Hi, friends!
As the days lengthen here in the Northern Hemisphere, I get a little more choosy about what to watch on “television” (and that’s in quotes because not all of us watch audio-visual entertainment on an actual television any more). In the Winter our TV is more often than not just ON, but with nicer weather, a move towards the After, and having consumed so much of the available entertainment through “lockdown”, I’m trying to find fewer, better things to watch.
(I want to take just a moment to say that we in the States seem to be moving awfully quickly “back” rather than looking at this as an opportunity for us all to move forward. After typing the word “lockdown” above, I just have to say that this country did not, in fact, experience a lockdown, even here in New York City where those of us who stayed went through some sh*t.)
So, what to watch. For the record I prefer comedies, some Real Housewives, the occasional DIY show, and international house hunting shows (preferably in super-telegenic English villages). Medical and police procedurals are not my jam, though I have watched Broadchurch, The Investigation, Marcella, and a few others in my time.
Top Five Comedies
30 Rock: Always and forever my favorite show, though I probably need to take a year-long break now. Brunette with glasses who tries to create order out of chaos on a “comedy show for ladies”. Find it on Prime, Hulu, Peacock, or my DVD collection (best option because it’s got commentary tracks, blooper reels, and interviews, but you will occasionally have to get up off the couch to swap discs).
Absolutely Fabulous: British mother-daughter insanity with mother’s best friend adding to the chaos. I first watched in the 90s on BBCAmerica (back when they showed, you know, British stuff), and it’s still hysterically funny today. On Prime and Hulu, and I need to acquire a new set of DVDs.
Playing House: Childhood friends come back together when hometown mother-to-be needs support from globe-trotting bestie. Funny, touching, great supporting cast (Jane Kaczmarek, Keegan-Michael Key, and many more). Only 27 episodes and not available for straight-up streaming, but you can buy episodes or seasons from the usual places.
Ted Lasso: I’m as surprised as anyone that I love this show, since it’s about a men’s soccer team with a fish-out-of-water American football coach. The female leads played by Hannah Waddhingham (who you will not recognize as Septa Unella from Game of Thrones) and Juno Temple are fantastic, I’ve had a soft spot for Jason Sudeikis since his arc on 30 Rock, and all those fit young men running around the pitch don’t hurt either. It’s an AppleTV+ show.
Community: A Dames family favorite about a random group of students at a fictional community college. Fast, funny, lots of pop culture references. Watch it streaming on Prime, Hulu, and Netflix. We keep our DVDs under lock and key.
Honorable mentions to Broad City, Nightcap, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Happy Endings, Coupling, Great News, Gavin & Stacey, NewsRadio, and most importantly The Mary Tyler Moore Show (the ur-woman-centered workplace comedy - the entire series is on Hulu - go watch it!).
For Real Housewives I watch Potomac, New York, and Beverly Hills. Happy to discuss any of those, any time. I used to enjoy reading Richard Lawson’s and Brian Moylan’s recaps as much as watching the shows.
Also happy to get into The Handmaid’s Tale (or as my family calls it “that show that makes you cry” - yes, but it’s sooo good - on Hulu), Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (in Japanese with subtitles, so not great for knitting, but a weird, delightful show about the cross-section of people who frequent a late-night izakaya in Shinjuku Tokyo, on Netflix), Call My Agent! (in French with subtitles - funny, sexy, French showbiz show - again harder to knit while watching, unless your mom didn’t make you stick with Spanish in high school when you wanted to switch to French - also on Netflix), The Durrells in Corfu (My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell has been on my desert island book list for decades - wherever you stream your PBS stuff), Dickinson (which I was prepared not to like but ended up finding fun and interesting and well-done, plus I love the set design - another AppleTV+ production), and The Americans (one of the most compelling shows I’ve ever watched - Russian spies undercover in 80s Washington, D.C. - we’re thinking of doing a rewatch on Prime soon).
Wow. That’s a lot of TV, and I didn’t even get to things like Maine Cabin Masters, GLOW, Escape to the Country, Nick Knowles: Original Home Restoration, and more. Don’t worry. I don’t watch all this all the time. In fact I made a rule for myself early in lockdown that I couldn’t watch TV during the day, which led to a lot more reading (always a good thing) when I didn’t have household stuff to do, or else I would have just sat in front of the TV all day stress-knitting.
So, if you’re looking for new-to-you shows, I highly recommend all of the above. If you’ve watched any of the above and care to discuss, let’s do it in the comments. If you’ve got other shows to recommend, let me know in the comments (so we can all know about the good stuff).
Until June 1st (which will hopefully have a new necktie pattern released, happy knitting!
xxoo, Kathleen
P.S. There are still a few hours left on the discount in my Payhip and Ravelry shops. 25% off with code theknitno5 until midnight, 15 May 2021.
Old stuff Barney Miller, show from the 70s when nyc was gritty. Broken wood from New Zealand pleasant.
I loved "The Durrells in Corfu" and am always searching for something similar, and now, I want to visit Corfu! I also recommend "Doc Martin" (mentioned by Martha earlier).