Alan, your newsletter is truly one of my favorite parts of the week. You’re never allowed to stop writing!
I haven’t watched this week’s Abbot, but I would give this season, so far, a B+. My only qualm was that we knew Janine was never going to stay with the district, and it was a foregone conclusion she would return to school. But it was still a nice change of pace.
Alan, or anyone else here - has there been a discussion about episode 4 of Baby Reindeer? I watched it this week, and I can’t stop thinking about it. It was disturbing, but important. I’ve never seen an episode of television so traumatic, but also engaging.
We're almost done with Conan O'Brien Must Go on Max, it has been far more entertaining than I would have expected: the Werner Herzog opening credits preamble is so good we've listened to it intently with each episode. I'm not a devoted Conan fanatic and it's likely he's flown solo before, but it is interesting to see O'Brien without any sidekicks. It really opens his comedy and his strange persona up to new opportunities. As my wife said, he must be a real handful to be married to.
It's a parody of those types of shows in the first episode and then he just settles into a groove wrapped around the premise, which is Conan visiting fans who have been featured on his podcast. It never stops being weird though, and if you're a fan of his humor there's lots of Conan shenanigans on display. If you don't enjoy Conan's humor, it might not work for you, just saying.
I love much about Abbott, but it is out of organic plot and not doing much to generate more. The district fellowship has been kinda boring. I've been worried about Ghosts - my only other network comedy - too but it seems to be doing a little better in this regard.
Enjoyed the Hacks S3 premiere, it was a good excuse to learn about celebrity cakes and the cameo in this one was brief but it made sense. That incredibly elaborate oner to open the episode was fun and really well-executed but about halfway through it I was thinking they're just showing off now, but it paid off. I thought Hacks S2 ended in a way that could have convincingly capped the series but they've pulled a Wire and found a nice angle into a whole new season.
I love Moss but I can't stomach Steven Knight and I was hoping against hope that somehow the Moss of it all would bypass my dislike for Knight and the choices he makes in the majority of his shows. I She couldn't save the first episode for me. Also, and this feels very rich considering how many Brits have been masquerading as Americans on TV for years, I couldn't get onboard with the accent Moss is doing here. It was too jarring for me. I didn't have the same issue with her Kiwi in Top of the Lake but I don't think I could manage 6 episodes of this which is a real shame. I'm starting Hacks tonight and can't wait. I love the chemistry there. I am absolutely obsessing over For All Mankind though. Granted, I'm midway through season 2 but I don't think I've fallen so hard for a show this year (and yes I know I could've felt this way years ago if I'd jump aboard sooner) but it feels like The Americans mixed with Halt & Catch Fire and I love it so much. I care so deeply for every character. There isn't a dull one YET! Great work again Alan.
We talk about "Spoilers" but sometimes the show spoils itself with the warning at the start. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be sensitive to events that might upset the audience (I AM NOT!!!) but I'm just saying that if the show mentions "a depiction of self-harm" you know what's going to happen (I am not mad about these warnings!!!)
The Sugar reveal happened today and it seems as if critics are very unhappy with it. Waiting to see how the last two episodes deal with it because I’ve enjoyed it so far.
The twist was pretty much what I expected. I think the party scene in 'Shibuya Crossing' was the first major hint. By the way there was nice 'LA Confidential' Easter egg in the episode.
I'd like to think there were enough indicators that something wasn't what it seemed that I would have picked up on a big twist coming but I'm not sure I would have guessed something this outlandish if Alan hadn't tipped us off. However, knowing a twist was coming, the weird party scene had a strong vibe that it might be something like this. I was hoping it might be something that would better connect with Sugar's devotion to films and all the cross-cutting of scenes from various movies. Definitely a Life on Mars-level twist, hopefully more the British version than the American remake.
I came here to chat about this too! I expected a slightly different angle so I wasn’t totally surprised and it lends some intrigue, to me. But yeah very surf Dracula vibes
I think the execution of backstory depends on if it explores a different facet of the character(s) the audience didn’t know or pay much attention to.
On The Shield’s worst episode, The Co-Pilot (which I’m guessing is why Shawn Ryan avoids backstory), it just felt like the flashbacks were inevitable/obligatory and also to close the events of the series premiere.
Thanks for the Doctor Who update, I had not enjoyed the last special as much as I would have liked, so I'm happy to hear that a Doctor Who veteran like yourself enjoyed the first two episode. Though I fear they may be overly hyping it, I'm looking forward to the coming Moffat episode as I liked the Davies/Moffat episodes best from Davies initial run.
Also congrats on the Knicks. Actually old enough to recall watching live (fuzzy/grainy black and white) Willis Reed entrance for Gamed 7 back in 1970) What a wonderful run for a great bunch of players - Reed Frazier Debusshere Bradley Barnett (&Cazzie Russell et al.) Loved that era of the NBA. (And know something of the Knicks fan devotion, as my brother's roommate in college chucked a TV out the window after a particularly galling playoff loss around the same time. (Something that might have happened had Maxey had a 4-pointer at the end last night, though there's something more punctuating about smashing a 1970s TV to the ground vs. an HD flat screen.))
Last night's "Good Riddance, Tobias!" game was a gut punch given all the joys 76ers fans have had these two weeks, and losing a tight series to a good team hurts, but damn it it doesn't make me smile to have a Knicks-Pacers series on the horizon. So. Many. Memories.
I felt bad for you and for Brian. But I think if the Knicks had lost that series after the way Game 5 ended, I might not have been able to watch sports ever again.
As it is, I didn't watch this one live, and put my phone on Do Not Disturb in an attempt to sleep without angst. And then wound up unintentionally waking up at 3 a.m., at which point I checked the score and watched the MSG replay — which was still stressful, even though I knew the outcome!
I think for all 76ers fans, we knew this wasn't quite our year. But this series was still there for us, and a couple foul calls happen differently, 1-2 different bounces, and we're back in the Garden for a Game 7, and the Pacers can be beaten, and then .... nope, we're not getting past Boston.
Phillies and Eagles both have had parades (and multiple WS/Super Bowl trips) since my kids were born, and the Sixers run with AI in 2001 is as much fun as one can possibly have without winning a title. I'm not content, but I'm not sad, either.
See, in the time since Jeremiah Trotter was drafted by the Eagles in 1998, the Eagles have made it to three Super Bowls (winning one) and four other NFC championship games while having a son who himself was just drafted by the Eagles, while America's Team, The Dallas Cowboys, haven't even made it to the NFC championship game in all those years.
It's the age-old question: is it better to have your hopes and dreams dashed every year or never to have any hope at all? All the near-misses you mentioned kind of prove my point.
But I agree with you. The many near-misses ended up making the rare titles feel that much sweeter. And the recent Phillies teams have had so many lovable characters.
I can't imagine anyone would rather be a Marlins fan (2 WS titles since their debut) than a Phillies fan (1 during that span, but many playoff runs and close calls).
Well Adam, at least you can root for honorary lifetime Sixer TJ McConnell in the next round. Who (as an Arizona fan) I STILL think should have been on the floor (instead of Simmons) in the OT playoff game in his last year with them.
I should have added this in the newsletter item, but I think the problem is that the only reason they aren't already together is because the show is determined to follow the Jim and Pam playbook. And where I think it made some sense on The Office, here it just feels forced, out of the usual misguided fear that if they're happily together, the show is in trouble. But Janine and Gregory are both fundamentally funnier characters than Pam and Jim. And it feels like them being together would actually add even more humor to Abbott, since it would give Ava and Melissa and Mr. Johnson yet another topic to bust on Janine about. The will-they-won't-they is just annoying.
I didn't like they made Gregory so envious he was rude to his nice date but I did like her response to his question of whether he'd see her again and she (an EMT) said "if you have a bad accident".
Beyond not caring, I actively hate this plot line. There is absolutely no reason these two characters couldn't be dating and throwing ridiculous plot devices in the way to extend it is ridiculous. It got a bit tiresome with Jim and Pam towards the end of S3 as well.
Alan, your newsletter is truly one of my favorite parts of the week. You’re never allowed to stop writing!
I haven’t watched this week’s Abbot, but I would give this season, so far, a B+. My only qualm was that we knew Janine was never going to stay with the district, and it was a foregone conclusion she would return to school. But it was still a nice change of pace.
Alan, or anyone else here - has there been a discussion about episode 4 of Baby Reindeer? I watched it this week, and I can’t stop thinking about it. It was disturbing, but important. I’ve never seen an episode of television so traumatic, but also engaging.
We're almost done with Conan O'Brien Must Go on Max, it has been far more entertaining than I would have expected: the Werner Herzog opening credits preamble is so good we've listened to it intently with each episode. I'm not a devoted Conan fanatic and it's likely he's flown solo before, but it is interesting to see O'Brien without any sidekicks. It really opens his comedy and his strange persona up to new opportunities. As my wife said, he must be a real handful to be married to.
After "Phil" and Eugene Levy I didn't think I was ready for another travel-related show but I might give it a shot after your comment.
It's a parody of those types of shows in the first episode and then he just settles into a groove wrapped around the premise, which is Conan visiting fans who have been featured on his podcast. It never stops being weird though, and if you're a fan of his humor there's lots of Conan shenanigans on display. If you don't enjoy Conan's humor, it might not work for you, just saying.
I love much about Abbott, but it is out of organic plot and not doing much to generate more. The district fellowship has been kinda boring. I've been worried about Ghosts - my only other network comedy - too but it seems to be doing a little better in this regard.
Pete's power and how he returned to the crew was well done. Between last night and "Upload", I would like to see Allegra Edwards in more shows.
Enjoyed the Hacks S3 premiere, it was a good excuse to learn about celebrity cakes and the cameo in this one was brief but it made sense. That incredibly elaborate oner to open the episode was fun and really well-executed but about halfway through it I was thinking they're just showing off now, but it paid off. I thought Hacks S2 ended in a way that could have convincingly capped the series but they've pulled a Wire and found a nice angle into a whole new season.
I love Moss but I can't stomach Steven Knight and I was hoping against hope that somehow the Moss of it all would bypass my dislike for Knight and the choices he makes in the majority of his shows. I She couldn't save the first episode for me. Also, and this feels very rich considering how many Brits have been masquerading as Americans on TV for years, I couldn't get onboard with the accent Moss is doing here. It was too jarring for me. I didn't have the same issue with her Kiwi in Top of the Lake but I don't think I could manage 6 episodes of this which is a real shame. I'm starting Hacks tonight and can't wait. I love the chemistry there. I am absolutely obsessing over For All Mankind though. Granted, I'm midway through season 2 but I don't think I've fallen so hard for a show this year (and yes I know I could've felt this way years ago if I'd jump aboard sooner) but it feels like The Americans mixed with Halt & Catch Fire and I love it so much. I care so deeply for every character. There isn't a dull one YET! Great work again Alan.
We talk about "Spoilers" but sometimes the show spoils itself with the warning at the start. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be sensitive to events that might upset the audience (I AM NOT!!!) but I'm just saying that if the show mentions "a depiction of self-harm" you know what's going to happen (I am not mad about these warnings!!!)
The Sugar reveal happened today and it seems as if critics are very unhappy with it. Waiting to see how the last two episodes deal with it because I’ve enjoyed it so far.
Thanks for the reminder. I should've added a bullet point about that.
I didn't see that coming but I went back to the comments on TV Time and some did. I don't know how.
The twist was pretty much what I expected. I think the party scene in 'Shibuya Crossing' was the first major hint. By the way there was nice 'LA Confidential' Easter egg in the episode.
I'd like to think there were enough indicators that something wasn't what it seemed that I would have picked up on a big twist coming but I'm not sure I would have guessed something this outlandish if Alan hadn't tipped us off. However, knowing a twist was coming, the weird party scene had a strong vibe that it might be something like this. I was hoping it might be something that would better connect with Sugar's devotion to films and all the cross-cutting of scenes from various movies. Definitely a Life on Mars-level twist, hopefully more the British version than the American remake.
I think Alan said there was a major twist coming, so I was looking for it. They may be able to pull it off. Colin Farrell is so good.
I came here to chat about this too! I expected a slightly different angle so I wasn’t totally surprised and it lends some intrigue, to me. But yeah very surf Dracula vibes
We can say "queer" now? Whew!
I think the execution of backstory depends on if it explores a different facet of the character(s) the audience didn’t know or pay much attention to.
On The Shield’s worst episode, The Co-Pilot (which I’m guessing is why Shawn Ryan avoids backstory), it just felt like the flashbacks were inevitable/obligatory and also to close the events of the series premiere.
Thanks for the Doctor Who update, I had not enjoyed the last special as much as I would have liked, so I'm happy to hear that a Doctor Who veteran like yourself enjoyed the first two episode. Though I fear they may be overly hyping it, I'm looking forward to the coming Moffat episode as I liked the Davies/Moffat episodes best from Davies initial run.
Also congrats on the Knicks. Actually old enough to recall watching live (fuzzy/grainy black and white) Willis Reed entrance for Gamed 7 back in 1970) What a wonderful run for a great bunch of players - Reed Frazier Debusshere Bradley Barnett (&Cazzie Russell et al.) Loved that era of the NBA. (And know something of the Knicks fan devotion, as my brother's roommate in college chucked a TV out the window after a particularly galling playoff loss around the same time. (Something that might have happened had Maxey had a 4-pointer at the end last night, though there's something more punctuating about smashing a 1970s TV to the ground vs. an HD flat screen.))
Last night's "Good Riddance, Tobias!" game was a gut punch given all the joys 76ers fans have had these two weeks, and losing a tight series to a good team hurts, but damn it it doesn't make me smile to have a Knicks-Pacers series on the horizon. So. Many. Memories.
I felt bad for you and for Brian. But I think if the Knicks had lost that series after the way Game 5 ended, I might not have been able to watch sports ever again.
As it is, I didn't watch this one live, and put my phone on Do Not Disturb in an attempt to sleep without angst. And then wound up unintentionally waking up at 3 a.m., at which point I checked the score and watched the MSG replay — which was still stressful, even though I knew the outcome!
I think for all 76ers fans, we knew this wasn't quite our year. But this series was still there for us, and a couple foul calls happen differently, 1-2 different bounces, and we're back in the Garden for a Game 7, and the Pacers can be beaten, and then .... nope, we're not getting past Boston.
And we'll always have this picture of Jon Stewart after the Maxey shot. https://twitter.com/TheWizWit/status/1785495509622247517
"It wasn't quite our year" is pretty much the lifelong motto of the Philadelphia sports fan.
Phillies and Eagles both have had parades (and multiple WS/Super Bowl trips) since my kids were born, and the Sixers run with AI in 2001 is as much fun as one can possibly have without winning a title. I'm not content, but I'm not sad, either.
See, in the time since Jeremiah Trotter was drafted by the Eagles in 1998, the Eagles have made it to three Super Bowls (winning one) and four other NFC championship games while having a son who himself was just drafted by the Eagles, while America's Team, The Dallas Cowboys, haven't even made it to the NFC championship game in all those years.
It's the age-old question: is it better to have your hopes and dreams dashed every year or never to have any hope at all? All the near-misses you mentioned kind of prove my point.
But I agree with you. The many near-misses ended up making the rare titles feel that much sweeter. And the recent Phillies teams have had so many lovable characters.
I can't imagine anyone would rather be a Marlins fan (2 WS titles since their debut) than a Phillies fan (1 during that span, but many playoff runs and close calls).
Well Adam, at least you can root for honorary lifetime Sixer TJ McConnell in the next round. Who (as an Arizona fan) I STILL think should have been on the floor (instead of Simmons) in the OT playoff game in his last year with them.
I wish I could figure out my issue with the Gregory Janine relationship. I’m happy they’ll end up together but I also really don’t care.
I should have added this in the newsletter item, but I think the problem is that the only reason they aren't already together is because the show is determined to follow the Jim and Pam playbook. And where I think it made some sense on The Office, here it just feels forced, out of the usual misguided fear that if they're happily together, the show is in trouble. But Janine and Gregory are both fundamentally funnier characters than Pam and Jim. And it feels like them being together would actually add even more humor to Abbott, since it would give Ava and Melissa and Mr. Johnson yet another topic to bust on Janine about. The will-they-won't-they is just annoying.
I didn't like they made Gregory so envious he was rude to his nice date but I did like her response to his question of whether he'd see her again and she (an EMT) said "if you have a bad accident".
Beyond not caring, I actively hate this plot line. There is absolutely no reason these two characters couldn't be dating and throwing ridiculous plot devices in the way to extend it is ridiculous. It got a bit tiresome with Jim and Pam towards the end of S3 as well.