Episode 194: We Hate the ’80s and Brett Kavanaugh Edition with Ted Alexandro

Episode 194

5th October 2018

***Trigger Warning – This episode contains discussion of sexual assault. You may want to sit this one out if hearing this kind of discussion is likely to do more harm than good.***
Current events have us (and many others) reconsidering the way high school and college relationships were depicted in the ’80s, particularly in romcoms and raunchy sex comedies. Margaret Wappler hosts our discussion this week with Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and our guest, actor, and comedian Ted Alexandro who has a new comedy special Senior Class of Earth.
The panel revisits supposedly harmless, goofball adolescent comedies and considers how they may have influenced the way a whole generation views consent (and yes, we are talking about rape culture). Does a culture that permits youthful experimentation -mistakes and all- open the door to complacency about assault?

Episode notes

***Trigger Warning – This episode contains discussion of sexual assault. You may want to sit this one out if hearing this kind of discussion is likely to do more harm than good.***

Current events have us (and many others) reconsidering the way high school and college relationships were depicted in the ’80s, particularly in romcoms and raunchy sex comedies. Margaret Wappler hosts our discussion this week with Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and our guest, actor, and comedian Ted Alexandro who has a new comedy special Senior Class of Earth.

The panel revisits supposedly harmless, goofball adolescent comedies and considers how they may have influenced the way a whole generation views consent (and yes, we are talking about rape culture). Does a culture that permits youthful experimentation -mistakes and all- open the door to complacency about assault?

All Abouts

Wynter is all about an article in GQ by author Marian Bull that explains how men can talk to women in their lives about all the triggering stuff in the news involving the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Karen is all about Chris, the new album by Christine and the Queens (aka Heloise Letissier), in particular, the song: Comme si.

Ted is all about celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Madalyn, who joins him in Los Angeles this week to promote his album Senior Class of Earth.

Margaret is all about Matt Damon’s performance as Brett Kavanaugh on SNL.

That’s My Jam

Karen – Selena Gomez – Back to You

Wynter – Little Wayne – Uproar (Official Audio) Carter V

Ted – Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity

Margaret – Noname – Self.

With Margaret Wappler, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Ted Alexandro.

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Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

In this episode...

Guests

  • Margaret Wappler
  • Karen Tongson
  • Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh
  • Ted Alexandro

About the show

Pop Rocket is a high-octane weekly discussion of the culture we all love to love. Join host Guy Branum and panelists Wynter Mitchell, Karen Tongson, and Margaret Wappler for smart, funny, sometimes sweary chat about everything great in entertainment. Combining comic, journalistic, academic, and digital media expertise, the Pop Rocket team will keep you up-to-date on what’s most exciting in pop culture this week.

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