S-Town by Serial - Episodes 2-4 Recap & Review
The Crime Writers jump into chapters two through four of "S-town," the new podcast series from Serial and This American Life. Watch your feed for recap shows reviewing episode 1 and episodes 5-7. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
31 Mars 20171h 12min
S-Town by Serial - Episode 1 Recap & Review
The Crime Writers review episode one of S-Town - the new podcast series from the folks behind Serial and This American Life. Watch your feed for recap shows reviewing episodes 2-4 and 5-7. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
29 Mars 201736min
Missing Richard Simmons Finale Review, Tickled Shocker, And A Breakdown Breakdown?
After recommending people watch the documentary "Tickled," the response from our listeners was an overwhelming, "What the F did I just watch"? Then a shocker: David D'amato, a key figure in the investigation, "died suddenly" this week according to the New York Times. "Breakdown" from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution returned with a brand new, er, sound. Season three is hosted by investigative reporter Johnny Edwards and focuses on a doctor who continued to practice medicine despite a series of sexual abuse investigations. Can the podcast thrive without the home-spun voice of legal analyst Bill Rankin?With the conclusion of the runaway "Missing Richard Simmons" podcast, the crime writers look back on the six-part series. What did we ultimately learn about Simmons, host Dan Taberski, and about the feelings we project on celebrities? We'll give our review.In Crime of the Week, being assaulted - literally - by a tweet. (Yes, the actually tweet.) For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
24 Mars 20171h 14min
Intrigued by S-Town ! Disturbed by Tickled ! And the Owl Theory takes flight!
What do you do in the middle of blizzard? Record a podcast, of course. First, the trailer for the new Serial spin-off "S-town" dropped! What will the seven episode series be about? We don't know, but Sarah Koenig's crew gave us an interesting taste and OF COURSE we had to talk about it.Plus, despite taking an Alford plea last month, the Michael Peterson case is not quite over. The subject of the exceptional miniseries "The Staircase" is looking into the theory that his wife was actually killed in the stairwell during an owl attack. The claim had been downplayed by Peterson's defense team, and was the focus of episode 1 of the podcast "Criminal," but now they want experts to examine the feathers found with Kathleen's body. At this point does Peterson have anything to lose...or anything to win?Then it's probably the most unusual documentary ever discussed on the podcast. "Tickled," a journalist's look into videos of the sport of "competitive endurance tickling," is NOT the lighthearted romp the title might imply. Instead, the doc takes dark and unexpected turns as the reporter tries to uncover who is behind this secretive video empire and the attempt to ruin all foes in their way. In the Crime of the Week: Moms + school dropoff lane + maybe too much "Big Little Lies" = gun play. Time to send the parents to time out. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
17 Mars 20171h 4min
A Richard Simmons Slump! An Adnan Syed Tidbit! And A Review Of Time: The Kalief Browder Story
The panel is at full strength now that Lara managed to talk her way out of an arrest by the railroad police (yes, there is such a thing). We begin with some voice messages from listeners wondering what the "Up and Vanished" serendipitous conclusion means for the realm of true crime podcasting.We return again to the white hot podcast "Missing Richard Simmons." Are the crime writers still committed to seeing (hearing) this journey through?Then we turn our attention to Spike TV's six-part doc "Time: The Kalief Browder Story." It's a heavy look at the true story of a black teen who spent 800 days in solitary confinement on Rikers Island while awaiting trial of a flimsy robbery charge. Is it perhaps too heavy to enjoy...or too important to ignore?The Crime of Week deals with a politician whose resume is all sizzle and no steak. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
10 Mars 20171h 4min
State v Adnan Syed (AGAIN), MORE Missing Richard Simmons & HBO's Big Little Lies
It's another paper dump in the ongoing appeals around Adnan Syed from Serial season one. Kevin takes a look at yet another news-making turn in the case, and Rebecca gives it a big old eye roll (cute the hate mail!).And, episode 3 of Missing Richard Simmons was CRAY. From witchcraft to bitchcraft, we learned Richard's closest confidants f'ing HATE each other. How can we not revisit a podcast that brings up black magic? Yeah...we're SO gonna do that.Then, the Crime Writers examine HBO's newest murder mystery mini-series, "Big Little Lies." Does an A-list cast + domestic noir = another hit? And should the producers stay keep the same killer/victim as the book, or make it fresh for the whole audience? Plus, what we learned in this Crime of the Week: if you live to be 100 you might get a lap dance from your nurse. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
4 Mars 20171h 5min
We Talk About 'Missing Richard Simmons' AND That 'Up and Vanished' True Crime Update!
Can you feel the love tonight? The Crime Writers can. Plus, the gang dives in to the breaking news about an arrest in the Tara Grinstead case - that's the one featured in the "Up and Vanished" podcast. At the time of our recording, it was unclear what role the podcast played in Ryan Duke's arrest, but did Payne Linsey's grandmother actually know more than the cops did?Next, Rebecca interviews Missing Richard Simmons creator Dan Taberski about why he was drawn to the vanishing of everyone's favorite flamboyant exercise guru.Then the Crime Writers review the podcast: Is it ethical to chronicle someone's withdrawal from public life? What makes Simmons's story so uniquely compelling? Why did someone who gave support to so many individuals seemingly turn his back on them? Also, Kevin recalls his own professional interactions with Richard Simmons.In the Crime of the Week: a squirrel plays guard dog by going spider monkey on a cat burglar. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
25 Feb 20171h 14min
Out Like A Serial Flynn, Etan's Legacy, & Netlix's Shadow Of Truth
In a jam-packed episode, the panel drinks the hater-aid as they read some of their correspondence. Rebecca name drops her fill-in gig on Slate's "Mom & Dad Are Fighting" podcast - which, ironically, is what the Lavoie-Flynn kids call "Crime Writers On!"A figure from Serial Season 2 makes a cameo, a certain general who made the adamant assertion that any soldier wounded in Afghanistan can be linked to Bowe Bergdahl's rescue mission. And, after waiting almost 40 years for a conviction, the crime writers take a thoughtful dive into the famous Etan Patz kidnapping case. It was more than just the crime that put kids' faces on milk cartons - it was the social turning point in how parents perceived the safety of their children.In our review segment, the crew goes around the horn on whether or not you should check out the Israeli documentary "Shadow of Truth," now available on Netflix. This four-part subtitled mini-series looks at the sensational murder of a teenage girl, the questionable investigation into the convicted killer, and the rabid public fanbase that trolls the Internet seeking alternative suspects. (Kind of sounds like a certain American podcast we've listened to...)Then, in the Crime of the Week, the cops give a fugitive a tumble...and a spin. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.
17 Feb 20171h 6min
