Hey everybody! We are Courtney and Joe - two entertainment and pop culture addicts who know what it takes to make a great television show. With nearly two decades combined experience in media and production, not to mention two lifetimes dedicated to pop culture, we love everything about TV - the good, the bad, and the reality. In the first half hour of a series, we can typically tell whether it will be a snoozer, loser, or binge-watching enthuser. Even with the all hours we've dedicated to television, there are still many popular series we've never seen. On this podcast, we will devote each episode to watching and dissecting a show we've never seen... with a twist. We will only watch the pilot episode and the series finale of each show - without ever seeing anything in between. We'll discuss our thoughts, predictions, and all snarky comments in between. We will also feature television industry experts and self-proclaimed superfans to guide us on our journey to see if we really do spoil everything.
In this episode, we dive into the parallel universe of what would happen if Covid took us all. We discuss Will Fortes Hijinx and what would we do if we were the last people on earth. Spoiler Alert: Courtney wouldn't last one month.
We explore all the buried secrets of the Carrington clan in the series finale, including suppressed murder memories and mineshaft Nazi treasures. We’re joined by the ghost of Dominique Deveraux herself, Allie Parham, bringing her own brand of burned champagne. We dive into all the decadence and debauchery Dynasty has to offer, as we’re left with THREE cliffhangers when the ultimate 80s soap opera takes its final curtain call.
Pop the champagne and bring on the crystals and catfights because this week we watched Dynasty. This ultimate-80s primetime soap opera was well-known for its over-the-top glamour and soapy storylines, and we ate every bit of it up. We compare and contrast the series to its predecessor, Dallas. We also cringe at the tackling of certain topics, but revel in the fashion, forward motion, and feminism of the series. Power-suit up and check out Episode 1.
We finally discover a finale we liked just as much as the pilot in October Road ! In this episode, we welcome a very special guest, actress Rebecca Field, who played Janet on the gone-too-soon ABC drama. We have an amazing chat with Rebecca who shares stories from the series, and what she is working on now. We leave the episode on a high, leading the official charge for a “bring back October Road ” campaign.
We discover one of our favorite shows on the podcast so far, October Road. This short-lived ABC vehicle seemed to fall victim to an undesirable timeslot, despite its stellar cast and it being based on Joe’s life story. We talk about recognizing nearly every actor, the familiarity of the coming home again journey, and make predictions for what we hope will be a satisfying series finale.
In this episode, we figure out that we've been pronouncing the show name wrong the entire time... a first in our pod history. We watch as the series goes completely off the rails. Joe breaks down scene-by-scene while Courtney ponders how the leather jackets have maintained good quality, but everyone is living in broken down bunkers and stick figure houses. We spill our confusion and frustration over a series that seemingly switched genres several times in its seven year run, before letting out a sigh of relief that we are done with sci-fi... for now.
For the first time in our pod history, Joe finds a sci-fi show that Courtney actually likes... but he doesn't. We crash land on Earth for the CW's post-apocalyptic series, The 100. We follow the teenagers from space ship to their first steps on Earth, finding similarities between this 2014 endeavor and fan-favorite Lost (not to mention Lord of the Flies ). We make predictions for deaths, relationships, and battles that will transpire over the next seven seasons.
In the finale, we try to work through confusing cast changes and plastic surgery surprises. We go scene-by-scene trying to make sense of cold-shoulder montages and storylines no one seems to care about. We do, however, find delight in Jesse McCartney’s portrayal of a veteran returning from deployment.
We take our first plunge into the world of Lifetime with its longest-running scripted series, Army Wives. We breakdown the cast of characters – who we liked, who we didn’t, and whose accent we tried to replicate for an entire episode between cackling laughs. We praise the show for shining light on some important topics, and express excitement for what we’d like to see next.
In this bonus episode to start off the new year we discuss our favorite shows of 2020 and we have an inevitable meltdown discussing Tiger King.
We jam along to television theme songs in a round of “Jam or Not a Jam!” With songs submitted by some of our biggest fans, we take a trip through time listening to catchy (and confusing) themes from some of television’s most notable shows.
In the finale episode, we host our first guest of the season, Phil Loeb. Being a longtime Joss Whedon fan and working in post-production on TV, film, and web, Phil gives us insider information into what we missed during the series run. We explore the evolution of the series and how it found its footing balancing mythological creatures with the mean streets of LA.
We stroll down dark alleyways and seedy underground lairs while exploring the series, Angel. Joe stumbles into the unknown vampire world, while Courtney can’t help but to compare the show to its (much superior) predecessor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We talk about the spinoff’s talent, carryover characters, and new direction of noir vampire detective work.
In the finale, we discuss the most touching and kickass moments of the series wrap-up. We talk about the show's cult following, massive conventions, and its postponed anniversary celebration. We spotlight the “implied” love affair of Xena and Gabrielle… that wasn’t so implied. We elaborate on sensual tattoos, otherworldly dojos, and Xena’s ultimate atonement.
In this episode, we take on the warrior princess herself, Xena. We ponder the cheesiness of the pilot, including battle cries and boomerangs. We talk about the genesis of Greek mythology, and its lack in this Grecian-inspired series. We praise the strong female lead, and have some laughs at the expense of questionable fight scenes.
We round out Pushing Daisies with a surprisingly satisfying series finale. From shocking revelations to oversized hats, from Seussical storytelling to sneak shark attacks, it packs a truly special punch at every turn. We explore the eccentricities of the episode, Ned and Chuck’s relationship moving forward, and choices we would have liked to see to wrap it all up.
Courtney & Joe are back for season 2 and kicking it off with a quirky mystery comedy cluster. We dive into the world of Pushing Daisies, which brings us to a semi-utopian society where Ned has a gift of bringing people back from the dead. What could be a creepy power is actually quite beautiful as we explore the vivid colors, unique narration, and wide-eyed innocence of the series. If you like Wes Anderson-inspired storytelling mixed with an eclectic acid trip, then you’ll love this episode!
In this episode we recap the good, the bad and the ugly from season 1 and we share our hopes for season 2!
We finally watch a finale we can agree on and love. We review our predictions before breaking down the unexpected last day of college for our Undeclared characters. We lose our minds for the accomplishments of Judd Apatow, the writers, directors, and overall cast of the show. We laugh about our favorite moments, and exclaim our happiness with a satisfying ending that left us wanting even more!
We discover a little-known Judd Apatow gem called Undeclared. We find ourselves once again on the FOX Network circa 2001, diving into a show that we somehow never knew about, but has one of television’s most stellar casts. We talk about each on the long list of characters, how the series was created to keep the cast & crew of Freaks & Geeks employed, and why this was a genuinely funny, accurate representation of college life.
We vent major frustrations, amongst fits of laughter and cursing, about the series finale of Baywatch. We break down characters and storylines we don’t care about, while reminiscing about the greatness that was the pilot episode. We also discuss the continuation movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding , and dissect the quirky, zany spin-off, Baywatch Nights. Finally, we ponder how the show fell so far from the best pilot we’ve ever seen to the worst series finale yet.
Listen in this week to hear us absolutely fall in love with red bathing suits, ocean rescues, and slow motion running because we watched Baywatch. We deep dive into the three decades of Baywatch beaus and babes, led by the one and only David Hasselhoff. In the pilot episode’s mini movie, we meet the first cast of characters and explore potential love stories, dramatic deaths, and serious stalkers. We’re always here… for another episode.
We welcome special guests Matt and Carter from YouTube’s It’s Kind of a Grey Area (IKAGA). As diehard superhero fans, they help us break down the heroes, villains, and storylines that transpired between the pilot episode and series finale. We divulge shifts in storytelling, ebbs and flows of superpowers, and how confused all those reporters must be when the cheerleader face plants off the Ferris wheel.
Get your superhero hats on because this week on the podcast we talk about fan favorite, Heroes. We discuss the extraordinarily successful first season, how the Writer’s Strike affected season 2, and the network canceling it due to “bad math.” We guess each other’s most desired superpowers, and make our best predictions for each character’s abilities and story arcs.
In the second episode, we dissect scene-by-scene the ride that is Wilfred , including cult affiliations and imaginary friends. We argue over the series finale story arc, interpretations of the ending, and the meaning of the word ambiguous. We also talk about the ultimate search for happiness and being okay with who you are.
In this week’s podcast episode we take a turn for the weird with FX’s oddball comedy, Wilfred. We compare the Australian and American versions of the series, while also providing fun facts on the show’s stars. We break down the psychology behind Elijah Wood’s character and why he sees the titular dog as a bong-smoking, potty-mouthed man in a dog suit.
We vent frustrations with the world-weary series finale of the espionage turned magical action series, Alias. We talk about interesting story arcs and surprises that were overpowered by confusing death scenes, disingenuous relationships, and diving into a mystical realm (and a pool of fruit punch). We investigate the theme of the family vs. daddy issues, and what we wished the show would have explored more.
This week, we spoil the pilot episode of the spy vs. spy drama, Alias. We talk all things Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams, in addition to other notable stars who started on the series. Joe fumes about slow motion fighting, gun cocking, and mismatched music. Meanwhile, Courtney gives insight into the mini-movie feel of the show, plot twists, and viewer feedback.
We sit down with Emmy winner and talent producer, Marley Wittuck, to talk all things crazy. From the insane amount of musical numbers to outrageous cast changes, we dish on how the whacky CW series wrapped its final season. Wittuck walks us through some real-world mental health and personal issues explored on the series in regards to character development and making a connection with the viewing audience, including why Rebecca ultimately choosing herself may not have made all fans happy, but was apropos for the show's premise.
In the podcast episode, we delve into the sheer mania of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We share our surprise (over and over again) of the show breaking out into a musical. We talk about the series’ praised portrayal of mental health, original musical numbers, and the diversity of the main character and cast. We also touch on its record-breaking low ratings, but fervent cult following.
We bring an end to the extraordinary 261 episode run of NYPD Blue. We talk about Sipowicz’s development from a gruff, prejudiced renegade into an understanding, well-respected leader. We take a look at the loss he has experienced in 12 seasons, and how that has shaped his character. We discuss our disappointment with the formulaic storytelling of the series finale, but praise the final five minutes, including the exceptional acting, cinematography, and going on with business as usual in Precinct 15.
We go back in time to when the simplicity of the 1990s was shook by the groundbreaking TV series, NYPD Blue. We discuss how the show dramatically changed the television landscape, sweeping 84 Emmy nominations and 20 wins, with Stephen Bochco at the helm and Mike Post composing its iconic sound. We highlight its glimpse into the realism of the New York City law and crime scene, including raw language, sexual situations, and gritty storytelling. We also fall in love with Dennis Franz’s rough & tumble Andy Sipowicz, who rides the series out for all 12 seasons.
We evaluate the unexpected series finale of Empire , which ended two episodes early due to COVID-19 permanently halting production. We discuss off-screen issues that changed the show’s trajectory, including the Jussie Smollett scandal and how creators pieced together two partial episodes to make a conclusion after coronavirus. Though a letdown to longtime fans, we dive into the development of the family dynamic, Lucious and Cookie’s relationship, and the evolution of the series’ music.
In this week’s podcast episode, we familiarize ourselves with all the musical melodrama of FOX’s Empire. We gush over an amazing cast, including Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, while also analyzing character personalities, motives, and backstories. We discuss all things music and fashion, while watching Lucious Lyon rule his cubs and butts heads with one tough Cookie in an effort to build the ultimate empire.
The sisters Saggiomo sit down with us to chat about the broad spectrum of Broad City. Madeline, a marketing connoisseur, and Angela, a student of television, were both raised on pop culture, and connected to the series based on their similarities to the main stars. We talk about TV tropes, clever characters, and witty writing, in addition to the adoration we all have for the series wrap up and where the girls would go from here.
We explore the escapades of Broad City , which started out as a web series before being picked up by Comedy Central. We meet two real-life best friends, Ilana and Abbi, who are 20-somethings living in NYC and having quirky, crazy misadventures. We get into a deep Millennial and Gen Z debate, and why we don’t fully fit into either category. We also talk about our love for pop-up shops, stories of our old jobs, and the weirdness of being in your 20s.
In the next Scream podcast episode, we review the second season series finale – before the show was turned into an anthology. We discuss things we saw coming and what confused us along the way. We also review the third season of the show, which reflected more original Scream ideology, including the real Ghostface mask and Roger Jackson’s harrowing phone voice, in addition to fun and surprising choices made in the final season.
We take the ultimate plunge into horror television by the watching Scream the TV Series. As the epitome of a Scream superfan, Courtney spills the facts of her favorite movie franchise, while mostly being scared of disappointment in the TV show. Meanwhile, Joe patiently wades through Courtney’s free flowing facts and trivia of all thing horror, while walking the audience through play-by-play of the pilot episode.
In the second podcast episode, we talk about the mental strain of watching the three-part BSG series finale. Courtney vents frustrations and confusions, while Joe translates what transpired aboard Battlestar as the primary characters (and clones) searched for Earth. We discuss prophecies predicted by us and the series itself, as well as character relationships, unneeded action sequences, and our continuously lingering questions (looking at you All Along the Watchtower).
In our exploration into the world of sci-fi, we converse about fan favorite, Battlestar Galactica. We investigate its unique history, spanning all the way from the 1970s into the 2000s. We dissect its supposed roots in Mormonism, and modern retelling by using political notions and the tragedy of 9/11. We try to piece together what happens in pilot episode, while Joe mostly ponders why the frack Courtney has never seen Star Wars.
Ben Rathbun, editor, animator, and all around tech and TV guru joins us as we spotlight the series finale of FOX favorite, 24. We highlight firsts of the show, including featuring the first African American and female presidents, and have our first disagreement about a show ending. We debate cast changes, character shifts, and not seeing Jack Bauer kicking enough ass. We explore editing challenges, ambiguous endings, and setting up the series for another season.
We hype up our new favorite podcast protagonist, Jack Bauer, played by an ass-kicking Kiefer Sutherland. We break down the concept of real time, and using a countdown clock as a major character. We discuss the fallout that 9/11 had on the series, counterterrorism as a career, and conflicts of family versus work. We also keep tabs on the seemingly endless number of Nokia phones, questionable hairstyles, shaggin’ wagons, and the dangers of premarital sex in an antique store.
We discuss the storybook happy ending of Jane the Virgin and likeability of the modern-day fairytale, including its 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. We talk about the satirical hijinks of the series finale, and characters we fell in love with in the matter of an episode. We also highlight things (and people) that surprised us, predications that came to fruition, and outlandish plots we missed throughout the series.
We explore the idea of the telenovela for a mainstream audience. We chat about the breath of fresh air that is Jane the Virgin , including the ray of sunshine herself, actress Gina Rodriguez. We examine the Latina family dynamic, potential love interests, and how no one seemed overly bothered by accidental artificial insemination. We also outline our predictions for the future of the show, including who Jane will end up with, if anyone, and what the climax of the series will bring.
Carnivale superfan, Katie Madonia, sits down to talk with us about the ultimate battle between good and evil. She helps fill in the gaps for what transpired between seasons 1 and 2, while we pick her brain about where her favorite series would sit in TV history had it been allowed to continue. We talk about the in(cest) and outs of the unexpected series finale, as well as what freaked Joe out and what creepily delighted Courtney. We also divulge where the series creator would have taken the show in the next chapter of the unique HBO undertaking.
In the episode, we deep dive into the world of Carnivale , dropping into the dust bowl and familiarizing ourselves with the freakshow. We break down the mysterious prologue, as well as Joe’s trepidation going into the episode and Courtney’s excited anticipation. We focus on the humanity of the misperceived carnies, the narratology of the Hero’s Journey, and predict how Ben Hawkins will need to harness his unexpected powers.
We analyze the two-part series finale of Smallville , showcasing the parts we loved and what that left us wanting more. We discuss the show's spinoff potential, emotional appeal, and Biblical themes. We also explore the dynamic relationships between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, Lana Lang, and Lois Lane, as well as some unscripted drama that happened after the series wrapped.
On the podcast, we gush over our newfound lovefest with Smallville , and how we wish we had found it in our teen years. We talk about its place in TV as "Dawson's Krypton," and its remarkable ten seasons and 217 episodes, which spanned across both the WB and CW networks. We discuss Superman lore and what will happen based on what we know about the famed comic book Man of Steel.
Meet Courtney and Joe – two TV and pop culture buffs who know how to tell if a series will be a snoozer, loser, or binge-watching enthuser. Hear a little about our background, how we got into entertainment and production, where we met, and how we conceptualized our new podcast.
In the long anticipated episode 2 of Supernatural Courtney and Joe tackle to series finale. They talk everything from hidden easter eggs all the way to obvious aging. Will they like this one? Listen and find out!Bonus* Hear the queen of screams thoughts on Scream 5*
Sam Stone, a tech gladiator in the television industry, sits down with us to talk about his favorite show, and deconstruct its series finale. We discuss relationships that developed over the series' seven seasons, and where the characters will go from here. We also break down Scandal slang and Live Tweeting surged by the show.