Podcasting the Pith of Pop
Posts by Ryan
Popspotting #207: “The River” (Feb. 7, 2012)
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ABC’s new paranormal adventure series “The River” premieres tonight on ABC. We weigh in on the first two hours for TV Tuesday. Created by Oren Peli of “Paranormal Activities” fame, the show stars Bruce Greenwood, Joe Anderson, Paul Blackthorne, Paulina Gaitan, Leslie Hope, Eloise Mumford, Shaun Parkes, Thomas Kretschmann, and Daniel Zacapa.
Popspotting #206: “Chronicle” (Feb. 6, 2012)
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We go back to the multiplex to check out a recent release for Movie Monday. Jen wanted to see the new Daniel Radcliffe film, but Ryan’s a big chicken, so we went to see “Chronicle” instead. We didn’t know anything going in, but coming out, we were thoroughly entertained.
“Chronicle” comes from the relatively new team of director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis (son of director John Landis) and stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, and Alex Russell as a group of Seattle teens who suddenly find themselves with special powers, and the problems that come with them.
Popspotting #205: “Hunger Giants” (Feb. 3, 2012)
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We kick off Feedback Friday focusing on the written word, with your thoughts on books like “Ready Player One” and “Hunger Games.” Then it’s onto movie talk, touching on “Midnight in Paris” and “Mission Impossible.” Listeners also send in reports of movie theater innovations across the country. Finally, we get to your top songs from 1992.
Popspotting #204: “Breaking Rock Revenge” (Feb. 2, 2012)
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Today’s guest only moved to New York two months ago, but she manages to share some of the ambiance of city life along with her picks: “30 Rock” on NBC, “Revenge” on ABC, and “Breaking Bad” on AMC. Andrea Zuniga (@iandrea) once had us on her podcast, so we get to turn the tables with music trivia.
Popspotting #203: “An Education at the End” (Feb. 1, 2012)
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As we roll into February, we figured it was time we went back to the books. Today Jen reviews “An Education,” a memoir by Lynn Barber, and “John Dies at the End,” a web serial by John Wong of Cracked.com fame that became a book (and has now become a movie).
“An Education” was the inspiration for the 2009 film starring Carey Mulligan, but the story told on screen was but one chapter in Barber’s life. As the memoir explains, that naive young girl would go on to work for Penthouse magazine. As for “John Dies at the End,” it’s a story that defies categorization, but overflows with colorful, pop culture-savvy storytelling (and the occasional poop joke).
Popspotting #202: “Touch of Alcatraz” (Jan. 31, 2012)
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Today for TV Tuesday we focus on FOX, starting with the preview broadcast of “Touch” starring Kiefer Sutherland, and moving on to the long-awaited broadcast premiere of “Alcatraz” starring Sam Neill, Jorge Garcia and Sarah Jones.
“Touch” was created by Tim Kring, he of “Heroes” fame (or infamy), and stars Kiefer Sutherland as Martin, single dad to troubled son Jacob, played by David Mazouz. In last week’s “preview event,” airing well ahead of the show’s official premiere on March 19, we also met Danny Glover as all-knowing professor Arthur and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as skeptical social worker Clea. It was an ambitious pilot, but can the conceit be sustained over an entire series?
Also, while we saw the first hour of “Alcatraz” at Comic-Con last July, it was a long wait before it finally hit the airwaves two weeks ago. Created by former “LOST” scribe Elizabeth Sarnoff (along with Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt) and backed by executive producers J.J. Abrams, Jack Bender and Bryan Burk, the show follows the history and new misdeeds of escaped Alcatraz inmates. What’s the real reason for their return? And do we have the patience to wait for the next big reveal?
Popspotting #201: “Attack the Block” (Jan. 30, 2012)
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This British sci-fi flick charmed nearly everyone who saw it. Alas, too few people saw it. “Attack the Block” came out last May, but apart from making a small splash at SXSW in Austin and getting a very limited North American release, it has relied on word of mouth and DVD/Blu-Ray rentals and sales to find an audience. Thanks to Matt and other Popspotting listeners, you can count us among its fans as well. Written and directed by Joe Cornish, “Attack the Block” stars John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard and Nick Frost.
Popspotting #200: “2011 and 1912″ (Jan. 20, 2012)
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Our 200th show is a completely arbitrary milestone (since we didn’t relaunch with our daily format until Episode #53), but it feels good, nonetheless. And fittingly, it’s you that provide today’s conversation topics, from your own “Best of 2011″ picks for movies, TV, music and books, to the brilliance of “Downton Abbey.”
Popspotting wouldn’t exist without your suggestions, reactions, and conversations, so we again thank you for sticking with us. And we hope you’ll never hesitate to reach out and speak out on anything under the vast pop culture umbrella.
“Downton Abbey” fans shouldn’t miss “Uptown Downstairs Abbey” on YouTube, as mentioned on this week’s show. You can find both Part 1 and Part 2 online, courtesy the BBC.
Popspotting #199: “Wars Love Once” (Jan. 19, 2012)
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Today’s PopTalk & Trivia Guest is Ms. Wright (@TheRealMsWright) from behind the “Lost Mirror Moments” podcast. She grew up and still lives in the Austin, Texas area. She’s a cubicle slave during the week and a photographer on the weekend, She loves reality TV and sci-fi, and is perfectly capable of being into “So You Think You Can Dance” and “LOST” at the same time.
Popspotting #198: “Hawaii 101″ (Jan. 18, 2012)
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We’ve covered Hawaiian music and local food. We’ve given virtual tours of the Big Island and Hilo Town. And we’ve got other Hawaii shows in the works. But today, we focused on your questions about the Aloha State.
What are the different islands? How do people travel among them? What are the best places to visit with kids? It’s “Hawaii 101,” a general introduction to the 50th state, plus travel advice for first-time visitors. And it’s just the start. We have more listener questions to get to, and we welcome new ones, should you find us to be reasonably amusing guides to the islands.
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