Consider This for Comfort

We're closing out Season 5 with a UPN classic! Wah-De Dennis (Founder and CMO of Kulaborative Works) returns to Consider This For Comfort to revisit Girlfriends, the iconic sitcom that gave us so much to say about Black womanhood, friendship, and everything in between.

Wah-De and Eteng unpack the show's nuanced portrayal of Black women's friendships, why some of its funniest moments come from class differences, and how Girlfriends still offers a sharp lens on the business of Black beauty today. From who gets to define beauty standards to how brands market to Black women—and whether that ma...

From messy reads, iconic confessionals, and explosive reunions to the personal sacrifices women "of a certain age" make for fame, Nichole Hill (Our Ancestors Were Messy) joins Eteng to break down the cultural phenomenon that is Real Housewives. Together, we explore why Bravo's hit reality TV franchise keeps audiences hooked, how the Housewives formula is just like sports, and what the show reveals about fame, friendship, and the business of reality television.

Plus: why watching the Housewives may be one of the most honest ways we engage with entertainment. And, of course, the iconic question: "Were you...

Who was the best "A"? And why do texts have the power to ruin everything?

Yessi Sanchez, podcast host (No Map Included) and co-founder of Artak Pictures, joins Eteng to revisit Pretty Little Liars. Growing up between cultures, Yessi watched the teen drama as a window into the American high school experience. We get into secrets, shared trauma, and why everything feels so high-stakes in high school. 

Plus: We also chat about the state of teen and young adult television today and how comfort shows open the door to much-needed conversations about identity, friendship, growing u...

Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Desus & Mero, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) wants you to consider the beloved animated comedy Bob's Burgers for comfort.

From its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of family dynamics and working-class life to the unique personalities that make the Belchers feel like family, we talk about what the show says about work, ambition, and finding joy in the everyday, and, of course, some of our favorite fictional burgers.

If you love Bob's Burgers, animated TV, family comedies, or comfort shows that make you laugh...

Brooklyn-based comedian and podcast host Amelia Ritthaler joins Eteng to dive into Bridgerton and why we can't look away. We get into why the show sparks so many conversations about modern dating, the power of gossip, and what our obsession with the ton says about what we're looking for in romance right now.

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In this special collaboration with the Sista Brunch podcast, Fanshen Cox (Executive Producer, Sista Brunch) and Jen Farris (Location Scout for Netflix's A Different World) join Eteng to go behind the scenes of bringing Hillman back to life for a new generation.

We talk about what it takes to recreate the world of an iconic show, the current state of Black Hollywood, and why A Different World still has something to say about where we are and where we're headed.

The new series premieres on Netflix on September 24. 

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Actor Josh Malina (aka David Rosen) sits down with Eteng to revisit the cultural phenomenon that is Scandal. We get into why the show's political commentary felt ahead of its time, how Scandal helped turn live-tweeting into a TV ritual, and what it was really like to work on a Shonda Rhimes set.

Plus: Is Josh Team Fitz or Team Jake? Tune in to find out.

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The Emmys are almost here and Consider This For Comfort is rolling out our own red carpet! In this special roundtable episode, Eteng brings together 3 TV and pop culture enthusiasts for a series of fun rapid-fire conversations about what this year's nominations reveal about television, the stories we're gravitating toward, and the cultural moment we're living in.

Featuring: 

Kareem Alston-Rosales (Founder and Executive Director of Film 4 Good Fund) – 0:31

Andy Dehnart (Creator of Reality Blurred, Host of Made From Humans: How Reality Becomes TV) – 38:21

Lexci Gumbs (Production and Events Coordinator) - 01:07:09

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This week, Eteng sits down with LaNisa Renee Frederick, who currently stars as Jackie Griffin in Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat on Prime Video, for a conversation about building comedy inside a format designed around the unexpected. LaNisa gets into how the show pushed her comedic instincts in new directions, what's really happening behind the scenes to make it all work, and why Anthony Norman has become one of our favorite heroes on TV right now.

Plus: we dig into why the show's heart and the way audiences have embraced it feels like proof that TV still...

Actor Arian Moayed (Succession, Inventing Anna) joins Eteng to unpack why The Good Place and Succession became comfort TV and what that reveals about power and morality. 

Plus: his personal rule for choosing roles and why Waterwell's civic theater work matters now more than ever. Welcome to the Season 5 premiere of Consider This For Comfort!

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Art and marketing director Katie Skelly and Eteng head back to their teen years in the Season 4 finale to discuss Degrassi. We unpack why the iconic series trusted teens to handle tough situations, the real-world dialogue its most controversial episodes sparked, and what topics we'd tackle if we wrote a Degrassi episode for today's teens. 

[Content note: Degrassi is a show that goes there and so does this episode. This episode mentions school shootings, suicide, assault, and self-harm. Take care as you tune in!]

On Wisteria Lane, there's something for everyone. Dr. Brandi Nikkale joins Eteng to revisit Desperate Housewives, the iconic drama-comedy that blends mystery, scandal, and suburban satire. We unpack the show's secrets, friendships, and unforgettable storylines, exploring how the show perfectly balances chaos and comfort while offering sharp commentary on marriage, ambition, and life behind closed doors.

Founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy, Lynn Harris, joins Eteng to dive into Girls5eva, the hit comedy about a 1990s girl group getting a second shot at pop stardom. We unpack how the series satirizes the entertainment industry, explores reinvention later in life, and delivers sharp, witty commentary on fame, nostalgia, and creative ambition.

Podcaster Meli Clay joins Eteng for a trip to 1960s Madison Avenue to unpack Mad Men. We explore the cultural weight of the decade, our evolving relationship to media, advertising, and brands, and why the series doubles as a masterclass in exactly how not to behave at work.

Eteng and comedian Jatty Robinson revisit the comedy classic, Everybody Hates Chris. We explore the ins and outs of comedic storytelling, why the show's "unhappy" endings offer both humor & authenticity, and how Chris Rock set the blueprint for the modern multi-hyphenate.

Plus: We give flowers to Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, and other TV comedy G.O.A.T.s 

The Oscars are almost here, and Consider This for Comfort is rolling out our own red carpet. For this special episode, the podcast is taking a brief hiatus from TV to talk about film for the first time. 

Eteng, Rose Frullani-Bacon (writer/producer, Managing Producer at NBAT2) and Katie Skelly (art direction and marketing for New York Film Festival and Film at Lincoln Center) swap Hollywood hot takes and make our final predictions for who's taking home the gold on cinema's biggest night this Sunday. 

Plus: We've got a Sinners-themed drinking game, a chaotic Best Pi...

Eteng and EU corporate sustainability guru Emily Balcombe head to Hawkins to explore why the '80s-set Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things doubles as peak comfort TV. After nearly a decade in the Upside Down, we unpack the power of nostalgia for a time period we didn't actually live in, the show's perfect PR boost for Dungeons & Dragons, and why you should always trust your friends but maybe not the government. 

Heated Rivalry super fan & NYC interior designer, Linnea Thomas, is back to unpack the show of the moment. From why hockey is the best sport to tell this tender love story to why women, in particular, are obsessed with Ilya and Shane's chemistry, if you haven't tuned in to the cultural phenomenon, we'll convince you to change that.   

(P.S. You can find the NEW HOTLINE segment at 24:21)

Just in time for Black History Month, published poet, writer, audio producer, and voice actor Emanie Antonette joins Eteng to consider the UPN classic, The Parkers, for comfort. Together, they explore the power of being seen on screen, evolving mother-daughter dynamics, how comedy takes on class divides, and why the show's bold, unapologetic nature still resonates.

The time has come for you to lip-sync for your life.

It's also time for the Season 4 premiere of Consider This For Comfort. Eteng and Chika (comedian & host of Do It Live w/ Chika) dive into how RuPaul's Drag Race became a cultural phenomenon and why it's more than just a competition show.

They unpack drag and ballroom culture's Black and trans roots, the highs and lows of reality TV, and why Bob the Drag Queen is the blueprint for our creative journeys.

Shantay, Season 4 stays. 

If you could gaze into the future… you'd see the Season 3 finale of Consider This for Comfort! VP of her middle school's That's So Raven fan club back in the day, Ameya Acharya, and I are closing out the season with a deep dive into the iconic Disney Channel classic — celebrating Raven Baxter's comedic genius, unforgettable disguises, bold style, and everything that made her so ahead of her time.

Eteng and Toronto-based storyteller and space curator, Melissa Haughton, add Netflix's Forever to the comfort TV rotation—a fresh coming-of-age story about Black teens that carries the legacy of Mara Brock Akil's iconic shows like Girlfriends, The Game and Being Mary Jane. From first loves to the role of tech in modern dating, this episode explores why Forever already feels like a new comfort classic.

Just in time for tonight's Season 49 premiere, Eteng is joined by LA-based development exec Delaney McHugo to explore Survivor—the perfect reality TV show. From reflecting cultural eras to sparking much-needed conversations, Survivor has always been bigger than the game and remains the ultimate social experiment. The tribe has spoken: it's time to tune in.

Fresh off the Emmys, Eteng is joined by Edit Audio's CEO & Founder, Steph Colbourn, to unpack how Hacks offers a sharp look at the state of comedy and Hollywood while inspiring us to stay ambitious and constantly reinvent ourselves.

The Emmys are almost here, and Consider This for Comfort is rolling out our own red carpet! In this special roundtable episode, Eteng brings back Season 3 guests whose comfort shows are officially Emmy-nominated.

From bold predictions to hot takes, we dive into what makes these shows worthy of TV's biggest night.

Featuring:

Delaney McHugo - Survivor (00:35)

Steph Colbourn - Hacks (13:20)

O'Neil Pryce - The White Lotus (25:41)

Wendy Qi - Severance (42:47)

Eteng and gal pal Amber Parrish turn to Sterling K. Brown for comfort as they unpack Paradise—a buzzy political thriller that wrestles with what we owe ourselves versus what we owe others. Stick around for early takes on the Emmys Best Drama race. 

This episode includes spoilers throughout. 

Class is in session! 1Community's VP of Impact, Rachel E. Cooke, and Eteng head to Hillman College to revisit A Different World—the groundbreaking series where comedy and impact entertainment collide in the best way. They unpack how the show doubles as a love letter to HBCUs, reintroduces Black icons to new generations, and tackles social issues with humor and heart. 

You can't travel with just anyone. Jamaican-born TV snob and project manager, O'Neil Pryce, is back to unpack the unhinged, layered chaos of The White Lotus. Come for the hot takes, stay for our vacation do's, don'ts and ethical travel tips inspired by the show—just in time for one last summer getaway.

This episode includes spoilers throughout. 

Comms strategist Donovan Birch Jr. joins Eteng for a trip across the pond to AFC Richmond, where we unpack how Ted Lasso invites us to rethink masculinity, reimagine our relationship with media, and inspires us to choose optimism—even when it's hard.

Now this is a story all about how musician and storyteller, Collette "Coco" Watson and Eteng explore Fresh Prince's enduring legacy, what the show gets right about extended families, and the greatest theme song in television history. Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of Consider This for Comfort!

Peeking into each other's lives for comfort. In our Season 2 finale, Eteng and Bridget Todd, host of iHeartRadio's There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast, delve into why we're forever city girls, chat about our favorite niche depictions of the human experience and get into why a weed dealer on a bike reminds us to keep reinventing ourselves. 

Get into your feelings for comfort. Eteng and comms strategists, Lena Shareef & Elleni Almandrez, revisit their COVID comfort show, praise Sterling K. Brown for being back on our TV screens and cherish the little things.

Seeking comfort from these headlines? Eteng and Jamaican-born TV snob and project manager, O'Neil Pryce confirm Veep is both comedy genius and genuine insight into life and politics in DC. Tune in for endless cocktail recommendations while they recover from life on the Hill in Brooklyn.  

Welcome to Comfort City! Eteng and fellow comms strategist, Hannah Changi, relive their time together as broads in the same city by breaking down what Broad City gets right about both the mundane and adventurous sides of female friendships.

Your comfort is mysterious and important. Eteng & freelance designer, Wendy, descend to Lumon's severed floor to unearth the show's sharp commentary on consent & bodily autonomy, whether they'd want an Innie of their own, and why you should be Team Helly too. Praise Kier.

50 years of comfort. In honor of Saturday Night Live's 50th season, Eteng and EU corporate sustainability guru Emily Balcombe walk us through how the iconic sketch comedy show can ease any Sunday morning hangover. For a show that's not always the funniest, we still can't deny its cultural impact.

A hot new bombshell enters the villa and it's the Season 2 premiere of Consider This for Comfort. Eteng sits down with award-winning producer, director and showrunner Avril Speaks who makes the case for why Love Island is the ultimate window into human connection. 

Betrayal. Deceit. Comfort? Eteng strategizes with media and entertainment junky, Sarah Mikal on why the ultimate reality TV crossover show should be your go-to for your next cozy night in. 

In a 90s kind of world. Eteng kicks it with Wah-De Dennis of Kulaborative Works to gab about the best decade of Black TV and the endless ways Living Single is inspiring our current Khadijah eras.

Insight into high society. Fellow podcast nerd Lloyd George and Eteng discuss how Succession offers a blueprint into the C-Suite lifestyle and recast iconic Black actors into Logan Roy’s circle.