On this edition of The Culture Show, Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley, and Lisa Simmons, go over the week’s top arts and culture headlines.

First up, In an era of bloated blockbusters, YouTuber Markiplier bypassed Hollywood entirely, writing, financing, and releasing his sci-fi horror film Iron Lung on his own — and turning a $3 million budget into more than $17 million at the box office.

And, the bots are coming, the bots are coming. Moltbook is a new social platform built entirely for bots — they post, argue, organize, and even police each other, creating a strange, self-contained online culture with no humans at the controls.

Then we remember Woodie King Jr., the pioneering theater producer who spent decades creating space for Black playwrights and performers, launching careers and reshaping American theater through the New Federal Theatre.

We also reflect on the legacy of Demond Wilson who died this week. The actor and writer best known as Lamont on the groundbreaking sitcom Sanford and Son, bringing Black family life and humor into millions of homes.

And we head to Rome; the city introduces a new tourist tax at the Trevi Fountain, putting a modern price tag on the timeless coin toss and giving fresh meaning to “cash flow.”

Finally, Callie recommends the star-studded Super Bowl commercials, with a focus on Dunkin’ ads; Lisa Simmons suggests a Sidney Poitier film festival for Black History Month. “Icons: Poitier” runs at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, “A Warm December” screens at the Somerville Cine-Club, and “In the Heat of the Night” and “Pressure Point” screen at the Somerville Theatre; Jared offers the 100 Year Book Debate at the Boston Public Library,

February 6, 2026 - Week in Review: National Film Registry, an AI social network, and Iron Lung

The Culture Show Podcast