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It's Pretty OK

Ep. 392: The Product Review Revue

·46 min·4 clips
Why are millennials the most review-obsessed generation, and what does a new Mario game reveal about that?
The episode begins with Pierce introducing the theme of millennial obsession with reviews, referencing Aziz Ansari's book 'Modern Romance'. Kevin shares two personal examples: looking up an IGN review for a new Mario game and skipping to the score, and checking a progressive metal album review that lacked a score. Sean contrasts his use of Kirkus Reviews' star system for books with Pitchfork's notorious scoring for music, explaining how these serve as trust filters. The conversation shifts to practical items like garden hoses, with Max noting the difference between retailer-vetted products and online reviews. They discuss Amazon's dual role as a retailer and advertising platform, questioning the reliability of its reviews. Max brings up using reviews for travel decisions like restaurants and hotels, blending objective and subjective evaluation. The hosts muse on the paradox of having more consumption options than ever while feeling pressure to make validated choices. Sean emphasizes the importance of context, citing examples from cooking blogs and movie reviews. The episode includes a segment where Pierce shares an anecdote about a Mellow Mushroom without an ABC license, and they discuss the return of Bomani Jones' podcast. A trivia question reveals the top U.S. retailers by sales, with Costco ranking third. The show ends with updates on the hosts' trivia scores and closing remarks.

As heard by us

A loose, funny argument about why star ratings struggle to compare different kinds of value.

Review culture gets a brisk, conversational workout as It's Pretty OK slides from sponge-shopping and travel planning into the authority people hand over to ratings.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You will hear your review-reading habits get tested against sponges, hotels, hamburgers, video games, and a late swing into trivia scores.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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