“Brother, could you lend me a hand?” (That’s a question we’ll answer in our White Lotus predictions update at the end of the episode! But first…)
The breezy new Netflix comedy Running Point doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a breath of fresh air in a season of tense dramas and cheap thrillers (we’re looking at you, The Night Agent). Guest Host Ian Brodsky has watched the whole season and is here to convince you to spend some time with fun characters who constantly get themselves into (and out of) hilarious jams.
Of course, modern Netflix shows also have a reputation for being “background TV” but is that really a bad thing? Chris makes the case for the “tell don’t show” school of screenwriting.
But wait! There’s more!
———
———
———
We’re phoning it in this week (in a good way) with guest host Ian Brodsky joining Chris to review the premier-slash-return of John Mulaney’s old-school Hollywood talk show meets… talk radio call-in show? We’ll explain what’s going on with Netflix’s latest foray into weekly live programming: Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney.
But first!
BONUS: White Lotus Death Watch Returns! Stick around at the end of the episode for our latest theories (including monkeys… with guns!).
———
———
———
Dianne is out on a very special assignment so Chris is joined by guest host (and real-life SAG voter) Ian Brodsky to discuss everything from the future of James Bond to Mike White’s extremely specific references. Featuring our predictions for Season 3 of The White Lotus on HBO (uh, yes, we’re going to talk about what’s going on with the “Will They? Won’t They” Brothers).
But first! So much streaming, including:
Correction: Michael Wilson is Barbara Broccoli’s half brother, not stepbrother. Stepbrothers were just on the mind this week!
———
———
———
We’re back with part 2 of our Night Agent extravaganza! But first we’re playing two games that will challenge your TV and Streaming knowledge in more ways than one:
That’s right: It’s all fun and games until the chemical weapons show up… then it’s hilarious.
———
———
———
This week we’re all about Netflix, which is riding high while the rest of the streaming universe is filled with turmoil. The next big pivot is live: From Mulaney to Beyoncé, from the NFL to the WWE and everything in between (the Jake Paul fight is somewhere on that spectrum). Oh, live and price hikes.
We’ll break it all down and then go deep cover on Netflix’s spy hit The Night Agent. Listen for our review this week, and the get ready for the spoilercast next week!
———
———
———
The medical drama meets 24 on the new Max series The Pitt, which reunites ER veteran Noah Wyle with ER veteran John Wells to create a show that for legal reasons is definitely not a reboot of ER (we’ll explain!). Lawsuits aside, we’re hooked on this gritty, fast-paced procedural designed to bring some much-needed network flair to the Max app.
Plus: Did you already bail on your resolution to budget better? We’re here to help with our first 2025 edition of Add/Keep/Cancel!
———
———
It’s the Streamageddon Streaming Superlatives Spectacular! It’s our annual tradition where we hand out yearbook-style honors to streaming services, shows, stories, and the people who make the things we (mostly) love to watch. This year we’re looking back and looking ahead, making picks for both 2024 and 2025. 🔮
All your favorite categories are here, along with the series and news stories that explain the state of Streaming as we head into 2025: Who was last year’s Life of the Party, and who will take the crown this time around? What were our Biggest Disappointments of the year, and what do we expect to disappoint us all in the year to come? Who’s Most Likely To Succeed? What about the Best Glow Up? And you’ll never guess who Chris picked for his Class Sweetheart!
📺 Next Week: We’re watching the first 3 episodes of The Pitt on Max. Join us!
———
We’re ringing in the holidays with a festive Show Swap, Christmukkah-style! Join us as we wrap up the year in news, discuss what makes a holiday-themed episode work, share some of our favorites, and then exchange our gifts: Reviews of two classic holiday episodes that combine Christmas and Hanukkah with hilarious results.
———
———
———
———
For our 100th episode we’re celebrating one of TV’s hardest working genres: The Workplace Comedy. We’ll discuss the classics, debate the mockumentary format, and marvel at the wide range of characters and stories that fit into this surprisingly versatile genre.
We’re talking about all our favorites, but in the second half of our conversation we’re going to roll up our sleeves and dive deep into two specific workplace comedies: One is riding off into the sunset with its sixth and final season (FX’s What We Do in the Shadows) and the other is riding high with early buzz and a full season order on NBC (St. Denis Medical). Vampires and doctors? In one genre?! What a world!
But first! Follow-up that spans all across the year in news: Paramount, parades, Iger, ESPN, the MAX app, another password sharing crackdown, and yes! A very special 100th Episode Game that we’re calling HBO or NO?!
We’ll even answer the burning question of our time: Is The Bear a workplace comedy?
———
———
———
TV legend Ted Danson has reunited with sitcom icon Mike Schur (The Good Place, Brooklyn 99) to infiltrate our hearts in the delightful new Netflix caper A Man on the Inside. Danson plays a widower who goes undercover at a San Francisco retirement community, but can he solve the mystery of the missing jewels without getting too close to his kooky new neighbors? (Or maybe getting close to them is what he needed all along!)
But first!
———
———
———