True crime podcast update: The Court of Special Appeals has affirmed Adnan Syed's lower court ruling which vacated his conviction and grants him a new trial.
Journalist and Crime Writers On co-host Kevin Flynn has a brief breakdown of today's 138 page ruling - with a promise of more details to come.
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Crime Writers On is facing off against This American Life for a chance to win DiscoverPods's PODCAST MADNESS. We are one win away from SHOCKING THE WORLD! Let's get it done: vote now at discoverpods.com.
The panel tackles quite a bit this week: more "Staircase" episodes coming, the "Black Tapes" fake out, a scathing review in Slate on "Atlanta Monster," books that stay with us, and a special announcement for our Patreon supporters (it involves Toby).
Moving on, season two of CBC’s Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo looks at the case of a girl both murdered and now missing. Will Connie Walker find the Cree girl adopted into some American family? Will she skillfully tie the tale to the heartbreaking story of Canada's "Sixties Scoop"? What do the crime writers think of it?
Then in crime of the week - ready player one.
(Wanna see that "human looking dog?" Click here.)
This episode the panel blitzes through a bunch of topics. Who knew Stormy Daniels was an accomplished equestrian? That $500m lottery winner gets to remain anonymous. Why did Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth) get paid less than Matt Smith (Prince Philip) on "The Crown"? Toby finished Atlanta Monster and has some further thoughts. Did OJ Simpson really confess on that Fox special...or did he REALLY confess? And what's on the Scientology TV Network tonight?
Then the crime writers talk about the new Netflix series "Seven Seconds." The drama explores the effect of a covered-up hit-and-run on the victim's parents, the driver and his crooked police partners, and the alcoholic DA assigned to the case. And can someone explain why everyone's car is so dirty?
TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE AND SKIP TO OUR REVIEWS OF SEVEN SECONDS, JUMP AHEAD TO 1:00:56
In Crime of the Week - the hits keep on coming.
No more messing around! CWO has made it to the Elite Eight in Discoverpods' Podcast Madness. With the help of awesome listeners like YOU, we can beat that little-known podcast S-town and advance to the Final Four. Vote at discoverpods.com! LET'S SHOCK THE WORLD!
Meantime...back in our podcast...the panel talks about updates from "The Pope's Long Con" and "Mommy Dead & Dearest." We listen to a profanity-laden rant from "Crime in Sports" about self-important podcasters. And we talk about the gripping new book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, published posthumously by Michelle McNamara.
Our main event: "McMafia," the new organized crime series from BBC and AMC. This good-guy-dragged-in-bad-deeds tale is expensive and extravagant, but will audiences like its high-finance meets underworld story?
In Crime of the Week - deadly deodorant.
IT'S A CINDERELLA STORY! Thanks to you, we've advanced past the first round of discover pods's Podcast Madness. Thanks for voting. It's on to round two where we will likely face a gangland-style death at the hands of "Crimetown." Nevertheless, we'd appreciate you clicking here and voting in Round Two.
Before we take a week off for school vacation (thank you, children) we'll circle back to some important True Crime Updates. The election to fill the statehouse seat of the late Danny Ray Johnson, subject of the "The Pope's Long Con," was this week...and it wasn't even close. "Making a Murderer"'s Branden Dassey has asked SCOTUS for a Writ of Cert (we'll explain what that means).
The headliner for this show is the rock'n'roll-themed "Disgraceland." No interviews. No investigations. No audio tape. Not even the artists' music. Just a host spinning tales of musicians behaving very badly. Does this new chart-topper hit all the right notes?
In Crime of the Week, it's one thumb down.
This week we ponder the problems of winning $550 million in the lottery and keeping a low profile. We get a love letter from Ireland and circle back to "West Cork" with a spoiler-full discussion about the prime suspect.
IF YOU STILL WANT TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE ON WEST CORK, SKIP AHEAD TO 33:16.
Then we'll have an up-close look at "Mosaic," Stephen Soderbergh's multi-platform storytelling experience. The six-part HBO limited series deals with the murder of a famous children’s book writer. While the concept is ambitious, does "Mosaic" deliver the goods?
TO SKIP AHEAD OF OUR DISCUSSION ON MOSAIC AT GET RIGHT TO OUR REVIEWS, GO TO 1:02:24.
And this week's Crime of the Week is grrrrrrrreat!
Not even a blizzard can stop the Crime Writers from their appointed rounds (though it may crackle the connection once in a while).
We get skeeved out by the latest accusations of "Making a Murderer" defense-lawyer-now-judge Len Kachinsky (cue your own cat noises). There's a notable cameo in "Sword & Scale." And we toss around our thoughts on the Onion's new true crime parody podcast, "A Very Fatal Murder." Does a send up of the crime podcast world seem like it's about three months too late?
Then a no-blarney, spoiler-free review of Audible's new 13-part series, "West Cork." The famous 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is relatively unknown to American listeners. Not since "Serial" have we had such access to a prime suspect. We'll tell you whether you should make time for this one.
Our review is truly spoiler-free, but if you still want to skip right to our verdicts, go to the 54th minute.
Then in Crime of Week, how else are you going to carry all that dough around?
The Crime Writers take on a trio of True Crime Podcast Updates as Slow Burn wraps up season one and teases a *fantastic* follow-up, Dirty John lands a scripted series, and our best friend John David Booter tries to raise funds (click here to help him!) for a second season in which he’ll appropriate all things 1980’s.
Then, our take on The Walk, the hit podcast from Panoply. This show is trying to do something completely different with a story that puts the listener in the middle of the action. But does it work? Or is it just the prototype for a future, better iteration of the format?
And, a review of the TNT adaptation of the smash bestselling book The Alienist. (If you want to skip any and all potential spoilers and just hear the review, go to 51:04.)
Caves. The Hellmouth to every good story.
This week we unveil the new name for Studio C (it's a mouthful), learn Toby's actually the nice one, and get freaked out by what this drug can make you do in your sleep.
The Crime Writers eat some humble pie and admit they were too quick to dismiss one of America's most underappreciated media figures last week - Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC. Some special podcasters will join the discussion - and you can find their awesome show A Date With Dateline right here.
The main focus shifts to the new Netflix series, "Dark." This German-language "Stranger Things"-meets-"Lost" has everything: caves, dead birds, surprisingly depressing school plays...and a cast of characters dripping in Teutonic angst. (Try this link to see the Dark family trees.)
TO JUMP OVER THE SPOILERS AND GO STRAIGHT TO OUR REVIEWS, FAST FORWARD TO TIME CODE 59:59.
Then in crime of the week: I love you. You love me. But it's going to cost you $350.
It was one of 2017's biggest podcasts. Now the tale of "Dirty John" gets the treatment from Dateline NBC. Does a 42 minute TV episode add anything to a story already told over five hours in podcast form? Maybe just some pictures of how hunky John Meehan really was.
The main event: we breakdown the first installments in "Atlanta Monster," the new podcast from Payne Lindsey's Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks. This look back at the 1980s Atlanta child murders is billed as "an investigative podcast," but where is it taking us? Does Lindsey repeat the best parts (or the worst parts) of his hit debut "Up and Vanished"?
And in the Crime of the Week: Gesundheit!
"We are not crooks." This episode we'll circle back to Slate's excellent Watergate-based series, "Slow Burn." Look what happens when those who believe in conspiracies learn those conspiracies are actual conspiracies.
Speaking of conspiracies within conspiracies, we ponder Netflix's "Wormwood." The genre-blending documentary about a secret CIA LSD-induced suicide is only the first layer in a trippy, troubling tale from Oscar winner director Errol Morris. Points for using Hollywood actors Peter Sarsgaard and Molly Parker to dramatize the back story, but did this unconventional series deliver the goods?
Then in Crime of the Week, a little bit of pot goes a long way when deciding who to arrest.
The Crime Writers might be from New Hampshire, but the shizz that's been going down with our weather has been BANANAS. Seriously, by the time you hear this, we might all be dead.
BUT - we're not dead yet, so we responded to some sassy listener emails, talked about OUTSTANDING finale of John David Booter's podcast Done Disappeared, and reviewed The Pope's Long Con, a pretty great podcast from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
Then, our Crime of the Week put's Rebecca in the spotlight. Yes, she IS a psychopath.
In our last installment of 2017, we have an exclusive interview with Undisclosed’s Rabia Chaudry. She’ll be talking about a defense alibi witness for Adnan whose recent arrest may weaken his claim of being at the mosque when Hae Min Lee was buried in Leakin Park. Also, is there a new lead in the mystery of Robert Durst's missing wife?
Then we shoot it out about Netflix’s new limited series “Godless.” In an Old West town where the men have been killed in a mining accident, the women are left to fend for themselves. When an outlaw fleeing his former gang seeks refuge, you know trouble will follow. Do we think “Godless” lives up to its feminist premise?
TO MISS ANY "GODLESS" SPOILERS, FAST FORWARD TO TIME CODE 1:00:04.
Stick around for Crime of the Week. We’ve got an amateur Facebook Live “reporter” who solves an arson in the most hilarious, profane way.
Well, lookie lookie here. We've got the latest disappointing news for Brendan Dassey's hopes of a new trial, get to spread some podcast love to both Amber Hunt and Bill Rankin, and take the hit from Done Disappeared's wicked send up, "Crime Writers Off." (Spoiler alert: Bobby Tall needs to count to ten and cool off).
Then we look through the peep hole at Netflix's "Voyeur." This odd tale pivots from its subject - a motel owner who spied on guests for years - to the famous journalist so enamored with the story he becomes blind to its many red flags. (Want to skip the discussion and just hear the thumbs up or down review? Go to 59:58.)
In the Crime of the Week, one bank robber learns why it's important to clear your browser history.
The Crime Writers dig in to the problem with sending flowers to a judge, even when said judge has just ruled the way you wanted her to in the Steven Avery case.
Also, a cow named Lara? Toby's daughter is a star? And only Rebecca swears too much?
Then, we respond to some ire around our mixed review of the Netflix show Alias Grace.
Finally, a review of the (spoiler alert) OUTSTANDING new podcast from Slate about Watergate. It's called Slow Burn, and if you want to hear our spoiler-free recommendation, you'll want to skip to the 55:44 mark.
OMG - We can't get enough of Done Disappeared, the amazing parody true crime podcast by the unparalleled talent that IS John David Booter. We review that show and try to figure out the mystery of just what happened to missing 1987 woman Clara Pockets.
Then, a more earnest review of the Netflix series Alias Grace. Based on a Margaret Atwood novel, does this show resonate? Or does it's less-than-Handmaid's Tale production values take away from what could have been a compelling view of a fascinating true crime?
Finally, the Crime of the Week tackles a whole lot of nudity and a whole lot of kidnapping.
It's our 100th episode and we're celebrating by...doing what we always do.
We'll look at the times and crimes of the late Charles Manson. The panel offers holiday travelers some recommendations of podcasts and TV shows that will make Thanksgiving bearable.
The crime writers dig into "Long Shot," the new Netflix documentary. It tells the story of how an innocent man stayed off of death row because of the Los Angeles Dodgers and HBO's Larry David comedy of manners, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
FOR THOSE LOOKING TO AVOID SPOILERS, JUMP PAST THE DISCUSSION TO THE 59-MINUTE MARK.
In Crime of the Week, it's Father Christmas vs. Santa Claus.
CRIME WRITERS' RECOMMENDATIONS
Toby: Polybius Conspiracy from Showcase; The Dollup; Open Floor from SI
Lara: Deadly Manners
Rebecca: Done Disappeared; Powerline
Kevin: More Perfect, Crazy Ex-girlfriend
Watch out - this episode is punchy! The Crime Writers settle a beef, play a couple of games, and yes, talk about Payne Lindsey's new TV deal AND his YouTube music video alter ego.
Then, a look at the Elizabeth Smart case through the lens of the new A&E 2-part documentary, the super confusingly named Biography Presents: Elizabeth Smart Autoiography.
Plus, our Crime of the Week cuts the cheese!
The Crime Writers complain about Rebecca's jet lag and a certain crappy airline, and Lara is about to LITERALLY become a crazy cat lady. Plus, Toby's book is classy AF in French!
Then, a trio of True Crime Updates: Bowe Bergdahl's been sentenced! That Maura Murray TV show made a crazy claim! And Making a Murderer's Steven Avery still has a filing-happy lawyer who seems to love accusing every single one of his relatives of something.
The panel does a deep dive review of Stranger Things 2 - and gives a pretty great explanation of why episode 7 is the most disappointing thing to ever happen in history of forever.
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Check out the email we got kicking us off the Amazon Associates program!
No more Amazon list??? Yup, the behemoth site kicked us out of their affiliate program, so we'll have to find something else for Toby to do...
The Crime Writers open up the hit podcast Heaven's Gate, and, KNOWLEDGE ALERT, one of the panel is kind of an expert on the cult phenomenon.
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Plus, the panel will dive into Stranger Things 2 in full next week, but isn't shy about sharing first impressions. And no, Toby STILL hasn't seen Goonies! Also, an update from the courtroom in the Serial Season 2 subject Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing, and our Crime of the Week climbs to 30,000 feet for some felonious hanky panky.
