Category: TV

TV comedy – Everything Sucks!

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

Awesome. Grade 10 students in 1996.  Nerds. 

Jahi Di’Allo Winston so courageous and confident as Luke O’Neil.

Peyton Kennedy so vulnerable as Kate Messner, the daughter of the principal.

They literally attend Boring High School.

How perfect is that?

Everything Sucks! is an American comedy-drama web television series (2018) .. that parodies teen culture of the mid-1990s. …

The series is set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon in 1996, and focuses on a group of teenagers who attend the fictional Boring High School as they proceed to make a movie together while dealing with issues such as finding their sexualities, mental health, and growing up.

One small thing I appreciated was the story NOT making a big deal of Luke and his Mom being Black.   Any actor of any race could have been cast in the part.

Sadly, the series was not renewed.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Eco-Challenge Fiji – now on Amazon Prime

On By Rick McIn cycling, TVLeave a comment

Intense. Emotional.

If you’ve never watched an Adventure Race, this is the one.

I binged the 10 episodes over the weekend.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Eco-Challenge Fiji had 66 teams racing non-stop, 24 hours a day, across hundreds of miles of rugged backcountry terrain complete with mountains, jungles and oceans.

Each race team is comprised of four competitors, including at least one member of the opposite sex, and one assistant crewmember that will be helping their team from base camp.

A variety of non-motorized forms of transportation and other various challenges including outrigger paddling, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, whitewater rafting, paddle boarding, and canyoneering ….

Navigation must be done with a map and compass only and teams will be required to use expedition problem-solving skills in their quest to the finish line.

If any team member quits or is unable to complete the race, the entire team will be disqualified. Only teams that can work together under extreme stress and fatigue have any hope of reaching the finish.

Sound like the TV show is renewed. Next edition will be hosted in Patagonia.

Patriot Games (1987) by Tom Clancy

On By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

Famously popular at the time, I found Patriot Games in 2020 too jingoistic. Also slow paced.

It didn’t help that the audio book is read by Scott Brick, too emotional for my liking.

The origin of character Jack Ryan is interesting. A civilian history professor at the United States Naval Academy (USNA).

He’s the son of a Baltimore police detective and a nurse.

While in London with his family, Ryan stumbles upon a kidnapping attempt on the Prince of Wales and his family, which is orchestrated by Irish terrorist group …

He foils the attack by killing one gunman while injuring another and gets wounded in the process. …

Ryan is later knighted by Queen Elizabeth II …

Acceptable Risk – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Acceptable Risk is an Irish television crime drama series …

… stars Elaine Cassidy as Dublin-based Sarah Manning, whose husband Lee is murdered whilst on a business trip in Montreal. Filmed between Ireland and Canada …

I’ll definitely be watching season 2.

This show has potential.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gracepoint – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I decided to watch the U.S. remake Gracepoint rather than the British original called Broadchurch.

Both star the same series’ lead, David Tennant (Dr. Who), as Detective Emmett Carver. But the ending of season 1 is different.

Anna Gunn is superb, as usual, as Detective Ellie Miller.

Nick Nolte has a memorable role as Jack Reinhold.

I recommend Gracepoint. Sadly it was cancelled after the first season.

Only 64% on Rotten Tomatoes. Broadchurch is closer to 94%.

Click PLAY or watch a preview on YouTube.

There was NO WAY I could have predicted the killer.

Filming began on January 28, 2014, in Oak Bay, British Columbia. Continued until late-May 2014 in Greater Victoria, the marketplace at Portside Marina in Sidney.

Never Have I Ever – season 1

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

If you liked Derry Girls, you’ll like this comedy series.

Never Have I Ever is an American coming of age comedy-drama television series starring Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher.

The comedy is partially based on Kaling’s real childhood story, growing up in the Boston area … about an Indian American high school student dealing with the death of her father. …

Diversity of cast is obviously one goal.  The only heterosexual white man with much air time is the hilarious narrator, professional tennis player John McEnroe.

The writing is excellent.  A lot of pop references.

Maitreyi is a natural.  She was picked from 15,000 applicants having put together her audition video at a local library in Mississauga using her mother’s camera.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Morning Show on Apple TV+

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

It’s good. 

61% on Rotten Tomatoes sounds too low to me.

On paper this must have looked one of the greatest TV projects all-time.

Three likeable, bankable stars: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell.

The theme contemporary –  celebrity MeToo sexual misconduct.

Apple TV+ has money for the best people, the best music soundtrack.

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison is excellent.

Ultimately I expected more.  A better ending, as well.

There will be no season 2.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Fair Warning is the 2020 book from the author of all those excellent Harry Bosch stories.

But Bosch does not appear in this one.

It’s his 3rd novel featuring exclusively reporter Jack McEvoy,

Undetected by law enforcement, a vicious killer has been hunting women, using genetic data shared by the victims themselves to select and stalk his targets.

After reading this book you certainly will want to avoid getting your genetics checked by sites like 23andMe.   There’s very little regulation.  In the book women are tracked down by the killer by their genetics data.

His next book will feature Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller.  Bosch will return after that.

He’s also currently working on #7 and last of the Bosch TV series.

Michael Connelly’s new book is Fair Warning

Author’s Note:

This book is a work of fiction, but FairWarning is a real news site offering tough watchdog reporting on consumer issues. It is a nonprofit founded and edited by Myron Levin. Michael Connelly is a member of FairWarning’s board of directors. Go to FairWarning.org for further information and to consider making a donation to support its important work.

 

Line of Duty – season 4

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

My binge watching continues.

Season 4 was again excellent and dramatic.

Highlight is the performance of Thandie Newton.  She has gravitas.

For the role of “Roz” Huntley she was nominated for a BATA Best Actress award.