Matt's Musings

Fall TV Premiers are almost upon us, and that means it's time to start setting our calendar. Earlier this week I looked a lot at new shows — ones to avoid and ones to look forward to. Today, I want to highlight five returning shows I'm excited about. Again, they are listed in order of premier date. 1. The Good Place, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (Premiers Wednesday, September 20 at 10 p.m.) About: This was one of my favorite new shows of 2016. It had great comedic timing and a great cast, led by Ted Danson and Kristen Bell. But the best part was the way the show was daring enough to flip the script in the finale, leaving it wide open to a new reality in season two. We've waited a long time for the season to return, but it's one of the first to debut this fall, and I can't wait. 2. Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premieres on Sunday, October 1) About: It's hard to believe that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is actually coming back. It's be...

On Tuesday I looked at five new shows airing in September and October that I think look promising. (Though, caveat, having read a review of "The Orville" significantly damaged my enthusiasm for it). And though I have seen no more than previews and trailers, there are a few that I can't summon any excitement about. Below are five that I think are likely duds this fall. They appear in order of premier date. 1. Me, Myself And I, Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered September 25) About: So there is some talent in the cast, and the CBS Fall Preview almost gave me second thoughts, but there is so much about this premise that doesn't work for me. It's the same man at 40, 14 and 65, played by different actors. I don't really understand how it's going to work, or what precisely makes it compelling. Time travel is all the rage in a pathos gimmick thanks to "This Is Us," but I have my doubts here. 2. Law & Order True Crime: The Menedez Murders, Tuesda...

The NFL season begins tonight, Huzzah! And, once again this season, I will be picking games each week against my wife. Let's see who comes out on top! Lindsay's picks are in brackets. And I have picks against the Spread below! NFL Picks, Week 1: Patriots Over Chiefs (Patriots) Falcons Over Bears (Falcons) Bills Over Jets (Bills) Bengals Over Rams (Bengals) Steelers Over Browns (Steelers) Lions Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Titans Over Raiders (Raiders) Redskins Over Eagles (Redskins) Texans Over Jaguars (Jaguars) Rams Over Colts (Colts) Packers Over Seahawks (Packers) Panthers Over 49ers (Panthers) Giants Over Cowboys (Cowboys) Vikings Over Saints (Saints) Broncos Over Chargers (Broncos) NFL Picks Spread, Week 1: Chiefs +8.5 Over Patriots Falcons -7.5 Over Bears Jets +6.5 Over Bills Bengals -2.5 Over Ravens Steelers -9.5 Over Browns Lions -2.5 Over Cardinals Titans +.5 Over Raiders Redskins -2.5 Over Eagles Texans -4.5 Over Jaguars Rams +3.5 Over Colts Packers -2.5 Over Seahawks P...

I am drawn to movies that engage me in thinking about the world and, particularly, thinking about faith in a deeper way. Even though "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" isn't a Christian movie, and is probably aimed more at kids than most serious adult movies, I find that it achieves both those goals. The film was written and directed by Zach Helm, the guy behind the screenplay for "Stranger Than Fiction," and he is someone who clearly sees beauty, depth, magic, and creativity in the world, and more importantly wants us to embrace that more. The journey from the page to the screen was a long one for this movie. Helm first wrote the screenplay in 1998, and it sat in a drawer for some time before it was revived and he got a chance to direct it. The process took 10 years and was often fraught, so much so that Helm has reportedly never seen the final cut of the film. And he hasn't had a script produced for the big screen since. Despite that, I feel what he'...

Fall TV is here. Beginning next week, I'll have Fall TV Roundups to begin reviewing new pilots. But this week, I wanted to pitch the five network shows I'm most excited to give a try. This doesn't mean they're hits (I haven't seen the full episodes), but it means I like the premise, cast, and what I've seen. We'll see how I actually feel during weekly reviews! They will appear in order of premier date! 1. The Orville, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiers Sunday, September 10 at 8 p.m.) About: This is basically a send up of "Star Trek" from Seth Macfarlane. I have enjoyed Macfarlane's comedy stylings and I like this premise. I feel like this could be the hit of Fall, but we'll have to wait and see. 2. Star Trek: Discovery, CBS All Access (Premiers Sunday, September 24 on CBS) About: This will be an online streaming series for CBS, but it gets a full network premier in late September. When done well, "Star Trek" series are incredi...

In the previous post I made predictions for the NFC, and in this post I pick the AFC and Super Bowl champ. For the first time in a while, I don't see the Broncos in the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong, I just don't like the moves they've been making. AFC North: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4 2. Cincinnati Bengals 11-5 3. Baltimore Ravens 10-6 4. Cleveland Browns 4-12 About: I think the Browns will look better, but their record will still be rough. The other three should all be playoff teams, but I like the Steelers a lot this year. AFC South: 1. Tennessee Titans 11-5 2. Houston Texans 10-6 3. Indianapolis Colts 9-7 4. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13 About: I liked the Jaguars off-season, but their schedule isn't great and their quarterback is awful. The Colts will likely struggle again, wasting another year of Luck's prime. I like the Titans to make a leap forward this season. AFC East: 1. New England Patriots 12-4 2. Miami Dolphins 7-9 3. Buffalo Bills 4-12 4. New York Jet...

Over the next two posts I'll be making my fearless pre-season NFL predictions. I used a prediction engine to simulate all the games, picking winners based on the actual schedule, so here's what I came up with. This post tackles the NFC, the next post tackles the AFC. NFC North: 1. Green Bay Packers 12-4 2. Minnesota Vikings 8-8 3. Detroit Lions 8-8 4. Chicago Bears 1-15 About: I like the Packers, and think they're one of the most reliable teams in the NFC. I expect them to be strong again, and I like their offensive potential. The Lions and Vikings will have their moments, but I think both have a tough schedule. The Bears are awful, and I expect to see plenty of Mitch Trubisky in the second half of the season. NFC South: 1. Carolina Panthers 11-5 2. Atlanta Falcons 10-6 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-8 4. New Orleans Saints 7-9 About: This will be a tough, competitive division all season. I expect the Panthers to bounce back in a big way this season. The Falcons will still be s...