Pop Junction

“VINNIE LARUSSO” | The Mighty Ducks episode (sort of) (1992)

Shockingly, neither of us was super excited about revisiting M-to-the-D–not even Mia, who has vowed to take out Joshua Jackson’s wife on numerous occasions. But our cold middle-aged hearts were won over by its wholesomeness. (And as a bonus, we excavated a lost crush from our childhoods!) Give it up for our short Staten Island king, Emilio Estevez. 

Plus, get ready for us to reminisce about stalking sports team crushes in high school. 

“Teeny Bopper Vomit” | Camp Nowhere (1993)

It’s SEASON 3, BAYBEE! It’s the Season of Crushes. And we kick it off with the delightful Camp Nowhere. We reflect on the singular experience that was being dragged through Kings Plaza Mall by our mothers, and we relive our summer camp crushes. 

Hey, Hollywood: Where is Christopher Lloyd’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and where is the prequel? Also, stop being cowards and just cast fat actors instead of throwing skinny people in sweatshirts. 

ARNOLD TOLD ME NOON.

“I Have Some Data” | Insecure final season

IT’S THE SEASON FINALE OF OUR POD, Y’ALL!

Insecure ended the day after Christmas, and we’re still not over it. We have a rich discussion of the final season (with a heavy emphasis on that whiplash-inducing finale), the Molly of it all, and what the show meant to us on the whole. 

Our *super* special guest this week is Chris Sewell! Chris has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy and an illustrious career in EdTech–but he also has a recreational Ph.D. in all things pop culture, and he happens to be a classmate of ours from junior high. Despite all that Insecure has given to Black audiences, Chris is not letting it off the hook today!

Plus: Mia’s predictions for 2022. 

RIP Betty White. We hoped this day would never come. 

“She’s Eating the Cheese” | My So-Called Life (1994)

We have our FIRST guest! Welcome to PJ our dear friend, junior high AND high school classmate, and renowned My So-Called Life expert, Logan Cooper. Logan comes to our discussion with Media Studies Professor-level incisiveness about this beloved cult classic and mid-90s time capsule. We throw fisticuffs over Rayanne Graff, discuss our own respective Catalanos (and Krakows!), and Logan explains why Sharon Cherski is the colorful backpack–no, knapsack–of the show, metaphorically. We also tell the epic tale of the night we all went out to a Chippendale’s show senior year.

Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re gonna go smoke some DOOBIES. We’ll see you in 2022!

An Oral History of MSCL: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a40594/my-so-called-life-cast-interviews/

“It Dawns on Dawn” | Baby-Sitters Club (1990)

Nothing’s better than friends! The theme song told us so. In this ep, we cover the 1990 TV adaptation of the iconic Baby-Sitters Club YA book series–and Mia shares an embarrassing origin story of her pop culture addiction. We also check in on our current Insecure feelings (only four episodes left!) and Caitlin reports back on House of Gucci. 

And of course, Mia gives us the latest on all things Kim Kardashian/Pete Davidson, AKA Kimmy/Petey, AKA Ketey.

“It’s Straight-up Love, Bitch” | The Harold & Kumar trilogy

If you’re an Xennial like us, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle was crucial viewing and probably shaped your sense of humor in college (well, that and the GI Joe PSAs). What starts as an ode to the genre-smashing Jersey road trip buddy stoner comedy (queer romance) quickly devolves into a John Cho hornfest. Can you blame us, though? We rank all three films in the H+K trilogy, we get into another Big Nail Discussion, and Caitlin finally remembers to put our Patreon plug at the top of the ep. We love being on top of shit this time of year!

“Up at the Pore Level” | The Neve Campbell School of Acting

Class is in session. Professor Mia Lynn Howard is here to teach you all about The Neve Campbell School of Acting and its origins during the filming of 90s drama Party of Five. Caitlin features as “Acting Expert” and (highly skeptical) Neve Campbell Doppelganger. Listeners, you will be quizzed next Friday.

”Zaddy vs. Marky” | Fear (1996)

SING IT: Wiiiiiiild horseeeeees! 

We intended to do a full month of spooky eps, but life (and the culture) got in the way. Today we get into all things Chappelle‘s latest special from the unique perspective of two queer uber Chappelle fans (though that title may have to be revised). But our main event is the 1996 Seattle grunge monsterpiece, Fear--AKA Marky Mark fingerbangs Reese Witherspoon on a rollercoaster. Or was it a ferris wheel? Get ready for an unnecessarily deep dive into Mark Wahlberg‘s career trajectory and his adolescent hate crimes. Woof. Alyssa Milano is #gayorigins, and Kal Penn is officially queer brethren. Mazel tov, Kal & Josh!

“Hilary Fiance Bungee Death” | Most Iconic Fresh Prince Moments

We’ve titled this episode in the style of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy--because this shit is serious! It’s also a reliable Google search term for one of Mia’s Top Ten Most Iconic Fresh Prince Moments. 

It’s damn near impossible to fully honor the super goofy, delightfully savage The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. French Prince? Fresh Prints? French Prints. BUT! We try to capture why FP still remains a go-to comfort watch for the both of us--and why it still has us truly laughing our asses off. 

Also: part one of what will undoubtedly turn into a six-part Brooklyn Manicures Deep Dive. 

“Cuz Hotties” | The L Word S6

This incredibly long and at times arduous AF road has finally come to an end, listeners. We’re in the final, shark-hurtling season of The L Word. We discuss our theories on who really killed Jenny Schecter--and rank all the seasons from best to worst. 

Shout-out to: Lucy Lawless as the sexy investigator, Elizabeth Berkeley AKA Jessie Spano AKA Bette’s former college roommate AKA tan goddess AKA professional pool sex gymnast of Showgirls fame, and the actor who plays Deputy Doug Witter on Dawson’s Creek--all of whom make an appearance in this shitshow.

WE DID IT, JOE!