Brill and Eric Watch TV is a podcast hosted by Brill Bundy and Eric Almendral distributing news and insight on the television industry. Brill works for Zap2It.com while Eric is art director for Filter magazine. The podcast debuted in the summer of 2005. It has been praised for the fun banter of its hosts (presumably a married couple though they have never confirmed so) while they dish out television news and gossip.

The podcast is distinct in that the hosts have professional connections to the entertainment industry and are able to provide previews of new shows before they air as well as "insider" info and a broad understanding of how the world of TV operates. This includes discussions of topics such as "how pilots become shows" and first-hand reports from press junkets, parties, tapings and other events to which they have access.

2005

Summer 2005

The first five episodes of Brill and Eric Watch TV featured their coverage of the Summer TCA Press Tour. During this time, Brill and Eric led listeners to believe they were attracting an audience of merely friends and family.

Fall 2005

Brill and Eric attempted to get down a formula after the TCA coverage ended. With the exception of opening the show with "News Notes," their other attempts mostly failed. So far, only Two and a Half Men have participated in their "Second Look" segment that never caught on. Also, the podcast has not succeeded in airing during a weekly basis. Instead, new episodes come out with major gaps in between while at times two podcasts can debut within days from one another.

Lost Special

The 7th and 8th podcasts were a report from Brill and Eric from the Lost DVD Launch Party in Hawaii. They told of their encounters with the show's stars and their experience on the red carpet. Both podcasts were posted the same day (August 24).

Emmy Contest

As announced during their special Emmy prediction show, Brill and Eric hosted their first contest. The two gave away DVDs of the freshman seasons of Roseanne, Desperate Housewives, and Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. The winner who guessed the most correct Emmy wins was congratulated for predicting Blythe Danner's win.

Awards

Allyourtv.com awarded Brill and Eric Watch TV with the #1 spot on Rick Ellis's list of TV-related podcasts. The website posted, "But the truth is, I can’t even build up a good case of fake loathing of the podcast. 'Brill And Eric Watch TV' is a blast to listen to, and while their website is a bit vague on their exact relationship, they’re obviously close. And that closeness is apparent in the final product. Thanks to Brill’s job, they both know a lot about TV, so they’re not just spouting off about some favorite show. They have real knowledge to pass along. Even better, they have decent broadcast voices, which puts them far ahead of some of their reedy-voiced competition."

The Big Screen

Brill and Eric eventually bought a big screen TV, something extensively discussed on the podcast. "This is why the terrorists hate us," stated Eric during the comical conversation. The duo told listeners they anticipated seeing "Lost" on their huge screen television.

Mystery

During year 2005 podcasts, Brill and Eric leave much to be assumed about them. Their relationship is kept unconfirmed. Listeners are led to believe they are a couple who have been married for one year (Eric says he took Brill to a taping of Rock Star: INXS for their one year anniversary). Eric's race is also unknown. During a discussion of accusations of racism on Rock Star: INXS, Eric states "I don't guess at people's ethnic backgrounds...I have enough people guessing at mine." As for Brill's heritage, the only clues are Eric's jabs at her previous life in the South.

2006

Winter 2006

Brill and Eric returned from a holiday absence to bring a special podcast that set off the new year with New Year resolutions, breaking of format, resolution to their previously unanswered mysteries, and a recognition of this very Wikipedia entry. Podcast #20 began with Brill and Eric mentioning the "exhaustive" Wikipedia entry that had been created and answered many of the mysteries brought up in it (see above and below). The two also gave resolutions that they would do more podcasts (and Brill begged for money so they could do so, hinting most likely jokingly at a donation fund). They did however confirm they would be doing coverage of the TCA Press Tours as was done in Summer '05. Though the first episode of the year broke the format of News Notes, a return to the segment is expected during future episodes. Also, a "Reviews" portion of the show has seemed to become a regular feature.

Relationship

As revealed in Podcast #20, Brill and Eric met awhile back. Their relationship was kept a somewhat secret from their friends. However, in a true "Friends" de ja vu, they found out and didn't tell Brill and Eric they had any knowledge of the situation. This came as a surprise to the couple who were accustomed to the rather nosy behavior of their friends. A friend actually wrote to an advice columnist about the situation who happened to be Eric's ex-girlfriend. Brill also revealed that she stole Eric away from a girl he was dating at the time, leading to their new titles of "boyfriend stealer" and "town slut."

Future

Eric has been promising an all-music show for quite some time. A date for the show has not been confirmed. Brill told listeners that it is unlikely they will even attempt at releasing an episode weekly. In addition, a video podcast has been jokingly referred to, but, in order to do so, Brill would be forced to reluctantly "get dressed."

Vocabulary

In what can only be referred to as BrillandEric-ese, the duo has begun creating several words that will most likely not be found in the dictionary. During Podcast 20, Brill used the word "rejiggered" to describe the reformatted Jake in Progress. Eric used the word again in the following podcast describing the next "Survivor" installment. The history of the word "rejiggered" has so far been traced only as far back as Brill's father. Podcast 21 also saw Eric's attempt at using "Walt" as a verb to mean "kidnapped."

Eric vs. Apple

Eric has taken issue with an episode of The Office in which the iPod video was heavily promoted. The recent conspiracy theory was that Apple Computer wrote the script and brought it to NBC. He then found that it was false according to his "mole". Instead, NBC wrote the show first, followed by the script being taken to Apple to see what "they could do for it." The suspicion began when the episode aired the same week as NBC's shows premiered on iTunes.

Hiatus and Return

After episode #22, the podcast went on an unplanned hiatus for over a month. Some speculated the end of Brill and Eric Watch TV, being that no warning or explanation was given for the sudden ending to the podcasts. On March 15th, 11 days shy of a two-month drought, Brill and Eric returned with their 23rd show. Their reasons were not discussed in detail, but brief mentions were given referring to technical difficulties, illness, and a very sick pet cat (which can be heard in the background of the episode). Eric stated, "The reasons we went on hiatus are all very valid to varying degrees..."

A second hiatus succeeded the return podcast, lasting a gruelingly longer amount of time. After over a month of having fallen off the face of the earth, Brill posted on the homepage that a return was in sight. A set of four daily shows are planned for the Upfront Presentation coverage as of May 2nd. Brill then briefly spoiled the news, alerting listeners that the much-anticipated return may not go down due to an upcoming photo shoot Eric is involved in. If the podcasts are to go forward, they are to be expected beginning May 15th with the Upfront Presentation of NBC.

History

(See "Relationship" above)
In addition to their courtship, a preview of Sci-Fi Channel's new "Doctor Who" update inspired a long story of an ex-boyfriend of a close friend of Brill's and how "he tricked [her] into going out with him." Christopher Eccleston (star of "Doctor Who") jogged Brill's memory of said boyfriend who was, as Brill gently put it, an "asshole." Neil (the ex), after breaking up with Kiley (the friend) met up with Brill, to, she assumed, discuss his break-up with Kiley. She instead was given a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts (which she gave away) and was hit on. After telling Kiley of the incident, word circulated back to Neil, who responded by calling Brill a "horrible, vicious, two-faced bitch". The incident ended with Brill retrieving her friend's Elvis Costello boxed set from the ex.

Language

Upon returning in March, Brill and Eric used offensive terms for the first time. Such language had been avoided upon Eric's request in keeping an acceptable rating. However, Brill's slip-up in calling a friend's ex boyfriend an "asshole" (see above) destroyed such an unblemished reputation. NOTE: "Bullshit" had been used earlier, but only as a title of Penn and Teller's Bullshit. Later on, both Brill and Eric used the word "bitch." However, Brill seem to be refraining from reuttering the term "asshole" to describe the ex later on in the podcast.

Careers

Brill is managing editor at entertainment news site Zap2It.com. Eric is art director of Filter Magazine, which he jested (when mentioning that America's Next Top Model Cycle 6 contestant Mollie Sue Steenis picked it as her favorite mag) "isn't even [his] favorite magazine." Brill has revealed that, in the past, she worked at an art and architectural supply store which was located next to the bookstore employing the infamous Neal. After college, she worked for Cable Connection magazine and iFuse.com. Eric previously worked as an art director for New Times Media's defunct LA paper as well as freelancing as an illustrator, designer and writer. He also spent a few years working for former LA Mayor Richard Riordan, first consulting on a publication the Mayor hoped to launch, then as a consultant on technology, foster care and other issues.

External links

Brill and Eric Watch TV

Big Action!, a group blog where both Brill and Eric post.