Downstream

Veteran TV critic Alan Sepinwall joins Jason to discuss the current state of TV criticism, the future of scripted TV, why streamers can't make sitcoms, the difference between recaps and reviews, and the best shows of the year. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off Guest Starring: Alan Sepinwall Links and Show Notes: Good TV shows mentioned: The Pitt, Ludwig, Severance, Adolescence at the top, then: Pluribus, Slow Horses, Andor, The Studio, Hacks, The Diplomat, The Lowdown, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback What's Alan Watching? Review: 'Blue Lights' isn't the Belfast equivalent of 'The Wire.' And that's okay. Why 'Brockmire' Was This Year's Best, Filthiest Comedy Surprise Series finale review: 'How I Met Your Mother' - 'Last Forever': How they conned us all Links to Sepinwall's episode-by-episode reviews for every show in his book, The Revolution Was Televised 19-2 (2014 TV series) - Wikipedia

Join Josef Adalian, West Coast editor at Vulture and author of the Buffering newsletter, as he dives into the intricacies of the TV industry. Discover why Taylor Sheridan's pivot to NBCU could reshape Paramount's future. Explore the risks of long-term deals in Hollywood and how Comcast's spending spree is changing the game. Adalian also shares insights about potential bidders for Warner Bros. Discovery and the impact of political dynamics on media mergers, making for an engaging and informative discussion.

Hulu goes worldwide, Apple drops the plus and explores a relationship with Formula 1, the Lakers get immersive, the NBA is everywhere all at once, and our TV Picks. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Passenger Princess (YouTube) Jason: Travel Man with Richard Ayoade (YouTube) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Hulu Becomes Global General Entertainment Brand on Disney+ on Oct. 8 | The Walt Disney Company Disney has big plans for Hulu - Fast Company Apple and NBCUniversal introduce the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle - Apple Apple wants “to own a sport end to end” – Six Colors Immersive live NBA games coming to Vision Pro – Six Colors NBA on X: "2025-26 NBA Season Watch Guide ✍️ The 2025-26 regular season begins Tuesday, October 21 on NBC and Peacock! https://t.co/oz69eJiJdR" / X

Josef Adalian, an entertainment journalist from Vulture, dives deep into the Jimmy Kimmel controversy and the fraught dynamics between TV networks and affiliates. He discusses Disney's strategic pause for Kimmel, the political backlash from conservatives, and the potential for this situation to serve as a deterrent against future FCC overreach. Adalian also explains how affiliate compensation works and why networks struggle to go direct-to-consumer. The conversation offers a revealing look at the complexities of modern television.

The possibility of David Ellison buying Warner Bros. Discovery to add to his collection, the threat and promise of spread-out sports rights, sponsorships that might become forbidden fruit, Netflix live boxing success, TV picks, and your letters! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: The Breakthrough (Netflix) Jason: Emmy winners Somebody Somewhere and The Pitt (HBO Max) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Relay for St. Jude

Now that David Ellison owns Paramount, what's next? Also, your letters and our TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wheel and Jeopardy and Sesame Street stream, Apple TV+ price hike, and binging "The Paper."] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Relay for St. Jude Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks Joe: Irish Blood (Acorn TV), Leanne (Netflix) Jason: Platonic (Apple TV+) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback

ESPN has left the exclusivity of the cable bundle at long last, and we break down what it all means. Also: TV Picks and your letters! (Downstream+ listeners also get: MLB's complex new TV deals, and can Jason cut the cord for real?) This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off Guest Starring: Steven Schapansky and Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Video Nasty (BBC) Steven: Old World Series (YouTube), Slow Horses (Apple TV+) Jason: Stick (Apple TV) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback

To celebrate our 100th episode, we draft streaming services! Guest Starring: Will Carroll, Steven Schapansky, and Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: Draft picks: Joe: Apple TV+ Steven: MLB.tv Will: YouTube Premium Jason: HBO Max Joe: Prime Video Steven: BritBox Will: Disney+ Jason: Hulu Joe: Acorn TV Steven: Kanopy/Hoopla Will: Netflix Jason: Paramount+ Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback

The real motivators behind CBS's cancellation of The Late Show; why the current era of late-night talk is ending; CBS makes a South Park deal; the future of PBS; why 'Pulse' was not 'The Pitt'; a Peacock price hike; and Jessica Fletcher vanishes. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Jiiiii: All your anime stream schedules in one place. Free to download, unlock your anime-watching-superpowers today! Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Joe: "Stick" (Apple TV+) Jason: James Acaster "Repertoire" (Netflix) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Stephen Colbert Fired? Why CBS Is Cancelling ‘Late Show’ ‘South Park’ Saved as Paramount Inks 5-Year Deal with Creators Trump Can Hurt PBS and NPR, But He Can’t Kill Them What is PBS Passport? : PBS Help What Netflix’s ‘Pulse’ Should Have Learned From ‘The Pitt’ Peacock Is Hiking Prices More Than It Ever Has Before ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Mysteriously Disappears From Peacock

Why American sports is so dominated by gambling content, DAZN and the Club World Cup, TNT gets spun off but may still bid for sports rights, Netflix gets into French broadcast TV, the NFL faces an existential crisis in court, and our TV picks. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks Will: Alone (History) Jason: Dark Winds (AMC+, Netflix) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback What Will TNT Sports Do After the WBD Divorce? - Puck Netflix TF1 France Deal Marks Next Step to Be New Cable TV Radio Shows - Monocle Joey Chestnut Breaks Popcorn Eating Record on Video, Eats 42 Servings in 8 Minutes Sphere Revenue Falls, MSG Networks Bankruptcy on Table