The Mortified Guide Season 1 Episode 5 The Mortified Guide to Pop Culture

The Mortified Guide season 1 episode 5, titled "The Mortified Guide to Pop Culture," delves into the awkward and cringe-worthy moments of growing up while being obsessed with pop culture. Hosted by Dave Nadelberg, the episode features a series of interviews with people who share their personal stories of how they were influenced by music, movies, TV shows, and celebrities.

The episode begins with Dave introducing the theme by sharing his own embarrassing story about being a hardcore Michael Jackson fan. He then sits down with guest Eric, who shares his journal entries from his "boy band phase" where he wrote about NSYNC and Backstreet Boys constantly. Eric's obsession with pop culture even led him to create his own band, named the "Un-Touchables."

Next, the episode features Sarah, who reveals the diary entries she wrote while obsessing over the early 2000s teen drama "Dawson's Creek." Her entries include her crush on the character Pacey, her frustration with the character Jen, and her off-base predictions about the show's future. Sarah acknowledges how her love for "Dawson's Creek" gave her a safe space to explore her emotions and sexuality as a young teenager.

The episode then shifts to the music industry as host Dave sits down with musician Rachel Yamagata, who talks about how music has influenced her life and work. Rachel shares some of the songs that helped her feel less alone while growing up and how she channels those emotions into her own music. She also shares personal stories about some of her heroes, including Prince and Leonard Cohen.

In the next segment, the episode focuses on the impact that celebrities can have on our lives. Dave sits down with Jamie, who recounts the experience of meeting her childhood idol, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, when she was a teenager. Jamie was completely starstruck and shares the anxiety and excitement she felt leading up to the moment. She also talks about how meeting JTT helped her appreciate herself more, despite feeling like an outsider growing up.

Finally, the episode wraps up with a conversation with comedian Casey Ley, who talks about how he turned to pop culture as an escape during difficult times growing up. Casey shares stories about staying up late to watch reruns of "Roseanne" and "Designing Women" and how the characters in those shows became a source of comfort for him. He also explains how he uses his love for pop culture in his comedy and how it helps him connect with his audience.

Overall, "The Mortified Guide to Pop Culture" is a fun and entertaining episode that explores the ways in which music, TV shows, and celebrities can shape our identities and influence our lives. The stories shared by the guests are relatable and heartfelt, and will likely resonate with viewers who have also experienced the ups and downs of being a pop culture fanatic.