April 2020 – The Toy Department

The Toy Department – Episode 211

In Episode 211, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky literally discuss the weather and their pets before navigating through:

This week’s episode of Top Chef (2:20) and Leanne’s impressive cockroach impersonation…
This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (15:05) and the incredible level of danger this season’s challengers are facing…
Episodes 3 & 4 of the Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance (31:25) and the Bulls’ epic battles with Detroit…
The season finale of Jason Segel’s Dispatches from Elsewhere (47:10) and what to take away from a bizarre adventure…
Mindy Kaling’s new Netflix creation Never Have I Ever (54:10) and whether it distinguishes itself in a crowded landscape of high school-based entertainment…
A very special quarantine episode of Parks & Recreation (57:30) and how much fun it is to hang with the characters we love so much…
The HBO movie Bad Education (1:01:15) and whether good performances can elevate a story without a lot to like…
Homework for next week (1:06:45), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, Hulu’s new show Normal People, HBO’s new skater show Betty, and Upload on Amazon Prime, plus the return of Billions on Showtime…

In Episode 210, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk a little NFL Draft before blazing through:

The first two episodes of the new Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance (6:40) and what we have to look forward to in the 10-part series…
This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (17:25) and Ashley’s implosion in the bunker…
This week’s episode of Top Chef (26:40) and the elimination of some Toy Department favorites…
The season finale of AMC’s Better Call Saul (34:25) and how it sets us up for an explosive final season…
The new Netflix show #BlackAF (39:45) and how Kenya Barris is embracing his new home on a streaming network…
Netflix’s new comedy specials from Middleditch & Schwartz (45:30) and whether the improv format translates to a streaming comedy special…
A few thoughts on Netflix’s new sex-ban reality show Too Hot to Handle (48:20) and how stupidity can be incredibly watchable…
The new Steve Kerr/Pete Carroll podcast Flying Coach (51:30) and the insights two champion coaches can offer in audio format…
Homework for next week (53:55), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, the season finale of Dispatches from Elsewhere, the HBO movie Bad Education, Mindy Kaling’s new show Never Have I Ever on Netflix and a very special episode of Parks and Recreation…

In Episode 209, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky break down a couple of coronavirus-related memes before discussing:

This week’s episode of MTV’s The Challenge (4:45) and the heavy hitters who played big roles…
This week’s episode of Bravo’s Top Chef (21:00) and the joys and challenges of having family in your kitchen…
FX/Hulu’s new Cate Blanchett vehicle Mrs. America (36:20) and the appeal of a dislikable central character…
The new HBO series Run (42:15) and what exactly is going on beyond the star-powered charm of the lead actors…
The return of BBC America’s Killing Eve (46:10) and whether the show has maintained its urgency in its third season…
The return of HBO’s Insecure (50:05) and how a bit of same-ness doesn’t hurt it too much…
The new Netflix comedy Brews Brothers (54:20) and whether it stands up to its creators’ previous effort, The League…
Homework for next week (1:00:05), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the new Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance on ESPN, a listen to the new Steve Kerr/Pete Carroll podcast Flying Coach, the new Netflix show #BlackAF from Black*ish creator Kenya Barris, and the new comedy specials Middleditch & Schwartz…

In Episode 208, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky discuss the younger Kolsky’s new walking ability before moving on to:

This week’s episode of Top Chef (3:35), how Derek’s fantasy team is falling apart and the Mount Rushmore of potential winners…
This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (23:05) and how it left the guys wanting more of the show’s mainstays…
The HBO Sports documentary The Scheme (38:05) and how the main takeaway was an embarrassing job by federal authorities…
The Netflix sports documentary Screwball (48:15) and how it told an insane story in an interesting and enjoyable way…
The film The End of the Tour (56:15) and how it’s a heck of a good watch if you like watching a couple of dudes talk for two hours…
The old Showtime/Spike Lee pilot Sucker Free City (1:00:10) and how it makes you long for a series that never happened…
The end of the third season of Netflix’s Ozark (1:03:40) and how wonderful and entertaining a show it continues to be…
Homework for next week (1:12:35), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the return of Killing Eve, the fourth season of HBO’s Insecure, the new HBO series Run, FX/Hulu’s new Cate Blanchett show Mrs. America, and the Netflix comedy Brews Brothers…

In Episode 207, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky discuss their personal COVID-19 ordeals before getting into:

Week 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef (7:55) and all the intrigue therein…
The premiere of The Challenge: Total Madness (29:25) and who’s back for what looks to be a wild and twisty season…
Netflix’s documentary sensation Tiger King (52:40) and how everyone on the show is awful and awfully bizarre…
A few thoughts on Netflix’s Ozark (1:04:10) and a promise to get deeper into it next week when both guys have finished Season 3…
A review of the new Pearl Jam record Gigaton (1:06:50) and how it manages to feel both topical and like a classic Pearl Jam album…
Last week’s somber episode of Last Week Tonight on HBO (1:12:15) and what political comedy shows are doing in this strange time…
Homework for next week (1:19:10), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the end of Ozark Season 3, the HBO Sports documentaries The Scheme and Screwball, the film The End of the Tour (available on Netflix) and the old Showtime movie Sucker Free City (rentable on Amazon and viewable on YouTube)…