

Extra Hot Great: This Week In TV
Extra Hot Great: This Week In TV
Join Tara Ariano, Sarah D. Bunting, David T. Cole and their valued guests each week for discussion of what's new on TV plus our hall of fame roundtable segment called The Canon, listen as we appoint Winners and Losers Of The Week and of course our ultra competitive TV trivia quiz: Game Time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 16, 2020 β’ 1h 18min
333: Is Tiny Pretty Things On Point?
First-time guest Kamille joins us for a conversation about Tiny Pretty Things, Netflix's new Center Stage-with-teens ballet thriller (?), and while she watched the whole thing, neither she nor the fulltime panel thinks it's good. But aside from the wretched VO, suspect acting, unwelcome parallels to 13 Reasons Why and decided un-Frenchness of cartoon villain Lauren Holly, is TPT a good time-waster? Not to worry: we found you some definite time-wasters when we went Around The Dial with The Wilds and 12 Dates Of Christmas, panned Deliciousness, and helped you cut down that HBO-documentary backlog with a watch-skip index of recent prestige true crime. We couldn't help but wonder if Sex & The City's fourth-season premiere was the Canon's soulmate. Boots Riley and Jharrel Jerome won (for now), Ellen and Ellen lost (again), and Suley wassailed us with a TV/Christmas song Game Time. Don't let the dorm mother catch you listening to an all-new Extra Hot Great!
GUESTS
π€ Kamille Washington
TOPICS
Lead Topic: π©° Tiny Pretty Things
Around The Dial: π The Wilds
Around The Dial: π Deliciousness
Around The Dial: π 12 Dates Of Christmas
Around The Dial: πͺ HBO true-crime documentaries
The Canon: π Sex And The City
Winner & Loser: π Amazon orders a series from Boots Riley
Winner & Loser: π The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Game Time: π§ The Caroling Burnett Show
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 333 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Kamille Washington on Twitter
π¬π§ Tara's post on Pennyworth at Decider
π Sarah and Tara on the People Still Read Books podcast
π Sarah and Tara discussion Northpole on the Dave And Jeb Aren't Mean podcast
π§ The Unfriendly Black Hotties podcast
πΈ Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs on Patreon

Dec 9, 2020 β’ 1h 37min
332: Investigating The Hardy Boys
Hulu and Canada's kids' broadcaster YTV have brought the world a new adaptation of the nearly-100-year-old boy detectives Frank and Joe Hardy, and we've enlisted Adam Grosswirth to join us in discussing it! A super-sized Around The Dial takes us through Selena: The Series, Nurses, Jingle Jangle, Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square, the original '70s version of The Hardy Boys, and Gangs Of London. After Joe M. uses his Extra Credit topic to have us write a character-revealing power ballad into an otherwise un-musical show, Adam makes his pitch for the "Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair" episode of Slings & Arrows to be inducted into The Canon. We crown the week's Winner and Loser, and close out with a Game Time perfectly tailored (heh heh) to our interests. Get your flashlight and your VERY loud walkie-talkie and listen in!
GUESTS
π€ Adam Grosswirth
TOPICS
Lead Topic: π The Hardy Boys
Around The Dial: πΆ Selena: The Series
Around The Dial: π₯ Nurses
Around The Dial: π Jingle Jangle
Around The Dial: π Christmas On The Square
Around The Dial: π The Hardy Boys (1977)
Around The Dial: π¬π§ Gangs Of London
Extra Credit: π€ Once More With Feels
The Canon: πΉ Slings & Arrows S02.E04: Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair
Winner & Loser: π Vantage Point, getting a series adaptation at NBC
Winner & Loser: π CBS Sunday Morning David Sedaris
Game Time: π§ Signature Look
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 332 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Adam Grosswirth on Twitter
π₯΄ The drunk episode of Overwhelming Positivity, "Two Hundred Headless Snowman In Review"
πΆ "The Latine Delegation Has Decided Netflix's Selena: The Series Is Not Good" at Jezebel
π Tara's review of Stylish With Jenna Lyons at Primetimer
π© Tara on Kaley Cuoco in The Flight Attendant at Decider
π©βπ¦° Tara on the end of The Undoing at Dave Chen's Patreon
π Wesley Morris;s review of Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square in The New York Times
π§ Adam on Caroline And The Podcast
πͺ The 12 Days Of Best Evidence

Dec 2, 2020 β’ 1h 1min
331: War Is Hell: An All-Canon Episode
The panel is contemplating three user submissions for the Canon this week, starting with the extremely highly rated, extreeeeemely looooong series finale of MASH. Lindy makes a fascinating parallel between [waves hands vaguely] All This and the world MASH portrayed, but is the episode's status as a historical reference enough to earn it a medal of honor? Next, we're sampling a first-season Strangers With Candy episode submitted by Tim (and the second in which a chicken figures heavily). Does Amy Sedaris's satirical take on The Best Little Girl In The World -- and a solid comedic turn from one Ellen Pompeo -- have what we'd call a debater's body? Finally, Mlle. Caroline files a support ticket for The IT Crowd, which pits Matt Berry and a great PSA parody against suboptimal pacing and an intrusive laugh track. Try turning it off and then back on again: it's an all-Canon Extra Hot Great!
TOPICS
The Canon: π©Ί M*A*S*H
The Canon: βοΈ Strangers With Candy
The Canon: π» The IT Crowd
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 331 page on ExtraHotGreat.com

Nov 25, 2020 β’ 1h 30min
330: Saying A Final Farewell To Supernatural
After 15 seasons on two networks, Supernatural has finally hunted its last monster, and our French friend Caroline Lefloch is joining us to bury the series finale in an unmarked, shallow grave. Around The Dial takes us through I Hate Suzie, Peacock's sequel to Saved By The Bell, Agatha Christie's Poirot, and new looks at the D.B. Cooper case in both History's Greatest Mysteries and HBO's The Mystery Of D.B. Cooper. Kimberly challenges us to Fleabag-enize a show by adding a hot clergy person to it; then it's on to Guy's submission of the Perfect Strangers episode "Just Desserts" for induction into The Canon. Finally, after crowning the week's Winner and Loser, we end on a Game Time with a little Gallic flair. Load up the vintage Impala and join us!
GUESTS
π€ Caroline Lefloch
TOPICS
Lead Topic: π» Supernatural
Around The Dial: π‘ I Hate Suzie
Around The Dial: βοΈ Saved By The Bell (2020)
Around The Dial: π₯Έ Agatha Christie's Poirot
Around The Dial: π History's Greatest Mysteries
Around The Dial: πͺ The Mystery Of D.B. Cooper
Extra Credit: π€ Fleabag Redux
The Canon: π¨βπ³ Perfect Strangers S03.E16: Just Desserts
Winner & Loser: π Nick Offerman
Winner & Loser: π The Drew Barrymore Show
Game Time: π§ How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 330 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π· "Supernatural: COVID May Be To Blame for a Lackluster Finale" on VanityFair.com
π΄ Again With This on Patreon
π§ Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs
πΆ "Nick Offerman's Woodshop Is Crafting Sustainable Solutions To Homelessness In LA" on Uproxx

Nov 18, 2020 β’ 1h 39min
329: (Baby-)Sitting With Becoming You
It might not be Olivia Colman's highest-profile streaming series this week, but Apple TV+'s Becoming You, which explores how the first 2000 days of our lives shape our futures, is perfectly on-brand: expensive, gorgeously shot, and not quiiiiite essential. Omar returns to the guest chair to talk about the series' limited concept of diversity; whether the show made him miss his kids' first years; and what a visual subtweet of Brooklyn parents looks like. After that, we moved on to Colman's other big gig in Around The Dial as Tara talked about The Crown (plus Candy Land, and alas, there's no crossover event there...yet) before the rest of us made stops at The Animal Rescue Show and SVU's odious season premiere. Suley asked us to script a Jack McCoy rant for Extra Credit, and then Tara Talked To Us about a first-season Joe Pera Talks To You episode about The Who ("second base!"). Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer won; COVID production shutdowns lost; and we curled up with cozy murders (and gardening ghosts) in Game Time. Insert your own "baby bunting" joke here: it's an all-new Extra Hot Great!
GUESTS
π€ Omar Gallaga
TOPICS
Lead Topic: πΆ Becoming You
Around The Dial: π The Crown
Around The Dial: π Candy Land
Around The Dial: πΎ The Animal Rescue Show
Around The Dial: π¨ Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Extra Credit: π€ Indignant Jack McCoy
The Canon: π² Joe Pera Talks With You
Winner & Loser: π Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammar teaming for a new sitcom
Winner & Loser: π More covid shutdowns
Game Time: π§ Revenge Of The Cozy Mysteries
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 329 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Omar Gallaga on Twitter
π Tara's We Are The Champions review at Primetimer
π Omar's Steve TreviΓ±o interview at Pulso
π Omar's TreviΓ±o piece at Book And Film Globe
π» SteveTrevino.com
π§ John Ramos joins the Quaid In Full podcast for Suspect

Nov 11, 2020 β’ 1h 16min
328: Celebrating Christmastime In The City With Dash & Lily
Perhaps you feel the 2020 holiday season should start a little earlier than may be strictly traditional? So does Netflix, as it brings us all Dash & Lily, in which a pair of adorable teens who've never met use a red notebook to challenge each other to dares all over New York City. Internet Boyfriend taxonomist Esther Zuckerman jumps over from Thrillist to talk about it! Around The Dial takes us through A Teacher, B Positive, Ted Lasso, The Reagans, and the maddening episode numbering of Disney+. Andrea pitches the Barry episode "ronny/lily" for induction into The Canon. Then after naming the week's Winner and Loser, it's on to a Game Time that you should thank for its service. Make yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate and join us!
GUESTS
π€ Esther Zuckerman
TOPICS
Lead Topic: π Dash & Lily
Around The Dial: βοΈ A Teacher
Around The Dial: π©Έ B Positive
Around The Dial: β½οΈ Ted Lasso
Around The Dial: πΊπΈ The Reagans
Lead Topic: β¨ Disney+'s episode numbering
The Canon: π Barry S02.E05: ronny/lily
Winner & Loser: π Love Life William Jackson Harper
Winner & Loser: π Brian Austin Green
Game Time: π§ Support The TV Troops
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 328 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Esther Zuckerman on Twitter
π» Esther's Dash & Lily review at Thrillist
π₯ Tara on Mom at Primetimer
π¬π§ Tara on Hugh Laurie at Primetimer
π Esther's book, A Field Guide To Internet Boyfriends
π Kristen Stewart excerpt from Esther's book, at The Daily Beast
π Keanu Reeves excerpt at Thrillist
πΈ Harry Styles excerpt at Billboard
π» Esther at Thrillist
πͺ Best Evidence Book Club
π "Fields Market: One Of LA's Hottest Filming Locations" in Southern California Life magazine

Nov 4, 2020 β’ 1h 8min
327: The Extra Hot Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show
EHG's Dave and Game Time veteran Dan Cassino along with host Taylor Cole welcome Tara, Sarah and Mark Blankenship for a special crossover episode with The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show! Tara, Sarah and Mark battle it out in TV trivia modelled after a typical Extra Hot Great episode! We'll open with a new release for the week, go Around the Dial with a game about shows that change networks, and play The Canon where our contestants must separate great works of literature from TV favorites. It all comes down to a contentious lightning round to determine the Winner and Losers of the week!
GUESTS
π€ Dan Cassino
π€ Taylor Cole
π€ Mark Blankenship
TOPICS
Game Time: π§ The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show crossover
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 327 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Mark Blankenship on Twitter
π¦ Dan Cassino on Twitter
π¦ Taylor Cole on Twitter
π§ The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show podcast

Oct 28, 2020 β’ 1h 57min
326: Unpacking The Undoing or Too Many Butterflies
What if Big Little Lies, but in New York City and with no point? That's kind of how Emily and the regulars all felt about The Undoing, the latest Nicole Kidman-David E. Kelley collaboration for HBO; we admired the workmanship, while not really understanding what sets it apart from BLL (besides the quality of the wigs), or buying Kidman and Hugh Grant's chemistry. Will any of us be successfully cliff-hung into watching all six episodes? Later, we investigated Around The Dial with stops at Archer, the new Supermarket Sweep, Revolutionary Girl Utena, The Morning Show, City So Real, and The Queen's Gambit, before location-scouting "Domestic Survivor" for Don's Extra Credit. Emily hoped the signal-to-noise ratio of a fourth-season Halt And Catch Fire episode would be good enough to connect it to the Canon. Stath Lets Flats won, Quibi lost, and Game Time proved a severe insult to the brain (and other things). Quick, look hunted! It's an all-new Extra Hot Great.
GUESTS
π€ Emily Yoshida
TOPICS
Lead Topic: πͺ The Undoing
Around The Dial: πΉ Archer
Around The Dial: π Supermarket Sweep
Around The Dial: π§ Revolutionary Girl Utena
Around The Dial: π The Morning Show
Around The Dial: π City So Real
Extra Credit: π€ Domestic Survivor
The Canon: πΎ Halt And Catch Fire
Winner & Loser: π Stath Lets Flats
Winner & Loser: π Quibi
Game Time: π§ A Game For Hoopleheads
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 326 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Emily Yoshida on Twitter
π Emily's Hugh Grant profile from when he was shooting The Undoing
π§Ί Tara on the premiere of The Conners vs. other quarantine-era shows, at Primetimer
π§ The Film Cast (fka Slashfilmcast)
π The Night Call podcast
πͺ Kartemquin best bets on Best Evidence

Oct 21, 2020 β’ 1h 28min
325: Are We Living For Someone Has To Die?
Netflix's new import is a miniseries set in Franco-era Spain and revolving around a just-returned college grad and his Mexican ballerino friend. How does LΓ‘zaro's arrival tear the community apart (with lust)? Will Ellis joins us to talk about it! Around The Dial takes us through Social Distance, The Conners, Selling Sunset, Australia's Next Top Model, and HBO's A West Wing Special. Will presents Naomi Campbell's visit to The Tyra Banks Show for induction to The Canon; then after naming the week's Winner and Loser, we close things up with a Game Time that has spirit(s). Settle into your favorite wing chair at the Shooting Club and join us!
GUESTS
π€ Will Ellis
TOPICS
Lead Topic: πͺπΈ Someone Has To Die
Around The Dial: π· Social Distance
Around The Dial: π§Ί The Conners
Around The Dial: π‘ Selling Sunset
Around The Dial: π¦πΊ Australia's Next Top Model
Around The Dial: π³ The West Wing
The Canon: π The Tyra Banks Show
Winner & Loser: π Paramount Plus
Winner & Loser: π Hubie Halloween Alaina Pinto
Game Time: π§ Bar Some
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 325 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Will Ellis on Twitter
π· Kathryn VanArendonk's review of Social Distance at Vulture
π¨π¦ Tara on Baroness von Sketch Show at Primetimer
π΅οΈββοΈ Sarah on Unsolved Mysteries at Primetimer
π The Tyra Banks Show S01.E50 on YouTube
π Sarah Hagi on Naomi Campbell's appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, at Zora

Oct 14, 2020 β’ 1h 32min
324: The Right Stuff May Not Have...Well, You Know
Disney+ and NatGeo decided to remake beloved '80s Mercury-astronauts epic (and earlier Tom Wolfe book) The Right Stuff as a series...and Adam Moussa decided to talk about it with us, a choice he may regret, because the four of us struggled to care. We struggled even to tell various astronauts apart, even, when we weren't wondering why this needed to be made, whether we should recommend For All Mankind instead, and where various actors would be in the Twink Taxonomy. Then we splashed down into Around The Dial with stops at Connecting, The Good Wife, Dark Side Of The Ring, and Rise Of Empires: Ottoman, we ordered some bangers and Smash with a Canon presentation on RuPaul's Drag Race UK. AppleTV+ won, Max Ehrich was a giant loser, and we were absolutely horrified by the wordplay in Game Time. Strap in to the vomit comet: it's an all-new Extra Hot Great!
GUESTS
π€ Adam Moussa
TOPICS
Lead Topic: π¨βπ The Right Stuff
Around The Dial: π· Connecting
Around The Dial: βοΈ The Good Wife
Around The Dial: π¨βπ€ Dark Side Of The Ring
Around The Dial: π Rise Of Empires: Ottoman
The Canon: π RuPaul's Drag Race UK S01.E05: Girl Groups
Winner & Loser: π AppleTV+
Winner & Loser: π Under The Dome Max Ehrich
Game Time: π§ Terrorvision
NOTES
π Full episode notes can be found on the episode 324 page on ExtraHotGreat.com
π¦ Adam Moussa on Twitter
π¨βπ The Right Stuff movie on the Quaid In Full podcast
π Tara's review of The Right Stuff at Primetimer
π½ Adam at Eater
π Eater's Guide To The World on Hulu