Before streaming, when we watched our favorite TV show, we had to make sure we were home when it aired, and it was like we welcomed the characters into our home. For many, watching specific TV shows over and over brings them a sense of comfort and familiarity. Now, former cast members and fans have taken to podcasts to connect with the show and people who continue to love them by recapping episodes. Some of our favorites are listed here below.
Pod Meets World (Boy Meets World)
Boy Meets World is a sitcom that originally aired from 1993-2000. The cast included Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle, and now three out of the four host a recap podcast called Pod Meets World. The podcast takes us back on a journey to one of the sitcoms that was part of the ABC TGIF lineup and institution of the ’90s. The podcast started in 2022 and is still going strong. They include interviews with former cast, crew, and writers and recount the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a child actor, along with the breakdowns of each episode.
The West Wing Weekly (The West Wing)
Political drama The West Wing first aired from 1999-2006 on NBC. Since the show went off the air, the cast has done panels together and has also come together to do interviews and episode recaps on the podcast, The West Wing Weekly. The podcast was hosted by Josh Malina, who played Will Bailey on the show, and Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder. The podcast ran from March 2016 through January 2020 and is still available to stream. It’s one of our favorite lookbacks on a somewhat romantic representation of the Oval Office and the people who help run the country.
Fake Doctors, Real Friends (Scrubs)
Throughout the early aughts, Scrubs brought funny, dramatic, and impactful moments to our TV sets. The show starred Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, and Sarah Chalke. And just when we needed the comfort of their humor and friendship during a trying time, in March 2020, Braff and Faison started hosting the recap podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends. They connect with fans, interview former cast and crew, and share memories of their time on the show.
Talking Sopranos (The Sopranos)
The Sopranos is considered one of the best television dramas to ever air. The show had six epic seasons that kept fans hooked from day one until the season finale. Former cast members Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa released a trailer in February 2020 to hype up fans for their recap podcast Talking Sopranos, which released their first episode in April 2020. The podcast gives listeners insight into what it was like filming the show, fun facts, interviews with former cast and crew, and other special guests.
Office Ladies (The Office)
One of the most famous single-camera sitcoms ever is The Office, which originally aired from 2005-2013. In late 2019, Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer, who played Angela Martin and Pam Beesly on the show, started a nostalgic recap podcast, Office Ladies. Each week, the best friends and former costars recap an episode of the show and share behind-the-scenes stories.