San Diego ComicCon 2016 has come and gone, leaving Kate with a Steven Universe high and a massive backlog of TV to catch up on. Because of this, we keep the TV this week to one large segment, rather than splitting it up by genre. A few of the highlights in this week’s conversation: Kate loses her mind for Stranger Things and Looking; Kate and Noel lose their minds for Steven Universe; we debate when to jump ship on the formerly compelling, but now struggling UnREAL and Mr. Robot; and Greenleaf’s exciting new gear. After Our Week in TV, friend of the show Maggie Kulzick returns to the podcast to talk SDCC 2016 with Kate and Noel, including rocking out with Rebecca Sugar and her band, geeking out over the potential of American Gods, and reactions to a couple of fall pilots.

SDCC 2016 TV Wrapup (1:14:28)

Our Week in TV
Vice Principals (5:30)
Wrecked (11:59)
Stranger Things Season 1 (14:22)
Steven Universe (20:20)
The Great British Baking Show (34:37)
Looking: The Movie (41:38)
UnREAL (46:07)
Mr. Robot (49:00)
Greenleaf (53:06)
The Night Of (1:01:24)
Girl Meets World (1:11:55)

Kate is on assignment (read: geeking out mightily) at San Diego ComicCon this week, but what we lack in sound quality this episode we’ll make up for in TV nerdery over the next week or so. Spoiler alert: Expect lots more Steven Universe talk. We kick things off this week with comedy and reality, including HBO’s new comedy Vice Principals, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’s RNC coverage, Angie Tribeca, and a double helping of The Great British Baking Show. Next, it’s over to the genre and drama offerings, including a surprise Steven [Universe] Bomb, The Night Of, Greenleaf, and UnREAL. Afterward, Kate welcomes composer David Schwartz to the podcast to discuss his work on Lady Dynamite, Arrested Development, Northern Exposure and more.

Interview with David Schwartz (1:10:59)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality
Vice Principals premiere (6:41)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (14:14)
Angie Tribeca (18:10)
The Great British Baking Show (23:35)

Our Week in Genre and Drama
Steven Universe (36:35)
The Night Of (48:35)
Greenleaf (54:48)
UnREAL (57:22)

Music Featured: “Mr. Greg” and “It’s Over, Isn’t It” from Steven Universe, “Sassy Sassafras Lady” from Lady Dynamite, the themes from Northern Exposure, Deadwood, Arrested Development, and Lady Dynamite, and the saxophone theme from Lady Dynamite

It’s that time of year once again! San Diego ComicCon is right around the corner, and Noel and Kate have your ComicCon TV needs covered, looking through the SDCC 2016 television offerings and discussing the most interesting and exciting new and returning TV-related panels at this year’s convention. First, however, we look at a premiere-heavy (for the summer) week in TV, starting with the return of Hulu’s Difficult People, as well as new episodes of Angie Tribeca, Wrecked, and The Great British Baking Show. Next up are the drama and genre episodes, including Netflix’s new ‘80s horror series Stranger Things, the premieres of Mr. Robot and The A Word, the Outlander finale, and another uneven UnREAL. Then it’s over to our SDCC 2016 TV Preview, for a discussion of what Kate’s looking forward to, and what Noel might consider braving the crowds to check out, were he attending. 

Con Coverage: SDCC 2016 TV Preview (1:11:16)

Our Week in Comedy and Reality
Difficult People premiere (8:58)
Angie Tribeca (14:22)
Wrecked (16:29)
The Great British Baking Show (18:51)

Our Week in Genre and Drama
Stranger Things Season 1 (26:22)
Mr. Robot premiere (33:10)
The A Word premiere (49:41)
Outlander finale (52:51)
UnREAL (57:15)

It’s been a difficult week, but Noel and Kate are here to talk TV nonetheless. Thanks to the holiday weekend, the show list is as truncated as it’s perhaps ever been, so we skip the genre distinctions and just dive in. First up, we preview HBO and the BBC’s upcoming The Night Of, before checking out recent arrival to Netflix Marcella and checking in with Preacher, UnREAL, Greenleaf, Adventure Time, and Wrecked. Rounding out the week’s TV is the triumphant return of The Great British Baking Show on PBS (The Great British Bake Off on the BBC), a breath of sweetly-scented fresh air in a summer television season chock full of dark or violent dramas. Afterward, Kerensa Cadenas, Deputy Pop Culture Editor of Complex, joins us at the DVD Shelf to explore the candy colored world of Wonder Woman.

DVD Shelf: Wonder Woman with Kerensa Cadenas (1:17:19)

Our Week in TV
Preview The Night Of (9:31)
Marcella premiere (22:31)
Preacher (29:13)
UnREAL (35:22)
Greenleaf (44:36)
Adventure Time (50:52)
Wrecked (54:29)
The Great British Baking Show (57:54)

With HBO’s finales this week, Spring TV finally winds down, leaving only a handful of shows for Noel and Kate to discuss, but allowing for deep dives. First up, we break down ABC’s new night of retro game shows, The $100,000 Pyramid, Match Game, and Celebrity Family Feud. Then we talk comedy, including the Silicon Valley and Veep finales, and next up are the genre and drama offerings, including in-depth looks at the Game of Thrones finale, BrainDead, and UnREAL. Afterward, Emily L. Stephens of The A.V. Club returns to the podcast to help us explore the fascinating and unique first season of Lady Dynamite.

Season Spotlight: Lady Dynamite Season 1 with Emily L. Stephens (1:28:42)

Our Week in Reality and Comedy
The $100,000 Pyramid and Match Game premieres (3:53)
Celebrity Family Feud premiere (15:02)
Silicon Valley finale (22:05)
Veep finale (23:35)
Angie Tribeca (30:39)

Our Week in Genre and Drama
Game of Thrones finale (36:37)
Greenleaf (56:32)
BrainDead (59:21)
UnREAL (1:11:00)  

Music Featured: The $25,000 Pyramid Theme song; “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down” by Pastor Shirley Caesar; Lady Dynamite Theme song