Tag Archives: The Challenge All-Stars

The Toy Department – Episode 285

  By toyAdmin | December 10, 2021 - 1:55 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 285, Madden and Kolsky have far too much to talk about to be “jerking off” in the studios (you’ll get that joke later) so it’s straight on into:

  • A few quick thoughts on musician Jacob Collier (2:10) and how Madden failed to follow the instructions for his homework assignment…
  • An extended debate about the Beatles docu-series Get Back (5:15), exactly what it is and whether it is worth the time for viewers…
  • A very short review of the new Amazon Prime show Harlem (34:00) and how it just isn’t too appealing to either of our hosts…
  • A few thoughts on the debut episode of Landscapers (36:30) and how David Thewliss and Olivia Coleman are enthralling enough to keep an audience watching while the show settles in…
  • A big talk about a BIG episode of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies (41:40) and where things stand after the beginning of the final…
  • Some thoughts on the lackluster second season of The Challenge All-Stars (1:03:50) and how the show hasn’t really found its footing in terms of the competition aspect…
  • Homework for next Thursday (1:15:10), including: more of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies, AND more Challenge All-Stars, plus a year-in-review chat to put a cap on 2021…

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The Toy Department – Episode 284

  By toyAdmin | December 3, 2021 - 12:49 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 284, Madden and Kolsky spend a few minutes talking about a musician Kolsky just discovered before getting to:

  • Kevin Hart’s new Netflix series True Story (4:55) and how a lot of good acting is not really enough to save a mediocre plot…
  • The absolutely insane conclusion to Season 2 of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show (20:05) and how this sort of soapy silliness happens on the watch of so many great actors…
  • The new film King Richard (30:45) and how good Will Smith is in Venus and Serena Williams’ tribute to their incredibly unique father…
  • The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies (43:55) and just what the major elimination twist will be, plus the unbelievable career of CT and some informal player power rankings as we head into the final…
  • The latest from The Challenge All-Stars 2 (1:02:00), from the lovable insanity of Ayanna to the strange decision-making of Steve after an entertaining trivia challenge…
  • Homework for next Thursday (1:17:55), including: more of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies, AND more Challenge All-Stars, the new Beatles docu-series Get Back, the new Amazon Prime show Harlem, the new HBO show Landscapers and the musician Jacob Collier…

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The Toy Department – Episode 282

  By toyAdmin | November 19, 2021 - 12:23 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 282, Madden and Kolsky pushed through the technical difficulties common to olds of their age in order to bring you their thoughts on…

  • The newly Disney+-watchable Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2:35) and how it hits all its marks and ends up a highly enjoyable experience…
  • A brief NFL detour (7:55) to discuss some rookie quarterback play…
  • Paramount+’s big prestige TV swing Mayor of Kingstown (11:50) and whether it delivers on the promise of its cast…
  • The thrilling new HBO Max show Yellowjackets (20:55) and the incredible cast of women executing it…
  • Deep analysis of a top-shelf episode of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies (27:20) and who controls the game as it speeds towards the surely imminent final…
  • Episode 2 of this season of The Challenge All-Stars (57:05), the gamut of emotions it runs and how the game is shaping up for the old fogies…
  • Homework for next Thursday (1:15:55), including: more of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies, AND more Challenge All-Stars, HBO’s Music Box documentary Jagged (about Alanis Morrisette), the new Netflix film Red Notice, the new season of The Great on Hulu and The Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO Max…

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The Toy Department – Episode 281

  By toyAdmin | November 12, 2021 - 12:44 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 281, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek’s morning drinks and Kolsky’s morning show appearance before remembering to talk about…

  • Tom Hanks’ new Apple TV+ film Finch (3:15) which is not a bad movie but forgettable enough that Derek can’t keep the title in his head for more than seven consecutive minutes…
  • The new Netflix western film The Harder They Fall (10:20) and how it’s a highly entertaining bit of popcorn cinema…
  • The return of Netflix’s treasured Big Mouth (23:00) and spoiler alert: it’s still great!
  • Another momentum-shifting week on The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies (27:40) as the Emerald Cell finally loses a daily challenge and faces infiltration via an overdramatic elimination starring Amanda as one of the great heels in show history…
  • The Season 2 premiere of The Challenge All-Stars (46:35) and how the episode was somewhat disappointing, but there’s still a lot of hope for a good season…
  • Homework for next Thursday (59:00), including: more of The Challenge: Spies, Lies and Allies, AND more Challenge All-Stars, plus Yellowjackets on Showtime, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Disney+ and Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+…
  • A few minutes on USA Men’s Soccer (1:00:45) ahead of a critical USA v. Mexico matchup in World Cup Qualifying play…

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The Toy Department – Challenge All-Stars Finale Pt 2

  By toyAdmin | May 27, 2021 - 11:01 pm | Uncategorized
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It’s Part 2 of the Challenge All-Stars final, and they’re putting these old folks through the ringer… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk about the mild upset winner, which competitors are really up to the Challenge and what the future of the franchise might look like, plus lots of other wild speculation…

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The Toy Department – Challenge All-Stars Episode 8

  By toyAdmin | May 20, 2021 - 11:19 pm | Uncategorized
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It’s Part 1 of the somewhat sudden Challenge All-Stars final, and it is no joke… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into the tragic early elimination of Derrick (and Jisela), the various strategic approaches and their relative ability to consume spicy foods, among many other things…

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The Toy Department – Episode 259

  By toyAdmin | May 18, 2021 - 10:52 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 259, Madden and Kolsky are back from a Kolsky Paternity Break to catch up on their favorite pop culture, specifically:

  • A couple weeks of thrilling action on Top Chef (5:30) with the elimination of the much-hated Gabriel and a pretty distinct top four chefs emerging; now restaurant week is on deck, with a new open kitchen design!!
  • The old Cinemax show Banshee (26:00) which is now available on HBO Max and makes a hell of an enjoyable binge…
  • Catching up on The Challenge: All Stars (34:10) which is heading into the final with an awful lot of competitors but only a few competitors, if you catch our drift…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (58:45), including: more Top Chef in Portland, the new Tina Fey/Peacock show GIRLS5EVA, HBO Max’s Jean Smart vehicle Hacks, the new Angelia Jolie movie Those Who Wish Me Dead and the debut of season three of Netflix’s Master of None (which focuses on Lena Waithe’s character)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: All Stars on Thursday!!!

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The Toy Department – Challenge All-Stars Episode 5 and Double Agents Reunion Part 1

  By toyAdmin | May 1, 2021 - 12:37 am | Uncategorized
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Another double Challenge week, with All-Stars ratcheting up the competition — and the hookups!! — in its fifth episode, and the drama on high at Part 1 of the Double Agents reunion… There’s enough Alton mishegas and Fessy bashing for everyone!!

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The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 18 AND Episode 3 of The Challenge All-Stars!!!

  By toyAdmin | April 15, 2021 - 9:09 pm | Uncategorized
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The Challenge: Double Agents final has begun, and it was action-packed in its first day!! There are new versions of old challenges, a dramatic injury, a gigantic wimp and of course some off-field drama, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are here to break it all down, with an eye forwards towards next week’s sure-to-be-thrilling conclusion… PLUS, it’s Week 3 of The Challenge All-Stars and the old folks are getting after it… AND an exciting lizard/reptile tangent that you don’t yet know you need… It’s all right here at The Toy Department podcast!!!

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The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 17 AND Episode 2 of The Challenge All-Stars!!!

  By toyAdmin | April 8, 2021 - 11:20 pm | Uncategorized
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Another two-Challenge week, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky are here to break down all the action and intrigue… A tremendous episode of The Challenge: Double Agents produced an epic week for Kyle and a pathetic week for Fessy, despite their ultimate fates. We’ve got at least one challenger who needs remedial math classes and another in need of an orthopedist… Meanwhile on All-Stars, the competition is at a lower level but the drama remains at a high with Trishelle’s antics and Beth’s insistence on using the word “tenderoni.” It’s a big bundle of wonderful, and there’s no better place to hear about it!!!

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