I never went to film school. One could argue that the absence of a sober (or any) parent made my home a defacto TV school, also TV blogger school. But I’m sure real film / TV school would be better, even possibly more fun and enriching etc. But for now, following writer/producer/director (Usual Suspects, M:I Rogue Nation, M:I Fallout) Chris McQuarrie on Twitter is way good enough. As a devotee of the late show in the 1970s, I saw The Taking of Pelham 123 and many other of the great and grimy New York films huddled in the wee hours in front of a flickering TV. Here is McQuarrie tweeting his way through a re-viewing of the 1974 Pelham 123. You’ll love it. And if you don’t have it on DVD or VHS (shut up) and don’t want to steal it (yes Sister Claire, I see you there), here’s a painful but complete-looking playlist from YouTube (update; badbadnotgood), buy or or rent it as I just did, from Apple.
Now where were we? TV! Onward.
Sunday Jan 19
Did I mention I was over at Rob Lowe’s house at Christmas? Oh sorry. I misspelled “I got lost in Santa Barbara while trying to find the gym where my nephew (UCalgary Dino Mason Foreman; thanks for asking!) was playing basketball against some very rich young men.” Visiting, lost on a winding road near where one of your fave TV stars lives… The line is very thin when it’s that dark. Anyway, Lowe’s new 9-1-1 (which i enjoy un-ironically, thanks) spinoff, 9-1-1: Lone Star, kicks off tonight at 10pm ET (or after football) on Fox and CTV. Liv Tyler is his costar. A second episode airs Monday. Bumph is slight, but what more do you need? “A New York firefighter relocates with his son, where he works to save people’s lives while trying to solve his own personal problems.”
Dr. House sans stethoscope: (Too dated? Pfft.) Hugh Laurie stars in the new HBO half-hour Avenue 5 (1-10:30pm HBO). Bumph: “Created by Armando Iannucci of Veep, Avenue 5 is set 40 years in the future when traveling the solar system is no longer the stuff of sci-fi fantasy, but a booming, multibillion-dollar business. The series stars Hugh Laurie as Ryan Clark, the confident and suave captain of “Avenue 5,” a space cruise ship with luxury amenities like gourmet buffets, a spa, an observation deck and yoga classes. As the series begins, Avenue 5’s eight-week journey around Saturn is underway and its systems are optimal. But when the ship suddenly encounters technical difficulties, it’s up to Ryan and his crew to calm the disgruntled passengers and find a way to deal with unexpected events onboard – though they may or may not be equipped for the task. The cast includes Hugh Laurie (Emmy® nominee for “Veep,” Golden Globe winner for “House M.D.”); Josh Gad (“Murder on the Orient Express”), Zach Woods (HBO’s “Silicon Valley”), Rebecca Front (“Poldark,” BAFTA winner for “The Thick of It”), Suzy Nakamura (“Dr. Ken”), Lenora Crichlow (“Being Human”), Nikki Amuka-Bird (CINEMAX’s “Quarry”) and Ethan Phillips (“Inside Llewyn Davis”).” I’m excited!
Larry at last: Curb Your Enthusiasm returns for a 10th season (10:30-11:10pm HBO) of writer/producer/actorish Larry David playing a crotchety version of his crotchety self. “With cast regulars Jeff Garlin (as manager Jeff Greene), Susie Essman (as Jeff’s wife Susie), Cheryl Hines (as Larry’s ex-wife Cheryl), JB Smoove (as Larry’s live-in friend Leon) and Richard Lewis (as Larry’s long-suffering best friend Richard) reprising their roles, the series continues to feature appearances by guests playing themselves or characters. New episodes also include returning favourites Ted Danson and Saverio Guerra. This season, Larry gets into a series of escalating predicaments as he takes on a major project to spite a new adversary – an undertaking that proves to be more complicated than he anticipated.”
Upright is a new Aussie comedy series (9:30-10 SC Fuse). “When family outcast Lucky Flynn, played by Tim Minchin, learns that his mother is dying, he decides to drive to the other side of Australia to see her, packing nothing but an upright piano for the journey. But his plans are soon turned upside down when he meets the runaway teenager Meg, played by Milly Alcock, who’s dealing with some family demons of her own. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, as they embark on a 4000 kilometre road-trip adventure from the east coast of Australia to the west in a race against time. Along the way they encounter feral camels, a magical pink lake, highway thieves, cliff-top parties, a speed-loving truckie, an underworld fight ring, suspicious cops, and the world’s most musically appreciative motorcycle gang. Over eight hot days, Lucky and Meg drive, hitch and scam their way across the scorching desert continent – with the upright piano never leaving their side – on a journey that will ultimately make them both feel more at peace with everything in life that they’ve been kicking against.”
It follows the premiere of another Fuse SC series Florida Girls (9-9:30). “Four girls in Clearwater, Fla., are forced to take stock of their lives when their best friend moves out of their shared mobile home to start a career.” Huh. Who knows?
From the BBC, the six-episode mini Vienna Blood premieres on PBS (10-11pm). Bumph: “A student of Sigmund Freud and an Austrian detective team up to solve some of the most mysterious and deadly cases in early 1900s Vienna. … (Episode 1) Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt calls upon Dr. Max Liebermann, a student of Freud, to help investigate the murder of a beautiful young medium. The mysterious circumstances of the case suggest a supernatural power is at work.”
Monday Jan. 20
Family Reunion: Part 2 (new on Netflix) “This sitcom about a Seattle family who must readjust to simple living in Georgia returns for its second season.”
Tuesday Jan. 21
Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty (new comedy on Netflix) “Southern-born comedian, writer and actress Fortune Feimster is back with her first hour-long Netflix original comedy special, Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty. The comedian recalls her childhood misadventures as a former Girl Scout, debutante and (disqualified) swim meet champion; her family’s complicated relationship with Hooters; and how a movie helped her realize she was a lesbian.”
Word Party: Season 4 (new on Netflix) “Cue the music: It’s time for a party! Join animal babies Franny, Bailey, Kip, Lulu and their new friend, Tilly, for more learning and language fun.
PBS’s Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates (8-9pm PBS) is back with stories of three famous people and their Jewish heritages: Jeff Goldbug, NPR host Terry Gross and comic and WTF podcaster Marc Maron. I am a big fan of all three. Also I love this show anyway, no matter who the subject.
Wednesday Jan. 22
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens premieres on Much (10:30-11pm). When is the last time I watched Much? But this warrants. “This January, creator and writer Awkwafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) stars in the half-hour scripted comedy inspired by her real-life growing up in Queens, NY. Raised by her Dad (BD Wong) and Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) alongside her cousin (Bowen Yang), Nora Lin leans on her family as she navigates life and young adulthood in outer borough-NYC.” Read a good interview in the NYTimes right here.
Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (new on Netflix) “The six episode docuseries explores the ways influenza evolves and how prepared humans are — or aren’t — for the next devastating global outbreak.”
What is d2tv anyway? I’m so glad you asked. This is the latest iteration of my TV writing/blogging that began back in 1986 or so? at the Winnipeg Sun, continued in print and web at the Montreal Gazette (only occasionally now) and finally, here, for myself and YOU! Owing to the time demands of full-time employment for an unnamed news outlet, d2tv is currently reduced to covering mostly the premieres of new and returning series, specials etc, with the occasional series finale thrown in for sentimental reasons, for both broadcast and streaming. Reviews are, for the moment, only occasional. If you spot an error or oversight or have a recommendation to share, please do so in the comments or by emailing me at the above address. Glad you’re here. And isn’t this era of too much TV a great time to be alive?
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