From the Top with Taylor and Mackenzie

This week we deep-dive into the anomaly that is Parks and Recreation: a show with one of the WORST pilots ever, yet which ended as a beloved, fan-favorite series. Treat yo' self by listening to our take on Leslie Knope versions 1 and 2, and how Parks and Rec dug themselves out of the (literal) pit. We cover: "Would You Rather," Parks and Rec style The evolution of Leslie Knope, from female Michael Scott to inspiring beacon of hope and grit. The strange, sparkling gem of Pawnee - and why it's maybe more memorable than any other fictional town And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

If political chatter has you exhausted, might we usher you into the heartwarming, albeit fictional, world of The West Wing? This week we discuss the pilot of Aaron Sorkin's beloved political drama. Walk and talk with us, as we meet sassy/inspirational President Bartlett and his busy, banter-slinging Oval Office team. You'll hear: Quick takes on: the power of a Presidential zinger, our lament over Charlie's (Dulé Hill) absence from the episode, and why some of the pilot's storyline wouldn't work in 2020. Our dream Oval Office teams, comprised of TV characters and celebrities - our favorite segment yet! How The West Wing came to be, with it's whiplash-inducing camera work and pages upon pages of dialogue. And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

If you're looking for what to watch this year as you bake your pie (or order takeout), we've got you covered! This week we're taking a detour from TV pilots and bringing you: Our 10 favorite Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes! TV characters we'd like to see made into a Macy's Parade balloon - who doesn't want to see a giant, floating Ron Swanson mustache?! Some embarrassing and heartfelt Thanksgiving memories... And more! For the full list of TV episodes and where to watch them, go to our website HERE. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

Don't let the title scare you off; Jane the Virgin has as much groundedness and heart as it does zany telenovela tropes. Taylor and Mackenzie guide you through the hilarious, fast-paced pilot of this critically acclaimed dramedy, and discuss all things grilled cheese, Michael v. Rafael, and Mackenzie's undying love for Rogelio de la Vega. You'll hear: Taylor, a JTV newbie, making some wild predictions about the characters' fates -- and Mackenzie judging his accuracy, with a few spoilers. Why JTV is not only the best show to ever grace "The CW", but why it's been touted by many as one of the best shows of all time (and certainly NOT a "guilty pleasure"). Our thoughts on the beloved narrator, the episode's best comedic moments, and Taylor's attempts at speaking Spanish. And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

Hardened bounty hunter meets impossibly adorable baby alien - what's not to love? With season 2 of The Mandalorian coming just around the corner, it was fun to look back at where the hit space western began! Whether you're a Star Wars newbie or an ultra nerd fan, you'll enjoy our discussion! Just don't hate on Baby Yoda. We cover: Could we manage to live our entire lives wearing a helmet? Rapid-fire Star Wars questions, including our biggest crushes, best quotes, and worst characters. Mackenzie's favorite pick ever for "Twin of the Episode." Hits and misses for The Mandalorian season 1... And more! No, this isn't a Disney+ ad, but we did love this documentary series: Gallery | Star Wars: The Mandalorian. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

To celebrate our 10th episode, we chose (arguably) the most epic pilot of all time - LOST! Who doesn't love a good meet-cute set next to the burning carcass of a jetliner? 16 years ago, Taylor and Mackenzie joined the masses who were awed and slightly confused by the island, the castaways, and that darn polar bear.  We discuss: What it was like to watch Lost the night it aired (coincidentally, on our 17th birthday!)  Lots of behind-the-scenes facts including casting info, how they got the plane wreckage on the beach, and the unconventional ways this pilot was created. (Here’s the link to the 30-minute documentary we mention, and an oral history of the pilot episode.)  Our desert-island picks for TV and books. And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

September 22, 1987 was a great day for a debut: it was the day we were born AND the series debut of Full House! Yeah, it's not the strongest pilot ever but we had a LOT of fun dunking on Bob Saget and counting how many tank tops Uncle Jesse wore during the opening credits alone. Happy 33rd b-day (tomorrow) to us and to Full House!  You'll hear: Our dream hodgepodge-TV-homes; who doesn't want the kitchen from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Lorelei Gilmore's front porch?  How Full House launched TGIF - what a time to be alive!  The best Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen movie. The un-aired pilot with a different Danny Tanner (the bizarre opening credits of which you can watch HERE). And more! Here's the link Taylor mentions, of the Full House floor plan. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

If you're in need of bright colors, nuanced female characters, and just the right amount of quirk, might we suggest the pilot of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? We loved discussing this world of things that shouldn't go together but totally work: Midge and Susie, quippy dialogue and personal tragedy, perfect housewives and crass stand-up comedy... We cover: Why the opening scene of the series is one of the best we've ever seen. Our own attempts at 30 seconds of stand-up - we'd like to think we made Midge proud. How Midge's turn from doting wife to drunken comic could have taught the Game of Thrones writers how to successfully write a "burn it all down" character arc... And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

Nothing has captured bad-boys with a heart of gold, hot-nerds finding love, and teens-talking-like-adults quite like The O.C. The pilot of this teen drama reminds us why it's first few seasons were so addictive, with its iconic catchphrases and puka-shell-clad beach bros. If you ever wanted to be adopted into the Cohen family, this ones for you! We cover: Sandi Cohen's eyebrows, big heart, and dad jokes. A pop quiz for Mackenzie: The O.C. Storyline or Soap Opera Trope?  Seth Cohen as the practice-"Chuck" (both shows created by Josh Schwartz). Some surprising cameos in the pilot and beyond... And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

Luscious eyebrows, wigs with names, and zingy one-liners galore! We had a blast deep-diving the pilot of the Canadian hit comedy, Schitt$ Creek. There is nothing quite like the Rose family, in all their posh-turned-podunk glory.  We cover: How exactly does someone choose a name for their wigs? Will the high points of this pilot outweigh the one glaring low-point (*cough Roland cough*)? How Dan Levy came up with the show, and the family dynamics on this family-made show. And more! If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review and subscribe. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

With a premise like no other, 24 kicks off with a bang - or a beep?  We explore the adrenaline-spiking introduction of Jack Bauer, who's got a complicated relationship with his family and a ruthless drive for catching terrorists. It's all fun and games until Jack shoots you with a tranquilizer... We discuss: Does Jack ever take a bathroom break? The pilot airing just 2 months after 9/11, and how that both helped and hurt the franchise. How 24 shifted the landscape of TV dramas... And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

How did a show that revolutionized TV comedy start out with such a weak opening episode? Taylor and Mackenzie set out to find the answers, as they tackle the infamously bare-bones Seinfeld pilot. Whether you're a Seinfeld super fan or just curious about where this pop-culture shifting series began, you'll love this episode! We cover: Where is Elaine?? Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld's original plans for Seinfeld Kramer's accidental alter-ego, Kessler And more!! Don't forget to listen to the end of the episode, where we give a sneak peek of next week's featured pilot. Taylor's Mentions from this Episode: YouTube video Taylor's 20 Must Watch Episodes The Seinfeld Book If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thanks for listening! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

What do you get when you mix the thriller/spy genre with a little bit of comedy and a lot of suspension of disbelief? The nerd-exalting NBC cult-classic, Chuck! Join us as we discuss the origins of our favorite nerd-hottie and his awkward journey to super spy, and why we love this plot-hole-riddled comedy. We discuss: How did Chuck hold up against the changing landscape of comedy in its day? Is Zachary Levi too cute for this role? A pop-quiz on made-up spy technology from the Spy Genre of TV & movies How Subway sandwiches intersect (see what we did there?) with Chuck... And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thanks for listening! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

It's Scrubs first episode and JD's first day as a real doctor; we explore the pilot of this zany ensemble-driven comedy. Though this series didn't change the entire landscape of TV, it brought comedy to the hospital setting while still having a lot of heart.  Enjoy our take on the origins of everyone's favorite daydreaming doctor and his friends (and foes). We'll look at: Is it lazy or genius to start a series on the protagonist's "first day"? Butt Pringles. Go with it. Who is the real mentor, Cox or Kelso?  And more! If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com

In a podcast about TV pilots, welcome to our pilot episode! By sheer coincidence, we begin with a series created by another pair of twins, Stranger Things! Enjoy our maiden voyage as we introduce ourselves, and explore the wild ride that is Stranger Things: Chapter One. We’ll cover: Our thoughts about dad bods - we're looking at you, Hop Why the 80's is the perfect setting for creepiness The introduction of our quick questions segment, including Breakout Star, Twin of the Episode, and Would you Pick This Pilot Up? If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE: Apple | Android | Spotify FOLLOW US: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter FIND OUT MORE: https://www.fromthetoppod.com/

Meet twin bro and sis Taylor and Mackenzie, who share a lifelong bond that began in the womb and has been sustained through our shared love of television. We'll tell you: What we'll cover each week (TV pilots from every genre!) Who this show is for (ever owned a DVD boxed-set or enjoy a deep-cut reference? We're looking at you!) Why we're qualified to talk about TV pilots (look forward to a short chat about Rugrats...) And more! To find out more about the show, make sure to SUBSCRIBE! You can also find us on at www.fromthetoppod.com and Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.