The Toy Department

In Episode 435, Madden and Kolsky return from an extended absence with Derek running on fumes to discuss: Three weeks of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (4:15) which featured lots of content but maybe not a whole lot of action… The Chair Company on HBO (26:05) and why both of our hosts are all the way out on Tim Robinson… Hulu’s football comedy Chad Powers (33:35) and what...

In Episode 434, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek’s upcoming trip to Austin City Limits before zeroing in on: The latest from The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (7:45) and the product of the Lock In, plus Derek’s feelings about an elimination-free episode… Netflix’s new series Black Rabbit (28:30) and whether it’s their attempt at a prestige show (and whether it&#821...

In Episode 433, Madden and Kolsky literally discuss the weather before they finally get into it with: The latest from The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (3:35) after the demise of the Justice for Leka movement… The new Spike Lee joint Highest 2 Lowest (24:40) and whether Denzel is too old for this sh*t… Prime Video’s new thriller The Girlfriend (35:50) and how (and why) it doe...

In Episode 432, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek’s imminent vacation to Vegas, and general Vegas strategy, before diving into: The latest from The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (5:00) where, as so often happens, the rookies are flailing and failing at forming a working alliance to oppose the vets… Peacock’s Office spin-off The Paper (22:00) and the potential pitfalls of trying...

In Episode 431, Madden and Kolsky discuss their IRL meet-up between podcasts before getting down to brass tacks on: The last two weeks of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (7:00) and the thrilling elimination that crowned the most recent episode… The baffling and distinctly not funny comedy The Pickup (22:50) and how exactly we end up making things that make no sense… The disappoin...

In Episode 430, Madden and Kolsky are chomping at the bit after a week off, so it’s right on into: The last two weeks of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (1:20) and whether Johnny Bananas was right when he said “I AM the Challenge!” Apple TV+’s Chief of War (24:10) and why neither of our hosts expect to keep watching… Noah Hawley’s Alien Earth on FX (28:55)...

In Episode 429, Madden and Kolsky get into their relative appreciation of getting pounded with heavy metal before they buckle down on: The new FX show Welcome to Necaxa (3:20) and how the Eva Longoria project resembles but is also very different from the Rob & Ryan project in Wrexham… Kolsky’s failure to watch Chief of War (15:00) thanks to a miscommunication on last pod (so maybe...

In Episode 428, Madden and Kolsky discuss Derek’s visit to Chicago and assign some extra homework that they forgot about before locking into: The first episode of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats (5:55) and also the weird and mostly annoying 0th episode, with lots of excitement for the season to come… The reasonably enjoyable Happy Gilmore 2 (30:55), how far you can fly on the win...

In Episode 427, Madden and Kolsky chat a bit about Kolsky’s new recording setup (which did not work as well as hoped) and recent oral surgery before homing in on: Netflix’s Charlize Theron action sequel The Old Guard 2 (3:40) and whether it deserves a Part 3, plus thoughts on Netflix’s ouevre… Michael C. Hall’s return to old haunts on Dexter: Resurrection (10:25) and...

In Episode 426, Madden and Kolsky spend entirely too long on Kolsky’s new cold brew coffee formula before shaking it off to discuss: The police-procedural-style crime drama Dept. Q on Netflix (4:30) and why one of our hosts loved it and the other turned it off… Apple TV+’s fire-crime-drama Smoke (10:05) and how, again, one of our hosts loved it and the other turned it off…...

In Episode 425, Madden and Kolsky wish everyone a Happy Juneteenth before jumping into a holiday recording with: The excellent documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin on Netflix (2:50) and how it tells a fascinating and compelling story about a great rock band… The harmless Amazon Prime film Deep Cover (12:45) and why it seems to be getting so much love… The Netflix series Tires (15:50) and...

In Episode 424, Madden and Kolsky are aiming for a short show, so it’s more or less right into: A predictable but nevertheless emotional finalé for Top Chef: Destination Canada (1:30) and the remarkable run of Tristen Epps… The Bong Joon Ho film Mickey 17 (15:35) and how it just never totally comes together or manages to live up to a very appealing trailer… Amazon Prime’s n...

In Episode 423, Madden and Kolsky make haste with pleasantries and hustle their way through: The penultimate episode of Top Chef: Destination Canada (2:25) where one of Kolsky’s beloved Chicago chefs headed home from Milan… The HBO Max film Mountainhead (7:25) and the Succession team’s take on the tech bro-pocalypse… Hulu’s new 20-somethings-in-the-city sitcom Adults...

In Episode 422, Madden and Kolsky have a quick Chelsea FC digression before they dive on in to: A semifinal to remember on Top Chef: Destination Canada (4:05) and how the scenery and cookery combined with emotional moments for a tremendous episode of television… The new Max show Duster (17:50) and how it makes you wonder why we haven’t seen more of Josh Holloway… The disappointin...

In Episode 421, Madden and Kolsky return after too long of a break to get into a wealth of pop culture, some of it very excellent, at least whatever they can remember of: The last few weeks of action on Top Chef: Destination Canada (2:55), where a top dog almost fell and the competition is fierce heading into the semi-finals… The first of the week’s two mediocre action flicks, Havoc (1...

In Episode 420, Madden and Kolsky get into some dentistry (and periodontistry?) before circling around to: The latest from Top Chef: Destination Canada (3:55), where Tristen Epps is absolutely clobbering the competition… A check-in on season four of Hacks (19:10) which is just a genuinely great television show with two excellent leads… Nathan Fielder’s HBO madness The Rehearsal (...

In Episode 419, Madden and Kolsky are squeezing a taping into a naptime, so it’s right on into: A couple of NBA Playoff thoughts (3:55) as we head into the first weekend of action… The last episode of The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (16:45), the appropriate winners and some thoughts on the season as a whole… A surprising elimination on Top Chef: Destination Canada (27:00) and the...

In Episode 418, Madden and Kolsky return from an unscheduled absence to revisit the world of pop culture, blasting through: Two episodes of Top Chef: Destination Canada (1:45), including the return of a Last Chance Kitchen champ and the emergence of a pretty clear favorite… Two weeks of action on The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (16:20), with the beginning of TJ’s Finals in the books an...

In Episode 417, Madden and Kolsky get right down to business because Kolsky has important activities to get to (specifically a 3-year-old’s dance performance): Two weeks of Canadian cooking on Top Chef: Destination Canada (1:20) including some distinctly north-of-the-border challenges and a couple of understated standouts… Two weeks of action on The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (9:15) i...

In Episode 416, Madden and Kolsky get into the transition from winter to spring and the many traps this season presents before shifting over to: The season premiere of Top Chef (3:30) where it’s Destination Canada and they have the tuxedos to prove it… The latest on The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (24:25) where another team of heavy hitters heads home and the ladies of Era 1 seem to be...

In Episode 415, Madden and Kolsky briefly recount Derek’s London experience before diving into: The last two weeks of The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (5:50) featuring plenty of drama and the elimination of a major favorite… A trio of Netflix content: The new basketball comedy Running Point (20:45), the Mindy-ness of it all and whether it passes muster with its basketball knowledge&#823...

In Episode 414, Madden and Kolsky are pressed for time after missing last week, so it’s some quick pleasantries and right into: Two weeks of action from The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (1:15), the early leaders in the clubhouse and the unfortunate (for entertainment purposes) elimination of Ashley and Aneesa… Our hosts’ thoughts on all of the SNL 50 content (22:25) from the past...

In Episode 413, Madden and Kolsky give you everything they’ve got about the Super Bowl (which amounts to approximately 47 seconds of content) before locking in on: The first two episodes of The Challenge All-Stars: Rivals (1:30) which featured a fortuitous elimination and very little personal growth from people we’ve known for a decade… The Jesse Eisenberg feature A Real Pain (20...

In Episode 412, Madden and Kolsky have a quick chat about vacations and the city of New Orleans before focusing in on: The conclusion of a lackluster reunion for The Challenge: Battle of the Eras (4:20) and a look ahead to the hopefully much more entertaining All-Stars 5… The Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown (16:30), some big-time acting performances and the impact of Dyla...

In Episode 411, Madden and Kolsky spend some time whining about the cold weather and their various maladies before sucking it up and getting to: An underwhelming start to the reunion of The Challenge: Battle of the Eras (4:30) and how the customary post-championship party probably needs a new format… The even more underwhelming Cruel Intentions remake (16:45) and how remakes need a new take...