The Televerse

TV is finally slowing down, just a little, but there’s still a lot to discuss this week on the podcast, including one of the more long-awaited debut seasons in recent TV history. First up, Noel and Kate talk through their week in TV, kicking things off with the comedies, including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Miracle Workers: Dark Ages, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Superstore. Then we move over to drama and genre, including Briarpatch, Doctor Who, Star Trek: Picard, Black Lightning, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Afterward, we head to the spotlight section to dive in with the first season of Netflix’s Locke & Key, which finally debuted after a decade-long production journey. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on Locke & Key and the long-awaited TV adaptations you’re hoping for.

Season Spotlight: Locke & Key Season 1 (1:03:34)

Our Week in Comedy Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (7:09) Miracle Workers: Dark Ages (12:41) Brooklyn Nine-Nine (15:04) Superstore (20:00)

Our Week in Drama and GenreBriarpatch (25:42) Doctor Who (30:31) Star Trek: Picard (44:03) Black Lightning (46:56) DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (54:24)

Music Featured:  “Supersonic” by J.J. Fad; “Nobody Knows” by Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir

The premieres and finales just keep rolling, and this week on the podcast, we’re diving in with a big one. The Good Place wrapped up its four season run last week, and this episode, Noel and Kate give it its due, spotlighting the finale with a lengthy chat before looking back on the final season and the series as a whole. Before that, though, there’s a full week of TV to discuss. We kick things off with the comedies and some reality, including the Brooklyn Nine-Nine double premiere, Fresh Off the Boat, Schitt’s Creek, and a few thoughts from Kate on the Superbowl LIV Halftime Show. Then we move over to drama and genre and look at the premieres of Briarpatch and The Sinner, Stumptown, Doctor Who, The Flash, and a delightfully musical DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on The Good Place, the Superbowl, and anything else catching your TV fancy.

DVD Shelf: The Good Place (1:16:06)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality Brooklyn Nine-Nine premiere (10:25) Fresh Off the Boat (17:16) Schitt’s Creek (20:10) Superbowl LIV Halftime Show (27:03)

Our Week in Drama and GenreBriarpatch premiere (35:32) The Sinner premiere (39:36) Stumptown (42:05) Doctor Who (51:15) The Flash (57:50) DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (1:05:50)

Music Featured:  “Poison” as performed by Jes Macallan on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow; “Girls Just Wanna Have Some” by Chromatics

January has traditionally been a quiet time for TV, with many shows on hiatus and few dramatic premieres and TV events. Not so any more, and this week in particular was massive. Just one of the big finales this week was Arrow, which among other things, transformed superhero TV and The CW as a whole. Of course we had to spotlight it, and we’re excited to welcome back friend of the show Allison Shoemaker (The A.V. Club, Podlander Drunkcast, Debating Doctor Who, Hall of Faces, and more) to dive in with us, looking at the finale, the final season, and the series as a whole. Before that, though, there’s a whole lot more TV to discuss. We kick things off with the comedies, including the Miracle Workers: Dark Ages premiere, Fresh Off the Boat, and a few spoiler-free thoughts on The Good Place finale. Then we move over to genre, catching up with Star Trek: Picard, some spoiler-free talk about the Evil finale, and closer looks at the Emergence finale, Supergirl, and a monumental Doctor Who.

DVD Shelf: Arrow with Allison Shoemaker (1:15:51)

Our Week in TVMiracle Workers: Dark Ages premiere (4:32) Fresh Off the Boat (8:47) The Good Pace finale (11:27) Star Trek: Picard (17:20) Evil finale (22:10) Emergence finale (29:25) Supergirl (41:40) Doctor Who (46:24)

Music Featured:  “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

Crisis has come and gone and one of 2020’s most anticipated new series is here! There’s lots of TV to discuss this episode and Noel and Kate dive in right away with the premiere of Awkwafina’s new comedy, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. Then, after a quick look at Schitt’s Creek and Stumptown, it’s all genre. Kate reflects on Doctor Who’s adventure with Nikola Tesla and the nostalgia bomb that is the premiere of Star Trek: Picard, and then Noel joins back in to check in with all of Arrowverse series’ post-Crisis resets: Arrow’s backdoor pilot for “Green Arrow & the Canaries,” the season premiere of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, a surprisingly unaffected Black Lightning, the unsurprisingly massively affected Supergirl, and a game-changing Batwoman. Afterward, it’s time for our season spotlight, and we’re excited to dive in with season two of Netflix’s Sex Education. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on these shows and more!

Season Spotlight: Sex Education Season 2 (1:19:10)

Our Week in TVAwkwafina is Nora from Queens premiere (13:08) Schitt’s Creek (15:25) Stumptown (19:20) Doctor Who (27:39) Star Trek: Picard premiere (30:15) Arrow (38:38) DC’s Legends of Tomorrow premiere (47:53) Black Lightning (56:11) Supergirl (1:02:35) Batwoman (1:08:29)

Music Featured:  “Blue Skies” by Bing Crosby

After a long delay, Televerse favorite Zumbo’s Just Desserts is back for season two on Netflix. Does the new season recapture the whimsical magic of season one? Are this batch of dessert makers up to snuff, and can Adriano Zumbo best his ridiculous season one tests? Noel and Kate dive in and give their thoughts on this much-anticipated season two. Before that, though, there’s a full week of TV to discuss. We kick things off with a preview of Armando Iannucci’s new comedy, Avenue 5, and a little The Unicorn talk, then Kate attempts to steer clear of spoilers as she shares her thoughts on The Good Place, Doctor Who, Emergence, and Evil, before Noel joins back in with Stumptown and the final two installments of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow episodes. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on Zumbo, Crisis, and more!

Season Spotlight: Zumbo’s Just Desserts Season 2 (1:04:57)

Our Week in TVAvenue 5 preview (10:09) The Unicorn (14:14) Kate’s Spoiler-Free Roundup      The Good Place (20:41)      Doctor Who (22:45)      Emergence (24:41)      Evil (29:17) Stumptown (31:08) Crisis on Infinite Earths, Parts 4 and 5      Arrow (37:39)     DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (49:41)

Music Featured:  “Run, Baby, Run” by Aubryn

As Kate is a newly-minted #Lucifan, you just know she had to invite back podcaster, author, and all-around smart lady LaToya Ferguson to talk all things Lucifer seasons one through four (or at least, as much as we could without getting into spoilers), and hopefully convince some listeners to check it out. Before that, though, Noel and Kate have a full week of TV to discuss. We start with the comedies—the Schitt’s Creek and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! premieres, as well as The Good Place—before moving on to drama—the Dare Me premiere and Stumptown—and we round out the week with genre—Evil, Doctor Who, and Infinity Train Book Two: Cracked Reflection. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV, Lucifer, and more!

Season(s) Spotlight: Lucifer Seasons 1–4 with LaToya Ferguson (1:02:03)

Our Week in TVSchitt’s Creek premiere (7:45) Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! premiere (12:26) The Good Place (16:30) Dare Me premiere (21:40) Stumptown (26:01) Evil (30:16) Doctor Who (36:14) Infinity Train Book Two: Cracked Reflection (45:26)

Music Featured:  “Zombie” by Fela Kuti Article Mentioned: The A.V. Club’s interview with Mike Schur, re:Timothy Olyphant’s The Good Place cameo

2020 is here, bringing a whole slew of new TV series as well as plenty of returning favorites. That means it’s time for Noel and Kate’s yearly winter TV preview, talking through the next several months’ upcoming scripted series. From utterly confounding to intriguing and overdue, there’s a lot of TV headed our way, and fortunately at least some of it looks promising. Before we dive in with our preview, though, we have three weeks of TV to catch up with. We kick things off with comedy, including John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch, Fresh Off the Boat, Carole & Tuesday Part 2, and Infinity Train, then move over to genre, including the Doctor Who premiere, Kate’s catch-up with Lucifer, the Watchmen finale, Steven Universe Future, and the finale of The Mandalorian. Take a listen, then reach out with your picks for the returning and debuting series you’re most interested in.

Winter 2020 TV Preview (1:38:38)

Our Week in ComedyJohn Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch (10:56) Fresh Off the Boat (19:57) Carole & Tuesday Part 2 (21:11) Infinity Train S1 and S2 premiere (26:49)

Our Week in Genre Doctor Who premiere (38:59) Lucifer (54:21) Watchmen finale (1:07:19) Steven Universe Future (1:21:09) The Mandalorian finale (1:27:46)

Music Featured:  “Music, Music Everywhere!” performed by Jake Gyllenhall in John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch; “Why So Blue?” and “I’m Looking Forward” from Steven Universe Future

2019 is winding down, so it’s time for the Televerse’s annual Smorgasborgy, our massive Best of the Year roundup of the highlights, lowlights, and most memorable moments of the year’s TV. Noel and Kate go through their picks for each of the categories below, as well as a few digressions along the way. Take a listen, then reach out with your picks! Spoiler Warning: Noel and Kate have a wide-ranging, spoiler-filled discussion about the year’s TV, and that means spoilers for many of the biggest shows of the year, including Game of Thrones, Watchmen, Steven Universe, Veronica Mars, and more. If you're worried about being spoiled for these or any other series from this year, this may not be the episode for you.

Performance Awards (3:13) Best Performance, Lead; Best Performance, Supporting; Best Voice Acting; Best Reality Personality; Most Novel Casting; Best Ensemble; Most Underrated Ensemble; Best Cameo; Best Guest Appearance; 6th Man Award

Character Awards (10:00) Best New Character; Best Villain; Best/Worst Parents; Best Kids; Best/Worst On-Screen Deaths; Badass Award; Character/Actor We Want More Of

Writing Awards (17:19) Best Writing for a Comedy; Best Writing for a Drama; Best Monologue; Best Writing for a Single Episode; Best Episode Title; Best Crafting of a Season

Production Awards (22:59) Notable Direction; Most Memorable Long-Take; Best Cinematography; Best Costuming; Best Set Design; Best Hair/Makeup; Best Editing; Most Inventive Animation

Music Awards (30:47) Best/Catchiest New Theme Song; Best Score/Soundtrack; Best Original Song; Best Deployment of a Pre-existing Song; Best Musical Moment

Sequence Awards (37:19) Best Stunts; Best Action Setpiece; Best Standalone Fight Scene; Best Dream Sequence; Best Dance Sequence; Best New Credit Sequence; Best Montage

Season Awards (43:58) Most Spectacular Burn-out; Most Spectacular Slow-Build/Season-long Mystery; Best Finale Payoff; Most Underappreciated Finale/Finale Payoff

Series Awards (50:31) Best New Comedy (non-Top 20); Best New Drama (non-Top 20); Most Improved Series; Biggest Season-to-Season Drop; Most Underrated Series; Most Overrated Series; The Homework Award; The Ringer Award; Srsly Guys, Why Aren’t You Watching…; Srsly Guys, Why Aren’t *We* Watching…; Gone but Not Forgotten

Moment Awards (1:02:36) Biggest F*ck Yeah Moment; Best Twist/Realization (non-finale); Most Traumatizing Moment; Schadenfreude Award; Most Striking Visual; Best Extraneous Sex/Nudity; Best ‘Shipping; Most/Least Chemistry; Oxygen Award (Comedy/Drama); Most Ridiculous Moment; The La-la-la Award (No Spoilers!); The Head Canon Award (Totally didn’t happen)

Misc. Awards (1:16:51) Best Surprise; Worst Disappointment; Best Discovery; Spotlight of Shame; Breakthrough Performance; Breakthrough Series; It’s Not Me, It’s You Award; Anchor Award; Life Vest Award; Show We Want to see Make the Leap; It Shoulda Worked…; It Shouldn’t’ve Worked!

Music Featured:  “Other Friends” and “Let Us Adore You [Reprise]” from Steven Universe: The Movie; “Change Your Mind” from Steven Universe; “The Darkness” and “Anti-Depressants are So Not a Big Deal” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “Holiday Party (I Did a Little Cocaine Tonight)” from Documentary Now!’s “Original Cast Album: Co-Op”; “Della’s Moon Lullaby” from DuckTales; “Love’s in Need of Love Today” performed by the cast of Pose; “I’m Still Here” performed by Patti LuPone on Pose

The end of the year is upon us, and that of course means it’s time for the start of the 2019 List-ening. The last two episodes of each year are our opportunity to highlight our favorite moments, episodes, and much more of 2019, and we kick things off as always with our Top 20 TV Series of the year. Noel and Kate have some overlap, but this year features our most divergent lists yet. Take a listen, then reach out with your picks for the best TV series of 2019.

Noel’s Top 20–16 (13:33)      Brooklyn Nine-Nine      What We Do in the Shadows      The Last O.G.      The Promised Neverland      Queen Sugar Kate’s Top 20–16 (15:25)      Late Night with Seth Meyers      The Last O.G.      Brooklyn Nine-Nine      Speechless      Tie: Lorena, Surviving R. Kelly, and Leaving Neverland Noel’s Top 15–11 (20:57)      I’m Sorry      Oh Maidens in Your Savage Season      Leaving Neverland      A Black Lady Sketch Show      Stars Aligned Kate’s Top 15–11 (22:44)      The Good Place      One Day at a Time      Superstore      Barry      Pose Noel and Kate’s Top 10–6 (26:23)      Evil      Jane the Virgin      The Good Fight      Veep      Superstore      Queen Sugar      Watchmen      Steven Universe      Legend of Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These     Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Noel and Kate’s Top 5–1 (56:08)      Better Things      Schitt’s Creek      Fleabag      Russian Doll      Given      Watchmen      Unbelievable      Chernobyl

Music Featured:  “Pudsy’s Christmas” by Jonathan Coulton, featured on Evil

Technical difficulties plagued the podcast this week, but with TV this interesting, we had to power through. The audio quality of this episode is not what we’d like, but we’re working to resolve the issue for next week. Thank you for your patience. This week on the podcast, we kick things off with a very full week in TV. First up is the premiere of Steven Universe Future, then Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and catch-ups with His Dark Materials, Emergence, and Stumptown. Then we get in the tunnel with Watchmen, before heading to The CW for Black Lightning and the first three parts of the Arrowverse mega-crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths (Supergirl, Batwoman, and The Flash). Afterward, it’s time for the spotlight section and this week, we slow things down with the delightfully tranquil second season of Making It. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV, as well as your picks for your favorite TV series and moments of 2019.

Season Spotlight: Making It Season 2 (1:15:42)

Our Week in TVSteven Universe Future premiere (7:03) Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (14:17) His Dark Materials (17:26) Emergence (21:36) Stumptown (28:05) Watchmen (36:42) Black Lightning (46:40) Crisis on Infinite Earths (52:54)      Supergirl      Batwoman      The Flash

Music Featured:  “Tunnel of Love” by Doris Day