Popular (TV series)
Popular is an American teenage comedy-drama television series that aired on The WB, created by Ryan Murphy and Gina Matthews, starring Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope as two teenage girls who reside on opposite ends of the popularity spectrum at their high school, but are forced to get along when their single parents meet on a cruise ship and get married. The show was produced by Touchstone Television and ran for two seasons on The WB from September 29, 1999 to May 18, 2001.
Plot
Brooke McQueen and Sam McPherson, students at Jacqueline Kennedy High School, are polar opposites. Brooke is a popular cheerleader and Sam is an unpopular journalist. Their respective groups are forced to socialize when Brooke's father and Sam's mother get engaged and the two girls have to share a house.The plot of the first season revolves around the girls' school life, rival groups of friends, mutual animosity and plan to separate their parents. At the end of the season, Sam finds Brooke's real mother and encourages her to come back to town, which breaks up the engagement and splits the new family apart.
By the second season, Brooke and Sam realize that their parents were happy together, and therefore team up to reunite them, a move which results in the girls slowly becoming close friends, and even referring to each other as "family", though tensions rise when they both get involved with the same boy. Also, a reversal of fortunes takes place, with Brooke resigning from cheerleading to focus on school issues and Sam experiencing a surge of sudden popularity at school. In the end of the second-season finale — which turned out to be the unexpected series finale when the show was cancelled — Brooke is run over by a drunk and angry Nicole Julian.
Characters
Main
- Brooke McQueen
- Samantha "Sam" McPherson
- Lily Esposito
- Harrison John
- Carmen Ferrara
- Josh Ford
- Nicole Julian
- Michael "Sugar Daddy" Bernardino
- Mary Cherry
- Jane McPherson
- Mike McQueen
- Roberta "Bobbi" Glass
Supporting
- Robin John, Harrison's mother
- Poppita "Poppy" Fresh
- April Tuna
- Emory Dick
- Principal Cecilia Hall
- Vice Principal Calvin Krupps
- Wayne Vincent – drama teacher
- Luke Grant – journalist faculty advisor
- "Canada" – humanities teacher
- Francis Peritti – football coach
- Nurse Glass
- Leo Ferrara, Carmen's older brother
- Exquisite Woo, a foreign exchange student and eventual steady girlfriend to Sugar Daddy
- Adam Rothschild-Ryan
- George Austin
- Cherry Cherry
- Jamie Roth
- Freddy Gong
- Vera Krups
- May Tuna
- Clarence
- Godfrey
- Ms. Ross
- Joy Ferrara
- Stone Cold #1
- Stone Cold #2
Episodes
Home media
The complete series of Popular has been released on DVD in region 1 by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The DVD versions of select episodes had to change several songs that were used in the original aired episodes to stock music due to licensing fees. Shows like Daria, Mission Hill, Grosse Pointe and other television series also went through similar situations where their DVD and streaming counterparts used stock music as a replacement in order to cut costs of using other artists' music.| Season | Episodes | Release date |
| 1 | 22 | September 21, 2004 |
| 2 | 21 | March 8, 2005 |
Music
The show's main opening theme was excerpted from the song "Supermodels", a track from indie singer-songwriter Kendall Payne's 1999 album Jordan's Sister. Ending theme song is "High School Highway" by Sydney Forest.Season 1
| Episode # | Title | TV songs | DVD songs | Notes |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | The Dandy Warhols – "Good Morning" | Mark Liggett, Martin Evans – "Something In The Way"
| Beginning of cold opening |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Sydney Forest – "High School Highway" | No change | Opening credits |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Showoff – "Falling Star" | Chris Goulstone – "Let Me Be the One" | In Nicole's car and beginning scene of school setting |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Aretha Franklin – "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" | Music removed | Mr. Vincent commenting on student's singing "Amazing Grace" by saying "Arethra" |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Trio – "Tutti Fruiti" | Steffen Franz – "Beating Azul " | Scene during biology class with frogs |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Gary Glitter – "Rock and Roll, Part Two" | Unknown music or generic cover | Cheerleaders entering the gym |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | E.K.O. – "Keep On Shining" | Thomas Kane, Colin Baldry – "Score" | Cheerleaders' demo routine and tryouts |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Karry Walker – "I Said So" | Unknown music | Mall background music during Carmen and Lily's conversation while browsing clothes |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Mall background music in fitting room area during Brooke and Nicole's conversation |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | The Dandy Warhols – "Cool As Kim Deal" | Unknown music | Sam interviewing random people at mall |
| 1 | "The Phantom Menace" | Sydney Forest – "High School Highway" | No change | Ending credits |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Kendall Payne – "Supermodels" | No change | Opening theme song |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Unknown music | Bryan New – "Teenage Misfit" | Montage of students hanging out at school |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Tom Racer – "Valentine" | "Frequently For Me B" | Sam entering Mr. Grant's office |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Fatboy Slim – "Gangsta Trippin'" | Different unknown music | Nicole checking the guest list outside and beginning scene of party |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Tyrese – "Lately" | Aaron Wheeler & Jayme Tovey – "Better Place" | Sugar Daddy slow dancing with Mary Cherry |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Hole – "Malibu" | Michael Gurley, Billy Lincoln, Kat Green – "Just My Luck" | Josh and Sugar Daddy talking on the phone |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | The Crosswalk – "Brand New" | Unknown music | Sam apologizing to friends at the diner |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Sam and friends crashing Brooke's party |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Parents arrive at the party talking to Brooke and Sam |
| 2 | Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems | Sydney Forest – "High School Highway" | No change | Ending theme song |
| 3 | Under Siege | Ennio Morricone – "Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo " | Roberto Pregadio – "Ballata Per Un Pistolero " | Lily and Ms. Glass' disagreement about frog dissection |
| 3 | Under Siege | Right Said Fred – "Too Sexy!" | No change | Mary Cherry entering school |
| 3 | Under Siege | Curtis Mayfield – "Superfly" | Paul Lenart – "Funky Street " | Lily's 70s' movie daydream in biology class |
| 3 | Under Siege | Yello – "Oh Yeah" | Curtis Schwartz – "Dig This" | Brooke and Nicole waiting in boys' locker room |
| 3 | Under Siege | Zebrahead – "Swing" | Unknown music | Brooke preparing dinner |
| 3 | Under Siege | Modest Mussorgsky – "St. John's Night on Bald Mountain, 'A Night on the Bare Mountain'" | No change | Dinner with Brooke and Sam's parents |
| 4 | Windstruck | Snowboy And The Latin Section – "Mambo for Max" | No change | Sam sitting on Josh's lap during drama practice |
| 4 | Windstruck | Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 – "The Look Of Love" | No change | Sam looking at Josh during classes |
| 4 | Windstruck | Andrea True Connection – "More More More" | Jean-Pierre Fabien – "Soul Brothers" | Sam and Josh dancing in Sam's fantasy |
| 4 | Windstruck | Ludwig van Beethoven – "Symphony No. 5" | No change | Carmen sending an email accidentally to everyone |
| 4 | Windstruck | Nappy Brown – "My Heart Goes Piddily, Patter, Patter" | Sy Gorieb & Mari Falcone – "Pretty Baby " | Brooke sitting next to Harrison in biology class |
| 4 | Windstruck | The Nutty Squirrels – "Uh! Oh!" | Hermann Skibbe – "Swinging" | Mary Cherry running around to talk to Sugar Daddy |
| 4 | Windstruck | Bow Wow Wow – "I Want Candy" | Chris Goulstone – "Rocking Blues " | Boys locker room transitioning to Brooke's bedroom |
| 4 | Windstruck | Remy Zero – "Twister" | Different unknown music | Josh asking Sam to come in journalism room |
| 4 | Windstruck | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Nicole bringing out margarita mix to Brooke near the pool |
| 4 | Windstruck | The Push Stars – "Drunk Is Better Than Dead" | Different unknown music | Nicole and Brooke noticing Harrison from the window next door |
| 4 | Windstruck | Unknown music | Unknown music | Brooke and Harrison talking near the poolside |
| 4 | Windstruck | Robert W Vincent – "Wear You Down " | No change | Drunk Brooke laying on Harrison's lap |
| 4 | Windstruck | Remy Zero – "Twister" | Robert W Vincent – "Wear You Down " | Sam looking at yearbook; Harrison looking over Brooke |
| 4 | Windstruck | Moby – "Inside" | Llewellyn – "Amethyst" / "Inner Vision" | Josh giving poem/album lyrics to Brooke at the library |
| 4 | Windstruck | Fountains of Wayne – "Troubled Times" | Timo Jewel, Fontaine Burnett – "It Feels Like" | Sam and Harrison talking at the fast food restaurant, Mr. Clucks. |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Joan Jones – "Party" | Alexander Baker, Clair Marlo – "Just Be" | Carmen writing her party invitations and handing them out; ending scene at Mr. Clucks |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Jennifer Brown – "Two In The Morning" | Unknown music | Beginning scene at the school |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Wiseguys – "Ooh La La" | Unknown music | Cheerleaders walking to cafeteria to RSVPing to Carmen's party |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Arling & Cameron – "How About The Boys" | Rick Cassman & Vyv Hope-Scott – "Tristans Boutique " | Harrison and Brooke talking at the cafeteria |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Eels – "Cancer For The Cure" | Chris Goulstone – "Get On Down " | Cheerleaders arrive at Carmen's house |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Los Lobos – "Oh Yeah" | Tim Juckes – "Hurtling" | Nicole hypnotizing Mary Cherry and Carmen |
| 5 | Slumber Party Massacre | Bugs – "The Oracle" | Francis Monkman – "Superdude" | Nicole giving money to hypnotized Carmen to buy chicken at Mr. Clucks |
| 6 | Truth or Consequences | Henry Mancini – "The Pink Panther Theme" | Unknown music | Nicole scheming to cheat on biology midterm with Mary Cherry and Poppy in cafeteria |
| 6 | Truth or Consequences | Jack Elliot, Allyn Ferguson – "Charlie's Angels – TV Theme song" | Unknown music | Nicole, Marry Cherry's fantasy as Charlie Angels |
| 6 | Truth or Consequences | Arling & Cameron – "Le Flic Et La Fille" | John Hawkins – "Hit Man" | Sneaking into Ms. Glass' office |
| 6 | Truth or Consequences | Stavesacre – "You Know How It Is" | Unknown song | Fight between Josh and Harrison |
| 6 | Truth or Consequences | Edwin Starr – "War" | No change | Food fight in cafeteria |
| 7 | Queen B. | Unknown music | Unknown music | Sam moving into Brooke's house |
| 7 | Queen B. | Bert Parks – "There She Is, Miss America" | Alan Braden – "Bridge of Stars" | Announcement of homecoming queen nominees in class |
| 7 | Queen B. | Jakko Jakszyk – "Spaghetti Cowboy " | No change | Mary Cherry's mother talking to Nicole |
| 7 | Queen B. | Chic – "I Want Your Love" | Steve Jeffries – "The Beat Goes On " | Nominees campaigning |
| 7 | Queen B. | Unknown music | Unknown music | Sam listening to CD player |
| 7 | Queen B. | John Philip Sousa – "The Washington Post" | No change | Mary Cherry on megaphone |
| 7 | Queen B. | Mary Schneider – "William Tell Overture" | Gioachino Rossini – "William Tell Overture" | Filling out ballots |
| 7 | Queen B. | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Introducing the nominees at the homecoming game |
| 7 | Queen B. | Sparklehorse – "Homecoming Queen" | No change | Ending scene |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Loli-Pop – "Be My Petting Zoo" | No change | Opening scene and throughout episode |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Bon Voyage – "Together" | Alexander Baker, Clair Marlo – "Butterfly" | Brooke taking compatibility quiz from magazine |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Ben Lee – "I Am A Sunflower" | Alexander Baker, Clair Marlo – "Just Be" | After Sam seeing Ben at school; Harrison looking at couples at cafeteria |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | The Har You Percussion Group – "Welcome To The Party" | Liza and JP – "Perrito Caliente" | Sam and Tuna twins practicing tennis with Ben |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Mineral – "The Last Word Is Rejoice" | Unknown music | Lily and Harrison talking in the nurse's office |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | "La Cumparsita" | Liza and JP – "Perrito Caliente" | Ben teaching Sam on tennis court |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Sarah Vaughn – "Smooth Operator" | Hal David and John Cacavas – "All Day" | Harrison checking in hotel |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Supertramp – "Give A Little Bit" | Alexander Baker, Clair Marlo – "Cloud Patterns" | Harrison preparing romantic setting in room; Sugar Daddy waiting for his date, Brooke and Josh becoming intimate |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Alec Gould – "Sea Breeze" | No change | Lily arriving at hotel room |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Joe 90 – "Just A Dream" | Anika Peress, Dean Landon – "Forever Naturally" | Lily cancelling plans with Harrison, Sugar Daddy's date not showing up, Brooke trying to wake up Josh |
| 8 | Tonight's the Night | Dean Martin – "Nobody Til Somebody Loves You" | Hal David and John Cacavas – "All Day" | Ending scene at the Knees Together club |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Nicole, Mary Cherry and Sugar Daddy kidnapping Gwyneth Paltrow's personal shopper |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | Clyde McPhatter – "If You Only Knew" | Generic somber music that is commonly played throughout series | Brooke second time taking pregnancy test and walking to the kitchen |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | David Bowie – "Fashion" | No change | Nicole and Mary Cherry's personal fashion wearing Gwyneth Paltrow's clothes |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | Dido – "Honestly OK" | Billy Lincoln, Kat Green – "We Grow" | Brooke in her room; Sam passes motherhood information under the door |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | "Dirty Ho" | No change | Brooke fantasy of being pregnant during class; Ms. Ross, Nicole and Mary Cherry break into song
|
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | KPM Angels' Chorus – "Messiah: Hallelujah" | No change | Nicole and Mary Cherry being praised by the personal shopper |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Nicole and Mary Cherry find out the personal shopper's true identity |
| 9 | Wild, Wild Mess | Switchfoot – "Let That Be Enough" | Larry Gates – "Circle of Love" | Ending scene where Harrison submits the signatures for his mom to be principal for a day |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | APM Holiday Ensemble – "Kommet, Ihr Hirten" | No change | Cold opening where Nicole is counting money |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Unknown music | Sam and Brooke's family decorating the Christmas tree |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | John Devereaux – "Christmas Day" | No change | Brooke and Sam realizing they have to share a Christmas party together |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Richard Myhill – "Christmas Lullaby " | No change | Carmen entering school with crutches |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Brian Bennett – "We Wish You a Mary Christmas" | No change | Ms. Glass announcing there is no final exam |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Lee Mendelson, Vince Guaraldi – "Christmas Time Is Here" | No change | Tuna twins, Emory, and Freddy caroling outside |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" | No change | Carolers outside while the everyone else is talking indoors |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | "Drummer Boy" | No change | Carolers singing after Nicole leaves small change for a donation |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Ludwig van Beethoven – "Für Elise" | No change | Music box |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Music removed | Past Nicole starting her reign of terror |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Richard Harvey – "Winter's Flight" | Music removed | Introducing Mary Cherry as Spirit of Christmas Present |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Unknown music | Nicole coming out of bed canopy |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Richard Myhill – "Tales of Midwinter" | No change | Mary Cherry waving wand |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Bing Crosby – "I’ll Be Home For Christmas" | John Charles Fiddy, Sammy Burdson – "Ding Dong Merrily On High" | Sam and Brooke's parents dancing |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | The Nutcracker – "Dance of the Mirlitons" | No change | April Tuna and Freddy Gong talking to |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Unknown music | Brooke talking to Carmen at the party |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Unknown music | Making a toast at the table |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Unknown music | Unknown music | Nicole arriving to the party |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | Jeffrey Reid Baker – "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" | No change | Everyone opening Nicole's presents |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | "Silent Night" | No change | Ms. Glass and Nurse Glass stargazing on balcony |
| 10 | Fall on Your Knees | "Hark! The Herald Angels" | No change | Ending scene – students caroling in front of Ms. Glass' home |
| 11 | Ex, Lies, and Videotape | Madonna – "Lucky Star " | No change | Cold opening where cheerleaders are practicing |
| 11 | Ex, Lies, and Videotape | T-Cisco – "Intervention #1" | Stephen Gaboury, Machan Sasaki Taylor – "Panama Red " | April Tuna talking to Carmen in front of lockers and throughout episode |
| 11 | Ex, Lies, and Videotape | Rob Zombie – "Dragula " | "Gargantua " | Poppy, Mary Cherry's driving test |
| 11 | Ex, Lies, and Videotape | Andrea Marcum – "Elastic" | "Before I Give My Heart"
| Josh returning to auditorium after arguing with his dad outside |
| 12 | The Trial of Emory Dick | Johann Sebastian Bach – "Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565" | André Luy – "Hymne en 3 versets sur le choral 'Der du bist drei in Einigkeit': Con moto" | Emory's fantasy of torturing his tormentors |
| 12 | The Trial of Emory Dick | Alan Tew – "The Big One" | No change | Beginning court scene |
| 12 | The Trial of Emory Dick | Bill Baylis & Julie Tully – "Get Up and Do It" | No change | Cheerleaders practicing after first court session |
| 12 | The Trial of Emory Dick | Tony Orlando and Dawn – "Say, Has Anyone Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" | No change | Ms. Glass dancing in class |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | Brian Bennett – "Boogie Juice" | No change | Transition scene from classroom to Harrison walking in the cafeteria |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | Brian Bennett & Dave Koz – "Melt" | No change | Glamazon cheerleaders fantasizing about Stone Cold |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | Curtis Schwartz – "Skratch Junkie" | No change | The Glamazons and April Tuna walking in the hallways |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | Alan Parker – "Powerhouse Rock" | No change | Harrison and Josh competing on weight benches |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | The Stone Roses – "I Wanna Be Adored" | Steve Byrd – "Sunspots" | Montage of everyone getting ready for the Sadie Hawkins dance |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | Jungle Brothers – "Freakin’ You" | Different unknown music | Glamazons and April Tuna entering the dance |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | The Autumns – "Oriel" | Different unknown music | Sam and Josh dancing; Brooke and Harrison talking |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | The Lassie Foundation – "El Rey" | Steve Byrd – "Slider" | Glamazons see April Tuna dancing with Stone Cold |
| 13 | Hope in a Jar | The Flamingos – "I Only Have Eyes For You" | Jerry Burnham, Raun Burnham – "Forever and a Day " | Final dancing scene |
| 14 | Caged! | Gwen Mars – "Big Wheel" | Different unknown music | Flashback of fight scene in The Novak during cold opening |
| 14 | Caged! | Missy Elliott – "She’s a Bitch" | Roberto Pregadio – "Ballata per un Pistolero " | Girls in groups of 3 walking in the halls |
| 14 | Caged! | Unknown music | Graham Preskett – "Echoes of Love" | Brooke's retelling of her secret |
| 14 | Caged! | Gerhard Trede – "Beguine " | No Change | Ms. Glass retelling her secret |
| 14 | Caged! | Kendall Payne – "The Second Day" | Anika Paris – "In Love Again" | Sam's secret |
| 14 | Caged! | George Michael – Freedom! '90 | No change | Ending scene |
| 15 | Booty Camp | Graham De Wilde – "The British Grenadiers" | No change | The start of boot camp while holding dummies on track & field |
| 15 | Booty Camp | William Steffe – "Battle Hymn of the Republic" or "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" | No change | Obstacle course during boot camp |
| 15 | Booty Camp | Kenny Loggins – "Danger Zone" | Different unknown music | Sargent Rock Glass saying "Top Gun would make one heck of a broadway show" |
| 15 | Booty Camp | Richard Myhill – "Get 'Em Off!" | No change | The boys walking through the hall of girls during boot camp |
| 15 | Booty Camp | Michael Brook – "Ultramarine" | Pierre Perez-Vergara – "Micro Structure" | Everyone leaving boot camp |
| 16 | All About Adam | Unknown music | Lucy Diamond & Jim Wolfe – "Outside Looking In" | Cold opening of Brooke sitting on the bleachers |
| 16 | All About Adam | Tom Racer – "Secret’s Out" | Different unknown music | Mary Cherry making out with Adam in The Novak |
| 16 | All About Adam | Amber – "Sexual " | Different unknown music | Adam choreographing cheers for Glamazons |
| 16 | All About Adam | Foo Fighters – "Breakout" | David Newton – "She's So Dumb" | Montage of Sam being filmed for Chick Power |
| 16 | All About Adam | New World Symphony – "Wonder Woman" | Brian Bennett – "Drama Montage" | Mary Cherry trying to decipher Adam's real identity from IDs |
| 16 | All About Adam | Dave Richmond – "Nightwatch" | No change | Sam researching in computer lab |
| 16 | All About Adam | Unknown music | Paul Lenart – "Backyard Groove" | Mary Cherry plane ride to Tupelo |
| 16 | All About Adam | Paul Simon – "Kodachrome" | Zachary A Schaffer – "Yesterdays Are Gone " | Ending scene |
| 17 | Lord of the Flies | Luscious Jackson – "Fantastic Fabulous" | No change | Glamazons getting ready early in the morning |
| 17 | Lord of the Flies | Groove Armada – "I See You Baby " | Glamazons arriving tai chi class | |
| 17 | Lord of the Flies | Mark Scholz – "Mind Game" | No change | Exercises during tai chi class |
| 17 | Lord of the Flies | Unknown music | No change | Beginning of open mic setting |
| 17 | Lord of the Flies | Harrison – "What is He Doing With Her?" | No change | Harrison's self made song |
| 18 | C-C-Changes | David Bowie – "Changes" | No change | Woodshop teacher's new transformation; students making a statement at the board meeting |
| 18 | C-C-Changes | Mitch Miller – "The Yellow Rose of Texas" | Instrumental of "The Yellow Rose of Texas" | Cherry Cherry's flashback |
| 18 | C-C-Changes | Dick Walter – "Satin Sounds" | No change | Staff room with upgraded features |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | The B-52's – "Rock Lobster" | No change | Cold opening of Lily's flashback seeing the lobster at Croutons restaurant; Mary Cherry eating the lobster; ending scene |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Vitamin C – "I'm Not That Kind of Girl" | Bill Baylis, Simon Stewart & Julie Tulley – "Go Mad for It" | Fantasy sequence of Nicole walking down school hallway and receiving gifts from boys |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Madonna – "Ray of Light" | No change | Unpopular girls dying their hair blond in The Novak |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Chunky Nelson – "You've Got the Power" | APM Healing Artists – "Move Your Body" | Unpopular girls walking in the cafeteria with blonde hair |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Barbra Streisand – "I'm the Greatest Star" | No change | Mary Cherry acting like Barbra Streisand |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | A.J. Mora – "The Truth is Coming" | APM Healing Artists – "Move Your Body" | Harrison walking in hallway with blond hair |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Trash thrown at Glamazons while as brunettes walking down the hall |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Prozzak – "Sucks to Be You" | APM Healing Artists – "Move Your Body" | Sam getting the larger porkchop at family dinner |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Chunky Nelson – "You've Got the Power" | No change | Unpopular group entering disco bowling alley |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Sammy Burdson & Jean-Claude Madonne – "Do the Boogaloo" | No change | Ms. Glass being taken away on a stretcher |
| 19 | Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle | Unknown music | No change | Scene after Sam and Brooke's parents decide to move the wedding earlier |
| 20 | We Are Family | Group Forty-Orchestra – "Aspects of Fear" | No change | Cold opening of fantasy sequence – Sam crashing into Brooke |
| 20 | We Are Family | Jack Shaindlin – "Crime Lab" | No change | Sam calling on the phone in cold opening |
| 20 | We Are Family | Richard Cottle – "Set Me Free" | No change | Brooke rewatching her cheerleading practice on TV |
| 20 | We Are Family | Jack Shaindlin – "Perplexity" | No change | Brooke and Sam arguing |
| 20 | We Are Family | Jack Shaindlin – "Danger" | No change | Brooke removing the cloche/cover from her meal that Sam prepared |
| 20 | We Are Family | The Edwin Davids Jazz Band – "Chips" | No change | Erik Estrada talking to Mary Cherry at school |
| 20 | We Are Family | Group Forty-Orchestra – "Drama " | No change | Mary Cherry hugs Erik Estrada in family therapy session |
| 20 | We Are Family | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Lily and Carmen being chased |
| 20 | We Are Family | Jessica Riddle – "Your Girl" | Simon Donald Lockyer, Simon May – "Tender Emotions " | Sam walking to her locker and talking to Harrison |
| 20 | We Are Family | Fastbacks – "One More Hour" | Different unknown music | Lily shaving off half of Mary Cherry's hair |
| 20 | We Are Family | The Beatles – "She’s Leaving Home" | Chris Goulstone – "Across The Line " | Brooke finding out Sam ran away |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Cover of Scott McKenzie – "San Francisco " | Different unknown music | San Francisco scene in cold opening |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Unknown music | No change | Boys talking about the strip club and talking about getting in after they were denied |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | "Horny Cool Boys" | No change | The boys walking down the school hallway while wear sunglasses |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Unknown music | No change | Boys try to get into strip club with fake IDs |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Group Forty-Orchestra – "Aspects of Fear" | No change | Mary Cherry with a devious face |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Morphic Field – "I Won’t Lie to You" | Billy Lincoln & Kat Green – "We Belong" | Sam sneaking into the office at the art gallery |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Unknown music | No change | Mary Cherry showing her tattoo |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Lynyrd Skynyrd – "That Smell" | Different unknown music | Wanda appearing in bathroom |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | William Steffe – "Battle Hymn of the Republic" or "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" | No change | Harrison making a speech to the strip club's bouncer |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | The Rock-A-Teens – "Woo-hoo" | Finn and the Sharks – "Rockabilly Roadhouse" | Lily trying to pretend to be Sam |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Lords of Acid – "Rough Sex" | Bob Haynes, Max Beard – "Music Medicine" | Opening scene of strip club |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Laurie Burgess & Lee Rous – "Baby, Get Higher" | No change | Introduction of Mary Cherry, Nicole and Wanda on stage |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | Unknown music | No change | Sam's mother talking to the girls in the kitchen about Sam |
| 21 | What Makes Sammy Run | The Flamingos – "Ko Ko Mo" | Different unknown music | Carmen throwing up |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | The Miracles – "Love Machine" | Different unknown music | Ms. Glass showing up in boys' locker room to retrieve pen |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | "Teachin' Ms. Glass Musical" | No change | Students singing about Ms. Glass |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Godsmack – "Voodoo" | Music removed | Mary Cherry's flashback at Nurse Glass' home about suspicious person |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Unknown music | No change | Getting ready for the wedding |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Chris Payne – "Elizabethan" | No change | Mary Cherry showing up in an extravagant dress |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Sprung Monkey – "Get Em Outta Here" | Music removed | Nurse Glass mentions Ms. Glass was an organ donor at the pews |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Ruby and the Romantics – "Our Day Will Come" | Different unknown music | Mary Cherry's mother talking to Sam's mother |
| 22 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | "Will You Marry Me My Dear?" | No change | The boys singing |
| Episode # | Title | TV songs | DVD songs | Notes |
| 1 | Timber! | Neve – "Step Up" | No change | Brooke thinking about her mom during cold opening |
| 1 | Timber! | Unknown music | No change | Ms. Glass blasting loud music in front the tree |
| 1 | Timber! | Unknown music | No change | Mary Cherry walking in during tryouts |
| 1 | Timber! | Trinket – "Boom" | No change | Nicole walking and falling in the hallway |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | AC/DC – "Highway to Hell" | 60 Second Crush – "Sister Suicide" | Emory's sisters walking into the school |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Georges Bizet – Habanera | No change | Mary Cherry and Nicole slapping/punching each other |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | David Arnold, Paul Hart – "Infamia"
| No change | Carmen's baby stroller falling on the stairs |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Kef – "Jump on It" | Different unknown music | Emory and Harrison arriving at the house party |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Kef – "Hottie Boombalottie" | Different unknown music | Emory's sisters dressed up as Nicole and Mary Cherry |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Sisqo – "Thong Song" | Bizarre – "The Party " | Carmen and Lily talking at the house party |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Nicole's speech about standing up to Emory's sisters |
| 2 | Baby, Don't Do It! | Jared Douglas – "Don’t Make Me Wait" | Different unknown music | Nicole and Mary Cherry stopping music while Emory's sisters were dancing |
| 3 | Citizen Shame | Fred Karlin – "It’s a Sometimes World" | Different unknown music | Carmen watching the movie, "Yours, Mines and Ours" |
| 3 | Citizen Shame | The O’Jays – "For The Love Of Money" | Greazy Meal – "Money" | Ms. Glass tries to convince Harrison to be her pretend child |
| 3 | Citizen Shame | Marilyn Monroe – "Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend" | Different unknown music | Ms. Glass checking the diamond ring |
| 3 | Citizen Shame | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Brooke and teacher talking at the restaurant |
| 3 | Citizen Shame | Pink Floyd – "Money" | Different unknown music | Brooke and teacher chatting with two random guys |
| 4 | Sweetest Taboo | Barry White – "It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me | Zilo Groove – "Feel Free Don't Stop " | Nicole tries to seduce Vice Principal Krupps in his office |
| 4 | Sweetest Taboo | Electric Boys – "All Lips & Hips" | Southern Gentlemen – "Drive Me Wild" | Mary Cherry showing her new lips in class |
| 4 | Sweetest Taboo | The Gap Band – "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" | Crud – "Meat Detonation" | Ms. Glass throwing the concoction outside of class |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Bob Foster – "Pop, Snapple and Crack" | Jet Set Six – "If I Could Be Anyone" | Dating show fantasy with Brooke in cold opening |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Ivan Zenaty & Frantisek Xaver Thuri & Janacek Chamber Orchestra – "Concerto For Violin And Orchestra in G Major, La Stravaganza, Op. 4, No. 3, R. 301: I. Allegro" | Different unknown music | Nicole and Harrison in 18th century clothing fantasy |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | "Cha Cha " | No change | Fantasy scene where Harrison and Mary Cherry doing a cha cha dance in the hallway
|
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Unknown music | Luck Brothers – "Like I Never Did Before" | Monkey daydreaming |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Fastball – "This Guy's in Love With You" | No change | Josh cheering up the monkey |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Lipps, Inc – "Funky Town" | La Guardia – "You Are " | Montage of people roller skating |
| 5 | Joe Loves Mary Cherry | Neil Sedaka – "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" | Jessie Ross – "One Step at a Time" | Couples only dance |
| 6 | Style and Substance Abuse | Unknown music | Bibi Farber – "That Girl Again" | Former homecoming queen, Hellacious enters the school hallway |
| 6 | Style and Substance Abuse | Unknown music | Different unknown music | Hellacious announcing the queen nominees |
| 6 | Style and Substance Abuse | Vicky Sue Robinson – "Turn the Beat Around" | Different unknown music | Ms. Glass' alarm clock at home |
| 6 | Style and Substance Abuse | Sheena Easton – "Morning Train" | Different unknown music | Montage of Ms. Glass and Carmen training for the queen title |
| 7 | Ur-ine Trouble | Steve Miller Band – "abracadabra" | Different unknown music | Mary Cherry and Nicole looking at the crystal ball |
| 7 | Ur-ine Trouble | Madonna – "Music" | No change | Mary Cherry, Nicole, and Hellacious parodying Madonna's "Music" music video in the limousine |
| 8 | Misery Loathes Company | Brent Jones & The T.P. Mobb – "Thank You" | No change | Clarence listening to music |
| 8 | Misery Loathes Company | Five for Fighting – "Superman " | Theo Eastwind – "Rite of Passage" | Drawing session at the clinic |
| 13 | Mary Charity | Olive – "Smile" | Merrie Amsterburg – "Patchwork" | Ending scene |
| 21 | Promblems | Drowning Pool – "Bodies" | Crud – "Reality" | Nicole driving |
Reception
Critics
In 2012, Entertainment Weekly listed Popular at #21 in their list of the "26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever", calling it "the proto-Glee" and saying it "celebrated the value of outcasts and portrayed overplayed topics—Homecoming Court, sex, and secrets—through an absurdist lens."Ratings
Awards and nominations
Appearances
In February 2000, the casts of Popular and Freaks and Geeks competed against each other in a special celebrity week of Family Feud hosted by Louie Anderson.Leslie Bibb and Carly Pope appeared in Grosse Pointe as actresses from Popular in a volleyball game against Johnny and Courtney.
In 2012, several of the main actors reunited and raised $30,000 for AIDS Walk in Los Angeles.