Ashley Ray

Ashley Ray is a comedian and TV writer with a passion for all things television. She was a critic for Vulture, Variety, Emmy Magazine and The A.V. Club before becoming a creative and now she gets to celebrate TV with her Earwolf podcast TV, I Say w/Ashley Ray. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow TV, I Say on Twitter here.

Describe TV, I Say in 10 words or less.
It’s like a hangout sitcom! Writers, actors, comics talking TV they love!

Why are you the perfect host for this show?
Since I was a kid, I’ve loved all TV. I think today, there’s such a focus on prestige TV, but I like meeting shows on their level. I like celebrating trash TV, reality shows, docu-series, everything! 

How is your show different than other TV podcasts?
Since I’m also a writer and creative, I think other artists feel more comfortable opening up to me. This isn’t a scary piece of criticism, they don’t have to worry about properly analyzing things. It’s just real TV opinions. I try to create a vibe that’s like a TV groupchat with all your favorite actors and comics.

What’s your ideal TV viewing situation? Snacks? Setup? Clothing?
A massive, massive couch, a suffocating amount of blankets and a giant charcuterie tray. I love a variety of snacks while I binge.

How do you choose what you’re going to cover?
I follow a lot of the conversation online, but I also just use my own weird TV intuition. I watch a lot of shows people miss and I can tell when something needs more attention. I love introducing people to shows they never would’ve heard of.

Should podcasters read their reviews?
NO! Maybe it’s because I used to be a reviewer and critic, but I think everyone should avoid reviews.

Who is your audience? Do you ever hear from them or engage with them?
Yes! I love my TV Club. I have a really engaged audience of TV fans and writers who love talking to me about shows. I love engaging with them and we use the podcast patreon as a little hub for really nerdy TV talk.

Are you a podcast listener?
Yes! But honestly, I mostly listen to true crime stuff or weird mysteries and investigative reports.

Thanks, Ashley!