Category: Bingeworthy

Bingeworthy · TV

Searching For: The Summer Binge

JanetLeave a comment

May is the usual end of season (if not series) which leaves us looking for that certain something special to look forward to watching…or bingeing…during the summer. I find myself looking for cozy comfortable things, old or new (to me).

I recently discovered the 2004 The Batman series on Tubi and have been enjoying that very much. I’m also diving back into The Great British Sewing Bee season 10 over on the Roku Channel. I deliberately saved (?) season 10 to watch in those times when I needed a touch of comfort. Also on my proverbial back urner is a collection of The Great [ fill in blank ] Baking Show(s). I’ve enjoyed the Canadian and British versions but am just starting to tap into the American series.

I am looking forward to watching The Other Bennet Sister on BritBox. I have seen several clips and, frankly, find quite interesting.

What else? So far I’m not sure. I am endeavoring to dig a bit deeper into the offerings of all the streaming services and see what catches my eye. On the one hand it is a long summer but on the other hand, it isn’t nearly as long as we might think…

What are you looking forward to watching?

Bingeworthy · TV

Thoroughly Enjoying The Conversation(s)

JanetLeave a comment

I’m one of those folks who enjoy the behind the scenes stuff that you could find on DVDs or VHS tapes. The shorts that showed how things were done or why things were done. Yeah, I’m one of those folks. 😀

I am also enjoying a couple of podcasts that provide insight into behind the scenes or, even better, who the people are. I want to hear the stories, learn the lessons, enjoy the conversation.

NCIS has a YouTube channel that covers the franchise but they also have a podcast, NCIS Partners & Probies, where Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover sit down with folks to chat about the shows in the franchise. I am still catching up but I have thoroughly enjoyed what I’ve seen. I’ve learned things I never knew, was reminded of things I already knew and found myself enjoying the conversation.

Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny is a Star Trek fan’s thrill but also a movie/TV fan’s thrill. Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes sit down with guests to talk about…all sorts of things, some Trek related and some not. I am also catching up but what I’ve watched has been fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed LeVar Burton’s visit. He has had an amazing career and the stories he shared … You’ll just have to check in to find out.

NOTE: Both podcasts can be found wherever you get your podcasts. Click the links for more information.

Enjoy!

Bingeworthy · Classic TV

Love Classic Disney Animation? Check This Out!

JanetLeave a comment

If you are like me, you probably grew up watching The Wonderful World of Color from back in the 1960s. There was something special about Sunday evenings curled up in front of the TV, most likely with the entire family, watching the weekly adventure. If you were lucky enough to be able to watch the original Disney films, too, even better.

Now, I know that things have changed with the House of Mouse, but the early stuff was magical on many, many levels. Dennis, over at West of Neverland, has created a channel devoted to those classics providing lots of background information.

Forty Seven videos so far! That is quite an accomplishment. If you’ve never checked out the channel, now is the time to do so.

Enjoy!

Bingeworthy

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

JanetLeave a comment

When I need a good bingeable show to curl up with I tend to look for something that doesn’t really require a lot of thought (mine) but good quality production (theirs). I also love a good animated series and when the Looney Tunes are included I am usually a happy camper.

Over the years I’ve watched several episodes of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries. For whatever reason it wasn’t when it was originally aired. <shrug> but with the availability on various platforms, I am now able to indulge to my heart’s content.

Tweety is one of those characters folks tend to love. He is tiny, cute, and is smarter than we might suspect.

Sylvester tends toward a single mindedness that would probably be more successful if he took the time to think things through. Sort of like the Coyote in the Road Runner series but without the Acme merchandise. 😉

Granny is, well, Granny. Don’t underestimate her but don’t make the mistake of thinking she is clued in…

I love seeing Cool Cat amble through the episodes and encountering other members of the Looney Tunes universe lends some fun to the mix, too.

Check out the series by clicking HERE. You’ll learn the background and find links to several sources.

Bingeworthy · TV

Ludvig

JanetLeave a comment

Every once in a while you find a gem amongst the pebbles. I’ve been reading a lot about BritBox’s Ludvig. I tucked it on my To Be Watched List…Eventually. Eventually actually became Boxing Day and started before dawn. 😀

One of the unexpected plusses about the number of episodes in a British series is that you can usually binge the entire thing in one day. Ludvig is the standard 6 episodes. The beauty of this particular series is that the initial mystery is … mostly resolved. Mostly because it leaves the door open to a second series. The second season has already begun filming with release expected in 2026.

Ludvig is the pen name of puzzle creator John Taylor. John is a recluse who exists in the world to create and solve puzzles. He has a twin brother, James, who is a police inspector married to Lucy and they have a son, Henry. When James goes missing under questionable circumstances, Lucy calls John to help and things go awry from there.

Quirky (check). Interesting (check). Fish out of water (check). Well written (check). Excellent cast (check).

  • Click HERE to read more about Ludvig on imdb.com
  • Click HERE to read about Ludvig on BritBox.

Series One has some interesting twists and turns and the quirks just add that special touch. Watching John learn to exist in the world, eventually evolving out of his comfort zone, is a pleasure. One might even call it indulgent…as in bring on the popcorn and curl up on sofa to watch the entire season.

I love shows like this. They engage the brain while entertaining. There is a lot to consider as the mysteries unfold.

Add Ludvig to your To Be Watched List and keep an eye out for season 2. You won’t regret it.

Bingeworthy · Classic TV · Media · Movies · TV

Catching Up

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In the midst of Hollywood Strikes there are still options for viewers

A recent article in the New York Times (read here) is a reminder that even though we are not being inundated by new shows, there is still a lot to watch. A lot.

And you know what? That is a good thing.

One of the things I hate about cable is the dearth of material which results in jacking up the monthly bill. There is nothing like a 3 figure monthly bill for a majority of stuff I don’t have any interest in. 🙁 Streaming can be a bit of a mine field, too.

But here we are with a plethora of material that had been relegated to the ‘I’ll Watch that later’ list. Or, we’ve taken the time to brows our various streaming services (free or paid for) and found a whole host of things we’d forgotten we wanted to see. Now is the time!

And, if you were sharp eyed you discovered that many of your free services had materials that also appear on some of the paid platforms. !!!!!!

Yep, it is true. Granted you might not find all of a series, but you could find just what you want to see and watch enough to determine if adding the subscription cost to your budget is worth it or not. I recently discovered that several series I used to pay for are now available for free elsewhere. Jaw dropped. Money saved.

Another thing I have taken advantage of is the search feature on imdb.com to find out where I can watch something and what it will cost me. I use the same feature on my Roku box. It can be eye opening to see the options.

So, pull up your watch list, grab a pen and paper and make a list of what you want to watch while we wait for Hollywood to sort itself out. Catch up without the need for frustration and annoyance that everyone else has already seen it before you. Who cares?

Grab the popcorn!

Bingeworthy · Books · Classic TV · TV

From The Reading Table: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story

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The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m savoring this gem!

First, I love the extras you could get on DVDs that told behind the scenes stories about the main feature.

Second, I’ve had the pleasure of spending time on some TV and motion picture stages and the experiences were not only fun, but educational.

Third, I came to The Big Bang Theory late, but when I discovered it, I dove in with both feet.

Put all this together and you will understand why reading this book is such a pleasure. If you like learning about how TV shows are made, curious about actor’s method and process, and want to know some of the behind the scenes events that added and aided the creation of a great series, this is your book.

There is a lot of detail here. The tidbits you will discover could make you sit back and shake your head.

Even if you aren’t one of us extras-on-the-DVD people, you might find this an interesting read.



View all my reviews

Bingeworthy · Classic TV · Cord Cutting · TV

Discovering Classics

JanetLeave a comment

One of the unexpected surprises of cord-cutting and streaming is the ability to dig out classic TV or movies and discover just how good (or not) they are. PlutoTV has been updating its service and some of the updates have been quite surprising. And enjoyable.

While I’m astounded that it took so long to get a 24/7 I Love Lucy channel – considering how many other similar channels are available – I found myself with a bit of a grin and a touch of anticipation when I heard about this new addition to the service. If you are a fan, you understand, if not it won’t matter.

This evening, over on the Classic TV channel (still part of Pluto TV) I was surprised to find a stack of episodes from The Avengers and I took the time to indulge in a couple. I’ve heard of the show my entire life but never took the time, or had the opportunity, to actually watch. I’m glad to say I understand the furor over the show (my episodes were pre-Diana Rigg) and enjoyed them very much.

I’ve spent time recently looking over the several free platforms that are on my Roku Channel Guide – even the Roku Channel itself. There is a lot of material out there and some of it is worth getting out the popcorn, etc. and diving in.

You don’t need a Roku, if you have a Smart TV, you’ll probably already have apps on it, or you can use your Amazon Fire TV Stick. My point is that there is a huge variety of material if you are willing to do a bit of digging. 😉

What’s next? I have no idea. That is the fun of the hunt. Enjoy!

Bingeworthy · TV

Throwback TV: Cro

JanetLeave a comment

Way back in the 1990s, when ABC TV still had a Saturday Morning Cartoon line up, Cro was a favorite of mine.

Produced by the Children’s Television Workshop – the same folks who produced Sesame Street – Cro focused on a group of characters who showed problem solving. While that might not sound all that exciting, the series took a collection of interesting characters, set in an unusual time period, and tossed in the time travel trope to capture the interest of a young audience. Or, in my case, a not so young audience.

You can learn more about Cro by clicking HERE. You can watch the episodes by going to YouTube and searching for Cro ABC, which will bring you to a couple of collections of the episodes in addition to individual episodes.

I found this gem on YouTube recently and found myself revisiting Phil and Dr. C, not to mention Cro and his friends and family. The stories are interesting, the topic is presented in a captivating manner, and the fun is the twist on animal intelligence.

Sadly, the series is not available on DVD, or it would be on my shelf. Like The Magic School Bus, it is one of those wonderful series that combines great viewing with great learning without your being aware that you actually have learned something. 🙂

Check it out!

Bingeworthy · Classic TV · TV

The End of My Summer Binge

JanetLeave a comment

It came as a bit of a surprise.

I have come to enjoy that rerun period between May and September by engaging in a binge of something. One year, it was Agents of SHIELD, which led to Agent Carter and so on. Another it was Once Upon A Time. And, again, one year it was Only Murders In The Building.

As you can imagine, all these binges led me to watch the full series, something that I really enjoyed. This year, however, the options for new(ish) series that I’d not seen just wasn’t all that captivating. Until…

This year, MeTV brought back Perry Mason Mysteries and I eagerly dove in. I’d seen many, if not all, of them when they were first broadcast. All that being said, I enjoyed each of them for pretty much the same reasons, and a couple in spite of some weak writing. <shrug> 😉

Well, the last of the series aired on October 30th. In the credits was a tribute to Raymond Burr, who passed away after the episode was filmed. Knowing that he was ill during the production of these movies was always in the back of my mind.

All that being said, watching these films is watching a who’s who of the era. The guest cast is astounding. But it is really Perry and Della who steal the show, each and every time. That story is one for the fans.

I’m pretty sure MeTV will continue to air the films and they are worth watching. But for me it was a wonderful Summer Binge that is much appreciated.