREAKING! Comedy News
PMP#178: The Bear’s Incomplete Dish
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss Christopher Storer's culinary dramedy in light of the release of its strange third season. What made this a uniquely wonderful show in its first season? Is the unsatisfying character of this season just a matter of its being only the first half of what was originally planned? Were all the flashbacks helpful? What's with all the … [Read more...] about PMP#178: The Bear’s Incomplete Dish
PMP#174: Fallout Plays Post-Apocalyptic
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al discuss the new Amazon TV show based on on the video game series that launched in 1997. How does one best adapt a sandbox game? How dark is too dark for comedy? We talk world-building and exposition dumps, narrative structure and character revelation, and morality in a ruined world. Want to watch a comprehensive, storytelling walkthrough of … [Read more...] about PMP#174: Fallout Plays Post-Apocalyptic
PMP#172: Curb Larry David’s Shtick
The incredible post-Seinfeld improvised sit-com Curb Your Enthusiasm has had its finale, and so Mark, Lawrence, Sarah and Al reflect on its format, its characters, its way of exploring puzzles of modern manners, its treatment of race and gender, and more. Was it too repetitive? Did it get too contrived? A couple of the articles we looked at for this episode include "Larry … [Read more...] about PMP#172: Curb Larry David’s Shtick
PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the American version, and to a lesser extent the British and Australian versions, of this reality game show that originated in 2021 in the Netherlands, based on the party game Mafia (aka Werewolf), plus Survivor-like challenges and a gothic tone. How does such a simple (stupid?) concept end up creating compelling TV? Are we cruel for … [Read more...] about PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom
PMP#169: Doctor Who? (When?)
Do you Who? Did you Who back in the day, or just from the point of the 2005 revival? Did you Who through Tennant, Smith, Capaldi... Were you still on board for Whittaker, and now as Disney+ and revival creator Russell T. Davies attempt to make this more readily accessible in all ways with the transition to Ncuti Gatwa? Mark, Al, and Lawrence are joined by our special guest, … [Read more...] about PMP#169: Doctor Who? (When?)
PMP#167: “May December” and Other Docudramas
When we've already heard about someone's personal scandal in the news, do we need to also see it dramatized with A-list actors? We discuss Todd Haynes' 2023 film fictionalizing the long-aftermath of the Mary Kay Letourneau story. The main events of May December are fictional (based on a story by screenwriter Samy Burch along with Alex Mechanik): An actress (Natalie Portman) … [Read more...] about PMP#167: “May December” and Other Docudramas
PMP#164: Muppets, esp. Their Xmas Carol
For our annual holiday episode, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk all things Muppets, but in particular the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol, wherein Michael Caine gives us just as strong and serious a Scrooge as you might find. What's the appeal of this puppet act? Is the humor actually supposed to be good, or post-funny ironic? How do Muppets change the way we … [Read more...] about PMP#164: Muppets, esp. Their Xmas Carol
PMP#163: Marvel Fatigue?
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al are joined by returning special guest comic scholar Vi Burlew to talk about the new film The Marvels as well as more generally what's been coming out in film and TV from the Marvel folks in the latest "phase." Does Marvel have a consistent tone at this point (and should it)? What explains the box office poison of the new film despite its being … [Read more...] about PMP#163: Marvel Fatigue?
PMP#162: Poe Flavoring Upon the House of Usher
We discuss the loose mishmash adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe stories that makes up Mike Flanagan's Netflix show, The Fall of the House of Usher. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the various creative choices, moral responsibility in the show, the relation between gothic and camp, Poe's continued standing as horror icon, Flanagan's other films and shows (e.g. The … [Read more...] about PMP#162: Poe Flavoring Upon the House of Usher
PMP#161: Revisiting “The Exorcist”
Watch the unedited video of the discussion: Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the original 1973 film (and the 1971 novel), the new Exorcist: Believer, with some talk of the early sequels. What makes the original film so scary? Its adjacency to real-life parental fears? Does the new film really dialogue intelligently with that original, and how was this challenge … [Read more...] about PMP#161: Revisiting “The Exorcist”
PMP#160: Mvto to “Reservation Dogs”
After three seasons, this groundbreaking Native-written/starring TV show about four teens trying to get away from their Oklahoma reservation has completed its arc. Mark, Lawrence, Al, and COVID-infected Sarahlyn discuss the show's take on death, community, drugs, wisdom, wokeness, and the supernatural. Did the show work given the wildly different tones and emphases over the … [Read more...] about PMP#160: Mvto to “Reservation Dogs”
PMP#159: Watching “How To with John Wilson”
Watch the unedited video of the discussion: Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al all watched the three seasons of this groundbreaking, polarizing documentary show that serves as a visual diary and collection of essays by its creator John Wilson. While episode titles promise that you'll learn things like "how to track your packages" and "how to make small talk ," what starts … [Read more...] about PMP#159: Watching “How To with John Wilson”
PMP#156: Black Mirror’s Tech Horrors
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about Charlie Brooker’s British anthology TV series that began in 2011 and recently released its 6th season. How has this show evolved from satirical science fiction to something more often just horror studies that study human nature? We talk about our favorite episodes and what does and doesn't work. Does the show have to be so dark to … [Read more...] about PMP#156: Black Mirror’s Tech Horrors
PMP#152: BELIEVE in Ted Lasso
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al disagree about the Jason Sudeikis-headed Apple TV+ pandemic hit that's just wrapped up with its third season. Was it actually as good as everyone thought when its first season hit, or was its vibe just something we needed at the time? Should it have stayed slim and comic instead of becoming the stretched out, soapy dramedy that it ended up … [Read more...] about PMP#152: BELIEVE in Ted Lasso
PMP#151: Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout “Succession”
The regular gang (Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al) address Jesse Armstrong's prestige HBO dramedy that premiered in 2018 and has just wrapped up. Why all the fuss over this show? Is it really worthy of comparison to Shakespeare? Follow us @law_writes, @sarahlynbruck, @ixisnox, @MarkLinsenmayer. Get bonus talking for this and nearly every episode at … [Read more...] about PMP#151: Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout “Succession”