new and noteworthy tv: 6/10-6/16

Excited for the return of Ink Master, Queen Sugar, Baskets, Younger, and Jessica Jones. Was pondering about picking up Pose which returns though I dropped it midway last season I hear so many good things.

  • Too Old to Die Young (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – Mixed reviews for this crime drama set in the under belly of LA.
  • Jett (Cin) Series Premiere, Friday, 10pm – Carla Gugino plays a fresh out of prison, trying to retire, professional thief.
  • Los Espookys (HBO) Series Premiere, Friday, 11pm – A Spanish language comedy from Fred Armisen about a group of friends turn their love of horror into a business.
  • City on a Hill (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – 90s Boston crime with Kevin Bacon as FBI agent helping to investigate armed robbery that leads to more drama.
  • Euphoria (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 10pm – Some early good buzz for this coming of age centering on a girl played by Zendaya recently coming out of rehab.

Other streaming releases:

  • Jinn (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday – Two Jinns, one good and one evil, enter the human realm, in high school.
  • Leila (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Dystopian future woman looks for child taken from her.
  • Trinkets (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Three girls connect in Shoplifters Anonymous.
  • Unit 42 (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Widowed cop teams up with former hacker to combat cyber crimers.

Returning streaming: Kakegurui (Net, Thursday), Strange Angel (CBSAA, Thursday), Absentia (Am, Friday), Aggretsuko (Net, Friday), Black Spot (Net, Friday), Jessica Jones (Net, Friday)

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 4/9-4/15


Trying to knock out some of the random premiering shows sitting in my queue so I don’t have to keep recording them. Gone are Alex, Inc., Splitting Up Together, Siren, Krypton, The Last O.G., Deception, Champions, Life Sentence, McMafia, Shoot the Messenger, and finally dropped Good Girls which had some potential but not enough with a tough backlog. Finally wrapped The Punisher and hoping to quell my need for completion when I find something is just dragging, but let me get through the latest season of Orange is the New Black first while taking break for more enjoyable Mindhunter (which I also finally wrapped, good but didn’t enjoy it quite as much as some raves I heard), Jessica Jones, Sneaky Pete, and The Tick.

  • In Contempt (BET) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Legal aid office, sure.
  • Bosch (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – Excited to see what trouble he’ll get into this season.
  • Lost in Space (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Danger, Will Robinson, with Parker Posey as Dr Smith I can’t help but hope this is a fun one.
  • Rellik (Cin) Series Premiere, Friday, 10pm – UK police detective tracking down a serial killer who has left him emotionally and physically scarred.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 3/5-3/11

I’ve still got a little backlog but thinking about what to dive into next?

  • Hard Sun (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday – Two incompatible police partners investigating a death learn about the end of the world, some mixed reviews.
  • Life Sentence (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – Lucy Hale leads a cast where she learns that she no longer has cancer and has to face the ignored fallout from her life.
  • The Oath (Crackle) Series Premiere, Thursday – Once you pledge to one of these gangs you’re in, and I still don’t know what Crackle is.
  • Jessica Jones (Net) Season Premiere, Thursday – I’ll definitely tune in as this was my fave of these Marvels though rumor has it this doesn’t quite strike the magic of the first.
  • Champions (NBC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 9:30pm – Taking over the family gym and perhaps a new kid, with a guest spot from EP Mindy Kaling.
  • AICO Incarnation (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Another new anime offering.
  • Love (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – This off kilter series about a romance between a couple of misfits is awkward but I’m in for the final season to see where these two leave off.
  • Sneaky Pete (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – The first season of this was a lot of fun as Giovanni Ribisi plays a con man recently out of jail who pretends to be his cell mate and has lots of drama from his own life and the one he’s trying out.
  • American Idol (ABC) Sunday, 8pm, Season Premiere – It’s baaack, Ryan Seacrest still heads it up with new judges Like Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie.
  • Deception (ABC) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Yet another variation of the standard premise of person with odd expertise helps law enforcement, this time we’re going with magician to mixed reviews.
  • The Royals (E!) Season Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – I mostly enjoy this over the top look at a faux royal family, though I wasn’t in love with last season’s plot line I’m game to see where this goes.
  • Timeless (NBC) Season Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Rescued from cancellation, I didn’t stick with this one but for those of you who did it’s back.

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

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netflix originals

There’s nothing new or noteworthy this week, except of course some fireworks tonight, so I thought I’d do a little roundup of some of the original programming on Netflix that could bide your time. The notes in parens are how many seasons I’ve seen of available and an underline notes a recommendation.

  • House of Cards (3 of 4, renewed) – The first season of this was totally riveting and while the following seasons haven’t captured that magic it’s still pretty engaging.
  • Hemlock Grove (3 of 3, ended) – This show is so bad I couldn’t turn away, it’s a wackadoodle town with a bad werewolf on the loose and that’s not the only supernatural occurrence afoot, and then it got worse.
  • Arrested Development (1 of 1, renewed) – Definitely didn’t capture the magic of the original show but if you enjoyed the series this is worth catching (and if you haven’t watched the original series give it a look), curious to see what comes next.
  • Orange is the New Black (3 of 4, renewed) – The main character is basically annoying, but fortunately they do a nice job of making each episode focus not only on the ongoing story but on lots of the quite interesting other individual characters.
  • BoJack Horseman (2 of 2, renewed) – This turns out to be one of my favorite shows, and it did have to grow on me, as we get a look at washed up former star and his pretty depressing life, did I mention it’s an animated world of animal type people and people?
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2 of 2, renewed) – I enjoyed and cranked right through this comedy about a woman returning from bunker captivity, the format allows for our protagonist to merry whimsical childlike qualities with some depressing adult subject matter, with a handful of irregular sidekicks.
  • Bloodline (1 of 2) – I was intrigued by this and stuck through the first season based on cast and some good buzz alone but was underwhelmed by the unfolding of the season and am skipping season two.
  • Marvel’s Daredevil (2 of 2) – This grew on me over the first season but come second season the combination of lackluster characters and muddled story made me weary, though I’m sticking with it for the Marvel universe tie-ins with other Netflix shows.
  • Grace and Frankie (2 of 2, renewed) – This show isn’t revolutionary but Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin still make a great team and with their extended family of former spouses and kids makes a nice ensemble.
  • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (1 of 1, renewed) – I enjoyed the original movie enough and really appreciated what they were trying to do by picking up those threads in this series but it’s really only for a die-hard fan.
  • Narcos (1 of 1, renewed) – This was another one of those shows that was probably quite well done but I just never did enjoy the histori-drama enough to tune back in to next season of Colombian drug lords and the cops who are tasked with thwarting them.
  • Longmire (Season 4, renewed) – I really enjoyed this series when it was on A&E and wasn’t disappointed in the season that came after its transplant, with our sheriff, some odd crimes, and beautiful country.
  • Marvel’s Jessica Jones (1 of 1, renewed) – I thought this latest Marvel was quite engaging, as it felt more noir detective than superhero and our clearly flawed protagonist fought inner and outer demons, excited for the return and the also introduced Luke Cage.
  • Master of None (1 of 1, renewed) – Aziz Ansari most known from Parks & Recreation creates a somewhat autobiographical comedic look which grows into a decent season arc.
  • Love / Flaked (1 of 1, renewed) – A couple of ‘comedy’ shows about unlikable characters and the messes that are their lives, and I didn’t love either one but something compelled me to crank through each.

I tried but couldn’t:

  • Marco Polo (1 season, renewed) – A look at the early years with Kublai Khan and the Mongolian Empire didn’t keep my attention.
  • F is for Family (1 season, renewed) – I heard good buzz about this animated sitcom but alas to me not so much funny.
  • The Ranch (1 season, renewed) – Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger and Sam Elliott make a nice lineup of a family with prodigal son returned but for me no real laughs.
  • Lady Dynamite (1 season, renewed) – I wasn’t won over by the odd comedian’s take but a friend just gave me a pitch to give it another go so I will.

Are they or aren’t they on the to do list?

  • The Killing (Season 4, ended) – Negative, I gave up on this show after season 2.
  • Sense8 (1 season, renewed) – This is one of those ones that everyone seems to say gets good about mid-way through so perhaps.
  • Club de Cuervos (1 season, renewed) – I think I missed this Spanish language debut, and no buzz makes me dubious.
  • Marseille (1 season, renewed) – Pass, I haven’t heard much good about this one.
  • W/Bob & David (1 season) – I’m not a huge sketch comedy fan.
  • Fuller House (1 season, renewed) – Not a watcher of the original so missing the nostalgia desire to tune back in.
  • Netflix Presents: The Characters (1 of 1, ended) – As noted not a huge sketch comedy viewer.
  • Hibana (1 season) – Remotely interested in taking a look at this Japanese novel adaptation if the queue weren’t so full.

Not including exclusive international distribution with examples like: The Fall (BBC) 2 of 2 seasons, River (BBC) 1 of 1, and most recent Marcella (ITV) 1 season.

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procrastinator picks – top tv of 2015

I tend to internally mock critics who say they can’t narrow it down to 10, but seriously too much out there, it’s impossible. I kept it to ten but I did cop out this year and put them in alphabetical order. My caveats as usual, these probably aren’t the best shows out but ones that I personally enjoyed, and I can’t completely rate on just an individual season. Also my usual clarification that I don’t get high end cable so those shows might be on my to do list but they won’t be here, plus shows that I’m behind on like Mad Men and Rectify (which I love).

  • The 100 (CW) – The dynamics amongst all the factions in this post-apocalyptic world have increased in quantity and in stakes and it’s moved beyond the pretty young things CW slant, though certainly maintained the pretty people.
  • The Americans (Fx) – Spy mom and dad and great spy wigs sure keep getting in and mostly out of fixes, and the relationships with others keep getting more complicated, what are the chances that bringing in spy kids will go smoothly?
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – I didn’t love running for office Alicia but starting over yet again Alicia brought yet another new spin on this rich cast of characters that just keeps me entertained with the cases and the personal lives where there’s not always a real right.
  • Humans (AMC) – Lots of riffs out there on the androids taking over but this truly human look at a group of unanticipated aware and feeling synths and their interactions with each other, the humans around them, society as a whole and of course some ‘evil’ corporation kept me all in.
  • Jessica Jones (Net) – A new crop of great series on Netflix but this less Marvel-ish Marvel is the one that truly made me want to binge as I enjoyed the tough damaged lead and her fight against uber creepy villian with the help and hindrance of some good supports.
  • Justified (Fx) – The last season brought back much of what I loved about the series, Raylan was someone we all fell in love with as he fought the good fight in sometimes the wrong ways to hunt down folks as only a Marshall near his own Harlan, Kentucky hometown can do.
  • Mr. Robot (USA) – This is the show that put USA on the map this year and it was quite a big swing, the lead Rami Malek really should get much of the credit for carrying this peculiar character in a psychotic split between computer hacking, and well hacking, tempted to go back and watch again.
  • Orphan Black (BBCA) – This admittedly wasn’t my favorite season of this show but I love it so much even a dip in the distractions to the clone club from the boy clones couldn’t dampen my love for the performances of Tatiana Maslany and her band of supporters.
  • UnREAL (Life) – My fave new campy show this look behind the scenes of a Bacheloresque show had so many layers as we follow Producer Rachel trying to come back from her own personal drama while the manipulations on and off camera reach new highs, or should I say lows, and I’m not a Bachelor watcher.
  • You’re the Worst (Fxx) – The first season of this show won me over with a new twist on the rom com by playing into and out of the stereotypes as the characters were all a mess, and the second season delved into Gretchen’s mess/depression in a way that was able to include some truly funny moments in what was a dramatic and sensitive, amazing work by Aya Cash.

My honorable mentions were giving me too much stress so I’ve even eliminated those. What were some of your favorites from last year?

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