With rare exceptions, most television series want you to like their lead characters. They want you to identify with the lead, or invest in their journey, or find them charming or endearing. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes lead characters start out well enough, and over time their flaws become harder to ignore, their behaviors increasingly maddening. Sometimes a lead is put forward as deliberately antagonistic to the viewer, as a kind of love-to-hate figure. And still other times, the creators of a show completely miscalculate how an audience will react to a character they themselves believe in. Over the past few decades, television has seen an explosion in deeply unlikable main characters. So join us as the Great Pop Culture Debate considers the Worst Lead Character in a TV Series.

Characters discussed: Rachel Berry (“Glee”), Piper Chapman (“Orange is the New Black”), Ross Gellar (“Friends”), Kate Austen (“Lost”), Jerry Seinfeld (“Seinfeld”), Andy Bernard (“The Office”), Dr. Meredith Grey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Hannah Horvath (“Girls”), Carrie Bradshaw (“Sex and the City”), Ted Mosby (“How I Met Your Mother”), Sheldon Cooper (“The Big Bang Theory”), Alan Harper (“Two and a Half Men”), Dawson Leery (“Dawson’s Creek”), Ally McBeal (“Ally McBeal”), Rory Gilmore (“Gilmore Girls”), Zack Morris (“Saved by the Bell”)

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Amma Marfo, Kara Austin, and Kevin Dillon as they discuss 16 of the biggest jerks to ever helm a TV series.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss even more unlikable TV leads that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Amma Marfo, Kara Austin, Kevin Dillon

Producer: Derek Mekita

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the WORST lead character in a TV series, and walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, October 7, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dolly Rebecca Parton grew up in extreme poverty in Appalachian Tennessee, and over the course of a legendary 60-year-and-counting career, would become one of the most important artists in country music. A singer, a songwriter, an actor, a producer, an entrepreneur, and a philanthropist, Dolly has basically done it all – and she’s done it all better than almost anyone. Dolly has released 50 albums, and more than 200 singles, dating back to 1959’s “Puppy Love” to 2025’s “If You Hadn’t Been There.” So join the Great Pop Culture Debate as we pay tribute to a genuine American icon as we attempt to name the Best Dolly Parton Single.

Songs discussed: “Jolene,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Two Doors Down,” “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That,” “Baby I’m Burnin’,” “Islands in the Stream,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Backwoods Barbie,” “9 to 5,” “Straight Talk,” “Eagle When She Flies,” “Hard Candy Christmas,” “Here You Come Again,” “Joshua,” “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” “Coat of Many Colors”

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Curtis Creekmore and Jonny Minogue, and special guest Kevin Rice as they discuss 16 of Dolly’s most beloved singles.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss even more Dolly songs we love that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Want to watch the episode instead? As of Season 12, we now have full video episodes up on YouTube. Subscribe to our channel for even more original, exclusive episodes!

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelist: Curtis Creekmore, Jonny Minogue

Special Guest: Kevin Rice

Producer: Derek Mekita

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

#dollyparton #dolly #countrymusic #music #dollywood #iwillalwaysloveyou #9to5 #jolene #hereyoucomeagain #twodoorsdown #backwoodsbarbie #straighttalk #joshua #islandsinthestream #coatofmanycolors #hardcandychristmas #babyimburnin #tennessee #grandoleopry #popculture

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here we come again! Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the best Dolly Parton song (specifically, her officially released singles). He also walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, September 30, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The X-Files” premiered on the Fox network in September 1993. While the sci-fi mystery show was inspired by earlier series like “The Twilight Zone,” “Twin Peaks,” and “Kolchak: The Night Stalker,” creator Chris Carter tapped into a unique moment in the cultural zeitgeist to produce something even more resonant. The adventures of two outcast FBI agents investigating aliens, monsters, and unexplained phenomena clicked with a burgeoning interest in the paranormal and conspiracy theories, and a growing mistrust in government authority. What began as a cult classic quickly became a pop-culture phenomenon that defined the 1990s, and which continues to hold serious cultural cache. The truth is out there, and we intend to find it as the Great Pop Culture Debate attempts to name the best episode of “The X-Files.”

Episodes discussed: “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas,” “Small Potatoes,” “Tooms,” “Squeeze,” “Leonard Betts,” “Quagmire,” “Ice,” “Home,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Humbug,” “Die Hand Die Verletz,” “Bad Blood,” “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster,” “Syzygy,” “The Host”

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Bob Erlenback and Kate Racculia, and special guest author Victor Manibo as they discuss 16 of the very best episodes of “The X-Files,” both from the original run and the 2010s reboot.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss even more "X-Files" episodes we love that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Bob Erlenback, Kate Racculia

Special Guest: Victor Manibo

Producer: Derek Mekita

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The truth is out there! Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the best episode of "The X-Files." He also walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, September 23, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May 1990, then-unknown 21-year-old Mariah Carey released her debut single, “Vision of Love.” Within a handful of weeks, the song would hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, and it would be followed by four additional No. 1 tracks, setting records and making it clear: Mariah Carey and her five-octave vocal range were here, and pop music would never sound the same. Mariah had No. 1 singles every year for the entire 1990s. She would go on to win numerous Grammys, be named Artist of the Decade by Billboard, and receive other accolades. Her career has had peaks and valleys, scandals and rebrandings, but there is no denying: Mariah Carey is one of the most important recording artists of the last 40 years, and one of the most incredible voices in the history of popular music. So join the Great Pop Culture Debate as we hit the highest of the highs as we determine the Best Mariah Carey Song – at least until mid-2025, when we’re recording this.

Songs discussed: “Always Be My Baby,” “Shake It Off,” “Love Takes Time,” “My All,” “Emotions,” “When You Believe” (w/Whitney Houston), “Obsessed,” “Hero,” “Fantasy,” “Honey,” “Dreamlover,” “One Sweet Day” (w/Boyz II Men), “Vision of Love,” “Heartbreaker” (w/Jay-Z), “Make It Happen,” “We Belong Together”

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelist Kevin Dillon, returning guest Nick Everage, and special guest Steven Salvatore — author and Mariah superfan — as they discuss 16 of Mariah’s most notable tracks.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss even more Mariah songs we love that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

Looking for more reasons to become a Patreon supporter? Check out our Top 10 Patreon Perks.

Subscribe to find out what’s new in pop culture each week right in your inbox!

Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates!

Then, vote in our Future Topic Polls to have a say in what episodes we tackle next.

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelist: Kevin Dillon

Special Guests: Nick Everage, Steven Salvatore

Producer: Curtis Creekmore

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

#mariahcarey #mariah #popmusic #rnb #hiphop #90smusic #00smusic #2010smusic #2020smusic #bestsongs #music

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 12 begins! Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our episode devoted to the best Mariah Carey Song. He also walks you through the Round 1 match-ups. The main episode will release on Tuesday, September 16, wherever you listen to podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠Make sure to subscribe to the podcast⁠⁠⁠ so you don't miss any upcoming episodes.

And if you love pop culture, sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

⁠⁠⁠Click here to learn about all the great perks our Patreon subscribers receive!⁠⁠⁠

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re taking a short break from new episodes this week, but we’d never leave you stranded at Shady Pines without some company.  And what better time than now? We’re celebrating the 40th Anniversary of "The Golden Girls" on September 14th with this Hot Take from our Season 6 episode, Best "Golden Girls" Episode.

Want to hear more form this episode (originally released in September 26, 2022)? ⁠Click here to listen to the full episode.⁠

For more episodes, blogs, Top 10s, and more, ⁠⁠⁠visit our website by clicking here. ⁠⁠⁠Make sure to ⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE to the show⁠⁠⁠ so you don't miss any upcoming episode.

CREDITS:

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Intro/Outro Music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

#goldengirls #thegoldengirls #80s #1980s #sitcom #comedy #grabthatdough #tocatchaneighbor #beaarthur #bettywhite #ruemclanahan #estellegetty #dorothy #rose #sophia #blanche #nbc #classictv #classictelevision

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re taking a short break from new episodes this week, but we’d never leave you stranded at Shady Pines without some company.  And what better time than now? We’re celebrating the 40th Anniversary of "The Golden Girls" on September 14th with this Hot Take from our Season 6 episode, Best "Golden Girls" Episode.

Want to hear more form this episode (originally released in September 26, 2022)? ⁠Click here to listen to the full episode.⁠

For more episodes, blogs, Top 10s, and more, ⁠⁠⁠visit our website by clicking here. ⁠⁠⁠Make sure to ⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE to the show⁠⁠⁠ so you don't miss any upcoming episode.

CREDITS:

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Intro/Outro Music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

#goldengirls #thegoldengirls #80s #1980s #sitcom #comedy #grabthatdough #tocatchaneighbor #beaarthur #bettywhite #ruemclanahan #estellegetty #dorothy #rose #sophia #blanche #nbc #classictv #classictelevision

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices