tv

new and noteworthy tv: 6/6-6/12

No Comments

unreal2Well I am definitely excited for the return of UnReal, and early critical buzz is it’s still good. Too much of last week was spent watching the so bad I can’t turn away Hemlock Grove on Netflix, I was after all looking for something junky.

  • Barbarians Rising (Hist) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – The barbarian side of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
  • UnReal (Life) Season Premiere, Monday, 10pm – This was one of my favorite shows from last year a surprisingly riveting look behind the scenes of an imaginary Bachelor type dating show, Bachelor viewing not required,
  • Casual (Hulu) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 3am – I don’t get Hulu but this is supposed to be good.
  • People’s List (ABC) Saturday, 8pm – From People Magazine I believe they’re telling us who is currently being talked about.
  • OJ: Made in America (ABC) Saturday, 9pm – This docuseries is supposed to be quite well done and a nice complement if you recently wrapped the FX series, don’t miss the secondary episodes when they move to ESPN.
  • Tony Awards (CBS) Sunday, 8pm – Didn’t we already just award everything to Hamilton?
  • Still the King (CMT) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – A new half hour comedy where a one hit wonder played by Billy Ray Cyrus returns home to find he’s got more family than when he left.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/30-6/5

No Comments

So a long weekend to catch up on things and kick off the summer season. I’m looking to get back into my Mad Men, I’m only on Season 3, as well as finally knock out that last season of House of Cards. Plus I’ve got the second half of Walking Dead waiting for some daylight viewing. But first tennis for those of you not caught up in other sports finals.

  • Roots (Hist/A&E/Life) Miniseries Premiere, Monday, 9pm – I’m actually hearing very good things about this remake.
  • The Dresser (Starz) Monday 9pm – An adaptation of the play with Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen is getting some good reviews.
  • Peaky Blinders (Net) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 3am – I feel like this a show people are watching, but it really hasn’t been on my radar.
  • Maya & Marty (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – I never like these variety show style items but I am somehow still hopeful that some of them will be good.
  • Cleverman (Sund) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – An Australian drama looking at Aboriginal mythology, I’ve only seen one not so positive review.
  • Hibana (Net) Series Premiere, Friday, 3am – Based on a prize-winning book a series this seems to be a somewhat dramatic look from a pair of comedians.
  • Outcast (Cin) Series Premiere, Friday, 10pm – The latest comic turned series where the protagonist is looking into possession.
  • French Open (NBC) Saturday/Sunday, 6am – Women’s and Men’s finals.
  • Feed the Beast (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – David Schwimmer returns to drama as one of two guys trying to open an upscale restaurant in the Bronx, and you know their lives are a mess.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/23-5/29

No Comments

I finally wrapped Daredevil and while it was entertaining enough, part of the problem is that I’m not that into any of the three leads and they introduced so many things, but still feel like I’m staying in touch with the Marvel Universe which says something for that.

  • The Price is Right Primetime (CBS) Monday, 8pm – This week brings some reality tie ins, like Survivor, and the price being right at night.
  • The Bachelorette (ABC) Season Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Those of you who are tracking this I’m sure are aware that Jo Jo is back, and who Jo Jo is.
  • Hotel Hell (Fox) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 8pm – Gordon Ramsay is at it again.
  • Wayward Pines (Fox) Season Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – I can’t believe this show is back and you can’t make me watch it.
  • Red Nose Day (NBC) Thursday, 9pm – Hosted by Craig Ferguson.
  • Bloodline (Net) Season Premiere, Friday, 3am – Great cast but I didn’t end up enamored with last season so not as interested in seeing the fallout within this family.
  • Chef’s Table (Net) Season Premiere, Friday, 3am – I kept meaning to watch an episode of this, anyone recommending?
  • The Do-Over (Net) Friday, 3am – Sandler and Spade together again, in the second of four made for Netflix Sanders movies.
  • French Open (NBC) Saturday, 9am – Back on network for the weekend at least.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/16-5/22

No Comments

I wrapped the mildly entertaining and easy to view Grace & Frankie on Netflix, I do enjoy having a half hour comedy to fill into my schedule. And looking forward to a few things wrapping up to give me some summer downtime.

  • Coupled (Fox) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 8pm – Another island dating show.
  • Blue Collar Backers (Disc) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – For my Shark Tank friends here’s some folks looking for help with their businesses.
  • Lady Dynamite (Net) Series Premiere, Friday, 3am – A half hour comedy by and based on actress/comedian Maria Bamford seems totally random which could be a good thing.
  • Food Network Star (Food) Season Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – Bobby Flay and Giada take another pass at hopefuls.
  • French Open (NBC) Sunday 10am – The first rounds begin, though other than potential future dates, looks like the move to Tennis channel may thwart me.
  • Billboard Music Awards (ABC) Sunday, 8pm – Ludacris and Ciara host.
  • Preacher (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday 10pm – Another based on a comic, this supernatural following of a West Texas preacher inhabited by something… another offering that’s worth a look.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

lifestyle

another 100

No Comments

A few years ago I made it my goal to up the number of restaurants that I had visited on the San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 list. I was counting restaurants I’d visited in years prior to the current list and since there are 100 restaurants all over the Bay Area I had what seemed like a manageable goal to up my number to 50. And I did!

Though once that goal was complete, a new list came out and with new restaurants introduced and others removed from the list I was back in the situation I find myself at with each new list, less than 50 attended. So moving forward I’ve refrained from making it an official goal but do tend to take a look each year. This year not only did I up my number back up to 49 including some new faves The Cavalier, Oenotri, and surprisingly now dropped from the list Farmshop, I also attended a couple of old favorites that I hadn’t been to in a while, Delfina and Boulevard (yum).

So with the new list out this year my number is back down to 39:

http://projects.sfchronicle.com/2016/top-100-restaurants/ 

Where to next?

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/9-5/15

No Comments

Last week I caught the uninspired Houdini & Doyle and have so far passed on the new Marseille after some not great buzz. Making some good progress on my backlog, TiVo is down to a respectable 17%.

  • First Impressions (USA) Tuesday, 10:30pm – A new half hour of impression competitors with up and comers being what looks like judged/coached by Dana Carvey and carious guests.
  • Chelsea (Net) Wednesday, 3am – Chelsea Handler’s latest talker, airs Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a half hour.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/2-5/8

No Comments

Trying to keep up with some of the dramas, The 100, Americans, Orphan Black, Underground, and just wrapped the uneven but still kind of Sons of Anarchy/Justified-esque Outsiders and letting Fear/The Walking Dead sit there.

  • Houdini & Doyle (Fox) Monday, Series Premiere – An imagined characters as period buddy detective show that doesn’t seem likely to be a keeper.
  • Marseille (Net) Thursday, Series Premiere – French political drama is the latest offering from Netflix Originals, maybe.
  • Grace & Frankie (Net) Friday, Season Premiere – I didn’t rave about the first season of this but definitely enjoyable enough for me to crank through the first season.
  • The Good Wife (CBS) Sunday, Series Finale – It’s time for this show to wrap up but I’ll definitely miss the complicated and compelling characters and cases.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/25-5/1

No Comments

So there’s not really anything new or noteworthy this week unless you’re particularly excited about the American Country Countdown Awards. And I barely made it through 15 minutes of last week’s Containment. Which at least should give me some downtime to keep whittling down my TiVo backlog and chipping away on my latest Netflix items Daredevil and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. And perhaps make some progress on my book before the next book club.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/18-4/24

No Comments

So a hard pass last week on Hunters and Game of Silence with a soft pass on The Detour which just didn’t quite win me over to the family trip gone awry. I also renegotiated my cable package and refrained from upgrading one level which would have gotten me back into Spike and added Sundance. I’m not sure TV is the area where I need to budget but there’s just something about spending money when I already have too much tv to watch, though I am still holding out for next seasons of Rectify and Returned to be available.

  • Containment (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – There’s some sort of outbreak in Atlanta, I’ll take a look though not overly optimistic about this off time CW release.
  • The Night Manager (AMC) Mini-series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – This looks like it might be worth a watch, based on a John le Carre Novel, anything with Hugh Laurie in it has potential.
  • Time Traveling Bong (Com) Mini-series Premiere, Wednesday, 10:30 – I’ll pass on this but if you’re an Ilana Glazer of Broad City fan might be worth a look.
  • Rebellion (Sund) Mini-series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – Another pass for me on what looks like a lackluster historical drama about the Easter Rising in Ireland.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/11-4/17

No Comments

Well I’ve finally wrapped X-Files and though I enjoyed some of the revisits, and feel accomplished to have caught up to the new eps, this isn’t the greatest example of a successful reboot (though apparently ratings and interest were high enough that we’re likely to see more). Glad to free up some queue space, I feel like I need to knock off the rest of Returned before I dig into the next season of Daredevil or House of Cards plus of course Orphan Black comes back this week.

  • The Detour (TBS) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Always willing to check out a new comedy though this road trip from hell might not be up my ally.
  • Hunters (Syfy) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – The latest terrorist/aliens plot might not bring much fresh.
  • Game of Silence (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Secrets from 25 years ago and secrets from today feels like a retread of something else but might offer some intrigue.
  • The Last Panthers (Sund) Series Premiere, Wednesday 10pm – I’ll always check out a heist drama though I don’t get this channel.
  • Orphan Black (BBCA) Season Premiere, Thursday, 10pm – The clone clubs activities may sometimes get muddled but the myriad of sisters are always a win.
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Net) Season Premiere, Friday, 3am – This had a cute and entertaining first season and I’m looking forward to what Kimmy gets into next.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading