The Drop

Artists like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX have been making music for years, but it's only in the last few weeks they've achieved mainstream commercial success. Their rise marks a radical shift in the pop music landscape, and a new sound that contrasts to titans like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. Osman, Mel and Thomas look at the the revolution in the genre - what prompted it, and who is leading the way.

Plus, Logies nominations trigger a reflection on Australia's television landscape and what's missing from our screens, plus Austin Butler joins the pod to discuss his new outlaw motorcycle gang film The Bikeriders and the state of movies more generally.

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Mel, Thomas and Meg discuss why we're so bloodthirsty for crime series and documentaries, and the genre's prestige glow-up. We discuss the ethics of the genre, why its attracting big name celebrities, and some of our favourite shows from recent years.

Plus, David Sedaris' New Yorker essay and Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie makes the jump to the screen.

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Brat is Charli XCX's best album yet, and one of the best pop records of the year. It's a throwback to 2000's club culture mixed with avant-garde production and lyrics about loss, love and the state of the world.

Osman, Mel and special guest Meg Watson discuss why Brat feels so different to other pop music released this year and Charli's role in the culture.

Plus, they talk about the new prestige show Clipped and how it portrays social media and the rise of the Kardashians in the 2010s, and the totally unhinged Safdie brothers produced documentary series Ren Faire.

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Movies are back! Hit Man is a stylish, twisty romantic thriller from acclaimed director Richard Linklater and stars Glen Powell (Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick). It hits Netflix on Friday and might just be our favourite film of the year.

Osman, Thomas and Mel talk about how the film subverts expectations, balances comedy, romance and big ideas around identity that are central to Linklater's work. They also dive into the director's incredible and diverse filmography and share their favourite of his films.

Plus, a conversation about the latest culture war over hip-hop and Impress Your Friends.

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Join Mel, Thomas and Os as they travel 25 years back into the past, to revisit one of the greatest years in movie history: 1999. From Fight Club and American Beauty, to Magnolia and Cruel Intentions, they discuss the highs and lows of the ground breaking year, and determine what has (and has not) stood the test of time.

Plus, the trio unpack the new generation of Hollywood stars, and a great third act performance from Robert De Niro.

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From The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Trial by Water is a new investigative podcast series about Robert Farquharson, who has been locked up for decades for an unthinkable crime: murdering his three sons in a dam on Father’s Day, 2005.

Now scientists and lawyers are asking the question: did we get it wrong? And is this man in prison for a crime he didn’t commit?

Episode 1 will arrive on Saturday, June 1.

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The fifth instalment in George Miller's Mad Max franchise drives us back into the wasteland with Anya Taylor Joy at the wheel as Furiosa, alongside Chris Hemsworth.

In this week's episode, Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the action-packed blockbuster, how it compares to 2015's Fury Road and examine Mad Max's place in Australian cinematic history. Plus, they debate Taylor Swift's chart battle with Billie Eilish and unpack Scarlett Johansson's fight with artificial intelligence.

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As Baby Reindeer remains one of the most-watched shows globally, Mel and Osman discuss the consequences of drawing on real-life experiences for television, the “real” Martha’s interview with Piers Morgan and why audiences are obsessed with sleuthing. 

They also discuss Donald Trump’s attempt at film podcasting, the Beyonce led takeover of the country charts and the aftermath of the Drake-Kendrick beef.

Finally, they review Such Brave Girls and reveal why it might prove to be the year's best new comedy show.

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The simmering feud between hip hop's biggest stars, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, reached boiling point this week with both artists dropping intensely personal diss tracks that included accusations of child abuse and violence against women. Mel, Thomas and Osman discuss the winners, the losers and the consequences of what could be rap's biggest battle in years.

Plus, pop princess Dua Lipa risks her crown with new release Radical Optimism and Ryan Gosling takes an explosive turn in new action romcom The Fall Guy.

Links: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/anatomy-of-a-rap-feud-the-real-winner-of-the-kendrick-and-drake-beef-20240506-p5fp6a.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/inside-the-stunt-that-saw-ryan-gosling-shut-down-the-harbour-bridge-20240416-p5fk2y.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/we-wanted-someone-funny-we-called-ryan-gosling-hollywood-s-most-hilarious-leading-man-20231101-p5egui.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/ryan-gosling-and-emily-blunt-all-fizzle-and-no-sizzle-in-the-fall-guy-20240422-p5flt0.html

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Jerry Seinfeld ignited a fire when he blamed "the extreme left and PC crap" for ruining comedy in a recent interview with The New Yorker. But is comedy really dead, and if so, who is to blame?

In this week's episode Thomas, Osman, and a fresh-from-her-holiday Mel dissect comedy and cancel culture, before turning to their attention to the claim that we're in the era of so-called "Mid TV". Does Amazon Prime's new rom-com, The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway, show the demise or potential of television in 2024?

Plus, our pop culture recommendations for the week.

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