Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Toy Department – Episode 128

  By toyAdmin | August 7, 2018 - 12:41 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 128, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky fire up the iPhone reggae horn for a wild conversational ride covering:

  • The season finalé of HBO’s Succession (5:15) and how it steadily improved from the start of the season to a critical darling and future powerhouse by the end…
  • Kolsky’s attempt to get into the now-completed AMC show Halt & Catch Fire (24:25) and what appeals about that show in 2018…
  • Kolsky’s less successful attempt to get into the old NBC classic The West Wing (28:25) and his inability to stop thinking about modern politics in watching early 20-year-old political wish fulfillment…
  • Derek’s attempt to get into Love Island (37:50) and how it might take a few shows to get into its rhythm…
  • The new Mission:Impossible film (47:45) and how it functions as a microcosm of the full scale Tom Cruise experience…
  • Derek’s experience at Lollapalooza (58:45) and the state of pop music and festival audiences…
  • Homework for next week (1:06:45), including: the first two weeks of Better Call Saul’s fourth season, the films Eighth Grade and Three Identical Strangers, and the return of Insecure on HBO… plus, STAY TUNED FOR (SILLY) BONUS CONTENT!!!

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 127

  By toyAdmin | July 31, 2018 - 4:54 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 127, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky return from a week off with a brief analysis of their podcast introduction, then focus in and banter about:

  • The return of Orange is the New Black (2:40) on Netflix and how the show has once again gone through a paradigm shift in the situations of the characters…
  • Derek tries to convince Kolsky to dive into watching NBC’s classic The West Wing (13:20) and the more recent Halt & Catch Fire (18:35)…
  • A short aside into Kolsky’s recent binge experience with Love Island (22:35), a British sex/competition show currently available on Hulu…
  • The Robin Williams documentary Come Inside My Mind (27:15) currently airing on HBO, and how it does a good job of surveying Williams’ life but doesn’t really get all the way into his mind…
  • A brief detour into Jack Nicholson and the Lakers (37:05) which diverges into Kobe Bryant conversation…
  • A discussion of HBO’s Sharp Objects (45:00) at the halfway point, covering how much faith the guys have in it coming together in a meaningful way through its second half…
  • Homework for next week (56:20), including: the films Mission Impossible: Fallout and Eighth Grade, both in theaters now, as well as Kolsky checking out The West Wing and Halt & Catch Fire and Madden sampling Love Island on Hulu, plus Madden is heading to Lollapalooza so concert stories coming…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 126

  By toyAdmin | July 17, 2018 - 4:03 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 126, please excuse any audio issues AGAIN on the part of Matt Kolsky, as he joins Derek Madden live (to tape) from a DIFFERENT road trip, specifically on the road to Lake Tahoe, CA where he is scheduled to see the band Phish… The discussions cover:

  • Kolsky’s questionable life decisions…
  • The USA show Sinner (4:00) which is currently binge-able on Netflix — but is it worth binging??
  • The new Sacha Baron Cohen show Who Is America? (12:30) and how the same old Ali G schtick falls flat in 2018…
  • Hannah Gadsby’s standup special Nanette (26:55) and how she brilliantly crafts a show that is both hilarious and incredibly thoughtful and thought-provoking…
  • Boots Riley’s triumphant directorial debut Sorry to Bother You (37:15) and how amazingly original and insane and beautiful it is…
  • Homework for next week (50:45), including: well, nothing — the hosts were woefully underprepared for this portion of the show…
  • Derek’s experience at The Pretenders’ show (53:55) and how you should probably go see legends of music whenever you can…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 125

  By toyAdmin | July 10, 2018 - 11:35 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 125, please excuse any audio issues on the part of Matt Kolsky, as he joins Derek Madden live (to tape) from a road trip, specifically from the side of the road near Needles, CA after a car breakdown, so they can discuss:

  • Kolsky’s absurd roadside predicament and dodgy recording situation…
  • The off-air Toy Department Experience (4:30) that took place in Chicago after an excellent Radiohead show on Friday (and some details about the concert itself)…
  • The soon-to-be-completed second season of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu (15:15) and how it’s got some great stuff going on if you can handle the gut punch of its content…
  • A wrap-up discussion of the second season of Netflix’s GLOW (21:25), the many exciting possibilities heading into Season 3 and the greatness of Alison Brie…
  • A chat about HBO’s goal to increase content production (28:15) and what it says about the world of television…
  • HBO’s new limited series Sharp Objects (32:40) and how promising it feels after one episode…
  • Some brief thoughts on the World Cup (37:40)… until the tow truck shows up (40:50)…
  • Homework for next week (43:00), including: the Hannah Gadsby stand-up special Nanette and the new Boots Riley-directed film Sorry to Bother You plus perhaps another movie in theaters (like Ant Man & The Wasp, Jurassic World 2, The Incredibles 2, Sicario 2 or Tag)…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 124

  By toyAdmin | July 3, 2018 - 12:10 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 124, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk a little Fourth of July before they dive into:

  • The wild weekend of NBA free agency (4:50) including LeBron James going to the Lakers and Boogie Cousins heading to the Golden State Warriors…
  • The 2018 FIFA World Cup (19:45) and just how delightful it has been through most of the Round of 16…
  • A quick discussion of Drake’s new album Scorpion (28:15) and how the Canadian pop artist continues to disappoint…
  • The new season of GLOW (32:45), how wonderful the show is and how great a job it does of honoring the diversity and complicated nature of humanity…
  • A check-in on I’m Dying Up Here (41:05) and a chat about how it has really climbed up the TV rankings for both Madden and Kolsky…
  • A check-in on Succession (49:25) and how it presents a world of miserable, terrible people that somehow both guys still want to watch…
  • Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger (53:50) and how it differs from most superhero fare and whether Derek liked it enough to continue watching through the first season…
  • Homework for next week (1:01:40), including: HBO’s new Amy Adams-starring series Sharp Objects, more World Cup and NBA offseason discussion and some subset of films currently in theaters (like Ant Man & The Wasp, Jurassic World 2, The Incredibles 2, Sicario 2 and Tag)…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 123

  By toyAdmin | June 26, 2018 - 4:43 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 123, Derek Madden tells Matt Kolsky about his bad mood and warns everyone that he’s been drinking Haterade before they get into:

  • Showtime’s The Affair (2:25), which Kolsky jumped in on at the start of Season 4, and how well the central gimmick of the show functions…
  • Marvel’s Luke Cage on Netflix (14:40) and how Derek finds it to be very one-dimensional…
  • IFC’s Brockmire (26:00) after two seasons, whether the second season upheld the promise of season one, and what might be in store moving forward…
  • A brief detour into MTV’s The Challenge (36:30) and Kolsky’s new love for the show…
  • Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s new collaborative album EVERYTHING IS LOVE (39:25) and the guys’ wildly divergent opinions on its quality…
  • The World Cup (54:30): group stage results, the fun of the event and the growth of soccer spectatorship in America…
  • Homework for next week (1:05:40), including: Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger on Freeform, the return of GLOW on Netflix, and check-ins on Succession and I’m Dying Up Here…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 122

  By toyAdmin | June 19, 2018 - 1:39 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 122, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dispense with the pleasantries as they get into a shortened episode (due to time constraints) wherein they discuss:

  • Netflix’s show Lost in Space (1:15) and how it’s probably “B” television but both guys still enjoyed it…
  • Kolsky’s reaction to his first experience with MTV’s The Challenge (10:40) and some breakdown of the competition aspect on the show…
  • The opening week of the World Cup (24:00), the Ronaldo v. Messi debate and early impressions of the various competitors…
  • Some thoughts on the new Nas album Nasir (35:55) and KIDS SEE GHOSTS, with a preview of a discussion of the Jay-Z & Beyoncé album…
  • Homework for next week (38:30), including: a thorough listening to Everything Is Love, the Jay&Bey record, the season finalé of Brockmire, the second season of Luke Cage on Netflix and The Affair on Showtime…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 121

  By toyAdmin | June 12, 2018 - 2:18 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 121, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky whine about their jobs briefly before discussing more interesting fodder, including:

  • The conclusion of the NBA Finals (3:25) including thoughts on LeBron’s hand injury and a look ahead to the offseason and beyond…
  • The new film Ocean’s 8 (16:40) and why it falls flatter than the guys hoped and expected…
  • Season 2 of Netflix’s Dear White People (26:45) and just how excited and hopeful both guys are for a potential Season 3…
  • The Season 3 finalé of Billions (31:20) and how it has risen to the top of current television options…
  • A quick return to Dear White People (41:00) to highlight the exceptional Episode 9 of the second season…
  • The new 4-episode documentary Evil Genius (44:20) and how it stands up in Netflix’s wave of documentaries…
  • Homework for next week (52:10), including: finally getting around to Lost in Space on Netflix, and Kolsky getting into MTV’s The Challenge…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 120

  By toyAdmin | June 5, 2018 - 2:35 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 120, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky return after a week off to break down:

  • A few thoughts on Kanye West’s new album (3:20) and whether it’s really worth getting into…
  • Some closing thoughts on Killing Eve’s first season (11:30) and where the show might be headed for its second season…
  • Madden goes iso to talk about the series finalé of The Americans (21:15) and pleads for people to watch it…
  • Some final thoughts on the FX series Trust (34:45) and how it was an excellent single-season television effort that seemed to achieve all its goals…
  • HBO’s new series Succession (42:15) and whether a very pilot-y first episode did the job of getting the guys excited for the full run…
  • A few quick thoughts on I’m Dying Up Here (49:30) and how it’s a fun show hitting its stride…
  • An NBA Finals discussion (51:50) covering how long the series will last and the greatness of LeBron James…
  • A brief World Cup preview (59:40) as we head towards a tournament without the USMNT…
  • Homework for next week (1:07:05), including: the Netflix documentary Evil Genius, a wrap-up conversation for Dear White People (also on Netflix) and maybe even a chat about Lost In Space (once again – Netflix)…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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The Toy Department – Episode 119

  By toyAdmin | May 21, 2018 - 4:06 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 119, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky actually managed a semi-shortened episode, despite the topic list growing far beyond its original purview to include:

  • Some on-air pre-production (0:55) re: next week’s plans for a Killing Eve pop-in…
  • A brief discussion about the best shows on TV right now (2:30) and just how good Showtime’s Billions is…
  • Kolsky’s new Cheers habit (8:50) and what a delightful tv comfort food that show makes…
  • The news that Barack and Michelle Obama have partnered with Netflix (16:05) on a new production company that will make a variety of different things…
  • The final mini-season of New Girl (22:10) and whether it was worth having…
  • Ali Wong’s new comedy special on Netflix (29:30) and the apparent lack of growth in her comedy since her first special…
  • Homework for next week (35:05), which will be an even SHORTER episode: just the Season 1 wrap-up for Killing Eve and a topic list for the following week…
  • Some quick NBA thoughts (36:05) at the midway point of the conference finals…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

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