The TV Doctor

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Sickbay: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" (Episode 53) Sep 03, 2024

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In this episode, Ashley is not enjoying the Klingons. (Could it be because she hasn’t met WORF?) Also, does not enjoying the Klingons mean you aren’t enjoying Star Trek? M. Foss continues her Saru Apology Tour, and wonders when—or if—Ashley will come to appreciate him. He might win her over if he promises to never run on camera again.
Here's the SNL sketch about the Papyrus font in Avatar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVhlJNJopOQ&t=3s
And here's an article about it: https://designforhackers.com/blog/papyrus-font/
Have you ever seen John Carpenter's The Thing? If not, M. Foss recommends watching the whole film (if you're into the scary stuff). If you don't have time to watch the whole film, you can get the point by watching this iconic scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2o2FRwn_hg
And finally, here's the TikTok about how the Star Wars films are incorrectly named: https://www.tiktok.com/@fake.disney.facts/video/6855402195291032837?embed_source=121374463%2C121451205%2C121439635%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&refer=embed&referer_url=movieweb.com%2Fstar-wars-movies-wrong-titles%2F&referer_video_id=6855402195291032837
Enjoy!

Sickbay: "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" (Episode 52) Aug 15, 2024

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In this episode, M. Foss and Ashley ponder the classic time loop episode and how a time loop works as a metaphor across a myriad of situations. Is it a metaphor for fandom and how we trust our beloved properties to get back on the horse if they tried a little something and it didn’t work? Yes. Is it a metaphor for this crazy ride we call life? Sure. Is it a metaphor for how Ashley felt about M. Foss not finishing (or even really starting) Succession? No, it’s not that. But feel free to tune in to hear how that all went down anyway.

Sickbay: "Lethe" (Episode 51) Aug 08, 2024

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M. Foss accidentally uses an inappropriate (or is it?) slur to refer to Captain Gabriel Lorca (here's a hint: it sounds an awful lot like the word "horror") and Ashley absolutely knocks it out of the solar system with her take on Sarek's journey with guilt.
Content Warning: The "Urgent Care/Prescription" portion of the episode contains a discussion of death and dying.

Sickbay: "Choose Your Pain" (Episode 50) Jul 25, 2024

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Good news for Tilly apologists (like M. Foss): Ashley is warming up to everyone’s favorite cadet. Bad news for fans of Saru (like M. Foss): we can’t say the same about everyone’s favorite Kelpian. Ashley still hates him. Also bad news for anyone who has ever seen The Original Series (like M. Foss): Ashley is all in on her choice of Harcourt Fenton Mudd as her favorite Star Trek character so far. But all these news items come with…you guessed it…CONTEXT. Join us to learn all about that context and much, much more.

For funsies, here’s an article you might enjoy about blasting past Star Trek’s final frontier: swear words on the show. We cannot be more amused by the URL. Happy reading!
https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/16/star-trek-discovery-fuck/

Sickbay: "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry" (Episode 49) Jul 18, 2024

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In this episode, M. Foss creates a rather robust list of things that “are Star Trek” or “are NOT Star Trek”…follow along to see if you agree or disagree! Also, a question for the room: can we truly invest in a character without the threat of the character’s demise on the table? Are life-or-death stakes the only ones powerful enough to break through our generational apathy and numbness? Join us as we try to work through our own answers, then leave us a comment on social media to continue the discussion!
A collection of the pop culture references from this episode for your enjoyment:
“He didn’t get out of the cock-a-doodie car!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br5umHOm3TM

“I have been and shall always be your friend.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39VR9YiiCDA

“Knew this was a one-way ticket.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejYuiUjJdcQ

“What are you waiting for, huh? What are you waiting for?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE1ZeXC4vtg

Sickbay: "Context is for Kings" (Episode 48) Jul 11, 2024

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If universal law is for lackeys, and context is for kings, then Star Trek is for lovers and we're fully shipping Lorca and Stamets over here. In this episode, Michael Burnham provides us with valuable lessons about leadership. Also, M. Foss is on the edge of breaking down and sliding Ashley a few Trek Trivia answers under the console.

Sickbay: "Battle at the Binary Stars" (Episode 47) Jul 04, 2024

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M. Foss and Ashley are back on the bridge with a fun but frank take on the hegemonic stifling of main character energy when said main character is Michael Burnham. We also tackle the topic of whether Klingons can be racist amongst each other (spoiler alert: they can). Finally, if you enjoy a classic "who's on first?" style exchange, then you won't want to miss this episode's quiz (it starts right around 30:25).

Sickbay: "The Vulcan Hello" (Episode 46) Jun 27, 2024

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Welcome to the premiere of The TV Doctor, Season 5!
This time around, we're doing things a little differently. Think of Season 5 as a clinical trial. M. Foss has returned, but she's not alone. For Season 5, the TV Doctor will be joined by a very special "intern" for a very special mission: to boldly go where few have gone before and some have had little-to-no previous interest in going. One of us is an Admiral-level doctor specializing in all things Star Trek; the other is a cadet who has all the right stuff but is learning about Trek from scratch. Together, we're going to work our way through Star Trek: Discovery, in honor of its series finale.
Welcome aboard, buckle up, and let's fly.
Content warning: Between 9:25 and 10:35, there is a brief discussion of mental health/illness and suicide.

Polyphagia: Food Television (Episode 45) Jul 27, 2023

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Nothing says "summer" like a heaping helping of Food TV! Welcome to the cookout. Come get you a plate. Your auntie made the Over-the-Counter potato salad, so you KNOW it's fire. Oh, and your uncle is over there grilling up a BOMB Second Opinion. The cousins said they're gonna make a run later for some Urgent Care. Go tell them to grab a bag of ice while they're out there, okay? We're gonna need it, because this episode is HOT!
Enjoy these after-dinner mints:
Sydney’s omelet from The Bear: https://www.allrecipes.com/how-to-make-the-omelet-from-the-bear-7560284

Books by TWO TIME (!) James Beard Award winner Adrian Miller:

- Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time https://adrianemiller.com/product/soul-food-paperback/

- The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families from the Washingtons to the Obamas https://adrianemiller.com/product/the-presidents-kitchen-cabinet-paperback/

- Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue https://adrianemiller.com/product/black-smoke-hardcover/

Star Trek cookbook: https://shop.underground-books.com/book/9780671000226

Star Trek Cocktails: A Stellar Compendium https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star-trek-cocktails-glenn-dakin/1137572000

Hungry for Answers, featuring Caroline Randall Williams, produced by Viola Davis (trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dQV8dxOrw0

Last Supper Society: https://www.lastsuppersociety.com

Homegrown trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFz3OFs72Dc&t=116s
Finally, if you’d like to visit the restaurants you’ve seen on your favorite shows, check out this website: https://www.tvfoodmaps.com

Sick Day: Game Shows (Episode 44) Dec 31, 2022

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Who doesn't want to wager one dollar or spin the wheel or get a Daily Double or offer their final answer or conquer Mt. Midoriyama? Everyone loves game shows, especially The TV Doctor. Join M. Foss for a countdown of the best traditional game shows of all time (and stay tuned for a future episode on the best reality-based competition shows).
Links to a few favorite game show moments, as promised:
The Double Dare obstacle course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7wSdRquq8s
Pentatonix on The Sing-Off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaIfu1Ni57o
Delilah on The Sing-Off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMoF3K4UEsg

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