Monthly Archives: July 2019

The Toy Department – Episode 176

  By toyAdmin | July 31, 2019 - 11:17 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 176, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky have a quick chat about Madden’s concert-going exploits before delving into:

  • The premiere of the final season of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black (2:10), which Madden enjoyed more than Kolsky but also maybe Kolsky just needs to stick with it a little longer…
  • Amazon’s new Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg production The Boys (10:15) and how it is different than any superhero show you’ve seen and pretty damn good…
  • The Showtime documentary Shangri-LA (16:20) and its fascinating subject Rick Rubin…
  • Chance the Rapper’s new album The Big Day (31:45) and how it is long but really quite good throughout…
  • Homework for next week (40:50), including: the premiere of Bachelor in Paradise (for real this time), the return of Dear White People on Netflix, the new season of HBO’s Hard Knocks (featuring the Oakland Raiders), a new HBO show – A Black Lady Sketch Show (from Issa Rae), Whitney Cummings’ new comedy special on Netflix and the new Tarantino film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 175

  By toyAdmin | July 24, 2019 - 4:08 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 175, Derek Madden finds Matt Kolsky STILL on paternity leave and STILL without a high quality microphone to record into, but nevertheless they persist with:

  • The conclusion of the second season of Big Little Lies (1:55), and whether the HBO drama had enough to justify coming back…
  • HBO’s teen drama Euphoria (14:15) and how it’s a unique and impressive work of prestige television…
  • Toy Department hits the movies, as Madden saw Stuber (25:05) and Kolsky saw the new Lion King (27:50)…
  • Hulu’s surprise early drop of the fourth season of Veronica Mars (36:15), and how it takes us right back to that Veronica Mars place in our hearts…
  • The new album Help Us Stranger by the Raconteurs (39:45) and how the influence of Brendan Benson tames the genius of Jack White in an appealing way…
  • Homework for next week (48:40), including: the premiere of Bachelor in Paradise, the return of Orange is the New Black on Netflix, and the new Amazon show The Boys (from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg)…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 174

  By toyAdmin | July 17, 2019 - 2:56 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 174, Derek Madden finds Matt Kolsky on paternity leave and without a high quality microphone to record into, but they still manage to cover:

  • The new American version of the UK hit Love Island (2:25) and whether it makes the grade for continued enjoyment…
  • Kolsky’s dive into the old Madden favorite The Shield (17:05) and what an early ’00s classic looks like in 2019…
  • Madden’s attempt to enjoy old Kolsky favorite Deadwood (27:45) and his insurmountable western roadblock…
  • A discussion about the Emmy Award Nominations (33:35) and TV’s biggest awards program in general…
  • Homework for next week (1:01:30), including: the new Showtime docu-series Shangri-La focusing on Rick Rubin, the new Raconteurs album Help Us Stranger, hopefully getting to the new movie Stuber and catching up on HBO shows Big Little Lies (which is already ending!) and Euphoria (which is only beginning)…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 173

  By toyAdmin | July 10, 2019 - 9:44 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 173, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky do their best to pod through the occasional complaints of an infant Kolsky while discussing:

  • Aziz Ansari’s new standup special on Netflix (6:15), his new approach and the way he addressed his personal controversy…
  • The new HBO offering Years and Years (15:40) and the grim future it considers…
  • Derek’s trip to see the new film Yesterday (24:20) in theaters…
  • A probably-too-deep dive into the sports world, including some thoughts on the topsy-turvy NBA offseason (35:05) and the MLB All-Star festivities (1:07:00)…
  • Homework for next week (1:14:05), including: the first week of the American version of Love Island, perhaps a trip or two to the movie theater, and Kolsky diving in to The Shield Season 1 while Madden follows through on Deadwood…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 172

  By toyAdmin | July 3, 2019 - 1:53 pm | Uncategorized
1 Comment

In Episode 172, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky briefly discuss their recording circumstances before jumping into the real meat:

  • The new Amazon series Too Old to Die Young (1:20) and how it really fails to come together in a meaningful way or show any particularly redeeming qualities…
  • Showtime’s new Roger Ailes show The Loudest Voice (11:35) and how its pilot delivered all the goods…
  • An extended NBA conversation (18:50) covering the free agent machinations and some thoughts on the teams that made big changes…
  • A brief conversation about USWNT soccer (55:25) trimmed down to NOT include senseless bickering about Landon Donovan’s ability (or lack thereof)…
  • Homework for next week (1:06:05), including: the new Aziz Ansari stand-up special on Netflix, Years and Years on HBO, the premiere of the American version of Love Island and — again — maybe seeing the movie Yesterday in theaters…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS