This week Tim uses the example of the Golden Globes to shame the Emmys into being better; we discuss the return of “Counterpart” and what made us like its first season so much; and Jason supplies a Slow Binge update while Tim calibrates his year-end best-of lists.
This week we make lists, and more lists, as Tim discusses the evolving world of the TV critic. YouTube and Facebook go back to basics. And we heap just a little more praise on “Patriot,” because why not.
This week Tim reviews “Escape at Dannemora” and then we break down the success of Fox News and wonder why nobody has successfully created an equivalent on the left. Along the way we insult TV news in general and CNN in particular. Plus, Jason tries a TV tracking app and we read your letters!
The sad spies of Amazon’s amazing and excellent “Patriot” have returned, and you can watch the whole series on Prime Video, so you’ll know what Tim and Jason are raving about this week. We also discuss HBO’s “Sally4Ever”, Tim’s desire for David Simon (or someone!) to create a groundbreaking TV series based on a recent New York Times article, and we read several of your tweets and letters.
This week Tim and Jason are overwhelmed with the volume of television that continues to fall out of the skies and into our laps. But from out of deep memory come some shows worth revisiting, whether it’s the existential “Les Revenants” on Netflix, the return of “The Man in the High Castle” on Amazon, or even the Netflix arrival of “Get Shorty.” Plus we answer your letters!
The world of TV is changing rapidly, and we’re here to break it down for you. This week Tim reviews British import “Bodyguard”, ABC ’70s comedy “The Kids Are All Right”, and then we dive into Tim’s rankings of streaming services new and old and begin to ponder what the streaming landscape will look like in 2019.
Tim has praise for “Wanderlust,” which premieres next Friday on Netflix, and we spend some time discussing the advantages of TV as a writer’s medium in an era where visual flourishes are competing more with traditional storytelling. Also, last week we opened a can of worms as large as the Tasman Sea, and New Zealand has had enough!
Tim returns from Vancouver with stories about Mike Schur and other showrunners, we've got a review of HBO's "Camping", and Apple risks losing out on key creators by getting a reputation as "expensive NBC."
We missed a week and the shows and letters piled up! So this week we cover Tim’s reviews of season 3 of “The Good Place”, and new shows “The Cool Kids”, “Single Parents”, “Mr Inbetween”, and “The Good Cop”. Good news, Australia, Tim likes one of your shows! Also, Jason watched “The First” and—for some reason—“Murphy Brown” and “Magnum P.I.” And we answer a lot of letters from the +44. Blimey.
Les Moonves is out at CBS, Tim’s headed to Canada to interview Mike Schur, and there’s still so… much… TV. Did you know that “Norm MacDonald Has a Show”? It’s on Netflix and it’s a train wreck. Also, “Forever” arrives at Amazon with a bunch of spoiler warnings (relax, we don’t spoil anything), and it’s worth watching. Tim also offers an advance look at Netflix’s “Maniac”, due next week. Jason reaches into The Power Rankings to pluck out “The Looming Tower” and a rewatch of “Detectorists.” And we...
Things are heating up! This week we touch base again on Jim Carrey in “Kidding” before moving on to the film-festival premiere of Amazon’s “Homecoming”, directed by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts. It doesn’t premiere until November, but you’ll want to mark your calendars, because Tim says it’s something special. Also, Tim and Jason review Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”, there’s a new edition of the Power Rankings, Jason gets offered screeners, and we answer your letters!
This week Tim reviews “One Dollar” from CBS All Access, which is less than you’ll pay to watch it—if you should bother. He also covers Showtime’s “Kidding”, starring Jim Carrey. Jason watches another show from last year! There are also two more Letters Kenny and a whole bunch of questions for Tim from listeners like you, generating all sorts of story ideas Tim may or may not ever write.
Though sleepy from travel, the TV Talk Machine moves forward anyway. This week Jason reports on a show from 2017 he finally watched, we muse about what’s going on with Hulu, Amazon, and Apple, and we answer an awful lot of your tweets and emails. Finally, at the end, Tim tries to Kojak us with a new social-media account to follow.
Tim reviews Netflix’s controversial “Insatiable” which turns out to be less interesting than it might have originally appeared. Plus, “Get Shorty” returns if you can find it. And while we keep joking about the Amazon Prime streaming graveyard, Tim is convinced that it’s a sleeping giant that has just awakened. Plus, Jason finishes “Cloak and Dagger” and we pick surprising casting in recent and forthcoming TV series.
Tim’s back from a very short Death March with Cocktails with news about what’s up with streaming and cable companies. Plus “Better Call Saul” returns, “Lodge 49” finally premieres, Facebook Watch fools no one, and Amazon Prime Video’s new leadership says hello to Tim.
Before Tim heads off to the Death March With Cocktails (Summer Press Tour) for a week, he checks in with Jason to discuss “Lodge 49” (set your DVR’s next week when you can!), “Fauda”, and more on the dramatic week for HBO and Netflix. And of course we answer some of your tweets and letters.
Jason’s back from his vacation and there’s a lot to talk about, as Tim reviews new series from Canada (via Hulu) and India (via Netflix). Also, the phone company comes calling for HBO, and Tim reacts—with some anger and also a little bit of appreciation—to the release of the Emmy nominees.
Two big streaming shows worth your time debut today. On Netflix, it’s the second season of “GLOW”, and on Amazon, the remarkable miniseries “A Very English Scandal.” Tim’s got reviews of both, and then our attention turns to how Apple is spending a lot of money to become a major player in television—but hasn’t actually announced anything yet.
This week Tim reviews Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone”, and then we dive into a last-minute plea regarding what shows and which performers should be nominated for Emmy Awards. And we leave a little room to answer letters about two sophomore series: the lauded “Legion” and the ignored “Goliath”.
Tim’s back from the ATX Festival in Austin and just before the Emmy season gets heated up, it’s time to talk about another hidden gem—“Moone Boy”. Plus, one of our listeners gets namechecked for helping to save “The Expanse”, Jason gets happily pedanted, and Tim gets a bunch of viewing tips from a data scientist.
We’re back with a spoiler-free look at the finale of “The Americans,” which is now safe for you completists to watch. We also walk through Tim’s latest Power Rankings! for comedies, and an OG TVTM listener pays us a visit via letter.
We veer deeply into the sabermetrics of television as Tim discusses the 10 best-written series on TV. Plus we spend a lot of time on the return of “Arrested Development”, from Netflix’s catastrophic PR campaign to Tim’s review of the new season. And as always, we leave a little bit of room for your tweets and emails, in which we learn yet another terrifying fact about Australia and discover which streaming service is a graveyard from which shows never return.
Cancellation is in the news and we discuss the new rules of TV show cancellation and survival! Plus, vintage TV series that are ready to be reimagined, a guide to hidden gems in an age of peak TV, and we answer your letters.
The art of a successful sophomore season, the little details that make a great TV performance, hidden gems, and crossover contenders. This episode has a low floor but a high ceiling.
Sometimes the flaws are what make something interesting. That’s the case, Tim argues this week, with HBO’s “Barry” and BBC America’s “Killing Eve.” Plus, Tim and his colleague Dan disagree on the second-season directions of “Westworld” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” And this film we once saw was reviled for its flaws But its flaws were what made us have fun
Tim reveals big changes in his Power Rankings! with a bunch of new series entering the hallowed list of 21 top shows to watch right now. And after a whole lot of anticipation, here comes season 2 of “Westworld.” Tim’s seen the first five episodes and has an early review.
We say goodbye to legendary TV producer Stephen Bochco, and then Tim reviews “Dangerous Book for Boys”, “Howards End”, “Killing Eve”, and “Legion” season two. Jason praises the just-completed seasons of “The Magicians” and “Counterpart”. And Listener Dean forces us to explain why we didn’t talk about “Roseanne.”
In a tight and bright episode, Tim reviews the new season of “The Americans”, we go over some draft rules, and answer your letters.
This week Tim reviews “The Mechanism”, from the director of “Narcos”, and Danny Boyle’s story of the Getty Family, “Trust”. Plus we muse about TV streaming fantasy drafts and readers have thoughts about what to do while folding laundry.
This week Tim has some advice for the Obamas about their potential deal with Netflix, plus reviews of “Krypton” and yes, the CBS drama “Instinct.” Plus listeners have feelings about the ways that Netflix has wronged them.
