Pop This!

Summary:    "Why don't you get a publicist?" This week we bring Feminist Horror Month to a close with guest Erika Thorkelson talking about Jennifer's Body and the male gaze in film criticism. Also discussed: Joshua Jackson, superhero rom-coms and Courtney Love.     Show notes:   Erica Thorkelson on Twitter   Christina Ricci and Joshua Jackson in Cursed   You Probably Owe "Jennifer's Body" An Apolo...

Summary:    "Pain in the nip." This week we roll into the third week of Feminist Horror Month by tackling the Babadook and the terrors of motherhood with our resident film critic Dorothy Woodend. Also discussed: Hereditary , Great British Bake Off, and Alicia Tobin's new book So You're A Little Sad, So What?       Show notes: Dorothy Woodend's bio   'The Babadook' and the Mother of All Terrors (Do...

Summary:    "Half-bastard." This week we celebrate our 200th episode and Feminist Horror Month with guest Rachel Fox and the film Halloween (2018). Also discussed: Silence of the Lambs, final girl tropes, and Andrea Warner's discovery that her birth wasn't an accident.   Show notes: Rachel Fox on Twitter   Rio Theatre   Halloween: The complete timeline and how to watch the horror series in full (D...

Summary:   "Wendy, we're home." This week we kick off our first ever feminist horror month by talking about Wendy Torrance as the protagonist of The Shining . Also discussed: childhood crushes, Scatman Crothers, and the difference between being possessed vs. being evil.     Show notes:   TIFF 2019: Joaquin Phoenix's Joker is the antihero the alienated and angry have been waiting for, and that's pr...

Summary:   "Women working." This week we're debating who the real criminals are in Hustlers , one of the best movies we've seen in a long time. Also discussed: the Vagina Bible, Tegan and Sara's new album and the bonds of female friendship. Show notes:   How I mastered the Pole Dance (Jennifer Lopez YouTube) The Versace Dress: Then & Now | I closed the show!!! (Jennifer Lopez YouTube) Nicole Byer...

Summary:   "Gentle unguarded eyes." Standup comic Joanne Tsung sits in for Lisa Christiansen this week as we tackle The Lake House , ushering in a rude ending to the otherwise beautiful summer of Keanu Reeves. Also discussed: magical dogs, turtlenecks, and 2006 movie tropes. Show notes:   Joanne Tsung on Instagram   The Lake House trailer Il Mare trailer How Did This Get Made? The Lake House LIVE!...

Summary:   "Chinese people have a saying: When people get cancer, they die." This week Pop This! producer Andrea Gin joins us in studio to talk about The Farewell. Also discussed: America's Funniest Home Videos, wedding sweat suits and the Taiwan "Love Boat" study tour.     Show notes:   The Farewell trailer   " The Farewell Is a Big Arrival for Director Lulu Wang " (Emily Yoshida, Vulture)   The...

Summary:   "Not bad for 1999." We celebrate the 20th anniversary of the teen drama Cruel Intentions with three-peat guest Cynara Geissler. Also discussed: cancel culture, '90s fashion, and You Must Remember This .     Show notes:   Cruel Intentions trailer   Cynara Geissler's bio Cynara Geissler on Twitter   Fatties on Ice podcast     Mia Farrow on Instagram     Recommendations:   Lisa: The Marvel...

Summary:   "Death by complicity." Writer, editor, fashion stylist and lover of period movies Steven Schelling joins us this week to talk about the huge impact Dangerous Liaisons has had on his life. Also discussed: dying of sadness, bra shopping and the summer of Keanu.   Show notes:   Steven Schelling on Instagram Dangerous Liaisons trailer   What is a dangerous liaison? (The Science of Psychothe...

Summary:   Sara and Chloe from the podcast Warriors Bards 'n Brews join us this week to talk about the generation defining new film Booksmart. Also discussed: whether or not we do daily showering or not (spoiler: some of us don't).    Show notes:   Warriors Bards 'n Brews podcast Booksmart trailer   "Returning to the Scene of the Crime" by Samantha Marie Nock (Guts Magazine)     Recommendations:  ...

Summary:   "Not a Chris." This week we discuss the Netflix traumedy series Dead to Me . Also discussed: James Marsden , the "Evil Matriarch" trope, and Lisa pitches her idea of having Real Housewives -style sports reunions.     Show notes:   Who is Brené Brown ?   Dead to Me trailer 9 Lingering Dead to Me Questions Season Two Needs to Answer (Vulture) What is Chekhov's Gun ?   James Marsden IMDb  ...

Summary:   "Food is love." This week Florence Chee joins us to talk about Always Be My Maybe and we also spend a lot of time processing our feelings about the timeless attractiveness of Keanu Reeves . Also discussed: mid-week hangovers, jet lag and the burden of representation.   Show notes:   Always Be My Maybe trailer   Florence Chee on Twitter   The 5 Best Food Moments From 'Always Be My Maybe'...

Summary:   "I'm your guitar tech." In some unsurprising programming news, this week we have no choice but to watch Wine Country , a movie made specifically for us. Also discussed: Billie Eilish, Maude , and the conflicts of the middle-aged.   Show notes: Wine Country trailer " There's Kind of A Hush " by the Carpenters Paula Pell Is Ready to Be a Movie Star, Sort Of (Vulture) Who is Brené Brown ?...

Summary:   "Hair is everything." This week we dive into our new favourite genre of traumedy with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's extraordinary series Fleabag and Lisa and Andrea heartily disagree over the ending. Also discussed: sisters, sexy priests, and the best and worst musical biopics.     Show notes:   Rocketman trailer Judy official trailer   Fleabag Season 1 trailer   Fleabag Season 2 trailer     R...

Summary:   "We just picked the wrong first husbands, that's all." This week, we continue celebrating Bride Month by watching the classic wedding movie The Philadelphia Story . Also discussed: feminism in Game of Thrones, divorce movies and the shocking fact that Andrea Warner has never seen Breakfast at Tiffany's .     Show notes: Daenerys Doesn't Need to Be a Feminist Hero (Slate)   What would a...

Summary:   "Deeply ordinary." We continue our celebration of bride month by tackling the 1999 rom-com Runaway Bride,  discuss the possibilities of rebranding velcro and discover that we may actually love the work of director Garry Marshall.   Show notes: Runaway Bride trailer   Films directed by Gary Marshall   26 Years Ago, Julia Roberts Was Literally A 'Runaway Bride' (Throwbacks)   Recommendati...

Summary:   "Matrimony porn." This week we are joined by our favourite bridesmaid Bridgette Watson to kick off bride month with the movie Bride Wars . Also discussed: Rachel Getting Married , naked dancing and Matthew Mcconaughey.   Show notes: Are Renewable Marriage Contracts The Wave Of The Future? (HuffPost) Bride Wars trailer   Chinese Bride Wars Could Bride Wars Ruin Anne Hathaway And Set Femi...

Summary: "Truth, feelings and hauntings." This week we revisit the 1999 Drew Barrymore rom-com Never Been Kissed , and it's not good. Also discussed: Gary Marshall, Shakespeare, and Barry .   Show notes: " Criminal " by Fiona Apple Pop Con 2019, Only You And Your Ghost Will Know   " You Get What You Give " by New Radicals   Never Been Kissed trailer   This Season I'm Channeling Josie Grossie From...

Summary:   "Stylishly crude." This week we discuss the new animated series Tuca & Bertie and Lisa examines her uneasy relationship with surrealist comedy. Also discussed: Tal Bachman, BoJack Horseman, and crafts we've tried and failed at.   Show notes:   Best 18 Skills to Learn For Surviving Post End of the World / With Videos (Team Hack Life) The vibrant, surreal Tuca & Bertie is one of the best...

Summary:   "30, flirty and thriving!" This week we talk about the body-switch rom-com 13 Going on 30 and Lisa has an epiphany about what it's really about. Also discussed: Soap Opera Weekly, wedding crashers, and the Wonder Years .   Show notes:   Rom-Coms Were Corny and Retrograde. Why Do I Miss Them So Much? (NYTimes)   Rom Com by Dina Del Bucchia & Daniel Zomparelli   Always Be My Maybe trailer...

Summary: "Suburban housewife manual." This week we celebrate Mother's Day by talking about the prescient crime comedy Serial Mom. Also discussed: the Godfather, Hairspray, and murder by lamb chop.    Show notes:   When Did Celebrities Get So Bad At Taking Criticism? (Scaachi Koul, Buzzfeed)   Keep It, " The Royal Tea " (with Olivia Wilde) (Podcast)   Serial Mom trailer   Pop This! 91: The Stepford...

Summary: "Look at those dimples." This week we invite Mike Browne from the podcast Dark Poutine on the show to talk about Dirty John and his own obsession with true crimes and dark history. Also discussed: RuPaul's Drag Race, Uncover: The Village, and Courtney Love. Show notes:   How to love Courtney Love (Macleans) Hole, Live Through This album review (Pitchfork) Dark Poutine (Mike Browne's True...

Summary: "Our beloved Sandra Oh." This week we invite queer romance author Michelle Osgood on the podcast to talk about how much we love Killing Eve . Also discussed: Coachella, Vivek Shraya's new comic book  Death Threat and briefcase husbands. Show notes:   Watch The Trailer For Netflix's Documentary About Beyonce's Coachella Performance (Stereogum)   Watch Janelle Monae Bring Out Lizzo At Coach...

Summary: "It's in my gut." Mediator, labour relations specialist and repeat guest Natasha Tony joins us to talk about Jordan Peele's new horror film Us this week. Also discussed: theatre seating, Whatever Happened to Holly Bartlett , and Black Earth Rising . Show notes:   Respectful Workplace Training with Natasha Tony   Us trailer   Jordan Peele's 'Us': Easter Eggs and Pop Culture References (Hea...

Summary: "I am Carol." This week we invite Sara Gill, co-host of the podcast Warriors, Bards 'n Brews on the show to talk about the movie Captain Marvel . Also discussed: allergy season, Abducted in Plain Sight and Jagged Little Pill .  Show notes:   Warriors, Bards and Brews (Sara Gill's podcast about Xena: Warrior Princess)   Flerkens   Captain Marvel trailer   The Weird and Diverse Comic Book H...