luther – procrastinationchronicles.com

new and noteworthy tv: 12/14-12/20

December 14, 2015 No Comments

Other than a lot of holiday riff raff, won’t miss out on the ‘special’ singular 2+ hr ep of Luther. And some additional new Netflix with animated Family and docu Murder, and a little more Syfy which I’m never sure is worth a watch but there is an occasional fun gem.

Monday – Childhood’s End/The Expanse, Mini/Series Premiere (Syfy, 8/10pm), Love & Hip Hop, Season Premiere (VH1, 8pm), Adele Live in NYC (NBC, 10pm)
Tuesday – Toy Story that Time Forgot/Shrek the Halls/I Want a Dog for Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30/9pm)
Wednesday – Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (NBC, 8pm)
Thursday – American Country Countdown (Fox, 8pm), How Murray Saved Christmas/Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Music Tale (NBC, 8/9pm), Disney Prep & Landing/Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC, 8/8:30pm), iHeartRadio Jingle Ball (CW, 8pm), Luther, Season Premiere (BBCA, 9pm), Beat Bobby Flay, Season Premiere (Food, 10pm)
Friday – F is for Family, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Making a Murderer, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/A Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm), Yes, Virginia (ABC, 8:30pm), Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8pm), The Soup, Series Finale (E!, 10pm)
Saturday – Democrats Debate (ABC, 5pm)
Sunday – Miss Universe (Fox, 7pm)

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.

movies, tv

stream it…

December 24, 2013 No Comments

Just in case someone you know recently received or signed up for Netflix streaming, the procrastinator thought it might be time to do a recommendation round up to help with your distractions. For latest movies and all series you still might need to go to the full dvd subscription but I find enough to keep my backlog filled during my regular series downtime. I definitely lean toward the television (at least until I get a couple more series under my belt) but there are a few new and old movie options that are worth a peek as well.

TELEVISION

House of Cards/Orange is the New Black/Arrested Development – Netflix original series might be what drove you to pull the trigger and they’re worth a watch (plus the backlog of earlier AD still hold up).
Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – Sometimes I just like to revisit the Joss Whedon backlog.
Battlestar Galactica/Friday Night Lights/Chuck/Terriers/The Riches/Saving Grace/Freaks and Geeks – These more dramatic series, some cut far too short and some a little long, are good slightly irregular watching.
Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23/My Boys – Some comedic fare for just a little something quick.
Sherlock/Luther/Parenthood/Sons of Anarchy – A mix of dramatic series that are still going and definitely worth a look if you have yet to get on board.
Louie/Wilfred/The League/It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Parks and Recreation – And a little comedy catch up for those also still running.

On my to do list: Mad Men, The Fall, Rescue Me, Top of the Lake

MOVIES

A peek at some more recent releases back into the classics:

The Hunger Games
Safety Not Guaranteed
Jeff Who Lives at Home
Hit & Run
Adventureland
Young Adult
Lars and the Real Girl
Bernie
The Kids are Alright
Zoolander
Being John Malkovich
House of Yes
Lost in Translation
Memento
The Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller’s Day Off/Clueless/13 Going on 30/Heathers – Some classics never get old.
The Italian Job, Parker, Blitz, Safe – I’ve developed a Jason Statham video weakness.

On my to do list: The American, Being Elmo, Cinema Paradiso, End of Watch, Extract, Flight, Drug War, Hoop Dreams, Melancholia, The Messenger, Our Idiot Brother, The Road, Tiny Furniture

Of course you can check the new releases and recently added to keep up to date. What’s missing from the list?

returning fall favorites

September 17, 2013 No Comments

Some new stuff is a’coming but before we get caught up in the new shiny things here are some of the tried and true that I’m most looking forward to:

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9/26) – This show is still good for a chuckle and the upping of the gal pals doesn’t hurt.
Elementary (CBS, 9/26) – Sherlock and Watson in a new modern day slant, I dig them and it.
The Good Wife (CBS, 9/29) – Still one of my fave dramas, balancing good characters and story.
Grimm (NBC, 10/25) – Ghoul of the week in a fairy tale kind of way kept me coming back.
Hart of Dixie (CW) – Our big city doctor may not be all that revolutionary but sometimes you need a cute small town show.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The League (FXX) – So wrong they’re right.
Luther (BBCA) – Ok this is basically already done but I love some Luther.
The Mentalist (CBS, 9/29) – Slightly odd no longer fake psychic still keeps me intrigued.
The Middle (ABC, 9/25) – Good ole middle American family comedy, under the radar but worth a look and a laugh.
The Mindy Project/New Girl (Fox, 9/17) – These ladies and their supporting casts both got a good stride last year.
Parenthood (NBC, 9/26) – The Braverman’s are always getting into some trouble or another, but I just want them all to be happy.
Parks & Recreation (NBC, 9/26) – When they’re on, this might be my favorite comedy on tv.
Sons of Anarchy (Fx, 9/10) – Damn those MC guys can’t just chillax, lots of drama and conflict and lack of impulse control, all in the name of trying to make something or other right.
The Walking Dead (AMC, 10/13) – Zombie fun and what’s the right choice in the new world order?

Honorable Mention (aka still on the TiVo): Bones (Fox), Castle (ABC, 9/23) How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 9/23), Modern Family (ABC, 9/25).

What are you most looking forward to?

new and noteworthy tv: 9/2-9/8

September 1, 2013 No Comments

We’re finally getting some good stuff, and don’t forget to check your settings for FXX, it’s showing up in my guide at 803 so reset my Season Passes for It’s Always Sunny and The League…

Monday

Tamra’s OC Wedding (Brav, 8pm) Series Premiere – Another Real Housewives spinoff.
Fast n’ Loud/Turn & Burn (Disc, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – More stuff with n’s and &s.

Tuesday

Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition (Life, 9pm) Season Premiere – Dance your little heart out.
Top Gear/We’re the Fugawis (Hist, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Gear and then a look inside a motorcycle club.
My Big Fat Revenge (Oxy, 9pm) Series Premiere – Apparently revenge is getting skinny?
Cold Justice (TNT, 10pm) Series Premiere – It’s like L&O: Cold Case but it’s a reality show.
Luther (BBCA, 10pm) Season Premiere – He’s back! And this short season plays each subsequent night.
Tosh.0/Brickleberry (Com, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – New clothes, new adventures.

Wednesday

Digfellas (Trav, 8pm) Series Premiere – Diggin’ it.
Inside the NFL (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – James Brown, Phil Simms, and Cris Collinsworth kick it off.
Ghost Mine (Syfy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Looks back and ahead to the rest of the season.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The League/Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell (FXX, 10/10:30/11pm) Season Premieres – Don’t miss your comedies on the new FXX.

Thursday

Sunday Night Football (NBC, 5:30pm) Season Premiere – I love that Sunday premieres on a Thursday.
Tamar & Vince (WE, 9pm) Season Premiere – Hitting the road to promote the new single.
Customer is Always Right? (OWN, 10pm) Series Premiere – Starting with Mrs. Fields.

Friday

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Making the team.
Hello Ross (E!, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ross the intern from The Tonight Show gets his own gig.
20/20 (ABC ,10pm) Season Premiere – Newsishness.

Saturday

Cupcake Wars (Food, 8p Season Premiere –m) Jessica Alba judges.
David Tutera (WE, 9pm) Season Premiere – Party planning.
Six Little McGhees (OWN, 10pm) Season Premiere – The sextuplets are a little bit older.

Sunday

US Open (CBS, 1:30pm) – The women get the Sunday spot since men go tomorrow.
Last Tango in Halifax (PBS, 8pm) Series Premiere – Childhood sweethearts are reunited 60 years later in this latest dramedy.
Rachel vs. Guy (Food, 8pm) Season Premiere – Kids cook off.
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 9pm) Season Premiere – Back to another season in the 20s.
Oprah’s Lifeclass (OWN, 9pm) Season Premiere – Fatherless America.
Miami Monkey (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Alas not a monkey show but a Big Ang spinoff bar.

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.

stream it…

October 30, 2012 1 Comment

Some time ago when the Netflix split of services and cost hike hit many made the decision to lose discs (better selection but they’re just collecting dust) or lose streaming (there isn’t anything really available)… I chose to hold on to the streaming. The thought was that eventually there would be a better selection, I could order stuff via Amazon on my TiVo if I really wanted something new, and I was watching a couple of tv series that were cheaper this way. It’s been a while now and although I do catch the occasional movie I’m mostly watching TV.

What’s worth a watch:

Firefly/Buffy/Angel – They’re cult loved genre shows, but loved for a reason, strong characters, quirky dialogue, and just plain good action, Firefly (the space cowboy show) is probably the best introduction because as sad as I was to see it only go a season, it’s maybe the least uneven because of it, though the seven seasons of Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) and five of the spinoff Angel (that really came into its own), are honestly some great television and I can tune into these at any time like a comfort food.
Battlestar Gallactica – I’m up to season four on this and although it’s maybe not as rock solid all the way through I’ve really enjoyed the political futuristic sci fi struggles of the beleaguered band of survivors, what do you do when you’re struggling for personal and species survival and what makes a person a person, you know with some space action.
Friday Night Lights – I didn’t catch this the first time around, mostly for doubting that I would be that into a football town show, but after season one I’m on board with the small town drama, the primary family and the extended football family center around, well, football but its quickly much more than that.
Luther/Sherlock – My faves of the BBC showings so far, complex gentlemen solving crimes, totally different tones but with a complex leading character who sometimes does things that maybe aren’t always seeming like the right things to do.
Terriers – Critically acclaimed but ratings challenged the single season of this misfit duo doing the detective thing is another one of the shows that was canceled far before its time.
Arrested Development – This may be part of the new model for streaming, not only is this funny show available now, but exclusive episodes (yes, the stories are true, they’re creating new episodes) will be released on Netflix (can’t wait!), and now’s a great time to catch up or rewatch.

Next for me is either Mad Men or Downton Abbey. And a couple people have recently mentioned a couple of unsung shows from their queues Peep Show for awkward buddy comedy and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho a fantastical Korean romance. What’s in your queue?

new and noteworthy tv: 9/26-10/2

September 25, 2011 No Comments

It’s time to start eliminating shows…