#41 – Peacock’s Poker Face, Showtime’s Untimely Demise, and The Last of Us!

Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is a sly new case-of-the-week detective series anchored by Natasha Lyonne’s performance as Charlie Cale, a woman on the run with one special skill: She can always tell when someone is lying. Oh, and everywhere she goes someone seems to die. Thankfully the lie thing usually helps her solve the murders, so it all works out in the end!
The series is arguably Peacock’s first bonafide hit, but is it any good? We unpack the pros and cons of the show’s throwback format: Inspired by classics like Columbo and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (classics, I say!) each episode of Poker Face reveals the murderer at the start of the episode and asks us to watch Charlie try to piece it together.
Plus! We check-in on The Last of Us and answer these burning questions about the streaming universe:

Why is Paramount+ absorbing Showtime and who chose the service’s terrible new name?
Why is Discovery+ not being absorbed into HBO Max anymore? (Except it still sort of is, but then what does that mean??)
How many Billiions spinoffs is too many Billions spinoffs?
Is anyone actually going to pay for Peacock?!
And speaking of money: How much could one banana cost, Michael? Ten dollars? (Apparently too much for Netflix! We’ll explain…)

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📺 Review: Poker Face
🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 4 Episodes (starting at 35:47) 🚨

Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
Where to Watch: Peacock

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📺 Check-In: The Last of Us
🚨 Spoiler Alert: First 5 Episodes (starting at 56:13) 🚨

Renewal Status: Renewed for Season 2
Where to Watch: HBO/HBO Max

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🔗 Links:

Get ready for a lot more Poker Face – Katie Chow, A.V. Club
Review: ‘Poker Face’ Is the Best New Detective Show of 1973 – James Poniewozik, The New York Times
There's never been a better time to watch Columbo – Gabrielle Sanchez, A.V. Club
Showtime gets its HBO on, removes exclusive shows from its streaming platforms – Matt Schimkowitz, A.V. Club
Showtime to be swallowed up by Paramount Plus, and shows are already getting canceled – Sam Barsanti, A.V. Club
Discovery+ Now Expected to Survive as Stand-Alone Streaming Service as HBO Max Expands – Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter
‘Night Court’ Renewed For Season 2 At NBC – Rosy Cordero, Deadline
Netflix orders a second season of That '90s Show – William Hughes, A.V. Club
'Arrested Development' Seasons 1-5 Leaving Netflix In March 2023 – Drew Ryan, whats-on-netflix.com
NBCU Ends Peacock Free Tier for New Users – Todd Spangler, Variety
Comcast Xfinity Subs Losing Free Peacock Premium Summer 2023 – Todd Spangler, Variety
Marvel's Kevin Feige talks Phase 5, Kang, and the future of the MCU – Devan Coggan, EW.com
Teasing season 2 of The Last Of Us, Bella Ramsey tells homophobic viewers to "get used to" gay people – Sam Barsanti, A.V. Club

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