I love Glen Weldon’s hot takes on pop culture, only because he says it in such a way that makes me laugh every time! He always sounds so exasperated to discuss his “controversial” opinion that tends to hit the mark. He reminds me of a quirky English professor. :)

Really enjoy the hosts. Great insights and wonderful banter.

Happened to get linked to this show via Apple Podcast app & listening to Strike Force Five. I checked out this show's episode on Strike Force Five (and the reports of trouble on The Tonight Show set) - only to be subjected to some male commentator turn it into how awful late night tv hosts are, playing the race card because Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, etc. are all middle-aged white men, and that even the announcer & sponsor of Strike Force Five are in the same demographic. This is all unadulterated "spin" baloney and the reason I'm not a NPR monthly donor any more. I'm not "sustaining" that woke culture anymore.

I listen to this podcast pretty religiously during my work week to start my morning. I really love hearing the diverse opinions on various forms of media. Howwever, I feel more and more lately, there's nothing that this team really likes. I feel there's a lot of dissatisfaction in their critiques and I wonder if anything is ever good enough for them. I really love the hosts, but maybe lighten up a bit.

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

I usually really enjoy your show but today’s show could have included an expert on child abuse explaining the damage that happens to children as they grow older. Although you did comment on the fact that there’s something wrong with the system, I would’ve liked more discussion on the responsibility of the network. It is encumbered upon all of us to ensure that there are guard rails in place (such as regulations and stringent laws) to protect all employees and especially children from abuse. We can no longer afford to put profit over humanity. Before we didn’t have the research that examines the damage that happens to children experiencing abuse but we have that research now.

The reviewers’ gleeful adulation of Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar acceptance speech is almost as offensive and troubling to many Jews as the speech itself. While Aisha called his words “powerful,” many Jews saw his “refuting of his Jewishness” just the newest step in the millennia-long effort to compel Jews to erase themselves - renounce your heritage, your faith, etc. Jews should not need to refute themselves to make people feel better about the Israel-Gaza war. Secondly, Linda’s point that Glazer didn’t need to “stretch to make that connection” between Auschwitz and Gaza is disgusting. 1 million Jews were forcibly deported to and gassed at Auschwitz (and 6 million killed overall in the Holocaust). While the Gaza situation is horrible, deaths are occurring in context of an overall war that Palestinian political leadership (Hamas) initiated; you can condemn death in both cases without equating the two. The podcast doesn’t need to wade into politics at all. But since you’ve decided this is a political podcast, please expect legitimate criticism and condemnation of your antisemitic biases going forward.

Pretentious pop npr npc

I listen to most of these. Fabulous commentary and has introduced me to movies, shows and books. Love it!

I listen to every episode! Great hosts, commentary and content! Keep up the fantastic work!!!

Absolutely love the PCHH crew and their coverage.

Los Alamos is in the mountains, not the desert.

Love your show, your banter, your respect for each other (even though I don’t always agree.) I was yelling at you while listening last week and you didn’t hear me. And I haven’t been able to let it go. The most remarkable portrayal of a platonic relationship of pure love I’ve ever seen on TV is between the marvelous Mrs. Maisal and her manager/friend Susie. It had ups and downs and even a break up. And yet. Decades into the future in one of the best endings (spoiler alert) of any series, Miriam and Susie are living on opposite coasts but watching a game show together through a phone call, laughing, being silly and clearly connected by a life long love. Perfection.

Imagine Congress addressing disagreements with such civility and wisdom. PCHH inserts a snippet of smarts into otherwise dumb days.

Nobody has time to see every new movie, tv show, concert, or read every new book. With this podcast I get to feel up to date on what’s in the zeitgeist and can get a sense of what’s worth checking out. I also love hearing the hosts varying opinions after I’ve watched/read/listened to the subject. I have been listening to PCHH since it started (over 10 years ago now?!)

One of my favorite podcasts, and a great way to learn about new movies and shows. PLEASE do In the Know show on peacock! 😆😆 cmon it’s about npr! 🤣🤣

These hosts are weak on insight and strong on asserting their views in terms of their identities, e.g. "As an [insert identity here], I found this show to be problematic," etc. Their views are predictable, praising shows that feature identities they deem important, and never failing to laughingly dismiss all things white, straight, and male. I'm a left-leaning liberal who shares most of their views, but I find myself tiring of the narrow bandwidth of their discussions and the lack of intellectual substance or expertise in cultural criticism. Marvel populism and identitarian groupthink make me realize the degree to which the defunded, corporatized NPR has lost its way. All that said, Stephen Thompson rules and for him I must continue listening.

Short, snappy, well thought out reviews of a wide breadth of culture. I worry about the folks doing one star for a single episode or for not liking something as much as they did. It’s ok to like or dislike different things and make a case on it as that’s how one has a metered discourse. Just try listening to a different episode or try reviewing based on actual podcasting elements like audio quality, production, diversity of voices based on subject matter and the host knowledge base, etc. There’s no point in doing 1 star for most things it’s unwarranted most the time. If you don’t care for it go listen to something else for free or go create something else yourself instead of spreading negativity.

I’m a huge fan of Pop culture Happy Hour, but I just listened to the Grammy episode and it was incredibly disappointing. I’m not a huge Swiftie by any means, but the guests on the episode were being downright hateful. I’m sorry that Taylor Swift is mega famous and has won lots of awards for albums that are quite popular, but that’s not really her problem. Like a previous commenter said, we don’t pull this “over-saturated” or “peak” commentary when it’s about male artists, so why do we think it’s okay to do it now? Disappointed in that episode and disappointed that people seem so primed to hate her for no real justifiable reason.

I used to listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour on the regular, but the latest episode covering the Grammys has turned me off completely. These high-minded critics are tearing down a global treasure because they think they’re too cool to admire one of the most talented songwriters / performers / directors / artists of our time. Pop Culture Happy Hour? More like Trash Talk Hater Hour. They can take their hate and keep it, I’m going to spend my listening time elsewhere.

In the women shooting down Taylor…I’m a boomer and I think she is a saint…it’s her giving soul, her business aptitude are a greater than we’ve experienced. I love Miley too…I loved them all actually. Celebrate them all.

Have we ever as a society asked if a male performer's career has reached a "peak" and that were "saturated" by them? So gross you guys...and I'm a long time listener. Taylor speaks to people. She produces a monoculture that makes people feel seen and loved. Dampening joy is nasty business. Usually you don't have that look. I was shocked.

Vanderpump rules?! New low 👎🏾👎🏾

I really enjoy hearing the group’s take on specific TV shows and movies. I often find new shows to watch that I hadn’t heard of before listening to the episode. I also like that often each person has a different opinion and offers another view.

I love that they cover low-brow (hello Below Deck, my guilty pleasure) and high-brow. Always a good discussion and they do a great job pulling in guest hosts.

First off, thank you Anastasia for recognizing the subtleties and beauty of this film. The other two hosts have zero understanding of what the film was trying to convey and seem erudite and pretentious, caught up in trolling Bradley Cooper. How could they not even mention the most stunning scene in this film, where Cooper conducts the London symphony orchestra for over 6 minutes and moved me and others to tears? The beauty of that segment was one of the most entrancing moments on film I have ever seen. To focus on REM in the car and criticize the music supervisor???? Dear god. The professorial snobbery reeks to high heaven on this pod. And for that you get a 1 star. WILL NOT RECOMMEND

I wanted to like the show as I’ve heard Aisha on other podcasts and enjoyed her. But this show is too buried in the “artsy fartsy”.

Candace Lim absolutely killed me. I loved her confident delivery.

Why haven’t you reviewed Godzilla Minus One? It has been more culturally significant and financially successful than so many of these other things.

they reviewed saltburn and called it Talented Mr Ripley mashed up with Parasite and immediately lost all credibility they might have been holding onto. no matter who is on the show, they insist on dealing away depth or meaning for bubbly banter that ultimately means nothing while patting eachother on the back.

Love this episode. Felipe and Anna had me in tears

I like your podcast and have listened for years, but I’m not ok with the recent trend of your reading an advertisement, verbatim, twice. I’m not here to be brainwashed and if you don’t stop this practice soon I’ll have to unfollow. Hope you care.

This is a good show for the most part, the reviews are honest and informative.

I used to be a huge fan of pop culture happy hour when it was two days a week. I really think that since the switch it has been leaning into its worse tendencies. I want to know if something is good before I hear commentary on its social impact. The episode about American Born Chinese put the nail in for me. I would much rather hear about things the hosts love and why then the million things that they consider problematic. Life is problematic. So is good art.

Meh

It’s kinda cringey how much they like a show about teenagers having sex that literally shows the characters who are supposed to be simulating underage children nude. Gross. Leave the kids alone creeps

so good. A++

Thank you, Stephen Thompson. The recommendation of The Beaches album was solid. I listened to it all the way through and already have at least three songs stuck running around on repeat. Me & Me and Everything is Boring are so fun, and who doesn’t love to Blame Brett? I’m not always one to try out new stuff, so I’m glad that when I did, it was with zero regrets.

Love the show, it has an interesting take on the various topics it covers. It helps me make a decision if to invest time in a certain show, movie, concert and anything in between. On the downside, I am a paid subscriber but lately I have been finding commercials breaks even if I would have expected not to have any.

I really enjoyed listening to your Taylor Swift episode. I would consider myself a Swiftie, and I don’t get to see the show until next year in Indianapolis. But your panel got me really excited for next year.

I used to love this show but really since they transitioned to the multiple episodes per week format the content has been completely uninteresting to me ( so much comic book / super hero content!!) .

Used to be great. Insightful, funny, charming, interesting. Is it just the lack of good films and shows out there? Every episode gets lamer and lamer with less interesting projects and less insightful commentary. I went from a daily listener to MAYBE listening once very few weeks. Shame.

I like this show for its length and I like the people but most of it contents don’t really meet me where I am. I really wanted to hear about their thoughts on the final seasons of Ted Lasso and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I just watch Jury Duty and I am amazed they have never had a show on it. I like their reviews on big blockbuster but besides Barbie I usually find myself not wanting to go to the movie after I hear the review.

I love this podcast, love the hosts and especially love Linda Holmes. Episodes could be longer!

Wayyyy too soon. Great show.

Love the short episodes and, after a few years I’d daily listening, I feel like I’m friends with the crew. Always a place I go for a take on what’s new.

Slow temple doesn’t get to the point focuses on the wrong thing and to much politics

It’s hard to see what this podcast really has to offer apart from the simplest, blandest sentimentality designed to appeal to the broadest liberal base possible. Like the big tent Democratic Party, this podcast is light on ideas but heavily subsidized by their corporate donors. You’ll hear more adds for the flavor of the week rainbow splattered consumerist bull crap than you will insightful analysis of any media.On the plus side they don’t platform any hateful ideologies or content. I guess suburban dads need some source for talking points next time they bump into each other while shopping for birkenstocks!

Every opinion expressed here these days boils down to “this just didn’t work for me”. When the participants use “I” more than any other word it shows a general disregard for the audience. After years of fun, and fluff and some interesting insight, the self-absorption of these people is just not working for me.

These people are insufferable.