10 Best Television Review Podcasts

These days, there is an absurdly abundant amount of quality television to keep track of. The prestige television era collided with the peak television era, and now it seems like there is a new must-see show debuting every week. Fortunately, through the medium of podcasting, there is a much more efficient way to unpack the state of the TV world.

There are tons of great critics who are covering the world of television on a weekly—or biweekly, in some cases—basis. By listening to these exceptional television review podcasts, it might just become a bit easier to sort through which stories are worth celebrating.

10 TV Avalanche

First up is one of those “hear me out” type of entries. TV Avalanche is a podcast that only lasted for sixty-five episodes, and it wrapped up in 2018 when one co-host left Uproxx for Rolling Stone. But, it is a must-listen television review podcast that has now become a part of history.

Hosted by Alan Sepinwall and Brian Grubb, TV Avalanche was the perfect marriage of quality criticism (TheAmericans) and goofy fun (Zoo). The archive is well worth returning to, and maybe there’s hope for a Sepinwall and Grubb reunion down the line if it holds its own.

9 The Ringer-Verse

One of the newer podcasts on the list, The Ringer-Verse is the perfect podcast for breaking down all of the popular, blockbuster-adjacent television shows that have arrived since Game of Thrones led to a boom of big budgets on the small screen.

The Ringer-Verse does dabble in movies, but, when Disney Plus’ major properties are humming, it’s all about television. Van Lathan and Charles Holmes (the Midnight Boys, pew-pew) stop by for instant reactions to the latest episodes, and Mallory Rubin breaks it all down with deep analysis a few days after.

8 Pilot TV Podcast

Across the pond, the success of The Empire Film Podcast led to The Pilot TV Podcast. It’s not only a great television review show, but it also allows for more international discussions on shows that are not solely geared towards American audiences.

Of course, Pilot still makes time for the biggest releases, regardless of international boundaries. But, if British TV is a must for a listener, Pilot is the show to embrace.

7 TV Concierge

Back to The Ringer, TV Concierge is a Spotify-exclusive podcast that dabbles in television shows that don’t always get the most attention. When the main pods are consumed by WandaVision and Mare of Easttown, TV Concierge allows for deeper dives into smaller shows.

Recently, TV Concierge analyzed shows like Mythic Quest, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, and even SpongeBob SquarePants. Plus, Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman also take the time to rank streaming services. It’s a ton of fun with a rotating panel.

6 TV’s Top 5

It should be no surprise that The Hollywood Reporter has one of the premier television podcasts out there. With Lesley Goldberg and Daniel Fienberg on staff, TV’s Top 5 has become one of the top stops for any and all new programs.

Not only do they review the latest series and cover a wide gamut, but there are also plenty of interviews that take listeners behind the scenes for the latest releases. Most recently, Alan Yang and Meredith Scardino dished on Master of None and Girls5eva, respectively.

5 Too Long; Didn’t Watch

Back to the podcasting from Alan Sepinwall, Too Long; Didn’t Watch is his latest audio endeavor. From a collaboration between Rolling Stone and OBB Sound, Too Long; Didn’t Watch is one of the most innovative pods out there.

Rather than review new shows, Sepinwall invites celebrity guests to review old shows by only watching the first episode and the last episode. Some highlights so far include Paul Scheer watching Dexter, Alison Brie watching Game of Thrones, and Sophia Bush watching Parks and Recreation.

4 Pop Culture Happy Hour

As the title suggests, Pop Culture Happy Hour covers more than just television. But, now that the NPR feed updates on a daily basis, there is plenty of TV coverage for the serialized superfans among podcasting audiences.

As an ever-evolving panel that tends to be anchored by Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon, there are always tons of perspectives to hear from. Their intelligence, insight, and willingness to have fun goes a long way for fascinating TV criticism.

3 Tea Time

Similar to PCHH, Tea Time is not solely interested in covering television. Whether it’s through “Cringe Mode” segments of general celebrity gossip, hosts Liz Kelly, Amelia Wedemeyer, and Kate Halliwell are up-to-date on all things pop culture.

But, it’s their television review segments that are the most fun. They dabble primarily in reality television, so keep that in mind. But, their passion for Survivor and hilarious conversations surrounding The Masked Singer make for top-notch podcasting. The feed also comes with a Taylor Swift pod from Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard, so that’s a fun bonus.

2 Still Watching

Moving over to Vanity Fair, Still Watching is a great podcast for people who want to listen to in-depth television criticism for specific shows rather than an attempt to cover the entire landscape of television.

From the incisively insightful minds of Joanna Robinson and Richard Lawson, Still Watching focuses heavily on specific shows that require their depth of analysis. Currently, they’re all in on Mare of Easttown, but they recently covered The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Undoing, as well.

1 The Watch

Lastly, anyone who listens to The Watch knows that it is a no-doubt-about-it podcast to come in at the top of any ranking. Even outside the realm of television review podcasts, The Watch is one of the best shows thanks to the chemistry between longtime friends and cohosts, Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald.

Every Monday and Thursday, the pair discuss the most recent episodes of the shows they’re into at the moment, as well as the latest industry news and interviews with some of the preeminent talents in the medium today. From introductory stories about bear attacks from producer Kaya McMullen to breakdowns of The Bureau, the glorious chat on The Watch is truly unparalleled.

About The Author