The Pop Break

Welcome to TV Break, where Pop Break’s Podcasts Editor Alex Marcus is joined by editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin, and TV Columnist Josh Sarnecky to talk about the happenings in television.

This month Alex is continuing his work to get Suits: LA back on the air, so this month Josh & Bill are flying solo.

Here’s the format of the show:

The Best Thing I Saw on TV Last Month  – Bill, & Josh talk about a show/episode/event they liked from the last month including: Netflix’s Frieren Season 2 and This is a Gardening Show, Demons of the Shadow Realm on Crunchyroll, and  Disney Plus' Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Maul: Shadow Lord.

Newsbreak – This month, they are discussing the news of Netflix adding “clips” feed on vertical video on their mobile app. This feed will feature YouTube Shorts/TikTok-esque clips from current shows and movies as well as past favorites. Disney+ has done something similar called “Verts.” Bill and Josh discuss this and if it’ll work … and if they’re too old to be the target audience.

Streaming Wars – Bill, & Josh each selected their top streamer of the month. Josh honorably mentions HBO MAX due to the buzz around Euphoria Season 3, The Pitt and its finale, but ultimately picks AppleTV. This is due to the new series Widows Bay which has received high reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s also Shrinking Season 3, the return of F1 Racing, For All Mankind and Ted Lasso, the success of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and the new season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Meanwhile Bill gives it to Disney+/Hulu/ESPN due to May being a huge month for Star Wars, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Zootopia 2 as well its sports presentation of the NFL Draft, the NBA Playoffs, Savanna Bananas, and their first broadcast Wrestlemania.

New Series Spotlight  – This month Bill and Josh return to TV Break’s most watched streamer (that could be a lie) AppleTV for Widows Bay. The series was created, written and produced by Katie Dippold who wrote Ghostbusters (2016), The Heat, Spy, and Haunted Mansion … and is a fellow Rutgers University Journalism alumnus like Bill. The series stars Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason) as the beleaguered mayor of a small New England island. He’s trying desperately to drum up summer tourism business via a NY Times article, but a mysterious fog and an apparent curse may derail his plans.

Welcome to “Not Couple Goals” where co-hosts Allie Nelson and Tyler McCarthy do a deep dive into a different ridiculous romantic thriller from the vantage point of their long-term relationship.

Allie, a TV writer/producer and actress, has an affinity for romantic thrillers, the more salacious the better. Tyler, an entertainment reporter and critic, often finds himself drawn in despite his better judgment. Join them as they explore all the ways it’s possible to love too hard… like WAY too hard.

In this episode, Allie and Tyler peel back the curtain behind cinema’s most poorly kepy secret society with “The Skulls.” Join them as they rage at this movie’s poorly executed plot, unnecessarily shaky camera work and its ability to get Creed’s “Higher” stuck in their heads. They also briefly get into this film’s two — yes, somehow TWO — direct-to-DVD sequels.

Special thanks to Mallory Johns for the introduction music.

Please don’t forget to follow our hosts on Twitter @ANelRetentive & @TylerMcCarthy and Instagram @ANelRetentive and to check out Tyler’s writing at USA Insider and Allie’s at Parade and Business Insider!

This year, The Pop Break is excited to bring you some very special programming during those extra long weeks when your favorite Pop Break podcasters are taking a rest. Pop Break staffer and host of the Media/Lit Podcast Randy Allain is your master of ceremonies as we take some creative journeys down the corridors of popular culture. 

This month, in anticipation of May the Fourth, we’ve gathered some Pop  Break all stars and friends to build multiversal super teams from across the Star Wars canon. Randy is joined by Pop Break superstars Bill Bodkin, Amanda Rivas, Ben Murchison, and Kris Ingersoll; also travelling to a galaxy far far away are Kris “PerCos” of the Conculture Podcast, Case Aiken of the Certain POV podcast network, and Kelvin Kately of the DFPN.

Join us as we gather unique crews and forge new partnerships to tell epic stories across the Star Wars canon we know and love.

There’s arguably no superhero in existence that has been reimagined, redefined, or reinterpreted more than Batman.  No matter how many times he’s been rebooted, audiences are always willing to come back to Gotham City’s greatest defender.  With so much Bat content out there, there’s plenty to dissect, analyze, and of course, rank!  This podcast is dedicated to a surgical evaluation of Batman’s history, with a focus on ranking several topics in the world of Batman, among other classic Bat themes and characters.

Join hosts Daniel Cohen, Pop Break’s former Film Editor, and Kris Ingersoll, co-host of the Media/Lit podcast, as they bring on several guests every month to share their passion for the one and only Dark Knight.  From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, no bat stone will be left unturned.  Bottom-line: If you’re a Batman fan, this is required listening.

In our continuing yearlong theme for the Eras of Batman, we enter one of the most divisive eras of them all…

THE SCHUMACHER ERA

The Batman franchise has seen many iterations, but few are as polarizing as the films helmed by director Joel Schumacher in the 1990s: Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. If you've ever wondered about the legacy of these films, or if you’ve found yourself laughing at their campy charm, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’ll delve into the Schumacher era of Batman, examining its initial reception, the nostalgic reassessment it has undergone, and why it remains a beloved topic among fans today. After that, they run down the top ten most iconic 90s costumes and gear from these two films!

Joining Kris and Daniel to break it all down, we have both hosts of the Anniversary Brothers Podcast, Aaron and Josh Sarnecky!

Hello and welcome to Bill vs the MCU! Each month your hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pop Break Podcasting Director Alex Marcus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pop Break Editor in Chief Bill Bodkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are taking another step into the wider Marvel Multiverse as the MCU dives deeper into their Multiverse Saga.

Bill & Alex spent all of 2022 rewatching the first four phases of the MCU, and, in the years since, they have covered the first four seasons of Agents of SHIELD, the entire Netflix Defenders Saga, Fox’s X-Men,  Fantastic Four, and Daredevil films, the Blade trilogy, a few Punisher films, Ang Lee’s Hulk, and, most recently, Marvel’s Modern Animation line up of shows.

This month, Alex & Bill deep dive on wild and wacky bromance between Eddie Brock and his lovable, murderous symbiote pal, Venom, in the Venom trilogy of films: Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024). They also give their thoughts on the Avengers: Doomsday presentation at this year’s CinemaCon.

Come back next month for part five of Podding the Spider-Verse with reviews of Morbius (2022) and Madame Web (2024), both available to stream on Disney Plus and Kraven (2024), now available on VOD!

This is Podelay, a podcast dedicated to alternative rock pioneer Beck Hansen! After completing their Pod of Doom series, Randy Allain (Media/Lit) and Justin Mancini (TheCineMaverick.com) are back to take on a whole new genre. Our resident music podcasters are joined by Kris Ingersoll of Batman by the Numbers and the Media/Lit podcast, and this time, Randy steps into the host chair so that Justin can discover something new.

In the sixth episode, Kris rejoins Justin and Randy as they delve into the funkadelic escapades of Beck’s Midnite Vultures, with Kris sporting a hot pink tie and pants (apologies that this isn’t a visual podcast). From fresh rhymes to riffs on Prince, robo-beats to Nick Offerman anecdotes, there’s plenty for the trio to talk about from Beck’s most danceable album yet.

In every episode, each host will spotlight the following:

·        Where It’s At: a track they really like.

·        It’s A Loser, Baby: a track they don’t.

·        Sing It Again: a favorite lyric.

·        Such A Beautiful Way: a favorite musical moment.

Join them as they travel to a destination a little up the road from the conversations and the pods you know. Please join us for the show that poses one simple question: I’m a podcast, baby, so why don’t you stream me?

Host Picks:

Where It’s At (A Song We Think Is Underrated or Just Really Like)

Justin – Milk & Honey

Kris – Debra

Randy – Sexx Laws

It’s a Loser, Baby (A Song We Don’t Like So Much)

Justin – N/A

Kris – Mixxed Business (qualified)

Randy – Get Real Paid (qualified)

Sing It Again (A Favorite Lyric)

Justin – Debra

Kris – Hollywood Freaks

Randy – Beautiful Way

Such a Beautiful Way (A Favorite Musical Moment)

Justin – Hollywood Freaks

Kris – Peaches & Cream

Randy – Nicotine & Gravy/Peaches & Cream

Other Artists We’ve Been Listening To:

Justin – Tingstad and Rumbel

Kris – Jack White

Randy – Beethoven

Your reality TV besties have arrived! Michelle Chapman and Mostly Nitpicking’s DJ Chapman are dishing on all the drama, delusion, and occasionally genuine emotion from your favorite dating and competition shows. Love is Blind? Covered. RuPaul's Drag Race? Absolutely. The entire Bachelor franchise and whatever Netflix dropped this week? Honey, they watched it so you don't have to — but honestly, you should watch it too.

This week, Michelle and DJ cover the finale of Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 18. They both give their thoughts on who won and possibly who should have won. Michelle talks about a special in person screening of the finale she saw where she got to meet some of the queens. They wrap up with some brief Age of Attraction coverage and what they will cover this upcoming summer.

Check back in a few weeks for the next episode of Roses & Rejections, when the pod will be covering Drag Race All Stars following its premiere on May 8th. 

It’s Podwork Angels: The Rush Hour, a podcast dedicated to the Canadian rock band Rush! Justin Mancini of TheCineMaverick.com & Cinema Joes is joined by fellow Cinema Joes podcast host Noah Franc of FrancNoir as they delve into the discography of Canada’s favorite sons, from 1974 to 2012.

In this special bonus episode of the long-dormant podcast, Justin and Noah sit down with prolific author and rock/metal connoisseur Daniel Bukszpan to discuss his recent book, Rush & 2112. They talk about the band’s breakthrough album, common misconceptions about its making, and of course, why Rush have cemented their place in the pantheon of rock gods.

Don't forget to check out Daniel’s book here!

There’s never a dull moment in the world of anime and Pop Break is diving right into the action! Join anime enthusiasts Amanda Rivas and Josh Sarnecky as they geek out monthly with dedicated experts and special guests on exciting anime news, trending anime in TV and/or movies, and anime recommendations spanning different genres that everyone should be watching. If you are a lifelong anime lover or taking the initial leap into the genre that has something for everyone, this is the podcast for you!

Join us as we finally all meet in Elbaph with The Elder Emo Branden Vice as Josh met his goal of completely catching up with One Piece. 

Our enthusiasts take a stroll through the anime content minds to discuss favorite series they’ve been watching recently, including Josh’s and Amanda’s recommendation of Daemons of the Shadow Realm; Amanda’s additional recommendation of Agents of the Four Seasons; and Branden’s recommendation of Ace of Diamonds - Season 2. All recommendations are found on Crunchyroll. 

In Anime News, they share their thoughts on the unfortunate leak of the upcoming Aang: The Last Airbender film.

In their feature review section, our enthusiasts discuss the premiere episodes of the highly anticipated Witch Hat Atelier and Season 2 of One Piece. They talk about what worked and did not, whether the hype for both was well deserved, and also dove into current One Piece manga theories and reveals. 

Join us next month as we put our draft hats back on for our exciting Pokemon draft!

Josh and Aaron Sarnecky are here to celebrate Hannah Montana for its 20th anniversary, or Hannahversary, if you will.

Hannah Montana is a musical teen sitcom created by Michael Poryes, Richard Correll, and Barry O’Brien. It debuted on Disney Channel on March 24, 2006. It ran for 98 episodes, ending on January 16, 2011. The series also spawned a concert movie and a feature film.

The series follows ordinary teenager Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) who is also secretly pop star Hannah Montana. Managing her career is her father Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus). Miley has an older brother, Jackson (Jason Earles), and her best friends are Lilly (Emily Osment) and Oliver (Mitchel Musso).

Other characters include Rico (Moisés Arias), the young manager of Rico’s Surf Shop, Hannah’s ex-bodyguard Roxy Roker (Frances Callier), Hannah’s rival Mikayla (Selena Gomez), Miley’s deceased mother Susan (Brooke Shields), and her aunt Dolly (Dolly Parton).

Hannah Montana attracted many special guests acting as themselves, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the show and Taylor Swift in the feature film. It crossed over with Disney shows like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and That’s So Raven. 

Disney released multiple albums for Hannah Montana. The show was nominated for four Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Children’s Program. In 2026, a 20th anniversary special aired on Disney+.

Aaron and Josh discuss their relationship with the series, the pilot, and the show’s characters, humor, and music. They also talk about the anniversary special and Miley Cyrus’ career.

For more Disney Channel, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcast on The Luck of the Irish.

Hannah Montana is streaming on Disney+