TV I Say

For our final send off, Ashley welcomes back friend of the show Carly Ballerini to review their biggest TV opinions from 2025.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

00:37 Being a creator and making content

04:54 IFC & Portlandia

13:50 SNL and the future of live TV

15:50 Heated Rivalry, Pluribus, and Breaking Bad

20:23 Nicki Minaj jumping the shark

35:10 Smoke

43:35 Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Wonder Falls

46:45 One Battle After Another

48:55 I Love LA

54:55 Wrap up

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This week, Ashley is joined by actor and comedian Jon Gabrus to talk about what shows are appropriate to watch with your family during the holidays. What makes a dad show a dad show? What defines a mom show? Jon and Ashley have the answers.

You can find Jon at @gabrus or at www.gabrus.com

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This week, Ashley is joined by scientist-turned-comedian Jono Zalay! He breaks down his thoughts about the accuracy of Pluribus, along with sharing his watchlist and defending The Acolyte.

You can find Jono at @JonoZalay or at www.jonozalay.com

SUBSCRIBE to @tvisaypod for more. 

TV I Say is a COURIER production.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

02:00 Jono’s IMDB Credits

09:36 Pluribus

29:14 The Watchlist

47:25 Stormi Daniels Doc

51:56 Beat The Shark: The Acolyte

56:31 Jono’s Final Recommendations

Learn...

This week, Ashley is joined by Myq Kaplan to talk about breaking into standup, his favorite TV shows to rewatch, and the best new comedies airing right now. From The Chair Company, to Gilmore Girls, to Abbot Elementary, we hit it all. 

You can find Myq at @myqkaplan pretty much everywhere, or at myqkaplan.com

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This week, Ashley is joined by Mary Houlihan, AKA Coat Check Girl in Broad City. 

SUBSCRIBE to @tvisaypod for more. 

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

03:15 Mary’s Watchlist - The Wire, Love is Blind: Brazil, 

8:15 Real Housewives

11:43 90 Day Fiance - Pillowtalk, The Other Way, Diaries

22:48: Married at First Sight & Couples Therapy

27:53 Jersey Shore

30:33 All’s Fair

34:08 Pluribus

37:32 Gen Z TV: I Love LA, Adults, Overcompensating

47:56 Chair Company

51:08 All Her Fault

55:11 Beat The Sha...

This week on TV I Say, comedian Kalea McNeill joins us to talk about the weirdest Love is Blind reunion ever, along with the all-new episodes of Selling Sunset. Plus, the TV Club touches on the ending of Snowfall and the lack of black women on this season of SNL. 

You can find Kalea at @whateverkalea on IG or at kaleamcneill.com

SUBSCRIBE to @tvisaypod for more. 

TV I Say is a COURIER production.

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Comedian and actress Jenny Zigrino joins TV I Say to dive deep into the latest fall TV shows and dramas. They cover a range of shows including Below Deck Med, Selling Sunset, Love is Blind, Nobody Wants This, I Love L.A, and more!

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Ashley is joined Sam Bailey, director of Marvel’s Ironheart, Brown Girls, Dear White People and more. Hear what they think about the latest in Chicago TV, working in Hollywood during Trump’s presidency, and of course, what they’re watching. 

You can find Sam Bailey at @sqb23 on Substack.

SUBSCRIBE to @tvisaypod for more. 

TV I Say is an COURIER production.

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Tess Barker is an investigative journalist, pop culture junkie, and host of the podcast Pop Mystery Pod joins TV I Say to discuss pop culture mysteries and the evil genius of reality show producers.

They discuss The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, Love Island, Are You My First? and more.

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Reality TV has been slammed for decades as lower value than your serialized, prestige television. This week’s guest Jolenta Greenberg has a lot to say about that. In today’s episode, we break down how reality TV actually mimics the great traditions of storytelling, and relive some of our favorite moments from throughout reality TV history. 

Our guest is Jolenta Greenberg, host of the podcast Hot Mess-terpiece Theater. You can find her at @hotmessterpiecepod or @jolenta_g on IG. 

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:02 Hot Messterpiece

02:09 Love Is Blind<...

Rob Schulte of Vanderpump Robs joins the Ashleys to talk about the most evil men on TV. And yes, it is almost entirely men from reality shows. We break down everything from Vanderpump Rules and The Valley to House of Villains, Love Island, Sister Wives, and more. 

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We sat down with Vinny Thomas, TikTok comedy star and now television comedy star! We break down his experience joining the cast of Seth Rogen’s Platonic as the “galaxy-brained little weirdo” Omar, and get his hottest reality TV takes. You can find Vinny on Twitter, TikTok and IG at @vinn_ayy

Follow TV I Say wherever you get your podcasts including on YouTube.

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This week, we’re talking podcast scammers, online girlbosses, and the murky intersections between. Ashley is joined by Charlie Webster, the journalist behind Scamanda about her latest investigation-turned-podcast Unicorn Girl and why scam victims deserve more lime-light.

Then, Ashley is joined by Ashley Lawrence and Camille Corbett to discuss the documentary covering Bonnie Blue and her growing Only Fans empire.

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Here to break down the 2025 Emmys is someone who someone who was in the room. And not just that – she was a winner. Fresh off her FIFTH Emmys win for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, staff writer Ali Barthwell jons us in studio.

We talk about Nate Bargatze's performance as host, best moments, best speeches, after parties and so much more.

Follow TV I Say wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review. Remember that you can watch episodes on YouTube!

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Sydney Battle isn’t your average true crime fan. Listen to find out how Sydney was “trained like an assassin” — which makes her TV taste a little different than your typical true crime-obsessed sleuth. Ashley and Sydney dive into the world of Investigation Discovery, “Evil Lives Here,” and why some true crime shows are worth it while others are a hard pass.

But it’s not all murder and mayhem — they also recap the messy Love Island reunion, debate reality TV strategy like it’s Big Brother, and unpack the wildest shows currently on their watchlists (from 90 Day Fiancé to Uplo...

The 90 Day Fiance cinematic universe is vast, and Jovi & Yara have seen it all. I sat down with this iconic couple to talk about everything 90 Day, from the beef with Big Ed to what it was like going through the immigration process.

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Reality TV has had its ups and downs this year, but no one can deny that it was chock full of drama, beef, and a whole lot of mess. My guest Gibson Johns from Gabbing with Gib is an expert in everything Bravo and is here to discuss both the best and worst reality shows that the past year has had to offer. 

and wherever you get your podcasts

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Welcome back to TV I Say! For our first episode back, we invite comedian and TV writer, Niles Abston to discuss about a bunch of TV we missed this year, what it's like in the Dave writing room, and how it felt when Donald Glover came after the show.

Find and subscribe to TV I Say on its brand new YouTube channel, follow the show on Instagram, X, and wherever you get your podcasts!

TV I Say is a production of COURIER.

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TV, I Say is back, baby! Now with VIDEO! 

TV’s leading pop culture expert Ashley Ray returns with all-new episodes of the ultimate podcast for TV fans. Join us each week to hear about your favorite shows, break down tropes, and chat with the actors and creatives that bring them to life. Whether it’s a comedy, documentary, or even a TikTok, Ashley has you covered. 

New episodes start dropping every Thursday.

or Spotify, and audio wherever else you might get your podcasts!

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Calling all Suits fans... Ashley recommends a new podcast for you. Patrick J. Adams (Mike Ross) and Sarah Rafferty (Donna Paulsen) starred on the hit TV series Suits. But they have never really watched the show... until now! Join Patrick and Sarah on their new podcast as they watch episodes, tell behind-the-scenes stories, and talk with creators and co-stars. Sidebar is out now! 

Listen to Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SiriusXM, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

And don’t forget to follow @suitssi...

Jason Mantzoukas returns to the show to talk to Ashley about what they're both watching.

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Jim O'Heir joins Ashley Ray to talk about his time as Jerry (Larry, Gary, Barry etc) on Parks and Recreation, his recap podcast Parks and Recollection with writer Greg Levine, and more.

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Stephen Merchant joins Ashley Ray to talk about Season 3 of The Outlaws, protecting Christopher Walken, rebooting The Office and more. 

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Prentice Penny joins Ashley Ray to discuss writing for Insecure, his new documentary Black Twitter: A People's History, and to squash an old twitter beef. 

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Comedian Greg Behrendt joins Ashley Ray to discuss consulting on Sex and the City, Inkmaster, The Contestant and Greg's new ebook See You on the Way Down.

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Nelini Stamp (Labor Activist/Director of Strategy at the Working Families Party) joins Ashley Ray to discuss labor inequities in reality tv, Fallout, Baby Reindeer, The Valley and more. 

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Dan Guterman, creator of Carol & the End of the World, joins Ashley Ray to talk about the making of the animated Netflix series and more! 

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Katie Kershaw and Tien Tran (hosts of the podcast Jockular) join Ashley Ray to talk about Sports TV shows, documentaries and more! 

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Nick and Jen Davis, one of the families from TLC's Seeking Sister Wife, join Ashley to talk about their marriage, the perception of polygamy, being recognized from TV and more.

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Cheyenne M. Davis is a storyteller, journalist, content creator, media educator, founder of Unveild Magazine, and creator of the award-winning Weighted Words podcast. They join Ashley Ray to talk about fatphobia in television, representation in media, and more.

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Sam Brown from sketch group The Whitest Kids U' Know joins Ashley Ray to talk about the show finally coming to streaming on ShoutTV, their new animated feature Mars, Australian tv and more! Stream The Whitest Kids U’ Know at WatchTWKUK.com or on the Shout! TV app starting May 1st.

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Comedian and writer Lane Moore joins Ashley Ray to talk about Quiet On Set, Selena and Yolanda, Murder Under the Friday Night Lights, Mean Girl Murders and more. Lane's new e-book You’re Not The Only One F*cking Up: Breaking the Endless Cycle of Dating Mistakes is available now. 

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D'Arcy Carden joins Ashley Ray to talk about her new podcast WikiHole, her roles on The Good Place and A League of Their Own and more! 

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Paula Pell joins Ashley Ray to talk about writing on Saturday Night Live, Girls5Eva and more! 

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Rob Haze joins Ashley Ray to talk about his new stand up special Frontin', BMF, shows in the Power universe, Deal or No Deal Island, Meego, comedy specials and more.

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Stan Zimmerman joins Ashley Ray to talk about his new book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore and to talk about working on Golden Girls, Gilmore Girls, Roseanne and more. 

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Ashley is joined by Kevin Fredericks aka KevOnStage to discuss Churchy on BET+, Attack on Titan and more! 

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Emily Heller joins Ashley Ray to talk about Love Is Blind, The Traitors, Sort Of, the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, and more.

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Chris Gethard joins Ashley Ray to talk wrestling, Bluey, Masters of the Air, Dark Side of the Ring and more! Check out Chris' new audio book "Dad at Peace" available now! https://try.everand.com/gethard/

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Ashley Ray is joined by her producer Matt Apodaca to talk about the True Detective: Night Country season finale, the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and to see if Matt can convince Ashley to watch Survivor season 46! 

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The Doughboys Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger join Ashley to talk about actual TVs, what their preferred TV watching snacks are, their favorite food shows and more! 

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Composer Sam Haft (Hazbin Hotel) joins Ashley Ray to talk about Tina Fey's comments about authenticity, Wil Wheaton vs Larry David vs Elmo, and royal conspiracies before getting into their watch lists and talking about making the music for Hazbin Hotel!

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Jordan Morris (Bubble, Youth Group) joins Ashley Ray to talk about their favorite shows on everyone's favorite streaming platform Peacock!
 

What We Watched:

Killing It

Paul T. Goldman

In The Know

Girls5Eva

The Traitors

Twisted Metal

Ted

Bupkis

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Part 2 of Jason Mantzoukas breaking down the most underrated shows! They get into the problem with network sitcoms, streaming rights for old tv shows, fan cams and more!
 

What We Watched:

Extraordinary

Primo

Not Dead Yet

Ghosts

Killing It

Digman

Colin From Accounts

Starstruck

Dead Pixels

The Other Two

Letterkenny

Shoresy

This Fool

The Gold

Party Down

Platonic

Silo

For Al...

Kenice Mobley joins Ashley Ray to recap the 75th Emmy Awards sweeps and snubs, dig into recent TV cancellations like Rap Sh!t and Schmigadoon! and more!

What We Watched:

The 75th Annual Emmy Awards

Rap Sh!t

Schmigadoon!

The Bear

Barry

The Traitors Season 2

The Great Pottery Throw Down

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Jason Mantzoukas returns to TV Club to break down all of the most underrated shows! Ashley and Jason get into "dad shows", animated shows, cult docs and more in Part 1 of their discussion!
 

What we watched:

Our Flag Means Death 

Found

Jack Reacher Season 2

Praise Petey

Hijack

Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Julia 

The Curse 

The Good Wife

The Gilded Age 

Carol and the End of the...

Attorney and TV commentator Beth Karas returns to TV club to unpack all of the shocking revelations and twists in season 2 of the Curious Case of Natalia Grace. 

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Andy Richter joins Ashley Ray to talk about Variety's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time list, Shark Tank, Fargo season 5, Fall of the House of Usher, the Grinch, being on Celebrity Jeopardy, game shows and more!

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Blair Socci joins Ashley Ray to talk about shows they are both experts on. The Sopranos, LOST, Girls, For All Mankind, the secret shame of Billions, and more. Check out Blair's new stand-up comedy special "Live from the Big Dog" available at veeps.com.

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Ziwe interviewing George Santos, Julianna Margulies “as someone who plays a lesbian journalist" comments, it's been a chaotic week in TV news! Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays join Ashley to break down all the TV goss and explain why reruns of Antiques Roadshow are soothing. They also discuss their favorite recent docs including Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife and Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. 

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Is Gerry a love bomber? Did Theresa really "knock his boots off" with her kisses? Scam Goddess host Laci Mosley and Ashley break down the most shocking moments from The Golden Bachelor finale and Laci decides if she's a Leslie or a Theresa. They also unpack the recent revelations about Gerry's past and decide if he's so "golden" after all. Warning: spoilers ahead!

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Gilmore Girls, Friends, The Office - what TV do you put on to drown out your family during the holidays? 'The World's Worst Assistant' author and Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend co-host Sona Movsesian breaks down her favorite 2023 TV with Ashley including Beef, The Bear, and Daisy Jones & The Six. They also revisit Showtime's Polyamory: Married & Dating and debate whether Nathan Fielder has BDE (big d*ck energy).

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Time jumps on The Morning Show: yay or nay? TV writer and podcaster Heben Nigatu joins Ashley to question Alex Levy's romantic choices and everything that led up to the wild season 3 finale. They also discuss their favorite/least favorite TV reboots including Arrested Development, Gossip Girl, and the upcoming Good Wife Spin-Off Elsbeth. Later on, Heben recaps the craziest moments from Selling Sunset. 

What We Watched:

The Morning Show

Selling Sunset

Suits

Sex Education

Homework:

Below Deck Mediterranean

...

Do you remember where you were the first time you heard Meredith Grey's infamous line, "Pick me, choose me, love me"? Shaun Diston joins Ashley to discuss and act out some of their favorite TV monologues from shows including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Designing Women, Andor, and more. They also make predictions ahead of The Golden Bachelor finale and theorize if there could ever be a Golden Bachelorette.

What We Watched:

The Golden Bachelor

Bachelor in Paradise

Loki

Yellowjackets 

The Morning Show

Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Squid Game: The Challenge, Is it Cake? No game show is off the table! Jacquis Neal joins Ashley to discuss his love of game shows including the moment he got sucked in by Nickelodeon's Double Dare. He also gets into his experience being a contestant on 3 different shows and what it takes to stand out. 

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'Past Perfect's' Simone Polenan joins Ashley Ray to break down the 00's shows they loved (and also can't believe existed) in high school. From the insanity of 'The Swan' to 'A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila', they discuss their favorite reality TV show contestants and the role ANTM's "smizing" played in Simone's life. 

What We Watched:

Telemarketers

And Just Like That

The Other Two

Dave

Southside

Homework:

Below Deck

90 Day Fiancé

Get ac...

What's with all the Frasier hate? Jamie Loftus joins Ashley to defend the revival and unpack TV crushes including Alex Trebek, Alan Thicke, and David Hyde Pierce. They also discuss their favorite "fall asleep shows" and dive into the history of 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'. Later on, Jamie opens up about her dream job: writing for soap operas. 
 

What We Watched:

Frasier revival

Swarm

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman 

Fernwood 2 Night 

Love is Blind reunion

Beckham

Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks
 

Colton Dunn might just be Apple TV's biggest fan! He joins Ashley to discuss some of his favorite shows including Foundation, Invasion, Hijack, and Hello Tomorrow. They also give comedic props to Ziwe for handing Mary Crosby a fish filet on WWHL and Ashley shares her love for the 'Beckham' documentary.

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Which horror villain needs a TV show? '2 Spooky 2 Handle' hosts Mano Agapion and Besty Sodaro join Ashley to discuss their favorite scary television including 'American Horror Story,' 'Chucky', 'The Changeling,' and the Mike Flanagan "Flanaverse." Mano and Betsy also pitch a "Leprechaun meets Poker Face" show and explain why the 'Station Eleven' miniseries is SO real it's scary.

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It’s not all roses behind the scenes of your favorite shows! Ashley is joined by Matt Bellassai & Sydney Battle, the hosts of the “Diss And Tell” podcast, to pit TV’s most famous feuding stars against each other, and ask which was the most iconic fight. They also talk about Doja Cat’s antagonistic relationship with her fans, a breaking update in 2Pac’s murder, and all the latest on the 90 Day Universe, Below Deck Down Under and true crime docs.

What We Watched:

The Great British Bake Off

How To Get Away With Mu...

There are 44 seasons of 'Survivor' to choose from, where to begin?! 'Drop Your Buffs' host and pop culture writer Evan Ross Katz joins Ashley to discuss the best place to start as a newbie. He also shares his thoughts on why 'White Lotus' creator Mike White did so well on 'Survivor: David vs. Goliath.' Later on, they get into 'And Just Like That,' 'The Traitors,' The Morning Show' season 3, and the cancellation of 'Winning Time.'

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It’s almost time for the ‘The Golden Bachelor,’ and Ashley Ray couldn’t be more excited! TV Lover and host of High and Mighty, Jon Gabrus joins the pod to discuss why older women are sexy, cringey reality show kissing, and his love for ‘Project Runway All Stars.’ They also break down the full on sex scenes in ‘Big Brother Portugal’ and why they make Ashley clutch her pearls.

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Things that don’t make Ashley Ray panic? Cult documentaries! ‘Don’t Panic’ host Anthony Atamanuik joins the podcast to discuss the story of Teal Swan, who made the best NXIVM doc, and whether or not he’d join a cult. They also debate ‘Below Deck’s’ Captain Sandy vs. Captain Lee and explain why CNN news alerts on HBO Max aren’t appealing.

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The Roys, the Lyons, The Righteous Gemstones, who’s your favorite TV family dynasty? ‘Even the Rich’ hosts Brooke Siffrinn and Aricia Skidmore-Williams join Ashley to discuss real and fictional family dynasties, the worst actor on Sex & the City, and Hulu’s current obsession with turning everything into a docu-series. They also get into why the Big Brother live feed is so addictive.

Follow Brooke and Aricia on Instagram

@brookesiffrinn

@ariciaskidmorewilliamsss

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Remember sex before the internet? ‘After Hours’ host Zach Noe Towers joins Ashley to discuss ‘The L Word’ and ‘Queer as Folk’ late night viewings, why TV needs more sluts, and the rise of kinky Charlotte York. They also share their thoughts on the return of ‘Futurama’, ‘Solar Opposites’, and review VICE’s ‘Dark Side of the 90s’.

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How did ‘Jury Duty’ pull off the toilet clogging scene with James Marsden? What does one use to make a fake turd? Director Jake Szymanski joins Ashley Ray to break down moments during filming that almost ruined the show and reveals if there could be a season 2. He also explains how Ronald was cast and if Judge Judy is a fan.

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Who are the most shocking '90 Day' couples, favorite castmates, and should reality TV stars unionize? '90 Day Fiancé's' Kenny Niedermeier, Armando Rubio, and Tyray Mollett join Ashley for all 'The Other Way,' 'Before the 90 Days,' and '90 Day: The Last Resort' hot goss. They also weigh in on if reality TV stars should have union protection.

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Who likes Bluey more: kids or adults? TV writer Anna Drezen discusses her new animated show 'Praise Petey' and counts down her favorite cartoons including Hey Arnold, BoJack Horseman, and a charming blue heeler. Ashley and Anna also do a deep dive on the My Strange Addiction pee drinkers episode, erotic James Corden fan fic, and lies they told on TV message boards.

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Why are the actors striking and what do they want? Actor, writer, and producer Franchesca Ramsey joins Ashley to explain everything you’ve been hearing about the SAG-AFTRA strike! Franchesca and Ashley get into the nitty gritty of geographic discrimination, the dangers of AI, branding people as scabs, and residuals. They also discuss what the strike means for the industry AND your TV shows and how you—TV Club listeners—can support writers and actors.

Franchesca’s podcast “Lemme Fix It!” premieres September 13th. Listen to the trailer here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lemme-fix-it...

It’s a hot dual strike summer! Comedian Punkie Johnson is here to offer Ashley valuable dating tips and also talk about her new SiriusXM relationship advice radio show Love Thang. But first, Ashley updates TV Club on how the SAG strike will affect the pod and goes through her weekly watchlist. Spoiler: if you’re interested in learning about a woman who eats toilet paper, then the new season of My Strange Addiction is for you!

Love Thang with Punkie Johnson airs on Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network on SiriusXM and can be stre...

Hollywood may be on strike, but the Emmys are rolling on! Ashley and comedian Niles Abston ask why the drama categories are fixated on rich people problems, wonder what happened to Ted Lasso’s final season, and root for John Oliver to finally take an award from SNL. Plus: Niles talks about his experience writing on FX’s Dave, and the huge guest star he expected to get some Emmy love.
 

NOTE: This episode was recorded Wednesday July 12th, 2023, before the SAG-AFTRA strike began.

Watchlist:
Southside
Snowfall
The Other...

What’s more fascinating than good TV? EPICALLY BAD TV. Whether you’ve watched MAX’s The Idol or not, Kiki Andersen (Indecent podcast) is here to help Ashley break down all the reasons why the show was a monumental failure and discuss what makes a TV show taboo. Plus, Ashley dives into The Other Two’s scandal-ridden cancellation and how it seems like A-list showrunner Ryan Murphy isn’t standing in solidarity with his WGA colleagues.  

Listen to Indecent with Kiki Andersen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Donate to Ho...

Hungry for a scandalous docuseries served with a side of Chicago restaurant show hot takes? Don’t miss this episode! Ashley welcomes veteran legal analyst Beth Karas from The Curious Case of Natalia Grace to answer all of Ashley’s burning questions on the too-bonkers-to-believe docuseries streaming now on MAX. But first, Ashley gives her thoughts on season 2 of The Bear and how embracing its characters over the city of Chicago helps this season shine—but sorry, The Bear is still NOT a comedy!!!

What We Watched:

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace

The Be...

Adulting podcast co-hosts Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest) & Jordan Carlos (Everything’s Trash) join Ashley to gab about the latest TV news. They cover everything from that viral clip of the Weeknd in MAX’s The Idol, to the new season of Black Mirror, to what dishes they want on the menu of Netflix’s pop-up restaurant. Anyone hungry for “Duck à l’Orange is the New Black” with a side of “The Floor is Guava”?

What We Watched:

Black Mirror

The Idol

Queer Eye

Slip

Succession

Crooked Media’s Jon Lovett is a podcast host, TV writer, former presidential speechwriter… and Survivor superfan?! Who knew! In addition to Survivor, Jon talks with Ashley about the WGA strike, why it’s suddenly so hard to make a TV show about American politics, the insanity that is the show Mrs. Davis, and much more. Plus, Ashley gives Jon a taste of his own medicine and makes him defend some horrible hot takes.
 

Buy tickets to Lovett or Leave It: The Errors Tour
$1 of every ticket sold will be donated to the Vote Save America...

Buckle up, Jason Mantzoukas (Star Trek: Prodigy, How Did This Get Made?) is back! Jason and Ashley chat about the state of TV today and do a super-sized roundup of what he’s been watching since their last TV Club hang. During their rundown of 40+ shows, they both agree The Other Two is the best comedy on TV right now, make a case that Freevee is the top streaming service you’re probably not watching, and wonder why every celebrity wants to host a show about what they eat and where they go. Plus, you won’t want to miss A...

TV Club welcomes Grace Freud and April Clark (Earwolf Presents: The Girl God Experience) for an off the rails episode where they pitch Ashley better endings to Ted Lasso, describe how you trick a hoarder into never hoarding again, and explain how Roger on American Dad perfectly captures the wreck of an old gay man. Plus, Girl God reveals they not only co-created the new MAX series The Idol, but that both the Weeknd and Sam Levinson are products of their imagination.
 

Listen to Earwolf Presents: The Girl God Experience wherever you get your podcasts.

Who better to discuss the Roy siblings’ scams in the Succession finale than the Scam Goddess herself, Laci Mosley. SPOILER ALERT! Ashley and Laci give their Succession hot takes on Shiv’s character arc, Roman calling Kendall’s kids “randos,” why Tom actually did deserve to be CEO, how the show is basically white Empire, Ashley’s bisexual king Stewy, the motive behind Shiv’s final vote swap, and much more. Plus, Laci posits a wild theory… did Tom murder Logan on the airplane?
 

What We Watched:

Succession

Barry

Yellowjackets

Ted Lasso Duration: 01:00:07

Comedians and amateur detectives Liza Treyger & Kara Klenk (That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast) join TV Club to talk about all things true crime—from Scandoval to college sex cults to the wildest episodes of Law & Order: SVU. Plus, we check in on this season of Yellowjackets and a conversation about Peacock’s “Who Killed Robert Wone?” leads to a lesson on electromagnetic ejaculation.
 

What We Watched:
 

Vanderpump Rules

Who Killed Robert Wone?

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence

Yellowjackets

Law & Order: SVU<...

Reality TV scholars Anna Hossnieh & Molly Lambert (Deckheads: Chief Stews!) stop by TV Club to help Ashley highlight the must-see reality shows currently airing and to give an in-depth look at the current season of Below Deck: Sailing Yacht. If you’ve ever wondered “What exactly is Summer House?” or “Why hasn’t there been a gay Bachelor called the Bi-chelor?” or “Why are so many women on Below Deck horny for Gary?” then this episode is for you. 
 

What We Watched:

Below Deck: Sailing Yacht

Summer House

Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard<...

The WGA is on strike! Ashley welcomes TV writers Niccole Thurman (Everything’s Trash) & Nick Wiger (Doughboys) to help break down what the writers are fighting for in their battle with the greedy studios.

To donate to Hollywood crew members in need, go to:

https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

For picket locations & schedules in LA & NY go to:
 

https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/picket-schedules-and-locations

Follow Niccole @niccolethurman
 

Follow Nick @nickwiger

What We Watched:
 

Jury...

Today on TV Club we’re changing the channel to Comedy Central! Ashley speaks with BD Wong (Jurassic World), Lori Tan Chinn (Orange Is the New Black) & Teresa Hsiao about the return of Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens and also does a deep dive on the state of the network that used to launch careers of comedic stars. The conclusion? People aren’t giving Comedy Central the respect it deserves! Plus, Ashley goes through her weekly watchlist and discusses the latest terrifying episode of Barry.
 

What We Watched:

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens

Suc...

John Owen Lowe, the star and co-creator of the Netflix comedy series Unstable, joins Ashley to talk all things TV. John discusses Fred Armisen playfully torturing him to laugh during scenes, lessons he learned from Ryan Murphy, and even reveals he almost told his father Rob not to do Parks & Recreation just so he could continue enjoying the show. Plus, Ashley discovers John is a “learned Vanderpump Rules scholar” and reality TV junkie who’s fired up to talk about MILF Island, Too Hot to Handle, and much more.

What We Watched:

American Auto Duration: 00:52:09

Reality dating show experts Emma Gray & Claire Fallon (Love To See It) join Ashley to provide an oral history of the night Netflix completely botched the “live” Love Is Blind reunion that nobody asked for. They eventually dive into the reunion itself, discussing Vanessa & Nick Lachey’s awful hosting job, Kwame getting a bad edit, how Bravo would’ve done it better, and so much more. Plus, Ashley recaps her thoughts on the Barry premiere, Succession, and several more shows you should be watching. #NetflixIsAJoke
 

Go here to listen to “Love To See It with Emma and Claire”...

After a jaw-dropping Succession, Ashley turns to the TV Club hotline to answer listener questions about the episode that left everyone shook. But first, we time travel back to 1980-something to chat with The Goldbergs’ Wendi McLendon-Covey about the acclaimed sitcom’s final season, Reno 911 stories, Wendi’s dream acting roles, and so much more.

What We Watched:

Succession

Tiny Beautiful Things

Jury Duty

Beef

Love Is Blind

Last Week Tonight

Hello Tomorrow!

Seeking Brother Husband

Yellowjackets

 ...

After reading Rolling Stone's garbage list of the greatest TV themes of all time, Ashley knew she had to punch up the list. And who better to call for help than musicians, comedians, and filmmakers Evan Gregory & Andrew Gregory of the Punch Up The Jam podcast? Together the crew count down their superior TV theme song picks, with plenty of singin' along the way. Plus, Ashley breaks down her weekly watchlist which naturally includes a show where Meryl Streep voices a humpback whale.

Watch Andrew & Evan on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xJlOH1yYsrM

...

Ashley lets Zach Braff (Scrubs, Alex Inc.) break a TV Club rule to chat about his new movie A Good Person starring Florence Pugh & Morgan Freeman—but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of TV talk for y'all! Zach gets into his recent stints directing episodes of Shrinking & Ted Lasso, looks back on the TV shows and actors that inspired him, and astonishes Ashley by introducing her to a TV show that she's never heard of. Plus, Ashley dives into her thoughts on the week’s big 3 season premieres of Yellowjackets, Succession, & Love Is Blind.
 

Chlöe Bailey’s explicit sex scene in Swarm created fiery discourse online, so Ashley turns to Swarm’s intimacy coordinator Sasha Nicolle Smith to get the exclusive behind the scenes scoop on the realistic (but FAKE, duh!) sex scene. Sasha details everything that goes into planning and shooting TV sex scenes, spills some tea about Rory Culkin’s penis close-up in Swarm, shares tips on how to make a kiss look smokin’ hot, and even brings a real example of the pilates ball she places between actors’ bodies.

What We Watched:

Swarm

...

To break down Sunday’s mega The Last of Us & Oscars double feature, Ashley called upon your favorite video game/TV experts Matt Apodaca (Get Played) and Cody Ziglar (Futurama, Spider-Man: Miles Morales). The Oscars didn’t change Ashley’s opinion that TV is better than movies, but Matt and Zig do manage to get Ashley hyped for more potential TV adaptations of video games. Plus, Ashley reveals what she would’ve done in Pedro Pascal’s position at the end of The Last Of Us (Hint: “PUT HER ON THE TABLE!”)

What We Watched:

Comedian and Real Housewives scholar Camille Corbett joins Ashley to chat with actor/producer Garcelle Beauvais (Coming 2 America, The Jamie Foxx Show). They get into diversity on the Real Housewives, how representation matters in media, and Garcelle's new Lifetime movie Black Girl Missing. Plus, Ashley and Camille reveal their weekly watchlist and dub the Amazon comedy series Harlem as the new watch of the week.

What We Watched:

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Perfect Match

Below Deck

Riches

Harlem

Th...

Ashley welcomes Australian comedians Aunty Donna and almost meets her match as Zack, Broden and Mark share their deep love of USA TV nostalgia and dive deep into how the TV sausage gets made. The boys share what it was like shooting their Netflix show right before the world shut down plus impress Ashley with their TV Watchlist suggestions, but first they all have to solve the biggest conspiracy theory around: Does Australia even exist?

You can find more details about the Aunty Donna World Tour 2023 on auntydonna.com 

Wha...

Gladiators Unite! Ashley’s Scandal episode is here with special guests Katie Lowes & Guillermo Diaz straight from their new podcast Unpacking the Toolbox. Ashley asks Katie aka ‘Quinn Perkins’ and Guillermo aka ‘Huck’ about their favorite Scandal moments, life on and off set during that time and their hopes for future Shondaland collaborations (Shonda, we need a horror thriller with Guillermo, STAT!). Have you always wanted to know the table read cast reaction when they realized Olivia Pope was about to beat a man in a wheelchair to death with a chair? This is the episode for you!

What We...

For Super Bowl Sunday, Ashley is joined by the world’s best (newly appointed) TV Commercial critics, comedians & podcasters: Lauren Lapkus and Paul F. Tompkins! It’s the TV event with the most viewers from around the world and the stakes and tensions are high! Did we have too many celebrities in the commercials? Has Reality TV jumped the shark? Do we always and forever love Rihanna? 

What We Watched:

Superbowl

Homework:

The Last of Us

Animal Control

Below Deck

90 Day Fiancé: The Other...

This week, Ashley is joined by journalists, cultural commentators and wannabe HBO Girlies: Sam Sanders & Zach Stafford! The trio get right into whether The Last of Us is good TV or great TV, Murray Bartlett’s strawberries and which network is killing it at the moment. From everyone’s favorite Saturday Night Live performer to which streamers are supporting black creators and respecting black audiences, this episode will give you some hot TV takes and leave you surprised with who supports capitalism (it’s Sam).

What We Watched:

The Last Of Us

Lookin...

This episode is giving post apocalyptic scaredy cats! It’s giving stand out child actor stars and it’s giving perfect comic timing with a couple of TV exclusive scoops! Join Ashley Ray to talk about where Imani got her comedy chops (Everybody Hates Chris) and her return to comedy all these years later (Mythic Quest!) and there’s a special guest reviewer: Ashley’s Mom Sharon tells you why she LOVES her new favorite show Poker Face!

What We Watched:

The Last of Us

Poker Face

Mythic Quest

Everybod...

Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata are two TV greats, and they’re both in Ashley’s fave network TV sitcoms Grand Crew and Home Economics. They join TV Club to share what they’ve been loving on TV lately (if it’s a teenager in high school with some troubles, we’re all in), as Sasheer debates which TV anti-hero is the most irredeemable character while Nicole dishes the smoothest and hottest hot TV takes about Drag Race and 90 Day Fiance. 

Listen to Nicole & Sasheer on their podcast Best Friends!

What We Watched:

Wednesday<...

We’re revisiting the 90s and getting super nostalgic about the 70s, with Ashley’s guest Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show, That 90s Show and WandaVision). Debra Jo and Ashley connect over The Challenge and get wistful about Reality TV Game Shows over the years but find out what role has been Debra Jo’s favorite (An Actor’s Dream!) but more importantly which TV Show set had the best catering. Ashley also tells Debra Jo all about the Grey’s Anatomy Scammer controversy.

That 90s Show airs on Netflix on January 19. 

What We Watched: Duration: 00:39:35

Below Deck’s Captain Sandy joins Ashley to chat about the charter boat cast and crew members, and the challenges of working and sleeping in such a tight space all the while having TV cameras in your face. Hear why Captain Sandy calls out Bravo as the best TV network, why she needs pirate training and which role on the boat would suit Ashley. 

An actual inspiring leader and quite possibly the best reality tv personality, we can all learn something from Captain Sandy! Her new book “Be The Calm or Be The Storm: Leadership Lessons from a Wom...

Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made?, Star Trek: Prodigy) returns for Part 2 of his gabfest with Ashley about the Underrated TV Hits of 2022 where they recommend a mockumentary horror series with moron versions of Mulder and Scully (Wellington Paranormal), a travel show about healthy adult male friendships (101 Places To Party Before You Die), an anime where a 10-year-old boy lives alone in his own apartment (Kotaro Lives Alone), and much, much more. Plus, Jason outlines his method for how to begin watching Dr. Who and Ashley pitches that the best way to save Grey’s Anatomy involves time tr...

To close out the year with a bang, Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made?, Star Trek: Prodigy) joins the TV Club for a marathon TWO-PART episode about the UNDERRATED TV hits of 2022. Get outta here giant IP-driven shows that have dominated the discourse all year! We’re talkin’ about the lesser-known shows that deserve love too. But first, Jason discusses landing his first big TV roles on The League and Enlightened, he reveals what TV shows he’d still love to appear on (Law & Order?!), he bonds with Ashley over their mutual egg allergy, and chats about what shows...