The Custard TV Podcast

TV Time Machine #6 : February 1999 - Queer as Folk, Mrs Merton & Malcolm and Days likeThis.

Matt and Luke jump aboard the TV Time Machine to travel to February 1999. Luke has moved to California and has joined his school newspaper, spotting celebs at the Virgin Megastore. Matt is rehearsing for the school show. Meanwhile, on television, Russell T Davies breaks new ground with Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk. Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash resurrect Mrs Merton for her own sitcom. Then, ITV adapt hit US comedy, That 70's Show, which was adapted by two then unknown writers named Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong for Days like These.

Finally, Matt tests Luke on what was big in the UK charts in February.

#451: Breathtaking, The Way, Constellation, Boarders

Matt is joined by  Suky Khakh and Dawn Glen to review four new shows that aired this week. ITV's three-parter that promises to tell the COVID story we haven't heard called Breathtaking. There's also anarchic Welsh drama The Way on BBC One and strange goings on aboard a space shuttle in Apple TV's mind-bending Constellation. Plus, a new comedy drama Boarders from BBC Three which wasn't what the team was expecting.

There's also discussion on One Day from Netflix, the penultimate episode of True Detective:Night Country and strangely, '90s sitcom The Upper Hand! Find us on your podcast app of choice and rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

# 450: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, One Day, Alice & Jack, The New Look

Writer and fellow podcaster Elaine Gregson joins Matt and Luke to review 4 brand new shows. Three with a loved-up theme for Valentines' 2024 and one with 'fashion Nazis' 

They review the surprising Mr. & Mrs. Smith from Donald Glover and starring Glover and Maya Erskine. The Netflix adaptation of One Day, Channel 4's 'romantic' drama Alice & Jack as well as the eye-opening war piece The New Look from Apple TV+

There's also discussion on True Detective: Night Country as the trio talk about their hopes for the final episode.

TV Time Machine #5: January 1999: Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, The League of Gentlemen, Sunburn, Notes from a Small Island.,

Luke and Matt jump aboard the TV Time Machine to January of 1999 to look at the TV landscape at the time. On BBC Two they review Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus comedy Gimme, Gimme, Gimmie. A somewhat unknown comedy troop launch on TV with the debut of The League of Gentlemen. Sun-soaked curio Sunburn starring Michelle Collins over on BBC One and Bill Bryson brings Notes From a Small Island to TV on ITV. 

There's also discussion where we both were at this point in our lives and Matt continues to test Luke's music knowledge with a look at the charts of January 1999.

# 449: Masters of the Air, Domino Day, Griselda, Expats

Matt is joined by  Gary Redrup and Mo Walker to review four more brand-new shows. Apple's visually impressive third chapter of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's WW2 drama Masters of The Air. Sofia Vergara transforms for Netflix biopic Griselda plus, Nicole Kidman's new drama Expats on Prime Video and supernatural series Domino Day from BBC Three. 

# 448: True Detective: Night Country, Boy Swallows Universe, Big Boys, Gladiators

Matt and Dawn are joined by Sarah Kennedy to review HBO's True Detective: Night Country which feels like a return to form for HBO's anthology crime drama. Australian Netflix Original Boy Swallows Universe which cleverly mixes magical themes and gritty realism. Plus, one of the warmest comedies in recent memory, Big Boys returns for a second series on Channel 4. Finally, we didn't think we needed a Gladiators reboot in 2024, but did the first episode live up to the massive overnight ratings the show received? 

 

As well as the four shows, there is discussion on The second series of The Tourist and The Traitors (of course!)

# 447: After the Flood, Criminal Record, Julia Season 2, The Traitors Series 2

Luke is back with Matt and Dawn to review ITV's new 'thriller' After the Flood as well as Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo facing off in new crime drama Criminal Record on Apple TV+. Plus, the return of Sarah Lancashire in HBO's criminally underseen drama Julia and Claudia Winkelman dons her cloak for series 2 of the UK version of reality mega-hit The Traitors.

There's also discussion on the second series of The Tourist, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and new Netflix series The Brothers Sun.

#446: The Tourist, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, TrueLove, Based on a True Story,

Matt and Dawn return to review the first new shows of 2024. The Tourist on BBC One was conceived as a one-off thriller but did so well on the BBCiPlayer that the BBC were desperate for more, which explains why we're back to review the first episode of the second series which arrived on New Year's Day with the entire series available to binge.  Over on ITV, they have dramatised the Post Office scandal for a four-part series, Mr. Bates Vs The Post Office whilst on Channel 4 they have very different drama in TrueLove. Also, debuting on Sky in the strange gap between Christmas and New Year was Based on a True Story, another show about a murder podcast!.

There's also discussion on the Christmas TV the pair enjoyed.