It's been a few days since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. Since then, Smith has apologized while others have called for him to be stripped of his Best Actor award. We process The Slap, and how it complicates Will Smith's win and legacy. Plus: Bridgerton is back! We discuss what makes the show work, and how Netflix is so successful at making it the buzziest show out right now. Segments Warm Up Question - 00:01:30 Will Smith Slap Aftermath - 00:12:20 Bridgerton - 00:35:20 Drop It In ...
Mar 30, 2022•57 min
Immediately following last night's Oscars whirlwind, culture writers Amil Niazi, Kevin Fallon, and Elamin Abdelmahmoud took to Twitter to process THAT moment. Will Smith made Oscars history at the 2022 Academy Awards after he charged the stage and slapped Chris Rock in response to a joke the comedian made about Jada Pinkett Smith. AND THEN Smith went on to apologize for the event in his emotional speech for Best Actor, which he won later in the night. Catch real-time reactions from the Pop Chat ...
Mar 28, 2022•35 min
The 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 abou...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr
Disney’s latest film, Turning Red, is proof that the House of Mouse is succeeding in its effort to tell more diverse stories. But Disney is also coming under criticism for staying silent about an anti-gay bill. And with The Dropout, WeCrashed, and Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, Hollywood finally sets its eyes on the entrepreneur. What do these shows have to say about the mythology of the tech CEO? Plus on this week's Group Chat: The Founder, Severance and The Lost City. Segments Warm Up Ques...
Mar 16, 2022•56 min
The new Batman, played by Robert Pattinson, is the third iteration of the character in just 10 years. Yet despite the Batman overload, audiences are clamouring to see it. Are studios getting more conservative with their releases because of the superhero supremacy at the box office? Will the superhero movie bubble ever burst? And the new season of the Masked Singer made headlines for inviting Rudy Giuliani. Do reality shows invite controversial figures on for ratings? Or is it a legitimate play f...
Mar 10, 2022•58 min
There is just one story right now, and that's Russia's invasion of Ukraine. From tweets to speeches, we talk about how pop culture is responding to the crisis in Ukraine, and we ask: what is culture's role in helping us process heavy news? Plus: A new Kanye West documentary on Netflix gives insight into the origin story of the most significant pop star of his time. We discuss whether the way we talk about Kanye is doing him a disservice. Segments Warm Up Question (moments social media got it wro...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. The Secret Life of Canada is back with season 4 and in this episode, you’ll hear the story of how vaudeville performer Nora Hendrix ended up in Vancouver in the early 1900s, and became a fixture in Hogan's Alley, the neighborhood at the center of Vancouver's Black community. You’ll also...
Feb 24, 2022•13 min
Love Is Blind, Netflix's flagship dating reality show, has returned for a second season and people can't stop watching. We'll get into the appeal of Love Is Blind and what makes the show work. Plus: a new documentary from comedian W. Kamau Bell answers the challenging question, "How do we talk about Bill Cosby?" Segments Warm Up Question (favourite reality show) - 00:02:01 Love Is Blind - 00:07:55 Bill Cosby Doc - 00:27:28 Drop It In The Group Chat - 00:49:00
Feb 23, 2022•58 min
Between Netflix’s Inventing Anna and the popularity of The Tinder Swindler, our love of scammers is having a moment. What do we get out of these sensational stories of grift? And: the Olympics are not lacking in drama, but they are not generating the same conversations they usually do. What’s with the lull? Are the Olympics losing their cultural relevance? Segments Warm Up Question (favourite scam movie) - 00:01:45 Inventing Anna/Tinder Swindler - 00:7:30 Olympics - 00:32:50 Drop It In The Group...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Oscar nominations are in, and against all odds, the Academy got it mostly right! We discuss the surprises and snubs, and what the award show can do to stay relevant. Plus: Pam & Tommy, the new series about Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, relitigates how we understand their sex tape scandal. But can these shows that seek to reframe the past ever avoid being exploitative? Segments Warm Up Question (most chaotic Oscar moments) - 00:01:45 Oscar Noms - 00:09:40 Pam & Tommy - 00:29:30 Drop It I...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Joe Rogan has the most popular podcast on the planet. All eyes are on Spotify after musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell pulled their music off the streaming platform because of Rogan's podcast. Does Spotify's backing of Rogan mean they're abandoning their focus on music? And there's a new Janet Jackson documentary that invites us to reconsider her massive legacy. Her career was derailed after the "wardrobe malfunction," and in 2022, we all have a lot to atone for. What did we get wrong a...
Feb 02, 2022•59 min
HBO’s Euphoria is back for a new season. The high school drama starring Zendaya regularly shocks viewers with its extreme portrayals of sex, drugs, and violence. But do teen shows have to be realistic? And with all of the internet talking about the dating habits of West Elm Caleb, we discuss how TikTok's For You page can be a powder keg for public shaming. Plus, in Drop It In The Group Chat, we talk about Tana French, The Gilded Age, and Meat Loaf's legacy. Segments Warm Up Question (best teen T...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr
This week, the soundtrack for Disney’s Encanto dethroned Adele from the top of the charts. Thousands are expressing their love for the animated film, and making TikToks to its infectious songs. How did Encanto become a phenomenon? We gotta talk about Bruno and Mirabel and why this movie is resonating so much. Plus: are you playing Wordle, too? The word-guessing game has gone viral — for the fun, yes, but also for the ways it’s bringing people together. We discuss the popularity of Wordle and wha...
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Somehow, Spider-Man: No Way Home is still the top movie at the box office. It has been at the top for four weeks, while Oscar-buzzy movies struggle to draw audiences. Now, there's a campaign to get Spidey nominated for Best Picture. But do superhero movies belong in the Oscar conversation? And after the passing of Bob Saget, Sidney Poitier, and Betty White, we discuss the way social media has changed our relationship to grief and celebrity. In this week's Drop It In The Group Chat we talk Encant...
Jan 12, 2022•59 min
The new film Don’t Look Up, a climate change allegory starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, became a hit for Netflix. But why is it dividing critics so intensely? And Showtime’s Yellowjackets and HBO’s Station Eleven are the most buzzy shows out right now. They’re also really dark. Are we finally ready to have our grim reality reflected in our TV? In this week's Drop It In The Group Chat we talk bell hook's and All About Love, Betty White and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Insecure, plus...
Jan 05, 2022•54 min
Pop culture seemed like the only way for us to notice the passage of time this year. As 2021 comes to a close, we count down the biggest pop culture stories that helped us process this past year. From the celebrity couples that captured our attention, to Britney Spears's road to freedom, to the never ending debate about cancel culture, we cram every major pop culture moment into one episode you don't want to miss. Strap in, and let's go! Segments Warm Up Question - 00:01:25 Pop Culture Countdown...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte are back on TV! But the world has changed since the last time Sex and the City was on the air. For one thing, shows like Girls and Insecure had advanced how we think about friendship between women. For another, they have to confront the lack of diversity. So is the reboot working? We get into it. Plus: from Sex Education to West Side Story, we pile in all the big TV shows and movies and books you might’ve missed in 2021, so you can go back and find them! It’s our b...
Dec 15, 2021•58 min
This week, Harry Styles launched a brand new nail polish line. Styles get a lot of attention for his playful gender-bending. But some have criticized him for capitalizing on LGBTQ politics, and say he gets too much credit. We dig into Harry’s journey. And: it’s good bad Christmas movie season! Once upon a time, Hallmark and Netflix Christmas movies were considered cringeworthy. Now, they’re more popular than ever. What do we get out of watching these movies? And what the hell is “A Castle for Ch...
Dec 08, 2021•53 min
What’s the draw behind Netflix’s Selling Sunset and shows like it? What makes a generation that can’t afford homes so obsessed with Love It Or List It and the rest of the real estate reality slate? And with a new three-part documentary about The Beatles from director Peter Jackson, we talk about Get Back's standout moments and why 2021 has seen such an interest in music documentaries. Plus we pay tribute to late greats Stephen Sondheim, Virgil Abloh, and Michael K. Williams. Warm Up Question (Sp...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Join host Tom Power for an intimate look at big conversations with some of the most inspiring artists and creators of our time including Adele who recently talked about how making her new album ’30’ helped her through a difficult separation. Find the full episode and more at smarturl.it/theqinterview
Nov 26, 2021•2 min
Saturday Night Live skits are going viral. Cast members like Pete Davidson and Colin Jost are A-list celebrities. And more importantly … it’s funnier and more relevant than it’s been in years. How did SNL get its groove back? Plus, Elamin, Kevin and Amil go through the big fall and winter movies like House of Gucci, Dune and Power of the Dog, and discuss the front runners poised for Oscar noms (Hint: An Oscar for Bella Swan?). Warm Up Question (Reactions to Adele's new album) - 00:02:10 SNL - 00...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Somehow, Taylor Swift managed to dominate the discourse with the re-release of an album she put out nine years ago. Red (Taylor’s Version) smashed a bunch of records and reignited interest in her past relationships, particularly with Jake Gyllenhaal. We get into the business of Taylor Swift and how she manages to capture people’s attention. And Will Smith’s King Richard is about to arrive, timed with his new memoir, Will. We dissect the kind of celebrity Will Smith wants to be — is he resonating...
Nov 17, 2021•52 min
Last weekend, eight people died at Travis Scott’s festival, Astroworld. Scott is a performer who invites intensity to his live performances. Now Scott, Drake, and concert promoter Live Nation are facing lawsuit. We discuss the artist’s responsibility in ensuring safety at their concerts. And: On the Internet, Chris Pratt is regularly labelled the worst of the Chrises. But in the box office, he keeps carrying franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, and the Lego Movie. He’s a bank...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr
With arrival of Eternals, the 26th(!!) movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we ask: are audiences ready to move on from superheroes yet? And a new Princess Diana movie is out — we discuss whether it offers anything new, and unpack our ceaseless fascination with the royal.
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Last week, actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set. Police are still investigating the incident, but the tragedy has launched a broader discussion about safety for film workers, so we get into the grim realities of working behind the scenes in Hollywood. And why is Netflix’s “You” such a hit? What is it about the trope of the killer with a heart of gold that compels us? We unpack the popularity of an unlikely hit.
Oct 27, 2021•57 min
Finally, we have our No. 1 boy back! With the arrival of a new season of Succession, we talk about why Kendall and the rest of the Roy family have our full attention. And what is it about Adele that makes the world stop and listen?
Oct 20, 2021•1 hr 3 min
The most talked-about new release on Netflix this week is Dave Chappelle's latest special. But instead of making headlines for pushing comedy, Chappelle is making headlines for missing the mark. We discuss the fallout of the special. And with a four-part reunion on the way, we unpack the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and ask: should the cameras even be rolling? With accusations of serious crimes on the table, is reality TV going too far?
Oct 13, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Somehow there’s been 25 James Bond movies. Is it finally time for 007 to change with the times? And with the release of yet another Britney Spears documentary, we ask: have we learned anything when it comes to framing Britney’s story? (Hint: no)
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr
Netflix’s Squid Game is dominating the Netflix charts. How did this Korean dystopian drama become the talk of the internet? Plus: from Nine Perfect Strangers to Mare of Easttown, a lot of shows *look* prestige-y but is prestige TV delivering on its promise right now?
Sep 29, 2021•56 min
One thing that is guaranteed: you will know what Lil Nas X is up to. The pop star has managed to get headlines for just about everything, from giving the devil a lap dance to a maternity shoot for his album. What do his methods of getting noticed say about the future of pop stardom? Plus: The Emmys and the Met Gala tell us Hollywood is just about ready to get back to normal. Should it?
Sep 22, 2021•51 min
