Coming Soon : Overrated

Sagar 'J' Kamnani and Uday Mehta break down the state of modern entertainment criticism in light of content from major franchises such as Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Marvel.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani and Uday Mehta discuss the state of sports punditry in light of Draymond Green's claim to 'New Media' (3:30) and debate the merits of Ms. Marvel before checking in with Phase 4 (43:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani and Uday Mehta take a look at the state of the union for Independence Day, including the latest goings-on at the Supreme Court, the Democrats of it all, and where the party goes from here.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta mull over possible solutions to the Daylight Saving Time clock-shift, think about how to interact in fandoms full of unconscious bias, and retire further discussion of Bill Maher after listing his ten worst takes.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta return for their fifth season of the podcast. This week, they discuss the most overexposed stories from the first few weeks of 2022, including Spotify choosing Joe Rogan over several creators upset about his anti-vax and racial rhetoric, the controversy surrounding Awkwafina's use of AAVE/"blaccent", artists selling NFTs to grift their fans, and the latest chapter of the Kanye saga. They also discuss the comedy special 'Bring Back Apu' by Aakash Singh, including his odd branding choices.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta deliver a brand new Overrated Podcast (Taylor's Version), discussing how Swift's album re-recording effort is going, the authenticity of releasing previously written material, whether 'Reputation' is salvageable in a re-release, and the 10-minute cut of 'All Too Well' (1:30). Then, they check-in with Marvel's 'Hawkeye' (Disney+) at its midseason point, debating the merits of street-level vs. multiverse, assessing the strengths of a contained story, and gauging why this series is a good vehicle for Jeremy Renner's particular type of charisma (47:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the two biggest films of the Fall. In Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's 'Dune', they discuss how stakes are sacrificed for worldbuilding, the main book-to-film changes, Chalamet's believability as a sci-fi lead, and whether adapting faithfully benefits the practical limitations of a movie (2:00). Then, they dive deep into Marvel's 'Eternals', focusing on Kumail Nanjiani's Kingo character and South Asian representation, the film's ambitious scale, the conflict of director Chloe Zhao's influence with the superhero template, and whether it deserves to be the lowest critically-rated Marvel movie (36:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down Baxter Holmes' ESPN story about Robert Sarver's racism and misogyny within the Phoenix Suns workplace, including what fans, players, and the league commissioner can do about it, as well as whether Sarver is in danger of losing his team (2:00). Then, they discuss the developing story at Travis Scott's Astroworld festival, who is culpable for the deaths, and the general safety of moshpits and large crowds (40:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta dive extra deep into the 25th film in the James Bond franchise 'No Time To Die'. They disagree on whether the movie was good, discuss how Craig's bond run stacks up against its action franchise peers, revisit their picks for who should take up the mantle going forward and debate their preferred take on the character, and give their Craig-era movie rankings.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta discuss Dave Chappelle's final Netflix stand-up special 'The Closer' including the validity of his argument against cancel culture, the evolution of his beef with the Trans community, and how a back-and-forth with the audience influences his comedy(1:30). Then, they break down the new movie 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' [SPOILERS], the wasted potential of a psychological thriller, content fatigue, and more (33:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta give their thoughts on the two biggest projects in hip-hop, Kanye West's 'Donda' and Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy', whether the albums are cohesive at their length, the value of having multiple edits of a track, whether material should be play-tested with the public, and if Kanye can still be a good rapper or Drake can have good production (1:30). Then, they give a quick review on Marvel's 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings', leading into a larger discussion of prominent South Asians in media and why that community hasn't yet gotten a similar moment of representation.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta debate the merits of David Lowery's new film 'The Green Knight', including ambiguity in art, what elements a story should require, whether music and film have the same structural needs, the divergence from the source material, and the interpretation of the movie's ending (2:00). Then, they discuss food critic Gene Weingarten's article in The Washington Post titled "You can't make me eat these foods", his distaste for Indian cuisine, and his fundamental misunderstanding of spices (39:00). Finally, they give some background on the California gubernatorial recall election, the consequences if Gavin Newsom is indeed recalled, and go through how to fill out your ballot step-by-step (55:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the evolving situation in Afghanistan with the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, including how to apportion blame pie among the presidents that have overseen the war, the demoralization of the Afghan army, Ashraf Ghani's sudden departure, President Joe Biden's response and refusal to admit mistakes, whether to second-guess those with the best knowledge of the situation, and the political implications moving forward (2:00). Then, they discuss the first four episodes of the final season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, how the show has adapted in light of anti-police sentiments, whether they had a moral obligation to discuss topical issues, and whether the message feels forced enough to affect the product (34:30). Finally, they look over the latest footage from 'Pokemon Presents', including new gameplay video from Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, as well as the promising Legends Arceus (52:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the latest in entertainment, starting with the first episode of 'Untold' (Netflix) that features the 2004 Pacers-Pistons "Malice at the Palace" brawl, including Ron Artest and mental health in the NBA, as well as the basketball impact and Reggie Miller's career ending (3:00). Next, they check in with Marvel's 'What-If' show (DIsney+) after one episode, whether changing Captain America to Captain Carter was a meaningful enough change, and if the future stories show promise (21:00). Finally, they review James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' (HBO Max), the uneven handling of its characters, the missed opportunity to provide sound political commentary, and whether there are fixes for James Gunn's directorial monotony (33:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the Russell Westbrook trade and whether it is worth the risk (4:00), how Scarlett Johansson's legal battle with Disney could shape the landscape of streaming profitability (18:45), the reactions on both sides to Simone Biles' withdrawal from the Olympics due to mental health (34:18), and end with a deep dive on Mindy Kaling's second season of 'Never Have I Ever' (48:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta take a look at the landscape of the NBA following the Bucks' Finals win, including the legacies of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Paul, the relevance of 'asterisk' seasons, the big Kevin Durant what-if moment, and the frontrunning nature of sports punditry (2:00). Then, they give their thoughts on the new Space Jam: A New Legacy, debating to what standard the movie should be held, whether the father-son message was effective, LeBron's ability as a Hollywood leading man, and the inevitable comparisons to the original movie (34:30). Finally, they wonder whether Kanye West's Donda will ever be released, if this cycle of broken promises is what we should expect from Kanye from now on, the unfinished nature of the album from what was played, and whether Kanye still cares about music (57:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta deliver an action-packed episode, discussing the recent UFC main event between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor (2:30), the end of Twitter's 'Fleets' feature and the beginning of YouTube's #shorts (17:30), Marvel's return to cinema with 'Black Widow (36:30), and the Season 1 finale of 'Loki' (50:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the new 'The Suicide Squad' trailer, how James Gunn can influence the tone of the movie, and whether the new DC continuity is a good strategy (1:30). Then, they check in with 'Loki' on Disney+ having reached the halfway point, whether to be optimistic about the risks Marvel has taken, and how Owen Wilson and Sophia di Martino's characters add to the richness of the show (38:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down every major announcement in Nintendo's E3 presentation including the hype level for the sequel to 'Breath of the Wild', the evolution or lack thereof in character additions for Super Smash Bros, and the highly anticipated return of Samus in 'Metroid Dread' (2:00). Then, they discuss the curious announcement of a 'Beauty and the Beast' inspired prequel series featuring the villain Gaston on Disney+ (37:00). Finally, they check in on the NBA playoffs following the conclusion of the second round, revisit their picks and give new ones, and eulogize the Ben Simmons / Rudy Gobert archetype (50:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the 'Cruella' movie (Disney+) and the evolving villain anthology genre, including the purpose of having villains as protagonists, whether this should be and can be viewed as a standalone work, and how it compares to films such as 'Solo' and 'Joker' (9:30). Then, they discuss the Paul brothers' foray into professional boxing, and how celebrities will figure into the sport going forward (47:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta eulogize the 2020-2021 Los Angeles Lakers, discussing what went wrong, whether last offseason's moves should be second-guessed in hindsight, projecting the team's needs moving forward, and whether the injury history is concerning (1:00). Then, they discuss who to root for and give their picks for the second round of the playoffs (18:00). Finally, they break down Olivia Rodrigo's debut album 'Sour' (31:45)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta preview the entire NBA playoff bracket, giving their picks for each first-round series including the number of games, as well as their picks for hypothetical later series if the bracket were to play out as expected. Note: This episode was recorded on Friday May 21 following the Memphis Grizzlies' win over the Golden State Warriors in the 8-9 play-in matchup.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down Bill Gates' controversial position surrounding vaccine patents, including the power he commands due to his wealth, the human cost of his decisions, and whether his reputation as 'the good billionaire' still holds (2:45). Then, they discuss Andrew Yang's mayoral race in New York City in light of questions surrounding his time at Venture for America, including the context of his presidential bid, and the policy vs persona elements of his campaign (28:45) Articles discussed: Is the Shine Starting to Come Off Bill Gates’s Halo? by Tim Schwab (The Nation) Andrew Yang Promised to Create 100,000 Jobs. He Ended Up With 150. by Brian Rosenthal & Katie Glueck (The New York Times)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta recap the latest in animated telivision, starting with Amazon Prime's Invincible (4:00), the storytelling mechanisms of animated vs. live-action mediums, why certain people are reluctant to give animated content a chance, how this show compares to 'The Boys', and reactions to the first half of Season 1 (spoilers start at 28:00). Then, they jump over to Disney+ to discuss the latest Star Wars offering 'The Bad Batch', the tipping point for quality in this extended universe, whether it's time to abandon the Republic vs. Separatist conflict, and comparisons to the cult classic 'Firefly' (34:00). Finally, they discuss Emma Green's article for The Atlantic entitled 'The Liberals Who Can't Quit Lockdown' (52:30). This episode does *not* contain spoilers for 'The Bad Batch', but *does* contain spoilers for 'Invincible from 28:00-34:00.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the end of Marvel's 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' on Disney+ with some distance from the finale, including how Marvel seriously took on race and the military industrial complex, how John Walker's character can be adapted for further stories, whether the Flag Smashers were compelling villains, and whether the series suffered from a shorter runtime than 'WandaVision' (2:15). Then, they recap President Joe Biden's first 100 days in office, including his joint address to Congress, how he's doing on campaign promises relative to Barack Obama and Donald Trump, whether he can be progressively transformational, and whether the critiques of 'armchair radicals' have any merit (34:00). SPOILERS for 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' in this episode. Article discussed: 'Joe Biden Is a Transformational President' by David Brooks (The New York Times)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta discuss India's staggering second wave of COVID-19 infections and deaths, prime minister Narendra Modi's responsibility and how his government is suppressing dissent, why their vaccination efforts have stalled, and whether the United States will help (2:30). Then they break down Hulu's announcement of a 'How I Met Your Mother' reboot starring Hillary Duff, the original show's standing amongst 2000s sitcoms, and how this show could improve upon its predecessor's premise (31:00). Finally, they react to the announcement that Elon Musk (winner of episode 100's Most Overrated Bracket) will be hosting Saturday Night Live (54:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta react to the now-#1 song in the world 'Montero' by Lil Nas X, the meaning of the video's imagery and the relevance of its lyrics, as well as the backlash to the satanic visuals (1:30). Then, they break down FOX's attempt at comedy 'Gutfeld!' hosted by Greg Gutfeld, and why conservatives have a hard time replicating Jon Stewart's Daily Show (30:45)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta celebrate their 100th episode by working their way through a full 64-contestant March Madness-style bracket of the most overrated people and entities in the world. Categories include sports, TV & film, music, elected officials, political pundits, fanbases, tech, and miscellaneous topics. Full bracket results: https://i.imgur.com/DLs0Nnp.png

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the four-hour long 'Snyder cut' of 2017's Justice League (on HBO), including how it improved on the original, the idea of fan service, what could have been cut, the 4:3 aspect ratio, and more (3:00). Then, they discuss the premiere episode of Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (on Disney+), including whether it has the caliber of a movie, the dichotomy of the two leads, and how it follows up WandaVision (41:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta recap Drake's latest 'Scary Hours 2' and where he stands in his career in advance of 'Certified Lover Boy' (3:00), break down the implications of Twitter's new 'Super Follow' feature (25:00), and debrief after the conclusion of Marvel's limited series 'WandaVision' (45:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta round up the latest in video game announcements featuring the Nintendo direct (3:00) and Pokemon Presents (37:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta round up recent trailers of movies set to release in the coming months, including Godzilla vs. Kong (3:00), Zack Snyder's Justice League (16:30), Mortal Kombat (42:00), Disney's Cruella (50:00), and Raya and the Last Dragon (59:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the exhausting 'Malcolm & Marie' on Netflix, including the performances of John David Washington and Zendaya, its metacommentary on film criticisms, the realism of couple fights, and its portrayal of toxic relationships (3:00). Then, they use the news of Rihanna bringing attention to the Indian farmer protests to definitively determine her top five hits (28:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the GameStop stock price saga, including how a short squeeze works, what made this situation possible, how long it can last, and potential solutions including banning short selling and a financial transaction tax (3:30). Then, they design a high school personal finance curriculum (45:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta recap the first three episodes of the MCU's comeback show 'WandaVision' on Disney+, including whether the style works, how long can the mystery be sustained, and parallels with HBO's Watchmen (3:00). Then, they delve into the Netflix adaptation of Aravind Adiga's 'The White Tiger', the prevalence of 'poverty porn', its critique of the caste system and Balram's own morality, as well as its representation of India (29:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta react to the record second impeachment of President Donald Trump, including the optics for the GOP, the best and worst-case scenarios for the party, other removal possibilities, the timing, and how the Senate trial will play out (2:00). Then, they break down all angles of the blockbuster James Harden trade, including how we got to this point, the price of superstars, the Nets' never-before-seen basketball fit, why this deal was made now, and ripple effects on the Rockets, Pacers, and 76ers (32:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the fallout from the insurrection at the United States Capitol earlier this week, including why avoiding the label of 'domestic terrorism' is inappropriate, and where we go from here.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta wrap up 2020 in music, each giving the top-five songs they hated (6:00) and the top-five songs they loved (55:00), with all the tangents you've come to expect.

Uday Mehta goes solo to discuss the back-and-forth on the latest round of stimulus negotiations (), how to assess risk in a crisis (), Gavin Newsom's mixed leadership in California (), and Pete Buttigieg's appointment to lead the Department of Transportation ().

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta review the second season of the Disney+ series 'The Mandalorian', including how it compared with Season 1, the changes to its episodic structure, what pathways the show has from here, and why the streaming service is better equipped to handle Star Wars material (2:00). Then, they break down the anti-vaccination trend in hip-hop and rap music voiced by the likes of Nas and Royce da 5'9, the roots of and justifications for the sentiments, how to fix the problem, and get into macro critiques of the education and scientific publishing industries (30:00).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta delve into Kid Cudi's new album 'Man on the Moon 3', including its cultural impact, where it ranks within the trilogy, his slight changes in sound ten years later, and their top-five songs overall from all three projects (2:00). Then, they look at how recent announcements will affect the movie industry, including Warner Media's decision to put their entire 2021 film slate directly on HBO Max, and Disney's overwhelming amount of planned content (37:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down John F. Harris' POLITICO article 'The Left's Stupid Second-Guessing of Biden', discussing how the left should narrow their focus and how impactful their efforts might end up being (4:00). Then, they try to engineer a new democracy-focused political party(39:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down why Dave Chappelle requested Netflix to pull 'Chappelle's Show' from its streaming service, why he asked his fans to #BoycottDave, and the implications this has on the artist-streaming relationship at large (3:00). Then, they wonder how The Weeknd could have gotten snubbed entirely from Grammy consideration despite having one of the most popular songs and albums of the year, whether it was related to his Superbowl halftime show appearance, and whether the Grammy voting body needs reform given its cultural importance (45:30).

Uday Mehta goes solo to discuss how to value players in the NBA, focusing on draft picks and free agents.

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta discuss what President-Elect Joe Biden can get done without a Senate majority (4:30), the infighting between progressives and the Democratic Establishment (22:30), how far demographic change can carry the party (39:00), the three types of Trump voters in 2020 (45:30), and the culture of politics through the lens of 'Borat 2' and Dave Chappelle's 'SNL' monologue (53:30). Help out in Georgia Senate races: www.votesaveamerica.com/adopt-a-state/

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta recap the results of the 2020 election, including how Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight initiative changed the results in Georgia (4:00), the return of the Blue Wall states plus Arizona's changing demographics (9:00), the raw popular vote for Donald Trump and how he increased his minority support (18:15), an underwhelming Senate result and Susan Collins keeping her job (40:00), the one-sided polling catastrophe and how probabilities are worthless (45:00), and the results of California's statewide measures going against affirmative action, rent control, and gig workers (52:00) Note: This episode was recorded on November 6 at 9PM PST, before Pennsylvania and the presidential election was called for Joe Biden.

Uday Mehta goes solo to break down the nuances of polling, including how it works and what to pay attention to (4:00), and why 2020 is different from 2016 (28:00). Then, he pours a palette cleanser by reviewing the Netflix documentary 'Sour Grapes' and its commentary on wine culture, offering his thoughts on how wine contrasts with his preferred beverage beer (44:00)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta break down the compromising footage of Rudy Giuliani in Sacha Baron Cohen's sequel to the 2006 movie 'Borat' (3:00), the return of Barack Obama to the campaign trail and what effect he can have on the race (23:30), and provide takeaways from the final presidential debate

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta tell you how you can do your part for the 2020 Senate elections even if you live in a non-swing state (3:30), and break down the overall prospects in this year's map (6:30). Then, they go through the key races and candidates, including Thom Tillis vs Cal Cunningham in North Carolina (12:45), Martha McSally vs Mark Kelly in Arizona (21:45), Susan Collins vs Sara Gideon in Maine (29:45), and Joni Ernst vs Theresa Greenfield in Iowa (36:00). Plus, a safe race with John Hickenlooper in Colorado, and some longshot possibilities with Steve Bullock in Montana and Jaime Harrison in South Carolina (42:30).

Sagar 'J' Kamnani break down this week's vice presidential debate between incumbent Mike Pence and senator Kamala Harris, including how Pence was able to defend a mostly indefensible position, Harris' intentionally composed demeanor and embodying the 'happy warrior', how many lies it was necessary to go after, and the performance of moderator Susan Page (5:00). Then, they review the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma' and discuss their relationship with social media, what they learned, and ways to be informed without relying on these websites (52:15)

Sagar 'J' Kamnani & Uday Mehta scramble to cover the week's news, starting with the New York Times securing the century's most anticipated document leak in Donald Trump's tax returns and their dissonance with populism (8:15). Then, they touch on Melania Trump's leaked audio tapes where she denounces the mainstream media, Christmas, and the suffering of kids in cages (17:15). They reach all the way back to the beginning of the week to recap the first presidential debate, including Trump's lack of strategy and whether Joe Biden's policy platforms are compatible with the goals of the left (21:30). Finally, they speculate on Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, where we go from here, and how it could affect the presidential race (55:00)