February 2014 – procrastinationchronicles.com

new and noteworthy tv: 2/24-3/2

February 24, 2014 No Comments

A little delayed, and what with some new television actually available…

Monday

The Voice (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – We’re on the Shakira/Usher version, and I think I just read CeeLo will be out out so not sure if Usher is fighting to stay?
Dallas/Private Lives of Nashville Wives (TNT, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – More of the Ewings and then some other stupid reality show.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo, 9pm) Season Premiere – America’s next Next Superstar.
Cryptid (Hist, 10pm) Series Premiere – Alleged mythical swamp creatures.
The Tanning of America (VH1, 11pm) Series Premiere – A four part series on hip-hop pop-culture.
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, 12:36) Series Premiere – Really.

Tuesday

Amish Mafia/Clash of the Ozarks (Disc, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – Some guy is back on top and then Arkansas family rivalry.
Game of Arms (AMC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Competitive arm wrestling!
Ink Master (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – Continuing my refinement of ink judgments.
Mind Games (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Christian Slater is the kiss of death to a series these days but willing to check out he and Steve Zahn manipulating people.

Wednesday

Survivor (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – Cagayan anyone, this time its split into Brawn, Brains, and Beauty.
Mixology (ABC, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Singles bar mingling, not supposed to be a winner but I’m always desperate for sitcoms.
The Americans (FX, 10pm) Season Premiere – Mission goes awry, I read two critics who say second season is even better than the first.
Legit/Ali G (FXX, 10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – Our protagonist is a sex addict and then some sketches a la Borat.

Thursday

Countdown to the Oscars (ABC, 8pm) – In case you can’t wait until Sunday.
Mary Mary (WE, 9pm) Season Premiere – Returning from hiatus.
The Red Road (Sund, 9pm) Series Premiere – A sheriff forms a native american alliance, but pretty sure this isn’t Longmire.
Scandal (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Something shocking?
Vikings (Hist, 10pm) Season Premiere – Someone recently was saying good things about this show I could never quite get into, take that for what its worth.
Portlandia (IFC, 10pm) Season Premiere – More of the randomness.

Friday

Inside Job/Save Our Business (TNT, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – Peeps looking for great gigs and bad companies trying to get it together.
Bellator MMA Live (Spike, 9pm) Season Premiere – Duke it out.
Hannibal (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Oh how I missed the creepy crazies, will Will finally get a helpful medical diagnosis.
Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (Life, 10pm) Season Premiere – I hate that I feel bad saying a mean thing about Betty White.
Beyond Scared Straight (A&E, 10pm) Season Premiere – Will the aggressive regress?
Game of Stones (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – A rare stone collector.

Saturday

Deion’s Family Playbook (OWN, 10pm) Series Premiere – For those folks who need to see what Sanders is up to.

Sunday

Red Carpet/Oscars (ABC, 2/5:30pm) – And the winner is… speaking of my Oscar pool of course.

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

amazon pilot season

February 19, 2014 No Comments

With the evolving television model comes Amazon’s latest take on tv. They’ve posted Pilot Season on Amazon with ten series pilots for anyone to view, five kids and five adult (made up of comedy and drama). We the public are supposed to view and cast our opinion as to what matters.

Now a couple of logistical things apply. First I can stream Amazon via my TiVo but for some reason it doesn’t turn up on search or is visible through my limited Amazon scroll. Second, I can view it on my laptop but am unable to Chromecast it up to my tv because it uses an unsupportable plugin, silverlight. I must say the kids today are used to watching on their laptops but if I’m sitting in my living room I’d rather watch it on an actual television. Kids today feel free to chime in via comments as to how I’m clearly overlooking how to do this.

As for the shows themselves, I was sort of happy to have mixed reviews (let’s be serious, I didn’t watch the kid’s shows):

Mozart in the Jungle (:30) – Classical music and the folks who make it interesting, good cast options with Gael Garcia Bernal vs Malcolm McDowell as conductors, created by pedigreed talent including a Coppola, too much in a pilot but intrigued to see where they would go, ‘Fame’ grows up a little and goes to the symphony; would watch again.
The Rebels (:29) – In over your head with a crazy pro-football team isn’t revolutionary so I’d expect at least the initial view of Natalie Zea (Justified’s baby mama) to be a little more drawn out than a former cheerleader who has been married to an owner yet wouldn’t know that uniforms aren’t called costumes, felt ‘Necessary Roughness’ light; pass.
Transparent (:30) – You had me at Jeffrey Tambor but the latest from the maker of ‘Six Feet Under’ and ‘…Tara’ brings us a look of an adult family and their secrets in Los Angeles, I was intrigued to see where all of the characters might go, ‘Arrested Development’ goes to ‘Laurel Canyon’ (ok not quite but tough comparison); would definitely watch again.
The After (:55) – Oh Chris Carter my threshold for creepy conspiracy setups in a world struck by mystery is now high based on many disappointing evolutions, and this tale of eight strangers navigating post weirdness made me want to turn away, felt ‘Event’-ish; definitely pass.
Bosch (:51) – Based on the Connelly books, which I haven’t read so I’m not sure how close to character or content these are, Titus Welliver (who I recognize from stuff but had to look him up) is a well-chosen quiet tough detective, but you know the drill, the stoicness keeps it all a little cold; intrigued enough to go again.

Watch the shows. Call the shots. Your opinion matters. So I took the survey, it was a little ambiguous as to the path and timing to series. Is this the new model? If so or if not what’s next?

best, movies

procrastinator picks – must see movies of 2013

February 17, 2014 No Comments

I actually caught up on movies a while ago but as usual there is something particularly daunting about throwing down with a top ten list. Of the movies that I have seen this year some just floated to the top. The order as always is pretty subjective.

American Hustle – Darned if I don’t like a good hustle flick, and darned if this wasn’t a good hustle flick, and not only because of the great cast; an always irresistible (to me) Christian Bale, even when he’s gross he’s good, but Cooper, Adams, Lawrence, Renner, and a wonderful use of Louis C.K. really didn’t hurt.
Her – Spike Jonze’s odd take on topics is often a hit for me but this futuristic romance with almost a seventies stylized look took me along a poignant romance path, even if I do normally hate Johansson her roboticness worked for me in this tale.
12 Years a Slave – Our protagonist gets tossed into an awful life where we are made to see in him fish out of water but what’s worse, that he’s not really a slave or that slavery exists? Good performances show a lot to be bothered by.
The Way Way Back – The cast and script bring charm to this coming of age tale, summer vacation with mom and her new boyfriend starts out a little rough, but our protagonist starts to come into his own, who knew a water park and its management could be just what it took, Rockwell, Collette, Carell, and Janney add lovely if not lovable character performances.
Enough Said – Second takes on romance through beautifully touching performances by Louis-Dreyfus and Gandolfini, maybe I’m getting old, ok older, but the realness in the still cinematically unreal relationships was a nice touch.
Out of the Furnace – Did I mention that I love Bale? Well he’s not quite weird enough in this role for it to be my fave but when he tries to do right by his messed up brother he goes from blue collar bad company to back woods worse, violence much?
The Spectacular Now – Admittedly I often enjoy these teen coming of age tales and this slant on the ‘party’ guy and the ‘nice’ girl gives just enough of a less than typical character and path to make it feel sincere and effective.
Captain Phillips – Based on true stories make me a little crazy but I was brought along with the tense turns of the hijacking with Hank’s well played captain, wondered if paying more attention to what really happened would have helped or hurt.
Dallas Buyers Club – The performances from McConaughey and Leto in particular were almost enough to make the movie, but the somewhat historical look at this ’80s cowboy navigating the AIDS medical system kept our story engaging.
Much Ado About Nothing – I do love me some Joss Whedon but I also love an interesting slant on existing material and this modern setting shot on a small break at Whedon’s home brings new light to the romantic Shakespearean pairing.

What were your picks and pans from 2013?

new and noteworthy tv: 2/17-2/23

February 16, 2014 No Comments

Monday

Star-Crossed (CW, 8pm) Series Premiere – The latest pretty teen offering from this net, the kids are a mix of human and pretty tattooed aliens, I’m not optimistic but I will watch one.
2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure skating, ice dancing, snowboarding, freestyle skiing
Basketball Wives (VH1, 8pm) Season Premiere – Catty drama?
Love It or List It (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – More space?
Worst Cooks in America (Food, 9pm) Season Premiere – I think this team competition is looking to make cooks better.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 12am) Series Premiere – I don’t really follow the late night shows but check out what Fallon does in his new slot, should you care about that sort of thing.

Tuesday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, bobsled, short track.
Tosh.0 (Com, 10pm) Season Premiere – ‘Sports or Consequences’ is back, whatever that is.

Wednesday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure skating, alpine skiing, bobsled, snowboarding.

Thursday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure skating, freestyle skiing.

Friday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine skiing, short track.
Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – I don’t know why but Seth Meyer is surprising someone.
Hello Ross (E!, 10pm) Season Premiere – Sure.

Saturday

Daytona 500 Bash at the Beach (Fox, 8pm) – Nascar and music.
2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine skiing, snowboarding, speed skating.
Ripper Street (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – I tried to watch this show but can’t recall why I didn’t dig it.
About a Boy (NBC, 11:07) Series Premiere – Capitalizing on the supposed Olympics carryover this latest based on the Hornby book, a history of good adaptations and a cast with promise including Minnie Driver makes me want to tune in.

Sunday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Closing ceremony.
Food Court Wars (Food, 8pm) Season Premiere – Hot dogs vs beignets.
Growing Up Fisher (NBC, 10:38pm) Series Premiere – Another comedic offering with some promise, a family show with a blind dad twist.

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

new and noteworthy tv: 2/10-2/16

February 9, 2014 No Comments

A little more Olympics and then heading into a long weekend for a little tv catch up…

Monday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine and Freestyle Skiing and Short Track.
Top Gear (BBCA, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Hot hatchbacks.

Tuesday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Snowboarding, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, and Ski Jumping.
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (USA, 8pm) – Woof.

Wednesday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, and Speed Skating.

Thursday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Speed Skating, and Skeleton.
Tattoo Titans (CMT, 11pm) Series Premiere – With my new found appreciation for tattoo competition shows I’m tempted to check out this standalone ep competition (as opposed to the narrow it down through a season format).

Friday

House of Cards (Net, 12:01am) Season Premiere – Spacey is back and ready for a binge.
2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, and Skeleton.
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Is that candy for me?

Saturday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Alpine Skiing, Short Track, Seep Skating, and Ski Jumping.
Outrageous Acts of Science (Sci, 10pm) Season Premiere – Web videos and science lab time.

Sunday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 7pm) – Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, and Speed Skating.
BAFTA Awards (BBCA, 8pm) – Will the Brits predict the Oscars.
Wicked Tuna (NGC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Back in the boat.

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

new and noteworthy tv: 2/3-2/9

February 2, 2014 No Comments

USA! USA! Ok so I do kind of like the Olympics but the scheduling often makes me crazy, NBC, MSNBC, NBCSN… I mostly default to what NBC decides is network primetime worthy but do like to pop around for some of the less mainstream.

Monday

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (NBC, 9pm) – Host Heidi Klum and other bathing beauties.
Swamp People (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – Nervous deckhand?
Buy This Restaurant (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Finding the perfect property.

Tuesday

Winter Gold (NBC, 8pm) – A first look at the Sochi Olympics.

Wednesday

How to Raise an Olympian (NBC, 8pm) – Wheaties?
Backroad Gold (Trav, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Following a dude named Corky Corker finding stuff.

Thursday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 8pm) – Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing; had previously thought I misheard the phase team figure skating, whatever will it be?

Friday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 7:30pm) – Opening Ceremony, judging ensembles can’t be helped.
Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Guy starts this season at home.

Saturday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 2:30/8pm) – Ski Jumping, Biathlon, Seeps Skating, Cross-Country Skiing; Figure Skating, Snowboarding, and Freestyle Skiing.

Sunday

2014 Olympic Winter Games (NBC, 2/7/11:35pm) – Figure Skating, Biathlon, Speed Skating, Cross-Country Skiing; Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Ski Jumping; and more Figure Skating.
A Grammy Solute to the Beatles (CBS, 8pm) – Sing it.

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