Cultured | Hollywood for Smart People artwork

Cultured | Hollywood for Smart People

85 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratings

Nico is on a mission to make entertainment smart again. Stay tuned every week for thought-provoking analysis from the world of movies, television, music and more. It’s time we all became a little more cultured!

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Episodes

A Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot

March 27, 2022 00:18

With the 94th Academy Awards rapidly approaching, Nico shares his brutally honest picks for each of the 23 Oscar categories. Jane Campion seems to be… The post A Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Norm Macdonald Was the Greatest of All Time

September 18, 2021 02:23

Nico celebrates the life of Norm Macdonald and remembers some his brightest moments, including: his years at Weekend Update, his return to SNL, his spots… The post Norm Macdonald Was the Greatest of All Time appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Was Donda Too Over-Hyped?

September 10, 2021 20:20

Cultured is back! And this week, Nico takes on the Internet’s obsession with hype by discussing Kanye West’s Donda and the teaser trailer for Spider-Man:… The post Was Donda Too Over-Hyped? appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

The Warner Media-Discovery Deal, Explained

May 24, 2021 01:44

Nico breaks down everything you need to know about the upcoming merger between Warner Media and Discovery Inc. Plus: the world premiere of the brand… The post The Warner Media-Discovery Deal, Explained appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

On Elon Musk, Dogecoin and Our Ever-Evolving Meme World

May 12, 2021 06:50

Elon Musk hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend, prompting a whole lot of controversy and a whole lot of volatility for Dogecoin. And Nico takes… The post On Elon Musk, Dogecoin and Our Ever-Evolving Meme World appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Anthony Hopkins Beats Chadwick Boseman for Best Actor (And Murders the 2021 Oscars)

April 27, 2021 22:43

Nico breaks down every widescreen frame of the 2021 Academy Awards. Including: Steven Soderbergh’s horrible decision-making, Chadwick Boseman’s painful snub, Anthony Hopkin’s surprise win, Regina… The post Anthony Hopkins Beats Chadwick Boseman for Best Actor (And Murders the 2021 Oscars) appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

I Have an Eating Disorder. And Demi Lovato is Dead WRONG.

April 21, 2021 07:17

This week on Cultured, Nico examines the strange controversy surrounding Demi Lovato and a Los Angeles frozen yogurt shop, while relaying some of his own… The post I Have an Eating Disorder. And Demi Lovato is Dead WRONG. appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

What the HELL is Wrong with Jeopardy?

April 15, 2021 03:58

Aaron Rodgers is guest hosting Jeopardy this week. So, Nico takes the opportunity to explore his haunted childhood and his unhealthy obsession with game shows.… The post What the HELL is Wrong with Jeopardy? appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Black Widow, Disney Plus and the Creeping Normality of the Movie Business

March 30, 2021 23:54

For the first time in over a year, movie theaters are showing signs of hope. Then why did Disney just announce that Black Widow would… The post Black Widow, Disney Plus and the Creeping Normality of the Movie Business appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

What Zack Snyder and Taylor Swift Have in Common

March 24, 2021 00:55

This week on Cultured, Nico assesses the ramifications of #ReleaseTheSnyderCut​. Why does Zack Snyder’s Justice League exist? What does it mean for auteur filmmaking and… The post What Zack Snyder and Taylor Swift Have in Common appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

CULTURED REBOOTS: The 2021 Grammys, Reviewed

March 16, 2021 16:37 - 8 minutes - 6.94 MB

Cultured is now exclusively on YouTube. Watch Nico’s breakdown of the 2021 Grammy Awards here. The post CULTURED REBOOTS: The 2021 Grammys, Reviewed appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #84: Turning the Page on 2020

January 05, 2021 01:21 - 1 hour - 68.4 MB

Nico rings in the New Year with a discussion of where we were and where we’re going in the world of pop culture. Including: how… The post Cultured #84: Turning the Page on 2020 appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #83: Warner Bros. Bombshell, Grammy Nominations and Silly Best of Lists

December 03, 2020 23:34 - 1 hour - 41.5 MB

Nico breaks down the shocking news coming out of Warner Brothers/HBO Max and what it means for movie theaters. Plus: Grammy nominations (32:16) and a… The post Cultured #83: Warner Bros. Bombshell, Grammy Nominations and Silly Best of Lists appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #82: Post-Trump Hollywood and the Legacy of Alex Trebek

November 13, 2020 21:22 - 1 hour - 44.2 MB

Nico reflects on the past four years of movies, television and music and speculates about where headed during the Biden era (1:11). Plus: the incredible… The post Cultured #82: Post-Trump Hollywood and the Legacy of Alex Trebek appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #81: Eddie Van Halen, Barry Jenkins’ Lion King and Fleetwood Mac’s Resurgence

October 09, 2020 20:57 - 49 minutes - 34 MB

Nico eulogizes the late great Eddie Van Halen (2:00). Then: more cinemas close across the county (15:37), Barry Jenkins signs on for a Lion King… The post Cultured #81: Eddie Van Halen, Barry Jenkins’ Lion King and Fleetwood Mac’s Resurgence appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #80: A Very Schitty Emmy Awards and Rolling Stone’s New Top 500 Albums

September 23, 2020 22:54 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

Nico breaks down all the action from this year’s socially-distanced Emmy Awards (1:00) and picks nits with Rolling Stone magazine’s new list of the 500… The post Cultured #80: A Very Schitty Emmy Awards and Rolling Stone’s New Top 500 Albums appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #79: Cuties Causes Controversy, the Oscars Diversify and Tenet Bombs…Hard

September 15, 2020 21:27 - 45 minutes - 30.9 MB

Nico unravels the controversy surrounding Netflix’s French film Cuties (1:46). Then: what to make of the Academy’s new inclusion standards (18:44) and why Tenet’s box office… The post Cultured #79: Cuties Causes Controversy, the Oscars Diversify and Tenet Bombs…Hard appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #78: RIP Chadwick Boseman and the Future of Network TV

September 01, 2020 21:10 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Nico talks about the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman and explains why he was one of our last movie stars (1:10). Then: the key takeaways… The post Cultured #78: RIP Chadwick Boseman and the Future of Network TV appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #77: The Batman, the Synder Cut and More From the DC FanDome

August 25, 2020 19:56 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MB

Nico rants about superheroes for a half hour—including The Batman, Wonder Woman 1984, The Suicide Squad, The Justice League and everything in-between (0:30). Then: what… The post Cultured #77: The Batman, the Synder Cut and More From the DC FanDome appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #76: Movie Theaters on Life Support, WarnerMedia Bloodbath and WAP

August 12, 2020 19:36 - 51 minutes - 35.5 MB

Nico discusses all the recent news surrounding AMC Theaters, Universal Studios, Disney’s Mulan and the death of cinemas as we know them (6:00). Plus: What… The post Cultured #76: Movie Theaters on Life Support, WarnerMedia Bloodbath and WAP appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #75: Regis, Taylor and Kanye

July 29, 2020 00:26 - 1 hour - 44.2 MB

After many months in cultural exile, Nico returns to discuss the death of his childhood hero (3:42), Taylor Swift’s sublime new album (25:14), the 2020… The post Cultured #75: Regis, Taylor and Kanye appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #74: AMC vs. Trolls 2, RIP Jerry Stiller and Little Richard

May 11, 2020 23:16 - 1 hour - 57.2 MB

Nico discusses the lives and legacies of Jerry Stiller (2:20), Little Richard (9:50) and Roy Horn (14:54). Then, what to make of the catfight between… The post Cultured #74: AMC vs. Trolls 2, RIP Jerry Stiller and Little Richard appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #73: Quibi’s Launch, Louis C.K.’s Return and Coronavirus’s Wrath

April 07, 2020 22:42 - 1 hour - 55 MB

Nico discusses the much-lampooned launch of Quibi (3:44), Louis C.K.’s new stand-up special (29:10) and the continuing impact of coronavirus on the film industry (44:13).… The post Cultured #73: Quibi’s Launch, Louis C.K.’s Return and Coronavirus’s Wrath appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #72: Corona Panic, RIP Max von Sydow and James Lipton

March 10, 2020 22:24 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MB

Nico discusses the Corona virus’s impact on the entertainment industry (8:50) and the deaths of actor Max von Sydow (26:00) and Actor’s Studio founder James… The post Cultured #72: Corona Panic, RIP Max von Sydow and James Lipton appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #71: Bob Iger, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Friends “Reunion”

February 26, 2020 20:28 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MB

Nico breaks down the supposedly shocking exit of Disney CEO Bob Iger (1:13), the miraculous success of Sonic the Hedgehog (22:40), the confusing news of… The post Cultured #71: Bob Iger, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Friends “Reunion” appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #70: Parasite, Stephen A. Smith, Eminem and the Weirdest Oscars Ever

February 10, 2020 19:22 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

Nico talks about the Oscars and giggles like a school girl. For More TMT Shenanigans: toomanythoughtsmedia.com Twitter: @funnynicotweets, @TMT_Media E-mail: [email protected] Subscribe and Rate on Apple Podcasts! The post Cultured #70: Parasite, Stephen A. Smith, Eminem and the Weirdest Oscars Ever appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #69: The 2020 Oscar Preview

February 07, 2020 13:39 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Nico previews the 2020 Academy Awards, including some hot betting tips and a bold prediction in the Best Picture category (3:21). Plus: the death of… The post Cultured #69: The 2020 Oscar Preview appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #68: Oscar Nominations, the Jeopardy GOAT and RIP Buck Henry

January 15, 2020 21:19 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MB

Nico breaks down the relatively satisfying Oscar nominations (0:30), the hugely satisfying Jeopardy Greatest of All Time Tournament and much more from the world of… The post Cultured #68: Oscar Nominations, the Jeopardy GOAT and RIP Buck Henry appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #67: Golden Globes, Bob Dylan Biopic and Obama’s Favorite Movies

January 08, 2020 21:57 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MB

Nico rants about the 77th Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Ricky Gervais, and speculates on what they mean for the Oscar race (1:10). Plus: a… The post Cultured #67: Golden Globes, Bob Dylan Biopic and Obama’s Favorite Movies appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #66: Ode to the 2010s

December 18, 2019 23:48 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

Nico reviews the decade that was in movies (2:29), television (16:04) and music (30:56). For More TMT Shenanigans: toomanythoughtsmedia.com Twitter: @funnynicotweets, @TMT_Media E-mail: [email protected] Subscribe and Rate… The post Cultured #66: Ode to the 2010s appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #65: Golden Globe Nominations and Nostalgic Movie Trailers

December 10, 2019 21:55 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MB

Nico goes in depth on the heavily-criticized list of Golden Globe nominees and what these nominations mean for the impending Oscar race (1:50). Plus, quick… The post Cultured #65: Golden Globe Nominations and Nostalgic Movie Trailers appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #64: A Box Office in Peril, Grammy Nominations and a Joker Sequel

November 20, 2019 22:45 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MB

Nico ponders why three recent franchise reboots–Terminator: Dark Fate, Doctor Sleep and Charlie’s Angels–all bombed at the box office (3:58). Then, a breakdown of the… The post Cultured #64: A Box Office in Peril, Grammy Nominations and a Joker Sequel appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #63: Disney+ Launch, the Mandalorian and James Dean’s Ghost

November 12, 2019 23:08 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Nico breaks down the explosive launch of Disney+ (1:20), the premiere of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (12:48), the controversy surrounding a CGI James Dean (22:35),… The post Cultured #63: Disney+ Launch, the Mandalorian and James Dean’s Ghost appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #62: Apple TV Plus Launch and Scorsese’s NYT Op-ed

November 05, 2019 22:35 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MB

Nico reflects on Apple TV Plus’s weekend launch (1:47) and reviews three of their original series–the Morning Show (11:41), For All Mankind (18:36) and See… The post Cultured #62: Apple TV Plus Launch and Scorsese’s NYT Op-ed appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #61: Jesus is King, Streaming Wars and Game of Thrones News

October 30, 2019 23:46 - 52 minutes - 47.6 MB

Nico reviews Kanye West’s the record Jesus is King and attempts to put it in the context of his sometimes baffling career (3:45). Plus, the… The post Cultured #61: Jesus is King, Streaming Wars and Game of Thrones News appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #60: Watchmen, Coppola vs Marvel and Tarantino vs China

October 22, 2019 17:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MB

Nico reviews the series premiere of HBO’s Watchmen (2:30), weighs in on the insane Francis Ford Coppola/Martin Scorsese/Marvel controversy (21:54), praises Quentin Tarantino for standing… The post Cultured #60: Watchmen, Coppola vs Marvel and Tarantino vs China appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #59: Everything El Camino

October 14, 2019 16:48 - 1 hour - 56.7 MB

Nico assembles the TMT troops (Nick, Adam and Rob) for a roundtable discussion of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. For More TMT Shenanigans: toomanythoughtsmedia.com Twitter: @funnynicotweets,… The post Cultured #59: Everything El Camino appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #58: Joker Backlash, Where’s Kanye? and Kevin Feige

October 03, 2019 21:13 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MB

Nico explains why the criticism surrounding Joker borders on the absurd (1:35), why Kanye’s new Christian phase is totally unsurprising (19:43), why Kevin Feige is… The post Cultured #58: Joker Backlash, Where’s Kanye? and Kevin Feige appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #57: Dave Chapelle, Sticks and Stones and the Nature of Stand-Up Comedy

September 26, 2019 20:04 - 1 hour - 67.6 MB

Nico brings on his buddy Joe to debate Dave Chapelle’s (somewhat) new comedy special Sticks and Stones. Topics discussed include: shock comedy, social justice, free… The post Cultured #57: Dave Chapelle, Sticks and Stones and the Nature of Stand-Up Comedy appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #56: NBC’s Peacock, Streaming Sitcoms and Shane Gillis

September 19, 2019 04:08 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MB

Nico breaks down all the recent developments in the Streaming Wars, including NBC/Universal’s new platform Peacock, Netflix’s acquisition of Seinfeld and HBO Max’s acquisition of the… The post Cultured #56: NBC’s Peacock, Streaming Sitcoms and Shane Gillis appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #55: Apple TV Plus News, Lana Del Ray and Joker’s Oscar Chances

September 10, 2019 22:13 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

Nico breaks down today’s news out of Cupertino, including Apple TV Plus’s launch date and monthly price (0:58). Plus, a review of Lana Del Ray’s… The post Cultured #55: Apple TV Plus News, Lana Del Ray and Joker’s Oscar Chances appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #54: Fall Movie Preview and Dave Chapelle

September 04, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 65.4 MB

Nico previews his top 10 favorite movies of the summer movie season–including Joker, the Irishmen and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. (2:00) Then, what’s… The post Cultured #54: Fall Movie Preview and Dave Chapelle appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #53: Taylor Swift’s Lover, Disney’s D23 Expo and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

August 27, 2019 20:30 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MB

Nico breaks down the bafflingly out-of-touch Video Music Awards (1:37), Taylor Swift’s new record ‘Lover’ (12:32), the biggest Marvel/Star Wars news from Disney’s D23 Expo… The post Cultured #53: Taylor Swift’s Lover, Disney’s D23 Expo and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #52: The Hunt, Spider-Man Leaving MCU and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

August 20, 2019 23:32 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MB

A pneumonia-riddled Nico breaks down a plethora of pop culture news–including, Donald Trump’s reaction to and the subsequent cancellation of Blumhouse’s the Hunt (5:41), Sony taking… The post Cultured #52: The Hunt, Spider-Man Leaving MCU and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #51: Fast and Furious Contracts, Katy Perry’s Legal Battle and New Chance the Rapper

August 07, 2019 01:46 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MB

Nico talks all things Hobbs and Shaw, including the bombshell Wall Street Journal article about its stars (2:10). Then, a breakdown of the copy infringement… The post Cultured #51: Fast and Furious Contracts, Katy Perry’s Legal Battle and New Chance the Rapper appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #50: MCU Phase 4, Emmy Nominations and Cats

July 23, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MB

Nico discusses Marvel’s big Comic Con announcement (1:35), this year’s disappointing Emmy nominations (28:23), the weird and wonderful trailer for Tom Hooper’s Cats (42:39), the… The post Cultured #50: MCU Phase 4, Emmy Nominations and Cats appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #49: Taylor vs Scooter, Spider-Man: Far From Home and HBO Max

July 09, 2019 19:12 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MB

Nico breaks down the Taylor Swift/Scooter Braun/Scott Borchetta controversy in excruciating detail and explains why it’s difficult to take a side (0:43). Then, a review… The post Cultured #49: Taylor vs Scooter, Spider-Man: Far From Home and HBO Max appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #48: The First Half of the Year, the Loudest Voice and Rian Johnson’s Knives Out

July 03, 2019 19:54 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MB

We’re halfway through 2019, and it’s as good a time as ever to reflect on the state of culture. Nico discusses the year’s box office… The post Cultured #48: The First Half of the Year, the Loudest Voice and Rian Johnson’s Knives Out appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #47: Rolling Thunder Revue, Euphoria and a Matrix Reboot

June 24, 2019 21:43 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MB

Nico raves about the Netflix documentary ‘Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese’ and explains what it means for the Dylan mythos… The post Cultured #47: Rolling Thunder Revue, Euphoria and a Matrix Reboot appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

Cultured #46: Jeopardy James’s Defeat, Robert Pattinson as Batman and R.I.P. iTunes

June 04, 2019 22:40 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Nico discusses James Holzhauer’s incredible Jeopardy run and why it’s so profoundly sad to see it end (0:26). Plus: why Robert Pattinson could be a… The post Cultured #46: Jeopardy James’s Defeat, Robert Pattinson as Batman and R.I.P. iTunes appeared first on Too Many Thoughts.

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