It’s good but meh. I’ll only listen to the K Pop Demon Hunters one. I didn’t like their pronunciation on a couple things but it’s good. Also, they have a lot of white people for hosting. Expect for one person. But if you haven’t watched it don’t listen.

Hi2Lo Thank you for the review - saw the film yesterday and SO needed to hear a discussion! King character was not wicked enough for me to believe he would trade a oerson’s life for money. Wright played Paul beautifully and had me crying. The two sons - great acting! SO HAPPY TO SEE A SPIKE LEE JOINT AGAIN!

These dorks are often the highlight of my day. Thanks to the Core 4 for keeping it real

Love the show! Steven Thompson/Linda Holmes. I want to hear the story of how you created the show, please.

I so enjoyed the takes on Freaky Friday, but I was surprised that there was no reference to the 1976 original with Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. It was distracting how much they discussed the original, and specifically referring to the 2003 version. It would be so interesting to compare how each generation tackled the perspectives of the mother daughter dynamic for Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z and how each movie was defined by the culture of the time and the timeless commentary that it’s still as hard being a young woman or a single mother now, 20 years ago or nearly 50 years ago. Give that movie its props! :) I do look forward to seeing this updated FF movie especially knowing Manny Jacinto is in it!

I enjoy this podcast. I hope you review Chief of War with Jason Momoa

When I am looking for things to watch/listen to, and the options are endless, I always come here to narrow my options. The reviews are honest and informative without spoilers. I get a list of recommendations that is curated for my family. I get options for my tween kids, my husband and I, and just me. This is a go-to podcast for all things pop culture. So grateful for this and the hosts.

I like pop culture, so I tried this show. This show definitely views things through a political lens instead of artistically. I find it distracting and ruins movies, music and shows they talk about.

I enjoy the show but the perspectives or so……white. Unless Aisha is present, I always expect one perspective. Example: song of the the summer episode was probably thee most white washed episode I’ve listened to.

This podcast is more enjoyable than most of the content they review! And keeps getting better! Now that it’s daily the average quality has gone down. But it went from six stars to five stars. Maybe not even. The TOTAL quality podcast in my ears is higher so it’s a win. Love it! Thank you so much for making this!

STOP HAVING THAT LADY ON MY GOD

I love 😍😍😍the episode about k-pop demon hunters🎤 U all should listen to it! 💋💋💋

HOW? How can anyone - ANYONE - like this show? The ridiculous producer scenarios are oh-so-so over they top that I could buy watch 2 and a half episodes. I appreciate the host’s discussion of all things entertainment, and I hope with this short missive to persuade them to reevaluate their standards for comedy because The Studio is not funny - it’s absurd, and not in a good way.

This podcast is good but it’s too much for a year yes i know usually podcasts on apple don’t respond to these reviews but of u read this and u do something that would be interesting

important to note

With the proliferation of content I need these people to help me navigate what’s good, what’s great, what’s unusual, what I would never discover on my own and most of all, what to avoid. I like the expanded group of reviewers that have come into the picture in recent years.

In general I like this podcast. Have found many movies that I wouldn’t have otherwise watched. Likewise for the critics who didn’t like a movie but exposure on this show made me actually like it. But listening to Linda Holmes is hard to stomach. She whines and critiques from a white entitled privileged pov. She’s just awful.

Again. Really enjoyed this film and wanted to listen to commentary on people who might have more insight or depth to discuss because idk, it’s your job and supposed expertise but again so bland and disappointing. Continuing to unfollow. NPR can do better

Finally reached my breaking point with the amateur-sounding, lit-crit-adjacent focus on identity politics, how characters are “coded,” and discussions of *fictional* popular entertainment as if the characters are real people who are personally responsible for their politics. Weirdly, what pushed me over is discussion of a movie I won’t even go see: Elio. Making the case that a mediocre kids movie is more interesting because it has “something to say about masculinity” is sloppy and sophomoric, and betrays a very specific and condescending political position on the part of the hosts. I just want to know if the story is well-told, if the acting is good, if the direction is spot on or not, if the writing is well-done… basically I want to know if it’s good entertainment, not if it’s “good” politics. The hosts across the board are increasingly geeking out on the politics and culture of representation more than on the nuances of how the film/tv show under discussion fits into the current and historical pop culture landscape - in this case, how about more on the fall of Pixar? The other stuff is only interesting to a narrow band of people of a certain specific demographic. It’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, not Politics and Culture Help for the Hard Left.

Vocal fries, statements ending with upturned inflections, as if they were questions, weird affected accents and inflections. UGH

JAWS was released 50 years ago…because I was there! 😌🦈 Love the pod!

How come not covering the Tonys anymore?

This is one of the best pop culture pods. Multiple hosts provide diverse perspectives on TV & movies.

6 ads before any review starts. What are we doing here. Used to be 2/3.

I can’t believe how insufferable some of these hosts have become. I can’t with these Gen Z, pseudo-anxiety ridden people who have no life perspective, over-intellectually a review for Final Destination! These people are the same people who need to take a pillow with them on the plane.

Definitely Kathy Bates, especially when other of her co-stars really got into it. Also, give Alfonso a break he hosts DWTS and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Love this podcast and hosts - one request, more Tre’vel Anderson as a guest.

Been listening for years and still love listening to the episodes when I need a pick-me-up! Still can’t get onboard with Glen and usually skip his reviews but I enjoy all the other hosts. Exposes me to lots of new things I wouldn’t bother to consume otherwise.

Thank you Glen Weldon! You pointed the way to Sweden’s Eurovision2025 entry - and Spain’s DIVA. I’ve been tapping that button all week like a lab rat for a sweet sweet sugar high

Yeah Glen, I bet you really did date a guy in your 20s that was dealing with guilt, shame, and depression. I wonder what you did to make him feel like that, bud. How gay. Totally weak arguments and terrible judgement towards the movie. Thunderbolts is literally one of the best we have got in a while, not flat out “mid” and y’all just rant/repeat over the same stuff(?) Unbelievable.

Long time listener, first time reviewer. Had to write my 5-star review after hearing Candace Lim's choosing to live in the world of Derry Girls! This one of the funniest shows ever made and I love hearing the insight of someone else who "gets" it!

I listened all the time. The hosts were warm and genuine, and the format was short and fun. But the movie reviews began bothering me. Instead of reviewing movies based their own merits, the podcasters started trashing movies that seemingly didn’t do enough to represent their social views. That’s fine for listeners who want to know if a movie meets that criteria, but it started to seem like a very narrow lens in which to view everything. I need my movie reviewers to give each movie a real chance.

10+ years listener. Love Glen. Hosts/guests who say “like” every 4th word—hate. Also hate the convention of “For me..” So annoying. Just state your opinion. So glad I can skip through ads and topics I have no interest in.

this used to be my favorite podcast and they often reviewed indie films and ALL of the latest shows - what’s with all these filler episodes? and Minecraft movie…? don’t really need a review on that. it feels like they’re trying to be trendier now for young people which just does not work for this platform.

Why would you host a podcast about a movie you haven’t even seen

Maybe have at least one host who actually watched and liked the show talk about the show. As someone who enjoyed the show, the surface-level (and often inaccurate) comments were annoying and the repeated “I’m just over the premise” type comments were annoying. Obvs someone who watched and clicked on this episode wants to hear more in-depth discussion rather than repeated “ugh, over it” types of comments from at least one person discussing it. It’s ok to have dissenting views, but this discussion alienated someone who liked the show and made me yell responses to the hosts at my phone.

These people are so unaware of their middle class minded-nyc-pseudo-intellectual-shallow-mutual adoration-insufferable bubble that the show is equal parts cringy and funny. Utterly predictable blather which, sadly, is a perfect emblem for most of NPR’s programs.

I love pop culture, and this should be a podcast. I love , but the use of the word “like” as every other word by most of the hosts esp Ayesha is just so annoying.

Do adolescence !

See title

I love the show! I love to watch a movie, and then immediately listen to the pop culture happy hour episode as I drive back from the movie theater on the way home. Sometimes, I listen to an episode first, and then decide about whether or not I want to see a movie. This show is unpretentious, delightful, inclusiveinclusive of various identities and experiences.

For a show that references Pop culture in the title, the expectation is the hosts are aware of it. The lack of understanding for the Adam Sandler attire reference reinforces this team isn’t dialed in like it should be. The show has gotten stale and there are better places to find this same content.

I cannot believe that this wonderful NPR station would allow so many commercials! It's bloody annoying. Honestly I hardly wanna listen anymore.! You guys did just fine without all the commercials for all the years previous.

Two episodes now have felt incredibly biased and lacked balance of viewpoints or alternative perspectives, which discredited the well-deserving and well-meaning shows. I don’t expect the hosts views and opinions to align with mine, but I do expect an NPR program to present respectable discussions and arguments. Episodes: Zero Day and Nightbitch.

Glen you have a great hosting voice By the way I love your podcast You do a very good job Keep up the great work

Brutalist: intermission is welcome. Working at an arts fest in Italy, I was at the film portion routinely, and EVERY film had a break, regardless of film duration…it’s culture convention. Time to switch reels, clear your head, stretch, pee, & smoke a cig. Just don’t be late for ‘secondo tempo.’ Film reviews are worthy in a case like this, for imagination & creativity are peak.

Been a listener for over 10 years. Always entertaining

This show is as far from the vibe suggested by its title as it is possible to be. Essentially a humorless organ of relentless progressive culture war. You just want to get away

I’ve enjoyed many Pop Culture Happy Hour episodes. But today was the day that I unsubscribed. To call the Grammy Awards a Tel-A-thon merely because it ruined your “vibe“ straight up, made me angry. To say that about an award show that thoughtfully navigated the realities of one of LA’s (if not our country’s) greatest collective traumas in recent history, while still allowing for joy, talent, exuberance, and even lighthearted fun, IS “tone deaf“ in end of itself. It was a slap in the face to all the families that have lost their homes, and to the Music charity that raised over $7 million for Angelinos who are hurting and desperate. So… Boo-hoo it messed with your “vibe”. Your blasé comment made me want to VOMIT. Signing off.

Interesting picks for episodes and always some takeaway.

I was shocked by all the negativity towards Emilia Perez. Since you gave no real reason for disliking it so much, I have to wonder if it is just plain prejudice.