Stay ConnectedWriter Tim Goodman (former SF Chronicle and Hollywood Reporter TV critic) talks irregularly with Jason Snell about television and other stuff. Released simultaneously worldwide to all international markets. Love to your mothers.
TV Talk Machine art by the late, great Don Asmussen.
Copyright: Copyright © The Incomparable
This reunion is crossposted from Downstream episode 43. Tim Goodman drops by to discuss his decision to be a TV writer at the very end of the Peak TV era, the challenges of TV criticism, and his return to writing about TV on his own terms via his Substack.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
“Counterpart” revisited, CNN+ as seen through the lens of an escaping prisoner, Apple TV+’s surprise success, the mess that is the current streaming landscape, and Tim shares a book idea with substack readers. Plus, letters from listeners!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
“Station Eleven,” “The Afterparty,” Stephen Colbert, TV marriages, “The A Word,” and the moment when Tim’s partner said, “Yeah, I’m never gonna watch that.” Plus: your letters!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim finds “Utopia”—twice. Jason gets confused by “NCIS: Hawaii.” We ponder series hiding away on services like STARZ and EPIX. It’s Peacock’s time to shine (not just the Olympics, but “Vigil”!). PBS, please take my money. Tim bounces off of “Raised By Wolves.”
And at the end of the episode The Box Set takes on episode one of “Station Eleven” and episode one of “Collateral.”
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
It’s been 612 pandemic-fueled days. But we’ve taken the tarp off the TV Talk Machine, replaced a few parts, and are ready to kick it into gear.
Tim spent the last two years writing TV scripts! He’s going to keep doing that, and write a book, and also has launched a newsletter on Substack so he can write about television again. And… did we mention the TV Talk Machine is back, too? It’s true!
In this episode Tim explains where he’s been, where he’s going, and the origin of his new project, which launches today! Also Jason raves about “Station Eleven” and believe it or not, there’s a letter from a listener!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim and Jason return to close the book on Volume 4 of the TV Talk Machine chronicles. (You can find the previous three volumes at theincomparable.com/tvtm/about.) We’ll be back in this feed, probably soon, with something that’s more of us talking about stuff, but a lot less about things that are TV related.
But before we go, Tim describes the experience of having an opinion about a TV show and not sharing it. Jason goads him into some mild opinions. Jason mildly regrets an error, and recounts a bunch of shows he’s been watching on streaming. Then it’s time to check in on the Streaming Wars, including the impending launch of HBO Max, the mysteries of Peacock, and the question about what service is the mostly like to fail. We also read a few of your letters and about a million of your pandemic viewing suggestions, none of which appear in these show notes. On brand till the end.
Finally, if you’d like to make suggestions for topics for us to talk about in the future, or just want to share your thoughts with a podcast, you can still tweet at us at @tvtm or email podcast at tvtalkmachine dot com. Bye everybody!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
This week Tim has a new refrigerator and is watching comfort food like “Peaky Blinders.” Comcast stealth-launches Peacock. Bad things happen at Tim’s former employer. Jason watched “Home Before Dark” and “Devs.” And “What We Do In The Shadows” is back!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim just got home after several weeks away for complicated reasons. We’re back to fill your ears with talk about TV, music, life, and more. We hope it helps.
We’ll read your letters and play your audio files if you send them in. Tweet at @tvtm or email podcast at tvtalkmachine dot com.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Mentioned: “Tiger King”, “All Creatures Great and Small”, “Devs”, “Too Funny to Fail.”
This week your teacher has given you a break—we’re giving you another week to watch “What We Do In The Shadows.” Instead, we keep it tight and bright as Tim joins the rest of us in these Times of Confusion by not even realizing what TV shows are debuting. After some brief Death Cab For Cutie banter, we shift it into gear and discuss Actual TV News, including the return of “Better Things”, the premiere of “Devs” and an explanation of the whole “FX on Hulu” strategy, and the Hilary Duff problem at Disney+. Plus, your letters!
[Want to have a letter read on the show? Email podcast at tvtalkmachine.com, or tweet @tvtm.]
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
This podcast is like your friend who left a longtime job, got some new tattoos, and is showing a renewed interest in yoga. It’s a new life. Tim launched his new Resounding blog, which leads us to discuss why we love women singers. Speaking of learning and growing and pop music, Jason’s seen “High Fidelity” and does a real-estate check on “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” Then we put Netflix’s “Sex Education” in the spotlight (did you do the homework?)—and why it works on so many levels.
Next episode’s assignment: “What We Do in the Shadows” on Hulu.
Send us your letters/comments! Tweet at us at @tvtm or email us at podcast at tvtalkmachine.com!
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Jason mentioned: CHVRCHES, Maggie Rogers, Halsey, Chairlift/Caroline Polachek, Florence + the Machine, HAIM, IDER, K. Flay, Pale Waves
We’re back! Tim is retired, rested, and ready. And he’s got two new music-based projects to announce—neither of which is his secret job, sorry. Jason has some TV news and reports back on finishing a couple of series. We also read some of your letters and start a brand-new segment where Tim gives both Jason and the listeners a TV viewing assignment!
Your assignment: “Sex Education” season 1, episodes 1-4.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
One last time before the end of the year, we’re back! Jason uses computer technology to construct a best-of-the-decade list for Tim. We’re probably forgetting something. We also discuss “Watchmen” a little bit, so if you want to not be spoiled at all about it, you can skip ahead to minute 20 and you’ll miss the whole thing.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim’s decade list (first draft, computer assisted)
The rest of the list, in alphabetical order:
Tim’s done with being a TV critic and is trying to be all positive, but he put in nearly 11 months of work and Jason’s demanding a list! So Tim and Jason both present their lists of their favorite shows of 2019. Plus we answer your letters.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Honorable mention: Barry, Black Earth Rising, Black Mirror, Bob’s Burgers, Brexit, Euphoria, Gentleman Jack, Good Omens, Killing Eve, Legion, PEN15, Pennyworth, Ramy, Russian Doll, The End of the Fxxxing World, The Tick, Valley of the Boom.
Honorable mention: Good Omens, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Mandalorian, Star Trek: Discovery, The Tick, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Veronica Mars, Russian Doll, Letterkenny, A.P. Bio, Perpetual Grace LTD
Happy Thanksgiving! The Machine’s gas tank is now full of gravy. This week we’re reading your letters, Jason mentions a couple of shows he’s watching, and Tim encourages you not to overspend on streaming services if you’re cord cutting. Listeners have theories about Tim’s undisclosed employer! And Jason tries several techniques to convince Tim to make a final best-of-the-year list.
We still want your letters. Tweet us at @tvtm or email us at podcast at tvtalkmachine dot com.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Having been safely “offboarded” from The Hollywood Reporter, Tim discusses his final review, which is a negative review of “Dublin Murders.” Jason watches a bunch of TV shows, while Tim has spent a couple of weeks going to sleep early and not watching television. It’s a new era for the TV Talk Machine, as we roll into parts unknown.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Did anything happen this week? Oh, yes, Tim announced that he’s leaving The Hollywood Reporter and “retiring” as a TV critic! We discuss Tim’s feelings about moving on from the TV critic racket and try to figure out what form the TV Talk Machine will take in the future. (Hint: There are a bunch of year- and decade-end lists coming up, and Tim doesn’t have anywhere to post them unless he breaks his Blogspot site out of mothballs.)
Although we aren’t sure of our destination quite yet, the Machine drives on…
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim reviews Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”, Apple’s “For All Mankind”, Showtime’s “Back to Life”, and is in the midst of watching Netflix’s surprising second season of “The End of the Fxxxing World.” Plus Apple TV+ launches, HBO Max clarifies, we talk Bay Area blackouts, and we read your letters and tweets! It’s a podcast about television, remember?
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
This week we’ve got Tim’s reviews of Australian drama in “The Cry”, two Paul Rudds are better than one in “Living With Yourself”, a not-so-Bourne “Treadstone”, and the final season of HBO’s “Silicon Valley.” Plus, Jason watches “Watchmen” and “Letterkenny,” the Netflix bot gets sassy, and political debates are super boring.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
Tim’s seen most of HBO’s “Watchmen” but never read the comics. Jason owns multiple copies of the comics. Who will have the harder time parsing Damon Lindelof’s unlikely new series, which follows the world of the comics into the present day? We discuss the difficulties of laying down new story ground while also making inside references for the fans. In other news, Jason watched two network TV dramas (they still exist!) and we answer your letters and tweets.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
We’re back from our excursions to the Pacific Northwest and ready for action. Tim reviews “Modern Love”, “Raising Dion”, and “Godfather of Harlem,” and then Tim and Jason break down the high stakes for the final season of “Mr. Robot.” Speaking of robots, we take an interesting phone call… after which we answer your letters and tweets.
Tim Goodman and Jason Snell
It’s fall TV premiere season, but unlike the days of the old TV Guide Fall TV Preview, we’re not feeling it. Still, we’ve got some Emmys reaction, Tim’s reviews of “Stumptown”, “Cake”, and “Bless the Harts”, a pitch for a reconsideration of “This Way Up”, and Jason keeps mentioning a CBS show that will inevitably disappoint him. Tim’s off to VIFF next week and Jason will be curled up like a ball, so we’ll see you in two weeks! As always, email us at podcast@tvtalkmachine.com or tweet at @tvtm with your thoughts, questions, and audio messages.
This week Tim reviews the second season of “Succession” and Netflix’s new one-room-four-countries series “Criminal.” Plus NBC embraces its inner peacock, the rebooting of every show ever made continues, and we make a gongoozler in the +44 reconsider everything he knows about reality.
Tight and bright? Forget it. This episode is as big and deadly as an Australian rooster. Apple names its price and launch date! Tim wraps up his big cord-cutting series! Tim reviews “Mr Inbetween” season 2, “Mrs. Fletcher”, “The Victim”, and Ken Burns’s new music documentary! Listeners ask if Tim is loved enough! Plus: Gongoozling!
Tight and bright this week! Tim details his cord-cutting experience, we answer questions from around the globe, and the Netflix algorithm shifts to weekly (with a big asterisk).
Australia’s favourite weekend podcast is back, as we discuss Apple’s forthcoming event, drop bears, endings, procedurals, the Slow Binge(TM), Disney’s inevitable dominance, Apple’s content standards, and the strange robot that runs Netflix and doesn’t understand humans.
This is a jam-packed, shockingly professional episode of the TVTM, as we knuckle down on a Friday afternoon to give you what you want: a television-themed podcast. We discuss the endings of “Catastrophe” and “Patriot”, Tim’s sometimes-contentious relationship with TV executives and the nature of criticism, Tim’s adventures in cord cutting, Bill Walton’s appearance on a baseball broadcast, and Netflix’s experiment with human curation. Also, Tim reviews Amazon’s “Carnival Row”, we get an audio message from Switzerland, and when are “The Riches” coming back after all?
As summer slowly fades out, Tim ponders the new shows of the season. Also, is Netflix in need of a strategy shift? Should it be signing the “Game of Thrones” creators to a big development deal? Why did CBS and Viacom come back together, and why did they split apart in the first place?! We answers your letters, including a question about when “Terriers” is coming back. It wouldn’t surprise us!
Tim’s in Big Sur on vacation this week, but Jason has captured his astral form and forces him to talk about bad TV shows like “Another Life” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” as punishment. But it’s not all bad: Tim tries to convince his friends to watch “Years and Years”, and they all seem to have resisted the call, so now it’s time for him to convince his listeners! We also gather important cord-cutting knowledge from letter writers. Simultaneous, worldwide, and transparent—the TV Talk Machine is a podcast jellyfish.
Tim’s back from the Death March With Cocktails! We discuss the soon-to-be-famous “lost episode” of the TVTM, Jason re-reads some of your letters, and Tim does a download on Amazon, Netflix, Starz, and other cable and streaming services after seeing them in L.A. Also, we have bad news: “Sad Spies” is dead.
No matter what day it is, Emmy nominations came out this week, as well as calamitous Netflix subscription numbers. We tackle that and some other streaming news, and then Tim reviews “Pennyworth” and “Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein.” Tim’s about to run off to summer press tour, but don’t worry, we still saved time for your questions!
This week Tim reviews “Shangri-La”, Showtime’s music docuseries about Rick Rubin, which he loved. Then we branch off of a check-the-box letter from Listener Joe to discuss Warner Media’s big move in streaming, HBO Max. And we save some time for your calls and letters, including a Columbo Vote, a new app, the majesty of a foreign accent, and Jason completely spoiling “Game of Thrones” for a listener.
This week we reveal the winner of last week’s draft, as voted on by TVTM listeners. And then we break down Tim’s many choices for TV shows you should watch now that we’re in the summer slowdown. Jason also gets some good news from HBO, we realize we forgot to name the streaming services we drafted, and Tim contemplates becoming a cord cutter.
This week we’re both on vacation, so we’ve pre-recorded this episode in which we perform the first-ever TV Talk Machine fantasy draft! Tim and Jason are going to pick five new shows from the past year that they’ll use to populate their brand-new scrappy underdog streaming services. Which one would you subscribe to? Let us know!
This week Tim reviews “Legion” season 3 on FX and the BBC/HBO coproduction “Years and Years”, Tim goes over some of his biggest Emmy pleas, we discuss the positive word of mouth around “Chernobyl”, and we answer a whole bunch of your letters and tweets!
Tim reviews “City on a Hill” and “Das Boot”, and then we discuss his story about just how brutally hard it is to find (and keep) an audience today. Plus we send love to your fathers, including our favorite parental TV moments.
In this very unusual Friday edition of TVTM, Tim reviews HBO’s “Euphoria” and the latest batch of “Black Mirror” episodes on Netflix. We also read your tweets and letters, including an audio question about the importance of opening title sequences.
It’s the end of the world! And Amazon’s “Good Omens” really delivers. Tim reviews Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s miniseries epic, along with “Perpetual Grace LTD” from the original Sad Spy himself, Steven Conrad. Then we answer your emails, including the job of a critic to ignore the social-media zeitgeist.
We spend the first 27 minutes of this week’s episode talking about the “Game of Thrones” finale, why we liked it, and why the knives were out for it all over the internet. Twenty-seven minutes. We warned you. Warm up your fast-forward fingers if you don’t care. Then we move on to reviews of “Name of the Rose” and “What/If”, and answer a few of your letters.
You’ve got that right, this is Thursday and we’re energetic and refreshed! Tim reviews “Fleabag” season 2, “Line of Duty” season 5, and we discuss the ending of “Veep” and the impending end of “Game of Thrones.” Plus Disney buys out Comcast and takes full control of Hulu, and Tim goes down his 14 top TV comedies right now.
This week Tim watches “Fosse/Verdon” and George Clooney’s new Hulu miniseries adaptation of “Catch-22.” Then we dive into talk about cord cutting, because the time has come for everyone with decent Internet access to plan their departure from traditional TV and embrace the stream.
The impossible task “Game of Thrones” faces in trying to please its entire audience, “Barry” finds a balance, “Chernobyl” dodges the Boris and Natasha accents, HBO at the center of Warner Media’s streaming plans, and favorite TV catchphrases.
This week we discuss the return of “Game of Thrones”, how the clock is ticking for WarnerMedia’s entry into the streaming wars, and answer your letters!
Disney announced the release date (November) and price ($6.99) for its new streaming service this week, and it’s set the bar awfully high (or low) for competing services. What does this mean for Netflix and Amazon? What about Apple? Why is ABC not even mentioned among Disney’s brands? Also Tim has some praise for goofy absurdism on TV and we get a phone call from an Australian doing an American accent.
This week Tim has praise for “Killing Eve” season 2, condemnation for “The Twilight Zone”, and lots of love for “Game of Thrones” as an all-time classic drama and “Veep” as a classic comedy. Plus, lots of letters from the +44, guv’nor!
This week Tim says hello to the final season of “Veep”, Jason laments the existence of live studio audiences, and we ponder the streaming service that Apple announced in Cupertino this week. Also, a listener takes a victory lap and Netflix cancels a show we’ve never heard of.
Apple’s video service announcement looms next week, and Tim and Jason turn the topic over one final time in the absence of any real evidence. Also, do British shows like “Sex Education” handle teen sex better than American shows? And we read a few of your letters, as is our tradition.
It’s a double-sized mid-week episode of the TVTM! Jason turns the tables on Tim by writing about Apple’s forthcoming TV service and the necessity of non-Netflix services to create distinctive brands. Tim reviews a whole bunch of new shows, including the return of “Catastrophe”, the new UK drama “Manhunt”, the unfortunate comedy “Turn Up Charlie”, and the delightfully weird “What We Do In The Shadows.” Plus we empty the mailbag and read all your letters!
HBO’s chief executive exits, leading us to speculate about the fate of HBO and Warner Media’s future streaming efforts; congressional testimony returns with more unadaptable drama; Pamela Adlon’s “Better Things” returns as strong as ever; and we play two audio messages and answer a few of your letters, too.
This week Tim and Jason lament the passing of “Counterpart”, Tim lashes out at “Umbrella Academy”, we blow through a bunch of Tim’s articles from the past two weeks, and save time for your letters and two (two!) voice messages. Most importantly, the TV Talk Machine theme makes a surprise appearance in a TV promo.
This week Tim’s focused on the plight of the mid-level premium network/streamer, most notably Epix and Starz. Starz is hoarding its content, but that can prevent a show like “Counterpart’ from becoming a broad hit. Meanwhile, Epix chose to sell “Get Shorty” to Netflix. What’s the fate of brands like this? Plus, we answer an awful lot of your letters, and ignore any news that has happened in the past week (because we pre-recorded this episode)…
This week Tim reviews Hulu’s “Pen15” and TBS’s “Miracle Workers”, and we take a walk through a grab bag of other TV topics — live TV, “Lost”, “Atlanta”, “Bandersnatch”, “Legion”, “Travelers”, “Counterpart” angst, and ABC and John Mayer being BFF’s.
This week Tim and Jason discuss Netflix’s careful use of its own internal stats to sow fear and disbelief in the television industry. When a lightly-promoted series like “Sex Education” can get 40 million viewers, what’s the hope for anyone else? We also answer your letters and hear the voice of Hobo Eric for the very first time!
Until you listen to this episode you won’t know if we’re alive in this cardboard box or not. This week Tim reviews the excellent Netflix miniseries “Black Earth Rising,” and we discuss the big streaming-service price changes from Netflix and Hulu. And of course we answer your letters about cord cutting and more!
NBCUniversal has announced its own take on the streaming service, and Tim has many questions. Also there are reviews of “Brexit” and “Dynasties” and Tim implores you to check out “Wilfred” on Hulu. Plus, Tim’s five greatest TV dramas of all time and listener Brandon sends in our first audio letter!
This week Tim and Jason deal with Golden Globes fallout, Tim reviews “Informer” (Amazon), “Black Monday” (Showtime), and “Valley of the Boom” (shout out to Stephanie from NatGeo!). Then Jason reveals the madness that made him re-publish the entire original TV Talk Machine catalog, complete with Tim’s show notes from 2009. “Enjoy.” (Get in your emails, tweets, and MP3 about your wet newspaper early for next week’s episode. We’ll be recording Wednesday or Thursday. podcast@tvtalkmachine.com as usual.)
It’s our 200th Episode Spectacular, in which we discuss articles Tim has written and then read your letters! So… pretty much like the other 199 episodes. This week Tim’s got some positive(!) thoughts about the Golden Globes, negative thoughts about turning TV episodes into video games, and some suggestions for TV viewers trying to find a strategy that makes sense for watching shows in 2019. And at the very end, we celebrate our 200th episode with an OG appearance from some very special guests.
We exit 2018 and the 100s episodes with Tim’s final lists of the year, of bad shows and great performances and good episodes. Plus we read some hall-of-fame letters! See you in two weeks for the 200th episode spectacular. Merry Christmas to everyone’s mothers.
It’s here at last! We walk through Tim’s ultimate Power Rankings, namely his list of the best TV series of 2018. Plus we leave a little bit of time for an International letters session.
This week Tim uses the example of the Golden Globes to shame the Emmys into being better; we discuss the return of “Counterpart” and what made us like its first season so much; and Jason supplies a Slow Binge update while Tim calibrates his year-end best-of lists.
This week we make lists, and more lists, as Tim discusses the evolving world of the TV critic. YouTube and Facebook go back to basics. And we heap just a little more praise on “Patriot,” because why not.
This week Tim reviews “Escape at Dannemora” and then we break down the success of Fox News and wonder why nobody has successfully created an equivalent on the left. Along the way we insult TV news in general and CNN in particular. Plus, Jason tries a TV tracking app and we read your letters!
The sad spies of Amazon’s amazing and excellent “Patriot” have returned, and you can watch the whole series on Prime Video, so you’ll know what Tim and Jason are raving about this week. We also discuss HBO’s “Sally4Ever”, Tim’s desire for David Simon (or someone!) to create a groundbreaking TV series based on a recent New York Times article, and we read several of your tweets and letters.
This week Tim and Jason are overwhelmed with the volume of television that continues to fall out of the skies and into our laps. But from out of deep memory come some shows worth revisiting, whether it’s the existential “Les Revenants” on Netflix, the return of “The Man in the High Castle” on Amazon, or even the Netflix arrival of “Get Shorty.” Plus we answer your letters!
The world of TV is changing rapidly, and we’re here to break it down for you. This week Tim reviews British import “Bodyguard”, ABC ’70s comedy “The Kids Are All Right”, and then we dive into Tim’s rankings of streaming services new and old and begin to ponder what the streaming landscape will look like in 2019.
Tim has praise for “Wanderlust,” which premieres next Friday on Netflix, and we spend some time discussing the advantages of TV as a writer’s medium in an era where visual flourishes are competing more with traditional storytelling. Also, last week we opened a can of worms as large as the Tasman Sea, and New Zealand has had enough!
Tim returns from Vancouver with stories about Mike Schur and other showrunners, we've got a review of HBO's "Camping", and Apple risks losing out on key creators by getting a reputation as "expensive NBC."
We missed a week and the shows and letters piled up! So this week we cover Tim’s reviews of season 3 of “The Good Place”, and new shows “The Cool Kids”, “Single Parents”, “Mr Inbetween”, and “The Good Cop”. Good news, Australia, Tim likes one of your shows! Also, Jason watched “The First” and—for some reason—“Murphy Brown” and “Magnum P.I.” And we answer a lot of letters from the +44. Blimey.
Les Moonves is out at CBS, Tim’s headed to Canada to interview Mike Schur, and there’s still so… much… TV. Did you know that “Norm MacDonald Has a Show”? It’s on Netflix and it’s a train wreck. Also, “Forever” arrives at Amazon with a bunch of spoiler warnings (relax, we don’t spoil anything), and it’s worth watching. Tim also offers an advance look at Netflix’s “Maniac”, due next week. Jason reaches into The Power Rankings to pluck out “The Looming Tower” and a rewatch of “Detectorists.” And we’ve still got time to read a few letters about new shows airing in the +44 that the bloody Americans still know nothing about.
Things are heating up! This week we touch base again on Jim Carrey in “Kidding” before moving on to the film-festival premiere of Amazon’s “Homecoming”, directed by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts. It doesn’t premiere until November, but you’ll want to mark your calendars, because Tim says it’s something special. Also, Tim and Jason review Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”, there’s a new edition of the Power Rankings, Jason gets offered screeners, and we answer your letters!
This week Tim reviews “One Dollar” from CBS All Access, which is less than you’ll pay to watch it—if you should bother. He also covers Showtime’s “Kidding”, starring Jim Carrey. Jason watches another show from last year! There are also two more Letters Kenny and a whole bunch of questions for Tim from listeners like you, generating all sorts of story ideas Tim may or may not ever write.
Though sleepy from travel, the TV Talk Machine moves forward anyway. This week Jason reports on a show from 2017 he finally watched, we muse about what’s going on with Hulu, Amazon, and Apple, and we answer an awful lot of your tweets and emails. Finally, at the end, Tim tries to Kojak us with a new social-media account to follow.
Tim reviews Netflix’s controversial “Insatiable” which turns out to be less interesting than it might have originally appeared. Plus, “Get Shorty” returns if you can find it. And while we keep joking about the Amazon Prime streaming graveyard, Tim is convinced that it’s a sleeping giant that has just awakened. Plus, Jason finishes “Cloak and Dagger” and we pick surprising casting in recent and forthcoming TV series.
Tim’s back from a very short Death March with Cocktails with news about what’s up with streaming and cable companies. Plus “Better Call Saul” returns, “Lodge 49” finally premieres, Facebook Watch fools no one, and Amazon Prime Video’s new leadership says hello to Tim.
Before Tim heads off to the Death March With Cocktails (Summer Press Tour) for a week, he checks in with Jason to discuss “Lodge 49” (set your DVR’s next week when you can!), “Fauda”, and more on the dramatic week for HBO and Netflix. And of course we answer some of your tweets and letters.
Jason’s back from his vacation and there’s a lot to talk about, as Tim reviews new series from Canada (via Hulu) and India (via Netflix). Also, the phone company comes calling for HBO, and Tim reacts—with some anger and also a little bit of appreciation—to the release of the Emmy nominees.
Two big streaming shows worth your time debut today. On Netflix, it’s the second season of “GLOW”, and on Amazon, the remarkable miniseries “A Very English Scandal.” Tim’s got reviews of both, and then our attention turns to how Apple is spending a lot of money to become a major player in television—but hasn’t actually announced anything yet.
This week Tim reviews Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone”, and then we dive into a last-minute plea regarding what shows and which performers should be nominated for Emmy Awards. And we leave a little room to answer letters about two sophomore series: the lauded “Legion” and the ignored “Goliath”.
Tim’s back from the ATX Festival in Austin and just before the Emmy season gets heated up, it’s time to talk about another hidden gem—“Moone Boy”. Plus, one of our listeners gets namechecked for helping to save “The Expanse”, Jason gets happily pedanted, and Tim gets a bunch of viewing tips from a data scientist.
We’re back with a spoiler-free look at the finale of “The Americans,” which is now safe for you completists to watch. We also walk through Tim’s latest Power Rankings! for comedies, and an OG TVTM listener pays us a visit via letter.
We veer deeply into the sabermetrics of television as Tim discusses the 10 best-written series on TV. Plus we spend a lot of time on the return of “Arrested Development”, from Netflix’s catastrophic PR campaign to Tim’s review of the new season. And as always, we leave a little bit of room for your tweets and emails, in which we learn yet another terrifying fact about Australia and discover which streaming service is a graveyard from which shows never return.
Cancellation is in the news and we discuss the new rules of TV show cancellation and survival! Plus, vintage TV series that are ready to be reimagined, a guide to hidden gems in an age of peak TV, and we answer your letters.
The art of a successful sophomore season, the little details that make a great TV performance, hidden gems, and crossover contenders. This episode has a low floor but a high ceiling.
Sometimes the flaws are what make something interesting. That’s the case, Tim argues this week, with HBO’s “Barry” and BBC America’s “Killing Eve.” Plus, Tim and his colleague Dan disagree on the second-season directions of “Westworld” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” And this film we once saw was reviled for its flaws But its flaws were what made us have fun
Tim reveals big changes in his Power Rankings! with a bunch of new series entering the hallowed list of 21 top shows to watch right now. And after a whole lot of anticipation, here comes season 2 of “Westworld.” Tim’s seen the first five episodes and has an early review.
We say goodbye to legendary TV producer Stephen Bochco, and then Tim reviews “Dangerous Book for Boys”, “Howards End”, “Killing Eve”, and “Legion” season two. Jason praises the just-completed seasons of “The Magicians” and “Counterpart”. And Listener Dean forces us to explain why we didn’t talk about “Roseanne.”
In a tight and bright episode, Tim reviews the new season of “The Americans”, we go over some draft rules, and answer your letters.
This week Tim reviews “The Mechanism”, from the director of “Narcos”, and Danny Boyle’s story of the Getty Family, “Trust”. Plus we muse about TV streaming fantasy drafts and readers have thoughts about what to do while folding laundry.
This week Tim has some advice for the Obamas about their potential deal with Netflix, plus reviews of “Krypton” and yes, the CBS drama “Instinct.” Plus listeners have feelings about the ways that Netflix has wronged them.
It’s hard to make a TV show even in an era of peak TV, but what’s even harder is finding an audience willing (and aware enough) to return for a second season. As “Atlanta”, “Jessica Jones”, “Sneaky Pete” and “Legion” return, why is it so hard to break through and reach viewers for a second season? Also, Tim reviews HBO’s “Barry” and the return of “Sneaky Pete”, and we still have time to fit in two classic reader letters about the past and future of foreign-language dubbing.
This week Tim brings back the Power Rankings and reviews the new show from the creator of “Luther”, plus we have a whole lot of follow-up about Netflix season summaries, dubbing, and the Olympics. Finally, we may have reached Peak Cop/Not-a-Cop.
The show is not cancelled! After a week off, we’re back to discuss Tim’s latest reviews—of “Everything Sucks”, “Final Space”, “McMafia”, and season two of “Atlanta.” Also, who’s winning the streaming wars? And we answer your letters.
Are we living in a golden age for televised science fiction and fantasy? Tim thinks it might be possible. We discuss “Altered Carbon” and wonder if it’s just the latest in a string of prestige, high-profile series that have elevated the genre to new heights.
So many reviews, so little time! In this tight-and-bright edition of the TVTM, we’ve got Tim’s reviews of three new series: HBO’s supernatural family drama “Here and Now”, Netflix’s spectacular sci-fi noir “Altered Carbon”, and Amazon’s Bulgarian FBI drama “Absentia”. Plus, a quick run through some letters about bad titles, “Detectorists”, cold hard cash, and the merits of remaining indoors.
This week we talk about all the topics in Tim’s grab-bag column, including the roles of various premium cable channels in the TV landscape, the size of Apple’s TV budget, and the fate of Hulu. We also read your letters, including more praise of “Sad Spies” (“Patriot”), an Ohio geography update, and an Important Cricket Correction.
This week Tim takes you under the sea for “Blue Planet 2”, tries to understand the origins of Steven Soderbergh’s “Mosaic”, and praises (one last time?) “Detectorists.” Then it’s time to muse about the role of a TV critic in the era of peak TV and if it’s better to bypass shows that you know aren’t worth anyone’s time. We close with a surprising range of listener letters from all over the world, and Ohio too!
This week David Letterman returns to TV with a new Netflix interview show, Jason gets excited about Starz’s “Counterpart”, Tim dives in to Amazon’s new sci-fi anthology series “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams”, and we ponder what is to become of the Fox network after it’s severed from its parent studio. Plus, Jason’s love letter to “Detectorists”, Tim jumps aboard the “End of the Fxxxing World” bandwagon, and a letter writer might have gaslighted us—or is it gaslit?
It’s 2018 and we’ve got a fresh start! This week Tim ignores all the Golden Globes predictions, pans a network comedy, and is forced to pick some of his least favorite things of 2017. Plus, Jason takes possession of “screeners” and watches some sad spies.
This week Tim reviews “Gunpowder”, a perfectly nice HBO historical miniseries he didn’t ask for, and then talks about his contributions to lists of the best TV episodes and performances of the year. Then we turn to dive into Disney’s purchase of Fox, which has huge ramifications for the future of TV. Finally, we turn to Tim’s carefully curated playlists of Christmas music!
This is the big one—in a year with 500-plus scripted TV series, Tim walks us through his 46 top TV shows of 2017. There are some surprise additions, some old standards who have fallen down a little bit on the list, and even a few broadcast network TV series!
Like Santa, Tim’s making his list (of the best TV shows) and checking it twice before posting. In the meantime, though, he’s seen all of the new “Black Mirror” season! We also reflect on scaling back on social media, the role of the critic, and answer your emails.
This week we check in on terrible people in Hollywood and marvel at the Hugh Laurie TV series that nobody seems to have heard of. Jason endorses “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “Runaways”, and “Mosaic.” Tim gives the Golden Globes some advice. And if you’re worried about catching up with the zeitgeist before the holidays, have we got a list for you.
We’re back with Tim’s reviews of two new British comedy imports—“Back” and “Ill Behavior”—both of which come from noble families but only one of which passes Tim’s test to become one of the great comedies of the fall. There’s also Paul Reiser’s labor of love “There’s… Johnny,” which Hulu may have accidentally acquired in a mystery box, and a fascinating feminist western from Netflix called “Godless.” We also preview Amy Sherman-Palladino’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” coming to Amazon later this month. And that’s just the reviews! We’ve also got lots of follow-up about the continued fallout of terrible behavior in Hollywood, and we dive into Tim’s (apparent?) dislike for all of broadcast TV and discover how he really feels.
Apple buys another high-profile series, “The A Word” makes its triumphant return, and then we have to talk about all the terrible news about terrible men in the entertainment industry doing terrible things. What happens next? Can we engage with art created by people who we know are terrible? Ugh.
Tim and Jason are back to discuss Tim’s latest Power Rankings, the new comedy “SMILF”, and Fall TV’s surprises and mega-fails. Plus, a new nerdy TV tangent and your questions.
This week Tim’s notebook is full, as we discuss the fate of Amazon Studios after the ignominious departure of its leader, and the threat to the TV industry (or not) posed by Facebook Watch and YouTube Red. Tim also has reviews of “S.W.A.T.” and “Loudermilk”, and we answer your questions!
This week Tim and Jason are back from Canada! Jason quizzes Tim on his panels in Vancouver, we discuss the new season of “Mr. Robot” (Tim’s a fan!), and then dive into a discussion of the challenges Netflix and Apple face as they prepare to face off in the world of streaming video. Plus, we introduce the new Double-Columbo format for TVTM, which is sure to confuse all listeners.
Tim and Jason got together in Canada and did a podcast in front of a live studio audience, all thanks to the awesome people at VIFF, the Vancouver International Film Festival. We drank some wine and talked Canadian TV, Apple’s challenge in starting a video service, the return of Larry David to TV, the artistic challenges for filmmakers in a world of peak TV, and more—including some (quiet) questions from the audience.
It’s a reviews lightning round, as Tim covers five network TV series in rapid succession. Then we talk about Tim’s Power Rankings! for top nonfiction programming. We also answer an awful lot of your emails and tweets.
The box is checked early this week as Tim discusses why the entire TV industry has completely lost its mind. Directives from billionaires! Threats from CFOs! Face scanning technology from Apple! We keep it tight and bright this week but still spend a lot of time talking about a disaster of a show, “Riviera,” and almost no time on one of the best returning shows on the air, “Better Things.” Isn’t it just like us to accentuate the negative?
This week Tim breaks some news about “Veep”, breaks down some popular Power Rankings! ensembles, and answers your letters.
This week, we’ve got the hottest podcast in the world! No, seriously—Tim and Jason are trapped inside on the hottest day of the year. But this episode is packed with conversation, from Tim’s new Power Rankings! list of escapist TV to Tim and Jason’s reactions to Amazon’s “The Tick.” We also announce a forthcoming live TVTM episode in Vancouver, British Columbia! And finally, Tim breaks his promise to watch all of “Twin Peaks: The Return” and swears off the series entirely, because life is too short to put up with whatever David Lynch thinks he’s doing on Showtime.
We’re back! Tim weaponizes his ignorance to write about shows he hasn’t seen! We discuss “The Defenders”, which Tim and Jason have both watched. There’s anticipation for “The Tick” and the season finale of “Game of Thrones”, and of course, we answer some of your letters.
Tim’s back from the Death March With Cocktails! But before we close the books on his 18 days “in residence,” it’s time to recap the highlights of the last week of the summer press tour, including plenty of Netflix news and an address from the “mayor of television,” FX’s John Landgraf. Plus Tim reviews “Get Shorty” and “Atypical” and unveils a new edition of The Power Rankings!
Tim’s still in residence at the Death March With Cocktails. This week it’s all about the health of the broadcast TV networks. Tim’s pity for the difficult lot of the network executive is turned on its head when he has drinks with the president of The CW and it turns out… things are looking up! NBC’s president seconds the notion. So what does this mean for the failure analysis of network television, and the future of its programming? Also, in an absolute shocker: The Power Rankings! return.
Tim’s in residence at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, where he’s moved rooms, struggled with Netflix streaming screeners, and fought his mini bar. Still, he managed to find time to talk with Jason about the latest word from HBO, Starz, Hulu, and more, plus reviews of “The Last Tycoon” and the return of “People of Earth.” Check the box and see how much Wi-Fi is in the tank, we’re doing this!
Tim reviews HBO’s “Insecure”, which is back for an excellent second season. Then we discuss HBO’s peculiar way of announcing a new series from the “Game of Thrones” producers that led to a whole lot of controversy—and ponder whether that series will ever get off the ground.
Tim reacts to the Emmy nominations, reviews “I’m Sorry”, and lets out a cry for help about why he had to review “Salvation.” Plus, some follow-up about “Twin Peaks: The Return.”
Tim reviews HBO’s Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre documentary, we talk some more about the weird world of modern TV writing, and then something bizarre and inexplicable happens: Tim has finally seen the first four episodes of “Twin Peaks: The Return.” So we talk about it. Sometimes podcasting can be therapy, too.
Netflix brings back Sense8 (temporarily), PBS brings back Jane Tennison (temporarily), why the business of television is confusing to viewers, and the conundrum of writing about TV in the modern era.
Tim reviews FX’s new drama “Snowfall” and we discuss the potential Emmy nominees, including Tim’s secret wishes for surprise nominations. We keep it tight and bright, but make a point of reading your letters and tweets before Jason makes a break for the airport.
This week, the TV news is about Apple entering the TV game in a big way by hiring away the co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television. After shaking off a classic case of Banff Brain, Tim’s got a bunch of questions for Jason about how Apple might roll out a new premium video service. Peak TV? Not hardly. Another giant has entered the fray.
This week we’re all about endings—the season finale of “The Americans” and the series finale of “The Leftovers.” What’s the legacy of “The Leftovers” and where does it fit in Tim’s personal pantheon? Where has “The Americans” gone—and where is it going in its final season? Plus, we try to answer more of your questions!
Are there cracks in Netflix’s facade, or was this just a bad week? We discuss the cancellation of “Sense8” and “The Get Down”, two expensive series from the service that famously doesn’t cancel shows. What does it all mean? We also pour one out for “Sense8” and answer a few of your letters, but once again, we’re tight and bright this week. Tim’s got places to be. Busy busy!
Tim’s back and so are “Master of None” and “Twin Peaks.” Tim loves the second season of Aziz Ansari’s Netflix series. Jason’s seen the first four hours of David Lynch’s weird revival and has an eyewitness report. We also talk quickly about Jon Stewart’s aborted HBO deal and where he might best fit and Tim’s visit with Ricky Gervais. Tight and bright this week!
With A&E and WGN America abandoning scripted programming, is this the beginning of the end of Peak TV? The bubble may have not burst, but the air may be finally leaking out. Tim and Jason analyze the possible futures of the television world. Plus we read a few of your letters.
A strike is averted, “Sense8” and “Catastrophe” return, Jason watches “American Gods”, and we answer some letters.
Tim reviews the return of Amazon’s “Catastrophe”, Jason talks about “The Handmaid’s Tale”, we delve briefly into the controversy surrounding Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why”, and then express trepidation about a potential writer’s strike. Then it’s time for your letters, including a story about the wisdom of Jason Bateman.
While preparing for “Silicon Valley” and “Catastrophe” to return, Tim reviews “American Gods.” Is it perhaps a bit too faithful to the source material, or does it highlight failings in the original novel? We also revisit the definition of our TV “white whales”—and share listeners’ choices for great shows that aren’t available on streaming and/or disc.
It’s the time of year when favorite old series return! We talk about “Better Call Saul”, “Fargo”, and “Veep” coming back, plus Jason self-Columbos, we talk subtitled dramas, and pine for some classic TV White Whales.
It’s the first week of baseball, and Jason & Tim are off. There’s no correlation there, but there could be. In any case, David’s back with special guest Dan Fienberg to talk about TV and machines, marsupials, roaming monkeys, terrifying mascot versions of nonexistent TV show characters, cookies, shows that just wrapped up seasons, even more streaming services, and the fine points of podcasting contracts. Things we like this week: 13 Reasons Why on Netflix 13 Reasons Why (book) on Amazon Britbox
Tim and Jason discuss the new Hulu series “Harlots”, break down (with very few spoilers) this season of “Legion” and why it appeals, and answer your letters.
This week Tim and Jason spend some time discussing the future of cord-cutting and TV bundles and what consumers should pay for in the platinum age of television. Then we listen to your comments about “Legion” and “Twin Peaks”.
For St. Patrick’s Day, Tim reviews an Irish series that has arrived in America. Also, we break down Tim’s lengthy article comparing the modern king of the weird “Legion” to the 1990s weirdness of “Twin Peaks,” and what it means for the revival of “Twin Peaks” on Showtime later this year. (Hint: Showtime is not very happy with Tim right now.)
We dip into the past to talk about the 20th anniversary of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the 15th anniversary of “The Shield.” Plus we answer a whole lot of your letters, including conversations about TV romantic comedies and TV comfort food.
“Making History”, “The Americans”, “National Treasure”, Tim reveals his long hug con, and we answer your questions.
Tim reviews the surprisingly good (and questionably titled) “Patriot”, and finds it to be one of the best new shows on TV. Also we revisit “Legion,” so Jason can concur with Tim’s rave review. And from the UK comes “National Treasure,” a show that does not involve Nicolas Cage even a little bit.
With Jason traveling across time and space, David joins Tim to talk about humans (or not), robot animals (or not), the shows they’re each thinking about watching (or not), some live events (or not), and what TV shows Apple should produce (or not).
This week Tim tells his THR origin story, reviews HBO’s “Big Little Lies”, gripes about Fox’s “APB”, ponders the rebuilding of TV’s Death Star, and answers your questions.
Tim prepares for a “Not a Thing” laden Fox crime series, Jason returns to outer space, spy animals are revealed, and The Riches finally comes back.
Tim makes a vow to finish more series! We say a fond farewell to Mary Tyler Moore. The visuals in FX’s “Legion” are trippy, but it’s more a drama about mental illness than a shiny X-Men vehicle. All this and your letters, this week on the TV Talk Machine…
This week Tim covers his reviews of “Teachers” season 2 and “Victoria”, takes time to point out how people quick to jump on HBO’s “The Young Pope” may be missing the mark, and praises the Acorn streaming service. Plus, Jason reviews “Sherlock” and we answer a bunch of your letters.
Jason’s back to talk with Tim about the Golden Globes, returning series (“Colony”, “Teachers”, “Homeland”), the stability of the CW, a time-travel show Jason likes (“Travelers”), and a bunch of new series, including “Victoria,” “Sneaky Pete,” “The Young Pope,” and “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”
This is it. With Jason in the five-oh, we’ve rebooted for the New Year as David and Tim talk about the reimagined “Emerald City,” the reconceived “One Day at a Time,” the reconstituted Golden Globes, the reputable “Taboo,” and more.
This week we wrap 2016 with Tim’s lists of best performances and episodes of the year, as well as a dip into the dark side for the worst shows of the past 12 months. Happy new year, everybody!
This week we recap the startlingly successful TVTM meet-up in San Francisco, and Tim goes over his top network TV shows of the year.
This week Tim walks us through his 38 best TV shows of the year, one by one. Plus: We announce the details of our meet-up! Come see us Monday, December 19 at 6 p.m. at 21st Amendment on 2nd Street in San Francisco.
Tim readies his end-of-year best lists, Jason presents his own top 10 shows list, and we discuss how “Westworld” is the hit HBO needed.
Network execs flee from press tour, Jason brings in lots of news headlines, and Tim reviews “Incorporated.”
Tim’s solution for a post-election TV news ratings boost; a whole lot more praise for “Soundbreaking”; and your letters. (Politics-averse people can jump ahead to 14:25 if they don’t want to hear anything more about the election.)
Jason and Tim return from relaxing trips (to Ireland and wine country, respectively) and end up right in the gaping maw of Election Night TV coverage. Plus, a new show arrives this weekend that’s right in Tim’s wheelhouse.
Like the Cubs in game seven, we’ve gone to the bullpen—David’s sitting in for Jason this week, and he and Tim talk about good girls, alien support groups, better things, lesser shows, oral histories, and shows that sneak up on you. Also, stay calm, you’re about to hit a deer.
Tim watches BBC America’s “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency”, “The Walking Dead” returns but Tim feels no need to review it, Mad Men’s creator gets an Amazon anthology, and the NFL ratings drop.
Hugh Laurie’s “Chance”, the return of “Walking Dead” and “Rectify”, and that guy you remember from that other sitcom now has a sitcom on CBS.
“Falling Water”, “American Housewife”, the return of “Black Mirror”, and your questions.
More on “Westworld”. Tim reviews “No Tomorrow”, “Divorce”, is excited about “Insecure”, and is trepidatious about “American Housewife.” And Jason travels back in time with “Timeless”.
Happy 100! Before jetting off to Vancouver, Tim stops by to review “Crisis in Six Scenes”, “Westworld”, “Conviction”, “Timeless”, “No Tomorrow”, and “Frequency”, Jason renews his time-travel-watching pact, and you tell us about how “Designated Survivor” is Not a Thing.
Reviews of “Lethal Weapon”, “Designated Survivor”, “Speechless”, “The Good Place”, and “Westworld”. Plus the Emmys aftermath, more new premieres, and the surprising reoccurrence of “Agent X” Watch and Not a Thing.
Jet-setting Tim interviews Jimmy Kimmel, plus reviews of “Black Mirror”, “Son of Zorn”, “Fleabag”, and more.
“You’re the Worst” and “Narcos” return, Tim and Jason finally watched “Stranger Things”, and Tim answers many more of your letters.
Tim’s back home from press tour! And he reviews Donald Glover’s “Atlanta”, the Italian crime series “Gomorrah”, and answers a whole lot of your letters.
Tim’s still in residence at the TV Critics Association summer Death March With Cocktails, and we’ve got his report on what’s up with broadcast, cable, and streaming. No, really, what’s up with streaming? Netflix’s binge problem. Amazon’s branding problem. CBS All Access’s attitude problem. And much more!
Live “in residence” at the Beverly Hilton, here’s Tim’s first report from the 2016 edition of the Death March With Cocktails. Tim discusses the difficulty in networks breaking through to TV critics and audiences in these times of confusion, drops a mind-blowing tidbit he got from Mitch Hurwitz about “Arrested Development”, and defines the roles of network and cable TV in the modern television era. Plus, a short review of Netflix’s new “The Get Down.” And Jason gets to place a phone call. Next week, telegrams!
We’re not here! Jason’s on vacation and Tim’s at the Death March With Cocktails. Fortunately for you, we recorded this episode full of your letters last week so that you don’t miss us, not one bit.
A big week for satire shows and Stephen Colbert during the Republican National Convention; Jason brings Nerd News from Comic-Con; we discuss the Game of Thrones announcement that Winter is Coming… for seven episodes… next summer; and Tim just loves the Olympics!
Tim breaks down the 2016 Emmy Awards nominations, which left him in a very strange emotional state. Who is this sunny, happy person, and what have you done with Tim Goodman?! Just when all seems lost, though, Tim musters up some bile for a few Emmy snubs.
Next week “Mr. Robot” returns for a second season and Tim’s seen the first two hours. (Also, the Emmy nominations might come out next week, but Tim’s not sure.) Tim celebrates the avalanche of good stuff on TV and his inability to watch it all. And we answer your letters!
Tim laments the lack of the first great rock-and-roll drama while appreciating the humor that is “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.” Plus, we go over the 10 (cough 11 cough) most bingeable shows this summer. Then we dive deep into the mailbag, where Jason admits to a colossal error while uncovering a failure deep in the heart of the U.S. government.
Tim and Jason are back together and we’ve got Tim’s reviews of “Thirteen” and “American Gothic”, plus we dissect the failures of “Roadies” and “Vinyl”, worry about how the Brexit vote will affect fictional characters as well as our listeners in the +44, and answer many of your letters.
Tim is back in his natural habitat, and Permanent Guest Host David J. Loehr is back, as they reminisce about their trip to the fifth season of the ATX Festival in Austin, TX, last week. They talk about hanging out with showrunners, each other, BBQ, sitting in on panels, BBQ, seeing cast & crew reunions, hearing unfilmed pilots, BBQ, and did they mention the BBQ? (They blame/thank Moisés Chiullan for the trip to Micklethwait’s. Blame only because they’re hooked now.) Then on to other topics, like Roadies, a new series from Cameron Crowe, and how it compares to other music-related shows like HBO’s Vinyl and FX’s Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. Also, BBQ. (They really liked the BBQ. Thanks, Moisés!)
In this special Quantum Superposition Edition, Tim is simultaneously in Austin for the ATX television festival and here in podcast land answering your questions. How does he do it? (Answer: By pre-recording this week’s episode last week.) In any event, this episode is full of letters from listeners all around the world, huddled around their podcast players waiting for the TVTM’s simultaneous, worldwide release. Wait no longer.
This week Tim praises “The Dresser”, dislikes AMC’s David Schwimmer vehicle, and answers a pointed question about the future and pacing of “Game of Thrones.”
This week Tim lets a little love for “Game of Thrones” escape his heart, and brings some questionable balloon metaphors to the second season of “Bloodline.” Plus we answer a hastily assembled collection of your letters!
This week the networks had their big “upfronts” in New York, a dog-and-pony show for advertisers that the TV critics and viewers of the world watch with amusement and consternation. Tim explains why the week fascinates him, and explores what the networks are doing in a time of falling ratings and too much television.
It’s the week that the broadcast network announce cancellations and renewals, and so we take time to survey the dead and the living, at least a little bit. Plus, Tim beseeches the Emmys on behalf of “The Americans”, and Louis C.K. figures out life after “Louie.”
This week we talk about (cue dramatic music) a Netflix series from France, a Fox series we don’t understand, “The Americans”, and Tim rekindles his fears about Australian wildlife.
Back after a birthday weekend away from the podcast, Tim’s got the details on HBO’s huge debut weekend—and some serious trepidation about where the network goes next.
This week Tim reviews the new seasons of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “Orphan Black”, and “Fear the Walking Dead”, and reviews the new international series “Last Panthers.” Plus, we follow the latest self-inflicted wounds on “Sleepy Hollow” and read listener letters.
Tim survived “The Walking Dead” finale and returns to talk about it, along with happier news, like the arrivals of new seasons of “Catastrophe” on Amazon and “Outlander” on Starz. Jason shows a suspicious knowledge of music reality shows. And we issue a mea culpa about listening to “facts” from listeners.
This week Tim reviews “The Girlfriend Experience” and “Lopez.” Then—based on the breaking two-season renewal of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”—we discuss various aspects of long-running TV series. Why do some of them last well beyond their expiration date, and will streaming services learn when it’s the right time to say goodbye?
We say goodbye to TV legends Ken Howard and Garry Shandling, Tim discusses his reviews of “Happy Valley” (watch it in the daytime?) and “Catch” (Shondaland becomes Shamblesland), we discuss when to throw in the towel when reviewing TV shows, and we answer many of your letters, including a discussion of the controversial death on “The 100.”
This week we take a look at the future of television. The convenience of streaming may trump all, but how do we get from today to a shiny streaming future? What can networks do? Does dropping an entire season for binge-watching beat teasing out weekly episodes? Join us as we scratch our chins and imagine future times.
This week the CW announced it was renewing its entire lineup, so we dive into the strange success story of that network, including why a 12th season of “Supernatural” might make sense, and Les Moonves’ answer to Tim about why the lights stayed on. Plus Tim’s review of “Of Kings and Prophets,” the San Francisco Chronicle’s Little Man, Aaron Paul’s return to TV in Hulu’s “The Path”, and more bad news for Will Arnett.
Tim surveys the late-night talk scene and demands more outrage with his comedy! Plus, a bad review of “The Family”, a look at the new Viceland TV shows, some geek TV updates from Jason, and your letters.
We’re back with discussion of some new series, a look forward to March premieres (though there’s not a lot to look forward to), and a whole bunch of your letters. Plus, one more thing Tim finally remembered.
Huge industry and failure-analysis news this week, as ABC’s Paul Lee era ends and Channing Dungey takes on the now-horrible job of being a broadcast network TV president. Plus Tim reviews “Togetherness,” we talk about “Girls” returning, Jason reports in on “The X-Files” and “Legends of Tomorrow,” and we answer your letters.
“Better Call Saul” is back for season two, and Tim’s got his full review—along with our discussion of the challenges of doing a prequel series. Plus, the 14-year-old boy inside of Tim is thrilled with Hulu’s new election special starring Triumph, the insult comic dog. We cover a mixed bag of TV news, including the new “Star Trek” showrunner and the renewal of “Master of None,” and answer your letters!
This week Tim provides an important lesson about comedy callbacks, the TVTM break room is explored for the first time ever, we discuss HBO programming and the Super Bowl, and of course there’s plenty of time for your letters.
This week Tim and Jason talk about a slew of new series, including fantasy-themed “You, Me and the Apocalypse,” “11.22.63,” and “The Magicians.” Plus, we discuss the new trend toward TV revivals, Tim previews his review of “Vinyl,” and we answer your letters.
Tim returns from Pasadena to talk about the plight of broadcast network executives, NBC’s strange choice of press tour topics, and reviews of a bunch of new shows.
Tim is “in residence” in Pasadena for the Television Critics Association winter press tour. He takes time away from the grind to let Jason know about new stuff coming from ABC, The CW, TNT, TBS, HBO, WGN America, Sundance, Starz, BBC America, AMC, and A&E, among others.
In our last episode of 2015, Tim recaps his top network TV series of 2015 and Jason reads some of your letters. We’re off next week. See you in 2016!
Tim walks Jason though his list of the very best shows of 2015.
The Golden Globe nominees are out, and they’re peculiar, to say the least. But Tim is going to look on the bright side, seeing it as an opportunity for the Emmy Awards to get things right and for everyone else to enjoy some fine Champagne. We also talk “The Leftovers” getting a third (and final) season, revisit “The Expanse” and “Childhood’s End” on SyFy, and answer many of your letters.
This week Tim plots his year-end lists, celebrates the return of “Transparent,” and we hear a whole lot of listener mail about Cop/Not a Cop, “Agent X”, things that aren’t a thing, and more.
The tryptophan is kicking in, but we’re back for a post-Thanksgiving edition of the TVTM nonetheless. Tim explains how he approaches his end-of-year best lists (and why they’re important), we talk TV turkeys, holiday stuff we like, and we have important updates from the “Agent X” and “Not a Thing” files. Must… stay… awake…
This week we talk about TV deaths, ponder how streaming has changed the TV game in just five years, grouse about Dick Wolf, praise AMC’s kung-fu adventure series “Into the Badlands,” and answer your letters!
An avalanche of Amazon pilots, the arrival of “Man in the High Castle” and “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” on streaming, Jason watches “Agent X” and “Supergirl,” and we answer a whole lot of your emails, tweets, and Facebook posts!
We’re going deep this week, with a discussion of Tim’s THR piece about the age of denial in broadcast TV. We also talk about our brush with the people who make “Agent X”, re-promote “Master of None”, and answer a whole bunch of listener mail.
Tim dishes on a forthcoming so-bad-it’s-funny series called “Agent X”, Jason and Tim break down the premiere of “Supergirl”, plus we quickly talk “Wicked City,” “Master of None”, the rules of character death on “The Walking Dead,” remind you about “Ash vs. Evil Dead” and “The Returned” coming back, and answer a bunch of your questions.
This week we spend a lot of time on listener mail, plus talk high expectations for “Supergirl,” low expectations for “Wicked City,” and ponder TV comfort food.
The shows just keep on coming! This week Tim talks about season two of “The Knick”, season 6 of “The Walking Dead”, and the inauspicious premiere of “Truth Be Told.” Plus some Dodgers schadenfreude, mysterious series pick-ups, and trying to figure out when to give up on old favorites.
Tim’s back from Vancouver and we’ve got a whole lot of premieres to cover. “Fargo”, “The Knick”, “Casual”, “Red Oaks”, “The Last Kingdom”, “Manhattan”, “The Walking Dead”, “The Flash”, and more! Plus: why “Halt and Catch Fire” got renewed, Jason’s reports on “The Flash”, “Blindspot”, and The “Limitless”, and we answer your letters.
“The Affair” plays fast and loose with memory, “Game of Thones” positions itself for Emmy domination, and we answer your questions.
The wave of fall TV premieres continues, as we go back over “Minority Report,” “Blindspot/Doodle Booty,” and “The Muppets” before moving on to preview “The Grinder,” “Grandfathered,” “Blood and Oil,” “Quantico,” “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” “Code Black,” “Dr. Ken,” and more. Plus, it’s our first birthday! “I am an awful person and a TV critic.”—Tim Goodman, chief TV critic, The Hollywood Reporter
Tim returns from Big Sur and Jason returns from Portland just in time to watch the Emmys and gape at the massive number of fall TV premieres coming in the next week. Tim reveals why his new Hollywood Reporter TV critic colleague, Dan Fienberg, is getting stuck with all the lousy shows! We talk “Casual,” “Blindspot,” “Bastard Executioner,” “You’re the Worst,” “Minority Report” (based on that old movie), “The Player” (not based on that old movie), “Limitless” (based on that recent movie), and answer your letters. Plus, Jason gets three TV viewing assignments he’ll regret.
Tim is joined by David Loehr on the sands of Waikiki—or somewhere—to talk about the first week of Colbert, the last week in Apple TV, the next week in upcoming shows, and the best new fall title that isn’t actually a show’s title.
“Mr. Robot” takes a final bow as the show of the summer, Apple is rumored to be pondering its own Netflix-like TV service, PBS and the BBC take a chance on Monterey Bay, and Stephen Colbert prepares for his CBS premiere. Plus, Jason reads your letters and Tim answers them!
In this episode we get a little deep, as Tim and whatever-his-name-is discuss the future of scripted television. How will these Times of Confusion end? Are we at “Peak TV” yet? Will Millennials watch anything but YouTube? How can shows reach the audiences they need to stay on the air? Are we doomed to a future with scripted material that’s broader and less appealing than today’s series? Then we make up our missed week by tacking on special bonus content, featuring your letters and a special hint of consideration of a possible future announcement from Tim.
Tim’s back from press tour! After a brief chat about the personnel problems at “The Good Wife,” we talk Netflix’s “Narcos” and then answer a whole lot of listener feedback.
Two weeks later, Tim checks in again from the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour! We’ve got information about ABC, Amazon, AMC, CBS, DirecTV, Fox, FX, Hulu, PBS, Showtime, Starz, Syfy, and even NBC! Plus, Tim and Jason talk about Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show” finale.
Tim reports in live from L.A. at the Television Critics Association summer press tour to recount his first week, including sessions from Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Nat Geo, and BBC America. Plus we cover the rapid growth of Netflix and the systemic changes that make it harder for Trevor Noah to succeed Jon Stewart, and Peter Capaldi explains what a lollipop man is.
Tim and Jason are back with an all-feedback episode! The Emmy Awards, comedy in TV movies, “Penny Dreadful,” family TV shows, why Australians love the TVTM, and more recipes plus haiku from Amy in the 415!
The 2015 Emmy Awards nominations are here, and in this special episode Tim breaks them all down—the obvious choices, the pleasantly surprising decisions… and, yeah, the outrageous omissions. Accept no substitutes for the TVTM’s instant Emmy analysis!
Tim and Jason aren’t at Comic-Con, though Jason’s just back from San Diego and Tim’s getting ready for the Death March With Cocktails later this month. In the meantime, both of them talk about Keith Olbermann, Hannibel Burress, “Rectify”, “Masters of Sex”, “Ray Donovan”, “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”, and Jason reports in on “Zoo”, “Mr. Robot”, and “Humans.” Plus, we answer your questions!
David & Tim talk about Jason’s vacation, Olbermann’s vocation, James Patterson’s predation, Velcoro’s damnation, Pixar’s elation, and for the Colbert Nation, the Monroe, MI local cable access channel’s newest sensation.
It’s summer, and that means it’s time for an attack of nerdy shows! Tim’s watched AMC’s “Humans” and USA’s “Mr. Robot.” Jason’s seen “Dark Matter” and “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.” Tim’s talked to the creator of “Extant.” Plus we answer your questions!
Tim and Jason talk about the Game of Thrones finale and whether the show has failed our high expectations. Plus Jason reports back on two geeky shows, and we answer your questions. (Consult your doctor before binge listening.)
Tim's back from his trips to Austin and Banff with reports on his favorite panels and a very special meetup. Plus we talk about the return of "True Detective" and "Orange is the New Black," detail some Emmy news, and Jason reports on his ongoing challenge of watching geeky shows Tim just won't review.
This week Tim’s in Austin, but Tim’s poor time-shifted clone can’t partake of tacos and beer until he does a podcast. First Tim unloads a bunch of shows he’s not going to watch or review (“Sense8,” “Dark Matter,” “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell”) onto Jason, who strangely agrees to watch many of them. Then we read your theories about TV animals, praise a TVTM binge listener, and read the greatest letter ever received by the TVTM.
This week Tim touches the third rails of podcasting, as we talk about sports (the Warriors reaching the NBA Finals) and politics (the hypocrisy of the Duggar family and the cynicism of their network, TLC) before moving on to our final coverage of “Mad Men” with your feedback on the finale.
This week it’s a three-man booth as David Loehr joins Jason and Tim to talk about the “Man Men” finale, as well as David Letterman’s swan song.
The end approaches for Don Draper, and so in this episode Tim discusses his expectations for the “Mad Men” finale. Plus we answer your “Mad Men” finale questions and address some brief TV news. Harry Shearer, please call James L. Brooks if you’re reading this.
The network upfronts are in full swing, so this week Tim and Jason talk about what’s been cancelled and what’s been renewed. But not about new show orders, because in accordance with TV Talk Machine policy, Tim officially doesn’t care until he sees the show. Also: a “Mad Men” check-in, the intriguing new drama “Wayward Pines,” and your letters!
Tim is joined by David again to talk shows that made them happy (and not happyish), shows that stream & the services that love them, they wonder what some of these people were thinking, and hey, does anyone want a Barbarella series? We’ll do it!
This week Tim and Jason break down the return of “Orphan Black,” Tim rants about how the beloved “The Americans” failed to stick the landing in its season finale, and Showtime’s “Happyish” has some serious problems. Plus more discussion of how “Mad Men” is spending its final few hours, and Tim has a cure for Jason’s cold.
This week we send “Justified” into retirement, get excited about the return of BBC America’s “Orphan Black,” re-open the debate about “Daredevil,” get diverted by debating good and bad series finales, and answer more of your questions.
So much returning TV! Jason re-joins Tim to talk about the returns of “Louie”, “Game of Thrones”, “Silicon Valley”, “Veep” and “Mad Men.” Plus, what the heck happened to “The Last Man on Earth”? And, as always, we answer some listener questions.
Tim doesn’t miss a week as he’s joined by designated guest co-host David J. Loehr to talk about the Daily Show, the nightly shows, undead shows, zombie shows, limited run shows, long running shows, comfort food shows…they talk about a lot of shows…
Tim’s seen the first episode of the final run of “Mad Men!” But he’s been given a long list of details he’s not allowed to talk about. So we speak obliquely about what to expect from “Mad Men” in this final run of seven episodes. Plus we ponder the CBS demographic and try to save a marriage by suggesting a solid collection of limited-run series.
Tim and Jason discuss the stunning finale of “The Jinx,” preview the arrival of James Corden’s “Late Late Show” and why Corden took the job, and answer some of your questions.
Tim’s about to flee televised civilization for the comforts of a vacation, but before he goes he’s got some time to rant about how not to remake a European TV series. In this case, the Gracepointed show in question is “The Returned.” We also cover some upcoming shows and read listener comments and questions, most of which seem to do with tormenting Jason with more bad television.
Jason reports back on his TV Torture Machine assignment, “CSI: Cyber,” much to Tim’s evil glee. Plus “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Last Man on Earth,” “Billy & Billie,” and “Battle Creek.”
After some brief reflections about Leonard Nimoy, Jason and Tim turn to “The Last Man on Earth,” “American Crime,” and “Secrets and Lies.” Tim challenges Jason to watch “CSI: Cyber.” We anticipate “Broadchurch” and “Dig” and Tim puts off watching “Battle Creek.” Plus: More CW strategy and we answer your questions about hated shows and dark and bleak TV.
The Emmys finally change their rules—but is it really an improvement? Plus, Tim’s reaction to the new “House of Cards” season and the “Odd Couple” premiere, “Two and a Half Men” and “Parks and Recreation” come to an end, the Oscars loom, and Tim and Jason answer some listener questions.
Anchors, away! Tim and Jason discuss Jon Stewart’s departure from “The Daily Show” and Brian Williams’s apparent end on “NBC Nightly News.” Plus, more praise for HBO’s “The Jinx” (which is not suitable for Date Nights), a look at Amazon’s new drama “Bosch,” and we try to answer some more listener feedback.
A look at the new drama series “Allegiance,” “Better Call Saul,” and “The Slap,” plus the HBO documentary series “The Jinx.” Plus the return of “Walking Dead” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” and Tim reminds us why the ladies love LL Cool J. Then there’s the big question: Is the Television Critics Association press tour just a series of Junior High-type mixers? Don’t ask Tim—all he remembers is the shrimp and booze.
The Power Rankings may be on hiatus, but Tim is here to praise the show that would be at number one if they existed: FX’s “The Americans.” Plus, advance praise for ABC’s new sitcom “Fresh off the Boat.” Plus: Avoiding the Super Bowl, our bad ideas for a new TV spy series, and we answer your emails.
Tim’s back from winter press tour with news of Fox and FX and reviews of “Backstrom” and “Better Call Saul.” Plus Tim and Jason discuss the massive number of scripted shows out there—with an actual number, thanks to the FX research department. Also we ponder why anyone would tune out PBS when it offers cancer, mortality, and math; Jason gets confused and thinks “Wolf Hall” is a “Game of Thrones” spin-off; and we read a bunch of listener questions.
We’re bringers, bringing our brand halo to a hungry audience that’s overwhelmed by choice. Okay, it’s week two of the Death March With Cocktails and Tim may have gone a little loopy. But we’ve still got loads of information from winter press tour, including baiting Donald Trump, ABC’s alien whispers and questionable series promotional techniques, new stuff from AMC, Comedy Central, Amazon, Netflix, NBC, and the CW.
After five days “in residence,” Tim reports in live from the TV Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. Among the topics: Why critics don’t clap, chance encounters with Scottish showrunners, and why Netflix’s numbers don’t matter. Tim gets name-checked in a tchotchke and an HBO ad. Plus, we look ahead to the next week and a half (!) of the press tour.
Positivity abounds! In this episode, Tim and Jason go over Tim’s lists of the best TV shows of 2014. Nothing but sunshine and great television here! Let it never be said that Tim is not someone who loves (good) TV!
Tim and Jason talk about the turnover in late-night, with Stephen Colbert and Craig Ferguson departing and James Corden and Larry Willmore on the horizon. Plus, Jason annoys his wife with “Ascension” jokes and Tim answers letters from old-school fans of the podcast. Happy holidays, everyone!
Tim and Jason discuss the Golden Globe TV nominees, the phenomenon of midseason finales, and answer listener questions.
Tim and Jason talk “Peter Pan Live,” and then dive into reader questions, including a brutal review Tim didn’t remember writing, the appeal of “Jane the Virgin,” mid-season replacement shows, and holiday TV episodes.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we list some TV we’re thankful for. Also, inevitably, things get a bit dark when we talk about some of the fall season’s true turkeys. Also, we answer more listener questions, including other TV critics, top fantasy shows, TV reboots, and a guide to when to stop watching a show.
In this episode Tim and Jason talk about something that can delight even the most toughened critic: a pleasant surprise. Tim revisits “Homeland” and discovers that the show may be turning it around, and finds an unexpectedly solid scripted drama on Bravo. Also, we answer listener questions about antiheroes, remakes, and co-productions.
Where have all the miniseries gone? They’re actually all around us, but they’re called anthologies or limited series or TV events. Tim and Jason talk about the merits of shows opting for finite lifetimes. Plus some thoughts about the minds behind Adult Swim, TV guilty pleasures, the perils of series featuring anti-heroes, this season of “Doctor Who,” Katherine Heigl’s star turn as Charleston in “State of Affairs”, “The Missing” and the difficulty of watching kids in peril, and the strengths and weaknesses of Aaron Sorkin.
In this episode, Tim hears from the producers of “Sleepy Hollow” about his criticisms last week, a tossed-off sidebar becomes a viral web hit and makes fans of classic spy TV series angry worldwide, a whole bunch of shows get cancelled, and we answer listener questions.
Has “Sleepy Hollow,” one of our favorites from last season, gone off the rails? Tim and Jason discuss the sophomore series’s self-inflicted creative crisis. Plus, more answers to your questions, including shows worth catching up on via streaming, and we talk a little about sports on TV in the wake of the Giants winning another even-year World Series. (Note to THR readers: Our “Sleepy Hollow” discussion starts 42 minutes in.)
This week Tim and Jason answer some listener questions, rave a bit more about “Jane the Virgin,” discuss overlooked drama series, and ponder digital extras and extended episodes of series on streaming media.
This week Tim and Jason keep it positive! Tim goes through the week, day by day, and recommends the shows (both new and old) that are worth your time! Then we talk about Tim’s famous Power Ratings of the top shows on TV, where they came from, and where they might be going.
From the comic book pages to your TV screen, we counted at least five network TV series involving superheroes. But who can tell “The Flash” from “Constantine?” Jason’s read the comics, but most people—including Tim—haven’t. And isn’t that all for the best? Also, Jason gives Disney/ABC/Marvel a million-dollar idea for free, and Tim previews “Jane the Virgin,” “Star Wars Rebels,” and “Marry Me.”
Braaaaains! As we enter October, our thoughts turn to spooky things like vampires and zombies. “The Walking Dead” is coming back, and it’s started an avalanche of other zombie-themed TV… none of which quite matches up to the original. Also, Tim and Jason talk about the TV premieres happening in the next week, and Tim just keeps thinking outside the box.
Against all odds, we’re back for a second episode! In this episode, Tim and Jason run through some of the new premieres, including “Forever,” “Black-ish,” “Gotham,” “Scorpion,” and “Red Band Society.” Also, Tim looks at the ratings to see what shows are looking good and which ones have a good chance of being the first to be cancelled. Then we take a look at the next week’s new shows, briefly praise some returning shows, coin the term overspadered, and liken the current Fox schedule to a garbage fire.
It’s a podcast about television! Every week Hollywood Reporter Chief TV Critic Tim Goodman joins Jason Snell to talk about what’s worth watching. In this first episode of the fourth incarnation of the TV Talk machine, Tim highlights four network shows he likes, a second tier of shows on his maybe list, and reveals that the fall’s best new series isn’t available on either cable or broadcast TV.
The past is present: Tim's interview with Stephen Colbert from the City Arts and Lectures series, Herbst Theatre, San Francisco.
Have no fear, the boys are back! After many painful weeks, Tim, Joe, Ali and even Benny have returned to the PodCave, and they have a lot to discuss. The guys play Monday Morning Quarterback on all the new shows that debuted over the last two weeks, including Boardwalk Empire, Outlaw, Chase, Hawaii Five-O, Outsourced, Lone Star, Bleep My Dad Says and No Ordinary Family, plus many more. And they debut a couple of new voices!
In this special edition of the TV Talk Machine podcast, Tim interviews Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, producers of the nine-part documentary series Baseball. Their new two-part chapter to the Baseball series, The Tenth Inning, premieres on PBS on September 28th and 29th. This new installment picks up after the 1994 Strike and discusses the resurgence of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the steroids cloud that looms over baseball and the influx of foreign-born players into baseball.
After two weeks and many vacations, the boys are back for another scintillating edition of the TV Talk Machine podcast. In this episode, Tim, QB and Ali (what a surprise, Benny was absent again) discuss the fallout from the 2010 Emmys. A number of Tim's predictions panned out, although Archie Punjabi winning was not one of them. And QB debuts a new voice.
You can call off the search teams! Tim has made it home safely, albeit in a stumbling stupor, from the Death March with Cocktails. His parents are happy to have him home. In this edition of the TV Talk Machine, Tim gives a full recap of the happenings at the Television Critics Association aka The Death March with Cocktails. Tim talks about the upcoming lineups for all the networks including HBO, AMC and FX Oh, and polygamists are discussed.
After a 2 week hiatus, the guys are back, and they have a new toy. QB stole a sound effects gadget from his daughter, thus setting off a foli battle between QB and Benny. As Tim gets ready to head down to LA for The Death March, he talks about what to expect and the coverage he will be providing. Or lack thereof.
We have big breaking TV news...Tim and Joe are back from vacation! Tim has been out of the TV loop for the last couple of weeks, but nonetheless, the guys forge on. Tim is excited for the announcement of Emmy nominations on Thursday and talks about his expectations and what would anger him. The guys delve into futbol as the World Cup winds down.
With the rousing success of the Sports Edition podcast from several weeks ago, Tim, QB and Ali decided that since World Cup got underway over the weekend, they'd take another crack at talking sports. QB even brought his vuvuzela (if you've watched any of the matches, that buzzing noise are hundreds of horns called vuvzelas).
This edition of the TVTM has a touch of sadness as the guys mourn the passing of The Wizard of Westwood. Coach Wooden's prized pupil Bill Walton makes statement. And the guys get to the letters and calls that didn't get to last week.
After two weeks, the Tim, Joe and Benny are back...with Ali still manning the knobs. All the whining seems to have paid off as evidence from the stack of letters and the number of phone calls.
Tim, QB and Ali enter the podcave to record TVTM 158. This week, the guys talk about shows that are being re-made. What show would you most like to see re-made? Email us at podcasts@sfgate.com. Plus, the return of everybody's favorite drunk baseball announcer. And Ali drops a bombshell on Tim and QB.
After last week's critically acclaimed Sports Edition, the guys are back with another jam-packed sports edition....just kidding. Tim, Joe, Ali and a late-arriving Benny get back to TV talk and debut some new celebrity "voices", while also reading your letters and taking your calls.
If you tuned in for smart, witty commentary on TVTM favorite like "Breaking Bad," "The Pacific," or 'Treme," sorry to disappoint you, but you're not going to find it in this episdoe. Okay, you might get a minute or two of Power Rankings breakdown towards the end, but that's about it. No, in this episode, Tim and the guys talk about nothing really. Okay, that's not entirely true either. They talk about the NFL Draft's shift to primetime. Oh, and QB reads Juan Antonio Samaranch's eulogy.
Hell yes we did a TVTM podcast. Our producer, The Greatest (aka Ali Thanawalla) finally herded Question Boy (aka Joe Garofoli) into the Podcave and off his backside. Inspired, Benny (aka Benny Evangelista) also showed up. And so did I, just to add some actual talent to the non-pro line-up. We had lots of e-mails (some of them angry) and a decent amount of calls (including one from Thailand). There were voices. (Bill Walton, you ask? Of course. But Ali learned a little something about the pronunciation of Peter Krause and that really derailed things. We apologize in advance to Germany.)
This week, QB is recovering from attending a Tea Party event and The Greatest was knocked out by Ken Norton aka The Flu. Macworld's Jason Snell dons a raincoat/shorty rob and fills in for QB. Benny mans the knobs and puts his headphones in the right hole. In this episode, the guys breakdown this week's Power Rankings. They also hold a really short vigil for "24." They also discuss the idea of multitasking and tweeting while watching television, and when it works and when it doesn't.
Just so you know, this isn't a Celebrity Podcast, where I interview people I like in the industry, like the last one I did with "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan. Those can be informative and sometimes insightful. They are professionally done. This is not one of those. Nope, this is our "regular" old TVTM podcast, where stupid is as stupid does. Or something stupid like that. We talk TV. We answer mail. And phone messages. There are, ahem, "voices" of people like Tom Brokaw and Howard Cosell and of course! Bill Walton, our Patron Saint of Voices on the podcast. Even Existential French Woman and the cast of "Bars" drop by. We are without Benny, who was "working." So there's absolutely no foley work here. If you're longing for the sound of, say, a door closing, forget it. But Question Boy decided to show up. The podcast is produced by Ali, aka "The Greatest," and someone has the audacity to call in and say he's good at the job. That needs to end right now. In other highlights, I'm asked to choose between red wine and Diet Coke. Plus, someone had a pointless dream about the podcast. "Enjoy!"
Tim Goodman talks with Vince Gilligan, the creator of "Breaking Bad," AMC's hit drama about Walt White, a chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer. With nothing left to lose, White decides to go into the drug business and quickly becomes a major player in the drug world. "Breaking Bad" returns for it's third season on March 21st.
Well, after a brief hiatus, the TV Talk Machine is back for the second episode of 2010. This time, Oh Great One Tim Goodman, Joe "Question Bay" Garofoli and Benny "Manny" Evangelista are joined by new TVTM producer Ali "The Greatest" Thanawalla. In this episode, Tim and the guys give their post-Olympics analysis (if you're a fan of NBC, cover your ears), and Tim previews the Spring schedule. And as always, they take your phone calls, and things get a little steamy (and awkward).
Who doesn't love ponies? Anyway, after being off "the air" since December, the world's most dangerous, stupid and pointless podcast about television is back! We have a new podcave (actually, someone else's office). We've gone through three producers, one intern, any number of Question Girls, a dozen or so 12-step programs, a grand jury investigation, two foreign tribunals and successfully (and almost legally) avoided international sanctions. So, happy third birthday to us! We can't be killed. We even took a phone call from Qatar, so put that in your Doha pipe and smoke it! Our world domination continues. See, now you want to listen. It's free. Easy. And also quite popular on iTunes. Although we turned down an invite to go on "Fighting Talk," our good friends at the BBC and my recent appearance on Bill Simmons' "B.S. Report" podcast have finally nudged the decision-makers at TVTM to consider expanding the cult. Even though tens of thousands of people listen to us monthly (when we're not too lazy to actually do the podcast) we are very much an acquired taste, as any number of our measly 573 or so TVTM Facebook fans will attest. In theory, this podcast is about television. In practice, it's a collection of rants, asides, dribs and drabs of actual answers to listeners who have questions, inside jokes, terrible impersonations (Walter Cronkite, Juan Antoniio Samaranch, The Count from "Sesame Street," Vladamir Putin, Dora the Explorer, the Existential French Woman and "hundreds" more, including our patron saint, Bill Walton. Plus porno versions of all of those people, except Walton.) These podcasts are not to be confused with the TV Talk Machine's spin-off "Celebrity Podcasts" (see link on right side of this blog) where I talk professionally with a number of important people I like in the industry and do it with actual TV knowledge. Those have value. And a point. If, however, you'd like to listen to our more regular TVTM podcasts and you're a newbie wondering why we have listeners around the globe (that part is actually true), iTunes availability, a Facebook fan page and a toll-free hotline for those living in the U.S. of A, then here's a quick primer: Our cast is made up of Yours Truly, plus Question Boy (Chronicle political writer Joe Garofoli) and Manny (Chronicle business writer Benny Evangelista) who "mans the knobs" and produces this thing. Or as we like to say, "produces" this thing. (We go through producers like Spinal Tap goes through drummers, just FYI.) Whenever we're not too lazy, we put on our shorty robes, head to the podcave and answer your questions while channeling Walton and any number of other bad voices we can conjure. We encourage people to take the TVTM logo with them when they travel and take "Flat Bastard" photos that are posted on our Facebook page (seriously, you should go look). We ask only that you set your bar low for information and entertainment. No animals are hurt in the creation of this podcast.
The whole special menagerie (Goodman, Question Boy, Benny Durwood, Sheri from the Vale, PPage and Justin Beck) return for another fun-filled holiday 'cast. It's chock full of dreidel spinning, bah-humbugery, inappropriate sexual innuedo, wassailing and a very special Christmas fable narrated by PPage.
Tim, Question Boy, Benny and Durwood are joined by very special guests: Sherry from the Vale, PPage and the ghost of producers past--Justin Beck. Things get warm and fuzzy--and steamy--as the all-star cast talks TV and learns the true meaning of Christmas. Plus: a somewhat audible live phone call with George D.!
We're still here, holding down the dilapidated bunker that is the second floor podcave with lots to say about The Venture Brothers, how to talk like a Gilmore Girl and why Al Gore has such bad teeth. Plus special visits from Angry Regis, Porno Count and Tim Gunn!
After a turkey/H1N1-enduced hiatus, Goodman and the gang return to discuss Tiger Woods and why you shouldn't sleep around with reality TV stars (and if you must, which ones are better than others), the latest dirt on the state of the Chronicle's second floor, the remarkeable similarities between Bill Walton and Santa Claus, and much more!
Nothing but shenanigans. We actually have listener submitted theme songs by the likes of Jason Snell and Rob from Palo Alto. Plus!!: Elvis Costello croons to Tim (by way of PPage, by way of a Question Boy impersonation). And much more...
When Question Boy and Benny are MIA for twenty minutes, Tim "Oh Great One" Goodman is left to chat with Durwood the intern about indie pop, the young demo's penchant for beards and all of QB's various shortcomings. Plus: Mrs. Question Boy calls to complain, Matt from Bethesda has a word or two and a discussion of Peggie Olson's real life romance.
Tim Goodman talks with Kurt Sutter the creator of "Sons of Anarchy," FX's groundbreaking drama about Northern California biker gangs. Though it includes lots of biker brawls and knife fights, a family drama runs right through the show's heart.
PPage and Jengo join Goodman et. al. for another lady-filled cast. Question Boy comes up with some new voices--Porno Arriana, Existential Dora, and more! There is much Mad Men pre-finale puffery.
Joined by very special guest question girls PPage and Jengo, Goodman and the gang pit V against Flashforward, bemoan the demise of SF's own Trauma, star in a scintillating listener's nighttime fantasy and eulogize the tragic retiremnt of the one and only Walton.
Goodman, Question Boy, Benny and Durwood discuss all sorts of high brow stuff, really share their favorite TV shows cancelled too soon, talk Aaron Sorkin's drug habits and receive a scintillating challenge from loyal listener Taldar.
Tim Goodman, joined by Question Boy, Benny and the rest, talks about old men playing soccer, French Existentialism and FX's The League. Plus, Daniel the Intern earns a new nickname from an annoyed caller and belittles Canadians!
Tim Goodman and the gang fill the podcave with talk of Jane Lynch as the vengeful cheerleading coach on Glee, the ongoing greatness of Mad Men, new shows like Flash Forward, as well as updates from frequent callers and commentators like Hanna from Sweden and Porno Nixon.
After two weeks of suspense, Goodman and the gang return triumphantly to the podcave for more antics from Walton, the Count, Porno Nixon and a new intern! Lots of good listener calls and talk about Jay Leno (Lame-no, as one listener suggests), the return of sitcoms and lots more.
What will be the fate of the TVTM? Who's going to man the knobs? Will we ever hear from Sir Tim, Question Boy, Benny/Manny/Knobby/Chocoknobs, Adjustin', Walton, Existential French Woman, Porno Nixon/Putin/Cronkite, Angry Regis or Southern Gentleman ever again? We talk about Adjustin (Justin Beck) leaving, but keep our spirits up instead of crying all over our shorty robes. And we refuse to acknowledge this is the end. If you don't hear from us soon via the regular channels, we'll pop up like Pirate Radio, taking names and stealing booty.
Sir Tim talks about the Emmys, calls them a vast improvement; highlights of the opening week of TV's fall season include "Flash Forward" and "Modern Family," the latter of which Tim says is "amazingly funny" and in the same league as "Arrested Development."
Tim tells a five-minute-long story about something he saw at the Rockridge BART station (previously he'd tweeted about the same thing in fewer than 140 charaters); Benny Master of Sounds impersonates a juke box; Question Boy (aka Best Boy) pouts; a tree becomes the podcast's newest listener.
It's true: There's TV-related material in this podcast. Other highlights: Benny is late to the 'cast; Joe is sore about being demoted in Jason's new theme music; Justin takes pictures and video (see 'em here); Benny redeems himself as the Master of Sounds. Nothing to see here folks. Keep moving.
More clips from Sunday's Hootenanny. George D plays Question Boy again. Benny as Special Guest again.
Let's drink to TV! And bad podcasting and late birthday parties, and people surviving heart attacks, etc. etc. George D plays Question Boy. Benny as Special Guest.
Doot doot doot doot doot! A question from Jasmine in the 510 prompts Tim to divulge actual TV-related information -- five fall shows to watch out for. Plus, tons of calls from listeners. Oh, and Tim reveals his desire to stab QB in the armpit. And Benny as Special Guest.
After, what, 16 weeks away or so, the TVTM returns from vacation duties, two weeks in Los Angele for the Death March With Cocktails, a week of Question Boy (Chronicle political writer Joe Garofoli) taking yet another vacation and, we think, something about Adjustin (Podcast Producer Justin Beck) being not that interested in helping. Listening to the cries of the masses (or those of you who STILL haven't pushed the TVTM Facebook page over 500 in our "Drive For Five"), we decided (last minute go figure) that we couldn't go yet another week without one. So, without QB around and a mysterious dearth of Question Girl participants, we reached out to an old friend: Manny (Benny Evangelista). Yep, Manny plays QB. It gives us a chance to make fun of Joe endlessly, which was another consideration. In this super-bloated podcast, we tackle both TV related news (um, I think) and non-TV related news, then rally with a bunch of calls at the end, an MP3 from Jason while sipping at Bella Vineyards, a song from PPage, an admission that she didn't actually sing "Dora's Got A Gun," and one very late and really impressive contribution from Justin. It's like we came together as a family. So, "enjoy."
The TVTM loves you, baby. Yes, as a matter of fact, it does. We show that love by giving you a better product, a glossier, more brilliantly sheen-filled and lucid piece of aural entertainment. We increase our game because someone told us that they took our last podcast for a long car drive and made the drive even longer. Hurt, tearful, weepy-hearted but determined, we put our best effort into this one. Well, "best effort." Question Boy (Chronicle political writer Joe Garofoli) channeled Walter Cronkite (and Putin and wonderfully, Existential French Woman) while Adjustin (Justin Beck, producer to the stars) even looked up not one but two area codes (though he also shook off the idea that I should podcast from Los Angeles next week and the week after while I'm down covering the Death March With Cocktails). This 'cast starts with a song (PPage strikes again) and ends with a slam at a boring state (one of 50 you'll just have to guess), then an apology and then some laughs. We find two "lost" e-mails. There's a lot of Walton, who doesn't apologize, there are calls from everywhere, an MP3 about David Brinkley and we begin the arrangements to have a drink with Andrea from Connecticut, (calling from the car again) continuing our promise to buy drinks for any listener outside the Bay Area who stops in San Francisco. We're going to answer all of Andrea's TV questions with care and precision so that she's completely stunned but happy. She'll return to the East Coast and spread the truth I really do know things. Jealous yet? Book your flight! All told, a small slice of awesomeness. "If you're going to listen to just one long and uninformative and pointless podcast this summer, listen to this one." It will indeed be our last podcast for a bit. I'm heading to Los Angeles on Sunday, not back until Aug. 10, where we've tentatively scheduled another one. By then, you'll miss us so much you'll be sending us letters of apology for ever slagging us, either in public or in your private thoughts. We forgive you in advance.
Dying to know the colors of the DVD packaging from the various television networks? Tim "Oh Great One" Goodman has the inside scoop. Can't wait to find out all about Tim's work schedule over the next several weeks? Tim reveals all! And what about Joe "Question Boy" Garofoli's tongue-twister skills? He will demonstrate! Yep, it's another content-free TVTM podcast. But it has a new theme.
It's the "Thursday" 'cast, which means no TV-related news. We do, however, have Benny/Manny/Knobby/Chocoknobs again as a Very Special Guest, as well as several phone calls from our Very Special Listeners, and Dave/707 sends in a hilarious public service announcement that was so good it deserves to be heard twice. More, please!
Tim Goodman's staycation is over, and the TVTM returns with a Very Special Podcast and Benny/Manny/Knobby/Chocoknobs as a Very Special Guest. In TV-related news, Tim has a few words to say about "Hung" and "Nurse Jackie." We also talk about all the recent celebrity deaths, Walter Cronkite and Wilco. Porno Putin makes an appearance.
The one that goes sideways, corrects itself, then bursts into flames. We've got nothing.
No TV-related news on the Thursday 'cast, due to the lack of air in the podcave.
Tim "Oh Great One" Goodman, Joe "Question Boy" Garofoli and Justin "Don't Call Me Jason" Beck return after a brief hiatus, bringing with them a near-total lack of news and information about television. What you do get in today's installment: an anecdote about an uptight fan at a recent Decemberists show, plenty of Jay Leno mockery, and a brand-new character: Therapist Walton.
Lots of letters. A smattering of calls. A bit of news. A TON of stupidity. You get Porno Harry Caray and a podcast that's constantly being interrupted by Question Boy's buzzing balls. We got the balance right again.
Hey, we made it. Sunny day real estate! Less fires to put out on the 2nd floor. Whee. OK, so like it or not, Question Boy (Joe Garofoli, Chronicle politics writer), Adjustin' (Justin Beck), Manny (Benny Evangelista) and Your Cultural Commissar, all survived and we'll continue to put out as much aural rambling and pointlessness as anyone could stand. In the TV-related news segment of today's podcast, Tim vaguely mentions something about the networks' plan for the fall season. In the non-TV-related news segment of today's podcast, Tim specifically points out that his balls hurt. Yea for us. Beware to you. "Brutal."
First he dumps us via e-mail and now he guest hosts two podcasts in a row? Oh, Benny (aka Manny aka Knobby aka Chocoknobs), why must you tease us like this? Other noteworthy moments in an otherwise noteworthyless podcast: Andrew from Ireland calls in and performs Irish Walton and Irish Taldar; French Walton also makes an appearance. And if you're looking for TV-related news, you've tuned in to the wrong podcast.
Yes, this podcast includes more chances to throw Manny (Benny Evangelista) "under the bus." It also contains faux outrage about international incidents. Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) does what he's supposed to do, we guess (isn't it about time for another Question Girl?). Adjustin (Justin Beck) mans the knobs with aplomb for someone who just couldn't care less. And we fortify the podcave against the sounds of reconnaissance units, incoming explosives and rescue dogs.
Yes, this podcast includes more chances to throw Manny (Benny Evangelista) "under the bus." It also contains faux outrage about international incidents. Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) does what he's supposed to do, we guess (isn't it about time for another Question Girl?). Adjustin (Justin Beck) mans the knobs with aplomb for someone who just couldn't care less. And we fortify the podcave against the sounds of reconnaissance units, incoming explosives and rescue dogs.
Oh yes we did. Hell, we've already got a new theme song (thanks, Jason!) that takes out the 2009 and adds AdJustin (Justin Beck, no longer Super Sub but a full-time member) to the titles. And then while Question Boy (Joe Garofoli, Chronicle media and political writer) and Yours Truly laugh ourselves silly over all kinds of things (Xanax, Percocet, Bill Walton, Peter Krause, "show me your two!," fear, wrong names, etc.), we finally come to the moment of sad (and bitter) truth: Benny Evangelista dumped us via e-mail! Oh yes he did! By the way, Benny had no idea we were going to pound the living crap out of him and, much to our continued laughing, he heard it while riding BART to work this morning. Anyway, we had a grand old time on this Tuesday 'cast. "Enjoy." Things get exponentially more silly and pointless on Thursday.
We didn't expect him. But we'd heard a rumor he was in the building on his first day back at the Chronicle, post heart attack. Sure enough, in the middle of our 'cast, Beloved Benny Evangelista, the Podfather, showed up, stepped in and shared some time with us. Before he arrived, well, it was hella goofy. Juan Antonio Samaranch had turned into Porno Count. That kind of thing. I had the summer shorty robe on. Harry Caray and a whole bunch of people showed up. But it was Benny who made our podcast and arrived (almost like we planned it, but obviously we could never be that prepared) right when we were about to play an MP3 from a Benny fan. Exceptional timing, Knobs. It was a fun time for your Cultural Commissar and QB (Joe Garofoli) and Benny's Super Sub Producer Adjustin' the Knobs (Justin Beck). It's wonderful to have Mista Evangelista back, but the downside is the paper may be putting him back to work, as in actual work, and he may not have the time to be our producer anymore. Tickets on sale now for the farewell tour. We're hoping Justin can do it. Hell, we're hoping that we can do it. Until we find out more, we keep making the 'casts. Because we know there's a need for an informative TV podcast in the world. It's not what we do, obviously, but we know there's a need for it. In the meantime, there's always the TVTM. "Enjoy."
After a week off (well, not off, we were actually doing our other job), the Triumphant Trifecta QB (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) and Super Sub Adjustin the Knobs (Justin Beck) and your Cultural Commissar. truly, are back reading tons of e-mails and a couple of calls. We missed you. Welcome back. And by the way, as we recorded the Thursday 'cast, we got a visit from a surprise guest right in the middle of it. It's pretty special. You can probably guess who. Don't miss it.
It starts out like a car careening around a mountain road driven by a cat named Toonces, and it ends, many letters and calls and impersonations later, in a ditch. Just how we like it. We have now scientifically traced the lack of oxygen in the podcave to an increased level of giggling and nonsense in the Thursday installment of the podcast. Oh, The Count. How we love you. By the way, there's a chance we'll only have one, possibly even none of these aural works of art for you enjoyment next week. Question Boy (Chronicle media and political writer Joe Garofoli) has family in town and we have no idea if super sub producer Justin Beck even cares about doing another one or two. In this installment, he really has to work the bleep button thanks in large part to Todd in the 212 who wonders over and over again why the word (bleep) gets bleeped while the word (bleep) doesn't get bleeped out? Justin, who we call Jason, explains the reason and then, well, forgets to bleep one of them. Todd, our 100th TVTM Facebook fan, cautions me about appearing on "Fighting Talk" our favorite other podcast/radio show: "If you go on there Goodman, you'll get slaughtered." By the way: Latin America is in the books! We got a call from Mexico thanks Charles!
Amber adds value to an otherwise value-free podcast
And now, Thursday's podcast a day early! That's very unlike us. But with a dearth of calls, we opted for lots of letters and when those ran out we just did a bunch of stupid voices. Now, that's very like us. Included is QB's take on The Count from "Sesame Street," who sounds suscpiciously like like Vladimir Putin. And once you get The Count, you know what follows. See, we give the people what they want, even when it's clear they don't want it. "Enjoy."
It's Tuesday's podcast a day late (and several phone calls short). But hey, our very own Tin Man, Benny Evangelista (aka Manny) checks in with an MP3 and doles out thank yous for all the support he's received. (Not from me, of course, or Question Boy aka Joe Garofoli we've mostly just made fun of him. But we're not hurt by his love for everyone else we think he's milking this heart attack thing for either sympathy from Cougars or enough free time to catalog his marching band music collection on iTunes). And hey, we get to a lot of letters. Some of them were even answered.
Most of you got this last week via iTunes or when super sub Justin put it up on the podcast page at SFGate.com. But when I was partaking in a very busy week, I pulled away from the curb and left this little guy sitting by his lonesome. Ah, cute little Thursday 'cast. Don't worry about it a little therapy goes a long way. Calls, MP3s, letters, inanities. You know the drill.
Oh, heck yes we have calls. And MP3s. We complained about the lack of them, and voila they arrived. Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) details why Benny is out (we think he listened to an entire podcast for the first time, THEN had the heart attack) and the recent appearance of Voice of America in the podcave. Benny, by the way, told super sub producer Justin Beck where the MP3s were hiding. So we air those. Lots of stuff to air. Plus: Dark heart cackles. A child calls no, not the butt call from court and we think the little tyke threatened us. In related youth news, "the kids love Justin's potty mouth." Also, Justin's Corner taps into the slacker market: "I've just quit caring." A letter from Prague! (Cue: Porno Putin.) Taldar calls and uses Wickedmachine to beat us down! Walter from Florida says he's grown "disturbingly fond of Porno Dick" and then stumps us with a question (I know, stunner). Worse, he prefaces the question by saying he probably should have just asked Amber. So maybe we'll Ask Amber next time. Andrew calls from Ireland and then calls for TVTM's first gay Question Boy! It's a quick, "compelling" podcast with surprising turns and tons of "quality," so don't miss it.
Justin finds all the messages people left for Benny (better late than never!) and we have a record amount of MP3s.
After acknowledging that producer Benny Evangelista had a heart attack recently but is recovering nicely and should return sometime soon to man the knobs we get back to business at the TVTM. And that business is to give the people nothing. ("And loving it!") We actually do have stuff to talk about. The Voice of America was filming and recording Question Boy (Chronicle media and political writer Joe Garofoli) for a story about what journalists are doing in new media areas to enhance their positions. So I guess his being Porno Putin and Bill Walton makes him the poster boy for how NOT to branch out. We have a lot of TV and non-TV news, including how Nickelodeon is trying to get ahead of the New Dora controversy by sending out a statement about how she's "age appropriate" and that she has not, as we've said, grown into a hootchie skank. Taking this one step further (of course) we imagine how "Maisy" grows into a more adult oriented series, where Charlie ends up on "Bars." Later we have a HUGE announcement about "Benny's Corner." Here's a hint: TVTM management has decided to shift "Justin's Corner" (that's super-sub producer Justin Beck, who's propensity to swear really resonates with the young crowd) to one of our other properties, like MTV or the CW. Something good is going to come out of Benny's ticker problems and that something is, well, enormous profits for the TVTM corporation. In addition, some of the people on our TVTM Facebook page discuss what Benny's show should be about. And hey, we found BobMac's "lost" MP3 message, where he "re-edits" our reading of his script for "Bars," adding a laugh track. Yes, he's turned "Bars" into a sitcom instead a bleak documentary. He even lays in a bit of our unofficial theme song, "Mission Rock Resort" from Mark Eitzel of American Music Club. The script doesn't make much more sense to us with a laugh track. But hey, as Eitzel says, "Nothing changes. Not ever."
It's uncharacteristic of us to ever turn serious in regard to the TV Talk Machine, but we thought it was time to tell you the good news about some recent bad news. On March 4, our friend, colleague and producer, Benny Evangelista, had a heart attack. He's now out of the hospital and well on his way to recovery, but we thought you should know -- with Benny's blessing -- why he's been absent and could be for a couple of more weeks or until he's feeling good enough to come back to work. By all accounts, Benny got really lucky and caught some breaks (we'll spare you the details, but Benny says that if you're feeling chest pains, even some you might not think are related to a heart attack, take action right away...We think Benny's love of "Scrubs" contributed to him being drawn to a hospital and the early arrival did more than you could ever know). We're happy to report that Benny, aka Manny, aka Chocoknobs, is feeing much better. Enough so that he confirms that all those missing MP3s and such are in a special place and he'll try to get them to Justin Beck, our super-sub producer, when he can. Also, Joe Garofoli -- aka Question Boy -- and I would like fans of the twisted humor of the TVTM to rest assured that once we found out Benny was going to make it, we took the opportunity to make fun of him. When Justin and Marcus Chan set up a digital recorder so that people at the Chronicle could wish Benny well when he was in the ICU, Joe and I recorded a message that started, "Well, we hope you're laying down for this....It's going to be 47 minutes." We told him that "faking" a heart attack was the sleaziest stunt we'd ever seen to bring back "Benny's Corner." And we told him that the "Save Benny's Corner" fan page on Facebook had been changed to a more simple "Save Benny." We also promised a lingering, inappropriate hug in his hospital shorty robe. In all seriousness, we'll definitely welcome back our essential podcast partner with a warm embrace when he's ready. In the meantime, grant us -- and Justin -- a little slack if we came up a little short in the two podcasts this week. Also, you may have noticed that we cooled it on the plans to have a big TV Talk Machine beer bash at the 21st Amendment in San Francisco. Just when we were ready to drink, Benny had to go and ruin it by nearly dying (yep, they had to use the paddles on him.) But never fear, when the time is right, we can now turn it into a Welcome Back Benny/TVTM Birthday bash and the fine folks at the 21st Amendment have generously agreed to let our extended family of listeners come in, perhaps even to our own area, and fill the place with bad Bill Walton impressions.
There's a machine that records our voices. We borrowed Justin Beck to turn it on. Question Boy (Chronicle media and political writer Joe Garofoli) spoke into one microphone. I spoke into the other. When it was over, this is what happened.
Here's the promised podcast interview with Mitch Hurwitz and Will Arnett. Hurwitz is the creator of "Arrested Development" and Fox's upcoming animated series "Sit Down, Shut Up" airing in April. Hurwitz also has a plethora of pilots that could be picked up this season including a remake of "Absolutely Fabulous." He has a lot of insight into the creative process and how things get done in the TV industry -- much of it funny after the fact (keep an ear out for his reference to "Dollhouse"). And yes, he talks about the "AD" movie. Fans of the comedic call-back (which "AD" was masterful at) take note: Hurwitz says there are still jokes and references they planted in the series that they want to revisit in the movie. As for Arnett, he was not only in "Arrested Development" but then succeeded in a variety of small roles on the big screen and a brilliant recurring cameo in "30 Rock." He's got a voice role in "Sit Down, Shut Up," plus a holding deal at Fox (possibly for a show that Hurwitz may helm). In the meantime, he showed up here and, well, listen to what happens.
Jason provides a new theme song. The man is tireless. "And loving it!" And yes, we have a normal (wait, "normal") assortment of stupidity, nonsense, non-answers, calls, e-mails, MP3s and a four page script for "Bars" sent in by BobMac from the 707, which we read cold (and badly, but at least with some awareness that we're bad, which might be funny). Also: "You've gotta be cruel to be kind." Wickedmachine beats us down and makes us kill a bunch of our bad segments. Precision anger. All told, we're actually pretty pleased with this podcast, even if it was temporarily forgotten. "Enjoy."
Well, on the day we get to post the 100th episode of our TV Talk Machine podcast, we now have to expedite the plans for that party. Given the news regarding The Chronicle today, it would be nice to be around for Ep. 200 -- or Ep. 103, for that matter. So, yes, we're going to hoist some beers (and relatively quickly) to celebrate our 2nd Birthday and 100th episode and maybe for some good luck cheers as we attempt to stay alive in the ever churning world of journalism. But let's stay positive here: We've got a special 100th episode theme from Jason (and even a 101st theme too!), a lot of congratulatory calls and letters, plus Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) brings out a new voice pretty early on. It's a familiar one if you watched the Oscars. Manny (Benny Evangelista) lets us bloat this podcast up because "it's special" and we try to make the most of it. We talk about the Oscars, about going to the 21st Amendment for some brews, a call from Taldar, and best yet, Peter Hartlaub's Cousin's cousin -- aka Peter Hartlaub -- got called out by an old friend of his on OUR TV Talk Machine Facebook page, saying that at one point in high school Peter performed a rap. We called Peter to ask if this was actually true. And he rapped for us. Seriously. And he used the words "Ford Pinto" in the rap. We consider that his gift to us on our 100th episode -- and it's his first official appearance, which puts him 97 behind his cousin, Laura Jean. Regulars like George D. calls in with good wishes and Hanna from Sweden not only wrote in but she sent a picture of herself holding up the TVTM logo while standing in the snow! We appreciate the support. We'll keep cranking them out until, well, until we're no longer allowed in the building.
Thanks to QB for dreaming up both a Maxwell Smart voice and also Vladimir Putin and Porno Putin. ("I am going to go to Black Sea resort and pick up whores!") Question Boy gets put on the spot immediately and rallies, even if he confuses William Shatner with my David Brinkley. He does come up with Generic Latin Suave Man. (It's a start...). "That's going to need some shower time." Our 99th episode is ripe with stupidity. And we do mean ripe. The onus has fallen on me to do something special for our 100th episode (translation: not bloody likely). We're hoping to do something at the 21st Amendment in San Francisco. Jason has promised a special theme song. But we'd like to caution -- as if you need to be told -- that this may not unfold in a timely manner. Give us a little room to move and scheme and we'll get something done. If all else fails, we'll shelve the 'cast and invite everybody for a mid-day beer. Raise your hand if you can make a mid-day beer! Alright then. Enjoy the podcast. Whoops -- "enjoy."
Well, this is a first: We actually remembered our birthday before it happened. Normally it's a couple of months too late. And in all honesty, Manny (Benny Evangelista) remembered. (Of course, he came upon the anniversary date while preparing to tell us he wouldn't get the second of this week's podcasts up until the weekend...but still....). Happy 2nd Birthday, TVTM! Honestly, we had no idea we'd make it to the second podcast much less our second year. And next Monday is our 100th podcast. The only thing we can garner from all of this is: You people are crazy. And we love your crazy love for us. For two years we've given you essentially nothing but pointless rambling with the occasional snippet of actual TV news tossed in. Oh, sure, we've given the world -- and we do have an international audience -- a taste of Bill Walton. Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) has also given the podcasting world an assortment of badly done impressions. We've sworn a lot. We've worn incredibly inappropriate shorty robes. We've turned "Dora the Explorer" into a gun-toting hootchie skank. We've learned a lot about area codes. And we've broken every rule of making short, understandable and informative podcasts. But we really haven't provided much else. So, as unbelievable as this seems to the three of us here at TVTM, we thank you sincerely for indulging us.
The hardest working people in podcasting are back at it. And we waste little time in getting right at it. What "it" eventually is, we do not know. But we know this much: "It" is not entertaining. Bob sends in a picture of him in his shorty robe and it's very short. "Bob's getting it done" we agree. Except for maybe the white socks. He's our third listener to send in a picture of where he listens to the TVTM, complete with a blown up version of the TVTM logo. Bob also honors -- wait, "honors" -- Yours Truly with a smattering of "Timmay!" impressions from South Park. We've lost track of the TVTM Dreamer, because we thought it was Emily. It's not. How could we lose track of this information? Easy: Manny! (Benny Evangelista) probably lost it. You know, he's getting a leeeetle too big for his own good. The rising tide of "Save Benny's Corner" appears to be waning, thankfully, and this week we were even too busy to visit the "What's Benny Been Up To?" segment, though we're pretty sure the answer was "working, pretty much." In fact, this Thursday podcast is so chock full of stuff, and we already had Amber from Canada on the Tuesday cast, that we fell away from talking about what we've been listening to (a lot of Lloyd Cole still -- the man is a genius, by the way) and what we've been reading (the newly redesigned San Francisco Chronicle, of course). We're sure this temporary deviation from form made one person happy. Hi Wickedmachine! Speaking of dreamers, we get another one! It's Elizabeth. She even provides a sketch. We also get Walton saying, "Where's the faith in our man parts?" We also have a potential band name: Luscious Mullets. Seriously, it will make sense. If not, then surely my faux make-out session with QB (Chronicle media and political writer Joe Garofoli) will make complete sense. Or when we sing "White Riot" by the Clash. Maybe nothing in this podcast makes sense. I mean, Walton sings "The Map Song" for Dora and then Dora kills Walton. We blame Noah from the 703 for all of that. Hanna from Sweden (with her Irish accent, which we love so much) sends in an MP3 and runs down all "The Wire" actors getting work on TV. She gives us a chart about our TV Talk Machine Facebook page, tracking our friends. Her conclusion: "We need more girls." And then we talk about the awesome mugs she sent (visible on the Facebook page) that are just fantastic. We love gifts! Thanks to Ian who made us laugh by being "from The Kong" and then setting us up for "No Sleep Till Brooklyn." Ian's knowledge of the TVTM is stunning, for he also name-checks Marcus Chan, aka Moreworkus Chan, who oversees the Chronicle's multimedia efforts and is the man responsible for making Benny work so hard. His only misstep was asking why Benny doesn't do more voices. Look, we need Benny to focus. And stop doing research! Katie from the 518 proves immediately that she can take both Manny AND QB's job, which we offer her on the spot. Katie admits that she's been using "Brutal!" in her home life, much to the mystification of her husband. Katie -- welcome to our world. The spouses never seem to think Walton and Gore et al are that funny. And by the way, are you interested in "Katie's Corner"? Benny loses another call and is called out about it! He's losing things, people. We really need to dump him. Lastly -- but not really lastly -- Megan from the 707 makes a theme song for Taldar. It's very "Metal Machine Music" from Lou Reed. But it didn't clear out the podcave. Nope, it made QB laugh. And you know how much he loves to do his Taldar voice. So he gets into that a lot. Then Al Gore.
We are joined here by Amber from Canada, continuing our brilliant rush of getting things done in 2009. Our efficiency is off the charts. Although at a later point, someone tells us we're doing too many podcasts and we need to cut back. That didn't hurt our feelings at all. We cover a lot of ground in the two podcasts this week. In addition to Amber, we talk about Hanna from Sweden who -- above and beyond the call of duty -- sent three mugs down to the podcave. One for me, one for Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) and one for Manny/Chocoknobs/Post-production Master (Benny Evangelista). They are fabulous and creative and available to view on our TV Talk Machine Facebook page. When we talk with Amber, I learn who Tim Horton is. I then learn all the things about Canada I don't know, which is everything. Amber lies and says she got through almost a full podcast of ours, which we know is not true. We talk a bit about "Dollhouse" and she appears to be disappointed by it as well. In other Amber news: "That just doesn't feel right in my ear." She takes a stab at a couple of outsourced questions, both of which involve Canada, our friends to the north. It's north, right? We also had the creator of our Facebook page, Liam from the 617, send an MP3 to us and he proposes a "podcast crossover" with Mick LaSalle. He also proposed QB do Angry Walton and Drunk Walton. This prompts QB to apologize for making a Walton mistake. Which prompts Manny to apologize about something he messed up as well. Me? Nothing to apologize for, as usual. Well, actually, I should probably apologize yet again to Mrs. CrankyPants for flirting with Amber. Again. Lastly, no marching band music was used in the creation of this podcast.
It's the Chaser Edition! "A podcast about television." But what will you get in it? Um, face punching, Question Boy (Chronicle media and political writer Joe Garofoli) brings up some interesting new voices. I ate the rest of Megan's cookies and Manny (Benny Evangelista) is stunned by that news -- since he never got any of them. He's less stunned that "Benny's Corner" has been canceled. (There is, however, a "Save Benny's Corner" campaign on our Facebook page...which we really do love -- the people and the photos, not the "Save Benny's Corner" campaign...Thanks for everyone who has joined as fans. Now start leaving us some questions on the page or starting a dialog...A dialog that doesn't include a campaign to save "Benny's Corner."). This podcast is noteworthy (never thought we'd write that) because we taped it late in the afternoon and we were both tired and punchy and then we got a little loopy and a lot stupid and we ended up very proud of this effort. It's just the right mix of pointless and stupid -- which is hard to do. Let's put it this way -- we somehow placed Dora on the field during the famous Cal-Stanford game. Later, we empower her -- Le Femme Dora! -- and she gets a gun. And uses it. In addition: We propose a "podcasting camp" as a scam for cash and beer. We have a vision of Benny running while carrying a tuba. (Don't ask.) We read a question from our Facebook page. We talk about "Yo Gabba Gabba" and "Pancake Mountain." Calls come from Oregon and "the Houston area" -- but nothing from Australia or Latin America -- and then we discover that Bill Walton doesn't even sound like Bill Walton as he promotes a new contest to look or sound like him. Helium? Fraud? "That's not the Goose!" says QB. None of it makes sense. But does it ever? And it ends very strangely.
Unfortunately this podcast starts with a certain someone celebrating a certain Super Bowl victory which he rubs in another certain someone's face. We try to offset that -- thanks George D! -- by bringing back some great radio calls from the glory days of Your San Francisco 49ers! Elsewhere: News from television poorly told. Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) unveils a special voice. TV Talk Machine on Facebook continues to blow up (we're now taking questions via the Facebook page). Manny, (Benny Evangelista) who was given an Obamicon labeled "Knobs" by a reader, let's us know his doings as "What's Benny Been Doing?" returns. Not a lot happening there. "Benny's Corner" has been canceled (it's hard to support a spin-off show). He continues his odd fascination with marching bands. Music talk (Vampire Weekend, more Lloyd Cole, Fleet Foxes, Scud Mountain Boys, Pernice Brothers); book talk (A.J. Jacobs' "The Year of Living Biblically"), etc. Also: Australia doesn't like Joe's impersonation (and neither do we) but our In Praise of Australian Women failed to garner even a single call from Down Under. We're waiting. There was a plea to get Amber from Canada back in the mix (which requires planning; we discuss that we don't know how to plan). And yet, I've come up with a great answer for everything: "It wouldn't surprise me." Bonuses include: Taldar strikes back! He also sends in an MP3, kills marching band music, joins our Facebook page and is our second person to indicate where he listens to TVTM by sending in a photo of our logo blown up and in focus! Well played young man.
I think we're going to start calling this The Chaser Edition, since the Tuesday edition pretty much takes care of all the news of the week, like TV stuff and music and books and What's Benny Been Doing? etc. We might even be able to call this particular podcast "efficient" and almost "fast-paced." Well, no. Probably not. We kick it off with a letter from Australia. Aussies in the house! (Teacher Tim, the Official TVTM Archivist, will have to correct us on whether this is the first Australian letter/call. For now, we are putting a push pin in the continent. Hello Down Under!). But Richey from Australia (unclear on the area code) takes us to task for calling the Aussies "bullies" as we referenced the Australia/New Zealand fued on "Flight of the Conchords." We can't remember calling them bullies because, let's not kid ourselves, Aussies are like hockey players -- not the kind of people you want to get in a brawl with. This is one of my theories on why fighting after grade school is dangerous. Nature tells us how to avoid huge, angry-looking people. It doesn't give us that same warning about hockey players and Aussies, who look like you and me -- except that they will beat you into next Tuesday. So we doubt we inferred that, but Richey pointed it out. No doubt next week he'll take more offense because Question Boy (Chronicle media and politics writer Joe Garofoli) does the worst Australian accent ever. No, really, ever. Luckily, he does bring back the Existential French Woman and also, unfortunately, Porno Dick: "I'm always here -- in the shadows." We make up for all this by having an In Praise of Australian Women moment. Or four. We also have a great idea from Anne from the 415, who suggests listeners from around the world do what she did, which is blow up the TVTM cartoon logo, then take a picture with it wherever you might be listening to all of our nonsense -- supermarket, car, etc. and send it in for our now burgeoning wall. She took hers in front of God's own creation -- Giants ballpark, and right next to McCovey Cove, which we frequently mention here. Benny has already put Anne's picture up on the TVTM Facebook page. Speaking of which, we love the pix of everybody. Tim from Monterey wonders if flying over Greenland qualifies as good enough to put a push pin on the map. At the mention of Greenland, Al Gore shows up. The podcast then disintegrates (even further) as we do a whole "Dora" bit where she's a tattoo-laden drunkard. Something like that. And we close with a "butt call." We also reveal that QB has "a JV bladder." That's "junior varsity" if you don't live in this country. And once again, Benny's newfound love of marching band music leads into...a surprise call-back concerning Sunday's Super Bowl. Go Cardinals!.
I think we say in this TVTM that we have 36 Facebook friends as of Monday's taping. Last Joe checked the TV Talk Machine fan page on Tuesday, it was 54 or something. Apparently it's no longer embarrassing to be our friends. Good news. Elsewhere in the podcast, we make good on our promise to make Manny (Benny Evangelista) a pop culture icon by creating a "What's Benny Been Doing?" segment and boy, is it thrilling. Hey, Balzac returns! Plus: Existential French Woman, a new voice from Question Boy (Chronicle politics and media writer Joe Garofoli). We also discuss "Trust Me" on TNT. I like it. We talk about music -- The Wild Swans and Lloyd Cole from me (hey kids, nostalgia from music critics is fun!) -- Joe adds some West African music and Benny...well, Benny is now into marching bands. Let's discuss. Oh, hey, we talk about books, too. Except that Joe and I didn't read anything. But Benny did. We're not sure he paid for it though. E-mails. Calls. And we got an MP3 from Mars! And it makes Question Boy cry for totally unpredictable (well, predictable if you know him) reasons. The MP3 actually came from Salt Lake City. But QB, being childish, riffs on someone's name and he's off to the races. Also: Stupidity. It's all here and we're on a bleeping roll! Enjoy. Whoops: "Enjoy."
"What has Benny been up to?" We think this might be a great new segment for us. Benny is also on Facebook. Of course I mocked this on Tuesday, but on this day we're just looking to get Benny some love. Also, Benny found out that someone started a TV Talk Machine fan site on Facebook and we had, like, six people who loved us. Of course, we find this painfully funny. Later the number "jumped" to 10. And now it looks like we're going to have to consider defriending some folks. We're too popular now. On the other hand, where's the international Facebook love for the TVTM? It's so sad. Oh, we also might have another segment called "Benny's Corner," set in a bar. Because we do a bit about Benny in our reality series, "Bars." This podcast becomes an homage to Manny in many ways. In any case, here's our second installment of the week. We've got Walton, plus a tiny, bad version of French Walton, we've got Al Gore, AC/DC, we talk a bit about "Big Love," we get a great MP3 from France! No, psych! It's actually a great question about French shows making it to American television sent in from Megan from the 707. We were completely mesmerized by her voice and French accent and she's invited to the podcast/podcave any time she wants. Plus, she bakes! She's even proposed a "bake off" with Sheri from the Vale, which would probably collapse the podcave in some manner. We also got a fantastic letter and map from Charles in the 915. (See below.) We will add that to our podcast wall.
New president, new TV Talk Machine podcast. Coincidence? Yes! Just thought we'd ride the inaugural coat-tails there a bit...Not only do we have a new president -- welcome Barack Obama -- we have a new theme song for 2009! It's totally awesome and inspiring! Thanks Jason, you're the best. (And sorry for badgering you and shaming you into doing it...but we love it.) While we're still recovering from Hurricane Sheri, we have quite a few interesting twists this week. First, Question Boy sings. I know that's not news. But it's a newsworthy song. We cover a lot of topics, not all of them quickly. We discuss actual television news ("Battlestar Galactica," "Big Love," "Flight of the Conchords," "Secret Diary of A Call Girl," "United States of Tara" etc.). By the way, Question Boy (Chronicle politics and media writer Joe Garofoli) reveals that Porno Dick is one of his "alters." Later, Manny (Benny Evangelista) reveals that he's been working too hard to really have a life that involves reading or listening to music (two topics we discuss). You might think this revelation would induce sympathy from us, but instead we laugh and mock him. And we're planning a new segment -- possibly two -- just to find out what Manny is doing in is life. We even talk about shows that debut this week, including "Lie to Me" with Tim Roth and "Lost." It's probably our most chock-full-of-TV podcast EVER. We apologize in advance. We talk about Facebook, too. Benny and Joe are on Facebook. I am not. A discussion ensues. Then letters, calls, random pointlessness -- the usual. (Except we found out that Dora was stuck in the podcave. Who knew?) Also: I talk about how I've helped our new president pick television series -- you know, cutting out the clutter for him so he can stay focused on the country but also have some entertainment in his life. Anything to help. Our motto. (Along with, "lower your expectations.")
Question Girl Sheri from the Vale returns for part two, we get an e-mail from South Africa (hello South America, you are on the clock); and Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) continues his unfortunate impersonation of Porno Dick Nixon. Dave from the 707 gives us a professionally constructed MP3 that includes snippets of Colin Murray's "Fighting Talk" -- Dave suggests we could change our name to TVFTM (TV Fighting Talk Machine). But we could never match the coolness and the well-produced hipness of Colin's show. That much should be obvious upon listening. We also get a lot of new area codes this time around, including Andrea from Connecticut who always calls us from the car, and a tricky new area code that Manny (Benny Evangelista) figures out immediately.
Sheri from the Vale, one of our Question Girl "winners," showed up for two podcasts this week. This one really needs to be heard to be believed. As does the next one. Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) got along splendidly with his alleged QG rival. Almost too well, as you'll hear. And he busted out another voice. Which I wish he wouldn't have, because it's skeevy... But I was over-ruled. Manny (Benny Evangelista) forgot his shorty robe and was instead dipped in chocolate. I think that pretty much sets the tone. All told, the two podcast this week are packed with great calls, letters, an MP3 and our first e-mail from South Africa. Another continent for the TVTM empire!
We did our part. We rambled forever. We took calls and read e-mails and did dumb stuff. That's what we do. That's our ART, man. So here it is. With one strange caveat. I think we forgot to do Walton. Seriously.
The holiday songs have been sung, the presents unwrapped (thanks, Santa, for the velveteen shorty robe) and we have said goodbye to 2008 (velveteen shorty robe a HUGE hit at the party). Vacation, holidays, sick days -- all over. Time to work in the new year. So here it is, our very first TVTM podcast of 2009. In a surprising twist, we actually have some TV related content here. Lots of it, actually. And by the time our second TVTM goes up on Thursday (or whenever -- some things never change) we will have effectively bridged the gap between lost letters and forgotten calls of 2008 and the timely reading and playing of same in 2009. In short, we were efficient and productive. Which brings us (us being Yours Truly, Question Boy and Manny) to the root of the issue in this first podcast: Should we make some changes, add some elements, spruce it up a bit? Maybe some regular features, some more technical wizardry, a touch of info? Let us know. We got one caller already who said don't change anything, just make it appear on time. To that, we say "done." Enjoy. Or, "enjoy."
So, yeah, we were off for about a month. Vacations. Being sick. "Manny being Manny." But we got the Three Wise Men back in the studio (insert uproarious laughter right here) and went to work on bringing the TV Talk Machine podcast back to life for two versions this week. Question Boy (aka Joe Garofoli, Chronicle media writer) and Manny (aka Benny Evangelista, former savior to the Business Departement and "Tech Talk" guru) join me in the studio as we craft a real piece of work. Or piece of something. It's a pre-Christmas, end of 2008, feel-good chat-fest. We answer mail from November. We air calls. We wear Santa shorty robes. We drop the lengthy lead-in trying to explain what we're doing. And, without trying (because we never try) a theme develops: Worldwide Walton. French Walton. Irish Walton. Martinez French Walton. Canadian French Walton. Santa Walton. And yes, we even have a picture of the Big Man for all the people in the world who don't know who Bill Walton is, what he looks like or why we keep doing really bad impressions of him. It's a festive podcast! Joy to the world!
Yeah, it's late. Whatever. Benny apparently finished his basement work (at the Chronicle, not at Chez Manny), sometime on Sunday, but it's not like I'm home frantically checking for his updates. And yet, here it is, in all of its glory. And yes, it's oozing glory. See the info in Part 1 to give you a pretty good idea of what's going to happen here. Since we're so late in this week's double-dose, we're going to skip a week to try to get back on track. It will allow me to catch up on all the shows I'm now dreadfully and frantically behind on. It will allow Question Boy to do whatever it is he does. And it will allow Benny to toil in the basement for Moreworkus Chan a week longer.
We cold call Daniel in Toronto and make him answer a very hard question. Then we accuse him of flirting with J.J. Abrams. It's very complicated. And very flirty. And we call him on the usurping Amber thing. And we make another hockey reference (That's pretty much the extent of our Canadian understanding, outside of the beer.) Daniel does a fine job. At some point, we answer questions. Mostly accurately. And take calls.
I provide an explanation, nearly two years too late, about what we do and what you're listening to (hey, we're adding lots of new listeners who have no idea what they're getting into or hearing). After that, we get to a string of letters, accusations, suggestiveness, poorly executed singing and random vocal mannerisms (translation: our usual stuff). I then read a letter that suggests I've been flirting with Amber from Canada (aka Ask Amber). Duh. Of course. But the e-mailer wonders what Mrs. Cranky Pants thinks of this. I respond that we flirt with pretty much everyone. And we have, since the very first podcast. I then flirt with Benny. And in giving my elaborate reasoning for ongoing flirting, I reference a Graham Parker song called "Just Like Herman Hesse," where the chorus is, "You chose the spirit/And I chose the flesh/Just like Herman Hesse." Great song. Great, forgotten singer-songwriter. Then a fellow Canadian -- from www.tvaddict.com -- calls out Amber. He wants to be the new go-to question answer person when we outsource our questions. That's not nice, Daniel, trying to check Amber into the boards! We thought you Canadians played nice? We then flirt with Daniel.
Calls and letters from around the globe. A song for Joe. Our man in France resurfaces -- and his name is Jerry. And we all totally lose it in the podcave when Joe does his French Walton. Maybe there really was some kind of genius in not telling people outside of America who Bill Walton really was, because not knowing allowed them to do their own versions. A man for all seasons, all countries. But now, none better than French Walton.
Take the TVTM to the polls with you! Help kill the time -- "and any intellectual curiosity you might have." So sayeth Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) who helped bang out this podcast before donning his Election Shorty Robe (with bunting!)and jumping on a plane to cover the election. Good for him. It's handy to remember he's actually a journalist, not just a guy who does really lousy voices on this podcast. (Though, I must say with glowing praise that on the very next podcast -- Thursday -- Joe does Bill Walton in French and I haven't laughed that hard or that long in a really, really long time. Same goes for Manny -- Benny Evangelista -- who, I think, is still laughing.) Not that Thursday's podcast will be better than this one. Because in this very podcast we talk about tattoos, we call Amber in Canada (yes, that Amber -- she really does exist) and one of us in the podcave decides to get an Amber tattoo. At any rate, we do farm out a question to Canada, which either complies with NAFTA or assures that we have foreign friends in hard times. And then we take calls and e-mails from around the globe. And we continue to discuss Pliny the Elder. Somewhere in there, actual talk about television occurs. And then we all hug it out. Yes, even Angry Regis. Now, go vote. And bring us with you! Vote early and often for us! Then, on Thursday, whatever you do, don't miss French Walton. Gah!
First, a few minutes on drinking and throwing up. But then -- after a lovely musical interlude, we have a chat about "Mad Men." Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) is a huge fan of the series and, of course, I am as well. On this very Bastard Machine blog you can find three long and detailed entries that 1) Deconstruct Season 2 up until the finale 2) Deconstruct the finale and 3) discuss 10 mostly relevant questions about the show going forward. Then after that, we dumb it back down. But, we keep it positive. We remain upbeat. In fact, we come up with a new plan to help people enjoy the TVTM on their own terms. It involves us riding in your car. Or going shopping with us. Check it out. After that -- calls, letters. Hey, Barnz, dude -- did you call? Was that you? Elsewhere in the podcast: A sharing of laughs. Some talk about swivel-heads. Not a lot of answers. Also, a zip code instead of an area code. Question Boy also laughs uproariously at a woman who called the wrong number. We also finally have an answer to one of our most asked questions: "When is 'The Riches' coming back?" In addition -- because this podcast is ALWAYS about "added value" -- we talk about the Bridge Concert and various musical acts (including Wilco -- my vote for the best American band). In between, there's a point in there about a blind date with Mrs. CrankyPants, some chit chat about Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley....Oh, wait! There's some more: We do some rambling. Our research indicates that people really love the rambling. Lastly, a reminder: I did this on my vacation. Who loves ya, baby?
A lonely nation turns its ears to the TVTM and we respond by filling those ears with nothing -- precisely the remedy that will get us through these tough times. After administrative machinations deprived the world of the TVTM, cooler heads have prevailed as international negotiators working around the clock in Geneva and also, simultaneously, in a small, secret space inside the United Nations, have reconciled who will "work the knobs" to end this crisis. That would be Manny, aka Benny Evangelista. Despite overwhelming protests from around the globe that Question Boy (aka Joe Garofoli) be dumped "for someone who can read" or, roughly translated from French newspaper accounts, "someone not so ridiculously insipid," QB has somehow held his job. He also got a golden parachute executive package that was apparently part of the $700 billion bailout package. We are back. We come to you unprepared but feeling positive. And positively giddy. Also positively Waltonish. That said, we recorded two podcasts for this week and then Manny said he was going to cut and splice the genius of the two in various ways, so we don't actually know what content is in either podcast. Ha. "Content." Just seeing if you were paying attention. Thank you for voting!
It's not a goodbye. We'll be back. And if for some reason we're not, we'll put up a long, teary-eyed post about it then, and wear shorty robes with black arm bands. Until then, we will not partake in emotion, nostalgia or even anger. We believe in radio without the listeners. We believe in offering almost nothing just as you expect nothing. Our 40+ minutes of new media stupidity will return. And hey, check out the current Macworld where we got a nice mention.
Is Girlina a show-killer? Ah, we kid. I told Girlina, who came all the way from New Orleans to be at our Bastard Machine/TVTM Birthday Bash hootenanny, that she was the Paula Marshall of Question Girls. Let's hope not. But as you may have noted on a previous post, this and Thursday's second half podcast may be our last TVTM for a while (possibly forever), since Benny Evangelista is being recalled to the Business department to help cover the cratering economy. If we are going out, we're going out with an actual effort! We read e-mails and field calls. Yes, calls! In both podcasts! Thanks to those people who stepped up after my morose, brooding, angry TVTM and decided to dial. Cheers! And as someone pointed out -- that someone being me -- we can't end the TVTM because we never got to adequately outsource our questions to Amber in Canada! We must right this wrong. And we will! In the meantime, you can always write to Amber. Her answer column comes out on Mondays, when we normally tape the TVTM. It's almost like we were there. Plus, she's a whole lot hotter than me or Question Boy or Manny. Plus, she'll probably get the answers right.
Not sure this will make much sense to anyone who wasn't there. I lived through it (barely) so I haven't even listened to it yet. But in the words of one attendee, it was "epic." We came to a movie theater in "the ELC," (the Cerrito Speakeasy -- thanks guys!), we saw (television shows, public displays of affection, boozing, the tossing of swag, etc.) and we recorded it for posterity. Or something. Here it is. Make of it what you will. Thanks to all who came for the beer and the pizza and the nonsense. There are pictures and YouTube videos in the comments strand of prior posts, so hunt those out. We're heading into the podcave for this week's version. More later.
Ah, it's a little case of "My Ever Changing Moods." Whatever. Hope you liked our PSA that opens this podcast. Here's the pertinent information for this Thursday's fabulous hootenanny -- aka, the late birthday party for The Bastard Machine and The TV Talk Machine Podcast. (And yes, we're going to show some new fall fare and some great stuff from the vault, plus play some music and perform a live podcast -- much less dark and prickly, promise -- with Joe Garofoli and Benny Evangelista). And yes, we'll be throwing DVD boxed sets of cool shows into dark night air. Keep your head on a swivel. Here's a link to some cool photos of the KFOG TV Party at the Cerrito Speakeasy shot by Bastard Machine reader Kent Bunn. (Thanks, Kent!). These should give a sense of the flavor of the night. Of course, on Thursday we'll all be in shorty robes and we'll probably hit the bar a little earlier. And yes, we'll be playing the winner of our new "Bars" theme song. It's about the only thing darker than this particular podcast!
Well, we take calls. We take e-mails. And we answer them. Period. That's what we do. Give the listeners what they come looking for. Thankfully, most of them come to the TV Talk Machine looking for and expecting nothing. And so we give them lots of that, too. The good news is that Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) atones for his complete and utter lack of worth in the last podcast with a sterling effort here. Well done, QB. Then again, it could be that as many as FOUR Question Girl candidates will show up at our Bastard Machine/TV Talk Machine Birthday Bash at the Cerrito Speakeasy on Sept. 25th. Perhaps he's feeling the heat. He needs to step up. Hell, Girlina is coming in from New Orleans. If Gustav couldn't stop her, then QB certainly won't.
In this TV Talk Machine podcast, coming in at a sterling, entertainment packed 36 minutes, we get Manny (Benny Evangelista) back "working the knobs." In many ways, we missed Super Producer Sub Justin Beck. You always love what you can not have. But anyway, let's not defer the major announcement: Our Sept. 25 hootenanny at the Cerrito Speakeasy will not be a benefit (because we couldn't get the technology necessary to draw in celebrity phone-in guests), so we've made the executive decision to make the whole thing free. Yes, free. That's 120 spacious seats with tables and couches and leg room where you can order pizza, pints of handcrafted beer and whatnot. "It's our gift back to the listeners," says I. "You'll definitely get what you pay for," replied Question Boy (Chronicle media writer and political blogger Joe Garofoli). In this podcast, I almost fire Question Boy for being lame. The only reason I didn't fire him is that I still couldn't get Vera H-C Chan to come in and be Question Girl. You'd think her bosses at Yahoo would give her a Monday off to get the company a little attention. Don't make me go scouring for Question Girls at Google, because I will. Also, I didn't fire QB because Amber from Canada is still, sadly, in Canada and unable to make it into the podcave. (Also, I forgot to send her our reader questions). So QB got a reprieve. But never mind what's coming up in this aggressively entertaining TVTM podcast, let's not "bury the lede" and forgot what we're all looking forward to on the 25th: 1. Free admission. 2. Couches with tables so you can put your PINT OF BEER and PIZZA down on them. 3. Free swag. 4. And lots of it -- DVD boxed sets, t-shirts, etc. 5. The worrisome thought that as you sip your beer, you might get hit in the gob by a "Heroes" DVD boxed set. 6. A LIVE podcast. Even though we can't get a phone line on the stage of the Cerrito Speakeasy (thus losing our ability to have celebrities call in -- or YOU call in, as a matter of fact), we're still going to do our podcast in front of 120 or so adoring fans. We will take their questions on a live microphone (QB roaming the aisles, etc....actually, we may have one or two Question Girls in attendance as well, and we'll put them to work). That should be fun because the more drunk people get, the more interesting the questions and answers will be. 7. We have decided that even though we can't get wi-fi on stage at the Cerrito Speakeasy, they DO have it out in the lobby, which just happens to be where the bar is. So I'm going to periodically go out there and have a pint of Anchor Steam and "live" blog our event for our International Listeners. 8. We are going to show new fall TV series (and no, not the same ones we previewed at the Sept. 11 KFOG TV Party). 9. We are going to have music. Yes, music. From my iTunes collection and featuring the winner of our "Bars" theme song. We are going to be in shorty robes. And we are going to shake our moneymakers. 10. What, you need a #10? Dude, it's free, we're going to be throwing free DVD boxed sets at your head and you can buy beer and pizza and actually bring it inside the theater? We're doing the podcast right in front of your eyes. We have tended our gardens. We will have Question Girls. We have live microphones. What part of "we're gonna rock your lame ass world" do you not understand? See you there.
More scintillating TVTM to prick up your ears. Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) says he has a "man crush" on Jon Hamm (aka Don Draper), proving yet again that we are fearless in our sexuality. We also fearlessly have no information. But then we get rolling and boy, is that a good time. We also pimp our next big hootenanny on Sept. 25, where we will be doing this podcast LIVE on stage (pause for tingles) at the Cerrito Speakeasy. Of course, we may have some technical issues -- like no phone line on stage. And the fact that for me to live blog the event I'd have to be in the lobby (but that's where the beer is!). We're trying to work around the phone issue (I put my cell speakerphone on and placed a microphone right next to it last night and got a bad feedback, plus it wasn't very clear, so we need a workaround). In this podcast, second in a week (!) I am mocked (no surprise there). Joe pimps his own podcast ("Under the Bus" -- which means I'm looking to replace him pretty quickly now with a Question Girl); we make more fun of Manny (aka Benny Evangelista) for being sick. We applaud Super Sub producer Justin Beck for saving the podcast. We have another "Katie the Dreamer" e-mail which Joe reads absolutely perfectly (a first). More drama unrealized! More random and pointless weirdness -- Katie is now our official TVTM surrealist. By the way, Joe sings both "I Fought the Law" and "Dream Weaver." He also does a very bad Rupert Murdoch. Joe says he (not Murdoch) is a cougar, though he's probably a panther (manther?). And it only gets better. Wait -- "only gets better." We get mail from Canada, England, Oakland and North Carolina, among other places. And our Oakland e-mail, from Emily, is a rerun! Who doesn't like reruns! We should have Amber in Canada on board for next week's podcast.
After weeks and weeks of no TVTM to bore you with, we're back! And rustier than ever! The unprecedented work stoppage was littered with catastrophic failure at every turn -- vacations, actual work, other vacations, holidays, the lack of adequate or available fill-ins, Question Boy (media writer and political reporter Joe Garofoli) doing his other job, laziness -- you name it. Well, let me tell you, we narrowly averted yet another week without pointless rambling when, 41 minutes before Go Time, Manny (aka Benny Evangelista), sent an e-mail saying he was coming down with "a cough" and wouldn't be available today. Fearing rampaging crowds on an international scale, we rushed up to the third floor (where the power people are) and asked Super Sub producer Justin Beck whether he could fill in as producer. "Sure," he said. It was the one word he wished he hadn't said in the last 26 days. Once trapped in the Pod Cave, enduring a call-less TVTM (Justin was too lazy to pull them off the phone system), Question Boy and I rambled over countless e-mails, making Justin woozy with disinterest, mental fatigue and pain. And yet -- yet! -- we managed to get two full podcasts completed and Justin is still speaking to us. By the way, here's how Joe spent his time away from the podcave: Among other things, interviewing a DIFFERENT Goodman. And his personal podcast he keeps pimping? It's called Under the Bus, and here he interviews new MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow. But whatever you do, don't miss him partaking in some Pig Lickers! But enough about Joe. The big news is we got this podcast done! Mission accomplished! (No thanks to Benny. Cough.). In this eagerly awaited TVTM, not only will you get ZERO calls, but you will also get our "traditional" or "classic" theme song (because Justin was too lazy to find all the other ones where our enthusiastic listeners sent in their versions). And yet, despite those obstacles -- and despite the fact that Joe hasn't had time to "tend his garden" -- the podcast was completed. For your eternal enjoyment, here it is, complete with information about upcoming LIVE podcasting events, beer, pizza and DVD tossing at random East Bay hootenannies. For you International listeners, we know the feeling of jealousy for missing these events will be intense, but you will be able to relive the joy of others as we record their glee (or at least their questions, which I'll be unable to answer...and since we can't afford to fly Amber from Canada down to do our heavy lifting (though we really, really wanted to) we'll just have to go with whatever comes into our tiny minds!)
Vacations (and perhaps some laziness) are taking a toll on the normally unflagging TV Talk Machine podcast production. This just in: Um, I forgot to post Part 2 from last week. (Hey, it was on the site, just not on the blog, and most of you seem to be getting it from iTunes anyway...). This also just in: Manny (Benny Evangelista) is on vacation, so he sent an e-mail virtually demanding that I wait to post the podcast until this week, which might make it seem new. I love his thinking. We've totally corrupted him. Also, Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) is on vacation, too. That leaves me, manning my own knobs. (Yeah, you pretty much had to see that one coming, like a neon big rig.) So, there's no TVTM this week, except for, uh, this new one.
Did a lot of work in Los Angeles, covering the Death March with Cocktails. Didn't do a podcast. Said I was going to do one -- or three -- and didn't. In this podcast, I fess up to that. But it's not really an apology. Who needs one of those? On the plus side, this particular podcast, complete with Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) and Manny (Benny Evangelista), has yet another new theme song, features us calling out of the podcast for the second (and third) time in history and, brace yourelf for this: we're going to outsource a bunch of our questions to someone who can actually answer them. First we call Hanna from Sweden, who's actually Irish (and who was in San Francisco -- but it still counts!). We are trying to have drinks with Hanna, as promised, because it would really set a bad example if someone came all the way from Sweden, stayed in Oakland where both QB and I live, plus visited The City and had dinner a half block from The Chronicle -- and we couldn't fit them in for drinks. It will happen! Then we cold-called Amber, our Outsourced TV Expert From Canada, and she said, "Why would you do that to me?" Awesome. A great start. Another person to make fun of me. Anyway, Ask Amber should be a significant upgrade on the podcast if she hasn't already put the call blocker on. We then got another call from Andrew from Ireland, confirming once again that we are the International TV Podcast of Record. Totally gassed by all the effort -- two calls out, chatting, taking calls from Ireland and such -- we decided to wind it down. A little shorty robe talk, a little light banter and we were done. Then we all hugged. Just to shake the rust off. "Your man" also is planning a major party for TVTM listeners and The Bastard Machine readers, which you can kinda-sorta find out about in Thursday's tighter and brighter podcast.
Was reminded that we posted this on SFGate.com but not on The Bastard Machine. And yes, I've got more audio stuff but am too lazy to upload most of it and forgetful in other instances and can't be bothered in still more. Oh, and too busy with words to bother with sound. Clearly a TV Talk Machine podcast from here seems very, very unlikely. Anyway, off to the CBS hootenanny.
Spike Lee was here representing his documentary on Kobe Bryant for ESPN. He touched on issues like Obama, the possible enlightenment of power people in Hollywood and the fact that he hasn't been able to make three films on black artists (but they will eventually get done). Here's a snippet.
The kinda-sorta lost episode of TVTM... Yes, it was posted on the front of SFGate.com, but as Benny "Manny" Evangelista pointed it, I never posted it to The Bastard Machine. Just a little housekeeping here and then back to the inanity of this day.
Back from Paris and a little rusty, but how could anyone tell? Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) and Manny (Benny Evangelista) are no longer sitting on their hind parts with nothing to do. It's the TVTM -- the same rambling and pointless lovefest for humanity (and the arts) that it was two weeks ago and several lost e-mails ago. There are two TVTM's this week before I -- your Citizen of the World -- head to Los Angeles (that's still part of civilization, no?) for the Death March with Cocktails. This time, I'm bringing down a very portable and efficient digital recorder, so Los Angeles Question Girls be ready.
Brutal. Another example of the dumbassification of America. And then some. But it's not our fault.
It's the Roger Maris version of the TVTM podcasts. People afraid of the sun in Seattle e-mail us. "Bars" revisited (of course). The art of "laying down" a fine podcast. Also, "the promise of an answer." Benny considers getting Mista Evangelista sewn onto the back of his shorty robe. He also has another dream that goes nowhere. A message from College Park, Maryland. The Ol' Collie P. We talk about our Washington monuments. Kittens! Plus: A reader loves "Intervention." He's alone on that. Also: "We aim to bore." Then, it happens: Teacher Tim, our very own Official TVTM Archivist, goes over the previous 59 podcasts and digs up a ton of (mostly bad) vocal impressions, which he breaks into "the standards," "the rarities" and "the musicians." It's a litany of failure but it's an impressive bit of research. For the record, Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) does 95 percent of the voices. So blame him. Then "The Cookie" totally slaughters us. He's very, very mean. People in Connecticut are like that. Except for Andrea. It could be tough love. It could be satire. But it hurt us. We wept all over our shorty robes. But we rise above it. In fact, we ask "The Cookie" if he wants to have a beer with us. And we decide that we will, at some point, go on a tour and have drinks with all of our listeners. Road trip!
We take a semi-long-lost letter from Israel, then various e-mails from around the country. We keep it tight and bright (if you've listened before, you know that's not actually true, nor will happen, but I add it here to lure new listeners). Boy, isn't life bountiful?
We at the TVTM podcast -- including me and, yes, our Question Boy Joe Garofoli -- admit that we didn't listen to TVTM 59. Maybe Benny did because he had to really do a LOT of editing on it, but if we assume that Benny was actually paying attention it only makes an ass out of us and Benny. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was at the Chronicle that day and about to be interviewed right next to the Podcave and her bodyguards were looking very suspiciously at our lame podcast and wondering what we were doing. Here's what we were doing: Wondering if Nancy Pelosi would be Question Girl. Hey, it could happen. We'll work on it.
Tight. Bright. Angry. Obsequious. Oh, we've got it all in this podcast. We bring it. Our arsenal (read: something akin to the U.S. military instead of the British football club) is now vast. For example: "Bars." It's now a staple. Almost like Walton. But we bust out a lot of high-quality stuff this time. For example, Question Boy (Chronicle Media writer Joe Garofoli) does Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm going to say it's on par, right at this moment without any fine tuning, with Angry Regis. And boy, isn't that saying something. OK, here's what else we've got: Pointless rambling. Boston vs. Britain. Lashing out. Lusting out. "Dr. of Inanity." Benny/Manny reads his first e-mail (and he realizes, very quickly, why we pay Question Boy so much money). There's talk of "Top Gear." There's a lashing out against soccer, particularly all that crappy extra injury time stuff. Have I said we do "Bars"? Because we do. "What was his question?" We find out that we like women from Boston and the Upper Hudson Valley as much as we do Britain. Who knew? U-S-A! U-S-A!
The TVTM podcast: Making America great again, one unanswered question at a time. Oh, how we kid. First, this is an International podcast. We don't skew local. We even got a letter from Israel. Of course, Benny found it after the podcast, so that will get read next week. Secondly, we answered lots of questions. Oh yes we did. Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) was even reasonably articulate and focused. We hit the podcave running. We kept the podcast relatively short. Uh, "short." It's also lean, highly informative, balanced between e-mails and calls, fleetingly entertaining, almost cohesive and only periodically dips into childish humor, leering double entendres and spiteful recrimination between three men in shorty robes. Around here we call that a job well done. Go America!
We reach out and touch people in this podcast -- and they like it. Well, OK, we only called out of the podcave to one person, but you never know when your phone will ring! All across the globe, but strangely enough not Central America or China or India (what is wrong with you people -- get on the horn!) we field television questions and, in a dramatic change, actually answer them. Another big-time bloated podcast, but hey, you'll miss us when we go on vacation! Soak up the bloat! Besides, someone had a dream about the podcast! Joe Garofoli, aka Question Boy, reads the letter with incredible, breathy suspense, but unfortunately it doesn't end with shorty robes tossed about, but with Benny/Manny doing some repair work. That totally bummed our voyage. But hey, someone called from the Yukon. Tyler! Yes! The Arctic Far North! Of course, we had to have Benny look that up because we didn't even know where Edinburgh was last week. Hello Scotland! (Plus, we get points for renaming Halifax as "Hellafax" in the last podcast...t-shirts pending...). As a bonus, Hanna from Sweden calls with an MP3 and displays her Irish accent and talks about her Brit past. The trifecta! Plus, a voice from the past -- Amandapants. She got a job! And digital cable! Oh, Lord, calls galore! So many e-mails we couldn't get to them. I fire Joe three times. Appearances to note: Cougars, Kittens, bongs, Walton, dramatic re-enactments of the World's Best As-Yet-Unfilmed Reality Series, "Bars" and one song from the 1980s!
After Question Boy, Joe Garofoli, ruined everything last week by spending quality time with his family, we are finally back with a TVTM podcast that more than makes up for what you missed last week -- in length. We tried to improve the quality as well, then got interrupted and went to lunch. That might have messed things up. And it will surely ruin Part 2, coming Thursday, which will also be bloated, rambling, pointless and shameful.
In this podcast, we make a vow: No more lies! Total transparency! "We don't know what we're doing...It's Benny's fault." We bust open the lie behind this two-part podcast fraud. Which is that we record one super-bloated podcast and then we hack it into bits. And Benny puts it back together, re-animator style. So it's not two. It's one. Filled with lies. And, as you'd expect, lameness. Chronicle media (and political) writer Joe Garofoli continues his butchery of British accents. In fact, the sun never sets on his awfulness. But hey, that doesn't stop either one of us from bringing the stupid. In fact, Joe and I do hockey announcer voices. It went pretty well. We may bring them back. We sing now with an alarming lack of embarrassment. This episode: "Ebony and Ivory" and "Don't Go Back to (Rockridge)" -- our modification of an R.E.M. song to reflect our neighborhood. Possibly some Clash. But there's always some Clash. We're like poster children for Uncut magazine. By the way, this podcast is mostly calls. We were called out -- rightly -- by Martin in S.F. for having all the e-mails in the first podcast and the phone calls in the second (we're hoping to change that, but again -- it's Benny's fault). Also, thanks to Josh in the Five and Dime for our wonderful -- and totally illegal -- opening theme song. I'll send a message to Mitch Hurwitz of "Arrested Development" fame and have him call off the legal dogs. All told -- some decent information in this one. Some e-mails. Some phone calls. A lot of patching together in a kind of miraculous fashion. And then it devolves to the point where we confuse the Dalai Lama with the Amish. Don't ask. It had something to do with being a Luddite. We're hoping to do our next podcast live from the 21st Amendment bar in San Francisco and we're confident that such a setting will greatly improve the professionalism -- and our memories. Someone asked us about "The Citizen Kane of single camera sitcoms?" Wow. Good question, Charles! Booze and beer in El Paso is what fires up a question like that. Charles is now officially invited to our remote podcast from the 21st Amendment. Even though we haven't been invited there or even set it up. Use your frequent flier miles, Charles! Oh, and Joe uses the phrases "Table-setter" and "the turkey's on the table" which are wholly inappropriate for people who don't think like we do. Apologies -- again. We would love to hear your voice. Please tell us where you're from. And your area code, because we like that kind of thing. As a bonus, if you're a woman with a British accent, we'll talk about you for pretty much the entire podcast. And for those of you keeping track, we have zero calls from Latin America and none from Tibet. Let's fix that. Lastly, on April 23rd, a full 8,729 people downloaded my interview with Michael C. Hall of "Dexter." In one day. And we have no idea why that happened on that day. If you know, please tell. And we hope you liked the interview. Cheers to all.
Quick out of the gate with few stumbles, a new (okay, partially "borrowed" theme song from a listener), a call for more such creativity (you want to make us a theme song? -- go for it), more Bill Walton (in fact, we break new ground with him), lots of Angry Regis, some talk about sports announcing, swear words and tons and tons of questions answered! No, really. We do. In fact, we are "efficient." There's also some singing. Some hating. Some Canadian stuff. And we answer a few Ask Mick LaSalle questions as well. See? Full service. Also: "Vomiting is cool." As to our Canadian, British and international "friends," we apologize for saying that we have a toll-free international hotline when, in fact, it's not free. It's only free for Americans. However, since the dollar is taking a beating, it's still worth the money to call us, especially if you have a great accent of any kind.
Sorrys for all my friends! Sorrys on sale! Sorry for the sorrys. But of course, we'll take it all back later. Sorrys are for sissies!
We are known for being all over the map, and even all over the world, but on this podcast we ponder why we're popular in Britain when they have to pay for the call. We discuss the fact that our 888-prefix hotline actually blocks Canadians from calling. (Maybe they don't want to pay for the call?) Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) wants people in China to break out to freedom and give us a call. I opt for South America, which is apparently ignoring us. In other news, we talk about why the TV Critic shouldn't be on TV. We bust out the multimedia shorty robes ("that's a cable, right?"). Question Boy does the Worst...British...Accent...Ever. Which means we'll probably lose all of our British listeners. We end up apologizing for this (and soooooo many other things -- which will come in Vol. 2). I denounce nature. Joe does Andy Rooney. But more important: Angry Regis. A lot of our e-mails were long. Really long. And so, unappreciative as we are, we ask for more calls instead. Oh, and we act out a reality show idea passed on by a reader: "Bars," about actual drunks and tosspots. Later, we decide we should do a whole show like this. "Again."
We take a ton of calls in this, our second of two podcasts this week, including a call from London where a guy named Will tells us, definitively, that our international toll-free number is not, in fact, free. In turn, we offer Will a couple of pints and a ticket to the Giants if he ever comes to visit. On the other hand, paying to call the TVTM hasn't stopped our international domination from growing ever larger (this week: Paris, London, South Korea, Calgary!). In fact, Will even likes our Bill Walton impressions. So there. (Of course, Will also asked a question about "Deadwood" and brought up, ahem, that swear word they used a lot on the show, so I had to tell a story about that -- with lots of bleeps.) Benny never lets us get away with anything. Manny, you (beep!)-sucker! We also act out what a documentary on our podcast might sound like. We revisit the idea of Pixie Brawls. A plea goes out for women with British accents to call in (though it might be cheaper if they live in this country now, since the hotline isn't free). I praise (read: lust after) Naomi from "Lost." A lot. Our Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) not only sings parts of "Business Time" from Flight of the Conchords and "Career Opportunities" and "London Calling" from The Clash, but mimics a theremin. And the TVTM goes super meta when a caller impersonates Colin Murray from our beloved BBC radio show "Fighting Talk," even though Colin Murray really has no idea that he's our hero (probably because it would cost him money to call us and acknowledge that). Ah, it's always a good time on the TVTM. A long time, but a good time.
We've got a two-part TV Talk Machine podcast this week and I would have had the first part up earlier, but as it turned out the Diamondbacks were in town having a day-game tilt with my beloved G-Men and, well, you can probably guess what happened. We decided to get right into this one (or, "right into this one" in theory, because we're incapable of actually moving forward in a brisk, informative manner) because a listener in France asked us to read his e-mail in the first five minutes and we do pretty much whatever our international callers ask (especially after we learned later that our international toll free number isn't actually free for international callers). Also, the TVTM takes a few minutes to honor Tom Snyder (one of our rare turns of seriousness), and we plow through a ton of letters, try out some slogans ("the podcast of doom"), find a theremin sound, discuss both CBS comedies and MILFs, which doesn't seem plausible; we also sing the praises of "Flight of the Conchords" and some of "Business Time" as well; restate our lust and desire for Jenny Lewis; and dispute an e-mail that claims our Bill Walton impression sounds more like Patrick from "Sponge Bob"; ultimately we ask, "Where's the love?" Don't worry, it all makes sense (actually, no it doesn't).
Joe Garofoli and I were trying to lock down this TV Talk Machine podcast as quickly as possible so that we could walk down and watch the Giants home opener (we didn't know at the time that the G-Men would get pounded, though we did have our suspicions). Opening Day still means something to us because we're proud American baseball fans. So, doing only one podcast this week, we were anxious to make it quick and informative. We did neither. But hey, we were wearing the Bunting Robes, we took a few hacks at e-mail and phone calls (and we were about as successful as the Giants against Greg Maddux); we got bashed for our slackerness from, ahem, Jeff in the NoMi area (North Mission); we also got an e-mail from someone representing the 919 area code (why we love area codes and the respect they engender from the people who live there can't really be explained); and then, after a sagging middle section, we got some great calls, including one mystery caller who completely beat down one of our regular callers. This is what happens when people get angry. And snarky. But we liked it, because she brought the high heat. Oh and before that, we came up with a new segment (or dream): Pixie Girl Brawls! Oh, yeah, we also used a lot of baseball metaphors. And then we had Benny wrap it up so that we could get to the 21st Amendment. Go Giants! And may all your bloop singles and weak flares fall in; may all your double-steals work and your pitching hold up. Otherwise, well, it's a beautiful park.
A fast-paced, answer-filled TVTM. No two-parter this time. Also: no quality. Well, that's not exactly true. We did good work here. Me, Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) and Benny Evangelista. I mean, not as good as listening to Eddie Izzard. But we answered a lot of mail, and took a lot of calls. There was a theme running through it (anger) and we only swore five or six times and Bill Walton only popped up like eight or nine times. All told -- very reserved, possibly even informative.
Eddie Izzard flew into San Francisco last week and came to the Chronicle (and our sad little podcasting "cave") to tout his superb FX series, "The Riches". But as expected, we went on all kinds of tangents. Izzard is brilliant at letting his imagination take flight in often spectacularly funny ways but also in being serious and analytical about any number of topics. Unfortunately, much of the delay in getting this podcast assembled is that we had some massive technical glitches that neither one of us were aware of. We spent about an hour and twenty minutes talking about all kinds of things -- and I can only wish now that we had video of it, because Izzard's physical movements and facial expressions added immeasurably to the discussion. All told, we lost about half of the podcast to technical issues that couldn't be overcome. That we have 45 minutes to have fun with is a testament to Benny Evangelista sitting in a room all day trying to save it (as opposed to his normal job of trying to forget or erase what we normally do on the TVTM podcast). So thanks Benny. And, obviously, thanks to Eddie Izzard for coming in and riffing. Not unexpectedly, Izzard turned out to be one of the most fascinating and engaging people I've ever interviewed (which of course makes losing half of it so painful). One of the great losses was an extended bit on his future interest in politics that wove in France, Russia, Europe, Yemen, Germany etc. -- something he said he'd never gone into in such detail. (Oh, well.) Two of the main elements that surface here but we covered more extensively were his efforts to make the leap from comedian (and a transvestite comedian, no less) to serious dramatic actor and the master plan behind it all. Despite Izzard's wild verbal forays into the ether, he's a remarkably focused and driven person. We talked in near military terms about the precision needed to execute a dream. His intellectual curiosity and joy at discovery were really something to witness. You won't get the full experience of the interview, or maybe even all the jumping off points, but we get around to issues like spirituality, the analytical drive he took from his father, a love of cool words like "brutal" and "gutted" and "bollocks," his fear of flying, his interest in personal politics, arm-wrestling Brian Dennehy, dramatic structure, Clint Eastwood and, oh yeah, "The Riches."
So we had a lot of fun talking about the BBC discovering -- probably to its horror -- our little show that can't (or won't), your TVTM. But now we get back to actual questions. Which means Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) stumbles all over his reading of the questions and I provide almost no information. For his part, Benny is asleep. Just a reminder to newbies who stumble upon us and don't get it: If you're looking for something coherent, edited and polished, you'll have to go elsewhere. Cheers to all.
It's true. BBC Radio 5, or Five Live, as they like to call it across the pond, interviewed me about what can only be described as the awesome power of -- third person alert -- Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine podcast. Of course, I played along and didn't tell them that our podcast was incredibly lame and that our goal at TVTM is to be as unprepared as possible and do bad impressions. Colin Murray, a BBC radio guy who has his own sports podcast called "Fighting Talk" did the interview and I touted our Question Boy, Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli, as a contributor to the TVTM greatness. Then we played a snippet of Colin's podcast and realized that he's really good and we really suck. Then we went into a tailspin of self-loathing. Once the BBC posts its story -- unless of course it cuts us out, which we're totally expecting -- we'll link to it. In the meantime, here's what you can find in our podcast after we stop weeping and whining about how great "Fighting Talk" is and how badly we suck: 1. Joe does Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" again. 2. He also sings "Career Opportunities" from the Clash and a little bit of Queen. 3.He does Angry Regis. 4. He also falls asleep a couple of times and completely butchers two or three e-mails, which Colin Murray would never do, we're sure of that. 5. Joe and I get into an ethnic battle -- Irish vs. Italian. 6. My shorty robe, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, is festooned with shamrocks, which conveniently covered my shamrocks. 7. Banjos. Bongs. Cougars. 8. I forget what 8 was for. Anyway, that's just our first one this week. We're back again on Thursday, answering (or not) more questions. Remember you, too, can join the inanity. If you'd like to sing us a song, please call our hotline and leave it. If you're a woman with an English accent, please call our hotline and just say anything. If your name is Grace Park, call my cell phone. If you're Colin Murray and you've just discovered how terrible we really are, our apologies.
Not that improving is our goal, mind you. We are much more Zen about it than that. Or lazy. Pick your religion. And this one has been up on the SFGate.com front for, what, two days? Anyway, it's our gift to the world, set sail on the breeze of indifference.
We're making Benny, who once again is "manning the knobs" here, truly suffer for implementing the split podcast. You may remember this was to cut down on The Podfather's workload -- wait, "work" load -- and edit our unwieldy (but oh so user-friendly if not actually educational) podcast from 45 minutes into two 'casts of roughly 22 minutes. Yeah, that was the idea. A kind of Tuesday/Thursday double-dip. Well, we only do what we're told, until we don't, so this week we are offering up two 35 minute podcasts. A couple more weeks of this and Benny, now as overworked as one of Ken Burns editors, will give in from exhaustion. Lots of e-mails, lots of calls this week. To join the "fun," you can call our toll-free international hotline, and risk not having your questions answered, or mocked. On the other hand, you never know when the world's angriest Regis impression will pop up (thanks in advance to Joe Garofoli, our Question Boy), or even Daniel Plainview. Enjoy.
Lots of questions, some answers, tons of yelling and swearing. Both knowledge and entertainment knock on the door -- actually the pod cave wall -- but we don't answer it. And yes, two parts. It's out of our control, but in all honesty, these two flowed a lot better than last week. Also, in all honesty -- it probably sounds too professional. We'll dumb it up more next week.
Man love alert: Colin Farrell, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Question Boy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Oh, we also answer questions. Joe Garofoli (Question Boy and Chronicle media critic) and I come back strong after two really terrible podcasts last week. We apologize yet again for those, but we are supremely strong this week. Well, alright, we did unveil Joe's impersonation of a very angry Regis. And we did make fun of some of our most loyal e-mailers and callers. Mostly we talked about the Oscars. And man-crushes. Grrrrr. We got a great "big picture" question about switching entire premises and casts for different series. (Insert bong hits here.) And I thought it might be nice to see the cast of "The Wire" appear on "Deadwood." And despite all the negative feedback for the so-called "split" podcast, we were forced to do it again, but this time it wasn't so ramshackle and low-rent. In fact, we introduced a new special effect. And -- pay attention, this is important -- I only had to be bleeped once. Part 2 is supposed to be up on Thursday. Don't ask me. I just do the talking (for free, mind you). Also, you may not know this, but if you've sent me an e-mail that I never returned, chances are we read it on the podcast. It's like live theater. And lastly, "I drink your milkshake!"
In addition to totally screwing up the narrative beauty of our podcasts, Benny fesses up that he forgot a call from a guy in London. London! And the call came in a month ago. You know what that means? One of our seven listeners has probably given up on us. Thanks Benny. By the way, if Charley from "Maisy" can call in (we think Tallulah did the dialing), then there's no reason you can't as well. Give us a jingle.
We've decided -- well, wait, "decided" hints at actual preparation -- that the podcast should be cut in two and run on consecutive days each week. At least that was the plan for about five minutes, and then the plan was to run Part 1 on Tuesday and Part 2 on Thursday, because Benny said we should "keep them wanting more." To which Joe Garofoli, admirably playing Question Boy, and I both said, "They don't want any of it, much less more." So that was the plan. We taped on Tuesday because of the Monday President's Day holiday. But then Part 1 got put up on the shiny new SFGate.com website, which was a nice placement, but probably gave too wide of an audience a peek at our rampant stupidity and lame call-back jokes (not to mention the impressions). Then, uh, we sort of forgot to post Part 2. Until today -- Friday. See? Planning just isn't our thing. But here they are, Part 1 and Part 2. Both awful. And Benny, who is actually supposed to know something about producing, has promised next week not to wave frantically at us somewhere in the middle, telling us to wrap it up. Because that just ruined our narrative flow. And, of course, ruined our "plans." We told him to stick to "manning the knobs."
Just to make things clear, I wasn't aware that Manny was going to "man the knobs" so quickly and, yes, the podcast starts out talking about burping. Our grand intro -- ruined. But Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) plays Ed McMahon. And we do a bunch of stupid voices -- undaunted by last week's miserable impersonations. Including: My really bad version of Charley from "Maisy." I promise to go back to "Maisy" and get it right for next week. We also talk kids shows (Dora: loud; non-animated kids: precocious). Some anger. Groundhog Day fashion statement? Sensing the advent of spring, one of us trots out a leaner bod and a tighter robe. Need more? Bong hits. New neighborhood slang ("the Moan"). A salute to "Mister Rogers." Women who swear: "Hot." The phrase "It's almost like we planned this." Plus: We did plan one thing. And it went sideways. Also: Bleeps, and lots o' them. Lastly: The return of "hind quarters/hind parts."
We took a couple of weeks off but now we're back, more stupid than ever. But let's face it -- Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) was way off his game in this one. His impersonations were all messed up. Banjo? Awful. Bill Walton -- worse than mine, even. Al Gore? Lame. On and on it went. On the plus side, it was perhaps his finest moment ever reading the e-mail questions. As for Manny (Benny Evangelista), he was asleep at the knobs. If it wasn't for the great calls and e-mail, this would just be our normal offering of warmed-up lameness. But as it turns out, hell, this one ended up being informative and entertaining. Kind of like "edutainment."
After feigning politeness for much of Part 1 with Jennifer Gomez (aka Jengo) as Question Girl, the true colors of Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) come to the surface. Lots of questions, lots of anger, a couple of answers. Way better than we usually do.
Question Girl No. 2 joins the TVTM podcast. We decide not to be so lame. We may have failed. Actually, "first runner up" Jennifer Gomez (aka Jengo) helped fuel a surprisingly upbeat, informative and far-reaching two-part TV Talk Machine podcast. We raised our game in honor of her in-Pod Cave appearance. We have Part 1 today, Part 2, tomorrow and then -- because we have pledged to you our word to be as unprepared and lame as always -- we hope to return, a week later, to rambling nonsense about "untended gardens," "hind parts," "cougars" and bong hits. Have a listen.
After a long winter holiday break, I have regrouped with Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) and extended the contract of Benny Evangelista to "man the knobs" as we go forward with the most popular, least professional and most dangerously stupid podcast in San Francisco Chronicle history. The TVTM plods on, even when it's (cough!) blocked by Question Boy's inability to read the questions right, or, for that matter, to have many coherent questions that don't have a lot of late 2007 dust on them. Undaunted, we did the podcast anyway and even, for the first portion, tried to professionally discuss the WGA strike and its impact on television -- particularly late night -- and elements of our favorite series in the entire world, "The Wire." Then we did some more Bill Walton-as-Santa patter. For the first time in 33 TVTM podcasts, I did not have the shorty robe on, though Joe did. Manny was sick, so he wore a long robe and was put in Pod Cave isolation so not to cough on us. Next week, it's the debut of our second Question Girl! Jennifer Gomez will be in the Pod Cave! That's a first. We have vowed to light some scented candles or something. And for those of you who never, ever, listen to the TVTM podcast, just remember that we often read your e-mail questions on the air. So while you're at home wondering why I haven't returned your e-mail, our loyal fans in Canada and New York and Sweden and Iowa, etc., have all heard the answer. Come listen and play. Don't (cough!) block our joy at producing podcasts that make our lives more meaningful!
Yes, Virginia, there is a podcast. And a bunch of other pointless stuff. Well not a "bunch" per se. I've got some random bits of info, sure. But mostly I'm throwing this up there to let you know that I recorded a podcast with Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) and Manny/Knobby (Benny Evangelista). After a long layoff, we were all a bit rusty. But the shorty robes were seasonal and festive. And short. That's all that really matters. If you're hungry for a morsel of stupidity from this podcast, I will tell you: I forgot what my other blog was called, initially. I think I called it TVTG. I corrected this, with the help of Question Boy, by pimping it about 1,249 times. But I want to make clear that when I forgot the title of my own personal blog, I had not been using the bong. I swear. No bongs were involved in the forgetting of my own second blog.
I talked with Michael C. Hall, star of "Dexter," on Monday and here it is as part of my latest TV Talk Machine podcast. Ah, talking with the stars. Never an actual interest of mine. But as I noted previously, the whole idea of the TV Talk Machine podcast was to talk with people I actually liked, who were doing great work, and having that as archive material for years. More and more people are being offered up. Podcasting is becoming more acceptable as it becomes more accessible, I suppose. I have a short list that now must be expanded. But my question is -- who are you interested in hearing? Granted, it has to be someone I like. So you'll have to intuit my likes and dislikes before compiling a list that works. But it can't hurt to ask. You ask, then I'll ask. And we'll see what happens. As you know, a big factor will be my wavering interest level. But now that I'm really tiring of the blog life, this may be a workable sub. Anyway, here's "Dexter," everybody's favorite serial killer (and former gay funeral home director on "Six Feet Under").
You can hear the dulcet tones of Mandy again! We continue to dominate all of America, Canada and the rest of the world by taking calls from around the globe, including "near Oakland" and our first from Harlem. Or was it Brooklyn? Hell, I couldn't even get Mandy's whereabouts in Oregon correct. But we rallied, as usual, and we hope that TVTM will entertain you. It remains free. And we remain unpaid.
Well, it took some time -- alright, a long time -- but Amandapants our winner in the long forgotten Question Girl battle royale -- finally makes an appearance on the TV Talk Machine podcast. Mandy Murphy survived all of our jibes and jokes and lies and slander to appear with us. And she even had a great time. Such a great time, mind you, that we've split the podcast into two parts. Yep, you add someone in the booth, even figuratively, and the bloated rambling just gets more windy and lengthy. So, here's Part 1 of Amandapants as Question Girl.In this first installment, Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) takes the high road (he got a nose bleed from being so unfamiliar with the heights) and barely feuds with Question Girl. In fact, they bond. It's nauseating. On the other hand, Benny-Bernie-Manny is, as usual, "manning the knobs" and we discover that he "forgot" a couple of calls (that we know of) to the TVTM, so we resurrect them as "classics." Strangely enough, they are still relevant. There is some strike talk here. There is the requisite bong-hit special effect. There is mockery of me, QB and Benny. (And Benny, in honor of Question Girl, dons a silk shorty robe to show proper respect.) Mandy brilliantly reads many e-mailed questions.
Well, we were just hoping to kick back and do Bill Walton impressions and talk about shorty robes in this one -- plus mock the fact that our new Question Girl is AWOL. But, as they usually do, things went sideways. First, we had too many questions -- both e-mail and by phone. It's actually becoming work now, this podcast...And we had to fess up that Amandapants, our Question Girl winner, isn't 100 percent at fault for what is now "Question Girl Is Missing: Week Three." Turns out she was available a couple of Mondays ago but I was interviewing people for the podcast. Then I just forgot to send her questions or even get back in touch with her. Then Monday came and, well, the TVTM must go on. Our only recourse was to make fun of her. And, thankfully, so did her own extended family, via e-mail. A lot of other things happened as well. For instance, Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) took a real beating. I know, he normally does, but this time it was relentless (until a caller -- a cougar is the best guess -- called in and said she really, really liked him). We had a tech question, which required Benny, er, Manny, er, Bernie, to stop "manning the knobs" and help out. And then catastrophe struck. Question Boy got in a coughing fit and toppled over, revealing something quite distressing beneath his shorty robe: A lack of proper gardening. Once again, we go to great lengths to please the masses.
These days Ricky Gervais is a busy man. He's making movies. He's doing live comedy concert tours. He's writing books, appearing on "The Simpsons," and making perhaps the most popular podcast (and the funniest) in the medium's short history. On and on it goes. In this podcast, recorded on his day off from shooting a film, Gervais talks about the "Extras" finale, why he and Merchant wanted to make this something more than just a comedy, how fame has affected his own life, what he was trying to say through the Andy Millman character, and some "extras" about his own career and work going forward (plus a brief comment on my statement that podcast partner Karl Pilkington just may be "a misunderstood visionary.")
I interviewed David Duchovny today about his role in Showtime's acclaimed "Californication" series. Duchovny did the interview while keeping his eye on the TV news -- the Southern California fires are rapidly encroaching on his home (he also noted, with some sad irony, that his latest movie is "Things We Lost In the Fire"). "Californication" has two episodes left -- one tonight (repeated this week) and then the season finale on Oct. 29. Duchovny talked about why he came back to television, how the difficult-to-describe Hank Moody character -- "he's objectionable" -- is such a challenge to play, how his wife, Tea Leoni, deals with him surrounded by naked women all day, the odd notion of Showtime trying to re-edit "Californication" without the sex and swearing and, yes, what's going on with the upcoming "X-Files" movie, among other topics.
Mood swinging mayhem; future celebrity appearances, efficient rambling. It's the TVTM! Indeed it is. Yet another podcast without our new Question Girl, so it comes back, yet again, to Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) and your Cultural Commissar to deliver the goods (or the averages) on yet another TV Talk Machine podcast. There are more Q's and A's here than ever before and all the joyful abundance of swearing, laughing and scoffing you've come to expect. Plus, still more singing. And just so you don't think it's a wankfest of poor production, limited information, terrible humor and time killing wassailing, let it be known here and now that I'll have two upcoming podcasts with David Duchovny and Ricky Gervais. Plus more where that came from. Yeah, so there. Until they appear and get the good stuff with the good questions and the professional sound, please enjoy our normal offering of weekly lameness.
Question Girl winner! Question Boy survives! Actual questions answered! Plus anger, etc. Yep, that's about the gist of it. Plus, Joe Garofoli sings as Juan Antonio Samaranch. We get yelled at. We forget things. But there's a happy ending (no, not that kind) and a lot of phone calls and e-mails get answered. Plus we bash Benny, who, as you know, is "manning the knobs." It's quite fun, actually. And we have now officially destroyed all other podcasts at the Chronicle. Our next goal is world domination -- or getting our loved ones to listen, whichever comes first.
Carnage! Sucking up! Sultry voices! Hating on Question Boy! It's Attack of the Question Girls! Boy, is it. The highly-touted, hotly anticipated throwdown to become the Once and Future Question Girl (and, in the process, firing Joe Garofoli as Question Boy -- but not really) led to a bloody TV Talk Machine podcast. Hear all about it below. So many people participated, that we now have a controversy brewing (or if not, we'll cook it up anyway). Apparently, some Question Girl tryouts might not have made it on air (audible gasp) and some may even have been edited out (hissing from the back) after we picked the six finalists (the what?). Blame for all of that falls to one man, and his name is Not Me. Actually, it's Benny "The Podfather" Evangelista. (He doesn't know that yet. Well, now he does, but still.) Yeah, Benny "Manning the Knobs" Evangelista runs a tight ship. Not only that, in the interest of fairness, a certain someone who shall go nameless -- no, actually her name is Julie King -- noted correctly that she was the first person to ask if she could be Question Girl. That I remember. And she said she also came up with the idea for auditions, though Question Boy claims that. Or did he? Maybe his claim -- and it doesn't really matter because he's fired -- is that he came up with the reality show podcast format thingy. I say this -- it's the start of the fall season. I'm lucky I remember my kids' names. Having promised the role to Julie (and then, in a fairly spectacular fashion, to Laura Jean, cousin of Chronicle Pop Culture Critic Peter Hartlaub), it could be that the TVTM needs to use Google Calendar more often, or a certain someone needs to write notes on his hands. Benny "The Podfather" Evangelista, making the Question Girl cuts. Not to fear, Julie, or Laura Jean. It's not who goes first, or who wins contests, that matters. It's who co-hosts the most times. And you two have been given a Golden Ticket. Stop by anytime. But we have a war to wage! It's the Question Girl Terrordome! Give a listen. At the end, we pick the finalists. And they will appear on The Bastard Machine tomorrow, with a poll. Most votes wins. Alright, I've contacted HR about QB. The paper work is just waiting to be signed. In the meantime, here are your TVTM Question Girl combatants.
Uh, yeah. Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) was angry. I was angry. Ignoring us only makes us -- what's the word? -- cranky. We had a lot of letters. But we had no calls. So we went off. Later we talked about shows. Joe sang (the Pittsburgh Steelers fight song...God help us.) We did vocal impressions. We talked about fall shows and, specifically, series premiering this week. I put the bunting out at the house (and on the shorty robe) in honor of this being the official start week of the fall season. Question Boy was not, in fact, fired. But we decided our long-delayed search for a Question Girl should now be turned into a reality show. The first podcast reality show! (that we know of...and no, we didn't actually check).
Actual answers! The return of the shorty robe! An attack on Question Boy! It's the TV Talk Machine podcast. Oh, hell yes it is. We go off! And then we catch ourselves and correct course. Mostly we realized that the show seemed too professional, too helpful, too effortlessly informative. So we ruined it. Or tried to. Next week it'll be lousy again -- promise.
Here -- after a lengthy absence -- is the return of the TV Talk Machine podcast!
Tim's down in L.A. at Death March with Cocktails, where he met up with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. Tim took the opportunity to chat with Burns about his upcoming seven-part series, "The War," which airs on PBS starting Sept. 23. In the interview, Burns talks about how he handled criticism from those who said his series didn't do justice to the role of Latino soldiers in World War II.
Even more listener calls about the "Sopranos" finale!
Well it's been quite a few days of post-"Sopranos" speculation and chat. I did five radio interviews on Monday including 40 minutes on "Talk of the Nation" and that finale was, indeed, the talk of the nation. No doubt the finale will live on in pop culture history as a great debate. Did Tony live or die? I love that it has prompted so much discussion and creative (insane?) deconstruction. And now I'm on the verge of being very much over the whole thing. Time to move on. But before I do, here s the most recent TV Talk Machine podcast where me and Question Boy (Joe Garofoli) talk about The Sopranos season finale and take listeners calls.
Chronicle readers react to the "Sopranos" finale.
Well, we're back bigger and stronger and less awful this week! And we're hot for Cougars! (theme song forthcoming). Even though Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) can't read an e-mail to save his life this time out, he rallies as we both tout the merits of older women, aka, "elder hot," aka "Cougars." Now, you might not think this is relevant to anything -- and normally that doesn't matter on the TV Talk Machine -- but NBC has a new reality series this month called "Age of Love," and that series will pit 40-something "Cougars" against 20-something "Kittens" as they vie for the "love" of a 30-year old professional tennis player. Indeed, it's a big episode this week. There's petty jealousy, threats of a pending Question Girl filling in for Joe -- or even special guest Don Asmussen -- plus I try to make a public service announcement and end up killing the show. Separately, there's a dramatic reading of one man's "break-up letter" to "24." And if you thought nothing could top elder-hot Cougars, you're wrong. Because our producer, Justin Beck, who only last week took over the knobs (temporarily) from Benny "The Podfather" Evangelista, has added "special effects." Roar! Maybe, dare we say it: Best. Podcast. Ever. And we thank Pat for the two letters. We kid because we love. Enjoy.
Worst. Podcast. Ever. Well, so far. I had a really bad headache and lacked sleep. Question Boy sucked at reading questions. Well, not really, but I like to blame him for everything. We were angry. I had the Cranky Pants on instead of the shorty robe. We made a stab at man-love and retreated. We didn't have any crazy-ass callers in a dark place. Benny "The Podfather" Evangelista, who we like to blame for pretty much everything, was out sick and Justin (last name deleted because we don't want to drag him down with us) filled-in and gave us some bad news (on purpose, we think, because we're lame). Which means Benny ruined this podcast for us yet again. Did I mention that Question Boy (Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli) really fell down on his end? Because he did. And let's face it. I didn't have my "A" game. You know what? We're gonna put our rally caps on and come back again next week. Our goal: Mediocrity.
Well, let's just get right to it. Question Boy and the Cultural Commissar admit to "reimagining" Lindsay Wagner, "The Bionic Woman," in their younger days. Yes, in that way. Hey, it's Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine! (well, that's the official title, so technically I'm not referring to myself in the third person but don't tempt me! Because I'll do it, like, all the time!) If you listen to no other TV Talk Machine, listen to well, no, let's not go there. But hey, check out our fancy new inline audio player for the podcast. Just click and play. You know, while you're reading your messages or something. In this podcast you will find, not necessarily in this order, random and pointless discussions about: The upfronts. "The Sopranos." Lindsay Wagner being "elder hot." The death--or IS it!?--of "According to Jim." Katie Couric getting hammered by Charlie Gibson. A clarification of whether it's Charlie or Charles Gibson. And Gibson being "elder hot." Another inch off the shorty robe! A shirtless man. E-mail (this time fresh, not rerun versions) from around the country. Phone calls from around the country, including a woman who wants to adopt me. And a woman who is, well, in a dark place. A shout out to Mrs. Cranky Pants. Question Boy caught cheating on the TVTM! A call from a flack. Someone makes fun of our theme song. And our producer, Benny "The Podfather" Evangelista fails us, technically, yet again. Listen, and have your life changed. Or shortened. One of the two.
Well, if ever there was any doubt that the TV Talk Machine was a flinty little operation with almost no managerial oversight, staffed by lazy, dumb and probably dishonest employees, well, this podcast will prove it definitively. It's the price of free, people. But you know what? There's a lot of love in it. There's even a shorty robe. And a man's chest. There are wayward metaphors, the inclusion of The World's Most Garbled Message, a plea for patience or at least understanding, a lot of laughs and--miraculously--a few snippets of useful information. As usual, I'm joined by Question Boy, the Chronicle's own media writer, Joe Garofoli. Make a mental note that the Garofoli and Goodman Media Investigation Unit will, in the very near future, take on a very daunting task: Can one man, maybe two, watch a week's worth of Jay Leno and find a laugh? Enjoy the podcast. The TV Talk Machine will be on vacation next week. No doubt planning a better show.
Conan O'Brien, who will bring his late night show to San Francisco starting Monday for a week of absurdist brilliance, phoned up the TV Talk Machine to chat a bit about The City, his future as the host of "The Tonight Show," his disappointment about how NBC botched Andy Richter's last sitcom (which Conan co-created) and what it's like taking the show on the road.
Welcome to one very jarring episode of the TV Talk Machine podcast. Normally, as you know, when I am team with Question Boy (the Chronicle's very own Joe Garofoli) discussing all things TV, it often descends to rambling silliness. But this time out--at least for about the first 25 minutes--we decided to get serious. It makes sense. Garofoli is The Chronicle's media writer. Prior to him taking that job, I pretty much handled the duties for years. Together, we have a lot of experience on that beat. And this week we've obviously been called to duty on the Virginia Tech shooting rampage. In fact, my column today is all about how television news still covers major events in the same flawed way as the last tragedy, never learning any lessons or adopting change. After we taped this podcast, I spent much of the day following the latest angle, where the gunman sent a "multi-media manifesto" to NBC News. I blogged about it the rest of the day. So, in a break from being inane on the podcast, the two of us discussed a variety of topics related to media coverage. I think you'll find that possibly enlightening. However, if you also crave an escape from this whole story, fear not. After we segue into a discussion of series like "The Sopranos" and "The Riches" and take a few calls, all hell breaks loose and the entire podcast devolves, basically, into me going gay for Jonathan Rhys Meyers in "The Tudors." And a woman wants to cancel her paper but she called the TV Talk Machine line instead, and of course we won't let her because we need the money. As for this week, it's a tonal nightmare. It's the TV Talk Machine!
Geraldine Laybourne is one of the most influential women in all of television. Laybourne is chairwoman and CEO of Oxygen Media and started the Oxygen channel in 2000, in partnership with Oprah Winfrey, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach. In one of my ongoing podcasts with the people who actually make the TV you watch, I talk with Laybourne-who dropped by The Chronicle when she was in San Francisco, recently--about her early days running Nickelodeon and how she turned that network into the children's powerhouse it is today, along with launching Nick At Nite and Noggin. Laybourne was also vice chairperson of MTV Networks and later a vice president at ABC/Disney. In our discussion, the element of her successful career that struck me as most interesting was that Laybourne built a cable empire out of figuring out what kids want, but she is still trying to figure out what women want, as Oxygen tries to establish an identity and build its audience. Anyway, I vowed that we'd talk to as many of the power players in the business as possible (or the ones I could stomach), and Laybourne, though maybe not the familiar name that someone like Les Moonves might be, is one heavy hitter. Enjoy.
We are inching closer to the Sunday debut of "The Sopranos." In this second part of my critics roundtable on the TV Talk Machine, I chat with Dave Walker of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and Bill Goodykoontz of the Arizona Republic. Don't worry, no spoilers.
So the TV Talk Machine busts out its first critics roundtable, this time a two-parter starting today and finishing up with Pt. 2 on Friday. "The Sopranos" is the perfect kind of series for a critics roundtable because there's so much going on in the series and different people take away (and appreciate) different aspects of the series. I talked by phone with TV Guide critic Matt Roush, Portland Oregonian critic Peter Ames Carlin, New Orleans Times-Picayune critic Dave Walker and Arizona Republic critic Bill Goodykoontz. If the late night and off hours of the Television Critics Association press tour teaches anything, it's how to spot fellow critics who are thoughtful about what they do. (And also how to get powerful network publicists to re-open a closed bar, but that's another story.) Periodically I'll be checking in with critics from around the country in conversation about various (mostly worthy) TV shows. With only nine episode left in the landmark series, "The Sopranos," that seemed like a wise choice and I know people who come to The Bastard Machine for episode deconstructions of that series will appreciate the input from my friends and fellow critics. Enjoy.
It didn't take long for things to go completely sideways on this week's installment of my TV Talk Machine podcast. Along with Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli once again playing the role of "Question Boy"--don't worry, we're on a search for a "Question Girl"--we decided that two weeks of heavy war talk and big words with Ken Burns meant that we needed to dumb things down. Boy did we succeed. I even managed, unintentionally, to create what is now my favorite new phrase. Along the way we read viewer/listener questions from across the country, played phone calls, rambled incoherently, announced upcoming interview guests (including Keith Olbermann), detected a real undertone of anger in the country (not our fault) and managed to possibly but not probably answer some questions correctly. As the paid film hacks like to say, "If you listen to just one podcast this year..."
In Part Two of our special "Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine" interview with Ken Burns, the award-winning filmmaker talks about the differences between the subject of his latest documentary on World War II and America's current war in Iraq. Burns, who changed the landscape of TV documentaries with his landmark "The Civil War" 17 years ago, returns this fall with another epic called "The War," about World War II on PBS. Burns also tells Chronicle TV critic Tim Goodman about what he learned about World War II while making "The War," a seven-part, 14-plus hour documentary that focuses on what it was like to fight during WWII. He also talks about his 15-year deal with PBS and some of his future projects.
Hey look, they even ran a cool house ad in the Datebook section for TV Talk Machine. Very nice. And radio ads. Normally TVTM would collapse under the weight of those expectations, what with me and Question Boy rambling about shorty robes and such, but today (like "Simpsons" writer Joel Cohen before) we have some worthy content. Ken Burns has long been one of my favorites through the years. He does great work, he's passionate about what he does, he smartly elevates the discourse and he's a whole lot funnier than people give him credit for, though as we discuss "The War," his upcoming 7-part, 14 hour documentary on WWII, not a whole lot of the latter will be evident. You'll have to pardon my croak-heavy voice during this interview. When Burns came to the Chronicle for the podcast, I was in the middle of a heavy cold and struggling to keep my voice and limited mental faculties. Still, Burns can carry an interview like few others and he did all the heavy lifting. Enjoy, and Pt. 2 will be available next week, a well as Pt. 1. The entire interview will be archived so you can sample it when ready and there's probably a good chance I'll talk with Burns a couple of more times before the documentary airs on PBS in September.
They say talk is cheap but we prove it's actually free! Unpaid podcasts are the best love ever! (I'm feeling really exclamation point happy today...). So, here's the TV Talk Machine "Ep. 3," featuring the return of Question Boy (Chronicle media writer and longtime friend Joe Garofoli), e-mail and phone mail questions from around the globe, my willingness to drink Ken Burns' old bottled water both because my throat was killing me and I thought it might make me smarter. And yes, the aforementioned George Clooney man-love. (It's a long story. But it started out innocently enough with a reference to the unnamed Erica Hill, a longtime crush magnet of mine, but then it sort of spun sideways...the Clooney thing, not the Erica Hill crush which is chugging right along, no thanks to Anderson Cooper, who's 360 degrees of cable nonsense has essentially kept me away from EH...) Along the way, Question Boy and I tackle everything from "The Wire" to shows on USA and why very talented people (Rob Corddry, David E. Kelley) can't see (smell?) the crap they're making. I get lots of love from Canada, which always feels so right, and then we manage to pointlessly ramble our way to the end. Ah, but before we get there, we drag in Chronicle podfather Benny Evangelista who was working the dials to join the fray over our TiVo vs. Replay debate. Yes, RePlay. Turns out I told Joe's wife to get him one years ago instead of a TiVo. My bad. Anyway, it's a lovely piece of work. If you hear only one podcast this year...well, hear the Ken Burns one. But still, come share the joy! Exclamation! For those of you wondering about that much-heralded two-part podcast with Ken Burns, yes, it's coming. I taped it at the Chronicle with him last week despite barely being able to talk. See?! You see what I do?! Anyway, the Chronicle's promotions department is going to work some mojo with the TV Talk Machine and once the forces of promotion and technology unite, we'll post it. Now, if only they'd invite the forces of capitalism to swing by for a cozy bottle of red, then we'd have something.
Well, the second TV Talk Machine is up and running, this time featuring an interview with Joel Cohen, a writer and co-executive producer. Cohen is in his eighth year writing for "The Simpsons" and before he came to San Francisco for a lecture, he took some time to chat about everything from what it's like inside a highly competitive writing room, to the new "Simpsons" movie and his brief stint writing on "Suddenly Susan," which I immediately held against him but then forgave him for. Cohen was a good sport and anytime you can talk about The Best Show Ever, well, you take it. "The Simpsons" is the longest running comedy that is currently on television and the longest running animated series in television history. In May, "The Simpsons" will air its 400th episode, which is just staggering. Based on renewals, "The Simpsons" will eventually top "(The Adventures Of) Ozzie & Harriet" which racked up 435 episodes, to become the longest running comedy ever on TV. As well it should. "The Simpsons" is currently in its 18th season. I talk with Cohen a bit about how some fans perpetually complain about the early years being better, and the fact that some people have watched the show their whole lives. And by the way, if you haven't been to "The Simpsons" website in a while, you should. A person can burn up a lot of time there.
The very first "TV Talk Machine" podcast lumbered out of the garage late last night. I think it still might be running without brakes. I was joined by Chronicle media writer Joe Garofoli who played the part of Question Boy. And he did it with aplomb. Joe does a superb Ed McMahon, which we might bust out next week. He's also a master at Bill Walton. We may do an entire podcast with our Bill Walton voices in the future. Or we might actually invite Bill on the show to see what the Big Man knows about TV. On second thought, that kind of defeats the purpose of doing the voices. We might also add puppets. Or mimes. It's a first class operation. We took e-mail questions. I'm not sure I answered any of them, but I had fun. We talked about the best comedies and dramas in the last 30 years; desert island DVDs; way too much tech stuff and some general nonsense. We'll do it again next week, but I'm also going to interview filmmaker Ken Burns separately so there may be two podcasts. One stupid, one informative. It's a great country.
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