Category Archives: If We Controlled Your Remote

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 8/22/18

Posted on August 22, 2018 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!

Kyle’s Choice

Tonight, thriller Mr. Mercedes returns for a second season on the AT&T Audience network. In the first season, retired detective Bill Hodges found himself suddenly thrust back into one of his unsolved cases. Brady Hartsfield, the psychopath who mowed down a crowd of innocent people at a job fair with a stolen Mercedes, started taunting Hodges on a private message board, letting him know that he was planning something even more devastating. Hartsfield tried to manipulate Hodges into taking his own life and even murdered the love of Hodges’ life in the process. However, with the help of young assistants Jerome and Holly, Hodges managed to figure out what Hartsfield was up to and stopped him before he massacred hundreds more innocent people. However, in the process, Hartsfield got his head bashed in and fell into a vegetative coma that he was unlikely to ever recover from. However, Hodges vowed that he would keep visiting Hartsfield at the hospital so that the day he woke up, he would pay for his crimes.

While the first season of the series stayed very close the first novel of Stephen King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy, the second season borrows from both the second and the third books. As the second season opens, Hartsfield is in this vegetative state, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still plotting and planning his revenge on Hodges. D.A. Tony Montez (Max Hernandez) is anxious to prosecute Hartsfield, but there’s not much he can do with Hartsfield in his current state. At the same time, cocky brain surgeon Dr. Felix Babineau (Jack Huston, Boardwalk Empire) is being pressured by his ambitious wife Cora (Tessa Ferrer, Extant) to use Hartsfield as a human test subject for a new drug designed to counteract tumors. Over the course of the next year, Bill teams up with Holly to start a private investigative agency called Finders Keepers. As they solve whatever small cases come their way, Bill also picks up the odd repossession job. Meanwhile, the other folks affected by Brady’s actions also try to move on with their lives.

I loved the first season of this series and had been really looking forward to seeing what happens next. I was curious to see how the series could work with Hartsfield in a coma, but the writers have found a really unique, creative, and creepy way to show what’s going on inside Brady’s mind. And even though his physical body doesn’t work, there is a bit of a supernatural element to the series this season that allows Brady to resume his terror from his hospital bed. We will also see how the events of last season affected the rest of the characters – Jerome had a promising academic career, but the trauma of these events may have sent him in a downward spiral. And how will the one person you thought was your friend trying to murder you going to affect Lou? I’ve watched the first two episodes of the season and can’t wait to see more. The one disappointment is that the series only airs on the provider-specific Audience Network, so only those with AT&T U-verse or DirecTV as their TV providers will be able to watch.

At San Diego Comic-Con, I participated in roundtable Q&As for the series, with the series creator as well as several of the stars. Check out my videos from the pressroom at NoReruns.net: http://www.noreruns.net/2018/08/14/mr-mercedes-press-room-at-san-diego-comic-con-2018/

On tonight’s episode, “Missed You,” with Brady hospitalized, Hodges and Holly rebuild, opening private investigative agency Finders Keepers. Brady’s care falls to Dr. Babineau, an ambitious neurosurgeon, with input from his brilliant wife, Cora.

Don’t miss the exciting premiere tonight on Audience Network at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching/recording Big Brother, MasterChef, Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters, and The Sinner.

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 8/19/18

Posted on August 19, 2018 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

One of the breakout late summer shows for me last year was Get Shorty. And the last two weeks, they’ve come back strong. After we found out in the premiere that the director’s cut of the film they were all trying to profit off of, The Admiral’s Mistress, was absolute shite, Miles was left to edit the film. He went on a 40 hour Adderall-fueled editing frenzy. April had switched studios, so she was off this film. Louis, limited by his Mormon religion, proposed marriage to Gladys so they could include sex in dating. She agreed eventually but on the condition that they keep it secret. Amara was feeling the pressure from the L.A. cartel at the same time she was trying to find out how there was a bug planted in her home.

Meanwhile, Yago plotted a big robbery to help pay off Amara’s debts. He coordinated a break-in that got into a sealed safe filled with old movie costumes and props. The best line of the episode may have been: “What’s a Maltese Falcon? Has anyone ever heard of this shit?” He then broke the falcon, thinking it no big deal. Miles’s wife finally gave him the long-awaited divorce papers, but they came with a surprise. She was seeking full custody of their daughter Emma. Amara finally pinned the housekeeper as the culprit that let in the electrician who bugged her house. She has her guys “take care of her.”

Late in the edit process, April showed up to help Miles on her off time. They finally got a watchable cut complete. Then the two totally bumped uglies. And I had been waiting for that since halfway through season one, so yay! While he couldn’t stand to watch it, at the screening of Miles’s cut, Ricky assured him he took a 1 and turned it to a solid 5. The film was marketable now. Miles then lost his chance to produce the new film he was trying to make because he was ID’d as the guy who publicly strong-armed a member of that particular studio the previous episode. He then went and git drunk and sped down an empty road. Until he crashed the car and wrecked it. He awoke a few minutes later though and decided to walk it off.

This iteration of Get Shorty is both hilarious and action packed. It is only loosely similar to the movie/book it was based on, and it manages to create its own definitive feel. #StrongRecommend

On tonight’s episode, “Selenite,” Miles finds himself off the grid at a strange motel; Rick and Amara attend the premiere for “The Admiral’s Mistress,” while Louis, Ed and Yago keep an eye on the movie’s star actor.

I’ll also be tuning into see what Spence and the guys are up to on Ballers, what silliness is afoot on The Venture Bros, & Who Is America?.

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 8/17/18

Posted on August 17, 2018 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!

Kyle’s Choice

Early this morning, Netflix released the first 10 episodes of the new animated series Disenchantment. The fantasy series comes from creator Matt Groening (The Simpsons, Futurama) and follows the misadventures of Princess Bean (Abbi Jacobson, Broad City), a teenager who hates her depressing life in the medieval kingdom of Dreamland. Her mother passed away when she was a child, and her father, King Zog (John DiMaggio, Futurama), has since remarried. He has arranged for Bean to marry a prince from another kingdom in order to secure a political treaty, but Bean wants none of that. She just wants to drink, party, and do whatever she wants to. As the series opens, a demon named Luci (Eric Andre, Man Seeking Woman) attaches itself to Bean as her personal demon and is constantly encouraging her bad behavior. Meanwhile, an elf named Elfo (Nat Faxon, Married, Ben and Kate) is also feeling out of place in his home. He’s sick of eating candy all day and always being happy. He wants to see what it’s like to feel depressed…and he may soon get his wish when he manages to make his way to Dreamland.

The animation style of Disenchantment looks a lot like that of The Simpsons and Futurama. The series also has the same layered site-gag humor, such as the punny shop names throughout the kingdom. There are also some really fun new characters, with familiar voices – both from the voice cast behind Futurama as well as some from talented British comedians. Where this series differs from Matt Groening’s previous work is the tone and structure. The humor is a bit more adult – Bean is constantly getting drunk or high, there is some pretty graphic (though humorous) violence, and there are quite a few sexual jokes or situations. While some of this may go over the heads of younger viewers, the target audience definitely seems to skew older. Also, unlike The Simpsons and Futurama, this series is highly serialized. While Bean, Elfo, and Luci usually have some kind of misadventure or problem of the week, there is a deeper ongoing story arc and character growth that flows from episode to episode, and there are some mysteries set up early on that will hopefully be explained by the end of the season.

Disenchantment is definitely worth checking out for Matt Groening fans. It feels both fun and familiar but also quite different from his previous shows. At San Diego Comic-Con, I participated in a roundtable discussion with series creator Matt Groening and showrunner Josh Weinstein, so if you want more even more information on the series, check out my write-up/audio at NoReruns.net.

Check out Disenchantment now on Netflix!

I’ll also be watching/recording The Great British Baking Show.

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 8/12/18

Posted on August 12, 2018 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

That feeling when you remember that your favorite action movie star also stars in an HBO comedy-drama? Yipeeeeeeeee!!! That was me last week when I realized season four of Ballers, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson & Rob Corddry as a pair of financial managers who manage the money and careers of pro football stars. Last season revolved around a huge campaign to get an NFL team to move to Las Vegas, where business magnate Wayne Hastings Jr. was working to expand his already impressive casino empire. Just before the finale we found out Hastings had divested himself from AFM, Spencer’s firm, and was working instead with Candace, who sat in much better favor with the board of NFL owners.

Last year’s finale signaled to us the general direction of the show, a move to California. Ricky & Charles took a flight to L.A. together, where they had diverging goals. Ricky was there to chase after the woman he loved, Amber. Charles was there to interview for the General Manager position of the L.A. Chargers. At first Charles bumbled his way through it, but then he broke through and it seemed like he was going to get the gig. Ricky went to Amber’s mom’s house, where he told her he was ready to give up football entirely and raise their child together.

Meanwhile up in San Francisco at the owner’s meeting, Team AFM had flown in Anderson’s brother with the big bucks to bid on the move to Vegas. Hastings’ team went first and the owners liked their pitch. But then Spencer hit the meeting with an onside kick when he suggested in an impassioned speech that the Raiders should stay in Oakland. And that they deserved a new stadium, one built with Julian Anderson’s private money, not the 700 million the taxpayers in Vegas had agreed to pay. He punctuated the well-articulated pitch by drawing the owners’ attentions to the huge crowd he’d organized to assemble in the streets below. They chanted their support for the Raiders. Later that night, they got the news that the owners decided to move the team to Vegas, but they did want ASM to finance the stadium construction with Julian’s money.

So tonight we start with season four and a definite shift to L.A. & Vegas as the setting for the show. Can’t wait to see where this one goes!

On tonight’s episode, “Rough Ride,” Spencer and Joe weigh the pros and cons of acquiring an extreme-sport agency. Ricky sets down roots in LA with Amber and their daughter but finds himself yearning for something else. Charles rallies a group of disgruntled employees as he begins his new tenure with the Rams.

Find out how the new season goes tonight on HBO at 10/9c.

I’ll also be tuning in for my other new late summer fav, Preacher.

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If We Controlled Your Remote… 8/7/18

Posted on August 7, 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 favorite genre of TV has to be the procedural – cops, detectives, crime scene, & the like. So when I got an email about screeners for a new lighthearted detective comedy/procedural on WGN America, Carter. Jerry O’Connell stars as Harley Carter, an actor playing a detective on a hit TV show who retreats to his hometown after an embarrassing public meltdown in Hollywood. (Yes, it sounds similar to Take Two, with the actor/public meltdown/becoming a detective in real life. But I’m okay with that. LOL) Once there, he uses what he’s learned on set to help out his childhood best friend, Sam Shaw (Sydney Poitier Heartsong), a police detective. He also ropes in their third best friend, Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun), who reluctantly goes along with Harley’s sometimes crazy, sometimes dangerous schemes.

I’ve seen most of the first 10-episode season, and while it isn’t perfect, it’s a fun, enjoyable show that is an escape from the real world, which is just kind of what we want sometimes, isn’t it?

On tonight’s episode, “Koji the Killer,” Harley Carter returns to his Ontario hometown after a public scandal, only to find that his housekeeper has been accused of murder.

Check out this fun new comedic procedural tonight on WGN America at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching/DVRing America’s Got Talent, Chopped, & Making It.
 
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