Author Archives: toyAdmin

The Toy Department – Episode 260

  By toyAdmin | May 25, 2021 - 12:38 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 260, Madden and Kolsky are attempting a short episode per scheduling needs, so they dive immediately into:

  • The new Tina Fey/Peacock show GIRLS5EVA (1:20) and how the one episode available to non-subscribers isn’t quite enough to draw in our non-subscriber host…
  • The new HBO Max show Hacks (6:05) and the greatness of Jean Smart…
  • Angelina Jolie’s movie Those Who Wish Me Dead (11:35) and just how little sense any aspect of it makes…
  • Season 3 of Netflix’s Master of None (19:20) which focuses almost entirely on Lena Waithe’s character Denise and her wife, and continues to be an intriguing made-for-streaming art film sort of piece…
  • The latest from Top Chef: Portland (30:35), which is heading down the home stretch with a ton of talent in play after a completely unique restaurant wars…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (45:10), including: more Top Chef in Portland, the end of HBO’s Mare of Easttown, the new film Plan B on Hulu and the Friends reunion on HBO Max… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: All Stars FINALÉ on Thursday night!!!
  • A few NBA thoughts (47:40) as the Playoffs have commenced…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Challenge All-Stars Episode 8

  By toyAdmin | May 20, 2021 - 11:19 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

It’s Part 1 of the somewhat sudden Challenge All-Stars final, and it is no joke… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into the tragic early elimination of Derrick (and Jisela), the various strategic approaches and their relative ability to consume spicy foods, among many other things…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 259

  By toyAdmin | May 18, 2021 - 10:52 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 259, Madden and Kolsky are back from a Kolsky Paternity Break to catch up on their favorite pop culture, specifically:

  • A couple weeks of thrilling action on Top Chef (5:30) with the elimination of the much-hated Gabriel and a pretty distinct top four chefs emerging; now restaurant week is on deck, with a new open kitchen design!!
  • The old Cinemax show Banshee (26:00) which is now available on HBO Max and makes a hell of an enjoyable binge…
  • Catching up on The Challenge: All Stars (34:10) which is heading into the final with an awful lot of competitors but only a few competitors, if you catch our drift…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (58:45), including: more Top Chef in Portland, the new Tina Fey/Peacock show GIRLS5EVA, HBO Max’s Jean Smart vehicle Hacks, the new Angelia Jolie movie Those Who Wish Me Dead and the debut of season three of Netflix’s Master of None (which focuses on Lena Waithe’s character)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Challenge All-Stars Episode 5 and Double Agents Reunion Part 1

  By toyAdmin | May 1, 2021 - 12:37 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

Another double Challenge week, with All-Stars ratcheting up the competition — and the hookups!! — in its fifth episode, and the drama on high at Part 1 of the Double Agents reunion… There’s enough Alton mishegas and Fessy bashing for everyone!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 258

  By toyAdmin | April 27, 2021 - 10:44 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 258, Madden and Kolsky dive right into the deep end of pop culture topics with a shocking admission from Derek as they discuss:

  • The latest in Top Chef () including Madden quitting on Last Chance Kitchen and the difficulty of finding oneself as a chef on a reality competition show…
  • A few thoughts on a lackluster Oscars broadcast (31:15) and what it means for the future of the show…
  • The new Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls (47:35) and how it’s pretty good, and pretty reminiscent of Parks & Rec, but not perhaps good enough to support a Peacock subscription…
  • The new Bob Odenkirk movie Nobody (55:10) and how it’s basically John Wick for an audience that demands more from the scenes between the fights…
  • Homework for some Tuesday to come (58:45), including: more episodes of Top Chef in Portland and streaming some Banshee on HBO Max… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents reunion AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 19 AND Episode 4 of The Challenge All-Stars

  By toyAdmin | April 22, 2021 - 11:17 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

It’s finally the finalé of The Challenge: Double Agents, and it’s a doozy (although not particularly a competitive final challenge)… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into the greatness of the victors, the failure of the Fessy, Leroy’s last ride and more after an incredibly emotional final episode. Then it’s time for the senior circuit, as The Challenge All-Stars looks like it may ratchet up a level in the coming weeks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 257

  By toyAdmin | April 20, 2021 - 10:59 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 257, Madden and Kolsky endeavor to record a short show, so it’s straight into:

  • The new Disney+ series Big Shot (1:25), which features an interesting John Stamos performance but suffers from mediocre basketball and a weekly release schedule…
  • HBO’s new Kate Winslet vehicle Mare of Easttown (12:20), Winslet’s excellent performance and a richly drawn first episode that has both hosts ready for more…
  • Deep thoughts on another episode of Top Chef (26:25) and the tremendous level of talent that this season is bringing…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (51:05), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the new film Nobody (available on demand) and maybe something else ¯\_(ツ)_/¯… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents finale AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 18 AND Episode 3 of The Challenge All-Stars!!!

  By toyAdmin | April 15, 2021 - 9:09 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

The Challenge: Double Agents final has begun, and it was action-packed in its first day!! There are new versions of old challenges, a dramatic injury, a gigantic wimp and of course some off-field drama, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are here to break it all down, with an eye forwards towards next week’s sure-to-be-thrilling conclusion… PLUS, it’s Week 3 of The Challenge All-Stars and the old folks are getting after it… AND an exciting lizard/reptile tangent that you don’t yet know you need… It’s all right here at The Toy Department podcast!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 256

  By toyAdmin | April 13, 2021 - 11:00 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 256, Madden and Kolsky are feeling fresh and ready to get into:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef in Portland (1:25), featuring a really tough and incredibly entertaining quickfire challenge, more greatness from Shota and the potential coining of the term “chefsplain”…
  • The new Netflix comedy Thunder Force (32:30) and how Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer elevate an otherwise ordinary superhero parody flick…
  • HBO Max’s new Cristin Milioti show Made for Love (39:45) and how the streaming service continues to do great work in the “this is really clever and funny and interesting” space…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (48:55), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the Disney+ show Big Shot (starring John Stamos) and the new HBO show Mare Of Easttown… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 17 AND Episode 2 of The Challenge All-Stars!!!

  By toyAdmin | April 8, 2021 - 11:20 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

Another two-Challenge week, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are here to break down all the action and intrigue… A tremendous episode of The Challenge: Double Agents produced an epic week for Kyle and a pathetic week for Fessy, despite their ultimate fates. We’ve got at least one challenger who needs remedial math classes and another in need of an orthopedist… Meanwhile on All-Stars, the competition is at a lower level but the drama remains at a high with Trishelle’s antics and Beth’s insistence on using the word “tenderoni.” It’s a big bundle of wonderful, and there’s no better place to hear about it!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS