The Televerse #346- Spotlight on Chef’s Table: Pastry

The snark level is high this week on the podcast, with several series prompting side-eyes from Noel and Kate. First up, we look at the week’s comedy and reality TV, including a dramatic black-ish, the season finale of The Rundown with Robin Thede, another baby-centric Superstore, and of course, RuPaul’s Drag Race. Then we head over to drama and genre, including the satisfying season finale of Black Lightning, questionable character choice-filled episodes of The Flash, iZombie, and The Good Fight, musical eps of Supergirl (alas, only karaoke) and Riverdale, and a catchup with the still spooky The Terror. Afterward, it’s time for our season spotlight, as we dive in with the highs and lows of the at times charming, at times insufferable Chef’s Table: Pastry.

By |2018-04-21T14:51:09-06:00April 21st, 2018|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #336- Spotlight on One Day at a Time Season 2

After several reasonably long episodes, we’re back with another marathon podcast this week, as Noel and Kate play catch-up on recent TV. First we look at the week’s reality and comedy, with a deep dive on The Amazing Race, plenty of Top Chef: Colorado and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars discussion, a midseason check-in on grown-ish, and strong new episodes of Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we move over to the drama and genre offerings, including Kate’s catch up with The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, some pre-finale Star Trek: Discovery talk, and catch-ups with Agents of SHIELD, Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow. Afterward, it’s time to spotlight the stellar second season of One Day at a Time, as Noel and Kate pick their favorite episodes,  ponder the show’s season-to-season growth, and sidestep spoilers to discuss the series’ specific and universal charms.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:19-06:00February 10th, 2018|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #334- Spotlight on 25 years of WWE RAW with Cory Barker

Few series make it more than a handful of years; even fewer make it into double digits. This week, the WWE celebrated 25 years of Monday Night RAW, and that is a milestone worth reflecting upon. We may not be regular wrestling viewers here at The Televerse, but thankfully friend of the show Cory Barker of TVGuide.com is, and he came back on the podcast this week to talk WWE RAW and wrestling on TV with us for an extended spotlight. Before that, however, Noel and Kate talk through some of the week’s more memorable episodes. First we look at the week in comedy and reality, including the premieres of The Detour and Drunk History, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’s Apology Race, a double episode of The Amazing Race, and the premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars. Then we move over to the genre offerings, including the premiere of Counterpart, Star Trek: Discovery, The Flash, Supergirl, and the latest Darin Morgan offering of The X-Files. How did trying to keep up with Trump work for the Full Frontal crew? Has Star Trek: Discovery gotten overly twist-reliant? And which host is surprisingly fluent in the complex backstories of ‘90s and early ‘00s WWE? This and more on the latest episode of The Televerse.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:19-06:00January 27th, 2018|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #327- Twin Peaks Season 3 with Emily L. Stephens

We’re heading into the end of the calendar year, and with The 2017 List-ening looming, it’s the perfect time to revisit one of the year’s most fascinating and puzzling entries, the return of Twin Peaks. Joining Kate to break down the alternately confusing and compelling season is friend of the show Emily L. Stephens of The A.V. Club. Before we dive into the strange world of Frost and Lynch, however, there’s a very full week of TV to discuss. First Noel and Kate look at the comedies, including the holiday returns of Psych and Superstore, the finale of Broad City, and the epic 99th episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. After a brief dip into reality to discuss the premiere of Top Chef, it’s time for the week’s genre episodes. Noel only lasted about 10 minutes into the Happy! premiere, and we chat about why. Then there’s the premiere of Agents of SHIELD, a dramatic return on Outlander, and the fall finales of Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Arrow. Which series are getting their silliness quotient right and which could stand to be a bit less precious? Which returns have us the most jazzed, and which show doesn’t seem to realize it’s retreading ground powerfully trod earlier this year in cinemas? Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV.

By |2017-12-09T11:08:36-06:00December 9th, 2017|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #326- Spotlight on Crisis on Earth-X with Dr. Elizabeth Bridges

Despite the holiday last week and the looming holiday season ahead, it’s this week that gives us our lightest TV load in quite a while. We kick things off with our week in TV, including the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Drunk History’s Christmas Special, a check-in on The Rundown with Robin Thede, and fun episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Broad City, Outlander, and Marvel’s Runaways. Afterwards, we head over to the spotlight section and welcome back friend of the show Dr. Elizabeth Bridges, co-author and editor of Nazisploitation!: The Nazi Image in Low-Brow Cinema and Culture, to break down the four-part CW crossover extravaganza, Crisis on Earth-X.

By |2017-12-02T22:29:10-06:00December 2nd, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #325- 2017 TV Resolution Check-in #5: Danny the Manny, The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, Recovery of an MMO Junkie, TWOCAR!

With (American) Thanksgiving on the early side this year, TV opted to celebrate with viewers instead of taking the week off. First up this episode, Noel and Kate dive in with the comedies, including Thanksgiving-themed episodes of Bob’s Burgers and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and shake-up-filled episodes of Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we move on to the drama and genre offerings, including the premieres of She’s Gotta Have It, Godless, The Punisher, and Marvel’s Runaways, a Billy Joel-tastic Arrow, and the long awaited (or dreaded) return of Mon-El to Supergirl. Afterward, it’s time for one more check-in on our 2017 TV resolutions to watch more streaming series (Kate) and anime (Noel). How are our latest explorations of these mediums panning out? Listen in, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV and our latest resolution viewing, Danny the Manny and The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, and Recovery of an MMO Junkie and TWOCAR!.

By |2017-11-25T22:29:38-06:00November 25th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #324- Spotlight on Lady Dynamite Season 2

It’s a week of highs and lows this episode, with interesting finales and memorably powerful episodes alongside truly ridiculous ones. First up, Noel and Kate talk through the week’s comedy: a revealing Jane the Virgin, the first of hopefully many wedding-themed Brooklyn Nine-Nines, a classic issue-oriented black-ish, and the intense culmination of Rebecca’s journey so far on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we look at the week’s genre and drama offerings: the finales of Star Trek: Discovery and Queen Sugar, another intense The Exorcist and emotional Supergirl, and some of the season’s least thrilling installments of Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. Afterward, we head to the DVD Shelf to dive in with the second season of Lady Dynamite. How does Maria fare in her latest round of adventures? Are season two’s time jumps as engaging and effective as season one’s? And what will happen when Maria is presented the Most Sacred Lady Blazer? All of this and more as Noel and Kate break down the colorful, at times confusing, and always compelling Lady Dynamite.

By |2017-11-18T21:29:49-06:00November 18th, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #323- Spotlight on Alias Grace

With several weighty episodes to break down, we keep the show list manageable this week. First up are the comedies, with looks at a sobriety-focused Mom, Fresh Off the Boat’s charming, Melissa Etheridge-fueled coming out episode, another Adam-heavy Jane the Virgin, and a Swimfan-inspired Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Next up are the drama and genre entries, including the premiere of USA’s Damnation, the penultimate Queen Sugar, the post-baseball return of The Exorcist, and the dreaded Sanvers breakup episode of Supergirl. Afterward, we head over to Netflix and dive in with the latest Margaret Atwood adaptation, the miniseries Alias Grace. What’s the right amount of ‘90s for a ‘90s-set sitcom? Is there anything Jane can do to get us off the dock and aboard the Goode Shippe Jadam? When will Rose wise up and call in the priests, and is there any way for Supergirl to avoid SuperCorp as endgame without betraying the only-just-barely-sub-text? Tune in for Noel and Kate’s takes on the week’s TV, then chime in below with your own.

By |2017-11-11T15:30:09-06:00November 11th, 2017|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #322- Spotlight on Stranger Things Season 2

Halloween may be over, but we extend the spooky season a little longer to talk Stranger Things season two this week on the podcast. What were the tricks and treats of the new season? Are we #TeamJonathan or #TeamSteve? Which kids got a raw deal this time around, and who got long-overdue development? And does anyone care about the adults? Before we dive back into the Upside Down, however, we have a full week of TV to discuss. First up are the comedy and reality episodes, including the premiere of Mom, a personal Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, strong installments of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and black-ish, and the midseason finale of The Good Place. Then we follow that up with the drama and genre entries, including another powerful Queen Sugar, potent (and perhaps problematic) developments from Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery’s big time loop episode. Where’s the line between writers trusting their casts and actors saving underwritten dialogue? Does it really matter, if the scenes still play? Is comedy required and inherent to time loop episodes? And when don’t you need a pantsuit? All of this and more as Noel and Kate break down the latest in TV.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00November 4th, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #319- Spotlight on The CW’s Superhero Premieres

Another week, another set of premieres. This week, Noel and Kate dive deep with The CW’s superhero premieres, spotlighting the returns of Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow. Which are off to a good start, which have us hiding behind our hands and dreading the next few episodes, and which should we really, truly break up with (even if we know we won’t)? Before that, however, we talk through another full week in TV. We kick things off, as ever, with the comedies, including the much-anticipated premiere of The Rundown with Robin Thede, strong installments of Better Things, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and black-ish, and a creative and animated, if somewhat disappointing Broad City. Then we move over to the genre and drama entries, including DuckTales, Outlander, Star Trek: Discovery, Queen Sugar, and another moving Halt and Catch Fire. What’s appropriate cookie etiquette? What makes Trek Trek? Which shows have us cracking up, getting misty, and waiting with bated breath? And who buys a media empire for their best bud? (C’mon now.) Tune in to hear our thoughts on all this and more, then leave your thoughts below in the comments!

By |2017-10-14T14:03:06-06:00October 14th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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