The Televerse #330- Best Of 2017 Smorgasborgy

The end of 2017 is finally here, so it’s time for Noel and Kate to celebrate the highlights and lowlights of the year in TV and send it on its way. As always, the Best Of Smorgasborgy is a wide-ranging and lengthy affair, with topics ranging from Best Performance to Best Theme Song to Best WTF Moment, and everything in between. Enjoy our look back at 2017 TV, then reach out with your favorite moments. Thank you to the lovely people who’ve guested on the podcast this year, those who’ve reached out and commented either at the site or through social media, and everyone else out there listening. It’s been a pleasure!

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00December 30th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #329- Top 20 TV Series of 2017

The end of 2017 is right around the corner (already? And also somehow, finally!), which means it’s time for The List-ening, starting with The Televerse’s picks for the Top 20 TV Series of 2017. Noel and Kate run down their picks, 20 through 11, and have a quick chat about the year in TV, then dive in deeper with their top 10 series of the year. Which series made the list, which just missed the cut, and which are we surprised to see turning up elsewhere? All of this as more as Noel and Kate reflect on an interesting, at times challenging, and compelling year in TV.

By |2017-12-23T18:57:24-06:00December 23rd, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #322- Spotlight on Stranger Things Season 2

Halloween may be over, but we extend the spooky season a little longer to talk Stranger Things season two this week on the podcast. What were the tricks and treats of the new season? Are we #TeamJonathan or #TeamSteve? Which kids got a raw deal this time around, and who got long-overdue development? And does anyone care about the adults? Before we dive back into the Upside Down, however, we have a full week of TV to discuss. First up are the comedy and reality episodes, including the premiere of Mom, a personal Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, strong installments of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and black-ish, and the midseason finale of The Good Place. Then we follow that up with the drama and genre entries, including another powerful Queen Sugar, potent (and perhaps problematic) developments from Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery’s big time loop episode. Where’s the line between writers trusting their casts and actors saving underwritten dialogue? Does it really matter, if the scenes still play? Is comedy required and inherent to time loop episodes? And when don’t you need a pantsuit? All of this and more as Noel and Kate break down the latest in TV.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00November 4th, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #321- Spotlight on Outlander’s “A. Malcolm”

It’s reunion time this week on the podcast, as Noel checks back in with Outlander for the first time in years just as Claire and Jamie reunite in the much-anticipated “A. Malcolm.” Has time made the heart grow fonder? Does the episode work as well for Noel as regular viewer Kate? How does this episode speak to the traditions of melodrama and romance, and just how prevalent are these genres on TV right now? Before we dive in with Outlander, though, we talk through another fun week in TV. As ever, we kick things off with the comedies, including a particularly strong Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a somewhat mixed Jane the Virgin, Halloween-themed episodes of Fresh Off the Boat and Broad City, and another excellent The Good Place. Then we move over to the rest of the week’s TV, including a check-in with Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, a brief look at Queen Sugar and follow-up on Mindhunter season one, a loose discussion of The CW’s superhero shows (Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Arrow), and a more in-depth chat about the strong pre-World Series hiatus cliffhanger episode of The Exorcist.  Which musical-inspired Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song was our favorite this week? Which Huang best embodied their Seinfeld counterpart? How are The Flash and Arrow handling their overly large casts, and was that a flirt session between (former) Father Marcus and (Fish and Wildlife) Agent Morrow? (Spoiler alert: Yes, and more please!) Tune in for our thoughts on all of this and more on the latest episode of The Televerse.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00October 28th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #316- 2017 TV Resolution Check-in #4

With the full sweep of fall network premieres headed our way next week, Noel and Kate take advantage of a lighter show list to check in once again with our 2017 TV resolutions. First, however, we look at the week’s TV, starting with the comedies, including the returns of The Good Place, Nathan For You, and Adventure Time, as well as Better Things and Broad City. Next up are the reality and drama offerings, including the 2017 Emmy awards, PBS’s The Vietnam War, the finale of The Sinner, and another moving Halt and Catch Fire. Afterward, it’s resolution time, with Noel continuing his exploration of current anime series, including new additions Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju and All Out!, and Kate diving in with her most potentially wheelhouse YouTube series yet, Edgar Allan Poe’s Murder Mystery Dinner Party.

By |2017-09-23T22:55:36-06:00September 23rd, 2017|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #282- Remembering Mary Tyler Moore

We’re back closer to our regular format this week, though the loss of TV icon Mary Tyler Moore has prompted us to forego the DVD Shelf in favor of a discussion of some of her work and her legacy. First up, however, Noel and Kate dive in with the fantastic finale of The Good Place and intriguing finale of Sweet/Vicious, followed by some reality catchups and a few thoughts on Jane the Virgin and the pesky Santa Ana winds of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Afterward, we head over to the drama and genre offerings, including the premiere of Riverdale, the return of The CW’s superhero lineup, and a full week of Adventure Time. Rounding out the podcast this week is our aforementioned tribute to Mary Tyler Moore and her feminist trailblazing, precise and potent comedy chops, and infectiously warm spirit.

By |2017-01-29T00:30:07-06:00January 29th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #279- 2016 Best Of Smorgasborgy, Part 2

It’s our final week celebrating 2016 TV, here at The Televerse. Noel and Kate continue to spotlight their favorite heroes and villains, most gut-busting and tear-jerking moments, and more with part two of the Smorgasborgy. This episode, we give out our awards for the year’s best characters, best sequences, most memorable moments, and most impressive seasons and otherwise notable series, as well as our grab bag of miscellaneous awards. Once again, please share your thoughts on the year’s TV, and your picks for our final round of categories, in the comments below, and come back next week for our 2017 midseason TV preview.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:22-06:00January 7th, 2017|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #278- 2016 Best Of Smorgasborgy, Part 1

Noel and Kate continue their celebration of the best of TV in 2016 with The Televerse’s yearly Smorgasborgy, a Best Of bonanza covering every category we can think of (and a few we probably shouldn’t have). There is so much to discuss and celebrate this year, in fact, that for the first time, The Televerse will be presenting our Best Of Smorgasborgy over two weeks, starting with our awards for the best performances, production elements, writing, and music on TV in 2016. Post your thoughts on the year’s TV, and your picks for any or all of our categories, in the comments below, and come back next week for our favorite characters, sequences, moments, seasons, and more!

By |2019-06-06T06:39:22-06:00December 31st, 2016|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #270- The Good Wife with Angelica Bastién

You know that crazy long episode we’ve been teasing for a while? It’s here this week, as Noel and Kate talk through a frankly ridiculous amount of interesting and memorable TV. First up, we dive in with a very full week in comedy, including the finales of Atlanta and Documentary Now! and mid-season finale of The Good Place, the premieres of People of Earth and Stan Against Evil, the election-themed Superstore and Fresh Off the Boat, and eventful episodes of Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we move over to the drama and genre offerings, including the premieres of The Crown and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, disappointing installments of Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, and compelling entries from Queen Sugar and Rectify. Afterwards, Angelica Bastién of Vulture, The Atlantic, RogerEbert.com, and many other places joins us at the DVD Shelf to dive in with the at times frustrating, at times wonderful The Good Wife.

By |2016-11-05T13:02:57-06:00November 5th, 2016|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #269- Young Justice with Samantha Nelson

We’re back to regular podcast operating procedure here at The Televerse, just in time for Halloween and another batch of premieres. First up, we look at a full week in comedy, including the premieres of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Man with a Plan, and The Great Indoors, a slue of holiday-themed sitcom episodes, another compelling The Good Place, and a powerful Jane the Virgin. Then we look at the rest of the week’s offerings, including the much anticipated Rectify premiere, the less anticipated Pure Genius premiere, a stormy Queen Sugar, Hamilton-centered Great Performances, Harrison Wells-happy The Flash, and Lynda Carter-fueled Supergirl. Afterward, Samantha Nelson of The A.V. Club and the Critical Hit podcast joins us at the DVD Shelf to help us continue or exploration of the DCAU’s with Young Justice.

By |2016-10-29T13:44:46-06:00October 29th, 2016|The Televerse|0 Comments
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