Tag Archives: television

The Toy Department – Episode 252

  By toyAdmin | March 16, 2021 - 10:58 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 252, Madden tries to waylay Kolsky with a “fuck Woody Allen” message to open the show, but they quickly move on to:

  • The new season of Last Chance U (3:00) covering the East LA College basketball team, what moving to basketball does for the series and some of the best characters from the first couple episodes…
  • The new Netflix film Moxie! (22:05), how original and uniquely delightful it turned out to be, and the impending superstardom of Alycia Pascua-Peña…
  • Apple TV+’s signature series The Morning Show (33:40) and how — while certainly imperfect — it’s a very watchable show with a lot of good acting…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (45:20), including: Marvel’s new TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, Netflix’s new documentary Operation Varsity Blues about Hollywood’s college admissions scandal, the Oscar-nominated Mads Mikkelsen movie Another Round and the Oscar-nominated Steven Yeun film Minari… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 13

  By toyAdmin | March 11, 2021 - 10:51 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

This week brought a fairly straightforward episode of The Challenge: Double Agents, but one that lays out the path to the final pretty clearly… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into what happens from here, who’s still in jeopardy and how long the road to completion will be… Plus, as always, a Burn of the Week and Episode MVP!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 251

  By toyAdmin | March 9, 2021 - 11:19 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 251, Madden and Kolsky’s show-opening distraction turned into such a big conversation that it gets its own bullet point below, along with:

  • A contentious conversation about WandaVision (1:20) and the broader contents and implications of the Marvel Cinematic Universe…
  • Disney’s new animated film Raya and the Last Dragon (22:10) and how it’s great, but will probably be equally great in a few months when it’s not an extra $30…
  • The Eddie Murphy sequel Coming 2 America (31:15) and just how far enjoyable nostalgia will get you…
  • Netflix’s Notorious B.I.G. documentary Biggie: I Got A Story to Tell (44:25) and some of its more interesting and enlightening moments…
  • Paramount+’s big new Real World Reunion show (54:55) and how it hit differently for our two hosts based on their age and memories…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (1:08:20), including: the new high school flick Moxie! on Netflix, finishing up The Morning Show on Apple TV+ and the new season of Last Chance U on Netflix (covering a basketball team for the first time)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 12

  By toyAdmin | March 4, 2021 - 10:27 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

Another jam-packed episode of The Challenge: Double Agents, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are here to break down CT’s social miscues, Big T’s upsetting tears, Darrell’s smooth gameplay and Devin and Josh being Devin and Josh… Come for the Burn of the Week, stay for the high-level game analysis!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 250

  By toyAdmin | March 2, 2021 - 10:45 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 250, Madden and Kolsky briefly discuss Chris Harrison’s departure from The Bachelor franchise and the younger Kolsky’s new belly-centric hobby before moving on to:

  • Kolsky’s experience with the Patrice O’Neal documentary Killin’ Is Easy (6:30), despite Derek’s failure to find it…
  • The new Hulu movie The United States vs. Billie Holiday (9:55), Andra Day’s Golden Globes win and how a strong lead performance is not enough to save a messy film…
  • The instant cult classic comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (23:55) and some of the things that make it so wonderfully enjoyable…
  • Netflix’s Pelé documentary (31:40) and the interesting picture it paints of the man who was in many ways the world’s first sports celebrity…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (43:55), including: starting watching Apple TV+’s The Morning Show for discussion in two weeks, the Eddie Murphy sequel Coming 2 America, Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+, the Real World Reunion on Paramount+ and Netflix’s new Notorious B.I.G. documentary Biggie: I Got A Story to Tell… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 249

  By toyAdmin | February 23, 2021 - 10:56 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 249, Madden and Kolsky address Kolsky’s improving health and Madden’s old-man-moment with SNL before getting into:

  • Netflix’s new Rosamund Pike film I Care a Lot (5:10) and why, despite being generally an enjoyable watch, it just doesn’t quite work…
  • The new Hulu movie Nomadland (16:30), the community it features and the consistently incredible Frances McDormand…
  • HBO Max’s AIDS crisis miniseries It’s a Sin (31:50) and the rich tapestry of humanity painted by a tremendous show…
  • The new NBC sitcom Young Rock (39:55) and how Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson remains essentially undefeated…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (45:20), including: Netflix’s new Pelé documentary, the new Hulu film US vs. Billie Holiday, the Patrice O’Neal documentary Killin’ Is Easy on Comedy Central and the new release movie Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge – Episode 10

  By toyAdmin | February 18, 2021 - 10:56 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

Not the season’s best episode, but this IS the best coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on the internet!! Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into some awful political misplays and miserable decision-making from the latest episode… with an attempt to crown an MVP and some CT fire in Burn of the Week. Plus — what’s the coming security breach and who’s the dream elimination matchup for next week??

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 248

  By toyAdmin | February 16, 2021 - 11:40 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 248, Madden and Kolsky settle in for a movie-heavy episode covering:

  • The excellent new film Judas and the Black Messiah (1:50) and all the things that made it both a tremendous achievement and a difficult watch…
  • The New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears (22:15) and the disturbing celebrity culture that contributed to her current predicament…
  • The light-hearted To All The Boys: Always and Forever (45:40) and how both guys had fun but are pretty much done with this particular series of films…
  • A few thoughts on NBA All-Star (53:25), specifically on the unfortunate unlikelihood of Zach Lavine’s candidacy for the Eastern Conference team…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (1:02:45), including: the new NBC sitcom Young Rock, the new HBO Max miniseries It’s A Sin, the Netflix film I Care a Lot and the Hulu movie Nomadland… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 9

  By toyAdmin | February 11, 2021 - 10:59 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

Another action-packed episode of The Challenge: Double Agents to discuss… With more Killa Kam vs. Toxic T, Kaycee getting in on the action and of course a hilarious game of trivia highlighted by TJ’s giggles and the players’ lack of knowledge… PLUS, a look ahead to the coming season of The Challenge: We Want OGs!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 247

  By toyAdmin | February 9, 2021 - 10:37 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 247, Madden and Kolsky once again confront Kolsky’s infirmity before attempting an elusive short episode covering:

  • ESPN’s embarrassing 30 for 30 film Al Davis vs. the NFL (2:45) and how a goofy gimmick torpedoed what could have been a tremendous documentary…
  • Marvel’s new TV series WandaVision (9:45) and whether a creative approach is enough to soften Madden’s distaste for superhero content…
  • The new Netflix film Malcom & Marie (18:30) and what exactly director Sam Levinson and star Zendaya (who reportedly had significant input) are going for…
  • Some thoughts on the new NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (27:10) and what makes it funnier than the average network fare…
  • A few quick thoughts on the Super Bowl (32:40) and what an unpleasant experience it was…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (35:35), including: the NYT-made documentary Framing Britney Spears, the third To All The Boys movie (which drops Friday on Netflix) and the new film Judas & the Black Messiah (available Friday on HBO Max)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS