Popspotting: Recent Episodes
Popspotting
Over a year since the last podcast, the Popspotting feed crackles to life with a surprise Listener Edition submission from our good friends Anna (@echobase77) and Wendy (@bunnieslrnow). They’re fellow podcasters from the golden age of “LOST,” and today share their “feel good picks.” With Jen quickly recovering from what will hopefully be her last procedure, this show was a very welcome treat.
BOOKS:
- The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
- William Shakespeare’s Star Wars (Verily, A New Hope) By Ian Doescher
MOVIE:
- What’s Up Doc?
Starring Ryan O’Neal, Barbara Streisand and Madeline Kahn, Directed By Peter Bogdanovich, 1972, Rated G * China’s Lost Girls
National Geographic, with Lisa Ling, 2005, 43 min
TV:
- The Odd Couple
Starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall ( 5 Seasons, 114 episodes on 20 DVDs. 1970-75/color/45 hrs., 36 min/NR/fullscreen) Can also be purchased in individual seasons. * The Pretender
Starring Michael T Weiss, Andrea Parker, Patrick Bauchau, Jon Gries. Available on DVD via Amazon; 4 seasons and two cliff-hanging made-for-TV movies
MUSIC:
- Dear Mr. Watterson (Original Score) by We Were Pirates, from the upcoming documentary about Bill Watterson, creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes and the impact of his work even after his retirement from being a syndicated cartoonist in 1995. On this page, the score can be purchase through links to itunes, Amazon.com/mp3s or bandcamp
- Copeland: Recommended songs – When You Thought You’d Never Stand Out, You Have My Attention, The Grey Man, Pin Your Wings, There Cannot Be a Close Second
FOOD:
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars (and don’t forget to eat cookies straight from the freezer!)
- Chocolate Syrup Brownies (Seen in Hershey’s 1934 Cookbook, pg 90, Published by Wilton House, 1992)
1 egg 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed light brown sugar Dash of salt
3/4 cup Hershey’s Syrup 1/2 ( 1 stick) of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts , optional
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch square baking pan. In small mixer bowl, beat egg; add brown sugar and syrup, beating until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to egg mixture, beating until blended. Fold in butter and nuts. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of pan. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares. Yield: 16 brownies
Maggie Mack (@ilea02) is a long-time podcasting friend and Thanksgiving Popspotting guest from Northern Virginia. In this Listener Edition, she shares another podcast worth checking out: PodQuiz. PodQuiz is a weekly trivia quiz podcast. Each week there are twenty questions, some music as an interlude, followed by the answers.
Jen has been a fan of PodQuiz for years, and even shared it as a “Pith of Pop” pick back in 2006! It’s good to see he’s still going strong.
Updated to correct link! Two podcasters from the golden age of “LOST” come together to share five post-“LOST” picks in a new Popspotting Listener Edition. Anna (@echobase77) and Wendy (@bunnieslrnow) recommend:
- The Booth at the End (on Hulu)
- Castaway on the Moon (on Netflix)
- Twin Peaks (on Netflix)
- Bone by Jeff Smith (on Amazon)
- Five Year Mission
We’re honored to have been a small part of the reasons Wendy and Anna got into podcasting. And this great contribution, as with all Listener Edition contributions, is absolutely an inspiration and cherished treat for us. As we navigate through this craziest of years, with your support, we are confident that a return to Popspotting lies ahead!
Today, two good friends join forces to bring you yet another episode of “Popspotting Listener Edition.” Listen in as Heath Solo (@HeathActor) of “The Film List” and musician Matt Murdick (@musicalconcepts) of the “Musical Concepts Podcast” discuss Aaron Sorkin’s new HBO series “The Newsroom” and the BBC reboot of “Sherlock Holmes.”
We kick off the month of July with a new “Listener Edition,” this one from Maggie (@ilea02) and Jennifer (@jennielf). They discuss both “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” and the latest Disney/Pixar film, “Brave.” When not taking in vampire-archery double features, Maggie can be heard on “Girls Night In” radio and “The West Wing Podcast.”
Pete in Rockford, Illinois is a long-time contributing member of our podcasting family, and this week he steps forward along with his wife Laurie to contribute a special Popspotting Listener Edition. Today they chime in with their take on board games (Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride), a book series, and a summer blockbuster movie.
We’re thrilled to have another Popspotting Listener Edition come in from overseas. Today, Josva in Norway recommendations three beloved European films. His picks are “District B13,” “troubledWATER,” and “Troll Hunter.” They should be available for American listeners through Amazon.com.
Josva is 24 years old, and is studying to be a priest in the church of Norway. You can follow him on Twitter @josva, but when he tweets, he tweets in Norwegian.
This week’s Popspotting Listener Edition comes from Rob Valois and Bryan Lipsitz of “The Geek Generation.” Rob was our PopTalk & Trivia Thursday guest back in October, and distinguished himself in many ways. Among them, by being our show’s first (and so far only) professional wrestler.
Today, Rob & Bryan share their top five television shows that were gone too soon. Among the notable series they mourn are “Undeclared,” “Dark Angel,” “Sports Night,” and of course “Firefly.” But there are surely many more deserving shows that never got the lifespan they deserved. Which would make your list?
Paul Fox and Kevin Ma of “East Screen / West Screen“ [iTunes Link] bring us our first international Popspotting Listener Edition, in which they each highlight two of their favorite Asian films from 2011 that are now available video in some form that will work in the U.S. Their picks were:
- My Own Swordsman (China – 2011)
- Ra.One (India – 2011)
- When Love Comes (Taiwan – 2011)
- Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Hong Kong / China – 2011)
Also featured, a song from Ra.One, called “Criminal.”
We are of course fully aware that these Listener Edition shows are only making our to-do lists even longer. But we continue to be awestruck by the generosity and creativity of the Popspotting community. We do look forward to returning, and are still planning to head to San Diego for Comic-Con. But perhaps its best we’re taking a break, at least this week… Jen wants to see “The Three Stooges.”
She’s a mom of twins. A teacher of film students. An editor of videos. And a blogger of lots of stuff. She’s Faith McQuinn (@fbeemcee), the latest generous contributor to the “Popspotting Listener Edition” series of shows.
Her topic for this Easter Sunday? “Top Five Lost Gems of the ’80s.” Faith goes beyond popular classics like “Ferris Bueller,” “Breakfast Club” and “Fast Times,” instead highlighting less celebrated favorites.
Your support has been invaluable to us throughout the run of Popspotting, and what we’ve valued most is hearing your thoughts on your favorite movies, TV shows, books, music and more. So we’re so grateful to the Popspotting community for contributing personal, thoughtful episodes to share with everyone while Jen and I focus on her health.
Thanks again to Geoff for kicking off the “Popspotting Listener Edition” project. We look forward to hearing from more of you!
We continue to be inspired and humbled by the support we’ve been getting from the Popspotting ‘ohana. This week, the second Popspotting Listener Edition comes from Susan, Amelia and Chris of the Geek Girl Soup Em City podcast.
While they usually focus on the TV show “Oz,” for this special show they focus on comic book recommendations.
- The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard
- Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
- Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
And as this goes out, a quick correction from the gang, “Y: The Last Man” is a 60-issue series.
Mahalo to the Geek Girl Soup gang for reaching out and speaking up and sharing some comic book wisdom… one of the areas of pop culture where Jen and I could surely use some schooling. Please be sure to share your own comic book picks, and check out Geek Girl Soup!
A few weeks ago, our show schedule was unexpectedly interrupted by some bad news. Though we rallied in the midst of it all to post one more week of episodes, it soon became clear that we’d need to take some time off to focus on health and family.
We knew everyone would understand. Indeed, the support we’ve received over the last month has been humbling and inspiring. But we nonetheless lamented the fact that we wouldn’t be able to keep Popspotting going.
Enter longtime listener and regular contributor Geoff Gentry (@xforce11 on Twitter). In addition to sending his prayers and support, already more than we could have asked for, he proposed the “Popspotting Listener Edition.” For those with the time and energy to share, it would be a fun way to give Popspotting listeners something to listen to: each other.
We were touched by his gesture. And we were thrilled when he came through with our very first “Listener Edition” episode. So while Jen and I get cozy in the back seat, here’s Geoff taking the wheel, sharing some great music (as usual) he discovered… on YouTube.
Thanks, Geoff. And thanks to everyone for having our back. It helps, more than we could ever say.
We kick off Feedback Friday with lots of great movie talk, including “Red Tails,” a solid rebuttal of Jen’s critique of “The Little Mermaid,” and “Leon the Professional.” Then we move on to some great book recommendations (including a solid endorsement of Chris Van Allsburg‘s work), and finally a few TV thoughts, from “Manor House” to “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.”
Today’s PopTalk & Trivia Thursday guest is our youngest yet. Sierra (@writergirl2101) hails from Charleston, South Carolina, where she attends Academic Magnet High School, and is working on her senior thesis on supporting students with Asperger syndrome in schools. She’s an advocate for LBGT issues and is active in other social causes, but she also indulges her more whimsical side on Tumblr.
We power through some audio issues as she shares her love of “Harry Potter,” “American Horror Story,” and “Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s,” a book by John Elder Robinson. Then, we subject her to trivia questions about topics that greatly predate her existence on Earth. Fortunately, she was a good sport!
We’re long overdue for another music show. And it’s been over five months since we’ve shared some of our favorite cover songs. So for Wildcard Wednesday, we count down five more great examples of talented artists reinterpreting the work of their fellow musicmakers.
Jen’s Picks:
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Antony and the Johnsons (orig. Bob Dylan)
- “I Want You Back” by The Civil Wars (orig. Jackson Five)
- “Sea of Love” by Cat Power (orig. Phil Phillips)
- “Summer Breeze” by The Isley Brothers (orig. Seals and Crofts)
- “Rolling In the Deep” by Linkin Park (orig. Adele)
Ryan’s Picks:
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by David Byrne (orig. Whitney Houston)
- “Zoo Station” by Nine Inch Nails (orig. U2)
- “The Scientist” by Natasha Bedingfield (orig. Coldplay)
- “Simple Twist of Fate” by Concrete Blonde (orig. Bob Dylan)
- “Lovesong” by Adele (orig. The Cure)
For TV Tuesday we talk about two shows with unique twists. First, we review the pilot of “Awake,” the new NBC series starring Jason Isaacs and created by Kyle Killen (Lone Star, The Beaver). Then we confess our love for “The Booth at the End,” a web video serial by Christopher Kubasik.
In “Awake,” Isaacs plays Michael Britten, a police detective who survives a tragic car accident with his family. But it seems as if he’s now split between two worlds, one in which his wife Hannah (Laura Allen) survives, and the other where it’s his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) who lives. And he has a psychiatrist on both sides trying to help him sort it all out, played by B.D. Wong and Cherry Jones.
In “The Booth at the End,” Xander Berkeley plays an unnamed mysterious man who takes up residence in a L.A. diner and makes deals with people who want something. Whether it’s money or true love, he can help make it happen, if you agree to do as he asks. But they’re not always simple tasks. Familiar faces include Sarah Clarke (24) and Timothy Omundson (Psych).
We’re back after an extra week off with a look at Disney’s “John Carter,” which opens March 9. It was one of the movies we said we were looking forward to in 2012… but one we were also a little worried about, given how ridiculous the trailers were. But with Edgar Rice Burroughs’ sci-fi classic as a guide, and with Andrew Stanton at the helm, we were still on board. Add the handsome Taylor Kitsch on screen and the talented Michael Giacchino behind the score, and we simply couldn’t miss it.
Is “John Carter” going to be the disaster the trade press is predicting? Or is it the big, fun sci-fi adventure that’s worthy of the great names attached to it?
We wrap up the week with your takes on “Justified,” “The River,” and “Breaking Bad” on the tube, and “John Carter,” “Hunger Games” and “Chronicle” on the big screen.
Today’s PopTalk & Trivia guest is Mike from Virginia, a long-time “LOST” fan (his license plate is “STILOST”) and Transmission listener (since October 2005) and a huge TV and music fan. His picks included Roger Waters’ “The Wall Live” tour for 2012, “Music From the North Country: Jayhawks Anthology,” and several female singer-songwriters: Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer, Tift Merritt, Brandi Carlile, and Susan Greenbaum, a personal friend who just released her new album, “This Life.”
For every good movie, a sequel is soon to follow. (For every bad movie, too, it seems.) So we revisit one of our favorite “Wildcard Wednesday” topics from last year. It’s another “Flickchart Faceoff,” in which we turn to everyone’s favorite dangerously addictive movie site (made in Florida!) to set us up with a series of movie matchups. We then judge which is more worthy, likely revealing more of our ignorance and bad taste in the process. But that’s okay. The best part is hearing from you exactly why we picked the wrong ones!
Today for TV Tuesday, we focus on the FX Network. First, we catch up on “Justified,” a show we only started watching because of your strong recommendations. We focus on the second season, which we marathoned to be ready for Season 3 (now underway). Then we shift gears to share our love of “Archer,” described as “James Bond meets Arrested Development.”
We shift gears and go a little art house this week as we check out a pair of films that took the film festival circuit by storm. First, “Meek’s Cutoff,” a sparse exploration of trust and survival off the Oregon Trail in the 1800s, based on a true story. Then, “Certified Copy,” a day in the life of a man and a woman who may or may not have a history together.
We start Feedback Friday with thoughts on “Touch” on FOX, created by Tim Kring of “Heroes” and starring Kiefer Sutherland. At least a couple of listeners liked it much more than we did. We also touch on “Alcatraz,” “Terriers,” and “Misfits.” And our “Downton Abbey” love prompts a recommendation of the BBC’s 2004 miniseries “North & South.” We also share feedback on our “Hawaii 101” show, and a pair of music recommendations that could not be more different.
Today brings an especially memorable entry in our PopTalk & Trivia Thursday series, as guest Megan from Pennsylvania kicks things off with an award-winning rooster crow. Her recommendations range from a book to a television miniseries to a wacky game app. Then we put her top-ranked trivia night talents to the test… with a special guest appearance by our daughter, Katie! Megan’s picks were:
- “Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling”
- “Mildred Pierce” from HBO
- “Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself)”
For Wildcard Wednesday, we survey the year ahead, and share our most-anticipated movies of 2012. Ryan and Jen both share their top five picks, plus a few runners up. They include “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Cloud Atlas,” “The Hobbit” and “The Master” for Ryan, and “Magic Mike,” “Dark Shadows,” “Looper,” “The Hunger Games” and “Django Unchained” for Jen.
ABC’s new paranormal adventure series “The River” premieres tonight on ABC. We weigh in on the first two hours for TV Tuesday. Created by Oren Peli of “Paranormal Activities” fame, the show stars Bruce Greenwood, Joe Anderson, Paul Blackthorne, Paulina Gaitan, Leslie Hope, Eloise Mumford, Shaun Parkes, Thomas Kretschmann, and Daniel Zacapa.
We go back to the multiplex to check out a recent release for Movie Monday. Jen wanted to see the new Daniel Radcliffe film, but Ryan’s a big chicken, so we went to see “Chronicle” instead. We didn’t know anything going in, but coming out, we were thoroughly entertained.
“Chronicle” comes from the relatively new team of director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis (son of director John Landis) and stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, and Alex Russell as a group of Seattle teens who suddenly find themselves with special powers, and the problems that come with them.
We kick off Feedback Friday focusing on the written word, with your thoughts on books like “Ready Player One” and “Hunger Games.” Then it’s onto movie talk, touching on “Midnight in Paris” and “Mission Impossible.” Listeners also send in reports of movie theater innovations across the country. Finally, we get to your top songs from 1992.
Today’s guest only moved to New York two months ago, but she manages to share some of the ambiance of city life along with her picks: “30 Rock” on NBC, “Revenge” on ABC, and “Breaking Bad” on AMC. Andrea Zuniga (@iandrea) once had us on her podcast, so we get to turn the tables with music trivia.
As we roll into February, we figured it was time we went back to the books. Today Jen reviews “An Education,” a memoir by Lynn Barber, and “John Dies at the End,” a web serial by John Wong of Cracked.com fame that became a book (and has now become a movie).
“An Education” was the inspiration for the 2009 film starring Carey Mulligan, but the story told on screen was but one chapter in Barber’s life. As the memoir explains, that naive young girl would go on to work for Penthouse magazine. As for “John Dies at the End,” it’s a story that defies categorization, but overflows with colorful, pop culture-savvy storytelling (and the occasional poop joke).
Today for TV Tuesday we focus on FOX, starting with the preview broadcast of “Touch” starring Kiefer Sutherland, and moving on to the long-awaited broadcast premiere of “Alcatraz” starring Sam Neill, Jorge Garcia and Sarah Jones.
“Touch” was created by Tim Kring, he of “Heroes” fame (or infamy), and stars Kiefer Sutherland as Martin, single dad to troubled son Jacob, played by David Mazouz. In last week’s “preview event,” airing well ahead of the show’s official premiere on March 19, we also met Danny Glover as all-knowing professor Arthur and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as skeptical social worker Clea. It was an ambitious pilot, but can the conceit be sustained over an entire series?
Also, while we saw the first hour of “Alcatraz” at Comic-Con last July, it was a long wait before it finally hit the airwaves two weeks ago. Created by former “LOST” scribe Elizabeth Sarnoff (along with Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt) and backed by executive producers J.J. Abrams, Jack Bender and Bryan Burk, the show follows the history and new misdeeds of escaped Alcatraz inmates. What’s the real reason for their return? And do we have the patience to wait for the next big reveal?
This British sci-fi flick charmed nearly everyone who saw it. Alas, too few people saw it. “Attack the Block” came out last May, but apart from making a small splash at SXSW in Austin and getting a very limited North American release, it has relied on word of mouth and DVD/Blu-Ray rentals and sales to find an audience. Thanks to Matt and other Popspotting listeners, you can count us among its fans as well. Written and directed by Joe Cornish, “Attack the Block” stars John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard and Nick Frost.
Our 200th show is a completely arbitrary milestone (since we didn’t relaunch with our daily format until Episode #53), but it feels good, nonetheless. And fittingly, it’s you that provide today’s conversation topics, from your own “Best of 2011” picks for movies, TV, music and books, to the brilliance of “Downton Abbey.”
Popspotting wouldn’t exist without your suggestions, reactions, and conversations, so we again thank you for sticking with us. And we hope you’ll never hesitate to reach out and speak out on anything under the vast pop culture umbrella.
“Downton Abbey” fans shouldn’t miss “Uptown Downstairs Abbey” on YouTube, as mentioned on this week’s show. You can find both Part 1 and Part 2 online, courtesy the BBC.
Today’s PopTalk & Trivia Guest is Ms. Wright (@TheRealMsWright) from behind the “Lost Mirror Moments” podcast. She grew up and still lives in the Austin, Texas area. She’s a cubicle slave during the week and a photographer on the weekend, She loves reality TV and sci-fi, and is perfectly capable of being into “So You Think You Can Dance” and “LOST” at the same time.
We’ve covered Hawaiian music and local food. We’ve given virtual tours of the Big Island and Hilo Town. And we’ve got other Hawaii shows in the works. But today, we focused on your questions about the Aloha State.
What are the different islands? How do people travel among them? What are the best places to visit with kids? It’s “Hawaii 101,” a general introduction to the 50th state, plus travel advice for first-time visitors. And it’s just the start. We have more listener questions to get to, and we welcome new ones, should you find us to be reasonably amusing guides to the islands.
For TV Tuesday, it’s another single series showcase, as we explore the short-lived “Terriers.” It lasted only one season on FX, and for all its brilliance, it was the network’s lowest-rated new show ever. So even though it made dozens of “Best Show of 2010” lists, almost nobody saw it, and that’s a crime. Now “Terriers” can be found on Netflix, and we explain why it’s worth checking out.
“Terriers” was created by Ted Griffin and starred Donal Logue as ex-cop and recovering alcoholic Hank Dolworth and Michael Raymond-James as former criminal Britt Pollack. The pair are partners in an unlicensed private investigation firm in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California.
It’s not a new film, but it’s one we missed and really wanted to see. “Midnight In Paris” is Woody Allen’s 41st film, and by some accounts, one of his best. Even Quentin Tarantino picked it as his favorite film of 2011. It stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, along with Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, and Michael Sheen.
We also got to see the re-release of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in 3-D, which includes a new animated short, “Tangled Ever After.” More than 20 years later, does the animated classic hold up? And does 3-D add anything to the experience?
Most of today’s show focuses on David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” We get thumbs up almost all the way around, whether from newcomers to the story or from people who’ve read and seen the rest. But we’ve also got a little bit of TV talk, from “Once Upon a Time” to “Homeland.” And Geoff chimes in with another music pick, covering a genre we most definitely don’t know very well.
Today’s guest is radio DJ, blogger, and podcaster Dave “The InterDave” Nelson. Originally from Minneapolis/St. Paul, he now lives in Wausau, Wisconsin. You can find him on Twitter as @TheInterDave and on Google+.
He runs the Galactic Netcasts podcast network, which is home tothree shows: the Alien Invasion Podcast, the Sci-Fi Film School podcast, and the Time-Traveling Robots in Space podcast.
Today he shares his love of the “Prophets of Science Fiction” series on the Science Channel, the “Top Five Podcast,” and the “Life In A Day” documentary project on YouTube.
Got your own picks to share? Want to be a guest on Popspotting? Just drop us a line!
A high school reunion invitation prompts us to recall where we were and what we were listening to twenty years ago. This Wildcard Wednesday features five favorite songs each from 1992. That year, NASA’s space shuttle Endeavor saw its first flight, Apple released the the Newton PDA, and Disney’s “Aladdin” was tops at the box office. Jen’s picks include tracks by U2, Sade, and the Black Crowes, and Ryan highlights songs from the Indigo Girls, Sublime, and The Cure.
It’s a British period drama that’s one of the biggest hits on PBS. But don’t let that discourage you from visiting “Downton Abbey.” Recommended to us by several listeners, most passionately by Greg Marriotti of PixarTalk, we dove into the first season of this series and devoured every minute in time to catch the U.S. premiere of season two on Sunday. We were surprised at how compelling this super stylish and slightly soapy show turned out to be, following the lives of a noble family and the large staff that serves them.
The ensemble cast of”Downton Abbey” includes Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown-Findlay, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Brendan Coyle, Siobhan Finneran, Rob James-Collier, Thomas Howes, Joanne Froggatt, and Sophie McShera.
Is this new affection for “Masterpiece” one of the biggest indicators yet of our advancing age? Are you a fan of the Earl and Countess of Grantham? Or put out by the sibling rivalry among Mary, Edith and Sybil? Who can’t be charmed by John Bates, or grandma Violet?
We weren’t quite sure what to tackle for Movie Monday this week, but we picked up a strong signal from our listeners that the latest “Mission: Impossible” film was worth a look (including thumbs up from Matt on Facebook and Jeffrey on Twitter). So even though Tom Cruise and friends have been dominating the box office for more than four weeks, we headed out to the nearest multiplex to check out “Ghost Protocol.”
This fourth installment in the series finds IMF Agent Ethan Hunt in a dark place, as he’s joined by Benji (Simon Pegg), Jane (Paula Patton), and William (Jeremy Renner). The team must face off against Russian baddie Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), without the considerable resources of the Impossible Missions Force.
“Ghost Protocol” was directed by Brad Bird, and is his first live-action film. It was produced by J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, both “LOST” alums. Does this impressive pedigree deliver a worthwhile action spy caper?
The San Francisco Chronicle crowned “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” as the worst film of 2011. Would Jen have been more likely to agree were it not for her meddling husband? Also on the movie front, a thumbs up for “The Help,” up for several Golden Globe awards. This Feedback Friday also brings a few book reviews, from Bill Bryson to Stephanie Meyer. Then, the last word on musicals… for now.
Today’s PopTalk & Trivia guest is Jason, the other half of “The Forgotten Flix Podcast.” (His co-host Joel was our guest last month.)
A resident of Jen’s home state of Florida, Jason highlights hometown musician J.J. Grey, the independent thriller flick “Midnight Son,” and “The Tobolowsky Files.”
Jason’s day job is as a business trainer, a job that makes surprisingly effective use of his degrees in Anthropology and Primatology. But when at home and out and about, he blogs about his adventures with his family at DadQuest.com. He also writes the “Deep Fried Cheese” column.
You can find him on Twitter at @flixsidekick and @dadquest.
Before charging into the new year, we take a look back at the year that was. A “year in review” show is, perhaps, cliche, but 2011 was a good year for pop culture, and most certainly a special year for Popspotting. We saw more movies, watched more TV, tried more new music than ever before, as a result of having the pleasure of putting out this podcast, and the benefit of many wonderful and thoughtful listeners.
Today we recount the best movies and new television shows of 2011 (and touch on the upcoming Golden Globes), as well as share our favorite music, book, and app picks. And we’d really like to hear what you would crown as the “Best of 2011”!
In November, we gave our first impressions of several new fantasy shows, including ABC’s fairytale drama “Once Upon a Time.” We liked it, but didn’t love it… but many of our listeners urged us to give it more time. We’re happy to say that we stuck with the series, and now, we’re pretty smitten. We update our review as we await the next new episode this Sunday.
Then, we discuss the season finale of “American Horror Story” on FX. The last time we checked in on the Harmons and the Murder House, we were looking forward to how the show would wrap up its deliciously dark first year. Did the last chapter, cut down from two hours to 90 minutes, bring a satisfying close as well as set the stage for season two?
Our first podcast of the New Year takes us back to Stieg Larsson’s tale of murder and intrigue with American director David Fincher’s remake of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The story was already capably depicted by Larsson’s fellow Swedes, so can Fincher’s distinct style bring something new and compelling to the big screen? This time, Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) and Rooney Mara (The Social Network) portray the embattled journalist and mysterious hacker. The film also features Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, and Robin Wright.
The greatest gift we receive each week is listener feedback. We love hearing from you, and this week you sound off on the Swedish “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” movie matchups from Flickchart, and the mid-season finale of “The Walking Dead.” Finally, we feature some recommendations for new television shows, from the critically acclaimed “Homeland” to coming attractions like “Touch,” “The Firm,” and “Longmire.”
Today’s guest is Chris Weddle (@chrisweddle), head of a geeky household in Franklin, Indiana. This married father of two knows his LEGO, knows his gadgets, and enjoys a rich library of media without having to suffer the indignity of cable television service. He brings us up to speed on “Farscape,” adds his endorsement of “Farscape,” and introduces the board game “Puerto Rico.” Then, in trivia, we test his knowledge of island-born actors and silly walks.
Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we? Yes, it’s the first Popspotting holiday special. While Jimmy in Georgia suggested we count down our favorite Christmas movies or TV specials, we decided to go down the musical route with five picks each of holiday songs that don’t drive us crazy. These aren’t our all-time favorites (and could very well be on your musical blacklist), but as we wrap presents and wrap up 2011, these ten songs are in high rotation in our household.
What Christmas songs make you jolly? And which ones make you want to run someone over with a reindeer?
For TV Tuesday, we first visit with our old friends at Carmichael Industries. We’ve been watching “Chuck” on NBC since the beginning, and the geek-positive show’s Comic-Con panels are always a high point. But this season will be its last. Is the series making the most of the time it has left? Then we jump over to FX, and weigh in on the season finale of “Sons of Anarchy.” This fourth season is one of the strongest yet, but how well did Kurt Sutter and friends both wrap things up, and set the stage for next year?
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprise their big-screen turns as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in this second Guy Ritchie-helmed outing, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Once again, this classic, brainy crime-fighting pair are dropped into a noisy world of fistfights, explosions, and slo-mo bullet-time shots. There’s no intellectual pretense in this winter blockbuster, but this sequel at least delivers a smarter story and a better bad guy: Dr. Moriarty, played by Jarred Harris.
Many of you still have musicals on your mind, and we’re glad to feature your voices as you share more favorites. We get schooled on “the letters” on “Sons of Anarchy,” we get more measured reactions to “The Descendants,” and we get our first video game review from Al, who introduces us to “Skyrim.” Still to come, your take on “The Walking Dead,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and new (or at least new to us) TV shows.
Lesson of the day? It’s never too late to send in feedback. Whatever you’re watching, reading, playing, or listening to, we want to hear about it! Leave a voicemail at (815) 310-0808, send an email or audio file to feedback@popspotting.net, comment here on the blog, or post on our Facebook page.
Updated Dec. 15, 2011, 5:30 a.m. HST | Today’s guest is Joel Robertson, producer and co-host of The Forgotten Flix Podcast (along with Jason Grooms). Joel spent most of his youth as an aspiring movie maker, idolizing folks like Raimi, Carpenter, Dante, Spielberg, Craven, et al. He loves talking movies with other movie fans, supporting indie filmmakers, and, when the time is right, will once again subject the world to one of his movie making endeavors. (Yes, he too has a page on IMDB.) He lives in central Florida with his amazing (and amazingly patient) wife, who was also his high school sweetheart, and their three beautiful, young sons.
Want more Joel? You can find him on Twitter @forgottenflix. He’s also on Facebook at the Forgotten Flix page, and in the Forgotten Flix Podcast Group.
About a month ago, we counted down our favorite ways to waste time online. One of Jen’s picks was Flickchart, a virtual battleground for movie lovers. The concept is simple: pit two movies against each other, and choose the one you like best (or dislike the least). So today, we decided to the Flickchart challenge together.
Not an original idea, perhaps, but a fun idea for sure. Disagree with any of our picks? Horrified that we haven’t seen a must-see movie? We want to hear from you!
Snarky food writer Anthony Bourdain often mocks colleagues like Samantha Brown and Rachael Ray. So how will he fare in a new Travel Channel series where he must also provide a practical, accessible foodie guide to international destinations? While “No Reservations” was a travelogue of his distinctly Tony-flavored adventures, “The Layover” tries to highlight things everyday people could experience.
Then, we weigh in on the fall half-season finale of “The Walking Dead” on AMC. We’re still fans (or, at least, Ryan still is), but we’re worried, especially compared to where we were after the six episodes of seasone one. While the last few seconds of episode seven earned a resounding “holy freakin’ crap,” was it enough to make up for the decidedly slower pace and limited character development we saw for most of season two?
As excited as we are to see David Fincher’s adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” we know the Swedes did it first. Before seeing what Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara do with Stieg Larsson’s international bestseller, we decided to take in Niels Arden Oplev’s interpretation, starring Mikael Blomkvist and Noomi Rapace. Although we’ve not read the books (we plan to!), we were curious whether the well-received Swedish version leaves any room for an American remake.
Our show about musicals stirred up some great memories among you. The Broadway shows loved by listeners include “Wicked,” “Oklahoma,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Singing in the Rain,” “Love Never Dies,” “Into the Woods,” and “Dr. Horrible.” We’re not the only ones worried about where “Fringe” is headed. And both kids and kids at heart affirm the draw of “The Muppets.”
Joining us to kick off the month of December is Greg Mariotti, owner and editor of Pixar Talk and the geek behind The Uncool, the official site of acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe.
We first heard from Greg nearly four years ago when we were still doing our primordial HawaiiUP podcast, and he’s stayed in touch through The Transmission and now Popspotting, and he continues to enlighten us on Pixar and other media. You can find him on Twitter at @gregmariotti and @pixartalk.
Before tackling the trivia, Greg shares his love of “Downton Abbey,” a British television period drama, the 2008 Australian thriller “The Square” from the Edgerton brothers, and Blu-Ray, the successor to the trusty DVD.
Author and humorist David Sedaris was in Honolulu last week, wrapping up his latest book tour. His live performance at the Blaisdell Concert Hall left us in stitches.
Even though his island vacation rental home was burglarized, and his laptop stolen, he hadn’t lost his wry, witty, self-depreciating and surprisingly dirty sense of humor. He read a few short stories and shared entries from his travel diary, commenting on everything from socialized medicine to potty practices to kids these days. A hapless, drowned gecko had a front row seat.
So inspired, this week we review his body of work, including six collections of largely autobiographical short stories. After recounting some of our favorite Sedaris tales, we also review the two books published by his sister, Amy Sedaris, perhaps best known as the star of the Comedy Central series “Strangers with Candy.”
Are you a Sedaris fan? Have you a favorite Sedaris story? Any other humor writers you think we need to check out? Please don’t hold back!
Back in October, we took a quick look at four new fantasy shows, including “American Horror Story” on FX. Now that we’re eight episodes in, we take a deeper look at one of the darker shows on television. The series managed to make a strong first impression, but have co-creators and producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk been able to sustain a solid story? Does “American Horror Story” strike the right balance between mind-bending mysteries and satisfying answers?
While Connie Britton continues to impress, Dylan McDermott seems to be taking a back seat to other members of the large and growing ensemble. Can we expect more out of Alexandra Breckenridge? And what’s the deal with that Realtor?
Today for Movie Monday, we explore an unusual family tie. We start with “Moon,” the feature directorial debut of Duncan Jones. Then, we revisit “The Prestige,” a magical film that features the acting talents of Jones’ dad, David Bowie. Both movies may have you questioning reality as you revel in some outstanding performances. Sam Rockwell shines in a part created just for him, while Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman face off in a battle to rule the stage.
It’s Black Friday, and Feedback Friday! At least here on Popspotting, there are no lines, and the fun is free. Our listeners chime in on the music of 1974 (and 1972 and 1987 and 1988), and share their guilty pleasures, including “Top Chef” and “The Sing-Off.” We’ve got some TV and book talk as well. Finally, Al reminds us that video games are distressingly underrepresented on our podcast. It’s going to be up to Al and other gamers out there to keep us up-to-date!
Nicole shared her love of “Raising Sand,” a musical collaboration between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, which yielded gems like “Battle of Evermore” and, embedded here, “Your Long Journey”:
Popspotting is powered by you, so help keep the show going by sharing your own picks for movies, TV, music, books, apps, and any other topic that strikes your fancy. Whether you agree or disagree with our reviews, the more voices the better. You can leave a voicemail at (815) 310-0808, email us at feedback@popspotting.net, or comment here on the blog.
We can also be found on Twitter, on Facebook, and on Google+.
Forget the Great Pumpkin. We’ve got the great Maggie Mack (@ilea02) joining us for our Thanksgiving episode. Maggie is the host of Maggie’s World, and co-host of both Girls Night In Radio and The West Wing Podcast. She’s a pop culture fan (who loves Harry Potter in particular) and a preschool teacher.
Before being subjected to our trivia challenge, she shares her love of Pinterest (find her here), the show “Revenge” on NBC, and “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS.
Music is once again the focus of Wildcard Wednesday, but thanks to a suggestion from Daniel in Boston, there’s a twist: He challenges us to name our favorite Broadway shows. While we’re not experts in the world of musicals, we do love showtunes, and give the topic our best shot. A lot of obvious picks, perhaps, but with stories that illustrate why we feel a personal connection to each.
Do you know Broadway? Are you embarrassed for us, choosing such pedestrian fare? Well, we urge you to enlighten us! We probably won’t make it out to New York or London any time soon, but we’d still love to know what shows you think we need to know.
In the past week, “Fringe” on FOX saw its fall finale, not to return until January 13, 2012, and the FX biker gang series “Sons of Anarchy” gave us a 90-minute episode to set the stage for the last three episodes of Season 4.
For better and worse, “Fringe” has given us more of the “monster of the week” format we saw in Season 1. And the question that kicked off this fourth season — “Where’s Peter?” — may still be a valid one. Will the second half of the story next year bring us back into the larger arc and bigger battle between universes?
And Jen declares this latest season of “Sons of Anarchy” her favorite, as everything comes to a head and threatens to fly apart. Did we ever really know Clay? Is there no way out for Tara? And Kurt Sutter reveals himself to be both a great showrunner and a great actor, as this latest season explores many of the SAMCRO members that started off as mere background.
For Movie Monday, we preview a Thanksgiving release we’re not ashamed to admit that we were really looking forward to, movie critic cred be damned. After a 12 year break, “The Muppets” return to the big screen, led by Jason Segel and Amy Adams.
We also review “Small Fry,” the latest Pixar short that further extends the world of “Toy Story.”
The Popspotting voicemail line saves the day for Feedback Friday. First, two unlikely shining stars from “The Descendants.” While George Clooney and Hawaii shine, two listeners remind us where else we might have seen Shailene Woodley and Matthew Lillard. Then a solid defense of “Once Upon a Time” and the second season of “The Walking Dead.” NBC, however, gets no love. On the musical side, we get an impromptu serenade from Daniel, and another solid music recommendation from dear Geoff.
We say it every day, but we’re not kidding. It’s hearing from you that keeps us going. If you’re out there and have yet to share a thought, retort, or suggestion, please don’t be shy! Note that the comments on our site are acting up, so your best bet would be to leave a message at 815-310-0808, or find us on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Google+.
Joining us today for PopTalk & Trivia Thursday is podcaster, actor, and all-around supergeek Heath Solo (@HeathActor), a.k.a. Heath Centazzo.
Heath is the host of “The Film List” podcast, a graduate of Syracuse University, and a big fan of Steve McQueen.
He tells us about Cameron Crowe’s documentary “Pearl Jam Twenty,” “Prime Suspect” (before NBC announced it was dropping the show midseason), and the new-and-improved Blu-Ray release of the “Star Wars” movies. Then he’s targeted with an unusual set of trivia categories. Which will he choose?
Turnabout is fair play. After celebrating Jen’s tenth 29th birthday in August with a countdown of her favorite songs of 1972, this week we both share five picks each for great songs of 1974.
Jen’s picks:
- “Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips
- “Killer Queen by Queen. Album Sheer Heart Attack
- “Rock Your Baby by George McRae
- “Return of the Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons
- “Show and Tell by Al Wilson
Ryan’s list:
- “The Air that I Breathe by The Hollies
- “Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation
- “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan
- “Feel Like Makin’ Love by Roberta Flack
- “Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
For TV Tuesday, we take a look at the pilot of AMC’s latest original series, “Hell On Wheels.” Then, Jen brings us up to speed on the Food Network reality cooking show, “The Next Iron Chef.”
“Hell on Wheels” is AMC’s new original Western series that centers on former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon, portrayed by Anson Mount, whose quest for vengeance has led him to Union Pacific’s westward construction of the first transcontinental railroad. Other stars include rapper Common, Colm Meaney, Dominique McElligott, Phil Burke, and Eddie Spears.
“The Next Iron Chef” is now in its fourth season, a reality cooking competition show that will pick the next culinary star to preside over Kitchen Stadium. Competitors this year are Anne Burrell, Michael Chiarello, Elizabeth Falkner, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chuck Hughes, Robert Irvine, Beau MacMillan, Spike Mendelsohn, Marcus Sameulsson, and Geoffrey Zakarian.
Leonardo DiCaprio takes on yet another larger-than-life historical figure in Clint Eastwood’s new biopic, “J. Edgar.” The film follows the career of the FBI’s first and most infamous director, J. Edgar Hoover, who held his position and influence through several presidents, from 1935 through his death in 1972. He built the agency into an investigative powerhouse, but burned many bridges along the way, surviving largely through the shrewd collection and use of secret files he kept on every powerful person in the country.
In addition to DiCaprio, “J. Edgar” stars Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, and Judi Dench. The film is also full of cameos portraying famous figures from history, including Jeffrey Donovan as Bobby Kennedy, Josh Lucas as Charles Lindbergh, Christopher Shyer as Richard Nixon, and Emily Alyn Lind as Shirley Temple.
Ambitious in scope, with clear Oscar intentions, does “J. Edgar” bring history alive? Is the combination of political intrigue with a forbidden love story a compelling one? Or is the film brought down by its a winding narrative, drab settings, and distracting old-age makeup?
This week’s Feedback Friday finds a number of fans for ABC’s “Once Upon a Time.” We also touch on “Chuck,” back with what may be its final season on NBC. From BBC, “The Fades” gets a thumbs up, and “Sons of Anarchy” hooks another addict. And from Switzerland, our friend Anna introduces a podcast devoted to “The West Wing.”
Then we move on to more favorite cover songs, from Joni Mitchell’s “A Case Of You” covered by Prince, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” covered by Wyclef Jean, and James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” covered by Alison Krauss & Union Station.
We’ll be back after a week off with more Popspotting! But the show goes on only with your help. Got a suggestion for “Wildcard Wednesday”? A strong difference of opinion on a new TV show? We really want to hear from you!
Today’s guest is W. Axel Foley (@WAxelFoley), a filmmaker, podcaster and educator. He is a frequent co-host on “The Film List” with Heath Solo, and one of the four (or more) hosts of “Podtourage.”
Axel works at non-profit public access TV station in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he shoots and edits video and teaches podcasting and video production. He has directed numerous documentaries, commercials, concerts and music videos, and he even has feature film out that is available on Netflix called “Smokers.”
Today, Axel shares his love of “The Best Show” with Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster, a reality TV show on the Bravo network called “Work of Art,” and Arthur C. Clarke‘s “Childhood’s End.” Then, it’s trivia time!
On the rare occasion Facebook goes down, global productivity goes up. (This is not a proven fact, but it sounds right.) The Internet is a wonderful, nearly magical tool, but its primary use seems to be to waste time. So in honor of procrastinators everywhere, we both share our five favorite online time wasters. And to keep things interesting, we excluded social networking sites… where honestly, we probably spend the most time.
Jen’s list ranges from food blogs to online trivia. Probably no surprise there. Beyond some geeky sites, Ryan goes with the web’s ubiquitous LOLcats… but has a good excuse.
Do these picks seem too obvious to you? Enlighten us! We’re always looking for new and interesting ways to get our money’s worth out of our ISP.