The Televerse

Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means the holiday baking season has officially begun. What better way to celebrate than with a new, holiday-themed season of one of the Televerse competitive baking favs, Sugar Rush? First, however, Noel and Kate kick things off with their week in TV, including a Who Wants to be a Millionaire?-themed Fresh Off the Boat, a catch-up with The Mandalorian, a thin, but fun Black Lightning, varying amounts of Crisis prep on Batwoman, Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow, and a twist-filled Watchmen. Then we head over to the spotlight section and dive in with the aforementioned Sugar Rush Christmas. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts!

Season Spotlight: Sugar Rush Christmas (1:15:45)

Our Week in TVFresh Off the Boat (7:24) The Mandalorian (14:30) Black Lightning (31:10) Batwoman (39:08) Supergirl (43:58) The Flash (47:38) Arrow (51:16) Watchmen (1:01:18)

Music Featured:  “Life on Mars” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

The holidays are officially here, bringing busy schedules and TV hiatuses. That means it’s time for Noel and Kate’s promised discussion of the best TV of 2010–2019. We list off our 50–80 favorites of the past decade, including a delightful moment of podcast cohost hivemind, and talk TV trends and what we anticipate for the decade to come. Before that, though, we may not have watched much this holiday week, but we had plenty to say about the shows we did make time for: The Good Place, Evil, Watchmen, The Flash, and Arrow. Take a listen, then reach out with your picks for the best, and your favorite, TV of the past 10 years.

Spotlight Segment: The Best TV of 2010–2019 (1:02:03)

Our Week in TVThe Good Place (10:02) Evil (17:35) Watchmen (29:56) The Flash (47:48) Arrow (52:13)

Music Featured:  “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by Eartha Kitt; Too Many Cooks Theme song

It’s been a very political week here in the United States, so what a happy coincidence that The Crown returned for season three this week as well. Noel and Kate give their thoughts on the new cast and how the show is tackling the challenges of adapting such high-profile events and figures as they break down the season in the spotlight section. Before that, though, there’s plenty of TV to discuss in Our Week in TV. They kick things off with comedy, including Chiijohn and the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver finale, another strong Chihayafuru, and the fall finale of The Good Place. Then Kate has some non-spoilery thoughts on the Drag Race UK finale and Noel sings the praises of the character specificity on Emergence. Next it’s over to superhero TV, with thoughts on Lena’s heel turn on Supergirl and another blast from the past on Arrow, before wrapping up the week with the Looking Glass-centric episode of Watchmen. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on The Crown, the week’s TV, and more.

Season Spotlight: The Crown Season 3 (49:21)

Our Week in TVLast Week Tonight with John Oliver finale (6:15) Chihayafuru (9:55) The Good Place (13:27) Drag Race UK finale (14:29) Emergence (18:25) Supergirl (23:27) Arrow (30:04) Watchmen (34:36)

Music Featured:  “Careless Whisper” by George Michael

After not connecting with its earlier installments, is Noel finally on-board with She-Ra and the Princesses of Power? The series is back for season four, the third season released this year, and Noel and Kate have plenty of thoughts in this week’s spotlight section of the podcast. Before that, though, there’s a lot of TV to cover from the past week. We kick things off with comedy and reality, including Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the Rick and Morty premiere, Chihayafuru, The Final Table, Drag Race UK, and The Good Place. Then we move over to the genre offerings and talk The Mandalorian before catching up with Evil, Supergirl, and Black Lightning. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on this, and the rest of the week’s TV.

Season Spotlight: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 4 (1:20:48)

Our Week in Comedy and RealityLast Week Tonight with John Oliver (9:35) Rick and Morty premiere (19:45) Chihayafuru (22:18) The Final Table (28:06) Drag Race UK (35:10) The Good Place (36:30)

Our Week in Genre The Mandalorian premiere (43:06) Evil (50:46) Supergirl (57:58) Black Lightning (1:03:35)

Music Featured:  Excerpts from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’s Bob Murray musical number

Video Referenced: Donna Lynne Champlin details her questionable choices regarding Brian d’Arcy James

Daylight Saving Time has come, bringing with it even more interesting TV to discuss. Noel and Kate kick things off as always with their week in TV, starting with the comedies, including Seth Meyer’s new Netflix standup special, Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby, the premiere of Apple+’s Dickinson, gripping new Chihayafuru episodes, a dark Superstore, and a surprising The Good Place. Next up is reality, including catching up with the first season of Netflix’s Zumbo’s Just Desserts and The Great British Bake Off’s series 10 finale. Then we move over to genre, with plenty to say about the latest installments of Batwoman, The Flash, and Arrow, plus a big twist on Emergence and one hell of a character introduction on Watchmen. Afterward, we head to the season spotlight section, diving in with the latest mini-season of Queer Eye, their four-episode trip to Japan, Queer Eye: We’re in Japan!. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on these and more.

Season Spotlight: Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! (1:52:59)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby (12:12) Dickinson premiere (22:23) Chihayafuru (26:56) Superstore (32:28) The Good Place (37:20) Zumbo’s Just Desserts Season 1 (46:10) The Great British Bake Off (56:42)

Our Week in Genre Batwoman (1:12:48) The Flash (1:18:37) Arrow (1:26:34) Emergence (1:35:09) Watchmen (1:40:30)

Music Featured:  Andante from Haydn Symphony no. 94, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Mariss Jansons; “Mongoloid” by Devo

Spooky season is officially over, but at least we got a few more Halloween-themed episodes this week, giving Noel and Kate plenty of festive TV to discuss on the podcast. We kick things off with Our Week in TV, starting with reality and comedy, including The Good Place, Superstore, Perfect Harmony, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Great British Bake Off. Then we move over to drama and genre, including Stumptown, Watchmen, Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow. Next we head to the spotlight section, where we dive in with the much-loved 2019 animated comedy Tuca & Bertie. Does Tuca & Bertie live up to the hype? Are the Arrowverse shows maintaining their strong early-season energy? And how do The Good Place and Superstore stack up, as we approach the half-way point of the former’s final season? Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts.

Spotlight: Tuca & Bertie (1:23:12)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality The Good Place (30:11) Superstore (37:10) Perfect Harmony (40:33) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (43:42) The Great British Bake Off (45:38)

Our Week in Drama and Genre Stumptown (56:48) Watchmen (58:49) Supergirl (1:07:03) The Flash (1:11:48) Arrow (1:16:36)

Music Featured:  Halloween caroling from Perfect Harmony (“O Little Ghost Town of Death-lehem”/“Silent Fright”/“Do You Fear What I Fear?”); “Big Flame (Is Gonna Break My Heart in Two)” by Doris Wilson

It’s a week of long-awaited premieres, as well as a few surprises, giving us plenty to discuss on the podcast. First up, we dive in with our Week in TV. We start with the genre series, including the Watchmen premiere, a promising Batwoman, a Hong Kong-centered Arrow, and the return of Chihayafuru. Over in reality and comedy, Kate catches up with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in time for the Snatch Game and both Noel and Kate talk The Good Place. Then we head to the spotlight section and look at the David Chang’s latest Netflix travelogue series, the four-episode Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Spotlight: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (53:00)

Our Week in TV Watchmen premiere (8:53) Batwoman (23:09) Arrow (32:39) Chihayafuru premiere (36:31) RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (40:47) The Good Place (45:34)

Music Featured:  Mozart Piano Concerto no. 21, Andante, performed by Jeno Jandó and the Concentus Hungaricus, conducted by András Ligeti

The fall TV season rolls on, and while there was a high profile Netflix drop this past week—the Breaking Bad follow-up movie El Camino—we won’t be talking about it this week on the podcast. Instead, we’re diving in with a Netflix release we’re far more interested in: Season five of Schitt’s Creek. Is Kate still over the moon for David and Patrick? Now that he’s caught up with the entire show, is Noel onboard the hype train, or does he still think the show’s stans should temper their praise? Before that, though, there’s a full week of TV to discuss. First we look at the genre offerings, including the Arrow premiere, the hard-reboot Charmed premiere, and The Flash. Then we move over to comedy, checking in with Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Good Place, and The Unicorn, and we round out the week with another lengthy Bake Off chat, looking at both “Festival Week” and the quarter-final, “Pastry Week”. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV, Schitt’s Creek, and your picks for the best TV of the 2010s.

Season Spotlight: Schitt’s Creek Season 5 (1:08:57)

Our Week in TV Arrow premiere (17:02) Charmed premiere (23:32) The Flash (27:00) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (33:45) The Good Place (37:44) The Unicorn (43:30) The Great British Bake Off (47:19)

Errata: When discussing Charmed, Kate repeatedly calls Harry “Henry”—sorry about that, Charmed fans! The Televerse regrets the error.

Music Featured:  “Undeniable” by I Am ORFA, ft. Bodytalkr

The second wave of fall premieres is here, with the return of most of The CW’s lineup, giving us even more to talk about this week on the podcast. We kick things off as always with Our Week in TV, starting with comedy and reality, including Fresh Off the Boat, black-ish, Superstore, The Good Place, and The Great British Bake Off. Then we move over to genre and drama, and dive in with the premieres of Batwoman, Supergirl, The Flash, and Black Lightning. Afterward, it’s time for the spotlight section, and this episode we explore the twisting first season of Netflix’s German genre thriller, Dark. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV and more.

Season Spotlight: Dark Season 1 (1:05:19)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality Fresh Off the Boat (10:21) black-ish (15:03) Superstore (18:52) The Good Place (22:49) The Great British Bake Off (29:48)

Our Week in Genre and Drama Batwoman premiere (39:03) Supergirl premiere (47:02) The Flash premiere (54:46) Black Lightning premiere (57:49)

Music Featured:  Girlfriends Theme song; “Flash” by Queen; “A Quiet Life” by Teho Teardo and Blixa Bargeld

We survived (the first) fall premiere week, but new TV just keeps coming. We kick things off as always with Our Week in TV. First up are a few more premieres—Fresh Off the Boat, Bob’s Burgers, and SNL—then we catch up with Derry Girls and talk The Good Place and Superstore. Kate has a highly specific rant brewing about Perfect Harmony, and Noel continues his The Terror: Infamy catchup, plus there’s plenty to say about Evil and The Great British Bake Off’s controversial “Roaring ’20s Week”. Afterward, we head to the spotlight section and dive in with Amazon Prime’s introspective animated limited series, Undone. Which premiering and returning series are you sticking with? Which Netflix series should we catch up with next? And are you hoping for more Undone, or should it end at that sunrise? Take a listen for our thoughts, then reach out with your own.

Spotlight Section: Undone (1:22:44)

Our Week in TV Fresh Off the Boat premiere (17:34) Bob’s Burgers premiere (20:44) SNL premiere (24:19) Derry Girls (31:38) The Good Place (37:28) Superstore (41:44) Perfect Harmony (44:38) The Terror: Infamy (51:05) Evil (59:20) The Great British Bake Off (1:02:53)

Music Featured:  “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish