What I’ve Been Watching: Edition XVIII

I began this draft five weeks ago, which was already three weeks later than I normally post it. But at long last, here is my recap of the new stuff I was checking out in the summer and fall. It was a span of time where I attempted to take back the night, watching only what I truly wanted to watch — not including The Simpsons, which I have some sort of masochistic relationship with. I heard the triumphant tones of Adele Dazeem belting out “Let It Go” as I deleted entire unwatched seasons of Better Things (OK, I watched two before giving up) and The Last O.G. from my DVR, making room for the following….

LOVED

Los Espookys (HBO) So delightfully different from anything else on the air! SNL writer Julio Torres’s surreal humor propels these adventures of friends who start a horror business in an unnamed country — with occasional help from Fred Armisen as a parking attendant in Los Angeles. Odd and hilarious.

LIKED A LOT

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO) Danny McBride has done it again, even if once again he’s playing a very similar over-confident, not-as-smart-as-he-thinks character. (If it ain’t broke….) The target this time is mega churches and their mega money. McBride’s supporting cast is excellent, with special nods to John Goodman as the patriarch and Walton Goggins as Uncle Baby Billy, trying to regain the evangelical glory of his childhood.

KIND OF LIKED, KIND OF DIDN’T

What We Do in the Shadows (FX) The movie, I liked. The show… eh, could be better, especially with the people involved (Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi). And I’m a big Matt Berry fan. It just felt like they were taking the high concept conceit — ancient vampires’ misadventures in the modern world — and stretching it a little too far.

TWO AND DONE

Living With Yourself (Netflix) Another high concept: Paul Rudd accidentally clones himself and, eh. No real laughs.

ONE AND DONE

City on a Hill (Showtime) I had to check out a new offering from Fontana/Levinson, but it didn’t grab me. Set in Boston so of course you also have Affleck and Damon behind the scenes, and by law they had to cast comic Lenny Clarke in a supporting role. I meant to watch a second one; just never did.

Lights Out With David Spade (Comedy Central) I was quickly put off by the overly casual air, including Spade holding a red Solo cup during his monologue, and also his facial hair was creepy. Buh-bye.

DELETED AFTER 10 MINUTES

Russian Doll (Netflix) I’ve seen Groundhog Day before. I’ve seen Groundhog Day before. I’ve seen Groundhog Day before.

Dead to Me (Netflix) Not for me.

DELETED AFTER 5 MINUTES, 48 SECONDS

Sex Education (Netflix) I wanted to believe in this Gillian Anderson offering.

THE SIMPSONS

Addressed in prologue.

THANK YOU AND GOODBYE

Silicon Valley (HBO) So sharp, so funny, so tuned-in, year after year, and their friendship was so sweet. Without this show I’ll be… always blue.

Baskets (Netflix) The previous year, the show seemed to stumble without co-creator Louis CK. But it truly found its footing again for the final season. I’ll really miss these indelible characters, especially Christine, Martha, and Dale.

The Deuce (HBO) It was never David Simon’s best work, but James Franco’s dual performance kept me coming back, and they truly nailed the ending.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Curb this Sunday! New Fargo coming this spring — the trailer looks good! Avenue 5 should be fun. I’m hoping Medical Police is as hilarious as Childrens Hospital. Watched the first two episodes of The Outsider and (no spoilers, Stephen King readers) I’m hooked but I hope there’s not too much supernatural mumbo-jumbo. I screwed up last year by not recording Ken Burns’s Country Music because Cablevision doesn’t have PBS on-demand and then its free run on the website didn’t last long but now they’re replaying it and I won’t blow this second chance! I’ll watch The Plot Against America miniseries even though — eh, it’s another story for another time.

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, and XVII.