I have a lingering cold. It feels like yesterday should’ve been the final day, but it’s the visitor that will not leave. Oh well. At least it’s just a cold, and not some vomit-launch high-fever diarrhea-catapult jamboree. I hear that’s going around. In fact, I have no medical evidence of this, but I’ve convinced myself that since I’m almost finished with a bad cold, my immune system is operating at a higher level and fighting off all the worse illnesses out there. If it’s not true, I don’t want to hear about it. Keep that shit to yourself.
Indeed, everybody’s hacking and coughing and sneezing. Everywhere I go it sounds like square dance night at a 1957 Tuberculosis sanitarium. The fact that I’m in the throes of illness should not surprise me. The spores of sickness are airborne and plentiful. The grossness has been weaponized!
But today’s gotta be the end of it, right? What’s this lingerin’ bullshit? It started on Wednesday. It’s too much.
In any case, I finished watching a show on Amazon this weekend that turned out to be FANTASTIC. Have you seen Catastrophe? Man, that’s the good stuff. It’s a comedy, but no hack sitcom. This ain’t Alice, goddammit. It’s about an American guy who has a quickie relationship with an Irish woman while traveling on business in London. She calls him about a month after he returns to Boston and informs him she’s pregnant. When his phone rings it displays Sharon (London Sex). He ends up moving there, to be a part of the kid’s life. He barely knows the woman but is determined to do the right thing. And there’s your premise.
It is very funny and super-smart — every episode is written by the stars, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. It’s fairly raunchy and is LOADED with memorable lines. I’m thinking about watching it again, ’cause it’s is so dense with filthy and brilliant dialog. Here’s another review in which they call the show depraved. I don’t know about that, but I loved it. In fact, I can’t stop thinking about the final episode of Season 3. It was genuinely suspenseful and gut-wrenching. As well as hilarious. Crazy!
There’s one final season, which I believe is being shown in England now. At some point, Amazon will add it. They have some sort of stake in the show, with exclusive streaming rights, etc. Looking forward to it, but I wish they weren’t calling it quits on the show. It’s really, really good.
I recorded a podcast over the weekend, while I was totally sick. I was late sending it to Producer Zipp and don’t have it back yet. It’s my fault, and he’s also probably pulling his hair out editing out all the coughing and sneezing and snorkeling. Maybe I should’ve skipped it? I don’t know. I’m fairly fixated on sticking to the schedule these days. As soon as I can get it posted, I will. It has some laughs in it, despite your host wiping his feet at death’s door.
UPDATE: It’s up!
And speaking of Zipp, he and his podcast partner Bob are releasing a one-hour scripted comedy… radio drama or somesuch. I heard it in advance, in fact, I listened to it twice. Very silly, and very funny! Here’s the trailer and the full program is supposed to be released today as the latest episode of their No Redeeming Qualities podcast. This thing was a year in the making, a huge undertaking. And I’m not kidding, I laughed throughout. Please check it out. You’re going to like it.
And I’m calling it a day here, my friends. If you know of any hidden gems, like Catastrophe, on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon, please share. I didn’t even know about that show. It nearly got past me, and I wonder what great shows have gotten past me? There’s an embarrassment of riches out there!
I hope you guys have a fantastic day.
I’ll be back on Thursday.
Now playing in the bunker
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I really enjoyed the series Futureman on Hulu. Time travel, video games, and a subversive sense of humor make it a real hoot to watch.
I’m partial to Corner Gas (Canadian sitcom.)
I binged 2 seasons of Corner Gas over vacation last week. A little jewel. And pretty old. Many times I heard lines that Jeff could’ve written for Brent.
Canadian comedy hits my funnybone just right-I’ve watched all Letterkenny episodes I can find over and over.
I’ll have to check that out. North of 60 (not a comedy) is another one I watched a while back. I really want to see Little Mosque on The Prairie.
Corner Gas is now back as a cartoon. I have not seen it.
I really enjoyed Kim’s Convenience on Netflix. Pretty damned funny.
And then there is Kath and Kim (Australian sitcom.)
That reminds me – there is a rumor that Northern Exposure is going to get the re-boot.
I would love to see a reboot of Northern Exposure!
Let’s hope it will not be on that CBS pay-stream thing. I wish they would put out the dvds with the original music. That is why I have never bought them. The same thing held up WKRP for years and years.
I just started Schitt’s Creek on Netflix. Almost done with the first season. Very quirky and funny. Eugene Kevy and Catherine O’Hara from Best of Show and SCTV are on it. Highly recommended.
Yes! Catastrophe was pretty awesome! I found it accidentally, and binged through all the episodes in just a couple days last summer.
I’ve just finished watching 11/22/63 on Hulu, which was just okay. But I’m really enjoying Season 2 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon. It’s pretty great!
I second The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Very funny. I really enjoyed Tin Star staring Tim Roth on Amazon. Excellent soundtrack too. I saw yesterday that The Deadwood movie is coming out this year on HBO. It is supposed to close up the loose ends from the last season. Speaking of that, I also really enjoyed Get Shorty on Netflix staring Sean Bridgers who played Johnny Burns. Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd also are in it. One more is Man in the High Castle, also on Amazon, though when we watch it I constantly have to pause and explain what is happening to the wife.
“I like to watch.” . . . Chauncey Gardiner
And there goes hot tea, all over my keyboard…
Bravo.
Hello Ladies aired on HBO for one season with a final mini-movie to tie up loose ends once it was (inevitably, as are all good things) cancelled. It was hilarious, and if you can find it, you should definitely check it out.
I second the Schitt’s Creek mention; it’s good too.
Don’t feel bad, I caught a bad cold New Years Eve and just had my first decent day today.
A show we’ve been watching on Amazon: Sneaky Pete, check it out.
From the Amazon description of “Women of the House” Delta Burke’s Designing Women spinoff, currently available with Amazon Prime: Suzanne Sugarbaker’s latest husband has died, and as his widow, she assumes his political office for the remainder of his term. Washington, D.C. was ill-prepared for the outspoken, “big, dumb, hick beauty queen’s” arrival to the United States House of Representatives
Also starring Teri Garr and Jonathan Banks from Breaking Bad and Wiseguy (which is honestly a great show from the 80’s and most episodes are available on Hulu) as the previously unmentioned mentally challenged Sugarbaker brother.
Ozark on Netflix is really good and Mad Dogs on Amazon fire was excellent. Wish they would do another season of it.
I’m all over Shameless on Netflix.
Im all over Shameless on Netflix
Will def check out Catastrophe.
I always recommend Peep Show. It used to be on Netflix, now on Amazon I think.
Here are a couple of reviews of movies on Netflix:
Ballad of Buster Scruggs – fantastic, holds up on immediate re-watching.
Bird Box – ridiculous.