Tag Archives: Padma Lakshmi

The Toy Department – Episode 259

  By toyAdmin | May 18, 2021 - 10:52 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 259, Madden and Kolsky are back from a Kolsky Paternity Break to catch up on their favorite pop culture, specifically:

  • A couple weeks of thrilling action on Top Chef (5:30) with the elimination of the much-hated Gabriel and a pretty distinct top four chefs emerging; now restaurant week is on deck, with a new open kitchen design!!
  • The old Cinemax show Banshee (26:00) which is now available on HBO Max and makes a hell of an enjoyable binge…
  • Catching up on The Challenge: All Stars (34:10) which is heading into the final with an awful lot of competitors but only a few competitors, if you catch our drift…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (58:45), including: more Top Chef in Portland, the new Tina Fey/Peacock show GIRLS5EVA, HBO Max’s Jean Smart vehicle Hacks, the new Angelia Jolie movie Those Who Wish Me Dead and the debut of season three of Netflix’s Master of None (which focuses on Lena Waithe’s character)… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 258

  By toyAdmin | April 27, 2021 - 10:44 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 258, Madden and Kolsky dive right into the deep end of pop culture topics with a shocking admission from Derek as they discuss:

  • The latest in Top Chef () including Madden quitting on Last Chance Kitchen and the difficulty of finding oneself as a chef on a reality competition show…
  • A few thoughts on a lackluster Oscars broadcast (31:15) and what it means for the future of the show…
  • The new Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls (47:35) and how it’s pretty good, and pretty reminiscent of Parks & Rec, but not perhaps good enough to support a Peacock subscription…
  • The new Bob Odenkirk movie Nobody (55:10) and how it’s basically John Wick for an audience that demands more from the scenes between the fights…
  • Homework for some Tuesday to come (58:45), including: more episodes of Top Chef in Portland and streaming some Banshee on HBO Max… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents reunion AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 257

  By toyAdmin | April 20, 2021 - 10:59 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 257, Madden and Kolsky endeavor to record a short show, so it’s straight into:

  • The new Disney+ series Big Shot (1:25), which features an interesting John Stamos performance but suffers from mediocre basketball and a weekly release schedule…
  • HBO’s new Kate Winslet vehicle Mare of Easttown (12:20), Winslet’s excellent performance and a richly drawn first episode that has both hosts ready for more…
  • Deep thoughts on another episode of Top Chef (26:25) and the tremendous level of talent that this season is bringing…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (51:05), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the new film Nobody (available on demand) and maybe something else ¯\_(ツ)_/¯… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents finale AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 256

  By toyAdmin | April 13, 2021 - 11:00 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 256, Madden and Kolsky are feeling fresh and ready to get into:

  • This week’s episode of Top Chef in Portland (1:25), featuring a really tough and incredibly entertaining quickfire challenge, more greatness from Shota and the potential coining of the term “chefsplain”…
  • The new Netflix comedy Thunder Force (32:30) and how Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer elevate an otherwise ordinary superhero parody flick…
  • HBO Max’s new Cristin Milioti show Made for Love (39:45) and how the streaming service continues to do great work in the “this is really clever and funny and interesting” space…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (48:55), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the Disney+ show Big Shot (starring John Stamos) and the new HBO show Mare Of Easttown… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 255

  By toyAdmin | April 7, 2021 - 10:54 am | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 255, Madden and Kolsky discuss potential audio issues resulting from Kolsky’s excitable 2-year-old and the zoom-related behavior of certain dogs before getting into:

  • A basketball check-in (2:35) mostly focused on the NCAA tournament, with a little NBA detour to start…
  • Netflix’s new Sherlock Holmes-adjacent series The Irregulars (17:15) and how it’s somewhat confounding — and not Madden’s shit — but also kind of interesting, engaging and ultimately watchable… with some discussion about the colorblind casting…
  • Netflix’s road trip/prank show movie Bad Trip (32:25) and how Eric Andre, Lil Rel and Tiffany Haddish pull some hilarious pranks (if you’re into that sort of thing)…
  • The season premiere of Top Chef (40:10) and all the machinations therein, including the elimination of a potential show favorite and some early favorites and villains…
  • Homework for next Tuesday (1:11:15), including: another episode of Top Chef in Portland, the Netflix movie Thunder Force with Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer and the new HBO Max show Made for Love starring Cristin Milioti… and DON’T MISS our coverage of The Challenge: Double Agents AND the first season of The Challenge All Stars on Thursday!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 110

  By toyAdmin | March 13, 2018 - 2:58 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 110, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky quickly move past Kolsky’s morning of customer service hell and Madden’s mild illness to get into all of this:

  • The Netflix original film Mute (3:00) and how it fails to deliver on its promise and star power…
  • The return of the Netflix series Love (12:30) and how charming and wonderful it is to both guys…
  • Amazon’s series Sneaky Pete (23:35) after the release of the second season…
  • #PodChef time: the 15th Season of Top Chef (31:20) has come and gone, and there’s plenty to discuss…
  • NBC’s new series Good Girls (39:50) and whether it rises above traditional network fare…
  • Some NFL offseason talk (48:20) after reports that Kirk Cousins will sign a fully guaranteed contract…
  • Homework for next week (1:03:00), including: the start of Season 3 of Lifetime’s UnREAL, AMC’s McMafia and Netflix’s Collateral, plus all the NCAA action you can handle…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

The Toy Department – Episode 108

  By toyAdmin | February 27, 2018 - 2:20 pm | Uncategorized
Leave a comment

In Episode 108, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky preview their Oscar discussion unnecessarily before diving into the following (in order):

  • The first three episodes of the new NBC sitcom AP Bio (4:15), and whether it stands out from the pack of network comedy…
  • Derek’s experimentation with the Season 4 premiere of iZombie (8:50) and how it probably is a show that requires starting from the beginning…
  • Kolsky’s experimentation with Season 15 of Top Chef (16:50), some of its most engaging characters, and how it really does provide the best of reality TV…
  • A run-down of the Oscars (35:50) and predictions for the actual winners (along with pleas for the real winners) heading into this weekend’s show…
  • The long list of shows returning or premiering in March of 2018 (57:55) and what of it will be worth watching…
  • Homework for next week (1:04:50), including: the first two episodes of NBC’s new dramedy Good Girls and the Season 2 premiere of FX’s Atlanta…

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS