Streamageddon

#90 – Fall TV Season is BACK, Baby!

The one with all the previews.

It’s our 2024 Fall TV and Streaming Preview Spectacular! We’ll dish on the shows we’re excited for… and also other shows! That also exist! (Surely someone is excited for all the Citadel spinoffs!)

Then we’ll channel the dark arts of streaming to transform our excitement into buying advice in a special Fall installment of Add? Keep? Cancel! (The segment where we spend your money for you!)

📺 Featuring:

  • Have I Got News for You with Roy Wood Jr. — CNN/Max, Premiers Sept. 14
  • High Potential — ABC/Hulu, Premiers Sept. 17
  • Marvel’s Agatha All Along — Disney+, Premiers Sept. 18
  • The Golden Bachelorette — ABC/Hulu, Premiers Sept. 18
  • The Penguin — HBO/Max, Premiers Sept. 19
  • St. Denis Medical — NBC/Peacock, Premiers Nov. 12
  • Only Murders in the Building (Season 4) — Hulu, Returned Aug. 27
  • Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 2) — Amazon, Returned Aug. 28
  • Abbott Elementary (Season 4) — ABC/Hulu, Returns Oct. 9
  • Ghosts (Season 4) — CBS/Paramount+, Returns Oct. 17
  • Elsbeth (Season 2) — CBS/Paramount+, Returns Oct. 17
  • What We Do in the Shadows (Final Season) — FX/Hulu, Returns Oct. 21
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks (Final Season) — Paramount+, Returns Oct. 24
  • And more!

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#89 – 3 Body Problemista

The one where we crown the streaming story of the summer!

Netflix was looking for some Game of Thrones magic when they hired D.B. Weiss and David Benioff to helm a western adaptation of the Chinese sci-fi epic 3 Body Problem, and they were rewarded with a surprise nomination for Best Drama at next month’s Primetime Emmys. Does it stack up against the competition? (Hint: We’ve got some problems with 3 Body…)

☀️ But first: We’re looking back at the summer in streaming!

  • Including updates on the next seasons of Shogun and Hacks (two of our favorite shows this year!).
  • The shocking (for some!) cancellation of The Acolyte as Disney struggles to combat franchise fatigue and hostile fans in the Star Wars universe.
  • In SPORTSPOCALYPSE: A dramatic legal twist for the mega sports streamer Venu…
  • … and a make-or-break moment for Peacock.
  • Plus: We crown the story of the summer! And break down the logic behind Chick-Fil-A’s rumored push into streaming!

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📺 Review: 3 Body Problem

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Netflix
  • 🗓️ Episodes: 8 (All Episodes Available)
  • ✅ Renewal Status: Renewed for 2 final seasons (3 total)
  • 🧑‍🎨 Created By: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Alexander Woo
  • 📖 Based On: The book series Remembrance of Earth’s Past by Liu Cixin
  • ⚠️ Spoiler Alert for first 3 episodes starting at 41:34

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🔗 Links:

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#88 – Shogun Ascends the TV Throne

The one with all the Emmy buzz.

We’re less than a month away from the Primetime Emmys and one show is poised to sweep the Drama categories with a big pivot (and an even bigger renewal): It’s the FX not-so-limited series Shogun. We talk about the big 2-season renewal, its awards chances, and the shocking series-turned-season finale. (We’ll have some follow-up about the season 2 plans next week, too!)

But first: It’s America’s favorite unlicensed game show! RENEWED OR CANCELED?!

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📺 Review: Shogun (S1 Rewind)

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Hulu
  • 🗓️ Episodes: 10 (All Episodes Available)
  • ✅ Renewal Status: Renewed for Seasons 2 and 3
  • 🤩 Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai
  • 🧑‍🎨 Adapted By: Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks
  • ⚠️ Spoiler Alert for all 10 episodes starting at 25:44

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🔗 Links:

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#87 – Disney’s Franchise Fracas: (Dr.) Doom, Gloom, and The Acolyte (Spoilercast!)

The one where we beg Disney for a Manny Jacinto spinoff.

The Star Wars franchise sent Disney+ into hyperspace when the service launched with breakout hit The Mandalorian, but the sci-fi cornerstone of Disney’s streaming play has struggled to replicate the unstoppable force of Grogu and Mando.

Enter The Acolyte, which has been review bombed for all the wrong reasons… but also might be burdened with some pretty serious storytelling problems. We revisit the series after finishing the full season and debate what worked, what didn’t, and whether the show would’ve succeeded as a Rogue One-style standalone movie (especially with so much riding on the upcoming big screen Mandalorian spinoff).

But first, in the news:

  • Disney finally shakes off the Marvel funk with a successful Deadpool movie, but will a desperate pivot back to RDJ and the Russo Brothers save the flagship Avengers franchise?
  • And speaking of the Russo Brothers: Amazon reveals some compelling casting for one of the least compelling shows we’ve ever watched. Can Citadel convince us to come back for season 2?

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📺 Review: The Acolyte (S1 Rewind)

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Disney+
  • 🗓️ Episodes: 8 (All Episodes Available)
  • 🔄 Renewal Status: Unclear!
  • 📚 Related Titles: The Star Wars-es
  • 📚 Where to Stream Related Titles: Disney+
  • 🤩 Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto
  • 🧑‍🎨 Created By: Leslye Headland
  • ⚠️ Spoiler Alert for all 8 episodes starting at 12:40

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🔗 Links:

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#86 – The Olympics Goes for Gold on Peacock

The one with Snoop.

Peacock failed to stick the landing in Tokyo, but will the 2024 Paris Olympics be the comeback story every young media executive dreams of??

But first: News from SNL ahead of Season 50, and Sportspocalypse breaks down the value of Venu.

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📺 Review: Summer Olympics 2024

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Peacock! (and the networks of NBCUniversal)
  • 👀 Many many hours watched for review

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🔗 Links:

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#85 – It’s the Summer of Veep!

The one where we somehow manage to avoid the explicit label.

Everyone is suddenly rewatching the iconic HBO comedy Veep but with 7 seasons available to stream where should you start? Relax, because we’re here to be your tour guides through the halls of almost-power.

But first: Bundle Watch! Sportspocalypse! And with The Olympics kicking off we ask the eternal question: What’s the deal with Peacock?!

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📺 Rewatch: Veep

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Max
  • 🎟️ Originally Premiered: April 22, 2012 on HBO
  • 🍂 Seasons: 7 (65 episodes)
  • 🤩 Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh
  • 🧑‍🎨 Created By: Armando Iannucci (Showrunner Seasons 1-4), David Mandel (Showrunner Seasons 5-7)
  • ⚠️ Spoiler Alert for all episodes starting at 38:10

Specific Episodes Mentioned:

  • S1E1 – Fundraiser
  • S1E2 – Frozen Yoghurt
  • S3E2 – The Choice
  • S3E9 – Crate
  • S4E2 – East Wing
  • S4E10 – Election Night (Armando Iannucci’s last episode)
  • S5E10 – Inauguration (Season 5 Finale)
  • S7E7 – Veep (Series Finale)

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🔗 Links:

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#84 – LOST in the WEEDS (Summer Show Swap!)

The one with all the mid-2000s cultural references.

It’s hot out, so why not stay inside with two of the most influential (and bingeable) shows from the mid-2000s? It’s a Summer Show Swap that pits one of Dianne’s favorite series against one of Chris’s. Which side will you take?

  • ✈️🏝️ Can Dianne convince Chris that iconic ABC drama Lost (now streaming on Netflix) is worth the 6-season binge? We discuss the pilot and how it redefined network TV.
  • 🏡🍃 And will Chris convince Dianne that Showtime hit Weeds (now streaming on Hulu) overcomes its tonally inconsistent pilot to deliver one of the all-time best second seasons of TV? We’ll break down the first 3 episodes of the series and how the show was retooled after the pilot. (Bonus: Chris will tell you which seasons you can skip!)

But first! News!

  • A shocking twist in the Paramount Death Watch!
  • We introduce you to a brand new streaming service, because there really aren’t enough already!
  • And Warner Bros. Discovery rebrands 5 high-profile “Max Originals” under the HBO umbrella, because apparently people actually liked the HBO brand? Who knew!

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🔀 Show Swap: Lost

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Netflix
  • 🎟️ Originally Premiered: September 22, 2004 on ABC
  • 🍂 Seasons: 6 (118 episodes)
  • ⚠️ Light Spoilers for the 2-part Pilot Episode starting at 25:25

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🔀 Show Swap: Weeds

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Hulu (or Peacock, supposedly)
  • 🎟️ Originally Premiered: August 7, 2005 on Showtime
  • 🍂 Seasons: 8 (102 episodes)
  • ⚠️ Light Spoilers for the first 3 Episodes starting at 43:49

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🔗 Links:

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#83 – Fantasmas is Fantastic, Netflix Does Retail, and Late Night Gets Lean

The one with the Hamster CVS.

Julio Torres (Los Espookys) is back on HBO with a new 6-episode series that blends sketch comedy with a surreal narrative about a lost oyster earring, a concerning mole (or maybe it’s just a birthmark), and Julio’s struggle to find a new apartment without providing his “proof of existence."

We’ll take you on our dream-like experience watching the first three episodes, featuring guest stars like Aidy Bryant (in a wild informercial bit), Jaboukie Young-White (as a influencer confronted by The Algorithm), and Tilda Swinton (as the voice of water). But first!

  • We’ve got the latest news from the Paramount Death Watch, including the $2 Paramount+ price hike that will probably solve everything.
  • Netflix is launching permanent retail spaces in two U.S. malls. We try to imagine the synergistic experiences that await.
  • It’s Pride Month so we’re sharing our favorite LGBTQIA+ shows from the Streamageddon back catalog and check in with series like Interview with the Vampire and Ripley.
  • And find out which late night talk show host Chris has completely blocked from his memory in a round-up of news from 11 PM and beyond! (Hint: It’s a CBS host!)

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📺 Review: Fantasmas

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: HBO and/or Max
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: Weekly on Fridays at 11 PM ET (HBO and Max)
  • ✅ Renewal Status: TBA
  • 🤩 Starring: Julio Torres
  • 🎬 Created By: Julio Torres (Los Espookys, Problemista)

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 🦄 Light Spoilers for the First 3 Episodes: Starting at 52:33

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🔗 Links:

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#82 – The Acolyte, Disney’s TV Trouble, and Paramount Goes for Broke

The one with Nulu.

In a shocking twist of events the Paramount Death Watch is back! We’ll discuss Shari Redstone’s last-minute decision to kill the Skydance deal and what comes next for the beleaguered home of CBS. Will a new buyer swoop in? Will Warner chief David Zaslav make a move? And what’s all this talk from Paramount’s three-headed CEO about a possible joint venture with another streamer? Will Paramount+ and Peacock team up for a new Hulu (a Nulu, if you will)??

Then we’re dusting off our Jedi robes and heading to Disney+ to discuss the intriguing new Star Wars prequel The Acolyte. There’s a lot to love, but also the same frustrations that plague most of Disney’s streaming strategy. Can they make these 8-episode “seasons” work? Or are they pulling from the wrong playbook?

But wait, there’s more!

  • The 2024 Box Office is back, baby! We’ll break down the big weekends from Pixar and the Bad Boys.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery is serving up some tennis, but can it fill the Charles Barkley sized hold in sports fans’ hearts?
  • Peacock has a new deal just in time for the Olympics, but can NBC convince you to stick around after?
  • And Max is raising prices… to the max!

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📺 Review: The Acolyte

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Disney+
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: Weekly on Tuesday Nights (3 out of 8 Episodes Available Now)
  • ✅ Renewal Status: TBA
  • 🤩 Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae
  • 🎬 Created By: Leslye Headland

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 🚨 Spoilers for the First 3 Episodes: Starting at 30:55
  • 👍 Spoiler-Light Discussion of Disney’s TV Strategy: Starting at 47:18

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🔗 Links:

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#81 – Hit Man, Box Office Blues, and Summer Shows (Or No?!)

The one where we complain to the theater staff.

Did streaming break the box office? It sure seems like it, with attendance and ticket sales in a perpetual slump, layoffs plaguing juggernauts like Pixar, and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos claiming that he could’ve made the Barbenheimer without a theatrical release (we disagree, Ted!). We’ll break it all down and preview this weekend’s new Netflix movie Hit Man, which Dianne saw during its brief theatrical run.

But first! Summer also means it’s time for a parade of new streaming shows you’ve probably never heard of! Can you pick the real shows from the ChatGPT-created hallucinations? Find out when we play our newest game: Show or No?!

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📺 Review: Hit Man

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Netflix
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: Available Now
  • 🤩 Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Retta
  • 🎬 Directed By: Richard Linklater
  • 📝 Written By: Richard Linklater, Glen Powell

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 👍 Extremely light spoilers for the premise of the movie: Starting at 29:08 ———

🔗 Links:

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