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
pop culture podcast
PMP#122: Maus Shows the Tragic Via Comics
In light of its being recently banned in some settings, we discuss Art Spiegelman's Maus (1980-91), which conveys his father's account of living through the Holocaust. We also consider other war-related graphic novels like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis (2000) and George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy (2019). Mark is joined by comics scholar Vi Burlew, comics blerd/acting coach … [Read more...] about PMP#122: Maus Shows the Tragic Via Comics
PMP#121: Protesting Protest Songs
Are protest songs effective, either as protest or songs? Four songwriters including your host Mark Linsenmayer, Lilli Lewis, Rod Picott, and PMP's audio engineer Tyler Hislop discuss how protest works in various musical genres, who it's aimed at, and when it goes wrong. Has the day of the protest song passed, or is it alive and well? Rod mentions how Bruce Springsteen … [Read more...] about PMP#121: Protesting Protest Songs
PMP#120: Dexter the Loveable Serial Killer
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#119: Disgraced Artists Like Cosby
Comedian Genevieve Joy, philosopher/NY Times entertainment writer Lawrence Ware, and novelist Sarahlyn Bruck join your host Mark to discuss how we deal with entertainers like R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, Woody Allen, et al. We all watched W. Kamau Bell's Showtime documentary We Need to Talk About Cosby, so most of our discussion is around that. None of us seem able to separate … [Read more...] about PMP#119: Disgraced Artists Like Cosby
PMP#118: Adapting Agatha Christie
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#117: Roguelikes Like Hades
Supergiant's Hades is now the first video game ever to have won a Hugo award (i.e. sci-fi/fantasy fiction) and has set a new standard in the Roguelike genre, which features relatively short "runs" through a randomly-generated dungeon (or some equivalent) with perma-death, i.e. you die, you go back to the beginning. Generally, these games are very hard. Your host Mark is … [Read more...] about PMP#117: Roguelikes Like Hades
PMP#116: Good Grief! Peanuts Persists
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#115: So-Called Greatest Albums
How does canonization work in popular music? Is Rolling Stone's 500 Best Albums of All Time list just a modest record of the favorite albums of people associated with Rolling Stone? Is it a statement of what "experts" in popular music enjoy? Does it reflect English-American popularity, and what responsibility to list-makers have to experience and include world music, indie … [Read more...] about PMP#115: So-Called Greatest Albums
PMP#114: The “West Side Story” Story
Did it make sense for Steven Spielberg to remake one of our nation's most beloved musicals (with music by Bernstein and Sondheim!), attempting to fix the parts that did not age well politically? Is the new version a modern classic or a doomed Frankenstein? Your host Mark Linsenmayer is joined by Broadway scholar, theater critic, and actor Ron Fassler; Remakes, Reboots, and … [Read more...] about PMP#114: The “West Side Story” Story
PMP#113: The Matrix Regurgitated
It's a Pretty Much Pop season one reunion, with Brian Hirt and Erica Spyres back with Mark Linsenmayer, plus very special guest Abe Linsenmayer, Mark's adult son. In light of the release of The Matrix Resurrections, we talk through the franchise as a whole. What made the first one remarkable, and does that a bar that any sequel can reach? We talk through the choices that fed … [Read more...] about PMP#113: The Matrix Regurgitated
PMP#112: Class Critiques in Squid Game, Succession, etc.
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
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#110: The Dune Franchise Tries Again
Yes, we have another Dune film, and this time Warner Bros. is serious about a franchise, with at least one sequel planned and a prequel TV series in the works. With thousands of years worth of world building, the books by Frank Herbert and the world now being fleshed out by his son Brian Herbert with Kevin J. Anderson offer more source material than Star Wars for potential … [Read more...] about PMP#110: The Dune Franchise Tries Again
PMP#109: Dueling in Film
In light of the release of The Last Duel (which you needn't have watched), we talk about the trope of the honor-resolving duel in movies and TV. Mark and guest co-host Dylan Casey of The Partially Examined Life are joined by Clif Mark, host of the Good in Theory podcast who wrote his political thesis and a 2018 Aeon article on the history and logic of … [Read more...] about PMP#109: Dueling in Film
PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
As board games are becoming increasingly popular with adults, we ask: What's the relationship between a board game's mechanics and its narrative? Does the "message" of a board game matter? Mark is joined by game designer Tommy Maranges, educator Michelle Parrinello-Cason, and ex-philosopher Al Baker to talk about re-skinning games, designing player experiences, play styles, … [Read more...] about PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
PMP#107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans
What makes for a "cult band"? Not just a small audience, because Grateful Dead fans are an archetypical cult. Not just a devoted, emotionally invested audience; no volume of Swifties make Taylor Swift qualify as a cult act. Does the music have to be somehow inaccessible, or the fans snobby? Your host Mark Linsenmayer and three other musicians try to figure it … [Read more...] about PMP#107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans
PMP#106: Stand-Up Comedy in the Internet Age
Mark discusses how Internet culture has changed stand-up with three comedians: past guests Rodney Ramsey (who co-owns the Unknown Comedy Club) and Daniel Lobell (host of Modern Day Philosophers and author of the Fair Enough comic), plus Dena Jackson (also a speaker on yoga and mindfulness and host of The Ego Podcast). How does the existence of YouTube, social media, and … [Read more...] about PMP#106: Stand-Up Comedy in the Internet Age
PMP#105: The Death of Soap Operas (Is Greatly Exaggerated)
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#104: King Arthur Reigns O’er Pop Culture
With the recent theatrical release of The Green Knight, Mark and Brian along with Den of Geek's David Crow and the very British Al Baker consider the range of cinematic Arthuriana, including Excalibur (1981), Camelot (1967), King Arthur (2004), King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017), First Knight (1995), Sword of the Valiant (1983), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1973), and … [Read more...] about PMP#104: King Arthur Reigns O’er Pop Culture