PopaHALLics #134 "Wicked Good"
For our Thanksgiving weekend episode, we talk about the pop culture offerings we're grateful for: the new movie version of "Wicked"; movies about a mother and son's love in "The Blitz" and the quest for the first test tube baby in "Joy"; and more. There's always a turkey—"Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft." Oof!

Theaters:

• "Wicked, Part 1." Director Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians") pulls off a Wizard of Oz and grants us our heart's desire: a fabulous movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine respectively as Elphaba and Glinda in the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Streaming:

• "The Blitz," Apple +. In this movie set during WWII, a London munitions worker (Saoirse Ronan) evacuates her 9-year-old son to the countryside to escape the bombings. He tries to get back to her, as she searches for him.
• "Bad Sisters," Apple +. As season 2 begins, the Garvey sisters appear to have gotten away with murder. But a macabre discovery soon has the police sniffing around again and threatening their lives.
• "Joy - The Birth of IVF," Netflix. Based on a true story, this movie follows three pioneering British scientists in the 1960s and '70s as they try to develop in vitro fertilization. Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, and Bill Nighy.
• "Wolf Like Me," Peacock. In season 2, wererewolf Mary (Isla Fisher) worries if her unborn baby will be wolf or human. And if she gives birth during a full moon, will she eat the baby?
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever," Disney +. Based on book six of the popular Wimpy Kid franchise, this animated special follows Greg trying to stay good so he will receive a special video game for Christmas. It's not going well.
• "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft," Netflix. Hayley Atwell voices a trauma-haunted Lara in this animated adventure.

Books:

• "When Women Were Dragons," by Kelly Barnhill. In an alternate 1950s America, thousands of women have turned into dragons, upending ideas of a woman's place in the world. "A rollicking feminist tale" (Amazon).
• "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," by Erik Larson. Larson, a master of historical nonfiction, spins a pager-turner about the British passenger liner and the U-boat commander who sunk her during WWI.

Small Town Shenanigans Podcast
Steve talks about his days as a TV critic and some misadventures growing up in West Virginia on this funny podcast hosted by Montana boys Bill and Brian Burns. You can hear their conversation here.

PopaHALLics #133 "Martha My Dear—NOT!"
A new documentary fails to make Martha Stewart sympathetic, in Kate's view. We also discuss season 2 of "The Diplomat" and "Colin from Accounts," a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and books about therapy, a cult, and a "normal" serial killer. Yikes.

Streaming:

• "Martha," Netflix. This documentary directed by Jay Cutler traces Martha Stewart's rise from working-class roots to pop culture icon, through interviews and Stewart’s private archives of diaries, letters, and footage.
• "The Diplomat," Netflix. Season 2 follows the personal and professional aftermath of the ship attack and car bombing. Kate (Keri Russell) and Hal (Rufus Sewell) begin to suspect the Brits are after the wrong suspects.
• "Colin from Accounts," Prime and Paramount +. The delightful Aussie rom-com returns, with Ash (Harriet Dyer) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall) moving in together but uncertain whether they really want a relationship or just a dog.

Books:

• "Demon Copperhead," by Barbara Kingsolver. This acclaimed novel moves Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" story to modern Appalachia, casting its eye on the foster system, child labor, the opioid crisis, and other ills.
• "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed," by Lisa Gottlieb. This "hilarious, thought-provoking" book explores one therapist's search for answers as both clinician and patient when she has a personal crisis.
• "Normal," by Graeme Cameron. A charming, seemingly ordinary guy happens to be a serial killer who kidnaps young women and holds them captive in a secret basement. As his world threatens to collapse, you may find yourself rooting for him in this darkly funny thriller.
• "Dinner for Vampires: LIfe on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)," by Bethany Joy Lenz. When the "One Tree Hill" star joined a Bible study group, she had no clue it was associated with a cult.

Music:
We love Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Know who else does? Paul Anka ("Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Having My Baby"). Anka's cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" swings, baby! Enjoy.

PopaHALLics #132 "Into the Great Unknown"
Can a rabbi and an agnostic shiksa find true love? Can humans meddle in the affairs of gods? If you could survive the zombie apocalypse, would you want to? Our pop culture offerings delve into these burning questions—and more!

Streaming:

• "Nobody Wants This," Netflix. Sex podcast co-host Joanne (Kristen Bell) and "hot rabbi" Noah (Adam Brody) fall for each other in this charming rom-com. Their families and friends try to keep them apart.
• 'Kaos," Netflix. This British dark comedy reimagines Greek mythology in a contemporary way. Three humans become involved in a power struggle among the corrupt, arrogant gods, played by the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Debi Mazar, Janet McTeer, and David Thewlis.
• "Agatha All Along," Disney +. Kathryn Hahn plays "the Witchkiller," Agatha Harkness, who goes on a quest on "The Witches' Road" to increase her powers. With Patti LuPone and Aubrey Plaza.
• "Shadow in the Cloud," Netflix. Shades of a famous "Twilight Zone" episode! A female WWII pilot (Chloe Grace Moretz) traveling with top-secret documents sees a creature on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Books:

• "From Here to the Great Unknown," by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough. Julia Roberts narrates the autobiography of Elvis' daughter, who died before completing it. It was finished by Lisa Marie's daughter, actress Riley Keough.
• "I Will Do Better," by Charles Bock. In this heartbreaking memoir, a writer and his young daughter struggle to find their way after his wife dies.
• "Zone One," by Colson Whitehead. This literary zombie novel examines themes of societal priorities, the trivialities of our lives, and gentrification as a 3-person squad rids New York neighborhoods of the undead.

Click through the links to watch and read what we are talking about.