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…

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.

The Toy Department – Episode 66 (slash 420)

In Episode 66, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky acknowledge the holiday before chatting about:

  • The new Thursday schedule (2:30) and the shows that inspired the change-of-recording-day: Noah Hawley’s FX masterpiece Fargo (5:15) and IFC’s new Hank Azaria comedy Brockmire (17:45)…
  • The Leftovers (22:20) which Derek argues Kolsky (and others) should watch…
  • NBA Playoffs!!! (30:00) – including Take That for Data, the wacky Bulls/Celtics series and the Rorschach Test that is Russell Westbrook…
  • Kendrick Lamar (59:35), his new album DAMN. and his incredible elevation over the rest of the hip hop game…
  • Homework for next week (1:08:20) including: the new Joe Swanberg film Win It All (available on Netflix) and the Netflix Original teen drama 13 Reasons Why…

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… 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.

The Toy Department – Episode 52

In Episode 52, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky jump right into a music-heavy edition of the podcast, including chats about:

  • Before the music, a few thoughts on the NFL – the playoff situation, particularly the lack of exceptional teams and QB’s (1:40) and the MVP race (7:10)…
  • Madden finally watched the documentary film Scratch (14:20) and the boys discuss the finer points of the movie and the art of turntablism…
  • The Clash’s classic album London Calling (22:00) which Madden and Kolsky totally forgot to talk about last week… SPOILER ALERT: they both like it a lot…
  • 25 Songs for 2016 Playlists (31:15): both Madden (https://open.spotify.com/user/maddendisaster/playlist/61hD5YoG3IE6iqFITBIw6N) and Kolsky (https://open.spotify.com/user/kolsky/playlist/5zzn6BRGBU12yyqIZl887Y …) put together playlists on Spotify to represent their feelings and likes from 2016 in music… They break down the lists and discuss some of their particular favorites…

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… 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.