Category: TV

Movies · TV

One Thing Really Does Lead To Another

JanetLeave a comment

Recently I found myself indulging in a bit of Old Hollywood Retrospectives via YouTube. I don’t recall the provider but the theme was Old Hollywood Romances. I’m a sucker for old time Hollywood. It really was a different place and time.

Anyway, I found myself not only learning a bit about some seriously gifted actors, but also discovering (or rediscovering) some classic films.

I know I’m not nearly as knowledgeable about many of these films but they piqued my interest for a couple of reasons. First, quite a few were films that I had either not known or forgotten that certain performers had been in them. Second, the subject matter, captured at a time before the sanitation of the various ratings systems, was often eye opening and thought provoking.

I was once again reminded that I really should spend some time to find what I could and sit back to watch.

With the passing of Angela Lansbury, I found myself amazed at her body of work. She was in films as early as her late teens. The mind boggles. I’ve been lucky enough to see clips of some of her work on Broadway, too. What an amazing performer! Her television work was also stellar. Consider taking on a job that required up to 20 hours a day and actually lasted for several years when you are in your 60s. Yeah, I can’t even begin to comprehend how she did it, and did it so well, too. Especially when she included some film work in the middle of the TV work.

I’ve long been a fan of what I think of as craftsman performers. They are the folks who step up, and into character, for a variety of projects. What I think separates them from the majority is that you forget who they are when they are performing a role. If they’ve done their job properly, you don’t think “Oh, that’s So-and-So from … ” They are few true craftsman performers, but lots of folks who step into a role and you rarely not think of the actor’s name as you watch.

If you are inclined, make a list of performers that capture your interest and look up their filmography. imdb.com is a great place to start. Put together a list of those projects you want to see and dive in. You might be surprised at what you can find.

Indulge in a movie night that isn’t the latest and loudest, but something a bit more classic.

Oh, and brace yourself. The ride you embark on could change the way you contemplate entertainment. 🙂

Classic TV · Media · One of My Favorites · TV

Scooby-Doo – Who Knew?

JanetLeave a comment

I have been indulging in some nostalgia while sort of binge watching some of my favorite cartoons.

I was a kid when the Flintstones and Jetsons first appeared on prime time. Long, long before they ever dared visit Saturday morning. I was around when the very first Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? arrived. And, odd as it might seem, I’ve been around for all of the incarnations.

For some of us, cartoons were windows into possibilities, trips through an odd fun-land experience, a ray of sunshine when the world wasn’t really all that sunny. And, that never changed.

A Saturday morning without Bugs Bunny is pretty much a waste. There is something missing that can’t easily be described. That rascally rabbit shaped so much about my outlook on life that he is like my shadow. Toss in Daffy and Elmer and you have the makings for a great day.

These were the premier Looney Tunes cartoons that inspired so many kids and adults. Personally, I preferred Bugs and Daffy to Mickey and Donald any day. Still do.

But back to Scooby and the Gang. They have been such a constant presence over the years that I honestly hadn’t realized just how many incarnations there are. I love the Laff-A-Lympics even though they weren’t Hanna-Barbera’s best. Having all the iconic HB characters in one spot was great!

The original Scooby Gang managed to solve some pretty darn interesting mysteries, too. True, some were a bit, um, lame, but often there were some engaging story lines. This was a kids’ show, right?

A couple of years back I came across Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated and thoroughly enjoyed it. A more grown up version of the gang with some engaging story lines, the series is definitely binge worthy.

You can check out more about Scooby and the Gang by clicking HERE.

If you want an easy half hour (or more depending upon your indulgence quotient) find Scooby and the Gang and sit back and relax. Enjoy the humor, groan at the bad jokes, cheer Fred’s always iffy but complicated traps.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself smiling a bit. 🙂

Bingeworthy · TV

Signora Volpe – Bingeworthy TV

JanetLeave a comment

I admit I get a bit fussy about what I watch on TV. For some reason I don’t really care to consider, I no longer care to spend time on shows that don’t really catch my attention or interest longer than the first 10 minutes or so. That leaves a lot of shows on the wayside, believe me.

I came across a posting about Signora Volpe on AcornTV recently where the comments were exceptionally favorable. Granted depending upon the location of the ‘post’ comments can, and should, be questioned. I decided to give it a try and see what happened.

Let’s just say it was a pleasant afternoon spent not dealing with a heatwave, but good stories set in beautiful settings told by great performances from excellent writers. Yeah, I liked it!

Check out the information about the show and AcornTV here: https://acorn.tv/signoravolpe/

Before you ask, no I’m not affiliated with AcornTV and I’m not being paid to post this piece. I’m just a long time subscriber who happens to enjoy good TV.

I hope you find it enjoyable, too! Me? I’m hoping for season 2.

Classic TV · Cord Cutting · TV

How To Watch MeTV and other Nostalgia Channels on Roku

JanetLeave a comment

I love TV channels that carry classic TV shows! These are usually the ‘extra’ channels that came along after the shift of over-the-air signals to digital from analog. You might know them as Antenna TV or MeTV. There are loads of others, too.

For those of us who use an antenna, however, watching these channels can be a bit of an issue if you don’t get a clear signal, if the weather is impeding the signal, or if you aren’t in an area where a local affiliate is available. In my case, weather has a huge impact on accessibility.

The other day I came across an article titled: ‘How to Watch MeTV on Roku‘. I checked it out and was thrilled to discover that I could get not only MeTV but quite a few other channels – many I had no idea existed. And, best of all, it was an easy load on my Roku device. The article explains it all.

This discovery was quite timely as we are in the middle of May Showers which in my case means heavy rains, wind, and thunderstorms. All of which impede over the air signals. I had the pleasure of being able to watch Decades TV’s Weekend Binge – which just happened to be ‘The Flintstones’! FWIW, we don’t get Decades TV in our area. 🙂

It also means that I can now watch COZI TV anytime I want without having to deal with signal drift. Lots more ‘Frasier’! 🙂

Check it out and see what other tidbits of information might be handy for you even if you aren’t a Roku user.

Is this article helpful? If so, give it a ‘Like’ to let me know.

Classic TV

Appointment TV: Perry Mason

JanetLeave a comment

One of my earliest memories is curling up in the daybed at my Grandmother’s home listening to (or occasionally watching) Perry Mason. The bed was in the dining room right next to the living room where the TV had pride of place. Perry Mason was a regular visitor to that home, my parent’s home, and as I left my parent’s home, my own home.

I can’t recall how many times I watched the original series with Raymond Burr, let alone the remake with Monte Markham, but I do know that I’ve seen all the original show’s episodes and when the Perry Mason Movies debuted, that was a cause for celebration.

Recently MeTV added the Perry Mason Movies to its Sunday lineup and, once again, it is appointment TV.

Check out THIS for more information about the original Raymond Burr series along with information about the subsequent series and the films.

Mason originated via books written by Earle Stanley Gardner. There was a radio series, too. The radio series was serialized, think soap opera, which portrayed Mason and company quite differently than the TV series. HBO Max has also created a prequel series, if you will that takes place prior to the time period in the 1957 series.

Perry Mason is intelligent TV. It is well written, well performed, and provides a high quality experience. It set the bar for the type of legal drama I watched over the decades.

I will be honest, I’ve never read the books and have limited knowledge of the radio series, so I don’t know how well they do, or don’t, hold up over the years. The Burr version of the series, including the movies, might be a tad dated, but they are a true reflection of the time they were produced.

Frankly, I’m just happy to have something to look forward to each week that is engaging, familiar, and a pleasant thing to watch that is family friendly.

Enjoy!

TV

A Visit with “The First Lady”

JanetLeave a comment

You might have heard about a new series on Showtime called “The First Lady” which focuses on several trailblazing first ladies in our history. The ladies in question are:

  • Eleanor Roosevelt played by Gillian Anderson
  • Betty Ford played by Michelle Pfeiffer
  • Michelle Obama played by Viola Davis

And those are just the Ladies. This cast includes some stellar performances played by some stellar performers, not just the three mentioned above.

The concept is interesting, putting each in her own time and place but all three at the same time; at the beginning of her role as First Lady of the United States.

The times might have been different for each woman for a variety of reasons but the underlying theme of all three was ‘hope’.

I had the opportunity to watch the first two episodes via the Showtime Select channel on PlutoTV. This free platform gave me the opportunity to dip my toe, as it were, before I forked over any cash. Note: to watch all episodes in the series, you will have to subscribe to Showtime.

The platform is free, you can use it pretty much anywhere, so if you are inclined, check it out.

All that aside, ‘The First Lady’ brings an interesting perspective on a difficult position in times that were anything but calm and comfortable. Granted, as stated at the beginning of each episode, the writers did take some creative license with the subject matter and time period, but the end result is captivating, amusing, interesting, and occasionally wowing. Things you don’t always find in what could be termed a ‘docudrama’. Some complain about the bouncing from one time frame to another, but I found it interesting. I was able to compare and contrast rather than focus to the exclusion of the other stories.

Enjoy!

Classic TV · Cord Cutting · Media · TV

Rediscovering Old Favorites

JanetLeave a comment

Are you a fan of classic TV? It could be dramas, mysteries, comedies or any combination in addition to other shows that don’t quite fit those categories.

I have a fondness for quite a few classic TV shows. Some going back quite a few decades. 🙂

While I understand TVLand was one of the pioneers in what I call the formal rerun network programming, since I don’t have cable, it was never a possibility for me to watch. However, thanks to MeTV, Antenna TV, COZI TV, and various other networks, it is now possible to revisit old favorites without the expense of cable or streaming.

In my neck of the woods, and not having cable, over the air programming tends to be at the mercy of weather. In other words, when weather is bad, signal is bad. This is where streaming platforms come in to play and are very helpful.

I recently rediscovered ‘Murder, She Wrote’ along with several other favorite shows on COZI TV. They have a great line up with lots of great programing. The problems arise when weather isn’t great. After being caught in the middle of a two-parter, I found myself searching to find the second half of the two hour season finale. Turned out that I was able to not only find the episode guide (IMDB.com) but also find the series for free – and all the seasons – over on the Roku Channel.

Now I know that not everyone has a Roku box in their home. But this does not mean that they won’t be able to take advantage of free streaming services. It just means that there might be a bit more research involved.

For the record, I do wish that all the classic (rerun) networks/channels would have a streaming platform for those who can’t or don’t have access, but <shrug> …

In the meantime, I’m checking out all my options to determine what I can find and the best way to access it.

FYI: If you subscribe to streaming services like Paramount+, AcornTV, or any other service, be sure to check all their programming options. And do it regularly. Why? Because these services add movies and shows often and you never know what you might find that you already have access to.

But don’t limit the check to just those subscription services. Check all your platforms to see what is available. IMDB.com adds a lot of programming (new and old) quite often. You might score the entire series of a classic show that you can binge to your heart’s desire. You might also find shows or films that you forgot you wanted to watch.

I’m on the lookout for my Summer Binge. This is the series I want to deep dive into during the summer months when the rest of TV is up to its collective ears in reruns.

So far, I’ve found ‘Julia’ over on HBO Max, which has quite an array of other programming that I haven’t seen yet. I also have a lot to catch up on over on Disney+.

I do spend a lot of time over on PlutoTV where I can binge on some old favorites and discover new shows, too. And, it is free!

So, what are you looking to curl up with? Let me know!

Media · TV

Arthur – All Growed Up

JanetLeave a comment

I’ve been a fan of PBS’ ‘Arthur‘ since the beginning. To be honest, I’ve been a PBS Kids Junkie for decades. The programming may be aimed at kiddoes, but us older folks can find a lot to enjoy, too. I’ve been known to set my VCR and DVR to record many PBS Kids shows over the years. ‘Arthur‘ was a regular on that roster.

The show has been around for a long time, even though the kids seemed to never really leave third grade. What I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to not be blasted by loads of energy, noise, or the inevitable frantic silliness that some shows steeped themselves in. Arthur, Buster and friends told tales that reflected what was going on in the lives of third graders dealing with, among other things, allergies, questionable advertising, little sisters, pets, parents, and the scary realization that teachers were people, too.

The shows were tasteful, humorous, a touch ironic, and were often written with adults in mind. They would occasionally play with satire taking on Downton Abbey or Masterpiece with tongue in cheek humor. And they did it very well.

In addition to the regular shows, there were holiday specials, too. These brought something extra to the holidays that I look forward to each year.

Want to learn a bit more?

Arthur on Wikipedia

How Arthur Grew Up on The Los Angeles Times

Arthur Fans React on TV Insider

Are you a fan, too? Let me know!