612: Sitting Center Court For Running Point

Krystal Farmer helps us keep turning EHG into a hoops pod by coming back to talk about Running Point's second season: why it works, what it (perhaps wisely?) hand-waves, whose idea it was to cast such short kings as NBA players, and whether a certain former WB heartthrob is getting a back-door NHL pilot. We went Around The Dial with Call The Midwife, a Jerry West documentary, and Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders before Julie did a song-and-dance routine on behalf of a final-season Mad Men episode for the Canon. Good reporting won, a bad Housewife lost, and Game Time once again asked us to guess the horny hearts of the average IMDb user. Was there a buzzer-beater? You'll have to listen to find out.GUESTS👤 Krystal FarmerTOPICSLead Topic: 🏀 Running PointAround The Dial: 🍼 Call The MidwifeAround The Dial: ⛹🏻‍♂️ Jerry West: The LogoAround The Dial: 🏖️ Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach MurdersThe Canon: 👨‍🚀 Mad Men S07.E07: WaterlooWinner & Loser: 😵‍💫 Tessa StuartWinner & Loser: 🥒 Jill ZarinGame Time: 🤩 TV Popularity Contest IIISUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🪙 Krystal Farmer's Two Cents Plus Tax podcast🦋 Krystal on Bluesky⛹🏽‍♀️ The WNBA🏀 Our discussion of Running Point in EHG 552🌮 Tara's Rockford Files manifesto at Defector🐶 How to help Forte Animal Rescue🏖️ Sarah's Killing Grounds review at Best Evidence📷 Photo: Katrina Marcinowski / Netflix

Beef has returned with more than twice the beefs (or beeves, if you will); Phillip Maciak has also returned to talk about whether it still sizzles. Around The Dial takes us through S05 of The Boys, Saturday Night Live, and Untold: Jail Blazers. Phillip pitches the New Girl episode "Normal" for induction into The Canon. And we close things up with the Winner and Loser of the week, skipping Game Time out of respect for Dave's frail constitution. Slather up with some of that fancy Korean sunscreen and listen!GUESTS👤 Phillip MaciakTOPICSLead Topic: 🥩 BeefAround The Dial: 🦹 The BoysAround The Dial: 🌃 Saturday Night LiveAround The Dial: 🏀 Untold: Jail BlazersThe Canon: 🗽 New Girl S01.E20: NormalWinner & Loser: 🚔 Matt LeBlancWinner & Loser: ⚖️ Law & Order: Organized CrimeSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🦋 Phillip Maciak on Bluesky🪐 "Cousin Planet - SNL" on YouTube🚙 "Car Song - SNL" on YouTube📲 "DTF St. Louis Is An Utterly Original Drama Of Male Loneliness" at The New Republic🏀 "You've Watched Untold: Jail Blazers. What's Next?" at Best Evidence📷 Photo: Netflix

Alas, our planned guest Devindra Hardawar couldn't join us after all -- but we forged ahead with our discussion of The Audacity, whose all-star cast didn't save the show from feeling superfluous. Should you give AMC's takedown of crappy rich Californians a try, or just watch Succession again? We went Around The Dial with Margo's Got Money Problems, Love, Ted Bundy, and the new season of Taskmaster before Dave was Not A Crackpot about live-task editing. Tara hoped a Season 16 episode of Bob's Burgers would make a perfect Canon fit. Joel Kinnaman won, Euphoria lost, and Sarah caught strays for her Chewbacca imitation in a copyright-compliant Non-Regulation Game Time. Someone light a match; it's an all-new Extra Hot Great.TOPICSLead Topic: 💾 The AudacityAround The Dial: 💸 Margo's Got Money ProblemsAround The Dial: 💘 Love, Ted BundyAround The Dial: 💌 TaskmasterAround The Dial: 🍔 Bob's Burgers S16.E07: Tube For TinaWinner & Loser: 🥵 Joel KinnamanWinner & Loser: 🐶 EuphoriaGame Time: 🤫 Secret Invitation CodeSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🧑‍🦱 Billy Magnussen got a perm to play Duncan🦹 Devindra Hardawar discussed The Franchise with us in EHG 531🏥 Tara on bad fans of The Pitt for GQ🖤 Sarah's full review of Love, Ted Bundy at Best Evidence👀 Game Time Answer Sheet📷 Photo: AMC

With its series adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale a major awards success for Hulu, the logical next step is an adaptation of its sequel novel, The Testaments, revolving around the privileged young women of Gilead being prepared for their lives as Commanders' Wives; Alison Herman returns to discuss the latest project on Chase Infiniti's extremely prestigious CV. Around The Dial takes us through Hacks S05, DTF St. Louis, and The Truth And Tragedy Of Moriah Wilson. Mary pitches the Heated Rivalry episode "I'll Believe In Anything" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Game Time that has a lot of love to give. Make yourself some cinnamon toast and listen!GUESTS👤 Alison HermanTOPICSLead Topic: ✝️ The TestamentsAround The Dial: 🤣 HacksAround The Dial: 📱 DTF St. LouisAround The Dial: 📹 The Truth And Tragedy Of Moriah WilsonThe Canon: 🏒 Heated Rivalry S01.E05: I'll Believe In AnythingWinner & Loser: ❤️‍🔥 David E. KelleyWinner & Loser: 🏁 RuPaul's Drag RaceGame Time: 💋 Lip MashersSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🦋 Alison Herman on Bluesky🌴 The Again With This podcast👊 The New Techniques In Modern Practical Combat podcast✍️ Alison at Variety🎶 The Dolly 64 Season on Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs🎞️ TCM's The Plot Thickens podcast👾 "Drag Race Interrupts Its Art With AI Slop" at Reality Blurred📷 Photo: Disney / Steve WilkieCLUB-ONLY NOTES🔥 EHG Club Perk Links & How-To💬 Get On Our Community Discord

For All Mankind, aka "Space Show," may be laboring under 15 tons of old-age makeup -- but the panel, and guest David J. Roth, are here for it. Maybe in space, the makeup is weightless? Or maybe it's a handful of good performances amid the non-credible writing, or the show's occasional foray into lunatic interstellar action (and Martian pizza franchising) -- but if you're not already watching, you're excused to go Around The Dial with us for SNL UK, Color Theories By Julio Torres, DTF St. Louis, The Lowdown's first-season finale, and Last One Laughing UK. Dave celebrated a Netflix-programming Tiny Triumph, and Tara made an arresting case for a fifth-season Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Laura Dern won, Star Trek's modern franchises lost, and clear eyes and full hearts couldn't lose in a sports-centric Game Time. Start your sol off right with an all-new Extra Hot Great!GUESTS👤 David J. RothTOPICSLead Topic: 🪐 For All MankindAround The Dial: 💂🏻 Saturday Night Live UKAround The Dial: 🎨 Color Theories By Julio TorresAround The Dial: 📱 DTF St. LouisAround The Dial: 📚 The LowdownAround The Dial: 🤣 Last One Laughing UKTiny Triumph: 🏛️ KennedyThe Canon: 📦 Brooklyn Nine-Nine S05.E14: The BoxWinner & Loser: 🔪 Laura DernWinner & Loser: 🚀 Star TrekGame Time: 🏟️ 19 Questions: Sports EditionSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🏀 David J. Roth at Defector👊 Roth on the suburban-guy-vs.-Reacher kerfuffle👋 Alan Sepinwall bails For All Mankind🎙️ Tara's Dan Bucatinsky interview at Decider🍝 The Soprano Ten at Best Evidence📷 Photo: Apple

This is an un-vaulting of EEHG 388. Haaaaappy holidays! Return with us now to December 3, 1980 -- and all the utterly of-their-time commercials (and by "their time," we kind of mean the '70s) from a rerun of an After School Special, including Barbie food, fights over fluoride, and the worst baby-doll ever. We're also answering your Ask EHG questions about real-life tropes and memorable magazines, and Tara is muttering "Rosebud" in the direction of the Tiny Canon; our Not Quite Top 11 Lists explore roadside attractions and board games. Then we're unwrapping the most important boxes of television. Hop on the Starburst-coaster and join us!TOPICSLead Topic: 🪥 December 3, 1980 CommercialsAsk EHG: ☕️ Standard coffee ordersTiny Canon: 🛷 The Kids In The Hall S01.E03Not Quite Top 11: 📍 Best Roadside America Destinations Worth Visiting Between Each Leg Of A Road Trip Comprising TV Shows With American Cities In Their TitlesNot Quite Top 11: 🎲 TV Shows That You Initially Think Should Absolutely NOT Have A Branded Board Game, But Then The More You Think About It, The More You’re Like, But How Would That Even Work, Wait Actually I Kind Of Want To Play That NowNot Quite Top 11: 💩 Least Enticing Holiday TV Episode TitlesKRTMATIWOTVLM: 🏠 Little House On The Prairie S04.E15: Whisper CountryExtra Credit: 📦 Important TV BoxesMini: 🎄 Holiday Varieties (Dec 2016)SUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🤑 The 12/3/80 ad reel on YouTube🥃 Or watch "The Late Great Me! Story Of A Teenage Alcoholic"📦 "The One With Chandler In A Box"👋 Long Gone🎂 Kendall’s “Too Much Birthdays” meltdown📤 “The Farnsworth Parabox”

This is an un-vaulting of EEHG 376. For this year's special This Week In TV History episode, we're journeying back to 1996 for February sweeps -- specifically, the week of February 21-27 -- and investigating all the starry stunts the networks AND premium cable channels were busting out to capture audiences. Leading (with its chin) is The Late Shift, HBO's TV movie take on Bill Carter's nonfiction book about Jay Leno and David Letterman's battle to replace Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Did these stupid human tricks enthrall us? Adam Sternbergh returns to talk about it. Around The Dial takes us to an all-CBS-Monday-sitcoms event featuring Elizabeth Taylor, a string of black pearls, and her new Black Pearls fragrance; the many non-Friends and Seinfeld sitcoms NBC tried to launch on Thursday nights in the 90s; ER's Season 2 episode "The Healers"; and the sci-fi drama Nowhere Man. Dave pitches "Homer The Smithers" from The Simpsons for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week of February 21-27's biggest Winner and Loser, it's on to a VERY questionable game time. Listen in -- you don't have to do it crouched next to a phone playing it in the next room, but you might be surprised by what you get out of it if you do!GUESTS👤 Adam SternberghTOPICSLead Topic: 🌙 The Late ShiftAround The Dial: 💎 CBS's Elizabeth Taylor NightAround The Dial: 🪦 NBC's Must-See TV GraveyardAround The Dial: 🏥 ER S02.E16: The HealersAround The Dial: 🗺️ Nowhere ManThe Canon: 🥣 The Simpsons S07.E17: Homer The SmithersWinner & Loser: 💯 Almost PerfectWinner & Loser: 🖖 Over-invested Star Trek FansGame Time: 🤔 19 Questions: 1995-96 TV Season EditionSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site📚 Adam Sternbergh's website📰 Dick Cavett's review of The Late Shift in the New York Times🌴 Again With Again With This 161: Let's Watch Nicholle Tom In The Series Premiere Of The Nanny! [subscription required]🫥 "10 Forgotten 90s Sitcoms That Still Work Today" at Cracked👩🏻‍⚕️ Our ER draft episode💯 Almost Perfect on Wikipedia📷 Photo: HBO

The third Bill Lawrence show to début or return in 2026 Q1 is Rooster, loosely "What if Carl Hiaasen had a daughter he needed to help through her divorce from a fellow prof at a New England liberal arts college by taking a job there?" College English instructor Robert Krut returns to discuss whether it's worth auditing. Around The Dial lands on Vladimir, The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins, Chris Fleming: Live At The Palace, The Lowdown, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, and Young Sherlock. Bobby pitches the 9-1-1 episode "Karma's A Bitch" for induction into The Canon. Then, after identifying the week's Winner and Loser (promulgating a conspiracy theory along the way), we go to the head of the class for Non-Regulation Game Time. Get yourself some warm nuts and join us!GUESTS👤 Robert KrutTOPICSLead Topic: 🐓 RoosterAround The Dial: 📚 VladimirAround The Dial: 🏈 The Fall And Rise Of Reggie DinkinsAround The Dial: 🕺 Chris Fleming: Live At The PalaceAround The Dial: 🤠 The LowdownAround The Dial: 💷 Peaky Blinders The Immortal ManAround The Dial: 🔎 Young SherlockThe Canon: 🌳 9-1-1 S01.E08: Karma's A BitchWinner & Loser: 📜 The LowdownWinner & Loser: 👎 Carrie UnderwoodGame Time: 👩‍🏫 Teacher Appreciation WeekSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🦋 Robert Krut on Bluesky✍️ Tara at Decider📖 Robert Krut's Website🗣️ Dirty Talk (featuring Sarah) on Hulu📷 Katrina Marcinowski/HBO

R.J. Decker is a photojournalist-turned-private investigator who originated in a novel by Carl Hiaasen. Is he more than just the network-TV version of Bad Monkey? Kim Reed returns to talk about it. Around The Dial takes us to Nate Bargatze's new ABC game show The Greatest Average American, and all over the current reality landscape: The Traitors S04, Survivor 50, House Of Villains S03, and Australian Survivor: Redemption. Julie offers an argument for The Good Wife episode "Closing Arguments" to be inducted into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close up with a flat and grassy Non-Regulation Game Time. Leave your trailer precariously balanced on the edge of a sinkhole and join us!GUESTS👤 Kim ReedTOPICSAnnouncement: 📢 Discord Re-orgLead Topic: 🦩 R.J. DeckerAround The Dial: 🤷‍♂️ The Greatest Average AmericanAround The Dial: 🏝️ Reality RoundupThe Canon: 🧤 The Good Wife S02.E23: Closing ArgumentsWinner & Loser: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Groundskeeper WillieWinner & Loser: 🍷 Possibly Sonja MorganGame Time: 🌾 Little Houses On The PrairieNOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🦋 Kim Reed on Bluesky🎤 Chris Fleming: Live At The Palace on HBO Max🗡️ "The Traitors Needs To Ban Housewives" by Joe Reid at Vulture [subscription required]📷 Photo: ABCCLUB-ONLY NOTES🔥 EHG Club Perk Links & How-To💬 Get On Our Community Discord

Paradise is back for a whole new season of [major spoiler redacted]. After we made guest Alyson Lewis cram 11 episodes in a week, is she mad at us, or delighted to welcome her favorite new show into her life? Listen to find out. Around The Dial takes us through Reality Check: America's Next Top Model, Tales Of The Unexpected, and The Rockford Files. Tara pitches Northern Exposure's S02 premiere, "Goodbye To All That," for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close up with a Non-Regulation Game Time about matching titles to shows. Saddle up your ride and join us!GUESTS👤 Alyson LewisTOPICSLead Topic: 🏝️ ParadiseAround The Dial: 💃 Reality Check: America's Next Top ModelAround The Dial: ⁉️ Tales Of The UnexpectedAround The Dial: 🕵🏻‍♂️ The Rockford FilesThe Canon: 🫎 Northern Exposure S02.E01: Goodbye To All ThatWinner & Loser: 🥖 The HuntWinner & Loser: 🌽 Caleb FlynnGame Time: 3️⃣ Three-Title ProblemSUPPORT THE SHOW🔥 Join the EHG Club for bonus episodes, no ads, community Discord and more!🎧 Subscribe to EHG on Apple Podcasts for bonus episodes and no ads!🛍️ Shop our merch store!NOTES🗒 Full episode notes can be found on this episode's page on our site🏒 The Overdue podcast episode on the Heated Rivalry book😵‍💫 Alyson's newsletter, Yes I Was High👋 "Goodbye To All That" by Joan Didion, from Slouching Towards Bethlehem📷 Photo: Ser Baffo / Disney