Tag Archives: television

The Toy Department – Episode 54

  By toyAdmin | January 25, 2017 - 8:46 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 54, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky return after a week off due to Kolsky’s infirmity to discuss MANY pressing issues, including:

  • Brent Musburger’s sudden retirement announcement (1:45) and his legacy as one of our greatest sports broadcasters…
  • Matt Ryan’s place in the NFL’s quarterback pantheon (8:10) and his MVP candidacy, as we head towards next weekend’s Super Bowl 51…
  • A favorite show of the show, The Good Place (17:35), and how it flipped its own narrative on its head in the season finalé… SPOILER ALERT: This conversation will spoil said finalé, so if you want to skip it, the short version is – Madden and Kolsky both liked it!!
  • HBO’s new series The Young Pope (24:10) and whether the visual spectacle of its first few episodes makes it worth sticking with as it finds its footing from a narrative perspective…
  • 2016 in Movies (33:50), viewed through the perspective of Tuesday’s Oscar nominations… Including thoughts on La La Land, Deadpool, Hidden Figures, Moonlight, Lion and Fences, among others…
  • Some homework for next week (59:15): trying to get Derek to watch La La Land and/or Lion and/or Hell or High Water… and an episode of Blackish (specifically – Season 3, Episode 12, entitled Lemons)…

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 53

  By toyAdmin | January 12, 2017 - 9:10 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 53, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky fail to apologize for Kolsky’s degraded audio quality OR the day-late nature of this episode, so please accept this as an apology (sorry, y’all) as you listen to their discussions about:

  • Last week’s homework assignment: Scott Van Pelt’s SportsCenter (2:00)… The guys discuss how it stands out from other SportsCenter programming and whether it represents a new avenue for that brand moving forward…
  • College football’s National Championship game (11:30), but less about the game and more about Kolsky’s continuing distaste for NCAA pigskin in general… and the differences between college and professional football…
  • The NFL playoffs (25:30) specifically the games of Divisional weekend and how they project to be significantly more entertaining that last weekend’s Wild Card action…
  • Coachella!! (35:50) The lineup was announced (and it’s great) but the guys also discuss the controversy over the political contributions of AEG, the festival’s parent company…
  • The (relatively) new Netflix show Easy (54:25) – a show that both Madden and Kolsky enjoy, directed by Chicagoland native and Kolsky kindred spirit Joe Swanberg…
  • Some homework (1:01:15) for next week: including, but not limited to, watching some Oscar contender films, the Kids In The Hall classic movie Brain Candy, and the new FX show Taboo…

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 46

  By toyAdmin | November 16, 2016 - 8:51 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 46, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky address the decision to skip last week’s pod and the impact of election results (sorry for the non-Toy Department detour) before getting back to business regarding:

  • This week’s episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Dave Chappelle (10:20), which addressed the election, among other things…
  • Some thoughts on AMC’s Walking Dead and HBO’s Westworld (23:00), and how they are piling up on both guys’ DVRs…
  • HBO’s 30-minute comedy/drama Insecure (27:05) and how Kolsky is completely in love with it… which leads to some discussion of easy-to-watch television in tough emotional times… and an aside about Bar Rescue, the Toy Department’s favorite reality show…
  • The cancellation of Bill Simmons’ show Any Given Wednesday (42:35)… The guys discuss Simmons’ brief feud with Chris Collinsworth… and also get into what worked and what didn’t about the show (50:55), and how Simmons’ endeavors look moving forward…
  • This week’s homework – the 3rd new episode of Black Mirror, entitled Shut Up and Dance (1:01:25)… The guys have pretty differing stances on this particular episode…
  • A quick look ahead to next week’s Black Mirror episode (1:11:05) – San Junipero is arguably the most uplifting and happy-feeling episode of the show yet, and will be discussed in depth next 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 45

  By toyAdmin | November 3, 2016 - 3:37 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 45, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky lament their rapidly-advancing age before diving into discussions about:

  • The World Series, briefly (1:15) acknowledging that the final results will be determined before anyone listens… The conversation tilts more towards the impressive future potential of the Cubs (3:05) and the Hall of Fame career of GM Theo Epstein (5:55)… Ending with a discussion of baseball’s place in the sports media landscape (11:10)…
  • Episode 2 of Netflix’s new Black Mirror season – Play Test (15:40) which had a very different effect on Kolsky than it did on Madden…
  • A quick stop on HBO’s Westworld, which Kolsky failed to successfully watch after a Phish show on Sunday night (29:05)…
  • ROCKTOBER continues, so more concert talk – Kolsky went to see Phish play a Halloween show (32:25)… Madden went to see Yelawolf (35:40)…
  • The season finale (and the first season in sum) of FX’s Atlanta (44:45)… How there’s not enough of it… How well executed it is in the end (45:50) and just in general in delivering a truthful narrative (48:43)…
  • Another FX favorite, You’re the Worst (51:00) and whether it’s struggling a bit in its third season…
  • A couple notes on homework for next week, which involves Bill Simmons’ show Any Given Wednesday (56:20) and the next episode of Black Mirror, “Shut Up and Dance” (58:25)…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 42

  By toyAdmin | October 12, 2016 - 11:23 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 42, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky briefly address Kolsky’s in-progress Yom Kippur fast before delving into:

  • The San Francisco Giants’ elimination from the MLB playoffs (3:50) and some discussion about baseball at large (10:20)…
  • Kolsky’s homework assignment for Madden – Netflix/Marvel’s Luke Cage (20:35) and Madden’s anti-superhero/comic book bias…
  • Madden’s homework assignment for Kolsky – the previously British and now Netflix-owned Black Mirror (32:40) and how it really inspires thought and discussion like few other television experiences…
  • HBO’s new comedy Insecure (43:50) and how it brings another original perspective to the increasingly diverse television landscape…
  • Madden’s experience at a recent Kanye West show (52:20) and the big stadium show experience in general…
  • A bit of talk about last week’s You’re the Worst (1:01:05) but MOSTLY just because it leads into Madden’s experiences at fancy, exclusive bars as a big time radio star in Los Angeles…
  • Homework for next week (1:08:05) wherein Kolsky assigns the new Solange album to Derek…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 41

  By toyAdmin | October 6, 2016 - 12:26 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 41, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a brief digression into Peaches & Herb before diving headlong into TONS of topics, including:

  • Recently-retired future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Kevin Garnett (1:45) and how Derek Madden (wrongly) hates him with a passion and Matthew J. Kolsky (with great taste and even better judgment) rightly respects him as the all-time great that he is… (Bonus points if you can figure out who writes these descriptions…)
  • The quarter-pole of the NFL season, particularly the impressive start of the Minnesota Vikings (17:45)… This is really little more than Madden’s attempt to re-ingratiate himself to the Minneapolis community after his KG slander…
  • This past Saturday’s college football MADNESS (27:45) and Kolsky’s continued lack of interest despite the wild excitement of the finishes…
  • HBO’s new series Westworld (41:30) and how the guys feel about it after its complex and thought-provoking premiere episode…
  • Noname’s album Telefone (49:20) which Madden FINALLY listened to after being assigned it as homework… The boys discuss the album itself, their differing tastes and music in general…
  • A quick pop-in on FX’s Atlanta (58:45) and the [SPOILER ALERT] Black Justin Bieber episode…
  • Some thoughts on future homework assignments (1:04:15) and some assigned homework for next week 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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 40

  By toyAdmin | September 21, 2016 - 11:34 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 40 (hard to believe we’ve made it this far) Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky woke up extra early to talk to you about LOTS of television things and a bit of sports, including:

  • TV sitcoms in general (2:00) and the return/premiere of a few specific ones: The Good Place (4:40) and (following some digressions, like a few minutes about high school melodrama and a couple on The Voice) Brooklyn Nine-Nine (20:20) and New Girl (21:55)…
  • A little more on the achievement that is Donald Glover and FX’s triumphant show, Atlanta (30:15)…
  • The season finale of HBO’s Vice Principals (35:00) and whether the guys are on board with the surprising end to the season… Followed by a check-in with HBO’s less edgy comedy, Ballers (38:40)…
  • Some thoughts on the new Kiefer Sutherland vehicle Designated Survivor (42:20)… Which leads to a bit of meditation on the nature of show development in this over-populated TV landscape, particularly for major networks…
  • The San Francisco Giants and their wild second-half collapse (53:15)… They’ve been BAD since the All-Star break, and the guys try to figure it all out…
  • HOMEWORK!! (1:00:05) We have learned that Derek Madden is terrible at doing his homework… And yet he continues to assign homework to others!

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 39

  By toyAdmin | September 15, 2016 - 10:47 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 39, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky return just a day late thanks to scheduling conflicts and bring you discussion of:

  • Their collective disappointment with USA’s Mr. Robot (1:15) and its apparent disinterest in moving the plot along…
  • The start of the NFL season, from Terrell Suggs’ amazing appearance on HBO’s Ballers (19:10) to the love they have for the return of regular season football (22:35) despite the discomfort some NFL issues cause to a quick look at a couple of specific teams and situations…
  • The end of the MLB season (32:10) and how it seems like almost nobody is watching it at all… Plus a little love for home-run-hitting machine Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins (41:50)…
  • A few thoughts on EPL Soccer (45:40) and it’s availability as a pregame show for NFL football…
  • CM Punk’s UFC debut (50:55) and whether he actually has any chance to make any progress in the new phase of his career…
  • FX’s new show Better Things (55:55) and how it allows Pamela Adlon to do what Louis CK did before her… and how it relates to Louie and FX’s other new show, Atlanta (57:00)…
  • An assorted mishmash of topics to end the show (1:03:15), including discussion of homework and Kolsky’s distaste for Fred Armisen…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 38

  By toyAdmin | September 8, 2016 - 1:07 am | Uncategorized
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In Episode 38, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a brief discourse on geography before getting into more of what you might call their wheelhouse with discussions of:

  • College football (2:05) wherein Madden makes Kolsky explain why he doesn’t really care all over again…
  • Netflix’s new show The Get Down (11:37) and how Madden utterly failed his podcast partner by neglecting to watch the show and then forcing Kolsky to convince him to watch it…
  • Bojack Horseman (22:00) and how Madden watched this cartoon instead of watching The Get Down like he was supposed to – which leads to a brief discussion of Kolsky’s general non-cartoon fan existence…
  • FX’s new show Atlanta (31:30) which is something Madden and Kolsky can finally agree on – it’s great, and Donald Glover is great, and the boys explain how and why…
  • Some upcoming television shows (38:45) from Pamela Adlon and FX’s Better Things to HBO’s Westworld and High Maintenance, among others…
  • Homework for everyone (48:25): check out the new album Telefone by Chicago’s No Name…

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.

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The Toy Department – Episode 36

  By toyAdmin | August 24, 2016 - 11:53 pm | Uncategorized
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In Episode 36, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky present you with a VERY special episode of the Toy Department podcast, featuring:

  • USA’s Mr. Robot (3:45) and whether it went completely off the rails with its most recent episode… SPOILER ALERT!!
  • HBO’s The Night Of (10:20) and whether IT went completely off the rails with its most recent episode… SPOILER ALERT!! (though not as spoiler-y as the Mr. Robot spoiler, probably)… and also just some of the things that make the show great…
  • Frank Ocean’s new album(s) (19:00) and what the new style of album releases means for music…
  • THE FIRST MAJOR INTERVIEW IN TOY DEPARTMENT HISTORY!!! (24:30) Kolsky sat down with history-making sports broadcaster Kate Scott (@katetscott), who recently became the third woman ever to do play-by-play for an NFL game. 45-plus good minutes with a tremendously talented and accomplished individual!!

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.

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