summer cleaning – season passes

Deadly Class

As I wrapped up with the series finale of iZombie it reminded me that it was time to take a pass at my season passes with the ending of a variety of shows. Following are some of the ones I’m saying goodbye to (good thing I have plenty else to keep me busy).

You lived a good life:

  • Humans (AMC) – I absolutely loved the first season of this and although there would be more story to be told on the role of sentient synths the series felt like it ran a good course.
  • iZombie (CW) – This tale of a woman turned zombie who solved crimes by eating brains took us on a fun journey with her friends and lots of zombie action and felt like it told the story it wanted with the wrap up.
  • Life in Pieces (CBS) – It may not have been the best series but there was enough funny with this family to keep me tuned in but ok that it was time to wrap it.
  • Gotham (Fox) – I honestly haven’t even started watching the final season but this show had some great moments but again the pre batman story has an expiration date.

Gone too soon:

  • Abby’s (NBC) – This friends hanging out at a bar had a good enough cast and ingredients for this to be a very fun hang show had it been given some legs.
  • Deadly Class (Syfy) – This comic book tale set in the 80s of an underground high school of the deadly arts had great tone and soundtrack and sad I won’t get to see what happens next.
  • Speechless (ABC) – Truthfully this is almost in the you lived a good life, but this special needs family just felt like it had more depths to explore as their family moved into a new chapter.
  • Whiskey Cavalier (ABC) – I love a good caper film and this top secret team was just plain fun.

Saving me some TiVo time:

  • Fam (CBS) – Generic comedy had some good ingredients but I won’t miss it.
  • The Passage (Fox) – I was a bit intrigued by the huge change in the season finale but overall this show was trashy in a way that I didn’t put down but am totally ok with it not being on the list.
  • The Cool Kids (Fox) – There is a nostalgia factor with the actors and the straightforward comedy, I thought this would catch on more but honestly it wasn’t something that really hit.

Streaming sadness (no technical season pass):

  • Forever (Amazon) – This was a very odd story but I really enjoyed the first season and was intrigued to see where else they would go.
  • Patriot (Amazon) – Ok sad spy probably put us through as many seasons as our protagonist could take but I’m glad we had him while we did.
  • Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix) – Zombies were all the rage but this Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant one was really the most fun.
  • Sneaky Pete (Amazon) – Just starting the final season and while imperfect I enjoyed Giovanni Ribisi con man fun.
  • The Tick (Amazon) – A fresh take on the comic superheroes active in our world and the folks they interact with.

Also in their final seasons, or about to be, Agents of Shield, Elementary, The Good Place, Killjoys, Legion, Madam Secretary, Mr Robot, and Will & Grace have each had a good run and happy to know they have time to wrap up properly.

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/29-8/11

BH90210

Dabbling with another two week look ahead… Wrapped Sabrina which was entertaining enough so that opened a little slot for Stranger Things. And with the reboot of 90210 my rewatch might wrap as they take off into their college years in the show, which was probably a little earlier than I dropped the first time (but good gawd season 4 alone is 31 episodes, I don’t know how anyone made it through all 10). Which is giving me a new slot to rewatch Veronica Mars, though now that my promo year of hulu is up I’m reevaluating my commercials included subscription level. Also sad to see iZombie wrap up but it had a good run and looking forward to next seasons of Glow and Dear White People. Skipping on The Disappearance and Pandora after not a lot of interest held in the first ep.

  • Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 31st – Based on the film this look at four friends reunited at a wedding, not amazing initial reviews but might still be a good romcom.
  • My Life is Murder (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday the 5th – Australian mystery with Lucy Lawless as a fearless PI.
  • Bulletproof (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 7th – Two undercover cops chase down criminals in London’s East End.
  • BH90210 (Fox) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 7th – The original cast (minus Perry, sniff) reunite to play ‘heightened versions of themselves’ in a behind the scenes look at rebooting the show, as an early Beverly Hills, 90210 fan wouldn’t miss a look.
  • Two Sentence Horror Stories (CW) Series Premiere, Thursday the 8th – Anthology horror series strikes me as being longer than two sentences but we’ll see.

More streaming:

  • Dollar (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday the 8th – This Middle Eastern drama has a beautiful executive assistant teaming up to find a dollar worth a million.
  • The Naked Director (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday the 8th – Biopic of the life of director Toru Muranishi who revolutionized Japanese porn.
  • Wu Assassins (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday the 8th – Wannabe chef teams up with homicide detective to take down supernatural assassins.
  • The Inbestigators (Net) Series Premiere, Friday the 9th – Australian comedy about four school kids vlogging about their new detective agency.
  • Sintonia (Net) Series Premiere, Friday the 9th – This Brazilian show follows three teens living in the same favela as they pursue their dreams.

Returning streaming: The Letdown (Net, Wednesday 7/31), Dear White People (Net, Friday 8/2), Derry Girls (Net, Friday 8/2), Five Points (Face, Monday 8/5), Glow (Net, Friday 8/9), Las Chicas del Cable (Net, Friday 8/9).

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/15-7/28

Pearson

It’s time for a special double issue of new and noteworthy. Caught far too much tennis, which wasn’t even all that tennis had to offer, but glad to see some favorites get court time. This week looking forward to
the return of the final season of Killjoys on Friday and will likely dabble in a coupe new offerings though still tempted to start a Veronica Mars rewatch. Always remember to triple check your listings as things can change. Happy summer.

  • Pearson (USA) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 17th, 10pm – The suits spinoff sees Gina Torres’ character take on the role of Chicago fixer, I dropped Suits after a few but always love Torres.
  • South Side (Com) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 24th, 10:30pm – This comedy brings friends who just graduated from community college and reportedly finds laughter amid the chaos of the Chicago community.
  • Another Life (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday the 25th – An alien artifact leads to a mission to make first contact with Katee Sackhoff returning to her sci-fi roots.
  • The Boys (Am) Series Premiere, Friday the 26th – An irreverent take on superheroes who abuse their superheroes in this action take on the heroic quest to expose them, some mixed but promising reviews..
  • Pennyworth (EPIX) Series Premiere, Sunday the 28th – The early years of Batman’s butler and is relationship with Wayne senior, no reviews yet but I’d be intrigued if I got EPIX.

Other streaming premieres:

  • Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday the 17th – This free spirit gets a government post for women in this political period piece.
  • Typewriter (Net) Series Premiere, Friday the 19th – Friends look into ghosts in a house but when a family moves in things start to get spooky in this Hindi thriller.
  • My First First Love (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday the 25th – A group of friends move in together in this Korean romantic drama.

Returning streaming: La Casa de Papel (Net, Friday), Queer Eye (Net, Friday), Dino Dano (Am, Friday 7/26), Light as a Feather (Hulu, Friday 7/26), Orange is the New Black (Net, Friday 7/26), Sugar Rush (Net, Friday 7/26), Veronica Mars (Hulu, 7/26), The Worst Witch (Net, Friday 7/26).

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/8-7/14

The Disappearance

Well I did catch a little tennis but I was very far from caught up on television other than catching the Deadwood movie and wrapping up Z Nation which had been sitting on my TiVo, a fun take on zombie apocalypse. I haven’t even tried out season 3 of Stranger Things, might be time for another tv cull.

  • The Disappearance (WGN) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – A missing 10-year-old boy and the secrets of his family.
  • Family Reunion (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday – Multi-generational comedy series with Tia Mowry and Loretta Devine.
  • Florida Girls (Pop) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – Four women forced to confront their stagnant lives in this comedy.
  • Wimbledon (ESPN/ABC) – Breakfast at 5am and finals at 6 or at noon for network viewers

Other streaming series: One Spring Night (Net) Series Premiere, Friday

Returning streaming: Harlots (Hulu, Wednesday), Escape the Night (YouTube, Thursday), 3 Below (Net, Friday), Comicstaan (Am, 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: 7/1-7/7

Wimbledon

I am thrilled for the holiday on the 4th and a little catchup time, perhaps I’ll leave my apartment but if I don’t I have plenty of tv to keep me company. Wimbledon starts Monday on ESPN while there’s a Tour de France Pre Show on Saturday on NBCSN. While nothing much is new on streaming, aside from The Last Czars on Netflix, I’m still plugging away on Sabrina, Money Heist, Downton Abbey, Big Love, Bosch, The Shield… And have a few unstarted series sitting on my TiVo including Fosse/Verdon, Gotham, Mrs. Wilson, and Deutschland 83/86. And I just read that Veronica Mars is coming back to Hulu on the 1st to prep for the new season, am I due for a rewatch?

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new and noteworthy tv: 6/24-6/30

Years and Years

I did catch the two new ABC shows and while Grand Hotel is probably the better of the two very summer fare options, I’m not really up for a soapy hotel drama, though I may give it one more look. Reef Break may not be all that tight of a crime show but the surfy, thiefy vibe Montogomery brings to the lead (though I have to admit what I was wondering is she faltering in hiding her Australian accent or trying to bring something unique to the character) and story is pretty fun in a Hawaii 5-0 Magnum PI kind of way (or what I hoped those shows would be since I dropped both of them). Also kind of excited to see what the latest season of trippy Legion will bring, though I vaguely remember being almost over it last season.

  • Curfew (Spectrum) Series Premiere, Monday – So Adam Brody (among others) in a once a year illegal and deadly street race, yes please, but wait what’s Spectrum?
  • Years and Years (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Six part limited drama follows members of a family from Manchester whose lives converge on ‘one crucial night,’ Emma Thompson is in it so worth a good bet.
  • Debates (NBC+) Wednesday and Thursday, 6pm – Hear from some of the early voices to see whether the front runners will shift.
  • The Rook (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – Supernatural spy thriller where the protagonist wakes up with no memory and has to uncover the truth.
  • The Loudest Voice (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Russell Crowe is Roger Ailes in a look at his life in news and politics and scandal.

Other streaming releases:

  • Answer from Heaven (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday – Thai offering on a fallen angel and investigative reporter.
  • The Chosen One (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Young doctors sent to help in an isolated community but find themselves trapped, oh and there’s secrets in this Brazilian thriller.

Returning streaming: Forest of Piano (Net, Monday), Dope (Net, Friday), Instant Hotel (Net, Friday), Motown Magic (Net, Friday), Paquita Salas (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: 6/17-6/23

I haven’t made a lot of progress since last week catching some fun summer fare but need to knock off at least Sabrina before I start Jessica Jones.

  • Das Boot (Hulu) Series Premiere, Monday – Limited reviews seem quite mixed (some excellent) for this sequel to the film has the maiden voyage of a U-612 in the fall of 1942.
  • Grand Hotel (ABC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – Based on a Spanish series Eva Longoria EPs this drama set at the last family-owned hotel in Miami Beach looks like a very summer series.
  • Reef Break (ABC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 10pm – No advanced word on this show where island intrigue is promised with Poppy Montgomery as a former thief turned fixer for the governor.
  • Final Life (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – Targeted to Japanese audiences this offers crime solving with a “Special Unit” within the police force
  • Mr Iglesias (Net, Friday) Series Premiere – “Hilarious” high school teacher tries to make a difference.

Returning streaming: The Missing (Net, Monday), Riviera (SundN, Thursday), The Caskateers (Net, Friday), The Confession Tapes (Net, Friday), Dark (Net, Friday), Girls Incarcerated (Net, Friday), Go! Vive a tu Manera (Net, Friday), Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents Documental (Am, 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: 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: 6/3-6/9

Working on the backlog as things simmer down, plus adding a bit of summer fare with things like Claws, The Bold Type, Animal Kingdom, iZombie, Elementary, and of course Luther.

  • Malibu Rescue (Net) Series Premiere, Monday – This comedy about aspiring junior lifeguards.
  • Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Always a favorite so will likely tune in to the latest.
  • French Open (NBC) – NBC coverage picks up with Women’s semi on Thursday at 11am with the men’s and women’s finals Saturday and Sunday at 6am.

Returning streaming: Creative Galaxy (Am, Tuesday), Black Mirror (Net, Wednesday), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, Wednesday), 3% (Net, Friday), Designated Survivor (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: 5/27-6/2

Good Omens

A few returning shows that I’m also into including Animal Kingdom, how they’re not all in jail is a good question. Oh and did I mention Luther is back on Sunday! It’s been too long but I guess Idris is worth the wait.

  • The Hot Zone (NGC) Miniseries Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Juliana Margulies tackles Ebola, based on the bestseller, might be a thrill in there.
  • Songland (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – The latest reality, this one where songwriters compete to get someone real to record their tune.
  • The Inbetween (NBC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – Helping a detective out this woman has visions of past, present, and ghosts, no word, maybe as summer fare?
  • Good Omens (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – An angel and a demon have become fond of earth so form an alliance to stop the end of the world, Michael Sheen and David Tennant might bring some good buzz to this one.
  • When They See Us (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Based on the true story five teens from Harlem falsely accused of an attack in Central Park, getting some good reviews.
  • Deadwood (HBO) Friday – The movie! I’m going to need someone to record and save this for me.
  • American Princess (Life) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – A socialite runs away from her wedding and joins a Ren Faire, sure.
  • Perpetual Grace, Ltd. (EPIX) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – A young grifter gets more than he bargains for when trying to pull one over on a pastor and his wife.
  • NOS4A2 (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Good against evil though I read some dreadful reviews of this one.

Other streaming releases:

  • How to Sell Drugs Online: Fast (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A nerdy teen starts selling ecstasy online in Europe and hits it big.
  • Killer Ratings (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Did Brazilian TV personality mastermind the crimes he’s reporting and rallying against?
  • Arthdal Chronicles (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday – In a mythical land regions vie for power.

Returning streaming: Bad Blood (Net, Friday), My Next Guest Needs No Introduction (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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