Tag Archives: movies

The Toy Department – Episode 75

  By toyAdmin | June 29, 2017 - 8:47 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 75, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dispense briefly with pleasantries before getting to:

  • A wonderful interview with Orange is the New Black’s Julie Lake (2:05), who plays the suddenly-front-and-center-in-the-5th-season character Angie Rice…
  • The wild NBA offseason (30:00), specifically the new high stakes created by the Warriors’ dominance, the Chris Paul trade, Phil Jackson and some of the other madness of the last few days…
  • The Bachelor(ette) franchise (44:35) and why Madden enjoys watching it and Kolsky hasn’t been able to…
  • Showtime’s new show I’m Dying Up Here (56:25) and the niche of enjoyable-but-not-overly-heavy television in today’s media landscape…
  • Netflix’s new series Glow (1:05:00) and just how much Kolsky loves it…
  • Old show favorite Orphan Black (1:13:30) and how it has run off the rails a bit despite the brilliance of lead actress Tatiana Maslany…
  • Homework for next week (1:17:50): the feature films Baby Driver and The Big Sick, plus finishing the Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu…

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 73

  By toyAdmin | June 8, 2017 - 10:20 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 73, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky overcome a late night for Kolsky and a bit of a hangover for Derek to give you insightful breakdowns of:

  • Kolsky’s experience at the Roger Waters concert (1:15)…
  • The NBA Finals so far (11:00) and what it means for the future of the NBA…
  • The series finale of The Leftovers (26:20) and where it ranks in the pantheon of Peak TV shows…
  • The newest DC Comics Universe film Wonder Woman (40:10) and whether Derek was enable to enjoy it despite his superhero fatigue…
  • Madden’s enjoyment of the Tom Petty concert (52:25) and the joy of classic bands playing their hits, plus the wildly underrated Joe Walsh…
  • This week’s episode of AMC’s Better Call Saul (1:01:00) with a special focus on the stellar acting performances of Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKean…
  • Homework for next week, or possibly two weeks from now (1:09:25): including FX’s Fargo, a last-chance effort to get Derek to enjoy a superhero movie with Logan, and the upcoming new season of Orange is the New Black (to prepare for future special guest Julie Lake, aka OITNB’s Angie Rice)…

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 72

  By toyAdmin | May 31, 2017 - 9:48 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 72, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky make you wait for the exciting guest segment but promise you’ll enjoy every delightful bit of the pod as they discuss:

  • Kolsky’s new smoothie habit (0:40)…
  • Last week’s homework, the Amazon original show I Love Dick (4:20)…
  • A check in on HBO’s The Leftovers (11:20) as we head towards the series finale this coming weekend…
  • The new Hasan Minhaj standup special (23:10) on Netflix and how it may be more one-man-show than standup comedy…
  • A deep NBA Finals breakdown and delightful conversation with ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth (28:25)…
  • Homework for next week (1:11:15): the new comic book extravaganza Wonder Woman [and potentially Logan to get Derek ready] and the Netflix-first Brad Pitt film War Machine…

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 70

  By toyAdmin | May 18, 2017 - 8:31 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 70, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky ride some emotional twists and turns through:

  • A brief discussion of the passing of legendary rock singer Chris Cornell… RIP.
  • A brief digression into The Pretty Reckless, also known as the rock outfit fronted by former actress Taylor Momsen…
  • Netflix’s Master of None, and Aziz Ansari’s creative excellence in making the show…
  • AMC’s Better Call Saul, the increased intensity and excitement, and the changing moral dynamic…
  • The new Hulu drama The Handmaid’s Tale, whether the guys will watch it and how Kolsky is a relative stranger to the work of Elisabeth Moss…
  • The NBA Playoffs, the general lack of excitement throughout the postseason so far and the controversy over Zaza Pachulia’s foul on Kawhi Leonard…
  • Next week’s homework – a couple of films in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2 and Colossal… also the Sundance show Top of the Lake and potentially the Amazon show I Love Dick…

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 69

  By toyAdmin | May 11, 2017 - 8:47 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 69, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky enjoy the distinct pleasure of welcoming sports reporter and personality Kerith Burke (https://twitter.com/KerithBurke) to the podcast, discuss:

  • Kolsky’s night at a Flaming Lips concert…
  • Kerith’s career and an article she wrote about it on Medium (https://medium.com/@kerith_burke/the-espn-cuts-and-the-despair-of-a-changing-landscape-cad1a1fde8db) as well as her shared love of HBO’s The Leftovers and other assorted delights…
  • Another excellent episode of FX’s Fargo and why the haters are so off-base…
  • The new film Lost City of Z, where it missed its mark, and what other movies the guys intend to get to in the next couple of weeks…

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 67

  By toyAdmin | April 27, 2017 - 9:18 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 67, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky waste no time in getting into:

  • Kolsky’s experience at the Chance the Rapper show the previous night (0:40), what Madden is looking for in a live show and how they handle a performer’s differing religious views…
  • A preliminary discussion of the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why (9:40), particularly regarding the premise and some of the problems therein…
  • Some discussion of the ongoing NBA Playoffs (25:45), including Russell Westbrook’s divisive play and the wide open nature of the Eastern Conference…
  • ESPN’s wide-ranging layoffs (41:40) and what it says about their business model and the changing landscape of sports media…
  • Netflix’s new film Win It All (56:00), a Joe Swanberg/Jake Johnson collaboration…
  • A live-action version of the new Facebook phenomenon “10 concerts, 1 lie” (1:07:50) only they stick with just 5 concerts…
  • Somewhere in there is homework: watch the rest of 13 Reasons Why and catch up on Silicon Valley and Better Call Saul!

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 (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 64

  By toyAdmin | April 6, 2017 - 10:47 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 64, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky discuss Madden’s delightful social life before jumping into:

  • Last week’s homework: the remainder of the Amazon pilots (4:45), Jane the Virgin (14:30) and Mistaken for Strangers (24:05), the movie featuring The National…
  • The season finale of The Walking Dead (38:20) and where the guys stand with the show moving forward…
  • Baseball is back! (49:00) That may or may not be exciting…
  • Tony Romo’s retirement (1:02:20) and jump to the broadcasting booth…
  • Homework for next week (1:12:00): the new Louis CK special on Netflix, the new IFC show Brockmire (starring Hank Azaria as a baseball announcer), and the season premiere of Better Call Saul… plus hopefully Madden finally listens to Kweku Collins…
  • Some final thoughts on Legion (1:15:50) on the way out the door…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 63

  By toyAdmin | March 29, 2017 - 9:46 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 63, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky show up for class without completing their homework yet again, but nevertheless provide insightful commentary on:

  • Last week’s homework assignments (or the ones they got to, anyway): the Netflix-available show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2:30)… Amazon’s Pilot Season (6:30) and the five new shows available to watch and vote on… and Derek’s take on the new Drake album (26:20)…
  • The hot new thing in American soccer (31:20), specifically youngster Christian Pulisic and what he means for US Soccer’s future…
  • The NCAA Tournament so far (39:45) and the highly entertaining games we’ve gotten to see…
  • A quick check-in on the NBA (49:15), especially on the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers and the Eastern Conference playoff picture…
  • Homework for next week (56:40): Derek will watch the beginning of the show Jane the Virgin, as he was supposed to last week, and the remainder of the Amazon Pilots… Kolsky will watch the film Mistaken for Strangers, about the band The National, as he was supposed to last week…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 60

  By toyAdmin | March 7, 2017 - 8:45 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 60, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky kvetch about their various ailments like the couple of aging Jews that they are before jumping into deep discussions of:

  • The diverse television landscape (1:55) including chats about: FX’s The Americans & Legion (10:30), NBC’s The Good Place (12:45), the new Ryan Murphy series Feud (16:25), the new CW Archie adaptation Riverdale (22:10) and the reboot of Must-See-TV’s Will & Grace (27:45)…
  • A week at the movies!! Kolsky saw Logan (32:45) and gives a quick review before an in-depth discussion of the new horror darling Get Out (35:30) which both guys saw and enjoyed…
  • Cleaning up some old homework (49:40) as Madden failed to listen to the new Loyle Carner album but both guys are ready to discuss the new Cloud Nothings album Life Without Sound, which was the previous week’s homework assignment…
  • The World Baseball Classic (57:55) and exactly what the hell baseball is trying to do here… with a little bit of discussion about international sporting tournaments in general…
  • Next week’s homework (1:07:05) wherein Madden promises to listen to Loyle Carner and a couple of new TV shows will be back on the table as well…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 59

  By toyAdmin | March 1, 2017 - 7:21 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 59, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky use the Berkeley weather as a detour before briefly addressing Kolsky’s unemployment status, then dive into a variety of subjects including:

  • FX’s The Americans (6:45) which Kolsky can now use his widely expanded free time to watch, much to Madden’s delight… which expands to a discussion of TV in general…
  • The Oscars (17:15) including: why Kolsky’s mom is unhappy with him, sad movies, Michelle Williams and Busy Phillips, Emma Stone, Jimmy Kimmel, Matt Damon and the Best Picture SNAFU…
  • The Ringer’s Top 50 Fast-Food Items (35:30) which you can find here: http://fastfood.theringer.com/ and which has a lot of explaining to do…
  • Some homework for next week (53:30): Kolsky assigns the new album Yesterday’s Gone by British hip hop artist Loyle Carner… PLUS make sure you’re watching The Americans because Kolsky is about to blast through it and it will be discussed…

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.

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