Summer TV Roundup, Week 2



We're just into Summer, but there are plenty of new shows to enjoy. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new shows this summer.

Tuesdays:
Downward Dog, Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered May 17)
About: When a new show appears on a network in mid-May after being announced at the previous year's upfront presentation, it's never a good sign. "Downward Dog" probably is a show that ABC executives had second thoughts about, so now it's getting a summer burn off. It got a start with the season finale of regular ABC comedies last week, and tonight it will get to go with the finale of "Dancing With The Stars," so it's getting every chance to succeed. I like star Alison Tollman, who was great in season one of "Fargo," so I was curious to see what the series would be like. It's about a woman trying to navigate life, and her dog, who is also trying to navigate life. Yes, that's right, the dog has one-on-one, "Office"-style interviews as part of the show's set up. That's weird, to be sure. But it was also kind of amusing. Do I think this is a great show? No, I don't. But did I think the pilot was interesting? Yes, I liked the pilot presentation. I'm curious to see if this develops into a surprisingly engaging experience this summer.
Pilot Grade: B-

Sundays:
Twin Peaks, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered May 21)
About: In 1990, David Lynch and Mark Frost, stunned the world with "Twin Peaks," a murder mystery in a small town that was mysterious for more than its plot. Now, more than 25 years after it went off the air, "Twin Peaks" is back. Lynch, Frost, and most of the original cast have returned. And the story is picking up somewhat where it left off. The first two episodes premiered on Sunday night, and they were beautiful and sufficiently strange. If you were a fan of the original series, you'll likely be please with the reincarnation. If you've never seen "Twin Peaks" before, then you'll likely be pretty confused by Sunday's two-hour experience. Either way, "Twin Peaks" is back!
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
The Keepers, Now Streaming on Netflix (Debuted May 19)
About: Netflix struck gold in December 2015 with "Making A Murderer," a 10-episode true crime exploration of the case against Steven Avery. It was a revolution, and has led to an unexpected second season. It also led to imitations and spin offs. The first of which is "The Keepers," a new seven-episode exploration of the 1969 murder of Sister Cathy in Baltimore, Maryland. The first episode lays out the crime and what's known about the 48-year-old murder case. The second episode poses a theory and possible suspect. The rest of the series, presumably, will continue to explore the investigation, possible suspects, possible motives, and what can be done to help solve this famous cold case. If you enjoy these kind of true crime explorations, and "Making A Murderer" was a show you enjoyed, this is for you.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more