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new and noteworthy tv: 9/4-9/10

September 3, 2017 No Comments

I wrapped up Ozark on Netflix which I really enjoyed, and glad to hear it’s coming back for another season. Still plugging away on The Wire and Deadwood and my gym going has lapsed a bit but still working on streaming comedies there with Catastrophe, Grace & Frankie, Bored to Death, Kimmy Schmidt, and just taking a peek at I Love Dick.

AHS: Cult (Fx) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – I’ve been off of these for a while but they’re bringing yet another slant.
You’re the Worst (Fxx) Season Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – One of the comedies I most look forward to as these messes of people bring their weird slant.
Bojack Horseman (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – The whole family is officially hooked on this and their binges will be rewarded with new episodes, I actually need to remember where last season left off.
Greenhouse Academy (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A sci fi teen drama adapted from an Israeli tv series set at a boarding school with evil plots to be thwarted.
One Mississippi (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – Was just talking to a friend about how this show seemed a bit under the radar but might my favorite of the recently binged comedies after I upped to Prime.
Con Man (Syfy) Series Premiere, Saturday, 10pm – Good buzz coming off of previous releases, Alan Tudyk stars as a former sci fi star hitting the convention circuit, note all eps air back to back.
The Orville (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – Seth MacFarlane stars in this future space ship exploration dramedy, I’m picturing Galaxy Quest but think I’ll be disappointed.
Top of the Lake (Sund) Season Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – Looking forward to seeing Elizabeth Moss as this really interesting Jane Campion detective series finally returns (note for me this is showing up as “Top of the Lake: China Girl” not “Top of the Lake” so check your season pass).
The Deuce (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Getting great reviews this series follows the legalization and rise of the porn industry with some credentials like Maggie Gyyllenhaal to give it some cred.

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

when weird works

April 19, 2017 No Comments

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?

netflix originals

July 4, 2016 No Comments

There’s nothing new or noteworthy this week, except of course some fireworks tonight, so I thought I’d do a little roundup of some of the original programming on Netflix that could bide your time. The notes in parens are how many seasons I’ve seen of available and an underline notes a recommendation.

House of Cards (3 of 4, renewed) – The first season of this was totally riveting and while the following seasons haven’t captured that magic it’s still pretty engaging.
Hemlock Grove (3 of 3, ended) – This show is so bad I couldn’t turn away, it’s a wackadoodle town with a bad werewolf on the loose and that’s not the only supernatural occurrence afoot, and then it got worse.
Arrested Development (1 of 1, renewed) – Definitely didn’t capture the magic of the original show but if you enjoyed the series this is worth catching (and if you haven’t watched the original series give it a look), curious to see what comes next.
Orange is the New Black (3 of 4, renewed) – The main character is basically annoying, but fortunately they do a nice job of making each episode focus not only on the ongoing story but on lots of the quite interesting other individual characters.
BoJack Horseman (2 of 2, renewed) – This turns out to be one of my favorite shows, and it did have to grow on me, as we get a look at washed up former star and his pretty depressing life, did I mention it’s an animated world of animal type people and people?
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2 of 2, renewed) – I enjoyed and cranked right through this comedy about a woman returning from bunker captivity, the format allows for our protagonist to merry whimsical childlike qualities with some depressing adult subject matter, with a handful of irregular sidekicks.
Bloodline (1 of 2) – I was intrigued by this and stuck through the first season based on cast and some good buzz alone but was underwhelmed by the unfolding of the season and am skipping season two.
Marvel’s Daredevil (2 of 2) – This grew on me over the first season but come second season the combination of lackluster characters and muddled story made me weary, though I’m sticking with it for the Marvel universe tie-ins with other Netflix shows.
Grace and Frankie (2 of 2, renewed) – This show isn’t revolutionary but Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin still make a great team and with their extended family of former spouses and kids makes a nice ensemble.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (1 of 1, renewed) – I enjoyed the original movie enough and really appreciated what they were trying to do by picking up those threads in this series but it’s really only for a die-hard fan.
Narcos (1 of 1, renewed) – This was another one of those shows that was probably quite well done but I just never did enjoy the histori-drama enough to tune back in to next season of Colombian drug lords and the cops who are tasked with thwarting them.
Longmire (Season 4, renewed) – I really enjoyed this series when it was on A&E and wasn’t disappointed in the season that came after its transplant, with our sheriff, some odd crimes, and beautiful country.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones (1 of 1, renewed) – I thought this latest Marvel was quite engaging, as it felt more noir detective than superhero and our clearly flawed protagonist fought inner and outer demons, excited for the return and the also introduced Luke Cage.
Master of None (1 of 1, renewed) – Aziz Ansari most known from Parks & Recreation creates a somewhat autobiographical comedic look which grows into a decent season arc.
Love / Flaked (1 of 1, renewed) – A couple of ‘comedy’ shows about unlikable characters and the messes that are their lives, and I didn’t love either one but something compelled me to crank through each.

I tried but couldn’t:

Marco Polo (1 season, renewed) – A look at the early years with Kublai Khan and the Mongolian Empire didn’t keep my attention.
F is for Family (1 season, renewed) – I heard good buzz about this animated sitcom but alas to me not so much funny.
The Ranch (1 season, renewed) – Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger and Sam Elliott make a nice lineup of a family with prodigal son returned but for me no real laughs.
Lady Dynamite (1 season, renewed) – I wasn’t won over by the odd comedian’s take but a friend just gave me a pitch to give it another go so I will.

Are they or aren’t they on the to do list?

The Killing (Season 4, ended) – Negative, I gave up on this show after season 2.
Sense8 (1 season, renewed) – This is one of those ones that everyone seems to say gets good about mid-way through so perhaps.
Club de Cuervos (1 season, renewed) – I think I missed this Spanish language debut, and no buzz makes me dubious.
Marseille (1 season, renewed) – Pass, I haven’t heard much good about this one.
W/Bob & David (1 season) – I’m not a huge sketch comedy fan.
Fuller House (1 season, renewed) – Not a watcher of the original so missing the nostalgia desire to tune back in.
Netflix Presents: The Characters (1 of 1, ended) – As noted not a huge sketch comedy viewer.
Hibana (1 season) – Remotely interested in taking a look at this Japanese novel adaptation if the queue weren’t so full.

Not including exclusive international distribution with examples like: The Fall (BBC) 2 of 2 seasons, River (BBC) 1 of 1, and most recent Marcella (ITV) 1 season.