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 s
In Episode 462, Madden and Kolsky are having a hell of a week, so it’s an ACTUAL SHORT EPISODE, focusing on: The return of THE CHALLENGE: CUTTHROAT (1:35)!! That’s it, that’s all, with thoughts on the format, the new contestants and all the shenanigans that have already gone down in the first two episodes… Homework for next week (31:15): which is mostly just last week’s homework, but adding the Hulu show Furious to the slate…
In Episode 461, Madden and Kolsky begin by acknowledging a first-time occurrence in pod history as they get into: Steven Soderbergh’s Full Circle (2:05) which as it turns out, our hosts watched several years ago when it was released and simply forgot about… Apple TV+’s new action show Lucky (8:05) and how it has a lot of good qualities—Anya Taylor-Joy, an interesting story, some good characters—but in light of the Full Circle experience it’s hard to say whether it will be memorable… The film Project Hail Mary (13:25) and how it is an absolute home run of a summer blockbuster, with an incredibl
In Episode 460, Madden and Kolsky get in a little earthquake talk before moving on to: Boots Riley’s new film I Love Boosters (3:40), the particular madcap style that he works in, and whether it has diminishing returns… The somewhat disappointing Eric Andre/John Cena Netflix comedy Little Brother (18:10) and how it simply doesn’t reach the necessary level of laughs-per-minute… The rather disappointing Amazon’s Legally Blonde prequel series Elle (22:25) and whether our hosts are just too old for this shit… The wildly disappointing HBO series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (29:10) an
In Episode 459, Madden and Kolsky pay some quick attention to their upcoming schedule before getting into: An extended visit to the SPORTS WORLD, where the World Cup is in full swing (1:30) and the NBA is turning from draft to trades and free agency (22:05)… Colin Farrell’s Apple TV+ show Sugar (42:20), which is totally enjoyable as just a neo-noir detective show, but also happens to includ an utterly additive ALIEN TWIST… Good times! Questlove’s brilliant new documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World) [46:00] and the fascinating story of the band and f
In Episode 458, Madden and Kolsky figured out a way to get this thing on tape, which should be enough, as they talk through: The somewhat underwhelming season finalé of Top Chef (0:50) and how not leaving the Carolinas for the final felt strange… The new Apple TV+ series Cape Fear (16:30) and how one of our hosts just isn’t here for this sort of thing, but the other is ALL IN… A look back at a few show-favorite series that wrapped up for good in the last couple weeks: the enjoyable endpoint of The Boys (26:05), the only-sometimes-beautiful mess that was Euphoria’s last season (29:55) and the t
In Episode 457, Madden and Kolsky missed a week, so no time is wasted before discussions of: An eventful two weeks on Top Chef (1:00), which sets us up for a humdinger of a finalé next week… Tatiana Maslany’s new Apple TV+ show Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (30:50) and how her magnetism is at the center of an entertaining experience… Netflix’s new Duffer Brothers-produced series The Boroughs (35:00) and how there are some pretty good pieces but neither host is particularly interested in the central storyline… Netflix’s new crime thriller Nemesis (39:05) and how it’s a good version of a broad, go
In Episode 456, Madden and Kolsky discuss their mutual inability to drink alcohol like in the good ole days before snapping their focus to: Netflix’s documentary Untold UK: Jamie Vardy (4:10) and the absolutely incredible story of his rise to the Premier League and eventual league title with Leicester City FC… Amazon Prime’s heist thriller Crime 101 (15:20) and how it’s a fun and pretty great version of a certain sort of movie… A quick show detour to discuss the totality of HBO’s DTF St. Louis (20:55) and how it was a long journey to get there, but it ended up in a pretty solid place… Netflix’
In Episode 455, Madden and Kolsky navigate a new recording system as they meander through: A fish-themed episode of Top Chef (1:40), the danger of a simple error and the race to the finish with a good collection of chefs… The brilliance of The Bear’s new mini-movie Gary (25:40) and how the show’s creators continue to build beautiful, vibrant stories… BBC’s Lord of the Flies adaptation on Netflix (31:35) and how it feels like a direct page-to-screen printing of William Golding’s book… The Noah Kahan documentary Out of Body (38:25) and how it does nothing to explain the Noah Kahan phenomenon… Sp
In Episode 454, Madden and Kolsky poo-poo Derek’s birthday before hustling through: The latest from Top Chef: Carolinas (1:45) where there was too much mayo for one of our hosts and too much heat for some of the chefs… Netflix’s new action show Man on Fire (19:50) and all the things it gets right… HBO’s new drama Half Man (21:15), from the creator of the highly-acclaimed Baby Reindeer, and how it’s very well done but relentlessly traumatic… Apple TV+’s new show Widow’s Bay (34:10) and whether it can truly be called a mystery or whether it’s a comedy or what the heck is generally happening here
In Episode 453, Madden and Kolsky react to another missed show countdown before diving right into: The long-awaited and pretty weird Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef: Carolinas (1:15) and the outlook for the remainder of the season… Netflix’s new series This Is A Gardening Show (24:05), which is DEFINITELY a gardening show, but also a Zach Galifianakis show, and rather delightful if you’re into that sort of thing… The new Sandler Family comedy Roommates (29:00) and how it’s a pretty good version of a particular type of Netflix fodder… Glen Powell’s The Running Man (35:15) and how it’s a lit
In Episode 452, Madden and Kolsky are HAVING A WEIRD DAY, independently and also together, complete with technological difficulties as they attempt to fully attend to: The most recent episode of Top Chef (1:05), featuring weird departures and weirder returns and the weirdest quickfire challenge… The return of the Netflix series Beef (23:30) for its second season, and what distinguishes the anthology-style series from its first go-round… Apple TV+’s new Elle Fanning vehicle Margo’s Got Money Troubles (28:15), its somewhat unexpected delights, and how Apple seems to be doing much of its best wor
In Episode 451, Madden and Kolsky are up late for a special after-dark edition, so don’t worry if everyone sounds a little punchy as they chat about: The latest from Top Chef (2:45) where a BIG BBQ challenge brought out the best in the chefs and there’s a hanging mystery heading into next week… The Netflix doc UNTOLD: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom (24:10) which has a fascinating subject but doesn’t entirely come together as a documentary… The new Jonah Hill-directed movie Outcome (32:15) on Apple TV+, where the camp is high, the ambitions are relatively low, and one of our hosts is very ann
In Episode 450, Madden and Kolsky return from an extended, travel-filled layoff to get into: The last few episodes of Top Chef: Carolinas (3:25) and how the group is seemingly not living up to its own standards over that time… Apple TV+’s new sexy psychological drama Imperfect Women (26:35) and the sudden plethora of sexy psychological dramas on streaming services… The third season of Lisa Kudrow’s HBO series The Comeback (37:45) and how it’s mostly more of the same (other than a clever little AI storyline) but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing… The return of Amazon Prime’s “Jury Duty” with C
In Episode 449, Madden and Kolsky have a brief and unfortunate conversation about Arsenal’s star-in-the-making Max Dowman before putting soccer away to discuss: The second episode of Top Chef: Carolinas (2:15), with a very high level of cooking all around and an emerging favorite, plus a few thoughts on Padma’s new show America’s Culinary Cup… HBO’s new Bill Lawrence/Steve Carrell show Rooster (31:10) and its charming combination of comedy and drama… Netflix’s new horny dramedy Vladimir (35:25) and the now-incredibly-overused trick of showing us a potential endpoint in the first ten minutes of
In Episode 448, Madden and Kolsky are arriving on Wednesdays for the foreseeable future, as they respond to: The premiere of a new season of Top Chef (1:50), this one in the Carolinas and off to a rip-roaring start with a very dramatic elimination challenge… The final Best Picture nominee on the list, Hamnet (30:25), complete with Kolsky’s predictable distaste for the film and some general Oscar talk… The new HBO show DTF St. Louis (48:50) and how it’s got all the pieces of a good show, but at least one of our hosts is struggling with all the misery on television… Homework for next week (1:03:
In Episode 447, Madden and Kolsky address an upcoming pod schedule change before wading through: The Oscar-nominated film Marty Supreme (2:20) and all of its great acting performances, plus Kolsky’s discomfort with the Safdie style… The Oscar-nominated performance of Rose Byrne (13:00) in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and the distinctly not-oscar-worthy nature of the film itself… A sort of combined discussion about two network sitcoms (22:00): the Tracy Morgan/Daniel Radcliffe vehicle The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, and the reboot of Scrubs from pod favorite Bill Lawrence & Co… A few though
In Episode 446, Madden and Kolsky briefly discuss Derek’s homework apology before (angrily) diving right into: The widely acclaimed Best Picture nominee The Secret Agent (1:10) and how neither of our hosts can figure out why that acclaim exists… Richard Linklater’s new film Blue Moon (12:45), which was abjectly hated by one of our hosts and marginally appreciated for its good qualities by the other… Ethan Coen’s 2025 film Honey Don’t (21:10) and how it simply doesn’t rise to the standard of the work he’s done with his brother… The new Netflix series How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (31:05) an
In Episode 445, Madden and Kolsky briefly address the results of the Toy Department Derby (if it can be so called) before moving into: Kolsky’s dad’s recommendation, the Bert Kreischer show Free Bert on Netflix (4:15), which neither of our hosts disliked, per se, but nobody here can exactly recommend… This week’s Oscar film Sentimental Value (11:25) and how Madden and Kolsky’s differing expectations may have contributed to their differing experiences with the film… The good-time action flick The Wrecking Crew (24:25) and the value of having some fun at the movies… The return of Shrinking (33:0
In Episode 444, Madden and Kolsky have a breezy chat about whether or not they’ll have a breezy chat about some not-so-breezy content (does that make sense?) before having an [arguably breezy] chat about: The Oscar-nominated Train Dreams (1:35) and how it does a lot of things right, even if it ultimately is more of a tone poem than a narrative film… The distinctly not-a-tone-poem Netflix film The Rip (20:10) and the value of the Damon/Affleck let’s-have-a-good-time-at-the-theater attempt… Amazon Prime Video’s crime thriller series Steal (28:05) and how it has all the pieces to be a good show b
In Episode 443, Madden and Kolsky discuss the various challenges presented by the sub-zero temperatures they’re experiencing before launching into: Netflix’s new dramatic thriller His & Hers (5:30), and how it fails to reach the quality of a lifetime movie despite some heavy hitters in the cast… A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (13:20) and the wisdom of major IP properties telling small, disconnected stories… The Night Manager (19:20), which came out ten years ago, but is really great and the guys needed to watch Season 1 before they could get to the brand new Season 2… Peacock’s new Moscow spy
In Episode 442, Madden and Kolsky are FINALLY back after a LOOOOONG winter break to bring you the best in pop culture conversation, specifically regarding: A couple minutes on the Toy Department Derby—Chelsea v Arsenal—that happened shortly before our return (2:30) and how nobody left satisfied… The HBO documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (6:50) and Kolsky’s bizarre cultural blind spot when it comes to this particular musician… HBO’s other music documentary from the holidays, Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately (15:15) and how the film was less impactful despite a greater love for th
In Episode 441, Madden and Kolsky are in a REAL time crunch, so after briefly addressing Kolsky’s predictable failure with a specific (Jeff Buckley-sized) portion of the homework, it’s right into: The 50 Cent-produced Sean Combs: The Reckoning () on Netflix and whether it paints a complete picture of the monster that is Puffy/Diddy/Whatever you wanna call him… George Clooney’s excellent performance in the Noah Baumbach Netflix film Jay Kelly (13:50) and whether the movie around him stands up to it… The Darren Aronofsky movie Caught Stealing (20:00) and how it’s quite a departure from his usual
In Episode 440, Madden and Kolsky have a lot to discuss and very little time, so it’s right into: The two episodes of TJ’s Final on The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (1:00), wrapping up an excellent 41st season with some high drama… Netflix’s surprisingly delightful historical drama Death By Lightning (28:35) and the bizarre nature of history and legacy… The second season of A Man on the Inside (34:50) which picks up right where the lovable first season left off… The new Netflix thriller The Beast in Me (36:35) and how Claire Danes’ character (along with most of the others, frankly) is pretty
In Episode 439, Madden and Kolsky get started with Derek issuing the dreaded short-show curse before a futile attempt to break it while discussing: The last pre-final episode of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (1:15) where Nany’s determination to play the game “honorably” got the best of her, leaving a stacked field for TJ’s Final… The return of Landman on Paramount+ (22:05) and how it’s one of the most enjoyable and well-written shows available, whatever you might think about its oil politics… Netflix’s documentary Being Eddie (27:15) and whether the filmmakers managed to get deep enough wi
