Best New Music, Emmy Awards Recap, Big Sell 30 Announcement – IP 92

We’re donning our imaginary capes to bring you the very best of a very busy Pop Culture week!

First, we chat new music from Sam Smith, Miguel and Mavis Staples.

Then, the Emmy Awards were awarded on Sunday night and we discuss how overwhelmed and overjoyed we were by how many of our favorite shows and actors won! Amita gives her Red Carpet Fashion Slay or Nay and we discuss all of the ‘firsts’ of the evening. Were we rooting for the Black and Brown people? Listen to find out!

Plus, we announce the return of The Big Sell 30 Day Challenge! Find out what #BigSell30 is all about, why we need you to be part of it and hear about some of our favorite Big Sells from last year’s challenge.

And in this week’s Big Sell, Sean reviews the Glamour article written by Reese Witherspoon about ambition and sells Amita on an interesting coming out video by actor Haaz Sleiman.

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You can also find us at MaximumFun.org

Emmy Predictions, Insecure Finale Recap, It Review – IP 91

This episode is hella full with the very best of a great week in pop culture!

Don’t hand in that Emmy office pool ballot until you listen to our ‘100% guaranteed to be right’ Emmy predictions. We’ll let you know the actors and series that will win television’s big night.

We also pick our jaws up from the floor in time to recap the Season 2 Finale of Issa Rae’s Insecure (Issa, the couch – REALLY?!).

Also, Sean reviews the box office monster (pun most definitely intended) It and tells you if It lands in his Top 9 Stephen King Adaptations of all time.

Finally, Amita rates Sean’s photo focused Big Sell from last week, and then sells Sean on an article written by an Oscar-winning and Emmy nominated actress.

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You can also find us at MaximumFun.org

Fall TV, Movie & Music Preview – IP 90

We put away our white shoes and are previewing some of the upcoming Film, TV and Music we’re looking forward to this Fall! There’s an overwhelming amount of pop culture coming out in the next few months, but we’ll help you select the best of the best that cannot be missed.

Which television shows in the era of Peak TV have caught our attention and demand us to check them out? Which films could be awards contenders AND crowd pleasers? And what albums and concerts do we plan to line up to listen to and experience? We reveal all!

And Sean reviews last week’s Big Sell, the Game of Thrones behind the scenes series, “Game Revealed,” and gives Amita a unique Big Sell – a multi-media article featuring Issa Rae, James Davis, Rachel Bloom, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.

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You can also find us at MaximumFun.org

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

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

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.

Comic-Con Trailers, Insecure Season 2, An Inconvenient Sequel, Way Into Idris Elba, Atlanta – IP 84

We’ve had a busy pop culture filled week- starting with an exclusive screening of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power followed by a Q&A with Former Vice President Al Gore! We weren’t sure if we should bow or curtsy upon seeing him on stage.

Then, we analyze some of the most talked about trailers featured at San Diego Comic Con- including The Defenders, Thor: Ragnarok, Justice League and Star Trek: Discovery. Do they stir up excitement or fall flat?

Plus, we chat about the season two premiere of Insecure – guess how many times Amita mentions Lawrence?

And we bring you another installment of “Way Into . . .” with our guide to get way into one of our favorite Brits- Idris Elba.

And Amita gets her wish- Sean FINALLY watches one of her favorite episodes of the critically acclaimed Donald Glover FX series- Atlanta in The Big Sell.

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And you can also find us at Maximum Fun

Links:

Comic Con Trailers

Idris on The Big C

Idris on The Wire Clip #1

Idris on The Wire Clip #2

Luther Trailer

Beasts of No Nation Trailer

Idris in Pacific Rim

Bastille Day Trailer

 

Game of Thrones Returns, Emmy Nominations, A Wrinkle in Time, Best Music of 2017 (So Far) – IP 83

Join us and raise a glass to toast the return of Game of Thrones – but before you take a swig just make sure you’re not on Arya’s sh*t list!

On this episode of Inside Pop, we dissect the Season 7 premiere of Game of Thrones which has us talking about everything from filthy chamber pots to Ed Sheeran cameos to Vermeer paintings to the one thing Daenerys has in common with Prince and the Revolution! (There are Spoilers in this conversation- you’ve been warned)

Then – we give you many reasons why you should be over the moon (just like us)  for the the new trailer for the Ava DuVernay epic, A Wrinkle in Time.

We’re also joined by special guest, DJ and Television Producer James Barker (aka DJ Chaotic) who shares his favorite albums and singles of the first half of 2017. A must listen if you’re looking for thoughtful, upbeat, quality tunes to add to your playlists!

Plus, we give you our thoughts on the Emmy nominations.

And it’s quid pro quo time in The Big Sell. Amita rates Sean’s Big Sell from last week (an episode of the Amazon series, I Love Dick) and in turns sells Sean on an Emmy nominated episode of Atlanta he (shamefully) has not yet seen.

 

James’ Best of 2017 (So Far)

Albums:

Harry Styles – Harry Styles

Lorde – Melodrama

Qveen Herby – Qveen Herby

Singles:

Maty Noyes – The Making of ‘London’

Geordie Kieffer- Red Line

Carly Rae Jepsen- Cut to the Feeling

 

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Spiderman: Homecoming, Best Movies of 2017 (So Far), Summer Blockbusters, Miguel – IP 81

The holiday weekend is over but the fun is just about to begin! Take a deep dive inside the world of pop culture and join Sean David Johnson and Amita Patel as they celebrate their debut episode on Maximum Fun!

  • Who are Amita and Sean? I mean who are they REALLY?: The co-hosts of Inside Pop (aka The Pop Insiders) give you a quick (re)introduction.
  • Inside Pop Quiz: Summer Blockbuster Movie Edition. Sean quizzes Amita on everything from which Spielberg summer flick has made the most money to which of Rihanna’s lines of dialogue from Battleship are the most memorable.
  • Best Movies of 2017 . . .  So Far: Special guest Mike Cecchini, editor-in-chief of Den of Geek joins Sean and Amita to discuss his favorite films of the first half of the year. Plus he shares an early review of Spiderman: Homecoming.
  • The Big Sell: Each week Sean and Amita take turns recommending something from the world of pop culture the other has yet to experience. Last week, Sean’s Big Sell to Amita was the Viceland episode of Earthworks featuring musician (and Inside Pop object of objectification) Miguel.  This week Amita big sells Sean music from British singer/songwriter, Bishop Briggs.

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On Max Fun

The Big Sick, Top LGBT TV Characters, TLC – IP 80

This week, Amita discusses the new film, The Big Sick, written and starring Kumail Nanjiani. Will it be the sleeper hit of the summer?

Then, in honor of Pride Month, we revisit one of our favorite countdowns- our Top 3 LGBT Television Characters – with special guest Kevyn Fairchild.

And Sean gives his review of TLC’s new single “Way Back” in the Big Sell and suggests a Viceland show featuring IP favorite, Miguel.

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

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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