Not really TV news, but it could be. I have finally found a title with audio description on MGM Plus, albeit a movie. I’ve been clicking on random titles, and so far the small list I’ve got includes: The machinist, Dungeons and Dragons honor Among Thieves, Women Talking, 3000 Years Of Longing, The Firm, Failure To Launch, and Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of unfortunate Events. I will keep searching, but I haven’t found a show yet with AD. It would make sense for them to expand to their shows, especially their biggest hit Godfather Of Harlem.
11) Mad Men (AMC Plus)
English Audio Description?: No
Status: Ended
Another push for audio description on this title. The ensemble is just too big, and while I think the episode is better than this ranking most likely, and Jon Hamm’s performance was good, they also utilized a lot more characters than usual in the blood drive episode, which made it harder to keep up. I did like how Don admonished the younger guys for mocking the guy he later tells to take a six month leave to sober up.
Episode Grade: B
10) Home Improvement (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: No
Status: Ended
Tim makes a big deal out of getting the right granite guy, but when he finds one he lies, that guy also like Jill. Audio description would have been nice here to know what the guy looks like, since Jill seems flattered at times by him, though she does have her limits.
Episode Grade: B
9) All In The Family (FreeVee)
English Audio Description?: No
Status: Ended
Slightly off topic, but i watched most of an hour long documentary here on YouTube about All in The Family, which someone did a good job assembling for super fans. It goes all the way into the casting, and various problems over the years. You should be able to find it. You’ll find that before this show finds audio description anyway.
Episode Grade: B
8) Community (Netflix)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: movie Is Coming
What a bizarre episode. Jeff helps Chang with his marital strife, so he doesn’t have to write a paper. But the best thing about this very odd episode was Abed singing Somewhere Out There to his pet mouse named Feivel who went missing, and he had been trying to get Troy to help him find it. They allowed time for him to sing the entire song. That’s why I love Community. There was no coherent structure to this episode, but it really went for something. And the final little bit before credits roll was hilarious as well.
Episode Grade: B+
7) Young Sheldon (MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: Renewed
Sheldon’s fear of dogs stirs up drama. Pretty funny drama.
Episode Grade: B+
6) Muscles and Mayhem (Netflix)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: Limited
This episode focused on the world tour, and how they had to add Gladiators during the tour because the main ones were getting injured. Also, it goes into how they worked their way into pop culture on other shows, and eventually tons of merchandising, all of which they got no money from. These Gladiators signed a terrible contract at the beginning, when the show was nothing, and when they asked for some kind of a raise, or participation in merchandising, they were fired.
Episode Grade: A-
5) The Lake (Amazon)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: not Yet Renewed
In a last ditch effort to save the boat house, Masie tries to throw a concert by calling in a favor from a famous group, but that does not go as planned. Meanwhile, Billie finally realizes she cant date both brother and sister, especially when neither of them know.
Episode Grade: A-
4) The Bear (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: Not Yet Renewed
Just when I thought the show had completely dropped Jeremy Alyn White to supporting, in the fifth episode, he finally was featured. Though, I ahve to admit, i don’t actually care anymore. In a weird way, focusing on Sydney and some of the supporting ensemble, really has diminished Carmen. He’s going to need more than this episode where he makes a romantic connection to win another Emmy. The supporting actress has stolen The Bear in Season 2.
Episode Grade: A-
3) Dinosaurs (Disney Plus)
English Audio Description?: No
Status: Ended
I know what you’re thinking. Dinosaurs at #3? Are you crazy? Here’s a prime time sitcom from the early to mid 90’s, with giant puppet actors for the whole cast, easily aimed at families in Prime Time, and they spent an entire episode on Sexual Harassment. Not just that, but their commentary on it was actually quite biting. The Grannie actually has a comment about how she likes her TV Shows, and it feels so meta for its time. It also feels very Anita hill, with the female dinosaur that is talking about the sexual harassment being still harassed by a panel of men, who seem to still want to place the blame onto her. This episode would have gone way over kids heads, and there are lots of double entendres in this episode that make it a truly bold choice. Had this episode had audio description, I might have put it at #1, but instead it’s the highest ranked of any show with an A-. This is also the highest I’ve ranked an episode of this show to date.
Episode Grade: A-
2) Twisted Metal (Peacock)
English Audio Description?: Sort Of
Status: Not Yet Renewed
This audio description can’t even be bothered to correctly pronounce Neve Campbell’s name. In the second episode, Sweet Tooth takes our leads through his digs, which are not well described. Then he talks about someone or something. I’m assuming it was a dead body (Harold?) but, there was no audio description to tell me what this ting was we spent a solid minute talking about. One of the worst examples of audio description this year, on what seems like a really entertaining show. Will Arnett as Sweet Tooth is wildly entertaining.
Episode Grade: A
1) Hijack (Apple Plus)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Status: Not Yet Renewed
It is a testament to the tense direction of this episode that even though I knew the plane wouldn’t be shot down in the middle of the season, I kinda believed it might be. That would really have been a major plot twist.
Episode Grade: A
