The Pop Break

Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by Editor-in-Chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:New Series Spotlight Rewind – Alex, Bill, and Josh check back in on all the series they covered in their New Series Spotlight segment this year to see which shows they actually kept up with and which fell by the wayside.News Break – Alex, Bill, and Josh discuss the single story that they each believe was the biggest for the world of TV this past year. Bill & Josh both agreed that the Paramount-SkyDance merger was the biggest news story of the year, while Alex made the outside the box case that Kathy Kennedy defiantly declaring to Deadline that she wasn’t retiring from Lucasfilm was actually the biggest story⁠.Streaming Wars – Alex, Bill, and Josh check in on the standings for the past year of who won the most months in streaming before giving their own picks for who won the year, where they all agreed that Netflix, HBO Max, and AppleTV had incredible years, but who won the year and who was their most improved streamer? Tune in to find out!The Beast Series of 2025 – Bill, Josh, and Alex each give their favorite series of the year, and two honorable mentions, which you can check out below!Bill’s Series of the Year - Andor (Daredevil: Born Again, Nautilus)Josh’s Series of the Year - Severance (Andor, Alien: Earth)Alex’s Series of the Year - Pluribus (Adolescence, Andor)Finally, the hosts close out 2025 by circling back to their Most Anticipated Series of 2025 from this past January to see how their collective optimism and enthusiasm paid off.

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. This time, our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast. This time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.In the preliminary episode, Randy offers an overview of Beck’s eclectic musical background and his uniquely artistic family tree. The hosts also discuss their preexisting relationships with Beck Hansen and preview the blueprint for subsequent episodes. These subsequent episodes will involve discussions of Beck’s 14 studio albums, his early independent releases, and his many collaborations. They may even unearth a few additional treats along the way.In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:Where It’s At: a track they really like.It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment. Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered all of Netflix’s The Defenders Saga, the first four seasons of ABC’s Agents of SHIELD, all 14 films in Fox’s X-Verse, and a collection of Marvel Films from the 2000s.This month, Alex & Bill are covering two interesting digressions from the studio, as they break down the two series it’s put out so far that are, more or less, completely disconnected from the MCU, X-Men ‘97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Before they get into it, they also go deep on all of their expectations for the upcoming teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Be sure to listen to their predictions now, so you can tease them online later for how confidently wrong they were!Come back next month as they conclude their fall miniseries with reviews of I Am Groot, Eyes of Wakanda, & Marvel Zombies, now streaming on Disney Plus, and the announcement of their next miniseries!

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.It's been quite the ride in 2025 as we conclude our yearlong theme of World’s Finest, as this will be the last (at least for now!) podcast dedicated to the Man of Steel.As we all sit around the Thanksgiving table with our families, it’s time we honor Superman’s SUPER Family – yes, we are ranking Superman’s superpowered allies! Mon-El.  Power Girl.  Streaky the Super Cat!?They are all involved in this ranking!  We had to close out the year of Superman in style, and for a list like this, we brought in the experts.  Joining Daniel and Kris this month, and making his return, it’s Perry Constantine of the Superhero Cinephiles Podcast!  AND making his debut on the podcast, Anthony Desiato, Host of the Digging for Kryptonite Podcast!Enjoy this fantastic final Superman rankings topic and discussion!

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!Join us as we are entering our Disney villain era with returning guests Randy Allain and Kris Ingersoll of Media/Lit. Randy shared exciting news about the upcoming Podelay, A Beck Podcast, joining The Pop Break family very soon! Kris is also the cohost of Pop Break’s beloved Batman by the Numbers podcast with Daniel Cohen. Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Randy’s recommendation of Knights of Guinevere, Josh’s recommendations of Spy x Family Season 3 and Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2, Amanda’s recommendations of My Hero Academia Season 8 and May I Ask for One Final Thing, and Kris’s recommendations of the 1999’s Redwall, Harriet the Spy, and Frog and Toad animated series. Knights of Guinevere is found on Glitch/YouTube, Amanda’s and Josh’s recommendations on Crunchyroll, and Harriet the Spy and Frog and Toad being found on Apple TV. Redwall is available on Amazon Prime for streaming. In Anime News, they share which property they wish would get the Star Wars Visions treatment to celebrate the Season 3 launch of continuing anime series Star Wars Visions.In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss the first two episodes of Disney’s My Twisted Wonderland now streaming on Disney +. They discuss the decision to adapt this anime from the mobile game, the villains featured, whether the story will resonate with anime fans, and more. Join us next month for our Anime x Pop awards and thoughts on anime’s Santa - Sanda! 

Josh and Aaron Sarnecky have returned for another podcast. This month their talking Pride & Prejudice for its 20th anniversary.Pride & Prejudice is a period romance film directed by Joe Wright. Based on the beloved Jane Austen novel, it is an adaptation by Deborah Moggach. Emma Thompson provided additional dialogue uncredited. It opened in U.S. theaters on November 23, 2005.Set in late 18th century England, the film follows Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), one of five Bennet daughters who needs marrying. Elizabeth becomes acquainted with Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), whom she loathes. While Jane Bennet (Rosamund Pike) cozies up to Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods), Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander) has his eye on Elizabeth.Other characters include Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn), their other daughters Mary, Lydia, and Kitty (Talulah Riley, Jena Malone, and Carey Mulligan), Darcy’s benefactor Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Judi Dench), and the duplicitous Mr. Wickham (Rupert Friend).Pride & Prejudice garnered praise from critics and made $129 million on a $28 million budget. At the Oscars, the film was nominated for Best Actress for Knightley, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score. Josh and Aaron discuss their histories with Pride & Prejudice before going into the plot, performances, and cinematography. They also talk about the film living in the shadow of the 1995 miniseries and the upcoming Netflix adaptation.You can listen to last month’s Anniversary Brothers on Static Shock.Pride & Prejudice is streaming on HBO Max.

In this November edition of Blerd Watchers, hosts Marshall & Courtney Stevenson catch up on the latest entertainment news, review recent trailers, and dive deep into ongoing series and season finales. Highlighting shows such as 'Gen V,' 'Platonic,' 'Nobody Wants This,' and 'Alice in Borderland,' they discuss character development, plot twists, and season finales. They also react to trailers for 'Wonder Man' and the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael,' providing their takes on the upcoming releases. With a mix of humor and thoughtful analysis, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the current state of TV and entertainment.00:00 Welcome and Show Overview01:15 Spooky Season Recap04:11 Entertainment News and Rumors05:14 Marvel and DC Updates23:30 Commercial Break25:39 Wonder Man Trailer Reaction29:02 Michael: Michael Jackson Biopic Trailer Reaction32:22 Anime Review: Gachiakuta S137:33 Anime Review: My Hero Academia Final Season43:57 Gen V  S2 Finale Review53:10 Platonic S2 Review01:11:28 Nobody Wants This S2 Review01:29:06 Alice in Borderland S3 Review01:44:23 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

Not Couple Goals: “The Mummy” (2017)Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.In this episode, Allie and Tyler get spooky for their (belated) Halloween movie - The Mummy… (2017, sorry). Join them as they discuss Tom Cruise’s vanity project, the death of the Dark Universe and, yes, heavily compare it to the 1999 movie of the same name. Did we expect too much from a movie about a magic mummy’s curse? Listen and find out! Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive.

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.Here’s the format of the show:The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month (3:00) – Alex, Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including Amazon’s Gen V Season 2, Disney Plus’ Marvel Zombies, AppleTV’s The Morning Show, and HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry. Newsbreak (29:29) – This month, they are discussing the news that Taylor Sheridan is moving to NBCUniversal, leaving Paramount behind at the end of his current deal in 2028. Streaming Wars (47:47) – Alex, Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Josh and Bill agree on Netflix’s big month, as they flood the zone with Strange Things sponcon, Sesame Street shenanigans, and KPop Demon Hunter Halloween rerelease. Meanwhile, Alex stands up for Peacock thanks to its big Sheridan signing and streaming sports supremacy.New Series Spotlight (1:01:07) – This month we are shining the spotlight on Mubi’s Hal and Harper. The series was written and directed by indie film sensation Cooper Raiff, and is a family dramedy exploring codependency and trauma in siblings, played in childhood and adulthood by Raiff and Lily Reinhart. The series also stars Mark Ruffalo and Betty Gilpin. Check out Alex’s thoughts on Cooper’s most recent film Cha Cha Real Smooth alongside fellow Pop Break Podcaster Courtney Stevenson (Blerd Watchers) on his former film podcast Cinema Joes.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.As 2025 nears the end, so does the year of World’s Finest, our yearlong celebration of Superman!  But don’t worry, we have two big Superman rankings episodes left, including this one.  It’s time we pay respect to Superman’s foes – it’s our ranking of the Superman cinematic villains!While not as robust as Batman’s rogue gallery of film villains, no doubt there have been plenty of iconic Superman villain performances throughout the years.  To help Daniel and Kris count down this super villain list are return guests Aaron Sarnecky of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast, and fresh off our last episode taking Peacemaker, Bill George, host of the Should I Go See It Podcast.The crew discuss a plethora of Lex Luthors, General Zods, and of course, Ross Webster!  Speaking of Ross Webster, listen to Daniel speak glowingly about…Superman III?!?!  Yup.  It happened.  You’ll find all this and more on another GREAT rankings episode! 

Welcome back to another episode of our podcast all about the ABC reality series The Bachelor and its many spin-offs.ThePopBreak.com's Michelle Coraci, who has been recapping all things Bachelor for The Pop Break for years, and co-host DJ Chapman, of Mostly Nitpicking, are back from hiatus…sort of!It's the Love is Blind Season 9 finale and Michelle and DJ are here to recap all of the couples who made it to the altar, as well as the ones who didn't. They give their final thoughts on the couples now that we've seen their stories, who they like, and who they'd rather not share a pod with. Finally, they give a preview for the Love is Blind Reunion and what they expect will happen."Reddit post reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveIsBlindOnNetflix/comments/1odl6h0/comment/nlpagbv/If you have thoughts or suggestions for what you’d like Michelle and DJ to cover during the offseason or opinion about all things Bachelor & Bachelorette, be sure to reach out via twitter @Roses&Rejections!

This is Pod of Doom, a podcast dedicated to the British band Black Sabbath! The hosts of Every Pod You Cast return to discuss all things Sabbath: Justin Mancini of TheCineMaverick.com & Cinema Joes, Chris Mancini, and Randy Allain of Media/Lit will be covering the Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio eras of the metal pioneers. In the last episode of the season, Chris, Justin, and Randy look back on their Sabbath run and discuss their final thoughts on the band. In addition to their general musings on Black Sabbath’s considerable legacy, they recommend their favorite non-album tracks, name their favorite album covers, rank all 12 albums discussed on the podcast, and list their top 10 songs. Host Picks: Favorite Non-Album Tracks Chris: MethademicJustin: Naïveté in Black, Isolated ManRandy: Peace of Mind Favorite Album Cover Chris: Sabotage (1975)Justin: Black Sabbath (1970)Randy: Master of Reality (1971) Our Album RankingsChris12) Dehumanizer (1992)11) Technical Ecstasy (1976)10) 13 (2013)9) Mob Rules (1981)8) Heaven and Hell (1980)7) Never Say Die! (1978)6) Black Sabbath (1970)5) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)4) Vol. 4 (1972)3) Master of Reality (1971)2) Paranoid (1970)1) Sabotage (1975) Justin12) Technical Ecstasy (1976)11) 13 (2013)10) Dehumanizer (1992)9) Never Say Die! (1978)8) Mob Rules (1981)7) Heaven and Hell (1980)6) Black Sabbath (1970)5) Paranoid (1970)4) Vol. 4 (1972)3) Master of Reality (1971)2) Sabotage (1975)1) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) Randy12) Never Say Die! (1978)11) Mob Rules (1981)10) 13 (2013)9) Technical Ecstasy (1976)8) Heaven and Hell (1980)7) Dehumanizer (1992)6) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)5) Black Sabbath (1970)4) Sabotage (1975)3) Vol. 4 (1972)2) Paranoid (1970)1) Master of Reality (1971) Our Top 10 Songs Chris 10) Solitude9) N.I.B.8) War Pigs7) Planet Caravan6) Killing Yourself to Live5) Supernaut4) Symptom of the Universe3) Megalomania2) Fairies Wear Boots1) Children of the Grave Justin10) Hole in the Sky9) Sabbra Cadabra8) Hand of Doom7) Supernaut6) A National Acrobat5) Children of the Grave4) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath3) Symptom of the Universe2) War Pigs1) Megalomania Randy10) Into the Void9) Changes8) Hand of Doom7) N.I.B.6) Iron Man5) Symptom of the Universe4) Supernaut3) Children of the Grave2) Paranoid1) War Pigs Songs We’d Recommend to Sabbath Newbies Chris: War PigsJustin: Air DanceRandy: Children of the Grave, Supernaut, Changes, Laguna Sunrise

Welcome back to another episode of our podcast all about the ABC reality series The Bachelor and its many spin-offs.ThePopBreak.com's Michelle Coraci, who has been recapping all things Bachelor for The Pop Break for years, and co-host DJ Chapman, of Mostly Nitpicking, are back from hiatus…sort of!This week, Michelle and DJ cover Episodes 10-11 of Love is Blind Season 9. They go over the recent breakups and discuss what they think will happen with the remaining couples at the altar. They then discuss Netflix's decision to have the weddings air at 9PM EST as opposed to their normal release. Finally, they talk about who they think can actually come out of this season looking good, and why it already ranks as one of their favorite seasons.If you have thoughts or suggestions for what you’d like Michelle and DJ to cover during the offseason or opinion about all things Bachelor & Bachelorette, be sure to reach out via twitter @Roses&Rejections!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered all of Netflix’s The Defenders Saga, the first four seasons of ABC’s Agents of SHIELD, all 14 films in Fox’s X-Verse, and a collection of Marvel Films from the 2000s.Welcome back to Bill vs MCU’s Marvel’s Animated Adventure season, where your hosts, Alex and Bill, will be catching up on all the major animated series Marvel has put out over the last four years. Alongside special guests Derick McDuff and Dave Gonzales, they dive deep into Marvel's animated anthology series 'What If...?' in this month’s episode, with their Top 10 What If…? Episodes. Tune in for engaging discussions about episodes like 'What If T'Challa Became Star-Lord?' and 'What If Hela Found the Ten Rings.' They also explore the broader implications of these alternate realities within the MCU. Plus, stick around for insights into Marvel animations and more. Don't miss this ultimate ranking guide for fans of Marvel Animation!00:00 Introductions05:00 Discussing What If…? Series19:42 The Worst Episode of What If…?25:16 Personal Favorites and Underrated Episodes44:20 Ranking the Top 10 Episodes of What If…?02:12:12 The Number One Episode is Revealed02:22:15 Final Thoughts and Honorable MentionsCome back next month as they provide their thoughts on the first season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and X-Men ‘97. Want a refresher on these series? Check out all both seasons (along with every season of the classic X-Men cartoon from the 90s), now streaming on Disney Plus!

Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here to talk about Static Shock for its 25th anniversary.Static Shock is a superhero cartoon based on the Milestone Comics/DC Comics character Static. It premiered on Kids’ WB on September 23, 2000. It ran for 52 episodes and ended on May 22, 2004. It was the first broadcast animation series with an African American as the titular superhero.The series follows high schooler Virgil Hawkins (Phil LaMarr), who through an accident involving mutagenic chemicals gains electromagnetic powers. Also gaining powers are the numerous “Bang Babies” across the city of Dakota, most of which are villainous. As Static, Virgil takes down the Bang Babies, alongside his friend Richie (Jason Marsden), who later becomes to the superintelligent hero Gear.Static’s adversaries include Ebon (Gary Anthony Sturgis) and Hotsteak (Danny Cooksey), as well as Rubberband Man (Kadeem Hardison), who later reforms.The series was nominated for two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and composer Richard Wolf won an Emmy for the show’s music.Aaron and Josh talk about their past with show before going into the plot, characters, animation, and crossovers with the wider DC Animated Universe. They also discuss the show’s legacy and the possibility of a new cartoon or Static movie. For another podcast on a superhero cartoon, listen to Aaron and Josh’s podcast on Teen Titans.Static Shock is available for purchase on Prime Video.