What I’ve Been Watching: Edition XI

So I just subscribed to Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, CBS All Access, and Sling TV, and it’s only going to cost me $4,000 a month more than my cable bill! Score! Hey, you do what ya gotta do when you love the TV. Speaking of, here’s my biannual rundown of the new (or new-to-me) shows I’ve been watching of late.

LOVED

Show Me a Hero (HBO) Like Bridge of Spies, this miniseries turned negotiation into compelling viewing. David Simon rebounded from Tre-meh with this true-life tale, based on the political, legal, and community battles to integrate Yonkers, New York, in the late-80s/early-90s. Oscar Isaac, one of the absolute best actors working today, is outstanding in the lead role. Plus we get lots of Springsteen tunes, and my forever-crush Winona Ryder. It all added up to truly excellent television, with a very affecting conclusion.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) OK, I was late to the party (I don’t have the, cough cough, “traditional” access to Netflix), but oh man is this sharp and funny, like 30 Rock was, unsurprisingly. Ellie Kemper is perfectly cast in the title role; it’s great to see her getting a chance to shine after the sad, slow death of The Office. But everybody is great in this: Carol Kane (!), Titus Burgess, and guest stars like Martin Short, Nick Kroll, and Jon Hamm. Funny, funny stuff.

LIKED A LOT

The Grinder (FOX) Rob Lowe, who had become a bit tiresome on Parks & Recreation (well, the whole show did), is completely hilarious in this. The entire cast is great: Fred Savage, William Devane (fun to see him doing comedy after tango-ing with Jack Bauer for many years), a toning-it-down Stevie from Eastbound and Down…. The first episode was fantastic, the second one wasn’t, but overall this show has maintained a very high level of both clever writing and crisp performances.

Fargo (FX) I really look forward to this every week, and I certainly can’t say that about most things I watch. It’s a bit darker than the first season, but the writing, cast, and overall filmmaking is equally as good. They really set and maintain a unique northern mood.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (Netflix) I know I was supposed to love the original movie when it came out, but I didn’t. This limited series, though, was a marked improvement — the State crew has gotten smarter and funnier in the intervening years. Inspired me to give the movie a second chance… and I still think it’s only so-so.

Documentary Now! (IFC) When this was good — which was most of the time — it was superb. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader get goofy as all get-out, with really strong attention to detail. I liked it a lot more than Portlandia and I don’t care who knows it!

LIKED

Code Black (CBS) It’s been quite a while since I’ve regularly watched a network hour-long drama, but, you know, maybe I’m tight with the sister of the dude who makes this one. I like it! Set in a busy L.A. emergency ward, this reminds me a bit of St. Elsewhere, Getting On, Scrubs, and ER except I never watched ER. Oh, and Homicide, because they’ve got one of those dry-erase boards with names written in red or black. This feels more realistic than other hospital shows, maybe because it’s based on a documentary (which I’d now like to see). And just when you think it might get too melodramatic, it doesn’t, because there’s always a new patient to deal with, and you really feel like you’re in the middle of all the hectic, life-or-death activity. Marcia Gay Harden is a believable, comforting presence in the lead role, and you can’t go wrong with Luis Guzmán.

The Muppets (ABC) The reboot movies have been highly entertaining, but I was nervous about this. Would it try to be too grown-up/”edgy”? Thankfully, they seem pretty respectful to the characters, and there have been decent laughs in every episode. In the most recent one, Kermit busting out the banjo for “Rainbow Connection” gave me a real smile.

The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Land) This wants to be Louie, and it is not Louie. They even rip off the Seinfeld music. Also, OK, we get it, you’re Catholic. (And why does Adam Goldberg have to be the butt of so many jokes?) Still, Gaffigan is dependably funny, Michael Ian Black provides some laughs too, there are amusing cameos… eh, for TV Land, it’s good enough.

True Detective (HBO) A solid second season, if not as distinctive as the first. Another strong cast: Colin Farrell, Taylor “Tim Riggins” Kitsch, Rachel McAdams who I am also rather fond of but don’t worry Winona my heart still belongs to you, Vince Vaughn… all turning in good work. I dug Lera Lynn spookily singing and strumming in that creepy bar. (I’d been a fan since seeing her on Letterman back in January.) Storyline was pretty convoluted but when all was said and done it held together.

DIDN’T LIKE

The Spoils Before Dying (IFC) I really enjoyed The Spoils of Babylon, but this just didn’t do it for me. Maybe comedy is not the strength of Omar from The Wire. Or maybe it was the Law of Diminishing Returns for Will Ferrell and his band of merry disciples.

TWO AND DONE

Another Period (Comedy Central) Maybe if I watched Downton Abbey, I’d appreciate this spoof a lot more. Many very funny people are in this, including Garfunkel from Garfunkel and Oates (who is also Fozzie’s girlfriend on The Muppets). But I just didn’t laugh very much at all. After two episodes, I was done.

ONE AND DONE

The Brink (HBO) Also a very strong cast — Tim Robbins, Jack Black, etc. — but zero laughs. Like Albert Brooks a decade ago, they went looking for comedy in the Muslim world, and also did not find it.

Mr. Robot (USA Network) This got an awful lot of buzz — ooh, hacking! how very NOW! — but watching it, I couldn’t really give a shit. I do like Rami Malek, and I’m happy Christian Slater is getting work, but I cannot say “domo arigato” to Mr. Robot.

Blunt Talk (Starz) I was excited that Jonathan Ames had another show after my beloved Bored to Death. I shouldn’t have been. Decent cast, led by Patrick Stewart, Richard Lewis, etc., but an overall cheap feel to the proceedings and, to be blunt, not funny.

Why? With Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central) Let’s give Hannibal Buress credit for really jumpstarting the anti-Cosby movement, but I have to say, Cosby is still a lot funnier than him. The writing here was crummy, and there were too many forced reaction shots of the studio audience. Stick with the much better Eric Andre Show, Mr. Buress.

Supergirl (CBS) The lead actress seemed really charming to me, but this just didn’t have a superhero vibe. Seemed like a cynical attempt to appeal to women: We’ll make the sets bright and airy! She’ll worry about her clothes! When the show did try to get superhero-y, it was incredibly stupid. Hmm, is that what the S stands for?

DELETED 69 MINUTES INTO THE 90-MINUTE PREMIERE

American Horror Story: Hotel (FX) I have really liked past seasons of American Horror Story (though last year’s Freak Show edition was pretty sucky). And I am by no means a prude — bring on the dirty, dirty sex and the morally questionable gore! But, I’m sorry, this was garbage. It seems to me that true horror must be rooted in reality. But by this point, Mr. Glee has totally lost sight of that. He’s just trying to shock “mainstream sensibilities” and is not talented enough to weave it into a gripping story. On the bright side, for me it was like the end of Daylight Saving Time — I got an hour back on my DVR, every week!

DELETED AFTER 12 MINUTES

Moonbeam City (Comedy Central) Animated Miami Vice/80s spoof. Good voices — Rob Lowe, Will Forte, Elizabeth Banks — can’t make up for crappy writing.

JURY STILL OUT

Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz) Two episodes in, I want to slot this in “Liked a Lot,” but… let’s hold off for the time being. Though my buddy Rob sang the praises of The Evil Dead back in high school, I was a late adopter. But now I am quite the devotee, and will take The Evil Dead over The Walking Dead any day of the week. So far, the show is as twisted, dark, and funny as the films, and it is a true pleasure to watch Bruce Campbell do his thing. Still, with Sam Raimi not heavily involved after the first episode, I’m curious to see if they’ll be able to vary the stories enough as the weeks go by. You can only see so many heads get chainsawed off.

JURY CAME BACK

Wayward Pines (FOX) “I’ll keep watching, but I reserve the right to be very angry at this show,” I said in the previous edition. Well, I did get very angry at this show. The second half of the season was garbage, and the final episode made me feel like a real jackhole for tuning in at all. You and I are through, M. Night Shyamalan.

STILL WATCHING THE SIMPSONS?

Yep.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

I have high hopes for Zach Snuffleupagus in Baskets. I want to believe that the return of The X-Files will be good. And I’d be excited about Vinyl on HBO even if my friend Tiffany wasn’t an extra.

SHOWS I USED TO WATCH AND IN MANY CASES STILL DO

Links to Edition I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X.