Well, TV happened. Two movies happened. But this is just a look at the 8 TV shows I squeezed in yesterday.
8) Night Court (NBC/Peacock)
English Audio Description?: Yes
As happy as I am to see john Larroquette back as a regular in something, this wasn’t the least bit entertaining. It all felt forced, and somehow reminiscent of sitcoms of yesteryear, but not the good ones. This felt like a comedy that would have been thrown into the Must-See TV Lineup in the 90’s between two big hits, but eventually cancelled. Boston Common, anybody? That is very much canned laughter because no live audience would laugh at these jokes. I realize this is a hit, and NBC is running with a second season, and I have no idea why. I love multi-cams. They should very much still exist, and I’ll probably still watch one more episode, but this was so dismal.
Episode Grade: D+
7) Mayor Of kings Town (Paramount Plus)
English Audio description?: Yes
I often find myself wondering why I love all of Taylor Sheridan’s other projects, but I always find this to be just alright. Last week, with the fallout of the prison riots, it was obvious. He made it too large, too grand of a scale to be ignored by mass media. Mike’s job should have just been running around trying to get reporters out of his town. Sometimes, I don’t always understand what the show is going for, and that happened with a specific shooting in episode two. And having all the gang leaders in prison likely isn’t going to make anyone’s life easier on this show. Plus, they really underutilize Dianne Wiest. Still.
Episode Grade: C+
6) Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney Plus)
English Audio Description?: Yes
i wasn’t a massive fan of the first season, so ranking this low-ish out of the gate also came with trying to remember what happened in Season 1, and where we left off. I’ll see where we are headed, but i haven’t quit a Star Wars show yet.
Episode Grade: B-
5) The Chase (ABC/hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
The Queen was taken out by a single player, who loves to shout his answers. oddly more entertaining than I thought it would be.
Episode Grade: B
4) Will Trent (ABC/hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
For a few minutes yesterday, i was legally dead during this show. The amount of exposition murdered me. It’s like they refused to actually set up the character, and instead of giving us what sounded like would be a really interesting season of investigating corrupt cops, the pilot finds annoying ways of forcing exposition unnaturally into performances. if it wasn’t for the fact that it is creative, and I can see a future for this show, this would be ranked a lot lower. But, damn. Worst use of exposition I’ve experienced in a long time.
Episode Grade: B
3) Your honor (Showtime)
English Audio Description?: no
A second season I’m still not sure we needed is being pushed at us. i don’t know how Michael is supposed to take down a crime lord when he’s given no resources to do so. his being in jail, and stripped of his robe, makes him kind of useless.
Episode Grade: B+
2) Velma (HBo MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
So, I’m mostly positive on this. I know the reactions are wildly different, and I see there is a season long mystery of people losing their brains. But, it wasn’t totally without jokes, and it is close to my style of humor. The voice cast seems solid too.
Episode Grade: B+
1) Jack Ryan (Amazon)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Again, this season of Jack Ryan is flawless. We keep moving forward in the plot, unexpected things happen, Jack rises to the challenge, and I’m loving this season. I’m so sad there’s only one left, then there’s a michael pena spinoff.
Episode Grade: A
