The Drop

Unfortunately The Drop is on indefinite hiatus. We'll post any updates here, but in the meantime, keep following our entertainment culture news and analysis at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Drop is taking a short break. Check back soon with the latest from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age's culture writers and critics from the world of pop culture and entertainment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blink Twice, Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut, is the latest #MeToo thriller designed to skewer the rich. In this episode, Meg, Thomas and Osman discuss whether Kravitz adds anything new the conversation or just rehashes films like Don't Worry Darling, Promising Young Woman and Get Out. Plus, Oasis announce their surprise comeback, which is excellent news for aging Millennials who can stop crying their hearts out. And Industry goes full Succession with a high stakes trip to Europe in a private jet.This episode also features a conversation with Australian actor Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year, another marathon-length Logies. But this year's ceremony showed a massive shift in Australian TV with Netflix's Boy Swallows Universe swallowing the whole event. Osman, Thomas and returning guest Meg discuss the state of Aussie drama and comedy on commercial TV and whether the streaming takeover has finally arrived. Plus, they dive into the golden age of tabloid media that birthed "Bennifer" (RIP) and break down Industry's second episode. Is this one of the best episodes of TV this year?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's wildly popular book It Ends With Us is having it's Don't Worry Darling moment, with behind-the-scenes drama between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni overshadowing the film's release. Osman, Thomas and special guest Meg discuss the film, it's controversial portray of domestic violence and what's going between the cast. Plus, they discuss what the divisive reaction to Raygun tells us about the Olympics, Australia and culture. Finally, they review the season three premiere of Industry and unpack why it's one of the most underrated shows on TV.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're in the midst of the biggest TV event that comes around every four years: the Olympics. Osman, Thomas and Mel have Olympics fever, and they share their favourite moments so far - from emotional victories, to funny highlights and best celebrity encounters. Then they turn their attention to the state of cinema, with massive blockbusters Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine bringing audiences back to theatres. Are the films any good? Has Thomas finally come around to Glen Powell? Will Osman ever stop saying a movie he doesn't like is "the end of society as we know it"? Plus, three great film, TV and book recommendations to round out the episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you having a Brat summer? Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is, according to singer Charli XCX. In this episode, Mel, Thomas and Os consider whether the Brat movement has reached its peak, and what happens when pop culture and presidential elections collide. Plus, 20 years ago Vince, E, Ari, Turtle and Drama took us behind the scenes of Hollywood's elite when Entourage hit our screens. The hosts reflect on the show and its legacy - while it captured the popular imagination then, it's since copped strong criticism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a culture-packed episode, Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss Shaun Micallef's return to the ABC and what it says about the broadcaster's failure to invest in younger creatives, and try to attract young audiences. They unpack Katy Perry's disastrous attempt at a comeback, why Woman's World fails as a satire, and the likelihood of a Perry-renaissance. Finally, they review the new horror film Longlegs, starring Nicholas Cage, and the star's recent performances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most popular Australian song in this year was released 11 years ago. The dominance of Vance Joy's Riptide, as well the command 40-year-old tracks by AC/DC have on the charts have highlighted a massive problem in Australian music: It's never been harder for Australian artists to break through, get played or make a living touring. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the situation and how the disintegration of live music and festivals, and the dominance of platforms like Spotify, YouTube and TikTok are all combining to squash Australian music. They also discuss what steps could be taken to support the local industry. Plus dissecting the new trailers for Gladiator II and F1, the Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron film A Family Affair, and look at whether the second of The Bear season three was any better than the first.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our most highly anticipated shows of the year, The Bear, is back. Os, Thomas and Mel break down the good and the bad of season three and discuss why it doesn't feel as tight and polished as earlier seasons. They discuss where they show is heading, if it can redeem itself and what it's trying to say about food, family and grief. Plus, they jump back into Presumed Innocent and unpack why it's best crime show in years, and Osman and Mel school Thomas on the joy of Le Tour de France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artists like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX have been making music for years, but it's only in the last few weeks they've achieved mainstream commercial success. Their rise marks a radical shift in the pop music landscape, and a new sound that contrasts to titans like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. Osman, Mel and Thomas look at the the revolution in the genre - what prompted it, and who is leading the way. Plus, Logies nominations trigger a reflection on Australia's television landscape and what's missing from our screens, plus Austin Butler joins the pod to discuss his new outlaw motorcycle gang film The Bikeriders and the state of movies more generally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel, Thomas and Meg discuss why we're so bloodthirsty for crime series and documentaries, and the genre's prestige glow-up. We discuss the ethics of the genre, why its attracting big name celebrities, and some of our favourite shows from recent years. Plus, David Sedaris' New Yorker essay and Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie makes the jump to the screen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brat is Charli XCX's best album yet, and one of the best pop records of the year. It's a throwback to 2000's club culture mixed with avant-garde production and lyrics about loss, love and the state of the world. Osman, Mel and special guest Meg Watson discuss why Brat feels so different to other pop music released this year and Charli's role in the culture. Plus, they talk about the new prestige show Clipped and how it portrays social media and the rise of the Kardashians in the 2010s, and the totally unhinged Safdie brothers produced documentary series Ren Faire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movies are back! Hit Man is a stylish, twisty romantic thriller from acclaimed director Richard Linklater and stars Glen Powell (Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick). It hits Netflix on Friday and might just be our favourite film of the year. Osman, Thomas and Mel talk about how the film subverts expectations, balances comedy, romance and big ideas around identity that are central to Linklater's work. They also dive into the director's incredible and diverse filmography and share their favourite of his films. Plus, a conversation about the latest culture war over hip-hop and Impress Your Friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Mel, Thomas and Os as they travel 25 years back into the past, to revisit one of the greatest years in movie history: 1999. From Fight Club and American Beauty, to Magnolia and Cruel Intentions, they discuss the highs and lows of the ground breaking year, and determine what has (and has not) stood the test of time. Plus, the trio unpack the new generation of Hollywood stars, and a great third act performance from Robert De Niro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Trial by Water is a new investigative podcast series about Robert Farquharson, who has been locked up for decades for an unthinkable crime: murdering his three sons in a dam on Father's Day, 2005. Now scientists and lawyers are asking the question: did we get it wrong? And is this man in prison for a crime he didn't commit? Episode 1 will arrive on Saturday, June 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fifth instalment in George Miller's Mad Max franchise drives us back into the wasteland with Anya Taylor Joy at the wheel as Furiosa, alongside Chris Hemsworth. In this week's episode, Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the action-packed blockbuster, how it compares to 2015's Fury Road and examine Mad Max's place in Australian cinematic history. Plus, they debate Taylor Swift's chart battle with Billie Eilish and unpack Scarlett Johansson's fight with artificial intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Baby Reindeer remains one of the most-watched shows globally, Mel and Osman discuss the consequences of drawing on real-life experiences for television, the “real” Martha's interview with Piers Morgan and why audiences are obsessed with sleuthing.  They also discuss Donald Trump's attempt at film podcasting, the Beyonce led takeover of the country charts and the aftermath of the Drake-Kendrick beef. Finally, they review Such Brave Girls and reveal why it might prove to be the year's best new comedy show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The simmering feud between hip hop's biggest stars, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, reached boiling point this week with both artists dropping intensely personal diss tracks that included accusations of child abuse and violence against women. Mel, Thomas and Osman discuss the winners, the losers and the consequences of what could be rap's biggest battle in years. Plus, pop princess Dua Lipa risks her crown with new release Radical Optimism and Ryan Gosling takes an explosive turn in new action romcom The Fall Guy.Links: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/anatomy-of-a-rap-feud-the-real-winner-of-the-kendrick-and-drake-beef-20240506-p5fp6a.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/inside-the-stunt-that-saw-ryan-gosling-shut-down-the-harbour-bridge-20240416-p5fk2y.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/we-wanted-someone-funny-we-called-ryan-gosling-hollywood-s-most-hilarious-leading-man-20231101-p5egui.htmlhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/ryan-gosling-and-emily-blunt-all-fizzle-and-no-sizzle-in-the-fall-guy-20240422-p5flt0.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerry Seinfeld ignited a fire when he blamed "the extreme left and PC crap" for ruining comedy in a recent interview with The New Yorker. But is comedy really dead, and if so, who is to blame? In this week's episode Thomas, Osman, and a fresh-from-her-holiday Mel dissect comedy and cancel culture, before turning to their attention to the claim that we're in the era of so-called "Mid TV". Does Amazon Prime's new rom-com, The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway, show the demise or potential of television in 2024? Plus, our pop culture recommendations for the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible to have an honest and blunt conversation about peak Taylor Swift and her sprawling, sometimes self-indulgent 31 track double album, The Tortured Poets Department? That's what Osman and Thomas try to do, discussing how the album sounds, the themes Swift covers, the reaction from critics and fans, and what a rare misstep could mean for her future projects. Plus, they discuss Arj Barker ejecting a woman and her crying baby from a recent comedy show, unpack the massive success of Netflix's Baby Reindeer and talk about the end of Shogun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two of the most hyped films of the year have been released in cinemas this week: Alex Garland's Civil War, starring Kirsten Dunst and Luca Gaudignino's Challengers, starring Zendaya. Civil War is a bracing, incendiary and controversial look at a future, war-torn America and the role journalists play in covering conflict. Challengers is a throwback to erotic thrillers of the 90s, a tennis film that is really about sex, power and relationships. Osman and Thomas discuss the movies, the complicated reaction to Civil War and how Challengers confirms Zendaya's star power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 12 seasons and 25 years Curb Your Enthusiasm has finally bowed out, and paid homage to one of the most controversial TV finales of all time. Osman and Thomas discuss the best and worst TV finales, from The Sopranos and Mad Men to Lost and Game of Thrones, and what makes some work while others fall flat. They also discuss two of the most elegant shows on TV right now, Ripley and Shogun, and what makes them transcend other shows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyoncé's latest album, Cowboy Carter, is a sprawling ode to the black roots of country as well as being a critique of America and the music industry at large. Osman and Thomas review the album and discuss how it's been received, by those who love it and those who don't. They discuss the new Netflix series Ripley and how it comes to the film starring Matt Damon and Jude Law before unpacking Monkey Man, the wild debut film from actor Dev Patel. Then Dev joins the show the talk about making the movie, his influences and the political message of the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From pop to RnB, hip-hop to country, Osman, Thomas and Mel survey some of the biggest releases of the year. They discuss new albums from Waxahatchee, Kacey Musgraves, Ariana Grande, Tyla, Future and more, unpacking the continued dominance of country and the malaise mainstream hip-hop seems to be in. Plus, the best in TV and books out this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do a new rom-com starring Lindsay Lohan and an epic mystery show by the creators of Game of Thrones have in common? They both debuted on Netflix this week. Irish Wish (the number film on Netflix right now) and Three Body Problem sit at both ends of streamer's content strategy: Light, easy to digest fluff and high-budget, high-concept prestige. Osman, Thomas and Mel review both releases and discuss the current streaming landscape and Netflix's role in it. Plus, they share their film, TV and book recommendations of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's driving the obsession and conspiracy theories over the Royal photo scandal? Osman, Thomas and Mel explain how the situation unfolding, discuss why it lit a cultural flare, and how it fits into our contemporary understanding of celebrity culture. They discuss their favourite Royal-themed movies, likely Oscar contenders for 2025 and share their pop culture recommendations on Impress Your Friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Osman, Thomas and Mel react to the 2024 Academy Awards. They review the ceremony and discuss the Oppenheimer sweep, Barbie's near shut-out, the surprising moments and hand out their own prizes for winners and losers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 96th Academy Awards are nearly here. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack the state of the race, share their favourite moments from recent Oscars history, breakdown how the awards are actually chosen and share who they think should, and will, win the major categories. Plus, they talk about the growing buzz around the new prestige TV series Shogun, debate the hype around Fred Again... and cover the reaction to Dune: Part Two.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dune: Part Two is the biggest movie event of 2024 so far. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack whether this epic, weird and overwhelming movie lives up to the hype it's generated, and if casual movie-goers will enjoy it as much as serious fans. They also discuss the news that Netflix's Beef will be back with an exciting new cast, the massive success of Anyone But You, changes to the Logies, and share their recommendations in Impress Your Friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Oppenheimer looks set to dominate the Academy Awards, another film is quietly gaining momentum. Based on the best-selling novel Erasure by Percival Everett, American Fiction is a literary comedy that confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Osman, Thomas and Mel review the film (spoiler-free), discuss the rise of cultural gatekeepers and how American Fiction successfully challenges the ideas of representation in film, publishing and the arts. Plus, Taylor Swift is (still) in town, and everyone has lost their minds, but that's a good thing, right? And of course, Impress Your Friends is back, but this time we're also rating previous reccs. Fun!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Married At First Sight, Australian Idol, Survivor, The Block... even the ABC's Muster Dogs. They're the most popular shows in the country, attracting millions of viewers every night. So how did Australia become a country dominated by reality TV? And why do Australian reality TV shows get such a massive reception overseas? Is it good for our culture, or does is it happening at the detriment of drama and other more expensive genres? Plus, Osman, Thomas and Mel look at the winners and losers out of the Super Bowl and share their weekly recommendations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Osman, Thomas and Mel are back for 2024 and kick things off with a discussion about the the entertainment industry's awards season, and what role the Emmys, Grammys and Oscars play in our cultural conversation. Then they turn their attention to Taylor Swift's dominance and if she's reached saturation point. Did she fumble her album announcement? Is the backlash unfair? Or is it time to re-interrogate the most powerful person in the business? Finally, a bumper Impress Your Friends segment where the hosts share their favourite summer watches, what they are streaming right now, and what they're excited about in 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel and Thomas along with special guest host, Spectrum deputy editor Robert Moran look back at all the big pop culture moments in 2023 - from the Barbenheimer phenomenon to the Hollywood actor's strike and more. Plus films, TV and books to look forward to in 2024. And the very last Impress your friends segment for the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Succession to Oppenheimer to Fast Car, Mel and Thomas give their top picks of the best of culture from 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The arrival of the festive season brings the excuse to finally watch Christmas movies on repeat for an entire month. Mel and Thomas take a look at some of the classics like Home Alone and Love Actually, but also at the rise of bad Hallmark Christmas films that have inundated our streaming platforms over the past 10 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel and Thomas preview what's to come on The Drop over the next few weeks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saltburn, the dark psychological thriller starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, is the second feature film from writer/director Emerald Fennell after her Oscar-nominated debut, Promising Young Women. It's one of the most divisive films of the year, with some critics describing it as a funny, sharp satire of the rich while others have dismissed it as derivative and messy. Osman, Thomas and Mel review the film (spoiler-free) and discuss the most controversial moments, what works and what doesn't, and how it compares to classics like Brideshead Revisited and The Talented Mr Ripley. Then they talk about the second episode of The Curse, which is fast becoming one of the best and strangest shows of the year. Plus, the latest season of The Crown and Jim Chalmers' obsession with 90s hip-hop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Fincher's The Killer is deservedly the most popular film on Netflix right now. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack this stylish, cold-blooded thriller starring Michael Fassbender and discuss how it compares to other Fincher classics like The Social Network, Gone Girl, Fight Club and Zodiac. They also review the first episode of Nathan Fielder's new show The Curse, starring Emma Stone. Plus, a conversation about Robbie Williams' documentary, The Buccaneers and a new book about Marvel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do The Wire, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and Succession have in common? They're commonly regarded as examples of "prestige TV": high quality dramas, that push the medium forward and create plenty of buzz. But there's a growing sense that we be living in a post-prestige world. Osman, Thomas and Mel try to define what exactly makes a show prestige, debate if we will ever have a show as good as Succession again and share some of their favourite, lesser-known TV dramas from the past few years. Plus, a conversation about the new film, Dumb Money and the latest season of The Kardashians.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say never let the truth get in the way of a good story, but what about a funny joke? Following on from the New Yorker's allegations that comedian Hasan Minhaj fabricated stories in his Netflix specials, Osman, Mel and Thomas discuss how much comedians should be allowed to embellish on stage, why Minhaj was fact-checked when other stand-ups aren't, and where the line is when it comes to “emotional truth.” Plus, Mel learns about drill rap via the OneFour doco on Netflix, and there's a new fine-dining drama that might just be better than The Bear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britney Spears is the latest celebrity to release a tell-all memoir, covering her rise to fame, relationships and controversial conservatorship. With the increasing popularity of celebrity memoirs, Julia Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith have also recently released much-hyped books, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack what role they play in our understanding of pop culture and the ethics of telling one-side of the story. Plus, they cover the battle between Taylor Swift and Martin Scorcese at the box office and share their culture recommendations for the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.