S4 EP.1 – 2023 Old and Busted v. 2024 New Hotness

The guys (Kareem, Ken, and Pat) start 2024 reviewing 2023 and its biggest cultural moments from the martyred Pop Tart to strike hero Fran Drescher. Tangents include Pedro Pascal being the world’s daddy, unhelpful AI, new Superman comics, and more.

Show Notes

Today we’re going to look back at the year 2023 and highlight some of the most memorable moments and stories that shaped pop culture.
First, let’s talk about the phenomenon that took the internet by storm: Barbenheimer. For those who don’t know, Barbenheimer is the name given to the simultaneous release of two movies on July 21, 2023: Barbie, a fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, and Oppenheimer, a biographical thriller starring Cillian Murphy as the father of the atomic bomb. The contrast between the two films sparked a wave of memes, jokes, and fan art, as well as a debate over which one to watch first or as a double feature.
Barbenheimer also became a cultural phenomenon that transcended the movies themselves. Celebrities, politicians, and even the cast and crew of both films joined in on the fun, expressing their support and enthusiasm for both projects. Tom Cruise, for example, bought tickets to watch both films while his own movie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, was still in theaters. 5 Both films also received critical acclaim and commercial success, earning a combined 21 nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture for both.
Next, let’s talk about ChatGPT, the AI-powered language model that revolutionized the way we communicate, create, and learn. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is capable of generating human-like text based on context and past conversations, as well as creating images, voice, and custom GPTs for various purposes.
ChatGPT became a popular tool for people to ask questions, find creative inspiration, learn new skills, and have fun. Some of the most common uses of ChatGPT were to help with writing, coding, planning, translating, teaching, and entertaining. ChatGPT also spawned a number of viral trends, such as rapping, storytelling, gaming, and prank calling. ChatGPT was praised for its versatility, intelligence, and humor, but also faced some criticism for its ethical, social, and legal implications.
Moving on, let’s talk about some of the actors who dominated the screen in 2023: Chris Pratt and Pedro Pascal. Both actors had multiple starring roles in blockbuster films and TV shows, showcasing their range, charisma, and talent. Chris Pratt played Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Owen Grady in Jurassic World: Dominion, Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Dieter Bravo in The Bubble. Pedro Pascal played Joel Miller in The Last of Us, The Mandalorian in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Clint in Freaky Tales, and Silva in Strange Way of Life.
Both actors received critical and fan acclaim for their performances, as well as nominations and awards for their work. Chris Pratt was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Pedro Pascal won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for The Last of Us. Both actors also used their fame and influence to support various causes and charities, such as environmental conservation, mental health awareness, and social justice.
Finally, let’s talk about some of the other pop culture highlights of 2023, such as:
- SAG-AFTRA
- Pop Tart death
- The death of the MCU.
- New Comics
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Kingdom
- Madem Web
- Civil War

The Podcasts

EP.119 – Don't Trust Billionaires – A Review of James Gunn's Superman pt.3 – Tangential Giants Podcast

The Tangential Giants return for their third strike at reviewing the three-quarter mark of James Gunn’s Superman, and somehow, the chaos only gets more refined with age. Kareem, Ken, Pat, and guest Tim settle in to talk about the movie, but as always, tangents emerge like uninvited cousins who still somehow run the show.This time, the crew dives into how the fictional citizens of Metropolis and the very real citizens of the United States share a troubling weakness for any rich guy with a shiny suit and a PR team. From there, they spiral into a celebration of Guy Gardner’s comedic menace as Green Lantern, because apparently the universe needed a man who is equal parts hero and walking HR violation.Naturally, the group also questions the logistics of a pocket universe prison. Is it science, magic, or just James Gunn saying, " Trust me and hoping no one asks follow-up questions? The Giants ask them anyway. And that is only scratching the surface of the detours they take while trying to talk about Superman’s journey.If you enjoy passionate nonsense, comic book philosophy, and four grown adults trying to make sense of a movie that refuses to stay on the rails, this episode is your comfort food. Settle in and enjoy another round of heroic chaos.#tangentialgiants #superman #jamesgunn #dcu #dcuniverse #supermanmovie #dccomics #comicbookmovies #nerdpodcast #superherotalk #moviebreakdown #GuyGardner #greenlantern #metropolis #PocketUniverse #popculturepodcast #dcfans #supermananalysis #moviediscussions