Listening, Watching, Reading

September 26. 2025

“Task,” Gay Restaurants, “Downtown Abbey,” “SPEAK,” & Helium on the Moon.

Hosted byJody Avirgan

Curated byMatthew Horovitz, Hark Contributor

6 CLIPS22 MINS

Clip 1 of 5

Mark Ruffalo in HBO’s “Task”

Slate’s “Culture Gabfest” dives into HBO’s addictive cops and robbers in rural Pennsylvania show, “Task” starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pomfrey.

Culture Gabfest

6 MINS

Clip 2 of 5

A History of Gay Restaurants

Erik Piepenburg discusses his new book “Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants.” From “Food with Mark Bittman.”

Food with Mark Bittman

3 MINS

Clip 3 of 5

The Surprisingly Delightful New Downton Abbey Movie

Amanda Dobbins & Sean Fennessey love the new movie “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” and wish they’d keep making a new Downton Abbey movie every year. From “The Big Picture.”

The Surprisingly Delightful New Downton Abbey Movie

The Big Picture

6 MINS

Clip 4 of 5

“SPEAK” - New Documentary about High School Oratory Contests

The directors of the new documentary “SPEAK” about high school oratory-contests discuss their process on “All of It with Alison Stewart.”

“SPEAK” - New Documentary about High School Oratory Contests

All Of It

4 MINS

Clip 5 of 5

Helium on the Moon & State Fair Crafting

The great David Plotz chatters about mining the moon for helium and a great exhibit at DC’s Renwick Museum. From “The Political Gabfest.”

Helium on the Moon & State Fair Crafting

Political Gabfest

1 MIN

Hosted by

Jody Avirgan

Curated byMatthew Horovitz