Monthly Archives: April 2021

The Toy Department – Episode 258

  By toyAdmin | April 27, 2021 - 10:44 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 258, Madden and Kolsky dive right into the deep end of pop culture topics with a shocking admission from Derek as they discuss:

  • The latest in Top Chef () including Madden quitting on Last Chance Kitchen and the difficulty of finding oneself as a chef on a reality competition show…
  • A few thoughts on a lackluster Oscars broadcast (31:15) and what it means for the future of the show…
  • The new Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls (47:35) and how it’s pretty good, and pretty reminiscent of Parks & Rec, but not perhaps good enough to support a Peacock subscription…
  • The new Bob Odenkirk movie Nobody (55:10) and how it’s basically John Wick for an audience that demands more from the scenes between the fights…
  • Homework for some Tuesday to come (58:45), including: more episodes of Top Chef in Portland and streaming some Banshee on HBO Max… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents reunion AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

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The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 19 AND Episode 4 of The Challenge All-Stars

  By toyAdmin | April 22, 2021 - 11:17 pm | Uncategorized
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It’s finally the finalé of The Challenge: Double Agents, and it’s a doozy (although not particularly a competitive final challenge)… Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky get into the greatness of the victors, the failure of the Fessy, Leroy’s last ride and more after an incredibly emotional final episode. Then it’s time for the senior circuit, as The Challenge All-Stars looks like it may ratchet up a level in the coming weeks.

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The Toy Department – Episode 257

  By toyAdmin | April 20, 2021 - 10:59 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 257, Madden and Kolsky endeavor to record a short show, so it’s straight into:

  • The new Disney+ series Big Shot (1:25), which features an interesting John Stamos performance but suffers from mediocre basketball and a weekly release schedule…
  • HBO’s new Kate Winslet vehicle Mare of Easttown (12:20), Winslet’s excellent performance and a richly drawn first episode that has both hosts ready for more…
  • Deep thoughts on another episode of Top Chef (26:25) and the tremendous level of talent that this season is bringing…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (51:05), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the new film Nobody (available on demand) and maybe something else ¯\_(ツ)_/¯… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents finale AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

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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 – Episode 256

  By toyAdmin | April 13, 2021 - 11:00 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 256, Madden and Kolsky are feeling fresh and ready to get into:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef in Portland (1:25), featuring a really tough and incredibly entertaining quickfire challenge, more greatness from Shota and the potential coining of the term “chefsplain”…
  • The new Netflix comedy Thunder Force (32:30) and how Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer elevate an otherwise ordinary superhero parody flick…
  • HBO Max’s new Cristin Milioti show Made for Love (39:45) and how the streaming service continues to do great work in the “this is really clever and funny and interesting” space…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (48:55), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the Disney+ show Big Shot (starring John Stamos) and the new HBO show Mare Of Easttown… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

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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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The Toy Department – Episode 255

  By toyAdmin | April 7, 2021 - 10:54 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 255, Madden and Kolsky discuss potential audio issues resulting from Kolsky’s excitable 2-year-old and the zoom-related behavior of certain dogs before getting into:

  • A basketball check-in (2:35) mostly focused on the NCAA tournament, with a little NBA detour to start…
  • Netflix’s new Sherlock Holmes-adjacent series The Irregulars (17:15) and how it’s somewhat confounding — and not Madden’s shit — but also kind of interesting, engaging and ultimately watchable… with some discussion about the colorblind casting…
  • Netflix’s road trip/prank show movie Bad Trip (32:25) and how Eric Andre, Lil Rel and Tiffany Haddish pull some hilarious pranks (if you’re into that sort of thing)…
  • The season premiere of Top Chef (40:10) and all the machinations therein, including the elimination of a potential show favorite and some early favorites and villains…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (1:11:15), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the Netflix movie Thunder Force with Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer and the new HBO Max show Made for Love starring Cristin Milioti… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

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The Toy Department – The Challenge 36 – Episode 16 AND the debut of The Challenge All-Stars!!!

  By toyAdmin | April 1, 2021 - 11:17 pm | Uncategorized
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The twists and turns of The Challenge Double Agents Episode 16 have Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky in knots over all the permutations of potential elimination decisions as they dive deep into the strategy of this season’s endgame… Then it’s a BRAND NEW SEASON as The Challenge All-Stars debuts on Paramount+, and it should be a doozy (even if “All-Stars” is pushing it a little bit).

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