PopaHALLics

PopaHALLics #100 "100 Big Ones"
Extended episode! Dad and daughter look back at memorable moments from 100 episodes of our pop culture podcast, from memories of Woodstock to a novelist's musings on fact vs. fiction to a tough standup gig.  And we review new pop culture too.

Episodes Highlighted:

• #6 "Every Day I Write the Book"  (novelist Peter Ferry)
• #48 "Woodstock 1969: I Was There" (Stan Worth)
• #38 "Talking Comedy with Joe" (Janes)
• #44 "Talking Art with Etta" (Martin)
• #46 & #47 "Making Movies with Meaning"
• #1 "Taylor and Alanis Release New Music"
• #5 "Angels & Demons & Alligators, Oh My!"
• #34 "Get Me a Ticket on an Aeroplane"
• #11 "Happy HALL-o-ween!"
• #42 "Pop-pouri"
• #23 "Tales from the TV Beat"
• #88 "The Game is Afoot!"

You can find all our episodes at:
https://popahallics.buzzsprout.com

In Theaters:

• "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3." In the final installment of writer/director James Gunn's trilogy, the team must come together to save the life of genetically modified raccoon Rocket. Steve says this rousing space adventure has plenty of comedy and teary moments.

Streaming:

• "Tim's Vermeer, A Penn & Teller Film," Prime rental. A Texas-based inventor attempts to solve one of art's greatest mysteries: How did Johannes Vermeer ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") manage to paint so photo-realistically—150 years before the invention of photography?
• "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," Netflix. The marriage of the young queen (India Ria Amarteifio) to King George (Cory Mylchreest) "ushers in an epic love story and threatens British society."

Books:

• "The Upstairs House," by Julia Fine. A first-time mother suffering from depression becomes entangled with the ghosts of "Goodnight Moon" author Margaret Wise Brown and her won't-be-ignored lover—or is she simply having a psychotic episode? A powerful, unusual novel.

Click through the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #99 "Keep Calm and Keri On"
Stick with Keri Russell, friends, and she'll get you through international crises ("The Diplomat") and bruins high on blow ("Cocaine Bear"). Steve thinks the airplane movie "On a Wing and a Prayer" should be grounded. And we discuss the wonderful and weird fashions at this year's Met Gala.

Streaming:

• "The Diplomat," Netflix. Russell ("The Americans") stars in this limited series as a career diplomat suddenly elevated to ambassador to the United Kingdom. Her new posting will have implications for her turbulent marriage, her political future, and international relations.
• "Cocaine Bear," Peacock. This horror comedy finds a massive black bear ingesting a LOT of blow and going on a killing rampage. Every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, but still fun in parts. With Russell, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
• "On a Wing and a Prayer," Prime. In a movie based on a real incident, a passenger (Dennis Quaid) must land and fly a plane when the pilot dies mid-flight. With Heather Graham, Jesse Metcalf, and way too many scenes that are unintentionally funny.

Books:

•  "Quantum Girl Theory," by Erin Kate Ryan. This debut novel, part detective novel, part ghost story, asks the question: What really happens when a girl goes missing?
• "What Moves the Dead," by T. Kingfisher. This imaginative, atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" will seriously creep you out.
• "Be Not Afraid of Love: Lessons on Fear, Intimacy and Connection," by Mimi Zhu. Interconnected essays follow Zhu's journey from a violent romantic relationship to healing the hurt within and embodying love.

Click through the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #98 "Steve Was Wrong"
In  a rare instance, Steve admits he was wrong about the merits of a TV show. But which one? We also review "The Super Mario Bros. Movie,"  "Abbott Elementary," "Transatlantic," "Dream Horse," and take another look at "Wednesday," "Ted Lasso," "The Mandalorian," and the novel "The House Across the Lake."

Theaters:

• "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." In this animated action comedy, plumber Mario must stop villain Bowser from conquering the world. With the voice talents of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more.

Streaming:

• "Abbot Elementary," ABC, Hulu, and other streaming services. Quinta Brunson created and stars in this mockumentary sitcom about a teacher at a poorly funded, predominately black school in Philadelphia.
• "Transatlantic," Netflix. This "historical fiction drama" chronicles a journalist's quest to arrange safe passage out of France for more than 2000 refugees in danger from the Nazis. Gillian Jacobs, Cory Michael Smith, and Corey Stoll head the cast.
• "Wednesday," Netflix. Smart, sarcastic, and a little dead inside, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) tries to solve a spooky mystery at Nevermore Academy in this "horror comedy" from twisted mister Tim Burton.
• "Dream Horse," Hulu. This 2020 movie is based on a true story. A small-town Welsh bartender (Toni Collette) enlists the help of friends and neighbors to breed, sponsor, and race a horse named Dream Alliance.
•  "Ted Lasso," Apple +, and "The Mandalorian," Disney +.  Steve feels both these popular shows have lost their way a bit during their third seasons.

Books:

• "The House Across the Lake," by Riley Sager.  This best-selling suspense novel is set up like Hitchcock's "Rear Window":  A drunken actress spying on her neighbors at a remote lake suspects a software entrepreneur is trying to murder his wife, a former supermodel, for her money.

PopaHALLics #97 "Secret Agent Man"
A phone rings in the White House basement—a secret agent's in trouble! Do they call superspy Elvis Presley for help? Sorry - we're mashing two  very different shows, "The Night Agent" and the adult cartoon "Agent Elvis." We'll review those and the streamers "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," "Shadow and Bone," "Kill Boksoon," and the novels "A Little Life" and "Boo." A little more conversation, a little less action ....

Streaming:

• "The Night Agent," Netflix. Last-minute twists and two attractive leads make this highly improbable 10-episode spy thriller strangely addictive.
• "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," Amazon Prime. Your life's miserable, your husband died in World War II, but you too can find hope in a Christian Dior dress! 
• "Shadow and Bone," Netflix. Season two of the fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo's novels find good challenging evil in an elaborately built world. 
• "Agent Elvis," Netflix.  In this gonzo animated series, the King underwent experiments during his Army days in Germany. Now, when he's not shooting up TVs, he's fighting bad guys like the Russkies and Charles Manson.
• "Kill Boksoon," Netflix. In this Korean action drama, one of the world's most skilled assassins discovers parenting a teenager is more difficult than killing people. Well, duh.

Books:

• " A Little Life," by Hanya Yanagihara. This improbable bestseller "depicts the everyday experience of living with trauma, chronic pain, and disability, demonstrating the inherent intersections with one another" (Wikipedia).
• "Boo," by Neil Smith.  In this imaginative young adult novel, a nerdy 13-year-old and his classmate die and wake up in n a bizarre version of heaven. When they learn they were the victims of a school shooting and the perp might be in heaven too, they go looking for "Gun Boy."

PopaHALLics #96 "Ghosts, 'Banshees,' & Rockers"
Dad and daughter talk 2023 Oscar results—was Angela Bassett robbed?—as well as a downbeat Irish drama, female ghosts, and a fake rock band burning up the charts.

Streaming:

• "Daisy Jones and the Six," Amazon Prime. Kate says this tale of a fictional rock band is much better than the book, and the music is great too. (See Music below.) Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis Presley, stars, thankyouverymuch.
• "The Banshees of Inisherin," HBO Max and rental. The friendship of two islanders (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson ) goes awry in this 2023 Best Picture nominee. Steve says it's well-done, but ... 

Books:

• "Lady MacBethad," by Isabelle Schuler. Did you know a real Scottish queen inspired Shakespeare's Lady MacBeth? We didn't either. This sweeping historical novel explores the life of Gruoch, wife and queen of MacBethad mac Findlaich.
• "A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts," by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes. From Lizzie Borden to Sarah Winchester's haunted mansion, this book delves into the history, myths, and stereotypes behind America's female ghosts.
• "Handling the Undead," by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The Swedish author of acclaimed vampire novel "Let the Right One In" transcends the zombie genre by showing "what the return of the dead might really mean to those who loved them."

Music:
Kate says the music in "Daisy Jones and the Six" reminds her of Fleetwood Mac. Our Popahallics #96 Playlist places the fictional band alongside the real one—see what YOU think. 

Click through the links to watch, read and listen to what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #95 "Turn the Page"
Kate and Steve return from a month off with a bunch of books under their belts, from software geeks to tough-guy crime to paintings that may be portals to other worlds  We also discuss streaming options "Wakanda Forever" ;  "The Flight Attendant"; and "Pamela, A Love Story" (you think you know Pamela Anderson of "Baywatch" fame? You don't. ) We also talk Oscars, sorta.

Books

• "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow," by Gabrielle Zevin. "Two college friends become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design and deal with fame, joy, tragedy, and duplicity."
• The "Parker" Novels, by Richard Stark. "She shot him just above the belt and left him for dead ... It all went down just the way they'd planned, except for one thing: Parker didn't die." As you can tell from that blurb and the thumbnail illustration above, this is noir, with hardened career criminals, double-crossing dames, and brutal retribution. 
• "Self-Portrait, with Nothing," by Aimee Pokwatka.  Part caper, part sci-fi , this novel follows a woman whose search for her missing mother, a famous painter,  leads her to wonder if there are alternate universes where her mother did not abandon her.

Streaming

• "Pamela, a Love Story," Netflix.  Pamela Anderson rose from a tough childhood in Canada to fame via "Baywatch" and an infamous sex tape. She tells her own story in this documentary.
• "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Disney +.  With the death of T'challa (Chadwick Bozeman), his family tries to defend his kingdom while ensuring the Black Panther legacy continues.
•  "The Flight Attendant," HBO Max. A wild-living flight attendant (Kaley Cuoco) wakes up in bed with a bloody murdered man—and no memory of what happened—in this black comedy/mystery/thriller.

Music
"There Were Sidemen, and Then There Was David Lindley," a Rolling Stone headline said of the death of the guitarist/multi-instrumentalist March 2. Best known for his work with Jackson Browne, Lindley helped shape the sound of an era with his session work for Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Warren Zevon, Leonard Cohen, and many more. Enjoy a sampling of songs he played on via the Popahallics #95 Playlist.

PopaHALLics #94 "Pop Across the Pond"
How did those folks on the other side of the Atlantic get to be such great storytellers?  Dad and daughter  discuss the silly BBC-style mockumentary "Cunk on Earth," the Irish drama/black comedy "Bad Sisters," and a sprawling novel about a dysfunctional family that begins on the English Coast, "The Whalebone Theatre."  'Course, we talk about some stuff made in 'merica too.

Streaming:

• "Cunk on Earth," Netflix. The ill-informed, irreverent Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) sets out to document the highlights of human history by visiting exotic locales and asking silly questions of experts. Pretty funny.
• "Bad Sisters," Apple +. Scheming, manipulative John Paul (Danish actor Claes Bang) is a piece of work. But when he dies unexpectedly, which one of the Garvey sisters killed him? And can the quarreling sisters stay one step ahead of the dogged, if hapless, insurance investigator trying to avoid a big payout to the widow? This smart drama with plenty of black comedy features a terrific Irish cast headlined by Sharon Horgan ("Catastrophe").
• "Poker Face," Peacock. In this limited character-based mystery series from "Knives Out" creator Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne ("Russian Doll") plays down-on-her-luck, foulmouthed Charlie, who can immediately tell if someone's lying. This peculiar gift soon has her fleeing across America, trying to outrun the mob while solving mysteries along the way. 

Books:

• "The Cloisters," by Katy Hays. In this bestselling novel, a circle of researchers uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters. Kate says it's perfect for mystery fans who like a touch of the supernatural.
• "The Whalebone Theatre," by Joanna Quinn. This acclaimed novel follows its heroine from putting on shows as a child with her siblings in a theater made of whale bones to covert operations in World War Two.
• "Project Hail Mary," by Andy Weir. The author of "The Martian" returns with another sci-fi adventure about a man alone in space. This time he's a nerdy junior high science teacher (!), the sole survivor of a mission to save Earth from another ice age.
• "Razzamatazz," by Christopher Moore. In this sequel to the zany thriller "Noir," bartender Sammy Tiffin, his girlfriend the Cheese, and the rest of the Cookie's Coffee irregulars get swept up in madcap antics involving murder, a moon-man, and a magical dragon statute in 1947 San Francisco.

Click through the links above to watch and read what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #93: 'Trouble A-Popping!"
A wide-ranging discussion of various pop culture options has one thing in common: Trouble! Two best friends who don't realize they should be worst enemies ("RRR"). The zombie apocalypse ("The Last of Us"). Trying to bring someone back from Hell ("Hell Bent"). And more. Kate also discusses a very weird dating prompt.

Streaming:

• "RRR," Netflix. This alternative history finds two real-life Indian revolutionaries becoming best friends and taking on the English colonial government in the 1920s. The hyper-reality (reality-enhanced?) action and dance sequences will blow your mind.
• "The Last of Us," HBO Max. The video game that sold 20 million copies becomes a promising post-apocalyptic TV series. Joel (Pedro Pascal) develops a surrogate father/daughter relationship with teen Ellie (Bella Ramsey)—maybe the secret to mankind's survival—on a dangerous cross-country journey beset by human killers and zombies.
•  "Emily in Paris," Netflix. Kate re-examines her feelings on the light, frothy series about the Chicago marketing executive (Lily Collins) who struggles with her job in fashion and romance in France. Was she too harsh?
• "Confess, Fletch," Showtime and rental. Chevy Chase played the reporter/sleuth with a penchant for goofy disguises in two 1980s movies. Now Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") takes on the role with considerable charm but a less jokey, more low-key approach in a lighthearted mystery about a murder, an art theft, and a kidnapping.

Books:

• "Hell Bent," by Leigh Bardugo. In this worthy sequel to "Ninth House," Yale's Alex Stern, who can see ghosts, is determined to steal a soul out of Hell. But she's dealing with forces beyond her control. Kate loves it.
• "The Last Flight," by Julie Clark. In this can't-put-it-down thriller, two women desperate to escape their troubled lives exchange identities at the airport. Things quickly go south.
• "The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West," by David McCullough. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian rediscovers the story of the settlement of the immense Northwest Territory (the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin). Steve's entranced because it details the taming of the "howling wilderness" not far from where he grew up.

Music:
Let's vibe! Kate's enjoying the music of Los Bitchos, "four gals from the underground realms of London, tripping out on Tequila and Cumbia" (their website), and possibly defunct Six Parts Seven. Hear them and similar bands  on PopaHALLics Playlist #93.

Click through the links to watch, listen, and read about what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #92 "Look into a Glass Onion"
Steve and Kate opine on "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," starring former Bond Daniel Craig as famed detective Benoit Blanc. In the movie, quickly becoming one of Netflix's biggest hits ever, a group of friends gather on a remote island for a murder mystery game that turns deadly. We also discuss Tim Burton's Addams Family-inspired "Wednesday," "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," and more.

Streaming:

• "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," Netflix.  In addition to Craig, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr. star. Keep an eye out for all the cameos!
• "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," Netflix. In this stop-motion animation version of the familiar story, a wooden puppet wants to become a real boy. He has a series of misadventures as Italy becomes embroiled in fascism. Stars include Ewan MacGregor, Cate Blanchett, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Perlman, Tilda Swinton, and Gregory Mann as Pinocchio.
•  "Wednesday," Netflix.  Have you seen the clip online of star Jenna Ortega's Goth  girl dance as Wednesday Addams and wondered if the supernatural teen-oriented series is any good? We'll tell you! Also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman as Morticia and Gomez.
• "Bullet Train," Netflix. Five assassins aboard a fast-moving train find their missions have something in common in this gory action comedy. Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Bad Bunny, Michael Shannon and Sandra Bullock star. 

Books:

• "The Maid: A Novel," by Nita Prose. When a guest at a fancy hotel is found dead, the main suspect is a maid who has "trouble with social situations" in this Clue-like, locked-room mystery.
• "The Terminal List," by Jack Carr. When a Navy Seal realizes he's been set up as the fall guy for a government conspiracy, he takes matters—and weapons—into his own hands in this thriller.

Podcast:

• "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs." Andrew Hickey explores the development of rock music and key bands in episodes "notionally based" on one song. For example, "White Rabbit" describes the formation, career, and infighting of Jefferson Airplane and the growth of the San Francisco rock scene.

PopaHALLics #91 "Rock n Troll"
A solo Steve discusses the Norwegian monster movie "Troll" and the debate about what its popularity means for foreign-language films on Netflix. If you've got reading time during the holidays, he also talks about some books worth curling up with.

Streaming:

• "Troll," Netflix. Humans screwing around with nature accidentally awaken an ancient evil deep within the mountain.  Cliched and derivative, but if you go into it expecting a B monster movie, you won't be disappointed.

Books:

• "Billy Summers," by Stephen King. A hitman takes one final job—which naturally goes wrong. King has fun breathing life into a tired trope and talking about the writing life.
• "The Girl in Red," by Christina Henry. In this clever riff on Red Riding Hood, a teenage girl heads for her grandmother's house when the apocalypse hits.
• "Round Ireland with a Fridge," by Tony Hawks. The bet that a British comedian couldn't hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge results in a light, funny travelogue mainly about the Irish people.
• "Dracul," by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker. A prequel to "Dracula" co-written by Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew suggests Bram was writing about vampires from first-knowledge.
• "Honey Don't," by Tim Sandlin. When a president accidentally dies after having sex with a young woman, she, her wanna-be mobster boyfriend, an over-the-hill journalist and a gay NFL player try to get rid of the evidence. This absurdist Carl Hiassen-like romp pokes fun at Washington, D.C.,  and modern life.