If Tim Falls in the Forest...

·50 min·5 clips

Tim Goodman catches himself almost saying his old title, revealing his shift to Substack after decades as a TV critic.

The episode opens with Tim Goodman reflecting on his career shift from chief TV critic at The Hollywood Reporter to writing independently on Substack. He describes his Substack, 'The Bastard Machine,' as a modernized platform that allows him to write freely. Tim and co-host Jason Snell then delve into a Valentine's Day-themed post Tim wrote about the best depictions of marriage on television. They highlight three examples: Philip and Elizabeth from The Americans for its nuanced, forced marriage; Tony and Carmela from The Sopranos as a flawed but complex union; and Coach and Mrs. Coach from Friday Night Lights as a positive, realistic portrayal. Tim emphasizes that Friday Night Lights is more about life in a Texas town than football, noting early roles of actors like Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan. The hosts discuss Tim's 'Box Set' series on Substack, where he reviews shows episode-by-episode, such as Station Eleven, and the community engagement it fosters. They critique Peacock's interface for spoiling Olympic results, particularly in curling coverage. Jason shares how he preserved and restored Tim's 2006 interview with Stephen Colbert, which was originally split into four parts on the Chronicle's site. They reflect on Colbert's thoughtful nature, including his ability to reconcile Catholicism with rationalism. Listener letters are read, including one about using YouTube trailers for show discoveries and another praising the return of the podcast. Tim mentions watching The Afterparty on Apple TV+ and looking forward to Taika Waititi's Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max. He reiterates his desire to remain a 'civilian' viewer without screener access to maintain the Substack's focus on discovering older or overlooked shows. The episode concludes with Tim promoting his Substack and plans for future episodes.

As heard by us

A career reset opens into a funny, pointed gripe about criticism, independence, and Peacock's spoiler-prone curling replays.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell frame the hour around a professional pivot: Goodman is no longer tied to his old Hollywood Reporter introduction, is writing at the Bastard Machine on Substack, and is still very much working through television in public.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a TV-world catch-up that moves from Tim Goodman's new Substack era to Peacock's spoiler-prone Olympic curling setup and a quick old-podcast detour.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine