Decoding TV

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the season finale of Alien: Earth. Later Dan Gvozden from the Amazing Spider-Talk podcast joins us to talk Peacemaker.Homework for next week:Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 7 (HBO)Bonus Episode: aka Charlie Sheen (Netflix)Bonus Episode: Long Story Short Season 1 (Netflix)Shownotes:02:30 - TV NewsDuffer Brothers Explain Why They Left NetflixNate Bargatze defends his Emmys hostingThe Savant is postponed and Jessica Chastain respondsDisney/Hulu is hiking prices next monthKimmel came back unless you live in one of 66 markets47:30 - Alien: EarthEpisode 8 - The Real Monsters1:18:00 - Peacemaker Season 2Episode 6 - Ignorance is ChrisLinks:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the latest episodes of Alien: Earth and Peacemaker.What do we make of the (probable) cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel? Is Peacemaker just spinning its wheels these days? Will Alien: Earth end up being the show that was promised at the beginning? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Homework for next week:Alien: Earth Episode 8 (Hulu/FX)Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 6 (HBO)Bonus Episode: Gen V Season 2 premiere (Prime Video)Shownotes:06:05 - TV NewsCasey Bloys Talks ‘The Pitt’s Emmy Breakthrough & Putting HBO Doubts To Rest, Confirms ‘White Lotus’ S4 Location, Gives ‘HoD’ & ‘Rehearsal’ Updates'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Pulled From ABC / FCC Chair Threatens Jimmy Kimmel Over Charlie Kirk Monologue Comments41:30 - Alien: EarthEpisode 7 - Emergence1:02:15 - Peacemaker Season 2Episode 5 - Back to the SutureLinks:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, David and Myles McNutt from the Episodic Medium newsletter discuss the 2025 Emmy Awards (you can watch our live broadcast on YouTube here).Which shows came away with some of the biggest wins? What were some of the night’s biggest upsets? And did the winners deserve their awards? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Links:Subscribe to Episodic MediumFollow Myles on BlueskySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the latest episodes of Alien: Earth and Peacemaker.In the future where all media is consolidated, will movies just be called disneys like they were in Cloud Atlas? Why do we think David Zaslav hasn’t begun his war against password-sharing yet? And are we looking forward to another season of Big Little Lies? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Homework for next week:Alien: Earth Episode 7 (Hulu/FX)Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 5 (HBO)Bonus Episode: The Paper Season 1 (Peacock)Shownotes:04:05 - TV NewsParamount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. DiscoveryWarner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Why HBO Max Isn’t ‘Pushing’ Password-Sharing Crackdown YetNeil Druckmann on Leaving ‘The Last of Us,’ His New Game ‘Intergalactic’ and How Involved He’ll Be on Season 3: ‘My Job Is to Stay Very High Level’ (EXCLUSIVE)‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3 Officially in the Works, Sets Francesca Sloane to Write‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ Season 2 Delayed at Amazon35:30 - Alien: EarthEpisode 4 - The Fly1:02:15 - Peacemaker Season 2Episode 4 - Need I Say Door1:21:20 - Patrick’s reaction to Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (WITH SPOILERS)Links:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, Christie Bosch, a documentary film expert known as @thatdocumentarygirl, unpacks the controversial Netflix film 'Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.' The discussion dives into the emotional toll of cyberbullying and the shocking twist of a mother bullying her own daughter. Christie critiques the documentary's portrayal of female predators and questions societal biases in understanding their actions. They also explore the complexities of familial relationships and the psychological implications of catfishing.

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the latest episodes of Alien: Earth and Peacemaker.Did The Rehearsal actually make a difference in airline safety? Is it possible to make sense of HBO’s rebranding? And why is Tom Rothman the last person who should be talking about studio execs? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Homework for next week:Alien: Earth Episode 6 (Hulu/FX)Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 4 (HBO)Bonus Episode: The Paper Season 1 (Peacock)Bonus Episode: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Netflix)Shownotes:03:05 - TV NewsThe Rehearsal may make our airlines safer after allThe Paper renewed in advance of premiereWhite Lotus S3 will be set in FranceHBO is rebranding everythingTom Rothman says The Studio is not realistic33:00 - Alien: EarthEpisode 3 - In Space, No One…1:05:15 - Peacemaker Season 2Episode 3 - Another Rick Up My SleeveLinks:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the latest episodes of Alien: Earth and Peacemaker.Homework for next week:Alien: Earth Episode 5 (Hulu/FX)Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 3 (HBO)Shownotes:03:05 - TV NewsDuffer Brothers Deal at ParamountStreaming Access News:Amazon, NBCU Make Peacock Available Via Prime Video Sign-UpApple TV+ Price HikeHarry Potter NewsNew ‘Harry Potter’ Child Actors Should Stay Off Social MediaChris Columbus Potter remakeNic Pizzolatto-adjacent news segmentNetflix Nic Pizzolatto Show in Bidding War (Exclusive)Cage in Talks to Star in HBO’s ‘True Detective’ Season 542:00 - Alien: EarthEpisode 3 - Metamorphosis1:13:20 - Peacemaker Season 2Episode 2 - A Man Is Only As Good As His BirdLinks:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and Patrick discuss the season 2 premiere of Peacemaker, “The Ties that Grind.”The first season of Peacemaker emerged in a totally different era of the DCU. This new season straddles the line between them. How well does it pull this off? How do the themes of the episode mirror what’s going on in the DCU? And do we think you should watch Peacemaker with your children? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Links:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the third episode of Alien: Earth.What do we think of MSNBC’s rebrand to MS Now? Is it a bad sign that Ben Stiller won’t be directing season 3 of Severance? Can YouTubers like Mark Rober successfully make the move to Netflix? And how is Alien: Earth shaping up as a series? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.Homework for next week:Alien: Earth Episode 4 (Hulu/FX)Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 1 (HBO)Bonus Ep: Smoke Season 1 (Apple TV+)Shownotes:09:22 - TV NewsMSNBC Rebrand to ‘MS NOW’ Draws Derision, ConfusionBen Stiller Won’t Direct ‘Severance’ Season 3, Plans World War II Survival Movie: ‘You Only Have So Much Time’Mark Rober and Netflix team up for competition series‘Dept. Q’ Renewed for Second Season at Netflix‘Fallout’ Season 2 Sets December Premiere; First Look Photos Show the Ghoul in New Vegas46:30 - Alien: EarthEpisode 3 - MetamorphosisLinks:Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap RadioSubscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, CrossplaySubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the video version of this podcast.This podcast contains SPOILERS for The Rehearsal Season 2 on HBO.The Rehearsal Season 2 chronicles Nathan Fielder’s attempts to understand why aviation accidents happen. According to Fielder, one major factor is that pilots are unwilling to communicate candidly with each other, especially when they disagree or have bad news to deliver.To test this theory, Fielder used his resources from The Rehearsal to create a fictional(?) aviation-themed singing competition called Wings of Voice. In this competition, pilots judged singers performances, advanced the ones they liked, and were forced to break the bad news to some contestants that they were eliminated. The idea was that by forcing them to break singers’ hearts, the process would reveal something about what it takes to be a good communicator.I used a “(?)” next to “fictional” above because even though contestants on Wings of Voice were occasionally made the butt of the joke on The Rehearsal and the competition never aired as its own TV show, the winner of the competition still received something of value: the privilege of performing a song for HBO’s audience on national television.Today I’m speaking with the winner of that competition, Isabella Henao. As a fellow musician, I thought Henao crushed her performance of Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life” in the culminating moments of season two. And as someone who is endlessly fascinated by how much of Fielder’s stunts are “real,” I was thrilled to get an insider’s perspective on what it’s like to go through Fielder’s shenanigans as they happen. Henao spoke with me about what it was like to go through the audition process, what contestants were actually told about what was happening, what other contestants’ thought about the whole thing, and how being on The Rehearsal changed her life.This interview has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. To listen to a fuller version of the conversation, check out the podcast/video above. If you want to learn more about Isabella, check out her website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.