About this episode

The episode features discussions on the year's top shows, including interviews with JK Simmons and Tom Brittney about their respective projects.

We finally unveil (in typically shambolic fashion) our shows of the year (so far) list in this week’s episode as an arcane mathematical formula is applied to our individual favourites, distilling them into the definitive (probably) top 10 of everything out in 2026 to-date (17:33). Plus JK Simmons and Tom Brittney join us to chat MGM+’s new gangster show The Westies (37:18-50:58). We also watch Diane Morgan’s new comedy, Ann Droid, on BBC1 (1:42:17), and Jennifer Garner’s girls’ weekend drama The Five Star Weekend on Sky Atlantic (1:51:38). All that and se do a drop-in to discuss this year’s Emmy nominations (1:06:32) and James makes a landmark admission while discussing what we’ve all been watching. Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!

People in this episode

Guests: JK Simmons, Tom Brittney

Topics covered

• shows of the year
• gangster show
• comedy
• drama
• Emmy nominations

Keywords

• The Westies
• Ann Droid
• The Five Star Weekend
• JK Simmons
• Tom Brittney
• Emmy nominations
• 2026

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MGM+, BBC1, Sky Atlantic

Books & works: The Westies, Ann Droid, The Five Star Weekend

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