606: Staying Up For The Late Shift

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

The latest true-life story from the Ryan Murphy factory is Love Story, all about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Was our 90s nostalgia powerful enough to get us past its taste issues? Jessica Morgan returns to talk about it. Around The Dial stops at Going Dutch Season 2 (NOT Tara's favorite show, but she does like it!) and Summer House. Dave wonders if a certain recent piece of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is Worse Than Jazz. Tara pitches "The Modernization Of Emily" from The Bob Newhart Show for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we end on a Non-Regulation Game Time that might be a tough sell. Put down your vintage copy of People's Sexiest Man Alive (1988) and listen!GUESTS👤 Jessica MorganTOPICSLead Topic: 💙 Love StoryAround The Dial: 🇳🇱 Going DutchAround The Dial: 🩳 Summer HouseIs This Worse Than Jazz?: 💦 A specific line delivered by Paul Giamatti in Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyThe Canon: 🛋️ The Bob Newhart Show S02.E17: The Modernization Of EmilyWinner & Loser: 🦍 Saturday Night LiveWinner & Loser: 🍝 Jimmy FallonGame Time: 💰 Promotional Considerations IISUPPORT 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🦋 Jessica Morgan on Bluesky✍️ Tara's Decider author page (where you can find her recaps of Love Story and James Van Der Beek tribute)👗 Go Fug Yourself🍸 The Drinks With Broads newsletter🦷 Peter Bonerz wearing the Tommy Tooth shirt📷 Photo: FX

Peacock counter-programmed the Super Bowl with a series adaptation of the 1989 horror comedy The 'Burbs. Horror expert Matt Monagle makes his EHG début to discuss whether it made a convincing case for its existence in its new format. Around The Dial stops at Shrinking S03 and the first two seasons of AMC's Interview With The Vampire. Tara explains why front-facing vertical video commercials in the style of social media ads have no business airing on TV. Sean pitches the series finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we end on a non-regulation game time that's bathed in blood. Quit spying on your neighbors and listen!GUESTS👤 Matt MonagleTOPICSAnnouncement: 👚 Sarah, Subs & ShirtsLead Topic: 🏘️ The 'BurbsAround The Dial: 😶‍🌫️ ShrinkingAround The Dial: 🧛🏻 Interview With The VampireI Am Not A Crackpot: 🤳 TikTok-Style Ads Have No Place On TelevisionThe Canon: 🚀 Star Trek: The Next Generation S07.E25: All Good Things...Winner & Loser: ⚔️ Baldur's GateWinner & Loser: 🥔 Tate McRaeGame Time: 🔪 19 Questions: TV Horror 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🦋 Matt Monagle on Bluesky📜 Resources for Haitian residents in Springfield, OH at Ohio Immigrant🧟‍♂️ Certified Forgotten📷 Photo: Elizabeth Morris / Peacock

The Muppet Show returns with a one-off episode starring Sabrina Carpenter; Muppetry expert Adam Grosswirth returns to discuss it, including whether the new version nailed the original's vibe, what makes a good Muppet guest (and whether Sabrina's got the right stuff), and how we can't believe Dolly Parton never guested on the show (...so far). Later, we went Around The Dial with The Pete Davidson Show, Ugliest House In America, and Conspiracy Theories, and Adam hoped nobody would object to his first-season L.A. Law Canon brief. Impractical Jokers won, Grant Show lost, and we dropped Muppets into primetime shows for a mash-up Game Time. It's time to get things started on an all-new Extra Hot Great!GUESTS👤 Adam GrosswirthTOPICSLead Topic: 🐸 The Muppet Show (2026)Around The Dial: 🗑️ The Pete Davidson ShowAround The Dial: 🏚️ The Ugliest House In AmericaAround The Dial: 🕵 Conspiracy TheoriesThe Canon: 🐂 L.A. Law S01.E17: Beef JerkyWinner & Loser: 🃏 Impractical JokersWinner & Loser: ❤️‍🔥 Grant ShowGame Time: 🐷 The Muppet ShowsSUPPORT 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🎙️ Hear more Muppet analysis from Adam Grosswirth on the Muppeturgy podcast🦋 Adam on Bluesky🐀 Listen to Muppet Show writer Albertina Rizzo talk about the special on the Bananas Podcast💄 Listen To Sassy Club🛖 EHG 417 on The Ugliest House In America🤪 Sarah's review of Conspiracy Theories at Best Evidence📷 Photo: Disney+

Fox's new drama Memory Of A Killer, about a hitman in denial about his serious memory loss, stars Patrick Dempsey, so naturally we had to invite Dan Cassino, one of our most dedicated Grey's Anatomy fans, to discuss whether you should add a reminder to your calendar to watch it, or immediately forget it exists. Around The Dial takes us through The Beauty, a roundup of cozy British and international mysteries including Midsomer Murders and Agatha Christie's Seven Dials (among others), and Wrestlers. Emilymae makes the case for inducting Crash Landing On You's 12th episode into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Non-Regulation Game Time from Dr. Cassino himself: send your mash notes to him directly, and don't forget to listen!TOPICSLead Topic: 🫥 Memory Of A KillerAround The Dial: 🧴 The BeautyAround The Dial: 🔪 Midsomer MurdersAround The Dial: 🐴 ShetlandAround The Dial: 🎛️ Agatha Christie's Seven DialsAround The Dial: 🐀 La PesteAround The Dial: 🤼 WrestlersThe Canon: 🪂 Crash Landing On You S01.E12Winner & Loser: 🐺 Jordan BelfortWinner & Loser: 🏰 Michael RapaportGame Time: 🌭 Some Bangers, All MashSUPPORT 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🦋 Dan Cassino on Bluesky🫂 Community Aid Network MN🪙 Dan's new book, Bitcoin Bros: Masculinity, Cryptocurrency, And The Future Of Men📚 "Discover Your Inner Bookworm At These Local Minneapolis Bookstores" at the official Minneapolis website🚨 Exhibit B.'s winter compendia and crimoir sale📷 Photo: Jan Thijs / FOXCLUB-ONLY NOTES🔥 EHG Club Perk Links & How-To💬 Get On Our Community Discord

The Star Trek universe goes teen drama -- and, for once, does it in the/a future instead of the pre-TOS "past." Since it's a Trek property, Andrew returned to talk about Paul Giamatti feasting on his anachronistic lines, whether the show works better as sci-fi or Space High, and where it ranks in Paramount-era Trek shows. We went Around The Dial with Ponies, Andrew's middlebrow-TV catch-up, and Shining Vale before Tara used up her djinn wishes on a What We Do In The Shadows Canon entry. Profilers won, McConaughey lost, and we prayed for guidance in a religious-network Game Time. Escape from your hidden prison planet and join us!GUESTS👤 Andrew CunninghamTOPICSLead Topic: 🧑🏽‍🏫 Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyAround The Dial: 🕵🏻‍♀️ PoniesAround The Dial: 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 The DiplomatAround The Dial: 💪 InvincibleAround The Dial: 🧠 High PotentialAround The Dial: 👻 Shining ValeThe Canon: ⚰️ What We Do In The Shadows S04.E06: The WeddingWinner & Loser: 🔎 Ann BurgessWinner & Loser: 🍺 Matthew McConaugheyGame Time: 🙏 Thou Shalt Guess The TitleSUPPORT 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🦋 Andrew Cunningham on Bluesky📚 Andrew's book-discussion podcast, Overdue🖖 Alan Sepinwall's review of Starfleet Academy👔 Tara's Justin Theroux piece for GQ✊ Minneapolis-St. Paul mutual-aid resources🦋 Norm Charlatan on Bluesky💄 Listen To Sassy📷 Photo: Brooke Palmer / Paramount+

The Pitt returns to take viewers through another remarkably busy day in the ER at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. What is there to celebrate in the show's fictional Fourth of July? Heather Cocks, our S01 guest, returns to talk about it. Around The Dial takes us through a passel of recent comedy specials from George Civeris, Kumail Nanjiani, Frankie Quiñones, and Sarah Squirm (aka Sarah Sherman); Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney's previous hockey show, Shoresy; and Bookish, old to Brits but new to PBS. Seth pitches a Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Non-Regulation Game Time that's beating down our door. Find a comfortable seat in chairs (ideally away from Mr. Digby and his compelling odors) and join us!GUESTS👤 Heather CocksTOPICSAnnouncement: 🫥 Sarah Is AwayLead Topic: 🏥 The PittAround The Dial: 🤪 Frankie Quiñones: Damn That's CrazyAround The Dial: 💭 Kumail Nanjiani: Night ThoughtsAround The Dial: 💨 George Civeris: A Sense Of UrgencyAround The Dial: 🤮 Sarah Squirm: Live + In The FleshAround The Dial: 🥅 ShoresyAround The Dial: 📚 BookishThe Canon: 🐝 Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee S01.E06: The Patriarchy Hasn't Let Me DownWinner & Loser: 🤠 The LowdownWinner & Loser: 🧙‍♀️ Executives at CharmedGame Time: 🚪 Knock Three TimesSUPPORT 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🕳️ Tara's review of The Pitt's S02 premiere, at GQ🏍️ “So You Noticed Dr. Robby Wasn’t Wearing A Motorcycle Helmet” at Vulture🤢 "Sarah Sherman Is Grosser Than You Think" at The New Yorker✍️ Tara's author page at GQ (new pieces coming this week!)💃 Go Fug Yourself📚 Links to buy Heather and Jessica's books🍸 Drinks With Broads👩‍💻 Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee Zoom Watch Party with Lolly Adefope, Aaron Chen, Rose Matafeo, and Paul F. Tompkins🧑‍💻 Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee Zoom Episode 4 with Ayo Edebiri, Rose Matafeo, Blair Socci, and Paul F. Tompkins📷 Photo: Warrick Page / HBO Max