This hiatus is unbearable tovarischi! To help tide you over we have a surprise for you: an interview with modern Russia scholar Professor James Heinzen from Rowan University! Jim talks with us about his background, how he got interested in the USSR, his time in the Soviet Union, and how amazingly realistic the portrayal of corruption is in the Oleg/Igor storyline in Moscow! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchi...
Sep 12, 2017•49 min
Well, this season of The Americans generated so much chatter that we feel we must add to the noise! Who better than our crack panel of experts! We gather at the roundtable with our friends and co-hosts Kathleen (aka alternakat), Roland, Barb & Chris to break down fave moments, theories, music and scenes, plus the unfortunate demise of Hans (sorry Kathleen)! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamerican...
Jun 15, 2017•1 hr 37 min
Can you believe we turn 100 this week with The Americans, tovarischi? Us neither! Who better to celebrate this milestone with us than the man who started our interviewing adventures, our good friend Kelly AuCoin aka Pastor Tim! Kelly chats up Season 5, the latest on the Tims, his take on the show as a fan, and he talks a bit about some of his other projects, especially his work as Dollar Bill on Showtime’s “Billions”! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! Y...
Jun 07, 2017•52 min
What a gripping ending to the penultimate season of The Americans! We start out with a bloody mess, get a beautiful moment in Moscow, check in with many of our characters, and wind up ever more tortured with Philip and Elizabeth and an uncertain future! This was all in Season 5 Episode 13 “The Soviet Division” which aired May 30, 2017. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 99 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, a...
Jun 04, 2017•1 hr 48 min
What a gripping ending to the penultimate season of The Americans! We start out with a bloody mess, get a beautiful moment in Moscow, check in with many of our characters, and wind up ever more tortured with Philip and Elizabeth and an uncertain future! This was all in Season 5 Episode 13 “The Soviet Division” which aired May 30, 2017. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and was directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 98 and contains the news and our episode breakdown...
Jun 02, 2017•1 hr 23 min
It’s the penultimate episode of the penultimate season, so the J’s threw everything plus the kitchen sink at us! Oleg, the PGU, and the Burovs! Stan, Dennis and Sofia! Poor Pasha and Tuan! Paige, Henry, Philip and Elizabeth! Mischa and his unknown kind family! And the beloved Pastor Tim! Stay with us because there is so much going on in The Americans Season 5 Episode 12 “The World Council of Churches” which aired May 23, 2017. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and w...
May 28, 2017•1 hr 38 min
It’s the penultimate episode of the penultimate season, so the J’s threw everything plus the kitchen sink at us! Oleg, the PGU, and the Burovs! Stan, Dennis and Sofia! Poor Pasha and Tuan! Paige, Henry, Philip and Elizabeth! Mischa and his unknown kind family! And the beloved Pastor Tim! Stay with us because there is so much going on in The Americans Season 5 Episode 12 “The World Council of Churches” which aired May 23, 2017. It was written by the showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, and w...
May 27, 2017•1 hr 22 min
Action? You want action? Elizabeth and Philip deliver the mayhem this week for sure! Plus: the triumphant return of the beloved FBI Mailbot! And we have our friend and special guest host Barb Rankin to boot! It’s The Americans Season 5 Episode 11 “Dyatkovo” which aired May 16, 2017. It was written by Joshua Brand and was directed by Steph Green. This is Episode 95 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 94 to get the news and our episode brea...
May 21, 2017•1 hr 22 min
Action? You want action? Elizabeth and Philip deliver the mayhem this week for sure! Plus: the triumphant return of the beloved FBI Mailbot! And we have our friend and special guest host Barb Rankin to boot! It’s The Americans Season 5 Episode 11 “Dyatkovo” which aired May 16, 2017. It was written by Joshua Brand and was directed by Steph Green. This is Episode 94 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tun...
May 19, 2017•1 hr 25 min
We did it! We obtained a bigger interview than either the KGB or FBI could muster – The Americans showrunners Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields! They join us live via satellite to discuss many aspects of the show, cagily evade any hint of spoilers, and answer many listener questions! Plus, we ask them a question they haven’t heard before! We love to hear your thoughts about The Americans so please send them to us! You can email text or audio feedback to watchingtheamericans@gmail.com or signal us (...
May 16, 2017•25 min
Quiet family dinners in Moscow, hockey player boyfriends, lies and a wedding! All this and more await us in The Americans Season 5 Episode 10 “Darkroom” which aired May 9, 2017. It was written by Stephen Schiff and was directed by Sylvain White. This is Episode 92 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 91 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Singing and church go together like history and tech this week! We attend a fine R...
May 15, 2017•1 hr 20 min
Quiet family dinners in Moscow, hockey player boyfriends, lies and a wedding! All this and more await us in The Americans Season 5 Episode 10 “Darkroom” which aired May 9, 2017. It was written by Stephen Schiff and was directed by Sylvain White. This is Episode 91 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 92. The web is chock full of interviews this week! First up is EW chatting with Matthew...
May 12, 2017•1 hr 32 min
The slow burn of season 5 is really heating up! Henry off to boarding school? Oleg under fire? What will Stan do now? Is Tuan really calling home? And where is Paige? Plus: Martha and Gabriel! We are all eating pancakes and talking about The Americans Season 5 Episode 9 “IHOP” which aired May 2, 2017. It was written by Peter Ackerman and was directed by Dan Attias. This is Episode 90 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 89 to get the news ...
May 08, 2017•1 hr 8 min
The slow burn of season 5 is really heating up! Henry off to boarding school? Oleg under fire? What will Stan do now? Is Tuan really calling home? And where is Paige? Plus: Martha and Gabriel! We are all eating pancakes and talking about The Americans Season 5 Episode 9 “IHOP” which aired May 2, 2017. It was written by Peter Ackerman and was directed by Dan Attias. This is Episode 89 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedba...
May 06, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Claudia? Oh no! Oh yes! Our favorite (haha!) handler is back and so are we, talking about The Americans Season 5 Episode 8 “Immersion” which aired April 25, 2017. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and was directed by Kevin Bray. This is Episode 88 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 87 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. There’s some cool history and tech for you this week! We have to handle Directorate K busting i...
Apr 30, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Claudia? Oh no! Oh yes! Our favorite (haha!) handler is back and so are we, talking about The Americans Season 5 Episode 8 “Immersion” which aired April 25, 2017. It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and was directed by Kevin Bray. This is Episode 87 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 86. Two cool news items came out this week! First up poet Evan McGarvey writes a very thoughtful pie...
Apr 29, 2017•1 hr 16 min
So it looks like Gabriel is really gone. What about Matthew? And what about Paige’s future? Whoa! Plus our friend Kathleen joins us! We are of course discussing The Americans Season 5 Episode 7 entitled “The Committee on Human Rights, and it aired April 18, 2017. It was written by Hilary Bettis and was directed by series star Matthew Rhys. This is Episode 86 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 85 to get the news and our episode breakdown ...
Apr 23, 2017•56 min
So it looks like Gabriel is really gone. What about Matthew? And what about Paige’s future? Whoa! Plus our friend Kathleen joins us! We are of course discussing The Americans Season 5 Episode 7 entitled “The Committee on Human Rights,” and it aired April 18, 2017. It was written by Hilary Bettis and was directed by series star Matthew Rhys. This is Episode 85 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned fo...
Apr 21, 2017•1 hr 28 min
Gabe leaving? Mischa gone? Stan and Dennis with a win? Detective Oleg? Paige and Marx and…Gabe? Minds are blown all across America with The Americans Season 5 Episode 6 entitled “Crossbreed”! It aired April 11, 2017, was written by Stephen Schiff, and was directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 84 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 83 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Exciting history and music get us started! We...
Apr 17, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Gabe leaving? Mischa gone? Stan and Dennis with a win? Detective Oleg? Paige and Marx and…Gabe? Minds are blown all across America with The Americans Season 5 Episode 6 entitled “Crossbreed”! It aired April 11, 2017, was written by Stephen Schiff, and was directed by Roxann Dawson. This is Episode 83 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 84. Interviews and lists top the news this week! F...
Apr 15, 2017•1 hr 12 min
Who knew that spreadsheets and lovemaking go together so great? Philip sure does now after Season 5 Episode 5 of The Americans entitled “Lotus 1-2-3”! It aired April 4, 2017, was written by Joshua Brand, and directed by Noah Emmerich. This is Episode 82 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 81 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. This episode was overloaded with history & tech! So, we catch a rerun of Romancing the St...
Apr 09, 2017•1 hr 15 min
Who knew that spreadsheets and lovemaking go together so great? Philip sure does now after Season 5 Episode 5 of The Americans entitled “Lotus 1-2-3”! It aired April 4, 2017, was written by Joshua Brand, and directed by Noah Emmerich. This is Episode 81 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 82. There was so much news we had to cull it this week! First up is Vulture admiring the activism ...
Apr 07, 2017•1 hr 23 min
Does anyone know “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” We do, now that we have seen that very episode of The Americans! It’s Season 5 Episode 4 and it aired March 28, 2017! This episode was written by Gwyneth Horder-Payton and directed by Peter Ackerman. This is Episode 80 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 79 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Literary history with some geography awaits us, starting with the book What’s ...
Apr 03, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Does anyone know “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” We do, now that we have seen that very episode of The Americans! It’s Season 5 Episode 4 and it aired March 28, 2017! This episode was written by Gwyneth Horder-Payton and directed by Peter Ackerman. This is Episode 79 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 80. It’s easy to do the news when our listeners provide it for us! First up from Gr...
Mar 31, 2017•1 hr 21 min
Anyone got a midge-swatter? We need one this week for The Americans Season 5 Episode 3 “The Midges” that aired March 21, 2017! It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Stefan Schwartz. This is Episode 78 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 77 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. Don’t let our history and tech segments bug you! We wouldn’t want to break your back! In history we spy on the OBKhSS and catch th...
Mar 26, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Anyone got a midge-swatter? We need one this week for The Americans Season 5 Episode 3 “The Midges” that aired March 21, 2017! It was written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Stefan Schwartz. This is Episode 77 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 78. Two news items stand out this week! KPCC has a cool interview with the J’s and reveal that they are vowing not to put a young KGB-e...
Mar 25, 2017•1 hr 12 min
What sort of creatures could be bugging Philip and Elizabeth and Soviet grain? We get a tease in this week’s The Americans Season 5 Episode 2 “Pests” that aired March 14, 2017! It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 76 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 75 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. We have history and crackpot theories combined this week! We sta...
Mar 19, 2017•1 hr 7 min
What sort of creatures could be bugging Philip and Elizabeth and Soviet grain? We get a tease in this week’s The Americans Season 5 Episode 2 “Pests” that aired March 14, 2017! It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 75 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 76. We have a couple of cool news features for you this week! First u...
Mar 17, 2017•1 hr 15 min
At last we have new episodes of The Americans! Season 5 has begun and what a terrific debut! Hear all about it as we dive into Season 1 Episode 1 “Amber Waves” that aired March 7, 2017. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 74 and contains our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments. Please check out Episode 73 to get the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. We rock on with history and tech this week, starting wi...
Mar 12, 2017•47 min
At last we have new episodes of The Americans! Season 5 has begun and what a terrific debut! Hear all about it as we dive into Season 1 Episode 1 “Amber Waves” that aired March 7, 2017. It was written by showrunners Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg and directed by Chris Long. This is Episode 73 and contains the news and our episode breakdown and analysis. To hear our history, tech of yesteryear, and feedback segments stay tuned for Episode 74. Now that Russia has become such a big deal in the news i...
Mar 11, 2017•1 hr 12 min
