Taking It Down

After an overview of the podcast (0:02) and a preview of this episode (0:27), Blaine welcomes Adam and Donovan to the show (1:05). This week, they begin the non-spoiler section with broad thoughts on how 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' serves as a satirical mirror of American culture (1:48). After that, they discuss how 'Blue Lights' stays intelligent and captivating with its fresh perspective (14:28). In the spoiler section, Blaine and Donovan break down the specifics of what made 'It's Always Sunny...' a return to form, particularly the finale (24:06). They then discuss - with spoilers - the evolving production quality of 'Blue Lights' for its finale of season one and its beginning of season two; plus, its deeper storytelling (35:49). For more, visit The Alabama Take website with this link.To sign up for the site's newsletter, visit the link here.To help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, consider making a donation of any size with the link here.

This week's discussion kicks off with the recent debacle surrounding the ESPN app's rollout, raising questions about the ever-evolving landscape of streaming services (0:59). Blaine and Donovan express their frustration with the lack of clarity in ESPN's marketing and ponder the implications of a subscription-based model that seems to be inadvertently recreating cable television. They then shift gears in the non-spoiler section to explore the gritty British series 'Blue Lights,' now available on HBO Max, which follows probationary police officers navigating the complexities of law enforcement in Belfast (7:59). They offer a teaser on 'Alien: Earth' from FX and Hulu, hinting at its intriguing premise (17:41). In spoilers, it's a break down of episodes three, four, and five of the first season of 'Blue Lights' and how the show deals with the rules (23:49). For more, visit The Alabama Take website with this link.To sign up for the site's newsletter, visit the link here. To help both the podcast and The Alabama T

This Tuesday, after host Blaine gives a brief overview (0:02), Adam and Donovan join to give some cursory thoughts into the gripping BritBox series 'Blue Lights,' which is also available on HBO Max (1:02). They offer ideas on how the show subverts expectations. Also in the non-spoiler section which begins each episode, the hosts tease upcoming discussions about 'Alien: Earth' from FX/Hulu (8:25). In spoilers, all three have ideas on the first three episodes of 'Blue Lights' and how it centers on fear in modern Northern Ireland (13:03). For more, visit The Alabama Take website with this link. For the newsletter mentioned, visit the link here. To help with the podcast and The Alabama Take site, make a small donation here.

This week, Blaine starts with an overview of the entire podcast (0:05) and what to expect before giving a rundown of the weekly episode (0:54). When joined by Donovan and Adam, Adam recounts his visit to the U.K., which included seeing Oasis live with some friends (1:44). For non-spoilers, the hosts talk about 'King of the Hill' and its return on Hulu (8:01), the Netflix sports documentary 'SEC Football: Any Given Saturday' (19:10), and the Britbox series 'Blue Lights' comes to HBO Max (22:51). In the spoiler section, the hosts discuss what makes 'King of the Hill' a staple of TV and good for these times, including who Hank Hill votes for (28:22). They talk about what's lacking thus far in 'SEC Football: Any Given Saturday,' but it is someone who could be coming (49:53). Lastly, Blaine and Donovan unpack the hints of the first episode of 'Blue Lights' (56:10). For more, visit the link here for The Alabama Take. To donate to keep the website and podcast afloat, you can visit here. For the newsletter mentioned

This week in the TV and streaming podcast, Blaine gives an overview (0:02) before he and Donovan discuss how politics has invaded television (1:04) with the funding for PBS (1:06). The question is: does that matter (1:08)?The other big political and TV news came from Colbert this week who had a shocking announcement (6:37). The hosts dissect how Netflix got one release date perfect (12:09) before transitioning into what could be FX's big franchise hit (13:24). In non-spoilers, they discuss why 'Stick' continues its improvement (16:26) and how 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' produced one of its best episodes in years (18:56). For spoilers, the guys talk about the tactics of solid TV from 'Stick' (20:46) and the cultural touchstones in 'It's Always Sunny...' this week (30:30). The two end the show with an idea for next week (39:15). If you enjoy the podcast or the happenings on The Alabama Take, we encourage you to help with the link here. If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter and not rely on an algori

Blaine begins the episode with a podcast overview and the generalities of this week's episode (0:02). Once Donovan joins, they discuss the return of the longest-running TV show, 'It's Always Sunny In Philadephia' and determine how its sustained its longevity (3:15). From there, they have brief discussion on the Apple TV+ series 'Stick' and its most recent episode (11:14). To conclude the non-spoiler segment, they give thought to 'The Bear' as a whole season (14:42). After a short break, it's time to discuss the ridiculous plot points of both 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' and 'Abbott Elementary,' as the gang end their time there (14:57). Both hosts agree that the Apple TV+ 'Stick' had its best episode thus far, and they explain why (32:38). Finally, it's the last four episodes of the fourth season of 'The Bear' (35:38) Was it better than season three? Were problems solved? All that, and more on this week's Taking It Down episode. For more, visit the link that's provided here to go to The Alabama Take: h

Weekly host Blaine welcomes and gives an overview for the episode to begin (0:02). Once Donovan and Adam join, Blaine describes how he managed to miss the last few episodes of 'The Bear' and it has everything to do with the Disney+ series 'Andor' (2:08). Also in the non-spoiler section, the guys have an email on 'Your Friends & Neighbors' on Apple TV+ (7:42), they discuss how 'Stick' is addressing all of their concerns (9:10), and somehow the non-spoiler talk about 'The Bear' turns into a treatise on smoking (11:38). After the break, they detail how 'Stick' became even better (16:13) and how 'The Bear' needed season three for the current season four (35:36). For more, visit The Alabama Take website with this link. To help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, feel free to make a small donation with the link here.

This week on Taking It Down, Blaine begins with a welcome and an overview of the episode (0:02) before welcoming Adam and Donovan to discuss the big Bruce Springsteen music release which coincides with the trailer for his own biopic (1:03). Beginning the non-spoiler section properly, Blaine gives a sense of 'Smoke' from Apple TV+ and if it may be worth the time (6:09) before mentioning this week's episode of 'Stick' (10:08). All of the hosts give broad ideas on this current season of 'The Bear,' which aired its fourth season this weekend continuing to do so with the Netflix model (11:49). In the spoiler section, the crew discuss the questions and answers of the first three episodes of the fourth season of 'The Bear' (21:15). For more, visit the website The Alabama Take at this link. To help with both the site and the podcast, visit this link to make a donation.

This week, Blaine has a special guest to give the overview of the weekly episode (0:02) before he brings in co-hosts Adam and Donovan. Adam finally watched an episode of 'Your Friends and Neighbors' on Apple TV+ and he keeps it going with non-spoiler ideas on if he'll continue the series (0:49). Also in the non-spoiler section is the other Apple TV+ show of the week with 'Stick,' which takes us into our golf adventures (5:35). Blaine and Donovan discuss broad ideas on if 'Dept. Q' succeeded its goal (12:58). In the spoilers, it's back to 'Stick' and why it can't find balanced despite being a fun show (16:58). Finally, with all of the series now seen, Blaine and Donovan determine if the whole mystery was ever worth it (38:20). Help the podcast! Show you care and enjoy! Here's a link to make a donation. A lot more appears on The Alabama Take every week. Here is a link to see the more of it.

This week, Donovan begins the non-spoiler section with a brief review of 'The Phoenician Scheme,' Wes Anderson's latest (1:11). Then Blaine and Donovan discuss some non-spoiler thoughts on 'Stick' and where it is on Apple TV+ (6:14). Donovan gives his overview of 'Andor,' the Star Wars spinoff, now that it is complete (8:14). Finally to end the non-spoiler segment, Blaine and Donovan discuss the dark world of 'Dept. Q' (12:25). After the break, it's only 'Dept. Q' on Netflix and the focus is where it lands as far as crime thrillers go: does it go beyond the genre (19:28)?For The Alabama Take on YouTube, visit this link. To support the podcast and the website costs, donate with this link.

Blaine begins the episode with a welcome and overview (0:02) before he offers Adam and Donovan a recommendation and a nod to Apple TV's 'Stick,' featuring Owen Wilson, which has a surprising potential to charm us all—if it can manage to steer clear of its own sand traps (1:04). From there and still in the non-spoiler section, Blaine and Donovan take a hard look at FX’s 'Adults,' a show that’s trying to capture an essence (3:37). Still in non-spoilers, all three hosts round it out with 'Bono: Songs of Surrender,' a documentary that goes beyond mere fanfare (7:07). In the spoiler segment after the break, Blaine and Donovan get into the specifics of what makes 'Adults' fail miserably (15:53) as well as what allows for 'Bono: Songs of Surrender' soar above mere U2 history (28:18). For the U2 video referenced at the end of the episode, visit the link here. For more from The Alabama Take and its podcasts, visit the home site with this link. To help the podcast with financial issues, please donate to this site.

Blaine and his sidekick begin with an announcement about the home site The Alabama Take (0:01) before getting into what the episode covers for the week (0:45). Once Adam and Donovan join, Blaine breaks down some things about Todd Chrisley (1:26) before they briefly discuss the new Wes Anderson trailer (4:09) and theater expectations gone wrong (6:27). From there, it's the usual non-spoiler section where Blaine broadly explains how 'Duster' goes sideways (8:51), an overview of this season of 'Hacks' on Max (11:03), general feelings on the season of '100 Foot Wave' (16:19), and the overall thoughts of 'The Last of Us' (19:20). In the spoiler section, Adam and Donovan break down 'Hacks' (21:34). Blaine and Adam discuss the profundities of '100 Foot Wave' (36:03). And finally, Donovan and Blaine try to determine if 'The Last of Us' ends fairly (53:30). For more, visit the website The Alabama Take linked here. To help the podcast, donate any amount with the Buy Me a Coffee link here. For t-shirts and more, visit

Blaine begins the episode with a quick welcome before offering an overview of the episode's discussions (0:01). Once Adam and Donovan join the podcast, the three say hello to some specific listeners (1:16). They then have a brief tangent on celebrity deaths prompted by the recent passing of George Wendt (5:13). From there, they run down a list of possible streaming television shows that could be worth your time (8:36). Continuing the non-spoiler section, they broadly discuss 'The Studio' and its completion on Apple TV+ (24:21) as well as the season thus far of HBO's 'The Last of Us' (27:51). In the spoiler section, the hosts break down why 'The Studio' works so well as a deeper comedy (30:39) and how the thematic shift in 'The Last of Us' may be more natural than they realized (51:51). For more, visit the website link to The Alabama Take. To donate to the site or the podcast, visit the link here to Buy Me a Coffee.

Blaine, Adam, and Donovan reunite after a couple of weeks away from the microphones. First, Blaine welcomes listeners and discusses how listeners can now join The Alabama Take site (0:02). Adam and Donovan rave about The Alabama Take's newsletter (1:33) before Blaine points to Adam's talents and how not only is he booming but how listeners can find him beyond the podcast (3:36). Then the podcast gets into the TV and streaming, sort of: to begin with no spoilers, Adam explains why the film 'Sinners' could be a topic for next week as well as why people need to watch it (4:53). They also discuss '100 Foot Wave' and its return to HBO (8:36), 'The Studio' on Apple TV+ (13:45), and 'The Last of Us' and its new season in the non-spoiler section (17:53). In the spoiler section, the three hosts discuss details on 'The Studio' (20:13) and how it isn't just 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' as well as how 'The Last of Us' nearly had them bailing on the show (36:15). For more from the podcast, visit The Alabama Take website and bec

Blaine, Adam, and Donovan gather together again before a week off. As always, the episode begins with a section devoted to non-spoilers: Blaine offers a welcome and some episode notes for the week (0:02). After Adam and Donovan join, the three discuss the deluge of television choices that seem high quality and how you could easily see Adam in person in a few months (2:13). Though 'Black Mirror' dropped a new season this weekend, the hosts ponder if its time has come and gone (4:09). Blaine asks Donovan about the lingering images of 'Adolescence' without spoilers as well as the news about it being a part of education (5:46). In a funny moment, Adam admits that the new Apple TV+ show 'The Studio' fills him with anxiety (8:53). Donovan and Adam give ideas on why they enjoy 'Hacks' on Max so much as it returns for its new season (12:49). It's an easy sell, but Blaine hooks the two co-hosts on the other new Apple TV+ series, 'Your Friends and Neighbors,' starring Jon Hamm (16:57). Lastly in the opening segment,

We welcome people who listen as we normally do (0:02). We give the contents of this episode (1:06). For this special Thursday episode, it's almost all of Netflix's 'Adolescence' as it is the only series we cover -- that is, if you'll forgive some talk about where '30 Rock' lands as a comedy (2:05)As far as the Netflix, four-part miniseries has import in each scene. We start with no spoilers about the series (5:22) before getting into spoilers for the second, third, and forth episode of the daring series (10:33)

This week, Taking It Down begins with a welcome and how to help if you enjoy the episode (0:01). Also in the introduction is an overview of what the episode covers (1:38). From there, Blaine begins the non-spoiler section to drop in for a brief thought on the new Apple TV+ show 'The Studio' (2:21). The podcast moves into a non-spoiler presentation of the Hulu sensation 'Good American Family,' a series that due to self-awareness starts its early season incredibly well (3:28). Without spoilers, the guys offer some interesting factoids about the HBO hit 'The White Lotus' (9:35). In the spoiler half, tensions are running high in 'The White Lotus' and its penultimate episode, but it's a season that may be asking its best questions yet (14:51). To donate to the site and podcast, visit the link here. For more, visit The Alabama Take with the link here.

This week on Taking It Down, host Blaine begins with a welcome and how listeners can help the podcast (0:01). Once co-host Adam joins, the podcast begins its non-spoiler section as the two hosts question where Donovan is (1:28) before quickly getting into news about 'The Pitt' on Max and what that news tells us about TV (1:59).Also in non-spoilers is their conversation about the new Apple TV+ series 'The Studio' with Seth Rogen and if listeners should watch it (10:20). Before the break, they also discuss some non-spoilers on the sixth episode of the HBO show 'The White Lotus' (13:52). After the break, it's time to dig into the spoilers. This week, it's only the sixth episode of 'The White Lotus,' which provides plenty of material as Blaine and Adam note its tantalizing tone (17:30). To donate to the podcast and home site, use this link for Stripe or this link for Buy Me a Coffee. Any help is much appreciated! For more from the site, visit this link for The Alabama Take.

It's an extra episode this week, as we discuss the Netflix' series, 'Adolescence,' a show that's been being lauded by many. After a short welcome and a method for our audience to help the podcast if they would like (0:01), we briefly discuss some TV of late (2:15). Then we break down some of the buzz surrounding 'Adolescence' in the non-spoiler section (3:03). After the break, we discuss what makes 'Adolescence' get so much praise. For more from us and our family of podcasts, visit The Alabama Take. If you'd like to help the podcast, visit our link to Buy Me a Coffee where you can donate any amount you would like.

This week, we dive deep into emotional waters of our podcast as we first dedicate the episode to the memory of Lauren Beck, a vibrant young writer whose spirit and words brightened our community (0:01). To begin, we touch base on 'Dope Thief' from Apple TV+ and its third episode, but it's covered in the non-spoiler section for those who are still deciding about the series (3:14). Also in non-spoilers, we cover quick thoughts on 'The White Lotus' and its fifth episode (04:48) and 'Severance,' with its final episode of the season (7:23). After the break, 'The White Lotus' gives us plenty to discuss about emotions, resentments, and revelations in the fifth episode (10:23. With 'Severance,' it's even more as we reflect humor, heartbreak, and the season as a whole (31:06). If you like what you hear and want more, there's always The Alabama Take site. You can also donate here with Stripe or here with Buy Me a Coffee to ensure the site and podcasts continue.