S1: Hi, I'm Melanie Kimbra, and welcome to The Drop, where
S1: we dive into the latest in the world of pop
S1: culture and entertainment. Now, today is a very special episode.
S1: Our inaugural Pop culture awards. From Rihanna's pregnancy reveal to
S1: Austin Butler's Elvis voice, we're going to debate and discuss
S1: the moments that have defined pop culture in 2023. Osman
S1: Farooqui is on leave, but I am joined on the
S1: judging panel by familiar figure Thomas Mitchell and one of
S1: my favorite people in the office, Robert Moran, or as
S1: they are collectively known, Rob Thomas. Nice. I'm so glad
S1: I got to make that joke.
S2: It's actually smooth is probably my go to karaoke song.
UU: So I want like seven inches from the Mideast.
S2: And today it's a very hot one. So everything's. Yeah.
S2: Everything's working.
S1: That's so true. And how are we feeling about being
S1: on the judging panel for our first pop culture awards?
S3: I feel good, thanks for having me on. Even if
S3: it was just so you could make a matchbox 20
S3: joke to start the day.
S2: Were so worth it though, I think. Yeah, it was,
S2: I think. I mean, unlike you, I don't get invited
S2: on too many panels, so it's like really nice to be,
S2: like judging something.
S1: I feel like you just judge without the panel though.
S2: Correct. But it's nice to be officially like in my
S2: role now.
S1: Okay, let's get into the awards. We can't dilly dally
S1: all day. We've got a number of categories to get through,
S1: categories that I've just made up. So first up, let's
S1: talk about our favorite celebrity makeup or breakup. We've had
S1: Taylor and Travis. We've had Travis and Courtney. Rob, what
S1: couple stole the show for you in 2023.
S3: All right. So it's been a very 2023 was a
S3: great year for hookups, celebrity hookups even in the last
S3: few weeks. You have a Jeremy Allen White comedy from
S3: The Bear with Rosalia, the Spanish pop star. That's a.
S1: Good one. You must be pretty sad about that. Or happy,
S1: I don't know.
S2: No, I think they suit. Actually. I felt sad because, like,
S2: he broke up with his childhood sweetheart. I never like
S2: after he got really spoke about this the other day
S2: after he got really famous from the bear, I think
S2: he was like, this is probably my most like, I
S2: need to capitalize on this time. So sadly he has
S2: left his wife. But I approve of this new relationship.
S1: Okay, well, judging panel there it is.
S3: Gonna make use of your moment. You don't know when
S3: you'll have another moment.
S2: Exactly. So, like.
S3: My my choice for the couple of the year kind
S3: of jumps off of that bad bunny and Kendall Jenner.
S3: Maybe unpopular choice, but it was the same kind of, uh,
S3: beginning for their relationship. So Bad Bunny had been with, uh,
S3: his partner for years. The fans really liked her. Gabriella,
S3: I think, was her name. Anyway, so they split up
S3: bad Bunny, like two months later, starts dating Kendall Jenner, uh,
S3: in February this year. And apparently they started on a
S3: double date with Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber. Wow, this
S3: is strong stuff. I was gonna say it's already one
S3: of those annoying details that kind of. You can understand
S3: why the fan, uh, kind of feeling around it wasn't so,
S3: so hyped, so good. Um, anyway, at first I just
S3: kind of enjoyed seeing how much he's a public profile.
S3: Kind of.
S2: Skyrocketed.
S3: It went down. Down.
S2: Yeah.
S3: Brian, the fans aren't into this. Like, uh, this guy
S3: dating a Kardashian, everyone turned against him. Um, but anyway,
S3: you know, it's been months now. Like almost a year.
S3: They seem to be going good. I feel like if
S3: you're still dating your partner in the face of, uh,
S3: such public scrutiny and, uh, hatred for a year, it's.
S3: It's real love. That's love.
S1: So you think they're gonna stick it out?
S3: I think so, I.
S2: Assume, though he will not appear on the Kardashians, he
S2: doesn't seem like. Because the thing with the Kardashians, I mean,
S2: don't obviously get me started on Kylie.
S1: And I don't want to get you started on any
S1: of them.
S2: Seem to date, especially lately, men who are like heaps
S2: cooler than them. Oh, so like, you know, Travis Barker
S2: is a cool drummer.
S1: Timothy's a cool drummer, but, you know, he's he's check that.
S2: He's he's like, cooler than the Kardashians.
S1: I don't know. Okay.
S2: But I mean, well, so are you the judge of
S2: cool now because enormous trouble.
S1: Even if technique even if that sleeve.
S3: Tats. Uh cool. Right.
S2: I still think he's cooler than the Kardashians. Then you've
S2: got bad Bunny. Call Timothee Chalamet, call some people like
S2: they're dating men that like their fan base is then
S2: like like mortified at the idea that this person they
S2: love is with a Kardashian. And yet it seems to
S2: keep happening. So like obviously there's something going on in
S2: that family that's very powerful. And I suspect it is.
S2: They're amazing.
S3: Yes. I mean, that couple I think is very wholesome.
S3: There was this great video, I don't know if you
S3: saw a couple months ago where they were out hiking.
S2: Yeah. The mosquito video, Bad.
S3: Bunny is like, hey mommy, watch out for the mosquito.
S4: Mommy. Be careful.
S5: Rabies.
S4: They're mosquitoes.
S1: Yeah, I think that's a good pick. Thomas, I thought
S1: you were gonna say for your couple, Kylie and Timothy.
S1: I know you've been perturbed by that, but what's your
S1: favorite celebrity coupling?
S2: I hate that couple. Um, my one is weird. It's
S2: Tim Burton and Monica Bellucci.
S3: Yeah. Wow.
S2: I think that's so cool. I mean, Monica Bellucci is great,
S2: and we all love Tim Burton. Uh, and they just
S2: seem like, you know, I'm all about, like, you know,
S2: finding a new soulmate later in life. Um, I mean,
S2: not for myself. I'm very happily married, but I'm more mean, like,
S2: I like, this is a cute love story, and I
S2: love both of these people individually. And the fact that
S2: they're now together. Uh, you know, I was reading this
S2: interview with Monica Bellucci recently. She was like, what can
S2: I say? I'm glad I met the man. I just
S2: simply love him. And I think that's very cute. Oh.
S2: So like, you know, we're obsessed with these young, hot
S2: celebrity couples, but this is like, this is. A really
S2: nice older couple who have reconnected. They first met at
S2: 2006 at the Cannes Film Festival and now they're in love, so. Oh,
S2: I like that.
S1: New beginnings, fresh start.
S3: I remember hearing about Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter
S3: living in separate houses, like across the road from each
S3: other for however many years they dated. Yeah. Do you
S3: know if this is that kind of situation?
S2: No. But then I also kind of like I can
S2: see the merit in that to the older I get. Anyway,
S2: I've got some stuff drawn back.
S1: Yeah. I don't listen to this one, Kate. Um. All right.
S1: Mine is actually, I've gone the breakup route. Um, Sophie Turner,
S1: Joe Jonas, two people I really didn't care heaps about.
S1: But then we were all, like, captivated when they broke up.
S1: And their their separation with all the kind of stuff
S1: about bad mothering and absent fathers and working mothers all the, like,
S1: kind of polemic around, it was very interesting and it
S1: made much more of a splash than I thought it
S1: would be. And then I liked all the fallout. I liked, um,
S1: Sophie Turner then becoming like one of Taylor's main girls.
S1: Like that picture of them going out to dinner, and
S1: now they're in a gang together. And I also like
S1: that now she's dating some kind of viscount, and she's
S1: spending her weekends at shooting parties. So I've just the
S1: whole story has been great.
S3: Definitely a step up from the second best. Jonas. Yeah.
S2: I mean, we hate the Jonas Brothers. They're a bunch
S2: of freaks. I do have a breakup, though, that I
S2: would like to add. Okay. Please. Um, because I am
S2: personally invested in this one. Okay, so Sofia Vergara and
S2: Joe Manganiello. Yeah. Good. Because I hate Joe Manganiello. Years ago,
S2: I interviewed him and, uh, for this stupid movie he made. Anyway,
S2: this is for a previous publication, not the esteemed Sydney
S2: Morning Herald or The Age. And in the headline I wrote,
S2: I referred to him as Mr. Sofia Vergara. I woke
S2: up to like ten missed calls from his agent being like,
S2: Joe is incensed. He is an actor in his own right,
S2: one of the most exciting prospects in Hollywood. I was like, firstly,
S2: he's not. He's just like really jacked. Anyway, I've been
S2: off Joe Manganiello since then. Uh, and I think good
S2: for Sofia. I think she's better off without him. He's
S2: a talentless hack. She's a beautiful Colombian bombshell. Uh, so, yeah,
S2: I think he's got a new girlfriend, but whatever. Uh,
S2: that was my favorite breakup of the year. Yeah.
S1: Great. And you'll be having to turn your phone off
S1: after this podcast.
S2: And I already did find someone, even though I said
S2: I wouldn't. Yeah.
S3: Can I add another, uh, breakup that should have that?
S2: Yeah, I wish I could.
S3: Continue Taylor Swift and Matty Healy.
S1: Oh, yeah.
S3: The one that got away as I could.
S1: How long did they date for?
S3: Yeah, it was about.
S2: Half an hour.
S3: It was like two weeks in May. Uh, and.
S2: That sounds like a song that she would release. Exactly.
S3: I feel there's gonna be songs from both sides about it. Um,
S3: but the interesting thing to me is, okay, the fans
S3: hated that relationship. Matty Healy was in his kind of
S3: edgelord performance art phase. Whatever he does. So she moves
S3: on to meet her, uh, Travis Kelsey, uh, complete antithesis
S3: of Matty Healy. I'm just wondering, like, what is your type? Like?
S1: Yeah. And what went on that she needed to go
S1: so far the opposite way.
S3: PR summit's, I think. Okay.
S1: Yeah, well, hopefully we will still see some songs come
S1: out of that, but we've got to move on. Let's
S1: go to our next category. Okay. Stand out. Scandal. This
S1: is the prize for the most shocking pop culture moment
S1: of 2023. Thomas. What can't you stop thinking about?
S2: Uh, this one's going back a little bit, but I
S2: was absolutely captivated by the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial.
S5: Another celebrity trial gripping the nation as Academy Award winning
S5: actress Gwyneth Paltrow faces off against Terry Sanderson in a
S5: highly publicized ski collision case. All eyes are on Park City, Utah,
S5: where Sanderson filed suit against Paltrow, claiming she rammed into
S5: him on the ski slopes back in 2016. He claims
S5: he suffered multiple broken.
S2: I mean, we've had a few high profile cases this year,
S2: but none were as kind of like fun and just
S2: ridiculously out of touch as this one. There were so
S2: many memorable moments. Gwyneth kind of like hauntingly whispering to him,
S2: I wish you well, which sounded like a curse. So good. Uh, and,
S2: you know, people called it the ski and run trial.
S2: It was just amazing. Gwyneth dressed like a shed.
S1: The aviator.
S2: Yeah, yeah. Uh, that that I thought was just it
S2: was like pop culture theater at its very best.
S1: And did you know that now they are turning it
S1: into a play in the UK and it's called Gwyneth
S1: Goes Skiing, which is just chef's kiss. Yeah. Um, Rob,
S1: what have you been stuck on?
S3: All right. I know, uh, scandal well happened this year,
S3: which seems like, uh, the biggest scandal of the year.
S3: But I stopped watching Vanderpump Rules, maybe, like, eight seasons ago.
S3: So I can't help you with that one. Um, also,
S3: Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino having kids in there. Uh oh,
S3: that's that was it. I thought that was a good.
S2: They're both like over 85, which is fucking crazy.
S1: It's very upset by that. Even though before you were
S1: saying you liked kind of New Beginnings at old age. Yeah.
S2: I'm happy for you to, like, hook up and like,
S2: you know, like, find yourself again. Just having sex again, but, like,
S2: not like Robert De Niro not.
S3: Bringing new life in. Yes.
S2: No. He's got, like, three good sperm left. Just keep
S2: them to yourself.
S3: Good, good. Fine. Uh, but the one I'm going to go.
S3: Is the whole sick is. That was the idle.
S6: The American Dream. Rags to riches.
UU: Trailers. The Mansions. You are fucking Joslyn.
S7: Just do you.
S8: Easy. I'll just do that.
S3: Playing Sam Levinson's HBO show that, uh, you know, about
S3: a struggling pop star, which attracted a lot of hate
S3: because it was bad and creepy. Um, I thought.
S2: You kind of liked.
S3: It. I this is where I'm heading to. Don't jump ahead.
S2: I'm sorry, sir.
S3: All right. It feels part of the trend from the year, though.
S3: So with, uh, movies like Babylon and Saltburn that were
S3: so messy that they kind of became interesting after the fact. Like,
S3: it feels rare these days for, uh, bad things to
S3: even be released, like, uh. So I appreciate when, uh,
S3: you know, big swings missed so badly. But, um, anyway,
S3: I know the the Emmy nominations snubbed him, but I'm
S3: still on my, uh, the weekend for for an Emmy thing.
S3: He risked his whole career to give us douchey male
S3: toxicity done to perfection. Everyone hated Tedros, right? Yeah, he
S3: could have made him charming. Because, you know, this culture
S3: loves that kind of gray area. And the anti-hero, um,
S3: you know, we could have had a whole new, a
S3: whole nother, uh, Jeffrey Dahmer situation with all these, uh, young,
S3: young women being, uh. Hey, I think I'm attracted to
S3: Jeffrey Dahmer. Is that weird?
S2: Confused about that, Tedros? Yeah, but.
S3: He didn't do that. He went for a total douche.
S3: Sometimes we need, like, the Disney villain to all kind
S3: of gather around and hate. And the weekend did that
S3: for us, but I.
S2: Think, are you giving him too much credit that this
S2: was a conscious decision where he was like, I could
S2: have done this, but instead I'm gonna just.
S3: Be I think so, you know, life is kind of
S3: charming writing.
S2: He is. And he was so good in Uncut Gems. So, like,
S2: I see your point, I, I don't know if that
S2: was what was happening. I think maybe he's just a
S2: shit actor and possibly creepy.
S3: We'll never find out again. There will be.
S2: No season two. No.
S1: Yeah, well, Rob, the the revival of the weekend's reputation
S1: that he very much needs after the idol. I will
S1: never get over Troy in the shock necklace like Troy's villain. Yeah,
S1: that was a lot. My scandal. It's more just a
S1: kind of moment. And it actually, I realized, probably started
S1: at the end of 2022, but moved into 2023 was
S1: the nepo baby discourse which followed. That was after vulture
S1: published their The Year of the Nepo Baby article, and
S1: they listed all the children in Hollywood from all different
S1: fields that had kind of parents who were famous, like
S1: Lily-Rose Depp. Speaking of the idol, Maya Hawke, Colin Hanks,
S1: Gracie Abrams and I feel like that conversation just went
S1: on for months and months and months, and it still
S1: goes on like they can't really. These younger Hollywood stars
S1: can't really get past that question. And I mean, it
S1: kind of came into Australia too, and people were doing
S1: interviews having to talk about their famous parents here as well.
S1: So I think I did that. You did you put
S1: that question.
S3: Campion's kid.
S1: She handled it very well, didn't she.
S9: She did. Yeah.
S1: So I think that kind of trend, that realization, that
S1: kind of having famous parents who get you to where
S1: you are or help get you to where you are
S1: is a bit of a scandal was a pretty interesting one.
S1: I did love.
S2: Hailey Bieber wearing the Nepo baby shirt. Do you remember that?
S2: She wore like a slogan shirt when it broke and
S2: it was I said, Nepo baby. I like that slogan shirt.
S2: As someone who shopped a lot at JJ's in the 1990s,
S2: I think slogan shirts should make a comeback.
S1: Yes, I thought we definitely saw later on in the
S1: year that a lot of them were trying to reclaim
S1: the narrative around being a nepo baby and like, balancing
S1: privilege with kind of what they've done on their own. Pretty. Yeah.
S1: Pretty interesting.
S3: There's like no other way around. It just got to
S3: claim it. Right?
S9: Yeah.
S1: That's it. All right. Let's move on to our next category.
S1: Now this one is this one's nice one. It's the
S1: pop culture moment person or trend that made you most
S1: happy I'll kick us off. Mine was very humble guest
S1: at the Met Gala. This was the cockroach that stole
S1: the show. Do you guys remember this?
S9: Yeah I do, yeah. This was.
S2: You talking about Pete.
S9: Davidson? Yeah. Oh, nice. That's good. Um.
S1: It's called guns blazing in this episode. He doesn't. He.
S1: And a year fever. Um, this was the cockroach at
S1: the Met Gala. One of the most glamorous nights in
S1: night of nights of Hollywood. All the rich and famous
S1: and fashionable, their little cockroach scurried on to the onto
S1: the carpet. And I think it was variety that snapped
S1: a picture of it and started tweeting about the cockroach,
S1: which unfortunately rest in peace, has since passed away. But, um, yes,
S1: it was a moment the whole internet got behind because
S1: it was just such a wild juxtaposition of the very
S1: rich and powerful and then the kind of scum of
S1: the earth. As I.
S9: Described it, it was very funny.
S2: And it felt like one of those things, I think,
S2: like vulture straight away, it was like 50 stories on
S2: The Cockroach. It was like the cockroach that stole the show.
S2: Who is the cockroach at the Met Gala? And it's
S2: funny because the Met Gala has become like this flashpoint
S2: now for like, it feels like every year something crazy
S2: has to happen. Like, obviously there's always the outfits and stuff.
S2: It's always got this. Like, there's there's a moment now
S2: that we come to expect. And I guess the cockroach
S2: was that this year.
S1: Yeah, it was great. And also I will shout out,
S1: another thing that made me quite happy was Rihanna's pregnancy reveal.
S1: And the thing that made me happy about it was
S1: I'm very happy that she's pregnant. Um, but during the
S1: reveal at the Super Bowl, do you know she came
S1: out and she had like her bump very much on display,
S1: but because people were reporting it in the office, but
S1: no one wanted to, like, name that she was pregnant.
S9: I do remember this.
S1: And it was like she was so obviously pregnant, but
S1: everyone was kind of scared to say it in case
S1: maybe she'd just gained some weight. And so it was
S1: quite funny watching the stories roll out of like, allegedly
S1: pregnant puts belly on display, like the kind of euphemisms
S1: that we used until I think someone obviously got official confirmation. Um,
S1: but I also enjoyed that whole show. I thought she
S1: was great in it, and all the little white people
S1: running around like little mini Michelin men. They made me happy. So, um,
S1: that was mine. Rob, what made you smile?
S3: Kylie getting global attention at 55 for, uh, Padam. Padam? Yes,
S3: it was fun.
UU: But, um, I hear it, and I know that, um, but, um,
UU: I know you want to take me home, but, um,
UU: and get to know me, girls, but, um. But, um,
UU: when you are.
S3: Such a feel good comeback and she could still get
S3: a Grammy for it next year, even.
S1: And then we could. Would you like to tell the
S1: listeners what you actually had to do this year involving Kylie?
S2: Talk us through your Spotify wrapped.
S3: Yeah, okay. My Spotify wrapped, uh, number one, top 1%,
S3: I guess, of the world Kylie Minogue fan here.
S2: Just you and Danny.
S3: Maybe Jason Donovan. Yeah, I still have some. Um, yeah.
S3: So we had to write a we wrote a story
S3: ranking all of her songs, which, uh, got a lot
S3: of hate mail about. We missed a few, I think.
S1: Um, and I think when we started it, we thought
S1: we tried to do the rough math, and we were like,
S1: it won't be that many songs. And then it turned
S1: out to be, what, like 250?
S3: Yeah. I don't even remember. Yeah.
S9: It was it.
S3: Was enough to, uh, skew my whole algorithm for the rest.
S9: Of the year.
S3: But yeah, we, uh, made a decision to include some
S3: B-sides and some not. And, uh, the fans, like, made
S3: it known that I missed a few.
S9: And now you're on the Kylie.
S1: Ride for life.
S3: Yes, but the other thing I enjoyed, I wanted to
S3: mention was the whole 50th anniversary celebrations for hip hop. Like,
S3: this is a genre that's been so kind of ignored
S3: at awards shows for so long, so seeing rappers like
S3: Scarface and the LOX perform at the Grammys was like, uh,
S3: he's like 12 year old me was like, waiting for
S3: that my whole life. Uh, but having said that, I
S3: don't need to see another 65 year old rapper, uh,
S3: on stage for the for the rest of my life.
S3: Now let's give hip hop back to the children.
S9: Yeah. You're done. That's very good.
S1: Um, Thomas, what are you saying? You're banned from saying
S1: Sydney Sweeney? Uh.
S9: Just to get actually trying.
S2: To, like, thinking before we came on. Will we get
S2: through this whole podcast without Sydney Sweeney being mentioned?
S9: I feel like we can't.
S2: Yeah, yeah. It's happened. Uh, look, my one is possibly
S2: an obvious one. I thought the bobbing hammer thing was
S2: very fun. Uh, you know, it's rare to have. We've
S2: come off the back of, you know, lots of disruption
S2: as a result of Covid in, like, especially in cinema.
S2: And to have these two very different but equally high
S2: profile releases from two like, again, very different but very
S2: talented directors and and casts was like a really special moment.
S2: And at first it started as like a weird internet
S2: thing like, oh, these, you know, the same day release,
S2: but so different. But like was like a it just
S2: felt nice and like everyone got behind it. Both movies
S2: were great. Um, you know, we've since seen it become this, like,
S2: weird kind of symbiotic thing. We had, um, Margot Robbie
S2: interviewing Cillian Murphy the other day.
S10: Yeah. Any of the Bob and Heimer? I mean, it
S10: was impossible.
S11: To, um. Wasn't there.
S10: Some great one.
S11: Avoid any of that stuff? Um, which is.
S10: People are so clever with the things that come up.
S10: It was incredible.
S11: And it was self-generated, you know.
S10: What I mean? I know people kept asking me, they're like, so, uh,
S10: so the studio is talking, the studio, each department, marketing
S10: departments talking to each other. And I was like, no,
S10: this is the world doing this. The world. This is
S10: not a part of the marketing campaign. This is just happening.
S10: And I think.
S11: It happened because like, both movies were good.
S10: Yeah, yeah.
S11: That's the thing. And there was a sort of a
S11: diversity offered by both.
S2: And I just thought it was like a really nice
S2: pop culture thing. Often, you know, the default mode for
S2: these types of like conversations is snark, but I think
S2: everyone just enjoyed it. Um, so yeah, I thought I
S2: thought the Barb and hammer phenomenon was like a really
S2: fun thing for everyone to be involved in.
S1: Yeah. That's good. I feel like I really want another
S1: one of those to happen.
S9: Yeah, yeah.
S3: We had Soul Patrol, which no one went to.
S9: Yeah, that's very true.
S1: Um, okay. Moving on now we're onto the what we've
S1: called the Dwayne The Rock Johnson Award for the pop
S1: culture happening that carried the most weight in 2023. So
S1: this is kind of a really important pop culture moment.
S1: That kind of shaped the year in many ways. Rob
S1: who was the heavy lifter.
S3: Okay, two words Fran Drescher.
S9: The nanny.
S3: The Che Guevara of.
S9: Hollywood.
S12: This is a moment of history. That is a moment
S12: of truth. If we don't stand tall right now, we
S12: are all going to be in trouble. We are all
S12: going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines
S12: and big business. Who cares more about Wall Street than
S12: you and your family? Most of Americans don't feel it.
S3: Had to be. The actors and writers strikes like, uh, even,
S3: you know, just the fact that so many productions, uh,
S3: got paused, uh, actors and writers were out of work
S3: for 148 days. Um, it also affected us personally here
S3: in the Sydney Morning Herald that we only got to
S3: interview directors for most of the year. Like, I like directors,
S3: but they know Sydney Sweeney. No.
S2: Okay, good. That's number two.
S3: Um, like, honestly, I still don't 100% know what came
S3: out of it. Something about AI and, uh, streaming residuals, right?
S3: I think they don't.
S2: Really know either. They just like we won.
S9: So you actually.
S1: Didn't listen to France speech at all?
S3: I saw at the end she was happy, and that's
S3: all that counts.
S9: Well.
S1: As always. Great. Did you like the nanny or.
S3: Of course. Yeah.
S1: Long time, long time.
S9: Fran fan. Exactly.
S3: Saturday night fever. Was she in that one of those, anyway?
S1: Thomas. What's yours?
S2: Mine, I guess is like. I feel like it fits
S2: into this category, but it's not. It's sport related.
S1: Okay, okay. We love sport. We sometimes are a sport pod.
S2: I feel like the Matildas fever became a pop culture
S2: phenomenon in a way. Um, because obviously, you know, Australia
S2: and New Zealand co-hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup and
S2: the Matildas, you know, went on this amazing run. They
S2: kind of started the tournament shakily. It had all these
S2: like incredible narratives of Sam Kerr's injury. Like, you know,
S2: what's she gonna play? Then we go play England in
S2: the quarterfinals. The first time we ever made the quarterfinals
S2: and very much the whole country, you know, just like
S2: got so swept up in Matildas fever. You know, I
S2: was watching these shootouts with people I know like friends
S2: of mine who don't like football. And people got so
S2: into it. And to the point where it did feel
S2: like it got passed, just a sporting phenomenon and became
S2: like the only thing we were all talking about for
S2: a couple of weeks, which was like, so great to
S2: to see. And, you know, probably pre-tournament, I reckon, like
S2: for instance, you could probably could like name one Matilda,
S2: Sam Kerr. But now I feel like but now I
S2: feel like all of them are like household names and,
S2: and yeah, it was it's always special when like a
S2: sporting moment kind of takes over the country like that.
S2: And this I think particularly being here was great.
S1: Yeah, I think that's true. And after maybe it's something
S1: to do with after a few years of Covid that
S1: things like Barb and Heimer and the Matildas kind of
S1: brought us all together. We wanted these collective moments of, yeah.
S2: And you've signed up to a local football club now,
S2: which is amazing.
S1: Absolutely. And Tottenham.
S9: Yeah, yeah.
S1: Not that we're doing so well anymore. Um, look, mine
S1: was in terms of shifting the narrative in terms of
S1: its import for the year. Prince Harry spear came out
S1: at the start of the year. First time a member
S1: of the royal family has done such a tell all
S1: memoir was obviously a huge bestseller. It shone a light
S1: on his family in such an intense and intimate way.
S1: And there were, while there was a lot of coverage
S1: of helicopters, like maybe too much coverage of the helicopters
S1: really likes them. Like meeting Meghan. The way he frames that,
S1: the way he frames his whole childhood was fascinating reading,
S1: and obviously the consequences of that are going to linger
S1: long and large in the royal family itself and also in,
S1: I guess, British history and the place of the monarchy there. So, um, yes,
S1: Prince Harry.
S3: Yeah. Nice. And no one can have us their memoirs anymore, right?
S1: Yeah. That's so true. 800, 800 pages or so.
S9: Yeah, yeah.
S2: I can't tell if Harry's like, where his, like the
S2: public view of him he's at right now. Like to
S2: people like him after the book.
S3: Yeah, it's hard to say. Yeah, I think.
S1: That's like an overdose. Right.
S9: Of him after there was like. I like him. Right.
S9: You're off him.
S3: Ah, I don't mind. I have no opinion whatsoever. I
S3: like them, I like that they, uh, tell the whole family,
S3: but I feel like there's a lot of, uh, traditionalists
S3: who are not really up for that.
S1: Yeah, he kind of spoke against the family. Which one
S1: should not? Yes. Right. All right, let's move on to
S1: captain's call. Um, another quite ambiguous category, but here we go.
S1: This is a chance for our judges to spotlight a
S1: piece of pop culture that they just want to shout
S1: out that didn't really might have made them smile, might
S1: have made them kind of a bit perturbed. But here's
S1: your chance, Thomas. Pop culture. What do you want to
S1: talk about?
S2: Mine is not a fun one, sadly, but I think
S2: it is worth mentioning, which I like the Russell Brand
S2: story from earlier this year. Uh, it was a joint
S2: investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel four
S2: dispatches program, where basically five women accused brand of abusive
S2: and predatory behavior. Um, between 2006 and 2013. And it
S2: was one of those stories that, I mean, in terms
S2: of like the journalistic element was very impressive reporting, but
S2: it really opened up like a big chat for everyone.
S2: We covered it on the pod, you know, this kind
S2: of thing where brand had always been, you know, the
S2: subject of whispers. And he had that kind of like charming, cheeky, like,
S2: you know, oh, he pushes the boundaries. But, you know,
S2: after the allegations came out and people started to look
S2: at the evidence, it really opens up like, you know what?
S2: What line are we pushing when we, you know, embrace
S2: and kind of like enable these types of characters. And
S2: I just thought, yeah, it was it was a worthy story.
S2: And it kind of kicked off some good conversations. And yeah,
S2: it's just it is sadly too common in this industry
S2: for it to happen. But yeah, it was it was
S2: an interesting kind of moment for everyone to look back on.
S1: Yeah. I feel like that was a real moment of
S1: reckoning at that time, that everyone had to kind of
S1: think about their own role and complicity in that too. Um,
S1: so yes, not a fun one, but important to bring
S1: the vibes away.
S9: Yeah.
S1: Important one. But I have a feeling I know what
S1: Robert is going to say, because sitting next to Rob,
S1: this is the only thing he really talks about.
S9: It's true. Rob.
S1: Captain's call.
S3: Mine is, uh, very unserious compared to that. Uh, okay. Well,
S3: first of all, it was a big year for prestige
S3: TV this year. I think we can all agree, like
S3: all these shows that have dominated awards and, uh, critical
S3: acclaim for recent years, uh, finishing up succession, obviously Barry, uh,
S3: Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Ted Lasso, even even though everyone kind
S3: of came to their senses by the end. Prestige TV
S3: won awards, is what I'm saying. You know, it was
S3: the hyped comedy for a while. Let's all.
S1: Get into a prestige TV.
S9: National debate.
S3: But there's one finale that people forgot. Riverdale.
S2: Oh my God.
S9: This.
S3: Second last episode of Riverdale is like classic Riverdale. It, uh,
S3: in that it was a clever, silly, ridiculous, um, it
S3: would take me days, maybe weeks to explain the kind
S3: of intricacies of how we got to the finale there.
S3: But essentially, the episode explained how the characters got sent
S3: to a parallel timeline in the 50s, uh, to avoid
S3: getting killed by, uh, Bailey's Comet. Uh, but and by
S3: the end, they got all their memories reinserted in this
S3: parallel timeline by basically watching Riverdale, the same Riverdale we
S3: all watched.
S9: Anyway.
S2: This is really. This is really selling me on the show.
S9: Yeah.
S3: You gotta you gotta get to a lot to get
S3: to that point. But anyway, now we're seeing kind of
S3: the legacy of Riverdale already play out, uh.
S9: Right here on.
S1: The Drop.
S3: Beyond, beyond the show. Uh, Charles Melton, who played Reggie
S3: the football meathead and Veronica's co-owner at LA Bonnie. Uh,
S3: he's getting raves for his role in May-December, the new
S3: Todd Haynes movie. Uh, and he's tipped for an Oscar like,
S3: beautiful Riverdale legacy.
S1: Rob Black exclusively wants to do stories on Riverdale alumni. Like, now. Like,
S1: he'll be like, we should do something on this. And
S1: I'm like, why? And he's like, Riverdale.
S9: Obviously Riverdale.
S3: Lili Reinhart has got something coming up.
S1: Yeah. Do you think everyone will like Riverdale or like,
S1: what type of person? Like what type of show do
S1: you think someone would have to like to also enjoy?
S3: You've got to appreciate absurdity. Um, and there's a personal aspect.
S3: The director is obviously throwing everything he's ever loved in there.
S3: It's just like constant references, um, done in the campy
S3: as possible way, uh, you feel like camp and, uh, hilarity.
S1: All right, maybe I will. That will be my summer viewing. Like,
S1: I feel like I owe it to you to understand you,
S1: to watch this thing that's so.
S9: Important to you.
S1: Um, my captain's call has to go to Taylor Swift
S1: and the eras tour. She has stolen the year, really,
S1: hasn't she? Like, I keep thinking Taylor Swift can't get
S1: any bigger, and then she just continues to obviously named
S1: Time Person of the year Travis Kelce. Biggest selling tour
S1: of all time. I think I've enjoyed all the TikToks
S1: around the tour like I, I don't have tickets at
S1: this stage. If you would like to go with me,
S1: please just.
S9: Uh, yeah.
S1: If you already hit me up. But, um, I like
S1: all the TikToks and memes, and I like all the
S1: chat around how she changes each show and the little
S1: shout outs to Travis Kelce. So I think she deserves
S1: the captain's pick for the year, surely?
S2: Yes. I mean, she definitely needs all the support she
S2: can get.
S3: I enjoyed that day in the office where the, uh,
S3: lounge room, uh, Circle of Doom was just on everyone's.
S9: Computer trying to get into the.
S1: So stressful. And then everyone was like, it's the ISP
S1: going to stop us all.
S9: Yeah.
S1: Big, big. You didn't get tickets, did you?
S9: No. No.
S1: Yeah. And you still don't, right. No. Well, there you go.
S1: Hit us all up. Take the three of us, um, for.
S9: A good time. All right?
S1: Now we've done some looking backwards. Oh, firstly, congratulations for
S1: presenting the first pop culture awards. You all did fantastically. Um,
S1: now we might do. We're going to do a bit
S1: of a brief look forward to 2024. Lots on the schedule,
S1: some kind of hypothesised yet to be confirmed, a few confirmed. Um,
S1: Robin 2024. What are you most looking forward to?
S3: There's a few things. There's a lot already confirmed coming
S3: up that that is pretty exciting. Like, the thing I'm
S3: most excited about is the return of pops superstars. So
S3: Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, they all have new albums,
S3: either like scheduled or rumored for 2024. Um, just the
S3: other day, Ariana Grande shared some, uh, shots of herself
S3: in the studio. Uh, and I saw a comment under
S3: them saying something like, thank you for your service, Renee.
S3: Rap tape, McRae, Sabrina Carpenter, etc. uh, but you're no
S3: longer needed. Like 2023 did feel a bit like that.
S3: Like there was a dearth of those kind of big releases,
S3: except for maybe Olivia Rodrigo and, uh, Souza. Maybe, um,
S3: and so that's exciting for 2024.
S1: What do you want to see from her new album? Like,
S1: what do you hope Ariana does with this one?
S3: Well, obviously we want to see her touch on, uh,
S3: the whole, uh, divorce and, uh, hook up.
S9: Right. Do you want.
S1: Her most personal.
S9: Album today? Okay, yeah.
S3: There are also some big movies coming out, like Furiosa
S3: with Anya Taylor-Joy. Uh, but the one I'm going to
S3: pick that I've been waiting for is challenges Luca Guadagnino's, uh,
S3: tennis slash, uh, sex movie, I guess.
S9: With.
S3: Zendaya. Yeah. So it was supposed to come out in September.
S3: It got delayed because of the, uh, the strikes. And
S3: I read that Zendaya, uh, to prepare for it, had
S3: six months of training with Brad Gilbert, Andre Agassi's coach.
S9: Wow. So that's.
S3: Something.
S1: It looks so good, that film. And like the stills
S1: they've released and the trailer, I think it's going to
S1: be I think it.
S9: Was the year.
S3: Yeah, I think it was. People were excited for it
S3: last year. So anticipation just built.
S9: Yeah yeah yeah.
S1: So true. Thomas 2024. What's it hold.
S9: For you uh.
S2: Like for me personally?
S9: Sure. I'm going for.
S2: A total rebrand.
S1: Um, I've been encouraging that for some time.
S2: I know there's lots of lots of, lots of cool
S2: shit coming out, but I'm mostly excited about these two things. Uh,
S2: first one is a TV series which I've already spoken to,
S2: I think both of you about. But Ripley, uh, so
S2: we obviously love The Talented Mr. Ripley. The film, uh,
S2: we all hated Saltburn. Um, but this is like a reboot, uh,
S2: headed to Netflix, an eight part series. And it stars
S2: Hot Priest from Fleabag, Andrew Scott, um, who is so good.
S2: So basically, this is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel. Um,
S2: it's set in New York in the 1960s. Tom Ripley
S2: is hired by a wealthy man to convince his wayward
S2: son to return home from Italy. But Tom's introduction to Dickie,
S2: of course, um, played by Jude Law in the film
S2: and his life abroad, kind of then kicks off this complex,
S2: you know, life of deceit. It's got Andrew Scott, as
S2: I mentioned, uh, as well as Johnny Flynn and then
S2: Dakota Fanning. So great cast. Uh, they, you know, Vanity Fair,
S2: just the last couple of weeks, released some first look photos.
S2: The whole thing's in black and white. So I think
S2: it's going to be great. I think it's maybe going
S2: to come late.
S1: 2024 black and white. Feels like a big call.
S2: Yeah, I know it does. Like one of those ones
S2: that maybe after it comes out it's like, is this
S2: an annoying artistic choice? And you probably didn't need to
S2: do it.
S9: Yeah, particularly.
S1: Like lush scenes and beautiful people like you want to
S1: see the color, right?
S3: The whole thing about Talented Mr. Ripley that everyone loved
S3: was the beautiful Italian kind of, uh, countryside.
S9: Yeah.
S3: The sunlight, the sunset.
S9: Yeah.
S2: I get the feeling it's going to be darker. Um,
S2: speaking of darker, uh, the my other pic is Civil War.
S2: So you guys across this new A24 film. So it's
S2: from Alex Garland, obviously. Mel, you would know him from
S2: riding the beach, but he also he also directed Ex Machina,
S2: Annihilation and Men. This film looks fucking amazing. So basically
S2: the plot has been kind of kept under wraps, but
S2: we find America on the brink of civil war. Um,
S2: and you've got like a really good car. So Nick
S2: Offerman plays the president, who I think is basically going
S2: to be like a Trump esque style president.
S3: You've got Ron Swanson. Yeah.
S2: You've got the mustache for it. And then you've got
S2: Kirsten Dunst playing a journalist who was swept up in
S2: a riot, which I think is meant to be like
S2: a kind of mirror of the Capitol riots. And you've
S2: also got Jesse Plemons playing a kind of, like, right
S2: wing nutjob. Um, so I think it feels very meta,
S2: very of the time. And also, you know, I think
S2: we can all agree A24 always worth checking out their stuff. So, yeah,
S2: big wraps on this one coming in 2024, that Civil War.
S1: Well, I wanted to ask you, actually, I know you're
S1: a big fan of A24. You have an A24 shirt.
S1: I often talk about their movies. How do you feel?
S1: I Rob and I were talking about this. The momentum
S1: is kind of shifting against A24 now. Yeah.
S2: They have. I'm so glad I spent $80 us on
S2: the t shirt and shipping. Um.
S9: It's good. Actually, it's going.
S3: To be the year eight, 24 and 24.
S2: I know now I know what you mean, I feel like,
S2: but this is the thing, obviously, whenever you have like
S2: so much success, they crushed it last year and also
S2: like they still had a really good year. Beef was
S2: like one of the best TV shows of the year.
S2: Inevitably you're going to start to slip. I still am
S2: going to be like, I'm an A24 fanboy. And yeah,
S2: so yeah, no use trying to talk me out of it. Yeah.
S9: Yeah.
S3: When you have so much success, people would definitely want
S3: to see you fail. Exactly.
S9: Yeah, yeah.
S1: Good, good. You stand by you. You stand by you A24.
S1: I'm happy for you. Um, my, um, the one I'm
S1: looking forward to in 2024. Dua Lipa's album. I'm a
S1: big fan of Dua Lipa. It's so fun. I think
S1: she's fun and funny. She she runs a book club.
S1: I should probably get in on that, right? Um, yeah.
S1: So I'm looking forward to her new album, like to
S1: stuff on Barbie. And she released a new single, which
S1: I didn't think was that amazing. But, you know, I
S1: still like the vibes produced.
S3: By, uh, Kevin Parker, Tame Impala.
S9: Oh, really? Yes.
S1: But, uh, yeah. So I think that will be good.
S1: But also there's some few, like, few lady writers that are.
S9: Here we go, boys. Trap in. All right.
S1: Well, yeah. 24 year old, um, Leslie Jamison has a
S1: new book coming out, Maggie Nelson. These are all kind
S1: of they they write memoir crossed with social analysis and
S1: cultural analysis. I think both of those books will be great.
S1: And Miranda July also has her first novel in a decade,
S1: coming out first. Bad man was her last novel. It's
S1: really kooky, quirky book about a woman. Hard to describe, but, um,
S1: I read that book.
S9: Did? Yeah. Did you like it? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
S1: I thought that would be up your alley. Um, but. Yes.
S1: So I'm excited to see her new one. Are you
S1: a fan of Miranda July?
S3: I haven't read a books, but I know her movies.
S3: Kajillionaire masterpieces.
S9: Yeah yeah yeah yeah, totally. I must have.
S2: Been on the way in to record this podcast. I panicked,
S2: googled Sally Rooney new book 2020 for nothing coming, so
S2: I can't recommend that.
S1: Taking a break.
S9: Yes.
S1: Um, well, let us move on to our final Impress
S1: Your Friends of the year. These are our recommendations that
S1: we give to you that you can kind of. Well,
S1: as the name says, impress your friends. Rob, what are
S1: you impressing us with?
S3: Okay, uh, this week I watched The Holdovers. Um, it's
S3: Paul Giamatti and Alexander Payne reuniting 20 something years after sideways. Uh,
S3: everyone remembers sideways. Uh, it's the movie that single handedly
S3: killed Merlot.
S9: Um, what is it?
S1: What's the quiet? No fucking Merlot or something?
S9: Yeah, exactly.
S3: Um, they're a good pair. Payne's got that deadpan humor,
S3: and Giamatti plays like a misanthrope. Uh, he plays a
S3: boarding school teacher and.
S1: Ever not play a misanthrope.
S3: I didn't know too much of his work outside of
S3: Alexander Payne, so, um, I feel like he's always kind
S3: of that dowdy, uh, kind of.
S9: Depressed.
S3: Old man. Yeah. Um, anyway, if you like 70s movies
S3: like Harold and Maude, uh, or movies with lots of
S3: brown suits, um, or like Cat Stevens on the soundtrack,
S3: I love cats. Yeah. This is your thing. Uh, and,
S3: you know, in movie credits where they, uh, list the
S3: date it was released or made in Roman numerals. Yes.
S3: This one has MCM LXI, which, if my, uh, Roman
S3: counting is correct, is 1971. So they're in on the
S3: joke a bit.
S9: Well, anyway.
S3: It's out Jan 11, so a good holiday viewing. I
S3: have seen.
S1: It. It's been released overseas and it has been on
S1: heaps of, um, best of the year film list, so
S1: I'm very much looking forward to that. Um, Thomas, would
S1: you like to attempt to impress me for once? Uh.
S2: I mean, you can't be impressed because you've long given
S2: up being impressed by other people because you're only impressed
S2: by yourself. But my one is not as, like, probably
S2: as highbrow as Rob's. But I really enjoyed season two
S2: of Doctor Death. That's on Stan. So do you guys
S2: watch the first season of Doctor Death? They're based on
S2: the Wondery podcast. So basically it's, you know, these true
S2: stories of, you know, I guess, like controversial, possibly illegal
S2: famous surgeons who have, you know, done huge amounts of malpractice.
S2: The first season had Joshua Jackson, uh, season two stars,
S2: Edgar Ramirez, you guys probably both know. And then more importantly,
S2: singer songwriter actress Mandy Moore.
S9: Wow.
S2: You have to remember.
S1: I surely.
S9: Do, yes.
S2: But the actual Wondery podcast is great. So this is
S2: based on a real man, Paolo Macchiarini, who was named
S2: The Miracle Man. A charming surgeon like we all know
S2: this story, particularly here in Australia, a charming surgeon who's,
S2: you know, the kind of rogue guy who only does
S2: these type of life changing operations that no one else
S2: will do. Uh, but Mandy Moore plays an investigative journalist
S2: who starts to kind of look into him, but then
S2: also falls under his spell, and then line starts to
S2: blur professional ethics out the window. But then she also
S2: realizes he perhaps is not who he says he is. Uh,
S2: it was really, really good. Better than season one, I think.
S2: And again, I think in this time of the year
S2: it's nice to just like indulge. It's, it's, it's semi trash,
S2: but it's like nice to indulge in that type of thing.
S2: So that's Doctor Death on Stan.
S1: Oh very good I like that. And um, I've got
S1: a podcast. I think it's the first time I've mentioned
S1: a podcast in this section. You can't mention.
S2: Another podcast unless it's. Please explain, which is so good.
S9: Yeah, we love that.
S1: Well, well-produced. Yeah. Um, have you are you guys across
S1: Esta Perel.
S9: Of course. Yeah.
S1: The psychologist. So this real like, pop psychologist figure who
S1: I feel she's on every podcast ever at the moment.
S2: She also makes a cameo in season three of The
S2: Morning Show.
S9: Oh.
S1: Does she as a guest. Yeah. Good. Um, who is
S1: a couples therapist and kind of does talk therapy and, um,
S1: really gets into the weeds with couples, but she's got
S1: a podcast where she recalls the sessions with the couples
S1: as she tries to figure out their problems and help
S1: them see each other in different ways. Um, well, there's
S1: a very funny spoof of that Amy Poehler's podcast, Say
S1: More with Doctor Sheila. Next question mark above. The doctor
S1: will be sat next to the doctor. She plays a
S1: therapist and she interviews, um, actors who play the couples.
S1: And it's all improvised. So like, we've got guests like
S1: Tina Fey, John Earley, Abbi Jacobson, Kate Berlant, Janine Brito,
S1: so really funny people playing the couples, and she kind
S1: of sets them up and they go off like kind
S1: of on their tangents. It's a really, really funny podcast,
S1: like just a good time.
S2: Listen, I'm shocked she got Tina Fey. That must have
S2: been a hard get for her.
S9: Good.
S1: Um, good. I think you could learn a lot from
S1: it personally.
S9: Yes.
S2: I think we should go. You and I probably need
S2: to go on a podcast and unpack our relationship. So you're.
S9: Gonna say we need to go.
S1: On to say a.
S9: Therapist?
S2: Well, either that or a podcast.
S1: Well, I mean, we have that, so. Well, that's it guys.
S1: That's our last the drop for the year. Thank you
S1: so much for being part of the inaugural awards. Any
S1: feedback for next year?
S2: It was that perfectly oiled machine I think.
S1: Good. Great reviews. Well, um, have a great new year
S1: and we'll be back in 2024 to do this whole
S1: thing all over again.
S2: Looking forward to it.
S1: This episode of The Drop was produced by Kai Wong.
S1: If you enjoyed listening to today's episode of The Drop,
S1: make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast app.
S1: Leave us a review or better yet, share the episode
S1: with a friend. I'm Melanie Kimbra. See you next year.