Great Pop Culture Debate

Since at least March 1968, the world has been gifted with original music by Reginald Dwight, the artist better known as Elton John. From the 60s up through the 2020s, Mr. John would go on to have one of the most successful music careers in pop history, spanning 31 studio albums, 10 soundtracks, 5 live albums, 16 compilation albums, and a slew of awards and accolades. Now that Elton has recently retired from live performing, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to look back at his inimitable songbook and attempt to determine the Best Elton John Single of all time. We consider: “Your Song,” “Honky Cat,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me,” “The Bitch is Back,” “Crocodile Rock,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Rocket Man,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Tiny Dancer,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and more. Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Derek Mekita and Kate Racculia, and extra-special guest John Higgins, Feature Writer at EltonJohn.com and Sir Elton’s personal archivist, as they discuss 16 of the Rocket Man’s most beloved songs, narrowing them down until they make their final decision! To listen to Round 1, showing how we got to the Sweet 16 down from the Top 32,become a Patreon supporter of the podcasttoday to access the exclusive Part 1 episode. RELATED CONTENT Best Phil Collins Song Best Gay Icon Best Song of 1994 Have a say in future episodes! Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in ourTopic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in thepolls currently open for your votes! EPISODE CREDITS Host:Eric Rezsnyak Panel:Derek Mekita, Kate Racculia Special Guest: John Higgins Producer: Curtis Creekmore Editors: Eric Rezsnyak, John Higgins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak gives you a quick rundown on how we came up with the bracket for our Best Elton John Single episode, as well as the decisions made in Round 1, in which we went from a Top 32 to a Sweet 16. To listen to Part 1, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Then come back Monday, May 13, when Part 2 of the episode is released for everyone, and we name our pick for the Best Elton John Single. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes, and make sure to visit www.greatpopculturedebate.com for a playlist featuring all the debated songs, the downloadable listener bracket, and loads of great bonus content like TV recaps, Top 10 lists, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir Ian Fleming's James Bond has been a Hollywood mainstay for more than 60 years. In that time, a handful of actors have brought to life the British super spy's thrilling adventures, and made box-office bank in the process. With the Bond property currently on hiatus as producers work on a bold new direction for the character, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to look back at all the bombs, the bad guys, and the beauties to determine the Best James Bond Film of all time. Join Host Eric Rezsnyak, panelists Karissa Kloss and Michael Schwarz, and special secret agent Erik Slader from Podcasters Assemble! and several others shows in the We Can Make This Work (Probably) Podcast Network as they use their license to kill — arguments — as they work to name the Best James Bond Film. Check out the listener bracket to follow along at home! Make a copy, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours! Become aPatreon supporterof the podcast for bonus content, merch, and other great perks. RELATED CONTENT Best Super Hero Film Best Horror Film Franchise Best "Doctor Who" Companion Top 10 Bond Girls Have a say in future episodes! Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in ourTopic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in thepolls currently open for your votes! Love Pop Culture? Subscribe to Our Free Weekly Newsletter! Every Monday we tell you about the new movies, TV shows, albums, and video games coming up this week, PLUS we spotlight podcast episodes, polls, and more!Subscribe today! EPISODE CREDITS Host:Eric Rezsnyak Panel:Karissa Kloss,Michael Schwarz Special Guest: Erik Slader Producer:Curtis Creekmore Editors: Bob Erlenback, Eric Rezsnyak #jamesbond #bondfilm #bondmovies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak gives you a quick rundown of how we came up with the 16 films we discuss in our Best James Bond Film episode. To listen to the warm-up, which includes the panelists' thoughts on the Bond films that didn't make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Then come back Monday, May 6, when the full episode is released for everyone. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Mean Girls” – written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters – is arguably the most culturally pervasive film of the 21st Century. Since it was released in 2004, the film spawned a successful Broadway musical, a direct-to-DVD sequel, and a musical FILM reboot in 2024. Its quotes and catchphrases were almost immediately adopted by the American public, and can be heard pretty much everywhere to this day. “On Wednesdays we wear pink.” “I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom.” “Stop trying to make fetch happen.” Twenty years later they remain as potent as ever. So get in losers, because the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to recycle these Plastics as we aim to name the Best “Mean Girls” Movie Quote. Join Host Eric Rezsnyak and panelists Andrea Guerrero, Curtis Creekmore, and Jake Pitochelli as they flip through the Burn Book and name the best "Mean Girls" quote of all time. Check out the listener bracket to follow along at home! Make a copy, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours! Become aPatreon supporterof the podcast for bonus content, merch, and other great perks. RELATED CONTENT Best “Clueless” Quote Best "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Quote Best "Steel Magnolias" Quote Have a say in future episodes! Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in ourTopic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in thepolls currently open for your votes! EPISODE CREDITS HOST:Eric Rezsnyak PANEL: Andrea Guerrero, Curtis Creekmore, Jake Pitochelli PRODUCER: Bob Erlenback EDITOR: Bob Erlenback #meangirls #meangirlsmovie #meangirlsquote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak gives you a quick rundown of how we came up with the 16 iconic lines we discuss in our Best "Mean Girls" Quote episode. To listen to the warm-up, which includes the panelists' other picks that didn't make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Then come back Monday, April 29, when the full episode is released for everyone. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 determine the Best “30 Rock” Episode ever! We want to go to there… Become aPatreon supporterof the podcast for bonus content, merch, and other great perks. RELATED CONTENT Best "Golden Girls" Episode Best 2000s Sitcom Best "Saturday Night Live" Character Top 10: Fake Shows on "30 Rock" Round 1 Match-Ups: Match-Up 1: “The Bubble” (1) vs. "Believe In the Stars" (4) Match-Up 2: "Reaganing" (3) vs. "Black Tie" (2) Match-Up 3: "Reunion" (1) vs. "TGS Hates Women" (4) Match-Up 4: "Tracy Does Conan" (3) vs. "Queen of Jordan" (2) Match-Up 5: "Rosemary’s Baby" (1) vs. "Leap Day" (4) Match-Up 6: "Apollo Apollo" (3) vs. "Ludachristmas" (2) Match-Up 7: "MILF Island" (1) vs. "Dance Like Nobody’s Watching" (4) Match-Up 8: "The Head and the Hair" (3) vs. "Anna Howard Shaw Day" (2) And should you need it, here's the official “30 Rock” YouTube Channel, loaded with great videos. Want to play along at home? Download the listener brackethere and see if your picks match up with ours! Have a say in future episodes! Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in ourTopic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in thepolls currently open for your votes! EPISODE CREDITS Host:Eric Rezsnyak Panel: Amma Marfo, Brendan Hay, Kevin Dillon Producer:Curtis Creekmore Editors: Eric Rezsnyak, Bob Erlenback #30rock #tinafey #nbc #sitcom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak gives you a quick rundown of how we came up with the 16 episodes we discuss in our Best "30 Rock" Episode episode. To listen to the warm-up, which includes the panelists' other picks that didn't make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Then come back Monday, April 22, when the full episode is released for everyone. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, 30, and 40 years ago, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine: what WAS the best song of 1994? Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Gary Jackson, Joelle Boedecker, and Kate Racculia they discuss 16 of the most iconic songs from 1994, narrowing them down until they make their final decision! To listen to Round 1, showing how we got to the Sweet 16 down from the Top 32,become a Patreon supporter of the podcasttoday to access the exclusive Part 1 episode. RELATED CONTENT Best Song of 2003 Best Song of 1999 Best Song of 1985 Best One-Hit Wonder of the 90s/00s The Round 2 Match-Ups: Match-Up 1: "Shoop" by Salt-N-Pepa (1) vs. "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden (4) Match-Up 2: "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow (3) vs. "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb (2) Match-Up 3: "Loser" by Beck (1) vs. "Come to My Window" by Melissa Etheridge (4) Match-Up 4: "I'd Do Anything for Love" by Meat Loaf (6) vs. "Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish (2) Match-Up 5: "Linger" by Cranberries (1) vs. "Crazy" by Aerosmith (4) Match-Up 6: "Basket Case" by Green Day (3) vs. "Whatta Man" by Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue (2) Match-Up 7: "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base (1) vs. "Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots (5) Match-Up 8: "Gin & Juice" by Snoop Doggy Dogg (3) vs. "The Sign" by Ace of Base (2) Want to play along at home? Download thelistener brackethereand see if your picks match up with ours! Have a say in future episodes! Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in ourTopic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in thepolls currently open for your votes! EPISODE CREDITS Host:Eric Rezsnyak Panel: Gary Jackson, Joelle Boedecker, Kate Racculia Producer: Bob Erlenback Editor: Bob Erlenback #90smusic #songsof1994 #1994music #1990s #bestsongs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak gives you a quick rundown of the Round 1 match-ups for our Best Song of 1994 episode. To listen to the debates, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Then come back Monday, April 15, when Part 2 is released for everyone. Click here for a playlist of all 32 tracks discussed in the Best Song of 1994 episode, as well as some additional picks by our panelists. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices