LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Digger Points the Finger at Its Own Audience

October 15, 2026 at 9:42 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It doesn’t seem like audiences are digging Digger but will Pop Shop dig it after having dug its (metaphorical) claws into it? Find out at the link below! #diggermovie #digger

youtu.be/I7JV91XwmKg?...

Two professors obsessing about everything popular culture, just like you!

October 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

t’s time for Pop Shop! This week, we discuss Primetime, a thriller that goes behind the scenes of NBC’s To Catch a Predator! What does it reveal about entertainment and justice in 21st century America? Find out at the link below! #Primetime #A24

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

WVIA Pop Shop - YouTube

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October 1, 2026 at 10:21 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

This week, Pop Shop turns its sights on the new Resident Evil movie. What did we think of its use of video game elements and aesthetics? How do we think it reflects the moment horror films seem to be having? Find the answers and more at the link below! #residentevil

youtu.be/EHfebFMPK0s?...

Resident Evil and Why Horror Is Having a Moment

Practical Magic 2: Why Fans and Critics Disagree

September 24, 2026 at 8:43 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Audiences and critics are split, so that leaves it up to Pop Shop to settle the debate on Practical Magic 2! Did it cast a spell on us or is it cured? Find out at the link below! #practicalmagic #practicalmagic2

youtu.be/q1qfuC7lnmI?...

Why Americans Fell in Love With The Godfather

September 17, 2026 at 11:04 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It’s an offer you shouldn’t refuse: the latest episode of Pop Shop in which we discuss Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather! Do us a favor and listen to it at the link below! #thegodfather #godfathermovie

youtu.be/K2U0PsIxJwQ?...

Coyote vs. Acme Is Way Smarter Than It Has Any Right to Be

September 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

This week on Pop Shop, we tell you “What’s up (doc)” with Coyote vs ACME! Is it as “Wil E” in its critique of big business as it seems or does the film’s premise blow up in its own face? Find out at the link below! #coyotevsacme #looneytunes

youtu.be/JW3W3xN7EjI?...

Lanterns Doesn't Feel Like a Superhero Show — That's Why It Works

September 3, 2026 at 8:30 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Does HBO’s Lanterns have a “brightest day” or “blackest night” with its first two episodes? Find out on this week’s Pop Shop at the link below! #hbo #lanterns #dcuniverse #dccomics

youtu.be/q9ZYS6cJSmY?...

The End of Oak Street Turns '80s Nostalgia Upside Down

August 27, 2026 at 8:47 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

This weeks’ Pop Shop ends the week with The End of Oak Street! Should this Dino-thriller have taken a bigger bite out of the box office or go extinct? Find out what we think at the link! #theendofoakstreet #endofoakstrret

youtu.be/4oJIfJ3Gxhg?...

Ted Lasso Was Never Really About Soccer

August 21, 2026 at 12:47 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop isn’t the only thing back this week: so is Ted Lasso with its long-delayed fourth season! We talk about the first episode and if it hits its goal of winning back audiences at the link below! #tedlasso #appletv

youtu.be/AGcTFiU0yA4?...

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is About Starting Over

August 13, 2026 at 9:07 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop releases on Thursdays now and what better way to start the new schedule off than with what seems like the biggest movie of the summer: Spider-Man: Brand New Day! #spiderman #marvel #mcu #sony #spidermanbrandnewday

youtu.be/YRN352phpis?...

The Biggest Movie Trailers We Can't Stop Thinking About

August 7, 2026 at 12:08 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

This week on Pop Shop: Trailers! Viewer comments! And changes to the show! All of this for your listening/viewing pleasure at the link below! #onenightonly #endofoakstreet #lanterns

youtu.be/t10zBfmAIKc?...

The Odyssey Is Really About the Collapse of Civilization

July 29, 2026 at 2:49 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It’s an episode of mythic proportions as Pop Shop tackles Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey! We talk our favorite Nolan films, the film as an adaptation, and more at the link below! #theodyssey

youtu.be/w3COrPCeddU?...

X-Men '97 Is About More Than Mutants

July 22, 2026 at 12:55 AM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Before the next episode of X-Men 97 drops, Pop Shop talks the series so far: discussions of time travel, racial metaphors and more await at the link below! #xmen97 #marvel #mcu

youtu.be/Ev7khwZoX6A?...

The Critics Might Be Missing the Point About Supergirl

July 14, 2026 at 11:38 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop turns its eye to Supergirl in this week’s episode! Did it deserve a better reception than it received, or do we agree that it didn’t go “up, up, and away” with the character? Find out at the link below!
#supergirl #DCcomícs

youtu.be/4-i-GeGctb4?...

Pixar Thinks Kids Are Losing Something Important - Toy Story 5 Discussion

July 7, 2026 at 8:08 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Toy Story 5 is the number one film for the second week, but is it #1 with me and Allan? Find out on this week’s Pop Shop at the link below! #toystory #disney #pixar

youtu.be/KQ9N4sYGmgw?...

Spielberg Thinks Movies Can Save Us. Is He Right?

July 1, 2026 at 1:36 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It’s another Pop Shop Tuesday and this week we tackle #DisclosureDay from Steven Spielberg! Do we find it a worthy addition to the director’s long track record, or does it come up short? Find out at the link below!

youtube.com/watch?v=oc98...

Masters of the Universe Has More to Say About Men Than You Think

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June 23, 2026 at 10:46 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

There’s just about a week left to submit a proposal to the Comics, Cartoons and Video Gaming Area for the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association’s annual conference in Baltimore, MD November 5-7. Find out more at www.MAPACA.net/2026-annual-conference

www.MAPACA.me

June 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

The second episode of Pop Shop is now available, in which we discuss #MastersoftheUniverse What we think of it might surprise you! youtu.be/2wROv0d9OZo?... via @YouTube

Do We Really Need Another Star Wars Movie? | WVIA Pop Shop

June 16, 2026 at 11:10 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop is back for its second season! We kick things off with The Mandalorian & Grogu. Does the film justify its jump from streaming to theaters? Find out our answer at the link below! #starwars

youtu.be/HNrqx0GoKRA?...

“Honey Don’t” and the End of Season One

June 9, 2026 at 8:58 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It’s the year/season one finale of Pop Shop. We’re talking about Honey, Don’t and we’ve got news about year/season two of Pop Shop and changes that are in store. Hear it all at the link below or anywhere you get your podcasts! #HoneyDont

www.wvia.org/podcast/wvia...

Join us as we close out Season One of Pop Shop by dissecting Honey Don’t—the latest film from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, starring Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza.

Eyes of Wakanda Review |Marvel Animation Deep Dive

August 31, 2025 at 10:51 AM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

It’s the penultimate episode before Pop Shop’s year/season one finale and we’re talking about Eyes of Wakanda. Does it make time travel work or does it end up lost in time? Find out at the link below or anywhere you get your podcasts! #mcu #eyesofwakanda

www.wvia.org/podcast/wvia...

In this episode of Pop Shop, our crew take a Wakandan wild ride through Eyes of Wakanda—the first streaming series of Marvel’s Phase Six, produced by Ryan Coogler. This four-part animated anthology ex...

Eddington, Ari Aster & the Age of Muddled Truths

August 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop revisits 2020 as we discuss Eddington starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone. Find out how we think it relates to America then and now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts! #EddingtonMovie

www.wvia.org/podcast/wvia...

Take a deep dive into Eddington, the latest film from director Ari Aster, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eddington explores power, politi...

Liam Neeson in The Naked Gun Reboot: Does It Hit the Mark?

August 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

Pop Shop brings laughs for you this week as we talk about The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson and Pam Anderson. Does it live up to the original films or does it miss the mark? Find out at the link below or anywhere you get your podcasts! #TheNakedGun

www.wvia.org/podcast/wvia...

Is the new Naked Gun reboot starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson a worthy successor to the classic spoof series? In this episode of Pop Shop, the crew take a deep dive into the absurd, hilarious, ...

Is “Fantastic Four: First Steps” a Stretch Too Far for the MCU?

August 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM

profpatham.bsky.social

@profpatham.bsky.social

This week’s on Pop Shop, we discuss Fantastic Four: First Steps! Is it FANTASTIC enough to fix the MCU, or does it spell DOOM? Find the answer at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts! #FantasticFourFirstSteps #MCU

www.wvia.org/podcast/wvia...

In this episode of Pop Shop, take a deep dive into the latest and possibly final MCU film for a while: Fantastic Four: First Steps. Is Marvel’s “First Family” finally getting the cinematic treatment t...