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On this week’s episode, the critics discuss They Came Together, a new film from the creators of Wet Hot American Summer, starring Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd. It’s a broad parody of romantic comedies, a genre already replete with self-parody. Next, the gabbers turn to The Leftovers, an HBO adaptation of Tom Perrotta’s 2011 novel, which envisions something like the Rapture—and its bleak suburban aftermath. And finally, the critics turn to ClickHole, the Onion’s new site lampooning clickbait-driven Web culture.

Links to some of the things we discussed this week follow:

• Dana’s review of They Came Together on Slate
• Wet Hot American Summer, directed by David Wain
• This Is Spinal Tap, directed by Rob Reiner
• You’ve Got Mail, directed by Nora Ephron
• Bridesmaids, directed by Paul Feig
• The Apartment, directed by Billy Wilder
• Definitely, Maybe, directed by Adam Brooks
• David Wain on Scriptnotes discusses the making of They Came Together
• The Mindy Project
• Cheers
• The New Girl
• Willa’s review of The Leftovers on Slate
• The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
• Lost, co-created by Damon Lindelof
• HBO’s True Detective
• AMC’s The Walking Dead
• ClickHole, The Onion’s new parody site
• “This Stick Of Butter Is Left Out At Room Temperature; You Won’t Believe What Happens Next,” an early viral ClickHole video

Endorsements:

John: Max Ophuls’ La Ronde (1950), based on Arthur Schnitzler’s fin de siècle “rom-com” play.

Julia: Left Behind, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins’ evangelical series about the Rapture, which provides anthropological and sociological insight into American religious extremism.

Steve: Carl L. Becker’s Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas, in anticipation of the Fourth of July.

Outro: “An American Dream” by Love and Rockets

You can email us at culturefest@slate.com.

This podcast was produced by Ann Heppermann. Our intern is Anna Shechtman.

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