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?)
pop culture podcast
PMP#168: Writing Women’s Fiction w/ Kathryn Leigh Scott
To celebrate the publication of the latest novel by one of our hosts, Sarahlyn Bruck, we bring back acclaimed actor/author Kathryn Leigh Scott (previously seen on our Dark Shadows episode) to join Mark and Al. The four of us discuss women's fiction as a marketing category, its relation to genres like romance and literary fiction, and the writing process for these kinds of … [Read more...] about PMP#168: Writing Women’s Fiction w/ Kathryn Leigh Scott
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#166: Miyazaki’s Anime Dreamscapes
In light of the new, acclaimed film, The Boy and the Heron, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al reflect on the Studio Ghibli films that Hayao Miyazaki has directed since the '80s, including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Tortoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Wind Rises, Princess Mononoke, etc. Does the visionary design make up for the languorous pacing? We talk about the anime … [Read more...] about PMP#166: Miyazaki’s Anime Dreamscapes
PMP#165: Jewish Comedy w/ Daniel Lobell
Your hosts Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al explore the characteristics of Jewish comedy with stand-up/graphic novelist Daniel, whose film Reconquistador explores his ancestors being kicked out of Spain. What's the connection of Jewish humor to anti-semitism? We talk about relating as a creator to your identity, Jewish people seeing themselves in film and TV, the … [Read more...] about PMP#165: Jewish Comedy w/ Daniel Lobell
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#158: “Oppenheimer” and Other Christopher Nolan Films
Christopher Nolan has directed ten films starting with 1998's The Following and his first major film, 2000's Memento. We consider his work up to the present through Insomnia (the only one of these he didn't write), The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar, Tenet, and Dunkirk (and yes, the Batman films, but we've already talked about Batman). We talk about his typical heroes, … [Read more...] about PMP#158: “Oppenheimer” and Other Christopher Nolan Films
PMP#157: The Function of a Pop Culture Podcast
What is media criticism, and is that what we're doing? For our Season 3 finale (i.e. the end of PMP's 4th year of operation), your now officially official hosts Mark Linsenmayer, Lawrence Ware, Sarahlyn Bruck, and Al Baker turn their gazes fully toward their collective navel to think about what purposes are served by discussions about pop culture and how we can do it … [Read more...] about PMP#157: The Function of a Pop Culture Podcast
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#155: Existentialist Barbie
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the most discussable movie of the summer made by the unlikely pairing of feminist indie director Greta Gerwig and Barbie's corporate overlords at Mattel. Does the film convey at least a legitimate teen version of feminist existentialism, whereby oppressed women question their identities? On this account (says Mark), even the Ken plot … [Read more...] about PMP#155: Existentialist Barbie
PMP#154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the blockbuster archaeological adventure films created in 1981 by George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg that we grew up with and which have now been revived and apparently concluded twice, currently via James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. What's the formula for these films, and which deviations to we appreciate? … [Read more...] about PMP#154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins
PMP#153: Kids’ Films, Adult Messages
Mark, Lawrence, and returning parents/panelists Michelle Parrinello-Cason and Chris Sunami take on the mass of largely animated films by Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Illumination, etc. We've all watched them with our kids, and many adults devour them even in preference to other types of films. So what's the underlying ideology of this kind of media? What messages are they … [Read more...] about PMP#153: Kids’ Films, Adult Messages
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”
PMP#150: Dark Shadows w/ Kathryn Leigh Scott
Mark, Lawrence, and guest co-host horror writer Sean Michael Cooney (who has seen all 1225 episodes) discuss the gothic romance vampire soap opera from 1966-1971 plus the spin-off movies and reboots. We interview one of the stars of the original show, the author Kathryn Leigh Scott, to talk about the appeal and enduring legacy of this show that was once massively popular but is … [Read more...] about PMP#150: Dark Shadows w/ Kathryn Leigh Scott