Hey hey hey, my people! Time for another peep through our (smeared) window into the mind behind 'Succession', Jesse Armstrong. We wouldn't say he's the man, but if there were a man - hypothetically - he might look a lot like Jesse. This week, it's episode 3, 'Lifeboats', and a trio of major players enter the stage: Sandy Furness, Stewy Hosseini and…

Donnie brings a hidden gem to the podcast. Session 9. It's rad.Av Don Hall

Hey, hey we're The Monkees, and people say we monkey around! For clarity: We're not The Monkees, and people seldom say we monkey around. This week we get on board with: a) The gourd b) 'Industry'. OR DO WE? (We're hopeful this isn't another 'The Bear' situation.) We also attend a local event, which displeases the family convalescent. See you on Fri…

Hello! I apologise if my bell summoned you. It's FireCrotch & Normcore here, with another funky chowder! The rewatch with our dear acquaintance Jesse Armstrong continues with season 1, episode 2, Shit Show at the Fuck Factory. Dear Jesse, talk me through your feelings on titles? Am I thinking about it too much? Like the people who thought all the o…

Email your recommendations for TV to convalesce to: fuckoff@firecrotchandnormcore.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten! From the Battery to the top of Manhattan! It's the perspicacious Firecrotch & Normcore reporting for duty, and we are back at the beginning of all things with THE CREATOR, Jesse Armstrong. In the first of our week-by-week rewatches, we establish a dynamic that says 'I respect you, but I'm not awed by you.' And th…

Exciting times, it's all ahead of us this week: Sara's tonsillectomy and our new episode-by-episode Succession rewatch with Jesse D Armstrong. In the light of the above, this is the first of our revamped/devamped episodes: One luxury-lengthed watch, and your correspondence. No rush, we're on island time. See you on Friday WITH JESSE! State your vie…

Don goes all out with a film that defines an entire genre. A movie so classic, only Donnie can quibble about the editing. Yes, roughnecks save the planet in 1998’s Armageddon.Av Don Hall

Hey nerds! We go fast and hard this week with the brilliant and hilarious Phil Wang to discuss his new Netflix special, Wang in There, Baby! Plus: More Everest obsession from you know who, more Scandi drama from you know who, and someone (we're not naming names) embarrasses herself in the environs of a West End musical. Write to us: fuckoff@firecro…

It's too early to talk about gourds, right? We hold on to the last vestiges of summer by immersing ourselves in Nantucket's Perfect Couple. (Is Sara the only one watching and thinking about how Nicole Kidman's Hollywood bestie is Naomi Watts, and Naomi Watts is also Liev Schreiber's ex-wife, and Liev Schreiber is playing Nicole Kidman's husband? An…

This week, Donnie picks a classic animation/live action blend with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”Av Don Hall

Hello, we back on our sofa in front of the telly after all our summer "specials", and we have news. Seismic news. >9 on the Richter Scale* Also, this week's interview was recorded at our first ever festival appearance. It's trailblazing comedian Josie Long, recorded live at End of the Road 2024. Spoiler alert: We didn't take the brown acid. Communi…

While Sara re-adjusts to civilian life post-Edinburgh, it's everyone's favourite kind of episode: A CLIP SHOW! Only the finest pickings from the past year-and-change of interviews, though. PLUS: How Sara's Fringe ended. AND: An unlikely hero emerges. WARNING: Contains potentially offensive accents. Editor-at-large: Annabel Port Email us: fuckoff@fi…

Inspired by last episode’s breakdown of The Contender, Hall jumps on a truly upbeat film for consideration in Tucker: The Man and His Dream.Av Don Hall

Our final episode semi-recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, and Sara thinks it's the 2nd best interview we've ever done. Geoff is more circumspect about making those kind of statements, but you're in for a treat: Comedian Matt Forde talks about his new show "The End of an Era Tour', and this tumultuous past year of his life. Plus, if you're here …

It's the second of our summer specials where we talk TV with the most dazzling comedians at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Today, it's Pierre Novellie. This guy has standup as good as Seinfeld, and he has just published a truly, genuinely we-mean-it brilliant book about receiving an autism diagnosis at the age of thirty-one. Plus America's sweethear…

Back to standard operating procedure and, in keeping with the ascendency of Kamala Harris to candidate in the presidential race, Donnie picks a highly relevent and excellent film to watch—The Contender.Av Don Hall

Sara's at the Edinburgh Fringe - or is she? So, it's the first of our summer specials where we talk TV with the festival's most dazzling comedians. Today, it's Jessie Cave. We loved her previous Edinburgh show, Sunrise, and she's back at the Fringe with *two* shows, An Ecstatic Display and a work-in-progress with her partner/ex (delete as applicabl…

Summer vibes, everyone! SUMMER VIBES. We're bridging out of usual vibes into summer vibes. We spoke this week to HOLLYWOOD INSIDER Mark Monroe, about being Hollywood's go-to documentary doctor. You'll be unsurprised to hear we think he really liked us. Plus chat on living separately - we're not divorced, but have we mentioned Sara's up in Edinburgh…

The Dons dive into a subgenre of film that breaks down and exposes the business of justice: The Courtroom film.Av Don Hall

Sara is deep in Edinburgh Fringe preparation, so it's a basic bitch episode: You'll get our guest, you'll get your email, then we're OUT. Not that our guest is a basic bitch, she's a real lady (like Easy V, who doesn't come for free.) She is Camilla Whitehill, creator of Channel 4's 'Big Mood'. Be Sara's penpal while she's away in Edinburgh: fuckof…

For the first time in forty-five years, Sara watched football. Despite how momentous this was, she was forbidden from using the experience for her Quick Watch. Instead, she did what all good women do when their husbands TRY TO CONTROL THEM: a pivot to Rashida Jones. Also we talk to the laser-sharp and truly hilarious Michelle de Swarte, whose new s…

The Double D’s decide to go back in time and discuss an important summer for them both: 1989. Each come up with their favorite summer time hits from 35 years ago.Av Don Hall

Happy one-year anniversary to They Like to Watch! To celebrate, we completely forgot until our sweetest listener emailed to remind us. We visit the Sperm Kings, as a couple, but then go our separate ways for Nordic Noir and Rylan Clark. Try to guess who chose what. We also talk to the truly hilarious Amy Gledhill about her excellent Blap - BLAP! - …

Season three of The Bear has dropped, and Geoff has recused himself on grounds of vegetarianism. So, it's a V.S.E. (very special episode) with a V.S.G. (very special guest). Who could it be? Press play to find out. How was your meal?: fuckoff@firecrotchandnormcore.com Service not included: https://www.patreon.com/THEYLIKETOWATCH Your server is: Ann…

Joining D&D is the venerable Don the Elder who picks a classic: Ed Wood.Av Don Hall

Excuse the lack of episode notes, we're on our way out to a thing. Maybe we'll tell you about it. You're going to love Daf, though. INBOX: fuckoff@firecrotchandnormcore.com MONEYBOX: https://www.patreon.com/THEYLIKETOWATCH BRAINBOX: Annabel Port Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Dear Cuties, The sun is shining and Sara's personality is more bearable as a result! We fêted Geoff on Father's Day and found a classy docu-series that forced us to confront our own internalized hippyphobia. Plus: We talk to Sian Eleri about her new BBC Three series 'Paranormal: The Village That Saw Aliens'. She helps Sara figure out whether she he…

The gloves are off! Bare knuckle brawling! The four relaxed brain scholars of cinema continue with their Rocky retrospective with more on the Stallone/Rocky symbiosis and hot takes on Rocky IV, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa.Av Don Hall

Hey hey junebugs! Yes, we've been watching TV, but also there's been an incident involving a hat. You can't wait to press play now, can you? Also, our guest is Mark O'Sullivan (Lee & Dean, Tell Me Everything), talking about Channel 4's My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom. He's brilliant. If ever there was a week for you to put your hands in your pockets an…

We're back from our bucolic getaway just outside the M25 between Guildford and Dorking. Did you miss us? This week: Wild women do, but - contrary to the received wisdom - they sometimes regret it. Also, some classy guests slum it with us - Quinn Shephard and Samir Mehta, creator and executive producer (respectively) of Hulu's acclaimed 'Under The B…

Don and Donnie are joined by Nikki Miller and David Himmel (in a bathroom) and the four spar about the cultural significance of Rocky Balboa as well as the first three films of the six. This is part one of a two-part conversation.Av Don Hall

Hello! We're back in full-on Firecrotch & Normcore mode to look back on the 'Succession' finale, broadcast a year ago today. It's *definitely* because we want to mark a significant cultural anniversary, and not because it's half-term and we thought we'd phone it in with a clip show so we can spend some time with our kid. See Sara falter: https://ww…

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, a beautiful day for a neighbour, would you be mine. WOULD YOU BE MINE? This week, we buy flammable kids' clothes, we ask "Is there ever really COM alongside ROM?" plus we speak to a man who, in his 40s, made his dreams come true, Blue Lights co-creator Declan Lawn. Let him serve as a beacon of hope to none…

Välkommen and bienvenue, welcome! We've been poring over this year's BAFTA TV award winners. Yay for Sarah Phelps and 'The Sixth Commandment'! But how did the UK television industry honour the swansong of 'Succession' - its finest export? NUL POINTS! We watched the show that usurped Business Throne. PLUS: The Eurovision party isn't over. We talk to…

It's Cineaste Week! We don't know how it happened (we DO know how it happened) but this week we're all films, all the time. All available on your TV screen, of course. We watched one light confection, one terror-scape, and maaaaaaybe the best thing we've seen since Succession? Also, this week's guest is the wonderful Ashley Storrie, co-writer and s…

Joining D&D is infamous character actor Michael Wiles and his choice of what he likes to watch is Don Knotts’s The Ghost and Mr. Chicken!Av Don Hall

We're baaaaaaaaack! Say this to yourself OR passers-by in the style of Poltergeist II. We love all our guests equally, of course, but this week's is extra spesh because - HELLO - it's Succession writer and showrunner of The Regime, Will Tracy! We have an exciting connection, and the discovery of that connection, during the interview, was a major po…

Sara has tonsillitis - she's on antibiotics and complete vocal rest. She had a fever dream where she was drawn towards the light, but spotted her late grandmother on the other side and fled. So, it's a truncated episode this week (a semisode?): An interview we'd already recorded before she was struck down. And what an interview! It's Andy Milligan,…

Back to basics, the boys bring it with Boogie Nights.Av Don Hall

Happy birthday to our son, who's eight today. He'll never read this, although he was recently overheard saying, "Mom can't decide what she's doing for her quick watch". Kids these days! Etc. This week it's our great pleasure to speak to Rockerdale Studios creative director, Stu Richards, and head of production, Michelle Singer, about their SMASH HI…

It's cold and rainy and we promised to take our child to a farm near Heathrow airport. What fabulous journey are you on today? This week's guest - fresh off her rave review in the New York Times - is 'Manhunt' showrunner, Monica Beletsky! We discuss how to make old-timey feel new-timey, and how to manage a complex timeline. And Abe Lincoln's beard.…

D&D are joined by writer/director Matt Leslie and we get into a heady discussion about The ‘Burbs.Av Don Hall

HEY HOLLYWOOD! What is this, Chateau Marmont?! This week's guest is Hollywood insider, the impossibly lovely Eric Newman, creator of Narcos and Griselda. We talk collabs with famous actors, and how to sensitively portray real-life people on screen. Plus the dos and don'ts of portraying drug lords specifically! Can't you just feel the California bre…

We've never been in love before We thought our hearts were safe We thought we knew the score! Are these lyrics from a musical? Or rather our unbridled feelings for this week's guest who just so happens to be RUSSELL T. DAVIES? WHAT IF IT IS BOTH? Dreams come true you guys, you just have to keep dreaming. This week's guest, see above, is the showrun…

Introducing to the pod, J. Nicole Brooks (aka Nikki Brooks, aka Docta Slick) and her chosen film, The Landlord, directed by Hal Ashby. This one’s a trip, gang!Av Don Hall

Hey now, hey now, there's a wall between us! Tear down that wall! We just want connection. You. Me. Us. The animals. This week, Sara's dreams come true (Geoff's come true next week WATCH THIS SPACE) when we speak to Girls5eva creator Meredith Scardino. It's the best comedy in 5eva, as far as we're concerned, and we are never wrong. Plus: One amazin…

Hola amigas y amigos! We're here to share our thoughts, feelings and TV recommendations. Plus, we get to talk to the executive producer and creative director behind Channel 4's 'The Jury: Murder Trial', Ed Kellie. If you're reading this the same week as we're writing it, come and see Sara's work-in-progress at the Bill Murray Comedy Club in Islingt…

Joining us today is Derek Hayes and, in addition to plugging his brand new documentary, he chose the 1995 Jim Jarmusch classic Dead Man.Av Don Hall

Come on girls! Do you believe in love? 'Cause I've got something to say about it, and it goes something like this! (No offence to Madonna, but that double 'something' ^ is really, erm... something.) Your transatlantic sweethearts are back with more TV for you to watch, *and* fresh from the rink, it's the funniest of them all... LOU SANDERS. She's b…