By Tom O'Brien 

The first shot fired on November 1: The debut of AppleTV+. It introduced four new streaming series, with the promise of many more as the week's progress. Accessible in about 100 countries, Apple streaming launches with a worldwide reach that will likely dwarf even the mighty Disney+, which has finally flipped the switch on its streaming service.

​According to the Financial Times, AppleTV+ has poured more than $6 billion into original programming for the service, and their plan appears to be rolling out new shows gradually, effectively ensuring that there will be a steady stream of products to keep subscribers happy. On paper, the rollout of only four series, all remarkably different, appeared to be a wise one so that the public can more easily evaluate the quality of their shows.

But are they any good? And more importantly, should you subscribe? I watched the first three episodes of each series and based on viewing those, I have a few thoughts on all four.

By Josh Williams 

​While I agree with a lot of people that "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie" was not entirely necessary, I was still thoroughly happy that it ended up being made. The film doesn't quite tell us anything new about the characters of the hit television show, but it does add some closure. "El Camino" also goes about hammering home a couple of key themes from the show throughout the movie that I think is done in a rather spectacular manner. Most of the key points are told through flashbacks which is always a risky road to take in a movie, especially a movie based around a television show that ended six years ago. So I'd like to break down some key moments from "El Camino" that make the film much more layered than it appears to be, exploring why using flashbacks as a form of plant and payoff and as a form of catharsis might be the best use of the tool in the film format.

By Matt Neglia 

For this extra podcast review, we are taking a look at a movie that we didn't necessarily know we needed until we saw it: "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie." Acting as an epilogue to the hit AMC show and reuniting series creator Vince Gilligan with star Aaron Paul and a few others, this surprise movie gave us the closure we wanted for one of television's most beloved shows and characters. Joining me for this special Patreon podcast review I have Jack Shipley, Josh Blumenkranz & Charles Bright.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Series Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 
​
As promised, we are here with a 9th episode of the Next Best Series Podcast to talk about the Emmys. The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out this week and as always, there were brilliant moments of television, some heartbreaking losses and some unforgettable surprises. Here to talk about the show with me is Ryan C. Showers and for the first time ever as a guest on the podcast, Amanda Spears. Tune in below to hear our thoughts.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 
​
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will be held later this month on September 22nd with the Creative Arts Emmy Awards being handed out shortly before that on the 14th. Michael Schwartz, Tom O'Brien and myself felt it was appropriate to get our predictions in now before everything began. Will "Game Of Thrones" get a rich send-off after its record-setting 32 nominations for the final and divisive season? Or will there be a surprise? It's the Emmys, so surprises are part of the norm. Click below to hear our final predictions.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

Last time we were here, we reviewed Episodes 1-4 from HBO's second season of "Big Little Lies." Now, Michael Schwartz, DeAnn Knighton, Ryan C. Showers & myself are back this time to talk about the final three episodes, the explosive finale and possibly the very end of "Big Little Lies."

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here.

By Matt Neglia 

"Stranger Things" is one of the most popular shows in the world. In its third year on Netflix, we are finally taking some time to talk about the series as a part of our Next Best Series Podcast. What did we think of Season 3? How does it compare to the first two seasons? Where does the show go from here? Join Josh Parham, Lauren LaMagna and myself as we give our spoiler filled thoughts down below.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 
​
Emmy Nominations are only a few days away (July 16th to be exact) so Michael Schwartz, Ryan C. Showers, Tom O'Brien and myself naturally have thoughts on what we feel will be nominated and why. Be sure to check out our predictions on the podcast below and be on the lookout for our next episode where we will be discussing the nominations and give our predictions for the winners.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

It's been 2 years since we last left the seaside town of Monterey. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz and the rest of the cast are all back, this year being joined by the legendary Meryl Streep for a second season of HBO's "Big Little Lies." This is our first time podcasting about the show and here to help me discuss the second season's first 2 episodes are Michael Schwartz, DeAnn Knighton, Ryan C. Showers. We will be back after the season finale to discuss the final three episodes.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

​By Ryan C. Showers ​​

​Despite my intense studying, following, and analyzing the Emmy awards for the past six years, I have never held the limited series/TV movie categories to the same standard which I do the Drama and Comedy races. When I really began to become invested in the Emmys to a similar degree as my investment in the Oscars and film awards, many called it the “golden age” of television, when “Mad Men,” “Game of Thrones,” “Homeland,” “The Good Wife,” “House of Cards,” “Downton Abbey,” and “Breaking Bad” were all fighting for the golden trophies from the Television Academy at full throttle. Heck, during this time, when Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s first season of “True Detective” set the world on fire, HBO made the strategic decision of entering the seven-episode narrative in the Drama series categories, rather than Limited/Miniseries. “True Detective” would have had a guaranteed sweep of every category that year had it proceeded as limited series, instead of only winning the directing achievement in the drama series category. Due to this decision, McConaughey lost to Bryan Cranston in a stunning upset. In my view, HBO made this decision because they didn’t want their prized possession winning the second fiddle, small potatoes, less prestigious categories at the Emmys.

My, how times have changed.

By Josh Parham 

​Full disclosure: I am not somebody that spends a great deal of time watching television. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the medium. There are many shows that feature great content that I absolutely adore. However, films have always taken the higher artistic priority in my life, and in order to devote as much time as possible to see as many films as I can, that ultimately means that my free time watching television becomes severely limited. That is why, when I do watch tv, I become very selective in what I choose to see. When I’m devoting many hours of my time to a long-form story, I want to know that time will be invested in something that I value.
 
This mindset is especially true now, but it was also the case for me five years ago. The television landscape has changed so drastically in that time, but I still found it important to seek out only the shows I felt worthy of my investment. For me, there was no doubt that one of them was definitely going to be HBO’s "Looking." Premiering in January 2014, the show was an intimate, multi-character study about the lives of a group of gay men living in San Francisco. By no means, the first show on a major network to deal with such subject matter, the amount of content that did traffic in these kinds of stories were few and far between at this point. Obviously, this rallied the attention of many in the LGBTQ community as an important cultural moment to note.

By Tom O'Brien ​

As a member of the Next Best Picture team, I have tried to be open about my favorites, my prejudices and my love of watching movies over these oh-so-many years. But there is one side of my life that I haven't shared with you all, but, after much soul-searching, I have finally decided to come clean. I am....an Emmy voter.
 
OK, I can hear you reaching for your torches and pitchforks right now, but please hear me out. Yes, the Television Academy has voted for some boneheaded winners over the years, and I take full...no, I don't, because I'm a proud member of the Writers Branch, and all of our nominees are perfect...at least the ones I voted for.​

By Matt Neglia 

After 6 weeks of spectacle, shocking twists, revelations, controversy, character turns, deaths, discourse, laughs and everything in between, HBO's cultural phenomenon known as "Game Of Thrones" has finally come to an end with the 73rd episode in the series titled "The Iron Throne." It's a bittersweet feeling to say goodbye to a show that has meant so much to so many people. Naturally, not everyone was fully satisfied with the ending but luckily Will Mavity, Celia Schelekewey, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Celia Schelekewey & myself are here to give your our honest opinions and discuss in great detail the conclusion of what has been an epic 8 year journey. Valar Morghulis everyone! We will never see its like again, for now our watch has ended.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

Tomorrow, the biggest television show of our lives will come to an end. The untitled series finale of HBO's cultural phenomenon "Game Of Thrones" will bring about the close of 73 episodes of epic storytelling (sometimes great, sometimes good and sometimes not so good...but we don't like to dwell on that) and also the end of an era for the communal viewing experience for some. At least, for me, it will be the end. I'm sure there will be other television shows in the future which will unite us around our HD television screens in large numbers with eager anticipation, waiting to see what happens on the latest episode. But for now, this is it for me. I don't normally tell personal stories here but this was one I felt I needed to get off my chest. In order to come to grips with the end of "Game Of Thrones" (I still haven't fully processed that this is the end), I thought it would be best to tell my story with the show, the book series and what it has all meant to me over the last near decade.

By Matt Neglia 

And you thought last week's episode was divisive? "Game Of Thrones" continues to divide its fandom with its final season and that did not stop with its final penultimate episode ever, titled "The Bells." Director Miguel Sapochnik certainly brought the spectacle that the show has now become known for but did David Benioff and D.B. Weiss deliver the storytelling that the show initially became known for? Did the final penultimate episode set everything up for the series finale? Listen to Will Mavity, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Celia Schelekewey & myself as we try to sort out our feelings and thoughts.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

Hot off of one of the biggest episodes in "Game Of Thrones" history, Season 8 Episode 4 takes us back to the character driven, political intrigue that made the show initially famous with what is most likely the most divisive episode since Season 5 Episode 6 "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." "The Last Of The Starks" gave Will Mavity, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks and myself plenty to talk about this week but what did we ultimately think of the episode? Tune in to find out.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

8 years of build up and we're finally here. The living make their final stand against the Night King and the Army of the Dead at Winterfell in the biggest episode ever of "Game Of Thrones." Who lived? Who died? But more importantly, what did we think? Here to help me recap this epic episode is Jacey Aldredge, Dan Bayer, Josh Williams & guest Ryan McQuade from InSession Film.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

It's hard to believe but with only 6 episodes, we are now a third of the way through this final season of "Game Of Thrones." After laying the foundation in the premiere episode titled "Winterfell," director David Nutter and writer Bryan Cogman decided to slow thins down this week and give us a very character heavy episode that reminded us why we love these characters so much before next week's epic battle which is sure to take a lot of them away from us. If you are a fan of how "Game Of Thrones" used to be before it became so huge in scale and yearn for more of those intimate character moments then "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms" was for you. But what did we think of it? Join Jacey Aldredge, Josh Williams and I as we take a detailed dive into the episode scene by scene.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

We're finally here. After 595 days of waiting since the conclusion Season 7, HBO finally released the first episode of Season 8 of "Game Of Thrones" titled "Winterfell." Here to talk with me about the shocking revelations, political intrigue, reunions and dragon riding are Will Mavity, Celia Schelekewey & Dan Bayer.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Matt Neglia 

The Long Night is almost over. After nearly two years, tomorrow, "Game Of Thrones" Season 8 will have its world premiere in New York City and the rest of the world will finally see their beloved HBO series return on April 14th. Although we've only had one trailer (With the likely chance that there will be another), we wanted to get together to preview and predict what we think may happen in the much anticipated final season of the biggest show of our lifetime. Joining me for this special episode on Next Best Series is Will Mavity & Jacey Aldredge.

This is a full episode breakdown on our thoughts for the final season of "Game Of Thrones." it is important to note that when we get to the 6 final episodes in a few days time, those will be shortened podcasts with the full length versions being made available to only our Patreon subscribers. If you like what you're hearing on this episode and you want to hear more please subscribe to our Patreon channel for as little as $1 a month, so you don't miss any of our in-depth analysis when the final season returns.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here.