The Drop

They say never let the truth get in the way of a good story, but what about a funny joke? Following on from the New Yorker’s allegations that comedian Hasan Minhaj fabricated stories in his Netflix specials, Osman, Mel and Thomas discuss how much comedians should be allowed to embellish on stage, why Minhaj was fact-checked when other stand-ups aren’t, and where the line is when it comes to “emotional truth.”

Plus, Mel learns about drill rap via the OneFour doco on Netflix, and there’s a new fine-dining drama that might just be better than The Bear.

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Britney Spears is the latest celebrity to release a tell-all memoir, covering her rise to fame, relationships and controversial conservatorship. With the increasing popularity of celebrity memoirs, Julia Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith have also recently released much-hyped books, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack what role they play in our understanding of pop culture and the ethics of telling one-side of the story.

Plus, they cover the battle between Taylor Swift and Martin Scorcese at the box office and share their culture recommendations for the week.

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From Goodfellas to Taxi Driver, The Wolf of Wall Street to The Departed, Martin Scorcese has made some of the biggest and best films in Hollywood history. But his latest film, Killers of the Flowers Moon, which focuses on a series of murders in the US in the 1920s  could be the director at his very best.

Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss (spoiler-free) the Killers of the Flower Moon, and why it feels so important in this current moment. They compare notes on Scorsese's body of work, talk about their favourite films and zero in on his long running relationship with his two leads: Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

Plus, Mel gives the thumbs up to Green Dot, a buzzy literary debut from a young Australian author and Osman talks about why he is into Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher. 

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Back in 2017 some of Australia's biggest stars, including Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue, publicly backed the same-sex marriage campaign. But in the lead-up to the Voice referendum most celebrities have been silent.

Osman, Thomas and Mel look at who is weighing into the Voice debate, who is staying quiet and unpack what role celebrity endorsements play in modern culture.

Plus, they talk about Netflix's new film Fair Play, the Oscar-worthy romance Past Lives and the gripping new novel Bright Young Women.

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Netflix's latest blockbuster sports documentary, directed by Succession's Fisher Stevens, is about the life and career of David Beckham, and his relationship with Victoria (aka Posh Spice), Osman, Thomas and Mel review Beckham, discuss what makes a sports documentary and talk about whether celebrities have too much control when it comes to telling the story of their lives before sharing their favourite sports docos of all time. Then they dig into The Gold, a gripping heist drama that deserves more buzz, before sharing their recommendations in Impress Your Friends.

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Taylor Swift has already dominated the cultural conversation in 2023 and now she's turning her attention to professional sports, with a surprise appearance at an NFL match leading to a global meltdown. Osman, Thomas and Mel break down what exactly this crossover event means for pop culture and Swift, and why everyone is obsessed with Travis Kelce.

Plus, they discuss the end of the Hollywood writers' strike, and share their recommendations in Impress Your Friends.

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A years long investigation into Russell Brand has seen the actor, comedian and controversial commentator accused of sexual assault by multiple women. Brand denies the allegations, but this week a number of examples of him acting inappropriately towards women have resurfaced. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack Brand's rise to fame, why his behaviour was never reined in and what his career, and the allegations against him, reveal about celebrity culture.

Plus, we introduce a new segment: Impress Your Friends, featuring pop culture recommendations from each of the hosts.

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Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is back with her second album Guts, and it’s receiving rave reviews. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss reaction to the album, the drama surrounding it, and what it says about the state of pop music right now. Plus, some of the insane celebrity relationship drama making headlines recently, and what it tells us about the state of humanity and our own brains.

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Osman, Thomas and Mel share what films, television, books and music they are most looking forward to over the next few months. From Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon to Olivia Rodrigo's Guts and Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me, here's the pop culture you don't want to miss.

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The biggest song in the world right now is Rich Men North of Richmond, a controversial country anthem. But is it's success really organic, or is it part of a right-wing plot to take over the charts?

Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the song's popularity and its politics amid the massive surge country music is experiencing. Songs from Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are dominating the charts, representing a significant shift away from pop and hip-hop.

So why is country so popular right now, and what does it mean about how we consume music?

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