May | 2021 | What's Lorraine watching?

Back and forth driving begins…

Posted on May 30, 2021 by brunswil

When you spend 6 months away every winter, medical and dental appointments build up, so the next few weeks will involve catch up and much commuting back and forth between Thornbury and Toronto. Fortunately some appointments will be virtual due to Covid, so hopefully will not involve driving for 2 1/2 hours. Anyhow, the golf season has finally started and it is wonderful to see long time friends again. Hopefully, in person Mahjong games will also start soon, and we are starting to explore parts of the Bruce Trail again. Of course, in addition to those activities, I always make time for screens, so here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

Jeopardy (30 minutes)Simply the most enjoyable show on TV these days! In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world. Informative and exciting!

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

The View (1997-present) A panel of 4 women discuss news and politics. OK, full disclosure, I love Joy Behar and Anna Navarro. I despise Meghan McCain. Just watching her recent return from 3 months of maternity leave is hilariously suspenseful, as you can see her teetering on the edge of losing her shit as the only Conservative on the panel. She is a perfect model of white privilege as she daily touts her pedigree of Arizona royalty as the daughter of John McCain. I record this show daily and savour it over my lunch. George has also become addicted to it and sulks if I have watched it without him.

NBC

New Amsterdam (Season 3, 49 episodes) New Amsterdam is still reeling from the pandemic as a plane crash lands in the East River. When investigators come to interrogate the flight crew, Iggy fights against the clock to help the pilot uncover the truth. Medical melodrama meets the headlines. I only watch this series because I am a huge Ryan Eggold fan and I can’t wait to see what heroic heights his character will rise to in each episode.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Ragnarok (12 episodes) A small Norwegian town experiencing warm winters and violent downpours seems to be headed for another Ragnarok – unless someone intervenes in time. Scandinavian fantasy about the Norse gods in current time played by teenagers! Escapist to the max!!!

The Kominsky Method (22 episodes) An aging actor, who long ago enjoyed a brush with fame, makes his living as an acting coach. Now that lovable Alan Arkin has departed from the show, I no longer feel much attraction. Michael Douglas has never been a favourite of mine, but I’ll tune in for the post-funeral exit of Arkin and see if the show still entertains me.

Apple TV Plus

The Mosquito Coast (7 episodes) An idealist uproots his family and moves them to Latin America. Stars Justin Theroux and Melissa George. Hypnotically enigmatic as we start out unaware of what has caused this family to go on the run.

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (8 episodes) The musicians and soundtracks the shaped the culture and politics of 1971.

CBC Gem

GameFace (12 episodes) Marcella is an aspiring actress recovering from a relationship break up. Despite her optimistic attempts, and with help from her friends, therapist and driving instructor, she is unable to get her life back on track. You will either love or hate this. It has a definite Fleabag vibe. You may recall the lead Roisin Conaty as the sex worker on the Ricky Gervais series After Life.

Crave

Hacks (10 episodes) Explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled outcast 25-year-old. Stars Jean Smart & Hannah Einbinder (daughter of Laraine Newman). Terrific!!

Cinema Toast (10 episodes) Experimental new series from eclectic group of celebrated indie filmmakers who’ve re-edited and re-scored footage from public domain films and overdubbed them with performances of contemporary actors to tell new, wholly original stories. Hilarious!!

That Damned Michael Che (6 episodes) A theme or incident, such as police brutality, unemployment and romance that uses sketches and vignettes to illustrate what it feels like to experience this from a Black vantage point. I’m not a huge fan of this guy, but if you are, give it a look.

CBS

FBI (51 episodes) Procedural drama about the inner workings of the NY office of the FBI, bringing to bear all the Bureau’s skills, intellect and technology to keep NYC and the country safe. From the Dick Wolf studios, where all is solved within 44 minutes.

Streaming

The Brokenwood Mysteries (30 episodes) Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd arrives on assignment in Brokenwood, New Zealand, a small town where memories – and animosities – run deep. A true slow-burn mystery series with very intricate murders to be solved.

Younger (7 seasons, 84 episodes) After being mistaken for younger than she really is, a fortyish single mother decides to take the chance to reboot her career and her love life as a 26-year-old. Sutton Foster is amazing as the lead Liza. I love this series, although by the 7th season it is no longer the fresh and surprising show it once was and has started to endlessly repeat a romantic triangle and other sub-themes!

HBO

In Treatment (debuted in 2008 and returned last week with a new cast, 114 episodes) A psychotherapist questions her abilities and gets help by reuniting with her own therapist. Uzo Aduba replaces Gabriel Byrne in the lead role.

Mare of Easttown (7 episodes) A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart. Stars Kate Winslett, David Denman, Julianne Nicholson, Guy Pearce, Evan Peters, Jean Smart. One of the best mysteries we’ve watched and tonight is the conclusion of this very gripping series. Will there be a cliffhanger?

HGTV

Any of these shows give me the home decor fix I need to get through the day. They all inspire me, especially Home Town, which is the show with the most heart. I can’t believe how talented these people are and how they are able to make so many decisions so quickly! Full disclosure: we have been having some updates done to our Florida home while we are away and these shows are filling a serious gap for me.

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

PBS

Atlantic Crossing (8 episodes) The story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha, who fought for her country and her marriage during the tragic events of WWII. Ooh, Masterpiece Theatre historical costume drama!! Concluded last week. A friend wrote to me asking me to recommend series or movies for people with HBO and Netflix and specified that she has no stomach for violence or suspense, likes British and Australian series… detectives that are more amusing than violent. She loves great dialogue… no patience for adolescent romance. This could apply to most of PBS programming, so I heartily recommend that those who want comfort TV that doesn’t cater to the lowest common denominator, stay tuned to PBS. Great dramas, comedies and lots of historical content. A Sunday night ritual for me. Although tonight, it’s all Memorial Day content.

Comic Relief

Real Time with Bill Maher has returned with new guests and actual in-person panels. Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee are all back. I catch up with Seth Meyers, and James Corden on You Tube. John Oliver has returned on Sunday nights on HBO! We are finding things to laugh about again that aren’t all about Trump or Covid!!!

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

It will be a busy week coming up for me with some driving back and forth for appointments. Looking forward to golf and all the usual activities. The pool and hot tub get opened up tomorrow, so fingers crossed that the warm weather returns soon.

Here are some amazing nature photographs to lose yourself in:

An owl dangling precariously from a branch has scooped the overall prize of this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

Out of the 3,500 entries, Tibor Kercz won the overall prize with his series of images showing an owl losing its footing and trying to claw its way back on to a branch.

Other entrants included a yawning dormouse, a photobombing sea turtle and a rather shocked seal.

Here are the winning photos from the competition:

Tibor Kercz’s photo of an undignified owl

Andrea Zampatti won the Land category with a photograph of a dormouse

Troy Mayne won Under The Sea category with a photobombing sea turtle

John Threlfall won In The Air category with a bird and an ominous vapour trail Birds flying

‘Highly Commended’ photos

Daisy Gilardini photographed a polar bear clinging on to its mother

Penny Palmer caught a sea otter reaching for the sky

Carl Henry’s was highly commended for his photo entitled All Dressed And Ready For Church

Olivier Colle spotted a hare munching on grass

Katy Laveck-Foster snapped two cheeky monkeys

Jean-Jacques Alcalay captured the moment it looked as though a wildebeest was riding on the back of its companions

George Cathcart was highly commended for his photo entitled WTF

Douglas Croft caught a fox getting a hole in one on a golf course

Daniel Trim snapped two mudskippers appearing to be in mid-song

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are releasing a book, which helps support the Born Free Foundation charity.

Out of quarantine…

Posted on May 23, 2021 by brunswil

Well it was Groundhog Day for most of the past two weeks. I did do a few online fitness classes, we had two personal visits from Public Health and had phone contacts almost every day to ensure that we were following the quarantine rules. Our children have come up for the long Victoria Day weekend and it has been wonderful to reconnect. We did our flurry of gardening (go to Garden Centre and purchase plants to drop into pots and planters). The Eurovision Song Contest has been on TV this weekend and I have enjoyed tormenting my children by forcing them to watch the winning songs. In the meantime, here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

The Rookie (Season 3, 14 episodes) I must confess that I adore the charming Canadian star of this formulaic police procedural, Nathan Filion. Oh ABC, you have become my go-to network for comfort TV.

Amazon Prime

Made for Love (10 episodes) A young woman, on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire, suddenly realizes the her husband has implanted a revolutionary monitoring device in her brain that allows him to track her every move. Stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen and Ray Romano. Ooh dark and syfy!

Horizon Line (1 h 32 m) A couple flying on a small plane to attend a tropical island wedding must fight for their lives after their pilot suffers a heart attack. Full disclosure: I watched this only for the opportunity to watch Alexander Dreymon in a contemporary role as he literally slays it as a Viking in The Last Kingdom. He was absolutely fine and I watched about the first 45 min of this little suspense film.

Apple TV

FX

Mayans M. C. (Season 3, 10 episodes) This spin-off from Sons of Anarchy continues in Southern California as a border shutdown squeezes the Mayans’ heroin trade setting off an internal clash over the future of the club. I love this series which continues the Shakespearean themes of SOA as sons vie for the love of their fathers and men battle for supremacy of their clans.

Breeders (Season 2, 10 episodes) a comedic look at the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Set in London and starring Martin Freean, Daisy Haggard and Alun Armstrong. Very wry humour. Loving it!

NBC

New Amsterdam (Season 3, 49 episodes) New Amsterdam is still reeling from the pandemic as a plane crash lands in the East River. When investigators come to interrogate the flight crew, Iggy fights against the clock to help the pilot uncover the truth. Medical melodrama meets the headlines. I only watch this series because I am a huge Ryan Eggold fan and I can’t wait to see what heroic heights his character will rise to in each episode.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Pet Stars (5 episodes) Follow talent management company Pets on Q as they work with the biggest animal influencers on social media in this reality series. Absolutely delightful as you go behind the cameras to see how animals become stars on TV and film.

Army of the Dead (2 h 28 m) Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. OK, full disclosure, I watched the beginning and end of this as my family watched it together. Too much time spent building the team, in my opinion. Dave Bautista and Ella Purnell star.

Streaming

The Virtues (4 episodes) Falling into despair after his nine-year-old son leaves for Australia with his ex, Joseph walks away from his present life and boards a boat for Ireland to confront painful memories from his childhood. Stephe Graham and Niamh Algar star. Very sad.

PBS

Atlantic Crossing (1 h) The story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha, who fought for her country and her marriage during the tragic events of WWII. Ooh, Masterpiece Theatre historical costume drama!!

HBO

Mare of Eastown (7 episodes) A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart. Stars Kate Winslett, David Denman, Julianne Nicholsonk, Guy Pearce, Evan Peters, Jean Smart. Looks intriguing as Kate Winslett makes an unusual US television appearance.

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

Crave

Lucky Grandma (1 h 27 m) Set in NYC’s Chinatown, an older, chain-smoking Chinese grandma goes all in at the casino, landing herself on the wrong side of luck – and in the middle of a gang war.

The Sister (Because the Night) 4 episodes almost a decade into his new devoted married life Nathan is rocked to the core when Bob, an unwelcome face from the past, turns up o his doorstep with shocking news, triggering a series of catastrophic decisions. Russell Tovey and Bertie Carvel star. Very dark.

Our Towns (Documentary, 1 h 37 m) From Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan comes Our Towns, a documentary that paints a remarkable picture of America and how the rise of civic and economic reinvention is transforming small cities and towns across the country. Very moving.

Odd Man Rush (1 h 25 m) When Harvard hockey’s Bobby Snders lands in Sweden’s minor leagues, his relationship with the girl at the local market forces him to confront the reality of his childhood NHL dream before the Hockey Gods intervene. Jack Mulhern (Mare of Easttown) stars. Very sweet film.

CBS

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Enjoy this beautiful weather! We are heading back to Toronto for appointments this week, and have booked our first rounds of golf here. Life is returning to normal very slowly.

Enjoy this inspiring story:

*HARD WORK…*

Every morning, the CEO of a large bank in Manhattan walks to the corner
where a shoe shine is always located.

He sits on the couch, examines the Wall Street Journal, and the shoe
shine gives his shoes a shiny, excellent look.

One morning the shoeshine asks the Executive Director:

– What do you think about the situation in the stock market?

The Director asks in turn arrogantly:

– Why are you so interested in that – that topic?

“I have a million dollars in your bank,” the shoeshine says, “and I’m
considering investing some of the money in the capital market.”

– What is your name? –Asks the Director.

– John Smith H.

The Director arrives at the bank and asks the Manager of the Customer
Department:

– Do we have a client named John Smith H.?

– Certainly –answers the Customer Service Manager–, he is a highly
esteemed customer. He has a million dollars in his account.

The Director comes out, approaches the shoeshine, and says:

– Mr. Smith, I ask you this coming Monday to be the guest of honor at our
board meeting and tell us the story of your life. I am sure we will have
something to learn from you.

At the board meeting, the Executive Director introduces him to the board
members:

– We all know Mr. Smith, who makes our shoes shine in the corner; But
Mr. Smith is also our esteemed customer with a million dollars in his
account. I invited him to tell us the story of his life. I am sure we can
learn from him.

Mr. Smith began his story:

– I came to this country fifty years ago as a young immigrant from Europe
with an unpronounceable name. I got off the ship without a penny. The
first thing I did was change my name to Smith. I was hungry and
exhausted. I started wandering around looking for a job but to no avail.
Suddenly I found a coin on the sidewalk. I bought an apple. I had two
options: eat the apple and quench my hunger or start a business. I sold
the apple for two dollars and bought two apples with the money. I also
sold them and continued in business. When I started accumulating dollars,
I was able to buy a set of used brushes and shoe polish and started
polishing shoes. I didn’t spend a penny on entertainment or clothing, I
just bought bread and some cheese to survive. I saved penny by penny and
after a while, I bought a new set of shoe brushes and ointments in
different shades and expanded my clientele. I lived like a monk and saved
penny by penny. After a while I was able to buy an armchair so that my
clients could sit comfortably while cleaning their shoes, and that brought
me more clients. I did not spend a penny on the joys of life. I kept
saving every penny. A few years ago, when the previous shoe shine on the
corner decided to retire, I had already saved enough money to buy his
shoeshine location at this great place.

Finally, three months ago, my sister, who was a whore in Chicago, passed
away and left me a million dollars.

And now this from Eurovision, the winning entry:

Quarantinewhile…

Posted on May 16, 2021 by brunswil

We have only 5 more days left in our current quarantine and are looking forward to getting outside again and starting our spring planting of pots and flower boxes. It has actually been a lovely week up here in Thornbury with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures. A walk around the neighbourhood is a very simple pleasure that we really look forward to. Of course, for me, staying indoors is a great excuse for catching up with all kinds of screen time. Here are some recommendations for you:

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Amazon Prime

Striking Out (From Ireland, 10 episodes) When Tara discovers her fiancé and fellow solicitor Eric has been cheating with a colleague, she leaves him and their prestigious law firm to set up her own practice. Delightful! Loved it.

Wild Mountain Thyme (1 h 42 m) A pair of star-crossed lovers in Ireland get caught up in their family’s land dispute. Unwatchable. You try listening to Christopher Walken doing an Irish accent. Even the actual Irish actor Jamie Dornan sounds inauthentic in this . Terrible waste of money and talent that includes Emily Blunt and Jon Hamm.

Apple TV

CBC Gem

Bad Banks (in German with English subtitles, 12 episodes) Ambitious Jana is confronted with the unscrupulous machinations of the world of finance. her working life is determined by egotism, the pressure to succeed and machismo. she soon has to decide how far she is prepared to go for her career. If you liked Industry, Devils, or Billions, this show is for you!

Hulu/Crave/Starz

The Gloaming (from Australia, originally aired on STARZ, 8 episodes) When an unidentified woman is found brutally murdered, Det. Molly McGee teams up with fellow cop, Alex O’ Connell, with whom she shares a tragic past, to solve the crime. Currently available on Crave in Canada.

Shrill (22 episodes) I originally watched Season 1 on Crave in Canada, but George had never seen it so I watched it again. A woman seeks out ways to change her life without changing her body. Aidy Bryant is a wonder to behold in this as the lead who is attempting to own her fatness. Remarkably funny and touching at the same time.

Epic/Showcase

Pennyworth (20 episodes) I keep losing track of this series which has aired in Canada on Showcase, but is only available in the US on this premium channel. This great little Dystopian show is the origin story of Alfred Pennyworth, a former special-forces soldier living in London and how he came to work for Bruce Wayne’s father. There is currently a Watchathon available here on Xfinity cable, where many of the premium channels are currently airing free, so we are gorging on Hulu, Starz, etc.

FX

HBO

The Nevers (6 episodes) An epic tale following a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world. Stars James Norton (Grantchester), Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark), Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams and many others. Delightful, surprising and very entertaining fantasy fare.

The Crime of the Century (documentary, 2 episodes)A searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable overproduction, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates. Directed by Alex Gibney. Incredibly powerful.

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

NBC

New Amsterdam (Season 3, 49 episodes) New Amsterdam is still reeling from the pandemic as a plane crash lands in the East River. When investigators come to interrogate the flight crew, Iggy fights against the clock to help the pilot uncover the truth. Medical melodrama meets the headlines. I only watch this series because I am a huge Ryan Eggold fan and I can’t wait to see what heroic heights his character will rise to in each episode.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Halston (5 episodes) It tracks Halston as he leverages his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion empire that’s synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame, literally defining the era. Ewan McGregor stars.

StartUp (originally made for Crackle, 30 episodes) My husband and I are divided on this one. I hate it, but he kind of likes it. A desperate banker, a Haitian-American gang lord and a Cuban-American hacker are forced to work together to unwittingly create their version of the American dream – organized crime 2.0. I hate anything to do with cryptocurrency and that is the background theme of this very generic crime series. Stars Adam Brody (from The O.C.!)

Pan of the Week

Jupiter’s Legacy (8 episodes) The first generation of superheroes has kept the world safe for nearly a century. Now their children must live up to their legacy in an epic drama that spans decades and navigates the dynamics of family, power and loyalty. Netflix wanted its own version of The Boys, but without any humour or wit. Wackadoodly dumb. I can’t believe I watched the whole thing.

I Am All Girls (From South Africa, 1 h 47 m) a special crimes investigator forms an unlikely bond with a serial killer to bring down a global child sex trafficking syndicate. Dark and glum.

Pick of the Week

Dating Amber (From Ireland,1 h 32 m) Two school friends decide to start a pretend straight relationship in an effort to fit in. Oh I loved this very sweet film. Kind of like Normal People, but without all the sex, just humour.

PBS

Streaming

French Exit (1 h 53 m) An aging Manhattan socialite living on what’s barely left of her inheritance moves to a small apartment in Paris with her son and cat. Stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. Very whimsical and stylized like a Wes Anderson film.

Code of a Killer (2 episodes) The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys’ discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Spring has sprung! For those of you allowed to go outside, get out there and celebrate. For my housebound friends, here’s a very sweet dance video from a very special young man who has been experiencing the joy of dancing all around the world for several years:

And those of you who want to know the background story of Matt’s dance videos:

Oh what a beautiful morning…

Posted on May 9, 2021May 9, 2021 by brunswil

Well, it’s a little chilly here in Thornbury, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining. We made it home Friday from Florida after a 2 1/2 day drive which included an overnight stay with friends in Columbia, SC, a night in a very tired Holiday Inn in Erie, PA, and a 10 minute stop at the border to have our entry to Canada Covid test. This is officially Day 3 of our 14 day quarantine with only 12 more days to go. You can be sure that I will have plenty of screen time as we are not supposed to venture off our property. Here are some suggestions for you:

Hulu/Starz/Crave

Epic/Showcase

FX

HBO

Exterminate All the Brutes (Documentary, 4 episodes) The path to the new world, an unsettling and intricate story of genocides, conquests, slavery and the fabrication of “Whiteness”. Ooh, tough to watch but eye-opening.

Inside No. 9 (from BBC, 37 episodes) Anthology series which mixes dark humour with genres like crime, horror or drama. The show invites viewers into some very different No. 9s, where the ordinary and mundane rub shoulders with the extraordinary and macabre.

NBC

New Amsterdam (Season 3, 49 episodes) New Amsterdam is still reeling from the pandemic as a plane crash lands in the East River. When investigators come to interrogate the flight crew, Iggy fights against the clock to help the pilot uncover the truth. Medical melodrama meets the headlines. I only watch this series because I am a huge Ryan Eggold fan and I can’t wait to see what heroic heights his character will rise to in each episode.

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Most recently hosted by excellent substitute host Anderson Cooper. It has also been guest hosted by Ken Jennings, Mike Richards, Katie Couric, Dr Oz, and Aaron Rogers. I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved the first few weeks shows with Ken Jennings, greatest of all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he did a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards also did a bang-up job. Third up, Katie Couric was the host. She was the first female host ever and did a lovely job! I’m not a huge fan of the snake oil salesman, Dr. Oz, who is utterly charmless in the role of host. Aaron Rogers (NFL star) was very warm and amiable. In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

HGTV

Any of these shows give me the home decor fix I need to get through the day. They all inspire me, especially Home Town, which is the show with the most heart. I can’t believe how talented these people are and how they are able to make so many decisions so quickly! Full disclosure: we have been having some updates done to our Florida home while we are away and these shows are filling a serious gap for me.

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

PBS

My Grandparents’ War (4 episodes) The life and death decisions grandparents of famous British people faced during WWII. Stars Caroline Catz, Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas. So British!!!

Streaming

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Enjoy Mother’s Day today.

Here are some beautiful orchids for you:

SAG Awards 2021: ‘Trial of the Chicago 7,’ ‘The Crown,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Win Big

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

NBC

Debris (13 episodes) Two agents from two different continents, and two different mindsets, must work together to investigate when wreckage from a destroyed alien spacecraft has mysterious effects on humankind. I must confess to a soft spot for Sci Fi (I even gave the supremely silly Resident Alien a chance), but have to confess that I am still waiting for this slow burn of a series to really engage me.

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Most recently hosted by substitute host Dr. Oz. It has also been guest hosted by Ken Jennings, Mike Richards and Katie Couric. (aired 1964-75 hosted by Art Fleming; aired 1984-2021 hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek). I have to confess that I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved the first few week’s shows with Ken Jennings, greatest of all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he did a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards also did a bang-up job. Third up, Katie Couric was the host. She was the first female host ever and did a lovely job! I’m not a huge fan of the snake oil salesman, Dr. Oz, who is utterly charmless in the role of host. Aaron Rogers (NFL star) will be the guest host for the next two weeks. In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world.

Netflix

Concrete Cowboy (1 h 51 m) A teenager discovers the world of urban horseback riding when he moves in with his estranged father in North Phlladephia. Stars Idris Elba, Lorraine Toussaint. I wasn’t totally grabbed by this one and gave up about 20 minutes in. Idris as a cowboy? Come on people.

Sky High (Hasta el cielo, in Spanish with English subtitles, 2 h 1 m) A commentary on Spanish society dressed as a thriller about the misadventures of a gang of young petty criminals after the real estate crash. I hate heist movies!!! Lasted about 20 minutes.

Madame Claude (in French with English subtitles, 1 h 52 m) Paris, the late 1960’s. Madame Claude is at the head of a flourishing business dedicated to prostitution that gives her power over both the French political and curial worlds. But the end of her empire is closer than she thinks. Wow, is there ever a lot of sex and nudity in this one. A remake of a 1977 French film on the same subject. Dark and a little slow for most viewers, I suspect.

The Serpent (8 episodes) The twisting, real-life story of Charles Sobhraj, a murderer, thief and seductive master of disguise, who was a hidden darkness in the mid-70’s on Asia’s hippie trail. Tahar Rahim (The Mauretanian) stars along with Jenna Coleman (Victoria) and Billy Howle. Incredibly dark and true!!

Pan of the Week:

Ginny & Georgia (10 episodes) Ginny Miller, an angsty fifteen-year-old, often feels more mature than her thirty-year-old mother, the irresistible and dynamic Georgia Miller. I tried to watch this a while back, but maybe wasn’t in the mood and gave up after an episode. This time around, I slept through much of a couple of episodes, and when I woke up, I realized that this young adult oriented series was just plain awful. Almost as though it was written by committee trying to tick all the demographic boxes to give it as wide an appeal as possible. Hated it!

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1 h 34 m) I tried to watch this film when it first aired, but gave up when I realized that despite the praise Chadwick Boseman has received, it is really Viola Davis’s show. Her extremely angry black woman performance aided by makeup and costume to make her appear much older and less attractive, was a real turn-off for me. As with many of the August Wilson film adaptations (Fences is another), I found it very stagey and talky, almost like a filmed stage presentation. I was defeated a second time from trying to watch the whole thing and it’s only 1 h 34 m long!!! Perhaps I have watched too many musical biopics about black women in music lately, including the following:

Tina

Aretha

Mahalia

The United States vs Billie Holiday

Maybe, I’ve just hit my limit for incredibly talented black female singers trying to succeed in a business where all the decks are stacked against them. Apparently, the Aretha Franklin film starring Jennifer Holiday looks terrific, so I hope I’ve recovered from my overdose by next winter when it is supposed to be released.

Streaming

The Father (1 h 37 m) Still haven’t managed to watch this film about a man fighting against the ravages of dementia. If you’ve ever watched a parent say a very long good bye due to dementia (my mother lived to 100 with dementia for the last 10 years of her life), it takes a long time before you can watch something on this topic and be even moderate entertained. I am going to try and watch it before the Academy Awards air on Apr. 25.

HBO Max

Made for Love (10 episodes) A young woman, on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire, suddenly realizes the her husband has implanted a re4volutionary monitoring device in her brain that allows him to track her every move. Stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen and Ray Romano. Ooh dark and syfy!

Amazon Prime

The Wipers Times (1 h 32 m) Based on the remarkable true story of a satirical newspaper published on the front lines of WWI, this poignant yet comedic drama reels in the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. Stars a stellar English cast with Be3n Chaplin, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Josh O’Connor, Hugh Skinner, Ben Daniels and Michael Palin. I started it and then realized that as much as I wanted to love it, a comedy set during WWI wasn’t what I was looking for.

Lifetime

Mahalia (1 h 30 m) This Lifetime movie version of Mahalia Jackson’s life, stars Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black). Danielle Brooks’ amazing voice soars in this very earnest story of a supremely talented black singer overcoming many obstacles as she climbs to stardom taking gospel music to the national stage, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and even selling out Carnegie Hall.

PBS

Atlantic Crossing (1 h) Debuts tonight!! The story of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha, who fought for her country and her marriage during the tragic events of WWII. Ooh, Masterpiece Theatre historical costume drama!! Can’t wait.

My Grandparents’ War (1 h) Debuts tonight!! The life and death decisions grandparents of famous British people faced during WWII. Stars Caroline Cats, Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas. So British!!!

And don’t forget to watch:

TBS

Screen Actors’ Guild Awards (described above)

Comic Relief

Real Time with Bill Maher has returned with new guests and panels. Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee are all back. I catch up with Seth Meyers, and James Corden on You Tube. John Oliver has returned on Sunday nights on HBO! We are finding things to laugh about again that aren’t all about Trump or Covid!!!

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Ontario has gone back into lockdown because of rising Covid numbers, so we plan to enjoy our last few weeks here with some normal activities that include dining out with friends (outdoors, socially distanced), fitness, golf, beachwalks, etc. To help you through your week, here are some words and images you may enjoy:

A True Story behind the Pfizer Vaccine …

Over 80 years ago, in Greece, sixty thousand Jews lived peacefully in Thessaloniki. It was a valued and vibrant community.

Most of these Jews worked in the port. So much so that the port of Thessaloniki was even closed on Saturday, Shabbat.
Great emeritus rabbis also lived and studied there. Everyone rubbed shoulders and appreciated each other.

But on September 2, 1939, on the eve of the outbreak of World War II, it is on this great community that the Nazi terror will suddenly rise.
On April 6, 1941, Hitler invaded Greece in order to secure its southern front before launching the famous Operation Barbarossa and its great offensive against Russia. Of the 60,000 Jews in Thessaloniki, around 50,000 will be exterminated at the Birkenau concentration camp, in record time!

The massacre of the Jews of Greece was brief but intense. Very few will have the chance to make it. But among the survivors there was a family known as Bourla.

And after the war, in 1961, a son was born into this miraculous family in the camps. His parents called him Israel – Abraham. He grew up and studied veterinary medicine in Greece. A brilliant student, Abraham will get his doctorate in reproductive biotechnology at the veterinary school of Aristotle University in Salonika.

At the age of 34, he decided to move to the United States. He changes his first name Abraham, to Albert.

Albert was integrated into the medical industry. He progressed quickly and joined a pharmaceutical company where he became “Head manager.” Abraham (Albert) rose through the ranks and got his appointment as CEO of this company in 2019.

Throughout the year Albert decides to direct the efforts of the company to try to find a vaccine against a new virus (Covid)which has just struck the world. He expends great financial and technological efforts to achieve his goal.

A year later the WHO (World Health Organization) validates his company to produce the long-awaited vaccine … His vaccine will be distributed in several countries including Germany, which counts thousands of dead from the pandemic.

Ironically, this vaccine which will save the lives of millions of people around the world including many Germans, was led and pushed by a little Jew from Thessaloniki, son of Holocaust survivors from whom most of his people were exterminated by Nazi Germany.

And that is why Israel became the first country to receive the vaccine. In memory of his grandparents and his parents, who gave birth to Israel-Abraham Bourla, known today as Albert Bourla: CEO of Pfizer…

And from the 2021 Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam here are some spring images:https://www.youtube.com/embed/FtSWbUSlLcY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent Leave a comment Edit

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT THOSE OSCARS…

Posted on March 28, 2021

When I see friends, I can’t help myself from asking if they’re getting ready for the Academy Awards which will be televised on Sun. April 25. I’m aware that there is an air of mystery about the awards this year, as people struggle to find the films that have been nominated. To help you start your prep, here is a helpful list from the oscars.org website:

https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2021

I have now seen all the feature films that have been nominated for Best Picture, with the exception of The Father starring Anthony Hopkins, which is next in my queue of films to watch. All the Best Picture noms are now available to stream on some sort of Pay Per View, whether it’s through your local cable company, Apple, Amazon Prime, Netflix, or whatever. For me, the unifying theme this year for most films has been darkness. Many of the films are hard to watch because they depict real pain and struggle. In an era where so many are struggling with isolation and loneliness, we really need a Sound of Music type of escape. For me, the most inspiring and delightful film wasn’t nominated for any major awards, and I feel that Tom Hanks was egregiously overlooked for News of the World, which I enjoyed immensely and would unreservedly recommend to everyone I know.

Up Next

The Father (1 h 37 m) A man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality. I am just now getting around to watching this film, as I am not a great fan of Hopkins. For me, he is always the master thespian and I cannot get beyond seeing him emote. He’s the Welsh Al Pacino for me and I always see him as an actor in a role. Olivia Colman, Olivia Williams,Imogen Poots and Rufus Sewell also star.

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Apple TV

Calls (8 episodes) Told through a series of interconnected phone conversations, it chronicles the mysterious story of a group of strangers whose lives are thrown into disarray in the lead-up to an apocalyptic event. Very Twilight Zone but sound only, no video.

The CW

Superman and Lois (16 episodes) Follow the world’s most famous super hero and comic books’ most famous journalist as they deal with all the stress, pressures, and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star as Superman and Lois. Now it’s a teen drama featuring their two teenage fraternal twin boys!

Riverdale (89 episodes) Now in its fifth season, the kids have graduated from high school and gone on to adult pursuits, but they are pulled back to Riverdale to help save the school and the town from closure. I do get a kick out of how this teen series has pulled the wholesome Archie series into a new noir world.

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

Netflix

Sky Rojo (16 episodes, 30 m each) Coral, Wendy and Gina go on the run in search of freedom while being chased by Romeo, their pimp from Las Novis Club, and his henchmen, Moises and Christian. This is an adrenalin rush of a movie. Backstories are revealed along the way, and you root for the girls to evade their pursuers. From the same production team behind Money Heist. Great fun!

Shtisel (Season 3, 9 episodes) I fell under the spell of this show which depicts several generations of a Jerusalem family of untra-orthodox Haredi Jews. Michael Aloni steals the show as Akiva Shtisel, a struggling artist, looking for love outside the strictures of his family and upbringing. You will also recognize Shira Haas from Unorthodox. All the characters become very endearing in this show, and you will miss them when it’s over. If you haven’t discovered this yet, you must go back to Season 1 and binge on this delectable series.

Various Streaming/VOD/PPV

Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar (1 h 47 m) Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time – ever. I saw Kristen Wiig (from SNL) make the talk show rounds publicizing this very silly film and had to watch it. Jamie Dornan stars as the love interest who is a most feeble minded villain as well. Kristen Wiig does amuse particularly in her Tilda Swinton doppelgänger role as a super villainess, however, this film is really over the top farcical and I doubt many will have the patience to persevere until the ridiculous ending. If you are searching for some light comic relief from the weighty films of the day, you might be amused by this.

National Geographic

Genius: Aretha (8 episodes) Cynthia Erivo is a fantastic actress and singer and she does a terrific job as Aretha. The miniseries is a bit messy as it darts back and forth in time from her childhood to her adult career. It explores the conflicting interests pulling Aretha in different directions through her career as she is influenced by her philandering pastor father, controlling first husband and her rivalry with her singing sister. There is another Aretha feature film in the works starring Jennifer Hudson (projected release date in Dec.) which may over power this effort.

FX

Mayans M.C. (Season 3, 10 episodes) This spin-off from Sons of Anarchy continues in Southern California as a border shutdown squeezes the Mayans’ heroin trade setting off an internal clash over the future of the club. I love this series which continues the Shakespearean themes of SOA as sons vie for the love of their fathers and men battle for supremacy of their clans.

NBC

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Presently hosted by substitute host Dr. Oz. It has also been guest hosted by Ken Jennings, Mike Richards and Katie Couric. (aired 1964-75 hosted by Art Fleming; aired 1984-2021 hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek). I have to confess that I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved the first few week’s shows with Ken Jennings, greatest of all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he did a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards also did a bang-up job. Third up, Katie Couric was the host. She was the first female host ever and did a lovely job! I’m not a huge fan of the snake oil salesman, Dr. Oz, who is utterly charmless in the role of host. However, in comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world.

HBO/HBO Max

Hard (from Brazil, remake of the 2008 French series of the same name, 12 episodes) A recent widow learns her deceased husband husband was in the porn production business and faces the challenge of saving the company she’s inherited. Pretty outrageous stuff for North American audiences not used to constant nudity and the flagrant use of dildoes for comic effect. Delightful but probably not for everybody. If you have children, you will have a lot of explaining to do if they see any of this one.

Tina (Documentary, 1 h 58 m) Exclusive access to the Grammy Award winning artist to celebrate her career. This woman is now 82 years old. Amazing portrait of a talented woman who overcame tremendous obstacles to establish her career.

QAnon: The Search for Q (Documentary, 3 episodes) 2 Documentary filmmakers search for the genesis of Q, from the QAnon phenomena and its current ramifications. Lots of talking heads in this one, and shots of people on keyboards. Not my favourite type of documentary, so far.

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

I understand that the weather has really changed up North, so enjoy the week wherever you are and be sure to get outside to see those spring flowers bursting into bloom. There will be more golf, maybe Mahjong and maybe even a little Trivial Pursuit contest for me! We’re trying to see many of our friends down here before everyone departs at the end of the season, so there are a few dinners out scheduled and we will host some longtime friends for Easter Dinner next weekend. To whet your appetite for some film viewing here’s a trailer for News of the World:https://www.youtube.com/embed/SG_EVA58P-g?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Another film which you may not have seen, but which I really enjoyed was Promising Young Woman:https://www.youtube.com/embed/drCti72AIn4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Finally, for those of you touched by the recent documentary about Britney Spears’ career and breakdown, there are a couple of very touching films available on You Tube and I watched them both:https://www.youtube.com/embed/8jpQNlvtpo4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparenthttps://www.youtube.com/embed/eQq841rg-dg?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent Leave a comment Edit

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN…

Posted on March 21, 2021

Well, last week I got the shock of my life when I sat down to write the blog and found that my computer was out of memory and that the blog edit function had totally changed. I am trying to avoid frustration this week and will persevere with this one. I had a houseguest for about 9 days and found that in trying to find viewing that would interest us both, I ended up finding content that no one really liked! Here are some suggestions for you:

John Doyle’s Globe and Mail Column on upcoming TV

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-reasons-to-be-cheerful-great-upcoming-tv/

Pick of the Week

Cold Call (Various streaming, From BBC 5, 4 episodes) A single mother gets caught up in a cold call scam that turns her world upside down. Great little thriller. If you enjoyed Netflix’s I Care a Lot (with Rosamund Pike as a sociopathic con artist), you may like this revenge story where a woman who has lost everything goes after the fraudsters who bilked her.

Pan of the Week

Cherry (2 h 22 m) Cherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq – anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the world. Despite great performances from Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo, this film is just as dark, depressing, and long as it sounds. I can’t think of anyone I would recommend it to.

Amazon Prime

Party Tricks (From Australia, 6 episodes) Two candidates for state premier go head to head in their battle for victory. However their past intimate relationship creates concern for a scandal. The great Asher Keddie (Nina from Offspring) stars in this terrific battle of the sexes comedy.

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Apple TV

Cherry (Described above as my Pan of the Week, 2 h 22 m) Cherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq – anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the4 world. Despite great performances from Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo, this film is just as dark, depressing, and long as it sounds. I can’t think of anyone I would recommend it to.

CBS

Clarice (10 episodes) A look at the untold personal story of FBI agent Clarice Starling, as she returns to the field about a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Well, the lead actress seems to be channeling Holly Hunter in her southern twang, and there is a huge cast of supporting characters here, but I still found it formulaic in its telling of a very complicated plot in 44 minutes. I think I am done with this show, although it’s all filmed in Toronto, so lots of opportunities for Canadian supporting players, including the perpetrator. I hung in for 4 episodes and found it annoyingly unsatisfying. I hated all the characters and that’s a real problem for me.

CNN

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (6 episodes) Stanley Tucci travelling across Italy on a food tour. A fabulous way to eat your way across Italy and not gain an ounce. So enjoyable!

The CW

HBO/HBO Max

Allen v. Farrow (4 episodes) A look behind the years of sensational headlines to reveal the private story of the accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving his 7-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow.

Beartown (in Swedish with English subtitles, 5 episodes) Hockey is the last beacon of hope in Beartown and being responsible for it is a heavy burden. The day of the semi-final match is also the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. So Swedish and noir.

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

NBC

Debris (9 episodes) Two agents from two different continents, and two different mindsets, must work together to investigate when wreckage from a destroyed alien spacecraft has mysterious effects on humankind. I’ll bite because of my weakness for sci-fi, and will come back for a second episode.

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Presently hosted by substitute host and executive producer Mike Richards, also guest hosted by Ken Jennings and Katie Couric. (aired 1964-75 hosted by Art Fleming; aired 1984-2021 hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek). I have to confess that I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved the first few week’s shows with Ken Jennings, greatest of all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he has been doing a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards has also been doing a bang-up job. For the past two weeks, Katie Couric has been the host. She was the first female host ever and did a lovely job! In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world.

Netflix

Moxie (1 h 51 m) Inspired by her mom’s rebellious past and a confident new friend a shy 16-year-old publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school. Great family programming from Amy Poehler.

Sentinelle (1 h 20 m) Transferred home after a traumatizing combat mission a trained French soldier uses her lethal skills to hunt down the man who hurt her sister. Olga Kurylenko stars. By the book little action flick, but it is set mostly in Nice which is nice.

Audrey (1 h 40 m) An intimate portrait of legendary Hollywood actress, fashion icon and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, who stood for love above all else. A very touching view of her life which especially highlights her work for Unicef. If you liked her before, you will adore her after this.

Various Streaming/VOD/Pay per View

Raya and the Last Dragon (Animated from Disney, 1 h 47 m) In a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon. The great voice cast stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma ChanDaniel Dad Kim, Sandra Oh, etc. A little long for most children (and me) this is classic family entertainment.

The Legacy (Seasons 1 – 3) (Original Danish title: Arvingerne, 17 episodes) The death of a matriarch brings forgotten secrets out into the open and causes a prolonged battle for the family inheritance. I loved this Danish series for its unforgettable and deeply flawed characters. A great family drama, kind of like Succession, Danish style. Warning: highly addictive and difficult to find. You may have to search under both the Danish and English titles.

The Good Karma Hospital (English production set in India, 19 episodes) Doctor Ruby Walker arrives in India looking for a job and a distraction from her heartbreak. She anticipates the sunshine and picture-perfect beaches, but not the realities of work at an under-resourced hospital. Great escapist entertainment.

What We Did on our Holiday (1 h 35 m) A family of five is off to Granddad’s big 75th birthday party at an uncle’s estate in rural Scotland. The parents are separated and hope their three kids won’t mention it. The kids love, can talk with, and will do anything for, Granddad. Starring Rosamund Pike, David Tennant, Billy Connolly and three very talented child players. I did have a sense of deja vu about this lovely family comedy, but really enjoyed watching Pike and Tennant play normal people who weren’t psychopaths.

Cold Call (Described above as my Pick of the Week, From BBC 5, 4 episodes) A single mother gets caught up in a cold call scam that turns her world upside down. Great little thriller. If you enjoyed I Care a Lot, you may like this revenge story where a woman who has lost everything goes after the fraudsters who bilked her.

Comic Relief

Real Time with Bill Maher has returned with new guests and panels. Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee are all back. I catch up with Seth Meyers, and James Corden on You Tube. Last week, John Oliver has returned on Sunday nights on HBO!

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Our season is coming to an end here at Treviso Bay as many start packing up to return home before Easter. Our ladies’ group here is running a closing lunch with a fancy hats theme and it will be the first group event I have attended here this pandemic season as I am now fully vaccinated and the event promises to be limited seating with social distancing. This week there will be golf and fitness as usual and we are starting to really savour our time here. Have a wonderful week, wherever you are, and here are a couple of videos to inspire you:https://www.youtube.com/embed/SYJCYr1I-Sk?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

https://youtu.be/Ha1l8uifUQg
Leave a comment Edit

SAD TO SAY, TECHNOLOGY HAS DEFEATED ME…

Posted on March 14, 2021

My laptop has been in full rebellion mode today. First it was out of storage and then my wordpress edit format changed radically, causing me to make three attempts to write my blog and I have failed utterly! My apologies! Don’t forget to watch the Grammies tonight (if you want to catch up to the music our kids like today) and here is a great column from John Doyle in the Toronto Globe and Mail about upcoming series:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-reasons-to-be-cheerful-great-upcoming-tv/

Have a wonderful safe and healthy week wherever you are and I will see you next week!Leave a comment Edit

GEORGE IS OFF TO ORLANDO, AND I HAVE A VISITOR COMING…

Posted on March 7, 2021

George heads off on his annual men’s golf trip to Orlando, and I have a Toronto friend coming to keep me company. There will be some dining out and the usual golf, fitness, etc. this week. In the meantime, here are some viewing suggestions for you:

Pick of the Week

Streaming

The Legacy (Original Danish title: Arvingerne, 17 episodes) The death of a matriarch brings forgotten secrets out into the open and causes a prolonged battle for the family inheritance. I loved this Danish series for its unforgettable and deeply flawed characters. A great family drama, kind of like Succession, Danish style. Warning: highly addictive and difficult to find. You may have to search under both the Danish and English titles.

Pan of the Week

Apple TV

Losing Alice (from Israel available dubbed or with subtitles, 8 episodes) Fascination spirals into Faustian bargain after an ambitious female film director meets and obsesses over a younger femme-fatale screenwriter. A slow burn start as I am 4 episodes in and things are just starting to spiral out of control. OK, I finally got to the final episode and was actually happy to leave this very dark series behind me. There are no characters I was rooting for or will mourn now that it has finally ended. Eight hours of my life that I will never regain. So disappointed in this Israeli series as I have such a fondness for many series and films from Israel. Really hoping that no one adapts this one for US TV.

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Amazon Prime

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (only 1 episode available on Amazon, but 4 were originally made). This premiered on ITV in the UK in 2011 and starred Paddy Considine as Jonathan ‘Jack” Whicher, a detective leading the investigation into a notorious child murder in the 1860’s. The two-hour drama was an adaptation of Kate Summerscale’s novel of the same name. A bit dark and dour for me. Don’t know if I will search out the subsequent 3 episodes in which Whicher becomes a private inquiry agent having left the Metropolitan Police.

Apple TV Plus

Dickinson (Season 2, 8 episodes) An inside look at the world of writer Emily Dickinson. This blackly funny series pokes fun at an era where women were extremely limited in options. Hailee Steinfeld shines as young Emily amongst a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Jane Krakowski, Toby Huss, Finn Jones, Pico Alexander, Will Pullen, etc. I love this very wry series.

Losing Alice (reviewed above as a Pan of the Week)

CBS

**Oprah with Meghan and Harry (8 pm tonight!!) For royal watchers, Harry and Meghan get their version of their life decisions before the public.

Clarice (10 episodes) A look at the untold personal story of FBI agent Clarice Starling, as she returns to the field about a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Well, the lead actress seems to be channeling Holly Hunter in her southern twang, and there is a huge cast of supporting characters here, but I still found it formulaic in its telling of a very complicated plot in 44 minutes. I will give it another chance. It’s all filmed in Toronto, so lots of opportunities for Canadian supporting players, including the perpetrator. I did watch Episode 3, and found it mildly annoying, and haven’t yet had time to watch Episode 4.

CNN

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (6 episodes) Stanley Tucci travelling across Italy on a food tour. A fabulous way to eat your way across Italy and not gain an ounce. So enjoyable!

The CW

HBO/HBO Max

The Investigation (6 episodes) Copenhagen Police’s Homicide unit, headed by Jens Moller, tries to solve the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall. This time it’s Scandinavian Noir, but it’s a dramatization of a true crime story. This was the submarine murder that was in the news a few years back. I’m almost at the end and have to confess that this was truly a story that could have been told in a far more concise way. There are a couple of episodes where almost nothing happens but a very long and painful search for body parts

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

Netflix

Canine Intervention (6 episodes) Series follows renowned Oakland dog trainer, Jas Leverette, as he runs one of the top dog training facilities in California. The first episode will tug at your heartstrings as he tries to rehabilitate an aggressive 3-legged Pit Bull rescue dog.

Ginny and Georgia (10 episodes) Ginny Miller, an angsty fifteen-year-old, often feels more mature than her thirty-year-old mother, the irresistible and dynamic Georgia Miller. This teen series brings back Scott Porter from Friday Night Lights as the town mayor and love interest for Georgia. Only one episode in, but I will try and return. The final episode apparently raised some hackles when it slut shamed Taylor Swift in a throwaway comic reference.

NBC

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Presently hosted by substitute host and executive producer Mike Richards (aired 1964-75 hosted by Art Fleming; aired 1984-2021 hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek). I have to confess that I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved the first few week’s shows with Ken Jennings, greatest of all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he has been doing a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards, who is currently hosting has also been doing a bang-up job. Coming up for the next two weeks, Katie Couric will host. She will be the first female host ever! In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic world.

Streaming/VOD/PPV

Queens Of Mystery (originally made for Acorn, 9 episodes) Three crime-writing sisters and their 28-year-old niece use their extensive knowledge of crime to solve whodunit style murders in the picturesque English village of Wildemarsh. This series is the opposite of the very popular trend to dark and brooding mysteries. It’s full of eccentric characters, gorgeous English countryside scenes and it’s very whimsical. If you loved Father Brown, you will like this show. It’s lighter than air.

The Legacy (reviewed above as my Pick of the Week)

The Mauritanian (2 h 9 m) Mohamedou Ould Salahi fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the US government for years. While this is an important story about a terrible injustice, the film itself is very slow paced and a little dull. Great performance from Tahar Rahim in the lead role.

WandaVision (from Disneyplus, 9 episodes) Blends the style of classic sitcoms with the Marvel Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision – two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban lives – begin to suspect that everything is not as it sees. Whackadoodle! I can’t imagine what the Disney generation of watchers will make of this spoof/homage to the classic sitcoms of the 1950’s and 1960’s (I love Lucy, Bewitched, Dick Van Dyke, etc.) One of my children doesn’t like to watch programming in black and white, so his tolerance may not last until the second episode where things gradually burst into colour. By the third episode, we are in glorious technicolour and the style of sit com has changed to the shows of the 70’s, particularly The Brady Bunch. By the end of the episode, it becomes clear, that they are not living in an ordinary suburb. By episode 4, it is clear that we have entered an alternate universe. OK, last night I watched the final episode. I must admit, I got terribly confused by the plot twists and turns. I am not a Marvel Universe fan, and generally dislike superhero movies. The last episode was full of interminable fight scenes with characters blasting each other across the screen with their superpowers. The whole series is over the top bananas and I know it is intended to be family viewing, but it is too whackadoodle for me and I have no interest in going back to all the source material in the MCU to see how cleverly the writers have manipulated their references. If you adore superheroes then this may be for you.

Comic Relief

Real Time with Bill Maher has returned with new guests and panels. Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee are all back. I catch up with Seth Meyers, and James Corden on You Tube. Last week, John Oliver returned Sunday night on HBO!

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Looking forward to a week of fun and friendship! For some words of inspiration I include the following:

I do not know who wrote this but it is poignant …

Barely the day started and … it’s already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday
… and the month is already over
… and the year is almost over.
… and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed
… and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it’s too late to go back …

So… Let’s try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time …
Let’s keep looking for activities that we like …
Let’s put some color in our grey …
Let’s smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.

And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this

time we have left. Let’s try to eliminate the afters …

I’m doing it after …
I’ll say after…
I’ll think about it after…
We leave everything for later like ′′after′′ is ours.

Because what we don’t understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold …
afterwards, priorities change …
Afterwards, the charm is broken …
Afterwards, health passes …
Afterwards, the kids grow up …
Afterwards parents get old …
Afterwards, promises are forgotten …
Afterwards, the day becomes the night …
Afterwards life ends …
And then it’s often too late …

So … Let’s leave nothing for later …
Because still waiting to see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences, best friends, the best family …
The day is today … The moment is now…
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.
So let’s see if you have time to read this message and then share it.
Or maybe you’ll leave it for … ′′ later “
And you’ll never share it …

And to all those who will be celebrating Passover this spring (Saturday Mar. 27 – Sunday Apr. 4), I send you this gift:

https://www.thegefiltefilm.com/about 1 Comment Edit

PERHAPS, I HAVE WATCHED TOO MUCH…

Posted on February 28, 2021

I am starting to see formula in a lot of the way too long series that are being shown on the various streaming services. Particularly true of Tell Me Your Secrets, which I write about below. Anyhow, in addition to my usual screen time, I’ve made time in the last week for a little Mahjong, some golfing, some dining on 5th Ave. and we have been trying to shake up our dining habits by ordering some Hello Fresh meal kits. Much chopping has been going on. In the meantime, here are some viewing suggestions for you:

Pick of the Week

Some Kind of Heaven (Documentary, 1 h 23 m, watched on Prime Video) Behind the gates of a palm tree-lined fantasyland, four residents of America’s largest retirement community, The Villages, Fl, strive to find solace and meaning. This very thought provoking doc details what happens when the retirement dream goes wrong. Barb, the widow who is still working full-time well into her retirement years, will break your heart. A co-production between The New York Times and Darren Aronofsky, this doc manages to explore these four stories with an incredible intimacy. Very stylishly shot and edited, it is directed by a very talented first time feature director, Lance Oppenheim. The film is haunting and will stay with you a long time. Perhaps, not the most balanced view of life in The Villages, but certainly a cautionary tale of a search for the Fountain of Youth.

Amazon Prime

Pan of the Week:

Tell Me Your Secrets (10 episodes) Follows a trio of characters, each with a mysterious and troubling past: a young woman who once looked into the eyes of a dangerous killer, a former serial predator desperate to find redemption, and a grieving mother obsessed with finding her missing daughter. As each of them is pushed to the edge, the truth about their pasts and motives grows ever murkier, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. OK, full disclosure, I hated this series. No redeeming characters. Cliffhangers left suspended. Needless monologues. Many extra scenes that could have been edited out. To have stretched this meandering story out to 10 episodes is unnecessary cruelty. If you are looking for a beguiling mystery to lose yourself in, this is not the one. Cast features Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater. What a waste.

ABC

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Apple TV Plus

CBS

Clarice (10 episodes) A look at the untold personal story of FBI agent Clarice Starling, as she returns to the field about a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Well, the lead actress seems to be channeling Holly Hunter in her southern twang, and there is a huge cast of supporting characters here, but I still found it formulaic in its telling of a very complicated plot in 44 minutes. I will give it another chance. It’s all filmed in Toronto, so lots of opportunities for Canadian supporting players, including the perpetrator. I did watch Episode 3, and found it mildly annoying.

CNN

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (6 episodes) Stanley Tucci travelling across Italy on a food tour. A fabulous way to eat your way across Italy and not gain an ounce. So enjoyable!

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

NBC

Kenan (3 episodes) A recently-widowed dad tries to raise his kids with his persistent father-in-law. Full Disclosure: I watched this show to see Don Johnson (yes, the Miami Vice guy) play a grandfather. I didn’t last through the whole episode. Formulaic and awful cringeworthy comedy.

Jeopardy (30 minutes) Presently hosted by substitute host and executive producer Mike Richards (aired 1964-75 hosted by Art Fleming; aired 1984-2021 hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek). I have to confess that I hadn’t watched this show much in the last 30 years, but out of curiosity have now started watching it with substitute hosts and absolutely loved last couple of week’s shows with Ken Jennings, all-time show champion. He knows the game inside and out, and although he lacks a mellifluous game show voice, he has been doing a great job with excellent contestants each week. Mike Richards, who is currently hosting has also been doing a bang-up job. In comparison with much of today’s dark programming, this show stands out as a beacon of hope in a pandemic wor

HBO/HBO Max

*Allen v. Farrow (4 episodes) A look behind the years of sensational headlines to reveal the private story of the accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving his 7-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow.

Five Days (10 episodes) A five-part mini-series that revolves around the disappearance of a young mother in a quiet British suburb and the circumstances that leave her children abandoned far from home. Great cast features David Oyelowo, Penelope Wilton, Hugh Bonneville, Janet McTeer, Jason Watkins, Rory Kinnear, Patrick Malahide, Edward Woodward. Absorbing drama.

Stath lets Flats (19 episodes) This very British comedy series follows incompetent Greek-Cypriot real estate agent Stath who works for the family business Michael and Eagle. Chaos ensues!!

Netflix

Invisible City (from Brazil with horrible English dubbing, 7 episodes) An underground world is inhabited by mythical creatures evolved from a deep lineage of Brazilian folklore. One detective who finds himself caught in a murder investigation that puts him in the middle of a battle between these two worlds. Still trying to get through the first episode as I love fantasy. I will try and stay with it.

Streaming/PPV/VOD

Supernova (1 h 35 m) Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. I suspect this film will be a little slow for most (my husband slept through almost the entire thing) but it is a very touching depiction of a long and loving relationship. Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci star.

Saint Maud (1 h 24 m) Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient. Stars Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle. Dark and very slow, I’m still trying to get through it and it’s only 84 minutes long. Very painful.

Honour (2 episodes) Follows the police investigation and the revelations about police failings in the run-up to the ‘honour killing’ of Banaz Mahmod, a 20-year-old Iraqi Kurdish woman who was murdered on the orders of her family after she left an abusive marriage for another man. Stars Keeley Hawes in another incredible departure from her Durrells role. Very poignant mini-series about a true crime recreation.

Some Kind of Heaven (see above, my Pick of the Week)

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot to mention that the first awards show of the season is on tonight at 8 pm on NBC. The Golden Globes have a chequered history as being amongst the most corrupt and screwy awards shows and also the most enjoyable. Hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, from both coasts and with much virtual Zoom participation.

Here’s a list of nominations for those of you who actually want to keep track. Sometimes, this wacky show is a precursor of the Oscars:

https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/2021-nominations-78th-golden-globe-awards-have-been-announced

Oh Oh…Ford’s got it in for the Snowbirds…again…

Posted on May 2, 2021 by brunswil

Well, after Ford reportedly requested that Trudeau install more effective Covid 19 safeguards at the land border crossings, we reconsidered our departure date from here and will be driving back this Wednesday. I know that Trudeau has pushed back on the proposal that quarantine hotel stays be mandatory for those crossing the border by land, but it looks like Ford hasn’t given up on this, so we’re going to stop delaying the inevitable and head home this week. Boo hoo. It has been a wonderful winter down here, but all good things must come to an end. We will head straight to Thornbury and quarantine there before heading down to Toronto for all manner of medical and dental appointments. I can’t wait to see family and friends when our 2 week quarantine ends. Oh wait, we appear to be in a complete lockdown until May 21. There are going to be some major adjustments for us in terms of stay-at-home orders. I believe they mean you must stay at home and not visit with family and friends. Oh well…hopefully when the vaccination rate rises, this current Covid surge will decline and things will gradually return to normal. In the meantime, here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

Big Sky (Season 1, 16 episodes) We have now launched into the second half of Season 1 which begins a new mystery for the private eye and the ex-cop to solve in Montana. Very entertaining and sophisticatedly intricate suspense fare on good old ABC.

The Good Doctor (Season 4, 8 episodes) The adventures of Shaun Murphy, surgical resident with autism.
A disease of the week show with a difference!

Hulu

Epic

Freeform

Everything’s gonna be Okay (Season 2, 10 episodes) After their father’s untimely death, Nicholas and his two half-sisters are left to cope with not only a devastating loss, but also the realization that Nicholas is the one who will have to rise to the occasion and hold it all together. The delightful Josh Thomas (who starred in the Australian inspiration for this show Please Like Me) is an acquired taste, but he makes me laugh. He is an extremely immature and self-centred boy-man.

AMC

Gangs of London (10 episodes) Tells the story of London being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of its international gangs and the sudden power vacuum that’s created when the head of London’s most powerful crime family is assassinated. Stars Joe Cole, Michelle Fairley, Colm Meaney. Brutally dark and violent (kind of an updated Peaky Blinders).

FX

HBO/HBO Max

NBC

HGTV

Fixer to Fabulous

Good Bones

Love it or List it Vancouver

Home Town

PBS

Streaming

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

CBS Sunday Morning (since 1979) I am about to reward myself by sitting down to my favourite weekly compendium of celebrity profiles and human interest stories. Always inspiring and informative.

Closing Words

I can’t believe it has been just one week since the Oscars aired. What a colossal waste of time. A missed opportunity to show potential viewers all the films they were unable to find this past year. Humour, songs, clips were all missing. The In Memoriam montage gave 1 second of air time to such films greats as Olivia de Havilland, Christopher Plummer and many other legends in an indecently rapid series of photos that were accompanied by Stevie Wonder music. It was so trivializing and frustrating. I apologize to all my friends whom I encouraged to watch this travesty of a show. Apparently viewership reached an all-time low. Hopefully next year, the theatres will have opened, people will go out to see movies once more and we will be able to see the new blockbusters that include West Side Story, Top Gun the new James Bond film, No Time to Die and so many more. Here are some trailers to get you in the mood:

Here’s the James Bond trailer:

https://youtu.be/DxcSm-L41Eo

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	Janet Marechaux on George is off to Orlando, and…
	Catherine on Countdown to Florida begins…
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	Catherine Ireland on Best Laid Plans…

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	Catherine on Company coming today…
	Catherine Ireland on The season is wrapping up…
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	brunswil on Ooh, lots of new content…
	Catherine Ireland on Ooh, lots of new content…
	Catherine on Company coming today…
	Catherine Ireland on The season is wrapping up…
	brunswil on Polar vortex has consequences…

Month: May 2021

ABC

NBC

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Apple TV Plus

CBC Gem

Crave

CBS

Streaming

HBO

HGTV

PBS

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

Closing Words

ABC

Amazon Prime

Apple TV

FX

NBC

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Streaming

PBS

HBO

HGTV

Crave

CBS

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

Closing Words

ABC

Amazon Prime

Apple TV

CBC Gem

Hulu/Crave/Starz

Epic/Showcase

FX

HBO

HGTV

NBC

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (Season 2, 9 episodes) It’s back for season 2! This show keeps flying under my radar. I love the concept that Zoey hears other people’s thoughts in big musical numbers, but this show is wackadoodle and may not be for everyone.

Netflix

Halston (5 episodes) It tracks Halston as he leverages his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion empire that’s synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame, literally defining the era. Ewan McGregor stars.

PBS

Streaming

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

Closing Words

Hulu/Starz/Crave

Epic/Showcase

FX

NBC

HGTV

PBS

Streaming

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

Closing Words

Enjoy Mother’s Day today.

Here are some beautiful orchids for you:

NBC

Netflix

Pan of the Week:

Streaming

HBO Max

Amazon Prime

Lifetime

PBS

TBS

Comic Relief

Moment of Zen

Closing Words

Up Next

ABC

Apple TV

The CW

HGTV

Netflix