winter olympics

Winter Olympics

Not quite as much buzz around this. It’s a triple hit because a) I don’t think people are ever as into the winter version b) we’re in a diplomatic boycott because China (human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing, etc.) c) we’re in a pandemic and China isn’t messing around (serious isolation and testing for both athletes and various staff).

So do we let it slide? I mean no. We’re still the most obnoxious country about our team spirit and athletic dominance. So we will continue to give it an eye.

How to watch: All the NBC channels will have pretty serious coverage. NBC, Peacock, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Olympics channel, nbcolympics.com. Sounds like nbcolympics.com will give you the schedule and coverage and you can drill down to any favorites. For most people tuning into primetime and seeing what they want us to see meets the mark.

When to watch: It’s happening! We’ve started competition and the Opening Ceremonies were Friday morning and being telecast tonight at 8pm. Closing will hit Sunday, February 20 at 8pm.

What to watch: I feel like figure skating is the gymnastics of winter. Apparently this year we’ve got a serious contender on the men’s side (though women could reportedly be shutout by all Russians). I still have a soft spot for both the Snowboarding Halfpipe and ‘old guy’ Shaun White trying to keep up with the kids. Who doesn’t want to gander some curling? And do you consider the various bobsleds or speed skating the swimming of the winter?

New competitions: Each Olympics gets to mix it up a bit and this year. Bobsled – Women’s Monobob, Freestyle Skiing – Men’s and Women’s Big Air + Mixed Team Aerials, Short Track – Mixed Team Relay, Ski Jumping – Mixed Team, Snowboarding – Mixed Team Snowboard Cross.

I mean honestly I don’t have time for this so I will admittedly dabble and then catch up on a couple best tv of 2021 candidates before I get that list together.

Are you in?

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/31-2/13

Inventing Anna

Trying to get it together and focus on a few series that might be on people’s best of 2021 tv list that I get and still haven’t watched. I also have been wrapping up a few things. The latest season of Queer Eye which is a solid mindless distraction, Please Like Me which I turned to after being saddened that Everything’s Gonna Be Okay also with/by Josh Thomas was canceled. And if you like him it’s a sweet and oddly funny show. And wrapped what will apparently be the only season of Cowboy Bebop, I’m not familiar with the source material but it never quite hit its stride for me, if it’s kind of your jam maybe check out Killjoys. Oh and I guess the winter games are coming up, opening ceremony is February 4.

  • Pam & Tommy (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/2 – I mean, this, centering around their sex tape, is so campy it’s worth at least a look right?
  • Murderville (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/3 – I don’t normally bother with improv/sketch but the premise here has potential, Will Arnett stars in a weekly detective drama and one celebrity is dropped in as part of the cast without any info.
  • Reacher (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 2/4 – I haven’t read these novels but have been told by people that Tom Cruise was terrible casting and that this new series totally misses the tone, whether it’s entertaining nonetheless is TBD.
  • Suspicion (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 2/4 – Uma Thurman stars in this abduction mystery where people may or may not be what they seem.
  • Power Book IV: Force (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/6 – A spinoff of the Power universe where the character Tommy Egan moves from New York to Chicago.
  • Angela Black (Spectrum) Series Premiere, Monday 2/7 – This psychological thriller about a woman whose life appears idyllic but there are secrets that unfurl.
  • The Girl Before (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/10 – In this limited series Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as a woman who moves into a house but must abide by the architect’s rules, played by David Oyelowo.
  • Inventing Anna (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 2/11 – Julia Garner stars as Anna Delvey an heiress(?) who stole from the social elite.
  • Bel-Air (Pea) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/13 – The dramatic version of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which I believe is just kind of All American.

More streaming:

  • Finding Ola (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/3 – After a life-altering event, Ola goes on a journey of self-discovery in this Egyptian quirky drama.
  • New Gold Mountain (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/3 – A look at the Australian gold rush from the perspective of Chinese miners.
  • Until Life Do Us Part (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/10 – Three generations of a family juggle their own lives and their wedding planning biz in this Portuguese dramedy.
  • Forecasting Love and Weather (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday 2/12 – Love at a national weather service in this South Korean romcom.
  • Twenty Five Twenty One (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday 2/12 – Finding connection in times of adversity in this South Korean romcom.

Returning streaming: Gabby’s Dollhouse (Net, 2/1), Raising Dion (Net, 2/1), Dark Desire (Net, 2/2), Meateater (Net, 2/2), Double Cross (Allblk, 2/3), Dragons Rescue Riders (Pea, 2/3), Kid Cosmic (Net, 2/3), Raised by Wolves (HBOM, 2/3), Re(Motel) (Disc+, 2/4), Magnolia Table (Disc+, 2/4), Sweet Magnolias (Net, 2/4), Agatha Raisin (Acorn, 2/7), Social Society (Allblk, 2/7), Catching Killers (Net, 2/9), Disenchantment (Net, 2/9), Odo (HBOM, 2/10), Dollface (Hulu, 2/11), First Time Fixer (Disc+, 2/11), Love is Blind (Net, 2/11), Toy Boy (Net, 2/11).

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, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/17-1/30

The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window

Wrapped up my latest ‘while biking show’ the latest season of Big Mouth. I mean that show has moments but I’m not sure I’m going to stick with it. Moving forward I’ll check out Single Drunk Female, various streaming, and I’ll be dabbling with the new seasons of Ozark and Resident Alien. I am a little behind on new shows though passing on both Good Sam and The Cleaning Lady after an episode, but will check out another Pivoting.

  • How I Met Your Father (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/18 – So this is in the world of HIMYM which started out actually very fun before devolving, so far I’ve heard it’s just not funny.
  • La Fortuna (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/20 – Stanley Tucci stars as an adventurer who crosses the world looting and a young diplomat trying to recover the treasure.
  • Single Drunk Female (Free) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/20, 10/10:30pm – A public flame-out puts 20-something alcoholic into recovery and back at her mother’s.
  • As We See It (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 1/21 – 20-something roomies on the autism spectrum.
  • The Gilded Age (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday 1/24, 9pm – Set in 1882, a woman moves to live with her aunts in NYC after her father dies.
  • Promised Land (ABC) Series Premiere, Monday 1/24, 10pm – A generation spanning drama about two Latinx families in Sonoma Valley.
  • Astrid & Lilly Save the World (Syfy) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 1/26, 10pm – High school outcasts accidentally crack open a portal and need to save their high school from creepy critters.
  • The Afterparty (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 1/28 – Centering on a murder mystery at a high school reunion, each ep from a different character’s perspective.
  • The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/28 – If you’re not lost by the long title check out Kristen Bell do a new take on seeing a murder, or did she.
  • In From the Cold (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/28 – A shape-shifting spy mom juggle family life and battle against enemies.

More streaming:

  • Juanpis Gonzalez (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/19 – A Colombian sitcom about a man trying to pass a test to inherit the family business.
  • Summer Heat (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/21 – Brazilian teen drama about a group working at a resort.
  • Chosen (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/27 – Chinese crime show about a twisted killing game.
  • Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/27 – Italian crime comedy about two TV technicians who stumble upon a murder scene.
  • All of Us Are Dead (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/28 – Korean drama about a zombie virus outbreak and trapped students.
  • Feria (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/28 – A Spanish thriller about two sisters facing the consequences of their parent’s cult ritual.

Returning streaming: Dota (Net, 1/18), El Marginal (Net, 1/19), Too Hot to Handle (Net, 1/19), Total Control (SundN, 1/20), Servant (App+, 1/21), Ozark (Net, 1/21), Social Society (Allblk, 1/24), Ada Twist, Scientist (Net, 1/25), American Detective with Lt Joe Kenda (Disc+, 1/26), Gomorrah (HBOM, 1/27).

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, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/3-1/16

Pivoting

Well, we made it to another year. And another infinite number of tv shows still to see. I did wrap the cringeworthy Pen15, which did a surprisingly good job of placing these two adults into their teen lives. And the latest season of Emily in Paris which is just trash, but if it’s your kind of trash it’s kind of fun.

I also completed an almost insurmountable task… I finished Breaking Bad! I really only watched about an episode a week, other than the last couple of weeks, so 62 episodes take a little while. And it was admittedly a great show, though not one of my absolute faves. It was dark for sure, but more than that I think some of the negative protagonists in other shows have a motivation that you can sort of get behind. While there were times I was on Walt’s side he was just so selfish and created more problems than he needed it was hard to watch. I am taking a break to catch up on some other things before watching El Camino and digging into Better Call Saul.

TV is also coming back including some more midseason stuff like The Cleaning Lady, Good Sam, Pivoting, The Kings of Napa, and Naomi. And returning 9-1-1: Lone Star and Call Me Kat which I somehow got into, and some of the shows that gave us a little preview last year like Kenan, American Auto, Grand Crew, and Abbott Elementary.

  • The Cleaning Lady (Fox) Series Premiere, Monday 1/3, 9pm – A Cambodian doctor comes to the US for a lifesaving procedure for her son and end up ‘cleaning’ for the mob, anything for family.
  • Judge Steve Harvey (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/4, 8pm – A reality showcase for those of you who like a little Steve Harvey sass, he’s rendering judgement on conflicts.
  • Good Sam (CBS) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/5, 10pm – Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs as a father daughter doctor team who stir up a little personal drama while saving patients.
  • Women of the Movement/Let the World See (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/6, 8/10pm – This 6 ep series based on the true story of a mother who ignites the Civil Rights movement looking for justice after the brutal death of her son followed by a docuseries on the subject.
  • Pivoting (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/9, 8:30pm – This comedy brings 3 childhood friends together to cope with the death of a fourth member of their group they kick off some life pivots that might not involve the best decision making with Eliza Coupe, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Maggie Q.
  • The Kings of Napa (Own) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/11, 8pm – Set in a Napa Valley vineyard owned by the Kings family, the three children stuggle for the reins when the patriarch exists.
  • Naomi (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/11, 9pm – Based on DC characters we follow a teen following her hidden destiny when there’s a shakeup in her small hometown.
  • Peacemaker (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/13 – A new DC series exploring the origins of one of the Suicide Squad characters who believes in peace at any cost with John Cena.
  • Wolf Like Me (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/13 – Isla Fisher and Josh Gad star in this comedic look at two people with baggage coming together.
  • Archive 81 (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/14 – An archivist finds mystery around the disappearance of the director and a deminic cult in this mystery.
  • Somebody Somewhere (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/16, 10:30pm – A Kansas singer finds her community by finding her voice.

More streaming:

  • Rebelde (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/5 – A secret society at an elite hihg school threatens the hopes of new students in this Mexican teen musical drama.
  • The Journalist (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/13 – A dedicated journalist pursues the truth about government scandal in this Japanese thriller.
  • Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 1/14 – A powerful politician’s daughter pursues a man in this Indian crime show.

Returning streaming: The Club (Net, 1/6), Johny Test (Net, 1/7), A Discovery of Witches (SundN, 1/8), Queens of Mystery (Acorn, 1/10), Undercover (Net, 1/10), Cheer (Net, 1/12), Madagascar (Hulu/Pea, 1/13), A House Divided (Allblk, 1/13), Next Influencer (Para+, 1/13), After Life (Net, 1/14), The Cabin Chronicles (Disc+, 1/14),

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, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/20-1/2

Stay Close

I guess we’re wrapping up the year. You probably won’t see my best of 2021 lists coming out for a little while. Too much catching up to do. TV gets a little quiet this time of year so that might help.

I wrapped Dear White People and while I overall enjoyed the series, I just didn’t love the future/musical show of the final season. I also tried out some of the comedy previews Abbott Elementary, American Auto, and Grand Crew and they all had some good ingredients so I’ll check back in the new year when they’re really out. I’ll also likely be tuning into the return of fluffy Emily in Paris and Queer Eye.

  • Vigil (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/23 – A detective must investigate a death on top secret British nuclear sub while it continues its route in this limited series.
  • The Book of Boba Fett (Dis+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 12/29 – The latest Star Wars follows Boba Fett and Fennec Shand.
  • Stay Close (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/31 – Harlen Coben’s latest series bring three people with dark secrets in this British mystery.
  • Around the World in 80 Days (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/2 – David Tennant stars in the latest adaptation of the Jules Verne novel.

More streaming

  • The Silent Sea (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/24 – A dangerour moon mission in this drama in this Korean sci-fi mystery.
  • Anxious People (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 12/29 – A bank robber holds visitors to an open house hostage in this Swedish feel-good mystery.
  • Kitz (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/30 – Teen drama in this German show.

Returning streaming: Emily in Paris (Net, 12/22), Beforeigners (HBOM, 12/23), Cardinal (Hulu, 12/24), Daughter from Another Mother (Net, 12/24), Letterkenny (Hulu, 12/26), The Standups (Net, 12/29), Light the Night (Net, 12/30), Shadow Lines (SundN, 12/30), Cobra Kai (Net, 12/31), Dishmantled (Roku, 12/31), Queer Eye (Net, 12/31), The Hook Up Plan (Net, 1/1).

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/6-12/19

Station Eleven

In addition to a bunch of stuff I don’t get and a few things I don’t care about, Claws is back (TNT, 12/19) and that’s a good fun yet ridiculous show. And I’ll check back in on the return of Kenan and Mr. Mayor (NBC, 12/15) both of which showed potential in their first seasons. I also wrapped Sex Education and You and can move onto The Great.

  • Under the Vines (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 12/6 – Romantic drama where two ‘city slickers’ who don’t get along inherit a failing vineyard in rural New Zealand.
  • Landscapers (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday 12/6, 9pm – Bodies are found in the back garden of a seemingly ordinary couple, with Olivia Colman and David Thewlis in this four-part series inspired by a true story.
  • Live in Front of A Studio Audience (ABC) Tuesday 12/7, 8pm – This time this special is bringing episodes of The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes.
  • Abbott Elementary (ABC) Series Premiere, Tursday 12/7, 9pm – A comedic look at a Philadelphia public school
  • And Just Like That… (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/9 – The much buzzed about return of some of our Sex and the City series pals, I don’t get HBOMax but am curious about the reincarnation after a timely first series and the inability to capture that magic in the follow up movies.
  • Ann Boleyn (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/9 – The final months of her life in this three-part phsychological thriller.
  • The Larkins (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 12/13 – An adaption of the novel The Darling Buds of May follows a family with six kids through their village life in Kent.
  • American Auto (NBC) Series Premiere, Monday 12/13, 10/10:30pm – I’m game to check out a new workplace comedy from the creators of Superstore, a new CEO played by Ana Gasteyer starts at a Detroit motor company.
  • Grand Crew (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 12/14, 8/8:30pm – This comedy is from some of the creators on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and follows a group of friends in LA.
  • Close to Me (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/16 – A woman has it all until a fall erases a year from her memory and she tries to piece it together but bumps up against secrets.
  • Firebite (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/16 – A group of vampires shipped to Australia sent to eradicate indigenous peoples hide out in mines and ready for battle.
  • MacGruber (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/16 – Will Forte returns to his comedic role for some reason.
  • Station Eleven (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/16 – Based on the book that I thought was great, will see how well this post pandemic world translates post pandemic.
  • With Love (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/17 – Romantic comedy following the Diaz siblings looing for love and purpose in this romantic comedy.
  • 1883 (Para+) Series Premiere, Sunday 12/19 – A family journies west seeking a better future in this Yellowstone prequel, with Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.

More streaming:

  • Our Beloved Summer (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 12/6 – Two ex-lovers get pulled back in front of a camera years after filming a high school viral documentary in this Korean romantic comedy.
  • Aranyak (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/10 – Two mismatched cops investigate a local murder in a Himalayan town in this Hindi crime drama.
  • Decoupled (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 12/17 – A Delhi couple announce their divorce with a party in this Indan comedy.
  • Bulgasal (Net) Series Premiere, Saturday 12/18 – A revenge-driven immortal sets our to reclaim his soul in this Korean fantasy thriller.
  • The Girl from Oslo (Net) Series Premiere, Sunday 12/19 – A Norwegian diplomat travels to the Middle East when her daughter is abducted.

Returning streaming: Centaurworld (Net, 12/7), Go Dog Go (Net, 12/7), Trolls (Hulu, 12/9), Shaman King (Net, 12/9), Summer Camp Island (HBOM, 12/9), Crossing Swords (Hulu, 12/10), The Expanse (Am, 12/10), LOL: Last One Laughing (Am, 12/10), Family Dinner (Disc+, 12/10), Engine Masters (Motor, 12/10), How to Ruin Christmas (Net, 12/10), Bonus Family (Net, 12/14), Masha and the Bear (Net, 12/15), Aggretsuko (Net, 12/16), The Fungies! (HBOM, 12/16), Top Class (IMDB, 12/17), The Witcher (Net, 12/17), Home Town (Disc+, 12/19).

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/22-12/5

Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas

I finally caught up and wrapped Ted Lasso. A very good Apple+ TV show. And I am now free to cancel my subscription that I was paying for after my free trial to wrap that up. The only two shows that I let myself get hooked on were this and Mythic Quest which is also very good. I just can’t pay for another subscription. I’m debating getting a plan in place to pay for various services for a month at a time to just binge shows. I particularly am missing a few shows that moved to Paramount+, The Good Fight, Evil, and reportedly InkMaster is on its way. And since I don’t do HBO there’s a pretty good backlog there. I also still have an endless debt of tv to catch up on from the avenues I do get, normal cable (not premium), Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

And so now on to yet more shows becoming available. It is a holiday week so the strat of some holiday specials and some things will be light. I will check out It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia returning for its 15th season on Fxx and looking forward to the Zoey movie.

  • Hawkeye (Dis+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/24 – Jeremy Renner gets his small screen focus in this continued expansion of the Marvel universe.
  • True Stories (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/24 – A limited crime series about a comedian and his brother with Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes.
  • Parade and Dog Show (NBC) Thursday 11/25 – Happy Thanksgiving.
  • Super Crooks (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/25 – Anime based on a comic book, small time crook gets his gang together for one last heist.
  • Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas (Roku) Wednesday 12/1 – This follow up film to the series is supposedly available without Roku service which I think means I can just catch it on roku.com.
  • The Pact (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/2 – An unexpected death puts employees into a position of hiding secrets at a brewery in this Welsh thriller.
  • Harlem (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 12/3 – Four girlfriends look to level up in their lives in this comedy.

More streaming:

  • Light the Night (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 11/26 – Drama set in ’80s Taipei following women at a popular night club.
  • Elves (Net) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/28 – A family on vacation finds bloodthirsty elves keeping locals in fear in this Danish fantasy.
  • The Coyotes (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/2 – A group of summer campers find diamonds and put their lives in danger in this Belgian thriller.

Returning streaming: Holly Hobbie (Hulu, 11/23), Mary McCartney Serves it Up (Disc+, 11, 23), Masters of the Universe (Net, 11/23), Hanna (Am, 11/24), The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles (Para+, 11/24), Saved by the Bell (Pea, 11/24), Selling Sunset (Net, 11/24), 12 Dates of Christmas (HBOM, 11/25), F is for Family (Net, 11/25), Ruthless (BET+, 11/25), Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (Net, 12/1), Lost in Space (Net, 12/1), Vida Perfecta (HBOM, 12/2), Alex Roder (IMDB, 12/3), Pen15 (Hulu, 12/3), The Great British Baking Show: The Holidays (Net, 12/3), Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (Net, 12/3), Money Heist (Net, 12/3).

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, please check your local listings.

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midseason fun

Naomi

The seasons are a little less significant now that we’re seeing shows year-round. But the networks still have a nice midseason outing that is worth pondering. NBC will have the Olympics going (omg already!) so their schedule is a little off but otherwise NBC, CBS, ABC, CW, and Fox have some new items on the horizon.

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC, 12/7) – A comedy of dedicated teachers thrown together in Philadelphia public school.
  • All American: Homecoming (CW, 2/21) – A spinoff from the All American series, so you know.
  • American Auto (NBC, 1/4) – A workplace comedy about making an auto company in Detroit work.
  • American Song Contest (NBC, 2/21) – A music competition for the best song.
  • The Cleaning Lady (Fox, 1/3) – Based on an Argentinian series this crime drama where a Cambodian doctor ends up working for organized crime.
  • The Endgame (NBC, 2/21) – Bank heist drama with Morena Baccarin, sure I’ll check it out.
  • Good Sam (CBS, 1/5) – Sophia Bush stars as a new surgeon and complications ensue.
  • Grand Crew (NBC, 1/4) – A comedy with a group of yound professionals meeting up for wine and life.
  • Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer (Fox, 1/6) – A rich guy and a, not rich guy, meet twenty women in this latest spin on reality dating.
  • Law & Order (NBC, 2/24) – A reboot of the original in the franchise, picking up where things left off?
  • Monarch (Fox, 1/30) – A multigenerationsal musical drama about a country music family.
  • Naomi (CW, 1/11) – A superhero drama from Ava DuVernay based on the comic.
  • Next Level Chef (Fox, 1/2) – Gordon Ramsay is back with another cooking competition looking for a new superstar.
  • Pivoting (Fox, 1/9) – Three women cope with the death of a friend by pivoting in this comedy with Eliza Coupe, Maggie Q and Ginnifer Goodwin.
  • Promised Land (ABC, 1/24) – A generational family drama about two Latinx families vying for power in Sonoma, so wine.
  • That’s My Jam (NBC, 11/29) – Jimmy Fallon host celebs competing in music and dance games.
  • The Thing About Pam (NBC, 3/8) – A crime drama starring Renee Zellweger about the conviction of Pam Hupp for murder.
  • Women of the Movement (ABC, 1/6) – A limited series based on the true story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley.

Midseason returning shows I’m still checking out: 911: Lone Star (Fox, 1/3), Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 1/9), Call Me Cat (Fox, 1/9), Kenan (NBC, 1/3), Mr. Mayor (NBC, 3/15).

As always check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/8-11/21

The Shrink Next Door

It may not look like it but there’s kind of a lull before some more midseason stuff gets going. I’ll see what I can highlight on that next week. Until then I’ll probably check out Cowboy Bebop on Netflix and the second season of The Great on Hulu.

  • The Game (Para+) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/11- A reboot of the 2006 Girlfriends spinoff, a look at Black culture through the prism of pro football.
  • Ragdoll (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/11 – A trio of detectives look to stop a serial killer who stitches together multipe victims and could one of them be next?
  • The Shrink Next Door (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 11/12 – Dark comedy led by Wil Ferrell and Paul Rudd and including Casey Wilson and Kathryn Hahn as a doctor patient relationship morphs into a dysfunctional one.
  • The Freak Brothers (Tubi) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/14 – An adult animated series following a trio of stoners who wake in the present after sleeping for 50 years from a magical strain of weed.
  • Mayor of Kingstown (Para+) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/14 – A power cast including Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest and Kyle Chandler look at the managing of prisons in a small Michigan town.
  • Yellowjackets (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/14, 10pm – Another power cast including Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Melanie Lynskey looks at a group of soccer players who survive a plane crash and their lives 25 years later, early reviews look favorable.
  • The Madame Blanc Mysteries (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 11/15 – An antiques dealer most come to terms with the death of her husband and loss of money.
  • Hollington Drive (SundN, 11/18) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/18 – British crime thriller about two sisters whose children may or may not be involved in the disappearance of a neighborhood child.
  • Partners in Rhyme (AllBlk) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/18 – A sitcom following the life of a high school rapper and the executive in charge of her career.
  • The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/18 – A new comedy from Mindy Kaling following new college roomates.
  • Sort Of (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/18 – The coming-of-age story of a gender fluid millennial and their various identities in this partnership with the CBC.
  • The Wheel of Time (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 11/19 – Fantasy series based on books, a journey with someone foretold to either save or destroy humanity.
  • Cowboy Bebop (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 11/19 – Bounty hunters across the galaxy, sounds like Killjoys no, this one is based on an anime series, sure I’m in.

More

  • Kamikaze (HBOM) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/14 – A dramatic story following an 18-year-old girl who loses her parents and brother and embarks on a journey to find value beyond the material possesions.
  • Lies and Deceit (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 11/15 – A lit teacher seeks justice against her accused rapist.
  • Christmas Flow (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/17 – A holiday romance between rapper and journalist in this French rom-com.
  • Anna (AMC+) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/18 – A girl trying to stay alive after a virus has killed all adults in this Italian drama.
  • Hellbound (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 11/19 – Unearthly beings dragging people to Hell in this Korean suspense show.

Returning streaming: Gentefied (Net, 11/10), Madagascar (Hulu, 11/11), The Challenge: All-Stars (Para+, 11/11), My Sesame Street Friends (HBOM, 11/11), South Side (HBOM, 11/11), Stella Blomkvist (SundN, 11/11), Snoopy in Space (App+, 11/12), 90 Day: The Single Life (Disc+, 11/12), The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Dis+, 11/12), Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco (Disc+, 11/16), The Queen of Flow (Net, 11/17), Tiger King (Net, 11/17), Craftopia (HBOM, 11/18), Star Trek: Discovery (Para+, 11/18), Texas 6 (Para+, 11/18), Tom and Jerry in New York (HBOM, 11/18), The Great (Hulu, 11/19), The Mind, Explained (Net, 11/19), Stath Lets Flats (HBOM, 11/19).

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, please check your local listings.

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new and noteworthy tv: 10/25-11/7

4400

I caught the first episode of Queens, which was very much a dramatic Girls5eva, but has potential. Also finished season one of Squid Games, brutal but quite good storytelling as well as season two of Never Have I Ever which is always a little endearing. Ic cranked through the second half of Leverage: Redemption which I find fun and the first half of Grace & Frankie which felt a little short (stupid pandemic).

I’m still managing to make my way through Breaking Bad with a chaser of Sex Education as well as Get Shorty which needs a chaser. I’ll get around to the new season of Big Mouth when I catch up on my exercise half-hour comedies and see what 4400 has to offer. Wondering if the second season of Love Life which was cute will also get around to repairing somewhere other than HBOMax. And The Harder They Fall will likely hit Saturday night movie for me.

  • 4400 (CW) Series Premiere, Monday 10/25, 9pm – I don’t remember watching this 2004 series but we revisit the theme of people reappearing who have disappeared over a the last one hundred years.
  • Horror Noire (Shud) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/28 – Dramatic anthology following the documentary looking at the history of black horror.
  • Fairfax (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – An adult animated comedy following four middle school best friends looking for cout on Fairfax Ave.
  • Swagger (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – A look at youth basketball inspired by Kevin Durant’s expereiences.
  • Colin in Black & White (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – A look at Colin Kaepernic’s life from Kaepernic and Ava DuVernay.
  • Dalgliesh (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 11/1 – A detective story based on the P.D. James books, solving unusual murders through 1970s England in three two-part films.
  • The Harder they Fall (Net) Movie spotlight, Wednesday 11/3 – Idris Elba and Regina King in a revenge Western, yes please.
  • Head of the Class (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/4 – Based on a 1986 series, this comedy follows some overachievers who are confrtonted with a new teacher who wants them to experience more of life.
  • Lace (Allblk) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/4 – An attorney who blurs the lines between right and wrong to protect her powerful clients.
  • Vexed (Ova) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/4 – Mismatched police detectives work together in what looks like maybe a new airing of an old show.
  • Dexter: New Blood (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/7 – I can’t even…

More streaming:

  • An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 10/27 – A hearbroken single woman turns to the stars for her perfect match in this Italian romantic dramedy.
  • Paraiso (HBOM) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/28 – Three teen girls disappear and when one of their brothers and his friends look into it they find something otherworldly in this show from Spain.
  • Call My Agent Bollywood (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – A spinoff from Call My Agent, which I’ve heard good things about but haven’t seen.
  • Maradona (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – Biopic following the life of the Argentine star.
  • The Time It Takes (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 10/29 – After a breakup Lina looks for a new life in this Spanish romantic drama.
  • Historias Para No Dormir (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 11/5 – Drama based on tv series four fantastic stories brought back to life in this Spanish show.
  • The Club (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 11/5 – 1950s Instabul where a mother works at a nightclub to connect with her daughter in this Turkish drama.
  • Gloria (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 11/5 – A young engineer is recruited as a KGB spy in this portuguese historical thriller.
  • The Unlikely Murderer (Net) Friday 11/5 – Based on the book, this Swedish drama follows a man claiming to be a witness to an assassination may be the killer, in this Swedish crime drama.

Returning streaming: Family Business (Acorn, 10/25), My Life is Murder (Acorn, 10/25), Sintonia (Net, 10/27), Hitmen (Pea, 10/28), Love Life (HBOM, 10/28), Selena + Chef (HBOM, 10/28), Takki (Net, 10/28), Homegrown (Disc+, 10/29), The Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Disc+, 10/29), Mythomaniac (Net, 10/29), Super Dad (Disc+, 10/29), From Scratch (Hist, 10/30), Temple (Spec, 11/1) Ridley Jones (Net, 11/2), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu, 11/4), One Lane Bridge (SundN, 11/4), Animaniacs (Hulu, 11/5), Dickinson (App+, 11/5), Big Mouth (Net, 11/5), Narcos (Net, 11/5).

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, please check your local listings.

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