Kicking things off with a review of the bleak box office and the Sandworm-sized savior on the horizon, before diving into some fascinating undercurrents from last week's TCAs, including the future of FX and a ranking of Schmear's most anticipated upcoming Apple TV+ series (1:28)

Sena Adjei returns to the show to wrap up our conversation on Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We break down Episodes 5-8 (10:59) and then dive into our thoughts on a potential Season 2 renewal for the promising series (41:27).

Teddy Kim helps me unpack the puzzling, remedial storytelling in True Detective: Night Country. We cover Episode 4 (49:44) and Episode 5 (1:02:59).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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We kick things off with an ultra-fast recap and analysis of Sundance 2024, along with Schmear's rankings of what he saw (2:27).

Sena Adjei comes on to talk the new Donald Glover/Maya Erskine series, Mr & Mrs. Smith. We discuss the series' tumultuous development yet impressive and stylish end product (14:14). We then dive into the specifics of Episodes 1-4 (35:10).

Jesse Aaronson swings by for Criterion Corner Week 5, where we break down Robert Townsend's prescient satire of Black Hollywood Hollywood Shuffle and discuss how it directly influenced Cord Jefferson's Best Picture-nominated American Fiction (54:23).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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In "What I'm Watching," The Schmear Hunter briefly shares his thoughts on Wonka, All Of Us Strangers, and the new Apple TV series Masters of the Air (1:30).

Teddy Kim comes by to help break down Episode 3 of True Detective: Night Country (6:35). Is the mystery deepening or is the series just spinning its wheels?

Lucas Murphy joins the pod to discuss two of the buzziest shows of January: Fargo S5 (34:47) and The Curse (56:40).

Wrapping up with Criterion Corner Week 4, Jesse Aaronson comes on to talk David Lynch's 1980 period biopic The Elephant Man (1:29:30)

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

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The Schmear Hunter rants and raves about the unfortunate Oscar nominations (2:06) and gives some big picture thoughts. Teddy Kim comes on to break down Ep 2 of True Detective (17:51). I liked it more than Ep 1, and he liked it less—find out why.

For Criterion Corner, we tackle some supposed masterpieces (50:10). Jesse Aaronson watches The Battle of Algiers and I check out Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. Find out if they live up to the hype.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

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The Schmear Hunter hits some Hollywood news, including the chalk Emmy results and the unfortunate review bombing of True Detective (01:05), before giving a shoutout to the new AMC+ series Monsieur Spade (10:45).

Teddy Kim comes on to help break down Ep 1 of True Detective (16:40).

For Criterion Corner, Jesse Aaronson and I unpack the 1993 Clinton campaign documentary The War Room (56:44).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

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The Schmear Hunter hits some industry news (1:27) and then discusses some TV & movies he's currently enjoying, like Fargo S5, Criminal Record, and The Delinquents (7:20).

Teddy Kim comes on to recap and review the good, bad, and ugly of True Detective as a TV project (11:20). We then preview True Detective S4 Night Country which airs Sunday on Max (30:08).

Finally, Jesse Aaronson stops by to talk Criterion Challenge 2024. We compare and contrast two knock-out movies we watched for Week 1 (44:50).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

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The Schmear Hunter kicks off his inaugural podcast, counting down the best films of 2023. Here to help are some illustrious friends and readers from all over the world.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

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