new and noteworthy tv: 10/15-10/21

Not much of the new network fare is sticking, All American felt like a not fresh version of the compared to OC. I am hanging in with God Friended Me and a few more things this week that could hit the queue.

  • The Conners (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 8pm – Critics seem to be indicating the show is working better than its previous incarnation.
  • The Kids are Alright (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 8:30pm – This ’70s set comedy with Michael Cudlitz and Mary McCormack and their eight sons has some good peeps but may not be enough good material here for them to work with.
  • The Rookie (ABC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – 47 year old Nathan Fillion playing a 40 year old rookie cop may need to be enough to keep this show afloat, which he might be.
  • Best Worst Weekend Ever (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – This limited comedy series follows four friends making the most of their last weekend before high school, who knows.
  • Distrito Salvaje (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A new Columbian drama with one of the guys from Narcos.
  • Wanderlust (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Toni Collette in this drama taking a look at a marriage might be worth a look but mixed early reviews.
  • The Woman in White (PBS) Miniseries Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Mystery, ghosts, or just crazy people?

Returning streaming: The Seven Deadly Sins (Net), Lore (Am), Making A Murderer (Net), Daredevil (Net).

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new and noteworthy tv: 10/8-10/14

Things are slowing down for a moment so I can try to clear things off a bit more and still get in the occasional streaming. And of course a couple more new things on the horizon.

  • American Music Awards (ABC) Tuesday, 8pm – Tracee Ellis Ross hosts.
  • All American (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – Compton to Beverly Hills this high schooler has to navigate more than football sounds like early episodes might have promise if not recognized yet.
  • The Haunting of Hill House (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A modern re-imagining of a Shirley Jackson novel about five siblings who grew up in a haunted house, early reviews are good if you like this sort of thing.
  • Light as a Feather (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday – Girls played teh game and are now dying, no word on this one yet.
  • The Romanoffs (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – This new series from Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner brings standalone stories all tied together as descendants of the Romanov family, getting mixed reviews so far.
  • Titans (DC) Series Premiere, Friday – A group of superheroes comes together to defend the Earth and I’m not entirely sure where to watch DC Universe.
  • Pod Save America (HBO) Series Premiere, Friday, 11pm – For those who can’t get enough of this podcast here’s a four part political discussion.
  • Charmed (CW) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – Curious enough to see if our new sisters and their witchcraft can entertain.
  • Camping (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Mixed reviews on this Jennifer Garner lead group of campers filled with contentiousness.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 10/1-10/7


So trying to keep up to date on the new shows so I can determine whether they get another shot or I can ignore any future episodes. Magnum and FBI barely managed to be memorable enough to mention while New Amsterdam had a couple of good characters but was both annoying overall and had forgettable cases, pass. In the not good but maybe one more category, Manifest which wasn’t a good show but at least had an interesting enough premise and Million Little Things has some good actors but didn’t manage to make me feel invested in them or the setup. And interest was piqued by Mr Inbetween, the half hour drama criminal for hire and parent among other things, Single Parents with not quite a solid premise but the characters have room to be funny, and Murphy Brown, good return premise but needs time to see if it find its legs, while Cool Kids and Last Man Standing are both very sitcom if that’s your thing.

And excited this week for the return of some funny Superstore, Will & Grace, Fresh Off the Boat, Speechless, Z Nation and some serious with Madam Secretary. And of course there is more new stuff to come.

  • Us & Them (SonyCrack) Series Premiere, Monday – Boy meets girl and boy and girl’s friends, I don’t know that I would seek out a canceled Fox show on Crackle but with Jason Ritter and Alexis Bledel in the leads it might be worth it.
  • The Neighborhood/Happy Together (CBS) Series Premiere, Monday, 8/8:30pm – Not hearing great things about these but some good peeps so worth a look to see if there are good ingredients.
  • Star Trek: Short Treks (CBSAA) Series Premiere, Thursday – Some shorts to wet your appetite for more Star Trek.
  • Elite (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – The haves nots introduced to the school of the haves creates some tension and perhaps a murder.
  • Into the Dark (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday – Horror event series by some guy who does this sort of thing.

With some streaming returns: Big Mouth (Net, Friday), Little Things (Net, Friday), The Man in the High Castle (Am, Friday).

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/24-9/30


I have yet to catch any of last week’s premieres but wrapped up Forever from the previous, it wasn’t perfect but overall the premise, characters, and odd tone kept me engaged. I’m likely to skip the rest of I Feel Bad which was a little forced and after three eps of Mayans although it’s got lots of potential I still remain unengaged in characters or story, I’m out. Happy for the return this week of the final season of Big Bang, The Good Place, Mom, and curious about the new vibe on Lethal Weapon. I will also tune in for at least the first This Is Us as well as a few new options.

  • Magnum PI (CBS) Series Premiere, Monday, 9pm – I’ll catch one of these to see how they reimagined the characters but don’t assume this one will make the queue.
  • Manifest (NBC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – Interesting premise (plane returns 5+ years later without the plane people missing a beat) but sounds like execution leaves something to be desired.
  • FBI (CBS) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – I used to love early Law & Order but haven’t really been in sync with any of the new worlds created.
  • New Amsterdam (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Yes it’s another medical show but not sure this ideological approach will have enough to grab me.
  • Mr Inbetween (FX) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 11:25 – Haven’t heard much about criminal for hire but looks like it has possibilities.
  • Single Parents (ABC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 9:30 – Will it be funny, we’ll see.
  • A Million Little Things (ABC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – Hoping the buzz around this one means this could actually be a keeper as a group of friends deals with suicide.
  • Murphy Brown (CBS) Season Premiere, Thursday, 9:30pm – Technically not a new show but it’s back a chunk of time later and here’s hoping they’ve got a fresh take on today’s news Murphy style.
  • Last Man Standing (Fox) Season Premiere, Friday, 8pm – I don’t assume this has much of a new take at all but it was a solid enough sitcom and likely remains so.
  • The Cool Kids (Fox) Series Premiere, Friday, 8:30 – I’m hoping this retired life show gives these fun actors something good to work with.
  • God Friended Me (CBS) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8:30pm – We’ll see how god’s latest touch with humanity (or is it?) strikes.

And some returning streaming with Norsemen (Net, Wed), El Marginal (Net, Fri), Reboot (Net, Fri).

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/17-9/23


I caught another Mayans and will give it one more but not sure it’s going to make the cut. I did kind of dig Miniaturist so I’ll check another of those out. And have dove into Forever which also falls into the non-gym viewing as it’s not really a comedy comedy but so far it’s definitely interested me enough to keep going. And while I’ve stopped trying to follow even who is nominated, the Emmys are Monday.

  • Sorry for Your Loss (Face) Series Premiere, Tuesday – So apparently we also need to tune into Facebook for quality tv, this one is supposed to be worth a look with Elizabeth Olsen trying to move on after the death of her husband.
  • I Feel Bad (NBC) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – A new comedy that you may have seem promos for EP’d by Amy Poehler about a woman and her personal and professional challenges.
  • Dead Lucky (SundNow) Series Premiere, Thursday – No word on this multiple POV following a cop killing during a heist.
  • The Good Cop (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Josh Groban plays straight laced detective who teams up with Tony Danza’s disgraced cop father.
  • Maniac (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Intrigued by this limited series with Emma Stone and Jonah Hill in an unusual pharmaceutical trial.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/10-9/16

I caught the first week of Mayans and although the first episode didn’t have much for me to think it was special, it laid out a lot of characters and seeds for drama so I’ll give it another go. I won’t give another go to The Purge which really would have had to have had something in the characters or setup that was pretty outstanding for me to want to go back in. I try to give comedies a little more leeway to find their legs but nothing got a smile on the flat Rel. The one thing that did have a spark of potential was the cheesy looking You on Lifetime, which with its stalker premise isn’t for everyone but sewed some good seeds of potential.

  • Life (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday – A new Korean medical drama, these international releases don’t have much info around them.
  • The First (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday – Sean Penn as astronaut and family man, potentially worth a look.
  • Forever (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen star in a new comedy about a married couple that has a good pedigree and buzz.
  • The Rise of Phoenixes (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Mandarin story of power, desire, lust and love among people from different kingdoms in ancient China.

Plus some returning streaming shows: BoJack Horseman (Net, Friday), American Vandal (Net, Friday), Ingobernable (Net, Friday), Snatch (Crack, Thursday).

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/3-9/9

In addition to the return of It’s Always Sunny on Wednesday I guess new fall tv is starting to sneak in. Stay tuned for annual posts on New and Returning Fall TV!

  • US Open Tennis (ESPN) – Play continues this week leading up to finals over the weekend, go Federer.
  • A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities (Net) Series Premiere, Monday – No word on these series comparing Taipei and Taiwanese-American community.
  • Model Squad (E!) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 8pm – If ANTM isn’t enough for you this gives a glimpse inside real models lives.
  • The Bobby Brown Story (BET) Miniseries Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – For those of you who just can’t get enough.
  • Mayans MC (Fx) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – Fans of Sons of Anarchy (which I was), which had an admittedly uneven run, will tune in to this look at another motorcycle club this time in So Cal, though from the early episodes previewed by critics sounds like it’s missing some of the better aspects of the former.
  • The Purge (Syfy/USA) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – I’ve never seen any of these movies but can only assume it will have the same spirit, which for me doesn’t seem like a good one.
  • 54 Hours (SunN) Series Premiere, Thursday – A four part hostage drama based on a German bank robbery gone awry.
  • Save Me (Starz) Series Premiere, Thursday – No advance word on this suspect of a kidnapping searches for the real napper.
  • Rel (Fox) Series Premiere, Sunday, 8pm – I never have high expectations for these made a comedy based on my real life, this one about a man restarting his life post divorce, but often worth a look.
  • The Miniaturist (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – I’m not usually a huge watcher of PBS series but you never know, this one set in 1686 Amsterdam where a bride’s gift of a miniature replica of their home conveys secrets.
  • Kidding (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Jim Carrey in a show about a kids tv personality whose life starts to go awry definitely worth a look but early reviews are mixed.
  • You (Life) Series Premiere, Sunday, 10pm – Based on a novel, this “psychological thriller” follows Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley get his stalker on, maybe entertaining but likely not great.

Plus some returning streaming shows: I Love You, America (Hulu, Thursday),  Atypical (Net, Friday), Las Chicas del Cable (Net, Friday), Marvel’s Iron Fist (Net, Friday).

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 8/27-9/2

How is it September already? Time to get out my back to school wear (in adult form) and prepare for Fall tv! I officially wait for the yearly Entertainment Weekly Fall Preview to let me know it’s time to get serious but some stuff will start to sneak in early. Until after Labor Day I’m still considering it summer so time to turn off the tv and get outside, or at least into a good matinee.

  • US Open Tennis (ESPN) – First round tennis play starts Monday, will it be a return of familiar faces at the end or some new blood?
  • Ink Master (Para) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – This season they’re keeping up with the bringing back of folks to keep us engaged as Cleen Rock One vs Christian Buckingham coaching newbies for the title, this is still one of my fave realities.
  • One Dollar (CBSAA) Series Premiere, Thursday – A small town mystery follows a dollar bill through the town to different people’s povs, I’m still not signing up for CBS All Access.
  • Ozark (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – It’s time to see what our pal Jason Bateman and his family are up to, this accountant/money launderer and his family trying to outlive organized and disorganized crime was one of the faves last year so hoping the Sophomore slump can give this a pass.
  • Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – John Krasinski is the latest to take on this role of analyst turned field agent which reportedly is solid thought not a standout on the small screen.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 8/20-8/26

True confession, I got sucked into rewatching the first season of Beverly Hills 90210 (and it was almost unwatchable) only to find that it was the only season on Prime. Do I really need to throw down for Hulu to get old shows as well as originals? Not just that but other shows no longer seem to be found on Netflix or Prime, including things like the final season of Unreal. Until I decide I’m making some progress on Big Love, Fortitude, Alias Grace, and Rectify.

  • Deadwind (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday – This Finnish series brings us a new detective trying to get over her husband’s death and solve the murder of a young woman.
  • Rob Riggles Ski Master Academy (Crack) Series Premiere, Thursday – This comedy follows a ski master and his staff defend their academy.
  • Ghoul (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – A three part horror series where a prisoner turns the tables on his interrogators.
  • The Innocents (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Two teens run away and find more secrets including perhaps some secret powers.
  • Safe Harbour (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday – Five Australians on a yachting vacation turns awry when they find refugees on a fishing boat in this four part thriller.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 8/13-8/19

This week’s accomplishments include finishing out some gym viewing with Grace & Frankie and the series wrap of Love, both of which were about as fulfilling as they needed to be. I also hit the three part series A Very English Scandal which starring Hugh Grant’s deep side part and a host of great acting made it worth a watch for a look into this political scandal. I sampled Carter from last week which in peak tv didn’t quite make the list and without good reviews of All About the Washingtons or Insatiable, that leaves me with Lodge 49 which was definitely intriguing enough to go for another. I’m also kind of sticking with both Burden of Truth, a decent enough legal drama (for summer) and the reality competition Making It, which isn’t amazing but fun to see the random crafts these folks come up with.

  • Ronny Chieng: International Student (Com App) Series Premiere, Monday – The Daily Show’s Chieng gives us this comedy about studying abroad.
  • Disenchantment (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Matt Groening brings another animated tale, this one a spoof on fairy tale fantasy though rumor hasn’t it has potential but isn’t quite there.
  • The Investigator (Net) Season Premiere, Sunday – Not much info around on this returning series.

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

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