Pop Culture Debate Club with Ronald Young Jr.

Which new classic has become the best Christmas song of all time: All I Want for Christmas Is You or Last Christmas? Writer, journalist, and poet Kyla Marshell is here to argue for Mariah Carey while radio host, music journalist, and documentary producer Jenny Eliscu takes the side of Wham! Kyla says Mariah created a new standard, which is hard to do in any genre. Jenny must admit that All I Want for Christmas Is You is an excellent song but says Last Christmas resonates with all the people for whom the holidays aren’t a joyful time, but does so in an incredibly catchy way. Which way will Ronald Young Jr. rule? The result is a PCDC first!

Which sketch comedy show is better: Saturday Night Live or In Living Color? Writer and performer Carma Anderson says it’s SNL while storyteller and director Jameer Pond votes for In Living Color. Carma says SNL’s longevity is proof of its superiority and argues that it’s produced more stars and has showcased a diverse array of cast members over its 50-year run. Jameer says In Living Color had better quality, brought Black culture into the mainstream, and created cultural icons. After a heated debate, it’s up to Ronald Young Jr. to cast the deciding vote to determine this week’s winner.

Which action movie franchise is better: Mission: Impossible or The Fast and the Furious? Journalist and podcaster Sam Sanders says the answer is The Fast and the Furious while writer Audrey Cleo Yap argues for Mission: Impossible. Audrey likes that the Mission: Impossible franchise centers on Tom Cruise, who she says is the last true action star. Sam prefers that The Fast and the Furious includes an exciting (and ever-expanding) ensemble and argues that the franchise is progressive and continues to evolve with each subsequent film. Ronald Young Jr. considers their arguments and renders his verdict in the debate over which franchise is better.

This week, we’re sharing a special show called Born To Love. It’s hosted by Ellie Kemper (from The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and her fantastically funny friend, Scott Eckert. And on this show, people talk about what they love and only what they love! 

Every week, Ellie and Scott sit down with a special guest, and the whole episode is focused on that guest’s secret passion, their favorite hobby, or just whatever makes them light up. These are the kinds of conversations where you find out a whole new side of people you thought you knew. Like, Jenna Fischer is obsessed with Keanu Reeves movies, Al Roker would give anything for top-notch barbecue — the list goes on! 

Which classic Tom Hanks movie would you rather re-watch: A League of Their Own or Apollo 13? Normally, the co-hosts of the Born to Love podcast are the best of friends, but this week Ellie Kemper and Scott Eckert take a turn as rivals with Ellie arguing for A League of Their Own and Scott taking up for Apollo 13. Ellie says that A League of Their Own is a delightful ensemble film that offers laughs, tears, and even some American history while Scott points out that Apollo 13 includes both tragedy and triumph and was the role that changed the course of Tom Hanks’s career. Which film will Ronald Young Jr. choose to re-watch? His decision settles the debate at the end of the show.