BroadwayRadio – Some Like It Pop Patreon Exclusive: Best of August 2025
Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Matt Tamanini & Jennifer McHugh
Episode Overview
In this “Some Like It Pop” Patreon exclusive, Matt Tamanini and Jennifer McHugh recount their most loved pop culture experiences from August 2025. Covering everything from animated movie phenomena and Netflix adaptations, to sports, sci-fi, YouTube oddities, and standout live theater, the episode is a whirlwind tour of how diverse and vibrant this past month's pop culture offerings were. The hosts dive into their personal highlights, trade witty banter, and offer thoughtful insights into what made each recommendation special.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Rules of Fall & Pop Culture Picks (01:09–02:56)
- Matt pays homage to September as the beginning of "months ending in 'ber'," playfully pondering if it counts as fall yet.
- Jennifer asserts, “I’m old school. September 1st. Man, I changed my watch band. I got my pumpkin spice latte. I only want to talk about spooky season.” (01:41)
- The hosts explain the episode format: their three favorite pop culture items from August, ranging across all media.
2. Movie Favorites
K Pop Demon Hunters – The Animated Smash (03:07–09:04)
- Matt gushes about Netflix’s “K Pop Demon Hunters,” the biggest original film in Netflix history:
- Describes it as an animated spectacle featuring a K-pop girl group moonlighting as demon hunters, with their boy-band rivals revealed as literal demons.
- Applauds the music: “I hadn’t really seen it until my nephew started dancing to ‘Soda Pop’ on YouTube. The songs are incredible … the best pop songs in 25 years.” (03:48–04:54)
- Cast includes Daniel Dae Kim, Joel Kim Booster, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, and the “great” Lea Salonga as a former demon hunter/K-pop idol’s voice.
- Jennifer emphasizes the film’s deeper message:
- “I really liked that the ending wasn’t, like, everyone lives happily ever after. The fight is ongoing … not a lot of kids movies address that.” (06:30)
- Praises the cross-generational appeal: “It’s really cool that it’s bypassing generational bias because the kids are enjoying it and people my age are enjoying it. And it’s just good music.” (08:36)
- Both agree the phenomenon is justified and eagerly anticipate the sequel and sing-along version.
The Thursday Murder Club – Cozy Sleuths with Heart (09:09–12:23)
- Jennifer selects Netflix's adaptation of the beloved book:
- Star-studded cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, and Richard E. Grant.
- “It’s just a fun romp, I would say, with some of the best actors on the planet … emotional because they are in a retirement community and they are losing their friends.” (09:17–10:05)
- Matt notes he found the original book slow, asking if the movie is “a little bit crisper, a little bit more tight?”
- Jennifer assures: “It goes by really fast. It’s under two hours, and it’s just really fun. It’s just a good time.” (11:40)
3. Sports & TV
The Return of College Football (12:23–14:24)
- Matt’s annual tradition: loving the start of college football. Emotional connections run deep:
- “There is no sport like it … there’s just something truly special and unique, and … heartwarming about football.”
- Personal connection to Ohio State: “That’s where my parents went to school. It’s where they met. It’s just different.” (12:23–13:24)
- Ohio State’s win over the #1 team makes this season particularly sweet.
Alien Earth – Sci-Fi TV Excellence (14:36–17:53)
- Jennifer recommends FX's “Alien Earth”:
- “It is so tense. It is scary. It is intriguing. It is taking place in a world where they’ve abolished all governments and five billionaires run the world. I know that’s hard to even fathom …” (15:18–15:52)
- Highlights star Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant, praises Noah Hawley’s writing and direction.
- “You don’t need the movie knowledge to enjoy it. There are definitely Easter eggs … but you don’t need that to understand it.” (17:05)
- Matt drew parallels to Noah Hawley’s previous work, “Legion,” and “Fargo,” appreciating the accessibility for newcomers.
4. Unexpected Pleasures: YouTube Slot Machine Videos (18:06–22:46)
- Matt’s most bizarre pick: Watching Vegas Matt gamble on YouTube.
- “My brother … used to watch people play video games. But he now watches people play slot machines … [Vegas Matt] puts out a different video every day at 2:45 p.m. … and we would watch that video every day.” (18:45–19:10)
- Details the wild sums lost: “Year to date, they are at minus $448,676 … if you gamble, you’re going to lose.”
- Adds: watching for entertainment isn’t costly, and Vegas Matt’s dry humor and camaraderie add charm.
- Jennifer admits to similar YouTube “reactor” rabbit holes, finding these vicarious joys both inexplicable and delightful.
5. Theater Highlights
Touring: Some Like It Hot & Shucked (23:34–25:47)
- Jennifer details recent touring shows:
- Some Like It Hot: “I’m a sucker for an old-fashioned musical. I love tapping, and there’s a scene at the end that blew my mind … Highly recommend it.” (24:15 –24:28)
- Shucked: “The hardest I have laughed in a show in a very long time … literally one character who’s just delivering one-liners … we were bent over laughing.” (24:28–25:53)
- Both rave about the enthusiastic Florida audiences, especially for “Shucked.”
Once-in-a-Lifetime: Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl (25:48–30:36)
- Jennifer recounts seeing Cynthia Erivo, Adam Lambert, Philippa Soo, and Josh Gad:
- “I’ve never been at a show where people have given five-minute standing ovations after one song, let alone two … It was seriously one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Jesus Christ Superstar is my favorite musical. Gethsemane is my favorite song. And she tore the house down with it.” (27:02–27:58)
- Crowd included nuns, children, and seniors, radiating “a night full of joy.”
- Shares touching story of the Bowl usher who played Simon, who returned to his day job the following week.
6. Looking Forward to September – Anticipated Returns & Live Experiences (30:36–35:00)
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Matt’s picks:
- The Great British Bake Off returns (September 5).
- Only Murders in the Building Season 5 (September 9).
- Slow Horses Season 5 (September 24).
“Gary Oldman has said he will do this show as long as they want to, for as long as he is alive, just makes me happy because it is such a incredibly smart, fun show that I just want this to always to be something that is available to watch.” (32:24–32:38)
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Jennifer’s adds:
- “I’ll add in shows you don’t watch, which are Wednesday, The English Teacher and Gen V. And … the US Open. Movie coming up: Spinal Tap 2.” (33:01)
- Foremost: seeing Oasis in concert at The Rose Bowl.
- “I finally get to see an Oasis in concert!” (33:31)
- Anticipates the Gallagher brothers’ dynamic: “My theory is they went to therapy. Because they’ve been coming out arm in arm and hugging each other and praising each other. Either that or their accountant said, guys, shut up for a year and a half, you’ll make all the money you need for the rest of your lives and you never have to talk to each other again.” (34:36–35:00)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Jennifer McHugh:
“It’s not easy to write a good pop song. And these are great. They’re so fun.” (08:36) - Matt Taminanian:
“I love the pageantry. I love the marching bands. God, I cry every time I see the Ohio State marching band.” (13:24) - Jennifer McHugh:
“There was a whole group of nuns … little kids, elderly bus with canes and scooter razzies, and it was amazing. And I will brag about that forever.” (28:09) - Matt Taminanian:
“Vegas Matt on YouTube … they lost $448,676 so far this year. If you gamble, you’re going to lose.” (21:25) - Jennifer McHugh:
“I don’t know if they’re real or not, but it’s inexplicably enjoyable watching someone discover something new. So, yeah, no judgment here.” (22:37) - Jennifer McHugh on Oasis:
“It is going to be a survival of the human spirit, but it is a once in a lifetime thing.” (34:23)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:09 – Show format & “fall” discussion
- 03:07 – K Pop Demon Hunters movie deep dive
- 09:09 – Thursday Murder Club and adaptation talk
- 12:23 – College football kicks off
- 14:36 – Alien Earth (FX) sci-fi TV recommendation
- 18:06 – Vegas Matt and YouTube slot machines
- 23:34 – August theater recaps: Some Like It Hot, Shucked, Jesus Christ Superstar
- 30:36 – September TV returns: GBBO, Only Murders, Slow Horses
- 33:31 – Anticipating Oasis at the Rose Bowl
- 35:00 – Closing remarks and Patreon thanks
Tone & Style
- Warm, witty, and conversational; the hosts' genuine enthusiasm for their picks is infectious.
- Pop culture deep dives are sprinkled with relatable asides and friendly debates.
- Occasional light sarcasm and good-natured ribbing, especially around YouTube habits and music preferences.
Takeaways
- August 2025 was a wildly eclectic month for pop culture with huge animated hits, beloved book adaptations, intense TV, sports, digital oddities, and theater triumphs.
- The hosts’ chemistry and honest reactions create an inviting atmosphere for both seasoned fans and new listeners (even if you missed the content the first time around!).
- September promises even more excitement with anticipated TV returns and a landmark music reunion.
For more, follow the hosts on social media @BroadwayRadio, and stay tuned for future Patreon exclusives plus upcoming travelogues from New York theater.