Crossing Streams

Craig Elsten is joined once again by Liddy Loree to talk about a show that is taking the world by storm: the Korean thriller Squid Game. This episode is broken into three parts. In the initial segment, Craig and Liddy recommend the show and explain why it is so bingeable and popular, with NO spoilers. Then (20:00 mark), they get into the meat of the show for people who have started but not finishe...

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree return after a week's sabbatical with a deep dive on one of the funniest and smartest shows of 2021, "The Other Two", streaming on HBO Max. In addition to big and broad laughs, "The Other Two" shares a smart sensibility about modern fame and Hollywood, as well as a unique centering of gay perspectives within a conventionally framed sitcom. Next, Craig and Liddy discuss...

Fall is fast approaching and our streaming platforms are once again chock-full of great content! On this week's podcast, Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree dive into two of their favorite shows so far of 2021. Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu) is a comedy with heart and a touch of the mystical. Mr. Corman (AppleTV+) is a show filled with delightful contradictions. Both shows are hard to describe, but Craig...

The first season of Ted Lasso was almost universally hailed as a top entry in 2020. Season Two is more popular than ever, but it's also been met with mixed reviews and some backlash. In this week's episode, Craig Elsten and Marisa Cali get into what Ted Lasso has been this season, and what it hasn't been. Did the show get too cute for its own good, and has it added some needed darkness in the last...

Craig Elsten and Steven Woods reconvene to review the second half of the second season of 'Dave', with an extended look at the remarkable season finale. How did a show that used to be mostly dick and fart jokes turn into a transcendent and diverse piece of half-hour entertainment, as much drama as clever comedy?

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree reconvene to break down in earnest the finale of Mike White's satire "The White Lotus" on HBO. It's the rare show that has a finale so strong, it lifts every one of the single plot lines running through the series. Craig and Liddy go through each one, highlighting the poignancy and sometimes heartbreaking nature of White's critique of class and society.

Regular Marvel/DC/Star Wars correspondent Ken Gartin is back as he and host Craig Elsten go through the 2021 DC summer R-rated comedy action film, "The Suicide Squad", also streaming on HBO Max. Is this as simple as stealing a top director from the Marvel stable, or has DC figured out something new? Then, the guys look at the first episode of Marvel's "What If?" on Disney+, the latest episodes of...

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree are back together with two terrific comedies to recommend this week on Crossing Streams. First, a look at Mike White's genius creation of cringe comedy and social satire, 'The White Lotus' on HBO. Then, the whip-smart yet touching comedy 'This Way Up' on Hulu. Lastly, some thoughts on how Season 7 of 'Bosch' stumbled a bit, and our weekly recommendations segment.

Craig Elsten is joined by Marisa Cali to talk about what makes Ted Lasso such a universally beloved show, before diving into the first two episodes of Season Two, and how they are taking main characters from the first season into entirely different arcs.

Craig Elsten is joined by the director of all 26 episodes of Mr Inbetween, Nash Edgerton, for a special interview episode of Crossing Streams. How did Nash and Scott Ryan come together to collaborate on Mr Inbetween? Find out how the creators came to their naturalistic style, as well as many insights into the cast, scripts and direction of this incredible Australian drama.

Craig Elsten is joined once again by his resident Marvel and Star Wars expert, Ken Gartin, to review the season finale (and entire first season) of 'Loki' on Disney+. Craig thinks it's the most successful Marvel TV show to date, does Ken agree? Plus, Ken has gone to the theater to see Black Widow, and is back with a review.

Craig Elsten is joined once again by Steven Woods from the "Ben & Woods" radio program on 97.3 The Fan-SD in San Diego, to discuss one of their mutually loved shows, 'Dave' on FX. Season One was both a critical and ratings hit. How have the showrunners decided to challenge themselves and the show in their second go-round? The result is a program that may seem challenging or uncomfortable to a casu...

Craig Elsten and Ryan Phillips take a complete look at the Netflix breakout hit from the month of June, "Sweet Tooth". How did a show about a pandemic-ridden dystopia wind up so fun and hopeful? It had to walk a thin line; Craig and Ryan discuss how skillfully the show creators managed to navigate their path. Spoilers only late in the episode.

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree continue their yearly tradition of getting together at the midpoint of the year to rank their Top-5 shows of 2021 to date. Craig and Liddy give their honorable mentions, as well as unfinished shows they expect to crack the end-of-year rankings.

Craig Elsten is joined by Paul Reindl from the "Ben and Woods" radio program in San Diego to offer a complete review of "Hacks", the breakout HBO comedy which just wrapped up its first season. From Jean Smart's career-defining role to the breakout performance of Hannah Einbinder as Ava, Craig and Paul break down what makes the show so effective and successful.

This week's episode is double stuffed with goodness! First off, Craig Elsten is joined by his regular Marvel correspondent Ken Gartin, as the boys take a Crossing Streams First Look at 'Loki', the new Disney+ Marvel limited series. Next, Ken and Craig review M.O.D.O.K., the stop-motion comedy on Hulu exploring a very strange corner of the MCU. Last but certainly not least, Steven Woods is back on...

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree are back with a First Look (no spoilers) at The Underground Railroad, Barry Jenkins' adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This may be the highest quality show we see in 2021, but it's unflinching, complex and not an easy watch. Then, a full review (with spoilers) of the Mare of Easttown limited series finale.

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree are together to discuss one of their favorite shows of 2021, For All Mankind Season 2! In the first half of the episode, Craig and Liddy break down what makes For All Mankind a terrific TV program, with no spoilers! In the second half of the episode, a full season two review, WITH spoilers.

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree reconvene for episode #125 of Crossing Streams, with three interesting shows to discuss! First up, the Peacock TV comedy Girls5Eva, which Craig and Liddy both find to be one of the funniest new shows of the year! Then, a look at Mare of Easttown through five episodes (with spoilers) and The Nevers as it reaches its first-half finale (also with heavy spoilers!)

Craig Elsten and Ken Gartin return in episode #124 to break down the full first season of "Invincible" on Amazon Prime, and why it's perhaps the best-written superhero series out there. Then, Ken takes Craig through the Best Documentary nominees from this year's Oscars, with an emphasis on Crip Camp and My Octopus Teacher (both streaming on Netflix).

Craig Elsten and Liddy Loree are both all-in on the HBO prestige mystery drama Mare of Easttown, but to slightly varying degrees. The Hulu three-part documentary Sasquatch isn't *really* about Bigfoot, but instead even darker monsters in the shadows of Mendocino County. Reviews with spoilers (through 3 episodes of Mare).

Craig Elsten, Liddy Loree and Ken Gartin get together for a complete review of the Disney+ limited series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier". Within the realm of Marvel properties, where does this one rank, and did it try to do too much? Then, a non-spoiler look at the new HBO series "The Nevers".

Craig Elsten is re-joined by Liddy Loree after a couple podcasts' absence, first to discuss a BBC limited series airing on Netflix this month, "The Serpent". What made this story so interesting to both hosts, and what tiny detail threw Craig all the way out of the show? Then, a look at the very clever and funny "Made for Love" on HBO Max.

On a bonus episode of Crossing Streams, Craig Elsten is joined by anti-disinformation journalist Brooke Binkowski (from TruthorFiction.com) and longtime podcast partner John Gennaro to discuss the six-part HBO documentary "Q: Into the Storm". What did the documentary do well, and what could it have done better? Plus, do they agree with the doc's assessment of who "Q" is, and does it matter?

Craig Elsten and Ken Gartin are back after a week's absence, ready to take on more pop culture goodness. First, we take a look at "Invincible", the animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman's comic book from 2003-2018. Four episodes in, what makes "Invincible" unique and worthy of watching? Then, time to review the monster-go-thump popcorn flick "Godzilla vs Kong".