The third seasons of two Emmy-favored series drive our conversations this week. Showtime’s Yellowjackets attempts a soft reboot to restore its luster after a mixed second season. We talk about changes within the season and whether or not the series feels back on track. Then, Mike White’s The White Lotus returns with a Thailand-focused season that feels like a huge step forward for the writer/director. We talk about the star-studded cast, our favorite characters, and what makes this season shine.

But first, Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary with a massive 3-hour special. We talk about whether or not the plus-sized episode worked and our favorite moments. We also talk about the Tom Hanks controversy and why it truly insulted some viewers.

We close the podcast, as always, with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week. If you haven’t heard it yet, take a listen to our spin-off series, Desperate Housewives Revisited, where Joey and Clarence look back at the first season of Marc Cherry’s 2004 phenomenon.

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Desperate Housewives Episode Six, “Running To Stand Still,” could have a surrogate title: “Bree Van de Kamp and the Sex Surrogate.” In this hallmark episode, Rex tries to convey the root of his marital issues and pins it all on Bree’s sexuality. Not to be outdone, Bree confronts him in his shabby hotel room but is unable to relinquish all elements of her Bree-ness. The episode also gives us Bree’s famous pro-sex monologue.

Lynette volunteers in her sons’ school production of “Little Red Riding Hood.” This storyline introduces us to the key guest character of Maisy Gibbons (Sharon Lawrence) whose conservative views on the children’s fairy tale clashes with Lynette’s anti-censorship stance. We also see the introduction of Lynette the drug addict.

Gabby gambles with Mama Solis and potentially wins big, and Susan is saddled with carrying the Young family storyline forward.

Joey and Clarence find “Running To Stand Still” a compelling episode full of iconic Desperate Housewives moments. Join them as they break it down on this week’s podcast! We will be back on our regular Monday schedule next week.

If you’ve never seen Desperate Housewives, then now is a great time to start. The series is available to stream on Hulu / Disney+. Catch up with our podcasts here!

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The clothes make the man, woman, prince and pauper, but what does The Academy look for when it comes to Best Costume Design? For me personally, I love talking to costume designers, because of how tied their work is to an actor’s personal choices of a character’s arc. Costume designers work closely with their cast members to talk about silhouette, color, fit, and style, and characters rarely leave their homes without careful consideration of how their wardrobe aligns with their wants and personal moods.

Will The Academy dig Arianne Phillips’ recreation of Bob Dylan’s duds for A Complete Unknown? Will they dive into the different ways cardinals strut around in the papal thriller Conclave? Will they be impressed with how Linda Muir matched those gorgeous gowns with Robert Eggers’ dark vision? Or is it just Paul Tazewell and Wicked‘s to lose? Or could Janty Yates and David Crossman take Gladiator II‘s lone nomination to the podum? Megan and I are joined by writer and fellow costume lover, Fawnia Soo Hoo, to break down this year’s nominees and why we love this category so much.

If you haven’t heard it yet, check out our first Oscars 2025 deep-dive podcast where we covered this year’s Original Song and Original Score nominees. We’ll be dropping more special episodes highlighting craft nominees right up until the Oscars on Sunday, March 2.

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This weekend offered something for literally everyone, and we’re here to break it all down for you. First, is Emilia Pérez really dead? Or is DGA / PGA / CCA winner Anora now the de facto Oscar winner? Then, Megan attended the SCAD TVfest in Atlanta. What upcoming television shows did she see while there? Next, Clarence traveled to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which has a strong Oscar correlation. Finally, we run a quick roundtable about our favorite 2025 Super Bowl Commercials.

We close the podcast, as always, with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week. If you haven’t heard it yet, take a listen to our spin-off series, Desperate Housewives Revisited, where Joey and Clarence look back at the first season of Marc Cherry’s 2004 phenomenon. Another episode drops (later than usual) this week!

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Before Megan ventures off to Atlanta to cover this year’s SCAD TVfest, we take a look at Max’s new drama series, The Pitt. Does it have the right stuff to be considered an Emmy player? The series calls back to a time when medical dramas were prominent on television, but the format of The Pitt (each episode playing out in almost real time) is something to sink your teeth into. I recommend a title from this year’s Sundance Film Festival–Carmen Emmi’s Plainclothes–and Megan reveals what she is looking forward to checking out at SCAD TVfest.

We close the podcast, as always, with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week. If you haven’t heard it yet, take a listen to our spin-off series, Desperate Housewives Revisited, where Clarence and I will be looking back at the first season of Marc Cherry’s phenomenon from 2004.

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We’re breaking into another episode of Desperate Housewives. This week, Joey and Clarence tackle “Come In, Stranger,” the fifth episode of the series. We open with a strange break-in, discovered by Susan. Naturally, it’s Mike Delfino at the center of the crime, and Susan’s discovery of a screwdriver leads her to explore a new relationship with a cop. It also causes Wisteria Lane to embark on a neighborhood watch initiative — but only in the day. Makes sense, right?

Lynette guilts Bree into putting in a good word for her unruly boys at Barcliff Academy, a prestigious private school who may overlook the boys’ behavioral issues. How far can Lynette push her hapless husband, Tom, to seal the deal? Speaking of Bree, she befriends Zach Young by making dinner for the troubled and lonely boy. Their oddball pairing leads to one of the strangest endings in the series.

Finally, Carlos calls his mother — Mama Solis (Lupe Ontiveros) — to help him determine whether or not Gabby is cheating on him. Gabby goes to incredible lengths to shake Mama Solis, until she gives Gabby a not-so-subtle threat. There’s a lot to unpack in “Come In, Stranger” as break-ins and unexpected intruders set several events into motion.

If you’ve never seen Desperate Housewives, then now is a great time to start. The series is available to stream on Hulu / Disney+. Catch up with our podcasts here!

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This week, we’re using this episode to kick off a side piece podcast series dedicated to the Oscars 2025 craft nominees. First up are the Original Song and Original Score categories. Joey, Megan, and Clarence chat about the merits of each nominee, predict the front runners, guess as to who could be the potential spoilers, and lament the ones that got away. This year’s Original Song nominees include selections from Emilia Pérez, Sing Sing, Elton John: Never Too Late, and The Six Triple Eight. The Original Score nominees include The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, Conclave, and The Wild Robot.

We’ll be following up in February with other podcasts covering most of the Oscars 2025 craft nominees as well as detailed looks at the Animated, International, and Documentary film races.

We close the podcast, as always, with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

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Do you like mincemeat pie? Mrs. Huber (Christine Estabrook) sure does, and she’s not afraid to make it both into a pie and into a tortured but hilarious metaphor! Yes, it’s time for our latest episode of Desperate Housewives Revisited covering Episode 4, “Who’s That Woman?”

In this episode, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) faces tough decisions regarding her sons and a potential ADHD diagnosis. A close call with a tube sock leads Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) to find that Carlos isn’t afraid of a little comic hate crime to protect his honor. Edie (Nicollette Sheridan), Susan (Teri Hatcher), and Mike (James Denton) continue their topsy turvy love triangle. Speaking of topsy turvy, Bree (Marcia Cross) finds her son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom), drowning his sorrows at the strip club Topsy Turvy. Plus, what’s going on with criminally bad liar Paul Young (Mark Moses). Did his wife, Mary Alice (Brenda Strong), have another name? How far will the Housewives go to find out the truth?

Naturally, there’s a great deal to unpack here in “Who’s That Woman?,” particularly several subplots that surprisingly passed 20 years ago but would never pass today. We’re seeing a theme here in our beloved show.

If you’ve never seen Desperate Housewives, then now is a great time to start. The series is available to stream on Hulu / Disney+. Catch up with our podcasts here!

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On Thursday, The Academy will unveil their nominations for the 2025 Academy Awards in 23 categories. It’s finally time for The Contending to lock in their final predictions, so most of the team gathers around the Water Cooler to weigh in on the frontrunners and potential spoilers for nominations. Plus, it’s a tight two hours!

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In our third episode of Desperate Housewives Revisited, we revisit Episode 3, “Pretty Little Picture.” It’s a lop-sided episode with Susan and Bree boasting the best material and Gabby and Lynette relegated to B-minus plot lines. After realizing the pending date of Mary Alice’s dinner party, the women decide to honor her memory by hosting a dinner party at the Van De Kamp’s. That opens us up to what Joey and Clarence both consider the single best line in all of Desperate Housewives lore.

Join us as we dig into some cringe-inducing underage dating gags, the likelihood of sexual encounters on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the latest with Desperate Housewives‘ creepiest neighbors — the Youngs, the kicked can at the center of the Susan / Karl / Brandi conflict, and the loudest sound on Wisteria Lane, all revealed in “Pretty Little Picture.”

If you’ve never seen Desperate Housewives, then now is a great time to start. The series is available to stream on Hulu / Disney+. Catch up with our podcasts here!

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