tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/12-4/25

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Cruel Summer

I caught up on much-recommended Derry Girls on Netflix which was cute. And though Younger returns this week on Paramount+ I’m going to hold out until it’s found elsewhere (should come back to TV Land later this year) and will tune in for the special ep from Mythic Quest though may hold out until the second season is here. And apparently, the series finale for Queen Sugar is coming down but I have the whole season so far saved, busy busy..

  • Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/14 – A single dad’s teen daughter moves in with him, starring Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier among others.
  • Spy City (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/15 – Six-part series has Dominic Cooper playing an English spy sent to Berlin in the Cold War in this espionage thriller.
  • Frank of Ireland (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 4/16 – Brian Gleeson stars in this comedy as a newly single musician who hasn’t written a song or played a gig in years and lives at home with his mom.
  • Big Shot (Dis+) Series Premiere, Friday 4/16 – John Stamos plays a men’s NCAA basketball coach who moves to girls high school in this David E Kelley drama series.
  • Why Are You Like This (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/16 – Three Australian 20-something best friends hijinks.
  • Mare of Easttown (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/18, 10pm – Kate Winslet stars as a small-town detective in this seven-part series where she investigates a murder as her life is falling apart.
  • The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker (BYUTV) Series Premiere, Monday 4/19.7/7:30pm – Like Brady Bunch but with 2 kids each, followed by a focus on one of the daughters.
  • Cruel Summer (Free) Series Premiere, Tuesday 4/20, 10pm – When the popular girl goes missing is it wrong to look at the nerdy wannabe turned cool kid?
  • Rutherford Falls (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/22 – Two best friends at a crossroads in this comedic look at the residents of a small town and neighboring Native American reservation.
  • The Oscars (ABC) Sunday 4/25, 5pm – Have finally given up on watching even this, though I may tune in for some of the fashion.

Returning streaming: Keeping Faith (Acorn, 4/12), Mighty Express (Net, 4/13), The Circle (Net, 4/14), Earth at Night in Color (App+, 4/16), Tony World (App+, 4/16), Fast & Furious Spy Racers (Net, 4/16), Ghost Brothers (Disc+, 4/17), Midsummer Murders (Acorn, 4/19), Deadliest Catch (Disc+, 4/20), Izzy Koala’s World (Net, 4/20), Bigger (BET+, 4/22). Archibald’s Next Big Thing is Here (Pea, 4/22).

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 3/29-4/11

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Law & Order: Organized Crime

I finished up the Netflix limited series The Eddy, and I enjoyed its odd jazzy setting and storytelling. Excited for the return of the cute ABCFamily series Everything’s Going to Be Ok and will be tuning in for the series finale of Wynonna Earp. In addition to streaming options, there are a few broadcast series hitting.

  • Pooch Perfect (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 3/30, 8pm – Reality spotlight on this Rebel Wilson hosted dog grooming competition show.
  • Made for Love (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/1 – Based on the novel following a 30-something woman, played by Cristin Milioti, who tries to flee a marriage to find that her husband planted a monitoring device in her brain, some early positive if not raving reviews.
  • United States of Al (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/1, 8:30pm – Already generating some controversy the premise of this latest Chuck Lorre comedy focuses on a Marine adjusting to civilian life in Ohio and his Interpreter from Afghanistan.
  • L&O: Organized Crime (NBC) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/1, 10pm – Stabler’s back and heading up an elite task force in this latest addition to Dick Wolf’s world.
  • Atlantic Crossing (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/4, 9pm – An epic limited drama based on the WWII relationship of FDR and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha.
  • Chad (TBS) Series Premiere, Tuesday 4/6, 10:30pm – Nasim Pedrad plays a 14-year-old Persian boy navigating his first year in high school.
  • Kung Fu (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/7 – Inspired by the ’70s series, this gets the CW twist as a young Chinese-American woman returns to her hometown of San Francisco after life in an isolated monastery in China and uses her skills to bring criminals to justice.
  • Home Economics (ABC) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/7 – Three adult siblings in differing economic classes as their lives come together in this comedy.
  • Rebel (ABC) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/8, 10pm – Inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich, Katey Sagal takes the lead as the messy, fearless woman who fights for what she believes in.
  • Them (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 4/9 – A horror anthology series where the first season takes a look at a black family moving into an all-white LA neighborhood and face human and supernatural threats.
  • The Nevers (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/11 – Victorian London is hit by a supernatural event that gives people, mostly women new abilities that put them in danger.

More streaming:

  • The Serpent (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/2 – The Bikini killer preys on Western tourists in Southeast Asia in the ’70s in this dramatic thriller.
  • Snabba Cash (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/7 – The lives of a businesswoman, a gang enforcer, and a teen collide in this Swedish crime show.

Returning streaming: The Brokenwood Mysteries (Acorn, 3/29), Back (IFC, 4/1), Creepshow (Shudder, 4/1), The Great Pottery Throw Down (HBOM, 4/1), Family Reunion (Net, 4/5), The Big Day (Net, 4/7), No Activity (Para+, 4/8), El Corazon de Sergio Ramos (Am, 4/9), Evil Lives Here (Disc+, 4/11).

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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procrastinator’s must-see movies of 2020

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The Old Guard

Well, I rolled off of my catch-up for 2019 seemingly right into the pandemic. The only movie I remember seeing in a theater this last year was 2019’s Knives Out. Can that be true? Well, someday we’ll be back to feeling comfortable in theaters, until then lots of stuff available on streaming. While I was being relatively budget-conscious this year I did throw down to pay for a couple of last-minute picks because I knew I’d be doing this list but there are certainly more to be seen. For Critic’s picks, you can check out Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes for a consensus.

  1. The Old Guard – This is the first movie I remember watching when I decided I was going to start doing a Saturday Night Movie to give some meaning to my weekends during the pandemic, and I just remember it was fun, I’m totally on board for Charlize Theron taking this immortals(?) mercenaries action series into franchise territory.
  2. Promising Young Woman – Revenge done very wrong, in this thriller masking as a comedy Carey Mulligan does a beautiful job embodying the double life of this cunning young woman so obviously broken by experiences she couldn’t avert, will she or can she get revenge?
  3. Palm Springs – You can’t shake a stick without hitting a time loop movie or tv show but this Adam Sandler and Christin Milioti showcase hit fresh notes through their chemistry and hijinks as well as the more esoteric questions.
  4. The Vast of Night – This ’50s set sci-fi/mystery has such a throwback tone but is oddly compelling as two high school kids chase the source of a mysterious audio frequency, does it get them more than they bargained for?
  5. The Half of It – This Cyrano style romance gives us a new flavor of the take as we’re as captivated by shy high schooler Ellie as her target is by her letters, as she befriends the jock she’s writing for, complications and sweetness ensue.
  6. On the Rocks – Sofia Coppola brings a fun look at a daughter, Rashida Jones, and estranged father, Bill Murray, reconnecting through her suspicions about her husband.
  7. One Night in Miami – Most of these plays turned movies feel stilted but this incredible night of icons Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcom X connecting is thoughtfully and beautifully brought to life by Regina King.
  8. Nomadland, Minari, Never Rarely Sometimes Always – These three films bring an interesting look at simpler yet not more straightforward stories of people just trying to make it.

Reply or comment to let me know what some of your favorites were?

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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 3/15-3/28

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Country Comfort

This week I wrapped both Devs (Fx/Hulu) which was a pretty intriguing offering. Also Defending Jacob which I made an Apple+ exception since it was a limited series and it kept me engaged to the end. Coming up Superstore is wrapping up its run and I’ve enjoyed my run with that wacky crew.

  • Bloodlands (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 3/15 – This BBC One drama follows an Irish detective connecting to a cold case.
  • Zero Chill (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 3/15 – British family comedy about a teen figure skater who is forced to go with her family when her two brother goes to a prestigious hockey academy.
  • Calls (App+) Series Premiere, 3/19 – Characters on phone calls connect to a larger, mysterious event, good cast including Aubrey Plaza, Judy Greer, and Mark Duplass.
  • Country Comfort (Net) Series Premiere Friday 3/19 – An aspiring country singer played by Katherine McPhee becomes a nanny for a widower played by Eddie Cibrian and his five kids.
  • Cypher (Roku) Series Premiere, Friday 3/19 -FBI cryptanalyst discovers a coded hit list and gets himself in deep.
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Dis+) Series Premiere, Friday 3/19 – Continuing the MCU following the Avengers: Endgame for those on board.
  • The Gloaming (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday 3/21, 8pm – Two detectives investigate a woman found brutally killed, and apparently ‘gloaming’ is the space between life and death.
  • Invincible (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 3/26 – An adult animated superhero show centering on the son (Stephen Yeun) of the most powerful superhero (J.K. Simmons).
  • The Irregulars (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/26 – A crew of misfits investigates supernatural crimes for Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
  • The Mighty Ducks (Dis+) Series Premiere, Friday 3/26 – A new scrappy hockey team breaks off to challenge the now competitive Ducks aka the show that conflicted with Lauren Graham being on Zoey.

More streaming:

  • Sky Rojo (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/19 – This Spanish language drama follows three women on the run from their pimp.
  • Navillera (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 3/22 – This Korean drama follows a 70 and a 23-year-old to becoming ballerinos.
  • The Attache (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 3/22 – The turbulent impact of a family’s move from Tel Aviv to Paris, in Hebrew and French.
  • Who Killed Sara? (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 3/24 – A man sets out to prove he was framed for his sister’s murder in this Mexican mystery.
  • The Restaurant (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/25 – A family-run restaurant in Stockholm is in turmoil when an affair is rekindled.
  • La Templanza (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 3/26 – Based on the novel a romantic drama set in 1860 in this Spanish drama.

Returning streaming: Staged (Hulu, 3/16), Back (IFC/AMC+, 4/1), Shtisel (Net, 3/25), Solar Opposites (Hulu, 3/26).

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 3/1-3/14

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Debris

I wrapped up the final season of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a series I always wanted to like more than I did, but clearly stuck with. And Mrs America which had great performances in a non feels like I’m watching a history lesson version of the movement to pass the ERA. CBS All Access is rebranding as Paramount+ (because all streaming versions are apparently using the +) so you’ll start to see that, and I’ll have to consider how to manage still not subscribing when they bring back favorite Ink Master (I have purchased seasons of The Good Fight after they hooked me with the free first season).

  • Debris (NBC) Series Premiere, Monday 3/1 – Mixed reviews for this debris from an alien spacecraft hits the planet and messes with our world.
  • Delilah (OWN) Series Premiere, Tuesday 3/9 – A lawyer has struck out on her own to handles cases the big firms don’t while raising her family.
  • Cold Courage (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/11 – Based on Finnish novels two women collide during a series of London murders.
  • Genera+ion (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/11 – A ‘dark yet playful’ comedy series follows a diverse group of high school students.
  • The One (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/12 – A DNA researcher helps discover a new way to find the perfect partner in this British drama.

More streaming:

  • Bombay Begums (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 3/8 – This Hindi language set in modern Mumbai shows five ambitious women navigating life.
  • Dealer (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 3/10 – This French-language crime drama shows two filmmakers shoot a rapper’s music video in an area ruled by gangs.
  • Isabel (HBOM) Series Premiere, Friday 3/12 – This three-part miniseries based on the life of author Isabel Allende.

Returning streaming: Race Across the World (Disc+, 3/2), Word Party (Net, 3/2), Pokemon Journeys (Net, 3/4), Tooning Out the News (Para+, 3/4), Peyton’s Places (ESPN+, 3/7), Web of Lies (Disc+, 3/8), Starbeam (Net, 3/9), Battlebots (Disc+, 3/11), Love Alarm (Net, 3/12), Paradise PD (Net, 3/12).

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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best, tv

procrastinator’s top tv of 2020

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High Fidelity

And we’re back to trying to see enough things that I feel like I have at least a representative sample to throw down. And while I still don’t have premium cable and I’m not in with every streaming service I feel like I’m ready for a good selection. For a look at what the critics picked you can try Metacritic.

  • Bojack Horseman (Net))/The Good Place (NBC)/Schitts Creek (Pop) – Ok so yes this one is a cheat but honestly I’m not sure if the final seasons of these series were the best but they are three of my top series so if you haven’t seen them you’re missing out.
  • High Fidelity (Hulu) – I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this show, I was a big fan of the original book, and thought the movie version did a good job capturing the spirit, and was thoroughly along for this ride on this latest take with Zoe Kravitz in the lead and another round of good friends, they were dumb dumbs to cancel after one season.
  • Ted Lasso (App+) – I got a free round of Apple TV+ with the iPad I bought last year but wasn’t really diving into series because 1) I can’t figure out how to play it on my tv and 2) I didn’t want to get hooked on anything because I am for sure not paying for another streaming series, but I had heard so many good things about Jason Sudeikis’s take on fish out of water that I dove in and it really is the type of positive tv we all need these days.
  • The Great (Hulu) – This ‘genre-bending, anti-historical’ look into Catherine the Great gives quite a fun journey along with Elle Fanning in the title role and her education into taking her position in history.
  • Better Things (FX) – I’m impressed each season with Pamela Adlon’s ability to create both powerful half hours of her fictionalized life as well as the overall characters and story arcs.
  • Queens Gambit (Net) – Watching Anya Taylor-Joy grow into and up as a chess prodigy is worth it for her fashion looks and her withering looks alone, but the chess and personal tension really kept me hooked.
  • Brockmire (IFC) – I watched all of this last year so this is more of a series than a season review but this show was sure willing to take risks in creating and following Hank Azaria as this self-destructive baseball announcer through an unusual personal and professional journey.
  • Dead to Me (Net) – Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini sure know how to get themselves into trouble, and while the show is ridiculous as it follows their friendship and their foibles I for sure couldn’t look away.
  • The Boys (Prime) – Another show I couldn’t look away from, what happens when Superheroes become an industry and what happens when they go rogue, is defeating them at all costs worth it, or possible, the character development has been good to keep things a little nuanced in the midst of all the insanity.
  • Teenage Bounty Hunters (Net) – Ok I had something else in this last slot but this show was honestly one that I enjoyed a lot last year so… the interplay between these twin sisters and their new boss as they get caught up in bounty hunting while navigating relationships and high school brings us another terrible call on cancelling after the first season.

I also finished a few old series that would likely have made the list if I had been any where near timely: Counterpart, Downton Abbey, The Shield, and Veep.

Honorable mentions: Dave (Fxx), Devs* (Fx), The Eddy* (Net), Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Free), Evil (CBS), The Good Fight (CBSAA), Killing Eve (BBCA), Little America (App+), Mrs. America (Hulu), Mythic Quest (App+), One Day at a Time (Pop), Ozark (Net), Sex Education (Net), Trinkets (Net), Unorthodox (Net), Upload (Prime), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC) – (*not done yet).

What were some of your favorites? What’s next on your list?

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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 2/15-2/28

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Superman & Lois

I wrapped Little America (Ap+) and Unorthodox (Net) for some great looks at experiences inside and outside of America. Doing a little more dabbling before I wrap up my top tv list but stay tuned.

  • The Crew (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 2/15 – Kevin James stars as a Nascar crew chief who clashes with the new owner.
  • Young Rock/Kenan (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 2/16 – Likable enough characters/actors and an ongoing need for funny will have me checking these out.
  • Behind Her Eyes (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/17 – Based on a novel a woman is sleeping with therapist’s boss and befriending his wife in this thriller.
  • It’s a Sin (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/18 – Good early reviews for this five-part miniseries about five friends in ’80s London impacted by HIV/AIDS.
  • Tell Me Your Secrets (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 2/19 – Three characters with mysterious and troubling pasts starring Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, and Hamish Linklater.
  • Australian Open (ESPN/2) – Women’s championships at 12:30am Saturday, and Men’s on Sunday, thank gawd for TiVo.
  • Superman & Lois (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday 2/23 – The next chapter of superman as he and Lois balance their work and raising two sons.
  • Canine Intervention (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/24 – Reality highlight, following an Oakland dog trainer.
  • Ginny & Georgia (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/24 – Free-spirited mom moves with her two kids for a fresh start in this romantic dramedy.
  • Millennials (ALLBLK) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/25 – Streaming service rebranded from UMC brings a comedy about 4 20-something roommates.
  • Punky Brewster (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/25 – Soleil Moon Frye reprising her role from the 80s series as a now single mother of three.

More streaming:

  • Hello, me! (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/17 – Korean romantic comedy where a woman sees her younger self demanding change.
  • Sisyphus (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/17 – Korean thriller about dangerous secrets and threats from the future.
  • El Internado: Las Cumbres (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 2/19 – Spanish language thriller about a boarding school for problem kids.
  • Wir Kinder Vom Bahnhof Zoo (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 2/19 – German coming of age epic based on the book.
  • Tribes of Europa (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 2/19 – German sci-fi look at post-apocalyptic Europe.
  • Cincenzo (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday 2/20 – A Korean drama takes on Korean-Italian mafia.

Returning streaming: House Hunters Comedians On Couches (Disc+, 2/17), Good Eats (Disc+, 2/18), Playing for Keeps (SundN, 2/18), For All Mankind (App+, 2/19), Ride with Norman Reedus (AMC+, 2/28).

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 2/1-2/14

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The Equalizer

I’ve been chipping away on some streaming and the misc. shows around and wrapped the latest season of Big Mouth. While that series isn’t my absolute favorite they do a good job creating that world and voice of awkward kids coming against bizarre coming of age issues.

  • The Investigation (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday 2/1 – This six part Scandinavian limited drama series explores the real life investigations surrounding the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall.
  • Firefly Lane (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/3 – This drama follows two besties played by Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke through the years.
  • The Head (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/4 – This Spanish thriller set in an Antarctic research station where a commander returns to a shocking discovery.
  • The Murders (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/4 – A rookie homicide detective in Vancouver is seeking redemption after her negligence results in another officer’s death.
  • Invisible City (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 2/5 – A detective is drawn into an underground realm with mythical creatures in this Brazilian fantasy/drama.
  • Australian Open (ESPN) Sunday 2/7 – First round play begins.
  • Superbowl/The Equalizer (CBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/7 – Following the football playing we see Queen Latifah stick up for the little guy in this reboot of the old series.
  • Capitani (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/11 – The suspicious death of a 15-year-old girl in a Luxembourg village is investigated (in Luxembourgish).
  • Clarice (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/11 – Based on Silence of the Lambs this takes place one year later as she returns to the field.
  • The Luminaries (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/14, 9:30pm – Based on the book about New Zealand gold mining and love, murder, and revenge.

Returning streaming: Beachfront Bargain Hunt (Disc+, 2/2), Hawaii Life (Disc+, 2/2), Island Life (Disc+, 2/2), Mexico Life (Disc+, 2/2), Mighty Express (Net, 2/2), Tiffany Hadish Presents: They Ready (Net, 2/2), See No Evil (Disc+, 2/3), Little Coincidences (Am, 2/5), Hache (Net, 2/5), Harrow (Hulu, 2/7), Baltahzar (Acorn, 2/8), Chopped Sweets (Disc+, 2/9), Inside Pixar (Dis+, 2/12), Evil Lives Here (Disc+, 2/14).

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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best, books

procrastinator’s best books of 2020

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The Nickel Boys

While these are the best of what I read, in honesty this just continues to be a list of books I read last year. I left them in mostly chronological order and there’s an * next to those that I read for book club, we do a lot of picking from previous year’s top reviewed. This year for book club my one miss was Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo which I bought but just couldn’t get to but the group liked it so in the backlog.

  • The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin* – A much acclaimed sci-fi selection, and I enjoyed it and liked the world created but it felt too much like a setup of the trilogy than a complete first book, and while intrigued my backlog is too great to read on.
  • Luminaries by Eleanor Catton – I started this epic 1866 New Zealand prospecting tale on my trip to New Zealand in 2019 but didn’t finish it at the time, interesting twists of various characters but not the most compelling (I’m sure hindered by my mid book break).
  • Circe by Madeline Miller – A holdover from a missed 2019 book club reading, I found this an enjoyable trip through the stories of the Gods from our protagonists’ POV, and liked the new view on an old tale.
  • Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett* – A depressing but engaging look at family dynamics and the impact of mental illness.
  • Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward – This was much discussed for a book club pick but various people ended up reading on their own, glad to pick it up in between for a tough and interesting portrait of Mississippi family road trip/ghost story, though it didn’t totally pull me in.
  • Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – I actually bought this book for my sister years ago after hearing her speak, and glad I finally picked up her loan back to me for a captivating tale of the young and in love starting in Nigeria, journeys together and apart, with looks at race through relations and locations.
  • Normal People by Sally Rooney* – Some in the book club loved this one (fave of the year), and while I liked this complicated relationship tale, and the tv series that followed, I wasn’t fully drawn in.
  • Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson – This was a pick in book club from before I joined that had come up repeatedly as a fave and I found it incredibly compelling and tough as our social worker and father deals with spiraling personal and professional drama.
  • Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons* – A good smart, fun and funny take from 1932 on a heroine cleaning up her extended family as she heads to a more rural location.
  • Where’d You Go Bernadette – I had heard this book often referenced when people were saying that I want to read something like this, so I felt I should go to the source, and was greatly rewarded by this fun page turner where the what happened format really worked as did the subject layers.
  • Dare Me by Megan Abbott* – I had actually watched the series first, which sadly was canceled, but still enjoyed the source more for the fun of the cheerleading cult than for the mystery.
  • Lucky Alan & Other Stories by Jonathan Lethem – I always enjoy a Lethem though you never know what you’re going to get, his short stories offered a fun look at multiple options.
  • Girl, Woman, Other by Benardine Evaristo* – Some very good elements but a little distracted by less than strong connections and quantity of interrelated stories.
  • Songbook by Nick Hornby – I bought this ages ago and flipped through the music essays, and listened to the included cd, but finally sat down and read through, it holds up and would love more from music fans on music/moments.
  • There There by Tommy Orange – Another book club catch up, for an absorbing ensemble of connected Native Americans, though maybe a little too connected.
  • The Whites by Richard Price* – Enjoyed the place and characters and while I could quibble with a couple of plot elements overall engaged by the cop revenge tale.
  • Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akkner* – This ended up being more depressing than funny, the original goal of this pick, though there were amusing characterizations of the elite, dating apps, and yoga tank slogans.
  • Nickel Boys by Colton Whitehead*– Pretty unanimous enthusiastic recommendation from book club and while it’s a tough, heartbreaking subject the tone and balance make it so readable.
  • State of Wonder by Ann Patchett – I’m a fan of her earlier work and this does not disappoint, what an captivating and intriguing tale of a pharmacologist’s trip to drug research in the jungles of Brazil.
  • Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson* – I thought his earlier work The Family Fang was a lot of fun and this was no disappointment as a follow up, two kids who spontaneously combust and their new caretaker, what a fast and fun and flammable pick.
  • Inland by Tea Obreht* – Two parallel narratives that one could argue either add to or detract from the other, a frontierswoman dealing with drama and the lack of water and an immigrant Muslim and outlaw haunted by ghosts, while I enjoyed many of the parts of this the sum of things didn’t totally capture me.

For this year’s top reviewed you can find a list here. What were your favorites?

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/18-1/31

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Walker

Before my Apple + subscription expires I also went through the season of Mythic Quest, which started out annoying me (I have worked with enough people like that I wasn’t looking for that frustration in my entertainment) but grew to really enjoy the dynamic and some of the special episodes including the only pandemic entertainment I thought felt appropriate. I also wrapped the latest season of Umbrella Academy which I have to admit I didn’t care that much about though frustratingly left kind of intrigued as to what they’re going to do next season. And finally got through the rest of Fargo, which really wasn’t my fave season.

  • Daughter from Another Mother (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/20 – Switched at birth in this Mexican dramedy.
  • The Inauguration (Various) – Entering a new era.
  • Perfect Life (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/21 – This Spanish language series about thirty-somethings finding their way.
  • Walker (CW) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/21, 8pm – Jared Padalecki is no Chuck Norris but no word yet on this remake.
  • 3 Caminos (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 1/22 – I think this Spanish drama about people in three different stages in life.
  • Losing Alice (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 1/22 – A psychological thriller where a 48-year old director becomes obsessed with a 24-year old screenwriter.
  • The Sister (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 1/22 – A person from the past returns to threaten long held secrets in this drama.
  • Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday 1/23 – Things start to unravel for three successful women in this Korean drama.
  • Bridge and Tunnel (Epix) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/24, 9pm – Edward Burn’s latest is a dramedy following college grads in 80s Manhattan.
  • Reunions (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 1/25 – A French drama about half-brothers finding each other after their father dies.
  • 50M2 (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/27 – A henchman assumes a new identity to uncover the truth in this Istanbul thriller.
  • Jann (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 1/29 – A Canadian comedy about a look at singer-songwriter Jann Arden trying to make a personal and professional comeback.

Returning streaming: Hello Ninja (Net, 1/19), Call My Agent (Net, 1/21), Gomorrah (HBOM, 1/21), Selena + Chef (HBOM, 1/21), Blown Away (Net, 1/22), Busted! (Net, 1/22), Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (Net, 1/22), Bonding (Net, 1/27), Top Gear America (MotorTrend, 1/29).

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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