The Toy Department – The Challenge – Episode 10

Not the season’s best episode, but this IS the best coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on the internet!! Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into some awful political misplays and miserable decision-making from the latest episode… with an attempt to crown an MVP and some CT fire in Burn of the Week. Plus — what’s the coming security breach and who’s the dream elimination matchup for next week??

The Toy Department – Episode 248

In Episode 248, Madden and Kolsky settle in for a movie-heavy episode covering:

  • The excellent new film Judas and the Black Messiah (1:50) and all the things that made it both a tremendous achievement and a difficult watch…
  • The New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears (22:15) and the disturbing celebrity culture that contributed to her current predicament…
  • The light-hearted To All The Boys: Always and Forever (45:40) and how both guys had fun but are pretty much done with this particular series of films…
  • A few thoughts on NBA All-Star (53:25), specifically on the unfortunate unlikelihood of Zach Lavine’s candidacy for the Eastern Conference team…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (1:02:45), including: the new NBC sitcom Young Rock, the new HBO Max miniseries It’s A Sin, the Netflix film I Care a Lot and the Hulu movie Nomadland… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 9

Another action-packed episode of The Challenge: Double Agents to discuss… With more Killa Kam vs. Toxic T, Kaycee getting in on the action and of course a hilarious game of trivia highlighted by TJ’s giggles and the players’ lack of knowledge… PLUS, a look ahead to the coming season of The Challenge: We Want OGs!!

The Toy Department – Episode 247

In Episode 247, Madden and Kolsky once again confront Kolsky’s infirmity before attempting an elusive short episode covering:

  • ESPN’s embarrassing 30 for 30 film Al Davis vs. the NFL (2:45) and how a goofy gimmick torpedoed what could have been a tremendous documentary…
  • Marvel’s new TV series WandaVision (9:45) and whether a creative approach is enough to soften Madden’s distaste for superhero content…
  • The new Netflix film Malcom & Marie (18:30) and what exactly director Sam Levinson and star Zendaya (who reportedly had significant input) are going for…
  • Some thoughts on the new NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (27:10) and what makes it funnier than the average network fare…
  • A few quick thoughts on the Super Bowl (32:40) and what an unpleasant experience it was…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (35:35), including: the NYT-made documentary Framing Britney Spears, the third To All The Boys movie (which drops Friday on Netflix) and the new film Judas & the Black Messiah (available Friday on HBO Max)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 8

Another jam-packed episode of The Toy Department to cover an EVEN MORE jam-packed episode of The Challenge: Double Agents… Madden and Kolsky get into an epic daily challenge, Kam’s control of the game and how strategies will change now that gold skulls are running out, plus the BURN OF THE WEEK and of course and episode MVP!!

The Toy Department – Episode 246

In Episode 246, Madden and Kolsky briefly discuss Kolsky’s persistent physical malady before focusing on the pop culture of the week:

  • The new Amazon Prime show Flack (4:10), its star Anna Paquin and a level of watchability that led both hosts to watch all six episodes this week…
  • The second special episode of Euphoria (9:30) and how wonderful and original that show feels heading into its second season…
  • The French show Lupin (19:40), which is enjoyable and charming in some ways but doesn’t totally come together…
  • The film The Little Things (27:45) and, among other things, whether it’s possible for Rami Malek to be convincing as a relatively normal human being…
  • A little Super Bowl LV chat (38:35) focused primarily on some good-value prop bets to make your party-less Super Sunday a little more entertaining…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (57:50), including: the new Sam Levinson/Zendaya/John David Washington film Malcom & Marie on Netflix, ESPN’s new 30 for 30 film Al Davis vs. The NFL, the Ted Danson network sitcom Mr. Mayor and the new Marvel series WandaVision on Disney+; plus a Super Bowl wrap-up and more NBA basketball… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 7

The guys are back (just ONE day late) to get into an action-packed, twisty and turny episode of The Challenge: Double Agents… Lots of thoughts on Toxic T and what her actions did to her partner Jay, Killa Kam and her excellent merch and the awesome elimination performance of Leroy, among MANY other things…

The Toy Department – Episode 245

In Episode 245, Madden and Kolsky briefly discuss a mediocre basketball game they both watched last night before focusing in on:

  • Alex Wheatle (3:15), the fourth film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series on Amazon Prime, and how the series has lost some momentum as it has gone on…
  • The new Netflix film White Tiger (10:00) and how it turns some very dark material into a pretty thrilling ride…
  • The new HBO Max film Locked Down (16:55) and why its weirdness appealed more to one of our hosts than the other…
  • Some NFL Playoff thoughts (25:40) on both Packers-Bucs and Bills-Chiefs, plus what the Brady v. Mahomes Super Bowl might look like…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (42:55), including: the new Denzel Washington film The Little Things, the new Amazon Prime show Flack, the second special episode of Euphoria (focusing on Jules) and the new French Netflix show Lupin; plus a little more Super Bowl preview and more NBA basketball… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!

The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 6

Another exciting week of The Challenge: Double Agents is in the books, and Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky return to talk about Teresa’s tricks, Lolo’s lunacy and yet ANOTHER cast member departure-without-elimination, a suddenly common occurrence… That and MUCH MORE on this week’s Challenge coverage!!!

The Toy Department – Episode 244

In Episode 244, Madden and Kolsky once again flirt with the concept of a short show before lengthy discussions about:

  • Sports!! Including some NFL postseason thoughts (1:15) and a brief chat about early-season NBA drama (4:20) after a big MLK Day of games…
  • The conclusion of HBO Max’s Tiger Woods documentary (9:00) and how fascinating the story of his rise and fall (and rise again) is…
  • The third film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series, called Red, White and Blue (20:15), and why it may have been the least satisfying of the movies so far…
  • The Amazon Prime film One Night in Miami (26:25) and the impressive debut directorial outing of Regina King…
  • The exciting new film Promising Young Woman (34:10) and all the things that make it so fantastic and unique…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (53:50), including: the new HBO Max film Locked Down, the next Small Axe film (called Alex Wheatle) and the new Netflix movie White Tiger; plus the NFL Conference Championship games and more NBA basketball… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents on Thursday!!!