The Toy Department – Episode 319

In Episode 319, Madden and Kolsky have a few not-so-spooky Halloween thoughts before they circle back to pop culture and get into:

  • The new Apple TV+ film Raymond and Ray (7:50) and how enjoyable it is to watch a fun, quirky movie for adults (particularly when it features such enjoyable performances)…
  • The limited Netflix series From Scratch (17:45) and how it’s a perfectly good romance novel on screen if that’s the sort of thing that you’re into…
  • Netflix’s The Watcher (23:00), complete with explosive acting and very creepy vibes…
  • Kolsky’s experience with Top Gun: Maverick (27:45), whether it’s a “good movie” and whether that even matters in this case…
  • The week’s episode of The Challenge: Ride or Dies (38:55), featuring some rookie upstarts, Messy Fessy (whether he likes it or not) and an epic elimination…
  • Homework for next Friday (1:14:30), including: the movie The Stranger on Netflix, the return of The White Lotus on HBO, the BBC series Inside Man (now on Netflix) and the film The Good Nurse (alo on Netflix!!), plus OF COURSE the next episode of The Challenge: Ride or Dies… and maybe a quick check-back on House of the Dragon for Kolsky to be upset about it again 🙂

The Toy Department – Episode 290

In Episode 290, Madden and Kolsky get straight into the content because Derek is having a tough day and Matt doesn’t want to make it worse:

  • Netflix’s new Aziz Ansari stand-up special Nightclub Comedian (2:50) and how it has it’s hilarious moments but isn’t particularly personal or essential…
  • Hulu’s new show Pam & Tommy (19:30) and how it is incredibly well-cast and highly entertaining but seems to be focused more on the specific story of the sex tape than the relationship in general…
  • The new Netflix series Murderville (35:35) and how mileage may vary but Marshawn Lynch is spectacular…
  • The Amazon series Reacher (45:25) and how it’s a hell of a good time…
  • Some NFL prop bets (49:30) to prepare you for Sunday’s big game…
  • Thoughts on the NBA trade deadline (1:06:35) especially the James Harden/Ben Simmons trade…
  • Homework for next Friday (1:24:00), including: getting into some Oscars content with The Power of the Dog on Netflix, plus the new HBO Max show The Girl Before, the new Soderbergh film Kimi (also on HBO Max) and the new Netflix series Inventing Anna (starring Julia Garner)…

The Toy Department – Episode 128

In Episode 128, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky fire up the iPhone reggae horn for a wild conversational ride covering:

  • The season finalé of HBO’s Succession (5:15) and how it steadily improved from the start of the season to a critical darling and future powerhouse by the end…
  • Kolsky’s attempt to get into the now-completed AMC show Halt & Catch Fire (24:25) and what appeals about that show in 2018…
  • Kolsky’s less successful attempt to get into the old NBC classic The West Wing (28:25) and his inability to stop thinking about modern politics in watching early 20-year-old political wish fulfillment…
  • Derek’s attempt to get into Love Island (37:50) and how it might take a few shows to get into its rhythm…
  • The new Mission:Impossible film (47:45) and how it functions as a microcosm of the full scale Tom Cruise experience…
  • Derek’s experience at Lollapalooza (58:45) and the state of pop music and festival audiences…
  • Homework for next week (1:06:45), including: the first two weeks of Better Call Saul’s fourth season, the films Eighth Grade and Three Identical Strangers, and the return of Insecure on HBO… plus, STAY TUNED FOR (SILLY) BONUS CONTENT!!!

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.