All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Your Fall TV Guide

Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

This episode of All Of It is dedicated to guiding listeners through the major TV series launching in Fall 2025. Host Alison Stewart welcomes Vulture TV critic Catherine Van Arendonk, who gives her “big picture” assessment of the TV landscape and highlights new and notable series. The episode blends expert recommendations, listener calls, and lively insights about trends in network versus streaming TV.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. State of Fall TV 2025

• General Assessment:
  • Catherine rates this fall’s TV season as “a B place,” expressing enthusiasm for several shows but lamenting the lack of fresh, original content from network TV.
  • “None of these are network shows. There’s a surprising dearth of new network dramas and comedies this fall, which used to be a real staple of what fall TV meant.” (03:04, Catherine Van Arendonk)

2. Notable New Shows: In-Depth Previews

Task (HBO)

• Premise: Set in working-class Philadelphia, starring Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent, it blends crime & family drama in the “sad prestige” television tradition.
• Similarities: Has ‘Mare of Easttown’ vibes (Delco setting, references to Wawa and Water Ice).
• Performances:
  • Mark Ruffalo: “Sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad man.” (03:48, Alison Stewart & Catherine Van Arendonk)
  • Tom Pelfrey: “Really giving an incredible performance as a garbage man… big standout for me.” (04:22, Catherine)
  • Martha Plimpton: “She plays an FBI agent boss… nothing like Martha Plimpton in a business suit to really make you sit up and pay attention.” (04:33, Catherine)
• Balance: Though focused on male angst, “there are really important female roles… carefully balanced to give counter narrative to those central figures.” (04:42, Catherine)
• [02:05 - 05:12]

Black Rabbit (Netflix)

• Premise: A crime-thriller with heavy “The Bear” energy about two financially troubled brothers running a restaurant (Jude Law & Jason Bateman).
• Emotional Tone: “Very stressful show... I watched about an episode and a half before I was like, I have to pause and take a break just so that I don't really go fully crazy.” (06:40, Catherine)
• Casting: Bateman and Law work “surprisingly well as brothers.” Bateman’s disheveled look is notably convincing.
• [05:12 - 07:35]

The Girlfriend (Amazon)

• Mentioned by Caller Jared: Robin Wright stars as an overbearing mother who becomes entangled in power plays with her son’s girlfriend.
• Twists: “Takes a lot of turns I really wasn’t expecting… hooked and I wasn’t getting bored.” (08:12, Jared (caller))
• [08:00 - 08:48]

The Lowdown (FX)

• Premise: Neo-noir, set in Tulsa, with Ethan Hawke as a “bookstore owner/journalist/scumbag” who gives off “Big Lebowski mood.”
• Show’s Feel: Oddball detective tale, “pickereque,” full of quirky episodes and guest stars.
• Praise: “You cannot dismiss how great Ethan Hawke is in this role and how impressive it is to have a show like this from Sterling Harjo as the follow up to Reservation Dogs.” (09:53, Catherine)
• Insider Fandom: Catherine laments only receiving 5 screeners and is “desperate for the rest.”
• [08:48 - 10:39]

3. Upcoming October & November Releases

Talamasca (AMC, October)

• Spin-off: From ‘Interview with a Vampire’ in Anne Rice’s universe.
• Pitch: “People need vampires. And this is the one you really have to keep track of.” (12:56, Catherine)
• Insider Guilt: Catherine confesses to being a late fan: “I have not been yelling about this show from the beginning...but I'm here now. I'm ready. Let's go.” (13:48, Catherine)
• [12:39 - 14:15]

The Chair Company (HBO, October)

• Creators: Tim Robinson & Zach Canaan (of “I Think You Should Leave”).
• Tone: “A darker twist on the typical Tim Robinson, Zach Canan comedy… It begins with that awkward office manager Tim does so well, then becomes a much bigger, much more sinister thing—a vast conspiracy.” (14:28, Catherine)
• [14:15 - 15:53]

Pluribus (Apple TV+, November)

• Premise: “The most miserable person on earth must save the world from happiness.”
• Secrecy: Not much info; Apple keeping details scarce.
• Notables: Created by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul); stars Rhea Seehorn (also of Better Call Saul).
• Genre: “Not a real crime drama… it is going to veer more into a science fiction space.” (19:00, Catherine)
• [18:31 - 19:55]

I Love LA (HBO, November)

• Creator/Star: Rachel Sennott (SNL, Bottoms), a “vibey, fun new LA show.”
• Significance: Reflects broader trend of young female comedic auteurs (Lena Dunham comparisons invoked), expected to ignite discussions about generational attitudes in comedy.
• [19:59 - 21:03]

4. Listener Calls, Trends, and Criticisms

• Network TV vs. Streaming
  • Caller Arthur: Observes the decline of major network TV as conversation shifts to cable/streaming.
  • Catherine’s Response: “Think of it as an evolutionary split… streaming has put pressure on a different kind of TV show... From the insider Hollywood perspective, if you can get a job on a network show, you’re more likely to be financially stable because of the traditional 24-episode seasons.” (16:41 - 18:31, Catherine)
• Genre Highlights from Texts
  • Alien Earth: Fun, whimsical sci-fi (listener).
  • Wayward: Anticipated drama starring Mae Martin and Toni Collette.
  • Guinness: New historical drama about the brewery.
  • The Diplomat: Season 3 excitement; “Allison Janney returns... Bradley Whitford cast as her husband... a very West Wing nostalgic move.” (21:19, Catherine)
• Hate-Watching:
  • “I kind of think hate watching doesn’t exist. When you are watching something and you’re like, I’m in it for the hate watch, you are enjoying it in a different way... that’s why you will keep coming back.” (22:00, Catherine)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Task’s Lead:
  • “Sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad man.” (03:48, repeated by Alison and Catherine)
• On Black Rabbit’s Stressful Vibe:
  • “I watched about an episode and a half before I was like, I have to pause and take a break just so that I don't really go fully crazy.” (06:40, Catherine)
• On Network vs Streaming Evolution:
  • “It’s an evolutionary split: network TV is for episodic, streaming for overarching plot—and if you can get a job on a network show, you’re more likely to be financially stable.” (17:30, Catherine)
• On Hate Watching:
  • “Hate watching doesn’t exist… you are engaged by the way that they are drawing these characters. How absurd everything is in this case.” (22:00, Catherine)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fall TV “grade” & landscape: 00:43–02:05
• Task Preview: 02:05–05:12
• Black Rabbit Preview: 05:12–07:35
• Caller Jared on The Girlfriend: 08:00–08:48
• The Lowdown Praise: 08:48–10:39
• October Preview: Talamasca: 12:56–14:15
• October: The Chair Company: 14:15–15:53
• Network TV vs. Streaming Discussion: 16:41–18:31
• November: Pluribus: 18:31–19:55
• November: I Love LA: 19:59–21:03
• Listener Picks / The Diplomat / Hate Watching: 21:03–22:57

Final Notes

• The episode is packed with sharp banter, robust recommendations, and career-insider insight.
• If you’re planning your fall TV calendar or pondering the fate of network TV, this is a must-listen guide.