Author Archives: Phoebe

If We Controlled Your Remote… 1/3/18

Posted on January 3, 2018 by , , and

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Jenny’s Choice

My pick tonight is the series premiere of 9-1-1 on FOX. This new procedural stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, Nashville), Peter Krause (The Catch, Six Feet Under), Angela Bassett (American Horror Story, What’s Love Got to Do with It), Kenneth Choi (American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson), Aisha Hinds (Shots Fire, Underground), Oliver Stark (Into the Badlands), & Rockmund Dunbar (Prison Break, The Path), so it’s quite a strong cast.

This isn’t a normal procedural, though. First, it comes from Ryan Murphy (Glee, Scream Queens) and Brad Falchuk (American Horror Story, Glee), so not names you’d normally see when attached to a procedural. Second, most procedurals have a major “A story” that is the meat of the episode. Take Chicago Fire, for example. Whatever big call they have is usually involved in the A story, and they usually only have one big call per episode. But in this case, at least in the pilot, which I’ve seen, there are a handful of calls for the firefighters, paramedics, & cops. Each call gets a smaller, quicker focus, rather than taking one and fleshing it out to fill the episode. It was a rather fun take, in my opinion. Also, we get another view of first responders, in Connie Britton’s 911 operator. That’s a point of view we’re not used to seeing.

I read a review yesterday that wasn’t very positive, but frankly, I quite enjoyed the pilot. I liked the way they handle the quick calls and how much we see (without getting too detailed or involved) into the characters’ personal lives. Hopefully everyone will give it a chance and we see them settling in and getting more comfortable in their roles.

On tonight’s episode, “Pilot,” emergency response providers put their lives at risk to save others, from a possible baby in the walls to a young girl home alone when intruders break in and more.

Don’t miss tonight’s premiere on FOX at 9/8c.

I’ll also be watching/DVRing The Amazing Race, The Goldbergs, The Librarians, Iron Chef Showdown, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family, Property Brothers, SEAL Team, American Housewife, Chicago PD, Criminal Minds, & Match Game.
 
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If We Controlled Your Remote… 12/17/17

Posted on December 17, 2017 by , and

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Kyle’s Choice

There probably aren’t many people who aren’t familiar with the 1983 film A Christmas Story – it has become a Christmas classic. Five years ago, the film was adapted to a Broadway musical, and tonight FOX will present the special 3-hour live event, A Christmas Story Live! The play is set in 1940s Indiana, where an eleven-year-old dreamer Ralphie (Andy Walken) desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. However, his parents (Chris Diamantopoulos & Maya Rudolph) are worried that Ralphie will shoot his eye out and say no. So Ralphie decides to take his request directly to Santa (David Alan Grier). This humorous and nostalgic story is narrated by a grown-up Ralphie (Matthew Broderick), who recounts his misadventures with his friends as they deal with school bullies, Ralphie’s annoying younger brother Randy, and a grumpy but loving father who always finds something to complain about.

I have seen the original film countless numbers of times – TBS airs a 24-hour marathon of the movie each year on Christmas Day. I have a hard time imagining these beloved characters being played by different actors, but I am really looking forward to tonight’s live production. I’m interested to see how this story translates into a musical – I have been a huge fan of these live musicals that the TV networks have been putting on each year! The cast sounds amazing. In addition to those already mentioned above, the production will also star Jane Krakowski as teacher Miss Shields; Ana Gasteyer as Mrs. Schwartz, the mother of one of Ralphie’s friends; Ken Jeong as the restaurant owner; and pop boy band PRETTYMUCH playing carolers.

Don’t miss this fun Christmas experience LIVE tonight on FOX starting at 7/6c.

I’ll also be watching/recording MythBusters and SMILF.
 
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If We Controlled Your Remote… 12/16/17

Posted on December 16, 2017 by

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Phoebe’s Choice

Tonight’s the night, folks! The weird semi sad but funtastically delightful final episode of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency season two is tonight! I don’t have time to bring you completely up to date on this adaptation of the character created by Douglas Adams, but I can remind what the funk happened last week. So.

Things started with a flashback to the Cardenas’s house fifty years ago just after the one young boy had used his dreaming powers to kill his abusive parents. Black Wing agents showed up, wanting to tap the potential of his powers. He resisted and the struggle triggered an epileptic seizure that put him in a permanent coma. But from within that coma he dreamed into existence the magical land of Wendimoor. Flash to: in Wendimoor the greatest swordsman of the realm sacrificed himself in a fight versus Suzie Boreton so Dirk and the gang could all regroup and formulate a plan of attack. Back in Black Wing HQ, Ken found holistic actress Mona and convinced her that she must help him save Dirk.

In the real world, Farrah and Tina confronted the Mage at a rock quarry where he was using an entranced Sheriff Sherlock to load a car with explosives. Bart and her new bestie Prince Panto fought their way through Mr. Priest and his Black Wing agents so they could access the portal to Wendimoor. The two gay princes were soon reunited. Evil sorceress Suzie sent her army through her own portal, right into the heart of Black Wing HQ to kill “Project Moloch,” the boy who had been in a coma all his life dreaming the pocket dimension of Wendimoor into existence. Bart then watched her new bff and his loved ones get slaughtered by Suzie’s men. She was about to go ham killing them all, but that gets saved for the finale. Amanda and Todd worked together to manifest a portal that sent Dirk back to Black Wing HQ so he could save Project Moloch and bring him to Wendimoor for the “happily ever after.” But just as he escaped, Suzie showed up, and the Rowdy Three took the point in confronting her.

It’s a very bizarre convoluted plot that you realllllly should absorb from the get go. But each episode is funny on its own if not self-contained. I highly recommend some binge watching. This show hasn’t been renewed yet, but the ratings are way up. So here’s hoping!!

On tonight’s episode, “Nice Jacket,” Dirk fulfills the prophecy and restores order after returning to Blackwing; Todd and Amanda face off against Suzie Boreton.

To see how the faceoff against Suzie goes, tune in to BBC America at 9/8c.

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 12/15/17

Posted on December 15, 2017 by , and

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Kyle’s Choice #1

Early this morning, Amazon Prime Video launched the action/comedy series Jean-Claude Van Johnson. The series stars action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme playing a parody of himself. Van Damme is out of shape and has been retired for a couple of years but previously worked as a highly talented international black ops agent, using his movie sets as cover while performing undercover missions as Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

After a chance meeting with ex-partner/ex-lover Vanessa (Kat Foster, The Goodwin Games, ’Til Death), JCVD decides it’s time for him to get back in the game and asks handler Jane (Phylicia Rashad, The Cosby Show) to assign him to Vanessa’s mission. So he heads to Bulgaria to help stop a group of drug runners. For his cover, JCVD is starring in an action re-imagining of Huckleberry Finn. And supporting him on the mission are Vanessa – doing recon as his on-set hair stylist – and weapons expert/tech guy Luis (Moises Arias, Hannah Montana), who’s been inserted into the production crew. However, the team soon discovers that they have stumbled upon a plot much larger and more sinister than they imagined.

This series is so entertaining – it is equal parts comedy and solid action/thriller. Much of the humor comes from the overly dramatic acting, witty dialogue, and absurd situations that arise. Jean-Claude is hilarious and does a great job of poking fun at himself. His character is so in love with himself and never misses an opportunity to mention his previous work. However, sometimes JCVD starts to believe that all of the movie magic is real and overestimates his own abilities, getting himself into trouble. Jean-Claude also plays a second character in the series, one who literally had me laughing out loud.

The show is very self-aware, making fun of the tropes you see in all of those action films of the late 80s/90s. The first season follows a serialized story, with interesting and unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. While the show is quite funny, it also provides some incredible action sequences. Jean-Claude proves that he’s still got it – using kicks, spins, splits, and punches to take out the bad guys.

I can’t recommend this series highly enough. It’s a really fun and exciting romp that is definitely worth checking out. The first episode is available for free to everyone, but the rest of the season requires an Amazon Prime subscription.
 
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If We Controlled Your Remote… 12/13/17

Posted on December 13, 2017 by , and

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Jenny’s Choice

Last season of The Librarians was tense, with both DOSA and Apep going against the Librarians – DOSA wanted the Library, while Apep just wanted to cause chaos. Baird was working with DOSA, or so we thought, but in the end, it turned out that she and Flynn had their own plan to secure the Library. And it turned out to be a good thing, since the woman in charge accidentally let loose Apep once again. Thankfully they took care of Apep and convinced DOSA that they weren’t equipped to handle the care of the Library and to leave it in the hands of Flynn, Baird, Jenkins, & the Librarians.

Tonight is the season premiere, so it’ll be interesting to see where they go from there. The “big bad” is gone, but I’m sure there will be another one. Regardless, I love this show and can’t wait for the new season, starting with the two-episode premiere.

On tonight’s first episode, “…and the Dark Secret,” when a secret sect of the Vatican Church unearths an ancient map detailing the locations of the four cornerstones of the Library of Alexandria (the original Library), it’s up to Flynn and the Librarians – with the help of an unexpected ally – to stop them before the stones can be used to destroy the Library.

Then on the second episode, “and the Steal of Fortune,” when people begin getting hurt in the unluckiest of ways, the Librarians are led to a casino where the owner appears to possess an artifact capable of stealing people’s luck. Despite falling under the bad luck curse themselves, the Librarians must turn the tables before the plague of bad fortune spreads to the wider world.

See how they save the Library tonight on TNT starting at 8/7c.

I’ll also be watching/DVRing The Goldbergs, Iron Chef Showdown, Modern Family, & American Housewife.
 
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