In 2006, NBC’s “30 Rock” debuted to mixed reviews and modest ratings. But within a few episodes, Tina Fey’s workplace comedy set behind the scenes of a television sketch show found its footing, and over the course of its seven-season run would blossom into one of the quirkiest, funniest, and most daring sitcoms on broadcast television. While “30 Rock” ended more than a decade ago, it remains one of the 21st Century’s most endearing and celebrated comedies. So listen up, 5s, a 10 is speaking, because the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to revisit the wild days of “TGS with Tracy Jordan” to deter ..read more

As we publish this episode in 2024, it has been 30 YEARS since 1994. THIRTY. YEARS. How did that happen? That said, 1994 was a great year for music. In the days right before the inventions of Napster and the iPod, radio, MTV, VH1, record stores, and CD clubs still had an iron grip on what most Americans listened to. It was a diverse mix of genres and artists, with dance hits, grunge bands, rap, r'n'b, alternative rock, adult-contemporary ballads, and even some folk-pop indie darlings piercing through the noise and topping the charts. Now, continuing our series of looking back at songs from 20 ..read more

Girl Scout Cookies have been spreading sugary joy, teaching millions of children entrepreneurial skills, AND raising funds for a terrific organization for more than 100 years. Girl Scout Cookies are an American institution! And for this special mini-minisode, the Great Pop Culture Debate podcast wants to determine the Best Girl Scout Cookie! Want to learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, or order cookies for yourself? Click here! Join Host Eric Rezsnyak; GPCD panelists Amy Pilott, Curtis Creekmore, and Joelle Boedecker; and special guest Girl Scout Allie Pilott as they discuss 8 of th ..read more

Families have been central to TV shows almost since the invention of the medium. Whether we're talking about the Rockwellian families from classic sitcoms, sprawling soap-opera dynasties, dysfunctional reality TV clans, or the blended families of the 21st century, TV shows have featured just about every permutation of family you can think of. Now, in a special Patreon-sponsored episode, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to look back at TV families past and present to determine the best TV family of all time. Join Host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Amma Marfo and Amy Pilott, and Patreon sponso ..read more

Les Miserables – in lay terms “Les Mis” – is one of the most awarded and impactful musicals of the late 20th Century. Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, which was turned into a French concept album, and then translated into English and expanded upon for its London West End debut in 1985, the show opened on Broadway in 1987, and became an instant classic as audiences were captivated by the heart-wrenching dramas of the poor during the French Revolution, and especially by the bombastic, melodically haunting songs. Now, nearly 40 years after its debut, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to d ..read more

Over its five-decade history -- and multiple generations of gaming systems -- Nintendo has been home to some of the most notable bad guys in video-game history. Some are original creations who only torment the heroes on Nintendo-owned titles. Some are third-party nemeses who have also appeared on other systems. And some are video-game adaptions of bad guys from other existing IPs. What they all have in common is that they are all so good at being so bad. And now the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine the best Best Nintendo Villain of all time. Join Host Eric Rezsnyak, Patreon sponsor ..read more

Since “RuPaul’s Drag Race” debuted in 2009, its runway has become home to some of the most jaw-dropping looks on television. Those blockbuster fashion moments only became more common as the show progressed, and in recent years the show has caught the attention of fashion designers, supermodels, and cultural tastemakers due to the incredible outfits worn by its most stylish and creative contestants. In this special Patreon-sponsored episode, the Great Pop Culture Debate is starting its engines as it aims to declare the Best Runway Look from seasons 7 through 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Join Host ..read more

Technological advancements, European influences, and a deep societal need to shake that ass created the perfect breeding ground for the explosion of dance music in the 1990s. From dance club floors to wedding receptions, dance music was everywhere at the end of the 20th Century, with some of the biggest hits even crossing over into mainstream radio. Now, 30-plus years later, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to put its hands up and determine the Best 90s Dance Hit of all time. Join host Eric Rezsnyak, Patreon sponsor Derek Mekita, and special guests Dr. Ryan Androsiglio and Sandie Cianflone a ..read more

Since its debut in 1967, the National Football League’s Super Bowl has provided viewers as a little diversion amidst all the tackling and running and sports-ing: the halftime show. What began as the wholesome, kitschy entertainments found at most college games, with marching bands and majorettes, has since evolved into pop-culture spectacles featuring megawatt musical guests that sometimes grab more headlines than the games themselves. So now, with 56 halftime shows in the history books, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine: What IS the Best Super Bowl Halftime Show of all time? Joi ..read more

It’s hard to encapsulate a year in books. When looking at 2023, the obvious standouts are a slew of major, much-anticipated celebrity memoirs – Britney Spears, Prince Harry, Barbra Streisand, just to name a few. It appears we have a new buzzy fantasy series in the form of Rebecca Yarros’ The Fourth Wing. But what makes the literary world so exciting and engaging is that there is truly something out there for everyone, you just have to know where to look. Lucky for you, we’ve got some recommendations. Join Great Pop Culture Debate panelists Bob Erlenback, Jennifer Chen, Kara Austin, and Michael ..read more