Tag Archives: FX

The Toy Department – Episode 161

  By toyAdmin | April 3, 2019 - 11:17 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 161, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky literally make small talk about weather before getting serious on:

  • Derek’s viewing of Jordan Peele’s Us (3:25) and whether Kolsky is being a big ol’ wimp about seeing it…
  • The TV premiere of What We Do in the Shadows (17:05) on FX, and how it compares to the film it is based on…
  • The start of the seventh season of Veep on HBO (21:00) and how the show has changed over time…
  • The return of HBO’s Barry (26:25) in a somewhat pilot-y fashion, resetting the world we got to know in Season 1…
  • The end of Miracle Workers on TBS (29:05) and how it made an enjoyable little treat…
  • The end of Season 1 of Black Monday (33:55) and whether there’s enough on the bone to bring an effective satire back for a second season…
  • The end of HBO’s documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed (38:50) and the ongoing injustices of the story we first heard through Serial…
  • Homework for next week (54:40), including: the return of several show favorites on TV — Killing Eve, Brockmire and The Chi — plus the series finale of You’re The Worst, the series premiere of Fosse/Verdon and a few movies for the back burner: The Inventor and Native Son (both on HBO) and The Highwaymen on Netflix…

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The Toy Department – Episode 158

  By toyAdmin | March 13, 2019 - 11:11 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 158, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk about the onslaught of peak television before focusing in on:

  • HBO’s The Case Against Adnan Syed (3:05), the frustrations of watching authorities bungle a case and a heartfelt look at a heartbreaking story…
  • Netflix’s new docu-series Losers (15:10) and how the episodes tell heartwarming tales of human triumph from the sports world…
  • Ricky Gervais’ new show After Life (24:40), also available on Netflix, which tells the story of a heartbroken and initially somewhat charmless widower finding his way back to being human…
  • The Canadian show Workin’ Moms (29:45), ALSO available on Netflix, and how it didn’t quite connect with either of the guys despite a lot of appealing aspects…
  • A check-in on FX’s You’re the Worst (35:41), a true pod favorite, in the midst of its final season…
  • Some assorted thoughts on peak tv and upcoming shows and movies (44:20) including Crashing and Deadwood on HBO…
  • Homework for next week (49:15), including: wrapping up Crashing and trying to get Derek into Deadwood, the Ben Affleck-fronted Netflix film Triple Frontier, the return of Showtime’s Billions, a new season of Catastrophe on Amazon and the season finalé of Top Chef (and perhaps watching the show Schitt’s Creek at some point in the not-too-distant future)…

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The Toy Department – Episode 157

  By toyAdmin | March 6, 2019 - 10:56 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 157, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky tempt fate with the prediction of a short show (spoiler alert — it actually came true!!) before breaking down:

  • The return of FX’s Better Things (1:25), a pod favorite, and how its brilliance appears intact after the departure of co-creator Louis C.K…
  • The Netflix film Paddleton (8:45), how it manages to be enjoyable and distinctly Duplass-y despite a persistent sadness and what it says about the movie industry’s changing status quo…
  • The HBO film O.G. (25:05), featuring a typically tour de force performance performance from Jeffrey Wright in a clinical look at incarceration…
  • Gary Clark, Jr.’s new album This Land (34:10) and how its eclectic mix of blues-tinged genre-jumping makes for a really good album that may not do much for his popularity…
  • Homework for next week (45:10), including: The Case Against Adnan Syed on HBO, Losers and Workin’ Moms on Netflix and check-ins on HBO’s The Shop and FX’s You’re the Worst…

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The Toy Department – Episode 136

  By toyAdmin | October 2, 2018 - 10:40 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 136, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky briefly banter about their inability to execute a short version of the podcast before long-winded discussions centering on:

  • The world of baseball (1:30) as the playoffs begin, which — in a bad sign for baseball — devolves into a brief discussion of the Atlanta Hawks…
  • An attempt to find new network television worth watching (16:00) which ends with the selection of one new drama and one new comedy that Kolsky and Madden will try out for at least two episodes…
  • The return of NBC’s The Good Place (30:25) and how incredible a job it does of playing to all audiences while also remaining incredibly smart and original in today’s network climate…
  • FX’s new Australian offering Mr. In-Between (37:10) which both guys find intriguing after an episode or two…
  • Lil Wayne’s new album (42:20) and how its highlights show off Wayne’s skills but aren’t enough to prop up 23 tracks…
  • The season finale of HBO’s Insecure (48:05) and the unique lack of particular excitement or cliffhangers…
  • Homework for next week (53:40), including: finishing Forever on Amazon, starting The Cool Kids on Fox, the return of Big Mouth on Netflix and the season finale of AMC’s Better Call Saul…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 118

  By toyAdmin | May 15, 2018 - 2:20 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 118, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky share their plans for the evening before focusing in on:

  • Some thoughts on FX’s Atlanta (2:35) after the finalé of its second season, with an aside on Donald Glover’s upcoming appearance in Solo…
  • The season finalé of Barry on HBO (10:55) and whether the writers have painted themselves into a corner for Season 2 with the way the first season ended…
  • David Letterman’s Netflix show (20:05) and whether it maybe should have just been a podcast…
  • The Arctic Monkeys new album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (33:00) and how much of a tonal shift it represents for a band that broke out in popularity after their previous record…
  • A check-in with the NBA Playoffs (44:10) and an argument about whether either of the teams who lost Game 1 of their conference finals series still has a chance to advance to the NBA Finals…
  • The announcement of Netflix/ESPN’s new 10-hour documentary about Michael Jordan’s Bulls (1:00:55), how it’s time to remind the world of Jordan’s greatness and how Kolsky can barely contain his excitement…
  • Homework for next week (1:12:40), including: including Ali Wong’s new standup special on Netflix and the series finalé of the sitcom New Girl…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 116

  By toyAdmin | May 1, 2018 - 1:21 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 116, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky ignore the small Venezuelan woman knocking on the door of Kolsky’s room and get right into:

  • Kanye West’s apparent Trump support (6:20) and whether it changes the receptiveness to his music…
  • The season 2 premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale (14:45) and whether the guys are prepared to depress themselves for another season of television…
  • The return of IFC’s Brockmire (25:55), how much fun the show is and how hopeful both guys are for the future of this season…
  • Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Crashing (33:15), an originally British show that is now available on Netflix and brings some filthy fun to the table…
  • FX’s Legion (43:05) and whether things have gotten too insane to handle for either of the hosts…
  • The second round of the NBA Playoffs (52:50) including thoughts on LeBron, the 76ers, the Celtics and the Raptors…
  • Homework for next week (1:03:15), including: Dear White People on Netflix, checking in on Westworld, Billions and Atlanta, the return of Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, the new Janelle Monáe album (plus the movie she released on YouTube along with it) and John Mulaney’s new Netflix stand-up special…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 115

  By toyAdmin | April 24, 2018 - 2:23 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 115, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky explain themselves for missing last week (spoiler alert — Kolsky had surgery) before getting down to business with:

  • The return of HBO’s Westworld (2:35) and whether the show is living up to the buzz that has surrounded it over its two years of existence…
  • A discussion of whether FX’s television lineup has surpassed HBO’s (9:25) as far as show quality…
  • The new Andre the Giant documentary (15:40), produced by Ringer Films for HBO…
  • The first few episodes of Killing Eve (27:45), a new show on BBC America starring Sandra Oh and created by young British super-talent Phoebe Waller-Bridge…
  • The new album from indie psych-rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra (36:40), called Sex and Food, and whether Kolsky has finally recommended music that Derek can enjoy…
  • A chat about Madden’s Beyoncé fatigue (42:10) and whether the cultural conversation around her is over-the-top and inappropriately devoid of any criticism…
  • A quick summary discussion about the first round of the NBA playoffs (57:20), including lots of Russell Westbrook thoughts and some boosting of the 76ers and Pelicans…
  • Homework for next week (1:11:15), including: checking out a few episodes of Crashing on Netflix (another Phoebe Waller-Bridge show), the Season 2 premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale, and the Season 2 premiere of Brockmire, plus exciting sports content with Champions League soccer and NBA Playoffs…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 114

  By toyAdmin | April 10, 2018 - 4:11 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 114, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a distressingly un-fun chat about Facebook before returning to the appropriate purview of the podcast to get into:

  • A check-in with FX’s Atlanta (7:10) to sort through Derek’s feelings about Episode 6 of the second season, Teddy Perkins…
  • The second season premiere of FX’s Legion (13:40) and whether it can keep Madden’s attention if it doesn’t lock into a more straightforward approach to plot and story…
  • The first episode of the new TBS sitcom The Last O.G. (25:45), starring Tiffany Haddish and Tracy Morgan, which both guys are hopeful about after watching the pilot…
  • The new album from Cardi B (34:15), Invasion of Privacy, and how it may represent the culture passing Derek by…
  • A quick description of Madden’s experience at Cafe Spiaggia (53:10), Top Chef Winner Joe Flamm’s restaurant in Chicago…
  • A wrap-up discussion on the Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country (57:45), despite some technical difficulties…
  • The Al Pacino-starring HBO film Paterno (1:08:45), and the difficulties of making a movie about the short period of time that it focuses on…
  • Homework for next week (1:22:20), including: getting to the film A Quiet Place some time in the next two weeks, the Andre the Giant documentary on HBO, BBC America’s new Sandra Oh-starring series Killing Eve and the new album from the indie/psych-rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 112

  By toyAdmin | March 27, 2018 - 2:25 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 112, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky find themselves in the same time zone — a rare treat — and briefly discuss Madden’s reggaeton horn app before they break down:

  • Netflix’s new Duplass brothers-produced documentary Wild Wild Country (2:40) and what a great job it’s doing of telling a story both guys are surprised not to know more about…
  • A few thoughts on the second season of Amazon’s series Sneaky Pete (13:25) and how much the guys are enjoying it…
  • The premiere of the newest season of HBO’s Silicon Valley (15:30) and how the show needs to evolve if it wants to truly impress…
  • A bizarre tangent into Tiffany Haddish’s story (24:15) about somebody biting Beyoncé in the face at a party, and whether it is worth a deep investigation…
  • HBO’s new dark comedy series Barry (32:25) and just how incredibly well the pilot went over with both Madden and Kolsky, leaving them excited about the possibilities…
  • Another rave session for FX’s Atlanta (39:15), which continues to be the best show on television and executes its vision at the highest possible level…
  • Some NCAA Tournament thoughts (48:30) with the Final Four on the horizon and ideas about how to improve the level of play in American basketball…
  • Homework for next week (59:40), including: the new FX series Trust, the rest of Sneaky Pete, the film Annihilation, Kolsky beginning his Billions catch-up project and the new HBO film Paterno, starring Al Pacino…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 109

  By toyAdmin | March 6, 2018 - 2:29 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 109, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky jump right into the business to discuss:

  • The aftermath of the 90th Annual Academy Awards (0:50), the low ratings and the future of the awards show…
  • The Season 2 premiere of Donald Glover’s FX show Atlanta (14:00) and all the things that make it the best show on television right now…
  • Another FX show, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (22:00) and how Madden and Kolsky differ greatly in their opinion of the show…
  • The Paramount Network show Waco (39:25) and how its handling of history struck Madden and Kolsky differently…
  • #PodChef time: the semi-finals episode of Top Chef (1:01:10) is in the books, and the guys have thoughts…
  • Homework for next week (1:09:40), including: the first three episodes of NBC’s Good Girls, the Netflix film Mute, the start of Season 3 of Lifetime’s UnREAL, plus the return of Jessica Jones and Love on Netflix and Sneaky Pete on Amazon…

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.

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