What I’ve Been Watching: Edition XXIX

Luckily, the recent government shutdown didn’t effect my TV viewing. Here’s a list of the shows I’ve checked out in the past several months.

LOVED

The Pitt (HBO) I never did watch ER, and I haven’t watched a hospital show since Code Black. But the 24-esque real-time conceit of this series really hooked me, and I couldn’t wait for the next episode. Noah Wyle leads an excellent cast playing doctors and support staff with a lot of heart (and often actual hearts). I am very thankful for a night at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly when both the bartender and my friend Maggie recommended this show.

Task (HBO) I loved Brad Ingelsby’s previous limited series, Mare of Easttown (ok, technically, I “liked it a lot”), and Mark Ruffalo is a long-time fave, so this was a no-brainer for me. Took about an episode to really warm to it, though they scored early points by featuring the Merlin bird-identifying app. Tom Pelphrey, as conflicted bad guy Robbie, is another standout in a superb cast, as the show explored nontraditional families, loyalty, and dreams of a better life with a tremendous amount of heart.

The Chair Company (HBO) My love for this show is so strong, I’m not even waiting for the season finale to air before posting this. The Chair Company is what the movie Friendship could’ve and should’ve been: Take the absurdity and bizarro-yet-very-real characters of I Think You Should Leave and place them in a fleshed-out, more realistic environment. In this, Tim Robinson isn’t simply a quick-to-anger office fuckup; he’s a real person with a wife and kids who he loves, and a responsible job that he’s good at. Until he falls out of a chair and all hilarious hell breaks loose.

King of the Hill (Hulu) Not technically a new show for me, but the original 1997–2009 run was before I started doing these recaps, and I need to show Hank Hill some public love. Mike Judge and his team didn’t lose a step in restarting the classic series. Though most animated series exist in a permanent present, King’s characters aged (Bobby is now a chef; the boy still ain’t right) and experienced the pandemic and societal shifts. Even Hank, retired from selling propane and propane accessories, is slightly woke. Just a little. I was delighted to have this show back.

LIKED A LOT

The Studio (Apple) Really funny and sharp satire of the movie industry, with some terrific cameos. Some episodes were stronger than others, and an overarching cynicism kept me from fully embracing the show, but Seth Rogen and crew deserved their Emmy awards.

Families Like Ours (Netflix) I can’t remember who recommended this to me! But thank you. Set in a very possible near future, this limited series had a terrifying conceit: Rising water levels make Denmark uninhabitable, forcing the government to shut down the country and for all the residents to emigrate. We see the impact on an extended family, led by young actress Amaryllis August (daughter of great Danish director Bille August of Pelle the Conqueror, Les Misérables, etc.), including immigration quotas, illegal border crossings, xenophobia, difficulty finding work, etc.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock) I signed up for Peacock for a month and keep forgetting to cancel just to watch this documentary series. Not all four episodes are equally compelling, but I loved learning about the very-odd season 11, and to devote an entire episode to the cowbell sketch took gusto. (Note to self: Watch Jim Downey doc and cancel Peacock.)

LIKED

The Lowdown (Hulu) I had high hopes for the latest from Reservation Dogs’ Sterlin Harjo. It stars my boy Ethan Hawke and includes other favorite actors: Kyle MacLachlan, Tracy Letts, Tom McCarthy. And I did love the Tulsa setting of bookstores, diners, bars, and dusty wide-open streets. It’s fun and I kept watching, yet it just doesn’t have the heart and soul that made Reservation Dogs so brilliant.

Stick (Apple) I thought I was one-and-done. I’m not a golf guy, and after watching Happy Gilmore 2, I felt like that was enough golf for me this year. But my friend Jamie convinced me to stick with Stick, and I’m glad I did. Owen Wilson is charming as ever as a once-great golf pro who gets a chance at redemption by coaching a young phenom. We follow their gently comic adventures which stress the always welcome lesson, family is where you find it. And Judy Greer has really hit a sweet spot in her career as the sensible and kind ex-wife.

JURY’S STILL OUT
We can assume it’ll be a “loved” but I still have four episodes (8 hours) to go in Ken Burns’ American Revolution. Don’t tell me who wins!

ODDLY…

I didn’t try any series that I really didn’t like in this stretch of time. There was a movie I had saved on my DVR that I gave up on, but I forget what it was.

YES, I STILL WATCH THE SIMPSONS

Hey, they’re making another movie. My theory last time was that they were saving the best jokes for the screenplay, so the TV writing suffered. We’ll see how it plays out this time.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

As soon as I finish The American Revolution I’m starting Plur1bus. I meant to give It: Welcome to Derry a try. Of course in February there’s the 2026 Winter Olympics. I think I’ll sample All Her Fault even though it’s on Peacock and one of the directors is named Minkie.

SHOWS I USED TO WATCH AND IN MANY CASES STILL DO

Links to Edition I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, and XXVIII.