Hardball With Chris Matthews The Ed Show All In With Chris Hayes The Rachel Maddow Show The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell Up With Steve Kornacki
You damn lib you. I make it an effort to watch "Now With Alex Wagner" just because she's a babe. Edit: funny I just posted this the very second her show came on the air!
I use my TV screen solely for watching DVDs and videos. During the digital switchover over a year ago, I decided not to bother and haven't missed broadcast programs at all. For the current shows I do follow like Royal Pains and Person of Interest I simply avoid reading spoilers about them and wait for the season to be released on disc.
I zoomed through all seven seasons of Burn Notice the last two months, and am now re-viewing two 1980s/early 90s favorites Quantum Leap (corny and never quite living up to its promise, but Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell are such a pleasure) and Miami Vice (thus my resurrection of the Jan Hammer thread. I'm fascinated by the sleek, sparkling look of this show. The modernist homes glowing at night with colored lights alone keeps me fascinated! But it also holds up as a nifty crime show (pastel-noir?) with an amazing group of actors early in their careers guest-starring (Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Annette Bening, Viggo Mortensen, etc.)
Miami Vice...with an amazing group of actors early in their careers guest-starring (Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Annette Bening, Viggo Mortensen, etc.)
Miami Vice...with an amazing group of actors early in their careers guest-starring (Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Annette Bening, Viggo Mortensen, etc.)
I'm just gonna throw in what I've recently watched and currently watching together;
BREAKING BAD - quite possibly one of the best written series ever. I'm in the final season on Netflix and am constantly amazed by how they continuously surprise me. Yet, I can only watch 2 episodes back to back because it is so damned dark and twisted. Yes, there are doses of humor but even then it's pitch black. But again, it is ultimately a morality tale and does an incredible job of showing us what "the butterfly effect" really is. Everything that we do somehow will affect someone else. An amazing show and I'm not looking forward to it's ending. *****
FARGO - another amazing American television show, one that after 5 episodes has quite frankly have me believing that it is close to the level of BREAKING BAD. Yes, it's that good. The cast is amazing, the style is very close to the original film and Billy Bob Thornton is as terrifying as he is funny. ****1/2
HANNIBAL - undoubtedly the best filmed show on television, and possibly the most disturbing as well. It also has probably the most gruesome scene ever done on television that had me turning away. It is incredible on how they took the original sources and compile it into a provocative and mesmerizing series. Hannibal, played by the excellent actor Mads Mikkelsen, is actually a close confident and investigator for Special Agent Jack Crawford(Laurence Fishburn) and at first also to special agent Will Graham(Hugh Dancy). The show is diabolical, creepy and slick. And definitely not for the squeamish, though I will say that until the last part of season 2, the vast majority of violence occurs off screen. But showing the end results is gruesome enough. ****1/2
THE AMAZING RACE - my favorite reality competition show period. Lots a fun. ****
GAME OF THRONES - probably my favorite show on television right now and is only on for a frustrating 10 episodes. The show runners expertly weaves a huge canvas of characters and plot and manages to keep it in check. The characters are richly drawn, the photography is major motion picture status, as are the effects, and the story lines are richly plotted. Grand stuff. *****
HOUSE OF CARDS - ranks side by side with BREAKING BAD as one of the best written shows on television and Kevin Spacey is as diabolical in his pursuit for power as any serial killer is for his prey. Nearly on par with HANNIBAL in terms of cinematography, the show is slick and dark as molasses. Makes THE WEST WING look like little house on the prairie. A gothic game of chess is more like it. If you watch both seasons you'll never look at politicians and DC politics the same way again. *****
THE TUDORS - watching season 2 now from Netflix, this Showtime historical drama makes Henry VIII a sexy, young king, horning after that Boleyn girl. The sets and setting comes off a bit cheap at times, it makes up for it with plots and sex and deception and sex, etc. Its not great but it seems to get better with each episode. And with Peter O'Toole playing a less than honorable pope does make one sit up a bit more and take notice. ***
Recently finished the short run of Tru Calling Seasons 1 and 2, while simultaneously moving along through my ER odyssey, having most recently just wrapped season 9. I had told myself I would stop ER after season 8, because that's the season that lost its key players Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Peter Benton (Eriq LaSalle), but I'll be damned if I wasn't just so hooked on the show that I've continued on. Not to mention the fact that show leads Maura Tierney, Goran Visnjic, and Noah Wyle continued to carry the show along with standard brilliant writing, direction, and supporting cast.
Am taking a break from ER before I wrap up my run; season 10 is on the way and will definitely be the last season out of the 15 the show has done that I will watch -- I believe too strongly that after season 10 the show's quality began to slip too severely.
While I wait for ER season 10 I have just started True Detective season 1 starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Just started episode 2 and so far it's quite gripping...
I use my TV screen solely for watching DVDs and videos. During the digital switchover over a year ago, I decided not to bother and haven't missed broadcast programs at all. For the current shows I do follow like Royal Pains and Person of Interest I simply avoid reading spoilers about them and wait for the season to be released on disc.
I zoomed through all seven seasons of Burn Notice the last two months, and am now re-viewing two 1980s/early 90s favorites Quantum Leap (corny and never quite living up to its promise, but Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell are such a pleasure) and Miami Vice (thus my resurrection of the Jan Hammer thread. I'm fascinated by the sleek, sparkling look of this show. The modernist homes glowing at night with colored lights alone keeps me fascinated! But it also holds up as a nifty crime show (pastel-noir?) with an amazing group of actors early in their careers guest-starring (Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Annette Bening, Viggo Mortensen, etc.)
Those are some really terrific entertainments, there was something different about that entertainment approach back then. I think Leap was a terrific show, yeah cornball, but entertaining. I have gone back and forth on Burn Notice, pretty good writing and good actors. But for some reason I find his voice-overs really excessive, I know they serve a narrative purpose, but it grates sometimes.
The Streets Of San Francisco (CBS Action has started running season three - marred only by the end credits having the season one theme for some reason) The 100 (although they should really be calling it The 80-Something now) Suburgatory (although season three isn't up there with the first two) Melissa & Joey (downloaded rather than watch it on E4 because they're likely to cut it for language) Glee (I'm sticking with this to the bitter end) Under The Dome (season 2 just started in the UK and I've yet to watch the first episode. But it's already lost points with me by killing off Angie instead of the dumbest sheriff this side of Rosco P. Coltrane.)
EDIT: Just watched the first episode. Oh, they did kill off Linda as well...
LES REVENANTS (The Returned) french series about a town where dead people return to visit their loved ones and family. Watching the last episode of season one tonight, excellent show with gripping performances, clever writing and excellent music by Mogwai. Highly recommended.
UNDER THE DOME though I was no fan of season 1, I finally feel the show has found its groove somewhat and has deviated far enough from the book for me to stay interested. It's still mediocre television with at times amateurish acting, writing and directing, I'd rate it on the same scale as that other Stephen King lite vehicle Haven, if not for some more appealing characters; Big Jim has grown on me and is an excellent unpredictable character. I'm up to episode 8 or 9.
TRUE BLOOD also finished what I presume is the last season. I like the show mostly for the explicit humor and sex, funny characters and sexy vampires. Previous seasons felt like the show had surpassed its high a bit, I'm still only on the first episode of this one so still curious to see where they'll go with it.
I still have so much stuff to see; The Wire, American Horror Story, BSG, ... and shows like boardwalk empire and walking dead will be coming up soon again so I feel I'm saturated for the moment!
Sopranos. Again. Sky atlantic been reshowing the lot with an episode early hours each night - and ive recorded them all! I think this must be the fourth time ive seen the whole thing. And i stil see new things, and even l forget what happens to certain characters who arrive for half a season and rub new jersey up the wrong way!
Im also watching Ray Donovan. Blacklist and nikita. Boardwalk back sept 13th on sky atlantic for the finale.
First TV season I finished in 2015 was 2010's Terriers, which I honestly think would've succeeded beyond a single short season with a better title. I think people though it was a dog show or something? Anyway, I loved it. Plotwise it wasn't anything special, pretty standard stuff, but Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James has such great chemistry and so fully embodied their characters, and most of the supporting cast was also so good, that it was just a pleasure to watch.
Just finished season 1 of Black Sails (2014), Jonathan E. Steinberg's revisionist prequel to Treasure Island (which itself comprised a revisionist view of pirate history), a pirate epic in the typical Starz (and other pay channel) tradition of soap opera melodrama seeking popular appeal through high production values and copious sex and violence. As these things go it's pretty watchable, but not in the upper echelon. From what I hear the whole first season is basically a prologue to what comes next and the second season steps up the show's game in every way, and I hope that's true, because I'd love to have a great pirate show and not just a decent one.
Forever (quite engaging - Henry isn't Quincy, but then again who is?) Liv And Maddie Revenge The 100 Being Mary Jane The Flash Arrow (although I really prefer the spinoff; if only Emily Bett Rickards was a regular in Central City!) Scorpion The Soup Sofia The First Hogan's Heroes
Halfway through Season 1 of Revolution ... terrific show, with a few flaws. Sometimes the dialogue is a bit off, and male lead Billy Burke hasn't yet shown himself a significantly talented actor on this program despite being quite the badass character. The female lead Tracy Spiridakos is not the best actress either, she's "too good" of an actress, i.e. overemotes way too much and sometimes her beautiful face becomes cartoonlike, she contorts it so much in an effort to "act". Sometimes there are a few too many "Plot Convenience Playhouse Presents..." moments.
Otherwise applause all around, from the production design to the score (Chris Lennertz), from the excellent premise and story to the fantastic action/adventure. The best thing this show has going for it are extremely rich, well-drawn, complex characters. Most of the characters are so well-written and it's clear that character development takes very high precedence among the showrunners. I applaud that, and have been pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns the characters' motives and personalities have taken. The show is also well-shot, utilizing countless beautiful and evocative outdoor locations.
Just sending you a warning, Deputy Riley. I have gotten into many TV programs that were a series. Then, all of a sudden, they are dropped without resolution or a wrap up finale. They are dropped because there are not enough viewers, and those of us who have been loyal viewers have no closure. My warning is that Revolution was such a series. My husband and I are stilly fuming!! Hope you don't mind me letting you know this.
Just sending you a warning, Deputy Riley. I have gotten into many TV programs that were a series. Then, all of a sudden, they are dropped without resolution or a wrap up finale. They are dropped because there are not enough viewers, and those of us who have been loyal viewers have no closure. My warning is that Revolution was such a series. My husband and I are stilly fuming!! Hope you don't mind me letting you know this.
No problem, Joan, and I appreciate the heads-up. I did, however, already know of the short-lived nature and unresolved resolution of Revolution. I'm still willing to explore and enjoy the show in a better-to-have-loved-and-lost-than-never-to-have-loved-at-all way. So far it is indeed a fantastic show, and looking to be one of the more devastating casualties of the network TV axe. Sometimes I enjoy watching these short-lived programs in between my multiple-season shows, kind of get in and get out. I love Supernatural (10 seasons and counting) and I just wrapped up my 15-season run of ER, so it's nice to have a relatively short show to enjoy, even if it does end abruptly. Of course, my tune could change once I finish the show, assuming I fall in love with it and need to know how the story wraps up! I just try to remind myself that at least it received 2 full-length seasons. I know for a fact that if I had started watching Fringe when it aired and it was abruptly cancelled, I would have gone the proverbial apeshit.
The last time I recall fuming at the untimely death of a show that I loved was 2005's Threshold, and that show only lasted 9 episodes (four additional unaired)! It set up a fantastic premise and was firing on all cylinders, tossing out wonderful story arcs and promising hints of greatness before it was summarily dismissed. No resolution with that one, and although I didn't get into 2 seasons like you and your husband did with Revolution, after that I swore I would not watch a show in its infancy, and would instead wait until it developed a few seasons. Of course, I've betrayed this pact for myself with Justified and Lost and and one or two others that I watched from the word go, shows that I absolutely had to watch.
Nowadays, my TV-2-watch docket is so overflowing that I watch shows that already have been on for awhile or have come and gone, and the new shows that interest me I promptly add to my Amazon shopping cart when/if the first season makes it to DVD.
There are other shows that were very short-lived (often with no resolution) that were already six feet under that I've enjoyed, like Invasion, Surface, Dollhouse, Tru Calling, and plan on watching shows that meet that same criteria, like Jericho, Life, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, etc.
And Joan, if you've made it to the end of this rambling essay, congratulations first of all......and second of all thanks for the kind warning re: Revolution.
I make it an effort to watch "Now With Alex Wagner" just because she's a babe.
