The Overrated Podcast

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the latest in entertainment, starting with the first episode of 'Untold' (Netflix) that features the 2004 Pacers-Pistons "Malice at the Palace" brawl, including Ron Artest and mental health in the NBA, as well as the basketball impact and Reggie Miller's career ending (3:00). Next, they check in with Marvel's 'What-If' show (DIsney+) after one episode, whether changing Captain America to Captain Carter was a meaningful enough change, and if the future stories show promise (21:00). Finally, they review James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' (HBO Max), the uneven handling of its characters, the missed opportunity to provide sound political commentary, and whether there are fixes for James Gunn's directorial monotony (33:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the Russell Westbrook trade and whether it is worth the risk (4:00), how Scarlett Johansson's legal battle with Disney could shape the landscape of streaming profitability (18:45), the reactions on both sides to Simone Biles' withdrawal from the Olympics due to mental health (34:18), and end with a deep dive on Mindy Kaling's second season of 'Never Have I Ever' (48:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta take a look at the landscape of the NBA following the Bucks' Finals win, including the legacies of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Paul, the relevance of 'asterisk' seasons, the big Kevin Durant what-if moment, and the frontrunning nature of sports punditry (2:00). Then, they give their thoughts on the new Space Jam: A New Legacy, debating to what standard the movie should be held, whether the father-son message was effective, LeBron's ability as a Hollywood leading man, and the inevitable comparisons to the original movie (34:30). Finally, they wonder whether Kanye West's Donda will ever be released, if this cycle of broken promises is what we should expect from Kanye from now on, the unfinished nature of the album from what was played, and whether Kanye still cares about music (57:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta deliver an action-packed episode, discussing the recent UFC main event between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor (2:30), the end of Twitter's 'Fleets' feature and the beginning of YouTube's #shorts (17:30), Marvel's return to cinema with 'Black Widow (36:30), and the Season 1 finale of 'Loki' (50:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the new 'The Suicide Squad' trailer, how James Gunn can influence the tone of the movie, and whether the new DC continuity is a good strategy (1:30). Then, they check in with 'Loki' on Disney+ having reached the halfway point, whether to be optimistic about the risks Marvel has taken, and how Owen Wilson and Sophia di Martino's characters add to the richness of the show (38:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down every major announcement in Nintendo's E3 presentation including the hype level for the sequel to 'Breath of the Wild', the evolution or lack thereof in character additions for Super Smash Bros, and the highly anticipated return of Samus in 'Metroid Dread' (2:00). Then, they discuss the curious announcement of a 'Beauty and the Beast' inspired prequel series featuring the villain Gaston on Disney+ (37:00). Finally, they check in on the NBA playoffs following the conclusion of the second round, revisit their picks and give new ones, and eulogize the Ben Simmons / Rudy Gobert archetype (50:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the 'Cruella' movie (Disney+) and the evolving villain anthology genre, including the purpose of having villains as protagonists, whether this should be and can be viewed as a standalone work, and how it compares to films such as 'Solo' and 'Joker' (9:30). Then, they discuss the Paul brothers' foray into professional boxing, and how celebrities will figure into the sport going forward (47:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta eulogize the 2020-2021 Los Angeles Lakers, discussing what went wrong, whether last offseason's moves should be second-guessed in hindsight, projecting the team's needs moving forward, and whether the injury history is concerning (1:00). Then, they discuss who to root for and give their picks for the second round of the playoffs (18:00). Finally, they break down Olivia Rodrigo's debut album 'Sour' (31:45)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta preview the entire NBA playoff bracket, giving their picks for each first-round series including the number of games, as well as their picks for hypothetical later series if the bracket were to play out as expected.

Note: This episode was recorded on Friday May 21 following the Memphis Grizzlies' win over the Golden State Warriors in the 8-9 play-in matchup.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down Bill Gates' controversial position surrounding vaccine patents, including the power he commands due to his wealth, the human cost of his decisions, and whether his reputation as 'the good billionaire' still holds (2:45). Then, they discuss Andrew Yang's mayoral race in New York City in light of questions surrounding his time at Venture for America, including the context of his presidential bid, and the policy vs persona elements of his campaign (28:45)

Articles discussed:

Is the Shine Starting to Come Off Bill Gates’s Halo? by Tim Schwab (The Nation)

Andrew Yang Promised to Create 100,000 Jobs. He Ended Up With 150. by Brian Rosenthal & Katie Glueck (The New York Times)