Episode 99: Best of 2018

In this episode, we look back over a year of movies, television, music, experiences, and books. We did the same for 2017 in Episode 77, 2016 in Episode 53, and 2015 in Episode 27.

Links

Movies

Black Panther
Crazy Rich Asians
Ocean’s 8
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Love, Simon
Insidious: The Last Key

A Simple Favor
The Meg (Episode 94)
Skyscraper
Looking forward to: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Autostraddle review), The Favourite, The Wife, Mary Queen of Scots, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Mary Poppins Returns

Television

Killing Eve
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

One Day at at Time (Season 2)
The Good Place (Episode 85)

FBI
Black Lightning
A Very English Scandal
Doctor Who

Jesus Christ Superstar Live
Nanette
Looking forward to: Pose, Insecure, Vida, Howards End, Killing Eve, The Good Place, One Day at at Time, Trinkets

Music
“Party for One” by Carly Rae Jepsen
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande

“Pynk” by Janelle Monae
“The Hamilton Polka” by Weird Al Yankovic
Crazy Rich Asians motion picture soundtrack
Looking forward to: “Fake Love” by BTS, “Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monae, “Curious” by Hayley Kiyoko, “I Like It” by Cardi B, “Love It If We Made It” by The 1975, Golden Hour (album) by Kacey Musgraves, Mitski, Christine and the Queens, boygenius, Carly Rae Jepsen

Experiences

Hamilton (and other live performances)
Royal Weddings
Seattle
Walker’s Shortbread

Books
#libfaves18
Broken Ice by Matt Goldman
Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? by Kelly Jones
My Life as a Goddess by Guy Branum
Looking forward to: The Shallows by Matt Goldman
Thundercluck by Paul Tillery IV and Meg Wittwer

The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
The Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
Spellswept by Stephanie Burgis
The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis
The Neighbor by Gerri Hill
Intercepted by Alexa Martin
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Rosewater by Tade Thompson
Zero Sum Game by S. L. Huang
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
Treason of Hawks by Lila Bowen


Looking forward to: The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory, The Bride Test by Helen Hoang, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi, Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, Jade War by Fonda Lee, The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker, A Duke in Disguise by Cat Sebastian, The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty, The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey, Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Book Riot: 51 New Romance Novels Scheduled for 2019

Musical Obsessions
Anna: Spotify 2018 playlist, “Whistle” by Flo Rida
Alene: “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John

Obsessions
Anna: Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch, read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Alene: Inclusivity

Episode 94A: Jaws Interlude

Here’s a brief interview with a special guest about the movie Jaws while we prepare an episode with much more shark content!

Episode 81: What to Watch Next TV Bracket II and Oscar Thoughts

It’s time for March Madness and time for another What to Watch Next TV Bracket! We’re also going to tell you what we think about top Oscar categories. Vote in the poll at the bottom of this page to tell us what to watch next!

Our first TV bracket was covered Episode 57.

Links
Challonge! (our complete bracket)

BBC Bracket
The Crown
Wallander
Lark Rise to Candleford
The Night Manager
Vera
MI:5
Midsomer Murders
The Doctor Blake Mysteries

Last Tango in Halifax
The Bletchley Circle
Victoria
The Tudors/The White Queen
Scott and Bailey
Luther
The Hour
Alias Grace
Broadchurch

Comedy/Musical Bracket
Master of None
Grown-ish
Happy Endings
Trophy Wife
Galavant
Younger
One Mississippi
Faking It
Parks and Recreation
Catastrophe

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Lady Dynamite
Difficult People
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
Jane the Virgin
Sports Night
Cougar Town
Black-ish

Crime
Counterpart
White Collar [The Boys in the Band]
The Fall S2
Mindhunter
Psych
The Killing
Leverage (Episode 21 discussion)

How to Get Away with Murder
Laws and Orders
The Alienist

Drama
Make it or Break It
Royal Pains
The Wire
The Good Place
Nashville
The Bold Type
Dear White People
The L-Word S2-6

GLOW
Homeland
The West Wing
Friday Night Lights
Atlanta
Still Star Crossed
Masters of Sex
Feud
The Americans
Being Mary Jane
ER

Science Fiction and Fantasy
Birds of Prey
She-Ra
The Librarians
American Gods
The Legend of Korra
Battlestar Galactica
Penny Dreadful
Orphan Black
Buffy
Lost Girl
Runaways
Jessica Jones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Twin Peaks
Black Lightning
Luke Cage
Stars Trek
The Dresden Files

Xena: Warrior Princess
Crazyhead
Cloak & Dagger
American Horror Story
Black Mirror
Warehouse 13
Stranger Things
Merlin
The Expanse
Agent Carter

Obsessions:

Anna and Alene: Black Panther
Anna: Phantom of the Opera

Musical Obsessions
Anna: Vibranium (sung to the tune of “Titanium” by David Guetta featuring Sia)
Alene: “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera

Episode 78: Holiday Romance Films with @helenstwin

We brought in holiday romance expert Cory (and her mom) to help us sift through the offerings from the 2017 season. We talked about diversity, Lifetime vs. Hallmark, nude nail polish, royalty, adorable moppets, and more, using our Holiday Romance Movie Checklist as a baseline. See our spreadsheet of the 38 movies the Bellwether Friends team watched this season here.

Links
Episode 41: We Love Historical Romance!
Episode 56: Romantic Christmas Movies
Episode 74: Horror Project Checkup and Holiday Romance Checklist
#BFHolidayRomance

Enchanted Christmas (the one with ballroom dancing)
Wrapped Up In Christmas (the one with Tatyana Ali)
The Nine Lives of Christmas (the one with cats)
Fametracker/previously.tv
The Christmas Cure (the one with Bobby from Dallas)
[The Librarians]
The Twelve Trees of Christmas (the one where she saves the library)
Sound of Christmas (the one where he is going to buy the music school)
Annie Claus is Coming to Town (the one with a third skinny redhead)
Looks Like Christmas (the one with Anne Heche)
Kristin’s Christmas Past (the one with Elizabeth Mitchell and time travel)
Sleigh Bells Ring (the one with the aunt’s antique shop)
My Christmas Love (the one with the guy Alene likes)

Sharing Christmas (the other one about a mall/with the guy Alene likes)
Snowed-Inn Christmas (the one with competing journalists)

The Mistletoe Inn (the one with romance writers)
My Christmas Prince (the one that isn’t A Christmas Prince)
The Perfect Christmas Present (Cory’s favorite)
[ASMR videos]
Fir Crazy (one of the ones with a Christmas tree farm)
Christmas Festival of Ice (one of the ice sculpture ones)
Farewell Mr. Kringle (the one with Christine Taylor and an early kiss)

Christmas Getaway (the one with a double booked cabin)
The Christmas Cottage (the one with a magic cabin)
Christmas List (the one with the earliest kiss)
12 Men of Christmas (the one with sex!)
A Boyfriend for Christmas (the one with Santa waiting twenty years to grant a wish)
A Christmas Kiss (the one that starts with a kiss)
A Gift to Remember (the one where the guy gets amnesia)
One Starry Christmas (the one with the cowboy)
Christmas Dance (the one with Andrew McCarthy)

Christmas Connection (the one with Tom Everett Scott)
Romance at Reindeer Lodge (the one with a Christmas themed ranch)
Candace Cameron Bure
Last Chance for Christmas (the one with the delicious reindeer farm)
Christmas Parade (the one with texting and driving)
A Rose for Christmas (the one with the Rose Parade)
All About Christmas Eve (the one with Haylie Duff)
Christmas Belle (the other one with Haylie Duff)
Christmas at Holly Lodge (the one with a developer trying to buy the inn)
Finding Father Christmas (the one with a secret missing dad)
Engaging Father Christmas (the sequel to Finding Father Christmas)
[Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel]

Christmas Miracle (the one with letters to god)
Finding Santa (the one with Jodie Sweetin)
Once Upon a Holiday (the one with a runaway princess)
The Mistletoe Promise (the one with Lemon from Hart of Dixie)
All I Want for Christmas (the one with a kid asking for his mom to get a new man)
The Flight Before Christmas (the one with Mayim Bialik)
Hitched for the Holidays (the one with Joey Lawrence)
[Harpers Bazaar: 20 Nude Polishes For Every Skintone]

Readalikes:
Debbie Macomber
Shannon Stacey
Bella Andre
Alice Clayton
Jill Shalvis
Belladonna Ink

Obsessions

Cory: Check, Please! Beards and Bondage series (Haven) by Rebekah Weatherspoon, Black Panther
Anna and Alene: Proud Mary

Musical Obsessions

Anna: “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
Alene: “Proud Mary” by Leonard Nimoy
Cory: [What is Punk?, What is Hip-Hop?] “I’m the One” by The Descendents, “Wildflowers” by Dolly Parton

 

Episode 77: Movie Advisory 2017B, Best of 2017, and 2018 Preview

We give our takes on the theatrical releases we watched in the back half of 2017, then talk about our bests of the past year before plunging into what we’re looking forward to in the new year! There are some spoilers, but we rarely make much sense. Movie Advisory 2017A was episode 66!

Links

Movie Advisory 2017B

Battle of the Sexes
The Dark Tower

The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
It
The Mountain Between Us
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Murder on the Orient Express

Pitch Perfect 3
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Coming Soon
Black Panther
Deadpool 2
Ready Player One
Ocean’s 8
Proud Mary
A Wrinkle in Time

Pacific Rim: Uprising
Fifty Shades Freed
Crazy Rich Asians
Ant-Man and the Wasp
The House With a Clock in its Walls
Halloween
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best of 2017
Movies: Get Out, Wonder Woman, The Last Jedi, Hidden Figures, Fate of the Furious, The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Books: #libfaves17, Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman, Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, No One Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyal, Misfit City by Kiwi Smith, Kurt Lustgarten, and Naomi Franquiz, Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin

Television: Riverdale, One Day at a Time, Supergirl, Hallmark/Lifetime movies
Music: Rainbow by Kesha
Other: the power of twitter (Metro-North train rescue), phone battery replacement, eclipse, Women of NASA Lego set

Looking forward to in 2018
Midterm elections
She-Ra on Netflix
Lumberjanes Coloring Book
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
New Becky Chambers book
Painting by Numbers (Shades of Grey 2) by Jasper Fforde
Black Lightning on the CW
Grown-ish on Freeform
The X-Files on Fox

Musical Obsessions
Anna: “Seasons of Love” from Rent
Alene: “Santa Fe” from Rent

Obsessions
Anna: 221B Baker Street board game, Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley, Bingo Love by Tee Franklin and Jenn St. Onge
Alene: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Episode 74: Horror Project Checkup and Holiday Romance Checklist

All the checking in this episode as we discuss the progress we’ve made on watching horror movies since Episode 73 and also our plans for watching and unpacking holiday romance movies (see also Episode 56) for a future episode. If you want to follow along with us, we’ll be using the hashtag #BFHolidayRomance on Twitter and Facebook and using our Holiday Romance Movie Checklist:

Download here

Links

Dear Secret Santa (the one we can’t remember the name of)
The Nine Lives of Christmas (the one with a cat)
Window Wonderland (the Alex Danvers one)
Every Christmas Has a Story (the Lori Loughlin one)
Wish Upon a Christmas (the one with the actuary)
A Royal Christmas (the one with Jane Seymour)

A Princess for Christmas (the one with Lena Luthor)

Obsessions
Alene: A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas
Anna: Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis

 

Episode 73: Horror Film Advisory

In this episode, Alene tries to find horror films that Anna will consent to watch with her. We discuss our history and preferences regarding horror movies, with a brief foray into horror in other media. See Episode Six for earlier thoughts related to this topic.

Links
Paste Magazine: The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time
Esquire: The 50 Scariest Movies of All Time
Time Out London: The 100 Best Horror Films (checklist)
The 5 Types of Horror Films

Halloween/A Nightmare on Elm Street/Friday the 13th
Stephen King: ‘Salem’s Lot/It/The Shining/Misery/Pet Sematary/Carrie/Christine/Cujo/Creepshow/Children of the Corn

Gore

The X-Files
The Human Centipede
The Fly
Horror Cinema: The Best Scary Movies of All Time
Horror Genres and Sub-genres
Humor/Meta: Shaun of the Dead/Zombieland/Tucker & Dale vs. Evil/District 9/The Cabin in the Woods

Alfred Hitchcock: The Birds/Psycho
Alien/Aliens (Spaceballs)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
The X-Files: Fight the Future
Get Out
The Evil Dead/Evil Dead II/Army of Darkness
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Lost Boys/Near Dark (The Goonies)
Crimson Peak
Scream/Scary Movie
Dead Ringers
Dead Alive/Braindead
Suspiria

Eraserhead
Lon Chaney: The Phantom of the Opera
The Man of a Thousand Faces
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Film Forum
James Whale
Gods and Monsters
Freaks

The Babadook
The Grudge/The Ring
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
American Horror Story
Penny Dreadful
Ash vs. The Evil Dead
Sleepy Hollow
Grimm

Eddie Izzard on B Movies
The Silence of the Lambs
M
The Vanishing
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Paranormal Activity
Highlander
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Funny Games
Rope
The Serpent and the Rainbow

The Exorcist/The Omen
We Need to Talk About Kevin
World War Z
Leprechaun/Child’s Play
Gremlins/Critters
The Others
Night of the Hunter
Roman Polanski: Rosemary’s Baby/Repulsion/The Tenant
Saw
Hellraiser/Phantasm
Jacob’s Ladder

Poltergeist
Let The Right One In
An American Werewolf in London
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
The Haunting of Hill House/The Haunting
The Golem
The Black Cat
The Wicker Man
Pan’s Labyrinth
Little Shop of Horrors
Se7en
Vampyros Lesbos
The Witches
Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein/Dracula

Nosferatu
The Wolf Man
Young Frankenstein
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Don’t Look Now
The Blair Witch Project
Carnival of Souls
Ginger Snaps
“Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
The Thing/The Thing From Another World
The Fog/The Mist
Godzilla

Musical Obsessions

Alene: “The Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett, “The Night of the Hunter” by Flop
Anna: “The End of the Day” by One Direction

Obsessions
Alene: Checklists
Anna: Broken Earth series by N. K. Jemisin

Episode 68: Sherlockiana with @aswatki1

In this episode, we talk all things Sherlock Holmes with expert readers’ advisor Ally (also of #girlgang fame), running with our collective lady supremacy ideas wherever possible.

Links
Sherlock Holmes
The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Basil Rathbone: The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, etc

Jeremy Brett: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey, Jr: Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Benedict Cumberbatch: Sherlock

Jonny Lee Miller: Elementary

Lucy Liu
Encyclopedia Brown
The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas

Alene and Sherry

Russell & Holmes series by Laurie R. King
Holmesiana
Without a Clue
[Harry Palmer films]
Young Sherlock Holmes
Portia Adams Adventures by Angela Misri
On the Case with Holmes and Watson series
An Enola Holmes Mystery series by Nancy Springer
Muppet Sherlock Holmes
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty
Lady Sherlock: Circle of the Smiling Dead by Brooks Arthur Wachtel
The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg
Irene Adler series by Carole Nelson Douglas
The House at Baker Street by Michelle Birkby

#chuckstravaganza

Watson and Holmes: A Study in Black
Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Series by Vicki Delany
Wikipedia: Adaptations of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood
Sherry Holmes
221b Baker Street board game
William Gillette [Gillette Castle]
Scott & Bailey
The Adventures of Shirley Holmes
Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn
Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood
Buzzfeed quiz: Can You Guess Which Sherlock Holmes Said It?

Musical Obsessions
Ally: “Little of Your Love” by Haim
Alene: “Your Disco Needs You” by Kylie Minogue [Pride Classics on Spotify]
Anna: “Sherlock Holmes” by Sparks

Obsessions
Ally: Harry Potter Illustrated Editions
Anna: The Dragon With a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis
Alene: laundering bed pillows

Episode 66: Movie Advisory 2017A

Our wrap-up of all the first-run movies we saw in the first half of 2017, and what we’re looking forward to for the rest of the year. With special guest Giant Bug.

Links

Previous Movie Advisory episodes: 35, 53

Baywatch
Pamela Anderson
David Hasselhoff

Beauty and the Beast

Fifty Shades Darker

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’: How Sean Gunn Became Marvel’s Secret Weapon
[Firefly]
[What Dreams May Come]

Get Out
[The Stepford Wives]

Hidden Figures

The Lego Batman Movie

Office Christmas Party

Power Rangers

Sing

Wonder Woman
Logan (Episode 59)
Fate of the Furious (Episode 65)
[Spider-Man: Homecoming]

Coming Soon:
The Dark Tower
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
It
Blade Runner 2049
Murder on the Orient Express
Justice League
Pitch Perfect 3
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Musical Obsessions
Anna: “Still Got Time” by Zayn
Alene: “More Than a Feeling” by Boston
[Believe Me by Eddie Izzard]

Obsessions
Anna: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
[The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner]
Alene: The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Episode 65: Fastest and Furiousest with @renatasnacks

We got our favorite movie explicator, Renata, on board to discuss the latest entry in the Fast and the Furious franchise: F8 of the Furious (which is what it should have been called). But first we watched all seven previous movies! Hashtag completist. On the way, we learned some very important lessons about ourselves and about FAMILY. Spoilers abound!

 

Links

The Fast and the Furious

2 Fast 2 Furious

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Fast & Furious
Fast 5

Fast & Furious 6

Furious 7


Fate of the Furious

Vulture: How Does Fate of the Furious Stack Up Against the Rest of the Franchise?

The Blues Brothers
Silence of the Lambs
Lynda.com

Cole Hauser v. Tom Berenger
Better Luck Tomorrow

Luke Evans
The Sound of Music
How Did This Get Made (Fate of the Furious, Furious 7, Fast & Furious 6, Fast Five)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (the show where they’re always in an airplane)

Musical Obsessions
Renata: “New Romantics” by Taylor Swift
Alene: “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
Anna: “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Obsessions
Renata: Trello (her nail polishes)
Alene: Facial exfoliants (Alba and Pixi), sheet masks from Daiso
Anna: Abhorsen books by Garth Nix

Episode 61: The Daughter of Time Deep Dive with @twobossydames

We joined forces with Margaret and Sophie of Two Bossy Dames to take a closer look at the 1951 mystery classic The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Much cleverness, and many readalikes and watchalikes, ensued. PLUS: A Young Olds discussion of Harry Styles and his debut single.

Links
The Two Bossy Dames wall clock
Simini Blocker
Persuasion Deep Dive
Derek Jacobi reads The Daughter of Time
“Decades After Her Death, Mystery Still Surrounds Crime Novelist Josephine Tey” (Vanity Fair)
History in the Archives by Natalie Zemon Davis
Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg

The Lion in Winter
The White Queen
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
“How Can This Be So Gripping? Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time” by Jo Walton
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
“Five Things We’ve Learned about Richard III Since He Was Found” (CNN)
Richard III by William Shakespeare
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
“Tonypandy” (Wikipedia): “Grant adopts the term “Tonypandy” to describe widely believed historical myths, such as the supposed shootings at the Tonypandy Riots, and believes popular accounts of Richard’s activities to fall into this category.”
Kenyon College
Denison University
Colleges that Change Lives

Reign
Brat Farrar
To Love and Be Wise

Readalikes and Watchalikes
The Hollow Crown (Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Henry V)
The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
Hild by Nicola Griffith

The Usual Suspects
The Singing Detective

Lady Jane
Jo Walton’s Small Change series (Farthing, Ha’penny, Half a Crown)
Hamilton: An American Musical
Richard III: The King in the Car Park
Richard III: Martyr or Monster?
The King’s Grave: The Discovery of Richard III’s Lost Burial Place and the Clues it Holds by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones
The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters
The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter (Inspector Morse)
To Prove a Villain by Guy Townsend
The Josephine Tey mysteries by Nicola Upson
O’ Artful Death by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Rear Window
Dorothy Dunnett (start with The Game of Kings)
Val McDermid
Tana French

Musical Obsessions
Margaret: “Let’s Get Out of This Country” by Camera Obscura
Anna: “Fall Apart Again” by Brandi Carlile
Alene: “Welcome to New York” off the Greatest City in the World Spotify playlist
Sophie: “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles

Honorable mention musical obsession

Obsessions

Sophie: Harry Styles/One Direction
Margaret: Please Like Me (see also Disappointing Gay Best Friend)

Anna: An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
Alene: Fleabag

Episode 56: Romantic Christmas Movies

 

 

We’ve spent our time over the past few months watching loads of Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies — ALL FOR YOU.

Links

The Worst Bestsellers: Episode 36–The Mistletoe Promise
The Federalist: Here’s The Hallmark Christmas Movie Party Game You’ve Been Waiting For
The Fandomentals: Top Ten Weirdly Common Hallmark Christmas Movie Tropes
Yahoo! TV: Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas: Eight of Your Favorite Returning Actors Tell All
Elle: We Ranked Every Single Lifetime Christmas Movie (Yes, All 42 of Them)
NPR: 20 Things You Desperately Need To Know About Mariah’s Hallmark Movie,
Does The Hallmark Channel Have Basic Cable’s Most Efficiently Defined Brand?
Buzzfeed: This Is What It’s Like To Watch “Love Actually” For The First Time

A Snow Globe Christmas

The Nine Lives of Christmas

A Royal Christmas
Window Wonderland
A Christmas Melody

Dear Secret Santa
Christmas on the Bayou
Wish Upon a Christmas
The Christmas Gift

Crown for Christmas
Every Christmas Has a Story

Musical Obsessions

Anna: “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Alene: “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince (now on Spotify!)

Obsessions

Anna: Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee and Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
Alene: Half-price chocolate/Cadbury mini eggs

Episode 55: Tarot with @MarianLiberryan

 

For this episode, we brought in small medium at large Kaite Stover (Twitter, Instagram) to tell us all about tarot. By the end, even skeptic Anna was convinced.

Links

Tarot (card meanings)

Decks
Katie’s preferred: Robin Wood
Housewives Tarot:

Tarot of the Witches (James Bond Tarot):

Ghetto Tarot:

Gilded Reverie Lenormand:

Amanda Palmer Tarot
Alice Tarot
Rider-Waite Tarot
Fin de Siecle Kipper
Goddess Knowledge Cards

Books
The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack
The Wishing Garden by Christy Yorke
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann

Etc.
The X-Files: Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose
Xena: Warrior Princess: The Bitter Suite
Live and Let Die

Musical Obsessions
Kaite: “Hymn 101” by Joe Pug
Alene: “Take On Me” by Reel Big Fish
Anna: “Dangerous” by Before You Exit

Obsessions
Kaite: Mirrors
Anna: Riverdale
Alene: By Any Name by Cynthia Voigt

Episode 53: Movie Advisory and Best of 2016

 

In this episode, we talk about movies we’ve seen since our last movie advisory (episode 35), share our picks for best of 2016, and squeal over what we’re looking forward to in 2017.

Links

Movie Advisory
Love and Friendship
Finding Dory
From The Washington Post: How Finding Dory and Finding Nemo Deal Beautifully With Disabilities
The Secret Life of Pets
Trolls
Kubo and the Two Strings

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
From Slate: J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts Flirts With Gay Allegory. Its Sequels Should Go All the Way.
Witch, Please: Roaring Anachronisms and Where To Find Them

Moana
From Bustle: Moana Kicking The Love Interest Storyline To The Curb May Not Be Something To Celebrate

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
Bridget Jones’s Baby
Queen of Katwe

Rogue One
Moonlight
From The Atlantic: Moonlight Is a Film of Uncommon Grace
Fences

Best of 2016

Movies
Deadpool, Finding Dory, Love and Friendship, Moana, Moonlight, Trolls, Ghostbusters

Books
#libfaves16
American Housewife by Helen Ellis
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Behind the Throne/After the Crown by KB Wagers
Hold Me by Courtney Milan
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson

Television
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Conviction, The Crown, Steven Universe, Supergirl Pending: Stranger Things, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Music
Soundtracks: Moana, Trolls, Hamilton, Hamilton Mixtape
Love You To Death by Tegan and Sara
Musical Obsessions Playlist

Other
Tater Tot Casserole (or this recipe)
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel
Styling/Volumizing Powder

In Memoriam

Looking Forward to in 2017

Movies
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Ghost in the Shell, Murder on the Orient Express, Hidden Figures, Fate of the Furious, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Despicable Me 3, Pitch Perfect 3, Beauty and the Beast, It, Baywatch, Power Rangers, Wonder Woman, Fifty Shades Darker, Before I Fall, Annihilation, Star Wars Episode 8
From E!: Movie Preview 2017: 84 Films You Should Know About in the New Year

Music
Spirit from Depeche Mode
Katy Perry, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson, Fergie, Icona Pop, Lorde, Taylor Swift
From Billboard: 2017 Music Preview: 40 Most Anticipated Albums

Books
Illuminae Files #3 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch
Buried Heart by Kate Elliott (Court of Fives #3)
Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn
#fridayreads
Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Avon romance authors: Sarah Maclean, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Tessa Dare
From The Millions: Most Anticipated: The Great 2017 Book Preview

Television
Star Trek Discovery, Emerald City, American Gods, Twin Peaks, Riverdale
From A.V. Club: The A.V. Club Tells You What to Watch in 2017

Musical Obsessions
Alene: Club Tropicana by Wham! UK (La Isla Bonita by Madonna)
Anna: Careless Whisper by Wham!, Freedom! ’90 by George Michael

Obsessions
Alene: Pusheen
Anna: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Episode 50: Comfort with Carolyn

 

We made it to fifty episodes! In this very special post-election installment of Bellwether Friends, we talked to founding Friend Carolyn about comforting pop culture (and food) to consume when we’re trying to recharge our batteries.

Via Two Bossy Dames,  “A post specifically for white women from a white woman”

Code Switch, “A Muslim and a Mexican Walk into a Bar…”

Still Processing, “The Day After”

Music

Bustle, “52 Songs To Cheer You Up Every Time”

“One Way Road” by John Butler Trio
“My IQ” by Ani DiFranco
“Born Free” by MIA
“Sheep” and”Sitting on a Fence” by The Housemartins
Spotify playlists: 80s Ladies for Margaret
Hamilton Mixtape
Inc.com, “Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent”
“Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)” by Solange
“I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan

“Stop” by Spice Girls
“Hasa Diga Eebowai” from The Book of Mormon
“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten

Television

30 Rock
The Muppet Show
Law and Order
Gilmore Girls
The West Wing
Sports Night
Quantico
Sleepy Hollow Season One
Arrow
The Shannara Chronicles

The Dresden Files
Person of Interest
The Flash
Dateline

Endeavor
Inspector Morse
Grantchester

Movies

Best in Show
Charade
D.E.B.S.
Fire
Saving Face
Pitch Perfect
Love Actually
Shaun of the Dead
The Sure Thing
Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies
Pretty in Pink
Sisters
Kate McKinnon

Books

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Vorkogisan series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Latin@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Phryne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, read by Stephanie Daniel
#booksfighthate
@diversebooks

Food

27 Uplifting Foods to Get You Through Uncertain Times
Mushroom Marsala Pasta Bake
Dill pickle Halfpops

Other

Coloring
Candletime
Warm Beverages
Crafting

Obsessions

Anna: Lego sets
Alene: Supergirl recaps on Autostraddle

Carolyn: Cider with bourbon

Musical Obsessions

Anna: “They Don’t Know” by Ariana Grande from Trolls
Alene: “Get Back Up Again” by Anna Kendrick from Trolls
Carolyn: “U-Turn” by Tegan and Sara

Episode 45: Comedy Hour with Shayera Tangri

Shayera Tangri joined us from the other coast to discuss funny books, movies, television, and other humorous pop culture. Much pun was had by all.

Toughest audience ever

Lewis Black

BuzzFeed: 21 Puns
BuzzFeed: Clever Jokes
Punderdome
O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships
A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne
Bennet Cerf
Silver Woven in my Hair by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye
Garfield
Ghostbusters

Holtzmann

Funny Movies
Blazing Saddles
Best in Show
Spaceballs
Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Blades of Glory
Semi-Pro

Funny TV Shows
Waiting for God
30 Rock
Scrubs
Parks and Recreation
Black Books
Great British Bake Off
Rupaul’s Drag Race
Suburgatory

Funny Books
Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen by P. G. Wodehouse

Wooster and  Jeeves

Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (caaaaaake)
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Gail Carriger
Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
Shelly Laurenston/G. A. Aiken

Live Comedy

Eddie Izzard

Two Dope Queens: Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams (PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT)
Eddie Murphy: Raw

Funny Twitter
@mysadcat (@cox_tom)
@kenjennings
@sblackmoore
@dog_rates
@darth
@altonbrown
@rstevens
@renatasnacks
Take My Wife @cameronesposito and @rheabutcher
The Bugle

Musical Obsessions
Alene: “Dancing With Myself“by The Donnas
Shayera: “Everlong” by Foo Fighters (also acoustic), “Just Like Fire” by P!nk
Anna: “God is a DJ” by P!nk

Obsessions
Anna: Acorns (the nut. really.)
Shayera: Tsum Tsums
Alene: Fried dough

Episode 44: Star Trek and Bullet Journaling, Oh Myyy!

In this episode we discuss Star Trek (TV and movie iterations) and the organizational tactic/life-wrangling practice known as the bullet journal. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?

Links

Star Trek Memory Alpha Wiki
@picardtips
Star Trek Beyond
Eddie Izzard on Star Trek
Star Trek Discovery (coming in 2017)

Janeway and Seven of Nine

Spock

Eight Space Operas Written by Women

Star Trek Official 50th Anniversary Convention

Extra Hot Great’s Star Trek Fantasy Draft

Bullet Journals
Getting Started
Mental Health
Bookish Ideas
Staples Arc/Levenger Circa

Musical Obsessions
Alene: “Rise” by Katy Perry
Anna: “Reaper” by Sia
Mark and Sarah Talk About Songs

Obsessions

Alene: Single Malt Scotch
Anna: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid (coming November 2016)

Gene Wilder

Silver Streak

 

Episode 42: Firefly, Deadpool, and Arcade Games with Amy!

For this episode, we took advantage of a visit from Amy Diegelman (aka @amydieg aka half of #jointhegirlgang aka WTF is America aka Panels contributor) to watch Firefly and Deadpool, plus spend a morning at the local arcade. Firefly fans be warned: Anna doesn’t like it much. She looks forward to hearing from you on the topic.

Links

Firefly (note belt placement)

Serenity
Gilmore Girls la la las
Deadpool

Ms. Pac-Man
X-Men
Simpsons
Q*bert
Tetris
Arkanoid
Space Invaders

TBR Challenge
Anna for Alene: Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters
Street of the Five Moons
Amy for Alene and Anna: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
My Favorite Bride by Christina Dodd
Kieran Kramer‘s Impossible Bachelors and The House of Brady series

Musical Obsessions
Anna: “Infinity” by Mariah Carey
Amy: “White Flag” by Joseph
Alene: Firefly theme song; Ms. Pac-Man theme song

Obsessions
Amy: The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera (Summer 2017)
Alene: The Victorian language of flowers, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Anna: We are on Tumblr! And, being on vacation.

Episode 40: 2 Classic Movies and the TBR Challenge

For this episode, we watched the 1944 classics Arsenic and Old Lace and Gaslight. After a brief digression into the mysterious ways of straight people, we introduced a new segment: The TBR Challenge!

Links

Arsenic and Old Lace

Cary Grant

Celeste Holm/Priscilla Lane
Boris Karloff
Raymond Massey
Peter Lorre
Edward Everett Horton
Proof play/film

Gaslight
Ingrid Bergman
Gaslighting: How-To
Gaslighting: Detection
Angela Lansbury

Irene

Ali Wong: “Baby Cobra”

TBR Challenge

Goblin Moon by Teresa Edgerton

The Keeper’s Chronicles series by Tanya Huff: (Summon the Keeper, The Second Summoning, Long Hot Summoning)

Musical Obsessions

Anna: “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips

Alene: “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago

Obsessions

Anna: Behind the Throne by K. B. Wagers

Alene: Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple

 

Episode 39: Persuasion Deep Dive

In this Especially Long Episode, we bring you a discussion of Jane Austen’s best work (come at us), Persuasion, featuring Margaret and Sophie of Two Bossy Dames and Ally of the Girl Gang. The discussion includes some diving into the gay subtext, some trips down memory lane, and some heated pros and cons of different movie adaptations. Plus: readalikes and watchalikes!

Links:
Persuasion‘s cast of characters
Every Jane Austen Novel If They Were Gay and Also Historically Inaccurate from Autostraddle
Personality Quiz: Which Jane Austen Heroine are You?
1995 Persuasion movie trailer
2007 Persuasion movie trailer

Advanced Studies in England
Emotional Labor Thread condensed

Readalikes:
Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion by Regina Jeffers
Frederick Wentworth, Captain series by Susan Kaye
Jane Austen in Scarsdale: or Love, Death, and the SATs by Paula Marantz Cohen
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
The Mr. and Mrs. Darcy series by Carrie Bebris
The Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane stories by Dorothy L. Sayers: Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, Busman’s Honeymoon
The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin

Watchalikes:
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
The Royal Tenenbaums

Half Agony, Half Hope: a Playlist by @MrsFridayNext

Musical Obsessions:
Ally: “Faint of Heart” by Tegan and Sara
Margaret: “You and I” by Margaret Glaspy
“She Used to be Mine” and “You Matter to Me” from Waitress
Sophie: fleetwood mac’s album tusk, “Sorry” by Beyoncé
Anna: “Alexander Hamilton” from Hamilton
Alene: “L.A. Hallucinations” by Carly Rae Jepsen

Obsessions:
Ally: 2 Dope Queens podcast
Margaret: Playing House TV show
Sophie: Laurinda by Alice Pung (look for it in the US under the title Lucy and Linh; buy Australian at fishpond.com)
Anna: Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix
Alene: Lady Power: Hillary, WNBA, Elizabeth Warren, Rachel Maddow

Episode 38: X-Men X-Stravaganza!

For this episode we brought in outside X-Perts Kait and Renata of the podcast Worst Bestellers. There might be some spoilers for the plot of the new movie X-Men: Apocalypse, but it will be hard to find them in our peripatetic conversation about all things X. We promise you might not come out of it feeling more confused about the franchise!

Links
X-Men (2000)
X-Men 2 (2003)
X-Men 3: The Last Stand* (2006)
X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men Podcast
Gambit and his cats!
Worst Bestsellers Readers’ Advisory: Episode 49: X-Cutioner’s Song
Worst Bestsellers Readers’ Advisory: Episode 50: X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Fanfic Recommendations
Wolverine/The Rock Coffee Shop AU (podfic)
kids who go to school (the drop the dime remix) by littledust
The Wonderment of Air (The Laughing Times Remix) by littledust
First Breath After Coma by Signe
Prayers for the Living by Fahye and littledust
How to Tie A Knot by pearl_o
The Righteousness of Our Cause by heyjupiter
Try, Try Again by and_backagain
Celestial Navation by kaydeefalls
The Pit and the Crystal Pendulum by garrideb
You’re My Only Home (The Letting Go Remix) by listerinezero
the only dream i ever have by skylights
ripples come and ripples go by metonymy
For Answers in the Pages by littledust
The O(l)dd Couple by winterhill
How Deep the Bullet Lies by littledust
Trigger Discipline by kaydeefalls
Still Standing by heyjupiter
The Chosen Ones series by metonymy
Case X1743: Unresolved XFilesXMen Movie (X-Files crossover) by Minisinoo

Musical Obsessions
Kait: “Sonya Alone” from Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Renata: “Holy Roller” by Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Anna: “If You Love Someone” by the Veronicas
Alene: “We Found Love” by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

Obsessions
Kait: Hamilton
Renata: Lady Dynamite
Anna: KITTENS
Alene: #chuckstravaganza

*Spoiler: Not the last stand.

Episode 35: Movie Advisory

In this episode, we talk about movies we’ve seen in the last nine months and preview what we’re looking forward to (or not) in the 2016 summer movie season. Plus: Anna has finally boarded the Hamilton train.

Links
Deadpool
Why Deadpool’s Prostitute Love Interest is More Heroic and Subversive than He is

The Boss
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
A Cat in Paris
Carol
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker
Nato Phonetic Alphabet
“25 Times White Actors Played People of Color and No One Really Gave a Sh**t”
Zootopia

Race
Spotlight
Boston Globe coverage
Money Monster
The Angry Birds Movie
X-Men: Apocalypse
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Me Before You
Finding Dory
The Secret Life of Pets
Ghostbusters

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Star Trek Beyond

Kubo and the Two Strings

Musical Obsessions

Alene: Prince’s protegees: “The Glamorous Life” by Sheila E.

Anna: “Ten Duel Commandments“from Hamilton

Obsessions

Alene: Chocolate peanut butter snack cakes and products

Anna: The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson

Episode 33: Electric Dreams and Artificial Intelligence

 

In this episode, we took a deep dive into the 80s with the movie Electric Dreams (1984), segueing into a broader discussion of artificial intelligence in pop culture with our special guest, Josie (@papertronica)! There was some singing.

Links

Lenny von Dohlen

Virginia Madsen

Bud Cort

Short Circuit

American Dreamer

12:01

2001: A Space Odyssey

Turing Test

Her

Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships, by David Levy

NPR Fresh Air interview with Joaquin Phoenix, on his playing opposite two actresses in the same role for Her.
Minority Report

Code 46

Philip K. Dick

Blade Runner

How to Build an Android, by David K. Dufty

Futurama

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Aka “Jude Law is a Sex Robot”)
“Sex Robots Could be the ‘Biggest Trend of 2016’“

Ex Machina

Robopocalypse and Robogenesis, by Daniel H. Wilson

Galatea 2.2, by Richard Powers

The Three Laws of Robotics
“Elon Musk’s Billion-Dollar AI Plan is About Far More Than Saving the World”

Holly from Red Dwarf

Musical Obsessions

Josie: Dessa “Fighting Fish,” “The Crow,” “The Beekeeper,” “Dixon’s Girl“

Anna: Duran Duran “Ordinary World“

Alene: One Direction “What A Feeling“

Obsessions

Josie: Another Round with Heben and Tracy podcast

Anna: Erotic romances by Christina Lauren

Alene: Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Elementary, Not Your Mother’s Thickening Hair Lifter

State Library of Florida on Facebook

Episode 29: From Foreign Shores Show Notes

Download the podcast here.

In this episode, Anna and #NumberOneFan @surlyspice talk about pop culture they’ve encountered from countries that don’t use English as their primary language. Please send us your favorites as well! Tweet at us! Comment on Facebook! Send us one of those old-fashioned email things (bellwetherfriendspodcast [at] gmail)! In the meantime, check out our new playlist on Spotify.

Links

Our benchmark:

Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose
Eurovision
Shakira on the Latin Grammys
“Music Has No Borders” Buzzfeed list
One Hundred Years of Solitude vs. Love in the Time of Cholera
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Lottie and Lisa by Erich Kästner
Candide by Voltaire

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Wings of Desire

Foreign Film List Challenge

Musical Obsessions
Alene: Natacha Atlas’s covers
Anna: Perfume’s Chocolate Disco

Obsessions
Alene: Golden Globes red carpet, Michelle Obama at SOTU
Anna: The Normal State of Mind by Susmita Bhattacharya, Slash

P.S.

Episode 29: From Foreign Shores

In this episode, Anna and #NumberOneFan @surlyspice talk about pop culture they’ve encountered from countries that don’t use English as their primary language.

Show notes here.

Episode 27: Hamilton and Best of 2015 Show Notes

Download episode here.

After three months away, we are back to discuss Hamilton (one of us is an expert and one is not) and discuss some of our highlights for 2015. And make an important announcement. Thanks to all our fans for your patience and support.

Links
Hamilton: An American Musical
Lin-Manuel Miranda
LMM and This American Life
LMM on Jeopardy!
“Hamilton” is the Very Model of a Modern Fast-Paced Musical
Disney’s Moana
The Wiz Live!
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Carol
Magic Mike XXL
Inside Out
Carly Rae Jepsen
Walk the Moon
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Supergirl
The Flash
The Nine Lives of Christmas
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Mr. Fahrenheit by T. Michael Martin

Obsessions
Carolyn: Justin Bieber: “What Do You Mean?”

Anna: Adele: “Hello”

The Princess and the Prix by Nell Stark
A Lego Brickumentary

Episode 27: Hamilton and Best of 2015

After three months away, we are back to discuss Hamilton (one of us is an expert and one is not) and discuss some of our highlights for 2015. And make an important announcement. Thanks to all our fans for your patience and support.

Show notes here.

Episode 26: IT and Back To School Show Notes

Download episode here.

We are finally ready to discuss Stephen King’s IT! Or are we? Find out in our latest episode, which features an interview with a very special guest. Also: everyone seems to be going back to school, so we discuss our favorite teachers and favorite (and least favorite) schools. Feel free to share yours in the comments or on Twitter and Facebook.

Crowdsourced Pop Culture Map

Links
Anna on The Worst Bestsellers discussing Grey by E.L. James
New Production of It Will be “Very Scary” and a two-parter???

Tim Curry

List of fictional schools (Wikipedia)

Sunnydale High School (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

West Beverly High School (90210)

Performing Arts High School (Fame; gif probably from movie and Carolyn was obsessed with the show but let’s just ignore that)

Lawndale High School (Daria)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Harry Potter)

Hillman College (A Different World)

Walden College (Doonesbury)

Kaibara High School (Fruits Basket)

Rancho Carne High School (Bring it On)

Bayside High School (Saved by the Bell)

Degrassi

List of fictional schoolteachers (Wikipedia)

Ms. Frizzle (Magic School Bus)

Sir Myles of Olau (Song of the Lioness)

Miss Switch

Professor X (X-Men)

Ms. Norbury (Mean Girls)

Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter)

Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid)

Yoda (Star Wars)

Back to School

Musical Obsessions
Anna: “Follow Your Arrow” by Kacey Musgraves
Carolyn: “Cheerleader” by Omi

Non-Musical Obsessions
Anna: SPQR by Mary Beard
Again With This–90210 Rewatch Podcast with Tara Ariano and Sarah D. Bunting

Carolyn: Drunk History || Article (ALERT: Carolyn was wrong [SHOCKER]. Cameron Esposito is NOT on the first episode of the new season. Carry on.)

Fun Sized Episode: Desert Island II Show Notes

On our previous visit to the posh desert island, we chose the books we would want with us. This time, we’re talking movies!

(Click on the gif to go to that movie’s IMDB page.)

Carolyn:

Anna:

Carolyn:

Anna:

Carolyn:

Anna:

Episode 25: Summer Movies and Pop Culture from Home Show Notes

Download episode here.

Twenty-five episodes! We’re celebrating by bingeing on summer movies and talking about pop culture from our home states: Utah and Arizona. It’s summer! Woooo! Tweet us @bellwetherfrnds with your best celebratory gifs!

Elizabeth Banks is everywhere!

Links
Secret Garden: 20 Postcards
Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Colouring Book
Johanna Basford on NPR
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian, by E.L. James
Two Bossy Dames
Appointment Television (@atvpodcast on Twitter)
Secret Stacks Episode 1
Ant-Man
Minions
Trainwreck
LeBron James wants you to visit Cleveland
Inside Amy Schumer

Pop Culture from Home
The Great Brain books by John D. Fitzgerald
Little House on the Prairie
¡Three Amigos!
Tombstone
Young Guns
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
World’s Fastest Indian
High School Musical
The Stand television series
Touched by an Angel
Big Love
Revenge of the Nerds
Can’t Buy Me Love
Practical Magic
“Human” by The Killers
Raising Arizona
Rubin & Ed
Footloose
Breaking Bad
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Osmonds
Neon Trees
Imagine Dragons
David Archuleta
SheDaisy
Peter Breinholt
Nancy Hanson
Linda Ronstadt
Jimmy Eat World
Ozomatli
Calexico
Roseanne Barr
Ken Jennings
Robert Redford
Barbara Kingsolver

Musical Obsessions
Anna: “Run Away With Me” by Carly Rae Jepsen
Carolyn: “I Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd

Obsessions
Anna: “Cool for the Summer” by Demi Lovato
No, Queer Women Aren’t “Just Experimenting” by Shannon Keating
Carolyn: Pretty Girls, by Karin Slaughter
The Philosopher Kings, by Jo Walton
Taylor Swift (perennial obsession)

Episode 8 Show Notes: Revisiting and Sequels

In this episode, we dive deeper into the topic of re-reading, re-watching, and otherwise revisiting pop culture, which led naturally into the question of sequels–thanks, @younglibrarian!–only a few of which are more popular than the original properties!

Come and read Stephen King’s It with us!

Links:

It by Stephen King
“A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving” — Gilmore Girls S3 episode 9
Gail Carriger (on Twitter @gailcarriger)
Miracle and Other Christmas Stories and “All Seated on the Ground” by Connie Willis
Superfudge books by Judy Blume
The Princess Bride
Spaceballs
The Godfather
Real Genius
The Care Bears Movie
Grease 2
Avengers & sequel
Iron Man & sequels
Thor: The Dark World
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Star Wars Episode 1 (technically a prequel)
Speed 2
Highlander II: The Quickening
Blues Brothers 2000
Batman & Robin
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Lost Boys: The Thirst
Basic Instinct 2
Teen Wolf Too
American Psycho II: All-American Girl
The Jewel of the Nile
Romancing the Stone
Toy Story 2
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Batman Returns
The Silence of the Lambs
The Book of Sequels by Henry Beard, Christopher Cerf, and Sarah Durkee
Manhunter
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Angel
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Benson
Soap
Hastily googled list of TV spinoffs better than originals
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Clue

Obsessions
Anna:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Same Sex Symbol comedy album by Cameron Esposito

Carolyn:
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness