644: What to Watch, Read and Listen To In February Preview
Digest
The podcast hosts introduce themselves and their focus on pop culture, previewing February's releases. They discuss the month's characteristics, ranking it fourth due to its brevity and events like Black History Month, the Super Bowl, and the Winter Olympics. The hosts humorously explore month naming conventions and the origin of "Certs." They then introduce their "Smooch, Marry, Kill" game to curate pop culture choices. "Crime 101," a movie adaptation of a Don Winslow novella starring Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry, is designated a "smooch" due to its potential despite casting concerns, while acknowledging February's tendency for less successful movie releases. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to support their Patreon for exclusive content.
Outlines
February Pop Culture Preview and Month Ranking
The hosts introduce the podcast's focus on pop culture and preview February's releases. They discuss personal preferences for months, ultimately ranking February fourth due to its brevity, Black History Month, and events like the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics, appreciating its efficiency and unique characteristics.
Month Naming, "Certs," and Temporal Disconnects
The hosts humorously question month naming conventions and discuss the origin of the breath mint "Certs." Aaron shares her personal disconnect with time and specific months, even when related to personal events.
February as a Transition and Pop Culture Curation Game
February is described as a transitional "hallway" month featuring Valentine's Day and the Super Bowl. The hosts introduce their "Smooch, Marry, Kill" game as a method for curating pop culture choices, defining each action.
"Crime 101" and February Movie Releases
The movie "Crime 101" is chosen as a "smooch" despite potential casting concerns, due to its source material and supporting cast. The hosts discuss the general trend of potentially weak movie releases in February, with exceptions like "Get Out," and analyze the prospects of "Crime 101." The episode concludes with a call to action for Patreon support.
Keywords
Pop Culture Curation
Selecting and recommending media like books, movies, and TV shows using frameworks such as "smooch, marry, kill."
February Pop Culture
Entertainment releases and highlights specific to the month of February, including discussions on their quality and appeal.
Smooch, Marry, Kill
A game used to categorize and recommend pop culture content: "Smooch" (try), "Marry" (commit), "Kill" (avoid).
Crime 101 Movie
A film adaptation of a Don Winslow novella, discussed as a "smooch" for February releases.
Don Winslow Novella Adaptation
Film or series based on a shorter work by author Don Winslow, known for genre storytelling.
Chris Hemsworth Casting
Discussion regarding actor Chris Hemsworth's role choices and their potential impact on a project's success.
Halle Berry Casting
Examination of actress Halle Berry's role selections and perceived patterns in her project choices.
Mark Ruffalo
Actor known for Marvel roles and independent films, potentially indicating project quality.
Black History Month
Annual observance in February celebrating Black achievements and contributions.
Winter Olympics
Major international multi-sport event held in February, influencing pop culture discussions.
Q&A
What is the "Smooch, Marry, Kill" game and how is it used?
"Smooch, Marry, Kill" is a pop culture curation game where "Smooch" means to try, "Marry" means to commit time to, and "Kill" means to avoid. The hosts use it to recommend specific media for the month.
Why is "Crime 101" considered a "smooch"?
"Crime 101" is a "smooch" because, despite potential concerns about lead actors, it's based on a Don Winslow novella and has a strong supporting cast, making it worth trying.
What are the hosts' main reasons for appreciating February?
They appreciate February for its brevity, being Black History Month, and marking the last full month of winter, noting events like the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics.
What is the significance of the name "Certs"?
The breath mint "Certs" is named "certified" to imply high quality and genuine mint flavor.
How do the hosts generally view February's movie releases?
They often see February as a month with many potentially bad movie releases, though exceptions like "Get Out" exist, and some February releases can still be good.
Show Notes
In this episode, we share our smooch, marry, and kills for February. We break down what’s worth a fling (smooch), what deserves your full commitment (marry), and what to ghost immediately (kill) during the most “runner-up” month of the year. Join us as we reveal the TV shows made for blanket burritos, the books begging to be read with a mug in hand, and the pop culture picks that will emotionally carry you through the shortest month of the year.
Relevant links:
- Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/644
- It’s a great time to join us on Patreon! Celebrate the Winter Olympics opening ceremonyon 1/30 with our Cinema Sidepiece: The Cutting Edge. New, free, and returning members can get a 7- day free trial at knoxandjamie.com/patreon
- February Vibe Check: Shortest Month | Black History Month | Reese’s Hearts | Groundhog Day | Presidents’ Day | Galentine’s Day | Superbowl LX | Winter Olympics | Erin’s Book Birthday
- Refresh: Smooch= give a shot, Marry = commit time to, Kill = do not murder! We’re just suggesting to skip these things.
- Rewind: Nov SMK | Aug SMK | April SMK | We do SMK most weeks on Instagram at #popcastsmk
- SMOOCH // Crime 101
- Asides: Task | Get Out
Bonus segment:
Join us on Patreon to listen to this episode in full and ad-free, plus get exclusive weekly and monthly content.
Olive & June | Function (code: POP25)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Table of contents
United States
