New Year, Same Chaos: 2023 Superlatives, Golden Globes Drama & Concerning Airplane Stories

Gather round homies, a new Easily Entertained episode dropped. And this week we begin with a bit of a venting session...with a little something to do with the most ridiculously lavish Bora Bora influencer trips (*ahem, Tarte*).

Host Maddy McClain shares this week's pop culture news including a major class action lawsuit against popular dating apps and legal battles involving P. Diddy that could very much be the final nail in the proverbial coffin.  And a Florida town leans into the state stereotype, the Florida Man, by hosting the first ever Florida Man Games. It's as bizarre and perfect as it sounds.

Then, we're breaking down the latest episodes from Love is Blind Season 6 including the alleged rumors regarding secret relationships & more.  Whether you've watched the show or not, there's MUCH to be learned about human behavior...and it's entertaining of course.

Cheers homies! Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts and on IG @easilyentertainedpod 🤠

10:43 Lawsuits: Dating Apps + P. Diddy

24:48 Florida Man Games

31:13 Love is Blind Season 6: A Rollercoaster

Sources mentioned / used:
- Diddy Sued by Producer of Alleged Assault (NBC News)
- Sean Diddy Combs Sued by Producer (Pitchfork)
- Sean Combs Sued by Producer of Alleged Sexual Misconduct (The New York Times)
- Match Group (Tinder, Hinge, Match) Hit with Class Action Lawsuit (NPR)
- Tinder Hinge Dating App Lawsuit (Washington Post)
- Florida Man definition (Urban Dictionary)
- Florida Joins In on the Joke with Florida Man Games (The New York Times)
- Love is Blind Season 6 Cast Allegations (US Weekly)

A very special and very fun episode this week, catching you up on all things Bachelor Nation with host Maddy McClain's very best childhood friend, Caroline Sandall! Say VERY one more time :)
The Bachelor franchise has been resusitated with Joey as the leading man and we give our very candid thoughts on episodes 1-5, leading up to the Montreal trip. Everything from our top 4 picks for Joey to the best Bachelorettes in franchise history...to the drama on camera & off.
Host Maddy McClain covers the pop culture news of the week and provides an astrology tidbit because she can't help herself. Hear that and so much more this week on Easily Entertained!

Cheers homies! Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod

Resources/Sources mentioned:
- Why Astrologers Are Rejoicing (Today)
- How Tom Sandoval Became the Most Hated Man in America (The New York Times)
- Nick Viall & Patti Stanger's New Show (Variety)
- Bachelor Recap: Disrespectful Drama (Vulture)
- The Bachelor's Maria Georgas Recalls Nearly Dying in Car Accident (Y! News)

Happy Valentine's Week, homies! This episode we're covering everything the Super Bowl gifted us with this week, largely from a pop culture standpoint (NFL has you covered on the dirty deets). We're talking the strangest Super Bowl prop bets including the infamous Drake Curse, commercials, halftime performance and yes, Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift.

Bach Nation news regarding the Golden variety is shared and discuss why host Maddy McClain thinks this may be the last season of Vanderpump Rules. And in honor of the day of love, Maddy giving us a storytime treat of her very worst date ever...that happens to take place in a stadium.

Cheers homies! Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod and share with a friend 🤠

Resources/Sources:
- Nickelodeon Super Bowl broadcast (The Guardian)
- The Weirdest and Silliest Super Bowl 2024 Prop Bets (The Athletic)
- Super Bowl 2024 Coverage (The New York Times)
- Drake Wins $2.3M To Give Away to Lucky Fan (People)
- Beyonce Announces New Album, Part II (Pitchfork)

This was a doozy of an episode homies. Join host Maddy McClain and guest cohost (and brother / musician of @TheSometimesIsland) Matt Blankenship Jr for your entertainment news breakdown. There's a CHEEKY piece of news that is NSFW to begin with, so please skip to minute 12 if you'd rather avoid :) One that has to do with our good friend Drake.
Elmo's X/Twitter account lead to the internet dumping on the Sesame Street social media account and people are wearing Apple's new Vision Pro headset to courtside NBA games...
And of  course, we cover all things Grammys 2024 including first-time award winner, Miley Cyrus, Killer Mike's arrest and album announcements. Among other things, all with a musician's perspective!

Enjoy homies, cheers! Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod 😜

Sources / articles mentioned:
- Apple Vision Pro (The New York Times)
- Elmo How Are You Doing Twitter (Hollywood Reporter)
- Jay Z Grammy Award Speech (YouTube)
- Grammys 2024 Complete List (The New York Times)
- Stiff Person Syndrome (Yale Medicine)
- Killer Mike Grammys Arrest (Variety)

This week, we're covering the Mean Girls reboot, Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce's epic pop culture crossover in which dads, brads and chads are colliding with universal swifties and girlies n’ the gays…bringing a whole bunch of unlikely cast of characters together under one giant football dome/roof (while also essentially being crowned America's homecoming king & queen). Not to mention Taylor Swift's recent legal scares with a stalker and deepfake photos.

Host Maddy McClain breaks down the ongoing controversy between rappers Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion and the very questionable diss tracks, internet rants & low blows between the two.

We're covering all things new in pop culture to help you choose your next binge or Spotify playlist inspo.

As always, cheers & enjoy homies! 🤠 Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod & TikTok @maddyiseasilyentertained

00:38 Review of the New Mean Girls Reboot

07:51 Elon Musk's Neuralink and Twitter X

12:14 New Releases in Music, TV, and Movies

18:53 Deep Dive into Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey's Relationship

22:55 Travis Kelsey's Reality TV Dating Show

25:36 Exes Commenting on Taylor Swift's Relationship

30:42 Parasocial Relationships and the Metaverse

36:21 Taylor Swift's Stalker and Deepfake Scandal

39:54 Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion's Beef

Sources mentioned/used:
- The Travis Kelce Reality TV Dating Show He Doesn’t Want You to See (Vanity Fair)
- Taylor Swift's Stalker Arrested in NYC (USA Today)
- Taylor Swift Fake Nude Deepfake Goes Viral on X (NBC News)
- Why Britney Publicly Supported Justin Timberlake's New Single (People)
- Super Bowl 2024 Guide - 49ers vs. Chiefs (Time)
- Nicki Minaj Megan Thee Stallion Beef Explained (Washington Post)

In this week's episode, host Maddy McClain discusses an array of pop culture topics including the new season of The Bachelor, Oscar nominations & snubs, an upcoming Vanderpump Rules spinoff, and Kim Kardashian's controversial Balenciaga ambassadorship. 

We'll chat one of TikTok's favorite new phrases, the Burnt Toast Theory, coupled with a an example of her own burnt toast. From most common Bachelor jobs to those most likely to make it to the end (a la The Hustle, Hubspot's newsletter)...we're covering it all! 

Cheers & enjoy homies! 🤠 Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod & TikTok @maddyiseasilyentertained

09:48 Pop Culture Updates: Oscar Nominations, The Valley, Vanderpump Rules, Kim K

25:34 The Bachelor Contestant Analysis

38:04 Job Statistics of Bachelor Contestants

Sources mentioned / used:
- Bachelor / Bachelorette jobs & profession stats (The Hustle)
- Oscars Nominations 2024 (The New York Times)
- The Valley, a Vanderpump Rules Spinoff (People)
- Ryan Gosling's Oscars Statement (CNN)

This week, we're covering the marathon of an awards season including Critic's Choice Awards and The Emmys but mostly the entertaining internet moments throughout the shows...like the food served to the celebs & awkward moments.

Coachella 2024 lineup is out and host Maddy McClain has a bone to pick about it. Followed by the latest TikTok saga and the world's longest cruise on Royal Caribbean that many are following along like a reality TV show. Can't blame 'em!

Gypsy Rose has been all over headlines & social media after her release from prison and we're feeling conflicted about it...whether you know the story or not, come listen to the latest updates and it's similarity to another case: Maya Kowalski.

TLDR - prepare to be entertained, homies. Cheers! Follow on IG @easilyentertainedpod

07:14 Critics Choice Awards Recap

12:57 Emmys Recap

17:02 Music Festival Lineups: Coachella vs Bonnaroo

22:38 The World's Longest Cruise: A TikTok Reality Show

29:22 The Gypsy Rose Blanchard Case

36:02 The Maya Kowalski Story

Sources mentioned/used:
- Emmys 2024 Winners & Losers (New York Times)
- Critics Choice Awards (EW.com)
- World's Longest Cruise (CNN Travel)
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard - People Cover Story

We are BACK, homies. This week we cover the latest news in this New Year including Alaska Airlines' terrifying Boeing mishap and contrastingly, the wild fun fact about those celebrating the new year in NYC...the more you know.

The 2024 Golden Globes made headlines for quite a few reasons and we're here to talk all about it. From comedian Jo Koy's hosting gig & monologue that didn't appear to really...read the audience right. The internet stirred up potential drama between none other than Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner & Timothee Chalamet. Sounds like a fever dream.

Host Maddy McClain covers the Golden Globes winners as well as upcoming awards show nominees for SAG Awards, Emmys and finally...

Easily Entertained's very own 2023 Superlatives:  Most Unexpected Couple, Best Album Released in 2023, Most Unexpected Cancellation & Reality TV Scandal of the Year. 

4:01 Golden Globes 2024: The Drama and the Winners

08:22 Airplane Incidents: A Terrifying Start to the Year

15:04 Golden Globes 2024: The Host Controversy

22:52 Golden Globes 2024: Winners and Losers

30:21 SAG Awards 

32:14 2023 SUPERLATIVES

Cheers homies!!! Follow on IG @easilyentertained & TikTok @maddyiseasilyentertained 🪩🤠

Sources mentioned/used:
- Alaska Airlines Plane Door Incident (Slate)
- Alaka Airlines Teenage Passenger  (CBS News)
- Golden Globes 2024 (Variety)
- Jo Koy Golden Globes Monologue (CBS News, YouTube video)
- Oxford's 2023 Word of the Year
- Biggest Celebrity Controversies 2023 (Today)

This week on Easily Entertained, host Maddy McClain and returning guest Matt Blankenship Jr. take a breezy, humorous, and occasionally perplexing ride through recent pop culture happenings. And play silly little games as silly little geese do.

From Kanye West's (Ye) latest controversial antics to the peculiar sponsorship names of college football bowl games, it's a bit of a pop culture/entertainment mixed bag. Adam Neumann's latest venture takes WeWork to the apartment rental space...and it's giving Billy McFarland & Fyre Fest.

Join us playing 'Yeah No, or No, Yeah', a silly little game approving or shading the latest trends like shaved eye brows and the no-pants look.

Finally, we play a game guessing the sponsors behind the many bizarre football championship bowl game names. Like the male verison of naming nail polish TBH. As always, enjoy homies! 🤠

Follow us on IG, @easilyentertainedpod!

00:16 Introduction and Entertaining Banter (just let me have it)
06:23 Pop Culture News Nuggets
32:15 Yeah No or No Yeah Game
41:17 Surprise Quiz Segment
58:16 Matthew Perry's Cause of Death Revealed

Resources mentioned:
- Adam Neumann's Mystery Startup (Business Insider)
- Ranking All 41 Bowl Game Names (The Athletic)

In this week's episode of Easily Entertained, your host and pop culture sherpa, Maddy McClain dives deep into the 'Reality Reckoning' discussing the psychosocial elements and the impact of reality TV on its viewers and stars. 

We follow Bethenny Frankel, former Real Housewife of New York who is leading the charge for a deeper look into the handlings of reality TV stars & production. From the Vanity Fair exposé to the recent ABC special, she and other costars are sharing their experiences in hopes to create a safer workplace. 

From there, we're discussing the influence of reality TV, the exploitation of reality TV stars and debates the hints of a potential unionization for reality stars, including those from Vanderpump Rules, Love is Blind, Bachelor and more.

Of course, a bit of pop culture news & tidbits alongside the usual unpretentious, humor of being Easily Entertained.

Enjoy homies!

Resources mentioned:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-them-or-leave-them/202307/why-we-love-to-hate-reality-tv-contestants
- https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/10/real-housewives-bravo-reckoning