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summer cleaning – season passes

August 4, 2019 No Comments

As I wrapped up with the series finale of iZombie it reminded me that it was time to take a pass at my season passes with the ending of a variety of shows. Following are some of the ones I’m saying goodbye to (good thing I have plenty else to keep me busy).

You lived a good life:

Humans (AMC) – I absolutely loved the first season of this and although there would be more story to be told on the role of sentient synths the series felt like it ran a good course.
iZombie (CW) – This tale of a woman turned zombie who solved crimes by eating brains took us on a fun journey with her friends and lots of zombie action and felt like it told the story it wanted with the wrap up.
Life in Pieces (CBS) – It may not have been the best series but there was enough funny with this family to keep me tuned in but ok that it was time to wrap it.
Gotham (Fox) – I honestly haven’t even started watching the final season but this show had some great moments but again the pre batman story has an expiration date.

Gone too soon:

Abby’s (NBC) – This friends hanging out at a bar had a good enough cast and ingredients for this to be a very fun hang show had it been given some legs.
Deadly Class (Syfy) – This comic book tale set in the 80s of an underground high school of the deadly arts had great tone and soundtrack and sad I won’t get to see what happens next.
Speechless (ABC) – Truthfully this is almost in the you lived a good life, but this special needs family just felt like it had more depths to explore as their family moved into a new chapter.
Whiskey Cavalier (ABC) – I love a good caper film and this top secret team was just plain fun.

Saving me some TiVo time:

Fam (CBS) – Generic comedy had some good ingredients but I won’t miss it.
The Passage (Fox) – I was a bit intrigued by the huge change in the season finale but overall this show was trashy in a way that I didn’t put down but am totally ok with it not being on the list.
The Cool Kids (Fox) – There is a nostalgia factor with the actors and the straightforward comedy, I thought this would catch on more but honestly it wasn’t something that really hit.

Streaming sadness (no technical season pass):

Forever (Amazon) – This was a very odd story but I really enjoyed the first season and was intrigued to see where else they would go.
Patriot (Amazon) – Ok sad spy probably put us through as many seasons as our protagonist could take but I’m glad we had him while we did.
Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix) – Zombies were all the rage but this Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant one was really the most fun.
Sneaky Pete (Amazon) – Just starting the final season and while imperfect I enjoyed Giovanni Ribisi con man fun.
The Tick (Amazon) – A fresh take on the comic superheroes active in our world and the folks they interact with.

Also in their final seasons, or about to be, Agents of Shield, Elementary, The Good Place, Killjoys, Legion, Madam Secretary, Mr Robot, and Will & Grace have each had a good run and happy to know they have time to wrap up properly.

new and noteworthy tv: 6/24-6/30

June 23, 2019 No Comments

I did catch the two new ABC shows and while Grand Hotel is probably the better of the two very summer fare options, I’m not really up for a soapy hotel drama, though I may give it one more look. Reef Break may not be all that tight of a crime show but the surfy, thiefy vibe Montogomery brings to the lead (though I have to admit what I was wondering is she faltering in hiding her Australian accent or trying to bring something unique to the character) and story is pretty fun in a Hawaii 5-0 Magnum PI kind of way (or what I hoped those shows would be since I dropped both of them). Also kind of excited to see what the latest season of trippy Legion will bring, though I vaguely remember being almost over it last season.

Curfew (Spectrum) Series Premiere, Monday – So Adam Brody (among others) in a once a year illegal and deadly street race, yes please, but wait what’s Spectrum?
Years and Years (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – Six part limited drama follows members of a family from Manchester whose lives converge on ‘one crucial night,’ Emma Thompson is in it so worth a good bet.
Debates (NBC+) Wednesday and Thursday, 6pm – Hear from some of the early voices to see whether the front runners will shift.
The Rook (Starz) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – Supernatural spy thriller where the protagonist wakes up with no memory and has to uncover the truth.
The Loudest Voice (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Russell Crowe is Roger Ailes in a look at his life in news and politics and scandal.

Other streaming releases:

Answer from Heaven (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday – Thai offering on a fallen angel and investigative reporter.
The Chosen One (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Young doctors sent to help in an isolated community but find themselves trapped, oh and there’s secrets in this Brazilian thriller.

Returning streaming: Forest of Piano (Net, Monday), Dope (Net, Friday), Instant Hotel (Net, Friday), Motown Magic (Net, Friday), Paquita Salas (Net, Friday).

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

best, tv

procrastinator’s picks – top tv of 2017

February 28, 2018 No Comments

I always have a love hate relationship with end of year lists. While I enjoy coming up with and sharing some of the real gems that I tune in for I always feel like I’m missing things, ranking inappropriately, and unable to truly convey what’s great for me about some of these shows. And each year with the increase in programming it becomes less and less possible to sample it all. Knowing that I’m still not on premium cable you won’t see any HBO or Showtime, you also won’t see Hulu, so a few common faves might be absent (e.g. The Handmaid’s Tale, Big Little Lies, The Leftovers). Check out Metacritic or Uproxx to see what others are thinking.

Without further ado here are some shows that I enjoyed this year:

One Mississippi (Am) – The placement on the top of my list might have been influenced by the recent notice that this show won’t be returning but Tig Notaro in her semi-autobiographical return home brings lovely moments of thoughtfulness from her radio show, navigating the world, as well as just lovely and yes a little quirky supporting characters.
The Good Place (NBC) – The thing I like most about this show is that it’s a relatively high concept that keeps just one step ahead of where I think it’s going and so far doing so successfully with the story but also the great cast led by Kristin Bell and Ted Danson.
Ozark (Net) – This was the funnest bingiest new addition for me, I always love Jason Bateman and this is one of those shows where you’re not sure how they’re going to keep this going for a whole season after each episode but the family forced to start over their mob related money laundering in the Ozarks was a fun ride.
Master of None (Net) – This season the show really came into its own as we follow Aziz Ansari taking a look at topical and personal stories which create a lovely seasonal arc as well as allowing for unique and topical standalone episodes.
Better Things (Fx) – I didn’t always love Pamela Adlon’s Sam as a character but this was another of those off concept shows where we follow a person through their life often focusing on small moments, in this case another semi-autobiographical look at working actress and single mother, each episode is unexpected and the result is something I looked forward to each week.
Legion (Fx) – I don’t think I can describe how odd this show was, leveraging the people with powers concept and taking it on a different path, and I went hook line and sinker and am only just worried that they won’t be able to support such big swings of experimentation moving forward.
Bojack Horseman (Net) – I just still dig this irregular look at this alt reality slice of Hollywood culture, attempts to connect, and depression with magical moments of animal jokes that keep this in the quick queue.
The Americans (Fx) – Thank goodness the Jennings only have one more season to make it through, as they bring their family in closer they continue to struggle with their love of country (and by that we’re talking Russia) and balancing their missions, identities, and connections.
Kevin Probably Saves the World (ABC) – This might not make most people’s best list because it strikes a lighter side of things but I really appreciate a show that conveys a positivity through a more comedic than schmaltzy approach as Jason Ritter does good deeds with the help of some hidden to others both impressing and irritating those around him.

In my tenth slot I’m going to note a few shows that would have been on previous top tv lists but I just got to them this year, and if you haven’t seen them you should.

Mad Men (AMC/Netflix) – I actually got this channel at the time but while working in advertising the idea of watching a show about stereotypical glory days of advertising felt like a pass but this show truly brought a unique touch to the characters and the perspective on the time.
The Wire (HBO/Amazon Prime) – I finally threw down for Amazon and dove in, and it is an investment but once you get a few episodes in you come to appreciate the series for each episode but even more so how each episode and season just keeps getting more layered with story and characters.
Bored to Death (HBO/Amazon Prime) – When I finally tapped into Amazon someone told me to check this out and I loved it, each half hour following Jason Schwartzman as a novelist trying his hand as a private detective with Ted Danson and Zach Galifinakis as his cohorts is ridiculous and entertaining at every turn, my favorite pick for distraction at the gym.

What were your favorites?

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?