Pop Xulture Newsletter # 31
Xollection Machine: Tech, Rock Genres, Universal Fan Fest Nights, SNL. 2/24/25
In this edition of Xollection Machine, I’ve curated some fun and interesting material for you. But first, a bit about what I’ve been working on.
Xurrent News
In the last newsletter I mentioned writing for Christ and Pop Culture’s (CAPC) year end lists. I contributed to CAPC’s Favorite TV of 2024 about Amazon Prime’s Fallout and CAPC’s Favorite Music of 2024 about the band While She Sleeps’ music video “To the Flowers.”
Additionally, with the release of Apple TV’s Severance, Season 2, I wrote a spoiler-free synopsis of Severance, Season 1. I tied it to one of Jesus’ parables that I’ve realized many Christians don’t know is foundational to our faith. You can read the article “Severance, Season 1 and the Christian’s Basic Responsibility” here.
Xollection Machine
1. Houses of the Unholy Graphic Novel
I mentioned Peacock’s Hysteria! in the last Halloween Newsletter, but was simultaneously reading the new graphic novel Houses of the Unholy which is also based on the Satanic Panic of the late ’80s. I’d agree with most other reviewers that I expected more from the creative team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (see Opus’ review here). For a graphic novel Satanic Panic fix, I suggest The Department of Truth instead.
2. SetUpSpawn Instagram
Matty McTech has tons of videos about technology, here are a few:
I’m not a gamer but here are some cool sites, including one that gives you the current, cheapest cost of any game.
Computer tricks, including creating invisible folders.
Top 3 “curing boredom” sites of 2024, including a Google Earth flight simulator in any plane.
3. Identifying Rock Music Genres
Ryan Wasoba is a genius music theorist and super funny. Here is his all-encompassing guide to identifying every genre of rock music.
4. Universal “Fan Fest Nights”
Universal Studios Hollywood is doing “Fan Fest Nights” from April 25-May 18th (2025). I spoke in depth to customer service reps and learned:
Your ticket gets you into the park in the afternoon (priced tiers for early entry) and the event runs until 2am.
Every night has the same attractions (so you won’t miss anything), some of which are being flown in from other Universal theme parks!
Experiences from properties: Back to the Future, Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo World.
Want more details? Leave a message on this post!
5. Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary Documentaries
I’ve been enjoying some new behind the scenes documentaries on the iconic sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) produced by Peacock:
Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music – The first five minutes have a music montage that is absolutely incredible!
SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night – A fascinating 4-episode series exploring the secretive audition process, a week in the writer’s room, and a deep dive into the show’s most famous sketch: “More Cowbell,” among many other things.
Additionally, I wrote an article on the recent biopic Saturday Night, which you can read here.
Xoncluding Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this list! I’ve got more exclusive stuff planned for you, including WonderCon 2025 coverage and a mini article on the weird, unknown story of muzak. Thanks for reading!
Thanks, in Him,
-Chris (the Bearded Wonder) Fogle