Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast

By Indiewire

What's Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast about?

"Very Good TV Podcast" offers Indiewire's weekly examinations of the best stories, shows and trends across television — plus our heartiest recommendations of what new content you should be watching.

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Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast episodes:

06.02.2019
The Series Finale: Episode 214
It's the last episode of Very Good TV Podcast, so Liz and Ben use the occasion to say goodbye... and, of course, talk about series finales. Do not fear — one last time, both "The X-Files" and "The Leftovers" come...
05.13.2019
We'll Miss You, VEEP: Episode 213
We don't want to talk about it. Except we do. Liz and Ben will dearly miss HBO's iconoclastic comedy about American politics, for all of its nuances and all of its outrageousness.
05.06.2019
Talking SUCCESSION with Adam McKay! Episode 212
It's a Very Good TV Podcast first: An Oscar winner as a special guest! Also, Liz and Ben LEFT THE OFFICE to visit Adam McKay at his home in Los Angeles, where we got into McKay's role behind the scenes...
04.29.2019
We'll Miss You, GOTHAM: Episode 211
For five seasons, Fox's "Gotham" delivered a twisted take on DC favorites, and Liz and Bn aren't afraid to take a moment and pay tribute to what the show did so very very well.
04.22.2019
Table-Setting vs. World-Building: Episode 210
No spoilers for GAME OF THRONES Season 8, Episode 2 here! Instead, Liz and Ben examine the GOT season premiere, and how serialized storytelling enables episodes of television that don't actually have any story. (Shockingly, both THE X-FILES annnnnnd THE...
04.15.2019
Here's How Much TV We Actually Watch! Episode 209
It's a question Liz and Ben get asked fairly often — "how much TV do you watch? it must be a lot!" — and they've never had a real answer... until now. In this episode, they're joined by special guest...
04.08.2019
How GAME OF THRONES Has Affected April TV: Episode 208
As Liz and Ben prepare for one of the year's biggest premieres, one question comes up: How is HBO planning to take advantage of GAME OF THRONES' final season, and how are other networks reacting? (Or, in Ben's words, "GAME...
04.01.2019
BARRY's Back, Baby! Episode 207
One of TV's most fascinating comedies returns for its second season on HBO... but, um, is it actually a comedy? That's just one facet of the Emmy-winning series that Liz and Ben discuss!
03.25.2019
Just How Bonkers Is THE OA? Episode 206
Netflix's bold drama by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij has always defied expectation, but Season 2, as Liz and Ben discuss, is pure uncut crazy. But is that level of craziness sustainable?
03.19.2019
Why We're Thrilled About SHRILL: Episode 205
When we say we cover very good TV on this podcast, we mean it! Aidy Bryant is a joy in the new Hulu series "Shrill," but what beyond that makes it great? Liz and Ben dig in.
03.11.2019
Hanging With the Creators of HIGH MAINTENANCE! Episode 204
Special! Guest! Time! This week, Liz and Ben are joined by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the creators of "High Maintenance," because it is a great show and you should watch it, and also because the show's journey from web...
03.04.2019
TRUE DETECTIVE Season 3 — It Sure Happened! Episode 203
This podcast gets back to its humble beginnings with an episode all about HBO's iconic detective drama. Not only do Liz and Ben dig into the nuances of the series, but both THE X-FILES annnnd THE LEFTOVERS come up!
02.25.2019
The Argument For an Awards Show Host: Episode 202
Liz and Ben are joined by SPECIAL GUEST Kate Erbland to dig into all of this year's drama surrounding the Academy Awards, especially why there were concerns over this year's Oscars going host-less. (Shockingly, Hugh Jackman comes up!)
02.18.2019
Seems Like It Sucks to Be a Superhero: Episode 201
This week, with two new eclectic superhero dramas premiering, Liz and Ben dig into why the genre continues to proliferate, and if it's sustainable in the longterm.
02.13.2019
What TV Will Look Like Four Years From Now: Episode 200
The image attached to this week's episode was the first one that popped up when searching for "the future of television," which is what Liz and Ben talked about for this VERY SPECIAL 200th episode of Very Good Television Podcast....
02.04.2019
Counter-Programming the Super Bowl: Episode 199
Liz and Ben may not really be rooting for either team during this year's Big Game, but they're fascinated by how the Superb Owl affects the TV landscape, especially when networks like AMC and Amazon use that special Sunday for...
01.28.2019
The Power of Chris Pine Compels You! Episode 198
Maybe it's not such a big deal anymore when a movie star decides to make a limited series for TV, but as Liz and Ben get into, there's something special about TNT's "I Am the Night," largely thanks to the...
01.21.2019
The Importance of Picking the Right Protagonist: Episode 197
Critics might be divided on "Black Monday," but everyone can agree that Regina Hall rules. Why isn't she the star of the show? There's the obvious answer, but Liz and Ben admit there's some nuance to it in this week's...
01.14.2019
When Should A Show Reveal Its Premise? Episode 196
What's the upcoming Netflix comedy "Russian Doll" about? Ben doesn't know and Liz won't tell you, but they will discuss when it makes sense for a show to keep its premise a secret — and when it doesn't. (You'll be...
01.07.2019
2019 Golden Globes Fantasy Draft! Episode 195
Before this year's Globes, Liz and Ben did a live fantasy draft, identifying their picks across all the TV categories. Monday morning will reveal who owes who a sandwich, but enjoy listening to their bold picks!
12.17.2018
Our Favorite Things of 2018: Episode 194
Special guest Steve Greene joins Liz and Ben to chat about the best stuff we all experienced this year — actually perhaps shockingly, THE X-FILES comes up! In the meantime, looking forward to the new year!
12.10.2018
No Spoilers, But Mrs. Maisel Remains Marvelous: Episode 193
The Emmy-winning favorite of Liz and Ben's moms is back, and there's a lot to discuss, from what impresses us about Amy Sherman-Palladino's attention to detail to whether or not they really need to swear so much on the show....
12.03.2018
The Awards-Season Movies That Feel Like TV: Episode 192
It's awards season! But the DNA of television can be found in a number of the films under contention for the Golden Globes and Oscars, including THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS and WIDOWS. How does that affect our viewing? Liz...
11.26.2018
The Stigma Against Animation: Episode 191
When IndieWire did its 50 Best Animated Series of All Time, one thing we noticed was that a lot of these shows haven't gotten the recognition they deserve, beyond the realm of cartoons. Ben and Liz ask: What gives?!
11.19.2018
The Ideal Thanksgiving TV May Not Require Words: Episode 190
In the name of turkey and stuffing, Liz and Ben debate what's the best kind of TV to watch on the classic American holiday, from football to "Mythbusters" to "Friends" to, yes, surprisingly, "The Leftovers."
11.12.2018
So, About a BREAKING BAD Movie... Episode 189
Last week it was revealed that a movie set within the world of BREAKING BAD was a likely possibility. But rather than debate whether or not it's a good idea, Liz and Ben dig into why this might have been...
11.05.2018
The Bad and the Good Side of Remixing TV: Episode 188
On a weekend filled with important TV, Liz and Ben choose to focus on... "Saved By the Bell." But really, it's a conversation about how the future of media might affect our present!
10.29.2018
When Long Takes Work (And When They Don't): Episode 187
Recently, TV has been graced with a number of examples of long takes — single-shot sequences that stretch on for minutes, per the story demands, including "Daredevil," "The Haunting of Hill House," "Kidding" and the upcoming "Homecoming." What makes these...
10.22.2018
The System Is Broken: Episode 186
It's another super-focused episode, as Liz and Ben look into how the shows they've been watching recently reflect our complicated relationship with the truth of today's society. (Believe it or not, "The Leftovers" comes up.)
10.15.2018
Is Horror TV Scarier Today Because It Can Be Gorier? With Todd VanDerWerff! Episode 185
Vox's Todd VanDerWerff comes by to chat with Liz and Ben about how, with the changes in television over the past 20-something years, the state of scary television has changed with the times. Shockingly, "The X-Files" comes up!
10.08.2018
How Streaming Services Try to Keep Us Subscribed: Episode 184
Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access and more are all desperate for our continuing subscriptions, and they're using their content in unique ways to strategize that. Guess what — Liz and Ben find that interesting!
10.01.2018
Politics and Revivals and Tim Allen, Oh My! Episode 183
Last week, Ben watched a lot of "Last Man Standing." Liz watched a lot of "Murphy Brown." Hilarious culture clashes ensue! You could definitely get a sitcom out of it.
09.24.2018
Guessing How Long Some Shows Have Been On! Episode 182
IndieWire's Steve Greene joins Liz and Ben with an exciting challenge: Trying to guess how many seasons a wide variety of TV shows, from cable, broadcast, and beyond. You likely be as shocked as they were by just how long...
09.16.2018
This Year's Emmys Are Crazy! Episode 181
Ben has been neck-deep in the Emmys game this year, while Liz might need some help remembering who's nominated in each category — yet they both have strong opinions about what's going to happen once Michael Che and Colin Jost...
09.10.2018
KIDDING Might Be One of Fall's Most Important Shows — But Will People Watch? Episode 180
Jim Carrey's big return to TV has Liz and Ben once again gazing into the abyss that is their own mortality, but its emphasis on discussing death may keep the Showtime quasi-comedy from connecting with audiences.
09.03.2018
The Most Important Questions About Fall TV: Episode 179
There's a LOT going on in the next few months when it comes to TV, and you'd better believe that Liz and Ben are obsessed with what's to come. So many shows come up here! God rest our souls.
08.27.2018
How About That SHARP OBJECTS Finale? Episode 178
Liz and Ben are joined by a special guest — IndieWire's associate TV editor Steve Greene — to dig into why the end of the HBO limited series "Sharp Objects" will stick with us for quite some time, and whether...
08.20.2018
The Sad News About DISENCHANTED: Episode 177
SIMPSONS and FUTURAMA fans were likely pretty excited about Matt Groening's third-ever animated series, but it proved to be a bit of a disappointment. But maybe there's a solution for enjoying the first season? Liz and Ben discuss.
08.13.2018
Let's Talk About Netflix's INSATIABLE: Episode 176
Liz and Ben followed up a long few weeks of Comic-Con and TCA coverage by... watching maybe the worst Netflix series of the year so far. (And yes, they both watched every episode.) But what's really so bad about this...
08.06.2018
We're Very Tired But We're Still Excited About New TV! Episode 175
Because Liz and Ben are consummate professionals, they'd never confess just how tired they currently are on this humble podcast. Instead, they focus this episode of VGTVP on how they've learned a ton about some upcoming TV, from the new...
07.30.2018
What's the Right Season for "Sharp Objects"? Episode 174
It's hot outside, so does that make it the right time of year to watch murder mysteries like "Sharp Objects" or "The Sinner"? The answer may be yes, but how does the season affect our enjoyment of these shows? Liz...
07.23.2018
When Is a Surprise Release a Good Idea? Episode 173
Hulu sprang the final season of "UnREAL" on unsuspecting subscribers last week, but was it the best strategy for the cult series? And when does that sort of strategy play well for content, those who watch it, and those who...
07.16.2018
What Is 'Who Is America?': Episode 172
Ben recently had to watch Showtime's newest effort to engage with political comedy — but is Sasha Baron Cohen the voice America needs to be hearing right now?
07.09.2018
Emmys Justice for David Schwimmer! Episode 171
This week, Liz and Ben address a grave injustice of television history, while also connecting it to issues of the day...But really, the problem is that David Schwimmer never won an Emmy for playing Ross.
07.01.2018
GLOW, And Talking About Making a Show: Episode 170
"Glow," in its second season, showed us what the show-within-a-show actually looks like. Which made Liz and Ben ponder their own behind-the-scenes process, in a very special episode of VGTVP.
06.25.2018
How Long is Too Long? Episode 169
Liz and Ben have been slogging through some pretty bloated series lately, but is there a solution? Or do some shows NEED to run a little longer than others? Surprisingly, "The Leftovers" comes up!
06.18.2018
Time For Your Questions! Episode 168
This week, Liz and Ben let the listeners come up with the topics to be discussed, and the result was a wide-ranging discussion of everything from the new Apple original content on the horizon to what shows they'd bring with...
06.11.2018
When Does a Canceled Show Need a Series Finale?
"Sense8" fans got a happy ending this weekend thanks to the premiere of a special series finale episode that wrapped up all the major storylines left dangling by Season 2. But does every show deserve, or even require, that sort...
06.04.2018
Give THE AMERICANS an Emmy Already!!! Episode 166
Faithful listeners of this podcast will know that Liz and Ben don't agree on everything, but "The Americans" unites them. A truly great TV show just ended, and no matter how committed you were to it, the fact remains that...
05.28.2018
An Alternative to Revivals: Episode 165
There's no denying that revival culture is inescapable today, but while that doesn't mean they're all bad ideas, there has to be a better option for casts and creators who want to work together again... Right? Liz and Ben ponder...

What's Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Indiewire's Very Good TV Podcast episodes:

The Series Finale: Episode 214

We'll Miss You, VEEP: Episode 213

Talking SUCCESSION with Adam McKay! Episode 212

We'll Miss You, GOTHAM: Episode 211

Table-Setting vs. World-Building: Episode 210

Here's How Much TV We Actually Watch! Episode 209

How GAME OF THRONES Has Affected April TV: Episode 208

BARRY's Back, Baby! Episode 207

Just How Bonkers Is THE OA? Episode 206

Why We're Thrilled About SHRILL: Episode 205

Hanging With the Creators of HIGH MAINTENANCE! Episode 204

TRUE DETECTIVE Season 3 — It Sure Happened! Episode 203

The Argument For an Awards Show Host: Episode 202

Seems Like It Sucks to Be a Superhero: Episode 201

What TV Will Look Like Four Years From Now: Episode 200

Counter-Programming the Super Bowl: Episode 199

The Power of Chris Pine Compels You! Episode 198

The Importance of Picking the Right Protagonist: Episode 197

When Should A Show Reveal Its Premise? Episode 196

2019 Golden Globes Fantasy Draft! Episode 195

Our Favorite Things of 2018: Episode 194

No Spoilers, But Mrs. Maisel Remains Marvelous: Episode 193

The Awards-Season Movies That Feel Like TV: Episode 192

The Stigma Against Animation: Episode 191

The Ideal Thanksgiving TV May Not Require Words: Episode 190

So, About a BREAKING BAD Movie... Episode 189

The Bad and the Good Side of Remixing TV: Episode 188

When Long Takes Work (And When They Don't): Episode 187

The System Is Broken: Episode 186

Is Horror TV Scarier Today Because It Can Be Gorier? With Todd VanDerWerff! Episode 185

How Streaming Services Try to Keep Us Subscribed: Episode 184

Politics and Revivals and Tim Allen, Oh My! Episode 183

Guessing How Long Some Shows Have Been On! Episode 182

This Year's Emmys Are Crazy! Episode 181

KIDDING Might Be One of Fall's Most Important Shows — But Will People Watch? Episode 180

The Most Important Questions About Fall TV: Episode 179

How About That SHARP OBJECTS Finale? Episode 178

The Sad News About DISENCHANTED: Episode 177

Let's Talk About Netflix's INSATIABLE: Episode 176

We're Very Tired But We're Still Excited About New TV! Episode 175

What's the Right Season for "Sharp Objects"? Episode 174

When Is a Surprise Release a Good Idea? Episode 173

What Is 'Who Is America?': Episode 172

Emmys Justice for David Schwimmer! Episode 171

GLOW, And Talking About Making a Show: Episode 170

How Long is Too Long? Episode 169

Time For Your Questions! Episode 168

When Does a Canceled Show Need a Series Finale?

Give THE AMERICANS an Emmy Already!!! Episode 166

An Alternative to Revivals: Episode 165