I just had a very interesting experience with BoJack Horseman, a show that I’ve been hearing about for a long time. The general impression I’ve had has always been that this is something I’d like, but being the busy father of a young child it’s not something I’ve decided to make time for until now.
The reason why I decided to make time for it is that I listen to podcasts on my commute, and Pop Culture Happy Hour is one of my favorites. Today I listened to their their take on the show, and I got really jazzed about it. I fired it up, but I only got about 15 minutes in, and gave up – It just wasn’t something I could care about.
What was interesting was that there were gags and moments that the Pop Culture Happy Hour folks had referenced that I got right away, and from their descriptions seemed really great, but felt incredibly flat and boring to me in the moment.
What I realized is that when I was by-myself-watching the show, it didn’t land for me like it did for them, and what I was missing was their enthusiasm. It was like having read and heard about the Mona Lisa, then realizing when you get to The Louvre that it’s only a couple feet wide and you can only see it from ten yards away.
Not that BoJack Horseman is The Mona Lisa. I think that even BoJack Horseman’s biggest fans would feel weird about drawing that parallel.
There can be an uncomfortably powerful letdown when you end up not liking something that people whose opinions you enjoy and respect really love. I’ll definitely keep listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour and keep making time to check out the things they love, but BoJack just isn’t something I can get onboard with.
A Pun Involving Travel 
Pop Culture Happy Hour did turn me onto https://gimletmedia.com/show/mystery-show/, which I have been really enjoying.
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Pop Culture Happy Hour turned me on to Mystery Show as well, though I knew Starlee from other NPR stints. They’ve turned me on to a lot of great stuff, which was why this BoJack thing was so surprising.
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Yeah same. She was great on that episode of TAL she showed up in first, and I was glad she made her way into producing other episodes. I somehow missed that she had started her own podcast. I don’t remember which of the PCHH guys mentioned it on “what’s making us happy this week”, but he said something like “it can sort of feel like the Starlee Kine is charming and adorable show”, and I was like, LGTM, subscribed.
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Haha, I remember exactly that line – It was Glen Weldon, who I’d plus-mention but… I don’t think he’s on G+? It’s hard to tell.
Hey Pop Culture Happy Hour, get yo folks on G+ already.
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