Paul Scheer, Jon Wurster, Maria Bamford and more pick what pop culture they’re excited for in 2015
At the end of 2014, The A.V. Club asked writers, directors, actors, musicians, comedians, and gadabouts what piece of pop culture they liked the most in 2014, with two pieces coming out of that query. At that same time, we also asked them what piece or pieces of entertainment they were most excited for in 2015. The first part ran yesterday, and the second half of those answers is below.
Bob Odenkirk of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul
I truly look forward to a Mr. Show 20 year reunion of some type… not sure if that belongs in the ‘pop’ culture arena as it suggests popularity. We are trying to make it happen.
Anders Holm of Workaholics and The Mindy Project
2015 brings us the new Mad Max movie. Crazy dune buggies and assless chaps have returned.
Adam Pally of Happy Endings and The Mindy Project
I’m looking forward to that George Clooney Tomorrowland movie, I think? I don’t know, I got two asshole kids who couldn’t give a shit what Daddy is looking forward to in 2015.
“Weird Al” Yankovic, who requires no introduction
Well, I’m sorry to go once again with such an obvious populist choice, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t fanboy-ing about Star Wars VII. I have extremely high hopes. I’m predicting it will be one of my four favorite Star Wars films ever!
Drew Magary, writer for Deadspin and GQ
In 2015, I look forward to seeing the new Star Wars movie two weeks too late because my kids are holding me back from seeing that shit on time.
Mara Wilson, actress, writer, and Twitter personality
While I never was that into video games, I did always love PC games, and Sierra’s King’s Quests were my first favorites. Now they’re rebooting them, and I’m excited to see how that will go.
On a similar note, my love for Star Wars has waned since my teen years (and since the prequels), but I was happy to hear Rian Johnson would be working on the new ones. I’ve never seen anything of his I haven’t loved.
Kurt Braunohler, comedian and host of The K Ohle podcast
That’s a tough one. There’s so much to look forward to between Star Wars 7, Fast And Furious 7, Jurassic World 7, Terminator 7, and Mission Impossible 5 (they gotta catch up to 7). I guess I’m just really looking forward to a major studio taking a fucking chance and investing in an original idea that’s not a book, comic book, or franchise. But, anyway, does anyone want to look at my Titanic 2 script?
Cameron Esposito, comedian and A.V. Club contributor
I’m really looking forward to the second season of Amazon’s Transparent. The balance that show was able to keep in it’s first season—it’s a half small, personal/half big, universal show—typifies the way we currently watch TV. We want shows that are specific and comforting but also challenging and fresh. I loved the show and loved the characters—some of whom are very unlikeable—especially Jeffrey Tambor’s Maura, who is certainly a woman.
Jessica Chobot, host of Nerdist News and the Bizarre States podcast
The release of Star Wars: Episode VII. Curiosity alone is killing me. Plus, the teaser we got this past November actually looked somewhat decent. Decent enough to have awakened new hope for the franchise. A force from within telling me that maybe, just maybe, Episode VII won’t suck.
Brooks Wheelan, comedian
Star Wars, right? I mean, what if it’s really good?
Hari Kondabolu, comedian
I’m really excited to see ABC’s Fresh Off The Boat, which is a TV show based on Eddie Huang’s memoir of the same name. It’s the first Asian-American focused sitcom since Margaret Cho’s All American Girl 20 years ago. In addition to its historic importance, I’m really looking forward to watching my dear friend Randall Park star as Eddie’s father.
Vanessa Bayer of Saturday Night Live and Above Average’s Sound Advice
The Wet Hot American Summer prequel series on Netflix. I am obsessed with the movie and I am losing my mind just thinking about the series. Should I be in it, you guys? #Vanessa4WHAS2015
Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak
Kroll Show season three! Very few things bring me as much pure, unbridled delight as Kroll Show. If ever I find myself lingering inside the worst parts of my own brain for too long (basically always) I can watch an episode of Kroll Show and be reminded that, although life is ridiculous, everything also has the potential to be hilarious, so fuck it. Also, I think it’s cool that he chose to end the show because I respect people who walk away from things when they’re finished rather than watching their souls shrivel up and die while they wait for them to stop being lucrative and successful, but hey, maybe I’m just projecting here. Kroll Show is funny.
Eddie Pepitone, comedian and actor
I am most looking forward to the return of Downton Abbey. I cannot get enough of Bates being tortured by the world and his beloved Anna. Carson being so dedicated to Grantham is hilarious and the evil Thomas is so delicious.
Michael Maronna of The Adventures Of Danny And Mike
With everything else going on in the world, I feel like a real heel asking for another Star Wars movie. But I’m getting one anyway.
Timothy Showalter of Strand Of Oaks
Star Wars.
Jon Wurster of Superchunk and The Best Show
Star Wars VII. My brother and I walked out of The Empire Strikes Back when it came out and we both look forward to bailing on this next December.
Maria Bamford, comedian
I want all of The Voice contestants to be voices we already know—Mick Jagger, Bono, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Aretha Franklin—and then, have them compete in the areas of cooking, fitness, and mathematics with a final sudden death round of acting.
Josh Horowitz, MTV correspondent and host of the Happy Sad Confused podcast
No pressure, J.J. Abrams but Star Wars: The Force Awakens had better change the course of human history. As Jar Jar Binks might say, meesa can’t wait!
Paul Scheer, comedian, actor, and host of How Did This Get Made?
The easy answer is Star Wars, because you’d have to be a robot to not see that trailer and feel like all is good in the galaxy. The second easiest answer is Better Call Saul, because it’s like your favorite show is coming back in a brand new way; it’s the same but different, kind of like when they replaced the daughter on Roseanne. So I really had to think what is going to bring me the most joy (on a pop culture level) and the answer is simple: Furious 7. Statham, Diesel, Rock, and Kurt Russell? It’s The Avengers without the costumes and way more sweat. No movie does it better then giving you exactly what you want time and time again and this time it’s personal. Get “I don’t have friends, I have family” put on a shirt—it’s the tagline of 2015.
R.L. Stine, author and creator of the Goosebumps series
Star Wars, of course!