Socially Distanced

It's Episode 25! That means we're finally here. The moment has arrived. Al and Bill sat down, watched the pilot for the failed 2005 FOX sci-fi/horror/drama/soap -- Point Pleasant. Yes, Point Pleasant, a show supposedly set in the Jersey Shore town Al and Bill know extremely well, but in actuality was probably shot on the same sets The O.C. used. The series was created by Buffy the Vampire Slayer producer Marti Noxon and starred Elisabeth Harnois as maybe the daughter of Satan who washes up in a drama-filled beach town and causes more drama through side-eyed looks and spooky magic. Plain and simple this show is hot garbage and the guys have a blast questioning every aspect of the show as well as their own decision to even watch the show.

Welcome to the 24th Episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast...the one where Al went AWOL. That's right Bill Bodkin flies solo this week, but is thankfully joined by the unofficial (but actual) hosts of the podcast -- Pop Break music editor Kat Manos and staff writer Cole Rothacker.

Amidst Bill's terrible attempts at dad jokes and pseudo-intellectualism, the episode revolves around Disney+'s decision to release Mulan free of charge to subscribers in December (despite a $30 price tag in September). They also discuss the trailers for The Batman and The Suicide Squad as well as the long-awaited trailer for Haunting of Bly Manor -- the spiritual sequel to Mike Flanagan's massive Netflix hit, Haunting of Hill House. They also touch upon their mutual love of Flanagan's Shining sequel Doctor Sleep as well as the time an esteemed British journalist butchered Cole's last name. Tangentially, Bill discusses the time he and Al sorta met Mumford & Sons, the fallout of New Mutants and more.

Finally, Bill, Cole and Kat discuss the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman from the last week. 

Music in a Time of Quarantine:

Bill: "Fight the Power (2020 Remix)" by Public Enemy featuring Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, Jahi, YG & Questlove

Kat: "Supercut" by Lorde

The 23rd episode (we're two weeks from our Point Pleasant watch-a-along!) finds Al and Bill bringing former Pop Break film editor Dan Cohen out of retirement to talk about his favorite thing the world (outside of Tom Brady) -- Batman the films of the DCEU.

The reason our heroes dusted the moth balls off of Dan was because the DC Fandome event which premiered trailers and teasers for The Batman (starring Robert Pattinson), The Suicide Squad (directed by James Gunn), Wonder Woman 84, along with the brand new DC video games, including Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Al, Bill and Dan discuss their thoughts on the overall presentation of Fandome, their levels of excitement going forward for the DCEU and more.

This week The Socially Distanced Podcast heads to the golden fields of Iowa as Al and Bill are joined by Pop Break staff writer, Christian Bischoff.  Christian gives us the insight on a phenomenon called The Corn Sweats, and if you thinking we're kidding you're dead wrong.

Once the science lesson ends, we dive into the big story -- Disney's decision to move Mulan to Disney+ at $30 price tag. The trio discuss the ramifications of this -- especially if Mulan is a hit -- on VOD and movie theaters in the future. They also discuss the price point they'd be willing to go on a film on demand and would this VOD model work for concerts and festivals.

Later in the episode Al, Bill and Christian talk about the trailer for the new Charlie Kaufman film I'm Thinking of Leaving You as well as the Duffer Brothers announcement that the Stranger Things story would not end, as originally intended, with Season 4.

Music Recs for This Week Are:

Al: 'Prom Queen' by Beach Bunny

Bill: 'Cheap Regrets' by The Districts

Christian: 'Clenched Teeth' by Okay Kaya

Special guest Tommy Siegel (Jukebox the Ghost) joins Al and Bill to talk about his upcoming book (I Hope This Helps) and debut solo album (Another Century Wasted). 

They also discussed the current state of the music industry, the genesis of his daily comics project, recording music during a pandemic, and much much more. 

This Week's Music in a Time of Quarantine:

Al's Pick: MTV Unplugged, Bleachers 

Bill's Pick: No Instructions, The Happy Fits

Tommy's Pick: Future Teenage Cave Artists, Deerhoof

Pre-0rder I Hope This Helps: Comics and Cures for 21st Century Panic and Another Century Wasted at https://tommysiegel.net/ 

Al and Bill are joined this episode by senior music writer for ThePopBreak.com, Anthony Toto ... and there's a lot to talk about. First, The Rock bought The XFL? Yeah, the XFL. The trio discuss the weird history of the XFL and how Dwayne Johnson's involvement could only mean big things for them. Also, in the world of sports, they discuss the return of baseball, basketball and hockey and how it's been watching them as a fan.

Also on the podcast, the amazing soundtrack to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 gets discussed in great detail as well as the potential greatness of the latest Pixar's (potential) 2021 release, Luca. Anthony also talks about why everyone needs to be listening to the band Protest the Hero and the guys give their recommendations for shows and movies to watch during quarantine.

Our heroes (Bill and Al) are joined by The Pop Break’s Music Editor, Kat Manos and writer Cole Rothacker as they continue their streak of visiting the pod once a month to discuss the lackluster buzz surrounding Comic Con @ Home, the return of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Amazon Prime Video’s Truth Seekers, and an Adam McKay produced limited series focusing on the race to cure COVID-19.

In the recommendations sections of the podcast, Al becomes a full on dad with his music pick and they briefly discuss the release of Taylor Swift’s 8th studio, folklore and the wave of hate aimed at online reviewers from some of her more toxic fan base.

The 18th episode of The Socially Distanced Podcast finds Bill and Al talking with longtime senior Pop Break writer, the man who redesigned the site and plays a mean Attack! Attack! cover -- Mr. Nick Porcaro. On this episode - Bill, Al and Nick discuss the very real and very devastating news that (according to a head organizer of Lollapalooza) that live music may not return until 2022. The trio discuss the possibilities of concerts next year and how this news would impact both festivals and concert venues alike. Elsewhere, they talk about the Russo Bros new film - The Gray Man (not Bill Bodkin) - starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans and how this is a monstrous move for Netflix. Finally, they talk about BRZRKR the new comic book written and starring (?) Keanu Reeves. On the TV side of things Al talks about his obsession with Rob Riggle narrated mini-golf while Nick extols the virtues of the band Don Broco.

The 17th episode of The Socially Distanced Podcast was a wild one! Al Mannarino and Bill Bodkin are joined, once again, by Pop Break's social media manager, Alisha Weinberger. In the episode, the "WTF" segment deals with the absolutely mind-boggling decision that Disney World made to re-open during the massive increase of COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida. They discuss if they would go to Disney now, or any time soon and how the park can even monitor people adhering to their rules.

Later in the episode, they discuss the trailer for Umbrella Academy Season 2 (and if it could top Season One) as well as the announcement of a Matt Reeves-produced Gotham crime drama -- and how it needs to differentiate itself from Gotham.

Al and Bill celebrate the four-month anniversary of the podcast with a very special guest (and their first non Pop-Break guest), Kelly McGovern. Kelly is a social media ambassador for a number of independent movie houses in New Jersey and is one of Bill and Al's favorite people to pop culture with.

In this episode, the trio talk about Kanye West's announcement via Twitter on July 4 that he will be running for President in the 2020 election. They follow that whole debacle up with their thoughts on the trailer for Seth Rogen's HBO MAX film, An American Pickle plus their thoughts on Florence Pugh's future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the recommendations sections of the podcast Al, Bill and Kelly talk about the phenom that is Hamilton's debut on Disney plus then Al and Kelly go down the Dan Stevens aka DAMN STEVENS rabbit hole when discussing Eurovision. Musically, Dua Lipa's album Future Nostalgia, The White Stripes' record DeStijl and Phoebe Bridgers' new record Punisher get the big recs this episode.