The following podcast contains explicit language.

I'm Stephen Metcalf, and this is the Slate Culture Gab Fest.

You don't get to hate it edition.

It's Wednesday, June 19th, 2019.

On today's show, The Joyously Slick and Pulpy California Noir, Big Little Lies, returns to HBO for Season 2. It was already a star-studied cast.

It's now joined by the star-yest studist of the mall by Merrill Streep. I can't wait to discuss it.

And then the last black man in San Francisco was a darling at Sundance.

It's now being released to theaters.

It's a wise and mournful elegy to a relentlessly gentrifying city.

And at the place its black residents have found and lost within it.

Finally, we're going to discuss for the first time Sims, the video game,

which is in its fourth installment and has been for a while,

but is now available for free on PC, which has led some critics and fans to reflect on its impact.

Joining me today is Marissa Martinelli, who is an editor at Slate.

Marissa, welcome to the program.

Thanks for having me.

Yeah, it's great to have you.

And of course, Willa Paskin is Slate's TV critic.

Willa.

Welcome back.

Hi.

Big Little Lies, Season 1 was a taught funny California noir combined with a school drop-off comedy

...