#42 – Not Dead Yet, American Auto, The Daily Show, and... Bing?

The one where Bing makes our eyes bleed.

There’s the threat of a writers strike looming over Hollywood, so this week we invited the new Bing chatbot to join us in the hopes of befriending our new cloud-based creative overlords. Take it away, Bing!

"Hello, this is Bing. Welcome to Streamageddon, the podcast where we review everything streaming and TV. In this episode, we’ll take a look at two mid-season network sitcoms: Not Dead Yet on ABC and American Auto on NBC.

"But that’s not all. We’ll also check in on the guest hosts at The Daily Show, discuss the impending end of Succession, try to explain Paramount’s new pricing strategy and play America’s favorite game: Renewed or Canceled?!

"You don’t want to miss this episode of Streamageddon!"

(Check out the bonus segment at the end of the episode where we fact check Bing!)

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📺 Review: Not Dead Yet

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 2 Episodes (starting at 48:36) 🚨

  • Renewal Status: Not Announced
  • Where to Watch: ABC
  • Where to Stream: Hulu

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📺 Review: American Auto

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 2 Episodes of Season 2 (starting at 1:02:19) 🚨

  • Number of Seasons Overall: 2
  • Renewal Status: Not Announced
  • Where to Watch: NBC
  • Where to Stream: Peacock

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🔗 Links:

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#41 – Peacock’s Poker Face, Showtime’s Untimely Demise, and The Last of Us!

The one with all the corrections.

Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is a sly new case-of-the-week detective series anchored by Natasha Lyonne’s performance as Charlie Cale, a woman on the run with one special skill: She can always tell when someone is lying. Oh, and everywhere she goes someone seems to die. Thankfully the lie thing usually helps her solve the murders, so it all works out in the end!

The series is arguably Peacock’s first bonafide hit, but is it any good? We unpack the pros and cons of the show’s throwback format: Inspired by classics like Columbo and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (classics, I say!) each episode of Poker Face reveals the murderer at the start of the episode and asks us to watch Charlie try to piece it together.

Plus! We check-in on The Last of Us and answer these burning questions about the streaming universe:

  • Why is Paramount+ absorbing Showtime and who chose the service’s terrible new name?
  • Why is Discovery+ not being absorbed into HBO Max anymore? (Except it still sort of is, but then what does that mean??)
  • How many Billiions spinoffs is too many Billions spinoffs?
  • Is anyone actually going to pay for Peacock?!
  • And speaking of money: How much could one banana cost, Michael? Ten dollars? (Apparently too much for Netflix! We’ll explain…)

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📺 Review: Poker Face

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 4 Episodes (starting at 35:47) 🚨

  • Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
  • Where to Watch: Peacock

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📺 Check-In: The Last of Us

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 5 Episodes (starting at 56:13) 🚨

  • Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
  • Where to Watch: HBO/HBO Max

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🔗 Links:

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#40 – Sitcom Reboot Power Hour: Night Court and That 90s Show

The one with all the reboots.

This week we’re coming at you with a double feature of deja vu starring a pair of reboots: Night Court (NBC/Peacock) and That 90s Show (Netflix).

Do these spiritual successors capture the essence of their original runs? And honestly, should they? The original Night Court was horny on main years before we even had a term for it, and That 70s Show thrived in the cynical heyday of early 2000s Fox.

Join us as we discuss the many challenges involved in successfully rebooting any show— but especially comedies!— and how we draw the line between Reboots, Revivals, and Spin-Offs.

And yes, we’re going to answer the BIG question we already know you’re asking: Is the upcoming Frasier series a reboot or a revival? Spoiler alert: Dianne makes a shocking case for deeming it a spin-off (!!!) and Chris proposes retconning a new title for the entire Frasier canon in order to make it work. So if you’re listening, Paramount execs, My Seattle Life! is just waiting to be green-lit…

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📺 Review: Night Court

🚨 Spoiler Alert: The First 2 Episodes of Night Court (2023), plus the original series (starting at 30:36) 🚨

  • Where to Watch the Reboot: NBC and Peacock
  • Where to Watch the Original: Freevee and Amazon

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📺 Review: That 90s Show

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 2 Episodes of That 90s Show, plus the original series (starting at 41:23) 🚨

  • Where to Watch the Reboot: Netflix
  • Where to Watch the Original: Peacock

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🔗 Links:

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#39 – The Last of Us, CNN, and Other Zombies on TV

The one where we solve the cable news crisis with Amy Sedaris and Depeche Mode.

Finally, a show that answers the age-old question: “What if The Mandalorian let us see Pedro Pascal’s face and had a sidekick who can talk?”

Yes, this week we’re streaming a different -ageddon: It’s the kind of armageddon that puts the “fun” in fungal… but is it any good? We’re reviewing the pilot of HBO’s The Last of Us in order to find out!

On the way we’ll discuss the latest streaming news and TV’s rich history of post-apocalyptic fare (and not-so-rich history of live action video game adaptations).

But first it’s an emergency round of America’s favorite game: Renewed or Canceled?! Play along as Dianne guesses the fate of these streaming shows:

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC/Hulu)
  • FX’s The Bear (Hulu)
  • Uncoupled (Netflix)
  • Workaholics (Comedy Central/Paramount+)
  • Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Peacock)
  • Chucky (SyFy)
  • Reginald the Vampire (SyFy)
  • Snowpiercer (TNT)
  • Minx (HBO Max)
  • Mel Brooks’ History of the World Part I (Really!)

Can you go 10 for 10? Lock in your guesses now and find out in this week’s episode.

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📺 Review: The Last of Us (Series Premier)

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First Episode (starting at 38:42) 🚨

  • Where to Watch: HBO/HBO Max
  • Total Episodes: 9 Episodes, 1 Season (In Progress)
  • Renewal Status: Not announced (but based on the ratings we’d be surprised if it doesn’t get the green light soon)

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🔗 Links:

Contains spoilers for Renewed or Canceled?!

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#38 – Kaleidoscope, Good Gimmicks, and Bad Vibes

Streaming is look very -ageddon in 2023...

We love a good storytelling gimmick and this week we’re sharing our favorites (and least favorites) as we unpack the new Netflix heist series Kaleidoscope.

Plus we answer all your burning questions, like:

  • What did HBO Max erase from existence while we were on vacation?
  • Who is hosting The Daily Show now that Trevor Noah is gone?
  • Why is Netflix teaming up with Nike?
  • And is the streaming universe doomed in 2023?!

But first it’s a surprise round of America’s favorite game: Renewed or Canceled?! Play along as Dianne guesses the fate of these streaming shows:

  • 1899 (Netflix)
  • 61st Street (AMC)
  • Wednesday (Netflix)
  • Dangerous Liaisons (Starz)
  • Step Up (Starz)

Can you go 5 for 5? Lock in your guesses now and find out in this week’s episode.

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📺 Review: Kaleidoscope

🚨 Spoiler Alert starting at 43:34 🚨

  • Where to Watch: Netflix
  • Total Episodes: 8 Episodes, 1 Season
  • Renewal Status: No Renewal Announcement (Limited Series)
  • Watched for Review: All 8 Episodes

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🔗 Links:

Contains spoilers for “Renewed or Canceled?!”

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#37 – Glass Onion Spoilercast!

Spoiler Alert! For Real!

We’re stuffing your stocking with a spoiler-packed bonus episode about this holiday’s streaming hit: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

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📺 Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

🚨 Spoiler Alert: Full Movie 🚨

  • Where to Watch: Netflix
  • Related Watching: Knives Out (Netflix)

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#36 – Glass Onion and Other Streaming Mysteries

Knives Out, Unexplained Disappearances at HBO Max, and more!

We saw the latest Knives Out mystery in theaters and we have spoiler-free thoughts to share to help you get excited to stream it on at home!

We’ll discuss Netflix’s latest experiment with a hybrid theatrical/streaming strategy, plus the other mysteries plaguing the streaming universe, such as…

  • Cecily Strong’s sudden departure from SNL!
  • Peacock’s puzzling pivot!
  • And all the suspicious disappearances plaguing HBO Max…

It’s a case only Benoit Blanc can solve, but unfortunately you’re stuck with us instead!

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📺 Review: Glass Onion

🚨 Extremely light spoilers starting at 44:29, but really we’re not spoiling this one for you!🚨

  • Where to Watch: Netflix (December 23)
  • Sequel To: Knives Out, baby!

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🔗 Links:

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#35 – The White Lotus Finale Had Us Screaming at Our TVs (Even More Than Usual)

Plus: MAX!!!

It’s kill or be killed (or just, like, have a so-so vacation) in the explosive finale of The White Lotus in Sicily! We’ll dish out the details, including the results of our White Lotus Murder Bracket in less time than it takes to drive to Taormina.

Plus: Will HBO Max drop the HBO and go all-Max all the time? Can you even trademark the word “Max” and does this mean people named Max will be signing up for “Max’s Max”??

But that’s not the only madness brewing in the streaming universe this week, because Warner Brothers Discovery CEO is picking a fight with the big dogs at Netflix. And we have real news about the next chapter of fake news now that The Daily Show is officially without Trevor Noah.

Pour another glass of white wine and join us as we bid arrivederci to one of the year’s best shows!

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📺 Review: White Lotus (Season 2 Rewind) - Part 1

🚨 Spoiler Alert: All Episodes through Season 2, Episode 7 (starting at 22:13) 🚨

  • Number of Seasons Overall: 2 (All Episodes Available)
  • Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 3
  • Where to Watch: HBO, HBO Max

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🔗 Links:

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#34 – 2022 Streaming Superlative Spectacular!

No spoilers, just superlatives!

2022 was a wild year for streaming and we’re here to crown the winners (and a couple of losers) in our First Annual Streaming Superlative Spectacular!

Which news story captured the essence of streaming in 2022? Which characters were the best couple? Who was best dressed? Which show was the life of the party? Who gave us the best finale? And who delivered the biggest disappointments of the year?

We’ll answer those questions (and more!) but don’t worry: No spoilers, just superlatives!

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🏆 Winners:

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC, Hulu)
  • The Rehearsal (HBO, HBO Max)
  • Barry (HBO, HBO Max)
  • Derry Girls (BBC, Netflix)
  • Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon (HBO, HBO Max)
  • The Bear (FX on Hulu)
  • Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
  • A League of Their Own (Amazon)
  • Stranger Things (Netflix)
  • The White Lotus (HBO, HBO Max)
  • Minx (HBO Max)
  • Andor (Disney+)
  • The Lord of the Rings Franchise (Amazon)
  • The Knives Out Franchise (Netflix)
  • The Boys (Amazon)
  • Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
  • Ghosts (US) (CBS, Paramount+)
  • Ghosts (UK) (BBC, HBO Max)
  • The Patient (FX on Hulu)
  • Hacks (HBO Max)

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🏅 Honorable Mentions:

  • I Love That For You (Showtime)
  • What We Do in the Shadows (FX on Hulu)
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
  • Reboot (Hulu)

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🔗 Links:

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#33 – Andor and/or How We Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Franchise Fatigue

Plus: One Frasier, Two Bobs, and Whose Reboot Is This Anyway?

Has franchise fatigue doomed the excellent Andor to streaming obscurity? Or is the hype cycle about to go to hyperspace as viewers binge the full season? We’ll dissect the data then unpack our favorite moments from season 1 (don’t worry, we’ll warn you before we get to the spoilers!).

But first! Is a Fraiser reboot still a reboot if only Frasier returns? Where do we draw the line between reboot, spin-off, and spiritual successor? And if reboots are all the rage can someone do us a favor and reboot Whose Line Is It Anyway? before the series ends this winter?

Plus: The Disney Empire Strikes Back, but will the Return of the Jed-Iger bring A New Hope to the rebel alliance that ousted Emperor Bob Chapek? Will the returning Bob prove to be more of a Phantom Menace or is he the only Rogue One capable of navigating the Disney+ through the Attack of the Clones (by which we mean the ever-expanding universe of indistinguishable streaming services)?*

All that and more on this week’s Streamageddon!

*We aren’t even going to try to squeeze the sequel trilogy in there. Make of that what you will.

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📺 Review: Andor (Season 1 Rewind)

🚨 Spoiler Alert: Season 1, All 12 Episodes (starting at 25:46) 🚨

  • Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
  • Where to Watch: Disney+
  • Spinoffs: Uh… spoiler alert for 2016’s Rogue One

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🔗 Links:

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