DEBORAH CROMBIE: Skimming through the Emmy's the other night (the second of 2024!) reminded me that while we've talked about what we're reading, it's been awhile since we talked about what we're watching. Or not watching, in my case, as it was a stark reminder that I am TOTALLY OUT OF IT.
I'm embarrassed to admit that we are now almost through season 8 of Grey's Anatomy. That's how many hours?? Nope, not doing the math on that one… We are also watching Great British Bake Off (no, I am not calling it Great British Baking Show. That is so lame. Surely Americans can deal with the British title! ) And yes, I have actually got my hubby watching GBBO! I think I deserve my own award for that! Now if I could just get him to bake...
But as for the ADHD, let's see… We watched all of season 1 of Slow Horses, except for the last episode. Do we go back to that, or just start season 2? Then, one and a half seasons of Emily in Paris. We didn't finish season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. (Meryl Streep's character was so annoying.) Again, do we try to finish that or just start 4? We only made it through 3 episodes of season 3 of The Bear. (Too much yelling and family dysfunction. And I know it's really good, but will somebody please tell me why this series is a comedy??)
I thought Hacks was about not very good writers. I have only seen a few episodes of The Crown. (Ouch. Do I lose my Anglophile card?) Baby Reindeer sounds entirely too creepy. Fallout, nope, can't do post-apocalyptic these days.
I might tackle Shogun, not sure if Rick would go for it. I would happily watch The Gilded Age, but a definite no from the hubby on that one.
My Britbox and Acorn subscriptions are gathering dust! It's so funny that Rick will watch GBBO or Emily in Paris but will NOT watch a period British mystery. And I, apparently, am just not watching TV except for the nightly hour or so we watch together. Just don't ask me what I'm doing with my time instead because I couldn't tell you!
Reds, what's playing–or not playing–on your screens?
RHYS BOWEN: Having gone through a stressful time, like some other Reds, I have to watch something light, peaceful. I enjoyed the PBS mini series featuring Agatha Christie as a sleuth with her real life drama. I watched the Olympics and then the Para-olympics so I’m all Olympiced out, right now. I also watched much of the US Open tennis. Has a new season of the Great British Baking Show started yet? That’s about my level of excitement at the moment.
DEBS: Rhys, I think it starts on the 27th. What's the Agatha as sleuth show called?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: We happily watched THE PERFECT COUPLE even though it kind of didn’t make sense, but who cares. And I adore SLOW HORSES and a show called THE MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN which is such an unlikely choice for me, because it is very tough and violent, but it’s riveting and compelling – – just look it up. And we are just beginning to watch MOONFLOWER MURDERS, the fabulous Anthony Horowitz sequel to my favorite show of all time ever, THE MAGPIE MURDERS.
So exciting!
DEBS: We started The Mayor of Kingstown. As much as I love Jeremy Renner, I decided it was just a world I didn't want to live in for that many hours.
LUCY BURDETTE: You might remember that I don’t watch much TV–would rather read! However, John likes me to watch from time to time, so I do. We are in the middle of season 3 of The Bear. There was a lot of screaming in the first few episodes, but it’s improved and I know we’ll finish!
Remember, Hank, when we started to watch THE OLD MAN, and I bailed out after about 15 minutes because it was too depressing and I could tell it was going to be brutal? Anyway I went upstairs to read and happened to message the Reds, and Hank told me to go back downstairs and try again because it’s Really Good. So I did, and it was.
Anyway, John told me Saturday that the new season had begun and we agreed to watch it. After about 15 minutes, we both said, “This is very familiar. Is he going to set up those tin cans every season?” Yes, we were watching season 1 episode 1 all over again! So now we’re ready for the next season, which I think starts this weekend!
DEBS: We'll go back to The Bear, on your recommendation, Lucy!
HANK: Oh, thank you for reminding me! We will watch it, too!
HALLIE EPHRON: I’m definitely the laggard, despite the fierce competition for the title. A few months ago I added BRITBOX to my choices and I’ve been watching old favorites. Joan Hickson as Miss Marple–she’s great but those plots, sorry, they’re byzantine and farfetched and cliched. The old Poirots hold up. David Suchet is sublime. I still love NEW TRICKS, up until they swapped out the cast. Is there a new Great British Baking Show? And I’m looking forward to watching Kathy Bates in the new boot of MATLOCK. Starts next week.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I just recently added a PBS Masterpiece subscription to my Amazon account, because I was craving exactly the same thing Rhys was - old fashioned mysteries. I watched DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLY and am planning on starting the Agatha Christie-as-detective shows soon.
My deep dive into KDrama has left me very spoiled as to series length. They do hour-long shows for 10, 12 or 16 episodes and then it’s done. When I see something that says “4th season” I shy away, no matter how alluring the description. I just cannot commit to 40 or 50 hours of watching something. My one exception? ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. Loving the 4th season!
My Kdrama rec for those of you brave enough to try it is BEYOND EVIL. You can find it on the free-with-annnoying-ads Raukuten Viki. The show got multiple Baeksang awards, the Korean version of the Emmys. No supernatural elements, just a slow burning serial killer investigation with amazing performances and tension that will have you covering your eyes and shrieking.
DEBS: Julia, Grey's Anatomy is 26 or 27 episodes a season and is still running, on, I think, season 19. We should have realized what we were getting ourselves into, but now we just can't seem to stop. They're clever that way, those writers.
JENN McKINLAY: Hub and I are watching BAD MONKEY - it’s soooo good! We love SLOW HORSES so that’s up next and then SHOGUN (Hub is trying to finish the book first). We’re also watching SCHITT’S CREEK. We’re late to the party (I’d seen the 1st season ages ago) but waited for the Hub to catch up so here we go. On my own, I am watching A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES (very seasonal!). I adored the first book, struggled with the second and never read the third but I am enjoying the series on Netflix tremendously.
DEBS: Jenn, I've been listening to whole series again on Audible. Funnily, the second book is my favorite in the series. I adored Elizabethan London, and the science history. Nerdsville here. And now I want to rewatch the series! So well done!!
Oh, and so glad you finally are watching Schitt's Creek! It got us through the worst of the pandemic.
How about you, dear readers? What's on the tube in your house?
Like Lucy, we read more than we watch . . . we watched the Olympics; now the only things we faithfully watch are Jeopardy! and Masterpiece . . . .
ReplyDeleteI've stuck with American Ninja Warrior, which is a summer show, so it just ended. I hate how they are doing so much more racing these days.
ReplyDeleteI've also started Moonflower Murders. I was smiling as we caught up with Susan again. I'm very curious where this story is going to go. I'll be starting the second season of Tracker and fourth season of Superman & Lois when they start back up next month. Also looking forward to the return of Wild Cards. Hoping that Happy's Place is good when it premiers.
Honestly, I don't watch as many scripted shows as I once did. It might help if I had all the streaming services. Most of the buzzed about and awarded shows aren't even available for me to watch. And they don't appeal to me, so there is that. But I think I need to get a subscription to Hulu long enough to binge Only Murders. I enjoyed the first season when it was on ABC.
I don't watch much TV either, but when we find a show we both like, we watch it. We have one more episode of The Perfect Couple to watch and are loving it (did you KNOW the young bridge is Bono's daughter?). Can't wait to start Moonflower Murders.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to look up The Perfect Couple!
DeleteThe Perfect Couple is on my Netflix watchlist...along with many many other titles. However, if you like Eve Hewson (Bono's daughter), I recommend Bad Sisters and Flora and Son, both on Apple TV+.
DeleteI like Elsbeth, Tracker, 9-1-1, Will Trent and the new High Potential. Looking forward to checking out the new Matlock.
ReplyDeleteThe new Matlock might lure me back to TV. I might also watch season 2 of Reacher when that comes out...or is it already out?
DeleteDru Ann, I watched the first episode of High Potential this morning. It's decent enough, procedural through and through but I'll keep watching.
DeleteJudy, Season 2 of Reacher has been out for a while now. They are filming Season 3.
I love Elsbeth! I'm rewatching season 1 before season 2 starts. She's amazing!
DeleteI've heard Elspeth is good. Maybe we'll give that a try.
DeleteI also don't watch much TV since I don't have cable TV, regular TV channels or Netflix or many other streaming or subscription services mentioned above. But I will wait until OMITB Season 4 is over & binge it. Same with Slow Horses Season 4.
ReplyDeleteThat is smart. We started SLOW HORSES and the week wait is impossibly long!
DeleteYou need to watch all of season 1 of Slow Horses before you go to season 2.
ReplyDeleteLove that show, as well as Bad Monnkey and Sam Spade on Netflix.
We need to watch that last episode, if we can remember enough about what happened before. I don't know what happened to distract us so that we didn't finish it, because I loved it.
DeleteI think I'm the resident TV-aholic here so the better question for me is what am I not watching.
ReplyDeleteWhile I now have to wait an extra day for the new episodes of network TV shows with the changes I've made with my cable system, there are a LOT of shows returning starting this week and continuing through October. The NCIS franchise shows, the FBI original series (not the spinoffs), the Law & Order franchises, Ghosts, Blue Bloods, The Rookie, The Conners, Will Trent, High Potential, Matlock (the new Kathy Bates show), Tracker, Elspeth, The Equalizer, Fire Country and more.
But then there's the stuff on streaming sites:
On Tubi, I'm currently doing rewatches for Farscape, The Joy of Painting, Almost Human, La Femme Nikita, Moonlight, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Birds of Prey, The Facts of Life, Babylon 5. And I'm watching for the first time: Baywatch, LA's Finest, and Sue Thomas F.B.EYE. I started watching shows like Wildfire and Our Girl but haven't finished them yet. I watched the first 15 seasons of Heartland there's two more seasons that aren't available on streaming in the US yet except on a service I don't have. I finished a rewatches of NYPD Blue and Third Watch and watched The Vicar of Dibley for the first time.
On Peacock I'm watching the new season of The Ark but it is delayed by a week when each new episode airs on Syfy so even though Episode 10 airs tonight, I'll be finally able to watch Episode 9 today. As for rewatches: Bones, House, Homicide: Life on the Street (streaming for the first time ever!), The Closer, Longmire and Murder, She Wrote. And other shows I'm watching for the first time or rewatching include: Blue Murder, Code 404, Covert Affairs, Last Light, Little House on the Prairie, Little Men, New York Undercover, Primeval, Punky Brewster, Quantum Leap, Ripper Street, Life, Scrubs, The Nanny, Silk Stalkings, Sliders, The Six Million Dollar Man, That 70s Show, Trigger Point, Vigil Season 2, Wiseguy.
On Youtube I'm watching the Australian cop show Blue Heelers, Space: Above and Beyond, The Mighty Orbots and Brooklyn South.
On Disney+ I'm watching Daredevil (originally streamed on Netflix). Finished Season 2, about to start Season 3. I'll probably check out Agatha All Along which begins streaming tonight. I'm also watching Gargoyles. Plus X-Men '97 and I'm awaiting the new season of What If...?, plus I watched the new season of Doctor Who. I watched a series called Renegade Nell but it was bad. And I saw the progressively worse by episode Star Wars: The Acolyte.
On Paramount+ I am currently watching SEAL Team for the first time and I'm awaiting the new season of Frasier. I'm watching a documentary that started streaming yesterday about the 80's metal years. And I'm doing rewatches of Cheers, the original Frasier show, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, The Guardian, Scorpion and Superior Donuts. I'm also waiting for the new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Oh, and I watched the two seasons of Halo too.
Oops and I forgot to mention that I finished watching these shows as rewatches or first time viewing: Hart of Dixie, Night Court (the original), Head of the Class and Superstore.
DeleteAnd on Freevee I'm watching: The Mallorca Files, The Last Detective, The Waltons, City Homicide, Code Black, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Cagney & Lacey, Space Rangers. Oh, and I'm rewatching all of the Match Game episodes from the orginial show on Youtube as well. Still on Match Game 73.
DeleteHi, Jay. I noticed you watched B5. :) Thirty years after first air, we decided to binge-watch Babylon 5. Strascynski had written it as "a novel for television," so we wanted to see how it worked with no weekly pauses let alone hiatus periods. Wow! Talk about early plants and late payoffs. And with the wild card of casting challenges and what Strascynski called "writing in trap doors." The character arcs. Amazing!
DeleteRhonda, I'm a HUGE Babylon 5 fan. And yes, J. Michael Straczynksi's five year novel for television is one of the best shows I've seen. While the first season is a little rough, it does live up to the season's subtitle of "Signs and Portents" for sure. I've met a number of people from the show including 5 actors plus J. Michael Straczynski, Tony Dow who directed and worked behind the scenes in other capacities as well. And Peter David who wrote a couple of episodes.
DeleteRhonda, I'm another B5 fanatic. You might say that show is what got me where I am today - I joined an online discussion group that spawned a B5 fanfic writing group and after a little experience there, I decided to dip my toes in my own original fiction... and we're off. I guess I answered the Vorlon question of "Who are you?" with "A writer."
DeleteJulia, you joining a Babylon 5 fanfic writing group would cause this quote from Ambassador Kosh to say, "And so it begins..."
DeleteJay, how the heck do you manage to watch all those shows? And read? Do you have clones?
DeleteMy rewatch prompted me to wonder what B5 would've been like had it been given the full five years to play out its story as planned. I mean, yeah, it ran for five years after all, but they were motoring to the finish line at the end of S4 and then they got S5.
DeleteAnd, Julia, I remember you alluding to your origins in fanfic when you spoke at a book club extravaganza event at Mohegan Sun. That clicked and stuck in my mind because I have a fanfic background, too, from when I was in sixth grade writing and illustrating stories inspired by The Man from UNCLE. I didn't know I wrote in a genre with a name. They were just stories. I also wrote some fanfic in the '90s when I was active in the Space: Above & Beyond fandom.
Also a B5 lover. Almost to the point of joining a discussion group. Glad others feel the same way.
DeleteYou can add me to the Babylon 5 fans. Watched the show countless times and introduced quite a few friends to it. Still my favorite show.
DeletePut me in the B5 fanclub. Only TV series I watched beginning to end.
DeletePut me in the B5 fanclub. Only TV series I watched beginning to end.
DeleteCount me in the B5 fandom. We found B5 on Tubi with our latest watch through. We'd moved down to The Cottage and didn't have our DVD player. Score!
DeleteI am also a huge B-5 fan. It was on at 10 on Sundays when it first came out and I told my husband that I didn't want to be hooked on a show that aired that late. I watched the reruns after the first season and was hooked! Best show ever!
DeleteJulia, I didn't know that you began your writing career by writing B-5 fan fiction. Wow!
Awesome to see so many B5 fans here!
DeleteDeborah, I don't watch one episode per show. I'll binge one show for a few episodes and then another one. Or switch back and forth for a couple of different shows like now where I'm watching a lot of Bones and Homicide: Life on the Street a few days a week.
DeleteAnd I manage it because I have no life. And I read all the time too. Especially during the commercial breaks of the shows I'm watching and then I'll just stop watching TV for a few hours and read.
And I'm watching stuff while I'm at work too.
Rhonda, the uncertainty about getting a fifth season is why they filmed the series finale at the end of the 4th season so they could at least get it shown.
Coralee, I'm not in a discussion group for Babylon 5 but anytime the topic comes up I'm happy to talk about it.
Mark, getting others interested in the show is what keeps it alive. I'm not really sold on the reboot series that is supposedly coming to the CW in 2025.
Liz, Tubi is excellent for finding lots of stuff and my rewatch is in Season 5 at the moment. But I also own all the various stuff they've released on DVD except the most recent animated movie they put out.
Judy, I was a little late to Babylon 5, discovering it with the Docker's Guild strike episode in Season 1. Then went and watched what came before and then watched it all each week as it aired.
The Rookie and Will Trent won't be on until next year and are supposed to run without any week(s) off. No date for The Conners yet.
DeleteYou thought you came to B5 late? I started watching in season 4. The episode where the Shadows left. Yeah, I know.
DeleteBrit Box and Acorn are our first nighttime stops, but shows like Signora Volpe and McDonald and Dodds are frustrating with only three shows a season. It's a long time between Brokenwood-s and last season was a disappointment.Then a laugh with Abbott Elementary and old Brooklyn 999 is sometimes all we really want. Hoping someone here comes up with the title of the Agatha Christie as sleuth show.
ReplyDeleteThe Agatha Christie series is called "Agatha and the Truth of Murder". Didn't think it was very good myself, but give it a try.
DeleteOh I just love it when I see these posts about everyone’s favorite shows. I don’t watch a lot of tv but love to have a couple of shows to fall into as we head into winter. Slow Horses is by far one of my favorite current shows. Gary Oldman is at his very best in this series! For lightweight eye-candy, I love The Parisian Agency on Netflix. It is a real-life depiction of a Parisian family who runs a real estate agency in France (and beyond) so you get a peek into the gorgeous homes and areas of the somewhat-to-mega wealthy. And recently started Murder in Provence on BritBox as part of my “research” for my upcoming trip to France in the Spring. It’s great and based on books and filmed in the area so it’s eye-candy AND murder mystery! Doesn’t get much better than that!
ReplyDeleteI've heard SO many raves about SLOW HORSES, Stacia, I really need to settle in and give it a go. I watched the first and maybe the second episode but never went on from there, and I can't recall why. Time to see if I'm in the right mood now.
DeleteSomeone else told me The Parisian Agency was good. Sounds like a treat!
DeleteI am annoyed by the fact that so many shows we enjoy watching; i.e., The Old Man, Dark Winds, Tulsa King and Only Murders in the Building, started off on our cable networks but then continued further seasons on streaming channels. I refuse to keep adding to the cost of having the privilege of watching shows in my own home so I lose out on future seasons. :( The plus side of all that $$ saving is it streamlines my hours in front of the television. For the most part I am quite satisfied with my Sunday evenings with PBS Masterpiece Theatre. I am looking forward to the next season of All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwives, Grantchester and Hotel Portofino. Hopefully PBS will pick up future episodes of McDonald and Dodds. Right now we are watching Ridley and Van Der Valk (which I love because it takes place in Amsterdam and the lead character reminds me of Sting. :)) I am a huge fan of the author Anthony Horowitz so, of course, Magpie Murders was fun to watch (though I knew the ending) as well as we are now watching its sequel Moonflower Murders. My husband Rudi loves noir films so he has me hooked on TCM's film noir host Eddie Muller and his choice of film showings. We also both love the black and white films from the 30's and 40's on TCM especially all the Thin Man Films as well as anything Doris Day was in especially all those lovely comedies from the 60's she played opposite James Garner and Rock Hudson. What an incredible talent (and beauty) she was with great comedic timing.When we traveled to Carmel we stayed at her pet-friendly Cypress Inn she co-owned and were fascinated by her staff's stories of this remarkable woman.
ReplyDeleteAs to how all authors come to choose their characters' names I can't help but think that one of the greatest names ever selected has to be Atticus Pund, Anthony Horowitz's detective in Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders. Plus hearing the correction pronunciation of "Pund" is as wonderful as hearing the pronunciation of another detective's name...Agatha Christie's private detective Hercule Poirot. I wonder how all the Reds decide their character's names.
DeleteOh, that sounds like a topic for a conversation! I will put it up as soon as it is my week— and we can chat!
DeleteYes!!! Please and Thank You...I would love to know how character names are selected! Can't wait...
DeleteEvelyn, I have long been a fan of Marc Warren, who plays Van Der Valk. I even modeled a character in a book on him (not tell which one!) He was terrific as Danny Blue in Hustle. That show was great fun, if you can find it anywhere.
DeleteLoved HUSTLE!
DeleteDeborah ~ I love that you are long-time fan of Marc Warren; he's a wonderful actor. I was addicted to him the second I saw how he developed the Van Der Valk character. That dry, sometimes biting, sarcastic wit is fabulous. His detective partner, Lucienne, is his perfect match and I love how they work together; he's definitely a handful especially when sullen. I am on the move now googling Danny Blue. Thank you for the suggestion. :)
DeleteP.S. No hints as to which character you fashioned him after? :) :) :)
DeleteI have cable and I really only watch MSNBC and Food Network. I also have an MLB subscription and still root for my Cardinals, who won't be playoff bound. I'm hopelessly out of it and will go back to my reading now.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is a diehard Cardinal Fan (born in St. Louis) and still roots for them too.
DeleteWe are all streaming, no cable or satellite, and the Food Network and HGTV are the only things I miss. On the other hand, it makes going to the nail salon ,where they show them on the big TVs, an extra treat.
DeleteIn this house the choice is usually made by what the Harrumper will tolerate, and should he leave, well…
ReplyDeleteHe will watch GBBO both Britain and Canada, especially the last part of the foolish/elegant extravaganza. My daughter and I vote on who will stay and who will leave…
Other than that – it is Britbox, Acorn, BBC Select, and PBS, and of course Coronation St. Currently it is Stately Homes with Phil Spencer, Secrets of Historic Britain with Alan Titchmarsh (sometimes they seem to overlap), and of course Monty Don in his garden. There are several ‘new’ British mysteries lined up – want to watch Grace as I love the books, but often we just go back to Lewis or Morse – lazy but comforting.
Started watching the 2nd season of Ridley. Adrian Dunbar annoys me with his acting in this show – I liked him in Line of Duty. Almost started Moonflower Murders – slept through the first series. I see Foyle’s War is replaying on PBS – maybe.
Today’s book starting up is the new one by Ann Cleves, which may start a salivating for all her television shows. Waiting for All Creatures and Call the midwife (have to watch that one alone) after Christmas.
Of course there is Jeopardy at lunch!
I haven't checked out Ridley. We loved Line of Duty!
DeleteWe are finishing up all 12 seasons of VERA on BritBox and waiting for the final season this year.
ReplyDeleteWe love the following and are waiting for the new seasons to start:
Professor T (PBS)
Father Brown (PBS)
Sister Boniface (PBS)
All Creatures Great & Small (PBS)
I've heard that the new season of Vera is better than the last few. On my list!
DeleteThis will be a long comment.
ReplyDeleteSince my 20 year old TV is quite iffy, despite having cable TV, sometimes I get to watch TV until the tv goes haywire (the sounds go up by itself), I rarely watch television these days. When the cable tv is working, I watch Hallmark movies on the Hallmark channels. There is a Hallmark mystery channel and I watched the Music teacher mysteries by Alexia Gordon.
With PBS Passport on my computer and several streaming services, I get to watch some of my favorites like THE GOOD WITCH, which is about to leave on the 29th of September, which IMHO is bad timing since it will happen before Halloween (October 31st).
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL is a favorite.
Watching DISCOVERY OF WITCHES again. I read all (I think) of the books in that series. Loved SIGNORA VOLPE, which is Italian for Fox. Watching reruns of CALL THE MIDWIFE. Loved EXTRAORDINARY WOO WOO, a Korean Drama. Plan to watch SLOW HORSES.
QUEENS OF MYSTERY. HARRY WILD. MIDSOMMER MURDERS. NEW TRICKS with the original cast. (it was Jacqueline Winspear who mentioned New Tricks years ago and I decided to watch it).
TIME BANDITS. EMILY IN PARIS. BORGEN. A Danish comedy about the origins of Casanova.
Diana, sad news to report. If you haven't heard already, Time Bandits has been cancelled after the one season.
DeleteThere are many new working tv’s available on fb marketplace.
DeleteWe just caught up on 2 seasons of "Dark Winds," which is based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn and
ReplyDeleteChee books - so good. Zahn McClarnon is Joe Leaphorn and really nails the part. Season 3 is now on AMC (I think), but we saw it on Netflix as we don't have cable.
Season 4 of "Only Murders in the Building."
We will probably start watching season 2 of "The Old Man" soon. Also will give "Shogun" a try.
And when we just want something good and familiar we re-watch "Person of Interest."
Liz, I still need to see the 2nd season of Dark Winds. I didn't realize Season 3 was already airing though. Last I saw they were still filming it. But despite multiple perusals of three or four TV news websites a day I could've missed that news.
DeleteYes, Dark Winds is really good! Happy to know there is a Season 3 coming.
DeleteJay, I'm making an assumption that AMC is airing Season 3 as IMDB has two episodes listed. I could be completely wrong.
DeleteOh, I forgot about Bad Monkey! I love that too. And I agree, it’s always fun to read these, you all always remind me of things I’ve forgotten about, or agree with you about.
ReplyDeleteDebs, I know Mayor of Kingstown is dark, but I have to say I’m hooked. And has anyone ever watched Call My Agent? It’s in French, it’s absolutely hilarious, about a French talent agency. And don’t forget, if you haven’t watched the British police procedural Line of Duty, it is stellar.
Had to look up Bad Monkey. That sounds fun!
DeleteI don’t have cable, so I watch programs on some of the streaming services, especially the British ones. The British TV programs, mostly mysteries, are so much more entertaining to me than the American programs. But I hate that it can be a really long wait for a new series to begin!
ReplyDeleteI’m desperately looking for humor right now, to take my mind off things like the political climate and my loved ones who have major health issues, some of which are disabling or life threatening. So if I need to choose between a serious program and almost any kind of comedy, I’ll choose the comedy. My next best choice right now would be a detective or police program that has some humorous moments. Right now I’m watching and rewatching stand-up comedy on YouTube or Netflix or Amazon prime. I’ve watched Jen Fulwiler’s comedy specials a few times each!
DebRo
I know exactly what you mean about looking for the lighter stuff, Deb. Although they just killed off two major characters in last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy. Boo!
DeleteSo many shows, so little time! Looking forward to Moonflower Murders, via my PBS Passport. You were all right about Magpie Murders, such a good show, and I will stop everything to watch Lesley Manville. Waiting to binge the new season of Emily in Paris when my middle daughter visits next month. She's 40, so Emily's fashions make her swoon, while I salivate over the more sedate outfits her boss wears.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, I just got caught up with Virgin River, which annoys the heck out of me, but I can't stop watching it. The world's longest twin pregnancy should have caused a massive shark jumping. Still trying to finish Call the Midwife.
About to restart an Acorn subscription (I dip in and out of Acorn and Britbox) to watch the new Signora Volpe, Under the Vines, and my all-time favorite series, the French language Candice Renoir. (Weird trivia: A friend who shares my obsession with CR pointed out that all four of the actors who play her children are lefthanded. The kids are only reliably in the first few seasons.) Other recommendations from Acorn: Whitstable Pearl, Queens of Mystery, and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.
Has anyone else watched Deadloch on Netflix? The rudest language I've ever heard, and you'll either love it or hate it, but it's extraordinary. Takes place in Australia, women cops, lots of twists.
Karen, Queens of Mystery is the show of a good friend of mine who is trying to get my Constable Evans series on TV!
DeleteWonderful news. If they do as good a job with Evan Evans, it will be a big success. Fingers crossed, Rhys.
DeleteKaren, we watched a couple of episodes of Deadloch but didn't stick with it.
DeleteRhys, fingers and toes crossed!!
Has Queens of Mystery returned? I keep waiting and waiting for the next season.
DeleteIt would be great to see Rhys’s Evan on TV! Meanwhile, I think I should start rereading the books!
DebRo
I remember scrolling the Emmy nominees and realizing I wasn't familiar with any of them. I would like to try Shogun, but I picked up the impression that it might be "Game of Thrones: Japan" with all the blood, brutality, and misogyny. The irony is, we watched Game of Thrones, but we can't handle House of Dragons. Anyway, I would like to check out Shogun, but there are some scenes I don't need in my mind.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Man is not what either of us would pick for right now (life difficult- need laughs!) and we are both completely hooked.Partly it's the first class actors- long time favorites - but it's also the complex story. Glued to the screen. Bad Monkey is appealing too and again, not my usual style. I've read Hiaasen and usually find him excellent but too weird. But the weirdness has just sucked me in. And the other end of the spectrum? PBS is showing again the old lovely Brit series, Lark Rising to Candleford...and I am loving it. That is just what I need right now.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about watching A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES because the clips I've seen are so ravishingly beautiful. Who doesn't want to spend time in the libraries and closes of Oxford? I'm with Jenn; loved the first book, was dubious about the second and never made it to the third.
ReplyDeleteThe photography in A Discovery of Witches was gorgeous! And the costumes when it gets into the second book!!
DeleteIt’s called the Great British Baking Show in the US because Pillsbury has had the US trademark on “bake off” for many years. I’m currently watching Slow Horses and Moonflower Murders.
ReplyDeleteOh, that explains it! Thank you. Still annoying, however.
DeleteWell, I finally started Slow Horses and love it. I finished season one and am now on episode two of season two. I really think Slow Horses is one you have to stay with for several of the first episodes to really appreciate it. I'm surprised I haven't started watching the new season of Only Murders in the Building. I will, probably this weekend, along with The Moonflower Murders. I'll soon pick up the Great British Baking Show, too. Philip usually watches one TV and I watch the other, but we do come together for certain shows, anything to do with The Walking Dead and The Old Man, which we haven't started back with yet. And, I have got to give Bad Monkey a try, since I love Carl Hiaason. Jenn, I envy you watching Schitt's Creek for the first time. I wish I could watch it all never having seen any of it. I'm looking forward to more All Creatures Great and Beautiful and The Midwives.
DeleteMy wife was a big fan of television shows and I watched many of them with her. Now I can go for weeks without turning on the set. I do catch the late night comics on my computer but nothing else on a regular basis. With streaming services, however, I am able to occasionally indulge my OCD, binging on such shows as VERA. For some reason I find it comforting to catch every episode of a program in order. the only program I now watch on a weekly basis is ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, and that I watch for the clever writing and guest stars. The last show I binged on was FATHER BROWN -- no, not that one; the one from fifty year ago starring Kenneth More. Only thirteen episodes, all taken from Chesterton's short stories; the writing is good, the production is clumsy, and I have a chance to see many familiar faces from British television and films when they were much younger -- Ronald Pickup, Charles Dance, Bernard Lee, and so on. I may or may not watch AGATHA ALL ALONG; I had to give up on the last four Marvel series for television because meh.
ReplyDeleteWe had to decided to limit our TV budget to Amazon Video and PBS documentaries and Masterpiece. We did squeeze in Shogun right before the big change. Anyone who watches Shogun, THIS is what Puget Sound looked like when I grew up in the 1950's. Well obviously not the period setting but the water and the trees and the rain and fog. would buy the whole series just for the backgrounds. I am totally immersed in reading but when I do pop into the tv room, I am working my way through The Prisoner, and Take me out feet first on Amazon, and all that PBS has to offer me.
ReplyDeletePrime Video is now streaming Elementary so if you haven't seen that one, now's a good time to catch that great series.
DeleteMy daughter's favorite series! Will have to let her know.
DeleteWe don't watch a lot of TV, but I had a period of inactivity after a surgery in June and got started on an old British crime comedy called New Tricks. I still watch an episode now and then.
ReplyDeleteLoved New Tricks!
DeleteI'm rewatching A Discovery of Witches. So good! Just started season two of The Old Man. On Acorn I'm watching Signore Volpe, Under the Vines, and others I can't think of. Will be watching Moonflower Murders and Hotel Portofino on PBS Passport.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Discovery of Witches. Right now most of my TV watching is strictly to chill after work. I recently watched Staying Alive, John Travolta was so amazing to play that role without dancer fill ins, and I love the music of The Bee Gees, was a fun walk back in time 😂
ReplyDeleteHere’s a different show for you all! My husband and I love the game show, The 1% Club. After watching the entire show a few times, we now fast forward through all of the chit chat and just do the puzzles. If we’re unable to solve within the time frame we pause until we figure it out or give up. It’s a fun competition between us. It really works your mind and it’s fun at the same time. It’s no longer on network tv but is streaming on Prime Video.
ReplyDeleteDidn’t mean to publish as “anonymous “
DeleteI’m the TV addict in our relationship. We have both Acorn and BritBox so now watch a lot of shows on there. We just finished what was listed on Acorn as the first season (but was really the third) of a Danish show called Darkness: Those Who Kill (on IMDB it’s called Lost: Those Who Kill). It featured a police psychologist and a detective trying to solve a murder. It was interesting…
ReplyDeleteCurrently we’re finishing up Season 3 of Murders in the Building, heading to Season 2 of C.B. Strike (J.K.Rowling as Robert Galbraith), just found Colin from Accounts (Australian comedy about a couple meeting and presumably becoming a couple). We will watch Season 2 of The Old Man, the Moonflower Murders, probably check out Kathy Bates in Matlock, Elsbeth, Tracker and a few of the new shows. But we still have one season left of The Great and about 4 or 5 of Vera. We never finished MI-5 from a long time ago (got it initially on PBS and got into it, only to have it never shown again. So many good actors came out of that like Nicola Walker, Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes and David Oyelowo.) Oh, forgot we started the new season of McDonald and Dobbs. We are also finishing up Ashes to Ashes, which was a sort of sequel to Life on Mars. For those, like us, who liked Line of Duty, I read somewhere there is talk about doing a movie to tie up any loose ends.
I am also waiting for new seasons of Shetland, Call the Midwife, All Creatures Great and Small, the Diplomat and Annika. Okay, I’m done. Until I remember some other “you can’t miss this” show to share! —Pat S
You can vie with Jay for the JRW "TV Addict Award," Pat!
DeleteI don’t know. He has me beat, I think. And he’s still working!
DeleteSee, I knew I’d be back! My son just texted me this morning to encourage us to watch Shogun. He watches very little television, but can’t say enough about how good this version is. (When I mentioned that I had always wanted to watch the first version, he replied, “There was another version?” Probably doesn’t even know who Richard Chamberlain is!) — Pat S
ReplyDeleteHa, Pat! I suspect you're right!
DeleteI have to confess that I'd rather read! I do watch Blue Bloods - depressed that this is the end of the series, I've watched Longmire from start to finish, and I'm waiting for the next installment of Dark Winds. There will be one, right? I'm craving an old favorite to see how it aged. Upstairs/Downstairs. Have to look around, that would be the perfect antidote to crazy holiday times!
ReplyDeleteThere are new episodes of HULU's ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, and I'm watching old PERRY MASONs and TWILIGHT ZONEs. -- Storyteller Mary
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I can't wait to watch ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING season 3. We are falling behind there!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the premiere of High Potential last night so will continue to watch it. I've decided to only watch a few shows for now and try to clear off the watch lists on some streaming services. We'll see how long that lasts.
ReplyDeleteDebs, you are reading mostly, that’s why you are behind, I’m guessing! I’ve dropped Hulu, Prime and (Egads!) Acorn the last year with the goal of reading more and watching TV less. I still have Netflix and Apple TV. I’m shocked at how much I enjoy Emily in Paris. I’m not a fancy person into fashion, influencers and selfies, but gosh I love the beauty of the streets, clothes (no outfit ever worn twice just like what I do -NOT! 😂), interior decorating and people on that show. Pure escapism! I also like the female empowerment depicted on the show (similar to why I loved the movie Barbie) I also highly recommend Bad Monkey on Apple TV. I’ve always been a Vince Vaughn fan, and Carl Hiaasen is proud of how this one is turning out. His environmentalism and snark permeates the show and I’m loving every minute of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm always a fan of baking or cooking shows! I always end up writing down a bunch of new recipes which I'll probably never try, but they're great fun.
ReplyDeleteCertainly watched Midsomer Murders - would never actually visit Badger's Drift. New Tricks, Hinterland, a few Walter Presents of French or Italian detective programs (good). Enjoyed Queens of Mystery. One of same actors in Ridley. Also Silent Witness and Inspector Ricciardi.
ReplyDelete