Pop Culture Happy Hour: “Haunted Hotel”

Airdate: September 22, 2025
Host: Glenn Weldon
Guests: Walter Chow, Jeff Yang

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Netflix's new animated comedy Haunted Hotel during “scary season.” Host Glenn Weldon is joined by film critic Walter Chow and cultural critic Jeff Yang to unpack the show’s strengths, uneven tone, horror references, voice cast, and where it sits in the broader landscape of adult animation. The conversation spans its world-building, comedic and dramatic ambitions, and the pros and cons of its Rick and Morty DNA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Premise & Ensemble (02:54–04:40)

• Haunted Hotel centers on Catherine (Eliza Coupe) moving her family into an old, haunted hotel. Key characters include her son Ben (Skyler Gisondo), daughter Esther (Natalie Palamides), her ghost brother Nathan (Will Forte), and the demon Abaddon (Jimmy Simpson).
• The show blends "fun and creepy," with “a lot of ghosts in the hotel, each with their own shtick” and a surprising amount of mythological lore. (Glenn Weldon, 00:21)

2. General Impressions (03:58–07:05)

• Jeff Yang: The show exceeds expectations, especially for Netflix animation. “There are definitely a couple of solid jokes every episode. There’s definitely some really fantastic world building … It’s a bit of a watch at your own risk, especially if you’re watching it as family viewing.” (03:58)
• Walter Chow: Finds joy in the horror homages and genre references, calling it a "Shrekian endorphin rush" for horror fans but sees drawbacks in the familiarity of its comedic-template. “This feels a lot like Bob's Burgers ... I can't overcome this feeling of familiarity.” (05:07)
• Glenn Weldon: Offers outright admiration and reserves special praise for Eliza Coupe and Will Forte, but acknowledges the show's uneven ambitions. “There is a cheat code to my heart, and her name is Eliza Coupe. I am helpless before her.” (07:05)

3. Lore & World-Building (08:13–09:01)

• The show integrates robust supernatural lore, outlining a “rock-paper-scissors” logic among ghosts, demons, and humans.
• Memorable exchange (08:47–08:56):
  • Walter Chow: “Ghosts have power over demons, demons over—"
  • Glenn Weldon: “Humans, and with the proper tools, humans hold dominion over ghosts.”
  • Jeff Yang: “Great. It's weird. Rock, paper, scissors. Now let him go.”

4. The “Rick and Morty” Factor & Tone Clash (09:01–11:37)

• The group notes the familiar blend of anarchic humor, genre parody, and unexpected sincerity, linking it to co-creator Matt Roller’s work on Rick and Morty, Community, and Goldbergs.
• Jeff Yang: “This show really wants to be a happy marriage between Famcom and kind of Edgelordy ... humor. Except in this case, it would be mysto-anarchic, I suppose. And that’s where I think some of the tension occurs.” (09:31)

5. Depth vs. Comedy: Handling Serious Issues (11:53–14:44)

• The trio debates the show's approach to real-world issues and trauma (death of a parent, generational trauma, suicide, gender identity, loneliness), suggesting that its mix of humor and sincerity is sometimes jarring.
• Walter Chow: “Where the show soars for me is when it is the most human ... when they drop little breadcrumbs about backstories ... they land maybe harder than they intend.” (11:56)
• Glenn Weldon: “It does raise the issue of, for example, suicide, and it doesn’t do it in a sustained enough way ... it’s taking the tone of the show, and it’s a gravity sink.” (13:24)
• Jeff Yang: Raises concerns about the show's suitability for younger viewers and the challenge of addressing serious topics within a surreal animated comedy. (14:00)

6. Voice Cast & Character Chemistry (14:44–17:36)

• Deep praise for the ensemble, especially Eliza Coupe (Catherine), Will Forte (Nathan), Skyler Gisondo (Ben), Natalie Palamides (Esther), and Jimmy Simpson (Abaddon).
• Glenn Weldon: “Skyler Gisondo ... plays this hapless kid who’s surrounded by dark stuff who just keeps his head up.” (15:21)
• Walter Chow: “Skyler Gisondo in many ways is mine. I really adore him. I love his timing, his delivery ... every line delivery is gold for me.” (15:32)
• Jeff Yang: Celebrates the sibling dynamic and Jimmy Simpson’s “Stewie from Family Guy” vibe as Abaddon. (16:38)

7. Favorite Jokes & Easter Eggs (17:37–18:54)

• The panel delights in the density of horror nods (Chucky, Cthulhu, Donald Sutherland references), meta jokes, and sharp dialogue.
• Walter Chow: Recalls a standout joke: “Ben’s having ghost sex with his ghost girlfriend … Abaddon says, I know nine easier ways to get bones. And I’m haunted because I could only come up with five.” (18:30)

8. Final Thoughts & Recommendations (18:54–19:13)

• Despite reservations, all panelists recommend checking out Haunted Hotel for its mix of clever gags, impressive cast, and genre affection, while recognizing its unevenness and tonal risks.
• Walter Chow (19:11): “Such a pleasure.”
• Jeff Yang (19:12): “Always the best.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Glenn Weldon, on Eliza Coupe: “There is a cheat code to my heart, and her name is Eliza Coupe. I am helpless before her.” (07:05)
• Jeff Yang, on the show's tone: “It’s a bit of a watch at your own risk … not sure this is necessarily a show I’d want to have like a sub 13 in the co-pilot seat watching with me.” (04:40)
• Walter Chow, on horror references: “There’s this Shrekian endorphin rush from being the most irritating fan in the audience. That part appeals to me.” (05:15)
• Jeff Yang, about the thematic tension: “We’re not going to take anything seriously, but at the same time, we also want to have you feel like we’re being honest and serious and authentic enough to address some stuff, which, frankly, is a big enough issue …” (14:00)
• Walter Chow, on the “nine easier ways to get bones” joke: “I’m haunted because I could only come up with five.” (18:30)

Key Timestamps

• 02:48 – Guests introduced
• 04:00–07:05 – First impressions & horror references
• 08:44–09:01 – Supernatural rules (“rock, paper, scissors” logic)
• 11:53–14:44 – Handling of deeper themes & trauma
• 15:32–16:38 – Praise for Skyler Gisondo & cast chemistry
• 18:30–18:54 – Panel’s favorite jokes/Easter eggs

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Pop Culture Happy Hour brings its signature mix of affection, critique, and pop-savvy context to Haunted Hotel. The hosts are engaged, candid, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—as apt to swoon over Eliza Coupe’s nuanced performance as they are to dissect the ethics of tackling trauma in animation. Ultimately, the show emerges as a fun, referential, ambitious—if wobbly—contender in the adult animated field: recommended with caveats, and a hope for even sharper future seasons.

For more recommendations and discussion, find the show on Facebook at facebook.com/PCHH.