PopaHALLics
Dad and daughter dish on popular culture while enjoying a drink! Steve covered TV professionally; Kate is an opinionated consumer of pop culture. They often don't agree. Join the conversation: [email protected]
PopaHALLics #171 "Slow Horses, Couldn't Drag Me Away"
PopaHALLics #171 "Slow Horses, Couldn't Drag Me Away"
We talk the sixth season of the spy drama "Slow Horses," an Irish haunted house movie, how magicians at Yale accidentally left the door to Hell open, and whether Dracula was just a misunderstood romantic with a thing for French perfume.
Streaming:
"Slow Horses," Apple TV. Someone's killing off former Slough House agents, and Diana faces the music for an unauthorized covert action. Can Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his bumbling crew save the day?"East of Eden," Netflix. This sweeping limited series...PopaHALLics #170 "Little House on the Prehistoric"
PopaHALLics #170 "Little House on the Prehistoric"
Find out what happens when Anne Hathaway must battle dinosaurs ... "Little House on the Prairie" gets a reboot ... Coyote sues the ACME Corporation. Plus music by bands featuring a movie star AND movie star kids!
Theaters:
"Coyote Vs. ACME." After years of injuring himself and NOT catching the Roadrunner with faulty products, Wile E. Coyote sues in this live-action animated comedy. Starring Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and all your Looney Tunes favorites.Streaming:
"The End of Oak Street,"...PopaHALLics #169 "Raise Your Voice"
PopaHALLics #169 "Raise Your Voice"
It's time to speak up: Ted Lasso for AFC Richmond's new female soccer team; the "Ride or Die" friends for reach other; a son of 1960s radicals for himself; even a killer robot for herself (itself?). And we talk protest songs too.
Streaming:
"Ted Lasso," Apple TV. Once again Ted (Jason Sudeikis) returns across the pond to coach soccer in Richmond, this time for the new women's team. Returning are Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca), Juno Temple (Keeley), Brett Goldstein (Roy), and Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard), with Tanya...PopaHALLics #168 "Blast(s) From the Past"
PopaHALLics #168 "Blast(s) From the Past"
We discuss writer/director Christopher Nolan's epic take on Homer's nearly 3000-year-old poem "The Odyssey." Kate's back too, talking about old—and new—favorites she watched while recovering from surgery.
Theaters:
"The Odyssey." Greek warrior Odyssey spends 10 hard yeasr trying to get home after the Trojan War. Plagued by the gods, or just needing GPS? Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, and Charlize Therzon.Streaming:
"Disclosure Day," various stre...PopaHALLics #167 "Alien in Heartland"
PopaHALLics #167 "Alien in Heartland"
Five people trapped in a house during what may or may not be an alien invasion begin to suspect one of them is a shape-shifting alien. That's the "Twilight Zone"-like premise of "Alien in the Heartland," an independent film made in Indiana and available to rent or buy on Prime Video. We interview writer/director Eric Pascarelli and four of the five key actors:
James Tackett, who plays Thomas, a retired movie propmaster still grieving the death of his wife, on the anniversary of her...PopaHALLics #166 "Lost and Found"
PopaHALLics #166 "Lost and Found"
This episode's all about discovery: Finding a space villain's kidnapped son, rescued puppies and true love in NYC, a way to keep your creative spark against autism, and, yes, even creepy monsters hidden in the walls of a retirement community.
Theaters:
Streaming:
"The Burroughs," Netflix. T...PopaHALLics #165 "Baaaad People?"
PopaHALLics #165 "Baaaad People?"
If a shepherd is kind to his sheep but combative with humans, is he still a good person? When Iggy Pop rolled around in glass, was he just embodying the spirit of punk rock? And then there's the husband who suddenly abandons his 20-year marriage and his wife and kids ... We discuss all of them, and more, on this episode.
Theaters:
PopaHALLics #164 "Damaged Goods"
PopaHALLics #164 "Damaged Goods"
Damaged people make for good pop in this episode, from a Neil Diamond tribute band with trouble at the door to a widow keeping busy to cope with her son's disappearance over 30 years ago in "Remarkably Bright Creatures."
Streaming:
"Remarkably Bright Creatures," Netflix. This movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's novel stars Sally Field as a night shift aquarium worker who forms a bond with a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina)."Widow's Bay," Apple TV. A new mayor (Matthew Rhys) tries to turn his...PopaHALLics #163 "Pop-ping up Everywhere"
PopaHALLics #163 "Pop-ping up Everywhere"
Buckle up, kids! On this episode, we zoom around from deep space to 1998 New York to Palestine to Ireland to a Mormon community in Utah to Elle Fanning's bedroom. Note: Three of the trailers below open with someone waking up gasping. Prepare to be breathless! Â
Theaters:
"Project Hail Mary." In this huge sci-fi hit, a high school science teacher (Ryan Gosling) must reluctantly save the Earth. And make an unlikely friend in the process. Based on the novel by Andy Weir ("The Martian").Streaming:...
PopaHALLics #162 Many (Happy) Returns?
PopaHALLics #162 "Many (Happy) Returns?
People come back on this episode—to the past, to gangland trouble in the present, to a murder that keeps occurring, and to home.
Theaters:
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." When Princess Rosalina gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr., Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are on the case. With the voices of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more.Streaming:
"Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man," Netflix. In this movie sequel to the series, will Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) return from se...PopaHALLics #161 "All in the Family"
PopaHALLics #161 "All in the Family"
Family runs through this episode, whether it's a crime family with a manipulative matriarch, a family of animals (dinosaurs)Â or a homeless-looking guy trying to build a "family" from hostages to stop technology from taking over the world.
In Theaters:
"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." In this sci-fi action comedy with crazy visuals, a man claims to have come from the future to prevent dangerous AI. Starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple.Streaming:
"How to Get from H...PopaHALLics #160 "It's Time to Light the Lights"
PopaHALLics #160 "It's Time to Light the Lights"
From Kermit the Frog to the KGB, from Bad Bunny to "Eternity," we are all over the pop culture landscape. There's even a short review of Oscar-nominated shorts.
Streaming:
"Eternity," Apple TV. After a woman (Elizabeth Olsen) dies in this romantic comedy, she must choose who she wants to spend eternity with: Her longtime husband (Miles Teller) or her husband who died young (Callum Turner)."The Muppet Show," Disney +. In this special like their old series (1976-1981), Kermit and the gang try to...PopaHALLics #159 "Train Dreams and Wonder Men"
PopaHALLics #!59 "Train Dreams and Wonder Men"
We discuss the Oscar-nominated "Train Dreams," Marvel TV series "Wonder Man," the latest "Bridgerton," and more! Plus Resident Kid Expert (age 10) reviews "KPop Demon Hunters."
Streaming:
"Train Dreams," Netflix. A logger (Joel Edgerton) struggles with the meaning of life in this Best Picture nominee. With Felicity Jones and William H. Macy."His and Hers," Netflix. Estranged spouses (Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal) compete to solve a murder case while both thinking the other did it."Wonder Man," Disney +. A struggling actor with superpowers (Yahya...PopaHALLics #158 "Pop Goes the Globe!'
PopaHALLics #158 "Pop Goes the Globe!"
We look at two movies with Golden Globe awards—"One Battle After Another" and "Marty Supreme"—as well as the movie "Life of Chuck," the rom-com "People We Meet on Vacation" and Tulsa-set crime comedy drama series "The Lowdown."
In Theaters:
"Marty Supreme." Timothee Chalamet won a Golden Globe (best actor, musical/comedy) by playing a talented jerk determined to be a world-champion ping pong player at all costs. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, Penn Jillette, and more.Streaming:
"One Battle Afte...PopaHALLics #157 "Ho Ho Pop"
PopaHALLics #157 "Ho Ho Pop"
On our last episode of 2025, we discuss new movies including the latest "Knives Out" and "Hamnet," and books including a great take on the Lennon-McCartney relationship. Plus Kate looks back at "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!
In Theaters:
"Hamnet." Academy-Award winning director Chloe Zhao and author Maggie O'Farrell explore how the loss of a son inspires William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.Streaming:Â
"Wake up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," Netflix. In the third installment of Rian Johnson's detective s...PopaHALLics #156 "Scott of the Bells"
PopaHALLics #156 "Scott of the Bells"
In this on-location episode, Steve interviews Scott Soltermann, who plays, records, and programs the carillion (bells) at Butler University in Indianapolis. Steve and his wife often hear the bells in their neighborhood and began wondering about the anonymous player.Â
Scott, a former music and special needs teacher, also listened to the bells while growing up in Indianapolis. When he returned home from Oregon, he volunteered to keep them going, Now, on a clear day, his playing can be heard for up to two miles!Â
For non-Hoosiers: Wh...
PopaHALLics #155 "Breaking Good"
PopaHALLics #155 "Breaking Good"
Can one unhappy woman save the world from "hive mind"? Why does Kate think motherhood is an important theme in the new "Frankenstein"? And Alicia Silverstone may be "Clueless" about her feelings in a new holiday movie.
Streaming:
"Pluribus," Apple TV. In the new sci-fi drama from the creator of "Breaking Bad," can the most miserable person on Earth (Rhea Seehorn) save the world from happiness from an extraterrestrial virus? And does Steve agree with the series' 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating?"Frankenstein," Netflix. Last episode, we heard Steve's thoughts o...PopaHALLics #154 "It's Alive!"
PopaHALLics #154 "It's Alive!"
In this mini-episode, Steve's solo with his review of Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and the book "Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run," by Peter Ames Carlin. Kate provided rapid-fire reviews of new albums by female artists.
Streaming:
"Frankenstein," Netflix. Del Toro's version of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel is visually gorgeous, solidly acted, and really comes to life when the Creature (Jacob Elordi) tells his tale. Oscar Isaacs is the arrogant Victor Frankenstein, out to create life even if he hasn't thought through what happens next...PopaHALLics #153 "Popping Up Secrets"
PopaHALLics #153 "Popping Up Secrets"
Dad and daughter dish on Lily Allen's "divorce album," the new seasons of "Slow Horses" and "The Diplomat," a late-to-the-party discovery of TV's "Interview with a Vampire," a funny, wise novel called "I See That You've Called in Dead"—and more!
Streaming:
"Sisu: Road to Revenge," Hulu, Prime. In this John Wick-ish Finnish action thriller, Nazi soldiers steal gold from an old prospector. One problem: He's a former "one-man death squad" legendary for his ruthlessness. "Slow Horses," Apple TV. In Season 5, coordinated terrorist attacks in London begin a d...PopaHALLics #152 "Guinness, Ghosts, and Valley Girls"
PopaHALLics #152 "Guinness, Ghosts, and Valley Girls"
Dad and daughter dish on "House of Guinness," about a family struggle for control of the brewery; "Presence," a ghost story told from the ghost's POV; variety show host Ed Sullivan and civil rights; and more! Plus the duo likes looking back at "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion." Me too!
Streaming:
"House of Guinness," Netflix. In this historical drama from the creator of "Peaky Blinders," the brewery founder's four adult children, "each with dark secrets to hide," wrestle for control after his passing. Starring...PopaHALLics #151 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW (Part Two)"
PopaHALLics #151 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW (Part Two)"
Steve's almost month-long "retirementmoon" in the Pacific Northwest continues! In this episode: A whirlwind trip to Canada, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle. The Aquarium, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Fremont Troll, Jimi Hendrix's grave—and more! Join us.
Some memorable places and experiences:
Silver Falls State Park, Salem, OR. The Trail of Ten Falls, a nationally recognized hiking trail, takes you to 10 waterfalls, including several you can walk behind.Sol Duc Hot Springs, Olympic National Park, WA. This resort offers three re...PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW"
PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW" (part one)
Join us for a special adventure into the Pacific Northwest! Steve celebrates his retirement with a "retirementmoon" - an almost month-long trip in Oregon and Washington State - and Kate joins him in Seattle. In part one, Steve and his wife travel cross-country on the Empire Builder train; explore funky Portland; travel along the scenic Oregon and Washington coasts; explore the diverse ecosystems of Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest; visit sites used for filming "The Goonies" and "Twilight"—and more! It's the trip of a...
PopaHALLics #149 "Pasta & Politics"
PopaHALLics #149 "Pasta & Politics"
Season 7 kicks off with us digging into two food movies designed to make your mouth water, as well as action thrillers involving getaway drivers and ... politicians?!Â
Streaming:
"Nonnas," Netflix. A man (Vince Vaughn) risks everything to honor his late mother by opening an Italian restaurant with real grandmothers as the chefs in this 2025 movie. With Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire. "Toscana," Netflix. In this 2022 Danish romantic comedy/drama, a chef (Anders Mattheson) goes to Tuscany to sell his estranged father's restaurant. An Italian (Cristiana Dell'Ana) te...PopaHALLics #148 She Pop
PopaHALLics #148 She Pop
Dad and daughter discuss pop culture with strong women, from a K-pop group battling demons with song to the women in a Mafia family to Taylor Swift.
Theaters:
"Freakier Friday." In this comedy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan from 2003's "Freaky Friday" switch bodies again, this time with daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter. Hijinks ensue!Streaming:
"K-Pop Demon Hunters," Netflix. In this animated musical action film with a bestselling soundtrack, Korean girl group Huntrix uses music and dance to defeat demons. One problem...PopaHALLics #147 "Pop and Politics"
PopaHALLics #147 "Pop and Politics"
Steve and Kate weigh in on "South Park" taking on Trump; the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late-night show; and the demise of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Then we talk Lena Dunham's new show; Happy Gilmore—and more! NOTE: Steve's voice is muted in spots due to recording difficulties, not interference by government overlords. We think.
Streaming:
"Too Much," Netflix. In this rom-com mini-series created by Lena Dunham ("Girls"), New Yorker Jessica (Megan Stalter) flees to London with a broken heart. Almost immediately she is attracted to...PopaHALLics #146 "Bad Boys"
PopaHALLics #146 "Bad Boys"
Is it possible for bad men to redeem themselves, as when twin black gangsters face off against white vampires in "Sinners"? What makes a man bad—his personality, upbringing, status in life, as the Bluebeard-themed novel "Sour Cherry" asks? And would it really be so bad to save the family fishing business by running drugs ("The Waterfront")? Find out more on our show!
Streaming:
"Sinners," Max. It's really hard to make a go of your new juke joint in 1930s Mississippi when white vampires show up on op...PopaHALLics #145 "Schemers & Dreamers"
PopaHALLics #145 "Schemers & Dreamers"
In this week's offerings: A businessman trying to con investors, improv actors trying to con criminals, a group hoping to draw attention to black string bands, and cops trying to solve murders despite long odds. Will they succeed or fail?Â
In Theaters:
"The Phoenician Scheme." Writer/director Wes Anderson's latest quirky, deadpan, exquisitely shot dark comedy features an industrialist, his estranged daughter, and a Norwegian bug expert trying to swindle his investors when a scheme goes awry. Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera star, with T...PopaHALLics #144 "Mission ImPOPible"
PopaHALLics #144 "Mission ImPOPible"
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn if these pop culture offerings are enjoyable: "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." "Thunderbolts." "Fountain of Youth." "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." "Wolf Man." And more!
In Theaters:
"Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." In the eighth film in the franchise, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) races to keep AI from destroying the world. With Esai Morales, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Ving Rhames."Thunderbolts." In the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering, a group of anti-heroes...PopaHALLics #143 "Pop Go the Generations"
PopaHALLics #143 "Pop Go the Generations"
Dad and daughter discuss the thrill of introducing your kid to your childhood pop culture faves. Also: Tina Fey does a series remake of an old Alan Alda/Carol Burnett movie. A documentary looks at Anita Pallenberg, "a rock and roll goddess." And Steve examines the making of the classics "Double Indemnity" and "High Noon."
Streaming:
"The Four Seasons," Netflix. In this TV series remake of the Alda/Burnett movie, the decades-long friendship of three couples is tested when one divorces, complicating their quarterly weekend...PopaHALLics #142 "Aren't You Somebody?"
PopaHALLics #142 "Aren't You Somebody?"
We know the face, but not the name, whether that's members of the Eagles (biography "Life in the Fast Lane") or comedian Martin Short being mistaken for a waiter (memoir "I Must Say"). But being somebody can also apply to coming into your own, whether you're seeking your first orgasm after a terminal diagnosis ("Dying for Sex") or finding new purpose in your life in a tiny Arctic village ("North of North"). Welcome to this episode's pop offerings!
Streaming:
"North of North," Netflix. A goodhearted, if...PopaHALLics #141 "Sing Me a Song"
PopaHALLics #141 "Sing Me a Song"
A folk duo's pricey gig for one rich prerson. A utopian paradise hiding a dark secret. A serial killer tale: Is it real true-crime or made-up horror? And who IS Kate's favorite Mr. Darcy in "Pride & Prejudice"?
Theaters:
PopaHALLics 140 "Pop Go the Clues"
PopaHALLics 140 "Pop Go the Clues"
It's no mystery why we love TV's "The Residence" and the book "The Last"—they're both murder mysteries, albeit very different ones (a comedy and a dystopian thriller). And does Seth Rogen have a clue about being a Hollywood executive in "The Studio"? Stay tuned!
Streaming:
"The Residence," Netflix. A brilliant, eccentric, no-nonsense detective (Uzo Adoba) investigates a murder in the White House residence during a State dinner in this comedy from Shondaland Productions. With Giancarlo Esposito, Bronson Pinchot, Al Franken, Jane Curtin, and more."Th...PopaHALLics #139 "Deception"
PopaHALLics #139 "Deception"
The truth is, er, fluid in the pop culture discussed in this episode, from a married spy trying to determine if his spouse is doing wrong, to an Australian pretending to have a fatal disease for profit and influence, to a supervillain seemingly going straight who might still be very bent.Â
In Theaters:
"Black Bag." In this spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, a legendary intelligence agent (Michael Fassbender) must determine if his wife/fellow spy (Cate Blanchett) has committed treason—and whether his loyalty is to his marriage or...PopaHALLics #138 "I'm Still Standing"
PopaHALLics #138 "I'm Still Standing"
As the Who said: "People try to put us d-down" ... whether the "us" is Elton John, British gangsters, or a smartypants movie critic. But guess what: We're still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Streaming:
"Elton John: Never Too Late," Disney +. As his final American concert approaches at Dodger Stadium, Elton John looks back at his meteoric rise to success in the 1970s and his 50-year career in this warts-and-all documentary."A Thousand Blows," Hulu. Two best friends from Jamaica (Malachi Kirby and Francis Lovehall) fight for survival...PopaHALLics #137 "Ch-ch-ch-changes"
"PopaHALLics #137 "Ch-ch-ch-changes"
Bridget Jones is dating again ... A new Captain America faces off against Red Hulk ... The sixth wife of Henry VIII tries to say alive ... and a cat faces off against a massive flood. Oh, and did we mention Kate's grandmother caused a fire at IU?
Theaters:
"Captain America: Brave New World." The new Cap, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), takes up the shield just in time to get involved in an international incident. And the new president (Harrison Ford) is hulky and seeing red.Streaming:
"...PopaHALLics #136 "Like a Rolling Stone"
PopaHALLics #136 "Like a Rolling Stone"
How does it feel, to be on your own, a complete unknown, or a Dracula clone? We discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" as well as the gothic horror film "Nosferatu." Spy Keira Knightley goes after her lover's killer in "Black Doves," and Vince Vaughn investigates a severed arm, not his, in "Bad Monkey."
In Theaters:
PopaHALLics #135 "We're Cold on These Xmas Songs"
PopaHALLics #135 "We're Cold on These Xmas Songs"
Hey kids! Let's gather around the Christmas tree and play "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"! What? Matricide doesn't make you merry? Well, OK, how about the Pussycat Dolls' "Santa Baby"? Too bump-and-grindy? Steve and Kate discuss a few Christmas songs that annoy us, and our playlist is full of them. As well as a few we like. Also: Kate's review of "Wicked," our takes on the holiday movies "Hot Frosty" and "Last Christmas," and the TV series "Life After Life."
Theaters:
PopaHALLics #134 "Wicked Good"
PopaHALLics #134 "Wicked Good"
For our Thanksgiving weekend episode, we talk about the pop culture offerings we're grateful for: the new movie version of "Wicked"; movies about a mother and son's love in "The Blitz" and the quest for the first test tube baby in "Joy"; and more. There's always a turkey—"Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft." Oof!
Theaters:
PopaHALLics #133 "Martha My Dear—NOT!"
PopaHALLics #133 "Martha My Dear—NOT!"
A new documentary fails to make Martha Stewart sympathetic, in Kate's view. We also discuss season 2 of "The Diplomat" and "Colin from Accounts," a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and books about therapy, a cult, and a "normal" serial killer. Yikes.
Streaming:
PopaHALLics #132 "Into the Great Unknown"
PopaHALLics #132Â "Into the Great Unknown"
Can a rabbi and an agnostic shiksa find true love? Can humans meddle in the affairs of gods? If you could survive the zombie apocalypse, would you want to? Our pop culture offerings delve into these burning questions—and more!
Streaming:
