Rain, rain, go away….

Naples has been having an extraordinarily dry winter with almost no rain at all, so the last couple of days shouldn’t really come as a surprise that we have been having an almost constant and much needed drizzle. It’s a great time to catch up on your viewing as you now have 1 month before the Oscars on Feb. 24.  Some suggestions follow below:

Pre-Oscars Alert: Screen Actors Guild Awards air tonight at 8 on TNT

This very enjoyable awards show highlights only acting awards!  What could be more engaging!!

Broadway Musical Live Alert:  Rent on Fox tonight at 8

Rent Live (on Fox tonight at 8)  OK, I confess.  I’m addicted to Broadway Musicals.  I know, I should lower my expectations, but I’m beside myself with excitement over this latest live musical on Fox.  The story of several friends in NYC facing financial poverty, homophobia AIDS, and, of course, rent.  A modern take on Puccini’s La Boheme, it stars Vanessa Hudgins who appeared as Mimi in the 2010 Hollywood Bowl run of the show. Enjoy!!

On the Big Screen

Vice (2 hr 12 min) Christian Bale portrays Dick Cheney, the man behind the throne in Republican politics.  His transformation into this character is pretty mesmerizing as he ages from a young alcoholic underachiever into the mature Cheney beset with heart problems and addicted to breakfast pastries.  He conveys the naked ambition and unscrupulousness of this mysterious figure.  Great performances from Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Alison Pill, and many others. As with Adam McKay’s previous film, The Big Short, the movie itself is a little disjointed and very superficial and almost lecturey in its depiction of the history of Cheney’s era. Lots of montages and a very weird use of a mysterious narrator played by Jesse Plemons.  I am not a big fan of Mr. McKay’s directorial efforts, but Bale’s performance (and makeup, hair and prosthetics) are all wonders to behold.

Live on Stage

Pink Martini at Artis Naples

This fabulous band from Portland, Oregon has been performing for 25 years.  Their style of music combines many genres:  international, classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop.  The orchestra showcases versatile performers from all over the world who are virtuosos on their many instruments.  China Forbes is the main vocalist and her soaring voice is featured in many of their songs which are performed in 25 different languages. The band has performed all over the world in very diverse venues like the Governor’s Ball at the Academy Awards, the Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Centre, the Boston Pops and with over 70 symphony orchestras all over the world. We have seen this band perform in Toronto and would follow them anywhere.  They are one of my favourites and it is incredibly difficult to categorize them as they perform so many different styles of music. You have to hear them for yourself!  We just downloaded their latest album called Je Dis Oui! and are addicted to it.

Streaming

A Discovery of Witches (made for Sky TV in Britain and airing on Sundance Now in the US, 8 episodes) Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey, The Good Wife) stars in this tale of witches, vampires and demons.  I was extremely disappointed with this very silly and juvenile example of the fantasy genre.  A great cast that includes Lindsay Duncan, Alex Kingston, Trevor Eve and many other British actors is wasted.  Matthew Goode (whom I generally adore) shows 1 glassy-eyed expression throughout.  It is somewhat reminiscent of the Twilight genre as it explores the impossible love between two species.  Also, the cliffhanger ending is an outright steal from the Outlander series.  Stay tuned for Season 2, if you loved this one. I found it derivative and just plain silly.

Star Trek Discovery (CBS All Access, Season 2, 14 episodes)  Loving this great science fiction series which now has a new captain in Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels).

Cardinal (made for CTV in Canada, on Hulu in the US, Season 3) Stars Billy Campbell as Detective John Cardinal who is now coping with a wife who has apparently committed suicide and who is now receiving taunting greeting cards blaming him for her death. Set in the fictional town of Algonquin Bay, the series is filmed largely in the area around North Bay, Ontario, and is full of beautiful panoramic shots of Canada’s wilderness. I love this haunting crime drama which is based on the mystery novels of Giles Blunt.

Catastrophe (Amazon Prime, Season 4, 6 episodes) The catastrophic marriage based on a 1-night-stand continues as the couple faces alcoholism and parenthood.  It’s actually a very witty British comedy filmed in London.

Netflix

Black Earth Rising (8 episodes) Kate Ashby was rescued as a child from the Rwandan genocide by her renowned international lawyer and adoptive mother Eve. Living in London and working as an investigator for lawyer Michael Ennis, Kate investigates the circumstances leading up to her mother’s death.   I have to admit that I am not loving this one which features a good cast that includes John Goodman and Harriet Walter.  I find the storyline incredibly disjointed and I do not find the lead actress Michael Cole to be engaging. I think I may be giving up after watching about 5 episodes.

Lifetime

The Bad Seed (2018 remake of 1956 original) The Lifetime Network actually has made a series of TV movies that deal with crime and damsels in distress.  I loved the original version of this film and quite enjoyed this remake that stars and was directed by Rob Lowe.  The young girl who plays the heroine, McKenna Grace, is absolutely fabulous as a psychotic pre-teen and should have a long future ahead of her in showbiz if she sticks with it as she has already gone on to star in the Sabrina series, and Designated Survivor.

HBO

True Detective (Season 3, 8 episodes)  I don’t know why I keep snoozing through this series.  Three time periods plus elegiac pacing seems to send me off to dreamland.  I will try and stay awake through tonight’s episode # 4.

Comedy Central

Corporate (Season 2)  I love this very dark satire on corporate life. A large spectrum of issues are covered from social conformism to corporate culture critique to nihilism and passing through all the stages in-between. Hilarious, poignant and down-right horrific at times.  It does make me laugh, when I’m not cringeing.

The Other Two (10 episodes) An aspiring actor and his sister Brooke, a former professional dancer, try to find their place in the world while wrestling with their feelings about their 19-yr-old brother Chase’s sudden rise to internet fame. This series just premiered last week and has had rave reviews.  I am trying to catch up with it.

Drunk History (60 episodes)  I finally caught up with this series which has been on the air since 2013.  I was intrigued by the cast of the first episode of this season which dealt with the Frankenstein legend (Seth Rogan, Elijah Wood, Jack McBrayer, Will Ferrell, Evan Rachel Wood) and was mildly amused.  Likewise, Episode 2 takes on the National Parks and I was intrigued by the subject matter, particularly of The Everglades segment as I had recently watched the PBS American Experience series called The Swamp. I loved the comedic portrayal of Marjory Stonemason Douglas. I think this series is best appreciated if you have had too much to drink beforehand as it does come off as a little sophomoric, but it has its comic moments.

Roy Wood Jr. No One Loves You (1 hr Comedy Special available On Demand) If you like Roy Wood Jr’s comedic bits on Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show, you will enjoy this stand up comedy special.  He is a wry observational comic who seems perpetually exasperated.  Originally from Birmingham, Alabama he comments on the Black Experience in America.  I think his understated brand of comedy is hilarious.

Showtime

SMILF (Season 2, 10 episodes) This series about a single mom trying to come to terms with her past, her present and her future may not be for everyone.  Frankie Shaw is writer and star of this one and it features Rosie O’Donnell as her mom, Connie Britton as her sometime employer.  The subject matter is pretty dark for a comedy as it deals with suicide and molestation.  You’ll either love it or hate it.  I’m intrigued.

Shameless (Season 9, 14 episodes)  This is the last season to star Emmy Rossum as Fiona.  Actually, the description above is pretty apt for this series as well.  Dark material is given a comedic touch as a scrappy, fiercely loyal Chicago family makes no apologies for their outrageous behaviour.

STARZ

Outlander (Season 4, 13 episodes)  A tale of love across the ages.  Tonight we find out in the season finale what happens to poor Roger who’s been taken by the Mohawks.

Counterpart (Season 2, 10 episodes)  I am totally confused by this show and watch it only for JD Skinner’s dual performance.  We have now found out how the parallel worlds were created,  but I’m still foggy about what is happening in the rest of the world outside Berlin.  This is a series you have to suspend your disbelief about and just go with it.

Fox

The Resident (Season 2, 22 episodes)  People do insist on having their diseases, medical emergencies, etc.  I can’t look away from this one as it stars Canadian Bruce Greenwood as villainous hospital head, Randolph Bell.

Gotham (Season 5, final season, 12 episodes)  The origin story of Batman comes to an end. I love Ben Mackenzie’s performance as Police Chief Jim Gordon.

The Orville (Season 2, 14 episodes) I love this clever parody of Star Trek written by and starring Seth MacFarlane.

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 2, 18 episodes)  More mystery diseases and medical emergencies.  This time the leading character is autistic!  I love Freddie Highmore’s performance.

The Rookie (Season 2, 20 episodes)  I love Canadian Nathan Filion’s charming performance as the world’s oldest police rookie.

NBC

New Amsterdam (Season 1, 13 episodes)  More mystery diseases and medical emergencies. This time the leading character is dealing with Stage 4 throat cancer!  I’m not making this up.  I love Ryan Eggold’s performance as the stricken Medical Director.

Chicago Fire (Season 7, 16 episodes) All kinds of emergencies!  I love both the leading men, Jesse Spencer (Australian masquerading as Chicago native) and Taylor Kinney (former fiance of Lady Gaga).  I have no other excuse for watching this lame procedural..

CBS

FBI (Season 1, 13 episodes)  All kinds of crimes are prevented &/or solved in the weekly 1 hr time period.  Typical of Dick Wolfe’s procedural world.  This one stars Canadian actress Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell.

FX

You’re the Worst (Season 5, final season, 13 episodes) A catastrophic romance will either end in marriage or not.  I love the two leads, Chris Geere and Aya Cash. Not for everyone.

Comic Relief

I am still recording all the comedy shows:  Saturday Night Live, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee, Bill Maher.  They make me laugh, no matter how awful the news may be.

Moment of Zen

I haven’t yet treated myself to CBS Sunday Morning, but I will as soon as I publish this.

Closing Words

My, my. I have had a lot to say this morning.  Clear evidence that the rain has allowed me to watch even more TV than usual.  I still managed to squeeze in a little Bocce, Mahjong and Golf, but I confess, my couch potato instincts may have gotten the better of me this past few days. To friends and family in the North, stay warm.  Be careful on those icy sidewalks. Hugs to everyone!!

The Good Life continues in beautiful Naples…

It has been another gorgeous week of wonderful weather here, although I must confess my Sunday beach walk today has been cancelled because Naples finally got some rain overnight and it is still gloomy and very damp outside.  I know this doesn’t compare with the Arctic chill our part of Canada is receiving right now and I’m hoping my family doesn’t have to deal with icy roads and transportation snarls.  The week has been full of the usual activities which have included dining out, golf and bocce for us. We actually went to see some live theatre and, as usual, I am madly trying to squeeze in some small screen time.  Here are my recommendations for you:

Live on Stage

Kyle Riabko made his Naples debut at Artis Naples with his concert performance of Richard Rodgers Reimagined. We had seen him on stage in London in his show Close To You, a reimagining of Burt Bacharach’s songs done in a full scale theatrical musical and had loved him. He got a very warm reception from the Naples crowd, which was small at the 6 pm show. I hope more people opted for the 8:30 show. Riabko, who hails from Saskatchewan, is a talented musician and singer who can make the songs of Rodgers and Bacharach sound like they were written yesterday.

Streaming

I am still watching a number of series from British TV that are currently available on Acorn and Britbox.

Butterfly,  Injustice and Mayday are among the shows I have streamed. Most are in the crime genre, but Butterfly is not as it’s about an 11-year-old boy who wants to live life as a girl. A very sensitive look at how a family deals with this issue.

Berlin Station (Season 3 Epix and Streaming)  I only watch this show for Richard Armitage (Strike Back) and his character is missing (presumably being held by the Russians), so I am quickly running out of patience with his absence from the show.  He’d better appear tonight or I will be very annoyed.

Catastrophe (Season 4 Amazon) Raunchy and witty show about a couple whose 1-night-stand leads to pregnancy and marriage while they are still virtual strangers.  Hilarious chaos ensues.
Star Trek Discovery (Season 2, 14 episodes)  This series had its second season debut this past week.  Now starring Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, the ship continues its mission of trying to unravel the mystery of seven mysterious red signals that have appeared across the universe. I loved Mount for his lead performance in Hell on Wheels and have great expectations for him in this new starring vehicle.

Fox

The Orville (Season 2, 14 episodes )  Hilarious parody of Star Trek from Seth MacFarlane who also stars.

The Gifted (Season 2, 15 episodes) Full disclosure:  I only watch this series for the performance of Stephen Moyer who was so mesmerizing in True Blood.  I fast forward through many of the segments which feature terrible CGI special effects to represent the skills the mutants possess.  Moyer, however, is strangely wooden in this one.  Far preferred him as a vampire rather than as a mutant with wonky skills.

Gotham (Season 5, final season)  This is the origin story of Batman as he goes from being a teenager into a full grown superhero.

FX

You’re the Worst (Season 5, final season) Will they or won’t they get married is the question after 5 tumultuous years of on-again, off-again courtship.

HBO

Real Time with Bill Maher (Season 17)   This political satire series returned on Jan. 18 for another round of interviews and panel discussions.  Maher’s snarkiness sometimes gets to me, but I do enjoy the interactions between left and rightwing panelists.

True Detective (Season 3, 8 episodes) This instalment tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods.  Dark and brooding.  I confess to snoozing through large parts of this one. This season stars Mahershala Ali, Stephen Dorff and Scoot McNairy.

PBS

Victoria (Season 3, 8 episodes) The workers across Europe are rising up.  In France, Louis Philippe has been deposed.  He asks Victoria for protection, as does her half sister.  In Britain the chartists want a vote.  Victoria goes into labour with her 6th child.

American Experience: The Swamp (31 seasons of this series, you can watch on demand or stream from PBS) This episode tells the dramatic story of humanity’s attempts to conquer the Florida Everglades, one of nature’s most mysterious and unique ecosystems.  Home to a profusion of plants and animals found nowhere else on the continent, the Everglades was an immense watershed covering the southern half of the Florida peninsula.  In the 19th century, however, most Americans believed swamps were filled with diseases and noxious reptiles and saw them as obstacles to the nation’s progress.  The idea of draining the Everglades became the goal of many entrepreneurs, politicians and salesmen who saw great potential in turning the massive wetland into a profitable enterprise.  The Swamp explores the repeated efforts to transform what was seen as a vast and useless wasteland into an agricultural and urban paradise ultimately leading to a passionate campaign to preserve America’s greatest wetland.

NBC

Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, New Amsterdam These three series all star actors who I am fascinated by (Jesse Spencer on Chicago Fire, Oliver Platt on Chicago Med and Ryan Eggold on New Amsterdam). Otherwise I have no excuse for watching these lame and predictable shows.  They are my TV comfort food.

ABC

The Rookie, FBI As with the above comments, I have no excuse for watching these two procedurals that recycle decades of crime plot lines.  I adore Canadian actor Nathan Filion as the world’s oldest police rookie.  I am following Canadian actress Missy Peregrym’s career as she plays the lead in this series as a blank faced all business FBI agent.

Starz (and streaming)

Counterpart (Season 2, 10 episodes) Still mystifying and bat shit crazy, this espionage series explores a world where two parallel universes seem to meet in Berlin.  Head scratching stuff, led by a terrific cast that includes J.K. Simmons and Olivia Williams.

Outlander (Season 4, 13 episodes)  Still the most romantic series on TV where people are willing to travel across time to be with their soulmates.  I actually hate the time travel genre, but this one has me hooked.

The Comedians

Still watching the opening monologues of Colbert, Noah and now Bill Maher, who has returned from hiatus.  They allow us to laugh at the craziness of the daily news cycle. I do also record The View, just to see how they handle the hot topics of the day. Joy Behar is my favourite panel member on the show as she knows how to wring a great one liner out of most news stories.

Moment of Zen

I haven’t yet treated myself to my Sunday morning 90 minutes of heaven, CBS Sunday Morning.  As soon as I proofread and publish this, I will sit down for an inspiring and informative morning of profiles and human interest stories.   A kinder and gentler (and longer) version of 60 Minutes.

Alert:  Set your Recording Devices

There are some returning series:

Shameless, (tonight at 9 on Showtime); SMILF, (tonight at 10:35 on Showtime); Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (Jan 23 at 10:30 on TBS); Suits (Season 8 continues Jan 23 at 10 on USA)

Awards show:  25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, (Jan 27 at 8, on TNT)

Live musical: Rent (on Fox, Jan 27 at 8)

New mini-series: I am the Night (starring Chris Pine, based on the Black Dahlia murders Jan 27 at 10 on TNT)

Closing Words

I had the great pleasure this week of reconnecting with two of my Florida based cousins as we reminisced about my mother.  They remembered Milly as the feistiest of the 5 Cantor sisters and admitted to being a little afraid of her.  She was a force to be reckoned with and I have been thinking about her everyday. Although dementia made for a very long goodbye to her, I will feel a void where my weekly visits with her used to be. Best wishes to everyone dealing with medical issues and warm wishes to my friends in the north who are undoubtedly trying to stay warm in extremely chilly weather. Hugs to you all.

So little time, so much to watch…

Well it’s been a glorious week here in Naples.  Beautiful weather, lots of activities, enough time to catch up with some of the shows and movies I’ve been meaning to watch and we actually made it out to a real movie theatre (Silverspot at the Mercato in N. Naples, one of my favourites) to see a film that will likely get some Oscar nods.  I’m now in the first stage of my Oscar countdown as I try and see all the films that will likely be nominated.  Here are some viewing suggestions for you:

On the Big Screen

The Favourite (1 hr 59 min) Starring Olivia Colman (soon to be the next Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, also known for Broadchurch, The Night Manager, etc.), Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz.  In early 18th C. England, a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend, Lady Sarah Marlborough, governs the country in her stead.  When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.  Full of great performances and witty dialogue, this film will intrigue lovers of period drama.  Watch for the unforgettably hilarious dance scene which could have been directed by Baz Luhrmann. A film that’s very hard to categorize as comedy or drama but incredibly entertaining.

Netflix

Breath (1 hr 55 min) Based on Tim Winton’s award-winning and international bestselling novel set in mid-70’s coastal Australia.  Two teenage boys, hungry for discovery, form an unlikely friendship with a mysterious older adventurer who pushes them to take risks that will have a lasting and profound impact on their lives.  Stars Simon Baker, Elizabeth Debicki, Richard Roxburgh.  Full disclosure, I would watch anything with Simon Baker (The Guardian) so I adored this coming-of-age film with great performances from the two boys.  If you love surf films, this one’s for you.

And Breathe Normally (1 hr 35 min) Two women’s lives will interest while trapped in circumstances unforeseen.  Between a struggling Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, a delicate bond will form as both strategize to get their lives back on track. I loved the scenes that showed the rugged and desolate Icelandic landscapes.  A very touching character study.

Roma (2 hr 15 min)  A year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid in Mexico City in the early 1970’s.  Directed by Alphonso Cuaron, this is a love letter from Cuaron to the woman who raised him, the family maid.  Full disclosure, the first time I watched this film, the elegiac pace lulled me into a deep sleep that lasted most of the 2 hrs plus running time.  This week I tried again in the company of 15 women in my movie club and managed to stay awake for the whole thing! Here are my thoughts on this film which I wrote about to a friend as she wondered why so many people love this film. It’s an art film. Subtle and nuanced. Very understated if you don’t count the earthquake, riot, near drowning, forest fire, etc. It’s a memoir of Cuaron’s childhood where he was raised by his maid. Just a portrait of a way of life. Lots of very subtle shadings – the character of the father, the role of the grandmother, the way the mother totally depended on her maid. Lots of references to a corrupt and failing country – the training of paramilitary forces, the expropriation of the land belonging to the maid’s indigenous mother, a student demonstration that turns into a riot.

It’s a movie that needs to be closely watched. I slept through the entire thing the first time I tried to watch it. This time with a group of women watching it with me, I watched it with my whole attention. We had a great discussion afterwards.

For a completely alternative view of this film (and for those of you who may watch it mystified about all the fuss), here’s a review from L.A. Review of Books:

https://www.lareviewofbooks.org/article/housekeepings-patron-saint/#!

Sex Education (8 episodes)  A teenage virgin who lives with his sex therapist mother teams up with a smart and edgy high school classmate to start their own health clinic.  Full disclosure: I gave up during the first episode, which I felt was very much aimed at a teen audience.  I felt a number of the teen characters were played by much older actors and quickly decided this series was not for me.  However, it has had terrific reviews and here is one of them:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/arts/television/sex-education-review-netflix.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share

7 Days Out (6 episodes) A series that documents behind the scenes of some of the largest events in the world. So far, I have only watched Westminster Dog Show episode and found it to be a lovely overview of some of the owners and trainers who compete.  Wonderful scenes of glorious dogs!

Streaming

I have been enviously looking at the pop-up ads for Acorn and Brit Box subscription streaming services of British TV content.  I finally got a look at some of the series they advertise. Most, but not all, of these are in the crime genre:

Butterfly (3 episodes) Stars Anna Friel.  11-year-old Max identifies as a girl and wants to live her life as Maxine.  Her estranged parents Vicky and Stephen attempt to work out how best to cope with and support this huge life decision.  Very sweet series which presents a very sensitive view of the dilemmas that face families coping with transgender issues.

Suspects (23 episodes) Fiction made to feel like documentary, this crime series is entered on a team of three detectives – each with their own distinctive style of working.  A bit grim (the first episode I watched dealt with a missing 2-year-old girl).  Very realistic! I really did think I was watching a documentary at first.

The Loch  (6 episodes) The search for a serial killer becomes a matter of life and death for detective Annie Redford, who is trying to cope with her first murder case. I realized a few minutes into this one, that I had seen it before, probably on TVO or PBS and had thoroughly enjoyed it.  The setting is Loch Ness, so the scenery is beautiful.  A terrific tangled tale of crime.

Blood (6 episodes) Stars great Irish actor Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) Cat Hogan returns to West Meath, Ireland, upon her mother’s sudden death – she has an accident at home and died (or was it an accident?).  Blood is about old secrets, older betrayals, mind games and the lies family tell each other. Terrific tale of a dysfunctional family and the secrets and lies that damage and distort.

Regular Fare I’m following

Dirty John (8 episodes, Bravo) Terrific true life tale that started as a true crime podcast.  Debra’s seemingly perfect life is disrupted as she falls for a handsome doctor who sweeps her into a whirlwind romance.  But her handsome new beau pulls Debra into a sinister game of psychological manipulation.  Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Jean Smart and Julia Garner all deliver terrific performances in this mesmerizing nourish tale of a woman who descends into a downward spiral once she engages with a devilish con man.

Outlander (Season 4, Starz, streaming) Oh my, the romance continues in the New World.

Counterpart (Season 2, Starz) Mind bending mystery series about a parallel world involved in a Cold War with our own. The war slowly heats up thanks to spies from both sides.

FBI (12 episodes, CBS) Procedural drama about the inner workings of the NY office of the FBI bringing to bear all the Bureau’s skills, intellect and mind-blowing technology to keep NYC and the country safe.  Great cast in this completely routine crime series includes Jeremy Sisto and Sela Ward.

The Rookie (20 episodes, ABC)  The series follows John Nolan, a 40-year-old man who moves from his comfortable small-town life to LA to pursue his dream of being a police officer for the LAPD.  He must navigate the dangerous, humorous, and unpredictable world of a “young” cop determined to make his second shot at life count.  Nathan Fillion is his usual charming self in the lead role.

New Amsterdam (12 episodes, NBC) A new medical director breaks the rules to heal the system at America’s oldest public hospital.  Ryan Eggold is a charmer in the lead role.

Chicago Fire (Season 7, NBC)  I only watch this idiotic and predictable show from the procedural factory of Dick Wolff, for the two lead actors, Jesse Spencer and Taylor Kinney.  Sigh….

Chicago Med (Season 4, NBC) I only watch this entirely lame medical procedural for the performances of Oliver Platt and Colin Donnell. Also from the procedural factory of Dick Wolff.

Berlin Station (Season 3, Epix and streaming) Follows Daniel Miller (Richard Ermitage), who works in the CIA station in Berlin.  Great cast includes Leland Orser, Michelle Forbers, Rhys Ifans Richard Jenkins, Tamlyn Tomita and Ashley Judd.  If you love espionage series, this is the one for you.

Catastrophe (Season 4, Amazon)  American boy Rob gets Irish girl Sharon pregnant while they hook up for a week while on a business trip to London.  Catastrophe and chaos ensue in this cheeky and bawdy series from the UK.

The Orville (Season 2, Fox) Delightful parody of Star Trek from Seth MacFarlane who also stars.

Gotham (Season 5 – final season) Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne face the chaos Gotham City has become, as villains who survived the attack on the city begin to resurface and claim various territories.  If you want to see the origin story of Batman, this series is for you.  Stars Ben McKenzie and Donal Logue.

Zen Moment

CBS Sunday Morning (on air since 1979, CBS) I love this peaceful anthology show for its insightful and inspiring segments.  This morning’s show featured Key Lime Pie, M. Night Shymalan, etc.

The Comedians

The Christmas holidays are over and Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah are back.  I love watching the highlights of James Corden and Seth Meyers on Youtube.

Closing Words

It was a great week for dining out and catching up with friends.  Looking forward to our regular activities here this week (golf, mahjhong, bocce, etc.)  We are off to the theatre this week to catch Canadian singer Kyle Riabko at Artis Naples doing a Rogers and Hammerstein tribute.  How I love show tunes!!  Have a wonderful week wherever you are.  To my Canadian friends, stay warm up there and be careful on the roads.  Hugs to everyone.

Back in the sunny south…

Well, it was a very eventful 7 weeks or so spent back home in Ontario.  From George’s surgery, to Christmas celebrations, to the death of a dear friend, to New Year’s celebrations, and finally to the death of my dear mother Amelia at age 100.  She passed away in her sleep of complications of old age.  She lived a long and challenging life that included the break up of a marriage, raising her family as a single mother, the premature deaths from cancer of my brother and sister, and then finally a long decline as the result of a fall that began when she was 89 and ended 11 years later.  Dementia blurred the grief she felt over the loss of two children as her memories faded. She was a woman of very strong character which sustained her throughout her long life.  Amelia will be missed by her family for her often hilarious and usually unsolicited opinions and her terrifying glare when she was displeased. She was truly the strongest woman I have ever known and she will be terribly missed.

Anyhow, I did manage to keep up with a few series and shows over the holidays, so here are some suggestions for you.

On the Big Screen

Mary Poppins Returns (2 hr 10 min)  Well, I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t completely enamoured of this film.  I love musicals, but the music in this one doesn’t really compare to the original with its unforgettable songs.  You do not come out humming.  Emily Blunt is wonderful as a much slyer more mysterious Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda copes with his cockney accent much more gracefully than Dick Van Dyke.  Way too long for me, so I wonder what children will think about this one.  I really needed something positive over the holidays and this one didn’t give me the lift I needed.

Netflix

Call My Agent (In French with English Subtitles. Season 3, 6 episodes) I just binge watched the entire third season of this series.  What a delight!  This office of talent agents in Paris tries to cope with their celebrity clients (Monica Belucci, Jean Dujardin are two of the stars this season) and their office politics.  A truly funny escape from reality.

The 12th Man (In Norwegian with English Subtitles. 2 hr 15 min) Based on a true story, this action film tells the story of 12 Norwegian saboteurs who are immediately killed on landing in Northern Norway by the Nazis with the exception of 1 who gets away. The survivor Jan goes on the run towards the neutral territory of Sweden.  However, the brutal weather conditions turn out to possibly be an even greater foe than the Nazi patrols.  Wonderfully engrossing film.  Available on Netflix in Canada and Amazon Prime in the US.

You (11 episodes) Originally aired on Lifetime, now on Netflix. This very noir series stars Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl) as a clever bookstore manager who relies on his savvy Internet know-how to make the woman of his dreams fall in love with him.  Completely addictive!

Derry Girls (Northern Irish accents abound, you may have to activate captions, 7 episodes) A totally delightful series that recounts the personal exploits of a 16-year-old girl and her family and friends during the Troubles in the early 1990’s.  Laugh out loud funny!

Shtisel (From Israel, in Hebrew and Yiddish with English subtitles, Seasons 1& 2, 24 episodes) The story of an ultra-othodox family in Jerusalem.  Shalom Shtisel, the father of a large family, is dealing with his younger son who he wants to see married soon.  His daughter, Giti, is dealing in secret with marital problems while his other son Zvi Arie tries to patch things up.  I really fell in love with these characters and binge watched the two seasons.  I miss the Shtisel family terribly.

Bad Seeds (In French with English subtitles, 1 hr 40 min) Stars Catherine Deneuve.  Wael (Kheiron) a former street child, makes a living from small scams with his adoptive mother and partner-in-crime Monique (Catherine Deneuve).  When this unconventional duo swindles the wrong guy, Victor, an old acquaintance of Monique now in charge of a support organization for troubled teens, they have no choice but to become his interim secretary and educator in order to redeem themselves.  This little film is lighter than air and has a very positive message of redemption.

Wanted (From Australia, Season 3, 6 episodes) Two women are falsely accused of murder, and go on the run across Australia in a car filled with stolen money.  The saga of these two women who were in the wrong place at the wrong time continues with numerous twists and turns.  Completely addictive!

Series still being watched

Ray Donovan (HBO, Season 6, 12 episodes) Ray finds a chance at a new life on Staten Island.  Darker than ever!

Counterpart (Starz, Season 2, 10 episodes) Stars J.K. Simmons as a hapless UN employee who discovers the agency he works for is hiding a gateway to a parallel dimension that’s in a Cold War with our own, and where his other self is a top spy.  The war slowly heats up thanks to spies from both sides.  Mind bending but intriguing and J.K. Simmons is splendid in his dual role.

Outlander (Starz, Season 4, 13 episodes) This romantic series follows the adventures of an English combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743.  Possibly the most romantic series ever made for TV!!

Berlin Station (Streaming from Epix, Season 3, 10 episodes) Now the CIA agents are on assignment in Estonia to thwart a Russian takeover.  Got to love that Richard Armitage as the main swashbuckler! This series is my go-to replacement for Homeland which is presently on hiatus.

Gotham (Fox, Season 5, 12 episodes) Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Bruce Wayne face the chaos Gotham City has become, as villains who survived the attack on the city begin to resurface and claim various territories.  I love this series about Batman’s origin story.

Closing Words

It’s been a challenging past few weeks.  Being back in Florida is a much needed escape and refuge from a difficult holiday season.  After a shopping trip to Costco today, we are off to practice Bocce as our league begins this week. The week includes my first golf game in many weeks, fitness classes and lots of catching up with friends.  We pick up our new MiniCooper tomorrow and I can’t wait to drive it.  I have loved driving my Countryman SUV in Canada and look forward to driving my new 4-door hardtop version in Florida.  TV Alert for tonight:  The Golden Globes air on NBC at 8 pm.  These very entertaining awards provide much head scratching amusement as they feature much more diverse categories than the Oscars.  The celebrity audience eats and drinks while the awards are in progress and generally relaxes.  There is often no rhyme or reason for some of the awards voted upon by a mysterious Hollywood Foreign Press Association that does not divulge its criteria for awards selection or even its membership.  Total escapism!  Enjoy your week wherever you are. Keep watching your TV Guides.  Many shows are returning from hiatus this week and will continue to do so throughout January. Hugs to my family and friends dealing with bereavement and medical issues’