Jonathan Larson’s Rent premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The modern rock-opera take on Puccini’s La Boheme instantly captivated critics and audiences alike, bringing much-needed attention to the devastating AIDS crisis, inner-city class warfare, drug addition, and featuring bold and unabashed queer characters and storylines. While Larson tragically died the night before the show debuted, his masterpiece would go on to run on Broadway for 12 years, win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical, gross hundreds of millions of dollars, and create a whole new crop of Broadway stars out of much of its original cast. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the ground-breaking show, so join the Great Pop Culture Debate as we attempt to name the Best Song from Rent.

Songs discussed: “La Vie Boheme,” “Will I?” “Today 4 U,” “Out Tonight,” “Rent,” “One Song Glory,” “Goodbye Love” “What You Own,” “Take Me Or Leave Me,” “Santa Fe,” “Without You,” “Tango: Maureen,” “Seasons of Love,” “Another Day,” “Light My Candle,” “I’ll Cover You”

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Bob Erlenback, Curtis Creekmore, and Joelle Boedecker as they discuss and debate 16 of the most powerful songs from this modern Broadway classic.

For the warm-up, in which the panel discusses every song from Rent that did NOT make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast.

To see a video version of the debate, subscribe to our page on YouTube.

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Bob Erlenback, Curtis Creekmore, Joelle Boedecker

Edtor: Bob Erlenback

Intro/Outro Music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

#rent #rentbroadway #rentmusical #musicals #broadway #broadwaymusicals #seasonsoflove #outtonight #lavieboheme #laboheme #idinamenzel #anthonyrapp #tayediggs #jesselmartin #adampascal #jonathanlarson #tonyaward #pulitzerprize #dramadesk

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Great Pop Culture Debate host Eric Rezsnyak explains how we created the bracket for our Winter 2026 special devoted to the best songs from the award-winning Broadway musical, "Rent," will will celebrate its 30th anniversary this week. Walk through the Round 1 match-ups and see which songs made the cut. The main episode will release on Tuesday, January 20, wherever you listen to podcasts.

And if you love pop culture, ⁠⁠⁠sign up for our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠ to keep up on all the new movies, music, and TV shows dropping every week!

CREDITS:

Intro/outro music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

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While many reality TV competitions become stale as the years go on, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has continually reinvented itself and raised the bar on next-level drag. That’s especially true of its lipync battles, which often determine which queen stays and which sashays away. Since 2020 there have been, conservatively, more than 100 lipsyncs between “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Original Recipe seasons 12 through 17, and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” seasons 5 through 10. And some of those have become truly iconic. So join the Great Pop Culture Debate for this special Patreon-sponsored episode as we attempt to name the Best Drag Race Lipsync from 2020 to 2025.

Lipsyncs discussed: “Boss Bitch” (Anetra v. Marcia Marcia Marcia,” “APT” (Suzie Toot v. Kori King), “Firework” (Jackie Cox v. Widow Von’Du), “Physical” (Laganja Estranja v. Trinity K. Bonet), “Padam Padam” (Nymphia Wind v. Sapphira Cristal), “Designing Women” (Monet X Change v. Jinkx Monsoon), “100% Pure Love” (Denali v. Kahmora Hall), “Barbie Girl” (Silky Nutmeg Ganache v. Herself), “Phone” (Ginger Minj v. Mayhem Miller), “Body” (Morphine Love Dion v. Dawn), “Dirrrty” (Kylie Sonique Love v. Manila Luzon), “Starships” (Widow Von’Du v. Gigi Goode), “I’m in Love with a Monster” (Sasha Colby v. Anetra), “Old MacDonald” (Shea Coulee vs. Monet X Change), “Radio” (Angeria Paris VanMichaels v. Jorgeous v. Lady Camden), “Knock On Wood” (Sasha Colby v. Anetra)

Join host Eric Rezsnyak, Patreon sponsor Kathy Kingsley, and GPCD panelists Curtis Creekmore and Karissa Kloss as they discuss and debate 16 of the most jaw-dropping lipsync battles in “Drag Race” herstory. To listen to the panelists discuss even more "Drag Race" lipsyncs, become a Patreon sponsor of the podcast today.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Curtis Creekmore, Karissa Kloss

Patreon Sponsor & Guest Panelist: Kathy Kingsley

Producer: Bob Erlenback

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Intro & Outro Music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.