HBO's The Last of Us is critically acclaimed, attracts a huge audience every week, and has all the trappings of prestige TV... but is it any good? Sam debates it all out with Vulture writers Roxana Hadadi and Jackson McHenry who are in two very different camps.

We also ask comedian and TikTok star Elsa Majimbo if she is into the MSCHF Big Red Boots. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: What is Netflix's budget for stemware for its reality programming and why is it so low?

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What do Diana Ross, Dan Aykroyd, and Indiana Jones all have in common? Well, they have — at one point or another — performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show — and one of them flew away in a helicopter! Ahead of Rihanna's Super Bowl performance on Sunday, Sam asks writer and halftime show connoisseur Brian Moylan which headliners have earned their rightful place in the Halftime Hall of Fame. Who had the best choreography? The worst vocals? Which artist had the most impressive pyrotechnics? And whom can we thank for ushering us out of the dad rock era of halftime shows?

We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Thanks to social media, we sure do know a lot about Jill Zarin's personal life.

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It's Grammys weekend and Sam is ready for disappointment! Sam is joined by Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding and Reanna Cruz to break down the Grammys' history of tone deafness when it comes to the night's biggest awards. Will Beyoncé lose Album of the Year again... or will the voting body finally give her her due?

We also ask comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery if he is into the Andrea Riseborough Oscars campaign controversy. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: The broom dog in the animated Alice in Wonderland is a Sisyphean metaphor for our modern times.

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HBO Max isn't just canceling shows; it's getting rid of them entirely. Claudia Forestieri experienced it firsthand with her series The Gordita Chronicles. Sam and Claudia chat about what it was like to become one of the dozens of creators whose shows no longer have a home — at least, below cruising altitude. And she explains how her cancellation factors into a wider industry trend of disappearing Latino programming.

We also ask Variety senior entertainment writer Adam B. Vary if he is into this year's Oscar nominations, including a very surprising nod for Andrea Riseborough. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Do people in The Last of Us still eat mushrooms?

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What is it about the horror genre that makes it so successful at the box office? Sam chats with James Wan, creator of the Saw and The Conjuring universes — and most recently a producer on M3GAN — about the enduring appeal of getting scared in a roomful of strangers, the secret sauce of M3GAN, and who would win in a three-way fight: M3GAN, Chucky, or the doll from Poltergeist?

We also ask writer and Keep It co-host Ira Madison III if he is into Madonna going on world tour. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Why does Carmelo Soprano call cold pasta "cold pahst"?

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What was the pettiest thing we learned in Prince Harry's new memoir Spare? The cringiest? The most unbelievable? And what space do Harry and Meghan Markle occupy in our culture now? Sam chats with Royally Obsessed podcast hosts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito about the book and if the limit exists on rehashing H&M's drama with the Royal Family.

We also ask comedian Taylor Garron if she is into the horror phenomenon of M3GAN. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: We've overlooked the talent of Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, as evidenced by her performance of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" that far surpasses Madonna's.

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Hollywood companies that spent years pouring money into content to win the streaming wars are finally looking at their profitability. That’s meant layoffs, hiring freezes, and cost cutting that will continue this year. Yet Sam can’t help but feel Hollywood had it coming. He asks entertainment journalist Matt Beloni why the industry failed to absorb the lessons learned by other fields upended by technology.

We also ask Vox senior correspondent Alex Abad-Santos and friend and screenwriter Sam Greisman if they are into the recent TikTok trend of telling family members their favorite celebrity has died. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: I'm Michael Tomorrow, see you Barbaro.

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As the end of 2022 fast approaches, we play a supersized version of “Into It / Not Into It.” Our guests are comedians Jay Jurden and Zach Zimmerman, hosts of the bi-weekly comedy and variety show Pretty Major, presented by Vulture + Union Hall. Topics include: The Slap (not the Zachary Quinto miniseries), The New York Times’ purchase of Wordle, pink sauce and more. Sam concludes with the most pressing question of the year: Are they more into Bennifer 2.0, or Heidi Klum dressed as a worm?

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Matt Rogers has heard of Christmas, but what are his thoughts on peppermint bark? Elf on the Shelf? That time Beyoncé was on Punk'd and believed she had ruined Christmas for a bunch of underprivileged kids? To celebrate the holiday, we play a special festive edition of our game "Into It/Not Into It." Sam and Matt also chat about his new Showtime special Have You Heard of Christmas? and his journey to become the Prince of Christmas. On this unapologetically Christmas-themed episode, come for the comedy; stay for the close read of the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's a lot worse than you remember. Happy holidays!

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Is Avatar culturally meaningful? Or just ridiculous? Sam and Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri debate James Cameron's decades-in-the-making sequel and whether it's worth the hype (besides the whale part, which we've heard is cool). We also ask comedian Niles Abston if he is into Dave Chappelle bringing Elon Musk on stage as a surprise guest. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: "Sir, sir, sir, I love you. I want to be your best friend. I should probably learn your name."

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected].

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