Streamageddon

#80 – Hacks is the Best HBO Show That’s Not on HBO

The one with FX on Hulu on FX.

Season 3 of the Max Original Hacks just wrapped and it’s so good we can’t figure out why it’s not on HBO already. It’s a sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy reminiscent of Barry, Veep, and Silicon Valley, and the best part is that it just keeps getting better.

Whether you’re new to the show or a diehard Deborah Vance fan, we’ve got you covered with both an introduction to the series and a full season 3 review.

But first!

  • The fallout from Amazon’s hit series Fallout continues: The wildly popular video game series drove millions of viewers to the wildly popular show… which drove millions of players back to the wildly popular video game series!
  • Speaking of fallouts: We check in with activist investor Nelson Peltz after losing the battle for Disney’s board.
  • FX on Hulu’s smash hit The Bear is coming to… FX on FX??
  • And in Sportspocalypse: Can Warner Bros. Discovery “nourish” sports fans without a big helping of NBA? We’re about to find out!
  • Plus: Legitimately breaking news from the Paramount Death Watch!

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📺 Review: Hacks (Season 3)

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Max
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: All 3 Seasons Available Now
  • ✅ Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 4
  • 🤩 Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter
  • 🎬 Created By: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 👍 Spoiler-Light Introduction: Starting at 29:08
  • 🚨 Spoilers for Season 3 (All Episodes): Starting at 44:07

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#79 – Streamers Go Nuclear: Fallout, Marvel, and Cancellations, Oh My!

The one where we declare victory over the wasteland.

The fallout from Season 1 of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout is still going strong, with ratings juggernaut Nielsen declaring the show a much-needed hit for the #1 streaming service that also sells toilet paper.

We’ve finished the full season and are ready to dish on all the twists and turns, whether the binge model worked for us, and what we expect (and hope for) in Season 2. Plus we revisit our predictions and grade our TV Tarot!

But first!

  • We dissect Disney’s earnings and the latest strategy shift at Marvel in a brand-new installment of What’s That, Bob?!
  • And with the abbreviated 2023-24 TV season coming to an end, both streamers and traditional TV networks are courting advertisers with some big announcements about their upcoming shows. That means it’s time for an extra-large edition of Renewed or Canceled?!

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📼 Rewind Review: Fallout

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: All 8 Episodes Available Now
  • ✅ Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
  • 📚 Related Titles: Based on the Fallout franchise of games
  • 🤩 Starring: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan
  • 🎬 Created By: Jonathan Nolan (Director/Executive Producer) and Lisa Joy (Executive Producer)

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 🚨 Spoilers for ALL of Season 1: Starting at 26:44

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#78 – Netflix LIVE! (Feat. John Mulaney, Tom Brady, and… FOOTBALL?!)

The one with Richard Kind.

It’s a new era at Netflix: Ads, sports, and live specials galore! We’ll dig deep into the big strategy shift, including our review of John Mulaney’s limited-run live talk show Everybody’s in L.A.

We’ll try to explain the appeal of this one-of-a-kind live show, highlight some of our favorite segments, and recommend the best episode to check out (EARTHQUAKES!). From David Letterman to Conan O’Brien to John Mulaney interviewing David Letterman: We’re taking a full-circle journey through a very specific sub-genre of late night… that just might be the perfect fit for streaming.

But wait! There’s more!

  • We’ll catch you up with the latest from the Paramount Death Watch 💀
  • Brace yourself for more price hikes at Peacock and Max 💸
  • What’s the deal with the new Uber-bundle from Disney and Warner Bros Discovery (Iger and Zaz, together at last?) 💕
  • And yes, we finally have a sports segment: It’s the SPORTSPOCALYPSE 🤯

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📺 Review: Everybody’s in L.A.

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Netflix
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: All 6 Episodes Available Now
  • ✅ Renewal Status: We’re begging you, John. Give us more!
  • 🤩 Starring: John Mulaney, Richard Kind
  • 🎬 Created By: John Mulaney

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#77 – We’re Falling for Fallout

The one with the Ghoul.

Join us in the Wasteland as we spend the entire episode discussing the latest prestige video game adaptation: Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout.

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📺 Review: Fallout

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: All 8 Episodes Available Now
  • ✅ Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
  • 📚 Related Titles: Based on the Fallout franchise of games
  • 🤩 Starring: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan
  • 🎬 Created By: Jonathan Nolan (Director/Executive Producer) and Lisa Joy (Executive Producer)

🫣 Spoiler Warning:

  • 🚨 Spoilers for the first 5 episodes: Starting at 0:58

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#76 – Fallout from the Netflocalypse

The one where we go way over time.

It’s been 2 years since the “Netflix Correction” and we’re here to correct the record: How did Netflix become the sole survivor of an industry-wide crisis kicked off… by Netflix itself? We’ll take stock of the changes that helped solidify Netflix’s place at the top of the streaming food chain and what that means for the future of the little guys.

And speaking of little guys: Peacock! Comcast is eager for their streamer to offset the never-ending losses in their cable TV division, and guess what? It might be working?!

Plus it’s the most jam-packed edition of Daily Show Host(s) Watch yet!

It’s so much podcast we had to push the review of Fallout to next week! But you can get caught up on Amazon Prime Video now (we’ll be reviewing episodes 1-5).

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#75 – Ripley’s in Italy and Hulu’s in Disney

The one with the journey to the heart of Hulu.

This week we’re playing hide and seek with the ever-talented Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) in the new Netflix original series Ripley. He’s a conman traipsing through the black-and-white vistas of the Italian coast (let’s call it shabby chic) in this prestige adaptation of the classic novel.

But first!

  • Chris plays hide and seek with the Hulu content buried in the new Hulu Hub on Disney+ (it’s like Hulu, but worse!)…
  • Dianne breaks down the big network TV vibes coming to Max…
  • And all of us marvel at the $40 million Disney spent fighting off an activist investor (that’s a whole 1.5 episodes of She-Hulk!).

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📺 Review: Ripley

  • 🧭 Where to Watch: Netflix
  • 🗓️ Release Schedule: All 8 Episodes Available Now
  • 📚 Related Titles: Based on The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (Novel)
  • 🤩 Starring: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn
  • 🎬 Created By: Steven Zaillian (Writer/Director/Executive Producer)

🫣 Spoiler Warnings:

  • 🤫 Light spoilers for first 2 episodes: Starting at 37:57
  • 🚨 Major spoiler for episode 3: Starting at 51:00 This spoiler is mentioned in most of the show’s reviews.

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#74 – Shogun Has the Juice!

The one with all the miniseries.

It’s our Spring Streaming Spectacular featuring our favorite show of the year-so-far: FX’s Shogun (streaming on Hulu!). We’ll share our thoughts before digging into spoilers, plus:

  • Which streamers should you add, keep, and cancel this spring? We have the answers in a shocking edition of Add / Keep / Cancel!
  • And looking for even more Spring shows? We’re doing our first-ever Vibe Check to help you triage your watchlist.

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📺 Review: Shogun

Spoilers:

  • Overview: Light Spoilers for Episode 1 (starting at 37:35)
  • 🚨 Full Spoilers through Episode 5 (starting at 55:27)

Show Stats:

  • Where to Watch: FX and Hulu
  • New Episodes: Tuesdays through April 23

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🔗 Links:

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#73 – Girls5Eva Is Emmy-Worthy Comedy

The one with Richard Kind.

Netflix rescued the 30 Rock-infused Peacock comedy Girls5Eva and it’s a comeback we can get behind… even if we’re worried no one is watching. The show has more jokes in a single song than an entire season of Emmy-winning comedy The Bear but, like so many Peacock comedies, has struggled to find an audience. We’ll give you plenty of reasons to binge the 22 episodes now streaming on Netflix…

But first!

  • What’s Peacock’s deal anyway? How did it take 4 years for them to figure out that their brand is… NBC?
  • Is there any hope for Paramount? (We’re not holding our breath!)
  • Max goes global! (-ish!)
  • And we’ve got good news and bad news from Hollywood (where intrepid reporter Dianne is live on the ground!)

All that and a jam-packed edition of America’s Favorite Game Show: Renewed or Canceled?!

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📺 Review: Girls5Eva

🚨 Light Spoilers (But No Big Ones for Season 3) 🚨

  • Number of Seasons Overall: 3 (All Episodes Available)
  • Renewal Status: To Be Announced
  • Where to Watch Now: Netflix
  • Where It Started: Peacock

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#72 – Back to Comedy School: Abbott Elementary, Ghosts, and Jon Stewart Return!

The one where we try to resurrect a dying industry… the network sitcom!

TV is back and so are we! After a half-season delay (due to last year’s strikes) CBS and ABC are back with their hit sitcoms Ghosts and Abbott Elementary. Despite the extended hiatus both shows are entering their third seasons with a ton of momentum and a stacked (and growing) ensemble. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a brand new viewer: We’ll tell you what you need to know to dive into two of our favorite comedies.

Plus: Jon Stewart is back on The Daily Show and bringing in the highest ratings the show has seen since… Jon Stewart was on The Daily Show (go figure!). We’ll share some hot takes on the evolution of late night and the show’s precarious future.

But it’s not all laughs in Hollywood: Pilot season has all but vanished, with spring sitcom production down over 90% from a decade ago. Can comedy survive the industry’s historical contraction? We’ll debate the future of funny as we catch up on a lighting round of streaming news! ⚡️

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📺 Review: Abbott Elementary (Season 3)

🚨 Light Spoilers (starting at 43:22) 🚨

  • Number of Seasons Overall: 3 (Season In Progress)
  • Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 4
  • Where to Watch: ABC, Hulu
  • Where to Stream Past Seasons: Hulu
<h4>Season 1 originally reviewed in Episode #2 (February 11, 2022)</h4>

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📺 Review: Ghosts (Season 3)

🚨 Light Spoilers (starting at 56:20) 🚨

  • Number of Seasons Overall: 3 (Season in Progress)
  • Renewal Status: TBA (CBS will almost definitely renew it— it’s just early for the announcement)
  • Where to Watch: CBS, Paramount+
  • Where to Stream Past Seasons: Paramount+
  • Spinoff Of: Ghosts (UK)
<h4>Season 1 originally reviewed in Episode #18 (July 29, 2022)</h4>

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#71 – Mr. & Mrs. Smith? Meet Mr. & Mrs. Plex

The one where we mourn the end of Peak TV. Again.

Hihi, this week we’re going undercover with Donald Glover and Maya Erskine on their new Amazon Prime Video original Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It’s inspired by the 2005 blockbuster Brangelina action rom-com, but this new darkly comedic martial thriller has more in common with FX’s The Americans than the title suggests…

…and speaking of FX: Peak TV prognosticator (and veteran FX chief) John Landgraf is back with his annual tally of scripted originals and an ominous prediction. With the number of new series in decline, is the era of Peak TV is truly over? (He’s only predicted it twice before, so this time might be for real!)

But first!

  • Sony once again poses the question: Should you start hoarding physical media in the attic?
  • Chris explores the wide world of Plex channels…
  • …and Dianne plays a brand new game called Plex or Not?!

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📺 Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 2 Episodes (starting at 20:35) 🚨

  • Total Episodes: 8 Episodes (All Episodes Now Streaming)
  • Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
  • Renewal Status: TBA
  • Related Titles: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

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