The Toy Department – Episode 385

In Episode 385, Madden and Kolsky discuss the baking project happening in Kolsky’s house before locking in and moving through:

  • A baseball-themed team challenge on Top Chef Wisconsin (3:25) and an episode that ended with a classic good-food-goes-home moment…
  • A spicy elimination matchup on The Challenge All-Stars 4 (18:35), the perils of making enemies in the game and a format that takes some power from the winners…
  • The Lily Gladstone-starring series Under the Bridge (35:50) and whether it transcends a potential bad time TV designation…
  • The 80s-style thriller Love Lies Bleeding (41:00) and Kristen Stewart’s interesting career choices…
  • Some NBA Playoffs chatter (51:10) as the first round is beginning to wrap up…
  • Homework for next week (1:07:10), including: another episode of Top Chef Wisconsin, more of The Challenge All-Stars 4, John Mulaney’s “live” show on Netflix, the buzzy Baby Reindeer (available on Netflix) and the Elisabeth Moss series The Veil on FX/Hulu…

The Toy Department – Episode 241

In Episode 241, Madden and Kolsky wish 2020 a very good riddance and discuss the odd new 2020 movie experience before jumping into:

  • The new superhero blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984 (4:30) and all the many and varied disappointments within…
  • The first film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe collection (17:50) — called Mangrove — and what a high-quality, artful production it is despite being a very tough hang…
  • The new Netflix movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (28:40) and how it feels very specifically like a play but also features tremendous performances from Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis, among others…
  • Hulu’s holiday lesbian rom-com Happiest Season (38:45) and how it’s a perfectly good, if relatively standard-issue, romantic comedy…
  • Homework for of next Tuesday (43:35), including: the second of the five films in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe collection (called Lovers Rock), the new season of Cobra Kai on Netflix, the Charlie Brooker (of Black Mirror fame) mockumentary special Death to 2020 and the new film Sylvie’s Love, starring Tessa Thompson and former All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!