This is the 22nd year for George to head off to Orlando with his longtime buddies to play some golf. During that time I will be playing bocce, golf, going to fitness classes and maybe squeezing in a trip to the Everglades. I am going to host my movie club and will be showing Anatomy of a Fall, winner of the grand prize at Cannes and nominated for Best Film at the Oscars. Speaking of which, we had a lovely gathering for last week’s Academy Awards celebration and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Meanwhile, here are some viewing suggestions for you:
ABC
Will Trent (Season 2, 8 episodes) Special Agent Will Trent was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh common-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. Determined to make sure no one feels as he did, he now has the highest clearance rate. So eccentric!
Abbott Elementary (Mockumentary, 50 episodes) If you’re not watching this workplace comedy, you are missing something truly delightful. Great cast, great scripts.
The Good Doctor (126 episodes) The autistic surgeon is now married with a baby!!
Apple
Masters of the Air (9 episodes) During WWII, five miles above the ground and behind enemy lines ten men inside a bomber known as a “Flying Fortress” battle unrelenting flocks of German fighters. Stars Austin Butler and Callum Turner (and newcomer Barry Keoghan, from Saltburn) lead a terrific ensemble cast. I was really transported by this period piece which features incredible scenes of the B-17’s in action. An Apple Original Series from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman – the producers of Band of Brothers and The Pacific. During WWII, airmen risk their lives with the 100th Bomb Group, a brotherhood forged by courage, loss, and triumph.
Constellation (8 episodes) Jo returns to earth after a disaster in space and discovers that there are missing pieces in her life, so she sets out to expose the truth about the hidden secrets of space travel and recover what she has lost. Stars Noomi Rapace Jonathan Banks, James D’Arcy. Haunting and mesmerizing.
The New Look (10 episodes) Explores the rise of fashion designer Christian Dior as he dethrones Coco Chanel and helps return spirit and life to the world with his iconic imprint of beauty and influence. Stars Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche and Maisie Williams. I love this series!!!
Manhunt (7 episodes) The aftermath of the first American presidential assassination and the fight to preserve and protect the ideals that were the foundation of Lincoln’s Reconstruction plans. Tobias Menzies and Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air) star. Intriguing first two episodes!
CBS
FBI, FBI International, FBI Most Wanted (Ok, this is all rather formulaic stuff, but I get a hoot out of the incredibly flat acting of all three series, which I think of as Original, Crispy and Extra Crispy). So amazing that the FBI can solve every case within a 1 hr time period. It is the formula that viewers respond so warmly to on the Mother Ship series Law & Order and all its spin-offs.
Elsbeth (10 episodes) Elsbeth Tascioni,, an unconventional attorney, gives her singular point of view to make observations to catch criminals alongside the NYPD. If you loved Carrie Preston on The Good Wife, The Good Fight, etc., you will love her ditzy persona in this. I love her!!!
CBS News Sunday Morning (since 1979, 827 episodes) This is my Sunday morning mainstay as I find its magazine format extremely soothing featuring interviews with actors, political figures, athletes, musicians costume designers, fashion designers, etc. My moment of Zen.
60 Minutes (since 1968, 2198 episodes) Classic prime time TV Investigative news magazine. The hard version of CBS Sunday Morning.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (since 2015). Broadcasts from the Ed Sullivan theatre in New York. I love his monologues!
Comedy Central
The Daily Show (since 1996 with several changes of host and hiatuses) It’s now back with Jon Stewart taking the host duties on Mondays and his regular anchors taking the other nights of the week. Political satire!!
FX
Feud: Capote vs The Swans (8 episodes) I watched or snoozed through all 8 episodes of this series which does feature an amazing cast of actresses playing Capote’s coterie of society women. I have stayed with the show which is almost unbearably melancholy as it follows Capote’s self-destructive path.
Shogun (10 episodes) When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets that could tip the scales and devastate his enemies. Stars Cosmo Jarvis. So far, so good as I have watched the first two episodes. Absorbing!
HBO/MAX
Tokyo Vice (Returns for a second season of 10 episodes) Hired as Meicho Shibun’s first American crime reporter, Jake Edelstein is quickly tasked with covering two cases the initially appear unrelated, but soon stakes his career – and life – on connecting the dots. Ansel Elgort’s Japanese seems pretty good to me!
The Regime (6 episodes) Kate Winslet stars in this limited series as the Chancellor of an unnamed Central European nation that is unraveling being the palace walls.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (10 episodes) Larry David stars as an over-the-top version of himself in this comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events. Cringe comedy!
Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver and Real Time with Bill Maher both continue their runs on HBO satirizing politics and current events.
NBC
Law & Order (892 episodes since 1990) Still solving crimes and bringing criminals to justice!!! Now starring Hugh Dancy and Reid Scott! I never watched this show in its heyday, but now I can’t resist its torn from the headlines plots. Spoiler alert: Sam Waterston has left the show after 30 years in the same role and was replaced by Tony Goldwyn who seems like kind of a snake in his first appearance!!!
Jeopardy (Nightly, 8892 episodes) I just realized that in Naples, this syndicated show appears on NBC! Ken Jennings is back hosting! Tournament of Champions is in full swing. Enjoy!!
PBS
Tonight, three Sunday evening series begin new seasons starting with:
Call the Midwife (returning for their fourteenth season) Chronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London from the 1950’s to 1960. Tear jerking!!!
Nolly on Masterpiece (3 episodes) Exploring the rise and fall from grace of the inimitable British soap star, Noele Gordon (played by Helena Bonham Carter).
Alice and Jack on Masterpiece (6 episodes) Follows the story of a 16-year relationship between two imperfect lovers and its highs and lows (stars Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough) Enjoy!!!
Closing Words
Given that the Katherine Middleton photoshopped family photo has taken over the airwaves in a controversy I really don’t understand, I thought I’d post Piers Morgan’s take on this (in all honesty, the British media basically killed Princess Diana, drove Megan and Harry from the UK and now they are harassing Kate at a very difficult point in her life, WTF?!):
What's Lorraine watching? 