Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine

Tim Goodman's TV Talk Machine

Writer Tim Goodman (former SF Chronicle and Hollywood Reporter TV critic) talks irregularly with Jason Snell about television and other stuff. Released simultaneously worldwide to all international markets. Love to your mothers. TV Talk Machine art by the late, great Don Asmussen.

Episodes

257: Another Holiday Visit from Tim Goodman

December 17, 2025
[Cross-posted from Downstream #109 on Relay FM.] Tim Goodman pops down the chimney again to reunite with Jason and discuss the Oscars on YouTube, finding balance in the TV review game, the rise of international content, episode deconstructions, “Pluribus,” and his top shows of the year.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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256: A Holiday Visit from Tim Goodman

December 24, 2024
[Crossposted from Downstream on Relay FM.] Down the chimney comes Tim Goodman, reuniting with Jason to discuss his super-secret insider TV reviews, streaming’s influence in the rise of international TV here in the U.S., and Jason’s top TV shows of the year.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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255: The Two-Episode Test

May 2, 2023 • 46 mins
This reunion is crossposted from Downstream episode 43. Tim Goodman drops by to discuss his decision to be a TV writer at the very end of the Peak TV era, the challenges of TV criticism, and his return to writing about TV on his own terms via his Substack.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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254: The Spoon and the Tunnel

April 1, 2022 • 67 mins
“Counterpart” revisited, CNN+ as seen through the lens of an escaping prisoner, Apple TV+’s surprise success, the mess that is the current streaming landscape, and Tim shares a book idea with substack readers. Plus, letters from listeners!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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253: If Tim Falls in the Forest...

February 18, 2022 • 50 mins
“Station Eleven,” “The Afterparty,” Stephen Colbert, TV marriages, “The A Word,” and the moment when Tim’s partner said, “Yeah, I’m never gonna watch that.” Plus: your letters!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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Stephen Colbert, 2006

February 16, 2022 • 77 mins
The past is present: Tim's interview with Stephen Colbert from the City Arts and Lectures series, Herbst Theatre, San Francisco.
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252: The PBS Ping-Pong

February 3, 2022 • 70 mins
Tim finds “Utopia”—twice. Jason gets confused by “NCIS: Hawaii.” We ponder series hiding away on services like STARZ and EPIX. It’s Peacock’s time to shine (not just the Olympics, but “Vigil”!). PBS, please take my money. Tim bounces off of “Raised By Wolves.” And at the end of the episode The Box Set takes on episode one of “Station Eleven” and episode one of “Collateral.”

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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251: Tim's Back! On Substack!

January 24, 2022 • 63 mins
It’s been 612 pandemic-fueled days. But we’ve taken the tarp off the TV Talk Machine, replaced a few parts, and are ready to kick it into gear. Tim spent the last two years writing TV scripts! He’s going to keep doing that, and write a book, and also has launched a newsletter on Substack so he can write about television again. And… did we mention the TV Talk Machine is back, too? It’s true! In this episode Tim explains where he’s...

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250: Nature is Healing

May 22, 2020 • 62 mins
Tim and Jason return to close the book on Volume 4 of the TV Talk Machine chronicles. (You can find the previous three volumes at theincomparable.com/tvtm/about.) We’ll be back in this feed, probably soon, with something that’s more of us talking about stuff, but a lot less about things that are TV related. But before we go, Tim describes the experience of having an opinion about a TV show and not sharing it. Jason goads him into ...

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249: We Don't Rehearse This

April 17, 2020 • 45 mins
This week Tim has a new refrigerator and is watching comfort food like “Peaky Blinders.” Comcast stealth-launches Peacock. Bad things happen at Tim’s former employer. Jason watched “Home Before Dark” and “Devs.” And “What We Do In The Shadows” is back!

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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248: Skunks Are Terrible Beings

April 3, 2020 • 57 mins
Tim just got home after several weeks away for complicated reasons. We’re back to fill your ears with talk about TV, music, life, and more. We hope it helps. We’ll read your letters and play your audio files if you send them in. Tweet at @tvtm or email podcast at tvtalkmachine dot com.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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247: I Love Being Confused

March 5, 2020 • 36 mins
This week your teacher has given you a break—we’re giving you another week to watch “What We Do In The Shadows.” Instead, we keep it tight and bright as Tim joins the rest of us in these Times of Confusion by not even realizing what TV shows are debuting. After some brief Death Cab For Cutie banter, we shift it into gear and discuss Actual TV News, including the return of “Better Things”, the premiere of “Devs” and an explanation o...

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246: Genius Grant

February 26, 2020 • 54 mins
This podcast is like your friend who left a longtime job, got some new tattoos, and is showing a renewed interest in yoga. It’s a new life. Tim launched his new Resounding blog, which leads us to discuss why we love women singers. Speaking of learning and growing and pop music, Jason’s seen “High Fidelity” and does a real-estate check on “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” Then we put Netflix’s “Sex Education” in the spotlight (did yo...

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245: Yoga Five Times a Week

February 6, 2020 • 65 mins
We’re back! Tim is retired, rested, and ready. And he’s got two new music-based projects to announce—neither of which is his secret job, sorry. Jason has some TV news and reports back on finishing a couple of series. We also read some of your letters and start a brand-new segment where Tim gives both Jason and the listeners a TV viewing assignment! Your assignment: “Sex Education” season 1, episodes 1-4.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snel...

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244: You Did an Inception on Me

December 22, 2019 • 66 mins
One last time before the end of the year, we’re back! Jason uses computer technology to construct a best-of-the-decade list for Tim. We’re probably forgetting something. We also discuss “Watchmen” a little bit, so if you want to not be spoiled at all about it, you can skip ahead to minute 20 and you’ll miss the whole thing.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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243: The Best TV Shows of 2019, More or Less

December 6, 2019 • 58 mins
Tim’s done with being a TV critic and is trying to be all positive, but he put in nearly 11 months of work and Jason’s demanding a list! So Tim and Jason both present their lists of their favorite shows of 2019. Plus we answer your letters.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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242: "Hello, I'm Hobo Eric."

November 28, 2019 • 34 mins
Happy Thanksgiving! The Machine’s gas tank is now full of gravy. This week we’re reading your letters, Jason mentions a couple of shows he’s watching, and Tim encourages you not to overspend on streaming services if you’re cord cutting. Listeners have theories about Tim’s undisclosed employer! And Jason tries several techniques to convince Tim to make a final best-of-the-year list. We still want your letters. Tweet us at @tvtm or ...

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241: I Don't Work There Anymore

November 22, 2019 • 44 mins
Having been safely “offboarded” from The Hollywood Reporter, Tim discusses his final review, which is a negative review of “Dublin Murders.” Jason watches a bunch of TV shows, while Tim has spent a couple of weeks going to sleep early and not watching television. It’s a new era for the TV Talk Machine, as we roll into parts unknown.

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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240: I'm Not Into Vengeance

November 7, 2019 • 70 mins
Did anything happen this week? Oh, yes, Tim announced that he’s leaving The Hollywood Reporter and “retiring” as a TV critic! We discuss Tim’s feelings about moving on from the TV critic racket and try to figure out what form the TV Talk Machine will take in the future. (Hint: There are a bunch of year- and decade-end lists coming up, and Tim doesn’t have anywhere to post them unless he breaks his Blogspot site out of mothballs.) ...

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239: They Did This Without Our Blessing

November 1, 2019 • 49 mins
Tim reviews Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”, Apple’s “For All Mankind”, Showtime’s “Back to Life”, and is in the midst of watching Netflix’s surprising second season of “The End of the Fxxxing World.” Plus Apple TV+ launches, HBO Max clarifies, we talk Bay Area blackouts, and we read your letters and tweets! It’s a podcast about television, remember?

Tim Goodman and Jason Snell.

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