gillmore – procrastinationchronicles.com

new and noteworthy tv: 11/22-11/27

November 22, 2016 No Comments

We’re officially in the holiday season so a good time for me to catch up on the TiVo backlog, with of course some dedicated time to Lorelei, Rory, and Emily.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Honors (CW) Wednesday, 8pm – A tribute to memorable moments.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Special/SNL Thanksgiving (NBC) Wednesday, 8/9pm – If you can’t get enough of the parade or skits.
Thanksgiving Day Parade/National Dog Show (NBC) – Parades and puppies, ok they’re full grown dogs but who doesn’t like a little alliteration.
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC) Thursday, 8pm – Some traditions never end.
The Wonderful World of Disney (ABC) Thursday, 8pm – Julianne and Derek Hough host.
Gilmore Girls (Net) Friday – I’m cautiously optimistic that this four part season, set over the span of a year, will have enough of the quirky delight and touching relationships that I remember to make it a nice reunion.
3 Percent (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Post apocalyptic competition, haven’t heard anything but fictional new world orders always an option.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas/How Murray Saved Christmas / Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns / Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town / Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (NBC/CBS/ABC/CW) Friday, 8/8:35pm – Thanksgiving is over…

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

binge season

June 12, 2014 3 Comments

Summer used to be known as a time to get outside because there was nothing on tv (and you know because of the nice weather). But today ‘nothing on tv’ is a little less true and even if you can’t find any live tv what better time to do a little catching up on series you might have missed the first time.

Personally I like to balance my standard catch up and new summer shows with one new series I plan to glut on, and I prefer that new series to be one that has already completed. I also prefer series that are available via one of the mediums I already have access to (I’m not yet ready to pay for a new cable or streaming service unless I’ve exhausted all my other options).

Following are a few of the things I’m considering as well as a few shows I might recommend:

Absolutely Fabulous (BBC) – These ladies are so culturally ingrained but I’ve only seen them outside the actual show.
Big Love (HBO) – Are we intrigued by the polygamists?
Caprica (Syfy) – I wrapped BStarG not that long ago and was wondering if this was worth a follow up.
The Comeback (HBO) – This is an exception to the complete rule because I read that the cancelled show is in fact coming back, what better time to jump in to Lisa Kudrow’s character try to revive her career?
Deadwood (HBO) – Outlaw misfits in the gold rush, oh and Timothy Olyphant, need I say more?
Oz (HBO) – Prison drama, as I understand it a little more serious than current OITNB.
Prime Suspect (Netflix) – I recently started pulling up this one, lady detective not so revolutionary but reminds me a bit of The Closer in the getting to squad to accept her sort of thing, considering putting it back at the top of the queue.
Rescue Me (Fx) – Recently tuned in to Sirens which I enjoyed and was sort of described to me as a lighter version of this.
The Shield (Fx) – Corrupt police with Michael Chiklis might fill my recent gap in police dramas.
The Wire (HBO) – Everyone talks about this but it’s a lot of episodes and until recently hasn’t been available enough without Netflix dvds, but am I ready to finally commit?

And for some of the shows I might recommend if you’re looking for summertime fodder:

Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Dollhouse – No surprise here, last summer’s plan (or the summer before) was to rewatch the previously unavailable to me Joss Wedon series start to finish, totally worth it.
Battlestar Gallactica/Friday Night Lights – Two of my more recent binge shows, very different but both well worth a watch for the characters and drama of their own communities.
The X Files – I’m not sure I actually finished this series once we moved to other players but I’ve recently started to re-gander at this one.
Arrested Development – I redid this one before Netflix picked up the last season, and though the revisit season was worthwhile but of mixed success the original series sure holds up.
Freaks and Geeks/Undeclared – Want to get a taste for early Apatow humor, Freaks particularly worth a look for the great cast in early roles with some teen angst and whatnot.
Don’t Trust the B- in Apt 23 – Recently went back to catch this since I’m not sure they ever aired them all and quite amusing.
Terriers/Saving Grace/The Riches/Chuck – A few series I haven’t been back to but quite enjoyed the first time around.

Not currently as easily available but worth a watch: Beverly Hills 90210 (the original), Bunheads, Flight of the Concords, Gilmore Girls, Men of a Certain Age, The O.C., Pushing Daisies, Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Southland, and Veronica Mars.

Let me know in the comments what you think I should pick next, I think you can tell what I’m leaning toward.

damn you cable

October 1, 2009 No Comments

HDTPCube Paying money to watch television is something that I may still need some help in getting over. When NBC made its signal change eons ago I finally broke down and got ‘basic’ cable to get channels clearly. And when I say basic I don’t mean not premium, I mean cable to get regular networks clearly, something that a city dweller should not feel compelled to do. So when along with my basic cable I received one or two additional channels like VS. (formerly OLN) offering me access to things like the Tour de Lance France I felt giddy.

And then at some point I had a cable problem and my wonderful cable guy didn’t put the blocker back on. A whole new world opened up to me. The world that was normally reserved for visiting my parent’s house and watching cable (minus HBO). I was slowly sucked into show after show, The Closer, Breaking Bad, even Rock of Love… It was a world I always said wasn’t worth the cost but I was getting it for FREE. And even when cable problems arose at a later time I decided to wait it out in fear of inviting the cable guy back over and having him put the dreaded blocker back on.

And then one day, no call to the cable guy, I woke to find that I could no longer get Gillmore Girls reruns on ABC Family. I could no longer get Project Runway on Lifetime. I could no longer get the final season of Monk on USA. What is a person to do? Well, I could pay for more cable, $29.99 a month seems reasonable and when that expires after 12 months I could probably negotiate down from the standing $59.99, which is an amount that seem ridiculous. And then there’s always the reported triple play deal of packaging cable, internet, and phone. Or I could try to take better advantage of the posting of shows online (it’ll get me through at least some current missing episodes) and of course I can wait for the shows that I might really care about to release on dvd.

So what to do? At least for now I’ll leave it on my list of things to do, along with upgrading my tivo.

best, tv

my top tv of 2007

December 27, 2007 8 Comments

So we’ve seen other’s picks for the top tv, but what about me? Well I think if you’ve read any of these posts you have an idea… But what you may not know is that although I seem to be comfortable spouting my opinion, if I actually have to quantify something as ‘The Best’ or ‘Top Ten’ I am immediately concerned that I have forgotten something or will change my mind the moment I write something down, which I often do, I mean tv does change with each episode… So I’m throwing down ten items in alphabetical order and I reserve the right to change my mind.

And of course one should recall that I don’t get real cable so my lack of endorsement for certain cable shows, well isn’t really a lack of endorsement.

Chuck (NBC) – This show isn’t more than it is, a funny action romp, but what it is, it does really well and I find myself looking forward to it each week, it’s not so much about a regular guy being pulled into the spy world as it is the spy world being pulled into the regular guy’s life and the situations with spies and with the regular folks each tend to amuse and entertain.
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) – Again, I think folks tend to not give enough credit to a campy drama done well. These characters (and actors) are not only their stereotypes done to excess but also typically a subtle twist, I am entertained by the weekly trouble they get themselves into as well as finding out what who killed Dutch.
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – So an HBO show? Yes I was up to date since I was at an HBO watcher’s house when it premiered, and I really can’t do this show justice with a description but the New Zealand comedy satire folk singing duo trying to make it in New York, randomly breaking into music video song stylings is super funny.
Heroes (NBC) – Well I warmed up to this show over the season last year and though disappointed with the start of this season, found myself yet again drawn into the cast that blurs the line between using their abilities for good or evil and how you can’t tell most of the time which is which as they try to save the world, or not.
Lost (ABC) – It’s been so long since I’ve seen this that I almost didn’t put it on the list, but it continues to entertain with a formula that seemed impossible telling character stories through past and present, from an island that is as full of mysteries as it is new characters.
Pushing Daisies (ABC) – The best new show of the year according to many, and I can’t not delight in it myself, I do give special credit for people who try to push things, and their 360 approach to the tone is wonderful, they’ve had some fantastic guest stars and episodic mysteries but managed to keep the right focus on the core cast with the ultimate can’t-be-together couple of Chuck and Ned.
The Riches (FX) – Another unbelievable premise that just keeps me on the edge of my seat as this Traveler family pretends to be the Riches (folks who were killed in a car accident), and how they continue to keep afloat and keep out of the way of the other Travelers who wish them ill (to say the least) and their internal struggles along the way… it kept me tuned in.
Samantha Who? (ABC) – This is my favorite new comedy and with the dearth of funny out there I think that’s not only entertaining but important. It’s a combination of Christina Applegate really getting a vehicle that suits her great combination of funny, dorky, attractive, bitchy and sweet in her own special way and of course the writing and the great supporting cast don’t hurt with special shoutouts to Jean Smart and Sookie and surprisingly Barry Watson.
Saving Grace (TNT) – You know I’m not sure this is actually one of the best shows but Holly Hunter and her screwed up character are like a car wreck you can’t look away from and her struggle with the angel trying to save her and her friends and family… well I just can’t look away.
30 Rock (NBC) – This show has edged out my previous vote of funniest show How I Met Your Mother (which I still find quite funny) and it found it’s place as the dysfunctional staff of a late night sketch comedy show spouts hilarity on more levels than I can catch if I’m not paying attention, and has been funny each and every time I sit down to watch.

I also didn’t officially list, but wanted to give a special shout out to two shows that I have adored that ended their run in 2007 Gillmore Girls and Veronica Mars, oh how I do miss these sassy gals.

me and tv

August 21, 2007 10 Comments

Well there are some things that I have to go on the record about if I’m going to share anything I have to say about television. I only have basic cable. There I said it. And I don’t mean everything but HBO, I mean the shows you should get with an antenna but don’t, with a few extras thrown in for good measure. TVland, Food Network, Verses, WGN, and Discovery Channel are the major hightlights. I can’t bring myself to throw down for a greater cable expense and the only reason I buckled on this much was because I could no longer get good reception on NBC. Oh and I thought it would be easier with Tivo.

I heart my Tivo! But I have the old one where you can only record one show at a time. I am tempted to pony up for a new box but I have a lifetime membership which isn’t transferable from my current box. And well clearly I’m cheap. My friend keeps trying to get me to get rid of my vcr but I need it as backup. Little does he know that I have a second vcr that’s not even hooked up to the cable in case of emergencies like the start of the fall season before you settle into shows or shows settle into their final timeslots.

So what’s my tv history? I like a mix of dramas, dramedies and sitcoms. To give you some examples from days of yore, Buffy the Vampire Slayer holds a high bar for strong and sassy leads, but I also hold a dear spot in my heart for Alias, Veronica Mars, and Gillmore Girls (particularly the early years). Of course Buffy lead me into anything by Joss Whedon, and I dug Angel and Firefly (while they let me). I’ve done the whole must see Thursday night TV with Friends and Seinfeld, and always had hopes to be amused by anything else they threw in the lineup. I like the faux smart television of West Wing (also the early years). And I can’t help but love a little cheesy soap, think 90210 and the OC, though they always outlive their best times.

I’m not a huge watcher of reality shows. I got hooked on the early years of Survivor, American Idol, and America’s Next Top Model among others. But I find that they are easier to drop from season to season since there’s no ongoing story or characters to follow, and some of them just became to repititive after awhile. While I accept there are some good ones out there, and that even the bad can often be entertaining, I decided that was where I would draw the line. Did I mention I still can’t stop watching America’s Next Top Model? Well there I said that too.

I like a general crime procedural show but I tend to pick those up during summer reruns. I stay away from gameshows, traditional sports, and generally stay away from daytime tv. Though I’m guilty of the occasional glimpse at The View or Ellen or Oprah on a sick day.

Yes though I’ve really only touched on shows of yesteryear, stay tuned for what I’m most looking forward to returning in this fall season.