It’s another marathon episode of The Televerse, with recent TV talk galore, as well as some more TV quiz fun. First up, Noel and Kate break down a full week in TV, starting with the comedies, including the finale of Review, more Grace and Frankie season three, the premiere of Imaginary Mary, an Elijah-centric Girls, and the tortuous (to at least one of the hosts) Murder She Baked. Next up are the genre offerings, including a final look at Iron Fist season one, another strong Samurai Jack, a roundup of The CW’s superhero series, and the suspicion-confirming Legion finale. Then we talk a little reality, with the premieres of RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Amazing Race and the conclusion of Planet Earth II, and we round out the week with a handful of dramas, including Netflix’s new 13 Reasons Why, the premiere of Rebel, a much-anticipated Cato-centric Underground, and another The Good Fight. Afterwards, we knuckle down, timers in hand, to tackle the 30 Day TV Challenge in 30 minutes, with varying levels of success. What are your picks for the 30 Days TV Challenge? Post your favorites below, and let us know which we got right, and which we got so very, very wrong.
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30 Day TV Challenge (2:42:30)
Our Week in Comedy
Review finale (13:50)
Grace and Frankie Season 3 (18:42)
Imaginary Mary premiere (23:46)
Girls (26:15)
Bob’s Burgers (31:04)
black-ish (34:34)
The Detour (42:56)
Murder She Baked (47:03)
Our Week in Genre
Iron Fist Season 1 (57:23)
Samurai Jack (1:05:09)
Arrow (1:15:11)
Supergirl (1:25:48)
The Flash (1:33:58)
Legends of Tomorrow (1:39:37)
Legion finale (1:47:51)
Our Week in Reality and Drama
RuPaul’s Drag Race premiere (1:55:14)
The Amazing Race premiere (2:02:45)
Planet Earth II (2:05:20)
13 Reasons Why (2:13:54)
Rebel premiere (2:22:22)
Underground (2:26:42)
The Good Fight (2:31:42)
Music Featured: “Let Me Be Your Star” as performed by Andrew Rannells (as Elijah) on Girls; “Children of the Revolution” by T. Rex; “Dons and Divas (feat. Manga)” by Flowdan; “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
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I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who didn’t care about the burn victim on Legion.
I’m glad someone remembers Rubicon. It had its problems (it switched showrunners after the pilot and didn’t seem to know what to do with some bits introduced there). The replacement showrunner, Henry Bromell, went onto Homeland (where he wrote another polygraph episode), but that show didn’t deserve the talents of anyone working on it.
I blame Band of Brothers for my inability to enjoy the rebooted Battlestar Galactica as much as others. I watched the latter shortly after the former, and the comparison does it no good at all. Wolf Hall, on the other hand, felt like it should have waited for the third book.
I’ve never watched an episode of Doctor Who, but can’t you pick a specific incarnation of the Doctor?
Hi Kate and Noel,
Thank you for another great episode of the Televerse podcast!
I have to say that although I do miss the DVD shelf quite a bit, I am really enjoying the recent supplement features as of late. The Clexacon reflections and TV Resolutions have been pretty cool. I’ve been meaning to offer some recommendations for Kate’s Web series TV resolution.
I haven’t seen that many web series actually but the ones that I can recommend I do quite strongly.
The first one I remember watching was one called “CTRL” which started out as a one minute short on the NBC website that was then expanded into a full web series and it’s not very long either, as each episode was like a minute or two long or something. Anyway, it starred Tony Hale and is a sci-fi fantasy time travel concept that is really creative and cool from what I remember. I think it should be easy to find, I’ll try to provide a link later when I have a chance. There is also this web series “Imaginary Bitches” which was created by writer/actor Andrew Miller who went on to be showrunner for short lived CW series The Secret Circle. That one is more of a psychological comedy with mean girl vibes. The last web series I can recommend is The Lizzie Bennett Diaries which is a web series modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve always been a sucker for Jane Austen adaptations and this one is a really good one (albeit quite long). It’s best to pace yourself with that one.
Last thing, I also wanted to share my 30 Day TV Challenge with you two. Thanks again for putting out my favorite TV podcast. The Televerse marathon long episodes FTW! Lol.
30 Day TV challenge
1. A show that should have never been cancelled
Futurama. This show is too good to have been cancelled, yet it was…twice!!!
2. A show that you wish more people were watching
Star vs the forces of evil. I just find this show very entertaining and think it’s worth checking out.
3. Your favorite new show
This is us. I know not a very interesting choice as it is massively popular, but I’m really in the bag for this show.
4. Your favorite show ever
The Simpsons. The show officially premiered with their Christmas episode on my birthday back in 1989 and from that day forward I’ve been a fan. At this point, The Simpsons has been a part of my life far longer than it has not been.
5. A Show you hate
90210 (original series). My brothers used to watch this show and I had to suffer through it while I never really cared for any of the characters or their problems. It was one of the earliest times that I can remember thinking “Hmm, I really don’t like this.”
6. Favorite episode of your favorite show
“Homer vs the city of New York” The Simpsons. One of my favorite things that this show does is incorporate different genres and types of story within their little world and in this episode they put their stamp on “the New York City as an antagonistic character” type comedy, which I as someone who lives in New York found to be quite accurate yet hilarious.
7. Least favorite episode of your favorite show
“Tennis the Menace” The Simpsons. Although this episode is credited as written by someone I have huge respect for, it is perhaps one of the earliest examples of where the show could go wrong. This is one of the episodes that started with one storyline and then drops it completely to go into something else entirely different with no real thread of logic. Homer just decides to build a tennis court in their family back yard after visiting a burial plot?? Then they all become competitive tennis players and plus Bart gets an Oedipus rex complex? This episode just goes from bad to so bad it’s funny to back to being just bad again.
8. Show everyone should watch
Boomtown. I strongly believe that Boomtown is perhaps one of the best shows to have come out of the new millennium that hasn’t truly gotten its due. I think if current TV writers watch this show they could definitely learn just how to write and develop more interesting, if not then even better, television.
9. Best scene ever
Wonderfalls pilot when Jaye hugs her sister after prompt from the bronze monkey totem. This is one of the most touching moments in the episode and I just love how the two actors perform their reactions and how the monkeys hand motions to Jaye feeding her the line “I Love You.” It’s a moment that is eerie and beautiful and wonderful in a way that only Bryan Fuller could write and is captured so perfectly by Tom Holland’s direction.
10. Show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Jane the Virgin. Thanks so much Televerse for encouraging viewers like me to watch it.
11. Show that disappointed you
Glee “Pilot” and American Horror Story “Pilot” I used to be really hot on Ryan Murphy TV shows and highly anticipated these projects when they premiered, especially Glee because I really liked Popular so much and I thought that seeing him returning to teen drama would be amazing. Unfortunately, neither of these pilots worked for me and mainly due to his lackluster direction and the decision to prioritize style over substance. Don’t get me wrong the style he utilizes is still as sharp as he ever has done but ever since the later years of Nip/Tuck, his work has really gotten so much more hollow and superficial, where once I use to see some semblance of depth.
12. Episode you watched more than 5 times
“Kim Kelly is my Friend” Freaks and Geeks. This is my favorite episode of the show for so many reasons. I love Kim Kelly as a character so much because Busy Phillips is able to express her character with incredible range while keeping the character grounded and real. Her performance is so authentic. The layers of why Kim wants to be friends with Lindsey and the hot and cold raw emotions that she displays throughout the episode are amazing to watch. Also the B plot where Sam is being bullied by a girl is SO great because there is no sense of irony that girls can be bullies too. Plus, I love Rashida Jones as Sam’s bully. I remember when I watched The Office and she showed up as Karen and I think I may have been the only person watching The Office wearing a Team Karen T-Shirt. Although I did totally shipped Jim and Pam, I still wanted Karen to be on the show so I was (much like Natalie Imbruglia hit song) torn. Anyway, I digress but this episode I would watch 5 more times right now if I could.
13. Favorite childhood show
Count Duckula is the first show that I can remember calling my favorite show.
14. Favorite male character
Phillip J Fry, Futurama
15. Favorite female character
Jaye Tyler, Wonderfalls was my first choice but then I thought about it and concluded that I already threw some love to Bryan Fuller already so maybe I should think of another one, then I came up with Nicole Julian from Popular, whom is not only complex and interesting but someone that I think was a standout character on that show. But then I thought with both Jaye and Nicole I have selected two female characters who were written as avatars for two men writers Bryan Fuller and Ryan Murphy (albeit two gay men but still) and thought there is something unfair about that. So my final choice has to be Angela Chase from My-So Called Life, of course. She has every bit of the complexities of the former mentioned but is even deeper thinking and offered me a better insight into the female experience that I could never have myself but I could still find myself appreciating and relating to.
16. Your guilty pleasure
Survivor. I don’t normally like to watch reality shows, so I tend to often look down on them, although I do find myself “guilty” of enjoying this one. Therefore I’m guilty in this pleasure.
17. Favorite miniseries
The Stand. Sure it doesn’t hold up, but it’s still my go to miniseries.
18. Favorite title sequence
The Simpsons. C’mon it has one of the longest running and ever changing openings that is always worth watching for the extra gags. Best and most consistent use of a title sequence ever.
19. Best TV show cast
Friends. The show could not BE any more of the show that it was without the chemistry and various character dynamics of these key six cast members. The best episodes of the show were undoubtedly always the ones where all the cast were together in one place. The show mined 10 seasons out of their interplay without really trailing off in quality. The last three seasons were some of their best years, imo. Sure there have been shows that have gone on longer but not with the same key cast members, I don’t think.
20. Favorite kiss
Jim and Pam, season 2 finale “Casino Night”
21. Favorite ship
Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Apparently they never made a real go of it, so the shipping continues…?
22. Favorite series finale
Friends “The Last One” I’ve seen this episode so many times it’s ridiculous.
23.Most annoying character
“Oh. My. God!!” It has to be Chandler Bings ex-girlfriend Janice Hosestein from Friends
24. Best quote
“No, I’m afraid I just blue myself” Tobias Funke Arrested Devolopment
25. A show you plan on watching
Deadwood, BSG, Star Trek. Too many to name actually. But this year I’m going to definitely get to Deadwood. I mean I’ve own the complete series box set for years after having seen only the pilot, so I just have to get on it.
26. Omg wtf season finale
Lost, “We have to go back, Kate!” Or Buffy S4 finale leading to a WTF S5 opener.
27. Best pilot ever
Dead Like Me. I give a lot of love to Bryan Fuller TV shows as I’ve been a fan of his since I first watched Wonderfalls back in 2004, but it was with Dead Like Me that I realized how important his vision was to have on a show that he was on. I remember that I watched the pilot the first time as a rental first, just to find out if I wanted to buy it, and I loved that pilot so much that I watched it twice that week because it had such a unique spin on the afterlife. Even though the premise was great, it really needed Fuller throughout to take it in the direction it needed to go. I noticed that the episodes where Fuller was taken off the show that it really suffered from a lack of direction. As far as a TV series Dead Like Me is decent, but it could have been better. I truly think this is one of the best pilots and one that I think is probably better to watch it on its own, without even having to watch the rest of the series.
28. First TV show obsession
The X-Files
29. Current TV show obsession
Rick and Morty
30. Saddest character death
Seymour, Futurama “Jurassic Bark” Nuff said.