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Coming at you as cute and clumsy as a Muppet in a mech suit, Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is back!  This week we discuss the failure of Disney's Galactic Starcruiser Star Wars-themed hotel, wrap up our coverage of the third season of "The Mandalorian," sample a few excellent new television shows and hear about Cliff's night out at a Lizzo concert. Length - 01:29:46 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:10:30 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Fake reality show "Jury Duty" steers into the ridiculousness of the genre, road rage leads to life-changing circumstances in Netflix's "Beef," the third season of "Dave" keeps evolving, HBO's true crime drama "Love & Death" another showcase for Elizabeth Olsen to go nuts, Hulu comedy about putting your life back together "Single Drunk Female" and musical comedy "The Muppets: Mayhem" recaptures that Henson magic on Disney+. - 0:48:50 - THE MANDALORIAN A SPOILER-filled recap of the conclusion to season three of small screen Star Wars series "The Mandalorian" with Chapter 23 "The Spies" and Chapter 24 "The Return."

Did "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" stick the landing and cement itself as one of the greatest trilogies of all time?  Listen in as Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast discusses exactly that, along with a number of other brief movie reviews and one of our patented getting-to-know-you sessions. Length - 01:19:50 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:01:45 - YEAH YOU KNOW ME Learn what classes we feel like we'd have enough knowledge to teach and our favorite candy bars. - 0:11:02 - MOVIE NEWS Disney removing more than 50 original shows from Disney+ and Hulu, Netflix ending their once-iconic DVD-by-mail service and delaying their password sharing crackdown, the Adam Driver sci-fi film "65," Nike biopic "Air" chronicles a shift in sports culture, "A Man Called Otto" is a heartstring-puller starring a grouchy Tom Hanks, "Legion of Super-Heroes" the latest animated DC film on Max, the blockbuster crowd-pleaser "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and revisiting classic thriller "Fatal Attraction." - 0:45:35 - GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 It's the payoff to one of our favorite superhero trilogies ever and we have an in-depth review with numerous SPOILERS.

There isn't much we here at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast like more than summer movie season.  We root for the upcoming slate of flicks to live up to the hype and turn into crowd-pleasing blockbusters that we'll continue watching for decades to come.  So this year, we invited our pal Jesse Starcher of The Source Material Comics Podcast to join us in predicting the Top Ten biggest films of the summer! Length - 02:13:42 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.)

Recently, our pal Jesse Starcher of The Source Material Comics Podcast piqued our interest with an anecdote about a potential goldmine of classic 80s G.I. Joe toys right in our own back yard, including the holy grail of our generation... the U.S.S. Flagg!  So Detective Poobah took the case, discovered the truth and reveals his finding here for the first time. Length - 00:29:47 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.)

Christmas may be cool and the Fourth of July may be fun, but for some of us the most wonderful time of the year is actually Free Comic Book Day!  The annual celebration of comics and the shops who sling 'em is almost here, so Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast has a preview of what you should be on the lookout for when visiting your friendly neighborhood comic shop on May 6th. Length - 00:24:48 Language - PG

We're talking record-setting examples of human endurance this week, and no, that's not a reference to how many hours Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast has spent discussing Riverdale.  In Chapter 105 "Folk Heroes" Archie inspires the town with feats of strength and Cheryl is even hotter than usual when she discovers the power of pyrokinesis! Length - 00:48:30 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.)

Oh, snap... is that a pie chart?!  Jordan has a much-too-detailed breakdown of the annual sales numbers that show the fascinating differences of what graphic novels are popular outside of the comic shop market, Seth takes an unsettling trip to the movie theater, a couple of our most-loved shows return and much, much more in this week's edition of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast. Length - 01:28:01 Language - PG-13.  (Contains adult language.) - - 0:03:22 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Anxiously awaited second season of horror mystery "Yellowjackets" arrives on Showtime, sampling "Star Trek: Picard" with a free week of Paramount+, "Quantum Leap" ends strong and renewed for more, finding your life's potential through the magical "The Big Door Prize," "Gotham Knights" has a surprisingly strong debut on the doomed CW lineup, "Superman & Lois" continues to mine family drama in season three, musical theater comedy "Schmigadoon!" returns and our favorite comedy "Dave" sends Lil Dicky on tour. - 0:37:05 - MOVIE NEWS Recent big screen releases "John Wick: Chapter 4" and "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" both entertaining times at the theater and the documentary "My Comic Shop Country" chronicles the unique retail experience of selling comic books. - 0:54:20 - COMIC BOOK NEWS "Insectakid" #3 available now from So Pro Comics, new novel "Secret Identity" set in comic industry of the '70s, "Captain America: Man Out of Time" an overlooked gem by Mark Waid and Jorge Molina, first appearance of Spider-Boy gets speculator senses tingling, the conclusion of Tom King and Greg Smallwood's "The Human Target" and the annual Bookscan sales charts reiterate the world of difference between comic store and mainstream bookstore sales patterns.

This week marks the 7th Anniversary of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast and what better way to share our KPP-ness with you than an entire episode about one of our favorite topics... Star Wars!  We've got lots of news from Celebration, lots of celebration due to some news, and detailed recaps of the latest from "The Mandalorian." Length - 01:20:22 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:01:54 - STAR WARS Breaking news from Star Wars Celebration including the announcement of three new films, footage from Disney+ series "The Acolyte" and "Skeleton Crew" and full trailers for "Ahsoka" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." - 0:18:25 - PERLMUTTER Disney layoffs finally put an end to CEO Isaac Perlmutter's reign at Marvel and an oversight board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis sidestepped by Disney lawyers. - 0:37:50 - THE MANDALORIAN Some final thoughts on "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" as it wraps up its second season and then SPOILER-filled recaps of "The Mandalorian" Chapter 21 "The Pirate" and Chapter 22 "Guns for Hire."

It's time for another Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast countdown!  For this list, we're using our typical "competitive collaboration" system of nominating and vetoing picks until we end up with a definitive scorecard of all the best movies that include a number in the title.  So count on it to be another fun debate! Length - 01:52:11 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.)

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is back and coming at you like... a moose in a hurricane?  (Go home, A.I. chatbot; you're drunk.)  This week we've got opinions on this year's Oscar winners, the finale of a beloved HBO drama and in-depth coverage of the latest "Star Wars" spinoff. Length - 01:29:27 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:10:35 - MOVIE NEWS Celebrating the year in film with "The Oscars" and "The Film Independent Spirit Awards," "Scream 6" continues the horror franchise in the Big Apple. - 0:31:05 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS The first season of "Shrinking" wraps up on Apple TV+, "The Last of Us" adapts the original video game into a satisfying conclusion. - 0:42:29 - THE MANDALORIAN A SPOILER-filled recap of Chapter 19 "The Convert" and Chapter 20 "The Foundling" from season three of The Mandalorian.

This week involved a trip to a local convention, the Classic Plastics Toy Expo, an encounter with a roofer named Merlin and the return of our favorite intergalactic daddy & son duo.  So tune in to hear if Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast can pull this particular sword from the stone. Length - 00:58:31 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:08:00 - THE MANDALORIAN Recapping the first two episodes of the Star Wars spinoff's third season, as Din Djarin attempts to fulfill his quest for redemption with a visit to the Mandalorian homeworld. - 0:38:50 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Hoping for more consistent quality from "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," the "Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)" concert from Miley Cyrus on Disney+, DC artist Jim Lee appears on "The Masked Singer," trying to pinpoint the rural location of "Farmer Wants a Wife," Australian "Survivor" better than the U.S. version, searching for a new theater home after a "Creed III" screening and finishing up the first season of "The Big Brunch."

There are all the usual crazy things happening in this episode of Riverdale, including police shootings, possessed dolls, burning witches at the stake and yeeting Baby Anthony out the window.  But the most important thing for us here at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast in Chapter 104 "The Serpent Queen's Gambit" is that thanks to some absolute hero of a production designer we FINALLY know the exact geographical location of the town! Length - 01:00:36 Language - PG-13. (Contains adult language.)

A new Marvel movie means a new in-depth review from your pals at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast, and we've got you covered with all our thoughts on the recent "Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania" and where the MCU stands as a whole as we begin Phase Five. Length - 01:04:14 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:09:30 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS "Poker Face" mines Rian Johnson's past experiences for drama, Korean reality competition show "Physical: 100" pits different types of athletes against each other, golf documentary "Full Swing" and the upcoming "Quarterback" go behind the scenes of the sports world, Fox debuts new Joel McHale sitcom "Animal Control," giving award-winning comedy "Abbott Elementary" its due and "The Goldbergs" finally cancelled after ten seasons. - 0:23:34 - ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA Our SPOILERY review of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's sci-fi spectacular kicking off Phase Five, "Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania."

It's been too long since we checked in on the Town with Pep.  In fact, it's been so long we barely remember what's even happening on this nutty show.  But that won't stop Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast from our divine calling of recapping every episode of Riverdale, continuing here with Chapter 103 "The Town." Length - 00:50:48 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.)

A recent Pedro Pascal sketch on "Saturday Night Live" really nailed how impossible it feels to try and keep up with Hollywood at the moment.  But we assure you, all of the content mentioned in this episode of Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast is 100% real.  (We think.)  Plus, we hear about Cliff's dreamy trip to his favorite toy store and play a game where we try to guess the actor based on the characters they've played. Length - 01:11:36 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:09:40 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS HBO's prestige horror series "The Last of Us" off to a killer start, reboots of classic comedies with "Night Court" and "That '90s Show," Peacock builds buzz with true crime series about fraudster "Paul T. Goldman" and Natasha Lyonne's detective show "Poker Face," the holiday episode of Netflix's "Murderville" doesn't play by the rules, "Extraordinary" a British comedy about a world full of superpowers, Hulu's "Wu-Tang: An American Saga" dramatizes early years of hip hop legends, "Cunk on Earth" traces history of civilization in off-kilter comedy, "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" continues string of hit-or-miss entries, Dan Levy's laid-back cooking show "The Big Brunch," Jason Segel and Harrison Ford's "Shrinking" debuts, more new episodes of "Quantum Leap," the second season of animated fantasy "The Legend of Vox Machina," the final run of "The Flash" begins, "Beavis & Butt-Head" airing after the current season of "South Park" and more "Rick and Morty" in production even after firing of Justin Roiland.

Your friends at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast were knocked for a loop this week, learning that our long-time hometown movie theater will be closing abruptly.  This prompted a discussion about changing film-going habits before diving in to dissect DC's big announcement of ten new projects and some conflicted thoughts on a recent thriller. Length - 01:21:42 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:04:28 - MOVIE NEWS Suddenly living in a town without a movie theater, Netflix tempts fate by introducing new restrictions on password sharing and AMC wants to charge different fees for different seats. - 0:35:14 - DC STUDIOS ANNOUNCEMENT DC Studios unveil first ten projects of James Gunn's tenure in charge, "Chapter One: Gods and Monsters." - 0:56:24 - KNOCK AT THE CABIN A SPOILER-filled discussion about M. Night Shyamalan's latest, "Knock at the Cabin."

Settle in for one of our favorite annual episodes, The Poobah Awards!  Clocking in only slightly longer than the average Oscars, Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast recognizes and ranks EVERY film we saw in 2022!  And new for this year, we've added 13 specific categories in order to highlight individual performances and standout moments that made this a special year at the movies.  So skip the red carpet and come celebrate cinema with us! Length - 03:56:02 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.)

Since we're still stuck in holiday rerun season, Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast uses the opportunity to look back at some of the best television 2022 had to offer and sample a few things we missed streaming the first time around! Length - 00:52:55 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - Marietta Cinderella - 0:01:08 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS The Poobah drops an impromptu unauthorized Top 10 of the best TV of 2022, the second season of "The White Lotus" presents another compelling mystery, catching up on Hulu series like the phenomenal "Reservation Dogs," meta sitcom "Reboot," docuseries "Dark Side of the 90s" and "Dark Side of the Ring" and the Stephen King time travel mini-series "11/22/63," Kumail Nanjiani stars in true story "Welcome to Chippendales," "Doom Patrol" keeps putting unique spins on DC heroes, more new animated episodes of "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," the finale of "Stargirl" begins to wrap up an era of the CW and NFL "Sunday Ticket" leaving DirecTV for YouTube.

We use this week to catch up on some of the huge stories everyone has been talking about in the new year, including the self-inflicted wound suffered by the world's most beloved role playing game, Warner Brothers continuing to nickel and dime the fans and the return of the Golden Globes.  Then it's a Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast road trip recap as we recount the fun we had traveling to a recent comic con! Length - 01:05:05 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:02:20 - GAMING Wizards of the Coast plan to end its Open Gaming License causes Dungeons & Dragons fan uprising. - 0:24:45 - MOVIE NEWS Warner Brothers removes original content from HBOMax, Henry Cavill ousting from Superman role turns Snyder Bros against James Gunn, Mike Flanagan has plans to adapt "The Dark Tower" and the results of this year's Golden Globes. - 0:47:20 - COMIC BOOK NEWS Reminiscing about our first trip to Galaxy Con in Columbus.

Happy New Year!  As is our tradition here at Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast, we celebrate by looking forward at all of the movies we expect to enjoy over the next 12 months.  Joined by special guest Neither Coach Nor Mayor Jared Lowe, we tease all of the films set for release this year and then compile a Top Ten list of our most anticipated flicks. Length - 01:22:13 Language - PG-13.  (Contains mild adult language.)