TV Geek Out 105: Mad Men, "Seven Twenty Three"

Let TV Geek Out geeks Dana, Heather, and Perry give your brain a go-round like you’ve never had as they explain all the changes the come to the Mad Men Universe on July 23, 1963. What are we to make of Betty’s latest flirtation? Will Don buckle to threats from Cooper and Sterling that he really has to sign a contract? What’s the worst thing that can happen if you drive drunk, pick up hitchhikers, and take phenobarbital? Who the hell is Peggy in bed with now? All these questions -- and so many more -- will be answered as the TVGO crew goes deep into Seven Twenty-Three. Check it out here.

TV Geek Out 104: Fringe, "Ability"

In this key season-one episode, Fringe took an even bigger leap than usual into the far reaches of theoretical science with its first mention of the multiverse -- a concept that has since proven to be crucial to the show's narrative. Also introduced are the experimental drug Cortexiphan and the bizarre ZFT manifesto. The totally creepy and disgusting case of the week brought us the $2 bills of DOOM, filled with a deadly powder that closes all of one's orifices and haunts TVGO geek Heather's dreams. In addition, we got the return of the awesome Mr. Jones, last seen teleporting out of his maximum-security prison cell to Little Hill. Fresh from his fortnight spent in a decompression chamber, Jones did the unthinkable and turned himself in to the FBI, demanding to speak to Agent Dunham. His visit was filled with all kinds of villainous goodness, including "reconfiguring" Agent Harris' expensive watch, testing Olivia's abilities beyond the laws of science, and showing everyone that they'd better think twice before trying to fool him in the future -- all before seemingly growing deathly ill and then busting through a hospital wall like a nerdy, British Incredible Hulk. TVGO geeks Dana and Heather stare down some light bulbs and discuss all the exciting goings-on here.

TV Geek Out 103: Mad Men, "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency"

The British get cut down to size in this memorable episode of Mad Men. Yes, Guy walked into the advertising agency, but -- thanks to a careless driver and some traditional American farm equipment -- he’s not walking out. Inspired by the carnage, the TVGO geeks discuss the fallout from the bloodletting, Joan’s ability to handle an emergency at home as well as at the office, the glories of Pete yelling “DAMNIT!” and the powerful bonds men form when they go to the barbershop together. Check it out here.

TV Geek Out 102: Mad Men, "The Fog"

To paraphrase the lyrics of Laura Nyro, it turns out that when Gene’s gone there’ll be one Gene born to carry on. And as Betty delivers the new baby, she’s stuck in a drug-induced stupor -- hallucinating about Medgar Evers, her parents, and bloody mops. But she isn’t the only one in “The Fog” who seems to have lost her bearings: Sally is acting up at school, a drunken corrections officer turns Don into his father confessor, and both Pete and Peggy are unnerved by an intriguing Duck call. It was an episode chock-full of memorable moments, so light up a big fat stogie to celebrate the arrival of Gene Draper, and join us as we try to find our way through The Fog. Check it out here.

TV Geek Out 101: Mad Men, "The Arrangements"

**Now with improved audio! Thanks again for your patience with our technical difficulties.** Humps, Ho-Ho and jai alai, oh my! Despite the somber themes and events of "The Arrangements" -- which included a lot of contemplation about child-rearing and the surprisingly sudden death of Eugene Hoftstadt #2 -- the episode also held quite a bit of humor. This being Mad Men, most of the laughs were of the uncomfortable kind: Peggy's new living arrangements with the fun-loving, Joan-in-training Karen Ericson (played by Carnivàle and Undeclared's Carla Gallo!) probably won't end well, but hearing Peggy try to merely pronounce the word "fun" was highly entertaining. Sal's note-perfect rendition of the Bye Bye Birdie-aping Patio ad for his wife Kitty was equally funny and sad, as well as a little tense -- just how much does she realize about her husband now? The TV Geek Out Geeks ponder this, Betty's deep denial about her life and emotions, just how ethical it was for Sterling Cooper to take Ho-Ho's ambitious and deluded jai alai campaign, just how much therapy Sally will need in the future and much more. Sneak some ice cream with Grandpa Gene, then check out our discussion here.

TV Geek Out 100: The Office, "New Boss" and "Two Weeks"

For our triumphant 100th podcast here at the TV Geek Out, we present a conversation about the two episodes of The Office that introduced the Charles Minor storyline. Listen in as we discuss how Idris Elba breathed new life into the series, and how Charles showed us all a new side of Jim Halpert. Check it out here!

TV Geek Out 99: Mad Men, "My Old Kentucky Home"

Even by Mad Men's high standards, "My Old Kentucky Home" is one of the show's thematically richest episodes. The fall of the Roman Empire, the Roaring Twenties and the end of the world are all applied to the end of '50s and early '60s innocence, which is drawing ever nearer in Mad Men's world. We get more clues as to who will thrive as the '60s unfold (Peggy, who can still come up with a great concept while stoned) and who will be left behind (Roger, whose blackface rendition of the show's namesake song was show-stopping in all the wrong ways). On a lighter note, the season's all-singing, all-dancing edict continued with Joan's lovely rendition of Cole Porter's "C'Est Magnifique," which helped detract from her husband's ineptitude as a surgeon and spouse, and Pete and Trudy's ambitious Charleston number at Roger's party, which showed that Pete can dance and climb the ladder at the same time. And who could forget the impromptu, marijuana-fueled Tigertones reunion back at Sterling Cooper? This scene featured TV Geek Out Heather's current crush Miles Fisher as Paul's drug dealer friend Jeff; his American Psycho-themed video for his cover of David Byrne's "This Must Be the Place" further shows off his singing and affinity for preppy scum (he also has a free EP available on his website). The Geek Out Geeks enjoy some heavily symbolic old-fashioneds as we discuss all this and more here.

TV Geek Out 98: Fringe, "The No-Brainer" and "The Transformation"

In preparation for the new season, the TV Geek Out geeks get back to their coverage of Fringe with this discussion of two season-one episodes, "The No-Brainer" and "The Transformation." Computer programs liquifying people's brains! Terror in the skies as a man transforms into a hideous monster! In the words of Dr. Walter Bishop, "An experiment -- how exhilarating!" TVGO geeks Dana and Heather show Fringe a little tough love but mostly geek out over all the gory, labyrinthine details here.

TV Geek Out 97: True Blood, "Shake and Fingerpop"

The TV Geek Out geeks get back to covering the bloody good fun of True Blood's second season with this discussion of its fourth episode, "Shake and Fingerpop." It's Tara's birthday, and there's no one in Bon Temps to celebrate with... until Maryann conjures up another of her wild parties and the claws really come out. Meanwhile, across town, Lafeyette gets a rejuvenating late-night visit from bad-boy vamp Eric. At the Light of Day camp, Jason is punked, has a heated biblical debate, impresses the reverend with his shooting skills, and takes a bath in some hot ribs. In other events, Bill, Sookie, and Jessica fly to Dallas and Sook narrowly avoids abduction, but it turns out to be a teachable moment, as Jessica gets her first glamouring lesson. All this and the introduction of fellow telepath Barry the bellhop! Make the pre-medicated choice to crack open some doll-size bottles of booze and dig in to the hot vamp-on-vamp action here.

TV Geek Out 96: Mad Men, "Love Among the Ruins"

After season three's bustling premiere, "Love Among the Ruins" felt a little too subtle and slow at first, but the TV Geek Out geeks dug deep for the brilliantly constructed themes within it. Real versus fake, old versus new, young versus old and children versus parents were just a few of the running motifs, from Penn Station to Madison Square Garden, from "Bye Bye Birdie" to the maypole dance that closed the episode. However, it was Peggy's story that fascinated us most -- she's always growing and learning, even if it's that she needs to "leave some tools in her toolbox" when it comes to selling diet soda, or that she doesn't always have to pick the wrong boys. Take a bite out of someone else's burger and listen to our discussion here.