Onesies

With one episode of MAXIMUM BOB to go, Andrew accuses Emily of only selecting the show because she--like all the female characters on the show this episode attest--think it's hot when gross men wax on about taking away their rights. Sadly, Emily doesn't take the accusation seriously (and Andrew forgets to compare those characterizations to the film of Early 1940s Germany, which also had those vibes for the ladies). Instead, they talk about bad teasers, unseen teasers, sad character turns, and so much more!

Another week, another episode where Emily and Andrew determine this MAXIMUM BOB is technically the best one of the series. Even as character relationships change to fit the situation and there's a lot of "yikes," they don't hurt the dog and there's at least some positive character development for the guest stars. Join our intrepid hosts for their continued unenthuastic but technically still enthuastic discussion!

As they pass the halfway point in MAXIMUM BOB, one might think our intrepid hosts, Emily and Andrew, would be prepared for this episode. Certainly there can only be so far BOB can take it, only so many barrel bottoms for it to scrap. However, this episode (of BOB) may technically be the best yet! Tune in and hear why!

Thanks to some creative changes, Emily and Andrew get to enjoy a "better" episode of MAXIMUM BOB, with guest stars (on BOB not ONESIES) Miguel Sandoval and Lee Garlington bringing some much needed better acting to the program. But there's still lots to talk about as the show tries to retcon out the grossier elements from... two episodes (and one episode) ago. Join our intrepid hosts as they continue this trek through the depths of network dreck!

Emily and Andrew head back to Deep Water, Florida (along with some Miami interlude) for episode 2 of MAXIMUM BOB, which does indeed involve a (living) white woman trying to force a dead Black girl's ghost into her body so that actual child can lose her virginity to a gentleman of the living white woman's choosing. They don't actually have the scenes talking about it because the girl's consent is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever considered. Barf. Also R. Lee Ermey guest stars and technically gives the best performance on the show so far. Only five more.

From the producers of WILD WILD WEST comes MAXIMUM BOB, Emily and Andrew's latest trek into ABC dreck, this time after they were bought out by the Mouse House. So the racism, sexism, and classism are all Mickey-approved. Beau (Jeff's agent didn't even respond) Bridges stars as an average Republican judge who wants to execute his way into the governor's mansion. Other people are in it, though they don't put it on their sizzle reels either. It's terrible, our hosts aren't thrilled (Andrew less so because he has to complain about Barry Sonnenfeld's hacky tv direction), but they get through it. And are terrified for what comes next.

Andrew and Emily complete the arduous task of watching THREE'S A CROWD, discovering the series's last ditch attempt at renewal--which involves giving Mary Cadorette material again (sort of)--almost makes for a tolerable sitcom. Of course, there's also some terrible material to talk about, but it's offset by the show realizing Vicki can do things! On screen even! Plus, Jessica Walter does show for the finale, which means good outfits that she better have gotten to keep.

Emily and Andrew have reached the penultimate ONESIES of the season and "Three's a Crowd" does not disappoint. Between Jack and Mr. Bradford's bonding episode and then Jack getting addicted to culinary fame, there's plenty for our hosts to discuss as Vicki (Mary Cadorette) "returns" to series promenance but only with bad material, and--of course--Jessica Walter has a fantastic wardrobe. We're almost to the finish line, folks, almost there... Join us!

Emily finally gets the Richard (LARRY) Kline guest spot she was waiting for and it's a loathsome affair. Our intrepid hosts sort their way through it all, including first getting to talk about another Jack sucking up to Mr. Bradford episode, but, hey, at least Jessica Walter shows up (to give awful advice while looking fabulous) and there are sets to talk about.

Well, Andrew forgot what the episodes he and Emily discussed were about until he was gathering cover art and then it all came back. Buckle up for another fun episode where our hosts discuss sororities, surfer girls, lying to your girlfriend, more lying to your girlfriend, getting mad at your girlfriend for being smarter than you, even more lying to your girlfriend, and hijinks. It's a slog, with the first episode about Jack and a co-ed, and the second episode about Jack competing with Vicki (though she doesn't know they're competing, he's just manipulating her). It's so much fun! Join us!

Officially passed the halfway point (the point of no return?), intrepid hosts Emily and Andrew discover THREE'S A CROWD still has some surprises in store--like how little the show can give second-billed Mary Cadorette. They also get to discuss some undeniably amusing physical comedy, how nice it is when Robert Mandan isn't in an episode, how much they miss Jessica Walter, and so much more!

Well, dear listeners, a very unexpected day has arrived. Our intrepid hosts, Emily and Andrew, have been very obviously kidnapped and replaced by pod people who report laughing at least once. "Andrew" even says nice things about John Ritter's acting. "Emily" thinks Robert Mandan has a good physical comedy beat. What other fantastic statements do these "hosts" make!?! Listen and find out! If you dare....But, seriously, it's very chill and fun vibes after last episode's hellscape. Promise.

Andrew and Emily would like to welcome you to their comedy podcast, in which they discuss mostly bad television shows. However, for this very special episode--thanks to Emmy award winner David Mirkin and the cast and crew of THREE'S A CROWD--they get to start with a trigger warning and get into a sociological examination of popular television as it represents and instructs its conextual culture. Thrilling stuff, y'all, thrilling, uplifting, not at all often horrible stuff. But no slander, Emily and Andrew are now both professionals!

Well, Andrew successfully remembered to title the episode one of the yuck factor moments he and Emily actually didn't talk about. Because there are limits to what kind of Azathothian demon gods talking about it would conjure. Instead, they talk about the show being bad, predictable, sometimes almost funny (do they this week?--Andrew does not remember this important detail), and the show entering its next iteration on its way to cancellation... multiple guest stars. Including some familiar ones. Sort of.

Well, Emily and Andrew get to talk about Jack and Vicky's sex life for an hour, which lacks pleasentness. In the first half of the bewildering in-sequence two-parter, everyone thinks Jack's cheating; he's really [spoiler]. At least Jessica Walter shows up for a scene. The second episode's about Jack and Vicky relying on their lusty attraction to get through relationship problems. Joy. But our intrepid hosts power through. Join them for a very, very, very not sexy time.

Thanks to how THREE'S A CROWD handles guest star Jessica Walter, Emily and Andrew get to talk about some of their favorite subjects--ageism in relation to female actors in Hollywood, women not talking to women in media--amidst their discussion of subplotless plotting, actually laughing, good physical comedy, and Emily refusing to wait for a slip in the boxers.

Emily and Andrew find themselves in sunny (presumably) California where they find John Ritter, recently promoted from one in a trio on THREE'S COMPANY to... one in a trio on THREE'S A CROWD. But don't worry, instead of his platonic female roommates coddling his ego, it's now his suffering girlfriend. Our intrepid hosts find much to discuss and a fair amount to... compliment? Not to mention disagree about the comedy stylings of Mr. Ritter.

For your listening pleasure, our intrepid hosts have paired the final two episodes of HIGH SOCIETY for review. Listen as they discuss the one where there's a bad pregnancy thing, and the one where there's a bad episode about being horny for Tom Arnold. Yikes on bikes. Though you do get to listen to Emily and Andrew disagree about who it's grosser being horny for, Tom Arnold or Barry Bostwick. And our hosts do seem more excited about next season, but they may just be relieved to have SOCIETY over. Tune in and find out!

The delightful Doris Roberts and Paul Dooley guest star as terrible human beings from the flyover states. Listen as hosts Emily and Andrew try to negotiate the various levels of grossness--who want to watch Mama Barone rank the races--before getting the absurdist, misogynist body-shaming of the nineties. Joy.

You'd think the low point of the episode--of HIGH SOCIETY, not ONESIES, as our intrepid hosts earn their "pay" this outing--would be special guest star Erik Estrada debasing himself but no, it somehow continues to get worse as it goes along. Discovering SOCIETY has still further paucities to discover, so close to the finish, leaves hosts Emily and Andrew beside themselves. Makes for a great listen!

Intrepid hosts Emily and Andrew find themselves impressed with a performance on HIGH SOCIETY and feel the techtonic plates of reality shift. Except it's Sally Kellerman, who maybe just is so good at the job even this show can't bring her down. Bronson Pinchot, however. Wow. But not how you'd think. Also... best HIGH ever?

It is, both our hosts agree, probably the finest episode in the series so far and still painfully unfunny and bad. Somehow our intrepid hosts perserve through the tale of Hollywood (and its one sound stage), and what happens when the show decides it hasn't been mean enough to Mary McDonnell yet and she had to suck face with the Bost last episode. Yuck.

Barry Bostwick guest stars on this week's subject episode, playing a self-help guru who makes Mary McDonnell so horny she could die. Listen as hosts Emily and Andrew maintain their sanity discussing the idea of Barry Bostwick as a sex god. Do they actually gag? Mayhaps. Do they shiver? Definitely.

Ellie can't write her latest book and Emily and Andrew get to watch Dott try to bribe her into writing it. At least Dott doesn't offer up her underage son as tribute. (MIght've worked, though). Lots of not laughs, meanness, badness, and a truly sad finale. Our intrepid hosts have a swell time.

Can HIGH SOCIETY disappoint? Technically, yes, because Dott's mom doesn't come back to grace in this episode. And, so, intrepid hosts Emily and Andrew get to watch the already awful show resume its free fall in search of its own personal hades. But there's a cute dog, at least.

Emily and Andrew discover HIGH SOCIETY can get worse, even as it gets to a plot point Emily's been waiting for since the pilot. Listen as our hosts can't help but give good notes, and discover they don't agree about bad fashion and its place on American television.

The show does not improve and our intrepid hosts, Emily and Andrew, find they have even more things to talk about than they'd like. In addition to talking about the not funny proceedings, they also get to talk about the particular way the show objectifies its female actors. Fun!

Through nineteen seasons our intrepid hosts have discovered the difference between pilot episode and regular production--rarely, however, do Emily and Andrew get to talk about what happens when there don't seem to be any lessons learned from the pilot. Join them as they try to figure out why HIGH SOCIETY is such low quality (wokka wokka). Also it's not a mystery, it's godawful writing. But still.

Emily and Andrew travel back to 1995 and the era of USian adaptations of British (hey, sometimes, French) media with abjectly awful results. Even though our hosts thought they'd be relatively safe since it's Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell, surely they wouldn't be forced to embarrass themselves on CBS every week. Well, dear listener, to that... buckle up and prepare yourself for HIGH SOCIETY.

Emily and Andrew reach the final episode with some callbacks, remembering the breakdown the episode after last week, lots of positivity, and then some negativity. Not about this show but about some plans for our next season, but then Emily reveals an even more amazing selection. Tune in and find out!

As they try to catch up with Kamala in 1947 India, Emily and Andrew find themselves in a multiverse where ONESIES episodes are incredibly short. (There's a connected but detached prologue flashback and like two scenes after it... three. It's such a quick episode). Tune in and get ready for next week's season finale and Emily's announcement of the new amazing!

Emily and Andrew follow the show to modern day (and historical) Pakistan (which, in the MCU, has the street layout of Bangkok), where Kamala and her mother both bond with Grandma, Kamala learns about her power, there's tragedy, joy, and action sequences. And both hosts independently decided to research to talk about the things they like so much in the show! Weird.

Emily and Andrew find themselves in the middle of another good television program and have to re-orient themselves. They find nice things to talk about--again a re-orientation--such as strong performances and thoughtful integration of culture and history, while also having a very cool action scene!

Emily and Andrew head back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Andrew starts the mansplain early--they missed the end credits tag from last episode, kicking off a discussion of Marvel watching ettiquette. Or something along those lines. They also lose track when they've got a series with so much intentional character development, though they are able to get on familar footing regarding a pecularily timed late afternoon "snack" and its implications regarding family dinner. Tune in for this and other MARVELLOUS insights!

Emily and Andrew are off to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit with some confusion about what exactly that setting will entail. Listen as they discuss young adult targeted ficton, competent--and, dare we say it--engaging storytelling, and... good acting? What are they in for?!? (Specifically Emily, who unfortunately finds herself in the fields of mansplaining). Tune in and find out!

In this very special double-length season finale (so they could get the show done), Emily and Andrew's adventure through modern streaming series comes to an end (though stay tuned for a not dissimilar announcement for next season), as they no longer have any questions why THE BONDSMAN didn't get a second season. They get to talk about "pointed" characterizations, plot holes, bad acting, bad special effects, bad writing, and egregious ineptitude.

The show makes some particularly bad moves, while giving Damon Herriman his best episode (truly surprising), and Emily and Andrew valiantly attempt to recount its goings on. They don't always succeed but they do make it to the ending, which is setting up a show they could've set up in the first place. After making everyone unlikable, lil' bit ick, or a combination. Joy.

Once again, for their sins, Emily and Andrew ask for a feature episode about a character they think they'll like, and for their sins, they get one. But it makes for interesting conversation, even though the cliffhanger and the series's "new normal" are the pits.

Another thirty minutes or less, another set of new questions, and another episode of backhanded compliments from Emily and Andrew. Our intrepid hosts agree it's the best of the show so far (saying what exactly) and, darned if the show's basically just wrapping it's "pilot" proposal. Halfway through.

Well, another episode, another twenty minutes of reasons not to like the characters on THE BONDSMAN. Emily and Andrew do find some other things to talk about, such as men's fashion, implied better programs (i.e. with Kevin Bacon not around), and horror action on a budget.

Second episode in and Emily and Andrew are starting to have some ideas why the show failed to connect with viewers. The pacing's off, the payoffs' off, and Kevin Bacon is way too dismissive of his mama, demonically fueled, resurrected man or not. Listen as our intrepid hosts dissect the episode... with none of the gore of the episode itself!

Emily and Andrew head to the honkytonk with Philadelphia-born Kevin Bacon, who's playing a bounty hunter with a big secret--he's maybe just risen from the dead. Listen as our hosts suss out... competent television? Likable acting? It's a very strange experience for everyone involved. Except Kevin Bacon, who does not guest star on the podcast this week.

Ever the consumate professionals, Emily and Andrew finish RAISING DAD even though Andy Kindler is nowhere to be found. And Grandpa's kind of a dip again. And there's a whole "let's get it on" juxtaposing with Saget and Kat Dennings (not together, this was WB not HBO). But it's a weird, confused finish.ALSO! We're on hiatus for a couple weeks but Emily's got us post-modern (ish) next season!

Somewhat unknowingly, Emily and Andrew reach the penultimate episode of this season of ONESIES (which does mean two whole more RAISING DADs to watch but still). This episode they discuss how good all the regular cast is compared to certain guest stars, plus more about teen dating hijinks, some questionable returns to running "subplots," and much more!

Despite Emily and Andrew being able to make apt HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL references and--as one must--acknowledge the harmful socialization of young women through popular American media, they're rather upbeat this episode. Kindler's got a showcase, they've at least stopped weirdly sexualizing the teenagers--they've got lockers. It's something else. Plus, the second episode is... actually, sort of, a little, kind of, actually good. So our intrepid hosts like talking about the good things they enjoy. Who'd have thought.

Emily and Andrew contend with the unexpected... what happens when Grandpa (Jerry Adler) disappoints? Nothing good. Luckily, the second episode they discuss has... well, more disappointing men but at least it's the usual disappointing man on the program. Plus, wild tangents unless Emily cut them?

It's another strangely just fine couple of episodes (with, you know, big asterisks) and Emily and Andrew find themselves... amused? Engaged? Something. Maybe they're just getting worn down by the show's charm. Ha!

What's this... (relatively) strong episodes? In a row? Listen as Emily and Andrew discuss misread signals, sexual harrassment, emotional abuse, and bad Bob Saget acting. Also, some great Kindler! Finally--passing Bechdel with bras! And much more!!

Almost halfway through the season, Andrew finally finds a couple episodes he likes, though he and Emily do have some pressing editing decisions to address. Listen as they discuss teacher evaluations, drinking orange juice, being super-judgey, and many other interesting and insightful topics.

Andrew has lots of feelings about this episode, specifically Robert Saget as that guy in your MFA personified (but, like, earlier eighties Reagan MFA bro, yuck), and Emily is nice enough to amuse some rants. They also get to talk about what continues to be good, and what continues to confuse. Andrew also broaches a cursed subject with Emily.