

The Watch
The Ringer
Every week, The Ringer's Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan -- longtime friends and pop culture addicts -- break down the latest in TV, movies, and music.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 18, 2020 • 47min
Padma Lakshmi on ‘Top Chef’ and ‘Taste the Nation.’ Plus, ‘The King of Staten Island.’
Is ‘The King of Staten Island’ a good movie? Or is it just that there have been no new movies in a really long time (3:10)? Plus, Padma Lakshmi joins the show to talk about her new show on Hulu, ‘Taste the Nation,’ and her experiences while judging ‘Top Chef’ for 16 seasons (12:06).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Padma Lakshmi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 16, 2020 • 1h 10min
What Happens to Your Cable Bill Once You Start Paying for New Movies, Too? Plus, ‘Top Chef’ and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
On top of your various streaming services, you’re probably going to want to pay for straight-to-video releases as well. Just how big can your streaming budget get (3:15)? Chris and Andy break down the second episode of ‘I May Destroy You’ and the penultimate episode of ‘Top Chef’ (28:07). Then, Andy interviews Tom Russo and Fran Keany from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever about their second album, ‘Sideways to New Italy’ (43:08).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuests: Tom Russo and Fran Keany Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 12, 2020 • 38min
'I May Destroy You' Is Astonishing. Plus, Sam Boyd, the Creator of ‘Love Life’
‘I May Destroy You,’ written by and starring Michaela Coel, may be the one of the best new shows of 2020 (5:16). The show feels like Coel announcing herself as a new voice in television (12:16). Plus, an interview with Sam Boyd, the creator of ‘Love Life’ (20:39).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Sam Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 9, 2020 • 1h 28min
‘Space Force’ Isn’t Sure What It Wants to Be. Plus, ‘Top Chef’ and Elwood Reid on ‘Barkskins’
We recap last week’s episode of ‘Top Chef’ in which the contestants head to Italy to hunt some truffles (4:32). Netflix’s new splashy comedy ‘Space Force' isn’t sure if it wants to be mean like ‘Veep’ (23:26) or comforting like ‘The Office’ (32:15). Plus, author Elwood Reid joins the show to talk about his new TV series, ‘Barkskins’ (47:36).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Elwood Reid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 29, 2020 • 1h 10min
Our HBO Max Prime-time Grids. Plus, Time Traveling with TV and ‘Top Chef’
Revisiting a beloved TV show that you haven’t seen in a long time can almost feel like traveling back in time (1:54). Plus, once you figure exactly what HBO Max is and how to get into it (21:05), there’s a bounty of streaming options. We craft our prime-time grids of what we’re watching from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. (36:12).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 22, 2020 • 1h 6min
‘The Great’ Is Very Good. Plus Kristen Bell on ‘Central Park,’ ‘Veronica Mars,’ and ‘Frozen.’
Some musings on getting older (3:44) and then ‘The Great,’ a show you may have skipped over because it looks just fine, but is worth your time (16:07). Plus, Kristen Bell joins the show to talk about her new show ‘Central Park,’ as well as her iconic roles in ‘Veronica Mars’ and ‘Frozen’ (32:44).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Kristen Bell
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May 19, 2020 • 1h 14min
Remembering Lynn Shelton, Dan Pfeiffer on ‘Top Chef,’ and James Badge Dale on ‘Hightown’
We take a moment to remember Lynn Shelton, a brilliant director of movies and TV (1:00). Then, Dan Pfeiffer joins the show to talk about his love for ‘Top Chef’ (15:52) and break down the most recent episode of ‘Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.’ (34:07). Finally, Chris talks with James Badge Dale about his new show ‘Hightown’ (57:22).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuests: Dan Pfeiffer and James Badge Dale
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May 15, 2020 • 53min
What Does HBO Max Mean for HBO? Plus, Paul Mescal of ‘Normal People’
HBO Max is set to launch on May 27 with an impressive streaming library (5:29). The streaming service from WarnerMedia Entertainment is a complete break from what HBO has been in the past (12:55). Plus, an interview with Paul Mescal, who plays Connell on ‘Normal People’ (26:15).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldRead the Variety article on HBO Max here.
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May 12, 2020 • 1h 11min
‘Top Chef: All-Stars’ Is Our New Favorite Sport. Plus, Kathryn Hahn!
Unsurprisingly, Quibi is not doing well while everyone is stuck at home. We explain why we have some sympathy for the nascent streaming service (10:53). Plus, breaking down the restaurant wars from last week’s episode of ‘Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.’ (31:41) and an interview with Kathryn Hahn about her new show ‘I Know This Much is True’ (45:33).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Kathryn Hahn
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May 8, 2020 • 1h 27min
The Tricky Art of Making a Streaming Comedy and ‘Normal People’ Season Review. Plus, ‘Arkansas’ Director Clark Duke | The Watch
The trailer for ‘Space Force,’ Netflix’s flashy comedy created by Greg Daniels and Steve Carrell, was released this week, and we talk about what it takes to make a good streaming comedy (13:06). Plus, how ‘Normal People’ the show differed from ‘Normal People’ the book (28:37) and a conversation with the director of ‘Arkansas,’ Clark Duke (57:22).Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldGuest: Clark Duke
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