Gimmicks

How I Met Your Mother: "How Your Mother Met Me"

As one of the seminal sitcoms of the 2000s, CBS's HIMYM eventually had to do the impossible: introduce the titular mother that had been teased for nine years and somehow get us all to like her. This 200th episode positions The Mother as the lead character in a nine-year-long journey to learn how to love again, packed with references and returning guest characters... and they pull it off! We talk Cristin Milioti's standout performance, a well-done gay kiss, and how the "manic pixie dream girl" archetype can work when the character is fleshed out (singing english muffins, ukuleles, and robot paintings notwithstanding).

The West Wing: "17 People"

In what's widely regarded as one of TV's all-time best bottle episodes, the staff of The White House stays late for two reasons: a tense confrontation in the Oval Office about the President's health, and a writers' room punch-up of Correspondents' Dinner jokes. Time to talk turn-of-the-century liberal politics with Aaron Sorkin's Emmy sweeping series -- including the stacked cast who do "walk and talks" and speak in meter, why Martin Sheen makes a good TV president, how young Bradley Whitford was so much less hot than he is now, and how the show does (or doesn't) hold up in a 2020s political landscape.

Dragon Ball Z: "Goku's Ordeal" (aka "License Mastery? Goku's Newest Trial")

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: "Pancake Madness"

The answer to the riddle is cakes on the griddle! In this parody of Very Special Episodes and Reefer Madness, Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) gets hooked on pancakes... and we're pretty sure it got this show a tax credit from the government! We talk about the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and ad campaigns from the Partnership for a Drug Free America, and how the government damaged public health messaging by getting TV shows to produce over-the-top, ineffective anti-drug propaganda. Luckily, Sabrina bucks the problem by making its "anti-drug" story one of the funniest, most surreal episodes of the show that lambasts the very concept.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: "The Ember Island Players"

Newsradio: "Sinking Ship"

What do you do when you're a surrealist sitcom that's been treated badly by NBC and pretty sure you're about to be cancelled? Blow all the network's budget on an effects-heavy period piece! In what was famously Phil Hartman's last appearance, Newsradio parodies the recent and hugely popular Titanic film...or the trailer for it, at least. We talk about the standout production designs, this show's influence on network comedy, and its stacked cast that includes some of the best comedic actors (Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Stephen Root) and some of the worst people alive (Joe Rogan, Andy Dick).

Alias: "Phase One"

Just in time for the Big Game, we're covering when the classic J.J. Abrams spy thriller Alias scored the treasured Super Bowl lead out slot... and aired its wildest episode that not only demolishes its original premise and radically retools the series, but also attempts to function as a self-contained entry point for new viewers. We talk about the history and importance of Super Bowl lead out programs, Alias's battle for narrative accessibility, Jennifer Garner's sexy outfits and incredibly emotive performances, all the daddies, and why this is secretly one of the most gimmicky episodes we've covered.

30 Rock: "Queen of Jordan"

Superman: The Animated Series: "The Late Mr. Kent"

The Big Blue Boy Scout finds himself tangled in a noir-style murder mystery when his alter-ego of Clark Kent appears to be killed! With private eye-style flashback narration, a grounded crime story with death row and a dirty cop, and a dark ironic ending worthy of Batman, this episode explores why Clark Kent the reporter is just as important as Superman (even if everyone hates reporters).

Fringe: "Brown Betty"

Merrilee O'Neil joins us for one of the strangest genre mash-ups of all time from this cult sci-fi show, where a grief-stricken mad scientist tells a fairy tale about glass hearts, singing corpses, and quantum laser knives to a child while being stoned out of his gourd. We explore this episode's surprising ties to the success of Glee, the noir gender-swapping with Anna Torv as a hardboiled detective and Joshua Jackson as a femme fatale, animated Leonard Nimoy, and John Noble singing a crooner version of Tears for Fears! Plus, an extended tangent about Kingdom Hearts for some reason.

Doctor Who: "Midnight"

Angel: "Birthday"

It's an ode to Cordelia Chase in this It's a Wonderful Life homage, where Queen C faces certain death, is guided by an affable demon to reflect on her life choices, and finally lives the alternate life she always dreamed of as a rich and famous actress. We talk all about the weird legacy of this Buffy spin-off, including the real-life abuse Charisma Carpenter faced (and how she's recently reclaimed this awesome character), the highs and lows of the series, and a parody of bad WB sitcoms from the 00s.

Futurama: "The Sting"

Every TV viewer knows that even if the main character dies, things have to get back to normal somehow, right? This surreal, emotionally-charged episode explores every possibility of that premise, from dreams and hallucinations, to sci-fi resurrections, to even the show's own impending cancellation. Trippy visuals, a stellar Katey Sagal performance as Leela, and plenty of observational humor about death and sanity make this one of Futurama's best!

The Donna Reed Show: "Have Fun"

We're venturing back to the late 1950s for a piece of television history you may not have known about -- the first ever Rashomon-style episode! Though Donna Reed became known as the ur-example of a typical sitcom housewife, this episode shows off how modern and high-concept this series could be, as the story of Donna and her smokeshow husband's first date is told from two different perspectives.

The Haunting of Hill House: "Two Storms"

Nadia from Inside All Day Podcast joins us for this equal parts scary and sad episode of the acclaimed Netflix adaptation of Shirley Jackson's famous novel, where horror mastermind Mike Flanagan uses ambitiously long and complex single takes spanning two time periods to depict a family haunted by both ghosts and grief.

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So Weird: "Encore"

We're starting off spooky season with one the most inventive, ingenious, and emotionally impactful uses of a clip show from So Weird, an oft-forgotten (but very good) Disney Channel original series from the Zoog Disney era! This episode features the complete set from a fictional Molly Phillips concert, with full songs sung by Mackenzie Phillips -- and it's still not without important plot momentum and a haunting powerhouse of an ending. It's truly a gimmicks smorgasbord!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: "Those Old Scientists"

Community: "Digital Estate Planning"

The study group plays an old school video game to help Pierce win his inheritance in this wildly ambitious episode! We talk about Titmouse's amazing animated rendering of a fake game, the perils of ironic racism, this episode's role in the infamous Dan Harmon/Chevy Chase feud that changed the show forever, and why the emotional story doesn't quite land...even with a great performance from Giancarlo Esposito.

The Good Place: "Janets"

You'd think "one actor in an empty space" would be a straightforward idea for an episode, but not for this forking ambitious show, which has D'Arcy Carden play every one of the human cast at the same time inside a huge white void. And it explores the philosophical concept of the self. And it has a game-changing plot twist. And it's one of the most complex and VFX heavy episodes of the show. So much for being a little bottle episode!

David has joined Derek as the new permanent co-host, and we're welcoming him with a special mailbag episode! Listeners sent in a bunch of Qs, and the two Ds have lots of As... including plenty of podcast lore, the most suggested episodes, works of art that have made the biggest impact on our lives, our wardrobe (hint: lots of cargo shorts), favorite and least favorite gimmicks, and much more!

Quantum Leap: "Blood Moon"  

Gavin Mevius leaps from The Mixed Reviews and into a gothic horror homage from Quantum Leap's weird final season, where Dr. Sam Beckett seems to possibly leap into a classic vampire, maybe, definitely. And while dovetailing the sci-fi series with the supernatural is a fun idea, the tonal mishmash, deus ex butler/lightning, and odd references to a gender-swapped Countess Elizabeth Bathory make this a strangely boring misstep. Oh boy!

CONTENT WARNING: There is a discussion about animal violence in this episode between 01:07:00 and 01:09:00.

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Ugly Betty: "Million Dollar Smile"  

Bridge from May the Power Protect You Podcast joins for this momentous episode that lets America Ferrera's Betty get out of the braces and into an It's a Wonderful Life-style alternate reality where she was born with perfect teeth... and became a vicious Miranda Priestly-like fashionista. And she's guided by guardian angel/tooth fairy Kathy Najimy!

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The Facts of Life: "Cruisin'"

Chris Cummins of Sci-Fi Explosion joins for a late-night cruise through town in this American Graffiti tribute and ultimate hangout episode! While the Facts girls aren't doing the gay type of cruising, it's still all very gay, thanks to plenty of ABBA, men in leather, daddies, Jo/Blair tension, and the great Mindy Cohn as a hilariously horny Natalie.

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Supernatural: "The French Mistake"

Ultimate Spider-Man: "Exclusive"

Doug Fink is here for a Walloping Websnappers crossover! A Spidey vs. Hulk disaster is shown from the lens of Mary Jane's camera, leading to ambitious animation and incredibly creative storytelling choices. We discuss the challenges of animating in found footage style, the lack of cutaways, S.H.I.E.L.D. and cops as antagonists, and more! 

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Riverdale: "The Witching Hour(s)"

Cassie Proffitt (of Distant Echoes) joins to unravel the madness of Riverdale's parallel universe Rivervale arc, and this standout episode that borrows the structure of the film The Hours to tell a surprisingly poignant centuries-spanning queer story about three Blossom women (kind of) involving witches, curses, body swaps, and an appearance from Sabrina Spellman.

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Mythic Quest: "Quarantine"

Remember the "Imagine video" era of the pandemic? David Arnold joins for this rube-goldbergian technical marvel of an episode that was filmed at the early height of COVID-19 in 2020, taking place entirely over Zoom meetings and tackling how the Mythic Quest characters deal with lockdown, both comedically and emotionally. Whether or not this very timely episode will hold up in the future, one thing's for sure: Craig Mazin is a total snack.

Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: "The Rescue Mission"

Doug Fink goes galactic for this dark and un-Power Rangers-y space alien horror -- a direct homage to both Alien and Aliens helmed by Steve Wang, a creature-maker who's worked on Predator, Godzilla '98, Gremlins 2, and directed the Guyver films. And it includes corpses, jump scares, no Japanese source material, and barely any actual Power Rangers!

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Moonlighting: "Atomic Shakespeare"

Kevin Cafferty of the Gleaming the Tube podcast cometh to discuss the most famous (and expensive) episode of the classic 80s fourth-wall-breaking romcom starring Cybill Shepard and Bruce Willis -- their ambitious, cartoonish Elizabethan parody of The Taming of the Shrew done fully in iambic pentameter! We also talk about this show's highly influential and innovative place in television history, and why it's often forgotten in TV conversations despite having been a phenomenon.

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The Last of Us: "Long, Long Time"

Katie and Doug from Novel Gaming bring their queer and gaming chops to this unexpected gay love story, which turns minor video game characters into protagonists of their own decades-spanning epic. We dig into all the context and discourse around this episode, Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett's performances, and why an episode criticized as "filler" actually establishes the thesis statement of the show and is arguably the most important episode of the season.

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The Simpsons: "22 Short Films About Springfield"

Tommy Proffitt of Distant Echoes returns for a classic Simpsons episode packed with short vignettes about two dozen secondary Springfieldian characters... including Pulp Fiction parodies and the origin of the now legendary "Steamed Hams" segment. 

Arrested Development: "S.O.B.s"

Writer and podcaster Joel Arnold joins for an episode that throws out every hacky ratings gimmick imaginable -- from celebrity cameos to 3D to live segments -- all while playfully parodying fan campaigns and grappling with the show's uncertain future.

Dead End: Paranormal Park: "Phantom of the Theme Park"

Doug Fink joins for one of the best television musicals in years! The very queer animated adaptation of Hamish Steele's DeadEndia comics presents its penultimate episode as an inspired rock opera, with music by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and influences from Little Shop of Horrors, Phantom of the Opera, and renaissance Disney.

Supernatural: "Changing Channels"  

Merrilee O'Neil returns for this hilarious reality-bending jaunt through parodies of Grey's Anatomy, CSI, Knight Rider, Miller-Boyett sitcoms, and more -- all while still playing deeply into Supernatural's dark apocalyptic storyline. 

Boy Meets World: "And Then There Was Shawn"

Will Ackerman (of Earth-2.net: The Show) joins for one of the most famous episodes of this TGIF classic, which goes full 90s horror and affectionately parodies slashers like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, complete with a Jennifer Love Hewitt appearance.

Roseanne: "An Officer and a Gentleman"  

Nearly 30 years before Roseanne Barr was notoriously removed from her own sitcom, an early episode posited that question: could the show Roseanne exist without its titular star? Kevin from May the Power Protect You Podcast joins for this prescient episode that puts Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman in the spotlight.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: "The Box"

Tommy and Cassie Proffitt of Distant Echoes join to talk about this unexpected homage to the horror film Cube, where an undercover Obi-Wan and a ragtag group of bounty hunters try to survive and escape the deadly traps of a giant space box.

Star Trek: Voyager: "Fair Haven" and "Spirit Folk"

Eric Berry (of Starfleet Escape Podcast and Ranger Command Power Hour) joins to talk about two holodeck episodes that pay homage to romance novels and fae folklore thanks to a holographic Irish village, complete with a philosophical examination of having a hologram boyfriend. 

Scrubs: "My Musical"

Eric Dewey (director of the Four Eyed Radio Network and host of Interstellar Comms and Socially Awkward Studios) joins for one of the most renowned sitcom musicals ever made, where a surprisingly realistic medical condition causes Sacred Heart Hospital to break out in song and dance.

Charmed: "Cat House"

Cassie Proffitt of Distant Echoes joins to talk about a magical meta clip show, featuring lots of cats, jokes about old hairstyles, and creative workarounds to avoid showing a prominent cast member.

Digimon Adventure 02: "His Master's Voice" / "The Call of Dagomon"

Joshua Aaron Moore (sportswriter and author) dives into the dark ocean of this notorious and creepy episode, which uses H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos as a metaphor for depression.

Pushing Daisies: "Girth"

Greg Leatherman (of It's Super Effective and Very Random Encounters podcasts, and writer of Glitter Hearts) joins to talk about a layered Halloween episode exploring both literal and metaphorical ghosts -- including a fire-spewing ghost horse.

Batman: The Animated Series: "P.O.V."

Gavin Mevius of The Mixed Reviews Podcast joins to chat about a Batman episode with very little Batman, told from the perspectives of secondary cop characters Renee Montoya, Harvey Bullock, and a rookie voiced by Disney's Beast, along with a barrage of censorship troubles.

Lost: "Exposé"

Tyler and Nate from Animorphing Time bring the razzle dazzle to this Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead-style story, which revisits Lost's history through the eyes of its infamously hated diamond-loving duo and celebrates classic schlocky TV.

King of the Hill: "Pigmalion"

Tommy Proffitt of Distant Echoes joins to talk about this dark and infamous Halloween episode that puts Luanne in the clutches of a twisted pork mogul played by Michael Keaton, complete with every troubling mental health trope you could think of.

House: "Three Stories"

Andrea La-Rosa Jimenez joins to talk Dr. House's reality-bending med school lecture made of false flashbacks, Carmen Electra, and a surprise origin story.

Power Rangers Dino Thunder: "Lost & Found in Translation"

Joel and Kevin from May The Power Protect You Podcast join to talk about this very meta bottle episode where the Power Rangers watch the Japanese Super Sentai series they were based on, with commentary on fandom and American jingoism.

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Sherlock: "The Abominable Bride"

Jessica Tingler joins to talk about this spooky, mind-bendy period piece that places modernized Sherlock Holmes back into his classic time (or does it?)

The X-Files: "Bad Blood"

Merrilee O'Neil joins to talk about Mulder and Scully's Rashomon-style retelling of their absurd vampire investigation.