tv

new and noteworthy tv 7/20-8/2

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In My Skin

Wrapped up this season of Dead to Me and Never Have I Ever, both compelling in their own ways as well as the choose your own adventure version of Kimmy Schmidt, which was fun enough if you’ve gone on the Kimmy journey.

I also somewhat successfully started watching The Peacock, mainly because I recently binged all of Psych and darned if I was going to miss the second movie (which was much as expected if not a little light on psychic powers). And while I wasn’t able to get it to work in browser on my iPad (which supposedly meets the requirements, it does seem to work on laptop browser) I was able to watch on the free app though unable to Chromecast to my TV which appeared available just wouldn’t connect. And while I’m not really going out of my way to go back soon, if it were easy enough to use and they had something I wanted, why not? Though not yet interested in any of the original content and not quite sure on the content level of paid vs free.

This week along with some imports I’m excited for the return of Wynonna Earp on Syfy and didn’t love but enjoyed elements of the first Umbrella Academy so will likely check in on season 2.

  • Signs (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/22 – A Polish murder mystery, where a new murder shows similarities to a cold case.
  • Maxxx (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 7/28 – A former famous boy band star tries to make a comeback in this UK comedy.
  • Ladhood (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/29 – A UK coming-of-age comedy looking at masculinity and memories of misspent adolescence.
  • Frayed (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/30 – A wealthy London housewife returns to Australian roots and events that led her to flee in this drama.
  • In My Skin (Hulu) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/30 – Another coming-of-age UK comedy this one about a teen girl’s very different home and school life.
  • Brassic (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 7/31 – A UK comedy following two friends, one with bipolar disorder.
  • Get Even (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/31 – Four teen girls band together to get revenge in this UK private school comedy.
  • Locked Up (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/31 – This Spanish thriller follows a naive young woman sentenced to prison after being manipulated by her boyfriend.
  • The Code (Ova) Series Premiere, Saturday 8/1, 7pm – A drama about two brothers in Australia who come across a video of a car accident whose contents are ‘shocking’.

Returning streaming: How to Sell Drugs Online (Net, 7/21), Norsemen (Net, 7/22), Rebecka Martinsson (Acorn, 7/27), Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons (Net), The Umbrella Academy (Net, 7/31).

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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new and noteworthy tv: 7/6-7/19

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Intelligence

I actually knocked a few things off I’d been streaming Grace & Frankie (cute), Queer Eye (fun enough), Orange is the New Black (very uneven but some great elements in early and final seasons), Bosch (will miss his detective capers), and Upload (fun sci-fi romance romp) as well as a Hot in Cleveland rewatch (fun and fluffy). Still plugging away at others and thinking of diving back into a few dvr saves like the final season of Mr Robot.

In this round’s new launches Peacock comes out on Wednesday July 15 – and is apparently free, but not sure that applied so everybody. A quick google got me to Peacock TV which seems to indicate you need an X1 (xfinity device?) or a Flex (internet with an option like a roku?) with a basic level of service. Whether this will also be available online or with other smart devices is unclear but would seem like a bad move if not. There’s also a paid version that gets you ‘more’ but what that means is also unclear. I have to say if I bothered to look into this and I’m not sure about it it’s really not a good sign, but likely more clarity as the launch date approaches/passes.

  • Stateless (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/8 – The paths of four diverse strangers intersect at an immigration detention center in the Australian outback with Cate Blanchett, Dominic West, Jai Courtney, and Yvonne Strahovski with some good early buzz.
  • Was It Love (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/8 – A single mother has four men come into her life in this South Korean drama.
  • Close Enough (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/9 – An adult animated comedy about a married couple live in a shared space with their kid and their two divorced friends.
  • Japan Sinks (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/9 – An ordinary family faces massive earthquakes in this Japanese animated comedy.
  • Breathe: Into the Shadows (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 7/10 – An Indian psychological thriller where a man and his wife delve into the case of their kidnapped daughter.
  • Little Voice (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 7/10 – A comedy about an aspiring singer trying to fulfill her dreams with music by Sara Bareilles.
  • The Twelve (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/10 – This drama from Belgium about twelve jurors deciding the case of a woman accused of killing her best friend and her own daughter.
  • P-Valley (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday 7/12 – A dramatic look at the lives of strip club dancers.
  • The Nest (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 7/13 – A couple trying to have a baby meet a troubled 18-year-old surrogate.
  • Brave New World (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – Based on the novel a Utopian society is threatened after a couple meets a man while on vacation in the Savage Lands.
  • The Capture (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – A conspiracy thriller looking at truth of digital evidence in a crime.
  • Dark Desire (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – A married woman’s weekend away sparks some passion, tragedy, and questions in this Spanish drama.
  • Cleopatra in Space (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – An animated comedy based on a graphic novel where she is transported into the future and trains to take on bad guys and get back to her time.
  • Intelligence (Pea) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – An American NSA agent, David Schwimmer, joins a UK Government Communications Headquarters in this comedy.
  • Psych2: Lassie Come Home (Pea) Special presentation, I not that long ago did a Psych binge including the first movie only to find that this one wasn’t out yet, and would like to cross it off.
  • United We Fall (ABC) Series Premiere, Wednesday 7/15 – A new family comedy, with extended family.
  • The Secrets She Keeps (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/16 – Set in Sydney two pregnant women’s lives and secrets collide in this drama based on a novel.
  • Cursed (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/17 – Another re-imagining of the Arthur/Merlin dramatic tale.

Returning streaming: The Protector (Net, 7/9), Hello Ninja (Net, 7/10), Absentia (Am, 7/17).

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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new and noteworthy tv: 6/22-7/5

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Warrior Nun

I’m still finding it kind of a relief that TV is slowing down for the end of seasons and Covid. I mean don’t get me wrong I’d trade no virus for an overflowing backlog but it’s giving me some time to do some catch up. This week I got back up to date with One Day at a Time after it’s move the POP, and it’s still a sweet fun show to ride an exercise bike to. A few more things in the queue as well as a few real time things like Bold Type and Agents of SHIELD, though I am a little disappointed the fun Search Party moved from TBS to HBO Max which I’m not throwing down for.

  • Amar Y Vivir (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 6/26 – Country boy gets mixed up with organized crime searching for his sister in Bogota.
  • Blinded (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/2 – Financial thriller follows a young financial journalist and the secrets that she finds investigating her lover’s bank.
  • Warrior Nun (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 7/2 – A young woman wakes up in a morgue with inexplicable powers and in the battle between good and evil.
  • The Baby-Sitters Club (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/3 – An update on the book series of five friends baby-sitting business.
  • Ju-On (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 7/3 – A horror story based on real events occurring over four decades.

Returning streaming: Doom Patrol (HBOM, 6/25), Esme & Roy (HBOM, 6/25), Search Party (HBOM, 6/25), The Twilight Zone (CBSAA, 6/25), Pete the Cat (Am, 6/26), The Summerdahl Murders (Aco, 6/29), Chico Bon Bon (Net, 7/1), Hanna (Am, 7/3).

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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new and noteworthy tv: 6/8-6/21

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The Woods

I wrapped Ozark which threw down with another dark season, visually and content wise, if this is your kind of show definitely check it out. Things are starting to peter out but one of my fave escapist shows The Bold Type and a very special animated episode of One Day at a Time are on the radar. And this week if you’re looking for a special on the topics of today Monday The Time is Now: Race and Resolution on History/Lifetime/A&E, and Tuesday-Wed on various channels including Own: Own Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?

  • The Woods (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 6/12 – Based on a Harlan Coben novel, a prosecutor’s hopes rise when a body is found and linked to sister’s disappearance.
  • Partners in Crime (Ova) Series Premiere, Saturday 6/13 – Based on Agatha Christie’s work and following a crime fighting couple, probably par for this kind of course.
  • Beecham House (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 6/14 – Not great early buzz for former soldier trying to start a new life but carrying a secret.
  • Love,Victor (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 6/19 – Inspired by the film Love, Simon this one follows our protagonist while adjusting to a new high school.
  • Perry Mason (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 6/21 – Matthew Rhys picks up as criminal defense lawyer, with the case of the decade, no early word but I’d give it a shot.

Additional streaming:

  • Curon (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 6/10 – Teen twins discover secrets when their mother mysteriously disappears in this Italian fantasy series.
  • Reality Z (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 6/10 – A zombie apocalypse imprison contestants on a reality show studio in this Brazilian Horror series.
  • Whispers (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 6/11 – A Saudi thriller about a family facing the death of the patriarch as secrets come out.

Returning streaming: Dating Around (Net, 6/12), F is for Family (Net, 6/12), Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Net, 6/12), Pokeman the Series (Net, 6/12), Marcella (Net, 6/14), Hidden (Acorn, 6/15), Mr. Iglesias (Net, 6/17), The Bureau (SundN, 6/18), The Order (Net, 6/18), Summer Camp Island (HBOM, 6/18), Babies (Net, 6/19), Coisa Mais Linda (Net, 6/19), The Politician (Net, 6/19).

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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new and noteworthy tv: 5/25-6/7

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Space Force

I knocked off Veep through a free window into some HBO shows, and while it was mostly a hoot I wish the finale could have been both dramatically satisfying and a little less depressing. I also knocked off two adaptations Little Fires Everywhere which I thought lacked the nuance of the book and Normal People which minus a few tweaks in tone mostly mirrored the book which I never quite loved. And the latest season of Sex Education which I’m still enjoying. Queer Eye returns this week as well as a special Family Feud celebrity old vs new cast (ABC, 5/31). I’m also looking forward to Agents of SHIELD which returns for its final season, though it’s been uneven I’ve enjoyed the journey and will give another run at Ramy.

In other tv news, HBO Max is now a thing, kicking off on May 27, but what’s the difference between HBO GO (included with HBO), HBO NOW (standalone streaming and apparently comes with access to HBO Max at launch at no additional charge) and HBO Max? Well Max seems to give you all of HBO plus more including some original series and stuff from WarnerMedia and maybe more? How that ends up shaking out in the long run time will tell I suppose. But until then you’re note a few new originals, most of which seem to yet have any advanced critical review as of yet.

  • Barkskins (NGC) Series Premiere, Monday 5/25, 9pm – No advanced word on this drama series based on the Annie Proulx novel, a look at the mysterious massacre of settlers in the 1690s New France in Quebec.
  • Ghosts (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 5/27 – A comedic take on a group of former inhabitants haunting a country mansion.
  • Home (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 5/27 – A comedy that follows a family and the refugee who escapes in their car.
  • Love Life (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 5/27 – Anna Kendrick stars in at least part of this comedic anthology series looks at the journey from first to last love, so far not a lot of positivity.
  • Stath Lets Flats (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 5/27 – A comedy where a rubbish lettings agent aims to take over the family business.
  • Trigonometry (HBOM) Series Premiere, Wednesday 5/27 – Three people in a complicated relationship.
  • Central Park (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 5/29 – Animated release from one of the Bob’s Burgers peeps, and with cast including Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, and Stanley Tucci about a family that cares for and lives in the park and their foe a hotel heiress, getting some early good buzz.
  • Space Force (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/29 – Following the latest launch 5/27 hopefully that puts you in the mood to watch Steve Carell as a serious military man who swaps his dreams of running the Air Force for running the Space Force, good pedigree but time will tell.
  • Quiz (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/31, 9pm – Early good word on this three-part drama series about the people who tried to cheat their way through the British version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
  • Maxxx (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 6/2 – A comedy about a former boy band star trying to make a comeback, might have some laughs.
  • In My Skin (Hulu) Series Premiere, Thursday 6/4 – Welsh coming-of-age dark comedy about a teen girl who hides her troubled home life, might be worth a look.
  • McCallum (Ova) Series Premiere, Friday 6/5 – Motorcycling forensic pathologist, not sure if this is worth finding Ovation or not.
  • Trackers (Cin) Series Premiere, Friday 6/5 – Six episode crime drama set in South Africa finds a low-level analyst uncovering a conspiracy.
  • I May Destroy You (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 6/7, 10:30pm – After an up-and-coming writer is assaulted at a nightclub she reconsiders parts of her life.

More streaming

  • Can You Hear Me? (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 6/4 – Canadian drama about three friends grappling with life.
  • El Presidente (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 6/5 – A Mexican true crime series inspired by the 2015 Fifa corruption scandal.

Returning streaming: Ramy (Hulu, 5/29), Somebody Feed Pil (Net, 5/29), Baki (Net, 6/4), Queer Eye (Net, 6/5)

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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new and noteworthy tv: 5/11-5/24

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The Great

I’ve been kicking along with some of the shows still airing/wrapping up as well as making some progress on streaming options. I wrapped up High Fidelity which I really liked, thought they captured a good vibe from the source materials which I also really liked. This week a few new things cropping up, Burden of Truth is also back, the Canadian legal drama that somehow got me hooked based on timing as a sort of summer series.

  • The Great (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 5/15 – A satirical, comedic drama about Catherine the Great played by Elle Fanning, some good initial reviews.
  • White Lines (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/15 – A woman travels from England to Ibiza when her brother is found dead in this offbeat thriller.
  • Hightown (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/17 – No word on this crime drama exploring themes of addiction, recovery and possible redemption.
  • Snowpiercer (TNT) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/17 – This series has been in the works for a while so I’m a little skeptical particularly since it’s based on what was already an odd film that’s a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller where the remnants of humanity survive on a moving train.
  • Dead Still (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 5/18 – A darkly comic murder mystery set in 1880s Ireland, not sure about the show or where one would actually watch Acorn.
  • DC’s Stargirl (DC) Series Premiere, Monday 5/18 – A high school sophomore finds a staff and gathers up a team to superhero, I’m not super eager.
  • Sweet Magnolias (Net) Series Premiere, Tuesday 5/19 – Lifelong friends lift each other up in a small southern town in this romantic drama.

More streaming

  • Inhuman Resources (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/15 – Out of work and attracted by a job opening that leads to more than bargained for in this French thriller.
  • The Unremarkable Juanquini (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/15 – A magician makes a kingpin disappear in this Latin absurdist drama.
  • Control Z (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/22 – A hacker starts releasing high school students’ secrets in this Mexican teen show.
  • Betaal (Net) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/24 – British soldier unearth zombies when trying to make way for a highway in this Indian thriller.

Returning streaming: Bordertown (Net, 5/11), Magic for Humans (Net, 5/15), She Ra and the Princess of Power (Net, 5/15), Homecoming (Am, 5/22), Trailer Park Boys (Net, 5/22)

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new and noteworthy tv: 4/27-5/10

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Never Have I Ever

I got an under desk bike for my apartment which allowed me to watch a couple of series that I was only allowing myself at the gym, so wrapped up very fun The Tick and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, two seasons not enough for one and four seasons probably a little too much for the other. I also wrapped the reboot of Will & Grace which overall I enjoyed but maybe more so in the beginning when it seemed to be dealing with more issues around their new older place in life. And as shows are wrapping for the season, either as scheduled or prematurely, there are still some new things coming our way. I’m going to tune in for Never Have I Ever and Normal People. Also excited to see where season two of Dead to Me goes, the first season was imperfect but I found myself totally absorbed by Applegate and Cardellini and their precarious circumstances. Note for those of you who tuned in or missed Council of Dads on NBC it’s back on Thursday after the Parks & Rec special, it was super sappy but you know if you’re into that kind of thing.

  • Never Have I Ever (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 4/27 – Hearing good things about this new series from Mindy Kaling about a first-gen Indian-American teen.
  • Normal People (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/29 – Based on the book (which we just read for book club) the story of a relationship of an Irish ‘couple’ whose lives are intertwined from high school through undergraduate, liked the book and will tune in based on overall positive reviews.
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) Thursday 4/30 – Excited to revisit some of our favorite city workers though curious to see what the filmed from their own homes special episode will bring.
  • Hollywood (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – No advanced word on this new limited series from Ryan Murphy about the “Golden Age” of Hollywood.
  • Trying (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – British comedy about a couple who want kids, no insights as to how funny it is.
  • Upload (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – The premise of this comedy by Greg Daniels (Office/Parks & Rec) is an app developer gets uploaded to a virtual world after a near fatal accident, probably worth a sample.
  • Betty (HBO) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – Intrigued by this look at a group of young women skateboarders, expanding on the world created by the film Skate Kitchen.
  • Ming’s Dynasty (Fuse) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/3, 11pm – Aspiring rappers return to Toronto to manage the family’s Chinese restaurant.
  • Bad Mothers (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 5/7 – Australian drama looking at motherhood through four different women.
  • I Know This Much Is True (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 5/10 – An adaptation of Wally Lamb novel starring Mark Ruffalo as twins dealing with mental illness and other drama, no word but intriguing.

More streaming

  • Extracurricular (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/29 – Korean teen drama about a student living a double life at school and in the world of crime.
  • Summertime (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/29 – Italian summer of love for two young adults from different backgrounds.
  • The Victim’s Game (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/30 – Taiwanese crime drama about a detective with Asperger’s who investigates his daughter’s link to murders.
  • Almost Happy (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – Quirky Argentinian comedy about a radio host and his family.
  • Into the Night (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/1 – Belgian thriller about a flight that tries to outrace the sun or face death (in like a supernatural way).
  • Republic of Doyle (Ova) Series Premiere, Saturday 5/2 – Comedic drama series about a father and son PI agency.
  • The Eddy (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/8 – French drama about the owner of a jazz club getting mixed up with criminals.
  • Valeria (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 5/8 – Spanish romantic comedy with four women discovering themselves.

Returning streaming: Wolf Creek (Shud, 4/30), Medici (Net, 5/1), Workin’ Moms (Net, 5/6), Scissor Seven (Net, 5/7), Dead to Me (Net, 5/8), The Hollow (Net, 5/8), Restaurants on the Edge (Net, 5/8), Rust Valley Restores (Net, 5/8)

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shelter and binge

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Note: Apologies to my email subscribers, a recent update has caused the emails to contain all(?) of my 2020 postings in addition to the current post. My email subscription service is no longer supported and I was hoping to put off updates so it’ll just take a beat to clean up with a new service. Stay tuned the procrastinator is on it, eventually.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

So there’s always more tv than a person can watch these days but as some people find themselves having more downtime, or just different downtime and needing to disconnect, we still find ourselves sometimes needing to find the right show. I find that when I’m looking for something to binge I’m not always looking for the best tv show and might want something a little lighter and ideally that has an entire series so I can mark it as complete. I might be due for a Buffy rewatch, that would keep me busy for a while. In what follows I’m going to lean toward more exhaustive and less detailed on some options but included only things available to stream. There are a few extras happening these days (e.g. select HBO shows available until ~5/15, I’m currently watching Veep) and now might be the time to do a free trial to check out a service you don’t have. For those not streaming take a look at your various on demand services and channel websites for backlogs to varied degrees.

  • Classic sitcoms new and old – The Carmichael Show (Hulu). Cheers (Netflix/Prime/Hulu)/Frasier (Hulu), The Good Place (Net), Malcolm in the Middle (Hulu), Mary Tyler Moore (Hulu), MASH (Hulu), New Girl (Netflix), The Office (Netflix), Parks & Recreations (Netflix/Prime/Hulu), Scrubs (Hulu), Seinfeld (Hulu), That 70s Show (Net), 3rd Rock From the Sun (Prime), 30 Rock (Prime/Hulu) – While I’m still a fan of watching from start to finish for most of these you can just tune in and out (other than The Good Place which is a can’t miss but needs to be watched in order) I recently redid Cheers which totally holds up
  • More under the radar – Baskets (Hulu), Better Off Ted (Hulu), Bored to Death (Prime), Community (Net/Hulu), Cougar Town (Hulu), Don’t Trust the B in Apartment (Hulu), Flight of the Conchords (Prime), Happy Endings (Hulu), The League (Hulu), The Mindy Project (Hulu), Party Down (Hulu), Santa Clarity Diet (Net), Schitts Creek (Net), Speechless (Hulu) – I recently finished the very fun Santa Clarita and I tend to find myself always tuning in for a random Cougartown
  • Less sitcomy – Bojack Horseman (Net), Casual (Hulu), Catastrophe (Prime), Enlightened (Prime), Forever (Prime), Fleabag (Prime), Master of None (Net), One Mississippi (Prime), Sex & the City (Prime), Sorry For Your Loss (FBWatch), You’re the Worst (Hulu) – These all have moments of humor but are capitalizing on the dramedy phase, Bojack just ended but tempted to go back and rewatch that again next
  • Procedurals/Capers – Bones (Prime/Hulu), Broadchurch (Net), Burn Notice (Prime/Hulu), Chuck (Prime), Crossing Jordan (Prime), Elementary (Hulu), ER (Hulu), Hannibal (Prime), Luther (Prime/Hulu), The Mentalist (Prime), NYPD Blue (Prime/Hulu), Patriot (Prime), Psych (Prime), Sneaky Pete (Prime), Southland (Hulu), Terriers (Hulu), Veronica Mars (Hulu) – I recently finished Psych which was perfect mindless tv, did a rewatch of Terriers before they took it down for a bit and a rewatch of Veronica Mars (not technically done but no new seasons on the way, Luther is also not technically done) before the later season added to Hulu, some of these are more mindless than others and of course some hold up longer in their runs than others but all would be good distractions
  • Relationships/Soaps – Downton Abbey (Prime), Gillmore Girls/Bunheads (from the Palladinos) (Net/Hulu), Gossip Girl (Net), Greek (Net), Hart of Dixie (Net), The Riches (Hulu) – I recently wrapped Downton Abbey and what great fare but if you just want to curl up with these fluffier bits it makes for some fun, I was going to try The OC but can’t seem to find it for free, alas plenty of other options
  • Genre – Angel/Buffy/Firefly/Dollhouse (Joss Whedon fare) (Hulu), Battlestar Galactica (Prime), HUMANS (Prime), iZombie (Net), Jessica Jones (Net), Orphan Black (Prime), Pushing Daisies (Prime), Saving Grace (Hulu), The Tick (Prime), The X-Files (Hulu) – I did an X-Files rewatch a while ago and the earlier episodes are fun but it does eventually get a little tedious, Buffy always calls to me
  • Drama – The Americans (Prime), Breaking Bad (Netflix), Deadwood (Prime), Friday Night Lights (Prime/Hulu), The Good Wife (Prime/Hulu), In Treatment (Prime), Justified (Hulu), Lodge 49 (Hulu),, Mad Men (Net), Rectify (Net), The Shield (Hulu), Six Feet Under/The Sopranos/The Wire (Prime/Hulu) I think of these as the HBO canon) – Though I don’t tend to binge the heavier stuff so much, now is a great time to catch one of these classics, I personally dropped Breaking Bad after the second season and have decided to go back when I finish The Shield

Happy to do any personalized narrowing down! What’s next for you and what did I miss that you’d recommend?

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new and noteworthy tv: 4/13-4/26

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Mrs America

Ok now that I’m not trying to burn through movies I’m making a bit more progress on tv. I wrapped my rewatch of Beverly Hills, 90210, which was fun for about the first season and then became sort of an obsessive torture. I’m also digging in to Orange is the New Black, Ozark, Sex Education, Making the Cut, and have started Little Fires Everywhere, I really liked this book and am cautious, and of course Killing Eve which is usually worth it even if it’s not as good as the first season. And wrapped the series finale of Schitts Creek which I thought did a good final leg. I’ll miss those oddballs. It’s a pass for me on Broke and Vagrant Queen, but I’m so far sticking with Motherland: Fort Salem and still tentatively trying Almost Paradise, which I don’t think is good but hoping it might be fun. Next up I’m excited for the return of What We Do In the Shadows which is so odd I can’t stop watching, and the final season of fave cop Bosch.

  • Paradise Lost (Spectrum) Series Premiere, Monday 4/13 – Couple returns to small town Mississippi and secrets are unearthed starring Josh Harnett and Barbara Hershey among others, who knows.
  • The Baker and the Beauty (ABC) Series Premiere, Monday 4/13, 10pm – Reads like a made for tv movie, Cuban baker meets a superstar, but for romcom fans who knows.
  • Mrs. America (FX/Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/15 – The story of the movement to ratify the ERA and the backlash of a conservative, includes a great cast with Cate Blanchett, Margo Martindate, Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson among others so def worth a look.
  • Outer Banks (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/15 – A group of teens unearths a long buried secret, perhaps some potential in this mystery-thriller.
  • #blackAF (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/17 – Comedy series starring Rashida Jones and Kenya Barris based on Barris’ life, who knows.
  • Defending Jacob (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 4/24 – Based on the novel this thriller about an ADA torn between justice and family with Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery, maybe.
  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/26, 10:10pm – An LA version of Penny Dreadful, no word but if you’re a fan of the original it’s likely a good bet.

More streaming

  • The King (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/17 – A modern-day Korean emperor find himself in a parallel world
  • Love 101 (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/24 – A group of teenagers in Turkey trying to get their teacher to fall in love.

Returning streaming: Fauda (Net, 4/16) Bosch (Am, 4/17), The Last Kids on Earth (Net, 4/17), After Life (Net, 4/24), Hello Ninja (Net, 4/24), The Last Kingdom (Net, 4/26).

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new and noteworthy tv: 3/30-4/12

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Almost Paradise

Excited and sad to see the series finale of Schitts Creek coming up on April 7, Killing Eve is back on April 12, and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the return of The Good Fight (sign up for CBSAA? free trial? wait and pay later on Amazon?). I haven’t even started the latest seasons of Ozark or Sex Education yet, what am I doing?! Well I’ve been catching up on some movies, stay tuned for my 2019 post this next week. I did watch Making the Cut the new Time/Heidi Runwy-esque show, and while certainly enjoyable some pros and cons on this in comparison, will stay tuned and see how it rolls along. As well as the slightly campy but will tune in for another Motherland: Fort Salem about witches training for battle and associated drama. I also wrapped up Arrested Development, I had forgotten the second half of the last season and while the early years were amazing this one back to life is missing a bit of the luster.

Also to note that Quibi about to launch, on April 6. What is Quibi you might ask, I sure did. It’s a new streaming app dedicated to ‘Quick Bites’, shows less than 10 minutes (movies cut up into chapters), and designed specifically to watch on mobile. And yes you have to pay for it, looks like $4.99/mo w/ads and $7.99 w/o. They’ve got a bunch of new content for launch with some stars like Chrissy Teigen, Kevin Hart, Idris Elba, Naomi Watts, and Steven Spielberg. I didn’t highlight the new crop of shows in particular but they of course have a free trial if you want to dabble before committing, I’ll pass at least for now.

  • Three Busy Debras/Beef House (AdSw) Series Premiere, Monday 3/30, 12/12:15am – I’ve never quite made a connection with Adult Swim but more offbeat humor to be had in these new selections.
  • Almost Paradise (WGN) Series Premiere, Monday 3/30, 10pm – Former DEA agent attempting the retired life on a tropical island gets pulled back into action, with Christian Kane and by EPs of Leverage and The Librarians looks like good campy fun.
  • Straight Forward (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/2 – Danish con woman plots revenge in this international thriller.
  • Broke (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/2, 9:30pm – Pauley Perrette plays a single suburban mom who’s estranged sister and family end up broke and on her doorstep, no word on whether the comedy amuses.
  • Home Before Dark (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 4/3 – A young girl moves to a small town and uncovers a mystery after her father’s death, inspired by real-life pre-teen investigative journalist Hilde Lysiak.
  • Tales from the Loop (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 4/3 – This scifi drama shares adventures of people exploring the mysteries of the universe whatever that looks like.
  • World on Fire (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/5, 9pm – An epic World War II drama reportedly good ensemble, layered story, and beautiful set.
  • The Big Show (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 4/6 – Daughter of a larger than life wrestler returns home in this comedy.
  • Brews Brothers (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/10 – Two estranged brothers use beer to reunite as a family.
  • The Trial (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/10 – The murder of a teen girl impacts those on the case.
  • Belgravia (Epix) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/12, 9pm – Secrets and scandals in 19th century London in this soapy melodrama six part limited series.

Returning streaming: Kim’s Convenience Store (Net, 4/1), La Casa de Papel (Net, 4/3), Terrace House (Net, 4/7), The Good Fight (CBSAA, 4/9).

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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