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The following podcast contains explicit language.

I'm Stephen Metcalf, and this is the Slate Culture Gap Fest. From now on, this Gap Fest is a

space for Silent Reflection Edition. It's Wednesday, January 15th, 2014. On today's show, True Detective is a sinuous and cunning new show from HBO starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. And then, IFC, Will Farrell, and Funny or Die team up for the spoils of Babylon, a parody of the old 70s miniseries. And finally, we discussed the startling absence of black performers at the top of 2013's Billboard charts with the music critic Chris Malanthe.

Joining me today is Slate's deputy editor Julia Turner.

Hello, Julia.

Hi, Steve.

You look like you slept for two straight months.

Man, he's just glowing.

I'd call it seven hours, but I'll take it.

Exactly.

New parent speak right there.

And then, of course, Slate's film critic, Dana Stevens.

Hey, Dana.

Hey, Steve. I look like I slept for two and a half hours, which I did. That's a reverse cavil there. Oh, man, that's tough. All right. Well, why don't we dig in right away with True Detective? It's the new HBO series. at stars, as I said, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

There's a couple of Louisiana cops trying to solve a murder.

The twist in the show is... It's the new HBO series. It stars, as I said, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

There's a couple of Louisiana cops trying to solve a murder. The twist in the show is that it toggles back and forth between 1995 when theirs was a hot case to 2012 when it's gone quite cold.

...