midseason fun

Night Court

While I think we’ve all become accustomed to less official tv seasons, the networks do still have a slate of offerings that roll out in the new year. Here are a few things to keep your eye out for. Along with a few returning shows including a couple I watch, 911: Lone Star (Fox, 1/17) which is super random but somehow I got hooked, and American Auto (NBC, 1/24) which had some potential last year but hadn’t quite found its footing yet.

  • Will Trent (ABC) Tuesday 1/3, 10pm – Based on Karin Slaughter’s book series we follow a Georgia Special Agent who brings his own upbringing baggage for good and for bad, I caught the first one of these and thought the cast had promise.
  • Alert (Fox) Sunday 1/8, 8pm – This focuses on a missing person’s unit with a woman whose son is missing and early buzz is not good but we’ll see.
  • Night Court (NBC) Tuesday 1/17, 8pm – If you remember the old Night Court, it’s back, and John Larroquette reprises his role alongside Melissa Rauch who will play judge Harry Stone’s daughter.
  • Accused (Fox) Sunday 1/22, 9pm – A look at defendants in criminal trials as an anthology series, based on the British series.
  • Not Dead Yet (ABC) Wednesday 2/8, 8:30/9:30 – Gina Rodriguez plays an obituary writer trying to restart her life and I think talking to the dead.
  • Animal Control (Fox) Thursday 2/16, 9pm – Joel McHale heads up a cast focusing on the people, and animals, that animal control has to deal with.
  • Found (NBC) Sunday 2/19, 10pm – I guess this is like Alert in its focus on missing persons, this one features a person who was once missing. (Update: This is apparently being held until fall)
  • The Company You Keep (ABC) Sunday 2/19, 10pm – Can a con man and undercover office find love?
  • True Lies (CBS) Thursday 2/23, 9pm – A series adaptation of the film where a suburban wife finds out her hubs is a spy and she gets in on the game.

There are also some new reality/gameshow options: The Parent Test (ABC, 12/15), America’s Got Talent: All Stars (NBC, 1/2), Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (Fox, 1/4), Lingo (CBS, 1/11).

Stay tuned to New & Noteworthy posts for biweekly updates and check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/2-1/15

Will Trent

I have been playing catchup and was on the brink of wrapping up a few series… This Fool on Hulu (mildly amusing but not my thing), Killing It on Peacock (dumb but pretty funny), HighSchool on Freevee (I liked the idea of the twins’ story more than I felt compelled by the execution though would come back), and Evil (still too creepy but good) and The Good Fight (sad to say goodbye to these peeps) on Paramount+. I’m poking around for a minute on Paramount+ before canceling that subscription. I’m also adding a few other shows from best of 2022 lists before switching to movies. And of course, midseason is officially kicking off.

  • Will Trent (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/3, 10pm – Based on a book series this agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (huh?) uses his unique POV to clear cases.
  • Ginny & Georgia (Net) Season Premiere, Thursday 1/5 – I was surprisingly engaged with the first season of this family looking for new beginnings that find more than a few complications, it’s sweet and a little edgy.
  • The Rig (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 1/6 – A supernatural mist comes to an oil rig.
  • Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches (AMC & others) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/8, 9pm – Based on the books, a woman discovers she’s part of a witch fam and of course, there’s some drama.
  • Alert (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/8, 9pm – A new missing person drama set in Philly.
  • Velma (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/12 – Mindy Kaling voices the key member of the Scooby gang in this adult animated comedy.
  • The Last of Us (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/15, 9pm – A futuristic look at a man and girl trying to survive after the collapse of modern civilization.
  • The Way Home (Hall) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/15, 9pm – I don’t follow any of Hallmark’s series but assuming they’re relatively formulaic, this is a multigenerational family drama.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/19-1/1

Kaleidoscope

Trying to do a little damage to my list of shows on other people’s top tv lists and should continue over the holidays when new selections are low. There’s plenty of holiday fare and some specials. I wrapped up Dead to Me which was an odd and interesting journey about these two unlikely friends. The Patient might have been good but the subject matter (serial killer holding his therapist hostage) ended up a bit too dark for me. And Reboot with a cute enough premise and cast to make it work. The procrastinator wishes you lots of celebration and connection and lots of good things to watch.

  • Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Am) Season Premiere, Wednesday 12/21 – Is anyone watching this show, seems like it might be entertaining in a formulaic sort of way but I haven’t tried it?
  • Emily in Paris (Net) Season Premiere, Wednesday 12/21 – I don’t like this series but it’s one of the few series I find myself doing a quick binge on.
  • The Snap (Allblk) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/22 – Not to be confused with “The Slap,” a ‘god’ challenges peeps to see situations in a new light, it’s a comedy?
  • Pinata Masters! (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/23 – Reality spotlight, there is no area we can’t make a competition out of, will the kids like them?
  • The Witcher: Blood Origin (Net) Series Premiere, Sunday 12/25 – If you’ve always wondered about the story behind the Witcher.
  • Treason (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 12/26 – The past catches up with an MI6 agent, will secrets be exposed?
  • Kaleidoscope (Net) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/1 – Giancarlo Esposito, Rufus Sewell, Paz Vega among others are part of a crew looking to pull off a big ass heist.
  • Paul T. Goldman (Pea) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/1 – A mix of real life and dramatized scenes in the style of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/5-12/18

1923

Nothing much to see here. Which is allowing me to play some catchup. Wrapped up the oddly compelling Yellowjackets (Show), not sure how those girls are dealing with things and all the secrets from the past but I’m in. Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu) which was like a real-life Ted Lasso for those of us who don’t follow football aka soccer, they did a good job weaving the stories of the players, the town, and the big purchase by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Grace & Frankie (Net) which felt like kind of a throwback sitcom but you can’t go wrong with hijinks with this cast headed by Jane Fond and Lily Tomlin. Reservation Dogs (Hulu) continued to bring it in season 2 with engaging and offbeat stories of four indigenous teens in Oklahoma. And Mind Your Manners one of the latest reality fare from Netflix, I try to limit my reality but the combo of learning new things and heartwarming stories sometimes slips through, this was fine enough.

And I start to look at all the series folks are starting to say are the best of the year. While I used to be able to do my top tv of the year posts at year close, now I always try to do a little catchup. Target Feb (because then I need to move on to movies). Until then I’ve got a busy slate. Still working through The Good Fight and Better Call Saul. Just started High School on Freevee and This Fool on Hulu, and while both had moments they didn’t immediately grab me.

But we can’t get away without anything new:

  • Kindred (Fx/Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 12/13 – Adapted from the novel, a woman relocating her family to LA starts being pulled through time.
  • The Recruit (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/16 – New to the FBI and into big secrets.
  • 1923 (Para+) Series Premiere, Sunday 12/18 – If you haven’t gotten enough of Yellowstone here’s Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in a pre-prequel?

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/21-12/4

Wednesday

I’ve been looking to knock out a couple of my streaming shows before I add much more. Better Call Saul, Evil, The Good Fight, and Lucifer are at the forefront. Fortunately, things dial back over the holidays so perhaps a little time to catch up.

  • Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 11/22 – This drama tells the tale of the Indian immigrant, played by Kumail Nanjiani, who founded the stripping empire.
  • Echo 3 (App+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/23 – Set in South America (in English and Spanish) this thriller when a brilliant young scientist goes missing.
  • Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/23 – Adam Devine’s character spins off with a trip to Berlin where one of his songs became a hit, these movies were charming (though I don’t really remember them or him) so hopefully, the series is as well.
  • Wednesday (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/23 – Wednesday Addams, of the Addams Family, takes center stage as she heads to Nevermore Academy from Tim Burton, worth a look.
  • Criminal Minds: Evolution (Para+) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/24 – In the latest reboot, picking up with the Behavioral Analysis Unit profiling and pursuing the worst of the worst, the first episodes getting a tease on CBS.
  • Irreverent (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/30 – A criminal mediator flees his Chicago life to somehow impersonate a Reverand in New Zealand.
  • Willow (Dis+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/20 – Based on the film this fantasy adventure gets the series treatment.
  • Riches (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/2 – Another look at the exploits of the rich and famous, a family vies for control after the patriarch passes.
  • Three Pines (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/2 – Based on the Chief Inspector Gamache series, Alfred Molina takes the title role investigating the cases in this Quebec village.
  • George & Tammy (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 12/4 – A dramatic look at country music power couple Tammy Wynette and George Jones.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/7-11/20

The English

Well other than the election coverage on Tuesday we’re just clicking along. I took a break from my Better Call Saul viewing to try Yellowjackets in case I let my Paramount+ subscription go sooner rather than later. I enjoyed the season of InkMaster and have some work to do on The Good Fight (which is wrapping up) and Evil. Let’s see if we get any traction on Tulsa King and want to consider that. I’ve also slacked on my in-apartment exercise bike so my streaming comedies have dwindled but I’ll want to dive into Dead to Me, good exercise motivation.

  • The Crown (Net) Season Premiere, Wednesday 11/9 – I dropped off on this earlier (not with a specific decision to do so) but folks are more attentive now to the more recent timeline and with the passing of the crown.
  • The Calling (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/10 – An NYPD detective ‘questions his own humanity.’
  • The Good Fight (Para+) Series Finale, Thursday 11/10 – I’m still on the previous season but clicking on this very fun and well-done series.
  • Reasonable Doubt (ABC) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/10, 10 pm – A broadcast premiere of a Hulu show to give you a look-see, if you couldn’t tell from the title it’s a legal show.
  • The English (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 11/11 – I just did a quick scan yesterday trying to find out when this was coming available after some folks shared an excellent review of this Emily Blunt Western.
  • Tulsa King (Para+) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/13 – Sylvester Stallone as a mafia guy out of prison and ending up in Tulsa, I think two episodes at the premiere and then weekly.
  • Rogue Heroes (Epix) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/13, 9 pm – Does anyone get Epix? If so you can tune in to this dramatized account of ‘the world’s greatest Special Forces unit.’
  • Leverage: Redemption (Free) Season Premiere, Wednesday 11/16 – I find this con-job-an-episode to be pretty entertaining.
  • Mind Your Manners (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/16 – Reality spotlight: I’m kind of intrigued to see what this etiquette teacher works with her clients on.
  • Fleishman is in Trouble (FX/Hulu) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/17 – I didn’t love this book, some protagonists are just annoying, but a little intrigued as to what they’ll do with the series with Jesse Eisenberg and Clair Danes among others.
  • Dead to Me (Net) Series Finale. Thursday 11/17 – We’re ready for the final season of this fun series with Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate as unexpected friends, and thinking healthy thoughts for Applegate who managed to complete this while battling MS.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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my schedule

Alaska Daily

Turns out I’ve sort of stopped doing this since with the ebb and flow of television there’s not one fixed time that I have a set fall schedule. But I have dabbled in almost all of the broadcast fall tv so I thought I’d let you know where I netted out. Lopez vs Lopez still hasn’t started but I feel like we’re good and if it’s awesome I’ll let you know.

Monday

  • Quantum Leap (NBC, 10pm) – This is a fun enough pickup from the original with a nice combo of random scenario of the week and overarching stuff and the characters are generally likable.

Wednesday

  • The Conners/Abbott Elementary/Home Economics (ABC, 8/9/9:30pm) – No real change here, I’m game for more funny with Abbott being the standout.

Thursday

  • Ghosts/So Help Me Todd (CBS, 8:30/9pm) – Ghosts is the other comedy standout and Todd isn’t revolutionary but Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden sell it as mother/son kind of working (Attorney/PI) odd couple.
  • Alaska Daily (ABC, 10pm) – So far this has felt really quality with Hilary Swank as a fish out of water journalist trying to get to the bottom of ignored indigenous crimes and ruffling feathers along the way for good and for bad.
  • Call Me Kat (Fox, 9:30) – This show is almost funny, but I am crushed to have lost Leslie Jordan who was the bright spot here, not sure it will be worth it without him but we’ll see what they do.
  • Law & Order (NBC, 8pm) – I feel like it’s lost its edge with the topical ‘ripped from the headlines’ but there’s a nostalgia factor here.

Sunday

  • Family Law/Coroner (CW, 8/9pm) – The Canadians should not be underestimated, and I am adding this reluctant to be working together family of attorneys (and other related professions) with a can’t help but like her protagonist to the already enjoyed death investigation of the week.
  • The Equalizer (CBS, 8pm) – I mean Queen Latifa can solve it when you have nowhere else to turn, sure.

I have also been enjoying Welcome to Wrexham (which just wrapped but I’m behind, Fx/Hulu), Atlanta which is not done yet but I’m also behind on (Thursday at 10, Fx/Hulu), and Reginald the Vampire (Wednesday at 10, Syfy) which is very charming.

Do you still watch broadcast tv? Any winners?

*As always check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 10/24-11/6

Blockbuster

I’m generally behind in streaming since I’ve been trying to catch up broadcast and cable fall tv, thought I did crank through Queer Eye: Brazil for some good feels that require little attention. I don’t think I caught the last season of Big Mouth but a new one is coming. The Ink Master finale is coming up on 11/2. Which means I should be almost done with my Paramount + subscription but I’m not caught up on Evil or The Good Fight yet (though have been watching an episode weekly when Ink Master comes out).

For more of what’s new that I will also likely ignore (at least for now):

  • Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Net) Series Premiere, Tuesday 10/25 – A collection of sinister stories.
  • The Devil’s Hour (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 10/28 – A woman who repeatedly wakes in the middle of the night’s finds strange things and gets involved in a series of murders
  • The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 10/28 – Son of a notorious witch is caught between to clans.
  • Inside Man (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 10/31 – An American death row prisoner helps a British journalist search for a friend.
  • Blockbuster (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/3 – A workplace comedy set in the last Blockbuster, a good enough cast including Melissa Fumero and Randall Park, to be curious.
  • The Suspect (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/3 – A psychologist gets caught up in a murder.
  • Lopez vs Lopez (NBC) Series Premeiere, Friday 11/4 – George Lopez and his daughter are giving comedy a go together, as I believe a father and daughter.
  • Mood (BBCA) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/6, 10pm – Based on a play, a woman trying to make it as a singer ends up giving the influencer journey a go.
  • Dangerous Liaisons (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday, 11/6, 8pm – This one’s a prequel telling the origin story.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 10/10-10/23

High School

I finished up the latest season of the fun Resident Alien (Syfy) and the second season of HBO Max’s Love Life that reaired on TBS.

I’ve also been trying to check in with new Fall TV. Monarch and The Rookie: Feds are both a pass for me. I am sticking around for more of Quantum Leap (NBC) and So Help Me Todd (CBS). I am also tuning in for at least one more of East New York (CBS), Family Law (CW), Alaska Daily (ABC), and Fire Country (CBS). And cable shows Interview with the Vampire (AMC) and Reginald the Vampire (CW). I think I missed Walker Independence (CW) which I’m not too heartbroken about.

As TV has continued to expand, I’m going to narrow the focus of these listings just a smidge. I’ll still be focusing on scripted shows. And I’ll still share the new shows starting on major networks, cable, and streaming. I might let some of the lesser items go. And I’ll no longer be sharing some of the more niche foreign/foreign language shows. I also won’t reference most returning streaming but will highlight the things I have my eye on. Ok, let’s go.

  • The Winchesters (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday 10/11, 8pm – I was not a Supernatural watcher but this is a prequel about their parents.
  • Professionals (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday 10/11, 9pm – Tom Welling stars as the head of a security team that does what it takes for those who pay top dollar.
  • The Watcher (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/13 – A good cast headed by Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale in this latest Ryan Murphy spooky mystery/thriller where I think its the house that’s out to get them.
  • High School (Free) Series Premiere, Friday 10/14 – This show based on Tegan and Sarah’s memoir looks promising.
  • Shantaram (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 10/14 – Charlie Hunnam returns for this love story/adventure where he’s a fugitive on the run in Bombay.
  • Magpie Murders (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 10/16, 9pm – Based on a novel, this is a mystery in a mystery, maybe in a mystery.
  • Annika (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 10/16, 10pm – A police procedural goes maritime and supposedly adds some wit.
  • The Peripheral (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 10/21 – A sci-fi series centering Chloe Grace Moretz trying to hold together her family with a surprising future.

The procrastinator lists mostly scripted items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST, please check your local listings.

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let things stand alone

Law & Order Premiere Event

I’m the kind of person who really hates to miss the beginning of a movie. And I can’t jump into a series midway. What have I missed? What clue to the characters or situation is going to be lost on me?

So I have to say I am over all the media having to be tied into one another.

Just this week alone:

  • Law & Order – A super cross-over event (I was a little behind on this) I’ve bailed on SVU and OC but had been dabbling with the reboot of the original and one of the things I like about that show is an episode is an episode. But nooo, in a crossover event things span in this case three episodes. So I made an exception and caught all three. At least since I had watched the other shows I knew who most of the characters were but overall although they created an arc for each one there were a bunch of detectives bopping in and out of each. Preposterous. And with all of the related shows, 911s/FBIs/NCISs/CSIs/Chicago whatever, this obviously isn’t isolated.
  • The Rookie: Feds – I didn’t stick with the original The Rookie and I’m pretty sure they launched this as a backdoor pilot over there. So of course Nathan Fillion pops up as a street cop that our main protagonist has some sort of relationship with. And overall these characters all have relationships and stories that I have no idea what’s happening. And not in an of course all characters will have backstory kind of way. It made me less engaged in the characters and story. So whether your spinoff is a character taking a new journey, a sequel/prequel, or just a backdoor pilot seems like you could make it work as a standalone show.
  • Morbius – Marvel is probably the worst. The few movies I’ve liked the most are ones that stand alone. I’ve come to put up with a random guest appearance and an end cap that teases something else. But those are few and far between these days. As homework to watch the final Avengers I think you had to watch 30+ movies. And that’s not counting any series. And the bummer is that even when something is supposed to be kind of a dud like Eternals or Morbius I feel compelled to complete them.

And in addition to feeling like I have to watch every Marvel movie to understand what’s happening in any of them, I suppose I’m supposed to subscribe to Disney+ to watch all the tv shows as well. It’s just exhausting.

I’m also for the record totally over anything that’s a trilogy. The first movie or book never seems to work as a standalone event (I’m looking at you Dune movie and The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet book, so regardless of whether I would have enjoyed all three, I’m out!

I know one aspect of this strategy is giving people more of the kinds of properties that they want. But the other strategy of making you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t watch them all just seems manipulative and greedy.

Will I stop watching Marvel? Maybe not. But I am drawing the line somewhere.

Rant complete. Does this bug anyone else?

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