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procrastinator’s top tv of 2022

March 8, 2023 No Comments

TV years have gotten a bit murky. It used to be if it was on broadcast tv you watched it or you didn’t. Now with so much cable and streaming we’re often catching up. I know I am. Including all the cable channels who could watch it all?

And if I had the time I definitely don’t have all the channels. The biggest shift was I finally got HBOMax, but not until late in the year. I have definitely not caught up on all the 2022 fare, though you’ll see I was able to get started. I am also dabbling with getting different options for a limited time (e.g. Paramount+ and Apple+).

Recency bias may have resulted in some of this ranking but as you know on any given day who knows but you gotta land somewhere.

The Bear (Fx/Hulu) – If I’m lucky every season there is something new and special that draws me in, this was it for me this year, a very tense tale of a ‘real’ chef heading home to run a local restaurant after his brother dies and let’s just say things don’t go smoothly.
Hacks (HBO) – I just just finished this but was so drawn into these two women and their dysfunction and personal growth together as they turn an old-school comedian’s act into something new, Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder for the win.
Barry (HBO) – I can’t help myself with these painful shows where you can’t imagine how this is all going to work out, and Bill Hader’s hitman looking for a change in LA does it to a T.
Somebody Somewhere (HBO) – Ok so maybe the new HBOMax subscription was a good idea (and I’ve only scratched the surface); I was really drawn in by this look at a woman’s return to her small Kansas town and her struggle to fit in with family and found family.
Ghosts (CBS) – Based on an English show which I have yet to check out, Rose McIver plays a woman who inherits a family home and can see the undead, it brings lots of fun as we learn more about the long-term residents and watch them try to make a future.
Abbot Elementary (ABC) – You’ve likely heard about this one and for good reason, Quinta Brunson’s teachers in Philly has a ton of heart with its silliness.
Yellow Jackets (Show) – My Paramount+ temporary subscription led me to this (though I tried not to add any new shows) and couldn’t stop watching this time-split tale of present-day and the immediate aftermath of a plane crash filled with a high school girl’s soccer team, I mean that would traumatize anyone right?
Evil (Para+) – I’m a big fan of the King’s series and this is no exception, this show literally creeps me out with its trio of skeptics and believers investigating ‘occurrences’ for the church, and their personal lives are not unimpacted.
Reservation Dogs (Hulu) – Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma do what they gotta do to make it to California while dealing with family and local drama, a nice mix of off-format, story, and character/relationship focus.
Ink Master (Para+) – This is my favorite reality show and as it was brought back it moved networks and changed judges but they were able to maintain the core of the thing (though I do miss Chris and Oliver), testing the skills of a tattoo artist to see who is the master

A few series that wrapped this year and while the final season might not hit the top ten, the series in their entirety were noteworthy (this is also a bit of a cheat to list more shows):

Animal Kingdom (TNT) – I enjoy a good crime drama and this So Cal surfing crime family sure brought the drama, it was a little uneven but I think quite good for what it was.
Atlanta (Fx) – Donald Glover really took artistic license but for the most part it was incredibly successful while also building rich characters and an interesting overall arc in this look at an up-and-coming rapper and his manager.
Better Things (Fx) – I just love what Pamela Adlon did with this semi-autobiographical dramedy about her family and her life surrounding Hollywood, this show was consistently in my top ten.
Claws (TNT) – Ok this was one heck of a campy show but if you want to watch a bunch of over-the-top nail artists take on some serious Florida crime these characters had heart and style.
David Makes Man (2021-OWN) – The first season of this was one of my favorite looks at coming-of-age both through the story and visuals and while the second season’s time jump wasn’t as successful for me it was still really interesting.
Dead to Me (Net) – Christina Applegate and Linda Cardelini play unlikely friends who won each other and me over with their approach to every ridiculous twist and turn they run into through their start with grief.
Deutschland 83/86/89 (2020-Sund/Hulu) – I caught these after the fact but loved the Americans-ish spy drama and the time jumps to see where it all went.
The Good Fight (Para+) – Christine Baranski can do no wrong and I enjoyed her years starting over at a new law firm following The Good Wife, they created something new but kept a lot of the elements of what made the former work through quirky characters, cases, and overarching issues, I actually paid to get the rest of this show.
Grace & Frankie (Net) – This show wasn’t revolutionary but the throwback feel of a screwball buddy comedy worked with not only great leads of Fonda and Tomlin but a fun supporting cast.
Killing Eve (BBC) – Ok this show kind of lost its way but that first season was enough to keep me in for moments of Eve and Villanelle’s relationship, assassins and spies, and some great outfits.
Ozark (Net) – This show pushed the edges of dark both metaphorically and visually but this family, with great performances, doing everything they can to survive, and maybe even thrive, through a money laundering entanglement with the Mexican drug lord, don’t get in their way.

Honorable mention: Alaska Daily (ABC), Dark Winds (AMC), Get Shorty (Epix), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Professor T (PBS), Reginald the Vampire (Syfy), Resident Alien (Syfy), Russian Doll (Net), Single Drunk Female (Free), So Help Me Todd (CBS), Upload (Am), Welcome to Wrexham (Fx), White Lotus (HBO).

There are also a few shows I am enjoying but not up to date on: Better Call Saul (AMC), Euphoria (HBO), and The Flight Attendant (HBO).

Is this just everything I watched last year? Sadly no. But I admittedly didn’t choose the smallest subset to mention.

For critics’ picks, there’s a good list at Metacritic. What were your faves?

new and noteworthy tv: 4/13-4/26

April 13, 2020 No Comments

Ok now that I’m not trying to burn through movies I’m making a bit more progress on tv. I wrapped my rewatch of Beverly Hills, 90210, which was fun for about the first season and then became sort of an obsessive torture. I’m also digging in to Orange is the New Black, Ozark, Sex Education, Making the Cut, and have started Little Fires Everywhere, I really liked this book and am cautious, and of course Killing Eve which is usually worth it even if it’s not as good as the first season. And wrapped the series finale of Schitts Creek which I thought did a good final leg. I’ll miss those oddballs. It’s a pass for me on Broke and Vagrant Queen, but I’m so far sticking with Motherland: Fort Salem and still tentatively trying Almost Paradise, which I don’t think is good but hoping it might be fun. Next up I’m excited for the return of What We Do In the Shadows which is so odd I can’t stop watching, and the final season of fave cop Bosch.

Paradise Lost (Spectrum) Series Premiere, Monday 4/13 – Couple returns to small town Mississippi and secrets are unearthed starring Josh Harnett and Barbara Hershey among others, who knows.
The Baker and the Beauty (ABC) Series Premiere, Monday 4/13, 10pm – Reads like a made for tv movie, Cuban baker meets a superstar, but for romcom fans who knows.
Mrs. America (FX/Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/15 – The story of the movement to ratify the ERA and the backlash of a conservative, includes a great cast with Cate Blanchett, Margo Martindate, Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson among others so def worth a look.
Outer Banks (Net) Series Premiere, Wednesday 4/15 – A group of teens unearths a long buried secret, perhaps some potential in this mystery-thriller.
#blackAF (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/17 – Comedy series starring Rashida Jones and Kenya Barris based on Barris’ life, who knows.
Defending Jacob (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 4/24 – Based on the novel this thriller about an ADA torn between justice and family with Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery, maybe.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (Show) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/26, 10:10pm – An LA version of Penny Dreadful, no word but if you’re a fan of the original it’s likely a good bet.

More streaming

The King (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/17 – A modern-day Korean emperor find himself in a parallel world
Love 101 (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/24 – A group of teenagers in Turkey trying to get their teacher to fall in love.

Returning streaming: Fauda (Net, 4/16) Bosch (Am, 4/17), The Last Kids on Earth (Net, 4/17), After Life (Net, 4/24), Hello Ninja (Net, 4/24), The Last Kingdom (Net, 4/26).

new and noteworthy tv: 3/30-4/12

March 29, 2020 No Comments

Excited and sad to see the series finale of Schitts Creek coming up on April 7, Killing Eve is back on April 12, and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the return of The Good Fight (sign up for CBSAA? free trial? wait and pay later on Amazon?). I haven’t even started the latest seasons of Ozark or Sex Education yet, what am I doing?! Well I’ve been catching up on some movies, stay tuned for my 2019 post this next week. I did watch Making the Cut the new Time/Heidi Runwy-esque show, and while certainly enjoyable some pros and cons on this in comparison, will stay tuned and see how it rolls along. As well as the slightly campy but will tune in for another Motherland: Fort Salem about witches training for battle and associated drama. I also wrapped up Arrested Development, I had forgotten the second half of the last season and while the early years were amazing this one back to life is missing a bit of the luster.

Also to note that Quibi about to launch, on April 6. What is Quibi you might ask, I sure did. It’s a new streaming app dedicated to ‘Quick Bites’, shows less than 10 minutes (movies cut up into chapters), and designed specifically to watch on mobile. And yes you have to pay for it, looks like $4.99/mo w/ads and $7.99 w/o. They’ve got a bunch of new content for launch with some stars like Chrissy Teigen, Kevin Hart, Idris Elba, Naomi Watts, and Steven Spielberg. I didn’t highlight the new crop of shows in particular but they of course have a free trial if you want to dabble before committing, I’ll pass at least for now.

Three Busy Debras/Beef House (AdSw) Series Premiere, Monday 3/30, 12/12:15am – I’ve never quite made a connection with Adult Swim but more offbeat humor to be had in these new selections.
Almost Paradise (WGN) Series Premiere, Monday 3/30, 10pm – Former DEA agent attempting the retired life on a tropical island gets pulled back into action, with Christian Kane and by EPs of Leverage and The Librarians looks like good campy fun.
Straight Forward (SundN) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/2 – Danish con woman plots revenge in this international thriller.
Broke (CBS) Series Premiere, Thursday 4/2, 9:30pm – Pauley Perrette plays a single suburban mom who’s estranged sister and family end up broke and on her doorstep, no word on whether the comedy amuses.
Home Before Dark (App+) Series Premiere, Friday 4/3 – A young girl moves to a small town and uncovers a mystery after her father’s death, inspired by real-life pre-teen investigative journalist Hilde Lysiak.
Tales from the Loop (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 4/3 – This scifi drama shares adventures of people exploring the mysteries of the universe whatever that looks like.
World on Fire (PBS) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/5, 9pm – An epic World War II drama reportedly good ensemble, layered story, and beautiful set.
The Big Show (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 4/6 – Daughter of a larger than life wrestler returns home in this comedy.
Brews Brothers (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/10 – Two estranged brothers use beer to reunite as a family.
The Trial (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 4/10 – The murder of a teen girl impacts those on the case.
Belgravia (Epix) Series Premiere, Sunday 4/12, 9pm – Secrets and scandals in 19th century London in this soapy melodrama six part limited series.

Returning streaming: Kim’s Convenience Store (Net, 4/1), La Casa de Papel (Net, 4/3), Terrace House (Net, 4/7), The Good Fight (CBSAA, 4/9).

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.

new and noteworthy tv: 3/16-3/29

March 15, 2020 No Comments

So if social distancing is keeping you home in front of the television there’s always something new afoot even if we’re going on a live event hiatus, plus don’t forget about my top tv list. This week I’m most excited about the return of Ozark and the start of Little Fires Everywhere. And glad that the new Heidi and Tim show is following up on the season finale of Runway.

I recently wrapped Sabrina which maintains its appeal but not really enough that I enthusiastically recommend. I was also catching up on State of the Union on Sundance but apparently I should have paid attention to the free episodes expiring but if you have Sundance they’re intriguing short interludes of a couple who are seeing marriage counseling.

The Plot Against America (HBO) Series Premiere, Monday 3/16, 9pm – Based on the Philip Roth novel this six-part series imagines an alternate xenophobic reality under president Charles Lindbergh and looks like it hits some good notes.
Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) Series Premiere, Wednesday 3/18 – Based on the Celeste Ng book that I really enjoyed, two disparate families led by Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington (both EPs) are intertwined, I’m intrigued by the pedigree.
Motherland: Fort Salem (Free) Series Premiere, Wednesday 3/18, 9pm – Another alternate reality this one where witches ended their persecution by cutting a deal and now find themselves on the front lines of battle, we’ll see.
Feel Good (Netflix) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/19 – Stand-up comic Mae Martin dealing with sobriety and relationships in this dramedy that’s gotten some good buzz.
Ruthless (BET+) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/19 – A spinoff of Tyler Perry’s The Oval, something about a cult, maybe if you’re an Oval or Perry fan but no word yet.
The English Game (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/20 – 1870s England shows two footballers that bring the sport to the masses, no word yet.
The Letter for the King (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/20 – Fantasy series about a young boy on a quest to save a kingdom some middling reviews note there are aspects of appeal.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker (Net) Series Premiere, Friday 3/20 – A dramatic telling of the first African-American self-made millionaire played by Octavia Spencer, no word yet.
Council of Dads (NBC) Series Premiere, Tuesday 3/24, 8pm – A father’s health scare calls in some back up dad’s just in case in this drama with Tom Everett Scott and Sarah Wayne Callies, limited early reviews not a lacking.
Making the Cut (Am) Series Premiere, Friday 3/27 – Oh Heidi and Tim we’ll follow you anywhere from Project Runway and intrigued to see this mix of fashion and business in sellable pieces (two episodes a week).
Vagrant Queen (Syfy) Series Premiere, Friday 3/27 – I’m game for a new syfy series after Killjoys wrapped, here’s for a look at whether this new trio, a queen, a deadbeat and a mechanic, can earn a place in our hearts, no word yet.

More streaming:

Freud (Net) Series Premiere, Monday 3/23 – A young Sigmund Freud solves crimes in this Austrian thriller.
Unorthodox (Net) Series Premiere, Thursday 3/26 – A young ultra-Orthodox New Yorker starts life in Berlin uncovering mysteries.
Baghdad Central (Hulu) Series Premiere, Friday 3/27 – The drama of 2003 occupied Baghdad with no rule of law and chaos of a family in search of a missing daughter.

Returning streaming: Archibald’s Next Big Thing (Net, 3/20), Dino Girl Gauko (Net, 3/20), Greenhouse Academy (Net, 3/20), Yoohoo to the Rescue (Net, 3/25), 7seeds (Net, 3/26), Car Masters (Net, 3/27), Ozark (Net, 3/27), Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Net, 3/29).

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.

returning fall favorites

September 6, 2018 No Comments

It’s hard to keep track of it all but here’s a look at some of the things that I’m looking at in returning fall tv, don’t worry there’s still midseason (and various other starts) for things not on the list. Stay tuned for intriguing new fall tv.

The Big Bang Theory (CBW, 9/24) – This show amuses consistently enough and looking forward to seeing what this final season will bring to our gang.
Bojack Horseman (Net, 9/14) – Consistently one of the best shows, this weird take on a washed up, depressed, alcoholic horseman always bring it, can’t wait.
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, 10/5) – The Huangs bring their own family quirks at this look at their life in Orlando in the 90s.
The Good Place (NBC, 9/27) – This show has managed to stay so fresh I’m super curious as to how our dumb dumbs will manage this season.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fxx, 9/5) – When a bunch of awful people never change and just keep being awful, it is surprisingly still fresh and funny.
Last Man Standing (Fox, 9/28) – I tuned out of this show when it was on, finding the right and left wing politicy jokes a little too ham handed but in repeats I got to sort of like the characters, though dubious about the replacement of yet another daughter.
Lethal Weapon (Fox, 9/25) – Speaking of replacements, after the real life Riggs and Murtaugh couldn’t get along Clayne Crawford’s antics got him unrenewed, so curious how this will work with Seann William Scott stepping in as the new maverick.
Madam Secretary (CBS, 10/7) – This started out as sort of a poor man’s Good Wife, but in a painful political spectrum its nice to see people dealing with fake real issues and knowing that although it’s not all good with help from our spunky Secretary it always mostly turns out ok.
Midnight, Texas (NBC, 10/26) – I think this show only lasted on my queue because it premiered during some downtime but this not revolutionary take on a small town of sort of extraordinary (vampires, witches, etc.) outsiders deal with random things, and of course saving the world.
Mom (CBS, 9/27) – I still love the play between Allison Janney and Anna Faris and their sober (mostly) friends, and I don’t turn away from a rerun.
Murphy Brown (CBS, 9/27) – It’s a stretch to call this a return but, I’m intrigued to see the update to Murphy and her news colleagues in today’s world.
Ozark (Net, 8/31) – This was one of my fave bingy shows last year, I was compelled to keep up with Jason Bateman as money launderer getting he and his family into, and sometimes out of, new fixes as he tries to make it work in this resort town.
Speechless (ABC, 10/5) – This whole family has so much personality that it’s almost not about the fact that one son is in a wheelchair unable to speak.
Superstore (NBC, 10/4) – More quirky misfits with this group of employees working the store and of course getting into each other’s lives.
This is Us (NBC, 9/25) – I have to say I almost didn’t list this, I’m pretty over this schmaltzy show other than a few story lines but will likely tune into the premiere to see where they’re taking it but I sense a breakup ahead.
Will & Grace (10/4) – One of the latest reboots, I enjoy visiting with these folks again, mostly when they steer into the reality of the fact that it’s more than ten years later.
Z Nation (Syfy, 10/5) – This show was the antidote to The Walking Dead treating the zombie apocalypse with a lightness that kept me tuning into this far after abandoning the other.

What are you most looking forward to the return of?

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?