I finally kicked out my top tv of 2023 last week. One of the things that was holding me up was that I was trying to finish Succession(HBO) because it was on so many people’s lists. I started it after it ended so that was a chunk of episodes and it’s not a light bingy show. Overall I thought it was good and the performances were great but I don’t love a show where people are all idiots and assholes. I also dabbled with at least starting as many of the one-off shows on various lists. I’m currently rocking a Peacock subscription for a few various items.

• County Rescue (GAF) Series Premiere, Monday 2/26, 8pm – Great American Family is a network I’m not tracking but apparently this is its first original series, an action-adventure medical drama.
• Shogun (FX/Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 2/27, 10pm – Based on the novel, 1600 Japan and Civil War, early reviews look good.
• Perimeter (BET+) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/29 – Interconnected stories set in 90’s Atlanta.
• Elsbeth (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/29, 10pm – I loved Carrie Preston as this character in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, two great series so of course I’m tuning in.
• Dead Hot (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 3/1 – This UK comedy thriller set in Liverpool shows two friends bonded after the trauma of losing someone and new people bringing new drama.
• The Regime (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday 3/3, 9pm – The story of a year in the walls of the European palace with Kate Winslet trying to hold it together.
• Alert: Missing Persons Unit (Fox) Season Premiere, Tuesday 3/5, 9pm – I’m pretty sure this series wasn’t good when it first came out but maybe it was a slow time, I’ll catch one but although I like a certain amount of procedurals in my repertoire I really would like to stop watching shows that I’m not that into, too much backlog.
• Animal Control (Fox) Season Premiere, Wednesday 3/6, 9pm – This was another show that I think I wanted to be funnier than it was because it has a good cast, we will see where they start.
• The Gentlemen (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/7 – Guy Ritchie brings us a series about an English aristocrat who inherits an estate to find it is a cannabis empire, set in this world of the movie of the same name.

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

I watched a couple of the Feud (Fx/Hulu) and while it’s not great there is something appealing about the inside look at society. I cranked through the latest season of Queer Eye (Net) which also isn’t great but is always a nice palette cleanser. Also, the latest Reacher (Prime) which wasn’t as good as the first but still fun enough. The latest season of Lupin (Net) which I still quite enjoy, I am a sucker for a good caper. I delved into the first season of One Piece (Net) because it had gotten some buzz and found myself kind of pulled into the pirate adventure. I also did a little catch-up on Bob’s Burgers (Fox/Hulu) the one animated show that I find endearing. And enjoying the return of regular network tv.

• The New Look (App+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/14 – Inspired by true events this series focuses on Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, and other contemporaries as they launch modern fashion coming out of WWII.
• Resident Alien (Syfy) Season Premiere, Wednesday 2/14, 10pm – I think this show is a hoot, and Alan Tudyk as an alien passing himself off as a small-town doctor deserves an Emmy.
• Churchy (BET+) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/15 – A son is bypassed for leadership of his father’s megachurch and strikes out on his own with comic results.
• Far North (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/15 – A drug smuggling dramedy about a New Zealand meth deal gone awry.
• The Vince Staples Show (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/15 – A rapper and actor navigates everyday life in this comedy.
• Ghosts/So Help Me Todd (CBS) Season Premieres, Thursday 2/15, 8:30/9 – A fun lineup returns, I’m curious to see what awaits us in the new seasons.
• The Equalizer (CBS) Season Premiere, Sunday 2/18, 8pm – After watching the latest Denzel flick I’m even more appreciative that they did this Queen Latifa version, I can’t remember what sort of dire straights we left things in.
• Will Trent (ABC) Season Premiere, Tuesday 2/20, 8pm – I enjoyed this random Louisana ‘cop,’ his surrounding peeps, and his tiny dog.
• Constellation (App+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 2/21 – An astronaut returns to Earth only to find pieces of her life missing.
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/2 – So I guess more of this.
• The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/25, 9pm – A spinoff focusing on Rick and Michonne, I stopped watching this ages ago but clearly it still has legs.

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

Finished up Party Down before I canceled my Starz subscription, and I thought they did a good job picking up years later with the characters. I also rewatched the earlier seasons which held up pretty well. I managed to get a look at Wild Cards on CW, which is cute enough since I always like a heist/con show. And Ride on CW which is apparently a previously cancelled Hallmark show, not surprised.

I had intended to do my 2023 book list last week but what are you gonna do? I was also disappointed to find that I can no longer find Metacritic’s great consolidated tv critics’ best of lists. I can only assume they’re not doing that anymore, bummer. Will poke around but not sure I can find something comparable (let me know if you’ve got the magic list).

• The Claremont Murders (Acorn) Series Premiere, Monday 1/29 – A 2-part Australian crime drama based on real-life missing women.
• Feud: Capote vs The Swans (Fx/Hulu) Season Premiere, Wednesday 1/31, 10pm – This Ryan Murphy anthology series picks up with Truman Capote and the society women he befriended and then betrayed by writing about their secrets, a start-studded cast,
• Mr and Mrs. Smith (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 2/2 – Based loosely on the movie, in this Donald Glover and Maya Erksine’s characters are matched up as spouses via a spy agency as they go on capers, intrigued.
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Season Premiere, Sunday 2/4, 10pm – The 12th and I understand final season returns with I’m sure more cringe.
• The Conners/Not Dead Yet/Abbott Elementary (ABC) Season Premieres, Wednesday 2/7, 8/8:30/9pm – This amusing lineup is back.
• One Day (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 2/8 – Based on a David Nicholls’ novel two peeps spend grad night together and although they go their separate ways they remain connected.
• Tracker (CBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 2/11 – The coveted Superbowl spot goes to this Justin Hartley show where the lone wolf/survivalist helps solve crimes, I don’t know what time this will actually air.

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

I caught the good Minx on my temporary Showtime subscription, pity it was canceled. I have also been rewatching the old Party Down before getting to the current season. I didn’t realize Shining Vale was being pulled after it was canceled but the first couple of episodes were much better than I had initially anticipated. On Netflix, I wrapped up The Diplomat which I thought was great, super compelling characters and situations, and Lockwood & Co which I wanted to like but just couldn’t get into. I also somehow started watching Bookie on Max which was entertaining enough but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.

• Death and Other Details (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/16 – This is kind of being touted as if you liked Murders in the Building (I’m dubious but willing to give it a shot), a murder on an ocean liner with Mandy Patinkin as the detective.
• Wild Cards (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/17, 8pm – A new crime-solving opposites attract with a by-the-book cop and con woman, paired with the return of Family Law which I’ve been enjoying.
• Hazbin Hotel (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 1/19 – Animated comedy musical about the princess of Hell trying to rehab demons.
• The Woman in the Wall (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/21, 9pm – Ruth Wilson stars as a woman who wakes up to find a dead body in this miniseries.
• Queer Eye (Net) Season Premiere, Wednesday 1/24 – Another season of makeovers in New Orleans and I believe this is Bobby Berk’s last season before they head to Vegas.
• Griselda (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/25 – Sofia Vergara steps in as the cartel creator.
• Sexy Beast (Para+) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/25 – A prequel looking at the start of Gal and Don’s descent into London’s criminal world.
• Masters of the Air (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 1/26 – A WWII drama based on a real American bomber group, EP’d by Spielberg, Hands, and Goetzman has a pedigree.

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

I’ve been doing some dabbling in shows that were on ‘best’ lists and a few I tried and am not going to do for one reason or another: Cunk on Earth (Net), The Curse (Show), How to with John Wilson (Max), I think You Should Leave (Net), Scott Pilgrim (Net).

I did wrap up the latest season of Upload (Prime) which I find cute though the premise is starting to wear a little thin. And Lucifer (Net) whose premise they did a surprisingly good job stretching out (not without some hiccups) but overall was really fun.

• Fool Me Once (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 1/1 – A conspiracy when an ex-soldier sees her murdered husband on a secret cam in this British mystery
• Extended Family (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/2, 8:30pm – They actually snuck in a preview of this which I missed but a good cast with Abigail Spencer, Donald Faison, and John Cryer could help this comedy.
• The Brothers Sun (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/4 – A Taipei triad member hits LA to protect his mom and brother who don’t know the truth.
• Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/4 – Based on a book where witches are productive members of society until a death turns things into a witch hunt.
• Grimsburg (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/7, 9:30pm – A new addition to the ‘animation domination’ lineup, Jon Hamm voices a detective who must find himself, or something.
• Funny Woman (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/7, 10pm – In 1960s London a beauty queen turns to television comedy.
• Safe Home (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/9 – A woman fleeing a high-profile law firm turns to helping people escaping domestic violence but can’t escape her own past.
• ECHO (Hulu/Dis+) Series Premiere, Tuesday 1/9 – Another Marvel, this one about Maya Lopez fleeing Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire.
• Criminal Record (App+) Series Premiere, Wednesday 1/10 – A London thriller where an anonymous call brings two detectives on a crash course with an old case.
• TED (Pea) Series Premiere, Thursday 1/11 – A prequel to the TED films with Seth MacFarlane voicing the stuffed bear.
• Monsieur Spade (AMC) Series Premiere, Sunday 1/14 – Clive Owen stars as hardboiled PI Sam Spade in retirement, until something comes up.
• True Detective (HBO) Season Premiere, Sunday 1/14, 9pm – I have yet to get caught up enough with my HBO to do these but I understand the seasons are standalone, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis step into the leads.

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

After I finished the second season of those messy but compelling Yellowjackets on Showtime I called it. I still have Paramount+ for the remainder of Ink Master but with such a backlog I decided not to dive into anything else. I did watch one ep of The Curse which was a little more annoying than entertaining for me. I also finished the season of entertaining Deadloch on Prime, a nice mix of comedy and small-town murder intrigue. And the last of All Rise on OWN which was a nice courtroom drama with a hopefully positive spin.

The best of lists should start rolling out so I may prioritize a bit differently to get my list done within a reasonable amount of time. Of this week’s options, I’ll certainly grab Reacher when I have some time. I am also enjoying the latest season of Fargo some typical brutality but also some fun characters. I sampled but didn’t stick with NCIS: Sydney, I’m not a watcher of the rest of that so if that’s your bag it might be a good one.

• Archie (Britbox) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/7 – Jason Isaacs as Cary Grant in this four-part drama
• The Lovers (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 12/7 – Opposites clash/attract with this supermarket checkout gal and political broadcaster meet.
• Culprits (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 12/8 – An assassin is targeting the crew of elite criminals who pulled off a big heist.
• Reacher (Prime) Season Premiere, Friday 12/15 – I feel like everyone ripped through the first season of this show and he’s back, the first few eps available and then weekly through Jan.
• Such Brave Girls (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 12/15 – An English comedy about a mother and two daughters after their husband/father leaves.

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

My Showtime subscription led me to the first season of Uncoupled which honestly I thought was the only season. I had remembered hearing it was cancelled but apparently Showtime picked it up. As a Darren Starr production not surprising it has kind of a sex in the city vibe. I also had a little sick day time to wrap up Never Have I Ever which was cute enough though not so compelling that I didn’t debate dropping it. And enjoyed the second season of Bosch: Legacy and intrigued by possible additional Bosch spinoffs.

Oh and the holiday specials are hitting. Happy Thanksgiving!

• Obituary (Hulu) Series Premiere, Tuesday 11/12 – Does getting paid per obituary compel you to create more deaths?
• Fargo (Fx) Season Premiere, Tuesday 11/12, 10pm – The previous season of this wasn’t my fave but there is something about these brutal in the world of Fargo stories.
• Squid Game: The Challenge (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/22 – Why wouldn’t Netflix capitalize on the success of this show by making it an actual competition, one can only assume it’s less deadly.
• Faraway Downs (Hulu) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/26 – Baz Luhrman helms this Australian tale with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman striving to save a cattle ranch.
• The Artful Dodger (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/29 – A follow-up to Oliver Twist we follow Jack Dawkins to his later life being pulled back into crime.
• Bookie (Max) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/30 – Sebastian Maniscalco stars as a veteran bookie and hijinks ensue.
• Obliterated (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/20 – A special forces team has to sober up and save Vegas.

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

Another bank of tv shows done thanks to my back injury and the final days of my Apple+ subscription. Bad sisters was enjoyable with rich characters and a nice mix of tragedy/comedy, not sure what another season would look like but think it’s coming back. Hijack is more the kind of thing I feel like I enjoy in movie form but they did a good job of keeping each hour intriguing and suspenseful, and you know Idris Elba. High Desert brought the quirky wannabe detective which I normally dig but this might have been a little too off even for me, but still kind of fun. After Party was yet another of the murder revealed at the beginning and then the unfolding which I like well enough, this one did a fun job really stylizing each person’s POV.

I also got back to Master of None on Netflix, I enjoyed the light humor of earlier seasons but hadn’t been back for the final Lena Waithe season which was different in tone but well done. And another ‘I wish I liked it more’ was the absurdists I’m a Virgo on Prime, definitely appealing aspects.

I have a lot of other streaming I’m catching up with but Bosch: Legacy on FreeVee/Am apparently took the front seat so will stay tuned for each week’s new eps. I will also be adding Paramount+ for another sample to get Ink Master in so I might dive into a few things while I’m there. I caught the first two eps of the new Frasier on CBS and it was amusing enough to revisit Grammer and the new cast, full season on P+.

• Everyone Else Burns (CW) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/26, 9:30pm – A comedy about a religious family who believes the world with end within the decade, this adds to the CW comedy lineup, I couldn’t stick with Son of a Critch but have been enjoying We Run the Burbs and Children Ruin Everything well enough.
• Black Cake (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 11/1 – This family drama/murder mystery that spans decades is based on the bestselling book.
• Ink Master (Para+) Season Premiere, Wednesday 11/1 – Time to reup my Paramount+ subscription (and catch the second season of Yellowjackets), an intro to the characters via a special on MTV the same night.
• All The Light We Cannot See (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 11/2 – I really enjoyed this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel told through parallel stories of a blind French girl and a young German soldier, we’ll see how well it translates.
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Para+) Series Premiere, Sunday 11/5 – This first season of this anthology series focuses on the first Black US Marshal west of the Mississippi with David Oyelowo.

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

Well, I guess we’re not totally getting a fall season this year. But there have been a few network shows that I’ve sampled. The Irrational has likable Jesse L. Martin who is somehow totally bland, as one of those consultants who can tell stuff, I’ll try again but so far forgettable. Found about an off-the-rails group of peeps who bend the rules to find lost people, the entire company seems to have been personally impacted by loss and the protagonist is holding her previous captor in the basement to help her Lechter style, at least it’s a little interesting. Sullivan’s Crossing is another entry in the snooze pile about a disgraced big-city doc who returns home to rebuild some burnt bridges reluctantly. The Spencer Sisters also has the potential for some fun as an estranged mother and daughter solve crimes together.

I also have been doing some streaming wrap-ups. Fine Platonic and intriguing Severance on Apple, I’m still working on finishing a few things with my one-month subscription. I finally made it through Better Call Saul and admit I didn’t love the final season but overall a great show with great performances. I’m sad The Great is done but glad they ended on a pretty satisfying note. And Only Murders in the Building which is fun enough but hasn’t quite hit the heights of season one.

• The Fall of the House of Usher (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/12 – Based on works of Edgar Allan Poe, the death of members of a family dynasty.
• Frasier (Para+) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/12 – A reboot of Frasier as he returns to Boston to reconnect with his son.
• Little Bird (PBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/12, 9pm – Following a girl as she looks for her birth family and uncovers her history.
• Everybody Loves Diamonds (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 10/13 – Italian heist series with a comedic twist, sure.
• Lessons in Chemistry (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 10/13 – Brie Larson steps into the role of a ’50s scientist who ends up hosting a cooking show.
• Bodies (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 10/19 – Four detectives in four different time periods need to solve an original murder that alters the course of history.
• Bosch: Legacy (Free) Season Premiere, Friday 10/20 – Excited for another round of Bosch in this latest iteration.
• Upload (Am) Season Premiere, Friday 10/20 – What additional layers of intrigue will we find with our dead and alive players?

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