Will Leitch, sportswriter and newspaper journalist, is back to talk about The Office-verse sitcom The Paper -- and whether you should bother with the season that just dropped in its entirety on Peacock. Has the world moved on from the TV mockumentary? Does this show understand what it is to love reporting? And does any of that matter if the show's not quite funny enough? Later, we went Around The Dial with Only Murders In The Building's fifth season, 30 Rock's YouTube channel, and Love Con Revenge before Will tried to find room in the Canon budget for Dept. Q's premiere episode. Going Dutch won, Selena Gomez lost, and we found out who skips the closing credits in Game Time. Take a break from lining that birdcage and have a listen! GUESTS ๐ค Will Leitch TOPICS Announcement: ๐ฅด Drunk Dave Cometh Lead Topic: ๐ฐ The Paper Around The Dial: ๐ข Only Murders In The Building Around The Dial: ๐ชจ 30 Rock Around The Dial: ๐ค Love Con Revenge The Canon: ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Dept. Q S01.E01: Episode 1 Winner & Loser: ๐ช Going Dutch Winner & Loser: ๐ช Selena Gomez Game Time: ๐ถ Outrรฉ Outros SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ Keep up with all things Will Leitch ๐งป Tara's review of The Paperย at Cracked ๐ข Tara's Only Murdersย S05 review ๐ชจ 30 Rock's YouTube channel ๐ Step On Me Giganta ๐ค Sarah's review of Love Con Revengeย at Best Evidence ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Our discussion of Dept. Qย in EHG 565 ๐ The Lonely Island And Seth Meyers Podcast "Listener Q&A Episode 5" ๐ท Photo: Aaron Epstein / Peacock
We are off this week but present you with this EHG Club unlock of EEHG 324: This Week In Historical TV: September 4-10, 1991. Earlier this year, our Patreon supporters unlocked a new milestone, and with it a new annual BONUS bonus episode: This Week In Historical TV! Since we've gone with September 4-10, 1991 and chosen as our lead topic Cast A Deadly Spell, an HBO TV movie that combines classic hard-boiled detective fiction with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, we had to invite Dan Cassino, a fan of both, to talk about it. Around The Dial takes us through some highlights of our week in programming: the series premiere of Herman's Head; an all-timer Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode on Gamera vs. Guiron; Parker Lewis Can't Lose; and the Merlin Olsen-hosted Fantastic Facts. Tara pitches the S09 Cheers episode "Days Of Wine And Neuroses" for induction into The Canon. Then, after plucking a winner and loser out of the September 6, 1991 issue of Entertainment Weekly, it's on to a Game Time that has us asking many MORE than 19 Questions about the characters, places, and things of the 1991-92 TV season. Send your zombie henchman outside and join us! GUESTS Dan Cassino TOPICS Lead Topic โ Cast A Deadly Spell Will Dave Hate This? โ The Gambler Returns: The Luck Of The Draw Around The Dial โ Herman's Head Around The Dial โ Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Around The Dial โ Parker Lewis Can't Lose Around The Dial โ Fantastic Facts The Canon โ Cheers S09.E16: Days Of Wine And Neuroses Winner & Loser โ Jack Wagner Winner & Loser โ Ramy Zada Game Time โ 19 Questions: 1991-92 TV Season Edition SUPPORT THE SHOW Join the EHG Club Shop our store EPISODE NOTES Full episode notes Dan Cassino on Bluesky Theย Herman's Headย pilot on YouTube Mystery Science Theater 3000's episode onย Gamera vs. Guironย on YouTube Parker Lewis Can't Loseย S02.E04 on YouTube Dark Justiceย on Wikipedia Dark Justiceย on the Internet Archive Photo: HBO
We haven't heard much from creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg since BoJack Horseman ended in early 2020, but he's back with a new animated family dramedy, Long Story Short, which has already been picked up for a second season. Are we excited to lengthen our time with it? New guest Eli Yudin joins us to talk about it. Around The Dial clicks through Peacemaker S02, Zach Galifianakis: Live At The Purple Onion, and Smoke. Mlle. Caroline pitches the Andor episode "Who Are You?" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close up with a particularly fraternal Game Time. Grab some kugel and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Eli Yudin TOPICS Announcement: ๐ค Patreon Update Lead Topic: ๐ Long Story Short Around The Dial: ๐๏ธ Peacemaker Around The Dial: ๐ง Zach Galifianakis: Live At The Purple Onion Around The Dial: ๐ Smoke The Canon: โ๏ธ Andor S02.E08: Who Are You? Winner & Loser: ๐ Saturday Night Live Winner & Loser: ๐ Lifetime's non-scripted team Game Time: ๐ฏโโ๏ธ All In The Family SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐จ๐ปโ๐ป Eli Yudin's website ๐ฃ๏ธ Tara's Paul Reiser interview at Cracked โ๏ธ Tara's Peacemakerย S02 review at Cracked ๐ค Eli's standup special Humble Offeringย on YouTube ๐ "The Dog-Eared Days Of Summer" sale at Exhibit B. Books ๐ท Photo: Netflix
Amanda Knox's arrest for murder in Italy became a sensational true crime story...so of course it is now the subject of a scripted true crime series. Did we find it sensational? Eve Batey joins us to discuss it. Around The Dial lands on North Of North, The Yogurt Shop Murders, Back To The Frontier, and The Fixer. Tara pitches the Friends episode "The One With Russ" for induction into The Nonac. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Game Time that knows: triples is best. Put down your old cell phone and your platter of pasta and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Eve Batey TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox Around The Dial: ๐งญ North Of North Around The Dial: ๐ฆ The Yogurt Shop Murders Around The Dial: ๐ชต Back To The Frontier Around The Dial: ๐ ๏ธ The Fixer The Nonac: ๐ท Friends S02.E10: The One With Russ Winner & Loser: ๐ Wendell Pierce Winner & Loser: ๐จ MS Now Game Time: 3๏ธโฃ Three For All SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆ Eve Batey on Bluesky โ๏ธ North Of Northย Outfits at Victoria Jacket ๐ฉ "And Just Like Thatย Goes Out With A 'Bah'" at Cracked ๐ฆ "The Yogurt Shop Murdersย Unpacks 'The Craziest Crime In Texas'" at Vanity Fair ๐ฐ The Pleat โ๏ธ "The Fixer: Marcus Lemonis's New Show Is Very Similar To The Profit" at Reality Blurred ๐ Best Evidence ๐ฏโโ๏ธ "Friends: Why Russ Is Played By 'Snaro' (When It's Really David Schwimmer)" at ScreenRant ๐ "'Diner Wink' Full Sketch - I Think You Should Leaveย Season 2" [origin of "triples is best"] on YouTube ๐ท Photo: Hulu
The Alien-verse has landed on TV with Noah Hawley's re-imagining (or pre-imagining) of the xenomorphic worlds of the film series -- and Andrew Cunningham has landed back in the guest chair to talk about telepathic blackmail, when hearing is scarier than seeing, and acting choices that don't make sense. Is this essential viewing, or should you jump in a shuttle and bail? Later, we went Around The Dial with War Of The Worlds 2025, The Gilded Age, It's Always Sunny, and American Prince: JFK Jr. before the panel stared into the abyss of Sarah's Sopranos Canon pitch. The Yellowstone-verse won, the Sussexes lost, and we kicked off a new Game Time season with a real facehugger. Skip that cryo-nap and listen to an all-new Extra Hot Great instead! GUESTS ๐ค Andrew Cunningham TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ฝ Alien: Earth Around The Dial: ๐ War Of The Worlds Around The Dial: ๐ The Gilded Age Around The Dial: ๐ It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Around The Dial: ๐คด American Prince: JFK Jr. The Canon: ๐ The Sopranos S02.E07: D-Girl Winner & Loser: ๐ฎ Y: Marshals Winner & Loser: ๐ Harry and Meghan Game Time: ๐ซฆ They Mostly Come At Night SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆ Andrew Cunningham on Bluesky ๐ Andrew's book pod with Craig Getting, Overdue ๐จ๐ปโ๐ป Andrew at Ars Technica ๐ Tara's War Of The Worldsย review at Cracked ๐ต๐ป "Oldies but goodies" on sale at Exhibit B. Books ๐ท Photo: Patrick Brown / FX
Fifteen years after its series finale on Fox, King Of The Hill is back with its fourteenth season, now at on Hulu. Is it worth yelling from the mountains about? We discuss. Around The Dial stops at The Yogurt Shop Murders and S21 of Project Runway. Tara pitches the Close Enough episode "Secret Horse" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close with a Non-Regulation Game Time that's on the level. Grab a can of Alamo and join us! TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ค King Of The Hill Around The Dial: ๐ฆ The Yogurt Shop Murders Around The Dial: ๐ Project Runway The Canon: ๐ด Close Enough S02.E16: Secret Horse Winner & Loser: ๐ต The Tennessee high school forensic club that solves cold cases Winner & Loser: ๐ Temuera Morrison Game Time: โ๏ธ Oops! All Equalizer Challenge Zones SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฃ๏ธ Brian VanHooker's interview with King Of The Hillย writer Norm Hiscock at Cracked ๐บ Tara's review of King Of The Hillย S14 at Cracked ๐ Tara's ranking of the King Of The Hill's season premiere's most self-consciously 2025 jokes, at Cracked ๐ฆค Nicholas Quah's review of King Of The Hillย S14 at Vulture ๐ฆ "The Yogurt Shop Murders Unpacks 'The Craziest Crime In Texas'" by Eve Batey at Vanity Fair ๐ "HBO's Smart New Docuseries Takes On The Yogurt Shop Murders -- And True Crime Itself" by Sam Adams at Slate ๐ฝ๏ธ "9 Clips To Remind You Why Kristen Johnston Is One Of The Greatest Living Comedic Actors" at Cracked ๐งโ๐ซ Classroom Essentials Lists at Donors Choose ๐ Secret Horse
Critic and podcaster Mark Blankenship returns to The Blankenship Chair to discuss Hitmakers, a reality show about songwriters that needs less contrived drama and more process -- but did appeal to a couple of our panelists as eye candy. Should you give it a try, or wait until one of its pop creations comes on in an elevator? We went Around The Dial with Happy Gilmore 2, Million Dollar Secret, The Challenge 41, and The Gilded Age spoilers before tapping our toes to a Canon pitch for Buffy's musical episode. A nepo Beatty won, Resident Alien lost, and Non-Regulation Game Time struck a chord with another round of Tube Tunes. We don't want to call it "fire," but it IS an all-new episode of Extra Hot Great! GUESTS ๐ค Mark Blankenship TOPICS Announcement: โค๏ธโ๐ฅ EHG Club Update Lead Topic: ๐คฉ Hitmakers Around The Dial: ๐ Happy Gilmore 2 Around The Dial: ๐ค Million Dollar Secret Around The Dial: ๐ The Challenge Around The Dial: ๐ The Gilded Age The Canon: ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ค Buffy The Vampire Slayer S06.E07: Once More With Feeling Winner & Loser: ๐ช Ella Beatty Winner & Loser: ๐ฝ Resident Alien Game Time: ๐ถ Tube Tunes XVI SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฟ Mark Blankenship's Lost Songs Project โณ๏ธ The one Happy Gilmore 2ย joke that made Tara laugh ๐ Tara's appreciation of Christopher McDonald ๐ณ A ranking of all the HG2ย non-sports cameos ๐ช The latest true-crime reviews at Best Evidence ๐ท Photo: Netflix
Well, we all have a face that we hide away forever, and we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone -- even Billy Joel, who has decided to take his out for Billy Joel: And So It Goes, a two-part HBO docu-series about his life and work. Should he have kept it to himself (it's his life)? Daniel Blau Rogge returns to talk about it. Around The Dial takes us through S02 of Digman!, The Comeback, and Billionaire Boys' Club. Dan presents the Hacks episode "The Roast Of Deborah Vance" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to Game Time, in which we're listeningโฆto celebrity Frasier callers. Say Goodbye To Hollywood and hello to a new episode! GUESTS ๐ค Dan Blau Rogge TOPICS Announcement: ๐ EHG Apple Podcast Subscription Lead Topic: ๐น Billy Joel: And So It Goes Around The Dial: ๐ช Digman! Around The Dial: ๐ฅ The Comeback Around The Dial: ๐ฐ Billionaire Boys' Club The Canon: ๐ค Hacks S03.E03: The Roast Of Deborah Vance Winner & Loser: ๐ฉ๐ผโโค๏ธโ๐จ๐ป High-Concept Dating Shows Winner & Loser: ๐ Happy Face Game Time: ๐ป Notable Residents of Seattle SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆ Daniel Blau Rogge on Bluesky ๐ช Tara's Digman!ย S02 review at Cracked ๐๏ธ EHG 336, including our discussion of Shangri-La Plaza ๐ชจ Dan on the Glass Housesย ranking episode of Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ Listen To Sassyย 141, featuring Dan ๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ Listen To Sassyย 142, also featuring Dan ๐จ๐ปโ๐ป Dan's website ๐ช Adopt A (PBS) Station ๐ท Photo: Courtesy of Art Maillett / Sony Music Archives / HBO
Lena Dunham is back with Netflix romcom Too Much -- and so is Maris Kreizman, to discuss Dunham's return to the discourse, whether we can separate the creator from the show, and what the panelists who didn't care for it still think it did really well. We went Around The Dial with American Horror Stories's third season, Veronica Mars's FIRST season, and Ballard, and Tara hoped we'd come to praise AND bury "the Giamatti episode" of Black Mirror for the Canon. Richard Gadd won, Today's Craig Melvin lost (while letting Rick Springfield also win), and getting "home free" proved a challenge in a tagline-based Game Time. Throw a nightie on your favorite pet and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Maris Kreizman TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐๐ป Too Much Around The Dial: ๐ฑ American Horror Stories Around The Dial: ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ Veronica Mars Around The Dial: ๐ ฑ๏ธ Ballard The Canon: ๐ช Black Mirror S07.E05: Eulogy Winner & Loser: ๐ฆ Richard Gadd Winner & Loser: ๐ฅฑ Craig Melvin Game Time: ๐ Tag, You're It SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐ง Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ Maris Kreizman's website ๐งจ An excerpt from Maris's new book, I Want To Burn This Place Down, at Rolling Stone ๐ฆ Maris on Bluesky ๐ช Extra Hot Great 558 on Black Mirrorย S07 ๐ฌ๐ง Tara's review of Too Much ๐ Kerr County Flood Relief Fund โ๐ป ProPublica's local reporting network ๐ท Photo: Ana Blumenkron / Netflix
In the grand tradition of our drafts for Law & Order and the Star Trek franchise, we're using this special episode to draft teams of staff, patients, loved ones, and inanimate shows from ER -- and who better to join us than Laura Hampton, a PA known to us from our Discord as an ER superfan who recently completed a full rewatch of the entire series? No one, which is why she's here picking a team AND organized the draft with the correct number of each category of character for us to choose from. Now we're going to need YOU to vote for which team reigns supreme! Laura also presents Doug saving Ben from a flooding storm drain in "Hell And High Water" for induction into the Hero category of the Tiny Canon. Finally, we close with an on-theme game about body parts in the names of TV shows and actors. Get listening, STAT! GUESTS ๐ค Laura Hampton TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ฅ ER Draft Tiny Canon: ๐ ER S02.E07: Hell and High Water Game Time: ๐ซ The Body Keeps The Score SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฉป Final ER draft picks from Laura, Tara and Sarah ๐ Poll: Best ER Lineup ๐ Poll: Hospital You'd Most Want To Be A Patient At ๐ต Donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds ๐ Your Local Epidemiologist on Substack ๐ LibraryFinder
We are off this week but present you with this EHG Club unlock of EEHG 343: Should You Sign On To With Love, Meghan? It's clear the former Meghan Markle wants to do something significant with her British-royal influence; it's also clear her new Netflix homekeeping show, With Love, Meghan, isn't that. Stephanie Early Green is back to talk about why it's so dull, what might have helped, and how Martha Stewart succeeded where Meghan Sussex fails. Ask EHG wondered who would replace Noel Fielding on GBBO and which characters we'd want on our bar-trivia teams, and then Tara pitched a lyrical SNL sketch for the Tiny Canon. And after we listed our Not Quite Winners and Losers of the week, Sarah's Extra Credit polled the panel on important princesses of television. Throw on a $300 linen apron and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Stephanie Green TOPICS 15s Of Fame: ๐คฌ The Good Swear Lead Topic: ๐ฏ๏ธ With Love, Meghan Ask EHG: ๐ Replacing Noel Fielding Tiny Canon: ๐ Saturday Night Live S38.E18: Vince Vaughn Winner & Loser: ๐ Poker Face Winner & Loser: ๐ Tracy Morgan Winner & Loser: ๐ The Last Of Us Winner & Loser: ๐ข Keegan-Michael Key Winner & Loser: ๐ Prince's estate Winner & Loser: โน๏ธโโ๏ธ Running Point Winner & Loser: ๐ The Recruit Winner & Loser: ๐ฅ Arrested Development Winner & Loser: ๐ฅ Bachelor co-EPs Michael Margolis and Keely Booth Extra Credit: ๐ซ Important TV Princesses Mini: ๐ The Royal Them SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ More from Stephanie Early Green at her website ๐ Vanity Fair's Harry 'n' Meghan cover story ๐คจ โMeghan Markle Pioneers New Frontiers in Unrelatabilityโ by Kathryn VanArendonk at Vulture ๐ฃ๏ธ โThe Meghan Interviewโ at People ๐ท Photo: Netflix
Like a lot of family-owned businesses, Havenport, North Carolina's Buckley Fishery is having a rough go of it lately. If they can't make their nut and pay all their employees on fish alone, maybe...smuggling cocaine will make up the shortfall? What could go wrong?! Jessica Morgan returns to talk about the ways Kevin Williamson's new show crosses over with the one we know him for best (Dawson's Creek), and the ways it doesn't but that we WISH it would. Around The Dial takes us through Season 3 of The Gilded Age, The Valley, and Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy. Sarah pitches the Law & Order episode "Empire" -- aka "The Julia Roberts One" -- for induction into The Canon. Then, after identifying the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a game that's naming names -- lots of them. Grab a serving of fresh oysters and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Jessica Morgan TOPICS Announcement: ๐ฆ EHG Mutual Aid Vault Lead Topic: ๐ The Waterfront Around The Dial: ๐ The Gilded Age Around The Dial: ๐ The Valley Around The Dial: ๐๏ธ Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy The Canon: โ๏ธ Law & Order S09.E20: Empire Winner & Loser: โญ๏ธ Five-Star Weekend Winner & Loser: ๐ฑ Ryan Murphy Game Time: ๐ช Same Name Game SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆ Jessica Morgan on Bluesky ๐ฅ Extra Hot Great Club ๐ฆ Contact Sarah about making a deposit to or withdrawal from the Extra Hot Great Mutual Aid Vault at bunting@tomatonation.com ๐ซ "Kevin Williamson Reveals How His Dad's Sordid Past Inspired New Crime Drama 'The Waterfront': 'He Paid The Price'" at the New York Post ๐คฐ๐ป "'Adults' Takes A Strong Stance On Abortion: Everyone Deserves Access, Including Jerks" at Cracked ๐ด Again With This's Membership Campaign ๐ Go Fug Yourself ๐น The Drinks With Broads Newsletter ๐ Save On True-Crime Paperbacks at Exhibit B. Books ๐ท Photo: Dana Hawley / Netflix
And that truth is: none of us thinks you should bother, including returning guest Will Leitch, who agrees that We Were Liars moves too slowly; shows AND tells too fart-sniffily; wastes the talents of an impressive cast, including Mamie Gummer and David Morse; and is based on a property whose author sounds fake. We went Around The Dial with the very real The Chicken Sisters, Untold, and The Mortician before Tara's Canon pitch reunited us with Party Down's third-season premiere. General Hospital won, Doctor Odyssey (maybe??) lost, and Dan Cassino got us all a volume discount on long-running shows in Game Time. Cannonball verrrrrry sloooowwwly into our all-new episode now! GUESTS ๐ค Will Leitch TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐คฅ We Were Liars Around The Dial: ๐ The Chicken Sisters Around The Dial: ๐๏ธ Untold Around The Dial: ๐ชฆ The Mortician Around The Dial: ๐บ The Devil's Plan The Canon: ๐ Party Down S03.E01: Kyle Bradway Is Nitromancer Winner & Loser: ๐ฅ General Hospital Winner & Loser: ๐ข Doctor Odyssey Game Time: ๐บ Intermittent FASTing SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ถ Will Leitch on the Rick Astley/popularity conundrum ๐๏ธ Will at NYMag ๐ฐ Will at WaPo ๐ Buy Will's books ๐ EHG 448 on the return of Party Down ๐ Tara runs down the best non-Daily Showย comedic performances by TDSย cast on Cracked ๐ Sarah reviews The Mortician ๐ Exhibit B.'s paperback sale ๐ท Photo: Amazon Content Services LLC
Summer is upon us, but what are we going to watch? Robert Krut joins us to help make our traditional lists of what we're into; what we should be into but aren't; what NO ONE should be into; and what's fine for others but not for us. Dave pitches the South Side episode "Treat Yourself" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close out with a Game Time that's pure poetry. Find a spot directly in front of a fan and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Robert Krut TOPICS Announcement: ๐ฆ EHG Mutual Aid Vault Lead Topic: ๐๏ธ 2025 Summer TV Preview The Canon: ๐ฆ South Side S02.E01: Treat Yourself Winner & Loser: ๐จโ๐ณ Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Winner & Loser: ๐ฉฐ รtoile Game Time: โ๏ธ There Once Was A Man From TV SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ชถ Robert Krut's website ๐ด The Again With Thisย Club campaign โ CHIRLA / Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights ๐ Sarah's review of Ask Notย at Best Evidence ๐ฆ How to reach Sarah for Mutual Aid Vault withdrawals ๐ฅฎ EEHG 323, including Dave's "Treat Yourself" pitch for the Anger Tiny Canon ๐๏ธ Tara's interview with Bashir Salahuddin at Cracked
David T.'s beautiful son Taylor S. Cole is back to discuss Dept. Q, a Scottish take on a Nordic-noir book series that has the good sense not to mess with star Matthew Goode's face. Chemistry in trope-y scenes, why Scandi crime stories often have a submarine, whether the mystery needed so many episodes to solve -- we're talking about all of that AND recommending actually Nordic Nordic-noir TV if you liked Dept. Q. Then we're going Around The Dial with Mountainhead, The Rehearsal, and The Last Of Us S01 before seeing whether Taylor can do his entire The Studio Canon pitch before we lose the light. True-crime actors won, late night lost some more, and three was the magic number for one of us in Game Time. Throw on a nubbly sweater and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Taylor Cole TOPICS Announcement: ๐ Club Campaign Announcement: ๐ง Incoming Apple Podcast Changes Lead Topic: ๐ Dept. Q Around The Dial: ๐๏ธ Mountainhead Around The Dial: ๐จโโ๏ธ The Rehearsal Around The Dial: ๐ The Last Of Us The Canon: ๐ฅ The Studio S01.E02: The Oner Winner & Loser: ๐ช Anthony Boyle and Julia Garner Winner & Loser: ๐ Late-night prestige Game Time: 3๏ธโฃ SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐๏ธ Hear more Taylor S. Cole at the G&T Podcast ๐ Taylor's also headed to the This Had Oscar Buzz podcast ๐ช And the Demi Myself and I podcast ๐ธ AND the Muppeturgy podcast โฐ๏ธ Tara's Mountainheadย review and ATX Festival coverage at Cracked ๐ป Support Bookstore Cats ๐ฅ The Extra Hot Great Patreon ๐ท Photo: Netflix
Matt Wolf (The Stroll) got unprecedented access to Paul Reubens, generally better known as his alter ego, Pee-wee Herman; Will Hines joins us to talk about what resulted from their 40 hours of interviews. Around The Dial takes us through Big Mouth's eighth and final season; The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox, and Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals. Sean makes his pitch for the "Long, Long Time" episode of The Last Of Us to be inducted into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Game Time that really knows the score. Put on your reddest bow tie and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Will Hines TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ฒ Pee-wee As Himself Around The Dial: ๐ Big Mouth Around The Dial: โพ๏ธ The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox Around The Dial: ๐ Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals The Canon: ๐ The Last Of Us S01.E03: Long, Long Time Winner & Loser: ๐ฃ Taran Killam Winner & Loser: ๐คฌ Charles Barkley Game Time: ๐ถ Stay Tuned SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ธ Will Hines on Instagram ๐ซฆ Tara's review of Big Mouthย S08 at Cracked ๐ฃ๏ธ Tara's interview with Big Mouthย co-creators Jennifer Flackett, Andrew Goldberg, and Mark Levin, at Cracked ๐ชฒ The Screw It, We're Just Gonna Talk About The Beatlesย podcast ๐ค Will Hines's website ๐ Best Evidence ๐ท Photo: Dennis Keeley/HBO
Vulture's Kathryn VanArendonk is back to talk about Apple TV+'s Murderbot, and whether the books do a better job of exploring questions of gender and essential humanity without Alexander Skarsgard's Ken-doll crotch confusing matters. Should YOU give it a watch? We went Around The Dial with Overcompensating, Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives, and Leverage: Redemption's third season before Anne offered another variation on the Utahn theme with a Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City Canon Presentation. Kelli Giddish won, Tom Hardy lost, and we all tried to survive the process of Venn-diagramming premiere and finale casting in Game Time. Hack into your governor modules and join us! GUESTS ๐ค Kathryn VanArendonk TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ค Murderbot Around The Dial: ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ Overcompensating Around The Dial: โณ Kids Right Now Shows Around The Dial: ๐ญ The Rehearsal Around The Dial: ๐คซ The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Around The Dial: ๐ฅท Leverage: Redemption The Canon: ๐ง The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City S04.E16: Mysteries, Revealed? Winner & Loser: โ๏ธ Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Winner & Loser: ๐ฆด Tom Hardy Game Time: ๐ Survivor Round II SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆค Kathryn VanArendonk at Vulture ๐ฆ Kathryn on Bluesky ๐ฎ The ATX Festival ๐ค Kathryn's Murderbotย review at Vulture ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ Tara's Overcompensatingย review at Cracked ๐ฆ Contact Buntsy about the EHG Mutual Aid Vault ๐ท Photo: Apple CLUB-ONLY NOTES ๐ฅ EHG Club Perk Links & How-To ๐ฌ Get On Our Community Discord
After more than two years, Rian Johnson's Poker Face -- aka "What if Columbo, but a lady named Charlie who's a human lie detector" -- is back for its second season on Peacock. Does it still deliver a pleasing throwback mystery vibe? David J. Roth returns to discuss. Around The Dial takes us through the second season of Conan O'Brien Must Go and Netflix's special Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor; Killing It; and Untold: Shooting Guards. Mike presents the episode "A Mercy" from The Terror for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we kick off a new season of Game Time with a very long drive between fictional TV cities in America -- hey, kind of like Charlie! Gas up and join us! GUESTS ๐ค David J. Roth TOPICS Announcement: ๐น Club Campaign Update Lead Topic: ๐ Poker Face Around The Dial: โ๏ธ Conan O'Brien Must Go Around The Dial: ๐คฃ Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor Around The Dial: ๐ Killing It Around The Dial: ๐ Untold: Shooting Guards The Canon: โ๏ธ The Terror S01.E06: A Mercy Winner & Loser: ๐ฅ Mike "The Miz" Mizanin Winner & Loser: ๐ Tom Brady Game Time: ๐ The Great American Fictional TV Road Trip SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฆ David J. Roth on Bluesky โ ๏ธ Tara's review of Poker Faceย S02 ๐คฉ "John Mulaney Is One Of The Best TV Comedy Guest Stars Ever" by Tara at Cracked ๐ Tara's review of Conan O'Brien Must Goย S02 at Cracked ๐ค Tara's review of Friendshipย at Cracked ๐ Dave Roth's write-up on Killing Itย in "The Best Things We Saw In 2024" at Defector ๐ฅ The Distractionย podcast ๐ The It's Christmastown!ย podcast ๐ซ Sarah's review of Whack Jobย at Best Evidence ๐บ๏ธ The Road Trip Game Time Map ๐ท Photo: Peacock
Did Alan Alda vehicle The Four Seasons need an eight-part dramedy reboot? The panel -- joined by Alyson Lewis of Cracked -- doesn't think so, although one of us enjoyed returning to a version of a property that aired constantly on HBO in the mid-eighties. But did the story need this many episodes, or this downbeat a tone? Do we enjoy this iteration of a Tina Fey character? And why is a certain actor almost certain to get killed in prestige programs like this? Later, we went Around The Dial with Taskmaster's 19th season, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Clubhouse, and Tara hoped Mary (and "That Woman") would make it into the Canon. Kali Reis won, Disney lost, and we synchronized our schedules for a timely Non-Regulation Game Time. Boot up your favorite second-screen farm game and have a listen! GUESTS ๐ค Alyson Lewis TOPICS Lead Topic: ๐ The Four Seasons Around The Dial: ๐ Taskmaster Around The Dial: ๐บ The Mary Tyler Moore Show S05.E04: Lou And That Woman Around The Dial: ๐งฆ The Clubhouse: A Year With The Boston Red Sox Around The Dial: ๐ Andor Winner & Loser: ๐ฆ 12 12 12 Winner & Loser: ๐น Disney Game Time: ๐ Let Me Check My Calendar SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ตโ๐ซ More from Alyson Lewis at Yes I Was High When I Wrote This ๐ท Tara's review of The Four Seasonsย at Cracked ๐ช Tara's Jason Mantzoukas interview at Cracked ๐ Cookie the foster cat needs a forever home ๐ท Photo: Jon Pack / Netflix
Heather wanted us to watch a 29-year-old Sam Elliott playing a cowboy in a Season 2 episode of The Streets Of San Francisco, and who were we to resist? We tell you whether the episode's worth ripping off your pearl snap shirt over. Our latest Ask EHG takes us through questions about, among others, our most out-of-character favorite shows and the strangest places we've ever run into someone we knew. Sarah pitches "Smizing" for the TV coinage Tiny Canon. Then, after sharing a new batch of Not Quite Top 11 lists, we close up by recasting famous original CSI. Find yourself a comfortable bunk and listen! TOPICS Forcening Pool: ๐ The Streets Of San Francisco S02.E21: The Hard Breed Ask EHG: ๐ฉ Coping With Everything Tiny Canon: ๐๏ธ America's Next Top Model S13.E03: Fortress Of Fierceness Not Quite Top 11: ๐ต Defunct TV Networks Not Quite Top 11: ๐จ๏ธ Significant TV Snow Not Quite Top 11: โ ๏ธ Cleopatra 2525 Character Names Extra Credit: ๐ฌ Recast This: C.S.I. Mini: ๐ธ Mark's TV Forcening (Jan 2014) SUPPORT THE SHOW ๐ฅ Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more! ๐๏ธ Shop our merch store! NOTES ๐ Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site ๐ฎ The Streets Of San Franciscoย S02.E21: The Hard Breed on DailyMotion ๐ Volunteer Match ๐ "'America's Next Top Model' recap: Private smeyes, watching you" at Entertainment Weekly ๐คข Our Nonac discussion of "Amends" in EHG 024
Charmaine Williams
Diahann Carroll, not Dyan Cannon