stream it…

fnl

Just in case someone you know recently received or signed up for Netflix streaming, the procrastinator thought it might be time to do a recommendation round up to help with your distractions. For latest movies and all series you still might need to go to the full dvd subscription but I find enough to keep my backlog filled during my regular series downtime. I definitely lean toward the television (at least until I get a couple more series under my belt) but there are a few new and old movie options that are worth a peek as well.

TELEVISION

  • House of Cards/Orange is the New Black/Arrested Development – Netflix original series might be what drove you to pull the trigger and they’re worth a watch (plus the backlog of earlier AD still hold up).
  • BuffyAngel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Sometimes I just like to revisit the Joss Whedon backlog.
  • Battlestar Galactica/Friday Night Lights/Chuck/Terriers/The Riches/Saving Grace/Freaks and Geeks – These more dramatic series, some cut far too short and some a little long, are good slightly irregular watching.
  • Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23/My Boys – Some comedic fare for just a little something quick.
  • Sherlock/Luther/Parenthood/Sons of Anarchy A mix of dramatic series that are still going and definitely worth a look if you have yet to get on board.
  • Louie/Wilfred/The League/It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Parks and Recreation – And a little comedy catch up for those also still running.

On my to do list: Mad Men, The Fall, Rescue Me, Top of the Lake

MOVIES

A peek at some more recent releases back into the classics:

  • The Hunger Games
  • Safety Not Guaranteed
  • Jeff Who Lives at Home
  • Hit & Run
  • Adventureland
  • Young Adult
  • Lars and the Real Girl
  • Bernie
  • The Kids are Alright
  • Zoolander
  • Being John Malkovich
  • House of Yes
  • Lost in Translation
  • Memento
  • The Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller’s Day Off/Clueless/13 Going on 30/Heathers – Some classics never get old.
  • The Italian Job, Parker, Blitz, Safe – I’ve developed a Jason Statham video weakness.

On my to do list: The American, Being Elmo, Cinema Paradiso, End of Watch, Extract, Flight, Drug War, Hoop Dreams, Melancholia, The Messenger, Our Idiot Brother, The Road, Tiny Furniture

Of course you can check the new releases and recently added to keep up to date. What’s missing from the list?

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/23-12/29

yulelog

Time to get caught up on videos or your dvr backlog…

Monday

  • Shrek the Halls/A Chipmunk Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – In case you missed some of this holiday cheer they’re replaying the ho ho ho.
  • The iHeartradio Jingle Ball 2013 (CW, 8pm) – Jingle it up.
  • Hollywood Game Night (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Celebs playing games.

Tuesday

  • Turbo Fast (Net, 12:01am) Series Premiere – Are you longing for more of that snail?
  • Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – Followed by the film.

Wednesday

  • Holiday Yule Log – Check your local listings for some holiday warmth.
  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas/DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (Fox, 8/8:30pm) – I don’t really get anything that came out after I was a child.
  • Kelly Clarkson/Michael Buble (NBC, 8/8:30pm) – Singin’ and whatnot.
  • Kung Fu Panda/Merry Madagascar/One Direction iHeartRadio Album Release Party (8/8:30/9pm) – And to all a good night.
  • The Legend of Mick Dodge (NGC, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – A dude living in the wilderness, cuz, you know.

Thursday

  • The Women of SNL (NBC, 9pm) – Regifting SNL style with some repackaged lady skits.

Friday

  • Nikita (CW 9pm) Series Finale – Revenge or death?
  • What We Wasted Our Year On (NBC, 9pm) – Willie Geist hosts a bit on the year that was.
  • Garth Brooks, Live From Las Vegas (CBS, 9pm) – Sing it up.

Saturday

  • WWE Tribute to the Troops (NBC, 8pm) – Entertaining the troops.
  • Sex Sent Me to the ER (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – For more specific untold stories of the ER.

Sunday

  • Burning Love (E!, 3:30pm) Season Premiere – More faux dating.
  • Annual Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm) – Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine, and Carlos Santana.
  • Treme (HBO, 9pm) Series Finale – Farewell to New Orleans.
  • Hawaii Life (HGTV, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – Time for a new condo.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/16-12/22

CharlieBrown-slider

The no-man’s-land toward the end of the year, a few specials and getting into a lot of reruns…

Monday

  • Prep & Landing/Naighty vs Nice (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Ho to the ho.
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8pm) – And a ho.
  • Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas/Dreamworks Dragons (Fox, 9/9:30pm) – And a ho.
  • Lizard Lick Towing (Tru, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – They’re towing it again, and someone goes missing.

Tuesday

  • Hardcore Pawn (Tru, 9pm) Season Premiere – Seth returns.

Wednesday

  • Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8pm) – Celine Dion raises awareness for adoption.
  • The iHeartradio Jingle Ball (CW, 8pm) – Performances from Miley and others.
  • The 10 Most Fascinating People (ABC, 9:30pm) – Barbara Walters presents…
  • Michael Buble (NBC, 10pm) – Christmas special it up.

Thursday

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – Charlie Brown music is always a fave.
  • SNL (NBC, 9pm) – Christmas best?
  • Myth Hunters (Mil, 10pm) Series Premiere – Is there really a military channel?

Friday

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special (CBS, 8pm) – For those who love Lucy.
  • Happiness is a Warm Blanket (Fox, 9pm) – Linus without his blanket is like…

Saturday

  • I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Snoopy and Spike to Christmas right.

Sunday

  • The Sound of Music (ABC, 7pm) – The 1965 version for those of you who want to continue to critique Carrie Underwood.

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.

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hating real people

Bethenny

I was home during the day and flipping off whatever I was watching on TiVo only to find myself face to face with the Bethenny talk show and I couldn’t turn away fast enough. Now some of you may not be familiar with this former(?) Real Housewives star who is apparently making it on her own. I’m as pleased to say I’m a little unclear on her path as I am displeased that I know anything about her.

Turns out I am prejudiced about reality stars. You know, the Housewives, the Kardashians, the Jersey peeps. I don’t want to watch your life and I don’t want to watch anything you do after your original show. For someone who thinks them self not only tolerant but appreciative of the mindlessness that some just plain stupid television can bring, I not only don’t like these shows but I hear myself saying that they represent everything that is wrong with America today (do I really think that, probably not, but you get the idea).

To be honest this doesn’t apply to all reality stars, people who compete at something or have a skill that we’re looking at is fine. But let’s be clear I also don’t think being on the Bachelor qualifies you to continue to take up television time after your last rose. I don’t blame these people for capitalizing on their ten minutes. I also don’t necessarily think they are all unworthy just because of that but it’s now impossible for me to look at them objectively. And I will try not to think less of you for watching them, I will try.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/9-12/15

 The Sing-Off

Monday

  • Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town/The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8/9pm) Series Premiere – Ho ho ho and then why not make decorating for xmas competitive.
  • Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special/Merry Madagascar/One Direction (CW, 8/8:30/9pm) – Holiday merriment and then some tunes from the boys.
  • The Sing-Off (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – As I recall Ben Folds is a great judge on the a capella singing competition.

Tuesday

  • American Country Music Awards (Fox, 8pm) – Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick host.
  • The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS, 10pm) – Taylor Swift performs and ladies wear lingerie.

Wednesday

  • Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Music Tale (NBC, 10pm) – Who knows, but if you like Kelly this should be up your alley.
  • Rodeo Girls (A&E, 11pm) Series Premiere – Five female barrel racers.

Thursday

  • A bunch of ‘fall finales’ which is the new language for you won’t be seeing new tv for a while and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Friday

  • Lilyhammer (Net, 12:01am) Season Premiere – All of season 2 will be available of this mob fixer in witness protection show, is anyone watching this?

Saturday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Frosty/Frosty Returns (CBS, 8/9/9:30pm) – More merriment.
  • 24/7 (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Red Wings/Maple Leafs.

Sunday

  • Cutthroat Kitchen (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Cooking isn’t enough to win this one.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/2-12/8

TNT_MobCity_TeaseH-2013

Monday

  • Bakery Boss/Best Funeral Ever (TLC, 6/7pm) Series Premieres – Hungarian improvements and making that special day.
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas/CMA Country Christmas (ABC, 8/9pm) – Holiday fun and then Jennifer Nettles, who I assume is a country person, hosts.
  • Street Outlaws (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – Brawling.
  • Rick and Morty (AdSw, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Wacky mad scientist adventures.

Tuesday

  • Shipping Wars (A&E, 7pm) Season Premiere – Trouble with a shipment.

Wednesday

  • Christmas in Rockefeller Center/SNL Christmas (NBC, 8/9pm) – Lights and laughs.
  • Buying and Selling (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – Home improvements to sell.
  • Mob City (TNT, 9pm) Series Premiere – Time for another film noir-esque mob series?
  • Killer Contact (Syfy, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at hauntings from crimes.
  • Kirstie (TVL, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another stab at revisiting sitcom greats, unfortunately Kirstie, Rhea and Michael Richards step into clunky lines and situations.

Thursday

  • The Sound of Music Live (NBC, 8pm) – Carrie Underwood steps in.
  • Gypsy Sisters (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Brawling?
  • The Millionaire Matchmaker/Courtney Loves Dallas (Brav, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Don Swayze gets a hook up and then my least favorite kind of reality show, a spinoff of another reality show, some girl from some show.
  • Rent or Buy (HGTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – That is the question.
  • Mob Wives (VH1, 10pm) Season Premiere – Begins with a party.
  • Party On (E!, 10pm) Series Premiere – Some chick parties in random places for you to be jealous of, or not, starting with Greece.

Friday

  • Frosty the Snowman/Yes, Virginia/Grammy Noms Concert Live (CBS, 8/8:30/10pm) – Seasonal fun and songs.

Saturday

  • Holiday parties or catching up on Sons of Anarchy?

Sunday

  • Bonnie & Clyde (Life, A&E, Hist, 9pm) – This two part series revisits a famous couple but rumor has it doesn’t offer much new.
  • Dude, You’re Screwed (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Watch a Navy SEAL in a reality show about getting out, you know of wherever the put him.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/25-12/1

NationalDogShow2013_P

Not a lot of note going on this week as we roll into the official holiday season, time for some movies…

Monday

  • Generation Cryo (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at a woman whose sperm donor dad had some other offspring.

Tuesday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS, 8pm) – This one is jumping the gun with a pre turkey day ho ho ho.
  • Boston’s Finest/Marshall Law (TNT, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Real life crime fighters.

Wednesday

  • Sound of Music Live: Making Of/SNL Thanksgiving (NBC, 8/9pm) – Behind the scenes of something I’m not interested in and then some of the historical funnies.
  • Haunted Highway (Syfy, 10pm) Season Premiere – More ghosts to be found.

Thursday

  • Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC/CBS, 9am) – Floats, bands…
  • Magnificent Mile Lights (ABC, 11am) – Lighting…
  • The National Dog Show (NBC, 12pm) – Woof.
  • A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/Lady Gaga and the Muppets Spectacular (ABC, 8/9:30pm) – Charlie and the gang and then some songs and celebrations by celebrities and felted friends.

Friday

  • Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas/The Elf on the Shelf/Garth Brooks (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm) – And here they all come.
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – More holiday fare.
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8pm) – And yeah more.

Saturday

  • The Flight Before Christmas/The Story of Santa Claus (CBS, 8/9pm) – And more…

Sunday

  • Christmas in Conway (ABC, 9pm) – Made for TV flick with a dude making a very special Christmas.
  • Hawaii Life (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – Aloha.
  • Treme (HBO, 9pm) Season Premiere – Yes we can, Obama-style.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/18-11/24

betas-amazon-w724

 A little delay on this posting, partly because there’s not much going on…

Monday

  • Whoopi Goldberg Presents: Moms Mabley (HBO, 9pm) – A look at the vaudeville vet.

Tuesday

  • The iHeartradio Album Release Party with Lady Gaga (CW, 8pm) – Gaga it up.
  • Risky Listing/White Collar Brawlers (Esq, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – Night life real estate and dueling colleagues.
  • David Blaine: Real or Magic (ABC, 9:30pm) – Watch a lot of celebrities say ‘wow’ at his antics.

Wednesday

  • How I Rock It/Alternate Route (Esq, 10/10:30pm) Series Premieres – Stylin’ dudes and photographers exploits.

Thursday

  • You Oughta Know In Concert (VH1, 8pm) – Artists I haven’t heard of perform together.

Friday

  • Betas (Amazon, 12:01am) Series Premiere – Misfits trying to launch their startup.
  • Where Were You? (NBC, 9pm) – Tom Brokaw reports on the day JFK died.
  • Nikita (CW, 9pm) Season Premiere – Nikita is on the run, still? again?

Saturday

  • Atlantis (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – A search for his father leads a dude to the ancient fabled city.
  • Lucas Bros/Golan the Insatiable (Fox, 11pm) Series Premieres – Additions to the animation domination.

Sunday

  • American Music Awards (ABC, 8pm) – I really don’t want to hear anything about Miley Cyrus.
  • Getting On/Ja’mie: Private School Girl (HBO, 10pm) Series Premieres – Comedic hospital fare and school drama.
  • Breaking the Faith (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Leaving the religious compound.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/11-11/17

AlmostHuman1

Monday

  • None of the Above/Church Rescue (NGC, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – Burning experiments and then what looks like religious Restaurant Impossible.
  • Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – I guess he was tired of living in comfort.

Tuesday

  • Black Mirror/Secret State (DirTV, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – Two more British imports, an hour long satirical drama on the state of tech today and then a conspiracy thriller, no DTV for me but otherwise would take a gander.
  • Lost Survivors (Trav, 11pm) Series Premiere – Married survival experts test their mettle.

Wednesday

  • Secrets of the Dead (PBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – George Clooney narrates the premiere on JFK.
  • Burning Love (E!, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – The laugher version of the dating shows.

Thursday

  • Ground Floor (TBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another dip into the sitcom pool where opposites attract, banker and maintenance together at last.

Friday

  • Raising Hope (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – The Chance family returns.
  • Sweet Home Alabama (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Will the latest sweet country girl pick a country boy or a city guy?

Saturday

  • Orange County Choppers/Swamp Pawn (CMT, 9/10pm) Series/Season Premieres – Bikes and swamp stuff sales.

Sunday

  • Almost Human (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – Future cop buddy show, emotionally damaged human working with the emotionally questionable robot is worth a look.
  • The Drama Queen (E!, 11pm) Series Premiere – Take a look at a talent manager in action.

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.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/4-11/10

findingbigfoot

Monday

  • The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills/Vanderpump Rules (Brav, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – I don’t know who the Vanderpumps are but they’re combining their shows tonight.
  • Mike & Molly (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – Molly has a meltdown.
  • Bizarre Foods America (Trav, 9pm) Season Premiere – The Garden State’s treats.
  • Love It or List It (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – Growing family needs a bigger house.

Tuesday

  • Moonshiners (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Life changing events.
  • Shahs of Sunset (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – Stuff happens to them or by them or whatever.

Wednesday

  • CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host, again.
  • Beverly Hills Pawn (Reelz, 9pm) Season Premiere – Stuff.
  • Extreme Yachts (Trav, 9pm) Season Premiere – Because if you’re going to have a yacht it should be extreme.
  • Guy Court (MTV2, 11pm) Series Premiere – Comedic courtroom rulings of dude behavior.

Thursday

  • Urban Suburban/Reno vs. Relocate (Health, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – In the city or in the suburbs and then to move or to move to Reno, ok that’s how I read that but it’s actually move or renovate.

Friday

  • The Lylas (WE, 9pm) Series Premiere – Bruno Mars’ sisters are musicians too.
  • Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Adrianna Costa a ‘television personality’ looks for a reception dress.

Saturday

  • Miss Universe (NBC, 8pm) – Mel B and Thomas Roberts host from Moscow.
  • Jobs that Bite! (NGW, 9pm) Series Premiere – Challenging animal jobs like giving a lion a physical

Sunday

  • 24/7 (HBO, 12:15am) Season Premiere – Pacquiao/Rios.
  • Ax Men/American Jungle (Hist, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Cutting it down and living off the land in Hawaii.
  • Thicker than Water (Brav, 9pm) Series Premiere – A look at the family of former basketball player/gospel-jazz musician Ben Tankard.
  • Finding Bigfoot (AnPl, 10pm) Season Premiere – Not only do they have seasons of this but there is also so much to talk about that they have an Untold Stories following 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.

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