#PopVultures Ep 28: George Floyd, Black Lives Matter & celeb backlash

29:11 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week the #PopVultures Jan and Sam Jo examine how celebrities have responded to the widespread protests in America following the death of an unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of the police.

While many celebrities have spoken out in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, some like Madonna were criticised for their tone-deaf responses and others like Lea Michele were exposed by fellow co-workers for her mistreatment of black colleagues on set.

The #PopVultures also talk about whether celebrities have a duty to speak up and take action on civil issues, why some celebrities are lauded for speaking up while some are dragged for doing so. They also discuss how this resonates with Asia and Singapore.

Produced by: Jan Lee (janl[email protected]) & Yeo Sam Jo ([email protected])

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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#PopVultures Ep 27: Elon Musk & kooky celebrity baby names

26:20 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

What do businessman Elon Musk, superstar Beyonce, socialite Kim Kardashian and chef Jamie Oliver have in common?

Other than being celebrities, these parents have also cooked up some of the kookiest children names over the years.

In this episode, the #PopVultures stroll down the name hall of fame and peek at some of the world's most (in)famous baby monikers, from X Æ A-12 and North West to Blue Ivy and Petal Blossom Rainbow.

Hosts Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo discuss the inspiration behind some of these esoteric names and wonder: What makes a creative moniker go from catchy to cringeworthy? And what happens when these kids with saccharine names go to school and enter the workforce?

Is naming your child after a DC superhero, a titular Shakespeare character or a luxury hotel always a good thing? Or will Nicolas Cage, Jay Chou and Jack Neo's children find themselves with extremely big shoes that they may not wish to fill?

Join the #PopVultures for this light-hearted commentary that involves quirky names, questionable wordplay and a quintessential Missy Elliot quote (stay tuned till the end).

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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#PopVultures Ep 26: Show Lo and Grace Chow's ugly break-up - will the Show be able to go on? 

31:48 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week the #PopVultures dive into the hottest topic in Mandarin entertainment right now - the ugly break-up of Taiwanese pop star Show Lo and his Chinese influencer ex-girlfriend Grace Chow.

The #savage Chow exposed Lo's many infidelities over the course of their nine-year relationship, accusing him of improper relations with several women and even implied Lo regularly held sex parties with his friends. In the fallout, Lo and one of Lo's rumoured sex partners Linda Chien Kai-le have formally apologised to Chow - but is it enough?

The #PopVultures give a recap of how the saga went down and talk a little bit about Lo's reputation in the industry before this news and dissect how the scandal was handled on both Chow and Lo's part.

Finally, they give their thoughts on whether Lo can rebound from what looks to be the biggest crisis in his career and reflect on how the public has reacted to Lo's fall from grace (pun intended). 

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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#PopVultures Ep 25: Celebrity couples with large age gaps - creepy or true love?

32:42 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week, following the news of South Korean star So Ji-Sub, 42, and his marriage to a 26-year-old former TV presenter, the #PopVultures dive into celebrity relationships with large age gaps.

They talk stars like Jay Chou, Mariah Carey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Elva Hsiao and even director Woody Allen and disgraced singer R. Kelly. While some of these stars found love with partners very much younger than them - others have been accused of predatory behaviour.

The #PopVultures talk about how our views on celebrity relationships reflect societal ideals and share their own feelings. When does a large age gap become disturbing?

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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---

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#PopVultures Ep 24: Cardi B's coronavirus rant, Gal Gadot's cringy Imagine, JJ Lin's free concert and more

24:59 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

With people spending more time at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the #PopVultures round up some of the best and worst celebrity moments on social media.

Was Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot's rendition of John Lennon's Imagine tone deaf in more ways than one? How did American rapper Cardi B's famous "corona-VIRUS" rant enter the Billboard charts? Are British diver Tom Daley's shirtless home workouts the thirst trap that everyone needs?

Host Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo also review some of the online concerts that have sprung up lately - from JJ Lin's live birthday fan meet to the iHeart Living Room Concert For America starring the likes of Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys and Billie Eilish.

Finally, the #PopVultures recommend some entertainment to combat cabin fever and boredom: From TikTok dance challenges and true crime documentaries like Tiger King to digital drag shows and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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#PopVultures Ep 23: Celebrity missteps, reactions as coronavirus paralyses Hollywood and Asia

23:26 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week, the #PopVultures delve once again into the global Covid-19 pandemic that has paralysed entertainment in Hollywood and Asia.

With the coronavirus now ravaging North America and Europe, celebrities in the West are reacting but unfortunately, some of them have become mired in controversy for their thoughtless comments and ignorant behaviour such as High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens and NBA player Rudy Gobert. Some celebrities like Tom Hanks and Idris Elba have also tested positive for Covid-19, though that is causing controversy. Many of them managed to get tested without showing symptoms, even as frontline healthcare workers have been denied testing.

Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo dissect why the public are so riled up with celebrity missteps in the time of coronavirus, why celebrities like Chris Martin and Hilary Duff deserve praise, and contemplate how the entertainment industry at large will be affected by the virus.

Finally, they offer some entertainment recommendations for those staying home and practising social distancing.

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

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---

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Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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#PopVultures Ep 22: Remakes, reboots and reunions in Hollywood and Asia - yay or nay?

23:13 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

With news that all six main cast members of the hit American sitcom Friends will be reuniting for an unscripted special in May, the #PopVultures dive deep into the trend of remaking, rebooting and reuniting beloved shows and music acts .Is this always a good move, or does it risk turning fan excitement into disappointment? Are networks and show creators running out of ideas, or does good ol' nostalgia simply sell? And why are some remakes and reunions well-received, while others either flop or, worse yet, incur the wrath of diehard fans?

From Friends and Lizzie McGuire to Meteor Garden and My Fair Princess (Huan Zhu Ge Ge), from Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys to 5566 and Little Tigers (Xiao Hu Dui) - are audiences always keen on an update of TV and music from their teenage years? Tune in for the #PopVultures' take!

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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---

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#PopVultures Ep 21: Parasite and plagiarism controversies in film, TV and music

27:31 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week the #PopVultures go deep on plagiarism - which this year's Oscars Best Picture winner Parasite has been accused of.

The producer of a Tamil movie - 1999's Minsara Kanna - alleged that the crux of Parasite was stolen from Minsara Kanna. The #PopVultures share their thoughts on the controversy.

They then move on to a conversation about the legal and illegal ways of borrowing and copying in film, television and music, and finally the philosophical question: Is all art ultimately derivative? 

P.S. This episode contains actual music clips! Tune in and decide if Radiohead, Lizzo, Tanya Chua, and BTS have copied or have had their work copied! 

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

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#PopVultures Ep 20: Celebrities in hot soup over coronavirus outbreak

20:48 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week, the #PopVultures sound off on the celebrities mired in controversy due to the novel coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan.

Taiwanese singer Christine Fan was criticised after she lashed out at Taiwan's policy of halting surgical masks exports for a month, calling it inhumane. Taiwanese netizens criticised her for her eagerness to help China, despite keeping quiet about how Taiwan is still shut out of the World Health Organization due to Beijing's objections. 

Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo explain how the controversy blew up, share their differing opinions on the saga, dive a little into Fan's history (of saying the wrong things at the wrong time) and Singapore's own history with severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

They also talk about how the novel coronavirus outbreak has been received around the world and the somewhat muted and often racist response to it overseas, especially when contrasted with how the Australian bushfires inspired an outpouring of support from Hollywood celebrities. 

Tune in to the #PopVultures and to all our listeners: Stay safe, wash your hands, seek medical attention and wear a mask when you are ill. 

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Adam Azlee & Penelope Lee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

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---

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The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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#PopVultures Ep 19: Harry, Meghan and the mayhem at Buckingham

30:32 mins

Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.

This week, the #PopVultures go all in on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - and their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family who will be spending their time between UK and Canada. Why is this such a big news story and what was brewing before?

What are some of the incidents in the history of the royal family that have influenced their relationship with the press? What is the Royal Rota and why do Harry and Meghan want out from this media system?

Finally, who is truly the black sheep of the Windsor family?

Is it really Harry and Meghan or is it Prince Andrew, who hung out with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein?

Listen to the #PopVultures spill that atas royal tea! (ASMR included!)

Produced by: Jan Lee & Yeo Sam Jo

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month: 

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---

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The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

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Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

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Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

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