Shows
Low KeyFantastic Four Goes Full Comic BookThe Fantastic Two, Tim and Aaron, discuss the Fantastic Four, which, unlike Superman, provides pure escapism. But we like them both.Here's Tim's article about this summer's comic book movies really embracing comic books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-08-0735 min
Low Key'Straw is No Exit for Black Women'Tyler Perry's Straw has a misleading title — because it isn't a straw that breaks the camel's back in the film about a single mom (Taraji P. Henson) driven to extremes, but an absolutely nightmarish event that is only revealed in the film's insane final act.In this episode, Aaron, Keith and Tim talk about whether the movie takes place in hell, great movie twists and why they work — from Fight Club to The Sixth Sense — and the correct way to pronounce San Pedro.We wrap up by praising Tubi's Flew'd Out and the works...
2025-06-1853 min
Low KeyThe Edgelord Games of MountainheadWhat is the message of Mountainhead? Aaron and Tim talk about the film as a condemnation of the gamification of everything in Jesse Armstrong's Succession successor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-06-1038 min
Low KeyCommon Side Effects! Righteous Gemstones! A 1979 Jack the Ripper Movie!Due to various calamities we couldn't find time to watch the same show or movie this week, so instead Aaron, Keith and Tim are just listing off a bunch of cool stuff they like and recommend. We also discuss great Disney sequels, the Righteous Gemstones, hip-hop Percocet era, and why Frozen 2 is, no kidding, the wokest movie ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-04-1656 min
Low KeyThe Problem With Every Godzilla MovieWe have a multitude of opinions about Godzilla Minus One, which has been pretty much universally praised. Also, Aaron explains the Act 3 problem that plagues every Godzilla movie.And we scold the critics for being scolds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-06-1151 min
Low Key3 Body TalkThis episode, your pod pals Keith, Aaron and Tim talk about Netflix's the Three Body Problem, how the Game of Thrones guys love killing everyone you love, and how weird it is when supermodels are cast as cops and EMTs. We like the Three Body Problem, based on the novel by Liu Cixin that Tim is not sophisticated enough to understand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-04-0951 min
Low KeyNetflix's Damsel Models Itself After GrendelNetflix's Damsel flips the typical woman captured by beast narrative on its head, and lets the women take the lead but is it successful? Aaron and Keith talk about Millie Bobby Brown's performance as a fantasy heroine, why Damsel might have the best dragon CGI ever, and the oddness of so many reviewers focusing on gender while completely missing the impactful Grendel parallels for the main antagonist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-03-1838 min
Low KeyDune 2: The First 2024 BlockbusterIs the Dune 2 worth the hype, or does the adaptation fail to build on the original film's strengths? Aaron, Keith and Tim talk through the challenges of watching science fiction epics, why the Dune series is flipping the typical hero formula, and how Dune 2 is likely to influence future Hollywood projects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-03-0942 min
Low KeyIs Griselda Goofy?This episode we talk about Griselda, the story of a woman who can sell drugs and kill people as well as any man.Tim loves it, Keith has some reservations, Aaron finds some things goofy.Also, since we recorded this conversation, the lawsuit filed by Griselda's son has been settled. Hooray! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-02-2346 min
Low KeyLove to All Writers Everywhere, But The White House Plumbers Just Isn't Our ThingWe think Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux are very good in The White House Plumbers, and we realize the writers had a very difficult job to do, and we love and respect all writers everywhere. But this just wasn't our thing.Also, Aaron wonders why there are so many Nazis in our films and TV shows, because fuck those guys.Finally, Tim recommends the excellent 2004 mockumentary Confederate States of America by Kevin Willmott. And this is maybe Keith's least-favorite conversation ever. Hosted on Acast...
2023-05-0551 min
Low KeyPoker Face is a low-key charmerThis week Aaron, Keith and Tim talk about the simple, well-crafted joys of Poker Face, which follows an ex-gambler (Natasha Lyonne) who solves murders as she flees the mob. It's just high-stakes enough to keep you in the game, but doesn't stress you out with constant drama. We like it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-02-1434 min
Low KeyNOPEListen to this one and we will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; we will make a spectacle of you. Yep, this is the episode where we discuss NOPE, the latest from Jordan Peele, whose work brought your hosts Aaron, Keith and Tim together in the first place. So how does NOPE compare to GET OUT and US? Listen in and see. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-08-0451 min
Low KeyUntangling SpiderheadThe director of Top Gun: Maverick! The star of Thor! The brilliant novelist George Saunders! The screenwriters of Deadpool! These extraordinarily talented people come together in Spiderhead, a totally fine movie.On this episode Aaron, Keith and Tim discuss: Love vs. lustA Clockwork OrangeHow it's never OK to leave a baby in a carAnd so much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-06-3042 min
Low KeyEmergencyThree minority college students bar hopping adventure is cut short before it even begins when a young white girl is found passed out on the floor of their rented house. Concerned about the worst possible scenario with police officers, they take the situation into their own inebriated hands and the emergency goes from really bad to worst.Keith, Tim, and Aaron talk about the stand out acting performances, comparisons to other coming-of-age comedies, and the worthwhile, bold choices for the final act.Emergency is available now at Amazon Prime. Hosted on...
2022-06-1643 min
Low KeyApollo 10 1/2Apollo 10 1/2 takes us through a fictional space mission taken by a young boy to help NASA astronauts land on the moon by taking a smaller prototype for a measly test walk on the moon. Along the way, our now much older narrator gives a slice of 60s Americana from his perspective, warts and all. Keith, Tim, and Aaron talk about the use of animated rotoscoping, targeting films for older demographics, and the effectiveness of non-linear story telling in this nostalgic review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-04-1231 min
Low KeyWindfallWindfall is about a quick theft going awry when a house burglar comes face to face with the billionaire husband and wife who own the luxurious estate. Keith, Aaron and Tim chat about the awkward humor, if they bought the choices character's made at the conclusion, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-04-0445 min
Low KeyThe Batman ReviewThis week on the Low Key podcast, Aaron Lanton and Keith Dennie are joined by guest extraordinaire Sam (Sam Said It and The Game Raven Review podcasts) to talk about what makes The Batman a worthy successor, the satisfaction of watching the hero make mistakes in his second year, and where this movie ranks all-time among Batman films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-03-111h 12
Low KeyDon't Look Up Don't Look Up is a divisive movie, and your hosts are appropriately divided. Keith found parts of it funny but overall found it all too unbelievable, while Aaron and Tim embrace the absurd — or is it? — metaphor at the center of the film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-12-3142 minLow Key8-Bit Christmas Review (The Low Key Holiday Spectacular)8-Bit Christmas features Neil Patrick Harris as a modern-day dad telling his daughter the very '80s story of his quest for a Nintendo. It's packed with knowing '80s references like the Cabbage Patch Kid crisis and deep cuts like the infamous Billy Ripken "f--- face" card, and owes obvious debts to the '80s classics A Christmas Story and The Princess Bride. Tim, a child of the '80s, and Keith and Aaron, children of the '90s, have different levels of enthusiasm for the HBO Max film: Keith finally asks Tim: Are you...
2021-12-2349 min
Low KeySummer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)Summer of Soul, the directorial debut from Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, takes us back to Harlem in 1969 for a series of concerts that included a who's who of brilliant Black artists, from Stevie Wonder to Nina Simone to Sly and the Family Stone to Mahalia Jackson, among many, many more.Tim, Aaron and Keith had pretty different reactions to the film, which almost never came to be: For more than 50 years, the footage languished, rejected by white executives who didn't think there would be a wide audience for a film about "the Black Woodstock."...
2021-07-081h 19
Low KeyDads Discuss Kevin Hart in FatherhoodIn this episode, dads Aaron and Tim and non-dad Keith discuss the Kevin Hart Netflix comedy Fatherhood, about a dad struggling to raise his very young daughter alone. We talk about diapers, dumb preschools, what the first steps look like, and lots of other dad stuff, and what we love and fear about raising kids.Also: Shoutout to a notorious Memphis roller coaster, the perfect metaphor for parenthood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-07-011h 08
Low KeyLow Key LokiAt some point last week, everyone watching Loki collectively decided the Time-Keepers were full of shit. For Keith and Tim, co-hosts of the Low Key podcast, that moment occurred in this episode, when co-host Aaron broke it all down for them.We also talk about Kang the Conquerer and some other fun theories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-06-2153 min
Low KeySweet Tooth: Would You Guide A Hybrid-Human Child Through the Forest in Post-Apocalypse America?Sweet Tooth is your typical coming of age tale about a post-apocalyptic, pandemic scorched Earth with a human-deer hybrid kid searching for his lost mother in the (mostly) lawless Western United States - average Netflix stuff, right?The story from the show differs greatly in some aspects from the Vertigo comic book of the same name. The changes aren’t as drastic as The Walking Dead where we witness several seasons of new characters, but Sweet Tooth’s source material is actually much darker than what we see in the Netflix series. This doesn’t mean Sweet...
2021-06-1051 min
Low KeyJudas and the Black MessiahKeith, Aaron and special guest Sam from the Sam Said It podcast discuss Judas and the Black Messiah, starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield.Believe the marketing — the protagonist is federal informant William O’Neal and not the groundbreaking leader he got assassinated, Fred Hampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-02-1905 min
Low KeyMa Rainey's Black Bottom and the Fight to Own MusicOn the last Low Key podcast of the year, Keith Dennie, Aaron Lanton and Tim Molloy talk about the deceptively straightforward Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by George C. Wolfe and based on the play by August Wilson.We talk about what we thought of Chadwick Boseman's final performance, what the film says about religion, and if there's a Marxist argument at work in the story of arguing musicians one hot day in 1927. Like every episode of the Low Key podcast, this one is good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
2020-12-311h 08
Low KeyThe Sound of Metal Is Low-Key HorrifyingIn The Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed plays a heavy metal drummer who suddenly loses his hearing. You share his nightmarish sense of his entire life disappearing, along with his sense of sound. Director Darius Marder teaches us how to watch and listen to the film, with completely immersive and innovative use of sound. But it's also a spectacularly well-crafted script, and beautifully-acted film. We liked it! Keith and Aaron discuss the film, but missing co-host Tim agrees with everything they said. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
2020-12-1734 min
Low KeyKeith Makes a MovieIf you've thought about making a movie, but really don't know where to start, start here.Every week on Low Key, we talk about TV shows and movies other people made. Except this week! Keith Dennie, one of your co-hosts, wrote a script in quarantine, got a crew and actors together, and finished principle photography. His film, The Moment, is about a young woman named Logan (Randell Robertson) whose humdrum relationship is threatened by an intriguing new man (Tony Williams).Keith talks about how COVID-19 motivated him to make the film, and how...
2020-12-0354 minLow KeyHis House, an Immigration Horror StoryHis House is a haunted house story where the characters have a good reason for not leaving the house: If they do, they'll be returned to the horrors of tribal violence in their native South Sudan.Set in the United Kingdom, His House follows the story of Rial and Bol Majur (played by Wunmi Mosaku and Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù), a married couple seeking asylum to escape the horrors of tribal violence.The debut feature from Remi Weekes is scary, unexpectedly funny, and provocative — it inspires a talk among Keith, Aaron and Tim about our own i...
2020-10-311h 03Low KeyLet's Talk 'Residue' and GentrificationToday's episode is about Residue, the impressionistic debut from Merawi Gerima. The award-winning film, which just premiered on Netflix, follows Jay, a young filmmaker who returns from Los Angeles to his hometown of Washington, DC and finds that white people are taking over his neighborhood, disrespecting the Black residents they're pushing out.We talk about the challenging pace of the movie, its unconventional use of offscreen voices, and its complicated presentation of Jay's motivations. Keith and Aaron also talk about their experiences with gentrification in Memphis, and Tim discusses his...
2020-09-241h 12Low KeyHulu's 'Woke' Ironically Lives Up to Its Name Hulu's new TV show 'Woke' follows the story of black cartoonist Keef Knight's "woke" awakening after a brush with police brutality leads him to re-evaluate his relationship with art and social critique. Also, inanimate objects are now talking to him about embracing his blackness.It's a weird concept with great ideas, but 'Woke' makes some of the same mistakes it means to shed a light on. Keith and Aaron discuss in one of the most contentious episodes of the pod yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-09-171h 03Low Key1BR, and the Cult That Recruits at IHOPWe talk about 1BR, the little horror movie that could... unseat Project Power as the top movie on Netflix. It's a story of utopian societies, utilitarianism, and keeping your cat close. Plus, Aaron and Keith recount their experience with a charismatic religious leader who eavesdropped on their conversation at the International House of Pancakes.f you like this episode, check out our interview with 1BR producer Alok Mishra and writer-director David Marmor. And read Alok's piece for MovieMaker about the insane misadventures that went into making the film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
2020-09-1056 minLow KeyRobert Pattinson: The Batman Who Laughs (At Exercise)The lead for a superhero film has to be in phenomenal shape, capable of imposing criminals with their physical presence - or do they? Robert Pattinson, the newest actor to take on the role of Batman in the upcoming 2021 film, adamantly disagrees. In an interview with GQ conducted in April 2020, Pattinson made the case that anyone advocating for working out at all times is “part of the problem.” Presumably, his conviction against exercise is about the pressure to have the perfect physique in a capitalist, image driven society that makes us obsessed with striving for unattainable goal...
2020-08-1438 minLow KeyBlack Is King Continues Beyonce's Visual Album Winning StreakToday’s episode of the Low Key pod covers Beyonce’s visual album Black Is King, a re-envisioning of the classic Lion King tale through the talent and vision of black folks across the globe. In fact, each song for this project was part of Disney’s CGI-live action 2019 Lion King remake, but Black Is King adds additional layers and textures to each rendition by introducing a wide array of African people, tradition, and modern experience. Some audiences will be bewildered and others will not be able to find the words to explain why this is such an important piece...
2020-08-0735 minLow KeyThe Business of DrugsAt the end of the first episode of Netfix's The Business of Drugs, host Amaryllis Fox says to the camera:"Legalization may seem pretty extreme to most Americans. But as long as the demand continues to climb, and the prices remain astronomically high because of no legal competition, I can't help wonder whether legalization and regulation is the only real option, and prohibition is just an illusion to make us all feel good."Humans have used substances to induce soberless states since the beginning of time, but The Business of Drugs breaks down...
2020-07-3058 minLow KeyMucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter MercadoIn this episode we explore Netflix's Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, about a Puerto Rican TV astrologer who rose from humble beginnings to become a sequin-caped inspiration to millions.With his distinctive look, aura of mystery — especially about his sexuality — and ability to blend many religious beliefs into a medley of optimism, Walter Mercado gave hope to the hopeless — until an ugly legal dispute yanked him from the air and cost him control of his own carefully cultivated image.:45: Our late-night infomercial memories3:00: Is the Michael Jordan-approved The La...
2020-07-2337 minLow KeyThe Old GuardBased on a comic book by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández,The Old Guard asks the question: What if the X-Men, but everyone is Wolverine? The new film from Gina Prince-Bythewood features four very old yet young-looking warriors led by Charlize Theron. All of them have Logan-like super-fast healing powers that we could all use about now. Netflix definitely intends for The Old Guard to be a hit ,given its star-studded cast featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kiki Layne. Is there room for a spinoff? Does a Wolverine kill dudes i...
2020-07-1744 minLow KeyI May Destroy YouI May Destroy You, the new series created by and starring Michaela Coel, probably will destroy you. It's about consent, double standards, and justice—and that's just the start.Also: Tim misremembered the college that helped pioneer the "yes means yes" standard of consent. It was Antioch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-07-0942 minLow KeyDo the Right ThingToday’s episode revisits the 1989 classic that put Spike Lee on the map, Do the Right Thing. Over 30 years later, the film’s raw depiction of racial relations in Bedstuy remains controversial - every group feels aggrieved, lashing out with both words and actions. By the time the film is over, one could make a strong case that no one did the right thing. The bubbling tension under the surface during the hottest day of the summer explodes into a riot that feels unavoidable once 911 is dialed.Lee refused the urge to give the audience simple good...
2020-07-0240 minLow KeyWould You Go to a Movie Theater Now?A simple question: Would you go to a movie theater now? Your hosts weigh in from three distinct states with three distinct COVID-19 situations: Texas (Keith), Tennessee (Aaron) and Massachusetts (Tim).We also get into whether our minds would change if Tenet were playing.And there are questions about COVID-19 etiquette, whether the theatrical experience can ever be reproduced at home, and why contact tracing is difficult for strip club patrons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-06-2543 minLow KeyDa 5 Bloods and Cross-Generational TraumaToday’s episode covers Spike Lee’s new film Da 5 Bloods which follows four black GIs returning to Vietnam nearly five decades after their tours ended to recover gold and the remains of their former captain. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned and chaos ensues.The film releases with impeccable timing as the nation continues to grapple with social unrest in present day. The war scenes take place during 1968’s “Summer of Love” when all Hell broke loose for Black Americans after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Lee uses that eerie parallel to show that th...
2020-06-1854 minLow Key'Just Mercy' and Just PolicingJust Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan as a lawyer who defends a wrongly accused death-row inmate played by Jamie Foxx, is one of many films made available for free in response to the Black Lives Matter protests nationwide. In the latest Low Key podcast, we talk about what the film gets right about racist policing, and what changes we'd like to see in real life.The discussion of the movie leads to some comparisons of our own interactions with police. Would you believe your two black co-hosts and one white co-host have had very different experiences? No...
2020-06-0953 minLow KeyThe Justice League Snyder Cut (feat. Sam from the Sam Said It podcast)The nerd nightmare is over: the badgering has paid off, and the Synder Cut of the DC Extended Universe’s Justice League will be released as an HBO Max exclusive sometime in 2021.In the latest Low Key Podcast, we talk about what it all means, and what we want from the Snyder Cut. And great news: This episode features Sam from the Sam Said It! podcast.The corporate overlords have bowed to the overbeating might of tweets and petitions to remake the underwhelming November 2017 release into Zack Snyder’s intended glory. The remake will be...
2020-06-011h 00Low Key62. Why Murder to Mercy is a Netflix Doc Worth WatchingNetflix does not shy away from distributing stories that give voices to the voiceless - the recently released documentary Murder to Mercy is no exception. The doc shares the story of Cyntoia Brown, a woman who was sentenced to prison for life at the age of 16 for killing a man when she was being sex trafficked at the Nashville, Tennessee area in 2004. Brown told police that she feared for her life and shot the man with a gun inside the house when she believed he was going to violently attack. Fifteen years later, she was granted clemency by the...
2020-05-271h 00Low KeyHow Pepe the Frog Became the Mascot of Trolls, Racists and IncelsThe new documentary Feels Good Man explores how racists, trolls and incels turned an innocuous cartoon character named Pepe the Frog into a symbol of hate. On the latest Low Key podcast, we talk about how the situation epitomizes many of the problems of the internet, where misinformation and propaganda choke out facts and helpful information. Feels Good Man, directed by Arthur Jones, goes deep into the backstory of Pepe. Once he was a simple creature drawn by artist Matt Furie, known by the dorky catchphrase "Feels good man," which Pepe used to explain why he pees...
2020-05-141h 10Low KeyThe Midnight Gospel Might Be the Near-Future of TVNetflix's trippy The Midnight Gospel, from comedian Duncan Trussell and animator Pendleton Ward, might be a model for pandemic era TV shows: It asks the big questions in life without requiring any actors to get too close to each other.The series is about a scamp named Clancy Gilroy (voiced by Trussell), who uses a butt-shaped simulator to travel to different worlds and interview people for his "spacecast," which is basically a podcast, about questions like what happens when we die, why death is so essential to life, and what it means to be enlightened. You...
2020-05-051h 01
r/SF RadioEP133 - r/SF Radio - Adapt feat. Aaron LantonAaron Lanton Twitter: https://twitter.com/alanton11
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/handsnface/
Website: www.adapt.gg (website to come)
Email: aaron@adapt.gg
Adapt is an esports community hub for all fighting games. The platform is used to run and organize tournaments, record statistics, and provide other missing links critical to infrastructure in the growing esports space.
Direct Links:
r/SF Radio: http://bit.ly/rSFRadio
ApplePod: http://bit.ly/rSFRadioiTunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rSFRadioSpot
Stitcher: http://bit.ly/r...
2020-04-231h 10Low Key'The Platform' Is the Ultimate COVID-19 Movie... Or Is It?Netflix's The Platform has drawn plaudits as the perfect film for the age of hoarding. But is it, really? In one of our most divided episodes, we go deep — Level 333 deep — on whether the main metaphor in the film makes any sense at all."The Platform," directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, takes place in a multi-level prison where the inmates are fed via a platform that is initially filled with sumptuous dishes — which the inmates pick clean as the platform descends. Those in the lower cells get less and less, until they get nothing at all. Adding to the...
2020-04-2158 minLow KeyNetflix's 'Uncorked' Is a Worthy Memphis MovieMemphis is well known mostly for its music and food, rarely getting a chance to branch out beyond that common framing. Netflix’s ‘Uncorked’ is going for something a little different as it follows the story of a young 20-something guy hoping to accomplish his dream of attaining the title of Master Sommelier. His father wants him to stay over the family business, a BBQ joint first started by his grandfather who bootstrapped his way to entrepreneurial success. Go for your dreams or take over the family business with regrets - it’s an age old tale with a Memphis...
2020-04-101h 00Low KeyDC Universe's 'Harley Quinn': How to Go From Lackey to SupervillianDC Universe’s Harley Quinn doesn’t give a f**k about offending people as the first scene demonstrates by showing a yacht full of billionaires robbed and ripped apart. The show is meant to shock audiences. But it also serves as a great example of how R-rated comic book material can allow for an intelligent subversion of tropes and dark humor that reveals why we connect to these broken characters. Harley herself shines in every episode in both success and failure as she strives to go from the Joker’s lackey to the first modern female...
2020-03-2347 minLow KeyCandyman! Candyman! Candyman! Candyman!Candyman has aged very well: The 1992 story of a son of a slave who is murdered for loving a white woman — and reborn as a hook-handed slasher — looks at racism with an unflinching honesty missing from a lot of our racial dialogue today. It skillfully, scarily connects the bigotry of old with the bigotry of what was, at the time of its release, the modern age.Candyman returns in June with a Jordan Peele-produced reboot, and we here at the Low Key Podcast prepared by watching the original. Revisiting Candyman reminds us how much and how little has...
2020-03-1251 minLow KeyHigh Fidelity: Zoë Kravitz Updates a John Cusack Movie That Featured Her Mom, Lisa BonetZoë Kravitz might be the single best person on earth to star in Hulu's High Fidelity, an update of the John Cusack movie of the same name: Her mom, Lisa Bonet, was one of the stars of that film, based on a Nick Hornby novel, also called High Fidelity.You've probably gathered that High Fidelity lends itself to adaptation. The novel, released in 1995, was set in London, and featured a record store owner named Rob, reeling from a breakup. The movie, released in 2000, was set in Chicago and featured a record store owner named Rob, reeling f...
2020-02-2432 minLow KeyTyler Perry's 'A Fall From Grace' and the Legacy of the Perry-verseTyler Perry’s ‘A Fall From Grace’ is the latest film release and his first foray in the profitable Netflix original - did we enjoy it? You’ll have to listen to find out. But it’s fair to spoil that there’s a lot to like - a likable main character with relatable real-world circumstances, an impactful murder sequence, and the impeccable Phylicia Rashad like you’ve never seen her before.Throughout this episode we also cover the legacy of Perry and the new Tyler Perry Studios lot in Atlanta that could change opportunities for minorities wor...
2020-02-1455 minLow KeyAva DuVernay v. Stephen King: Our Oscar EpisodeStephen King disappointed Ava DuVernay earlier this month when he tweeted about casting his Oscar ballot: "I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong."On the latest Low Key Podcast, your hosts discuss what followed. Should we consider diversity in matters of art? Do we? We also consider Carey Mulligan's modest proposal that perhaps Oscar voters should somehow prove that they've seen all the films before they vote.It's a far-flung discussion that gets into blind spots, comfort zones, a...
2020-02-0942 minLow KeyIn Parasite, Who Should You Root For?Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-nominated thriller, challenges our sympathies throughout: Do we sympathize with the destitute Kim family? Or the wealthy Parks? It may seem obvious to you — but it's probably a given that not everyone sees Parasite the way you do. In the latest Low Key podcast, we talk about how our sympathies shifted, or didn't, throughout the masterful film.Listen above or on your favorite podcasting platform:Here are some highlights, with time stamps (Spoilers galore!):2:05: The interesting Native American references in Parasite. 5:05: "They do a g...
2020-01-2552 minLow Key2020 Movies We're Excited for, From Tenet to Black Widow to Saw2020 movies have a lot to live up to—2019's movies were some of the best in years. On the latest Low Key podcast, my fellow co-hosts and I nerd out on the 2020 movies we hope will live up to 2019's high standards, from Tenet to Birds of Prey to Chris Rock's take on Saw to, uh, Sonic the Hedgehog. We like all kinds of movies. But on the Low Key, we especially talk about fan-focused films, with a weakness for comic books and sci-fi. So we're very intrigued by 2020 movies including Black Widow, No Time to Die and A Qui...
2020-01-161h 01Low KeyWatchmen: In Praise of High-Risk TVWatchmen complicatedly combined falling squid, horrifying racism, a glowing blue man, nuclear panic, fear of sexual humiliation, piles of dead clones, questions about whether we could all be doing more, and an armchair trap door. In the new Low Key podcast, we talk about why it worked for us.In every episode of Low Key, your co-hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie, and Tim Molloy talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed, often through a racial lens. As Aaron explains near the 20-minute mark of this episode, "Watching this as a blac...
2019-12-201h 00Low KeyLet's Debate 'Queen and Slim'Now that we've had some time for the hot takes to cool, we discuss Melina Matsoukas' consciousness-raising road movie Queen and Slim, written by Lena Waithe and starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie-Turner Smith.Tim and Keith mostly embrace Queen and Slim, but Aaron says plot issues kept taking him out of the story. He also wonders—and we all discuss—whether the film overgeneralizes in its portrayal of how black people would respond to Queen and Slim's road trip for justice.Who's right? No one's right, it's all opinion.The film...
2019-12-161h 04Low KeyThe Mandalorian Is on a Mission to Unite the Best and Worst of Star WarsThe Mandalorian signaled how sweepingly it plans to embrace the entire Star Wars universe when it stocked its very first references to The Star Wars Holiday Special, a much-despised 1978 TV show that even George Lucas would like to forget. In our episode, we talk about how charmingly Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian has incorporated not only the things we all agree are cool (Bounty hunters! blasters! Freezing dudes in carbonite!) but also elements of the universe that some fans prefer not to talk about (cute creatures! Midichlorians! The Star Wars Holiday Special!)Here are som...
2019-11-221h 00Low KeyWhat Is 'Watchmen' Saying About Race in America?HBO's Watchmen touches on reparations, racist vigilantism, and the destruction, 100 years ago, of the African-American business Mecca known as Black Wall Street. But what is the show actually saying about race? That's one of the main questions we try to unpack in the new Low Key podcast.Every week on Low Key, your hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and Tim Molloy talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed, often through a racial lens. We like comic books and superheroes. Watchmen seems made for us.And we do like Watchmen...
2019-11-161h 01Low Key'Dolemite Is My Name': Rudy Ray Moore, Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend and DIY Moviemaking Eddie Murphy's Dolemite Is My Name shows how Rudy Ray Moore became a black independent moviemaker—and became a role model for future DIY artists. In the latest "Low Key" podcast, we talk about how Rudy Ray Moore's Dolemite helped blaze a still-difficult trail for Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend, and other DIY moviemakers who continue to inspire.On every episode of "Low Key," we discuss subtle aspects of movies, television and other pop culture that we think deserve more attention.This week, we talk about how Rudy Ray Moore influenced not only hip-hop musi...
2019-10-3143 minLow KeyLet's Discuss BatwomanHow well does the CW’s “Batwoman” fit into the network’s other DC shows and the Batman universe? And would we rather see a new standalone heroine with no ties to either?Every week on “Low Key,” your co-hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and I talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed. This week, we revisit “Batwoman,” which we previously discussed over the summer, based only on the trailer. Now we’ve seen the show and want to give “Batwoman” its due.First, the things we like: Batwoman does a stellar job of...
2019-10-2533 minLow KeyWhat Is 'Joker' Trying to Say About Poverty and Mental Illness? What does "Joker" want to say about poverty, mental illness and other problems society has failed to solve? That's the subject of our latest "Low Key" podcast.Every week on "Low Key," your hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and Tim Molloy look into pop culture subtleties you may have missed. Well, except for this week: This week Tim is replaced (quite successfully) by special guest Sam Perrin of the “Sam Said It” podcast. Sam, Aaron and Keith go deep on "Joker," questioning how to interpret its ending, whether it wants to make political statem...
2019-10-1839 minLow Key'Undone': Let's Try to Interpret Amazon's Animated AchievementHow to interpret Amazon's acclaimed animated series "Undone"?The series is about a 28-year-old woman named Alma (Rosa Salazar) who suffers a serious car accident and develops the ability to communicate with her long-dead father Jacob (Bob Odenkirk). She also becomes unstuck in time, and learns to bounce back and forth across decades to try to understand how her father died.The show leaves many questions open, including whether Anna is really traveling through time, or suffering from a serious mental illness. The show, which reminds us of Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly,"...
2019-10-1045 minLow KeyIs 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga' Something to F--- With?Shimmy Shimmy Ya! On the latest episode of the Low Key podcast we talk about “Wu Tang Clan: An American Story,” brought to you by RZA -- the man who brought us “The Man With the Iron Fists.”(Also: We just found out what RZA stands for “Ruler, Zig-Zag-Zig, Allah.” I don’t know what any of that means, but it sounds dope. Can you say new X- Box Gamertag?) The series chronicles the formation and the rise of one of hip-hop’s greatest groups, The Wu Tang Clan. So far Hulu has six episodes...
2019-09-2835 minLow KeyLet's Talk About the Joker and Chris Gaines (feat. Sam Perrin from "Sam Said It")Will Todd Phillips' new "Joker" prove the exception to the rule that villains are best left mysterious? And also, did we ever figure out why Garth Brooks' adopted an emo R&B persona named Chris Gaines? These two equally relevant subjects are the focus of our latest "Low Key" podcast.This week on "Low Key," we're joined by special guest Sam Perrin of the "Sam Said It" podcast. All of us are comic-book nerds, but despite that, we weren't necessarily desperate for a solo "Joker" film. As Hannibal Lecter and Darth Vader can att...
2019-09-1850 minLow KeyLet's Talk About the Tricky Racial Metaphors of 'Carnival Row' Fae! Pucks! Critches! This week on the "Low Key" podcast, we talk about these and other words we think might be racial slurs in the world of "Carnival Row," Amazon's unique take on bigotry and immigration.The new series examines a star-crossed relationship between a human detective named Philo (Orlando Bloom) and a winged fae named Vignette (Cara Delevigne) that is filled with metaphors we're trying very hard to follow. The show creates a vast and complex fictional world, then populates it with storylines that seem oddly reminiscent of things happening in America today.
2019-09-0738 minLow KeyIs David Oyelowo's 'Don't Let Go' About Time-Travel? Or Something Else?"Don't Let Go" stars David Oyelowo as an LAPD detective who starts getting phone calls from his niece, played by Storm Reid -- after she and her parents are brutally murdered. Is it about time-travel? Parallel dimensions? God? We talk it out on the new "Low Key."The Blumhouse film, from Jacob Aaron Estes, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival under the original name "Relive." It quickly sets up the plot before taking us through a series of twists that challenge everything you thought you knew about cell phone conversations between the living and the dead.
2019-08-3134 minLow Key'Cannon Busters,' 'The Witcher,' 'The Irishman' and More 2019 Projects We're Excited About (Podcast) Usually on the "Low Key" podcast, we talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed, often through a racial lens. This week, we just talk about some projects we're excited about, from "Cannon Busters" to "The Witcher" to "The Irishman" to "The Mandelorian," "Dolemite is My Name" and "Harriet."Of all those films and TV shows, only one -- the Netflix anime series "Cannon Busters," has been released. Aaron, a hardcore anime fan, tell us how intrigued he was to see anime with black characters in key roles.Keith, meanwhile...
2019-08-2342 minLow KeyIs 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood' Better or Worse if You Know the Full Manson-Sharon Tate Story?Do you need to know the history of the Manson Family and Sharon Tate to appreciate "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood"? That's one of our first questions in our wrap-up of Quentin Tarantino's latest.Every week on "Low Key" we talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed. This week: Prior to "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood," one of your hosts, Tim, knew much too much about the Manson murders. But your other two ghosts, Keith and Aaron, didn't know that Manson's followers killed Sharon Tate and her friends in August...
2019-08-0354 minLow Key'The Boys' Gives Superheroes the 'Game of Thrones' Treatment"Game of Thrones" decapitated fairy tale and fantasy tropes by giving us deeply flawed knights, kings and queens. Amazon's new "The Boys" similarly demystifies superheroes, as we discuss on the latest "Low Key" podcast.Every week on "Low Key," Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and Tim Molloy look at pop culture subtleties and what they mean. "The Boys," Eric Kripke's adaptation of Gareth Ennis' comic book about the antiheroes who try to rein in corrupt superheroes, is full of nuance -- as well as very unsubtle sex and violence. "The Boys" works if you l...
2019-07-2634 minLow KeyBatwoman, a Black Female 007, and Super-PanderingA dubious news report that a black actress, Lashana Lynch, will play 007 in the next James Bond film got your friendly neighborhood "Low Key" hosts wondering: When do Hollywood's attempts at diversity in casting feel positive, and when do they feel like pandering? And is there such a thing as positive pandering?This week we're joined by special guest host Sarah Lanton as our discussion of the James Bond franchise leads us into a discussion of the American James Bond, Batman. That in turn leads us into a discussion of the CW's new "Batwoman," played by...
2019-07-1939 minLow Key'Stranger Things' Is Better When You Don't Understand ItFor all the nostalgia of "Stranger Things" -- the New Coke, the mall, the music -- the most uncanny memory it conjures is the feeling of first seeing a scary movie you were too young to see.With the very good Season 3 behind us, we still don't have resolution to some of the key mysteries unveiled in Season 1 and Season 2.Is the show doing too much? Or does the continuing mystery add to the feeling of being 10 years old, sitting in a cold theater or watching a worn VHS tape, trying to understand...
2019-07-1241 minLow KeyLet's Talk 'See You Tomorrow,' Where 'Back to the Future' Meets Systemic RacismThis week we talk about Netflix's Spike Lee-produced "See You Yesterday," which combines the time-travel goofiness of "Back to the Future" with the social criticism of "Boys N the Hood" (RIP, John Singleton).Does it work? We're a little divided. We appreciate that the protagonist is a young, black and female scientist (Eden-Duncan Smith). We love seeing Marty McFly himself, Michael J. Fox, reading Octavia E. Butler's time-travel classic "Kindred."But the question is how well the film melds silliness with seriousness. We have a good honest discussion, and ultimately we're glad this...
2019-06-1936 minLow Key'Black Mirror: Striking Vipers': Listen to Charlie Brooker Tell Us About Tekken and S&M Dungeons This episode, we welcome our first guests: "Black Mirror" executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones drop in for a (very) quick interview to discuss "Striking Viper," our favorite episode of Season 5.We talk about how "Tekken" used to make Brooker's home sound like an S&M dungeon, men's struggles to express our emotions, and why polar- bear sex doesn't sound so great. We also talk about the essential "Black Mirror" episodes.If you have any thoughts, hit up @alanton11 or @timamolloy. Keith is still too cool for Twitter. Hosted on...
2019-06-1158 minLow Key'Game of Thrones' Final Thoughts: Is Bran a Mass Murderer?The "Game of Thrones" finale left the "Low Key" team divided. House Aaron was disappointed. House Keith found it lackluster. House Tim was satisfied.We get into detail about the reasons why, while pondering several other issues, before getting into the real question: Was Bran the bad guy all along?We also discuss the final Jon-Dany scene, why the main cast members are kinda jerks, and the one thing we all agree on: That beautiful shot of dragon wings behind Queen Daenerys.And then we get to an issue we...
2019-05-2252 minLow KeyDefending Daenerys' Heel Turn, and How We Think 'Game of Thrones' EndsIf you haven't watched the penultimate episode of "Game of Thrones," you should skip this episode, and also tweet at @timamolloy or @alanton11 for our HBO Go passwords. Because you're going to want to be caught up for the finale this Sunday.On this episode, we gave a dragon-fiery debate whether the show properly set up Daenerys Targaryen's heel turn, examine whether Targaryens have dragon blood, talk WAY too much about Targaryen inbreeding, and predict in extensive detail how we think "Game of Thrones" will end.We also play Daenerys Advocate to point...
2019-05-1557 minLow KeyHow 'Avengers: Endgame' Sets A High Bar For Cinema's Next Era"Avengers: Endgame" sets a new standard for franchise films and universe-building. But is that a good thing?On the latest "Low Key," we talk about why the massive success of "Endgame" -- not just in terms of box office, but also in terms of fan service -- is likely to inspire lots of imitators. We talk about what lesson other universes -- "Star Wars" and DC come to mind -- can learn from the MCU.But we also wonder if big, IP-driven films will drive out smaller, more personal films -- we hope...
2019-05-0154 minLow KeyWhat We Want From 'Avengers: Endgame'What happens in "Avengers: Endgame"? We have no idea. But in this episode, we talk about our hopes, predictions and fears for the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe stories we've followed for more than a decade.To be 100 percent clear: We have not, as of this writing, seen "Endgame," or heard any spoilers. We've carefully avoided leaked scenes, and covered our ears whenever friends tried to drop hints.So this episode of "Low Key" is based only on our opinions -- and our fandom of the 21 films in the MCU so far...
2019-04-2435 minLow KeyLet's Talk 'Guava Island,' Where Donald Glover Meets Bob Marley (and Rihanna's There, Too)Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) lures us to the beautiful, fictional "Guava Island" for his new Amazon film of the same name, and we're delighted to be there.On this week's episode of the Low Key Podcast, we talk about the politics of Guava Island -- the place and the film -- as well as our thoughts about Glover's work overall, especially FX's "Atlanta." We also talk about how we wish Glover's "Guava Island" co-star, Rihanna, had a little more to do, and why Red (Nonso Anozie) is such a good villain."Guava...
2019-04-1941 minLow KeyJoker, 'The Twilight Zone,' and Sad-Sack Standup Comedy This episode of "Low Key" is about the dark side of comedy. We all know laughter eases pain, but we don't talk so much about the acute pain of failing to make people laugh.The first episode of Jordan Peele's revived "The Twilight Zone," starring Kumail Nanjiani as a standup comic who will do anything to succeed, perfectly captures the agony of speaking into a mic to a crowd of people who refuse to laugh.And the new teaser for Todd Phillips' "The Joker" drives home how depressing it is to try to...
2019-04-0548 minLow KeyLet's Compare Jordan Peele's 'Us' and Get Out"Get Out" was a horror classic, so Jordan Peele's "Us," his follow-up, had big, scary shoes to fill. In the latest "Low Key" podcast, we talk about whether the latest addition to the Peeleverse lives up to our very high expectations. "Us" is a movie made for people who fixate on small details, like why Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o) is offbeat when she snaps her fingers, and why her son Jason's lighter doesn't seem to have any fuel in it. It's a smorgasbord of low-key delights. But the subtleties add up powerfully: The more you think...
2019-03-2747 minLow KeyCaptain Marvel, Feminism and Fanboy AngstEfforts by a few fragile fanboys to sabotage "Captain Marvel" completely failed -- but they did succeed in sparking a few fights that aren't worth having. Before "Captain Marvel" even opened, trolls targeted it on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and YouTube, spurring all three to make changes designed to screen out attacks from people who hadn't actually seen the film."Captain Marvel" beat the trolls handily, opening to $153 million domestically and $455 million worldwide. It is certain to be one of the fastest films to gross $1 billion at the box office.Why wer...
2019-03-1547 minLow KeyWe Liked 'Doom Patrol,' a Happily Dumb '50s-Horror-Inspired 'Super Zero' Show With Butts (Podcast)Had a rough week? The cheerfully silly, R-rated weirdness of "Doom Patrol" might be just what you need. The DC Universe show is a little bit "X-Men," a little bit 1950s monster movie, and a lot of lesson-free fun. "Doom Patrol" follows Brendan Fraser as a lumbering robot man named, uh, "Robot Man," who joins a grimly goofy team of super zeroes who live together in Doom Manor under the guardianship of their "Chief," played by Timothy Dalton. The cast includes Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, April Bowlby as Elasti-Girl, Matt Bomer as Negative Man, Joivan Wa...
2019-03-0248 minLow KeyEpisode 23: 'High Flying Bird,' Colin Kaepernick and 'The Revolt of the Black Athlete'Stephen Soderbergh's "High Flying Bird" imagines black pro athletes bypassing mostly white team owners to finally reap the profits of their own athleticism. Is it just a dream, or could Colin Kaepernick's fight with the NFL be the start of something like the nascent revolt in the film? The film imagines what would happen if the mostly black athletes in the NBA discovered a way to profit from their own hard work without white team owners taking a massive cut of the profits. Super agent Andre Holland plays Ray Burke, who uses social media to circumvent...
2019-02-1959 minLow KeyEpisode 22: Liam Neeson's Confession and What We Can Learn From ItLiam Neeson admits that for a time, he walked the streets looking for an excuse to kill a random black man because of his anger over a friend's rape. On this episode, we talk about the deep history of insidious and deadly lies that fed his mindset, and what we can all learn from his admission.We go from Neeson to Trayvon Martin to Jussie Smollet to why growing up on an island that's 96 percent white might make you susceptible to some backward views on race. And we also talk about some of the ways the...
2019-02-0856 minLow KeyEpisode 21: Does 'Black Panther' Deserve Its Best Picture Nomination?We love "Black Panther," but we're kind of stunned it has an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.We want to believe Ryan Coogler's film was nominated just by being great, but as Keith puts it: "Don't give us handouts, Oscars."Are Oscar voters making up for past snubs of superhero films, like "Dark Knight"? Or past snubs of African-American films? Could it be that Oscar voters simply love "Black Panther" as much as we do?With nearly a year of hindsight, we also talk the true meaning of "Black Panther."...
2019-01-3035 minLow KeyEpisode 20: When 'Beale Street' Hits Close to Home: 'It Was Terrifying'Barry Jenkins' "If Beale Street Could Talk," based on the book by James Baldwin, uses an almost deliriously beautiful love story to show how the criminal justice system unjustly targets black men. This week, Aaron Lanton and Keith Dennie talk about how much the film hit home (and not just because they both grew up in Memphis, the home of Beale Street.) One scene in particular -- when our hero, Fonny (Stephan James), realizes how easily he could be framed for a crime he didn't commit -- reminded Keith of a horror movie. He says a...
2019-01-1843 minLow KeyEpisode 19: 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,' Sex Robots and Your PhoneWas "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" more like a fun "Goosebumps" book? Or a way for a massive corporation to gain insights into your private viewing habits?This episode, we wonder if "Bandersnatch" will open the door to a future in which entertainment companies will be able to tell not just whether we prefer Frosties or Sugar Puffs, but also our attention spans and tolerance for violence. Just imagine how "choose your own adventure" technology will evolve in an age of sex robots and "Blade Runner 2049"-style hologram boyfriends and girlfriends. Everyone's weirdest secrets will be carefully tracked.
2019-01-1044 minLow KeyEpisode 18: The Low-Key Racial Subtext of 'Into the Spider-Verse' "Into the Spider-Verse" is a masterpiece, but it's especially special for black and Latino audiences who've been underrepresented in super hero movies. This episode, we talk about why certain lines and moments in the film may resonate more with Spider-fans of color. As Ava DuVernay tweeted over the weekend, "You’re the best of us, Miles. You’re on your way. Just keep going.”If you like us, throw us some stars on iTunes, okay? And happy holidays. We love you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...
2018-12-2455 minLow KeyLet's Discuss 'The Conners,' the Roseanne Universe Sans RoseanneThis week on "Low Key," Aaron, Keith and Tim discuss "The Conners," the Roseanne-free version of "Roseanne." We talk about how bad Roseanne Barr's "Planet of the Apes" tweet was and whether it should have gotten her kicked off her show. And how realistically "The Conners" handle problems like the opioid crisis. And who is the better "The Conners" character: DJ, or the couch.Also: Why there can never, ever be a "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie without the great Jaleel White.If you like it, put five stars on it. Hosted...
2018-10-3043 minLow KeyEpisode 13: CBS's "The Neighborhood": The Bad, The Ugly, and the Surprisingly Good PartsNew CBS sitcom "The Neighborhood" about a white family moving into a black neighborhood - a bold choice that has mixed results. Critics and audiences have panned the show after just two episodes have aired, but is it worth giving a shot for the long haul?Keith, Tim, and Aaron give a review of the first two episodes (what worked, what didn't, where it is likely to go), and learn a lot about each other's cultural differences (did you guys know white people don't use wash cloths in the shower?!?!) Hosted on Acast. See...
2018-10-1659 minLow KeyEpisode 12: Racism in Gaming Communities and Why YouTube Recommends Alt-Right Conspiracies If Don't Like Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The Brett Kavanaugh JointHow did the Xbox get the black vote?Why does YouTube's ("unbias") algorithm recommend recommendations for alt-right conspiracies if you look up negative criticism of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi?"Does the increase in divorce rate mean we are becoming less moral?Keith, Tim, and Aaron cover this and much more in the most fun episode yet.Oh, and that Supreme Court stuff is mentioned for about 20 seconds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-09-2536 minLow KeyEpisode 11: Louis C.K., Asia Argento, and Sexual Harassment as a White Collar CrimeLouis C.K. is attempting a comeback on his own timeline after admitted masturbatory misdeeds.Asia Argento is denying sexual assault allegations from a male (at the time) minor.Like many high profile accused folk, neither of them is likely to face criminal charges. Tim, Keith and Aaron are crazy enough to wonder aloud:Why sexual crimes have so few consequences even when they are proven to have happened?Would people treat the Asia Argento situation more seriously if the genders were reversed?Who should serve as head of...
2018-09-0741 minLow KeyEpisode 10: Aretha Franklin's Passing Reveals Why We Are Impacted By CelebrityThe Queen of Soul passed away last week, causing us to question why we, the adoring public, are impacted by celebrity deaths as if a close friend or family member has left our lives. Keith, Tim, and Aaron share the celebrities who have impacted them the most, and why single women can nabKeith by gifting him, "The Art of the Deal." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-08-2134 minLow KeyEpisode 9: Does Hollywood Have a Black Casting Quota?Projects with no black people are accused of racism.Projects with too many black people are labeled "a black show."Casting directors and writers decide who stays in front of the camera. Diversity is a hard, thankless job part of the job to navigate. Keith, Tim, and Aaron discuss why it's so controversial and great recent examples of black representation for TV and cinema. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-08-1328 minLow KeyEpisode 8: Do Tweets Have a Statute of Limitations?Former Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader are the latest people to have old tweets come back to haunt them. The repercussions were vastly different for both guys but it raises an important question: what should the consequences be for offensive tweets, and how old should the tweet (or the individual) be for us to let it go?Tim Molloy, Keith Dennie, and Aaron Lanton discuss if things are going too far and how societal evolution changes our collective judgement! Plus, Tim and Aaron read off their first ten...
2018-08-0152 minLow KeyWhy ScarJo's Casting for Transgender Role Matters by Three Straight Cis-Males Scarlett Johansson's latest role as a trans man in the upcoming Pittsburgh mafia film "Rub and Tug" is causing controversy. Critics have called the casting an example of "cis-washing" and berated ScarJo's tepid response to the their frustration.Tim, Keith, and Aaron talk about why it's a big deal and the progress made (or lack thereof) for non-straight actors in Hollywood.Show NotesScarlett Johansson Responds To Backlash For Being Cast As Trans Man In ‘Rub & Tug’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-07-1230 minLow KeyEpisode 6: Drake Gets Exposed in Rap Beef, Fatherhood, and BlackfaceDrake thought Pusha T would be another easy notch on his belt, but it when far worse than anyone could have ever expected. What does it mean when the top rapper in the game pleads out of a beef with a written memo and an appeal for peace by one of his managers? Considering rap's status as a pop genre, maybe nothing.Keith, Tim, and Aaron explain in this episode about what this means for hip hop and end by discussing the legendary Youtube video that captured the night James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson were...
2018-06-2743 minLow KeyEpisode 3: David Letterman Interviews Jay-Z. Plus, How Ninjas Can Save Your MarriageTim, Keith, and Aaron discuss the Jay-Z interview on David Letterman's Netflix show "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction." Plus, the guys give their theories for the next Avengers film (premiering next week!), and Keith explains how to save your marriage by hiring a ninja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-04-2053 minLow KeyEpisode 2: Atlanta's "Teddy Perkins" Review - "Never Go Full Killer Mike"Tim, Keith, and Aaron return to give a review of Atlanta's surprising episode "Teddy Perkins." Along the way they discuss blackface, whiteface, Killer Mike's self-own, and how Atlanta's greatest strength (absurdity) is leading to missed storytelling opportunities. Relevant Links: ‘Atlanta': 9 Teddy Perkins-Michael Jackson Parallels That Aren’t So ObviousJimmy Kimmel's Blackface Impression of Karl Malone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2018-04-1254 min