Dark TV Shows PT1

Audio Issues

Scott identified that drops played through Ableton had been sounding tinny — traced back to the compressor/limiter being cranked to 100%, essentially squeezing full sound through a metaphorical tin can. He fixed it before the show, resulting in noticeably improved audio quality.Scott also recommended Burke move his microphone closer to reduce echo and wall resonance. Burke's noise cancellation was adjusted mid-session to compensate.

Video & Display Setup

Scott's flashing monitor was determined to be caused by a USB-to-HDMI adapter — not a failing display. The adapter wasn't designed for HD output, having been purchased back when 720p was the top of the line. Scott rearranged his setup to run off the laptop's actual graphics card for screen sharing during the show.

New GPU Build

• Scott received a massive new graphics card — weighing in at 6.1 pounds with 4 power inputs (vs. 2 on his previous card).
• He upgraded to a larger power supply in anticipation of the increased power draw.
• Concern noted: the card is nearly the size of his phone and heavy enough to stress the motherboard mounting — Scott considered adding a metal spacer for support.
• Also received a new NVMe 2 drive, which turned out to be shorter than expected — but his motherboard had a dedicated NVMe 2 slot, much to Scott's relief.
• Plan: take the build to the kitchen table the next day, install components, reload Windows in a base configuration, then migrate drives later.
• All music, drops, and Ableton files are currently on an external hard drive, causing USB bottleneck issues during live shows — the NVMe will resolve this.

📰 News & Current Events

State Fair of Texas Fire

Scott shared a news clip about a fire that broke out at the State Fair of Texas around 7 AM, starting at a balloon pop and duck pond booth — likely electrical in origin. Dallas firefighters contained it rapidly, with remarkably little lasting damage. Prizes in nearby booths didn't catch fire — they melted, as all fair prizes are non-flammable. Big Tex was confirmed safe. The midway reopened the same morning.The hosts reminisced about the legendary Big Tex fire of 2012, when the 66-year-old icon went up in flames — an emotional day for Texans everywhere. The rising costs at the fair also came up: rides now cost $8 for a 30-second cycle, up from $7 the previous year. Scott noted he hadn't attended since Mama Sveti broke her collarbone at the fair — and that one prior visit set him back $700 in a single day. Recent music lineups were also panned, with Night Ranger cited as the last act worth attending.

💀 Celebrity Deaths

The hosts ran through an extensive — and ever-growing — obituary segment. As Scott put it: "This gets longer and longer every week."Name Date of Death Age Known For
Mary Louise Weller October 1, 2026 79 Mandy Pepperidge in Animal House (1978); also appeared in Starsky and Hutch, Fantasy Island
Jeff Van Note October 2, 2026 80 Center for the Atlanta Falcons (1960s–80s), 6-time Pro Bowl pick, Ring of Honor inductee
Kronos (Conrad Land) September 2026 63 Lead singer/bassist of Venom; coined the term "black metal"; albums Welcome to Hell, Black Metal
David Marsden September 25, 2026 85 Program director at CFNY in Brampton, Ontario; slogan "The Spirit of Radio" inspired Rush's beloved song
Sass Jordan Reported October 2026 63 Renowned Canadian rock singer; died peacefully surrounded by family after health issues (later confirmed cancer)
Marjo Ross Gortner October 2, 2026 82 Actor and ordained Pentecostal preacher; appeared in Falcon Crest, Fantasy Island, Star Crash
Reggie McFadden Reported October 2026 57 Comedian; got his start on HBO's Def Comedy Jam; also appeared on In Living Color
Robert Kelker Kelly October 3, 2026 62 Second actor to play Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives; also known for Another World and General Hospital
Mark Mortimer September 23, 2026 59 Army veteran, model, actor, entrepreneur; appeared on General Hospital for years — oddly omitted from his own obituary
Sam McDowell October 5, 2026 84 "Sudden Sam" — starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians; 6-time All-Star; also played for Yankees, Giants, and Pirates
Freddie Jackson October 5, 2026 70 R&B legend; #1 hits like Rock Me Tonight; sang duet for All Dogs Go to Heaven; raised singing gospel in Harlem
Jim Bakker October 5, 2026 86 Televangelist and convicted felon; hosted The PTL Club; developed Heritage USA Christian theme park
🗒️ Tammy Faye sidebar: Scott recalled working with Tammy Faye Bakker at TBN around 2004, when she was battling cancer. Production had to go to great lengths each taping to conceal the fact that she could barely walk. She passed away in 2007 — nearly 20 years ago.

⚖️ Legal Threat Update

Scott revealed he received a threatening email demanding he remove a previous episode in which he named the owners of Tidbit — a company he alleged sold an expensive product to many customers before the founders sold the company for a profit. The emailer cited potential defamation action. Scott's response? He declined to remove the content, noting he'd spoken honest truth — and that it wouldn't be his first time facing legal pressure. Notably, the day after receiving the threat, Tidbit started working again.

🏈 NFL Update

Scott delivered his signature NFL update segment — this time covering a Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns game. Key highlights in Scott's inimitable style:

• The Browns opened by punting, Roman Wilson returned a 12-yard TD... and then punted again.
• Aaron Rodgers was picked off by Denzel Ward; Jalil McLaughlin ran in a 28-yard TD.
• A see-saw second half featured multiple punts, a Watson fumble, and a Watson interception by Robert Spears-Jennings.
• A-Rod found Darnell Washington for a 21-yard TD; failed two-point conversion.
• With 1:40 left and the game seemingly tied, Andre Schmitz nailed a 56-yard field goal to take the lead with 10 seconds remaining.
• Rodgers heaved a last-second prayer... caught by Grant Delpit for the game-sealing interception. Steelers win their 3rd straight, sitting atop the AFC North.

📺 Regular Bits

• Speed Test: Burke clocked 543 down / 22 up. Scott hit 948 down / 871 up after resetting everything pre-show.
• Motivational Motivation: "Stop watering your worries — they're like flight safety instructions. You won't remember them when you're about to die."
• Robert Smith Check-in: First check — quite depressed. Second check — slightly less depressed (hypothetically got laid).
• Iran War Update: They're still fighting.
• Ukraine War Update: They're still fighting.
• Travis Kelce / Taylor Swift Update: Well, they're married!
• Adele Update: We don't care.
• Burke's Spoken Word: A stirring recitation of Olivia Newton-John's Physical.
• Death Pool Update: Burke leads 2–0. Scott has zero points. Scott lamented that Dick Van Dyke — whom he grew up loving — is on Burke's list, not his.

💀 Death Pool Update

• Burke added Dolly Parton and Tim Curry earlier in the year — both have since died, earning Burke 2 points.
• Scott swapped in Bruce Campbell, recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. Campbell confirmed he's fighting it but won't let it control his remaining time.
• Scott noted that out of a list of ~100 names, only 2 have died so far — a surprisingly low hit rate given the volume of obituaries they cover weekly.
• Starting next year, the death pool will be updated once a month on the show (due to technical difficulties at the start of this season).

📡 YouTube & Content Recommendations

Analytics Update

Scott reported surprising growth on YouTube — the recent PROGREX episode pulled 55 viewers on YouTube alone, on top of ~1,400 downloads across Apple Podcasts and Red Circle. The show's website, DavisAndDavisShow.com, continues to be updated in hopes that "Bob" will tune in again someday.

Burke's Recommendations

• Tony and Ryan — An Australian podcast duo with hilarious YouTube content. Burke described Ryan as "not small, but funny as hell," with her son running the editing board, visibly dying inside at what comes out of her mouth.
• Cinema Wins — The antidote to Cinema Sins. Instead of nitpicking every plot hole, this channel celebrates everything great about a film — pulling Easter eggs, explaining references, and finding value even in movies the host doesn't particularly love. Burke and Scott watched the Deadpool & Wolverine episode live and were instantly hooked.

Planned Show Format

The pair floated the idea of doing reaction videos to Cinema Wins retrospectives — splitting into a two-show format where they cover roughly 3 films per episode and offer their own takes alongside the channel's commentary.

🌑 Dark TV Shows — The Full List

Scott's Picks

1. Life on Mars (British, 2006–2007)

A gritty, darkly humorous British cop show with a massive time travel twist. DCI Sam Tyler is struck by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973 Manchester, forced to work under the politically incorrect Gene Hunt. Sam's central question — am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? — drives the entire series, exploring themes of identity, sanity, and whether reality itself can be trusted. Cases from Sam's 2006 work mysteriously resurface in 1973, raising the fascinating question: if he solves them decades early, what happens to the future?

2. Being Human (British original, 2008–2013)

A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost try to live completely ordinary lives while sharing a flat in Bristol — all while fighting their monstrous instincts and hiding from a sinister underground vampire hierarchy. Scott watched the British original and described it as phenomenal. An American remake also ran on Syfy from 2011–2014. Key themes: found family, identity, addiction (Mitchell's bloodlust treated like a substance dependency), and the fear of exposure and rejection. Burke identified cast members Sam Huntington (Jimmy Olsen in Superman Returns) and Sam Witwer (voice of Darth Maul).

3. Grimm (American, 2011–2017)

Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he's a Grimm — the latest in an ancient line of guardians who can see mythological part-human, part-animal creatures called Wesen living hidden among humans. Rather than hunting all Wesen like his ancestors, Nick uses his badge to maintain balance between both worlds. He forms an unlikely alliance with Monroe, a reformed Blutbad (think Big Bad Wolf) who fixes clocks and does Pilates to stay on the wagon. As seasons progress, Nick's police chief is revealed to be Wesen, and his own wife is magically transformed — putting a Grimm and a Wesen in the same bed. Scott's verdict: "A constant clockwork of twists and changes." Highly recommended.

4. Supernatural (American, 2005–2020)

The epic 15-season urban fantasy horror road trip following brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, raised by their obsessive father to hunt monsters after their mother was killed by a supernatural entity. They travel America's backroads in a black 1967 Chevy Impala 4-door, living out of cheap motels with fake IDs. The show evolves from monster-of-the-week to an all-out war between heaven and hell — complete with a rogue angel named Castiel, Lucifer, and multiple apocalypses. Both brothers die and resurrect multiple times. Scott binged the first 5 seasons in under a year after they had already aired, then caught up to weekly episodes. Plans confirmed: the show will get a full multi-part deep-dive treatment on the podcast, split across at least 3 episodes.

Burke's Picks

1. Mindhunter (Netflix, 2017–2019)

David Fincher's icy crime drama about the early days of criminal profiling at the FBI. Darkness comes not from gore, but from quiet, deeply disturbing interviews with real-life serial killers. Two standout plot points:

• Holden Ford's breakdown: After building a rapport-driven dynamic with Ed Kemper across Season 1, Ford visits Kemper alone in a hospital. Kemper steps between Ford and the exit — and Ford, realizing how thoroughly he has blurred the line between empathy and professional distance, has a massive panic attack and collapses. Critics' score: 97%. Audience: 95%.
• Bill Tench's adopted son: In Season 2, a 22-month-old child is found murdered and placed on a wooden cross. Tench discovers his young adopted son Brian was present — and suggested the staging. The show focuses not on sensationalism but on the suffocating dread of a parent confronting whether psychopathic tendencies are inherent or learned.

2. Sharp Objects (HBO, 2018)

An adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel. Journalist Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls, unraveling her own history of severe psychological abuse by her mother Adora. Almost every inch of Camille's body is covered in words she carved into her own skin as a coping mechanism. The climax reveals Adora suffers from Munchausen syndrome by proxy — she poisoned her daughter Marion to death and is currently doing the same to her half-sister Amma. The final devastating twist: Amma's ornate dollhouse floor is paved with the extracted teeth of the murdered girls — Amma was the killer all along. Critics: 92%. Audience: 83%.

3. The Boys (Amazon Prime, 2019–present)

A gritty superhero satire set in a world where celebrated heroes are corporate assets managed by the powerful conglomerate Vought International. At the center is Homelander — a narcissistic, psychopathic Superman analog. Two defining moments:

• Opening scene: Speedster A-Train, high on Compound V, runs straight through Huey's girlfriend Robin at hyperspeed — vaporizing her completely while Huey's left holding her severed arms. First 10 minutes of Episode 1.
• Flight 37: Homelander and Queen Maeve fail to save a hijacked plane — and rather than attempt any rescue, Homelander calmly decides to let all passengers die to protect his public image, laser-threatening horrified survivors into staying back as he abandons them.

Burke noted the show was created by the same person behind Supernatural — now operating with considerably more creative freedom. Critics: 93%. Audience: 77%.

4. True Detective Season 1 (HBO, 2014)

Two Louisiana detectives — Rust Cohle and Marty Hart — hunt a serial killer connected to an occult ritual murder network. The opening discovery: Dora Lange's body, bound at the base of a tree in a sugarcane field, adorned with deer antlers and handmade "Devil's Nest" twig structures. The investigation reveals a high-level pedophilic cult connected to prominent political and religious figures — the Tuttle family — that has been abducting and murdering impoverished children across the bayou for decades. At Reggie Ledoux's compound, Marty discovers two severely abused kidnapped children and executes Ledoux on the spot — forcing Rust to help cover it up, a shared lie they carry for nearly two decades. Critics: 78%. Audience: 73%.