Podcast
TV Is Good
TV critics Alan Sepinwall and Kathryn VanArendonk get together once a week to talk about all the things they love (and some of the things they don’t) on television. They talk about new releases, old favorites, TV curiosities and whatever’s happening in the wide wide world of how people watch TV these days.
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Episodes
- 32
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 1 hr 4 min
- On air since
- 2026
- Latest episode
- 1 day ago
Episodes
32 episodes, newest first
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1 hr 2 min
Can we agree on the Gilded Age?
Episode 25
Show notes
This week sees the return of Julian Fellowes' costume drama The Gilded Age, and Alan and Kathryn have very different feelings while basically agreeing on its overall quality. Then we move from one Mr. F to another, as the pair dive into a broad overview of the masterpiece Arrested Development.
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Housekeeping: Station Eleven on Patreon
03:09 Holiday episodes - Thanksgiving vs. Christmas
05:12 Ad-free feeds, coming soon
05:55 The Gilded Age
33:33 Arrested Development
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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10 min
[Patreon Preview] Station Eleven: "Dr. Chaudhary" Bonus
Show notes
In this month's Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, Alan and Kathryn revisit the century's greatest show with the worst timing, Station Eleven.
Hear the full episode on Patreon at https://patreon.com/tvisgoodpod
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 25 min
The Diplomat blows things up this season
Episode 24
Show notes
Alan and Kathryn reunite to discuss the fourth season of Keri Russell's political thriller The Diplomat, with topics including the awfulness of Hal and the brilliance of Allison Janney. Then, in the least surprising pairing of all time. the pair go back in time to rewatch The West Wing's most famous cliffhanger. In a bonus third segment celebrating his Rod Serling book's publication, Alan takes us through one of his all-time favourite Twilight Zone episodes.
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Housekeeping: Welcome back Alan!
04:16 The nanopants mystery solved
06:18: You can rent The Good Lord Bird
07:00 Revival corner: The X-Files, Glee, and... Coach
13:35 The Diplomat
34:40 The West Wing
01:04:37 The Twilight Zone: Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 13 min
How do we get everyone to watch The Lowdown?
Episode 23
Show notes
Kathryn is joined by her Vulture colleague Roxana Hadadi to discuss the return of The Lowdown, Ethan Hawke's neo-noir. Can the excellent first season possibly be improved upon? Spoilers: yes! Then, the pair trade Tulsa for Stars Hollow as they re-examine the ups and downs of the beloved Gilmore Girls.
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Housekeeping: Alan's absence
02:02 Serling book event rescheduled
02:46 What's Roxana's deal?
07:35 The return of Girls
17:51 The Lowdown
44:21 Gilmore Girls
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 8 min
How weird does the new CBS drama Cupertino get?
Episode 22
Show notes
With Alan out of action, Kathryn brings in The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg to discuss a pair of future-focused legal dramas. First, Robert and Michelle King's latest legal drama Cupertino, featuring the return of Mike Colter, the grand arrival of Busy Phillips into the Kings universe, some typically delightful weirdo TV judges. Then they consider the long-forgotten science fiction procedural series Century City, which includes an aging boy band, biotech panic, and one fateful pair of nanopants.
00:00 Introduction
01:44 Housekeeping: Alan's absence
03:33 Postponed events
04:50 Introducing Dan
09:06 Cupertino
39:34 Century City
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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12 min
[Patreon Preview] The Simpsons: "Treehouse of Horror IV" Bonus
Show notes
Alan and Kathryn are discussing one of The Simpsons' classic Halloween anthologies this month on our special Patreon-exclusive episode. But first, some hot takes on the New York Times' latest list of superlatives.
Hear the full episode on Patreon at https://patreon.com/tvisgoodpod
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 3 min
East of Eden gives us Cain, Abel, and Florence Pugh
Episode 21
Show notes
Alan and Kathryn return to discuss the highly anticipated East of Eden adaptation by Zoe Kazan starring Florence Pugh - but would you believe an even greater performance bowls them both over? Then the pair take a tour through the original Lonesome Dove miniseries and its many, many sequels.
00:00 Introduction
00:51 See Alan & Kathryn live
01:41 Treehouse of Horror on Patreon
02:50 Ninety seconds of Love is Blind: Boston
04:50 East of Eden
32:04 Lonesome Dove
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 16 min
What fall TV are we excited about?
Episode 20
Show notes
With the advent of fall TV upon us, Alan & Kathryn break from their format to run down several of the biggest shows on the horizon. Then, the pair are joined by journalist and author Lynette Rice to discuss her new book: "ER: The Oral History".
Purchase Lynette's book at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250399588/er/
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Housekeeping: Alan wrote a book! Live appearances abound!
03:20 October's Patreon episode
04:40 Fall TV Preview
40:00 Lynette Rice Interview
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 12 min
Is Reacher big enough to win our hearts?
Episode 19
Show notes
All characters great and small come under the microscope this week, as Alan & Kathryn reach first for Reacher (and the new Reacherverse spinoff Neagley) before hailing themselves a Taxi back to the 1970s.
00:00 Introduction
01:19 Housekeeping: See Alan & Kathryn live in New Jersey!
2:19 The Emmys: great winners, garbage production
11:01 October's Patreon episode revealed
12:36 Renewal news: P-Valley and Slow Horses!
15:35 Reacher
35:07 Neagley
44:55 Taxi
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 3 min
Slow Horses and Alias: What makes a great spy show?
Episode 18
Show notes
With the return of Apple TV's Slow Horses, Alan and Kathryn discuss the show's willingness to kill beloved characters off as well as the dichotomy of running-spies and strolling-spies. Then the pair navigate the many twists and turns of J.J. Abrams' own spy show, Alias.
00:00 Introduction
01:15 October's Patreon episode
02:33 The Emmys, weekend one
08:24 Fleabag's tenth anniversary
10:00 Slow Horses
37:17 Alias
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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10 min
[Patreon Preview] Party Down: "Sin Say Shun Awards Afterparty" Bonus
Show notes
For our special Labor Day Patreon-exclusive episode, Alan & Kathryn revisit Party Down, one of the most underrated sitcoms of the twenty-first century, in a discussion that is both long and interesting.
Hear the full episode on Patreon at https://patreon.com/tvisgoodpod
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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55 min
Colin From Accounts or Wishbone: Who's the goodest boy?
Episode 17
Show notes
This week, Alan and Kathryn's attention is briefly distracted by the return of Australian rom-com Colin from Accounts, causing them to unexpectedly veer into an impassioned discussion of the wonderful 90s PBS show Wishbone.
00:00 Introduction
01:11 The newest Patreon episode: Party Down
01:48 The Simpsons - Kathryn's blind spot
03:24 Colin From Accounts
27:10 Wishbone
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 17 min
Why do we love Adults so much?
Episode 16
Show notes
With the celebrated return of FX's Adults this week, Alan & Kathryn dedicate the episode to the sitcom's triumphant second season. Then, the pair sit down with Adults' creators Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw for an in-depth discussion on the things they love about TV.
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Next month's Patreon episode
02:30 The fall TV slate
04:14 What's Alan plugging?
05:30 Kathryn wants off of the Great American Road Trip
07:58 Sons of Anarchy's meta-sequel
11:00 Adults
31:29 Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw interview
For next week's episode, you can watch the two Wishbone episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V0XaODnKvA&list=WL&index=2 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_ImiOm0ulI&list=WL&index=1
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 10 min
Is Sterling Point the best YA soap since The OC?
Episode 15
Show notes
In this week's episode, Alan & Kathryn discuss the teen hit of the summer - Prime soap Sterling Point - including lauding the talents of Ella Rubin. Then, we look back at soap history to the early 2000s, through the lens of Josh Schwartz's opus The OC.
00:00 Introduction
1:07 Hayden Panettiere
04:40 Kathryn's throat, and various teams
05:30 Lanterns timeline watch
09:15 Every Summer After ain't no Sterling Point
10:23 Sterling Point
38:33 The OC
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 3 min
Does Lanterns want to be a comic book show?
Episode 14
Show notes
The latest instalment in the DC Universe arrives this week, and Alan & Kathryn are here to share their thoughts on HBO's Lanterns. Then, a throwback tribute to a legendary superhero one-hit wonder, The Middleman.
00:00 Intro
01:09 September Patreon Poll Results
03:04 A Patreon Correction
03:58 Kathryn's Voice: Why Does It Sound Like That?
05:54 Alan's Audiobook
11:35 Swiss Bones
14:36 Alan's Watching Watchmen
15:51 The Bluey Years
19:09 Lanterns
41:23 The Middleman
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 4 min
Why is Ted Lasso back, exactly?
Episode 13
Show notes
With the return of Apple TV's flagship comedy looming, Alan & Kathryn attempt to untangle the complicated road that brought Ted Lasso back for a fourth season. Then the pair compare sports comedies past and present with the Aaron Sorkin breakthrough Sports Night.
00:00 Intro/Foreign TV Is Good
11:00 Ted Lasso
36:55 Sports Night
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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11 min
[Patreon Preview] The Leftovers: "Axis Mundi" Bonus
Show notes
August's special Patreon-exclusive episode sees Alan and Kathryn break down the historic course correction of The Leftover's second season, beginning with its premiere episode "Axis Mundi". But first, an important celebrity sighting.
See the full episode on Patreon at https://patreon.com/tvisgoodpod
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 3 min
Wait, the creator of New Girl made a cop show?
Episode 12
Show notes
Alan & Kathryn take a tour through Furious, the new Hulu crime drama from Elizabeth Meriwether. Then, they discuss the history of her hangout sitcom New Girl through the lens of its exceptional second season episode "Cooler".
00:00 Intro/The Gilmore Girls Minute
04:16 Furious
35:01 New Girl
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1 hr 14 min
When spinoffs get too weird
Episode 11
Show notes
We've got spinoff fever this week, as Alan and Kathryn try to figure out the point of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the latest of the Big Bang Theory offshoots. Then, Kathryn celebrates the underwater clowns of The Brady Variety Hour while Alan tries to explain the potted history of Mrs Columbo. Lastly, the pair check in with the complete third season of The Vampire Lestat.
00:00 Intro/Housekeeping
04:40 Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
26:15 Spinoffs
54:03 The Vampire Lestat Spoilers
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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57 min
Does Lucky give us Anya Taylor joy?
Episode 10
Show notes
Alan & Kathryn discuss the thrills and limits of Lucky, Anya Taylor-Joy's newest star vehicle, before returning to her breakout role in Netflix's The Queen's Gambit.
00:00 Intro
01:00 Important Bluey Research
07:35 August's Patreon Episode Revealed
09:28 The Hawk
13:27 Emmys Reactions
16:51 Lucky
36:23 The Queen's Gambit
Read Alan at What's Alan Watching? and Kathryn at Vulture
Preorder Alan's Rod Serling biography & get the bonus essay
Pre-order Kathryn's Bluey book
Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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