He's back — and the annual TV autopsy has never been messier. Friend of the podcast Paul Critoph returns for his third end-of-year debrief, and within seconds they've spiralled from shower-screen disasters to xenomorph rage, religious reality-TV meltdowns, and the slow cinematic chopping of vegetables. On the docket: why the xenomorphs in Alien Earth are suddenly bulletproof, what went wrong with Squid Game 2 and 3, and why every character in The Summer I Turned Pretty is a vacuum of charisma. Steve makes the case for Smoke — Taron Egerton as a fire investigator in a show that looked glossy and turned out to be genuinely gripping — while Paul delivers a passionate defence of Andor as the best Star Wars thing since Empire, featuring fascism, prison planets, and absolutely zero space wizards. There's also a tour through one-star TV hell — the uncanny poshness of AI, American remakes nobody asked for, and Kim Kardashian as a lawyer — plus Paul's ongoing fascination with Asian competitive television, this year with additional Australians. And as always, Steve and Paul's yearly struggle to find even one show they both actually watched.
Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.
Paul Critoph is a seasoned actor and cultural commentator known for his insightful analyses and engaging discussions on TV and film. With a keen eye for emerging trends and a deep understanding of the industry, Paul offers a unique perspective on the ever-changing landscape of television.
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Host: Steve Otis Gunn
Guest: Paul Critoph – Actor & Cultural Commentator
Duration: 58 minutes
Release Date: January 1, 2026
Season: 4, Episode 32
All music written by Steve Otis Gunn
My book 'You Shot My Dog and I Love You' is available in bookstores & online
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