Tag Archives: television

The Toy Department – Episode 85

  By toyAdmin | September 13, 2017 - 12:25 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 85, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky literally hows-the-weather each other before addressing more pressing concerns, including:

  • An on-air programming meeting (2:40) wherein Kolsky suggests a new segment for the future of the pod…
  • The new Steven Soderbergh film Logan Lucky (6:20) which was a bit of a disappointment to both guys…
  • Week 1 of the NFL (21:35) wherein a Colin Kaepernick discussion was redacted for the second consecutive week but Kap’s situation was still briefly discussed, along with some of the many QB issues across the league and the general lack of a standout team…
  • The season premiere of FX’s You’re the Worst (42:20) and what it says about where this season will go…
  • HBO’s new Sunday heavy hitter, The Deuce (48:50) and how it’s already springing to the top of best current shows…
  • Madden’s experience at the U2 concert last week (57:55) and how they have honed a big stadium show to perfection…
  • Homework for next week (1:02:15): including the season premiere of Better Things on FX, the new National album, the new season of Bojack Horseman, the Netflix original film The Fundamentals of Caring and the season premiere of Broad City…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 84

  By toyAdmin | September 5, 2017 - 8:54 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 84, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky debrief on the latter’s recent travel before dispensing with:

  • A brief preview of the excitement of the coming week (3:15), including the NFL and HBO’s new show The Deuce, from producer David Simon (of The Wire fame)…
  • A more extended NFL preview (8:45), including discussion of the impending Roger Goodell extension, a debate about the third-best QB in the league and a breakdown of the wide range of potential contenders…
  • The disappointing new Netflix series Disjointed (38:15)…
  • Recent developments on HBO’s Insecure (50:05)…
  • An interesting storyline on HBO’s Ballers (55:15) and how it mirrors some of our feelings about the real-world NFL…
  • The new LCD Soundsystem album American Dream (1:00:30) and Kolsky’s curious reaction to the band in general…
  • Homework for next week (1:11:10): including the opening week of the NFL, the premiere episode of The Deuce, the new Steven Soderbergh film Logan Lucky and the season premiere of the FXX comedy and pod favorite You’re the Worst…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 83

  By toyAdmin | August 29, 2017 - 11:55 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 83, Derek Madden finds Matt Kolsky on the island of Mabul, off the coast of Malaysian Borneo, where despite massive internet connectivity issues they manage to record a pod discussing:

  • The Kolsky family vacation to Borneo (0:40)…
  • The finale of Season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones – where are we at, where do we go from here and are we sufficiently satisfied (10:30)…
  • Louis CK’s self-produced web series Horace and Pete (26:35)…
  • The series finale of Orphan Black (41:55) and whether the show managed to navigate some plot confusion and land on its feet in the end…
  • Two new albums: The War On Drugs’ A Deeper Understanding (51:15) and Queens of the Stone Age’s Villains (57:00)…
  • Madden’s experience at the Kendrick Lamar show (1:01:45)…
  • Homework for next week (1:07:50):including catching up on HBO’s Insecure, the start of the NFL season and the new Netflix weed show Disjointed…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 81

  By toyAdmin | August 9, 2017 - 6:43 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 81, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky banter about their sleeping habits before having more substantive discussions about:

  • A short and only half-informed discourse on the finalé of The Bachelorette (3:45)…
  • Season 7, Episode 4 of Game of Thrones (5:45): whether its greatness vindicates those who complained about the first three episodes of this season, the creepiness of Bran and the futures of our favorite characters…
  • HBO’s new Duplass-created show Room 104 (30:00) and what exactly it is, including a brief detour into the great career of James Van Der Beek…
  • The new installment of Wet Hot American Summer on Netflix (43:00) and how they recapture the tone and excellence of the movie that may have been lost in the first tv series…
  • Live music! Both Madden and Kolsky went to see live shows this week (50:55) and they discuss their experiences seeing Bruno Mars and Robert Randolph, respectively…
  • Recorded music! Madden finally listened to the new Vic Mensa record, The Autobiography (1:01:40) and agrees that it’s a damn good hip hop album…
  • Homework for next week (1:03:50): Madden has a big weekend planned, but that means he’s riding a plane so we’re going to learn about what movies are offered on a flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 80

  By toyAdmin | August 1, 2017 - 8:08 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 80, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky take a minute to discuss the weather before diving into:

  • Madden’s experience at a Guns N’ Roses concert (1:50)…
  • Season 7, Episode 3 of Game of Thrones (11:05) and whether it is lagging a bit or if expectations might simply be too high…
  • Toy Department Goes To The Movies Part 1 — discussing the film Atomic Blonde (19:20) and whether it lives up to its billing and its own ambitions…
  • Toy Department Goes To The Movies Part 2 — discussing the film Girls Trip (29:05) and the burgeoning stardom of Tiffany Haddish…
  • Some new hip hop: Tyler, the Creator’s new album (41:45) and the young female rapper cupcakKe (47:25) and her potential as an artist…
  • Some new rock music: the disappointing new Arcade Fire album (49:05) and the exciting new Nine Inch Nails EP (56:40)…
  • Homework for next week (1:02:20): the movie The Dark Tower, based on Stephen King’s books and starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey… the new Duplass Brothers-produced HBO show Room 104… and the new Vic Mensa album The Autobiography…

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 79

  By toyAdmin | July 26, 2017 - 9:12 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 79, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky take you behind the scenes of the Toy Department’s pre-production and schedule-planning, and mention Kolsky’s new gig with the SF Examiner before jumping all over:

  • A season wrap-up for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale (2:30) and how the show successfully built to a thrilling ending…
  • Season 7, Episode 2 of Game of Thrones (10:40) and whether an exposition-heavy episode should be subject to criticism…
  • The announcement of Confederate, the new HBO Show from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (24:15) and the public response to the concept of a show that imagines the South winning the Civil war…
  • The new, almost-universally-lauded Christopher Nolan film Dunkirk (33:30) and why almost everyone is wrong about it…
  • HBO’s Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine documentary series The Defiant Ones (48:00) and just how completely it tells the story of those two music giants…
  • The Kyrie Irving drama with the Cavaliers (1:03:35) — what’s going on in Cleveland? And does it make sense for anyone?
  • Homework for next week (1:23:20): listening to the rapper CupcakKe (after Derek failed to do so last week), listening to the new Nine Inch Nails EP Add Violence, and watching the new movies Atomic Blonde and Girls Trip…

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 78

  By toyAdmin | July 20, 2017 - 10:36 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 78, Matt Kolsky’s smoothie leads to a brief diet digression from Derek Madden before they dive into more interesting and relevant discussions of:

  • The self-inflicted death of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington (5:00)…
  • The Season 7 premiere of Game of Thrones (12:35) and the general absurdity of the whiny complaints about it…
  • The new Netflix show Friends from College (29:10) and the strangely negative reaction from critics to what seems to be a very lovable show…
  • Hot dogs (39:40) — what goes on them, what they’re for, etc…
  • Kolsky’s inability to not become a weepy mess (45:00) during heartstring-tugging entertainment…
  • Homework for next week (49:25): including next week’s Game of Thrones episode and the rapper cupcakKe… plus whatever the guys tweet about during the week 🙂

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 74

  By toyAdmin | June 22, 2017 - 11:06 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 74, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky break down Madden’s sports injury before some deep dives into:

  • The season finale of AMC’s Better Call Saul and the mastery of the show’s third season…
  • The season finale of FX’s Fargo and its choose-your-own-adventure style ending…
  • NEW MUSIC!!!
    • Young Thug’s Beautiful Thugger Girls
    • Portugal. The Man’s Woodstock
    • Lorde’s Melodrama
    • Phoenix’s Ti Amo
    • Alt-J’s Relaxer
  • Homework for next week: the new season of Orange is the New Black (to prepare for next week’s special guest Julie Lake, aka OITNB’s Angie Rice)… the new Netflix show GLOW… the new Showtime show I’m Dying Up Here… and the return of the pod favorite Orphan Black…

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 73

  By toyAdmin | June 8, 2017 - 10:20 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 73, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky overcome a late night for Kolsky and a bit of a hangover for Derek to give you insightful breakdowns of:

  • Kolsky’s experience at the Roger Waters concert (1:15)…
  • The NBA Finals so far (11:00) and what it means for the future of the NBA…
  • The series finale of The Leftovers (26:20) and where it ranks in the pantheon of Peak TV shows…
  • The newest DC Comics Universe film Wonder Woman (40:10) and whether Derek was enable to enjoy it despite his superhero fatigue…
  • Madden’s enjoyment of the Tom Petty concert (52:25) and the joy of classic bands playing their hits, plus the wildly underrated Joe Walsh…
  • This week’s episode of AMC’s Better Call Saul (1:01:00) with a special focus on the stellar acting performances of Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKean…
  • Homework for next week, or possibly two weeks from now (1:09:25): including FX’s Fargo, a last-chance effort to get Derek to enjoy a superhero movie with Logan, and the upcoming new season of Orange is the New Black (to prepare for future special guest Julie Lake, aka OITNB’s Angie Rice)…

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 72

  By toyAdmin | May 31, 2017 - 9:48 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 72, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky make you wait for the exciting guest segment but promise you’ll enjoy every delightful bit of the pod as they discuss:

  • Kolsky’s new smoothie habit (0:40)…
  • Last week’s homework, the Amazon original show I Love Dick (4:20)…
  • A check in on HBO’s The Leftovers (11:20) as we head towards the series finale this coming weekend…
  • The new Hasan Minhaj standup special (23:10) on Netflix and how it may be more one-man-show than standup comedy…
  • A deep NBA Finals breakdown and delightful conversation with ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth (28:25)…
  • Homework for next week (1:11:15): the new comic book extravaganza Wonder Woman [and potentially Logan to get Derek ready] and the Netflix-first Brad Pitt film War Machine…

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS