Socially Distanced

The second season of Socially Distanced is coming to a conclusion, but not before we review one more Disney+ series. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by podcast producer Lucas P. Jones and resident guest Murjani Rawls (of Pop Break & Substream) to discuss the first three episodes of Hawkeye. In the episode Murjani, Lucas, Al and Bill discuss the series being set during Christmas, the introduction of Echo, the supporting cast, Pizza Dog, the mysterious uncle and so much more.

Hello Space Cowboy! The long-awaited Cowboy Bebop episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast is here. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined by the least favorite member of the Pop Break (Ryan DeMarco) and the show's new favorite guest (Amanda Rivas - making her SD debut). The quartet gather to discuss Netflix's episodic adaptation of the classic anime, Cowboy Bebop. They talk about the damned if they do/damned if they don't issues with any adaptations, the cast and its chemistry, what didn't work for them in the series, if they want/do they foresee a second season and more.

The unofficial (but really official) third host of The Socially Distanced Podcast, Pop Break Music Editor Kat Manos, returns to the podcast after way too long. She joins Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin to discuss Disney Plus Day and help the guys drop some holiday hot takes! Topics discussed include: Thoughts on Disney+ two years as compared to its launch; Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, X-Men 97, the lack of Star Wars, Pixar and more. Also discussed are holiday pop culture traditions -- movies and songs we still watch from our childhood, definitive Christmas songs and hot takes on the most overrated holiday fare.

Football talk is back on Socially Distanced -- and this time it's a group therapy session for fans of the NFC East. Hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin (lifelong Giants fans) are joined by fellow Giants fan (and podcast producer) Lucas P. Jones, long-suffering Washington Football Team fan Ben Murchison and Marshall Stephenson of Blerd Watchers - a diehard Eagles fan. The five commiserate over their teams struggles in the NFC East, and how each team does have a glimmer of hope when it comes to making the playoffs (PLAYOFFS??) They also discuss the Aaron Rodgers drama, what's happening with the Kansas Chiefs, Odell Beckham Jr.'s landing spot (this was prior to the news of him signing with the LA Rams) who will make the Super Bowl, fantasy football highs and lows, and their mutual disdain for the Dallas Cowboys.

Welcome to Arrakis! Pop Break's editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin is joined The Pop Break's version of Duncan Idaho, Social Media Editor Alisha Weinberger and Wrestling Editor/Senior Photographer "The Golden Star" Murjani Rawls (making his Socially Distanced debut) to discuss Dennis Villenueve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. They discuss their history with the subject material (the books, the David Lynch film, the STARZ series), their favorite Villenueve film, the special effects, Hans Zimmer's score, Timothee Chalamet's performance, the most underutilized cast member, would they sit through a four hour Dune and more!

The Socially Distanced Podcast is throwing a Halloween Spooktacular this week! Hosts Bill Bodkin and Al Mannarino are joined by an esteemed panel of horror and Halloween aficionados. Longtime friend of the podcast (and multi-time guest) Kelly McGovern returns to The Black Lodge along with Pop Break staff writer and the king of bangers and bops, Ben Murchison. Also joining the podcast, making their Socially Distanced debuts, are longtime Pop Break editor Ann Hale and Pop Break senior writer Tommy Tracy. 

These four horror and Halloween celebrators discuss their love and lore of the horror genre -- who got them into it, the movies that insipired them and more. In the episode the six-personal panel discusses the trailer for the new Scream film, Amazon Prime Video's episodic adaptation of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Halloween Kills, the proliferation of Halloween in pop culture and more.

This week, hosts Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are rejoined by Pop Break staff writer Tom Moore to discuss a plethora of pop culture subjects. First, the trio do a deep dive into the new James Bond film, No Time to Die. Tom admits this is the first Bond film he's ever seen, which may or may not have broken Bill's mind (he's had a rough year). They discuss the future of Bond, their takes on the fate of the iconic character, their favorite actors in the role, Bond tropes that need to go as well as the underwritten villain and the excellent action sequences. From there, it's all about DC Fandome. Al and Tom discuss the new DC video game titles while Bill refreshes his whiskey. Once his trip to the bar is done they discuss the trailers for The Batman, The Flash, The Peacemaker and Black Adam.

Pop Break Podcast Editor Alex Marcus is the special guest host of The Socially Distanced Podcast this week. He joins Bill Bodkin to preview some of their most highly (and not-so highly) anticipated movies and television shows debuting this fall. First, they dive head first into the new Hawkeye trailer and ponder if She-Hulk or any of The Defenders may debut in the November slated series. From there they discuss Alex's three-week odyssey where he watched nothing but The Sopranos in order to prep for The Many Saints of Newark. This pivots into a discussion comparing Sopranos with Game of Thrones and its upcoming series as well. Other topics include their mutual love for Wes Anderson films in relation to the release of The French Dispatch, whether Bill should watch Squid Game and their favorite horror properties.

The What If? review series comes to a close! Hosts Bill Bodkin and Al Mannarino are joined by series regular and Pop Break senior editor Michael Dworkis and the magnificently named Ken Grand-Pierre to discuss the final episode of the first season of What If? "What If? The Watcher Broke his Oath." They discuss the good and bad the episode, their love of Party Thor, the end credits sequence as well as the series as a whole.

The Socially Distanced Podcast returns to its review of Marvel's What If? Bill Bodkin is flying solo as Al Mannarino is on "assignment" this week. Good news is he's rejoined by two excellent guests -- senior writer Matt "Big Cat" Widdis and senior editor Michael Dworkis to discuss the penultimate episode the animated series' first season. The triumvirate discuss the physical involvement of The Watcher in the episode, the bizarre Armin Zola subplot, the vocal chops of Ross Marquand (who voiced Ultron), the conceit of the episode, how the series could see the formation of a new Avenger and how Strange Supreme and/or The Watcher could be heading to the big screen.