What Was That, Now?

A discussion about culture. Arts, entertainment and society.

027 - Has Peak TV Already Peaked? 06/15/2023

027 - Has Peak TV Already Peaked? Loann and Art discuss how the landscape is changing for streaming television and they wonder if the promising period of "peak tv" may already be gone. Things discussed in this episode: by Sam Adams (Slate) by Cory Doctorow (Wired) /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/27156435

026 - Is Summer Movie Season Officially Back in 2023? 05/18/2023

026 - Is Summer Movie Season Officially Back in 2023? Art and Loann start by talking about how moviegoing has changed since the pandemic, is it back to the way it used to be, or too many people happy with watching stuff at home? ( 01:00 ) Then we discuss this upcoming summer movie season, including which movies we're excited to see on the big and the films we're approaching with skepticism. (35:00) /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/26876178

025 - Everything Everyverse - Is Hollywood Entering Peak Multiverse? 04/26/2023

025 - Everything Everyverse - Is Hollywood Entering Peak Multiverse? Loann and Art discuss the success of and the recent wave of multiverse storytelling for the big and small screen. We talk a little about the history of the multiverse in fiction, how it can be used, and how to separate it from other genres and subgenres. Loann's multiverse book recommendations: by Charles Gibson by Adrian Tchaikovsky Art's multiverse movie recommendations: Other things of interest talked about in this episode: by Blake Crouch by Michael Moorecock by Phillip K. Dick /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/26628372

024 - Sense8 and GLOW, Apocalyptic Shows and Summer Reading 07/12/2017

024 - Sense8 and GLOW, Apocalyptic Shows and Summer Reading Art and Loann are talking about some summer watches and reads. Loann is relieved that Sense8 will have a life beyond the cliffhanger ending of this most recent season, while Art thrills to the women of GLOW - the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. We talk about how shows and movies deal with the immediate aftermath of the apocalypse as Loann chats about the third season of Fear the Walking Dead and Art contrasts and compares that with the recent film It Comes at Night. And lastly, Art and Loann talk about the books they've been reading this summer. Things discussed in this episode: (Netflix series) - Variety (Netflix Series) The Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer: Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 by Noah Hawley by Ruth Ware /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5529506

023 - The Handmaid's Tale 06/23/2017

023 - The Handmaid's Tale This week Art and Loann dive into The Handmaid's Tale. Margaret Atwood's , published in the 1980's is now a starring Elizabeth Moss. We talk about the novel and the adaptation - how they differ, how they are the same, and what the story means to us today. Discussed in this episode: Mary McCarthy's 1996 in the The New York Times - Sarah Jones, New Republic by Margaret Atwood /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5476358

022 - Wonder Woman 2017 06/09/2017

022 - Wonder Woman 2017 Loann and Art talk a whole episode of Wonder Woman. This movie was high on both our lists of most anticipated summer movies, and we've both seen it and are ready to weigh in. In this show we also talk about Wonder Woman in the culture- her history and what was riding on the success of this latest incarnation of America's first female superhero! *We do not spoil any major plot points, surprises or twists. However, as always, we do warn listeners that do we review the movie in depth. We don't reveal anything much beyond what people could gather from watching a trailer for the film, or reading a typical movie review. If you're a moviegoer who doesn't even like watching trailers, come back and listen to our discussion after you've seen the movie! Things discussed in this podcast: by Jill Lepore Intro music by . /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5432654

021 - Summer Movie Preview 2017 05/22/2017

021 - Summer Movie Preview 2017 Loann and Art are enjoying the good weather and looking forward to getting out of the heat and into the theaters for some summer movies! We each list our top five movies we are looking forward to this summer! /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5379911

020 - We Need to Talk About Donald 03/13/2017

020 - We Need to Talk About Donald Art and Loann discuss how to talk about politics in this very weird and polarized atmosphere we are living through right now! Also, Art has been reliving the O.J. Simpson Trial days with the documentary and the dramatized series American Crime Story: , along with reading the definitive book on the trial, Jeffrey Toobin's . Loann has been watching . /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5167276

019 - Going Rogue 02/04/2017

019 - Going Rogue Loann and Art spend the episode discussing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Is it good? How does it fit into the other Star Wars films? What are the politics of the Star Wars universe? Is it weird to resurrect dead actors to play cameos? WARNING: We are not spoilery, we give away no major plot points or surprises, but we do talk about the film in total. As we say in the show itself: If you still have not seen the movie, and you are the type of person who doesn't even like to see trailers or read reviews, then you may want to come back to this episode after you've seen Rogue One. Also Loann has been watching a crime thriller series from Denmark called . Art recently binged Brit Marling's new Netflix series Reading list: - David Sims, The Atlantic /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/5055222

018 - Memorable Moviegoing Experiences 07/10/2016

018 - Memorable Moviegoing Experiences Loann and Art discuss the possibility of movie theaters becoming a niche destination and an expensive one. And then each of us talk about our top five most memorable times at the movies. Sad, embarrassing, funny and uplifting, our movie experiences span across the globe and our lives. Featured discussion topic: - Financial Times Music by /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/4504517

017- Summer Movie Preview 2016 05/20/2016

017- Summer Movie Preview 2016 Loann and Art talk about the movies their looking forward to seeing in the theaters this summer! That's right, these are the big, spectacular popcorn movies that are great to see with an audience looking to have a great time! And then we talk about some of culture we've been consuming lately. Loann checked out the new adaptation of J.G. Ballard's . And Art ventured into the horror-thriller realm with two recent films about people trapped in remote areas - and . /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/4383588

016 - Cliffhangers - To be or not to be...continued? 05/08/2016

016 - Cliffhangers - To be or not to be...continued? Art and Loann discuss the practice of cliffhanger endings in television series, movies and the origins of the practice in some of the world's greatest literature. Warning: Though we are a spoiler-free podcast in general, we do spoil some classic works of literature and few classic movies in this episode. We also talk about the Walking Dead season finale from this year as well as some other recent movies and television series, but we don't talk specifically enough to give anything away. If you like to remain completely spoiler-free in your entertainment consumption, consider yourself fairly warned! Featured discussions: (BBC series) /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/4352715

015 - A.O. Scott's Critical Cri de Coeur 03/26/2016

015 - A.O. Scott's Critical Cri de Coeur Loann and Art discuss A.O. Scott's new book that wrestles with the critic's place in today's cultural landscape. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/4250350

014 - Of Ant Men and Missions Impossible 08/06/2015

014 - Of Ant Men and Missions Impossible Loann and Art discuss two recent summer movies and then enter a discussion of the current trend towards movie remakes, reboots and sequels. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/3720456

013 - Summer Movies 2015 Halftime Report 07/22/2015

013 - Summer Movies 2015 Halftime Report It's the halfway point of the summer movie season and Loann and Art have seen some of the big movies that have been released so far. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/3689657

012 - Charlie Hebdo and Satire 02/04/2015

012 - Charlie Hebdo and Satire This week Loann and Art talk about the aftermath of the attack on the satirical French publication , and the discussion ranges into the types of satire and how it is received by those in power and those out of power. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/3341928

011 - Robin Williams and Where Are the Movies For Adults? 09/09/2014

011 - Robin Williams and Where Are the Movies For Adults? Robin Williams will be missed. A big career and an even bigger personality. Loann and Art talk about their memories of his performances and his impact on the culture. And, are movie theaters even a place for adults seeking serious drama? /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/3055469

010 - Translation Troubles and Female Movie Hero Woes 08/19/2014

010 - Translation Troubles and Female Movie Hero Woes Art and Loann talk about the fate of foreign books in translation when it comes to the English speaking book markets. And, modern female movie characters often blaze onto the screen with brains and skills, but then recede so the the male characters can take center stage. Is this becoming a problem? /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/3020225

009 - Tom Cruise & Dragons Underperform and 70's Political Paranoia Today 06/27/2014

009 - Tom Cruise & Dragons Underperform and 70's Political Paranoia Today How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Edge of Tomorrow are getting great reviews, (and Loann and Art have each seen one of them.) However, they are not meeting box office projections, so what does that mean for the studios and the stars. And, 70's movies like The Conversation made audiences feel creeped out about the surveillance state, but where are those stories being told today? /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2914337

Episode 8 - Young Adult Lit and Conservative Comedy 06/13/2014

Episode 8 - Young Adult Lit and Conservative Comedy Loann and Art, in true young boy and girl detective spirit, track down the arguments for and against grown-ups reading Young Adult literature. And, where are all the conservative comedians? Is the comedy industry a liberal stronghold? /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2889504

Episode 7 - Trigger Warnings and Spoilers 05/31/2014

Episode 7 - Trigger Warnings and Spoilers This week we discuss the controversy over the concept of trigger warnings in academia, spoilers in the age of on-demand and what makes a good season finale. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2865662

Episode 6 - Summer Movies 2014 05/15/2014

Episode 6 - Summer Movies 2014 Loann and Art discuss the big summer movies on the slate for 2014, as well as some smaller films that might fly under the radar. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2839309

What Was That, Now? Episode #5 12/23/2013

What Was That, Now? Episode #5 Loann and Art discuss the big movies coming out during the holiday season, how biopics figure into that list, and how movies are continually focusing on survival. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2605261

What Was That, Now? Episode #4 11/24/2013

What Was That, Now? Episode #4 Loann and Art discuss the onslaught of biographical movies and how filmmakers adapt literary creations. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2564818

What Was That, Now? Episode #3 08/12/2013

What Was That, Now? Episode #3 Loann and Art discuss more summer movies, including Pacific Rim and the disastrous box office performance of The Lone Ranger. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2433062

What Was That, Now? Episode #2 07/14/2013

What Was That, Now? Episode #2 In this week's episode, Art and Loann discuss the passing of horror writer Richard Matheson and how an artist deals with critics and fans. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2396613

What Was That, Now? Episode #1 05/03/2013

What Was That, Now? Episode #1 In this week's episode, Art Hennessey and Loann discuss what it was like to be living in Boston during the Marathon Bombings. Also, the passing of Roger Ebert and the upcoming summer movie season. /episode/index/show/whatwasthatnow/id/2310334

What Was That, Now?

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