The Toy Department – Episode 263

In Episode 263, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky briefly discuss Madden’s challenging recording circumstances before jumping into the week’s content, including:

  • The Michael B. Jordan movie Without Remorse (2:15) and how the Tom Clancy film formula falls a little flat in 2021…
  • The show Startup (9:55), how it is exactly the kind of existing-show-investment that makes sense for Netflix, and should make for a delightful slow-burn binge…
  • The new HBO Max show Starstruck (17:30) and how delightfully charismatic Rose Matafeo is as the lead character…
  • This week’s action on Top Chef: Portland (25:05), arguably the teariest Top Chef ever, and the clear three-way competition developing as we head into the final few episodes…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (49:01), including: more Top Chef in Portland (and probably more NBA Playoffs action), the return of HBO’s Betty (which Kolsky forgot last week), the return of Lil’ Dicky’s FX show Dave, the new Apple TV+ show Physical and the new AMC show Kevin Can F*** Himself… plus, Madden and Kolsky will break down EW’s list of the best Challenge contestants of all time…

The Toy Department – Episode 145

In Episode 145, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky deliver the usual senseless patter before focusing in on:

  • Creed II (1:45), the first of two films the guys watched this week, and how while it was relatively entertaining, it failed to deliver on the promise of the first Creed movie…
  • The Front Runner (15:55) and how it was not necessarily great but is certainly very relevant to our current political landscape…
  • Netflix’s new Narcos: Mexico (25:20) and how both guys are all in after watching the first two episodes…
  • A brief detour into the market saturation of the trailer for Vice (29:45) and how excited the podcast is to cover it…
  • A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, the new album by The 1975 (34:45) and how both guys have become real fans of this band…
  • Anderson .Paak’s new album Oxnard (39:35) and how it doesn’t quite rise to the standards of his masterwork Malibu, but it is still very good and highly enjoyable…
  • Homework for next week (46:10), including: the return(s) of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon and Top Chef on Bravo, plus comedy on Netflix with Russell Brand’s stand-up special Rebirth and the Jeff Ross/Dave Attell collab Bumping Mics and some catch-up on Homecoming and Escape at Dannemora…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.

The Toy Department – Episode 107

In Episode 107, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky try to figure out what the NBA’s proposed 1-16 playoff seeding idea would look like before jumping into the day’s assigned topics:

  • Marvel’s new movie sensation Black Panther (9:20) and its quality and importance, plus the awesomely unfolding career of director Ryan Coogler…
  • The soundtrack to the aforementioned Black Panther (25:25) and how it really is a companion piece to the film…
  • The new Chris Rock standup special Tambourine (30:30), how good it is and how important it is for comedians to have their space to consider ideas…
  • NBC’s new sitcom AP Bio (42:50), and whether it is worth watching or stands out from standard network fare in an interesting way…
  • Netflix’s new Queer Eye (48:35) and how it distinguishes itself from other reality television…
  • Homework for next week (1:00:00), including: giving AP Bio a couple more episodes to hit its stride, watching some Top Chef, checking out the first two episodes of The Joel McHale Show on Netflix and Derek giving iZombie a try as it begins its fourth season…

By the way, if you like this podcast, TELL A FRIEND!! And if you want to subscribe via iTunes/Stitcher/Google Play/etc. you can just click on the link below the player (and don’t forget to leave us a review!!)… And if you want to contact the Toy Department, it’s easy — find us at ToyDepartmentPod (at) gmail.com… or tweet us: @MaddenOnAir & @thekolsky.