It’s a double-sized mid-week episode of the TVTM! Jason turns the tables on Tim by writing about Apple’s forthcoming TV service and the necessity of non-Netflix services to create distinctive brands. Tim reviews a whole bunch of new shows, including the return of “Catastrophe”, the new UK drama “Manhunt”, the unfortunate comedy “Turn Up Charlie”, and the delightfully weird “What We Do In The Shadows.” Plus we empty the mailbag and read all your letters!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

HBO’s chief executive exits, leading us to speculate about the fate of HBO and Warner Media’s future streaming efforts; congressional testimony returns with more unadaptable drama; Pamela Adlon’s “Better Things” returns as strong as ever; and we play two audio messages and answer a few of your letters, too.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

This week Tim and Jason lament the passing of “Counterpart”, Tim lashes out at “Umbrella Academy”, we blow through a bunch of Tim’s articles from the past two weeks, and save time for your letters and two (two!) voice messages. Most importantly, the TV Talk Machine theme makes a surprise appearance in a TV promo.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

This week Tim’s focused on the plight of the mid-level premium network/streamer, most notably Epix and Starz. Starz is hoarding its content, but that can prevent a show like “Counterpart’ from becoming a broad hit. Meanwhile, Epix chose to sell “Get Shorty” to Netflix. What’s the fate of brands like this? Plus, we answer an awful lot of your letters, and ignore any news that has happened in the past week (because we pre-recorded this episode)…

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

This week Tim reviews Hulu’s “Pen15” and TBS’s “Miracle Workers”, and we take a walk through a grab bag of other TV topics — live TV, “Lost”, “Atlanta”, “Bandersnatch”, “Legion”, “Travelers”, “Counterpart” angst, and ABC and John Mayer being BFF’s.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

This week Tim and Jason discuss Netflix’s careful use of its own internal stats to sow fear and disbelief in the television industry. When a lightly-promoted series like “Sex Education” can get 40 million viewers, what’s the hope for anyone else? We also answer your letters and hear the voice of Hobo Eric for the very first time!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

Until you listen to this episode you won’t know if we’re alive in this cardboard box or not. This week Tim reviews the excellent Netflix miniseries “Black Earth Rising,” and we discuss the big streaming-service price changes from Netflix and Hulu. And of course we answer your letters about cord cutting and more!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

NBCUniversal has announced its own take on the streaming service, and Tim has many questions. Also there are reviews of “Brexit” and “Dynasties” and Tim implores you to check out “Wilfred” on Hulu. Plus, Tim’s five greatest TV dramas of all time and listener Brandon sends in our first audio letter!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

This week Tim and Jason deal with Golden Globes fallout, Tim reviews “Informer” (Amazon), “Black Monday” (Showtime), and “Valley of the Boom” (shout out to Stephanie from NatGeo!). Then Jason reveals the madness that made him re-publish the entire original TV Talk Machine catalog, complete with Tim’s show notes from 2009. “Enjoy.”

(Get in your emails, tweets, and MP3 about your wet newspaper early for next week’s episode. We’ll be recording Wednesday or Thursday. [email protected] as usual.)

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell

It’s our 200th Episode Spectacular, in which we discuss articles Tim has written and then read your letters! So… pretty much like the other 199 episodes. This week Tim’s got some positive(!) thoughts about the Golden Globes, negative thoughts about turning TV episodes into video games, and some suggestions for TV viewers trying to find a strategy that makes sense for watching shows in 2019. And at the very end, we celebrate our 200th episode with an OG appearance from some very special guests.

Brutal!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell