Tag Archives: television

The Toy Department – Episode 212

  By toyAdmin | May 7, 2020 - 11:11 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 212, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dive right into:

  • This week’s restaurant wars episode of Top Chef (1:40) and the unsuspenseful upset that it delivered…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge (17:10) and the many dangers of Total Madness…
  • Two more episodes of The Last Dance (34:50) and the singular maniacal drive of Michael Jordan…
  • The return of Showtime’s Billions (52:40) and whether there’s enough growth to keep the show’s momentum going…
  • HBO’s new skater show Betty (56:15) and whether a pilot episode with no pilot can grab your interest…
  • Upload on Amazon Prime (1:00:40), where it falls short and why it remains a reasonably enjoyable watch…
  • Hulu’s new show Normal People (1:04:20) and its unique, perhaps novelistic style…
  • Homework for next week (1:08:10), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, finishing this season of Brockmire, the second season of Dead to Me and Jerry Seinfeld’s new stand-up special (plus HBO’s new show I Know This Much is True, which was not mentioned)…

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The Toy Department – Episode 211

  By toyAdmin | April 30, 2020 - 11:32 pm | Uncategorized
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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…

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The Toy Department – Episode 210

  By toyAdmin | April 25, 2020 - 2:47 pm | Uncategorized
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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…

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The Toy Department – Episode 209

  By toyAdmin | April 16, 2020 - 10:43 pm | Uncategorized
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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…

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The Toy Department – Episode 208

  By toyAdmin | April 9, 2020 - 10:53 pm | Uncategorized
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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…

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The Toy Department – Episode 207

  By toyAdmin | April 4, 2020 - 4:29 pm | Uncategorized
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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)…

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The Toy Department – Episode 191

  By toyAdmin | November 21, 2019 - 11:41 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 191, Derek Madden teases a non-existent show drama before exposing the rather dull truth, then he and Matt Kolsky basically agree on:

  • The new film Ford vs. Ferrari (2:10) and how it was somewhat unexceptional but the sort of film the guys would like to see more of…
  • The debut of The Mandalorian on Disney+ (14:45) and how the first two episodes were great, but the guys are ready for some plot…
  • The new Hulu show Dollface (24:40) and how it is utterly watchable but not especially deep or thoughtful…
  • The Netflix film Earthquake Bird (33:30) and how neither host much enjoyed it or understood the point of it…
  • A brief detour out of the Toy Department (39:15) because Madden wants to discuss the impeachment hearings, but Kolsky is not watching or interested…
  • More thoughts on The Challenge (43:50) which saw another excellent episode filled with perfect twists in the War of the Worlds II season, plus Kolsky’s analysis of old seasons as he learns some history…
  • Homework for TWO weeks from now (59:00), including: the new film Knives Out in theaters, the new film The Irishman on Netflix, the new film Brittany Runs A Marathon on Amazon Prime and Mike Birbiglia’s new Netflix stand-up special, plus check-ins on Watchmen and Mrs. Fletcher…

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The Toy Department – Episode 190

  By toyAdmin | November 14, 2019 - 11:39 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 190, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are off to a late start, so waste no time getting into:

  • Kolsky’s investment in Disney+ (1:00) and how he feels about it, with plans to get Madden involved for next week…
  • The new Taika Waititi film Jojo Rabbit (5:35), how incredible the cast was and what an interesting, thoughtful movie it turned out to be…
  • The new cycle of Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act on Netflix (17:20) and the fundamental struggle for comedy/news programs in our bizarre and confusing times…
  • A deep dive on MTV’s The Challenge (25:55), the remarkable twists and turns of the War of the Worlds 2 season and some specific strategy points and player analysis…
  • Homework for next week (53:15), including: watching the first couple episodes of The Mandalorian on Disney+, back to the theaters for the movie Ford vs. Ferrari, the new Hulu show Dollface and the new Netflix film Earthquake Bird…

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The Toy Department – Episode 189

  By toyAdmin | November 7, 2019 - 11:53 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 189, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky briefly discuss Tiffany Haddish’s Netflix offering They Ready before settling in for:

  • The new Edward Norton film Motherless Brooklyn (3:00) and whether it is too complicated for its own good…
  • The return of The End of the Fucking World on Netflix (11:30) and how it continues to be oddly and undeniably charming…
  • HBO’s new show His Dark Materials (17:45) and whether it is too fantastical for Madden to seriously entertain…
  • The end of HBO’s The Deuce (32:40) and how David Simon has crafted another deep and powerful piece of television entertainment…
  • A check-in on MTV’s The Challenge (53:45) and all the madness that makes it the best reality show running (and swimming, and hammering)…
  • Homework for next week (1:07:05), including: probably some more discussion of The Challenge, hopefully the premiere of the Star Wars show The Mandalorian on Disney+, the new cycle of Patriot Act on Netflix and the film Jojo Rabbit…

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The Toy Department – Episode 188

  By toyAdmin | October 31, 2019 - 11:26 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 188, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dive directly into:

  • The new Netflix film Dolemite Is My Name (1:35) starring Eddie Murphy, and how it’s nice to have Eddie back in our lives…
  • The other new Netflix film The Laundromat (10:55) from the mind of Steven Soderbergh, and how it finds focus and a pointed message in a last-minute twist…
  • The return of The Kominsky Method (22:10) and why the guys still enjoy Chuck Lorre’s Netflix comedy…
  • The return of HBO’s Silicon Valley for its final season (24:30) and how it feels as it heads for the finish…
  • HBO’s new show Mrs. Fletcher (33:00) and the enduring appeal of Kathryn Hahn despite the show’s overly pilot-y opening episode…
  • Some thoughts on why and how the Golden State Warriors should tank their season (37:05) following the unfortunate injury to Steph Curry and some other NBA considerations…
  • Homework for next week (54:25), including: His Dark Materials on HBO, Season 2 of End of the Fucking World on Netflix, the Ed Norton film Motherless Brooklyn, a re-up on MTV’s The Challenge and a discussion about the end of HBO’s The Deuce…

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