shadowkat | Entries tagged with television

Watching the Emmys, and realized the following:

1.) looking at the nominations? I've actually watched most of the television series that have won or were nominated. The only ones I didn't see - were
( television series nominated for an emmy that I either haven't seen or haven't seen all of )

ETA: Oh, figured it out - these are for shows that aired in 2023, not shows that aired in 2024. Which means I've seen more than I thought. I saw S2 of Hacks.
***

Damn, there are a lot of television shows. I've seen most of them, and there's a ton I haven't seen or didn't see the most recent season of, because no time. It is humanely impossible to see all these television series.

Those were just the ones I hadn't seen. Also I don't watch Late Night - because I get up at 5:45 am in the morning, and have no time to do so. I did years ago, on occasion, when I didn't get up early in the morning, such as in the 20th Century, when it was a big deal.

The ones that I've not seen and want to catch up with?
( Read more... )

2.) I hate insult humor. And 90% of the humor on this is insult humor or at the expense of people.

But there are some bits that are hilarious. Don Levey and his son's bit in the audience, where the father was in the wrong aisle and couldn't read the teleprompter is hilarious.

I like a good sight gag. Getting into the wrong aisle is relatable.

Also, I have to say that Candace Bergen's political joke landed.

"I played Murphy Brown, and was even the target of a Vice President when my character decided to raise her child as a single mother. And I have to say that now, all these years later, a Republican Vice Presidential Candidate will never condemn a woman for having kids on her own."

No, just Single women for not having kids. Worse having cats instead.

3.) Why aren't more fantasy and sci-fi shows nominated.

This year we got two - Fallout (Amazon Prime) and 3 Body Problem (Netflix).
Neither of which I liked all that much. And I only made it through one.

Frigging Emmy's and television industry is run by the mainstream.

Although to be fair, there really weren't any good fantasy series on this year? Animated maybe, but they don't do animated - again why is that? There's a lot of animated series? Is that a separate group?

Oh, I looked it up, they did it already.

Creative Awards - Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program

Non-mainstream creative awards aren't televised.

Who won?

Blue Eye Samurai
"The Tale Of The Ronin And The Bride"

Who was nominated?
( Read more... )
I've seen all of them? ( Read more... )

4. So far, I'm agreeing with the awards. Although I kind of have to see Shogun to determine how I feel about it. It cleaned up on the creative awards, got 25, but not so much in the acting and writing awards.

Hacks got best Comedy Writing. It's really been Hacks and The Bear cleaning up in Comedy. (The only two I like.)

And Slow Horses got best writing in Drama. Best supporting went to Morning Show and I can't remember the other one...

There's too many comedic routines. I really wish they'd just do clips from the series nominated instead, and do what the Grammy's do - advertise the shows, as opposed to make presenters do comedy routines they aren't comfortable doing.

5. My main take away after watching creative arts awards - is how the frigging heck do you give out awards for Arts? I never understood that.
It's so subjective.
( Read more... )

6. They did a presentation of including the Latino actors in the awards, and nominations, along with POC, and transgender.

This year had more than previous years. And more wins. Including the first transgender latino nomination.
( Read more... )

Okay off to bed. I think. I'll tape the rest.

I've finished The Magicians and now want fanfic, specifically Quentin/Eliot and Julia/Penny, also Margo/Eliot and Margo/Alice.

I kind of wish we'd gotten a sixth season, mainly because watching Margo, Alice, Fenn and Josh create a new world or new Fillory, while Eliot, Charlton, Penny and Julia tried to teach at Brakebills, would have been fun. I liked how the series wrapped itself up in any event, leaving those openings. That's a series you can write fanfiction about for a very long time.

So many avenues to play with.

I'm tempted. I won't. I suck at fanfic. I like playing in my own world with my own rules and characters. I'm not a fan of playing in someone else's sandbox. The rules make me itchy. I want to make up my own.

I had a long discussion with my father about it once. He was much the same way. He couldn't write creatively on demand either, nor could he write in another person's world or with another person's creations/toys/characters. He felt like he was imposing himself or something.

I also want icons. Does anyone have Julia, Margo, Zelda, or Eliot icons? Even Kady or Alice?

The neat thing about the Magicians is it had cool and tough as nails female characters. More great female characters than male characters. The only cool male characters were Eliot and Penny, also possibly Quentin. Plus they occasionally broke out in song and dance numbers, and made fun of them. (Think Whedon's Once More with Feeling except more Glee with top 1980s and 70s pop singles. A lot of ear worm songs, I didn't realize how many ear worm songs the 1980s, 90s and 70s had? We got "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones, "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, "Take on Me" by Aha....)

I may rewatch it. Or move onto AMC's Into the Badlands, Interview with the Vampire (which I couldn't quite get into), or Mayfair Witches also couldn't quite get into. I have a craving for Dark Fantasy Ensemble Series at the moment. Also need to finish Scavenger's Reign, and 3 Body Problem.

I talked to Chidi and AA about television shows. Rec'd The Magicians. And discussed how I could not get into Ted Lasso. ( Read more... )

Anyhow, after struggling to get into the first season, I fell in love with the series in the third season. Once you get past the dark crap in S1-2, it gets a whole lot better. I honestly think it had at least eight seasons in it. Too bad Netflix didn't keep it going a bit longer when it grabbed it from Syfy. Syfy had a tendency to cancel shows it owned or produced after about four-five seasons, sometimes less. While shows it didn't own, like Star Gate, went on forever, with multiple spin-offs.

The Magicians is only five seasons, on Netflix, and thirteen episodes per season with a diverse cast, and innovative plotting. It's loosely adapted from Lev Grossman's novels of the same name, although Grossman did serve as a consultant on the series and is a producer - so he had a say in how things evolved and what was changed. From what I understand - the first season and second seasons are closest to the books, but the others vary in a huge way. The series subverts the hero's journey trope, or the white male chosen one trope, while the books follow it closely or so I've seen via reviews online. I've not read the books. I do own the first one in E-book, so may read it to see.

I highly recommend the series, with the following caveats:

1. The first season is hard to get into and it took a while.
2. There's a rape that occurs, which is rather brutal, and an important plot point, furthering one of the characters. If rape is triggering for you, you might want to skip over those episodes? I don't know. It is a metaphor for how the Gods abuse their human charges at their whim. Or about power plays. That said, if you made it through Outlander, Game of Thrones, Buffy, Angel, or Supernatural - you should be fine. It's not as graphic as those or anywhere near it or as frequent. It only happens once, and is only seen once. There's no nudity with it. Just blood.
3. The story is dark fantasy/horror, with major character deaths. And horrific violence, and foul language.
4. The characters do break out in song occasionally, although it is always explained as magical in nature - either a spell or an acid trip or a test.
The songs are ear worm 1980s and 1990s songs.
5. There is a major character death but it's not POC or female.

It's a show that premiered in 2016, and it's liberal, so lots of pop culture references to stuff happening between 2016-2020. Last season was 2020, I think the pandemic got it cancelled. And it is for the most part politically woke. There are bisexual and gay couples in the series and one of the major characters is openly bisexual, and mostly interested in men with few exceptions.

Having had COVID legitimately twice now? (Positive test confirming it). I'd say the flu and sinus infections, not to mention bronchitis are far worse. So too is Shingles for that matter, and it lasts longer.

Proof, in case you needed any, that these viruses affect folks differently?
We really need to stop generalizing about them.

Making my way through the Magicians, which has multiple dark plot twists. Also two people from General Hospital portraying charming villains on it.

I'm on S2, they've made it to Fillory and are none too happy about it. ( eh spoilers )

[On the COVID front? I think I'm getting better? Last night ran a slight fever - at 100.11 or thereabouts. But headache meds (acetametphine/Asprin (NASAI)/Caffeine) and water reduced it quickly enough. I also think the fact that I had the latest COVID Booster in January, along with the Flu Shot is why it's milder than some folks cases have been.

I'll probably call in sick Monday, take another test, and if it is negative, see how I'm feeling on Tuesday and/or Wed - to determine whether I go in to work.]

So, I've become a little fascinated with the topic of worshipping writers and the negative impact that has on well everyone concerned. Former Minister had a sermon on the topic once - in which she stated "you are going to worship something, just be careful what it is." (She was talking about money, politics, etc. But it applies to humans as well.)

Although I do think there is a difference between being obsessed/fannish about something, and worshiping someone. Picking apart a writer's work, being fannish about their work - isn't quite the same thing as idolizing. Or defending a writer - who may or may not have done something terrible isn't idolizing, depending on why? I question allegations, because I have a criminal defense background and was taught to question everything. And let's face it? The internet isn't reliable.

There's an excellent thread on Reddit about it.

Someone states that's why they only idolize fictional characters because they will never let them down. To which someone responds: "Didn't read Go
Set the Watchman, I take it?" (OR the Watchmen, I thought.)

And then in regards to Gaiman** - there's a thread that compares him to another famous and beloved British writer, Charles Dickens, who was also a bit of a mess. (I'm hesitant to call either terrible people, because I know people are more than one thing, and our actions don't necessarily define who we are. And never have. Our actions vary from day to day, one situation to the next, and we have different choices to make each time. That said, I admittedly am uncomfortable watching a couple of actors, and it may be a while before I read a few writers works.)

"This bit "I don’t think anyone should idolize anyone, ever. It’s not great for them, and it’s not great for you, they probably didn’t ask to be idolized (and if they did, holy shit, fucking run)". I've read a lot of Neil Gaiman and I particularly loved American Gods and the graveyard book. So when Neil Gaiman did an event at the Barbican with the BBC symphony orchestra in 2019, I got tickets. I came away disturbed. I didn't see any predatory behaviour or anything like that, but there was such an unhealthy atmosphere of basking in adoration."
( Read more... )

Two statements to highlight:

* I don’t think anyone should idolize anyone, ever. It’s not great for them, and it’s not great for you, they probably didn’t ask to be idolized (and if they did, holy shit, fucking run)

*I'm certain that idolization is one of the most reliable ways to bring out the absolute worst in somebody

I agree with both. From everything I've read about famous folks - who do horrible things - it's usually the result of "idolization". They all fall into that trap. And idolization or adoration can be mistaken for love, it's not love. It's a false or empty kind of love that often destroys the object of it. There's parables, fables, fairy tells, and Greek Myths/stories that describe why this is a bad thing.

I've been watching "The Magicians" adapted from Lev Grossman's books. It's a story about a bunch of magic users who find a gateway into a world that was fictionalized in a bunch of beloved children's books. Halfway through the first season - it's revealed that the writer of the books is in reality a pedophile, with his sister's help, drugged, and molested the children in his charge. When he discovers that they can escape him into a fictional world, a world where he can do whatever he wants - he practices black magic to change himself in order to enter that world. The Writer is portrayed as a charming British writer, with graying hair, and tweed. Looks a bit like Neil Gaiman by way of CS Lewis.
( Read more... )
Coincidentally this morning, the lay-worship sermon at my church, via FB, was on how humans, writers or AI creators, create things and then wish to assert control over them. And at what point does the creation become its own entity, with it's own free will, and desires? No longer an extension of the creator? And how do we interact with these creations? As separate from the creator of part of them.

The sermon argues that while all things are ecologically connected and we are indefinably a part of each other, at the same time we are separate entities and once the creation is released into the world - it becomes its own entity.

This furthers the view that yes, you can love Harry Potter and it's world, without supporting JK Rowling's views, or you can love A Tale of Two Cities or a Christmas Carol without supporting or loving Dickens (he's long dead anyhow and I think he's works are in the public domain), or you can adore the works of folks like Gaiman or Whedon without condoning their actions or worshiping them. The creation can survive outside of the creator, and in some cases expand and become more - based on every interaction others have with it.

In short? It is safer (well for the most part - not to the extent you get lost inside of it) to love the fictional work than the creator of the work. Or? Ignore the person behind the curtain, they are but a shyster and a conman, hardly a wizard worth worshiping. But their creation can be loved and adores separately.

** A side note about Gaiman? Unlike Whedon and Munroe, the allegations aren't being reported by any reliable news sources. Doesn't mean they are false, but doesn't mean they are true either. ( Read more... ) So at this point, I really don't know if Gaiman did anything.

What unnerves me about social media is how many people assume that if XYZ publication reports it is true. Or if someone says it in a publication - than it is true without any fact checking whatsoever. A reputable source fact checks. [I had a massage therapist who fully believed that vaccines were tainted and caused autism because...wait for it...she read it on an internet discussion board???] This is why people died of COVID. How do you know if something is true? There has to be reliable and primary sources, preponderance of the evidence, and a level of accountability. And even then, we don't necessarily know for certain. My father was on the jury of a child molestation case, he and the jury found the defendant guilty, only for the judge to throw out the case because it was determined that the therapists had manipulated the child's testimony to support the ends of whomever wanted custody. And this is easy to do.

That Reddit thread is weirdly disturbing - in how many people misread Scalzi's piece, and how many are quick to judgement based solely on something they read on the internet. And are insanely self-righteous about it.

1. Got my new toy - the 10th Generation Ipad - perfect size and syncs well with the iphone. Now just have to figure out how to draw on it. I've an idea for a new story that involves drawing, and writing, but we'll see if I can get it to work.

I've decided to try my hand at illustrated works for a bit and see how that flies?

2. Finished Fool Me Once - the limited series adaptation from a Harlan Coben novel/ I've never read Corben, not my genre. He writes what my father used to call airplane thrillers - nicknamed for the ability to read them in their entirety in the space of time it takes to fly from point A to point B, often with airport layovers in between. My father read a lot of them, and tried his hand at writing a few - starring business men like himself - because he felt that most of the books lacked that reality. Sorry, certain things remind me of my father and I feel compelled to tell people about it. Kind of feels like keeping his memory alive or something?

We miss him. My family. He was a big presence in our lives. And now...there's just a hole or gap remaining, filled with disjointed memory.

Anyhow, the series was okay. Fairly uneven in writing and performance, some of the performances were better than others. The lead Detective was good, but the rest? Uneven.

It held my attention for the most part, but I felt the plot got away from the writers, or writer (not sure how close it is to the novel - haven't read it). Tried to do too many things and I lost track of it.
( Vague spoiler )

I liked it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

3. Finished a few comics...which was among the reasons I got the Ipad. It works better than the Amazon Fire, which I've had for about ten years, and is crappy now. It doesn't down load well, and doesn't do much more than work as a kindle reader. I can read books on Kindle on Apple Ipad, computer, and phone just as well - if not better. Plus get Marvel Unlimited. And draw and write on the ipad. Going with the Ipad. And they cost about the same now. So made sense to get an Ipad as opposed to trying to upgrade the crappy Amazon Fire HD.

I think I'm done upgrading my Kindle devices. I have a Kindle Paperwhite which works well enough.

* X-men 1 by Jed Mckay and Ryan Stegman

For the most part? Good start for X-men from the Ashes.

The art is different than previous issues and takes a little getting used to, but overall above par. With comics, it’s always about the art first, the writing second. The dialogue pops for the most part. And the characters make sense. I rather like the scenes between Cyke and Logan, Hank and Cyke, and Magneto. Also it makes sense that after being tortured and put through hell - Cyclops would retreat to his birthplace, Alaska, and take the mutants who can’t blend in with humans, or are ostracized with him. The team up works for me - we have people who are deadly, former assassins and villains, which again works well with Cyclops, a character who believes in second chances. Only quibble - is the villains feel kind of stale? I was never a fan of the U-Men. But I’ll give it a chance, the rest is working for me so far.

* Phoenix by Stephanie Phillips

Better than expected. Finally someone who loves and appreciates the character - is writing and handling the art. Better yet? We have a female writer as opposed to the endless line of male writers handling the character. Male "comic" book writers don't always handle powerful female superhero characters well. In the previous series on The Phoenix - the male writers turned her evil, had her first love, Scott, save her from herself, and she sacrificed herself on the moon for them all. It was the 1970s. What can you expect? Gender politics was just gearing up for a fight.

Now, decades later, or rather a century later - we have a cosmic heroine, and we're largely in her point of view. ( Read more... )

* X-Men: The Wedding Special (2024) #1 - Celebration of Pride Month (the Wedding of Mystique and Destiny)

Mystique is a bisexual transgender character, and Destiny is equally bisexual. Both are usually portrayed as female. But Mystique is a shape-changer.

Uneven - mainly due to the multiple stories within it? It's an anthology. ( Read more... )

1. While musing about what might have beens, I got to go to a pre-negotiation meeting where I actually helped people and felt as if I'd accomplished something? We were discussing the construction of a bridge over tracks and a highway - which were connecting two separate tracks, and providing faster service for commuters.

2. The musing about what might have beens was triggered by boredom - and I had looked up an old college friend/acquaintance - we ran a folklore house together, taking turns writing up the request for it. ( Read more... )

3. My church is amusing me in regards to "The Listening Circles"
( Read more... )

4. I was bored at work and trying to avoid social media platforms which were either throwing politics at me (do not want) or annoying platitudes.
So, I searched new bands. Found a bunch of stuff by Rasputina, and K's Choice. Also listened to the Broadway Cast album of Stereophonic - not all that memorable or interesting, unfortunately.

Then started hunting horror television shows. I'm in a mood for thrillers and horror - I want something gripping. Where folks are struggling to solve a big problem or escape something or figure something out?

I can't find the one I found at work - which was on screen rant? But did find the following lists:

* Elle's List of Best Horror Television Shows

Thinking of trying The Outsider on Max.

* It may have been Den of Geek?

Best Horror Television Shows of the 21st Century

These look intriguing...
( horror television shows to try, if you dare... )

1. If you are into Fireworks...check out seriously insane fireworks:

HERE

Although you may want to fast forward, I got bored in the first twenty minutes. Also the host repeats the words "Seriously Insane Fireworks" and "Really Weird Fireworks" so many times in the first twenty minutes - that I wanted to inform him - "uhm we get it, these are insane fireworks, let's move on".

2. I talked to various people about the ranking of the Top Cities for Public Transportation. [See last post.]

Me: They have Chicago ranked at the bottom below Kansas City.
Mother: But Kansas City's is non-existent?
Me: I know. Also LA is number three.
Mother: Does LA even have one? It doesn't.
Me: No, it does. No one uses it. But it does.

Cousin on FB, who live in Chicago:

"Currently Chicago has multiple systems. The suburbs bus is 1 company & ticket, the suburbs commuter train downtown is company #2, the downtown subway & elevated trains is company #3, & the downtown Chicago bus is company #4. It confuses the heck out of the non-natives. But a recent state law is supposed to make it all 1 company & ticket, so maybe it'll improve in the future. The other problem is in the suburbs, you can get downtown pretty easily but not between the suburbs. So yeah, we have terrible public transportation so far. Not surprised Kansas City is allegedly better."

Me: Currently in a merger situation with public transportation - it's not as smooth as you might think. So no, it's not going to necessarily be better. So much as Different?

Also does Kansas City even have a public transportation system?

I've given the article the side-eye. I honestly don't think whomever wrote it knows anything about public transportation? Because their rankings make no sense.

3. PBS Special on How We See Numbers

I lost interest half way through. It began to give me a headache, actually?

4. A Reminder about things from John Scalzi

Apparently actors and folks wanting to get parts - send John Scalzi head shots, audition tapes, etc ? Why? Honestly, why would you send it to the novelist? He's not making casting decisions. If he has any input - it's after the actors have been brought in for audition. And most writers don't.

5. Books

I finished King of Diamonds on audio, and it was okay. Yes, we get a resolution - and find out who the burglar was or diamond thief. Turns out it was more than one - which makes sense considering it took place over a lengthy period of time. And the differences between the thefts.

I'm not sure if this would have worked better - in print, ie. reading it? The voice actor or narrator reading it - was kind of dull.

Have moved on to the far more entertaining Graphic Audio Dramatization of Kate Daniels short story Magic Gifts.

Almost done with Dreadful - which I've been reading in "paperback" format. I am to date the only person on my trains reading an actual book. Everyone else either reads/watches/plays on their phones or stares blankly into space. I miss the days that people read the paper or magazines. This may explain why print journalism is dying. I've given up on it.

It's odd being the only person reading a book. Every once and a while, someone will stare. But usually no one pays attention. Any more than they notice that I have diabetic sensor on my upper arm, above the elbow.

The lovely thing about NYC is folks are wildly unobservant. That and the fact it has no architectural building zoning guidelines, basically people build whatever they want and more or less wherever they want. And they are constantly building things. For a city on a couple of small islands, it's certainly building a lot of structures. And somehow magically finds space for all of them. NYC is a contradiction in terms - or rather proof that you can be wildly libertarian and socialist at the same time, while also sporting a capitalistic veneer.

Anyhow, the book is amusing me. I wouldn't call it ground-breaking or great or anything. But it is enjoyable. It holds my attention for the most part. And I think I may actually finish it. Also I like it better than the last five books I read, so there's that.

PenPal - is kind a surreal horror novel. I'm not sure what to make of it. I gave it a rest in favor of squinting to read Dreadful on the train. (I should put on glasses to read Dreadful, but I don't want to.)

6. Television

I don't know what I'm going to watch this weekend. Flirting with: Reacher (read an interview with the star and he's cool - made me want to watch the series, which admittedly is not the right reason to watch the series. Last time I tried to watch it - was with Wales, who insisted on poking fun at it and informing me how bad it is. After that - it was hard to watch the show. But I may go back to it.), Glee (except I'm annoyed with at least six of the lead characters...not sure I can get past them enough to just watch the musical numbers), Acolyte (which has finally dropped enough episodes), The Witcher (albeit a rewatch from S1, because I discovered S2 is kind of confusing if you can't remember S1. Damn, Netflix for the long wait times between seasons)...or some random movie. Or whatever I land on.

The problem with having too many choices is making a choice.

1. While on Threads this week - I discovered...that apparently someone went after and attacked David Tennant.

Who would go after David Tennant? He's a sweetheart. Be like attacking a puppy dog? Seems insane.

So...I looked it up. David Tennant vs. well UK Conservative Transphobes

Sigh.

Tennant has a non-binary child. He's an actor who has a right to his opinion. He's not a politician making policy for others. And he's advocating for the rights of his child and others. I applaud him for that.
( Read more... )
2. Speaking of flawed humans specifically writers with huge fan followings, and unfortunately toxic behavior patterns, I did an online survey on Whedon's shows today via the Association of Buffy Studies. It kept asking me if I associated certain actors with Whedon shows - but alas was Dollhouse, Firefly and I think Nevers heavy on the actors - because I had no clue who a lot of them were. Who is Clark Gregg? He sounds familiar?
It also asked if Whedon's behavior influenced me in regards to his fictional content?

Yes and no. Or I don't have a simple response to that, any more than I do to Rowling's fictional content - that I read prior to discovering she's a transphobic bully.
( Read more... )
3. Hand feels better. Aloe Vera Gel is a miracle worker. Highly recommend. Blisters are pretty much non-existent now, and the redness has gone away. Aloe Vera and cold water - nothing else. (I'm kind of lucky I had nothing else, except for five different brands of Aloe Vera Gel. I got a lot of it to make my own hand sanitizer, also for sunburn.)

Also found a chai tumeric ginger latte tea mix that you just add hot water too. Helps greatly with digestion. Along with Physillium Husk and Miralax for IBS-C.

4. Television

Found two shows to watch:

* Acolyte -Disney + which reminds me a little of Andor. Like Andor - it takes place before Star Wars. This one takes place before Phantom Menace. Only drawback is it does rest on a rather cliche plot device - the evil twin. But I adore the lead actress in the role. And she's doing a good job of playing dual roles.

I'll probably like it better than most. I like the Star Wars world, and actually love the television series and films that have zip to do with the original three films or the Skywalker/Vader Legacy. My favorites are Andor, Rogue One, and Mandalorian...I've not tried Akoshka, or Rebels. And the Clone Wars - I watched the cartoon version, not the Lucas one.

* The Bear - Hulu (or Disney +) - which is a half-hour comedy (feels more like a Dramedy since I don't laugh during it) about a chef trying to create a fancy restaurant out of his family owned restaurant in Chicago.
It's a workplace comedy/drama. I love it. Season 3 just dropped.

***

Tried House of Dragon S2 - my difficulty with it is the subject matter, which is the same difficulty I have with Dune, which I outgrew about sixteen years ago? Just not in the mood for either.

5.) I'm flirting with horror. But I'm wise enough not to watch it at night before bed. I have enough difficulty sleeping as is, I do not need help. I have a love/hate relationship with horror films. Considering trying MidSommer, Hereditary, Talk to Me, and Babanook. Also, maybe, The Witch, which my brother loves and tried to show me once.

Oh, there are a few intriguing horror movies coming out...Longlegs...looks intriguing. It's kind of Silence of the Lambs meets the occult meets well puppetry?

6. The tower fan is actually keeping my apartment cool. Amazing that. I may not require a portable A/C in the living room, and just replacing the one in the bedroom will suffice. Also, I can just get another window A/C since this was PC Richards faulty A/C not the apartment or my fault.

7. Books

Saw a meme about memorable books off the top of your head. And I realized all mine were made into movies or television shows. Which means my memory is very visual? I'm sure I can think of a few memorable ones that haven't? Or have, and I've not seen the movie?

So, below is a list of books that weren't made into films or I've not seen the films, but were memorable. In other words - if it was made into a film or television show - I didn't see it, or it wasn't made into one.
( books I've found memorable off the top of my head that either weren't made into films or I didn't see the film )
At the grocery store today - a young woman had a library book. She was in front of me at the checkout line. And there was this lovely library book sitting there on the conveyor book at Met Fresh, while she put down her food from the cart.

Me: I'm trying figure out what book you've got there? I'm curious?
Young Woman (she had a blond braid, blue eyes, fresh faced with freckles, no makeup, mid-late twenties, about average weight and height): It's about two people who develop a video game.
Me: Oh cool. Is it non-fiction.
YW: No, fictional. It's really good. I'm not that far - but so far I'm really enjoying it. And I really like having a real book in my hands.

Gives me hope for the future. E-books are slowly getting on my nerves, in that I have no idea how far I truly am in them and can't scan ahead to see if it gets better or flip back to figure something out. Or look at the cover. On the other hand? It's nice to read a book privately without someone seeing what you are reading - particularly on subways. Although, I've had some interesting conversations about books I was reading on the subway. I miss the days in which everyone was reading books, magazines and the paper as opposed to cell phones. I rarely even see an e-book. Just people on phones. It's sad.

Anyhow, found the book she had. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - it was the 2022 winner of the Good Reads Choice Awards apparently.
( brief synopsis )

Kind of reminds me of Halt Catch Fire in a way.

I love books. I like books more than people. I think it's because they are easier to connect to? No rejection from a book. You can escape into their worlds. Be in another person's head. Rage. Feel. Whatever.

Everyone needs a safe space, I suppose. Mine has always been books.

1. Brats - the Brat Pack Documentary on Hulu, about the five or six twenty-somethings that starred together in a group of B teen/twenty-something flicks in the 1980s - that was written, produced and directed by Andrew McCarthy, and features Andrew wandering about and interviewing various members, authors, journalists, directors, and producers of films etc that composed of the Brat Pack in the 1980s. ( Read more... )

My main takeaway - was one of the academic's views that our culture is far too fractured or fragmented for anything like that to happen now. No one is united on anything culturally speaking. Also the race issue - no POCs in the Brat Pack, and there really were no POC in any of their movies, and if there were they were stereo-typically and often offensively portrayed. There are movies in the 80s that are cringe-inducing now.

2. Bridgerton S3 - I enjoyed it. It was nice to have a voluptuous heroine in a historical romance for a change, particularly if you consider in the 18th and early 19th century, voluptuous was considered attractive and appealing. Also I like Penn. And she had beautiful gowns this season. Whomever is the lead couple each season - gets the best wardrobe. I actually liked Penn's gowns better than the previous season leads.

Wardrobe clearly hates Eloise Bridgerton. Not sure why but they do. Or her mother is punishing her. She wears these ghastly numbers with huge bows.

The series slyly comments on the romance genre. Also promotes a world that the writers wish existed - demonstrating that we've kind of won the culture wars in the 21st century. There's two twists in the end of S3 Part II regarding Francesca and Benedict, making me wonder which S4 will lead with, one or both, and whether we'll get a lead f/f or m/m romance in the next season.

I felt sorry for the antagonist/villain, who was rather complex. Rhimes doesn't do black and white villains - hers have layers, which I appreciate.
Cress - is placed in a cage by her father and provided with few if any opportunities for escape. She attempts to get Eloise to help her, but alas Eloise is far too self-absorbed to hear her cries. And as a result is left with little to no recourse than to attempt to connive and blackmail her way out - neither work. And she's sent off to live with her cruel and domineering aunt in Wales. (Having spent time in Wales in the 1980s, it's kind of hard for me to see this as a fate worse than death, Wales is lovely - far prettier than London. But it was admittedly in the early 19th Century...so.)

I'd like to see her romance, but it's unlikely. I found the character interesting.

3. Madame Webb - this is a badly written, directed and produced film. But, weirdly, entertaining. The script is on the wooden side? I thought during it - okay, I can see why this bombed at the box office. And Dakota Johnson tries but is one-note in the lead role.

I'd say it's a mildly entertaining C movie? Has some decent special effects. And the story has potential but isn't gripping. I'm afraid of spiders and it didn't bother me that much - the red spiders don't look real.

It is kind of hokey in places? And there's more than a few eye-rolling moments. But, I liked the women bonding together, and figuring out how to stop the bad guy - even if it didn't make a whole lot of sense.

This won't have a sequel - shame, it could have been an interesting series. I think it would have worked better if they had done it as a television series? Because the film felt a lot like a television pilot or premiere episode. It wasn't rounded off well enough for a film.

The Official List of Renewed and Cancelled Television Shows for 2024-onwards

Renewals:

Fallout, Strange New Worlds, The Witcher (4- with 5th being final season), NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Mr & Mrs Smith, Invasion, 3 Body Problem, The Boys, Welcome to Wrexham, The Night Manager (which I didn't know was a series - I thought it was just a limited mini-series), Monarch Legacy of Monsters, Ghosts, 9-1-1, Will Trent, The Last Thing He Told Me, The Bear, , Fire Country, Avatar the Last Airbender, Tracker, FBI (and all it's associated spin-offs), True Detective, , Survival of the Thickest, The Terror, Abbott Elementary, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Hijack, Animal Control, Lioness, Slow Horses, SWAT ...have all been renewed.

Cancellations:

Constellation, Quantum Leap, American Born Chinese, Schmigadoon, Obliterated, Upload (fourth season is its last), Evil (fourth and final season - I thought it was on longer and already gone, oh well), Alex Rider (third and final season), Snowpiercer (cancelled by TNT and then renewed by AMC for 4th season, who bought the rights from TNT apparently), Bubkis (renewed for a second and last season), Uncouple (cancelled by Showtime after they bought it from Netflix),

Feel free to share.

1. Saw Boys on the Boat - via $3.99 on Prime, at Mother's recommendation. This is the George Cloony directed/produced film adapted from the non-fiction novel of the same name. It's about the epic quest of nine working class crew members to win Olympic Gold in 1936. Rowing was big back in the 1930s, folks listened to it on the radio. And Hitler was going all out for Germany's 1936 Olympics - with various lavish venues, to demonstrate how great Germany was under his rule. The book jumps between the working class boys training for the Olympics in Seattle, Washington, and Germany preparing for the Olympics. The movie, wisely, just focuses on the boys. Unfortunately it's only an hour and a half movie - so we don't really get much on the "boys". We only get the main point of view - Joe Rantz, who is the one who is telling the story to his grandson, or remembering it. We also get a bit of the lead coach.

It's an uplifting film which my Mother enjoyed more than I did. I felt it was lacking in character development, and didn't quite give us enough of various characters to truly care if they won or lost or how they became a team? This may have worked better as an Apple TV costume drama? Although I agree that it would be difficult to get viewers invested in a series about a bunch of men taking up rowing to compete in the 1936 Olympic Games.

The book is excellent and I highly recommend it. The movie is okay, it's worth $3.99. Not sure it's worth more than that - though.

2. Started watching Outlander again on Netflix. I fast-forwarded over most of the rape sequence in S1. ( may be triggering? )This is a difficult topic to do well. But again, I did fast-forward over most of it, and I'd given up on Outlander because of the sexual violence. Both Ron Moore and Diana Galbandano rely way too heavily on it for my sensibilities. However, I can get around it to some extent. (And I've seen worse.)

I started again - because I like the actors, and find the twin time line trajectories interesting. One is 1945-1970, and the other is 1500s through early 1700s, with early Scottish Settlers (which is part of my ancestory actually). Two periods of history that aren't done that often. And - the lead female character is a nurse, who becomes a doctor and surgeon, who works with people in the War. Also, the guy playing the male romantic lead is ...hot. And a good actor. I honestly wish they'd do the Chronicles of Lymond and have him play that role. May be too old now.

Anyhow, I've finished S1, and will start on S2 soon. Mother and brother are rec'ing Shogun, which I may do next. We'll see.

3. I wonder sometimes why other people read books? I've figured out why I do. It's to be in someone else's head. To see the world through another lens or point of view.

It's why I like social media actually - I get to see the world through various points of view. I'm curious. I want to understand why people do what they do, and how they see things?

It took me a while to realize that people did not perceive things the same way I did. Nor did they necessarily understand how I perceived things. And definitely didn't think the same way. Be nice if they did, but they don't. And actually it's probably more interesting that they don't.

Writing, stories, art, music are ways to express how we view the world or think to others, and help us understand each other, and get inside each other's heads? Not perfect, but it helps?

Along these same lines ...I've noticed a recurring theme in various television shows, books, and other things of late - which is, that most people want to save the earth or world they live in, and make it a better place to live, they just disagree on how to go about it. And in some respects vehemently so.

4. Is there any genre you haven't tried?

No.

I've literally tried all of them. I don't understand people who haven't. Aren't you curious? I mean, when I figured out how to read - I devoured whatever I could find. Maybe that's why? It took me forever to figure out how to read - so once it happened, I considered it this marvelous gift? I sometimes wonder if we take the things we do easily for granted? I took drawing for granted, so as a result am not as good as I could have been?

Granted I don't like all the genres. Biography, Memoir, Role-Playing Games or Interactive, True Crime, and Self-Help - I could do without.

Someone on Twitter said they felt that Science Fiction and Fantasy should be allowed to mutually co-exist in the same genre or book. That was okay.

And I did a double-take. Okay, does this person not realize that there is a genre entitled sci-fantasy, and actual books and films that fit in both and are hybrids? Did they skip over the whole Star Wars thing?

5. I am still watching Fallout on Prime. I've made it through about five episodes now? It's very satiric. I'm not a huge fan of satire for satire's sake, and it kind of falls into that category? Also there's the video game aspect (and as you all already know I'm not really much of a gamer, I tried, I don't have the coordination or the mental aptitude for it. It may very well be genetic? Since absolutely no one in my immediate family does either? The most I'll do is play a matching Redecor game. I like the puzzle games, I played those at the video game company that I worked for.) It's okay, just kind of slow and reminds me of a lot of other dystopian satires that I've seen.

Also still plan to watch Gentleman in Moscow - which is dropping slowly on Showtime and I keep forgetting its on. I gave up on Under the Bridge -it's True Crime, and I find True Crime to be icky. And it began to irritate me in that way that True Crime tends to after a bit. (It's why I couldn't become an investigative journalist - after flirting with it in college - that ick factor.)

Baby Reindeer (very popular on social media outlets) - I can't watch for multiple reasons - I tried and didn't get past the first ten minutes of it. I can't watch "You" either, which is a similar idea, albeit as fictionalized satire - I tried. The trailer alone turned me off of it. It's cringe and I can't do cringe. I don't care if its comedy or horror - cringe and me are unmixy things.

6. I've started reading "The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies" based on an old college friend's recommendation. She said it made her think of me and she loved it. It's actually pretty good, the lead character, Augusta ("Gus") is tall and unmarried. She's just not found anyone who fit with her. And can't understand really why anyone would want to marry or the whole deep romantic love thing. She's dated, but never been overtaken by passion apparently. She's very logical and rationale. Her sister, who is recently widowed, has breast cancer, and her brother is a bit of a pest. Anyhow, in an attempt to distract her sister from her ills - they've launched on an ill-advised campaign with their manservant to save a mutual acquaintance from her abusive husband. En route, highwaymen try to rob them - Gus accidentally shoots one of them, and takes the injured highwayman (who they recognize as a former disgraced Marquis) to the bad guy's residence - stating they require medical attention for their brother, and gain entry as a result.

That's as far as I've gotten.

While I can see the resemblance between myself and Gus, I also see the differences. ( Read more... )

A television meme stolen from svgurl.

+ Bold all of the following TV shows of which you've seen 3 or more episodes.
+ Italicize a show if you're positive you've seen every episode.
+ Asterisk if you have at least one full season on tape or DVD [I'm counting if I've either given away or thrown away the DVDs and Tapes of them...because I no longer own a VCR or DVD player.]
+ Exclamation mark if it's an all-time fave.
+ If you want, add up to 3 additional shows (keep the list in alphabetical order).

[Just in case you didn't know there are a lot of television shows, and I've managed to forget more than most have seen?]
( television meme )
Okay I added more than three...I added All in the Family, The Witcher, Star Trek: Picard, Hercules: The Legendary Journals - because you can't have Xenia on that list without it, and The X-Men Animated Series and X-men '97.

1. Well, I submitted pandemic sunflower to the Brooklyn Art Museum Open Admission site. It's not really a contest - or it is - but the prize is being exhibited in the museum with a lot of other artists and having your work shown.
( Read more... )

I'm proud of myself for submitting it. It's the first work of art that I've submitted to an exhibition in a very very long time, since I was a kid, actually.

2. Television

* Been binge-watching Resident Alien on Netflix, starring Alan Tudyk, there's two seasons of it available. Made it through about six episodes. They are about thirty minutes each and being Netflix, when one ends, the next one begins with barely a credits roll.

Set-up? ( vague spoilers - except all happen in first two episodes ) Think fish out of water tale such as Northern Exposure - except the fish out of water is an alien trying to destroy the human race, and failing miserably at it.

It's a comedy.

Started on Syfy, now on Netflix as well. Much easier to watch on Netflix.

* X-men '97 - Disney + - this is a reboot of the 1990-1996 Fox X-men Animated Series. I saw about two or three seasons of the 90s series back in the 90s. And it's really when the X-men became mainstream. Most people know about the X-men from the Fox 1990s series. (Ugh). The Fox 1990s series is not bad, it's actually better if you've not read the comics first. If you've read the comics first and remember them well - it will irritate you. The animation of the Fox 1990s series is on the clunky side (it was good in the 1990s however), but better than most cartoons. And the dialogue on the cheesy side. Cyclops is written kind of stiffly and not well at all. He's boring in the 90s series, the most interesting characters in the series are Rogue, Storm and Wolverine, Jean is kind of dull and poorly developed, as is Cyclops and Jubliee. Gambit is kind of edgy and creepy. That's the 1990s cartoon.

The 2024 reboot - or X-men '97 which was written and created by the (recently fired) Beau DeMayo is actually pretty good. And a vast improvement over the original. It has two episodes that have dropped. And it focuses on the late 1970s/early 1980s comics but - with big changes. Scott/Cyclops is written a tad better, as is Jean, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Jubliee, etc. And they've brought back Morph. Xavier is gone, and Magneto is taking over.

What's odd is they fired the creator, and he's left social media entirely. Hasn't posted since the firing in early March, two weeks before the premiere.

No one knows why. Except he was posting semi nude pictures of himself - posing on Xitter - and well, he's Black and Gay. And it is Disney. But I'm hoping they had a better reason and guessing it was a legal one? No one knows, and no one is happy about it. The first two episodes were done well.
All the characters were written and drawn better, as were the action sequences.

On Beau DeMayo Firing and Where Things Currently Stand

Marvel is working towards rebooting the X-men films, and doing that through a reboot of the animated series, and the comic series - the X-men is its most popular flagship series, since it has the most diverse characters and the most diversified audience and ahem, appeals to women, LGBTA, trans, and not just nerdy heterosexual cisgendered fanboys.

And I foresee a Bridgerton rewatch in my future. Also the 3 Body Problem is on Netflix.

3. Almost forgot... Cillian Murphy forms a new production Company, Big Things Films

" EXCLUSIVE: Cillian Murphy, fresh off of the massive global success of Oppenheimer — and as he gets ready to debut Small Things Like These (in which he stars and he produced) as the opening-night gala of the Berlin Film Festival next week — has set his next starring and producing gig with Steve.

This adaptation of Max Porter’s novel Shy also officially launches Murphy’s production company, Big Things Films, with longtime collaborator Alan Moloney."

The article contains a discussion with Cillian and his producing partner.
Also Cillian is starting filming on a Peaky Blinders movie for Netflix in September.

This is the team that did Breakfast on Pluto, Intermission and Delingquent Season.

" An independent, story-driven company, Big Things was initially created to produce Small Things Like These, and aims to collaborate with singular filmmakers, writers, actors and directors, both new and established, who have something to say and are passionate about what they do. Big Things will collaborate with like-minded financiers, studios, distributors and streamers in both film and television.

The company will seek material in which Murphy will act, but not exclusively.

Projects will be designed to provoke, inspire and explore themes that take audiences to places that can sometimes be uncomfortable, but more often reveal core truths about who we are, regardless of genre or format, the partners say.

Meanwhile, Berlinale opener Small Things Like These is based on the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Claire Keegan with a screenplay by Enda Walsh. Murphy, Eileen Walsh and Emily Watson star in the story which takes place over Christmas 1985, when devoted father Bill Furlong (Murphy) discovers the startling secrets being kept by the convent in his town, and some shocking truths about his own life as well. "

So good news for Cillian Murphy fans.

Ryan Gosling is starring in Project Hail Mary - the Andy Weir novel adaptation, which I will most likely skip, because it has a friendly alien spider race in it. I can handle that in a book, I cannot handle looking at alien spiders on screen.

Sigh, it's that time again - off to bed.

Still furious about the CPAP debacle. I was blatantly lied to.

But alas, there's nothing I can do about it tonight.

Here's a picture from my walk today to the grocery store in Ditmas (aka Flatbush) Brooklyn. It's the area of the city that looks like Greenwhich, CT. In fact you wouldn't know you were in NYC walking through it. It's south of Prospect Park.

We got about four to five inches of snow last night. It quietly fell until around nine am, this morning. It's pretty. I missed it. (I don't have to shovel any of it, or put down ice - so not an issue.) Also I like snow.
I don't really think I can live in areas without it or Winter. I like the turn of seasons.

The walk cleared my head a bit. Plus sunny with blue skies.

Came home, had a gin and tonic - which numbed my wrath, and my aches & pains. And watched Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I on Paramount Plus.

It's not a good movie. Too much exposition needed to explain the plot, which isn't that interesting. The stunts and chase scenes were however fun. I rather liked the train sequence. Cruise handles action sequences well.
My attention kept wandering during it - the only scenes that were interesting were the insane stunts. But it's free on Paramount Plus.

Tried:

* Tracker - got bored after about fifteen to twenty minutes. Gave up. It's basically about this guy who was trained on how to track people as a kid who has set up a tracking service to track missing people. His lesbian sister and her partner, and a lawyer help him. (I think?) And the back story appears to be that his dad took off, he tracked him down and found him, dead? I stopped somewhere around there. The writing and production are kind of lackluster. I'd say the acting was - but I've seen in the actor in other things, and he is a good actor. He just doesn't have much to work with here. It could just be the pilot though. Pilots tend to be clunky for the most part.

LouderMilk - about a scruffy therapist running a group AA clinic out of a church. The priest tells him to help a parishioners daughter deal with an addiction in return for keeping his clinic in the church. Apparently they've gotten complaints on how he runs it? (Netflix) - I gave up ten minutes in. It could be me.

Orion and the Dark - (Netflix) may go back to. It's told in an interesting way - but the animation is kind of substandard? Although I do like the use of felt for some of the characters, and how it does Dark, Sleep, Sweet Dreams, Insomina, Weird Noises, and Quiet. Quiet is rather cute. The human characters, sigh. I don't know why animators struggle with human characters in these things. It did surprise me in how they are telling it - told as a story or riff by a father to his daughter at night, to help her deal with her fears. And it shifts back and forth from the story, to the father/daughter talking about the story, and him telling it. Kind of like The Princess Bride?

Makami House - (Netflix) - this is horribly dubbed, which I found distracting. The lips don't match the dubbing. I hear them talking but the mouths aren't moving, or they are moving late. Also the close captioning doesn't match. It gave me a headache. I gave up. But I loved the concept - about a girl who tried to become a Makami, but becomes their chef instead. And is an amazing chef.

***

Landed on Rustin - Netflix. This was produced by the Obamas. And the lead performance was nominated for Best Actor (made history as the first Latino African-American to be nominated). It's about Bayard Rustin's push for and organization of the 250,000 Civil Rights March on Washington - which lead to MLK's I Have a Dream Speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the largest protest march of its time. And resulted in the Civil Rights Bill being passed. Or aided its progression. The focus though is on Bayard Rustin - a Black homosexual activist.

And it's excellent. Held my interest, and surprised me. The lead actor, Colman Domingo, is excellent in the role. I looked for it - because of an Actor's round table that I saw with Cillian Murphy, Jeffrey Wright, Colman Domingo, Mark Ruffalo, and Paul Giammaiti. Domingo really impressed me.
So I hunted down his film. And he is amazing. (I'm sorry Paul, but between Murphy and Colman, you are outgunned in my opinion. I may hunt down American Fiction with Jeffrey Wright, flirting with the Holdovers, which is either Peacock (I don't subscribe) or $5.95.

Lazy day, but pretty, with sunshine. There was actually a blue sky outside my windows, without a cloud tarnishing it. I took a brief walk in the crisp air to the Post Office and then the grocery store. The walk I took allowed for plenty of views of sky with barely a tree or building blocking it, and lots of sunshine, and little shade. I basked in it like a cat strutting its stuff.

It was cool though. Barely hitting forty, felt more like thirty, but still warmer than it had been. And I didn't need the full length winter coat to fend off the chill.

Didn't do much else, outside of watch my blood sugar sky-rocket, after eating a small bowl of New England Clam Chowder (imported from a restaurant in Rhode Island), crackers, and celery. Also some chocolate. I was annoyed.
All I'd had that morning was eggs and bacon. I didn't do it any favors by having a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. (It should go without saying that everything was gluten-free. The gluten-free diet is a double-edged sword, on the one hand it makes it easier to stay off carbs, on the other, the substitutes are higher in sugar. And Metroformin makes me crave carbs and hate meat proteins, ironic that.)

Got a new blood sugar sensor finally - so I'm tracking the blood sugar better. But I am thinking of talking the doctor into proscribing the sensor that is completely covered by my insurance, which my co-workers use.

Anywho...enough of that...watched a couple of television shows today:

1. Market to Market - MASH S1, EP 2 (Hulu) - I discovered MASH was now on Hulu, commercial free. (Oh, how I wish I had streaming back in the day, it would have made analysis of television shows, not to mention binge watching a whole lot easier.). This episode still makes me laugh until it hurts - I was laughing so hard during it - I was coughing.

The set-up? ( Read more... )

MASH aired from September 17, 1972, to February 28, 1983. It ran longer than the WAR. And is among the longest running situation comedies and television series. It also won 14 Emmys during it's run, and was nominated for over 100.

I'd say it's probably one of the best television series that I've ever seen and among the most memorable. Also among the funniest. It's an example of the type of Satire that actually works for me.

2. All Creatures Great and Small - PBS - Masterpiece. This is, I think, the fourth season of the series. It does a good job of exploring a married couple's romance, and their relationship, along with the inter-relationships of the veterinary clinic. I rather like Siegfried (the same actor plays a bit part on Slow Horses). Character driven drama about a veterinary clinic in Derbyshire, England around the beginning of the Second World War.

3. Slow Horses S3 - Apple TV - excellent. I loved this season, which I finished tonight. It goes at quite a nice clip. Action packed, and hilarious in places. The characters are kind of inept? And it satirizes government incompetence, and stupidity well. I find it reassuring and weirdly comforting. There's actually worst places to work. Also the main characters are endearing. And it's kind of cathartic - in that the people I want to see killed or get it? Do.

4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Disney + - I finished this series tonight. It's better than expected, and relatively well cast. I'm not positive? But I think JAWS from the James Bond flicks and Superman II plays Aries, or someone who looks a lot like him does? Lance Reddick played Zeus, albeit briefly - the last episode is in loving memory of Reddick.
The kids are very cast, Percy in particular, who is likable. And the story and plot work. It's not too cheesy or juvenile and respects the intelligence of its audience, without talking down to them.

5. True Detective S4 : Night Country - Episode 2. Eh, I liked the first episode better. The second one is kind of uneven, and difficult to follow? It drags, and pacing is a bit off. Also it gets into weird horror sci-fi territory - which may or may not work here?

That said? I'm watching it for Jodi Foster. And I like the characters. Also the story is interesting, if gruesome.

1. Watched the 2020 award nominated film Minari. Minari (Korean: 미나리; lit. water celery; [minaɾi]) is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. It stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and Will Patton. A semi-autobiographical take on Chung's upbringing, the plot follows a family of South Korean immigrants who try to make it in the rural United States during the 1980s.

This is a beautiful and comforting film, that was entirely filmed in Arkansas. It doesn't fall into any of the time-worn cliches, and is a simple story about a family trying to make it on a farm in Arkansas. There's no racial prejudice, or cruelty, and it's not painful to watch in any way. They form a friendship with Will Patton's local eccentric, and former Korean War vet.

It reminds me a lot of Somebody, Somewhere in tone and realism.

Highly recommend. It's currently streaming on Netflix.

2. Finished Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building - the humor is not landing for me at all. ( Read more... )

3. Echo - Disney Plus, tried first episode. And, I think they hired the same writers that did Secret Wars? I don't know what is going on with Disney, but their writing is kind of sliding down hill for these limited series.

( Read more... )

4. I'm flirting with going back to Fargo, For All Mankind, the Buccaneers, and Gilded Age. None really held my attention. Also S6 of The Crown, also not quite holding my attention (maybe once I get past Diana's death?).
There's a thriller on Apple Plus - that I might try with Jennifer Garner and Nicholas (the guy who played Jamie on GoT). Or Slow Horses, which is quite good and quite funny in places (it's closer to my brand of humor).

****

I accomplished a lot today. Without boring you with all the gritty details - I managed to clear away the clutter, and create an artistic space for myself to do digital artwork - with my new tablet (a Xmas gift from my niece). I also cleared away the clutter on the bookshelf and underneath the tv stand, and coffee table. Got rid of a bunch of paper, books, and DVDs in the process.

I feel so much lighter now. I feng shu my apartment. And created a little artistic space for myself. It's cheered my up greatly.

Before I was feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in my apartment and somewhat trapped by it. Getting rid of it - was such a relief. I'm lucky - I have a place that I can easily deposit books, clothes, and other items without any issues. I just have to lug it down there.

I should post in TV Talk - but I'm scared to?

Anyhow, here's the list of up and coming television series for 2024. Feel free to swipe, if you wish?

List of up and coming anticipated television series for 2024 via Rotten Tomatoes

(I'm admittedly not a fan of Rotten Tomatoes, but the list appears to be verified.)

( Standouts for January - March? )
************

( Some returning fandom favorites... )
( And some interesting new one's with no clear date...except sometime in 2024. )

**

Whew. There's a lot of television shows. Those are mainly new ones. And I didn't list all of them. I only highlighted fifteen of over twenty. Noticing a lot are adapted from books and video games.

***

I've been watching old movies. Watched The Way We Were finally - 1973. Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, produced by Ray Stark and Sydney Pollack, directed by Pollack (who I've actually met in person). It's good, but I agree with Streisand, the deleted scenes - three of them - kind of weakened the film. I went to watch the deleted scenes after watching the film. However those who didn't know about them, didn't notice a difference - and I only did because I listened to Streisand discuss it prior to watching it. I don't know how I'd have reacted without listening to her discuss it first. It's an excellent film about how a relationship doesn't work and can't succeed because the two people in it don't quite click. They want different things in life, and really different lives. Weirdly, I felt more sympathy for Redford's character than Streisand's - mainly because he tries to tell her from the very beginning that they can't work - but he can't quite articulate why, and so she persuades him to stick it out, and he loses the most when they finally break up. And I can't help but wonder, if my sympathy would have switched to Streisand, and I'd have felt more at the ending - if those deleted scenes remained?

Gave up on Topper - it was boring.

And I watched the final Doctor Who Special - which surprised me. I didn't expect that. It was much better than expected. After the last three seasons of Doctor Who - my expectations have been lowered. However, these Specials were really good. The last one did slip a wee bit into soap box territory, but overall a good episode with a suitably frightening villain, and superior production values. Neil Patrick Harris did an excellent job in the supporting role. Although I agree - his German accent was relatively cartoonish.

Welcome back, RT Davies. I apparently underestimated your abilities here.

***

I need to finish a few television series. Lessons in Chemistry, the Buccaneers, Gilded Age, For All Mankind, Virgin River, Castlevania. I've been busy - so woefully behind.

Oh, and Barbie (the Greta Gerwig film) is coming to MAX. It's free on Max, and exclusive to Max.

Got quite a bit done today, considering. I managed to finally clean out and straighten the top portion of my closet - and utilized the organizers I'd purchased, which sort of work just not as well as I'd hoped. It is neater at any rate, and nothing is falling from the shelf like before. I may actually be able to find things.

Also, received the three new blouses that I'd purchased on Thursday night. Two are button down work blouses, the third is an exercise, around the apartment long-sleeved t-shirt. I was surprised I got them today - considering I purchased them online on Thursday.

After organizing the closet, I decided I definitely did not need more shirts or sweaters or pants, at the moment. I don't have much space for what I have. Also, there's a lot I have to get rid of. A couple of things I'm hoping to donate to the Church's Unifair, considering I've never worn them.

Making headway with the Barbara Streisand Memoir - which is well done. In it, she focuses heavily on her process, how she sings her songs, puts them together, gets her arrangements, and how the musical Funny Girl was put together. There's a lot of false information floating around regarding it - I know I read some of it online, and listened to it on Youtube.

According to Streisand, there were only four auditions, not twenty. Her manager says there were seven, she only remembers four. And feels seven is an exaggeration. Also only ten curtain calls, not twenty, which she also feels is a gross exaggeration.

The story behind the departure of Sydney Chaplin, her leading man (also the son of Charlie Chaplin) - is complicated, and not at all what some folks on Youtube think or various others. ( Read more... )

And she relates her meeting with Judy Garland - how famously they got along, and actually adored each other. Which makes sense - their acting and singing styles are very similar. They were also huge fans of each other's work. Both act their songs, and both are belters, with the ability to draw in an audience, and move an audience to tears. I actually cried during this segment of the audio book - because Garland died not long after they met and became best friends. They'd talk frequently. Then a mere year or so later, Garland died. It was devastating. When she sang with Garland on her show, Garland grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. Garland also came up with the number. Garland drank this sweet wine, which she offered to Streisand, but Streisand didn't drink. The lines on that episode of the Garland Show weren't theirs but actually written by Mel Torme. Streisand states people think we didn't get along or were jealous of each other - and nothing could be further from the truth. They loved each other. And were fast friends, and supporters of each other's work. She said the thing about meeting famous people - is all they are is human beings like you. With the same foibles and issues.

This audiobook is really good. It has selections of her songs as well. She gives them as examples. So you hear the song People or snippet of it, and the song "Cry Me a River" showing how it works, or "Happy Days are Hear Again". Possibly the best Memoir I've listened to (or read) for that matter, and I've still 40 some hours to go.

***

Television Shows

1. The Gilded Age Season 2 - this is boring. I kept going to sleep during it. It makes Downton Abbey relatively action packed by comparison.
I've decided to give up.

2. Great British Baking Show - the Early Seasons (It's on Roku, not Netflix), and I was watching the very first season, when they traveled about the country side. And only had ten contestants and let two people go each round, due to the fact that they were traveling around the countryside with their tents. It's also a lot rougher in regards to camera work inside the tent. And there's more focus on the history of cakes, cookies, etc in Britain and who invented them. (Which is fascinating. Did you know that cakes were basically created by women, when men stopped being the sole chefs in the kitchen? Also the biscuit (cookie in the US) was created when more people traveled, as a travel ready snack. And, apparently cakes were outlawed by the Puritans due to the view that sugar raised the blood and made people do nasty things. (I think they were afraid of diabetes?). And Queen Victoria created the multi-tiered wedding cake.)

I like the early seasons better than the later ones. And I'd not seen or found this one. Doesn't have that many commercials either - so quite watchable.

3. Fall of the House of Usher

The later episodes are better than the early ones. They are actually kind of scary. And kind of gruesome. Roderick Usher is being haunted by his children. Each killed in a different manner by the demon he and his sister made their devil's bargain with ages ago. A lot of Poe's work is threaded through the series.

I'm not sure the series completely works though. It's not quite clear what bargain Madeline and Roderick made with Verna, or why Verna is now collecting her lump of flesh. I'm hoping it will be revealed in the last episode. I've one to go.

Will state that Bruce Greenwood, Mary McConnell, and Mark Hamill are quite good in their roles, as is Carl Lumbly.

Ah, two days left. This six day break is flying by. Damn it. I wish work would fly by. It does when I'm busy and in the zone, not when I'm waiting for people to send me stuff and make up their minds.

1. Music

So, I've listened to the new Beatles song, Now and Then via articles, Dreamwidth links, on Apple Music (it's actually best with Bose earphones) and in the below music video digitally mastered by Peter Jackson:

Watch on YouTube

It's controversial, of course. All artistic expression is - well except for bland stuff that we forget about the moment we see or hear it. And the Beatles have always been controversial. There's even an book out about how the Beatles ruined Rock and Roll.

Everyone has their opinion on the subject. Which they are of course entitled to - whether they are entitled to act on it or share it, is another matter. I'd say just as long as it isn't hurting anyone or promoting censorship.

Anywho, the song, I thought, was rather good. I liked it enough to download it and save it to my library of songs on my phone. And enough to have listened to it numerous times. It's an interesting song, and in some respects one of the better artistic expressions of "grief" that I've seen to date. It has a sense of wistfulness to it. It's nostalgic as well - but grief tends to be - that's what a lot of people don't seem to realize, nostalgia is often an expression or form of grief. We look through old photos or albums of those who've long passed by or on, as the case may be, along with past versions of ourselves, that no longer exist. Grieving both side by side, and often mixed up, to such an extent, we aren't always certain what it is we are grieving.

The music video shared above and this song - seem to express that feeling better than most. Grief is a complicated and painful emotion, that ebbs and flows. Some days it will hit me all at once, and others...not at all. And McCartney and Ringo manage to get this across in their cobbling together of this song, as does Jackson. It is a song that haunts long after I hear it, and makes me want to re-listen, to hear the musical nuances in the chords and voices.

McCartney's aged and world weary voice paired with Lennon's younger one, speaks volumes. It's a song that almost has to be sung by someone older besides someone who is far younger. I'm not it is a song that can be song quite as effectively by anyone else.

The lyrics are rather simple, yet haunting, both in how they are sung and phrased.
( Read more... )

Listening to it - I found myself thinking about my father, and wistfully past friendships, long dissolved and gone. Age has taught me that life is temporary. I have all of this for a short period of time, and should be grateful for the time that I've had it. For it will be all gone in a flash, or so it will seem. And no matter how often I rewind the memories in my head - I will never quite be able to recapture those moments or reach out and touch them. The people are gone. And the memories slowly fade with time.

At any rate, the song resonated for me...mainly due to how it is sung.

**

Pop music - I'm not a huge fan of Pop. The stars of it - for the most part sound the same to me, as does a lot of their music. I listened to all of Taylor Swift for a bit - and finally gave up, it all sounded the same. It was like listening to the same riff. I got bored. Same is true of Harry Styles, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Lizzo, Madonna, etc.

The appeal of Swift - I can't quite decide if it is similar to Britney Spears and Madonna? She's limited in range. However, her songs are fine. I like Spears and Madonna's slightly better - but that may be an age or nostalgia thing.

It's odd to be nostalgic about the 1980s and 1990s, but here we are.

2. Health

I'm beginning to think my digestive issues may be allergy related. Had digestive issues again today, along with a sick sinus headache that went away when I got home. And I had a little caffeine and sugar - which made it go away.

But alas, it's why I decided not to run off to the poetry/spoken word MC night at my church tonight.

3. Making my way through Starling House and Turn of the Screw, I like Starling House better, but neither are remotely scary. Also James...sigh, over-writes. I keep getting lost in his verbiage. I've been taught to cut on the flowery speech and description, and James just rambles onwards.
( Read more... )
4. On the television front - so many things to choose from. I may put off a few until Thanksgiving to give myself something to watch with Wales, and with myself.

I finished Discovery of Witches

My "Cablevision" remote won't turn off the television but the Roku one will, which may mean that I accidentally switched it to the roku, which I've been using more. I'm getting very close to cutting the cable cord like just about everyone else (except mother). I have Optimum, which is also Cable Vision. I am considering switching to Verizon. But I hate Verizon. And I do not hate Optimum.

Halfway through Spy X Family - which is mostly a kids show. But based on magna, so better written than most. It's on Hulu.

Some good movies have popped up on streaming now along with series. Too many to choose from.

Choices?
( Read more... )
There's more, I'm certain. I keep forgetting about the shows I want to watch.

5. On the theater front...I'm getting tempted again.
( Read more... )
Ah, the culture junkie in me - is squirming.

6. On the work front - work isn't too bad. ( Read more... )

***

Goals this weekend - which will be four days - since I'm taking Monday off as a Personal Day, and Tuesday, we get off as a holiday (Election Day).
( Read more... )

1. I wonder sometimes if I'm incredibly odd for not going off and living with my boyfriend at the ripe old age of 19. I keep forgetting my niece is 19. My mother reminds me that my brother did this with his wife - they didn't get married until their 30s, and in a swimming pool.

My niece has found an apartment in Oregon to move into with her boyfriend, while they work as ski-lift operators at Mount Hood National Park. Apparently ~~the Overlook~~ Mount Hood Hotel doesn't have any room for them. Good news? They won't be eaten by ghosts. (I don't know if ghosts eat people...but I also don't know if there are actually any ghosts. I remain agnostic on the subject.)

She's 19. She graduated with a BA at 19. She drove across country by herself at 19. She got a job as a park ranger at 19. She is moving in with her boyfriend and getting an apartment together in Oregon at 19.

This may be more common than expected? Alix Harrow the author of the book that I'm currently reading - got her BA around 16, and MA by 20.

Why are people racing through their lives?

Feeling rather turtlish at the moment. (Assuming turtlish is a word, most likely not. We like to make up words in my family and pass them off as actual.)

2. I watched Elemental on Disney +, by Pixar - it's an animated Pixar film created by a Korean animator, and inspired by his parents immigration story to NYC setting up a bodega here. The story is about the Firish or Fire Elemental family, who leave the Fire Land to start life in Elemental City, which was created by Water and Air, with land showing up shortly thereafter. Fire has little place there - and after hunting a place to rent, finally stumble upon a broken down building that they rebuild to start their own Fire Restaurant and Shop. Somewhere along the line, they have a daughter - who they dream will inherit and run the shop - but she has a fiery temper and issues with customer service. The story is mainly about how immigrants help, and it takes all to make the world work. Similar in some respects to Zootopia.

I found it clever in the animation style, although I liked Zootopia a little better. There's a romance between two different elementals. And it feels - in some respects very old hat - in that I'd seen this before, but the animation was rather clever in places.

3. Spy X Family - still watching on Hulu, at meal times mainly and off and on. It's fun, here and there. Best when it focuses on Loid aka Twilight. The Anya and Yor shriek alot.

It's typical magna animation style - not quite as good as Hariukuma Misyagi, but a step above Seven Deadly Sins.

4. Discovery of Witches S3 - found it on MAX. Watching it before it disappears from MAX, which may be soon. So I need to hurry. There's seven episodes, now six left. I figure I can do it in one weekend. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain all day long.

Slow to start, but I rather liked the end of S3 Episode 1. Where Michael and Diana team up with two scientists to cure the blood rage, while Michael's brother and another vampire track down the killer - who is following Michael and Diana around, without them realizing it - and stole their painted cameos from the 14th century. (I think he's the little boy they adopted way back when, who became a man and was turned back in the 14th Century - because that's who they gave the cameos too.)

Also there's a nifty scene between Hugo's mate and Emily's spouse (Alex Kingston) regarding grief. Kingston is an underrated actress - she pulled me into her character on ER, and made me love Doctor River Song.

5. Briefly discussed Pride and Prejudice with mother. I told her that a German Academic Poster on DW (selenak) had pointed out how a plausible reading of Austen's P&P would more likely be that Elizabeth married Darcy for his money or estate. And mother agreed - that was Austen. Austen had a sly and biting sense of humor - and was making fun of the economic issues of the time. The Bennets had five daughters to unload, before Mr. Bennett died (he was in perfect health), because his heir was Mr. Collins. Women couldn't inherit. And they either made a good match - or became a live-in Governess or Lady's Companion. Mrs. Bennett would be cared for, but her daughters wouldn't by Collins. You didn't marry for love - you married for economic stability. And all of Austen's books are about economic instability and class, and how women had to marry with that in mind, as did men.

6. Whoa - mother just called to tell me that Mathew Perry (Chandler on Friends) just died at 54. She figured she should tell me - because I'd listened to his book on audible this year and had told her about it.

Mathew Perry died at 54 according to ABC news

That's terribly sad. He was apparently discovered in his hot tub.

The Emmy-nominated actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. Both outlets cited unnamed sources confirming Perry's death.

His publicists and other representatives did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Asked to confirm police response to what was listed as Perry’s home address, LAPD Officer Drake Madison told AP that officers had gone to that block "for a death investigation of a male in his 50s.”

Life is different for us all - I think - and hard for us all in different ways. But for the grace of god go I...has become a constant mantra in my mind.

7. My shingles seem to be bothering me this week, after not bothering me at all for two weeks. Just the one arm, and its more of a kind of stinging pin prick of pain from below the elbow to my fingertips. Also stings when the healing wound is pushed against anything.

There was this odd tapping above me - so I looked up and told the ceiling to please not do that - and it stopped. I thanked it.

8. Photos from Today's Walk...

( super goes all out in the decorations for our buildings front facade )

( ocean parkway promenade )

( impromptu house band playing on the front porch of one of the houses on the way to the grocery store in Ditmas )

Leaving with another picture of Broad Creek in South Carolina...

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Spontaneous Musings

from a curious soul

Entries tagged with television

The Emmy's

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Don't Look at the Person Behind the Curtain...

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