The Toy Department – Episode 315

In Episode 315, Madden and Kolsky have a bumpy open when Derek makes a surprise verbiage change before the usual pop culture coverage on:

  • The Allison Janney/Jurnee Smollett Netflix thriller Lou (1:30) and how it just didn’t really come together…
  • Netflix’s teen camp flick Do Revenge (9:15) and how both guys found it super entertaining and thoroughly enjoyed the two lead actresses…
  • The NBC reboot of Quantum Leap (17:55) and how network television just seems to fall short in so many ways, arguably by design…
  • The latest episodes of The Challenge: Untold History (28:45) and all the incredible Challenge legends who were covered (or not) in the GOATs episode…
  • Homework for next Friday (59:55), including: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix, the Sanaa Lathan-directed On The Come Up on Paramount+, Interview with the Vampire on AMC, The Greatest Beer Run Ever on Apple TV+, and the last two episodes of The Challenge: Untold History…

The Toy Department – Episode 93

In Episode 93, Matt Kolsky is on the road for the first chunk of the podcast, then Derek Madden is at home for the final portion — it’s a real adventure!! Topics discussed include:

  • Revisiting Netflix’s American Vandal (4:00) and concluding that it really is quite enjoyable…
  • A check-in on FX’s Better Things (6:10) and how it is one of the best shows on television and deserves more attention…
  • The release of a new N*E*R*D song (11:20) and Madden’s experience interviewing Pharrell…
  • The new hit television show The Good Doctor (19:20), dealing with autism in television and how network shows can really be good…
  • The Netflix show Atypical (30:45), another show featuring a central character with autism, and Michael Rappaport’s surprising performance…
  • A few thoughts on Thor: Ragnarok (36:30) from Kolsky, the designated comic book movie viewer…
  • Homework for next week (39:20) including: the new 30 for 30 documentary Nature Boy about Ric Flair, and the Showtime shows Shameless and SMILF…
  • An interview with Emma Kolsky (44:15), Matt’s sister and an autism specialist, about the portrayal of people with autism in The Good Doctor and Atypical…

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