Aziz Ansari

The Hollywood Apology Trend & Inside Pop Quiz: Oscars Edition – IP 146

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This week, we bring you another installment of the Inside Pop Quiz – but this time, Sean quizzes Amita on her Academy Award History knowledge and also gets a few predictions for the upcoming awards ceremony. Then, we discuss the increasing amount of apologies in Hollywood – from Aziz Ansari to Kevin Hart, it feels like every day a celebrity is apologizing, or *not* apologizing for suggestive behavior, comments, tweets or actions. The sheer number of mea culpas these days makes it hard to tell who is being genuine and who is trying to get ahead of bad PR. We dissect who seemingly is getting the apology right and who may be a little too late to say sorry.

Plus, Amita reviews Sean’s big sell- the Oscar nominated Animated Short – Bao – and shares an album from the soul/funk band with an international vibe, Khruangbin.

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And you can also find us on MaximumFun.org

Game Of Thrones: The Spoils of War, Queen Sugar mid-season 2 finale, Detroit reactions, The Suffers – IP 86

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This week, we have a spoiler FILLED discussion about the latest episode of Game of Thrones (You’ve been warned!) Reunions, Deaths (?) and Dragons- oh my!

Plus, we discuss the mid-season finale of one of our favorite shows- Queen Sugar and talk about how the series is taking it up a notch in its 2nd Season.

And we read some listener feedback to our discussion last week about the portrayal of South Asian relationships in Film and TV.

Then, we talk about the lackluster box office for the film Detroit and our thoughts on why audiences may not have embraced the film as expected.

And of course, we have another brand new Big Sell! Sean gives his thoughts on last week’s suggestion- the band, The Suffers, and sells Amita on a playlist that features artists from the upcoming AfroPunk music festival.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PopInsiders

You can also find us at MaximumFun.org

Links:

Den of Geek Game of Thrones Death prediction article
Spotify AfroPunk Playlist

New Music Videos; South Asian Interracial Relationships in TV & Film – IP 85

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This week we discuss the film, television, music AND music videos that have grabbed our attention!

First up, we highlight some of our favorite new music videos from Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Grimes featuring Janelle Monae. These artists are creating work that’s thought provoking and gorgeous.

Then, we discuss the depiction of South Asian interracial relationships on television and in film. Our conversation is inspired by a recent article that critiques the lack of Asian love interests in the works of South Asian creators like Aziz Ansari, Mindy Kaling, Kumail Nanjiani and Hasan Minhaj. We tackle the issues of personal expression, cultural responsibility and the need to see Brown Love on the screen.

Finally in The Big Sell, Amita rates Sam Dew’s cover of the Bill Withers song “Use Me” and then she gives what Sean calls, “the greatest big sell in the history of the show!” It’s not because of what she sells – but how she sells it. Let’s just say Sean likes it when Amita shares personal info.

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Links:

Jay-Z – The Story of OJ

Jay-Z – 4:44

Kendrick Lamar – ELEMENT

Kendrick Lamar ft Rihanna – LOYALTY

Images in ELEMENT pay homage photographer Gordon Parks.

Wonder Woman, Master of None, Tickling Giants, Sense8 – IP 78

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This week- we dive into the world of pop culture with:

  • Wonder Woman – Amita gives her reaction and we discuss the film’s record breaking box office.
  • Master of None – We can’t get enough of the Season 2 and talk about Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s decision to hold off on Season 3…for now.
  • Sean pours some out for the final season of one of his favorite Netflix series, Sense8.
  • We share an excerpt of our interview with Sara Taksler, the writer/director/producer of the documentary, Tickling Giants.
  • And Sean rates and reviews last week’s Big Sell, the soul/funk/blues artist, Earl St. Clair and shares his Big Sell- a new single from Alabama Shakes.

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Master of None S2, Twin Peaks, Scandal Ends – IP 75

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Let’s Rock!

This week we react to the first four masterful episodes of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s, Master of None. Amita shares the particular joy that comes with watching this South Asian auteur do his his thing!

Then we explain why watching the current season of Scandal is the equivalent to having Pity Sex!

Next we introduce a new segment, Way Into, in which we present a guide for you to become as ‘Way Into” a piece of pop culture as we are. In this inaugural segment, Sean presents a Way Into . . .  Twin Peaks – and tells you everything you need to know and do to prepare for the Twin Peaks premiere on Showtime on Sunday May 21st.

Then we celebrate our 75th episode in a very special way!

And as always, we end with The Big Sell. Amita rates and reviews Sean’s Instagram Big Sell from last week and sells him on a YouTube series that involves chicken, celebrities and hot sauce… Spicy!

Thanks to all of our listeners! Whether you’ve listened from the beginning or just recently found us – we are thrilled to have you here for our special milestone episode!

The best is yet come!

Sean’s Way Into Twin Peaks

  1. Watch Season 1
    1. If you only have time for two eps out of the 7 watch The Pilot and episode 3 – Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer.
  2. Read: The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer
  3.  Watch Season 2 episodes 1-7.
    1. If you only have time for two episodes watch the season premiere + episode 7 Lonely Souls (Laura Palmer’s Killer is REVEALED!)
  4. Watch Fire Walk with Me.
  5. Watch Wild at Heart
  6. Read: The Secret History of Twin Peaks

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @popinsiders

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Sense8, The Dark Tower, The Defenders, South Asians on TV & Film, Broadway, Game of Thrones – IP 74

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The May pop culture hot streak continues so we discuss the release of the trailers for the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Stephen King series, The Dark Tower; and The Defenders on Netflix.

Then, Amita gives her immediate (and spoiler free) reaction to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and also shares her exciting experience winning a Broadway Lottery. Meanwhile Sean is incapable of containing his excitement over the premiere of the 2nd season of Sense8.

The Pop Insiders also share the details of the recently announced Game of Thrones spin-offs and share which GoT characters they’d most want to see Frasiered.

Plus, Amita celebrates the influx of South Asians on TV and Film and the joy and inspiration they have given her.

And Sean reviews  last’s week’s Hall & Oates big sell and sells Amita on a climate change focused Instagram feed.

Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram @popinsiders

Links:

The Defenders trailer

The Dark Tower trailer

Big Sell: Everyday Climate Change Instagram feed

Oscar Nominations, TV Preview, Aziz Ansari on SNL, Women’s March, St. Beauty – IP 60

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Buckle up because we’ve got another exciting installment of Inside Pop- featuring the best of Film, Television and Music this week!

First up, we analyze the recently announced Oscar Nominations and discuss whether Oscar is still so white, how the love for La La Land will affect the Oscar telecast and the best way to predict who will win.

 

 

 

 

Then, we give you our Late Winter / Early Spring preview and share inside info on tons of  shows including Twin Peaks, 24: Legacy, This Is Us, Fargo, Star Trek Discovery, The Good Fight and many more!

 

Plus, Amita reports on the experience of participating in the NYC Women’s March and she and Sean rate Aziz Ansari’s hosting skills on Saturday Night Live.

  

Finally, Amita rates Sean’s Big Sell from last week, two new singles from St. Beauty – the duo who are reaching new heights on Janelle Monae’s Wondaland record label.

 

Links:

Amita’s Big Sell: Watch the moving song captured at the DC Women’s March “I Can’t Keep Quiet” here.

Big Sell 30 Day 23: Kerry Washington & Aziz Ansari

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Amita here with your #BigSell30 today! We’re in our last week of Big Sells and looking back at the last few weeks, as much as we felt like this was a challenge for us and for you, I have also realized how much I’ve learned about myself and felt like I’ve also revealed a lot about myself through this process. The Big Sell is getting deep!

That being said, I’ll reveal a little more to preface today’s Big Sell: As a television and digital producer, one of my favorite jobs is to interview someone about their process. I had the honor and pleasure to do this recently with some of music’s biggest stars (Can’t discuss who now, but will soon!) and I just revel in hearing who inspires them or what it took to create a specific project/album/role.

actors-on-actorsVariety Magazine’s Actors on Actors series does exactly that but with a slight twist on the typical interview format. In this web series, two actors interview each other – it feels like you’re in a personal conversation- you get to see actors learn about each other, and from each other. The episode I’d like to Big Sell features two of Television’s biggest stars (and friends of the podcast): Kerry Washington and recent Emmy Award winner Aziz Ansari.

kerry-and-azizTheir conversation is a revealing look into who they are as performers; but also focuses on roles they took behind the camera (Aziz on Master of None and Kerry on Confirmation). It’s smart, funny, insightful and at 22 minutes, it’s a rare opportunity to dive deep into their individual processes as actors, their struggles as people of color in Hollywood and how they are now in positions of power because of their hard work and success. I love to hear insider info like this and you don’t always get this much information in a 5 minute late night talk show appearance or 3 minute morning show chat.

Kerry gives great insight into her role as a producer on the HBO movie Confirmation and I think she’s a great interviewer. Whenever Scandal is over, she should consider some type of interview series, she’s really smart, thoughtful and asks great questions. (Agent Advice!)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5622630r) Kerry Washington and Aziz Ansari Variety Studio: Actors on Actors, Los Angeles, America - 03 April 2016

Aziz gives a great insider look into how his hit Netflix series Master of None came about and he reveals a great tidbit about the two episodes he directed- “Parents” and “Nashville” (they were his first attempts at directing and they shot the series out of order, so those two were shot at the end).

It’s such a great series and I’m already excited to watch the Mindy Kaling/Conan O’Brien conversation as well as the Courtney B. Vance/Tracee Ellis Ross one as well. Enjoy!

Leave a comment below or tweet us @popinsiders to let us know what you think of today’s Big Sell. Also, be sure to let us know how #BigSell30 is going for you and you still have a few days to tweet us a Big Sell to be featured in the Big Sell 30 Day Challenge!