Naples paradise continues…

Posted on by brunswil

Instinct – I am not sure I like this show on CBS Sundays which premiered last week; a former CIA operative (Alan Cumming from The Good Wife), who has since built a “normal” life as a gifted professor and writer, is pulled back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer on the loose; the pilot episode was appallingly lame

Counterpart – on STARZ Sundays; mysterious miniseries set in a parallel universe Berlin
Homeland – on Showtime Sundays; we’re in Washington now and the President sees enemies everywhere; just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that everyone isn’t out to get you
Here and Now – on HBO Sundays; a less maudlin version of This is Us

The Walking Dead – now in its 8th season on AMC Sundays; the survivors still face a harrowing world where everyone is out to get them

The Chi – on Showtime Sundays; this series explores life on the south side of Chicago; if you were a fan of The Wire, you will love this series which completed its first season last week and will continue to be available on demand

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – on HBO Sundays; Oliver gives his sardonic twist to today’s events

IZombie – on The CW Mondays; a comedic series where zombies are generally the good guys
The Resident – on Fox Mondays; a medical procedural with a great cast

The Alienist – on TNT Mondays; olde time police procedural with a great cast
The Good Doctor – on ABC Mondays; a medical procedural with a twist – our lead character is an autistic doctor!

Unreal – on Lifetime Mondays; although I’ve never watched a single episode of The Bachelor, this parody does explore the machinations behind reality TV; I do enjoy its rather venal take on Hollywood

Rise – very sweet show on NBC Tuesdays; watch it if you love musical series set in a high school; it is extraordinarily reminiscent of Friday Night Lights, the show about high school football in a small Texas town  which I absolutely loved and still miss; full disclosure: I started life as a high school theatre arts teacher, and there couldn’t be a show I would be more naturally inclined to admire, so I will give this new series my full attention

The X-Files – on Fox Wednesdays; last week’s episode was the last of the season; very sweet and affectionate considering it dealt with the pursuit of their child William; do Mulder and Scully have a happily ever after?

Riverdale – on the CW Wednesdays; not your granny’s Archie Comics as sex, violence and intrigue abounds

9-1-1 – on Fox Wednesdays; medical/legal/firefighter procedural all rolled into one show about LA’s emergency services operations; very entertaining and superb cast including Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton; this series completed its debut season last week but episodes will continue to be available on demand

Designated Survivor – on ABC Wednesdays; ludicrous political suspense series featuring a totally unqualified man suddenly elevated to the position of President of the US; like that could actually happen?

The Assassination of Gianni Versace – on FX Wednesdays; dark and sad exploration of the events around this murder; finished its season last week but will continue to be available on demand

Corporate – on Comedy Central Wednesdays; hilarious parody of corporate life

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee – on TBS Wednesdays; Bee’s comedic take on current events

Gotham – on Fox Thursdays; now in its 4th season, this very gothic series explores the beginnings of the Batman story; I am a huge fan of Ben McKenzie since his breakout role on The O.C. and then Southland, so I take real pleasure in this campy show which shows the back stories of all the DC characters in the Batman comics

Real Time with Bill Maher – on HBO Fridays; great panels discuss current events

Strike Back – airs new episodes on Cinemax Fridays; mayhem abounds as a special ops team from British military intelligence completes high risk missions around the globe

Saturday Night Live – on NBC Saturdays; now in its 43rd season, this venerable comedy/variety series still keeps chugging along capturing the zeitgeist of our times; there was a very clever CBC satire on last week’s episode hosted by Bill Hader (the word “sorry” was overused to hilarious effect)

Shows that keep me sane

CBS Sunday Morning – on CBS Sundays; the news show that does personal interest pieces and has done since 1979; anything from interviews with actors political figures, athletes, musicians, etc. This show continually informs and inspires.  Very soothing in these turbulent times.

The Comedians (Stephen Colbert on CBS nightly; Trevor Noah on Comedy Central M-Th; Jimmy Kimmel on ABC nightly; Seth Meyers on NBC nightly; James Corden on CBS nightly; Samantha Bee on TBS Wednesdays, Bill Maher on HBO Fridays). Some times you just have to laugh at the madness around us as these satirists poke fun at current events.

Closing Words

It’s going to be a busy week here. Today we’re having our street party for our block and the next one over. Company arrives on Monday for the week and we will be taking them to various spots for excursions and nights out. Wednesday we are gathering for a farewell drink for a neighbour who is moving to a nearby subdivision for a bigger house and garage. Time is quickly ticking away as we count down our last three weeks. Oh no….

Having trouble fitting everything in…

Posted on by brunswil
I’ve been seriously overbooked this past week, trying to see lots of friends before folks go home for Easter. New shows are appearing throughout the spring  and I am desperately trying to keep up with them. Here’s an article to help you keep track:
Here are some viewing recommendations for the week ahead:

Netflix

Tulip Fever – feature film 2017; I must admit that when I saw this newly added to Netflix I was thrilled; an amazing cast that includes Alicia Vikander and Christoph Waltz – what could possibly go wrong?  This was a very troubled production that kept getting delayed, recast and then finally made on a lowish budget; filmed like a Rembrandt or Vermeer painting and set in 17th C. Amsterdam during the days of Tulip Fever, this unlikely romance film offered period costumes and accents; perfect for snoozing!  It is certainly snoozable, but at times makes very little sense. Beautiful to look at though!
Jessica Jones – season 2, 13 episodes; Krysten Ritter stars as a hardboiled private eye with superpowers; she is rebuilding her personal life and career as a hot-tempered, sardonic private eye in Hell’s Kitchen NYC; plagued by self-loafing and a wicked case of PTSD, Jessica battles demons from within and without, using her extraordinary abilities as an unlikely champion for those in need…especially if they’re willing to cut her a check.

Streaming

Loving Vincent – feature film; it’s hard to describe how magical this wonderful film is.  In a story depicted in oil painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist’s final letter and ends up investigating his final days here. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature (it lost to Coco), this is a most unusual kind of biopic.  Using tens of thousands of oil paintings commissioned from scores of artists, the filmmakers transform famous works of modern art into a hypnotic and beguiling work of animation.  The people van Gogh rendered on canvas are brought to uncanny life, with the voices of professional actors, some of them well known. You may recognize the animated renderings of Douglas Booth and Chris O’ Dowd among many others. I loved this beautiful film and can’t recommend it highly enough.

The Good Fight – Season 2, 13 episodes; this spinoff from The Good Wife originates on CBS All Access but is available to stream; I love this wonderful show about Chicago’s legal community; on tonight’s episode, mass hysteria results with an apparent chemical attack on the law offices and the legal team takes on the case of a reality show contestant who is the victim of a sexual assault
The Path – Season 3, 13 episodes; originates on Hulu and available to stream; dark and mysterious series about the origins of and the life within a cult
Hap and Leonard – Season 3, 6 episodes; originates on Sundance but available to stream; I love this wonderful series about two brothers from different mothers in the 1980’s; it’s a darkly comic swamp noir of two best friends, one femme fatale, etc.; incredibly entertaining, it stars James Purefoy (Rome) and Michael Kenneth Williams (from The Wire)

Amazon

Absentia – 10 episode miniseries; after being declared dead in absentia, an FBI agent must reclaim her family, identity and innocence when she finds herself the prime suspect in a string of murders; stars Stana Katic (Castle); I’ve only seen 1 episode so far, but I will try and keep up

The usual addictions

Instinct – on CBS Sundays premieres tonight; a former CIA operative (Alan Cumming from The Good Wife), who has since built a “normal” life as a gifted professor and writer, is pulled back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer on the loose

Counterpart – on STARZ Sundays; mysterious miniseries set in a parallel universe Berlin
Homeland – on Showtime Sundays; we’re in Washington now and the President sees enemies everywhere; just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that everyone isn’t out to get you
Here and Now – on HBO Sundays; a less maudlin version of This is Us

The Walking Dead – now in its 8th season on AMC Sundays; the survivors still face a harrowing world where everyone is out to get them

The Chi – on Showtime Sundays; this series explores life on the south side of Chicago; if you were a fan of The Wire, you will love this series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – on HBO Sundays; Oliver gives his sardonic twist to today’s events

IZombie – on The CW Mondays; a comedic series where zombies are generally the good guys
The Resident – on Fox Mondays; a medical procedural with a great cast

The Alienist – on TNT Mondays; olde time police procedural with a great cast
The Good Doctor – on ABC Mondays; a medical procedural with a twist – our lead character is an autistic doctor!
McMafia – on AMC Mondays; I’ve already bingewatched this one, but you can catch its 8 episodes on a weekly basis; good substitute for espionage films

Unreal – on Lifetime Mondays; although I’ve never watched a single episode of The Bachelor, this parody does explore the machinations behind reality TV; I do enjoy its rather venal take on Hollywood

This is Us – on NBC Tuesdays; maudlin but addictive family drama; get out your hankies!

Rise – on NBC Tuesdays; watch it if you love musical series set in a high school; it is extraordinarily reminiscent of Friday Night Lights, the show about high school football in a small Texas town  which I absolutely loved and still miss; full disclosure: I started life as a high school theatre arts teacher, and there couldn’t be a show I would be more naturally inclined to admire, so I will give this new series my full attention

The X-Files – on Fox Wednesdays; last week’s episode was the last of the season; very sweet and affectionate considering it dealt with a murderous cult; do Mulder and Scully have a happily ever after?

Riverdale – on the CW Wednesdays; not your granny’s Archie Comics as sex, violence and intrigue abounds

9-1-1 – on Fox Wednesdays; medical/legal/firefighter procedural all rolled into one show about LA’s emergency services operations; very entertaining and superb cast including Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton

Designated Survivor – on ABC Wednesdays; ludicrous political suspense series featuring a totally unqualified man suddenly elevated to the position of President of the US; like that could actually happen?

The Assassination of Gianni Versace – on ABC Wednesdays; dark and sad exploration of the events around this murder

Corporate – on Comedy Central Wednesdays; hilarious parody of corporate life

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee – on TBS Wednesdays; Bee’s comedic take on current events

Gotham – on Fox Thursdays; now in its 4th season, this very gothic series explores the beginnings of the Batman story; I am a huge fan of Ben McKenzie since his breakout role on The O.C. and then Southland, so I take real pleasure in this campy show which shows the back stories of all the DC characters in the Batman comics

Real Time with Bill Maher – on HBO Fridays; great panels discuss current events

Strike Back – airs new episodes on Cinemax Fridays; mayhem abounds as a special ops team from British military intelligence completes high risk missions around the globe

Saturday Night Live – on NBC Saturdays; now in its 43rd season, this venerable comedy/variety series still keeps chugging along capturing the zeitgeist of our times; there was a very clever CBC satire on last night’s episode hosted by Bill Hader (the word “sorry” was overused to hilarious effect)

Shows that keep me sane

CBS Sunday Morning – on CBS Sundays; the news show that does personal interest pieces and has done since 1979; anything from interviews with actors political figures, athletes, musicians, etc. This show continually informs and inspires.  Very soothing in these turbulent times.

The Comedians (Stephen Colbert on CBS nightly; Trevor Noah on Comedy Central M-Th; Jimmy Kimmel on ABC nightly; Seth Meyers on NBC nightly; James Corden on CBS nightly; Samantha Bee on TBS Wednesdays, Bill Maher on HBO Fridays). Some times you just have to laugh at the madness around us as these satirists poke fun at current events.

Closing Words

We’ve been awfully busy this last week:  we finally made it to Naples’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the many high school marching bands; we dined out at several restaurants around town including 21 Spices, Kareem’s, Alberto’s, Bistro La Baguette, Mediterrano, Jeri Lu’s Kitchen and last but not least, our neighbourhood Panera to sample their new Breakfast Brioche.  We hosted George’s Orlando golf group for dinner last night (they leave for their big annual trip tomorrow) and are celebrating the end of a wonderful season of golfing with George’s Treviso Bay regulars tonight at our clubhouse.  This week I am attending a lunch talk with the authors of a beautiful book on Naples Beach Houses and we are participating in a tournament of our Georgian Bay Club golfers at Pelican Marsh. That’s on top of my usual golf and bocce activities!!  I will be taking a little rest from this swirl of activity when we get back to Toronto.  It’s in the 80’s today with blue sky and sun.  Enjoy your week wherever you are! Hugs to my friends dealing with medical challenges.

Counting down our final month…

Posted on by brunswil

We are now in the countdown process to heading home.  Trying to empty out the fridge and pantry; trying to make social engagement plans with all our friends and neighbours who are also heading home shortly; starting to count the last fitness classes, golf games, mahjong games,  bocce matches, etc.  This past week I had the great pleasure of participating in a fun golf event with the big girls who play the 18-hole course and played with a superb golfer who has made me reevaluate my golf game to the extent that I can see how being able to drive the green from many holes would make this game that I play very badly much more fun!  Lessons to follow when I get back up north!

Further to last week’s Academy Awards, for those of you still trying to catch up with the nominated films, here’s a handy link from the NY Times to stream those films:

https://nyti.ms/2FVWfq2

Meanwhile, back on the small screen, new shows are continuing to debut this spring, and older shows are returning from hiatus.  Here are some recommendations:

Streaming

Breathe –  British movie starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy; this is an inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish, an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease. Their heartwarming celebration of human possibility marks the directorial debut of Andy Serkis.  I heartily recommend this wonderful film which gives you a chance to see Claire Foy in one of her first film performances after The Crown; Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham on Downton Abbey) also makes an appearance in this film as an inventor who works with the Cavendish family to make significant improvements in the lives of the disabled.

Binge watched

McMafia – Mondays on AMC; I was able to stream all 8 episodes of this series starring James Norton as a British banker who gets involved with the Russian mafia; although Norton’s performance is a little wooden, for those of you needing an espionage fix in lieu of something like The Night Manager or a new Bond film, you might like this one.
Collateral – 4 episode miniseries on Netflix; Carey Mulligan stars as a police detective investigating a murder in London; it’s a world of refugees and the political landscape of contemporary Britain.  Fans of British mysteries may enjoy this one.
The Frankenstein Chronicles – on Netflix, starring Sean Bean in Season 2 of this 6 episode miniseries; set in 1830’s London, Marlott must operate outside the law as he comes up against dark forces in high society and in the dangerous slums of the over-crowded capital.
Strike Back – season 6 on Cinemax;  I am now caught up on the first 6 episodes of this 10-episode season; follows the actions of Section 20, a secretive unit of British military intelligence; a team of special operations personnel conduct several high risk missions across the globe. Lovers of military mayhem, ticking clocks, and lots of explosions will love this one!

Call My Agent – I did binge watch this tremendously enjoyable French showbiz miniseries of 13 episodes in two seasons when I first discovered it on Netflix; this week John Doyle wrote a rave review for it in the Globe and Mail:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/review-call-my-agent-is-a-gem-of-a-series-about-showbiz-strangeness/article38200763/

New Shows debuting this week

Little Women: A Timeless Story – 3 episode miniseries will air on PBS Sundays starting next week; a behind-the-scenes look at this series featuring Emily Watson, Michael Gambon and Angela Lansbury airs tonight

Deception – on ABC Sundays; a disgraced magician puts his skills of deception and illusion to work at the FBI

Rise – on NBC Tuesdays; a working class high school drama department and the students come alive under a passionate teacher and family man whose dedication to the program galvanizes the entire town; if you loved My So-Called Life, Fame, Glee, Friday Night Lights, and Smash, you will love this one.

The usual addictions

The Path – on Hulu and available to stream; dark and mysterious series about the origins of and the life within a cult

Counterpart – on STARZ Sundays; mysterious miniseries set in a parallel universe Berlin.
Homeland – on Showtime Sundays; we’re in Washington now and the President sees enemies everywhere; just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that everyone isn’t out to get you.
Here and Now – on HBO Sundays; a less maudlin version of This is Us.

The Walking Dead – now in its 8th season on AMC Sundays; the survivors still face a harrowing world where everyone is out to get them

The Chi – on Showtime Sundays; this series explores life on the south side of Chicago; if you were a fan of The Wire, you will love this series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – on HBO Sundays; Oliver gives his sardonic twist to today’s events

IZombie – on The CW Mondays; a comedic series where zombies are generally the good guys
The Resident – on Fox Mondays; a medical procedural with a great cast

The Alienist – on TNT Mondays; olde time police procedural with a great cast
The Good Doctor – on ABC Mondays; a medical procedural with a twist – our lead character is an autistic doctor!
McMafia – on AMC Mondays; I’ve already bingewatched this one, but you can catch its 8 episodes on a weekly basis; good substitute for espionage films

Unreal – on Lifetime Mondays; although I’ve never watched a single episode of The Bachelor, this parody does explore the machinations behind reality TV; I do enjoy its rather venal take on Hollywood

This is Us – on NBC Tuesdays; maudlin but addictive family drama; get out your hankies!

Rise – on NBC Tuesdays; watch it if you love musical series set in a high school
The X-Files

Riverdale – on the CW Wednesdays; not your granny’s Archie Comics as sex, violence and intrigue abounds

9-1-1 – on Fox Wednesdays; medical/legal/firefighter procedural all rolled into one show about LA’s emergency services operations; very entertaining and superb cast including Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton

Designated Survivor – on ABC Wednesdays; ludicrous political suspense series featuring a totally unqualified man suddenly elevated to the position of President of the US; like that could actually happen?

The Assassination of Gianni Versace – on ABC Wednesdays; dark and sad exploration of the events around this murder

Corporate – on Comedy Central Wednesdays; hilarious parody of corporate life

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee – on TBS Wednesdays; Bee’s comedic take on current events

Gotham – on Fox Thursdays; now in its 4th season, this very gothic series explores the beginnings of the Batman story; I am a huge fan of Ben McKenzie since his breakout role on The O.C. and then Southland, so I take real pleasure in this campy show which shows the back stories of all the DC characters in the Batman comics

Real Time with Bill Maher – on HBO Fridays; great panels discuss current events

Strike Back – airs new episodes on Cinemax Fridays; mayhem abounds as a special ops team from British military intelligence completes high risk missions around the globe

Saturday Night Live – on NBC Saturdays; now in its 43rd season, this venerable comedy/variety series still keeps chugging along capturing the zeitgeist of our times

Shows that keep me sane

CBS Sunday Morning – on CBS Sundays; the news show that does personal interest pieces and has done since 1979; anything from interviews with actors political figures, athletes, musicians, etc. This show continually informs and inspires.  Very soothing in these turbulent times.

The Comedians (Stephen Colbert on CBS nightly; Trevor Noah on Comedy Central M-Th; Jimmy Kimmel on ABC nightly; Seth Meyers on NBC nightly; James Corden on CBS nightly; Samantha Bee on TBS Wednesdays, Bill Maher on HBO Fridays). Some times you just have to laugh at the madness around us as these satirists poke fun at current events.

Closing Words

Looking forward to a week of our usual activities.  We’ve had a bit of rainy weather this weekend, but hey, I never mind a day to catch up with my recorded shows and movies.  Enjoy the week to come, wherever you are and cherish every moment. Hugs to my friends with medical challenges.

Academy Awards Edition!

Posted on by brunswil

We just had a lovely visit with George’s book group from Toronto (including spouses!).  We visited the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk in the Everglades, walked Tigertail Beach on Marco Island, visited Goodland and explored our own community’s little walking trail and boardwalk.  We enjoyed a wonderful discussion of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (which most of the spouses had already discussed with their own book groups previously).  They are a most thoughtful, interesting and interested group of individuals.  A genuine pleasure to host.

OK, enough about our real life.  Tonight is my Superbowl, the Academy Awards telecast on ABC at 8 pm hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.  I will be hosting a group of neighbours, and following my childhood family tradition of Chinese food on Sunday evenings, we are going to have a Chinese buffet from our local Pei Wei (owned by PF Chang and pretty good for takeout!).  Can’t wait!! I am watching last night’s Independent Spirit Awards on IFC (often seen as a bellwether for the Oscars), so I am drinking in pre-Oscar atmosphere all day today.

Here are my picks for what I would like to see win, and my predictions for what will win:

The Best Film nominees:

Call Me by your Name

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Get Out

Lady Bird

Phantom Thread

The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

What should win Best Film:  I loved Lady Bird the most for its very human and touching moments; I found The Shape of Water the most magical and transformative, a true art film.

What will win Best Film award:  I anticipate that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri will probably win many awards as its message of female empowerment seems very timely for the Time’s Up and Me Too movements.

What should win Best Director and what will win will coincide tonight:

Guillermo del Toro has created a work of art in The Shape of Water; it’s beautiful and touching and unlike any other film.

For Best Actress:

What should win – I loved Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird.

What will win – Frances Macdormand has run away with all the other best actress awards, so I think she will continue her streak in Three Billboards.

For Best Actor:

What should win and what will win – I am in total agreement that Gary Oldman should win for Darkest Hour and predict the Academy will also honour him.

For Best Supporting Actress:

What should win – I loved Laurie Metcalf’s performance as the mother Marion in Lady Bird.  It moved me to tears.

What will win – However, watch for Allison Janney to have her Oscars moment for playing the amazingly intense mother in I, Tonya.

Best Supporting Actor:

What should win – Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project) gives a totally moving and understated performance as the most understanding welfare motel manager ever in this lovely, surprising and original independent film about life on the margins in Orlando, Florida.

What will win – However, Sam Rockwell is likely to win for his much lauded tragic/comic performance in Three Billboards.

For a great article on how Rotten Tomatoes is skewing the Oscars Best Picture race, here’s a link:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/2/17068324/oscars-2018-best-picture-academy-awards-voting-changes-rotten-tomatoes-oscarssowhite

For another perspective on what should win the Oscars race tonight, here’s a great article from Esquire:

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a16591550/who-should-win-oscar-best-picture-2018/

Short subjects

Another blogger has helpfully included a link to see trailers of all the nominated shorts:

https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/trailers/live-action/dekalb-elementary

 

Streaming

Wonder is a lovely family film based on the NY Times bestseller.  It tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial deformities who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.  Jacob Tremblay (Room) is Auggie, Owen Wilson is Nate the dad, Julia Roberts is Isabel the mom, and Izabela Vidovic is Via the sister in a break-out role where she is incredibly touching as the neglected child.

The Death of Stalin I had high hopes for this very dark comedy from from Armando Iannucci.  Iannucci is the creator of political satires Veep, In the Loop, The Thick of It, all hysterically funny.  Stalin is much darker as it follows the Soviet dictator’s last days and depicts the chaos of the regime after his death. Not nearly as funny as I had hoped it would be.

The Path was created for Hulu.  It is a dark examination of life inside a cult.  It stars Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) as the brooding cult leader.

Netflix

Wind River is a modern day Western.  A veteran tracker (played by Jeremy Renner) with the Fish and Wildlife Service helps to investigate the murder of a young Native American woman, and uses the case as a means of seeking redemption for an earlier act of irresponsibility which ended in tragedy. I enjoyed this dark and brooding film.

Mute is an original Netflix film directed by Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie) and stars Alexander Skarsgard, Paul Rudd, and Justin Theroux. A mute bartender goes up against his city’s gangsters in an effort to find out what happened to his missing partner.  Skarsgard is the mute who is wonderful to watch; Paul Rudd is cast against type as an evil gangster; Justin Theroux is almost unrecognizable in a blonde wig and delivers a performance that suggests the role was almost tailor-made for Owen Wilson. Intriguing but probably not for everyone.

My recommendations for viewing that you might otherwise miss:

The Good Fight – on CBS All Access Sunday nights and available through streaming; this wonderful spin off from The Good Wife returns for its second season debut tonight; Christine Baranski continues as Diane Lockhart and this year’s storyline is apparently about an attempt to impeach Trump;  ooh…

Our Cartoon President Oscars edition- on Showtime on Sundays; this is a Stephen Colbert production, and tonight’s episode apparently shows Trump critiquing the Hollywood community.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – on HBO Sundays; this series has returned after a long hiatus and is often brilliantly funny
Sundays with Alec Baldwin – on ABC debuts tonight after the Oscars and will air regularly on Sunday nights; who knows what the mercurial Baldwin will have up his sleeve;  apparently, he is exhausted by his Trump impersonation on SNL and is longing for a change
Arrow – on the CW has returned on Thursday nights and the villains are still intent on destroying Star City; I know this series is aimed at teenagers, but I can’t help watching it for its Canadian star, Stephen Amell
Chicago Fire – has returned to NBC on Thursday nights and I have no excuse for watching this terribly predictable action soap but for the two head firefighters who are awfully easy on the eyes
Real Time with Bill Maher – has returned to HBO on Friday nights; I am finding Maher’s glibness and smarminess to be a little offputting of late, but he does have great panel discussions

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee– on TBS on Wednesdays returns this week with new episodes; Bee is relentless in her attacks on the powers that be; so un-Canadian for a Canadian girl
Designated Survivor– on ABC on Wednesdays returned last week with new episodes; so maudlin now that the President’s wife has met with tragedy in a soapy ending; I can’t look away from this often ludicrous series as it posits a situation where a man totally unqualified to be President is unexpectedly appointed to the position
McMafia – debuted on AMC last week on Mondays; in lieu of a new James Bond or the forthcoming Dan Silva film adaptations that I am still waiting for, this is a great series in the tradition of The Night Manager which aired last year on AMC.  Russian mafiosi/oligarchs abound.
Gotham – on Fox returned last week on Thursdays; I love this very gothic look at the Batman origin story
Unreal – returned last week on Lifetime on Mondays; devilish parody of the Bachelor-type reality series (which I have taken a vow never to watch)
Strike Back – completely flew under my radar and returned 5 episodes ago on Cinemax with a brand new cast; I loved the original seasons of this great action series
Riverdale – on the CW returns this Wednesday with new episodes after hiatus; I love this silly show aimed at teenagers; not your grannie’s Archie Comics

 

My Usual Weekly Picks

Waco – this six episode miniseries is airing on the new Paramount channel; very dark and sad
The Assassination of Gianni Versace – airs on Wednesday on FX; also very dark and sad
Counterpart – this 13 episode series airs on STARZ on Sundays; set in a parallel universe Berlin, it is dark and intriguing
The Chi – on Showtime Sunday nights; the south side of Chicago is the star here; violent and brooding

Homeland – on Showtime Sunday nights; we’re in Washington now and art mirrors life with a demented President seeing enemies of the state in every corner
9-1-1– on Fox Wednesdays is a very enjoyable procedural on the emergency services in LA
The Resident – on Fox Mondays is a very enjoyable medical procedural with a great cast
The Good Doctor – on ABC Mondays is an enjoyable medical procedural with a twist:  the lead character is autistic
Divorce – on HBO on Sunday nights; a delightful rom/com with a wonderful cast
Here and Now – on HBO on Sunday nights; it took me 3 episodes to get hooked on this one; sort of like This is Us with a multiracial cast, but much less cloying and maudlin
The Walking Dead– on AMC on Sunday nights; more mayhem, but a very sad ending for Carl last week
i Zombie – on the CW on Mondays; black comedy abounds in this polar opposite of The Walking Dead where zombies are actually the good guys
The Alienist – on TNT on Mondays; this olde time crime series features an incredible cast (Eric Bruhl, Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning) tracking down a serial killer of rent boys in turn of the century NYC

Comic Relief

In addition to the comedy stylings of Samantha Bee, Bill Maher and John Oliver, I love to catch the monologues of Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah.  Seth Meyers and James Corden are always worth a look on YouTube.  Jimmy Kimmel has the unenviable task this evening of hosting The Oscars for his second consecutive year. He has had an outstanding year where he castigated the government for their lack of commitment to universal health care, spoke out on mass shootings and has generally been outspoken on his concerns re the Trump administration. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Me Too/Time’s Up movement along with all the other political undercurrents of the day.

Zen Moments

I am currently watching CBS Sunday Morning as I write this morning.  The segment on now is about the many generations of the Newman musical dynasty (Alfred, Lionel, Emil,  David, Thomas, Randy et al).  Truly inspiring and amazing. Watch the feature documentary Score (available through streaming)  if you get a chance. It explores the work behind the composition of musical scores for many films and features composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer among many others.  Other shows that inspire me on a regular basis are CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, CBS’s Face the Nation, PBS’s Frontline, Nova, Nature and many others.

Closing Words

Well, you all know what I will be watching tonight.  It is another glorious day here in Naples, and I am starting to count down the days before we head back north.  Until mid-April or so, I will enjoy every moment here.  There’s much bocce, golf, mahjong, book group, etc. to be enjoyed.  Please cherish every moment, wherever you are.  Hugs to my friends who are facing medical challenges.  Carpe diem!