What I’ve Been Watching: Edition VII

As much as the media wanted to focus on the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, you could tell they were clearly distracted. You could almost read it on the face of each reporting-live-from-Dallas correspondent: “What has Jack Silbert been watching?”

Fear not, friends, it is time for another bi-annual installment.

If this doesn’t quite sate your curiosity, you may also refer to Edition I , II, III, IV, V,
or VI.

And now, on with the shows.

LIKED A LOT

Hello Ladies (HBO) Just as I’d truly tired of Ricky Gervais, here’s his comedic partner Stephen Merchant to save the day. I was a little lukewarm about the first episode but the show quickly became a favorite. Merchant perfectly captures what it’s like to be single, bright, awkward, and a bit of a prick. Very, very funny but also a whole lot of heart, exemplified by his recently-separated pal. Sharply written and excellently cast. The secret weapon is Kyle Mooney as Merchant’s nerdy assistant—he is dependably hilarious, and has also done terrific work as a featured player on Saturday Night Live this season.

Broadchurch (BBC America) I don’t watch Doctor Who and Copper is a piece of shit, so this was my first real satisfying experience with BBC America. (I tried to watch Orphan Black too but I screwed up the DVR.) Broadchurch did an excellent job at what The Killing tried and ultimately failed to do: show the rippling effects that a horrific crime can have on people’s lives. There was also a real sense of menace and the whodunnit angle was spread over a realistically wide net. David Tennant was superb and often amusing as the lead detective, even if I had to consult the closed-captioning from time to time. Also nice to see Sophie from Peep Show in a serious role.

The Heart, She Holler (Adult Swim) Just as I’d truly tired of Patton Oswalt, here’s Patton Oswalt to save the day. I missed season one so quickly caught up on-demand and was totally hooked. The show is so dark and so twisted—I kind of love it. And though totally a comedy, there are legitimate horror elements that completely work. Oswalt is great as the extremely dimwitted main character. In season two, Amy Sedaris replaced Kristen Schall. But it’s the unknown actors who really hold together the weirdness. (In a small role, David Cross seems to be trying a little too hard.)

American Horror Story: Coven (FX) Oh sure, change the title so I have to re-review it every year. Pretty sneaky, Ryan Murphy! (But also very clever reanimating Cory Monteith. #toosoon) They’re doing a great, f-ed job once again, having so much fun with their returning actors. I especially love young Evan Peters as a modern-day Frankenstein’s monster, and his season-1 doomed lover Taissa Farmiga has been transcendent. But perhaps my favorite touch is the witch who thinks she’s Stevie Nicks.

LIKED

Drunk History (Comedy Central) I have enjoyed these intoxicated historical re-enactments since I first saw them on HBO’s Funny or Die Presents. You’re guaranteed to learn a little something, and when they have the right storyteller, these can be absolutely hilarious. If it was my show, I wouldn’t have creator Derek Waters getting drunk with his narrators. (I’d also drop the extraneous “party” segments between stories; I feel like I wasn’t invited.) To me the funniest thing is if there’s only one ridiculously drunk person and everybody else is playing it straight.

KIND OF LIKED/KIND OF DIDN’T

The Bridge (FX) When this debuted, I thought it was fantastic. Late at night on the bridge—I loved the mood of it, the feel of it. And I’m very taken by the lead characters, Asperger’s-suffering super-detective Sonya Cross and flawed-but-righteous partner Marco Ruiz. But it got increasingly stupid as the season wore on, and just when I thought it would rebound strongly… it didn’t. I hope this isn’t the new Killing but I think it might be: solid framework, no story.

The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC) I couldn’t be happier to have Michael J. Fox back on NBC on Thursday nights. And there’s a unique (if obvious) conceit that’s pretty compelling: How does a family deal with an active dad who just happens to have Parkinson’s? The kids are fairly cookie-cutter but pretty likable, and I like having Bunk around. The show just needs to be… funnier. A lot funnier. And a little smarter. Am I asking too much?

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX) It’s amusing enough. I’m enjoying seeing my old pal Pembleton from Homicide being so deadpan. The dad from Everybody Hates Chris gets some funny moments. Joe Lo Truglio from The State is charming and also gets a lot of laughs. Nice that they hired Hoss’s son. It’s just too bad that the show doesn’t have a hilarious lead like Andy Samberg to—what’s that? Oh, he is the star? And that’s the true shame of Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Samberg was so goofily funny on SNL and with the Lonely Island (though, ok, we get it, it’s funny when white guys rap), and even on the recent James Franco roast. But here he seems really neutered, as a not very likable character. Let Samberg be Samberg, and maybe the show will improve.

DIDN’T LIKE

The Crazy Ones (CBS) Let’s add Robin Williams to the list of actors who I have liked less and less over the years. But hell, back on TV, where he originally delighted young Jack—sure, I’d give this a shot. First episode was pretty good, and I thought Williams was funny (which I hadn’t thought in a long time). I was worried about it being a little too Mad Men-lite but I hung in there. Alas, it was only for a few episodes more. It was just kind of blah. Sarah Michelle Gellar did nothing for me, and neither did Mad Men‘s very own Bob Benson. And speaking of Sunday night shows, here was an unexpected problem: the casting of The Newsroom‘s recent-season villain as the “nice guy” here. He was such a believable slimeball on HBO, I couldn’t accept him in a light comedic role. Sorry, Hamish Linklater.

ONE AND DONE

Dads (FOX) Sexist, racist, ageist, bad laugh track, totally generic.

The Goldbergs (ABC) Sorry, Jeff Garlin, but I couldn’t get past the “This is taking place in the 1980’s! The 1980’s!!!” overly-blatant concept. And it seemed like a Wonder Years rip-off, with the aforementioned Oswalt filling the Daniel Stern role. Also, the series is set in Pennsylvania yet is so obviously filmed in California. Details, people, details!

Trophy Wife (ABC) I’m not sure this one counts. I had no intention of watching, and then two trusted friends were critiquing the show on Facebook. Soon after, I was scrolling through the on-demand menu, and there it was. Didn’t even make it through a full episode. Here’s the only things that struck me as interesting:
1) That there are female creators behind a show with a sexist conceit
2) People who work on such clever projects—Malin Akerman from Childrens Hospital; Michaela Watkins from SNL, Enlightenment, etc.; two of the behind-the-scenes guys from Hello Ladies—could come together and make such a bland, paint-by-numbers sitcom. That’s Hollywood for ya.

YOU KNOW HOW EACH TIME I MARVEL AT THE FACT THAT I’M STILL WATCHING THE SIMPSONS AND MODERN FAMILY?

OK, I am still watching The Simpsons. But you’ll be so proud of me: Modern Family debuted with an hour-long episode, I watched for a little bit and thought, “I can’t do an hour of this.” Deleted the series from my DVR and haven’t looked back. Dear sitcoms: Most of you are simply not strong enough to do hour-long shows, even if it’s just two random episodes shown back-to-back. Careful, Parks & Recreation, you might be next.

THANK YOU AND GOODBYE

Eastbound & Down (HBO) Five years ago, I had no idea who Danny McBride was. Since then I’ve become a fan, but he’s really done his best work in this show. Kenny Powers is a classic creation: offensive blowhard jackhole who we love just the same. I was so impressed that each season, they’d come up with a wild new setting for Kenny (minor leagues? Mexico?) and always make it work. Will really miss this show.

FOOL ME ONCE…

The Killing (AMC/NETFLIX) I was so pleased when it was canceled after its convoluted second season. Then, in a twist surprise… it was renewed. Hey—Linden, Holder, rainy Seattle, and now Peter Sargaard? I gave it one more chance. I shouldn’t have. Executive producer Veena Sud clearly has a good eye for compelling situations and strong characters—but absolutely zero grasp of story or follow-through. So I was celebrating its second cancelation—until we recently learned that it’s been renewed yet again. Oh fer cryin’ out loud! A six-episode final season (final? really?) will stream on Netflix. Will I tune in? Of course I will. Because I’m an idiot.

SUNDAY-NIGHT MVP’S

Amy Seimetz On The Killing, she was a strung-out, deadbeat mom who slowly gained our sympathy over the course of the season. And wait, the same actress unrecognizably played the awkward thinking-man’s dreamgirl on Family Tree! Very impressive.

Eric Ladin Forget Walking Dead; if there’s a guy who can’t die on Sunday nights, it’s Eric Ladin! I first encountered him as Betty Draper’s uptight brother. Next, on The Killing he was the mayor’s weaselly (or was he??) aide-de-camp. And then he shows up as freaking J. Edgar Hoover on Boardwalk Empire! Apologies, Almighty, but for Eric Ladin, Sunday is simply not a day of rest.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Last night I DVR’d Getting On and Ja’mie: Private School Girl (both HBO) but haven’t had a chance to watch yet. With Ja’mie, I’m really hoping Chris Lilley bounces back from the somewhat lackluster Angry Boys. Also hoping for good things from the animated Chozen (FX) which Danny McBride is behind. And even though Russia totally sucks (talk about your ’80s flashbacks!) I’m sure I’ll be watching an awful lot of the Winter Olympics. And of course… tick tick tick tick tick… 24.