Super Short Reviews: Spring / Summer TV part two
Spring / Summer TV 2019 part two:
Ramy (Hulu) – How long is it amusing to listen to an old man make politically incorrect jokes? Menh. Also I didn’t find Ramy funny I just felt bad for him. And this is not the first comedy to talk about being Muslim in modern day America. No idea why critics liked this so much.
Bonding (Netflix) – Another super short Series -- all 7 episodes will take you 85 minutes to watch. Whats a young gay man from Georgia to do when he moves to NYC to pursue his dream of stand up comedy? Why, become a bondage assistant of course! Brendan Scannel gets a better opportunity to shine than he did on Heathers, and If you think he’s funny in the first five minutes may as well go for the other eighty.
Frankie Drake Mysteries (OWN) – I’m trying to figure out how “OWN” stands for “originally aired in Canada” … maybe if you work it out in French? Anyway this is a lot like the Miss Fisher Mysteries (Australia) – a fun female lead takes on mystery of the week in the 1930s. Originally aired in 2017.
No Good Nick (Netflix) – Its not the worst thing your kids could be watching, but id be lying if I didn’t admit to hoping I would enjoy it too – I mean, its Melissa Joan Hart and Sean Astin!! Its also confusing that it’s on Netflix when it seems like a Disney or Nickelodeon show, but as more & more families cut the cord I suspect we will see more & more of these kinds of shows on every digital channel.
Ambitions (OWN) – Robin Givens graduates from the mayor of Riverdale to hold her own as a fierce Atlanta attorney. Soap opera storylines with slick production and plenty of overacting.
Huge in France (Netflix) – I love anything that makes fun of Hollywood, so I definitely recommend this. Don’t worry if you don’t know who Gad Elmaleh is, because thats half the gag; the other half is Matthew Del Negro committing like crazy to his crazy method actor character. And Scott Keiji Takeda is hilarious as Gad’s assistant: he gets every pop culture reference, he knows everything about Hollywood, and he will cold call ANYONE. Big thumbs up.
The Inbetween (NBC) – Lame rip of the Ghost Whisperer and Medium, but seeing Paul Blackthorne again reminded me how much I liked the Dresden Files (based on the books) way back in 2007, and if you can find a way to watch THAT, you definitely should.
One Spring Night (Netflix) – Awwwwww these young Koreans are so adorable in their super sweet super PG romances … and it’s soooooooo super duper super BORING, as the pacing is sooooooo super duper slow. Add it to your insomnia list. (It out me to sleep.)
The Hills: New Beginnings (Mtv) – DirecTv tells me this is a “reality” show, but there’s no way I believe these people are real!! It is fun to see the real places in Los Angeles though, and especially striking are the panoramic shots of the beach or hills or the disastrous Malibu fire of last year,
Chambers (Netflix) – Drama / Horror. Very cool indie horror movie vibe – solid YA fare with enough suspense, creepiness, and teenage drama to keep those young eyeballs binging.
Just Roll With It (Disney) – this is REALLY CUTE for kids... Its a mom and her daughter coupled with a man and his son and at least three times during every episode a fog horn blows and THE AUDIENCE GETS TO DECIDE from three choices what happens next. Thumbs up.
Reef Break (ABC) – GORGEOUS location shots of some amazing part of Australia. Solid summer network fare for the over 50s. Poppy Montgomery must have had Botox or something cuz she cant move her face as much as she used to... but I was too busy looking at Desmond Chiam or the ocean to let it bother me.
the Disappearance (WGN ) – Peter Coyote!!!!!!!!!!! I’m still thinking about this haunting mystery. Originally aired in Canada in 2017.
What Just Happened? (Fox) -- Very bizarre. The hosts and actors play themselves on an imaginary talk show that is obsessed with an imaginary Arrow-verse like show... the iront is the fake show actully looks really good and I would have actually watched that.
Lunatics (Netflix) – Australia. Chris Lilley wrote, produced and starred in this silly and strange combo of characters (all played by him) that talk to the camera about their lives. I cant help but wonder who they are talking to, and I’d be curious to know if the characters all connect in the end or if there even is an end?? it wasn’t really my comedy taste, but check it out when you’re in the mood for something different.
