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psych-like

August 12, 2020 No Comments

I was having a happy hour with friends (virtual of course) and mentioned that I was going to dive into Peacock to watch the latest Psych movie. I had recently binged the whole series and wanted to close it out. A friend said his mom has enjoyed Psych and was looking for similar shows to recommend, I think he also mentioned Chuck (which is also super fun) as another good example. So thinking fun, episodic, kind of capery,

I as per usual spaced on anything good. One of the reasons I capture lists in this blog is so that I don’t continually forget things. Another friend suggested Burn Notice which we all agreed was a good choice. But after some time Leverage was announcing a reboot, and I thought that too would be a good option. So with a moment to think here are a few of the shows I wish I could come up with off the top of my head, in alphabetical order of course. They might not all be for every Psych fan but there’s a little something here for everyone.

Bones* (Hulu, Prime) FBI agent and forensic anthropologist crack cases, and while the romance heats up between these opposites attract it’s really her team of scientists that give this a ton of appeal.
Bored to Death (HBO/Prime) Jason Schwartzman decides to become a detective when stifled by his writing, what could be better, well side kicks Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis as his friends who get dragged into the hijinks, great fun.
Burn Notice (Hulu, Prime) A spy recently disavowed by the U.S government uses his special skills and ragtag spy friends to save folks in trouble, funny, charming, and action packed.
Castle* (Prime Purchase) Another opposites attract/partners premise Nathan Fillion as crime writer turned consultant has enough charm to keep things interesting.
Elementary (Hulu) Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu make an updated version of Holmes and Watson consulting with the NYPD and make for a lot of fun solving an odd case or two.
Eureka (Prime) This one is a little more quirky genius scientists than a typical crime buster but the sheriff finds himself investigating one calamity after another that tends to have someone beyond the norm explanations which is good fun.
Firefly (Hulu) This one is actually a bit more space cowboys but take my word for it, it’s full caper fun as Nathan Fillion is on our list again as the captain of a ship filled with an odd group of passengers and crew that is as busy getting into trouble as evading those trying to find them.
iZombie (Netflix) This show is a bit Veronica Mars meets zombies, and while it is a zombie show our protagonist taking on the personality of the victim (yes through eating their brain) each week and helping solve the case is a delight.
Leverage (Prime Purchase) A team of criminals pull off an elaborate con each week, but all in the name of righting a wrong, as noted they’re rebooting this with Noah Wyle replacing Timothy Hutton, still a great team.
Mentalist (Prime) – So you can’t have this list without the comparable premised ‘psychic’ handling cases, but Simon Baker has enough charm to make this less campy version still a lot of fun.
Monk (Prime) Tony Shalhoub carries this former police officer turned police consultant as his character’s OCD, among other things, makes him unbearable but excellent at figuring out what others can’t.
Pushing Daisies (Prime) This piemaker can bring someone back from the dead with his touch, but only for a minute or someone else dies, and he uses it to solve murders along with a fab supporting cast including his love interest who he of course can’t touch.
Sherlock (Netflix) This isn’t quite as campy as some of the others but Benedict Cumberbatch’s detective is a ton of fun and while each season is more of an overarching story there’s just three extended eps per.
Terriers (Hulu) A little grittier than some of the other options but our unlicensed PI ex cop/recovering alcoholic and criminal buddies are such a pleasure to meet and watch then get as much into trouble as out of it.

I’m sure I’m missing some good ones, what would you add? And of course for more bingeable options check out the longer list. Availability as always subject to change. * Full transparency, while I really enjoyed each of these shows for a while I’m not sure I actually stayed with either until the end.

new and noteworthy tv: 12/28-1/3

December 27, 2015 No Comments

Always looking forward to a new Sherlock and though I’ll catch new comedies Cooper and the animated Bordertown I don’t have a lot of hope.

Monday – Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC, 8/8:30pm)
Tuesday – Hollywood Game Night, Season Premiere (NBC, 8pm), Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm)
Wednesday – Mozart in the Jungle (Am, 3am)
Thursday – Dick Clark’s New Year’s (NBC, 8/10/11:30pm), Pitbull’s New Year’s (Fox, 8/11pm), A Toast to 2015/New Year’s Eve Game Night/Carson Daly (NBC, 8/10/11:30pm)
Friday – Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock (PBS, 9pm), American Restoration/The Smartest Guys in the Room, Season/Series Premieres (Hist, 9/10pm), Bring It!/The Rap Game, Season/Series Premieres (Life, 9/10pm), Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta, Season Premieres (TLC, 9pm), Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, Season Premiere (Food, 10pm)
Saturday – Sex Sent Me to the ER, Season Premiere (TLC, 10pm)
Sunday – Galavant, Season Premiere (ABC, 8pm), Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, Season Premiere (CMT, 8pm), Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life/Bordertown, Series Premieres (Fox, 8:30/9:30pm), Downton Abbey, Season Premiere (PBS, 9pm), Finding Bigfoot, Season Premiere (AnPl, 9pm), Hoarders, Season Premiere (A&E, 9pm), Long Island Medium, Season Premiere (TLC, 9pm), Newlyweds/Watch What Happens: Live, Season Premieres (Brav, 9/10:30pm), Guy’s Grocery Games/Worst Cooks in America, Season Premiere (Food, 8/9pm)

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.

new and noteworthy tv: 1/13-1/19

January 13, 2014 No Comments

Ok this is more like it, my TiVo finally has a backlog that I will find daunting…

Monday

Australian Open (ESPN2, various) – The first week gets into full swing.
Lost Girl/Being Human/Bitten (Syfy, 8/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – The campy but fun folks like a succubus who are more than human, vampire, werewolf and a ghost trying to find their human, and then a series with a closer look at a lady werewolf worth a shot.
Switched at Birth (ABCF, 8pm) Season Premiere – The girls start their senior year.
Archer/Chozen (Fx, 10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – Animated spy returns and then a wrapper returns.
Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Illusionist pranks, pass.

Tuesday

Face Off (Syfy, 9pm) Season Premiere – Fifteen new contestants test their creature creating chops.
Kroll Show (Com, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – Something comedic returns.

Wednesday

American Idol (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – JLo, Keith and Connick are in their chairs, and I am choosing again to value each hour I spend not watching this show.
Suburgatory (ABC, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Ready to see what’s up on the return of our Tessa and George to their suburban existence.
Duck Dynasty/Crazy Hearts (A&E, 10/11pm) Season/Series Premieres – The quacking cash cow returns followed by the ‘reality’ of trying to make it in Nashville.
Men at Work (TBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – This buddy comedy returns to try to make you laugh.

Thursday

Critic’s Choice Movie Awards (CW, 8pm) – Broadcast Critics put their picks out there.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo/Welcome to Myrtle Manor (TLC, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – More reality of the, what’s the politically correct term for ‘white trash’, nature.
Under the Gunn (Life, 9pm) Series Premiere – Latest twist of mentor/designing competition, I like Gunn and still enjoy a runway so worth a look.
Party Down South (CMT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Watching friends party.
SWV Reunited (WE, 10pm) Series Premiere – Following their comeback.
Jerks with Cameras/Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory (MTV, 10:30/11pm) Series/Season Premieres – Yet another prank show and they more Rob’s antics.
Brian Boitano Project (HGTV, 11pm) Series Premiere – When you think Boitano you think home renovation.

Friday

Cold Justice/APB with Troy Dunn (TNT, 8/9pm) Season/Series Premieres – More real crime and then looking for lost loved ones.
The Diamond Collar (OWN, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at mafia turned dog groomer.
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Bill’s back.

Saturday

Flowers in the Attic (Life, 8pm) – Apparently not quite captures the quality of the cheese of the book but how could one not be curious.
Mom’s Got Game (OWN, 10pm) Series Premiere – Former WNBA mom manages NBA son.
My Big Redneck Family (CMT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Who doesn’t need another redneck spinoff?

Sunday

The Following (Fox, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – I can’t believe this show is back.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians/Richkids of Beverly Hills (E!, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Blurg.
Sherlock (PBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – We’ve been waiting and now it’s time to find out what happened to Holmes.
Looking (HBO, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – The male gay version of (insert slightly incorrect comparison to chick show here), give in to the promise of the characters.

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?

best, tv

procrastinator picks – top tv of 2012

January 3, 2013 No Comments

Well the critics have weighed in, but what do I recommend? It’s hard to tell how unbiased I can look at each individual season but based on previous lists some shows are still faves and alas some shows have definitely dropped off. And of course there are some other shows in my queue, clearly I watch more than ten, or eleven, shows a year. Based on today’s thoughts here’s where I’m at:

Justified (Fx) – Raylan the Kentucky Marshall is a fave, some season arcs are stronger than others but they do a great job with the supporting cast and keeping me tuned in to who he will shoot, or get shot by, next.
Good Wife (CBS) – They’ve managed to evolve the story of this woman who is standing by her man, raising her family, practicing law and dealing with official and unofficial politics in a way that just keeps me hooked.
Sherlock (PBS) – I guess you can never have too much Holmes, sadly only three episodes per season setting him and Watson in modern day, a great look at the traditional stories with new slant on the characters.
Parenthood (NBC) – I actually dropped this show when it first came on but now am hooked on the Braverman’s and their drama, at times ridiculous they have some great and touching moments.
Parks and Recreation (NBC) – Small town politics with a cast of characters that are quirky and endearing, makes me laugh out loud.
Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – The complications upon complications, and the lack impulse control that these people suffer from, keeps me wondering how they can keep going without all being dead but I can’t look away.
Louie (Fx) – He’s the critics’ darling and for good reason, you can tell he definitely does what he wants on this show you never know what you’re going to get but this sad guy is getting a lot right.
Community (NBC) – The nods to all things pop culture in these eps keeps it a cut above, curious how the new show runners will keep it going.
Cougartown (ABC) – As folks should know this show is moving to TBS, but the cul de sac crew drinking wine makes me laugh, maybe because I’m also usually drinking wine.
Bunheads (ABCF)/ Hart of Dixie (CW) – These shows are going to get a dual listing, although I can’t honestly say that either of these shows are the best on tv I find them both very enjoyable with their flawed leading lady tries to do right in a small town slant.

Lots of good tv to be had, what’s on your list?

best, tv

critics’ picks – top tv of 2012

December 27, 2012 No Comments

Time to get started on our year end lists! While the tv shows aren’t currently fresh, the critics’ best and award noms give you something to get ready to tune back into. I can’t personally recommend all of these shows (stay tuned for my top ten list) and as most readers know I don’t catch most of the real cable on first run (HBO, Show, Starz), but from the breadth of shows there is a little something out there for everyone. So without further ado here’s a sampling of top tv picks:

2 Broke Girls (CBS) – E
2012 Election – JP
30 for 30 (ESPN) – DF
30 Rock (NBC) – AS, PGA, TG
American Horror Story: Asylum (Fx) – AFI, GG, JP, MoR, MZS
Archer (Fx) – MZS, TG
Ben and Kate (Fox) – TG
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – E, MR, PGA
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – GG, TG
Boss (Starz) – GG, TG
Breaking Bad (AMC) – AFI, AS, DF, JP, KT, MR, MoR, MZS, PGA, TG
Call the Midwife (PBS) – MR
Castle (ABC) – E
The Colbert Report (Com) – KT, MM
Coma (A&E) – MZS
Community (NBC) – E, MZS, TG
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) – PGA
Dexter (Show) – MR, TG
Don’t Trust the B- In Apartment 23 (ABC) – TG
Downton Abbey (PBS) – MR, PGA
Enlightened (HBO) – GG
Episodes (Show) – GG
Game Change (HBO) – AFI
Game of Thrones (HBO) – AFI, DF, E, GG, JP, MoR, PGA, TG
Girls (HBO) – AFI, AS, DF, JP, KT, MR, MoR, TG
Glee (Fox) – E, GG
The Good Wife (CBS) – KT, MR
Gossip Girl (CW) – E
Happy Endings (ABC) – E, MoR
Hatfields & McCoys (Hist) – MZS
Homeland (Show) – AFI, AS, E, GG, JP, KT, MM, MR, MoR, MZS, PGA, TG
The Hour (BBCA) – DF, TG
House of Lies (Show) – TG
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – E
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fx) – TG
Justified (Fx) – KT, TG
Louie (Fx) – AFI, AS, DF, JP, KT, MM, MR, MoR, MZS, PGA, TG
Luck (HBO) – AS, MM, MZS
Mad Men (AMC) – AFI, AS, DF, JP, KT, MR, MoR, MZS, PGA, TG
Magic City (Starz) – TG
The Middle (ABC) – MR
The Mindy Project (Fox) – E
Modern Family (ABC) – AFI, E, GG, PGA, TG
Nashville (ABC) – KT
New Girl (Fox) – E, GG, MoR, TG
On Freddie Roach (HBO) – DF
Once Upon a Time (ABC) – E
Parenthood (NBC) – AS, JP
Parks and Recreation (NBC) – AS, DF, E, JP, KT, MoR, TG
Raising Hope (Fox) – TG
Revenge (ABC) – E
Scandal (ABC) – E
Shameless (Show) – TG
Sherlock (PBS) – MM, TG
Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – MR, TG
Supernatural (CW) – E
Treme (HBO) – AS, DF, MZS, TG
The Vampire Diaries (CW) – E
Veep (HBO) – TG
The Walking Dead (AMC) – AFI, E, MM, MR, TG
Wilfred (Fx) – TG

AFI – AFI Television Programs of the Year, AS – Alan Sepinwall for Hitfix, DF – Dan Fienberg for Hitfix, E – E! Best Comedies and E! Best Dramas, GG – Golden Globe nomination, JP – James Poniewozik for Time, KT – Ken Tucker for Ew, MM* – Mary McNamara for LA Times, MR* – Matt Roush for TV Guide, MoR – Maureen Ryan for Huffington Post, MZS – Matt Zoller Seitz on Vulture, PGA – Producer’s Guild, TG – Tim Goodman’s Best Comedies and Dramas

* Some top votes were for categories of shows or notations to things like Clint’s chair speech and referee strike.

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?