The Toy Department – Episode 39

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.

The Toy Department – Episode 38

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.

The Toy Department – Episode 10

In Episode 10, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky start with a quick post-Super Bowl debrief – did Kolsky survive? How did his dumplings turn out? (that’s a literal question) Then it’s the Great Coldplay Debate (9:00) as the gentlemen stake out their positions and duke it out. After probably too much of that (though not as much as existed on the original recording) the topic shifts to movie talk with a breakdown of the Oscar-nominated Spotlight (33:50), followed by a brief discussion of the Grammy’s and other assorted music stuff (42:00). Finally, a strong close where a purported tease to next week turns into a short conversation about JJ Redick’s new podcast (46:30).

Oh, and if you want to subscribe via iTunes (and you really should), just CLICK HERE!!  We are also part of the Google Play library of podcasts (and hopefully will have a link to that soon)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com.

The Toy Department – Episode 9

In Episode 9, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a little breakdown of the media madness surrounding the Super Bowl – mostly because Kolsky is stranded in a sea of Super Shenanigans… Then it’s a discussion of the great new TV series The People vs. OJ Simpson, and the success of FX in general (5:30) plus a minute or two about another new FX show, Zach Galifianakis’ Baskets. Of course today’s pod also includes a long Super Bowl Prop Bets segment (25:00) – you’re covered if you want to bet on earthquakes or whether Peyton Manning retires immediately after the game. Make sure you listen for your homework assignment(s) and stay tuned for the exciting tease ahead to next week’s episode!!

Oh, and if you want to subscribe via iTunes (and you really should), just CLICK HERE!!  We are also part of the Google Play library of podcasts (and hopefully will have a link to that soon)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com.

The Toy Department – Episode 7

In Episode 7, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a discussion of the Eagles in the wake of Glenn Frey’s passing – a conversation wherein Kolsky may have inappropriately slandered a band that just tragically lost a member – before transitioning into a movie conversation that should be significantly less offensive. Specifically, they talk about Room (18:30) and its engaging star Brie Larson, before getting into some specifics on The Hateful Eight (28:20) and its divisive director Quentin Tarantino. Then it’s on to television (37:15) and a discussion about the future of television programming in a world where TBS and TNT are wading into the prestige TV game. And then, FINALLY, they finish things off with the long-awaited All-Time Trash Talk Team discussion (49:45)…

Oh, and if you want to subscribe via iTunes (and you really should), just CLICK HERE!!  And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com.

The Toy Department – Episode 6

In Episode 6, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky open with a brief discussion of football’s move to Los Angeles, before transitioning into a discussion of the life of the great David Bowie (6:30). Then transition into a long movie talk based around today’s announcement of Oscar nominations (14:45) that addresses the lack of diversity in nominees, among other things. Then it’s back to sports (32:30) for a discussion of the Bengals’ meltdown (or was it a meltdown??) at the end of their playoff loss to Pittsburgh and other postseason football issues. Then a minute or two on Sean Penn’s El Chapo interview ties things up at the end.

Oh, and if you want to subscribe via iTunes (and you really should), just CLICK HERE!! 

The Toy Department – Episode 4

In Episode 4 of The Toy Department, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky dive back into Star Wars – this time actually having seen the newest installment in the franchise, thereby producing a more substantive conversation 🙂 Then things get a little dark when they move into the not-so-toy department topic of the fact that R. Kelly continues to have a career despite rampant allegations of sexual misconduct (18:05) which leads to some talk about celebrity criminals in general, but levity returns (around 31:45) with a discussion of Steve Harvey’s amazing Miss Universe Pageant gaffe. Then there’s a little bit of general football discussion (41:45) before Madden commits to the project of getting Kolsky committed to watching Premier League soccer (46:05)… Then it’s Happy Holidays and goodbye til next week (or is it next year??)!!

Oh, and if you want to subscribe via iTunes (and you really should), just CLICK HERE!!