AFT #146: Robin Williams, Ferguson Coverage, ‘Outlander’, ‘The Knick’ and More

Antenna Free TV » Antenna Free TV Podcast

Screenshot via Adult Swim

http://antennafree.tv/podcasts/Antenna_Free_TV_Podcast_146.mp3

Yes, we know we took another week off. Summer does that to us. We should be back on a regular schedule, starting this week. We begin with the biggest news of the week, in TV or otherwise:

• The death of Robin Williams is still on our minds, so we talk about its impact on people, how pervasive depression can be, why Williams’ career was just as important on TV as it was in the movies, his numerous talk show appearances, and why his death is going to stick to people for a long time (00:00 – 37:20),
• Then we talk about the national coverage of the unrest in Ferguson, MO, which happens to be in Jason’s backyard. We compare the reality of what the town is about vs. the perception, and how surreal it is to have a national story such as this breaking in an area you know well (37:20 – 52:30),
• Then we talk about Aaron McGruder’s new Adult Swim show Black Jesus (52:30 – 58:55),
• Jason watched the debut of the new Starz show Outlander, and we discuss how well-made it is, and who will likely be its main audience. Then we discuss how secondary networks like Starz and Cinemax are finding signature shows via either popular book adaptations or by using big-time actors and directors (58:55 – 1:04:00),
• Finally, that discussion continues as we talk about the new Cinemax show The Knick, starring Clive Owen and directed by Steven Soderbergh. We talk about how gross it can be, its compelling surgery scenes, Soderbergh’s use of visuals and electronic music, and other high points. We also bemoan how it seems like an early-20th-century version of House and why depictions of turn-of-the-century Lower Manhattan are getting tired (1:04:00 – 1:36:41).

You can listen to the podcast above (if you don’t hear anything, fiddle with the volume slider), download it via this link, subscribe to our RSS feed, or subscribe via iTunes. You can also find us on the Stitcher radio app for smartphones and iPads. By the way, the bumper music is “Trevor Trailer Trash” from the late, great band Cropduster.