‘Task’ Series Premiere: HBO Sundays Are Back!

Summary

The Prestige TV Podcast: ‘Task’ Series Premiere – HBO Sundays Are Back!

Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Joanna Robinson, Rob Mahoney, Bill Simmons
Episode Theme: In-depth instant reactions to the series premiere of HBO’s new prestige drama Task, discussing its standout pilot, influences, cast performances, and what the show means for the “prestige TV” landscape.

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Overview

The Ringer’s Prestige TV team reconvenes for an enthusiastic and layered breakdown of HBO’s Task premiere. Hosts Joanna Robinson, Rob Mahoney, and Bill Simmons unpack what they collectively agree is one of the strongest prestige drama debuts in recent memory—highlighting its world-building, standout performances (notably Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey), and commitment to both character depth and crime drama thrills. The episode blends sharp analysis with the hosts’ trademark banter, pop-culture detours, and speculation on the show’s direction.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The State of Prestige TV and the Return of "HBO Sundays"

• After a “bleak” summer for TV, the hosts are thrilled to have a heavyweight series back on HBO’s Sunday nights (01:22).
• Task is celebrated for restoring confidence in the value of the “prestige” label.
  • Bill (01:29): “It’s a somber show.”
  • Joanna (00:22): "We're back, baby … just a really good time to be on the Prestige feed."
• The episode is noted for signaling a return to ambitious, adult-focused storytelling, reminiscent of early 2000s HBO staples.

Initial Impressions of the Task Premiere

• All agree the pilot is exceptionally strong—possibly the best since the start of the year.
  • Joanna (02:20): "One of the best pilots I’ve seen … just a bunch of short scenes and you just feel like you’ve learned a lot."
  • Bill (04:00): “I had my guard up the whole time because I was like, this is really good. This is really good.”
• The storytelling is lauded for efficient world-building, quickly investing viewers in its blue-collar crime milieu, and for effectively weaving intricate character drama with genre elements.

World-Building and Influences

• The show draws direct inspiration from Michael Mann’s Heat.
  • Joanna (05:40): “We're doing Heat … Inglesby has said, I'm doing Heat. And so he's not pretending.”
  • The dynamic between Ruffalo’s and Pelphrey’s characters is expected to follow a “cops and robbers, two-sides-of-the-same-coin” arc.
• Brad Inglesby’s focus on “invisible” everyday people (the trash collector and mailman metaphor) is highlighted as a core thematic concern (06:56).

Standout Scenes and "We Are So Back" Moments

• The first scene between Robbie (Pelphrey) and Cliff, discussing mundane things (like private islands and taking out the garbage), is pinpointed as an early indicator of the show’s grounded approach (03:53).
  • Joanna (03:53): “I could watch this scene all day. That was it for me.”
• The trio is particularly impressed with the show's opening three minutes.
  • Bill (08:53): “One of the best first three minutes of a show I can remember … It's moving and you know what the show is.”

Visual Style & Storytelling

• Director Jeremiah Zagar’s visual sensibility is noted, particularly for embedding “weariness” and “real people on the edge of decency.”
• The storytelling is praised for echoing mid-1970s and 80s character-driven movies—meshing crime plots with lived-in, slice-of-life details.
  • Joanna (11:07): Inglesby’s love for Breaking Away and movies about everyday people influences key scenes (“just sharing sandwiches together”).

Cast Performances and Character Deep Dives

Mark Ruffalo – Harnessing Softness and Weariness

• Enthusiastic praise for Ruffalo’s range and ability to make broken, “world-weary” characters relatable.
  • Joanna (14:09): "You can count on me, fucking rules. … He also just picks extremely interesting side projects."
  • Rob (17:14): “Edward Norton’s version of charisma is a little harder edged. … Ruffalo has a softness and warmth …”
• The show is built around Ruffalo’s character—a former priest turned FBI agent dealing with heavy personal trauma.
  • Rewatching scenes (such as Ruffalo praying) becomes richer after learning his backstory (19:19).

Tom Pelphrey – A Star in Waiting

• The hosts highlight Pelphrey as a revelation and hope this becomes his mainstream breakout.
  • Joanna (04:41): “I’ve been waiting for something to really, really show him off, and I think this is going to do it.”
  • The depth and likability of his character Robbie, despite his criminal life, is noted as critical to the show’s success.

Supporting Cast

• Shoutouts to Emilia Jones (as Maeve) and Martha Plimpton (as the surly police chief, “carrying the Mare of Easttown torch”).
  • Bill (27:14): “Martha Plimpton … will steal every scene in a status for six years here.”

Themes: Faith, Family, and American Decay

• Ruffalo’s troubled family history—including a son in prison (for an apparent murder during a psychotic break)—is dissected (24:00–25:30).
  • High speculation on how these backstories will pay off (and set up emotional showdowns).
• Recurring motifs of parenthood, religion, “baggage,” and the burden of maintaining hope/faith are identified as series cornerstones (22:06).
• The show ably emphasizes blue-collar struggles, setting it apart from more “glossy” crime dramas.

Structure, Pacing, and Critiques

• Some minor nitpicking: Introduction of three quirky young task force members felt “too broad” and could have been delayed (28:04). However, writers’ attempts to inject humor (e.g., Lizzie’s messy divorce) still land for some.

Memorable Scenes & Quotes

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | Context | | --------- | ----- | ------- | ------- | | 01:29 | “It’s a somber show.” | Bill | Tone set for the series/podcast | | 02:20 | “One of the best pilots I’ve seen … there’s just a bunch of short scenes and you learn a lot.” | Joanna | Overall praise for premiere | | 05:40 | “We’re doing Heat. And Heat, that’s what I’m here for.” | Joanna | On the show’s explicit Heat homage | | 08:53 | “The first three minutes … one of the best… I watched it a bunch of times. God damn, this is really good.” | Bill | Praise for the show’s opening montage | | 11:07 | “He was talking about, like … What are these walk and talk scenes? These just, like, ambling around…” | Joanna | On how Task channels small-town, real-life vibes from films like Breaking Away | | 16:14 | “He just wanted to do things like this. Like this part in this show.” | Bill | On Ruffalo’s ideal fit for Task | | 19:19 | “Once you learn about the fact that he … became a priest for a while … you rewatch the opening and it's just sort of like … this guy is just bird watching his way through life.” | Joanna | Rewatch rewards | | 21:31 | “That was the best moment in the show. Because I thought they were gonna kill the kid.” | Bill | Climax tension discussed | | 27:31 | “She’s carrying the Mare Easttown torch into this show.” | Joanna | On Martha Plimpton’s role | | 29:05 | “Is that what you’re doing, like, crawling around my place, writing your name on all my stuff, you little raccoon fucking…” | Lizzie character quoted by Joanna | Highlighting strong dialogue | | 35:13 | “His dead brother is this big weight that’s hanging on him.” | Joanna | Pelphrey's character backstory | | 49:36 | “This is not a whodunit. It’s a … why-done-it/How-catch-em Sort of thing. We know who did everything.” | Joanna | On genre structure | | 51:04 | “It’s too easy to have the Pacino ending where Dairo dies and Pacino’s holding him. What if they zag and Ruffalo’s the one that dies?” | Bill | Speculating on series ending/tropes | | 52:04 | “Maybe a ringer verse live show in Philly…” | Bill | Joking about show references crossing over with podcast lore |

Predictions and Future Speculation

• Which task force rookie will die first? The hosts make playful predictions about tropes and show direction (47:02–48:09).
• High death likelihood for Cliff, Robbie’s friend (“already devastated for when Cliff dies in episode five or so”) (47:46).
• The show is likely to follow emotional, not just procedural, threads—expect classic glass-partitioned prison visits, faith crises, and deep Philly area references.

Cultural Detours & Banter

• Cheeky “baggage rankings” for the main characters—debating which protagonist is most weighed down (41:33).
• Philadelphia food talk: water ice, cheesesteaks, pork sandwiches (43:03–44:53).
• A sidebar on Mark Ruffalo’s career, indie films, and the phenomenon of “lost” streaming titles (16:04–18:23).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:13 – 03:38: Introduction, prestige TV drought, Task as a return to form
• 02:20 – 04:09: Pilot and initial impressions
• 05:40 – 06:11: “We’re doing Heat” – thematic setup
• 08:53 – 09:34: Praise for the opening sequence
• 14:09 – 19:49: Mark Ruffalo’s career, casting impact
• 21:31 – 22:26: Kidnapping climax and tension
• 24:00 – 25:34: Parsing Ruffalo’s backstory and son’s crime
• 27:31 – 29:05: Supporting cast shout-outs (Martha Plimpton, task force rookies)
• 35:13 – 36:03: Robbie’s brother backstory speculation
• 41:33 – 43:03: “Baggage rankings” for main characters
• 43:03 – 44:53: Regional food digression
• 49:36 – 50:19: Whydunit vs. whodunit distinction
• 51:04 – 52:04: Predictions, playful banter
• 53:02 – End: Wrap-up and episode logistics

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

• The hosts are unanimously excited for Task, seeing in it a confident, authentic crime drama in the “prestige” tradition.
• The show’s strength lies in melding classic, character-driven storytelling with modern, crime-procedural plotting and a genuinely lived-in American setting.
• Multiple standout performances (especially Ruffalo and Pelphrey) are set to anchor the series’ emotional core.
• The cast and creators’ choices—particularly the show’s “Heat”-style dynamic and blue-collar authenticity—are repeatedly praised.
• The hosts can’t resist lively sidebars on food, Philly lore, and the state of modern TV/podcasting, while deftly keeping focus on the series’ bigger themes.

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Notable Quotes

"We’re doing Heat. And Heat, that’s what I’m here for."
— Joanna Robinson (05:40)

"One of the best pilots I’ve seen … there’s just a bunch of short scenes and you learn a lot."
— Joanna Robinson (02:20)

"The first three minutes … one of the best… I watched it a bunch of times. God damn, this is really good."
— Bill Simmons (08:53)

"This is not a whodunit. It’s a … why-done-it/How-catch-em Sort of thing. We know who did everything."
— Joanna Robinson (49:36)

“I'm so psyched and energized by the existence of this show.”
— Rob Mahoney (50:51)

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Final Thoughts

• Task is off to a spectacular start, reviving a classic HBO feel.
• The hosts are committed to covering the season episode-by-episode, eager to see how the writers pay off the emotional weight and crime drama hybrid.
• For fans of authentic, character-heavy crime shows—especially those with a Philly pulse—this is already essential viewing.

Transcript

[Rob Mahoney]

Foreign.

[Joanna Robinson]

Hello. Welcome back to the Prestige TV podcast feed. I'm Joanna Robinson.

[Rob Mahoney]

I'm Rob Mahoney.

[Joanna Robinson]

And it's been a little spotty this summer in terms of content.

[Rob Mahoney]

Bleak, I would say.

[Joanna Robinson]

But we're back. We're back, baby. We got a lot going on in the Prestige feed. We've got our miniseries hooked that we're doing or we're going through some of our very favorite shows of all time. Breaking Bad, Mad Men. We got a couple more shows on the horizon we're really excited about. What else are we doing, Rob?

[Rob Mahoney]

Today we're covering task.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yes.

[Rob Mahoney]

Very exciting to actually have good tv, good prestige tv, dare I say, back in our midst.

[Joanna Robinson]

We're going to be doing task week to week and then slow horses at the end of September. It's just, it's a really good time to be on the Prestige feed. We're really excited. Bill's joining us for Task today. It's going to be a good time.

[Rob Mahoney]

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[Bill Simmons]

Prestige TV podcast. We are back. Task.

[Joanna Robinson]

That's your most somber intro to a prestige episode ever.

[Bill Simmons]

It's a somber show.

[Rob Mahoney]

It is.

[Bill Simmons]

Rob said it was a hilarious show.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah. Laugh a minute is what I heard. Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

What's up, chicken butthole? Made me laugh louder than I would, I would honestly care to admit in any other context. But here we are.

[Bill Simmons]

Joanna Robinson right there. Rob Mahoney right here. I'm Bill Simmons. What was the last time we we convened? Been a minute for three of us last year, right?

[Rob Mahoney]

Oh, no. Your friends and neighbors. Over zoom.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah, over zoom. Not in person.

[Rob Mahoney]

No.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, hbo. I mean, on the bright side, we have a show like this again. On the downside, could have used it like six weeks ago.

[Rob Mahoney]

We really got it.

[Bill Simmons]

There was no sports and nothing going on.

[Joanna Robinson]

It was, it was a tough summer. Tough summer.

[Bill Simmons]

Maybe don't drop this during week one. Football season, that was. Jomie was complaining about that beforehand. But I, I, I'm just glad we have a show like this again. It's Only seven episodes. Yeah. Brad Inglesby. I don't know. Where do you want to start?

[Joanna Robinson]

This is one of the best pilots I've seen or first episodes I've seen maybe since the Pit at the beginning of the year. I would say just in terms of putting us in the world, giving us characters that we care about. There's a lot in this episode. It's only 66 minutes, but there's just a bunch of short scenes and you just feel like you've learned a lot. We go through two B and Es, you know, a character I already cared about has already. Spoiler alert. Died, you know, so, like, it's just a lot going on.

[Rob Mahoney]

The moment he announced his impending nuptials, that guy was cooked. But I did not make it.

[Joanna Robinson]

Episode one, though. That is fair.

[Rob Mahoney]

Well, so for you, Jill, what was the we are so back moment? This has been a slow summer for tv, as Bill said. When did you feel like? Okay, we got it.

[Joanna Robinson]

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[Bill Simmons]

I had my guard up the whole time because I was like, this is really good. This is really good. And then when Ruffalo is with the priest and he's. And he was super drunk, singing the rock song.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And he was. I was like, oh, man, you got me. I'm giving myself to this show. But all actors I like.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

I didn't even recognize the. The. Oh, man, I'm blanking on the Oscar movie Coda. Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh, yeah, the girl from Coda. Amelia Jones. Yeah, Amelia Jones. Like, Merve Sound. There's a Lot of Brits here doing Delco accents.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, Tom Pelfrey, who had an unbelievable Ozark season.

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh, my God.

[Bill Simmons]

And was one of those where you thought, man, after this season, he's be a major, major star. And it didn't quite happen, but maybe it'll happen now.

[Joanna Robinson]

He did, like, out of range, but I've been waiting for something to really, really show him off, and I think this is going to do it.

[Rob Mahoney]

It already is, for sure. And that character, like, has to work for this show to really hit high highs. Like, we're going to be in on Mark Ruffalo leading a task force, solving a crime. Great. I would be in just on, as you're saying, Joe, like, the domestic drama version of just his home life with his, like, you know, brother's kid and his own kids and, like, their tangled web. Like, I'm in on that stuff, taking away the crime elements.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, they're doing this. So have you gone ahead or no?

[Joanna Robinson]

No.

[Bill Simmons]

Have you?

[Joanna Robinson]

No.

[Bill Simmons]

Have you gone?

[Rob Mahoney]

Have you? I have not.

[Bill Simmons]

I haven't. And my wife was furious. She does it every time.

[Joanna Robinson]

It was tough.

[Bill Simmons]

You'll never know. Just do it. I'm like, I'll know. The audience will know.

[Joanna Robinson]

No, I wrote down, like, speculation questions, and I was like, it won't be fun to ask these questions if I already know the answer.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, because it feels like we're setting up for. Ruffalo's going this way, Pelfrey's going this way, and we're doing Heat. We're gonna do this. We're doing Heat.

[Joanna Robinson]

We're doing Heat. And Heat, that's what I'm here for. And Inglesby has said, I'm doing Heat. And so he's not pretending. And so I would be deeply surprised if our guy Robbie makes it out of this season of television alive. And the fact that I already know that and I'm willing to be deeply invested anyway is, I think, a testament.

[Bill Simmons]

To what they're running in a small airport.

[Joanna Robinson]

Cash flying everywhere.

[Rob Mahoney]

One can only hope.

[Bill Simmons]

Very possible. We left out one other actor who I like from a show that I don't know how many people saw, but looking. That was on hbo. Like Robbie the barber guy.

[Joanna Robinson]

Exactly.

[Bill Simmons]

That was one of my wife's favorite shows. So I was in there, and that was the San Francisco classic. He got involved with the Jonathan Groff character, but I was like, that guy. And then I don't know what happened to him. And now he's back as one of the robbers.

[Joanna Robinson]

I think he does a lot of Theater, like Stage does some theater.

[Rob Mahoney]

He's picked up in this and that he was in, like Cha Cha, real smooth. He's again, smaller parts, but he is another character who based on his character and looking, if you put anyone in his orbit, I'm kind of rooting for them just on proximity. And so, like, I am. I'm totally bought in on the Pelfrey character already just because of their friendship and their relationship and, you know, their B and E history now.

[Bill Simmons]

So there wasn't a lot of press about this show yet because I think they're embargoed it and it's coming and we're taping this ahead of time. Inglesby said to ew, which was the only big feature I read so far. He said, the people that you know in life are essentially invisible. Every day, your mailman drives through your neighborhood. He knows your bills and magazines, and the trash men know what you're eating, your Amazon boxes. And that resonated. So he's going for, I'm going deep, Everyday people.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yes.

[Bill Simmons]

And then shit's gonna go down.

[Joanna Robinson]

And there's that great line when Cliff is in the one last job that they do when he's. When they're first scoping out, he's like, that guy was looking right at me. Robbie's like, no, he's looking right through you. Like everyone does. Right. No one ever sees us. And turns out that wasn't the case this time.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, then they really. What's that? Like the second scene, they're together. They're doing like the Pulp Fiction talking about what burgers are like in France kind of scene.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

I was like, I like these guys.

[Rob Mahoney]

I know they're both gonn you do.

[Joanna Robinson]

With your trash pickup on a private island, you know?

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

I have many questions about the trash boats.

[Joanna Robinson]

And also, Robbie is this, like, deeply. Again, this reminds me of De Niro and Heat, but like this deeply romantic figure talking about wanting to share his life with someone when he gets on the dating apps. And he's like, I believe people come into our life for a reason.

[Rob Mahoney]

Well, he almost says it, but he was.

[Joanna Robinson]

He might have hit send on that.

[Rob Mahoney]

You don't know. It's a fair point.

[Joanna Robinson]

We don't know, but, like, that's so important. Give him something in addition to his kids. But something like romantic to care about. And then fake name in the dating.

[Bill Simmons]

App is one of the things we learned, apparently. Yeah. If. If you don't want somebody to Google you, because things are going to come.

[Joanna Robinson]

Up Sil Bimmins, right?

[Rob Mahoney]

Classic Syl Bimmins.

[Bill Simmons]

You know, you're Googling one of these dudes, you're like, oh, my Lord, I didn't realize he robbed a bank.

[Rob Mahoney]

These guys have not heard about Google reverse image searching yet. Like, this is a solvable problem, unfortunately.

[Bill Simmons]

But that's episode two. Rob comes in, explains that too.

[Rob Mahoney]

I'm the professional here to help.

[Bill Simmons]

So the first three minutes of this show, I think are one of the best first three minutes of a show I can remember. It's got the pounding score ready. We're just seeing all these people, all these characters that we're going to have. It's moving and you know what the show is, which I think is so hard to pull off.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And I watched it a bunch of times. I was like, God damn, this is really good. It ends with like Ruffalo puts his little ID thing for his job on his desk.

[Rob Mahoney]

The brochures, the Hershey kicks.

[Bill Simmons]

You just know he's like, oh, this is a guy who clearly peaked 10 years ago and now he's kind of here and you just get a feel for everything. It's just really in Anglesby, he did Merveystown, which we should have mentioned earlier, but just as good at shows like this.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, there was a lot of waking up weary scenes in Maraviestown. That was like a classic Hallmark. I was curious what you guys think of Jeremiah Zager, who directed this. And he also did the Sandler, the Hustle basketball movie. Oh, you're right. And so I was just wondering if visually there was anything that reminded you of that.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, the Allen Iverson drop, you know, you got your obligatory mention to Philly hoops, but other than that, like, I was trying to figure out all that common thread. Cause yeah, there is. Like some of the performers have been in both of their projects. Both of those guys pop up. I think the relationship clearly works between writing and directing at a super high level. Establishing all that weariness. I think it lends itself to Inglesby in particular. Does a lot of real people, for lack of a better way to describe it, who are down on their luck, who are just trying to make it, who are on the edge of decency, but also trying to find something for themselves. And this is exactly that kind of story. Yet again, I think on both corners, to be honest with you.

[Joanna Robinson]

He loves a grown out bleach job. Like, if you've got a lot of roots in your bleached hair, you're going through it.

[Rob Mahoney]

What's his just trying to make it better than that.

[Joanna Robinson]

Exactly.

[Bill Simmons]

Well, the. We talk about this sometimes when we do the rewatchables, movies from the 70s and 80s and just this whole era when movies were about, I don't want to say normal people, but just everyday people. And that shifted for a lot of reasons. But the kind of people that we have in this movie easily could have been in some movie or in this TV show. Easily could have been in a movie in, like, 1978, where it's just like a two hour, whatever.

[Joanna Robinson]

Something that really unlocked for me. And I had written it in my notes, but I wasn't sure if it was just like a Joanna thing. But I was listening to an interview that Inglesby did with Roger Deakins where he was talking about, like, the movies that got him into movies. And he was like, number one, Breaking Away, which is my number one.

[Bill Simmons]

Oh, wow. So that's why he had that lying on the score.

[Joanna Robinson]

I was like, oh, we're doing cutters. And he was talking about how, like, in watching Breaking Away as a kid, he's like, how did this film capture what it was like for me and my friends? What are these walk and talk scenes? These just, like, ambling around, rolling our bikes around downtown, like, Indiana sort of thing. And so these scenes of we're just sharing sandwiches together and we're just having a conversation together. And it's so important to get us invested in these characters before we run into.

[Bill Simmons]

Before they're wearing scary.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Kidnapping children. Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

But there's something like, so, like, primordial about that. Like, I'm a man who's never been on a quarry before, you know, like, this is not a personal experience I have. And there's clearly, like, a level of specificity to the show that for, like, Chris and Andy will hit in a totally different register than it will for me. But there's something about the just sort of like, freewheeling nature of that moment that's like, this is summer. This is like a level of freedom and a level of success and a level of like, I'm just taking my mind off of anything that's happening in my life that is so easy to connect to and within the show that is bleak and is dark and has abductions and murder and like, at least an investigation into the drug trade also has this incredible levity and this lightness and this humanity in it that I'm just really is really clicking for me, for sure.

[Bill Simmons]

And then Ruffalo, who we'll talk about right after the break.

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[Joanna Robinson]

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[Bill Simmons]

Mark Ruffalo, what's your relationship?

[Joanna Robinson]

What is my. We were just talking about. You can count on me. Fucking rules. The 2000 draft.

[Rob Mahoney]

So good.

[Joanna Robinson]

Big pick draft. That's my introduction to Mark Ruffalo and I think it's one of the best things I've ever seen. I love this guy so much. And he was sort of in not MCU jail because, like, because he played.

[Rob Mahoney]

Because they couldn't make a Hulk.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, they couldn't. They legally couldn't make a Hulk movie. So he was not locked into. I'm making Hulk movie after Hulk movie. So he's got his like global fame because he is the Hulk. But then he also just picks extremely interesting side projects. He's doing your spotlights. He's doing the kids are all right. He's doing whatever it is. And you know, Inglesby, the reason Inglesby got mare b sound made was that he made the pitch to Kate Winslet.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

And the first thing he did on this was he made the pitch to Mark Ruffalo. His, his move is get the star on and then everything will flow from there. And so I love that Ruffalo wanted to. To do this and get really into this deeply broken bad dad.

[Bill Simmons]

But he's good at that, you know? Yeah. Yeah, he is. I mean, we've had him 25 years now. No, I. I'll save some of my thoughts for the you can count on me rewatchables. Because we haven't done that on Russell. Because I love that movie. I honestly love that.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah, Bleak Week on the rewatchables just.

[Bill Simmons]

Totally down the rabbit hole. It's interesting to think about his career in the 21st century context versus the 20th century context because. So he hits in that movie and then he does some really cool, interesting. Like he did this movie called XXXY that I really liked and I thought was just weird and cool and really different. It's just gone. I don't even know. You don't find that on streaming at this point. But then he was also like, everyone was saying, this is the next guy. This is the next big thing. So then you kind of have to go down the rom com side. You got to go on the superhero side.

[Joanna Robinson]

Reese Witherspoon, and he's. He's kind of straddling going on 13.

[Bill Simmons]

I always felt like he just wanted to do things like this. Like this part in this show.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, exactly.

[Bill Simmons]

But then was paying the bills with the other side. But that's also what Hollywood wants. They. They're just pushing you to this other side. And I don't know. He. He straddled it both. But then you see him in something like Spotlight, like, guy's a great actor.

[Joanna Robinson]

But then you see him in crappy.

[Bill Simmons]

Rom com number four, and it's like, why is he in this?

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, he's not doing those anymore. And I think. I think he found his lane with Hulk because he's. He's in the new Avengers movies. He's going to be filming in his little, like, mocap suit for the new Avengers movies. Right. But that's kind of light work compared to, I have to do a whole rom com. I get to do, I don't know, 15 minutes in Avengers, you know, Doomsday or whatever it is.

[Bill Simmons]

So, like, he took, like, Ed norton in the 90s, and then he kind of passed the torch to Ruffalo as like, the next guy to just be in weird movies. Like, Ruffalo easily could have been in 25th hour. Yes. If it was like five years later. But Norton, there were. There were movies. He never would have done that. I feel like Ruffalo a couple times kind of caved on.

[Rob Mahoney]

I think that's probably true. I mean, their presences are a little different. Like, Edward Norton's version of charisma is a little harder edged. Even still, Ruffalo has a softness and a Warmth to him that makes it really effective when he's like the world wearied, beaten down by his circumstances kind of guy in all of these dramas. And so it's like I can understand a producer or director saying, let's put that guy opposite a Hollywood starlet of some kind in a rom com. I get the formula and I get how we kind of are still in that space. And it's what makes him so good on the dramatic side too, ultimately.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Xxxy he has some. Some college girlfriend. All of them kind of intersected at one point. And then they go like. Goes like fast forward like maybe six, seven years and he's with somebody else, but runs into the old girlfriend. And then all of a sudden they may or may not have had sex in the kitchen when the. When the new girlfriend walked in. And it just gets weird. It's like these are the. There's like. It should be a special channel for movies like this. Like up kind of sexual.

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Romance gone wrong. You're like indie. Nobody makes a lot of money. That kind of just weird.

[Rob Mahoney]

There is a channel. It's called the Ringer dot com. It's basically always.

[Joanna Robinson]

I feel like you should do a miniseries for rewatch was called like Unfindables. And it's like the movies that you like, literally cannot find anymore that do exist.

[Rob Mahoney]

You had to buy for 1799 on YouTube or something like that.

[Bill Simmons]

But it's interesting. You Can Count on me is probably, I think what people would say was his best performance. And that was the first one.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

But I think he got nominated for that.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, spotlight may have transcended it in terms of like cultural footprint at this point. Just like a more recent audience. Why is that? Because they knew and they did nothing.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah. Nominated for the Kids are all right.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

His, you know, that's a weird movie accent choice. That's another thing that's in that.

[Bill Simmons]

That would be in that weird channel.

[Rob Mahoney]

That's the thing. Like, he can be a ham. He can like. We love the brothers Bloom too. Like, he's so good and so charismatic in that. And you need all of that if you're going to have drunk Ruffalo, hard boiled Ruffalo leading the task force. Ruffalo, like he's going to have to be all of these versions of himself.

[Joanna Robinson]

But this to go back to you talking about watching the opening multiple times. This episode we've all watched a couple times at least really rewards the rewatch because once you learn about the fact that he, you know, studied and Became a priest for a while. We get the scene later with his friend where he's talking about his lack of faith and how he doesn't give a shit anymore. And then you rewatch the opening where he is like reluctantly but kneeling down to pray when he gets up, you know, and it's just sort of like.

[Bill Simmons]

I missed that one the first time.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah. Like. Well, I was like, why is this such an. An onerous task for him? And then you find out his whole history and you watch it again and it's just sort of like this guy is just bird watching his way through life.

[Bill Simmons]

Did you have baggage with that? With what you knew about the show before you watched it, or did you watch a blind. Which.

[Rob Mahoney]

What baggage would. Would you be holding?

[Bill Simmons]

Well, I didn't know anything.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

So I thought when they. Especially when we had the home invasion pretty early, I'm like, oh, yeah, home invasion time.

[Rob Mahoney]

And that's. That scene. Fucking rips. Yeah. The first home invasion especially is just like so violent, so kinetic and really.

[Joanna Robinson]

Good designs are really.

[Rob Mahoney]

Are you more demon, werewolf or skull? Gu.

[Joanna Robinson]

Skull guy all the way.

[Rob Mahoney]

I always thought you were.

[Bill Simmons]

What's. What's hall of fame, all time mask for you, though? Point break.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, point breaks. The presidents are right up there.

[Bill Simmons]

The town is pretty good. Like, I kind of falls out of the cracks.

[Rob Mahoney]

Nuns in the town or whatever.

[Bill Simmons]

They're like nuns. Because you want to cover like from here down.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yes.

[Bill Simmons]

If you move around. I got to say, my mask.

[Joanna Robinson]

I got to say, when I got our guy Cliff, when both of them took their masks off before they were out of that house, I was like, don't do that.

[Rob Mahoney]

Don't do it.

[Joanna Robinson]

Don't do that, man.

[Rob Mahoney]

But I also needed the relief of knowing that Cliff was not the one who got shot. You know, Like, I needed that. As you were personally.

[Bill Simmons]

That's why they did it.

[Rob Mahoney]

I appreciate it.

[Joanna Robinson]

So the kid could like, yeah. ID them.

[Rob Mahoney]

That's really it.

[Bill Simmons]

But the first watch, I thought it was gonna be more violent. And then when we're in the kitchen with. With him just singing to the priest and I'm like, all right, all bets are off. I don't know where this is going. Like the second episode, there might be no violence at all. Maybe it might be them just playing backgammon with a 10 year old kid. I have to shout her now.

[Rob Mahoney]

Just a babysitting show from then forth.

[Joanna Robinson]

Were you. So they try to build tension at the end of the episode of like, did they kill the kid or not? Was there A minute where you thought that might be what the show was?

[Bill Simmons]

Well, we should talk about that because that was the best moment in the show. Because I thought they were gonna kill the kid.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah, I thought it was possible. It's clear. Like, something is gonna escalate.

[Bill Simmons]

They look at each other and it was like, oh, my. They're gonna kill the kid.

[Joanna Robinson]

The relay of calls, you know, four dead bodies and then. Well, actually, there was a kid in the house, you know, and we're on. We're on tenterhooks. But, yeah, I just thought the echo. Like the fact that the episode opens with Robbie carrying his son, you know, to his sister's bed in the morning and all of that, and then ends with him carrying this kid in. Great idea, guys. Bring the kid home. This is going to be fine.

[Bill Simmons]

So you got some different thoughts on parenthood is a theme. There's religion, I think is going to be a big piece of the show.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah. But we're. There's going to be something about faith that I think is looming. That would be my only guess. I think they laid some groundwork for that.

[Rob Mahoney]

Well, we also don't really know exactly what's happened with Ruffalo's character's son as of yet.

[Joanna Robinson]

I have.

[Rob Mahoney]

What's your hunch?

[Bill Simmons]

Your hunch is a flashback, isn't it? Oh, well, yeah, because little cgi, Ruffalo.

[Joanna Robinson]

Seven years early age, they cast Moray Enos from the Killing as his wife. Like, she's in the family photo. So we're definitely at least getting some.

[Bill Simmons]

The lead from the Killing.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah. The redhead from the Killing.

[Bill Simmons]

Wow.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah. So she's.

[Bill Simmons]

What's she been up to?

[Joanna Robinson]

Waiting for her moment to be in a photo.

[Rob Mahoney]

In that photo. So it's the old family photo. Classic little transporter device for a show like this. We get Ruffalo's character, Tom, we get ostensibly his wife. We get the daughter we know, Emily, and presumably her brother, who we know is in prison, but we don't know why. And then another young girl who could be a friend, who could be another sibling. Do we know who that is?

[Joanna Robinson]

So this is what I think we've got. He was a priest and she was a girl. This is. Can it be any more obvious? Some sort of missionary trip. I believe Emily, the daughter we have spent some time with who's working at the water ice place and the son who's in prison were adopted.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yes.

[Joanna Robinson]

And then there's like a biological, third.

[Rob Mahoney]

Older, who's out of the house, who's.

[Joanna Robinson]

Just not around right now. Exactly.

[Bill Simmons]

But something bad happened that made him stop being a priest. There was some sort of catalyst for that too.

[Rob Mahoney]

That we left the priesthood and won't even visit his son in prison.

[Bill Simmons]

There's something. So something's looming with that.

[Joanna Robinson]

The paperwork that he looks at when he's in the meeting with the lawyer. Third degree murder in the third degree. Would not take his medication. Had voices telling him to kill. Assaulted the spouse. So I believe this son killed his wife and that's what he's in jail for. But not. But like, due to a psychotic break. And if these were like adopted kids, there might be this tension that Emily, you know, feels in terms of like.

[Bill Simmons]

Sure.

[Joanna Robinson]

Do you regret adopting us? If my, you know, if my brother killed our mom or something like that.

[Rob Mahoney]

If that is what happened. Ruffalo's in great shape. Like, that's a lot to go through. And this is only. It's. I don't think we don't get the impression it's that much later if sentencing is still happening.

[Joanna Robinson]

Exactly. So I think he left the priesthood because Inglesby did say in an interview that he's. I think it was his uncle who was a priest and then left the priesthood or something like that. But he was like interested in. In this strain of FBI agent who used to be priests. What made you leave the priesthood and become an FBI agent? So we don't know what that decision was. But then it seems like an even more recent horror. And once again, this is just me doing my best freeze frame Mahoney impression and looking at legal documents.

[Bill Simmons]

If we think the kid. The murder kid. If your theory is correct.

[Rob Mahoney]

Classic murder kid.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

The forgot to take the meds excuse opens the door for forgiveness in the heart. Because it wasn't totally your fault.

[Rob Mahoney]

He doesn't seem ready to do a.

[Bill Simmons]

Big scene with a glass window.

[Rob Mahoney]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And right. I'm on my meds. I understand.

[Joanna Robinson]

Because if you refuse to visit.

[Bill Simmons]

Classic trope and show.

[Rob Mahoney]

It is a classic.

[Joanna Robinson]

If you refuse to visit the kid in the first episode, it means you have to, like, agree to visit the kid before the finale.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's true.

[Joanna Robinson]

Mid season.

[Rob Mahoney]

You got to come back.

[Joanna Robinson]

What are we doing?

[Rob Mahoney]

If we don't have one conversation with phones through glass. Like, what are we even doing?

[Bill Simmons]

I mean. And so many ways to go. You could just whip the drink at the glass. You could spit at the glass.

[Joanna Robinson]

The Philly's.

[Bill Simmons]

You could pound the glass.

[Rob Mahoney]

I am glad this is one of those things that transcends all Regional specificity. The like oversized plastic cup from a ball game that's then used to just guzzle alcohol is really an American tradition that has no equal.

[Joanna Robinson]

I am impressed that he's still mixing it. He's still getting. He's still squeezing the lines.

[Rob Mahoney]

His finger though, still.

[Joanna Robinson]

But he's still like going into the trouble to squeeze the lines.

[Rob Mahoney]

I gotta say. Tom Pelfrey, exceptional actor, incredible presence on this show.

[Bill Simmons]

Him I didn't write.

[Rob Mahoney]

Double fingering ice cream out of the. Out of the vat from the freezer is one of the most deeply upsetting things we're going to see on television this year.

[Bill Simmons]

Did you recognize him?

[Rob Mahoney]

Just in the show.

[Bill Simmons]

Like I didn't make the Ozark guy connection.

[Rob Mahoney]

Oh.

[Bill Simmons]

And then I was that one.

[Rob Mahoney]

He was. He was billed highly enough as being part of the show.

[Bill Simmons]

I just forgot I watched it during COVID I don't remember two years of.

[Joanna Robinson]

COVID So good in that.

[Bill Simmons]

Just all blank slate.

[Joanna Robinson]

I. Never mind. I'm not. I'm glad Mallory isn't here for whatever that was that you just did with the ice cream gesture.

[Rob Mahoney]

But that's what happened on the show.

[Joanna Robinson]

Uh, should we talk about Martha Pumpton? I have a question for you, Bill. If you were to call me into your office and I brought you a lovely bag of garden grown tomatoes, would you cherish that gift from me or would you just drop them on the ground?

[Bill Simmons]

I would cherish it. But I see Martha Pumpton and it's just like all bets are off because she's been going for I will steal every Sina status for about six years here.

[Joanna Robinson]

She's fantastic. She's. She's carrying the Mayor Easttown torch into this show. Really?

[Bill Simmons]

She's coming in hot.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

So we know she's the surly police chief and we know that there's going to be more to come on her.

[Rob Mahoney]

Way out to her, you know.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

Nothing to lose.

[Joanna Robinson]

Retirement. Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

That's it. If you could mix that plot in with. Wasn't quite on the meds.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yes.

[Bill Simmons]

But now is on the. Like we just merge those two.

[Joanna Robinson]

She knows the family. She's asking about Emily. So she's close enough to the family to know that's true. Do you want to talk about the three younger members of the task force?

[Rob Mahoney]

Let's, please.

[Bill Simmons]

So that was my biggest question about the show. If I had to nitpick anything.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay.

[Bill Simmons]

Too many characters. I didn't love the three characters. I didn't really understand what they were going for. I thought it just. They're Trying to make it too quirky. And I thought that was the weakest scene.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay.

[Bill Simmons]

I thought they were just trying too.

[Joanna Robinson]

Hard with it, the intro scene, but not the, like, later investigation.

[Bill Simmons]

Do I smell mold and all that?

[Joanna Robinson]

I was like, all right. I really like her and I like her being Lizzie. Lizzie, yeah. State trooper Lizzie, sure. And I like this sort of she's the one who bothered to talk to the neighbors moment that she has at the end of the episode.

[Rob Mahoney]

Didn't read the file, though. Well, didn't do her homework.

[Joanna Robinson]

Maybe it got Connor Spamfold there. You don't know. But I got a shout out. My guy. Fabian Frankel, sir. Kristen Cole from House of the Dragon here as a. I never watched.

[Bill Simmons]

I don't know who that is. Is he in the Mavericks?

[Rob Mahoney]

Honestly, Criston Cole, great pick, great potential, high reach.

[Joanna Robinson]

Anthony Grasso.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

Love this. I'm really excited for this.

[Bill Simmons]

So just Deep Joe cuts right here.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Okay.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

Kristen Cole. I will say, as far as, you know, a laugh a minute show like, task Lizzie on the phone to what I assume is her soon to be ex husband saying, is that what you're doing, like, crawling around my place writing your name on all my stuff, you little raccoon fucking. Yeah, look, it's just good writing.

[Joanna Robinson]

But when she exits the scene later and she's like, I've changed my mind. I'm keeping the recliner.

[Rob Mahoney]

That stuff was pretty broad, though. I will say, like, the three characters, like, we need to very quickly establish who they are in relation to each other. And like, okay, here's. Here's the clean freak. Here's the girl who's kind of a hot mess and trying to get her life together. Here's the guy who's like a little bit down the middle, but we're trying to still figure him out. It is the broadest part of the show, especially when you contrast it to the slow play of everything that's happening with Ruffalo and Pelfrey, too.

[Joanna Robinson]

Did you get hooked into watching Saltburn the year it came out?

[Rob Mahoney]

I did.

[Bill Simmons]

Not the movie, yeah, it was big in my house. I only watched it once.

[Joanna Robinson]

So the actress who's playing the state trooper is like the sister in Saltburn, and she had a lot to do in that movie. This is a very different part for her, but she is actually always hot. Mess Express. This is just a more American version.

[Bill Simmons]

I would have potentially not even introduce those characters now. I'm giving Brad Inglesby notes, but I would have. It was 66 minutes if you were going to cut a scene and move it to episode two. I probably would have done that.

[Joanna Robinson]

That's fair.

[Bill Simmons]

I'm not sure we needed them. I was really enjoying the two worlds that we were kind of messing.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

And you're like, we've got a hole to fill because Peach Boy is no longer with us.

[Rob Mahoney]

No.

[Joanna Robinson]

And it's going to take rest in power. Peach Boy, it's going to take three whole characters to fill his shoes. So.

[Rob Mahoney]

But I think the contrast of that, of if we did just do the version of the pilot that's just centered around the two guys on opposite sides of the law. The way it's sort of like slow playing, the introductions of them. And in particular, I'll say with Robbie, where it's like you see them as garbage men and it's like, are they garbage men? Are they PIs? Are they undercover cops? Like, why are they sifting through all the trash at these drug houses? The way that's all slowly pieced together as you're meeting his family, as you're getting a sense of these relationships. And I think the pull the rug aspect with that character in particular from this isn't just like a nice, well meaning single dad trying to do the best he can. He is the freeloading brother of a dead man living in his brother's kid's house, like, snooping at stealing her weed out of her drawer. I think the way that they deploy all that stuff is so smart.

[Joanna Robinson]

Maeve, Emilia Jones character is like third build in this show. And I was curious why, but now knowing that there's gonna be another kid in the house that they stole from and she's going to have this tension of like, am I complicit in this? Do I take care of this kid? Do I have suspicions about where this kid came from? What do I do? So, yeah, I thought she was really good. Emilia Jones for sure. As the sister, as the good actress. Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Considering I didn't even recognize her.

[Rob Mahoney]

She transformed.

[Bill Simmons]

She really did.

[Joanna Robinson]

It's the micro bangs they'll get you every time.

[Bill Simmons]

All kinds of stuff happening. We should mention this is the second most important TV pot on the ringer. Recapping this because this is set in the Philly area. This is like fucking crack cocaine for Greenwald and Chris.

[Joanna Robinson]

Absolutely unbelievable. It's like Brad made it for them, honestly.

[Bill Simmons]

He's like trying to fuck with them. If there's a scene at Bad Brothers, what's Chris's bar? I think that's what it's called. There's A scene in that bar. I'm gonna go nuts. Then we'll know he's, like, deliberately antagonizing that in some way. All right, let's go through the episode really quick. So we get all the setup. We get the two seemingly not bad, likable guys talking about their love lives while they kind of stalk a house grabbing stuff out of garbage. One of them is a criminal with a heart of gold putting his kids to bed, which is a nice guy.

[Joanna Robinson]

They both have pretty goldie hearts.

[Bill Simmons]

Other guy just wants to meet somebody.

[Rob Mahoney]

Gold adjacent gold. Until it comes time to just, like, beat the shit out of the kid who's in your house.

[Joanna Robinson]

But. But Cliff is like, don't worry. You don't have to make me dinner. I'll take care of myself.

[Rob Mahoney]

That honestly was a good move. You know, the Reed Drummond recipe that may have busts out. First of all, Reed Drummond probably has grounds for slander for this episode. Extremely tough. That said, also inedible.

[Bill Simmons]

And then we get the Ruffalo side. I was like, all right, this guy's either putting his life back together or his life is kind of settled here. So we get that whole setup, and then we just get a home invasion pretty early. It's like 20 minutes in.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And the switch flips, and it's like, okay, here we go. Really, as Rob said, really nice and clean. Just a good scene.

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, you have to see it go well before you see it go terribly.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, it's like clockwork. The first time.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

And honestly, it sounds like the first, like 10 times. It's just they pushed a little too far with the one last job.

[Bill Simmons]

I guess I did have a nitpick about how big is this area? And wouldn't it be easy to just find these guys?

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, I think they're robbing multiple counties drug dealers. Yeah. And that they were hitting multiple counties.

[Rob Mahoney]

Multiple counties. But most of these houses are run by one gang.

[Joanna Robinson]

It sounds like one motorcycle club. I love an emcee.

[Bill Simmons]

Do we get the motorcycle club episode? Possibly.

[Joanna Robinson]

I mean, we're going to get more.

[Bill Simmons]

Switch out of there.

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh, just to, like, Sons of Anarchy time.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah. We're just for a half hour with the prospect.

[Rob Mahoney]

That sounds phenomenal.

[Bill Simmons]

And what's going on with the Pennsylvania motor club scene?

[Joanna Robinson]

We're about to find out.

[Rob Mahoney]

Let's true detective this, like, somebody goes undercover in the motorcycle club. I don't know who it's going to. Maybe that's. Maybe that's a job for Lizzie. You know, just the attitude.

[Bill Simmons]

Feuding with Joel Embiid.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And then we get some Robbie Maeve.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Unusual name.

[Joanna Robinson]

Irish.

[Bill Simmons]

There was one.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's 2025.

[Bill Simmons]

Maeve Quinlan. Right. That was an actress. Can't remember. I'm trying to think of other Maes.

[Joanna Robinson]

Maeve Vinci, author. It's a very Irish name.

[Bill Simmons]

Very Irish. Anyway, they start battling that sign. He's hiding in the closet watching her hook up.

[Joanna Robinson]

That was a great scene.

[Rob Mahoney]

Great.

[Joanna Robinson]

Like, really the whole thing, like, him walking in with the headphones on and, like, dancing around to the music. The fact that they have both guys, like, enjoying music and dancing around the music at a certain point in this episode, both in train wreck scenes. But I just thought that was, like, really great. I love the tattoo assortment on Tom Pelfrey. Like, we haven't talked about the fact that he's like, his dead brother is this big weight that's hanging on him.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah. So what do we think that backstory is?

[Joanna Robinson]

I don't know, 2023. So fairly fresh.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, could be a different kind of job gone wrong. It's hard to say. Like, maybe it's completely unrelated to all this stuff. I don't know.

[Bill Simmons]

I had go Drunk driver.

[Joanna Robinson]

Drunk driver. We're Press issue via Spotify.com I was trying to source. There's like, this medallion hanging from his rear view mirror that has wings on it and, like, the date of when Billy died. And I was trying to see if it, like, is this Air Force or is this just, like, angel wing stuff? So anyway, if anyone has medallion information and wants to email us, I would like to know.

[Rob Mahoney]

Joe, you're coming in with the freeze frames with the incredible accuracy. I also say, like, yes, email [e-mail] I did investigate whether we should get an email address for this show. Specifically. I did try snickerdoodle223mail.com.

[Joanna Robinson]

Was it taken?

[Rob Mahoney]

Unfortunately, it was already taken, so we'll have to come up with something.

[Joanna Robinson]

Did you try emailing it to see if, like, HBO is. Is raising?

[Rob Mahoney]

That would be a great bit.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Joe heard that somebody said online prestige peaked during White Lotus. She's like, you. Oh, no, just wait.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, just wait.

[Bill Simmons]

My freeze frame game is going up a notch. So we have the actual Robert. Well, Ruffalo getting bomb with the priest. What was the rock song?

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh, I looked it up.

[Bill Simmons]

I feel like I know all the rock songs and that was one where I was like, I kind of like this. I don't know what it is.

[Joanna Robinson]

It's out of Africa.

[Bill Simmons]

It's an African rock song.

[Joanna Robinson]

Like they were.

[Rob Mahoney]

I think it's outside of your listening.

[Joanna Robinson]

But it's. They. The band. I don't have it in front of me. The band was inspired by Jimi Hendrix. I know that. And that was good. It was really good.

[Rob Mahoney]

The music budget on the show, generally, very good. The selection, amazing.

[Bill Simmons]

I like the music. Come on, Danny, take your collar off.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah. Now you're just a guy.

[Bill Simmons]

Let's get rowdy in the kitchen.

[Joanna Robinson]

Can I tell you something? That another movie that I got really excited about that this reminded me of.

[Rob Mahoney]

Please.

[Joanna Robinson]

And this is just like a confession time for me. I really like the movie Signs. And this reminds me of Signs wherein deeply unproblematic actor Mel Gibson plays a former priest. Your fave given up priesthood because his wife died. And he has lost his faith in God and has, you know, children to take care of. And also an alien invasion. So what. What is more like an alien invasion than a home invasion, I ask you? But, like, that idea of the former priest who's, like, bitter about God but still believes and is wrestling with it.

[Rob Mahoney]

Especially because of personal tragedy. Right. He was wrestling with it for that reason. Do people not like science? Do you like Signs in that Shyamalan song?

[Bill Simmons]

Only seen it once. People tend to revisit it.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's definitely revisited. It's. It's worth. It's worth the rewatch, you know?

[Bill Simmons]

I mean, is it really?

[Rob Mahoney]

Absolutely.

[Joanna Robinson]

I really like.

[Rob Mahoney]

Joaquin is literally batting a thousand in it. Like, I mean, he's really coming off.

[Joanna Robinson]

Baby. Abigail Breslin is in it. Got a Culkin in it.

[Rob Mahoney]

You know, honestly. And one of the great freeze frame moments in film history in terms of that alien coming across the alleyway.

[Bill Simmons]

Does Mo go to Moon Shadows and get bombed and then insult some cops or that's a different movie in between scenes.

[Joanna Robinson]

Exactly.

[Bill Simmons]

That priest, by the way, I don't know if he was kind of into how fucked up Ruffalo was.

[Rob Mahoney]

He'd seen it before for sure, 20% of it.

[Bill Simmons]

It was like, I kind of came here knowing this would happen and I'm ready for it.

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, like, he's like, I'm with you.

[Bill Simmons]

I'll be carrying this guy up tonight.

[Joanna Robinson]

I'm with you through this. What? This I got here. You're drunk.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yep.

[Joanna Robinson]

I brought you some pork sandwiches to try to soak it up. It's obviously not working, so I'm just gonna, like, you know, when he tells. When the daughter has seen it so often that she knows how to turn his head so that he won't aspirate on his own vomit and stuff like that. And he says he'll find his way through this, right? So this idea is like, I'm going to be here as his friend through all of this.

[Rob Mahoney]

So, yeah, their relationship I just found to be really sweet. Like again, there's so many, like, lived in aspects of the show from the jump. That does make some of the clunkier introductions stick out a little bit.

[Bill Simmons]

Who turns your head so you don't aspirate in your own vomit? Is it just your wife or are there other people that.

[Joanna Robinson]

Would the dog do it for you?

[Rob Mahoney]

I think the dog would do it. You know, you train them well, they will take care of you.

[Bill Simmons]

And then the robbery scene, which is like high end action level. The second one, we get two twists. There's a guy coming up the stairs like, oh, that guy's gonna die. Nope. He kills one of the three. And then we get the second twist of the hands coming out and twist of the kid.

[Rob Mahoney]

And losing the gun is the first twist.

[Joanna Robinson]

I do.

[Bill Simmons]

Oh, yeah. I guess it's a four twist scene.

[Joanna Robinson]

I have a lot of notes for let's hear everyone in the scene. But here's what I have to say. If you want to survive the day, I don't think you should scream. We've seen your face. We've seen your face. We know you. That's not. That's not guaranteeing you're going to make it out of the other side of this home invasion.

[Bill Simmons]

Talk this out. What's the upside of that?

[Joanna Robinson]

None.

[Rob Mahoney]

Honestly.

[Bill Simmons]

Basically, it's like, just shoot me.

[Rob Mahoney]

I know you are in real life. Absolutely. For a TV show, as three people who know this, I did think it was like kind of a flex. It's like we are so unafraid of you and you're like second rate bullshit. We've already seen you know who you are and we almost like are daring you to shoot us.

[Bill Simmons]

It is a fun action character trope as the. The female in the room who is so unafraid that she's actually on the attack. Point Break had a great one where they just come. Oh, yeah, she's fighting everybody in the thing for five minutes. But yeah, that, that. I don't know who that actress was, but she was bringing it.

[Rob Mahoney]

She was feisty.

[Joanna Robinson]

From Amanda Plummer. We've seen your face. Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

And then we get the. Oh, we gotta take the kid as the ending. And then a nice little Brad Inglesby the house and the shot going backwards and we're just back In Nowhere America.

[Joanna Robinson]

But having. I really like that we had the earlier argument between Maeve and Robbie on that same deck area. Definitely. So that we know, okay, he's going into this peaceful house, but there's already so much tension inside this house. And now he's bringing a child he's stolen into the mix.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's gonna go great.

[Joanna Robinson]

It's gonna be fun.

[Rob Mahoney]

Had to be begged to stay. And now I'm sure Maeve is gonna have no questions whatsoever.

[Bill Simmons]

Rob, should we do task character baggage rankings?

[Rob Mahoney]

I would love to hear it.

[Bill Simmons]

I think Ruffalo's character's won.

[Joanna Robinson]

How much ice is he going through if he has to do a whole sink full of ice every morning?

[Rob Mahoney]

It was a lot. The full plunge.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yes.

[Rob Mahoney]

Intense.

[Joanna Robinson]

Every morning.

[Bill Simmons]

Might be the daughter. Ruffalo's daughter, too.

[Rob Mahoney]

She's going through it.

[Bill Simmons]

She's lost multiple family members. She's got to worry about her dad throwing up on himself every night.

[Rob Mahoney]

Well, she's not put in the position. You know, the show is kind of like setting this up dramatically. The question of whether she will testify or not in her brother's sentencing statement.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

And then question within that. If you are her and your, I assume, biological brother killed your adopted mother, if that's what we're assuming happened. Do you want him to get off less? Do you not want him to get off easy? Like, she's in such a difficult position. So the baggage is high.

[Bill Simmons]

That's probably. And then probably. Tom Pelfrey's character is probably.

[Joanna Robinson]

I don't know. What about Maeve?

[Rob Mahoney]

Maeve is tough. Lost. Her dad is a 20 year old who's basically having to raise several kids who are not her own siblings, one.

[Joanna Robinson]

Of whom is Waldo Walf. Art jokes.

[Rob Mahoney]

Waldwal. Look, feature bug. You decide. And her uncle, who's just like, basically a deadbeat sleeping in the other room.

[Joanna Robinson]

And doesn't know how to cook something.

[Bill Simmons]

That doesn't look like it maybe might be third.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

I don't know what happened. Like, how do you put cheese in the oven and it doesn't melt? Like, what did you do to that cheese?

[Joanna Robinson]

What was that cheese?

[Rob Mahoney]

I don't know.

[Joanna Robinson]

It was so marshmallowy.

[Rob Mahoney]

It was clumpy in a feta way. But feta would melt. No. Many questions.

[Bill Simmons]

It would be funny to see Brad Inglesby tackle Big Little Lies as his next show. Or something like high end wealthy. Something glossier like the Hamptons. Just people making bad grilled cheeses.

[Joanna Robinson]

Have you had water ice? I don't think I Have frozen custard. It's good.

[Rob Mahoney]

I've had water ice.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

I've had Rita specifically.

[Joanna Robinson]

There are two Rita's in Los Angeles. So dare I suggest for the finale, we should maybe get it? I would love it, but I have.

[Rob Mahoney]

Not had the cherry flavor that apparently has cherry bits in it.

[Joanna Robinson]

Mare of East Town was the first time I'd ever had a Philly cheesesteak. I'd never had one before, so that was like my. My first time ever.

[Bill Simmons]

Overrated, right?

[Joanna Robinson]

It really is.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

I'm actually not a fan at all.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, low key. The pork sandwich is better, like, straight up. As far as Philly delicacies go, the.

[Bill Simmons]

Irony of local delicacies is that almost always they're overrated.

[Rob Mahoney]

Are there any you're willing to go to bat for?

[Bill Simmons]

Like, the lobster roll is another one. Lobster rolls can be good.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

But people think when they go to Massachusetts in the Cape, it's like, got to get the lobster roll. It's like, I don't know if you do. Really depends on where you're getting it from. You might not have the greatest experience. Vermont sandwiches in Pittsburgh is another one.

[Joanna Robinson]

I would say prestigev.Spotify.com but Chicago. Deep, deep pizza. I like. Sorry, I couldn't even say it. I did not have a great time.

[Rob Mahoney]

It is lasagna, but I like it.

[Joanna Robinson]

No, I like it in general, but I was just like, nothing about the ones I had.

[Bill Simmons]

In Chicago, pizza is lasagna.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

Which is.

[Bill Simmons]

You got to get some great Bay.

[Joanna Robinson]

Area versions of deep dish. But then I went to Chicago. I was like, this isn't any better.

[Bill Simmons]

The first three bites are great, and then it goes like this. It's like a Charlotte Hornets season NBA joke for Rob. It starts out great, and all of a sudden, Lamello's on disabled.

[Joanna Robinson]

This.

[Rob Mahoney]

I think you're being very kind to the Charlotte Hornets with that comparison.

[Bill Simmons]

You just feel sick after, like, two slices.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's intense.

[Bill Simmons]

It's like a lasagna crossed with. I don't know what. But yeah. So anyway, local delicacies. Cheesesteak. It's fine.

[Joanna Robinson]

Would you go to bat for a local delicacy from your hometown?

[Bill Simmons]

Well, so the clam chowder.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, chowder.

[Bill Simmons]

And the scallops in general.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah, yeah. They're worth it.

[Bill Simmons]

The frat, like, if you get the fried scallop situation, because that's where stuff like that, it's. If you're getting it, like, out here, there, or maybe not in la, but let's say you're Middle America.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

They're sending you frozen scallops that they're then unfreezing and then serving to you. Right. If you're in the east coast, it's just like they, they got the scallops.

[Joanna Robinson]

Texas barbecue.

[Rob Mahoney]

Unimpeachable Tex Mex barbecue. Whataburger.

[Joanna Robinson]

Unimpeachable San Francisco sourdough burritos.

[Rob Mahoney]

You know what's not unimpeachable from the Bay? Dutch crunch. How do you feel about Dutch crunch?

[Joanna Robinson]

Disgusting.

[Rob Mahoney]

People try to sell me.

[Joanna Robinson]

I didn't know that was tri tip.

[Rob Mahoney]

I don't know what we're doing.

[Joanna Robinson]

I didn't know that was a Bay area problem. Okay. Interesting.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah. It's funny how Texas the and a couple other places, but really Texas barbecue is just different. It just is.

[Rob Mahoney]

It's a. It's a.

[Bill Simmons]

For a variety of reasons. It's weird that L. A is the second biggest city in America and has not figured out barbecue at all past like a B or a B plus.

[Joanna Robinson]

Bad news for brand new Angelino. Rob Mahoney.

[Rob Mahoney]

Extremely tough for me, but I will find it there.

[Bill Simmons]

One promising Dodger stadium. That's not that far from you. That is. Could be a good one.

[Rob Mahoney]

I've heard some interesting spots. I think the difference is the barbecue culture in Texas is so different. It's very much like I'm just going to commit to waiting in line for 90 minutes to two hours, drinking a beer while standing outside with my friends. Like that's just a part of the experience.

[Bill Simmons]

We have Koreatown here.

[Joanna Robinson]

I mean, I mean the bottom.

[Bill Simmons]

Like one of the best.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yes.

[Bill Simmons]

Scenes in the country.

[Joanna Robinson]

Bottom line is everyone's regional food is terrible except for Boston, all of Texas and the Bay Area and la. Yep.

[Bill Simmons]

I disparage Boston with the lobster rolls, but the chowder, it depends on the chowder.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay.

[Bill Simmons]

There's. I think people think.

[Joanna Robinson]

I'm sorry, I thought you were hitting it. Maine with the lobster rolls. I didn't know this. That was a. An own goal.

[Rob Mahoney]

Oh yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

Lobster rolls can be great. I'm just saying people think when you go it's just a blind order and it's going to be great. And it's like, just pick your spot.

[Rob Mahoney]

This isn't sushi in Tokyo. You can't just like roll up to the 711 equivalent in Boston.

[Bill Simmons]

Pick your spots.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay, that's it.

[Bill Simmons]

Predictions.

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, here's my question. Which fresh faced member of the task force is dying first?

[Rob Mahoney]

Is getting shot in the back of.

[Bill Simmons]

The head getting married?

[Rob Mahoney]

This is a great question. Well, we got one divorce on the book. So she seems safe. Lizzie seems safe by comparison.

[Bill Simmons]

Are.

[Joanna Robinson]

Are Lizzie and Anthony Grasso hooking up before the end of the season.

[Rob Mahoney]

Why not Aaliyah, though?

[Joanna Robinson]

Well, he keeps looking at Lizzie like this hot mess. And then he was like, but there's something about her.

[Rob Mahoney]

So you're seeing like an enemies to lovers situation for them.

[Joanna Robinson]

I don't know.

[Bill Simmons]

Whoever dies is gonna have some sort of backstory, like a scene taking care of their sick father. Like some. Something that'll make people. Oh, we can't lose them.

[Joanna Robinson]

I'm excited to learn more about Aliyah. We just got very little beyond one wet wipe, you know, which vindicated.

[Rob Mahoney]

That house is disgusting. You should wipe down anything that is touched there. Like, that's a fair perspective. I am already, like, already devastated for when Cliff dies in episode five or so because we got to start cutting off that, like the roads and the options for Robbie.

[Joanna Robinson]

Do you think the MC gets Cliff? I'm not sure who's going to get him, but Robbie.

[Rob Mahoney]

I mean, that is the kind of like the escalating stakes is that people are just start going to start dying in retribution because of this motorcycle club. So why not?

[Bill Simmons]

Cliffs had tough luck on HBO just in general. Finding happiness.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

So I'm.

[Rob Mahoney]

I don't know. The looking movie turned out okay. Look team Richie all the way. But, you know, he'll have his moment here before then. Hopefully.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

How about you?

[Bill Simmons]

Not even a very good barber.

[Rob Mahoney]

Okay, that's uncalled.

[Joanna Robinson]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Bill Simmons]

Admitted he wasn't a good barber. I think that the episode two normally is the reset. Take it easy. Set up episode three. Let's try to get some shit down, some character stuff in. And I don't think we're gonna learn a lot the next time we do an episode.

[Joanna Robinson]

I think we'll be like season, though.

[Bill Simmons]

There's a lot I know, but it's that they're gonna go and then episode three, and it'll just do that little dance.

[Joanna Robinson]

I feel like there's one episode we're just bird watching. We're just capturing new bird calls on the bird watching app and some quarry stuff.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah, we. We're definitely getting a couple twists. Right. That Maravi's tone had a couple of big ones, of course, and probably a Ruffalo completely falling off.

[Joanna Robinson]

But something I will say is that Mare of Eastown. I'm curious. This show is so good, but I am curious if it's going to be as much of a phenomenon as Mary Beastown was Because Mary Beastown was a whodunit. And this is not a whodunit. It's a. What do they say on Poker Face? A why done it when ketchum.

[Rob Mahoney]

How ketchum.

[Joanna Robinson]

How ketchum Sort of thing. Like, we know who did everything.

[Bill Simmons]

What qualifies for a phenomenon at this point? Because you could argue the Pit. I think the Pit actually became a phenomenon 100%.

[Joanna Robinson]

Absolutely.

[Bill Simmons]

Like, for what you're looking for from a streaming only on Max kind of show.

[Joanna Robinson]

But the Pit has a gimmick, right. Which is like every episode is an hour of this one shift sort of thing. I think the show deserves to be a phenomenon. I'm just curious if it's gonna catch the way that Maravi sound caught in a very specific Covid time. You know, content was sparse and everyone loves Kate Winslet, and Kate playing like rough and tumble is far more surprising than Mark Ruffalo playing fucked up and curly headed.

[Bill Simmons]

So, you know, can we play Right network, Wrong network.

[Rob Mahoney]

Where do you see this?

[Bill Simmons]

I think it's an HBO show.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

This feels like the right place.

[Joanna Robinson]

Absolutely.

[Bill Simmons]

Which is a rare thing these days.

[Joanna Robinson]

It is.

[Bill Simmons]

Although now we have a better sense for what's an Apple show.

[Rob Mahoney]

I was about to say your friends.

[Bill Simmons]

And neighbors felt like an Apple show. The morning show felt like an Apple show.

[Joanna Robinson]

We continue to ask these questions. We don't know the answers.

[Rob Mahoney]

And as we ask these questions, the subscription price goes up and up and up.

[Bill Simmons]

What else do we have there? Anything before we go?

[Joanna Robinson]

I don't think so. I think we got most of it.

[Bill Simmons]

I didn't really make a prediction.

[Rob Mahoney]

I'm just like, just. We are so back. Like, I'm. I'm so psyched and energized by the existence of this show.

[Bill Simmons]

What about the possibility of a zag if they. If Englesby likes Heat?

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

It's too easy to have the Pacino ending where Dairo dies and Pacino's holding him. What if they zag and Ruffalo's the one that dies?

[Rob Mahoney]

Very possible.

[Joanna Robinson]

I could easily see them. Palfrey's not going to get away because I think there's a reason why there's a legal guardian ready to take care of those kids as soon as he dies. Like, it's a good reason to have Maeve on.

[Bill Simmons]

The DH is just sitting there ready to go.

[Joanna Robinson]

But Tom could also die. Ruffalo's character could also die.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah.

[Joanna Robinson]

Because Emily will be double death.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah, definitely. Yeah. The Heat structure is just like these two guys. Again, across purposes Bouncing each other like off each other all season. But who dies?

[Joanna Robinson]

Do you think they're gonna have a diner scene or is that too much to reach for?

[Rob Mahoney]

What's the Philly equivalent?

[Bill Simmons]

I was wondering at the Wawa, is there. Is there going to be a Philly game involved in this? Will there be a Phillies game?

[Rob Mahoney]

I could see it and we already got a lot. We got a lot of Philly stock each other.

[Bill Simmons]

Yeah. Bead's not playing.

[Rob Mahoney]

They bond over their frustrations over the process.

[Bill Simmons]

Has been healthy for two years.

[Rob Mahoney]

I don't know. Pelford seems like a Ben Simmons guy. I don't know. I'm concerned.

[Bill Simmons]

Eagles game is in play Minor league baseball. There's some minor league baseball in Pennsylvania. Maybe like a lower end MMA show.

[Joanna Robinson]

Are you trying to figure out what would make the most.

[Rob Mahoney]

How do they end up in the same place? I mean, I like Wawa personally. I think that's. That's selling me.

[Bill Simmons]

It's pretty good. Maybe a ringer verse live show in Philly.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yes.

[Bill Simmons]

A watch live show.

[Rob Mahoney]

Rocky Watchables.

[Bill Simmons]

If Inglesby wrote in a watch live show but had actors playing Chris and Andy, oh my God. That would be a personal attack.

[Rob Mahoney]

Well, that's his third or.

[Joanna Robinson]

Or a celebration. Oh, that's the third show.

[Rob Mahoney]

Yeah. HBO already greenlit it.

[Joanna Robinson]

Oh, okay.

[Bill Simmons]

The watch goes wrong.

[Joanna Robinson]

Yeah.

[Bill Simmons]

All right. I'm so glad we're back with prestige. This is legitimate prestige tv.

[Joanna Robinson]

It is.

[Bill Simmons]

We're back. So we're going to cover. There's only seven episodes. You're going to be on all of them. I'll be on some of them.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay.

[Bill Simmons]

But who knows? There's only seven football season.

[Joanna Robinson]

Maybe he'll be on.

[Bill Simmons]

Rob's off. Rob doesn't have basketball yet.

[Rob Mahoney]

No.

[Bill Simmons]

I'm like deep down looking through the NFC west trying to figure out if Arizona is going to go under. Are they wins? Yes, I think they will come.

[Joanna Robinson]

Are you going to win the fantasy league?

[Bill Simmons]

Probably not.

[Joanna Robinson]

Okay.

[Bill Simmons]

Probably not.

[Rob Mahoney]

That's big of you to admit.

[Bill Simmons]

Probably not. Not feeling great about it. Anyway. Join Robinson. Great to see you again. Rob Mahoney. Pleasure as always. Thanks to Justin Sales as well. Who else do we have to thank?

[Joanna Robinson]

Kai Grady.

[Bill Simmons]

Oh, Kai, thank you. Be back in a week. This episode is brought to you by Whole Foods Market. You know the deal. Summer means grilling and maybe even impressing your pals with the best cookout of summer. Well, if you want to go big on quality without breaking the bank, say hello to 365 by Whole Foods Market. They've got everything you need for the grill, from antibiotic free chicken thighs to uncured hot dogs, even wild caught salmon burgers. If you're feeling fancy, you can pick up organic condiments, sides, chips, drinks, even dessert from ice cream cake cones. Plus you'll see these yellow low priced signs all over the store. Yeah, they actually mean something here. Same for the yellow sale signs with new deals every Wednesday. And if you want to stay at home, no worries. There's delivery options too. So whether you're a grill master or just there for the snacks, there are so many ways to save on summer grilling favorites at Whole Foods Market.