While Oppenheimer looks set to dominate the Academy Awards, another film is quietly gaining momentum. Based on the best-selling novel Erasure by Percival Everett, American Fiction is a literary comedy that confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Osman , Thomas and Mel review the film (spoiler-free), discuss the rise of cultural gatekeepers and how American Fiction successfully challenges the ideas of representation in film, publishing and the arts. Plus,...
Feb 21, 2024•49 min
Married At First Sight, Australian Idol, Survivor, The Block... even the ABC's Muster Dogs. They're the most popular shows in the country, attracting millions of viewers every night. So how did Australia become a country dominated by reality TV? And why do Australian reality TV shows get such a massive reception overseas? Is it good for our culture, or does is it happening at the detriment of drama and other more expensive genres? Plus, Osman, Thomas and Mel look at the winners and losers out of...
Feb 14, 2024•52 min
Osman, Thomas and Mel are back for 2024 and kick things off with a discussion about the the entertainment industry's awards season, and what role the Emmys, Grammys and Oscars play in our cultural conversation. Then they turn their attention to Taylor Swift's dominance and if she's reached saturation point. Did she fumble her album announcement? Is the backlash unfair? Or is it time to re-interrogate the most powerful person in the business? Finally, a bumper Impress Your Friends segment where t...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Mel and Thomas along with special guest host, Spectrum deputy editor Robert Moran look back at all the big pop culture moments in 2023 - from the Barbenheimer phenomenon to the Hollywood actor's strike and more. Plus films, TV and books to look forward to in 2024. And the very last Impress your friends segment for the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 27, 2023•42 min
From Succession to Oppenheimer to Fast Car, Mel and Thomas give their top picks of the best of culture from 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 20, 2023•49 min
The arrival of the festive season brings the excuse to finally watch Christmas movies on repeat for an entire month. Mel and Thomas take a look at some of the classics like Home Alone and Love Actually, but also at the rise of bad Hallmark Christmas films that have inundated our streaming platforms over the past 10 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 13, 2023•37 min
Mel and Thomas preview what's to come on The Drop over the next few weeks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 06, 2023•1 min
Saltburn , the dark psychological thriller starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, is the second feature film from writer/director Emerald Fennell after her Oscar-nominated debut, Promising Young Women . It's one of the most divisive films of the year, with some critics describing it as a funny, sharp satire of the rich while others have dismissed it as derivative and messy. Osman, Thomas and Mel review the film (spoiler-free) and discuss the most controversial moments, what works and what does...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 14 min
David Fincher's The Killer is deservedly the most popular film on Netflix right now. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack this stylish, cold-blooded thriller starring Michael Fassbender and discuss how it compares to other Fincher classics like The Social Network, Gone Girl, Fight Club and Zodiac. They also review the first episode of Nathan Fielder's new show The Curse, starring Emma Stone. Plus, a conversation about Robbie Williams' documentary, The Buccaneers and a new book about Marvel. See omnystud...
Nov 15, 2023•59 min
What do The Wire, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and Succession have in common? They're commonly regarded as examples of "prestige TV": high quality dramas, that push the medium forward and create plenty of buzz. But there's a growing sense that we be living in a post-prestige world. Osman, Thomas and Mel try to define what exactly makes a show prestige, debate if we will ever have a show as good as Succession again and share some of their favourite, lesser-known TV dramas from the past few years...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 1 min
They say never let the truth get in the way of a good story, but what about a funny joke? Following on from the New Yorker’s allegations that comedian Hasan Minhaj fabricated stories in his Netflix specials, Osman, Mel and Thomas discuss how much comedians should be allowed to embellish on stage, why Minhaj was fact-checked when other stand-ups aren’t, and where the line is when it comes to “emotional truth.” Plus, Mel learns about drill rap via the OneFour doco on Netflix, and there’s a new fin...
Nov 01, 2023•58 min
Britney Spears is the latest celebrity to release a tell-all memoir, covering her rise to fame, relationships and controversial conservatorship. With the increasing popularity of celebrity memoirs, Julia Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith have also recently released much-hyped books, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack what role they play in our understanding of pop culture and the ethics of telling one-side of the story. Plus, they cover the battle between Taylor Swift and Martin Scorcese at the box office an...
Oct 25, 2023•56 min
From Goodfellas to Taxi Driver, The Wolf of Wall Street to The Departed, Martin Scorcese has made some of the biggest and best films in Hollywood history. But his latest film, Killers of the Flowers Moon, which focuses on a series of murders in the US in the 1920s could be the director at his very best. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss (spoiler-free) the Killers of the Flower Moon, and why it feels so important in this current moment. They compare notes on Scorsese's body of work, talk about their ...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Back in 2017 some of Australia's biggest stars, including Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue, publicly backed the same-sex marriage campaign. But in the lead-up to the Voice referendum most celebrities have been silent. Osman, Thomas and Mel look at who is weighing into the Voice debate, who is staying quiet and unpack what role celebrity endorsements play in modern culture. Plus, they talk about Netflix's new film Fair Play , the Oscar-worthy romance Past Lives and ...
Oct 11, 2023•43 min
Netflix's latest blockbuster sports documentary, directed by Succession's Fisher Stevens, is about the life and career of David Beckham, and his relationship with Victoria (aka Posh Spice), Osman, Thomas and Mel review Beckham, discuss what makes a sports documentary and talk about whether celebrities have too much control when it comes to telling the story of their lives before sharing their favourite sports docos of all time. Then they dig into The Gold , a gripping heist drama that deserves m...
Oct 04, 2023•55 min
Taylor Swift has already dominated the cultural conversation in 2023 and now she's turning her attention to professional sports, with a surprise appearance at an NFL match leading to a global meltdown. Osman, Thomas and Mel break down what exactly this crossover event means for pop culture and Swift, and why everyone is obsessed with Travis Kelce. Plus, they discuss the end of the Hollywood writers' strike, and share their recommendations in Impress Your Friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Sep 27, 2023•56 min
A years long investigation into Russell Brand has seen the actor, comedian and controversial commentator accused of sexual assault by multiple women. Brand denies the allegations, but this week a number of examples of him acting inappropriately towards women have resurfaced. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack Brand's rise to fame, why his behaviour was never reined in and what his career, and the allegations against him, reveal about celebrity culture. Plus, we introduce a new segment: Impress Your Fr...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr
Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is back with her second album Guts, and it’s receiving rave reviews. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss reaction to the album, the drama surrounding it, and what it says about the state of pop music right now. Plus, some of the insane celebrity relationship drama making headlines recently, and what it tells us about the state of humanity and our own brains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 13, 2023•52 min
Osman, Thomas and Mel share what films, television, books and music they are most looking forward to over the next few months. From Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon to Olivia Rodrigo's Guts and Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me , here's the pop culture you don't want to miss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 06, 2023•51 min
The biggest song in the world right now is Rich Men North of Richmond, a controversial country anthem. But is it's success really organic, or is it part of a right-wing plot to take over the charts? Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the song's popularity and its politics amid the massive surge country music is experiencing. Songs from Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are dominating the charts, representing a significant shift away from pop and hip-hop. So why is country so popular right now, and what do...
Aug 30, 2023•48 min
Camp Cope are one of the most influential Australian bands of the past decade. Their music and their activism forced the industry to confront its history of sexism and discrimination. Now the band is breaking up. Today on The Drop, Georgia Maq, Sarah Thompson and Kelly-Dawn Helmrich talk about the origins of Camp Cope, the impact they made, and why they are breaking up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 23, 2023•37 min
Welcome back to The O.C. b—ch! It's been twenty years since The O.C. hit screens and the time has come to revisit Newport, California. On this episode of The Drop Osman, Mel and Thomas discuss the hit series, examining its cultural impact at the time, the importance of its legacy today and how the shows sound track influenced the musical taste of a generation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 16, 2023•51 min
Wes Anderson is back with his 11th feature film, the star-studded Asteroid City . On this episode of The Drop, Osman, Thomas and Mel review the film, discuss how it compares to the rest of Anderson's filmography, and talk about the director's aesthetic and how it's influenced social media and the broader culture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 09, 2023•47 min
After one of the most controversial Logies in recent memory, Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss whether Australian TV's night-of-nights still matters, and what it tells us about the state of the industry. They also unpack what Sonia Kruger winning the Gold Logie means, given her controversial comments about Muslim immigration. Plus, a discussion about the second half of The Bear season two, which Thomas and Osman think could be better than Succession . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Barbie and Oppenheimer have smashed box office records around the world, including in Australia. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack the Barbenheimer phenomenon and what it means for the future of cinema. Also, The Bear season two has finally arrived, and The Drop team dive into the first five episodes of the second season and debate whether the show maintained the quality of it's brilliant first season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 26, 2023•36 min
Colombian pop sensation J Balvin has sold 35 million albums, worked with Beyonce on his iconic track Mi Gente and gone to number one with Cardi B on I Like It . On this episode of The Drop, he drops by the studio on his first Australian tour to talk about his new album (featuring Usher), his upcoming collaboration with Ed Sheeran and the rise and rise of reggaeton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 24, 2023•21 min
After months of hype, the two biggest releases of the year are finally here. Osman, Thomas and Mel have seen Barbie and Oppenheimer and lived to tell the tale. Today on The Drop, spoiler-free reviews and analysis of both films, plus a special sealed section full of spoilers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 19, 2023•55 min
For the first time since 1960 actors and writers are on strike, shutting down film and TV productions across the world, including here in Australia. The Hollywood strike could go on for months and will shape the future of the entertainment industry. On this episode of The Drop, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack the background to the strike, what the key issues are, the debate over AI and streaming, and what the end game could look like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 17, 2023•57 min
The highly anticipated second season of The Bear is nearly here. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss why it hasn't aired in Australia, despite being available in the US for weeks, what the second season has in store, and why the show became such a massive hit. They also breakdown this year's Emmy nominations and talk about what they're watching right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 12, 2023•46 min
Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh ( Ocean's 11, Magic Mike ) is back with a new HBO series, Full Circle . The tense crime thriller stars Claire Danes and Timothy Olyphant and looks at the aftermath of a botched kidnapping in New York City. Steven is back on The Drop to talk about Full Circle and share his thoughts on the current TV landscape and the state of Hollywood more broadly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 11, 2023•29 min
