Stephen King's The Pop of King EW Column: 2005

Stephen King's The Pop of King EW Column: 2005

Author: Bloody FM March 7, 2026 Duration: 2:06:10
In June 2023, The Losers' Club began discussing Stephen King's EW column The Pop of King on their Patreon. What was initially going to be one full-length episode has since become a subsection of The Stephen King Archives that sees the gang dedicating one episode to one full year's worth of columns from King. What started with 2003/2004 -- an episode we unlocked for you last year (look it up) -- has since grown to four more installments, the latest being on 2008. Today, we're dusting off the second of five episodes in the series as a way to shed light on this project. So, in this episode, which was recorded way, way back in 2024, Randall Colburn, Rachel Reeves, Dan Pfleegor, and Justin Gerber dial things back to 2005 and zero in on King's comically acerbic reviews, recommendations, and takedowns to discuss how that era of culture resonates now. Topics include King's prophetic belief that stars don't sell movies, stories do, his bizarre hatred of DVD extras, his warning to the creators of Lost to not fuck up the ending (lol), his complicated thoughts about the work of Bret Easton Ellis, his annoyance with fancypants critics and their disdain of popular fiction, and his favorite (and our favorite) movies, books, and music of 2005. Want more? Become a member of The Barrens -- patreon.com/thebarrens -- to digest all of The Pop of King (so far) and stay tuned for more episodes as time wastes away and makes us all old.

For anyone who’s ever gotten lost in the sprawling, interconnected universe of Stephen King, there’s a dedicated and surprisingly fun guide waiting for you. That guide is The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast, an award-winning weekly series from Bloody FM. Since 2017, this podcast has served as a chronological deep-dive into King’s entire bibliography, from Carrie to the latest release. But it’s far from a dry literary analysis. The hosts-the self-proclaimed Losers-approach each book, film, and adaptation with a blend of genuine critical insight and warm, irreverent humor. They’re the kind of fans who can passionately debate the themes of The Dark Tower while also laughing about the author’s famously unpredictable Twitter presence. When you listen, you’re essentially pulling up a chair to a lively, informed conversation among friends who love this world as much as you do. Episodes regularly feature deep discussions that read between the iconic pages, but they also keep you updated on everything happening in King’s Dominion. That means breaking down the latest Hollywood headlines about adaptations, parsing through his endless forthcoming projects, and examining how his vast body of work intersects with broader arts, film, television, and even history. It’s a comprehensive and consistently engaging resource for both the Constant Reader and the newly curious, making the immense landscape of King’s imagination feel a little more like home. This podcast has built a community around a shared obsession, one detailed and delightful episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Pop of King: 2009 (Patreon Clip) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:12
The Losers continue their coverage of Stephen King's Entertainment Weekly column The Pop of King. This episode centers around his 2009 articles, which include: musings on 24, torture, Breaking Bad, his budding screen add…
Peter Straub 101: Intro for Constant Readers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:21
The Summer of Straub begins! With Other Worlds Than These, the third Talisman novel, hitting bookshelves this October, the Losers will be taking some time to familiarize any new Constant Readers with the works of Stephen…
The Definitive Stephen King Book Ranking: #34-29 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:50
Behold, The Definitive Stephen King Book Ranking! This year, the Losers are counting down Stephen King's published novels -- specifically, novels (no collections) -- from worst to best. Before July bleeds into August, th…
Stephen King Dollar Baby Deep Dive: “I Know What You Need” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:47
In a new series, the Losers will be exploring the Dollar Baby world by interviewing filmmakers who’ve been through the process. In this episode, we begin with our very own Julia Marchese who adapted the Night Shift tale…
The Stacks: What We're Reading in July 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:34
Randall, Jenn, and Justo dive deep into The Stacks to discuss what they’re reading and binging, but first they preview upcoming horror books about man-eating wasps, witches, death fugues, and underwater cults from Chuck…
The Definitive Stephen King Book Ranking: #40-35 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:06
Behold, The Definitive Stephen King Book Ranking! This year, the Losers are counting down Stephen King's published novels -- specifically, novels (no collections) -- from worst to best. To cap off June, the Losers crack…
Dennis Etchison's The Mist (Patreon Clip) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:14
Did you know author Dennis Etchison was the first to take a crack at adapting The Mist for the silver screen? In our latest exclusive episode to The Barrens, the Losers explore this curious artifact and weigh in on the w…
Stephen King Summer Road Trip: What's the Best Town? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:31
It's always a cruel summer, but 2026 is about to get crueler. The Losers hit the road to visit all the towns in King's Dominion. Derry, Castle Rock, Ludlow, Boulder, the list goes on. They've got miles to drive and so ma…
Stephen King's Garbage Truck - Spring 1969 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:52
The Losers put on their cardigans and hit the college campus to take a closer look at Stephen King's college column, King's Garbage Truck. The series was published in The Maine Campus from February 20, 1969 to May 21, 19…