The Toy Department – Episode 463

In Episode 463, Madden and Kolsky’s summer of mess continues with a JAM PACKED episode, following an unexpected off-week (and a censored show intro) with an attempt to squeeze in conversations about:

  • Chirstopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (3:45) which both hosts enjoyed when they watched it weeks ago and have been chomping at the bit to discuss since…
  • The return of Apple TV+’s comedy gem Ted Lasso (11:50), the brilliance of the story they chose to tell and how some people need to chill out about some of its perceived feminist flaws…
  • Amazon Prime’s new buddy action-dramedy Ride or Die (21:10), a fun show driven by the enjoyability of the Hannah Waddingham/Octavia Spencer relationship at its center…
  • The continuing excellence and sometimes confounding politics of Special Ops: Lioness (23:45) and how the new season brings much more of the same…
  • The last two weeks of The Challenge: Cutthroat (34:55), where the veteran players are struggling to compete physically and some of the newer players are having off-the-field slip-ups…
  • A few thoughts on the Premier League (45:10) as the 2026-27 season begins with Derek’s Arsenal squad as the clear favorites and Kolsky’s Chelsea in hot pursuit…
  • Homework for next week (52:50), including: more of The Challenge: Cutthroat, HBO’s new DC Universe show Lanterns (written by Damon Lindelof), a very special episode of The Simpsons called Yellow Mirror (on Disney+), Apple TV+’s documentary The Dynasty: UConn Huskies, and the Anne Hathaway/Michaela Coel film Mother Mary on HBO Max (plus the Hulu show Furious, since we forgot to discuss it this week)…

The Toy Department – Episode 349

In Episode 348, Madden and Kolsky get into the difficulties of the moving process — especially for weird old semi-hoarders — before locking into the pop culture of the week:

  • The second episode of HBO’s Idol (6:50) and how at least one of our hosts is done with it, and neither think it’s working very well at all, largely due to the presence and mediocrity of Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd)…
  • The British drama Somewhere Boy (16:40) and how it creates some extra curiosity with its storytelling style, but still may not have enough to keep the guys interested…
  • Apple TV+’s new Tom Holland show The Crowded Room (19:20) and how it uses similar style of storytelling but to better effect…
  • The new Eva Longoria-directed film Flamin’ Hot (27:15) and how it tells an inspiring story in a fun way…
  • Peacock’s new show Based on a True Story (34:05) and the appeal of its lead actors — Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina…
  • A few thoughts on the NBA Champion Denver Nuggets (44:45) and their incredibly charming superstar Nikola Jokic…
  • Homework for TWO weeks from now (52:50), including: the return of Black Mirror on Netflix, the return of The Bear on Hulu, Boots Riley’s new show I’m A Virgo and Idris Elba’s Hijack on Apple TV+…