Pop Culture Podcast
Posts by Ryan
Popspotting #136: “Moneyball” (Sept. 26, 2011)
We kick off the week with another new release. “Moneyball,” starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, is based on a true story and a book of the same name by Michael Lewis. Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s, changes the game by adopting a new way to build a competitive baseball team.
The movie was directed by Bennett Miller and features a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian.
With Sorkin’s hand behind this material, it’s hard to avoid comparisons to “The Social Network.” Jen loved “The Social Network,” even though she’s not an Internet geek. And while she’s not a big baseball fan, she loved “Moneyball” even more.
Popspotting #135: “Battlestar Dancing” (Sept. 23, 2011)
Once again we celebrate the brilliance of our listeners in Feedback Friday. On tap, your needledrop movie soundtrack picks (including “Dirty Dancing,” “Reality Bites,” “The Jackal,” “Forrest Gump,” and “2001”). الدومينو على الانترنت And Lauren chimes in with a spirited defense of “Hackers.” Also, some different takes on “Battlestar Galactica” and its finale, from “loved it” to “couldn’t stick with it.” And we close with quick takes on “Sherlock” and “White Collar. مسيرة ميسي ” I think we’re going to have to set aside the time to give “White Collar” a fair shake. اربح 1000 دولار بمجرد التسجيل
Popspotting #134: “My So Called Doogie†(Sept. 22, 2011)
At long last, the great Steph Smith (@stephsmith) joins us for PopTalk & Trivia Thursday. She’s a TV lover, movie snob, and internet addict, and you can hear her on several podcasts, including “What’s On with Steph & Des” and “PotentialCast.”
Her trivia category choices were “Pulp Fictional,” “Rock Star Real Names,” and “Doogie Grows Up.” Which two did she choose? How did she do? You’ll have to listen to find out!
Popspotting #133: “Top Five Podcasts Revisited” (Sept. 21, 2011)
It was over five years ago when Jen last shared her “Top Five Favorite Podcasts.” Suffice it to say, a lot has changed since then… but some things haven’t! Today, we send shoutouts to a few of our fellow media makers… with the prominent caveat that we probably could never mention or list everyone we should. Both Jen and Ryan share separate lists, bringing you at least ten other podcasts you might want to check out. From tech shows to personal stories to public radio, there’s something for everyone.
Here were Jen’s picks:
And here were Ryan’s favorites:
Who was on our list in 2006? In addition to Coverville and Filmspotting, we highlighted:
Popspotting #132: “New Fall TV Shows” (Sept. 20, 2011)
The new fall television season is upon us! And from Daniel B. in Boston comes the suggestion to take a day-by-day look at what’s coming up on the tube. Today we run through the Fall 2011 TV programming grid and make snap judgments about brand new shows on the major networks.
Some, like “Terra Nova” and “Person of Interest,” we saw at Comic-Con in July. Most we only know through press releases and great websites like TheFutonCritic.com” and EPGuides.com.” With little more than a one-line setup and the names of the leading cast, we weigh in on whether we’re likely to tune in.
Next week we’ll start to cover returning shows and share our first impressions on some new stuff. But we really want to talk about the shows you want to talk about, so be sure to let us know what you’re watching this fall!
Popspotting #131: “Drive” (Sept. 19, 2011)
For Movie Monday, we take in an unusual, unforgettable, riveting and sometimes shocking new film from director Nicolas Winding Refn. An unabashed throwback to an earlier time, “Drive” takes you on a one-of-a-kind ride through the darker streets of Los Angeles.
It’s not so much an action film, nor a psychological thriller, nor a heist film nor a western, but a mix of all those things. “Drive” stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks, and Oscar Isaac. Gosling carries the film, but Mulligan makes it shine.
Next week, “Moneyball”! If you’ve seen either of these films, we’d love to hear your review.
Popspotting #130: “O Brother DeNiro” (Sept. 16, 2011)
For Feedback Friday, a fun mix. Movie music and filming locations, television, and suggestions for future double features. كيف احصل على المال مجانا؟
Popspotting #129: “Phineas and Opus” (Sept. 14, 2011)
Joining us today from Wisconsin is Barry Laabs (@brewerfan71), a long-suffering Green Bay Packers fan, proud Brewers fan, and total Disney and Lost fanatic.
He shares his love of Happy Mondays,” Disney kids shows (“Phineas & Ferb” and “Good Luck Charlie“), and “Bloom County: The Complete Collection.”
Popspotting #128: “Needledrop Soundtracks” (Sept. 14, 2011)
We love movies. We love music. Why not combine the two? For Wildcard Wednesday, we start with your suggestion for a “favorite soundtracks” show, but with a slight twist. Instead of film scores (which we’re saving for later), today both of us share our “Top 5 Needledrop Soundtracks,” movie soundtracks that use popular music to set the scene.
We also covered a few runners-up that didn’t make the top five, but had to cut them from the podcast. They included “Romeo + Juliet,” “500 Days of Summer,” and “Forest Gump.” Of course, several other Tarantino films could have made the list, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill.”
Popspotting #127: “Battlestar Galactica” (Sept. 13, 2011)
Before TV Tuesday shifts gears to track returning and new television shows, there’s one beloved series to which we had to pay tribute: “Battlestar Galactica.” Ronald D. Moore’s fantastic reimagining of the 1970s show debuted on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2003 with a three-hour miniseries. It was a huge hit, serving as a backdoor pilot to inspire four seasons and over 70 episodes.
Jen was hesitant to dive into such deep science fiction waters, leaving Ryan to follow “Battlestar Galactica” in secret for almost a year. But finally, Jen, too, came to appreciate the brilliance of the series: universally human stories with fantastic characters and performances, merely in a science fiction wrapper.
It seems everyone has seen and loved “Battlestar Galactica,” and if you’re among its many fans, we’d love to hear what got you hooked. But if you’ve never watched the show, we urge you to at least start with the 2003 miniseries. We think you’ll be hooked.