Socially Distanced

Happy Fourth of July Weekend and Welcome to the 15th Episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast. This week Al and Bill are joined by Pop Break's first-ever intern, former TV editor and current "senior human who does podcasts" -- Matt Taylor.  In this episode the trio talk about the potential of Michael Keaton returning as Batman for the upcoming (maybe?) Flash film. The conversation takes a turn into a retrospective on Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, and Chris O'Donnell's earrings. They also, as the title suggests, speak about Ms. Marvel aka Kamala Khan's role as the lead in the new Avengers video game and her upcoming Disney+ series. Finally, the gang talks about Beyonce's huge announcement that her new visual album Black is King will be premiering on Disney+. 

Musically, Matt and Al speak on The 1975's latest record and where it stands in their catalog and Matt extols the virtues of HBO's Succession.

Pop Break's podcast producer, engineer and editor Lucas P. Jones returns to the Socially Distanced Podcast mostly to talk about meat and beer.

Well, that's not exactly true. Lucas, Al and Bill do talk meat and beer, but they also break down the very important topic of wearing masks in public. The crux of their conversation comes from AMC Movie Theaters initial decision to not require masks when theaters re-open then quickly changing their mind to definitely requiring them. The trio discuss how enforcing mask-wearing would be possible and can movie theaters even survive as a business with restricted capacity.

They also discuss the return of Major League Baseball (which at time of recording was not set in stone) plus James Corden bringing David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker on to judge a DIY Doctor Who costume contest, which is just the guys excuse to talk a lot about Doctor Who.

Pop Break's music editor Kat Manos returns for her third guest appearance on the Socially Distanced podcast -- and she's not alone. Joining Kat once again is Pop Break film contributor, Cole Rothacker.

The duo join Bill and Al to discuss Hollywood (fitting since they live a few minutes north of it) -- in particular the news of the Oscars expanding to 10 Best Picture nominations in 2022 and the Academy's intentions for diversification in its governing body. They also discuss the passing of famed Batman artist Denny O'Neil, David Fincher's Netflix film Mank and the trailer for Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams' Netflix film Eurovision. Bill regales the crew with his famed Harry Potter story.

This is one of the more unusual podcasts we've done so far. This was recorded on Tuesday June 9 at the height of the protests around the United States. Neither Bill nor Al really knew what to talk about or even if the episode should happen, but they figured just talking would be good not only for their own mental health, but would also provide a quick break for everyone listening.

The episode starts with a tribute to former owner of the site John Elliott who passed away earlier in the month. It's then followed by a discussion about the situation in the world and organizations people can check out to donate and learn from (this also happens at the end of the episode).

Things lighten, sort of, with an in-depth discussion about Run the Jewels 4 and how it might be the most important record of 2020. The Watchlist this episode is expanded with Bill discussing Ava DuVernay's drama When They See Us and all of Anthony Bourdain's shows while Al extols the virtues of IFC's Brockmire and Rian Johnson's Knives Out. They close the episode out discussing the teaser trailer for Bill and Ted 3.

The 11th episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast was an episode we weren't sure we even wanted to record, and we were even debating about releasing this week. 

Ultimately, we figured, since the mantra of Pop Break is to provide a pop culture break from the heaviness in the world, that may be a podcast would be a small break in all this. If you want to give this a listen Bill, Al, and special guest Ryan DeMarco talk about our five favorite movies from the 2010s might serve as a bit of a break, and debate whether or not The Social Network, as stated by Quentin Tarantino, is one of the best movies of the decade.

However, the break can't be permanent. If we truly want to see a change in the world, we need to keep putting in the work after the hashtags and memes quiet down. We cannot sit back and let black men and black women to live in fear for their lives every single day. We all, yes we're looking in the mirror when we say this, need to do better, be better, and provide sustained action.

So, enjoy this podcast, and if you have the means please support Black Lives Matter.

It's the 10th episode of the Socially Distanced Podcast, and we're changing all the rules! Al and Bill welcome back their first guest ever, Pop Break's music editor Kat Manos -- and she isn't alone! Her partner and Pop Break contributor Cole Rathacker joins this super-sized episode to talk about the controversial Snyder Cut. 

This much-talked-about version of Justice League will be heading to HBO MAX, and the four talk about why HBO MAX is making this move (and if it makes any sense), as well as the precedent this sets for future movies, the reactions of fandom, and if they'd like to see a film receive the Snyder Cut treatment. After this length debate, they talk about the gloriousness of the latest trailer of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which premiered on Fortnight.

This Week's Music in a Time of Quarantine:

Bill's Pick: "World On Fire" by The Bouncing Souls

Kat's Pick: "Ode To The Mets" by The Strokes

Cole's Pick: "Deep Blue" by The Midnight

Al's Pick: "Then Because She Goes" by The 1975

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This week Al and Bill are joined Pop Break film and television staff writer Ben Murchison.  The trio talks a lot about sports, but also dive into the absolute fiasco that is the release date for New Mutants, and why Disney is insistent on putting this film out in theaters and not streaming. They also dive into Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams's song from the upcoming Netflix film Eurovision, dubbed "Volcano Man," and they look at Disney's decision to pull Hamilton from theaters and move it straight to Disney+.

This Week's Music in a Time of Quarantine:

Bill's Pick: "It Remembers" by Every Time I Die

Ben's Pick: VNSSA (live streams)

Al's Pick:  'Drunk II' by Mannequin Pussy

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This week Al and Bill are joined Pop Break senior writer Laura Dengrove -- who still holds the distinction of being the youngest person to ever write for Pop Break.  The trio discusses LiveNation's plans on potentially instituting drive-in concerts, which of course leads into conversations about the future of concert venues, and why on earth we don't have more drive-in movie theaters. They also discuss the updated version of Robin Sparkles' "Let's Go to the Mall" from How I Met Your Mother, plus they look at the groundbreaking news that Nicolas Cage was cast as Joe Exotic.

This Week's Music in a Time of Quarantine:

Al's Pick:  'Saint Simon' by The Shins

Bill's Pick: Music From The Skywalker Saga by John Williams

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This week, Al & Bill are joined by Rob Crowther IV (Senior Editor, The Pop Break & Host of The Bob Culture Podcast) to discuss the future of going to the movies, All Elite Wrestling's Manitoba Melee, the trailer for HBO's Lovecraft Country, the gloriousness of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and listen to Al and Rob laugh as Bill fumbles his way through a podcast.  

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This week, Al & Bill are joined by Rachel Freeman (Comic Book Editor, The Pop Break) to discuss HBO MAX -- it's content (both immediate and the future JJ Abrams properties), it's cost and will they be picking it up. 

The trio also discusses Seinfeld's upcoming standup special on Netflix, Parks & Recreation's in-character reunion, and The Fraggles coming back to television  

The Soundtrack to our Quarantine:  

Bill's Pick: 'Let's Get High Tonight' by Steel Panther  

Al's Pick: 'OATMILK' by Chelsea Peretti  

Rachel's Pick: 'Gee Officer Krupke' from West Side Story

This podcast is powered by ThePopBreak.com