Matt's Musings

  So the first week of January was...eventful. It also featured plenty of new shows to consider as we start to ramp up our content. But how many of those new shows are worth your time? I'm here to help guide the journey as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted (and select unscripted) content available this winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Without further ado, on to this week's new offerings. Thursday Nights: Mr. Mayor, Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered January 7) About: About this time last year, we were saying goodbye to The Good Place , the comedy on NBC that starred, among others, Ted Danson. But now Danson is back, anchoring a new comedy on NBC that will pair with Superstore going forward. This one comes from Robert Carlock and Tina Fey, the creative force behind beloved NBC classic 30 Rock . This time it centers on a wealthy and retired businessman (Danson), post pandemic, who decides to come out of retirement to ru...

  We just finished our first Super Wild Card Weekend, and what a weekend it was. Below is a bit of a recap of all six games. Saturday's Games: Bills 27, Colts 24 About: This game was closer than expected, as it seemed to take the Bills a while to get going. The Colts, meanwhile, looked solid early but struggled late. There was a turnover on the final drive that was missed by officials, but it turned out not to matter as the Colts sputtered and the Bills hung on for the win. I like Buffalo, and came into the playoffs thinking they have a shot at the Super Bowl. It wasn't an incredible first performance, and doubtless they'll be tested in the Divisional Round against the playoffs. The Colts, meanwhile, are one and done, which could be the story with Phillip Rivers. He wasn't terrible this season, but he doesn't feel like the answer, either. If the Colts had better production at quarterback, I think they could be a serious contender. Rams 30, Seahawks 20 About: This ga...

  As some of you know, I have been a frequent guest host on the Music City Drive In Movie podcast this summer. We've been looking at movies since 2000, re-nominating the Academy Awards. That got me thinking about the actual fields of the awards themselves. In a new weekly series, I'll be looking back at the last 40 years of Oscars and reviewing the choices at Best Picture, Best Director and the four acting categories. 1996: Best Picture: * The English Patient * Fargo * Jerry Maguire * Shine * Secrets and Lies About: This was the year The English Patient won, and I'm going to be honest that I didn't think it was a great film. To me, there are two obvious choices, Jerry Maguire and Fargo . I'm going with Fargo here. Best Director: * Joel Coen * Anthony Minghella * Milos Forman * Mike Leigh * Scott Hicks About: Minghella won for The English Patient . I'm going with Coen here for Fargo . Best Actor: * Geoffrey Rush * Tom Cruise * Ralph Fiennes * Woody Harrelson ...

  One of my best discoveries during the pandemic in 2020 was Peyton's Places. Season one began last Fall to celebrate the 100th season of the NFL. It wrapped up in early 2020 and is the best thing about ESPN+. Naturally, it was renewed for Season 2. That season premiered November 29, and I've decided to chronicle each delightful episode. It's been a few weeks, so I have to catch up on three new Peyton's Places episodes. In the first of three I'll look at, Fran Tarkenton was the guest. It was the fourth episode of the new season, and probably one of the driest. I learned a bit about Tarkenton and his approach to the game, and he's a great passer that many modern fans probably forget about, but there weren't as many controversies or big moments. In fact, the things I will most take away is the fact the West Coast offense didn't really originate with the Bill Walsh 49ers, as many give credit, and the Hail Mary game being a very tough day for Tark, who lost...

  NFL MVP There are a few options here. I think Patrick Mahomes is on the short list, and Aaron Rodgers may well be the favorite for his 48-touchdowns and the Packers’ top seed in the NFC. But here’s the thing, I’m going with Josh Allen. The third year pro had an amazing season, leading the Bills to a 13-win season and completed more than 69 percent of his passes, throwing for more than 4,500 yards and 37 TDs. That is a HUGE jump in completion percentage and passing yards as Allen came into his own and looked incredible. That’s without taking into account that he ran for 421 yards and eight TDs. Coach of the Year There are a few great candidates here. Ron Rivera, beating back cancer and getting Washington to the playoffs is inspiring. And Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott deserves a ton of credit, too. But I’m going with Kevin Stefanski, who helped turn around the culture for the Browns and guide them to an 11-win season and a playoff berth. It’s one of the feel good stories of ...

  The 2020 NFL Regular Season is over, and what a ride it was. As suspected, it was a season like no other. We had injuries, big upsets, surprise endings and plenty of COVID-related shuffling. But we got a full 17-week, 16-game schedule, and that has yielded our first 14-team playoff field. That means this weekend we get Super Wild Card Weekend, featuring a triple-header of playoff games on both Saturday and Sunday. To get you ready, I’ll preview all the games. And I’ll also be beginning my quest to nail all the playoff picks. Will it happen? Doubtful, but nevertheless I persist. On to the playoff battles! Saturday’s Wild Card Games: Indianapolis Colts (11-5) at Buffalo Bills (13-3) The Bills finished as the second seed in the AFC, posting an incredible season under MVP-candidate Josh Allen. The team has a strong defense and an explosive offense, with the league’s leader in receptions and receiving yardage, Stefon Diggs, leading the way. The Colts had a strong season, too. V...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Buffaloed (Hulu) Starring: Zoey Deutch, Jai Courtney, Judy Greer, and Jermaine Fowler Synopsis: This film is a comedy of sorts, focusing on a talented young woman (Deutch) who is also poor. She has an opportunity to better herself, but no way to pay for it. She tries her hand at crime, and ends up in jail. Once out, she tries her hand at debt collecting, and finds a talent at it. But she also sees the dark side of debt, and the industry, butting heads with the biggest debt collector (Courtney) in Buffalo, and worrying about the debt following her mother (Greer). This lands her in hot water and threatens her new relationship with a local prosecutor (Fowler). Deutch is a talented actress, especially in comedies. She's had some good supporting roles, but this one she gets to carry the action. She does a nice job, and I liked Greer and Fowler in supporting roles, but the story feels a little odd. And then it ends with some facts...