That's to be expected. We talk about "The Defector," "The Hunted," and "The High Ground," and discuss how Star Trek's good-people-on-both-sides take on political terrorism is pretty foul in hindsight (not that it was all that great at the time).

That's to be expected. We talk about "The Defector," "The Hunted," and "The High Ground," and discuss how Star Trek's good-people-on-both-sides take on political terrorism is pretty foul in hindsight (not that it was all that great at the time).

The Prisoner continues, with "Checkmate," "The Chimes of Big Ben," and "The Schizoid Man," and one of these episodes kind of gives J. the absolute creeps. Then, we wrap up the sixth season of Mad Men by talking about the finale, "In Care Of."

Prepare yourself, Number Six: we start the new year by starting The Prisoner. We talk (rave, actually) about "Arrival," "Dance of the Dead," and "Free for All." Robby talks about how weird the show is, and J. tries to talk about anything he can while keeping his voice together. Then, we discuss Mad Men, as everybody's trolling for "Favors."

Prepare yourself, Number Six: we start the new year by starting The Prisoner. We talk (rave, actually) about "Arrival," "Dance of the Dead," and "Free for All." Robby talks about how weird the show is, and J. tries to talk about anything he can while keeping his voice together. Then, we discuss Mad Men, as everybody's trolling for "Favors."

Ho ho ho -- it's Christmas on the Podcastulacra, as Robby and J. exchange their traditional gifts: television episodes that kind of sum up the person recommending them. For Robby, that means 1970s sitcoms (The Bob Newhart Show); for J., that means -- sigh -- Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). They also talk about A Christmas Carol for a while? Then, in tune with the season, it's time for more Mad Men, as Don (and the agency) continue unravel in "A Tale of Two Cities." Actual, now that I think of it, that doesn't have anything to do with the season, does it?

He does! Riker absolutely murders a woman and faces no consequences. We talk about "The Enemy," "The Price," and "The Vengeance Factor," and discuss Romulans, creepy Betazoids, and how, yeah, Riker completely and totally murders someone and gets away with it. Then, like, Mad Men or whatever? I think "The Better Half"? That sounds right. But Riker. Dude.

Well, we did. We finally got through Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Sorkin gives us his final four scripts -- "K & R" parts 1-3, and "What Kind of Day Has It Been" -- and lets us free, back into the world, full of hope and wonder and joy again. Then, Mad Men takes us on a drug trip, as the office gets hopped up on crank to try to avoid "The Crash."

I mean, we love the guy. But c'mon. We watch "Who Watches the Watchers," "The Bonding," and "Booby Trap," and Geordi needs to talk to a professional. Therapist, I mean. Also, maybe hire another engineer so you don't have to Weird Science one on the holodeck? Then, Don Draper starts to slip a bit, as the merger leaves him desperate for some control in "Man with a Plan."

Ooh boy. Studio 60 really goes for the gusto here, as Aaron Sorkin creates a punching bag to let his enlighted characters sound off on the absolutely ludicrous idea that a woman working in the comedy industry might be the victim of sexual harassment. I mean, can you imagine? We hold our noses through "4 AM Miracle," "The Disaster Show," and "Breaking News," and marvel at how little self-awareness this show has. Then, speaking of gross, it's time to talk about Matt Weiner, as the recent allegations make "For Immediate Release" unpleasant to sit through.