Bill, Juliet, and Joanna get together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ‘The O.C.’ premiere and begin their conversation by sharing their experiences during both the rewatch of the show and when it first aired in 2003. They then search for contemporary comparisons to series' influence and shine a light on its exquisite casting, particularly Adam Brody’s role as Seth Cohen (8:49). After the break they discuss the first episode’s premise, lament the lack of “appointment television” teen dramas in today’s binge-drop market, and marvel at the perfection of Phantom Planet’s epic theme song (23:21). They end the pod by revealing where they were when they heard the iconic phrase “welcome to the O.C. bitch” and debating the episode’s place amongst the pantheon of great TV pilots (37:27).
Hosts: Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, and Joanna Robinson
Associate Producer: Chris Sutton
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'The O.C.' 20th Anniversary: "Pilot"

The Prestige TV Podcast covers the best shows on television with unparalleled passion and expertise. The feed features must-listen commentary from The Ringer’s own Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin, Van Lathan, and many more. Subscribe to The Prestige TV Podcast for weekly recaps, comprehensive breakdowns, and exclusive creator & cast interviews.

TV & Film

Van and Wos come together to revisit the iconic ‘Sopranos’ episode, “Long Term Parking.” They discuss the legacy of the episode, the impact ‘The Sopranos’ had on TV, and the most shocking character deaths in the series.
Hosts: Wosny Lambre and Van Lathan
Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
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‘The Sopranos’ Hall of Fame: “Long Term Parking” and the Most Shocking Character Deaths

Joanna Robinson and Craig Horlbeck take center stage to roast each other and recap the first four episodes of ‘Hacks’ Season 3. They open by sharing their personal relationships with the Max comedy and discussing why it’s such a smart concept, before likening it to another iconic HBO show (4:18). Along the way, they reveal their favorite episode of the entire series (so far), and talk about what makes stand-up so difficult to capture on screen (11:14). Later, they compare and contrast “The Roast of Deborah Vance” to Netflix’s Tom Brady roast and look ahead at the remaining episodes of the season (30:36).

Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Craig Horlbeck
Producer: Kai Grady
Additional Production Support: Justin Sayles
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‘Hacks’ Season 3 and Why It’s the Best Comedy on TV

Charles Holmes and Jodi Walker debate the merits of Netflix’s newest hit, 'Baby Reindeer,' in which a struggling comedian is made to deal with both a female stalker and his own dark past. They examine just how the show subverted viewer expectations, the way it leaned into (and away from) the true crime angle, and its brave portrayal of trauma.
Hosts: Charles Holmes and Jodi Walker
Producer: Devon Baroldi
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‘Baby Reindeer’ Review

Joanna is first joined by ‘Shogun’ cocreator Rachel Kondo and writer Caillin Puente to discuss writing the penultimate episode, Mariko’s fate, making Ochiba a more layered character than her book counterpart, why they decided to cut out the heir’s parentage as a plot point for the story, how Nagakado’s death came to fruition, and much more. Next, ‘Shogun’ writers Emily Yoshida and Maegan Houang talk to Jo about penning the script for the finale, the elderly Blackthorne sequences, what the final interaction between Toranaga and Yabushige says about the former, why the book’s ending was one of the toughest parts to adapt, and much more.

Host: Joanna Robinson
Guests: Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente, Emily Yoshida, and Maegan Houang
Producer: Kai Grady
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‘Shogun’ Finale Interview Special

Jo and Rob return to break down the ‘Shogun’ finale. They discuss the surprising restraint throughout the final episode, their feelings about the show as a whole, and the revelation behind Toranaga’s true intentions. Along the way, they talk about the placement of Blackthorne’s seppuku moment and the beautiful subtlety of Ochiba’s poetry. Later, they unpack the ways in which the television adaptation surpassed the original work.

Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Kai Grady
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'The O.C.' 20th Anniversary: "Pilot"

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