breaking up is hard to do

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).

Continue Reading

new and noteworthy tv: 1/30-2/5

Looks like mid-season is kicking off with a few new entries.

  • Super Bowl Greatest Commercials (CBS) Tuesday, 8pm – Hosts Boomer Esiason and Daniela Ruah count ’em down.
  • Showtime at the Apollo (Fox) Wednesday, 8pm – Steve Harvey hosts.
  • The 100 (CW) Season Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – I was super into this show for a while but found it slipping, fan blowback for handling of certain characters aside, but curious to see where we go this season.
  • Madiba (BET) Miniseries Premiere, Wednesday, 8pm – I haven’t heard anything about this Laurence Fishburne led Mandela three part account.
  • Powerless (NBC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 8:30pm – A comedic entry into the DC Comics world where every day folk toil around superhero adjacent insurance scenarios, looks less than groundbreaking but perhaps a look.
  • Superior Donuts (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday, 8:30pm – New school and old school set in a donut shop with Judd Hirsch as the old school, gives possibilities for this comedy to find its stride.
  • Training Day (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday, 10pm – Another questionable entry into the movie premise spun for TV with Bill Baxton as a reportedly less menacing Denzel.
  • Santa Clarita Diet (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – I’d watch Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant in anything so I’ll tune into what looks like a tongue in cheek suburban zombie fare.
  • 24: Legacy (Fox) Sunday, 7:30pm – Rumor has it this has some of the pros and cons about the original 24 so use that as you gauge.

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

procrastinator picks – top tv of 2015

I tend to internally mock critics who say they can’t narrow it down to 10, but seriously too much out there, it’s impossible. I kept it to ten but I did cop out this year and put them in alphabetical order. My caveats as usual, these probably aren’t the best shows out but ones that I personally enjoyed, and I can’t completely rate on just an individual season. Also my usual clarification that I don’t get high end cable so those shows might be on my to do list but they won’t be here, plus shows that I’m behind on like Mad Men and Rectify (which I love).

  • The 100 (CW) – The dynamics amongst all the factions in this post-apocalyptic world have increased in quantity and in stakes and it’s moved beyond the pretty young things CW slant, though certainly maintained the pretty people.
  • The Americans (Fx) – Spy mom and dad and great spy wigs sure keep getting in and mostly out of fixes, and the relationships with others keep getting more complicated, what are the chances that bringing in spy kids will go smoothly?
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – I didn’t love running for office Alicia but starting over yet again Alicia brought yet another new spin on this rich cast of characters that just keeps me entertained with the cases and the personal lives where there’s not always a real right.
  • Humans (AMC) – Lots of riffs out there on the androids taking over but this truly human look at a group of unanticipated aware and feeling synths and their interactions with each other, the humans around them, society as a whole and of course some ‘evil’ corporation kept me all in.
  • Jessica Jones (Net) – A new crop of great series on Netflix but this less Marvel-ish Marvel is the one that truly made me want to binge as I enjoyed the tough damaged lead and her fight against uber creepy villian with the help and hindrance of some good supports.
  • Justified (Fx) – The last season brought back much of what I loved about the series, Raylan was someone we all fell in love with as he fought the good fight in sometimes the wrong ways to hunt down folks as only a Marshall near his own Harlan, Kentucky hometown can do.
  • Mr. Robot (USA) – This is the show that put USA on the map this year and it was quite a big swing, the lead Rami Malek really should get much of the credit for carrying this peculiar character in a psychotic split between computer hacking, and well hacking, tempted to go back and watch again.
  • Orphan Black (BBCA) – This admittedly wasn’t my favorite season of this show but I love it so much even a dip in the distractions to the clone club from the boy clones couldn’t dampen my love for the performances of Tatiana Maslany and her band of supporters.
  • UnREAL (Life) – My fave new campy show this look behind the scenes of a Bacheloresque show had so many layers as we follow Producer Rachel trying to come back from her own personal drama while the manipulations on and off camera reach new highs, or should I say lows, and I’m not a Bachelor watcher.
  • You’re the Worst (Fxx) – The first season of this show won me over with a new twist on the rom com by playing into and out of the stereotypes as the characters were all a mess, and the second season delved into Gretchen’s mess/depression in a way that was able to include some truly funny moments in what was a dramatic and sensitive, amazing work by Aya Cash.

My honorable mentions were giving me too much stress so I’ve even eliminated those. What were some of your favorites from last year?

Continue Reading

new and noteworthy tv: 1/18-1/24

basketsWould watching War & Peace get me out of the guilt of having never read it? Legends looks to mix a lot of items but may need some time to be successful but will def watch before one of my returning faves 100. Baskets with Galifianakas and from Louis CK promises to be oddball comedy which may not work for everyone but is def worth a look. Reports are that the new ‘season’ of X-Files starts out a bit of a mess but toward ep 3 or 4 hits a nice note. Plus a couple more Netflix shows, I know someone who has been missing Chelsea. And of course more Australian Open tennis!

  • Monday – Just for Laughs (CW, 8pm), Hit the Floor, Season Premiere (VH1, 9pm), War & Peace, Mini-series Premiere (Hist/A&E/Life, 9pm), Almost Royal, Season Premiere (BBCA, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Marvel’s Captain America/Agent Carter, Season Premiere (ABC, 8/9pm), The Prancing Elites Project, Season Premiere (Oxy, 8pm), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow/Dawn of the Justice League (CW, 9/9:30pm), Gangsters: America’s Most Evil, Season Premiere (Reelz, 9pm), Total Divas/Just Jillian, Season/Series Premieres (E!, 9/10pm), Fit to Fat to Fit, Series Premiere (A&E, 10pm)
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday – Portlandia, Season Premiere (IFC, 7pm), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow/The 100, Series/Season Premieres (CW, 8/9pm), Baskets, Series Premiere (Fx, 10pm), London Spy, Series Premiere (BBCA, 10pm), Recipe for Deception, Series Premiere (Brav, 10pm), Dark Net, Series Premiere (Show, 11pm)
  • Friday – Mad Dogs, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Childrens Hospital, Season Premiere (AdSw, 11pm)
  • Saturday – Chelsea Does, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), The Artful Detective, Season Premiere (Ova, 7pm), Black Sails, Season Premiere (Starz, 9pm), Forensic Justice, Series Premiere (Spike, 9pm), It’s Not You, It’s Men/Where Are They Now, Series/Season Premieres (OWN, 9pm), Beowulf, Series Premiere (Esq, 10pm)
  • Sunday – The X-Files, Season Premiere (Fox, 7pm), Hollywood Medium, Series Premiere (E!, 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.

Continue Reading

my schedule

gotham

A pretty dismal season for television so far though one or two options still might make the cut. Still waiting for State of Affairs but until then, here’s where I’m at:

Monday

  • 8pm – Gotham (Fox)
  • 9pm – Sleepy Hollow (Fox)
  • 10pm – Blacklist (NBC)

The jury is still somewhat out on Gotham but there’s enough interesting about it that it’s still sticking for now. And returning series remind me that there were better shows last year, Hollow is still bonkers but super fun, Spader still makes it.

Tuesday

  • 8pm – Selfie (ABC)
  • 9pm – SHIELD (ABC) / New Girl/Mindy Project (Fox) / Marry Me/About a Boy (NBC)

Happy to keep some of these comedies around, actors are likable enough for me to keep for now, and Shield has been finding some new rhythms though I oppose a triple booking I am deferring a cut with On Demand.

Wednesday

  • 8pm – The Middle (ABC) / The Mysteries of Laura (NBC)
  • 9pm – The 100 (CW)

Ok, I’m not totally sold on Laura but it’s a decent enough filler for now while Middle and 100 are still keeping me in.

Thursday

  • 8pm – Bones (Fox) / Big Bang Theory/Mom (CBS)
  • 10pm – Elementary (CBS) / Parenthood (NBC)

I really am almost done with Bones but it’s still a decent procedural and keeping up with the rest of the regulars.

Friday

  • 9pm – Grimm (NBC) / ANTM (CW)
  • 10pm – Constantine (NBC)

After two Constantines I’m not sold but still don’t feel like I have a feel for the week to week, it’s a good pair with the solid freak of the week on Grimm and yes the models, last year’s addition of boys was a welcome one.

Sunday

  • 8pm – Madam Secretary (CBS) / Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
  • 9pm – The Good Wife (CBS)

Secretary still sort of comes across like the poor man’s version of West Wing crossed with Good Wife (which is still fantastic) but even a poor man’s version keeps me in so far and Brooklyn still keeps me amused.

And for the cable fodder: Benched (USA), Ink Master (Spike), The League (Fxx), Project Runway (Life), Sons of Anarchy (Fx), Z Nation (Syfy)

What’s in your queue?

Update: Selfie is cancelled and Constantine no longer made the cut.

Continue Reading

new and noteworthy tv: 10/20-10/26

constantine-banner-1280jpg-a2a402_1280w

In addition to freaky Friday watching I’ll do a little dabble back into Millers and 100. And potentially the new Runway spin of teen fashion creation, apparently each week new contestants. And go Giants!

  • Monday: The Millers, Season Premiere (CBS, 8:30pm), American Dad, Season Premiere (TBS, 9pm)
  • Tuesday: World Series (Fox, 5pm), True Tori, Season Premiere (Life, 9pm), Real Husbands of Hollywood, Season Premiere (BET, 10pm)
  • Wednesday: The 100, Season Premiere (CW, 9pm), Web Therapy, Season Premiere (Show, 11pm)
  • Thursday: Surgeon Oz, Series Premiere (OWN, 10pm), Tamar & Vince, Season Premiere (WE, 10pm), Project Runway: Threads, Series Premiere (Life, 10:30pm)
  • Friday: Alpha House, Season Premiere (Am, 12:01am), Grimm/Constantine, Season/Series Premieres (NBC, 9/10pm), Edge of Alaska, Series Premiere (Disc, 10pm)
  • Sunday: Death Comes to Pemberley, Miniseries Premiere (PBS, 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.

Continue Reading

returning fall favorites

the-good-wife

Well we’re easing into it but I think we can officially categorize post Labor Day September as fall. And while I’m still waiting for a little more info on new shows to see what I’m most excited about there are some returning favorites already queued up with a season pass.

  • The League (Fxx, 10/3) – This is one of those off color Fx (now Fxx) series that has sort of grown on me, people who are so wrong it’s right, no football appreciation required (if you like It’s Always Sunny this is a nice pairing).
  • Sons of Anarchy (Fx, 9/9) – This show has had some uneven spots but watching the interpersonal drama, and admittedly the significant violence, and who’s lying, Jax, makes it a can’t miss to see where our favorite motorcycle gang ends up.
  • New Girl/The Mindy Project (Fox, 9/16) – Both of these shows have improved with time and with fleshing out the ensemble, they make me laugh enough.
  • The Good Wife (CBS, 9/21) – Last season this show really demonstrated how to shake up a longer term series, and still hold on to what makes it special; still has the best balance of weekly cases with the personal and political drama where I’m interested in what everyone is doing.
  • Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 9/22) – One of the critics I read dubbed this show ‘bonkers awesome’ and she’s right, it’s a ridiculous premise but the fast pace and main character dynamics keep it oh so interesting and did I mention headless horseman ridiculous?
  • The Blacklist (NBC, 9/22) – This one is really all about James Spader and fortunately that’s enough to keep this criminal with unclear motives catching bad guys on his list interesting.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9/22) – They’ve done a pretty good job keeping what could be a one note show going, adding to the ensemble and growing the characters a bit, but keeping the mockery in top form.
  • Parenthood (NBC, 9/25) – As we enter the final season we can assume that the Braverman family will not be drama free and while I haven’t loved every story arc I’ve come to be invested, plus I would follow Lauren Graham and Peter Krause anywhere.
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 9/28) – The latest addition to funny, again finding the balance of the could be annoying main character Samberg has been key but it’s really the ensemble with the amazing Andre Braugher among others that makes it.
  • The Walking Dead (AMC, 10/12) – Each season has had a different feel based on where the cast is but I’m intrigued to see them back together and of course getting out of whatever fix they’re in since the live people are often more of a problem than the dead ones.
  • The 100 (CW, 10/22) – I keep giving these relatively cheesy CW shows a shot and this one, which is basically pretty people land on earth and so far run into pretty people who survived, but I’m often a sucker for that whole moralistic creating your own society and what’s really right, we’ll see if this season keeps me coming back.
  • Grimm (NBC, 10/24) – A procedural show of the not normal variety, in that there is a world of non humans among us, and while I wouldn’t say I love this show the characters and stories keep me coming back.
  • Elementary (CBS, 10/30) – I can’t watch this show at the same time as Sherlock because they’re so different in tone but I am down for seeing what our re-imagined Holmes and Watson get up to each week mostly because I like Miller and Liu.

Notable mention (those that are either a little uneven, a little passed their prime, or too fresh to see if I’m hooked): Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (ABC, 9/23), The Middle (ABC, 9/24), Bones (Fox, 9/25), Mom (CBS, 9/29)

And keep your love for a few of these shows on the back-burner until mid-season and beyond: The Americans, Cougar Town, Hannibal, Hart of Dixie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Justified, Lost Girl, Louie, The Mentalist, Orphan Black, Parks and Recreation

What are you most excited to see return?

Continue Reading