tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/15-5/21

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I have some backlog of quality shows aka shows that are hard to watch while I’m tired: Underground, Fargo, The Americans, Humans, and Feud. And am still trying to catch an ep of The Wire every now and again. And still my streaming list keeps increasing…

  • Downward Dog (ABC) Wednesday, 8pm – From the web series, you get the dog’s perspective on his human’s tumultuous life.
  • The Keepers (Net) Friday – A seven-part docuseries on the unsolved mystery of a nun.
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Net) Season Premiere – I enjoy Kimmy and her clan’s quirky funny hijinks.
  • Twin Peaks: The Return (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – I bailed after a season or so of the original, appreciate the vision, and am dubious about a reboot, plus I don’t get Showtime.

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/8-5/14

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A few streaming options are hitting in this otherwise light week.

  • Anne with an E (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Anne of Green Gables anyone?
  • I Love Dick (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – Lots of great talk about this satirical take following Kathryn Hahn as filmmaker who becomes obsessed with Kevin Bacon as Dick.
  • Master of None (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – The first season of this Aziz Ansari really grew on me as he looked for love.

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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lifestyle

another 100

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It’s that time of year again, San Francisco Chronicles Top 100 Restaurants! As most folks who know me are aware I managed to make 50 on this list a priority a few years ago. Ever since I have tried to make it less of a serious goal and more of a consideration. This last year I somehow managed to work my way up to 53 before this year knocked me back down. Fortunately, with the eleven removals from my accomplishments I managed to hit a few new and old introductions to keep my number at 47. I’m pretty sure I can work 3 in at some point since I’ve already got a few on my radar.

Some of the noteworthy deliciousness of this year included the super fresh Cotogna and Octavia which didn’t disappoint. State Bird Provisions spin off The Progress made a non Spanish tapas style sampling a win. Plus cute and tasty pizza-licious Del Popolo was good that night and made amazing leftovers.

My second annual wine country restaurant trip hit lunch at Oso Sonoma which made me thankful I risked going cocktail instead of wine for the blood orange margarita to go with my also Mexican slanted shrimp tacos, and after working off a bit of that on to Bistro Don Giovanni for some of the freshest tasting pesto pasta I’ve ever had.

Oh and I can’t forget about Petit Crenn‘s seven course meal, which for a fixed menu did a great job of accommodating a non dairy slant (no cream or cheese but said butter was aok). I also made a couple trips to old faves which have stood the test of time, Zuni Cafe and The Slanted Door.

And my jump on this year includes the return of former faves La Taqueria and Seven Hills to the list and new picks Corridor and In Situ as well as Souvla. Where to next?

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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/1-5/7

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Not a lot of new to keep our eye on this week. I’ve still got some backlog but started the latest Marvel on Netflix The Iron Fist against critical recommendation, so far agreed it’s not good, and Sneaky Pete and Dear White People which one ep in on each is intriguing.

  • Sense8 (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I still haven’t given this a shot but this new season is at least reminding me about it.
  • The Last 100 Days of Diana (ABC) – I’m not much of anglophile but for those of you who need more of this.

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/24-4/31

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Well I got a little behind, mostly because I took a break from my regularly scheduled programming to binge season 1 of 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix show about the high school girl who leaves tapes behind after her suicide, and although the structure caused some flaws overall I found it compelling. And there’s always more to watch…

  • Bates Motel (A&E) Series Finale, Monday, 10pm – This was one of those shows that I liked a lot of the elements and though I decided to cut the cord I hear it got better with time.
  • Great News (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – Newsroom workplace comedy introducing the producer’s mom to the office, starring that cute blonde girl who has done a bunch of stuff that you’re not sure what she’s from (Briga Heelan) with Nicole Richie, hmm.
  • Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday – Much anticipated adaptation of the book with Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, and Yvonne Strahovski among others, too bad Hulu is one of the lines I still have drawn.
  • Catastrophe (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – This is one of my fave gym shows and it’s back now that I’ve fallen off the gym bandwagon.
  • Dear White People (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Based on the film a biracial student at a predominantly white college stirs up some controversy, it’s gotten some good buzz.
  • Las Chicas del Cable (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – This unheard of (to me) show looks to be an import from Spain which between that and the title makes me think this tale of four women in 1920s Madrid is in Spanish.
  • Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) Saturday, 10pm – A special Not the White House Correspondents Dinner.

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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tv

when weird works

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I mentioned when hearing about the cancelation of Man Seeking Woman that it wasn’t one of the weird shows that worked for me. But I do appreciate that in the age of peak tv while there isn’t room or an appetite for everything, there’s more room for things that might not resonate with everyone but are strong for a few. Some of the shows that I know I watch that are a little off:

  • Atlanta (Fx) – Weird factor minor. Not the weirdest of the crop but Donald Glover’s narrative style used unusual formats from episode to episode and takes some specific weird turns with random magical realism like having Justin Beiber cast as a black actor when he shows up for a celebrity basketball game, but mostly it’s about a guy trying to make it in Atlanta.
  • Baskets (Fx) – Weird factor medium. I remember reading a review of this right as it was coming out that said something like this isn’t for everyone but if you like it this is great, and it turns out I would stop shy of saying that the show is great but I haven’t been able to stop watching, I’d also almost characterize this as only a minor weird factor, as the format is more traditional, but the people and situations are so off as it follows French trained clown Chip Baskets, with a developed focus on more of the Baskets clan (including Louie Anderson in a sincere performance as his mom) and friends.
  • Bojack Horseman (Net) – Weird factor medium. Following a washed up actor through various despondent relationships and situations sounds minorly weird but once you make it animated, him a horse man, and make half of the rest of the world other animal people, it opens up a whole world of weird in a way that plays very tongue and cheek with how it sets up this parallel reality and brings up amazing options e.g. the underwater episode.
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBCA) – Weird factor major. Genre pushed to the extreme this one is adapted from Douglas Adams novels, this sort of absurdist paranormal detective show is one that you just need to go with, I’m very curious how the series progresses in another season (starring Elijah Wood getting another weird nod after Wilfred).
  • Legion (Fx) – Weird factor major. More on the genre lines, I generally enjoy the Marvels but was getting a little down on most of the latest entries in the Netflix world, and was thrilled to see this totally different take, almost more about the layers of mental illness real and power driven with a storytelling style that almost worked best for me the less clear it was on what was going on, beautifully weird acting and production.
  • People of Earth (TBS) – Weird factor medium. This sitcom of a lighter nature with kind of sincere characters introduces sort of a workplace comedy around alien abductions, complete with various aliens’s POV and it ends up being fun and often sweet.

What else in the world of weird is on your radar?

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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/17-4/23

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]The backlog continues to pile up but I’m still looking forward to Fargo and Bosch.

  • Famous in Love (Free) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – A new drama where we follow a college student who gets a role in a Hollywood blockbuster and deals with her new worlds, and of course some romance, and I have to say the preview alone made me want to hate it.
  • Problematic with Moshe Kasher (Com) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – A comedic talk show that deals with new topics each week ripped from the interwebs.
  • Fargo (Fx) Season Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – This season brings Ewan McGregor to two key roles to the new drama which promises crime and murder.
  • Bill Nye Saves the World (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Bill does science to tell it like it is.
  • Bosch (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – Bosch is back but now that I’m into The Wire I may need to take a pause on this because watching them at the same time seems to confuse me.
  • Girlboss (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Based on the story of the founder of Nasty Gal brand of online clothing sales they’re going for a comedic re-imagining and might have some moments.
  • Mary Kills People (Life) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – As much as I expect camp from Lifetime this series is actually about a doctor who helps people in need end their lives.

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/10-4/16

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Still trying to get an episode of The Wire in each week to make some progress but life is getting in the way of my queue, backlogging shows like Underground, Human, and Feud for when I’ve got a bit more time.

  • Return of the Mac (POP) Series Premiere, Wednesday 8:30pm – Not sure what POP network is (I checked and I don’t get the channel) but it’s bringing a new sitcom starring Joey McIntyre as a version of himself trying to make it as an actor.
  • Chelsea (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – She’s back for another season.
  • Fortitude (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – This northernmost town murder series returns.
  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A reboot of this cult classic where three characters comment throughout bad flicks with Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt, and Jonah Ray.
  • Class (BBCA) Series Premiere, Saturday, 10pm – Dr Who spinoff where the doctor entrusts some students to protect the earth.
  • Stayin’ Alive (CBS) Sunday, 8pm – Honoring the Bee Gees.
  • The White Princess (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – This series looks at intrigue around Elizabeth’s marriage to Henry VII.
  • Guerrilla (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – A limited series about a couple set against the backdrop of ’70s London underground politics, oh and it’s got Idris Elba.

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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tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/3-4/9

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Well life commitments are already getting in the way of my tv watching habits. Aside from immediately wanting to watch the finale of Legion (can’t wait to see what S2 is going to be like) I’ve tried to knock out some of the non-streaming new shows to see if they need to be added to the queue. Rebel actually looks like it could be fun with a pass on Shots Fired, Imaginary Mary, and Nobodies, I have been for some reason holding onto iffy Trial & Error, with comedies it’s sometimes worth seeing whether they can grow it into anything.

  • Chewing Gum (Net) Season Premiere, Tuesday – I caught the first season of this oddball comedy and though intrigued I don’t know that I found it amusing enough to tune back in for another.
  • Dimension 404 (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday – A sci-fi anthology with stories digging into the digital age.
  • iZombie (CW) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – Excited to see where our favorite zombie and her group of of companions with their crime solving and getting into trouble end up.
  • Prison Break (Fox) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – I loved the first season of this show though the following seasons finally drove me to extreme enough frustration to abandon, while I always thought it would work best as a limited series the one review I read of the reboot said this might be closer to the later than the former seasons.
  • Brockmire (IFC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet star in this comedy bringing a disgraced baseball announcer down to the minor league which sounds like it could have some good elements.
  • The Toy Box (ABC) Series Premiere, Friday, 8pm – It’s like Shark Tank for toys with a panel of kids.
  • First Dates (NBC) Series Premiere, Friday, 8pm – A voyeuristic look at first dates.
  • You the Jury (Fox) Series Premiere, Friday 9pm – Viewers decide verdicts.
  • The Son (AMC) Series Premiere, Saturday, 9pm – Pierce Brosnan as a 1900’s frontier time empire holder may or may not bring western enjoyment.

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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tv

breaking up is hard to do

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With the wrapping up of Grimm and Bones, two shows that I quite enjoyed but abandoned along the way, made me start doing another think on shows that had once be enjoyed (some making my favorite tv of the year lists) and had to be given up along the way. Real estate for tv shows these days is limited so though I like to give some a long leash eventually the cost (time)/benefit (enjoyment) needs to hit a reality check.

  • The 100 (CW) – This pretty teens style CW show really developed into an interesting post-apocalyptic take but after a mixed season last year (as well as some unfortunately cast cuts) this year’s latest impending doom just couldn’t keep my interest.
  • The Blacklist (NBC) – I was never a fan of Elizabeth and as all the drama revolves around her it was always a matter as to whether Red and the others could balance that out, and when things turned to Elizabeth and her baby I couldn’t take it anymore, I wish they had killed her off.
  • Empire (Fox) – I love a fun soapy show and the musical angle on this just made it that much more fun, but these all seem to have a shelf life, no matter how much I enjoy the characters there’s a limit to how many circles of drama can keep me engaged.
  • The Outsiders (WGN) – This captured a little of the spirit of the total chaos of Sons of Anarchy with the wild folks in the woods but turned out to be too much of a mixed bag to keep it in the lineup.
  • Sleepy Hollow (Fox) – The first season of this was what’s been described as ‘bonkers awesome’ and then while they continued to struggle with how to manage the stories and supporting cast the key was always the chemistry between the two leads, and when they decided to nix one of the two in a reboot that was it for me.
  • The Walking Dead (AMC) – Ok, so the drama here was usually a good balance of zombie chaos outshone by drama and violence of the more human kind but somehow eventually managed to undermine the characters and my patience in sticking through some of the downs for more sparing ups.

And some previous drops Awkward, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man on Earth, Major Crimes, Modern Family, Nashville, Suits and my most controversial Breaking Bad following season 2 (I am tempted to go back and see if I would have turned back around on this).

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