tv

new and noteworthy tv: 12/21-1/3

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What? We’re heading into January, how did that happen? So the end of the year as expected not a lot of new stuff happening. Though lots of holiday specials as filler. I did catch the latest season of Pen15 on Hulu which is one of those comedies that’s so awkward it’s almost too painful to watch and yet… I also wrapped up the one and only season of Teenage Bounty Hunters on Netflix which was a real delight and a bummer it didn’t catch on, though honestly I don’t think they did really any promotion of it. Year end lists are coming fast and furious so still lots of catch up to do before I get to mine, currently working on Ted Lasso before my free Apple+ subscription expires.

  • Lovestruck in the City (Net) Series Premiere, Tuesday 12/22 – I had this Korean lovestruck show listed in last list but maybe it got pushed.
  • Shadow Lines (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/24 – Recruited into a top-secret Finnish task force in its ongoing missions to protect against the ’50s Cold War (mixed language).
  • Bridgerton (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/25 – Based on Julia Quinn’s novels a look at a family in 1800s London High Society, Shonda Rhimes as EP.
  • A Love So Beautiful (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 12/28 – Young neighbors love transforms as they grow into adulthood in this Korean romance.
  • Equinox (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 12/30 – A woman sees a man who was on a bus that she saw disappear 20 years ago and investigates in this Scandinavian mystery. .
  • Cleaning Up (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/31 – A cleaner in London’s financial center gets plunged into the shady world of finance when she overhears insider trading.
  • The Watch (BBCA) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/3 – Inspired by the Discworld novels unlikely heroes fight a plot to resurrect a giant dragon and save the world.
  • Call Me Kat (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/3, 8pm – Mayim Bialik stars as single cat cafe owner, worth a shot but early buzz not great.

Returning streaming: A House Divided (UMC, 12/23), The Mandalorian (Dis+, 12/25), Letterkenny (Hulu, 12/26), Fast & Furious Spy Racers (Net, 12/26), Go! Go! Cory Carson (Net, 12/26), Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (Net, 12/30), Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Net, 12/31).

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.

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activities

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Croquet!

Last year for the holiday season a friend of mine was coordinating some fun activities. After one particularly enjoyable night with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus I decided that I hadn’t been taking enough advantage of the city. Thus was born one of my New Year’s intentions, to do an activity a month. Something slightly above and beyond the normal activities I was already doing e.g. a trip to the museum. And while the year started out strong, soon quarantine hit. And though the activities took some modifications e.g. virtual! overall the activities have been one of the things I most looked forward to, and yes particularly those getting me out of my sequestering. I thought I’d share a few highlights.

  • Philanthropy – While doing something philanthropic wasn’t a mandate it was one of the things that had been on my list for a while and what better way to enjoy a stroll on the beach than beach cleanup, this made the list for potential repeats, as did giving blood which tapped into more of the giving than the fun.
  • Day/Weekend Trips – Ok so these have been off the agenda for a while but both Santa Cruz and the wine country are close enough for great outings, some food, some wine tasting, and perhaps a spa, good early year activities.
  • Violins of Hope – This was a lovely outing and I hope to introduce real live outings again in the future, live music is just unlike experiencing from afar.
  • Picnics and Croquet – Meeting friends in the park took on new meaning as a lifeline to interaction, and it turns out croquet is a perfect social distancing activity, and fun.
  • Animals – What better things to raise your spirits than visiting with animals and this year included GOAT my Valentine a holiday paired with City Grazing goats, KitTea cafe which brought in some kittens to play with when they had to close the café part, and a visit to the SF Zoo.
  • Virtual activities – Now I wouldn’t have normally counted these but when things first locked down in particular but also moving forward many things moved online including Pop Up Magazine, author speaking, lectures (I attended one on happiness during Covid), and even my book club moved online (we can’t be stopped) and all-in-all offer a great way to take part of things, even those outside of the SF area that I might not normally be able to see.

And of course there were the activities I did whilst on my staycation. Quite the success so I’m going to roll this intention over into next year and hope to nurture it in upcoming months. This month we’re looking to visit the Whimsical Wonderland of Lights in Golden Gate Park. Would love to hear any ideas for future outings in the comments.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/7-12/20

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The Stand

Sorry about the slight delay this week, technology is our friend and sometimes friends don’t get along. But a bunch more streaming to come though mostly I’m sticking to old streaming. Have restarted Breaking Bad, which I never finished. And did finish the mostly garbage Emily in Paris, but entertaining enough garbage if you’re down with a rom com.

  • A Suitable Boy (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 12/7 – An epic tale of life and love set in 1950s India in this adaptation of a Vikram Set novel.
  • Nurses (NBC) Series Premiere, Monday 12/7, 10pm – Another Canadian import, this one about five nurses working in a busy hospital in Toronto, early word is meh (re-airs Wednesday).
  • La Jauria (HBOM) Series Premiere, Tuesday 12/8 – A woman disappears in this Spanish crime thriller.
  • Lovestruck in the City (Net) Series Premiere, Tuesday 12/8 – A man looks to reconnect with a woman from his beachside romance in this Korean romance.
  • The Trial of Christine Keeler (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 12/9 – The story of a woman at the center of one of the 20th century’s biggest scandals about the minister, his mistress, and her lover the spy.
  • Alice in Borderland (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/10 – Gamers find themselves in a parallel Tokyo where they have to compete in this Japanese sci-fi.
  • The Wilds (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/11 – Lost for teen girls?
  • Adult Material (HBOM) Series Premiere, Friday 12/11 – A drama focusing on a woman’s life in the adult film industry.
  • The Mess You Leave Behind (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/11 – A teacher is haunted by a suspicious death and fears for her life in this Spanish suspense show.
  • Reunions (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 12/14 – Two half-brothers are brought together after their father’s death and the inheritance of a hotel in this French family drama.
  • Tiny Pretty Things (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 12/14 – Ballet drama in an elite Chicago dance school.
  • How to Ruin Christmas (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 12/16 – Can a sister make things right after ruining the perfect Christmas wedding in this quirky South African dramedy.
  • Run On (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 12/16 – A track star finds his own path in this Korean romantic drama.
  • The Stand (CBSAA) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/17 – Based on the Stephen King apocalyptic world, one can only hope.
  • Total Control (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/17 – An indigenous woman in Australia is thrust into the political limelight.
  • El Cid (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/18 – A modern day take on an old Spanish legend of a man trapped between two worlds and cultures..
  • Sweet Home (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/18 – A teen and his neighbors fight to survive as humans turn into monsters in this Korean fantasy drama.

Returning streaming: Mr. Iglesias (Net, 12/8), Summer Camp Island (HBOM, 12/10), Clifford the Big Red Dog (Am, 12/11), Madagascar (Hulu, 12/11), Where’s Waldo (Pea, 12/11), Hilda (Net, 12/14), Song Exploder (Net, 12/15), The Expanse (Am, 12/16), The Grand Tour (Am, 12/18), Home for Christmas (Net, 12/18).

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.

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