The Nick D Podcast on Radio Misfits

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back to talk through a busy stretch of TV. They get into the Oscar telecast, the latest SNL with Harry Styles hosting, and the debut of “SNL UK.” Dan also previews a few upcoming documentaries, including one about Rod Serling, and weighs in on new shows like “Bait,” “Imperfect Women,” and “Sunny Nights.” Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later and things go completely off the rails. They circle back to more of the worst excuses people have used to miss work, then somehow land in a long, very detailed conversation about hygiene and why you should probably just buy a bidet already. It gets ridiculous fast, and yes, it’s as funny as it sounds. [Ep 440]

Nick welcomes Forbes music journalist Jim Ryan back to the show to talk about a run of recent interviews he’s done with Ratboys, John Oates, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze, and Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys. They also talk about some recent shows Jim has seen, including Toto in Milwaukee, Margo Price at Metro, and John Oates at the Genesee Theatre. Along the way they listen to a clip of David Lee Roth’s isolated vocals from a recent concert, which turns into a bit of a horror show. Later, the legendary British bon vivant and game show host Slap Slapply returns to throw Nick and Esmeralda Leon into another round of 80s and 90s Trivia Madness. The competition gets loud, ridiculous, and very funny, with a detour into the unforgettable Gary Coleman movie On the Right Track. It’s music talk, trivia chaos, and plenty of laughs. [Ep 438]

Nick kicks things off by talking about Oscar Day with Nick Digilio at the Museum of Broadcast Communications happening Sunday, March 15 from noon to 2:30. The event celebrates the Oscars and Nick’s book, with Rick Kogan hosting the afternoon. If you want to be there, tickets are available now at museum.tv. Comedian and podcast host Lauren LoGiudice stops by next to talk about the upcoming Misfit Variety Show at The Annoyance Theatre. After that, TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter checks in for his regular TV rundown. They get into the HBO series “DTF St. Louis,” “Rooster” starring Steve Carell, and the new Guy Ritchie series “Young Sherlock” featuring Colin Firth and Joseph Fiennes. They also talk about the latest SNL episodes and the new season of Top Chef. Esmeralda Leon closes things out with some Oscar chatter, complaints about Daylight Saving Time, and a few more traditions that probably should have disappeared years ago. It’s a full show with movies, TV, comedy, and the usual amount of chaos. [Ep 436]

Herb “The Consumerman” Weisbaum from Checkbook.org joins Nick for a packed For The People installment. They talk about the steady stream of data breach notices that keep landing in inboxes, share a few real-world debt success stories, and get surprisingly detailed about how to do laundry the right way without wasting time or money. Herb is also marking 45 years in consumer reporting, so they look back at how scams have evolved over four decades and why some tricks never really go away. Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive jumps in next to talk about what he’s been driving lately and what’s happening with Tesla and its CyberCabs. They also dig into how the recent Supreme Court of the United States tariff ruling is affecting automakers, along with thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Intensa, the Toyota Highlander, and a fun comparison of Best Buys from 1970 and today. The episode wraps with fresh rounds of StarSpotter and MysteryShow, keeping the mix of useful advice, car talk, and pure trivia fun right where it belongs. [Ep 434]

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back to talk TV, starting with how the Olympics were covered and whether it actually worked. Dan runs through a stack of new shows, including Netflix’s animated comedy “Strip Law,” the return of Scrubs, the Irish mystery comedy How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, and HBO’s not-exactly-a-barrel-of-laughs “Neighbors.” There are a few strong recommendations, a few warnings, and the usual back-and-forth over what deserves your time. We also take a few minutes to remember James Van Der Beek and talk about his career and the strange way certain TV stars become part of your life whether you expect it or not. Esmeralda Leon jumps in later and we drift into everything else, including Pro-Wrestling at the Jewel with Jojo, prom nights that should have been canceled, terrifying mall Easter Bunnies, creepy Tooth Fairies, and the complicated ethics of lying to your kids about Santa. It’s one of those episodes where we start with television and end up everywhere else.[Ep 432]

Nick welcomes Forbes music journalist Jim Ryan back for another round of concert stories and backstage encounters. They talk about recent shows including the Lemonheads at Thalia Hall and Sons of the Silent Age at Metro, then swap stories about run-ins with Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, Chip Z’Nuff of Enuff Z’Nuff, and Al Jourgensen from Ministry. They also look ahead to upcoming tours and vent about just how expensive concert tickets have become. Esmeralda Leon joins in to talk about the weirdness of Valentine’s Day, how they spent the weekend, and why the holiday lends itself so easily to horror movies. That leads into a deep dive on ridiculous 80s slasher films, including My Bloody Valentine, and a continuation of their conversation about celebrity pranksters, with Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck added to the mix. It’s music talk, holiday skepticism, and horror nostalgia, all rolled into one. [Ep 430]

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back for another wide-ranging TV catch-up. They talk about how Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline stole the show on the latest SNL, why the new version of The Muppet Show works so well, and take a moment to remember the recently lost Catherine O’Hara. The conversation also takes a sharp turn into Super Bowl territory, breaking down the game, the commercials, and reactions to the Bad Bunny halftime show. Esmeralda Leon jumps in for a joyful detour that turns into an unapologetic love letter to Arby’s, from the Half-Pound Beef and Cheddar to the Black Cow and the magic of Horsey Sauce. From there, things spiral into stories about celebrity pranksters, with Quentin Tarantino, Billy Dee Williams, and George Clooney all getting their due. It’s TV talk, fast food passion, and famous troublemakers, mixed together exactly the way this show likes it. [Ep 428]