TV Party Tonight!

 

This illustration reminds me -- I've been meaning to check out the Christopher Reeve documentary his children did for Max. 

On a related note, Because I can no longer read or watch anything related to the news -- and can't concentrate enough to read pretty much anything -- I've been watching A LOT more television during the past seven weeks and imagine I will continue to do so for at least four more years.

Here's what I can tell you so far:  

I wouldn't say I was ever a TV snob -- I've watched more documentaries and low-rent true-crime series than the rest of the world put together -- but I was extremely finnicky about the scripted stuff I consumed. 

So if it wasn't set in the '80s about a tennis-playing Debbie Harry fan I would probably skip it. 

No longer.

So here's a quick rundown of some of the things I'm watching BELOW. 

Feel free to send feedback ... it's going to be a long road ahead. 

“Casual” (Hulu): I had never even heard of this in passing, but this Hulu original is truly fantastic. Hot-ass Tommy Dewey and Michaela Watkins are outstanding as damaged siblings each trying to figure out how to move past their chaotic upbringing, and the writing is so original you never know what will happen next.

"The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh" (Prime): This campy fish-out-of-water tale cum whodunit isn’t exactly award-worthy. But with an appealing cast -- including openly gay hot-ass Nicholas Hamilton as the Pradeeps' daughter's love interest -- it was entertaining enough. 

"Bad Sisters" (Apple TV): Didn't see how they could continue this one after a flawless first season, but leave it to the talented Sharon Horgan to rope me in all over again.

"Shrinking" (Apple TV): I'm having a hard time getting through the first season. The heteronormative writing is a big turnoff for me -- and I don't care about Jason Segel, his insufferable daughter or his live-in patient. Also, the woman who plays neighbor Liz (Christa Miller) is so one-note and crazy-looking -- is she wearing a mask? her plastic surgeon should be in prison -- it makes it hard for me to even watch whenever she’s on the screen.

"Dawson's Creek" (Prime): I was about 30 when this debuted so never had any interest in it. Cut to 57-year-old me trying to avoid the real world and I'm suddenly Jack McFarland fawning over James Van Der Beek.

"Don't Trust the B--- in Apt. 23" (Prime): Speaking of The Beek ... ohmyfuckinggod! This one I finished and am heartbroken it was canceled so quickly. The writing is HILARIOUS and Dreama Walker (June) and Krysten Ritter (Chloe) have incredible chemistry. Bonus points for Van Der Beek (body and self-deprecating performance) and Ray Ford as James's loyal assistant, Luther! 

"Episodes" (Paramount+): We technically started this one a while ago, but of everything I'm mentioning here it is my favorite. Brilliantly written with sublime performances by the three leads as well as Kathleen Rose Perkins, who deserved a BAFTA for her portrayal of the neurotic TV executive Carol Rance! Who knew Matt LeBlanc was so talented, and why did I wait 13 years to watch this?

"Parks and Recreation" (Peacock): I had tried to watch this when it debuted but found Amy Poehler to be cringe-inducing as a female Michael Scott. (Apparently I wasn't alone.) But it seems by the end of the abbreviated first season, after I had jumped ship, the show got an overhaul. And while not on par with "The Office," I definitely came to see why it is such a beloved if little-watched favorite. Long live Joan Callamezzo!

"Dream On" (Roku Channel): This '90s HBO series holds up wonderfully, with Brian Benben (Martin) and Wendie Malick (as ex-wife-but-still-BF Judith) delivering small-screen "His Girl Friday" fireworks nearly every week. (Bonus points for now-out Denny Dillon as Toby Pedalbee, Martin's secretary/assistant.)

"The Affair" (Paramount+): The first season was gripping and so far so is Season 2. That three of the men (Dominic West, Joshua Jackson and Colin Donnell) are so hot it almost makes up for the fact that the lead actress (Ruth Wilson) looks so disturbingly similar to the late Dana Hill -- who played Audrey in "European Vacation" and seemed like she had what we called as kids "water on the brain" -- that I find it hard to believe anyone would have an affair with her. Yes, I know I'm a huuuuuge homo, but who would cheat on Maura Tierney with that????

"Doctor Odyssey" (Hulu): I figured I might as well go for the Joshua Jackson trifecta, and boy does he not disappoint. Yes the show is predictable and overwrought, like Ryan Murphy shows often are. But seeing Pacey-cum-Cole turn into George Clooney, if George Clooney were actually attractive, is the epitome of aging like a fine wine. 

"American Housewife" (Hulu): Don't even remember how I gave this a try -- maybe the Westport connection? -- but for a network sitcom, this one is surprisingly clever. While Katy Mixon delivers as the Otto family matriarch Kate, it was Daniel DiMaggio as materialistic middle-child Oliver and (again) Wendie Malick as Kate's vain mother who really stole the show! (Bonus points for George Hamilton for a memorable guest arc and Peyton Meyer -- boyfriend Trip -- for being a ticking sex bomb.)

"Happy Endings" (Peacock): Perhaps hearing so many great things about this gay favorite set me up for disappointment, but I'm not really seeing the appeal. I mean, it's fine. But the jokes feel very sitcom-y and forced. The actress who plays Alex is so bad that I recoil whenever she opens her mouth. And while Zachary Knighton (Dave) is easy on the eyes, they don't seem to know what to do with him, either. Liked that Max had a relationship for a while there, but they're losing me again in Season 3.

"Cougar Town" (Peacock): Wow, how did this end up with six seasons -- even demoted to a basic-cable channel? Courteney Cox is stiff and unappealing as a 40-year-old (LOL) divorcee. And Christa Miller delivers another one-note performance. (I figured out her husband, Bill Lawrence, is behind this and “Shrinking,” which explains how she keeps getting hired.) In her slight defense, the whole "I withhold sex from my dumb husband" storyline would be hard for anyone to do something with. (Heterosexuals are so embarrassing.) Oh, and don't hate me but Busy Philipps is so not good. Upside: The hot ex-husband and the hot neighbor, albeit both extraordinarily dull characters. 

"Enlightened" (Max): Again -- ohmyfuckinggod!!! We're in Season 2 and absolutely dying over this masterpiece created by Mike White and Laura Dern, both of whom star. (Mother Diane Ladd is sublime as Dern's humorless mom and Luke Wilson is perfect as Dern's ex-husband.) This series makes me squirm in the best way since "The Comeback.”

"Danny Will Die Alone" (Dekkoo): I've already told you about this one and Season 2 was nearly as good as the first. 

"Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" (YouTube): My brothers RAVED about this in the '90s but I demurred because of my animation aversion. Boy was I dumb! Even funnier than they made it out to be. The father-son dynamic kills me, and the "patients" frequently delight, a veritable who's who of the comedy world. (Please tell me Laura Silverman received dozens of accolades!)

"The Conners" (Netflix): "Roseanne" is in my Top 10 all-time favorite shows, so it was going to be nearly impossible to live up to the original. But after re-acclimating myself with the three-camera format and obnoxious laugh track, this one is starting to win me over. The writing might not be quite as even as it used to be, but it’s great to see all the originals back. Barely into season two and I'll probably keep slogging through to see what becomes of them all.

"No Good Deed" (Netflix): I'll watch anything with Lisa Kudrow (except "Friends") or Linda Cardellini. But five episodes in and I'm a little underwhelmed, especially given how gripping creator Liz Feldman's previous show, "Dead to Me,” was. Nice to see Luke Wilson and Abbi Jacobson again, but having avoided Ray Romano my whole life I'm not sure it's worth the trade-off. 

"A.P. Bio" (Netflix): This one's wildly uneven, but I'll keep watching because of Glenn Howerton's body.

“American Auto" (Peacock): This one has such great pedigree (Ana Gasteyer stars, former "Office" writer and producer Justin Spitzer created and produced) but I literally blush on behalf of the cast while watching. Hard to believe this aired as-was.

"Loot" (Apple TV): This is kind of like "American Auto" if "American Auto" weren't embarrassingly bad. Sure, there's nothing really special about it. But Maya Rudolph is very likeable and the writing is decent enough to make it worth a watch.

"St. Denis Medical" (Peacock): This was co-created by the aforementioned "American Auto" guy and after a rough start, it -- like "Parks and Recreation" -- is starting to have its moments. Nothing groundbreaking, but Wendi McLendon-Covey is always a treat. 

"Colin From Accounts" (Paramount+): The first season of this Aussie import starring husband-and-wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer was phenomenal. Season 2 is darker but still decent. Another Aussie show, on Netflix, "Fisk," is even better.

"Unstable" (Netflix): Rob Lowe and son John Owen's now-canceled series is worth a look. Rob plays a narcissistic tech executive and John Owen plays his long-suffering son, which clearly parallels their real lives. Shoutout to Sian Clifford as Anna, the CFO of Lowe’s fictional company. 

“The Comeback” (Max): I finally rewatched my favorite show in recent memory -- for only the second time, because it’s so difficult watching Valerie Cherish being constantly mistreated -- and was mesmerized all over again. Julia Louis-Dreyfus hit the nail on the head when she mailed Lisa Kudrow flowers with a card saying Lisa -- not winner Julia -- deserved the Emmy in 2006. She might have been even better in 2015.

"Fat Friends" (Prime): This British dramedy follows the members of a "slimming club" as they navigate their way through life's ups and downs. The creator, Kay Mellor, is apparently well-known for her stories about working-class northerners -- which means little to me. But I've grown attached to the gang, which includes a young James Corden.

"Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage" (Paramount+): Let me preface this by saying I've never seen five minutes of "The Big Bang Theory" or "Young Sheldon," but for crying out loud, this prequel is probably the corniest, least-funny show to ever be on television. P.S. Montana Jordan is so fucking sexy I will continue watching it on mute until the day it's canceled.

Pray for us all, it’s not even January!

P.S. Watched and loved "Somebody Somewhere" (Max) from the get-go. The final season destroyed me!