tv

mid-season fun

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fargo

I may have missed the window of touting mid-season shows as I’m going to officially consider June the start of summer. But before we look ahead I figured why not take a glance at some of the new shows that crossed our screens post fall. Following are some of the shows that are either renewed or still awaiting their fate with a notation of cancellations below. Anything stick for you?

  • The 100 (CW) – A very typical CW show, a premise where only the under eighteen survive returning from space, or try to, but I’m still a little interested in the Lord of the Flies type rule with their internal politics and of course dealing with those already on the ground who aren’t too old themselves.
  • About a Boy (NBC) – This show took some time to find its ground but I’m nostalgic enough to the book and the film to stick with the tv adaptation to see if they’re able to keep an endearing and amusing tone next season.
  • Bitten (Syfy) – Werewolf drama didn’t quite have enough draw for me.
  • Black Sails (Starz) – Not much word on this network I don’t get.
  • Broad City (Com) – People are liking this show but I just couldn’t get into this gal pal off color humor.
  • Chicago PD (NBC) – Somewhat of a spin off from Chicago Fire which I don’t watch either, looked fine but didn’t keep with it.
  • Crossbones (NBC) – A more recent addition, it is almost intriguing enough to see where Malkovich and his pirate island will take us and the doctor protagonist, but really not.
  • Faking It (MTV) – I applaud MTV’s approach on trying to find some new teen dramas, this reminded me a bit of Awkward which I stuck with for a bit but tired of.
  • Fargo (Fx) – I still can’t decide whether I truly enjoy this show but it is definitely interesting with an odd but great cast and story, I’m staying tuned.
  • Gang Related (Fox) – Rumor has it this show takes a few episodes to get its stride but the generic cop torn between two sides didn’t grab me.
  • Helix (Syfy) – Campy and creepy, I had to tune out of this conspiratorial infection drama.
  • Looking (HBO) – I don’t get this so I’ll stay tuned to see if the buzz and the SF local cause me to tune in at a later date.
  • Metal Hurlant Chronicles (Syfy) – I have the first ep of this show saved and have tried to watch it a couple of times, the fact that I can’t says something, and it’s not something good.
  • Night Shift (NBC) – Another generic offering, the hospital drama goes somewhat rogue, but saves lives, with the less than orthodox alt shift.
  • Penny Dreadful (Show) – I’ve heard it’s odd but so far no clear raves.
  • Playing House (USA) – I want to like these two actresses in their buddy comedy show, but it just didn’t quite do it.
  • Red Road (Sund) – Something about a road, or communism…
  • Resurrection (ABC) – This is the one that isn’t the French one that’s supposed to be good.
  • Saint George (Fx) – If you missed George Lopez, check him out.
  • Salem (WGN) – I knew there was more to those witch rumors, didn’t grab me.
  • Silicon Valley (HBO) – Another lack of raves for this one.
  • Sirens (USA) – I actually enjoy this off color take on the paramedics and their humorous drama.
  • True Detective (HBO) – Now this one has gotten raves, on my to do list.
  • Turn (AMC) – Something about a turn, or a spy…
  • Undateable (NBC) – The latest dudes in a bar are so lame they are amusing, first watch more lame than amusing.

Canceled/Ending:

  • The Assets (ABC), Bad Teacher (CBS), Believe (NBC), Chozen (FX), Crisis (NBC), Enlisted (Fox), Friends with Better Lives (CBS), Growing Up Fisher (NBC), Intelligence (CBS), Killer Women (ABC), Mind Games (ABC), Mixology (ABC), Rake (Fox), Star-Crossed (CW), Surviving Jack (Fox), Those Who Kill (A&E) (not officially cancelled but pulled)

Notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. 

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new and noteworthy tv: 6/2-6/8

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Orange-Is-The-New-Black-Cast

I’m maybe not as rabid as some fans but am excited for another season of OITNB which makes for nice binge viewing, though I still haven’t caught the second season of House of Cards. Jennifer Falls is a new option for sitcom lite, though these mostly aren’t as charming as their attempt to recapture the Golden Girls magic with Hot in Cleveland. Reality fare Ladies of London, Famous in 12, Siberian Cut, Untying the Knot, Escape Club look to me as more of the same.

  • Monday: Mistresses, Season Premiere (ABC, 10pm), American Restoration, Season Premiere (Hist, 10pm), Ladies of London, Series Premiere (Brav, 10pm), Longmire, Season Premiere (A&E, 10pm)
  • Tuesday: Famous in 12, Series Premiere (CW, 8pm), Man Fire Food, Season Premiere (Cook, 8pm), Storage Wars/Shipping Wars, Season Premieres (A&E, 9/10pm), Top Gear, Season Premiere (Hist, 9pm), Siberian Cut, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm)
  • Wednesday: Stanley Cup Final (NBC, 5pm), Restaurant Stakeout, Season Premiere (Food, 9pm), Through the Wormhole, Season Premiere (Sci, 10pm), Untying the Knot, Series Premiere (Brav, 10pm), Jennifer Falls, Series Premiere (TVL, 10:30pm)
  • Thursday: Party Down South, Season Premiere (CMT, 10pm)
  • Friday: Orange is the New Black, Season Premiere (Netflix, 12:01), Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, Season Premiere (TLC, 9pm)
  • Saturday: The Half Hour, Season Premiere (Com, 12am), Life with La Toya, Season Premiere (OWN, 10pm)
  • Sunday: Tony Awards (CBS, 8pm), Miss USA (NBC, 8pm), Beachfront Bargain Hunt/Brother vs Brother, Season Premieres (HGTV, 8/9pm), Where Are They Now?, Season Premiere (OWN, 9pm), Sister Wives, Season Premiere (TLC, 9pm), The Escape Club, Series Premiere (E!, 10pm), Finding Bigfoot, Season Premiere (AnPl, 10pm), The Hunt, Series Premiere (Hist, 10pm)

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: 5/26-6/1

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halt-and-catch-fire1More generic summer network fare with the start of Night Shift (work hard play hard doctors), Crossbones (John Malkovich as Blackbeard) and Undateable (isn’t it funny how bad at dating these guys are)… I’ll tune in once but take those underlines with a grain of salt they’re all supposed to be subpar. I haven’t heard much about 80s computer drama Halt & Catch Fire on AMC so I’ll check it out.

For those of you who like your cooking shows we’ve got another dose of Ramsay on MasterChef and the search for another Food Network Star. Cable brings us the likes of Wil Wheaton talking geek talk, more ‘little people’ on Lifetime along with the Flowers in the Attic sequel (only meant for people willing to suffer for nostalgia), and Big Ballet takes a spin with some plus size dancers.

And of course I’m determining whether to fill up the TiVo with French Open as this week heads through the fourth round, weekends move from ESPN2 to NBC.

  • Monday: Masterchef, Season Premiere (Fox, 8pm), American Ninja Warrior, Special/Season Premiere (NBC, 8/9pm), Hit the Floor, Season Premiere (VH1, 9pm), The World Wars, Series Premiere (Hist, 9pm), Petals on the Wind (Life, 9pm), Lizard Lick Towing, Season Premiere (Tru, 10pm)
  • Tuesday: America’s Got Talent/The Night Shift, Season/Series Premieres (NBC, 8/10pm), Extreme Weight Loss, Season Premiere (ABC, 8pm), World’s Strangest/Alien Encounters, Series/Season Premieres (Sci, 8/10pm), Little Women, Series Premiere (Life, 9pm), Wil Wheaton Project, Series Premiere (Syfy, 10pm)
  • Wednesday: World Music Awards (NBC, 8pm), Rogue/Rake, Season Premieres (DirTV, 8/9pm), Big Ballet, Series Premiere (Ova, 10pm)
  • Thursday: Undateable, Series Premiere (NBC, 9pm), Our America with Lisa Ling, Season Premiere (OWN, 10pm), Derek, Season Premiere (Net, midnight)
  • Friday: Marriage Boot Camp/Mystery Millionaire, Season/Series Premiere (WE, 9/10pm), Crossbones, Series Premiere (NBC, 10pm)
  • Saturday: Bet on your Baby/Sing Your Face Off, Season/Series Premieres (ABC, 8/9pm)
  • Sunday: The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Series Premiere (Brav, 8pm), Food Network Star, Season Premiere (Food, 9pm), Return to Amish, Series Premiere (TLC, 9pm), Halt and Catch Fire, Series Premiere (AMC, 10pm)

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: 5/19-5/25

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gang_related_key_high_res

A never do quite get a variety show but I still like the idea of The Maya Rudolph Show, and though I can’t recommend it, in addition to trying out Gang Related which I’m sure isn’t great I have in the past tuned into Motive which also isn’t great. What I am sort of looking forward to is the return of Last Comic which brings a random assortment of amusement and of course some more tennis.

  • Monday – The Bachelorette, Season Premiere (ABC, 9:30pm), The Maya Rudolph Show (NBC, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Judge Judy Primetime/All-Star Salute to the Troops (CBS, 8/9pm), I Wanna Marry “Harry”, Series Premiere (Fox, 9pm)
  • Wednesday – Roadtrip with G. Garvin, Season Premiere (Cook, 9pm), Motive, Season Premiere (ABC, 10pm)
  • Thursday – Labyrinth, Mini-Series Premiere (CW, 8pm), Last Comic Standing, Season Premiere (NBC, 9pm), Gang Related, Series Premiere (Fox, 9pm), LA Hair, Season Premiere (WE, 9pm), Big Rig Bounty Hunters, Season Premiere (Hist, 10pm)
  • Friday – Chrome Underground, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm)
  • Saturday – French Open (ESPN2, 2am Sunday)
  • Sunday – ASP Surfing (ABC, 12:30pm), The Normal Heart (HBO, 9pm)

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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lifestyle

50 out of 100!

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top100_2013

Well the year is complete. The new list is out, I’ve upped my numbers to 50 and just for the sake of continuity I’ve included next year’s list. Check out my Top 100 page to see what’s what.

But now that I’ve done it, what everyone wants to know if I’ve learned the best? And as much as I’d like to answer that with the straightforward name of a restaurant mostly I didn’t find any one restaurant blew my mind. But I did experience what I had hoped: I tried new restaurants all of which were good, I enjoyed restaurants I wouldn’t normally go to, and I experienced a great range of kinds of food, styles and old and new choices. Plus I learned a lot of other things:

  • Setting a very specific goal and talking to friends about it really increases the chances I’ll do something
  • Not working makes it easier to have time to plan to and then to actually eat out
  • Eating out doesn’t need to cost a fortune but it can
  • It’s better to enjoy the journey than evaluate ‘does this place deserve to be on the list’
  • I don’t like all kinds of foods and ingredients and I like some more than others
  • I could, but I might not always want to go to a super fancy fixed price single seating kind of meal
  • The more people you go with the more representative options you get to experience
  • It’s both easier and harder than you think to go to good and new to you restaurants
  • It’s both easier and harder for your friends to join you than you think

Ok great, that’s mostly not revolutionary, what do I really have to say about the restaurants on the list. Hog & Rocks and Plaj are great examples of restaurants that I might not have gone to based on description alone but were delicious and made even better by the service. Restaurants like Ler Ros represented something that was good, but perhaps we didn’t order anything amazing because we just didn’t see what people were talking about. Locations I branched out to and am glad for it, Piccino in Dog Patch was a pleasant surprise with everything interesting and great and Sushi Ran in Sausalito for some reason just has fresher better sushi without varying much for the standards. As to the difficult reservation and wait time, Rich Table took a glass of wine around the corner to accommodate a walk in but Ramen Shop’s two hour wait couldn’t be overcome, though I’m committed to giving them one more try. And honestly price point is something that came up at a few places, I don’t have a problem spending a bit of dough on a dinner, but food that might have been fantastic at a lower cost got held to a slightly higher standard at places like The Abbot’s Cellar and Central Kitchen.

While I’m not officially continuing in this goal I really enjoyed the process and I will continue to try new restaurants. I also hope to revisit some of the classics I haven’t been to in forever like Delfina, Boulevard, and Slanted Door. And maybe use this list and many others as inspiration for my trips out. And of course there’s bars…

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new and noteworthy tv: 5/12-5/18

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Riot_logoWell it’s wrapping up, time to start thinking summer thoughts, TiVo is down to 34%… And don’t ask me why an improv game show being on a slant makes it more funny but Steve Carell at least thinks it can on Riot.

  • Monday – #BikerLive, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm), Yard Crashers, Season Premiere (DIY, 10:30pm)
  • Tuesday – The Bad Girls Club, Season Premiere (Oxy, 8pm), Coming Back with Wes Moore, Three Part Series (PBS, 8pm), Riot, Series Premiere (Fox, 9pm), Stone Age, Series Premiere (DIY, 11pm)
  • Wednesday – Kodiak, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm)
  • Thursday – How Do They Do It?, Season Premiere (Sci, 10pm), Loiter Squad, Season Premiere (AdSw, 11:59pm)
  • Friday – Barbara Walters: Her Story (ABC, 9pm)
  • Sunday – Coldplay (NBC, 7pm), Billboard Music Awards (ABC, 8pm)

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: 5/5-5/11

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louieslide_650

Who can’t love Louie, and if you haven’t sampled this series I not only recommend it, but should note that different episodes are often quite different in tone and structure, but all show our hapless protagonist in funny form; the other show of note is the return of In the Flesh, that is less zombie than a look at a society with the dead and the undead. I am tempted but not that interested in checking out Rosemary’s Baby, and since I don’t get Showtime I’m not that concerned that I have little idea what’s up with the new creepy Victorian Penny Dreadful.

  • Monday – 24, Season Premiere (Fox, 8pm), Live & Hip Hop Atlanta, Season Premiere (VH1, 8pm), Louie, Season Premiere (Fx, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Alaskan Bush People, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm), Freakshow/Small Town Security, Season Premieres (AMC, 10/11pm), Totally Tracked Down, Series Premiere (Reelz, 11pm)
  • Wednesday – Hollywood Exes/La La’s Full Court Life/Marrying the Game, Season Premieres (VH1, 9/10/10:30pm), Catfish, Season Premiere (MTV, 10pm)
  • Thursday – American Comedy Awards (NBC, 9pm), Maron/Comedy Bang Bang, Season Premieres (IFC, 10/10:30pm)
  • Saturday – Iyanla, Season Premiere (OWN, 9pm), In the Flesh, Season Premiere (BBCA, 10pm)
  • Sunday – Rosemary’s Baby, Mini-series Premiere (NBC, 9pm), Master Class, Season Premiere (OWN, 10pm), Penny Dreadful, Series Premiere (Show, 10pm)

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: 4/28-5/4

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playinghouse

The tv seasons are in transition so still catching up and keeping an eye out, this week perhaps I’ll check out this new comedy but otherwise still have a backlog to deal with, Orphan Black is waiting.

  • Monday – Fish Tank Kings, Season Premiere (NatGeo, 9pm).
  • Tuesday – Playing House, Series Premiere (USA, 10pm).
  • Wednesday – Who Wore it Best (E!, 8pm).
  • Thursday – iHeartRadio Music Awards (NBC, 8pm), The Killer Speaks, Season Premiere (A&E, 10pm).
  • Friday – Shark Tank: Swimming with the Sharks (ABC, 8pm).
  • Saturday – 24: Live Another Day (Fox, 8:30pm), OMG! EMT!, Series Premiere (TLC, 10pm).
  • Sunday – Hungry Investors, Series Premiere (Spike, 10pm).

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: 4/21-4/27

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bad-teacher-promo

This week’s new and noteworthy is going to get an abbreviated treatment, stay tuned for a few new series, seasons, whatnot… I’ll probably catch an ep of Bad Teacher and of Black Box but don’t have high hopes for either:

  • Monday – Time’s Up (MTV, 6:30pm), Rewrapped (Food, 8pm), Boondocks (AdSw, 10:30pm), House Hunters off the Grid (HGTV, 10:30pm).
  • Tuesday – Chow Masters (Trav, 9pm), Deadliest Catch (Disc, 9pm), True Tori (Life, 10pm), Faking It (MTV, 10:30pm).
  • Wednesday – Dual Survival (Disc, 9pm), Trip Flip (Trav, 9pm), Baggage Battles (Trav, 10pm).
  • Thursday – SNL Digital Shorts (NBC, 9pm), Bad Teacher (CBS, 9:30pm), Black Box (ABC, 10pm).
  • Friday – I Found the Gown (TLC, 10pm), Relative Insanity (Life, 10pm).
  • Saturday – The Royals (Ova, 5pm), My Cat From Hell (AnPl, 8pm).
  • Sunday – Sugar Stars (Bio, 2pm), Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO, 11pm).

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: 4/14-4/20

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Orphan-Black-season-2

Can’t wait to start getting behind on Orphan Black too….

Monday

  • Metal Hurlant Chronicles/Warehouse 13 (Syfy, 8/9pm) Series/Season Premieres – Based on the French graphic novels and then a final season of oddities.
  • The Real Housewives of OC (Brav, 9pm) Season Premiere – Blah blah.
  • 16 & Pregnant (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Pregnant from a one-night stand, that’s crazy.
  • Bam’s Bad Ass Game Show (TBS, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – I don’t even want to know.

Tuesday

  • Pioneers of Television (PBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – Starting with a look at stand-up goes sitcom.
  • Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – I find this show horrifying in that it seems like child cruelty, except when it truly does show another side of things in already child cruelty type homes.
  • Fargo (Fx, 10pm) Series Premiere – We all know it won’t be the Coen brothers original but hope for it to find its own stride, worth a watch.
  • Awkward (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – I lost interest as our protagonist just sort of seemed annoying.

Wednesday

  • Unusually Thicke (TVGN, 10pm) Series Premiere – Who is wondering what Alan Thicke is up to?

Friday

  • The Writers’ Room (Sund, 9pm) Season Premiere – Who puts the scandal in Scandal?

Saturday

  • Orphan Black/The Real History of Science Fiction (BBCA, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – If you haven’t caught up, do, and then more sci fi.
  • Tobacco Wars (CMT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Kentucky’s tobacco.

Sunday

  • In My Dreams (ABC, 9pm) – Made for TV anyone?
  • Devious Maids (Life, 10pm) Season Premiere – Another round of the campy Latinas that with love and perhaps betrayal.
  • Salem (WGN, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another take on an old tale, who’s the real witch?

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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