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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new and noteworthy tv: 8/6-8/12

This week’s wrap up included Black Mirror, which I’ve noted is well done but too depressing with its technology doom tales for me, as well as tech tale with questionable doom Humans, and am wondering if we’ll get a fourth season of that. Now moving on to sample Big Love, Fortitude, and A Very English Scandal.

  • Lodge 49 (AMC) Series Premiere, Monday, 10pm – They’re describing this as a light-hearted, endearing modern fable, set in Long Beach a local ex surfer ends up looking for purpose in life at a lodge, reportedly this one is worth a look.
  • Carter (WGN) Tuesday, 10pm – Jerry O’Connell brings another take on the light-hearted with a turn as an actor who plays a detective becoming a detective after a public melt down, maybe just put he and Rachel Bilson together for Take Two Carter, though it’s probably not amazing O’Connell (like Bilson) is likable enough.
  • All About the Washingtons (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons throws down with an autobiographical scripted family sitcom with hip hop artist spending more time at home to raise the kids, who knows?
  • Insatiable (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – So this has been getting buzz just off of the previews for fat shaming as former fat girls is out for payback, I’ll stay tuned for reviews before adding to my queue.
  • La Casa de las Flores (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – This dark comedy about a family running a flower business with the patriarch has to take in his kids with his recently passed mistress, quien sabe?
  • Ordeal by Innocence (Am) Mini Series Premiere, Friday – An adaptation of Agatha Christie’s tale brings light to a family’s maybe murderer(s), looks like a good cast but will stay tuned.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/30-8/5

Another lackluster week for anything shiny and new. I did manage to wrap up my backlogged Underground, though honestly I think I didn’t enjoy season 2 as much with its broader focus. I also wrapped up In Treatment which after over one hundred episodes of therapy I’m not sure whether anyone is any more sane but I’m going to miss it.

  • A Very Secret Service (Net) Season Premiere, Monday – A silly take on the spy biz returns, even though I haven’t tuned in.
  • Making It (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – A latest reality entrant which caught my eye because it’s on network tv and because the host duo of Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman make me intrigued as to what these makers will get up to.
  • The Sinner (USA) Season Premiere, Wednesday, 10pm – This show, which I tuned out of, returns with a new mystery behind the crime scenario.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/23-7/29

As I keep poking around streaming options it makes me wonder again if I should take a look at Hulu in addition to Amazon Prime and Netflix, but then it makes me wonder if I should look at reevaluating my cable again, and then I put off any looking at all.

  • Castle Rock (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday – JJ Abrams taking on Stephen King, material totally worth a shot.
  • Burden of Truth (CW) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 8pm – Big city lawyer’s return to her hometown leads to a look into a mysterious illness, no high hopes.
  • Orange is the New Black (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I was a little over the prison takeover last season but still enough good character drama to make me want to check out the women hitting maximum security, but maybe just not right away.
  • Welcome to the Family (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – An offbeat comedy where a woman teams up with her father’s girlfriend after his death when they’re both left out of his will, there are so many new series I tend to wonder if those with little info aren’t up to snuff or just victims of the glut.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/9-7/15

It wasn’t that long ago when I would be spending all my time this time of year watching Tour de France and Wimbledon. These days I limit myself to only catch the tennis majors starting at the semis (Thursday at 5am, ESPN) and although I still tune in for a little Tour preview I’m no longer scanning through three weeks of cycling. While I still enjoy the sporting the golden age of television makes me winnow back some of the things, though surprisingly I will still have time to watch summer favorite King of the Road.

  • King of the Road (Vice) Season Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – Skateboard scavenger hunt, who are the new teams and new challenges?
  • The Outpost (CW) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 9pm – In this new fantasy offering a woman who is the last of her race looks for vengeance and deals with fanatics, mercenaries, and of course a supernatural power.
  • Harlots (Hulu) Season Premiere, Wednesday – I’ve never gotten started on Hulu and therefore Hulu shows.
  • Bonus Family (Net) Season Premiere, Sunday – Swedish dramedy reportedly has a nice touch dealing with a new couple their exes and their children.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 7/2-7/8

I wrapped up Deadwood which didn’t immediately grab me but by the time the series wrapped I realized I’d be missing that crew, what’s the deal with the movie? Though this does now leave me with an opening, looks like HBO series with full seasons available on Prime are Boardwalk Empire (5 seasons), Rome (2 seasons), The Newsroom (3 seasons), Oz (6 seasons), Big Love (5 seasons), Family Tree (1 season), How to Make it in America (2 seasons), Treme (4 seasons)… what’s good?

  • Strokes of Genius (CW) Tuesday, 8pm – Can’t get enough tennis? Get a look at this in depth look at the Federer/Nadal 2008 Wimbledon final.
  • 4th of July Specials, Wednesday, 8pm: Fourth of July at the White House (Hall), Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (NBC), A Capital Fourth (PBS)
  • Anne with an E (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – The green gables return though this series isn’t high on my to do list.
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I do really enjoy this show, though I’ve started over with s1 because I couldn’t remember where I left off and they all still seem fresh so it will take me a while to get up to the current season.
  • Sacred Games (Net) Series Premiere, Friday – Netflix’s first original Indian series uncovers the underbelly of Mumbai.
  • Sharp Objects (HBO) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – I remember this book as being kind of a weird unreliable narrator sort of situation that I’m not sure how they’ll do in a series but starring Amy Adams as the reporter returning home to look at crime is getting some good buzz.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 6/25-7/1

I’ve just wrapped up a suite of seasons: Mr Robot (still has some moments but s3 not up to the s1 high bar), Gianni Versace (pretty compelling story and storytelling), and Trust (interesting but not quite compelling), and also finally caught the last Legion (the weird of s1 couldn’t quite be held with any sense). For new summer fare I’m still sticking around to the somewhat interesting Dietland, and will give another episode to Yellowstone to see what they do with the parts of the show that I found a little intriguing, and the less interesting but lighter fare Reverie and Take Two (one episode wasn’t great but we’ll see if they can maintain the good fluff line). With not enough to keep me in, I had to pass on Love Is ___ , 100 Code, Cloak & Dagger, and American Woman.

  • Tour de France Preview (NBCSN) Tuesday 5:30pm – Tour de France, which I will likely refrain from watching, starts July 7.
  • Secret City (Net) Series Premiere, Tuesday – A dedicated journalist willing to risk her life and career to expose something.
  • Glow (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – A lot good going on in the first season of this so intrigued to see where they go with the very rough beginnings of lady wrestling.
  • A Very English Scandal (Am) Series Premiere, Friday – This three-part BBC miniseries follows Parliament member Hugh Grant trying to protect his political career from his scandalous affair with a stable boy.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 6/18-6/24

Still cranking through Mr Robot, Assassination of Versace, and added Enlightened to my Amazon repertoire to balance out Deadwood and In Treatment. I also dabbled with Pose but while I liked the premise I didn’t really find myself that interested in the characters.

  • Love is ___ (OWN) Series Premiere, Tuesday, 10pm – A romantic drama set in ’90s Black Hollywood a couple looks back on how they came together and their lives at the time.
  • Yellowstone (Para) Series Premiere, Wednesday, 9pm – Kevin Costner hits the small screen as the largest ranch owner.
  • Next of Kin (Sund Now) Series Premiere, Thursday – A six part international thriller with Archie Panjabi drawn into murder and buried family secrets.
  • Take Two (ABC) Series Premiere, Thursday, 10pm – Eddie Cibrian and Rachel Bilson start a new take on the Castle concept with Bilson as a former star of a cop series, this looks to be the fluffiest of summer fare but Bilson is always likable.
  • Marvel’s Luke Cage (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I vowed to sign off these as they always seem to just drag.

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

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new and noteworthy tv: 6/11-6/17

I’ve managed to crank out a few streaming series including the always enjoyable Bosch and tried the limited crime series Collateral (which honestly I found a little confusing) and in hopes of adding some fluff to the dark went with another season of Arrested Development (meh, maybe stick to the originals of this) and the sweet but not exemplary ’90s set Freaks and Geeks-ish Everything Sucks, and I’ve finally returned to the gym so I am allowing myself to start tackling light faves like One Day at a Time and Santa Clarita Diet.

And I’m happy to see The Bold Type return to Freeform, I didn’t initially stick with this show last season but on a later binge found it to fit a nice young fashionable niche, new showrunner this season so we’ll see how the sophomore season goes. And for those of you who are fans The Profit and Alone also return this week.

  • Strange Angel (CBS AA) Thursday – Based on a book of the same name, something about a janitor and rocket science in the dark underbelly of ’30s LA, not a lot of good buzz in couple early reviews.
  • Goliath (Am) Season Premiere, Friday – The second season returns, do I need to be watching this?
  • Queer Eye (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I did binge the first return season of this and while I found the makeovers a little less significant and the focus on the heartwarming stories a little schmaltzy it still works.
  • The Ranch (Net) Season Premiere, Friday – I tuned out of this one pretty quickly.
  • Deep State (Epix) Series Premiere, Sunday, 9pm – This espionage drama drags a former spy back in to avenge his son’s death and of course he uncovers more, perhaps.

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

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