new and noteworthy tv: 4/16-4/22


Well it’s a light week for anything new or noteworthy. I’m still at a pretty good deficit, managed to catch and dismiss from my list In Contempt. The show that I did find intriguing was Killing Eve. Have yet to dismiss a few shows that I see a glimmer in but aren’t quite all that The Crossing, Living Biblically, and Instinct. I didn’t find the initial reboot of Roseanne all that funny and everyone felt a little stilted but my nostalgia won out enough to keep the show on and the last episode focusing more on Darlene and Becky actually started getting to the heart of what the show could be.

Still trying to keep up with some items in the queue but doing better on the lighter fare, it’s a bad sign when I’m too tired to follow Lethal Weapon, but ANTM, Ink Master, iZombie, The Royals, and UnReal all seem to hit the sweet spot. And of course you can’t go wrong with comedies like Big Bang, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Mom, The Middle, New Girl, and Superstore. The less light stuff takes a bit more mind space than I have but managed to catch the first Legion to recall some of the threads I loved from season 1 and giving them enough credit to pay off the stuff that just seems weird for the sake of weird. Still need to get back to The Americans, Gotham, SHIELD, and even Atlanta. Has anyone watched Trust, I just keep recording it.

Have a little downtime coming up so hoping to get back on top of things as well as into some streaming. And I’m overdue for a matinee. And…

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new and noteworthy tv: 4/9-4/15


Trying to knock out some of the random premiering shows sitting in my queue so I don’t have to keep recording them. Gone are Alex, Inc., Splitting Up Together, Siren, Krypton, The Last O.G., Deception, Champions, Life Sentence, McMafia, Shoot the Messenger, and finally dropped Good Girls which had some potential but not enough with a tough backlog. Finally wrapped The Punisher and hoping to quell my need for completion when I find something is just dragging, but let me get through the latest season of Orange is the New Black first while taking break for more enjoyable Mindhunter (which I also finally wrapped, good but didn’t enjoy it quite as much as some raves I heard), Jessica Jones, Sneaky Pete, and The Tick.

  • In Contempt (BET) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Legal aid office, sure.
  • Bosch (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – Excited to see what trouble he’ll get into this season.
  • Lost in Space (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Danger, Will Robinson, with Parker Posey as Dr Smith I can’t help but hope this is a fun one.
  • Rellik (Cin) Series Premiere, Friday, 10pm – UK police detective tracking down a serial killer who has left him emotionally and physically scarred.

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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procrastinator’s picks – must see movies of 2017

I had a little lapse on my end of year lists but I can’t wrap the year without a list of movies. There are always more movies than one can see and although even a not great movie is enjoyable the top ten list is sometimes a challenge. With a little last minute binging and a few undone here’s where I’m netting out.

  1. Call Me By Your Name – This wasn’t an epic film but it captured the mood of the location and the moment and the emotions in a way that sweeps you away.
  2. The Shape of Water – More on the epic side this fantastical tale of a mute woman falling for a creature held captive at an institute she works at, though for fave films check out his previous Pan’s Labyrinth.
  3. Dunkirk – Multiple point of views and timelines may add to the confusion but also add to both the intensity of the individual stories and as well as the overarching battle, you know for a historical flick.
  4. The Big Sick – This shows that romantic comedies don’t need to follow the specific formula and glad that Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon were talented enough to turn their story into one that can entertain all.
  5. Ingrid Goes West – Aubrey Plaza can maybe do no wrong and her turn as an unhinged social media stalker really works that balance of comical, sympathetic, and topical making it my indie pick of the year.
  6. Get Out – I’ve never been one to think that a good genre movie can’t be a good movie and this break out shows that you can be suspenseful and topical and fun.
  7. Logan – This one reminded me of what a good comic can be, stands on its own with a good story and lots of action (pretty brutal action), and while it sits within the X-Men series it’s sufficiently standalone which is a rare treat for comic capers these days.
  8. Baby Driver – Not without its flaws but I love a good heist film and the chase scenes and musical accompaniment was a fun romantic escape.
  9. Atomic Blonde – Good classic spy fun and seeing Charlize Theron as the smart, tough, and sexy lead as she hits Berlin in the Cold War trying to lock down a list of agents.
  10. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – This offbeat little vignette of a movie has some odd turns but the performances of McDormand and Harrelson keep you engaged as this mother fights to find her daughter’s murderer.

What were your faves from last year?

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new and noteworthy tv: 4/2-4/8

While excited for the return of Legion and trying to remember if I ended up hating or engaged with the bumblers in the Imposters but there are a few new shows to be on the lookout for.

  • The Crossing (ABC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – 47 refugees was up in a small fishing town from 180 years in the future.
  • The Last O.G. (TBS) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10:30pm – Tracy Morgan returns to tv as an ex-con returning to an unfamiliar life after 15 years in prison and has enough star power and buzz invested to be worth a look.
  • National Treasure (Hulu) Season Premiere, Wednesday – A young black girl is abducted right before being adopted by a white family and suspense apparently continues to ensue.
  • Troy: Fall of a City (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – The Trojan War and the love affair between Paris and Helen.
  • Trading Spaces (TLC) Season Premiere, Saturday, 10pm – In the season of returning shows this one brings back some familiar faces to redo quickly and on a budget with a host of new traders.
  • Howard’s End (Starz) Season Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – Fans of this type of period drama might find this worth a look.
  • Killing Eve (BBCA) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – Sandra Oh pursues a sociopathic assassin and it’s supposed to be worth a watch.
  • Unforgotten (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – A forty year old murder rears its ugly head.

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: 3/26-4/1

Better late than never, here’s our lineup for the week.

  • The Terror (AMC) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Inspired by a true story we join the Royal Navy in a perilous voyage.
  • Roseanne (ABC) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 8pm – The Conners are back and bringing their blue collar humor to present day, worth a look.
  • Ink Master: Angels (Para) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – Before we’ve even wrapped the current season of Ink Master the angels are back test more candidates.
  • Splitting Up Together (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9:30pm – Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson pair up in a show about a couple who try to separate while still living in the same house, seems like it’s got potential but not all that realized.
  • Alex, Inc (ABC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 8:30pm – Zach Braff returns to tv as a family dude doing a podcast startup.
  • Siren (Free) Series Premiere, Thursday, 8pm – Ok I read the promo for this show and can’t even do it justice, there’s mermaids (and mermen) wreaking havoc on a town.
  • The Dangerous Book for Boys (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – Bryan Cranston co-creates this show about three brothers coming to terms with the death of their father through a book he left them, it’s a comedy.
  • A Series of Unfortunate Events (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – This streaming series, an adaptation of the book with fave Neil Patrick Harris, isn’t in my queue but I hear it’s supposed to be enjoyable.

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: 3/19-3/25

The Netflix stuff just keeps stacking up, I’m making my way through Jessica Jones and think I just have one more episode of Mindhunter. Though technically still need to decide if I’m going to go back and finish up Punisher and Orange is the New Black.

  • Krypton (Syfy) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – Superman’s grandpa has the fate of Krypton in his hands and I’m not sure anyone will care.
  • Innocent (SundNow) Series Premiere, Thursday – A limited series thriller follows a man who returns home after a judgment for killing his wife is overturned on a technicality
  • Station 19 (ABC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 9pm – Grey’s fire department spinoff, can I assume soapy drama and lots of accidents and deaths.
  • The Mechanism (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A fictional drama around allegations of corruption in Brazil.
  • Requiem (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A six part British supernatural thriller shows a woman’s life put in question following the death of her mother.
  • Santa Clarity Diet (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I found this first season of matriarch gone zombie in the burbs a lot of fun.
  • Trust (FX) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – The first season focuses on the Getty kidnapping, as with all things FX probably worth checking out but not sure if it’ll make the difficult cut.
  • Barry (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10:30pm – Bill Hader stars in this dark comedy about a low-rent hit man who tries to bridge into acting, supposed to be worth a watch.

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: 3/12-3/18

I felt like I’d been doing so much catch up that this week I decided to allow myself to start the latest seasons of Sneaky Pete, Jessica Jones, and The Tick.

  • For the People (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Six young lawyers on opposite sides of the law enter in the new Shondaland series likely to be formulaic if you’re looking for this kind of filler.
  • Rise (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – A high school musical, brought to you by what sounds like from all reviews an unbearable Josh Radnor.
  • The Tattoo Shop (Facebook) Series Premiere, Thursday – So I’m not sure if airing on Facebook means there’s just a Facebook page where the video is posted but while I don’t normally watch shows other than competition style I might need to figure it out to be open to at least what the new channel is.
  • Edha (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – New Argentine thriller series set in the world of fashion.
  • On My Block (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Coming of age in South Central LA from the maker that brought very white coming of age in the cute show Awkward.
  • Instinct (CBS) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – I’ll try anything with Alan Cumming and in this he plays CIA operative turned professor turned police consultant in this based on James Patterson book.

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: 3/5-3/11

I’ve still got a little backlog but thinking about what to dive into next?

  • Hard Sun (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday – Two incompatible police partners investigating a death learn about the end of the world, some mixed reviews.
  • Life Sentence (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – Lucy Hale leads a cast where she learns that she no longer has cancer and has to face the ignored fallout from her life.
  • The Oath (Crackle) Series Premiere, Thursday – Once you pledge to one of these gangs you’re in, and I still don’t know what Crackle is.
  • Jessica Jones (Net) Season Premiere, Thursday – I’ll definitely tune in as this was my fave of these Marvels though rumor has it this doesn’t quite strike the magic of the first.
  • Champions (NBC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 9:30pm – Taking over the family gym and perhaps a new kid, with a guest spot from EP Mindy Kaling.
  • AICO Incarnation (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Another new anime offering.
  • Love (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – This off kilter series about a romance between a couple of misfits is awkward but I’m in for the final season to see where these two leave off.
  • Sneaky Pete (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – The first season of this was a lot of fun as Giovanni Ribisi plays a con man recently out of jail who pretends to be his cell mate and has lots of drama from his own life and the one he’s trying out.
  • American Idol (ABC) Sunday, 8pm, Season Premiere – It’s baaack, Ryan Seacrest still heads it up with new judges Like Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie.
  • Deception (ABC) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Yet another variation of the standard premise of person with odd expertise helps law enforcement, this time we’re going with magician to mixed reviews.
  • The Royals (E!) Season Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – I mostly enjoy this over the top look at a faux royal family, though I wasn’t in love with last season’s plot line I’m game to see where this goes.
  • Timeless (NBC) Season Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Rescued from cancellation, I didn’t stick with this one but for those of you who did it’s back.

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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procrastinator’s picks – top tv of 2017

I always have a love hate relationship with end of year lists. While I enjoy coming up with and sharing some of the real gems that I tune in for I always feel like I’m missing things, ranking inappropriately, and unable to truly convey what’s great for me about some of these shows. And each year with the increase in programming it becomes less and less possible to sample it all. Knowing that I’m still not on premium cable you won’t see any HBO or Showtime, you also won’t see Hulu, so a few common faves might be absent (e.g. The Handmaid’s Tale, Big Little Lies, The Leftovers). Check out Metacritic or Uproxx to see what others are thinking.

Without further ado here are some shows that I enjoyed this year:

  1. One Mississippi (Am) – The placement on the top of my list might have been influenced by the recent notice that this show won’t be returning but Tig Notaro in her semi-autobiographical return home brings lovely moments of thoughtfulness from her radio show, navigating the world, as well as just lovely and yes a little quirky supporting characters.
  2. The Good Place (NBC) – The thing I like most about this show is that it’s a relatively high concept that keeps just one step ahead of where I think it’s going and so far doing so successfully with the story but also the great cast led by Kristin Bell and Ted Danson.
  3. Ozark (Net) – This was the funnest bingiest new addition for me, I always love Jason Bateman and this is one of those shows where you’re not sure how they’re going to keep this going for a whole season after each episode but the family forced to start over their mob related money laundering in the Ozarks was a fun ride.
  4. Master of None (Net) – This season the show really came into its own as we follow Aziz Ansari taking a look at topical and personal stories which create a lovely seasonal arc as well as allowing for unique and topical standalone episodes.
  5. Better Things (Fx) – I didn’t always love Pamela Adlon’s Sam as a character but this was another of those off concept shows where we follow a person through their life often focusing on small moments, in this case another semi-autobiographical look at working actress and single mother, each episode is unexpected and the result is something I looked forward to each week.
  6. Legion (Fx) – I don’t think I can describe how odd this show was, leveraging the people with powers concept and taking it on a different path, and I went hook line and sinker and am only just worried that they won’t be able to support such big swings of experimentation moving forward.
  7. Bojack Horseman (Net) – I just still dig this irregular look at this alt reality slice of Hollywood culture, attempts to connect, and depression with magical moments of animal jokes that keep this in the quick queue.
  8. The Americans (Fx) – Thank goodness the Jennings only have one more season to make it through, as they bring their family in closer they continue to struggle with their love of country (and by that we’re talking Russia) and balancing their missions, identities, and connections.
  9. Kevin Probably Saves the World (ABC) – This might not make most people’s best list because it strikes a lighter side of things but I really appreciate a show that conveys a positivity through a more comedic than schmaltzy approach as Jason Ritter does good deeds with the help of some hidden to others both impressing and irritating those around him.

In my tenth slot I’m going to note a few shows that would have been on previous top tv lists but I just got to them this year, and if you haven’t seen them you should.

  • Mad Men (AMC/Netflix) – I actually got this channel at the time but while working in advertising the idea of watching a show about stereotypical glory days of advertising felt like a pass but this show truly brought a unique touch to the characters and the perspective on the time.
  • The Wire (HBO/Amazon Prime) – I finally threw down for Amazon and dove in, and it is an investment but once you get a few episodes in you come to appreciate the series for each episode but even more so how each episode and season just keeps getting more layered with story and characters.
  • Bored to Death (HBO/Amazon Prime) – When I finally tapped into Amazon someone told me to check this out and I loved it, each half hour following Jason Schwartzman as a novelist trying his hand as a private detective with Ted Danson and Zach Galifinakis as his cohorts is ridiculous and entertaining at every turn, my favorite pick for distraction at the gym.

What were your favorites?

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new and noteworthy tv: 2/26-3/4

With the closing of the Olympics comes the starting of a few more shows. I’ve had a little bit of a lull and started to dip back into things like Agents of SHIELD and Queen Sugar as well as keeping trucking on some streaming.

  • iZombie (CW) Season Premiere, Monday, 9pm – I find this show very fun as our Zombie gal helps solve crimes, and now that Zombies are more exposed what will happen to her friends and foes?
  • Living Biblically (CBS) Series Premiere, Monday, 9:30pm – This sitcom lands its protagonist in an effort to live the good life by the ways of the bible, though not a lot of strong reports.
  • Good Girls (NBC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – Good cast and what sounds like an iffy execution are still worth a watch as good moms go bad aka start robbing.
  • McMafia (AMC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – Drama, suspense, family… as we see how this Russian exile trying to live the straight and narrow get drawn into global crime, supposedly a good POV.
  • Shoot the Messenger (WGN) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – Another crime drama this one starting with a reporter heading to meet a source, no report on the quality of this one.
  • UnReal (Life) Season Premiere, Monday, 10pm – The first season of this was great but the second was a train-wreck of disappointment so I’ll give this one a look but I’m not all that hopeful.
  • Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious BIG (USA) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – One reports indicates that this true crime drama is a cut above Menendez but not quite American Crime Story.
  • The Looming Tower (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday – A fictional look based on the nonfiction book about the lack of sharing of info between CIA and FBI and the possible impact on the rise of Bin Laden, led by Peter Sarsgaard and getting some good buzz.
  • Glam Masters (Life) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – A friend of mine was just saying she might need a makeup reality show to supplement ANTM and Runway perhaps this might fit the bill.
  • Atlanta (Fx) Season Premiere, Thursday, 10pm – This irregularly toned Donald Glover helmed look at his life in Atlanta was one of my faves though it’s been a while since it wrapped toward the end of 2016.
  • B: The Beginning (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A new anime has characters in a world of advanced technology, crime, and action.
  • The Good Fight (CBSAA) Season Premiere, Sunday – As a big fan of The Good Wife I still couldn’t buy into the model of paying for more individual channels but hoping this spinoff is still bringing some good.
  • Oscars (ABC) Sunday, 5pm – Following an hour+ of arrivals it’s time to see who wears what, says what, and takes home the statues.

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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