57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 3, 2024

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol: Oh yeah, eye guy is still around.  And I forgot he is a good guy now after not murdering a child.  Welcome back I guess.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  “I still haven’t watched The Wire yet” is probably something I might say if someone had a gun to my head.

 

But season four made the same mistake season three did in the killer reveal was a bit too melancholy instead of laugh out loud funny like the first two seasons.  Sure I chuckled a little at the bit on the ledge and let out a laugh when they zoomed in on Jan (for a second there, I thought they might be setting up Marshall as the murder for the next season which could have been interesting halving the killer be the next victim, oh well).  But neither was so funny I had to rewind because missed what came next because I was laughing so hard like with Charles being drugged or the Killer Reveal Party.

 

It was also disappointing with all the doubles this season and with all the mentions of the plot holes in the first season that the twist was Marshall killed Sazz and disposed of her body by himself while the potholes seemingly were just Sazz trying to tighten up her script.  I wonder if the references to the potholes were just the writers winking at their mistakes or are they just toying with us and will finally let us know who wrote Jan’s note and who poisoned Winnie (who finally made her triumphant return to the show; more Winnie next season) by the final season?

 

We also got our usual set up to the next season.  Poor Lester.  But there was also the Téa Leoni cameo as the wife of “The Neck” (I guess Nina Lin’s husband being called “The Neck” back in season  two is just a coincidence and one of the writers really like calling people “The Neck”).  So here is my prediction, Lester is somehow tied into “The Neck” and Téa Leoni had him killed to get the New Three Amigos on the case. 

 

Survivor:  Oh wow, another vote out where the person leaving had a mental breakdown.  Where are they finding these people?  It is time to go back to casting regular people with regular jobs instead of these annoying superfans.  And what a horrible advantage where you have to secretly give the advantage to someone else.  And the choice made it even more lame.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  So we are just going to bounce back and forth between alliences every week, aren’t week?  It is time for a shake up.

 

Agatha All Along:  Oof, those last two episodes were horribly paced.  First we got the unnecessary gratuitous big fight, then a way too long flashback that just killed the finale.  But it ended up being much like WandaVision, great premise that just sputtered out at the end.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 27, 2024

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol: So they killed off the big bad and the mother in the same episode.  So what now?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Well, my prediction that Paul Rudd wanted to return so he could be the killer after being killed off last season turned out to be off… unless my evil twin theory turns out to be right because we know the writer needed help. Poor Paul Rudd, was fed rat poison, pushed down an elevator shaft, shot in the head, and suffocated.  Now I have to wonder if they will try to find a way to bring him back and kill him again next season. 

 

As for that partner, with all the clues that tie back to the beginning, it seems like the accomplice would have been around from the beginning.  Speaking of things that have been around since the beginning, the tie-dye sweatshirt was conspicuously very visible when Mabel went to talk to Bev Melon.  I still hold on to the prediction that the other big reveal of the partner will happen at the wedding… followed by a death for them to solve next season.

 

Survivor:  It is always an entertaining episode when the most delusional person finally gets voted off.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  I guess if you have a shot to take out Johnny if you can, but when he will be going against someone the size of a pencil, maybe do not potentially give him all the power in the game.

 

Agatha All Along:  So we get confirmation that all the nerds have been saying all along, that Aubrey Plaza is playing Death.  Cool, hopefully being such a big character, she shows up in other Marvel properties.  But RIP Patti Lupone.  But I do wonder if all the fallen witches are dead-dead or if they will somehow be brought back.  And I guess the Salem Seven were not as important as I made them out to be.

 

The Old Man:  Oh joy, another season ending in a cliffhanger.  But how exactly does the ex-wife kidnap a grown man?  And if Maeby can find the couple in section, how is she not able to find a kidnapped grown man?  This will be a painful third season.  Hopefully there is not one.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 20, 2024

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol:  So to find Carol she is cozying up to the lady who kidnapped him and is searching for him.  What could possibly go wrong?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  So did Paul Rudd make a deal that they could kill him off last season as long as he could come back and be the killer the next season?  Though will two episodes left, it is likely Glen Stubbins will just be the last red herring of the season.  On the other hand, with so many doubles this season, there is bound to be an evil twin out there.  So I would not be surprised if there is an extra Stubbins and that is the one Sazz was talking about.

 

But then again, they brought up Winnie being poisoned for the second week in a row making it seem like the killer has been around since the first season.  So that is another clue that it is probably not Glen Stubbins or a potential evil twin.  Also, it sounds like we are getting a wedding this season and I am guessing there will be a high probability that it will turn into a killer reveal party with one of the guests.  Well, either that or someone will die at the wedding… or maybe both.

 

 Tell Me Lies:  It became fairly obvious as the first season went along that Drew was not at the engagement party because he was either dead or in prison.  Though, I always assumed if it were the former, that Drew killed himself.  Drew dying because Wrigley gave him too many painkillers is rough.  If Wrigley was having a hard time coping in season two, I fear for him during season three.  Granted the bartender giving the obviously underage kid alcohol has some liability too.

 

The Bree-Lucifer storyline was the weakest of the season, but at least it ended hilariously.  At east I was laughing as it was explained to Bree what was really going on.  I guess it will not take very long for her to get back Evan next season.  The biggest question for me all season was does Bree know in the future that he hooked up with Lucy and we did get than answer in dramatic fashion.  You knew something big was about to go down when the wedding string quartet started playing Mr. Brightside.

 

Now the biggest question is how did Evan and Stephen stay friends for long enough so Stephan could sabotage his wedding?  That was an extremely long and petty grudge Stephan held.  Man, it was extremely cathartic watching Leo beat Stephan to a bloody pulp.  I really hope a renewal notice is coming soon.  

 

Survivor:  That was one of the most brutal blindside in a long time.  I do not remember the last time someone got that mad at getting voted off.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Oh wow, it seemed like all Rachel needed was to compete by herself.  But it will be interesting how alliances fall into place now that it is an individual game, especially after two members of the vacation alliance got sent home.

 

Agatha All Along:  Sigh, Ralph Boehner is back.  And for no apparently reason, Agatha was wearing a Boehner Family Reunion shirt with the tagline: Pitch a Tent.  Sigh.

 

The Old Man:  In what was the least shocking plot twist, Maeby is not actually dead.  I think I had that.

 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 13, 2024

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol:  So those two chicks kidnapped that dude just to pump out babies?  This franchise has officially run out of ideas.  But I was thinking this week, just how exactly does Carol plan on finding Daryl now that she is in France. 

 

Only Murders in the Building:   At the end of the first season, after they solved the murder, Mabel mentioned about loose ends before grabbing some more campaigns. A new murder presents itself and those loose ends were never brought up again.  Finally, two and half seasons later, the new Three Amigos have brought up those loose ends.  This implies the killer is someone who was around from the beginning.  I think we can cross off Uma and Lester.  Was Tie-Dye guy mad he got written off?   Since the murder seems to have been carried off by multiple people; maybe he recruited all of Mabel’s forgotten love interests.  The Arconiacs have also not been seen in a while.  Then there was the serial murderer that Merv talked about during the blackout episode.   What exactly is the legal status of Teddy Dimas?

 

But one thing we were told to ask by Detective Williams was the “why now?”  Winnie gets poisoned, Jan has a note on her door, and then there is long break at the end of season two, before Sazz is shot.  So why now?  Why were there no threats from the killer with that year break in the middle?  Or were there and we just did not see them? 

 

We did not see the Westies in season but there were theoretically around.  Thankfully they revealed they were the one cashing the checks.  It was extremely obvious it was them, especially when Howard saw there were five different signatures.  Still, I do not think any of them are the killer.  He is the hall pass of one of them.  I still think this will tie back to the first season and Teddy might have shot to the top of my murder board.

 

So much going on at the end, I have not even brought up the old lady cat fight!  Oh my.

 

 Tell Me Lies:  Umm, why was the one sorority sister on the discipline board of someone who was accused of raping one of her sister?  Why would you think she would be impartial?  Except she through her sister under the bus and let the guy get off.  Oof.  So is that really why Lucy and Lydia grew apart?  Then why would Stephan say to Lucy that Lydia was excited to see her?  Does Stephen not know what went on and think they are still friends?  Grant, there is a very high probability that he was just being a troll.

 

There has been a lot focus on Drew the last couple weeks.  I wonder if he will finally make an appearance this season.   I still hold on to the prediction that he is either dead (probably by his own hand) or in prison by the time we get to the wedding.

 

Survivor:  Uh-oh, you do not make big moves this early, that one lady is in trouble.  She even broke two rules of the new era, if someone wants to make a big move early: let them, and let them be the target.  Do not make a counter big move and then become the target.  And certainly do not make a big move to keep the annoying guy because you think you can beat him.  Other people will think that two and will probably get you out first especially if you just pull off a big move.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Ummm, so what are they going to do with no male Era 1 players anymore?  Is Rachel in the clear or can other Eras still chose Rachel, they will just have to pick a different guy to go into the arena.  Are the two guy captains who do not win just automatically going in from here on out?

 

Agatha All Along:  Ummmm, is everyone but Scarlet Witch’s kid dead now?  Where was Rio?  Is she going to come in and save everyone?  She does not really seem like the saving people in danger kind of person.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 6, 2024

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol:  I never thought any show could have a dumber name than High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but this may actually take the cake.  At least High School Musical was likely in on the joke of the silly name.  This is just stupid.  Also stupid: flying to France in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.  No way am I getting in that thing.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  We finally meet Dudenoff… and he is dead (seems obvious the Westies are cashing the checks).  So do we have a serial killer on our hands or just two killers who had the same idea to get rid of a body?  This makes me wonder if the power goes of randomly in any of the first three seasons.  But I guess this exonerates the Brothers Sisters.  But they never did explain why the one’s footprint was on the windowsill.  Did she visit her mentor; look out the window and just leave?  I wonder if that will come back up.  But I did get a vibe from the writer who threw the directors under the bus this week.  The guy does have 20/10 vision which would make for a good sniper shot.  Granted he did have an alibi during his episode, though he would not be the first person to fake an alibi.

 

 Tell Me Lies:  I never thought we could possibly get a Thanksgiving episode as good as Slapsgiving during How I Met Your Mother, but this may have topped that.  There was at least more slapping.  Sure, it was convoluted how they got everyone in the same place at the same time, but it was definitely worth it.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Sigh, another week, another Era 1 player going home.  So Rachel is just the captain every week now?  What if she goes home next week?  Can they no longer send in Era 1?

 

Joan:  Great soundtrack, the rest of the show is forgettable.  Who knew the greasy guy from Fear the Walking Dead was still working?  I cannot remember seeing him in anything since he was killed off.

 

Agatha All Along:  I am still not all that interested in the trial of week format, but Aubrey Plaza being unhinged upped the entertainment level infinitely this week.

 

The Ark: Oh wow, they made it to the planet, but not surprising some did not stay.  People gotta be on the titular ship.  So are they just going to have two storylines next season?  Not that I think there will be a next season.  With Chucky canceled, this will likely follow.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 29, 2024

 

Snowpiercer:  The show ends like it began, with the tailies fighting to take control of Snowpiercer.  Apropos I guess.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  More Ben Glenroy double?  If he keeps showing up, I may have to put him on my murder board.  Of course, that is if he survived the episode.  It would be funny if they killed off Paul Rudd twice.  I certainly do not think the Brothers sisters did it.  And it is not just because it is way too early to for them to find the murderer.  We still need a why and a why now.  Then there is also the how: how did they get access to both apartments.  Of course if it is not them, what about the shoes?  Are we just going to learn that it is a common sole? 

 

 Tell Me Lies:  I was skeptical that Lydia’s brother possibly raping Pippa caused their riff in the future, but now I think that just might be it.  And since he did the same thing to Diana’s sorority sister, it seems even more likely that is what he did to Pippa.   But it surprising that we are over halfway through the season and we are just at October.  I wonder if they are going to just do one semester this season.  But it was a bit disappointing with an episode entitled, Evil, Ornery, Scandalous, and Evil” and not overt Sublime reference inside of it.

 

Survivor:  Nothing like an episode entitled, “Epic Boss Girl Move” to spoil that someone in the bro alliances was going home.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Sigh, another week, another Era 1 player going home.  This is getting boring.

 

Agatha All Along:  The first episode was very entertaining, but many they should have stuck with a new prestige parody every week because I am not looking forward to a new Witches’ Road trial for the next month.  This week’s episode really drug along.

 

The Ark: Oh way, they really made it to an inhabitable planet.  Though, I have a feeling something might happen in the finale that will keep them on the ark even longer.  They are trying to blackmail people into blackmailing other people on the ark.  Maybe that is not the place to stay very long.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 22

Snowpiercer:  So not only did the big haired scientist we just met put the Earth into deep freeze, but he also turned out to be Alex’s father?  What big reveal related to him do they have in the finale?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Whatever Paul Rudd was doing last season, it did not work for me. He just cannot do unlikeable very well. His character came off more like a SNL sketch. Now his weirdo Irish stuntman, this was hilarious. Nice to see with all the big names they brought in this season, they still held a few things back.

Ever since Mabel was kicked out of the Arconia, I have been wondering how she would get back in. I could have never guessed that it would be squatting in a killer’s apartment. Though It is pretty obvious the Portugal guy is not the killer, the killer was just taking advantage of the empty room. Could the killer be the Paramount producer? It is obviously way too early to reveal the killer and she will just be a red herring. I am guessing she had some connection to Sazz and that is why she was there. Maybe Sazz got her to be an investor. But why the gun, and why point it at the trio who she has met?

 

 Tell Me Lies:  Oh Diana, what the fork are you doing?  And why do these women keep on coving for this douchebag?  No wonder he is just walking around in the future timeline, these girls keep on giving him alibis and covering up his crimes.

 

Survivor:  There is always someone who breaks the cardinal rule of playing to hard early in the game and gets set home because of it.  Oh well.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Why are people still scared of CT?  The guy put on a bunch of pounds since his last season.  It was not at all surprising he lost.  It was a lot more surprising that Tina was so good at removing nails. 

 

Agatha All Along:  Okay, that was fun, though I kind of wish we had gotten more parodies of prestige television kind of like how Wandavision was a walk through the history of sitcoms.   That should have been the first season and then the witch’s road could have been the second season.

The Ark: This felt too much like the alternative universe episode from earlier this episode, just with less people.  Though it was hilarious that Garnet basically ghosted the clone after they got back. 

 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 12, 2023

 

 Fear the Walking Dead:  So Morgan recently went back to Atlanta and now Dwight is going all the way to Virginia?  Geez, it is like there is unlimited fuel in the apocalypse.  How are these people driving long distances?

 

Survivor:  Well, Kaleb’s Shot in the Dark turned out was worthless if he was just voted out the very next week.  But it looks like we are heading for an all chick’s alliance.  How often does that actually work out?  Just Parvati?

 

The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion:  How appropriate on the Pride episode, it comes down to two gay homosexuals being up for elimination?

 

Doom Patrol:  Well, that did seem like a pretty definitive ending.  I wonder what would have happen if there was a third season.  Would Rita have stayed dead?

 

Loki:  They really suck Sylvie with that silly mullet all season?  I feel really bad for her.  So Loki is just He Who Remains Now?  Though I am confused what actually happened to Who He Remains.  But this whole season was confusing.

 

Lessons in Chemistry:   I recently got three free months of Apple TV+ and got caught up on this show.  It is hilarious.  Though of the shows I have watched so far, there seems to be a theme on this service of shows that I laugh a lot through, but I am not entirely sure if they are actually supposed to be funny (The Morning Show and See being the other two that fit this bill).  Calvin being hit by the bus followed by an episode with a talking dog was just wild.

 

As for the latest episode, I was surprised none of Elizabeth’s audience actually showed up to the protest.  Except her rowing partner was there but was not actually even mentioned at all like he was a glorified extra.   And just how does the priest know Calvin?  I get a very strong female Forrest Gump from this show and these giant coincidences just feeds into it.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 5, 2023

 

Fear the Walking Dead:  Wait, Charlie is alive?  I am pretty sure we saw her die.  Although, I guess she is dead now, granted we did not actually see her die.  Just heard a gunshot and saw some brown hair under a tarp, so, who knows, maybe she will come back to life a second time.

 

Survivor:  The Shot in the Dark is so forking stupid.  Especially if Kaleb gets voted out next week.  But maybe he will end up like Wentworth who got all but two or three votes and make it quite further in the game.

 

The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion:  Yeah, there was no chance they were able to get 23 ball in 23 minutes that was just an impossible task.  But I did like this challenge.  It is a shame it was not two teams to see who can do it the fastest.  That would have been fun.

 

Quantum Leap:  An episode in the middle of the L.A. Riots was as awkward as I was expecting.  

 

Doom Patrol:  There is really only one episode left?  How are they going to take down Immortus and the butts with teeth at the same time?

 

Loki:  So how did Sylvie manage to keep a Temp Pad when the TVA seemed to disappear?  But if Loki time jumps to before the start of the season and just negates everything we saw, that will just make this a waste of a season.  And I was extremely disappointed that Casey was not actually from Jacksonville.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 28, 2023

 

Fear the Walking Dead:  Thankfully they explained who that the big reveal was because did not remember that guy at all.  He was from, what, the second season?  I vaguely remember him and his family took in the main cast but then (shocker!) turned out to be evil.  But I think it is pretty reasonable to assume that someone you bashed in the head with a hammer died and did not just lose an eye. 

 

Billions:  I wonder at what point they decided to end the series with Take the Money and Run.  I would not be at all surprised if it they thought of it right after deciding to do a show about evil people with a lot of money.  But good riddance to this show.  Oh, wait, they are developing Million, Trillions and shows set in London and Miami (where it sound like Wags will be going).  Meh.

 

Survivor:  These Gen Z’ers are annoying.  You are grown men, stop playing with your Pokémon.  Even someone on The Challenge was talking about those things for small children.  At least one of them got voted out. 

 

The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion:  Finally a season without the same old boring cast members with the same old alliances… well, at least until the champions arrive.  Though it does seem at this point they may not show up until the “Chaos” section.  And everyone working together for The Challenge was weird.  What happens when they succeed?  Where is the drama?  But poor women, they all decide to vote for a guy and the very first women nominate another woman.  I do wonder how the whole vote would have gone down if anyone other than Berna had voted first.  They really should do a secret vote like in USA. 

 

Doom Patrol:  So the Butt’s with Teeth can talk now?  Cool.  Though how did the one Butt with Teeth become the scientist lady? 

 

Loki:  So all time has been destroyed?  Well, Marvel had a good run.  Oh wait, there is still two episodes left?  How do you continue after the destruction of all time?

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 22, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Much like Dead City, I was not aware this was an ongoing series, though will there be much Daryl in the Book of Carol?  I just hope the zombies killed the kid.

 

Billions:  So Prince just let Taylor walk?  Seems uncharacteristic of him.  And how was Bobby let back in the US?  Wasn’t he wanted by the federal government?  But Prince has his vice president and crushed the Bobby/Chuck alliance.  Congratulation, it was a good run for the show.  Good night.  Oh, wait; there is still one more episode left?  Oh, Prince is going down.

 

Survivor:  Really, another quitter?  Someone needs to fire the casting division (get a new casting director for The Challenge why you are at it CBS).  The problem is just way too many super-fans.  The show used to look like a cross-section of American and now it looks more like a D&D convention.  What happen to all the athletes?  Beauty Queens?  Anyone over 40?  Now it is just nerds who cannot even climb a ladder or dive under a log without breaking their skull.  Probst should be embarrassed by this season.

 

Doom Patrol:  Happy Immortus Day!  You knew a musical episode of this show would not disappoint.

 

Loki:  Ultron was evil and all, but at least he did not want a physical form to fork a dude.  I am not sure if that is more or less creepy than Loki wanting to hook up with the female variant of himself.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Well, at least Chris was able to win a show without some stupid loop hole, so congrats I guess.  Dude is still boring and probably should not been cast.  Now I just need to decide, what was a funnier way for Fessy to bomb out of a final: not being able to eat gross things after blaming his partner’s bad ankle or going the wrong way because even the chicks were able to hit an axe on a target? 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 15, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Oh no, they are going to kill Daryl?!?!?  Oh wait, the promo completely spoiled that he is going to get out of the predicament.  Not that I thought for a second they were going to kill off the titular character.

 

Billions:  Finally, Bobby is back.  For someone who was front and center in the poster, the guy has barely been here.  If he appears in the final two episodes, that would be just five of the twelve.  But my bigger complaint is that Prince got U2 to play at his political campaign (one of the least believable things to have ever happen on this show; and that is saying a lot) but they played Beautiful Day at the end of the episode instead of the much better End of the World.  Though that is a weird request for a political rally.

 

Quantum Leap:  So Magic no longer works for the military?  So why was he allowed back in the building?  The modern day timeline has always been really stupid.

 

Doom Patrol:  Thankfully they put out two episodes because I had absolutely no clue who Immortus was.  But then again, I was unaware that the person who played Rita in the stage production was the same person who Madame Rouge pushed into the hole.  Then it looks like we are getting a musical episode next week.  Awesome.

 

Loki:  Of all the places in time of any planet this show could have sent Sylvie, they sent her to the one place and time where she got herself one of the most hideous mullets ever.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Were they actively trying to ruin Hall Brawl?  That puzzle was so stupid if it was easier to just run back and forth ten feet and guess rather than actually solve it.  Remember when you used to get a penalty for a wrong guess?  Then the Hall Brawl aspect meant nothing, basically the first one through got maybe a half a second head start on the puzzle.  Why did anyone bother to fight in the hall is beyond me.  So stupid.  But at least Josh finally went home.  Please stop bringing him back.

57 Challenge and Only This Is On: October 8, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Not killing the dad is probably going to come back and bite Daryl.  He better hope the auntie is very persuasive.

 

Billions:  So Prince knows of the coup but we still have not gotten to the scene where he throws a chair through Wendy’s window.  I guess that comes when the alliance to bring him down actually does separate Prince from his billions.  So now Prince is bringing in a guy and Chuck is bringing in a guy… could they both actually be bringing in Bobby?  Bobby is clearly the guy Chuck is recruiting for their group, but why exactly would Prince trust Bobby at all?  But I predict that Chuck’s thumb drive gets exposed before the end of the season.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  On no, poor Sazz. Though I did predict that someone would kill her thinking it was Charles way back in season one. Finally got that right belatedly.

 

This finale was missing some hilarious reveal. First season had a drugged Charles, there was the Killer Reveal Party in the second season. I thought it was coming when Mabel mentioned it was too easy when they got the mom to confess. Instead it seemed like they went for a too dramatic reveal with the producer threatening to kill himself which just felt out of place on this show. It probably did not help that the producers were the worst part of this season.

 

But hey, we did finally get a full performance of Creatures of the Night. And I guess the nanny turned out to be the killer in the musical. I mentioned this last week, but I really hope they film a full production of Death Rattle Dazzle and put it out as a special as we wait for I have to assume will be a strike delayed fourth season.

 

Ashoka:  I have been saying all season: they should have found someone better than Erza. Looks like I have been proven right because the bum has up and left them. Now here Ahsoka and Sabine are, foreign to their world. Straight and composed, Thrawn's sermons they can do without. But I am sure they have found that everybody loves to love them when they're far, far away.

 

Quantum Leap:  Really, writers and actors were on strike, but this was the show that somehow managed to come back?  And they yadda yadda three years?  This is going to be a rough season.

 

Loki:  Well, that was confusing.  But at least there was more Pillboi and the new guy was funny.  Gotta love the duct tape bit.  But pretty ominous that one of the judges is Kaittlyn Stark’s creepy sister.

 

The Challenge: USA:   Oh, Michele, I told you that you chose unwisely last week.  But hilarious that the Goof is offering to go in himself next week.  I would love to see it.  But who can he beat at Hall Brawl.  But hey, at least it is not the throwing challenge from earlier this season.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 30, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  Wait, so this was not a limited series?  For some reason I thought it was, but that certainly did not feel like an ending.  But if the Croat’s gameplan this whole time was to get Negan to his side, why not just ask?  Why the elaborate plan to kidnap Maggie’s kid when he could have just rolled up to wherever Negan  was.

 

Cruel Summer:  So who could have the dude page that could have also been the killer?  I think maybe it was the black dude.  He could hold a grudge that he took his girl early this season.   Of course the death could always be an accident so maybe it is brother.  It would be hilarious if it turns out to be Parker who seemed important early but looks to be this season Angela who was this mysterious newcomer who turned out to be no one important.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  Hopefully actually got on that plane, I fear we might see her again, even before the finale when I have to assume there is a father / daughter trip to Graceland.

 

Secret Invasion:  Did they really need to gun down Shooter McGavin like that?  Was there even a human version of him?  I did not see him in the pod rescue scene.  So is Khallissi the most powerful person in the MCU now?  She has the power of pretty much everyone who was at the Endgame battle.  That makes her way too powerful.

 

Full Circle:  I am still confused by what exactly Claire Danes did twenty year ago and how exactly her uncle fit into all of thise.  Though I did enjoy that her dad just turned out to be a clueless moron.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 23, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  I do not get why the bald dude let the Croat that they were coming?  What exactly think what would happen?  And where did all the Croat’s people go, and more importantly, where is Hershel?  It seems like he has been abandoned.  Do they have a backup lair?

 

Cruel Summer:  Well, we already know that the dude was grazed, so pretty obviously Isabella did not kill him with the cliffhanger shot.  The question is did all the drugs and alcohol actually kill him?  Since there are a couple episodes left, I guess the obvious answer is no.  My theory is that after what they did this night, the girls decide to keep him captive (how season one), he gets loose, and then someone kills him.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  It is great to have this show back even though Raylan’s daughter is annoying (okay, ordering the dumbest drink on the menu was hilarious, right up there with when the Crowe attempted the 12 Foot Rule on Raylan and the time Dewey thought he had four kidneys).  Hopefully he puts her on the first flight to Florida at the start of the next episode.  These are also lower tier Justified villain.  He is too much of a mustache twirling villain with no depth. 

 

Secret Invasion:  So the dad is dead-dead, burial and all.  But is Fury’s wife just going to try and kill everyone that Gravik sends?  Speaking of Gravik, how exactly do you kill someone who indestructible?  Bomb?

 

Full Circle:  Is this a comedy?  I laughed a few times, there is noted comedian Jim Gaffigan, but it still feels very much like a drama despite the multiple comedies of errors.  I feel like I would have liked the show more if it were an over the top comedy.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 16, 2023

 

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  So no one notice Negan dispose of a body and clean up the crime scene?  Lucky for him I guess.  But trying to humanize Negan by being upset that the Croat killed someone when dude went around at this time bashing people’s skulls in is a bit much.

 

Cruel Summer:  Well, the girls now have motive with him trying to mack on both girls.  I wonder if they try to entrap him in a threesome but them torture him, but one goes too far.  Crazy neighbor seems more and more like a red herring.

 

Secret Invasion:  Of course she was not actually dead; Emilia Clarke is too famous to be killed off halfway through a show.  But what a stupid plot twist.  If you have to explain your plot twist with a flashback, it probably is not good.  It was still stupid of her not to shapeshift to get out of there.  But are they really going to do the same silly plot twist this week, but with her father?

 

Full Circle:  I like the moral implications of what do you do if someone claims to have kidnapped your kid but it turns out to be the wrong kid.  What do you do?  Except so many comedy of errors, this may have been a better show if it were an actual comedy. Oof, how exactly do you competently explain why the other kid had the exact same hoodie and same shoes?  And did the other kid not have an sort of ID probing he was not who they thought they kidnapped?  And did the guy really not notice he shot a dummy?  Shouldn’t the lack of blood be a huge clue?  Then I do not understand calling for a ransom if you are not going to take it and were just going to kill him anyway.

 

The Blacklist:  Ten years, and over 200 episodes and it was almost worth it to watch the absolutely laughable stupid ending.  Seriously, Red gets gored by a bull and never explains to anyone why he shut down his criminal empire?  Rood riddance.

The Twenty-Five Best Shows of 2022-23

1.  Only Murders in the Building

2.  The Great

3.  Tell Me Lies

4.  Extraordinary

5.  Star Wars: Andor

6.  Harley Quinn

7.  Ghosts

8.  The White Lotus

9.  Yellowjackets

10.  Ms. Marvel

11.  Single Drunk Female

12.  The Boys

13.  Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head

14.  Abbott Elementary

15.  Wedding Season

16.  The Mandalorian

17.  The Last of Us

18.  The Capture

19.  Wreck

20.  Reboot

21.  She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

22.  The Head

23.  Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

24.  History of the World, Part II

25.  House of the Dragon

To be eligible for this list, the show must have aired a majority of their season between July 2022 and June 2023.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 9, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  Did Negan just kill that dude by cheese grater to the face?  Seems like that would just be painful, not actually kill you.

 

Cruel Summer:  I said after the second episode that Isabelle and Parker had some unspoken connection and not so surprising when the Landry’s kicked her out, it looks like she moved into Parker’s.  Then you had Parker stirring things up by pushing her towards Luke even though she was with Jeff.  And was that the crazy neighbor Megan was helping, I do wonder how he fits into all this.

 

Secret Invasion:  Why did the Skrull cared so much that Fury had the kid of the person he was impersonating? And is G'iah really dead? Kind of strange for a shape shifter to not shift her shape when trying to escape. But I guess if G'iah really is dead someone who looks like Emilia Clarke is chilling in one of those pods and will be rescued as soon as next week.

 

The Clearing:  So Freya killed Asha, except maybe not because someone else said Adrianne did.   So did Adrianne convince Freya she killed Asha, or was the guy just trying to comfort Freya by putting blame elsewhere?  Meh, what a meaningless show.

 

The Blacklist:  Finally we have gotten to the endgame, Red is on the outs and people think he is dead, except, he forgot to put decoy bodies in the plane.  Ooops.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 2, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  When I first saw those helmet dudes, I thought the blades were a bit overkill, but I guess they could come in handy in a zombie apocalypse

 

Cruel Summer:  So Isabella has been connected to two drownings?  It seems way too early in the season for that not to be a red herring though.  I do wonder if we will see that summer with the dead chick at some point.

 

Secret Invasion:  Wait, Shooter McGavin is a Skrull?!?!?!  I feel so betrayed. 

 

The Blacklist:  Yet another week, yet another dismantling for Red’s criminal empire.  This season really did not need to be 22 episodes.  How is there still three left?  Let us just to Red's reason why he is doing it.

The 13 Most Anticipated Events of 2023

 

The great Adam Duritz told us that it was a long December but there is reason to believe that this year will be better than last.  Here are thirteen reason why 2023 may actually be better than last year.

 

 

13.  Obligatory Superhero Mention:  It was a rough year for superheroes in 2022 and it looks like fatigue is finally settling in.  Marvel Phase 4 fizzled to an incoherent end.  It was even worse for DC which saw a Batgirl film get canned when it was almost finished filming and chaos ensued when the control given to James Gunn.  Henry Cavill was out as Superman days after it being announced he would return so Gunn could direct a Superman movie himself (that is some Big Dick Cheney Energy).  But as of now, DC will be releasing four zombie films tied to the last regime: Shazam! Fury of the Gods (March 7), The Flash (June 16), Blue Beetle (August 18), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, half of which star someone with a lot of bad press last year and it is unlikely anyone in these movies will be seen again in these roles.

 

12.  Marvel launches Phase 5 with Ant-Man: Quantumania (February 17) featuring the theatrical debut of Kang who was last seen in the season finale of Loki, though this Kang is a variant of that one.  Yeah, that was one of the problems with Phase 4, it started getting confusing.  That will be followed by Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 (May 5), which will likely be Gunn’s last contribution to Marvel (at least until he gets fired by DC), The Marvels (July 28), featuring one of the few bright spots of Phase 4: Ms. Marvel.  On the small screen, there will be new seasons of What If…? and Loki, spin-offs starring Echo and Agatha as well new show Secret Invasion (featuring Emilia Clarke’s MCU debut after unsuccessful stints in the terminator and Star Wars franchises)  and Ironheart.  Oh, and Sony is still trying to make their Spider-Man Cinematic Universe a thing and will release something called Kraven the Hunter (October 6).  Oof.  But at least they have Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2), a sequel to the entertaining animated movie.

 

12.  The Drop (January 13, Hulu):   I am not sure if this is a mockup of The Slap, but I am just going to pretend it is.

 

11.  Orphan Black: Echoes (TBD, AMC):  Does we need more Orphan Black, especially without Tatiana Maslany?  And how exactly do you do this show without her if there are about a hundred people in this world who look like her?  Little is known about this show other than it stars Krysten Ritter, though we do not know how many Krysten Ritters there will be.

 

10.  Evil Dead Rises (April 21, theaters):  This is the second attempt to revive the Evil Dead franchise without Sam Rami writing or director or starring Bruce Campbell (both or producing).  This is the first one to take outside a cabin in the woods but instead the Book of the Dead will be found in the bowels of an apartment building.  Hopefully the change of scenery will add something to this film that the first reboot did not.  Unfortunately this is one of the films that Discovery took off the HBO Max schedule and put it in theaters.  So I guess I will have to wait an extra 45 days to watch.

 

9.  Community: Six Seasons and Finally the Movie (TBD, Peacock):  During the third season, Community was preempted for couple months to air The Cape.  In the show, Abed became obsessed with the show even declaring that it would run for six seasons and a movie, a phrase that became a rallying cry for the show’s fans as it was perpetually on the bubble.  Of course NBC canceled it one season shy.  Yet, somehow, Yahoo! Screen (almost a big footnote as The Cape) picked it up for that sixth season.  Then seven year after its six season, the show is finally getting a movie on Peacock. 

 

8.  Party Down (February 23, Starz):  Speaking of long gestating revivals of cult comedies, rumors of a Party Down movie date back over a decade but it is getting a full series return to the same network that axed it thirteen years ago.  Everyone from the second season is back except Lizzy Caplan (Chloe Zoe joins the cast to replace her) and as depressing their lives were when the original aired, I can only imagine how more depressing it will be this time.  My one hope for the revival is that, much like Rob Thomas’ last revival, he brings back Jason Doring (I believe he played a Young Republican in the first season) just to kill him off.  That would be hilarious.

 

7.  The Last of Us (January 15, HBO):  I never played the video game, but if the adaptation is half as good they say the game is, we will start off 2023 on a high note.

 

6.  The Curse (TBD, Showtime):  Emma Stone is quickly becoming the queen of weird television shows.  She recently appeared in the trippy Maniac and next up is this comedy which also stars Nathan Fielder (who is also set to direct) about a cursed house being renovated by an HGTV show.  Sounds wild.

 

5.  More Star Wars:  Not as rough as the superhero movies and shows, but quite an uneven year for Star Wars.  The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan were not highly regarded and while Andor was one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the year, it was also, reportedly, the least watched live action Star Wars show yet.   Oh, and no The Mandalorian, though the titular character and his little green friend did pop up a couple times on The Book of Boba Fett.  Oh, and it is now three years since the last movie and still no official date for the next one.  But the little green savior will be back on the small screen this year (March 1).  The Asoka spin-off will also be this year as well as a new show Skeleton Crew from the guy behind the latest Spider-Man movies.  But the year will be kicked off by a second season of The Bad Batch (January 4).  A new season of Visions and new animated show Young Jedi Adventures are also expected early this year.

 

4.  Only Murders in the Building Season 3 (TBD, Hulu):  Shockingly, Paul Rudd showed up in season two finale.  Even more shocking, he died in his second season.  Even more shocking than that, the show then announce, despite just killing him off, Rudd would be joining the cast for season three setting up a Fundamentals of Caring reunion and a reunion of 5-timers club members.  I am guessing there will be copious amounts of flashbacks in season three, though evil twin brother cannot be ruled out in a show like this.

 

3.  Women’s World Cup (July 20, Fox):  You know it has been a bad World Cup when  journalist dies at a game and most people think the government had him killed because he dared to wear a rainbow shirt to a game.  The men’s world cup was an unmitigated disaster from all the migrant worker deaths, FIFA banning arm bands, and the government banning beer hours before kickoff and getting caught bussing in fans to cheer for their team.  The good thing about the women’s world cup is that most despots are too sexists to bid on them.   The field has been expanded 32 teams which has led to first time world cup appeared by the Philippines and Zambia in either men’s or women’s cups.  Two time defending champs America have to be the favorite going in, but after a three game losing streak last fall, it looks like European teams are starting to catch up.  Despite the games on the other side of the world in Australian and New Zealand, the first two games for the US are at 9:00 EST, though the third start at 3:00 in thr morning.

 

2.  Yellowjackets Season 2 (March 26, Showtime):  All hail our new Antler Queen Lottie Forking Mathews!!!  Unfortunately the PR people at Showtime ruined that both Lottie and Van will make it to present day with casting of their adult versions (Elijah Wood has also been cast as a Citizen Detective).  But despite that annoyance, I am extremely excited to see the teenagers dissolve into madness as winter quickly fell on the Canadian forest, and mostly fell on poor Jackie.

 

1. Justified: City Primeval (TBD, FX):  One of the five greatest shows of this century is getting a reboot.  While Raylan Givens does not actually appear in the Elmore Leonard book, they are fudging that for the show.  As of now it looks like Raylan will be the only one from the show to return, unless you count his daughter who will be played by Timothy Olyphant’s real life daughter. 

 

 

Here is everything else I will be watching this winter:

 

Mondays

8:00 – The Neighborhood (January 16, CBS)

10:00 – Quantum Leap (January 2, NBC)

10:30 – Miracle Workers: End Times (January 16, TBS)

 

Tuesdays

Leverage Redemption (already back, Freevee)

How I Met Your Father (January 24, Hulu)

Extraordinary (January 24, Hulu)

8:00 – Night Court (January 17, NBC)

9:00 – La Brea (January 31, NBC)

 

Wednesdays

The Bad Batch (January 4, Disney+)

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (February 15, Hulu)

The Mandalorian (March 1, Disney+)

8:00 – The Challenge (already back, MTV)

8:00 – Survivor (March 1, CBS)

8:30 – The Goldbergs (January 11, ABC)

9:00 – Abbott Elementary (January 4, ABC)

10:00 – Big Sky (January 4, ABC) 

10:00 – Grown’ish (January 18, Freeform)

 

Thursdays

8:30 – Ghosts (CBS, January 5, CBS)

 

Fridays

8:00 - Young Rock (January 6, NBC)

 

Sundays

8:00 – The Blacklist (Febuary 26, NBC)

9:00 – Mayfiar Witches (January 8, AMC)

9:00 – The Last of Us (January 15, HBO)

9:00 – Your Honor (January 15, Showtime)

9:00 – Yellowjackets (March 26, Showtime)