Extra Hot Great

Alas, our planned guest Devindra Hardawar couldn't join us after all -- but we forged ahead with our discussion of The Audacity, whose all-star cast didn't save the show from feeling superfluous. Should you give AMC's takedown of crappy rich Californians a try, or just watch Succession again? We went Around The Dial with Margo's Got Money Problems, Love, Ted Bundy, and the new season of Taskmaster before Dave was Not A Crackpot about live-task editing. Tara hoped a Season 16 episode of Bob's Burgers would make a perfect Canon fit. Joel Kinnaman won, Euphoria lost, and Sarah caught strays for her Chewbacca imitation in a copyright-compliant Non-Regulation Game Time. Someone light a match; it's an all-new Extra Hot Great.TOPICSLead Topic:

With its series adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale a major awards success for Hulu, the logical next step is an adaptation of its sequel novel, The Testaments, revolving around the privileged young women of Gilead being prepared for their lives as Commanders' Wives; Alison Herman returns to discuss the latest project on Chase Infiniti's extremely prestigious CV. Around The Dial takes us through Hacks S05, DTF St. Louis, and The Truth And Tragedy Of Moriah Wilson. Mary pitches the Heated Rivalry episode "I'll Believe In Anything" for induction into The Canon. Then, after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Game Time that has a lot of love to give. Make yourself some cinnamon toast and listen!GUESTS

For All Mankind, aka "Space Show," may be laboring under 15 tons of old-age makeup -- but the panel, and guest David J. Roth, are here for it. Maybe in space, the makeup is weightless? Or maybe it's a handful of good performances amid the non-credible writing, or the show's occasional foray into lunatic interstellar action (and Martian pizza franchising) -- but if you're not already watching, you're excused to go Around The Dial with us for SNL UK, Color Theories By Julio Torres, DTF St. Louis, The Lowdown's first-season finale, and Last One Laughing UK. Dave celebrated a Netflix-programming Tiny Triumph, and Tara made an arresting case for a fifth-season Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Laura Dern won, Star Trek's modern franchises lost, and clear eyes and full hearts couldn't lose in a sports-centric Game Time. Start your sol off right with an all-new Extra Hot Great!GUESTS

This is an un-vaulting of EEHG 388. Haaaaappy holidays! Return with us now to December 3, 1980 -- and all the utterly of-their-time commercials (and by "their time," we kind of mean the '70s) from a rerun of an After School Special, including Barbie food, fights over fluoride, and the worst baby-doll ever. We're also answering your Ask EHG questions about real-life tropes and memorable magazines, and Tara is muttering "Rosebud" in the direction of the Tiny Canon; our Not Quite Top 11 Lists explore roadside attractions and board games. Then we're unwrapping the most important boxes of television. Hop on the Starburst-coaster and join us!TOPICSLead Topic:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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

For our latest game of Would You Rather?, we asked past guests, friends, and listeners to challenge us with brand-new TV-related scenarios. They came through with some of the craziest conundrums we've ever contemplated. Listen to find out how sick they, and we, actually are!TOPICSLead Topic:

For this special episode, we're returning to the bracket format, but slimmed down for just your three co-hosts: we made up an Elite Eight of TV superheroes -- no one from the DC or Marvel universes allowed -- and argued through which deserved to go all the way. Which hero stands atop the rest of our selected comers? Listen and learn! TOPICS Lead Topic:

We are off this week for EHG Prime but present you with this EHG Club unlock of EEHG 330: Gone Fishing With John We aren't sure about J M Buffy's reasons for forcening us to watch early-nineties cult show Fishing With John, but we mostly liked the surrealist slow-TV vibes we got from musician/actor John Lurie's rando travelogue. Ask EHG went deep on Ken Marino's Emmy reel, snacking cereals, and a Sean Bean reboot of Mr. Bean before Dave pitched a CSI cold open for the Tiny Canon. We made Not Quite Top 11 Lists about TV fish, cartoons, and holiday title puns, and wrapped (geddit??) things up with an Extra Credit Game Time from Sarah Claus. Dry off your mittens and have a listen! TOPICS 15s Of Fame:

For this special episode, we ponder three Canon pitches from listeners like you. Did we give The West Wing's "Evidence Of Things Not Seen" a standing ovation like a trip of eggs on the vernal equinox? Were we forced to tell Would I Lie To You?'s S06.E06 some hard truths? Will we all soon be putting out our shoes to receive blueberry muffins thanks to A.P. Bio's "Katie Holmes Day"? Listen to find out. TOPICS The Canon:

In what has become one of our most diabolical annual traditions, we're playing Mullendash again. This year, our guest contestants are: Stephen Falk, with whom the game was initially developed back in the 2000s, and Mullendash newcomers David J. Roth and Jeff Drake. Who can most craft the most convincing Mullenian punchlines? Who can divine the true Mullen from the counterfeits? All is revealed in our latest episode. GUESTS

Once again again, we made some of our Valued Guests stick around after their tapings and muse about TV in our version of a What If? Find out where their imaginations took them in this very special yearly EHG tradition! GUESTS