Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Great TV We Missed"

Episode Date: April 14, 2026
Hosts: Glen Weldon & Aisha Harris (NPR)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Glen Weldon and Aisha Harris spotlight excellent TV series from the past year that slipped under their radar—or perhaps yours. With only so much time and so many shows vying for attention, the hosts revisit recent gems they hadn't discussed previously, sharing personal favorites and why these series are worth your time.

The picks span genres, countries, and tones, including reality satire, Cold War espionage, lush international drama, and pitch-perfect comedy mysteries. With direct, conversational banter and plenty of nerdy enthusiasm, Glen and Aisha offer smart, spoiler-light recommendations for your next binge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jury Duty Presents Company Retreat

(02:06 – 06:52, Aisha’s first pick)

• Premise & Format: Spiritual sequel to the hit "Jury Duty," this mockumentary-style reality/prank show features Anthony Norman, a temp hired at a hot sauce company’s retreat, who doesn’t know everyone else is an actor.
• Core Appeal: The show’s success hinges on its unknowing participant being "a decent human being." Aisha underscores how, in the age of reality TV and influencer culture, finding someone who isn’t chasing fame is oddly refreshing.
• Execution: Much credit given to the ensemble improv cast and production’s intricate setup. “You get to understand how just tenuous all of this is and that at any moment the whole thing could be blown.” (06:21, Aisha)
• Balance of Reality & Absurdity: As the season escalates, Anthony’s disbelief makes the increasingly bizarre situations more engaging.
• Recommendation: “If you’re looking for something low stakes that is silly and features a lot of great improvising... you can’t do better than Jury Duty presents Company Retreat.”—Aisha (05:44)
• Notable Moment: Glen expresses initial skepticism (“I didn’t think they could recapture that magic. I mean, you can’t have a new Ronald,” 05:47) but is convinced by Aisha’s enthusiasm.

2. Ponies

(06:52 – 09:19, Glen’s first pick)

• Premise: Set in 1977 at the American Embassy in Moscow; two secretaries (Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson), their CIA spy husbands murdered by the KGB, convince the agency to make them spies—since secretaries are overlooked by Soviet monitors.
• Style & Setting: Glen raves about the “1977 all over the place” aesthetic—rounded corners, avocado golds, burnt sienna. The period detail is a star.
• Drawbacks: Series succumbs a bit to the streaming “overstuffed subplot” problem, but the lead “work well together on screen.”
• “The Americans” Comparison: For those missing that show’s espionage vibe, Ponies offers a similar—if glossier and less subtle—experience.
• Quote: “If you hold onto your credulity too hard, it’s gonna break. So you gotta let some things go.” —Glen (08:36)

3. Blossoms Shanghai

(09:30 – 14:00, Aisha’s second pick)

• Premise & Scale: International prestige pick—Wong Kar Wai’s epic 25+ episode TV debut (Criterion Channel), based on Jin Yu Cheng’s novel, follows Mr. Bao, a mysterious trader, through Shanghai’s economic reawakening in the 1990s.
• Production & Aesthetic: Lavishly shot (“glitzy art deco glamour”), with Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau. “It looks gorgeous. It’s so beautiful. Like, the costumes are amazing.” —Aisha (12:58)
• Characters & Themes: A “very, very colorful assortment of characters,” particularly three complex women—romantic possibilities, but also business partners and rivals.
• Storytelling: There’s plenty of “maneuvering and all these different things,” and Aisha notes it “took me maybe two or three episodes before I started to understand where it was going. But once you hit that…the backstabbing and dealmaking is really fun.” (12:13)
• Wong Kar Wai-ness: Satisfies fans’ craving for romantic longing—“Not just a romantic, but a swooning romantic” (Glen, 12:49)—with signature slow-motion, glances, and atmosphere, making the 1990s feel “like it could be the 40s.” (13:32)

4. Deadloch, Season 2

(14:00 – 17:27, Glen’s second pick)

• Intro & Reception: Season 1 is “perfect television. Platonic ideal. What a great show can be.” —Glen (14:22)
• Premise: On its face, strictly formula—a mismatched police pair tackles a murder case in quirky Tasmania. But “the details...the dialogue, the characterizations” set it far apart.
• Quote: “Just imagine if Broadchurch was less emo, more queer and more goofy. You got this show.” (14:53)
• Season 2 Transitions: Focus shifts from Dulcie to Eddie and moves the action north. Less perfect (“louder, more chaotic, tries to do too many things”), but still “vibe, dialogue, characters” over plot.
• Why Watch: Word-of-mouth hit that’s both a critical and real-life favorite; “when a good thing finds its audience...that’s why we do this.” (14:44)
• Glen’s Passion: “If you ever find yourself with a laundry weekend afternoon to kill, Deadloch, season one is still the cure for whatever ails you. I’ve watched it several times.” (17:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reality TV Transforming Careers:
  “If you’re on a show, you are probably angling for some sort of bump in your career... Like, that is the track now. That is the pipeline.”
  —Aisha, on why Jury Duty presents Company Retreat stands out (04:30)

• Persuasion Triumph:
  “You got my number, Aisha, because, like, a lot of people, I think I’ve been holding off on this because, again, I didn’t think they could recapture that magic.”
  —Glen, admitting skepticism about Jury Duty follow-up (05:47)

• On Streaming TV Structures:
  “There’s too many subplots, some of which feature characters that don’t get enough oxygen... that’s always the deal with some of these shows.”
  —Glen, on Ponies’ flaws (07:42)

• Elegant Aesthetic:
  “Even though it’s the 90s, it feels like it could be the 40s. Like, it’s really, really, really beautiful.”
  —Aisha, describing Blossoms Shanghai (13:32)

• Why We Critique & Recommend:
  “That’s why we’re critics, right? ...when a good thing finds its audience, even if it’s just one person says, I found this show because of you... that’s why we do this.”
  —Glen, reflecting on word-of-mouth Deadloch success (14:44)

Segment Timestamps

• Jury Duty presents Company Retreat: 02:06 – 06:52
• Ponies: 06:52 – 09:19
• Blossoms Shanghai: 09:30 – 14:00
• Deadloch Season 2: 14:00 – 17:27

Final Thoughts

The discussion underscores the overwhelming breadth of TV and the joy of discovering gems outside the hype cycle. Whether you crave high-gloss espionage, indie comedy-mystery, lush international soapy drama, or the warmth of a reality send-up, the hosts’ picks promise escapism and delight—with an emphasis on craft, character, and a little bit of surprise.

Next Steps:
Check out:

• Jury Duty presents Company Retreat (Prime Video)
• Ponies (Peacock)
• Blossoms Shanghai (Criterion Channel)
• Deadloch, Seasons 1 & 2 (Prime Video)

“Pop Culture Happy Hour” invites listeners to catch up and obsess with them—making happy hour even happier, one sitcom, drama, or reality twist at a time.