News and Happenings

Which children’s cable TV channel is better: Disney Channel or Nickelodeon? Two comedians square off this week in this nostalgic battle, with Evan Mills taking the side of Disney Channel and Hoja Lopez here to fight for Nickelodeon. And Ronald Young Jr. will listen to what they each have to say and then declare a winner. On the one hand, Evan says Disney Channel produced a longer list of lasting stars, movies, and shows. On the other hand, Hoja argues that Nickelodeon’s alt-humor did a better job of embracing, as she calls it, “the chaotic nature of childhood.” Which argument will sway Ronald this week?

Which phone is superior: the iPhone or the Android? Taking the side of iPhones is actor and comedian Langston Kerman, while fellow actor and comedian Baron Vaughn is Team Android. And here to adjudicate is Ronald Young Jr. Langston says iPhones look better, are easier to use, and that the majority of Americans agree with him because iPhones are a majority of cell phones in the US. Baron says Androids offer customization that iPhones do not and don’t fall victim to “planned obsolescence” the way iPhones do. How will Ronald rule? And will his personal phone preference influence his choice?

Which political TV show is better: Veep or The West Wing? Two familiar voices square off this week, with former host Aminatou Sow returning to argue on behalf of Veep and previous guest Hrishikesh Hirway taking the side of The West Wing. This is not going to be an easy decision for new host Ronald Young Jr. to make! Aminatou says that recent political headlines prove that Veep is a realistic portrayal of American politics, warts and all, while The West Wing is a liberal fantasy. Hrishi contends that The West Wing wasn’t meant to be realistic and was rather an incredibly entertaining TV show, and that Veep’s satire became too biting to be enjoyable. Which show will Ronald cast his vote for?

Who is the truest New Yorker on Sex and the City? The hosts of 2 Black Girls, 1 Rose are here to make Aminatou Sow choose between Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones. Justine Kay is Team Samantha – a sex-obsessed PR executive who lives in the Meatpacking District and whose girlboss ways Justine argues scream New York. Natasha Scott-Reichel comes representing Team Carrie – a fashion-loving sex columnist living on the Upper East Side who Natasha says embodies a NYC “It Girl.” Whom will Aminatou declare the truest New Yorker on Sex and the City?

Who is the worst fictional American abroad in pop culture? Two comedians square off this week and try to convince Aminatou Sow that their pick should be barred from international travel. Solomon Georgio wants to ban Indiana Jones from leaving America while David Gborie thinks it’s Deuce Bigalow who needs to stay Stateside. Solomon says Indy steals antiquities and didn’t stop Nazis when he had multiple chances. David isn’t a fan of Deuce’s homophobic language and use of racial stereotypes. Ultimately, Aminatou Sow must revoke one passport and declare the worst fictional American abroad.

Which is the better franchise: the original Bachelor/Bachelorette or the spin-off, Bachelor in Paradise? Podcast host Traci Thomas loves the original franchise while radio host Mariah Smith prefers the spin-off, and they’re both here today to convince Aminatou Sow that their pick should win. Traci loves the drama and romance of the Bachelor/Bachelorette and thinks that Bachelor in Paradise always fizzles toward the end of the season. Mariah argues that Bachelor in Paradise has had more successful couples come from it and says people only go on The Bachelor/Bachelorette to end up on Paradise anyway. Ultimately, Aminatou must decide which show will receive her final rose.

It’s our first literary – and marital – debate! Which is the best way to consume books: audiobooks or paper books? Essayist and critic Maris Kreizman prefers to listen to her books while comedian Josh Gondelman wants to physically hold what he’s reading. And their job today is to convince Aminatou Sow to pick their preferred format. Maris loves that audiobooks allow her to multitask and thinks the reading experience can be enhanced when an author reads their own work aloud. Josh loves being forced to only focus on the words when he’s reading a book and wants to interpret the works for himself without someone else’s performance influencing him. Aminatou must consider the arguments on both sides and declare a winner in the battle between audiobooks and paper books.

Who is the worst lawyer on TV? Author and TV writer Samantha Irby says it’s Will Gardner from The Good Wife and writer and podcast host Josie Duffy Rice picks Rusty Sabich from Presumed Innocent. One’s a prosecutor, the other a defense attorney. One’s accused of murder, the other bribing a judge. And they both make questionable romantic decisions. Aminatou Sow must render her verdict and declare which of the two is the worst lawyer on television.

What is the best on-screen depiction of motherhood? Parenting columnist Amil Niazi picks the TV show Better Things and journalist Jane Marie chooses the 1958 movie Auntie Mame, leaving Aminatou Sow with the unenviable task of selecting a winner. Which of the two better captures the highs and lows of motherhood? How do you compare someone who chose to be a mom with someone who had motherhood thrust upon them? And how will Amil’s baby attending the recording affect Aminatou’s choice? As ever, it’s up to her to decide as she determines which TV show or movie best portrays motherhood.

Which made-for-TV movie on the Lifetime Network is the best of all time? The co-hosts of The Deep Dive take sides, with Jessica St. Clair choosing Jackie’s Back! (1999) and June Diane Raphael picking the 2016 remake of Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? But, how do you compare a shockingly star-studded mockumentary with a sexy vampire thriller? That’s Aminatou Sow’s challenge this week! She does her best to weigh the pros and cons of each pick and also puts June and Jess’s love of Lifetime movies to the test in a lightning round where they have to suss out real movie plots from made-up ones – all in order to decide which Lifetime original movie is the best ever.