Tag Archives: The Challenge

The Toy Department – Episode 214

  By toyAdmin | May 29, 2020 - 11:52 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 214, Madden and Kolsky spend a few minutes lamenting the state of America before turning to the lighter fare of:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef (4:05) and how things look as we head to a new country and towards the finalé…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge (22:45) and the prospects for players still in search of their red skull…
  • Hulu’s new show The Great (44:15) and how it is a bundle of fun in the vein of The Favourite, among other things…
  • A few quick words on Patton Oswalt’s new comedy special (52:30), but it’s nothing special…
  • Far more words on Hannah Gadsby (54:40), her new special Douglas and the excitement of a talented new comedic voice…
  • Season 2 of Homecoming (1:06:05) and whether or not it even really needs to exist…
  • TNT’s Snowpiercer (1:10:20) and whether its potential is weighed down by its TNT-ishness…
  • Homework for next week (1:15:05), including: more from both Top Chef and The Challenge, HBO Max’s initial offering Love Life (with Anna Kendrick), Netflix’s new show Space Force, the return of Ramy on Hulu and ESPN’s 30 for 30 on Lance Armstrong…

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The Toy Department – Episode 213

  By toyAdmin | May 14, 2020 - 11:22 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 213, Madden and Kolsky waste little time before jumping into:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef (1:40) and Kolsky’s triumph as his nemesis is finally eliminated…
  • The latest two episodes of The Last Dance (14:25) and Madden’s distaste for Michael Jordan the person…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (37:35) and the dangers of underestimating the Barbie Beast…
  • Jerry Seinfeld’s new Netflix special 23 Hours to Kill (50:30) and how it fails to reach Seinfeldian heights…
  • HBO’s new Mark Ruffalo vehicle I Know This Much is True (52:20) and the concept of bad-time tv during a pandemic…
  • The second season of Netflix’s Dead to Me (58:20) and just how enjoyable the two lead actresses are…
  • The end of IFC’s Brockmire (1:02:00), a show everyone should go watch IMMEDIATELY, and the fate of real baseball…
  • Homework for TWO weeks from now (1:14:25), including: Hulu’s new Catherine the Great show The Great, TNT’s Snowpiercer, new comedy specials from Patton Oswalt and Hannah Gadsby, and season 2 of Homecoming on Amazon Prime…

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The Toy Department – Episode 212

  By toyAdmin | May 7, 2020 - 11:11 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 212, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dive right into:

  • This week’s restaurant wars episode of Top Chef (1:40) and the unsuspenseful upset that it delivered…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge (17:10) and the many dangers of Total Madness…
  • Two more episodes of The Last Dance (34:50) and the singular maniacal drive of Michael Jordan…
  • The return of Showtime’s Billions (52:40) and whether there’s enough growth to keep the show’s momentum going…
  • HBO’s new skater show Betty (56:15) and whether a pilot episode with no pilot can grab your interest…
  • Upload on Amazon Prime (1:00:40), where it falls short and why it remains a reasonably enjoyable watch…
  • Hulu’s new show Normal People (1:04:20) and its unique, perhaps novelistic style…
  • Homework for next week (1:08:10), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, finishing this season of Brockmire, the second season of Dead to Me and Jerry Seinfeld’s new stand-up special (plus HBO’s new show I Know This Much is True, which was not mentioned)…

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The Toy Department – Episode 211

  By toyAdmin | April 30, 2020 - 11:32 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 211, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky literally discuss the weather and their pets before navigating through:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef (2:20) and Leanne’s impressive cockroach impersonation…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (15:05) and the incredible level of danger this season’s challengers are facing…
  • Episodes 3 & 4 of the Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance (31:25) and the Bulls’ epic battles with Detroit…
  • The season finale of Jason Segel’s Dispatches from Elsewhere (47:10) and what to take away from a bizarre adventure…
  • Mindy Kaling’s new Netflix creation Never Have I Ever (54:10) and whether it distinguishes itself in a crowded landscape of high school-based entertainment…
  • A very special quarantine episode of Parks & Recreation (57:30) and how much fun it is to hang with the characters we love so much…
  • The HBO movie Bad Education (1:01:15) and whether good performances can elevate a story without a lot to like…
  • Homework for next week (1:06:45), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, Hulu’s new show Normal People, HBO’s new skater show Betty, and Upload on Amazon Prime, plus the return of Billions on Showtime…

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The Toy Department – Episode 210

  By toyAdmin | April 25, 2020 - 2:47 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 210, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk a little NFL Draft before blazing through:

  • The first two episodes of the new Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance (6:40) and what we have to look forward to in the 10-part series…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (17:25) and Ashley’s implosion in the bunker…
  • This week’s episode of Top Chef (26:40) and the elimination of some Toy Department favorites…
  • The season finale of AMC’s Better Call Saul (34:25) and how it sets us up for an explosive final season…
  • The new Netflix show #BlackAF (39:45) and how Kenya Barris is embracing his new home on a streaming network…
  • Netflix’s new comedy specials from Middleditch & Schwartz (45:30) and whether the improv format translates to a streaming comedy special…
  • A few thoughts on Netflix’s new sex-ban reality show Too Hot to Handle (48:20) and how stupidity can be incredibly watchable…
  • The new Steve Kerr/Pete Carroll podcast Flying Coach (51:30) and the insights two champion coaches can offer in audio format…
  • Homework for next week (53:55), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, two more episodes of The Last Dance, the season finale of Dispatches from Elsewhere, the HBO movie Bad Education, Mindy Kaling’s new show Never Have I Ever on Netflix and a very special episode of Parks and Recreation…

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The Toy Department – Episode 209

  By toyAdmin | April 16, 2020 - 10:43 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 209, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky break down a couple of coronavirus-related memes before discussing:

  • This week’s episode of MTV’s The Challenge (4:45) and the heavy hitters who played big roles…
  • This week’s episode of Bravo’s Top Chef (21:00) and the joys and challenges of having family in your kitchen…
  • FX/Hulu’s new Cate Blanchett vehicle Mrs. America (36:20) and the appeal of a dislikable central character…
  • The new HBO series Run (42:15) and what exactly is going on beyond the star-powered charm of the lead actors…
  • The return of BBC America’s Killing Eve (46:10) and whether the show has maintained its urgency in its third season…
  • The return of HBO’s Insecure (50:05) and how a bit of same-ness doesn’t hurt it too much…
  • The new Netflix comedy Brews Brothers (54:20) and whether it stands up to its creators’ previous effort, The League…
  • Homework for next week (1:00:05), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the new Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance on ESPN, a listen to the new Steve Kerr/Pete Carroll podcast Flying Coach, the new Netflix show #BlackAF from Black*ish creator Kenya Barris, and the new comedy specials Middleditch & Schwartz…

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The Toy Department – Episode 208

  By toyAdmin | April 9, 2020 - 10:53 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 208, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky discuss the younger Kolsky’s new walking ability before moving on to:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef (3:35), how Derek’s fantasy team is falling apart and the Mount Rushmore of potential winners…
  • This week’s episode of The Challenge: Total Madness (23:05) and how it left the guys wanting more of the show’s mainstays…
  • The HBO Sports documentary The Scheme (38:05) and how the main takeaway was an embarrassing job by federal authorities…
  • The Netflix sports documentary Screwball (48:15) and how it told an insane story in an interesting and enjoyable way…
  • The film The End of the Tour (56:15) and how it’s a heck of a good watch if you like watching a couple of dudes talk for two hours…
  • The old Showtime/Spike Lee pilot Sucker Free City (1:00:10) and how it makes you long for a series that never happened…
  • The end of the third season of Netflix’s Ozark (1:03:40) and how wonderful and entertaining a show it continues to be…
  • Homework for next week (1:12:35), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the return of Killing Eve, the fourth season of HBO’s Insecure, the new HBO series Run, FX/Hulu’s new Cate Blanchett show Mrs. America, and the Netflix comedy Brews Brothers…

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The Toy Department – Episode 207

  By toyAdmin | April 4, 2020 - 4:29 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 207, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky discuss their personal COVID-19 ordeals before getting into:

  • Week 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef (7:55) and all the intrigue therein…
  • The premiere of The Challenge: Total Madness (29:25) and who’s back for what looks to be a wild and twisty season…
  • Netflix’s documentary sensation Tiger King (52:40) and how everyone on the show is awful and awfully bizarre…
  • A few thoughts on Netflix’s Ozark (1:04:10) and a promise to get deeper into it next week when both guys have finished Season 3…
  • A review of the new Pearl Jam record Gigaton (1:06:50) and how it manages to feel both topical and like a classic Pearl Jam album…
  • Last week’s somber episode of Last Week Tonight on HBO (1:12:15) and what political comedy shows are doing in this strange time…
  • Homework for next week (1:19:10), including: new episodes of Top Chef & The Challenge, the end of Ozark Season 3, the HBO Sports documentaries The Scheme and Screwball, the film The End of the Tour (available on Netflix) and the old Showtime movie Sucker Free City (rentable on Amazon and viewable on YouTube)…

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The Toy Department – Episode 194

  By toyAdmin | December 20, 2019 - 9:07 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 194, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky went with a second straight Toy Department After Dark (and a day late), with focus on:

  • The season (and potentially series) finale of Watchmen on HBO (3:25), and how its slow build to the end rewarded viewers with another great Damon Lindelof show…
  • The new Netflix film Marriage Story (12:35) and the guys’ differing views on its success as a story of divorce…
  • The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 Reunion special (27:35) and the assorted dramatics that took place there…
  • 19 for 19 (40:55)… Also known as year-end BEST OF lists from each of your hosts…
  • Homework for after the holidays (1:21:05), including: the Netflix cartoon Tuca and Bertie, four movies — the Amazon film The Report, Parasite, the new Star Wars film and the new Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems– and trying the show Unbelievable on Netflix…

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The Toy Department – Episode 193

  By toyAdmin | December 13, 2019 - 9:32 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 193, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky deliver Toy Department After Dark (and a day late) and get into:

  • The film Brittany Runs A Marathon on Amazon Prime (1:30) and what a surprisingly heartfelt and well-made film it turned out to be…
  • The new film Queen & Slim (9:15) and the importance of diverse and interesting voices in the film world…
  • The reboot of Showtime’s The L Word (22:20) and how it’s just way too far over the top for Kolsky to get into as a newcomer…
  • The return of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (29:00) and how both guys are still enjoying it, but it may be running out of road if it doesn’t grow somewhat…
  • The season (and maybe series) finale of HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher (32:40) and how it hit the guys very differently…
  • The last episode of The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2 (39:05), some favorite moments and all the incredible drama that went down…
  • Homework for next week (1:05:40), including: 2019 year-end favorites, the end of Watchmen on HBO, some thoughts on the Challenge Reunion special and the new Netflix film Marriage Story…
  • Thirty seconds on Mike Birbiglia’s new Netflix stand-up special (1:08:00) which was good…

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