We start our drive back to Toronto in 10 days. It will soon be the last round of golf, the last fitness class, the last sunset at the beach, the last concert at the clubhouse, etc. It has been a wonderful season and I am going to miss our friends and activities here. All good things must come to an end. Meanwhile, here are some viewing suggestions for you:
AMC
Parish (6 episodes) Follows a taxi driver whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to pick-up a Zimbabwean gangster mostly known for exploiting undocumented immigrants at the U.S. southern ports. Stars Giancarlo Esposito, Paula Malcomson, Skeet Ulrich. Looks very noir (from the network that brought you Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul), so far.
Apple
Sugar (8 episodes) Private investigator John Sugar examines the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the granddaughter of a legendary Hollywood producer. Stars Colin Farrell, Amy Ryan, Nate Corddry, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn. Fabulous and spellbinding! Noir to the max!
Palm Royale (10 episodes) An ambitious woman schemes to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society circa 1969. Stars Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Carole Burnett. Delightful!
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
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!
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 early appearances!!!
Jeopardy (Nightly, 8892 episodes) I just realized that in Naples, this syndicated show appears on NBC! Ken Jennings is back hosting! The Invitational Tournament is now in full swing. Enjoy!!
Netflix
Ripley (8 episodes) A grifter named Ripley living in NYC during the 1960’s is hired by a wealthy man to bring his vagabond son home fro Italy. Stars Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn. Noir to the max! A masterpiece.
Scoop (1 h 42 m) How the BBC obtained the bombshell interview with Prince Andrew about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Great cast includes Billie Piper, Romola Garai, Gillian Anderson, Keeley Hawes, Rufus Sewell. I loved this!!!
3 Body Problem (8 episodes) A fateful decision made in 1960’s China reverberates in the present where a group of scientists partner with a detective to confront an existential planetary threat. Stars Liam Cunningham. For Science fiction lovers!
PBS
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!!!
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!!!
Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office (4 episodes) One of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history where hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system. Stars Toby Jones and Monica Dolan. Great reviews for this one, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode.
Prime
American Rust (Season 2, 10 episodes) In a small rust belt town in southwest Pennsylvania, Chief of Police Del Harris investigates after a dead body turns up in an abandoned steel mill. Stars Jeff Daniels, Maura Tierney.
Fallout (8 episodes) In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits. A thrill ride of a show! Stars Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, Leslie Uggams. Absolutely loving it!!
Closing Words
George and I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole this past week as we watched Ripley in its entirety and have been squeezing in Fallout episodes when he’s not watching The Masters golf tournament. For your delectation, I attach trailers of each:
What's Lorraine watching? 