Lately we’ve been watching a really terrific British sitcom called Black Books, about a misanthropic alcoholic bookstore owner, his odd but strangely endearing employee, and the crazy lady who runs the shop next door. We literally laugh out loud at least once per episode.
Black Books (TV Series 2000–2004) - IMDb
We are in the middle of it. It feels a little less frenetic than the other seasons.
I saw that a while ago. It was hilarious. Bill Bailey is a genius, though his musical skills aren’t used on the show.
Wife and I watched this over the last two nights, and we were both underwhelmed. It’s stylish and it looks good, but very little substance or originality. And the subject matter (human trafficking) is kind of icky for light fare like this.
We’ve watched this series multiple times over the years. It’s one of our favorite “go-to’s” if we’re just looking for something amusing and entertaining to watch. Doesn’t matter how often we’ve seen it. The actors and their characters work together extremely well and the situations are often hilarious. Glad you’re enjoying it.
Beast Games (season 2)
Fun, but not as good as the first season. Felt very much like they reused the exact same stuff.
Why does this show take 41 days to make? What a bloated experience. It looks like it could be filmed in 10 days or so.
When they come back for season 3, they really need to come up with original challenges.
Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters is back for season 2. I really enjoyed the first season so I have high hopes for the new installment.
Just started Jury Duty on Amazon Prime.
The premise is a “documentary” about jury duty in which every single character is an actor except one guy, who isn’t in on it.
When I heard about the premise I was a bit worried as I don’t like prank shows or anything with a whiff of mean- spiritedness. But this is actually pretty wholesome so far. The joke is not on the lone juror, it’s on everyone else acting ridiculous while he tries not to laugh at them. He seems like a pretty nice guy. One of the jurors is James Marsden as himself, and when the juror rather thoughtlessly insulted the Sonic movie, he came back the next day to say he watched the film and actually it was cool. I don’t know if he actually watched the film but it was a nice gesture.
The actors are so skilled at being ridiculous within the range of realistic human behavior that I would fall for it 100%. It’s very funny.
Off to a great start.
I never watched the show but I enjoyed listening to Big Joel complain about it. He’s a YouTuber who often does thoughtful video essays on cool stuff but my favorite is when he’s just mad about something. And rather than complaining about Mr. Beast controversies he’s just mad the games themselves are not better designed.
If anyone is interested, For All Mankind returns March 27.
And its spin-off Star City (a retelling from the Soviet perspective) debuts May 29.
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve been waiting on For All Mankind to come back.
I’m debating if I am going to watch the spin-off, though. I don’t know if I need to re-watch the same events from Russia’s point of view.
I love that the judge is a real judge.
I watched a few episodes, but moved on to something else. It’s on my list to get back to someday. I really like Marsden in this.
Which is why it baffles me why that one, Grey’s Anatomy and House are on physical media (and why ER and House have all-in-one [complete series] releases), while one I think is actually watchable, Trapper John, M.D. (from CBS in the late-70s to mid-80s, w/the late, great Pernell Roberts in the title role) can’t even buy a DVD.
Black Books is a brilliant series, although it is now tainted by association with Grand Transphobe Wizard Graham Linehan who co-wrote the first season. But Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig are a delight to watch.
“I ate all your bees!”
Lineham was one of the greats of modern british comedy and wasn’t always the transphobe, that seemed to happen in later season of the IT Crowd, with jokes against trans people then the madness of twitter (I’ve not paid that much attention to him, so no expert). He was involved with one of the greatest sitcoms of all time though, Father Ted and had ties to other total classics including The Day Today, Brass Eye, Jam and Big Train.
I regard him as tainted past, I’d say, 2012.
We watched this awhile back and enjoyed it a lot. Didn’t hurt that my wife is a Marsden fan, and it’s always fun watching actors play a jerkier version of themselves— they always seem to be having fun with it, too.
It’s a show that really could have gone off the rails at so many points, but doesn’t. And, minor spoiler, but it does keep its positive, non mean-spirited tone throughout.
ETA: Holy coinkidink, Batman! As I was typing this post I have the Today Show on in the background, and they just announced ‘Jury Duty: Season 2’ is coming…
I don’t mind seeing misdiagnoses or other mistakes; presumably 99.9% of the procedures in their hospital go correctly and they’re only showing us the 0.1% of procedures that are interesting for dramatic television.
What does tend to annoy me are “light-hearted” side stories that are just downright stupid. E.g.
- Nurse Hathaway has her Christmas spirit restored by a mysterious toymaker named Stan A. Calus. But can this jolly, bearded patient be more than he seems?
- It’s Halloween and spooky things are happening in the ER. Could it be the legendary ghost of the 5th floor?
- Electronic devices start malfunctioning after receptionist E-Ray has an MRI. Can it be fixed by sneaking him back into the MRI room and reversing his polarity? (This one made me want to punch the TV.)
We started Deadwater Fell last night. A Scottish murder mystery starring Cush Jumbo and David Tennant. An atmospheric effort, but it’s holding our interest.
This sounds up my alley. Where are you watching it?
(Can folks please remember to post what service they are using to watch various shows in this fragmented media era??)
I loved this whole series. A delightful surprise. I don’t think you will be disappointed.