Catching Up On This Season of TV
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In this episode of Little Gold Men, hosts Rebecca Ford and John Ross dive into the latest television landscape, starting with the highly anticipated premiere of Euphoria Season 3, which they describe as a tonally distinct, cinematic evolution from the first two seasons. They express mixed feelings about the premiere's unconventional structure—lacking a cast walk-on—and highlight the emotional tribute to Angus Cloud. The conversation then shifts to the strong opening of A24's The Drama, starring Zendaya, praised for its effective marketing around a major twist and its ability to generate buzz despite limited reveal. The hosts also discuss the Oscars' upcoming move from the Dolby Theater to downtown LA's Peacock Theater, expressing skepticism about the change and its impact on the ceremony's prestige. Joy Press joins as a special correspondent to provide a broader TV preview, noting a trend toward 'comfort food' genre shows like The Pit and Love Story, which have achieved cultural penetration. She reflects on a quieter TV season overall, with fewer breakout hits compared to past years, and observes a shift from 'Peak TV' to more accessible, broadly appealing programming. The episode explores Emmy contenders across drama, comedy, and limited series, spotlighting The Pit, Pluribus, Industry, and The Testaments as potential frontrunners, while also highlighting standout performances by Ray Sehorne, Odessa Zion, and Steve Carell. The hosts express cautious optimism for the upcoming awards season, acknowledging a lack of dominant hits but an abundance of strong, character-driven storytelling.
Euphoria Season 3 marks a tonal and narrative departure, embracing Western and action-adventure influences, with a poignant tribute to Angus Cloud.
The Drama's success stems from its effective 'twist-only' marketing, proving that adult dramas without IP can open strongly.
The Oscars' move to downtown LA's Peacock Theater is seen as a downgrade, with concerns about prestige, accessibility, and the loss of the Dolby's iconic status.
TV is shifting from 'Peak TV' excess to safer, more accessible 'comfort food' programming like The Pit and Love Story, which dominate cultural conversation.
Industry, despite critical acclaim and strong final seasons, remains Emmy-ignored, but its fourth season may finally break through.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Euphoria Premiere & Cultural Impact
“It was the cast didn't come up on stage. Very unusual for a premiere, yeah. So the way it was set up was Casey Bloys, the president of HBO, made some announcements. He introduced Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria.”
The Drama & A24's Marketing Genius
“I think it was more than just solid. I think it was a really good opening considering how difficult it was to market because you can't reveal a huge chunk of it so they had to do a lot of tricks to get people to understand that, like, what you're going in to see, there's gonna be a twist.”
Oscars Move & Cultural Shifts
“It's just too dumpy. It's too difficult. The parking is a nightmare. Not to sound like we're in the Californians, the SNL sketch. But you got to take the 110 to the 10 and then get off.”
The Rise of 'Comfort Food' TV
Joy Press joins to discuss the trend toward accessible, emotionally resonant genre shows like The Pit and Love Story, which dominate cultural conversation and appeal to broad audiences.
Emmy Contenders: Drama & Limited Series
The hosts evaluate major Emmy contenders in drama and limited series, including The Pit, Pluribus, Industry, The Testaments, Beef Season 2, and Half Man, assessing their chances and cultural impact.
“I think it was more than just solid. I think it was a really good opening considering how difficult it was to market because you can't reveal a huge chunk of it so they had to do a lot of tricks to get people to understand that, like, what you're going in to see, there's gonna be a twist.”
“It's just too dumpy. It's too difficult. The parking is a nightmare. Not to sound like we're in the Californians, the SNL sketch. But you got to take the 110 to the 10 and then get off.”
“It was the cast didn't come up on stage. Very unusual for a premiere, yeah. So the way it was set up was Casey Bloys, the president of HBO, made some announcements. He introduced Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria.”
Hosts
Guest
euphoria
media
joy press
person
the pit
media
oscars
other
zendaya
person
pluribus
media
industry
media
the drama
media
dolby theater
other
love story
media
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