What are you watching?

[Luke]

If you want to watch the Oscars (starts 7 pm ET) and don't have cable or overseas... here's a free TV site with dozens of local ABC affiliate feeds. The Red Carpet show is on now.


https://www.24freetv.com/tv/search?keywords=abc&lg=en

[SuzieC]

I didn't intend to--but I am getting excited to watch the Oscars because of Fashion. Have only seen two of the nominees--American Fiction and Nyad.

[Luke]

Here's Jimmy Kimmel's monologue:





And here's the clip when Jimmy reads Trump's post and asks, it's late... isn't it past your jail time?

[bill_g]

Who likes Dianne Wiest?

I like Dianne Wiest. And Jeremy Renner. And you get both if you watch Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+ / Amazon Prime. Her character is the matriarch of three men integral to a fictitious corrupt prison town in Michigan. Drama runs rampant, and every episode involves putting out fires. Not unexpected. You watch Kung Fu movies, and you get a lot of Kung Fu. So, it's no surprise a show based on criminals has a lot of people doing crime, and then facing the repercussions over and over. But, Dianne gives a strong delivery. It's some of her best work. I enjoyed it. YMMV

[Dr. Ken]

The new shogun on FX is pretty good. I remember watching the original from the 80s.

I was sitting through the previews before Dune Part 2 when I saw the preview for this. I actually asked myself, are they doing a remake of Shogun? My question was soon answered.

I may have been 11 or 12 on the first one, but it must have made enough of an impression that I remembered it (and yes, I do).

That's my brother! Hiroyuki and I have been together since we were 20, I helped him practice his English when he did King Lear in London with Nigel Hawthorne (he received an OBE for it). I was with him on the set of The Last Samurai. he was known as the Tom Cruise of Japan and he read so similarly to Tom that they made him the bad guy and had Ken Watanabe, a Japanese TV star, in Hiro's original role.

Clearly, that's all makeup on Hiro because we are not that old!


Great idea, Rolodex! If others want to join in that would be lots of fun.

I've loved everything Hiroyuki has been in that I've seen. He was good in Mortal Kombat as well. He's amazing in this.

[Dr. Ken]

Just finished it. What did you think? My own feelings are not intense; stuff I like, stuff I ff'ed through.

I felt it was the weakest of the 4 seasons so far I still enjoyed it though. I am a fan of alternative histories and the nature of the early true alternative stuff means the more current fictions lack a certain hook that really appealed to me in the early seasons. I now see it as more of a science fiction / drama genre. Also the required aging of the core characters becomes problematic at a point. I have read a 5th season is in the works (in the can?) but can't find a confirmation. Original plans I understand were for 7 seasons.

Another thought on the characters. The original core characters and their actors/portrayals IMHO were outstanding. The inevitable deaths by many means requires the staggered introduction piecemeal of the characters that are advancing the story which makes it difficult for me at least to buy into them as much as I did the original core.

But yeah, I still loved it. YMMV!

I too thought this was the weakest of the four seasons. I think your point about the absence of the alternative feel is a good one, which I hadn't thought of. Other than setting up a contemporary world where it's the norm to have women in leadership roles, and a few political cameos, the fun was over. The aging issues were a distraction for me too. All those short actors playing characters now in, what--their thirties?--bumped me out of the story every time.

I thought the main story arc in the third season was great, though I felt let down by the slimness of the conspiracy theory plot-line (and it's most obvious consequence--so uncalled for, IMO). Never got into the new characters in the fourth season.

What interested me a lot was the presence of the Star Trek people on the production side. I got whiplash from the theme song in Season One (I only recently started watching). It was like the second movement of the theme to Discovery. I appreciated the desire to show how insane/unpleasant the people who take such huge risks are. But I missed the complex characterizations and consequences--which didn't work for me till Season 3.

The big, A+++++ for me was the visuals. Wow and boy howdy. I could not take my eyes from the screen when they were in space/on the Moon/Mars. Loved that sooo much!

My problem is streaming. There's just so much stuff now and I get distracted. I left off on this series in season 2. I do like anything with Joel Kinnaman in it though going back to his turn in the Killing.

[northland10]

My problem is streaming. There's just so much stuff now and I get distracted. I left off on this series in season 2. I do like anything with Joel Kinnaman in it though going back to his turn in the Killing.

Streaming and soo many choices (and for me laziness).

I have a list of shows I should and do want to watch. They are available to me but do I finally start watching... of course not.

The same goes for movies not named Dune (or directed by Wes Anderson).

[AndyinPA]

Any Paul Simon (or Simon and Garfunkel) fans here?

Just watched In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. Part 1 of 2. MGM+ Tonight and next Sunday.

[Luke]

Neon texted me that the final episodes of Korean Jock Porn, Physical: 100, are now on Netflix.

Oh my darling, don't be spreading rumors. HEADS UP, I did not text orlylicious about Korean Jock Porn.
I did watch this evening a movie somehow I missed -- Alex Cross. On Amazon Prime. Pretty decent, but no hot Korean hunks.

NEON and I are proud to let you know:

Korean Jock Porn is BACK! Season 2 of PHYSICAL 100 dropped on Netflix. The first 7 episodes are up, the final 2 are next week. "Now, back with season two, Physical: 100 ups the ante by being set in a giant underground mine and a number of already renowned contestants vying for the final $230,000 cash prize."

One contestant says, "I can't believe we're the same species!"

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Physical 2 B.webp (27.33 KiB) Viewed 470 times

[AndyinPA]

I watched 3 Body Problem on Netflix. Interesting Sci-fi based on Chinese trilogy written by Cixin Lui, by the producers of Game of Thrones. Obviously, lots of high-value production. I think it's the most expensive undertaking by Netflix--by a lot. I enjoyed it, but there's no second (very expensive) season scheduled yet, which makes me a little hesitant to recommend it.

[bill_g]

I liked it, and would recommend it. If you like Sci-Fi, this might intrigue you. It's a little different. You might get uncomfortable with the perspective. Hard to say. Jump into the deep end, and go with it!

[Whatever4]

There’s several versions of 3 Body Problem, none of which I will watch. (Not a sci-fi movie fan.) The Netflix version is the latest. There’s also a Chinese version that came out last year, with English subtitles. (30 episodes, will be 2 more seasons)

I follow a Chinese reviewer who posted a video about the versions.

And here’s the details on the Chinese version. https://mydramalist.com/63487-the-three-body-problem Available for free on Prime

[bill_g]

My. She rips it apart and leaves splatter on the walls!

[Luke]

Here comes the FBoy Island spinoff! Woke up to a dozen texts from Neon letting me know the premiere date is here and if we should have a Fogbow Zoom to all watch together. As Neon said, "LFG!"

The CW’s Male-Led ‘FBoy Island’ Spinoff Proves Dudes Are Clueless

The CW has officially blown its magic conch shell and ushered in a new beachside dating show. Lovers and Liars, an FBoy Island spinoff that for some reason is not called FGirl Island, premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. This series has everything FBoy Island fans have come to expect. Nikki Glaser is back as our sarcastic, self-deprecating host, and the show’s voice is as cheeky as ever. (Translation: Prepare for a lot of jokes at our leading men’s expense.)

All of that said, the premiere episode did leave me with one question. Are these guys even trying to sniff out the women who’ve come to take their money, or are they basing their decision-making on vibes alone?

Each season on FBoy Island, we’ve watched three women date their way through dozens of guys to determine who has come as a Nice Guy and who is an unrepentant FBoy. Nice Guys have agreed to split the $100,000 cash prize, should they get chosen in the end, while FBoys reserve the right to take the money and run. Lovers and Liars flips the script, challenging three buff bros to figure out which women have come to the island For the Right Reasons.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ ... e-clueless

Fan faves Casey Johnson, Benedict Polizzi, and CJ Weathers return for their chance to sus out who's looking for love and who's looking for cash.

Fgirl.jpg (164.07 KiB) Viewed 346 times

[Luke]

Hooray! Interview with the Vampire Season 2 is set for May 12 on AMC!

This season gets into the Théâtre des Vampires. Some trailers:

3/19:





3/31:






Fan Q&A with Lestat and Louis (2.5 mins):

[bill_g]

A couple recommendations: Fargo on FX, and Ripley on Netflix.

Fargo Season 5 on FX (Four stars)

If you have cable, and if it has On Demand, then now is the time to catch up on Fargo. This was probably the best season EVAH!! Jon Hamm plays the crooked sheriff perfectly. He has a shithead son and a 500 year old henchman. They are up against little itty bitty Juno Temple. She plays the part of the underestimated sex trafficed child bride abused housewife whose self preservation skills are unmatched. If Jon Hamm were the Coyote, she's the Road Runner.

Absolutely excellent season. As always, YMMV.

► Show Spoiler

My favorite part was the final episode. It seems clear to me they had three final scenes for the season, and rather than pick one, they presented them all to us. In order, I named them Salvation, Honor, and Ressurection.

If someone gets this far in the series, and wants to talk about the finale, lets!

Ripley on Netflix (Two stars)

This is a remake of the 1999 movie The Talented Mr Ripley, told in eight parts, and presented entirely in black and white. The cinematography is beautiful. It was a good choice for this story, and it was well done. They honored the great B&W films of the past with this.

► Show Spoiler

OTOH, I think they overbaked the story. Much of the dialogue was predictable and boring. They could have cut the time in half, and still told the story. They didn't need this amount of character developement. I imagine many people will be delighted by this. They want this amount of depth. I don't.

[Rolodex]

A couple recommendations: Fargo on FX, and Ripley on Netflix.

Fargo Season 5 on FX (Four stars)

If you have cable, and if it has On Demand, then now is the time to catch up on Fargo. This was probably the best season EVAH!! Jon Hamm plays the crooked sheriff perfectly. He has a shithead son and a 500 year old henchman. They are up against little itty bitty Juno Temple. She plays the part of the underestimated sex trafficed child bride abused housewife whose self preservation skills are unmatched. If Jon Hamm were the Coyote, she's the Road Runner.

Absolutely excellent season. As always, YMMV.

► Show Spoiler

My favorite part was the final episode. It seems clear to me they had three final scenes for the season, and rather than pick one, they presented them all to us. In order, I named them Salvation, Honor, and Ressurection.

If someone gets this far in the series, and wants to talk about the finale, lets!

Ripley on Netflix (Two stars)

This is a remake of the 1999 movie The Talented Mr Ripley, told in eight parts, and presented entirely in black and white. The cinematography is beautiful. It was a good choice for this story, and it was well done. They honored the great B&W films of the past with this.

► Show Spoiler

OTOH, I think they overbaked the story. Much of the dialogue was predictable and boring. They could have cut the time in half, and still told the story. They didn't need this amount of character developement. I imagine many people will be delighted by this. They want this amount of depth. I don't.

I liked Ripley. Yes, it was gorgeous. And I love Andrew Scott. As far as pacing, I think I'd like a medium between this series and the Damon movie. That said, the brilliance of Patricia Highsmith who wrote the book cannot be denied...the story holds up over time!

► Show Spoiler

I liked how the 2 episodes with the murders were slow and almost wordless. I think it showed how hard it is to actually kill someone and try to cover it up.

[bill_g]

I liked Ripley. Yes, it was gorgeous. And I love Andrew Scott. As far as pacing, I think I'd like a medium between this series and the Damon movie. That said, the brilliance of Patricia Highsmith who wrote the book cannot be denied...the story holds up over time!

► Show Spoiler

I liked how the 2 episodes with the murders were slow and almost wordless. I think it showed how hard it is to actually kill someone and try to cover it up.

► Show Spoiler

I thought the murder scenes were indulgent pratfall sessions straight out of The Book of Stupid Criminal Tricks. But, if someone has never read the book (like me - never read it), or has forgotten the movie, it will seem fresh and interesting. I think they leaned on the B&W production to do all the heavy lifting to keep the audience.

[bill_g]

It's a weekend. Got Amazon? Do you like 50's and 60's music? Specifically, but not limited to - country music from that period? How about science fiction, robots, and radioactive monsters in Post Apocalyptic scenes of Los Angeles 256 years in the future? Can you tolerate a TV show based on a video game you've never played, and don't intend to? Do you like Walton Goggins, perhaps the baddest TV red-neck evah? Do you want to save The World, save America, save the girl, *AND* save the dog?

If you said Yes to one or more of the above, you might be delighted by Fallout.

[bob]

As a consumer of the video games, I intend to watch.

Around a decade ago, there was a fan-made limited series released on YouTube; surprisingly good. I wonder if the no-fun IP overlords ever found it.

Edit: Type-O.

[neonzx]

Going to dip my toe in the water, bill_g. Didn't know it was a series but I'll trust you for now.

[bill_g]

Going to dip my toe in the water, bill_g. Didn't know it was a series but I'll trust you for now.

As a consumer of the video games, I intend to watch.

Around a decade ago, there was a fan-made limited series released on YouTube; surprising good. I wonder if the no-fun IP overlords ever found it.

It's a bit of a farce on the Red Scare from the 50's in an alternate America where people took shelter building and cowboy movies very very seriously.

PS: They offer some sage advice: If you see a bright light on the horizon, and it's bigger than your thumb, don't bother running.

[Luke]

Going to dip my toe in the water, bill_g. Didn't know it was a series but I'll trust you for now.

You never say that about my picks like Korean Jock Porn and Fboy Island. /pout

[RVInit]

I watched 3 Body Problem on Netflix. Interesting Sci-fi based on Chinese trilogy written by Cixin Lui, by the producers of Game of Thrones. Obviously, lots of high-value production. I think it's the most expensive undertaking by Netflix--by a lot. I enjoyed it, but there's no second (very expensive) season scheduled yet, which makes me a little hesitant to recommend it.

I loved Brittania, but it was cancelled after Season 3 on a freaking cliffhanger. And part of the reason as I understand it was the cost of production. I thought it was amazing. Season 3 took on a terrifying dark tone when Aulus' wife Hemple shows up. Season 2 was my favorite mainly because of Mackenzie Crook, who played two characters who were brothers but distinctly different. His acting was brilliant in the whole series, but Season two was a standout, IMO. It's really disappointing when a show is cancelled due to high production cost. There are so many streaming services competing for those dollars and I think we are going to have more and more of this experience where you get into something and then it's cancelled.

[bill_g]

Going to dip my toe in the water, bill_g. Didn't know it was a series but I'll trust you for now.

You never say that about my picks like Korean Jock Porn and Fboy Island. /pout

No worries Luke. I'll share.

PS - Though Jock Shock is not in my videocabulary, I have seen the ads. I had no idea people could have more than a six pack.

Sidebar: I've worked around muscle most of my career. I am not a member of that club. I'm the skinny guy - all gristle, bone, and attitude. A lot of those guys can't get anything done. If they can't curl it, or thrust it overhead, they haven't got a clue what to do. They need a food break once an hour, and not just a snack bar. That said, some of them are the nicest people you will ever meet. Salt of the Earth. You couldn't ask for a better person. Just practice using the shovel with them first before letting them work at their own pace. And be sure to bring extra shovels. With really strong handles. Really strong.