Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Flightless Bird: Top TV Episodes

Episode Date: June 11, 2024

In this week’s Flightless Bird, Monica, David and Rob discuss their favourite (mostly American) TV shows. Because occasionally on Flightless Bird, we break from the usual format and do something a little bit different. You saw that with Flights of Fancy about a month ago, where we got your expert insights into very American things - and also with American Gods, where we focus on an American legend. And today, we’re doing another new thing that we’ll do from time to time: a Top 10 List. David, Rob and Monica each bring their 3 favourite shows to the table - as well as a runner up (.33). Combined - a magical top 10 list! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm David Farrier and New Zealand are accidentally marooned in America and I want to figure out what makes this country tick. Now occasionally on Flightless Bird we break from the usual format and do something a little bit different. You saw that with Flights of Fantasy about a month ago where we got your expert insights into very American things like that dolphin and seal trainer for the Navy. And also with American Gods where we focus on an American legend. So today we're doing another new thing that we'll do from time to time when

we feel like it. It's a top 10 list. It's basically a fun way for us to explore certain American topics that fit neatly into a list form like this episode, our top 10 American TV show episodes. There isn't much more to explain really, so get ready to figure out what your favourite TV episodes are, compare them with ours, and let's get on with it, because this is the top 10 American TV show episodes episode. Oh and a quick note, because in this episode we're playing our favourite moments from our favourite TV episodes, there will be some spoilers here. If there's a show we stumble on that you don't want spoiled, just use the skip button.

In saying that, most of these shows have been out for ages, some of them for decades, so hopefully you've already seen them, and this episode simply encourages you to have a big re-watch session. Well, well, well. Well, well, well. Well, well, well. I'm thrilled. I'm really excited about this. You are excited. We're doing something a little bit different.

We are going to do a top 10 episode and occasionally we'll do these where we break down our top 10 American things. And this week. What are we doing? We're doing our top 10 favorite American TV episodes, not shows, but specific episodes that we rate as being the one. Now, because there's three of us, we've broken this up in a slightly unusual way. We're each bringing our top three episodes to the table, plus a little

bonus third. Yeah. An honorable mention. An honorable mention. I want to just give a little backstory. Some episodes ago, you did a true crime episode and in it, you listed your favorite documentaries and that sparked this idea because that was really fun hearing that list. It was really fun and it sparked other people to talk about what was on their list. I think also people just love a good listicle.

I sure do. So it made us think, oh, maybe we should do some more lists like this that are sort of American-esque. I have made a fatal flaw. I made a mistake. One of mine, but I refuse to kick it off the list, is not American. Okay. Was it made by Americans maybe, or made in America?

No. I had said that to David too yesterday because my third, I went through like three that were not American. Oh really? And then had to go back and pick. It's interesting to look at what shows come to mind and which ones are American and which ones are not. That's sort of an interesting thought experiment as well.

I played this game with my friends for years. This is a tale as old classic and every time I play it with people I come up with new ones like I forget and it's so it's a fun game and it could go on for quite a long time. And I think it's one thing to have your top three or your top 10 or whatever shows but to narrow it down to an episode is also a really difficult thing. And it's a weird assignment as well because we never really talked about this, but are we picking episodes that are just our favorites?

Are the episodes that we would want to show to a friend to get them into that show? How did you approach narrowing down what the episode or the show would be? I approached as my personal favorites that I think from tops to bots is incredible. Right. Okay. But I didn't do prestige. Obviously, I could pick red. You're not trying to be cool. You're not trying to be cool.

Or the suitcase on Mad Men, which is an incredible episode of TV. I've never seen Mad Men. Oh my God. That's such a good episode of TV, but I didn't pick it. I'm like, we all know those. I went more personal. You, this is you. No, this is great.

And I think we can all learn about each other. And I'm also super curious because we don't know what each other's episodes are. I know. If there's any crossover. Me too. Let's go one at a time. I think you kick off. Are we doing one one at a time?

So number one, number one, number one. Are we ranking or are we? I've ranked mine, but we don't really have to. Okay. I don't have mine ranked, but I can rank. No, it's not ranked then. OK, let's just go. OK. I agree with you. I think we should circle it. Circle it. OK, do you want to kick it off, Monica?

I'm so nervous. Plug her in. I can plug her in. OK. I feel really nervous about this for some reason. I don't know why. I know there's no stakes. Are you worried how we'll react or do you feel we're going to see you? We see the core of what Monica loves.

I think it's that. Like I feel really vulnerable. No, I get it. I completely understand. This is like the ultimate thing where maybe this is only in my world, but you're at a certain level, like at the end of a night and everyone's a bit drunk and you put on YouTube to show people clips and there's a certain dread

when someone isn't getting it and you're like, oh no, I picked the wrong clip. And you guys are gonna feel like you have to be like, yeah, that's good. No, honesty is the name of the game. Okay. But also kindness. So don't worry, we're not going to tear into things.

Why don't I start with the non-American show? Because if I was ranking, this is my number one. Okay. Okay, let's do it. Okay. Well, do you guys have any guesses? I would say Bridgerton maybe? No, but that's a good guess.

What's the other one that's like Bridgerton? The Crown. The Crown, the Crown is what I think it is. Oh, that's a great guess. I do love that show. Now, do you have a guess? I have no idea where this is going. I don't really know a lot about your TV watching habits.

There's a part of me that wants to just play audio so that you guys can get it. Guess what it is? Or yeah, like kind of guess. Should we try it? Let's try it. Okay, ready? It's the whole episode. This is the scene. This is my favorite scene. You nailed it.

Oh, it's Lee Bag. Yeah, it is. Oh, yeah, what a show. What a fucking show. That was one of mine that I replaced. Okay, well, I'm going to play it. It's kind of long, but oh well. No, no, it's sitting there.

Do you want to watch it now that you know it? Oh, the hot priest. They always lie. It'll magically come in a minute. Yeah. They're really into each other, those two. It's nice. They really pulled it off. Was your sister okay? She seemed better on edge. She wanted to do her work thing.

Wow. Dedicated. Addicted. It's God, isn't it? Yeah. Wow. Damn. You know the worst thing is that I love you.

I love you. And then I don't... No, let's just leave that out there just for a second on its own. I love you. That's so sad. This is the worst. Let's get together. It'll pass.

Oh. This bus is not magically coming. I think I'll walk. Okay. See you Sunday. I'm joking you're never ever allowed in my church again. I love you too. Okay. Oh And now any listeners who are familiar with Fleabag will be crying their little hearts out right now.

I have never cried so hard in a show than when I saw that for the first time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Unrequited love, right? When he says that pass, you decide. It's so devastating. I have a little pin. It's a heart. It's two pieces. And on one side says, I love you.

On the other side, it says it'll pass. Oh, this is the same genre on the other side it says it'll pass. Oh. This is the same genre, the same thought behind past lives, which is why it also was a puddle in that movie. Just sometimes it just can't work out. Yeah, and on paper it should, or emotionally it should, but it's just not. And it's, yeah, it's the worst.

And I think that perfectly captures that. You're a fan of the episode as well, right Rob? Yeah, I was gonna pick episode one of that season where you first meet Andrew Scott as the priest. And they're at that crazy dinner with the family. Yeah, what a show. We're gonna spoil a lot of these shows. Definitely.

But they've also, they've been out for a long time. And I'd say this is like a good excuse to revisit this stuff. Yeah. God, well look, as a non-American show, it's really good. they've been out for a long time. And I'd say this is like a good excuse to revisit this stuff. Yeah. God, well look, as a non-American show, it's really good. I can't not include it! Yeah, it's too good. I think one of my favourite scenes ever is from the pilot of that where she's masturbating

to an Obama speech and her boyfriend catches him. Also, yeah, the show is also so funny, and so when it hits with those emotional moments, it's like a big gut punch. It is, it is. And you're a hot priest. Hot priest, baby. OK, now your turn. OK. Now, OK, David, you texted us yesterday saying that you started bawling.

Yeah, no, I did. I cried a lot. So I'm not going to play what made me cry until the end. That's my last one. Oh, OK. OK. We'll get to that. OK. I'm going to start with an episode of The X-Files, which is a show that in New Zealand was on TV at about 830 at night.

I'd either stay up really late and watch it or I'd tape it on the VHS player and then get up early the next day before school and watch it. I loved the adventures of Mulder and Scully, and I love the X-Files. It was almost part of my personality as a kid. And there's one episode in particular called Home and I'm just gonna play you. I found the trailer for it that originally aired. to stay away from this Friday. You'll understand why. This is our home. And this is the way it's going to stay. Brand new X-Files Friday.

So the X-Files, if you haven't watched it, can you tell us about what happened? Oh, absolutely. So the X-Files was one of the first shows that had individual bottle episodes, but then it had this overall arc throughout the entire thing. It was one of the first shows to do that. So Home was from season four, episode two, and it's known as being the scariest X-Files episodes of all time. And so it shocked the executives, kind of blew their mind. And it's basically about a family of inbred Americans who go out on big killing sprees. It was just a very intense show.

I found a piece that was written about it at the time. Here's a fun Halloween trick. Mention the Peacock family to an unsuspecting X-Files fan and enjoy the time. Here s a fun Halloween trick, mention the Peacock family to an unsuspecting X-Files fan and enjoy the reaction. It s likely to be some combination of a shudder, a squeal, and a groan, a mix of delight and revulsion. The Peacocks are at the centre of Home, an X-Files episode that originally aired in 96. Viewers complained about the tale, about the murderous and bred clan, that it was was too disturbing and network executives apparently agreed. When Home appeared later on the cable channel FX, it was never again broadcast on Fox save for one special Halloween airing in 1999. The episode has since become a fixture

on various scariest shows ever lists and endures as one of the most beloved in the series' history. It's available on Netflix and Hulu. If you haven't seen it, just know it's very, very disturbing. Whoa, and is it in today's world, now that we've seen so much fuck, everything's crazy? I rewatched it recently and it's still really, really dark. Really? I'm not gonna go into the reasons why, but it does certain things in the storytelling

that just hit really hard. And it's just incredibly bleak and really, really sad. They basically keep their inbred mother under the bed, and they use her to breed with. And the series opens with their mother giving birth to a baby that is then buried under a kid's baseball field, and the episode opens with the kid scuffing the dirt off the base that he's on for him to bat. I've never played baseball, I don't know if I'm using the right words here, but I think I am.

And as he scuffs, he scuffs into the baby's head that's been buried under. It's unbelievably big. And this was on Fox, this was on network TV. We're not talking HBO. And so Fox Mulder and Dana Scully go to investigate what's going on with his Peacock family. It's cut in a way that's really disturbing. The music's really disturbing. I found another bit of essay that I thought captured the Americana of it all as well. Aside from the scares, Home functions as a sort of dark mirror onto

vintage Americana, imagining a sinister underbelly so insular to small towns, motherhood and family, classic Cadillacs, and even Johnny Marthus. Oh, I don't know who that is, but I'm going to embarrass myself here. Wow, that does sound intense. It's a really intense, scary episode of TV, and I think it's on Disney plus now because all the Fox shows went on there, so it sits alongside your favourite Disney films. Thanks for Calvin to accidentally put that one on.

Oh my god. The X-Files is also a really fun rewatch because Vince Gilligan was one of the writers on X-Files, he went on to make Breaking Bad. All these amazing actors appear in X-Files, they appear in other places later. Some of these big actors, they had their like big break on X-Files. Yeah, because wasn't Bryan Cranston on an episode in X-Files? He was on an episode. Yeah, he was on there. That's how he met them.

Who else was on there? Yeah, Luke Wilson pops up, Danny Trejo, Jack Black, Seth Green, Shia LaBeouf, Ryan Reynolds. Wow. All these people just pop up as little bit characters on X-Files apps. So yeah, if you've never watched the X-Files, there's so many good episodes, but Home is the one I'd recommend. Season 4, episode 2. Love it. Alright Rob.

Alright, I picked an episode of Barry as my first one. So season 2, episode 5, Ronnie, Lily. Okay. So in this episode, the FBI is coming after Barry, and the agent catches him and he tells him he'll let him go if he kills his ex-wife's boyfriend. Oh. Okay. So. I remember this episode.

He's like, sure, I'll go kill this guy. And he goes to his house and tries to convince him just to leave. He's like, go to Chicago, pack your bags, just go for like a year. It'll be fine. And the guy starts packing up. I'll play the clip. Oh, my God. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Your name's Ronnie Proxen, right? Uh-huh.

Oh, good. That would've been weird. And you're dating Diana, Loach's ex-wife? Uh-huh. Okay. Well, go Diana. Do you have family out of state? Uh-huh. Do you mind me asking where?

Chicago. Chicago. I love Chicago. Whose taekwondo trophies are these? Right on. Good for you, man. Whoa, look at that. You got you, man. Whoa, look at that. You got medals too. Shit.

Chicago from LA. That can be pretty long. Sometimes I do Google Maps and Waze at the same time. It's kind of a little fun game to see which ones win. So there's just this insane fight scene. He's trying to be polite and doesn't wanna kill him, and then thinks he does, his daughter comes home and she looks just like Lincoln. Oh god.

She's like nine in a karate outfit. Oh my god. And she's all weirdly supernatural, crouching tiger, hidden dragon fight scenes. Which reminded me a lot of Let the Right One In, which is what I really like, the Swedish horror movie. Oh my god, Little Vampire. So kind of those vibes. It's that ultimate thing in Barry where it's grounded in reality in a lot of it, but then it just takes on these utterly surreal tones,

and you just go with it, because they've set the style so well, you just are drawn into that world, and whatever happens, you're on board. God, you would love that show, Monica. I need to watch it. It's really beautiful. This is an interesting part of this game. The ones I picked, well, not all of them are my favourite shows. But the episode let out. Exactly.

Yeah, that's interesting. I realised that a lot of the ones I picked were kind of standalone episodes that didn't deal a lot with the series. You could almost watch it without watching the show and still get something out of it. Which I think I just watch so much TV that I lose the context, so the ones that are sticking with me are ones that don't need it. Sure. Yeah, that's a really good point, actually.

The other scary thing when I was thinking about these episodes was it's amazing how much I watch and forget. I know! That was all- cause I was like, oh, it's definitely this episode. I don't remember anything about it, but I know it's great. And then I'm like watching the episode and I'm like, oh, what was the show about again? How did it end? Did I finish it?

And that's really worrying. I agree. I agree. Yeah. I should say right now, I did not pick a Friends episode. OK, shocking. I'm shook. I know me too.

I mean, I can say right now the ones. OK, you could probably do a top 10 friends episode. I know that was too overwhelming. The one where Ross and Rachel broke up smelly cat. What are the other ones? The one where no one's ready would be my pick. OK, friends, but I'm not OK. No friends doing it.

OK, what have we got? OK. So next I have. So it's an American show. This is an American show. Technically, actually, technically, it's not an American show. But it's a Simon. This is a podcast about America. No, it is. OK, hit us.

OK, this is the American office. Ah. Dinner party. Great pick, great pick. I'm gonna play. What a toast. Dallin? Hold on. Here's to good friends.

Cheers. Cheers. I haven't seen this. Mm. That is sort of an oaky afterbirth. What was that? So, music? Should we turn some music? That sounds good.

Do you guys remember my old assistant Hunter? He is an excellent songwriter. Wait till you hear this. Okay, here we go. Oh, God. Okay, here we go. Oh god. You took me by the hand, made me a man. Christ. That one night, you made everything alright.

Ooh. Okay, so embarrassingly, I've done all of the British office, haven't done the American one, which I know is amazing What is this episode about and what jumps out? Okay? The reason I picked it is because what the American office does so I mean, it's so brilliant It's so funny, but the visceral awkwardness that it hits on it just like moves your whole soul Yeah, and this, the whole episode, I mean, it's hard to pick a clip from it because the

whole thing is just so good, but it encapsulates the awkwardness so well. Oh, I could just sense it. The looks everyone's giving each other, just the social anxiety involved of everyone. Yes. I need to watch The American Office. It's kind of amazing that, you know, Ricky Gervais starts the show and then it's licensed to all these different countries. So many countries have their own office.

The American Office, I think, has become more popular and more loved than the British Office, which is kind of amazing. Well, it also went for so long. A runner up for the office would be in season two, The Dundies. We've referenced the show and other flightless birds, right? We had like the parkour episode and Loma Linda. It feels like there's an office clip for every occasion imaginable. Have you done American Office, Rob?

Yeah. Yeah, The Dundies is the first episode of second season and it's also incredible. It's just so special. But The Dinner Party is season four, episode 13. Okay. All right. Four 13. Great pick. And a reminder that I need to watch The American Office, especially if I'm going to become more American. Also directed by Paul Fiege that episode. So my number two pick is from a much more recent show that I really loved. I think we all love the show as well. And it is the season two finale of Dave, which is just such a, oh my God, you're going to

love this when you watch it. Dave is such a special thing. It does a thing that Barry does where it is grounded in reality for a lot of the time. It's about a white rapper called Dave who was a real rapper in real life, but this is kind of a fictionalized version of his story. And it's grounded in reality, but then it will just take these absolutely fantastical turns. Brad Pitt is in one of my other favorite episodes where they're kidnapped by a rabid fan and it's just so transcendent. It's really special. But what I really like about the

finale of Season 2 is basically Dave and his best friend Gator, there's been some like tension between the two of them. They're getting ready for a big awards performance. Dave has been rehearsing this giant, very artistic show that he's going to put on, on his own, and sort of ignoring Gator, who's open for him this whole time. And then there's this really beautiful moment where you're surprised because you suddenly realise that Dave isn't going to do his own performance. He's brought Gator onto stage with him and it's just the two of them doing their most basic thing, which is them both rapping on stage at the same time. I think I cried when this first aired.

Really? Yeah, because it's like a big deal. He's doing this big show with dances and facts and then he just scraps it. He scraps the whole and the whole episode is the prep for it all. Doesn't it end because his rap name is Little Dicky and the whole joke, he's got unusual deformed penis and part of the show is him getting live on stage getting surgery to correct his penis. So as a viewer, you're invested in watching the surgery, because you're like, this is going to be amazing.

They're going to do this live broadcast of him getting surgery. And a big part of the episode is the doctor figuring out what they can do on stage and what's going to be safe and what's not safe. So as an audience member, you're invested in that. You want to see the big performance. Then you go, oh, fuck, that's not going to happen. It's just going to be him reuniting with his best friend. Oh my god, I can't just pay that back.

You guys talked to Gaida, like how is he? He's fine. He's fine. Just worry about you, David, okay? I know that I'm so bad at showing my appreciation in general, but like probably especially the both of you, and I just want you to know that you guys have made my dreams come true. I'm so thankful for everything that you do for me and just everything that you guys are as people. You're fucking amazing.

Just keep paying me to be your friend and I'll be there. Love you, man. Thank you for always being there. I love you too. Be careful, Dave. I got it. What? Are you tearing? I didn't, I'm fine.

Ooh. Is he okay? Ooh. Is he alright? Yeah. God. Oh, jeez. Hey everybody, my name is Lil Nas X, you know it, yeah. And I have the biggest song ever. Who's ready to have some fun tonight?

Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, this next performer's name autocorrects to LOL Dinky. Ha. Give it up for Lil Dicky. I'm not a kid. They tried to tell me I was going crazy I've been broke but had no bags his friends celebrating watching. Oh, it's so beautiful. And it's such a great trick on the audience watching at home, as well as the audience in this fictional world. Yeah.

And it's just, I cried when I watched it the first time. It's really beautiful. Oh, I love that. I'm gonna, I haven't watched it, gotta watch it. You will love Dave when you get around to it. It's so good. I'm gonna do The Office, you're gonna do Dave. Okay, great.

Oh, all right. What we got? Cable. Cable coming in. All right, I have another standalone episode. It's Atlanta, the Teddy Perkins episode. Oh! Is this where he plays a white man?

Yeah, so this is where Darius is going to pick up a piano from someone in the South, and he gets to this house, and there's this creepy- looks like a masked white man. Right. And there's this creepy, looks like a masked white man, or like Michael Jackson type character that lives there. And it's really chaotic and creepy and... I feel that Atlanta's... I embarrassingly also haven't watched Atlanta, despite knowing that it's one of the best scenes ever made. I also haven't finished it. I know.

There's too many shows! And some of these big shows, you want wanna wait till you're in the right mood. You've gotta have time to really sink into it, I think. My question about Atlanta for someone that hasn't watched it, what's the balance of drama and comedy, or is it all over the place? It's kind of all over the place. I mean, it's kinda like Dave, where they go and do the whole Gator bipolar thing. They do that in Atlanta as well, really well.

Yeah, okay. Finding that balance where it's not just silly and funny. Oh man. I remember seeing Donald Glover, I've only been to Coachella once, it was for the Two Park Hologram. Oh wow. And Donald Glover was there performing a very like early version of Childish Gambino. Oh wow.

And it was more, they were great songs, but they were more joke songs, so like you're meant to listen to the lyrics and go, haha, that's funny. Right. I guess a bit like what Dave does, little Dickie, but seeing what he has done, like what Donald Clover has turned into, it's like. Oh, it's unreal. He was a UCB improviser. That's right.

Like I would see him on stage doing improv with his team. Was there like a sense that he had an X factor or was he just all these amazing creative people? Everyone's so special there and doing amazing things. If I'm being quite honest, no, I didn't feel like there's something extra. And to have just seen him on that little fucking Franklin stage and now what he has become, it's unreal. It's unreal. Even in the community, you don't really get the sense

of how grand he's going to become. Yeah. So here's the scene. Would you like a glass of water? Yeah, kind of parts. Darius would like a glass of water when you have a moment. Yeah, righteous brother.

Your, uh, your butler or whatever they are. Didn't bring the water yet. Oh, I don't have a butler. I just use this to remember things. Wow. I just use this to remember things Right then Excuse me, oh Excuse me. Oh, it's so unsettling. It is. It's making me feel itchy.

It's so creepy. I remember having a hangover from this episode. Now that I watched it in silence and then just sitting there like a few minutes after. Oof. And in the credits at the end, that character is Teddy Perkins and it just says Teddy Perkins as himself. So they don't even list, acknowledge lover. Who it is?

But you can tell it's him. Could I, could I? Oh, it's him? It's him, yeah. It's Donald, yeah. You can kind of see it in the eyes. No. Wait, now I need to see, hold on.

Ew. Oh God. Oh yeah. I just use this to remember things. Finish that hat for Dionne Warwick. Unreal. There's a whole section I cut out of him eating a soft-boiled quail egg too, that he's just sitting there breaking it open and sticking his hand into. Oh my god. What like a fully realised character to step into. Could someone watch this having watched none of the show and love it?

Okay, great. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And spoiler alert, so the end of this episode ends in a murder-suicide. Oh my god. Oh, it gets dark. So you're just absolutely shocking. Yeah, it's so dark and weird, and you're like, what is happening? And it's totally out of place for the rest of the season.

It's just fully standalone. Here's Darius just out on his own getting a piano. It's kind of amazing what's happened in the last 15 years in that TV has become more classier than film. You know, it used to be films that stick with you and now it sees episodes. It's so avant-garde. A big name actor now, they get more respect

if they're cast in a big TV show than they are in a film. That's such an interesting flip. We're so lucky and we can just watch all this shit at home. We're pretty lucky with this stuff. Stay tuned for more Flightless Bird. We'll be right back after a word from our sponsors. This episode of Flightless Bird is brought to you by Booking.com. Booking.year. I don't know if you noticed this, it's summer and that means it's time to travel and have a little holiday. Yes it is. It's sunny out, it's hot, it's vacation time. Something does happen, right? You're like, it's sunny? It's like, I want to go somewhere.

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I specifically wanted to include comedy. So I had the same worry, because the stuff that sticks with you is darker, right? It is, yeah. But you can't just have an episode of just horrific, sad, unrequited love episodes. And because I really do firmly believe that perfect comedy is much harder to do than perfect drama. Totally. When it doesn't land, it really doesn't land, right? It's math. Comedy is math in a way that drama isn't. Drama's emotions,

and you can play music that makes you feel a thing, and you can't get away with anything in comedy. I hadn't thought about it like that. That's so true. Yeah, it's either on or it's off. Exactly. And there's no worse feeling than when you're watching something like an SNL sketch that isn't I hadn't thought about it like that. That's so true. Yeah, it's either on or it's off. Exactly. And there's no worse feeling than when you're watching something like an SNL sketch that isn't landing and you're like, oh no. Yeah. So when it works or when it's incredible, I bump that above for like dinner party or

Dundee's or... I feel like that's why things like The Office is so good because there's so much of it and consistently it's just on point with timing and awkwardness and everything. Exactly. Okay, so my last one is from Grey's Anatomy. Oh wow, Grey's. A show I haven't watched. Me neither.

But I feel like everyone I know watches. Season two of Grey's Anatomy is peak. So many episodes in that season. I had a hard time picking. Okay. And this is an example of a show that would not be on my list of favorite shows, but these episodes are. They're golden.

Golden. And just for someone, I haven't watched Grey's. This is kind of like ER. It's a hospital drama, but a bit more relationship based maybe? Exactly. That's right. It's, I mean, ER was ended up, you know. It got pretty soapy as well. It did. Yeah. But yes, it's all about the relationships and McDreamy and McSteamy and

Meredith. Oh, it's so juicy. Okay. And have you, and I know there's a lot of it. Have you watched most of it or do you tap in and out? I fell off over time. Still running. That's incredible. Is it or did it finally? I think it's still running. I think Ellen maybe left, but they shoot it at the studio next to my house. Oh, wow. What's the magic of it?

It's the characters or does each episode have a medical drama like in the house? Each episode has its own, yes, medical drama. I mean, like they get away with the crazy issue as the episode I picked is not. The premise is so ridiculous, but you're so invested. They do an amazing job with character development. You love all of these people and their journey. And they're like rough and tumble residents. You want them to succeed, and then they're all having relationships with these hot docks that are above them. It's problematic, but whatever.

Patrick Dempsey's so hot in this show. It's unbelievable. Okay, so this episode I picked is called... Wait, I want to make sure I get it right. I've seen our babysitter will sometimes watch Grey's Anatomy and just coming in out of context to all of the insane things that are happening. I feel like it's the kind of show where like suddenly like one week there'll be like a bomb threat to the hospital or something and the whole thing gets shut

down, no power, they've got to like save. Yeah. I mean, there is a magic thing. Finding a TV show that can last for that many seasons and still have an audience. It's pretty rare. If you're going to watch a season, watch season two. Season two is the one. All right. So this episode, it was a two parter.

Oh, OK. So the first part, which is the clip I'll play, is called It's the end of the world. Oh, it's very dramatic title. Yeah. What's leading up to this clip is a man has the end of the world. Oh, that's a very dramatic title. Yeah. What's leading up to this clip is a man has a bomb in his body. I think I've seen this one being watched. Yeah. He has a bomb in his body and-

Just expand on that. You can't just say in his body. Okay, well, it is in like his body cavity. He's sewing it in? He shoved it up her orifice. I don't, I have to be honest, I don't remember. It's in him. It's in him.

It's in him. And there's a paramedic who's in like his body cavity. He shoved it up her orifice. I don't, I have to be honest, I don't remember. It's in him. It's in him and there's a paramedic whose hand is on it, basically like she, and it's so- Wait, it's on it. So the paramedic is inside his body? Inside the man as well. Yes.

I love this. Not inside, it's on his, I don't know how to explain it. An incision or? Yeah, there's like a body, it's on his, I don't know how to explain it. An incision or? Yeah, there's like a body, it's in his body and her hand is keeping it from detonating basically. It's like speed with a body instead of a bus. Yeah, basically. This is incredible.

I'm sold, I wanna watch all of this. She's young, paramedic and it's Christina Ricci. Having the worst day of her life, amazing. It's Christina Ricci. Having the worst day of her life. Oh, amazing. It's Christina Ricci. Yeah, so then this happens. I've never been more on a cliffhead. It's so good. Than what you just described.

Okay, we ready? Hannah? Where's the anesthesiologist? He, um... He left. Sorry, this is not your living room. I'm tired. Hannah. I think I'm gonna take my hand out now.

When the hell are people gonna learn? Oh yeah, Kyle Chandler's in the subway. I love Kyle Chandler! I love him! What? Is the man alive and the bomb is in? I don't know if he's alive. Okay.

Yeah, I think he's alive. No, he is, he is. So she's about to kill both of them. Yes. The whole, it's gonna detonate the whole... The whole hospital? No, not the whole hospital, not the whole hospital, but like, yeah. She hasn't evacuated? Him and people close by.

Oh my God. Okay. Or maybe our hand is simply in there with the ammo, we can't know. I deal with this. Yo, my guys talked to the friend, that device is homemade, which means it's unstable and very unmanageable.

This better than this. No! No, I'm knowing, add to that the fact that you've got a surgeon, you are your next door refusing to leave in a nervous paramedic's hand inside the body cavity it's definitely I think I'm just gonna take it out. Am I okay? What's the first line? You can do this. No, no, no.

I just want to take it out. Hannah, it won't be much longer. Remember, you're keeping him from bleeding out. No, I am 22 years old. I should not even be in here. This is some kind of a state. She's packing. We need to clear the room.

I'm not leaving. Great, let's move. I'm not leaving her. You get everyone out now, Dr. Burke. She's my intern. I have a responsibility for her. No, it's gotta come out. It has to come out. Yang, go with him.

No, it's gotta come out. No, I can't. Hannah, look at me. You can do this. Oh my God. No! Hannah. It has to come out. No, you keep it there. It's a little while longer. Hannah. You can do this. It has to come out. No. You keep it there.

It's a little while longer. Hannah. I have to! Really? You think? How much will I find? If I find, if I find my own way How much will I find? If I find, if I find my own way How much will I find?

You don't need to be broken You, you Just stay where we are Nobody wants to see exactly what we are So she puts her hand in. Oh my God. The second part is now her with the hand in. What an amazing cliffhanger. Yes. You've still got the same problem. You had to wait a week and now it's the same problem, but with the person you care about.

When you were describing what the episode was about, I was imagining it, but I was like, it can't be the case. And then everything was 10 times even more dramatic than as you stated it. It is so dramatic. That's an incredible episode of TV. It really was. Kyle Chandler being there, leading his gravitas. I know. He's one of my favorite.

Steena Ricci too. She's amazing. Steena Ricci. You also forget, like, leading his gravitas. I mean, he's one of my favorite. She's amazing. You also forget like that's Sandra Oh. Oh, yeah. Like she's, yeah. Yeah, what an episode of TV. Oh no, I mean, and when you were picking, I feel like that one was up top in your mind, right?

That looks amazing, that show. Well, this and then it was between that and if people who definitely have watched the show, which most people have, the prom episode where Denny dies. Also Meredith is asking Derek to choose her and pick her and love her. And then they have sex and it's the, it is my favorite sex scene of all time. Wow. Okay, cool.

So that was, I almost wanted that one. Monica. Have you noticed a lot of our picks have been from the second season of shows? All three of mine are from the second season. That's a really good observation. I guess that's when you've found your stride and you haven't fucked it up yet.

And you can kind of make some bigger swings. Yeah, but you're still playful. You haven't run out of ideas. Something really fun to do with a show that you loved, especially from a few years back, is to watch the very first pilot episode because they are rough. That can often be a show finding itself and it's almost a different show. Tonally, it's all off. They don't know whether they're going to get a season sometimes.

Pilots are so hard to make. Yeah, I can only imagine. My god. That's a fun thing to do. Can I guess your last one? Okay, so yeah, so. Oh my god, David's gonna cry. Is this the one you cried during?

Yeah, this is, I have never watched this scene and not cried. No, seriously, I've done it three times now. I'm going to read a quote first. This is from the main actors in that scene. I cry when I hear the song. It's Pavlovian. If it comes on when I'm at yoga or something, I'll cry. I'm always worried people will notice me and be like, oh, that's the girl from the show.

That's kind of spoiled it. No, I know. See, no, no, no. What do you think? What do you think it is? I thought it was going to be the Leftovers finale. No, that is you think? What do you think it is? I thought it was going to be the Leftovers finale. No, that is my bonus episode to get you to 3.3. Okay. Really?

Yeah. So Rob and I both like... You have a crossover. We do. We do have a crossover. There's a show called The Leftovers, which I would say is my favorite show ever made. I think it's one of mine, too, and it's the best finale I've ever seen. We and Rob agree on a lot of things. We disagree on a shit ton of stuff. Musical tastes very different.

TV more crossover. I like women's. Yeah, thank you. It's mad that we both picked the show. It's an HBO show. I know. It's incredibly obscure. It's a slow burn.

You have to get through like eight episodes. Okay, so you, yeah. Did you have to watch, did you watch the whole thing though? No. You have to get through like the first season in order for me to love something Then getting through a whole season of a show. It's just it's so this is an interesting thing So many people agree with you and people that I love are all like what do you see in the show? It's inconsistent. It's a mishmash. Some episodes are not good. Yeah that weird assassin

It's a mishmash. Some episodes are not good. Yeah, that weird assassin episode. Which I kind of loved. It's fun. But the thing that I do find interesting about The Leftovers is that, you're right, generally a show shouldn't make you have to work to like it. But I think I liken it to music. There's some albums or songs where you don't like it the first time.

And if you push yourself to listen to the whole thing, they can end up slipping under your skin and just being your most favorite thing of all time. I think there's certain TV that does that. If you work at it, it rewards you long term. I get that, I get that. And I think that's the leftovers. And I think the premise of the leftovers

is that a very small amount of the world's population just suddenly disappears in a second. So it's like a rapture. And it's basically like, what does society do when this random event that no one can explain happens? And it just looks at what humans do. I know it just felt to me, felt a bit indulgent. It felt like it was trying hard to be poignant.

All these things. And I was like, oof. All I'll say is the whole show is about these really big topics. The last episode is just two characters, they're coming together. The whole thing is just a conversation and it just emotionally, I got goosebumps now just thinking about it. I cried when in that final episode. I love the ending of the lead.

Yeah, I love the ending of it too. Perfect. But that's not your pick though. No. So my favorite episode of TV of all time is the finale of a show called Six Feet Under. Oh, yeah. And have you watched Six Feet Under? I have not. I mean, I've watched a few episodes.

I loved it. It wasn't that I just like didn't. Yeah. There was so much of it. There was a lot of it. I think I dropped off. Have you watched Rob? Yeah, I've seen it. I love that show. Alan Ball. Alan Ball.

So it ran from 2001 to 2005. It was one of HBO's first prestige TV shows. It was about a family that worked at a funeral home. The beginning of each episode, which was a really fun technique, it starts with a person randomly dying. So every opening would be a cold open, they die and then you're in the funeral home. And it's just about a family getting through stuff. I always like seeing what people are saying on YouTube about things and because I was looking through so

many clips I took notice. It's the best ending in TV history because unlike other shows or movies it gives you closure. In so many other shows we only see the cast riding off into the sunset wondering what will happen to them. Six feet under, wasn't scared to show people what will happen to everyone." And this is a huge spoiler. I would say- Yeah, now I'm kind of like, because I want to watch it. Fuck. But I would say it won't- But it's been a long time.

It's been a long time. It's not going to ruin it. I think it'll just make you want to watch it. But essentially what it does is Claire, who's the sort of the youngest person in the family, she leaves to go to college, drives off in her car. And as she drives... No, no, she's not gonna... Is she gonna die? No, she doesn't die. But as she drives off,

you see how all the main characters that you've come to know and love, how they pass away. And Sia is singing during it. And it, um, so I'm going to play. I'm just kind of curious. I have chills and I don't even know. I don't even know this show. But I'm also, but something I genuinely want to know is if this does affect you in any way having no, no great investment.

And Rob, you have, I'm curious if this will trigger you. It's been a long time since I've watched it. Another comment under this clip on YouTube, watch the entire show in about four weeks, never cried this hard in my entire life. Fuck. I'm prioritizing Six Feet Under. Help, I have done it again I have been here many times before Hurt myself again today And the worst part is there's no one else to be my friend

Hold me, wrap me up Unfold me, I am small Hold me, I am strong And needy, warm me up And breathe me Ouch, I have lost myself again Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found Yeah, I think I might break I'm lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, Come and hold me, hold me up

Come and hold me, I am strong I need you, want me back I'm breathing with my friends Hold me, wrap me up And hold me, I'll smile on the road No tears, which is I'm really relieved about. I was bawling my eyes out yesterday. I think that got it out of my system. I got a lot of goosebumps. Yeah, my eyes are wet.

Yeah, the whole show is so emotionally powerful and then to see how every character ends is just too much because then you're like, Oh my God, we're all gonna think it's like my death thing. It's like, yes, see how everyone's just too much. Cause then you're like, oh my God, we're all gonna, feels like my death thing. It's like, yes, see how everyone's gonna die. And it's also so bold because it just is the ultimate. It's almost giving the finger to every other ending. It's so much closure. It's like, you want closure?

You're gonna see exactly how all these people die. Yeah, death is so sad. And I guess you're essentially, it's a show about death that's the whole thing. And so- And so of course they had to end it like that. That's beautiful. I really, really wanna watch that show now.

Yeah, it's really beautiful. And four seasons, so it's kinda doable. I'm sad. Sorry to end on such a sad one for my list. Did you have that moment leaving Georgia when you moved? Saying goodbye to your parents when you moved? I don't remember what my moment was. I don't remember it. So either I blocked it, or I probably didn't let myself really feel

those emotions. I remember being very sad in my first couple of months out of home at a university hostel. I just remember feeling so panicked and lost. But I don't remember like the actual leaving. I can't remember if like my parents dropped me off in another city or if I, I didn't have a car so I didn't drive away. Yeah. Or I took the bus or something. I think that's one of the last times I cry.

I think it's one of the only times Natalie's seen me cry was when you moved here. We had a like U-Haul truck that we packed up and remember hugging my parents and then getting in and just driving from our, it was a childhood home. Yeah. And so you literally had that rear vision mirror thing of it fading out in the background. That's the last time you cried? Oh my God, Ron. I have had like a funeral.

Oh sure. Okay, okay. Yeah, I mean I cried yesterday at that show. I don't cry at things that are real generally. I just cry at TV shows mostly. I cry at things that are real generally. I just cry at TV shows mostly. I cry at things that are real, but it normally takes me a bit. It will end up coming out out of nowhere. Yeah, it's gonna explode like a day later.

Yes, but not when it probably should be happening. Emotions are so annoying. You're like, just trigger now so this person knows what I feel like. I know, I know. Yeah, Six Foot Under is a great show. Oh, that was great. I'm excited for that. Okay, Rob has one left.

My last one's a little sillier. No, Silly's good. Silly's really good. We need to end on silly, not death. I must be crying the whole time. Another season two, I picked an episode of documentary now. Oh, that's fun. Great pick. And I'm also excited because I've only seen one episode of this and keep meaning

to do more. This one's called Juan Likes Rice and Chicken. Oh it's after Hero Dreams of Sushi. And I didn't realize Bill Hader and Seth Meyers wrote this. So Bill's featured twice in- Okay. Oh yeah, in your picks. So for someone that hasn't watched this particular show before, what's the premise? It's parodies on other documentaries done in really silly weird ways.

Right. Hero Dreams of Sushi is such a good documentary. It's really beautiful. Have you seen this? I don't think so. Spoof on it? So there's a restaurant in Columbia, Three Michelin Stars, and they're doing a documentary on it. Look, you know, I've been to Noma and I've been to El Bulli

and I've been to all of Robuchin's places, but there's no restaurant like this anywhere in the world. I write guidebooks about South American restaurants. And every year I travel the country looking for something new yet I always find myself back at Juan's rice and chicken. It's shocking how simple it all is. There is a consistent simple set menu to start a cup of warm coffee followed by a banana split perfectly in half. Then rice with a little bit of butter. In our most days, cheek. Most impressively, you see only three star Michelin restaurant I know of.

That's a 40 minute walk from the nearest road. Amazing. They go in, I have one more clip. It's in Spanish, but they go into all the obscure things. It's really just leaning into these restaurants, which I like these restaurants and when they do that, but I like that it's poking fun of that. Yes, you can see that these things can get out of hand. The coffee has to be buried for an hour before they brew it. He's beating the rice against a tree.

The old man has to chase the chicken and catch it. And if he doesn't, chicken's not on the menu. There's no chicken. That's why chicken's sometimes. And then they massage it for an hour and then shoot it against the wall with a cannon. Yeah. Oh, this is funny.

And here's the banana preparation. Because it's a great honour, but I didn't know it would be so difficult. Because to peel the banana it has to be perfect. So as not to damage it. And notice the format of the food show so well. It's perfect, there it is. And once it's peeled, it's just one chance to cut it perfectly in half. It's good. Juan has already cut the bananas. It's perfect.

I remember this was the first time I brought him the basket with bananas. The whole basket. He threw them out. The second time... One or two bananas were good to serve. The time he told me they were all perfect, I started screaming. Shot so beautifully. The scream was so loud that the rest of the day I was free, it hurt me, because the customers were complaining.

Oh, I need to watch. That's so funny. So if you're going to watch documentary now, this would be the episode, obviously. It's one. Yeah, it's one of them. Yeah, OK. So Rob and I both landed it's one of them. Yeah, okay. So Rob and I both landed on Leftovers Finale for our third show, as in one third Honourable Mention. Do you have an Honourable?

I do. My Honourable Mention is my favourite scene from television. Oh, favourite scene? Of all time. Oh, you brought your Honourable Mention too. I brought it. Oh, I love this. Okay.

I don't know if it will read audio wise. I often feel like a good moment in TV is often accompanied by just a song or some looks, not always dialogue. Yes, that's how dinner party was. But this is from Parks and Rec. Oh, great show that I haven't watched. Ice rink campaign. Man, I gotta watch it.

Of course, starring Chris Pratt, who was discovered in an earlier The Founder and Bubba Gump's show. So Leslie is running for office and so she's campaigning and they're all helping her. It's very sweet. I've seen this on YouTube. Yeah, this. Yeah. I couldn't afford enough premium carpet to get us to the stage. I mean, it was a short walk, but it was pretty luxurious, right? Okay.

Oh, it's such a good setup. Everybody smile away. Smile away. Oh my God. So they're walking on ice. They ran out of carpet, so to get to the end, they have to walk on ice. And it's them just genuinely trying to walk on ice. Yeah.

I'm holding the dog. He is peeing. He is now peeing. And I'm putting him down. No, Roddy only has three legs. Yeah! Babe! Ow! Ow! I'm holding the dog. He is peeing. He is now peeing. I'm putting him down.

No, Ronnie only has three legs! No, Ron socks him. No way! He's cute. He's cute. The zombie is peeing. Ron? Ron?

Aw. How do I get to the stage? Heaven. Heaven. You're a great pick. Just the funniest setup, most simple, but again, what I said earlier about comedy math, it's genius. Just to try to get you guys from point A to point B on ice.

I wonder how many times they shot that as well. It feels like they just nailed that in one take almost, as they're all just naturally sliding over on their asses. Yeah, well, like when they start to fall, and that feeling that you do get when you start to see someone fall on ice. I mean, we've all had that as a horrible experience being slippery. Oh, man. Yeah. So that's my favourite scene of television. Really good.

A good one. OK, so I think we've all we've learned that season twos are the best seasons. I feel like our favourite things are either incredibly dramatic or incredibly funny. None of us brought a horror scene to the table. I guess home for me. Yeah, we both had one kind of horror. Yeah, one horror-y. That's true.

Yeah. Comedy and drama, right? Yang and Yang balance each other out. What do we think we learned about each other's personalities from this? I think we all respond to like a big dramatic romantic entanglement, because I feel like a big romantic crazy, because the end of the leftovers is very much that. Uh huh.

Fleabag. That fleabag scene. But that's like a very human thing, isn't it, as well? Yeah. I think we all like some quite good things. There were no duds in there. I'm proud of our picks, yeah. Yeah, I think none of us looked at another person here and went,

What was that? I can't talk to you again. You kind of did for Grey's Anatomy. Well, but that- you won us over, I think, with- Oh, so won over. No, I mean, that was just unbelievably wonderful. Like, what a setup. You couldn't dream that up.

So yeah, that's our top 10 TV episodes, so we'll do another episode down the line somewhere about another top 10 American thing. Yeah, maybe suggest ones that you want to hear. Yeah yeah that'd be cool. Yeah comments up. But yeah if you haven't watched any of that stuff please watch it and also comment if you have stuff that we need to watch that we haven't. And we'll get to it in about 10 years. Like and subscribe. Well, how did he say it? Bye, learn and subscribe. Like and subscribe. Learn and subscribe. God, he's cute.

All right, well, that was lovely. Super fun. Like and subscribe. you