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We help you make sense of the cultural drama blowing up the internet. Every Wednesday, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud (Buzzfeed) is joined by Kevin Fallon (The Daily Beast) and Amil Niazi (Refinery 29, The Cut) to dissect and debate the biggest pop culture stories of the week.
109 Episodes
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1The Oscars are pulling out all the stops to get the audience back. Three comedians to host? Check. Cutting eight awards from the televised program? Check. DJ Khaled to present…check? Who are the Oscars for, and who is the audience they’re trying to woo. We discuss that and the most watched races.
And Apple TV’s new series, Severance, is a hit. The show, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Adam Scott, is about the separation of your work self and your non-work self. What does it have to say about how work has changed us?
Plus on Drop It In The Group Chat: Life & Beth, A.P. Bio and Charli XCX's new album.
Segments
Warm Up Question - 00:01:50
Oscars - 00:09:40
Severance - 00:34:50
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:54:45
It's been 25 years since James Cameron's blockbuster Titanic changed filmmaking forever. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Amil Niazi and special guest Cameron Maitland to discuss everything Kate + Leo + iceberg. This special episode was recorded live at the Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto on November 17.
Drop it in the Group Chat: 55:53
It’s the end of an era. On the final episode of Pop Chat, Amil, Kevin, and Elamin reflect on their favourite moments.
We also recap the year in music, from the return of Beyoncé to Kanye’s anti-semitism, and share our thoughts on the best television shows of 2022.
We are so grateful to everyone who listened to Pop Chat, thank you for riding with us.
Warm-up question: 1:01
Year in music: 5:35
Year in movies: 32:37
Drop it in the Group Chat: 51:05
How did Yellowstone become the biggest show on TV? We talk about its rise and how its creator, Taylor Sheridan, became the biggest name in TV.
And we talk about Glass Onion, the Knives Out sequel, and Netflix’s confusing release strategy.
Warm-up question: 1:02
Knives Out: 7:12
Yellowstone: 25:24
Drop it in the Group Chat: 49:29
We get into how the Taylor Swift fandom is looking to take on Ticketmaster, after the giant ticketing website left millions of fans without tickets to see Swift and in turmoil over the process. Plus, is there a horror resurgence taking place at the movies?
Warm-up question: 1:45
Ticketmaster: 5:15
Horror renaissance: 17:05
Drop it in the Group Chat: 27:12
Dave Chappelle's SNL monologue addressed Kanye West's anti-Semitic tweets and Kyrie Irving's ban from the NBA. Chappelle made headlines as the comedian was accused of normalizing anti-semitism. We dissect the monologue and its fallout. And: the Black Panther has returned — we dive into the sequel and reflect on how it treats grief and the loss of Chadwick Boseman.
Warm-up question: 0:52
Chappelle on SNL: 10:03
Wakanda Forever: 29:33
Drop it in the Group Chat: 44:29
On his new album, Drake seems to take shots at Serena Williams and Megan Thee Stallion. We talk about Drake’s role in pop culture. And The Crown has returned for season 5 — we discuss whether the show about the British royal family goes too far.
Warm-up question: 1:55
Mad about Drake: 5:10
The Crown returns: 22:35
Drop it in the Group Chat: 41:10
With the premiere of a new season of White Lotus, Ruben Ostlund's Triangle of Sadness and horror film The Menu, Pop Chat talks about the "eat the rich" fall line-up and why we love to see rich people roasted. Plus, we talk about Twitter's future under Elon Musk and whether Kevin, Amil and Elamin would pay to keep their blue check.
Warm-up question: 1:02
Eat the Rich: 8:07
Elon's Twitter: 27:59
Drop It In The Group Chat: 45:01
With the stratospheric release of Midnights, we ask what’s behind Taylor Swift’s pop star persona PLUS, the Great British Baking Show used to be necessary comfort viewing, but audiences have gone sour on the show’s offensive themes and over-the-top challenges.
Warm-up question: 1:02
Taylor Swift: 5:10
GBBO: 25:11
Drop It In The Group Chat: 40:49
We get into why the Bravo universe has grown to such a degree and come to dominate television. Plus we ask why we turn to celebrities in moments of strife and upheaval and why celebs are mostly staying silent on Iran.
Warm-up Question: 1:00
Bravo TV Takeover: 10:46
Iran and celebrities: 38:00
Drop it in the Group Chat: 56:52
With Trevor Noah leaving The Daily Show and James Corden, Samantha Bee and Desus and Mero off-the-air as well, we ask if the late-night genre is truly dead. Plus, Kanye West — now known as Ye — has crossed another line, but will this finally be one step too far for the controversial artist or will he get another second chance?
Warm-up question: 1:00
The death of late night television: 9:58
Kanye: 30:19
Drop It In The Group Chat: 46:01
There was a lot of hype and expectation around the new gay rom-com Bros — critics loved it but audiences stayed away. We unpack why and if the idea of the “important” movie is losing steam with audiences. Plus, the new Marilyn Monroe movie Blonde is out and it’s dividing audiences with its intense focus on the star’s trauma. Pop Chat asks if we’ll ever get the Marilyn Monroe story right?
Warm Up Question - 1:07
Bros - 8:18
Blonde - 33:27
Drop It In The Group Chat - 52:23
OK, yes, we all had our fun with the Adam Levine sexting story. But the scandal involving the Maroon 5 singer tells us something bigger about how TikTok has changed the machinery of celebrity gossip.
Plus: HBO's Industry is the best show on television, so how come no one is talking about it? We break down what it takes for a show to break through. Hint: Learn from Succession.
Warm Up Question - 01:10
Adam Levine's sexts - 10:01
Industry - 28:46
Drop It In The Group Chat - 47:48
It's been 20 years since Kelly Clarkson won American Idol. We talk about the enduring celebrity of the pop star including how she's poised to take over Ellen's coveted afternoon talk show slot. Plus, despite shocking allegations against Ezra Miller, DC and Warner Bros are pushing ahead with a 2023 release of The Flash. We get into the claims against the star and if superhero movies are too big to fail.
Warm Up Question - 01:20
Kelly Clarkson - 06:50
Ezra Miller's troubles - 25:48
Drop It In The Group Chat - 37:29
Lea Michele's Funny Girl debut on Broadway. Plus: Bros, The Whale, and a preview of fall's biggest films set to take over awards season.
Warm Up Question - 01:04
Funny Girl - 10:17
TIFF picks - 25:36
Drop It In The Group Chat - 39:11
Olivia Wilde’s new feature film is already steeped in rumours, gossip and drama before it’s even hit the theatres. We talk about what’s happening behind the scenes with Wilde, Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. Plus, House of Dragons and Lord of the Rings compete to be fall’s biggest fantasy show — do they succeed?
Warm Up Question - 00:01:29
Don't Worry Darling Drama - 00:09:24
Diversity Hits Middle Earth - 00:27:20
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:43:28
From kids shows like Bluey, to Only Murders in the Building season 2 and Jordan Peele's Nope, we share the movies and TV series we're excited about this summer.
Warm Up Question - 00:1:30
Children's Entertainment / Bluey - 00:9:15
Movies, TV Series & Music of the Summer - 00:29:00
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:55:40
Nearly 40 years later, Tom Cruise has given us a sequel to Top Gun, and the movie keeps breaking box office records. We get into the mystical, unearthly abilities of Tom Cruise to entertain and carry a movie.
And Fire Island is a new sweet gay romcom that gay and straight audiences are loving. We discuss the unreasonable pressures that get placed on a movie from a marginalized community, and whether Fire Island needs to be everything to everyone.
Segments
Warm Up Question - 00:03:30
Top Gun/Tom Cruise - 00:11:40
Fire Island - 00:35:35
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:56:55
This Is Us, the hit series that got famous for reliably making everyone cry, just wrapped up its final season. We discuss why it might be the last network drama of its kind.
Plus: Saturday Night Live just said goodbye to three of its biggest stars. Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson and Aidy Bryant have left the show. We discuss how SNL’s role as a launching pad has changed, and where these stars go from here.
Segments
Warm Up Question - 00:01:40
SNL Departures - 00:06:55
This Is Us - 00:31:00
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:53:00
The world was ready to say goodbye to the Kardashians at the end of their E! reality show. But less than a year later, their new reality spinoff marked Hulu’s biggest premiere in U.S. history — and boy have they turned it up a notch. This week, we interrogate how the Kardashians have managed to be more relevant than ever.
Plus: HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant is back for a second season. We consider how the show has evolved to give us one of the most searing portrayals of addiction and sobriety in recent memory.
And finally an update on the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial — and what it reveals about the crude terms in which the culture understands domestic violence.
Depp/Heard Trial - 00:01:30
The Kardashians - 00:11:45
The Flight Attendant - 00:33:00
Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:52:30
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Not in any way an Ezra Miller fan, but a bit surprised by the misgendering with pronouns throughout this conversation.
Hey this is a great podcast